LOCAL HISTORY: STOREY, Henry Wilson. HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY PA. Vol. 1 The Lewis Publishing Co., 1907. Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Martha Humenik. There is an HTML version of this book, with page images, on the county web site: http://www.camgenpa.com/books/Storey/v1/ Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm _______________________________________________ CHAPTER III. ORGANIZATION OF COUNTIES--CAMBRIA COUNTY TAKEN FROM SOMER- SET AND HUNTINGDON--FIRST TOWNSHIPS IN CAMBRIA COUNTY. A history is the recorded events of the past, therefore, we will locate the territory within the limits of Cambria county, so that its geographical situation will be clear, and the events which follow may be applied clearly and definitely. The capital, or the county seat, for the transaction of the business relating to common affairs and the administration of justice, is Ebensburg, which was located at that place when the county was organized. The converging lines passing through Ebensburg are, one degree forty- five minutes and forty-four seconds (1 45' 44") west from Washington City, and forty degress thirty-four minutes and twenty seconds (40 34' 20") North Latitude. The county is on the western slope of the Allegheny mountains; the eastern boundary line lies along the crest thereof, with Bedford and Blair counties adjoining. It is about thirty-seven miles in length, with Somerset on the south and Clearfield county on the north: the westerly line is about thirty-three miles in length along the Westmoreland and Indiana county lines; its northerly line is about twenty-five miles in length, and the southerly line about twenty-one miles. Its area is 666 square miles, or 426,240 acres. "When William Penn laid out the city of Philadelphia and assumed control of the province of Pennsylvania in 1682, he created three counties, namely: Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester. The latter included all the territory west of the other two, and of which Cambria was a part. Lancaster county was created in 1729; York in 1749, and Cumberland in 1750. It will be observed that civilization was moving westward, and in 1771 Bedford county was organized, being taken from Cumberland. At the first session of the quarter session's court for Bedford county, on April 16th, 1771, almost its first official act was to create the township of Brothers Valley, the first township ever organized west of the Allegheny mountain. Its boundary lines were all the lands lying between the crest of the Allegheny mountain, the Youghiogheny river and the western foot of 30 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. the Laurel Hill, extending from the Maryland line northward to the Conemaugh river. It will be observed that it did not extend north of the Conemaugh or of the Little Conemaugh rivers. Elsewhere will be found an accurate list of the residents of Brothers Valley in 1772, with such property as was assessable. During the April sessions of the Bedford court, 1775, it made the new township of Quemahoning from the township of Brothers Valley. The boundaries of Quemahoning were: "Beginning where the Great Road, which is laid out through the Glades crosses the Allegheny Mountain near Burd's Gap, and along the said road to where it crosses the Laurel Hill at Matthias Ditches Gap; then along the Laurel Hill by the line of Westmoreland county to the head of the Little Conemaugh, and from thence along the dividing ridge between the waters of the Susquehanna and Little Conemaugh to the Allegheny Mountain, and by the same mountain to the place of beginning." Huntingdon county was formed, in part, from Bedford county, September 20, 1787. The relevant boundary lines of Huntingdon were; * * * "to the Gap at Jacob Stevens' Mill, a little below where Woolery's Mill formerly stood, in Morrison's Cove; thence in a straight line by the southerly side of Blair's Mill at the foot of the Allegheny Mountain; thence across the said mountain in a straight line, to and along the ridges dividing the waters of Conemaugh from the waters of Clearfield and Chest Creek's to the line of Westmoreland county; thence by the same to the old Purchase Line, which was run from Kittanning to the west branch of the Susquehanna river; and down. the same to the mouth of Moshannon Creek, and along the remaining lines or boundaries which now divide the county of Bedford from the counties of Northumberland, Cumberland and Franklin, to the place of beginning." (2 Smith's Laws, 418.) The