JAMES RONEY, son of James and Jane (McWhirter) Roney, was born near Canonsburg, August 17, 1813, on the farm now owned by his daughter, Mrs. G. M. Smith. The old farm has been the home and visiting place of seven generations. His parents first settled in South Carolina, where, tradition says, they prospered. Their principles being so antagonistic to the institution of human slavery, they left their home in the South and migrated to western Pennsylvania. Here they built a house (still standing) from logs cut in the forest and hewn into shape by the immediate ancestors of James Roney. His parents were most exemplary members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church-better known as the Old Side Covenanters. He had four brothers and four sisters, namely: Moses, William, John, and one who died in infancy; Jane, Margaret, Rebecca and Sarah. Moses, in 1818, entered Canonsburg Academy, and graduated with first honors from Jefferson College in 1823. He studied theology in Coldenham, N. Y., under the direction of Rev. Dr. J. R. Wilson, and was licensed by the Pittsburgh Presbyterv, June 8, 1829. He was ordained and installed pastor of the Newburg, N. Y., congregation, afterward accepted the presidency of Westminster College, where he continued to labor until his death. He was one of the most influential and eloquent ministers of the Covenanter Church. On one occasion he was to preach at the old house, and, as the custom was at that time, be preached out of doors. It has been said that every word was distinctly heard half a mile distant. He was married to Miss Elizabeth F. Beattie, of Coldenham, N. Y., whose mother was descended from the Belknap family of that region. William was married to Lydia Thomas, of North Strabane township. He resided on his farm near Haneytown, Marshall county, W.Va. John married Margaret George, of near Hickory, Washington county, he owns and lives on a farm near Claysville. Margaret married John George, of Venice, Washington Co., Penn.; Jane married Isaac E. McKenry, of Allegheny, Penn., where they lived for a number of years, then moved to near Crawfordsville, Iowa; Rebecca and Sarah died in early girlhood at the home of their parents. At this date (1893) only two of the family survive, namely: John Roney and Jane McKenry. James Roney married, March 4,1844, Elizabeth, daughter of James Gibson. She bore him two daughters and one son, namely: Grizella Margaret, born May 27, 1845; Moses Gibson, born June 28, 1854 (deceased when ten months old); Jane Elizabeth, born September 23, 1860, died August 12, 1877. Grizella Margaret Roney, in early girlhood, was married to William M. Smith; two daughters were born to this marriage: Elizabeth Jane, wife of David John Sterling (has two children-Hugh Samuel and Margaret Roney), and Maggie Grizella, living at home with her mother. Mrs. Smith owns valuable property in Canonsburg, where she now resides. D. J. Sterling superintends the farm of Mrs. Smith, and operates in oil. The place is well improved and contains three gas wells, and yields a good income. Mrs. Smith and daughter, Maggie, are members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Miller's Run, near Venice. Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Sterling are members of the United Presbyterian Church of Ingram. The Roney family have always been noted for their hospitality and kindly disposition. James Roney died of apoplexy November 4, 1884, and was interred in the Hill Church burying ground. His widow, who had suffered from the effects of a paralytic stroke for five years, died at the home of her daughter. Mrs. G. M. Smith, July 24, 1888. And was laid by the side of her husband. (For further information of the ancestors of the said James Roney, see page 982 of "The History of Washington County, Penn.," edited by Boyd Crumrine, 1882.)

Text taken from page 620 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by Dale E. Enlow of Lake Havasu City, AZ as part of the Beers Project. Published May 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]