Bios: WALL families: Allegheny Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Marta Burns. marta43@juno.com USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ____________________________________________________ Wall families The ancestry of this family in America dates from an early period in the history of the country. In 1640 Lady Deborah Moody, the widow of a Wiltshire baronet, organized an association of some fifty persons who came to America and among them was Walter Wall. This association first established at Lynn, Massachusetts, remaining there until 1643 when they removed to Gravesend on Long Island. In the latter part of 1657 Walter Wall and others emigrated to New Jersey with their families where they made a purchase embracing the present county of Middlesex and part of the county of Monmouth. Walter Wall purchased a large tract in the neighborhood of Middletown on a portion of which was known as Wall's mill and later Van Meeter's/Van Meter's mill, was born General Garret D Wall, who served for several years as a member of the United States Senate, and in the several divisions of town lots and outlands of Middletown, Walter Wall found himself the possessor of much valuable land. Here is son Garret Wall became a man of some prominence in public affairs, his name being mentioned in Middletown Townbook as receiver of taxes, and his son Jarat Wall, or Jarret Wall, was among the leading citizens who resisted the unjust demands of the proprietary in 1700-1701. James Wall, son of Humphrey Wall, and grandson of Jarret Wall, above mentioned together with his brother, Walter Wall, moved from their New Jersey homes in 1766 to find greater freedom and change of scene in the then western wilds, west of the mountains. Arriving at the forks of the Yough, as it was then called, which included that portion of the counties of Allegheny and Westmoreland now lying between the Youghiogheny and Monongahela Rivers, comprising the townships of Lincoln, Elizabeth and Forward in Allegheny county and Rostraver township in Westmoreland county, they built cabins, cleared the land and commenced the cultivation of the frontier land surrounded by Indians and the wild animals of the forest. In the spring of 1769 they revisited New Jersey and in the fall of the same year returned to their homes with their families. Several other New Jersey families came with them, among them: Applegates, Pierces, Ketchams, Johnsons, Imlays, Smiths and others, some of whose descendants still reside in the district. The region known as Yohogania and Rostraver being mainly settled by emigrants from New Jersey caused it to be called the New Jersey Settlement at an early day, a name still familiar to the present generation. Owing to the land controversy which existed for a period of over thirty years between the authorities of Pennsylvania on one hand and those of Virginia on the other, titles to land could not be obtained with any degree of certainty until after the year 1784. Warrants were granted by the land department of Pennsylvania to James Wall and Walter Wall for 322 acres 64 perches and allowance each under the date July 10, 1786, and the farm on which James Wall settled is now owned by William Caldwell and Stephen Applegate. James Wall married Catherine Van Eman, a sister of George Van Eman, the grandfather of the Hon George Van Eman Lawrence of Monongahela City, Penna, and had eight children: Walter Wall; William Wall; Garret Wall; Nicholas Wall; Andrew Wall; Naomi Wall; Mary Wall and Hannah Wall. James Wall died on the homestead farm, May 20, 1811, and his widow a few years later. He was known for his hospitality and genial disposition; was a strict observer of the laws of God and of man, honest in business, kind to his family and good to the poor. He took considerable part in public affairs. Garrett Wall was born July 13, 1778, married February 16, 1800,. Mary Sparks, daughter of Colonel Richard Sparks of the US Army, and resided on the farm given his wife by her father. Here the late Colonel Brisben Wall, son of Garrett Wall, was born and this property he owned up to the time of his decease. Garrett Wall was a man of sterling character and ability; was possessed of considerable literary taste and a good knowledge of common law, and was an uncompromising adherent of the principles of virtue and morality. He served in the War of 1812 as quartermaster of Colonel Ferree's regiment, P V I, and filled the office of justice of the peace for many years, up to the time of his decease. He built a sawmill on his farm in 1829 run by waterpower which was operated by him and afterward by his son Brisben Wall until 1852 and then abandoned. His children by his first wife, Mary Sparks, were: Milo Wall; Sparks Wall; William Wall; Jesse S Wall; Joseph Wall; Gideon Wall; Charity E Wall; and Brisben Wall. The mother of these children dying in 1821, Mr Wall took for his second wife, March 16, 1824, Mary Watson, who bore him the following children: Sidney M Wall; Mary Wall; Elizabeth Wall; Cinthelia Wall; and Amanda Wall. The father died January 3, 1848, and the mother in 1881. Jesse S Wall was born July 13, 1806, married