Cambria County, Chapter XVIII, Blacklick Township
Blacklick Township is bounded by Carroll on the North, Cambria on the East, Jackson on the South, and Indiana County on the West, containing a population of about 650 inhabitants.
The Township is broken. The Laurel Hill, which runs parallel with the Allegheny Mountain, is an unbroken chain, for some hundreds of miles, and which is nearly of equal altitude, loses itself, or to use a more homely expression, "dies out," in this Township. On the Southern line of the Township, this hill still retains a considerable elevation - on the Northern line no traces of it are distinguishable.
It is watered by several branches of Blacklick Creek, which flow through the Township, in a Southwesterly direction, affording an abundance of water-power.
The soil along the streams is very broken, and not generally susceptible of cultivation. There are a few good farms in the Township, though the land is much better adapted to pasturage than grain growing.
Perhaps no portion of Cambria County is richer in undeveloped mineral resources than Blacklick Township. It abounds in immense veins of iron ore, which the inconvenience of a market, and the want of adequate protection, have prevented from being operated. Besides, she has exhaustless beds of bituminous coal. One half the coal consumed in Ebensburg, is mined in this Township.
The village of Belsano, situated on the Turnpike Road near the center of the Township, contains a population of some fifty inhabitants. It has a store, a Justice's office, and fortunately, no tavern.--The Post Office is here; -- and here the elections are held. Eliza Furnace, situated partly in Indiana County, on the waters of Blacklick Creek, at one time gave a home market to the neighborhood; but has, for several years, been entirely abandoned, and is fast going to destruction
The principal public road is the Ebensburg and Indiana Turnpike Road, which was viewed as a great "institution" in its day, but has lately been deprived of its privilege to take tolls, and reduced to the character of a common Township road.
There are besides, public roads from Duncan's Mill to Mechanicsburg; from the Turnpike to Eliza Furnace; from near Belsano to, the lower Duncan's Mill, from Bethel to Gillan's; and other public roads.
That. portion of Blacklick adjoining Cambria Township is principally
settled by the Welsh and their descendants; a few Irish families
are settled in the Northern portion; but the great bulk of the
population is original Pennsylvanians.
The Methodist and United Brethren persuasions seem to prevail;
yet there are many Baptists, and some Disciple families in the
Eastern portion of the Township. The regular Methodists have a
fine church near Belsano, while the Baptists have a venerable
log building, known as the Bethel Meeting House.
Blacklick Township was not settled at quite so early a date as some other portions of Cambria County. Griffith Rowland was perhaps the earliest settler of the Eastern portion of the Township; while the Duncan's made the first opening on the Western side. William Reed, one of Harrison's soldiers during the war of 1812, immediately after its close, settled in the wilderness, and opened a fine farm on which his aged relict still resides.
I once traveled on horseback over an old, abandoned road leading from near the dividing line on the Reed and George farms, to the "Stone Turnpike" at Dillon's Tavern. I found an old, dilapidated bridge over the Blacklick, so rickety in its appearance that I was feign to escape its dangers by fording the stream. Not far from this bridge, the road passes thro' a defile of very rugged character; but what struck me as most singular, an immense rock, which had been cloven in twain by some convulsion, arose on either side of the road perpendicular, and some fifteen feet high, barely leaving space for a wagon to pass through the fissure The day was hot and sultry, yet while passing through this singular gap, I felt as cool as if in an ice-house. I am not certain whether this is in Blacklick or Jackson - it must be near the line between them.
In this Township resides Mr. Jacob Campbell, somewhat distinguished as a controversialist. He first appeared among us in the employ of the engineer corps of the Penna. R.R. Co., when they made their first exploratory survey under Chas. G. Schlutter, Esq. He afterwards occupied rooms in the Ebensburg Academy, at which place his productions are dated. He afterwards retired to a residence in the country, and has not since resumed his pen. This circumstance has indeed a belief in the minds of many that Mr. Campbell was not the real author of the articles that appeared over his name; but without venturing an opinion as to the correctness of this theory, it might be sufficient to refer to a large number of authors, ancient and modern, who have arisen, culminated, and declined, within an amazingly short period.
