Charles Colwell
CHARLES COLWELL has not been active in business life for some years, but he still retains various interests. He makes his home in Valley township, Armstrong county, where he has served as justice of the peace and school director and is a highly respected citizen. Born Dec. 11, 1857, in Kittanning township, this county, he is a son of Alexander and Nancy J. (Watterson) Colwell, and grandson of Alexander Colwell, of Ireland, who came to Armstrong county, Pa., when a young man. He became a merchant at Kittanning, with which place he was ever afterward identified.Alexander Colwell, son of Alexander and father of Charles, was born in the borough of Kittanning, and for a time followed store keeping there. He was afterward a farmer in Valley township, residing at the �stone house� on the pike and farming three hundred acres of land. He was an enterprising, active and well-known man, held various township offices, including those of auditor, justice of the peace and school director, and was prominent in the community in various connections. In politics he was a Republican. He died in Valley township in 1893, at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife, Nancy J. (Watterson), died in 1896, at the age of sixty-eight. Their six children were as follows: Bruce, who died when about nineteen years old; Charles; William, who died young; Emma, Elizabeth and Rosabell, all of whom died young.
Charles Colwell began his education in the local common schools and subsequently went away to school until he was eighteen or nineteen years old. Returning home, he stayed with his father until 1887, when he began contracting in the gas and oil fields, following that business in Armstrong county until two years ago. During that time he produced gas on the old homestead in Valley township. From 1896 to 1902 he was with the Eastern Oil Company, and he retired from business because of failing health. He is still interested in the mercantile business in Kittanning as a stockholder in the McConnell & Watterson Company, dealers in hardware, furniture, etc. He owns the old homestead as well as the place where he resides in Valley township, and is one of the prosperous citizens of that section. The American pumping station is on his ground. Though he has not aspired to public honors he has been chosen by his fellow citizens to fill the offices of justice of the peace and school director. His political connection has been with the Republican party. Fraternally he belongs to the Elks and the Masons, at Kittanning, and he attends the Presbyterian Church.
In 1888 Mr. Colwell was married to Rebecca McAfoos, daughter of S. McAfoos, and they have had two children: Harry, of Pittsburgh, who is with the Gulf Refinery Company; and Hazel, who lives at home. Mrs. Colwell was born in June, 1857, in Valley township, Armstrong county.
Source: Pages 788-789, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed September 2001 by Lisa Strobel for the Armstrong County Beers Project
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