NEWS: Items from The Alleghanian, 21 Feb 1861, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright August 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ _________________________________________ The Alleghanian Ebensburg, Pa. Thursday, 21 Feb 1861 Volume 2, Number 27 County Officers Judges of the Courts: President, Hon. Geo. Taylor, Huntingdon; Associates, George W. Isaley, Richard Jones, Jr. Prothonotary: Joseph M'Donald. Register and Recorder: Edward F. Lytle. Sheriff: Robert P. Linton. Deputy Sheriff: William Linton. District Attorney: Philip S. Noon. County Commissioners: Abel Lloyd, D. T. Storm, James Cooper. Clerk to Commissioners: Robert A. M'Coy Treasurer: John A. Blair. Poor House Directors: David O'Harro, Michael M'Guire, Jacob Horner. Poor House Steward: James J. Kaylor. Mercantile Appraiser: H. C. Devine. Auditors: Henry Hawk, John F. Stull, John S. Rhey. County Surveyor: E. A. Vickroy. Coroner: James S. Todd. Superintendent of Common Schools: T. A. Maguire. Local and Personal Mr. C. T. Roberts has withdrawn his name as a candidate for appointment to the office of Post Master of this borough. On the railroad line from Altoona to Pittsburg, James Onslow is appointed route agent, vice James Carroll, removed. Mr. Carroll is a resident of this county. Col. James M. Swank, our newly appointed County Superintendent, has already entered upon the duties of his office. He arrived here on Monday and immediately proceeded to the extreme Northern districts of the county. Next week he will visit the schools in the neighborhood at this place. The week after that will be devoted to the districts accessible by railroad. The remainder of the time intervening between the close of the county schools will be given to the districts in the southern part of the county. Directors and teachers will please make a note. Oleaginous Matters Another oil company was formed in this place last week, under the name, style and title of the "Mutual Oil Company." The capital stock is $300, in shares of $30. The following are the members composing it: Evan Griffith, Samuel M. Davis, Evan R. Davis, David J. James, Daniel J. Davis, David E. Evans, John Gittings, John R. Hughes, Thomas E. Davis, Hugh Evans. The location for the well has not yet been fully determined upon. On Monday a company under the title of the "Roberts Oil Company," was formed in this place. The capital stock of this company is $850, with the privilege of increasing it to double that amount, in shares of $50. The following are the officers and members composing it: President: E. Roberts Treasurer: Andrew Lewis Secretary: R. A. M'Coy Members: R. L. Johnston, A. A. Barker, Philip Collins, George M. Reed, John Lloyd, John H. Evans, John P. Jones, R. H. Tudor, H. A. M'Coy, T. Blair Moore, P. S. Noon, James Myers, George Rodgers. It is the intention of this company to test the oil-bearing qualities of our own mountain formation and operations in that direction will be commenced as soon as the weather permits. Success! The "Ebensburg Oil Company," we are informed, are about leasing a site for a well in Ohio. A company has been organized in Wilmore to bore for the carboniferous compound. Sheriff's Sale The following is an abstract of the real estate advertised to be sold by the Sheriff at our coming Court: The right, title and interest of John M'Kenzie, Jr., of, in and to a piece or parcel of land in Munster township containing 86 acres. William P. Patton, lot of ground in Johnstown borough. Richard J. Evans, piece or parcel of land in Cambria and Carroll township containing 300 acres. Christian Nilgus, lot of ground in Conemaugh borough. William Wharton, piece or parcel of land in Clearfield township containing 40 acres. George Gates, piece or parcel of land in Yoder township containing 300 acres. Lewis Cassiday, dec'd, lot of ground in the village of Hemlock, Washington township. Lewis Cassiday, dec'd, tract of land in Summerhill township, containing 441 acres. Ferdinand Rohe, piece or parcel land in Chest township, containing 100 acres. W. Wieman, lot of ground in Johnstown borough. F. Seitz, lot of ground in Conemaugh borough. John Shaffer, piece or parcel of land in Blacklick township, containing 107 acres. John Shaum, piece or parcel of land in Chest township, containing 100 acres. John B. Fite and Mary Fite, lot of ground and building in East Johnstown, Conemaugh township. Frederick George, piece or parcel of land in Washington township, containing 300 acres. John B. Brookbank, piece or parcel of land in Croyle township, containing 120 acres. Wm. K. Piper, piece or parcel of land in Susquehanna township, containing 175 acres. John Lantzy, piece or parcel of land in Susquehanna township, containing 60 acres. John Carle, piece or parcel of land in Clearfield township, containing 96 acres. James Ross, piece or parcel of land in Carroll township, containing 400 acres; piece or parcel of land in Susquehanna and Carroll townships, containing 302 acres; piece or parcel of land situated in Carroll township, containing 400 acres; piece or parcel of land situated in Carroll and Susquehanna townships, containing 407 acres. Peter Smeltzer, tract or piece of land in Allegheny township, containing 103 acres and 72 perches. John Lantzy, piece or parcel of land in Susquehanna township, containing 11 acres. Our Johnstown Letter Reported by Yoder, Johnstown, Feb. 19, 1861 Our Borough Election passed off very quietly though it was attended with more animation than I expected. The race for Burgess was warmly contested by Col. T. L. Heyer and Wm. M'Kee. The Colonel made a gallant fight but had to succumb to his more fortunate competitor. M'Kee's majority was about forty votes. In the First Ward, Irvin Rutledge was elected Justice of the Peace by a majority of six votes over Col. E. Shaffer. I cannot help saying here that the defeat of Cols. Heyer and Shaffer is another illustration of that trite but none the less truthful saying that, "Republics are ungrateful." Both these gentlemen should have been elected. This being the first election under our new charter, the Council elected is composed of our very best citizens. The list is as follows: First Ward: Cyrus L. Pershing, D. J. Morrell, J. M. Campbell Second Ward: H. A. Boggs, R. Jelly, Jas. M'Millen