USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 19
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"Monday, September 6th. (1790). Continued our survey up the poplar run through stoney swampy Bottoms, much cut into Gulleys by the water for about 2 miles; then took over a hill and struck the run again. Found the Ground much the same up the second forks, where Pringle told us we must take the
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
mountain which we did and found it much too steep to answer for a road. However we continued our survey untill we came in sight of a cove in the hill. I then in order to save time pro- posed to leave the compass and walk up to the top of the hill in order to obtain a view of the hills around us as by this time I had abundant Testimony that we could place no Dependance up- on the Information of our Gides. When we had Reached the top of the first Rise or Spur of the mountain I planely saw that admitting the Ground to have been good to the Bottom of the hill there was no Possability of making a Road and therefore under these circumstances Gave it as my opinion that to prose- cute the Bussness farther would be misspending our time and wasting the Publick Money; Cassidy still Persisted that there could be a fine Road made there. and Colonel Matlack said he had wished to have Discussed this matter among ourselves, as Commissioners and not other persons, and concluded with Ex- pressing a Desire of seeing the top of the hill but added that he would not bear an imputation of wasting the publick money. I Replyd that for my own part I had seen sufficient to fix my opinion ; if he or any other person had not, that an hour or two would be Sufficient for the purpose. that under these considera- tions I had no objections to going on to the top of the hill.
"Mr Adlum Lickewise thought it best to Proceed with the survey to the top of the hill; and we proceeded accordingly but before we had gone a half mile further we plainly saw that our Gides were utterly at a Loss, and in a short time Cassidy himself Declared that there could not be a road made there, and Longe Before we had Reached the Top of the mountain. we were all willing to return back the best way we could find through the Lanrel. We got down a little below the forks of the run and took up our Quarters, heartily tired of Road hunting. Cassidy and Pringle would not stay with (us) all night, though they were invited.
"Tuesday, September 7th. (1790) We returned to Cas- sidvs and got there a little before 11 o'clock. Were oblidged to wait some time in order to procure horses to bring forward our Baggage and had to send one of our people to Mr Blair's mill to get a fresh supply of flour. This detained Mr Adlum all night at Cassidys. After Dinner I took two men to Carrey Chain, and began the survey of the Frankstown Branch at the mouth of Poplar run. and Proceed Down as far as Franks old town When night came on, and not meeting with any of our people, Colonel Matlack and I went to Lowery's and staid all night. When I left surveying I had sent the chain carriers up to one Tituses to see whether any of our people had come there. On their way they met with N. St Clair who Mr Adlum had sent with our Blankets and part of the Baggage; but the night was so dark that they could not find the road to Lowerys. They therefore took up camp on the Branch."
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
The following is the mileage and the estimated expenses for the construction of a highway consisting of canals and roads, from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, made by Messrs. Maclay, Ad- lum and Matlack : *
Miles.
"From Huntingdon, on Juniata, to mouth of Poplar run. .. 42 Portage to the Canoe Place on Conemaugh . 18
Down Conemaugh to Old Town (Johnstown) at the mouth of Stonycreek 18
Down Conemaugh and Kishkiminetas to Allegheny river .. 69
Down Allegheny river to Pittsburg on the Ohio 29
ESTIMATE OF THE EXPENSE.
Canal or lock navigation to Poplar Run (if found neces-
sary, which will probably not be the case) .£7,000 Portage of 18 miles to Conemaugh at 20 pounds per mile 360
Conemangh and Kishkiminetas to Allegheny 7,150"
AN OLD SETTLER'S REMINISCENCES.
(This article was prepared by James M. Swank in 1869, from notes made by the pioneer, Peter Goughnour.)
Peter Goughnour, who was born in Maryland in 1773. and died in Conemangh townshin in 1855, left a statement of his early recollections of what was in old times called "the Conemangh country," which statement is now before us. It is much to be regretted that there is not in existence an authentic history of the early settlers and settlements of the Conemaugh country, and with a view to fill a portion of this blank in our annals we will compile from Mr. Goughnour's statement such facts and in- cidents as we think worthy of preservation.
Mr. Goughnour states that the first white settlers in the Conemaugh country were two brothers, Samuel and Solomon Adams. At the time of their settlement. about 1770, the Indians were quite numerous, who hunted and fished on the banks and in the waters of the Conemangh and Stony Creek. Samnel Ad- ams lived about two miles south of the confluence of the two streams, on Sam's Run, from which it derived its name. Solo- mon's cabin was located about midway between the junction and his brother's cabin. Solomon's Run took its name from him. Samuel Adams and an Indian warrior killed each other with their knives while fighting around a white oak tree on Sandy Run, about five miles east of the junction. Their bodies were buried in one grave, under the tree.
