USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Altoona > History of the city of Altoona and Blair County : including sketches of the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. > Part 17
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A company of one hundred men was organized, partly through the instrumentality of Mortimer B. Morrow, and was mustered as Com- pany I, 205th regiment Pa. Vols., on September 2, 1864. Ira R. Shipley was captain; John A. McCahan, first lieutenant, and Henry Elway, second lieutenant. On the 30th of October the captain was discharged. John A. McCahan superseded him, and Henry Hawk, who previously had been sergeant, became first lieutenant, and Henry Elway remained second lieutenant. The company had enlisted for one year, but was mustered out on June 2, 1865, the war having closed.
The "Keystone Zouaves" was organized in 1871, with John R. Garden as captain ; Harry A. Miller, first lieutenant, and Charles L. Fettinger, second lieutenant. It numbered about sixty men. Some- time in 1873 this company was re-organized and its name changed to ."Latta Guard," when Theodore Burchfield became its captain ; Malden Valentine, first lieutenant, and F. R. Barr, second lieutenant.
In 1874 the Fifth regiment N. G. Pa. was formed. The Latta Guard, of Altoona ; Juniata Riflemen, of Hollidaysburg, together with companies of Bedford and Cambria counties, composed it. James F. Milliken was elected colonel. He was discharged from the service November 2, 1876. He was succeeded by P. B. Wilson, of Bellefonte, at which time Theodore Burchfield was made lieutenant colonel. Colonel Wilson died in February, 1878. In March, same
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HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
year, Theodore Burchfield was elected colonel, and at the present time is the commanding officer of the regiment.
In July, 1878, the National Guard of the State was re-organized, and the Fifth regiment consisted then, as it does now, of Company A, of Ebensburg; Company B, of Bellefonte; Company C, of Holli- daysburg; Company D, of Altoona; Company E, of Philipsburg; Company G, of Lewistown; Company H, of Johnstown, and Com- pany I, of Bedford.
The commissioned field and staff officers of the regiment consist of Colonel Theodore Burchfield, of Altoona ; Lieutenant Colonel D. H. Hastings, of Bellefonte; Major P. J. Woleslagle, of Philipsburg; Adjutant W. Sargent, jr., of Altoona; Quartermaster J. A. Rohrer, of Hollidaysburg: Commissary H. D. Tate, of Bedford; Surgeon George F. Harris, of Bellefonte; Assistant Surgeons I. C. Blaisdell, of Wilmore, and A. S. Stayer, of Roaring Spring ; Paymaster C. S. Marks, of Lewistown; and Chaplain D. W. Hunter, of Lewistown.
Near Braddock's station, on the 8th of September, 1880, the Fifth, together with six other regiments were inspected by General Gibson, U. S. A., and James W. Latta, Adjutant General of Pennsylvania, who complimented the Fifth as being the first in point of merit. This opinion was also given by General J. F. Hartranft, who was present on the occasion.
Company D, (Fifth regiment) was organized in August, 1879. The commissioned officers are Captain John L. Piper; First Lieu- tenant Edwin M. Amies, and Second Lieutenant John R. Garden.
MEMBERS.
Ball, Win. II., (corporal.) Benson, William
McConnell, James A. MeGough, Thomas F.
Miller. Luther
Bender, A. J. Berkowitz, William Bonine. R. K.
Miller, Frederick Montgomery. J. P. McDowell, Robert Nagle, L. W .. (sergeant.)
Brumbarger. W. H.
Butler, Joseph, (corporal.) Casey, Thomas, (corporal.)
O'Donnell. U. B.
Christy, F. M.
Pollitt, E. F.
Davis. F. M .. (corporal.)
Reynolds, II. L. Roberts, Harry C., (sergeant.)
Dagenhart, A.
scott, R. W., (corporal. )
Dagenhart. F. Douglass, J. P. Devlin James
Slep, Ed. J.
Enright, William Evey, J. T.
Turner, W. E.
Feeney, John
Turner, W. A.
Fowle, George D., (sergean1.)
Guthrie. R. B., (sergeant.)
Haldeman, B. F.
Walker, S. C.
Weaver, William
Weiss, Charles T., (corporal. )
Westfall. William C., (corporal.)
Wherry, George M.
Kinney, Bryan
Whittle, C. W. Woods, Harry L.
Woodring. JJohn C. Zimmerman, W.
Lippet, Ed. Londen, Wm. D. Mackey, John A., (corporal.) Maher, Wm. E.
Vetter, Max Walker, M. Il.
Herr, Charles Hudson, V. D., (sergeant.) Houck, Il. J. IIill, John
Smith, J. Lincoln
Spaulding, George T.
