SECHRIST, VALENTINE

The Siegrist/Sechrist/Secrest Family of Southwestern Pennsylvania

Valentine Siegrist arrived in Baltimore, Maryland, coming from Switzerland in 1765. He was accompanied by his wife, Susannah, son, William and daughter, Mary. Son, John, was born that same year. It is quite possible that other children began the journey, but died at sea. (The Siegrist name translates to "keeper of the church" and is very common in Switzerland.) Valentine took the Oath of Allegiance on September 25, 1772 at Baltimore, Maryland and remained in that state until 1778 when he moved to Peters Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. By 1779 he was in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, which later divided into several counties, Fayette being formed from the section where he resided. At his death in 1814 there were ten children living: William, Mary (Shrader), John, Valentine, George, David, Jacob, Elizabeth (Brooks), Susanna (Breakiron) and Henry.

Valentine claimed three tracts of land in Perry and Tyrone Townships where his sons, John and David, continued to live after their father's death. As a child I swam at the "creek falls" below this land. Nearby is the Alliance Furnace (first iron furnace west of the Allegheny Mountains) for which Valentine's family provided lunches for the workers.

I was born in the Fay-West area of Pennsylvania (along border of Fayette and Westmoreland Counties) where I spent my childhood. We lived in Upper Tyrone Township and the following is my family line from Valentine Siegrist also known as Sechrist and Secrest.

1) Valentine Siegrist m. Susanna (unknown) 2) David Sechrist m. Anna Margaret Cook 3) Anna Margaret Sechrist m. Nicholas K. Shirey 4) David Sechrist Shirey m. Catherine Davenport 5) Ella Mae Shirey m. (Wesley) Braden Nichelson 6) Erma Grace Nichelson m. Raymond Michael Suchocki 7) LaVonne Rae Suchocki (me) m. Donald Emerson Hanlon

Return to HOME PAGE