Sarah Devore, March 5, 1829, and lived on the farm now owned by James Wall adjoining the old homestead until 1833 when he moved to Washington county where he remained until 1844 in which year he removed to Guernsey county, Ohio, where he and his wife now reside. The names of their children are: Andrew Wall; William Wall; Samuel Wall; David Wall; Lucinda Wall; Sarah Wall; Sparks Wall; Ella Wall. Joseph Wall was born November 17, 1811, married Frances Allen, daughter of the late David Allen, and resided on the farm given his wife by her father near Sunny Side in Allegheny county, Penna. He held the office of justice of the peace for fifteen years. He was treasurer of the Forward township school board for several years, and for some time was a deacon in the Presbyterian Church. He possessed the confidence of all who knew him for strict honesty and truthfulness. The following named were his children: Mary Jane Wall; Emeline Wall; Josephine Wall; Flora Wall; Sidney M Wall; all deceased unmarried. Henrietta Wall; Harriet Wall; Letitia Wall, deceased; Arabella Wall, deceased; Adaline Wall and Frances Wall, twins; all married. Mrs Frances Allen Wall, the mother of these children, was born August 18, 1811; and died March 11, 1855. Joseph Wall married for his second wife, September 6, 1860, Susan Gilkeson, and died July 13, 1881; his widow subsequently moved to Monongahela City, Penna, where she still resides. Colonel Brisben Wall was born March 23, 1819, on the old homestead and entered the schools of the neighborhood at an early age. The death of his mother when he was scarcely two years old deprived him of the influences which a mother alone possesses and can impart. She was a lady of much taste and refinement and was highly respected and esteemed by all her neighbors and acquaintances. His father possessed many commendable traits of character which the youthful Brisben Wall inherited in a very large degree and retained through life. The boy made excellent progress in all his studies at school, especially in the natural sciences and mathematics, and was considered one of the best mathematicians in his part of the country. He commenced land surveying, civil and mining engineering in 1850 which he continued to practice in connection with the management of his farm almost to the close of his life. In politics he was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party to which he firmly adhered through life. When the War of the Rebellion broke out, Mr Wall entered the Union service, September 21, 1861, as first lieutenant of Company D, 79th P V I, Colonel H A Hambright, Seventh Brigade, commanded by Brig-General S Negley. Lieutenant Wall remained with his company on the march from Louisville to Mumfordsville and at the last named place he was prostrated with fever, from which he never fully recovered. While convalescing at Mumfordsville, he was detailed to act as chief of a corps of pioneers and sappers under Colonel Innes, 1st Regiment, Michigan Engineers. Ill health, however, compelled him to resign his commission April 25, 1862, as Nashville and return home. He still retained an active interest in the success of the Union arms, and during the Confederate raid into Pennsylvania which brought about the Battle of Gettysburg, he accompanied Rev Capt J C Brown's company of Home Guards to Harrisburg. Col Wall married May 27, 1847, Hannah Sutton, daughter of the late John Sutton of Elizabeth, now Forward township, Allegheny county, Penna, and sister of Dr Lewis Sutton of West Newton and resided on the homestead farm to which he succeeded after the death of his father, until 1873 at which time he purchased a portion of the farm owned by the late Squire Jesse Applegate, including the mansion house thereon into which he moved with his family and occupied until his decease. His widow and four sons remain to mourn his early departure from life. His eldest son, John Sutton Wall, is married and living in Monongahela City; George W Wall; Jesse S Wall; and Lewis Brisben Wall together with their widowed mother remain on the farm where he died. Col Brisben Wall was conscientious, truthful, honest in business, took an active interest in all public enterprises and improvements. He was a genial friend, an honorable gentleman, a useful citizen and a loyal soldier descended from patriotic blood. History of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania Chicago : A. Warner & Co., 1889. p439 _______________ George W Wall, farmer, post office, Monongahela City, is a son of Colonel Brisben Wall and Hannah Sutton Wall. John Sutton, father of Hannah, was one of the early pioneers and reared a family of four children: Joseph Sutton, Lewis Sutton, Susan Sutton and Hannah Sutton. Lewis Sutton is married and settled at West Newton where he is prominently identified with the medical profession. He and Hannah are the only ones now living. Col Brisben Wall was a prominent citizen of the county; he held various administrative positions and was one of those who aided in suppressing the rebellion. His children were: John Sutton Wall; George W Wall; Jesse S Wall; and Lewis Wall. The latter, recently