Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, 1912


Waggoner Family Biography

The progenitor of the Waggoners of Brownsville, Pennsylvania, was George Waggoner, born in Germany, coming to this country about 1750 and settling in Southfield, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, later moving to a farm seven miles from Greensburg, where he died. He married and left issue. There are many branches of this family tree, and this name is found as Wagner, Wagoner and Waggoner, all descending from the German emigrant, George Waggoner.

(II) Joshua, son of George Waggoner, was born on the farm near Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, 1780, died in Redstone township, Fayette county, in 1877. He came to Fayette county in 1797, and was a farmer of Jefferson and Redstone townships until his death. He married, in 1798, Rebecca Norcross, born in New Jersey, died in Redstone township in 1866. He was a Whig in politics, later a Republican. In religious faith he was a Presbyterian and helped to organize the Brownsville congregation of that denomination, Children: Lewis, George, of whom further; Mary, William, Nancy, Margaret, widow of Andrew Smith and now living in Brownsville; Josiah, of Texas; Jonathan, who died in 1911; two who died unnamed.

(III) George, son of Joshua and Rebecca (Norcross) Waggoner, was born in Jefferson township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, January 28, 1822, died in 1902. He was a farmer; in 1851 he moved to Brownsville, where he was engaged in the butcher business. He enlisted in 1861 in Company D, Eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves, served three years and was mustered out with honorable discharge at Harrisburg at the close of his term of enlistment. Part of his service was in charge of wagon transportation as wagon master. In the same company was his son Oliver A., a lad of sixteen years, who served until the close of the war. George Waggoner was a member of the Baptist church, and politically a Republican. In early life he affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married, November 17, 1843, Mary M., born July 9, 1821, in Redstone township, daughter of Rev. George B. and Elizabeth (Lynch) Craft. Children: 1. Oliver A., born August 22, 1844; served as stated in the civil war, now an engineer for the Carnegie Company at Pittsburgh. 2. Andrew C., born January 31, 1846, died 1906. 3. Isabel, born December 26, 1848; married John W. Watkins, of Pittsburgh. 4. Henry J., born October 28, 1849; now an engineer of Pittsburgh. 5. Levi Craft, of whom further. 6. Elizabeth A., born October 15, 1854; married Charles Gaskill, of Pittsburgh. 7. Mary M., born November 8, 1856; married Oliver C. Garwood, of Brownsville. 8. George H., born February 18, 1861; now a private detective of Pittsburgh.

(IV) Levi Craft, son of George and Mary M. (Craft) Waggoner, was born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, December 28, 1851. He was educated in the public school, and after completing his studies learned the trade of marble cutter with M. and T. S. Wright, of Brownsville. After working at his trade there for ten years he spent two years at Pittsburgh, and then returned to Brownsville. In 1880 he opened a grocery store in Brownsville, continuing successfully twenty-two years. He then sold out and for three years engaged in contracting, then opened a dry goods store in Brownsville, continuing five years until his retirement from business in 1911. He was one of the organizers of the Brownsville Natural Gas Company, which he later served as president, and has been prominently connected with the business and public life of his town, serving as burgess, school director and assessor. He has been active in party work, serving as county committeeman, and has been a frequent delegate to county conventions. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has been connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for a great many years, serving as treasurer of Brownsville Lodge, No. 51.

He married, September 30, 1875, Ella W., daughter of Thomas and Maria W. (Boyd) Aubrey, of Brownsville. Children: 1. Thomas Aubrey, born May 19, 1877. 2. LeRoy C., of whom further. 3. Carrie, born February 11, 1885; married Samuel Eckels, of Pittsburgh, and has Levi Waggoner, born August 11, 1911. She graduated from Bridgeport high school, class of 1900; graduated from Beaver College, class of 1904, winning the gold medal in music. She was a most successful teacher of music in Brownsville, having a class of seventy-five scholars for several years. She was organist of the Second Methodist Episcopal Church for five years, and connected as a player with the Fayette County Institute at Uniontown for six years. 4. Nellie Boyd, born August 1, 1892; graduate of Brownsville high school, class of 1908, and of Blairsville College, class of 1912. (V) Dr. LeRoy Clifford Waggoner, son of Levi Craft and Ella W. (Aubrey) Waggoner, was born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, September 7, 1881. He attended the public schools and was graduated from South Brownsville high school, class of 1898. He continued his studies at Media Academy, whence he was graduated, class of 1900. Having decided upon the profession of medicine, he entered Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, whence he was graduated M. D., class of 1904. He was for one year assistant physician at the West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh, 1904-05, thence in July of the latter year came to Brownsville, where he is successfully established in the practice of his profession. He is surgeon for the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie railroad and Monogahela railroad. He is a member of the American Medical Association, Pennsylvania State and Fayette County Medical Association and a thoroughly capable, efficient and skillful physician. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Episcopal church.

He married, 1906, Minna, daughter of Daniel and Matilda (Leadbetter) Pearsal, born in England, now residents in Brownsville, where Mr. Pearsal, formerly in the coal, is now engaged in the grocery business. He is a Republican in politics, and both are members of the Episcopal church. Children: Ella, Eva, Sarah, Minna.

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





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