Washington Pa. Bios Part 2

More Washington Co. Beers: Hoffman p. 1079 John J. Hoffman, p. 
1079
      JOHN J. HOFFMAN, a representative, wide-awake successful agriculturist of 
Amwell township, was born January 24, 1856, in Washington township, Greene 
county, Pennsylvania. His grandfather, George Hoffman, came to Greene county 
at an early day, and took up 250 acres of land. He married a Miss Frye, and
they had three sons and four daughters, as  follows: 
             Peter (deceased), George, Abraham, Mahala (Mrs. McCarl), Sarah 
(Mrs. Cameron), Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Eliza Hedley. Mr. Hoffman was a successful 
business man, and in his political predilections always upheld the principles 
of the Democratic party. 
            George Hoffman, son of George, was born April 2, 1817, in 
Washington township, Green county, Pennsylvania, and received his education 
in the common schools. Although his educational opportunities were limited, 
he was an earnest Bible student, making himself familiar with all its truths. 
He was united in marriage with Susan Stegner, of Greene county, Pennsylvania, 
who formerly lived near Philadelphia, and the following children were born to 
them: Jane (Mrs. Ross Johns), George, Thomas and John J. 
            Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Hoffman began farming for 
himself, which vocation he followed very successfully, and in connection 
engaged to a considerable extent in sheep raising. At one time he had about 
1,450 acres of land in his own name, after giving his sons a generous 
portion to start them in life. He is not a politician, but has held several 
offices of trust in the township. In religious faith, he is a member 
of the Baptist Church, and has been one of the most faithful workers in 
that body. John J. Hoffman passed his earlier years at home, working on 
the farm in summer, and attending the common school during the winter. He 
attended the academy at Jefferson, Greene County, one term. On November 
16, 1876, he was married to Miss Alice Swart, who was born April 20, 1857, 
in Amwell township, this County, a daughter of George and Elizabeth 
Swart, and to this union has come one son, George Clarence, born May 8, 1886. 
Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman settled on the farm 
adjoining his father's in Greene county, Pennsylvania (formerly owned by 
Samuel Braden), and remained there until the fall of 1890. They then removed 
to the farm of 182 acres in Amwell township, this  county, where they now 
reside. Mr. Hoffman is also the owner of 287 acres in Greene county. 
He and his family are honored and useful members of the Baptist Church, 
and in politics he is a straight Democrat, liberal in his views, and voting 
more for principle than for political influence.
       Text taken from page 1079 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative 
Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers 
& Co., 1893). 

Beers:  Martin p. 1019 Morgan Martin, p. 1019   
        MORGAN MARTIN, a native of West Bethlehem, and now a citizen of 
Amwell township, is a descendant of Zephaniah Martin, a blacksmith 
and a member of the Presbyterian Church, who came with his 
wife and 
family from Morris county, New Jersey, about the year 1786. His son, James 
Martin (grandfather of our subject), married Anna McMyrtre, in New Jersey. 
Securing a patent for 200 acres of land, they located in West Bethlehem 
township, this county. They had children born to them as follows: 
Thomas  Martin (married Mary Bradbury in 1821, died September, 1851, aged 
sixty-five years, leaving three children: John M., residing in Greene county, 
Penn.; Thomas, who died in Missouri in February, 1892, and David, 
residing in Kansas); Joseph (of whom a sketch is given below); Zephaniah 
(a blacksmith, married Belle Hood, to whom were born John and Anna, all 
of whom are dead); Jane (married Joseph Dunn died, June 13, 1863, aged 
seventy-two); Joseph Dunn (died December 15, 1865, aged seventy-seven, 
leaving seven children: Washington (dead ), James, Morgan L., Joseph, 
William (dead), Anna and John); Sarah (married David Bowman, who removed 
to Ashland county, Ohio, in 1829, where eight children were born, of 
whom no recent account is at hand); Elizabeth (married Stephen Jewell in 
1822, and removed to Ohio in 1828; they had nine children: 
James (deceased), Jonathan and Joseph (reside in Ohio), John Martin 
(deceased), Mary A. (deceased), A. J. Jewell (residing in Iowa), Jacob (residing 
in Kansas), Patience (deceased), and Sarah J., deceased). Mrs. Elizabeth 
Jewell died in 1844. The mother of this large family died in 1800. Mr. 
