My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM R. JUSTUS, retired, post office Mansfield Valley, was born in Washington county, Pa., in 1807. The first of the family to come to America was Isaac Justus, a native of Ireland. He was for a number of years engaged in transporting goods over the mountains by means of “pack-saddles” but later in life was a farmer. He married a daughter of William Reddick, who, it is said, kept the first public house in Pittsburgh. Isaac was the father of fifteen children, of whom James, born in 1780, was among the eldest. Isaac died aged sixty-one years. James Justus was by profession a school teacher, which he followed for nineteen years. He was also a trader, carrying goods by boat down the Allegheny river, and disposing of them in exchange for other products. He married, in 1840, Christianna McLeod, and by her had seven children, viz.: William R., Mary, Daniel, James Madison, Joseph M., John Ross and Isaac Newton. The father died in 1838, and the mother in 1831, aged fifty-one years.

The subject of this memoir remained in Washington county until he was sixteen years of age; then came to Allegheny county, learned the millwright’s trade, serving an apprenticeship of four years, and has built in his time some seventeen flourmills, saw mills, etc. In 1862 he was employed in the iron rolling-mills, where he remained until 1881, when he retired. He married, in 1846, Mary Jane Bell, daughter of James and Elizabeth Bell, of this county. Three children were born to this union: Elizabeth Anna, Mary Amanda and Agnes Morrow, all at home. Washington Bell married, in 1867, Catherine Kibe, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Kibe, of Germany, and one child was born to this union — Robert Henry. Washington died in 1869 and his wife in 1867. Robert Henry Bell (Justus) has been with Mr. Justus and family since he was two weeks old. Mr. Justus is the patentee of a horseshoe-machine that has been a success, and has netted him profitable returns. He is an elder in the Presbyterian Church; politically a republican.