BIOGRAPHY: William D. GALBRAITH, Cambria County, PA
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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 107-8
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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.