NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, December 5, 1861, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ _________________________________________ The Alleghanian, Ebensburg, Pa., Volume 3, Number 11, Thursday, December 5, 1861 Local and Personal Interesting Event! First Arrival on the Ebensburg and Cresson branch! Our Railroad a Myth no Longer but a Cheering Reality! And so on ad infinitum, in strains of Resplendence and Glorification to the end of the chapter. "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick," they say. All of which assertion we heartily endorse. We have been there ourself and are posted. Listed - Five years ago or thereabouts, the project of a Railroad hence to Cresson, an artery to connect us with the great throbbing heart of the Nation, was first currently broached in our midst. The project to use an expressive term, "took" amazingly. Everybody said it was just the thing and everybody favored it accordingly. So in due course of time the initiatory steps in the matter were taken. Just then, however when the enterprise was in its incipient stages and before it had assumed well defined shape or form, just then the Great Financial Crisis of '57 burst upon us. This of course knocked our Railroad into a cocked hat, metaphorically speaking for the time being. But by and by Confidence became in a measure restored and the wheels of Enterprise began once more to revolve throughout the length and breadth of the land. Again was the matter taken hold of, in earnest, and pushed on, on, on, ultimately to completion. It took time to do this, days and months and years, and Legion was the name of the difficulties and mishaps that had been encountered. It is unnecessary to here go into detail as to what these drawbacks may have been; suffice it that through their influence we were allowed a very long time to alternate between the conflicting emotions of Hope and Despair. One day we were sure that Our Railroad was eventually To Be; another day that it had irretrievably fallen through. But the ball had been set rolling and nothing was allowed to altogether stop its progress. It kept on its way slowly but surely and now - Our Railroad is at Our Doors! Hurrah! Huzza! Glorissimo! So much by way of unburdening ourself of surplus and overpowering Highlariousness likewise of demonstrating that though Hope deferred maketh the heart sick, all's well that ends well. On last Monday morning the 2d inst., at precisely the hour of 11:15, the Iron Horse made its grand entr‚e into Ebensburg for the First Time! Attached to the aforesaid Iron Horse was a car filled to overflowing with passengers. Since then it has made two round trips per day, each subsequent trip giving evidence that the Road will meet the fullest expectations, both financially and practically of all concerned. Jubilante! Our Railroad is actually in full tide of successful operations! It is an Institution! It smiles blandly on us and beckons us forward to more extended fields of Usefulness and Prosperity. What more need we say? Nothing at present, for we can add nothing to the above glorious fact. Mr. A. B. Scott, an attach‚ of the Pennsylvania Railroad is acting Conductor of the train. He is a gentleman in every sense of the word and will do honor to the responsible post to which he has been assigned. Success to him! In this connection we beg leave to suggest that the thanks of our entire community are due the Managers and other officials of the Road, to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and to all other individuals whom may have directly or indirectly lent a helping hand for the efficient manner in which the enterprise has been brought to a consummation. May they all reap their rich reward! In town on Monday our able and efficient State Senator, Col. L. W. Hall of Altoona. En & Cresson Railroad Until further notice is given, the following will be the time of arrivals and departures on the railroad - Leave Cresson at 9:30 A. M. or on departure of Express Train West. Arrive at Ebensburg at 10:30 A. M. Leave Ebensburg at 2:15 P. M., connecting with Mail train West. Arrive at Cresson at 3:15 P. M. To the Ladies Through the kindness of Lieut. Robert A. McCoy, we have been furnished with the following Resolution, passed by the Cambria Guards at roll call on Monday evening, 25th ult. It will explain itself - Resolved - That the thanks of Co. A, 11th regiment P. R. C. are due and are hereby tendered to the "Ladies' Hose Society," of Ebensburg of their timely donation of one pair of good woolen Socks to each member of the Company. Their kindness will ever be gratefully remembered. After the passage of the resolution, three cheers were given by the company for the Ladies of the Hose Society. Fifty-Fifth Regiment The following are the several companies composing the 55th Penna. Regiment, Col. Dick White, now stationed at Fortress Monroe; Col. Richard White of Cambria county; Major John Miller of Bedford county; Company A., Capt. Carroll of Cambria county; Company C, Capt. O'Connell of Cambria county; Company D., Capt. Lyons of Bedford county; Company E, Capt. Bennett of Cambria county; Company H., Capt. Mullen of Bedford county; Company I, Capt. Maynard of Bedford county; Company K, Capt. Filler of Bedford County. Off For the Wars! On Tuesday morning the celebrated, "Silver Grays," to the number of about sixty, departed from Wilmore this county for Harrisburg where they will immediately go into camp and recruit their ranks to the maximum standard. We were down to see them off and can truly say that a nobler or more patriotic body of men has never fallen under our observation. The fact of their offering their services to the Government when each and every member is past the meridian of life is a surrender of the pure and holy love of country that animates their bosoms. All honor to the Silver Grays, say, we, and may a just God watch over and protect them and guide them safely through whatever difficulties or dangers there may be in store for them. New County Officers We forgot to notice last week that Peter J. Little, our newly elected County Commissioner had been sworn into office vice Abel Lloyd whose term has expired. Mr. Lloyd performed the duties of the office with energy and ability and carries with him in his retirement the good wishes of the people of the county. Mr. Little is a practical business man and will make an acceptable officer. The present Board of Commissions stands thus - Dr. D. T. Storm; Jas. Conrad; Peter J. Little; Clerk, Charles D. Murray. On Monday H. C. Devine assumed the duties