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Below is a family biography included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
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ROBERT P. WATSON, lumber-merchant, Glenshaw, was born March 15, 1834, near Newport, R. I. The genealogy of the Watson family in New England dates back to colonial days, when the great-grandfather. Job Watson, was the largest landowner of Conanicut island, and a member of the gubernatorial council. His son, Robert Hazard Watson, was the father of Dr. Daniel Watson, one of the best-known physicians of that country. He married Sarah C. Arnold, and they had eight children. Of these our subject was educated in Rhode Island, and became a farmer there. He came to Pittsburgh in 1861, where he was a salesman seven years. In 1871 he took charge of the Glenshaw Coal company, and was superintendent until 1879. Since that time he has been engaged in farming and the lumber business. He married Ellen K., youngest daughter of T. W. Shaw. In the spring of 1879 Mr. and Mrs. Watson organized a Sabbath-school in the old Shaw sickle-factory, of which he was superintendent for seven years. He and Mrs. Watson were faithful workers in this labor of love, which was the foundation of the present flourishing Presbyterian Church.
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This family biography is one of 2,156 biographies included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.
View additional Allegheny County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Biographies
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