SAMUEL PROVINES was born in 1803, in County Tyrone, Ireland. In about 1812 his parents, William and Rebecca (Hemphill) Provines, came to America with their family of five children Mary, Samuel, Andrew, John and Robert landing at Philadelphia, where they remained some time, and then came farther west. Having but a limited supply of money, their manner of traveling was in the most economical fashion, several members of the family walking a considerable part of the distance. In about 1813 they came to Washington county, Penn., first locating in Cherry Valley, where other children were born, viz.: Margaret, James, Sarah, Jane and Rebecca; later they removed to Jefferson township. Samuel Provines was reared to manhood on the farm of his father, receiving but limited opportunities for an education. In 1836 he was married to Isabella Gracey, a native of Cross Creek township, this county, and daughter of John Gracey. To the union of Samuel and Isabella Provines children were born as follows: John (who now has charge of the home farm, together with his brother Andrew), William (a carpenter, of Dennison, Ohio), James (a carpenter), Rebecca (living at home), Andrew (also at home), Margaret (living on the old place), Samuel (a carpenter, of Wellsburg, W. Va.), Henry (deceased in early manhood) and Harper H. (a carpenter, of Wilmerding, Allegheny county). After his marriage, Samuel Provines settled in Hanover township, on the farm which he had purchased before his marriage, and at the time it was nearly all covered with woods, which he cleared away. Although beginning life with comparatively nothing, he accumulated a good property. In politics he was a lifelong Democrat, and an ardent supporter of that party. He was called from the scene of his labors in 1877, and was followed to the grave by his wife in 1885, their remains rest in Burgettstown United Presbyterian Cemetery. They were both consistent members of the United Presbyterian Church.

Text taken from page 835 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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