James Archbald was born 3 March 1793, on Little Cumbrae island, off the Ayrshire coast of Scotland. Born to a family of shepherds, without any privileges, James Archbald had a bright future ahead of him. The agricultural lifestyle had its disadvantages, namely the treatment received from the wealthy land-lords of Scotland. The Clearances of Scotland were in effect at the time, and the pressure caused by them had caused the family to consider relocation. In this manner, and at the age of twelve, James's father, family in tow, emigrated to America and purchased a farm in the Mohawk Valley, in the state of New York. In his teenage years the construction of the Erie Canal, the so-called "Clinton's Big Ditch" began.
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James in 1832 married Sarah Augusta Frothingham (born 1805), the daughter of Major Thomas and Elizabeth Frost Frothingham of Sand Lake, N.Y.[1] The couple produced seven children: James, Mary W., Augusta, Thomas, Robert Wodrow Archbald, a son who died in infancy, and a daughter Elizabeth, who died at age 12.[2]
James Archbald served as the General Superintendent of the D&H from years 1829 to 1854. He succeeded John B. Jervis.
In 1847, the Pennsylvania Coal Company commenced building their railroad from Pittston to Hawley, and this, too was placed in charge of Archbald, and constructed upon his plans.
James Archbald was elected as the first mayor of Carbondale, Pennsylvania, in 1851. He was elected not once, nor twice, but three times more, for a total of four terms. His last year of office was 1855.
In 1854, James Archbald was chosen Vice-President of the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad. At this time, he dissolved his connection with the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company and took charge of the Western road.
In 1856, James Archbald became the general manager and chief engineer of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad and relocated to Scranton where he lived until his death in 1870.[3]
James Archbald, representing Scranton, was nominated to Congress at the Lackawanna County Convention held at Wilkes-Barre Tuesday, 4 September, 1866. He had no partisan affiliations, and was loved as a man of integrity and of an apolitical nature.[4]