My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM JAMES KIDDOO, farmer, post office Broughton, was born in February, 1839, on the farm he now owns, a son of Samuel and Margaret (Ralston) Kiddoo, former of whom was born on the same farm in 1803, died in January, 1850; latter born in 1810, in Washington county, died in December, 1877. His grandfather, James Kiddoo, who was of Scotch-Irish descent, born in Ireland, located on the same farm in 1797. William’s maternal grandfather, Rev. Samuel Ralston, D.D., was pastor of the Monongahela and Mingo churches. He was born in Donegal, Ireland, in 1756, came to this country about 1795, and died in 1851. He married, May 30, 1798, Miss Rachel Furgesson, who was born near Chambersburg, Franklin county, Pa., in 1764, and died in 1827. W. J. Kiddoo was eleven years of age when his father died, and when about sixteen began work for him self. He married, Nov. 18, 1869, Sarah A. Marshall, born at Bethel, June 24, 1842, daughter of Rev. George and Mary (Lee) Marshall, who were born in Union county, Dec. 23, 1806, and Washington county, Nov. 3, 1805, respectively. Rev. George Marshall, D. D., was pastor of Bethel Church, and preached his first sermon there the first Sunday in June, 1832. In 1836 he opened an academy at Bethel, which proved a useful educational institution. He was trustee of Jefferson College and director of the Western Theological Seminary of Allegheny. He died, after forty years of continuous pastorate of Bethel Church, April 30, 1872; his widow died Jan. 15, 1888. Mrs. William J. Kiddoo is a member of Bethel Church. Mr. Kiddoo now owns 120 acres, and carries on general farming.