BIO: Alexander DUFF, Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 25-28 _________________________________________________________________ ALEXANDER DUFF, Esq., justice of the peace of New Brighton, Pa., has in his life time covered a wide range of experience, and has known much of men and affairs in many fields of progress. He has been directly and indirectly connected with several lines of business which have called forth the most earnest effort and steady industry. In every one of these interests which 26 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES have claimed his time and attention he has manifested the qualities that lead to success. At the present writing, he is enjoying the results of his own thrift, and the rewards of a life well and usefully spent. Our subject was born in Mercer, now Lawrence, county, Pa., July 21, 1832, is a son of James and Jane (Boies) Duff, and grandson of William Duff. William Duff was a native of County Down, Ireland. His parents died when he was very young, and he accompanied his step-mother to America, and settled at Turtle Creek, where he lived until he reached manhood. Sarah Duff, a cousin of his, became his wife, and the young folks settled in Mercer, now Lawrence, county, Pa., where they purchased a tract of land, for the most part heavily timbered. When he decided to build a house, he could not get a team in the county with which to move the logs, so the house was built by carrying the logs, by main strength, to the place desired. Later, Mr. Duff built a large log barn, which is still standing. He owned about 400 acres of land, about 200 of which, together with the homestead, is now the property of his grandson, D. G. Duff. "Grandpa" Duff died at the age of about eighty-five years and his good wife passed away at the age of eighty-seven. Their children's names are: James; Oliver; Alexander; William; Mrs. Kildoo; Mrs. Small; Mrs. Struthers; and Mrs. Caldwell, all now deceased. James Duff, the eldest of the children, was the father of the subject of this sketch. James was born in Turtle Creek, Allegheny county, Pa., in 1792, and his wife was born the sameyear. Mrs. Duff's maiden name was Jane Boies. She was the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Wilson) Boies. Her grandfather, Col. Wilson, served in the Revolutionary War. James Duff received 8o acres of land from his father, and after budding a log house and barn upon it, and clearing a portion of the land, he sold his farm, and purchased another one, again engaging in farming, which was his sole occupation during life. He was an active, enterprising man, and served in township offices, also rendering valued services to our country in the War of 1812, especially in connection with the struggle on Lake Erie. He died in 1876, at the age of eighty-five years, his death occurring only a few miles from his birthplace. The beloved mother only lacked two months of being ninety-nine years old at the time of her death, and was quite active up to the time of her last illness. On her ninety-eighth birthday her son, Alexander, and his sister gave a reunion for her benefit. That day she rode six miles and back. She loved company, and everybody loved her. Her home was always a pleasant place to all,-her disposition always happy. Hundreds of relatives and friends accepted the invitation and attended the reunion,-the first of its kind ever held in Lawrence county,-and a most joyous occasion. This worthy and highly honored old couple were Associate Reformed Presbyterians, and reared the following children: William, who was twice married, - his first wife being Hannah Sherrer, and his second wife Jane McClellan; Eliza, who was also twice married, - BEAVER COUNTY 27 her first husband being Cyrus Williams, and her second husband James Kildoo; James, who wedded Lucinda Brown; Sarah, wife of John Poak; Jane, wife of Calvin Reed; John, who was also twice married, -his first wife being Eunice Sherrer, and his second wife Mrs. Small; Matthew, who married Eliza Clark; Mary, wife of B. F. Junkin; Alexander, the subject of this sketch; Lydia, wife of Cyrus Field; and Samuel, who was killed at the Battle of Fredericksburg. He was a private in Cooper's Battery. Alexander Duff received his intellectual training in the public schools, and started out in life as a farmer. He bought a part of his father's farm, which was partly improved, built a new house upon it, and otherwise enhanced its value, and then sold out to excellent advantage. This occurred in 1863; Mr. Duff then purchased a Letter and more desirable farm in North Beaver township, Lawrence county, Pa., and carried on farming and threshing, -following the latter business fully twenty years. He enjoyed the distinction of owning and operating the first Massillon thresher in Lawrence county. Later in life, our subject entered the mercantile world by conducting a general merchandise store at Moravia, where he also became station agent. As his farm was located near by, he was enabled to oversee it and also give his personal attention to his store. In addition to all this, he began dealing in grain, which he continued for five years, during which he handled over 100,000 bushels each year. In 1891, Mr. Duff sold his store to his son, C. W. Duff, and, renting his farm, he removed to New Brighton, where he purchased a handsome residence on Fifth avenue. On his farm, Mr. Duff not only made many improvements but rebuilt the house and barns, and carries on a stock and poultry business. He has 14 fine grade and full bred Jerseys, and a hennery 64x20 feet. He makes a specialty of fancy stock, and eggs, having all his eggs stamped with date of laying, thus insuring a fancy price. He rents his farm on shares and practically conducts it himself. From 1872 to 1877, Mr. Duff served as justice of the peace, and has also served as school director and in other offices of his township. In 1895 he was elected justice of the peace of New Brighton, and for the sake of having some light business to attend to, he handles a fine line of wall papers. Mr. Duff was united in marriage with Alkey S. Fulkerson, an attractive daughter of Richard Fulkerson, of Lawrence county. She died at the age of fifty-nine years, after, having reared the following children: William O., who is a coal dealer at New Castle, Pa., and wedded Rhoda Witherspoon, who bore her husband one child, Iva, whom they lost; Alice C., wife of James Young, of New Castle; Richard H., a graduate of the Cleveland Medical College, and now a practicing physician of Erie county, Pa., who married Ella Burwell, and has two children, Harold and Gail; Ella A., wife of Dodds Campbell, a farmer of Lawrence county, Pa.; Edwin E., a prominent druggist of New Castle, who 28 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES married Annetta McCreary, - one child, Dorothy, having blessed their union; Charles W., a shoe merchant of New Castle, Pa., who married Laura Gwin, and has three children - Mabel, Fred, and Florence; Robert Frank, who was killed in 1887, at the age of twenty years, by falling from a wagon; and Harry G., a druggist of New Castle, who married Maree Jeckel, of Buffalo, New York. After the death of his first wife, our subject contracted a second matrimonial alliance, this time with Maggie E. Stuart, a daughter of John Stuart, of Lawrence county. No issue resulted from this marriage. Mr. Duff, since his residence in New Brighton, has identified himself with the town's progress and development. He is a member of the First Presbyterian church of that place, and is also an elder. In 1891, Mr. Duff took a trip across the continent, visiting all the principal places of interest, and spending about four months on the journey.