Assembly, by the act of April 17, 1795 (3 Smith, 229), authorized the organization of Somerset County, and described its limits, so far as being material, thus: "That all that part of Bedford County, lying and being to the westward of a line to be drawn along the top of the Allegheny mountain, from where the Maryland line crosseth the same to where the line of Huntingdon County crosseth the same mountain, shall be * * * called Somerset." This included the land up to the Huntingdon line, which is substantially all the territory south and southwest of the ridge dividing the waters of the Little 31 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. Conemaugh and the Susquehanna rivers, and all Quemahoning township. The township of Cambria was created by the court of quarter sessions of Somerset county about 1798. The record has been lost, but it is certain that it was taken from Quemahoning township, and the assessments for 1798 show it was duly organized and included all the territory up to the Huntingdon line. At the December sessions for Somerset County, 1798, a petition from the citizens of Cambria township was presented, as follows: "Humbly showeth that the present boundaries of said (Cambria) township produce many difficulties and inconveniences among which the following are conspicuous, viz: The inhabitants of that part of Cambria Township lying south of Conemaugh River in attending township meetings and elections are obliged to cross a dangerous water and travel through a wilderness of great extent to Beulah, whereas the center of Quemahoning township is not so great, nor the communication so much interrupted by water. "The petitioners therefore pray that all that part of Cambria Township lying south of the following line, beginning at the Westmoreland County line where the river Conemaugh crosses it; thence up said river to the mouth of Stony Creek; thence up the Little Conemaugh river following the South Fork to its source; thence due east to the line of Bedford County be annexed to Quemahoning Township, as being the most proper line of division between said townships, as well in point of convenience to the inhabitants thereof, as it being the natural boundary and they will ever pray." The same is marked granted. Conemaugh township was organized by the court of quarter sessions for Somerset county, at its session held in February, 1801. The relevant portions of the boundaries were: "All those parts of Quemahoning township, * * * thence along the Westmoreland County line to the river Conemaugh; thence in a straight line to the junction of the north and south branches of the Little Conemaugh river; thence up the south branch thereof to the head spring thereof; thence due east to the Bedford County line." Thus it appears that all the territory north of the straight line from the Little Conemaugh to the South Fork, thence to the Bedford line and south of the Huntingdon line was Cambria township, when it was in Somerset county. In pursuance of the act of March 29, 1798 (3 Smith, 322), 32 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. authorizing the commissioners of these counties to run new lines, James Harris, James Wells and James Hunter did so on October 30,1798, which is recorded in Somerset county thus: "A plot of a line extending from a white oak on the summit of the Allegheny Mountains along the ridge dividing the waters of the Susquehanna and Allegheny Rivers until it meets a line drawn from the summit of Laurel Hill west of the Blacklick, along the ridge of said Hill, north eastward, separating that part of Somerset County from the Counties of Westmoreland and Huntingdon." A drawing accompanying this report shows that the line along the ridge is about sixteen miles from the Bedford to the Westmoreland line, and less than ten miles along Westmoreland county to the Somerset line. It appears to be substantially the same as was made when Huntingdon county was formed. This division line is particularly noticeable along the Cambria and Clearfield railroad from Cresson to Kaylor's Station, touching it at many points on the ridge, beginning at the west leg of the "Y" at Cresson. The station at Kaylor's is almost on the dividing line. A drop of water falling on the northeasterly side of the track will flow into the Atlantic, and falling on the other side it will find its way to the Gulf of Mexico. The court of quarter sessions for Bedford county, at the April sessions, 1775, created Frankstown township. This was twelve years before Huntingdon county was organized. It