married, is now living on a farm. History of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania Chicago : A. Warner & Co., 1889. p441 ______________ Isaac Wall, farmer, post office, Elizabeth, Allegheny county, Penna, is a son of Maxwell Wall and Elizabeth Jobb Wall and was born October 28, 1835. Walter Wall, the first of the family, was his great grandfather, and Isaac Wall was his grandfather. The father of our subject was born on the farm now occupied by our subject and his family consisted of six children: Isaac Wall; Margaret A Wall; Araminta Wall; Hannah R Wall; Sarah M Wall; and Mary E Wall, all of whom are living except Sarah M Wall. Isaac Wall was married December 24, 1863, to Margaret Beam, daughter of Robert Beam of Baltimore, Maryland, and they have one child living: May Wall. Mrs Wall and three children are deceased. Mr Wall married for his second wife, Sarah Cramer, daughter of Rev J K Cramer of Forward township, and by this union they have four children: Francis W Wall (?Frances); Lillie Wall; Susan P Wall; Theresa M Wall. Mr Wall lives upon the place where he was born. When a boy engaged in gathering hickory nuts, he fell sixty four feet causing the loss of one arm. He has occupied several positions of trust in his township. He is a republican. History of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania Chicago : A. Warner & Co., 1889. p739 ______________ The name Wall is a corruption of DeVal and it was introduced into Ireland by the Normans in 1169. The bearers of this name settled in the south of Ireland and has estates in Waterford and Cork. The family seat was Coolnamuck, Waterford. They were sold under the Encumbered Estate Act of 1852 anad are now held by the Ormand Buttlers. The name is still carried in the original form by the Italian and French descendants of the family. Sometimes it is written DelVal, notably in Merry DelVal, secretary to Pope Pius X, who is a direct descendant of the Waterford branch. The name was introduced into Spain by Richard Wall, born in Waterford, Ireland, in 1693, died at Granada in 1778. He entered the Spanish navy while still a youth and rose to the rank of major general. He served as private agent of Spain at Aix-La-Chapelle, was minister to the Court of St James, and later minister of foreign affairs to Ferdinand VI and Charles III.It is to his antiquarian zeal that the world is indebted for the preservation of the Alhambra. Walter Wall was born in New Jersey, and he and his brother James Wall came to what is now Forward township, Allegheny county, Penna, and took up six hundred acres of land in 1782. He spent the remainder of his life there. He married and had children: James Wall; Isaac Wall, of further mention; John Wall; Hannah Wall; Rebecca Wall; Rachel Wall. Isaac Wall, son of Walter Wall, was born on the Wall homestead in Forward township; he married first Mary Maxwell; second, Mary Smith. Children by first marriage: Rebecca Wall; John Wall; Maxwell Wall, of whom further mention. Children by second marriage: Margaret Wall, Araminta Wall; Isaac Wall. Maxwell Wall, son of Isaac Wall and Mary Maxwell Wall was born on the Wall homestead in Forward township in 1803. He followed the occupation of farming all his life, was an ardent supporter of Whig principles and later joined the Republican party. He married Elizabeth Jobb, born in Forward township in 1811, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She was the daughter of James Jobb and Nancy Gray Jobb: the former born in Allegheny county; the latter born in Philadelphia; and a granddaughter of Robert Jobb, a native of France, who was the first of the family to make a home in Forward township. Mr and Mrs Wall had children: Isaac Wall, of further mention; Margaret Ann Wall, deceased; Araminta Wall, deceased; Sarah Melissa Wall, deceased; Hannah Rebecca Wall, deceased; Mary Elizabeth Wall. Isaac Wall, son of Maxwell Wall and Elizabeth Jobb Wall, was born in Forward township, Allegheny county, Penna, on the Wall homestead, October 28, 1835. He was educated in public schools and under Professor Lind who was later an instructor at Washington and Jefferson College. Mr Wall also became a farmer and was the owner of one hundred twenty two acres of the old Wall homestead and also of another farm of one hundred and seven acres. He is now living retired. He has always given his political support to the Republican party, has served as supervisor of roads, has been a delegate to conventions and has been generally active in the interests of the party. Mr Wall married first in 1863 Margaret Bean who died in 1872; she was of Allegheny county, Penna. He married second Sarah M Cramer, a daughter of the Rev Jonas K Cramer. Children by the first marriage: Lina Wall married Isaac N Wykof of Elizabeth township; Lewis Wall, deceased; Ada May Wall, deceased; Margaret Wall, deceased. Children by the second marriage were: Francis Cramer Wall, deceased; Lillian Vaughn Wall; Susan Pearl Wall; Theresa Mabel Wall; Maxwell Keller Wall; Ella Lorena Wall. Vol. 3 Genealogical and personal history of western Pennsylvania; editor-in-chief, John W. Jordan. p1486 ______________