My Genealogy Hound

Abishai Way was born in Chester county, received a business education in Philadelphia, and became a wholesale and retail merchant in Pittsburgh. He was for years agent for the Harmony society at Economy, Pa., handling large quantities of wool and other produce for that community. He was a prominent and highly respected citizen, closely identified with many public measures and improvements that marked the early history of Pittsburgh. He died in 1837, aged forty-four, leaving a wife, Mary Anderson, who died in 1881, and several children, of whom three are now living: Mary, Anne and John. On Abishai’s death his family removed to the Way farm in Sewickley valley, where they have since remained. John Way,. Jr., was educated at Sewickley Academy, and engaged in managing the farm and in various business enterprises till 1877, when he reorganized the Sewickley Academy, built a large and handsome house for its use on his own property, and by years of persistent effort and self-denial, and large pecuniary outlay, made it one of the best academic institutions in the state. He has been prominent in other movements that have advanced the welfare of the community, notably the passage of a special legislative enactment assuring this and adjacent townships a prohibitory liquor law, and another doing away with the running at large of cattle upon the public roads. His interest in public education is attested by nineteen years’ service on the township school board. He has been for some forty years connected with the Sewickley Presbyterian Church, doing much for its interest and advancement, it being largely due to his exertions that its fine location and handsome stone edifice were secured. He was for some years a trustee of this church, and is now and has been for some twenty years an elder in it. He has been several times re-elected justice of the peace in Leet township. He has a wife, Catherine Wilson, and three sons: William, Frederick and John.