Mon Valley Biographies

 Surnames:  Marchand, Ward, Vandruff, Lilly, Miller, Sacket,

 In the year 1770 Dr David Marchand, the ancestor of the Marchands now residing in Western Pennsylvania, settled on Little Sewickley Creek about six miles southwest of Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Penna. He was born in the canton of Berne, Switzerland, and emigrated at an early age with his father, David Marchand, to the British colonies in America and settled near Hagerstown, Maryland. His father was a Huguenot and fled his country on account of religious persecution.

 Dr David Marchand was a physician of rare ability. He practiced in Westmoreland and adjoining counties and so great was the number of patients who applied to him as this office that he established a hospital near his home to which many persons resorted for medical treatment. He died July 22, 1809, in the sixty fourth year of his age and his remains sleep in the cemetery of Brush Creek Church of which he was a liberal supporter. His old German wooden backed Bible contains this entry upon
the first page: These are the children which the Lord hath given me. Will the Lord keep them to walk in His way, that in their conduct in life and in death they may in Christ grow in patience and virtue:

Catharine, born March 8, 1767
Elizabeth, born November 5, 1768
Susanna, born October 13, 1770
Judith, born January 12, 1772
Daniel, born December 8, 1773
Esther, born August 23, 1775
David, born December 10, 1776
Louis, born June 23, 1782

 The daughters all married and settled in Westmoreland County, Penna. The sons all became physicians, and all eminent in their profession and their distinguished ability and that of their father, connected the name Marchand in the most prominent manner with the medical profession in that
early day.

Dr David Marchand Jr located in Westmoreland County. He possessed great popularity as a citizen and as a man, and was twice elected to Congress, and returned home with a pure and good record. He was the father of nine children, seven sons, all professional men. Dr Daniel Marchand settled in
Uniontown, Fayette County, Penna.

Dr Louis Marchand read medicine with his father and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1809. He then located upon the Marchand homestead farm in Jefferson township, Fayette County, Penna, five miles below Brownsville on the Monongahela River where he practiced his profession for a few years. Upon the death of his brother Daniel, he located in Uniontown.

While there he married about 1823 Sarah Sacket, daughter of Dr Samuel Sackett who lived on Georges Creek one mile south of Smithfield. He continued to practice his profession in Uniontown until 1843 when he retired from practice and removed to his farm in Jefferson township where
he led a quiet life until his death January 11, 1857. His remains rest in the family graveyard on the farm where he spent his declining years. He was long a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and became a member at the time of its organization in Uniontown. He had the profoundest reverence for God and sacred things and had implicit faith in the atonement of Christ. Many remember him kindly for his valuable services and bless his memory for his disinterested love. He practiced medicine from love of his profession and from a desire to do good to suffering humanity. He was an esteemed citizen and true patriot. "His life was gentle and the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world, this is a man."

He had nine children, seven of whom grew to manhood and womanhood: Elizabeth Marchand married to A I Miller; Samuel Sackett Marchand who was a physician and noted for ability and skill in his profession. He was educated at Madison College, Fayette County, and Cleveland Medical
College. He practiced in Westmoreland County, Penna, and entered the army during the late war as captain of Company H, 136th Regiment (Col Bayne's). He was wounded at the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, and died in Libby Prison, February 28, 1863. His remains were interred at Richmond but have since been removed to the family burial ground on the farm in Jefferson township.

The third child, Rachel Marchand, married A I Miller as his second wife. The other children were: Mary Louisa Marchand who married Thomas W Lilly; Frances Caroline Marchand who married John W Ward; Lucius A Marchand who married Minerva Vandruff and resides upon the old homestead; and Catharine B Marchand married to Ellis W Lilly.