Surnames: Peirsol, Peirsel, Beal, Cope, McLaughlin, Radcliffe, Frasher, Hormell, Grand, McKay, Swayne
Jeremiah Peirsel was born in what is now Perry township, March 4, 1787, and died in Menallen township, November 20, 1880. He was of Welsh descent and educated in the common schools. He was married to Mary Beal of Menallen township in 1810. They had twelve children, seven sons and five daughters. He was always a farmer and located upon the farm where his son Samuel Peirsel now resides in 1824, and remained there until his death. He was an exemplary member of the old Redstone Baptist church for more than sixty years. He never held a political office; never had a lawsuit; never had any difficulties with his neighbors. His long life was due in a measure , not doubt, to his amiable disposition. He had all the good qualities that susally attend a lovable disposition. He belonged to a long-lived family. The average age of himself, brothers and sisters is eighty years.His father, William Peirsel/Peirsol, came to Fayette County from Chester County, Penna, early in life. He married Grace Cope. They had eight children. Jeremiah Peirsel was the third. William Peirsel died in 1848, supposed to be over one hundred years old. Grace died in 1854, aged ninety four.
Seven of the children of Mr Peirsel are living: Elizabeth Peirsel married to James McLaughlin; Samuel Peirsel married to Maria Radcliffe; Jeremiah Peirsel Jr married Melvina N Frasher and has one living son, Isaac F Peirsel, who has received a liberal education, is a farmer and is married to Mary Hormel and has one child, Arthur L Peirsel, the only grandchild of Jeremiah Peirsel Jr. The other four children are: Sarah Peirsel married to Henry Frasher; Anne Peirsel married to Jacob Grant; William Peirsel married to Catharine McKay; and Uriah Peirsel married to Dettie Swayne. One of his sons, Levi Peirsel, was killed in the late war at the battle of Petersburg.
For a great part of her life the wife of Mr Peirsel was seriously afflicted by mental maladies and he took the utmost tender care of her, never being heard to complain of his unhappy lot.
Jeremiah Peirsel Jr well maintains the goodly name he bears, is industrious and thrifty, and is the enjoyment of a comfortable home and a competency, which he has acquired through his own energy and business sagacity. He, like his father, has the confidence of his neighbors and if not so gentle and retiring as his father, it is because the latter was extremely so.