Every variety of game may be found in this Township - even deer and bear are, not unfrequently captured within its limits. The Panther or American catamount, is still sometimes seen in the forest.-A few years since, Abraham Longenecker, Esq., was treed by one of these animals which was only prevented from ascending by a most singular expedient. He was, however, kept at bay until the "Squiro" was relieved from his unenviable position.
Jonathan Oldbuck
Monkbarns, July 5, 1860
The Alleghanian, July 12, 1860.
Mrs. Nipps
An old lady named Nipps died in Cambria township on Tuesday last
at the remarkable age of 94 years.
Cambria Freeman, Friday, March 9, 1877, page 3 col 1
NIPPS, Susannah (Hoberstick)
Susannah Nipps, supposed to be the oldest resident of Cambria
county died on the 5th inst., aged 95 years.
(Indiana Progress, Indiana, PA, Thursday, March 15, 1877).
Ivison Post Office
Through the efforts of A.T. Pindle, Esq., a special post-office,
called "Irinson" (sic) has been established by the Post
Master General, in Blacklick Township, this county and Abraham
H. Longnecker has been appointed Postmaster thereof. The new office
is located about three miles from Strongstown, Pa., on the public
road leading from that place to Nicktown and Carrolltown, and
will be supplied semi-weekly with mail service, from the Strongstown
post-office. Quite a large community will thus be afforded much
needed and convenient mail facilities. This makes the third post-office
that Mr. Pindle has had reinstated and established within a few
years past, namely, Belsano, Pindleton, and the present one, Irinson
(sic).
Cambria Freeman, June 17, 1887, p.3
BRUIN DIED HARD
AN EXCITING BEAR HUNT IN THE WILDS OF PENNSYLVANIA
Johnstown, Penna., Dec. 8 - There is a very wild region of the country close to the dividing line of Indiana and Cambria Counties, in the Blacklick Township, this county. At the head of the north branch of the Blacklick, a small stream which courses down the mountain side, the country abounds in beech trees, laurel, spruce, and dense underbrush. This particular strip of land lies between John W. Duncan's red mill and the old Ritter furnace, and whenever a man proposes to penetrate the thicket his friends predict a fatal ending. Wild beasts of every species hold high carnival there, and, if reports are true, several hunters' bones are sure to be found somewhere within the confines of this region.
However, this may be, there are still a few Cambria County hunters who have no fear of the dangers lurking in the fastnesses of Blacklick. Two weeks ago a hunting party was organized in Blacklick Township. It included Davis Bracken, a veteran hunter, George Bennett, J. S. Bennett, Peter Detwiler, and Franklin Bennett, the latter enjoying a good reputation for being a sure shot. All of the men are brave. The object of organizing was to invade the Blacklick region and hunt for game. Their weapons consisted of a smooth-bore shotgun, a muzzle-loading rifle of small caliber - 150 bullets to the pound - and several axes. There were also two hounds.
Their time for hunting came sooner than they expected. On the 1st of December Bracken's dogs tracked a bear, and after a long chase ran it into a large laurel patch in the Blacklick region. Old man Bracken knew what the yell of the hounds meant, and at once summoned his neighboring hunters with his tin horn. The men responded to the call with alacrity, believing that there was fun ahead. In this they were not mistaken. They made a detour of the laurel patch, and under the leadership of Bracken they were stationed at different points. The blowing of the horn was a signal to enter the thicket. The dogs were sent on ahead and soon had the game located. It was a bear.
