Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 39

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 39

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pied by tenants, and the pioneer history is bar- ren of interest.

Snyder township was formed of parts of Warrior's, Mark and Antis townships, in con- formity with a report made to Governor Si- mon Snyder, by two commissioners appointed for the purpose, William P. Dysart and John McMullen, Jan. 14, 1841, and it was named in honor of the governor.

The fine water power afforded by the streams of Snyder early attracted the atten- tion of the iron masters owning the adjacent ore-fields, and about 1805 the Little Juniata was made to operate a forge for John Glonin- ger & Co. This was called Tyrone forge, and soon achieved an excellent reputation for its products. Eight years later the company built another forge half a mile up the Juniata, which, from its location with reference to the first, was called Upper Tyrone forge, and both were placed under one management. Prior to this, possibly about 1807, a rolling- mill, slitting-mill and nail factory were built on the bend of the river, below the old forge, which was successfully operated until about 1830. The first nail maker was John A. Dav- idson, and from 1820 to 1826, Walter Clarke, father of Dr. Rowan Clarke, was the mana- ger of the mills. Both the lower and upper forges were rebuilt by William M. Lyon & Co. before 1840, the capacity of the former being increased to eight fires and one large hammer, while the lower forge had five fires. In 1865 the present Tyrone steam forge was built near the site of the lower forge. This forge was successfully operated until 1874, when work was suspended. About 1883 a rolling-mill was added to the plant and operations were then renewed. The manufacture was con- fined mainly to boiler tube skelp and special high grade pipe iron. It employed over 150 men and the annual product was over 12,000 gross tons from the rolling-mill and 6,000 tons' product from the forges. It was thus operated until 1904, when it closed down. Early in 1910 the Tyler Tube works became interested in the idle plant and made arrange- ments with the owners to operate it and ship

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the products direct to them, and it is once again in operation after an idleness of six years.

A. G. Morris has extensive quarrying in- terests in Snyder township. As early as 1868 he began quarrying and shipping limestone, and later on he engaged in the manufacture of lime. At Tyrone forges Mr. Morris began work in November, 1879, engaging on a large scale in the development of a quarry which had been partially opened prior to his own- ership. This industry has assumed large pro- portions and Mr. Morris has long been one of the most extensive operators in his line in the interior of the state.

TAYLOR TOWNSHIP.

The township of Taylor is situated on the southern border of the county, and was formed from Huston and North Woodbury in 1855, and until the erection of Blair county in 1846, comprised portions of both Bedford and Huntingdon counties. Its present boundaries are Blair and Frankstown townships on the north, Huston, Frankstown and North Wood- bury townships on the east, Bedford county on the south and Greenfield, Freedom and Blair townships on the west.

It includes a portion of the famous and beautiful region known as Morrison's cove, and is drained by Plum and Halter creeks and the stream, which, having Roaring spring for its source, finally unites with Plum creek and flows northward through McKee's gap. The mountains forming its western boundary are especially rich in iron ore, while the undulat- ing surface of the township generally affords prosperous communities and fine farming lands.

The Morrison's cove branch of the Penn- sylvania railroad affords ample railway facili- ties for those residing and doing business in the towns and villages, while excellent wagon roads lead in various directions. The village of Sharpsburg lies about two miles to the east- ward of Roaring spring, on a broad highway leading from the latter place to the borough of Martinsburg.

When the Bedford county pioneers, chiefly Germans, pushed out their settlements to the northward and westward during the years im- mediately succeeding the close of the French and Indian war in 1756-63, some of them lo- cated within the present limits of Taylor town- ship. Thus we find that prior to 1775, Jacob Neff, the Dunkard miller, who is mentioned in the history of Roaring Spring, Martin and Jacob Houser, Christian Hoover, and proba- bly a few others were already here.

After peace and quietness had been restored other families located in this part of the cove and before the organization of Huntingdon county in 1787, John Brumbach, Daniel Ell- rich, Christopher Markle, Abraham Plummer, Jacob Plummer, Peter Hoover, L. Philip and Peter Stoner, Jacob Shoenfelt, Edward Cowen, John Lower, Tobias Shiffler and John Morgan were counted as residents.

