JAMES G. AMBROSE, contractor and builder of rural Valley, Armstrong county, is a young business man who has shown ambition and enterprise which should insure him a prosperous career. He was born Feb. 14, 1880 in Cowanshannock township, near Rural Valley son of Joseph R. Ambrose, and grandson of Mathew Ambrose. The latter was an early settler in what is now East Franklin township, Armstrong county, and was killed when a young man. His widow moved out to Illinois, where she passed the remainder of her life. Their children were John, Frank and Joseph R.
Joseph R. Ambrose, son of Mathew, was born in East Franklin township, and there followed farming for some years. Removing to Cowanshannock township in 1874, he settled one mile west of Rural Valley, and farmed there until ten years before his death. He then made his home in the town of Rural Valley, where he died Jan. 16, 1910, at the age of seventy years. He is buried at that place. Mr. Ambrose married Margaret A. Dougherty, daughter of Robert Dougherty, who was born in Lancaster county, Pa., and they became the parents of the following children: Thomas H.; Benjamin F.; Samuel.; Grant W.; Margaret J., who died Nov. 15, 1907; Laura K., married to G. L. Stewart, D. D. S., or Rural Valley; and James G. The mother of this family died Dec. 5, 1897, and was buried at the West Glade Run Church in East Franklin township.
James G. Ambrose attended the public schools of the home locality in his youth and then learned the carpenter's trade. He has followed that work continuously, and has supplemented his practical experience by taking a course in the International Correspondence School, of Scranton, Pa., which he found materially helpful. Besides jobbing work he has erected several residences, including the Presbyterian parsonage at Rural Valley, and his most important recent contract was for the new public school building in that borough, which he commenced in May, 1911, finishing it in October of that year. It is an up-to-date structure, equipped with the most approved modern appliances, and is a distinctive improvement to Rural Valley. He built his own fine residence in the fall of 1908.
On March 11, 1903, Mr. Ambrose married Ethyl J. Huber, daughter of Dr. C. H. Huber, of Rural Valley, and they have had a family of three children: Blaine E., who died in infancy; Joseph Raymond; and Charles Huber.
Mr. Ambrose is a Republican and has taken considerable interest in the success of the party in his section, serving as district committeeman. In religion he is a Presbyterian and at present is one of the trustees of his church. He is one of the most respected young citizens of his community.
Source: Pages 751-752, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed October 1998 by Doris Rizza for the Armstrong County Beers Project
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