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FOREWORD

A history of Cambria County and its people is an essential part of the progress of civilization in our country for two hundred and twenty-five years.

After its acquisition by William Penn it was at peace with the red man for a period of seventy years, followed by thirty years of cruel barbarism.

In the beginning its pioneers were with Washington in the struggle for independence; its rank and file have marched with Dearborn, Taylor and Scott, Grant, Farragut and Shafter, and gallantly sustained our government.

Its 666 square miles of land were richly endowed with the tall white pine and hemlock, and the forests are filled with hard wood, and its mountains are veined with the best quality of bituminous coal.

In the iron and steel industry it has created for itself an international reputation for excellent products, and in its fine arts its people have achieved a worthy place. In statesmanship and government, in the nation and state, the influence of its men has been wielded for the good.

It is worthy to modestly enroll the achievements of her people among the annals of our country.

In grateful acknowledgment of the invaluable assistance given in the preparation of this history by James M. Swank, George T. Swank and Anderson H. Walters of the Johnstown Tribune, John McCormick and other friends, the author desires to express his sincere thanks.

MEN OF CAMBRIA WHO HAVE DISTINGUISHED IT BY THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.

1. John J. Boyle: A Sculptor.

2. Jacob Miller Campbell: A General and a Statesman. 3. George Fritz: An Inventor and Engineer.

4. John Fritz: An Inventor and Engineer.

5. Lawrence Francis Flick, M. D.: The Master of Tuberculosis.

6. John Fulton: Geologist and Mining Engineer.

7. Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin: A Pioneer Priest.

8.

John White Geary: A Major General and Governor of
Kansas and Pennsylvania.

9. Joseph Johns: A Friend of the Common Schools and Founder of Johnstown.

10. William R. Jones: An Inventor, Engineer and Manager of Steel Works.

11. George Shryock King: Founder of the Cambria Iron Co. 12: Daniel Johnston Morrell: Iron and Steel Master; Author of and the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Centennial Exhibition, and Commissioner to the Paris Exposition.

13. Robert Samuel Murphy: Lieutenant Governor and President of the Pennsylvania Senate.

14. Robert Edwin Peary: The Arctic Explorer.

15. Cyrus Long Pershing: A President Judge and Member of the War Assembly; the Democratic Candidate for Governor, Supreme Judge and Congress.

16. Robert Lees Phythian: A Commodore in the United States Navy and a Superintendent of the Naval Academy.

17. Charles M. Schwab: A Steel Master.

18. Powell Stackhouse:

President of the Cambria Steel Co.

19. James Moore Swank: An Editor, Statistician and His

torian.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

William Penn seeks to purchase title from the Susquehanna
river-Penn secures the Dongan title-Penn's difficul-
ties in England and in the province-Treaties with the
Indians French and Indian War-Charles Campbell
procures a warrant for the land on the Conemaugh
and Stonycreek rivers at Johnstown.

CHAPTER II.

The Revolutionary War period-Meetings in Carpenter's
Hall in Philadelphia-Companies of Captain Robert
Cluggage, Captain Richard Brown, Captain Andrew
Mann, and Captain Jacob Hendershot-The companies
of rangers; Captain John Boyd and Captain Solomon
Adams-Mason and Dixon line-The whiskey rebellion
of 1794 The Forbes Road....

CHAPTER III.

Organization of Counties-Cambria county taken from
Somerset and Huntingdon-First townships in Cam-
bria county

CHAPTER IV.

Indian Tribes in the Conemaugh valley-First white
visitors

16

29

46

1 .

CHAPTER V.

Pioneer settlers-Adams family-Prince Gallitzin-Cap-
tain Michael M'Guire Joseph Johns-He lays out the
village of Conemaugh..

CHAPTER VI.

Indian trails-Old roads..

67

91

CHAPTER VII.

A Political Review-The politics of the county, state and
nation from 1808...

CHAPTER VIII.

The Judicial District-Jurisdiction of the courts, and legis-
lation-Special acts, the judges and lawyers-Inci-

dents.

CHAPTER IX.

Anti-slavery Sentiment-The underground railroad-
"Abraham" and "Patrick" shot at by a slave hunter
-Arrest of Henry Willis and others for aiding the
slaves..

First Settlements

CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER XI.

The Rivers, Creeks and Rivulets-Saw and grist mills, and

102

143

186

193

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Cambria Steel Company-Origin and early history of the

present great corporation...

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