John Canon

John Canon (generally referred to as Colonel John Canon[1]) (September 11, 1726 – November 6, 1798) was an American Revolutionary soldier, miller, judge, and businessman, who founded three towns, including Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, which bears his name.

He worked as a rent collector for George Washington, who owned a large amount of land in the area.

[1] In 1773, Canon acquired 12 acres (4.9 ha) of land along the Chartiers Creek on the Catfish Path, where he built a gristmill and started a farm.

[3] In January 1774, he was appointed viewer of a road from Thomas Gist's in Mount Braddock to Paul Froman's mill on Chartiers Creek.

[1] In 1775, he was named a colonel in the Washington County militia during the American Revolutionary War.