Blair County Newspaper Articles
News, obituaries, birth, marriage and death notices, by date.
Items from The Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa.,
Thursday, October 3, 1861
LOCAL ITEMS.
TO OUR PATRONS.
Kind patrons, it is a long time since we have addressed you on the money subject, and we feel sure that the files of our paper will bear us out in the assertion that we have dunned less in the last three years, than any other publishers in the country. In fact we have but once asked, through our paper, for money in that time. The reason is, because we do not like to be "dunned,'' consequently we do not like to dunn others. But we now want money for a particular purpose, and if our patrons who are in debt for subscription, advertising and job work, will pay up, we will have enough to accomplish our purpose, and that purpose will be beneficial to our subscribers and patrons as well as ourselves. Now we don't want one of our patrons to withhold the amount of his indebtedness thinking that all the rest will pay up and it will make no difference about his mite. If this be the case we shall not succeed. We want all that is due us. If our desires are acceded to, promptly, we shall effect our purpose by the first of October, at which time we shall extend an invitation to our patrons that will astonish them. We are in earnest, friends, and if you come up as you should, we will, at the time appointed, show you something never before seen in this section of the country. Your bills are all made out, so there need be no delay.
WILL THERE BE DRAFTING IN PENNSYLVANIA? - and in Blair County? -The quota of three years' troops to be furnished by Pennsylvania, under the call of the President for 500,000 men, is 75,000. As yet she has furnished only forty-seven regiments, or about 50,000 men. The Government can not wait much longer for the remaining quota of men, and although the Secretary of War has forbidden drafting at present, it is altogether probable that it may yet be resorted to in order to fill the remaining regiments, and we understand that the papers for this purpose have been made out at Harrisburg and will be put into the hands of proper officers to be served, if recruiting officers do not meet with better success pretty soon.
WILL THERE BE DRAFTING IN PENNSYLVANIA? - and in Blair County? - The quota of three years' troops to be furnished by Pennsylvania, under the call of the President for 500,000 men, is 75,000. As yet she has furnished only forty-seven regiments, or about 50,000 men. The Government can not wait much longer for the remaining quota of men, and although the Secretary of War has forbidden drafting at present, it is altogether probable that it may yet be resorted to in order to fill the remaining regiments, and we understand that the papers for this purpose have been made out at Harrisburg and will be put into the hands of proper officers to be served, if recruiting officers do not meet with better success pretty soon.
"'Tis true Pennsylvania has furnished several thousand men - perhaps seven thousand - for regiments and brigades outside of the State, as, for instance, Sickles' Brigade, the California Regiment, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky and District of Columbia regiments, yet for these the State gets no credit, and the 75,000 must be forthcoming independent of them. Those who have enlisted in regiments, brigades or companies outside of the State have debarred themselves and their families from all the provisions which have been or may be made by the State for their support or reward, as the State will know only those enrolled in its own properly organized regiments. We are glad to notice that the Governor has just issued a proclamation which will have the effect of preventing the carrying of men out of this State for the benefit of others. The proclamation will be found in another column. Independent of this, however, we think our citizens should have enough of State pride to keep them in their State regiments.
No one doubts that Pennsylvania could furnish double the number of troops demanded of her, without serious injury to her agricultural, manufacturing or commercial interests, or that she will do it, if needs be; but there is evidently a want of the proper knowledge of the necessity for complying speedily with the demands of the War Department. We live here, enjoying peace and plenty, removed from the scenes of conflict and the utter desolation and starvation which follows in the wake of the rebel army, and therefore do not realize the horrors and accumulating evils of the war, and the necessity for its speedy termination. We feel so little of the effects of the rebellion that we read accounts of the movements of the army and conflict of arms with scarcely more excitement than if they were transpiring on another continent. There must be something to rouse the people to a sense of their situation and their duty, and that something will come ere long. If the work of recruiting does not prosper better in the future than it has for some time past, it is altogether likely - yes, we may say, certain - that we will wake up to a realization of our duty when an officer appears at our doors and summons us to take our position in ranks - willing or unwilling. We earnestly hope that there may never be cause to draft in Pennsylvania, if for nothing else than the credit of the State. - While there is nothing whatever illegal or dishonorable about it, nevertheless, it is humiliating; and it appears to us that a soldier who volunteers can fight better and, if he escapes death, return home more proudly than the one who fights because he is compelled to.
