NATHAN ROSEBURG TANNEHILL, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Chartiers township, and breeder of Registered National Delaine Merino sheep and Registered Jersey cattle, was born October 13, 1847, in Chartiers township on the farm where he now resides, and in the same house where he and his children live and were born. His grandparents, John and Catherine Tannehill were natives of County Antrim, Ireland. John Tannehill, in company with three brothers - Nathan, Adamson, and James - came from Ireland to this country, and were soldiers in the war of the Revolution. John settled in Washington county and here dying was buried in Oak Spring cemetery in Chartiers township.
Nathan Tannehill, father of Nathan Roseburg Tannehill, was born near Miller¹s run, some two and one-half miles from Noblestown, and received his education in the common schools of the district. On February 26, 1828, he was married to Jane Orr , and April 6, following, they moved to the old homestead farm in Chartiers township, where they passed the remainder of their useful lives, and where their children, nine in number, were born as follows: Nancy, September 2, 1829 (she married Robert Sample, and they live in Washington, Penn.); Mary Ann, July 27, 1832 (died October 11, 1833); Jane, January 8, 1834 ( widow of Moses McKeag, and residing in Washington, Penn.); John Orr, January 25, 1836 (married Maria Wilson, and they live at West Alexander, Donegal township, this county); Mary Ann, May 31, 1838 (married Robert G. Taylor, and died in 1876); James, September 24, 1840 ( resides near Canonsburg, Penn.); Nathan R. (subject of these lines), and Emeline, June 17, 1850 ( she died September 15, 1851). The father of this family, who was a prominent man in his township, died September 18, 1878, in the eighty-seventh years of his age, the mother following him across the dark river May 2, 1880, when in her seventy - fifth year.
Nathan R. Tannehill was educated in the common schools, and graduated from Duff¹s Business College, in Pittsburgh, Penn. He was married November 7, 1877, to Miss Mary C. Sample, who was born in West Finley township, Washington Co., Penn., a daughter of Robert and Mary Elizabeth (Burns ) Sample, both also natives of West Finley township. Robert Sample was a son of David Sample, who came from County Derry, Ireland, and settled in what is now West Finley township, this county. Elizabeth (Burns) Sample was a daughter of David Burns, who was the son of Robert and Catherine (Sutherland) Burns, latter a daughter of George Sutherland, and both of whom were over seventy years of age at the time of their death. Mr. and Mrs. Nathan R. Tannehill after their marriage took up their permanent home on the farm in Chartiers township, which was will to him by his father. They have three children: Robert Nathan, born November 14, 1880; James Smiley, born July 24, 1883, and Newton Alexander, born September 23, 1886. The parents are members of the Chartiers U. P. Church at Canonsburg. Mr. Tannehill is a member of the National Delaine Merino Sheep Association, and is recognized as a leader among the agriculturists and stock breeders of the county. He owns 185 acres of well-cultivated land- 112 in one tract and seventy- three in another. In his political affiliations he is a staunch Republican.
Text taken from page 438 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed April 1997 by Thomas Shultz of Nashville, TN as part of the Beers Project.
Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]