HISTORY. OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
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HOLLIDAYSBURG.
BY II. H. SNYDER.
Adam and William Holliday were brothers .* They emigrated to this country from the north of Ireland in the year 1750, and settled in Lancaster county in this State. From there they moved to Frank- lin county and settled on the banks of the Conococheague. They
served in the wars against the French and Indians, of 1755-6 and of 1762-3. Adam was a lieutenant under Col. Armstrong, and accom- panied him on his expedition over the mountains to destroy the In- dian town of Kittanning. Their route was over the ground on which
* In his history of Jumata Valley, Mr. Jones states that Adam and William Holliday were cousins. This error should be corrected. The grand-daughter of Adam, now residing in Lewistown, a lady of fine intelligence, and good memory, seventy-six years of age. states that they were brothers, and she is at a loss to know how such an error could have originated.
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HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
Hollidaysburg now stands. In 1768, these brothers resolved to seek a new location, and, placing all their earthly possessions on pack- horses, faced westward, hoping to reach the banks of the Allegheny and possess themselves of some of the fertile lands which border on that river, and they, like others we read of in history, saw and ad- mired those rich valleys whilst engaged in their military campaigns. But upon their arrival at the place where Hollidaysburg now stands, then a wild and unbroken wilderness, they determined to halt and proceed no farther. They apprehended trouble with the Indians who still held undisputed possession of the lands of that region.
Adam Holliday took out a warrant for one thousand acres of land and erected his "homestead," a rough building of logs, on the brow of the hill from which he could have a good view of the Juniata river as it meandered its course through the forests of beach and ma- ple, sugar 'and hickory, and had, at the same time, a commanding view of the country beyond. The site of this pioneer hut was the south-west corner of Allegheny and Montgomery streets. William crossed the river, and although somewhat discouraged by the swampy nature of the soil, finally found a location to suit him, in the ravine south of Gaysport, and what was for many years known as the Jack- son farms. He purchased one thousand acres from Mr. Peters. Gay- sport is built on a portion of this purchase.
ERECTION OF THE FIRST SUBSTANTIAL HOUSE.
The first substantial house was erected about the close of the Revolutionary war, by Mr. Adam Holliday, on the bank of the river near where the bridge between Hollidaysburg and Gaysport now stands. Many of the older citizens of the town have seen and re- member the old log house. Here he lived to a good old age, and died in 1801. Soon after the war broke out, and the Indians were hunting white scalps for shipment to Canada, to be paid for with British gold, Lieut. Holliday took command of all the able-bodied set- tlers, and selecting a favorable site erected a fort, which he named " Roberdeau," in honor of a French officer whom he admired. This fort was located on the flat between the Williamsburg branch railroad and the river, and not far from the "Two locks." It proved, indeed, a place of refuge for the settlers, for here they would gather with their women and children and remain sometimes for weeks. In the year 1781, early in the month of August, William Holliday, having heard from the scouts that the country was clear of Indians, left Fort Roberdean, accompanied by his two sons, Adam and Patrick, and his
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HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
little daughter, Janet, aged about fourteen, and went over to the farm in the ravine to take off a crop of hay, when suddenly and unex- pectedly they were attacked by a party of Indians, who lay in am- bush, and his two sons and daughter were killed. Mr. Holliday nar- rowly escaped with his life. The bodies were found where they had fallen. All were scalped. They were buried on the farm, near where they fell, and a rude stone marks their graves. This tragedy, hor- rible in its details, is part of the history of the early settlement of this part of the country, and is cited as an instance of the cruelty of savages and the hardships of the pioneers. It was many months be- fore William recovered from this fearful shock. The screams of his little daughter, as she was being heartlessly and brutally butchered by the savage fiends, rang in his ears for many months afterward, and at times he was almost bereft of reason. But he did recover from it, and lived for many years afterward, and, dying at a good old age, was laid to rest by the side of his children. The place is still known as the "Holliday burying ground."
Adam Holliday left surviving him a son and a daughter-John and Janet. John was accounted, in his day, the wealthiest man in this country. He removed to the Conemaugh and purchased all that tract of land on which Johnstown now stands, but having no faith in the future greatness of Johnstown, * sold out to Peter Livergood for eight dollars an acre, and returned to Hollidaysburg. He immedi- ately erected a hotel, and in the east end of the building opened a general store. The hotel property was subsequently purchased by Mr. Peter Hewit, father of Mr. James M. Hewit, who ocenpied it as a hotel, store and post office until the year 1839, when it was torn down and on the same ground was created the large brick build- ing now known as the " American House."
