Biography from David Family Scrapbook by Bruce David:

In 1800, he moved to Crawford County with his parents. Following the death of his mother in 1802, he was returned to Fayette County as a six year old child, to be raised by relatives. As a youth in Fayette County, he learned the trade of a miller at which he continued all his life in Crawford and Mercer County, PA. He was married three times. In the spring of 1826, six years after his marriage, he moved with his wife and four children back to Crawford County, where he bought a farm in Hayfield Township near his father. Later he moved into Saegertown, where he took over the operation of the Saeger gristmill at the dam on French Creek. Four more children were born in Crawford County. His wife Catharine died 2 Jan 1838, leaving a family of 8 children, aged from two to seventeen. Five months later, 20 May 1838, Jonathan married Mary Ann Grubb. He was then forty-one, and Mary Ann was only twenty. During the next 26 years, Jonathan operated six different grist mills. He moved from Saegertown, first to Magoffin's Falls, then to Bemus' Mills, both on French Creek below Saegertown; then to New Lebanon, and from there to Clark's Mills, both in Mercer County, PA. Nine children were born to them during this time. Mary Ann died died 18 Sept 1859 at Clarks Mills. Soon thereafter, Jonathan moved with his family to Linesville, PA, where he took over the operation of the gristmill on Mill Creek in that town. The two eldest daughters, Sarah and Amanda, then 17 and 19, were old enough to care for the younger children and manage the household. Mary Wallace David, Jonathan's third wife, was burdened by the support of a blind brother and lack of income, and was unable to take care of the brood of orphaned children. Arrangements were made by Benjamin David, the eldest half-brother, whereby the four younger children, who could not support themselves, were taken to be raised by other families in the vicinity. Jonathan was a man of great kindliness and had a genuine affection for his many children. He had acquired a fairly good education, and found time to teach one of the first schools in Saegertown. He composed many poems, and wrote many doctrinal dissertations. He was buried at Saegertown, PA.


Son of Owen & Margaret, Married 1) Catherine Gans; 2) Mary Ann Grubb; 3) Mary Wallace.

Also father to:
Joseph Watkins (9/20/1822 - 2/28/1851)
Alpheus Wilson (8/8/1826-9/7/1828)
Elthelbert Oliphant (9/7/1828 - 6/12/1892)
Mary Lydia (8/25/1830 - 12/2/1918)
Rebecca Ann (9/23/1835 - 4/26/1914)
Franklin Ami (5/4/1845 - 5/9/1858)