Bios: Albert Ralston, 1848: from Greensburg, Butler Co, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Candy Grubb.
 candyg@theofficenet.com

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>From "The History of North Washington" Published 1904

Transcribed by: Nancy Grubb (nancyg@theofficenet.com)
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ALBERT RALSTON
	Albert Ralston, after an eventful and decidedly strenuous life in 
nearly all of the western states, is now one of the leading citizens of 
Springdale, Stevens county, where he is engaged in the livery, sale, and 
feed business.  Ralston Mills, Butler county, Pennsylvania, is the place of 
his nativity, and he was born August 4, 1848. The town was named in honor of 
his father, William Ralston, who resided there the greater protion of his 
life. His wife, and mother of our subject, was formerly Mary Edgar, and both 
she and her husband were natives of Butler county. The paternal great-
grandmother of Albert Ralston came from Ireland in the Mayflower. At the 
time of the burning of Jamestown by hostile Indians she was captured by them
and was a prisoner four years. Eventually she was rescued by Purtain soldiers
and married John Ralston, by whom she had twelve children. They became the 
first settlers and founders of the town of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. All of 
the ancestors of Albert Ralston were prominent and wealthy people of Dublin,
Ireland. The paternal grandfather of our subject died at the age of one 
hundred and one years.
   At the age twelve, Albert Ralston had acquired such education as was 
afforded by the public schools of Ralston, and began life on his own account.
With the end in view of becoming a cowboy he visited Texas, and afterwards 
nearly all of the southern states. From Waco, Texas, he drifted to Leadville,
Colorado, where he drove stage between that point and Colorado Springs, and 
followed the same line of business between Cheyenne and Deadwood, South 
Dakota. Going to the Gunnison country he engaged for awhile in the cattle 
business, which he continued with variable success in Idaho and Oregon. 
At one period he was engaged in freighting to the Seven Devils Mine, in 
Idaho. It was while occupied in freighting that he with the outlook at 
Springdale that he engaged in the livery business at that point, in 
connection with a mail contract between Springdale and Deer Trail.
   Our subject has two brothers and two sisters, John and William and Mary
and Lizzie, the latter married to J.B.Martin, of Whitestone, Pennsylvania. 
His politics are in line with Republican principles.
   Mr. Ralston is a very abstemious man in his habits, using neither tobacco,
nor intoxicating liquors, nor does he indulge in cardplaying. During his 
residence in Springdale he has won the esteem of a wide circle of friends  
and acquaintances.

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