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iOJlo 


^emi-(^enter 


HISTORY 


OF 


BLAIR  COUN' 
1896. 


For  Visitors  ^¥ 
4*      ^^    and  Citi/ 

PREPARED  ESPECIALLY  FOR  TH 

Celebration  of  the  First  Fift 

OF  THE 

County's  Growth. 

Held  June  11  and  12,  1896,  at  HolliJaj 


A  SOUVENIR.     ' 


IMIICK.  r>0  CKNTS. 


^•^^ 


DER  THE  CLEAR  DAYLIGHT.  | 

ig  Blair  County 

Dry  Goods.       ^  ^^ 

aod  day  out  we're  improving  this  store  for  you. 
giving  our  best  thought  and  effort  toward  making 
are's  service  perfect  in  every  detail. 

no  better  goods  can  be  found. 

no   greater  variety  Is  shown. 

no  lower  prices  are  quoted. 

oven  all  through  this  store's  pblicv  is  the  constant 

y   to  have  you  pleased  with  the  shopping  you  do 

to  have  you  perfectly  satisfied  with  every  purchase 

made.     That's  why  we  buy  so  carefully.     That's  why  we 

That's  why  we  employ  only  pleasant 

•eople  to  serve  you.  We  want  it  done 

to  know  it  if  anything  goes  wrong. 


r/i  our  newspaper  announcements  and 
i>ings  of  the  sCuiv.  We  keep  our  ads 
•ggerations,  no  misrepresentations  are 
ppear.     We  want  you  to  tell  us  if  you 


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i 

i 

I 

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I 
I 

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I 


unty  s  One  Great   JSC 
5ods  Supply  House* 


do  not  live  in  Altoona,  see  our  ad.  on  the  inside 
back  cover  of  this  book.  .■        .■        .•        .•        •'    ^ 

I 
.LIAM  F.  GABLE  &  CO.         ^' 


rhi  jDepartment  Store,  I 

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fl! 


^/«./^    cM.    ^/ai^. 


'•^.'^^»»»'.'»'.'SS* 


A  HISTORY 
°^  BLAIR 
COUNTY. 

Pennsylvania. 

Froni  its  Earliest  Settlement,  and  more  parti- 
cularly from  its  Organization,  in  1846 
to  June  1896. 

FIFTY  YEARS. 


CoiilaininjT,  also,  a  map  of  the  City  of  Altoona,  the  metropolis  of  the 
county,  and  a  description  of  all  the  other  iJoroiiijiis  and  smaller 
Towns,  giving  population  and  present  condition.  Also,  a  general 
resume  of  the  various  business  enterprises,  and  a  directory  of  the 
places  of  interest  and  natural  curiosities  which  strangers  should 
see. 

Prepared  especially  for  the  Patriotic 
Citizens  of  the  County  and  Visitors  to  the 

smi-cEHTEnninL  -  cELEDmiion. 

JUME  1  1  ANb  12,  1896. 

A  SOUVENIR  OF  THAT  IMPORTANT  EVENT. 


CHARLKS  H.  CLARK,  F.s<,).,  I         |UJ|18l896 

OF    TIIK   III. AIR    COINTY   IIAR,    AUTHOR    ANII    Pl'ril.lSIIF.R .      V''..  \  \ 


> 


Ai.TooNA.  Pa..  \s>/>. 


'^ly)!-^'^ 


Pi^efqcG. 


iHIVERY  one  of  the  100,000  visitors  to  Blair  County  during  the 
^■^  Semi-Centennial  Celebration  will  want  to  know  something 
about  this  favored  county,  and  every  one  of  the  80,000  inhabitants 
should  be  able  to  tell  them  about  it  ;  to  give  facts  and  figures  re- 
garding the  past  and  present,  to  tell  other  parts  of  our  history  which 
to  a  certain  extent  is  legendary,  and  to  show  on  what  substantial 
foundations  our  hopes  for  continued  prosperity  and  future  greatness 
are  based. 

It  was  to  supply  this  desideratum  that  the  present  work  was 
undertaken  by  the  author  at  a  very  late  date,  after  learning  that  the 
committee  of  arrangements  had  failed  to  get  it  done  as  they  had 
contemplated.  On  account  of  the  very  limited  time  for  preparation 
and  research  the  subject  has  not  been  as  exhaustively  treated  as 
could  be  wished  and  some  errors  may  be  found  resulting  from  the 
lack  of  time  necessary  to  properly  verify  all  data,  but  it  is  confidently 
believed  that  it  is  accurate  enough  for  all  practical  purposes,  and 
complete  enough  to  fill  the  minds  of  the  visitors  with  admiration  and 
cause  the  heart  of  the  citizen  to  swell  with  pardonable  pride  at  the 
growth  already  achieved  and  the  glowing  future  lying  so  bright  be- 
fore us.  To  meet  the  very  considerable  expense  involved  it  was 
necessary  to  insert  some  advertising  matter,  and  to  the  business  men 
who  have  thus  assisted,  sincere  thanks  are  due  and  are  hereby  pub- 
licly expressed  by  the  author, 

C.  B.  CLARK. 
Altoona,  Pa.,  June  loth,  1896. 


Blqii^  Coiirily. 


r>  LAIR  COUNTY  is  now  fifty  years  old,  having  fully  completed  a 
**^  half  century  of  separate  existence  as  one  of  the  sixty-seven 
counties  of  the  great  State  of  Pennsylvania,  the  second  State  in  the 
Union  in  population  and  wealth,  and  to-day, in  a  grand  demonstration, 
with  pomp  and  ceremony  befitting  the  occasion,  she  celebrates  her 
semi-centennial  ;  proud  of  her  achievements  in  the  past,  glorying  in 
her  present  greatness  and  confident  of  continued  and  increasing  pros- 
perity for  the  future. 

In  June,  1846,  she  began  her  independent  career  with  a  pojiu- 
lation  of  about  16.000,  with  eleven  townships  and  three  small  l)or- 
oughs.  Hollidaysburg,  Gaysport  and  Martinsburg,  594  square  miles 
of  surface  and  a  total  assessed  valuation  of  $4,200,000.  And  now. 
while  her  bounds  have  not  been  enlarged  she  has  sub-divided  some 
of  her  townships  so  that  the  number  is  at  present  fifteen,  one  large 
city  has  grown  up  during  this  period  within  her  limits  and  there  are 
ten  independent  boroughs  and  numerous  small  villages.  The  poj)- 
ulation  of  the  county  exceeds  80,000  and  the  assessed  valuation  is 
$32,000,000. 

Blair  County  has  within  its  bounds  some  of  the  loftiest  moun- 
tains, the  most  beautifully  picturesque  scenery  and  the  greatest 
natural  curiosities  in  the  State.  It  has  considerable  mineral  wc-alth 
and  many  fertile  and  well  watered  valleys. 

In  it  are  the  head  waters  of  the  Blue  Juniata  ri\er,  and  passing 
through,  from  east  to  west,  is  the  main  line  of  the  richest  railroad  in 
the  United  States,  perhaps  the  richest  in  the  world,  the  P.  R.  R. 
Here  has  been  the  birthplace  or  early  home  of  some  of  the  most 
noted  people  of  the  State,  some  whose  name  and  fame  are  world 
wide,  not  as  leaders  of  great  armies  but  as  financial  giants,  origi- 
nators of  great  enterprises,  directors  and  managers  of  colossal  indus- 
tries :  eminently  successful  business  men. 

The  territory  now  included  in  Blair  County  was  a  part  of  Cum- 
berland County  from  July  6.  1754,  to  March  9th.  1771.  when  Bed- 
ford Countv  was  erected  and  it  became  a  part  of  that.  It  was  in- 
cluded within  the  limits  of  Bedford  from  March  9th.  1771,  to  Sept. 
20th,  1787.  when  Huntingdon  County  was  formed  and  all  except 
North  Woodbury  and  Greenfield  townshi])S  were  included  in  that 
County.      It  remained  a  part  of  Huntingdon  from  Sept.  20th,  1787, 


Semi=-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


to  Feb.  26th,  1846,  or,  perhaps  more  properly,  till  about  June  ist, 
1846,  when  it  became  a  separate  county,  being  formed  from  a  part 
of  Huntingdon  County  and  the  two  townships  of  Bedford  before 
named.  No  further  division  or  change  is  probable  for  many  years 
as  the  present  constitution  of  the  State  prohibits  the  erection  of  any 
new  county, the  boundary  lines  of  which  will  pass  within  ten  miles  of 
any  existing  county  seat. 

The  organization  of  *the  new  County  began  to  be  agitated  in 
1838  and  on  January  2ist,  1839,  a  public  meeting  was  held  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  Hollidaysburg,  to  take  action  in  the 
matter.  Christian  Garber  was  chosen  president  of  this  meeting  and 
a  committee  consisting  of  William  Williams,  Peter  Cassiday,  Dr. 
James  Coffey,  Peter  Hewit,  John  Walker,  Samuel  Calvin,  Esq., 
and  Edward  McGraw  was  appointed  to  define  the  boundaries  of  the 
proposed  new  county,  draft  petitions,  procure  the  necessary  signa- 
tures thereto  and  present  them  to  the  State  legislature.  This  work 
was  performed  by  the  committee  but  the  matter  w-as  held  in  abey- 
ance for  several  years,  on  various  accounts,  before  its  final  consum- 
mation. A  bill  offered  in  1843  failed  to  go  through  and  it  was  not 
until  the  session  of  1845-6  that  the  necessary  Act  of  Assembly  was 
passed  and  approved  by  the  governor,  Francis  R.  Shunk,  whose 
approval  thereof  is  dated  February  26,  1846,  but  the  formation  of 
the  county  cannot  properly  be  said  to  have  been  completed  until 
June  following. 

Hon.  John  Blair,  from  whom  Blair  County  received  it  name, 
was  born  at  Blair's  Gap,  now  in  Allegheny  township,  in  the 
year  17     . 

His  father.  Captain  Thomas  Blair,  a  native  of  Scotland,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  Army  and  after  the  independence  of  the 
colonies  had  been  achieved  he  came,  probably  about  1785,  to  what 
is  now  Blair  County,  then  part  of  Bedford,  and  established  a  home 
in  the  Gap  which  has  since  borne  his  name.  The  stream  that  comes 
through  this  gap  was  also  called  Blair's  Run  after  he  settled  here. 
Whether  it  had  an  earlier  name  is  not  known.  Captain  Blair,  in 
1794,  owned  four  hundred  acres  of  land,  two  saw  mills,  two  distill- 
eries, several  slaves  and  considerable  other  personal  property.  He 
died  at  the  home  he  had  established  here,  September  10,  1808. 

His  son  John  was  born  at  the  old  homestead  and  passed  nearly 
the  whole  of  his  active  life  in  this  part  of  the  State.  Being  an  enter- 
prising and  sagacious  business  man  as  well  as  a  public  spirited  citi- 
zen he  devoted  much  of  his  energies  to  the  public  improvements  of 
the  State,  the  pike  in  1818  to   1820,  (being  president   of  the  com- 


Semi-Centennial  History  of   Blair  County. 


pany, )  and  tlu-  canal  in  1S2S  to  1S32,  and  when  the  new  county  was 
formed  it  was  but  natural  that  it  should  he  named  after  him  althoutjh 
he  had  been  dead  for  a  number  of  years.  His  death  occurred  Jan- 
uary 1st,  1.S32,  in  the  same  neig^hborhood  as  his  birth,  and  his  re- 
mains were  laid  to  rest  in  the  burying  plot  at 

The  only  lineal  descendants  of  Captain  Thomas  Blair  and  Hon. 
John  Blair,  known  to  be  livinji,^  in  this  part  of  the  State  are  Thomas 
S.  Blair,  a  great-grandson  of  the  Captain,  now  jiast  f>o  years  of  age 
who  lives  retired  in  Tyrone,  and  George  D.  Blair,  of  Tyrone,  banker, 
a  son  of  Thomas  S.  and  therefore  a  great-great-grandson  of  the 
founder  of  the  family  here. 

The  following  is  the  material  part  of  the  act  establishing  Blair 
County  as  approved  by  the  governor  Feb.  26,  1846  : 

Sec.  I.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  in  General  Assembly 
met,  and  it  is  hereby  enacted  by  the  authority  of  the  same.  That  the 
territory  within  the  townships  of  North  Woodbury  and  Greenfield, 
in  the  county  of  Bedford,  and  the  territory  within  the  townships  of 
Allegheny,  Antes,  Snyder,  Tyrone,  Frankstown,  Blair,  Huston  and 
Woodbury,  and  within  that  part  of  Morris  township  lying  west  of 
the  line  lately  run  by  William  Reed  and  other  viewers,  under  an 
order  of  court,  for  the  purpose  ol  dividing  the  same,  in  the  county 
of  Huntingdon,  are  hereby  erected  according  to  said  boundaries  into 
a  new  and  separate  county,  to  be  called  Blair  :  and  the  inhabitants 
thereof  shall,  from  the  fourth  Monday  of  July  ne.xt,  have  all  such 
courts,  jurisdictions,  ofifices,  rights  and  prixileges  as  the  inhabitants 
of  the  other  counties  of  this  Commonwealth  are  or  may  by  entitled 
to.  *  =^  =5= 

Sec.  2.  That  each  of  the  portions  of  said  Morris  township,  ac- 
cording to  the  said  division  line  made  by  William  Reed  and  others, 
shall  hereafter  be  separate  and  distinct  townships  for  all  purposes  ; 
the  portion  lying  westward  of  said  line  to  be  called  Catherine  town- 
ship, and  shall  hold  its  general  and  township  elections  at  the  house 
now  occupied  by  Walter  Graham.  *  jjc         * 

Sec.  3.  That  the  ipialified  electors  of  said  new  county  shall, 
at  their  ne.xt  general  election,  elect  three  citizens  thereof  as  commis- 
sioners for  said  county,  one  of  whom  shall  serve  t)ne  year,  one  for 
two  years,  and  one  for  three  years,  and  to  be  accordingly  designated 
on  the  ticket  of  the  electors,  and  the  said  commissioners,  together 
witii  their  successors  in  ofhce,  shall  i)e  (lualititil  anil  elected  accord- 
ing to  existing  laws  respecting  such  officers  ;  and  at  the  same  time 
said  electors  shall  also  elect  three  citizens  to  serve  as  county  auditors, 


SemUCentennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


to  be  designated  as  to  their  term  of  service  as  aforesaid,  one  thereof 
to  serve  for  one  year,  one  for  two  years  and  one  for  three  years, 
who,  together  with  their  successors  in  office,  shall  be  qualified  and 
elected  in  the  same  manner  as  the  auditors  of  other  counties. 

Sec.  4.  That  said  commissioners  shall  have  full  power  to  take 
to  themselves  and  their  successors  in  office  sufficient  deeds  and  as- 
surances in  law  for  such  lots  or  pieces  of  ground  as  shall  have  been 
selected  for  sites  for  the  public  buildings  of  said  county  under  the 
provisions  of  the  thirteenth  section  of  this  Act. 

Sec.  5.  That  the  return  judges  of  elections  in  said  county  of 
Blair  shall  meet  at  the  place  where  the  courts  may  be  held  in  said 
county,  and  having  received  the  returns  shall  dispose  of  the  same 
as  is  directed  by  law  with  respect  to  other  counties. 

Sec.  6.  That  one  person  shall  fill  the  offices  of  Prothonotary, 
Clerk  of  the  Courts  of  General  Quarter  Sessions  of  Oyer  and  Ter- 
miner, and  of  the  Orphans'  Court  in  said  county  of  Blair,  and  one 
person  shall  fill  the  office  of  Register  of  Wills  and  of  Recorder  of 
Deeds  in  said  county. 

Sec.  7.  That  until  the  court  house  shall  be  erected,  as  here- 
after authorized,  the  several  courts  of  said  county  of  Blair  shall  be 
held  in  such  house,  within  said  county,  as  shall  be  designated  by  the 
commissioners  thereof,  elected  at  the  next  general  election. 

Sec.  8.  The  county  of  Blair  shall  be  annexed  to  and  compose 
part  of  the  Sixteenth  Judicial  District  of  this  Commonw^ealth,  and 
the  courts  shall  be  held  and  commence  as  follow,  to  wit  :  On  the 
fourth  Monday  of  March,  July,  October  and  December  in  each  year 
and  the  first  court  shall  be  held  in  said  county  of  Blair  on  the  fourth 
Monday  of  October  next.         -^         -js^         -jf. 

Sec.  12.  That  the  said  county  of  Blair  shall  be  attached  to 
and  connected  with  the  Seventeenth  Congressional  District,  and  the 
qualified  electors  of- the  county  of  Blair,  together  with  the  counties 
of  Huntingdon,  Centre,  Mifflin  and  Juniata,  shall  continue  to  elect  a 
member  of  Congress,  and  the  qualified  electors  of  the  counties  of 
Blair,  Huntingdon  and  Bedford  shall  continue  to  elect  a  Senator  of 
the  State  Legislature;  and  the  said  counties  of  Blair  and  Hunting- 
don shall  each  elect  one  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
of  this  Commonwealth. 

Sec.  13.  That  the  Governor  be  and  he  is  hereby  authorized 
and  required,  on  c>r  before  the  first  day  of  May,  next  ensuing,  to 
appoint  three  judicious  and  disinterested  persons,  not  residents  in  the 
counties  of  Huntingdon,  Bedford,  or  Blair,  as  Commissioners, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be,  after  being  duly  sworn,  to  perform  their  du- 
ties with  fidelity,  to  run  correctly,  ascertain,  and  mark  the  boundary 
lines  of  said  county  of  Blair  and  to  fix  upon  a  proper  and  conven- 


Semi-Centennial  History  of   Blair  County.  7 

icnt  site  or  location  for  the  scat  ol"  justice  of  said  county  of  Blair, 
and  for  a  court  house,  i)rison,  and  county  offices  within  and  for  the 
said  county  of  Blair;  and  that  the  said  Commissioners,  or  a  majority 
of  them,  having  run,  ascertained  and  marked  the  boundary  lines 
aforesaid  or  caused  the  same  to  be  done  and  fixed  the  site  or  lo- 
cation which  they  shall  have  chosen  for  the  purpose  or  purj)oses 
aforesaid,  shall,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  Aug^ust  next,  by  a 
written  report  under  their  hands  and  seals,  oi  a  majority  of  them, 
certify,  describe  and  limit  the  site  of  location  which  they  shall  have 
chosen  for  the  purpose  or  purposes  aforesaid ;  and  make  out  a  cor- 
rect plot  or  draft  of  the  said  county  of  Blair,  and  shall  transmit  the 
said  report  and  draft  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth;  and 
the  said  Commissioners  shall  each  receive  two  dollars  per  day  for 
their  services,  together  with  their  reasonable  expenses  in  running,  or 
causing  to  be  run,  the  said  boundary  lines,  and  in  doing  what  is  re- 
(juircd  to  be  done  by  them,  out  of  the  moneys  to  be  raised  in  pur- 
suance of  this  Act,  Provided,  that  the  said  Commissioners,  in  and 
on  or  before  fixing  the  site  and  location  of  the  seat  of  justice,  court 
house,  prison  and  county  ofifices  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  said 
County  of  Blair,  shall  and  are  hereby  authorized  and  required  to 
receive  propositions  and  agreements  from  any  and  all  persons  willing 
and  desirous  to  make  the  same  for  the  building  of  said  court  house, 
prison  and  county  ofifices,  or  any  of  them,  at  their  own  expense,  free 
of  charge  to  said  county,  or  for  the  giving  of  money,  land  or  other 
valuable  things  for,  towards,  or  in  part  of  the  expense  of  building 
the  same,  or  any  of  them,  by  which  propositions  and  agreements 
the  person  or  persons  making  the  same  shall  be  bound  to  and  for 
the  use  of  the  said  County  of  Blair,  if  the  terms  and  conditions  of 
the  same,  or  any  of  them,  are  acceded  to  and  concurred  in  by  the 
said  Commissioners;  and  the  said  Commissioners  shall  take  into  con- 
sideration and  be  influenced  by  said  propositions  and  agreements  in 
fixing  and  determining  upon  the  site  or  location  of  the  seat  of  justice, 
court  house,  prison  or  jail  and  county  ofifices  of  and  for  the  said 
County  of  Blair;  And  provided  further,  that  in  case  the  seat  of  jus- 
tice, court  house,  prison  or  jail,  and  county  offices  of  and  for  said 
County  of  Blair  should  be  located  by  the  said  Commissioners  at  or 
within  the  limits  of  Hollidaysburg  or  Gays^iort,  in  said  County  of 
Blair,  the  bond  bearing  the  date  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  August, 
Anno  Domini  eighteen  hunilred  and  forty-five,  in  the  penal  sum  of 
twenty  thousand  dollars,  conditioned  to  indemnify  and  secure  the 
inhabitants  of  the  said  county,  created  or  to  be  created  by  this  Act 
against  any  increase  of  county  taxes  by  reason  of  or  for  the  erection 
of  the  said  court  house,  public  offices  antl  jail  of  said  county,  created 


Semi=Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


or  to  be  created  by  this  Act,  signed  by  James  Gardner,  Samuel 
Calvin  and  others,  and  deposited  in  the  office  of  the  branch  of  the 
Exchange  Bank  of  Pittsburgh  at  HoUidaysburg,  on  said  day  shall 
be  binding  on  the  obligors  therein  and  thereto  according  to  the 
terms  and  conditions  thereof  and  other  like  or  similar  bond  or  in- 
strunitnts  of  writing  which  may  be  given  by  other  persons  in  rela- 
tion to  the  location  of  the  seat  of  justice  of  said  County  of  Blair  at 
any  other  point,  town  or  place,  within  the  limits  of  the  said  County 
of  Blair,  shall  in  like  manner  be  binding  on  the  obligers  or  signers 
therein  and  thereto         *  *         *  * 

A  supplement  to  the  foregoing  Act  was  passed  during  the  same 
session  of  the  Legislature  and  approved  April  20th,  1846,  which 
provided  that  the  October  term  of  court  should  begin  the  third 
Monday  of  the  month,  the  July  term  was  changed  to  the  second 
Monday  in  June  and  it  also  provided  that  "the  Governor  shall,  on 
or  before  the  second  Monday  of  June  next,  appoint  three  judicious 
persons  as  Commissioners  ot  said  county,  to  serve  until  their  succes- 
sors shall  be  duly  elected  and  qualified,  who  shall  perform  the  usual 
duties  of  County  Commissioners,  together  with  such  duties  in  relation 
to  jurors  and  a  place  for  holding  the  courts  as  by  said  Act  were 
imposed  on  the  Commissioners  to  be  elected  at  the  next  general 
election." 

From  the  text  of  the  foregoing  Acts  it  is  apparent  that  the 
county  of  Blair  could  not  have  a  complete  and  separate  existence 
until  its  boundaries  were  definitely  ascertained  and  fixed  by  a  Com- 
mission to  be  appointed  later.  It  is  also  apparent  that  the  Act  was 
framed  with  great  care  and  with  the  view  of  outlining  a  complete 
modus  operandi  for  consummating  the  wishes  of  the  people  resident 
in  the  territory  embraced.  It  is  evident  also  that  some  over  con- 
servative people,  fearing  that  taxes  might  be  increased  to  provide 
for  the  new  county  buildings,  had  interposed  such  objections  to  the 
project  that  it  became  necessary  for  others  more  broad-minded  and 
liberal  to  step  into  the  breach  and  give  their  personal  obligations,  to 
the  extent  of  a  twenty-thousand  dollar  bond,  that  this  would  not 
occur.  The  names  of  James  Gardner  and  Samuel  Calvin  were  con- 
sequently incorporated  in  the  Act,  and  for  the  deep  devotion  to  the 
public  welfare,  denoted* by  their  generous  deed,  have  been  thus  im- 
mortalized, while  the  names  of  the  petty  objectors  to  a  grand  object 
are  now  buried  in  deserved  oblivion.  All  honor,  then,  to  those 
noble  spirits  who  have  been  found  in  every  age  and  every  clime 
ready  to  lay  both  life  and  fortune  on  their  country's  altar  when  oc- 
casion demands  the  sacrifice. 


5emi=Centennial  History  of   Blair  County. 


Under  the  Act  just  recited  the  Ciovernor  appointed  on  the 
Coniniission  to  run  the  county  lines  and  determine  the  location  of 
the  seat  of  justice,  Henry  McBride,  of  Westmoreland  County:  Gen- 
eral (3rr.  of  ArmstroniL,^  Countv;  and  ludi^e  Christy,  of  Juniata 
County,  who  acted  promptly,  established  the  county  lines  as  they 
now  are  and  ciiose  Hollidayshvuii  as  the  county  seat.  The  choice 
of  Hollida\-sbur!4  was  a  foregone  conclusion,  it  being  then  the  largest 
town  in  this  part  of  the  State  and  the  residence  of  most  of  the  actiye 
workers  lor  the  new  county  ;  the  only  other  towns  of  importance  in 
this  yicinity  were  Frankstown,  Martin^burg,  Williamsburg  and  Gays- 
port.  Altoona  and  Tyrone,  now  so  greatly  e.xceeding  it  in  popula- 
tion and  im|)ortance,  were  undreamed  of  The  number  of  town- 
ships in  the  county  at  its  formation  was  eleyeii.  since  then  four 
more  haye  been  added  by  dixiding  the  original  ones.  The  town- 
ships are  now  Allegheny,  Antes,  Hlair,  Catharine,  Frankstown, 
Freedom,  Greenfiekl,  Hustcjn,  Juniata,  Logan.  North  Woodbury, 
Snyder,  Taylor,  Tyrone  and  Woodbury,  of  which  the  following 
haye  l)een  formed  since  1846,  yiz  :  Juniata  in  1S47,  Logan  in  1850. 
Taylor  in  1855,  Freedom  in  1857. 

The  territory  thus  segregated,  separaletl  from  the  other  civil 
divisions  of  the  Commonwealth  and  established  as  an  independent 
county  by  the  highest  aiuhority  in  the  State,  is  well  defmed  by  nat- 
ural boundary  lines  most  of  which  are  tops  of  mountain  ranges,  ami 
Blair  County  is  in  fact  a  little  empire  by  itself  though  by  no  means 
a  little  county,  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  mountains  of  consideraljle 
elevation;  ingress  and  egress  being  had  only  through  a  few  gaps  or 
breaks  in  these  ranges.  Dry  Gap,  Kittanning  Gap  and  Blair's  Gap 
on  the  west,  to  Cambria  Count\-,  the  eastern  limit  ot"  the  Mississippi 
Valley;  a  narrow  ga])  north  of  Tyrone  u])  the  Bald  Eagle  creek  to 
Center  County,  and  another  east  of  the  same  town  and  down  the 
Juniata  ri\er  to  Huntmgdon  County;  still  another  from  Williams- 
burg eastward  along  the  valley  of  the  1-Vankstown  branch  of  the  Ju- 
niata to  Petersburg,  in  Huntingdon  Ct)unty — the  route  of  the  old 
canal — and  two  or  ihri'e  wagon  roads  south  trom  NLirlinsburg  and 
Claysburg  into  Bedford  County.  Its  e.xtreme  width  from  east  to 
west  is  about  twenty  miles  and  its  length  north  and  south  thirty 
miles;  area,  594  scpiare  miles  or  380,160  acres.  The  entire  county 
may  be  regarded  as  one  great  valley  containing  numerous  detached 
mountains  and  large  hills,  inter.>|)ersed  with  many  smaller  fertile  val- 
leys and  little  streams,  besides  the  larger  \alliy  and  threi-  branches 
of  the  Juniata  river. ■^-  Its  geographical  jjosition  is  about  thirty  miles 
*Tlif  Imjiuu  iiaji|c  for  ijjis  river  wa.s  Scokoouludy. 


10  SemUCentennial  History  of  Biair  County. 


southwest  of  the  center  of  the  State,  and  it  Ues  between  the  40th  and 
41st  degrees  of  North  Latitude  and  between  the  78th  and  79th  de- 
grees of  Longitude  west  of  Greenwich. 

The  geographical  center  of  the  county  is  in  Frankstown  town- 
ship about  three  miles  northeast  of  Hollidaysburg.  The  center  of 
population  , which  at  the  formation  of  the  county  was  not  far  from 
Hollidaysburg,  is  now  within  the  limits  of  Altoona  City  and  firmly 
anchored  there. 

The  principal  mountains  within  the  county, aside  from  the  Alle- 
ghenies  on  the  western  boundary  and  Tussey's  Mountains'and  Bald 
Eagle  Ridge  on  the  east  are  Brush  Mountain,  Canoe,  Dunning' s, 
Short,  Cove  and  Lock  Mountains. 

Of  the  valleys,  Logan  is  the  largest,  extending  from  Altoona  to 
Tyrone,  the  western  portion  of  this,  in  earlier  years,  was  known  as 
"Tuckahoe;"  Sinking  Valley,  in  Tyrone  Township,  in  which  sink- 
ing Run,  after  a  course  of  several  miles,  disappears  in  the  earth; 
Scotch  Valley,  extending  from  Frankstown  north-eastwardly  and 
Morrison's  Cove  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county;  Canoe  Valley 
along  Canoe  Creek;  and  many  others  not  dignified  with  a  name. 

The  streams  of  the  county  are  Frankstown  branch  of  the  Juniata, 
which  is  the  largest  and  flows  north-cast  from  Greenfield  Township 
through  Freedom,  Blair  and  Frankstown  townships  and  between 
Catharine  and  Woodbury,  to  Porter  Township,  in  Huntingdon  Coun- 
ty, where  it  empties  into  the  main  stream  near  Petersburg,  on  the 
Penn'a  R.  R.  Beaver  Dam  branch  of  the  Juniata,  which  flows 
through  Allegheny  and  Blair  townships,  separates  Hollidaysburg 
from  Gaysport,  and  empties  into  the  Frankstown  branch  near  the 
village  of  Frankstown;  and  the  Little  Juniata,  the  true  stream, which 
rises  in  the  Allegheny  Mountains,  in  Logan  Township  and  flows 
south  to  Juniata  Borough,  near  Altoona,  thence  north-eastward  to 
Tyrone,  thence  south-eastward  through  Huntingdon  County  and 
after  being  joined  at  Petersburg  by  the  Frankstown  branch 
and  at  Huntingdon  by  the  Raystown  branch,  it  flows  on  as  a  noble 
river  to  its  confluence  with  the  Susquehana,  fifteen  miles  west  of 
Harrisburg.  The  other  streams  are  Bald  Eagle  Creek,  coming  in 
from  Center  County  on  the  north,  and  emptying  into  the  Juniata 
near  Tyrone,  Moore's  Run,  Sinking  Run,  Hutchison's  Run,  Elk 
Run  and  Three  Springs  Run  all  in  Snyder  Township;  Taylor,  Bells 
Gap,  Laurel  and  Beaver  Dam  Runs  in  Antes  Township;  Elk,  Arch 
Spring  and  Sinking  Runs  in  Tyrone  Township;  Homers,  Mill,  Kit- 
tanning,  Burgoons  and  Brush  Runs  in  Logan  Township;  Blair 
Creek,  Sugar  and  Brush   Runs  in  Allegheny  Township;  Ol^j  town 


SemUCentcnniai  History  of  Blair  County.  !! 

and  Robinson's  Runs  and  Canoo  Creek  in  Franksiown  Township; 
Canoe  Creek,  Fox,  Roaring  and  \'elIo\v  Springs  Runs  in  Catharine 
Township;  Clover  and  Piney  Creeks  in  North  Woodbury,  Huston 
and  Woodbury  Townshij)s;  Haltar  and  Plum  Creeks  in  Taylor 
Township;  Poplar  and  Roarin^j  Runs  in  Hlair  Township;  P(>])lar, 
McDonald  and  Donaldson's,  South  Dry  and  Paw  Paw  Runs  in 
Freedom  Township;  Bobb's  Creek,  Blair  Creek,  Blue  Knob,  Pojilar 
and  Dry  Runs  in  Juniata  Township:  Beaver  Creek,  Pole  Cat,  South 
Poplar,  Amelia's,  Bobbs,  Diamond,  Queen  Esther's,  Pine,  Smoky 
and  RoarinjT  Sprinu;^  Runs  in  Creenfield  Townshi]).  The  water  of 
all  these  numerous  streams  is  diseharged  into  one  or  the  other 
branches  of  the  Juniata. 

Retr(jspectively  we  note  the  development  and  growth  of  this 
territory.  As  a  part  of  the  great  pro\ince  given  to  William  Penn  in 
1681  by  King  Charles  the  Second  of  England,  it  remained  an  nne.x- 
plored  forest  inhabited  only  by  roving  Indian  tribes,  until  about  1750. 
If  any  white  man  visited  it  prior  to  that  date  he  left  no  i)ermanent 
record  of  the  fact  and  our  earliest  knowledge  of  it  begins  with  the 
brief  mention  bv  Conrad  Weiser,  Aug.  20,  1748,  that  he  passed  up 
the  Juniata  river  and  stojiped  at  Frankstown.^- 

In  1750  it  formed  part  of  Cumberland  to  which  it  belonged  until 
the  formation  of  Bedford  County  in  1771.  During  this  period  it  was 
opened  up  for  settlement  and  clearings  were  made  and  settlers  located 
in  Morrison's  Cove  (about  1760)  and  at  Hollidaysburg  and  vicinity 
(in  1768.)  Some  of  the  early  settlers  were  massacred  by  the  In- 
dians. In  1 77 1  Bedford  Countv  was  formed  and  included  all  of 
Blair  until  1787,  during  which  period  occurred  the  Revolutionary 
war,  the  colonists  gained  their  independence  and  began  to  be  gov- 
erned to  some  extent  by  laws  of  their  own  framing  yet  the  great 
body  of  English  law,  as  applicable  to  the  business  and  social  relations 
of  the  community,  were  retained  and  enforced  until  specially  repealed 
by  legislation  that  conflicted  therewith,  and  to  this  day  some  English 
statutes,  enacted  prior  to  the  Rexolution,  are  held  to  Ik-  in  force  in 
Pennsylvania. 

Some  considerable  impro\ements  was  made  during  this  period, 
especially  the  cutting  of  a  wagon  road  through  the  forest  on  the  old 
Indian  trail  over  the  mountains,  and  some  other  local  roads,  but 
nothing  like  a  town  or  village  with  shops  and  stores  was  founded  in 
this  region  until  a  later  ])eriod. 

In  1787   Huntingdon  County  was  erecteil  and   included   all  of 

*Ki:iiikst(i\vn  l)«ln«  no  donlit  thi-  Um  hut  i>f  Knink  sti  iilun.'*  (i)istti>lirii  I'nuik  hk 
some  lilstoriaiis  t'lvc  It.  while  olhcrs  say  old  Frank  iin  Indliiiii  niul  i><-rlmps  <>n«- or 
two  oilier  I  til  II  all  traders  and  the  win  wan  is  of  some  Indians  who  <-anie  with  furs  to 
trade  for  the  white  iiiairs  I  Insel  and  toys  or  )ierha|>s  a  ni'.isket  and  a  nun  unit  Ion.  It 
Is  said  that  .•in  Indian  vUhmc  was  known  here  as  early  as  IT.Ki  and  that  Its  Inilian 
name  was  ".Vssunnepai-hla."  ineanlnu  ineetinK  of  many  waters.  How  ninrh  of  fact 
tK  rontiiliifd  In  tblH  tU'tlon  no  one  now  knowtt. 


12  Senii=CentenniaI  History  of  Blair  County. 


Blair  except  North  Woodbury  and  Greenfield  townships,  continuing 
thus  until  1846.  During  this  period  Frankstown,  Hollidaysburg, 
Gaysport,  Williamsburg,  Martinsburg  and  several  other  small  places 
were  laid  out,  and  some  ol  them  incorporated  as  boroughs,  the  pike 
road,  from  Huntingdon  to  Blairsville,  passing  through  the  county  on 
the  line  of  the  old  state  road,  was  constructed  and  a  few  years  later 
the  canal  and  Allegheny  Portage  Railroad,  and  Hollidaysburg  be- 
came a  place  of  considerable  importance,  so  much  so.  in  fact,  that 
the  people  were  averse  to  paying  tribute  to  Huntingdon  by  taking 
their  suits  there  for  trial  and  aspired  to  become  independent  of  the 
mother  county.  The  formation  of  the  new  county  of  Blair  was  agi- 
tated and  having  been  successfully  achieved  in  1846,  the  next  great 
improvement  was  the  building  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  and  the 
founding  of  a  great  city — Altoona. 

OFFICERS  AND  FIRST  OFFICIAL  ACTS. 

The  Commissioners  appointed  by  the  Governor,  to  run  the 
boundary  lines,  performed  the  duties  imposed  on  them  so  expediti- 
ously that  by  the  first  of  June,  1846,  all  had  been  concluded  and 
the  Governor  appomted  county  officers  as  follows,  to  serve  until 
their  successors  should  be  duly  elected  and  qualified,  viz  :  Valentine 
Lingenfelter,  William  Bell  and  William  C.  McCormick,  County 
Commissioners;  Benjamin  Betts,  Sherifii;  George  R  McP'arlane  and 
Daniel  McConnell,  Associate  Judges;  Jeremiah  Cunningham,  Pro- 
thonotary  and  Clerk  of  the  Courts;  John  M.  Gibboney,  Register 
and  Recorder  and  John  Cresswell,  District  Attorney. 

On  the  eighth  day  of  June,  1846,  the  County  Commissioners 
were  sworn  into  office  by  Ephriam  Galbraith,  a  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
and  held  their  first  session.  The  next  day  they  agreed  on  a  plan 
for  a  court  house  and  put  up  notices  to  contractors  to  bid  for  its 
construction.  H.  A.  Caldwell  was  employed  as  clerk  to  the  com- 
missioners at  a  salary  of  $150.  per  year,  and  Robert  H.  McCor- 
mick was  appointed  County  Treasurer,  to  serve  until  the  next  elec- 
tion. Rooms  were  also  rented  to  use  for  county  offices  until  the 
court  house  should  be  erected.  On  the  fourth  day  of  July,  1846, 
the  contract  for  the  first  court  house  was  let  to  Daniel  K.  Ramey, 
and  the  stone  house  ot  John  Mahoney  was  leased  for  a  temporary 
jail.  On  Monday,  the  27th  day  of  July.  1846,  the  first  court  in  the 
county  was  held  in  the  Methodiit  Episcopal  Church  of  Hollidays- 
burg; Hon.  Jeremiah  Black  presiding.  Judge  Black  held  twelve 
terms  of  court  in  the  county,  when  the  judicial  districts  of  the  state 
were  reorganized,  and  Blair  County,  with  Huntingdon  and  Cambria 
was  made  the  twenty-fourth  district  and  Governor  Johnston  ap- 
pointed George  Taylor,  of  Huntingdon,  President  Judge. 


Semi-Centcnnial  History  of  Blair  County.  13 


The  first  suit  brought  originally  in  the  Common  Pleas  Court  of 
Blair  County  was  for  divorce,  Mary  Armstrong  vs.  John  Armstrong, 
subpoena  issued  June  23,  1S46. 

Perhaps  the  most  remarkable  thing  in  connection  with  the  first 
court  in  the  county  was  the  number  of  lawyers  admitted  to  practice 
therein.  On  the  first  day  of  the  term,  July  27,  1S46,  no  less  than 
forty-nine  attorneys  were  sworn  in  and  the  following  day  three  more. 
Evidently  it  was  thought  that  Blair  County  was  destined  to  be  one 
of  the  most  important  in  the  state. 

The  county  oficers,  appointed  by  the  Governor,  only  held  their 
offices  until  the  end  of  that  year  as  their  successors  were  elected  at 
the  first  general  election  after  the  formation  of  the  county,  and  this 
occurred  October  13th,  1846,  resulting  in  the  election  of  Samuel  J. 
Royer  for  High  Sheriff;  Joseph  Smith,  Prothonotary  and  Clerk  of 
the  Courts;  Louis  H.  Williams,  Register  and  Recorder;  John  K. 
Neff,  Edward  McGraw  and  William  Bell,  Countv  Commissioners; 
Charles  E.  Kinkead,  Wm.  P.  Dysart  and  James  Wilson,  Auditors; 
Joseph  Morrow,  Treasurer  and  Capt.  Joseph  C.  Morgan,  Coroner. 


Eqi^ly  Jridiisji^ies. 

AGRICULTURE,  SAW  AND  GRIST  MILLS  AND  DISTILLERIES. 

The  iirst  settlers  of  Blair  County  were  in  search  of  farming  land 
and  agriculture  engaged  their  attention  entirely  for  many  years. 
The  coal  in  the  mountains,  the  iron  ore  in  the  valleys  were  unknown 
or  unsought,  until  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  and  the  tim- 
ber, from  which  fortunes  were  made  in  after  years,  was  only  desir- 
able for  fuel  and  the  few  logs  necessary  to  construct  their  humble 
habitations,  or  make  rails  to  enclose  the  fields  cleared  by  dint  of 
much  hard  labor.  To  them  the  big  trees  of  the  forest  were  a  hind- 
rance requiring  days  of  toil  to  cut  down  and  burn  up.  Millions  of 
feet  of  logs  were  rolled  together  in  heaps  and  burned  to  make  the 
cleared  fields  in  which  to  plant  corn,  grow  wheat,  oats  and  other 
grains. 

The  first  manufactories  established  in  the  new  county  were  saw 
and  grist  mills,  but  these  were  very  small  and  insignificant  in  com- 
parison with  those  of  a  later  day  and  were  invariably  run  by  water 
power.  A  saw  mill  that  would  cut  2000  feet  of  boards  in  a  day  was 
a  good  one  for  those  times,  and  the  grist  mills  ground  from  morning 
till  night  to  make  three  to  four  barrels  of  flour.  The  earliest  mills 
that  we  have  a  record  of  were  those  of  Jacob  Neff  at  Roaring  Spring, 
erected  sometime  between  the  years  1763  and  1770  and  that  of  Thos. 
Blair  at  the  eastern  end  of  Blair's  Gap  about  17S5.  A  saw  mill  was 
usually  found  near  a  grist  mill,  and  the  same  dam  supplied  the  water 
power  for  both. 

Following  close  on  the  erection  of  grist  mills  came  the  estab- 
lishment of  distilleries.  Our  forefathers  were  not  intemperate  neither 
were  they  tetotallers.  whiskey  was  a  necessity  as  well  as  flour  and 
tobacco,  nearly  all  kept  it  in  the  house  and  used  it  freely  on  various 
occasions,  especially  log  rollings  and  house  raisings.  These  early 
'  'stills' '  which  are  evidenced  by  the  assessor's  lists  were  probably  very 
small  afiairs  capable  of  producing  but  a  few  gallons  of  spirits  per  day, 
but  the  product  was  undoubtedly  perfectly  pure,  it  was  made  only 
for  home  and  neighborhood  consumption,  no  evidence  being  discov- 
erable that  any  was  sent  away  for  sale  until  after  the  completion  of 
the  canal  in  1832-3. 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  15 


[RON  WORKS. 

Prior  to  the  year  1800  our  researches  have  discovered  nothing 
in  the  hne  of  manufacturers  except  the  few  grist  and  saw  mills  and 
stills,  but  soon  after  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  the  erec- 
tion of  iron  works  was  commenced  and  some  tanneries  and  woolen 
mills  were  built,  as  well  as  more  distilleries;  Ktna  P'urnace  and  Forge 
built  in  1805-6  by  Canan,  Stewart  tS:  Moore,  was  located  in  Catharine 
Township,  near  the  Juniata  and  was  the  first  iron  works  within  the 
present  limits  of  Blair  County;  Tyrone  Forge,  built  by  Jf)hn  Glon- 
inger  ^  Co.,  in  1805;  Cove  F"orge  was  built  next  by  John   Royer 
in  Woodbury  Township  in    18 10 — was  operated    continuously  for 
more  than  seventy  years;  Allegheny  Furnace,  near  the  present  site 
of  Altoona,  was  the  third  and  was   built  in    1811    by  Allison    and 
Henderson,  and  later  was  owned  and  rebuilt  by  Elias  Baker;  Spring- 
field   Furnace,    in    Woodbury    Township,    was   built   by  John   and 
Daniel  Royer  in  1S15;  Rebecca  Furnace,  by  Dr.  Peter  Shoenberger 
in    1817,  on   Clover  Creek;  Mary  Ann  Forge  built  about   1830  by 
Edward  Bell  &  Son,  and  Elizabeth  Furnace  in   1832;  Antes    Forge 
at  Tipton,    1828,   by    Dysart  tS:   Lloyd — three    fires  operated    until 
1855    and    discontinued  ;    the     upper,     lower   and    middle    Maria 
Forges  in  Freedom  in  1828  to  1S32  and  Sarah  Furnace    in  Green- 
field Township  in  1832,  built  l)y  Peter  Shoenberger,  (the  latter  was 
demolished  in  the  winter  of  18S1-2);  Elizabeth  Furnace  and  Mary 
Ann  Forge  in  Antes  Township  about  1835  by  Edward  Bell.      Harris' 
Pittsburgh  Directory,   for  the    year   1837,   gave   a  list  of  the  iron 
works  in  the  Juniata  Valley  and  those  in  the  present  limits  of  Blair 
Countv  were,  Elizabeth  Furnace  and  Mary  Ann  Forge,  owned  by 
Edward    Bell;    Antes    Forge,   by  Graham  6t    McCamant;    Tyrone 
Forges,  William  Lyon  cSi  Co. ;  Allegheny  Furnace,  E.  Baker  &  Co  ; 
Etna  Furnace  and   Forge,    H.    S.   Spang;    Co\  e  I-Orge,    Royer  & 
Schmucker.      All  these  were  run  with  charcoal  for  fuel. 

Strange  as  it  may  ap|)car,  the  market  for  the  first  iron  produced 
in  the  Juniata  \'alley  was  found  in  Pittsburgh,  and  it  was  transported 
at  a  great  expense,  first  on  the  backs  of  horses  and  mules  across  the 
Alleghenies  to  Johnstown,  and  from  there  floated  in  flat  bottomed 
boats  down  the  Concmaugh  to  the  Alle.gheny  and  on  that  stream 
to  its  destination.  Later,  when  the  pike  h.ul  been  constructed,  it 
was  hauled  on  wagons  until  the  th<'  canal  was  built.  The  value  of 
a  ton  of  iron  then  was  several  times  over  that  of  to-day. 

Later  iron  workers  were,  the  Duncansville  Rolling  Mill.  1833-4; 
the  Bellrough  I-"oundry  at  (iayspori,  buill  in  1837-8;  the  Hollidays- 
burg  Furnace  in  Gaysport,  in  1855,  and  Chimney  Rock  Furnace  in 


16  Semi=Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 

Hollidaysburg  later  in  the  same  year.  These  two  were  much  larger 
than  any  former  furnaces  built  in  the  valley  and  cost  about  $60,000 
each  and  used  bituminous  coal  and  coke.  In  1857  the  Juniata 
Furnaces  were  built  at  Williamsburo-  and  in  i860  the  Hollidaysburg 
Iron  and  Nail  Company's  Rolling  Mill  was  erected  although  that 
name  was  not  adopted  until  1866.  The  McKees  Gap  or  Rodman 
Furnace  was  built  in  1862.  In  1855  there  were  thirty-two  iron  and 
steel  working  establishments  in  Blair  County  including  the  Pennsylva- 
nia Railroad  Co.'s  Foundry  and  the  Ax  and  Pick  works  of  J.  Col- 
clesser  at  Eldorado,  but  before  the  year  1870  the  iron  industry  in 
Blair  County,  as  well  as  the  other  parts  of  the  Juniata  Valley,  began 
to  languish  on  account  of  the  cost  of  production  and  the  fact  that 
cheaper  ore  and  improved  methods  at  Pittsburg  and  other  large  iron 
centers  had  reduced  the  market  price  below  a  profitable  point  for 
these  manufacturers. 

*  In  1882  there  were  ten  furnaces  in  blast,  in  Blair  County, 
with  a  total  capacity  of  1000  tons  of  iron  per  week  when  running 
full  time.  There  were  also  four  rolling  mills  and  two  two  nail  mills. 
The  furnaces  were  Allegheny,  in  Logan  Township;  Bennington,  in 
Allegheny  Township;  Number  One  furnace,  in  Gaysport  and  Num- 
ber Two  furnace,  in  Hollidaysburg;  Springfield  furnace,  in  Wood- 
bury Township;  Gap  furnace,  in  Freedom  Township;  Rodman  fur- 
nace, in  Taylor  Township;  Frankstown,  in  Frankstown  Township; 
EHzabeth,  in  Antes  Township;  Rebecca  furnace,  Huston  Township. 
Of  these,  the  Bennington,  Frankstown  and  Numbers  One  and  Two 
were  ow^ned  by  the  Cambria  Iron  Company  of  Johnstown;  Allegheny 
by  S.  C.  Baker;  Springfield  by  John  Royer,  Gap  by  Hollidaysburg 
and  Gap  Iron  Works  Co.,  Rodman  by  John  and  Peter  Duncan; 
Elizabeth  by  heirs  of  Martin  Bell  and  Rebecca  by  heirs  of  Edward 
H.  Lytle.  The  Rolling  Mills  were,  those  of  Altoona  Iron  Co.,  at' 
Altoona,  Portage  Iron  Co.  at  Duncansville,  Hollidaysburg  Iron  and 
Nail  Co.  at  Hollidaysburg.  In  addition  to  which  was  a  large  Foun- 
dry and  Machine  Shop  in  Gaysport. 

To  the  rising  generation  the  term  forge  as  applied  to  iron  works 
has  but  a  vague  meaning  and  an  explanation  will  be  necessary.  The 
product  of  the  iron  furnace  is  pig  iron  and  is  in  too  crude  a  state  to 
use  without  further  reduction,  this  work  is  now  performed  in  rolling 
mills,  with  costly  machinery,  but  the  rolling  mill  is  a  comparatively 
recent  institution  and  in  the  earlier  years  the  pig  iron  from  the  fur- 
nace was  worked  into  bars  in  merchantable  shape  at  forges,  wherein 
the  pig  metal  was  heated  to  a  pliable  state  and  hammered  into  shapes, 

*Africas  History  of  Blair  and  Huntingdon  Counties. 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Biair  County. 


more  of  the  dross  removed,  and  made  into  bars  that  ordinary  Mack- 
smiths  could  use  by  l)einj;  hammered  with  trip  hammers  on  a  large 
anvil.  Nails  were  also  made  at  these  early  forges  by  the  slow  pro- 
cesss  of  hammering  each  one  out  singly,  this  was  before  the  inven- 
tion of  nail  cutting  machines  and  nails  then  cost  much  more  than 
they  do  now;  8  to  20  penny  nails  were  (juoted  in  18 19  at  $12.50  per 
hundred  weight  at  the  forge. 

OTHER  MANUFACTURES  OF  EARLY  DAYS. 

Soon  alter  the  beginning  of  the  jiresent  century  some  other  lines 
of  manufacture  than  those  abo\e  mentioned  were  begun.  In  1806 
or  1808  Willis  Gibboney  built  fulling  and  wool  carding  works  on 
Burgoon  Run  just  above  the  present  site  of  Eldorado,  which  he  op- 
erated until  1828  when  he  mo\ed  to  Uuncansville  and  built  a  similar 
establishment  there. 

Robert  Gardner  erected  a  wool  carding  and  fulling  works  at 
the  eastern  end  of  Blair's  Gap  near  the  old  grist  mill,  about  1832 
which  he  operated  successfully  for  many  years.  In  1834  there  was 
quite  a  large  woolen  mill  at  Williamsburg,  j^erhaps  the  most  exten- 
sive one  ever  in  the  county.  There  was  a  fulling  mill  owned  and 
operated  here  in  1820  by  John  Smith.  In  1832  or  thereabouts 
Daniel  Colclesser  established  an  ax  and  pick  factory  where  the  Gib- 
boney woolen  mill  had  previously  been  and  it  was  run  with  5  to  6 
men  for  many  years,  has  not  been  totally  abandoned  yet.  In  1821 
Wm.  McFarland  hatl  a  cabinet  shop  in  Frankstown  and  in  1830  a 
bucket  tactory  was  in  operation  at  Williamsburg,  and  in  a  hat 

factory  at  Newry. 

As  early  as  1800  Christian  Hoover  was  assessed  as  owner  of  an 
oil  mill  and  so  continued  until  1830  or  later,  but  we  have  no  ])artic- 
ulars  as  to  what  kind  of  oil  was  made,  doubtless  it  was  but  a  small 
quantity  of  lin.seed  oil.  Michael  Sellers,  of  Woodbury  Townshij), 
was  assessed  with  one  tannery  in  1800,  and  Joseph  Patton  had  one 
at  Frankstown  in  1810,  Francis  Smith  built  a  small  tannery  a  Dun- 
cansville  about  18 10  which  was  afterwards  enlarged  so  as  to  be  (juite 
a  pretensions  establishment,  remains  of  which  are  still  standing. 
David  Caldwell  owned  a  (juite  extensive  tannery  at  Gaysport  before 
the  organization  of  Blair  Countv.  which  he  operated  successfully  for 
many  years.  Numerous  other  small  tanneries  were  built  and  oper- 
ated in  the  territory  between  i8ioand  i860.  In  1862  Louis  Plack 
erected  a  large  one  at  Altoona,  the  latter  ceased  operations  about 
1884  and  was  torn  down  in  1889-90,  and  now  there  is  not  a  single 
tannery  operated  within  the  county  except  the  one  at  Tyrone. 


The  following  brief  sketch,  copied  from  a  historical  work  written 
by  Sherman  Day  and  published  in  1843,  covers  the  subject  so  com- 
pletely and  concisely  that  the  present  writer  does  not  feel  competent 
to  add  a  word  or  alter  a  syllable  : 

"The  Indian  tribes  who  dwelt  among  the  primitive  forests  of 
Pennsylvania — as  well  as  those  of  Delaware,  New  Jersey  and  a  part 
of  Maryland  — called  themselves  the  Lenni  Lenape,  or  the  original 
people.  This  general  name  comprehended  numerous  distinct  tribes, 
all  speaking  dialects  of  a  common  language,  (the  Algonquin,  )  and 
uniting  around  the  same  great  council-fires.  Their  grand  council 
house,  to  use  their  own  expressive  figure,  extended  from  the  eastern 
banks  ot  the  Hudson  on  the  northeast  to  the  Patomac  on  the  south- 
west. Many  of  the  tribes  were  directly  descended  from  the  common 
stock;  others,  having  sought  their  sympathy  and  protection,  had 
been  allotted  a  section  of  their  territory.  The  surrounding  tribes, 
not  of  this  confederacy,  nor  acknowledging  allegiance  to  it,  agreed 
in  awarding  to  them  the  honor  of  being  the  grandfathej'S — that  is 
the  oldest  residents  in  this  region.  There  was  a  tradition  among 
the  Lenni  Lenape,  that  in  ages  past  their  ancestors  had  emigrated 
eastward  from  the  Missippi,  conquering  or  expelling  on  their  route 
that  grfrat  and  aparently  more  civilized  nation,  whose  monuments, 
in  the  shape  of  wounds,  are  so  profusely  scattered  over  the  great 
western  valley,  and  of  which  several  also  remain  in  Pennsylvania 
along  the  western  slope  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains. 

The  Lenna  Lenape  nation  was  divided  into  these  principal  divi- 
sions :  The  Unamis  or  Turtle  tribes ;  the  Unalachtgos  or  Turkeys,  and 
the  Monseys  or  Wolf  tribes.  The  two  former  occupied  the  country 
along  the  coast,  between  the  sea  and  the  Kittatinny  or  Blue  Moun- 
tain, their  settlements  extending  as  far  east  as  the  Hudson  and  as 
far  west  as  the  Potomac.  These  were  generally  known  among  the 
whites  as  the  Delaware  Indians.  The  Monseys  or  Wolf  tribes,  the 
most  active  and  warlike  of  the  whole,  occupied  the  mountainous 
country  between  the  Kittatinny  Mountain  and  the  sources  of  the 
Susquehanna,  and  they  had  also  a  village,  and  a  peach  orchard  in 
the  forks  of  the  Del  ware,  where  Nazareth  is  now  situated.  These 
three  principal  divisions  were  divided  into  various  subordinate  clans, 
who  assumed  names  suited  to  their  character  or  situation. 


Setni-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  ID 


The  Shawanos,  or  Shawnees,  a  restless  and  ferocious  tribe, 
having  been  threatened  with  extermination  by  a  more  powerful  tribe 
at  the  south,  sought  jirotection  among  the  friendly  nations  of  the 
north,  whose  language  was  observed  to  bear  a  remarkable  affinity 
with  their  own.  A  majcMity  of  them  settled  along  the  Ohio,  from 
the  Wabash  to  near  Pittsburgh.  A  portion  was  recei\ed  under  the 
protection  of  tlie  Lcnni  Lenape's,  and  permitted  to  settle  near  the 
forks  of  the  Delaware,  and  on  the  flats  below  Philadel]ihia.  But 
they  soon  became  troublesome  neighbors  and  were  removed  by  the 
Delawares  (or  possibly  by  the  six  nations)  to  the  Susquehanna 
valley,  where  they  had  a  village  at  the  Shawnee  Flats  below 
Wilkesbarre,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  During  the  revolution 
and  the  war  of  1812,  their  name  became  conspicuous  in  the  history 
of  the  northern  frontier. 

The  Lenni  Lenape  tribes  consisted,  at  the  first  settlement  of 
Pennsylvania  of  the  Assunpink,  or  Stony  Creek  Indians:  the  Ran- 
kokas,  ( Lamikas  or  Chichequaas;)  Andastakas  at  the  Christina 
Creek,  near  Wilmington;  Neshaminies,  in  Bucks  County;  Shacka- 
niaxons.  about  Kensington;  Mantas  or  Frogs,  near  Burlington;  the 
Tuteloes  and  the  Nanticokes,  in  Maryland  and  \'irginia,  (the  latter 
afterwards  removed  up  the  Susquehanna);  the  Monsey  or  Mini- 
sinks,  near  the  fi')rks  of  the  Delaware;  the  Maudes  and  the  Xarriti- 
congs  near  the  Raritan;  the  Capitanasses,  the  (lacheos,  the  Monseys 
and  the  Pomptons,  in  New  Jersey.  A  few  scattered  clans,  or  warlike 
hordes,  of  the  Mingoes,  were  living  here  and  there  among  the 
Lenapes. 

