James Peirsol   

JAMES PEIRSOL. Among the old families of Perry township we find the name of Peirsol. The first of the family to settle in Fayette County was William Peirsol, who bought of Thomas Estel, in 1784, the farm now owned in part by James and Lewis Peirsol. He was married to Miss Grace Cope, and was born, according to the Cope genealogical history, about the year 1748. For a time Mr. Peirsol lived in a rudely built cabin, which in time gave way to a log house, which at that time was considered a model of elegance and comfort, and which still stands on the farm of James Peirsol. In this he resided till his death at a ripe old age. His children were John, born in 1782; Sarah, 1785; Jeremiah, 1787; Samuel, 1789; Mary, 1792; Elizabeth, 1794; William, 1797; and James, the subject of this sketch, May 29, 1799. All of the children grew to man’s and woman’s estate. On the 29th day of June, 1823, James was married to Elizabeth Gue, who was born Oct. 2, 1806. To them have been born John, June 10, 1825; Mary Jane, Dec. 2, 1827; James A., Feb. 5, 1830; Sarah, Feb. 6, 1832; Joseph, July 4, 1834; Emeline, Feb. 2, 1837; Edith, March 17, 1839; Nancy V., May 6, 1842; and Jacob L., Nov. 28; 1851. After his marriage he went to Ohio and settled on a tract of wild land owned by his father. Here he remained four years, clearing away the forests and improving the farm when not engaged in his favorite pursuit of hunting, of which he was passionately fond, and at which he became an expert. Not liking his new home, he returned at the expiration of the four years, his place being filled by an older brother. On the death of his father the old homestead fell to him, on which he still resides and to which he has added, until it now comprises 300 acres of valuable land. For more than thirty years Mr. Peirsol has been a consistent member of the Baptist Church, and through a long life has been an honored and respected citizen.

History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co., 1882, pages 721-722. View the image of this page online - Free Trial  Search Hundreds of 1880s-1890s Pennsylvania County History Books for biographies and historical information on your ancestors.  View the book page images on line and print them out for your genealogy file!  Free Access to the old history books - plus birth & death records, census images and ALL other records at ancestry.com.