My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS CRUIKSHANK, blacksmith, Brinton, son of William Cruikshank, was born in Ireland in 1838. He was nine years old when the family came to America, and received his education in the public schools of this county, meantime learning his father’s trade. In 1861 he opened a shop in Moon township, and in the fall of the next year entered the military service as blacksmith for a brigade wagon-train, being enlisted as a member of Co. B, 4th P. C. He had two, narrow escapes in battle; on one occasion his temple was blackened by the fragment of shell; at another time his mustache was cut off by a rifle-ball. He was discharged July 6, 1865, and has been employed in blacksmith work in Pittsburgh and other places most of the time since. For the past two years he has been employed by his brother, Joel, at Brinton. In 1867 he married Rebecca Langfitt, a native of Hanover, Beaver county, who died in 1867. Her daughters are residents as follows: Sarah Jane (Mrs. William Bell, residing near Cumberland, W. Va.), Mary Hannah (wife of James Swearingen, in Hanover, Beaver county).

Joel M. Cruikshank, the youngest brother of Thomas, was born in Monroeville, Pa., June 3, 1849, and, like his brothers, learned his father’s trade, which he has always followed. He is an ardent supporter of the republican party; a member, with his family, of the Lutheran Church. He entered the service of his country at a very early age, going on board the gunboat Gazelle, of the Mississippi squadron, as a marine, in 1864, and was discharged just after reaching the age of sixteen. The vessel was stationed much of the time during the service at the mouth of Red river, and was detailed to convey the rebel generals, Price and Buckner, to New Orleans after their capture. In 1872 Mr. Cruikshank rented a shop at Turtle Creek, and has occupied several different locations in Westmoreland and Armstrong counties. He bought ground at Brinton in 1882, and erected his present residence and shop. In 1871 he was married to Alda Peora Smith, a native of Lewistown, Mifflin county, and by her has the following-named children: Mary Jane, Alda Peora and Roswell Doty.