William Smith Elgin
WILLIAM SMITH ELGIN, a well-known carpenter and contractor of Rural Valley, Armstrong county, was born in Cowanshannock township, this county, June 26, 1859, a son of Samuel and Isabella (Truby) Elgin. His paternal grandfather, James Elgin, born in County Derry, Ireland, in 1760, came to America in 1782. He was married in 1791. He became one of the first settlers in what is now Plum Creek township, Armstrong county, clearing and improving a homestead near what is now the site of Elderton. In 1830 he now removed to what is now Cowanshannock (then Wayne) township, purchasing 300 acres of land still owned and occupied by his descendants, his grandson, James T. Elgin, residing there. He died at that place in December, 1837, and is buried in St. Thomas cemetery, in Plum Creek township. His children were: Alexander, Hugh, Daniel, John, James, William, Samuel, Martha, Jennie, Margaret, Nancy and Sarah (married William McIntosh).
Samuel Elgin, son if James Elgin, Sr., was born in Plum Creek township, this county, Dec. 1, 1811. Coming with his parents to what is now Cowanshannock township in 1830, he succeeded to the homestead at his father�s death. Most of this place he cleared and improved, remaining there until his death, which occurred July 25, 1876. He led an honorable and useful life, and held various offices in Cowanshannock township, discharging the duties of same with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. On Oct. 1, 1836, he married Isabella Truby, who was born March 10, 1820, daughter of Michael Truby, a pioneer blacksmith of Kittanning, where he was one of the first settlers. They became the parents of fourteen children, twelve of whom grew to maturity, viz: Jeremiah, Rebecca (married Robert McFarland), Ellen (married George Reisinger), Samuel, Isabella E. (married Andrew Gallagher), Martha Jane (married Ross Milliron), Margaret R., James T., George L., William S., Robert B., Amanda (died young), Alexander and John A. (died young). Of these, Jeremiah, Alexander and Samuel were soldiers in the Civil war, Alexander enlisting in 1862, and dying May 21, 1863 at Washington D.C., while serving as chaplain of Company B, 139th P.V.I. Jeremiah and Samuel were in Battery M, 204th P.V.I., and served to the close of the war.
William Smith Elgin was reared to manhood at the homestead where he was born in Cowanshannock township. After attaining his majority, he located in Rural Valley. He served a three years� apprenticeship to the carpenters� trade, in Leechburg, Armstrong county, Pa., and Fairfield, Iowa. He has been a permanent resident of Rural Valley since 1884, and has been successfully engaged as a carpenter and contractor throughout that period. His reliable work has gained him high standing among his fellow citizens, both as mechanic and business man.
On Oct. 30, 1886, Mr. Elgin married Almeda E. Fiscus, daughter of Christopher and Margaret (Graham) Fiscus, of Kittanning township, this county, and they have three children: Mabel, now wife of Frank E. Peters, of Akron, Oh; Marshall H., and Corwin F. Mr. Elgin and his family are members of the M.E. Church of Rural Valley, and he is one of the trustees of that church. He has been quite active in its work, and has also taken considerable part in local public affairs, having served as tax collector (twelve years), auditor (twelve years) and various minor positions. Politically he is a Republican.
Source: Pages 900-901, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed November 1998 by Nanci Michalkiewicz for the Armstrong County Beers Project
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