My Genealogy Hound

CAPT. THOMAS H. LAPSLY, superintendent of the railmill department at the Edgar Thomson Steel-works, Braddock, is a native of this. county, born Dec. 23, 1821, to William and Sarah (Barr) Lapsly, who were the parents of eleven children, T. H. being the tenth in order of birth, and the only survivor except one — Robert Lapsly, of Missouri. The parents were natives of County Antrim, Ireland, and the father came to America when twenty-three years of age. He was a tailor by trade, but later in life engaged in farming. The subject of this sketch was educated at the public schools of Allegheny county, and at fifteen years of age commenced work in a sawmill, subsequently learning the trade of carpenter, which he followed for five years. In 1844 he entered the service of the Brady’s Bend Iron company, and from there, in 1854, was called to the Cambria Iron-works, at Johnstown, Pa., where he remained (except while in service at the front during the rebellion) until 1875, when he entered the service of the Edgar Thomson Steel-works company, at Braddock. In April, 1861, being captain of a military company, he responded promptly to a telegram from Gov. Curtin, by hastening to Harrisburg, where he marched into Camp Curtin at the head of his company, and bears the honor of being the first soldier to enter that historic camp. His command was mustered in as Co. G, 3d regiment P. V. I., and was in active service three months. Capt. Lapsly then organized Co. D, 54th regiment P. V. I., enlisted for three years, remaining at the front until the expiration of his enlistment. Capt. Lapsly was married, Oct. 27, 1846, to Margaret, daughter of James Campbell, of Allegheny City, and six children were born to them: Sarah, James, William, Mary, John and Ida, all still living except Mary. The captain is a F. & A. M., a member of the I. O. O. F. and G. A. R., and is a republican.