Memorials › Charles Edward Calhoun

Charles Edward Calhoun

8 Mar 1858 – 13 Mar 1938

Birth8 Mar 1858
Death13 Mar 1938
CemeteryBeechwoods Cemetery
Falls Creek , Jefferson County , Pennsylvania , USA
Added byMona Anderson on 05 Jun 2009
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8879412

Bio

Taken from Jefferson County, Pennsylvania - Her Pioneers and People, Vol. II , by Dr. William James McKnight, published in 1917 by J.H. Beers & Company, Chicago, page 415. CHARLES E. CALHOUN is a popular representative of that fine old pioneer stock to which Jefferson county is indebted for the initiation of development and progress in the beautiful Beechwoods district, and well may it be said that these settlers were of "the salt of the earth." In the early and also in later generations their names have stood exponent of sturdy energy and industry, of inviolable integrity, of productive achievement and of all things that make for ideal citizenship. It is in itself a distinction to be a scion of such a family as that of which Charles Edward Calhoun is a prominent representative, and a leading agriculturist and stock grower. He is owner of the Pine Grove Stock Farm, in Washington township, a splendid estate that comprises 225 acres of the excellent land of the Beechwoods. Charles Edward Calhoun was born on the old homestead of the family, near Westville, March 8, 1858. In his home his father passed the closing period of a long and useful life, and to this honored pioneer it is most consonant that a tribute be paid at this juncture, by quoting in part a memoir that appeared at the time of his death: William John Calhoun, one of the oldest and best known of the pioneer residents of the Beechwoods, died at the home of his son Charles Edward, in Washington township, on a Saturday in April, 1913, death being due to the infirmities incidental to old age, as he had attained to the venerable age of eighty-four years, four months. He was one of the handful of settlers who established themselves in what at that time was a dense wilderness and braved the hardships and trials that only those of the earlier days can fully appreciate. He was one of the men who, through persistence and courage, became one of the strong pillars in holding together the little community and assisting in its development to the most beautiful farming center in Jefferson county. For sixty-eight years Mr. Calhoun was closely identified with the renowned Beechwoods district and its affairs, and it was but natural that his demise should cause general regret and sorrow in the county. William John Calhoun, a scion of sterling Scotch-Irish ancestry, was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in December, 1828, and was reared and educated in that beautiful section of the fair Emerald Isle. In 1848, as an ambitious young man of about twenty years, he came to America, and after passing a brief interval in the vicinity of Philadelphia he finally came to Jefferson county, where he decided to cast his lot with others of his countrymen who had the Beechwoods for their destination, and here he continued to stage his activities during the remainder of his active career, the while he passed the remainder of life in the gracious prosperity which he won through earnest endeavors. In 1857 was solemnized the marriage of William J. Calhoun to Ruth Ross, and they established a home on what is still known as the old Calhoun place. Mr. Calhoun developed one of the finest farms of the county, was closely concerned with lumbering in the early days, and the old homestead was known as one of the most hospitable places in the Beechwoods district. After the death of his loved and devoted wife, who preceded him to eternal rest by a period of nearly thirty years, he passed the time in the homes of his children, all of whom accorded him filial solicitude; during the last five years of his life he resided with his son Charles E. At his death Mr. Calhoun was survived by thirty-three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and since both generations have been augmented. Concerning the children brief record is entered at this point: Charles Edward was the firstborn; James Ross is a resident of Oklahoma; Andrew Elmer is a prosperous farmer of Snyder township; Nancy Margaret died in 1891; Mary Ida, the wife of William C. Moore, died in 1897; Carrie May became the wife of L.W. Perrin, and her death occurred in 1908; John C. is a resident of the Beechwoods; William Presley lives in Kansas. The concluding paragraph of a memoir that appeared in a local newspaper at the time of the death of William John Calhoun is here reproduced in full: Mr. Calhoun was a gentleman of high Christian ideals, and his life walk was one of courage, uprightness and sterling worth. He united with the Beechwoods Presbyterian church June 12, 1857, and was always an interested and active member of that congregation. He was one of the small company of Christians who established the original church there, and he continued a stanch and reliable