Ambrose Family Album

Generation 2. Dr. Samuel Ellsworth 'Sam' Ambrose (1864-1935).

Generation 2. Dr. Samuel Ellsworth 'Sam' Ambrose (1864-1935).
Click on the picture to display a larger version, if one is available.

Son of Joseph Ritner and Margaret (Dougherty) Ambrose. The photographer's mark is 'Ashman, 14 W. Lexington St., Baltimore.' A note on the back reads '1894.'

Sam was born in 1864 in East Franklin Township, probably on the family farm. He was about 10 when the family moved to Cowanshannock. He attended the local public school, an academy which operated briefly in Rural Valley, Glade Run Academy in Dayton, Edinboro Normal School and Grove City College. He taught school in and around Rural Valley for several years, then matriculated at Baltimore Medical College in 1895. He graduated in 1898 and began his medical practice in Rural Valley.

In 1903 he married Charlotte Pettigrew, a daughter of Dr. John and Cordelia (McCurdy) Pettigrew. Charlotte's sister Adella was married to Sam's brother Ben. Sam and Charlotte had no children, but when Adella died they raised Adella and Ben's three daughters - Helen Cordelia, Margaret and Frances.

Sam was a civic leader as well as a doctor. He also helped to organize the Rural Valley National Bank and was elected as its director in 1908. He practiced medicine in Rural Valley until just shortly before he died in 1935. Charlotte passed away in 1937. Sam and Charlotte are buried in the Rural Valley Cemetery.