Miscellaneous Cambria County, PA News Articles
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) January 21, 1824 Page 1
FIRE! The following extract of a better from a gentleman in Ebensburgh, to the editor of this paper, gives the particulars of the distressing fire which occurred in that place a few nights since.
Ebensburgh, PA., Dec. 28
This morning about one o'clock the house of John Murry, Esq. occupied as a tavern by Darnel Hagar, near the west end of this place was discovered to be on fire. So rapid was the progress of the devouring element, that part of the family only could escape, and that without their clothing. Horrid to relate two girls were burned to death. Part of their remains were found after the fire had subsided, clasped together, and there is every reason to believe that the seal of death had been placed upon them in the posture in which they slept. One of the girls, Elizabeth Corphart, a sweet interesting child, about eight years of age, was a daughter of Mrs. Hagar. The other, Susan Delazier, was a daughter of Daniel Delazier, and bout sixteen years of age, all of this county. - Indiana American
The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
May 6, 1829
Reform
The storekeepers in Ebensburg, Cambria county, have entered into an agreement not to treat their customers or others with ardent spirits, in their stores, nor permit it to be done by their clerks. This is a good example and is worthy of being imitated. Blairsville Record
Republican Banner (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
January 28, 1834
"These Are My Jewels" - The wife of Capt. G. W. Jewell, of Johnstown, has presented her husband with three bright little Jewells, as pledges of her affection. The Johnstown paper, from which we gather the information, by way of increasing the wonder, says that the mother's height is but four feet!
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
September 27 1836
Died in Johnstown, Cambria county, on the 10 inst. John Albert, son of Mr. Jehu G. Hays (formerly of Millerstown,) in the 2d year of his age.
The Agitator (Wellsboro, Pennsylvania)
June 4 1857
Miraculous Escape - On Saturday evening last, one of the freight trains on the Central, while crossing the iron bridge opposite Cambria City, came upon an Irishman, who was about the centre of the bridge, unexpectedly and unobserved. The Irishman instantly realized his perilous position, and knowing that he must either "clear the track" or suffer the fearful consequences of being run over, preferred the former, regardless of the danger that he incurred in doing so. He left himself frop between the crevices of the bridge, and grasping the pier will all the tenacity of a person to whom death seems inevitable, retained his hold until the cars passed over him, and also until some laborers, who fortunatley discovered his critical condition, rescued him from the jaws of death. - Johnstown Echo.
The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
August 10 1857
Cambria Rolling Mill Destroyed by Fire.
An extra from the Cambria Tribune dated August 3d, gives an account of a terrible conflagration at the Cambria iron company's works, near Johnstown, on Saturday evening last. The extensive rolling mill of the company was entirely destroyed, the loss being estimated at from $60,000 to 70,000. The works were insured in some twelve or fifteen insurance offices in Philadelphia, to the amount of about $50,000, so the loss does not fall wholly on the company. Fortunately the evening was calm, and the flames did not spread to any of the adjoining buildings. The Tribune says the damage can be so far repaired as to enable the company to resume the manufacture of railroad iron again in about three weeks.
The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
Nov 23 1857
Died on the 9th isnt., in Johnstown, Cambria coutny, Mary T., daughter of William and Cordelia Dysert, aged 12 years, 9 months, 22 days.
The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
May 21 1860
Married on the 1st, inst., by the Rev. O. Nitteraur, Rev. c. L. Keedy, Pastor of the English Lutheran congregation, to Miss Lizzie W. Marbourg, both of Johnstown.
The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
December 5 1860
Killed on the Railroad
Mr. Herman Updegraff, a citizen of Johnstown, and for several years, past conductor of a freight train on the Pennsylvania railroad, was killed on Thursday afternoon, near Latrobe, by falling from his train, which passed over and mangled him in a most horrid manner. We did not learn the cause of the accident. Mr. Updegraff was a married man, and the father of several small children, all dependent on him for support.
The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
February 23, 1864
Alleged Infidelity of a Wife - Sumary Vengeance by the Husband
On Friday morning a week, a shocking tragedy occurred in Johnstown, Cambria county, Pa., in which tow old and influential citizens were the participants. The particulars, as given in the Pittsburg papers, are as follows:
Mr. Joseph Moore, a auctioneer, of Johnstown, on her recent return from nine months service in the army, ascertained that his domestic happiness had been destroyed, it is alleged by Mr. Jordan Marbourg, a wealthy merchant of the town.
On hearing of the intimacy said to exist during his absence between Marbourg and Mrs. Moore, who is represented as prepossessing in appearance and of a dashing disposition, Moore called upon the former, and after an explanation, told him he would shoot him. Mrs. Marbourg, hearing of Moore's threats, appealed to him not to take her husband's life, but the outraged husband would not listen to her.
