Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 38

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Number of Pages: 1036

USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Altoona > Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 38

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HUSTON TOWNSHIP.

Clover and Piney creeks, flowing to the northward, are its principal· sources of water supply and drainage. Fine farming lands and comfortable farm buildings abound along the highways, which take the direction of these streams, and the appearance of things gener- ally throughout the township indicates thrift and prosperity. On Clover creek, in the north- west corner of the township, is situated the hamlet of Fredericksburg, known as Clover Creek postoffice, while in the southeast corner, on Piney creek, is located the Rebecca furnace.

Two years after its organization, or in 1844, Huston contained 221 married taxables, and fifty-one free men. Dr. Peter Shoen- berger and Samuel Royer & Co., then owned all the unseated lands, and the total valuation of all property assessed was $289,383, on which a county tax of $367.75 and a state tax of $324.84 was levied. In 1860 the township had a total population of 1,214. There were 1,385 inhabitants in 1870, in 1880, 1,533, in 1890, 1,391, and in 1900, 1, 145.

Settlements were made in the territory now termed Huston township simultaneously with or immediately succeeding those first estab- lished in other parts of Morrison's cove. Among the early settlers about the time of the Revolution were Jacob and Conrad Brum- baugh, Harmonus, John, Jacob and Henry Clapper, David Goughenour, Isaac Huston, Christian Hoover, Paul and Jacob Rhodes, Philip Metzker, Jacob Smith, James Spencer, William and John Shirley and Christopher Shrom.

Huston township, lying between Woodbury and North Woodbury townships and occupy- ing a portion of Morrison's cove, possesses all The Rebecca furnace was erected in the year 1817, being the first furnace built by Dr. Peter Shoenberger, who afterwards became the most prominent iron-master in the state of Penn- sylvania. Edward H. Lytle became the owner of the furnace many years ago, and the prop- erty is still owned by his heirs. Essington Hammond operated it for about five years prior to 1870, then B. M. Johnston & Co. un- til 1873. It then remained idle until January, 1881, when Dr. S. M. Royer, of Martinsburg, the natural features, beauties and advantages in common with its neighbors. From the date of the organization of Woodbury until the year 1842, when it was erected as a separate township, it formed part of the first mentioned division. By the formation of Taylor town- ship in 1855, however, its territory was dimin- ished. As now organized it has Woodbury township on the north, Huntingdon county on the east, North Woodbury township on the south, Taylor and Frankstown townships on operated it for about one year, employing the west.

over fifty men, and producing thirty-five tons

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of pig metal per week. The furnace was after- wards dismantled and only a dreary waste re- mains where it once stood.

In the year 1842 a new era dawned upon the small bit of territory now under consider- ation. The ancient township was then di- vided, and to the southern part was given the name of Huston. John Clark, John Aurandt and John M. Gibboney were the viewers ap- pointed by the court to report on the division, and their report was confirmed on Aug. 19, 1842. It was named Huston in honor of Hon. Charles Huston, a judge of the supreme court of Pennsylvania and formerly an eminent member of the bar of Huntingdon county, of which the township formed a part until 1846, when Blair county was created. In 1872 the boundary line between Huston and North Woodbury townships was slightly changed at the order of the court, John M. Gibboney and D. M. Bare having been appointed commis- sioners for the purpose.

The township maintains nine schools and the present members of the board of education are M. L. Acker, D. W. Smith, L. D. Acker, A. S. Wagner, John Dixon and A. L. Sno- berger.

JUNIATA TOWNSHIP.

In 1847 Juniata township was erected from Greenfield, and ten years later its limits were reduced by the formation of Freedom town- ship. As now organized, therefore its bound- aries are Allegheny township on the north, Freedom township on the east, Greenfield township on the south and Cambria county on the west. Generally speaking, it may be termed a mountain township, yet its inhabi- tants are chiefly engaged in agricultural pur- suits. Iron ore and bituminous coal abound in various localities.

The Huntingdon and Indiana turnpike, as well as the roadbeds of the Portage and New Portage railroads, in following up the Blair Creek valley, passes from east to west across the southern border. In the southern part is the hamlet known as Blue Knob, where there is a postoffice, a small Lutheran church edifice,

schoolhouse and blacksmith shop. £ There is also a lodge of the Patriotic Order Sons of America here, and they have a neat little building which they use for lodge purposes.