included all the territory in Cambria county north and northeast of the headwaters of the Little Conemaugh river and the Blacklick creek. The line was thus described in the order of the court: "Along the line dividing Bedford and Northumberland Counties from the West Branch of the Susquehanna to where the Little Juniata runs through Tusseys Mountains; thence along the said mountain to the ridge dividing Morrison's Cove from Coyle's Cove; thence along Dunning's Mountain to the dividing ridge between the waters of Dunnings Creek and the southwest branch of Frankstown Branch; thence along the ridge to the Allegheny Mountain; thence cross the same and by the line of Quemahoning Township to the line dividing Bedford and Westmoreland Counties, and by the said line and along the limits of this county to the place of beginning." These are the relevant courses for Frankstown township, and very clearly fix the division line along the Quemahoning township line. Thus we have shown that Cambria was organized by taking 33 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. the township of Frankstown from Huntingdon county, and the townships of Cambria and Conemaugh from Somerset, and probably a small part of the northwest corner of Bedford county. It will be observed that the act authorizing the creation of Cambria county specifies that it shall include certain portions of "Huntingdon and Somerset" counties, and does not mention Bedford, but the records in the Department of Internal Affairs at Harrisburg claim that a part of Bedford was included. The following is a list of the taxable inhabitants of Brothers Valley township, in Bedford county, in the year 1772. Brothers Valley township included all of Cambria county, and was organized in April, 1771: Name. Acres. Improved. Horses. Cows. Henry Abrahams 100 12 2 3 Frederick Ambrose 200 8 2 2 Samuel Adams 200 5 2 Solomon Adams 200 3 1 1 Richard Brown 300 6 1 4 negro slave 1 John Bridges 200 3 2 1 John Baxter 200 8 2 1 Ludwick Boude 100 2 1 1 Christopher Benuch 200 3 1 1 Benjamin Briggs 300 2 2 1 William Cracart 200 4 James Claypole 200 1 Frederick Cefar 100 3 1 1 James Campbell 200 12 1 1 Abraham Cable, Esq. (See Colonial Records. Vol. 10, page 8) 200 10 2 4 John Catta 200 4 2 2 Michael Cefar 106 6 1 1 Joseph Death 600 5 1 10 Oliver Drake 100 2 1 2 James Dougherty 200 10 5 2 William Dwyer 150 10 1 4 John Dilliner 100 2 1 Henry Enslow 100 8 3 4 John Enslow 100 6 1 2 Robert Estep 100 3 1 Adam Flick 100 1 1 1 Jacob Fisher 200 12 2 3 John Ferguson 300 4 2 1 Andrew Friend 50 10 3 2 Augustine Friend 100 2 2 3 Paul Froman 700 18 2 5 negro slaves 2 Michael Flick 200 4 1 Charles Friend 200 10 2 John Friggs 200 1 2 1 John Fry 100 1 1 John Glessner 200 8 2 3 Joseph Greenwalt 100 7 2 2 William Greathouse 200 10 2 3 Thomas Green 100 6 2 8 Walter Hite 200 8 2 2 Michael Huff 300 6 3 3 servants 1 Richard Hoagland 350 71 2 3 Andrew Hendricks 200 10 4 6 Vol. 1-3 34 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. Name. Acres. Improved. Horses. Cows. Benjamin Jennings 200 36 4 6 William Johnston 200 3 1 1 Solomon Kessinger 100 4 2 1 Philip Kemble 300 8 2 4 George Kimball 100 5 2 2 Valentine Lout 100 2 1 1 Daniel Lout 100 3 1 1 John Markley 200 10 4 5 James McMullen 45 9 1 1 William McClee 300 7 2 1 John Miller 300 10 1 2 Joseph Ogle 200 10 2 2 Adam Pollen 100 5 1 1 Francis Pollen 200 3 2 1 Benjamin Pursley 100 12 3 2 John Pursley 60 7 1 1 James Pursley 100 3 2 3 John Peters 300 12 3 2 Henry Rhodes, Sr. 200 21 2 3 Jacob Rhodes 100 5 2 3 Gabriel Rhodes 200 10 2 2 Henry Rhodes, Jr. 400 10 1 2 John Rhodes 100 1 1 1 John Reed 100 7 2 2 John Rice 400 35 7 1 negro slave 1 Gottlieb Rose 100 8 1 Hugh Robinson 100 8 1 2 Frederick Sheaf 200 4 2 2 John Swiser 100 5 2 3 John Sappinton 200 6 2 2 Adam Small 300 8 Bastion Shells 100 1 1 1 James Spencer 240 21 2 6 Nathaniel Skinner 100 5 1 William St. Clair 100 6 Henry Smith 200 3 1 1 Solomon Shute 100 2 1 1 William Tyshou 300 12 1 1 Abraham Vaughan 100 4 2 2 Thomas Urie 100 12 Philip Wagaly 200 10 2 1 Fredeick Weimer 200 4 2 2 John Weimer 100 2 1 1 Richard Wells 300 10 3 2 George Wells 50 4 2 1 Acquilla White 200 3 1 2 John Winsel 100 1 2 1 Peter Winard 100 5 2 3 Thomas John Waller 100 1 2 1 Samuel Wallis 300 The act of Assembly authorizing the creation of Cambria county, March 26, 1804 (4 Smith's Laws, 171), provided: That so much of the counties of Huntingdon and Somerset, included in the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning at the Conemaugh River, at the south-east corner of Indiana County; thence