Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, 1912


Playford Family Biography

The Playfords of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, descend from Dr. Robert William Playford, born in London, England, in 1799, came to Brownsville, Pennsylvania, in 1820, after graduating at Eaton and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of London. For forty years he practiced medicine and surgery in Fayette and adjoining counties. He excelled as a surgeon, and was called far and near on difficult cases. He was one of the most honored and respected men in his community, and prominent in all local enterprises. He was a member of the Episcopal church, and active in its work. He married, about 1830, Margaret A. Shaw, of Fayette county. Children: 1. Robert W., became a prominent physician of Venango county, Pennsylvania; married a Miss Fox. 2. Harriet, died unmarried. 3. Sophia, married Captain William Parkinson, and lived until death at Monongahela City, Pennsylvania. 4. Amanda, married Rev. Dr. David Kennedy, of Philadelphia, whom she survives; their son, R. P. Kennedy, is an attorney at Uniontown. 5. William H., of whom further.

(II) William H., youngest child of Dr. Robert W. and Margaret A. (Shaw) Playford, was born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, August 21, 1833, died in Uniontown, September 23, 1903. He attended the public schools until fifteen years of age, then attended Dunlap's Creek Academy for two years. In 1851 he entered the sophomore class at Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, whence he was graduated with honors in the class of 1854. In the fall of that year he was appointed principal of Waterproof Academy, Tensas Parish, Louisiana, continuing one year, then returning home and entering the law offices of Judge Nathaniel Ewing, at Uniontown. He continued his law studies until September, 1857, when he was admitted to the Fayette county bar. He at once began the practice of his profession. He was very popular, and in 1859 was elected district attorney of Fayette county, being the regular nominee of the Democratic party. He served through the trying years of 1861 and 1862, being war years, and especially laborious ones. He then retired to private practice and became a leading light at the Fayette bar. From 1862 until his retirement there were few important criminal or civil cases tried in the county that he was not connected with professionally. His first important case was as assistant to the commonwealth in the prosecution of Henry B. Mallaby, charged with the murder of Joseph Epply at a political meeting in Smithfield, Fayette county, in 1863; this was a celebrated case on account of the intense partisan feeling evinced at the trial. A remarkable case in which Mr. Playford was counsel for the defense was that of Mary Houseman, charged with the murder of her husband; he secured her acquittal in spite of the confession of an accomplice who was convicted and hung. He was always an active worker in the Democratic party, and in 1867 was elected to the house of assembly, and in 1868 was re-elected. In 1872 he was elected state senator for the counties of Fayette and Greene, serving three years on general, judiciary and finance committees. In 1874 he was commissioned by the governor of Pennsylvania in connection with Chief Justice Agnew, United States Senator W. A. Wallace, Benjamin Harris Brewster, later attorney general of the United States, to consider and propose amendments to the new state constitution. He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Baltimore in 1872, and opposed the nomination of Horace Greeley for president. He was presidential elector in 1880, and frequently a delegate to state conventions of his party, presiding as chairman over the Lancaster convention of 1876. He continued in active practice until his death, being assisted in his later years by his son, Robert W. (2), also a member of the Fayette county bar. He was regarded as a most excellent counsellor and advocate, his practice being very large outside his criminal cases. He was learned in the law and most skillful in its application. His power with a jury was very great, and as a public, speaker on any subject he was most pleasing and eloquent.

He married, October 23, 1861, Ellen C., daughter of Solomon G. Krepps, of Brownsville, Pennsylvania. She survives her husband, and is a resident of Uniontown, at No. 47 Morgantown street. She is a grand-daughter of John Krepps, born in Germany, came to America and settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where his son Solomon G. was born January 27, 1793, and who died July 14, 1833. Solomon G., married, November 3, 1816, Cassandra Speers, born November 14, 1796, died February 19, 1855, in Brownsville, Pennsylvania. Their children: 1. Nancy Maria, born February 19, 1818; married, January 21, 1846, John Walker, a merchant who lived at Elizabeth, Pennsylvania; they are the parents of John Brisben Walker, now of Denver, Colorado. 2. Mary Eliza, born June 29, 1821; married February 4, 1841, William Bailey; she died at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, December 11, 1853. 3. Louise, born November 24, 1823, died aged fourteen months. 4. Bolivar, born January 14, 1826, died in California, in 1850. 5. John S., born June 25, 1829, died November 28, 1873; married, January 1, 1856, Eliza Thornton. 6. Rebecca L., born June 13, 1831, deceased; married, March 8, 1866, William H. Shouse, and lived in Cincinnati, Ohio. 7. Ellen C. (of previous mention) the only living member of the family, and widow of William H. Playford. She resides at No. 47 Morgantown street, Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Children of William H. and Ellen C. Playford : 1. Pauline, died aged twenty-four years; married Sidney C. Cary, of Baltimore, Maryland. 2. Robert W. (3), of whom further. 3. Blanche, married Edgar Boyle of Uniontown. 4. Charles, married Mary Vickery, and lives in Uniontown. 5. Krepps, died in 1873, aged six months.

(III) Robert W. (3), eldest son of William H. and Ellen C. (Krepps) Playford, was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1865. His father, a man of scholarly attainments, gave him every encouragement to obtain a good education, and after passing through the public schools he prepared for college at the "Hills school," Pottstown, Pennsylvania, then entered Yale University, whence he was graduated after taking the liberal arts course, class of 1887. After leaving the university he studied law under the preceptorship of his father, and in December, 1889, was admitted to the Fayette county bar. From 1890 to 1894 Mr. Playford practiced his profession at Middleboro, Kentucky, having been admitted to the courts of that state. In 1894 he returned to Uniontown, and in association with his father practiced law until the death of the latter. Since then he has practiced alone, having a well established and lucrative business, specializing in corporation law. He is attorney for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in Fayette county, and for other corporations. He has important business interests outside his profession. He is a director of the Fayette Title and Trust Company, director and vice-president of the Uniontown Water Company, and interested in several other Uniontown activities. He is a vestryman of St. Peter 's Episcopal Church, and in politics, a Democrat. He was one of the leading organizers of the Uniontown Country Club, and was its first secretary and treasurer and a potent factor in the success the club has attained. He is a leader in social circles, and a most highly cultured, affable gentleman, dignified and courteous in manner, and highly regarded by his friends and associates.

Source: Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1912.





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