THE HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY

BLAIR COUTNY was formed from parts of Huntingdon and Bedford by an Act of Assembly, approved the 26th day of February, 1846. The act declares that on and after the fourth Monday of July, 1846, the territory within the townships of north Woodberry and Greenfield, in the county of Bedford, and the territory within the townships of Allegheny, Antis, Snyder, Tyrone, Franktown, Blair, Huston, Woodberry, and a portion of Morris, in the county of Huntingdon, should constitute a new county, to be known as BLAIR County.

The county takes its name from John Blair, or rather John Blair, Jun., whose home was some four miles west of Hollidaysburg, on the Huntingdon, Cambria, and Indiana turnpike, formerly known as the “Northern pike.” He was in his day a man of mark, foremost in every public enterprise, and well deserved the honor thus conferred upon him. Hollidaysburg was made, from the beginning, the county seat.

The general surface of the county is mountainous. Bounded on the west by Cambria, it takes in the eastern slope of the Allegheny mountains. It has Clearfield and Centre counties on the north, Huntingdon on the east, and Bedford on the south. It has within its borders, Brush, Canoe, Dunning’s, Short, Cove, and Lock mountains, more or less, one and the same mountains, and all running north and south. These mountains are all rich in minerals, while the valleys are well watered and fertile.

Iron is the principal manufacture of the county. It is an old iron region. Formerly there were a large number of small charcoal furnaces and forges. Prior to the building of the canal, the iron was hauled in wagons to Pittsburgh, at a cost of some thirty dollars per ton. Most of the old furnaces and forges are no longer worked, giving place to larger furnaces, worked with coke, to rolling mills, and nail factories. The present number of furnaces in use is ten, capable of producing one thousand tons of metal per week, with four rolling mills and two nail factories. The furnaces are known, as Etna in Catharine township, Juniata at Williamsburg, Springfield in Woodberry, Rodman in Taylor, Gap or Martha in Freedom, Frankstown at Frankstown, Number One and Number Two in Hollidaysburg, Allegheny ad Bennington in Allegheny. Hollidaysburg has two rolling mills, and two nail factories: Duncansville, a rolling mill and nail factory; and Logan township, a rolling mill. The iron ore of the county, though not specially rich, is abundant and of a superior quality; large quantities are shipped elsewhere.

The agricultural products of the county are considerable and varied, yet not sufficient for the population, which in 1870 was 38,051, and is now, 1876, perhaps 44,000. The farmers are intelligent, enterprising, and well to do. Perhaps in all the State there is not a finer farming neighborhood or better farms than are found in Morrison’s Cove and Sinking Spring valley.

The great Pennsylvania railroad passes through the county, entering its borders some three miles east of Tyrone; and to this road the county owes very largely its prosperity. A branch road leaves the main line at Altoona, running to Hollidaysburg, Newry, Williamsburg, Martinsburg, and Henrietta. This branch is among the most profitable belonging to this great corporation, doing a heavy freight and passenger business. At Bell’s Mills, a narrow gauge road connects with the main line, extending some seven miles to Lloydsville, in Cambria county. This is among the first, if not the first, narrow gauge roads in the county., and is a complete success. The scenery along this road is wild bey9ond description, far superior in every respect to that along the main line from Altoona to Gallitzin. Other branch roads leave the main line at Tyrone, running to Clearfield and Lock Haven. Indeed, “Little Blair” is almost a railroad county, with Altoona, the chief of railroad towns, in her very centre.

The usual Indian troubles, incident to the first settlement of the Juniata valley, marked the early history of what is now Blair county. The stories pertaining thereto have been written and re-written. No doubt the early settlers endured great hardships and privations. The Indians were savage, cruel, and treacherous, sparing neither women nor children. From one standpoint we can but regard them, and rightly, as savages. And yet we must not forget the circumstances surrounding them, and mourn that no one lives to tell the story of their wrongs. That they were wronged and cheated no one doubts; and could we have the story of these wrongs, we might feel that if they did inhuman deeds, they had, at the hands of the whites, great provocations.

