My Genealogy Hound

JACOB F. FERREE, retired farmer, post office Coraopolis, was born Feb. 24, 1824, on the old homestead at Coraopolis. His grandfather, Jacob Ferree, a Huguenot, born in France, came to Lancaster county, Pa.; he was twice married, and by his first wife, whom he married in France, he had three sons: Joel, a colonel in the war of 1812; Benjamin and Jacob; and two daughters, who died young. After the death of his first wife he married Alice Powell, by whom he had four sons and three daughters: Isaac, Mary, Lavina, Jacob, Olive and William P. Jacob Ferree, Sr., moved from Lancaster county to the mouth of Peters creek, Allegheny county, and in 1800 purchased 330 acres of land where Coraopolis now stands. In the fall of that year he, with his sons, built a house, and following spring his family moved here. On the day after their arrival Joel Ferree, a brother of Jacob, Sr., came here and went up on the hill back of the house to kill a deer, and soon called to his brother to bring up a horse, saying that he had killed a deer. On arriving with the horse, a few moments later, Jacob found the dead body of his brother, who had in the meantime been killed and scalped by the Indians. Jacob Ferree died here in 1807, aged fifty-seven years. He was a powder-manufacturer and gunsmith, and it is said was the first to manufacture powder east of the Alleghenies. William P. Ferree, youngest son of Jacob, Sr., and Alice (Powell) Ferree, was born at the mouth of Peters creek, and was but four years old when his parents moved to the old farm at Coraopolis, where he lived and died. He married Mary Stoddard, and they had five sons and two daughters: Jacob F.; Margaret E., wife of Andrew Shafer; Robert S., George M., William K. (deceased), who was a soldier in the civil war and died from exposure; Sanford H., of New Bedford, Pa., and Mary O., married to R. B. Young. Jacob F. Ferree married, March 29, 1849, Nancy Phillips, who was born in Robinson township, a daughter of William and Susannah (Neely) Phillips. He settled on a part of the old farm, where he has since remained. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. They have following-named children: John W., a merchant in Allegheny, Pa.; Mary J., wife of James McCague; William A., farmer, at Coraopolis; Robert B., M. D., in Allegheny, Pa.; Sarah L. and Lily E.. at home. Mr. Ferree has held various local offices of trust, was elected justice of the peace in 1884, and is now auditor for the borough of Coraopolis; has also been school director and supervisor.