In the primitive hotel building was born Alexander L. Holliday, son of John Holliday. James M. Hewit was also born in the old hotel building. Both these gentlemen are still citizens of Hollidays- burg. Janet Holliday married William Reynolds, of Bedford county. Her sons-William, James and Holliday-were proprietors of the American House during the years 1853-5. Mrs. Thomas W. Jack- son, of Altoona, is a daughter of James Reynolds.
The Blairsville and Huntingdon turnpike, which passes through Hollidaysburg, was completed in 1818. The completion of this im-
* Mr. Holliday's christian name being " John." the town was called JOHNS-town. Had not his surname entered into the composition of " Hollidaysburg," Johnstown wonld doubtless have been called Hollidaysburg.
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HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
portant highway was regarded as a long stride in progress. Previous to this time the road through this country was little more than a bridle path, and at an early day was known as a trail, called the " Kit- tanning trail." It crossed the river diagonally, starting at Alle- gheny street, crossing where the viadnet now stands, and coming ont at the steam grist mill of Wood, Morrel & Co. At that time Hollidaysburg consisted of the "Holliday and Adams' Taverns" and a few scattering houses. It now began to assume an air of more im- portance. The teamsters hauling merchandise between Philadelphia, or Baltimore, and Pittsburg made this a halting place, and almost every night the space in front of the "tavern," now the diamond, would be crowded with heavily ladened wagons. The "Adams House," or tavern, as it was called, was the oldest hotel in Hollidays- burg, and was built about the year 1790. Mr. John Bowers, sr., stated in the year 1831, that when a young man, about forty years before that time, he stopped over night at this house. It occupied the ground on Allegheny street, where the buildings of A. F. Osterloh and Mrs. S. C. Snyder now stand. This house was for many years a favorite resort. The elections for Frankstown and Allegheny town- ships were held in it, the politics of the day were discussed here, and in its ample grounds the men for miles around, even from Franks- town, would gather and play what was then the favorite game of " gable ball."
FIRST SURVEY MADE.
From the best information obtainable, and a careful comparison of dates, it is safe to say that the town of Hollidaysburg was surveyed and plotted as early as 1780, not later than this, and perhaps a few years earlier. Mr. James M. Hewit has in his possession a copy of the original town plot, and it is very unfortunate that it does not contain a date ; not even the date when the copy was made. This old paper has been in his possession for upwards of forty years. We know the town was plotted prior to 1781, because Miss Janet Holli- day, who was massacred by the Indians in August of that year, was the owner of a lot on Walnut street, between Wayne and Union. This copy was evidently made in a very early period of the century, for the lot on the north-west corner of Allegheny and Wayne streets, now the property of Mrs. Virginia Over, and was owned by her uncle, Christian Garber, as early as 1808, and on the plot it is in the name of Peter Titus. The boundaries of the town were Front street on the west ; Union street on the cast; Walnut street on the
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HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
north, and Mulberry street on the south. There were no lots on the west side of Front street; on the south side of Mulberry street, nor on the east side of Union street. The land between Mul- berry street, or the southern limits, and the river was covered by the most beautiful sugar, hickory and walnut trees-it was a fa- mous sugar camp. This beautiful woods long remained a place of re- sort. It was known as the grove adjoining the basin. Here the pa- triotic citizens assembled to celebrate
THIE FOURTH OF JULY.
One of these good old-fashioned celebrations, which occurred on July 4th, 1836, will be briefly referred to, for the purpose of showing the spirit of Hollidaysburg at that day : John Dougherty, proprietor of the United States hotel, was the caterer of the occasion, or, as was the custom at that time, he was selected by the committee of arrange- ments to get up the dinner. Hle and his good wife were recognized as the host and hostess. Everybody assembled at the "United States," where the procession was formed, and, headed by a band of music, proceeded to the grove. C. Garber, esq., was chosen presi- dent, and John Dougherty, vice-president. After the reading of the Declaration of Independence, by Mr. John Davidson, the Hon. Samuel Calvin, who had but two months previously made his debut as a young lawyer, was introduced to the large assemblage, which "oh- served much respectful order and attention," and delivered an oration which was well received and highly spoken of. In this oration Mr. Calvin took strong ground against the growing agitation of the slavery question, and denominated the Abolitionists as "self-styled philanthropists," and predicted that a continuation of these discus- sions would eventually lead to war between the North and South. After the good things had disappeared, and everybody was feeling happy, the toasts were read. In those days toasts upon all festive occasions were indispensable. It will no doubt be interesting to many of the citizens of Hollidaysburg to give a few of them that an idea may be had of the feelings and sentiments of the lead- ing citizens of Hollidaysburg forty-four years ago. There were thir- teen "regular toasts," and perhaps fifty or sixty by the citizens. Of the regular toasts, we select: "The day we celebrate-worthy the commemoration of freeman." [Yankee Doodle ; three cheers.] "The memory of General George Washington." [Drank silent and stand- ing.] By the vice-president of the day : "Beaver Dam Branch, of the Juniata river at Hollidaysburg ; yesterday, a rill, too small to float an Indian canoe; to-day, a lake covered with canal boats ;
,
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HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
twenty years hence, navigated with steam-boats; go ahead, keep moving." By George R. McFarlane : "The memory of James Mad- ison: The last of the band of sages, who reared the edifice of the Constitution ; having lived to see the work of his hands cemented by time, strengthened by the storms which have beat against it, and bidding fair to immortality, he is sunk to rest, full of years and full of honors.
