JAMES C. POLLOCK, an old and respected citizen of Hanover township, was born December 22, 1812, in Chester county, Penn., the third in order of birth of the children born to Edwin and Margaret (Boyd) Pollock. Edwin Pollock was a native of County Down, Ireland, and was educated for the ministry, but to avoid being forced to enter the army, his relatives smuggled him on board a vessel bound for America, and he died in this country, when his son James was but a little fellow. James C. Pollock was educated at the rate schools of Chester county, Penn. After the death of his father, his mother was married to one Frederick Aulthouse, of Chester county, Penn., and in later years young James came to Washington county with his mother and stepfather. The journey over the mountains was made in a wagon which contained the family and household goods. On arriving in Washington county, they crossed the Monongahela river at Brownsville, locating near Monongahela City, where the stepfather resided the remainder of his days, devoting his time to rural life.
James C. Pollock began business for himself at an early age, and for some time drove stage on the old National pike from Monongahela City to Robbstown, Penn., then became a teamster in Monongahela City. In 1834 he was married to Eliza Carney, who was born in 1813, a daughter of James Carney, a native of Ireland. To this union one son was born: William F., now a practicing physician of Pittsburgh, Penn. The mother died in 1841, and on February 23, 1843, James C. Pollock was married to Julia Ann Crouer, who was born June 7, 1817, in Somerset county, Penn., a daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Brown) Crouer. The children of James C. and Julia A. (Crouer) Pollock are as follows: Joseph H., living with his father, who has charge of the farm, in connection with his brother; Elizabeth L., deceased wife of William A. Jackson; James D. one of two sons in partnership with their father; Margaret, wife of Marshall Wright, of Brooke county, W. Va., and Sarah D., deceased wife of Thomas Peterson. In 1844 the family removed from Monongahela City to Cross Creek township, where they remained a short time, then moved to Burgettstown, where Mr. Pollock was the manager of the "Keystone Hotel." He then went to Florence, and conducted a hotel which was the stopping place for stages on the Pittsburgh & Steubenville pike, remaining there for several years, and finally purchasing a place in Hanover township, since which time he has been farming and stock raising. In 1885 he removed to his present pleasant home situated about a quarter of a mile north of Florence, and his two sons now have charge of the farm. Mr. Pollock has succeeded in gathering a goodly amount of property, although he began life as a poor boy. He gives much attention to the breeding of fine horses, and the presence on his farm of two such well-known specimens of the equine race as "Careless" and "Judge Hoadly" is ample evidence of his judgment concerning horses. Two such animals as those above mentioned, descended from the best sires ever known to the American trotting turf will surely advance the quality of the horses through the entire neighborhood. In politics Mr. Pollock is a member of the Democratic party, to which he has given a faithful support; he has filled several offices of trust with credit to himself, among which may be mentioned those of jury commissioner, constable, register and assessor of Hanover township. Since 1890 Mr. Pollock has retired from active work, and is now living in seclusion from business.
Text taken from page 1403 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]