The politics of Blair county from its organization have been moderate Republicanism, while many of the most worthy citizens have been and are of Democratic tendencies. Neither party, as a general rule, are able to carry a bad man into office. Good and true men have usually filled the county offices, and fill them this centennial year. Some townships in the county have not for years had a house licensed to sell intoxicating drinks. The common schools, though not all they should be, are, nevertheless, cherished by the people—their joy and their pride.

Originally, the entire Juniata valley was settled largely by Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, and after them the Lutherans. Both denominations have still a strong hold throughout the valley. Methodists, Baptists, and others, have come in since the first settlements, and have a habitation and a home. In Blair county the Presbyterians would seem to lead in numbers, influence, and wealth. The Lutherans and Methodists are both numerous and active, while the Baptists, the youngest of the leading denominations, are not behind in every good word and work. All in all, we claim for “Little Blair” in her mountain home, and intelligent, enterprising, and upright citizenship, loyal to themselves, the State, and the Union. During the war for the union, they may have differed as to measures, but treason found no home in Blair county. The blood of her firstborn helped to fill the baptistery of the Nation’s second baptism.

Sinking Spring valley is noted as the place from whence the Government received lead in the early stages of the Revolutionary war. The mines were most likely known to the French as long ago as 1750. The Indians of this region, after they had obtained fire-arms, could always secure abundance of lead, but from whence was long a secret. General Daniel Roberdeau, member of Congress from Pennsylvania, was appointed in 1778, to proceed to the valley and superintend the mines. They were worked perhaps until the fall of 1779, or until a supply was received through the French.

The Arch Spring and Cave in this valley are among the greatest curiosities to be met with anywhere. The spring comes forth from an opening, arched over by nature, and with a sufficient supply of water to drive a large grist-mill. A little below the mill the spring disappears; coming again to the surface, it runs some distance and enters a cave, passing under Cave mountain, it flows into the Juniata at Water Street. The locality thus named by the early settlers is frequently alluded to in the Provincial records.

Logan’s valley, a valley extending from Tyrone to Altoona, takes its name form Captain Logan (not the Mingo), an Indian chief of the Delaware tribe who, for several years, resided in the locality. One of his homes was at the big spring adjoining Tyrone, and the other at the spring on the farm of David Henshy, Esq., in Antis township. Logan had been deposed by his tribe on account of the loss of an eye, before coming to the Juanita valley. The springs still bear the name of Logan, and are in themselves very fine. The entire valley has felt the quickening influence of the railroad, and do honor to the old Indian chief, who was a true friend of the white man.

Scotch and Canoe valleys are parts of Frankstown and Catharine townships, and are very fertile. Scotch valley is somewhat noted as one of the earliest settlements in the county, and as the home of the Moore family, many of the descendants still residing there. The Moores came from Scotland-the father, Samuel Moore, seven sons, and two daughters. They stopped for a time in Kishacoquillas valley, and then came to Scotch valley, five miles beyond the nearest habitation. This was in 1768. Some time after they were joined by the Irwins, Crawfords, Fraziers, Bells, Stewarts, and others, all Scotchmen. Their descendants are in all the region round about and in parts beyond.

We may not forget as among the valleys of Blair county, its Morrison’s cove, but another name for valley. You enter it either at Williamsburg or through the gap at Roaring Spring, itself a curiosity, and the largest spring in the county. Around it, within a few years, a thriving village has sprung up, having a fine paper-mill, foundry, and several churches. And now, in the cove, and as you pass along, you are ready to ask, wherein is old Lancaster better than this before my eyes? Such farm, buildings, deposits of limestone and iron ore, are but seldom met. All in all, Morrison’s cove has few equals, viewed from whatever standpoint you may take. In 1749 a few Scotch-Irish families settled in the cove, most of whom perished a the hands of the Indians. The entire cove was afterwards purchased by the Penns for L400, or $2,000. in 1755 a colony of Dunkards, or German Baptists, settled in the cove, and many of their descendants are still there, retaining well-nigh the same simplicity which marked their fathers-“non-resistants-producers-non-consumers.”

