William Prigg, p. 1325

WILLIAM PRIGG. Of that noble army of stalwart pioneers who braved so many dangers and endured such innumerable hardships in the early settlement of Washington county, none can claim greater prominence than the Prigg family.

Samuel Prigg, the first of the name to settle in the county, was a native of Maryland, whence, when a young man, he came with his parents to Buffalo township, where Salem Flack now resides, and here built and operated a tannery for some years; later he settled in Canton township. In his native State he had been apprenticed to a tanner, with whom he thoroughly learned the trade, and after following the same for many years, finally settled on a farm, where he passed the remainder of his days. While yet a young man he married Hetty Day, a resident of Washington county, and the children born of this union were: John, Robert, Samuel, Margaret, Rebecca, William, Enoch D. and James. The father died about 1855, the mother about 1853. They were zealous members of the Baptist Church, and in politics Mr. Prigg was an Old-school Democrat, an ardent supporter of the principles of Jefferson and Jackson, and one of the organizers of the party in his township.

William Prigg was born August 6, 1815, in Canton township, this county, and was reared a typical "farmer boy." His schooling which was limited to a few weeks in the winter time, was obtained at the primitive establishment of learning in vogue at that time. During his early manhood, when he first started out for himself, his life was one of continual hard work, and it was then that he more particularly manifested those traits of character which have made him so well known in this section. In company with his brother, Enoch D., he purchased a farm, on which they lived, keeping "bachelor's hall," working and improving the same until they bought another tract, when they divided their holdings, the old home place falling to Enoch's share. William is now the owner of 250 acres of land in Canton township, and is rated as one of its most successful and substantial citizens. On October 6, 1856, Mr. Prigg married Rebecca, daughter of Joseph Mountz. The young couple took up their residence on the Prigg farm, where they remained fifteen years, then moved to the Wolf farm, and in 1886 came to their present place of residence. The children born of their union were: Samuel (deceased), Jackson (married to Margaret McQuay), William (married to Nora Weaver), and Joseph. Like the family generally, in politics, Mr. Prigg has maintained the principles of the Democratic party, but in voting, as far as county and township politics are concerned, he is Independent. A lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church, he has ever been one of its most active workers and liberal supporters, and lets not his left hand know what his right hand doeth. [Since the above was written, we have received information of the death of Mr. William Prigg. Ed.

Text taken from page 1325 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 February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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