pillar of the church to the end of his life. During the last five years he made his home with his son Charles, and there the sunset of his career dissolved itself into eternal peace and rest after a life that was one of general usefulness and good. At the funeral services, held at the Beechwoods Presbyterian church, there was a large attendance of relatives and other friends, many coming from a distance to pay a last tribute of respect to the venerable pioneer, and interment was made in the Beechwoods cemetery. Charles Edward Calhoun was reared to adult age under the conditions and influences of the old pioneer farmstead and he is indebted to the public schools of the locality for his early education. He attended the Dennison and also the Grove schools, and two of his first teachers were Misses Martha Dennison and Abbie McCurdy. He has never faltered in his allegiance to the great fundamental industries of agriculture and stock-growing, and his estate is probably the largest that is occupied and under the personal management of the owner in all of the Beechwoods district, even as it is one of the model farms of this section. After his marriage, in the spring of 1882, Mr. Calhoun located on the old Peter Hetrick farm, in Washington township, and three years later removed to his father's homestead, where he continued farming a number of years. In 1909 he assumed control of his present stock farm, which was formerly the homestead of his wife's father, the late Samuel M. Crawford, who erected the commodious and attractive house about 1884 and whose son Walter built the large barn about 1901, the main structure being 54 by 64 feet, two additions having since been made to it, one 21 feet square and the other 12 by 30 feet. Though giving a due amount of attention to farming of a diversified order, Mr. Calhoun is making a specialty of stock growing, utilizing the full-blooded Holstein cattle. He is one of the most progressive and successful stock growers of this section and the same spirit animates his civic attitude, for he is ever ready to lend aid to the furtherance of measures projected for the general good. He has manifested no predilection for public office but gives unswerving allegiance to the Republican party; both he and his wife are zealous members of the Beechwoods Presbyterian Church and also popular factors in the social life of the community. On the 8th of March, 1882, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Calhoun to Nancy C. Crawford, the ceremony being performed by Rev. William Filson, pastor of the Beechwoods Presbyterian Church, and the happy event taking place on the twenty-fourth birthday of the bridegroom. Mrs. Calhoun was born in Sandy Valley, this county, on the 4th of October, 1862, and was about eight years of age when the family removed to the Beechwoods, where she was reared and educated. She attended the Rockdale school and her first teacher was Eliza Sterrett. Mrs. Calhoun is a daughter of Samuel M. and Mary Amanda Crawford, her father having been born in County Donegal, Ireland, and when a boy coming with his parents to America, who established themselves in the Scotch-Irish colony of the Beechwoods, where he was reared to manhood on the farm now owned by Charles E. Calhoun. Here Mr. Crawford died in August, 1908, a venerable citizen and representative farmer, his wife, who was a devout Presbyterian, having passed away in 1899. Of their children Mrs. Calhoun was the firstborn; William J., who is one of the substantial farmers of Washington township, married Sadie Hetrick; George M., who is a representative farmer of Washington township, wedded Clara Hetrick; James Elliott is another prosperous farmer of Washington township, and his wife was Elsie Turner; Samuel R., who wedded Mary Calhoun, has been for many years engaged in life insurance, and is now a prominent representative in Denver, Colorado; Mary Elizabeth is the wife of Emerson Boggs, of Allen's Mills, Jefferson county; Lafayette F. is a resident of Denver, his wife having been Cassie B. Greedy; Lawrence Walter married Lois Arrowsmith, their home being now in Kansas City, Missouri. Concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Calhoun is the following: Ruth married Edward Weiser, of Washington township, and had four children, Evelyn, Chester, Russell and Irene. Mary Amanda, who died in young womanhood, graduated from the Beechwoods high school and Grove City College, besides having taken a course in a business college at DuBois; she was a successful and popular teacher for four years prior to her death, one year in Colorado. Sarah Margaret is the wife of H. Leroy Holt, of Milton, Wash.; Samuel died at the age of eleven months and Ida Oleta at the age of five years; Susan Elizabeth was graduated in the Beechwoods high school and remains at home; William and Ralph died in infancy; Vera Grace, Nancy Catherine and Charles Edward, Jr., are the younger members of the home circle and are attending school.

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