Another  great  Indian  Confederacy  claims  attention,  whose  acts 
have  an  important  bearing  upon  the  history  of  Pennsylvania.  This 
confederacy  was  originally  known  in  the  annals  of  Xew  York  as  the 
Five  Nations,  and  subsequently,  after  they  had  been  joined  by  the 
Tuscaroras,  as  the  Six  Nations.  As  confederates,  they  called  them- 
selves Aquanuschioni,  or  United  People;  by  the  Lenapes  they  were 
called  Mengue,  or  Mingoes,  and  by  the  French  the  Irocjuois.  The 
original  Five  Nations  were  the  Onondagas,  the  Cayugas,  the  Onei- 
das,  the  Senecas,  and  the  Mohawks.  In  17 12  the  Tuscaroras,  be- 
ing expelled  from  the  interior  of  North  Carolina  and  Virginia,  were 
adopted  as  a  sixth  tribe.  The  language  of  all  the  tribes  of  the  con- 
federacv,  except  the  Tuscaroras,  was  radically  the  same,  from  the 
borders  of  \'ermont  to  Lake  Erie,  and  from  Lake  Ontario  to  the 
headwaters  of  the  Allegheny,  Su.squehanna.  and  Delaware  ri\ers. 
This  territory  they  called  their  Io7jq;  /iousc\  The  grand  council-fire 
wa.s  held  in  the  Ononodaga  valleys.  The  Senecas  guarded  the  west- 
ern door  of  the  house,  the  Mohawks  the  eastern,  and  the  Cayugas 


20  Senii=Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


the  southern  or  that  which  opened  upon  the  Susquehanna.  The 
Mohawk  nation  was  the  first  in  rank,  and  to  it  appertained  the  of- 
fice of  principal  war  chief;  to  the  Onondagas,  who  guarded  the  grand 
council-fire,  appertained  in  like  manner  the  office  of  principal  civil 
chief,  or  chief  sachem.  The  Senecas,  in  numbers  and  military  ener- 
gy, were  the  most  powerful. 

The  peculiar  location  of  the  Iroquois  gave  them  an  immense 
advantage.  On  the  great  channels  of  water  conveyance  to  which 
their  territories  were  contiguous,  they  were  enabled  in  all  directions 
to  carry  war  and  devastation  to  the  neighboring  or  to  the  most  dis- 
tant nations. 

Nature  had  endowed  them  with  a  height,  strength  and  sym- 
metry of  person  which  distinguished  them,  at  a  glance,  among  the 
individuals  of  other  tribes.  They  were  as  brave  as  they  were  strong; 
but  ferocious  and  cruel  when  excited  in  savage  warfare;  crafty,  treach- 
erous, and  over-reaching,  when  these  qualities  best  suited  their  pur- 
poses. The  proceedings  of  iheir  grand  council  were  marked  with 
great  decorum  and  solemnity.  In  eloquence,  in  dignity,  and  pro- 
found policy,  their  speakers  well  bear  comparison  with  the  states- 
men of  civilized  assemblies.  By  an  early  alliance  with  the  Dutch  on 
the  Hudson,  they  secured  the  use  of  firearms,  and  were  thus  enabled, 
not  only  to  repel  the  encroachments  of  the  French,  but  also  to  exter- 
minate, or  reduce  to  a  state  of  vassalage,  many  Indian  nations. 
From  these  they  exacted  an  annual  tribute,  or  acknowledgment  of 
fealty;  permitting  them,  however,  on  that  condition,  to  occupy  their 
former  hunting  grounds.  The  humiliation  of  tributary  nations  was, 
however,  tempered  with  a  paternal  regard  for  their  interests  in  all 
negotiations  with  the  whites,  and  care  was  taken  that  no  trespasses 
should  be  committed  on  their  rights,  and  that  they  should  be  justly 
dealt  with.  To  this  condition  of  vassalage  the  Lenni  Lenape,  or  Del- 
aware nation,  had  been  reduced  by  the  Iroquois,  as  the  latter  as- 
serted, by  conquest.  The  Lenapes,  however,  smarting  under  the 
humiliation,  invented  for  the  whites  a  cunning  tale  in  explanation, 
which  they  succeeded  in  imposing  upon  the  worthy  and  venerable 
Mr.  Heckewelder,  the  Moravian  missionary.  Their  story  was, 
that  by  treaty,  and  by  voluntary  consent,  they  had  agreed  to  act  as 
meditators  and  peacemakers  among  the  other  great  nations,  and  to 
this  end  they  had  consented  to  lay  aside  entirely  the  implements  of 
war,  and  to  hold  and  keep  bright  the  chain  of  peace.  This,  among 
the  individual  tribes,  was  the  usual  province  of  women.  The  Dela- 
wares,  therefore,  alleged  that  they  were  figuratively  termed  women 
on  this  account;  but  the  Iroquois  evidently  called  them   women  in 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  21 


quite  another  sense.  'They  always  alle^a-d  that  the  Dehiwares  were 
conquered  by  their  arms,  and  were  compelled  to  this  luiiniliatinij 
concession  as  the  only  means  of  averting  impending  destruction.' 
In  the  course  of  time,  howe\er,  the  Delawares  were  enabled  to  throw 
oti  the  galling  yoke,  and  at  Tioga,  in  the  year  1756,  Teedvuscung 
extorted  from  the  Iroquois  an  acknowledgment  of  their  independence. 

This  peculiar  relation  between  the  Indian  nation  that  occupied, 
and  that  which  claimed  a  paramount  jurisdiction  over,  the  soil  of 
Pennsylvania,  tended  greatly  to  embarrass  and  complicate  the  nego- 
tiations of  the  proprietary  goxernment  for  the  purchase  of  lands;  and 
its  influence  was  seen  and  felt  both  in  the  civil  antl  military  history 
of  Pennsylvania  until  after  the  close  of  the  revolution. 

The  term  savage,  as  apjjlied  to  the  aboriginese,  is  naturally  as- 
sociated with  the  idea  of  barbarism  and  cruelty — to  some  extent  per- 
haps justly;  yet  a  closer  acquaintance  often  discloses  in  them  trails 
that  e.xalt  the  human  character  and  claim  the  admiration  or  sympathy 
of  civilized  man.  The  Indian  considers  himself  created  by  an  al- 
mighty, wise,  and  benevolent  spirit,  to  whom  he  looks  for  guidance 
and  protection;  whom  he  believes  it  to  be  his  duty  to  adore  and 
worship,  and  whose  overruling  providence  he  acknowledges  in  all 
his  actions.  Man\-  Indians  were  in  the  habit  of  seeking  out  some 
high  mountain  from  whose  lonelv  summit  they  might  commune  with 
the  Great  Spirit,  and  pray  to  him.  But  while  they  worshipped  the 
Creator  they  were  not  unmindful  of  their  duties  to  their  fellow-creat- 
ures. They  looked  upon  the  good  things  of  the  earth  as  a  common 
stock,  bestowed  by  the  Great  Spirit  for  the  benefit  of  all.  They 
held  that  the  game  of  the  forest,  the  fish  of  the  ri\crs,  and  the  grass 
_Dr  other  articles  of  spontaneous  growth,  were  free  to  all  who  chose 
to  take  them.  They  ridiculed  the  idea  of  fencing  in  a  meadow  or  a 
pasture.  This  principle  repressed  selfishness  and  fostered  generos- 
ity. Their  hospitality  was  proverbial.  The  Indian  considers  it  a 
duty  to  share  his  last  morsel  with  a  stranger. " 
"CHIEF  LOGAN." 

The  term  Logan,  as  appeared  to  various  sections  of  country, 
public-houses,  halls,  etc..  in  this  region,  was  derived  doubtless  from 
the  Cayuga  chieftain  known  to  the  first  settlers  in  the  Tuckahoe 
Valley  as  Capt.  Logan.  He  came  here  from  the  valley  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna prior  to  the  year  176S,  and  settled  at  the  spring,  near 
Davidsburg,  now  owned  by  David  Htiislu-y,  a  locality  still  known 
as  Logan  X'alle) . 

On  the  Suscpiehanna  it  apjjcars  he  was  the  chief  ol  a  band  ol 
wariors,  but  in  an  engagement  with  another  \u\k  \k  lu^t  an  eye  by 


22  Semicentennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


an  arrow  from  the  enemy.  This  was  considered  by  the  indians  a 
mark  of  disgrace,  and  he  was  deposed.  He  abandoned  his  tribe 
therefore,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  the  Juniata  Valley.  Capt.  Lo- 
gan, of  course,  was  not  his  proper  name,  but  a  title  bestowed  upon 
him  by  the  whites.  He  was  a  man  of  medium  height  and  heavy 
frame,  but  was  fleet  of  foot  and  always  on  the  move.  During  the 
revolutionary  war  he  resided  at  the  beautiful  spring,  now  in  the 
heart  of  Tyrone  City.  A  firm  friend  of  the  Americans  during  the 
struggle  for  independence;  he  it  was  who  discovered  and  disclosed 
the  diabolical  plot  of  John  Weston  and  his  tories. 

Although  he  had  learned  to  read  from  the  Moravian  mission- 
aries when  a  lad,  he  knew  very  little  of  the  forms  of  land  purchases; 
so  through  his  ignorance  of  the  customs  of  civilized  communities,  he 
failed  to  purchase  the  spot  on  which  his  cabin  stood.  As  a  conse- 
sequence,  after  the  war,  some  envious  white  man  bought  the  land 
and  warned  the  friendly  savage  off.  He  was  too  proud  and  haughty 
to  contest  the  matter,  or  even  bandy  words  with  the  intruder;  so 
about  1785  he  left  and  located  at  Chickalamoose,  where  Clearfield 
now  stands,  and  there  continued  until  the  Great  Spirit  called  him  to 
a  happy  hunting  ground. 


l'iuli)iilnctlly  there  is  some  liction  inixetl  with  the  stories  of  the 
Indian  depredations  and  massacres  in  the  early  settlement  of  this 
country  and  the  narratives  are  often  highly  colored.  This  results 
from  the  fact  that  they  were  not  accurately  recorded  at  the  time,  if 
at  all,  antl  are  chiefly  i)ersonal  recollections  of  the  witnesses  thereof 
after  many  years  had  elapsed.  Some  even  being  based  on  recollec- 
tions of  aged  persons  who  heard  it  from  the  lips  of  parents  or  grand- 
parents when  they  themsehes  were  young.  Yet  the  actual  facts 
were  certainlv  bad  enough  and  may  have  been  even  worse  than  the 
story  as  we  have  it  to-day  although  the  particulars  as  to  individual 
action,  dates,  names,  and  locations  are  far  from  correct.  One  can 
readily  conceive  the  terror  of  women  and  children  and  even  strong 
men,  situated  in  a  \ast  forest  region,  thinly  populated  with  whites, 
and  infested  by  Indians  whose  numbers,  though  unknown,  the  imag- 
ination would  be  sure  to  e.xagerate  to  myriads,  when  a  rumor  became 
current  that  a  massacre  was  contemplated  or  occasional  lurking  sav- 
ages were  seen,  and  it  is  certain  that  the  early  settlers  of  this  region 
did  live  in  the  constant  and  well  grounded  apprehension  of  harm 
from  this  source  for  a  period  of  twenty  years,  during  which  time  au- 
thentic records  jjrove  that  within  the  limits  of  Blair  a  score  or  more 
of  men,  women  and  children  were  slain  Ijy  the  red  men. 

The  state  of  mind  of  the  colonists  in  this  region  in  1777  may  be 
seen  by  the  following  extract  Irom  a  letter  written  to  the  i)resitlent 
of  the  Council  by  George  Woods  and  Thomas  Smith,  two  justices- 
of-the-peace,  and  dated  at  Bedford,  Pa.,  Nov.  27th.  1777:  "  Gen- 
tlemen:— The  present  situation  of  this  country  is  so  truly  deplorable 
that  we  should  be  inexcusal^le  if  we  delayed  a  moment  in  acquaint- 
ing you  with  it.  An  Indian  war  is  now  raging  around  us  in  its  ut- 
most furv.  Before  you  went  down  they  killed  one  man  at  Stony 
Creek;  since  that  time  they  have  killed  five  on  the  mountain  against 
the  head  of  Dunning' s  Creek,  killed  or  taken  three  at  the  Three 
Springs,  wounded  one  and  killed  some  children  at  Frankstown,  and 
had  they  not  providently  been  discovered  in  the  night  and  a  party 
gone  out  and  fired  on  them,  they  would  in  all  probability  have  de- 
stroyed a  great  jjart  of  that  settlement  in  a  tew  hours.  A  small 
party  went  out  into  Morrison's  Cove  .scouting,  and  unfortunately  di- 
vided; the  Indkins  discpvered  one  division,  and  out  of  eight   killed 


24  Semi=Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 

seven  and  wounded  the  other.  In  short,  a  day  hardly  passes  with- 
out our  hearing  of  some  new  murder,  and  if  the  people  continue  only 
a  week  longer  to  fly  as  they  have  done  for  a  week  past  this  county 
will  be  a  frontier.  From  Morrison's,  Crayls  and  Friend's  Coves, 
Dunning' s  Creek,  and  one-half  of  the  Glades  they  are  fled  or  forted, 
and,  for  all  the  defense  that  can  be  made  here  the  Indians  may  do 
almost  what  they  please.  We  keep  out  ranging  parties,  in  which 
we  go  out  by  turns,  but  all  that  we  can  do  In  that  way  is  but  weak 
and  ineffectual  for  our  defense,  because  one-half  our  people  are  fled. 
Those  that  remain  are  too  busily  employed  in  putting  their  families 
and  the  little  of  their  effects  that  they  can  save  and  take  to  some 
place  of  safety. ' ' 

What  is  known  as  the  great  Cove  massacre  occurred  in  1762 
(this  is  know  known  as  Martin's  Cove,  in  Blair  County)  and  the 
number  of  killed  and  captured  is  unknown  now  but  of  the  captives 
were  the  family  of  John  Martin,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  several 
children.  In  July,  1780,  Captain  Philips  was  surprised  and  over- 
come by  a  hostile  band  of  Indians  in  Woodcock  Valley,  and  all  his 
men,  ten  in  number,  were  killed,  except  his  son  Elijah.  Captain 
Philips  and  his  son  were  held  in  captivity  for  some  time,  with  the 
expectation,  no  doubt,  that  they  would  be  ransomed.  They  were 
carried  to  Detroit  and  from  there  to  Montreal,  and  finally  made 
their  escape,  or  were  liberated  by  the  British  to  whom  the  Indians 
had  delivered  them. 

In  the  autumn  of  1788  the  wife  and  three  of  the  children  of 
Matthew  Dean,  great  grandfather  of  Justice  John  Dean  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,  were  slain  by  the  Indians  at  their  home  in  Canoe 
Valley,  Catharine  Township,  about  three  miles  west  of  Waterstreet, 
while  Mr,  Dean  and  the  other  children  were  at  work  in  the  fields 
some  distance  away  and  a  son  of  Captain  Simonton  who  was  at  the 
Dean  residence,  was  carried  away  and  never  recovered.  In  1781, 
in  Tyrone  Township,  Jacob  Roller  was  shot  and  scalped  by  Indians 
while  out  hunting  and  a  man  named  Bebault,  living  alone,  was  killed 
at  his  house  nearby,  by  the  same  band.  In  the  summer  of  1777  or 
78,  a  man  named  John  Guilliford  cleared  a  small  patch  near  where 
Blair  Furnace  Station,  in  Logan  Township,  now  is  and  erected  a 
cabin  near  the  present  site  of  John  Trout's  house.  The  next  spring 
after  putting  out  some  crops  he  became  alarmed  for  his  safety  and 
fled  to  Fetters  Fort  but  soon  after  believing  the  Indians  to  have 
gone  away  he  ventured  back  to  see  how  his  crops  were  coming  on, 
but  they  must  have  been  lying  in  wait  for  him  as  he  was  found  the 
same  day  by  two  hunters,  Coleman  and  Milligan,  lying  dead  on  the 


Semi=Centennial  History  of  lilair  County.  25 

threshold  of  his  caljin,  having;  evidently  been  shot  by  the  Indians  as 
he  was  entering  the  door.  He  was  buried  near  the  spot  by  these 
two  men  who  then  endeavored  to  follow  the  murders  and  avenge  the 
the  death  of  their  neii^hbor  but  in  this  were  unsuccessful.  About 
this  time  Thorn  is  Coleman  while  huntinij  alone  came  upon  two  un- 
armed Indians  who  were  carryini^Mjff two  capti\e  children:  and  level- 
ing his  ritle  at  them  with  a  stern  commaiul  to  halt  I  they  (juickly 
dropped  the  children  and  lied. 

Coleman  was  a  great  Indian  Ji^hter  u (.•11  known  anil  feared  by  the 
red  men  of  the  Juniata  \alley.  It  is  said  that  he  killed  a  number 
of  them  to  avenge  the  death  of  a  brother  slain  by  the  savages  yetirs 
before  in  the  Susquehanna  valley. 

In  August,  1781.  Adam  Hollidav  with  several  of  his  children  was 
at  work  in  a  held  iust  al)o\e  where  Gaysport  now  stands  when  they 
were  attacked  b\-  Indians,  Mr.  llolliday  seized  the  youngest  child 
and  suceeded  in  making  his  escajjc  with  it  but  his  daughter  Janet 
and  a  son  Patrick,  were  captureil  and  killed. 

SLAVERY  IN  BLAIR  COUNTY. 

In  HIair  Countv,  since  its  organization,  slavery  never  existed, 
but  in  the  terri»^^ory  of  which  it  is  composed  it  was  not  unknown  as 
late  as  1800,  the  as.sessment  lists  of  the  county  disclose  the  fact  that 
a  few  negro  slaves  were  held  in  l)i>ndage  here.  In  1794  there  were 
three  slave  owners  in  Allegheny  township. 

Date  of  Organization  of  the  Different  Townships  and  Chartering 
of  Boroughs  and  Cities. 

AMet^heiiy  Township, 1793.  .Altoona  Horoujjli  Chartered. .   .1854. 

Amis  "           i8to.  Altoona  City                  "  ....186R. 

Blair  "           1839.  Bellwood                                        .  

Cathanne  "           1846.  Gaysport  I?oroiii;li  ..    .1S41. 

Frankstown  "  .   prior  to  1773.  Holli(laysl)iiri;  "  ...1836. 

Freedom  "           1S57.  Iiiniata                 '            "  ...1893. 

Greenfield  "  ..prior  to  iSuo.  Martinsl)urK                   "  ...1832. 

Huston  "           1842.  Newry                "            "  ...1876. 

Juniata  "           1847.  RoaringSpring "  ...1888. 

Logan  '■           1S50.  Tyrone               "  ...1857. 

N.  Woodbury*  "  .   prior  to  1800.  East  Tyrone      "            "           •   .  

Snyder  "           1841.  Williamsburg    "            "  ..   ..1S28 

Taylor  "           1S55.          to    1841  anil   charter  forfeited    by 

Tyrone  "  prior  to  1800.           failure  to  elect  otVicers. 

Woodbury  "  ..  prior  to  17S7. 


£)e\^Glopn^Gi|| 


OF  A  GREAT  THOROUGHFARE  AND  BLAIR  COUNTY'S  PART  IN  IT. 

The  growth  and  development  of  the  cliannels  of  travel  is  an  ex- 
tremely interesting  study.  As  early  as  1740  and  1750  white  men 
traversed  old  Indian  paths  leading  from  Harrisburg  up  the  Susque- 
hanna to  the  Juniata;  up  the  Juniata  to  its  headwaters  in  the  Alle- 
gheny mountains  and  across  these,  through  narrow  gorges,  whose 
highest  point  was  considerably  less  elevated  than  the  main  ridge. 
These  paths,  or  trails,  were  only  passable  for  pedestrians  and  all 
the  rivers  and  smaller  streams  had  to  be  forded. 

After  passing  the  Alleghenies  the  headwatersof  the  Conemaugh 
river  were  reached  and  its  course  followed  to  the  site  of  Johnstown, 
thence  on  to  the  Allegheny  ri\'er  and  down  that  stream  to  Pittsburg. 
Occassional  short  cuts  were  made  from  one  bend  of  the  stream  to 
to  another  where  the  path  would  be  a  considerable  distance  from  its 
channel,  but  generally  the  streams  were  followed  pretty  closely. 
This  was  the  earliest  thoroughfare  between  the  east  and  the  west  in 
this  part  of  the  wilderness.  About  the  year  1788  a  road  was  cut 
through  on  nearly  the  same  lines.  It  extended  from  Huntingdon 
westward  to  Frankstown  on  the  site  of  HoUidaysburg  and  Duncans- 
ville,  and  up  the  Blair  Creek  and  gap  to  near  where  Cresson  has 
since  grown  up  and  from  thence  to  the  confluence  of  the  Conemaugh 
and  Stony  Creek  rivers.  It  was  barely  passable  for  wagons,  and  the 
large  streams  were  not  bridged. 

This  road  was  paid  for  by  the  state  was  constructed  by  Robert 
Galbraith,  a  resident  of  Blair  County,  and  it  served  the  purposes  of  a 
highway  for  the  early  settlers,  for  25  years.  Soon  after  the  begin- 
ning of  the  present  century  the  idea  of  a  pike  road  along  the  same 
route  with  bridges  over  all  the  streams  was  entertained  and  public 
spirited  citizens  urged  its  construction,  and  aided  to  build  it.  By 
1820  it  had  been  accomplished,  through  private  enterprise  largely 
and  John  Blair,  a  native  and  resident  of  this  count v,  was  president 
of  the  Huntingdon,  Cambria  and  Indiana  Turnpike  Road  Company. 

No  sooner  was  the  pike  completed  than  the  project  of  a  canal 
between  Philadelphia  and  Pittsburg  was  set  on  foot  and  although  its 
construction  would  be  a  detriment  to  the  turnpike,  yet  John  Blair, 
president  of  the  Turnpike  Company,  was  so  public  spirited  as  to  aid 
and  encourage  it  to  his  full  ability,  and  he  lived  to  see  it  completed 
to  HoUidaysburg.  The  canal  was  exclusively  a  state  institution,  the 
cost  being  too  great  for  private  enterprise  at  that  time,  but  Blair 
County  people  were  leaders  in  the  movement  and  high  iii  the  coun- 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  27 

cils  of  control,  Hollidaysburg  was  a  port  of  entry  and  the  location  of 
a  great  basin  at  the  western  terminus  of  the  eastern  division.  The 
canal,  supj)leniented  by  the  Allet^hcny  Portage  Railroad  across  the 
mountains,  was  a  wonderful  thing  in  its  day,  but  still  the  people  were 
not  satisfied  and  the  first  boat  had  hardly  traversed  the  full  length 
of  the  canal  and  passed  over  the  mountains  on  the  new  railroad, 
demonstrating  the  value  of  such  a  mode  of  travel  and  trans[jortation. 
than  the  idea  of  an  all  rail  route  began  to  take  definite  shape  and  in 
ten  years  time  a  company  to  build  it  was  incorporated  although  it 
would  cost  much  more  than  the  canal  and  must  be  done  entirely  by 
private  enterprise.  The  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  had  its 
birth  in  1846.  Simultaneously  with  the  beginning  of  this  road  in 
whose  construction  and  management  Blair  County  and  Blair  County 
people  have  had  a  most  prominent  place,  the  management  of  the 
Pennsylvania  canal  tried  to  preserve  their  ascendency  by  doing  away 
with  the  inclined  planes  on  the  mountain  road  and  the  New  Portage 
was  begun;  thousands  of  dollars  of  the  public  moneys  was  spent  and 
a  road  without  inclines  was  constructed  almost  parallel  with  the  "Old 
Portage."  It  was  a  useless  effort,  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company  had  their  all  rail  route  finished  and  public  sentiment  was 
so  strong  against  state  management  of  the  Public  works,  as  the  canal 
and  Portage  railroad  were  called,  that  they  were  sold  to  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company,  who,  by  the  purchase,  absorijed  a  par- 
allel and  competing  line  and  became  master  of  the  situation.  The 
State  received  about  one-fourth  the  cost  of  these  works  by  the  sale. 
The  Pennsvlvania  railroad  deviated  a  little  from  the  route  of  the  old 
canal,  pike  and  first  public  road,  following  the  little  Juniata  almost 
to  its  source,  near  the  site  of  Altoona,  and  crossing  the  mountains 
through  the  Kittanning  Gap.  This  railroad  company,  which  soon 
forged  ahead  of  all  others  and  whose  gross  receipts  per  annum  are 
now  more  than  twice  that  of  any  other  railroad  in  America,  hatl  lor 
its  jiresident  many  years,  Thomas  A.  .Scott,  whose  youth  was  largely 
spent  in  Blair  County,  and  who  may  with  propriety  Ijc  called  a  Blair 
County  man.  Blair  County  contains  the  principal  shops  of  the  com- 
pany and  is  the  headquarters  of  the  General  .Superintendent,  and 
Cieneral  Superintendent  of  Motive  Power. 

Thus  in  less  than  100  years  an  uninhabited  forest  has  been 
channed  to  a  rich,  populous  and  productive  region,  and  a  scarcely 
distinguishable  trail,  passal>le  only  on  foot,  has  been  superseded  by  a 
steel  railroad  over  whose  length,  glide  almost  with  the  speed  oflij^ht 
pondrous  trains  of  cars  bearing  thousands  of  t(jns  of  freight  or  hund- 
reds of  travelers.  Blair  County  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  this 
progress  and  if  any  further  improvement  is  ])ossible  Blair  County 
people  will  be  found  leading  the  van. 


E(it:i  cq|ioricil.— Scljools. 

Beginning  very  early  in  the  history  of  this  region  we  find 
schools  were  established  by  private  enterprise  of  public  spirited  citi- 
zens long  before  the  enactment  of  our  present  wise  and  liberal  school 
laws.  Subscription  schools  were  quite  common  and  the  little  log 
school  house,  erected  by  the  people  of  a  district  by  mutual  agree- 
ment, and  supported  by  their  voluntary  contributions,  was  found  in 
every  community. 

In  1834  the  general  common  school  law  was  enacted  and  since 
then  education  has  been  as  free  as  the  air  they  breath  to  every  child 
of  this  favored  state.  Tution  was  free  from  1834  to  1893;  the  text 
books,  however,  had  to  be  furnished  by  the  parents  or  guardians, 
but  the  legislature,  in  1893,  provided  that  the  directors  must  furnish 
pupils  text  books  for  use  in  the  school  room  without  charge. 

The  length  of  terms  in  the  country  districts  are  now  six  to 
seven  months  and  in  the  boroughs  and  City  of  Altoona,  eight  and 
nine  months.  Altoona  has  twelve  large  school  buildings,  the  aggre- 
gate value  of  which  is  nearly  half  a  million  dollars.  Over  six  thous- 
and pupils  are  in  attendance  and  one  hundred  and  forty  teachers  are 
employed  at  salaries  ranging  from  $30.00  to  $100.00  per  month. 
Prof  D.  S.  Keith  has  been  Superintendent  of  the  city  schools  for 
sixteen  years.  The  borough  public  schools  of  Tyrone  and  Holli- 
ckiysburg  are  in  an  equally  flourishing  condition.  Prot.  H.  S.  Wertz 
is  superintendent  of  the  schools  of  the  county,  outside  of  Altoona  City. 
The  higher  education  of  the  youth  of  the  county  has  received  some 
attention;  and  the  graduates  of  Altoona,  Tyrone  and  HoUidaysburg 
schools  are  well  fitted  for  useful  life  or  to  enter  college,  if  they  so 
desire. 

In  i860  a  school  of  some  considerable  pretensions  was  estab- 
lished at  Martinsburg  under  the  name  of  the  Franklin  High  School 
and  Blair  County  Normal  Institute.  The  name  was  afterward 
changed  to  Juniata  Collegiate  Institute.  It  was  erected  by  a  joint 
stock  company  at  a  cost  $8,000.00  and  was  a  chartered  institution. 
Some  years  later,  not  proving  a  financial  success,  it  was  sold  to  the 
Lutheran  Synod  for  $3,000.00.  Later  it  was  owned  by  J.  G. 
Herbst  who  sold  it  to  Prof  Lucian  Cort  for  $5,000.00.  Prof  Cort, 
in  1868,  enlarged  it  at  a  cost  of  $8,000.00,  to  its  present  dimensions, 
100  feet  front  and  75  feet  deep.     It  is  a  brick  building,  four  stories 


SemUCentennial  History  of  Blair  County.  2<) 

in  height  and  will  accomodate  ciijhty  boardiiii;  students.  In  1S75 
it  was  purchased  by  Prof.  P.  H.  Bridenhauj^h  for  $10,700  who,  for  a 
number  of  years  carried  on  a  very  successful  school.  Later,  while 
still  in  the  possession  of  Prof  Bridcnbauj^h,  it  was  used  for  several 
months  to  shelter  the  inmates  of  the  Blair  County  Alms  House  when 
the  old  one  burned  down.  At  j^resent  no  re.^ular  school  is  in  opera- 
tion there. 

The  HoUidaysburg  Female  Seminarv,  at  HoUidaysburg,  is  one 
of  the  finest  Iniildings  in  the  county.  It  is  constructed  of  stone  and 
is  150  feet  in  front,  extends  back  160  feet;  four  stories  in  height  and 
was  erected  in  1869  by  a  joint  stock  company  at  a  cost  of  $75,000. 
It  is  now  owned  by  Major  William  Williams,  one  of  HoUidaysburg' s 
most  prominent  and  wealthy  citizens,  and  is  conducted  by  Mrs. 
Hitchcock  and  is  a  well  managed  and  flourishing  school  with  many 
boarding  scholars,  and  many  others  who  live  at  home  and  attend 
during  the  day.  It  contains  a  large  and  well  appointed  school  hall, 
laboratory,  recitation,  reading,  music  and  art  rooms  as  well  as  the 
residence  rooms  of  the  principal  and  dormitories  of  the  pupils.  The 
location  is  one  of  great  beauty,  on  an  eminence  from  which  the  view 
of  the  surrounding  country  is  superb.  The  campus  consists  of  five 
acres  of  ground.  Rev.  Joseph  Waugh  was  the  first  principal, 
serving  from  1869  to  1877,  ^ftcr  which  time  Prof  W.  P.  Husscy 
held  the  position.  The  school,  while  not  sectarian,  is  yet  in  control 
of  Presbyterians  and  may  be  cla.ssed  as  a  Presbyterian  institution. 
All  honor  to  this  church,  which  in  years  gone  by,  has  established 
more  seminaries  in  the  United  States,  probably,  than  any  other 
protestant  denomination. 

In  Altoona  there  are  several  business  colleges,  so-called,  wherein 
short-hand,  typewriting  and  business  and  commercial  forms  are 
taught,  the  leading  one  now  being  "Anderson's  School  of  Business 
and  Shorthand"  in  the  .Matcer  building. 

The  Roman  Catholic  church,  always  solicitous  to  educate  the 
youth  of  her  adherents  in  their  own  faith,  have  parochial  schools  in 
connection  with  all  their  churches  in  Altoona,  Hollidaysliurg  and 
Tyrone,  where  all  branches  of  learning  are  taught  in  a  systematic 
and  thorough  manner,  especial  attention  being  paid  to  music  in  the 
girls'  school  in  the  convent  of  St.  John's  church.  Thirteenth  street 
and  Thirteenth  avenue.  A  large  three-story  brick  building  for  a 
boys  school  also  belongs  to  St.  John's  church  and  stands  on  the  op- 
posite corner  from  the  convent  and  church. 

The  school  building  attached  to  .St.  Mary's  Cierman  Roman 
Catholic  church,  situated  on  the  corner  of  Fourteenth  street  and 
Fourth  avenue,  is  also  a  fine  brick  building  and  from  its  elevation  is 
a  prominent  landmark,  seen  from  many  parts  of  the  city. 


I^Gligioii 


i^. 


CHURCHES   OF   THE   COUNTY. 

The  first  permanent  white  sellers  of  Blair  County,  coming  into  the 
southern  end  of  the  Great  Cove,  or  Morrisons  Cove,  as  it  is  now 
called  about  1760  or  earlier,  were  Dunkards,  and  that  is  probably 
the  first  religious  denomination  to  obtained  a  foothold  in  Blair 
County  territory,  followed  closely,  however,  by  the  Presbyterians 
and  Methodists. 

We  have  not  been  able  to  discover  any  historical  incident  con- 
cerning this  sect  that  would  prove  of  special  interest  to  the  readers 
of  this  sketch,  but  it  is  a  well  attested  fact  that  these  people  were 
deeply  pious,  conscientious  in  their  business  relations  with  their  fel- 
lows and  noncombatative.  They  were  plain  and  unassuming,  and 
did  not  leave  any  monuments  to  their  memory  in  the  shape  of  large 
and  costly  church  edifices;  Being  content  to  worship  their  Creator 
in  plain,  and  what  many  would  consider,  insignificantly  small  and 
poor  buildings.  Many  of  their  descendants  are  still  found  in  the 
county  and  they  have  a  few  places  of  worship,  one  in  Altoona,  but 
not  being  an  aggressive  people,  their  numbers  do  not  keep  pace 
with  the  increasing  population  of  the  county. 

That  the  Dunkards  preceded  the  Presbyterians  may  be  disputed 
by  some  but  the  foregoing  statement,  we  think, will  be  found  correct. 
It  is  however  recorded  in  Africa's  history  of  Blair  County,  published 
in  1883  that  in  1756  when  John  Armstrong  marched  to  Kittanning, 
in  September  of  that  year,  that  he  was  accompained  by  Rev. 
Charles  Beatty  a  Presbyterian  minister,  and  that  he  preached  a  ser- 
mon one  Sunday  morning  to  the  little  band  of  soldiers  while  en- 
camped at  Beaver  Dams,  the  location  of  McCann's  Mills,  now  in 
Blair  County.  The  truth  of  this  assertion  is  not  doubted  or  denied, 
but  it  is  likely  that  the  Dunkards,  who  resided  here,  as  above  stated, 
held  religious  services  at  a  still  earlier  date,  and  that  the  congrega- 
tion consisted  of  residents  of  territory  now  within  the  bounds  of 
Blair  County. 

In  1770  or  1772,  however,  there  was  a  sufficient  number  of 
people  in  the  vicinity  of  Frankstown  and  Hollidaysburg  to  make  a 
small  congregation  and  the  Presbytery  at  Carlisle  sent  the  Rev.  Dr. 
King,  of  Mercersburg,  here,  who  preached  the  first  Presbyterian 
sermon   to   residents   of  Blair  in  that  vear  at  the  house  of  William 


5emi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  31 

Holliday.  Re\-.  Mr.  McDouti^al,  from  Path  \'allcy,  also  came  here 
at  a  very  early  day  and  preached  occasionally.  Alter  the  clf>se  of 
the  Revolutionary  war  preachintj  was  quite  frequent  by  Presbyterian 
ministers  who  were  stationed  farther  east,  and  who  occasionally  en- 
dured the  fatigue  of  a  lontj  ride  throuij^h  the  forest  to  preach  to  the 
early  settlers  at  Hollidaysbur^.  A  tent  or  pavilion  was  erected  at 
Blue  Sprint;^,  where  services  were  held  about  1784  or  1785.  This 
was  replaced  or  superseded  in  1790  by  a  church  buildin^-  and  it  was 
called  Bard's  Meeting  House,  from  Rev.  David  Bard,  a  Presbyte- 
rian minister,  who  located  here  in  1788.  A  cong^regation  was  regu- 
larly organized  at  this  time,  and  Captain  Thomas  Blair,  father  of 
Hon.  John  Biair,  Thomas  McCune  and  James  .Smith,  Sr. ,  were  the 
first  ruling  elders.  The  stated  salary  of  Rev.  Bard  was  $100  per 
annum.  The  Bard  Meeting  House  stood  on  the  present  cemetery 
site  and  was  constructed  of  unhewn  logs.  It  was  occupied  as  a 
church  till  iSiS  when  it  was  destroyed  by  tire.  A  hewed  log  build- 
ing was  immediately  erected,  and  stood  until  1837,  when  a  brick 
church  was  built,  in  its  stead,  on  the  corner  of  Walnut  and  Clark 
streets,  where  the  present  elegant  and  commodious  church — erected 
in  1869-70 — now  stands.  Rev.  Bard  was  retained  as  pastor  until 
his  death  in  18 16,  during  part  of  which  time  he  was  a  member  of 
the  House  of  Representatives  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 
Rev.  James  Galbraith  succeeded  Re\'.  Bard  and  ser\ed  the  congre- 
gation here  and  at  Williamsburg  until  1835.  For  the  following  three 
years  the  congregation  was  served  by  John  A.  Dunlap,  a  licentiate. 
In  1S38  Rev.  William  J.  Gibson,  of  Philadcl|)hia,  was  called  and  re- 
mained until  1 84 1.  Next  came  Rev.  David  McKinney.  D.  D.,  who 
j)reached  until  1852,  being  succeeded  by  Re\-.  David  X.  Junkin, 
from  Washington,  D.  C. ,  who  was  installed  January  7,  1854. 

In  i860,  on  account  of  ill  health.  Rev.  Junkin  was  granted 
leave  of  absence  for  si.\'  months,  during  which  time  the  pulpit  was 
filled  by  Rev.  William  Alexander,  a  licentiate  of  the  Huntingdon 
Presbyter)'. 

December  11,  i860.  Dr.  funkin  se\eretl  his  connection  with  this 
congregation  and  Rev.  Da\id  Sterritt  supplied  the  jiulpit  until  Sep- 
tember, 1 86 1. 

Rev.  David  H.  Barron,  then  pastor  af  the  Mount  Pleas.anl 
Church,  was  called  August  4.  i86r,  and  preached  his  first  sermon 
here,  as  pastor  elect,  the  second  Sunday  of  .September,  1861.  He 
was  formally  installed  November  12,  following.  The  erection  of  a 
new  church  edifice  was  agitated  in  1S6S  on  account  of  the  lack  of 
sufficient  pew  room  in  the    old   building   anil   the  weakness  of  the 


32  Seini=CentenniaI  History  of  Blair  County. 


walls,  and  on  Sunday,  the  sixth   day   of   December,    of  that   year 
there  being  a  heavy  snow  on  the  roof,  the  assembled  congregation 
pronounced    the  building  unsafe  and  it  was  abandoned.      The  fol- 
lowing Sabbath  services  were  held  in  the  court  house  and    so  con- 
tinued until  the  completion  of  the  chapel  of  the   new   church. 

The  corner  stone  of  this  new  church — the  present  one — was  laid 
September  9,  i860,  and  services  were  held  in  the  chapel,  for  the  first 
time,  June  5,  1870;  it  cost  $60,000.00. 

In  the  corner  stone  were  deposited  sermons  of  Revs.  W.  J. 
Gibson,  David  McKinney,  David  X.  Junkin  and  D.  H.  Barron; 
also  photographs  of  each  of  these  ministers,  besides  other  appropri- 
ate articles. 

This  building,  which  is  the  largest  church  in  the  county_^ 
was  completed  and  public  services  first  held  in  the  main  or  audience 
room  December  31,  1871.  Rev.  Barron  is  still  pastor,  now  serving 
his  thirty-fifth  year  in  that  capacity. 

The  history  of  this  church  is  given  at  greater  length  than  can 
be  allotted  to  the  others  on  account  of  its  age  and  prominence  in  the 
presbytery. 

The  Methodists  made  themselves  known  in  Blair  County  about 
1800,  and  their  first  church  in  its  territory  was  erected  in  18 16,  at 
Williamsburg.  They  now  have  twcntv-thrce  churches  in  the  county- 
valued  at  $260,000.00;  6,195  members  and  6,950  Sunday  School 
scholars.  The  Presiding  Elder  of  the  district,  which  includes  other 
counties  than  Blair,  Rev.  D.  S.  Monroe,  D.  D.,  resides  in  Altoona 
He  is  also  secretary  of  the  Grand  Conference  of  all  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  bodies  in  the  world. 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  is  strong  in  the  county,  and 
its  history  here  dates  back  to  1820,  or  earlier,  when  their  first  con- 
gregation was  organized  in  Williamsburg.  They  have  twenty 
churches  in  the  county,  seven  of  which  are  in  Altoona. 

The  First  Baptist  Congregation  in  Blair  County  was  organized 
at  Williamsburg  in  1829,  and  the  next  at  Hollidaysburg  in  1833. 
They  now  have  over  1,200  members  in  the  county;  twelve  churches 
and  five  preachers.  This  denomination  numbers,  among  its  mem- 
bership, some  of  the  most  prominent  familes  in  the  county  and  the 
number  of  regular  attendants  at  the  Baptist  Churches  is,  doubtless, 
5,000  to  6,000  persons. 

The  Roman  Catholic  Church  is  quite  strong  in  the  county, 
having  four  large  churches  in  Altoona  City,  with  several  thousand 
adherents  and  church  property  valued  at  $350,000.00.  They 
built  their  first  church  in  Altoona,  the  St.  Johns,  in  1852.  They 
also  have  churches  and  many  members  in  Tyrone  and  Hollidaysburg. 


SAMUEL  SHUFF  &  SONS, 

Baroain  Grocers  and  Dealers  in  General  Merchandise. 

1517  Fourth  Avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 

Do  you  want  a  fine  library  free  ?  If  so.  read,  reflect,  act.  We 
give  a  librarv'  away  free  every  monlli.  Wliy  don't  you  get  one 
too  ?  Come  to  us  and  we  will  tell  you  how  we  do  it  and  you  will 
enter  heartily  into  the  plan  for  we  sell  almost  everything  you  need 
and  then  the  prices  are  always  right.  Do  not  delay  but  come  to- 
day for  you  might  not  .see  this  "ad"  again  and  might  forget  it. 
Our  celebrated  Creamery  butter  in  one  pound  prints  is  extra  fancy 
and  well  known  in  our  city  as  the  very  best  butter  that  conies  to 
this  morket.     Bell  Telephone  913.     Pluenix  Telephone  2S'j. 

K.  7VY.  LHV7VER 
Dealer  in  GEN  ER  AL  IVI  ERCH  AN  DISE 

A  full  line  <)f  Dry  Goods  and  Notions.      Fine  Groceries  and    I'ro- 

visions  a  specialty.     Our  line  of  Shoes  you  will  find 

complete  and  at  right  bottom  prices: 

2000  FIFTH  A VKNUK,  ALTOONA,  PA. 

IIIUAM    Nl^^AFFKH, 

\vnoi.i;,x.\LK  .\Ni)  hktaii,  i»kai,kk  in 

VV)'^olen  and  G^tton  Rags,  Qld  gcrap  C^Pf^®''* 

Brass.  Lead.  Zinc, Tin  Foil.  Rubber.  Rojk- and  Second-hand  vSloves. 
Offlce  and  Warehouse  :  No.  813  Seventeenth  St..  Altoona.  Pa. 

FRED.  QUARTIER,  Jeweler^ 

F'ull  line  of  Clocks,  Watches  and  Jewelry.      Imuc  and  comi^licated 

watch  repiliring  done  promptly  and  at  low  ]>rices.    Work 

guaranteed.       vSwi.ss    Watches  a    vSpecialt>-. 

715  SEVENTH  STREET. 

FRED.  M.  BALL, 

floosG,  Sion  and  dmmm  PaiiitGr, 

Office  and  Store,  No.  800  Niniii  Sii-...-t, 
<  Inly  Fir.st-class  Work  Siilirilt  (I.  \:  i.>>\\.   \'\. 


'A  H.  S.  PINE,  K- 

Fresli  Hre;i<l    from    the  Ivishlh  Ward  liaki  r\   (Ulixcv'   '=  '  ■    "n 
part  of  the  city. 

H.  S.  PINE,  Corner  Fifth  Avonue  and  SevontK  Street. 

-^  y\L.  H.  BROV\ZIN.  •\<r 
Dealer  in  General  TVlerebandise, 

P'ine  Groceries,  Dry  Goods.   Hoots.  Shoes  and  Notion^ 

2331  Broad  Avenue.  -  -  Altoona,  Pa. 


Ai.TooxA  BrsiNKss  Cards 


^'  O.  SHELOV7,  ^^■- 

Confections,    Tobacco    and    Cigars. 

Notions,  Base  Ball  Gobds,  Soft  Drinks, 
No.  312  Howard  Avenue,  -  -  Altoona,  Pa. 

We  invite  an  inspection  of  our  .stock  ! 

Dealers   in  General    Mercliandi.se,  -^Dry   Goods,    Notions,    Shoes, 
Rubbers  and  Rubber  Boots,  Oil  Clotli,  Groceries,  Provisions,  etc. 
You  will  find  ever)^  department  in  our  store  completely  stocked 
with  sea.sonable  Goods  which  we  will  be  plea.sed  to  show  vou. 
2301  EiRhth  Avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 


gPif^JP^ 


"M^i 


II 


7/ 


JOHN  SCHKNIC,         -        >*ioprietor. 

Corner  Tenth  Avenue  and  Twelfth  vStreet,  Altoona,  Pa. 

ijriu^|)lllilt<    Mil  jL  JJdlLi9 

ID.    T.    CA'HILT.,  -  I>ro]ni(  tor. 

Opposite  Pa.s.senger  Depot,  Altoona,  Pa. 

HORKCE    G.     STOXZER. 

Attorney  ^^  At  ^  Ivaw, 

Rooms  6  and  7  Nicholson  Block,  Altoona,  Pa, 

V/ILLIAM    -A.    LYTLE, 

Genefal  Slore,  Passenpf  and  Freight  Agent  and  Postmasitef, 

TIl'^I^ON,    PKNXW. 


Washington  Ave.  and  i6th  St. 


Grant  Yon,  Prop. 


Fir.st-class  accommodations.      18  Room   Hou.se.     One  of  the 
oldest  .stands  in  the  city.     Good  stabling  attached. 

WM.  D.  HALL,  M.  D., 

1423  Eleventh  Avenue, 
Assistant,  Dr.  F.  V.  Horne.  ALTOONA,  PA. 


Al,TOONA   BUSINKSs   C\Kn 


W.   N.   BOYLES,  Hard  and  Soft  Coals  ;  Office,  Kourtli  avenue  and 
William  street,  Juniata.  I'a. 

E.  N.   BULICK,  Kresh   and   Sail    M'  iiv  Fouitli   avenue,  Juniala. 

Pa. 

M.  L.   REIGH,  H.-iUL-  I)..^-  •'  ^■  'i  '  -i.!^    i--.,  ,,  ,    !•, 

J.   F.  WAHL,   Staple  and  Fancy  Grocer  k-    I'l  Wa.sliinglun  ave- 
nue, Altoc^na.  Pa. 

M.  L.  EIVIFIELD,  vShavinc:  Parlor  and  Hair  Cuttint^,  F'ourth  ave- 
nue, Juniai 

F.  E.   RICKARD  &.  CO.,  Ice  and  Groceries,  KS04  Fumteenth  ave- 

nue, Altoona.  P,i. 

J.    A.  -KINTER,  ju-U'X-  of  llie  I'eaix-,  Juniala,    1  ;l;in   >  ( aiiiU  .   I'a. 

C.    M.    KEPHART,  Groceries,    Pnjvisions,    Tobacco  and   Cigars. 

Goods  delivered  prniii]')tly  {<t  :\]]  ]>;trls  of  (^ii  v  fvi-f  of  clinri-c 

F.  N.  OUNMIRE,  Pool  and  Cigars,  Ijourlh  avenue,  Juniata,  Pa. 

H.  A.  BOYLES,  Groceries,  Provisions  and  General  Merchandise, 
Kipple  P.  O  ,  Pa. 

PHEASANT  &  WAGNER,  General   Mcivliainlisc,    Imuala,     Kipi^le 
P.  O.)  Pa. 

F.  J.  RIG  EL  &.  CO.,   Hardware,  Stoves,  Tinware,    Roofing  and 
.Spouting,  Fourtii  avenue  and  William  street,  Juniata  Pa. 

JOHN  A.  CANAN  &.  CO..  American  aad  Foreign  Cements,  Terra 
Gotxls, Builders'  Supplies, etc., Marg. Ave.  &  iStluSt.,  Altoona. 

CHAS.  M.  ROCKEY,   Fish,  Oy.sters  and   Produce,  wholesale  and 
retail,  1609  Eleventh  avenue,  Altoona,  P  : 

B.  H.   DeTURK,  Hou.se  Painter  and  Paper  Haii-ei,  m....-  iMcvLiilli 
a\enue,  Altoona,  Pa. 

P.  M.  MOLLOY  &  CO.,  Installment  House,  r6ooJ4  Eleventh  ave- 
nue, Alt(^Mia.  Pi.      IT    T,.   KrlTmi     .\L;(.nl 

J.    I.   FARBAUGH,  Groceries  and  Maker  ot   Hannnock-.   mi-  m\ 
teenth  street,  Altoona,  Pa. 

L    L    BOOK,  Market  Gardener,  Hot  House  L,ettuce  a  Specialty, 

ICldorado,  1  t  .Mto  Mia  ■ 

JONAS  WALTEN,  Restaurant.  1314  Tenth  avenue.  Altoona,  Pa. 

H.  JOHNSON,  Boots  and  Shoes,  Eleventh  avenue,  next  to  First 
National  Bank,  Altoona,  Pa. 


Altoona  Business  Cards. 

CHAS.    H.    YON,    Grocer,  17  Washingtotf  avenue,   Altoona,  Pa. 
Fresh  Vegetables  always  on  hand. 

SAMUEL  PATTERSON,  Wagons  Built  to  Order,  Repairing, Paint- 
ing, General  Blacksniithing,  Green  avenue  and  Seventli  street. 

W.  A.  FRAKER,  Roofing,  Spouting  and  Repairing.    Hot  Air  Fur- 
naces a  Specialty.      1002  Cliestnut  avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 

Dp.   E.   0.    M.   HABERACKER,  Office,  No.  2220  Seventh  avenue; 
Residence,  2222  Seventh  avenue,  Altoona>  Pa. 

J.  M.  BLAIR,  Contractor  aiid-Builder,  1006  Finst  avenue,  Altoona, 
Pa. 

L.  Z.  REPLOGLE,  Clothing,Gents'  Furnishings  and  Gents'Shoes, 
811  Twelfth  street,  Altoona,  Pa. 

CHAS.  WEISINGER,    Merchant  Tailor,  S06  Kast  Twelfth  street, 
Altoona,  Pa. 

T.  M.  POWELL,  Tadie.s'  and  Gents'  Furnishing  Goods,  815  East 
Twelfth  .street,  Altoona,  Pa. 

H.  O'BURN,  1024  Chestnut  avenue,  Altoona,  Pa.,  Groceries  and 
Provisions. 

J.  J.  GLEICHERT,  Groceries,  Flour   Feed,  etc  ,  501    Eighth  ave- 
nue, Altoona,  Pa. 

JOHN  GEIG,  Merchant  Tailor,8i3i<  East  Twelfth  street,  Altoona, 
Pa. 

-  H.  J.  CORNMAN,  - 

TI16  oriflinai  one-mce  Giotnier 

Of  Altoona,  Pa.,  has  an  entire  new  stock,  of 

[}liilili'en%  lV|eii'^  and  Boijg'  dlotsfiing, 

Suits,  Hats  and  Shirts  made  to  order. 
\h\2   gleoentb   7\,\?enue,    RltSona,  pa. 

Dr.  H.   L.  HARTZELL, 

1106  Eleventh  Street, 

<^^0  C  XJ  L  I  S  X  -^^ 

Diseases  of  the  Eye,  Ear,  Nose  and  Throat. 

Office  Hours — 8  to  10  a.  m.;  i  to  3  and  8.30  p.  m. 


At.toona  Business  CaSds. 

M.J.  Vaughn,  W    I".  Vaughn 

2012  Eightli  Aveiiiu-.         OFFICE  AT  WORKS  ^"«  »'<'«<•  »"tt- 

J.  R.  VAUGHN  &  50N, 

BRICK  MANUFACTURERS. 

Hest  qualilv  of  liuildiug.  Sewer  and  Taviiij^  Brick. 
Works  at  Eldorado. 
Bell  Telephone  No.  1562  at  Works. 

Bell  Telephone  No.  1563  at  residence  of  W.  F.  Vaughn. 

^1-  C.   F.   CARPENTER,  -i^ 

Imported    Key   West   and    Domestic   Cigars,    Cheriots,     Stogies, 
Cigarettes,  Smoking  and  Chewing  Tobaccos,   Pipes  and  Smokers' 
Articles,  Canes,    Playing  Cards,    etc.     Finest    Pool   and    Billiard 
Tables  in  the  city.    . 
Twelfth  Street,  next  to  Post  Office,  Altoona,  Pa. 

Thos.  Donahue,  Proprietor. 

Rates,  $1.00  per  day,   $5.00  per  week.     First-class  Bar  attached. 

1 1 10  Tenth  Avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 

W.   B.  TOMKINS,  J-    B.  ROYER, 

EXCHANGE   HOTEL, 

Rates,  $1.00  per  day,  S4.50  per  week.     First-class  Bar  attached. 
Tenth  Avenue,  bet.  nth  and  12th  Sts.,  Altoona,  Pa. 

J.  TO..  VTA-XSON, 

1)p:.\i,hk  IX 

Guns,  fishing  Tackle,  Bicycles 

and  other  Sporting  Good.     Cruns  and  Bicycles  repaired. 
1113  Eleventh  Avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 

<»j,/E  want  ;;(Mitl  a;,a'Mts  for  thi-.^e  lloii.sfliolil  iioocHsh  it-s 
W  and  will  ^'ivc  exi'lu.sive  territory  in  tlio  following 
counties:  Allegheny,  Fayette,  Washingt<»n,  GreeMe, 
Lawreneo,  IJeaver,  Mercer,  Crawford,  Krie.  Warton, 
Forest,  JetVerson,  Clarion,  Armstrong,  Indiana.  IJutler, 
Venango,  Somerset,  Huntingdon,  Bedford.  Fulfon, 
Camhria,  IJlair,  York,  Adams,  Franklin.  (  umlierland 
and  Perry.  Write  us  al  onre  liclore  all  the  territory  is 
taken  up'.  Robinsons  &  Co..  Ltd..  Factory,  Altoona,  Pa. 


J.  A.  ROHRER  &  SON, 

■^1     DE-NT'ISTS.    1^ 

1 107  Twelfth  Avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 


Altoona  Business  Cards. 


F.  L.  AKERS,  Manager,  Druggist  aiid  Apothecary,  xio6  Eleventh 
street,  Altoona,  Pa.    Soda  Water  always  on  draught. 

C.  BRESSLER,  General  Merchandise,  Hats,  Caps,  Boots,  Shoes, 
etc.,  57  Sixth  avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 

ALTOONA  HOUSE,  1003  Bridge  street,  Jno.  Garland,  proprietor. 
Meals  at  all  hours. 


BERMAN  &    BRETT,    Wholesale   Notions,    1025   Bridge  street, 
Altoona,  Pa. 

C.  M.  SMITH,  Milk  Depot  and  Confectionery,     Wholesale  and 
Retail.     Ice  Cream.     1631  Eleventh  avenue,  Altoona",  Pa 

J.    P.    HARNEY,    Fancy  and  Staple   Groceries,    1905    Eleventh 
avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 

A.  CLAYCOMB,  Groceries,  Boots,  Shoes,  etc..  1800 Tenth  avenue, 
Altoona,  Pa. 

SMITH  6c  BRADY,  the  Cash  Grocers,  fine  Groceries,  Flour,  Feed, 
604  Seventh  avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 

G.  W.  BURKET,  Groceries  and  Provisions,  Queensware  and  No- 
tions, Wood  and  Willow  Ware,  607  6th  Ave.,  Altoona^  Pa. 

E.  B.    SEEDENBURG,    Groceries  and   Provisions,   423   Seventh 
avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 


H.  E.  CRUMRAKER,  D.  D.  S.     Nitrous  Oxide  Gas  administered. 
Corner  Seventh  avenue  and  Twelfth  street,  Altoona,  Pa. 

COLCLESSER  BROTHERS,  Axes,  Picks  and  Mattocks,  El  Dor 
rado,  Blair  County.   Pa. 

A.  L.  HENCH,  Salter.     I^eather,  Hides,  Tallow  and   Salt,    1708 
Ninth  avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 

J.  W.  BLACK,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  El  Dorado,  Pa. 


B.  F.  MYERS,  Grocery,    Provision,    Flour    and   Feed  Store,  El 
Dorado,  Pa.  - 


H.   R.  MAUK,  Barber  and  Hair  Dresser,   2330  Broad  street,   Al- 
toona, Pa. 

E.  M.  CLABAUGH,  Druggist  and  Apothecary,  Corner  Sixth  ave. 
and  Fourth  street,  Altoona,  Pa. 

M.  GOLDSMITH,  Artistic  Tailor  and  Cutter,  1600  Eleventh  ave., 
Altoona,  Pa.     Latest  styles  and  lowest  prices 

C.  G.  HAZIY,  fine   Cigars,   Tobacco,    Confectionery,    etc.,    1608 
Eleventh  avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 

J.  ROSS  MATEER'S  Branch  Drug  Store,  O.  E.  Crissman,  Man- 
ager, Corner  Fourth  avenue  and  William-  street,  Juniata,  Pa. 


Ar.TooNA  Business  Cards. 


KERR  &.  BARCLAY,  Insurance  and  vSteaniship  Ap^cnts,  Masonic 
Temple,  Altoona,  Pa. 

WESTFALL,  Leading  Hatter  of  Blair  county,  corner  Eleventli 
avenue  and  Thirteenth  .street,  Altoona,  Pa. 

RUDISILL  BROS.,  the  Reliable  Jewelers,  Diamonds,  Watches. 
Clock-s,  Jewelry  and  Silverware,  Altoona,  Pa. 

COOPER'S  Novelty  Store,  1316  Eleventh  avenue,  AlttKma,  Pa. 
All  goods  sold  at  the  lowest  prices  possible. 

CHAS.  RUNK,  Barbershop.  819  Twelfth  street,  Altooni,  I'.i. 
LeVAN,  The  Tailor,  Masonic  Temple,  Altoona,  Pa. 

E.  GERST,  Merchant  Tailor,  1 1 12  Twelfth  street,  Altoona,  Pa. 

M.  V.  BOYER,  Groceries,  Provisions.  Confectionery,  Tobacco, 
Cigars  and  General  Variety  Store,  Eighth  avenue  and  Twen- 
tieth street,  Altoona.  Pa. 

T.  C.  McCartney,  Wall  Paper,  Blank  Books  and  Fine  Station- 
ery, 1307  Eleventh  avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 

N.  H.  DYER.  Practical  Tailor.  1128 '4  PCleventh  aveuue.  (over 
Metzger's  Store).     Repairing  and  Scouring  a  Specialty. 

G.  HEMPERLY,  1323  Twelfth  avenue.  Altoona,  Pa.,  manufacturer 
of  Show  Ca.ses.  Refrigerators  and  General  Cabinet  Making. 

SPECTACLE  BAZAAR,  iii4>2  Eleventh  avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 
Glasses  properly  adjusted  free  of  charge. 

JACOB  OSWALD,  Blacksmith  and  Wagonmaker,  mamifacturer  of 
Carriages,  Wagons,  Buggies,  Sleiglis  and  Sleds.  Repairing 
a  Specialty.     1528  Ninth  street  and  Fairview  avenue,  Altoona. 

CLIMAX  CAFE,  William  I,.  Johnson,  Proprietor,  late  Steward  of 
the  Lf)gan  House,  11 17  Eleventh  avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 

SAML.  SMITH,  Agent,  Practical  Jeweler,  Watches,  Clocks,  Jew 
elry,  Silverware,  Silver- Plated  Ware,  1305  Ivleventh  avenue, 
Altoona.  Pa. 

UNION  HOTEL.  C.  B.  Cris.sman,  Proprietor.  First  Class  Bar,  1313 
Twelfth  avenue.     Good  Stabling  and  Livery. 