Among the early residents were the Wilts, Burgers, Bowsers, Costlows, Champenours, Diehls, Beegles, Feathers, Gaileys, Helsels, Conrads, Leightys, Lingenfelters, McIn- toshes, Mashes, Morgans, Rhodes, Stifflers, Shaws, Longs and others, which names pre- dominate to this day in the township. Prior to 1800 there was not probably more than a score of people residing in the township. In 1900 the population was 612. It was part of Bedford county until the spring of 1846, when by the formation of Blair county it became part of the latter organization. In the fall of 1846, in response to the petition of many in- habitants, praying for the division of Green- field township and the erection of a new one, viewers were appointed by the court of quar- ter sessions, to investigate and make report. The viewers, C. McConnell and Samuel S. Barr recommended a division and the report was confirmed March 27, 1847.

One of the most remarkable men in the his- tory of Juniata township was Thomas Kea- gan, who died about 1885 at the age of 106 years. He was a native of Ireland, served un- der the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo, and came to America, settling in Juniata township about 1820. He retained his faculties to the last and the year before his death went to the election and voted for Grover Cleveland for president. Among those who have held the position of justice of the peace in the town- ship are George Weaver, Adam Moses, Jacob Leighty, Simon Diehl, Henry Costlow, Fred- erick S. Wilt and Michael Moyer. What is known as the Swites, a plateau, upon which is some excellent farming land, extends through this township.

Attention was given to educational matters in this township at an early date. From a deed in possession of the secretary of the dis- trist school board it is learned that in 1823 Peter Wilt, Sr., "for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar, to him in hand paid,

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sold to Peter Wilt and Christian Lingenfelter, trustees of an English and German school, all his right, title and interest in a certain piece of ground situated," &c. The Dry Run school- house is located on this lot. At the present time there are six schools in the township and the directors for 1909-1910 are L. W. Diehl, A. B. Long, E. J. Leighty, Calvin Wilt, S. G. Wilt and L. A. Shaw.

LOGAN TOWNSHIP.

Logan township was formed from Alle- . gheny and Antis in 1850. The term Logan, as applied to various sections of the country, public houses, organizations, balls, etc., in this region, was derived from the Cayuga chieftain known to the first white settlers in the Tuckahoe valley as Captain Logan, a name given him by the whites. He came here from the Susquehanna valley prior to the year 1768, and settled at the spring near Grazierville, a locality still known as the Logan valley. A firm friend of the Ameri- cans during the struggle for independence, he it was who discovered and disclosed the diabolical plot of John Weston and his To- ries. Although he had learned to read from the Moravian missionaries when a lad, he knew very little of the forms of land pur- chases ; so, through his ignorance of the cus- toms of civilized communities, he failed to purchase the spot on which his cabin stood. As a consequence, after the war, some envi- ous 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 con- tinued until the Great Spirit called him to a happier hunting ground.

Logan township is bounded on the north by Cambria county and Antis township; by Antis, Tyrone and Frankstown townships on

the east; Frankstown and Allegheny townships on the south, and Allegheny and Cambria county on the west. The city of Altoona and the borough of Juniata occupy

a central position within its boundaries, and by reason of the fact that various suburban points, known as East Altoona, Greenwood, McCartneyville, Collinsville, Llyswen, Lake- mont, Lakemont Terrace, Eldorado, Rose- lawn, East End, Kittanning Point and Glen White, lie just without the city's corporate limits, the population of Logan exceeds that of any other township in the county. Thus it had 2,538 inhabitants in 1860; 2,422 in 1870; 4,582 in 1880; 7,688 in 1890, and 9,089 in 1900. The estimated population at the present time is 15,000.

Embracing in the western section the eastern slope of the Allegheny range, and a portion of the western inclination of Brush mountain, much of its territory, although rich in deposits of bituminous coal and iron ore, can never be rendered valuable for agri- cultural purposes. However, in the south- east and northeast quarters, some very good farming lands abound. The township is drained by the Little Juniata, Homer's mill, Brush, Glen White Scotch Knob, Glen White and Burgoon's runs, all of which af- ford excellent water power, and the last four named fill the reservoirs upon which the in- habitants of Altoona depend for supplies of water. The Allegheny Water company, which supplies many of the suburban vil- lages, gets its supply of water and has a reser- voir on-Mill run.

