William Pees, p. 1028

WILLIAM PEES is one of the most enterprising and prosperous agriculturists of North Strabane township, and is a member of an old and highly-respected family.

Nicholas Pees, great-grandfather of subject, in company with an uncle emigrated from Germany and settled in Canigaugig, "east of the mountains." Here he married and had three children: Mary, Andrew and George. About the year 1769 he journeyed on foot to what was then known as the "backwoods," and took up 400 acres of land on Little Chartiers creek, in what is now North Strabane township, Washington Co., Penn. He returned East, and brought back to his new home his wife and three children, above named, the boy George, together with all their worldly effects, being conveyed on the back of a horse, the rest journeying on foot. During the first winter the family lived in a small log cabin, which the father had erected near the present residence of John M. Berry, on the original tract of 400 acres. Here were born four more children: Nicholas, Catherine, Betsy and Susan. All of the children except Nicholas married and had children. Andrew served in the war of 1812. This honored pioneer, Nicholas Pees, died at the patriarchal age of 105 years. In stature six feet one inch, and well proportioned, he was a modern Goliath in physique and strength. His faithful wife lived to be upward of ninety years of age.

George Pees, grandfather of subject, was four years old when the family came to Washington county, he being the one that came along with the chattels on horseback. He was married to Lydia Vaughn, a native of New Jersey, daughter of John Vaughn, and the children born to this union were: Polly (1), Andrew, Rebecca, Zachariah, John, Nicholas, George, Joseph, James, Eliza, Polly (2), Lydia, and two daughters who died in infancy. Of these children Polly (1) was burned to death when quite young; Joseph died at the age of thirty, and James at the age of twenty-five. The others married, had families, and remained in Washington county. George Pees passed from earth March 1, 1849, and his wife followed him to the grave October 16, 1865. Both are buried in the cemetery of Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church, of which they were active and prominent members.

Zachariah Pees, father of subject, was born July 15, 1799, in the house now owned and occupied by John M. Berry. When twenty-one years of age his father exchanged farms with his uncle, Andrew Pees, securing in the exchange a saw and grist mill, known far and wide as "Pees Mills," which was operated by Zachariah Pees fourteen years. On December 27, 1820, he married Hannah Pees, and the following is a brief record of the children born to them: William is the subject proper of this memoir; Joseph, born August 21, 1823, was married to Sarah Newsom; Andrew, born July 4, 1825, married Julia Ann, daughter of John and Sarah Ann (Haines) Dickson, by whom he had the following children: Zachariah Mason, Ida, Elizabeth and John; Mary, born May 1, 1827, married Jacob Anthony, a farmer in Illinois, and had ten children: Hannah Pearson, Belle, Jane, Ann, Abbie, Ettie, Grant, John and Zachariah; Lydia, born July 24, 1830, married Zachariah Pees, a farmer in Illinois, and had four children: Sloan, Francis, Clark and Leslie; Elizabeth, born June 5, 1833, died March 11, 1841; George, born April 27, 1835, died May 3, 1835; Hannah Jane, born May 20, 1839, died May 16, 1841; and Phoebe, born April 7, 1841, died October 30, same year. Mrs. Pees died October 4, 1846, and Mr. Pees was married, January 13, 1848, to Jane, daughter of Robert and Margaret Jackson, and born in Lancaster county, Penn., October 18, 1806. Her family were connections of President Andrew Jackson. By this second marriage Zachariah Pees had one child, Margaret, who was born May 12, 1849, and died May 18, 1877. About the year 1825 Mr. Pees bought a farm in Ohio, which he afterward sold, and then purchased the farm in North Strabane township, this county, now occupied by his son William. He died October 19, 1885, an elder in the Pigeon Creek Church, in the cemetery of which he now sleeps.

William Pees was born October 13, 1821. He was reared from boyhood to farm life, and received his education at the schools of his district. On May 30, 1844, he married Mary Jane Cheesman and this union was blessed with one child: Mary J., who was born December 31, 1845 (On November 10, 1875, she married John Alexander Gault, by whom she had the following children: Mary Emma, born September 1, 1876, D. Leroy, born September 26, 1878; Emma C., born September 12, 1880; Olive E., born October 25, 1882; Nora Virginia, born October 19, 1884; Jennie Mowry, born October 12, 1886; and John Alexander, Jr., born December 19, 1889. They live in Union township, near Courtney ). Mrs. Pees died February 12, 1846, and William Pees was married in 1848 to Eliza J. Davis, who was born August 25, 1822. Two children came to them: Hannah, born December 14, 1849, and William A., born January 6, 1852, both deceased. Their mother passed away on May 26, 1853, and Mr. Pees was married, on January 12, 1854, to Cordelia Sutman, who was born April 14, 1833, a daughter of Joseph and Susannah (Myers) Sutman, and this third marriage was blessed with seven children: Catherine, born May 2, 1855, married, September 25, 1880, to Samuel H. Brehm, in Uniontown, Penn., by whom she has had three children: Roy E., Clyde G. and Cora Lena; Anna M., born January 10, 1856, and married, August 26, 1879, to J. B. Thomas, of West Alexander, by whom she has had three children: Ada D., Oliver W. and James William (deceased). William T., born November 5, 1858, and married September 11, 1879, to Josephine Kelsey, who bore him four children: Violet Myrtle, Anna Bell, Jessie Melvin and Orlo, who died when two months old (William T. is a farmer of North Strabane township, Washington Co., Penn.); Albert E., born August 17, 1861, married to Lillie Arend, who bore him one son, Albert F1oyd (he lives on the old homestead); Clara B., born, November 13, 1863, was married, June 7, 1883, to John Thomas, of Chartiers township, to whom she had the following children Charles H., and Olive Pearl and William J. (twins, the last married being deceased); John M., born May 20, 1865, living on the old homestead); and Sadie E., born September 22, 1866, married, June 30, 1885, to John R. Gamble (she has no children). Mrs. Pees is the eldest in a family of five children born to Joseph and Susannah (Myers) Sutman, viz.: Cordelia, Leman (deceased), Brittie C. (widow of William Stark ), John M., Aaron (deceased), Hiram, William, Henry and Mary (Mrs. Fred Schively). Joseph Sutman died November 1, 1880, and his wife October 30, 1883. He had been a soldier in the Civil war, as were also his sons, John M. and Aaron. Hiram ran away and enlisted in Pittsburgh, but he was too young, and his mother went after him.

William Pees is a strong Democrat, and takes considerable interest in politics. He has served as school director four terms, or twelve years; justice of the peace ten years; and also as township inspector and auditor. In 1880 he was appointed postmaster at Kerr's Station, and held that office until 1890. He and his wife have been consistent members of the Fairview Presbyterian Church for the last thirty years, and enjoy the respect and esteem of a wide circle of friends. He was a leading elder, and superintendent of Sabbath-school of Fairview a number of years.

Text taken from page 1028 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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