It is not to be expected that all men are to leave their callings and go into the army, nor is it right that they should, except in cases of State invasion. While one man's business will admit of his leaving it for a time, another person's would be entirely destroyed by so doing, thereby preventing him from providing properly for his own household, as well as those of his neighbors, which he would be able to do if he remained at home and prosecuted that business. The call is more direct to the young and single men of the country, yet we venture the prediction that if we had a canvass of the army now in the field we should find that they are not up to their proportion.
In the above remarks we have had reference to the State. We come now to speak of Blair county. Every citizen of the county felt a just pride in that he was a citizen of "Little Blair," when her young men, middle aged men and even old men, almost simultaneous with the call for troops, threw themselves forward by hundreds, not knowing when, where, or in what numbers they were to meet the enemy, until the county had furnished more men for the three month service, in proportion to her population, than any other county in the State. And shall she now lose her patriotic position? We have been informed by those who have made an estimate of the number of men who have entered the three year service, from this county, that it does not exceed 500. Lawrence county, in this State, with a voting population of 3,604 has furnished 1,200 men. Cambria county, which contains 4,760 voters, has 1,100 men in the field, while Blair county, with her 5,223 voters, has only 500 men in her country's service. This is not a flattering picture. Lawrence and Cambria counties have done nobly. Blair county can do the same. Will her sons bring her up again to the high and patriotic position which she took at the outbreak of the rebellion? Fall in, fall in, young men; the earlier you enter the ranks the sooner you will be ready to do effective service on the field of action. Do not wait to be drafted. We do not wish to frighten any into enlisting by intimating that they may be drafted, though such may be the case, preferring to see them enter the service in a more patriotic way, and we believe they will do it when they properly understand that their services are needed.
QUITE A STORM. - On Friday evening last, we were visited by a regular old-fashioned equinoxial storm - one of those which "runs things into the ground," and pulls things out of the ground, and scatters things around miscellaneously. The heaviest part of it came about night fall, and the way the wind and rain swept around the corners, making shutters clash, windows rattle, and sign-boards creak, was fearful to hear. Considerable damage was done by the water in the way of flooding street-crossings and carrying away the footwalks over gutters, causing pedestrians to take unwilling and unnecessary baths. In North Ward the sidewalks were swept out into the street, and cellars inundated. Several washes in the Branch Rail Road, between this place and Hollidaysburg, did damage to the track, but they were promptly repaired. We learn that considerable damage was done to dams and property along the streams in Cambria county and further west. In Philadelphia the storm raged terrifically, levelling shade-trees, demolishing awnings, unroofing buildings, blowing bricks off chimneys, and doing much other damage. From the Pittsburg Chronicle, of Monday last, we learn that the freshet in the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers was tremendous, and the destruction of property almost beyond computation. Five saw-mills in Clarion county were swept away, together with millions of feet of lumber. Oil-tanks were overflowed and washed out, and hundreds of oil-barrels carried off. Coal-boats were torn loose from their moorings and drifted down the tide to become perfect wrecks. The water was higher than ever before known, except on two occasions - in 1810 and 1832 - but it did not do so much damage at those times, for the reason that there were not so many improvements along the banks of the rivers.
AN ENGINEER'S RESPONSIBILITY. - Reader, have you ever thought, while dashing over bridges, through valleys, around hills and precipices and under mountains, at the rate of three minutes, or less, to a mile, that your personal safety, even your life, is in the hands of the engineer, and the responsibility which rests upon him. You know not what is ahead - you could not know if you wished to, for it is more dangerous to attempt such a feat than to keep your position, and even if you were to observe danger you are powerless to avoid it. The engineer is the only man on the train who looks ahead. He keeps his eye fixed upon the track every moment the train is in motion. Upon his vigilance and skillfulness depends the safety of all on board the train. How awful to think that the lives of so many are in the hands of one man, and that no action on their part can render them more secure. There are certain dangers, too, which an engineer cannot guard against because he cannot foresee them - such as the breaking of a flange, a nut, a screw, an axle, a broken rail, an insecure bridge, and other defects in workmanship, any of which would send a train whirling down a precipice or into a river. How important that an engineer should be a good man in every respect, since such a responsibility rests upon him. It is no common occupation and deserves to be classed higher than it really is. While everything goes well, the position is not accounted much, save by those who desire its pecuniary reward; but let a serious accident occur, and no one envies the situation of him who may have been the innocent cause of it. Give the railway engineer his place, and let him feel the responsibility of his calling.
