USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Blair County, Pennsylvania > Part 13
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Adlum & Irvin built the first store build- ing in 1849, and among the early merchants were: John Loudon, James Lowther, Wil- liam McDowell, John Morrow, Michael Hileman, George Wayne, Henry Sellers, and John M. Bush. Samuel Ettinger was the pioneer clothing merchant, and George W. Kessler was the first druggist, while William O'Donnell opened the first hard- ware store. John B. Westley was the first carpenter and builder. The first tailor was Richard Smith (1852); shoemaker, Benja- min Figart; butcher and baker, Nicholas Agnew ; minister, Rev. Henry Baker; phy- sician, Dr. Gabriel Thomas; telegraph op- erator, Howard Larcomb; and the first brewer was Albert Schultz. .
The first tavern in the vicinity was the White Hall hotel, and the pioneer hotels of Altoona were the Red Lion hotel and the Mansion House.
Among the notable events in the history of Altoona are: The centennial celebra- tion, of 1876; the railroad riot, of July, 1877; the conclave of Knights Templar of Pennsylvania, of 1878; the reception of James Stewart Parnell, in the opera house,
129
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
February 12, 1880; and the annual meet- ing of the Pennsylvania State Medical society, in May, 1880.
The water department is controlled by a board of three commissioners. The source of supply is at Kittanning Point, the reser- voir lying right in the bend of the famous Horse Shoe curve of the Pennsylvania railroad. From this point it is conducted to Altoona, a distance of six miles, through two twelve-inch iron pipes, which empty into a storage reservoir at the top of a hill at Twelfth street and First avenue. From here it is distributed to the various parts of the city by force of gravity.
This plant has cost the city more than half a million dollars, but, owing to contin- ued and rapid growth, the supply is still inadequate, and arrangements are being made to increase it, a loan of two hundred thousand dollars for that purpose having been sanctioned at an election held in June, 1891.
The first fire company was organized in 1859, by the name of the Good Will Fire Company. They used a hand engine until 1868, when they received one of the two Amoskeag steamers, purchased by the city in that year. The present fire department consists of four steam fire engine companies, three hose companies, one hook and lad- der company, and a fire patrol, with a mem- bership of six hundred and fifty men.
The present gas company was a part of the old gas and water company, until 1871, when it was incorporated as a separate organization. Gas was first introduced into the pipes on December 15, 1859, and the capacity of the gas works is now over two hundred thousand cubic feet per day.
The postoffice was established November 11, 1817, by the name of Collinsville, and
so continued until November 1, 1850, when the name was changed to Altoona, with George C. Ferree as postmaster.
Altoona has ten planing mills in success- ful operation, whose owners are: M. II. Mackey, Leas & Bucher, Glunt & Crum, Geo. W. Rhine; Stoke, Kline, Parker & Co., and A. V. Price.
The City Passenger Railway Company of Altoona (operated by electricity ) was in- corporated March 10, 1882. Capital stock, one hundred and eighty thousand dollars, all paid in. Length of line, including sidings, is six miles, and the first electric cars were run July 4, 1891. The line now extends from Juniata to the city line at First street and Chestnut avenue; along Chestnut avenue to Eleventh avenue; along Eleventh avenue to Bridge street; Bridge street to Seventeenth street; Seventeenth street to Eighth avenue; Eighth avenue to Fourth street; Fourth street to Sixth ave- nue; and along Sixth avenue to city line below Lloyd street. A branch, operated by horse power, extends from Seventeenth street and Eighth avenue to Seventh ave- nue, and along Seventh avenue to Twenty- fifth street. Other branches are in process of construction.
The silk mill, a large brick structure at Ninth avenue and Twenty-sixth street, is filled with the latest improved machinery, and has been in full operation for several years.
Vaughn's brick works are just outside the city limits; Miller's broom factory is near the corner of Ninth street, and three carriage factories are in successful opera- tion, while several breweries furnish em- ployment to several hundred men, directly or indirectly. There are twenty-five build- ing and loan associations in the city.
9
130
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
The Edison Electric Light Company was organized in 1886, with a capital stock of fifty-six thousand dollars, and motors are supplied from the station, which is equipped with four thousand Edison lamps. The Mountain City Heat, Light and Power Company (electricity ) has its plant on Ninth avenue.
The Railroad Men's Christian association have rooms and a library on Eleventh ave- nue, on which is also situated the Altoona Mechanics' library. The Altoona hospital was built in 1885, opened in 1886, and since then has received nearly three thousand patients for treatment. The city contains thirty-four churches, whose property is worth nearly a million dollars.
