ELI TOMBAUGH, an energetic farmer of Somerset township, is a son of Matthias Tombaugh, who was born December 26, 1792, in Ohio, and in early life was united in marriage with Rachel Sphon, who was born April 2, 1807, in this county, and then reared the following children: Solomon (living in Washington, Penn.), John (a farmer of West Bethlehem township, this county). George (an agriculturist of Gage county, Neb.), Eli (whose name opens this sketch), Issac (living on the home farm) and Jacob (farming in Livingston county, Ill.) (twins), Adam (a grain dealer in Mulberry Grove, Ill.), Levina (who was married to Jacob Swagler, and died February 25, 1860), Mary (wife of A. J. Hildebrand, died August 10, 1877), and Matthias (who was drowned in the Illinois river in attempting to rescue a friend from the same fate). The father of this family died May 21, 1864. He was a member of the German Baptist Church, and in politics was a Republican. The mother died at the old homestead, May 17, 1892, at the advanced age of eighty-five years, a member of the German Baptist Church. Eli Tombaugh was born May 26, 1838 and was educated in the country schools near the home farm in Somerset township, this county. He enlisted in the Civil war in 1864, and after serving three months under Capt. H. H. Templeton, was honorably discharged. He then returned to rural occupations, and on February 21, 1865 was united in marriage with Rebecca Wise, who was born in 1836, a daughter of Joseph and Permelia (Bernard) Wise, who were the parents of the following children: Solomon, Morgan, Mary, Elizabeth, Rebecca (Mrs. Eli Tombaugh), Maria, Barbara, Joseph and Emily (deceased). Both parents are dead. The father was a Democrat in politics.
Mr. and Mrs. Eli Tombaugh had five children, namely: Joseph Allen, born January 7, 1866; Percy Matthias, born August 15, 1867; Walter Scott, born December 24, 1869; Eli Edwin, born April 14, 1873; and Cora Josephine, born January 23, 1876. The mother was a member of the Baptist Church. She died March 6, 1880, and on April 21, 1887, Mr. Tombaugh was married to Sarah Smith, who was born January 4, 1850, a daughter of Israel and Hannah Smith. Mr. Tombaugh owns 204 acres of excellent farm land, which is kept in a good state of cultivation. He takes an active interest in public matters, and votes the Republican ticket.
Text taken from page 742 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed February 1998 by Kathy McDowell of Philadelphia, PA 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]