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Blair County Newspaper Articles

News, obituaries, birth, marriage and death notices, by date.

Items from The Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa.,

Thursday, March 28, 1861

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES OF ALTOONA BOROUGH FOR 1860:

ORDERS GRANTED.

CR.

D. R. MILLER, Treasurer, in account with Altoona Borough.

DR.

CR.

BY ORDERS PAID IN FAVOR OF -

The undersigned, Auditors for the Borough of Altoona, Certify that we have examined the above and foregoing account of D R Miller, Treasurer, and find it correct, with a balance due the Treasurer of Seventeen Dollars and Twenty-Seven Cents, ($17.27.)

JOHN LOWTHER, CHAS. J. MANN, Auditors
Altoona, February 19, 1861.

STATEMENT OF Damages allowed, and Assessments made, for the purpose of Opening and Extending Catharine Street, in the Borough of Altoona.

The above amount which remains unprovided for, occurred through the petitions of certain individuals to the Court after the assessment was made, for reductions, which were ordered by the Court, to wit:

STATEMENT of the Liabilities and Resources of the Borough of Altoona up to 25th of February, 1861, as near as can be ascertained.

DR.

CR.

NOTE. - The Borough's proportion, with the Penn'a R. R. Co., of cost of putting in the large sewer along Branch street, of $679.95 is not taken into the statement for 1860, being payable, according to contract, out of taxes for 1861 and 1862.

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, March 28, 1861, page 1

NEW STEAM CAR. - The Huntingdon and Broad Top Railroad Company have made arrangements to put a Steam Car on the road, to run between Huntingdon and Hopewell. The car, which is a combination of Locomotive, Passenger and Baggage car, has been contracted for, and will be running about the first of June, and for convenience and utility, will be a popular institution. It will seat comfortably, about forty passengers, with a baggage room next to the engine, sufficient to hold the baggage, mails and Express matter. The engine will be set on the front platform within the car, and work on an entirely new principle, and will have sufficient power to haul a second car when necessary, and to run twenty-five miles an hour. We understand the Company intend to offer strong inducements to encourage and increase the travel, by a reduction of fares, and taking on and letting off passengers at any point on the road, virtually making every farm house and road crossing a station, and charging only for the distance traveled. The car is being built by Murphy & Allison, celebrated car builders in Phila. The engine by Neafie ? & Leoy, Penn'a Works, Phil'a, both being superintended by Messrs. Grice & Long, the patentees. We suppose the Passenger car on the Shoup's Run Branch will be run as usual for the accommodation of those having business at the mines, and to enable our citizens to connect with the trains for Huntingdon at Saxton. - Broad Top Miner.

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, March 28, 1861, page 2

LOCAL ITEMS.

ROWDYISM. - Rowdyism is fast on the increase in our borough. For some time past, our streets have nightly been made to resound with yells, as though his satanic majesty had turned loose upon earth a few of the inmates of his habitation, who, revelling in riot and drunkenness, make night hideous with their yelling, profanity and blackguardism, rendering themselves ridiculous and almost unendurable. We have always boasted of the quiet of our town in this respect, and the high moral character of our citizens, but we are led to fear that our boasting will soon be turned to censure if this state of things continues. The "turbulents" generally are young men who have just arrived at the age at which they take their places in the world on their own responsibility. Their characters are now being formed, but alas! we fear for anything else than useful lives. We think it high time that steps were taken to initiate a reformation in this matter, that our youths, with dignity and pride, might walk the paths of rectitude, sobriety and virtue, thus crowning themselves with honor, and fitting themselves to fill, in future life, the various positions which must necessarily fall to their lot, when those who now hold them shall have gone on that journey "whence no traveller returns." Reformation is needed, but how shall it be accomplished, so long as parents will allow their children the liberty of prowling the streets at unseasonable hours? So long as parents permit this breach of trust which belongs to them, and for which they will be held accountable by a higher than human tribunal, so long will moral suasion prove ineffectual and sink into insignificance when the allurements of night, to vice and immorality, are ever spread before the unwary. We wish that we could say something which would induce parents to look after their boys when they are not found around the hearthstone at home at the proper retiring hour. Could we do so, we feel sure that we would have accomplished a work equal to that of the greatest benefactor of the human race, for the reason that thereby many boys who are now forming habits which will result in their ultimate misery and ruin, and bring their parents in sorrow to the grave, would be saved to usefulness and happiness, not only to themselves, but to all around them.