The public schools of Altoona are in a flourishing condition, there being now eleven school buildings, all brick, containing in the aggregate one hundred and twenty school rooms. The number of teachers employed for the coming year is one hundred and thir- teen. The schools and number of rooms in each are as follows : Webster, 8 rooms ; Penn, 12; Bryant, 11; Emerson, 14; Miller, 12; Franklin, 12; Adams, 11; Irving, 8; Mad- ison, 10; Jefferson, 11; and Washington, 11 rooms. Attached to the Catholic churches, both English and German, are convent and parochial schools of a high order, attended by the children of the church who do not as a rule attend the public schools, and wherein a full educational course is pur- sued, from primary classes to the highest grades. The number of pupils in attend- ance at these schools is large. The Pro- testant Episcopal church also has a parochial school, which is attended by a considerable number of pupils.
Altoona has five cemeteries: Fairview, which contains twenty acres of ground, was
opened in 1857, and has over five thousand graves; Oak Ridge; the English and Ger- man Catholic cemeteries; and the Eastern Light, or colored people's cemetery.
The population of the city of Altoona has been, since 1860, as follows :
U. S. Census.
Population.
White.
Colored.
1860
3,591
3,539
52
1870
10,610
10,462
148
1880
19,710
....
1890
30,337
Clark says that " Altoona is the phenom- enal metropolis of central Pennsylvania; that in the history of such a country of surprise as this United States of America there are to be found few parallels of such rapid and substantial growth as that of Altoona; and that the situation of Altoona is peculiar in several respects, being far from the seaboard, lake coast and any navigable stream. Intrenched in her moun- tain fastness, the Alleghenies on three sides of her, and the Blue Ridge to the east, in case of the invasion of this country by a foreign army Altoona would be an important strategie point. Desirable to capture, but easy of defense, it would be the last city to be conquered in the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."
Tyrone. - This borough, now almost a city, it seems was laid out as a town about 1851. It was incorporated as a borough on July 27, 1857, and the following account of its early history we extract from an in- teresting sketch of the borough by J. D. Ilicks, esq. :
"Tyrone City, so called in its earliest day by its original proprietors, is one of the comparatively new towns in the central part of the State, and is, in nearly every respect, what may be called a 'railroad town,' owing, as it does, its prosperity to
131
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
the Pennsylvania railroad and its branches. It was originally laid out by Messrs. Lyon, Shorb & Co., an old and much respected iron firm, that, until a few years since, car- ried on extensive iron works in different parts of the State. John T. Mathias, at the present day (1880) a venerable and highly respected citizen of the town, in 1850 assisted in planning the streets and laying out the lots. He was then the super- intendent of what was known as Tyrone Forges. Hon. Jacob Burley built the first house, and moved into it in November, 1850, and Rev. John D. Stewart and Mr. Burley started business together in the building first then completed, adjoining, or in close proximity to the same ground now occupied by the City hotel. In 1852 the Central hotel was erected by Joshua Bur- ley, and in 1853 Messrs. Edwin L. Study, Pius Sneeringer and Samuel Berlin, on their way to the far west from Adams county, were induced. to interrupt their journey and look at the new town. They were so favorably impressed that they pur- chased lots, and ever afterward identified themselves with the growth and prosperity of Tyrone. Mr. Study died about a year ago, after being widely and favorably known over the entire State as an active and hon- orable business man. He was president of the Blair County Banking Company at the time of his decease. Mr. Berlin commenced in the drug business, in which he is still en- gaged. Mr. Sneeringer ( now dead ) started in general merchandising, and retired but a year or two since. In 1852 the first school house and Methodist Episcopal church were added to the many new buildings previously erected, and in the following year the Pres- byterian and United Brethren churches were built. The railroad facilities of Tyrone are
second to no town of like population in the State, and the early completion of the Ty- rone & Lewisburg railroad (soon to be effected ) makes Tyrone in reality a railroad center, and a point which will be sought after by persons whose inclinations and means would lead them into the manufac- turing business."
Lyon, Shorb & Co. purchased the site of Tyrone from. John Gloninger & Co., iron masters, and in 1851 they had John T. Mathias to lay out seventy-five lots for a town, which was called successively Eagle- ville, Shorbsville and Tyrone City, and then by common consent became Tyrone. Among those who were active in the early development of the place were : Pius Sneer- inger, E. L. Study, T. B. Heims, Samuel Berlin, E. J. Pruner, Samuel Jones, and J. L. Holmes.
