BIOGRAPHY: William D. GALBRAITH, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lynne Canterbury and Diann Olsen. Portions of this book were transcribed by Clark Creery, Martha Humenik, Betty Mirovich and Sharon Ringler. USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ ____________________________________________________________ From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 107-8 ____________________________________________________________ WILLIAM D. GALBRAITH, burgess of Morrellville borough, Cambria county, and a prominent and prosperous merchant of that town, is a son of William L. Galbraith. In common with many of our best citizens, he claims descendance from Scotch-Irish stock, his paternal grandfather having been an emigrant from the north of Ireland to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. William L. Galbraith, father of our subject, was born at west Fairfield, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1826. He received a rudimentary education in the public schools, which gave him the knowledge required for future contact with men and the affairs of a busy life. After leaving school he worked on a farm until sixteen years of age, then acted as clerk in the Cambria Furnace campany [sic], in the Company's store, and then worked in the office of the Cambria company's furnace at Coopersdale, where he remained until the furnace went out of blast in 1850. Upon this event he farmed the Cambria furnace farm, where he still is. He is also engaged in the lumber business. The father of our subject is a loyal republican and takes an active part in local politics, having held various township offices. He is a prominent and energetic member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has served as a class leader and trustee, besides having held other church offices. William D. Galbraith was born January 15, 1863, on the old homestead at Cambria furnace, near Coopersdale, Pennsylvania. Like his father, he received his early education in the common schools, but in accordance with the demands of the times, he has been more liberally prepared for the responsibilities of an active life. Later, he spent one year at the Indiana Normal school, a similar length of time at Duff's Business college, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and one year at Mt. Union college, Ohio. After leaving college, he taught school two years in West Taylor township and Coopersdale, Cambria county. He then entered the First National Bank of Johnstown as a clerk, where he remained about one and one half years. Afterwards he engaged for two years as a clerk in a general store. His last business venture and that in which he is now engaged, is the conduct of a general store at Morrellville, in partnership with Mr. Loughry. Mr. Galbraith, true to his ancestral traditions, is a republican in politics. At present he is burgess, having been appointed August 12, 1895, to fill the unexpired term of L. B. Hornberger, deceased. Like a worthy citizen, he takes a prominent part in all affairs pertaining to the good government of the town. He is a member of Morrellville Lodge, No. 50, I. O. O. F., and of the Morrellville Conclave, No. 376, Independent Order of Heptasophs. Again true to the faith of his ancestors, we find his church affiliations with the Presbyterians, a people who hold faith dear to the heart of a Scotsman. On March 19, 1890, Mr. Gailbraith married Jennie C., an estimable young lady, the daughter of J. Clark Loughry. They have three interesting children, Clark Bryan, Laura Belle and Alice Cannon. In his career as student, teacher, clerk and business man, Mr. Galbraith has proven himself persevering and reliable, and he undoubtedly has before him a future of creditable success.