Matthew Ryburn, p. 1032

MATTHEW RYBURN, a well-known citizen of Chartiers township, comes of Scottish ancestry. His grandfather was James Ryburn, who was born in York county, Penn., of Scotch parents. He became a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving from April 1, 1777, to April, 1780, when he received an honorable discharge; then coming to Washington county, Penn, bought a tract of land of one James Smith. He was married to Elizabeth Gordon, and their union was blessed with four children, namely: Matthew, Elizabeth, James and David. The father of this family died in 1826, and the mother lived with her children for many years afterward.

Matthew Ryburn (father of subject), was born in York county, Penn., and when ten years old came with his parents to Washington county. He was educated in the subscription schools of Chartiers township, and in early manhood was married to Catherine Gordon, daughter of Thomas Gordon, of Buffalo township, this county. The young couple settled on the farm in Chartiers township where the widow of John Ryburn is now living, and the following children were born to their union: John (deceased December 17, 1888, was married to Rebecca Thompson, who is living on the old homestead), Elizabeth (living with her brother Matthew), Matthew, Thomas (deceased September 4, 1851), Mary Jane (wife of J. R. Smith, of Canton township), Nancy and Catherine, twins (the former deceased at the age of eighteen years, the latter when nineteen years old), and James (deceased December 9, 1863). The father of this family died in 1865, being followed by the mother, in June, 1884. He was a member of the Whig party.

James Ryburn, son of James Ryburn, married Mary Ann Bigley June 23, 1825. They moved to Heyworth, Ill., a few years after their marriage. John married Rebecca Thompson December 20, 1866, and the following children were born to them: Joseph, John, Katharine, Emma and Matthew.

Matthew Ryburn, whose name opens this sketch, was born September 6, 1822, in Chartiers township, this county. He was reared on the farm and educated in the district schools of Chartiers township, afterward learning the cooper and carpenter trades. He is an expert cooper, having made twenty barrels in one day, and has followed various other occupations. He owns a good farm of 120 acres, and has erected about $5,000 worth of buildings upon the place, together with other improvements. Mr. Ryburn has achieved success by hard work, being now a prosperous business man. He belongs to the Republican party, and in religion is a member of the United Presbyterian Church at Cross Roads.

Text taken from page 1032 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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