My Genealogy Hound

T. W. CULBERTSON, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Greenville; was born Oct. 25, 1828, within sight of the place where he now resides; he is the son of Samuel Culbertson, a native of Pennsylvania, who was born in June, 1801, and emigrated with his family to this county at quite an early day, settling on a piece of land in Van Buren Township. At that time, this county was almost entirely covered over with dense forests and immense swamps; the labors of the pioneer had not yet made extensive inroads on the vast wilderness. He was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Westfall in 1823; six children were born of this union, to wit: Orin, Mary J., T. W. Elizabeth and James; Orin and Elizabeth are deceased; the others are settled in this county. The privations and hardships of pioneer life soon told upon the health of the elder Culbertson, and in 1837, he was called to bid farewell to his family and take his departure to that “undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns,” leaving a loving wife and six small children to contend with the trials and difficulties incident to frontier life his wife remained upon the homestead and survived him about sixteen years, dying in 1853. Our subject was quite small at the death of his father, after which he remained with his mother till her death, assisting in sustaining her and giving her the comforts of a home; he early learned the brickmason’s trade. His educational advantages were necessarily limited, as a pioneer’s life is one of constant exertion for sustenance, but what opportunities did offer in this direction were well improved. At the death of his mother, the home was broken up and he went to live with his sister, Mrs. Studabaker. Nov. 26, 1857, he celebrated his marriage with Elizabeth Harper; she is the daughter of William S. Harper, a native of Pennsylvania, who also emigrated to this county at quite an early day. Immediately after the marriage of our subject, he moved upon a piece of land in Sec. 7, which he had previously purchased; this was all in the woods, and he was obliged to clear off a spot large enough to erect a cabin on; this constituted the first home of his own; here, in the dense forest, he set out with his helpmeet, on the course of life, and by their own exertions they have caused the golden grain to wave where once stood the mighty forest; in his rich fertile farm, we again behold industry and frugality bountifully rewarded. They are the parents of seven children, to wit: Frank, Edward, Charlie, William H., Harry, Cora B. and Purley, all of whom are yet living and residing under the parental roof. Mr. Culbertson, realizing the advantages of an education in this advanced day, is offering his children all the opportunities now afforded by this county in this direction, and they, we are glad to chronicle, are making good use of them.