The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-05-03
Cambria Sou0 ty.
CHAPTER Y.
Early Settlement.


country do not wait for Acts Of Assembly,
nor do they pay any regard to county
lines. Three distinct and Independent
settlements (to use an American term)
were made many years before the Act
creating Cambria county was passed
These were respectively at Loretto, at
Johnstown, and at Ebenshurg, and were
made in the order in which :; have given
them.
The first white settler IN Cambria coun-
ty was Capt. MICHAEL NGr.Has Who
built his cabin within @ mike o5 who're the
borough Of Loretto Row stands. in the year
1890. He was hardy, fearless l.on,-
vigorous and athletic, and possessed great
powers of endurance He was, besides,
man of the most unimpeschable integrity.
His descendants still reside in the same
neighborhood, and are worthy Of their
forefathcr.
Captain N'Guire was soon followed by
others. Among these might be mention
ed the names OF Cornelius M'Guire, Rich
ard Naglc, William Dodson, Richard Ash
craft, Michael Rager, James Alcorn, John
Storm, John Trcxcl, John Douglass, john
Byrne, and William Meloy. These set
tiers, or nearly all Of them, located in the
same neigh5orhood. John Storm, one of
the above named, erected a grist-mill some
thine after-the first built in the county.
The second settlement made in Cambria
county, was commenced at Johnstown. by
Joseph Johns, Cor Jahns or Zahns, as it is
indifferently spelled from whom the place
has derived its name. Mr.. Johns was an
entcrprising German, and doubtless saw
the peculiar advantages Of location possess
ed by this point. This was in the year
1871, or perhaps 1892. After the com
pletion Of what is known as the .'FIauks-
town road" Johns,own became place CT
considerable importance, as the head OF
ark and fat-boat navigation, On the Cone
mauSh, from whence the iron Of the Ju-
niata county was shipped to Pittsburg,-
| think Mr.. Johns did not die at Johns
town, but removed before his death About
the year 1900, a man named LEVERS oc-
cupcd cabin on the same spot.
The Ebensburg settlement was COM
mcnced subsequently to the Other two
Early in the autumn Of 1896, number of
Welsh emigrants arrived at Ebensburg,
and commenced what has since been known
as the ''Wclsh settlement" This cmLra-
ces nearly ali the present township Of
Cambria, and slight strip Of Summerhill
and Carroll Among these settlers may
be mentioned, Hon George Roberts, Thorn
Us Philips, William jenkins, Theuphilus
Rees, Evan Roberts, Rev Eees Llovd,
William Griffith, James Nicholas, Daniel
Griffith, John Jones, David Thomas, Evan
James, Thomas w Jones, Esq, John
Jenkins, Isaac Griffith, John Tobias, Rev.
/ Morgan J. Rccs, John J. Evans, William
Rccs. Simon James, William Williams,
! (South,) Thomas Griffith, John Thomas,
John Roberts, (Penbryn,) John Roberts,
! (Shoemaker,) David Hees, Robert VII
Hams, Thomas Griffith, (taemcrr James
! Evans, Griffith Rowland. David Edwards.
/ hunlas Lewis, ;.uu David DAVIS.
OF this large number, john Thomas.
of jackson township, Is believed to Jc tne
only survivor-Judge Roberts having died
few years since.
These pioneers settled on what is known
as the Rush lands, then owned bv DR.
Benjamin Rush, of Philadelphia, who had
appointed Rev. Morgan j. Rees as his
agent for selling them.
have now alluded briefly to the ther
principal settlements previous to the for
nation of the county. There were Other
isolated improvements III different parts O
the county Michael Rager had improved
on the Laurel Hill, in Jackson township
Peter Gordon on the Susquehanna, in Sus
quehanna township; Thomas Croyle (wb,
still lives,) at Croyles Mill, in Summer
hill township Paul Benshoof (who still
lIyes,) In Conemaugh township; Hugl
Gallagher in White township; and Rich
ard Ashcraft in Carroll township.
Cambria county was not organized foI
judicial purposes until 1907. Prior t,
this period, the inhabitants of the north
ern portion of the county were compelle,
: Ito attend court at Huntingdon Will,
those Of the middle and south had to o..