The railroad facilities of Tyrone are see- ond to no town of like population in the State, and it is to-day one of the import- ant railroad and manufacturing centers of Pennsylvania. The Bellefonte Plank road was completed in 1853, and was superceded in 1862 by the Bald Eagle Valley railroad. The Tyrone & Clearfield railroad was com- menced by David J. Pruner, and was com- pleted in 1860 by the Pennsylvania Com- pany. The Lewisburg & Tyrone railroad was built before 1880, and Tyrone to-day has four railroads and five branches. As early as 1868 the Pennsylvania Company established shops, which now employ a large force of hands. Among Tyrone's leading manufacturing establishments are : The paper mill erected by Morrison, Bare & Cass; Tyrone planing mills of F. D. Beyer; saw and planing mills erected by Beyer, Guyer & Co .; steam boiler works; Sinking Run and Bald Eagle tanneries ; and
182
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
the office of the Study & Co. Mining Com- pany.
The Tyrone Gas and Water Company was chartered in 1865, but was not com- pletely organized until 1869, when it brought the waters of Sinking run in pipes to the borough. Several miles of pipe have been laid, and excellent water in unlimited quan- tities is supplied. The gas works were erected in 1873, at a cost of $35,000, and gas was first used in October, 1874.
The fire department was organized in 1868, and in 1873 a steam engine, costing $5,000, was purchased by the borough. Neptune Hose Company was formed in 1871, and Tyrone Fire Company, No. 1, was organized in 1873. At 3 o'clock on the morning of July 8, 1880, a fire broke out in the livery stable attached to the City hotel, and although the Neptune Fire Com- pany worked nobly, the fire threatened the destruction of the whole borough. J. D. Hicks telegraphed to Altoona and Hunt- ingdon, and with the assistance received from those places the fire was extinguished, after it had destroyed over $150,000 worth of property, of which nearly one-half was not insured.
The pioneer physician was Dr. A. P. Calderwood, who came in 1852, and the first lawyer was D. J. Neff, while the pio- neer hotel keeper was John D. Stewart, who opened the City hotel in 1853. The first military company was the Union Cavalry Company, which was succeeded in 1871 by the Sheridan Troop. Of the building and loan associations there are: Tyrone, No. 1, organized in March, 1870; Bald Eagle, in May, 1872; and Tyrone, No. 2, in March, 1878.
The first school building was a log house, 18 x20 feet, which stood on the corner of
Main and Allegheny streets. The borough now has first-class school buildings and a good system of public schools. The Tyrone Cemetery association was formed in 1858 through the efforts of J. L. Holmes, who had purchased the site of the present beau- tiful Tyrone cemetery for the purpose of securing an appropriate burial ground for the borough.
J. D. Hicks, in speaking of the future of Tyrone, says: "The iron ore fields of Warrior's Mark and Nittany valleys, and the Spruce Creek and Half Moon valley mines on the east; the inexhaustible coal fields and lumber districts of Clearfield and Centre counties on the north and west, and the zinc and lead mines of Sinking valley on the south -these resources, coupled with the beautiful Juniata, which sends forth a never-failing supply of pure water, together with its agricultural resources, must in the near future make Tyrone one of the most important and populous railroad towns of Pennsylvania. The health-imparting in- fluences of the atmosphere, and the beauty of natural scenery, combined with the ad- vantages already recited, point with unerring certainty to this result."
The population of Tyrone at each United States census since 1860 has been as follows :
U. S. Census.
Population.
White.
Colored.
1860.
741
706
35
1870
1840
1810
30
1880
2678
....
1890
4705
...
Bellwood .- Is situated in Antis township, half-way between Altoona and Tyrone, and has been noted for years on account of its pure air and beautiful mountain scenery. On June 30, 1877, Dr. A. K. Bell had it laid out as a town, and it was incorporated as a borough before 1880. It is an important
133
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
railroad center of the county, and has grown within the last ten years from a village of three hundred to a town of nearly twelve hundred inhabitants.
The Edingtons were the first residents in the vicinity, settling some time between 1774 and 1785. About the year 1800 Ed- ward Bell settled here and erected a grist mill and distillery, and afterward a saw mill. This gave the place the name of Bell's Mills, and the building of Mary Ann forge and Elizabeth furnace some thirty years later led to the settlement of several families at Bell's Mills. Some years after the building of the Pennsylvania railroad the village commenced to expand into a town that has grown wonderfully in the last decade in population and prosperity. Ii was incorporated as a borough by its present name of Bellwood, in honor of its founder, Edward Bell, who was one of the early prominent men of the county. "A few touches from the hand of art would make it as pretty as any place of its size along the Pennsylvania railroad."
