A. M. Hanlin, p. 412

A. M. HANLIN. The Hanlin family for almost a century have been identified with the progress and development of Hanover township. They have assisted in the advancement and support of all enterprises which have served to place this township in its present position among the magnificent galaxy of townships contained in Washington county, Penn.

The present generation of this family trace their ancestry to four brothers, John, William, James and Alexander, who were children of Alexander and Nancy (Stewart) Hanlin, and natives of County Tyrone, Ireland. The father dying in County Tyrone, the family, consisting of the widow, four sons and three daughters (Elizabeth, Nancy and Jane), came to America in 1792. Their first location was in Lancaster county, Penn., where the sons engaged in various kinds of employment. Energy and health formed their sole capital. One daughter, Nancy, was married in eastern Pennsylvania, and there passed her days. Between l795 and 1800 the other members of the family came farther west, locating on the waters of Buffalo creek, in Washington county, on the "Lawton Farm." The brothers continued to work in partnership until the beginning of the present century, when James purchased land near Paris, Hanover township, this county, and followed the river, making trips to New Orleans. He was married to a Miss Mills. William, John and Alexander jointly purchased of one John Campbell a large tract of land near Harmon's creek, in Hanover township, to which they moved. William was affianced to Anna, daughter of John Fulton, of Hanover township, and his wedding day was set, but he died before the marriage was consummated. John Hanlin was born in l771 in County Tyrone, Ireland, and in 1823, married Nancy Hanlin, a distant relative and native of Ireland. Her parents came to America, locating in Steubenville, Ohio, leaving their infant daughter with an aunt in Ireland, with whom she crossed the ocean when but two years of age. To the union of John and Nancy Hanlin the following children were born:· A. M., Margery (unmarried, living with her brother in Hanover township), William, John (a farmer of Hanover township), James (deceased) and Eliza (unmarried, living with her brothers). After his marriage John Hanlin located on that portion of the original tract which the three brothers had purchased, where he resided the remainder of his life. He died in 1846, a respected citizen, kind-hearted and generous. In 1878 his widow passed away at the advanced age of eighty six years. She was buried beside her husband in St. John's Protestant Episcopal cemetery, Brooke county, W. Va. They were both members of that church.

A. M. Hanlin was born June 18, 1824, on the old farm which is yet his home, where he was reared to manhood, and attended the country schools of the time. He married Rowena Swearingen May 1, 1860. She was born in 1832, and was a daughter of Capt. Samuel Swearingen, of Beaver county. Their children are as follows: Lewis S., Anna E., Samuel A., James L., and Maud L., all of whom are living at home. Mr. Hanlin has always resided on the old place, being engaged in general farming and stock raising. He has given considerable attention to the sheep industry. He was first a Whig, then a Republican, having taken an active interest in politics, but now gives way to the younger politicians. Both he and his wife are members of the Disciple Church.

Text taken from page 412 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed January 1997 by Dawn Marie Madsen of Boise, ID as part of the Beers Project.
Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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