MANROE prisoner in the Revolutionary War
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In reply to:
ASA MANROSS
Cathy Farrell 1/13/11
“Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania” Vol. 3
Author: Jordan, John W., 1840 – 1941
Pg. 1528
MANROSS
The traditional origin of the name MANROSS, a patronymic connected with many of the proudest of the state of Pennsylvania, is that an ancestor of the family, who wrote his name MANROE, was taken prisoner in the Revolutionary War, and upon escaping from his captors, changed the termination of his name from roe to ross, in order to avoid detection.Becoming known as MANROSS, it was practically impossible for him to once more assume his true name, and as MANROSS he and his descendants lived and worked.The first of this line of whom record is obtainable was ASA MANROSS, a native of Vermont, New England having been the American seat of the family, who was a soldier in the second war with Great Britain.He was the father of GEORGE, of whom further.
GEORGE, son of ASA MANROSS, was born in Vermont, where his youthful days were spent.In young manhood he came to Pennsylvania, locating near Hickory, Forest County, where he engaged in lumbering all his life, his death occurring when he was about seventy-two years of age.He was ever a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, having united with that faith in childhood.He was twice married, first to SARAH BURDICK, who died aged about fifty-three years, and second to MARY KID, of Chautauqua County, New York.Children, all of his first marriage: JOHN WASHINGTON,(pg. 1529)of whom further; BETSEY; JANE; LAVINA; and a son, who died in infancy.
JOHN WASHINTON, son of GEORGE and his first wife, SARAH (BURDICK) MANROSS, was born in Warren County, Pennsylvania, died in Erie County, Pa., October 9, 1880, aged fifty-six years.His early home was near Pollock's Bridge, on French Creek, Erie County, where he attended the old BURDICK school.When he was a lad of fourteen years he entered the employ of George Buryer, remaining with him until he attained his majority, by which time he was a thorough competent lumberman.He then worked for his uncle, GATES MANROSS, in the lumber woods of the Allegheny region, for fifteen years, felling the trees and rafting them down the Allegheny River.With his earnings from this employment MR. MANROSS purchased more than four hundred acres of land.During his ownership, oil was discovered on the property and he was made an offer of $50,000 for the tract, which he accepted, fortune thus endowing him with a comfortable competence in return for his modest investment.He then returned to Erie County, purchasing about 240 acres of land and erecting a commodious home and numerous farm buildings.On his farm he also built a mill, operating the same until his death.His property was the most desirable and valuable in the region.He was the owner of considerable other property, among his possessions being two large farms in Crawford County, both rich and productive, and the land once occupied by the old United States fort at Le Boeuf, property still owned by his descendants.At the time of the Civil War he was drafted for service, but because of physical inability was not permitted to march to the front.His political sympathies were with the Republican party, he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.He donated the fund to build the MANROSS Church and for several years defrayed the cost of maintenance, a true index to his generosity.He married, at Enterprise, Warren County, Pa., in 1846, FANNIE MAHALA ROLAND, born at Russellville, Warren County, Pa., April 5, 1831, daughter of JESSE and JENNY(BROWN) ROLAND.She survives him to the present time, spending her latter years on the MANROSS farm...(pg. 1530)MRS. MANROSS holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which she has belonged since 1867.
JESSE, son of DAVID ROLAND, was born in Connecticut, and was there a farmer, in Pennsylvania purchasing land, and, after a short time spent in the lumber woods of Forest County, settled on his farm near Russellville, Warren County, where he resided until his death, aged seventy-two years.His wife, JENNY (BROWN) MANROSS, died aged fifty-five years.They were the parents of: 1. NANCY, died 86 years.2. PHOEBE, died 54 years.3. CHARLES, died 3 years.4. DANIEL.5. FANNIE MAHALA, of previous mention, married JOHN WASHINGTON MANROSS.6. and 7.Both died in infancy.Children of JOHN WASHINGTON and FANNIE MAHALA (ROLAND) MANROSS: 1. RILEY GEORGE, of whom further.2. ISADORA, born January 20, 1854, died March 30, 1913, married CHARLES MANROSS (no relation) and had one daughter, SADIE, married CHARLES RIDER, deceased.3. EMMA, born February 25, 1858, married CHARLES H. HIMEBAUGH, deceased, and had three children, all deceased.
RILEY GEORGE, son of JOHN WASHINGTON and FANNIE MAHALA (ROLAND) MANROSS, was born in Forest County, Pa., May 4, 1851, died on the MANROSS homestead July 22, 1881.He came to Manrosstown with his parents, there growing to manhood and attending the public schools.He inherited a portion of the homestead, on which he resided until his death, lumbering and farming being the occupations with which he busied himself.He was a strong supporter of the Republican party, and belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church.He married, April 8, 1869, ELIZA, born March 1, 1848, died March 7, 1910, daughter of JAMES and BETSEY SHEARER.Children of RILEY GEORGE and ELIZA (SHEARER) MANROSS: 1. ADELBERT D., born May 30, 1871, died May 20, 1883.2. DANIEL RILEY, of whom further.3. FANNIE MAHALA, born September 18, 1880, married CLAUDE BABCOCK, and had four children, of whom two died in infancy, the other two being ORA and MABEL.
DANIEL RILEY, son of RILEY GEORGE and ELIZA (SHEARER) MANROSS, was born on the MANROSS homestead in Erie County, Pa., September 13, 1873.The public schools were the source of his graded education, and since his birth he has made the homestead, of which he owns a large part, his home.He has remodeled the old buildings, has built and operates a saw-mill, and in his agricultural operations has attained a high state of cultivation, his various activities, being giving him many duties to which to attend, netting him a comfortable income.He is a Republican in politics and for the past eight years has served as a member of the Republican county committee.He belongs to the Home Watchmen, of Erie, Pennsylvania...(pg. 1531) He married LULU EDNA, born near Custer City, Mercer County, Pa., July 14, 1875, daughter of WILLIAM and CAROLINE (CHANEY) TURNER.WILLIAM, son of REVEREND ISAAC, a minister of the Baptist church, and ABIGAIL (WILLIAMS) TURNER, was born in Crawford County, Pen, and is buried in Mill Village, Pa.A large part of his life was spent in the pursuit of lumbering and for a time he was the operator of a saw mill, his business taking him to Clarion and Venango counties and finally to Erie County, where he purchased a 100 acre tract of land, known as the GATES MANROSS farm, spending the last eight years of his life thereon.He was a Republican inpolitics and a member of the Free Will Baptist church.Children of WILLIAM and CAROLINE (CHANEY) TURNER: 1. HARRY BURTON, born April 24, 1872.2. FREEMAN EDMUND, died in infancy.3. LULU EDNA, of previous mention, married DANIEL RILEY MANROSS.4. CLARA LEONA, born January 16, 1878.5. PERLEY M., died November 6, 1888, aged 9 years.6. GEORGE W.7. ADAH ELMINA, born July 1, 1887.
Children of DANIEL RILEY and LULU EDNA (TURNER) MANROSS: 1. RALPH WELLINGTON, born May 25, 1898.2. ALBERTA LUCILE, born December 4, 1909.