a straight line to the Canoe Place on the west branch of Susquehanna; thence easterly along the line of Clearfield county to the 35 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. south-westerly corner of Center County, on the heads of Mushanon Creek; thence southerly along the Alleghany Mountain to Somerset and Bedford Counties about seventeen miles, until a due west course from thence will strike the main branch of Paint Creek; thence down said Creek the different courses to the mouth of Mill Creek; thence a due west line till it intersects the line of Somerset and Westmoreland Counties; thence northerly along the said line to the place of beginning, be and the same is hereby erected into a separate county, to be henceforth called Cambria County; and the place of holding the courts of justice for said county shall be fixed by the legislature at any place not at a greater distance than seven miles from the center of said county, which may be most beneficial and convenient for said county. An act entitled, "An Act to establish and confirm the place for holding Courts of Justice, and to provide for erecting the public buildings for the use of Cambria County," was passed March 29, 1805 (4 Smith's Laws, 235), wherein John Horner, John J. Evans and Alexander Ogle were appointed trustees to organize the county and receive deeds from Rees Lloyd, John Lloyd and Stephen Lloyd, for certain described land and in lots in the town of Ebensburg, in trust for the use of Cambria county, agreeable to the proposals heretofore made by these gentlemen. "An Act to organize the provisional county of Cambria," passed January 26, 1807 (4 Smith's Laws, 360), provided: "Sect. VIII. That the citizens, inhabitants of Cambria County, who are, or shall be qualified to elect, agreeably to the laws and constitution of this State, shall, at the general election to be held in the county aforesaid, on the second Tuesday in October next, (1807.) choose two fit persons for sheriffs, two for coroners, and three for commissioners in said county, * * and said officers when chosen as aforesaid, and duly qualified to enter on the duties of their respective offices. * * "Sect. IX. That the Courts * * shall be holden on the first Monday of March, June, September and December, and * * the President Judge of the Tenth District or Circuit, and the Judges to be appointed, * * shall have an exercise like powers, jurisdiction and authorities within and over the same." * *. It will be observed that the provisional act authorizing the new county of Cambria was passed in 1804, but on April 4, 1805 (4 Smith, 255), another act was passed directing "that the in- 36 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. habitants of Cambria county shall elect with the inhabitants of Somerset county for members of Federal and State Legislature, and also for county officers, until said county shall be organized." There is no record to be found stating when these townships were created, or by whom, excepting that when the county came into official existence, in 1807, there were three townships in the new county, namely, Allegheny, Cambria and Conemaugh. Allegheny included that part coming from Frankstown township, Huntingdon county, and Cambria and Conemaugh from Somerset. It is presumed, and with much weight, that John Horner, John J. Evans and Alexander Ogle, who were the commissioners or trustees to organize it, simply adopted the former lines of Cambria and Conemaugh townships as they had been created by the court, and named the new township Allegheny. We have been unable to find a map or plot of either of these townships prior to that of 1816. By referring to the map of Walter B. Hudson and John Morrison, made in 1817, it will be observed that Allegheny township included everything north and northeast of the ridge on the headwaters of the Little Conemaugh river and the Blacklick creek, or part of old Frankstown township. Conemaugh included that part south of the straight line from the Conemaugh river to the South Forks, thence following it, through the Cedar swamp, to the Bedford line. Cambria included all between Conemaugh and Allegheny townships. These were the original townships. Summerhill township was created in 1810, having been entirely taken from Cambria. Again referring to the 1817 map, it will be observed the Summerhill line began on the top of the mountain at the point of meeting of the Bedford and Huntingdon line, and, by various courses, left the old Galbreath road a short distance east of Munster, then taking