' How sleeps the sage who sinks to rest, With all his country's wishes blest.'"
By Joseph Baldridge: "The yearly return of the Fourth of July : May it always find mankind on an equality." By James Morehouse : " Allegheny Portage Railway: How magnificent an improvement compared with the serpentine pathway by which our forefathers wended their way over the rugged Allegheny." By C. McCormick : " May the people of Hollidaysburg never feel want, nor ever want . feeling." By James Cooper: "The fair sex of Hollidaysburg : Long may they continue what they are, a virtuous and intelligent class." By H. Divine : "Pennsylvania improvements over the Allegheny mountain, without incline planes, is only wanting to make them su- perior to any in the world, and show that nature has formed no bar- rier to American enterprise." By Jacob Snyder: "The declaration, of July, '76, and the Pennsylvania resolutions, passed by the legisla- ture at the extra session of 1836; the former declaring to the world that we are free and independent States; the latter sustaining, with the firmness of our fathers, the true principles on which the Union of States shall be maintained." By W. G. Campbell : "Mr. Calvin, the orator of the day : May he live a hundred years, and every day like this." By L. H. Williams: " Henry Clay : May the evening of his life be as calm as the morning was glorious." By C. Lowe : "The ladies of Hollidaysburg and vicinity cannot be excelled for vir- tue, beauty and intelligence." By Wm. M. Lloyd: "Texas, like our forefathers, her sons are struggling for independence: may they be as successful, and convince tyrants that they cannot enchain the spirit of liberty." By the company: "Our Host and Hostess deserve the thanks of this company for the excellent fare and superior style of our dinner."
"BILLY" DONALDSON'S TAVERN.
A stone building stood in the diamond on the ground now occu- pied by the opera house. It was built early in the century, probably in 1808 or 1810. It was occupied in 1814 as a general store by John Swope, who came from Huntingdon. This property was pur-
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IIISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
chased by William Donaldson, who put an addition to it, and used it for a hotel. "Billy" Donaldson's tavern became very popular. The landlord was a famous character, and many amusing anecdotes re- garding him are still narrated. It was also a favorite boarding house, and many young unmarried gentlemen, who subsequently became prominent leading citizens of the town, some of whom are still liv- ing, boarded here, amongst whom may be mentioned, Hon. Samuel Calvin, A. L. Holliday, Jacob Snyder, Caleb Chambers, Henry Lloyd, (brother of Wm. M. Lloyd, of Altoona,) John Culbertson, and John Penn Jones.
FRANKSTOWN IN THE LEAD.
But up to the period of 1830-1 Frankstown was the metropolis of this region of country, and the locality of Hollidaysburg was only distinguished by a few houses scattered along the road. The post office was at Frankstown ; the churches were at Frankstown, or near there; the stores, with the heavy stocks of goods, were at Franks- town, and if the ladies of fashion, the belles of that day, wished fine dress goods, and of stylish patterns, they must go to Frankstown to purchase them.
ADVANTAGEOUS SITUATION.
