My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH PLOUGH, now living retired from active labors, for many years was a prosperous farmer of Monroe township, Cumberland county, and is now a very highly respected resident of that township. He is a son of John, and a grandson of John, the latter having been born in Switzerland, but came to York county, Pa., where he bought a tract of land, and followed farming. He married a Miss Hess, of York county, where they both died, their children having been: Samuel died in Cumberland county; John and Susan both died in Cumberland; Nancy is living in Shiremanstown, Cumberland county, and David died when a young man.

John Plough was born July 15, 1811, in York county, where he received his education. On Nov. 10, 1835, he married Martha Erb, daughter of John and Fanny (Barrick) Erb, of Lancaster county. They came to Cumberland county in 1837, settling in South Middleton township, but later bought a farm of 104 acres in Dickinson township, where the father died at the age of forty-nine years, his wife passing away at the age of forty-two years.

Joseph Plough was born in 1836, in York county, and was one year of age when brought to Cumberland county. Like the other boys of his neighborhood, he had a common school education, and grew up on the farm. In 1866 he married Annie Bowman, a daughter of John and Martha (Herr) Bowman, of New Holland, Lancaster county, Pa. After marriage the young people located in Monroe township, and, buying a farm of forty acres, operated it for nineteen years. Mr. Plough then came to his present home, where he has a handsome brick house, and he has made it his residence for seventeen years.

Mr. Plough never took an active part in the war, on account of ill health, but his sympathies were all with the Union, and he is an ardent Republican. Both he and his excellent wife are members of the old Mennonite Church. For over twenty-five years Mr. Plough has been a teacher in the Sabbath school, and he is one of the most highly respected men of his township.