Franklin Bennett was the first of the party to get his eye
upon Bruin. He found him perched upon a limb of a young spruce
tree. He looked fiercely at the hunter and the hounds. Bennett
was not unnerved, and being in possession of the muzzle-loading
rifle, he sent a bullet into the head of Bruin. The bear fell
to the ground and Bennett and the dogs rushed to the spot. But
the animal was not dead. Raising itself on its hind legs it made
a vicious strike at the hunter with its right paw. Bennett escaped
the blow, but one of the dogs was sent howling to the ground 10
feet away. The bear then took to his heels, and the dogs in hot
pursuit, soon had him treed again. Bennett reloaded his gun and
came upon the scene. Suffering from an attack of "bear fever,"
another name for excitement, he regained his composure a few moments
later, and, drawing a bead on his bearship, once more brought
him to the ground. Even this did not kill the beast, which was
now savage and growled fiercely. He started on a run, and the
dogs attacked him from the rear. Once the bear stopped and showed
fight, but he soon realized that he could not cope with trained
hounds, seeing Bennett coming up he again took refuge in a pine
tree.
For a third time Bennett fired, and the animal dropped to the
ground, but was still alive. It howled with pain and manifested
its anger by savage growls at short intervals. Bennett could no
longer retain his nerve. He was provoked at the non-effectiveness
of the rifle, and, taking the weapon at the muzzle end, he was
about to attack the bear by beating it over the head, when he
heard Bracken's tin horn in close proximity. When the men came
up the bear, dogs, and Bennett were standing at equal distances
apart. Bruin scarcely moved, the wounds he received seeming to
have quieted that uneasiness so manifest among his family. Detwiler
had the shotgun of the party, and when he arrived upon the scene
he fired. The shot, however, did not take effect. Then followed
an exciting time. The bear made a mad rush at George Bennett.
The man protected himself with an axe. He dealt the animal a terrible
blow, which sent it on its hind legs. By this time Detwiler had
reloaded his smooth-bore with a large bullet, and, handing the
weapon to Franklin Bennett, the latter sent a fatal bullet into
Bruin's brain. The bear fell over dead.
All the hunters gathered around the animal, not knowing how soon he might revive, and after they had cooled from the excitement they chanted a song of triumph composed by Davis Bracken. This procedure is one of Bracken's eccentricities, and he claims that it brings good luck in the next hunt. The men took the carcass to Bracken's house, where they dressed the game. It was found that only one of the bullets from Bennett's gun had penetrated the animal's brain, the other two glancing off. The bear weighed 175 pounds, and was about two years old. It was remarkably black, very fat, and had thick and glossy hair.
The dead animal was brought to this city two days later, and is nearly all sold by this time. The success which the hunters met on this trip has excited their courage, and they feel hopeful of securing more game in the wilds of the Blacklick region before the Winter is over.
(New York Times, Dec. 9, 1888, p. 7)
The New Town of Big Bend
A Jewel Down the Blacklick which is Developing
into Importance
Large Coal Operations Located There - The Picturesque Big Bend in the Blacklick Creek - Daily Output of Coal to be 2,000 Tons - Town Population to be Will be 3,000 Souls - Many Lots Sold
Nestling snugly down between the Blacklick hills, ten miles by railroad from Ebensburg and two below Nantyglo lie the new town of Big Bend and the several large coal operations which will sustain it. We took occasion while in the vicinity recently to inspect the developments now in progress and were perfectly amazed at their extent and at the possibilities of the locality.
Big Bend is a picturesque and romantic spot, the Blacklick creek here curving between walls of rock, in places a hundred feet high and forming a huge horseshoe before returning within a few hundred yards of its course down the valley. This gives its name to the town - "Big Bend." The flat lying between the arms of the bend is occupied chiefly by the tracks and improvements of the coal companies operating here, the town lying on higher ground to the northeast. The flat in the bend of the creek was the site of one of the early day projected iron furnaces of Ritter and Irwin, called, we believe, Eliza Furnace, and the foundations of some twenty "furnace houses" are yet to be seen.
