BIOS: Major Andrew J. COLBORN, Somerset, Somerset County, PA

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of 
Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, Biographical Review 
Publishing Company: 1899, pp 196-198.

  Major Andrew J. Colborn, a prominent citizen of Somerset, Pa., and district 
attorney of Somerset County, was born May 30, 1822, in Turkey Foot township, 
being the son of Abraham Colborn.  His great-grandfather Colborn, a lifelong 
resident of New Jersey, was born in Woodbridge, that State, and there married 
Sarah Mitchell, by whom he had six children, one of them a son Robert, named for 
her father, Robert Mitchell, of England.
  Robert Colburn was born January 11, 1753, in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, and 
there grew to a man's estate.  Moving then to Somerset County, Pennsylvania, he 
followed the occupation of a farmer the remaining years of his activity, and 
died at a venerable age, May 16, 1836.  He was a pioneer settler of this part of 
the Keystone State; and in 1775 he was one of the founders of the first church 
in Somerset County, the house of worship being built in that year, and until his 
decease he was one of the most active and valued church members.  He served in 
the Revolutionary War as a private, enlisting soon after coming here.  His wife, 
Effie Wortman, daughter of John Wortman, was born in Morris County, New Jersey, 
in 1753, and died in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, November 25, 1826.  They 
reared a family of eleven children, none of whom are living.
  Abraham Colborn, son of Robert and Effie (Wortman) Colborn, was born in Turkey 
Foot township, Pa, December 23, 1789, being the eighth of a family of nine 
children.  He became a farmer from choice, and followed that occupation in 
Somerset County from early manhood until his death in 1843.  He was a strong 
Democrat in politics, and took an active part in the management of local 
affairs, being especially interested in the public schools.  He was a member of 
the first Board of School Directors in the township after the adoption of the 
common-school law of Pennsylvania.  He was prominently identified with the 
Baptist church, of which he was Deacon for many years.  He married Eleanor 
Woodmansey, daughter of David Woodmansey, of Fayette County, Pennsylvania.  She 
was born in Turkey Foot township in 1790, and died there July 11, 1858.  Of the 
nine children born of their union, four are now living, as follows: Andrew J., 
the special subject of this sketch; Eleanor, wife of James Ream and mother of 
three children- Chauncey, Eleanor, and Huldah; Sarah, widow of the late Robert 
Sweetman; and Abraham, Jr.
  Andrew J. Colborn was bred and educated in Somerset County.  At his father's 
death in 1843, he purchased the parental homestead, and he carried on the farm 
successfully until 1849.  From that time until March 23, 1854, he resided in 
Harnedsville, this State, and devoted much of his time to reading law, for which 
he had a strong predilection.  Coming then to Somerset, he entered the law 
office of the late Colonel John R. Eddie, with whom he continued his studies; 
and on Feb 7, 1855, he was admitted to the bar.  He met with eminent success in 
his professional labors, becoming one of the leading lawyers of this place.  In 
1895 occurred his election to his present position as District Attorney of 
Somerset County, an office which he is filling most creditably both to himself 
and his constituents.  The descendant of a hero of the Revolution, he has been 
interested in military tactics from early manhood, and during the Civil War he 
organized many companies, and for a long time was Major of the Somerset 
Volunteers.
  He is a stanch Republican in his political affiliations, and never hesitates 
when called to assume the responsibilities of public office.  While living in 
Turkey Foot township he served as School Director six years and as Constable one 
year; and in 1858, a few years after coming to Somerset, he was appointed Notary 
Public.  This office he resigned twenty years later to take his place in the 
State legislature, to which he was elected in 1878, and in which he served until 
1886.  In 1881 he was chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, and in 1885 
and 1886 chairman of the Judiciary General Committee.  Previous to this time, 
from 1867 until 1872, he was County Surveyor, and at a later period he served 
efficiently as United States Commissioner; while from 1867 until 1872 he was 
Burgess of Somerset.  Fraternally, Major Colborn is a member of Somerset Lodge, 
No. 358, F.& A. M., in which he has passed all the chairs, and was first Master 
of the lodge; of Oriental Commandery, No. 61, K. T., of Johnstown, Pa., in which 
he was knighted in 1865; and of the Somerset Lodge, No. 438, I. O. O. F., in 
which he has held the various offices.
  Major Colborn and Susan, daughter of George Hartzell, were married on April 
14, 1846.  They have eight children; namely, Harriet Jane, Charles B., Lewis C., 
Frank K., Eleanor, Harry B., Andrew J., and Robert G.  Harriet Jane is the widow 
of the late Dr. Jeremiah K. Miller.  Charles B. served in the war of the 
Rebellion in the One Hundred and Thirty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 
under Captain George F. Bear, and is now superintendent of a large coke and coal 
yard in Wheeling, W. Va.  He and his wife, formerly Margaret Parson, of 
Somerset, have eight children- Susan, George, Bruce, Nellie, Lottie, Carrie, 
Mary and Frank.  Lewis C., an attorney in Somerset, married Mary E. Knable, and 
has three children- John A., Mary Louise, and Eleanor.  Frank K., who is a book-
keeper for the Essex Tannery Company in West Virginia, married Mary K. Yoder.  
They have one child of their own, Lotta, and an adopted daughter, Florence.  
Eleanor is the wife of Frank C. Beall, a merchant at Frostburg, Md., and has two 
children- Caroline T. and Eleanor.  Harry B., a merchant tailor at Frostburg, 
Md., married Diana Thomas, of that city, and has three children- Andrew J., 
Martha, and Susan.  Andrew J., Jr., a lawyer, is at the present time clerk of 
the United States Court; and Robert G., Deputy Sheriff of Scranton, Pa., is now 
with Company G., Fifteenth United States Infantry, at Cuba.  Mrs. Colborn passed 
to the higher life September 18, 1895.  She was a faithful member of the 
Christian church, to which the Major also belongs.