The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-12-02

A REMARKABLE MAN-During visit to
Juhnstown last summer we became acquain-
ted with '.old John Weakland, ;" as he is fa-
miliarly called, who is certainly one of the
most remarkable men of his age Ia this sec
tion OF the State. His father, Zepheniah
Weaklsnd, then al unmarried man. came
from st. Mays county, on the Eastern
shore of Mary land. before the close of the
revolution, and settled on Spruce Creek, thea
in Bedford (now Fl untipgdon) county, about
eight miles from Huntingdon. There John
Weakland was born in 1794-three years
before the erection of Huntingdon county out
of Bedford. In 1908 his father moved from
Spruce Creek to this county. and built a log
cabin near TO where Daniel O'Hara then
and his son Henry O'Hara now resides. about
one mile east of the present town of Mum
ster, that ''loveliest village of the plain.''-
Thomas Durbin. father of Ex-Sheriff Dur
bin of this county, was then living where
Munster is nov situated. and kept tavern
Alexander Trcxell, whose name is associated
with the old Trcxell tavern, one-fuurth Of a
mile west Of Cresson, had not then located
at that point
When MIR. Weakland's father moved to
this county the only persons then living near
where Munster now stands were Daniel o.
Hara, joseph Lilly, james Elder and Pat'k
Carney, all of whom are now dead. In 1893.
nine years before the time Of which we are
speaking. the distinguished priest, DIR. Gal
litzin. renouncing his pIincely title aud es-
tate in Russia, had settled on tract Gf land
where Loretto is now located. and had erect
ed large and substantial frame Catholic
church, which is still standing. In addition
to- ministering to the spiritual wants of the
few settlers, Mr.. W. Informed us that the
L 4 Il r. Al.
product of which was taken to market at
Baltimore or Philadelphia by Thos. Durbin.
previously referred to, in large, old fash
ioned covered wagon.
Several years after his settlement in this
comfy. Mr.. Weakland's father removed to
Mahoning township. Indiana county. about
twenty miles north Of the town of Indiana
but subsequently, returned to Cambria and
took up bis residence iu Johnstown in 1882.
He afterwards removed to Susquehanna
township, WAS married to bis third wife
when he was several years beyond three
score and ten, had one or two children. and
died in 1919, when he was between ninety
and one hundred years of age. John Weak
land. the subject Of this notice, was married
in 1888, when he was 40 years old. and had
three children, two sons and one daughter.
His wife died in 1858. In 1861, when he
was II years old. he married second time
and had three chldren-all boyS-one of
whom. it will be remembered we mentioned
few weeks ago. was kicked in the face by
horse, causing his death. Mr.. w. has an
only brother. (Michael,) quite an old man,
living in Susquehanna township.
The Weaklands of Cambria county are
almost legion, and are thickly scattered over
the townships of Carroll, Su<quehanna aud
Ciearfeld. They are lone-Iived race of
men-Wm. Weakland. brother of Zephe-
niah, the father of the subject of this notice.
having died near Loretto, FIVE years ago. at
the advanced age of about So years. John
Weakland. although he has lived far beyond
the period usually allotted to men here be-
low, is a sprightly. active and vigorous old
man, and looks as though he might yet, as