BIOGRAPHY: Robert E. Creswell, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 416-7
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ROBERT E. CRESWELL, a member of the Cambria county bar, and who has been in 
active and sucessful practice for many years, is a son of Thomas H. and Ellen 
(Burke) Creswell, and was born at Strongstown, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, 
November 2, 1859. The name of Creswell is well and favorably known in Maryland, 
where, near Hagerstown, Robert Creswell, the paternal grandfather of Robert E. 
Creswell, was born and reared, and became successively a resident of Franklin, 
Blair and Indiana counties. His son, Thomas H., was born in Indiana county, 
1827, and in early life became a furnace superintendent for the celebrated iron-
master, Dr. Peter Shoenberger, of Pittsburg, who operated extensively in Blair 
and Cambria counties. When there came a depression in the iron business Mr. 
Creswell went to Strongstown, Indiana county, which was then quite a centre for 
lumbering, and engaged in the lumber business, which he followed up to the time 
of his death, May 11, 1882. He also opened a store, which he conducted in 
connection with his lumber dealing, as long as he lived. Politically he believed 
in the principles of the Democratic party, but, beyond local affairs, and voting 
for State and National nominees, he took no active part in politics. In religion 
he followed in the footsteps of his ancestors, who were of the Catholic faith. 
He married Ellen Burke, who was born at Cherry Hill, Indiana county, and is 
still living. She is a daughter of Edmund Burke, a native of County Waterford, 
Ireland, and most likely of a branch of the celebrated Burke family, of Ireland, 
so famous in history through some of its talented members. Edmund Burke came to 
New York city, then removed to Baltimore, and finally came to western 
Pennsylvania, where he was a contractor on a number of pikes. After working on 
these pikes Mr. Burke went to Bellefonte, and later settled at Strongstown, 
where he died. To Mr. and Mrs. Creswell were born eight children: Edmund B., of 
Ebensburg, who is an electrician; Robert E.; Michael and Joseph, who both died 
in infancy; Kate B., Francis, a civil engineer of Johnstown; Thomas N., who died 
young, and Ella B., residing with her mother.
    Robert E. Creswell was reared in his native county, received his education 
in the common schools and the Pennsylvania State Normal school, at Indiana, and 
then entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad company as a receiving 
clerk at Altoona. After some time spent at Altoona he resigned his position and 
went West, where he accepted service at Denver, Colorado, with the Denver and 
Rio Grande Railroad company. He discharged there, very acceptably, the duties 
assigned him for a number of years; but during the later years of his railroad 
service he had given some thought to the profession of law, and upon severing 
his railroad relations at Denver, he entered the law department of the 
University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in the class of 1889. 
Returning then to Pennsylvania, he was admitted to the bar of Cambria county, 
January, 1890, and commenced the practice of his profession in Johnstown, where 
he has remained ever since. Attentive and diligent, he is growing into a good 
practice, and becoming well acquainted with the people of the county. He is a 
democrat, and was postmaster at Strongstown, Indiana county, rendering 
satisfaction to the patrons of the office.