The population of Bellwood since its in- corporation has been as follows :
U. S. Census.
Population.
1880 366
1890
1146
Martinsburg. - This thriving town is twenty-two miles southeast of Altoona, on the Morrison Cove branch of the Pennsyl- vania railroad. Its pioneer settlers were Daniel Camerer and Abraham Stoner, ac- cording to one authority, and Daniel Martin by another. The first lots were laid out by Camerer, about 1815, and Stoner's plot, east of Market street, was made in 1820. It was incorporated as a borough April 2, 1832, and has grown into quite a commer- cial center. The first house was built by
John Soyster, a son-in-law of Daniel Cam- erer, and among the earliest residents were Rev. Christian Winebrenner, James Shirley (surveyor), John Hysong, and William En- triken and Benjamin Wright (merchants), and Daniel Bloom (tanner), and Doctor Kane, the first physician of the place. Of those who settled there about 1820 and shortly afterward were: Henry Bridenthal, Hon. Alex. McFadden, Col. Samuel Swoope, Alex. Bobb, David Byers, Jonathan Gra- ham, Adam Snyder, and Henry Shoemaker. Martinsburg has good public schools, and the interests of higher education are well provided for in Juniata Collegiate institute,. which was chartered in 1859 as Franklin High school and Blair County Normal in- stitute. The main building was erected in 1860, and an addition was built, by Prof. Lucian Cort, in 1867. The building is an elegant four-story brick structure, was built at a cost of nearly $20,000, and is on an elevated site, where it commands a delight- ful view of the surrounding country.
The population of Martinsburg by each United States census since 1850 has been as follows :
U. S. Census.
Population.
White.
Colored.
1850
442
436
6
1860
464
456
8
1870
536
531
5
1880
567
..
1890
588
..
Rouring Spring. - This enterprising town is situated seventeen miles southeast of Al- toona, on the Morrison Cove branch of the Pennsylvania railroad, at the junction of the Bloomfield railroad. It derives its name from the celebrated Roaring spring within its limits. The land on which the town stands was owned by George H. Spang and Job Mann, of Bedford, this State, from
184
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
whom it was purchased in 1863 by Daniel Bare and his son, Daniel M. Bare. The Bares, in connection with John Eby and John Morrison, immediately erected a paper mill. This mill burned down, and on its site they erected the present mill, which is now owned and operated by Daniel M. Bare, who is the founder of the town and has been the mainstay of its prosperity up to the present time. The first improve- ment was made about 1770 by Daniel Neff, the Dunkard miller, who built the mill, which was burned by an Indian war party, after he had killed two of their scouts, who were endeavoring to secure his scalp. John Ullery afterward built a mill on or near the site of the Neff mill, and this, with the Spang residence, a small log house, and a store building, was the hamlet of Roaring Spring, which the Bares purchased in 1863. The paper mill, which is often operated day and night, is the main in- dustry of the place. It is one of the most complete paper manufactories in the State, and its extensive machinery is run by a mammoth Corliss engine. Roaring Spring was laid out in 1865 by D. M. Bare & Co., and was incorporated as a borough before 1880. From 1880 to 1890 the population increased from 489 to 920.
Gaysport Borough. - This town, which lies just across the river from Hollidays- burg, is partly on the land taken up by William Holliday in 1768. Holliday's heirs owned the land until the building of the canal, when it passed into the virtual con- trol of other parties, and a great lawsuit fol- lowed, in which Thaddeus Stevens was con- spicuous as an attorney for one of the contesting parties. The town is said to have derived its name from an engineer by the name of Gay, who was prominent dur-
ing the construction of the canal and rail- road. It was laid out some time before the building of the canal, and was incorporated as a borough June 9, 1841. It is pleasantly located on bottom lands, and its history to a large extent is the same as that of Holli- daysburg. It is a manufacturing town. Devine & Evans built Bellrough foundry in 1837, and in 1846 J. C. McLanahan engaged in the foundry business, and whose son, J. King, is now the senior member of the well known foundry and machine shop firm of McLanahan & Stone, the members of which are : J. King MeLanahan, William Stone, a nephew of Hollidaysburg's pioneer founder and machinist, Hon. Geo. R. McFarlane, S. C. McLanahan, and A. T. Stone. Gaysport also contains an iron furnace (No. 1), gas works, and a flouring mill.