HOLLIDAYSBURG still remains the county seat, and for years it was the chief town in all this region. The town takes its name from William and Adam Holliday, who settled here in the year 1768. They were on their way West, but on reaching this pint they decided to stop and settle. As Adam drove the first stake in the ground, he remarked to William: “Whoever is alive a hundred years hence will find here a considerable sized town,” all of which has been realized. The town took its start with the building of the canal, it being the head of canal navigation east of the mountains. Here for years all goods going east and west were transshipped to boats and cars. The basin, in these days, presented a lively, busy scene. But all this has passed away. The basin has been filled up, and the boatman’s horn is heard no more. Nevertheless, Hollidaysburg remains a pleasant, prosperous town, with a population, embracing Gaysport and environs, of fully 5,000. the county buildings are among the best in the State, erected at a cost of some $225,000. Hollidaysburg has, moreover, six fine houses of worship-two Catholic, one Baptist, one Lutheran, one Methodist, an done Presbyterian; a superior female seminary, a large hall, and other public buildings. The iron works in the place give employment to a large number of hands, while the local trade is considerable.

ALTOONA is the metropolis of the county, a city of no mean pretentions, and as a railroad town, second to none in the union. On the location of the Pennsylvania railroad in 1849, the present site, then a farm owned by David Robeson, Esq., was selected for the shops, offices, etc., of this young but now giant corporation. The company now occupy all of one hundred and twenty two acres, and is still extending its improvements. The Logan House, the grand railroad hotel, is a model establishment. All the Pennsylvania railroad buildings are of the substantial kind, the machinery the very best, giving employment to thousands of men, and turning out such work as is seldom met with elsewhere. Some twelve church buildings speak well of the morals of the town, while the large and commodious school-houses assure the stranger of the children are not forgotten. Altoona has three banks, one public hall, one daily and three weekly newspapers. Population in 1870, 10,610, increased in 1876 to perhaps 13,000. All in all, the “Mountain City” is the city of all this region.

TYRONE is another town, the outgrowth of the railroad, and laid out about the same time with Altoona. It is located some fourteen miles east of Altoona, at the mouth of Bald Eagle valley, and takes its name from an old iron works in the neighborhood, known as Tyrone Forges. The rapid growth of Tyrone is owing to two branch roads connecting with the main line at this point, the one running to the coal and lumber region of Clearfield county, the other connecting with the Philadelphia and Erie railroad at Lock Haven. A large coal and lumber trade is here brought upon the main line, making Tyrone station one of the most important between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The place has a good local trade, with a population in 1870 of 1,8000; has eight churches, two public halls, two banks, three planning –mills, and a steam tannery. A new railroad from Tyrone to Lewisburg is in course of construction, which when completed will somewhat add to the importance of the “little city” among the hills, while it will open up a direct route to the anthracite coal regions.

WILLIAMSBURG, a village in the south-eastern part of the county, in Woodberry township, pleasantly located on the south branch of the Juniata. It was laid out in 1791, by a German named Jacob Ake. One of the finest springs of water to be met with anywhere flows through the town, furnishing water power for a grist-mill, furnace, and other machinery. Population some 900. FRANKSTOWN, on the Juniata, two miles east of Hollidaysburg, is perhaps the oldest village in all this region, having been originally an Indian town known as Assunnepachla. Its present name is derived from an old German Indian trader, Stephen Franks, who made this place his home. The Indians remained here until 1755, when they went West, joined the French, and made war on Father Onas, or William Penn. They did so because the year previous the Penns, for a paltry sum, had bought the whole region of the Juniata from the Iroquois at Albany, N. Y. Prior to the building of the canal, Frankstown was a place of some note on the route from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh; since then it has made but little progress. One of the Cambria iron company’s furnaces is at this point and gives employment to a goodly number of the residents.

MARINSBURG is an old town, beautiful for situation, in Woodberry township, otherwise Morrison’s Cove, and distant some twelve miles from Hollidaysburg, on the Hollidaysburg branch road. It contains several churches, a bank, a planning-mill, a high school, and a foundry. In the midst of one of the finest farming districts, it has considerable local trade.

