JACOB MONINGER, one of the best known and most prominent of the farmers of South Strabane township, was born January 14, 1822, in Washington county, Penn., near the village of Amity. He is of German descent, his grandfather, John Moninger, having come early in the present century to this country with his family, from the Fatherland, where he had married, and reared seven children: Henry, John, George, Jacob, Elizabeth, Mary and Madeline. They landed at Baltimore, and in Maryland remained a short time, then coming over the mountains on pack horses and in wagons to Pennsylvania (the journey taking a considerable time), and in 1807 made a final settlement in Amwell township, Washington county, near the present village of Amity. Here the grandparents ended their days, surrounded by many improvements accomplished by their own industry an good management. The farm on which they died still belongs to their descendants, and the old house continued to be used as a dwelling until a few years ago, since when it has been utilized as a sheep-shed. In company with the Moninger family there came into Washington county the following: the Dagues, Bakers, Wansettlers, Hewitts, Mowls, Hasses, Sowers and others - all settling near the villages of Scenery Hill, Clarktown, Amity and Lone Pine, the country being then a perfect wilderness. For a time they lived in log cabins, and later Jack Moninger (grandfather of Jacob) was among the first to hew logs, and build what was then considered a first-class house. Then they put up two churches of hewed logs - one (Presbyterian) at Mt. Nebo, the other (Lutheran) in West Bethlehem township, their dimensions being about 35x45, in those days considered great structures. This little colony raised the flax, spun the yarn, and wove the material with which they made their own clothes, moving the looms from place to place as required; they also made all their bed and table linen, towels, etc. Shoemaker would carry their tools on their backs from house to house, and "shoe the families" for the winter season; in summer time they generally went without shoes.
Henry Moninger, son of John Moninger, the pioneer of the family, was born in 1789 in Shunkstown, Md., and came with the rest to Washington county, where he followed farming, and was extensively engaged in stock buying, driving cattle to Baltimore and Philadelphia. He also dealt largely in real estate, and finally purchased a farm in Brooke county, W. Va., to which he moved, dying there in 1864. He was a member of the Disciple Church. In early manhood he was married to Susan Hass, who bore him children as follows: John, George, Mary (wife of Isaac Iams), Henry, Ann (wife of Jackson Closser), Jackson, Jacob, Catherine, Sarah (wife of William Gilmore) and Elizabeth. The mother of these children died June 29, 1841, at the age of fifty years, and some time in the following year the father married Mrs. Sarah Pettit (nee Hughes), by whom he had three children: Robert (deceased), James A. and Emma. Politically Mr. Moninger was a Whig, and he took an active part in building up the community in which he lived.
Jacob Moninger, subject of sketch, was reared on the home place, and received his education at the schools of the neighborhood. While yet young he was wont to assist his father in driving live stock to the Eastern markets, walking the entire distance each way. He seems to have inherited his father's penchant for real estate dealing, and has, probably, owned and improved more farms in Washington county than any other resident. On February 10, 1846, Mr. Moninger was united in marriage with Mary, daughter of Samuel Vance, and by her had four children: John, Martha (Mrs. John Chambers), Margaret (Mrs. Albert McElree) and Samuel. This wife dying Jul 2, 1856, Mr. Moninger on January 28, 1858, married Elizabeth, daughter of William Fife, and she bore him seven children, named as follows: Morgan, Joseph, William, Frank, Harry, George and Charles E. Mr. Moninger is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church at Washington; in politics he was first a Whig, and has, since the form! ation of the party, been a strong Republican. His present commdions and elegant residence in South Strabane township is one of the pleasantest in his section. He was a large stock dealer in Washington and adjoining counties, his business running into the hundred thousands yearly; but now in his old age he is resting quietly on his farm, one mile and a half north of Washington. [Since the above was prepared for the press, we have information of the sudden death, April 1, 1893, from apoplexy, of Mr. Jacob Moninger.-ED.]
Text taken from page 708 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed April 1997 by Bobbi Steele of Indianapolis, IN as part of the Beers Project.
Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]