a southerly course ran to the Indiana county line, at the crossing of the old road mentioned. The Assembly passed an act dated March 19,1816 (6 Smith, 374), directing that maps be made of each county, which "shall be on a scale of two miles and a half to an inch, and shall exhibit the boundary lines of the county and of each township, the courses of the rivers and other principal streams, the position of the mountains, the lakes, and mineral and salt springs, the cities, towns, villages and remarkable buildings, the roads, noting particularly such as are turnpiked and the distances in 37 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. miles, between the principal towns and remarkable places, and the maps so formed shall be sent as soon as convenient to the office of the surveyor general." Under this authority Walter B. Hudson and John Morrison made a very complete map of Cambria county, which, so far as is now known, was the first official and substantially accurate early map. It gives the longitude and latitude at Ebensburg, (MAP OF CAMBRIA COUNTY) Cambria County. The Hudson and Morrison Map of 1816, Showing Four Townships. the boundary lines of the four townships -- Allegheny, Cambria, Conemaugh and Summerhill -- and the roads then open to travel. In their notes accompanying the map, the principal towns and villages were enumerated thus: Ebensburg, inhabitants, 150; Munster, 80; and Johnstown, 60; and further: "The tract of country is covered with a thick heavy growth 38 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. of excellent timber, and from its elevated situation (being almost as high as the summit of the Allegheny) partakes of the nature and appearance of mountain lands, but there are many fine tracts entirely clear of stone, and near Ebensburg where quarries of stone are opened they are easily worked and excellent for building being a soft granite of a grey color interspersed with glistening particles of a metallic appearance. "Fall grain is raised by the farmers, but not to so good purpose as east of the mountains, but potatoes, turnips, and all kinds of spring grain (except corn) do extremely well. This county is all considered excellent for grazing. “The principal timber is wild cherry, poplar, chestnut, ash, oak, sugar maple, cucumber, pine and hickory, but birch, hemlock and laurel abound in the marshy lands. The minerals are iron, stone coal and marl. "Conemaugh river is navigable for boats three or four months in the spring season; it has a fine channel free from obstructions. All the streams in the county have sufficient fall for Mills, etc. and do not fail so much in dry seasons as most of the western waters. Canal tracts have not (we believe) been sufficiently examined in this county. We should not despair of connecting the waters of Conemaugh and Juniata rivers. The Poplar run could be easily connected with Bobb's Creek, the heads of which do interlock with those of the Conemaugh & this will be much the shortest route from Harrisburg to Pittsburg. 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." On January 1st, 1907, the county was apportioned for the convenience of the people into three classes of municipal corporations, namely: 1 city of the third class; 26 boroughs, and 28 townships. The following is the list of boroughs and townships with the date of incorporation. It will be observed there have been several boroughs which are not now in existence; several on account of consolidating with other municipal districts, and one having been abandoned by reason of losing its population. In connection with this subject there are two maps to illustrate the locations of the townships. The first one is the Hudson and Morrison map of 1816, the oldest authentic map of the county, which discloses the three original townships, and that of Summerhill, created in 1810. The second map is the same with all the townships substantially shown as they exist in 1906. 39 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS. As has been heretofore noted, there were three original townships in the county of Cambria, namely: Allegheny, Cambria and Conemaugh established while the territory was a part of Somerset county. On January 1, 1907, there were twenty-eight townships within the county, created and organized as follows: 1. Adams was created January 5, 1870, it having been taken from Richland township. It was named for the pioneers, Solomon and Samuel Adams. 2. Allegheny was one of the original townships. The name was derived from the Allegheny mountains. 