W. A. VAN SCYOC is a native of East Finley township, this county, having been born there November 24, 1853. He is a grandson of Enoch Van Scyoc, who was born in eastern Pennsylvania, and came to Washington county in an early day, when the country had few settlers. He located in Pleasant Grove, in East Finley township, becoming prominently identified with the early history of the county, and there reared his family, but in later years removed to Greene county, Penn., locating near Jacktown, where he died in 1864. Jesse M. Van Scyoc was born January 29, 1823, near the present village of Pleasant Grove East Finley township, Washington Co., Penn., where he received very limited educational opportunities and assisted his father on the home farm until some time after his marriage. In 1845 he was married to Mary Rogers, who was born March 31, 1825, daughter of James Rogers, of Morris township, Washington county, and to their union children were born as follows: Phoebe Sibylline, born June 18, 1846, died July 6, 1853; John A., born October 21, 1848, died July 19, 1853; Mary Elizabeth, born January 30, 1851 (wife of George Moring, a glass manufacturer, living in Muncie, Ind.); W. A.; Lavina H., born October 6, 1856 (Mrs. B. F. Day, living in Bellaire, Ohio); James A., born August 13, 1859, died May 29, 1883; Mason V., born July 26, 1862 (a carpenter of Washington, Penn.); and Isadore Etoy, born January 9, 1866 (wife of Edward Reisher, a telegraph operator, living in Washington). Some time after his marriage Mr. Van Scyoc moved to a place near Prosperity, Morris township, this county, and conducted a gristmill several years. Afterward he embarked in mercantile business at Pleasant Grove, East Finley township, which he followed till 1876, then began farming on land which he afterward purchased, and several years later moved to Washington borough, same county, where he and his wife now live retired. W. A. Van Scyoc received a common-school education, and began mercantile business in his father's store at Pleasant Grove, which vocation he followed several years. On November 30, 1876 he was united in marriage with Maggie A. Ryan, who was born December 7, 1860, daughter of Joseph Ryan, of East Finley township, and their children were as follows: Gertrude E., born October 17, 1877; Ora B., born September 23, 1880; Maud W., born November 2, 1882; Letcher D., born March 8, 1886; an infant son (deceased), born January 24; 1889; and Vina Verbal, born January 24, 1890, all of whom remain at home. After his marriage Mr. Van Scyoc lived on and managed his father's farm several years; then, in 1881, he resumed mercantile business at Pleasant Grove, East Finley township, and disposing of that, in 1890 purchased the "Old Ryan farm," situated about one mile south of Pleasant Grove, where he yet resides, and where he successfully followed farming. He is a prominent member of the Republican party. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church at Pleasant Grove.

Text taken from page 1417 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]