BIO: Abraham Sharpless VALENTINE, Centre County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by 
Lew Smedley <smedley.george@att.net>

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
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  Abraham Sharpless Valentine was a member of the original firm of 
Valentine Iron Works at Bellefonte, Pa., in 1815, and revolutionized 
the ore mining industries of the country by inventing the ore-washing 
machine, since in general use.
  He was possessed of great business ability and foresight, and it was 
due largely to his inventions and improvements that the Valentine 
charcoal iron achieved its widespread reputation.
  At the outbreak of the War of the Rebellion he was one of the liberal 
contributors to a subscription for the support of the soldiers' 
families, and his sons Abram S Jr., and Bond were in the service for a 
time.
  In the year 1832 the Valentine brothers, George, Bond, Abraham, 
Reuben and their partner, W A Thomas, erected at their own expense, 
upon their own land, a meeting house for the use of Friends. The 
Society has flourished uninterruptedly since then and the worshippers 
include upwards of fifteen families, largely composed of the 
descendants of those who established it. A writer says: "The rise of 
the Friends' Meeting House seems worthy of notice. It was established 
by five men, who, making no especial profession of religion, yet 
yielded to a simple apprehension of duty and built a house for the 
worship of God. All of them became faithful, humble followers of the 
Lord Jesus, and to one of them, Bond Valentine, was committed the 
ministry of the Gospel of Christ"
  The meeting house has been undergoing repairs and restoration to the 
original idea,and the stone porch and steps are made like the first 
one.

Source: The Genealogy of the Smedley Family 1682-1900. Gilbert Cope

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