Cambria County PA Archives News.....John Weakland - A Remarkable  Man December 9, 1869
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Donald Buncie http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008389 January 8, 2023, 7:09 am

The Cambria Freeman. (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938 December 9, 1869
During a visit to Johnstown last summer we became acquainted with "old John
Weakland," as he is familiarly called, who is certainly one of the most remarkable
men of his age in this section of the State. His father, Zepheniah Weakland, then an
unmarried man, came from St. Maty's county, on the Eastern shore of Maryland, before
the close of the revolution, and settled on Spruce Creek, then in Bedford (now
Huntingdon) county, about eight miles from Huntingdon. There John Weakland was born
in 1794 (1784) three years before the erection of Huntingdon county out of Bedford.
In 1808 his father moved from Spruce Creek to this county, and built a log cabin
near to where Daniel O'Hara then and his son Henry O'Hara now resides, about one
mile east of the present town of Munster, that "loveliest village of the plain."
Thomas Durbin, father of Ex-Sheriff Durbin of this county, was then living where
Munster is now situated, and kept a tavern. Alexander Truxell, whose name is
associated with the old Truxell tavern, one-fourth of a mile west of Cresson, had
not then located at that point. 
When Mr. Weakland's father moved to this county, the only persons then living near
where Munster now stands were Daniel O'Hara, Joseph Lilly, James Elder and Pat'k.
Carney, all of whom are now dead. In 1799, nine years before the time of which we
are speaking, the distinguished priest, Dr. Gallitzin, renouncing his princely title
and estate in Russia, had settled on a tract of land where Loretto is now located,
and had erected a large and substantial frame Catholic church, which is still
standing. In addition to ministering to the spiritual wants of the few settlers, Mr.
W. informed us that the good priest had erected a potash factory, the product of
which was taken to market at Baltimore or Philadelphia by Thos. Durbin, (previously
referred to,) in a large, covered wagon.
Several years after his settlement in this county, Mr. Weakland's father removed to
Mahoning township, Indiana county, about twenty miles north of the town of Indiana,
but subsequently returned to Cambria and took up his residence in Johnstown in 1832.
He afterwards removed to Susquehanna township, was married to his third wife when be
was several years beyond three score and ten, had one or two children, and died in
1849, when he was between ninety and one buudred years of age. 
John Weakland, the subject of this notice, was married in 1833, when he was 49 years
old, and had three children, two sons and one daughter. His wife died in 1853. In
1861, when he was 77 years old, he married a second time and had three children, all
boys, one of whom, it will be remembered we mentioned a few weeks ago was kicked in
the face by a horse, causing his death. Mr. W. has an only brother, (Michael,) quite
an old man, living in Susquehanna  township. 
The Weaklands of Cambria county are almost legion, and are thickly scattered over
the townships of Carroll, Susquehanna and Clearfield. They are a long-lived race of
men; Wm. Weakland, a brother of Zepheniah, the father of the subject of this notice,
having died near Loretto, five years ago, at the advanced age of about 83 years.
John Weakland, although he has lived far beyond the period usually allotted to men
here below, is a sprightly, active and vigorous old man, and looks as though he
might yet, as we hope he will, be many years in the land. 

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