J.  W.  OLEWINE,  Staple  and  Fancy  Groceries,  1627  Eigiith  ave- 
nue, Altoona.  Pa. 

T.  J.  ARMSTRONG,  all  kinds  of  Groceries,  Eighth  avenue  and 
Twentieth  street,  Altoona,  Pa. 

THOMAS  N.  BAIRD,  Practical  Plumber  and  G.is  Fitter,  No.  u;o4 
Eighth  avenue. Altoona.  Pa.     Hot  Water  Heating  a  Specialty. 

ALTOONA  BREWING  CO.,  George  Wilhehn. George  Schimminger 
and  W.  R.  Kain^i\  TIiirti-L-nth  street  antl  Fifteenth  avenue, 
Altoona,  Pa 


JOHN  FULLERTON, 
President. 


H.  K.  McCAULEY, 

Sec'y  and  Treas. 


f\\tooT)2  lro9  <5ompa9y, 


MANUFACTURERS  OF 


REFINED  IRON 

Bars,   Bands,  Hoops,  Scrolls,  Ovals,   Half  Ovals, 
and  Half  Rounds. 

Standard  Quality  to  P.  R.  R.  Specifications. 

ALTOONA,  PENN'A. 


ARE  GOING  TO 

SMARRIED 

^^m 


,Wi.ii»t1DuMK 


•  1 1  •  1  I  •  I  • 


was  not  as  elaborate  as  tliose  of  to-day,  but  it  suited  him.     If  you 
you  contemplate  matrimony  we  would  like  to  suit  you. 

We  aim  to  do  a  large  part  of  the  tnerchant  tailor  business  in 
Blair  County.  Our  stock  is  of  the  best.  Our  fits  are  guajanteed. 
Our  prices  are  right.     Could  you  a.sk  more  ?    Call  and  .see  us. 

Porter  W.ShultZ,  flerchant  Tailor, 

1327  Eleventh  Avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 


KOARIXQ  rfPRINO.S  AND  MaRTINSBI  R<i   BlMINEHt*  CaRDH. 

NATIONAL  HOTEL.     $1.00  per  day.     D.  K.  Barley,  propri.-- 
tcn".      Roaring  Springs,  Pa. 

\.    F.    ACKERS.    (l«'al«M-    in    Salt    and    Frrsli    M«'ats.    Hearing 
Springs.  Pa. 

K.  KING  &  WON,  Fine  Custom  Taihjrs,  Roaring  S])rings.  Pa. 

i:.  M.  DOUGHERTY.    (Jraduate  Oiitician  and  Prarfical  Watdi- 
maker,  Roaring  Springs,  Pa. 

K.  Z.  KA(i ARISE,  dealer  in  General  Hai-dware.      Tin  and  Sheet 
Iron  Worker.     Roaring  Springs,  Pa. 

F.  B,  NOWLEN,    Livery,   Sales  and   Boarding  StabU'.  Roaring 
Springs,  Pa. 

('.  E.  YINGLING,  Manufacturer  of  Fancy  RoIUm-  Flouis.  Grain. 
Fei'd.  (Slc..  Roaiing  Si)rings.  Pa. 

W.  M.  ELDO.N,  Ph.  (i..  M.  I).,  Roaring  Springs.  Pa. 


THF:  planing  mill  CO.  ,  Mannfaeturers  of  Sash  Doci  s.      All 
Kinds  of  Buihling  Material.      Roaring  Springs,  Pa. 

A.  SNOWBERGER,  Barl)er  Shop  and  Cigars,  St.  Luke's  Hot«>l. 
Roaring  Springs,  Pa. 

ROARING  SPRIN(tS  BLANK  BOOK  CO.      Blank    P.<M.ks  and 
Tablets.     Roaring  Springs,  Pa. 

.J.  (I  ADAMS.  Tin  and  Slu'ct  Iron  Worker.    Rooting  and  Spout- 
ing a  Speeialty.      Roaring  Springs,  Pa. 

BARE  MILLING  CO.     Bare's    Best   Flour,    Blair  County  Pic- 
dnct.      Roaring  Springs,  Pa. 

D.  B.  KYLER.  dealer  in  Fresh  and  Salt  Meats,     (ianu*    in  Sea- 
son.     Roaring  Springs,    Pa. 

.J.  P.  MARTIN,  dealer  in  General  Mereliandise,  Roaring  Springs, 
Pa. 

CHAS.  W.  FOX.  Physician  and  Surgeon,  Roaring  Springs,    Pa. 

(i.  M.  (lARNER,  dealer  in  Diy  (Joods,  Notions,  Hn-adandCtm- 
feetionery,  Roaiing  Spiings.  Pa. 

1).  S.  BRUMBAUGH.  Attorney-at-Law.  R.Kiring Springs,  Pa. 

J.BROWN&BLOOM,nianufactun'rsofSolcs.  Cppt'is.  Kip  Leath- 
er, &c.,  S.  Market  street,  Martinshurg.  Pa. 

(  ;RAFFI  US  &  BLOOM,  dealers  in   General    Hardware.    Punip.^. 
Pious  ,111(1  St<»ves.  Allegheny  street.  Martinshurg.  Pa. 


.,  . /i^^^f^i^'^W^^''^^'^''^^i^^. 


Roaring  Springs  and  Martinsburg  Business  Cards. 


F.  A.  WILKI/SSO/N, 

^^S^  General  Hardware, 

stoves,  Roofing,  Spouting,  Agricultuml  Implements.    Estimates  Fur- 
nished. 

Cor.  Allegheny  and  South  Market  Sts.,  Martinsburg  Pa. 


We  are  the  People  !, 


Hoenstine  &  Hite, 

Practical  Painters  and  Paper  Hangers.  Decorating  and  Graining. 
Roaring  Springs,  Pa. 


J.  B.  MILI^KR, 

Manufacturer  of 

BOOTS,  SHOES,    I3:.AJK3>TESS,    ETO. 
'Cycles  Repaired.     Parts  furnished  for  any  make  of  machine. 

Agent  for  Morgan  &  Wright  Lines.  F'ine  Repairing  a  Specialty. 

e.  E.  wii.soyN, 

LIVERY,  BOARDING  AND  SALE  STABLE. 

First-Class  Rigs. 
First-Class  Sample  Wagons  for  Traveling  Men  a  Special t}'. 

Rear  of  I.  O.  O.  F.  Block,  .....  Roaring  SpringK,  Pa. 


J.  L.  Crawford,     Book^andjob^^ 

Office  Note  Heads,  Envelopes,   Bill  Heads,  Letter  Heads,  State- 
ments, Receipts.     Book  Binding  in  all  its  Bi-anches. 
Roaring  Springs,  Pa. 


C.  TXT.  ZOOir, 

JEWELE-R  and    OPTICIA/N, 

Dealer  in 

WQtciies,  Clocks,  Jewelry  qdiI  speclQcies.    Fine  RepQirlno  q  Specloity. 

Kewing  Machine  Attachments  Furnished.  KOAKING  SPRINGS,  PA. 


J.  M.  HITTE, 
Undertaking  ^!li  Ktirnitnre. 

Fine  Repairing.  Roaring  Springs  Pa. 

B.  M.  Bare  3c  Co., 

MANUFACTURERS  OF 

Rag  Super  Book,  M.  F.  Book  and  Antique  Papers. 

Engine  and  Tub  Sized  White  Flats. 


Martinsbuku  Business  Cards. 


D.  M.  KLEPSER,  dealer  in  Coal,  Fertilizer,  Feed  and  Afnitnl- 

tural  Implements,  Martinsbing,  Pa. 

CLAPPER  BR08.,   manufaeturers    of  Piiiv  Roller  Flour,   and 
de^ilers  in  Grain  and  Feed.     Martinsburg,    Pa. 

E.  H.  LYTLE,  breeder  of  Standard  Breed  Trotting  and    Racing 

Horses,  Martinsburg,  Pa. 

AV.  J.  SHIFFLER,  Watdies,  Clocks  and  JrwelrN .    ,  Kcp'*i''"K  -^ 
Specialty.     Allegheny  street,  Martinsburg,  Pa. 

R.  T.  ELDON,  M.  D. ,  Physician  and  Surgeon,  Allegheny  street, 
Martinsburg,   Pa. 

SKYLES  MILLER  &  CO.,   dealers  in  Coal,   Gi-ain.    Flour   an.l 
Feed,  West  Allegheny  street,  Martinsburg,  Pa. 

MENTZER   BROS.,   dealers   in    Fresh  and    Salt  Meats,   St)uth 
Market  street,  Martinsburg,  Pa. 

A.   O.   DILLON,    dealer  in  General  Merchandise,    &c..   South 
Market  and  Locust  streets,  Martinsburg,  Pa. 

J.  O.  SHUBERT,  Ice  Cream,  Confectionery.     Oysters  in  season. 
Allegheny  street,  Martinsburg,  Pa. 

F.  W.  KEAGY,  dealer  in  General  Merchandise,  corner  Market 

and  Allegheny  streets,  Martinsburg,  Pa, 

C.    SKYLES,    manufacturer   of   Saddles    and   Hai-ncss.    L<kmis1 
street,  Marti  n.sl)urg.  Pa. 

J.  A.  SKYLES,  manufacturer  of  Saddles  and    Harness,    North 
Market  street,  Martinsburg,  Pa. 

WM.  ROBERTS,  dealer  in  General  Merchandise,  North  Market 
street,  Martinsburg,  Pa. 

R.  0.  CLABArGH,   Merchant  Tailor,   Allegheny  street,   Mar- 
tinsburg, Pa. 

A.  H.  STONER,  Groceries,  Provisions  and  Confectionery,  Alle- 

gheny street,  Martinsburg,  Pa. 

B.  F.  GORStlCH,  Livery,  Feed  and  Sjilc  Stal>lc,    Martinsl)ing. 

Pa.  

W.  M.  GHAPLIN,  Barber  Shop,  Allegheny  street,  Martinsbui-g, 

Pa- 
lm. S!  M.  ROYER,  PhystciMM  :n.<l    Sni-.n-nn.     Allegheny    street. 

Martinsburg,  Pa. 

DR.  WILLIAM  M.  BOLGER,  Dentist. 

J.  C.  SANDERS,  dealer   in    Drugs,    Medicines   and    Chemicals, 
Marti Jisburg,  Pa. 


"yc^f^^^ 


DlNCANSVILLE  BUSINESS  CaRDS 


H.  L.  STULTZ,  largest  exclusive  dealer  in  the  count}' in  Buggies, 
Wagons,  Agricultural  Implements,  etc.,  Duncansville,  Pa. 

W.  R.  WERTZ,  dealer  in  Dry  Goods,  Groceries,  Notions,    etc.. 
Duncansville,  Pa. 

LAW  &  McMASTER,  dea.ler8  in  General  Merchandise,  Groceries, 
Hardware,  etc.     Duncansville,  Pa. 

J.  E.  WAL'PERS,  Ice  Cream  Parlor,  Duncansville,  Pa. 

H.  F.    PECK,   dealer  in  General  Merchandise,   Market  street, 
Duncansville,  Pa. 

VAUGHN  &  SHAFFER,  Funeral  Directors  and  Furniture  Deal- 
ers, Duncansville,  Pa. 

HOTEL  NORMAN,  G.  W.  Bossier,  proprietor.     Good  Stabling. 
Hack  to  Hollidaysburg.   Rat'sfl  per  day.  Duncansville,  Pa. 

ISAAC  C.    HESS,    Druggist,    and  dealer  in  Drugs,  Medicines, 
Paints,  Stationery,  Cigars,  Tobacco,  etc.     Duncansville,  Pa. 

C.  LIEBEGOTT,  Funeral  Director,    Furniture,  Stoves,  Carpets, 
Duncansville,  Pa. 

J.  M.  DELOZIER,  dealer  in  Fresh  and  Salt  Meats,  Duncans- 
ville, Pa. 

DUNCANSVILLE  BAKERY,  Frederick  Geyer,  Duncansville, 
Pa.     Fresh  Bread  and  Cakes  always  on  hand. 

GEORGE  P.  WILT,   Miller.     Flour  and    Feed,  Grains  of  all 
kinds.     Duncansville,  Pa. 

LLQYD  M.  HAMEL,  dealer  in  Confections  and  Green  Fruit, 
Duncansville,  Pa. 

GEORGE  W.  EVANS,  Butcher.     Fresh  and  Salt  Meats  always 
on  hand.     Duncansville,  Pa. 

JOSEPH  A.  VAUGHN,  Postmaster.  Clara  B.  Vaughn,  assistant. 
Duncansville,  Pa, 

MRS.  DELLA  HITE,  Groceries,  Cigars,  Tobacco,  Vegetables  and 
Produce.     Specialty  of  Butter  and  Eggs.     Duncansville,  Pa. 

JESS  H.  JONES,  Barber,  Main  street,  Duncansville,  Pa. 


MRS.  M,  E.  GLEASON,  General   Merchandise,    corner   Market 
and  Bank  streets,  Duncansville,  Pa. 

JOHN  W.  CONFER,    General    Merchandise,    S.    W.    coiiur  of 
Diamond,  Duncansville,  Pa. 

SAMUEL  LEIGHTY,  Ice  Cream  and   Confectionery.     r)ountry 
Produce,     Duncansville,  Pa. 


HoLLIDAVSliURC;   AND    VVlLLIAMSBURG    BUS1^E^^    CaKU^. 

G,    B.   COOPER,   A  fine   line   of  Confectionery,    Ci^^ars   and    To- 
baccos, Gaysport,  opposite  depot. 

G.   M.   BUOYMASTER,,  Fresh  and  Salt  Meats  kept  constantly  on 
hand,  .M(^ntL;. )niciy  street,  llollidaysbmg. 

J.   M.   ROBISON  di  Co.,   Dealers  in   Dry  GoodsrOroceries,   et^c^, 

Montgomery  street,  Hollidaysburg. 

W.   E.   LINDSAY,  General  Merchand^isc,  Hollidaysb'g.     You  ca"n 
buy  more  for  cash  at  this  store  than  at  any  other  in  Blair  Co. 

W.   E.  STEWART  &  Co.,   General^   Merchandise,   Hollidaysburg, 
Peniia.      ((')ppositc  Depot,  Gaysport.) 

Mrs.   E.  C.   METZ,   Dealer  in  Gent-ral  Merchandise.      Proprietor 
of   the    Meiz    Hotel,  Williamsburg. 

JAMES  PATTERSON,    Dealer  in    Dr)'   Goods^G^ceries,    Boots, 

SIv>es,  Lumber,  Coal,  Salt,  etc.,  Williamsburg. 

C.  A.   PATTERSON,    Postmaster,  a's:..  T.)h;irrTT~c'iTrars  and   Sta- 
lioncry,  Williamsburg. 

.     J.    D.   ESTEP,    i^arburand  Hair  Dresser,  WiUiamsburg. 


Miss  JENNIE  SHIPTGN,    Millii.er,  Williamsburg. 


Mrs.  JAMES  PATTERSON,    l>^cstaui-ant,  Ice   Cream   and    Confec- 
tioncr\',  Williamsbup^. 


W.   E.  DEAN,   Dry  Goods,  Clothing,    Notions,    Hats  and    Caps, 
Boots  and  Shoes,  Carpets,  Oilcloths,  etc.,  Williamsburg. 

METZ^ROS.,    Hardware,  Cutlery,  Paints,  ( )ils,  etc..   Agent    fnr 
Bic\"cles  and  Washing  Machines,  W^illiainsburg. 

D.  T.   KETRING,     Druggist,    Manufacturer   of    Peruvian     JOnic, 

reiver    Regulator,    Bechtei's    Fxcelsior    Liniment,  etc.,  Wil- 
liamsburg. 

JOHN   H.   LAW,    Dealer  in  Cicncral  .Merchandise  ;  als<^   haril  and 
soft  coal,    Williamsburg.      Wm.   T.  Mitchell,  Manager. 

JOHN   KRELL,  Fine  TLirness,  Saddlery,  and  ILirdware,  Williams- 
burg. 

E.  THOMPSON  CLARK,    Manufacturer  of  the  Pear  Rol'er   Fl-ur. 

Chop,  Bran,  etc.     Dealer  in  (irain,  Williamsburg. 

R.   S.   FLUKE,    Hardware,   I'in  and    Sheet    Iron    Ware.    Oueens- 
w.ire.  Wall   I'aper,  etc,,  Williamsburg. 

Dr.   D.  J.   LEATHERMAN,   Corner  of   High  and   Second    streets, 

Williamsburg. 

J.   F.  ARNOLD,   M.   D.,   Secnd  street  near  High  street,  Williams- 
buiLT. 


HOLLIDAYSBURC;    AND    VVlLLI  AMSBURc;    BUSINESS    CaRDS. 


r>r      a      W       ^niTH  special    attention    paid    to    Orphans' 

Ut  .    VJ.      TV.     Oilllii,  Court  Practice,  Abstracting  Qf 

Titles  and  Collections, 

PmtiGiBg  pijvsiGiaB.^       j_  |_gg  piummer, 

<i^ and    SuPgeOR.  ,    Attorneij-at-Law, 

Hollidaysljurg,  J\i 
No.  44  Allegheny  Street.  (Woodcock  Block.) 


1866.      Henry  L.  Bunker,      I896. 


Wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in 


FRESH  «  AND  *  SALT  «  MEATS. 

82  Allegheny  Street,  Hollidaysburg,  Pa 

']^QmocT(xtic  Standard f  '^he    'Register. 

A.  R.  Traugh,     =     Prop'r, 


Issued    Weekly.     .A^ot   (i    Re- 
puhlican  Organ. 

Terms  $1. 50  per  year. 


Oldest  paper  in  Blair  Coutttij 
Established  1836. 

Republican    in  politics.     Job    Work  a 
Specialt}-. 

D.  cj-  F.  J.  Over. 

Hollidajsburg.  Editors  &  Prop'rs. 


T.  H.  5UCKUNQ, 

Clothier  and  Gents'  Furnisher. 

A  full  line  of  Trunks,  Valises 

Hollidaysburg.  Pa.     •      —  Shoos.  Hats,  UiTibrellas,  Etc. 

New    Wastjinglon    Rotel,    1  wm.  jack,       johnclark, 

''  I      s  i  y  President.  Cashier. 

W.W.Smith,     =     Prop'r.  DEAN  CLARK.  Asst.  Cashier. 

Lately    Re-opened,     Re  painted,      and 

Thoroughly     Renovated     and     Iin-  <^<»-''^^ 

proved.        First-class     ac-  '    .       .       ,  p> 

Good  stabling  and    livery    connected         TT  1 1 1  Idl  I  loUU  I  ^      DdllKi 

Rates  reasonable. 
Williamsburg.  Penn'a  ,  Wllliainshiirg,  Pa. 

J.  W.  GOODFELLOW'S 

Js  where  you  will  always  find  a 

Full  liiRQ  0!  Ppesl^  &P0S8PiQS. 


Soldiers'  and  Siulors'  Mouumenl.    Erected  by  Hie  Commissioners 

ot  Blair  County,  in  front  of  the  Court  House,  Hollidiiysburg 

Height,  33  ft.  6  inches.  Cost,  complete.  $10,000.    To  be 

Unveiled.  Thursday.  June  11, 1890. 


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a 

High  School  Building,  Seventh  Avenue  between  Fourteenth  and  Fifteenth  Streets.  Altoona.  Pa. 


■Wopsononock  Resort  Hotel,  on  the  Summit  of  Wopsononock  Mountain,  Six  Miles  iioni  Ailoona, 
on  the  Altoona,  Clearfield  and  Northern  Railroad. 


Blair  Coimty  Court  House, 

Cor.  Allegheny  and  Union  Streets, 

Hollidaysburg,  Pa. 

Erected  at  a  Cost  of  $110,000. 

Dedicated  July  2d,  1877. 


Electric  Light.  Hot  Water  Heat. 

Modern  Conveniences.       Reasonable  Rates. 


M 


S.    \i\L.    GR07VIILLER 


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PROl^'RIETOR, 


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Wayne  and  Juniata  Streets,  Hollidaysburg,  Fa. 


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Scenes  at  Horse  Shoe  Bend,  on  Pennsylvania  Railroad  at  Kittanning  Point, 
Six  Miles  "West  of  Altoona. 


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General  George  Potts,  First  Mayor  of  Altoona. 


One  of  Beezer  Bros  '  Cottages,  Llyswen.  on  A.  &  L.  V.  R.  R. 
One  and  a  Half  Miles  from  Altoona. 


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Tyrone  and  Altoona  Busine.ss  Cards. 


Farm  right  for  best  ad- 
justable Farm  Gate  and  pat- 
ent Spiral  Spring  Fence. 
Gates  and  Fence  material 
for  Sale  Agents  wanted. 


E.  R.  BRINDLE,  130  Fourteenth  Street,  Tyrone,  Pa. 


G.  H.  BuRLEY,  Pres. 


Joshua  Burley,  Sec'y. 


Tf  one  piumbinij,  Heatinji  and  Sopplji  Gompaqji. 

Steam  and  Hot  Water  Heating  a  Specialty'.  Estimates  on 
Steam  and  Water  Heating  given  on  short  notice.  Our  new  pat- 
ent Heater  ready  for  the  market.     2123  West  Eleventh  Street. 


O,  say  !  Do  you  think  we  can  hold  it 
down  ?  We  are  going  to  try.  Our  goods 
are  first-class  and  we  sell  cheaper  than  an}' 
store  in  the  city.  All  we  ask  is  an  investi- 
gation. 

Store  Box  4x()  Grocery. 

TYRONE,  PA. 


n.  M.  STV^ITH  St  SON 

Established  in  1S72. 

The  oifl  Reilawe  Grocery. 

22  West  Tenth  Street,  Tyrone,  Pa. 


CONTRACTOR  and  CONSULTING  ENGINEER. 

Office,  Room  No.  15- Masonic  Temple,  Altoona,  Pa. 

Automatic  Engines,  Boilers,  Heaters,  Complete  P^lectric  and  Power 

Plants,  Mine  Supplies,  Haulage  and  Hoisting  P^ngines, 

Wire  Rope,  Sheaves,   Pumps,  etc.  ^ 

EIGHTH    WARD   HOTEL, 

Geo.  B.  McMahan,  Proprietor, 

600,  602  and  604  Seventh  Avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 


G.    C.    ROBB, 

SQHGEOn   e    DEDTIST. 

Rooms  No.  214-215  Mateer  Building, 
Eleventh  Avenue,  -  -  -  Altoona,  Pa. 


Altoona  Business  (^ards. 


A.  yi.  liriclt.  Manufacturer  and  Wholesale  and  Retail  Dealer^ 
in  Confections  and  Ice  Cream,  1 1 18  Twelfth  street,  Altoona, Pa. 


A.  A.  Joliiisoii,  Tin  Roofing,  Spouting,  Heavy  Sheet  Iron 
Work  and  Hot  Air  Furnaces,  1218  Eighth  avenue,  Altoona, Pa. 


K.  D.  Boate.  East  Side  Tailor,  12 16>2  Eighth  avenue,  Altoona, 
Pa. 

Myers  Bros.,  Florists,  Growers  of  Fir.st  Class  Flowers,  Altoo- 
na and  Eldorado,  Pa. 


J.   L<.  Exliiie,  Fancy  Wall  Paper,  Paper  Hanging  and  House 
Painting,  1202  Eighth  avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 


J.  E.  Walla«'C,  Cash  Grocer, liberal  discount  on  orders  of  $2.50 
and  upward,  Corner  Eighth  avenue  and  Fourteenth  street, 
Altoona,  Pa. 


Troy  Eauiidry,  Thomas  Scrnuger,  Proprietor,  13 14  Eighth 
avenue,  also  Green  avenue  and  Eleventh  street.  Telephone 
Connections.     Work  done  on  short  notice. 

II.  C\  Myers,  12 18  Eleventh  street,  Altoona,  Pa.  Plumbing, 
Gas  and  Steam  Fitting. 


Philadelphia  jfledieiiie  Co.,   121 1  Eleventh  street.     The 
original  cut  rate  medicine  store,  Altoona,  Pa. 


I>r.  tl.  W.  Carter,  Dentist.     17  Masonic  Temple,  Altoona,  Pa. 


Sheriuaii  House,  1406  Tenth  avenue,  Altoona,  Pa.    5S1.25  to 

2.00  per  day.     Thomas  J.  Burke,  Proprietor. 

I>,  W.  Aiken,  Agent  for  Gottschall  Remedies,  704  First  ave., 
Altoona,  Pa. 


Model  I^auiKlry,   14 12  Tenth  avenue,   Altoona,  Pa.     Harry 
Otto,, Proprietor.     Branch,  1024  Green  avenue. 

J.  A.  Brown,  News  Dealer,  Tobacco  and  Cigars. 

806  Seventeenth  street,  Altoona,  Pa. 


M.  A.  lieougli.  dealer  in  Groceries  and   Provisions,    Notions, 
Wood  and  Willowware.     1310  Thirteenth  st.,  Altoona,  Pa. 


E,  E.  Walls,  1008  Eighth  avenue,  Altoona,   Pa.     Fine  Groce- 
ries, fre.sh.  Butter  and  Eggs  always  on  hand. 


II.  B.  Mauk,  2920  Broad  street.     Shaving  and  Hair  Dressing, 
Ambidextrously  done. 


Cjt.  \¥.  ^tifHer,  Vegetable  Gardens,  home  grown  Vegetables  in 
season,  Lettuce  a  specialty,  Eldorado,  Pa. 


\  i.TooNA  Business  Cards. 


K.  S.   Westbrooli.    .Manufacturer  and  vShipper  of  Ice  Cream. 
No.  1601  Eleventh  avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 

•Iac4»b  J.  Soliell.  Manager  of  Schell  Transfer,  niovint;  ol  Safes 
and  Pianos  a  Specialty,  126  Third  avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 

J.  W.  Bloom,  Shaving  and  Hair  Dressing  Parlor  Sixth 

avenue,  Altoolia,  Pa. 

Williiiiii  lirleiiiit'y.  Plumber,  Steam  and  Cias   Filter.  Rejiair- 
iiig  Promptly  Attended  to,  1407  Tenth  street,  Altoona.  Pa. 

K.  R.  C'.  Bla<'kl»iirii,  Dentist,  131')'.-  Eleventh  avenu' 
idence,  1404  Eighteenth  street.  Altoona,  Pa. 

S.  €*.  Ilcvei'l;^',  Blacksmith,   Horse  Shoeing  a  Specialty.  2320 
ICighth  avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 

T.   IV.   Otto,  924  Seventeenth  street ,  .Miooi  1    '  ,,,>■,, 

All  goods  at  rock -bottom  prices. 

J.  I>.  Fay,  Fancy  and  Imported  Groceries.  Calvert  Block.  Elev 
enth  street,  Altoona.  Pa. 

Ilarr,y  RaiikN,  Barber,  1022  Chestnut  avetuie,  Altoona,  Pa. 


C'.  H.  Taylor,  Druggist  of  30  Years' Experience,  1000  Lexington 
avenue,  Altoona,  Pa. 

Altoona   Rair.y   €0.,  the   Butter   Market   of   Altoonr, 
Green  avenue,  Altoona.  Pa. 


Cir.  W.  BeiiNOii,  Barber.  1414  Tenth  avenue.  Altonnn.  Pa. 


SliieldM^  Bottlill^  Co..    ;   1  .^<\<ii  n    1     n  i 
Julius  Burke,  Proprietor. 

W.  H,  IjlviiigNtou.  No.  202  Chestnut  avenue,  Altoona.  Pa. 
Butcher. 


John   ^l4*AI}iriii\v.  Shoemaker,  SoS  Seventeenth  avenue,  Al- 
toona, Pa. 


II.  W.  Ifflll^'r.  BnrlxM-    ^' -'•''>  ^-''---I'tli  -.^-.-n.,,.     \1toot, 

11.   It.   Vaii^iin,  2028  Eighth  avenue,  Altoona,  Pa.,  General 

Merchandise. 

Cacorge    Brei>*aflier,   908   Eleventh   avenue.   Alloon 
White  Star  Grocer>'  and  Produce  Co 

Rnke  A'  .irtlinr.  Liverymen,  H14  Green  avenue,Altoona, Pa.. 
Bell  Telephone  1252,  Ph<enix  Telephone  i^'  . 

Altoona  ^attre!4.«i  Mannt*a«*turln}>;  i  **■■ 

nue,  Altoona,  Pa.,  Phtenix  Telephone 5<r 


^IMHSTOmHSS^^^^ART)^ 


J.  H.  Reader.      J.  T.  Reader.      A.  E.  Hopf.man 

Reader   Bros.   &   Hoffman, 


MANUFACTURERS  OF 


'  lUm  Boilers,  Eeiipse  Hot  ftir  Furnaoe. 

Works  adjoining  the  A.  G.  Morris  (.*l^  Son's  Foundry  and"^ 
Machine  Shop.  Telephone  103.  We  are  prepared  to  build  Boilers. 
Steam  and  Hot  Water  House  Heating,  Boilers,  Stacks  and  all 
kinds  of  Tanks.  The  Reader  Spark  Arrester,  Chutes  for  convey- 
ing coal  and  stone,  etc.  Barrow  Hopper  and  Sheet  Metal  work 
in  general.  Repairing  a  specialty  and  at  .short  notice.  We  guar- 
antee .satisfaction.     J.  H.  Reader,  Mgr.,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

The  Typone  Times. 


VOLUME  XVll. 


TYRONE,  PA. 


$1.00  PER  YEAR. 


HARRY  A.  THOnPSON,  Editor  and  Publisher. 


Newstai-kr  and  |oi!  PiMxriNi;  E-;i  aulishmknt. 


PhOU.NIX    'riilKPHONE.         ' 


TyroneBrewing^ 

TYRONE,  PA. 

pype  laijep  im  ami  xxxx  poptef. 


CHAS.  WOODIN,  Prop. 
First-class  Livery  and  liar  Attached. 

&OT}tpal  Hotel, 


G.  M.  WflPUE,,  Prop. 


Tyrone,  Pa. 


AlTMMX 


F.  A.  WINTER, 

Largest  Music  House.   Kvery- 

tliing  known  in  Music. 
1425  ICleventh  a\e.,  Altoona. 


1>.  h.  (     ■:■  :.  .1.  .  1.  Allo<l  (;olcin;i:i,  ,      ,       .    ,  .,,     .,, 

.  *»  ''    I'    '  "I'''";!!!.  I  .  Allen  I  iilriiiaii 

Odorless  Excavating  Co.  -,  ,  „ 

<!uaniiit(.H"    50    oalloiis   to   evory  (jOleman     I^POS., 

barrul  in  reiuovinjj;  contciits  of  piivy  (iKnwcrt^  m 

vaults      Call  at   McGiatlTs  coal  of-  ^,~  -^^  , 

li.-e  1(104  (Jroim  ave..  or  a<ld.v.ss  Box  J^rnall       FrUIIS, 

.>s,  Altooua.  t/orri'spondoiice  prompt-  v_y  1       \  ' 

1  y  .iiisw  ri((l,     Ciik'nian  Bros.  BoxH- 

GASH  GHOGEH, 

Ivighth  Avenue  ami  Fourteenth  Sited,  Altoona,  Pa. 
Liberal  discount  on  orders  of  $2.50  and  upwards. 


Good  Sample  Rooms.     All  modern  Conveniences  im    the  Travel 

ing  Public. 

M.  CARROLL,  Pi"]'  Hellwood,  Pa. 

BEL-L-    HOUSE, 

Bdlwood,  Pa. 
LAWRENCE  LEHRSCH,  Proprietor. 
First  Class  Accommodations  at  Moderate  Rates. 


KoiH'king  A  ]?Iere«lit1i,  Druggists.  Soda  Bicarb,  Bell  wood,  Pa. 

Iiiiics*.«i  Drug  Store,  one  of  Bellwood's  Pioneer  Plstablishments. 
Main  Street,  corner  Cambria.     Buy  your  Druus  here. 

J.  W.  HoiK'k.  Furniture  and  Hard\v:i!  Mini    -I       lull 

wood,  Pa. 

THE  MORNING  TRIBUNE,  published  every  day  i-x(e|»t  Suii<l:iy,  al.s..  weik. 
ly.  Latest  Icleprapliie  rei)ort.s.  Bot»k  and  .lol)  (  Mli.  i' r<.im.l.  jr.  !"»(iii 
&  Pitcairn,  Twelfth  street,  bet.  Uth  and  12 1 ' 

THE  ALTOONA  TIMES,  m.niiiTi(]r  dcniofr.ilic-  nuWN|)rt|»fi.  daily  e.\«  opl  Sun 
day— all  liiL-  laws.  Also,  Book  and  .lob  Print  in;,'.  P<»tl«T.  (Jm-r,  KM 
ley  &  Co.,  1226  Eleventh  avciuie,  Altoona,  I'  > 


ALTOONA  GAZETTE,  |>nblishcd  every  eveninji'.  e.\<-»p(  >unday.  daily  ami 
weekly,  by  llic  (iazette  Co..  KK")  JCkventh  avenue,  .\ltooua.  Pa.  Book 
and  .Job   I'rintin};;. 


THE  MIRROR,  an  evoiiiu- ^ i  ,    ... ^.  ,.... 

hibli'  style.     H.  &  W.  H.  Sloi»,  publi.sliers,  1014  11th  Ave.,  Altoona,  Pa. 


^YRONR   BUSINESS   CARDS. 


IT.  O.  <)i*aiii|»toii.  Barber  Shop,  1119  Pennsylvania  avenue, 
Tyrone,  Pa. 

Oeorg'e  A.  Walker,  vStaple  and  Fancy  Groceries,  and  Fruit 
in  Season,  Pennsylvania  avenue,  between  Twelfth  and  Thir- 
teenth streets,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

Fried ly  A:  liaiip.  Fresh  and  Cured  Meats,  Pennsylvania 
avenue,  between  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  streets,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

Ke>'»«toiie  IffoteK  F.  J.  Miller,  Proprietor,  First  Class  P)ar 
Attached,  Pennsylvania  avenue,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

Kiiipire  lloiiKe,  C.  A.  Baumgrirdner,  Proprietor,  First  Class 
Bar  Attached,  Pennsylvania  avenue  and  Kleventh  street,  Ty- 
rone, Pa.     5§ 1. 00  to  $1.50 per  day. 

John  W.  If  II liter.  Barber  Shop,  West  Tenth  street,  Tyrone, 
Pa. 

4iJeorg-e  V.  I>avis,  Manufacturer  of  Brick,  Tyrone.  Pa. 


The   J.    H.  Oillaiii  C'o.,  Wholesale  Groceries,  Tyrone,  Pa 


•I.  •!.   M'lliiiore.   Manufacturer  Carriages,  Wagons  and  Cien- 
eral  Blacksniithing.  South  Logan  avenue.  Tyrone,  Pa. 

Stevens,   OM-eii.s    &    Paseoe,  Attorneys-at-Law,    Tyrone, 
Pa.  A.  A.  Stevens,  G.  L.  Owens,  W.  L.  Paseoe. 


.1.  li.  ISottorf  &  <.'o..  Staple  and  Fancy  Groceries,  Notions, 
etc.  Corner  Washington  avenue  and  Tenth  street,  Tyrone, Pa. 

H.  ll^  Cutler,  Plumber,  iii  West  Tenth  .street,  Tyrone,  Pa. 


WilliK,  the  Barber.  First  National  Bank  Building,  East  Tenth 
street.  Tyrone,  Pa. 

I>r.  Jaiiie.s  A.  IVitteii,  Dentist,  Study  Block,  Corner  Penn- 
.sylvania  avenue  and  Tenth  street,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

A.  K,  iflarkel,  D.  D.  S.,  11 14  Pennsylv^ania  avenue, 

Tyrone,  Pa. 

^latt.  Jj,  Alli»iOii,  only  exclusive  Job  Printer.  Commercial 
work  a  specialty.     Tyrone,  Pa. 

Iflieliael  IiOii<l,  Black.smithing  in  all  its  branches.  Hor.se 
vShoeing  a  specialty,  Blair  avenue,  between  Tenth  and  Herald 
streets,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

A.  1*.  I.iaiiea!<iter,  Barber  Shop,  1346  Logan  avenue, 

Tyrone,  Pa. 

If.  C  Spraiiltle.  dealer  in  Staple  and  Fancy  Groceries,  Coun- 
try Produce.     Cor.  Penn.sylvania  ave.  and   14th  St.,  Tyrone. 


'V\  I'.LTSiNEss  Cards. 

T.vroiie  Herald,  Daily  and  Weekly,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

J.  IE.  lloltKinger  Ua    .  ■,.,„,.^,    ,..,...  ....v.    , 

and  1237  Pennsylvania  avenne,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

A.  F.  ]flartiii.  Merchant  Tailor,    1044  Pennsylvania  avenue, 
Tyrone,  Pa,     Clothing  made  at  popular  prices. 

Prof.  H".  L..  IJp^lit.r,  Sixteenth  street  and  Columl.i.v  .,>....... 

Tyrone,  Pa.,  Composer  and  Arranger  of  Music  for  Bands, etc. 

I>r.  I>.  J.  Appleby,  Phy.sician  and  Surgeon,  1251  Penn.syl- 
vania  avenue,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

lliek.S  &  Troiltwiiie.  Fresh  vShad  antl  Meats,  comei  i.wi^.ui 

avenue   and   P\^urteenth  .street,  and   Washington  avenue  and 
Tenth  street,  Tyrone,  P.t. 

Ifloek  A:  Biiek,  Staple  and   Fancy  Groceries,  29\\\-i  icnih 
street,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

W.  E.  Hoffman,  manufacturer  of  Ice  Cream.  Water  Ic. 
Bakery  Goods,  1342  Logan  avenue,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

Frank  Ci}ar«lner,  Staple  and  Fancy  Groceries,  West  Fifteenlli 
.street  and  Adams  avenue,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

J.  T.  Plumnier,  Staple  and  Fancy  Groceries, corner  Twenty- 
first  street  and  Columbia  avenue,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

Pennsylvania  Honse,  Troutwine  Bros.,  Proprietors,  Peiu)- 
sylvania  avenue, between  Tenth  and  Eleventh  titreets, Tyrone. 

William  ISofTey,  Tailor,  Cleaning  and  Repairing  in  tliemo.-t 
artistic  style,  1226  Pennsylvania  avenue,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

H.  H.  Straf  iff'.  Guns  and  Sporting  Goods,  Bicycles  and  Bic> 
cle  Repairing.  121 2  Pennsylvania  avenue,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

John  Ijonj>;enl»aelicr  ,&  Son,  Fresh  :in<l  Sinokcd  Meals. 
1 1 16  Pennsylvania  avenue,  Tyrone,  P:! 

William   Vogt,  Clothier   and    Furni.sher,    vSouthea.st    Corner 
Pennsylvania  avenue  and  Eleventh  street,  Tyrone,  T^  > 

John  rH.  KienKle,  Bakery  o- »•*'''•' •''■■>"^"-^-  ii'-i  Hn.. , 
and  Tobacco,  Tyrone,  Pa 

Nprankle  ISro.s.,  Fresh  and  Salt   Meals,  West  Tenth  .streel, 
Tyrone,  Pa 

•lOlin     MWm    ^OX.   V  iLiii.s  .tini   v~>j'wi  1.111^   ' 

Repairing,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

J.  v.  ^eConaliy,  Boots  and  Shoes,  Fine  Repairing  a   Spe- 
cialty, Tyrone,  P.i 

J.  Mel'.  Davis,  I,i\ei_\  :iii' 

(,in  alley)  Tyrone,  Pa. 


Tyrone  Business  Card.'- 


p*^^^.  Sliellcnberger,  Livery  and  Boarding  Stable,  Alley  F, 
5.  between  Tenth  and  Eleventh  streets,  T}rone,  Pa. 

Ward  House  Barber  Nliop,  George  W.Bryant, Proprietor, 

Tyrone,  Pa. 

I>r.  Tlia€l«1eii.s  Ntiiie.  Dentist,  Blair  County  Bank  Building, 
Tyrone,  Pa. 

Andrew  H.  iTIeUaiiiaiit,    Attorney-at-Law,    Blair   Count}' 
Bank  Building,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

W.  <M.  Seott,  House   P\irnishing   (loods,  Flynn    Block,  Penn- 
sylvania avenue,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

CiJeorji^e    II    Oariier,  Prescription   Druggist,    P'lynn    Block, 
Pennsylvania  avenue,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

I>.  i.i,   Owens,  General    Merchandise,    Penns\'l\ania    a\cnue, 
Tyrone,  Pa. 

I^aiiiiiel  Cosel,  Clothier  and  P\irnisher,  Flynn  Block, Penn.sjl- 
vania  avenue,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

C.  It.  Til o III !>«$<» II,  Barber  Shoj),  Blair  County  Bank  Building, 
Tyrone,  Pa. 

W.  II.  Agiiew,  High  Grade  Photography,  Pennsylvania  avt- 
inie,  near  Depot,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

I>r.  Kliiier  Crawford,  Dentist,  Walsh  Building,  977  Penn- 
sylvania avenue,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

J.  A.   Ilolfiiiaii,  Builder  of  Wagons  and  Vehicles.    Repairing 
a  vSpecialty.     Ea,st  Tenth  street,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

Martin,  the  Tailor,  Fine  Tailoring  a  Specialty,  1044  Pennsyl- 
vania avenue,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

Captain  I>.  R.  Miller,  Pension  and  Claim  Agency  and  Notary 
Public,  Herald  Building,  (.second  floor)  Tyrone,  Pa. 

J.  linden  Heiir^',  Engineer  and  Surveyor,  Herald  Building, 
(.second  floor)  Penn.sylvania  avenue,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

*f'  W.  Fislier,  Stoves   and   Tinware.  loio  Pennsylvania  a\'e- 
nue,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

Ilieks  &  Templeton,  Attorneys-at-Law,  984  Pennsylvania 

avenue,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

Ciray's   Tailoring    £stablls]iineiit,    1113    Penn.svlvania 

avenue,  C.  G.  Gray,  Agent,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

ISriiKlle  4&  Moore,  Groceries,  Provisions  and  Country  Pro- 
duce, Penn.sylvania  avenue,  Tyrone,  Pa. 

I>r.  B.  J.  Fiilkerson,  Physician   and  Surgeon,  11 17  Penn- 
sylvania avenue,  Tyrone,  Pa. 


Cities  and  Towns  of  the  County. 

Altoona — Location  and  Description. 


Altoona  is  situated  about  thirty  miles  southwest  of  the  geo- 
graphical center  of  the  great  state  of  Pennsylvania,  just  at  the 
eastern  base  of  the  Allegheny  mountains;  near  the  headwaters  of 
the  Juniata  river;  the  "  Blue  Juniata"  of  Indian  song  and  legend, 
and  on  the  Pennsylvania  railroad.  It  lies  in  the  upper  or  western 
end  of  Logan  vallej',  or  "Tuckahoe"  as  this  vicinity  was  called  in 
early  daN'S,  in  the  central  part  of  Logan  Township,  in  Blair  County. 
By  rail  it  is  117  miles  east  of  Pittsburgh  and  235  west  of  Phila- 
delphia, although  an  air  line  would  be  one-fourth  to  one-third 
less.  Baltimore  and  Washington  are  150  miles  southeast  and 
Buffalo  200  miles  directly  north,  but  by  rail  the  distance  to  these 
points  is  nearly  twice  as  great. 

Originally  laid  out  in  a  narrow  valley,  it  has  filled  this  and 
climbed  the  hills  on  either  side  and  grown  in  all  directions,  so  that 
a  large  part  of  it  is  built  on  hills  of  moderate  elevation.  The 
city  lines  as  now  established  embrace  a  territory  two  and  one- 
fourth  miles  long  and  one  and  one-fourth  miles  wide  ;  but  it  is 
built  up  as  a  city  a  distance  of  four  miles  long  and  two  miles 
wide.  Less  than  fifty  years  old,  it  has  grown  with  such  surpris- 
ing rapidity  that  it  is  now  the  eighth  city  in  the  state,  in  popula- 
tion, and  second  to  none  in  material  prosperity. 

The  lowest  ground  in  the  city  is  11 20  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  ocean  and  the  hills  rise  100  to  150  feet  higher,  making  the 
site  and  surroundings  picturesque  in  the  extreme  and  furnishing 
innumerable  points  of  observation,  from  which  nearly  the  entire 
city  may  be  taken  in  at  one  view;  yet  in  few  places  are  the  ascents 
so  abrupt  as  to  interfere  with  the  laying  out  and  grading  of  streets 
and  avenues.  The  railroad  passes  through  the  heart  of  the  city 
from  northeast  to  southwest  and  the  avenues  are  laid  out  parallel 
with  the  tracks.  Crossing  these  at  right  angles  are  thoroughfares 
of  equal  width  denominated  streets;  and  both  streets  and  avenues 
are  given  numerical  names,  beginning  at  a  base  line  and  number- 
ing in  regular  order  from  that.  First  avenue  is  near  the  south- 
eastern boundary'  of  the  city  and  First  street  near  the  northeastern 
limit.  To  this  general  rule  there  are  some  exceptions,  but  on  the 
whole  the  city  may  be  said  to  be  regularly  laid  out. 


62  Semi- Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


In  the  centr.il  part  ot  the  city,  on  the  lower  ground  are  lo- 
cated the  railroad  company's  machine  and  locomotive  shops, 
freight  warehouse,  passenger  station  and  an  immense  hotel, 
around  which  the  business  of  the  city  clusters,  this  being  the 
"hub;"  although  the  ever  increasing  business  of  the  road  has 
necessitated  the  building  of  additional  shops  at  two  places  in  the 
eastern  suburbs. 

Altoona  is  unique  in  having  its  site  away  from  any  consider- 
able stream  of  water,  but  to  the  northeast  a  short  distance  is  the 
Little  Juniata,  and  to  the  southwest  Mill  Run,  both  of  which 
furnish  a  considerable  quantit}^  of  pvire  mountain  spring  water, 
while  still  farther  to  the  west  and  south  are  Kittanning  and  Su- 
gar Run  streams,  the  former  being  the  source  of  supply  for  the 
city  water  system. 

The  character  of  the  buildings  of  Altoona  is  very  creditable; 
considering  her  youth.  There  are  7,000  to  8,000 dwellings  with- 
in city  limits,  inhabited  by  36,000  industrious,  frugal,  well-in- 
formed, cheerful  and  happy  people,  while  2,000  more  houses  and 
8  ,000  more  people  are  just  without  the  corporate  lines.  All  taken 
together  make  one  thriving  city  of  44,000  inhabitants;  and  the 
time  is  not  far  distant  when  its  boundary  lines  will  be  extended 
to  include  them  all. 

Aside  from  the  business  blocks,  which  are  nearly  all  brick, 
about  three-fourths  of  the  buildings  are  frame,  a  few  are  stone, 
and  the  remainder  brick  or  brick  cased;  nearly  all  are  neat  and 
comfortable;  many  are  more  than  this;  while  not  a  few  are  pala- 
tial in  architectural  design  and  finish,  the  home  of  wealth  and  re- 
finement. Eleventh  avenue,  on  the  northwest  side  of  the  rail- 
road, from  Eleventh  street  to  Seventeenth  street,  is  the  great  com- 
mercial and  mercantile  center,  where  real  estate  and  rents  are 
highest.  Here  are  the  banks,  newspapers,  postoffice,  the  great 
dry  goods  stores  and  hotels,  with  the  passenger  station  but  one 
square  distant.  The  wholesale  establishments  are  principally  on 
Eleventh  street  between  Tenth  and  Eleventh  avenues,  and  Green 
and  Eleventh  avenues  between  Seventh  and  Ninth  streets.  The 
manufacturing  district,  aside  from  the  railroad  shops,  is  on  Ninth 
and  Margaret  avenues,  west  of  Seventeenth  street;  and  this  is  also 
the  location  of  the  retail  coal  trade  and  dealers  in  builders  sup- 
plies, lime,  sand,  brick,  terra  cotta  pipe,  etc.  Other  business 
centers  of  considerable  importance  are  Twelfth  street  and  Eighth 
avenue,  Eighth  aveiiua  and  Ninth  street  and  Fourth  street  and 
Sixth  avenue.     The  most   desirable   residence  locations   are   on 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  (>^> 

Twelfth  avenue  between  Rleventh  and  Sixteenth  streets,  and 
Inroad  avenue,  tornitrly  Broad  street,  between  Nineteenth  and 
Twenty-seventh  streets,  and  h'ourteenth  avenut-  near  Ivkvcnlh 
street. 

Tlie  street  car  lines.  City  Passen<^er  and  Logan  \'alley,  motive 
l)Ower  electricity  since  1891.  traverse  Ivleventh  aveiuic  from  Ninth 
to  Ivigliteenth  streets,  Seventeenth  and  Bridge  streets  from  Klev- 
enth  to  Kighth  avenues,  down  the  later  to  Fourth  street,  thence 
to  Sixth  avenue  and  out  Sixth  to  First  street  and  Ijeyond  to  Bell- 
wood  junction;  the  entire  length  of  Chestnut  avenue  from  FUev- 
enth  street  to  First  street,  and  beyond  to  Juniata  borough  one 
mile,  and  Bellwood  seven  miles  northeastward;  on  Union  and 
Broad  avenues,  from  Eleventh  avenue  to  Thirty-first  street,  near 
tlie  new  suburb  Westmont;  trom  the  corner  of  Seventeenth  street 
and  F.ighth  avenue  to  Seventh  avenue,  out  Seventh  avenue  to 
Twenty-sixth  street,  and  along  the  street  to  Fifth  avenue  ;  from 
the  corner  of  Twelfth  street  and  Ninth  avenue  along  the  avenue 
to  Thirteenth  street,  along  the  street  to  Fifth  aveiuie  and  along 
this  avenue  to  Thirty-first  street,  and  southeastward  to  Lakemont 
Park  three  miles,  and  Hollidaysburg,   the  county  seat,  six  miles. 

There  are  now  over  eight  miles  of  finely  paved  streets  in  the 
city,  including  the  three  kinds  most  popular,  asphaltum.  concrete 
block  and  vitrified  brick,  extending  over  a  large  part  of  the  best 
])usiness  and  residence  portions  of  the  town,  and  the  coming  sea- 
son will  see  this  largely  augmented.  Altoona  is  well  sewered; 
having  a  sewer  system,  recently  completed,  capable  of  meeting 
the  requirements  of  a  city  of  100,000  inhabitants. 

Altoona  is  supplied  with  water  from  two  mountain  streams 
which  empty  into  the  gathering  and  storing  reservoirs  at  Kittan- 
ning  Point,  a  picturesque  spot  six  miles  west  ot  the  city,  witliin 
the  circle  cf  the  famous  "Horse-shoe"  bend  of  the  Pennsylvania 
railroad  and  under  the  very  shadow  of  the  Alleghenies'  crest. 
The  drainage  area  is  wood  covered  mountain  sides  and  the  water 
consccjuently  pure  and  cold  and  sweet.  It  is  bronght  to  Altoona 
through  large  iron  pipes  by  force  of  gravity  which  is  suflicient  to 
carry  it  to  all  residences  in  the  city.  The  waterworks  are  owned 
and  managed  by  the  municipality. 

The  city  building  is  situated  on  the  corner  of  Twelfth  street 
and  Thirteenth  avenue.  Here  the  mayor  has  his  office,  the  police 
head(iuarters  and  city  prison  are  here,  and  the  office  of  water  su- 
perintendent and  street  conunissioner  as  well  as  the  council 
chambers,  where  common  and  select  councils  meet  regularly  twice 


64  Setni-Cententiial  History  of  Blair  County. 


a  month.  The  other  cit}^  officials  have  their  offices  in  rented 
rooms  pending  the  erection  of  a  magnificent  new  City  Hall  to 
cost  $100,000. 

Altoona,  although  the  metropolis  of  the  county,  containing 
more  than  half  the  total  population,  is  not  the  county  seat,  not 
having  been  in  existence  when  that  was  established  at  Hollidays- 
burg,  then  a  thriving  borough.  The  court  house  and  county 
offices  are  easily  accessible,  however,  by  electric  cars  which  arrive 
and  depart  every  quarter  hour  between  six  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing and  ten  o'clock  at  night, 

The  society  of  Altoona  is  excellent,  and  the  people  are  of 
more  than  average  intelligence;  the  undesirable  foreign  element, 
so  predominant  in  some  cities,  is  almost  entirel 3' absent  here.  The 
citizens  of  foreign  birth  are  mostly  German  and  English,  of  the 
educated  class,  and  are  among  the  most  respected.  There  is  a 
church  building  to  every  eight  hundred  of  population,  nearly  all 
denominations  being  represented,  Catholic,  Protestant  and  Jewish, 
all  well  attended.  The  public  schools  are  of  the  best  and  there 
are  beside,  a  number  of  parochial  and  private  schools,  kinder- 
gardens  and  commercial  schools. 

Every  citizen  of  Altoona  has  a  business,  profession,  or  trade, 
and  works  at  it;  few  drones  or  idle  people  are  found  in  this  busy 
hive  ot  industry.  As  might  be  expected  where  industry  reigns, 
the  people  are  law  abiding,  peaceful,  moral;  criminals  are  few, 
crimes  rare,  litigation  not  popular.  While  there  are  a  number 
of  legal  gentlemen  resident  here  it  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  most 
of  them  depend  more  upon  the  results  of  successful  business  ven- 
tures for  their  income,  than  on  fees  received  from  legitimate  law 
practice. 

While  from  its  elevation,  it  might  be  inferred  that  the  climate 
would  be  severe,  the  facts  are  otherwise;  the  mountains  break  the 
force  of  the  north  and  west  winds  and  the  winters  are  seldom  more 
rigorous  than  on  lower  levels  in  the  same  latitude  elsewhere,  and 
the  usually  prevailing  weather  of  spring  and  fall  is  marvelously 
delightful.  The  air  is  so  pure  and  stimulating,  so  full  ot  ozone, 
that  to  those  in  good  health  mere  existence  is  a  delicious  luxury 
and  even  the  invalid  enjoys  living  until  the  last. 

On  the  whole  Altoona  is  a  veritable  "gem  of  the  mountain," 
beautiful  to  view  and  pleasant  to  live  in;  its  excellent  qualities 
are  only  beginning  to  be  appreciated  and  understood.  As  time 
passes  it  will  continue  to  grow  in  size  and  in  the  affections  of 
those  who  have  their  homes  here,  or  who  for  limited  periods  visit 
the  place,  to  feast  their  eyes  on  the  beauties  of  nature  so  lavishly 
displayed,  and  breathe  the  pure  invigorating  air. 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  65 


Suburbs  and  Surroundings. 


Millville,  which,  as  the  term  is  used,  comprises  Allegheny 
and  part  of  Westmont  and  is  all  that  suburb  lying  southwest  of 
the  city  line  at  Twenty-seventh  Street  and  northwest  of  Ninth 
Avenue  and  the  Hollidaysburg  Branch  Railroad.  The  greater 
part  of  this  suburb,  as  well  as  part  of  the  cit}^  now  within  the 
Fifth  Ward,  was  plotted  and  laid  out  b}^  Dr.  S.  C.  Baker  and 
called  Allegheny  about  the  year  1870;  but  a  smaller  plot  adjoin- 
ing Allegheny  on  the  west  was  called  Millville,  and  as  Millville, 
the  town  on  the  two  plots,  has  been  known  for  twenty  years. 
However,  the  railroad  station  on  the  branch  at  this  point,  about 
one  and  one-fourth  miles  from  the  Altoona  Station,  is  called 
Allegheny  Furnace.  Millville  is  quite  level  and  is  building  up 
rapidly,  being  a  very  pleasant  residence  place.  It  is  not  incor- 
porated . 

Westmont,  just  west  of  Millville,  is  growing  up  very  rapidly 
and  seems  destined  to  become  the  most  popular  suburb  of  Altoo- 
na. This  resvilts  largely  from  the  enterprise  and  liberality  of  its 
projector,  E.  H.  Flick,  Esq.,  who  sells  the  lots  for  a  very  low 
price  and  on  easy-  terms,  and  who  has  not  only  set  shade  trees 
along  the  streets  and  avenues,  but  has  built  a  large  number  of 
fine  houses  there.  The  City  Passenger  Railway  extends  from 
the  heart  of  the  city,  along  Broad  Avenue,  through  Millville  and 
to  within  a  few  squares  of  Westmont,  while  the  main  line  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  skirts  it  on  the  northwest,  and  a  station 
will  doubtless  be  located  there  at  an  early  day.  It  will  be  about 
two  miles  west  of  the  Altoona  Depot. 

Northeast  of  Eighteenth  Avenue  and  east  of  Eleventh  Street 
is  a  populous  district,  outside  the  city  line,  known  as  Fairview. 
It  is  situated  on  ground  considerably  elevated  above  the  central 
parts  of  Altoona,  is  a  pleasant  place  to  live  and  is  the  home  of  a 
great  man}'  emploj'es  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Car  Shops. 

Oakton  lies  on  high  ground  west  of  Fvleventh  Street  and  north- 
west of  Twenty-fourth  Avenue.  .".  Millcrtown  is  just  north- 
west of  the  Fifth  Ward  beyond  Eighteenth  Ax-enue  and  west  of 
Washington  Avenue  and  Eighteenth  Street.  It  has  about  500 
inhabitants  and  is  soon  to  be  incorporated  with  some  of  the  sur- 
rounding territory  as  a  Borough  by  the  name  "Logan."  .'.  New- 
burg  is  northwest  of  Millertown,  along  the  Dry  Gap  Road,  which 
is  a  continuation  of  Washington  Avenue  over  the  mountains  to 
Ashville,  Cambria  Countv. 


66  Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


CoUinsville  is  the  oldest  town  in  Logan  Township  and  was 
the  location  of  the  Postofficefrom  i8 17  until  Altoona  was  founded. 
It  lies  southeast  ot  the  Sixth  Ward  of  Altoona,  in  Pleasant  Val- 
ley, and  is  reached  by  an  extension  of  Sixteenth  Street  from  First 
avenue,  the  distance  being  but  one-half  mile.  Only  about  200 
people  live  here  and  it  presents  a  decayed  and  ancient  appearance, 
but  in  the  immediate  vicinity  are  several  fine  farms  with  good 
farm  buildings  and  large  thrifty  orchards,  and  Pleasant  Valley  is 
not  a  misnomer. 

Juniata  is  an  incorporated  Borough  and  lies  about  one-half 
mile  Northeast  of  the  city  line  at  North-Second  Street  and  Chest- 
nut Avenue,  on  the  north  siue  of  the  railroad.  It  is  the  location 
of  the  Juniata  lyocomotive  Shops  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company.  But  the  borough  lines  do  not  take  in  the  works,  as 
the  Company  prefers  being  on  the  outside.  There  had  been  a 
small  village  occupying  part  of  the  present  site  of  Juniata  for  ten 
or  more  years  prior  to  the  erection  of  the  Locomotive  Shops, 
known  as  Belleview,  but  not  incorporated.  On  the  erection  of 
these  shops,  however,  in  1889  buildings  sprung  up  like  magic 
around  them,  and  little  Belleview  had  such  a  boom  that  she  out- 
grew herself  and  her  name.  "Juniata"  was  adopted  as  the  most 
appropriate  name  and  a  borough  charter  was  obtained  August 
7th,  1893.  The  Logan  Valley  electric  cars  run  here  from  Altoona 
every  few  minutes  and  every  half  hour  a  car  goes  to  Bell  wood, 
five  miles  northeastward.  Juniata  has  in  addition  to  the  Loco- 
motive Shops  a  large  iceing  station  of  Armour  &  Co. ,  several 
stores,  a  fine  brick  school  building  and  three  churches,  also  a 
postoffice,  which,  as  there  is  another  Juniata  in  the  State,  is  called 
Kipple.  The  southern  terminus  of  the  Altoona,  Clearfield  and 
Northern  Railroad  is  at  Juniata,  the  passenger  station  being  on 
the  line  of  the  Electric  Railway  and  near  the  entrance  to  the 
ShoDS. 

