WILLIAM F. ESPY, farmer, P. O. Espyville, was born in North Shenango Township, this county, January 3, 1835; son of John and Margaret (Free) Espy. His paternal grandfather, George W. Espy, came from Fayette County, Penn., to this county, in 1802, locating in Shenango Township, and settling where the village of Espyville now stands, and which took its name from him. He took up a tract of 400 acres, part of which he cleared and improved, and here he lived and died. He had eleven children: Nancy, Patterson, Josiah, Thomas, Ann, Richard, Hugh Mc., David, James, John and Stevenson, all now deceased. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Peter Free, a native of Lancaster County, Penn., settled in North Shenango Township in 1806, and cleared up a farm, where he lived and died. The children of John Espy were seven in number: Rebecca A. (now Mrs. Thomas Russell), Mary (deceased), Nancy (deceased), Sarah (deceased), William F., James K. and Margaret. The subject of this sketch was reared in North Shenango, and was educated in the common schools. He was married, June 20, 1861, to Helen M., daughter of Lyman and Olive (Gillet) Waring, of Conneaut Township, this county. The issue of this union was seven children: Harley J., Olive M., George S., Frank G., Nora E., Anna R. (deceased), Winnie B. Mr. Espy resides on the farm where his father settled in 1836, and which was cleared and improved by him. His father died June 1, 1872, at the age of seventy-two years. The widow now resides with our subject. Mr. Espy and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which they have been connected for many years. In politics he is independent.
