MARTIN M.. SLATER (deceased) was a native of Donegal township, this county, born August 4, 1815, on his father's farm. He was of Irish ancestry, his grandfather, William, having been born in County Down, Ireland, where he was educated, and married to Elizabeth Bell, a resident of the same county. He immigrated to America soon after the Revolutionary war, and took a farm of 160 acres, lying near West Alexander, in this county. Soon afterward he purchased a farm south of West Alexander, where je made a permanent home. He had five children, anmely: Betsy, Margaret, Jane, David and James. Politically Mr. Slater was a Republican, and in religion a member of the Presbyterian Church. James Slater was born in 1787, in Donegal township, and was there married to Catherine, Daughter of Manning Martin. Mr. Martin was born in County Down, Ireland, and came to America in early manhood. He was united in marriage with Jane Thomas, of Wilmington, Del., and she bore hime children as follows: Martha, Hannah, Catherine, Margaret, Jane, Leah, Mary A., Rachel, Sarah and John T. Mr. Martin came to Washington county and settled in Donegal township, where he remained until his death. In religious faith he was a Presbyterian. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. James Slater settled on the old home farm in Donegal township, and reared the following family of children: William, Martin M., David, Eliza (Mrs. Joseph Miller), Mary A. (Mrs. John McKahan), John (deceased), Caroline (Mrs. G. W. Anderson), Melissa (Mrs. Thomas Show), Rachel (Mrs. Roland Craig), and James E. Wheeling. Mr. Slater was a successful and enterprising business man. In politics he was an active member of the Whig party. He died June 27, 1838, his widow on August 24, 1872.
Martin M. Slater was reared and educated on the old homestead. On April 3, 1845, he was married to Margaret, daughter of Robert Nixon, a resident of Donegal township, and a native of County Antrim, Ireland. To this union were born six children: Mary C. (deceased), Martin (deceased), Leah, Sarah (deceased), Luther T. and C. K. Mr. Slater passed the first years of his married life in West Alexander, and engaged in the butcher business. He then served four year as a constable and was repeatedly re-elected, He carried on a wagon trade from Cumberland to Wheeling; then farmed one year on the Noble farm, and spent the next year in Ohio, after which he proceeded to Brooks county, where he remained eight years. In politics he was originally a Whig, voted for W. H. Harrison in 1836 and 1840, and in later years he was a member of the Republican party. He died April 30, 1892.
C. K. Slater, a son of Martin M. Slater, was married on July 8, 1880, to Lillie, daughter of Jackson Mitchell, of Waynesburgh, Pemm., and they have two children: Vera and Fred M. Mr. Slater is a Republican in politics.
Text taken from page 1147 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed February 1998 by Jacie Ailes-Runyan of Connersville, IN as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1998 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]