H. O. McKNIGHT. Among the early families of Washington county, none are more deserving of prominent mention than that of the gentleman whose name opens this sketch. His grandfather, Hugh McKnight, was born in Ireland, and came to America in early life, first settling in Cecil county, Md., where he was married to Mary Nesbit. In 1784 they moved to Washington county, settling on the Littleton tract of 193 acres. He died in this county. Joseph McKnight, father of subject, was born in 1774, in Cecil county, Md., and in 1818 was united in marriage with Sarah Anderson, a native of Ireland, who came with her parents in 1781 to eastern Pennsylvania, and settled in Chartiers township in 1800. She was a daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Chestnut) Anderson, natives of Ireland, who settled in Chartiers township, this county. They had a son in the war in 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson died some time prior to 1850. The young people began married life on a farm in Chartiers township, where two children were born to them, viz.: Eliza Mary (Mrs. Alexander McConnell, of Chartiers township) and H. O. (subject of our sketch). Mrs. McKnight died in 1850, and in 1856 Mr. McKnight was married to Margaret, widow of John Campbell, and daughter of Thomas McEwen, of Allegheny county, Penn. Joseph McKnight was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was at Erie with Commodore Perry, at the time the fleet was building in 1813. He was an active politician of the Whig party, and afterward became a Republican. In religion he was a member and ruling elder of the Seceder Church at Hickory, this county. He died in 1872 on the home farm nearly in his hundredth year; he had lost his sight some years before. Mrs. McKnight died in 1892, in her ninety-second year. She was formerly a member of the Associate Reformed Church, which afterward became the United Presbyterian Church. H. O McKnight was born September 29, 1822, on the home farm in Chartiers township, and was the youngest child born to his father's first marriage. He received a district-school education, and, May 19, 1859, he married Margaret, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Dawson) Welch, natives of Maryland who came to Washington county and settled in Chartiers township, where their lives were passed. Mrs. McKnight died June 10, 1871, leaving four children: Sarah Anderson (Mrs. A. T. Cowden, of Mt. Pleasant township), Joseph A. (who married Lizzie J. Welch, and lives on the home farm), Florence Emma (who died in December, 1889, wife of A. C. Smith, of Canton township) and Ella Margaret Welch (living at home). On October 1, 1873, Mr. McKnight married Martha E., daughter of Thomas and Jane (Mills) Paxton, natives of Washington county and Ohio, respectively. Mr. Paxton died in 1886, and his widow is now living in Chartiers township. Mrs. McKnight died April 20, 1884. H. O. McKnight owns a good farm, containing 240 acres of fertile, well-improved land, upon which is a large tract of timber. In 1879 he erected a comfortable barn, 70x36, and in 1878 built an eight-roomed, two-story house. He was formerly a Whig, and has been a member of the Republican party since its organization; he has held various township offices, having served as justice of the peace and member of the school board. He is a member of the Chartiers Cross Roads United Presbyterian Church, formerly of Mt. Pleasant U. P. Church, with which his wife was also connected.

Text taken from page 1207 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 February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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