NEWRY is another old town, situate in Blair township, some four miles west of Hollidaysburg. It has a railroad connecting with the Hollidaysburg branch at Y switches. Newry, prior to the building of the turnpike, was on the main road east and west. At present it has but little trade, yet, withal, it is a pleasant, quiet place, having for many years the only Roman Catholic church in the county.

ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS.-ALLEGHENY was, prior to the formation of Blair county, in 1846, a township of Huntingdon county. As it then existed, it joined Antis on the north. In 1852, Logan was formed out of Allegheny and Antis; hence, Allegheny is now bounded on the north by Logan, on the west Cambia county, on the south by Blair and Juniata, and on the east by Frankstown.

ANTIS, like Allegheny, was a part of Huntingdon county. It is said the name is that of a somewhat noted Tory who reside here during the Revolutionary War. In 1852, the southern portion of the township was taken to form Logan. As Antis now stands, it is bounded on the north by Snyder, on the east by Tyrone, on the south by Logan, and on the west by Cambria county.

BLAIR came out from Huntingdon county, and surrounds Hollidaysburg, the county seat. It originally was taken from Allegheny and Frankstown, and as now organized is bounded on the north by Allegheny and Frankstown, on the east by Frankstown and Taylor, on the south by Freedom, and on the west by Allegheny.

CATHARINE was part of Morris in Huntingdon county, and became a township in 1846, by the organization of Blair county. It is bounded on the north and east by Huntingdon county, south by Woodberry, and west by Frankstown and Tyrone.

FRANKSTOWN was a township of Huntingdon county, until the formation of Blair county in 1846. some changes have since been made in its boundaries, but none of any importance. As it now stands, it is bounded on the north by Tyrone and Catharine, on the east by Woodberry and Huston, on the south by Taylor, and on the west by Blair, Allegheny, and Logan.

FREEDOM belonged originally to Bedford county, and as part of Greenfield. First, in 1847, Juniata was formed out of Greenfield, and in 1857 Freedom was created out of Juniata. It has Greenfield on the south, Juanita on the west, Blair on the north, and Taylor on the east.

GREENFIELD, and old township of Bedford county, became part of Blair county in 1846. Since then both Freedom and Juniata have been taken from it. It is bounded on the south by Bedford county, on the west by Somerset county, on the north by Juniata and Freedom, and on the east by Taylor.

HUSTON was originally a township of Bedford county. It is bounded on the south by Bedford county, on the east by Huntingdon county, on the north by Woodberry, and on the west by Frankstown. JUNIATA, taken from Greenfield and organized as a township in 1847. It has Cambria county on the West, Allegheny on the north, Freedom on the east, and Greenfield on the south.

LOGAN was formed in 1850 out of Allegheny and Antis, and lies around Altoona. It is bounded on the north by Antis, on the east by Tyrone and Frankstown, on the south by Allegheny, and on the west by Cambria county.

NORTH WOODBERRY originally belonged to Bedford county. It has Bedford county on the south, Taylor on the west, Huston on the north, Huntingdon county on the east.

SNYDER came from Huntingdon county, and is bounded on the north by Center county, on the east by Huntingdon county, on the south by Antis, and on the west by Cambria county. It has within it the borough of Tyrone.

TAYLOR was formed in 1855, out of North Woodberry and Huston. It has Bedford county on the south; Greenfield, freedom, and Blair, on the west; Frankstown on the north, and north Woodberry on the east.

TYRONE an old township of Huntingdon county, and until incorporated into Blair county in 1846. It has Logan and Antis on the west, Snyder on the north, Catharine on the east, and Frankstown on the south.

WOODBERRY came from Huntingdon county, and has within it the town of Williamsburg. It is bounded on the south by Huston, west by Frankstown, north by Catharine, and on the east by Huntingdon county.

FIFTEEN townships in all, Allegheny, Antis, Blair, Catharine, Frankstown, Snyder, Tyrone, and Woodberry, originally from Huntingdon county; Greenfield, Huston, North Woodberry, from Bedford county; and Freedom, Juniata, Logan, and Taylor, formed since the organization of Blair county, in 1846.

Source:
The History of Pennsylvania By William H. Egle, M.D., M.A. Published 1883

Author Blair County History A. K. BELL., D.D., HOLLIDAYSBURG

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