James Elgin

James Elgin, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in County Derry, Ireland, in the year 1760. In 1782, having attained his majority, he came to America, and in 1791 was married. He first settled where Elderton now is, at a time when the region around him was a perfect wilderness, and while the Indians still infested the country. After passing many years as a pioneer in this locality, he removed to Cowanshannock, then Wayne, township, in 1830. The remainder of his life was spent quietly there, and he died December 20, 1837.

His son, Samuel Elgin, whose portrait appears above, was born December 1, 1811. HE was married October 1, 1836, and lived at the old homestead until his death, which occurred July 25, 1876. He was a farmer by occupation, and led a busy, useful, honorable life, and stood well in the estimation of all who knew him. He held various offices in the township in which he resided, and discharged the duties of each and every one of them conscientiously and efficiently.

Isabella Elgin, his wife, was a daughter of Michael Truby, one of the first and most prominent settlers of Kittanning. She was born March 10, 1820. Samuel and Isabella Elgin were the parents of fourteen children, eleven of whom are still upon and around the old homestead. The names of those still living are as follows: Jeremiah, Rebecca, Ellen, Samuel, Isabella E., Martha Jane, Margaret R., Jane T., George L., William S., and Robert B. Those deceased are Amanda, Alexander and John A.S. Elgin.

Source: Chapter 13, History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania by Robert Walker Smith, Esq. Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883.
Transcribed May 1999 by Pamela Clark for the Armstrong County Smith Project.
Contributed by Pamela Clark for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)

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