Hollidaysburg had its growth and became a town of importance from its situation being at the termini of the Pennsylvania canal and Allegheny Portage railroad. In 1831, when the act authorizing the construction of these public works became a law, Hollidaysburg was but a small hamlet ; Frankstown, as before intimated. and Newry were towns of far greater importance. It was generally conceded that wherever the "basin" or canal terminus would be located, a town would spring into existence which would be of considerable consequence, precisely as the location of the shops and principal offices of the Pennsylvania Railroad company created a large and prosperous town. The engineers in charge considered Frankstown as the natural point, and the "basin " was not only "staked off" there, but its construction actually commenced, and on the strength of it Mr. Henry Denlinger commenced the erection of a large three- story brick hotel. Town lots went up rapidly, and for awhile the old town enjoyed quite a "boom." An effort was made to locate the " basin " on the farm of Jacob Wertz, now owned by Mr. George W. Rhodes, and an offer of ten thousand dollars, a good sum at that time, was made for the land; but the old man refused to sell. Per- haps if Jacob had not proved so contrary and obstinate, Hollidays-
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HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
burg would never have had any other existence than a resting place for teamsters. The farm of Patrick McCloskey, where the reservoir was subsequently located, was also selected as the place for the canal "basin." The Wertz farm was the place designated by nature for its location, for near that point is the junction of two branches of the Juniata river, and with a proper dam, it is fair to presume that the large expenditure of money for the construction of the reservoir would never have become a necessity.
ENTERPRISE OF JOIN BLAIR.
But John Blair, the same for whom the county was named, (and he was thus honored by his friends in Hollidaysburg for this very ac- tion,) was the leading politician in all this region. He represented the west end of Huntingdon county in the legislature, and was also possessed of a widely extended influence. It was he who agitated the building of the turnpike, and who first talked of the expedieney of, and insisted upon, crossing the Allegheny mountains with a rail- road by means of incline planes. The proposition was at first re- garded as chimerical and visionary; but he had taken the levels him- self, with a rudely constructed instrument made of birch bark, and he demonstrated from actual observation the feasibility and practicability of the scheme. He was enterprising and progressive, and at the same time awake to his own interests. He was the owner of hun- dreds of acres of coal lands on the Alleghenies, and he intended that these mineral lands should be developed. He was in the Legislature when the question of the " basin" was being discussed. He wanted it at Hollidaysburg. Huntingdon hooted at the idea of a canal " basin " being located in the mountains, and the Hon. John William- son, of Huntingdon, in illustration of his point, declared that the eyes of the boatmen would be blinded with the dust which would rise from the bottom of the "basin" located there. Subsequent events went far to prove that Mr. Williamson had a pretty clear com- prehension of the thinness of the water in this direction. But John Blair had set his heart on Hollidaysburg. He wanted a turn- pike and he got it; he wanted a railroad and he got it; and now he wanted the "basin " located at Hollidaysburg and it was done. If, at a later day, Hollidaysburg had possesed such an able and generous champion and friend as the Hon. John Blair, the city of Altoona, in Blair county, would never have been heard of.
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HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST CANAL BOAT.
The first canal boat arrived in Hollidaysburg in the fall of 1833, and was named the "John Blair." . The event was celebrated by a grand ball. No building in the town was large enough to accommo- date the guests, and the music and dancing was adjourned to the large brick building in Frankstown, known as the "Denlinger hotel." The work on the railroad was so far completed on the 26th of No- vember, 1833, as to permit the passage of the first car over its entire length. On the 18th of March, 1834, the road was opened as a pub- lie highway. The Canal and Portage Railroad Exchange, a new and spacious brick hotel, corner of Mulberry and Montgomery streets, was opened to the public April 1, 1834, and was kept by J. C. Wil- liams and R. M. Shaw. The United States hotel was built by John Dougherty, on the corner of Juniata and Wayne streets, about the year 1840.
EDUCATION LOOKED AFTER.
About 1834 the citizens of the town took great interest in educa- tion. The common school law had been enacted the year previous, and they were anxious to see it in operation. A large meeting- called then "a great meeting"-of the friends of education was held in the public school house on the 9th day of September. Joseph Adams was president ; John Lytle and Samuel Smith, vice-presidents, and John Brotherline and Isaac Yingling, secretaries. On motion of Jacob Snyder, esq., a committee of five persons was appointed for the purpose of drafting a preamble and resolutions expressive of the views of the meeting, and also to select six citizens to be nominated by the meeting as candidates for school directors. The chair ap- pointed Jacob Snyder, David Y. Hileman, John Davis, William Mc- Farland and Joseph Purse as that committee. The committee re- tired and prepared a lengthy preamble and resolutions, in which was set forth, in strong and effective language, the great advantage to be derived from a good system for the public schools, and predicted the future greatness of the Commonwealth and the country if the law would be properly and liberally enforced. The candidates then nom- inated for the board of school directors at that meeting were all elected, and it might be well to note here that this was the first board of school directors in Hollidaysburg and in this part of the county. The board comprised Robert MeNamara, Suttle F. Henry, John Barr, Henry Stiffler, E. Galbraith and James Smith, sr., of Scotch Valley.
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