Bedford County PA Archives Biographies.....Calhoun, David
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Banja jbanja@msn.com May 2003


DAVID CALHOUN, a well-known resident of West Providence, 
Pa., by occupation a tiller of the soil, was born in this 
township, April 6, 1829, a son of John and Rebecca (Wilkins) 
Calhoun.  His father was a native of Virginia, and his 
mother was born and brought up in Fulton County, 
Pennsylvania.
  John Calhoun was reared to manhood in Bedford County, 
Pennsylvania, whither his widowed mother came with three 
little children very soon after the death of her husband.  
She located in West Providence township, which she made her 
permanent home, living at first with her family near 
Everett, but afterward at Clear Ridge, where she spent her 
remaining days.  John Calhoun became in course of time a 
citizen of influence, and in many ways assisted in advancing 
the prosperity of the township.  He was active in public 
life, serving for a number of years as Constable.  In 
politics he was early identified with the Whigs.  In after 
years he became a stanch supporter of the Republican party.  
In every respect he was a worthy type of the stalwart men of 
our country, who have made their own way in life by 
continuous industry and steadfastness of purpose.  In 
religious matters he was an active worker in the Reformed 
church from the days of his youth until his death in 1864.
  David Calhoun has claimed West Providence as his home 
during his entire life.  In a small log school-house, 
sitting on a slab seat supported by wooden legs, with a 
rough board fastened to the log wall for a desk, he conned 
his first lessons, and practically obtained his early 
education.  Schools were then supported by subscription, and 
gave but meagre advantages to the would-be scholar as 
compared with the modern institution of learning; but who 
shall say that the present day and generation can produce 
men and women of greater mental ability and force of 
character than those that assisted in moulding public 
affairs during the first half of the nineteenth century?  On 
November 20, 1864, Mr. Calhoun, then a member of Company C, 
Eighty-second Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, went with his 
regiment to Virginia to join Sherman's army, in which he did 
duty until the close of the conflict.  On April 9, 1865, he 
was at Appomattox and within two miles of the place where 
General Lee surrendered.  On being mustered out of service, 
in August, 1865, he returned to his home in West Providence, 
where he at once resumed his former occupation of a tiller 
of the soil.  He owns a well-improved farm of sixty-one and 
one-half acres, and makes a good living for himself and 
family.  He is a loyal Republican in his political 
affiliations and a valued member of the Christian church, 
toward the support of which he contributes most liberally.
  In 1859 Mr. Calhoun married Miss Lucinda Kegg, daughter of 
the late Sebastian Kegg, of West Providence.  Nine children 
have been born of this union, namely: John H., Andrew, 
deceased; Frank; Barton C.; Amanda E., wife of William 
Biddle; Mary E.; Martha R.; Myrtle; and Ada.


Source: Bedford Biographical Review, 1899, Bedford Co., Pa