BIO:  Henry LOGAN, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, Carroll Township, Pg 86

COL. HENRY LOGAN (deceased) was born near Dillsburg, York County, Penn., April 
14, 1784.  His father, Henry, and his grandfather, John Logan, immigrated to this 
country from Coot Hill, Monaghan County, Ireland, in 1749, and settled in 
Cumberland Valley, and afterward patented a tract of land called Logania, in York 
County, which is still in possession of their descendants.  Henry’s first public 
act was to volunteer as a private in the war of 1812 for the defense of 
Baltimore.  After the close of the war he was chosen captain of the Tenth 
Company, Ninetieth Regiment, Second Brigade, Fifth Division of Pennsylvania 
Militia, composed of men from York and Adams Counties.  August 1, 1814, he was 
commissioned by Gov. Simon Snyder, lieutenant-colonel in the same regiment for 
seven years.  He represented York County in the State assembly of 1818 and 1819, 
and in the senate from 1828 to 1831.  In 1834 he was elected a member of the 
Twenty-fourth Congress, and re-elected by an increased majority to the Twenty-
fifth Congress in 1836.  He was in Washington during the exciting times of 
Jackson’s second administration, of whom he was a great admirer and personal 
friend.  About 1840 he was elected a county commissioner, and during his term of 
office succeeded in clearing the county of its large indebtedness, and was 
perhaps the last commissioner who saw the county entirely free of debt.  Col. 
Logan was a strong Democrat.  He was the leader of his party in the county, and 
it was largely owing to his influence that the Democrats attained the supremacy 
in the county which they have ever since held.  He lived in a better political 
era than the present, and often said that although he had been so frequently 
honored by his fellow citizens, he had never asked a man to go as a delegate or 
vote for him.  He was a self-made man; had few opportunities of receiving a 
school education, but was a constant reader and a good writer.  When a young man 
he organized a debating society, to which he afterward attributed much of his 
success.  He was a man of sound judgment and good common sense, and of remarkable 
general intelligence.  When he once made up his mind nothing could shake his 
purpose or his conviction.  His counsels were sought by his acquaintances, and 
his advice was of great value to his neighbors.  For many years he was a director 
of the Carlisle Deposit Bank, and of the Allen & East Pennsboro Mutual Fire 
Insurance Company.  He took a deep interest in the common schools and served 
frequently as school director.  He was also an ardent advocate of the American 
Colonization Society.  Col. Logan was a man of strong physical constitution, 
standing six feet tall, and of commanding appearance.  He was an early riser, 
hard worker and knew no fear.  A man of plain tastes, of frugal habits, but 
indomitable will, energy and perseverance, he succeeded in acquiring a 
comfortable fortune, owning at the time of his death over 700 acres of land.  His 
marriage with Martha O’hail occurred February 22, 1825.  She was born January 29, 
1800, and was also of Irish descent.  Her ancestors were early settlers of the 
northern portion of the county.  They had eleven children, seven of whom survive 
them.  She was a woman of great force of character, of sincere piety, and for 
many years a patient sufferer.  Her death occurred January 28, 1866.  Col. Logan 
died December 20, 1866.  Both were members of the Presbyterian Church, and 
regretted by all who knew them.  The children are as follows:  Jane (now the 
widow of William M. Beetem, for many years cashier of the Carlisle Deposit Bank), 
James J. (a farmer of Carroll Township), Mary A. (wife of Abram Williams, a 
prominent farmer of Cumberland County), Martha W., Josephine F. (wife of W. D. 
Bailey, M. D., of Dillsburg), Rev. William Henry Logan (pastor of the 
Presbyterian Church of Millerstown, Penn.) and John N.