my REAGAN family
My REAGAN family, starts with George Reagan born 21 Feb 1783, who became an Iron Master. In 1809 he married Barbara Noyes. Their son, John Reagan was born 31 Dec 1810.
On 11 May 1833, in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, John married
Sarah Ann Wily. John and Sallie had a large family. Among their eleven children, my ancestor John Allen Reagan was ninth to be born, arriving on 11 Apr 1852. From many years, John was Chief Engineer of the West Chester Wheel Works.
On 21 Sep 1871 John Allen Reagan married
Anastasia S. Cadney. Together they had six children.
The eldest was
Charles, a wheel finisher who served in the Spanish American War. He died two years later of stomach problems. Edwin C. became a prominent West Chester merchant, operating Reagan's Smoke Shop, next door to the Courthouse until his death. A daughter, Lucetta was born in 1878. She would go on to marry Benjamin Hughes, and later Theodore Pyne.
My own great-grandfather, and namesake,
Irvin, followed on 29 Jan 1881. He would have a career as a Page and Librarian in Harrisburg, work for the West Chester Wheel Works and for Bell Telephone, and serve a stint in the military stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco (just in time to experience the great 1906 earthquake). Later he would take over the reins at Reagan's Smoke Shop upon Edwin's death. Younger brother, Lawrence came along on 26 Nov 1882. He would serve many years as street commissioner in West Chester during the first half of the 20th Century. The family's youngest child was Mary. She would marry several times.
In December of 1903, Irvin married Helen Graham. Shortly thereafter Irvin enlisted in the military and was divorced. Following his stint at the Presidio, Irvin married
Ena Hughes in Frazer in 1909. Together they had identical twin daughters, Carol and Mildred. The Reagan twins were popular through their high school years, performing as dancers in school shows and as members of the girl's basketball team.
SPECULATION -- It remains a possibility that my REAGAN family has ties to a female Reagan that married a Harrison of Virgina near the end of the 18th century. This conjecture fits with a thin, sketchy family recollection of ties to the Presidents Harrison.
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©Copyright 1997-2003, Irv Mitchell. All rights reserved.
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Created in 1997 . . . This page was last updated 22 May 2003