The History of Cambria County
“Land of Compatriots”
Cambria County, carved out of 700 square miles from portions of Somerset, Bedford, and Huntingdon Counties, was officially established by an Act of the State Legislature on March 26, 1804. Incidentally, the name "Cambria" was a derivation of the ancient Celtic word for Wales, known as the "land of compatriots."
The County, however, was still rather sparsely populated at the time, so it was kept under the jurisdiction of Somerset County until the population was large enough and stable enough to justify autonomous political and judicial administration. It was not until March 26, 1807, that the Pennsylvania Assembly granted the young County its complete status; and by November of that year, a full quota of county officials and judges was installed.
Here are a few links to help you discover more:
Cambria County Historical Society - "To preserve and promote the history of Cambria County through its museum collections, library, and archives."
Johnstown Area Heritage Association - is a non-profit, membership-based organization that exits to preserve and showcase Johnstown's nationally significant stories to the nation. It provides high-quality educational, cultural and recreational experiences in the area's unique historic settings through a linked system of attractions and historic districts known as the Johnstown Discovery Network
History of Coal in Cambria County - The Frank & Sylvia Pasquerilla Heritage Discovery Center, part of the Johnstown Discovery Network, is a community center that contains several attractions: the "America: Through Immigrant Eyes" exhibit; the Johnstown Children's Museum; the Iron & Steel Gallery; and two additional galleries. It also houses the Galliker's Cafe and the 4th Floor Ethnic Social Club. The HDC is operated by the Johnstown Area Heritage Association (JAHA). Welcome!
Egle's History of Cambria Co. - Transcribed from: Egle, William H., M.D. An Illustrated History of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (Harrisburg: DeWitt C. Goodrich & Co., 1876), p. 461-478.
Cambria_County,_Pennsylvania - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Conemaugh Valley Conservancy - promotes the conservation and preservation of natural, cultural and historic resources and encourages prudent land-use practices in the Kiski-Conemaugh River Basin
E-reference Link
BRIEF HISTORY, CAMBRIA COUNTY
Opened for Settlement by Penn in 1768,
Received Charter on
Mar. 26, 1804
The history of Cambria County must begin with the history of the province of Pennsylvania. William Penn received a grant from the English King and came to what is now Pennsylvania with a number of his Quaker adherents. Penn decided that he must deal fairly with the Indians and, during the years of his coming, he purchased from the Indians along the Delaware River and laid out the three original counties of Pennsylvania; Burks, Chester and Philadelphia. This Procedure was followed during later years. The Purchase of 1768 included the land from which Cambria County was formed.
Penn insisted on absolute fairness with the Indians; even to the extent of restricting the Settlers to those lands which has been acquired from the natives. Thus the territory, including what is now Cambria County, was not open to settlement until the purchase of 1768, with the treaty of Fort Stanwix, and therefore, there is little or no history until that date. Before that time, we know that traders passed through what is now Cambria County, but there was no attempt at settlement.
The first settlers in this area were of the Adams family who came through Bedford to a point near what is now the Elton-Salix area. Samuel Adams is buried near the village of Elton, and the location of his grave is well known.
During the month of December 1777, the Adams family returned to Bedford hurriedly because there were rumors of Indians in the area. Bedford at that time had a stockade and was a point of refuge for the settlers. The story goes, that following the original flight, the Adams family was persuaded to return to top of the mountain to recover some of their property such as cattle, and they did so. At the start of the trip to Bedford, they were attacked by Indians, and the party was separated.
Returning in Bedford, Samuel Adams was among the missing and later, upon the return of some of his companions to the point where they had been attacked by Indians, was found the body of Samuel Adams and an Indian. It appeared they had killed each other. They were buried near the village of Elton.
From the Adams family we have the name "Adams" Township and Solomon's Run, Sam's Run and Rachael's Run. We have an official record that in 1787 Solomon Adams was appointed one of the commissioners to view the Frankstown Road.
Another early settler, in what is now Cambria County, was Michael McGuire. We have reason to believe that as early as 1768, Michael McGuire came here as a hunter and established a site between what is now Ashville and Chest Springs. The site of this camp is known by tradition.
The first settlement, in what is now Cambria County was at a place called Beulah. Beulah was located just west of Ebensburg on Route 45; a road that now leads from Highway 22 to Nanty-Glo. The warrant for the land comprising Beulah was taken out by Dr. Benjamin Rush, a wealthy resident of Philadelphia and well known in Colonial days. Morgan John Rhys arrived at Beulah in March 1797 and proceeded to lay out the town. We have in the Cambria County Historical Society Library records that show that Morgan John Rhys was an agent for Dr. Benjamin Rush.
It appears that Rhys did not lead settlers who were primarily interested in making a home. His records seem to show that Rhys had a group of speculators and that the entire venture was speculation of Dr. Benjamin Rush. Rhys had a great deal of trouble because of the dissatisfaction of the settlers and the poor land in and around the settlement.
