Henry McDonough, p. 632

 
HENRY McDONOUGH. A prominent agriculturist of Somerset township, this county, is a native of the same. His grandfather, Henry McDonough, was a native of Ireland, and came to Pennsylvania in an early day. He followed the blacksmith's trade in connection with farming and distilling, carrying on an extensive distillery, although a strict member of the Baptist Church, of which he was an elder for several years. Politically he was a Republican. He died in 1869, in Washington county, Penn., The maternal grandfather of our subject, Robert Mahan, came across the mountains in the seventeenth century, and settled in Washington county, Penn., where he helped to erect a log church where the Pigeon Creek Presbyterian church is now standing. The family afterward moved to Ohio. He was an active worker in the Democratic party, serving as a representative of Washington county in the State Legislature. He and his wife died in Medina county, Ohio, the former having passed away in his ninetieth year.

 Henry McDonough was born in 1797, and reared on a farm near Vanceville, Washington Co., Penn., receiving a common school education. He was united in marriage with Margaret Mahan, who bore him children as follows: Henry (whose name opens this sketch), Robert and David (in Marshall county, Ill.), Joseph (farming in Monroe County, Ill.), Elizabeth (wife of Samuel Hill, a farmer of Benton county, Iowa), Mary, John and James, the latter three of whom are deceased. Mr. McDonough voted the Republican ticket, and served Somerset township as justice of the peace for several years. He died in 1871, having been preceded to the grave in 1867 by his wife. Both were members of the Presbyterian Church.

 Henry McDonough was born January 5, 1831, and grew to manhood on the home farm, attending the district schools during his boyhood. On November 6, 1851, he was united in marriage with Mary Smith, who was born in 1829, in Washington county, Penn., daughter of John and Jane (Morton) Smith. To the union of Henry and Mary (Smith) McDonough four children were born, viz.: John S., born October 30, 1852 (deceased October 2, 1885); Jane (married on December 13, 1889, to Theodore Burgan, a farmer of Somerset township, this county), born in December, 1858; and two that died in infancy. The mother was a member of the Disciple Church. She died August 4, 1864, and on November 8, 1866, Mr. McDonough made choice of a second wife in the person of Elmira Morton, who was born June 27, 1839, in Washington county, Penn., daughter of James and Elmira (Springer) Morton. To this union three children have been born as follows: Elizabeth (married to James Sprowls, a farmer of Fallowfield township, this county), born November 28, 1867; James H. (Deceased), born June 2, 1874; and Ida (living at home), born August 7, 1876. Mr McDonough is a Republican, and has served his township as auditor, assessor and school director. He owns a good and well- cultivated farm, consisting of 160 acres. He and his wife are members of the Disciple Church. 

 
Text taken from page 632 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). 

Transcribed April 1997 by Bridgette Osz of Steubenville, 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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