BIOGRAPHY: William L. 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. 227-8 ____________________________________________________________ WILLIAM L. GALBRAITH, a prosperous farmer and lumber merchant of West Taylor township, is a son of William and Nancy (Houston) Galbraith, and was born in Fairfield township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1826. His father, William Galbraith, was born in County Down, Ireland, and shortly after his marriage with Miss Nancy Houston, also a native of Ireland, emigrated to America, locating near Armagh, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, and was employed in the woolen mills of Derry. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church, and died in 1826. His wife, who was also a member of the same church, died in 1872, at the age of eighty-nine years. To their marriage were born eight children: John, who died in 1889; Elizabeth, the wife of John Wagoner, of New Florence, Westmoreland county; Mary, the wife of James Trimble, of New Florence; Jane, the wife of George Peoples, of Fairfield township; Nancy, who also lives in Fairfield township; Archibald, deceased, and William L. William L. Galbraith, the subject of this sketch, spent his boyhood days on the farm, receiving his education in the public schools of his district. At the age of sixteen years he was employed as a clerk in the store of the old Cambria Furnace company, in West Taylor township. This position he held for five years, and at the end of this period of faithful and efficient service, was promoted to the position of book-keeper in the office of the above firm, and continued in that position until 1860, when the Cambria Furnace company discontinued business. After leaving the employ of that company, Mr. Galbraith located on a farm in West Taylor township, and in connection with his agricultural pursuits, is at the present time engaged in the lumber business. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics is an adherent of the Republican party. He takes an active interest in local affairs; he has been township supervisor, has served as school director, and has served in other positions of trust in his township. In 1848 he wedded Miss Mary Bryan, a daughter of Adam Bryan, of West Taylor township, who was formerly manager of the Cambria furnace. Their marriage has been blessed in the birth of nine children, six of whom are living: Nancy E., the wife of William Adams, of Coopersdale, this county; Calvin M., Harvey M., Mary, the wife of James Adams, of Coopersdale; William D., and Emma D., the wife of Frank Ulery, of West Taylor township. Those deceased are: John, Bryan, and Alice, who was the wife of John Hunt, of Jackson township, this county.