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Below is a family biography included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.   These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JOHN B. SHERRIFF, farmer, post office Elizabeth, is a grandson of John and Martha (Neal) Sherriff. John was a native of Ireland, and came to America in 1785, first settling near Carlisle, Pa., where he married, and afterward located on Peters creek, but later removed to Saw-Mill run, where he was accidentally killed in 1810. His eldest son, William, the father of our subject, was a carpenter, and settled in Mercer county, where he died Oct. 4, 1849. He married Jeanette Black, who died August 10, 1877. Eight of their children are still living, as follows: Martha (Mrs. John Robinson), Jeanette (Mrs. M. Vanmeter), Adam and Joseph, all of Lawrence county, Pa.; Elizabeth (Mrs. James Shields, in Iowa), Harriet (Mrs. William Somerville, deceased, of Ohio), William H. (Iowa), and John B. The last named was the eldest, and was born July 18, 1811, in Mercer county. When seventeen years old he went to Pittsburgh and learned the trade of coppersmith, and in 1835 established a business there, which he continued for fifty-two years, retiring in 1887. In 1865 he purchased his present farm, on which he has since resided. July 11, 1837, he was married to Sarah H., daughter of John and Rebecca (Gordon) McGraw of this county. They were the parents of six children, of whom five are living. Their names are as follows: Henry C., William J., Annie M. (Mrs. Isaac Taylor, deceased), Rebecca J. (widow of S. O. Wiley, and now Mrs. West, of Ballard, Cal.), Charles F., Agnes L. (Mrs. Matthew P. Winterburn). Mr. and Mrs. Sherriff are members of the Presbyterian Church.

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This family biography is one of 2,156 biographies included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.

View additional Allegheny County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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