The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-04-09
sIacshane has been 10 vvIlmore.

Dear FTeemdn-I have been to Wilmorel
1t Is pleasantly situated between the Ebens-
burg and Cres>o branches Of the Cone
maUgh, a short distance above their cCnfiu-
euce. Neither branch is navigablc for the
larger craft, but sugar trough has been
Known, at a good stage Of water to float In
safety for some distance above the town,
and large chips are floated on the Ebensburg
branch nearly as far up as the county seat
Wilmore is an old town-so tiled originally
about 1900. 1t is named from a family OF
that name-the original, if not aboriginal,
proprietors Of the soil upon which it stands
The village originally consisted of few
log cabins, and was derisively called Guinea,
/ from the fact that there was at that early
| day radical tircture of African blood iu
/ the Wilmore family. Good Father Galtzin
/ o, ,Jurgated the opprobrtous sobITquet Of Gu'-
/ nea, and the more Cilcassian and patriotic
/ name Of Jefferson was adopted. thus 1t
/ stood, a thriving hamlet, until the Old Por
! tage gave it tone and character.
The Portage added to its Importance
/ During goodly portion of the career Of that
road Jefferson was the dining point for the
passengers, and it soon assumed the post and
( dimensions Of a prosperous country town.
/ A post flee, as a matter of C urSe, be-
/! came necessary, and as the name (Jetferson)
| had been appropriated to another office in
Pennsylvania, a new name was required, and
the name Of tie proprietors, WILM IRE, was
adopted.
The subsequent construction Of the Penn
sylvania RAN Road. and consequent aban-
dur ment Of the Old Portage, was damaging q
to the prosperity of the place, as the new
road followed the opposite bank of the Cres-
son branch of the COnemaugh. south of the
town. a frst~class station was, however,
established, to which the name of Wimore
was given, thus ignoring the name of JefIeI-
son and this was followed up by the villa
g r themselves legalizing the name by get
ting themselves Incorporated into the 'Bor-
ough of Wilmore."
So much for the history of this enterpri-
sing village. 1t contains population of
some 400 sOuls-has two taverns, with
prospect Of a third. some half dozen of mer-
chants. two milers, Gin addition to Joseph. }
two blacksmitks, an excellent physician.
! carpenters, cabinet makers, shocmakcrs, etc.
Your friend. Isaac Wike, Esq. whilom
Treasurer Of Cambria county, as well as SUR
dry others, showed me much civiIity. Tue
veteran caterer, Hamilton, supplied all my
physical and spiritual wants, and my only
r'gret is that he contemplateS leaving Viii
more.
Wilmore is the home of Capt. William r.
Hughes, who, during the late rebellion,
made SO galan: an attack upon the Monitor.
tie is now in easy retirement.
| have spoken of various branches of bus
iness in this healthy and growing town, but
negIe Cted to state that the OIL business has
been attracting much attention and indeed,
during my brief visit, | found that the chief
I interest OF the leading citizens seemed to be
in petroleum enterprise.
Besides is railroad advantages, Wilmore
has several thoroughfares-a road to inter
sect the Frankstuwn road road to PJr-
tage, to Munster, and to Ebensburg 4
plank road was completed to Ebensburg.
but it has been abandoned. A similar road
was also projected to Bedford, of which you,
Mr.. Editor, was appointed a Commissioner
to take stock. Nothing has, as yet, been
done on the FILLMORE end Of this route, nor
have heard whether or not the Bedford end
il finished, tut from the well known liberal
ity and enterprise of the moneyod men Of
Bedford. have no doubt it is in running
order.
Near the route of this road, on Cedar
Creek, is a celebrated medical spring, owned
by the editor Of tie Freeman. The water
| am Informed, has been analyzed by A. II.
r. Fish, a. $. s., an eminent chemist, with
the f)ilOWipU rESult