3. Barr was created September 4,1872, out of the townships of Blacklick, Cambria and Susquehanna. It was named by Henry Scanlan, the surveyor, for the Barr family who had taken up much land in that vicinity, in the early days of the commonwealth. 4. Blacklick was formed October 10, 1850, out of the townships of Cambria, Carroll and Jackson. The name is derived from Blacklick creek. 5. Cambria was also one of the original townships. The name is derived from the Welsh settlement made there prior to 1800. 6. Carroll was formed January 1, 1840, having been taken from Susquehanna township. It was named for Archbishop John Carroll, of Baltimore, a cousin of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton. 7. Chest was created December 10, 1853, it theretofore being a part of White and Susquehanna townships. The name is derived from Chest creek. . 8. Clearfield was organized December 31, 1822, from Allegheny township. The name is derived from the Clearfield creek, which originated from the "Clear fields" on the mountain, and was so designated in the colonial days. 9. Conemaugh, the third of the original townships. The name originated "from the Indian name of the river, -- Caugh-naugh,-maugh. 10. Cresson, organized December 4, 1893, was taken from Washington township. It was named for the Philadelphia philanthropist, Elliott Cresson, who died about 1854. 11. Croyle was created September 9, 1858, from Summerhill township. It was named for Thomas Croyle. 12. Dean was organized July 10, 1877, it having been taken from Clearfield township. It was named for the distinguished Judge John Dean, who was the common pleas judge at that time. 13. East Taylor: The township of Taylor was created 40 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. July 7, 1857. It was named for Judge George Taylor, also the common pleas judge. On June 2, 1884, it was divided into East and West Taylor townships. 14. Elder was formed February 12, 1878, from Chest township. It was named for John Elder. 15. Gallitzin was established June 4, 1866, it having been taken from Allegheny township. It was named for the Parish Father, Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin. (MAP OF CAMBRIA COUNTY) 16. Jackson was organized on January 3, 1828, prior thereto it being parts of Cambria and Summerhill township. It was named for Andrew Jackson, who was elected president that year. 17. Lower Yoder: Yoder township was created July 17, 1858, from Conemaugh township. It was named for David Yoder, a farmer. On September 1, 1879, it was divided into Lower and Upper Yoder townships. 18. Munster was organized December 9, 1854, from Alle- 41 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. gheny, Cambria and Washington townships. The name came from the village of Munster, which was founded about 1802. It was an Irish settlement. 19. Portage was formed March 4, 1878, from Summerhill and Washington townships. The name originated from the "portage" between the Conemaugh and Juniata rivers, in connection with the Allegheny Portage railroad. 20. Reade was established September 1, 1879, out of "White township. It was named for George M. Reade, a lawyer of Ebensburg. 21. Richland was created April 2, 1833, it having been taken from Conemaugh township. It was a very large township, and was named for the quality of the land therein. 22. Stonycreek was formed January 4, 1876, from Conemaugh township. The name was derived from the Stonycreek river, which was so named in the colonial days on account of the rocky bottom and large boulders in it, which still appear. 23. Summerhill was formed February 7, 1810, from Cambria township. It was the first township organized after the county was established. The name was spelled "Somerhill" in the early maps. It was probably named for Joseph Somers or David Summer, who were property holders. 24. Susquehanna was created January 6, 1825, from Allegheny and Cambria townships. The name was derived from a tribe of Indians of that name who had their habitation along the banks of the river in Cambria, county, as early as 1682. 25. Upper Yoder was formed September 1, 1879. See Lower Yoder. 26. Washington was created in 1834. The petition for its creation was filed July 8, 1830. It was taken from Allegheny Cambria and Summerhill townships and named for the first president. 27. West Taylor was formed June 2, 1884. See East Taylor. 