JAMES PROVINES, a well-known farmer of Jefferson township, was born February 13, on the farm which he now owns. He is a son of William Provines, whose father, John, was born and reared among the hills of Scotland, where lie was married, and whence, a few years later, he moved to Ireland. William, the son of John Provines, was born in Scotland, and came with the family to Ireland when a boy. He was there reared to agricultural pursuits, and was married to Rebecca Hemphill, a native of Ireland. William Provines remained in Ireland about ten years after his marriage, and there his three eldest children - Mary, Samuel and Andrew - were born. In 1812 the family came to America, locating in Washington county, Penn., where children were born as follows: John, Robert, Margaret, James, Sarah, Jane and Rebecca. James Provines was early trained to agricultural pursuits, and has always followed that vocation. He was first married November 13, 1851, to Mary Campbell, of Smith township, Washington Co., Penn.; she was born January 4, 1817. After their marriage the young people settled on the home farm, and four children were born to them, namely: Mary S. (living with her parents); Rebecca H., wife of W. P. Shillito; John C., and Margaret, the two latter being deceased. Mrs. Provines died November 20, 1856, and Mr. Provines was afterward married March 7, 1861, to Mary L. Mortland, who was born January 16, 1824, a daughter of Robert and Jane (Provines) Mortland, natives of County Tyrone, Ireland. Politically Mr. Provines is an active Democrat, although not a strict partisan. He has been an earnest member of the United Presbyterian Church of Burgettstown for many years, and is one of its most liberal supporters.

Text taken from page 406 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed August 1997 by Jean Suplick Matuson of Plano, TX as part of the Beers Project. Published August 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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