Mr. Goughnour settled in what is now Conemangh town- shin in 1798. Cambria county was then a wilderness. and not known to geographers. At the date of Mr. Gonghnour's settle- ment the Indians had departed from their Conemaugh hunting grounds. but he states that he found monuments of stone erected over Indian graves, flint arrows, elk-horns and other relics of
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
their presence. Some few monuments are still standing on the banks of the Stony Creek above Johnstown.
Jacob Stutzman, who died in 1816, occupied in 1794 the Cone- maugh bottom, now the site of Johnstown, and to which the In- dians had given the name of Old Town. Mr. Stutzman was the first white man who ever occupied the bottom. A son of his was killed by an ox-team which was scared by a rattlesnake. The body of the boy was buried on the left bank of the Stony Creek, where Water street in Kernville is now located.
Joseph Johns, or Yahns, a professor in the Amish com- munion, and an industrious and honest man, laid out Cone- maugh bottom into town lots about 1800. Those who assisted him to lay out the town and who became its first citizens were Peter Goughnour, Joseph Francis, Ludwig Wissinger and a few others. They named it Conemaugh-town, but it was generally called Johnstown. Mr. Johns died at an advanced age in Cone- maugh township, Somerset county.
Dr. Anderson and William Hartley opened the first store in the new town, and Isaac Proctor the second. The necessaries of life at that time rated very high. Coffee was 50 cents per pound; pepper, allspice and ginger, 50 cents per pound; shad, 50 cents each; salt, $5.00 per bushel; Wheat, $2.00 per bushel. All other articles rated accordingly. Wages were from 40 to 50 cents per day.
There were at that time no roads through the wilderness to older settlements, and nothing but canoes for navigating the streams. Beasts of burden were rare, but wild beasts of the for- est were quite numerous. Panthers, wolves, bears, etc., howled at night around the cabins of the settlers. Nevertheless, the set- tlers, in Mr. Goughnour's language, "had fine times hunting and fishing," as the forest was alive with game and the clear and placid streams filled with finny beauties which pious old Isaak Walton would have delighted to capture.
The bottoms in the vicinity of Conemaugh-town were cov- ered with luxuriant verdure, and presented a wild and romantic appearance. The hills were grand beyond description, with their glorious old forests, amid which the woodman's axe had never rang. Peavines, wild sunflowers, and other unnamed rep- resentatives of the vegetable world twined around and waved between the giant oaks, and spruce and hickories. What a par- adise was that "Conemaugh country" to its first settlers, some seventy years ago !
Still these pioneers had their troubles, and those forests and bottoms had their drawbacks. Growing among the tall grass was a noxious weed, resembling garlie in taste and appearance, and called "ramps" by the settlers, which, when eaten by the cows was sure to sicken them and put a stop to the supply of milk and butter. The grass, from some cause not stated, did
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
not make good hay, and as the cultivation of corn, oats, rye, etc., was exceedingly limited, the result was that in the winter time the cattle found Jordan a hard road to travel. The settlers, in order to prevent their cattle from starving, were forced to cut down trees so that they could browse upon the buds and young branches. The women were required to clean land and do rough farm work, such as harrowing, harvesting, hoeing corn, etc. They were also accustomed to perform other hard labor inci- dent to a pioneer life.
Large quantities of maple sugar and molasses were in a few years manufactured by the settlers of the Conemaugh coun- try, and packed to neighboring settlements. Venison also be- came an article of export. In exchange for these commodities the Conemaughites received necessaries which they could not produce themselves. Bedford was the principal market for the settlers.
In the course of time the population of Conemaugh-town increased, as well as the number of farms in its vicinity. A log inn for the entertainment of travelers was erected in the village. A road was opened through the wilderness to Frankstown, be- low Hollidaysburg, upon which pig metal was hauled to Cone- maugh-town, and shipped in the spring of the year in flat-bot- tomed boats to Pittsburg. Conemangh-town now became a place of some business, and it was found necessary to erect another inn.
In 1808 the village was overflowed by a sudden rise in the Conemangh and Stony Creek, and the inhabitants were com- pelled to fly to the hills for refuge. The village was again sub- merged in 1816. The event was termed "the punken flood," owing to the fact that it swept away the whole pumpkin crop of that year. Much damage was done by the flood. Fences were swept away, saw-logs and lumber disappeared forever, and many horses and cattle were drowned. The settlers suffered severely from this dispensation of Providence.