The population of Gaysport by each United States census since 1850 has been as follows :
U. S. Census.
Population.
White.
Colored.
1850
590
571
19
1860
601
587
14
1870
799
790
9
1880
764
1890
867
...
.
East Tyrone .- This borough is one mile east of the business part of Tyrone, and was laid out, under the instructions of the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company, by George C. Wilkins. It was incorporated as a borough on July 28, 1873. The town site is well adapted to serve the purpose of its pro- jectors, to provide cheap and comfortable homes for their employees on the Tyrone division of their road. The first houses erected were those of J. Forshey, Thaddeus Kneiss, and a Mrs. Simpson. The first store was opened in 1872 by Gray & Co., and the first election was held in September,
135
OF BLAIR COUNTY.
1873, at the store of Iloover & Woods. The population of East Tyrone in 1880 was 279, and ten years later, in 1890, had in- creased to 435.
Eust Hollidaysburg. - This town is really but the east extension of Hollidaysburg, and is prosperous for its size. It was incorpo- rated before 1890, and in that year had a population of 136.
Nowry .- This borough is one of the oldest towns in the county, being laid out about 1793 or 1794. It is on Poplar run, in Blair township, four miles southwest of Hollidaysburg, and is the present terminus of the Newry branch of the Pennsylvania railroad. Its founder, Patrick Cassidy, was a native of Newry, Ireland, after which city he named his town. At an early day Newry was an active business center on the old pike, but its progress was checked by the growth of Hollidaysburg and the travel on the canal. With the building of the Newry branch of the Pennsylvania railroad the town received a new impetus, and promises to become a place of importance. Newry was incorporated March 25, 1876. Its pop- ulation in 1880 was 326, and in 1890 was 335.
Among the prominent villages of the county which are really important towns, are Williamsburg, Duncansville and Henri- etta.
Williamsburg Village. - This town and once borough is on the south bank of the Juniata river, in Woodbury township. It is the eastern terminus of the Hollidaysburg & Williamsburg branch of the Pennsylvania railroad. In 1790 Jacob Ake purchased the site of the town from John Canan and John Swift. On August 14, 1795, Mr. Ake had Patrick Cassidy to survey and lay out
the town, which went for several years by the name of Akestown. In 1814 the town contained twenty families, and in 1827 was incorporated. It let its borough organiza- tion go down in 1840, and has never sought for incorporation since. The destruction of the old canal, and the dissolution of the Williamsburg Manufacturing Company ef- fected the prosperity of the village for some years. Mr. Ake, the founder of the town, in 1790 established at his own expense, at Williamsburg, one of the first elementary schools in the county.
The population of Williamsburg by each United States census since 1850 has been as follows :
U. S. Census.
Population.
White.
Colored.
1850
747
737
10
1860
798
781
17
1870
821
815 6
1880
566
..... ...
1890
888
...
Duncansville Village. - This important rail- road and iron manufacturing town of Blair county is situated on the line between Alle- gheny and Blair townships, but the business part of the place lies in Allegheny. The Duncan family was settled here before 1810, in which year Francis Smith built a small tannery, and kept an inn on the site of the town. In 1828 William Gibboney built a woolen mill, and in 1830 John M. Gibboney opened the first store. In 1831 Samuel Duncan, as proprietor, laid out the village plot of Duncansville, while east of him Jacob Walter laid out Walterville, after which Duncan and Walter tossed up a penny to decide which of their names should be given to both plots, and Duncan won. Duncansville has also absorbed the follow- ing plots and villages : Lloydsville, Temper- anceville, Henrysburg, and Mullen Ghar,
136
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
The Duncansville rolling mill (formerly Portage Iron works) was built in 1833-34 by Samuel Duncan and Thomas MeNamara, who afterward erected the nail works. The. Gibbony foundry was built in 1842, but was not operated until 1848. Duncansville has rapidly increased in population within the last decade. Its population in 1880 was about 350, but in 1890 had grown to 1,227 ju numbers.
Henrietta Village. - This prosperous town is the southern terminus of the Morrison's Cove branch of the Pennsylvania railroad, and is in the southeastern part of North Woodbury township, where the Cambria Iron Company have large tracts of iron ore land. Its progress from 1880 to 1890 is best illustrated by its increase of population from 175 in the former, to 369 in the latter year.
Census Statistics .- We have carefully com- piled, at considerable labor, from the United States census reports, the following statis- ties of population, manufactures and agri- culture of Blair county :
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