John C. Calhoon    

The CALHOONS were among the many of Scotch ancestry to settle in Western Pennsylvania at a very early date. Andrew Calhoon was born in Ireland in 1761 and died in Big Beaver Township 103 years later or in 1864. One of his sons was ROBERT CALHOON, born in the same township in 1805, and died in New Brighton in 1859. He came to the latter borough in 1848 where he soon interested himself in public affairs with the result that not only did he become a Justice of the Peace, but also served as town Burgess.

John C. Calhoon, a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Scott) Calhoon was born in Old Brighton in 1834, and coming to New Brighton with his father and mother became an apprentice to James Baker and learned the harness making trade (which was quite an important one at the time.) During the Civil War, his apprentice days being over he became an employee of the U. S. Government making harness and saddles for the army at the Pittsburgh arsenal. With the close of the conflict he returned to New Brighton and opened a harness shop of his own. This he continued to operate until his death, jointly with his other duties which included several years as Justice of the Peace, which office he held at his death. He also served a term as County Commissioner, 1875-77. In 1855 he married Nancy White. Their children were Thomas, Harry, Harvey, Edwin, and Robert. His office and harness shop was at the southeast corner of Fourth Avenue and Sixth Street. He died in 1907, a highly respected old resident. Of the children Thomas has retired, Harvey W. has been health officer of the borough for several terms, Robert died a few years ago after being elected councilman two or three times, and Harry died on April 25, 1925. Harry was a popular member of the bar who was born in 1862, admitted to practice in 1892, became District Attorney in 1898, and served as borough solicitor term after term until his death. He is survived by his widow Florence (Deitrick) Calhoon. Edwin died July 1, 1914.

History of New Brighton 1838-1939, published by the Historical Committee of the Centennial, Butler, PA, pages 23-24. More Beaver County History Books  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.