Martin afterward married Katherine Moore, with whom he resided on the farm 
until the time of his death in 1827. Joseph Martin (father of our subject) 
was born on the farm in West Bethlehem township, March 15, 1790, and spent 
his early years attending school in the winter and working on the farm 
in the summer. He married Elizabeth Hayden, who died shortly after without 
issue. He next married Nancy Iams, of Amwell township, December 27, 1821, 
living at Iams' Mills. John Iams, the maternal grandfather of Morgan 
Martin, came to Washington county, from Maryland, about 1776, and purchased 
of a Mr. Keys the property, formerly known as Iams' Mills (now Bissell P. 
O.), which had been previously patented by a Mr. Kelsey. Mr. Iams and his 
wife, whose maiden name was Hampson, walked and carried all their worldly 
possessions from Maryland to Pennsylvania; but being a miller and millwright, 
he prospered, purchased an old mill on the site of the one now owned by Morgan 
Martin, and tearing it down erected a new building, where he continued to 
follow his vocation the remainder of his life. In addition to the mill 
property Mr. Iams owned about 300 acres of land, and was very successful 
in business. 
     He died July 4, 1823, leaving the following named children: William Iams 
(married Delilah Meek, died April 4, 1869, aged seventy-seven years; she 
died September 6, 1876, aged ninety-three years, leaving ten children: 
Miller, John H., Elisha, Thomas, Isaac, William, Delilah, Mary, Abraham and 
Rachel); John Iams (died April 30, 1846, aged thirty-four years and six months); 
Nancy (who married Joseph Martin); Charity (wife of John D. Smith, died 
January 19, 1876, aged seventy-seven years). Her husband died March 12, 
1876, aged eighty-one years, leaving the following children: Martin, Thomas 
(deceased), Amos, John, Joseph, Nathan, William, Freeman, Elizabeth, 
Nancy, and Ira (deceased). Sarah, wife of William H. Hathaway, died April 
15, 1838, aged thirty-four years and six months. Mary married Moses Smith, 
died September 5, 1859, aged fifty- nine years four months and five days. 
Moses Smith died September 14, 1848, aged forty-one years ten months and 
twenty-eight days. They had children born to them as follows:
John (who died in the army, at the battle of Fair Oaks), Moses, Joseph and 
Sarah (Mrs. Huffman).  
       Joseph Martin owned 280 acres of land. In politics he was a Democrat, 
and though not a politician, took an active interest in securing good local 
government. He died December 25, 1850, aged sixty years, nine months and 
ten days. Mrs. Martin was a member of the Baptist Church, and died in that 
faith on January 21, 1879, aged eighty-four years and eleven days. The 
record of Joseph and Nancy (Iams) Martin's children is as follows: 
Morgan, born October 19, 1823; Elizabeth I., November 24, 1825, died December 
13, 1825; John I., February 8, 1828, died November 8, 1892; Joseph, April 
2, 1831, died May 13, 1853; Anna, July 23, 1833; and Sarah, February 1, 
1836, all of whom were born in West Bethlehem township. 
        John I. married Elizabeth Barr November 30, 1851, and to them children 
were born as follows: 
Joseph (deceased), Sarah (Mrs. Keys), A. Jackson, Martha, Samuel and C. W.  
Martin, who reside on the farm located by their grandfather in West Bethlehem, 
Anna married A. P. VanDyke January 25, 1855. To them were born:
Leroy M., Nancy (Mrs. Swart), Elizabeth (Mrs. Bebout), Kate M., Hannah C. 
(Mrs. Allen, deceased), Thomas and Florence A. Van Dyke. Sarah married Neal 
Zollars November 7, 1860. They had eight children: 
George, Joseph, Nancy (deceased), Ezekiel (deceased), Grant, Kate, Elmira, 
and Martha Zollars. 
       Morgan Martin, son of Joseph and Nancy (Iams) Martin, was born October 
19, 1823, and remained on the farm until twenty-seven years of age. About 
1850 he began the milling business at Martin's Mills (now Bissell post 
office), of which he is postmaster, which business he has ever since followed 
with success. On September 18, 1856, he was united in marriage with Anna 
Reese, daughter of Thomas and Anna (Sunderland) Reese, of West Bethlehem 
township. To Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Martin have been born eight children, 
namely: Sanford, born June 18, 1857, married Alice Bigler March 9, 1882, 
and died September 5, 1889, at Tacoma, State of Washington; Eliza Jane, 
born December 19, 1859, married October 13, 1883, William S. Bigler (she 
died August 22, 1887, leaving two children, Israel G., born August 11, 
1884, and Estella, born February 11, 1887); William R., born December 28,
1862; Anna, born December 17, 1864; Sarah, born June 8, 1867; Nancy, born 
August 12, 1869; Mary Ellen, born September 6, 1872, died December 30, 
1885, and Lucinda, born October 10, 1874. 
       Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Martin, with their family, belong to  the M. E. 
Church. Politically he is a Democrat, though not a politician. He commenced 
keeping a general store in 1876, and continues to operate both mill and 
store with marked success. He built the residence in which he now resides 
in 1854, and erected the store in 1880, in which is carried on his mercantile 
business and the business of the Bissell post office. The brothers and 
sisters of Thomas Reese are: 
Jesse, Solomon, William, James, Rachel (Mrs. Fisher), Nancy (Mrs. Egy), 
Sally (Mrs. McCormick), and Sena (Mrs. Scott). 
       The record of the children of Thomas Reese and Anna Sunderland Reese 
is as follows: 
William Reese (married Matilda Mikesel, and had born to them: James, Henry, 
Nancy (Mrs. Miller), Frank, Elsworth, Effie and Ida, the most of whom reside 
in Illinois. By his second wife he has two children). Henry Reese (married 
Catherine Argo, had born to them Semantha (Mrs. Cole), William, Addie (Mrs. 
Routh), Jennie, Lyman, and Oran. 
      By his second wife he had three children, all residing in  Illinois). Sarah 
(married Samuel Braden; their children are named as follows: John Newton 
(deceased), Leroy, Flora  (Mrs. Sharp), Mary Ellen (deceased), Martha, Anna 
(Mrs. Shrontz), Rebecca (Mrs. Gray), William, Henry, Sarah and Samuel B. 
Braden, all residents of this county). Rebecca  (married John Ferrell; their 
children are: Elizah, Henry, John S., Jerry, Joseph, A. J., Harvey, Lizzie 
(Mrs. Keller), Mary (Mrs. Smith), part of whom reside in Iowa, the rest are 
residents of Nebraska). Isabell (married A. J. Grable, and had born to them: 
Emerson, Laura, Alvin, Mary, Will, Oscar, Anna, Edward and Lizzie, the 
most of whom reside in Kansas). Anna (married Morgan Martin as already 
related). Nancy (married Albert Clarke, and to them were born Alice and 
William, who reside in Kansas). Mary (married A. J. Garrett, and had born to 
them Zadie (Mrs. Woodhead), Nora (Mrs. Glogan), Jackson, Martin R., and Daisy. 
They are residents of Kansas). Lucinda (married Cyrus Critchfield, and 
to their union was born one son, Sanford Critchfield, who resides at
Denver, Colo.). Thomas Reese married Martha Thomas, and  had born to their 
union Anna, John, William, Archibald, Charles and Georgia May, all residents 
of Coal Centre, this county.   
      Text taken from page 1019 of:  Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative 
Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & 
Co., 1893). 

Beers: McAdam p. 626
D. J. McAdam, p 626
	D. J. McADAM, professor of mathematics in Washington and Jefferson 
College, is a native of the Buckeye State, born August 2, 1843, in Moorefield 
township, Harrison county, a son of John and Susan (Dunlap) McAdam, worthy 
farming people of that township; the latter a daughter of John and Nancy 
Dunlap, of Harrison county. They were the parents of children as follows: 
Nancy, Eliza and Mary (Mrs. John Compher), deceased; Sarah, Mrs. John Lewis; 
Rebecca, Mrs. Samuel Willoughby; George; D. J. and Margaret (Mrs. James 
Glasgow). The mother of this family reparted this life in 1849, and for his 
second wife Mr. McAdam married, in 1851, Harriet Linn, of Harrison county, 
Ohio, by whom there was no issue. 
       Mr. McAdam died in 1852; he had been a consistent member of the Union 
Church from his youth up, and for some years was an elder in the same; politically 
he was a straight Democrat, socially a man of public spirit and enterprise, 
popular and generally respected. 
