A. HARPER SIMANTON. In tracing the genealogy of this prosperous agriculturist, we find that the family have been prominent residents of Pennsylvania for many years. Peter Simanton (the grandfather) was born in Northampton county, Penn., and about the year 1795 was united in marriage with Margaret McFarren, also a native of Northampton county, born December 26, 1764, the wedding ceremony being performed by the Rev. Asa Dunham. In 1810 Mr. and Mrs. Simanton moved to Cherry Valley, Washington county, and September 9, 1811, bought 344 acres of the original Cherry tract, which became their home. He was a Whig in politics, and in church connection both be and his wife were members of the Raccoon Presbyterian Church. They were the parents of three children, of whom the following is a brief record: Jennie, born in 1800, was married to Samuel Farrar, and died in September, 1882 (her children were John, deceased in Smith township; Robert S., living in Mt. Pleasant township; William McFarren, deceased in January, 1892, at Cambridge, Guernsey Co., Ohio; Aaron, deceased in 1873, Mt. Pleasant township; Samuel L., deceased in 1891, Washington, D. C.; Julia A., deceased in 1885, wife of John McElroy; and Simanton, living in Mt. Pleasant township); John (of whom a sketch follows) and Isabella (wife of Robert Johnston, of Smith township), died some years ago, having reared three children, viz.: Margaret A. (Mrs. Finley), William and John, all three now residing in Missouri. Peter Simanton was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He died in 1826, at the home of his grandson, and his wife passed away June 5, 1835. John Simanton was born in 1802, in Northampton county, Penn. In 1810 be came with his parents to Cherry Valley, Mt. Pleasant township, Washington county, where be was reared and educated. In early manhood he was married to a Miss Ramsey, and settled on the old home farm in Mt. Pleasant township, where three daughters were born to him: Margaret, wife of William Campbell, of Midway, Penn.; Isabelle, Mrs. Robert Patterson, of Bolivar, Westmoreland Co., Penn., and Martha Jane, who died when young. The mother died soon after the birth of her youngest child, and Mr. Simanton married, for his second wife, Eliza Allen, who was born in 1806, in Greene county, Penn., and came to Washington county with her parents in childhood. To this marriage one son, A. H., was born. Mr. Simanton was an active worker in the Whig party, afterward uniting with the Republicans, and serving the party by filling several township offices. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church at Candor, this county, in which he was a ruling elder for many years. He died in 1871, his wife in 1884. A. Harper Simanton was born March 16, 1843, on his present farm in Mt. Pleasant township, passing his boyhood in attending the country school, and assisting with home duties. On November 19, 1868, be was married to Ellen, daughter of Guyan McIlvaine who was born in 1702, in Somerset township, on the home farm, where his early years were passed. He was united in marriage with Jane Ferguson, a native of Somerset township, who bore him four children: Lydia (widow of John Phillips, living in Greene county, Penn.); William Greer (deceased in 1882, at Memphis, Tenn.), was married in Vickbsurg; Robert F. (residing in Rochester, Beaver Co., Penn.); and John M. (living in Mt. Pleasant township). Mrs. McIlvaine died in 1823, and in 1830 Guyan McIlvaine married Jane Bratton, a native of Lancaster county, Penn. In 1835 he settled in Mt. Pleasant township, on the home farm. To this union the following children were born: Harvey (residing in Kansas), Anna Eliza (married to William M. Campbell, of Cross Creek township), Joseph Lawrence (editor of the Advocate, New Philadelphia, Ohio), Boyd (a resident of South Dakota), Belle Jane (of Mt. Pleasant township), James A. and Martha Ellen (Mrs. A. Harper Simanton), both of Mt. Pleasant township, and Mary Esther. Mr. McIlvaine was first a Whig, then a Know-nothing, and afterward a Republican. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church at Mt. Prospect. He died in 1868, having been preceded by his wife in 1859. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Simanton settled on the home farm in Mt. Pleasant township, containing 200 acres of valuable land, to which his time is devoted. Four children have blessed their union, namely: Maud, Maggie Belle, Walter and Jennie. Mr. and Mrs. Simanton are members of the Raccoon Presbyterian Church, of which he is a trustee. He is a Republican.

Text taken from page 471 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Donald Ackley of Santa Ana, CA 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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