appertaining to the office of Associate Judge in room of Hon. R. Jones who had filled the position with credit during the term of five years. Both parties have our best wishes for their success. The following mention of Capt. Williams' regular infantry company recruited almost entirely in this county will prove interesting to many of our readers. It is taken from the Indianapolis JOURNAL, at which city the company is now stationed - Capt. Williams' Company of Regulars ~ This splendid body of men of the 19th U. S. Infantry, paraded through our streets on Thursday afternoon in full dress uniform with their new arms, the rifled musket. This is a magnificent weapon and the men are worthy to handle them. In a notice of this company which appeared in our columns a few days since, we inadvertently remarked that the company was recruited in this and Michigan City. We have since learned that it is composed exclusively of young men from Cambria and Somerset Counties in the mountain districts of Pennsylvania, recruited by Capt. Williams in just one month. We rarely see this sort of men in the ranks, but Captain W., who perhaps has not his superior as an officer in the army of the Union, possesses the entire confidence of his men who are determined to be regular soldiers. The other commissioned officers of this company are First Lieutenant Louis T. Snyder and Second Lieutenant John B. Hays, also Pennsylvanians, making this a Pennsylvania company all through. It will leave for Kentucky in a few days. Pennsylvania furnished a regiment for California - the late lamented Col. Baker's comrades and she is now sending men to Indiana, having more than filled her quota of volunteers. It seems that she is also determined to fill up the regulars! Bully for Pennsylvania! Pennsylvania The Keystone State is nobly represented in the Union army. She has now more than one hundred regiments in the field and there are others prepared to enter the service. They are participating in all the great movements of the war. They form part of the army in Kentucky and are ready to join in the grand advance against the rebels in Tennessee. They are represented by the "Roundhead Regiment" at Port Royal and by troops connected with the new naval expedition about to set sail from Annapolis. They are to be found along the line of the Upper Potomac, in the rear of Washington, and they form one of the most gallant and important divisions of the grand army which now occupies the northern part of Virginia, opposite the capital. The honor of our noble Commonwealth is safe in their hands. We feel that whenever they are called into action they will prove by their zeal and courage in fighting for the union that, in this hour of national peril, Pennsylvania is more than ever, "The Keystone of the Federal Arch." Cambria County Millville Borough Millville Borough was erected under the provisions of the general Borough Law in 1858 and derives its name from its principal attraction, the Rolling Mill of the Cambria Iron Company. I have a draft or diagram of it before me from the hand of that correct and careful artist, John Brawley, Esq. Its line commences in the middle of the Conemaugh branch of Conemaugh River, thirty perches above the aqueduct; thence crossing the Pennsylvania Rail Road and shortly after a rivulet, it passes north of Johnstown Furnace, so as to include it, and follows the brow of the hill, running nearly parallel with the river, for upwards of a mile. This line crosses Hinxton's Run, which rises in Jackson Township, in the middle of a large island. From a point a short distance West of this stream, the line turns nearly at right angles and runs to the centre of Conemaugh river. Thence by a line following the courses of the streams in the junction with Stony Creek and following the bed of the Conemaugh branch to the place of beginning. The number of houses is about 250; the population over 1,000. It was erected out of a portion of Taylor township, and dwelling houses principally occupy that portion of the Borough between the Conemaugh and the Pennsylvania Canal, which passes through the whole length of the village. This town lies admirably for business and has almost unequalled advantages for manufacturing. Its whole front lying upon the Conemaugh, it has a moiety of one aqueduct, one county bridge, the rail road bridge, and a toll bridge; while it is traversed by the Pennsylvania Rail Road, the Pennsylvania Canal and public roads to Ebensburg and Armagh. An inexhaustible bed of iron lies in the hills within the borough limits and bituminous coal of the best quality is abundant in the immediate neighborhood. The Station House and Depot of the Pennsylvania Rail Road Company for Johnstown and the surrounding country are within Millville Borough, a station furnishing more travel and shipping, more merchandise and produce than any between Pittsburg and Harrisburg. On the opposite side of the Canal from the Station are the works of the Johnstown Iron Company, owned by Mr. Christian Hinsen of Pittsburg and under the Superintendence of John Crouse, Esq. Johnstown Furnace is a fine structure and of great capacity but has not been working or run for several years. But the principal attraction of Millville Borough and which overshadows everything else is the Works of the Cambria Iron Company. And as this will require at least a separate paper I shall defer it till my next chapter. Signed - Jonathan Oldbuck, Monkbarns, December 5, 1861. List of Letters Remaining in the Post Office, at Ebensburg, Cambria Co., Penna., Nov. 13, 1861 - Jane B. Davis Miss Eliza E. Davis Joseph G. Bridges Lewis Beynon William Byrns Daniel Donaldson John Denning Evan E. Davis Anna Maria Davis Elizabeth E. Davis Evan T. Davis Thos. E. Davis Margaretta Evans Evan J. Evans Miss Emley Evans Mrs. Eliza G. Evans Mr. J. Evans Thos. Empfield Ephriam Gohanour Soffy Hite Miss Mary Jones Samuel D. Jones John A. Jones Daniel T. Jones Mrs. Jane Jones T. I. James Mrs. Catharine Jones Miss Ellen Kennedy Mrs. Margaret Lloyd Miss Mary F. Lewis Mrs. Elizabeth Morgan Patrick Malloney Miss Maggie McConnell Mrs. Elizabeth Patterson Miss Sarah Perkins Samuel H. Rossman J. T. Richardson Geo. M. Rhay E. J. Roberts William Selders Francis Stittmatter Andrew Shoemaker Jacob Settlemyer Joel Simmons, James Duncan, David Todd and David H. Roberts David E. Thomas Miss Ann Thomas David Wilson Thos. Walker Jos. T. Williams Thos. M. Williams Geo Walters Miss Julia Ann Williams E. Williams Persons calling for any of the above named letters will please say they are "advertised." John Thompson, P. M.