Biography: History of Fulton County, 1884, Fulton Co., PA, J. W. Greathead

Contributed and transcribed by Judy Banja jbanja@msn.com

The html table of contents for this history including the illustrations may be 
found at
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/fulton/1picts/1884history/watermantoc.htm

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___________________________________________________________
                                     
                                     HISTORY
                                       of
                                BEDFORD, SOMERSET
                                       and
                                 FULTON COUNTIES,
                                  PENNSYLVANIA.

                  With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches
                                 of some of its
                           PIONEERS AND PROMINENT MEN.

                     Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1884

                                 J. W. GREATHEAD

[unpaginated, between pp. 631-632]

  The progenitor of the American branch of the Greathead family, Thos. 
Greathead, was born in Clitherow, Lancashire, England, July 27, 1792.  When 
sixteen years of age he went to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and in 1815 to London.
   September 10, 1818, was married to Frances S., daughter of Thomas and 
Elizabeth Hux.
  Having obtained a good mercantile education, he, in 1819, decided to try his 
fortunes in America, and shipped from Liverpool for Philadelphia.  This same 
year he settled at Fort Lyttleton, and engaged in farming until 1831, when he 
engaged in the mercantile business with Col. Jas. Agnew, in McConnellsburg, in 
one of the oldest and most successful stands in this part of the state.  In 1847 
Mr. Agnew retired, and Mr. Greathead continued the business alone until 1858, 
when he associated his son, John W., with him.
  Mr. and Mrs. T. Greathead reared a family of ten children, and remained here 
until their demise, she passing away in 1867, aged seventy-four years, and he in 
1874.  
  Fully appreciating the benefits of the English government, their love of their 
mother country never grew cold, and was only overruled by a deeper solicitude 
and higher hopes for their adopted country and the prosperity and happiness of 
their children in the land of their choice.
  Mr. and Mrs. Greathead were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, and their home was the hospitable roof that sheltered the ministers when 
on the tour of their circuits.
  John W. Greathead, the immediate subject of this sketch, was born February 24, 
1834.  He early assisted his father in the store, and at the age of sixteen 
years engaged with Mr. Daniel Snively, of Greencastle, where he remained for two 
years, and then went to Dubuque, Iowa, where, on the strength of a letter of 
recommendation from Mr. Snively, he immediately secured a clerkship.  His 
employer's finances being in an embarrassed condition, he concluded to change 
employers and selected one of two offers which he considered the best; this 
employer soon failed, and he was selected by the assignee to close up the 
business, which responsible position he filled with eminent satisfaction.
  In September, 1854, he entered the employ of Messrs. Barney, Scott & Co., a 
large drygoods house, as bookkeeper and cashier, where he remained until 1857, 
when he severed his connection with this firm to accept an offer of 
copartnership with his father, at the old stand in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania.  
From April, 1858, until 1868, the business was continued under the firm name of 
T. & J. W. Greathead, when the senior member retired, and J. W. continued the 
business alone until January 1, 1884, when Mr. Greathead associated with his 
son, R. Newton, with him in the business, the style of the firm now being J. W. 
Greathead & Son.  In 1862 the firm then in business lost nearly everything by 
reason of the rebels, who invaded the borough and pillaged the store.  This, 
however, did not discourage them, for they continued business notwithstanding 
constant menace of recurring invasions.  The year 1881 completed the first half-
century of business conducted at this stand, during which time it only suffered 
an interruption of about five weeks, when the store-building was being 
remodeled.  Two stools made of pine - that were made and used by the founder of 
the business, Mr. Agnew - are still retained by the present proprietors as 
relics.
  October 2, 1860, J. W. Greathouse was married to A. Virginia, the daughter of 
Col. H. W. Dellinger, of Clearspring, Maryland.

                                     ~~~*~~~