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Below is a family biography included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.   These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JAMES B. ANDERSON, plumber, Wilkinsburg, son of William Anderson (whose sketch appears above), was born in Allegheny City November 2, 1856. He attended the city schools until fifteen years of age, and then began carpenter-work. At the end of two years he abandoned this trade, and engaged in the study of civil engineering for three years. He then went on the Pennsylvania railroad as fireman, and after four years’ service was given a locomotive, which he ran for three years. At one time, while running through “Packsaddle Hollow,” his locomotive struck a rock that had fallen on the track, and, “jumping,” miraculously alighted on the rails, thus escaping a fall of one hundred feet into the river below. In 1884 Mr. Anderson came to Wilkinsburg and engaged in the hardware trade with a brother; they have since turned their attention to plumbing, and are doing a successful business. Mr. Anderson attends the service of the Presbyterian Church; in politics he is a republican, and he is a member of the I. O. O. F. In January, 1880, he married Miss M. J. McKelvey, a native of Allegheny City, and daughter of Ephraim Wallace and Eliza (Anderson) McKelvey, both of Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have the following named children: Florence Martha, Lou McKelvey and Mary Semple.

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This family biography is one of 2,156 biographies included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.

View additional Allegheny County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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