Bios: JACOB R. BOGGS: Lawrence County, Pennsylvania

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  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lawrence Co transcribers.
  Coordinated by Ed McClelland

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
 
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  Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
  Lawrence County Pennsylvania
  Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
  
  An html version with search engine may be found at 
  
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/lawrence/1897/
  
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  JACOB R. BOGGS,
  
  Jacob Boggs[p. 247] whose portrait may be viewed on the opposite page, is a
thrifty and well-to-do farmer, who lives near New Galilee in Big Beaver
township, Lawrence County, who has mounted the ladder of success, and now
occupies a position of esteem in his community as a solid, substantial
citizen. He was born in Erie Co., Pa., in January, 1847, and is therefore
just past the half-century mark. His parents were John and Martha (Blackwood)
Boggs, who were both of Irish parentage, although a hundred or more years ago
we might find that their ancestors came from Scotland. Many of the best
people in Pennsylvania to-day are descended from the long-suffering sons of
Erin, for it seems that to those who have been forced by an iron hand to
yield obedience to unjust decrees and to consider the divine right of kings
the first pillar of government, there is something ineffably dear in the
sight of the flag waving over a land where all men are free and equal before
the law. From the sturdy Irish and Scotch-Irish people have been developed
worthy citizens, who would be an honor to any commonwealth. Western
Pennsylvania is especially fortunate in having been settled by pioneers who
belonged chiefly to this class, and that their work in building up this
beautiful country was done well goes without saying. The ardent love of
liberty is fostered and kept alive in such a race, grateful for the blessings
of a free land, and in times of trouble and deep distress, when our very
integrity as a nation was threatened, the Scotch-Irish responded nobly to the
call, and proved themselves to be entitled to rank with our best citizens.
America asks for no better class of citizens than those of kindred speech,
who have sought civil and religious freedom on her shores. Such were the
inducements that drew John Boggs, when a young man, to abandon his home in
Ireland, and seek a brighter lot in the Western Continent. He was a
struggling, hard-working farmer after he settled near Erie, Pa., and of an
intensely religious cast of mind, as he had been brought up in the faith of
the old Covenanters.
  
  Our subject lived in Erie County until he was a strong lad of fifteen
years, and grasped whatever educational advantages were offered in the common
schools. He was a dutiful son fulfilling his duty to his aged father in every
respect and caring for him until the number of his years on earth were
completed. Mr. Boggs came to Lawrence County about 1872, where he has made
his home since. He chose for his partner Mary Blackwood, whose parents, James
and Eliza Blackwood, were also born in Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Boggs have
rejoiced on the occasions of the birth of three children: Ethel L. and Oliver
B., and an infant son. The family belongs to the Reformed Presbyterian Church,
one branch of which does not allow its members to participate in political
affairs, and so, obeying the voice of the church, Mr. Boggs has kept aloof
from politics, and has taken no aggressive interest in the oft-recurring
elections.