130

BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA

schools. He learned the milling business, but soon abandoned that line of work and went to Pittsburg, where he engaged in the mercantile business, opening the first large dry-goods establishment of that city, which he conducted until 1840. In that year he removed to Six Mile Ferry, in the same county, where he owned a farm and spent the remainder of his life in its management and cultivation. He died February 14, 1872, when in the seventy-third year of his age. Mr. West was, in his political views, an old-line Whig, and naturally espoused the principles of the Republican party on its organization. He cared but little for the distinction of office, yet held all of his township's offices yet never soliciting any position nor refusing to serve when elected to any office that would not take him from home. He was a Presbyterian in religion, and was a deacon in the church of that denomination at Six Mile Ferry. He married Mary Glass, a daughter of Johnston Glass, who was born March 7, 1813, and died July 11, 1870. Of the thirteen children born to their union, those living are: Eliza, wife of James H. Irvin, of Pittsburg; Agnes T., married Hiram Need, of Allegheny county; Elizabeth, widow of John Noble, of the place last mentioned; Dr. M. H., Sarah R. and Edward E., who are also residents of Homestead; 'Squire Johnston G., and Elva, wife of Charles C. Dudgeon, of Elyria, Ohio. Rober G. is deceased.     Johnston G. West was reared on his father's farm, and at seventeen years of age left the school room to enter the Union army. He enlisted on July 7, 1861, in company H. Sixty-second regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer infantry, and served in the Army of the Potomac from the Peninsula to the battle of Gettysburg. He was wounded and captured at the battle

of Gaines' Mill, and spent fourteen weeks in Libby prison and on Belle Island. After being exchanged he participated in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and lost his leg at Gettysburg. He was discharged December 20, 1863, came home for a short time and then served for eighteen months in the quarter master general's department at Washington. Leaving Washington he went to Pittsburg and served as deputy clerk of the Criminal Court up to 1870, in which year he was elected as coroner of Allegheny county for a term of three years. At the expiration of his term of office he removed to Homestead, and three years later took charge of the old farm at Six Mile Ferry, on which he remained three years. He then, in 1881, came to Ferndale, where he has resided ever since.     On October 9, 1869, Mr. West married Mary Vickroy, whose father, Edwin A. Vickroy, is a son of Thomas, and a graandson of Hugh Vickroy, who came from England and settled near Cumberland, Maryland. To Mr. and Mrs. West have been born six children, two sons and four daughters: Edith McClure, who died at three years of age; Vickroy, Ethel, Mary, Helen, who died in infancy; Kenneth Johnston and Agnes.     In religious belief Mr. West is a Presbyterian, being a member of that church and a elder of the church of that denominaiton at Johnstown. In his political predilections he is a republican of the Hamilton type; and ever eager for the advancement of the principles of his party. He has served as school director, and held nearly all the other local offices of Upper Yoder township. He was elected as justice of the peace in 1886, and re-elected in 1890 and 1896. He has filled the latter office with ability and discretion, and in all business

Title Page

Contents

Image

Index