Fast Day. - Thursday last was almost universally observed, in this place, as Fast Day. We noticed but two or three small business places open. Work was suspended in the Company's shops, and the day wore the appearance of a well ordered Sabbath. There was Divine service in almost all the churches, and the congregations were large and attentive. But few, so far as we observed, disregarded the injunction of the Chief Magistrate and perverted the good effects designed, by engaging in worldly employment or rambling to the woods on hunting excursions. Of the number who fasted we can not speak.
ELOCUTIONARY ENTERTAINMENT. - Rev. Alex. Clark, editor of the School Visitor, gave an entertainment at Jaggard's Hall, on Tuesday evening of last week, to a large and highly delighted audience. Mr. C. is almost inimitable in his delineations of school-boy characteristics, and his lectures are productive of good effects. He can produce more beneficial amusement in the same space of time than any lecturer we know of. He is, as he deserves to be, well received wherever he goes.
ACCIDENT ON THE RAILROAD. - On Tuesday evening last, a man was
found on the track of the Pennsylvania Railroad near Mineral
Point,
soon after the passage of the fast line West, with his right foot cut
off by being run over by the cars. He gives his name as Trask, from
Potter county in this State, where he says he has a wife and family.
He is dressed in grey soldier clothes, and says he was sworn into the
service and fell off the cars while on his way to join his command.
He appears to be somewhat unsound in mind.
OUR ARMY, CORRESPONDENCE.
CAMP THOMAS, MERIDIAN HILL,
Near Washington, Sept. 27, 1861.
Messrs. EDITORS: - Some of your readers are probably becoming impatient to hear from the 1st District of Columbia Regiment, therefore I drop you a line for their benefit. On the 14th instant we left our quarters on E street and marched to the arsenal where we received our arms, and from thence to the above named hill, where we are now encamped. The scenery from this point is beautiful. All around us are camps, and the white tents present an appearance not unlike a vast field of snow-balls on their green bushes. We are daily visited by many young ladies from the city, who have manifested their patriotism and respect for us by presenting to our regiment a large and beautiful flag, got up in the most finished style, having written on it in large golden letters, "First District of Columbia Regiment." Bully for the ladies of Washington.
We (Altoonians and Tuckahoe-boys) are under Capt. C. H. Rodier, who, although a stranger, is a man we all like. The officers of the regiment are, so far as I am acquainted with them, praiseworthy. Lieuts. Clark and Rigg seem to have the good will and good wishes, of the entire regiment. The officers of our company are - C. H. Rodier, Captain; John M. Clark, 1st Lieut.; James W. Rigg, 2d Lieut.; R. G. Clark, 1st Sergt.; Charles E. Laub, 2d Sergt.; Oscar Beatty, 3d Sergt.; Samuel Stewart, 4th Sergt.; Thomas O'Brian, 5th Sergt. - Our regiment is, or soon will be, equal to regulars. Our officers have all been appointed by the Secretary of War. The Republican, of this city, paid a very high compliment to Col. Tait's First Reg. D. C. Volunteers, on the occasion of our marching to the arsenal for our arms, and going into camp.
Several days since, John C. Rives, Esq., came out to our camp and paid a voluntary entrance fee of $100 in gold, saying, at the same time, that he would similarly remember the boys on a future occasion. The Paymaster General was around this way the other day, and paid off the Regiment up to the 1st of September, which seemed to please the boys very much. Our pay only amounted to $2.16 each, and many were "strapped" in two hours after they received the gold. Considering the favorable circumstances surrounding us, I think it would be very ungrateful for any one to grumble or complain.
We have had several showers of rain lately, which makes it somewhat disagreeable in camp. This evening there is quite a storm of wind, which is creating much merriment among the boys, from the fact that tents are going over endwise and sidewise, and cracking and snapping in the air like stage-whips. The evenings and mornings are getting quite cool in this region, and many of us are yet without overcoats, but we expect them to-morrow.
Universal health prevails in our camp. - Some of us having come up to our present position through much tribulation, we look back upon the past with sad countenances, but we must rejoice for the present and hope for the future. Time will not permit me to speak further of our camp-life at present.
Respectfully Yours, ISAAC MAURER.
An Important Decision.
The following opinion, delivered by the Attorney General of the State, at the request of the Governor, is not only very important to those entitled to vote, but it fixes the disfranchisement of those who voluntarily left the State, giving up their interest in its reputation and honor, to serve in the ranks of regiments raised by other States, at the expense of their rights and citizenship in Pennsylvania. The opinion is brief and just, and cannot fail to be fully comprehended by all who are interested in the premises.