About 1812 the village boasted a grist-mill and a small forge on Stony Creek. In 1816 the first keel boat was built by Isaac Proctor on the right bank of Stony Creek, near where the Union Graveyard is now located. Rafts were also construct- ed at the same place.
While laborers were digging the race for another forge, on Conemangh, old fire-brands, pieces of blankets, and earthen smoke-pipe and other Indian relics were discovered at a depth of 12 feet below the surface of the earth.
Notwithstanding the improvements mentioned, the village was still small when, in 1827, the Commonwealth commenced the construction of the Public Works. Since that time it has stead- ily prospered and gradually become a place of some note and business importance.
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
BEULA-A DESERTED VILLAGE.
Morgan JJohn Rhys was born December 8, 1760, at Graddfa, Glamorganshire, South Wales, and died in Somerset, December 7, 1804. He was ordained a minister in the Baptist church in 1787, and became an eminent divine and patriot. When sixteen years of age he was imprisoned at Carmathen for two years, and was twice in the pillory for his advanced political views.
Coming to America in October, 1794, he made his home in Philadelphia for two years, when he purchased a tract of land in Somerset county from Dr. Benjamin Rush, founded the vil- lage of Beula, on the south branch of the Blacklick creek, three miles west of Ebensburg, and had the township of Cambria cre- ated, giving to it the name which means "The Land of Free- dom."
The plot of the village was on a very large scale, being sub- stantially laid out after the plan of the city of Philadelphia, with its wide streets, squares, cross streets and alleys. At that time there was quite a movement to make the new county of Cambria, and Rev. Rhys desired to make Beula the new county capital. A number of his fellow countrymen having come with him to make their new home, some sixty log houses were constructed in the business center of the embryonic town, which later con- tained hotels, stores, church. mill, school and a library of about six hundred volumes, for a population of three hundred souls. The price of the lots ranged from ten to fifty dollars in state cur- rency, and the deeds made by Morgan John Rhys spell the word "Beula" without the letter "h."
The struggle between Ebensburg and Beula for the county capital was vigorous, but immediately upon the selection of the former the decline of the latter began. The fact that neither the Frankstown road, the Northern turnpike, nor the Clay pike passed through Beula, gave it an unfortunate location besides. With these obstacles it could not hope to succeed, and soon be- came what it has been for many years-a deserted village, the only reminder of which remains to us this day being the station of the Cambria and Clearfield division of the Pennsylvania road called "Beulah."
Some of the persons who located at Beula with Morgan John Rhys were John J. Evans, William Rees, Simon James, Miles Phillips, William Williams (South), Thomas Griffith, John Thomas, John Roberts (Pembryn), John Roberts (shoe-
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
maker), David Rees, Robert Williams, George Turner, Thomas Griffith (farmer), James Evans, and Griffith Rowlands. The bachelors were David Edwards, Thomas Lewis and David Da- vis.
After 1808 the village was substantially abandoned; how- ever a few families engaged in farming continued to reside in that vicinity. Thomas W. Jones, a surveyor and the justice of the peace, died there March 14, 1808, aged thirty-six years; Eliz- abeth Jenkins on September 20, 1828, aged fifty-one ; Elias Row- land, on July 24, 1858, aged ninety-three, and Catherine, his wife, on April 24, 1840, aged sixty-seven; William Roberts on Janu- ary 7, 1822, aged fifty-one years.
EBENSBURG.
The Rev. Rees Lloyd was the founder of Ebensburg. John Lloyd, his grandson, who is in his eightieth year, states there are two traditions in the family in reference to the origin of the name. One is that it was named for his Uncle Ebenezer, and the other is from the good old hymn "Here I'll raise mine Ebe- nezer." Rees Lloyd was born May 1, 1759, in the parish of Llanboidy, Wales. He was ordained a minister in the Non- conformist church in 1780, and was called to the pulpit at Ebenezer, near Pont-y Pool, which may be the origin of the name. In 1795 he disembarked at Philadelphia with his wife Rachel and family. In the following year he located on the land where he founded the county seat. It seems that he purchased the land from William Jenkins on an article of agreement, in- asmuch as Lloyd's deed was given by his heirs and executed in Washington City on September 30, 1805. It was known as the Benjamin Rush tract, and contained 1031% acres, and cost $400. It was described as being on the headwaters of the Blacklick creek, in Bedford and Somerset counties. At that time there was much confusion as to the line between Somerset and Hunt- ingdon, but not as to Bedford at that place: Mr. Lloyd did pur- chase a tract of land called "Mere" from Benjamin Rush, August 8, 1804, containing over 401 acres, for $578.83, but it was the Thomas Martin warrant. In 1808 he sold several lots to Nathaniel W. Semple, who replotted them, but the deed avers they were a part of the William Jenkins land. Mr. Lloyd died May 21, 1838, at Paddy's Run, Butler county, Ohio, where he had resided since 1817 when he left Ebensburg.