On Friday morning, Moore arose early, and, leaving his house, visited a grocery store near the postoffice, where he remained between eight and nine o'clock, when Marbourg passed by Moore started out immediately and caught Marbourg by the collar, saying "Get down on your knees, I am going to kill you. My wife made a "clean breath of it last night. She told me all, and gave me a portion of the money which you paid her." Saying this, he drew a revolver and fired - the first shot taking effect in the region of the heart.
Marbourg fell forward, and Moore discharged two balls into his head, and then fired a fourth which took effect in the left arm. Marbourg fell over and almost instantly expired. Moore walked to a magistrate's office, surrendered himself, and was committed to jail to await the action of the authorities.
The deceased man leaves a most estimable wife and eight or nine children - the eldest, a son, about twenty years of age. The murderer has a wife and one child. He was personally popular with all classes, a perfect gentleman in his dress and manner, and was not without influence in the community. The deceased was a prominent citizen, a merchant of Johnstown for thirty years, and had accumulated a large fortune. Both of them were members of a church.
Mrs. Moore, has already been remarked, is a woman not wanting in personal charms. Of late years, her husband, although attentive to business, has not been pecuniarily a well-doer, and it may be the desire for more than her husband could furnish, her, coupled with the charms alluded to, has been the cause of her fall, if, fallen she has. Mrs. Marbourg, who is a most accomplished woman, is a native of Philadelphia.
The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
May 10, 1864
A Curiosity - A Live Frog Found in a Solid Stone
Some workmen engaged in cutting stone for a new building at Johnstown were astonished, on Wednesday last, a finding a good-sized frog closely imbedded almost in the centre of a large stone broken by one of them. The Johnstown Tribuen says: On first appearance it was thought the frog was dead (as might be reasonably supposed), but presently he revived, and was about to hop off, probably in search of a breakfast, when he was taken in charge by a bystander, and placed in a box covered with glass, where he has been visited by many of the curious in such matters. The stone which he was found was originally broken from a mass of rock, of conglomerate sandstone and quartz formation, and had been used for over thirty years in a wall along the canal, whence it was taken for use in the new building at the mill.
It presented no appearance of previous fracture, and the presence of the frog in that place where he was found can only be accounted for upon the hypothesis that he buried himself in the sand or mud on the approach of a long ago winter, there to await to coming of spring, as is the habit of the animal. But before his spring came, some convulsion of nature or action of the elements imprisoned him so firmly that he could not get out, and the mud or sand in which he had hid himself was subsequently converted to solid stone, by exposure to the sun and air through successive ages, and there he remained until released by a stroke of the mason's hammer in this latter portion of the nineteenth century. This, however, as his frogship refuses to answer questions, is a matter for the determination of the learned and scientific. Certain it is, his abode in the place where found was very prolonged; but if only for a few years, his release, "alive and kicking," is a wonderful and astonishing fact in nature, almost beyond evidence. The probabilities are, that his frog sang before the flood, that he is a veritable antediluviau, and if he could relate his adventures, could tell us all about the times in which Noah lived. We may add that the frog is totally blind - the only infirmity which seems to afflict him, although when first discovered he was flattened out as thin as a pancake. He jumps around as supple as the best of frogs.
The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
June 21, 1864
Singular Death - A little boy in Johnstown, Pa., a son of Mr. Geo. W. McDowell, died on Saturday last, from the effects of poison received in eating locust blossums.
Morning Herald (Titusville, Pennsylvania)
September 17, 1866
There were thirteen persons killed and nearly one hundred injured by the falling of the bridge at Johnstown, Pa., crowded with people called together to receive the President and party on Thursday.
The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
September 25, 1866
At a late meeting of the citizens of Johnstown, Pa., the scene of the late terrible accident in connection with the President's tour, a resolution was passed suggesting that each merchant, professional man, mechanic and laborer, of Johnstown and neighborhood, should give one day'' earnings to the sufferers. Mr. Morrell read a letter from President Johnson donating $500, and also one from Gen. John W. Geary, giving $200. He also stated that he was authorized by the Cambria Iron Company to subscribe $1,000. Mr. M., himself, has also subscribed $200. Late investigations show that only three persons were killed at the time of the accident. One has since died, and of the 350 injured, many cannot survive.
Morning Herald (Titusville, Pennsylvania)
February 4 1869
Johnstown has a sensation. A young man named Felton, it is said, inherits by a grandfather's will the greater portion of Cambria city.
Morning Herald (Titusville, Pennsylvania)
August 3, 1869
In Johnstown, Pa. There is a musical prodigy named Eddie Hohmann. He is but six and a half years old. He plays skilfully by note a number of airs on the violin. He has not yet mastered the alphabet.