28. White was organized July 6, 1838, from Clearfield township. It was named for Judge Thomas White, the common pleas judge. INCORPORATION OF BOROUGHS. Prior to the general borough law of 1851, all the boroughs in Cambria county were created by a special act of the legislature, and even after that date two were established in the same manner. Since the new constitution of 1873, however, they cannot be so created. On January 1st, 1907, there were twenty-six boroughs having municipal existence; they were organized as follows: 1. Ashville, taken from Gallitzin township; incorporated by a decree of the court of quarter sessions of the peace on 42 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. March 9, 1887. It is recorded in docket 9, at page 20. The name was derived from the old Ashland furnace, which was named in honor of "Ashland," the home of Henry Clay. 2. Barnesboro, taken from Susquehanna township; incorporated by the court March 5, 1893; recorded in docket 11, at page 93; named for Thomas Barnes, a coal operator. Cambria, taken from Lower Yoder township by a decree of the court dated October 11, 1861, and recorded in docket 4, page 254. Cambria borough consolidated with the city of Johnstown, December 18, 1889, becoming the Fifteenth and Sixteenth wards. It was named by James P. McConaughy, the founder. 3. Carrolltown, taken from Carroll township. It was incorporated by an act of assembly dated March 30, 1858, P. L. 191, and was created by the consolidation of the villages of Carrolltown and Campbelltown. See Carroll township for derivation of name. Conemaugh, taken from Conemaugh township. It was also created by an act of assembly dated January 12, 1831, P. L. 7. The name was changed to the borough of Johnstown by a similar act dated April 14, 1834, P. L. 294. It was named by Joseph Johns, the founder, for an old Indian town named Conemaugh. It included the first seven wards of the city of Johnstown at the time of the consolidation, December 18, 1889. Conemaugh, the second borough of that name, was taken from Conemaugh township. It was created by an act of assembly dated March 23, 1849, P. L. 235. This borough also consolidated with the city of Johnstown, December 18, 1889, now the Ninth and Tenth wards thereof. 4. Chest Springs, taken from Allegheny township by an act of assembly dated April 19, 1858, P. L. 339. The name is derived from Chest creek. Coopersdale, taken from Taylor township by a decree, of the court bearing date of October 7, 1869, during the existence of the district court while it was held in Johnstown; it is recorded in docket 1, at page 8. The borough was annexed to the city of Johnstown by ordinance dated March 28, 1898, and is the Twenty-first ward. The borough was named for James Cooper. 5. Cresson, taken from Cresson township by a decree of the court dated June 7, 1906, recorded in docket 17, at page 114. See Cresson township for name. 6. Daisytown, taken from Conemaugh township by a decree of the court dated June 9, 1893; recorded in docket 10, at page 457. 7. Dale, taken from Stony Creek township by a decree of the court dated March 9, 1891; recorded in docket 10, at page 44. 8. East Conemaugh, taken from Taylor township by a decree of the court dated September 10, 1868; recorded in docket 5, at page 263. The name is derived from the name of 43 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. the railroad station Conemaugh; also from the fact that it was east of another borough named Conemaugh. 9. Ebensburg, taken from Cambria township by an act of assembly dated January 15, 1825, P. L. 354. It, is the oldest borough in the county, and was named for Ebenezer, in Wales 10. Ferndale, taken from Upper Yoder township by a decree of the court dated June 1, 1896; recorded in docket 12, at page 89. It was named by the Vickroy family on account of the luxuriant growth of ferns in that vicinity. 11. Franklin, taken from Conemaugh township by a decree of the court dated March 9, 1868; recorded in docket 5, at page 240. It was named for the American philosopher and the adopted citizen of Pennsylvania. 12. Gallitzin, taken from Gallitzin township by a decree of the court dated December 3, 1873; recorded in docket 6, at page 154. The name was derived from Prince Gallitzin, otherwise Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, the parish priest at Loretto. Grubbtown. taken from Upper Yoder township by a decree of the court dated August 8, 1882; recorded in docket 8, at page 38. It consolidated with the city of Johnstown December 18, 1889, and is now a part of the Eighth ward. It was named for William Rinaldo Grubb. 