He organized the Congregational church at Ebensburg in
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
April. 1797, which was the first house of worship in what is now Cambria county, and named it "Ebenezer Chapel." It was soon followed by the churches of Morgan John Rhys at Beula, and that of Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin at Loretto. Some of Mr. Lloyd's early neighbors were : Thomas Phillips, Theophilus Rees. William Griffith, Daniel Griffith, David Thomas, George Roberts, John Jenkins, Jolm Tobias, William Jenkins. Evan Roberts, James Nicholson, John Jones, Evan Jones, Thomas W. Jones, Esq., and Isaac Griffith. Many descendants of these families reside in that vicinity and in the town.
In the chapter on the organization of the county, reference is made to the ground donated to the public for the use of county buildings. The strife between Ebensburg and Beula for the location of the county capital was conducted with energy. The plot of the town was probably made in 1807, as it was ac- knowledged on July 17 of that year. It consisted of two hun- dred lots, each being four rods in width and sixteen rods in depth. In addition there were subsequently laid out north of Horner street thirty-six lots or parcels containing from one to two and one-quarter acres.
As stated, Ebensburg was the first borough incorporated in the county, bearing date of July 15, 1825. The first organ- ization was : Richard Lewis, burgess ; Philip Noon, John Murray, Moses Canan, Owen McDonald and Silas Moore, members of council, which met at the house of Mr. McDonald on March 21 of that year. John Lloyd was treasurer. In the following borough election there were thirty-four votes cast by Richard Lewis, Moses Canan, David H. Roberts, James Rhey, Philip Noon, Silas Moore, David Davis (carpenter), Rowland Humph- reys, Johnston Moore, Rees Morgan, John Williams, James Murray, Thomas Ownes, John R. Evans, John Walsh, Jeremiah Ivory, William David, John Dougherty, Robert Roberts, Stew- art Steele, David Marris, Griffith Rowland, David Jones, Henry Davis, Evan Davis. John Ivory. John Rodgers, John Lloyd, Robert Young, John Thomas, Peter Mooney, Samuel Wesey, John Evans (Smith), and John Carrel. All other elections were held in Cambria township until 1852, when the first presidential vote is given for the borough as 59 for Pierce and 91 for Scott.
The first firemen were Jeremiah Ivory and Owen McDon- ald. who were appointed by the council March 28, 1826. In 1846 it purchased a hand engine for the Friendship Fire Com- pany, and in 1872 the present Dauntless Fire Company was or-
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
ganized. The completion of the old stone or northern pike in 1820 made Ebensburg prosperous, as it was a favorite stopping place for the stages and the Conestoga wagons. This continued until the opening of the old Portage railroad, but as it, with the canal system, could only be operated in the warm season, the winters in Ebensburg were made lively.
The borough was divided into two wards by the Act of May 1, 1861, in which Center street was the division line. The Act of April 14, 1868, authorized three members of Council from each ward.
The term of service for the burgess was one year until 1893. when it was extended to a three year period. The several offi- cials were: Richard Lewis, 1825; James Rhey, '26; Moses Ca- nan, '27; Stewart Steele, '28; John Lloyd, '28; Richard Lewis, 29; Moses Canan, '30; Arnold Downey, '31; John Williams. '32; James Murray, '33; Michael Dan Magehan, '34; David H. Roberts, '35; Richard Lewis, '36; Michael Dan Magehan, '37; Richard Lewis, '38; Johnston Moore, '39 to '41; David H. Rob- erts, '41; Michael Dan Magehan, '42; Charles Litzinger, '43; A. Mc Vicker, '44; Wesley Bateman, '45; Richard Jones, Jr .. '46; Robert L. Johnston, '47; Ezekiel Hughes, '48; Michael Hasson, '49; John Williams, '50; David H. Roberts, '51; George C. K. Zahm, '52; Wesley Bateman, '53; Samuel D. Pryce, '54; John Thompson, '55; James Myers, '56 to 58; David H. Roberts, '58; John D. Hughes, '59; Andrew Lewis, '60; David J. Evans, '61; George Huntley, '62; James Myers, '63; A. A. Barker, '64; C. T. Roberts, '65; J. Alexander Moore, '66; T. Blair Moore, '67 to '69; Abel Lloyd, '69; Samuel W. Davis, '70; T. W. Dick, '71; George A. Berry, '72; F. H. Barker, '73; D. H. Kinkead, '74; George Huntley, '75; Samuel W. Davis, '76; Thomas J. Davis, '77; John E. Scanlan, '78; Edward J. Humphreys, '79 to '82; C. T. Roberts, '82; F. H. Barker, '83; J. S. Davis, '84; F. H. Bar- ker, '85; T. Mason Richards, '87 to '89; George C. K. Zalım, '89; Evan E. Evans, '90; James T. Young, '91 to '93; Festus Lloyd, '93; T. Mason Richards, '94 to '97; F. H. Barker, 1900; Ed- mund James, '03, and Alexander J. Waters, 1906.