The present township includes a portion of the famous Tuckahoe valley, which ex- tends from Altoona to Tyrone, and within it quite a number of white families had lo- cated before the beginning of the Revolu- tionary war. Among them early were Thomas and Michael Coleman, Michael Walleck, James Hardin, James Hart, John Torrence, Jacob Burgoon, John Guilleford and William Guilleford.

There were some depredations commit- ted by the Indians in the Tuckahoe valley, but, except upon one occasion, none of a very serious nature. The cause of this can be traced in a great measure to the fact that Thomas and Michael Coleman and Michael

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Wallack lived in the upper part of the valley. These men were so well known and so much feared by the Indians, that although the Kittanning trail leading to the Bald Eagle valley ran directly through Tuckahoe, they always avoided it, for fear of finding those old and experienced hunters ambuscaded along their route.

Besides Captain Logan, the friendly chief, lived for some time in what is now known as Logan valley. He was also known and feared, and he was constantly on the alert to guard against the incursions of hostile savages. Add to this the fact that the val- ley was thinly populated, and the risk at- tending the hunting for scalps immeasur- ably great, small roving parties on but two or three occasions made their appearance in Tuckahoe.

In the fall of 1777 two savages took cap- tive two children while at play near a cabin located somewhere near what is known as Hutchinson's crossing. Thomas Coleman happened to be out hunting, and saw them come up the path. Each one was carrying a child, but neither of them had fire-arms, so that he felt quite at ease. From behind the tree where he stood he might easily have shot one of the savages, but he would not run the risk for fear of hitting the child, so, waiting until they had passed him, he jumped into the path, leveled his gun at them and shouted "Surrender!" The af- frighted savages dropped the children and disappeared in the woods.

On another occasion they entered the val- ley, stole three horses and set fire to a stable. A number of the pioneers tracked them through the old warpath to the top of the mountain, which was quite as far as it was prudent to venture, as that was con- sidered the line dividing the white settle- ments from the Indian country.

The only massacre in Tuckahoe ever com- mitted by the Indians took place in the sum- mer of 1778. A man named John Guilliford cleared a small patch of land a short dis- tance south of where East Altoona now

stands, and erected his cabin near the Trout homestead. In the spring of 1778 he aban- doned his ground and cabin, after the first alarm of Indian depredations, and sought safety in Fetter's fort. In the course of the summer, after the alarm had somewhat subsided, Guilliford went down to see how his crops were progressing. His body was found the same day by Coleman and Milli- gan. It was lying at the threshold of his cabin door, so that in all probability he was shot just as he was coming out of his house. Coleman and Milligan dug a grave near the hut and buried him as he was, without a coffin. The most remarkable feature about this murder was that Guilliford was not scalped. When it is remembered that scalps were paid for at the British garrison at Detroit, the omission to scalp Guilliford appears inexplicable. Coleman and Milli- gan went in search of the Indians, but did not succeed in getting upon their trail.

The Revolutionary struggle over, the war-cry of England's savage allies was never more heard on the eastern slope of the Alleghenies, nor, indeed, east of the headwaters of the Ohio; and in conse- quence of the security then afforded to both life and property, the log cabin homes of the pioneer whites increased year by year here in the Tuckahoe valley, as well as in all contiguous districts. Yet, by reason of the great distance from general markets, and the almost inpassable condition of rude highways, unbridged streams, etc., the in- crease in population and values was not by any means rapid, and even until the build- ing of the main line of the Pennsylvania roalroad through this portion of the valley, the number of inhabitants, comparatively speaking, was insignificant.

The building of the Pennsylvania rail- road and the founding of Altoona in 1849, rapidly increased the population of hereto- fore sparsely settled regions of Allegheny and Antis townships, and it was soon deter- mined by those interested to ask for the erection of a new township. Accordingly,