But this rowdyism, which we noticed at the head of this article must be stopped. If one police officer is not sufficient to check it, more should be appointed. It is not to be presumed that peaceable citizens are to be annoyed at all hours of the night, by a band of outlaws, and have no redress therefor. Some of the young men who have made a practice of misbehaving upon the streets at night, may yet find themselves the tenants of the "Lock-Up."

THE ANNUAL CRISIS. - The first of April is near at hand. Already in elongated countenances, pallid cheeks, quivering lips, and hurried steps of those we meet in our walks, are manifested the indubitable tokens of that rapidly approaching crisis which will test the capacity of pockets, and try the depth of purses. - Complaints are many and multiplying of scarcity of the ready pewter wherewith to satisfy duns and compose creditors. Our household gods [goods?] look desponding and afflicted in view of approaching trials; while the housekeepers, who are easy and amiable eleven months in the year, are relentlessly routing cracked crockery from corner cup-boards, and banishing to back boudoirs the boots and beavers of better days. Our county officers, lawyers and scriveners are taking early breakfasts to meet the increasing demands upon their time and services - money lenders are pouring over their bonds and bank books, figuring up the amount they will have on hand for the accommodation of their needing and numerous friends - borrowers are as busy as bees, looking out in time for the wherewithal to meet their various engagements - while business people generally are stirring about with more than usual energy and activity, "getting ready for the first." May all be prepared for the crisis!

MISTAKES. - Mistakes are one of the severest plagues of a printer's life, for the reason that everybody gets to see his mistakes, and everybody thinks that he or she has a certain inalienable right to say or think whatever he or she pleases about such mistakes. Printers, to a degree, are privileged characters, and their characters and faults appear to be the privilege of others, but they don't take half the liberty with the fault of others which others do with theirs. Very frequently we find, after our edition is off, that a word, or a line, which we had written, was left out or misplaced by the compositor, just at a point where the sense would be destroyed. Of course we have then no remedy but to correct next week, and ten chances to one, it is forgotten, and passed on from week to week, and is never corrected. Our compositors made a grievous mistake in our article on the death of Mrs. McCrea, last week, by leaving out a full line. The sentence should have read: "She was a woman of robust and healthy appearance, and, to human observation, bid more fair to live out her three-score years than one-third of those by whom she was surrounded."

NEW ROUTE AGENTS. - The work of decapitation goes bravely on at Washington, and the heads of Democratic officials are constantly rolling off the block. The heads of Messrs. Sargent and Kacy, Route Agents between this place and Harrisburg, have felt the power of the official guillotine, to make room for our townsmen, George C. Ferree, Esq., who takes the place of Col. Kacy, and for our young friend Sol. Books, of Mifflintown, Juniata county, who takes the place of Mr. Sargent. On the ground of services to party, the new appointees deserved their places and will make efficient agents.

R. R. ACCIDENT. - The Express Train East, on Wednesday night last, ran over some cattle which were on the track between Petersburg and Huntingdon, throwing the baggage car down an embankment and upsetting the stove, thereby setting fire to the mails and baggage therein, most of which were burned before they could be got out. The mails from this place were burned.

FIRST OF APRIL CHANGES. - Those of our subscribers who intend removing their places of residence about the first of April, and desiring the places of sending their papers changed, will be good enough to give us timely notice of their wish in the matter. Early attention to this matter will save trouble, and prevent the loss of papers.