East  End,  Greenwood  and  Pottsgrove  are  all  east  of  the 
Eighth  Ward  of  Altoona  and  on  the  south-eastern  side  of  the 
railroad.  They  have  a  combined  population  of  nearly  1,000  and 
will  eventually  all  grow  together  and  be  taken  into  the  city,  as 
the  Twentieth  Ward  perhaps.  One  George  Pottsgrove  built  a 
dam  on  the  little  mountain  stream  here  many  3-ears  ago  and  oper- 
ated a  small  saw  and  grist  mill  until  his  water  right  was  purchased 
by  the  Altoona  Gas  and  Water  Company  and  the  water  piped  to 
the  new  town  of  Altoona  in  1859. 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  67 


Llyswen  is  the  latest  suburb  to  be  added  to  Altoona  and  lies 
farthest  from  the  city,  being  on  the  Logan  \'alley  Electric  Rail- 
way, about  one  mile  south  of  the  city  line  at  Fifth  Avenue  and 
Twenty-seventh  Street.  This  is  intended  to  be  the  aristocratic 
suburb,  and  lots  are  sold  with  some  restrictions  as  to  buildings 
and  use.  A  number  of  fine  cottages  have  already  been  erected 
there  and  a  fine  station  and  waiting  room  by  the  Logan  Valley 
people,  whose  cars  pass  in  either  direction  every  fifteen  minutes. 

All  these  suburbs  are  in  Logan  Township,  and  with  the  pos- 
sible exception  of  Llyswen  should  be  taken  into  the  cit}^ 

Eastward  from  Altoona  two  and  one-half  miles,  on  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  is  Blair  Furnace  Station,  a  small  village  con- 
taining no  stores  nor  business  places.  It  is  the  nearest  station  to 
Juniata  and  but  half  a  mile  distant.  .".  The  next  station  east- 
ward is  Elizabeth  Furnace.  There  is  no  village  at  this  station, 
but  nearby  is  the  old  "Sabbath  Rest"  Furnace  and  a  postoffice 
with  that  hallowed  name,  given  to  it  in  the  earlj^  days  because 
the  owner  of  the  furnace  banked  the  fires  on  Saturday  night  and 
allowed  his  men  to  rest  on  Sunday,  contrary  to  the  custom  of 
most  other  iron  manufacturers  at  that  time. 

Westward  from  Altoona  on  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  is 
Kittanning  Point,  six  miles  distant.  No  town  here  nor  stores, 
but  there  are  coal  mines  and  villages  a  few  miles  up  the  gulch 
and  this  is  their  nearest  railroad  station.  The  famous  Horse 
Shoe  Bend  is  here  and  the  reservoirs  which  contain  Altoona's 
water  supply.  The  road  begins  to  ascend  the  highest  mountain 
here  and  the  grade  is  steep  most  of  the  way  for  seven  miles  to 
Bennington  just  on  the  county  line  and  only  a  small  place.  An 
iron  furnace  used  to  stand  here,  but  it  has  been  recently  torn 
down.  Leaving  Bennington  the  read  passes  under  the  apex  of 
the  mountain  by  a  tunnel  one  mile  long  and  the  tovvn  of  Gallitzin 
is  reached,  fourteen  miles  from  Altoona,  in  Cambria  County  and 
within  the  Mississippi  Willey.  C.allitzin  has  i,ooo  to  1,200 
inhabitants  and  is  an  important  mining  town.  Three  miles  farth- 
er west  is  Cresson,  only  a  small  place  of  500  to  600  inhabitants, 
but  growing.  It  is  the  location  of  the  Cresson  Springs  Hotel,  an 
immense  hostelry  owned  by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  and  popu- 
lar as  a  summer  resort.  Two  railroads  branch  off"  from  here  to 
the  northward,   to  Coalport  and  Ebensburg.  The  next  few 

stopping  places  are  small  mining  towns,  and.  the  first  place  of 
importance  is  Johnstown,  famous  the  world  over . for, its  awful 
floDzl    liDrror,    May    31st,     rSSg.     Also  famous  as  the  location  of 


68  Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 

the  Cambria  Iron  Conlpan3^  one  of  the  largest  iron  and  steel 
manufacturers  in  the  United  States.  Johnstown  is  thirty-nine 
miles  west  of  Altoona.  .".  The  other  places  of  importance  be- 
tvveen  Altoona  and  Pittsburg  are  Blairsville  Intersection,  where 
the  West  Penn  and  the  Indiana  Branches  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  diverge  from  the  main  line,  Latrobe,  Greensburg,  Jean- 
nette,  Irwin  and  Braddock. 

Southward  from  Altoona  the  Hollidaysburg  and  Morrison's 
Cove  and  Williamsburg  Branches  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
extends  to  Eldorado,  three  miles  from  Altoona,  200  to  300  in- 
habitants. .".  Duncansville,  six  miles,  1,000  inhabitants. 
Hollidaysburg  seven  miles,  the  County  seat  and  containing,  with 
its  sister  borough  Gay  sport,  4,000  people.  .'.  Roaring  Spring 
seventeen  miles,  where  there  are  extensive  paper  mills  and  flouring 
mills.  .'.  Martinsburg  twenty-two  miles,  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  County  and  in  a  rich  agricultural  district.  .'.  Henrietta 
a  small  place,  formerly  of  some  note  as  the  location  of  some  of 
the  Cambria  Iron  Company's  mines  and  quarries.  From  here  it 
is  but  three  miles  across  the  mountain  to  the  Huntingdon  and 
Broad  Top  Railroad  in  Bedford  County.  .".  Eastward  from 
Hollidaysburg  the  Williamsburg  Branch  extends  some  fifteen 
miles  along  the  Frankstown  Branch  of  the  Juniata  past  Franks- 
town,  the  oldest  town  in  the  County,  but  now  half  deserted  and 
lallen  to  deca3^  with  but  100  to  200  inhabitants.  .".  Williams- 
burg, a  place  of  1,000  inhabitants,  noted  as  the  birth  place  of  a 
number  of  prominent  citizens  now  of  Altoona.  It  was  formerly 
on  the  main  line  of  travel  between  Philadelphia  and  Pittsburg, 
The  old  Pennsylvania  Canal  passed  that  way,  and  before  the 
locomotive's  whistle  had  been  heard  in  a  dozen  Pennsylvania 
towns,  steam  packets  sailed  past  this  then  thriving  burg  at  the 
rapid  rate  of  four  to  five  miles  per  hour. 

Northward  from  Altoona  the  Altoona,  Clearfield  and  Northern 
Railroad,  starting  from  Juniata,  climbs  up  the  mountain  twelve 
hundred  feet  in  a  distance  of  six  miles  to  Wopsononock,  where 
there  is  a  good  hotel  and  other  features  which  make  it  a  popular 
summer  resort.  Excursion  trains  loaded  with  pleasure  seekers 
leave  the  Ju^niata  Station  hourly  on  Sundays,  during  the  summer, 
for  this  resort.  A  considerable  amount  of  lumber  and  coal  is 
brought  down  the  mountain  in  the  winter  over  this  road.  It  ex- 
tends several  miles  beyond  Wopsononock,  but  does  not  reach  anj^ 
town  of  importance,  although  the  intention  is  to  continue  it  to 
Phillipsburg. 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  69 


Northwest  from  Altoona,  starting  from  Sixteenth  Street  and 
Eleventh  Avenue,  long  before  the  city  was  laid  out,  a  country 
road  extended  up  what  is  now  called  Washington  Avenue,  and 
beyond  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain  two  miles  and  then  obliquely 
to  the  mountain  top  four  miles,  to  the  "Buckhorn,"  which  is  the 
name  applied  to  an  old  tavern  at  the  summit  of  the  mountain. 
This  was  .the  old  Dry  Gap  Road  and  is  still  so  called.  From  the 
Buckhorn  it  begins  to  descend  the  mountain  and  four  miles 
farther  Ashville  in  Cambria  County  is  reached.  The  Blair  County 
line  is  at  the  summit  of  the  Allegheny  mountains,  a  few  hundred 
yards  east  of  the  Buckhorn. 


History  of  Altoona. 


An  exposition  of  the  present  status  of  a  city  leads  naturally  to 
inquiry  regarding  its  history  and  growth.  This  inquiry  we  shall 
meet  and  endeavor  to  satisfy  in  the  following  historical  sketch: 

The  decade  between  1850  and  i860  was  a  most  eventful  one 
in  the  history  of  the  United  States.  It  witnessed  the  opening  era 
■  of  successful  and  general  railroad  building  and  the  culminination 
of  the  causes  which  led  up  to  the  great  civil  war.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  this  ten  year  period  Altoona  had  her  birth,  at  its 
close  she  was  a  flourishing  Borough  of  3,500  inhabitants,  stand- 
ing where  before  was  only  forest,  sterile  fields  and  one  poor  farm 
house.  The  224  acres  of  farm  and  woodland,  on  which  the  orig- 
inal Altoona  was  built  and  which  is  now  principally  included 
between  Eleventh  and  Sixteenth  Streets  and  Fourth  and  Four- 
teenth Avenues,  constituted  the  farm  of  David  Robeson  and  was 
not  worth  more  than  $2,500  for  farming  purposes  at  that  time, 
but  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  then  pushing  to  com- 
pletion their  all-rail  route  from  Philadelpliia  to  Pittsburg,  and 
looking  for  a  site  for  their  shops  wanted  it  and  therefore  Mr. 
Robeson,  b}''  a  fortunate  early  discovery  of  the  fact,  was  able  to 
obtain  his  own  price  for  it. 

Archibald  Wriglit,  of  Philadelphia,  acting  presumably  for  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  though  just  what  relation  he 
sustained  to  it  is  not  clear,  purchased  the  Robeson  farm  of  223 
acres  and  123  perches  for  $11,000.  The  deed  was  dated  April 
24th,  1849,  and  is  recorded  at  Hollidaysburg  in  Deed  Book,  Vol. 
'■  B,"  page  441 .  The  boundaries  of  the  farm  were  about  on  the 
present  lities  of  Eleventh  street  from  Fourth  to  Fourteenth  avenues 


70  Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


on  the  northeast  and  Sixteenth  street  between  same  avenues  on 
the  southwest,  Fourth  avenue  from  Eleventh  to  Sixteenth  streets 
on  the  southeast  and  Fourteenth  avenue  between  the  same  streets 
on  the  northwest.  On  this  tract  of  land  original  Altoona  was  laid 
out  during  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1849,  and  the  plot,  as  laid 
out,  was  acknowledged  by  Archibald  Wright,  in  Philadelphia, 
February  6th,  1850,  but  was  not  recorded  until  February  loth, 
1854,  at  the  time  the  young  town  was  organized  into  a  Borough. 
This  original  plot  is  on  record  now  in  Hollidaysburg  in  Deed 
Book,  Vol.  "  E,"  page  167,  It  is  on  parchment  and  the  original 
is  pasted  into  the  book.  At  the  same  time  another  plot,  almost 
an  exact  counterpart,  was  recorded  as  the  "  official  "  plot  of  the 
Borough.  On  these  early  plots  the  streets  and  avenues  have 
names  instead  of  numbers. 

Altoona  in  this  plot  is  described  as  lying  in  ' '  Tuckahoe  Val- 
ley," that  being  the  name  applied  to  this  upper  end  of  Logan 
Valley,  which  extends  to  Tyrone.  Adjoining  the  Altoona  plot  at 
that  time  was  the  John  McCartney  farm  on  the  northwest,  the 
McCormick  and  Andrew  Green  farms  on  the  northeast,  the  Wil- 
liam Bell  farm  on  the  southeast  and  the  William  Louden  farm  on 
the  southwest.  The  Louden  aud  Green  farms  were  soon  after 
plotted  and  offered  for  sale  in  building  lots,  and  later  all  the  Mc- 
Cartney and  most  of  the  Bell  farms  have  gone  the  same  way.  At 
the  time  of  the  founding  of  Altoona  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company  was  a  young  corporation,  their  charter  having  only 
been  granted  in  1846,  and  they  had  not  yet  completed  their  road 
from  Philadelphia  to  Pittsburg,  although  it  was  surveyed  and  in 
process  of  construction.  It  was  completed  to  Altoona  from  the 
east,  single  track,  on  the  same  line  as  now  in  1850  and  extended 
from  here  to  Y  Switches  near  Duncansville  and  one  mile  from 
Hollidaysburg,  and  from  there  trains  ran  over  the  Allegheny 
mountains  on  the  old  Portage  Railroad,  a  state  institution  com- 
pleted in  1833.  The  Altoona  Passenger  Station  stood  near  the 
corner  of  Ninth  avenue  and  Twelfth  street  until  1S54,  when  the 
Pittsburg  Division  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  was  completed 
past  Kittanniiig  Point  on  its  present  line  and  a  new  depot  was 
built  at  the  present  location.  The  first  depot  on  the  corner  of 
Thirteenth  street  and  Tenth  avenue  was  a  two-story  brick  build- 
ing and  was  replaced  by  the  present  structure  in  1887.  The 
Logan  House  was  built  in  1854  5  by  the  Railroad  Company,  but 
did  not  extend  back  to  Eleventh  avenue  as  new  although  it  was 
an  immense  affair  and.  at  that  time,  greatly  out  of  proportion  to 
the  little  village  in  which  it  stood. 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  71 

The  two  lines  of  the  railroad  west  from  the  cit}',  the  one  com- 
pleted and  the  other  being  graded,  diverging  as  the}'  did  then  is 
accountable  for  the  peculiar  wedge  shape  of  the  site  of  the  Com- 
pany's first  shops,  and  the  fact  that  the  avenues  on  the  northwest 
and  southeast  sides  of  the  railroad  are  not  parallel  but  diverge  at 
an  angle  of  about  thirty  degrees  irom  Eleventh  street  westward. 

No  lots  were  sold  in  the  new  town  until  1831,  and  the  first 
deed  made,  as  the  records  at  HoUidaysburg  show,  was  February 
nth,  1 85 1,  for  two  lots  on  the  corner  of  Twelfth  avenue  and 
Thirteenth  street  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  price  Si 00  for 
the  two.     If  an}^  earlier  deeds  were  made  they  were  not  recorded. 

The  first  residence  in  Altoona  was  of  course  the  old  Robeson 
farm  house  which  was  of  logs  and  stood  within  the  square 
bounded  by  Tenth  and  Eleventh  avenues  and  Thirteenth  and 
Fourteenth  streets.  The  first  building  erected  after  Altoona  was 
laid  out  was  a  rough  board  one  to  be  used  as  an  office  for  the 
railroad  contractor  and  a  boarding  house  for  the  men;  it  also  stood 
in  the  square  last  mentioned,  near  the  old  farm  house. 

Beg"inning  in  1851  lots  sold  rapidly  and  buildings  went  up 
on  every  side;  the  new  town  grew  so  fast  that  early  in  1854 
when  but  little  over  three  years  old  it  was  incorporated  as  a 
borough  with  a  population  of  about  2,0(i0  people.  Churches 
and  schools  were  built,  hotels,  stores  and  a  bank  were  opened, 
a  newspaper  was  started  in  1855,  and  everything  prospered 
from  the  very  start.  A  plot  laid  out  by  Andrew  Green, 
northeast  of  Eleventh  street  and  called  (rreonsburg,  was 
taken  into  the  Borough  in  1855. 

In  1859  a  Gas  and  Water  Company  was  formed  by  private 
parlies  and  they  constructed  a  storage  reservoir  on  the  hill  at 
the  corner  of  Twelfth  street  and  Fifteenth  Avenue  and  piped 
water  to  it  from  Pottsgrove;  laid  mains  in  the  principal 
streets  to  carry  water  to  the  consumers.  They  also  erected 
gas  works  on  Eleventh  avenue  below  Ninth  street.  Water 
and  gas  were  supplied  by  this  company  first  on  December 
15th  of  that  year.  Simullancousl}-  with  the  water  works 
came  the  organization  of  fire  companies  and  a  fire  engine 
was  purchased,  the  first  being  a  hand  engine. 

The  census  of  I8OO  showed  the  borough's  p()i)ulation  to  be 
3,591.  Then  came  the  great  Kebellion  and  Altoona  was  a 
place  of  considerable  importance,  furnishing  cars  and  engines 
to  transport  soldiers  and  munitions  of  war,  as  well  as  her  full 
quota  of  men  to  defend  the  Union.      All    through    that    four 


72  Semi- Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


years'  period  Altoona  grew  and  throve.  After  the  war  closed 
the  citizens  erected  a  handsome  monument  in  Fairview  ceme- 
tery to  commemorate  her  fallen  heroes. 

The  city  charter  was  procured  in  February,  1868,  the 
bounds  being-  extended  so  as  to  take  in  the  territory  northeast 
to  First  street,  southeast  to  First  avenue,  southwest  to  Twen- 
ty-seventh street  and  northwest  to  Eig-hteenth  avenue,  with  a 
population  exceeding-  8,000.  In  1870  the  census  takers  found 
10,610  people  here.  In  1870  a  daily  paper,  the  S7m,  made  its 
appearance.  In  1868  a  market  house  was  built  at  the  corner 
of  Eleventh  avenue  and  Eleventh  street,  later  converted  into 
an  opera  house.  By  this  time  there  were  three  newspapers 
here,  two  banks,  thirteen  churches,  a  number  of  good  hotels, 
a  large  machine  shop  and  car  works,  additional  to  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company's  plant,  and  soon  after  (1872)  a 
rolling  mill  was  erected.  The  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany was  also  obliged  to  enlarge  their  works  at  this  time 
(1869-70),  and,  the  original  grounds  reserved  being  complete- 
ly occupied  with  shops,  tracks,  switches,  etc.,  a  larger  tract 
of  land  was  purchased  along  Chestnut  avenue  below  Seventh 
street  and  the  car  shops  were  erected  at  First  to  Fourth 
streets.  In  1872  the  city  purchased  from  the  Gas  and  Water 
Company  their  water  pipes  and  water  franchise  and  preceded 
to  build  a  reservoir  at  Kittanning  Point  and  lay  a  12-inch 
pipe  from  there  to  the  storage  reservoir  constructed  on  First 
avenue  between  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  streets.  About  the 
same  time  Eleventh  and  Eighth  avenues  were  macadamized, 
some  sewers  constructed,  and  the  city  issued  its  first  bonds, 
$200,000  in  1871  and  $150,000  in  1873,  to  meet  the  large  ex- 
penditures thus  incurred. 

The  years  1870,  1871  and  1872  were  fruitful  of  many  new 
enterprises  in  Altoona;  new  bvisinesses  were  established,  new 
churches  built,  several  building  and  loan  associations  organ- 
ized, two  new  banks  opened,  the  rolling  mill  built,  etc.,  but 
the  panic  of  1873,  together  with  the  failure  of  the  largest 
banking  firm  of  the  city,  in  that  year,  put  a  damper  on  many 
business  ventures  and  retarded  the  city's  growth  somewhat, 
as  did  also  the  great  strike  and  railroad  riots  of  1877.  Yet 
in  1880  the  ofiicial  government  census  showed  that  the  place 
had  nearly  doubled  in  the  preceding  decade,  19,710  people 
being  found  resident  here.  In  1878  a  park  and  Fair  ground 
was  enclosed  at  Broad  and    Twenty-seventh    streets    and  the 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County,  73 


Blair  County  Agricultural  Society  held  a  fair  there  which 
was  a  g-reat  success.  But  the  next  year  failing-  to  g-et  the 
State  Fair  to  exhibit  here  none  whatever  was  held  and  in 
1880,  the  weather  being-  unfavorable,  the  fair  was  a  failure 
and  the  Fair  g-round  was  never  used  for  such  purposes  ag-ain. 
It  has  since  been  sold  out  in  lots  and  thickly  built  upon  and 
the  Ag-ricultural  Society  now  hold  their  fairs  at  Hollidays- 
burg-.  This  is  the  only  enterprise  that  ever  failed  in  Altoona 
permanently. 

In  1882  the  first  street  railway  was  completed  and  opened  for 
traffic  (July  4th j.  In  1880  a  telephone  exchange  was  located 
here,  in  1886  an  electric  light  company  and  Jul)^  4th,  1891,  elec- 
tricity was  made  the  propelling  power  for  the  street  cars,  so  at 
this  date  Altoona  was  fuU}^  abreast  of  the  times  in  the  use  of  elec- 
tricity for  all  purposes. 

In  1888  the  need  of  a  complete  and  comprehensive  sewer  sys- 
tem was  fully  realized  and  the  work  of  providing  for  it  begun. 
Since  that  time  the  four  natural  drainage  areas  of  the  city  have 
been  supplied  with  large  main  sewers,  and  now  it  is  believed  no 
better  sewered  city  can  be  found  in  the  state,  although  the  work 
of  laying  smaller  branches  and  feeders  has  not  yet  been  completed. 

In  1888-9  a  large  silk  mill  was  erected  on  Ninth  avenue  at 
Twenty-fifth  street  along  the  Hollidaj^sburg  Branch  Railroad,  and 
during  the  same  years  several  large  business  blocks  were  built  in 
the  heart  of  the  city,  the  Masonic  Temple,  Phoenix  Block,  etc. 

In  1889,  it  having  become  apparent  that  the  macadamized 
streets  were  not  suitable  for  a  city  of  Altoona 's  size  and  import- 
ance, Eleventh  avenue  was  finely  paved  with  asphalt  blocks  be- 
tween Eleventh  and  Seventeenth  streets,  and  during  the  same  and 
following  years  many  other  avenues  were  paved,  asphalt  and 
vitrified  brick  being  used  on  some  of  them,  so  at  this  time  the  cit^' 
streets  are  well  paved  in  the  best  business  sections  and  the  work 
of  paving  additional  streets  and  avenues  is  going  steadily  on . 

In  1889-90  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  was  again 
obliged  to  enlarge  their  plant  and  they  purchased  a  large  tract  of 
land  at  Juniata,  below  the  car  shops,  on  which  they  erected  ex- 
tensive locomotive  works.  About  the  same  time  a  new  railroad 
was  projected  and  completed  to  Wopsononock,  a  beautiful  pleas- 
ure resort,  six  miles  north  of  Altoona,  and  later  extended  to  the 
coal  fields  of  Cambria  county;  Clearfield  and  the  north  being  its 
ultimate  destination. 


74  Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 

In  1893  a  new  Electric  Passenger  Railway  Company  was  or- 
ganized, "The  Altoona  and  Logan  Valley,"  and  constructed 
electric  roads  to  HoUidaysburg  six  miles  southeast  and  to  Bell- 
wood  seven  miles  northeast,  thus  furnishing  convenient  and 
cheap  transportation  to  the  county  seat  and  other  nearby  towns. 
At  the  same  time  the  same  companj^  constructed  a  beautiful  park, 
lake  and  picnic  grounds  at  Lakemont,  midway  between  Altoona 
and  HoUidaysburg,  furnishing  a  place  of  recreation  and  amuse- 
ment of  incalculable  benefit  to  the  residents  of  the  city  and  pro- 
viding an  additional  source  of  profit  to  the  road.  May  ist,  1895. 
a  paid  Fire  Department  superseded  the  volunteers  in  the  work  of 
protecting  the  city  from  the  ravages  of  fire. 


Population. 


The  population  of  Altoona  has  previously  been  referred 
to  and  g"iven  in  round  numbers  as  44,000,  which  is  believed  to 
be  as  nearly  correct  as  it  can  be  told  without  a  new  count,  as 
the  number  is  increasing  daily.  This  of  course  includes  the 
suburbs.  A  careful  census  taken  by  the  directory  canvassers 
in  May,  1895,  made  the  population  of  the  different  wards  and 
suburbs  as  follows  : 

First  Ward 3,806 

Second  Ward 4,978 

Third  Ward 3,346 

Fourth  Ward 3,557 

Fifth  Ward 5,400 

Sixth  Ward 5,638 

Seventh  Ward 2,685 

Kig-hth  Ward 6,186 

Total  within  city  limits 35,602 

SUBURBS. 

Fair  view  and  adjacent  to  First  Ward 928 

Adjacent  to  Second  Ward 183 

Oakton  and  adjacent  to   Third  Ward 467 

CoUinsville  and  adjacent  to  Fourth  Ward 193 

Newburg,  Millertown  vicinity 923 

Millville,  Alleg-heny  and    Westmont 1,117 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  75 

Rolling-    Mill,    Sixth    Ward    Suburbs    and    Alleghen}' 

Furnace 507 

Seventh  Ward  Suburbs  to  Juniata 30 

Juniata  from  Wopsononock  Depot  to  Blair  Furnace..  .  1,418 
Eighth   Ward    Suburbs,    Pottsg-rove,    East  End,    and 

Greenwood 867 

Total  Suburban  which  oug-ht  to  be  taken  into  the  city.     6,633 

Grand  total,  the  real  Altoona 42,235 

Since  the  foreg-oing-  census  over  200   new  houses  have 
been    erected   and    occupied    within   the    territory    embraced. 
The   steady  growth  of  Altoona  within   city  limits  is    shown 
from  the  Government  Census  as  follows  : 
Population  in  1860  (the  first  after  it  was  founded) ....     3,591 

Population  in  1870 10,610 

Population  in  1880 19,710 

Population  in  1890 30,260 

The  total  population  of  Blair  county,  1890,  was  70,866, 
and  now  it  cannot  be  less  than  80,000.  Population  of  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania,  5,258,014.  Only  nineteen  counties  in 
the  State  have  a  population  equalling-  or  exceeding-  that  of 
Blair. 


Assessed  Valuation  of  Altoona. 


Valuation  of  any  place,  as  shown  by  the  roll,  g-ives  but 
a  very  imperfect  idea  of  its  real  wealth,  yet  it  forms  a  basis 
for  fair  estimates.  One  portion  of  our  wealth  is  not  taxed 
and  can  therefore  only  be  g-uessed  at;  this  consists  of  the 
stock  of  g-oods  in  shops  and  stores,  furniture  and  fixtures 
which  do  not  g-o  with  the  real  estate  ;  this  probably  amounts 
to  more  than  $5,000,000  in  Altoona. 

The  assessed  valuation  in  Altoona,  on  which  tax  was 
paid  for  State  and  County  purposes,  for  six  years  past,  was 

In   1890 $12,276,777 

1891 12,967,703 

1892 13,881,309 

1893 14,503,287 

1894 14,909,415 

1895 15,458,376 


76  Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 

The  Relative  Wealth  of  the  Wards  as  Shown  in  189S, 

First  Ward  assessed  at $  2,343,2=10 

Second  Ward  assessed  at 1,720,585 

Third  Ward  assessed  at 2,468,291 

Fourth  Ward  assessed  at 2,261,485 

Fifth  Ward  assessed  at 2,026,005 

Sixth  Ward  assessed  at 1,742,065 

Seventh  Ward  assessed  at 1,127,130 

Eighth  Ward  assessed  at 1,769,575 

Total $15,458,376 

The  valuation  ol  the  entire  county  in  1895  was  $31,252,- 
097,  from  which  it  will  be  seen  that  Altoona  City  proper  pays 
almost  one-half  the  county  tax  and  if  the  city  limits  were 
extended,  so  as  to  take  in  the  suburbs  which  should  be 
included,  her  valuation  would  be  considerably  more  than  one- 
half  that  of  the  entire  county. 


Dates  of  Important  Events  in  Altoona. 

The  first  permanent  white  settlements  of  any  account  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  Altoona  were  made  about  the  year 
1810,  althoug-h  Thomas  and  Michael  Coleman  are  said  to 
have  settled  in  Log-an  Township  as  early  as  1775,  and  Hug-h 
and  John  Long-  to  have  resided  in  Pleasant  Valley  in  1788. 

Altoona  was  projected  in  1849  and  laid  out  in  town  lots 
by  Archibald  Wrig-ht  of  Philadelphia,  the  same  year,  but  he 
sold  no  lots  until  1851. 

The  deed  of  the  land  from  David  Robeson  to  Archibald 
Wrig-ht  is  dated  April  24th,  1849. 

The  plot  of  Altoona  was  acknowledged  by  Mr.  Wright, 
before  an  alderman  in  Philadelphia,  February  6th,  1850. 

The  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  began  building  their 
shops  here  in  1850  it  is  said,  although  the  deed  for  the  ground 
on  which  they  stood  was  not  made  by  Mr.  Wright  until 
August  6th,  1851. 

The  first  lots  sold  by  Archibald  Wrigh  t,  after  he  had 
plotted  the  town,  were  two  on  the  corner  of  Twelfth  avenue 
and  Thirteenth  street  to  the  trustees  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  for  the  price  of  one  hundred  dollars,  the  deed  being 
dated  February  11th,  1851. 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


The  first  house  was  erected  in  Altoona  in  1851  on  Te^th 
jrvenue  between  Thirteenth  and  Fourteenth,  street^  John  R. 
Westle_v,  the  carpenter  and  contractor,  is  still  living-  in  the 
city. 

The  first  train  of  cars  came  into  Altoona  in  1850  from  the 
east,  and  September  l7th,  1850,  cars  ran  through  to  Duncans- 
ville,  and  December  10th,  1850,  to  Pittsburg;  crossing  the 
mountains  over  the  Alllegheny  Portage  which  belonged  to 
the  State.  The  Hollidaysburg  Branch  was  then  the  main 
line. 

The  Mountain  Division,  from  Altoona  west,  via  Kittan- 
ning  Point,  was  not  completed  until  1854.  The  line  was 
originally  a  single  track. 

The  first  passenger  station  was  a  frame  building  and  stood 
on  Ninth  avenue  between  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  streets.  It 
was  moved  to  the  north  corner  of  Twelfth  street  and  used  for 
a  fire  engine  house.     The  second  floor  is  now  Logan  Hall. 

The  first  president  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  with 
whom  Altoona  had  any  concern,  was  J.  Edgar  Thompson. 

The  first  postoffice  in  this  vicinity  was  at  Collinsville, 
from  1817  to  1851;  during  the  latter  year  it  was  removed  from 
there  and  established  under  the  new  name  at  Altoona. 

Altoona  was  organized  as  a  borough  in  February,  1854. 

The  first  Burgess  of  Altoona  was  George  W.  Patton. 

Altoona  became  a  city  in  February,  1868. 

The  first  mayor  of  the  city  was  General  George  Potts. 

The  first  stores  in  Altoona  were  those  of  Bernard  Kerr, 
father  of  R.  A.  O.  Kerr,  Loudon  &  Feree  and  Adlum  &  Irwin. 
Mr.  Kerr  kept  the  first  one  in  the  old  log  farm  house  of 
David  Robeson. 

The  first  druggist  was  George  W.  Kessler  ;  he  beg^an 
business  in  Altoona  in  1853. 

The  first  doctor  was  Gabriel  D.  Thomas,  who  resided 
in  Pleasant  Valle}-  prior  to  the  founding  of  Altoona,  and 
who  built  one    among  the    first  residences  in  the  new  town. 

The  first  lawyer  was  William  Stoke,  it  is  said,  but  he 
had  no  office  here  and  only  came  to  transact  some  business 
for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  whose  attorney  he  was.  L. 
W.  Hall,  Esq.,  now  of  Harrisburg,  was  located  here  in  1855, 
and  Col.  D.  J.  Neff  in  1860. 

The  first  preacher  to  reside  in  Altoona  was  Rev.  Henry 
Baker,  who  was  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  church  at  Collinsville 


78  Semi- Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


prior  to  the  beg-inning-  of  Altoona,  and  who  came  here  with 
his  congreg-ation  during  the  second  year  of    its  histor3\ 

The  first  public  house  in  the  vicinity  was  a  tavern, 
where  the  White  Hall  Hotel  now  stands  ;  it  was  built  by 
George  Huff  about  the  year  1834. 

The  first  hotel  erected  in  Altoona  was  the  Exchang^e, 
which  stood  on  Tenth  avenue  between  Thirteenth  and  Four- 
teenth streets,  where  the  Arlington  now  stands.  It  was 
kept  by  John  Bowman.  Among  the  earlier  hotels  was  the 
Altoona  House,  where  the  Globe  now  stands  ;  it  was  a  frame 
building  and  burned  down  about  the  year  1887. 

The  first  school-house  erected  by  the  borough  was  built 
in  1834  on  the  corner  of  Seventh  avenue  and  Fifteenth  street. 
Prior  to  the  founding  of  Altoona  a  union  church  and  school- 
house  combined  stood  on  the  present  corner  of  Sixteenth 
street  and  Union  avenue,  just  outside  the  early  limits  of 
Altoona.  It  was  built  during  the  year  1838  by  the  school 
directors  of  the  township  in  conjunction  with  the  Lutheran, 
Presbyterian  and  Methodist  -denominations  and  served  the 
double  purpose  of  church  and  school-house  until  the  erection 
of  churches  and  schools  in  Altoona.  It  is  now  used  as  a 
church  by  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  congregation. 

The  first  city  superintendent  of  schools  was  John  Miller. 

The  first  church  building  erected  in  the  new  town  of 
Altoona  was  the  First  Presbyterian,  on  the  corner  of  Twelfth 
avenue  and  Thirteenth  street  in  1851.  A  minister  from  Hol- 
lidaysburg  preached  here  every  alternate  Sunday  beginning 
in  November,  1851.  It  was  a  fair-sized  frame  building  and 
was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1855.  The  trustees  disposed  of  the 
ground  December  3,  1855,  for  $3,000,  and  it  is  now  occupied  by 
the  residence  of  the  late  William  Murray.  The  congregation 
built  on  their  present  location  in  1854. 

The  first  bank  established  in  Altoona  was  that  of  Bell, 
Johnson,  Jack  &  Co.  in  1853.  It  was  later  operated  by 
William  M.  Lloyd  &  Co. 

The  first  newspaper  here  was  the  Altoona  Rcohtcr,  pub- 
lished for  a  short  time  by  William  H.  and  J.  A.  Snyder,  in 
the  spring  of  1855.  It  did  not  survive  the  early  frosts  of  that 
year,  and  after  its  suspension  was  succeeded  by  the  Tribune^ 
January  1,  1856,  McCrum  &  Allison,  proprietors. 

The  daily  edition  of  the  Trihtinc  was  first  issued  Aprill  14, 
1874.     It  was  suspended  April  14,  1875,  and  resumed  January 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  79 


28,  1878,  since  which  lima  it  has  appeared  reg-ularly.  The 
weekly  has  been  published  continuously  since  its  establish- 
ment, January  11   1856. 

The  first  daily  newspaper  published  in  Altoona  was  the 
Smi,  which  beg-au  a  dail}^  issue  May  2,  1870,  and  suspended 
after  seven  months. 

The  Mirror  was  first  issued  June  13,  1874  ;  the  Times 
May  21,  1884  and  the  Gazette  April  8,  1892. 

The  first  water  works  in  Altoona  were  owned  and 
operated  by  the  Altoona  Gas  and  Water  Company,  a  private 
corporation,  which  beg-an  to  supply-  the  borough  with  water 
December  15,  1859. 

The  first  g"as  for,  illuminating- purposes,  was  furnished  by 
the  same  company,  beginning-  at  the  same  time  ;  rate  per 
1.000  feet  then  $3.00,  now  $1.20. 

The  water-works  were  purchased  by  the  city  in  1872  and 
the  first  reservoir  at  Kittaning-  Point  constructed  soon  after. 

The  first  fire  company,  the  Good  Will,  was  org-ani/.ed  in 
1859,  just  prior  to  the  completion  of  the  water-works. 

The  first  fire  engine,  a  hand  machine,  was  housed  here 
October  22,  1859. 

The  first  steam  fire  eng-ine  in  Altoona  was  purchased  by 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  and  broug-ht  here  in 
1867. 

A  paid  fire  department  superseded  the  volunteers  May 
1,  1895. 

The  soldiers'  monument  in  Fairview  cemetery  was 
erected  July  4,  1867. 

The  first  city  directory  of  Altoona  was  issued  in  1873 
by  Thomas  H.  Greevy,  Esq.  Since  1886  they  have  been  pub- 
lished biennially  by  Charles  B.  Clark,  Esq. 

A  county  directory  was  published  in  1882. 

The  first  street  improvements  were  the  macadamizing-  of 
Eleventh  and  Eighth  avenues  in  1871-2. 

The  first  g-ood  street  paving-  was  laid  on  Eleventh  avenue, 
in  1889,  asphalt  block,  between  Eleventh  and  Bridge  streets. 

The  first  extensive  and  systematic  sewer  building  was  be- 
g-un  in  18S8;  althoug-h  the  first  sewer,  Eleventh  avenue  be- 
tween Thirteenth  and  Fifteenth  streets,  was  constructed  in 
1870.     D.    K.  Ramey,  contractor. 

The  first  street  railway  beg-an  carrying-  passeng-ers  July 
4,  1882  ;  the  line  extending-  from  First  street  and  Chestnut 


80  Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


avenue  to  Eleventh  street  to  Eleventh  avenue,  up  Eleventh 
avenue,  to  Bridge  street  and  on  Seventeenth  street  to  Eighth 
avenue  to  Fourth  street.  Motive  power — horses  and  mules  ; 
equipment — six  small  cars. 

Electricity  was  first  used  here  to  propel  street  cars  July  4, 
1891.  The  Logan  Valley  Electric  Passenger  Railway  was 
completed  and  passengers  carried  to  Hollidaysburg,  June  14, 
1893  and  to  Bellwood,  July  1,  1894. 

Telephone  service  in  Altoona  began  in  March,  1880. 

Electricity  for  illuminating  in  1886.  Streets  lighted  by 
electricity  in  1888.  For  five  years  prior  to  that  they  were 
lighted  by  gasoline  lamps,  although  gas  had  been  used  at  a 
still  earlier  period. 

The  first  planing  mill,  except  that  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad,  was  built  prior  to  1860  by  McCauley  &  Allison,  on 
the  corner  of  Green  avenue  and  Eighth  street. 

The  most  extensive  fire  which  had  occurred  in  Altoona 
prior  to  1896,  was  on  April  16,  1869,  burning  about  half  the 
square  enclosed  by  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  avenues  and  Thir- 
teenth and  Fourteenth  streets.  It  began  on  the  corner  of 
Eleventh  avenue  and  Fourteenth  street  ;  loss  $60,000  to  $70,- 
000  ;  but  on  January  6,  1896,  a  fire  at  the  corner  of  Eleventh 
avenue  and  Eleventh  street  destroyed  the  Central  Hotel  and 
other  property  to  the  value  of  $100,000. 

The  Rolling  Mill  began  operations  in  1872. 

The  Silk  Mill  was  built  in  1888-9  and  began  operations  in 
the  spring  of  1889. 

The  Altoona,  Clearfield  and  Northern  Railroad,  formerly 
Altoona  and  Wopsononock  was  built  in  1890-91. 

Railroads  of  Altoona. 

Being  on  the  main  line  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  the 
great  double  track  trunk  route  between  the  East  and  West,  Al- 
toona enjoys  superior  advantages  in  the  matter  of  transportation. 
Cars  from  every  part  of  the  Union  come  to  Altoona  with  their 
original  lading,  and  freight  maybe  billed  through  from  here  to  the 
Pacific  or  Gulf  coast  and  the  Dominion  of  Canada.  Altoona  be- 
ing the  terminus  of  a  division,  all  trains  stop  here  to  change  en- 
gines and  crews  and  take  on  through  passengers  for  east  or  west . 
A  number  of  branch  lines  reach  every  corner  of  the  county  to  the 


Setni-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  81 


south  and  east:  Williamsburg,  Martiiisburg,  Roaring  Spring, 
Henrietta,  Newr}^;  and  the  terminus  of  the  Morrison's  Cove 
Branch  at  Henrietta  is  only  about  three  miles  from  the  Huntingdon 
and  Broad  Top  Railroad,  extending  from  Huntingdon  south  to 
Bedford  and  Hyndman,  Pa.,  and  Cumberland,  Marjdand. 

At  Bell  wood,  seven  miles  eastward,  connection  is  made  with 
the  Pennsylvania  and  North  Western,  which  SKtends  northwest 
through  the  rich  coal  regions  of  Cambria,  Clearfield  and  Jefferson 
Counties  to  Punxsutawney  and  there  cotniects  with  the  Rochester 
and  Pittsburg  Railroad  to  DuBois,  Bradford  and  Western  New 
York. 

At  Tyrone,  fourteen  miles  northeast,  three  branches  lead  off  to 
the  north  and  northeast;  the  Tyrone  and  Clearfield  extending  to 
Clearfield,  Curwensville  and  DuBois;  the  Bald  Eagle  Valley  ex- 
tending to  Bellefonte  and  Lock  Haven,  connecting  at  the  latter 
point  with  the  Philadelphia  and  Erie  road  for  Williamsport  on  the 
east  and  Renova,  Emporium,  Kane,  Warren,  Corry  and  Erie  to 
the  west;  and  the  Tyrone  and  Lewisburg  branch  extending  north- 
east to  Pennsylvania  Furnace  in  Centre  County. 

At  Huntingdon,  thirty-four  miles  east,  connection  is  made 
with  the  Huntingdon  and  Broad  Top  for  Bedford  and  Cumberland, 
the  latter  on  the  line  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad. 

At  Cresson,  fifteen  miles  westward,  two  branches  lead  off  from 
the  main  line,  one  extending  to  Ebensburg,  Spangler  and  Carrol  I - 
town,  and  the  other  to  Ashville,  Frugalit}'  and  Coalport. 

There  is  also  another  short  road,  the  Altoona,  Clearfield  and 
Northern,  extending  from  the  eastern  suburb,  Juniata,  to  Wopson- 
Qnock  mountain  resort,  and  coal  fields  of  Cambria  County,  which 
bring  considerable  amount  of  coal  and  lumber  to  the  city.  An- 
other railroad  is  likely  soon  to  be  constructed  to  Altoona,  coming 
in  from  Philipsburg  on  the  north.  Altoona,  with  her  nearly  50,- 
000  inhabitants,  is  too  valuable  a  prize  for  railroad  enterprise  to 
remain  long  with  but  a  single  through  line. 

The  railroad  traffic  passing  through  Altoona  is  immense.  The 
tonnage  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  system  for  1895  was  about 
one-seventeenth  of  the  entire  tonnage  of  the  United  States,  and 
probably  one-halt  of  this  passed  through  Altoona. 

Twelve  passenger  trains  leave  Altoona   daily  for  the  west  and 

eleven  for  the  east,  and  some  of  these  trains  are  composed  of  two 

or  three  sections,  practically  so  many  additional   complete  trains. 

Six  passenger  trains  depart  each  day  for  the  southern  part  of  the 

county  over  t]ie  brancjiefi  previously  mentioned. 


82  Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


The  number  of  freight  trains  leaving  and  arriving  depends  of 
course  on  the  condition  of  trade,  crops,  etc. 

Altoona  has  one  of  the  largest  freight  yards  in  the  country, 
being  over  five  miles  long  and  capable  of  holding  thousands  of 
cars. 


Statistical  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad. 


Capital  stock $139,301,550 

Miles  of  railroad  owned  and  operated  east  of  Pittsburg  and 

Erie 4.490 

Miles  of  railroad  owned  and  operated  west  of  Pittsburg  and 

Erie 4.326 

Total  mileage  of  owned,  operated  and  leased  lines-  •    8,816 
Number  of  tons  of  freight  hauled  on  lines  east  of  Pitts-. 

burg  and  Erie,  j^ear  ending  Dec.  31,  1895 78,259,526 

Number  of  passengers  carried  in  1895 37,452,437 

Value   ot   shops   at   Altooda,   buildings  and  grounds, 

not  including  machinery,  about-  - $2,000,000 

Number  of  men  employed  in  Altoona  shops,  December  roll, 
1895;  Machine  Shops  4,051,  Car  Shops  2,364,  Juniata 

Shops  789;  Total. 7.204 

Number  of  men  employed  on  the  three  divisions  entering 
here,  who  reside  in  Altoona;  estimated  by  taking  % 
Pittsburg  and  Yi  of  Middle  Division i  ,880 

Total  Pennsylvania  Railroad  employes  in  Altoona- .    9,084 

Monthly  pay  roll  for  shops $325,000 

Monthly  pay  roll  for  Division  employes  and  trainmen  re- 
siding in  Altoona. 75,000 

Amount   paid    out    montlily    for   material  and    supplies, 

about  • 100,000 

Total  amount  of  money  put  in  circulation  here  monthly 

by  the  Railroad  Company,  about 500,000 

Altoona  has  two  lines  of  electric  cars  ;  both  are  under  one 
management  and  the  service  is  very  satisfactor}'. 

The  first  road  was  built  in  1882  by  the  City  Passenger 
Railway  Company  and  was  opened  on  the  4tli  of  July  of  that 
year  with  a  notable  demonstration.  Electricity  was  not  then 
in  use  aijd  horses  were  the  motive  power.  The  line  at  that 
time  was  about  three  miles  long,  extending  from   First  street 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  83 


to  Eleventh  avenue  to  Brido-e  street,  to  Seventeenth  street, 
to  Eig"hth  avenue,  to  Fourth  street  where  the  cars  were 
turned  on  a  turn-table  and  went  back  over  the  same  route. 
Soon  afterward  a  branch  was  constructed  from  the  corner  of 
Eig"hth  avenue  and  Seventeenth  street  to  Seventh  avenue,  to 
Twenty-fifth  street. 

In  1889  and  1890  a  line  was  constructed  from  the  corner  of 
Eleventh  avenue  and  Bridg-e  street  to  Eig"hteenth  street,  to 
Onion  avenue,  to  Broad  street  and  along-  Broad  street  to  city 
line  at  Twenty-seventh  street.  The  line  was  also  extended 
from  Fourth  street  and  Eig^hth  avenue,  to  Sixth  avenue,  to 
Lloyd  street,  below  First  street. 

In  1891  electricity  took  the  place  of  horses  and  a  power 
house  was  erected  on  Nineteenth  street  between  Ninth  and 
Marg-aret  avenues. 

In  1892  the  Altoona  and  Logan  Valley  Electric  Passeng^er 
Railway  Company  was  formed  and  in  1893  they  built  a  line 
to  Hollidaysburg-,  six  miles  long-. 

Early  in  1894  they  built  a  line  to  Bellwood,  seven  miles. 
The  Hollidaysburg-  line  begins  at  the  corner  of  Twelth 
street  and  Ninth  avenue  and  extends  along  Ninth  avenue  to 
Thirteenth  street,  along  Thirteenth  street  to  Fifth  avenue, 
along  Fifth  avenue  south-eastward  to  city  line  and  beyond 
that  to  Hollidaysburg. 

The  Bellwood  line  extends  from  the  corner  of  Eleventh 
street  and  Eleventh  avenue  to  Ninth  street,  to  Howard 
avenue,  to  Third  street,  to  Lexington  avenue,  to  First  street, 
to  Chestnut  avenue  and  north-jastward  on  the  country  road 
to  Juniata,  and  from  there  crossing  the  railroad,  down  the 
valley  of  the  Little  Juniata— five  miles  farther  to  Bellwood. 

The  Logan  Valley,  soon  after  its  completion,  secured  a 
controlling  interest  in  the  City  Passenger,  and  the  two  roads 
are  now  operated  practically  as  one,  under  the  same  Superin- 
tendent. 

In  the  city  cars  run  six  minutes  apart,  and  on  the  Logan 
Valley  to  and  from  Hollidaysburg,  every  fifteen  minutes,  and 
to  and  from  Bellwood  every  half  hour  during  the  day  and 
until  a  late  hour  at  night. 

Fares  in  the"  city,  including  a  transfer  if  desired,  over  any 
of  the  City  Passenger  Lines  are  but  five  cents,  and  the  same 
charge  is  made  to  Lakcmont  Park  or  Llyswcn.  and  ten  cents 


84  Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


to  Hollidaysburg-.  To  Juniata,  the  fare  is  five  cents  and  to 
Bellwood  ten  cents  additional.  No  transfers  are  g-iven  be- 
tween the  City  Passeng-er  and  the  Logan  Valley, 

Lines  have  also  been  projected  on  other  streets  and  avenues 
in  the  city  beside  those  already  noted,  and  some  of  them  are 
likely  to  be  built  soon,  especially  one  up  the  Dry  Gap  along- 
Nineteenth  street  or  on  Washing-ton  avenue. 

The  Log-an  Valle}^  Company  laid  out  and  beautified  a  fine 
park  with  a  larg-e  artificial  lake  at  a  point  midway  between 
Altoona  and  Hollidaj^sburg  which  they  called  Lakemont,  and 
which  has  no  equal  for  beauty  in  the  state.  It  is  visited  daily 
in  summer  time  by  hundreds  and  often  by  thousands  of  peo- 
ple, and  in  winter  time  the  lake  affords  excellent  skating-,  no 
charg-e  being  made  for  admission  at  any  time. 

The  rolling-  stock  of  the  two  companies  consists  of  twenty- 
five  closed  cars  and  thirt3'-six  open  cars. 

The  number  of  employes  is  175. 

The  capital  stock  of  the  City  Passeng-er  is $200,000 

And  of  the  Log-an  Valley,  authorized  $500,000  issued.   375,000 


Total  stock  outstanding $575,000 

The  number  of  passeng-ers  carried  in  1895  was  2,800,000, 
The  officers  of  both  companies  are  : 

JOHN  LLOYD,  President. 

C.  A.   BUCH,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

S.   S.  CRAINE,  Superintendent. 


Business  and  Resources  of  Altoona. 


In  addition  to  being"  the  location  of  the  principal  shops  of 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  the  depot  and  base  of 
supplies  for  engines,  cars  and  furnishing-s,  and  the  head- 
quarters of  the  General  Superintendent,  the  Superintendent 
of  Motive  Power  and  Superintendents  of  other  lesser  depart- 
ments, employing-,  in  the  ag-greg-ate,  over  9,000  men,  which 
would  suffice  alone  for  the  foundation  of  a  larg-e  city,  Altoo- 
na has  other  substantial  advantag-es. 

Situated  on  the  main  line  of  this  g-reat  trunk  route  be- 
tween the  Kast  and  West  she  is  surrounded  on  all  sides  with, 
the  elements  of  wealth  and  prosperity.  Larg-e  deposits  of 
bituminous  coal  and  beds  of  fire  clay  to  th.Q  north  and  west. 


Setni-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  85 


Iron  ore  to  the  southeast;  limestone  in  almost  inexhaustible 
supply  on  three  sides  and  mountains  of  g-anister  stone  nearby, 
indispensable  in  the  manufacture  of  steel  and  formerly  im- 
ported from  Kurope.  Lumber  reg-ions  to  the  north,  east  and 
west,  and  a  rich  ag-ricultural  country  south.  All  reached  and 
penetrated  by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  and  branches  or 
leased  lines;  with  competing-  lines  contemplating  an  entrance, 
her  future  stability  is  assured.  Altoona  is  also  the  natural 
distributing  point  for  the  territory  within  a  radius  of  forty  to 
one  hundred  miles  in  ever}^  direction  and  is  destined,  at  no 
distant  day,  to  become  an  important  wholesaling  city. 


Manufacturing  Interests. 

The  manufacturing  interests  of  Altoona  are  now  largely  with 
the  Railroad  Company,  and  include  the  production  of  engines, 
cars,  both  freight  and  passenger,  and  all  kinds  of  railroad  supplies. 
We  have  in  addition  to  this  mammoth  industry: 

One  Rolling  Mill  employing  135  to  175  men,  and  producing 
annually  $250,000  to  $300,000  worth  of  merchant  bar  iron. 

Two  Iron  Foundries. 

One  Silk  Mill,  employing  250  women  and  boys  preparing  the 
raw  silk  into  yarn  for  the  loom. 

One  Ice  Plant,  employing  30  men  and  manufacturing  50,000 
pounds  of  ice  per  day  from  pure  distilled  water,  by  chemically 
produced  cold. 

Twelve  Planing  Mills,  employing  in  the  aggregate  350  to  500 
men  in  the  mills,  manufacturing  rough  lumber  into  doors,  sash, 
frames,  etc.,  also  several  hundred  carpenters  outside. 

One  Brick  Yard,  employing  25  to  40  men  and  producing 
3,000,000  building  brick  annually. 

One  Brush  Factory. 

One  Broom  Factory. 

One  Soap  Factory. 

One  Washing  Machine  Factory. 

One  Mattress  Factory. 

Three  Manufactories  of  Soft  Drinks. 

Three  Marble  and  Granite  Works. 

One  Steam  Dye  Works. 

One  Flouring  Mill. 

Two  Chop  and  Feed  Mills. 

Four  Breweries,  employing  50  men  in  the  aggregate. 


86  Semi- Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 

One  Candy  Maniifactury. 

Three  Cabinet  Shops. 

Six  Cigar  Factories,  employing  75  persons. 

Four  Ice  Cream  Manufactories. 

Eleven  Merchant  Tailors,  employing  in  the  aggregate  150  to 
200  persons. 

Forty  Shoemaker  Shops,  employing  75  to  100  men. 

Five  Wagon  Shops,  employing  20  to  30  men  making  and 
repairing — principally  the  latter — wagons,  carriages  and  sleds. 

Eleven  Watchmakers  and  Jewelers,  employing  in  the  aggre- 
gate 25  men  repairing  watches  and  clocks  used  in  Altoona  and 
vicinity. 

Five  Harness  and  Saddler  Shops,  employing  20  to  30  men 
making  and  repairing  harness  for  the  local  trade. 

Eleven  Bakeries,  employing  50  to  60  men  in  the  production 
of  bread,  cakes,  etc.,  mostly  for  home  consumption. 

Nine  Printing  Offices,  printing  four  daily  and  four  weekly 
newspapers,  besides  irregular  publications. 

One  Book  Bindery,  doing  the  local  work  of  the  city  and  vi- 
cinity. 

Mercantile. 

In  the  mercantile  line  there  are  the  following  and  plenty 
of  room  for  more  : 

Four  Wholesale  Grocery  and  Provision  Houses. 

One  Wholesale  Wood  and  Willow-ware  House. 

Three  Wholesale  Produce  and  Commission  Houses. 

Three  Wholesale  Confectioners. 

Seven  Wholesale  Coal  Dealers. 

Four  Wholesale  Cigar  and  Tobacco  Houses. 

One  Wholesale  Dry  Goods  and  Notion  House. 

Three  Dry  Goods  Houses  that  sell  wholesale    and   retail. 

Six  dealers  in  Builders  Supplies,  besides  the  planing 
mills. 

Four   banks  with  an  aggregate  capital  of  $400,000. 

In  addition  to  the  above  are  several  wholesale  agents  who 
carry  only  samples  for  firms  in  other  cities. 

In  the  retail  trade  there  are  : 

Seven  Dry  Goods  Stores. 

Nine  Book  and  Stationery  Stores. 

Three  China,  Glass  and  Crockery  Stores,  exclusively, 
besides  three  Novelty  Stores  th^t  handle  large  quantities  of 
of  the  same  goods, 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  87 


Fourteen  Clothing-  and  Gents'  Furnishing-  Stores. 

Three  Hat  and  Gents'  Furnishing  Stores. 

Twent3^-two  Retail  Coal  Dealers. 

Twentj-two  Drug  Stores. 

Six  Flour  and  Feed  Stores. 

Ten  Furniture  Stores,  three  of  which  carry  other  lines. 

Forty-six  General  Stores. 

One  hundred  and  thirty  Grocery  and  Provision  Stores. 

Two  Butter  Markets. 

Seven  Hardware  Stores. 

Six  Installment  and  House-furnishing  Stores. 

Fifty-five  Meat  Markets. 

Ten  Milk  Depots. 

Six  Millinery  Stores. 

Five  Music  Stores. 

Five  Novelty,  Notion  and  5  and  10c.  Stores. 

Eleven   Shoe  Stores,    and   twenty    to   thirty  other  dealers 
that  sell  shoes. 

Four  Tea  Stores. 

Nine  Jewelry  Stores ;  watches,  silver,  etc. 

Three  Department  Stores,  (these  are  enumerated  also  with 
the  dry  goods.) 

Pkopes-sional. 

Eight  Aldermen  ;  one  for  each  ward. 

Forty-seven  Lawyers. 

Sixty-two  Doctors,  including  two  ladies. 

Thirteen  Dentists'  Offices. 

Four  Architect  Firms. 

MiSCKLLANEOUS. 
Four  Florists  and  Greenhouse  proprietors. 
Fifty-four  Barber  Shops. 
Thirteen  Blacksmith  Shops. 
Two  Carpet-cleaning  Establishments. 
Twent}^  Master  Painters  and  Paper-hangers. 
Five    Fruit    Stores  carrying  fair  stock,  besides  numerous 
smaller  ones. 

Six  Steam  and  Hand  Laundries. 
Five  Livery  Stables. 
Six  Photograph  Galleries. 
Twenty-four  Plumbing  Shops. 
Six  Sewing-machine  Agencies. 


88  Semi-Cetttetmial  History  of  Blair  County. 

Twelve  Restaurants. 

Eig-ht  Tin  Shops. 

Twenty-seven  Hotels,  and  twenty-two  others  with  hotel 
license. 

Eleven  Fire  Insurance  Ag-encies. 

Five  Life  Insurance  Ag-encies. 

Three  Money  Loaning  Agencies  ;  real  estate  security. 

Two  Pawn  Shops. 

Seven  Real  Estate  Agencies. 

Thirty-four  Building  and  Loan  Associations. 

One  Theatre  or  Opera  House. 

One  Music  Hall— East  Side  Theatre. 

One  Variety  Theatre  or  Musee. 

One  Natatorium  or  Swimming-  School. 

Twelve  Public  Schools  and  Five  Parochial  Schools. 

Three  Business  Colleges,  or  Commercial  Schools. 

Forty-two  Churches,  comprising  sixteen  denominations, 
with  church  property  valued  at  $1,200,000, 

Transportation,    Light,  Etc. 

Two  Railroads  in  operation  and  others  projected. 

Two  Electric  Passenger  Railways  with  twentj-five  miles 
of  track;  lines  to  Hollidaysburg- on  the  south  and  to  Bellwood 
on  the  northeast. 

One  Express  Company. 

Two  Telegraph  Companies. 

Two  Telephone  Companies. 

One  larg-e  Electric  Light  Plant,  whose  200  two-thousand 
candle  power  arc  lights,  supplemented  by  those  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company,  make  Altoona  the  best  lighted 
city  in  the  country. 

One  Gas  Company,  with  one  of  the  finest  plants  in  the 
state,  making  both  coal  and  water  g-as. 


Semi-Centetinial  History  of  Blair  County.  89 


Pennsylvania  Railroad  Shops  at  Altoona. 

These  are  the  largest  railroad  shops  in  the  United  States 
and  employ  over  seven  thousand  men.  They  consist  of  three 
distinct  plants  in  different  parts  of  the  city. 

