GALBRAITH, JOHN

GALBRAITH, ZUILL, PURVIS, SALISBURY, NICOULIN, MCCULLOUGH

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 4/6/2004 at 09:53:18

Biography reproduced from page 541 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

John Galbraith, one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Algona, is engaged in business as proprietor of a notion store. His birth occurred in Rock county, Wisconsin, on the 13th of May, 1846, his parents being William and Isabella (Zuill) Galbraith. The father, a native of Scotland, emigrated to the United States in 1844, locating at Johnstown, Wisconsin. In 1870 he came to Kossuth county, Iowa, taking up his abode in Algona, where his demise occurred in the year 1888. Throughout his active business career he was successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits. It was while still a resident of his native land that he wedded Miss Isabella Zuill, who was also born in Scotland and who passed away in 1887. Both Mr. and Mrs. Galbraith were buried in Riverview cemetery at Algona. Their children were five in number, as follows: Mary, who is the wife of Peter Purvis, of Algona; John, of this review; Jane, who is the widow of E. S. Salisbury and resides in Algona; George, living in San Antonio, Texas; and Isabella, the widow of J. F. Nicoulin, of Algona, Iowa.

John Galbraith remained under the parental roof until twenty-four years of age and then embarked in the mercantile business at Algona, conducting an establishment of that character for four years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Emerald Grove, Wisconsin, and there followed farming for a few years. During the next seven or eight years he was engaged in merchandising at Janesville, Wisconsin, and in 1888 returned to Algona, Iowa, here entering the dry-goods business in association with his brother George. Discontinuing this connection, he was not identified with any business for a period of ten or twelve years. Three years ago he opened a notion store in Algona and has remained proprietor to the present time, enjoying a profitable and well merited patronage.

In 1874 Mr. Galbraith was joined in wedlock to Miss Margaret McCullough, a lady of Irish parentage. They have one son, William M., who was born at Emerald Grove, Wisconsin, on the 24th of December, 1876, and obtained his education in the schools of that place, and in Denver, Colorado, and Algona, Iowa. He is now a practicing attorney of Algona and is also associated in business with his father. John Galbraith is a democrat in his political views, believing firmly in the principles of that party. He possesses many good qualities—a kindly spirit, a generous disposition and an honorable purpose—and these have brought him many friends and the favorable regard of all who know him.