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in response to the petitions of many inhabit- ants, William Brooke, Joshua W. McCord and Levi Slingluff were appointed, at the May adjourned court of quarter sessions in 1850, commissioners to inquire into the pro- priety of erecting a new township, to be called Logan, from Antis and Allegheny townships, and make report of their pro- ceedings, together with their opinion of the same, which was read at June term, 1850, was again read on the 30th day of October, 1850, and confirmed and ordered to be re- corded. In December, 1851, John M. Gib- boney, Joseph P. Dysart and William Brooke, in accordance with the request of various petitioners, were appointed by the court commissioners to change the line be- tween Antis and Logan townships. These commissioners corrected the line from "Da- vid Smith's white-oak corner" to the Cam- bria county line, thus creating a straight boundary line between the townships men- tioned of more than 1800 perches in length. During the October sessions of 1867, Mar- tin Bell, William H. Brooke and D. N. Bare were appointed commissioners to adjust and establish a boundary line between Ty- rone, Logan and Frankstown townships. On the 25th of October, 1868, they reported as follows: "We do establish the summit of Brush mountain as it runs in all its mean- derings to be the line of Tyrone, Logan and Frankstown townships, so far as the two latter townships border on said Brush mountain. In recent years the area of Lo- gan township has been steadily decreasing as a result of the creation of the borough of Juniata, in 1890, and annexations of terri- tory to the city of Altoona from time to time. The largest recent annexations to the city were Fairview, 166 acres, now the Elev- enth ward, in 1906, and Millville, 124.5 acres, now the Twelfth ward, in 1907.

MANUFACTURING.

The Allegheny furnace, the second iron furnace erected within the territory now known as Blair county, was built in 1811, by

Alison and Henderson. In 1835, after hav- ing been out of blast eighteen years, it was purchased by Elias Baker and Roland Dil- ler of Lancaster county, Pa. Mr. Baker became a resident of the township the same year, and before his death, in 1854, became possessed of large landed interests in the adjoining townships. He erected a mas- sive stone dwelling, at a cost of $75,000, and a grist-mill in 1854, at a cost of $20,000. Until 1867 charcoal was used at the furnace. From that time coke alone was employed for smelting purposes. During the later years of its existence this furnace produced from fifty to eighty tons of pig-iron per week, and was managed by Dr. S. C. Baker after his father's death. It was put out of blast in 1885 and later dismantled, going the way of all other furnaces in the county.

The axe and pick manufactory of Colcles- ser brothers, at Eldorado, was established by their father, Daniel Colclesser, about the year 1832. He carried on the business from that time until 1878 when he was suc- ceeded by his sons John and Samuel. The former has since retired and the business is conducted by Samuel and another brother, Aden. Motive power is derived from the waters of Burgoon's run, and half a dozen men are steadily employed. Colclesser Brothers make many of the picks used in the maintenance of way department of the Pennsylvania railroad. Willis Gibboney had occupied the same site and power with wool-carding and fulling mills from about 1806 to the date of the establishment of the axe and pick manufactory.

The works of the Altoona Brick and Tile company, limited, are located on the Holli- daysburg branch of the Pennsylvania rail- road company, a short distance from the city limits. They were established in 1880, and under able management have achieved an enviable degree of success. The ground oc- cupied is about two and a half acres in ex- tent, and upon it are erected the most thor- oughly constructed and appointed buildings and kilns. Among the leading specilties are

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fire-clay bricks for rolling-mills, coke ovens, etc., locomotive tiles, gas retorts and the va- rious designs and patterns of fire-clay arti- cles necessary for steel works and manufac- turing establishments requiring high grades of material. The present officers are James C. Hughes, president, and Charles W. Moore, secretary and treasurer.

With the growth and development of the city of Altoona, Logan township, which sur- rounds the city on all sides, has also grown, and co-incidentally has lost some of its most thickly populated districts through annexa- tion to the city. Thus in recent years the towns of Fairview and Millville have be- come a part of the city and are known as the Eleventh and Twelfth wards. Network of trolley lines leading from the city to the surrounding towns has resulted in the springing up of pretty villages here and there, and the population is steadily increas- ing as a result of the development of Lake-

mont park, Llysen, Lakemont terrace, Rose- lawn, Oakton, Collinsville, Newburg, East End, Greenwood.

In educational affairs Logan township is far in advance of most rural communities. Every district is provided with a commo- dious brick building, and a high school with a competent corps of teachers is conducted. A district superintendent has the general supervision of the schools of the township, this position being held for a number of years past by Prof. John H. Hennen. His predecessors were John H. Cessna and John H. Walters.

Logan township has kept pace with the progressive tendencies of the day in the matter of road building. In 1908 the tax- payers gave their approval to a loan of $50,- 000 which was judiciously expended in per- manent road building, and some of the fin- est stretches of road in the county may now be found in this township.

