Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, 1912


Derrick Family Biography

This family was planted in America at the time of William Penn 's coming to Pennsylvania in 1681. Joseph Derrick, of Swedish descent, was living in England when the Penn colony emigrated, and joining them, settled at Marcus Hook near Chester. He married Prudence Samplough and had issue. (II) Zachariah, son of Joseph Derrick, the emigrant ancestor, was a native of Pennsylvania and there he spent his entire life. The Pennsylvania records of the revolutionary war give many Zachariah Derricks and it is very probable that Zachariah, son of Joseph, was engaged in this war. He married Hannah Dutton. Children: 1. Zachariah, of whom further. 2. Joseph, moved to Fayette county, where he died. 3. Isaac, became a wagon maker at Village Green, Delaware county, Pennsylvania. 4. Hannah, married a Mr. Ebright, and lived in Springfield township, Delaware county, Pennsylvania.

(III) Zachariah (2), son of Zachariah (1) and Hannah (Dutton) Derrick, was born at Marcus Hook, near Chester, Pennsylvania. When very young he learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1815 moved to Georges township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where he was constantly employed at his trade until his death, which was caused by an attack of typhoid fever, to which he succumbed after an illness of several months' duration. His services were much in demand for hardwood indoor finishing and other branches of his business. He married Barbara Stillwell, who died in 1830, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Renslow) Stillwell. Mr. Stillwell was born near Winchester, Virginia, 1760, died August 6, 1841. According to the Pennsylvania archives, fifth series, volume 4, page 422, he enlisted in the colonial army during the revolutionary war, when he was but sixteen years old, and served for seven years. When the government troops were called out to quell the whiskey rebellion in Pennsylvania he was still in the service, and after that disturbance had subsided (although not without loss of life and much damage to property) he settled in Georges township. Here he purchased and cultivated a small farm, also chiseling millstones from the rock formations upon his land. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Derrick : Isaac, a gold miner, went west in 1849. Zachariah, lived in Uniontown until 1848, when he moved to Oregon. Sidney, married a Mr. Watson and lived near Brownsville. Sarah, married Andrew Lily and lived near Brownsville. Hannah, died young. Joseph, of whom further.

(IV) Joseph, son of Zachariah (2) and Barbara (Stillwell) Derrick, was born in Georges township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1822. In his early life he was a carpenter, learning the trade under and working with his father. His skill at his trade became equal to that of his instructor, and he was kept busily engaged in Uniontown and vicinity until he gave up carpentering and purchased a farm in North Union township. To this he steadily added by purchase, becoming the owner of three hundred acres of rich, fertile land. In December, 1865, he sold all but one hundred acres and moved to South Union township. just outside of the borough limits, where he purchased a small farm of forty acres. He is now living a quiet retired life at his home on Derrick avenue. Uniontown, at the advanced age of ninety years. He has a happy and successful past to look back upon, three children to brighten and cheer his old age, and a clear, free consclence with which to look forward to the final summons, when he shall be called to his Maker. He has been a strong Republican all his life; is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Eliza Byrer (see Byrer II), born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1821, died May 7, 1885, Children: 1. Ellen, deceased, married J. V. Williams, a brick manufacturer of Uniontown; she left three children; Allen D.; Florence, married Harry Whyel; Eliza. 2. Emily, lives with father. 3. Mary, married William W. Brownfield, a farmer in South Union township; one child, Jean. 4. Frederick Byrer, of whom further.

(V) Frederick Byrer, son of Joseph and Eliza (Byrer) Derrick, was born in North Union township, near Monroe, at the foot of the mountain, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, August 6, 1860. He obtained his education in the public schools of Uniontown and for a time attended the Hatfield district school in South Union township. When a boy he became familiar with all phases of farm life, and as he became older took entire charge of his father's land, which he still farms. In 1895 he erected a large and handsome house on the crest of the hill on Derrick avenue, and there makes his home. He is a successful farmer, and an enterprising, energetic member of the community. He is a strong Republican, and with his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. He married, September 26, 1895, Emma Rowan, born in Wharton township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, daughter of David and Catharine (Johnson) Rowan. Mr. Rowan was born in Wharton township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and met a tragic death at the age of forty years while in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. He and another man were watchmen on several miles of track, and at one time, because of the illness of his companion, he was on duty day and night for a week. He became greatly fatigued and worn out from loss of sleep, and while sitting on the track eating his lunch, fell over in a sleeping stupor and was killed by an express train. He served in Company F, Fourteenth Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry, from September, 1862, until the close of the war. His wife was a daughter of William Johnson, born in Springfield township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and Betsey (Long) Johnson. Mr. Johnson 's parents were born in England. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson : 1. Elmer, lives in Greensburg, where he is in the railroad employ. 2. Emma, of previous mention. 3. Mary, married Leslie La Clair and lives in Uniontown.

Source: Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1912.





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