According to Katherine Edwards Art, Joh & Hannah had lived in Bellevernon, Pittsburgh, and Kent, OH, before moving to Brownsville in 1859.136

John was a Democrat and served several terms on the city council of Brownsville.138

John was found in the 1820 Census with his mother in Bridgeport, then with his step-father (John Connell Acklin) in Redstone Township in 1830 and Luzerne Township in 1840. He moved to Jefferson Townhip in the 1840s, then on to Brownsville, where he was a glass blower. (His mother’s relatives, William and Nelson Goslin, who were also living in Jefferson Township in the mid 1840s, were also glass blowers).130

From 1844-1846, John is on the tax list in Jefferson Twp. or Washington Twp., Fayette Co. as a glass blower; some years he had 1 cow.130

1850 PA Census, Fayette Co., Brownsville, p. 307
Acklin, John, 30, glass blower, b. Fayette Co., PA
Hannah R., 26, b. Fayette Co., PA
Martha E.?, 8, b. Fayette Co., PA
Louisa, 5, b. Fayette Co., PA
James, 3, b. Fayette Co., PA
Charles, 2, b. Fayette Co., PA

1859 Brownsville CIty Directory as a glass blower

1860 PA Census, Fayette Co., Brownsville, June 12, 1860, p. 56
Acklin, John, 42, glass blower, b. PA
Hannah, 36?, b. PA
Alonzo, 15, laborer, b. PA
James, 13, b. PA
Charles, 11, b. PA
John, 9, b. PA
Melissa?, 6, b. PA
Ebby, 4, female, b. PA
Sarah, 8 months, b. PA

In 1867 John Ackllin of Brownsville bought lots 69 & 70 in John T. Hogg’s Addition to Brownsville from James R. Swearer. In 1868 he bought lot 81 which adjoined lots 69 & 70 from George E. and Sarah Hogg. In 1869 Hannah R. Acklin bough another adjoining parcel, lot 68 from George E. and Sarah Hogg of Tower.130

1870 PA Census, Fayette Co., Brownsville Borough, p. 10
Acklin, John, 53, glass blower, b. PA, Real Estate value $12,500, Personal Estate value $600
Hannah, 42, keeping house, b. PA
James, 23, glass tender, b. PA
Sarah, 20, b. PA
John A., 19, glass cutter, b. PA
Melissa A., 17, b. PA
Mary R., 15, b. PA
? female, 13, b. PA
George B., 7, b. PA
Frank, 4, b. PA

1880 PA Census, Fayette Co., Brownsville, June 2, 1880, p. 6A
Acklin, John, 62, glass flattener, unemployed 3 months this year, b. PA, parents b. PA
Hannah, 54, wife, keeping house, b. PA, parents b. PA
Lizzie, 28, dau., at house, b. PA
Mary, 25, dau., b. PA
George, 18, son, apprents to ?, b. PA
Frank, 13, son, b. PA

Death Record, Fayette Co., PA Record of Deaths, Book 1, page 3, #85
John Acklin, Sr., male, white, 80, married, no parents listed
d. May 28, 1897, Brownsville, dropsy, 1 year
bur. Redstone, May 30, 1897

In his will, written Sept. 9, 1893 and recorded June 23, 1897, John left $1.00 to son Alonzo, nothing to the rest of the surviving children, and the rest of his estate to his wife. Letters Testamentary to C. P. Acklin, his son, were filed with the will. It is recorded in the Fayette County, PA Will Book 10, page 288.136,130

Obituary, Brownsville Clipper, Thursday, June 3, 1897136
“Death of John Acklin
On Friday, May 28, 1897, at his home on Arch Street, Brownsville, John Acklin, in his 81st year. The most of Mr. Acklin’s long life was spent in this place, where he was born. he was one of the pioneers in the glassmaking trade here, in the days when the products of the factories were taken down on keelboats, and the wages of the workers depended onpeddling it out in the small towns along the river. his trade caused frequent changes in location, and he lived at different times in Bellevernon, Pittsburgh and Kent, Ohio. Returning here from the last place in 1859, he took up his permanent residence and for thirty years has been a well known and highly esteemed citizen. Years ago he was an active and influential member of the Masonic order. he was also noted in earlier days as a choir instructor, and many our our older people recall with pleasure the days when he led them in church service. He was a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his upright, helpful life wxemplified the faith that guided every important act. .Besides an aged wife, he leaves eight chidlren, the ninth, Mrs. E. A. Hastings, having died Monday morning last. The surviving children are Alonzo and James H. of Pittsburgh, Charles P. of this place, John A. S. of Jeanette, George B. of Pittsburgh, Frank W. of Tyrone, Melinda at home and Mrs. Mary R. Nicholson of Chicago. The interment took place Sunday afternoon in the Brownsville Cemetery, a large number of friends and relatives attending.”