Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Canan, John A. February 11, 1850 - ????
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Judy Banja http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00004.html#0000757 January 14, 2025, 10:23 am

Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892.
Author: Samuel T. Wiley

JOHN A. CANAN,
who has been identified with the interests of Altoona by nearly a quarter of
a century's business life within its limits, and who has won success because
he has had the ability to earn and the will to command it, is a son of John
J. and Margaret (Davis) Canan, and was born at Hollidaysburg, Blair county,
Pennsylvania, February 11, 1850.  The American branch of the Canan family was
founded by Col. John Canan, who was a native of that wonderful north of
Ireland which gave so many thousand brave hearts and stout arms to help win
the independence of the thirteen colonies.  He came to Huntingdon county
between 1760 and 1775, and served as a colonel in the American army during
the revolutionary war.  He was a prominent man in central Pennsylvania, and
died at Williamsburg, this county, in 1831, when well advanced in the
ninetieth year of his age.  He was a surveyor by profession, built, in 1807,
Etna, the first furnace in Blair county, and was a large land owner.  He
served, in 1787 and in 1788, as a member of the supreme executive council of
Pennsylvania from Huntingdon county, was appointed, in 1791, as associate
judge of that county, which he represented in the general assembly in 1791
and 1792, and in 1794 was elected State senator for the district composed of
the counties of Huntingdon and Bedford.  He married, and one of his sons was
Major Moses Canan (grandfather), who was born in Huntingdon county, and
served in the war of 1812 with the rank of captain.  He afterward moved to
Ebensburg, Cambria county, where he became one of the ablest lawyers of that
place, and served one term as associate judge of the courts of the county. 
He died at Johnstown, that county, in 1863, aged eighty years.  He was a
republican in politics during the latter part of his life, and married Mary
Henderson, a daughter of Major William Henderson, a native of Cumberland
county, who was the captain in command of the guards around the old State
house in Philadelphia when the Declaration of Independence was signed by the
members of the Continental Congress, July 4, 1776.  He afterward was promoted
to major, and died in 1811, aged fifty-six years, while his sword and watch
are still in the possession of the Canan family.  Of the sons born to Major
Moses and Mary (Henderson) Canan, one was John J. Canan, the father of John
A. Canan.  He was born in 1813, in Huntingdon county, and early in life went,
in about 1831, to Ebensburg, Cambria county, where he started a newspaper,
which he afterward removed to Johnstown, that county.  In 1846 he came from
Johnstown to Hollidaysburg, where he was agent for Captain Leech's canal boat
line for some time, and then was engaged in freight forwarding until 1858,
when he embarked in the lime business at Canan's Station, on the railroad
between Hollidaysburg and Altoona, where he remained until 1871.  In that
year he came to Altoona and formed a partnership with his sons, under the
firm name of Canan Brothers, which was changed, in 1876, to the present firm
name of John A. Canan & Co.  They handled coal and building supplies until of
late years, when they relinquished the coal trade, and now confine themselves
to manufacturing lime and handling builders' supplies.  Their business has
increased to such an extent that they have found it necessary to establish a
branch house at the prosperous town of Bellwood.  John J. Canan is a
republican, and a member of the First Presbyterian church of Altoona, and
married Margaret Davis, who was born in 1813, in Wales, reared at Ebensburg,
Cambria county, and is a member of the same Presbyterian church as her
husband.  Mr. Canan has been a clear-headed and able business man, whose
persistent energy and comprehensive grasp of details in commercial affairs
has secured him a large share of the measure of success which he has attained.
      John A. Canan spent his boyhood days and youth principally at
Hollidaysburg, and received his elementary education in the public schools. 
He pursued his academic studies at Hollidaysburg seminary, and attended
Lafayette college, of Easton, Northampton county, from 1869 to 1871.  Leaving
college he became a clerk in the Altoona postoffice, where he remained but a
short time before engaging with his father in their present lime and building
supply business.  They enjoy a good trade, and have a large number of
patrons.  He is also identified with other business enterprises, and has
served for some time as a director of the Altoona, Clearfield and Northern
railroad.  He is a deacon and trustee of the First Presbyterian church of
Altoona, and a member of Altoona Council, No. 580, Royal Arcanum, and Altoona
Lodge, No. 132, Improved Order of Heptasophs.  He is a republican in politics,
takes an active part in the interests of his party, and has served two terms
as a member of the common council.  Self-reliant but prudent, courageous but
cautious, Mr. Canan carefully examines any enterprise, and then acts
decidedly in the course of action upon which he has determined.  He is a good
business man, a true friend, and an enterprising citizen.
      On May 29, 1888, John A. Canan was united in marriage with Lizzie M.
Morrow, of McVeytown, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of the late
Rev. R.H. Morrow, who was pastor of the Presbyterian church of Cedar Rapids,
Iowa.  Mr. and Mrs. Canan have two children: Margaret M. and Mary H.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Judy Banja jbanja@comcast.net

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