CHARLES EDWARD TROXELL, the present prothonotary of Cambria county, Pennsylvania, is of German descent on both paternal and maternal sides. He was born in White township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, August 9,1860, the son of Alexander and Mathilda (Gates) Troxell, and is one of a family of eleven children: 1. Charles Edward, see forward. 2. Sarah, wife of S. H. Beers of White Township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. 3. Emma, wife of W. C. Flemming, of the smae location as the one just mentioned. 4. Benjamin Franklin, a farmer of Reade township, Cambria county. 5. Rebecca, wife of Albert Peterson, of Reade township. 6. Margaret, wife of W. F. Cornelius, of Bellwood, Blair county, Pennsylvania. 7. Christopher J., merchant of Glasgow, Cambria county. 8. Nancy, wife of Arthur Thomas, of Reade township. 9. Calvin, a merchant of Reade township. 10. Clarence, of Bellwood, Blair county, Pennsylvania. 11. Mina, widow of L. N. Sneath, of Reade township.

The father, Alexander Troxell, was born is what was then known as White township (now Reade), Cambria county, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1837, the son of Abraham and Nancy (Glass) Troxell, both natives of what is now Reade township. Both the Troxell and Glass families belong among the pioneer settlers of White township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania. Alexander Troxell was about six years of age when his father died, and his mother reared the family of six children, she remaining a widow to the time of her death, living to the advanced age of ninety-two years and a few months.

When Alexander reached manhood, he acquired the old homestead on which he was reared. He lived there until about 1870, when he removed to an adjoining which he had acquired, and has since resided. He is one of the prosperous and highly respected farmers of Reade township. In politics, he is a stanch Republican, and while he has never held office of his own seeking, yet he has been elected to many of the local positions in his township. He was a member of the Fifty-third Pennsylvania Regiment of Volunteers during the Civil war, taking part in many of the important engagements. He is a member of the United Brethren church, and has been for many years an officer in the church. His wife Mathilda (Gates) Troxell, was born in Blair county, Pennsylvania, August 11,1839, daughter of Levi and Nancy Gates, both natives of Blair county. Their people were among the pioneer band who first made a settlement there.

Charles E. Troxell acquired his education in the common schools, and when he was grown to manhood drove a team for six years, and the following three years worked in the mines. In 1890 he engaged in the mercantile business at Glasgow, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, with G. L. Glasgow, under the firm name of Glasgow & Troxell. In 1897 this partnership was desolved, when Mr. Troxell purchased the business of A. J. Willhide, of Glasgow, which he succesfully conducted up to December, 1901, when he disposed of his business, having that autumn been elected to the office of prothonotary of Cambria county, taking his office in the month of January, 1902. He was re-elected in 1902, and is now serving his second term. Prior to his election to office, he was prominent in politics in Reade township, being elected constable in 1885, holding to the spring of 1894, when he was elected to the office of justice of the peace and this he resigned to assume the duties of his present office. Mr. Troxell is a member of the Lutheran church, and in every laudable way is a representative man of his county.

In 1882, Mr. Troxell married Anna Flemming of White township, Cambria county. To Mr. and Mrs. Troxell were born four children, two of whom are deceased. The surviving children are Ralph and May. Mrs. Troxell died in 1891. In 1897 Mr. Troxell married Susan Glasgow, of Reade township. The result of this union is one child, Hilda.

-History of Cambria County by Henry Wilson Storey. V3 pps 431-432.

transcribers note- while this biography was written during Alexander Troxell's lifetime there are some errors in it. His pension records indicate that he was in the 184th PA Volunteers, Co. C. Also, Abraham and Nancy (Glass) Troxell had nine children, not the aforementioned six, but perhaps he was referring to those who survived infancy.