The  original  plant  lies  between  Ninth  and  Tenth  avenues, 
between  Eleventh  and  Sixteenth  streets,  and  occupies  twenty - 
eight  acres  of  ground,  the  buildings  having  an  actual  floor  area 
of  over  ten  acres.  Originally  all  the  departments  were  located 
here:  locomotive,  freight  car  and  passenger  car,  and  machinery 
and  supplies.  This  part  is  now  called  the  "Machine  Shops,,'  and 
includes  the  following  shops  and  departments  : 

One  iron  foundry,  size  100x250  feet,  where  all  the  iron  cast- 
ings used  in  the  construction  of  cars  are  made,  with  the  exception 
of  car  wheels. 

One  brass  foundry,  size  60x80  feet,  where  car  wheel  bearings 
and  all  brass  castings  are  made. 

One  blacksmith  shop,  size  56x273  feet,  with  a  wing  66x124 
feet,  containing  thirty  fires  and  three  bolt  furnaces. 

One  blacksmith  shop,  size  67x188  feet,  containing  twenty 
fires. 

One  blacksmith  shop  in  part  of  old  No.  2  round  house  con- 
taining twenty-six  fires. 

One  wheel  foundry,  size  73x140  feet,  and  a  wing,  56x94  feet, 
with  engine-house  and  boiler-house  adjoining.  The  cupola  cham- 
ber of  this  foundry  is  29x40  feet,  and  the  ladle  will  hold  20,000 
pounds  of  melted  iron . 

One  new  wheel  foundry,  size  66x160  feet,  with  cupola  of  forty 
tons  capacity. 

One  boiler  shop,  size  70x125  feet,  with  an  addition  or  L,  size 
53x62  feet,  and  another  building  used  for  finishing  which  is 
58x124  feet.  Also  about  two-thirds  of  the  old  No.  2  round-house 
is  used  as  a  boiler  shop  and  devoted  to  repairs. 

One  flue  shop,  45x126  feet,  where  the  flues  of  the  boilers  are 
made  and  repaired. 

One  lathe  shop,  70x426  feet,  two  stories  high,  where  castings 
are  planed  and  turned  smooth,   cylinders  bored  out,  etc. 

One  vise  shop,  T-shaped,  one  part  60x250  feet,  and  the  other 
60x90;  also  a  grinding  room  60x120  feet.  It  this  shop  the  differ- 
ent pieces  of  steel  used  in  the  construction  of  engines  are  filed 
and  ground  smooth,  and  fitted  with  great  precision,  so  as  to  work 
perfectly  in  the  position  for  which  they  are  designed. 


90  Semi-Centemiial  History  of  Blair  County. 


One  air-brake  shop,  size  60x75  feet,  in  which  the  air-brake 
machinery  and  supplies  are  made;  also  steam  guages,  safety- 
valves,  etc. 

Three  erecting  shops,  two  of  which  are  66x350  feet,  and  one 
52x356  feet,  in  which  the  locomotive  engines  are  put  together  and 
made  things  of  life,  power  and  beauty.  Traveling  cranes,  capable 
of  lifting  twenty-five  tons  weight  are  used  to  handle  the  heavy 
pieces  of  iron  and  steel  used  here. 

One  paint  shop,  36x300  feet,  in  which  the  engines,  tanks  and 
cabs  are  painted,  ornamented  and  varnished. 

One  tin  and  sheet  iron  shop,  size  67x150  feet,  where  all  the 
tin  work  and  many  articles  in  sheet  iron  and  copper  are  made. 

One  telegraph  machine  shop,  size  48x60  feet,  in  which  much 
fine  work  is  done  in  the  manufacture  and  repair  of  telegraphic 
and  electrical  apparatus  and  supplies. 

One  pattern  shop,  size  70x140  feet,  furnished  with  a  30-horse- 
power  engine,  planers,  saws  and  other  wood- working  machinery. 
Here  all  the  patterns  for  the  various  castings  used  in  the  shops 
are  made.  A  pattern  storehouse,  50x100  feet,  is  connected  with 
this  shop. 

One  cab  and  tank  shop,  size  42x105  feet,  in  which  cabs  and 
tanks  are  repaired,  wheelbarrows  and  cow-catchers  made  and  other 
work  done.     The  new  cabs  are  now  made  at  the  Car  Shops. 

One  carpenter  shop,  28x60  feet,  with  office  attached.  This  is 
the  headquarters  of  the  carpenters  who  repair  roundhouses  and 
shops,  build  signal  towers,  repair  bridges,  etc. 

One  roundhouse  for  Middle  Division  engines,  size  235  feet  in 
diameter,  with  turntable  and  thirty-one  tracks.  Here  engines  are 
groomed,  cleaned,  examined  and  have  slight  repairs  made  to  them 
when  required  after  each  trip,  and  prepared  for  the  next  run. 

One  roundhouse  for  Pittsburg  Division  engines,  size  300  feet 
in  diameter,  with  turntable  and  forty-four  tracks.  The  men  who 
take  charge  of  the  engines  when  they  come  in  and  make  them 
ready  for  succeeding  trips  are  commonly  called  engine  hostlers. 

One  building,  two  stories  high  in  part  and  three  stories  in  part, 
size  40x200  feet,  used  as  storehouse  and  testing  room  on  first  floor, 
and  offices,  testing  department  and  chemical  laboratory  on  second 
and  third  floors.  The  store  contains  the  various  small  tools  and 
supplies  used  about  the  shops  and  along  the  road  between  Pitts- 
burg and  Philadelphia;  and  the  storekeeper  keeps  a  record  of  all 
material  used  in  the  construction  ot  everything  made  in  the  shops 
or  furnished  to  other  shops  along  the  road.  Many  thousands  of 
dollars  worth  of  goods  pass  through  the  storehouse  monthly . 


Setni-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  91 

The  testing  department  examines  and  tests  all  material  bought 
for  use  in  the  shops,  before  it  is  accepted;  this  being  done  by  both 
mechanical  and  chemical  tests. 

The  clerical  department,  keeping  a  record  of  all  the  work 
done,  cost  of  the  same  and  the  time  of  the  men,  requires  the  assist- 
ance of  more  than  forty  accountants. 

The  department  of  labor  is  also  one  of  considerable  im- 
portance and  requires  over  one  hundred  men  loading,  unload- 
ing and  shifting  cars  and  keeping  the  shop  yard  in  proper 
shape.  The  foreman  of  this  branch  has  a  small  office  build- 
ing for  his  use. 

The  watchmen  form  another  part  of  the  service,  not  less 
important  than  the  others,  as  it  is  their  duty  to  guard  against 
fires  and  theft.  Over  forty  of  them  keep  watch  of  the  build- 
ings, grounds  and  merchandise;  sixteen  by  day  and  twenty- 
five  by  night. 

The  different  kinds  of  work  done  here  will  be  apparent 
from  the  foregoing,  and  some  conception  of  the  amount  from 
the  following  figures  : 

Average  amount  of  iron  melted  at  the  iron  foundry  for 
the  past  ten  years,  38,500,000  pounds,  or  19,250  tons  annually. 
This  does  not  include  the  wheel  foundry. 

In  the  car  wheel  foundry  100,000  to  110,000  wheels  are 
moulded  annually,  each  wheel  weighing  500  to  700  pounds. 

In  the  boiler  shop  an  average  of  two  locomotive  boilers  per 
week  have  been  made  for  ten  years  past,  besides  many  sta- 
tionary boilers  and  repairs  to  to  thousands  of  both  kinds  an- 
nually. 

The  other  departments  are  conducted  on  a  scale  of  equal 
magnitude. 

G.  W.  Strattan  is  Master  Mechanic  of  these  shops. 
The  Car  Shops,  "Lower  shops,"  as  they  are  commonly 
called,  though  not  so  appropriately  since  the  erection  of  the 
Juniata  shops  still  farther  eastward,  were  the  first  enlarge- 
ment made  by  the  company  after  the  original  site  at  Twefth 
street  became  overcrowded.  They  were  erected  in  1869-70, 
and  are  situated  between  the  main  line  tracks  and  Chestnut 
avenue,  from  Seventh  street  eastward  to  a  point  below  First 
street,  the  lumber  yard  extending  still  further  eastward  for  a 
distance  of  one-half  mile  to  Juniata  shops.  Previous  to  the 
building  of  these  shops,  the  car  work,  both  new  and  repair, 
was  done  in  the  shops  located  near  Twelfth  street,  but  since 
then  all  such  work  has  been  done  here  at  these  car  shops. 


92  Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


The  cat  shops  occupy  91  6-10  acres,  including  yards,  and  con- 
sist of  the  following  buildings:  No.  i  planing  mill,  in  size  72X 
355  feet,  filled  with  all  kinds  of  planers,  mortising  and  boring 
machines,  and  other  wood-working  machinery,  driven  by  a  250- . 
horse-power  Corless  engine,  which  is  located  in  an  adjoining  build- 
ing, 25x100  feet,  and  to  which  all  shavings  are  carried  through 
large  iron  pipes  by  force  of  suction  of  large  blowers.  The  various 
pieces  of  wood  used  in  the  construction  of  cars  are  here  made 
ready  to  fit  into  their  proper  places  without  change. 

No.  2  planing  mill,  44x77  feet,  with  carpenter  shop  attached, 
40x115,  and  engine  room  16x38,  and  boiler  room  25x39.  This 
planing-mill  is  engaged  for  the  most  part  in  getting  out  work  for 
the  company's  buildings,  depots,  telegraph  towers,  etc.,  but  much 
other  work  is  done.  There  are  machines  for  wood  carving,  and 
for  turning  all  kinds  of  handles  for  tools. 

A  blacksmith  shop  80  feet  wide  and  493  feet  long,  in  which 
are  fashioned  all  the  various  shapes  of  iron  for  use  in  carbuilding. 
Here  are  steam-hammers  of  1,200  to  5,000  pounds  stroke,  used  in 
forging  heavy  irons.  A  bolt  machine  weighing  60,000  pounds, 
capable  of  making  1,000  two-inch  draft  pins  in  a  day;  another  of 
40,000  pounds  weight,  which  makes  3,000  coupling  pins  in  a 
day.  Immense  iron  shears,  capable  of  cutting  a  bar  of  cold  iron 
3  inches  thick  and  6  inches  wide  in  a  second's  time,  or  punch  a 
hole  three  inches  in  diameter  through  a  plate  of  cold  iron  two  and 
one-half  inches  thick  with  the  same  facility. 

A  bolt  and  nut  shop,  30x135  feet. 

A  truck  shop,  75x85  feet,  where    car  trucks    are  put  together 

ready  to  set  the  car  body  on. 

A  machine  shop  70x130  feet.  Here  are  two  hydraulic  presses 
lor  forcing  wheels  on  the  axles  and  taking  them  off  when  unfit  for 
further  service.  These  presses  can  exert  a  power  equal  to  the 
weight  of  one  hundred  tons,  and  wheels  must  go  on  the  axle  with 
a  pressure  of  not  less  than  twenty-five  tons  in  order  to  be  secure. 

An  upholstering  shop,  70x200  feet,  divided  into  several  rooms . 

A  cabinet  shop  70x167  feet,  and  another  room  70x200  feet, 
formerly  the  passenger  car  paint  shop  but  now  used  by  the  cabinet- 
makers; also  a  room  on  the  second  floor  of  this  latter  building 
50x70  feet;  also  another  room  12x25,  used  for  steaming  and  bend- 
ing wood  into  various  shapes. 

A  passenger  shop  (132x211  feet),  and  connected  with  this 
is  a  storage  building  for  iron  work  20x100  feet,  and  a  shed  for 
dry  and  worked  lumber,  70x75  feet. 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  93 


This  department  is  capable  of  building  twenty-five  passenger 
coaches  per  month,  but  as  a  great  deal  of  repair  work  is  done 
they  seldom  make  so  many  new  cars  in  a  month.  The  magnifi- 
cently luxurious  parlor  cars  of  the  company  are  all  made  here. 

A  paint  shop,  135x420  feet,  wherein  all  the  passenger,  parlor, 
mail,  express  and  baggage  cars  are  painted,  ornamented  and  var- 
nished. It  will  hold  forty  of  the  largest. passenger  cars,  with 
room  for  men  to  work  on  all  at  the  same  time. 

Another  paint  shop,  100x400  feet,  in  which  ireight  cars  are 
painted.  It  is  not  large  enough,  however,  to  hold  all  the  freight 
cars  usually  in  the  process  ot  building,  and  many  are  painted  while 
standing  on  the  tracks  outside.  Another  paint  shop,  53x54  feet, 
is  used  by  the  house  painters  who  paint  depots,  telegraph  towers 
and  other  company  buildings. 

An  air-brake  shop,  55x250  feet,  with  three  tracks  running  the 
entire  length  ot  the  building.  Annexed  to  this  building  is  a 
storage  building,  25x60  feet,  and  an  ofiice  for  the  foreman,  15x18 
feet.  Also  a  large  covered  platform,  20x90  feet,  for  storage  pur- 
poses . 

A  freight  car  shop  which  is  circular,  433  feet  in  diameter,  with 

a  turntable  100  feet  in  diameter  in  the  open  space,  or  court,  in 
the  centre.  Within  the  covered  space  of  this  shop  seventy-five 
freight  cars  can  be  built  at  once,  and  while  numbers  of  others 
receive  repairs  on  the  tracks  within  the  circle. 

A  tin  shop,  70x175  feet. 

A  buffing  room,  37x100  feet,  occupying  the  second  floor  of  a 
brick  building  near  the  tin  shop. 

A  store  house,  one  floor  of  which  is  36x124  feet,  and  another 
floor  36x87  feet,  and  an  additional  building,  30x50  feet,  for  storing 
nails. 

An  oil  house,  16x26  feet,  containing  oils  and  cotton  waste, 
used  in  the  axle  boxes  of  the  cars. 

A  fire  engine  house,  30x50  feet,  in  which  is  kept  a  steam  fire 
engine  and  hose  carriage  as  a  protection  against  fires. 

A  lumber  yard  covering  twenty-five  acres  of  ground,  included 
in  the  61  6-10  above,  and  in  which  are  stored  several  million  feet 
of  the  best  lumber.  The  lumber  being  constantly  received,  dried 
and  loaded  for  the  shop,  requires  the  assistance  of  seventy-five 
men . 

Thirty  watchmen  are  employed  in  these  shops. 

The  general  foreman  and  the  shop  clerk's  offices  occupy  a 
large  brick  building  adjoining  the  storehouse,  and  the  force, 
including  ofl&cers  and  clerks,  numbers  twenty-three  persons. 

John  P.  Levan  is  the  General  Foreman  of  these  shops. 


94  Semi- Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 

The  Juniata  Locomotive  Shops. 

This  latest  addition  to  the  works  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company  at  Altoona  were  begun  in  September,  1888,  and  finished 
In  1889-90.  The  first  engine  was  turned  out  July  29th,  1891. 
The  buildings  occupy  a  plot  of  ground  33  6-10  acres,  lying  just 
east  of  the  Car  Shops'  lumber  yard,  and  between  it  and  the  Bor- 
ough of  Juniata,  and  comprise  the  following: 

A  machine  shop,  75x258  feet,  two  stories  high. 

A  boiler  shop,  300x386  feet. 

A  blacksmith  shop,  80x306  feet. 

An  erecting  shop,  70x354  feet. 

A  boiler  house,  451:78  feet. 

An  electricity  and  hydraulic  building,  45x60  feet. 

A  paint  shop,  67x147  feet. 

A  paint  storehouse,  51-9x5-9  feet. 

An  office  and  storehouse,  52x71  feet,  two  stories  high. 

A  gas  house,  17x91  feet. 

These  shops  furnish  employment  now  to  almost  800  men,  and 
have  a  capacity  for  building  150  new  locomotive  engines  per  year. 
T.  R.  Brovv.i    is  Master  Mechanic  of  Juniata  shops. 

In  addition  to  these  shop  buildings  there  are  two  large 
oSB.ce  buildings  standing  on  Twelfth  street,  one  at  the  corner 
of  Eleventh  avenue,  a  three-story  brick,  about  50x120  feet,  and 
one  on  the  corner  of  Twelfth  avenue,  about  80x100  feet, 
three  stories  high.  The  former  is  used  as  the  offices  of 
General  Superintendent  of  the  road,  the  Superintendent  of 
Altoona  Division,  Superintendent  of  Motive  Power,  Principal 
Assistant  Engineer,  Maintenance  of  Way  Department  and 
Telegraph  ^Department.  The  latter  contains  the  offices  of 
General  Superintendent  of  Motive  Power,  Motive  Power 
Clerk  and  Mechanical  Engineer.  Other  departments  of  the 
road,  viz  :  Ticket  Receivers  and  Relief  Doctors  have  offices 
in  the  second  story  of  the  Passenger  Station. 

The  Railroad  Company  also  own  the  Logan  House  build- 
ing and  grounds,  and  a  large  three-story  brick  double  dwell- 
ing on  Eleventh  avenue,  just  west  of  the  Superintendent's 
office,  in  which  reside  the  General  Superintendent  of  the 
Road  and  the  General  Superintendent  of  Motive  Power  ;  also 
several  other  dwellings  on  Twelfth  and  Eighth  avenues, 
occupied  by  others  of  high  rank . 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  95 

Officers  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Co.,  1896 

George  B.  Roberts,  President. 

S.   M.   Prevost,  General  Manager. 

J.   R.  Wood,  General  Passenger  Agent. 

William  H.  Joyce,  General  Freight  Agent. 

A.  W.  Sumner,  Purchasing  Agent. 

James  A.  Logan,  (xeneral  Solicitor. 

The  foregoing  have  their  office  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia, 
in  the  magnificent  building,  erected  for  Passenger  Station  and 
General  Offices,  on  the  corner  of  Broad  and  Market  streets. 


The  following  officers  are  located  in  Altoona: 
F.    L.    Sheppard,    General    Superintendent  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  Division. 

C.  A.  Wood,  Chief  Clerk  to  F.  L.  Sheppard. 

F.  D.  Casanave,  (rcneral  Superintendent  of  Motive  Power. 
W.  H.  Rohrer,  Chief  Clerk  to  F.  D.  Casanave 

B.  F.  Custer,  Chief  Clerk  of  Motive  Power. 

J.  M.  Wallis,   Superintendent  of  Motive    Power    Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Division. 

W.  E.  Blanchard,  Chief  Clerk  to  J.  M.  Wallis. 

C.  T.  Witherow,  Motive  Power  Clerk. 

H.  M.  Carson,  Assistant  Engineer  Motive  Power. 
M.  W.  Thomson,  Principal  Assistant  Engineer. 
A.  C.  Shand,  Assistant  Principal  Engineer. 

D.  J.  Neff,  J.  D.  Hicks  and  A.  J.  Riley,  Solicitors, 
John  R.  Bingaman,  Chief  Clerk  Maintenance  of  Way. 
W.  S.  Humes,  Chief  Clerk  of  Transportation. 

A.  S.  Vogt,  Mechanical  Engineer. 
Charles  B.  Dudley,  Chemist. 

R.  E.  Marshall,  Superintendent  Altoona  Division. 
O.  F.  Delo,  Chief  Clerk  to  R.  E.  Marshall. 
W.  F.  Snyder,  Train  Master,  Altoona  Division. 
W.  F.  Taylor,  Chief  Telegraph  Operator,  Altoona  Divis- 
ion. 

Christ  McGregor,  Yard  Master,  Altoona  Division. 

G.  H.  Neilson,  Supervisor,  Altoona  Division. 

H.  B.  Weise,  Assistant  Supervisor,  Altoona  Division. 
D.  Steel,  Assistant  Train  Master,  Pittsburg  Division. 
William  Herr,  Assistant  Train  Master,  Middle  Division. 


96  Setni-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


G.  W.  Strattan,  Master  Mechanic,  Middle  Division. 
A.  W.  Mechen,  Chief  Clerk  to  G.  W.  Strattan. 
John  P.  Levan,  General  Foreman  Altoona  Car  Shops. 
L.  B.  Reifsneider,  General  Inspector    Altoona  Car   Shops. 
T.    R,    Browne,    Master    Mechanic,    Juniata    Locomotive 
Shops. 

Charles  T.  Wilson,  Station  Master  at  Altoona. 

H.  L.  Nicholson,  Ticket  Ag^ent  at  Altoona. 

A.  T,  Heintzelman,  Freig-ht  Ag-ent  at  Altoona. 


Other  Industries  of  Altoona. 


The  Altoona  Iron  Company  is  the  next  in  importance 
after  the  railroad  shops.  Their  rolling-  mill  was  erected  in 
1872-3  and  has  been  in  almost  continuous  operation  since 
April,  1873.  Merchant  bar  iron  of  all  kinds  is  manufactured 
here  and  the  annual  product  reaches  into  the  hundred  thou- 
sands ;  150  men  are  employed.  H.  K.  McCauley  is  Secretary 
and  Treasurer  and  Robert  Smiley  Manager  of  the  mill. 

A  fine  silk  mill  was  erected  in  1888-9  and  has  been  in 
continuous  operation  ever  since.  A  larg-e  annex  was  built  a 
few  years  later  and  a  still  more  important  addition  is  now 
projected.  About  300  employes  find  work  here  and  the 
amount  of  wag-es  paid  out  annually  is  nearly  $40,000.  No 
cloth  is  woven,  but  the  yarn  is  prepared  for  weaving-  in  the 
looms  owned  by  the  company  in  the  East.  Schwarzenbaug-h, 
Huber  &  Co.,  of  New  York  City,  are  owners  of  the  new  part 
and  lessees  of  the  orig-inal  plant. 

Th«  ice  plant  of  the  Pennsylvania  Ice  Company,  limited, 
located  at  Fifth  avenue  and  Thirty-first  street,  is  a  larg-e  con- 
cern and  supplies  the  g-reater  part  of  the  ice  consumed  in  the 
city.  They  have  a  capacity  for  manufacturing-  50,000  pounds 
of  artificial  ice  per  day  and  in  addition  have  immense  ice 
houses  at  Point  View ,  between  Hollidaysburg-  and  Williams- 
burg-, where  great  quantities  of  natural  ice  are  cut  and 
stored  each  winter.  F.  H.  Seely  is  one  of  the  heaviest  stock- 
holders and  resident  manag-er  of  the  company. 

Of  the  twelve  planing-  mills  in  the  city,  those  of  William 
Stoke,  M.  H.  Mackey  &  Sons,  Orr,  Blake  &  Co.,  Frank 
Brandt,  A.  Bucher  and  the  Parker  Bros,  are  the  largest. 


Semi- Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  97 

The  four  breweries  of  the  city  have  an  extensive  trade, 
that  of  the  Altoona  Brewing-  Company  on  Thirteenth  street 
being-  the  oldest  and  largest.  Wilhelm,  Schimminger  and 
Ramsey  operate  it  now. 

The  gas  works  of  the  Altoona  Gas  Company  are  the 
largest  between  Philadelphia  and  Pittsburg.  The  company 
was  chartered  in  1857  and  for  many  years  their  plant  was  at 
the  corner  of  Eleventh  avenue  and  Ninth  street,  but  the 
present  plant  at  Seventh  avenue  and  First  street  was  put  into 
operation  in  February,  1892,  shortly  after  which  the  old 
works  were  demolished  and  the  ground  is  now  occupied  by 
track  and  a  freight  shed  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany. John  Lloyd  is  President  of  the  Gas  Company  and 
George  H.  Harper  Superintendent. 

The  Edison  Electric  Illuminating  Company  was  organized 
in  1887,  by  John  Loudon,  A.  J.  Anderson  and  others  and 
established  a  plant  on  Tenth  avenue  between  Tenth  and 
Eleventh  streets,  which  was  occupied  until  April,  1896,  when 
the  present  large  and  thoroughly  equipped  plant  at  Union 
avenue  and  Nineteenth  street  was  completed  and  put  in  oper- 
ation. W.  R.  Dunham  is  President,  having  been  elected 
early  in  the  present  year,  and  A.  J.  Anderson  Secretary  and 
Business  Manag-er,  E.  B.  Greene,  Superintendent. 

The  city  water  system  of  Altoona  is  one  of  great  magni- 
tude, the  plant  having  now  cost  over  $1,000,000.  The  gather- 
ing- and  storage  reservoirs  at  Kittanning  Point,  on  the  Penn- 
sj'lvania  Railroad  at  the  Horse  Shoe  bend,  about  six  miles 
west  of  the  city,  are  works  of  art  as  well  as  monuments  of 
engineering  skill  and  well  repay  a  visit  and  inspection.  They 
have  a  combined  capacity  of  430,000,000  gallons  and  over  45 
miles  of  iron  pipe,  from  2  to  16  inches  in  diameter,  convey 
the  water  by  force  of  g-ravity  to  the  city  and  distribute  it  to 
all  residents. 

The  newspapers  of  Altoona  city  comprise  four  dailies  and 
five  weeklies,  including  the  weekly  edition  of  two  of  the 
dailies.  Two  of  the  dailies,  the  Ti'ibnuc  and  the  Timcs^ 
appear  in  the  morning  and  tell  of  the  various  happenings  of 
the  world  during  the  preceding  day  and  up  until  midnight, 
while  two  others,  the  Mirror  and  Gazette,  coming  from  the 
press  about  5  o'clock  in  the  evening  tell  of  the  happenings, 
local  and  general,  during"  the  early  part  of  the  day.     A  num- 


98  Semi-Cetttennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


ber  of  monthly  publications  are  also  issued  in  the  interests  of 

various  lodg-es  and  societies,  but  none  of   tj-eneral  circulation. 

These  will   be  referred  to  again  in  the  article  on  the  press  of 

the  county. 

Altoona    has   a  well  organized    paid    Fire     Department, 

which  superseded  the  volunteer  firemen  May  1,  1895.  It  con- 
sists of  a  Chief  Engineer  and  35  men.  Three  steam  fire 
engines  in  service  and  two  for  emergencies  ;  five  hose  car- 
riages in  use  and  two  extra  ones,  one  hook  and  ladder  truck, 
7,000  feet  of  hose  (l}(  miles)  and  14  horses  for  hauling 
the  engines,  truck  and  hose  carts. 

There  is  in  the  city  a  library,  the  "Mechanics,"  which 
while  not  being  free  is  largely  patronized  by  the  best  class  of 
citizens.  It  is  fostered  and  materially  assisted  by  the  Penn- 
sylvania Railroad  Company.  G.  W.  Stattan  is  President 
Rev,  Allan  Sheldon  Woodle  Vice-President,  W.  C.  Leet,  Sec- 
retary, Miss  L.  L.  Snyder,  Librarian  and  Dr.  C.  B.  Dudley, 
Chairman  of  the  book  committee. 

Altoona  has  a  public  hospital.  The  building  was  first 
erected  in  1885  at  a  cost  of  $40,000  and  was  opened  for  the 
reception  of  patients  January  1,  1886.  The  building  has 
since  been  enlarged  and  now,  with  the  grounds,  represent  a 
value  of  about  $60,000.  John  P.  Levan  is  President,  L.  B. 
Reifsneider,  Secretary.  The  medical  staff  consists  of  Drs. 
John  Fry,  Chief  of  Staff,  F.  N.  Christy,  W.  S.  Ross,  J.  N. 
Blose  and  J.  F.  Arney,  who  serve  without  compensation.  It 
is  supported  by  voluntaty  contributions  and  State  appropria- 
tions. 


Setni-Cetitennial  History  of  Blair  County.  99 


Big  Things  of  Altoona. 


The  people  of  Altoona  are  not  given  to  boasting;  they  are, 
in  fact,  too  modest  in  putting-  forth  the  claims  of  their  city 
to  prominence.  If  they  had  a  city  like  Altoona  in  California, 
Colorado  or  Kansas  it  would  be  advertised  all  over  the  world 
and  heralded  as  a  marvel  of  the  age,  but  when  an  Altoona 
man  goes  away  from  home  or  speaks  of  the  town  he  only  ad- 
raits  that  it  is  a  pretty  good  place,  business  is  good,  the  city 
is  growing  rapidly,  etc.  Some  evidently  desire  rather  to 
suppress  than  exagerate  the  facts,  for  fear  too  many  people 
will  came  here. 

Among  the  very  large  things  of  which  they  could  boast, 
are: 

The  Pennsylvania  Railroad  passing  through  and  giving 
the  best  possible  service  in  the  matter  of  transportation. 

The  freight  yard  of  the  railroad  here  is  nearly  five  miles 
long  and  capable  of  holding  half  the  cars  in  the  United 
States  when  the  tracks  are  all  laid. 

The  largest  railroad  shops  in  America,  building  the  finest 
cars  and  locomotive  engines  made  and  employing  over  7,000 
men. 

A  growth  in  the  past  forty-five  years,  unprecedented  in  the 
history  of  this  country,  from  a  few  scattered  families  to  al- 
most 50,000  people. 

A  future  whose  outlook  is  most  promising. 

A  surrounding  country  unsurpassed  in  the  world  for  beauty 
of  location  and  picturesque  scenery. 

A  climate  more  favorable  to  health  and  longevity  than 
the  boasted  climate  of  California. 

Water  and  air  as  pure  as  any  nature  has  provided  for  man 
in  any  place. 

Of  manufacturing  establishments  the  largest,  after  the 
railroad  shops,  are  a  rolling  mill,  employing  150  men,  a  silk 
mill  with  250  enjrployes,  twelve  planing  mills,  furbishing 
employment  to  300  to  5(iO  men,  an  electric  passenger  railway 
having  2S  miles  of  track,  employing  175  men  and  furnishing 
rapid  and  cheap  transportation  in  the  city  and  suburbs  and 
to  the   county-seat  and   Bellw^od.  »      ;^, 


100  Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


Hollidaysburg. 


"Whoever  is  alive  a  hundred  years  after  this  will  see  a  con- 
siderable sized  town  here,  and  this  will  be  near  about  the  middle 
of  it." 

Thus  Adam  Holliday  is  said  to  have  spoken  to  his  brother 
William,  as  he  drove  a  stake  into  the  ground  on  the  hill  above 
the  Juniata  river,  in  1768,  where  Hollidaysburg  now  stands. 

He  was  right;  in  1868  the  borough  of  Hollidaysburg  occupied 
the  land  which  he  chose  for  a  farm  in  that  early  day  and  nearly 
4,000  people  claimed  it  as  their  home.  It  did  not  require  one 
hundred  years  to  work  the  change;  in  50  years  a  small  village 
had  sprung  up  and  Adam  Holliday 's  children  were  enjoying  the 
advantages  of  a  civilized  community  and  the  results  of  their 
father's  labor — Adam  was  dead.  In  75  j^ears  from  the  date  of 
this  remark  Hollidaysburg  was  the  largest  and  most  important 
town  between  Harrisburg  and  Pittsburg,  having  both  a  railroad 
and  a  canal.  At  that  time  only  a  few  cities  in  the  United  States 
could  boast  of  a  railroad.  The  Allegheny  Portage  being  one  of 
the  ver}-  early  ones  of  this  country.  One  hundred  years  after  the 
settlement  of  the  place  Hollidaysburg  w^as  a  flourishing  borough 
containing,  with  its  suburbs,  and  Gay.sport  4,000  inhabitants. 
Having  two  large  iron  furnaces,  two  rolling  mills  and  large  ma- 
chine shops  and  foundrys,  and  being  the  county  seat  of  one  of  the 
most  important  counties  of  the  state.  Thus  was  the  prophecy 
of  Adam  Holliday  fulfilled. 

The  Holliday  brothers,  when  the}^  started  from  their  early 
home  in  the  Conococheague  Valley,  did  not  intend  to  locate  here, 
and  clearing  the  ground  for  the  seat  of  justice  of  a  great  county 
was  farthest  from  their  thoughts.  They  had  intended  to  go  to 
the  Allegheny  Valley  near  Kittanning,  but  could  not  get  through 
Blair  County,  the  beauty  of  the  situation  appealed  to  them  too 
strongl}'  to  be  resisted  and  they  resolved  to  settle  here. 

Thousands  of  other  people  since  that  time  have  experienced 
the  same  difficulty  in  passing  through  Blair  County,  if  they 
stopped  long  enough  to  take  in  all  the  advantages  it  offered,  they 
were  sure  to  remain  and  thus  it  is  that  now  more  than  80,000 
people  have  their  homes  here  and  the  number  is  being  rapidly 
augmented.  What  another  half  century  may  bring  to  the  Empire 
of  Blair  man  knoweth  not,  but  in  the  innermost  thoughts  of  her 
friends  are  visions  of  future  wealth,  prosperity  and  greatness,  so 
vast  that  they  hesitate  to  give  expression  to  their  imaginations,  lest 
they  be  laughed  at  as  visionary  and  impossible. 


Setni-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  101 


Adam  Hollida}^  purchased  i,ooo  acress  of  land  on  the  eastern 
side  oi  the  river  including  all  of  the  site  of  Hollidaysburg  and 
William  obtained  a  like  amount  on  the  western  side  where  Gays- 
port  now  stands.  They  bought  from  the  Proprietaries — descend- 
ants of  William  Penn,  and  the  price  paid  was  five  pounds  sterling 
per  hundred  acres,  equal  to  $220.20  for  each  thousand  acre  tracts. 
Each  built  a  log  house  on  his  tract,  as  both  were  men  of  families 
and  cleared  and  resided  on  their  land  for  many  years.  William 
is  supposed  to  have  kept  his  until  his  death  but  Adam  was  dis- 
posessed  of  his  on  account  of  some  imperfection  in  his  title.  He 
was  paid  for  it  however,  by  the  government  some  time  after  the 
Rovolution,  receiving  $17,000  or  $iS,ooo,  which  made  him  a  very 
rich  man  for  this  region  and  that  time. 

As  to  the  location  of  the  first  houses  erected,  authorities  differ 
and  the  exact  truth  cannot  now  be  determined.  Mr.  U.  J.Jones, 
writing  a  "History  of  the  Juniata  Valley"  in  1855  saj^s  AdamHol- 
liday's  house  stood  about  where  the  American  House  now  stands, 
while  H.  H.  Snyder,  esq.,  writingsome  25  years  later  locates  it  on 
the  southwest  corner  of  Allegheny  and  Montgomery  streets. 
Adam  HoUiday  died  at  or  near  Hollidaysburg  in  1801  leaving  but 
two  children,  a  son  John  and  a  daughter  Jane.  The  latter  married 
William  Reynolds,  of  Bedford  county,  proprietor  of  Bedford 
Springs  Hotel.  John  HoUiday  lived  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
here  and  here  he  died  in  1843.  He  had  a  family  of  ten  children, 
vis:  Adam,  born  Nov.  9,  1804,  who  went  to  Oil  City,  Pa.  Mary 
born  April  25,  1S06,  married  Andrew  Bratton  and  moved  to 
L,ewistown,  Pa.  Sarah,  born  Dec.  11,  1807,  married  Soloman 
Filler  and  moved  to  Bedford,  Pa.  Lazarus  L-,  born  Nov.  5,  1809, 
died  in  Missouri,  July  17,  1846.  John,  Jr.,  born  Dec.  8,  1811 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  war  and  died  on  ship  board  while 
enroute  from  Vera  Cruz  to  Galveston  Aug.  2,  1842.  Alexander 
L.  born  May  7,  1814,  resided  in  Hollidaysburg  all  his  life.  Jane 
born  Aug.  27,  1816,  married  J.  L.  Slentz  and  moved  to  Pittsburg, 
where  she  died  in  1869.  Caroline,  born  July  12,  1818,  married 
D.  McLeary  and  resided  at  Hollidaysburg  all  her  life  time.  Will- 
iam R.,  born  Sept.  16,  1820,  moved  to  Massachusetts.  Fleming, 
the  youngest,  born  May  25,  1823,  and  moved  to  the  west.  The 
names  of  children  and  grand-children  of  William  HoUiday  and 
what  became  of  them  we  have  been  unable  to  learn,  in  the  short 
time  at  our  disposal. 

The  exact  date  at  which  Hollidaysburg  was  laid  out,  is  in 
some  doubt,  but  it  was  prior  to  the  beginning  of  the  present  cen- 


102  Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 

tury,  probably  about  1790;  though  H.  H.  Snyder  in  his  historical 
research  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  at  least  ten  years  ear- 
lier because  a  Janet  HoUiday  owned  a  lot,  and  a  Janet  Holliday 
was  killed  by  the  Indians  in  178 1.  It  is  probable,  however,  that 
it  was  Jane  Holliday,  daughter  of  Adam,  and  not  Janet  daughter 
of  William,  who  met  so  early  and  sad  a  death.  Whatever  may 
have  been  the  date,  the  original  plot  contained  but  90  lots  60x180 
feet  in  size  and  the  streets  were  Allegheny,  Walnut  and  Mont- 
gomery a  diamond  was  formed  by  taking  30  feet  off  the  end  of 
each  of  the  four  lots  cornering  there.  As  Allegheny  street  was 
60  feet  wide  and  Montgomery  street  50  feet,  it  follows  that  the 
diamond  was  120x170  feet,  and  so  it  has  remained  to  the  present 
time.  The  original  plot  cannot  now  be  found  and  the  only  copy 
known  is  not  dated. 

The  little  town  did  not  grow  rapidly  at  first  and  in  18 14  there 
were  but  three  houses,  a  small  store  and  a  blacksmith  shop.  In 
1830  it  was  not  nearh^  so  large  or  important  a  village  as  Franks- 
town,  but  when  the  canal  was  finished  and  the  great  basin  and 
terminus  located  at  Hollidaysburg  the  place  immediately  began  to 
grow  and  in  1835  it  was  a  very  important  town,  far  exceeding 
Frankstown.  The  Hollidaysburg;  Sentinel  and  Huntingdon^ 
Cambria  and  Bedford  County  Democrat,  the  first  issue  of  which 
was  published  Oct.  6,  1835,  in  a  descriptive  article  said  that  the 
population  was  i  ,200  and  that  no  town  in  the  interior  of  the  state 
enjoyed  more  advantages  than  Hollidaysburg.  This  census  in- 
cluded Gaysport.  In  1836,  eight  daily  transportation  lines  oper- 
ated on  the  canal  and  railroad  and  the  tolls  collected  on  the  canal, 
railroad,  and  for  motive  power  that  year  amounted  to $154, 2 8 2.74- 
The  borough  was  chartered  in  August  that  year  and  the  council 
held  their  first  meeting  at  John  Dougherty's  house  Sept.  20,  1836. 

Higher  vilization  soon  became  apparent  for  the  young  bor- 
ough went  in  debt  in  June  1837  for  public  improvements.  One 
of  the  bonds,  or  evidences  of  debt,  reads  as  follows: 

"Hollidaysburg  Borough  Loan. 

"This  is  to  certify  that  there  is  due  to  bearer  from  the  Burgess, 
Town  Council,  and  citizens  of  the  Borough  of  Hollidaysburg 
ONE  DOLLAR  bearing  an  interest,  redeemable  in  the  payment  of 
taxes,    by  virtue  of    an    ordinance   passed    by  the   Town  Council 

June  19,  1837." 

"JAMES  COFFEE,  Burgess." 
$5,342.69  of  these  "borough  notes"  were  outstanding  on  the 
6th  of  April    1844,  at  which   time  the  total   indebtedness  of  the 
borough  was  $16,31 1.30. 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  103 


The  "Huntingdon,  Cambria  and  Indiana  County  Pike"  was 
completed  from  Huntingdon  through  Hollidaysburg  to  Blairsville 
in  1 8 19  and  the  canal  from  Huntingdon  to  Hollida5^sburg  in  1832; 
the  first  boat  coming  from  Huntingdon  Nov.  28.  The  Alleghen^^ 
Portage  railroad  was  completed  late  in  1833  ^"*^  operated  in  1834 
making  the  line  of  transportation  by  boat  and  rail  complete  from 
Philadelphia,  through  Hollidaysburg  to  Pittsburg,  and  Hollidays- 
burg became  one  of  the  most  important  towns  between  the  two  points, 
an  extremel}'  prosperous  business  place.  When  the  new  county 
was  formed  and  Hollidaysburg  made  the  seat  of  justice,  in  1846,  it 
added  still  more  to  her  prestige  and  it  seemed  as  if  her  cup  of  pros- 
perity was  full  to  the  brim.  A  few  years  later,  1851,  the  Magnetic 
telegraph  as  it  vvas  then  styled,  was  extended  from  Bedford  to 
Hollidaysburg  and  during  the  following  year  1852  the  railroad 
from  Altoona  was  completed. 

Until  the  construction  of  the  canal,  the  business  center  of 
Hollidaysburg  was  at  the  diamond  but  with  the  advent  of  the 
canal  it  all  gravitated  to  the  basin  at  the  foot  of  Montgomery 
street.  A  town  hall  and  market  house  was  erected  about  1835, 
midway  between  the  diamond  and  canal  basin  and  many  stirring 
scenes  have  been  witnessed  where  now  oppressive  quietness  reigns 
since  the  railroad  superseded  the  canal  and  the  latter  was  aband- 
oned. The  old  market  house  was  abandoned  excepting  a  part 
which  was  fitted  up  for  the  borough  fire  company,  but  later  it  was 
entirely  disused,  and  after  standing  tenantless  for  several  years 
was  finally  torn  down,  at  a  period  still  quite  recent. 

The  large  warehouses  and  store  buildings  which  were  erected 
near  the  basin  have  been  changed  to  dwellings  and  in  seme  cases 
removed  sirce  the  railroad  superseded  the  caral,  and  the  business 
part  of  the  town  has  gone  tack  to  its  old  location  arourd  the  dia- 
mond and  along  Allegheny  street.  Many  of  these  changes  oc- 
curred before  the  advent  of  any  considerable  manufactures.  The 
f  urraces,  rrd  icllii  g  n  ills  aic  c  n  cie  ucei.t  cr'gin  Urn  ihe  lail- 
road  and  even  this  industry  seems  to  have  reached  its  highest 
point  some  years  ago. 

The  canal  began  to  fall  into  disuse  scon  after  the  ccnipletion 
of  the  Pennsylvania  railroad  and  in  a  few  yeais  more  was  entirely 
abandoned  as  a  chanrcl  of  c(irn:eice;  Ihe  waler  slccd  stagnant 
within  its  banks  a  few  years  longer  when  it  was  drained  off  and 
the  embankments  broken  down,  the  stone  in  the  locks  taken  away 
for  other  uses  ard  row  the  line  is  cnly  faintly  traceable  through 
the  county.     The    Allegheny  Portage  railroad  began  at  the  west" 


104  Semi-Centetinial  History  of  Blair  County. 


ern  end  of  the  basin  and  continued  thence  across  the  Juniata  and 
through  Gaysport  to  Duncansville  and  "Foot  of  Ten"  where  it 
began  its  steep  ascent  of  the  mountain  to  another  plane,  along  this 
plane  to  another  incline  and  so  on  to  the  mountain  top,  and  down 
on  the  other  side  to  Johnstown,  39  miles  from  HoUidaysburg,  the 
beginning  of  the  western  division  of  the  canal. 

Iron  manufacturers  had  been  operating  in  the  upper  Juniata 
Valley  for  50  years  before  any  furnaces  were  erected  in  HoUidays- 
burg, but  to  compensate,  in  some  degree,  for  this,  those  built  at 
HollidaA/sburg,  in  1855,  were  much  larger  and  more  complete  than 
any  others  and  used  coke  for  fuel  instead  of  charcoal  as  the  earlier 
and  smaller  ones  in  the  county  had  done.  The  first  of  these  fur- 
naces called  the  HoUidaysburg  furnace  but  later  known  as 
No.  I,  was  built  by  Watson,  White  &  Co.,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$60,000.  It  stood  on  the  Gaysport  side  of  the  river.  The  prin- 
cipal contributors  to  the  enterprise  were  Col.  William  Jack,  Mc- 
L,anahan,  Watson  &  Co.,  Robert  and  B.  M.  Johnston,  David 
Watson,  William  Jackson,  A.  M.  White  and  Samuel  S.  Blair, 
Esq.  It  was  first  put  in  blast  Nov.  18,  1856,  and  had  a  capacity 
of  120  tons  per  week. 

Chimney  Rocks  Furnace,  later  known  as  No.  2,  was  built  in 
1855-6  by  Gardner,  Osterloh  &  Co.  Although  bugan  later  than 
the  other  it  was  completed  first,  but  was  of  less  capacity. 
A  few  years  later,  owing  to  financial  difficulties,  these  two  furnaces 
came  under  one  control.  The  Blair  Iron  &  Coal  Company  com- 
posed of  Watson,  Dennison  &  Co.  and  the  Cambria  Iron  Co.,  of 
Johnstown.  They  were  thus  operated  tor  many  years.  Quite 
recently  however,  the  old  No.  f  furnace  was  abandoned  and  torn 
torn  down  so  that  now  there  is  but  one  furnace  at  HoUidaysburg. 

The  Hollidajsburg  Iron  and  Nail  Company  is  the  name  of 
the  corporation  now  owning  and  operating  one  of  the  rolling 
mills  at  HoUidaysburg.  The  mill  is  located  near  the  No.  2 
furnace  and  was  built  in  1869  by  B.  M.  Johnston.  In 
1866  some  new  members  were  taken  in  and  the  company  char- 
tered under  the  above  name.  The  works  have  been  operated 
almost  continuously  for  thirty-six  years. 

The  other  rolling  mill  was  built  later  and  is  now  operated 
by  the  Kleanor  Iron  Company,  R.  C.  McNeal  Secretary  and 
Treasurer.  These  are  both  quite  extensive  works,  the  Iron 
and  Nail  Company  employing  150  men.  Nails  were  made 
here  at  one  time,  but  the  nail  department  has  not  been  in 
operation  for  some  3'ears. 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  105 

McLanahan,  Smith  &  Co.  have  an  extensive  foundry  and 
machine  shop  in  Gaysport,  where  they  manufacture  larg-e 
quantities  of  machinery  which  is  shipped  to  various  parts  of 
the  country,  the  Southern  States  especially.  These  works 
were  first  started  in  1857  as  the  Bellroug-h  foundry  and  have 
been  enlarg^ed  several  times  since  by  successive  owners. 

HOLLIDAYSBURG    DaTES. 

First  settlement  made  in 1768 

Janet  Holliday  and  brother  massacred  by  Indians 1790 

Town  laid  out  about 1790 

Pike  completed  thoug-h 1819 

Canal  completed  to  here  and  first  boat  run 1832 

Portag-e  Railroad  completed 1833 

Population  1,200  in 1836 

Incorporated  as  a  boroug-h 1836 

Great  flood 1838 

Made  county-seat 1846 

First   court   held    in   M.  E.  church,   July  27 1846 

Magnetic  teleg-raph  from  Bedford A8'\fr  /^^ 

Pennsylvania  Central  Railroad  and  first  train 1852 

First  foundry 1837 

First  fire  engine  (hand  engine) 1837 

First  iron  furnace 1855 

First  rolling  mill 1860 

First  water-works,  from  Brush  Mountain.. . .    1867 

Present  countail  jail  completed 1869 

Presbyterian  church   completed 1870 

First  steam  fire  engine 1871 

Present  Court  House  built 1877 

Larg-est  fire,  Wayne  and  Allegheny  streets  ;  loss,  $2,000, -J^^,<^*^<^. 

April,  14 1880 

Telephone  service  from  Altoona 1881 

Memorable  flood.  May  31 1889 

;fclectric  Passeng-er  Railroad  from  Altoona 1893 

Water  broug-ht  from  Blair  run 1895 

Celebration  of  Semi-Centennial,  June  11  and  12 1896 


106  Semi- Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


Tyrone. 


If  some  adventurous  person  had  followed  the  Juniata  River  to 
near  its  headwaters  any  time  between  the  years  1770  and  1785  he 
might  have  seen,  shortly  after  passing  through  the  gap  in  the  Bald 
Eagle  mountains,  a  level,  triangular  piece  of  ground,  surrounded 
on  three  sides  by  the  mountain,  and  high  hills  and  from  the  north 
a  stream  of  about  the  same  size  as  the  Juniata  joining  it  here;  also 
a  smaller  stream  flowing  from  a  large  spring  and  emptying  into 
the  Juniata,  and,  in  a  small  clearing  near  this  spring,  a  hut  or  rude 
dwelling  inhabited  by  a  half  civilized  Indian.  This  flat  is  where 
Tyrone  now  stands  and  the  Indian  was  Captain  or  Chief  Logan, 
an  Indian  differing  little  from  others  of  the  Cayugas,  to  which 
tribe  he  belonged,  except  that  he  had  laid  aside  the  implements 
of  warfare  and  lived  by  hunting  and  fishing  and  bj^  cultivating 
some  of  the  land  surrounding  his  cabin.  He  was  not  proud,  but 
had  he  known  the  post  mortem  honors  that  the  future  had  in  store 
for  him,  that  a  rich  and  pleasant  valley,  a  township,  a  borough, 
an  immense  hotel  and  others  of  less  size,  beside  numerous  lodges, 
societies,  etc.,  and  a  great  electric  railway  company  would  be 
named  after  him,  he  might  have  been  more  dignified  than  he  was. 
Fortunately  he  never  dreamed  of  these  honors  and  when,  in  1785, 
a  white  man  secured  the  legal  title  tonthe  land  that  he  had  held 
only  by  possessory  right,  and  told  him  to  mo.e  off,  he  did  so 
without  much  objection  and  journeyed  north  to  near  the  present 
site  of  Clearfield,  where  he  ended  his  days  in  peace. 

The  name  of  the  white  man  who  thus  cruelly  dispossessed  the 
peaceful  old  Indian  has  not  been  preserved,  but  he  did  not  hold 
the  lands  long.  About  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  they 
formed  part  of  a  large  mineral  tract  owned  by  John  Glonninger  & 
Co.,  who  in  1806  erected  forges  at  the  place  now  known  as  Ty- 
rone Forges.  A  little  village  grew  up  around  the  Forges  and  a 
farmer  or  two  and  a  man  with  a  saw-mill,  Blisha  Davis,  occupied 
the  Indian's  former  land  as  tenants  of,  or  purchasers  from,  Glon- 
ninger's.  The  Forges  soon  after  became  the  propert}^  of  Wm.  M. 
Lyon  &  Co.  Jacob  Burley  was  one  of  the  very  early  settlers  here 
and  built  a  log  house  in  1820  or  perhaps  earlier  where  the  Central 
Hotel  now  stands. 

No  town  was  projected  until  the  Central  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road as  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  was  then  called,  was  in 
process  of  construction,  then  Tyrone  sprung  into  being.     The  first 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  107 


plot  was  surveyed  in  the  spring  of  185 1  by  direction  of  \Vm.  M. 
Lyon  &  Co.  It  consisted  of  75  lots  only,  lying  north  of  Juniata 
street  and  west  of  Main.  During  that  season  six  or  eight  small 
buildings  were  erected  for  stores  and  residences.  A  frame  house 
built  by  Jacob  Burley  in  1850  where  the  Study  block  now  stands 
was  used  as  a  store  and  dwelling  that  year  and  was  the  first  store 
in  the  new  town. 

No  name  was  given  the  place  by  its  proprietors  at  first  but  it 
was  called  Eaglesville  by  some  and  Shorbsville  by  others  for  the 
first  year  or  tvvo,  but  when  it  became  apparent  that  it  would  grow 
into  a  village  it  was  christened  Tyrone  City.  The  latter  part  of 
the  name  to  distinguish  it  from  T5'rone  Forges,  less  than  a  mile 
distant.  T3Tone  City  grew  quite  rapidl)^  and  in  a  few  years  con- 
tained enough  people  to  entitle  it  to  a  postoffice,  and  F.  M.  Bell 
was  appointed  first  postmaster,  which  office  he  held  until  1857, 
keeping  the  ofiice  in  his  store.  There  has  been  no  halt  in  the 
growth  of  Tyrone,  although  it  has  not  increased  as  rapidly  as 
Altoona.  In  1870  the  population  was  1,800,  and  now,  with  its 
suburbs,  it  is  fully  8,000.  By  an  Act  of  Assembly,  approved 
Maj-  1874,  it  was  divided  into  four  wards,  which  is  the  present 
number. 

The  completion  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  through  Tyrone 
from  Philadelphia  to  Pittsburg,  opened  up  a  new  outlet  to  market 
for  the  products  of  Center  count3^  and  the  people  were  not  slow 
to  take  advantage  of  it.  A  plank  road  was  completed  from  Belle- 
fonte  to  Tyrone  in  1853  and  in  1856  the  project  of  a  branch  rail- 
road to  connect  with  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  was  agitated ,  and 
the  Tyrone  and  Lock  Haven  Railroad  Company  was  organized. 
This  company  did  not  have  sufficient  capital  to  build  the  line  and 
it  fell  through,  but  in  1861  the  Bald  Eagle  Valley  Railroad  Com- 
pany was  formed,  and  with  some  assistance  from  the  Pennsylva- 
nia Railroad  Company,  completed  the  railroad  to  Lock  Haven. 
Connecting  also  with  Bellefonte  by  a  branch  from  Milesburg. 

A  road  to  Clearfield,  opening  up  the  rich  lumber  and  coal  fields 
of  that  county,  was  projected  in  1856.  The  Tyrone  and  Clear- 
field Company,  organized  to  build  it  found  the  undertaking  too 
great  and  were  also  obliged  to  obtain  assistance  from  the  Penn- 
sylvania. This  road  was  also  built  in  1862,  and  the  two  branches 
brought  an  immense  amount  of  business  to  Tyrone.  The  Tyrone 
Division  of  the  Pennsj'lvania  Railroad,  to  manage  these  two 
branches,  was  established  at  this  time,  and  the  car  repair  shops  at 
Tyrone  were  built  in  1868.  The  Tyrone  and  Lewisburg  branch, 
which  also  belongs  to  this  division,  was  constructed  in  1881-2. 


108  Setni-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


The  Tyrone  Gas  and  Water  Co.  was  authorized  by  Act  of  As- 
sembly March  lo,  1865,  but  no  organization  was  completed  until 
1869,  at  which  time  a  company  was  formed  with  a  capital  of  $20,- 
000,  and  water  works  immediately  constructed  and  pipes  laid  in 
the  principal  streets.  The  Gas  Works  however,  were  not  built 
until  1873.  Gas  was  expensive  in  those  days,  the  rate  to  consum- 
ers being  $3.50  per  thousand  cubic  feet.  A  Volunteer  Fire  de- 
partment was  organized  in  1868  and  Wm.  Stoke,  nowof  Altoona, 
was  the  first  Fire  Marshall  of  Tyrone.  The  first  steam  fire  engine 
and  200  feet  of  hose  was  purchased  in  1873  and  given  in  charge 
of  the  Neptune  Fire  Co.,  which  had  been  organized  as  a  Hose  Co. 
in  1 87 1. 

The  Bald  Eagle  tannery,  one  of  Tyrone's  important  industries 
was  erected  and  put  in  operation  in  1870  by  Daniel  P.  Ray  and 
after  his  death  in  1881  operated  by  his  sons  John  K.  and  Daniel 
P.   Ray.     The  tannery  is  located  close  to    the   passenger  station. 

The  Tyrone  Paper  Mills,  the  largest  industry  in  Tyrone  and 
one  of  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  the  state,  was  built  by  Morrison, 
Bare  &  Cass  in  1880  and  put  in  operation  in  October  of  that  year, 
and  has  been  running  successfully  ever  since.  It  is  situated  on 
Bald  Eagle  Creek  at  the  upper  end  of  Pennsylvania  avenue.  Sev- 
eral hundred  men  are  employed  and  immense  q  uantities  of  wood 
are  used  in  the  manufacture.  They  make  manilla  writing,  book 
and  news  paper,  wood  being  the  principal  ingredient,  being 
chopped  into  small  chips  and  reduced  to  pulp  by  chemical  pro- 
cesses. 

The  first  Building  and  L,oan  Association  in  Tyrone  was  or- 
ganized March,  1870,  and  called  the  Tyrone  Building  and  Loan 
Association.  Another,  the  Bald  Eagle,  was  organized  May,  1872. 
The  first  hotel  erected  for  the  purpose  in  Tyrone  was  the  Central, 
built  in  1852-3  by  John  Burley,  it  was  afterward  enlarged  and  is 
now  carried  on  by  C.  M.  Waple.  The  Ward  House,  by  the  pas- 
senger station  was  built  in  1859  to  1862  by  Mrs.  Mary  Ward.  It 
is  now  conducted  on  by  J.  T.  Rowley. 

The  first  bank  in  Tyrone  was  that  of  Eloyd,  Caldwell  &  Co., 
established  in  1866  and  went  down  with  the  other  Eloyd  banks  in 
the  financial  crash  of  1873. 

The  Tyrone  Bank  was  established  April  i,  1871,  and  the 
Blair  County  Banking  Co.,  organized  Dec.  15,  1874. 


Semi-Cententiial  History  of  Blair  County.  109 


Tyrone   Newspapers. 

Had  there  been  some  deadly  miasma  in  the  air  as  fatal  to 
human  lile  as  the  conditions  seemed  to  be  to  the  early  newspaper 
ventures,  Tyrone  would  be  an  uninhabited  spot  to-day,  but  fortu- 
nately there  was  not. 

The  first  newspaper  started  in  Tyrone  was  a  weekly  in  1856  by 
D.  A.  McGeehan  and  called  the  Iron  Ao-e  politics,  Demccratic. 
It  continued  for  a  year  or  a  little  more  when  it  failed  and  the  pro- 
prietor was  sold  out. 

The  American  Era  was  commenced  a  little  later  the  same 
year,  owned  by  a  stock  company  and  edited  by  W.  S.  H.  Keys, 
politics.  Republican.  The  rival  papers  maintained  a  bitter  war- 
fare with  each  other  and  both  failed  about  the  same  time,  the 
press  and  type  of  the  Era  being  purchased  by  Robert  Stodard. 
The  town  was  without  a  paper  for  a  while  and  then  the  Tyrone 
Herald  was  started  with  the  same  outfit  formerly  used  by  the  Era. 

It  failed  after  a  \  ear's  strug-g"le  ag^ainst  adverse  circum- 
stances and  was  revived  later  under  the  name  of  the  Star,  by 
James  Bell,  but  the  Star  was  not  a  fixed  one  and  failed  after 
a  short  period.  Ag^ain  a  newspaper  was  started  under  the 
name  of  the  Tyrone  Herald,  H.  R.  Holtzing-er,  editor.  It 
survived  six  months.  Holtzing-er  being-  a  Brethren  minister, 
soon  after  started  a  denominational  paper  called  the  Christian 
Family  Companion,  which  succeeded  quite  well,  but  in  a  few 
years  was  moved  to  Somerset  county.  Soon  afterward  the 
Western  Hemisphere  was  started  by  J.  W.  Scott  and  Cyrus 
Jeffries,  but  eig-hteen  months  was  as  long-  as  their  finances 
would  support  it  and  it  too  was  carried  to  the  newspaper 
cemetery  of  Tyrone  and  laid  to  rest  sadly  by  the  side  of  its 
many  equally  unfortunate  predecssors. 

