My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS VARNER (deceased) was born on a farm in Baldwin (then St. Clair) township, Aug. 12, 1799, and died on the same farm Aug. 22, 1883. His autograph, accompanying his portrait, to be found in this work, was written three days before his demise. His father, John Varner, came from Lancaster county, Pa. He was a soldier in the Revolution, and a gunsmith by trade, which fact saved his life during the whisky insurrection. When the insurgents burned Neville’s house, being opposed to them, Mr. Varner feared similar treatment; so, sending his family away, he loaded all his guns and awaited the attack, which never came, his services in his trade being valued by the insurgents. He married Mary Free, and four children were born to them: Thomas, Sarah, Christina and Phoebe. John Varner died at the age of seventy-six; his wife passed away Nov. 28, 1814, aged forty-eight years. The family were reared under strict Quaker tenets, to which Thomas adhered through life. He was a liberal contributor to churches, but never joined any. His strict integrity was proverbial. He was commissioned a justice of the peace by Gov. Shunk in 1830, and served continuously in that office the remainder of his life. No case was ever appealed to court from his office. Through his influence the township of Baldwin was erected.

Observing the cruelties and neglect imposed on paupers under the then existing system for their care, he set to work to secure the erection of a county home. He was president of the board that purchased the farm, superintended the erection of the home, and was many years on the board of managers. Mr. Varner was fond of the chase, and always kept some hounds. On the 23d of March, 1824, he married Mary, daughter of Henry Beltzhoover, who came, with his father, Melchior, from Hagerstown, Md., to Pittsburgh about the beginning of this century. Mrs. Varner died in 1831, leaving one child, Melchior, then two years old. As her dowry she received a slave-boy six years old, who now resides with the son in Pittsburgh. He is supposed to be the only living representative of Pennsylvania slavery. Melchior Varner married Matilda, daughter of Joseph McClurg, and their only child, Thomas M., died, aged nine years. Mr. Varner was a soldier in the civil war, and is a member of the G. A. R. and of the A. F. & A. M.