Edward Northam    

EDWARD NORTHAM, of Meadville, was born in this county August 18, 1826, and is a son of George and Hannah (Jenkins) Northam, natives of New York and of English descent. His father was Ensign in the One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Regiment of New York Infantry, and with his wife came to this county in 1820, settling in Troy Township. Our subject, the fifth in a family of seven, was educated in this county, and since 1840 has been a resident of Meadville. He learned wool-carding with Alanson Lindley, who started that business here in 1835, and was till his decease a wealthy and influential citizen. Mr. Northam resided and worked with him for seven years, commencing in 1840, and in 1853 took charge of the business and has since been proprietor. He is also a carpenter, which trade he learned and has worked at. He was married in 1845 to Nancy Hamilton, and they have four children now living. The eldest son was aboard the “Gen. Lyon” when that vessel was burned off Cape Hatteras; he was a soldier, and had suffered three months imprisonment in Salisbury, N. C., rebel prison. The other children are: Ellen C. (deceased), Ida (deceased); Henry M., who is with his father; Anna B., Minnie E. and John A. Mr. and Mrs. Northam are members of the First Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican. 

History of Crawford County, Pennsylvania: containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1885, page 754