BIOGRAPHY: William L. 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. 227-8
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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.