| OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. | 463 |
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the latter year he removed to Ebensburg, this county, and in addition to his real-estate business, engaged in the mercantile and lumber business. In politics he was an old-line whig, voting with that party until its disruption, when he became a republican. He was raised a Quaker, but, on removing to this county, became a Roman Catholic and adhered to that faith until his death, April 22, 1867. He was twice married. His first marital union was with a Miss Falls, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who lived only a few years after their removal to Cambria county. In 1831 he married Miss Mary Sanson, and to this union the following children were born Ellen, the wife of Wm. Murray; Charles, deceased; Edward; Henrietta, the widow of Major C. W. Wingard, late paymaster in the United States Army; Francis A., Albert, Henry A., John, deceased; Samuel A., and Mary A., the widow of Captain Rhodes of the United States Army. Francis A. Shoemaker received a collegiate education, graduating in June, 1856. After leaving college he followed surveying for a few years, and then began the study of law under the instructions of Hon. R. L. Johnson, now deceased, formerly judge of Cambria county. In June, 1860, he was admitted to practice at the Cambria county bar and has practiced continuously at Ebensburg until the present time. May 15, 1861, he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Tammany, a daughter of Henry Tammany, of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. In religious belief he is prominently identified with the Roman Catholic church. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party, but has never been among the ambitious ones who have sought for political preferment at the hands of the voters of the county. |
ALEXANDER ADAIR, prominently identified with the history of Johnstown during the last sixteen years, was born January 22, 1848, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. His father, John Adair, was a native of Westmoreland county, where he resided until 1862, when he removed to Blair county. There the elder Adair lived with his family until his death, which occurred in May, 1896, at the age of seventy-five years. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. From the building of the Pennsylvania railroad he was in that company's service in different capacities. Grandfather Adair came to the United States from Ireland when a young man, and located in what is now Westmoreland county, where he died at an advanced age. He followed the calling of a shoemaker, and was a most useful and exemplary citizen. He also had an honorable record as a soldier, having served his adopted country in the War of 1812. Catherine (Brown) Adair, mother of Alexander, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where she was held in high esteem for her many virtues. She now resides in Greensburg, and is in her seventieth year. Grandfather Brown was also a native of Ireland. Coming to America he located in Lancaster county, where he embarked in the linen business. Alexander Adair was reared in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and educated in the public schools. He was emphatically the architect of his own fortune, starting in life for himself at the early age of twelve years. For several years he worked for the Adams Express company. Later, under President Lincoln's administration, he held a position as mail agent on the Allegheny Valley railroad, and had charge of the first mail car running |
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