The Blairsville Press (Blairsville, Pennsylvania)
January 10, 1869
Cunningham-Taylor - Married on Jan. 1st, at the residence of the bride's mother, by Rev. Adam Torrence, Mr. John Cunningham of Johnstown, and Miss E. J. Taylor of Westmoreland Co., Pa
The Blairsville Press (Blairsville, Pennsylvania)
February 21, 1869
Accident
A little son of Mr. John Hannan, of the First Ward, says the Johnstown Democrat, was severely hurt one day last week. He was sliding down hill on a sled, and ran into a pair of horses attached to a sled, one of the horses jumped so high, and the boy was riding with such velocity that he passed under the horse before the horse alighted. He, however, struck his head against the singletree attached to the sled, which struck him senseless, and in this condition he was carried home. He is recovering.
The Blairsville Press (Blairsville, Pennsylvania)
March 7, 1869
The Johnstown Tribuen says: Alexander G. Miller, formerly of Johnstown, but late a lumber dealer in Indiana county, has just been detected in a series of extensive forgeries. The First National Bank of Blairsville has been victimized to the amount of $4,000, Lloyd, Huff and Co., Bankers at Latroke, to the amount of $5,000, and a gentleman in Fayette county to the amount of $2,000. His fraudulent operations in all are said to have resulted in putting $14,000 in his pocket. His rascality was discovered last week, and he was arrested on Thursday, but subsequently escaped and is supposed to have gone to Canada. Among other forged papers which he succeeded in negotiating was a pretended obligation form Hon. Cyrus L. Pershing, of Johnstown, for $700.
The Blairsville Press (Blairsville, Pennsylvania)
March 20, 1869
Great Flood in Johnstown
As many of our subscribers have friends and acquaintances living in Johnstown and are materially interested in anything that may occur there, for their information we publish the following account of the flood from the Tribune:
Johnstown has just been visited by one of the greatest floods in its history. On Sunday night last, about midnight, the ice in the Conemaugh just above town suddenly gave way, and, failing to find an outlet, was forced out of the ordinary channel upon that portion of Johnstown and Conemaugh boroughs, lying along the left bank of the stream. The streets on the "Island" in Conemaugh and "Goose Island" in Johnstown were inundated and piled up with large cakes of ice withing fifteen minutes after the break-up.
The house of John Hevorline, was completely overturned by the current, and that of Patrick Clarke was knocked from its foundations - both families scarcely escaping with their lives. Several stables and outbuildings and most of the fences were prostrated. On the back streets the water rushed into the houses, and many persons were glad to escape in their night-clothes over cakes of floating ice. Several narrow escapes were made, but providently no lives were lost. Mr. Tresh, and the family which resides in his tenant house, each had a cow drowned. Alvar Akers lost five hogs. Several cows and hogs were rescued with great difficulty. Many chickens were drowned. As soon as the consternation, produced by the inundation, had partially abated attention was turned to the duty of removing these persons who were yet in a dangerous situation. Several families were taken from their houses on the backs of strong men or in a skiff which was fortunately within reach. The news of the disaster soon spread, and all who had been compelled to leave their homes were soon comfortably provided for.
At daylight on Monday morning the scene presented was one of the most desolate imaginable. Thousands visited the locality during the day, and what assistance was required was freely rendered to those who desired to remove their property. A strong current of water poured down both the streets on "Goose Island" and the back street in Conemaugh, finding an outlet at the Gas works, just above the aqueduct, at which latter joint the ice was effectually jammed.
During Tuesday the ice farther up the Conemaugh broke up and came crushing down upon that already gorged near the town, causing the water to rise still higher. Portage street on the "Island", which had not hitherto been inundated, was now covered, the water at the head of the street forcing an outlet into the old canal basin, completely filling it, and uniting near Esq. Flattery's residence with the channel formed on Sunday night. The water encroached no farther upon the town, stopping at the mouth of Clinton and Canal streets. Had it raised a foot or two higher, all Johnstown would have been covered. The water was two feet deep in the Johnstown Mechanical Works. The Gas Works sent forth no gas that night. Woodvale was submerged during the day with back water.
The Stony Creek broke up on Tuesday, the ice gorging near noon at the bend opposite the Union graveyard. In the evening a large field of floating ice came down with great force and tore away the first ice-breaker and next the pier of the Stony Creek bridge, at the mouth of Franklin street. With the loss of the pier the loss of the bridge became inevitable. About eight o'clock the Kernville span fell, and soon after swept down the stream, the gorge below having given way. At 10 o'clock the other span fell and left to join its comrade. A tremendous crowd witnessed the disaster. The gorge fortunately was not so formidable as that in Conemaugh and did not therefore force the water of the river out of its ordinary channel at Johnstown. But another gorge at the red bridge, three miles south of town, caused great destruction to fences &c., in that neightborhood.