Third Ward: John P. Linton, Wm. Flattery, John M. King Fourth Ward: Jos. G. Holmes, Jacob Horner, W. Masterton Fifth Ward: Joseph Layton, Jos. Kuntz, Alex. Kennedy. The Council meet tonight for the purpose of organizing. Johnstown Post Office Affairs The secession troubles have affected the aspirants for our post office and they seem to be resting from their labors but only, I suppose, to renew them with redoubled energy as soon as Old Abe is duly installed. We hope for an accommodating officer and we care not how sound a Republican he may be. Hemlock Affairs Reported by Felon, Hemlock, February 18, 1861 The election in Washington Township is over and I have the gratification of informing you that the country is safe. The following are the names of the lucky ones who succeeded in making the landing on that eventful day: Constable: Thomas Shaffer Judge of Election: Joseph Criste Inspectors: J. P. Scott, Conrad Behe Assessor: Jacob Burgoon Assistant Assessors: George Tiley, John J. Glass School Directors: J. M'Gonigle, Andrew Eger Supervisors: Wm. Brown, Richard Delling Auditor: Wm. M'Closkey Twp. Clerk: John D. Moreland The election of our mutual friend, the ex-Editor to a post of responsibility and trust is a just tribute to a worthy and respected citizen. Higher honors await him. Johnstown - Continued (from Feb. 14, 1861 newspaper) I have not the census table of 1860 before me but believe the whole population of Johnstown and her surroundings to be some 8,500 - enough certainly to entitle her to a city charter. Of this I would estimate the population of Johnstown proper at 3,500; Conemaugh borough at 1,200; Kernville at 600; Cambria City at 1,000; Millville at 800, the remaining portion of the population being in the precincts. The Pennsylvania Germans originally preponderated in Johnstown, but now the inhabitants are as heterogeneous a mass as can be found in any town of like population in the country. Foreign Germans compose a large portion of the town - are to be found in every part of it, and are engaged in every branch of business, carried on within its limits. Natives of Ireland compose a large proportion of the inhabitants of Conemaugh borough, Cambria City and Millville, while many are found in Johnstown proper. A large number of Welsh, chiefly engaged in or about the Rolling Mill, inhabit the lower part of Johnstown, Millville and Cambria city. The greater portion of the officers and artisans connected with the Rolling Mill are Americans by birth who reside in Millville and that part of Johnstown which is nearest to their place of employment. The general rule in regard to the increase of cities and towns is that they spread or increase up the stream. This rule has been exemplified in the history of almost every city. In Johnstown, owing to local causes, this rule of population has been reversed. I have stated that Johnstown, being the point of intersection of the Pennsylvania Canal and Allegheny Portage Railroad received a great impetus when the "Main Line" was completed. The transshipment of goods from the cars to the boats and vice versa, gave employment to many hands, depot buildings sprung up, each transportation line had its warehouse and a rapid increase in population in the upper part of Johnstown was the natural consequence. This impulse was soon checked, however, by the improvements of "Agitator," John Dougherty, who obviated the necessity of unloading and reloading by his Portable Car Body Boat system. This system avoided all transshipments. A railroad car, filled with merchandise at Philadelphia, on arriving at Columbia, was hoisted from its body by tackle into a canal boat adapted to the purpose, which filled with these cars, preceded to Hollidaysburg, where by the same means, they were placed on car bodies and again removed at Johnstown in the same manner into a boat for Pittsburg. But this was not enough for the Agitator. He had succeeded in running cars on the canal, he must needs run boats on the Railroad. Accordingly his famous section boats were his next invention. This was to construct a boat in three or four sections, each section water-tight and perfect in itself. By the use of trucks on the Railroad, this system was rendered perfect. Thus the three or four sections composing one of these boats placed on as many trucks, arriving at Johnstown from the East, were lifted from their trucks by tackle, secured together by clasps and thus assuming the shape and appearance of a single boat, proceeded onwards to its destination. I need scarcely state that these innovations in the carrying business were injurious to the prosperity of this portion of Johnstown; but a still more severe strike awaited her. This was the total abandonment of the Old Portage, caused by the increased facilities afforded by the Pennsylvania Railroad and the construction of the New Portage. This gave Conemaugh borough a backset from which she has never entirely recovered. The depot buildings have been demolished; the warehouses have gone to wreck; and those engaged it the shipping and forwarding business have turned their attention to other pursuits. In the meantime below Johnstown, the Cambria Iron Works had been erected, and were soon followed by the Johnstown Furnace and not long after this, the laying out of Cambria City. This gave a downward tendency to the town, and hence, for the last few years, the chief increase of Johnstown proper has been down toward the "Point," as it is called, or the confluence of Stonycreek and Conemaugh; while Millville and Cambria City have been entirely built up since that time. By Jonathan Oldbuck, Monkbarns, Feb. 21, 1861 Boots and Shoes The undersigned continues the manufacturer of Boots and Shoes of every description at his establishment in Ebensburg, immediately opposite the Post Office. Employing none but the best workmen, he trusts that he has been and still is at all times able to give entire satisfaction to his customers. He hopes that the same liberal patronage heretofore given him maybe be continued and that more may be added. He has also on hand a large assortment of French Calf-skins, and Morocco of all kinds, suitable for fine Boots and Shoes. Ready-made Boots and Shoes are always on hand and prices moderate. Meshac Thomas, Ebensburg.