Until 1842 the territory now embraced by the township of Taylor was partly in Wood- bury, Huntingdon county, and partly in North Woodbury, Bedford county. In that year, however, Woodbury township was divided, and to the southern part was given the name of Huston. By the formation of Blair county

in 1846 all portions of the present township became part of the new county, but the town- ships of North Woodbury and Huston re- mained intact until April session of the Blair county court of quarter sessions, 1854, when John Bennet, Alexander Knox and Samuel Dean were appointed commissioners to in- quire into the propriety of erecting a new township from parts of North Woodbury and Huston, to be called Morris, and to make re- port of their proceedings, together with their . opinions of the same. This report was ap- proved by the court July 30, 1855, and at the request of the citizens of the new township the name was changed, by order of the court, to that of Taylor, in honor of the judge of the county.

With vast quantities of iron ore of a supe- rior quality lying near by, an abundance of superior material for charcoal, and a never- failing stream from which to derive motive-

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power, it is no wonder that Dr. Peter Shoen- berger, the experienced and most successful iron master the state ever produced, turned his attention hitherward at an early day and be- gan the erection of forges, grist-mills, etc.

Dr. Shoenberger built the Upper Maria forge about the year 1828, the Middle Maria forge in 1830, and the Lower Maria forge in 1832. These forges were for many years op- erated successfully in conjunction with the mines at Ore Hill and Sarah furnace in Greensfield township. Full details of Dr. Shoenberger's operations together with par- ticulars of the Rodman furnace, located in Taylor township, appear in another chapter.

For more than seventy-five years the lo- cality known as Ore Hill has been famed for the superior quality of its iron ore and the vastness of its mineral deposits. It is not, however, adapted to the manufacture of steel, and in recent years has not been mined.

Sharpsburg is a quiet little hamlet, contain- ing a German Reformed church, schoolhouse, several mechanical shops, and a score of dwell- ings. Upon its site located the first settlers of the township. Sharpsburg is surrounded by a beautiful, very fertile farming region.

TYRONE TOWNSHIP.

The name of Tyrone was borne by one of the townships of Huntingdon county at the time of the organization, embracing at that time the territory which now consti- tutes half a dozen townships in Huntingdon and Blair counties. At present the term is limited to that tract of country in Blair county which is better known as Sinking valley, a pleasant vale of limestone land ly- ing between the Canoe ridge on the south- east and Brush mountain on the northwest, and having for its northeast boundary the Little Juniata river. It is about six miles wide at the widest part, and terminates in a narrow point of land in the southwest, the general shape of the township being trian- gular. East of the highlands trending through the middle of the valley is Sinking run and its affluent brooks. This stream,

owing to the peculiar limestone formation in the township, sinks into the earth in the upper part of the valley, and after flowing some distance underground, emerges in the form of a large spring, the overhanging rocks forming an arch, from which circum- stance the place has become widely known as the Arch spring. This spring and the caves or pits connected with the run in its passage through this region, are among the most attractive natural features in the county, and have been objects of wonder and admiration for more than a century of years.

In addition to this peculiar stream, which has given the valley its name, the presence of lead and other minerals early attracted attention to this locality. It is claimed by some that lead was procured from the val- ley as early as 1763, and that the belief that it abounded in large quantities induced the proprietors to locate a manor in the valley and open up the other lands for settlement by having them surveyed. Prior to the Rev- olution lead was mined on a small scale to supply individual wants, and was smelted in a rude sort of way near the mines. After the contest with Great Britain was well un- der way, lead became so scarce and the means of supply were so uncertain that the government determined to develop the lead fields of Sinking valley, with a view of mak- ing them yield the desired article. To fur- ther this scheme a company was induced to settle in the valley, to establish a regular set of works; and to guarantee them protection against attacks by the Indians, who were known to roam through the valley with hos- tile intent, a large fort of logs was erected in the summer and fall of 1778, which was mounted with two small cannon, had a good armament, and a regular garrison of from ten to forty men. Gen. Daniel Roberdeau was appointed commander of the troops and superintendent of the mining operations in April, 1778. The fort was named for him Fort Roberdeau, and the general was in command until the following year, when he

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was relieved by Major Clugage. The fort was occupied by the state authorities about two years, but served as a place of refuge for the settlers of Sinking and Bald Eagle valleys until the cessation of the Indian troubles.

