NEWS: Items from the Morning Tribune, January 27, 1891, Blair County, PA

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Items from the Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday, January 27, 1891

THE COUNTY COURT.
Disposition Made of Motions and Petitions at Yesterday's Session.

  The several courts of Blair county reconvened at Hollidaysburg 
yesterday morning at 10 o'clock, Hon. John Dean presiding.
  The bar list was called and disposition was made of the following 
motions and petitions:

MOTIONS AND PETITIONS.

  Alexander - A subpoena was awarded in the divorce case of Ada Fouse 
vs. Harry Fouse.
  Bell - Matthew Calvin, esq., was appointed auditor in the assigned 
estate of S. C. Baker.
  Same - The report of viewers in favor of a road in Antis township, to 
lead from Bellwood to Laurel run, was confirmed nisi, and the road was 
directed to be opened thirty-three feet wide.
  Dively - W. H. Markley was appointed appraiser in the assigned estate 
of J. D. Rickabaugh, vice J. D. Fries, who was called away.
  Same - An order of sale was granted in the estate of Mrs. Susannah 
Hughes, deceased.  The bond of Mrs. Jane Ann Stonesifer, the 
administratrix, was approved.
  Same - A. J. Riley, esq., was appointed commissioner in the divorce 
case of L. H. Mattern vs. Mrs. S. V. Mattern.
  Flick - A feigned issue to determine the ownership of certain goods, 
was awarded, between Joshua Bates and James A. McNally.
  Hewit - The administrator of Henry Frieke, deceased, was restrained 
from selling the real estate of decedent until additional security is 
furnished.
  Landis - In the matter of the review of a proposed public road to 
lead from Penn street, Hollidaysburg, to Altoona, a rule was granted to 
show cause why exceptions should not be permitted to be filed.  Mr. 
Landis, as attorney for the Altoona and Hollidaysburg Turnpike company, 
complained that that company was muchly injured by this review, had 
received no notice of this proposed road, and desired the privilege to 
file exceptions thereto.  A hearing will be had in this rule at the 
February argument court.
  Leisenring - In the assigned estate of J. C. Ehrenfelt the report of 
the auditor was referred back to him for the purpose of making a re-
distribution of the interest.
  Mervine - The report of John Hurd, W. D. Couch and Frank Molloy, 
viewers, finding no damages sustained to the real estate of William 
Casey, deceased, by reason of change of grade of Thirteenth street, 
Altoona, was confirmed nisi.
  Same - In the divorce case of Harry Shillito vs. Mamie Shillito, a 
rule to show cause why alimony and counsel fees should not be allowed 
the respondent, was awarded.
  Same - The order of sale in the estate of Augustus Himstead, 
deceased, was continued.
  Same - The order of sale granted to John O'Toole, guardian of minor 
children of William Kelly, deceased, was continued.
  Neff & Hicks - The equity case of William B. Brickel vs. James 
Condron was ordered to be placed on the argument list.
  Shaw & Graffius - The execution against John S. Eckels was stayed, 
except as to amount admitted to be due.
  Same - The bond of Rev. S. F. Forgeus, guardian of Minnie and 
Margaret Glasgow, was approved.
  Same - The bond of Thomas J. Armstrong, guardian of Walter G. 
Stewart, was approved.
  Woodcock, W. I. - F. S. Wilt was appointed guardian of Miss Sadie 
Guyer.
  Same - The bond of Jesse L. Hartman, trustee of the estate of Ellen 
Roush, deceased, was approved.
  Alexander - Barney Kelly, executor of Thomas Woods, deceased, was 
directed to pay an allowance of $100 to Annie Woods.
  Final disposition was made of the following civil cases on the list 
for trial:
  Vincent Flanigan vs. Bell's Gap Railroad Company.  Continued by 
consent.
  Timothy Nolan vs. Louis Plack.  Continued by consent.
  Mrs. John Main and Husband vs. Jacob Schell.  Settled.
  C. S. Fiscus vs. W. S. Duncan.  Continued by consent.
  Delaney R. and Emma L. Moore vs. Peter and Nettie Vetter.  A jury was 
sworn in this case.  After the plaintiffs had given their evidence and 
rested, the defendant's attorney, N. P. Mervine, esq., moved for a non-
suit.  The court granted the motion as to Emma L. Moore.  The defendant 
then pleaded surprise and the case was continued.
  Angeline Dinsmore vs. Dwelling House Insurance Company.  Continued on 
application of the defendant.
  John M. Sorrick vs. Cambria Iron Company.  Continued on account of 
death of Mr. Blair.
  Adam Sorrick vs. Cambria Iron Company.  Continued on account of death 
of Mr. Blair.
  John G. Kline vs. John A. Baker.  A jury was sworn in this case, and 
found for plaintiff $136, with interest from August 16, 1888.
  Charles Wooden vs. D. I. Bachman.  Settled on the payment of $12.40 
to plaintiff by defendant.
  There being no further cases open for trial on the first half of the 
week's list, court adjourned to meet on Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock.

HOLLIDAYSBURG HAPPENINGS.