A coal bank was long operated here by the tenants of the Moore farm, the coal supplying the farmers in the vicinity and much of it hauled to Ebensburg. The thickness of the vein and the purity of the coal attracted the attention of Eastern capitalists and a lease was obtained on 1, 000 acres lying back of the opening and a charter taken out by the Big Bend Coal Mining Company, the stock being held in Philadelphia. Mr. W. C. Shiffer is the superintendent on the ground, and having removed his family there, is installing one of the finest operations in the region. Two parallel drifts start at the site of the old Moore opening and are now in about 1,000 feet. The output of the mine is already several cars a day, and when the property is fully developed will be at least 1,000 tons daily. The coal is now hauled to the tipple by means of a stationary engine and as soon as the power plant is completed it will be hauled by electric motors and the coal mined by compressed air mining machines. A large stable, office and other buildings have been erected and a permanent bridge built across the Blacklick creek. A double-track siding 2,300 feet long connects the tipple with the Ebensburg and Blacklick railroad near Twin Rocks station.
A quarter mile around the returning arm of the bend, a hundred feet up on the side of the bluff in plain sight, is the drift of the Commercial Coal Mining Company, Mr. William Smith, General Superintendent. This is an entirely new opening and is intended to mine coal from the 1,000 acres known as the "Moore Syndicate" land, now owned by said company. It is only in course of development, although a mountain of excellent coal has already been taken out and lies in a large mound ready for shipment when the tipple is completed to the railroad track. The tipple is an immense one in which there will be 150,000 feet of timber when completed. It crosses the creek at the height of 75 feet above the water and is probably a hundred yards long. This opening, as well as that at the Big Bend, is on the "B" or "Miller" seam, which is here found at its best.
At the east end of the tipple lies the electric plant for the two companies, which is in course of construction, the boilers being already installed. They will furnish steam for the 300 horse-power engines. Grading is proceeding here also for two railroad tracks from the Blacklick road on which to store and load cars. Two parallel drifts are being driven and developments will be pushed until capacity of 1,000 tons a day is reached.
A portion of the land formerly known as the Moore Syndicate has been laid out in lots, the Public Road from Belsano to Johnstown constituting the main street, and a large portion of the town site has been cleared of trees and underbrush and streets and alleys laid out. On this ground the new homes are being reared and the wilderness is rapidly being transformed into a thriving little city. Here the 600 workmen to be employed by the industries with their families and the various businessmen will reside.
The town site slopes gradually to Coal Pit Run, furnishing excellent drainage, and now presents a scene of busy activity by reason of the building developments in progress. Twenty-five tenant houses are completed and a number of others are in progress. They are of the best type of houses built in the county for miners, containing five and six rooms, weatherboarded and plastered, wired for electric light and piped for water, which will be supplied to the entire town by gravity from a near-by mountain stream, and the power for lighting will be furnished by the central power plant at the mines. The houses being painted in different colors, present a different appearance from the usual blocks of houses in mining towns. The Coal Company has erected a fine large residence for Superintendent W.C. Shiffer, and have, in course of construction, a large store room and office building, fifty by seventy feet. James Dunn, the pioneer of Nantyglo, has secured two lots and has under contract a fine business block, Lewis Donofsky, the Nantyglo merchant, has nearly completed a fine store building, and Everett C. Davis also of Nantyglo, has purchased a lot, and, it is understood will soon build a business house on it; L. C. Van Scoyoc is doing a flourishing butchering business in his building erected for that purpose, and E. P. Shoemaker has the foundation completed for a large building; Carl Tailrace, Andrew Edny, Simon Adams, John Reynolds and others, have purchased lots and will construct buildings as soon as laborers and materials can be had. Leander Bush, formerly of Blacklick Township, will erect a fine residence on the lot purchased by him at the upper end of town. W.C. Shiffer has charge of the sale of lots on the ground and Fred D. Barker, Esq., at Ebensburg.
It is estimated that in the course of a year or two Big Bend must have a population of 3,000 people and arrangements for meeting the demands for building lots have made, choice locations now being offered at very moderate prices. It is intended to make this a town for the people and not merely a company plant, so locations are sold outright without any strings to them and every effort is being made to diversify the interests of the place. Everything about the town indicates an abiding belief in its prospects and permanence by its projectors who have spent large sums of money on it.
