My Genealogy Hound

ALBRIGHT, WILLIAM G., of the firm of William G. Albright & Son, merchants, dealers in dry goods and notions; the senior partner of the oldest mercantile house in Fort Madison is William G. Albright; he was born in Berks Co., Penn., June 10, 1816; he lived there until 14 years of age; then went to Lancaster, and served an apprenticeship in the dry goods trade, and remained there seven years; he left Lancaster March 8, 1837, and went to St. Louis; came to Iowa and located in Fort Madison in the fall of 1839, and engaged in mercantile business, the firm being James Wilson & Co.; in 1841, his brother, J. W. Albright, bought out the interest of Wells and Wilson, and the firm became J. W. & W. G. Albright; in 1847, R. W. Albright, another brother, entered the firm, which was changed to Albright Brothers, and so continued until 1856, when R. W. withdrew; in 1864, J. W. withdrew from the firm, and the business was continued by William G. Albright; in 1867, his son Harry A. became interested in the business, the firm being William G. Albright & Son; subsequently, he withdrew, and, in January, 1876, his son William G., Jr., became interested in the business, the firm name remaining unchanged; Mr. Albright is one of the oldest merchants on the river, and has been actively identified with the interests and improvements of this city and county. He married in November, 1841, Miss Cynthia White, daughter of Edward White, Esq., one of the earliest settlers of Hancock Co., Ill.; they have six children — Harry A., Caroline (now Mrs. R. B. Hatch), Grace, William G., Jr., Virginia and Cynthia. Harry married a daughter of Joseph M. Edwards. William G., Jr., married Miss Annie J. Reed, of Council Bluffs. Members of the Presbyterian Church.