LOCAL HISTORY: STOREY, Henry Wilson. HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY PA. Vol. 1
The Lewis Publishing Co., 1907.
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Martha Humenik.
There is an HTML version of this book, with page images,
on the county web site: http://www.camgenpa.com/books/Storey/v1/
Copyright 2006. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
_______________________________________________
CHAPTER VII
A POLITICAL REVIEW--THE POLITICS OF THE COUNTY, STATE AND
--NATION FROM 1808.
On National affairs, Cambria was substantially a Democratic county until
1803, when it became Republican.
The system of our government is a subject of much interest to all classes;
therefore, it is necessary to a proper understanding of county politics, to
acquire correct knowledge of the national parties and their leaders. The
political organizations in the townships are a part of the great system which
controls the federal government.
When the federal government was formed in 1789 there was but one party of
any strength--the Federal party-of which Washington, Hamilton, Jay, Adams,
Marshall, Roger Sherman, Richard Henry Lee, Pinckney, and Fisher Ames were the
leaders. They continued in control until 1800, when a disagreement with John
Adams caused the election of Thomas Jefferson. The differences had been
smoldering for a long time, and being so far apart it was certain to cause the
division. The Federalists advocated a central government, a protective tariff, a
national currency, and many other policies which now prevail in the Republican
party, or, in other words, it is better to have one nation than to have forty-
six single states, each antagonistic to the other.
When Jefferson succeeded to the Presidency in 1801, he organized among the
farmers and planters what was known as the Republican-Democratic party as
against the industrial establishments, or the workmen of the shops and mills.
For a time, the Federalist was a northern party, and the Republican-
Democratic, a southern one. So far as national politics were concerned, the
former died about 1817, and locally throughout the north about 1823.
The party of Thomas Jefferson continued in control of the general
government, with three exceptions--John Quincy Adams, Harrison-Tyler, and
Taylor-Fillmore administrations--until the election of Mr. Lincoln; since that
event, with one exception, 1893 to 1897--the presidency and congress have been
103 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
under Republican rule. It is true, Cleveland was president from 1885 to 1889,
but the senate was Republican, and at times the Democrats had control of the
lower house of congress, but the latter never had full control except under
Cleveland's second term.
Jefferson was opposed to a war with England, and thereby he was humiliated
by both England and France, especially by the former in the impressment of
American seamen. Jefferson induced congress to pass the embargo act, which did
more harm to America than to England. Notwithstanding these conditions, Madison,
a follower of Jefferson, was elected president in 1808.
The first presidential election in Cambria county was held on Monday,
November 7, 1808, and the election in 1812 was on Friday, October 30; as late as
1836, it was held on Friday, November 4, and in 1810 it was held on Friday,
October 30, "being the fifth Friday preceding the first Wednesday of December."
A reference to the table of votes cast for this office shows that there
were but 62 votes for Madison, and 7 for Pinckney, in the five polling places in
the county; one at the house of Cornelius McGuire, in Allegheny township; one at
the residence of John Braniff; one in the court house at Ebensburg for Cambria
township; one at the dwelling of Mary Beatty, in Johnstown; and one at the house
of John Grossnickle, near Geistown, for Conemaugh township.
104 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND VOTE IN CAMBRIA.
