Judge Abraham Wotring, p. 1070

JUDGE ABRAHAM WOTRING (deceased) was a prominent gentleman of Washington county, and a representative of an old pioneer family. His father, Abraham Wotring, was a descendant of French Huguenots, who sailed from France in the days of religious persecution, to find a home where they might worship God according to the dictates of conscience only, and in free America they found the object of their quest. He was born in York county, Penn., from whence he removed to Hagerstown, Md., and there purchased a large tract of land upon which he lived for some years. He then located in Washington county, Penn., on a part of the present site of Washington borough, some time later moving to the home farm now occupied by his descendants. He erected a mill and storeroom, built an addition to the house, and opened a milling business in connection with conducting the store and farm. Mr. Wotring entered the Revolutionary war at the beginning of the conflict, serving until the close. In politics he was a very influential Democrat. One son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Wotring, Abraham.

Abraham Wotring was born in 1804 in Maryland, coming to Washington county, Penn., when but ten years of age. He assisted his father in the extensive business which he conducted, and in 1824 was united in marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Jonathan Rahauser, one of the first ministers of the German Reformed Church, of Hagerstown, Md. Some years after the marriage of her daughter, Mrs. Rahauser, being a widow, removed with her family to Washington county, Penn., bringing with them one of the first pianos ever brought over the mountains. People came from many miles around to hear the wonderful music, and see the unusual curiosity which is yet in the possession of the family. Mr. Wotring inherited the land and extensive business owned by his father, who died soon after the marriage of the former. Mr. Wotring sold the greater portion of the land, reserving about 250 acres of the best to his own use, and continuing to conduct the mill and store. To Abraham and Elizabeth (Rahauser) Wotring were born the following children: Mary (Mrs. Pointlexter, of Pittsburgh, Penn.), Abraham (living at home), Jonathan (a physician of Newark, Ohio), Katherine (Mrs. Howard, of Allegheny), Elizabeth (living on the home farm), Amelia (also residing at home), Frederick (a minister of Rawlins, Wyoming), Rosanna (Mrs. Clark, of Washington, D. C.), Francis L. (living on the home place), Dr. Louisa Lyle (of Cincinnati, Ohio) and Cornelia (Mrs. Conger, of Clinton, Iowa).

After conducting the mill for a number of years Mr. Wotring closed it, and dividing it into rooms, opened an academy which flourished for some time. In politics he was originally a Democrat, but afterward joined the Republican party. He served as postmaster for some time, was justice of the peace for several years, and was twice elected associate judge of Washington county. He was a leading citizen, being called upon for advice and counsel in many important matters. In religious faith he was a member and trustee of the Presbyterian Church at Buffalo, this county. He died in 1874.

Text taken from page 1070 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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