Joseph Willison and Elizabeth Black

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Husband Joseph Willison ¹

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           Born: 24 Aug 1823 - near Noblestown, Allegheny Co, PA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1893
         Buried: 

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         Father: Isaac Willison (      -Abt 1837) 2
         Mother: Martha Long (      -1823) 2

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       Marriage: 12 Feb 1850 3

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   Other Spouse: Anna Lyons (      -      ) 3 - 22 Jun 1854 3

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Wife Elizabeth Black ⁴

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 4 Mar 1853 3
         Buried: 

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         Father: William Black (1802-1866) 5 6
         Mother: Eleanor Manifold (1804-1885) 6 7

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Children

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1 F Anna Belle Willison ³

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           Born: 9 Jan 1851 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 30 Apr 1880 3
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Charlie Jones (      -      ) 3

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2 F Ellen Clara Willison ³

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           Born: 2 Jan 1852 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 30 Oct 1852 3
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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3 F Lizzie Willison ³

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           Born: 23 Feb 1853 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 31 Aug 1877 3
         Buried: 

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General Notes: Husband - Joseph Willison

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He was born near Noblestown, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and when yet a boy hired out as a farm hand for one year at $7 per month. His mother died when he was but two days old, and at the age of fourteen years he was left an orphan. At the end of his first year's work on the farm he made another bargain, and worked on a farm the following six years for $10 per month, the highest wages then received. His education was obtained at the subscription school, Moon township, Allegheny County, and the Moore school, near Hickory, this county, where he received instruction at the rate of 2 cents per day-not being a regularly enrolled student. A hard life was that of the homeless orphan lad, but bravely, uncomplainingly, he struggled on, rewarded at last for his indomitable spirit of persevering industry. At the age of twenty-one years he went to work in a flouring mill at Canonsburg for $10 per month, with his Uncle Butler Willison (who was a cousin of Gen. Ben. Butler), remaining there until he had learned the business. He then went to Patton's mill, working there two years for $12 per month. In 1849 he returned to Canonsburg and took charge of the flour mill (owned by James Berry) on shares. At that time the mill was not paying expenses, but when, fourteen years later, he retired on account of ill health, they were doing a very prosperous business, and 10,000 bushels of grain were in the mill.
In the year 1863 he purchased a farm of 127 acres, situated one mile west of Houstonville, Chartiers township, Washington County, Pennsylvania. This place was under-laid with a heavy vein of coal, and contained some of the best buildings within the limits of Washington county. In 1886 Mr. Willison sustained a very heavy loss by fire, his barn and grain being utterly destroyed; but he, at once, erected a new barn with the best modern improvements, costing him over $3,000. He dealt very extensively in stock, having first invested in breeding the Black-Top Dickson sheep, which became his favorite breed. He was very successful in that special department of stock raising, and the demand for his sheep was greater than the supply. He sold at various prices, always realizing a hand-some profit from his stock, which was of the finest quality, all being registered. In political opinion he was a Whig and a Republican, and after the organization of the "Prohibition party" was one of its most ardent devotees, casting the first and only vote in his district. He also favored woman's suffrage, and was interested in all the progressive and educational movements of the day. In 1851 he united with the Presbyterian Church, and twelve years later joined the United Presbyterian Society at Canonsburg, with which his wife was also identified.

1 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 329, 813.

2 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 329.

3 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 330.

4 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 813.

5 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 812.

6 Joseph F. McFarland, 20th Century History of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1910), Pg 781.

7 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 812, 1364.