BIO: Hon. James W. LAING, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 966 & 967.
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  HON. JAMES W. LAING, burgess of Coalport, Pa., one of the leading men of the 
place in public affairs, is also representative in business and as a dealer in 
musical instruments and sewing machines, handles a large enterprise.  He is 
numbered with the younger element, his birth having taken place August 22, 1881, 
at Moshannon, Clearfield county, Pa.  He is a son of Robert and Margaret 
(Chalmers) Laing.
  Robert Laing and wife were both born in Scotland and emigrated from that 
country to America, settling in Tioga county, Pa., in 1873.  In 1880 the father 
moved with his family, to Clearfield county, but in 1885 he returned with his 
wife to Scotland, where they remained for sixteen years.  In 1901 they came back 
to Clearfield county, locating at Coalport, where Robert Laing died in the 
following year.  His widow survived until 1909, when she passed away also at 
Coalport.  Robert Laing was a coal miner and the greater part of his life of 
fifty-two years was given to work in the coal mines.  He was a man of sturdy and 
manly character and his wife was a woman of rare judgment and Christian virtues.  
Their children were as follows:  John, the oldest, resides in Scotland, where he 
follows mining.  Jennie is the wife of Charles Ross, of Fifeshire, Scotland.  
Thomas is a miner in Fifeshire and Robert is a miner at Coalport.  James W. is 
the fifth of the family in order of birth.  Alexander is a resident of Coalport.  
Jessie is the wife of John Caynock, who is a coal miner at Portage.  Peter lives 
at New Haven, Conn., where he is in the employ of the street railway company.  
Duncan also lives at New Haven, where he is an employe of an automobile company.
  James W. Laing attended school in Scotland and as he early displayed musical 
talent he was afforded advantages for cultivating it, and holds a certificate 
for efficiency in music from London College.  He was about nineteen years of age 
when he accompanied his parents back to Coalport, after which he went to New 
Haven, Conn., seeking a business opening, but the serious illness of his father 
recalled him six weeks later.  After his father's death he went to New York and 
then returned to Scotland, at that time determining to remain in the land of his 
forefathers.  Within six months, however, he found that America had also a place 
in his affections and he again crossed the Atlantic Ocean and from the seaboard 
traveled as far west as Montana, where he remained for a time and then came back 
to Coalport.  After his marriage in 1906 he moved to New Haven, Conn., but 
failed to establish himself there and decided to return once more to Coalport.  
On a borrowed capital of forty-five dollars he started into the musical 
instrument business and in the few years since has prospered exceedingly, at the 
present time carrying a stock valued at $3,000, while his trade relations are 
such that he enjoys the confidence of the great manufacturing houses with which 
he deals, in every part of the country.
  On March 7, 1906, Mr. Laing was married to Miss Christina Shanks, a daughter 
of Richard Shanks, and they have three children:  Geraldine May, Bessie Marie 
and Christina.  Mr. Laing was reared in the Presbyterian church and in Scotland 
was the church organist and filled the same position in St. Basil's church, 
Coalport.  He has been a very active citizen, a Republican in politics, and was 
elected burgess in 1909, on the citizens ticket, and is serving in the most 
efficient and satisfactory manner.  He is chief and secretary of the local fire 
department.  Fraternally he belongs to Lodge No. 781, F. & A. M., Thane of Fife, 
Scotland, and to the order of Eagles at Bellwood, Pa.