OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

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solicitation of Prince Gallitzin, and settled in Cambria county, dying in Cambria township, a mile from where our subject was born. He built in Cambria township the mill now called O'Hara's, and which was among the first mills of the county.     George, the father of Josue D. Parrish, was born July 28, 1795, and died on August 25, 1837, from injuries received by a fall. His death was followed by that of the mother of our subject on November 20th. He helped to build the O'Hara mill, where he learned the trade of a miller, following it mainly as a means of securing a livelihood.     He was a Whig in politics, and in religion a devout and worthy member of the Catholic church. Josue D. Parrish, Jr., was educated in the subscription schools prior to the adoption of the common-school system. The first free schools were held in his father's house, and this house is still standing. He attended one term of the free schools for about three months. After the death of his father he went to live with his grandfather, where he worked upon the farm. He then learned the trade of a carpenter, and worked in Loretto two years. In the spring of 1844 he came to Ebensburg, and has lived there ever since, except during the before-mentioned service in the Mexican War. His wife was Mary Magdalene Meyers, a daughter of John Meyers. Of his children, Evaristus C. was born September 5, 1853, and is now engaged in the grocery business. He has served three terms as school director of the borough, although a democrat, and is also borough weighmaster and secretary of the Catholic Beneficial society.     Calistus M. graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, and is now in the drug business in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania,

being a well qualified and successful druggist.     Flora P. is at home; John S. is a real estate and collecting agent and notary public in Pittsburg. JAMES M. THOMPSON, a merchant and ex-soldier of Ebensburg, this county, was born in Blairsville, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1840. His great-grandfather, Robert Thompson, which is as far back as this family can trace their lineage, was born in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1737, where he married Mary Cannon, whose home was also there. Their children, eight in number, were all born in Ireland, two of them dying there when quite young.     On the 29th of May, 1789, this Robert Thompson and wife, with their children (Hugh, Martha, James, John, Margaretta and Elizabeth) emigrated to America, where, soon after their arrival, they settled and remained for some time in what is now Derry township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. Being staunch Presbyterians they became members of the "Old Salem" church.     In this congregation resided James Thomson, also from Ireland, but of direct Scotch descent, a gentleman of more than ordinary education, and in mental ability much above the average. He had been a Presbyterian elder in Ireland, and was one of the founders of the "Old Salem" congregation and clerk of the session at the time that Robert Thompson and family came into the bounds of this congregation.     This James Thomson was the father of nine children, the fifth of whom was a daughter Martha. She was born in Ireland in 1770, came to America in 1771, with her parents, and on the 8th of September, 1791, became

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