This fort was located several miles above the Arch spring, west of the site of the old Beyer mills, near a stream of pure, unfailing water. This feature, perhaps, determined the location, as the ground does not appear to be particularly adapted for defense, al- though another advantage in its favor may have been its proximity in its favor may Here shafts were sunk and ore raised under the management of a Scotch miner named Laurie, some of whose descendents are yet citizens of the county, and in the latter part of April, 1778, a Mr. Glenn supervised the building of a smelting furnace near the same place, in which some of the ore was reduced preparatory to its shipment to the eastern part of the state. It was carried by pack horses to Water street, where it was loaded on canoes and thence conveyed to Middle- town, in Lancaster county. Besides other lead so delivered, there is a record of one thousand pounds sent there by General Rob- erdeau, for which he received six dollars per pound Continental money. The men at the fort and miners were victualed with sup- plies brought in by way of Water street, which were carried to the fort with some difficulty. The country was at that time a comparative wilderness, and the mines were isolated from the neighboring settlements. The miners were nearly all foreigners, little used to the hardships of pioneer life, and lived in constant fear of attacks by the In- dians .. The utmost persuasion could not induce them to remain long in this region, many leaving at the first opportunity. Be- fore the capacity of the mines could be fairly tested the undertaking had to be aban- doned. It is probable that the government was willing to listen to such a suggestion, since the alliance with France had made it possible to secure supplies of lead from for-

eign points with greater certainty and less expense than to hazard further experiments in search of lead in the valley. Small quan- tities of iron, silver and gold have also been found in this valley, and even in recent years sensational stories of discoveries of the precious metals have been heralded abroad.' But it is improbable that they ex- ist to any appreciable extent.

Consequent upon the mining operations during the Revolution, a large number of whites settled in Sinking valley, so that in 1779 it contained about seventy families liv- ing in log houses. After the mines were given up by the government, many of these removed, while those who remained formed good plantations.

Several parties of hostile Indians ventured into the valley and committed depredations, including the murder of at least two of the settlers named Roller and Bebault. The former was a son of Jacob Roller, who lived at the head of the valley, where in 1777, he and his sons, with the assistance of some neighbors, erected a substantial fort for de- fense in case of attack by the Indians. This fort served to check Indian incursions, so that for two or three years the settlers ex- perienced no alarm from the presence of the wily foe in the valley. A sense of security prevailed which doubtless contributed to the death of the men mentioned. Jacob Roller, Jr., was an energetic frontiersman, an unerring marksman, and bold and fear- less of the savage foe. The Indians knew of his skill, and tried on several occasions to massacre him, but did not succeed until the fall of 1781, when danger from Indian at- tacks was not apprehended. A party of In- dians then came down the mountains and passing the house of Bebault, tomahawked and scalped him, then went to the house of Jacob Roller, Jr., whose family was at his father's fort. He was on his farm working in the fields. Not 'returning to the fort in the evening, a party went to see if anything had befallen him. The body of Roller was found in the field. He had been shot and

WASHINGTON AVENUE. LOOKING NORTH, TYRONE

PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, FROM 10TH STREET, TYRONE

ADAMS AVENUE PUBLIC SCHOOL, TYRONE

PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD AND TRAIN SHED, TYRONE

FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING, TYRONE

BLAIR COUNTY NATIONAL BANK, TYRONE

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scalped. When Bebault was found he was not quite dead, though so horribly mangled that he soon after died. A scouting party followed the Indians many miles, but could not overtake them. They succeeded in elud- ing their pursuers, and escaped beyond the mountains. The death of Roller alarmed the settlers of the valley, and many allowed their crops to remain in the fields unhar- vested rather than take the risk of being massacred. The Indians did not venture into the valley again but it was several years before confidence was restored. Thenceforth immigration was rapid, and when the county of Huntingdon was formed in 1787, the original township of Tyrone had upwards of 200 freeholders.