The  Tyrone  Herald,  for  the  third  time,  made  its  appear- 
ance on  the  newspaper  horizon  in  Aug-ust,  1867,  but  it  could 
scarcely  claim  relationship  to  or  descent  from  either  of  the 
other  two  Heralds  which  preceded  it.  Holtzing-er  and  J. 
L.  Holmes  were  proprietors  of  the  Herald  this  time  and  it 
proved  a  success.  In  1868  C.  S.  W.  Jones  became  part  owner 
which  was  a  guarantee  of  its  stability  and  success,  and  it  still 
survives,  occupying-  a  building  of  its  own.  In  Jul}^  1880,  the 
office  was  burned  out  but  the  paper  did  not  lose  an  issue  on 
that  account.  It  is  now  published  daily  and  weekly,  the  daily 
having-  been  beg-un  in  1887,  C.  S.  W.  Jones  still  editor  and 
proprietor. 

The  Tyrone  Bulletin,  by  Matthew  H.  Jolly,  was  issued 
from  April,  1867,  for  six  months,  when  it  collapsed. 


110  Semi- Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 

The  Tyrone  Blade  was  established  by  J.  L.  Holmes  after 
his  retirement  from  the  Herald.  He  published  it  from  June 
1,  1870,  to  November  22,  I872,  when  he  sold  it  to  George 
Stroup  who  chang-ed  the  name  to  the  Tyrone  Democrat,  which 
was  published  until  July  8,  1880,  when  the  great  fire  destroyed 
the  office  and  the  paper  was  never  revived. 

The  Tj^rone  Times  was  first  beg-un  as  a  semi-weekly  paper 
June  1,  1880,  by  John  N.  Holmes,  son  of  J.  L.  Holmes  and 
A.  M.  Wooden,  the  office  being-  in  a  building  of  Mr.  Wooden's 
on  lower  Main  street  and  the  outfit  a  complete  new  one. 
Aug-ust  lOtli,  the  same  year,  it  was  changed  to  a  weekl}-. 
It  passed  throug"h  several  hands,  being-  owned  and  edited  by 
C.  G.  Nisselj'  for  a  long-  time,  but  is  now  published  by  Harry 
A.  Thompson,  who  became  its  owner  February  1,  1896. 


Bellwood. 


This  beautiful  little  town,  formerly  called  Bells'  Mills,  is 
noted  for  its  picturesque  mountain  scenery.  It  is  situated  on  the 
main  line  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  midway  between  Altoona 
and  Tyrone.  It  is  also  the  southern  terminus  of  the  Pennsylva- 
nia Northwestern  Railroad,  formerly  the  Bells'  Gap,  which  was 
constructed  in  1872  and  later  extended  to  Punxsutawney  in 
Jefferson  County  and  passes  through  a  rich  coal  and  lumber 
region.  The  town  first  began  to  build  up  around  the  saw  and 
grist  mill  of  Edward  Bell  about  the  year  1828,  but  only  attained 
a  small  size  until  the  building  of  the  Bells'  Gap  Railroad.  It 
was  regularly  laid  out  in  1877.  The  shops  of  this  company  are 
located  here  and  furnish  employment  to  a  large  number  of  men. 
There  is  also  a  foundry  and  machine  shop  doing  an  extensive 
business.  The  place  contains  three  hotels,  several  stores,  a  bank, 
four  churches,  Methodist  Episcopal,  Baptist,  Eutheran  and  Pres- 
byterian. In  18^4  the  Eogan  Valley  Electric  Passenger  Rail- 
way extended  their  tracks  to  Bellwood  and  that  is  now  the  east 
ern  terminus  of  the  line,  although  it  is  likelj^  soon  to  be  contin- 
ued to  Tyrone.     The  population  of  Bellwood  is  now  1,500. 


Setni-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  Ill 


Williamsburg. 


When  the  first  morning  sun  of  the  Nineteenth  Century  rose 
it  saw  more  evidences  of  civilization  in  Williamburg  and  vicinity 
than  any  part  of  Blair  county.  The  town  plot  had  been  laid  out 
in  1795  by  Jacob  Ake,  who  owned  600  acres  of  land  including  the 
present  village  site  and  surroundings,  and  it  is  said  he  had  a 
school  kept  here  about  the  year  1790  he  furnishing  the  room  and 
paying  the  teacher  and  the  settlers  sending  their  children  without 
charge.  If  this  be  true  it  was  the  earliest  free  school  in  this  re- 
gion. The  town  plot  contained  120  lots  50x175  feet  in  size. 
The  original  streets  wete  Front  and  Second,  each  60  feet  wide, 
Plum,  50  feet  wide,  High,  66  feet  in  width  and  Spring  only  42, 
eight  feet  being  allowed  tor  the  flow  of  the  spring,  The  early 
name  of  the  town  was  Akestown,  after  its  founder.  It  is  said 
that  in  18 14  there  were  forty  families  here  and  that  was  equal  to 
the  population  of  Frankstown  at  the  time  and  far  in  excess  of 
Hollidaysburg.  A  saw  and  grist  mill  run  by  the  water  from  the 
big  spring  were  built  and  operated  as  early  as  1791  or  '92.  A 
bucket  factor}^  was  established  in  1830  by  Hawley  &  Woodcock 
and  soon  after  a  woolen  factor}^  by  David  Bender.  An  oil  mill 
and  tannery  and  several  distilleries  here,  were  among  the  very 
earliest  industries  of  the  county.  The  canal  passed  through 
in  1832  and  the  present  Williamsburg  branch  of  the  Pennsylva- 
nia Railroad  was  constructed  about  1870. 

An  iron  furnace  was  built  in  1857,  which  was  run  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  but  has  now  been  removed  and  the  only  evidence  of 
its  existence  to-day  is  a  large  pile  of  furnace  slag.  Williamsburg  is 
beautifully  situated  on  the  Frankstown  branch  of  the  Juniata 
river  and  under  favorable  conditions  has  the  making  of  a  large 
city,  and  such  it  may  ultimately  become,  but  now  its  principal 
claim  to  distinction  is  as  the  birthplace,  or  near  it,  of  some  of  the 
most  prominent  people  Blair  county  has  produced.  One  now  oc- 
cupies a  seat  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  another  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Congress,  another  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Harrisburg  and 
another  will  soon  be  elected  to  represent  this  county  in  the  State 
Legislature.  The  population  is  at  present  al)OUt  1,000.  There 
are  a  number  of  stores,  four  churches,  a  bank  and  several 
smaller  manufacturing  establishments.  The  wonderful  spring 
still  turns  the  wheels  of  a  good-sized  grist  mill. 


112  Setni-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


Martinsburg. 


The  country  in  the  vicinity  of  Martinburg  was  settled  before 
the  Revolution,  but  Martinsburg  town  was  not  laid  out  until  1815. 
The  first  plot  was  by  Daniel  Camerer  and  John  Soyster  built  the 
first  house.  Abraham  Stoner  laid  out  a  plot  adjoining  Camerer 's 
in  1820,  and  James  McCra}^  plotted  an  extension  to  the  borough 
in  1871. 

The  growth  of  the  town  was  slow  ;  in  i860  the  population 
was  464  and  in  1880  567.     Now  it  is  about  1,000. 

The  borough  was  incorporated  in  1832  and  in  1834  a  second 
Act  of  Assembly  enlarged  the  bounds  considerabl3^ 

The  surrounding  country  is  a  rich  agricultural  district,  and 
a  very  good  trade  is  carried  on  here  with  the  farmers  of  the 
lower  end  of  the  county. 

No  iron  works  were  ever  built  at  Martinsburg  and  no  large 
industries  of  any  kind  established,  but  a  big  building,  known 
as  the  Juniata  Institute  stands  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  town 
and  may  be  considered  the  most  prominent  feature.  (See 
schools).  Besides  a  number  of  stores,  a  hotel,  and  several 
churches  there  is  a  bank,  the  Martinsburg  Deposit  Bank 
which  was  established  in  1870. 

A  small  newspaper,  the  Cove  Echo,  was  published  here  in 
1874-5  by  Henry  and  John  Brumbaugh.  Unlike  other  towns 
of  the  county  Martinsburg  is  not  surrounded  by  mountain 
scenery,  but  occupies  a  comparatively  level  plain. 


Roaring    Spring. 


This  beautiful  and  flourishing  borough  contains  about 
1000  inhabitants,  and  is  one  of  the  newest  towns  of  the  county, 
although  it  is  the  site  of  the  first  grist  mill  in  all  the  region. 
Jacob  Neff,  built  a  mill  here,  below  the  Springs,  about  the 
year  1765,  but  it  was  not  until  quite  recently  that  a  town 
grew  up  in  the  vicinit3\  The  Spring  is  one  of  the  natural 
curiosities  of  Pennsylvania,  bursting  from  the  foot  of  a  slight 
elevation,  it  sends  forth  a  stream  of  clear,  pure  and  cold 
water,  of  sufficient  volume  to  turn  an  over-shot  water  wheel 
and  run  a  fair  sized  grist  mill;  to  which  use  it  was  put  for 
many  years,  but  now  the  large  flouring  mills  of  D.  M.  Bare 
&  Co.,  are  driven  by  steam  power,  although  the  water  for 
the  boilers  comes  from  the  spring. 


Semi-Centetmial  History  of  Blair  County.  113 


As  before  stated,  a  grist  mill  was  erected  here  at  a  very 
early  day,  the  exact  date  now  unknown,  by  Jacob  Neff;  and 
it  was  burned  by  the  Indians  and  rebuilt  by  him  prior  to  the 
Revolution,  Later,  but  still  long-,  long,  ag-o,  it  was  owned 
by  John  Ullery,  who  was  its  next  proprietor.  It  passed 
throug-h  various  hands  and  finally  came  into  the  possession 
of  D.  M.  Bare  who,  in  1864,  purchased  the  old  mill,  and  in 
1869  erected  the  present  large  one.  Later,  he  associated  others 
with  him  and  the  firm  was  styled  D.  M.  Bare  &  Co.  "Bare's 
Best,"  flour  became  a  household  word  throug-hout  a  wide  ter- 
ritory. Mr.  Bare,  in  partnership  with  Eby,  Morrison  &  Co., 
in  1866,  built  a  paper  mill  just  below  the  grist  mill  and  these 
two,  tog-ether  with  a  blank-book  factory  erected  in  1886,  are 
the  g-reat  industries  of  the  town;  furnishing  employment  to  a 
larg-e  number  of  persons.  The  first  regularly  laid  out  town 
lots  were  those  plotted  for  D.  M.  Bare,  in  1865 — fifty  in  num- 
ber. Hon.  Georg-e  H.  Spang-  also  laid  out  a  plot  adjoining- 
these  in  1874  and  in  1887  the  borough  was  incorporated,  and 
in  the  spring-  of  1888  the  first  boroug-h  officers  were  elected. 

A  fire  destoyed  the  paper  mill  in  1866  and  another  in  1887 
the  book  factor}',  but  both  were  immediately  rebuilt.  A  larg-e 
hotel  was  erected  in  1888,  near  the  depot.  The  railroad  was 
extended  from  Hollidaysburg- to  Roaring-  Spring,  Martinsburg- 
and  Henrietta,  in  1871.  It  should  be  needless  to  add  that  the 
town  was  named  from  the  spring-,  but  it  will  surprise  strang-- 
ers  to  learn  that  no  one  now  living",  ever  heard  this  spring- 
roar.  It  is  said,  however,  that  in  the  early  days  of  the  coun- 
try it  did  send  forth  a  roaring-  sound  that,  in  the  stillness  of 
the  forest,  could^be  .heard  for  half  a  mile,  and  that  chang-es 
made  at  its  mouth  obliterated  this  feature  but  not  the  name. 

Tipton,  Fostoria  and  Grazierville. 

These  are  small,  very  small  villag-es,  on  the  P.  R.  R.  be- 
tween Bellwood  and  Tyrone.  The  two  former  were  started 
about  the  same  time  as  Altoona  and  Tyrone  but  did  not  thrive 
as  their  projectors  had  hoped  and  both  now  present  a  some- 
what forlorn  and  deserted  appearance.  Yet  the  time  is  not 
far  distant  when  the}' may  put  on  new  life  and  activity.  The 
entire  valley  from  Bellwood  to  Tyrone  is  very  attractive  and 
when  the  Log-an  Valley  Electric  railway  is  completed  to  Ty- 
rone, it  will  all  be  built  up  with  residences  and  become  one 
continuous  town.  Grazierville  was  the  location  of  Cold  Spring- 
forg-e  long-  before  the  railroad  was  built  and  it  is  but  a  small 
hamlet  now,  the  forge  having-  long-  since  ceased  to  burn  and 
its  very  site  almost  obliterated.  Davidsburg-  is  a  Fmall  but 
ancient  village  on  the  public  road  between  Bellwood  and  Fos- 
toria;, off  from  the  railroad.  It  was  laid  out  in  1827,  by  John 
Henshey,  and  named  in  honor  of  his  son  David.  Chief  Logan, 
the  Indian,  had  his  wigwam  beside  the  spring-  here  before  he 


114  Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 

located  at  the  present  site  of  T3'rone,  Prior  the  construction 
of  the  P.  R.  R.  this  place  was  on  the  public  road  leading- 
from  Bellefonte  to  the  Portage  railroad  at  Duncansville  and 
was  quite  a  flourishing  village,  with  three  stores,  two  hotels, 
a  tannery,  two  blacksmith  shops,  etc.  Dr.  Crawford  Irwin, 
now  of  Hollida^'sburg-,  located  here  in  his  younger  days. 


The  Future  of  Blair  County. 

No  man  can  see  an  inch  beyond  the  present,  but  a  careful 
observation  of  the  present,  together  with  a  thoughtful  study  oi  the 
past,  often  furnishes  a  basis  for  almost  positive  predictions  for  the 
future. 

Such  observation  and  study  has  occupied  much  of  the  writer's 
time  and  the  result  has  been  such  as  to  fully  satisfy  him  that 
Blair  county  has  before  her  a  future  of  great  brilliancy.  The 
situation  is  worthy  of  special  consideration.  The  superficial  area 
of  the  county  is  large,  594  miles,  half  as  much  as  the  State  of 
Rhode  Island  and  more  than  one- fourth  the  size  of  Delaware  and 
while  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  mountains,  a  large  proportion  of 
the  soil  is  tillable  and  most  of  it  reasonably  fertile.  Well  culti- 
vated it  would  support  a  large  population,  though  of  course,  not 
nearly  as  large  as  many  other  parts  of  the  State.  Her  ability  to 
maintain  a  population  of  100,000  is  easily  demonstrable,  and  this 
is  one  factor  in  the  case. 

That  she  already  has  so  many  inhabitants,  and  is  so  far  ahead 
of  the  surrounding  counties  in  population  and  in  the  possession 
of  a  large  city,  Altoona,  is  another  important  factor.  It  gives  her 
prestio:e,  which  is  a  drawing  power,  prven  by  the  hundreds  of 
people  from  the  immediately  adjacent  counties  nowhere  and  daily 
arriving.  It  is  not  reasonable  to  suppose  that  any  other  cit}^ 
within  a  radius  of  100  miles  will  ever  surpass  or  even  equal 
Altoona  in  size.  She  is  the  metropolis  of  Central  Pennsylvania 
and  will  remain  so  without  a  rival.  There  are  too  many  shrewd 
and  intelligent  men  here,  with  property  interests  at  stake,  for  her 
steady  growth  to  be  checked  for  an  instant. 

For  Altoona  to  cease  growing  means  bankruptcy  for  them  and 
they  will  keep  enterprise  on  the  move  as  a  matter  of  selt-preser- 
vation.  With  such  men,  so  interested,  and  backed  by  a  rich  and 
powerful  railroad,  like  the  Penns3'lvania.  can  anyone  think  ior  an 
instant  that  Altoona  will  cease  growing  before  her  population  has 
reached  100,000,  or  that  it  will  be  allowed  to  stop  even  there  ? 

The  Pennsylvania  Railroad  is  solidly  buit,  has  possession  of 
the  field  and  from  the  nature  of  the  country  it  would  be  almost 
impossible  for  a  parallel  and  competing  line  to  be  profitably'  con- 
structed anywhere  near  Blair  covmty.  A  north  and  south  road  is 
feasible,  would  prove  a  benefit  to  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  and 
will  undobtedly  be  built;  and  Altoona,  as  the  largest  city  of  this 
region,  accessible  by  rail  in  every  direction,  will   be  the  center  of 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County.  115 


trade  and,  of  course,  prosper  greatly.  Altoona  being  a  great  city 
and  also  a  part  of  Blair  county,  it  follows,  necessarily,  that  Blair 
county  will  be  great  and  everj^  part  of  the  county  be  benefitted  by 
proximity  to  it. 

Furthermore,  Blair  county  has  mineral  wealth.  Some  of  it 
has  been  partially  developed,  but  there  is  much  reason  to  believe 
that  the  vast  body  of  her  mineral  deposits  are  yet  untouched. 
Some  day  a  man  with  money  to  waste  will  erect  a  derrick  in  some 
of  the  valleys,  perhaps  Logan,  below  Bellwood,  and  after  spend- 
ing a  few  thousands  will  find  petroleum  oil  gushing  out  in  such 
quantities  as  to  repay  him  in  a  week.  Then  others  will  do  like- 
wise while  many  will  say,  "  I  thought  as  much.  Why  was  it 
not  done  before  ?  ' ' 

Some  time  shafts  and  slopes  will  be  sunk  in  Blair  count}^ 
from  vvhich  vast  quantities  of  coal  will  be  taken,  and  fortunes  will 
be  made  by  that  industry.  Manufactures  will  flourish  here,  too: 
There  is  no  reason  wh)^  they  should  not.  Artisans  enjoy  life 
better  and  can  do  more  work  in  a  healthy  climate,  where  air 
and  water  is  pure  and  the  surroundings  beautiful,  than  where  the 
contrary  is  true,  therefore  thousands  of  mechanics  will,  in  the 
early  future,  reside  in  Blair  county  and  the  products  of  their  labor 
will  be  sold  all  over  the  world.  Will  not  Blair  then  be  great? 
Nearly  everything  that  can  be  manufactured  profitably  in  any 
part  of  the  United  States  may,  under  good  management,  be  manu- 
factured here  with  profit ;  especially  such  articles  as  are  in  con- 
stant and  general  use  by  us.  A  pound  of  raw  cotton,  worth  6  or 
7  cents  in  the  fields  of  South  Carolina  is  shipped  to  Massachu- 
setts and  made  into  print  cloth  ;  is  sent  to  Blair  county  and  we 
pay  50  to  75  cents  for  it.  A  pound  of  wool  in  California,  worth  20  to 
25  cents,  also  goes  east  and  after  being  made  into  cloth  comes  to 
Blair  county  and  we  pay  $1.50  to  $2.00  for  it.  The  difference 
represents  the  labor  of  eastern  mechanics  and  the  profit  of  eastern 
manufacturers  and  wholesalers.  These  and  a  hundred  other 
things  might  be  made  in  Blair  county,  and  the  workmen  engaged 
at  it  live  here  and  help  to  swell  our  aggregate  of  population  and 
wealth.     Some  day  this  will  be  done. 


Places  of  Interest  which  Visitors  to  Blair 
County  should  See. 


First,  the  immense  shops  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Com- 
pany, in  their  three  departments  of  Machine  shops.  Car  shops  and 
Locomotive  shops,  where  everything  pertaining  to  cars  and  engines 
is  made ;  where  parlor  cars  of  the  most  luxurious  design  and 
finish  costing  $12,000  to  $20,000  are  constructed  and  locomo- 
tive engines  weighing  a  hundred  tons  are  built,  capable  of  rushing 


116  Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


through  the  country,  on  steel  rails,  at  the  rate  of  a  mile  a  minute 
and  hauling  freight  trains  of  such  enormous  weight  that  i,ooo 
teams  of  horses  could  not  move  them. 

Second,  the  large  freight  j'ard  extending  from  the  eastern 
limits  of  the  city  to  Elizabeth  furnace,  nearly  five  miles  ;  not  yet 
completed  but  having  miles  upon  mile  of  side  tracks  on  which 
may  be  seen  thousands  of  cars. 

The  extensive  paper  mills  of  Morrison  &  Cass,  at  Tyrone, 
where  fine  book  paper  is  made  from  the  thousands  of  cords  of 
wood  piled  up  on  all  sides  of  the  mill.  A  similar  plant,  though 
not  so  large,  at  Roaring  Springs. 

The  Logan  House,  at  Altoona,  which  Bill  Nye,  when  he 
stopped  here,  said  was  as  large  as  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  ; 
that  he  slept  in  the  northeast  corner  of  it,  two  miles  from  the 
clerk's  office. 

\_)  The  stupendous  reservor  at  Kittanning  Point,  where  over 
400,000,000  gallons  of  water  is  stored  for  the  use  of  Altoona. 

The  ' '  Horse-shoe  Bend  ' '  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  at  Kit- 
tanning  Point,  and  the  grand  mountain  scenery  from  there  to 
Bennington,  which  has  been  admired  by  thousands  of  people  from 
all  parts  of  the  world. 

Roaring  Spring  and  the  big  spring  at  Williamsburg,  both  of 
which  flow  strong  enough  to  run  a  griest  mill. 

ij  Flowing  spring  near  Williamsburg  on  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road branch  which  ebs  and  flows  at  irregular  intervals. 

Sinking  run  in  Sinking  Run  Valley,  Tyrone  township, 
which  is  quite  a  good  sized  creek  and  after  a  flow  of  several 
miles  is  completely  swallowed  up  and  disappears  in  the  earth. 

Arch    Spring   in  the  same   township   near  Water  Street, 
iwhich  bursts  from  an  arched  formation  in  a  hill  side  and  pro- 
duces a  large  stream  which  flows  into  the  Juniata  river.     This 
is    supposed    to    be    the    same  Sinking  run  which  disappears 
some  miles  to  the  west. 

The  large  lime  stone  quaries  and  kilns  at  Frankstown, 
Duncansville,  Canan  Station  and  other  places. 

The  ruins  of  old  iron  furnaces,  at  Allegheny  Furnace  near 
Altoona,  others  at  Frankstown,  Williamsburg,  Elizabeth 
Furnace,  McKee's  Gap  and  elsewhere. 

The  beautiful  park  and  lake  at  Lakemont  on  the  Logan 
Valley  Electric  Railway,  midwa}-  between  Altoona  and  Holli- 
daysburg. 

Wopsononock  mountain  and  observatory,  reached  by  the 
Altoona,  Clearfield  and  Northern  railroad  from  Juniata. 

The  magnificent  landscapes  to  be  seen  from  elevated  points 
in  and  near  Hollidaysburg,  Altoona,  Bellwood  and  Tyrone, 
and  the  beautiful  Logan  Valley  as  it  may  be  viewed  from  the 
cars  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  in  passing  from  Altoona  to 
Tyrone.  Also  hundreds  of  other  beautiful  and  interesting 
things  and  localities  that  will  be  pointed  out  by  old  residents 
of  the  county. 


1846. 


LITTLE   BLAIR. 


1896. 


As  from  the  rock  that  towers  high, 
The  eagle  gazes  toward  the  sky, 
Then  spreads  his  wings  and  soars  away. 
To  bathe  his  plumage  in  tlie  ray 
That  falls  in  freshness  from  the  sun; 
So  Blair  from  lofty  Huntingdon, 
Grazed  upward  toward  Dominion's  sky, 
And  quick  to  see  and  strong  to  fly, 
Sprang  upward  in  her  liberty. 
And  rose  to  glorious  destiny. 

For  fifty  years  her  wings  she's  tried, 
For  fifty  years  her  strength  and  pride 
Have  weakened  not,  but  stronger  grown, 
^Till  through  the  land  her  power's  known, 
And  Pennsylvania's  counties  fair, 
Obeisance  pay  to  Little  Blaih. 

Her  rock-ribbed  mountains,  high  and  blue, 
Are  not  more  strong  and  not  more  true, 
Than  is  her  love  for  those  who  gave 
Their  strong,  young  life  our  Land  to  save, 
Who  heard  great  Lincoln's  call  for  men. 
And  died  in  field  and  prison-pen. 
Blair's  heroes  sleep  far,  far  from  home. 
Their  only  epitapli,  "Unknown!" 
But  angels  bright  are  sent  of  G-od 
To  watch  beside  their  beds  of  sod. 
Long  as  our  mountains  pierce  the  skies — 
Till  God  shall  bid  the  dead  arise- 
Ne'er  let  the  work  ©ur  heroes  wrought, 
By  children's  children  be  forgot. 

Brave  "Boys  in  Blue,"  when  strife  was  o'er, 
When  cannon  ceased  to  flame  and  roar; 
When  God's  sweet  angel  whispered  "Peace!" 
And  caused  the  noise  of  war  to  cease; 
Witli  sunburnt  face  and  battle  scars. 
Beneath  the  dear  old  Stripes  and  Stars, 
Marched  homeward  to  the  hills  of  Blair, 
While  shouts  of  welcome  filled  the  air. 
These  "Boys  in  Blue,"  so  brave  and  strong. 
Are  with  us  now,  but  not  for  long; 
For  one  by  one  they  pass  within 
The  tent  that  has  no  "outward  swing." 
The  debt  we  owe  them  never  can 
Be  paid  on  earth  by  mortal  man. 
May  He  who  died  a  world  to  save 
Smile  on  our  heroes,  true  and  brave. 

But  Blair  has  other  heroes  true 
As  those  who  fought  in  lines  of  blue 
For  Freedom,  and  inscribed  their  name 
High  on  the  scroll  of  deathless  Fame. 
Who,  in  the  time  of  testing,  stood 
Where  duty  called,  and  never  would 
Their  post  forsake,  but  did  their  part 
in  face  of  Death,  like  noble  Sharp. 


God's  richest  blessings  on  him  rain 
Who  saved  the  wildly  rusliing  train; 
Who  bravely  answered  Duty's  call 
And  gave  the  world  a  second  Paul. 

Where  robed  in  ermine  justice  stands. 
Her  balanced  scales  witliin  her  hands, 
Blair's  sons  now  sit  in  court  supreme 
Impartially  to  judge  between 
The  right  and  wrong  of  every  cause — 
Maintaining  justice  and  her  laws. 

Where  statesmen  "clutcli  the  golden  keys 
To  mould  a  mighty  state's  decrees—" 
In  congress  halls  her  sons  have  gone 
And  lasting  honors  there  have  won. 

In  church  at  home  and  church  abroad 
Her  sons  proclaim  the  truth  of  God, 
And  heathen  far  beyond  tlie  sea 
Point  to  the  Christ  of  Calvary. 

Her  teachers,  too,  well  "skilled  to  rule'' 
In  city  or  In  village  school. 
Have  learning's  strong  foundation  laid 
In  mind  of  boy  and  mind  of  maid, 
Till  all  her  sons  and  daughters  fair 
Are  now  the  pride  of  "Little  Blair;'' 
While  some  have  climbed  Parnassus'  hill, 
Whose  name  and  fame  the  nations  fill. 

Her  Press  so  strong,  so  true  and  free, 
To  plead  for  Right  and  Liberty; 
All  shams  expose,  all  truth  defend; 
Has  proved  herself  tlie  People's  friend. 
As  our  own  mountain  air  is  free, 
So  let  our  Press  forever  be! 

The  peerless  Corporation,  too, 
Known  o'er  the  world,  as  strong  and  true 
As  Johnstown  Bridge,  well  known  to  fame, 
That  stood  so  firm  when  torrents  came; 
To  all  her  men  both  kind  and  fair, 
Has  brought  large  wealth  to  "Little  Blair." 
Ib  busy  shops,  on  flying  trains. 
With  brawny  arms  and  giant  brains, 
With  courage  true  and  matchless  zeal, 
Her  sons  promote  the  Nation's  weal. 

For  fifty  years  she's  done  so  well. 
No  mortal  all  her  deeds  may  tell; 
While  mountains  pierce  the  ambient  air, 
O  live  and  flourish,  glorious  Blair! 

Ida  Clakkson  Lewis 
Altoona,  Pa.,  April  13,  1896. 


A^I^PEISTDIX:. 


HOW  THE  5EMNCENTENNIAL  WAS  CELEBRATED. 


The  Program  as  It  Was  Carried  Out,  June  lo,  ii  and  12,  1896, 


The  two  old  and  true  sayings  that 
"Man  proposes  but  God  disposes,"  and 
"There's  many  a  slip  "twixt  cup  and  the 
lip, "  did  not  receive  much  additional  il- 
lustration  during  the  greatJubilee  of  Blair 
County  in  commemoration  of  the  comple- 
tion of  her  first  fifty  years  of  independent 
existence,  as  the  pre-arranged  program 
was  carried  out  with  but  little  change. 
Providence  seemed  to  smile  on  the  ettbrts 
of  the  people  of  Blair  to  properly  cele- 
brate the  occasion.  The  weather  all  that 
could  have  been  desired  ;  frequent  show- 
ers during  the  week  preceding  and  on  the 
first  two  days  of  the  week  of  festivities 
led  to  some  apjjrehension  that  it  might  be 
a  failure,  but  on  Wednesday  morning  the 
clouds  were  dissipated  and  not  another 
drop  of  rain  fell  until  tlie  last  set  piece  of 
the  pyrotechnic  display  of  Friday  night 
had  enacted  its  part  and  the  curtain 
dropped  on  the  scene. 

Wednesday  afternoon,  June  10,  1896, 
at  2:30  o'clock  the  first  formal  meeting- 
took  place.  It  was  the  bar  of  Blair  Coun- 
ty entertaining  invited  guests,  disting- 
uished jurists,  and  former  members  of 
the  county  bar  with  reminiscent  speech 
at  the  Court  House,  and  in  the  evening 
a  banquet  at  the  Logan  House,  Altoona. 

The  afternoon  meeting  was  called 
to  order  at  2:30,  and  on  motion  of 
A.  A.  Stevens,  Esq.,  Hon.  Martin 
Bell,  President  Judge  of  the  county, 
was  chosen  chairman.  Rev.  D.  H. 
Barron,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Hollidaysburg,  ottered 
a  prayer,  and  a  sextette  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Charles  Geesey,  Esq.,  sang  the 
national  anthem  "America."  The  sing- 
ers also  rendered  other  appropriate  selec- 
tions, at  intervals,  during  the  afternoon. 
Hon.  D.  J.  Neft',  the  oldest  active  mem- 
ber of  the  bar,  delivered  the  address  of 
welcome.  He  was  followed  by  Hon.  Au- 
gustus S.  Landis  with  a  historical  ad- 
dress, which  occupied  an  hour  in  the  de- 
livery. Other  short  addresses  were  made 
by  Hon.  William  Dorris  of  Huntingdon, 
one  of  the  five  surviving  members  of  the 
original  bar,  Hon.  John  Scott  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  Hon.  John  Fenlon  of  Ebens- 
burg,  also  among  the  few  survivors  of 
that  first  court  in  Blair  County  nearly 
fifty  years  ago.  Mr.  Justice  John  Dean 
of  tlie  Supreme  Bench,  was  the  last  speak- 
er, after  which  W.  L.  Pascoe,  Esq.,  of 
Tyrone,  at  5  o'clock,  moved  the  adjourn-  j 
ment  of  the  meeting  in  a  few  well  chosen  | 
sentences.  i 

Among  the  distinguished  guests  pres-  j 
ent  were  :  Hon.  John  Dean  of  HoUidays-  j 
burg,  Hon.  A.  V.  Barker  and  Hon.  John 
Fenlon  of  Ebensburg,  Hon.  John  M.  Bail- 


ey and  Hon.  William  Dorris  of  Hunting- 
don, Hon.  John  Scott  and  H.  O.  Kline  of 
Philadelphia,  Hon.  J.  H.  Longenecker  of 
Bedford,  Hon.  Scott  Alexander  of  Fulton 
County,  and  others. 

The  addresses  of  Col.  Neft"  and  Judge 
Landis  are  given  in  full  on  the  following 
pages. 

In  the  evening  the  bar  and  invited 
guests  assembled  at  the  Logan  House,  at  8 
o'clock, for  a  reception  and  banquet.  They 
sat  down  to  the  banquet  table  at  9.45  and, 
with  the  exception  of  some  attorneys  from 
Hollidaysburg  and  Tyrone  who  were 
I  obliged  to  leave  on  the  12  o'clock  train, 
did  not  quit  the  banquet  hall  until/  o'clock 
1  in  the  morning.  No  wines  nor  intoxicants 
of  any  kind  were  served,  and  the  last  two 
hours  were  spent  in  responding  to  the 
toasts,  J.  S.  Leisenring,  Esq.,  toast-mas- 
ter. 

Hon.  L.  W.  Hall,  of  Harrisburg,  to 
whom  had  been  assigned  the  task  of  re- 
sponding to  "The  Lawyer"  was  not  pre- 
sent and  this  toast  was  not  offered.  Mr. 
Justice  John  Dean  responded  to  the  toast 
"The  Judiciary"  and  spoke  feelingly. 
Thos.  H.  Greevy,  Esq.,  responded  to  the 
toast  "Our  Clients''  in  a  humorous  vein. 
W.  I.  Woodcock,  Esq.,  in  the  absence  of 
Judge  Bell,  who  was  luiable  to  remain  to 
the  end  of  the  banquet,  responded  to  the 
toast  "Our  Guests."  Most  of  the  guests 
of  the  afternoon  were  present  at  the  re- 
ception and  banquet  at  night,  and  the 
Christian  Endeavor  Sextette  led  by  Chas. 
Geesey,  Esq.,  rendered  some  pleasing- 
music.  The  Committee  on  Arrangements 
was  composed  of  Hon.  Martin  Bell,  Hon. 
A.  S.  Landis,  A.  A.  Stevens,  Hon.  D.  J. 
Nett",  J.  S.  Leisenring,  W.  L.  Hicks,  W. 
S.  Hammond  and  H.  A.  McFadden. 

Thursday    morning's    sun    rose    in    a 
cloudless  sky  and   the   temperature   was 
not   much   above   70  degrees  Fahrenheit 
at  any  time  ;  a  gentle  breeze  making  the 
day  a  perfect  one  for  marching,   no  dust 
and  no  mud.    This  was  Military  Day  and 
shortly  after  11  a.  m.  the  columns  of  sol- 
diers moved  oft'  over  the  route   assigned 
in  the  following  order: 
Chief  Marshal  Theodore  Burchfield   and 
Staft", 
Altoona  City  Band, 
Fifth  Regiment  Drum  Corps, 
Fifth  Regiment  National  Guards  of  Pa., 

Battery  "B''  of  the  Second  Brigade, 
Sheridan   Troop,    N.  G.   P.,    of  Tyrone, 

Capt.  C.  S.  W.  Jones, 

Carriages    containing    members   of    the 

General   Committee  and  distinguished 

Guests, 

Second  Division — Marshall  and  Staff, 
Hollidaysburg  Band, 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Klair  County. 


Post  No.  39,  Grand  Army  of  the  Eepublic, 

Logan  Band, 
Post  No.  62,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 

Roaring  Spring  Drum  Corps, 

Post  No.83,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 

of  Roaring  Spring, 

Continental  Drum  Corps, 

Post  No.  172,G  rand  Army  of  the  Republic, 

of  Tyrone, 

St.  Patrick's  Band  of  Gallitzin, 

Post  No.420,Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 

of  Belhvood, 

Reese's  Cadet  Drum  Corps, 

Post  No.468,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 

"       474      "  "  "  " 

"      574,'     "  "  " 

People's  Band  of  South  Fork, 

Encampment  No  .17  and  37  Union  Veteran 

Legion, 
Camps  Nos,  13,   89  and  234,   Union  Vet- 
eran Legion, 
Carriage  containing  old  Soldiers, 
Bellwood  Band, 
German  Veteran  Association 
of  Altoona. 
The  route  traversed  was  from  the  start- 
ing point   near  the   depot   in   Gaysport, 
across    the   bridge   into    Hollidaysburg, 
Allegheny   street    to  Juniata    street,    to 
Mulbury  street,  to  Amelia  street,   to  Al- 
legheny street,    to  Jones  street,    to  Wal- 
nut street,  to  Juniata  street,  to  Allegheny 
street,    to   Union  street.      Distinguished 
guests  not  in  carriages  reviewed  the  pro- 
cession in  front  of  the  Court  House. 

The  parade  ended  about  noon  and  at 
2.45  p.  m.  the  ceremony  of  unveiling  the 
monument  began  in  front  of  the  Court 
House.  The  Semi-Centennial  Chorus  of 
200  voices,  Charles  Geesy,  Esq.,  director, 
sang  "America"  in  a  thrilling  manner, 
and  ]{ev.  D.  S.  Monroe,  D.  D.,  presiding 
elder  of  the  Altoona  District,  Central 
Pennsylvania  Conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  offered  the  invocation 
and  at  its  conclusion  the  choir  sang  "To 
Thee,  O  Country,"  alter  which  Comrade 
Henry  L.  Bunker  unveiled  tlie  Soldiers' 
Monument  and  Captain  Robert  Johnson 
formally  presented  it  to  tlie  County  Com- 
missioners. Hon.  J.  D.  Hicks,  member 
of  Congress  from  Blair  County  received 
it  in  the  name  of  the  Commissioners  and 
made  a  brilliant  ten  minute  speech  in 
which  he  said  that  4,o00  soldiers  from 
Blair  County  fought  for  the  preservation 
of  the  Union  and  there  was  not  a  battle 
fought  during  the  war  in  which  there 
were  not  men  engaged  who  were  from 
Blair  County. 

Thomas  J.  Stewart,  Adjutant  General 
of  Pennsylvania,  followed  in  an  able  ora- 
tion occupying  half  an  hour,  after  which 
the  band  played  a  patriotic  air.  The 
assembled  multitude  then  sang  the  doxo- 
logy  "Praise  God  From  Whom  All  Bles- 
sings Flow,"  and  the  meeting  adjourned 
at  4.06  p.  m.  In  the  evening  the  Giand 
Army  Posts  held  a  Camp  Fire  in  fiont  of 
the  Court  House  and  thus  the  exercises 
of  the  second  day  closed. 


Friday,  the  last  day  of  the  celebration, 
dawned  bright  and  clear,  and  was  a  most 
perfect  summer  day,  the  temperature  be- 
ing most  delightful,  70  to  78  degrees 
Fahrenheit,  and  a  pleasant  air  stirring. 
By  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  electric 
cars  to  Hollidaysburg  were  crowded  with 
people  enroute  to  the  County  seat.  Most 
of  the  stores  and  the  P.  R.  R.  shops  in 
Altoona  were  closed  all  day.  Both  elec- 
tric cars  and  railroad  were  taxed  to  their 
full  capacity  carrying  passengers,  and  by 
half  past  ten  in  the  morning,  when  the 
great  civic  or  industrial  parade  started, 
there  were  not  less  than  25,000  people  in 
Hollidaysburg  and  Gaysport,  and  the 
total  number  of  visitors  during  the  day 
was  nearly  40,000;  being  about  double 
that  of  the  preceding  day. 

The  parade  started  at  10.30  from  Gays- 
port and  marched  across  the  Juniata  river 
to  Hollidaysburg,  to  Montgomery  street, 
along  Montgomery  to  Blair,  along  Blair 
to  Jones,  along  Jones  to  Walnut,  along 
Walnut  to  Juniata,  along  Juniuta  to 
Mulberry,  along  Mulberry  to  East  Holli- 
daysburg and  Allegheny  street,  along 
Allegheny  street  past  the  Court  House, 
where  it  was  reviewed  by  Judge  Dean, 
the  Mayor  of  Altoona  and  Burgesses  of 
the  different  Boroughs  of  the  County,  to 
Gaysport  where  it  disbanded. 

It  consisted  of  eleven  divisions,  led  by 
Chief  Marshal  W.  C.  Roller,  Jesse  L. 
Hartman,  Chief  of  Staff',  and  aides. 

The  first  division  comprised  the  Red 
Men,  I'epresenting  the  aboriginese,  car- 
riages with  guests.  Executive  Committee, 
the  Altoona  City  Band,  and  the  various 
lodges  of  Odd  Fellows  of  the  County, 
twenty  or  more,  and  the  National  Boys' 
Brigade,  of  Altoona. 

Second  Division  comprised  the  Patri- 
otic Sons  of  America,  nine  camps. 

Third  Division — Uniformed  Rank 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  U.  R.  K.  P. 
Band  of  Pittsburgh. 

Fourth  Division — JuniorOrderUnited 
American  Mechanics,  several  councils 
and  numbering  1,000  men,  the  Oneida 
Social  Club  of  Altoona  and  the  Tyrone 
Division  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive  En- 
gineers. 

Fifth  Division — Order  of  Artisans, 
Reese's  Cadet  Corps,  Assembly  No.  29  of 
Altoona  and  No.  11  of  Hollidaysburg. 

Sixth  Division — Knights  of  the 
Golden  Eagle,  Uniformed  Rank,  and 
several  subordinate  castles,  making  a  fine 
display. 

Seventh  Division — Catholic  Societies, 
including  Knigths  of  St.  George,  Emerald 
Beneficial  Association,  St.  Patrick's  Band 
and  others. 

Eighth  Division. — Young  Men's  In- 
stitute of  Altoona,  Councils  INos.  120,  132 
and  299.  Logan  Band  and  St.  John's  Tem- 
perance Cadets. 

Ninth  Division. — Firemen  :  Volun- 
teer Firemen's  Association  of  Altoona, 
Altoona  P.  R.  R.  Firemen,  Tyrone  Fire- 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


men,  without  eciuipment,  and  the  Phoenix 
Fire  Company  of  Hollidaysburg  with  en- 
gine and  full  equipment,  Belhvood  Fii-e- 
nien,  Belhvood  Band,  Duncansville  Fire 
Company  and  hose  cart,  South  Fork  Fire 
Company  and  Band,  and  other  visiting- 
firemen.  An  old  fashioned  liand  fire  en- 
gine brought  up  the  lear. 

Tenth  Division. — Employes  of  Holli- 
daysburg  Rolling  Mill,  ITjO  strong,  in 
W'orking  fostunie  and  carrying  some  of 
their  work  implements. 

Eleventh  Division.— Floats. — Mer- 
chaiidise  and  machinei'y  displays,  ancient 
relics,  old  canal  boat,  old  stage  coach, 
etc.,  The  float  of  William  F.  Gable  & 
Co.  of  Altoona,  was  the  most  artistic  and 
costly  one  in  this  division,  representing 
an  immense  urn  entirely  covered  with  ex- 
pensive lace,  "Justice"  with  her  scales, 
"Liberty"  and  "America  ;"  all  draped  in 
white  and  drawn  by  eight  gaily  compari- 
soned  white  horses,  in  tandem,  with  at- 
tendants dressed  in  white.  The  Young 
America  Clothing  Co.  also  had  a  beauti- 
ful historical  tableaux. 

The  procession  was  about  one  and  one- 
half  miles  in  length  and  was  three-quar- 
ters of  an  hour  passing  a  given  point.  Be- 
tween five  and  six  thousand  persons  took 
part  in  it,  while  twenty-five  to  thirty 
thousand  spectators  lined  the  streets 
along  Avhich  they  passed. 

In  the  afternoon  the  Semi-Centennial 
exercises  were  held  in  the  Court  House, 
beginning  at  2:40.  The  room  was  packed 
long  before  the  hour  for  beginning  :  the 
crowd  began  to  fill  it  soon  after  twelve 
o'clock.  As  the  Court  room  will  only 
contain  about  1000  persons  it  follows  that 
not  one-thirtieth  part  of  the  people  in 
town  could  gain  admission. 

At  3:40  the  Altoona  City  Band  played 
a  patriotic  selection. 

At  2:45  Judge  Bell  called  the  meeting 
to  order  and  made  a  few  brief  remarks  in 
which  he  illustrated  the  wonderful  im- 
provements in  the  past  fifty  years  by  com- 
paring the  old  mail  ^jackets,  taking  a 
week  to  carry  mail  from  Philadelphia  to 
Pittsburgh,  while  now  we  coidd  flash  our 
words  by  telephone  from  New  York  to 
Chicago  almost  instantaneously.  He  paid 
a  high  tribute  to  the  enterprise  of  Altoona 
and  her  wonderful  growth,  and  to  the 
broad  and  liberal  policy  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad  Company,  the  I'ichest  in 
the  word,  probably.  Rev.  J.  F.  Hart- 
man,  pastor  of  the  Second  Lutheran 
church  of  Altoona,  offered  a  prayer,  the 
Semi-Centennial  Chorus  of  two  hundred 
voices  sang  "Red,  White  and  Blue,"  af- 
ter whicli  Hon.  J.  D.  Hicks  read  the  Prize 
Poem,  "Little  Blair,"  written  by  Mrs. 
Ida  Clarkson  Lewis.  The  Band  and 
Choir  rendered  some  more  music,  and  the 


chairman  introduced  Hon.  John  Dean, 
one  of  the  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Pennsylvania,  a  native  and  life-long 
resident  of  the  county,  who  delivered  the 
historical  address  of  the  occasion;  a  mas- 
terly ettbrt,  dealing  largely  with  the  re- 
ligious predilections  of  the  first  settlers 
of  the  county.  The  paper  is  given  in  full 
on  the  following  pages. 

The  address  was  followed  by  more  mu- 
sic and  then,  aftei'  a  few  preliminary  re- 
marks suitable  to  the  occasion,  the  Rev. 
Father  Cornelius  Sheehaii.  pastor  of  St. 
Mary's  (latholic  church,  Ilollidaysburg, 
pronounced  the  benediction,  and  the 
meeting  adjourned  at  4:35  p.  m.  The 
formal  ceremonies  of  the  celebration 
closed  with  the  adjournment  of  this  meet- 
ing, but  one  of  the  most  entertaining  feat- 
ures was  yet  to  come — the  pyrotechnic 
display  on  Campus  Ridge,  near  Lakemont 
Park.  This  began  at  8:50  at  night  with 
the  ascension  of  a  large  paper  balloon  to 
which  explosives  were  attached.  The  air 
being  calm  it  went  almost  straight  up- 
ward till  it  was  lost  to  view  among  the 
stars.  Fifteen  hundred  dollars  worth  of 
fireworks  were  used  in  the  entire  display 
of  the  evening,  some  of  the  set  pieces  be- 
ing very  fine,  among  them  a  full  sized 
locomotive  engine  and  tender.  The  clos- 
ing one,  "Good  Night,"  sent  out  its  last 
sparkling  scintillation  at  10:33  p.  m.,  and 
Blair  County's  Semi-Centennial  passed 
into  history. 

On  the  whole  it  was  an  immense  suc- 
cess from  first  to  last.  Not  a  hitch  of  any 
kind  occurred.  The  assembled  crowd  was 
larger  than  any  which  Blair  County  had 
ever  seen  and  not  an  accident  worth  re- 
cording happened  during  the  entire  time. 

In  Condron's  Opera  House,  HoUidays- 
burg,  was  maintained  an  exhibition  of 
relics  worth  many  thousands  of  dollars, 
as  such,  loaned  by  the  individual  owners 
and  free  for  the  inspection  of  everybody. 
They  were  surrounded  at  all  times  with 
hundreds  of  appreciative  visitors. 

Among  these  relics  and  other  exhibits 
were  old  tomahawks,  arrow  heads,  Indi- 
an utensils,  guns  which  had  shot  Indians, 
guns,  pistols  and  swords  that  had  been 
used  in  the  revolution  and  earlier,  guns 
and  swords  of  the  war  of  1812,  the  Mexi- 
can war  and  the  war  of  the  Rebellion, 
the  first  printing  press  used  in  Blair 
County,  copies  of  the  first  newspapers 
printed  here  in  1834-5-6,  old  deeds  one 
hundred  years  old  and  more,  the  original 
charter  of  the  Portage  Railroad,  a  clock 
that  kept  the  time  in  the  Portage  shops 
in  1833,  still  in  running  order,  a  piano 
made  at  Flowing  Spring  in  1837,  and 
hundreds  of  other  equally  intei-esting  rel- 
ics; pictures  of  all  the  Judges  of  the  coun- 
ty since  its  organization,  etc. 


Semi-Centenntai.  History  op  BT.AyI^  County. 


The  Address  of   Hon.  Daniel  J.  Neff,  Welcoming  to  the  Celebration 
the  Quests  of  the  Bar  Association. 


The  people  of  this  county,  and  others 
from  far  and  neai',  who  were  at  one  time 
resideu's  thereof,  or  who  are  interested 
in  its  history,  will,  dnrin<4-  this  week, 
commemorate  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of 
the  or<ianization  of  the  county.  They 
will  review  the  progress  that  has  been 
made  in  art,  sciences  and  invention,  the 
improvements  in  machinery,  in  the  modes 
of  transportation  and  the  growth  and  de- 
velopment of  the  county  in  population 
and  wealth  of  the  past  50  years.  The 
occasion  will  be  most  interesting  and  in- 
structive to  all  the  participants.  The 
judiciary  and  the  bar  of  the  county  have 
deemed  it  advisable  and  opportune,  that 
they  also  should  observe  the  occasion 
and  commemorate  it  in  a  suitable  manner. 
The  administration  of  the  laws  deeply 
concerns  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  coun- 
ty. In  all  enlightened  commonwealths 
the  due  administration  of  justice  has  been 
esteemed  as  of  great  public  interest,  of 
supreme  importance,  and  an  upright  and 
independent  judiciary  one  of  the  safe- 
guards of  civil  liberty.  When  we  con- 
sider the  character  and  attainments, 
learning  and  ability,  of  the  judges,  past 
and  piesent,  who  have  occupied  the 
bench,  we  cannot  doubt  that  this  county 
has  been  fortunate  in  its  judiciary. 
Judges  have  sat  in  our  courts  who  have 
shed  a  luster  upon  the  jurisprudence  of 
the  commonwealth,  and  who  would  com- 
pare not  unfavorably  with  John  Marshall, 
former  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States ;  with  Sir 
Matthew  Hale,  Chief  .lustice  Mansfield, 
or  with  Sir  Edward  Coke,  the  greatest 
oracle  of  municipal  jurisprudence  in  Eng- 
land. 

Speaking  of  the  amenities  of  the  bench, 
I  once  heard  Judge  Taylor  pay  a  high 
compliment  to  the  Supreme  Court.  A 
gentlemen  of  the  bar  had  been  ai-guing 
a  question  before  him  at  considerable 
length.  The  judge  was  againsr  him,  but 
he  persisted  in  his  argument.  The  judge 
finally  told  him  it  was  useless  to  argue 
the  question  further  ;  he  had  decided  it. 
But  he  said,  "you  liave  your  remedy ; 
take  an  exception,  and  you  can  take  the 
case  up  and  have  my  decision  reviewed 
by  a  court  that  cannot  err."  His  honor 
specially  emphasized  the  last  two  words. 

We  can  look  back  over  50  years  of 
eventful  history  and  contemplate  with 
interest  the  many  important  issues  that 
have  been  tried,  the  important  decisions 
of  our  courts  that  have  been  rendered, 
establishing  tlie  rights  of  person  and 
property  and  defining  the  landmarks  of 
the  law.  There  is,  at  times,  much  in  the 
proceedings  of  courts  to  excite  and  at- 
tract popular  interest.  There  are  wit- 
nessed the  tragic  and  the  comic  sides  of 
human    life,    its    ups    and  downs ;   life 


histories  and  life  tragedies  are  rehearsed 
with  more  of  passion  and  pathos  than 
upon  the  mimic  stage,  and  the  curtain 
falls  upon  many  a  scene  of  human  misery 
and  despair.  The  forensic  displays  of  the 
Roman  Forum  in  the  palmy  days  of  the 
republic  and  the  empire,  the  great  trials 
of  thrilling  and  historic  interest  in  West- 
minster hall,  in  its  meridian  glory,  are 
remembered  with  an  absorbing  and  never 
fading  interest.  There,  within  the  old 
walls  of  Westminster  hall,  "has  stood 
the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  to  answer  the 
charge  of  asserting  the  right  of  Mary, 
Queen  of  Scots,  to  the  throne  of  Eng- 
land ;  and  the  Earl  of  Strafford,  accused 
of  high  treason  against  the  sovereign 
whom  he  served  too  faithfully,  and  War- 
ren Hastings,  around  whose  impeach- 
ment was  thrown  the  gorgeous  splendor 
of  eastern  imagery  evoked  by  the  spell  of 
eloquence  from  the  lip  of  Sheridan  and 
Burke." 

The  gentlemen  of  the  bar  who  attended 
the  first  court  held  in  this  county  in  1846, 
and  were  then  admitted  to  practice  in  the 
several  courts  of  this  county,  and  who 
are  yet  living  will,  no  doubt,  reflect  upon 
the  many  changes  that  have  taken  place 
in  the  intervening  years.  They  probably 
journeyed  to  HoUidaysburg  by  canal  boat 
by  stage  coach,  or  perhaps  partly  by 
canal  and  partly  over  the  inclined  planes 
of  the  Portage  Railroad.  The  Pennsyl- 
vania canal,  in  connection  with  the  Port- 
age Railroad,  constituting  a  great  public 
highway  between  the  east  and  the  west, 
was  regarded  at  that  time,  and  in  fact 
was,  a  work  of  great  magnitude,  of  su- 
pi'eme  importance.  Time  had  been  when 
the  mode  of  transportation,  at  least  in 
Central  Pennsylvania,  was  principally  by 
broad  wheeled  Conestoga  wagons  lumber- 
ing slowly  along  the  pike  between  Phila- 
delphia and  Pittsburgh,  or  arks  of  rude 
and  primitive  design,  floating  down  oiir 
rivers.  The  canal  east  and  west  of  the 
mountains,  traversing  in  many  places 
dense  forests,  with  the  connecting  links 
of  the  rail  and  inclined  plane,  across  the 
AUeghenies,  extending  through  a  coun- 
try abounding  in  mineral  resources  and 
undeveloped  wealth,  constructed  with 
arduous  labor  and  consummate  engineer- 
ing skill,  was  considered  one  of  the  great- 
est achievements  of  the  age.  The  Alle- 
gheny Portage  was  pronounced  by  en- 
lightened engineers  in  England  and 
France  as  one  of  the  then  wonders  of  the 
world.  The  exalted  purpose,  the  vast 
imjiortance  of  these  works,  connecting 
as  they  did  with  the  Allegheny  and  Mon- 
ongahela  rivers  at  Pittsburgh,  and  with 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  establishing  a 
great  commercial  waterway  or  highway 
to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  extending  in  their 
beneficial  effects  to  the  utmost  limits  of 


Semi-Centhnnfal  History  of  Blair  County.  5 

the  national  domain,  and  in  their  pro-  1848,  1887  and  1893.  The  act  of  April  11, 
spective  operation  and  effects  into  the  far  1848,  was  the  first  great  departure.  It  pro- 
future  Could  not  be  overestimated.  The  vided  that  every  species  and  description  of 
engineers  and  scientists  of  that  day  were  property,  whether  real,  personal  or  mixed, 
men  of  high  intelligence  and  varied  which  may  be  owned  l)y  or  belong  to  any 
knowledge,  who  had  studied  carefully  single  woman  shall  continue  to  be  the 
the  most  advanced  systems  of  inland  na-  property  of  such  woman  as  fully  after  her 
vigation  and  railway  construction  in  marriage  as  before,  and  all  such  property, 
Europe  and  applied  the  knowleilge  thus  of  whatever  nature  or  kind,  which  shall 
acquired  to  the  advancement  of  great  accrue  to  any  married  woman  during  cov- 
enterprises  at  home.  Standing  in  the  van  [  erture,  by  will,  descent,  deed  of  convey- 
of  civilization  and  human  progress,  they  ance  or  otherwise,  shall  br^  owned  and  en- 
helped  to  build  up  a  great  Common-  joyed  by  such  married  woman  as  her  own 
wealth  in  enduring  strength.  The  canal  separate  property,  and  such  property  shall 
commissioner  of  that  day  was  an  imi)()rt-  not  be  subject  to  levy  and  execution  for 
ant  man,  sometimes  bigger  than  the  Gov-  the  debts  or  liabilities  of  her  husband, 
ernor  himself  or  the  Legislature,  the  The  acts  of  1887  and  180,"  were  still 
power  behind  the  throne  greater  than  the  greater  departures  in  the  same  direction, 
throne  itself,  making  anil  unmaking  the  tending  to  the  protection  of  married 
fortunes  of  men.     The  canal  boat  captain  '  women  in  their  right  of  isroperty. 


also  was  a  big  man.  He  walked  the  deck 
of  his  craft  with  as  proud  a  step  as  the 
commander  of  a  man-of-war  walks  his 
quarterdeck.  These  great  public  works, 
it  was  supposed,  would  be  enduring 
would  last  for  ages,  like  the  Roman  aque- 
ducts or  the  Appian,  over  which,  for  cen- 
turies, the  legions  of  imperial  Home 
marched  to  their  distant  contiuests.  But 
the  tireless  energy  and  the  inventive 
genius  of  man  have  achieved   conquests 


In  our  grandmothers'  days  a  married 
woman  could  hardly  be  said  to  own  her 
spinning  wheel  in  her  own  right.  Now 
the  dashing  femme  covert  can  spin  along 
the  public  highway  on  her  wheel  and  hold 
and  own  her  spinning  wheel  in  defiance 
of  the  world. 

The  Constitution  of  1874  made  great 
ami  radical  changes  in  the  fundamental 
law. 

The  act  of  May  35,  1887,  known  as  the 


over  the  forces  of  nature  and  the  ele-  civil  procedure  act,  abolishing  tlie  distinc- 
^ments  undreamed  of  in  that  earlier  day.  tions  theretofore  existing  between  the  dif- 
The  continent  is  spanned  by  great  rail-  ferent  forms  of  actions  ex  contractu  and 
ways,  grai^pling  the  states  together  with  actions  ex  delicto,  and  providing  that  the 
hooks  of  steel  and  bands  of  iron.  Queen  I  plaintifl's  declaration  shall  consist  of  a 
Victoria  can  say  "good  morning"  to  concise  statement  of  his  demand,  wrought 
Grover  Cleveland  through  the  submarine  a  great  and  needed  reform,  and  greatly 
cable.  It  is  said  that  Chauncy  M.  De-  simplified  the  pleadings  and  proceedings 
pew  recently  sent  a  message  around  the  in  the  tilal  of  causes.  All  these  changes 
world — 25,0U0  miles— in  lour  minutes,  were  made  during  the  last  50  years.  jNIuch 
We  have  the  inestimable  advantages  and  of  the  old  and  curious  learning  of  a  for- 
conveniences  of  the  electric  railway.  The  mer  age  contained  in  old  and  musty  tomes 
telephone  is  an  accomplished  fact  and  the  Doonisday  books  has  become  obsolete. 
Roentgen  ray  has  been  discovered.  Dur-  Much  of  what  might  be  termed  the  rub- 
ing  the  last  50  years  dynasties  have  risen  bish  of  the  law  has  been  swept  away, 
and  fallen,  thei-e  have  been  social  and  At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the 
political  upheavals  in  various  parts  of  the  county  and  for  many  years  afterwards, 
world,  and  mighty  blows  have  been  the  judge  and  the  lawyers  usually  wrote 
struck  for  civil  itberty,  the  rights  of  men  down  all  the  testimony  during  the  pro- 
and  the  emancipation  of  the  oppressed.       gress  of  the  trial.      We   are  relieved  of 

The  world  muves  andtlie  young  man  that  labor  now,  as  the  official  reporter 
of  this  age  who  would  keep  "up  witli  the  and  stenographer  does  that  work.  The 
procession  must  step  lively.  jndge's  charge  and  the  testimony  are  all 

The  changes  in  our  laws"  have  kept  pace  typewritten  by  the  reporter,  and  tlie  plead- 
Avith  the  progress  of  the  age  in  other  re-  ings  filed  are  also  usually  typewritten, 
spects.  These  changes  and  innovations  In  former  times  the  Altoona  lawyer 
upon  the  common  law  have  been  in  the  di-  would  pack  his  grip  on  Monday  morning 
rection  of  reform  and  improvement  tend-  and  engage  lodging  at  a  hotel  at  the 
ing  to  the  elevation  of  man  and  the  county  seat  for  a  week  or  during  the  sit- 
amelioration  of  the  condition  of  woman,    ting  of  the  court.    For  many  years  during 

Theactof  April  y,  1849,  exempting  prop-  the  terms  of  court  I  regularly  occupied 
erty  of  a  debtor  to  the  value  of  $300  from  room  29,  at  the  American  House,  then 
levy  and  sale  on  execnticm  or  by  distress  keptby  that  jolly  landlordand  genial  host, 
for  rent  is  a  humane  and  beneficient  law,  Daniel  K.  Ramey.  Now  all  that  is  chang- 
as  are  also  all  the  various  laws  protecting  ed  by  the  electric  cars,  which  run  every 
and  giving  a  preference  to  the  wages  of  15  minutes  and  land  the  Altoona  lawyers 
manual  hal)or.  at  the  steps  of  the  court  house.     The  Al- 

The  legal  status  of  married  women  has  toona  lawyer  can  stand  at  the  telephone 
been  entrrely  changed,  and  sweeping  mod-  in  his  comfortable  office  and  by  issuing 
ifications  have  been  made  by  the  acts  of ,  his  oral  mandate  through  the  'phone  can 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


put  the  whole  clerical  force  of  the  pro- 
thonotary's  office  in  motion  or  he  can  be 
treated  to  a  learned  dissertation  on  prac- 
tice by  Judge  Bowers  at  long  range. 