The following gentlemen have been Postmasters at Ebens- burgh, with the date of their appointments. The letter "h" was dropped from the name September 28, 1893: John Lloyd, Octo- ber 1, 1807 ; John R. Lloyd, January 1, 1808; John Lloyd, June 17, 1818; Rees S. Lloyd, September 13, 1838; Rees J. Lloyd, February 24, 1843; Milton Roberts, April 21. 1849; Frederick
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Kittell, February 19, 1853; Michael C. McCague, June 27, 1853; Harriet M. McCague, February 20, 1860; Mathias S. Harr, April 18, 1861; John Thompson, May 6, 1861; Edward J. Mills, Sep- tember 13. 1866: Rees J. Lloyd, Angust 17, 1867 ; James T. Hut- chinson, March 27, 1869; John Thompson, June 27, 1871; Ed- mund James, April 23, 1878; James G. Hasson, October 8, 1885; Florentine H. Barker, August 29. 1889. Philip G. Fenlon, Sep- tember 28, 1893; Festus Lloyd, February 25, 1898; John G. Lloyd, January 22, 1907.
The Hudson and Morrison map of 1816 gives the popula- tion of Ebensburg as 150; Munster, 80 and Jolmstown, 60. The Act authorizing the organization of the county directed that the county capital should be within seven miles of the center of that territory. Benla was about three miles southwest of Ebensburg, which brought it within the limitation. The precise location of the latter is forty degrees thirty-four minutes and twenty seconds north latitude, and one degree forty-five minutes and forty-four seconds longitude, west from Washington City. The altitude above sea level at the main entrance to the court house is 2138 feet.
It will be observed the center of population was about the county capital, as these four villages were within ten miles of each other from the most distant point. As late as 1816 Loretto was the most northerly settlement. However, Mc- Geehan's grist mill on the Chest creek was a few miles to the north. Elder's and Storm's mills were on the Clearfield creek, a few miles east of Loretto, but about the same latitude. Will- iam ()'Keefe, the deputy surveyor general, resided just east of Ebensburg at this time. Messrs. Hudson and Morrison stated in their return of the survey that "The Conemaugh could be easily connected with either the Clearfield or Chest creeks between Ebensburg and Munster, and even this route would be shorter and better than to connect with any of the higher branches of the Allegheny river."
After the opening of the Old Portage railroad the mountain was a favorite place for visitors during the summer season. The Mountain House at Duncansville was moved to Cresson about 1854; the Fountain Inn was located in the forest on the old Northern pike a few miles east of the Summit. The Summit has always retained its advantage but is limited as to its popularity. After the opening of the branch railroad Ebens- burg became a desirable place to live, and since the closing
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
of the Mountain House at Cresson it is the leading summer resort of this vicinity.
LORETTO.
This pretty village is the second oldest settlement in the county. As we have noted elsewhere, Captain Michael McGuire located there in 1788, when it was a part of Huntingdon county, and died there November 17, 1793. It was known as the "Mc- Guire Settlement" until in 1799 Father Gallitzin established a Catholic mission there and named it Loretto, for the famous Loreto on the Adriatic coast, Italy, which seems to have been spelled with one "t." On the occasion of the centenary cele- bration of the parish on October 10, 1899, the Rev. Ferdinand Kittell published a souvenir of Loretto, prepared with skill and carefulness. It is a volume of 405 pages, with much detail of family and church history, which included a chapter on Captain Michael McGuire, by William A. McGuire, Esq., a' lineal descendant.
Loretto was originally in Frankstown township, Hunting- don county, but after the organization of Cambria it was a village in Allegheny township. In 1816 it was plotted into town lots by Father Gallitzin, as he acknowledged the map "to be his act and deed." It consisted of one hundred and forty-four lots in three tiers, divided by two streets sixty feet in width, and three cross streets of equal width. The central row of forty-eight lots are one hundred and sixty feet in depth, and the others two hundred feet.
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