Biographical Sketch of Robert Agnew FUTHEY (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 313-4. "R. AGNEW FUTHEY is a representative of one of the oldest families of Chester county, who has the distinction of having been the first school superintendent of the county, and was for many years connected with her banking interests. He was long an active, intelligent and successful man of affairs, but for some years has been living in retirement at his ele- gant home in Parkesburg. He is the eldest son of Samuel and Ann (Parkin- son) Futhey, and was born September 2, 1824, in what was then West Fallow- field, but is now Highland township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. The Futheys are of original Scotch descent, but the American branch is of Scotch-Irish parentage. Their home in the seventeenth century was near Arbroath, on the eastern coast of Scotland, where they owned lands bearing the same name. The family was prominent and influential, two of its members - Alexander and Henry - being in parliament during the reign of Charles II., while others filled positions of honor and trust. "Robert Futhey emigrated from Scotland to the north of Ireland in the latter part of the seventeenth century, and his son, also named Robert, came from Ireland to America between 1725 and 1730, and settled in the southern part of Chester county, Pennsylvania. He died soon after his arrival, leaving four children - Robert, Samuel, Margery and Henry - from whom have descended the numerous Futhey family now scattered in all parts of the United States. "Robert removed to the Cumberland valley about 1770, and his descendants can be found throughout western Pennsylvania and in some of the southern and western States. Henry removed to the western part of North Carolina, and has descendants in both the Carolinas. Samuel, who was born in 1725, remained in Chester county, where he became prominent and took an active part in aiding the American cause during the revolution. In January, 1750, he married Ruth Steele, of New London township, and in 1763 pur- chased and removed to a farm of two hundred acres in West Fallowfield (now Highland) township. He died January 27, 1790, and was buried in the family burying ground at New London. At his death he left two surviving children, Ann and Samuel. Samuel's brother, Robert Futhey, served in the American army during the revolution, and died soon afterward from exposure while in the service. Ann Futhey married Samuel Dale, who became an in- fluential citizen of the Buffalo valley, and served in the house of repre- sentatives of Pennsylvania ten years and in the State senate six years. "Samuel Futhey (2) (grandfather) had considerable taste for military life, and served five campaigns in the revolutionary war. In 1794 he was adju- tant of a regiment of cavalry that took part in suppressing the whisky insurrection in western Pennsylvania. He subsequently filled the office of brigade inspector for seven years, with the rank of major, by which title he was ever afterward addressed. He was a member of the Presby- terian church and an old-line whig in politics. In 1782 he married Mar- garet McPherson,who died in 1784, and in 1788 he wedded Martha Smith. Major Futhey died February 22, 1812, leaving five children: Robert, Jane, Sarah, Samuel and John S. "Robert Futhey was born January 21, 1789, served in the war of 1812, was a member of the Pennsylvania legislature in 1841-42, and died July 29, 1870. He married Margaret Parkinson, of Carlisle, this State, and at his death left five children: J. Smith, James L., Martha, Elizabeth J. and Robert. His eldest son, Judge J. Smith Futhey (now deceased), was one of the authors of the history of Chester county, published by Louis H. Evarts, at Philadelphia, in 1881, and for a number of years president judge of the courts of Chester county. John S. Futhey, the Major's youngest son, was born December 20, 1796. He resided for many years in Wrightsville, York county, and during his later life in West Chester, where he died August 18, 1867. He married Juliann Heintzelman, a sister of the late Gen. Samuel P. Heintzelman, but left no descendants. "Samuel Futhey (3) (father) was born February 2, 1794, in what was then West Fallowfield township, this county, and was a prosperous farmer there until his death, March 29, 1855, at the advanced age of sixty-two years. He owned and occupied the old homestead, was a member of the Upper Octo- raro Presbyterian church, a whig in politics, and a great admirer of Henry Clay. By his marriage to Ann Parkinson - who was a sister of his brother Robert's wife - he had a family of three children: Robert Agnew, the sub- ject of this sketch; Mary A.; and Samuel Dale. Mrs. Futhey was a native of Cumberland county, this State, a devoted member of the Presbyterian church, and died April 27, 1871, in the seventy-fourth year of her age. "Robert Agnew Futhey was reared on the old homestead in Highland township, pursuing his primary studies in the common schools and receiving his academic education at New London and Unionville academies. After leaving school he engaged in teaching, and was assistant teacher under Prof. Myers at the old West Chester academy until 1854, when he was elected county superintendent of public schools, being the first superintendent ever elected in Chester county. He held his position three years, during which time his father died, and at the expiration of his term of office he re- turned to the old homestead and took charge of the farm. He continued to be occupied in agricultural pursuits until 1868, when he removed to the vicinity of Parkesburg. In the following year was organized the private banking house of Parke, Smith & Co., at Parkesburg, and Mr. Futhey accepted a position as clerk in that institution. He served for one year in that capacity and was then made cashier, in which position he remained until 1883, when he retired from active business. In 1870 he moved into Parkes- burg, where he has one of the handsomest and most finely appointed resi- dences in the borough. "In December, 1855, Mr. Futhey was united in marriage to Sarah P. Taylor, a daughter of Jacob Taylor, of this county. He is a member of the Presby- terian church and a stanch republican in politics. Many times he has been called on to fill local offices, and has served as burgess of Parkesburg, school director, and member of the borough council. He is a worthy repre- sentative of a worthy family, and is passing his declining years sur- rounded by comfort and luxury, and enjoying the respect and esteem of a wide circle of steadfast friends."