The sudden destruction of the bridge left many citizens of the fifth and sixth wards on this side of the stream, who were compelled to go home by way of the iron bridge and the side of the hill. On Wednesday a skiff was placed near the site of the old bridge and a rope ferry with a flat was hastily extemporized, by means of both of which trips area now regularly made with safely. During the trial trip of the flat it upset, spilling its cargo of several men into the rapid current. All were able to swim ashore. But for this they would have met a watery grave.
On Wednesday the ice and water of the Conemaugh continued as they were on Tuesday night. Efforts were made during the day to break up the gorge, but without avail. About eight o'clock in the evening, however, the ice below the aqueduct began to move, and soon that above gave way with a great crash, at once enabling all the water to regain its natural channel. The water disappeared from the 'Island", "Goose Island" and Woodvale, as quickly as it had come. But large cakes of ice, some of them over two feet thick, were left piled up in every direction, in some places ten feet high. They cannot be removed, and will not melt for months. Both streams are now flowing in their natural channels.
It is remarkable that so few accidents happened and that no lives were lost. The only serious accident which occurred happened to Mr. Henry Fisher, who fell on Wednesday morning while going to his work by way of the iron bridge, breaking one of the small bones of his leg and dislocating an ankle.
Many families have lost heavily by damage to their houses, furniture, &c. For the poor, relief should be secured at once. Mr. Randolph estimates the loss of the Gas Company at over $1000. The recent freshet was much more formidable than that of 1817 or 1867.
The Blairsville Press (Blairsville, Pennsylvania)
April 3, 1869
The new bridge being built across Stony creek at Johnstown fell on Friday last, injuring a number of persons who were on the bridge at the time. It was to have been finished on Saturday for the passage of trains.
The Blairsville Press (Blairsville, Pennsylvania)
April 23 1869
The bill to establish a Court at Johnstown, has become a law, the Governor having approved the same. The next thing will be an effort to make a new county, with Johnstown as the county seat.
The Blairsville Press (Blairsville, Pennsylvania)
May 8, 1869
Abandoned
The Indiana Iron Works, situated eight miles west of Johnstown, have been finally abandoned. They were erected about 25 years ago, by Mr. Henry Noble.
The Blairsville Press (Blairsville, Pennsylvania)
May 28, 1869
The Philadelphia Express east, while passing Wilmore station, fourteen miles east of Johnstown, Wednesday morning, the 18th inst., ran over and killed a man named Thomas Riley, who was working on the track.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
June 9, 1870
The question of the removal of the county seat is still agitated at Johnstown, an appeal entitled "Our Grievances," is made in the Johnstown press signed by over two column of names, the signers after setting forth their grievances, as they call them, pledge themselves not to support any candidate for the Legislature, who will not, if elected, urge the passage of a bill removing the county seat of Cambria county to Johnstown. This looks like business.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
July 28, 1870
The Johnstown Tribune says: There is in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, near this place, a night watchman named Samuel J. Hill, who has held the position for seventeen consecutive years. In this time he has walked 63, 875 miles, or the distance of about two and a half times around the earth, and yet not been five miles from home. He has not tasted a drop of intoxicating liquor in that time, never been heard to swear, has not lost a night from sickness in all that time, and his eyesight is as good as ever.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
August 4 1870
The Johnstown correspondent of the Ebensburg Alleghenian says: the brick works upon the new Woolen factory at Woodvale is being pushed forward rapidly by the large force of hands employed thereon. This monster building is three hundred and five feet in length, and about sixty feet wide, and will be three stories in height. To the rear of the main building a dye house, &c., will be erected one hundred and fifty feet in length by about thirty feet wide. This will be one of the largest factories in the United States.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
November 17, 1870
The oil fever has got up to such a heat in this place as to suggest to some persons the propriety of raising a stock company, and sinking a well a couple of miles below Johnstown, on the farm of Dr. Sheridan. We understand, also, that negotiations are going on by the same persons, for the purchase of Mr. Kern's tannery engine and fixtures, and the opening of a well on his place. - Johnstown Tribune.
Indiana Progress (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
December 8, 1870
Our old friend, Dr. J. S. Wakefield, has moved from Blairsville to Johnstown. The people of Johnstown will find the Doctor and his family to be quite an accession to their society. The Doctor has a good reputation as a dentist, which business he intends to follow.
The Indiana Gazette (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
December 31 1890
Narrisse Bergeron, a Johnstown contractor, has skipped out for Canada leaving behind him numerous debts and children.
Five or six Hungarians were shot during a row among themselves at Johnstown.
The Indiana Democrat (Indiana, Pennsylvania)
July 13 1893
At Johnstown, Albert Leckey, one of the prominent citizens of the place, was thrown from his carriage and his brains dashed out.
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