My Genealogy Hound

ANDREW BROWN STEVENSON, banker, Pittsburgh, was born in Peebles township (now part of the Twenty-third ward of Pittsburgh), Dec. 30, 1817. His grandfather, Andrew Stevenson, died at Wilmington, Del., while in pursuit of a person for whom he stood bail in Ireland. James, son of Andrew, born in County Donegal, Ireland, eloped with and married Elizabeth Jane, a daughter of William Erskine, of County Down, Ireland. Mr. Erskine pursued and found them when about to sail for America, and finding they were married, he threw one hundred guineas in his daughter’s lap, bidding her farewell. They arrived in Pittsburgh in 1817, and Mr. Stevenson became a post office clerk under David Lynch. He was tax-collector for the South (now Second ward) at the time of his death, which occurred June 15, 1836. He had five sons and three daughters, as follows: Andrew B.; William Erskine, who, after serving in the Pennsylvania house of representatives, went to Virginia and helped organize the state of West Virginia (he served in both houses of the legislature of that state, and was elected governor; for many years he edited the State Journal, a leading paper of that state, and is now deceased; he was a member of the convention which first nominated Lincoln for president, and was persecuted for his opinions on settling in Virginia); John Armstrong, residing near Iowa City, Iowa; Elizabeth Jane, widow of Alexander Cummings, residing at New Brighton, Pa.; James Hammil, who died in Pittsburgh; Thomas J., residing in Pittsburgh; Ruth, widow of Robert H. Beatty, in Coultersville, Ill., and Margaret, deceased, wife of Robert Brewer.

Andrew B. Stevenson was educated in private schools, and when about fourteen years old was apprenticed for seven years to a cabinet-maker. He carried on pattern-making, served fifteen years as justice of the peace and was twenty years in the insurance business. For many years he has been a director of the First National Bank of Birmingham, and for part of the time president. He was an abolitionist, and is now an independent republican. Before the incorporation of Birmingham borough with Pittsburgh he served as burgess of the town. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F., and supports the Presbyterian Church. In 1842 he married Catherine Cameron, who died leaving four children: John C., Elizabeth C., wife of D. C. Ripley; Ruth Emma, Mrs. Geo. Barker; and Matilda A., living at home. For his second wife, Mr. Stevenson married Cynthia, widow of Thomas H. Douglass.