At the mines of Charles McFadden, adjoining Big Bend on the South, several hundred men are employed; Seldersville, a thriving village, adjoins it on the North, and taking into consideration the number of men to be employed at the different mines and the persons to be engaged in merchandising and other pursuits it looks as though Big Bend would in a short time be the banner town of the Blacklick coal region.
Mountaineer Herald, October 22, 1903
TWIN ROCKS MINING CO.
THE BIG FOUR COAL MINING COMPANY TO SOON OPEN UP AT TWIN ROCKS
The Big Four Coal Mining Company is the name of a new coal corporation which will shortly commence the shipping of coal from Twin Rocks. A total of from 125 to 150 men will be given steady employment. The commencement of operations means better times in the north-county town
The company is not opening another mine. It has just purchased an old but valuable working which was shut down in 1903 because, it is alleged, the Pennsylvania Railroad company discriminated in the placing of cars. The mine is that formerly known as McFadden No.1 and was the property of the Blacklick Coal Mining company. It is said that owing to the fact that it could not get a sufficient number of cars, the Blacklick company was compelled to shut down. A great quantity of mining machinery of all kinds has been lying idle since that time, while a three and one-half to four foot vein of semi-bituminous coal has been absolutely unworked. The coal is said to be the best in Blacklick.
The Big Four people now have a force of men at work repairing the tipple and getting the plant in shape to begin the shipping of coal. A spur from the Big Bend branch of the Pennsy runs right to the tipple.
The new company was formed Aug. 28 at Nantyglo. The officers,
who are also the incorporators, are as follows: P.F. McEvoy, president;
Matthew B. Nairn, secretary; T. F. Burns, treasurer and Martin
McDermott, superintendent.
Mountaineer Herald, October 22, 1908
THIEVES GET $1,000 IN TWIN ROCKS JOB
Post Office and Express Agency Looted by
Burglars Early Sunday Morning
DYNAMITE USED ON THE SAFE
The combination postoffice and express office at Twin Rocks, near Vintondale, was entered by thieves early Sunday morning, the burglars securing $1000 in money, checks and stamps. There are no clues.
Entrance to the office was gained by prying a door open. The robbers dynamited the safe but the explosion failed to awaken the nearby residents.
Postmaster Edward A. Nipps was in Pittsburgh Saturday but was called home at once.
Indiana Evening Gazette, November 8, 1909
NEW TOWN FOR BLACKLICK REGION
BUSINESS BOOM FOR BELSANO IS PROBABLE
Belsano, Dec. 23 -- Since the recent activity of the Manor
Real Estate & Trust Company of Philadelphia here when several
thousand acres of coal land were taken over by the Quaker City
concern acting in behalf of eastern coal interests there has been
speculation as to the future of Belsano and the surrounding territory.
The town of Belsano being situated on the side of the Alleghenies
some distance from the Blacklick stream gives a hint that a new
town will be built up on the north side of this place. Twin Rocks,
now located on the south side of the Blacklick is a flourishing
town and with another settlement on the north local business men
are already having visions of a big business boom.
When the representatives of the Manor company left Belsano after taking over the big tract of land they were reticent about discussing the future plans of the purchasers. However, it is learned upon good authority that early operations are being contemplated with likelihood that Belsano will witness the opening of a gigantic coal field by the early part of next summer.
The fact has from time to time been noted that practically all the desirable land had been purchased. That the company is determined not to leave an acre untouched is demonstrated by the fact that the concern is hot after several local land owners who have held out during the recent transactions and have refused to sell. The Manor company's representatives express themselves as being anxious to close up deals at the earliest possible date.
While none of the stories are official, there is a persistent rumor that the Southern Cambria Street Railway company will extend its lines through this territory, touching Nantyglo and Twin Rocks en route. This would also be a big boost for local business.
The Peoples Gas company has a big force of men working near
here and there is a likelihood that gas will be supplied the community
from these wells. All the coal companies in the territory are
enjoying big business, new homes are being erected and many new
improvements are being contemplated for the next year.
Mountaineer Herald, December 26, 1912
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