GEORGE W. POGUE, prominently identified with the representative citizens and successful farmers of Hanover township, is descended from an old Irish family. His grandfather, John Pogue, who was the first of the name to locate in Washington county, Penn., was born in Ireland, August 11, 1742, and, after landing in America, located on a farm in Jefferson township, Washington Co., Penn., near Cross Creek. Like all the early settlers, he labored under many disadvantages, and had to make several trips across the mountains for salt. On one occasion, while returning from a trip over the mountains with a load of salt, he reached Pittsburgh on Saturday night, and would not proceed with his load on the Sabbath; and while remaining there, he was completely disgusted with the desecration of the sacred day. On the following morning he was offered several acres of valuable land in the heart of the city for his load of salt, but decidedly refused the proposition, as he did not care for land where the Sabbath was not observed. He and his wife were leading members of the Seceder Church, and lived to old age, on the place where they first settled, and were laid to rest in a private burying ground on the home farm; he died December 21, 1837; they were the parents of seven children as follows: William, James (a school teacher), Samuel, George, Sarah (Mrs. John Curry), Robert and David. George Pogue was born January 16, 1789, and when old enough assisted in clearing up the forest of the pioneer farm, attending, in the mean time, the rude subscription schools of the time. When a young man he was married to Nancy, daughter of David Davis, a native of Washington county, on Cross creek. After his marriage Mr. Pogue located for a short time on a farm adjoining the old place, and in 1836 went to Belmont county, Ohio, settling on a place near St. Clairsville. He died in 1882, his wife in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Pogue were active members of the M. E. Church; in politics he was a Democrat prior to Jackson's administration, when he joined the Whig party, finally becoming a Republican. The children of this family were as follows: David, Robert, George W., Rebecca E., Ruth and John F., of whom only three are living: George W., Ruth (Mrs. Hugh Rogers, of Belmont county, Ohio), and Rebecca E. (wife of Griffith Lemon, living in Belmont county, Ohio). George W. Pogue was born July 4, 1827, in Jefferson township, Washington Co., Penn., and when nine years of age came with his parents to Belmont county, Ohio. On May 17, 1859, he was married to Pauline Robinson, who was born in 1839, a daughter of Rev. James Robinson, a Methodist Protestant minister, of Muskingum county, Ohio. After his marriage George W. Pogue purchased 240 acres of excellent land in the Rock River country, Whiteside Co., Ill., remaining there but a short time, and then made a trade with an uncle (his father's brother) who was living in Jefferson township, Washington Co.. Penn. By this bargain he received a farm of 100 acres, to which he removed in 1860, and when his uncle Robert died, George W. Pogue settled up the affairs of the estate. In 1863 he came to his present farm (situated on the Pittsburgh and Steubenville pike, three miles west of Florence), to which he has added an adjoining tract. Mr. Pogue has been extensively engaged in the wool and live stock business, having been successful in both, and has accumulated a good property by his own efforts. In politics he was originally a Whig, now a Republican, and is well posted on the issues of his party; in principle he is a Prohibitionist. In 1851 he made the good confession in the Methodist Protestant Church of Eldersville, Penn., in which he has served as steward and in other offices. His wife is a member of the same church. They have two daughters: Mary (Mrs. C. F. Gardner, of Hanover township) and Ella (wife of George S. Hanlin, also of Hanover township). At the time of the first settlement of the Pogue family, Indians were numerous, and many times he and his family were compelled to spend their nights in the grain fields. The horses wore bells, and as they could detect the presence of the Indians first, the settlers depended on them for warning. Rev. James Robinson, father of Mrs. George W. Pogue, was born in Geneva, Fayette Co., Penn., June 27, 1812. His father, James Robinson, a farmer, was a native of Ireland, and came to America when a young man. He was married twice, the second time to Sarah Clelland, who bore him the following children: James, John and Sarah Ann. Mr. Robinson was a Covenanter. He died in West Virginia, at Barracksville. Rev. James Robinson was educated at Meadville, Penn., and was licensed to preach in 1837 in the M. P. Church, this first charge being in the Zanesville circuit, Ohio Conference. He came to the Pittsburgh Conference, and spent the remainder of his life in same. He was married to Susan, daughter of John Johnson, of Muskingum county, Ohio, and the children of this marriage were Pauline, John W., Virginia (Mrs. Thomas Stevenson), Mary E., James F., William and Marshall, all now deceased save Mrs. Pogue. Politically Mr. Robinson was a Whig and Republican.

Text taken from page 1154 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 March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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