William Nelson Foulis
WILLIAM NELSON FOULIS, a druggist, in the Third ward, Kittanning, Armstrong county, has been associated with that line of business in Kittanning for a number of years and opened his present store in 1909. He was born in Kittanning Aug. 3, 1874, son of James Foulis.
James Foulis, the father, was a native of Kinross, Scotland, where he spent his early life, marrying there. After the birth of his eldest child, Alexander, he came with his family to this country, in 1871, settling at Kittanning, Armstrong county, Pa., where he passed the remainder of his life. By trade he was a stonecutter, and his first work here was on the stone jail. When he died, in 1886, he was in his prime, being fifty-three years of age. His wife, Janet Fairley, was born in 1845, daughter of William and Margaret Fairley, of Luntuttigo, Scotland, the former of whom was a weaver by occupation. Mr. and Mrs. Fairley had five children, namely: Alexander; William, who died in Scotland; Janet, Mrs. Foulis; Margaret, Mrs. Wright, who resides in Scotland; and Elsie, of Scotland, who is unmarried.
Mrs. Foulis died March 2, 1896, when forty-nine years old. She and her husband were members of the United Presbyterian Church. They were the parents of three children: Alexander; James Fairley, of Kittanning; and William Nelson Foulis.
William Nelson Foulis was educated in Kittanning and there learned the trade of bricklayer in his youth. He was one of the first to locate in the then new town of New Kensington, Westmoreland county, where he remained for four years, returning to Kittanning in 1893. On coming back to the borough he entered the employ of the Brodhead Drug Company, with whom he remained until he enlisted for service in the Spanish-American war. On June 4, 1898, he joined Company E, 15th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, being in the army until Jan. 31, 1899. Returning at once to Kittanning, he resumed the druggist business, received his certificate as a registered pharmacist in 1901, and from that time until 1909 was engaged as a drug clerk. He then opened the drug store in Wickboro -- now the Third ward of Kittanning -- which he has since conducted, and by his reliable service and standard goods he has succeeded in building up a lucrative trade, which is constantly on the increase. He is a Mason in fraternal connection and in religion a member of the Methodist Church. In politics he supports the Republican party.
In June, 1904, Mr. Foulis was married to Catherine Brodhead, a member of one of the pioneer families of Armstrong county, daughter of Edgar and Levina Brodhead. They have two children: William, born Feb. 22, 1906; and Janet, born March 4, 1907.
Source: Page 468-496, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J. H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed May 1999 by Michael S. Caldwell for the Armstrong County Beers Project
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