My Genealogy Hound

BENJAMIN COURSIN, retired, post office McKeesport, was born in Jefferson township, Allegheny county, Jan. 10, 1807, a son of Peter and Hannah (Winn) Coursin. His father was born in New Jersey in 1765, and died in Elizabeth, this county, at the age of one hundred years and eight months. He came to Allegheny county soon after the Revolution; was a carpenter by trade, though he followed farming to some extent. He settled permanently in Elizabeth township in 1810, and resided there until his death. His children were Polly (Mrs. B. Grimes), Jane (Mrs. Thomas Brant), Nancy (Mrs. George Cunningham), Catherine (Mrs. Joseph Hamilton), Isaac and Benjamin. The last named was reared in Elizabeth, where he resided from 1810 until 1849. He then located at Reynoldton, where he has since resided. He is a boat-builder by trade, and was engaged in that business in Elizabeth, West Elizabeth and Reynoldton (opposite McKeesport) for many years. He retired in 1866. He was twice married; first to Christina, daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Rhodes, of Elizabeth township, by whom he had seven children: Isaac, Benjamin B., Frederick, John, Mary (Mrs. Dorsey Downey), David and James P. His second wife was Mrs. Lydia (Hull) Norton. Mr. Coursin is a director of the First National Bank of McKeesport, director of Pittsburgh, Brownsville & Geneva Packet company, and president of the Elizabeth Steam Packet Company. He is a republican.