From History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania, p.960. Egle's "PAXTANG PA" chapter
Robert Y. Elder
"Retired citizen of Saltsburg, and director of the First National Bank of that borough, is a native of Indiana County, Pa., born at Eldersridge, in Young Township, April 6, 1840, son of Robert and Nancy W. (Douglas) Elder.
Robert Elder, the progenitor of the family in America, was born at Dromore, County Down, Ireland, and was of Scotch extraction. He came to the American Colonies in 1730, locating in Dauphin county, Pa., about five miles from Harrisburg, and after the close of the Revolutionary war came to Indiana county with his family, making the journey over the mountains with pack horses, and locating in what is now Conemaugh township, in the wilderness. Here the family erected a temporary hut in the woods, and later succeeded in building a cabin from hewed logs, which structure was subsequently used as a blockhouse. In this building the pioneer died in 1790 or 1791, his wife surviving until April 15, 1813. They were buried in Ebenezer Church cemetery. Robert Elder married Mary Taylor for his second wife, and to them there were born four children, as follows: James, who married Martha Robinson in 1792; David, born in 1764, who married Ann Nesbitt in 1790, and in 1816 moved to Ohio; Robert, born in 1767; and Ann, who married Archibald Marshall.
Robert Elder (2), son of Robert the progenitor, was nineteen years of age when the family came across the Allegheny mountains from Dauphin county to the new home in western Pennsylvania. He settled down to farming, making his home in Conemaugh township, on the eastern half of the original tract. He died while in the prime of life, in 1813, being but forty-six years of age. To him and his wife Mary (Smith), who died in 1857, were born children as follows: Margaret, who married William Ewing; Joshua; Mary, who married John Leard; Ann; Hannah, and Robert.
Robert Elder (3), son of Robert (2), and father of Robert Y. Elder, was born in 1809, and made his home at Eldersridge, in Young township, becoming the largest land owner in that section of the county, where he had 500 acres, as well as a farm of 100 acres in Armstrong county. Mr. Elder made extensive improvements on his lands and built a fine brick dwelling house on the homestead farm at Eldersridge, continuing to engage in farming and stock raising there until his death, in 1890, in his eighty-first year. He was buried in Eldersridge or Ridgeview cemetery. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in his political views was a Whig and later a Republican. A very successful man in a business way, he never sought public honors, or position, but was domestic in his tastes and greatly devoted to his home and family. Mr. Elder married Nancy W. Douglas, daughter of John Douglas, and she died on the farm in 1896, at the age of eight-one years, and was buried beside her husband. They had children as follows: Maria J., who married Thomas Elder and resides in Indiana; John Douglas, who was second lieutenant of Company D., 62nd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Malvern Hill, while in command of his company, July 2, 1862; Robert Y.; Cordelia, widow of Dr. Robert Barr; Julia, who died young; Lydia A., who married C.C. Collins; Josephine, who is deceased; Agnes V., who resides in Kansas with her sister; and Lizzie E., who married Harry S. Durrett, M.D., and resides in Kansas.
Robert Y. Elder was educated in the public schools of Young township and Eldersridge Academy, under Dr. Alexander Donaldson, and worked at home on the farm with his parents until May, 1864, when he enlisted in Company C, 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry, under Capt. John C. Horrell and Colonel Young. He served in that company for a period of ten months, being mustered out of the service at Arlington Heights. Returning home, he continued on the homestead and followed farming until 1868, when he embarked in the mercantile business at Eldersridge, being thus engaged for a period of ten years, at the end of which time he again took up farming. Mr. Elder continued to carry on general farming and stock raising on a tract of 300 acres, on which he made numerous improvements, but in 1903 sold the land for coal mining purposes to the Pittsburg Gas Coal Company and moved to Saltsburg, settling at what is known as Saltsburg Extension, where he now makes his home. After coming to Saltsburg, he became engaged in the manufacturing business, but for a short time was at Mine Lamotte, Mo, where he was manager of a department store for over a year. He then returned to Saltsburg. Mr. Elder is a member of the board of directors of the First national Bank of that place. He has been prominent in Grand Army circles, having been at one time commander of Saltsburg Post, No. 36, of which he is now adjutant. He is a past master of Saltsburg Lodge, No. 431, F. & M. A stanch Republican in politics, he has served as school director, and at this time is a member of the board of trustees of the Eldersridge Academy. Formerly he was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Eldersridge, where he served as elder and was active in the Sunday school, acting as assistant superintendent and later as superintendent. Since coming to Saltsburg he has been an elder in the church of that denomination here.
On April 29, 1869, Mr. Elder was united in marriage with Mary E. Spalding, a native of Indiana county, daughter of George and Sarah (Paul) Spalding. Mrs. Elder was well educated, attending public school in Westmoreland county, and later Leechburg Academy, Eldersridge Academy and Blairsville Seminary. She taught public school five years in Westmoreland and Indiana counties. Mr. and Mrs. Elder have had five children: Maude Wallace, Robert Roy, George Paul, Alice Mary and Helen Douglas.
Maude Wallace Elder was born at Eldersridge, and received exceptional educational advantages, attending the public schools of Young township, the State normal school in Indiana, Pa., and the University of Chicago. She taught in Eldersridge Academy, then spent three years teaching in Porto Rico, and for the last six years has been a teacher of languages in Franklin College, at New Athens, Ohio.
Robert Roy Elder received his education in the public schools, Eldersridge Academy and Grove City College, where he was graduated in 1892. He then took a law course of three years in Pittsburg, and is now a successful practicing attorney in that city. He married Flora Edith Bargay, and they have two children: Marion Viola and Robert Knox, the
latter being the ninth Robert in direct line in the Elder family.
George Paul Elder was born at Eldersridge, and after attending the public schools became a student in Eldersridge Academy. Since his graduation from that institution he has been in business in Seattle, Washington.
Alice Mary Elder was educated in the public schools, Eldersridge Academy and Blairsville College for Women, and then taught public school for two years in Niagara, N.Dak., three years in Porto Rico, and three years in Medford, Oregon. She is now general secretary of the Young Women's Christian Association, at Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Helen Douglas Elder was educated in the public schools, Eldersridge Academy and Blairsville College for Women, and then grauated as a nurse from the Presbyterian College, of Allegheny, Pa. At present she is at home.
Searching FINDAGRAVE for ROBERT ELDER in EBENEZER CEMETERY:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=elder&GSiman=1&GScid=695105&GRid=50654352&
ROBERT ELDER
Birth: unknown
County Down, Northern Ireland
Death: unknown
died in 1790/1791
first wife: Eleanor; one son
second wife: Mary Taylor
son James married Martha Robinson d 1813
son David, b 1764, moved to OH
son Robert, b 1767, married Mary Smith
only daughter Ann married Archibald Marshall
info from the Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, Pennsylvania - 24 Apr 1953
Family links:
Spouse:
Mary Taylor Elder (____ - 1813)
Burial:
Ebenezer Cemetery
Lewisville (Indiana County)
Indiana County
Pennsylvania, USA
Created by: Kim Kerr
Record added: Apr 04, 2010
Find A Grave Memorial# 50654352
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also: Ridgeview Cemetery (Elder's Ridge) in Find-a-grave: (30 entries for ELDER) at
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSiman=1&GScid=2246502&GSfn=&GSln=elder