JAMES SHANNON McCUTCHEN. No citizen of East Bethlehem township, and for that matter, it may even be said, of the entire county, can boast of a wider circle of friends than this successful agriculturist, such is his well-earned popularity. Hugh McCutchen, grandfather of our subject, when a young man emigrated from Ireland to America, landing in New York about the year 1786, all he brought with him being the clothes on his back, a stout heart, and strong and willing hands. After leading for a time a somewhat wandering life working here and there he finally settled in Fallowfield township, this county, and after some five years, during which time he was employed in various occupations, he invested his entire earnings in a small stock of goods, and embarked in mercantile business. He became very successful, enjoying a wide and profitable trade among the pioneer families. He married a lady whose parents were natives of Scotland, and several children, all now deceased, were born to them; both he and his wife lived to a ripe old age, she preceding him to the grave some few years. Politically he was a Whig, and is remembered as having been an oft-sought local adviser in his party. The following interesting family anecdote is related: When Grandfather McCutchen was about to board the ship that was to carry him across the Atlantic from his native land, he and a brother, who had come to see him off, exchanged watches, each one agreeing to treasure the other's timepiece as a family heirloom to be handed down to posterity. This compact each kept faithfully; yet, although carefully and jealously guarded, the watch that came to America was stolen some years since, after having been "handed down" to the grandson, James S. McCutchen. Samuel McCutchen, the second son of Hugh and Jane McCutchen, was born, in 1798, in Fallowfield township, this county, where he received a limited education at the subscription schools of the vicinity. In boyhood he learned the trade of a shoemaker, which he successfully followed during the greater part of his life, in connection with farming pursuits. He commenced life poor, for his father's estate, after being divided among many heirs, rendered him but little assistance. By dint of hard work, however, he was enabled to earn and save sufficient to buy a small farm, and being successful in his undertakings, particularly as a financier, and by reason of various speculations, in buying and trading land, turning out profitably, he in course of time accumulated a considerable share of this world's goods. His wife, Melinda Fumier, was a daughter of Henry and Julia (Horine) Fumier, natives of Germany, who came to America shortly after the Revolutionary war, locating in Hagerstown, Md., whence they removed to Washington county, Penn., making a final settlement near Belle Vernon, in Fallowfield township. To Samuel and Melinda McCutchen were born children as follows: Henry Erwin, who died at the age of seventeen years; Sarah Jane, now Mrs. John Stacker, residing in Monongahela City, and James Shannon. The mother died in 1861, the father in 1862, he was a strong supporter of the principles of the Whig party. James Shannon McCutchen, the subject proper of this memoir, was born January 15, 1828, in Fallowfield township, Washington Co., Penn., and was two years old when his parents moved to East Bethlehem township, where he was reared on the farm, and educated at the common schools. In his youth he was employed as a farm assistant, receiving for his services from $5 to $10 per month. He has never used tobacco or intoxicants in any form, and as a result he saved his earnings, which he judiciously invested, and to-day is deservedly well circumstanced financially. He is the owner of 127 acres of valuable land situated on the banks of the Monongahela river, within but a short distance of Lock No. 5, and the elegant residence thereon, together with the entire surroundings, gives evidence of superior taste, prudent thrift and easy affluence. Mr. McCutchen is perhaps the most widely read gentleman in his vicinity, and his library contains some 480 volumes of handsomely bound works by eminent authors. He is not only a man of letters, but also a traveler of no little experience, his journeyings from time to time having been many, which, to a man of observation such as Mr. McCutchen, means a vast amount of additional information and mental pabulum. Among many points of interest which he has visited in the East and in Canada, may be mentioned Washington (D. C.), New York, Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Niagara Falls, etc. Some three years since, along with a party of neighbors, he visited the "far West," during which tour he remained six days in San Francisco, was in Seattle (Wash.), Portland (Ore.), St. Paul (Minn), Yellowstone Park, Hot Springs (Ark.), etc. Our subject is a faithful Republican, and although not a politician, has been called upon at times to fill offices of trust in his township, where his popularity is unbounded, which incumbencies he has invariably filled with characteristic care and natural ability.

Text taken from page 1189 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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