HISTORY: State-Book of Pennsylvania, 1846, Blair County, PA

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STATE-BOOK OF PENNSYLVANIA

Containing an Account of the Geography, History, Government, Resources and 
Noted Citizens of the State; with a Map of the State and of Each County for 
the Use of the Schools.  By Thomas H. Burrowes.  Philadelphia: Uriah Hunt & 
Son, 44 N. Fourth Street, 1846.

206 - FOURTH CLASS - BLAIR

BLAIR COUNTY.

  1.  BLAIR, an iron mountain county, is bounded E. by Huntingdon, N. by 
Huntingdon and Centre, W. by Cambria, and S. by Bedford.  Area, 650 square 
miles.
  2.  The chief MOUNTAINS are, Tussey's, forming the eastern, and the Great 
Allegheny the western, boundary.  Between these are Lock, Brush, Bald Eagle, 
and others, Blair being a very mountainous county.
  3. The STREAMS are, the head-waters of the main Juniata, the principal of 
which are, the Frankstown Branch, Little Juniata, Clover creek, &c.
_____

1. What are the class, boundaries and area of Blair?
2. Name the mountains.
3. Streams.

FOURTH CLASS - BLAIR.  207

   4. The SOIL resembles that of most of the counties of this class.  That 
of the numerous limestone valleys is fertile, but the mountains are barren.  
About one-half of the county may be fit for tillage or pasture.
  5. The valuable MINERALS are, abundance of iron-ore and limestone, with 
bituminous coal in the Allegheny mountain.
  6. Blair contains 11 townships, 3 boroughs, and several growing villages.
  7. The BOROUGHS are, Hollidaysburg, the seat of justice, on the Juniata, 
with 1896 inhabitants, Gaysport and Martinsburg; and the villages are, 
Williamsburg, Frankstown, Newry, Davidsburg, Laurelville, Ironville, 
Duncansville, Waltersburg, Henrysburg, and Collinsville.
  8. The PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS are, the state-canal along the Juniata to 
Hollidaysburg, where it joins the Portage railroad, which extends over the 
Allegheny mountain to Johnstown; the northern turnpike across the county 
through Hollidaysburg; and a number of bridges.
  9. The POPULATION of the territory now forming Blair, in 1840, was 20,250, 
and the assessed value of property, in 1845, was $3,440,000.
  10. The first SETTLERS were mainly Scotch-Irish and Germans.  Latterly, 
large numbers from other counties of Pennsylvania, and from other states, 
have settled in the towns.
  11. Their chief EMPLOYMENTS are, agriculture, the iron business, and 
trading on the public works.
  12. Their PRODUCTIONS are, grain, cattle, pork, iron, and some coal.
  13. The LITERARY INSTITUTIONS are, 75 common, and some private schools.
  14. Blair elects 1 member to the House of Representatives, and, with 
Huntingdon and Bedford, 1 to the Senate of the state; with Huntingdon, 
Centre, Mifflin, and Juniata, 1 member of Congress; and is in the sixteenth 
judicial district.
_____ 

4. Describe the soil.
5. The minerals.
6. How many townships, boroughs, and villages?
10. Who settled the county?
11. What are their chief employments?
12. Productions?
13. Literary institutions?
14. How is Blair represented, and what is the judicial district?

208  STATE-BOOK OF PENNSYLVANIA.

  15. The Townships are, Allegheny, Antis, Blair, Catherine, Frankstown, 
Greenfield, Huston, Snyder, Tyrone, Woodberry, and South Woodberry.
  16. Hollidaysburg is a large, busy, and growing town on the Juniata, at 
the head of canal navigation, and at the eastern end of the Allegheny 
Portage railroad.  It was laid out by Adam Holliday, a Scotchman and early 
settler in the county.  From him its name it taken.  In 1830, it only 
contained 72 inhabitants, but the completion of the main line of canal and 
railroad, soon after, caused it to grow with great rapidity.  It was 
incorporated in 1836, and contains 6 churches, 6 public schools, several 
founderies, a large steam flour mill, and a number of immense warehouses and 
other establishments connected with the canal trade.  It became the seat of 
justice of Blair county in May, 1846, by the selection of the commissioners 
appointed under the act of Assembly, which formed the county; but the county 
buildings have not yet been erected.  It is 115 miles N. W. of Harrisburg, 
213 N. W. of Philadelphia, and 95 E. of Pittsburg. 
  17. Gaysport contains about 1000 inhabitants, and is only separated by a 
small branch of the Juniata from Hollidaysburg.  The two boroughs in fact 
form one town.
  18. Frankstown is on the Juniata, 2 1/2 miles below Hollidaysburg.  It was 
an important point on the northern turnpike, before the construction of the 
canal. 
  19. Williamsburg is a flourishing town on the Juniata, 14 miles below 
Hollidaysburg.  It has a population of 637, with 5 churches and a number of 
mills.
  20. Martinsburg is a thriving town in the rich valley, called Morrison's 
cove, in the southern part of the county. It contains 422 inhabitants.
  21. Sinking-spring Valley contains lead ore, which attracted considerable 
attention during the revolutionary war.  A fort was then erected, and a 
number of miners were sent out to obtain a supply for the army.  But, owing 
to the small quantity produced, and the hostilities of the Indians, the 
undertaking was soon abandoned.  The valley derives its name from a 
considerable stream, called Arch spring, which rises in the southern part of 
Tyrone township, and, after flowing northward some miles, sinks into the 
earth and rises again a number of times, and disappears in the mouth of a 
large cave.  It is supposed to pass for several miles under Brush and Canoe 
mountains, and to reappear by two branches in Canoe valley, whence it falls 
into the Frankstown branch of the Juniata.  Sinking-spring valley is also 
noted for the abundance and excellence of its iron-ore.
  22. Nearly all the valleys that occur among the rugged mountains of Blair 
are of the limestone class, and very productive.  They generally contain 
iron-ore of a superior quality, and the surrounding mountains are clothed 
with abundance of timber. The consequence
_____ 

15. Name the townships.
16. Describe Hollidaysburg.
17. Gaysport.
18. Frankstown.
19. Williamsburg.
20. Martinsburg.
21. Describe Sinking-spring valley.
22. What is said of the valleys and the iron-works?

FOURTH CLASS - HUNTINGDON.  209

is, that iron-works are very numerous, and add largely to the prosperity of 
the county.
  23. HISTORY. - Previous to 1846, the territory now forming Blair was 
included in the counties of Huntingdon and Bedford, and its history is 
embraced in theirs till that period. The completion of the state canal and 
railroad in 1834 added so largely to its population, business, and wealth, 
as to cause the citizens to desire its erection into a separate county.  
This took place in July, 1846, the name of the county being derived from 
that of John Blair, of Blair's gap, who was one of the earliest settlers and 
most worthy citizens of this part of the state.  He was a member of the 
legislature in 1825-6, and warmly advocated the improvement of the state by 
canals and railroads.  He died about 1828.

23. Repeat the history of this county.