Judges  and  lawyers  have,  from  time  im- 
memorial, been  inclined  to  polite,  social 
intercourse  and  rational  enjoyment.  They 
have  been  disposed  to  reasonable  relaxa- 
tion after  the  labors  of  the  bench  and  the 
contests  of  the  forum. 

In  England,  in  the  olden  time,  the  ser- 
geants at  law  were  inducted  into  their 
office  with  great  state  and  ceremony.  It 
was  attended  with  feasting,  which  some- 
times lasted  for  several  days,  and  at  these 
feasts  the  lord  chancellor  and  some  of  the 
highest  dignitaries  of  the  realm,  some- 
times including  the  king  himself,  sat 
down.  On  these  festive  occasions  the 
lord  chancellor  usually  lieaded  the  pro- 
cession to  the  ban(iueting  hall,  thereby 
giving  the  sanction  of  his  official  approval 
to  this  important  function.  The  newly 
created  sergeants  at  law  were  allowed  the 
high  privilege  of  paying  the  bills  for  these 
banquets.  Rich  and  fragrant  are  the 
memories  that  cluster  around  the  inns  of 
court  and  chancery,  which  Ben  Johnson 
characterizes  as  "the  noblest  nurseries  of 
humanity  and  liberty  in  the  kingdom." 
It  is  said  that  the  inns  of  court  and  chan- 
cery were  celebrated  for  the  magnificence 
of  theii'  entertainments.  True  to  those 
honored  and  immemorial  traditions,  and  i 
cherishing  the  past  associations  of  the 
bench  and  bar  of  Blair  county,  the  Blair 
County  Bar  association  have  invited  the 
judges  of  adjoining  and  adjacent  coun- 
ties, and  all  the  lawyers  now  living  who 
formerly  were  resident  practitioners  at 
our  Bar,  and  the  judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court  who  sat  for  many  years  as  president 
judge  in  this  county,  and  the  only  thiee 
ex-associate  judges  of  this  county  now 
living,  to  participate  in  this  semi-centen- 
nial celebration. 

It  is  gratifying  to  lis  to  meet  hei'e  so 
many  worthy  representatives  of  the  judi- 
ciary and  gentlemen  of  the  bar  from  other 
localities. 

C^ambria  County  is  hei-e  represented  by  j 
its  learned  President  Judge.    The  rarified 
atmosphere  of  that  elevated  plateau  upon 
which   Ebensburg  stands  seems  to  have  ; 
quickened  and  sharpened  the  wits  of  its  \ 
Judges  and  lawyers,  for  they  have  always 
been  celebrated  for  their  w\t.      Michael  j 
Daniel   Magehan,    Michael    Hasson    and 
Robert  L.  Johnson  were  all  in  tlieir  day, 
noted  wits  ;  Frank  P.  Tierney,  who  many 
years  ago,   I'emoved  from  Ebensburg  to 
Altoona  and  died  some  years  ago,  was  a 
genuine  wit,  and  as  a  mimic  he   had   few 
equals.      Although   of  Irish   descent   he  ! 


could  delineate  the  German  or  Irish  char- 
acter with  equal  facility.     His  mantle  has 
fallen  upon  a  gentleman  who  is  now  the 
acknowledged  wit  of  our  bar.      I  forbear 
to  mention  his  name  as  he  is  present,  and 
I  know  he  is  averse  to  public  notoriety. 
'  It  may  not  be  said  of  him,  perhaps,  aa 
was  said  of  one  of  the  characters  in  the 
i  "School  for   Scandal"  that  his  wit  costs 
;  him  nothing,  as  it  is  always  as  the  ex-    ! 
'  pense  of  a  friend.     It  might  be  said,  how- 
ever,   that  it   costs  him  nothing  in  this 
sense  :  It  costs  him  no  effort.     It  is  spon- 
taneous.    It  effervescences  and  bubbles 
like  champagne.    But  I  fear  I  trespass  on 
Judge  Landis"   domain.     He  is  expected 
to  give  us  the  history  of  the  Blair  County 
Bar.     It  is,  I  presume  a  clear  case  of  tres- 
pass (juai-e  clausum  fregit. 

The  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  is  rep- 
resented here  by  one  of  its  learned  justices 
who,  on  this  anniversary,  can  look  back 
with  satisfaction  on  the  many  years  dur- 
ing which  he  occupied  the  bench  in  this 
county  with  credit  and  distinction. 

There  is  a  gentleman  here  who  former- 
ly practiced  at  this  bar,  although  a  resi- 
dent of  Huntingdon,  now  residing  in  Phil- 
adeli^hia.  He  was  admitted  at  the  first 
court  held  in  1846.  Those  who  heard  him 
at  the  bar  in  days  gone  by  will  esteem 
themselves  I'ortunate  in  having  the  oppor- 
tunity of  seeing  him  and  hearing  him 
again. 

Thei'e  is  a  gentleman  from  Hari'isburg 
present  who  years  ago  enjoyed  unbounded 
popularity  and  was  a  power  in  law  and 
politics  in  this  county.  His  numerous 
friends  will  greet  him  with  the  coidiality 
of  the  days  of  yore. 

To  the  Judges  of  neighboring  counties, 
to  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  to. 
the  old-time  members  of  the  bar,  to  the 
ex-Associate  Judges  of  the  county,  the 
only  three  now  living,  to  all  who  have  re- 
sponded to  our  invitation  and  kindly  fa- 
vored us  with  their  presence,  the  lilair 
County  Bar  Association  sends  greeting 
and  extends  a  cordial  welcome  to  a  par- 
ticipation in  all  there  is  of  interest,  of 
cherished  memories,  and  of  enjoyment  in 
the  celebrat'.on  of  our  Semi-Centennial. 
Few,  if  any  of  us,  will  see  Blair's  centen- 
nial. 

May  we  now  hope  that  the  centeiniial 
of  11)4()  will  be  the  dawn  for  our  county 
and  for  our  country  of  the  millennial  morn 
of  a  yet  grander  and  nobler  destiny.  But 
as  we  may  not  be  there  to  see  it  let  us 
thank  God  that  we  are  living  to  see  the 
Semi-Centennial,  and  make  the  best  of 
this  occasion,  while  the  train  stops  at  this 
half-way  station. 


Semi-Centenniai.  History  of  Blair  County.  7 

Address  of  Hon.  Aug.  S.  Landis,  History  of  the  Bar  of  Blair  County. 


It  has  been  said  that  the  history  of  a    revolu- 
tion is  often  but  the  liistory  of  one'man.    Bv  pro- 
per autithesis,  it  is  perhaps  just  as  true  tliat  the 
history  of  a  legal   bar  is  the  history  of  many  [ 
men.  "  I 

Wlien  it  is  remembered  tliat  the  component 
parts  are  the  judges,  Invested  with  tlie  delf  ijiited 
powers  of  tlielaw,  the  attorneys  and  barristers 
who  invite  tlie  application  of  tliese  p'lwers  to  ob- 
tain for  suitors  a  resultantproduct  called  justice, 
tlie  (ifticer  wlio  records  and  perpetu  'tes  tlie  adju- 
dications of  the  court,  and  thiit  other  executive 
department,  which  relentlessly  enforces  ttie  law 
as  crystalized  into  its  peremptory  mandate,many 
menwitii  diversified miniis  i^ive  it  liody,  etflcacy 
and  character.  Wliat  they  thus  have  done  during 
fifty  years  constitutes  its  history  for  that  period. 

I'he  bar  of  this  county  came  into  existence  iu 
the  year  1846.  It  had  been  a  long  struggle 
wliether  there  should  be  a  Blair  county.  The 
subject  was  first  discussed  alxiut  the  year  183J. 
This  town  was  tlien  a  prosi)erous,  growing  town. 
It  was  at  the  head  of  canal  navigation.  It  was 
the  point  of  transhipment  from  canal  to  railroad 
transportation.lt  was  on  the  only  traffic  thorough- 
fare in  the  state.  Tliese  conditions  brouglit  many 
people  liere.  I'he  state  employed  many  men  to 
operate  the  public  improvements.  Large  for- 
warding houses  were  erected,  and  their  owners 
handled  the  ever-increasing  freight  tonnage  pass- 
ing east  and  west.  Large  capital  was  embarked 
in  tills  business,  and  in  mercantile  and  manu- 
facturing enteiprises  Bitumi  ous  coal  found 
upon  the  land  of  Samuel  Lemon,  near  the  Sum- 
mit, became  a  leading  article  of  trade  for  domes- 
tic use  and  transportation.  Whilst  it  was  the 
only  great  distributing  point  fir  a  neigliborhood 
of  large  radius,  it  was  also  the  entrepot  for  the 
products  of  a  rapidly  developing  territory.  Its 
promise  of  a  future  urban  population  and  wealth 
invited  many  frotji  other  jiarts,  who  came  to 
share  its  generous  and  flattering  fortunes. 

This  increased  population  and  business  neces- 
sarily gave  rise  to  litigation,  and  applications 
for  various  purposes  to  the  public  officers  and 
the  courts.  Huntingdon  county,  of  which  it 
was  part,  had  its  county  seat  at  Huntingdon, 
which  lay  thirty  miles  away,  to  be  reached  by 
laborious  and  wearisome  driving  over  two 
mountains.  This  inconvenience  gave  rise  to 
the  effort  to  have  erected  a  new  county,  of 
which  this  busy  and  growing  centre  should  be 
the  county  seat. 

During  the  six  or  seven  years  when  the  subject 
was  discussed,  whilst  all  were  f  .vorable  to  the 
project,  many  were  active  in  the  worK  until  it 
was  tina'lv  accomplished.  Among  them  should 
be  named  William  Williams,  afterward  presi- 
dent of  the  Exchange  bank  at  this  place:  Peier 
Cassldy,  a  well-known  surveyor;  Peter  Hewit, 
Silas  Moore,  Ed.  McGraw,  John  Walker,  Dr. 
Joseph  A  Landis,  Dr.  James  Colfey, Samuel  Cal- 
vin, William  McFarland,  Joseph  Dysart,  G^eorge 
K.  McFarlane,  William  C.  McCormick  James 
M.  Bell  and  R.  A.  McMurtrie. 

The  necessary  legislation  to  erect  the  county 
having  failed  at  the  first  se--slon  of  the  legisla- 
ture in  which  a  bill  was  presented,  it  was  finally 
enacted  at  the  se-sion  of  1S46,  and  was  approved 
by  Governor  Francis  R.  Shunk  on  the  26th  of 
February,  1846.  Wlien  the  news  i  auie  to  the 
people  of  the  new  county  there  was  great  re- 
joicing, and  it  was  a  day  in  this  county  capital 
in  wliich  tlie  people  were  buoyant  with  an  expec- 
tation they  felt  to  be  assured  of  great  future  de- 
velopment and  prosperity. 

This  only  in  a  measure  was  realized,  for  in  a 
few  years  the  colossus  which  reared  itself  but  a 
friw  miles  away  cist  Its  shadow  upon  the  new 
plant  and  chilled  and  checked  its  young  life.  It 
can,  however,  assume  to  itself  one  comfort — that 
it  lives  to  celebrate  its  survival  of  Its  disap- 
pjintment,  and  the  prpsessionof  many  advan 
tages,  conveniences  and  benefits  which  others  do 
not  have  and  which  keep  it  abreast  wi  h 
the  day's  civilization,  socially;  morally  and  in- 
tellectually 

The  county,  under  the  act,  took  from  Hunt- 
ingdon county  the  townships  of  Allegheny,  Antis, 
Snyder,  Tyrone,  Frankstown.  Blair,  Huston, 
Woodbury,"  and  part  of  Morris.  Bedford  was 
compelled  to  give  up  North  W<iodhury  and 
Greenfield  townships.    Since  then,  the  townships 


of  Juniata,  Freedom,  Logan  and  Taylor  have 
been  formed  from  other  townships.  The  bor- 
oughs of  the  county  areHollidaysburg,Gaysport, 
Mdrtinsburg,  Duncansville,  Roarlns  Spring,Ty- 
rone.  East  Tyrone,  Wllllamsburg,|Bellwood  arid 
Juniata.    Altoona  is  the  only  incorporated  city. 

Thus,  in  1846,  a  new  county  was  added  to  the 
state's  long  list,  with  a  population  of  some  17,000 
and  an  area  of  510  square  miles.  The  population 
in  1890  was  over  "o,OUO. 

It  was,  by  the  sa  me  act,  made  part  of  the  Six- 
teenth judicial  district.  This  district  already 
comprised  the  counties  of  Franklin,  Bedford, 
Somerset  and  Fulton.  Judge  Jeremiah  S. Black 
was  the  president  judge,  and  thus,  by  the  enact- 
ment, lie  became  the  first  judge  of  this  county. 

It  is  well,  also,  to  remark  that  Huntingdon 
county  formed  part  of  one  of  the  original  dis- 
tricts of  the  commonwealth — the  E^ourth  judicial 
district — which  embraced  many  of  the  original 
counties,  and  whicli  was  justly  noted  for  having 
furnished  so  many  able  and  eminentjudges  and 
lawyers  in  both  the  supreme  and  common  pleas 
courts 

Until  the  new  court  bouse  should  be  completed 
court  sat  in  tlie  (d  Methodist  church  building 
on  Walnut  street  west  of  Montgomery  street 
This  was  a  one-story  brick  building  perched  upor 
the  brink  of  a  hill,  thirty  feet  from  the  street 
Tlie  approach  to  it  was  by  a  broad  stairway,  and 
for  the  temporary  purpose  was  convenient  and 
suitable.  On  the  'iTtn  of  July,1846,  Judge  Blick 
witli  his  associates,  George  R.  McFarlane  anil 
Daniel  McConnell,  at  10  a.  m.  ascended  tiie  plat 
form,  and  the  crier  opened  the  court  with  the 
usual  formality.  Colonel  John  Cresswell  was  the 
district  attorney,  but  there  was  but  little  to  de 
mand  his  official  attention. 

The  following  persons  were  sworn  tc 
the  bar : 

LIST    OP    ATTORNEYS  COMPOSING    THE    ORIGINAl 
BLAIR  COUNTY  BAR   ASSOCIATION. 

(Members  sworn  in    July  27,    1846.) 


J.  P.  Anderson, 
Thaddeus  Banks, 
Samuel  S.  Blair, 
A.  VV.  Benedict, 
David  Blair, 
Ephraim  Banks, 
Samuel  M.  Barkley, 
John  Brotherline, 
J.  M.  Bell, 
Moses  Canan, 
Samuel  Calvin, 
A.  G.  Curtin, 
John  Cresswell, 
T.  J.  Coffey, 
Joshua  F.  Cox, 
A.  J.  Cline, 
Theodore  H.  Cremer, 
William  Dorris,  jr., 
David  Hurt, 
John  Fenlon, 
James  T.  H.ll, 
David  H.  Hofius, 
Charles  H.  Heyer, 
MIctiael  Hasson, 
Isaao  Hughes 
Making  forty- nine 


Robert  L.  Johnston, 
William  J.  Jacobs, 
Alexander  King, 
F.  M.  KImmell, 
Joseph  Kemp, 
J.  R.  Lowrie, 
William  Lyon, 
Job  Mann, 
John  G.  Miles, 
M.  D.  Megehao, 
R.  A.  McMurtrie, 
John  Mower, 
H.  N.  McAllistar, 
A.  J.  Ogle, 

William  P.  Orblsonin. 
James  M.  Russell, 
Samuel  L.  Russell, 
William  M.  Stewart, 
.1.  S.  Stewart, 
John  Scott,  jr., 
Samuel  H.  Tate, 
John  Williamson, 
A.  P.  Wilson, 
S.  S.  Wharton, 


n  all.  On  Tuesday,  the 
2Sth,  three  more  were  added:  George  Taylor,  af- 
terwards president  judge;  Alex.  Gwin  and  John 
A.  Blodget;  making  filty-two  as  the  original 
number  of  the  membership. 

No  causes  were  tried  and  the  traverse  jury 
was  discharged,  and  the  court  adjourned  on  the 
■Z8th  of  July. 

Of  the  court  and  bar  as  thus  constituted,  ex- 
cept five,  all  are  dead.  The  judges  are  all  dead, 
and  of  the  bar  ex-Senator  ,tohn  Scoit,  Colonel 
William  fDorris,  Hon.  Titian  .1.  tJofley,  ex-assist- 
ant attorney  general  of  the  United  States,  Hon. 
I  John  Fenlon,  ex-member  of  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives, and  William  P.  Orblson,  esq.,  alone 
survive;  but  some  of  these  survivors  are  liere  to- 
day, and  wlillss  I  am  silent  as  to  them,  they, 
themselves,  will  tell  us  of  the  past. 

A  glance  at  the  personnel  ol  this  court  and  its 
bar  in  the  lijiht  of  their  subsequent 
history  wlil  disclose  a  remarkable  iiody 
of  men.  They  were  educitcd  lawyers. 
They  were  nearly  all  proficient  in  their 
professional   knowledge   and    experience.      The 


Semi-Centennial  History  op  Blair  County. 


same  care,  zeal,  caution  and  research  ■which  the 
lawyer  of  to-day  exerts,  was  practiced  then.  He 
strove  to  attain  to  the  same  acumen 
and  success  then  as  now.  The  professional  am- 
bition and  etliics  of  tliat  day  are  indeed  made 
more  conspicuous  by  tlie  lower  grade  of  pr  nci- 
ple  and  tarnislied  acts,  whicli  too  often  offend 
the  hsnorable  lawyer  of  the  present. 

We  can  recall  the  appearance  of  the  president 
iudse.  His  massive  head  and  intellectual  face 
were  '^impressive  to  both  acquaintance  and 
stranger.  He  was  the  man  of  whom,  under  Dr. 
Johnson's  conditions,  it  would  be  asked,  who  is 
he?  He  was  learned,  decided,  courteous  and 
rtisinifled.  He  possessed  the  confidence  of  the  j 
bar,  and  duriiii?  his  remaining  life  he  was  the  I 
admiration  of  his  many  friends.  He  became  a  j 
justice  of  the  supreme  court,  attorney  j;eneral  of 
tlie  United  States  and  a  delegate  to  the  consti- 
tutional c'lnvention  ori873.  He  continued,  after 
leaving  office,  to  be  one  of  the  nusiest  and  most 
eminent  lawyers  in  the  land.  He  was  of  counsel 
in  the  argument  before  the  presidential  commis- 
sion in  1877  and  his  eltbrt  before  that  tribunal  ex- 
hibited many  of  his  most  conspicuous,  as  well  as 
fflost  valued,  characteristics. 

Among  those  who  were  sworn  to  the  bar  before 
nim  on  that  day  was  one  who  subsequently  be- 
came as  widely  known  as  Judge  Black.  Andrew 
G-.  Curtin  was  then  but  a  modest  lawyer  in 
Bellefonte.  His  career  instate  politics  as  the 
great  war  governor  of  Pennsylvania,  minister 
to  KussiH,  delegate  to  the  constitutional  conven- 
tion of  the  state  and  member  of  congress  with 
nationa  1  fame,  is  now  easily  recalled. 

These  two  men  met  during  the  year  1873  in 
Philadeliihia  on  the  floor  of  the  convention. 
With  no  p  'riisanship,  they  vied  in  the  responsi- 
ble task  of  perfecting  tne  fundamental  law  of 
the  state.  Both  had  achieved  fame,  both  had 
the  respect  and  afl^ection  of  their  colleagues,  and 
both  left  their  impress  upon  the  instrument 
which  now  constituit-s  our  organic  law.  Both 
were  often  participants  in  many  controversies  on 
that  floor.  The  writer  recalls  a  seene  of  pleasur- 
able e.voitement  and  surprise  wlien,  in  the  dis- 
cussion of  the  question  of  legislative  apportion- 
ment, the  judge  learned  from  his  adversary  that 
his  vast  learning  was  of  no  value  compared  to 
the  governor's  practical  knowledge  of  men  and 
things. 

A  well  known  figure  at  the  bar  in  those  days, 
an<l  many  years  thereifter,  was  Mr.  Miles.  He 
was  very  fair  in  complexion,  large  and  hand- 
some. His  reticence  gave  him  a  dignity  which 
he  never  lost.  He  was  laborious  and  indefatiga- 
ble. His  arguments  were  long  and  exhaustive. 
He  stood  at  the  counsel  table  to  ta'kto  theco  irt, 
and  sometimes  stood  at  the  witness  box,  requir- 
ing the  judge  to  turn  in  that  direction  to  face 
him.  His  voice  was  high  and  siiarp  and  uene- 
trated  every  part  of  the  room.  His  manner  was 
earnest  and  convincing,  and  to  the  boyish  mind 
the  wonder  was  that  anything  more  need  be 
said.  He  continued  in  active  practice  for  many 
years  and  died  in  Peoria,  111.,  in  1877.  leaving  an 
lionorcd  memory. 

Mr.  McAllister,  of  Bellefonte,  was  an  able  and 
industrious  lawyer.  In  professional  zeal,  energy 
and  prowess  he  was  an  Ajax  Telamon.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  constitutional  convention  of 
1873,  and  brought  with  him  for  the  fulfilment  of 
the  duties  of  tiiat  important  office,  a  deej)  sense 
of  his  own  responsUiility.  Nothing  seemed  to 
escape  his  attention,  and  no  one  dti|iartinent  of 
the  fundamental  law  was  less  worthy  of  his 
scrutiny  than  another.  He  w  soften  adnionisi  ed 
by  his  brethren  that  his  zeal  and  labors  must  sap 
even  hi-i  rugsred  hea'th.  He  succumbed  befoie 
the  close  of  the  session,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Samuel  Ualvin,  whose  name  is  likewise  in  this 
list  of  original  attorneys. 

Mr.  Calvin, when  elected  to  fill  Mr.  McAllister's 
chair,  had  practically  retired  from  professional 
duties,  and  the  call  to  him  was  oppor  une,  and 
agree  ible  to  his  tastes.  He  had  long  been  a 
successful  and  able  lawyer,  and  was  a  lawyer,  in 
its  highest  professional  sense.  His  integrity  and 
htmor  wire  his  most  valued  possessions.  'J'hey 
weie  never  cheapened  by  being  bartered  nor 
tarnished  by  his  h<dding  them.  He  tried  his 
cases  in  tiie'idd  style.  There  were  no  steno- 
graphers then  and  with  scrupulous  fullness,  he 
wrote  down  every  wor  I  uttered  by  the  witness. 
He  had  no  patience  with  the  stupid  witness.   His 


"Sir,"  "I  don't  hear  you  Sir,"  and  "repeat  it 
Sir,"  uttered  in  intimidating  tones  to  the  aston- 
ished witness,  was  the  delight  of  the  student  and 
young  lawyer  looking  on  somewhere  in  ttie  bar. 
Few  of  the"  present  bar  know  him  and  his  pecu- 
liarities; but  some  of  us  here  to-day,  remember 
him  as  the  learned  lawyer,  a  ripe  scholar  in 
literature  and  the  classics,  and  the  most  warm 
hearted  and  genial  of  gentlemen.  It  only  re- 
mains to  be  said  of  him,  that  he  was  a  member 
of  the  thirty-ftrst  congress  in  1851,  and  was  a 
follower  of  Henry  Carey  in  his  theories  of  social 
science.  He  met  Mr.  Carey  on  the  floor  of  the 
convention, and  a  friendshi)')  sprang  up  between 
them  that  lasted  during  his  remaining  life.  His 
on,   Matthew  Calvin,  succeeded  him  at  the  bar. 

Colonel  McMurtrie  was  in  this  list.  He  was  a 
close  friend  of  Mr.  Calvin.  He  was  for  many 
years  the  c  jmmander  of  the  militia  under  the  old 
state  system,  and  he  mustered  his  undiscii  lined 
forces  in  the  month  of  May  for  many  years.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  legislature  in  18133.  He  was 
long  an  active  practitionerand  stood  in  the  bar 
and  community  as  a  man  and  lawyer  of  great 
probity  and  honor. 

Robert  L  Johnsto  -,  after  many  years  of  most 
active  practice,  became  the  president  judge  of 
Cambria  count  J.  Alex.  King  became  judge  of 
the  Bedford  and  Franklin  district,  as  did  al>o  F. 
M.  Kimmell.  .lob|Mannwas  a  member  of  the 
Twenty-fonrth,  Thirtieth  and  Thirty-first  con- 
gresses and  state  jtreasurer.  Samuel  L.  Russell 
was  also  in  the  Thirty  third  congressand  amem 
ber  of  tne  constitutional  convention  of  1873.  A. 
W.  Beoedict,  of  Huntingdon,  was  a  member  of 
the  legislature  of  lb63.  John  Cresswell 
was  a  member  of  the  state  senate  in 
18J7,  and  was  speaker  of  the  house 
in  1889,  and  Thaddeus  Banks,  a  member 
of  the  legislature  with  John  Scott  in 
1862.  Mr.  Scott  afterwards  became  a  United 
States  senator,  and  at  the  close  of  his  term  be- 
came the  general  solicitor  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad  company. 

Ephraim  Banks  was  the  auditor  general  of  the 
state  in  1851,  and  an  associate  judge  of  the  court 
of  common  pleas  of  Mifflin  county.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  decision  of  character  and  of  great 
dignity  and  worth.  On  one  occasion,  on  the 
bench  in  the  trial  of  a  case,  he  diflcred  from  the 
president  judge  in  his  views,  and,  carrying  his 
associate  with  him,  he  charged  a  jury  over  the 
bead  of  his  chief. 

Thaddeus  Banks  was  long  conspicuous  at  this 
bar  and,  during  his  very  active  career,  was  prom- 
inent in  the  most  noteworthy  ligitation.  He  was 
a  man  of  fine  social  qualitie-,  and  of  a  warm  and 
generous  heart.  He  was  the  democratic  candi- 
date for  judge  against  Dean  and  Taylor  in  1871, 
but  was  defeated. 

Samuel  S.Blair  commenced  a  brilliant  career  a 
few  vears  after  his  admission.  His  introduction 
to  public  notice  in  the  celebrated  case  of  s^um- 
merville  vs.  Jackson  continued  him  in  the  pub- 
lic eye  and  brought  him  to  the  front.  He  de- 
veloped into  a  strong  and  learned  lawyer,  and  in 
all  tliis  pan  of  the  Slate  he  was  for  many  years 
as  an  industrious  aid  able  lawyer,  facile  prin- 
ceps.  He  was  elected  to  the  Thirty-sixth  and 
Thirty-seventh  congresses.  He  was  succeededin 
his  office  by  his  son,  Mr.  Joh.i  D.  Blair. 

John  Williamson  lived  to  be  an  octogenarian. 
Tnough  he  lived  in  Hnntingdon,  it  was  his 
lubit  for  many  years  to  visit  t  is  Cjurt  and  par- 
ticipate in  the  trial  of  cases— mostly  in  tlie  quar- 
ter sessions.  His  arguments  to  the  jury  lumlsh- 
ed  the  most  delightlul  entertainment  to  his 
hearers.  He  was  a  nervous  speaker,  but  as  he 
progressed  he  was  fluent  and  accurate.  He 
abouniied  in  both  humor  and  pathos,  and  won 
for  himself  a  popularity  that  loug  survived  his 
retirement  from  our  midst. 

M.     'D.      Magehaii,     [familiarly     known     as 
"Michael  Dan,"  with  his  contemporary,  Michael 
'  Hasson,  came  to  us  from  the  Cambiia  bar.     Tlie 
!  wit  and  fancy  of  those  well  known  and  exce'lent 
Iri-h   gentlemen  were   the  admiration  of  many 
indulgent  friends    in    their  day,  and  form   the 
(jfleivescen'.  sparkle  of  many   a  story  which  sur- 
vives to  this  hour. 
I      John  A.  Blodget  was  a  frequent   visitor  from 
'  Bedfonl,  where  "he  practiced  until  he  retired.  He 
I  generally  walked  from   Bedforo,   and   was  in  his 
j  place  when  court  was  called.    He  was  a  tall  gen- 
tleman, dignified  yet  free  and  social  in  his  in- 


Semi-Centennial  History  op  Blaiu  Coin  ty. 


tercoursp.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  literary  taste 
and  attainments.  He  could  write  a  legal  opiii 
ion,  ur  a  poem,  with  equal  ease.  The  ludiciou.s 
inc  dents  of  the  bar  were  often  rendered  liy  t  his 
versatile  gentlema  >  in  verse,  and  1  kuow'of  no 
one  in  all  this  bar  of  fifty  years  of  life  who  was 
like  him,  and  could  make  himselt  so  appreciable 
to  his  fellows. 

Not  many  years  after  the  or^anizntion  nf  the 
county,  came  from  Bedfonl,  Uavid  H.  Hoflns. 
His  father  was  a  G-erman  pliysician,  and  com- 
ing to  this  country  as  a  young  miin,  ne  married, 
andDaiidwas  born  and  educated  here,  gradu- 
ing  at  Franklin  and  Marshall  college.  He  was, 
during  his  short  life,  for  he  died  in  1859,  con- 
cerned in  nearly  all  the  important  litigation  of 
his  time.  His  eiect  and  well  apparelled  form  gave 
him  an  imposing  appearance.  He  was  a  bache- 
lor, but  most  loyally  recogni/.ed  the  claims  of 
society,  which  then  "was  conspiclous  for  its  re- 
finement and  amenities.  He  was  the  hlolofthe 
people  and  it  was  common  to  hear  him  e.xtoUed 
as  the  "model  lawyer."  The  moment  of  his  pass- 
ing came  early  in  his  career,  and  as  blinaness 
became  from  , day  to  day  more  imminent  upon 
the  unhappy  man,  the  writer  willingly  helped 
him  in  his  hist  work  till  the  end  came.  It  was 
my  sad  task  to  pen  the  sketch  which  told  of  his  i 
virtues  and  his  frailties,  to  close  his  aflalrs,  and  i 
place  the  stone  that  now  marks  his  resting 
place.  ; 

One  more  name  of  the  fifty-two  remains  to  be  ' 
noted,  George  W.  Taylor.  He  was  then  34 
years  of  age  and  resident  at  Huntingdon.  He 
early  gave  promise  of  the  future  jurist.  His 
prosecution  of  the  case  of  the  Commonwealth 
vs.  McConauahy  in  1840,  and  the  Flanigans  in 
Cambria  county  in  184'-',  on  indictments  for  mur-  ; 
dtr  it  was  customarily  said,  drew  him  from  olv 
scurity  and  established  him  permanently  in  the 
public  estimation  as  a  great  lawyer.  He  suc- 
ceeded Judge  Blick  as  president  judge,  April  5,  j 
1849  and  reuiained  upon  the  benoli  till  Novem- 
ber 1S71.  He  tried  many  important  cases  and 
was  widely  known  in  the  state  and  recognized 
by  the  supreme  court  as  an  able  and  learned 
judge.  His  later  years  to  some  extent  were  given 
to  agriijultural  puisuits  and  though  of  great 
learning  and  judicial  acumen,  he  was  a  man  of 
plain  manners  and  practical  sense  and  wisdom. 
His  prepared  opinions  disclosed  no  attempts  at 
useless  embellishment,  but  were  simple,  plain 
and  strong.  They  thus  furnished  no  rhetoiical 
entertainment  but  they  addressed  theperieption 
of  the  mind  and  lett  it  overwnelmed  witli  con- 
viction. He  was  a  man  of  very  social  haliit.  In 
the  old  court  house  it  was  his  dally  custom  to 
linger  at  tlie  stove,  or  some  other  gathering 
place  with  BIcMurirle,  Calvin,  Scott,  Dean, 
Hewitand  others  of  us  around  him  to  listen  to 
his  many  stoiies  of  people  and  things,  till,  in 
many  instances,  suitors,  jurors,  and  counsel  had 
noted  a  lost  half  hour  by  the  clock.  But  when 
he  ascended  to  the  bench  the  familiarity  of  the, 
social  intercourse  just  related  was  left  behind 
and  as  Ins  eye  swept  the  bar  and  the  crowded 
spaces  beyond,  he  was  again  the  "judge"' and 
the  dignity  and  the  power  of  the  law  seemed  to 
cover  him  as  with  a  garment. 

In  closing  these  reminiscences  of  the  first  law- 
yers, 1  c;;nnot  omit  mention  of  George  A.  Cottey, 
though  he  was  not  one  of  the  original  memliers. 
He  came  from  the  ministry  to  the  bar  about  18-50. 
He  was  then  in  tne  full  possession  of  developed 
mental  power  and  le.irnlng.  He  was  g.fied, 
unique  and  brilliant.  He  was  a  scholar,  an  ora- 
tor, a  lawyer,  though  he  had  not  the  time  to  be- 
come a  great  lawyer.  He  was  cultured,  social 
and  admired.  His  conversational  p  jwecs  were  a 
delight  to  all  who  knew  him  and  won  him  a  wel- 
come everywhere.  This  faculty,  and  it  was  the 
chief  of  his  gifts,  never  seemed  to  desert  him. 
His  cordial  reception  of  the  wiiter  at  his  heil- 
slde,  not  many  days  before  his  death,  and  his 
pleasant,  cheerful  conversation  thougn  under 
the  sad  circumstances  ofa'atal  illness,  seemed 
to  show  it  would  ab  de  till  the  end.  He  died  in 
Philadelphia,  wnitlier  he  went  In  1861,  to  accept 
the  appointment  of  United  States  district  at- 
torney from  President  Lincoln. 

Under  the  constitution  of  that  date,  laymen 
were  appointed,  afterwards  elected,  associate 
judges.  They  sat  with  the  piesident  judge  and 
formed  an  important  adjunct  of  t  e  court.  The 
first  of  this  class  of  judges  were  George  K.  Mc- 


Farlane  and  Daniel  McConnell.  Th"  latter  was 
a  man  of  strong  mind  and  great  practical  in- 
telligence and  enjoyed  the  contiden  e  of  all  who 
knew  him.  Judge  McFarlane  was  ihen,  and 
had  been  for  years,  a  we  1-known  man.  He  was 
the  proprietor  or'  a  foundry  and  machine  works 
in  this  town,  and  evui  ed  great  energy  and  up- 
rightness in  his  business.  He  was  eugagea  In 
many  schemes  of  social  reform  and  enjoyed  a 
notoriety  ihrough  alt  the  neighboring  counties. 
He  wasgreatly  loved  liy  niany^  and  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him.  His  untiinely  death — the  re- 
sult of  an  accident  In  hiff  lundry  in  ]85'2 — was 
deply  iiiourned  by  the  entire  community,  and 
inflicted    upon  It    a  loss  felt  for  many  years. 

In  all  the  county  has  had  nineteen  associate 
judges.  The  constitution  of  1873  dispensed  with 
theiii  by  making  this  county  a  single  judicial 
district. 

Davis  Brooke  succeeded  .fudge  McConnell  in 
.lanuary  184i?:  Judge  Brooke  was  a  man  of  fine 
personal  appearance  and  great  dignity.  His 
snow  white  hair  was  in  pleasing  contrast  with 
his  florid  complexion.  The  conventional  Idack 
dress  of  that  day,  admirably  supplemented  those 
evidences  of  his  advanced  age,  and  harmonious- 
ly accompanied  the  striking  appearance  of  his 
chief.  Judge  Black. 

In  the  second  year  of  Judge  Brooke's  term, 
there  occurred  a  most  interesting  juilicial  inci- 
dent. It  served  to  demonstrate  the  existence 
then  of  a  cerebral  or  psychical  influence  as 
hypnotism  is  now. 

There  came  to  the  county  seat  one  day  a  man 
of.thenameof  Henry  L.oomis,  and  his  wife, 
Sulimit  C.  Lojmis.  They  advertised  to  give  lec- 
tures on  mesmerism,  to  be  illustrated  anu  mani- 
fested by  exhibitions  of  its  Influence  upi  n  a  sus- 
ceptible subject.  'I'liis  subject  was  their  daugh- 
ter, Martha.  Whilst  these  exhitiitions  were  he 
log  nightly  given  with  great  success,  one  C.J. 
Svkes  appeared  upon  the  scene  and  employed 
Mr.  Banks  and  Mr.  Cresswell  to  take  out  upon 
the  allowance  of  Judge  Brooke  a  writ  of  habeas 
corpus,  to  take  and  restore  to  him  his  wife, 
Marth.i,  who  was  '21  years  of  age,  and  who,  by 
her  father  and  mother,  was  deprived  of  her  lib- 
erty: he  further  alleged  that  she  was,  under  the 
spell  of  their  mesmeric  influence,  deprived  other 
free  will:  her  attections  diverted  from  the  relator, 
her  husband,  her  health,  physicallv  and  men- 
tally, being  sapped,  and  she  herself  was  being 
saci'iticed  to  the  greed  of  her  parents,  who  could 
not  entertain  their  audiences  without  her. 

I'o  this  the  respondeuis  replied  that  Martha 
was  married  to  Sykes  in  New  York,  but  imme- 
diatelv  thereafter'  he  began  to  abuse  her  and 
treated  her  with  :;reat  cruelty,  so  that  she  fled 
to  her  parents  for  protection,  and  desired  to  re- 
main with  tiiem. 

The  relator  denied  the  allegations,  alleging 
mercenary  motives  on  thepirtofthe  Lonmises 
and  jiraying  to  be  allowed  the  companionship  of 
his  wife.  l\lr.  Calvin  and  Mr.  Hoflus  repre- 
sente  i  the  parents,  and  during  two  or  three  days 
eviuenee  was  taken  before  .T,.dge  Brooke.  Great 
interest  was  manifested  bv  the  nublii;  not  only 
whether  there  was  s-uch  a  thing  as  mesmerism, 
but  as  to  what  would  be  done  with  Martha.  The 
court  house  was  packed  with  peoi-le,  and  public 
op  nioii  and  .-ympathy  were  soar,  ly  divided. 
Nearly  a  day  was  consume. i  In  the  argument  of 
Counsel,  and"  during  the  entire  progress  of  the 
ease  not  a  Word  had  lieen  uttered  byihejudge, 
and  speculation  was  rife  as  to  when  lie  would  he 
prep  ire  to  deside  the  case.  As  soon  as  the  last 
word  was  spoken  by  counsel  the  judge  imme- 
diatelv  rose  to  his  feet,  and,  bowing  with  great 
dignity  and  with  greater  hrevity,  said,  "Let 
Martha  be  di^chargeil.  The  house  instantly 
r  ng  With  cheers,  and  amid  the  wildest  excite- 
ment Martha  and  her  parents  were  fairly  car- 
ried from  the  court  room,  while  the  wifeless 
Sykes  was  left  to  pursue  his  solitary  way.  It  is 
remarkable  that  the  record  shows  no  final  dis- 
position of  this  case  and  the  writer  recalls  it 
only  from  memory. 

The  business  of  the  court  giew  slowly,  though 
thirty-four  suits  were  iirought  to  tne  first  term. 
The  first  suit  brought  was  that  of  .losepli  and 
Daniel  Hnllen  vs.  riiomas  Ciissman.  "Debt." 
No.  11,  .1  uly  Term,  184(3;  but  there  is  no  lecord  of 
any  judgment. 

The  first  record  of  a  case  tried  was  that  of 
Matthew  Miller  vs.  Henry  Burt,  assumpsit;  with 


10 


Semi-Centennial  History  op  Blair  County. 


a  venlict  October  2\  1846,  for  jilaintifl  of  $139. -15. 

The  tirst  recorel  of  an  uction  of  ejectment  was 
that  of  JamesStevens  vs.  J.  HeUiniiter,  in  which 
there  was  on  the  2uth  October,  1846,  a  verdict  for 
pliiintiti. 

Dining  that  same  week  five  cases  were  tried, 
and  one  non-suir.  entered  after  the  jury  was 
sworn.    Names  of  counsel  are  not  given. 

The  tirst  divorce  suit  was  brouglit  by  Mary 
Armstrong  against  her  erring  and  delinquent 
husband,  Joliu.  Mr.  Coffey  conducted  the  case 
and  obtained  for  Mary  the  coveted  decree. 

The  first  e.\ecution  was  issued  by  James  Murty 
vs.  Jolm  Dougherty  to  obiain  $23.75  and  costs. 
Tlie  slieritt  does  not  seem  to  have  ever  returned 
his  writ. 

T)ie  tirst  case  in  which  was  made  a  motion  for 
a  new  trial  was  in  Bride  ic  McKeehan  vs.  Zech- 
ariah  Gr.  Brown.  No.  23,  August  term,  1843, 
lirou^ht  from  Huntingdon  county.  'I  he  verdict 
was  for  plaintifls  for  $3(53.53,  and  Mr.  Biown's 
dissatisfaction  is  e.xpressed  ny  his  motion  for  a 
newtiial.  Judge  B.ack  was  possibly  no  more 
favorable  to  re-trials  than  modern  judges,  and 
the  motion  was  refused.  Mr.  Brown  was  in  his 
day  a  well  known  citizen  and  litigant. 

The  first  auditor  appointed  was  Titian  J. 
Cotley,  on  the  2d  January,  1817.  This  method  of 
adjudicating  many  ([uestions  arising  in  the  set- 
tlement of  estates  and  distribution  of  moneys 
has  grown  in  favur  and  is  employed  with  ire- 
([uency  and  with  convenience  to  the  court  and 
bar  to  this  time. 

In  the  criminal  department  of  the  court  there 
have  been  interesting  cases,  which,  at  the  time 
of  their  disposition,  elicited  great  profess!  jnal  as 
well  as  public  attention.    I  recall  some  of  them. 

In  June,  1855,  a  negro  slave  ran  away  from  his 
master  in  Virginia,  Mr.  James  Parsons.  He 
reached  this  town  on  his  way  toUanada,  hut  was 
closely  fallowed  by  Parsons.  As  the  negro  en- 
tered a  car  early  one  morning  to  cross  the  moun- 
tain on  the  Old  Portage  railroad  he  was  dis- 
covered by  Mr.  Parsons,  who  entered  the  carat 
the  other  end  at  tlie  same  time.  Tlie  negro  in- 
stantly tied,  pursued  by  Mr.  Parsons,  whocaught 
him  in  Gaysport  and  brought  him  down  to  a  po'int 
near  tlie  present  Kellerman  house.  The  occur- 
rence |)rouucB(l  great  excitement.  The  entire 
CO  ored  populatidn  was  aroused  and  those 
staunch  democrats,  (jeueral  George  W.  Potts, 
Major  J.  K.  Crawford  and  Coloner John  Piper, 
witn  other  prominent  white  citizens,  at  once 
came  to  the  aid  ot  tne  slave,  and  under  the 
guidance  of  Snyder  Carr,  a  colored  barber,  and 
others  of  his  race,  the  refugee  was  taken  in 
charge  and  sp  rited  away,  so  that  he  was  seen  no 
more.  Parsons,  however,  was  arrested  upon  the 
charges  of  kidnaping,  a.-sauitand  battery  and 
breach  of  the  peace  and  bound  over  to  appear  at 
the  July  sessions.  Bills  were  found  by  the  grand 
jury,  tint  the  trials  were  continued  to  the  "Octo- 
ber i-e-sions.  At  the  ap|iointed  time  Par  ons  ap- 
peired  with  his  counsel, Ciiarle-i  J.  Faulkner  an"d 
J.  K  indolph  Tucker,  appointed  by  the  governor 
of  Virginia.  After  the  commonwealth  had  pro- 
gressed in  the  trial  Mr.  Hammond,  the  district 
attorney,  by  leave  of  court  took  non-suits  and 
the  prisoner  was  released. 

At  ti  is  time,  in  view  of  the  fugitive  slave  law, 
public  feeling  ran  very  high  and  runaway  sla\  es 
all  over  the  north  were  aided  by  the  whites  in 
their  attempted  escapes.  Besides,  the  appear- 
ance o(  such  eminent  counsel  sent  by  the  great 
commonwealth  of  Virginia  gave  the  occurrence 
a  significance  and  an  eclat  entirely  exceptional 
in  the  history  of  the  bar. 

Since  the  organi/,  ition  of  this  county  there 
have  been  found  bv  tlie  grand  jury  forty-one  in- 
dictments for  murder.  Ot  these  lour  were  found 
guilty  if  murder  in  the  first  dear  e.  Tne  others 
were  either  acquitt»d  orconvicted  of  manslaugii- 
teror  murder  in  the  second  degree.  The  lour 
who  were  convicted  of  murder  in  the  tirst  de- 
gree Were:  Alex  Hutcliins  >n,  killing  a  negro; 
James  Shirley,  killing  his  wife;  David  S.  MoKim, 
kiUiim- his  young  traveling  companion,  Samuel 
Norcross,  and  Dr.  Lewis  IJ.  Beach,  killing  his 
wife. 

Hutchinson'scase  had  a  most  unusual  conelu- 
son.  He  was  convicted  at  the  December  ses- 
sions, 18.50,  near  the  close  of  Governor  \V.  P. 
Johnston's  ofticial  term.  For  s  ime  reason  not  ex- 
plained the  wa'rant  forthe  p  isoner'a  e.xecutiOQ 
was  not  issued  by  the  governor  before  his  term 


expired.  Governor  William  Bigler  succeeded 
him,  and  when  his  attention  was  called  to  the 
case,  either  for  supposed  legal  reasons  or  from 
scruples  of  conscience,  he  declined  to  issue  his 
warrant  of  dc.ith.  Hutchinson  remained  along 
time  about  the  prison,  helping  in  the  daily  work 
and  going  freely  about  the  town,  refusing  ta 
leave  One  day,  however,  he  went  quietly 
away,  no  man  pursuing,  and  he  died  some  years 
later  in  an  eastern  county. 

Shirley  was  hanged  in  1X53,  and  his  was  the 
first  capital  execution.  George  A.  Coffey  was 
the  prosecuting  attorney,  having  been  deputized 
by  Joseph  Kemp,  who  was  the  oistrict  attorney. 

McKim's  case  attracted  a  good  deal  of  atten- 
tion. He  had  traveled  to  Altoona  with  young 
Norcross,  a  stranger  here,  won  his  confidence,  be- 
guiled him  int  1  leaving  the  train  and  going  a 
short  distance  west  of  town,  to  obtain 
the  little  money  he  learned  from  him  he  possessed, 
he  cruelly  murdered  him.  The  prosecution  was 
conducted  by  Mr.  Hammond  and  William  A. 
Stoke,  then  an  eminent  and  able  lawyer,  em- 
ployed by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  company. 

The  defendant  relied  upon  Mr.  Hofius  Mc- 
Kim  was  a  large,  fine  looking  man,  and  seemed 
incapable  of  committing  such  a  crime.  The  j  ury, 
on  tlie  7th  of  May,  1857,  convicted  him,  and  he 
was  executed  on  the2lst  of  August,  following. 

The  most  celebrated,  however,  of  the  homicide 
cases  of  the  county,  was  the  Indictment  and  con- 
viction of  Dr.  Beach.  He  was  a  ))ractlcing  phy- 
sician in  Alto  jna,  where  he  live  I  with  his  wife, 
but  had  no  children.  One  morning  at  an  early 
hour  in  the  winter  of  1884,  he  called  at  the  house 
of  Levi  Knott,  the  brother  of  his  wife,  and  in- 
formed him  that  he  had  killed  his  wife,  but  pro- 
tested he  had  done  the  deed  without  present 
knowledge  of  the  act.  He  was  arrested  and  tried 
during  that  year  and  was  convicted.  Mr.  Spang, 
Mr.  Stevens  and  the  writer  defended  him — the 
latter  two  by  direction  of  the  couit.  Hon.  J.  D. 
Hicks  was  then  district  attorney. 

The  defense  was  insanity, and  the  proof  showed 
that  twelve  of  his  blood  relatives  were  either  Idi- 
otic or  insane,  furnishing  the  argument  that 
there  was  a  hereditary  taint,  or  pre-disposition. 
Counsel  fur  defense  asked  the  court  to  rule  that 
if  the  jury  had  a  dou'  t  as  to  his  sanity, it  should 
operate  to  reduce  the  grade  of  the  offense  to  mur- 
der in  the  second  degree.  Judge  Dean  refused 
the  point.  Counst-1  endeavored lo  have  the  case 
reviewed  by  the  sujjreme  court,  but  the  prelim- 
inary requisites  could  not  be  complied  wit  ,  and 
the  judifment  of  the  court  was  carried  into  efiect 
on  the  12th  of  February,  1885. 

We  might  add  that  there  has  been  a  fifth  con- 
viction of  murder  in  the  first  degree,  in  the  case 
of  Commonwealth  vs.  Frank  Wilson.  As  the 
case  is  still  pending, we  forbear  to  note  it  further. 

Many  otner  criminal  prosecutions  have  been 
tried,  which  at  the  time  engaged  able  counsel 
and  elicited  more  than  ordinary  attention,  but 
we  do  not  find  it  necessary  to  particularize 

In  1874,  we  had  the  railroad  riots  at  Altoona- 
and  alonii  the  line  of  the  railro  td  to  Pittsburg. 
Tnis  gave  rise  to  numerous  prosecutions  and  the 
c  mviction  of  many  persons  engaged  in  those  law- 
less and  turbulent  acts.  These  prosecutions  were 
tried  a*  'he  first  court  held  in  the  present  court 
house,  which  had  just  been  completed  and  dedi- 
cated with  the  formal  ceremonies  reported  and 
tiled  among  the  records  of  the  court.  It  was  on 
this  occasion  that  Judge  Dean  delivered  the  ad- 
dress referred  to  in  this  history  and  Judge  Black 
was  present  tor  the  last  time  in  the  county  seat. 

A  great  many  civil  cases  have  been  tried,  and 
some  of  them  conspicuously  memorable,  'i  he 
case  of  Summerville  vs.  Jackson,  tried  in  1849, 
was  perhaps  the  tirst  of  that  class.  It  was  an  ac- 
tion of  ejectment  to  recover  the  posession  of 
about  160  acres  of  land  near  Gaysport.  The  case 
turned  mainly  upon  the  question  of  fraud  in  de- 
fendant's acquisition  of  his  title.  And  the  jury 
found  with  the  plaintiff.  The  judgment  whs  af- 
firmed in  the  supreme  court  in  1850.  Mr.  Miles 
represented  the  defendant,  and  Mr.  Blair  and 
Mr.  Thaddeus  Stevens  the  plaintifls.  It  is  said 
Mr.  Bldir's  triumph  in  this  case  secured  liiin  his 
subsequent  professional  success  and  eminence  as 
a  lawyer.  Though  Mr.  Stevens  has  acquired  his 
greatest  renown  since  that  date,  he  was  then 
distinguished  for  great  professional  ability.  The 
wiiter.  then  a  boy,  remembers  the  peroration  of 
hisargumen.  in  "this  case.     As    he  stood    before 


Semi-Centennial  History  op  Blair  County. 


11 


tlie  jury  he  was  tall  and  imiiosing  in  his  appear- 
ance, and  his  face,  though  white  wiili  impas- 
sioned reeling,  impressed  the  possession  of  great 
intellect.  He  spoke  in  low;ind  solemn  tones, and 
hedepicted  so  darkly  wiintliedenominaied  as  the 
fraud  in  thd  rase  ilia t  he  seemed  to  bring  the 
jury  under  tiie  spell  of  an  unnatural  power  and 
left  them  lerritied  and  bound. 

The  case  of  Kaucli  vs.  Lloyd  &  Hill  was  long  a 
familiar  case.  Little  Charley  Kauch,  a  boy  of  5 
years  of  age,  crawled  under  defendant's  ear  at 
the  crossing,  Koing  for  shavings  for  his  mother. 
While  just  under  the  cars,  defendant's  servants 
moved  the  train  and  his  legs  were  cutoff.  Mr. 
BUiir  and  Mr.  Banks  were  tiieir  respective  coun- 
sel. There  was  long-protracted  litigation,  both 
in  this  and  the  supreme  court,  but  the  case  was 
finally  settled. 

Farrell  vs.  Lloyd  was  also  long  a  famous  case. 
It  aro?e  upon  the  question  whether  there  was  a 
resulting  trust  in  the  purchase  of  land,  and 
knowledge  by  the  vender.  In  the  name  of  Far- 
rell  vs.  Lloyd  and  Lloyd  vs.  Lyncli  it  was  tried 
several  times  in  the  court  below,  and  was  lour 
times  in  the  supreme  court.  Messrs.  Hall  and 
Neti'appeared  for  Farrell  and  Lynch;  and  for 
Lloyd,  Mr.  Blair.  With  the  latter  gentleman, 
later,  other  counsel  was  associated. 

Anotlier  case  was  Li.uden  et  al.  vs.  Blair  Iron 
&  Coal  Co.  It  Was  tried  three  times  below,  and 
argued  twice  in  the  supreme  court — the  judgment 
for  plaintitt  being  there  first  reversed,  and  fin- 
ally aftirmed.  It  was  an  action  of  tiespa>s  for 
removing  ore  from  plaintitt's  land.  The  verdict 
was  for  about  $14,000. 

Tne  case  involving  the  largest  amount  of 
money  was  the  suit  brought  by  James  Gardnee 
for  use  vs.  John  Lluyd.  The  defendant  was  onr 
of  a  large  number  of  persons,  who  hat  ente  ed 
into  a  written  guaranty  that  William  M  Lloyd, 
a  suspended  banker,  would  comply  with  the 
terms  of  a  settlement  by  exiension  of  time,  and 
pay  the  ereaito  s  certain  sums  i)eriodKally  as 
therein  stipulated.  The  aggregate  of  these 
guaranties  was  $425,0.;o,  and  the  suit  against  Mr. 
Lloyd  was  a  test  suit.  The  defense  wa--,  true  it 
was,  the  signers  of  the  paper  had  otter>:d  lo  guar- 
antee the  fiithful  perfurmance  of  the  terms  of 
extension  entered  into  by  W.  M.  Lloyd,  but 
there  had  been  no  formal  acceptance  of  tne  oiler 
by  tlie  creditors,  and  lacking  that  element  oi 
completeness  to  give  it  binding  efficacy,  there 
cjuld  be  no  recovery. 

About  two  weeks  were  consumed  in  the  trial. 
The  pre|iaration  of  the  case  was  one  of  unpar- 
alled  extent.  There  weie  over  twelve  hunureit 
creditors  of  L'oyd,  and  the  notices,  exhibits  and 
other  papers  in  the  case,  many  of  which  were 
printed,  numbered  over  a  thous  md;  and  all  this 
prodigious  labor  was  performe  1  mainly  by  the 
late  tieorge  M.  Keade,  of  EDensbuig.  It  seemed 
to  suit  h.s  indefatigai  l-j  natuie.  Mr.  Blair,  Mr. 
Nefl'and  iMr.  Halilrige  represented  i  he  defendant 
and  with  Mr.  Head-  for  the  iilaintill,  were  asso- 
ciated the  late  Mr.  Speer,  of  Huntingdon,  Judge 
Bell  and  mysell.  It  only  lemains  to  be  said 
Judge  Dean  affirmed  tlie  "pr  nciple  invoked  by 
the  defendant,  and  so  instructed  the  jury.  We 
carried  the  case  to  the  supreme  court,  but  that 
tribunal  affirmed  the  judgment. 

There  have  been  other  very  important  suits, 
among  which  were  actions  attecting  the  interests 
of  the^Pennsylvania Railroad  company.the  Wop- 
sononock  Kailroad  company,  and  the  City  of 
Altoona.  Among  the  latter  was  the  case  of  The 
City  vs.  Bowman,  involving  the  legality  of  the 
passage  of  an  ordinance.  It  was  finally  decided 
against  the  city,  causing  a  municipal  loss  of 
over  $200,000.  But  we  will  not  pursue  this  braacli 
of  our  review  further. 

The  legal  business  of  the  county  has  grown 
with  the  increase  of  population,  especially  has 
this  tieen  the  case  during  the  periud  elapsing 
since  .ludge  Dean's  historical  address  in  1877. 
Beginning  with  January  ofth.it  year  and  end- 
ing with  the  January  term  of  ihe  current  year, 
(1*96)  there  have  bejn  entered  suiis  and  judg- 
ments 4^.oU.  Of  these  the  laigest  number  was 
in  i:;94— 3,816.  The  present  praictice  of  monthly 
return  davs  with  the  requirements  of  the  new 
procedure  act  has  greatly  f.icilitated  the  dis- 
patch ofbusinefs. 

Tnere  was  no  equity  pr  ictice  till  1865.  Since 
that  time  there  have  teen  file  i  '256  bills,  of  which 
the  greatest  number— 28— were  filed  in  1893.    Tne 


increased  litigation  h  is  cnmpelled  longer  ses- 
sions of  court  and  duri'g  th'i  last  two  years  the 
court  has  sat  aliout  140  days  in  each  year. 

There  have  been  but  live  j  iidges  since  the  or- 
ganization of  the  eoiiniy.  Judge  .1.  S.  Black 
was  the  first  to  occupy  the  bench.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  G-eorge  Taylor  and  he  by  John  Dean 
for  two  "consecutive  terms,  In  March  1892  he 
was  elected  a  justice  of  the  supreme  court  and 
was  succeeded  in  the  leourt  by  the  writer  who 
served  till  the  election  of  the  present  incumbent, 
Martin  Bell.  Mr.  Bell  was  the  district  attorney 
from  January  1887  to  January  1890. 

Since  Judge  Dean's  review  of  the  membership 
of  the  bar  in  1877,  there  have  been  62  admissions, 
of  which  34  were  residents  of  the  county.  Since 
1877,  18  members  have  died. 

