BIOGRAPHY: William Thomas CLOSE, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 652-653.

  WILLIAM THOMAS CLOSE, deceased, formerly of Armagh township, Mifflin county, 
Pa., was born in the Big Valley, Armagh township, August 1, 1821.  He is a son 
of Peter and Jane (Orr) Close.  His paternal grandparents, Peter and Catharine 
Close, had a family of three sons and two daughters.  His maternal grandparents 
were John and Catharine Orr, who had a large family of sons and daughters.  His 
parents, Peter and Jane Close, had six children:  John, married Rachel Longwell, 
has seven children;  Henry L., married Frances Ramsey, has five children;  Eliza 
(Mrs. William Aitkens), has four children;  Elliott, married Mary Barger, has 
six children;  William, died in childhood;  and William Thomas.
  William Thomas Close received a limited education in the schools of Armagh 
township.  When he was twenty-four he left home and began farming for himself on 
land belonging to his father.  In 1862, he removed to the homestead, near 
Milroy, where he spent the remainder of his life.  His industry and good 
management made him successful in business, and enabled him to provide a 
competence for his widow and children.  Mr. Close was a member of the Republican 
party, interested in local politics, and anxious for the improvement of the 
community.  He filled various township offices, serving as tax collector for 
some years.  He was very kind-hearted, and it is said that during his term of 
office he often paid the taxes of delinquents to avoid proceeding against them 
to collect the amount due the township.  Hospitable and liberal towards all, he 
was greatly beloved by his friends and neighbors.  William Thomas Close was 
married September 7, 1843, to Mary B., daughter of John and Hannah (Adams) 
Aitkens.  Their children are:  James H., born July 26, 1846, died December 29, 
1853;  Hannah Jane, born March 10, 1850, died January 6, 1854;  John Williams, 
married to Sarah Matilda Aitkens, who died July 25, 1880, has four children;  
Samuel Elliott, married first to Matilda Orr Templeton, who died, leaving two 
children, and afterwards to Jennie V. Rogers, who has three children;  Eliza 
Matilda (Mrs. William C. Naginey), has six children;  and Robert Thomas, married 
Lillian Furst, has two children.  Mr. William Close was a consistent member of 
the Presbyterian church at Milroy.  He died August 31, 1888.  The paternal 
grandparents of Mrs. William Close, James and Ann Aitkens, lived and died in 
Ireland.  Her maternal grandparents, Samuel and Margaret Adams, were natives of 
Scotland.  They emigrated to America and settled in Philadelphia, Pa., some time 
in the last century.