      D. J. McAdam was reared to farm work, his education being had at the 
common schools of his native township, where he proved an apt and diligent 
scholar and from early life he evinced a strong penchant for study and 
literature. After leaving school, he spent one year in Franklin college, and 
then entered Washington and Jefferson College, from which he graduated 
with honor in 1868. His education being now completed, he assumed the 
role of educator, his first school being at Harlem Springs, Carroll Co., 
Ohio, whence, after a year he came to Canonsburg, this county, in which 
learned town he remained one year, in the capacity of tutor. He then moved 
to Cadiz, Ohio, and entered the office of Lawyer Estep, with whom he 
remained one year, at the end of which time he was appointed principal of 
the schools of Carrollton, Ohio, his incumbency covering three years; the 
public schools at that place had just been  opened, and the work of grading, 
by virtue of his position, fell on him. In 1873 our subject accepted the 
chair of Latin in Washington and Jefferson College, but at the end of one 
year was transferred to the chair of mathematics, in the same college, 
which he now fills. 
      On July 8, 1875, Prof. McAdam was married to Kate, daughter of 
Capt. Alexander Wishart, of Washington, Penn., and four children were the 
result of this union, as follows:  
Alexander (deceased), Dunlap, John and Kate. His wife died May 8, 1882. 
      Our subject married in May, 1888, Rebecca, daughter of John D. Braden, 
and two children have come to further bless their home - Braden and George. 
Prof. McAdam, in his political associations, is an ardent Democrat, and 
in religion is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Washington.   
     Text taken from page 626 of:  Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative 
Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers 
& Co., 1893). 

Beers: McCorkle p. 1049 John McCorkle, p. 1049   
     JOHN McCORKLE, (deceased). The subject of this biographical sketch was a 
son of Thomas McCorkle, who was born and raised in Adams county, Penn., and 
there married Esther Terrell, a resident of the same county. They moved 
to Washington county, Penn., in the year 1810, purchasing a large farm 
in Cross Creek township. Their family consisted of six children, namely: 
Robert (died unmarried), Margaret (Mrs. Thomas Ritchey), John (the subject 
of this sketch), Frances (died unmarried), Jane (wife of Charles Phillip) and 
Thomas (who married Margaret Welch), are dead. The father followed 
farming, and in politics voted the Democratic ticket. He was a ruling elder 
of the Associate, now United Presbyterian Church, at West Middletown. 
John McCorkle was born June 4, 1803, in Adams county, Penn., and removed when 
quite young with his parents to Washington county, where he was reared and 
educated. He was first married January 14, 1834, to Mary McCorkle, of 
Somerset township, Washington Co., Penn. They had one son, Thomas B. 
Her death occurred May 25, 1836, and on May 12, 1842, he chose for his second 
wife Mary, daughter of David B. Hay. David was a son of John Hay, who 
was born in Scotland, and there married, in 1777, Anna Burns, a near relative 
of the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns. The following children were 
born to John and Anna (Burns) Hay: John, Alexander, James, Ephraim and 
David B., Jane (Mrs. John McKimman), Anna (Mrs. Thomas Struthers), 
Catherine (wife of Robert Braden), Elizabeth (Mrs. James Harper), Mary 
(wife of Archibald Harper). 
     The family emigrated to America, but during the voyage two  sons died 
and the ocean was their winding sheet. After arriving in America they first 
settled in Lancaster county, Penn. Then the family settled permanently on 
Miller's run, in Cecil township, where they lost two more sons in youth, 
immediately after their settlement. Mr. Hay was a Democrat, and in religion a 
ruling elder of the Seceder Church for many years. David B. Hay was born in 
1785 in Lancaster County, Penn., and received his education at his home in 
Washington county. He was united in marriage, in early life, with Mary, 
daughter of Patrick McCullough. Their children were Anna (Mrs. Henry Donnell), 
Mary (wife of John McCorkle), Elizabeth, Jane (Mrs. Robert Scott) and 
Hannah (died in infancy). The father followed farming. Politically 
he was a Democrat, and served as justice of the peace for several terms. 
He was a member of the Associate Reformed Church until his death in 1873, in 
his eighty-seventh year. He was preceded to the grave by his wife, who 
died in 1865, being then eighty-one years of age.
      John and Mary (Hay) McCorkle had no children. He was an active and 
progressive citizen. Politically he was a Democrat, and religiously 
a ruling elder in the U. P. Church until his death on July 18, 1863. Mrs. 
Mary McCorkle, his widow, resides at West Middletown. 
      Text taken from page 1049 of:  Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative 
Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers 
& Co., 1893).