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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 W. HEMPHILL, merchant-tailor, Tarentum, is a son of John and Ann (Longsdorf) Hemphill, and was born in Cumberland county, Pa., in 1840. His parents removed to Tarentum in 1846, where the father engaged in business as tailor until his decease, in June, 1859. His wife, Ann, died in 1879. Their children now living are Sarah (Mrs. Cox, of Oil City, Pa.), Dorcas (Mrs. Aker, of Westmoreland county, Pa.), James, Lydia Ann (Mrs. Rhine, of Pittsburgh), Margaret (Mrs. E. Kennedy, of Tarentum) and John W. Our subject learned his trade of his father, and continued the business here until the commencement of hostilities during the civil war, when he enlisted in Co. A, 74th N. Y. S. V., which was an independent company attached to Sickles’ brigade. Mr. Hemphill was wounded at Bristow’s Station, in the second battle of Bull run, but remained in the service until the expiration of his term of enlistment, June 22, 1864, when he received his discharge and returned to Tarentum. Aug. 17, 1864, he married Nancy, daughter of James Staley, Sr., of Tarentum, and in 1865 he went to the oil field, where he remained a couple of years. Being reasonably successful, he returned to Tarentum and engaged in business as a merchant-tailor, which he still continues. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hemphill are Elva, John S., James W., Orland and Harry. The parents are members of the Methodist 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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