MARRIED:

At the Exchange Hotel, Altoona, Pa, March 21st, 1801, by the Rev. C. L. Ehrenfeld, Mr. ISRAEL GRAZIER of Warrior's Mark to Miss CAROLINE BECK of Canoe Valley, Huntingdon Co., Pa.

On the 21st inst., by the Rev. J. N. Burket, Mr. MICHAEL STOVER, of Cambria Co. to Miss NANCY J. HANNAH, of Clearfield Co., Pa.

In Petersburg, on the 13th inst., by Rev. W. Kidder, Mr. JONATHAN STITLER, of Frankstown tp., Blair co., to Mrs. JANE PHINNEY, of Petersburg.

On the 17th inst., by Elias Dell, Esq., Mr. SAMUEL PRESSEL to Miss MATILDA LEWIS, all of Claysburg, Blair co.

DIED.

In Logan township, on Friday last, Mr. Frederick Yingling, in the 83rd year of his age.

In Frankstown township, on the 20th inst., Bennie, son of David and Jane H. McKillip, aged 19 months and 10 days.

In Williamsburg, Feb. 19th, Mary N. Huyett, daughter of Wm. G. & Elizabeth Huyett, in the 16th year of her age.

At Shavers Creek, Huntingdon co., Pa., on the 3d inst., Jno. Irvine, Esq., formerly of Williamsburg, at an advanced age.

On Sunday evening, the 17th inst., Mrs. Mary Ann, wife of Chas. R. McCrea, of Altoona, in the 45th year of her age.

Suddenly and unexpectedly the stern messenger came amongst us, and snatched away from our midst one of the brightest ornaments there.

Little did the writer think when he began the services on that calm Sabbath evening, that ere he should conclude, one of the most attentive of his audience would quit the prison house of clay and become the companion of spirits in an eternal world. But before the closing song of praise had died away, there was one less worshipper on earth.

The deceased had left home in the evening apparently in her usual health, to attend the regular services in the Baptist Church, where among the first she took her accustomed seat. When the introductory services were almost completed, she arose and passed out of the house in company with a young lady living in her family. The general impression in the minds of the audience no doubt was that some slight indisposition had caused her to retire, for nothing unusual had been noticed in her manner or appearance. In a short time however a messenger entered and communicated to some of the audience the intelligence that Mrs. McCrea was dying.

Several persons passed out and the minds of all became somewhat excited with the idea that something unusual had taken place. Consequently the services were rendered as brief as possible and the congregation dismissed.

What was our surprise when at that moment a messenger brought the tidings that the vital spark had fled.

We have since learned from the female companion who retired with her, that after leaving the church door, with much difficulty, and by the assistance of her friend, she reached the house of Mrs. Cauffman, near by, to which place Doctors Christy and Findley and her family were summoned, who did all that could be done to alleviate her sufferings. But human skill and sympathy could not stay the shaft, and in about half an hour after she left the church her soul had taken its flight. She retained her reason and was able to converse with those around her almost to the moment of her dissolution.

It is the opinion of at least the Physician with whom we conversed on the subject, that her death was caused by disease of the heart, which may perhaps have been making its inroads for months past unknown to the deceased or her friends.

Thus suddenly from this world of care has been called one who was esteemed by all. In her death the poor have lost a benefactor, the friendless a sympathizer, and her now bereaved companion one who was all a wife should be. While her motherless children may well say each to the other:

Come nearer, brother, nearer,
And sit beside me here.
The day is slowly fading,
And twilight's shades draw near,
The cloud of grief is keeping
Its shadows on our brow,
And mists have gathered o'er our hearts;
We have no mother now.

No mother now to bless us;
We've laid her down to rest,
And all our joys seem buried,
Close folded to her breast.
The vacant chair upon the hearth,
The hours that come and go,
All seem to whisper sadly
We have no mother now. - A. H. S. Altoona, March 23, 1861.

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, March 28, 1861, page 3