MRS. ELIZABETH (STOCKDALE) SPROWLS, daughter of Robert Stockdale, of Allen township, Washington Co., Penn., is of English ancestry. She was born October 25, 1832, and on May 15, 1856, was married to William W. Sprowls, who was a worthy representative of one of the most prominent pioneer families of Washington county. John Sprowls was the first pioneer of his name to locate in East Finley township, Washington Co., Penn. He was a native of Enniskillen, Ireland, and in 1784 was there married to Elizabeth Love (also of Irish birth), who bore him the following children: Arthur, Jane, Edward, John, Henry, James, Elizabeth, Nancy, William and Mary, the latter two being born after their arrival in America. In 1793 the family emigrated from Ireland, and landing at Philadelphia, pushed westward to Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Penn., where they remained some time, thence removing, in about 1795, to Washington county, Penn. Mr. Sprowls located near California, West Pike Run township, and soon afterward went to Allen township, but finally settled in East Finley township, where, in the midst of an unbroken wilderness, he erected a log cabin, about three quarters of a mile southeast of the present postoffice of Good Intent. In this humble little home John and Elizabeth Sprowls passed the remainder of their lives; and having well begun the herculean task of establishing a home in the desert wilds for his descendants, the courageous pioneer left the completion of his work to his children; he died September 6, 1845, and was laid to rest in the land of his adoption. Mrs. Sprowls died August 10, 1818. The two daughters, Elizabeth and Nancy, never married, and passed their lives on their father’s farm.
William Sprowls, youngest son of John Sprowls, was born October 5, 1794, in Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Penn., and on coming to East Finley township, Washington county, shared the privations of a frontier life. His passed his youth in assisting his father on the farm, and in 1823 was married to Dorcas Towne, who was born in 1797, a daughter of Eli Towne, of East Finley township, this county. Of the children born to them the following is a brief record: Eli (deceased) lived to an advanced age; James died at the age of twenty-four; John married Miss McCreary, and entering the war of the Rebellion, died in the service; William W. is husband of our subject; Abigail died at the age of seventeen; Elizabeth died at an advanced age, unmarried; Henry married Miss McClellan, and is now farming in West Finley township; Dorcas Ann is a resident of Washington, Penn.; Isaac and Ezra died in youth; Cyrus enlisted in the Civil war, in Company E, Eighty-fifth Regiment P. V. I., and died in the service. After his marriage Mr. Sprowls began to farm a place near that of his father, where he remained until his death, which occurred December 27, 1868. Mrs. Sprowls died January 30, 1870.
William W. Sprowls was born in East Finley township, Washington Co., Penn., August 17, 1826, and during his early years assisted his father on the farm, afterward learning the cooper’s trade. After his marriage to Elizabeth Stockdale Mr. Sprowls settled on the old home farm, and passed his life in agricultural pursuits. The following children came to this union: Fremont, born April 14, 1857 (now living in Morrow county, Oreg.); Stockdale, born October 22, 1858 (residing in East Finley township, this county); Eli W., born May 12, 1861 (a farmer of West Finley township); Deborah, born May 25, 1864, (residing with her mother); Mary B., born August 6, 1865 (wife of John Golden, living in Good Intent, this county); Cyrus, born January 8, 1868 remaining at home); Asbury, born May 30, 1870 (deceased in infancy); Robert A., born May 12, 1872 (still living at home); and Hannah A., born August 24, 1873 (residing at home). Mr. Sprowls was a man of sterling worth. In politics he was a Republican. He was a member of the Disciple Church, and contributed liberally to its support. He died April 20, 1888. His widow now manages the farm. She is a member of the Disciple Church.
Text taken from page 653 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed May 1997 by Laura M. Thomas of Enfield, CT 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]