The Settlement did not last long, and today is a wilderness; although remains of the cemetery can be seen. One reason for is disappearance may be that it was a speculation instead of a real desire for making a home.
The rocky ground and the failure of the turnpike to pass through the town were also contributing factors. The turnpike, built about 1810, bypassed Beulah and, after that, its decline was rapid
Similar to the communication of the Adams with Bedford, the Beulah residents made the town of Somerset their center, in those days, Beulah was in Somerset County, and we know that there was traffic between the two places.
It is interesting to note that, to this day, the ford of the Stonycreek River in Johnstown between Vine Street and Somerset Street, is known as Beulah Ford. It is beside the Conrad Building at the corner of Vine and Franklin Streets. Rhys did not stay long in Beulah as a representative of Dr. Rush. He went to Somersset and became a prothonotary of Somerset County he died there in 1804.
The second settlement, in what is now Cambria County. Was at Ebensburg where a group of Welsh, led by Rev. Reese Lloyd, settled about 1796. The original warrant for this tract of land was taken by Thomas Martin in 1794. Rev. Reese Lloyd acquired tittle to the land in 1804, and the town was laid out in 1807; at that time, Ebensburg was designed as the county seat. Rev. Reese Lloyd stayed in Ebensburg until 1817 and then moved to Ohio where he died.
The first church in the area was built on a hill east of Ebensburg. Later the town was laid out on the top of the next hill to the west. Ebensburg was incorporated in 1625, was the first borough in county.
The third permanent settlement, in what is now Cambria County, was at Loretto, in the vicinity of which the McGuire’s settled some time prior to 1799. It could hardly be called a permanent settlement until Father Gallitzin came during, the summer of 1799 and determined to make it his home. At that time, he encouraged a number of settlers to come from northern Maryland to join him. The town of Loretto was actually laid out in 1816 and was incorporated as a borough 1845
About the same time, Joseph Johns came to what is now the City of Johnstown. It was known as Conemaugh, and the town was laid out around 1800. The borough of Conemaugh was incorporated in 1831 and, 1834 the name was changed to Johnstown. In 1849, there was organized a second Conemaugh Borough
In 1816, the population of Ebensburg was 150 and the population of Johnstown was 60, Cambria County was created by an act of legislation on March 26, 1804; the land was taken from Huntingdon and Somerset Counties. For Legal purposes, it was attached to Somerset County until 1807 when Ebensburg was designated as the county seat, and the first court was set up. The first judge was a man by the name of Young and, at that time, Cambria County was included in a larger judicial district. It was not until 1883 that the county became a separate judicial district.
As early as 1842 iron was made locally, Cambria Furnace was in existence on Laurel Run in 1842. It may be said the establishment of the steel business in the County is more by accident than by design. Ore was brought to Cambria Iron Company by canal and the Portage Railroad from the vicinity of Hollidaysburg.
In the early days, the fuel was charcoal; for timber was plentiful, but later, coal was discovered and was used for making coke. Between 1853 and 1855, the method of making coke changed and again the local coal became suitable for the process.
Cambria County is strategically situated with respect to transportation between the east and the west. The Kittanning Path crossed Cambria County from a point near the village of Coupon, on the top of the mountain on the east, to a point near Cherry Tree on the west. This path was used by Indians, traders, and others in moving from the headwaters of the Juniata River to the Allegheny River at Kittanning.
The Huntington, Indiana, and Cambria Turnpike; completed about 1820, crossed Cambria County from the east to the west through Ebensburg, and its route has been followed by modern highways.
The Portage Railroad and Canal, built by the state, crossed Cambria County from a point in the vicinity of Cresson on the east, through Lilly to Johnstown, and to a point beyond on the west. The Portage Railroad and Canal was the most important artery of freight transportation across the State during the two decades from 1830 to 1850.
Following the abandonment of the Canal system, the route of the Mainline of The Pennsylvania Railroad crossed Cambria County upon the completion of the Gallitzin Tunnel in 1854. At present, the county is crossed from the east to the west by the William Penn Highway (U.S. 22).
Lumbering was an important industry in the County, beginning shortly after its settlement, until that natural resource was practically exhausted. After the Civil War, the oak growing in the County provided the raw material of the “shook” business. A barrel used in New Orleans for the making of hogsheads, were made from “shook” cut in Cambria County. Beginning about 1890 coal became an important industry in the county. Capital was provided, and the railroads extended so that millions of tons of coal moved to the markets during the last sixty years.
Farming, coal mining, and steel manufacturing furnished the chief sources of employment; although, at present time, unemployment is widespread due low demand for the mining of coal and operations of steel plants.
The plants of the Bethlehem Steel and Johnstown Corporation, formerly know as United States Steel, are located in the City of Johnstown.
Other sources of employment stem from dairy and poultry farms, horticultural specialties, textile plants, lumbering, clay works, and production of Mineral resources such as shale, limestone, sandstone, iron ore and gas.