THOMAS H. BRUCE, an enterprising citizen of Buffalo township is a son of Henry, and grandson of George Bruce, who was born in Scone, Perthshire, Scotland, and never left the country of his birth. George Bruce followed the vocation of a weaver, and during the latter part of his life had charge of the Forestry in his native heath. His wife was formerly Helen Norwell, who bore him the following children, all of whom are now deceased: Robert, Agnes, Janet, Lillie, David, Margaret and Henry. Of these children, Robert and Henry immigrated to America. Robert located in Pittsburgh, Penn., and subsequently became president of the Western University of Pennsylvania. His descendants are now living in Pittsburgh. Henry Bruce was born in 1788, in the parish of Scone, Scotland, and there grew to manhood, receiving a common-school education, and learning the weaver's trade. He (as previously stated) afterward sailed to America, and first landed in New York, but immediately pushed westward, making a permanent location near Taylorstown, Buffalo township, Washington Co., Penn. He was then married to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Brownlee, and to them were born children as follows: Henry (deceased in youth), Lizzie and Helen (both of whom grew to womanhood, but are not deceased), and Thomas H. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Bruce located on the farm now owned on the National pike, cultivated the land and also conducted a store. On his arrival in Washington county, Henry Bruce had scarcely any capital, and his later success was due wholly to his own efforts. He was an active and consistent member of the U. P. Church, to which he gave a liberal support. In political life he was a follower of the Free-Soil party while it existed, and afterward became a Republican. He departed this life in 1862, his remains being interred in Washington cemetery, his widow followed him in 1887.

Text taken from page 794 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by Karen Souhrada of Pittsford, NY as part of the Beers Project. Published May 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]