The first improvement of the water power of the township for manufacturing purposes was made by Jacob Isett. About 1788 he put up a small saw-mill below the Arch spring, and soon after a grist mill of limited capacity near the same site, each having an undershot wheel. In 1800 a stone mill took its place, which was regarded as one of the best in this section. On account of defective walls this building was taken down in 1824, and the mill which stands to this day was erected. It was remodeled and made as good as new in 1869. It has been the property of the Crawfords since 1868 when it was purchased from the original build- er's son, Samuel. The Snyder grist-mill was built by Thomas Crissman about 1845. At the hamlet of Laurelville John Wilson be- gan tanning about 1815 in a small yard, con- tinuing until 1842, when he sold out to Henry McMullen. The latter carried on the old establishment until 1857, when he erected a large tannery, supplying steam- power. In 1865 he disposed of his inter- ests to John Diffenbaugh, who abandoned the business in 1873.

CHURCHES.

The first settlers of the valley adhered to the tenets of the Presbyterian church, and a congregation for worship in accordance

with its usages was formed soon after the close of the Revolution. More than fifty years elapsed before Sinking valley became able. to maintain an existence separate and independent of other congregations. The records prior to 1853 are not in existence, and since that time are but fragmentary. The stone church in which the congregation worshipped for so many years, was built in 1818, prior to which the congregation wor- shipped in a house built of logs. In connec- tion is a burial plot of about one acre in ex- tent, in which are buried many pioneer set- tlers. In the locality of Arch spring is a fine parsonage, erected in 1867, at a cost of $4,500. Among those who have served the congregation since 1853 are Rev. Daniel L. Hughes, Rev. John Elliott, Rev. Orr Law- son and Rev. J. J. Coale.

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church in the Fleck neighborhood is a neat brick edifice, which was built in 1840. It has been repaired twice since that time, the interior being remodeled and a new pulpit supplied. This building took the place of a small log house. This building had a box-pulpit and galleries. Among those who have served the congregation were Revs. John Kissler, A. H. Auge, Jacob B. Christ, John T. Wil- liams, William Laitsell, William S. Emory, Michael Eyster, Jacob Martin and J. H. Walterick.

CATHOLIC CHURCHES.

Missionaries of the Catholic church visited the valley as early as 1799, and said mass at the houses of the McLaines and McMulleins. One of the most active of these visiting priests was Rev. Father James Bradley, who came from Bedford. Father Demetrius A. Gallitzin, the famous prince- priest of the Alleghenies, was one of the contemporary priests and visited the valley until 1827, when he was relieved by Father Heyden, who formed a parish of the families living along the eastern base of the moun- tain. In 1840, Father Bradley came on the field of labor, and dedicated a small frame

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house of worship near Laurelville, erected that year, as St. Luke's church. He visited the church once a month until 1853 when the families residing in the valley were at- tached to the parish of Altoona. After eight years a resident priest was placed over St. Matthew's church in Tyrone, and St. Luke's has since belonged to that parish. At present service is only held occasionally in the valley, there being but few members there.

The Sinking Valley Reformed church was organized in 1846, and among those who have served the parish as pastor were Revs. Samuel A. Reid, F. A. Rupley, Joshua Riale, Joseph May, John G. Wolf, John W. Love, J. A. Peters and Milton H. Sangree. Each of the churches in the valley has main- tained a burial ground.

SCHOOLS.

Tyrone township has always maintained good schools. The buildings are unusually attractive with spacious grounds. A seven- months' term was maintained years before the law required it and the teachers were well compensated.

WOODBURY TOWNSHIP.

Woodbury township is of very early ori- gin, it having been organized as a township in Bedford county prior to the formation of Huntingdon county in 1787. From the lat- ter year until the erection of Blair county, in 1846, it formed a part of the county of Huntingdon. It was shorn of a large por- tion of its former domains by the organiza- tion of Huston township in 1842, and as now constituted is bounded on the north by Catharine, east by Huntingdon county, south by Huston, and west by Frankstown.

