ROBERT D. HENRY. For more than a century the Henry family have been residents of Washington county, more especially that portion of it in and about South Strabane township. They are of Irish descent, Robert, the great-grandfather of our subject, having been born in the "Green Isle of Erin," where he married a countrywoman and reared a family of four sons--David, John, Nicholas and Joseph--and three daughters--Jennie, Margaret and Isabella. In 1783 they came to this country, finally settling near where is now the village of Claysville, this county, where the head of the family remained a short time, and then moved to South Strabane township, where he died. Robert Henry, son of this pioneer, was married in early life to Ann, daughter of Nicholas Little, and by her had seven children: Joseph, Jane, Nicholas, Margaret, David, Isabella and John (all deceased). For many years Mr. Henry was engaged in trading, and among other ventures brought salt across the mountains with a train of saddle horses. He also followed agricultural pursuits with considerable success, having settled on the farm now occupied by our subject. He was a member of the Seceder Church of Pigeon Creek, and one of its early founders. He was a very prominent man in all social organizations, and in politics he was an Old-line Whig. Nicholas Henry, father of our subject, passed his boyhood and youth on the home farm, and early in life married Margaret, daughter of John Zediker, of the same township. The following children were born to this union: Robert D.; Mary, Mrs. Nathaniel White; Louis; Joseph, who died in 1854; and John. Of these, Louis enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Fortieth P. V. I., and was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness in May, 1864; he died May 24 following, his body being brought home and interred in Pigeon Creek U. P. Cemetery. The father of this family died April 24, 1838, and the mother on April 8, 1862. Mr. Henry early united with the Seceder Church, and, like his parents, gave it his earnest and heartiest support; politically he was an Old-line Whig; socially he was an upright citizen, highly respected in the community. Robert D. Henry was born July 31, 1820, on his present farm in South Strabane township, and attended the subscription schools of the neighborhood. He was one of the closest students of his time, and has since taken an active interest in educational matters, continually advocating better school privileges and a more thorough system. On November, 16, 1876, he was married to Catherine, daughter of Andrew Borland, and one child, Robert Howard (now deceased) was born to them; the mother died April 27, 1889. Mr. Henry has always lived on the old home place, which was patented to Thomas Kerr. From earliest youth he has been a member of the U. P. Church at Pigeon Creek, of which he has served as trustee several years. In his political preferences he is a stanch Republican, and was, prior to the organization of his party, an Old-line Whig. He has held many offices of trust in his township, and for years served as justice of the peace; he also served one term as jury commissioner of the county, from 1876 to 1879, and is an enterprising and substantial citizen.

Text taken from page 948 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed April 1997 by Paula Talbert of Caldwell, OH as part of the Beers Project. Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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