John Quinn (1816 - abt. 1905)

Born May 1816 in Robinson Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Descendants

Died about Mar 1905 at about age 88 in McDonald, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Biography

From Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania:

John Quinn. second son of Hugh Quinn, of Wales, was born in Robinson township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in May, 1816, died in March, 1905. His boyhood and youth were spent on the paternal farm in Robinson township, and in the public schools acquiring a good education. He learned the carpenter's trade during his minority, working under his father's instructions. He, however, had a love for the soil and as soon as he was of legal age abandoned his trade and began farming, renting a farm near his parents. Later he inherited a part of the homestead and until crippled by an accident was engaged in cultivating his own acres. This accident occurred when he was thirty-five years of age, and for several years thereafter he could do little active work, but was employed as toll-gate keeper on the Steubenville pike. He later moved to Pittsburgh and worked at his trade, but four years later returned to his farm on which he resided for some years, but at his death was living in McDonald, Pennsylvania. Both he and his wife were members of the United Presbyterian Church. He married Jane Johnson, born in Finley township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in 1823, died in 1903, daughter of William and Margaret (Adams) Johnson, William Johnson was born in county Down, Ireland, coming to the United States when eighteen years of age. settling in Pittsburgh, later in Robinson township, living on a rented farm. About 1S55 he moved to Macon county. West Virginia, purchasing a farm of one hundred and sixty, acres there. He was a large able bodied man. a strong Union sympathizer but had little trouble with his Southern neighbors as there were many Unionists in the county. Both he and his wife were United Presbyterians. He married Margaret Adams, born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, one of the early prominent families of the county. He died aged eighty-three years ; she at the age of eighty-six years. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson: i. Margaret, married William Hill, of Macon county. West Virginia. 2. Elizabeth, died unmarried, aged twenty-five years. 3. Thomas, married in West Virginia, and owned a farm in Macon county. 4. Susanna, married William Harper, of Washington county, Pennsylvania. 5. Frances, married Rev. Louis Greenlee, a minister of tlie Methodist Episcopal Church, of West Virginia. 6. Jane, married John Quinn, of previous mention. 7. James, served three years in the Union army, as a cavalryman, died unmarried in 1868. Children of John and Jane (Johnson) Quinn: i. Hugh, a farmer and carpenter of Robinson township, now deceased. 2. William Johnson, of further mention. 3. Minerva, married Louis Lauer, now a prosperous farmer of Beaver county, Pennsylvania. 4. Louis, a painter by trade, residing near Danville, Virginia, where he also conducts a small store. 5. John, died of scarlet fever, aged twelve years. 6. Margaret, also a victim of scarlet fever, died at the age of ten years. 7. Bella G., a school teacher, died in 1889.

From History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania:

William J. Quinn, contractor, postoffice Bonney, son of John and Jane Quinn, was born in Robinson township, Allegheny county, in 1844.

John, born in 1814, was reared on the farm and learned the trade of carpenter, which he still follows. He married Jane, daughter of William and Jane Johnson, and their children are Hugh, William J., Minerva (wife of Lewis Sarwer), Lewis B. and Isabella, John and Maggie (all three deceased).

Sources

• Jordan, John W. Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (Lewis Historical Pub. Co., New York, 1915, Vol. 2)
• Cushing, Thomas History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Part II (A. Warner & Co.., Chicago, 1889, p. 691)