ROBERT W. MUNNELL was born May 10, 1828, in South Strabane township, Washington Co., Penn. He is of Irish descent, his grandfather, John Munnell, having been born and reared in Ireland, where he was married to a Miss Wallace, who bore him the following named children: Hugh, John, Thomas, Elizabeth (Mrs. Scott), Mrs. Hand and Samuel. Mr. Munnell came to Washington county among the earliest settlers, and located in South Strabane township. In political life he was a Democrat, and in religion a member of the Presbyterian church. Samuel Munnell was born in 1795 in South Strabane township, Washington county, and passed his early life on the home farm. He was married to Nancy McQuiston, of Butler County, Penn., and they immediately settled on the farm place, where their lives were passed. Their children were Isabella, John (deceased), Robert W., Sarah J., Samuel, Thomas (deceased) Catherine E. (Mrs. John Herron), William (deceased), James, Mary E. (Mrs. Adam Hall) and Charles (deceased). Mr. Munnell always followed the vocations of agriculture and stock raising. In politics he was a Democrat, taking an active interest in public matters. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. Samuel Munnell passed away December 3, 1881, and was followed to the grave by his widow March 26, 1891 Robert W. Munnell passed his early life on the farm in South Strabane township, and gained his first educational knowledge in an abandoned " still-house," which was on the home place, and had been converted into a " hall of learning " for the benefit of the ambitious urchins. On November 9, 1860, he was married to Margaret A., daughter of Joseph Herron, and the young people first settled on a farm in South Strabane township where they remained until 1873, when Mr. Munnell moved to his present home. Three children have been born to them: Samuel W., Thomas H. and John H. Of these, Samuel W. was, on May 28, 1891, married to Adda, daughter of John J Gilbert, of New Stark, Hancock Co., Ohio, who died June 19, 1892. Mr. Munnell is an energetic citizen, and in politics is a Democrat. He is member of the Chartiers Presbyterian Church and is now serving as an elder. John Munnell (deceased brother of Robert W.) passed his boyhood on the home farm, and on March 26, 1851, was married to Susan J. Blackly, of Gettysburg, Penn., who bore him children as follows: Nancy J., Mary E. (wife of Samuel Hunnell), Anna B., James W., Charles E. (deceased), Robert and John W. On December 3, 1869, Mr. Munnell married for his second wife Mary S., daughter of Robert McFerren, of Beaver county, Penn. Mr. Munnell was a merchant in Waynesburgh, Greene county. In politics he was a Democrat until the Civil war, and then became an ardent advocate of the Republican principles. He died January 12, 1889, a member of the Presbyterian Church at Waynesburgh, Greene county.

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 March 1997 by Judy and Lee Schaeffer of Pittsburgh, PA 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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