13. Hastings, taken from Elder township by a decree of the court, dated April 16, 1894; recorded in docket 11, at page 94. It was named for Governor Daniel Hartman Hastings. Johnstown, for further data see Conemaugh. The boroughs of Johnstown, Millville, Prospect, Cambria, Conemaugh, Woodvale and Grubbtown consolidated, and became a city of the third class. The charter was executed by Governor Beaver, December 18, 1889. It was named for Joseph Johns, the founder. 14. Lilly, taken from Washington township by a decree of the court dated June 11, 1883; recorded in docket 8, at page 94. It was named for the Lilly family. 15. Loretto, taken from Allegheny township by an act of assembly dated March 8. 1845, P. L. 124, and named for a village on the Adriatic sea. Millville, taken from Taylor township by a decree of the court dated July 16, 1858; recorded in docket 3, page 556. It became a part of the city of Johnstown, December 18, 1889, and comprises the Thirteenth and Fourteenth wards. The name is derived from the mills of the Cambria Iron Company, now the Cambria Steel Company. Morrellville, taken from Lower Yoder township by a decree of the court dated October 8, 1890; recorded in docket 9, page 419. It was annexed to the city of Johnstown by an ordinance dated October 19, 1897, and is now the Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth wards. It was named for Daniel Johnston Morrell. 16. Patton, taken from Carroll, Chest, Clearfield and El 44 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. der townships by a decree of the court dated September 4, 1893; recorded in docket 10, page 458. It was named for John Patton, of Curwensville. 17. Portage, taken from Portage township by a decree of the court dated October 7, 1890; recorded in docket 9, page 419. See Portage township for derivation of name. Prospect, taken from Taylor township by a decree of the court dated December 9, 1863; recorded in docket 4, page 446. It consolidated with the city of Johnstown on December 18, 1889, and is now the Twelfth ward. The name is derived from its elevated position overlooking Johnstown. 18. Rosedale, taken from West Taylor township by a decree of the court dated December 17, 1894; recorded in docket 11, at page 252, and named for Allen Rose. Roxbury, taken from Upper Yoder township by a decree of the court dated March 12, 1893; docket 11, page 95. It was annexed to the Eighth ward of the city of Johnstown by an ordinance approved January 2, 1901. 19. Sankertown, taken from Cresson township by a decree of the court dated June 11, 1906; recorded in docket 17, page 115. It was named for Joseph Sanker. 20. Scalp Level, taken from Richland township by a decree of the court dated November 16, 1898; recorded in docket 13, at page 37. 21. South Fork, taken from Croyle township by a decree of the court dated August 3, 1887; recorded in docket 9, page 21. The name is derived from the south branch of the Little Conemaugh river. 22. Spangler, taken from Susquehanna township by a decree of the court dated November 13, 1893; recorded in docket 11, page 3. It was named for Colonel J. L. Spangler. 23. Summerhill, taken from Summerhill township by a decree of the court dated September 6, 1892; recorded in docket 10, page 272. Summitville, taken from Washington township by an act of assembly approved April 30, 1851, P. L. 825. The name was derived from the summit of the Allegheny Portage railroad. The borough has been abandoned; the charter was relinquished and annulled by a decree of the court dated June 5, 1882; recorded in docket 8, page 36. 24. Tunnelhill, taken from Gallitzin township by a decree of the court dated December 5, 1876; recorded in docket 6, page 359. The name was derived from the two railroad tunnels there, but of which at present there are three. 25. Westmont, taken from Upper Yoder township by a decree of the court dated June 13, 1892; recorded in docket 10, page 258. 26. Wlmore, taken from Summerhill township by an act of assembly approved February 10, 1859, and published among 45 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. the laws of 1860, page 802. It was named for Bernard and John Wilmore, the founders. See plan of town laid out by William Hudson, June 4, 1831, in deed book, vol. 7, at page 12; also, vol. 12 at page 698. Woodvale, taken from Taylor township by a decree of the district court held in Johnstown, dated July 4, 1870; recorded in docket 1, page 68. It consolidated with the city of Johnstown, December 18, 1889, and is now the Eleventh ward. The name was derived from Murray's grove, a picnic ground located there until after the Civil war.