BIOGRAPHY: Johnston G. WEST, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 129-31
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JOHNSTON G. WEST, a wounded Union veteran of the late Civil War, and a prominent 
and leading citizen, as well as an efficient public official of Ferndale, is a 
son of Matthew Hay and Mary (Glass) West, and was born in Allegheny county, 
Pennsylvania, November 5, 1843. The American branch of the West family was 
founded in Maryland, where Joseph West, whose father came from England, was born 
and reared. Joseph West married and removed to an old stone house on the site of 
Homestead, Allegheny county, having previously resided for a short time in 
eastern Pennsylvania. His son, Matthew Hay West, was born in the old homestead 
stone house on February 22, 1800. He received his early education in the old 
district schools. He learned the milling business, but soon abandoned that line 
of work and went to Pittsburg, where he engaged in the mercantile business, 
opening the first large dry-goods establishment of that city, which he conducted 
until 1840. In that year he removed to Six Mile Ferry, in the same county, where 
he owned a farm and spent the remainder of his life in its management and 
cultivation. He died February 14, 1872, when in the seventy-third year of his 
age. Mr. West was, in his political views, an old-line Whig, and naturally 
espoused the principles of the Republican party on its organization. He cared 
but little for the distinction of office, yet held all of his township's offices 
yet never soliciting any position nor refusing to serve when elected to any 
office that would not take him from home. He was a Presbyterian in religion, and 
was a deacon in the church of that denomination at Six Mile Ferry. He married 
Mary Glass, a daughter of Johnston Glass, who was born March 7, 1813, and died 
July 11, 1870. Of the thirteen children born to their union, those living are: 
Eliza, wife of James H. Irvin, of Pittsburg; Agnes T., married Hiram Need, of 
Allegheny county; Elizabeth, widow of John Noble, of the place last mentioned; 
Dr. M. H., Sarah R. and Edward E., who are also residents of Homestead; 'Squire 
Johnston G., and Elva, wife of Charles C. Dudgeon, of Elyria, Ohio. Rober G. is 
deceased. 
     Johnston G. West was reared on his father's farm, and at seventeen years of 
age left the school room to enter the Union army. He enlisted on July 7, 1861, 
in company H. Sixty-second regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer infantry, and served 
in the Army of the Potomac from the Peninsula to the battle of Gettysburg. He 
was wounded and captured at the battle of Gaines' Mill, and spent fourteen weeks 
in Libby prison and on Belle Island. After being exchanged he participated in 
the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and lost his leg at 
Gettysburg. He was discharged December 20, 1863, came home for a short time and 
then served for eighteen months in the quarter master general's department at 
Washington. Leaving Washington he went to Pittsburg and served as deputy clerk 
of the Criminal Court up to 1870, in which year he was elected as coroner of 
Allegheny county for a term of three years. At the expiration of his term of 
office he removed to Homestead, and three years later took charge of the old 
farm at Six Mile Ferry, on which he remained three years. He then, in 1881, came 
to Ferndale, where he has resided ever since. 
     On October 9, 1869, Mr. West married Mary Vickroy, whose father, Edwin A. 
Vickroy, is a son of Thomas, and a grandson of Hugh Vickroy, who came from 
England and settled near Cumberland, Maryland. To Mr. and Mrs. West have been 
born six children, two sons and four daughters: Edith McClure, who died at three 
years of age; Vickroy, Ethel, Mary, Helen, who died in infancy; Kenneth Johnston 
and Agnes. 
     In religious belief Mr. West is a Presbyterian, being a member of that 
church and a elder of the church of that denomination at Johnstown. In his 
political predilections he is a republican of the Hamilton type; and ever eager 
for the advancement of the principles of his party. He has served as school 
director, and held nearly all the other local offices of Upper Yoder township. 
He was elected as justice of the peace in 1886, and re-elected in 1890 and 1896. 
He has filled the latter office with ability and discretion, and in all business 
transactions has manifested a soundness of judgment which has made his opinions 
respected. 'Squire West is a member of Post No. 3, G. A. R., of Pittsburg, and 
as a citizen and man possesses many traits of character which are the exponents 
of success in life.