BERNARD C. JACKMAN. This well-known gentleman is a representative of a pioneer family of Washington county. His grandparents, William and Elizabeth (Conley) Jackman, were born in County Cavan, Ireland, and emigrated in 1789. They settled on a large tract of land in East Pike Run township, Washington Co., Penn., where the following children were born and reared: Bernard, William, Mary, Eliza, Joshua, John, Margaret, Nancy, and four who died in infancy. John Jackman, son of William and Elizabeth Jackman, was born on the farm in East Pike Run township, this county, and received a subscription school education. In early life he was married to Phoebe Taylor, daughter of William and Phoebe (Kirkwood) Taylor. Her parents were of Scotch-Irish descent, and after coming to Pennsylvania bought 160 acres on the National pike, between Beallsville and Brownsville, Penn. Mr. Taylor then conducted a tavern for several years, and also built the first M. E. Church in that locality, which is yet know by his name. The children of this family were born as follows: Edward, Sophia, William, Isaac (who died in his one-hundredth year), Phebe, George, Joshua, Ann, John, and others who died in infancy. The parents both died on the old place, and were buried in the cemetery of the Taylor M. E. Church. To the union of John and Phebe (Taylor) Jackman eight children were born, namely: Elizabeth, wife of Wesley H. Taylor, a resident of Carroll c ounty, Ohio; Bernard C., whose name opens this sketch; Mary A., Edwin, Caroline, and three who died in infancy. The father was a farmer, and for a number of years served as local preacher at the Taylor M. E. Church, with which his wife was also identified. He also erected the first log school-house in the neighborhood, serving for many years as school director, and doing all in his power to promote the educational and religious interests of the community. He was actively identified with the Whig party, and was one of the most influential men of his neighborhood. He died in 1861, followed by Mrs. Jackman in 1878. Bernard C. Jackman was born August 26, 1824, in East Pike Run township, Washington Co., Penn. He attended the public schools, and in 1852 was united in marriage with Ruth Lilley, who was born in 1829, in East Pike Run township. She is a daughter of Ellis and Elizabeth (Phillips) Lilley, who were pioneer settlers of this county. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Lilley were Solomon, residing in Alliance, Ohio; Ruth, wife of Bernard C. Jackman; Elizabeth, a resident of Ohio; Thomas, deceased; Phebe, living in Ohio; and Alica, deceased. Both parents were members of the Quaker Church. The father died in 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Jackman reside on the old homestead, consisting of 132 acres of land, upon which good buildings and other improvements have been erected. He votes with the Republican party, and has been school director for several years. They are the parents of three children, namely: Phebe E. (Deceased), Hattie M. (Wife of John F. Colvin, a farmer of East Pike Run township), and Wilbur S., a teacher in the Cook County Normal School at Chicago. As already stated, Mr. Jackman's grandparents were natives of Cavan, Ireland, with the exception of the grandmother, Phoebe (Hardman) Taylor, who was born in the Scottish Highlands, and came to Ireland with her parents (Moxruder Hardman and wife) to escape the Cromwellian atrocities. Mrs. Hardman, nee Miss Kirkwood, became owner of 1,000 acres of land near Dublin. Phoebe Hardman married William Taylor. He was born in 1754, and emigrated in 1789. The ages of the grandparents are as follows: William Jackman, eighty-eight years; Elizabeth Conley, his wife, eighty-five years; William Jackman, eighty-six years, and Phoebe Hardman, his wife, ninety-six years. Away back in 1831 William Jackman provided whisky for his harvesters. One of the men tasted it too freely, returned to his cabin and whipped his wife. On Mr. Jackman learning of this he emptied the whisky on the ground and introduced temperance in the harvest field, being the pioneer of the cause in this section of the State.

Text taken from page 746 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Julie Jolly of Knob Noster, MO as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]