WILLIAM F. RALSTON was born August 31, 1816, in Carroll township, Washington Co., Penn., and passed his school days in the vicinity. His father, Rev. Samuel Ralston, was born in 1758, in Ireland, and received a theological education at Glasgow, Scotland. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery, and soon afterward immigrated to America. He settled in Washington county, Penn., and preached several years in Monongahela City, and Horse-Shoe; then took charge of the Mingo church, of which he was pastor during his later life. His mother afterward came to America, and resided with him and another son, Ralf, for some time on the latter's farm of 150 acres in Carroll township; died there and was buried at Mingo. Samuel Ralston was married to Rachel, daughter of William Ferguson, and children were born to them, as follows: Sarah (wife of Benjamin Williams), Matilda, Mary (Mrs. James McVey, of Mingo creek), James, Margaret (wife of Samuel Kidoo), Lizzie (Mrs. Robert Patten), Samuel, and William F. William F. Ralston grew to manhood in his native county, and on March 8, 1837, was married to Jane R. Hackett, a native of Chester county, Penn., whose father, David Hackett, is a well-known agriculturist of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Ralston have had three sons and two daughters, namely: Samuel (who served three years in the First Pennsylvania Cavalry under a cousin, Joseph William, and was slightly wounded), James H., Martha (deceased), Margaret, and William. Mr. Ralston owns thirty acres of land upon which he is now boring a gas well. He is a Republican, has taken an active interest in local politics, and served in various township offices. He is the only remaining one of the family of Samuel Ralston.

Text taken from page 1093 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by Karen Souhrada of Pittsford, NY 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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