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE,
HARRISBURG, Sept. 27, 1861.
My opinion is requested by the Governor, on the following questions, viz:
I. What volunteers will be entitled to vote at the approaching general election, in their camps?
II. Whether the volunteers so entitled to vote can vote for County officers?
I. I am clearly of the opinion that no volunteers will be entitled to vote in their camps, except such as are in actual military service in conformity with law, viz: Such as are in service under the authority of the Governor on the requisition of the President of the United States. All the field officers of such regiments will be commissioned by the Governor, and the holding of such commissions by the field officers will be a fair test of the right of the regiment to vote.
II. The Act of Assembly provides that the volunteers may exercise the right of suffrage; of course they have as much right to vote for county officers as for any other. - W. M. MEREDITH, Att'y Gen'l.
Since the above opinion was presented to the Governor, another question arose, which the Attorney General has disposed of as follows:
Since writing the above an additional question has been propounded to me, viz: Where men from several counties are in the same company, what course should be pursued? I am of opinion that in such cases there should be separate ballot-boxes, tally-lists, &c., for each county, and the votes should be returned to each county, of the voters entitled to vote in such county. - W. M. MEREDITH, Atty Gen'l. Sept. 28, 1861.
This now fixes the terms, the qualifications and the proceedings necessary to legalize the election in the various encampments of Pennsylvania troops within and without the limits of the Commonwealth.
MARRIED.
On the 26th of September, 1861, by Rev. Mr. Harris, Mr. J. C. Russ, of Hollidaysburg, Pa., to Miss Martha Watkins, of Ironton, Ohio.
On Monday evening, 9th ult., at the house of Mr. John Davis, in this place, by the Rev. Jos. Fichtner, Mr. Geo. W. Yingling, and Miss Elizabeth A. Wilt, both of Logan township.
On the 19th ult., at the Lutheran Parsonage in Newry, by the same, Mr. Michael K. Stiffler and Miss Mary Jane Zeigler, both of Juniata township.
In Claysburg, on the 22d ult., by the Rev. N. E. Gilds, Mr. Jacob E. Nofsker to Miss Elizabeth Dodson, both of this county.
On the 26th ult., by the Rev. A. H. Taylor, Mr. Wm. S. Douglas, of Hollidaysburg, to Miss Cynthia Rollin, of Gaysport.
On the 26th ult., at the Reformed Parsonage in Martinsburg, by the Rev. J. Hassler, Mr. John Eberly to Miss Matilda Fouse, all of this county.
On the 24th ult., by George Koon, Esq., Mr. Michael Dougherty and Miss Margaret Hughes, both of Taylor township.
DIED.
In this place, on Sunday evening, 29th ult., Mrs. Martha J., wife of Mr. William Dent, aged 32 years.
On the 26th ult., in Morrison's Cove, Mr. John Howe, in the 85th year of his age.
In Williamsburg, Sept. 20th, Joseph, infant son of Andrew and Sarah Riley, aged 1 year, 7 months and 17 days.
In Williamsburg, Sept. 21st, William, infant son of Henry and Mary A. Lanzer, aged 1 year and 9 days.
Near Williamsburg, Sept. 21st, Mr. John Marks, formerly of Logan's Valley, in the 19th year of his age.
Near Williamsburg. Sept. 26th, Miss Rachel Catharine Straithoof, aged 30 years, 7 months and 18 days.
In Williamsburg, Sept. 28th, Henry Clarence, aged 1 year and 12 days; and a few hours afterwards, Florein, aged 2 years, 10 months and 8 days, children of David and Nancy Stevens. These two little innocents having died within a few hours of each other were buried in one grave.
ALTOONA HIGH SCHOOL!
Prof. JOHN MILLER, Principal.
THE FIRST SESSION OF THIS SCHOOL will commence on MONDAY, Nov. 4th.
The established reputation of Prof. Miller as an accomplished scholar and successful Teacher is a sure guarantee to parents, guardians and others, that the school will be so conducted as to give satisfaction.
TERMS PER SESSION OF TWENTY WEEKS.
For English Grammar, Geography, Composition, Natural Philosophy, Mental and Advanced Arithmetic, Geometry, Trigonometry, Latin and Greek - $12.50
For German or French - $5.00
For Music - $5.00
Payment of subscription to be made monthly to the School Directors.
Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, October 3, 1861, page 3