ANDREW RUSSELL (deceased). The family of which this gentleman was a representative is descended from prominent early pioneers of Washington county, Penn., and the blood of Scottish patriots flows in their veins. Andrew Russell and his wife (the grandparents) were born in Scotland and emigrated to this country many years ago, first locating near Oxford, Chester Co., Penn. In 1782 he purchased and moved upon a part of the Crawford-Neville Military Patent, in Chartiers township, Washington Co., Penn., also purchasing another farm on the north branch of Chartiers creek. A log cabin was erected, which in due time was supplanted by a more commodious residence, their original home being afterward used for a blacksmith shop. Seven daughters and three sons were born to this couple. Andrew, son of Andrew Russell was born in 1777, in Chartiers township, Washington Co., Penn., and in early life was married to Anna McClelland, who bore him eleven children, viz.: James (married to Miss McElroy, living in Unionport, Ohio), Andrew, Alexander, Robert, John, William, Jane, Isabella, Ann, Eliza and Nancy, of whom William and Ann are living. The father died in 1862. Andrew Russell was born December 31, 1814 on the farm now owned by his brother John, where his boyhood days were passed. On April 18, 1839, Andrew Russell was united in marriage with Jane, daughter of Andrew and Sarah (Steele) Miller, who came from Ireland in 1810. Andrew and Jane Russell reared a family of ten children, of whom the following is a brief record: Sarah Jane was married to Sampson Smith, and they reside in Allegheny City, Penn.; of their six children, Jennie L., Anna R. and Clara S. are living. Andrew J. was first married to Margaret McBurney who bore him one son, Andrew Lyle (now attending the Philadelphia Medical College); the mother died in October, 1884, and for his second wife Mr. Russell married, August 4, 1886, Alice M. Smith (he is station agent and merchant at Bulger, Penn., and is an elder of the U. P. Church). James H. Russell died when twenty-one years of age. Thomas A, died in infancy. Letitia A. gave her hand in marriage to Ezra McBurney, and was the mother of five children, three of whom are living, namely: Jennie D., Mary L. and Mattie L. Isabella M. Russell was the wife of Matthew Brown, and bore him eight children, namely: David Andrew, John Edmund, Anna Doret, William Ralph, Joseph McElroy, Walter Earl, Robert Russell and Jennie Miller. William M. married Annie J. Agnew, to whom one son, Johnson Miller, was born. Robert A. was married to Nettie Berryhill, who bore him one daughter, Jennie Gertrude. Dorett M. married Homer J. Willison, January 4, 1883; to them were born two sons, Howard Linford and Knowlie Clark, the latter died of pneumonia January 7, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Russell began their married life in a room sixteen feet square, but by patient industry soon accumulated a good property, and owned some very fine stock. He was school director and supervisor, being always interested in all movements tending toward progression, and in religious faith was an earnest member of the United Presbyterian Church. He died April 25, 1891, leaving many warm friends to mourn his loss, who gave to the bereaved family their heartfelt sympathy.

Text taken from page 1257 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/.

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