The  question  then  with  the  judtre  was,  who 
had  the  honor  of  being  the  fither  of  the  bar?  It 
lay  between  Banks,  Calvin  and  McMurtrie,  but 
these  three  prominent  names  have  since  disap- 
peared from  the  roll.  It  is  proper  now  to  deter- 
mine who  is  the  lather  of  the  bar;  and  by  virtue 
of  my  position  as  its  latest  historian,  I  may  be 
allowed  the  right  of  deci-ion  and  henceforth,  my 
brethren  are  lawfully  authorized  to  award  that 
disMiiguished  recognition  to  Brother  Daniel  J. 
NefT. 

Of  the  original  members  of  the  bar  in  this 
county,  not  one  survives,  unless  I  except  Mr. 
Cottey,  now  resident  in  Wasnington,  D.  C.  Of 
the  subsequent  additions,  many  moved  away. 
Some  never  came  into  prominence,  whilst  others 
became  consiiiouous,  either  as  practitioners  or 
as  incumbents  of  public  office. 

In  March,  1890,  Mr.  Calvin  died,  and  he  was 
followed  by  IVIr.  S.  1\I.  Wooilcick  in  February, 
Mr  H.  H.  Herrin  October,  and  Mr.  S.  8.  Blair 
in  December  ot  the  same  year.  This  was  regard- 
ed as  an  unusual  mortality.  Mr.  Banks  and 
Mr.  McMurtrie  both  died  in  1880,  whilst  Mr. 
Cresswell,  their  cuntempurary,  died  in  18S2,  and 
Mr.  Brotherline  in  lb7y. 

Mr.  Hewit  died  alter  a  very  short  illness  in 
Maich,  1S94,  and  Mr.  Bjldrige  died  suddenly  in 
Maich,  1895. 

My  predecessor  has  spnken  of  the  older  mem- 
bers who  have  departed,  and  we  can  only  make 
reference  to  a  few  of  ihosj  who  have  since  ap- 
penred  to  take  their  p  aces. 

Both  Mr  Hewit  an  I  Mr.  Baldrige  were  promi- 
nent member.-;  of  tne  bar,  and  enjoyed  the  pub. 
lie  confidence  to  a  lariie  degree. 

Mr.  Hew. t  was  a  gentleman  of  great  political 
ambition.  He  was  disiriet  attorney  for  two 
terms,  and  was  a  member  of  the  legislature  in 
1871,  1879.  1881  andl!-93,  and  spe  iker  i.f  the  house 
in  18S1.  He  was  succeeded  in  his  office  by  his 
son,  Oliver  H.  Hewit. 

L.  W.  Hall  was  for  many  years  an  active  prar- 
titioner  at  this  bar,  and  whilst  here  was  ele  ted 
to  the  s^-natf,  of  wh.cii  body  he  was  speaker  in 
1867.  He  sincj  removed  to  Harrisburg.  where 
he  now  residis  and  practieei-".  He  is  the  resident 
attorney  of  the  Pennsylvania  K.iilroad  company 
in  Dauphin  county. 

J.  F.  Milliken  was  colonel  of  the  Fifth  regi- 
ment and  district  attorney  of  the  county  from 
1874  to  1877.  It  wag  during  his  term  that  the  ex- 
traordinarily large  number  of  prosecutions  was 
brought  for  violation  of  the  liquor  law.  The 
railroad  rioters  were  prosecuted  during  the  last 
year  of  his  term.  He  afi  erwards  went  to  Egypt, 
but  now  resides  in  Ne*  York. 

Mr.  Alexander  was  the  district  attorney  who 
preceded  him.  He  was  long  known  as  the  senior 
partner  in  the  law  firm  of  Alexander  &  Herr. 
Within  the  last  year  he   removed  to   Lancaster. 

Thomas  McCamant  became  the  auditor  gen- 
eral of  the  state  in  1888  and  now  resides  in  Har- 
risburg. 

Edmund  Shaw,  a  prominent  member  of  the 
bar,  and  a  union  sniilier  in  the  late  war,  was  a 
member  of  the  legislaiuie  for  the  terms  of  IsSi 
and  1N87. 

Mr.  (Jr.  H.  Spansr  removed  to  this  county  from 
Bedford  in  1883.  He  was  elected  to  the  legisla- 
ture Irnm  that  county  in  1875  and  1877, 

J.  D.  Hicks  came  to  the  bar  in  1873,  after  the 
close  of  the  war,  ill  which  he  served  as  a  uninn 
soldier.  He  was  district  aitorney  from  1880  till 
1886.  In  the  fall  of  1892  he  was  elected  a  member 
of  congress  from  this  coniiTossional  district,  and 
re-elected  in  1894 


13 


Semi-Centennial  Histoky  of  Blair  Coi'nty. 


J.  K.  Patterson  was  e  ected  to  the  legislature 
in  1894. 

W.  S.  Hammond  is  the  present  district  attor- 
ney, having  just  entered  upiin  his  second  teim. 

The  other  older  and  Drominent  members  of  the 
bar  are:  Andrew  J  Rfley,  one  of  the  solicitors 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Kailroad  company;  Thomas 
H.  Greevy.  N.  P.  Mervine,  J.  S.  Leisenring,  E. 
H.  Flick,  W.  L.  Woodcock,  W.  I.  Woodcock,  A. 
A.  Stevens,  A.  V.  Dively,  W.L.  Hicks  and  W,  L. 
Pascoe. 

I  could  with  pleasure  name  other  briii'ht  and 
rising  members  of  the  bar,  but  time  will  hot  per- 
mit, and  besides  1  will  be  pardoned  for  grouping 
here  a  few  only  of  those  who  are  best  known  by 
their  long  and  active  professional  services  and 
residence  in  the  county. 

The  present  ptothonotary  is  Jesse  L.  Hart- 
man,  an  urViane  and  eflioietit  ofBcer.  Two 
deputy  prothonotaries  are  worthy  of  special 
notice. 

Stephen  Africa  came  here  in  1850  and  re- 
mained till  about  1870.  He  was  a  most  com- 
petent officer,  understanding  fully  the  intricate 
method^'  and  details  of  theViffice.  His  prepara- 
tion for  the  ijuarterly  terms  emiiraced,  among 
otlier  things,  the  miking  of  a  dozen  or  two  quill 
pens,  whicii  his  .-ikiU  alone  could  accomplish. 
These  were  laid  out  for  ti  e  judges,  counsel  and 
juror.-i.  A  stee  pen  was  not  yet  in  favor  though 
now  extremes  have  met  in  the  stylus  of  the  an- 
cient and  the  steel  of  the  modern. 

The  other  uenuty  letVrred  to  is  Mr.  Cornelius 
D.  Bowers.  He  came  here  from  Philadelphia, 
and  is  58  years  old.  He  lias  been  a  printer  by 
profession  and  was  an  honorably  discharged  and 
wounled  soldier  in  the  Eighty-fourth  regiment 
of  tliis  state  He  has  sv>eiii  twentj-elght  years  of 
his  life  in. the  recorder's  and  prothonotarys  otfice. 
He  is  fainili  ir  with  all  the  duties  of  his  jiresent 
position,  and  by  his  courtesy  and  faithfalne.-^s  he 
haswnuthe  confidence  of  the  court  and  the  biir 
and  the  respect  of  the  public. 

Mr.  .Tunes  Rollins,  now  deceased,  was  for  nine- 
teen vears  crier  of  the  court  and  librarian.      He 


was  a  mo.«t  intelligent  and  obliging  officer  and 
gentleman. 

The  present  recorder  and  regist  r  of  wills  is 
Mr.  Widiam  H.  Irwin.  The  slieriiT  is  G-.  T.  Bell 
with  his  deputies  I.  N.  Eby  and  W.  A.  Smith. 
The  county  commissioners  are  James  Punk,  M. 
H.  Fagleyand  John  Hard.  The  county  treasurer 
is  .Tohn  T.  Akers. 

Thus  I  have  endeavored  to  recall  some  of  the 
persons  and  incidents  of  the  past.  The  retrospect 
is  a  changeful  one.  The  faces  and  voices  which 
make  up  one  period,  gi-adually  pass  to  give  way 
to  anotiier;  and  those  everehanging  series  like  a 
relentless  fute,  destroy  the  familiar  jjast,  and  re- 
place it  with  the  newand  strange  present. 

But  it  must  be  so.  This  bar  will  grow  with  the 
county's  growth  Increasing  prosperity  will  be 
accompanied  by  increasing  population,  "and  the 
public  business  will  he  manifested  in  the  courts. 

The  younger  members  of  the  bar  to  day  will 
impose  upon  themselves  the  industry  and  zeal  of 
those  who  have  preceded  them.  As  there  have 
been  lustrous  names  in  the  p  ist,  tlicre  shall  be 
more  in  the  future.  If  to  any  extent  the  bar  of 
the  past  lias  sought  to  maintain  the  higliest 
grade  of  learning  and  integrity;  so  the  future  bar 
should  jealously" refuse  to  lower  that  standard. 
The  entrance  way  to  its  privileges  and  powers  is 
contrcdied  by  the  membership,  and  whdn  the  un- 
worthy or  the  ignorant  seek  to  set  their  feet 
within  those  precincts— wliich  are  traditionally 
sacred  to  those  oidy  who  have  education,  mind 
and  learning,  with  high  professional  pride  and 
honor— both  court  and  bar  will  interpose  their 
steadfast  prohibition. 

The  perpetuation  of  a  bar  whicli  is  measured 
by  sucn  a  standard  will  not  only  add  to  its  own 
high  character  and  adornment,  but  will  win  the 
confidence  of  the  srreat  pubic,  who  intrust  freely 
to  honest  and  capai  le  lawyers  that  va^t  variety 
of  intricate  questions  which  constantly  arise  to 
aftect  their  live?,  their  lilierty  and  their  prop- 
erty. 

Gentlemen  of  the  present  bar— animated  by 
sucli  ennobling  aims,  what  shall  besai<lofus 
and  thos:j  who  follow  us  fifty  years  from   to-day? 


Historical  Address,  Delivered  by  Justice  John  Dean  at  Hollidaysburg, 
June  12,  1896.     Blair  County  and  its  People. 


My  friends:  Accepting  the  as.<ignment  of  an 
address  on  the  history  of  our  county,  I  have 
endeavored  to  perform'  that  duty  to  'he  best  of 
my  ability,  in  view  of  the  circumstances.  A 
history  of  the  county  would  invdlve  a  narrative 
of  the  leading  incidents  of  its  gr.iwth  from  the 
perio  I  of  its  first  settlement,  or  its  first  settlers, 
running  hack  to  about  1768.  A  chronological 
statement  of  important  events  during  that 
period,  important  not  only  because  of  import  to 
those  who  took  part  in  thcin,  but  to  us,  because 
of  their  ellect  011  our  present  condition,  would 
take,  even  in  its  most  conci.-^e  form,  five  or  si.K 
hours  t'l  deliver,  instead  of  the  less  than  one, 
which  from  the  nect-s.-iiy  of  the  case  the  com- 
mittee lias  allotted  me.  Therefore,  I  have 
eliminated  from  my  subject  all  but  one  phase  of 
it;  in  s  I  doin4  1  have  piit  aside  much  that  is  of 
histoiical  inter<'St,  siicii  as  the  source  of  our  land 
titles  in  thediflerent  townships;  how  the  Penns 
acquired  them;  how  tiie  first  grantees  under  the 
Peons  tODk  them:  to  what  restrictions  and 
reservations  some  of  them  were  subject.  'J'his  is 
an  especi£.lly  interesting  topic,  not  only  to  the 
1  iwyer,  bui  to  the  intelligent  l.iy  man.  How  Judge 
Wilson,  one  of  the  first  j  udgeso."  tliesupreinecourt 
of  the  United  States,  couliV  t  ike  up  and  liave  pat- 
entedlto  him  mure  tirin  100,000  acres  of  land,  a 
large  part  of  it  within  the  boundaries  of  our 
c  lunty,  when  tho  act  of  as.-embly  forbade  the 
issue  of  n.  warrant  for  more  than  413  acres  to  one 
individual,  an  1  niadevoid  tbet  tie  to  all  in  excess 
of  that.  H  iw  the  HoUidays,  who  settled  upon 
and  r  ally  obtained  ttle  to'2,00'J  acres  of  theland 
uponpiirt  of  whic  ■  thiseourt  House  s-tands,  after- 
wards hst  ihat  title;  how  the  original  owners, 
bringing  with  thein  the  custonn  and  legal  no- 
tions of  England,  Scotland  and  Ireland  sought,  in 
some  instances  to  impres-i  upon  their  lands  the 
law,  of  primogeniture  ind  entail,  and  how  their 
purpose  was  defeated  by  the  legislature  and  the 
courts  oi  the  commonwealth:  how  and  why  Ty- 


rone township,  that  beautiful  \  allev  known  fora 
hundred  ye, US  as  Sinking  Valley,  is  one  of  the 
Penn  Manois.  how  it  came  to  be  such,  and  the 
nature  of  the  vexatious  restricions  upon  its 
titles  came  to  exist.  All  th  s,  and  much  more, 
would  be  a  partof  the,, roper  history  of  ihe  coun- 
ty, and  would  be  interest  ng,  but  they  must  be 
set  aside. 

Itake  up  and  speak  of  that;  part  of  the  history 
of  our  county  which  to  ine  is  always  the  most  in- 
teresting. VVhctlicr  I  he  people  about  whom  I 
speak  or  wish  to  learn  be  an  ancient  (uie,  and 
centuries  ago  disappeared  from  the  earth,  or  be 
a  present  dominant  one.  wno  have  for  hun- 
dreds of  years  been  ><d\  ancing  in  civil  zalion,  I 
want  to  know  us  much  as  possible  •  f  their  daily 
lives,  their  customs,  religion,  manners:  how  they 
acted  in  their  douusiic  relations;  how  tney 
cooked,  ate  and  drank,  ami  protected  theuiselves 
from  the  weather.  S  ■  in  the  lirief  lime  bef.i>e 
me  I  shall  endeavor  to  present  to  you  the  dnily 
lives  of  our  predecessors  on  tlie  territory  which 
now  foims  our  county. 

The  population  in  "the  first  thirty  years  of  its 
existence  had  reached  about  .3  00  >.  Tliis  popula- 
tion consisied  almost  wholly  of  origin, il  settltrs, 
their  wives  and  children:  that  is,  those  who  had 
purchased  their  lands  IVom  the  Penns  or  the 
c  immonwealth.  settled  upon  and  imj)roved 
them,  and  still  occupied  them,  or  having  died, 
they  were  occupied  by  their  families.  At  the 
dale  l^enn  obtaineil  his  charter  f<)r  his  colony 
from  Charles  11,  in  England  and  on  the  conti- 
nent, as  the  old  hymn  has  it,  'Keligion  was  the 
chief  concern  of  mortals  here  below;'' not  exact- 
ly the  mort,irs  own  religion,  but  chiefly  that  of 
his  neighbor's;  no  one  had  any  doubt  "as  to  his 
own;  he  only  doubted  as  to  whether  ids  neigh- 
bor's religious  belief  was  orthodox;  if  it  differed 
from  his,  his  neighbor,  being  wrong,  must  be 
brought  to  his  wuy  of  thinking,  or  ins  neign- 
bor's  soul  was  in  danger  of  everlasting  perdition. 


Semi-Centennial  History  of  Blair  County. 


IS 


Hence  it  was  an  age  of  religious  i)ersecution;  of 
inimical  laws  auainst  heretK-s  by  those  in  power. 
Anil  it  mattered  very  little,  so  far  ^s  tlie  perse- 
cuiioii  was  concer.jeil,  wIiIlIi  imrty  w;is  in  power. 
Uitholiis  persecuted  Protestants;  Vr^ftestants 
persei;uted  Catliuliis.  and  eai-li  other;  in  Eng- 
liind.  all  sects  detested  and  persecute  1  the 
CiUiikers.  When  tliis  spirit  of  leliitious  (lersecu- 
tion  was  rife,  in  the  year  1681,  Penn,  who  had 
been  persecuted  and  imprisoned  for  his  leligion, 
acc|Uired  tlie  patent  to  Pennsylvania,  and  eopi- 
menced  to  ooionize  it,  liy  inviting  immigrants.  ; 
not  Only  members  of  his  own  sect,  but  of  all 
see's,  promising  to  all  freedom  of  consc  ence  in  i 
religion,  wnicli  promise  he  and  his  sons  in  the 
pruprietorship  faithfully  kept.  Penn,  while  in 
prison  for  reusing  to  take  an  oath,  ten  years  be- 
tore  tlie  date  of  his  charter,  liad  wiitten  a  I 
pamphlet  advocating  the  largest  li'ierty  of  con- 
science in  reliaiuus  bjlie';  from  this  position  he 
never  swerved.  1 

It  is  a  remarkiible  fict,  that  the  Q.UEiker, 
whose  religious  belief  excludes  all  dugi  a,'esting 
wholly  on  m  "inner  light."  and  the  Catholics 
under  Lord  Baliimoie,  who  settled  Maryland, 
and  whose  religious  Iteiief  rests  almost  wholly  on 
authoritatively  defined  doctrine  and  dogma,  i 
should  have  give  I  to  the  worM  within  a  few 
ye.irs  of  each  other,  the  first  examples  of  com- 
plete religious  toler.ition  in  tne  new  world.  Not 
a  single  one  of  the  other  colonies  did  it.  I  use 
tlie  word  "coiiiph  te"  religious  toleration,  as  ap- 
plied to  the  facts  of  that  ag.;.  'the  a-ctof  t  dera- 
tion in  Blaiylana  dejiared  that:  'Mo  person  or 
persons  whatsoever. profession  to  bcl.eve  in  Jesus 
Chiist,  shall  from  henceforth  be  m  any  wav 
tioulded  or  molestel  or  discounten  i  need  for  and 
in  respect  of  his  or  her  religion,  nor  in  the  free 
e.xercise  there  if;  nor  in  any  way  co  npelle  I  to  tne 
belief  Of  exercise  of  any  01  her  re.igion  against 
his  or  her  consent.  '  This  would  not  toleiate  the 
Jew  nor  the  Deist.  Put  t  e  numbers  of  these 
were  so  insignificant  at  that  day,  that  it  is  alto- 
gether probable  there  «as  nointenlioii  to  exclude 
them:  they  were  simply  not  thought  of. 

Under  Penn's  great,  i.rinclple  of  reliaious  toler- 
ation, emigrants  began  to  pour  into  Pennsylvii- 
nia  from  almost  all^Europjan  race-.  t4,uaker.-, 
Presbyterians,  Episcopalians,  Lutherans,  Tunk- 
ers,  Catholics  and  Moravians  in  relig.ous  cret  d; 
Dutch,  English,  Irish,  Scotcn,  Sotchlris  , 
Swedes,  Welsh  and  G^eraians.  Such  a  conglom- 
eration of  races  and  religions  settled  no  other  of 
the  original  colonies  Within  the  next  hundred 
yeais,  there  reacned  the  territory  n  jw  comi)Os- 
ing  our  county,  Presbyter. an-,  Tunkers,  Lu- 
therans and  Catholics  in  religion  And  in  race 
tiiere  were  Sc  itcii,  Scotch-Irish,  Irish  and  Oer- 
mans.  The  Cove,  from  North  Woodbury  town- 
ship to  Williamsburg,  was  mainlv  originally 
setiled  by  (jermui  Tunkers;  what;  is  now  Cath- 
arine township,  Tyrone  towuship,  l^ogan  town- 
ship, Alleiilienv  township,  the  land  around  Hol- 
lidaysbnr^t  and  part  of  l''iankstown  township,  by 
Scotch-Irish;  that  part  of  Fiankstown  townshijf) 
known  as  Scotch  Valley, by  Scotch  In  thcter- 
ritory  now  known  as  Greenfield  and  Juniata 
townshiis  many  Lutherans  settled.  Some  of 
them  also  settle!  in  Frankstown  township  and 
Sinking  Valley.  HIair  township  was  s  ttled 
principally  by  Irish  Catholics  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  last  century  and  most  ot  the  descendants 
of  the  original  settlers  still  resiile  there.  Besides 
these,  Irish  Catholics  appear  early  in  this  centu- 
ry, fioin  the  old  assessment  books  scattered  all 
over  the  county;  especially  at  the  laily  iron 
works,  furnaces  and  forges. 

As  to  the  tj-erman  element,  most  authorities 
estimate  that  at  the  commencement  of  the  revo- 
lutionary war  it  constituted  from  a  third  to  a 
half  of  the  population  of  the  state.  I  nonlrl 
judge,  in  louKing  over  the  assessment  of  1S47,  the 
first  alter  the  organization  of  the  c  mnty,  it  num- 
bered fully  one-ihird  of  our  population.  At  an 
early  day  the  Oermans  sougni  excliisiveness, 
preserved  their  own  language,  and  neither 
sought  nor  desired  interc  .uisc  with  others;  espe- 
cially was  this  the  case  with  the  Tunkers;  their 
lirinciples  were  in  one  rc-^pc.-t  not  unlike  those  of 
the  Q,uakers;  they  were;  opposed  to  war,  but  they 
went  further;  tliey  were  non-rcsistants;  whole 
families  of  them  were  massacred  and  scalped  by 
the  Indians  in  the  Cove  and  they  resisted  not:  a 
dozen  savages  would  devastate  andilestroy  a  set- 
tlement containing    thirty  men    without  a  hand 


being  raised  on  their  part.  To  every  appeal  to 
their  courage  and  manhood  in  the  frontier  days 
the  invariable  answer  was,  '  trottes  will  sei 
setlKui"  (Qod's  wiile  be  done).  Wliilp,we  cannot 
but  admire  steadfas  .  adherence  to  principle,  we 
cannot  f.iil  to  see  they  were  utterly  out  of  place 
as  frontier-men.  These  arc  tiot  the  people  who 
conquer  homes  in  a  new  territory  with  a  savage 
fie  ficing  them,  and  it  they  had  not  had  for 
neighbors  men  of  a  diflerent  stamp  the  -ettle- 
ment  of  this  great  commonwealth  would  have 
been  delayed  hilf  a  century. 

They  are,  however,  the  "very  embodiment  of 
thrift  and  industry,  and  as  cultivators  of  the 
soil  have  hadnoeiiuils  in  the  United  States. 
Travel  tlirough  the  Cove,  wh'-re  their  descend- 
ants still  live  on  the  splendid  liuustone  fa'ms; 
notice  i  he  fences,  ►traight,  with  no  broken  rails; 
the  large  bank  barns,  generally  painted  red,  a 
touch  of  old  country  c  Aur;  houses  often  of  a  size, 
that  a  half  dozen  would  go  inside  the  big  barn, 
but  always  neat  and  presenting  an  air  of  com- 
fort; what  sleek,  contented  cat  le;  heavy,  fit 
horses.  And  these  honest,  simple  people  are  the 
soul  of  hospitaiitv;  enter  the  r  houses,  whether 
for  a  meal  or  lodgini!;.  without  many  words  you 
feel  you  are  welcome-  the  lood.  tiiough  phnn, 
always  appetizing  and  well  cooked:  the  liquid 
beverages,  cider  and  milk:  the  meals  were  not 
French,  principally  napkins,  cut-glass  and 
Howers;  it  was  Jbe-f  or  pork,  potatoes,  dried  ap- 
ples or  suits,  the  finest  of  bread  in  huge  loaves, 
and  large  wheat  Hour  cakes.  Nearly  all  their 
clothing  was madeon  the  farm, from  thewoolclip- 
pedtiom  their  own  shee,>,  the.rshoes  froinhides 
taken  fiom  the  catileon  the  farm,  and  then  to 
the  nearest  tannery  to  be  nuide  into  leather. 
Often— at  least  sucn  was  the  ca-c  thirty-five 
years  ago — the  women  of  the  house  did  not 
speak  English,  and  but  poorly  understood  it; 
Pennsylvania  Dutch  was  the  laiiiiuage  of  a  cen- 
tuiy;  it  is  probably  much  the  samcnow,  for  these 
lieofde  loathe  change.  In  unny  respects,  they 
excel  in  good  citiz  nshij);  they  are  never  found 
in  the  couris,  civil  or  criminal;  their  disputes 
among  themselves  are  settled  by  the  congrega- 
tion: often  outsiders  impose  on  them,  feeling- 
sure  they  will  not  seek  rcdr>  ss  at  law.  They  are 
benevolent;  thej  would  consider  it  disgraceful 
for  anv  of  their  own  poor  to  reach  the  almshouse; 
but  towards  tho-e  without  the  pale  they  are  also 
kind  and  charitable. 

Their  taxes  are  always  piid  promptly,notwith- 
standing  some  grumbling  at  times  at  the 
amount.  They  hate  debt,  and  seldom  buy  what 
they  cannot  pay  for.  Many  years  ago  they  did 
not  vote,  but  this  rule  of  their  church  is  gradu- 
ally becoming  obsolete.  Tney  are  still  averse  to 
serving  on  juries,  and  I'know  of  no  instance  in 
this  county  where  tney  h  rve  accepted  public 
office,  though  in  other  portions  of  the  state  they 
have  done  so.  They  were  f'roui  the  beginning 
oppnsed  to  public  s/hools  In  lS57,when  superin- 
tendent of  schools.  I  often  vislied  them  in  their 
homes  and  conversed  with  them  on  the  subject. 
Always  hospitable  and  kind,  still  I  remember  of 
no  iiistuice  in  which  I  succeeded  in  peisuading 
the  elder  members  of  the  faith  to  aid  in  promot- 
ing the  ciuse  Of  education.  The  fact  i-,  their 
ancestors  had  i  een  persecuted  bitterly  in  (Ger- 
many bv  both  Catnolics  and  Lutheran.;  in  the 
hancis  of  these  reli'_nonists  were  the  government 
and  -jU  institutions  f  learnini;;  by  tradition, 
the-/  associated  much  lemning  with  despotic 
povrer  and  cruel  persecution,  and  they  abhorred 
It.  But  in  the  last  thiitv  fivo  years  this  hostility 
has  in  a  great  pirt  disa  pear,  d;  t' e  younger 
Beiier.itioii,niore  acute  in  its  perceptions,  is  more 
favorable  to  edu;ation:  tliese  citizens,  before 
lonsf,  we  may  hope,  will  take  their  pioper  place 
in  the  government  of  a  great  commonwealth  to 
whose  "material  wealth  thev  have  so  largely  con- 
tributed. I  yet  expe  -t  to  sec  a  Tunker  she  iti,  or 
at  leist  a  county  >  ommissioncr;  my  children,  1 
doubt  not,  will  see  Tunker  governors,  judges  and 
congressmen. 

The  other  branch  ot  German  religonists,  the 
Lutherans.  hii<l  no  such  notions  as  tne  Tunkers. 
Krom  ti.c.r  first  coming  into;the  colonyithey  took 
an  active  fighting  jiart  in  atlairs.  In  fact, when 
Muhlenberg,  their  great  preacher,  arrived 
among  them  in  1742,  he  called  them  a  'rough 
set  "  He  was  a  learned,  able  and  pious  man;  it 
was  not  lontf  until  his  character  was  felt  by  his 
coreligionists;  he  organized  them  into  congrega- 


14 


SKMI-C'KNTKNNrAI,  HiSTOKV  OK   lJr,AIU  CoiNTY. 


tioii--,  and  s')Uglit  to  impress  upon  theui  the  wis- 
dom iis  well  us  duty  of  becoininir  Americanized; 
he  oppused,  with  ii  il  his  great  iil)ility,  tluit  scgre 
SfatiOii  so  dear  to  tlie  I  uiiker.  He  tauglit  J:-ng- 
iish  himself,  liad  his  children  educated  in  it  hy 
an  Ent;llsli  governess.  His  sun  Peter  Wiis  a 
prominci.l  ueiienil  in  the  revolution.  Ma  y  of 
these  Lancaster  and  B«rks  (rerman  Lutliefans 
found  their  way  into  our  valleys  sjon  after  the 
revolutionary  war,  and  tlieir  n  imes  can  be 
traued  on  ttie  as-iessinents 'roni  tliese  counties. 
They  were  a  f.ir  Ijetter  class  of  citizens  in  one 
partlculur  than  the  Tunker.s;  they  touk  jiart  in 
government,  lottal,  county  ami  .state;  always 
voted;  were  always  ready  to  laKe  up  arms  in  of- 
fense of  tlieir  homes  and  country. 

Professor  Wickcr.shain.  in  his 'History  of  Edu- 
cation in  Pennsylvania,"  says:  "The  (>ermaiis, 
wlien  they  first  came  t  Pennsylvaniii,  were  no 
more  opposed  to  education  llian  other  races. 
But,  wlierever  they  refused  to  learn  English,  they 
deteri  'rated  and  hecame  obstruidionists  of  pro- 
gress." I  think  tliis  is  applicable  to  Germans 
otliers  tliiin  Tunkers;  but  the  uppnsUion  of  the 
latter,  I  know  persona Uy,  was  often  put  upnn 
the  ground  tliai  education  was  huitlul.*  Confin- 
ing themselves  to  (rermmi  certainly  tended  to 
isolation  "iid  narrowness;  they  had  not  the  En- 
glitliman's  or  Irishman's  instinct  (or  politics  and 
government,  and,  by  self  iso  atioii,  their  chiMren 
<lid  not  acquire  it.  Composing  so  large  a  part  of 
the  population  of  the  commonwealth  almostfrom 
its  toundation,  tliey  have  never  taken  that  part 
in  its  liovernincnt  their  numbers  and  wealth  war- 
ranted. Wherever  iliey  abandoned  their  e.\clu- 
siveness,  and  l)y  education,  business  associations 
and  inter-marriages,  inixeil  witli  otiier  races  and 
their  desicendents,  their  iiiitural  capacity  for 
science  and  aflairs  becomes  undeniable.  Dr.  Cas- 
par Wistar,  Ur.  dross  and  Dr.  Leidy  were  of  tliis 
irerman  stock;  G-overnorsSny<ler,Hiester,Shultz, 
Wolf.  Kitner,  Shunk  and  Hartranft  were  also. 
But  all  tliese  escliewed  German  e.xclusiveness 
an<l  Tunker  opposition  to  war  and  education; 
they  were  of  the  iVIuhlenlierg  party  and  ideiis. 
Of  t  lie  two  classes  of  Germans,  theTnnkers  and  the 
Lutherans,  with jthelrallied  sects,  theLutheriin 
contributes  most  to  the  greatness  of  a,  state,  and 
is  therefore  the  better  citizen  In  so  far  as  great- 
ness consists  in  well  tilled  land,  large  and  well 
tilled  barns,  the  Tunker  is  super  ior.  But  no  free 
commonwealth  was  ever  built  up  norlong  contin- 
ued|free,whose  citizens  took  impart  in  tliegovern- 
ment;  who  would  vote  for  no  candidate,  from  the 
governor  to  the  tuwnslili)  supervisor.  The  very 
genius  of  our  constitutions:  state  and  nationa', 
demands  that  all  citizens  who  value  life,  litierty 
•iind  pruperty,  should  take  an  active  aud  intelli- 
gent part  in  politics. 

We  ne.xt  have  the  Scotch  nnd  Scotch-Irisn. 
They,  as  noticed,  settled  a  large  )iiirt  of  the  most 
fertile  part  of  the  county  They  were  all 
Presbyterians.  I  never  heard  of  a  Scotch-Irish- 
man in  the  first  uenerution,  being  other  than 
Preshyterian,  until  1  became  ac(|uainted  with 
Mr.  Thomas  Kooney,  late  of  this  town,  a  most  ex- 
cellent man,  now  gone  t.j  his  rest,.  He  was  a  most 
exemplary  Lutheran,  and  came  to  this  country 
from  Ireland  in  his  youtli.  The  Scotch-Irish 
were  not  all  ScDtch,  although  all  who  came  from 
the  north  of  Ireland  were  so  called.  Many  of 
them  had  emii>rated  to  Ireland  fioui  England  in 
tlie  reigns  of  Elizabeth  and  .Tames  I.,  and  were 
correligiooists  with  those  wh"  emigrated  from  j 
iic;)tlaut.  Many  of  these  Scotch  emigrants  j 
were  Celts  of  the  same  r.^ce  as  tlie  native  Irish; 
the  only  dillerence  was  in  religion.  Large  num- 
bers of  tnese  Irish  settlers,  Scotch  and  English, 
Icit  Ireland  in  the  reign  of  James  II.,  and  came 
to  Pennsylvania;  this  migration  ol  the  Seotcli- 
■  Irish  c'liiinued  (or  years  down  to  the  commence- 
ment of  the  rei  olutioiiary  war.  It  is  generally 
.supposed  they  were  all  driven  from  Ireland  by 
Catliolic  persecution,  but  this  is  not  the  truth  in 
all  cases;  many  of  them  hiid  taken  long  leases 
from  the  English  government  of  Irish  lands  in 
the  reigns  of  Q,ueeii  Elizabeth  and  James  I ,  and 
these  ledses  were  exjjiring  in  those  of  Ciiarles  II. 
anil  James  II.;  the  government  would  not  renew 
them,  or  demanded  such  exorbitant  rents  for  the 
future  that  they  preferred  to  emigrate.  And 
this  state  of  "affairs  continued  long  after 
Protestant  ascendancy  on  the  English"  throne 
under  William  and  Anne.  As  I  always  under- 
stood   from    the     tradition    in   our    family    my 


piterDal  great-grandfather,  Matthew  Dean, 
came  to  Pennsyl\ania  about  the  year  17fiO,  be- 
cause he  preferred  to  own  land  here  rather  than 
lease  it  in  Ireland.  And  I  have  no  doubt  this 
was  the  case  with  many  others  of  that  stock. 

The  Scotch-Ir.sh  were  inten-e  Presljyterian.s. 
A  copy  of  the  Confession  of  Faith,  with  the 
Larirer  and  Shorter  Catechism,  was  in  every 
Presiiyterian  family  in  my  boyiiood.  The  copy 
in  our  family  was  quite  old;  it  bore  a  Ijondon 
publish  I's  imprint,  and  was  said  to  have  l>een 
brought  from  Ireland  by  my  mother's  ancestors. 
1  ilon't  remember  that  the  doctrine  was  e.x|iress- 
ly  taught — rather  think  it  was  not— but  I  got 
the  impression  somehow,  from  my  drilling  before 
I  was  12  yrars  old,  that  while  those  outside  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  might  be  saved,  their 
case  was  an  exceedingly  doubtful  one.  I  pitied 
my  Methodist,  Lutheran  and  Catholic  boy  com- 
panions, because,  not  being  Presbyterian  boy.s, 
they  \iere  in  i)eril  of  everlasting  punisiiment.  1 
can  realize  now,  from  my  own  teaching.s,  which 
must  have  ijeen  greatly  moderated  in  their  tone 
by  nearly  a  century  ofNew  World  liberty,  how 
intoleran',  cruel  and  biiioied  must  have  been 
the  attitude  of  tlie  religious  sects  of  Europe  in 
the  previous  century.  No  one  who  has  read  liis- 
tory  doubts  that,  in  the  seventeenth  and  eigh- 
teenth centuries,  religious  jiersecution  was  the 
rule,  toleration  a  rare  exception:  Catholics 
killed  Proleslants,  Protestants  or  dissenters  from 
tlie  Established  Church  killed  C;.tholics;  the 
Cliur,;h  of  England  killed  both,  and  all  because 
of  a  dillerence  of  creed  as  to  the  authority  of  the 
pope,  the  etticaiy  of  the  sacraments,  or  the  in- 
terpretati<m  of  revelation. 

And  on  their  theory,  logically,  they  were  right. 
They  assumed  their  particular  creel  w.is  un- 
doulitedly  orthodox;  every  one  that  differed  from 
it  was  raiik  heresy;  wliosoever  believed  in  and 
practiced  the  heresy  would  incur  eternal  damna- 
tion; if  no  one  but  tlie  then  holder  of  the  false  re- 
ligion should  lielieve  in  it  the  effectwould  be 
limited,  but  if  tlie  heretic  should  go  on  propagat- 
ing the  heresy,  and  those  iml)ibiDg  it  should  so 
continue,  the' result  would  be  millions  of  souls 
would  be  destroyed.  "It  is  my  duty  to  God," 
they  reasoned,  "to  exterminate  this  souldestroy- 
ing'heresy  and  thereby  save  millions  of  souls." 
And  they  at  once  proceeded  to  perform  their 
duty  by  cutting  oft  the  heads  of  the  heretics. 
And  assuming  their  premises  to  be  correct,  they 
were  right,  whether  Catliolic  or  Protestant.  It 
took  a  long  time,  almost  a  century  and  a  half  of 
religious  civilization,  before  the  large  majority 
of  Christians  ofall  creeds  fully  comprehended 
that  there  was  no  divine  authority  committed  to 
any  man  or  iiody  of  men  to  determine  that  an- 
other man  would  certainly  be  damned  because 
of  his  religious  creed;  that  the  Great  Judge  had 
reserved  that  attritiute  of  sovereignty  to  himself, 
and  that  the  individual  conscience  was  answer- 
aide  to  him  alone,  for  he  alone  can  determine 
ccrtanly  the  wickedness  of  the  offense  and 
therefore  can  alone  justly  fix  the  punishment. 

But  out  of  these  religious  wars,  persecutions 
and  cruelties,  came  the  Scotch-Irishman  into  the 
beautiful  valleys  of  our  county.  They  wanted 
a  fertile  soil,and  the.v  got  it;  tliey  warned  to  own 
it;  ill  that  their  desire  was  accomplished.  The 
first  settlers  had  to  war  with  the  Indians.  There 
was  no  "Gottes  wille  sei  Getlian,"  with  them,  as 
with  their  Tunker  co-settlers.  Their  idea  was, 
"The  Lord  hath  given  to  his  saints  the  heiithen 
for  an  inheritance"  They  had  not  a  spark  of 
doubt  who  were  the  saints,  nor  who  were  the 
heathen  Their  onl.v  season  of  respite  from  war 
ill  the  early  years  was  in  the  winter;  the  Indians 
seldom  made  a  winter  campaign;  but  in  siwing 
and  reaping,  their  fields  were  guarded  by  the 
txjys  as  sentinels.  Many  of  them  were  killed  by 
the  cunning  and  cruel  foe.  Not  a  half  mile  from 
where  we  are  now  assembled,  jiart  of  the  Holli- 
day  family  was  massacred;  in  Dell  Delight,  one 
oftheMoores;  in  Catharine  township,  half  of 
my  great-grandfather's  family  was  killed  and 
scalped,  and  his  hous?  burned.  Peruiit  me  to 
sliow  how  closely  tradition  connects  events;  the 
massacre  of  the  Dean  family  occurred  in  the 
autumn  of  1780,  almost  116 years  ago;  my  great- 
grandmother  and  four  of  her  children  were  in  the 
house,  her  husband  and  three  childrt-n  in  the 
cornfield;  while  they  were  in  the  corn  field,  the 
Indians  killed  xnd  scalped  all  in  the  house,  and 
set  it  on  fire,  without   uiscovering    those   in  the 


Sem[-Centennial  History  oi<'  Blaik  County. 


15 


•corn  ti('l(l.  One  of  tlic  girls  In  the  corn  ftcld  was 
Polly,  who  marricMl  Huwli  Means,  a  f'.irmor  in  tlie 
lower  end  of  Sinking  Valley.  I  visited  her  inore 
tlian  once  from  1844  lo  184H, about  which  time  slu^ 
died,  1  l)eiiii4- tlien  10  to  12  yea  s  of  aiie  and  she 
probably  KO;  more  tlian  once,  she  narrated  to  me 
all  the  sickeninu;  details  of  the  massacre,  as  f.ir 
as  she  or  any  one  l<new  tlieni.  So  that  tradition 
in  tliis  instance,  tlirough  l)ut  two  persons,  runs 
back  116  years  to  a  terrible  event  in  a  family.  1 
now  tell  it  to  my  children,  and  tliev  vass  it  on,  so 
that  three  or  four  lives  will  jtossibly  reach  UM) 
years.  Some  of  tlie  details  of  the  story  may  be 
lost,  some  possibly  added,  but  the  substance  will 
remain  correct,  i  liave  frequently,  of  late  years, 
thought  of  this,  when  1  have  heard  scientists 
hoot  at  the  value  of  tradition  as  testimony  to 
historical  facts,  arguing  that  written  evidence 
alon  '  can  be  elied  on.  Tra<lition,  in  the  larger 
number  (d'  instances,  has  the  kernel  (d'  truth. 
But  this  is  a  digression. 

To  hear  the  orators  of  the  Sccdchlrish  at 
t'mesone  would  be  led  to  think  they  were  the 
embodiment  of  all  tlie  virtues;  that  but  for  them 
there  would  have  been  no  Pennsylvania,  and 
possibly  no  nation.  In  these  claims  there  is 
much  pardonable  e.xagiieraiion. 

In  their  domestic  lives  the  Scotch-Iri.sh  were 
probably  more  considerate  of  the  comfurl  of  the 
women  of  ihe  houseluild  than  the  'lunkers;  they 
were  always  mure  litieral  in  e.x'penditure:  they 
generally  a  e  the  best  of  the  product  of  their 
farms  and  sold  the  poorest;  whisky  distilled  on 
the  farm,  or  very  near  It,  was  used  without  stint; 
they  favored  education.  The  schoolmaster  was 
installed  as  soon  ;is  liossible  after  a  settlement 
was  maN^e,  and  there  were  t'Ut  few  of  the  secomi 
generation  who  could  not  read,  write  and  cipher. 
They  had  one  most  erroneous  idea  lirought  witli 
them  from  the  old  countrj  ;  that  is,  that  the  girls 
■could  marry    and  neede<l  no    estate;  so  in    their 


Mr.  Sydney  George  Fisher,  in  his  most  valua- 
ble b(  ok,  "The  Making  of  Pennsylvania,"  says: 
"There  is  no  doubt  the  Scotch-Irish  were  rough, 
but  roughness  is  not  always  a  serious  vice,  and 
there  aic  various  deureesof  it.  They  liad.  the 
lands  (d'the  Irish  rebels  givi-n  to  them;  tliey  had 
entere<l  on  tliem  with  a  strong  hand,  and  they 
had  grown  accustomed  to  maintaining  them- 
selves among  a  hostile  population  fr mi  whom 
they  e.\pected  hut  little  consideration.  They 
were  not  much  addicted  to  politeness  or  asking 
leave  for  what  they  took,  and  they  entereil  Penn- 
sylvania in  a  manner  that  was  rather  irritating 
to  the  (iropiietors.  I^argo  numbers  of  them 
marched  to  the  York  Barrens,  in  what  was  then 
Ijuncaster  county,  near  tlie  Maiyland  boundary 
line,  without  fir.Tt  ollering  to  buy  the  land  from 
Pcnn.  When  spoken  to  on  the  subject,  they  re- 
plied that  Penn  had  solicited  colonists  and  they 
iiad  come  accordingly.  A  more  serious  oliense 
was  their  settling  without  purchase  on  the 
lands  <d'  the  Indians,  an  intr  ision  which  is  gen- 
erally believed  to  havocaused several  massacres." 

Inihe.r  merry-inakings  tliey  were  rude;  a  rough 
anil  tumble  tigut  witii  fists  was  not  unusual; 
whisky  was  among  them  a  beverage  partaken 
of  on  all  occasions,  whether  feist,  wedding  or 
funeral;  when  a  boy,  within  a.  raiius  of  two  miles 
of  wheie  1  went  to"  school,  there  were  Hve  distil- 
leries, owned  by  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians  and 
Pennsylvania  G-ermans.  The  VVashiiigtiniiaii 
temperance  reform  in  1843  and  1844  closed  all  but 
one  of  tlies(\  Hut  without  this,  it  is  probable 
they  would  have  closed.  New  means  of  traiis- 
pi'rtatioii  enabled  them  to  shi])  their  rye  to  mar- 
ket in  bulk,  instead  of  concentrating  it  into  a 
small  package  of  whisky. 

As  noticed,  the  Tunkers  would  not  vote  or 
lioltl  office.  No  one  ever  said  that  of  a  Scotch- 
Irishman;  Ihave  never  known  of  his  lefusal  to 
vote  at  least  once,  and    iie  was  willing  to  hold  as 


wills  in  the   early  pare   of  the  century    you  will    many  offices  as  he  was  eligible  to.     Ihe  record.s 
find    they    generaliv  gave   ahout  nine-tenths    of    of  this   county    since    its   organization    wll',   1 

think,  t)ear  me  out  in  tiiisstatement.  Although 
many  of  them  deny  it,  the  Tunkers  e.\cclled 
them    as    farmers.     As    a  rule,  the  Scotch-ltlsh 


3y    ge 
their  estate  to  the  sons  and  divided  the  remaii 
Ing  tenth  among  the  daughters.  I  can  even  sliow 
you  two  or  three  wills  of  tliis  kind  probated  after 
Scotcli-lrishmen's  decease  subsequent  to  the  or- 
ganization of  this  county. 
Sargent,  in  his  "Introductory  Memoir   to    the 


larmers,  after  three  general ioiii-',  are  giving  way, 
and  their  places  are  being  taken  by  others. 
The  Catholic  Irish  settled  what  is    now    Blair 


JournalofBraddock'sE.\pedition,"savs:  'They  township  about  the  close  of  the  revolutionary 
were  a  hardy,  brave,  hotheaded  race,'e.\-citable  war;  tli=  borough  of  Newry  is,  next  to  I-ranks- 
in  temper,  unrestrainable  in  pa?sion,  invincible  town,  the  oldest  village  in  the  county.  1  have 
in    prejudice.    Their   hand    oiiened    as  impetu- '  heard  the  late  James  M.  Hewit   say  that  when  a 


ously  to  a  friend  as  it  clinched  against  an  en 
emy.  If  often  rude  and  lawless,  it  was  pirtly 
the  fault  of  their  position.  They  hated  the  In- 
dian while  they  despised  him,  and  it  does  not 
seem,  in  their  dealings  with  this  race,  as  though 
there  were  any  sentiments  of  honor  or  magnani- 
mity in  their  bosoms  that  could  hold  way  against 
their  passionate,  blind  resentment.  Imiiatient 
of  restraint,  rebellious  against  everything  that 
in  their  eyes  bore  the  semblance  of  injustice,  we 
find  these  men  readiest  among  the  re^dy  on  the 
battleti 
fault 
amo 


boy  he  went  to  Newry  to  see  a  circus;  Ho  lidays- 
burg  was  then  too  insignificant  to  warrant  the 
showmen  in  stopping;  Newry  was  tlie  larger 
town.  I'his  Irish  settlement  for  a  time  throve 
and  was  prosperou?,  but  tholocation  of  the  canal 
and  the  Portage  road  north  of  it,  with  their 
junction  at  Hollidavshurg,  arrested  its  growth 
and  Hollidaysburg  forged  ahead,  .just  as  the  lo- 
cation of  the  main  line  of  the  Pennsylvania  rail- 
road si.\  miles  north  of  Hollidaysburg  created 
Altoona,  leaving  Hollidaysburg   standing    still. 


speaking,  because  of  my  own  blood, being  Scotch- 
Irisii  on  both  paternal  and  maternal  sides  of  my 
ancestry.  While  all  the  first  settlers  had  passed 
away  before  iny  years  of  recollection,  1  saw  and 
knew  some  of  their  immediate  children,  and 
many  of  their  grand-children.  My  uncle,  Sam- 
uel i)ean.  who  lived  to  an  advanced  age,  was 
born  in  the  year  l^iOO.  James  M.  Bell,  my  pre- 
ceptor in  the  law,  in  the  year  17'.i;».  My  fatlier 
1808.  Tobias  l'"ureman,  late  of  Huntingdon 
county,  lived  with  and  was  reared  tiy  my  giand- 
father;  James  Clark,  grandfather  of  John  Clark 


but  for  many  years  Newry  had  the  only  Catliolic 
church.  There  was,  when  I  was  a  boy,  a  small 
Catholic  graveyard  in  Williamsburg,  how  old  I 
do  not  know;  but  here,  every  now  and  then, 
some  devout  member  of  the  church  was  laid  to 
rest  in  consecrated  ground.  A  neat  church  has 
been  erected  there  within  thirty  years. 

It  is  but  a  century  ago  that  the  two  races, 
liostile  in  religion,  antl  hating  eacli  other  in  Ire- 
land, a^ain  met.  In  Ireland  they  had  been  im- 
placable foes,  but  when  they  reached  this  New 
World  of  religious  liberty,  where  everyone  had 
a    right  to  pursue   his  own    happine^p,  their  _re- 


of  Williamsburg,    an   ohl  revolutionary   soldier,  a    right  to  pursue   Ins  own    llapplne^p,  iiiur    re- 

an  uncle  of  my  father,   was  often  at  our   house;  sentments    seem  to  Inive  di.sappeareil,  and    liicy 

he  was  vivacious,  and  a  great   inrrator  of  past  labored  together  lor  the  common  good.  Up  until 

events;these  all  knew  and  mingled  witli  the  orig-  1«54  I  never  heard   of  religions    pro  cripiu.n,  or 


sinkin-   Vallev,  Canoe  Valley,    religious  antagonism  in   politics.  I  know  I  h,i\o 
n  township.    Ihave  heard  them    seen  my  father,  at  an  early  day,  in  consultation 

with  the  [Catholic  Mclvlernans  and  Harbisons 
relative  to  tlie  promotion  of  eilucdtion  in  the 
common  schools,  and  other  public  measures  af- 
fecting the  townshli>.     But  in  1854  a  wave  of  in- 


inal  settlers  of  r 
and  Frankstown  townshii 

tell  of  their  domes  ic  life,  of  their  political  d 
ferences.  local  feuds  and  church  disputes.    Sar 
gent"s  description,  from  my  own  opinion  of  ma- 
ture years,  approaches  accuracy. 


16 


o^ 


Sp:mi-Centenniai^  History  op  Blaik  County. 


I    lO  fj  -I     f 


H 


1 


tolerance,  higutrv  and  proscription  passed  over 
the  stiite.  Tiie  Catholic  whs  persei-uted,  just  as 
far  as  our  constitution  peruii'ted;  lie  was  not 
imprisoned,  not  killed  on  account  of  his  reli!j;ion, 
liut  he  was  voted  out  of  every  office  he  could  pos- 
Hil)ly  aspire  to  from  state  to  townsliin.  Itwasa 
shameful  persecution,  and  lasted  about  three 
years:  in  less  than  five  years  thereafccr  th'  se 
most  active  in  tlie  movement  were  busy  denyinj;  , 
they  had  any  coiine.;tion  with  it.  In  less  than 
ten  years  came  the  war  for  the  preservation  of 
the  "union.  Our  Catholic  fellow  citizens  all 
around  us,  tlien,  by  their  patriotism  at  liome  in 
liromotina;  enlistments,  their  c-ourago  on  many  a 
bl  ody  battlelield,  gave  the  lie  to  all  accusations 
made  asiainst  tlieui  in  the  kn  iw  nothinif  cru- 
sade. G-ood  citizenship  is  not  detern  ined  by 
creed;  conscience  and  c  ii)afity  fir  puldi.-  service 
are  nut  measured  by  doctrine  or  dogma.  All  re- 
ligio  s  ))io5cription  is  utterly  at  war  wiili  the 
fLiiidamentiii  principles  of  our'cnnstitution.  And 
whether  onr  remote  ancestors  cut  each  otliei's 
lieads  oH  in  Ire'and  two  hundrel  years  ago. 
because  one  did  not  acknowledge  the  spiritual 
authority  of  the  pope,  and  tlie  other  refused  to 
acknowledge  the  spiritual  authority  of  a  presby- 
tery, or  their  descendants  figuratively  a  th's  <lay 
cut  eaoli  other's  pulitieai  hemls  offat  the  polls, the 
principle  is  precisely  the  same,  religious  bigotry 
and  proscription.  I  speak  now  as  a  citizen  of 
this  growing  county  ano  this  grand  old  eoinmon- 
wealtli  in  wiiicli  1  was  born  and  bred.  No  one 
doubts  my  religious  creed:  of  a  Scotch-Irish 
Presbyterian  aiicesfry,  religious  training  and 
education,  I  could  not-  be  otiier  and  do  not  wish 
to  be  other  tlian  Tresbyterian.  At  the  same 
time,  with  all  my  years  of  study,  experience  and 
thought,  I  Icannot  !)Ut  tremble  when  1  see  the 
least  sign  of  a  revival  of  that  intolerant  religi- 
ous spirit  whieii  for  centuries  bathed  Europe  in 
bloo'i.  Lincoln  said  of  slavery,  "A  house  di- 
vided against  itself  cannot  stand."  I  do  not  be- 
lieve a  house  divided  against  itself  on  a  religi- 
ous question  can  stand.  Once  religious  belief  is 
made  a  political  issue;  once  you  determine  a 
man's  fitness  for  office  by  liis  opinion  on  tlie 
doctrine  of  the  ''real  presence," — intercession  of 
the  saints,  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  the  very  founda- 
tion of  our  free  insiitulions  disappears.  Take 
away  that  foumiation  stone,  laid  in  all  its 
breailth  and  beauty  by  Peiin,  and  on  which  the 
great  and  glorious  edifice  of  iliisfiet)  common- 
wealth has  licen  liuihb  d,  grand  as  is  the  super  . 
structure,  it  may  fall:  if  it  do  not  tall,  it  will 
cease  to  grow:  tliere  will  t>e 'no  furtlier  "addi- 
tions, wherein  may  be  sheltered  and  made  happy 
the  sons  of  men. 

Our  Bill  of  Rights  declares:  "All  men  liavea 
natural  and  iridefeasible  right  to  worsi  ip  Al- 
mighty G-od  according  to  the  dictates  of  their 
own  consciences. 

"No  person  wtio  acknowleiges  the  being  of  a 
G-od  and  a  future  state  of  rewards  and  punish- 
ments shal',  on  account  of  his  religious  senti- 
ments, be  disi|ualified  for  any  office  or  place  of 
trust  or  profit  under  this  commonwealth." 

Under  this  beniticent  declaration,  or  the  sub- 
stance of  it,  declared  by  the  wise  founder  of  our 
state,  the  whole  commonwealth  has  grown  and 
prospered.  Any  departure  from  it  must  be  a 
step  backward  into  a  dark  age  of  persecution 
and  bloodslied,  when  ignorance  undertook  to 
fashion  men's  consciences  by  cruelty  and  bar- 
barity. 

"Lord,"    said    the    woman    of    Sichem,    "our 
fathers  worsiiipped  in  this  mountain,  and  ye  say 
that  Jerusalem  is  i  he  place  wliere  men  ought  to 
worship."    Jesus  replied,  "Woman,   believe  me,  ! 
the  hour  cometh,  wlien  ye  shall   worship  neither  | 


in  this  mountain  nor  yet  at  Jerusalem,  but  when 
the  true  woi  shippers  shall  worship  the  Father  in 
spirit  and  in  truth." 

It  is  almost  nineteen  centuries  since  the  ^reat 
Founder  of  Christianity  proclaimed  this  sum  of 
all  religion  at  Jacob's  Well,  yet,  duiing  all  those 
centuries,  it  is  only  an  occasional  glimpse  we  get 
of  it  in  practice.  Tlie  Tunkers,  Lutherans, 
Scotch-lrioh  and  Catiiolic  Irish  of  this  c-junty 
lived  up  to  it  for  almost  seventy-five  years,  or 
until  lSo4.  May  we  not  hope,  that  since  the 
miserable  failure  then  to  adopt  a  religious  test 
in  po  itiis,  none  other  will  ever  be  attempted. 

Such  were  the  men,  such  their  religion,  such 
the  race  of  the  hardy  people  who  originally  set- 
tled the  territory  which  now  forms  our  county. 
When  the  county  was  organized  in  lt>4t)  many  of 
the  descendants  of  the  or  ginal  Germans  and 
Scotch-Irish  lia  I  become  Methodists,  and  some 
of  them  Baptists.  The  Methodist  was  a  mission- 
ary church;  its  circuit  riders  had  penetrat'd  into 
all  corners  of  the  county  tiy  that  lime;  tiieir  con- 
gregations were  organizedin  almost  c\  ery  school 
district:  they  were^pecially  effective  at  the  iron 
work-:  two  large  setiled  congiegations  with  com- 
fortable churches  existed  at  HoUidaysburg  and 
Williamsburg;but  while  strong  in  numbers,  they 
were  generally  of  limited  me  ins;  their  influence 
and  wealth  are  mainly  thegrowth  of  the  last  fifty 
years,  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  the  Baptists. 
Many  other  religious  sects  have  also  in'  that 
jicriod  grown  in  numbers  and  importance.  What 
1  have  sjught  siiecially  to  point  rut.is  the  kind 
and  charrtCter  ipf  the  peoi)le  who,  by  more  than 
seventy  years  of  struufgle,  made  ourcounty  what 
It  was  in  1S46,  brought  it  to  the  point  where  its 
people  had  a  right  to  dcinand  a  separate  county 
organization  and  the  legislature  was  warranted 
in  creating  it. 

When  tne  county  was  formed  in  1846,  in  my 
judgment  the  poiiulation  was  about  11, OHO.  I 
think  fully  four-fifths  of  this  was  made  up  of  first 
settlers  and  their  immediate  descendants.  The 
[lopulation  rapidly  increased;  it  certainly  num- 
bers now  not  far  from  75,000.  I  dount  if  more 
than  one  third  of  these  can  trace  descent  to  the 
Germans,  Scoti-h-Irish  and  Insh  of  the  first  half 
of  the  century;  take  away  the  population  of 
Altoona  and  "its  immediate  surroundings  in 
Logan  township,  of  Tyrone  and  Bellwood,  and 
the  last  thirty  years  would  show  but  little 
change.  The  greater  Blair  county  is  made  up 
by  these  progressive  railroad  towns.  True,  many 
of  their  citizens  are  descendants  of  the  original 
stock,  hut  the  larger  proportion  is  from  other 
counties  and  states,  and  many  from  beyond  the 
=eas.  By  their  joining  us  they  have  raised  our 
noble  old  county  from  one  of  the  smallest  to  one 
of  the  greater  coumies  in  wealth,  population 
and  enterprise.  In  the  not  distant  future  we 
shall  seeit  reach  more  than  IdO.Oi'O  in  population. 
Its  past  rapid  growth  has  been  due  in  great  de- 
gree to  the  growth  and  lilieral  management  of 
that  great  corporation,  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road. Our  material  prosperity  and  progress  in 
the  future  mustiiepend  largely  on  the  prosperity 
of  that  enterj;rise.  As  it  grows  our  county  will 
grow. 

But  I  have  already  wearied  you  in  endeavor- 
ing to  present  in  as  "concise  a  "narrative  as  possi- 
ble a  glimpse  of  the  early  physical,  intellectual 
and  religious  growth  of  our  beloved  home.  In 
if  I  was  born  and  reared;  with  it  are  associated 
all  my  fondest  rejullections;  to  its  future  cling 
all  my  most  fervent  hopes;  if  any  want  to  point 
to  some  better,  some  gohlen  age  in  some  other 
county  or  some  other  years,  I  have  no  sympathy 
with  them,  for  our  county  and  our  age,  I  feel 
sure,  are  the  best  attainable.