With Tussey's mountain on the east, and Lock mountain on the west, it embraces a portion of the territory known in Colonial days as "the great cove," but since 1770 as Morrison's cove. For many years the town- ship was noted for its iron interests, having the Springfield furnace, Cove forge, Frank-

lin forge, and the Williamsburg foundry. None of these have been in operation for the past twenty-five years, and in recent years the chief industries have been the quar- rying of limestone and ganister rock, the par- ticulars of which are given in another chap- ter. There is much excellent farming land in the township.

IRON INDUSTRY.

Cove forge was built in 1811 by John Royer. The forge when completed had two hammers and four fires. Bar iron was then manufactured at the forge, no mills having yet been built in Pennsylvania for the roll- ing of iron bars, and to transport the prod- ucts of the forge to Pittsburg, then the principal iron market, involved an expense of from $20 to $40 per ton. Cove forge was in operation continuously, employing about thirty men until the early eighties.

Springfield furnace, the third in the county, was built in 1815 by two brothers, Daniel and John Royer, the latter being the builder and owner of Cove forge. Daniel, however, was the principal owner of the furnace. During early years a considerable business was done at Springfield furnace in the manufacture of wood stoves, as there were but few foundaries in this part of the country, and mineral coal was not used for fuel in central Pennsylvania. . About fifty men were steadily employed and about thirty-four tons of pig iron were produced until the furnace was put out of blast for- ever in 1884. The Franklin forge was built about 1830 by Samuel Royer. It furnished employment for twenty-five men, and was continued in operation until 1861.

It is very probable that the small scope of territory now known as the township of Woodbury, possessed no bona fide settlers earlier than the year 1765. The peace and quietness existing from the close of the French and Indian war in 1763, to the be- ginning of the Revolutionary war in 1775, doubtless encouraged people to settle here as well as in adjoining neighborhoods; but

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just who these hardy men were, whence they came, and exactly where they settled, it is now impossible, except in a few instances, to determine. It is well authenticated, however, that in the territory now em- braced by the township of Woodbury a con- siderable number of families had settled prior to the Revolution, and during the ter- rible years which follows they endured all the sufferings and terrors incident to life on the borders during a war with savages.

Among the early settlers was Capt. Will- iam Phillips, whose residence was some two or three miles above Williamsburg, on the premises since known as the Christian Snively place; and here the inhabitants of the lower end of the cove and along Clover creek forted during the alarms caused by Indian forays from 1777 to the close of the Revolutionary war, Captain Phillips' home being turned into a temporary fortress. The captain was a man of influence in this

part of what was then Bedford county, a skillful and brave woodsman, and in the year 1780 was commissioned a captain of Pennsylvania volunteers, with authority to recruit a company of men to assist in pro- tecting the frontier from Indian depreda- tions. He was unfortunate, however, for in July of that year, in attempting to afford protection to the farmers in Woodcock val- ley and the cove, to the end that they might harvest their grain, his entire command, ex- cept himself and his son Elijah was massa- cred. There were twelve men in the com- mand, including the captain, and they were surprised while asleep. Phillips and his son were taken prisoners and carried to Mon- treal, from where they did not return until peace was declared.

The further history of Woodbury town- ship is linked closely with that of Williams- burg, to which the reader is referred.

CHAPTER XIX.

ALTOONA-A HISTORICAL SKETCH.

Location and Description-Altoona the Creation of the Pennsylvania Company-The Buildings -Car Lines-Streets-Water Supply-Industries and Labor Supply-Character of the Population-An Eventful Epoch-A Bit of Altoona History.

LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION.

Altoona is situated about thirty miles southwest of the geographical center of the state of Pennsylvania, at the eastern base of the Allegheny mountains, near the head- waters of the Juniata river. It lies in the upper or western end of Logan valley, or Tuckahoe, as this vicinity was called in early days, in the central part of Logan township, in Blair county. By rail it is II7 miles east of Pittsburg and 235 miles west of Philadelphia, although an air line would be one-fourth to one-third less. Bal- timore and Washington are 150 miles south- east and Buffalo 200 miles directly north, but by rail the distance to these points is nearly twice as great. The name of the city is derived from the Cherokee word "Alla- toona," meaning "high lands of great worth." Its locations and surroundings are rich in scenic beauty and atmospheric pur- ity, so much so that it has become a favor- ite place of resort for tourists during the summer months.

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Twentieth century history of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 39

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