GREER McILVAIN. The McIlvain family were originally natives of New Jersey, where the grandfather (also named Greer McIlvain) was born and reared to manhood. Over a century has rolled away since he, with his brother George, first came to Washington county, Penn, and locating on a farm in Somerset township, died there at an advanced age. Greer McIlvain, son of the pioneer, Greer, was born October 14, 1793, on the farm in Somerset township, Washington county, Penn. He attended the subscription schools and passed his entire life in that township. There he married Jane, daughter of Robert C. Campbell. The latter was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and took part in the Revolutionary war. In early life he was married to a Miss Paxton, and they were early settlers of this county. The father died in 1840, at the age of ninety-eight years, followed by his wife in her 105th year. To Mr. and Mrs. McIlvain were born: Eliza, widow of John Kerr, of Butler county, Penn., and mother of Rev. G. M. Kerr; Martha, now living with her relatives in Illinois, formerly resided with her father until his death; Mrs. Margaret Clark, a widow, living in Illinois; Mrs. Jane Greenlee, also a resident of Illinois; Mary Ann, deceased in 1855; R. C., a prominent agriculturist of Somerset township; and Greer. The father was a stanch supporter of the Republican party, having taken an active interest in all public matters. In religion he was a member and elder of the Presbyterian Church, with which his wife and daughters were also identified. He died in June, 1889, at the age of ninety-six years. Greer McIlvain, son of Greer and Jane, was born October 13, 1825, on the home farm in Somerset township. He attended some time at the subscription and public schools, and assisted his father with the duties of the farm for several years after attaining his majority. He was married November 14, 1850, to Elizabeth, daughter of F. H. Williams, a native of Fallowfield township, and a member of an old family. In 1861 Mr. McIlvain came to his present home in Carroll township, which is a beautiful farm of 150 acres, bounded on the east by the Monongahela river. He yet superintends the care of the place, and has been a very enterprising citizen. He is a Republican, and was in the Revenue service nine years during the administrations of Grant, Hayes, Garfield and Arthur. Mr. and Mrs. McIlvain are members of the Presbyterian Church. Their children are Francis William, living in Charleroi, Washington county; Mary Virginia, at home; James Edgar, a lumberman of Pittsburgh; Charles C., a rising attorney of Pittsburgh and Monongahela; Ida Jane and Rose Ella, living on the home place.

Text taken from page 1132 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 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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