CHAPTER XVIII.

HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIPS (CONCLUDED).

History of North Woodbury, Snyder, Taylor, Tyrone and Woodbury Townships.

NORTH WOODBURY TOWNSHIP.

North Woodbury township is the south- eastern division of Blair county. From the extinguishment of the Indian title to lands in this region in 1758 to the time of the forma- tion of Bedford county in 1771, this bit of the vast domain of the commonwealth was in- cluded within the boundaries of Cumberland, and from the latter year until the erection of Blair in 1846 it formed part of Bedford. In 1855 a considerable portion was detached to form the present township of Taylor.

With Tussey's mountain on the east, it em- braces a portion of the beautiful and fertile region known as Morrison's cove. Martins- burg borough is situated in the northwest part. About three miles east of Martinsburg, near Clover Creek, is the small village of Freder- isckburg, otherwise known as Clover Creek postoffice, southward from the latter place the hamlet known as Millerstown, and in the southeastern part of the township is Henri- etta, also a postoffice station, and the terminus of the Morrison's cove branch of the Penn- sylvania railroad. Between Martinsburg and Henrietta is the village and station, Curry- ville. Its only considerable water-course, Clover Creek, flows northerly through the eastern part.

About 1755 a colony of Dunkards, now known as the Church of the Brethren, began to settle in the southern portion of the cove; they gradually worked their way northward, until many of them became residents of the

present township of North Woodbury, Tay- lor and Huston, and numbers of their de- scendants hold possession to this day. About the same time Scotch-Irish immigrants set- tled in this region. During the Indian wars of 1762 quite a number of murders were com- mitted in the cove and many captives were taken. In May, 1781, a band of marauding Indians entered the cove and murdered a man, woman and two children and took one man prisoner within a mile of the fort of John Piper, who was then colonel of the county. At another time several other prisoners were taken. It is also related that during one of the Indian forays a man named Houser and his son were killed, and two children of the same family were carried away into captivity.

Soon after the close of the Revolutionary war, and consequent cessation of the Indian depredations, bona fide settlers swarmed into the cove, and it is to be presumed that prior to 1790 all desirable lands had passed to indi- vidual ownership. During the war of 1812 Captain Bridenthal led a company which was recruited in the cove to the Canadian frontier, yet, by reason of their conservatism, their peculiar religious tenets and customs, and the present appearance of their surroundings, it may readily be inferred that during all the years a large majority of the people of North Woodbury township led the same quiet, un- eventful lives which they seem to do today. By the erection of Blair county in 1846, North Woodbury, including the greater portion of the present township of Taylor, was detached

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from Bedford county to form part of the first- named civil division.

SNYDER TOWNSHIP.

Snyder township occupies the extreme northern point of Blair county. Center Hunt- ingdon, Cambria and Clearfield counties border it on three sides and on the east natural boundaries are formed by Brush Mountain and Bald Eagle ridge. The western section is almost wholly on the Allegheny mountains, and the entire surface of the town- ship is more or less broken. Along the Little Juniata, which flows through the southeast part of Snyder, are some fertile lands, and the upper valley of Bald Eagle creek is also tilla- ble. The remaining area has been valuable only for its timber supply, which was largely consumed in the manufacture of iron in the period when charcoal furnaces flourished in this part of the state.

Moore's, Hutchinson's, Sinking and other runs help to drain the country and have a con- stant flow from mountain springs. The latter has a subterranean passage for more than three-fourths of a mile, emerging from the earth at the borough of Tyrone in the form of a very large spring of unusually pure water, which soon mingles with those of the Juniata. Close at hand is the mouth of Bald Eagle creek, which flows along the western base of a ridge bearing the same name from its course in Center county. Along these streams, and particularly in the small valley of Bald Eagle creek, settlements were made several years before the Revolution by a number of persons of small means, who were attracted thither most likely by the abundance of game found on the foothills of the mountains. Among these was the Rickett family, composed of seven stalwart sons, noted for their reckless daring and bravery as Indian scouts. These, in common with nearly all the original set- tlers, removed before the beginning of the cen- tury, and nothing but vague traditions of their residence are preserved. Most of the land comprising the township having become the property of iron-masters, it was thence occu-

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 38

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Number of Pages: 1036

Author: Sell, Jesse C 1872-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Publishing
Number of Pages: 1036