  Mr. Joseph Hutchison has in his possession an odd looking 
blacksmith's hammer, nothing like it being in use in the smith shops of 
to-day.  It is gooved [grooved] on one side, and was a tool used in its 
day for shaping iron rods.  This simple little tool he values very 
highly, as he has a right to do on account of its associations.  It has 
a history and an interesting one associated with his family.  It is 
about 116 years since this relic was used by Mr. Hutchison's maternal 
great-grandfather, Mr. John Gilfold [sic].  John Gilford, a blacksmith 
by occupation, and also a farmer, the father of Jane Gilford, came from 
the eastern end of the state and took up and settled on a claim of land 
in what is now Allegheny township.  His homestead was located on the 
hill south of the plank road, on the farm now owned and occupied by Mr. 
Andrew Biddle, in the year 1769.  In that pioneer dwelling during the 
following year (1770) a daughter, Jane Gilford, was born.  Soon after, 
and during her infancy, the Indians became troublesome, and by reason 
of threatening presence and depredations in the vicinity Mr. Gilford 
was obliged to flee from his home.  He sought shelter at a place in 
Tuckahoe valley and on the farm, which has ever since been in the 
family and now owned by Joseph M. Hutchison, east of Altoona, in Logan 
township.  But even this place was not secure against the inroads of 
the savages.  One morning he was shocked and greatly alarmed to 
discover the dead body of his brother, whom the Indians had shot while 
standing in his cabin door.  The settlement was terrorized.  The 
Indians were murdering and scalping even women and children, and in the 
alarm a sister of Mr. Gilford and her little niece, Jane, then aged 4 
years, were missing and were supposed to have been captured by the 
savages.  After an absence of three days and nights, however, greatly 
to the relief of their parents, they were found wandering at the foot 
of the Alleghenies by the grandfather of Mr. Thomas Coleman, who 
resides about a mile north of Altoona.  The next year, when the child 
was 15 [sic] years old, the parents, with the other settlers were again 
obliged to seek refuge and safety farther east, and this time Mr. 
Gilford continued his journey into Northumberland county, where he 
remained.  But on leaving he had fully intended to return when it would 
be safe (at the close of the war) to do so, and with this end in view 
he gathered his smith tools together and placing them in the large tub 
by the hearth buried them in a well-known spot at the foot of a hill, 
near the big spring and the site of the shop.  But Mr. Gilford failed 
to return.  The daughter Jane grew to be a beautiful and attractive 
woman, and in time was united in marriage at her home in Northumberland 
county to Mr. Joseph Hutchison.  After the death of Mr. John Gilford 
his son-in-law came up to this county to look after the claims of the 
family, the title to which he then secured.  Soon after this, between 
the years 1820 and 1824 his sons - James Hutchison, of 2123 Union 
avenue, Altoona, and John Hutchison, being since deceased, came and 
settled on the land.  The tradition of the blacksmith's tools were 
often dwelt upon in the family, and search often made, but without 
success.  Several months ago, while working near the mill race, near 
which the old saw mill stands, the workman of Joseph M. Hutchison came 
upon the old tub and the long secreted tools.  The tub was entirely 
rotted away, the hoops alone remaining, but the tools and handles of 
hickory were found to be intact.  Even the old cinders and the remains 
of the old shop were found, which had been concealed 116 years ago.  It 
is said that at that early day a sister of Mr. John Gilford, who had a 
patent by right of pre-emption and settlement to 400 acres located near 
the lands above referred to, traded her land for a horse, saddle and 
bridle.

IN OTHER COUNTIES.

  Monday morning about 9 o'clock as Alexander McClain, a miner of 
Luwick, was making a "bearing in" at Coulter and Huff's mines, south of 
Greensburg, he was caught by a heavy mass of coal and badly injured.  
His legs were terribly bruised and lacerated from the knees down, and 
he was otherwise hurt.
  John Earnest, of Penn, boarded Greensburg accommodation at that place 
Saturday evening, and when in the vicinity of Radebaugh Station he 
jumped off, alighting with his head on the rail, rendering him 
unconscious.  A west-bound train picked him up some time later and 
conveyed him to Jeannette, where his wounds were dressed.  He was 
afterwards carried to his home on a stretcher.  His condition is 
critical.
  Greensburg Press:  A shooting affray took place at Mount Pleasant 
Saturday night, in which a young maiden and her two admirers were the 
principal actors.  Lilly Watts, a good looking girl, was staying with 
her sister when Edward Davis called upon her.  Irving Morrow, the other 
principal, soon made his appearance, and after talking awhile, a 
dispute arose as to who should stay.  Morrow said he could whip Davis 
and proceeded to do so, but the latter went him one better and, drawing 
a 32-caliber revolver, opened fire.  He evidently was somewhat excited, 
for his aim was bad, but as it was five bullets found lodging in 
Morrow's body. [sic]  The first ball caught his hand; the second his 
neck.  Morrow fell at the second shot, but Davis kept up the fire and 
sent the third bullet in the falling man's side, following that up with 
two in the left leg.  All the balls have been extracted, except one in 
the leg, which the doctors think will do no harm.  Davis gave himself 
up and the wounded man's injuries were attended to.  The attending 
physician says Morrow will recover.