( 1) Madison and Clinton, Republican-Democratic
( 2) Pinckney and King, Federalist
( 3) Madison and Gerry, Republican-Democratic
( 4) Clinton and Ingersoll, Federalist
( 5) Monroe and Tompkins, Republican-Democratic
( 6) King and Howard, Federalist
( 7) Monroe and Tompkins, Republican-Democratic
( 8) Jackson and Calhoun, Republican-Democratic
( 9) Adams and Calhoun
(10) Clay, et al
(11) Jackson and Calhoun, Democratic
(12) Adams and Rush
(13) Jackson and Van Buren, Democratic
(14) Wirt and Ellmaker, Anti-Masonic
( 1) ( 2) ( 3) ( 4) ( 5) ( 6) ( 7) ( 8) ( 9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14)
1808 1812 1816 1820 - - -1824- - - 1828 1832
Townships
Allegheny 19 3 21 21 23 .. 10 10 .. 1 47 21 63 16
Cambria 27 2 40 3 46 .. 22 37 1 2 53 27 83 27
Clearfield .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 .. .. 12 2 25 3
Conemaugh 16 2 13 18 1 23 8 23 4 .. 80 23 113 36
Jackson .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 7 41 2
Summerhill .. .. 15 8 5 .. 7 10 .. .. 95 13 119 10
Susquehanna .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 1 25 2
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Totals 62 7 89 50 75 23 47 87 5 3 314 94 469 96
( 1) Van Buren and Johnson, Democratic
( 2) Harrison and Granger, Whig
( 3) Harrison and Tyler, Whig
( 4) Van Buren and Johnson, Democratic
( 5) Polk and Dallas, Democratic
( 6) Clay and Frelinghuysen, Whig
( 7) Cass and Butler, Democratic
( 8) Taylor and Fillmore, Whig
( 9) Pierce and King, Democratic
(10) Scott and Graham, Whig
(11) Buchanan and Breckenridge, Democratic
(12) Fremont and Dayton, Republican
( 1) ( 2) ( 3) ( 4) ( 5) ( 6) ( 7) ( 8) ( 9) (10) (11) (12)
1836 1840 1844 1848 1852 1856
Districts
Allegheny 57 40 76 106 126 86 129 99 163 117 344 29
Blacklick ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 29 41 40 51
Cambria 56 105 158 77 100 212 124 243 75 171 62 176
Carroll ... ... 26 45 54 42 59 68 121 89 287 31
Chest ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 84 5
Clearfield 20 17 8 49 67 16 85 25 111 35 166 25
Conemaugh 94 198 258 194 150 198 229 282 173 206 337 372
Conemaugh Bor ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 110 35 202 40
Ebensburg Bor ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 59 91 80 82
Jackson 32 32 48 53 45 43 75 60 60 72 47 105
Johnstown Bor ... ... ... ... 91 85 123 109 170 127 205 290
Loretto Bor ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 21 15 40 2
Munster ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 133 14
Richland 44 24 70 57 42 97 53 109 75 133 91 160
Summerhill 57 55 49 132 123 72 143 78 286 97 232 174
Summitville Bor ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 56 ...
Susquehanna 25 34 25 14 23 44 33 44 80 58 76 53
Washington 65 49 56 181 271 59 301 68 461 112 481 21
White ... ... 37 12 31 42 32 48 41 62 24 29
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Totals 450 554 811 920 1123 996 1386 1233 2035 1461 2987 1665
105 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
The voters in the borough of Conemaugh, subsequently changed to Johnstown,
voted in the township of Conemaugh from 1831 to 1844. The poll being in the
borough.
( 1) Lincoln and Hamlin, Republican
( 2) Douglas and Johnson, Fusion
( 3) Bell and Everett, Constitutional
( 4) Douglas
( 5) Lincoln and Johnson, Republican
( 6) McClellan and Pendleton, Democratic
( 7) Grant and Colfax, Republican
( 8) Seymour and Blair, Democratic
( 9) Grant and Wilson, Republican
(10) Greeley and Brown, Dem. And Lib. Rep.
(11) Hayes and Wheeler, Republican
(12) Tilden and Hendricks, Democratic
(13) Garfield and Arthur, Republican
(14) Hancock and English, Democratic
( 1) ( 2) ( 3) ( 4) ( 5) ( 6) ( 7) ( 8) ( 9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14)
- - - - 1860 - - - - 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880
Adams ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 42 67 86 102 104 94
Allegheny 55 128 ... ... 33 215 30 214 129 27 26 266 27 245
Barr ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 52 53 117 44 109
Blacklick 66 36 ... ... 46 34 81 51 29 68 79 57 72 43
Cambria Bor ... ... ... ... 10 146 35 223 170 21 16 269 15 170
Cambria Bor 2 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 25 151
Cambria 180 31 ... ... 153 35 165 48 160 55 178 53 178 45
Carroll 58 146 ... ... 20 317 46 286 179 5 21 243 34 209
Carrolltown Bor 5 14 ... ... 2 55 4 73 56 16 5 93 8 96
Chest Spgs. Bor 40 14 2 ... 24 22 35 32 20 25 8 53 6 33
Chest 25 54 ... ... 9 117 35 138 101 17 15 181 13 88
Clearfield 24 125 ... ... 21 196 36 272 173 90 31 266 45 221
Conemaugh 98 36 ... ... 86 54 98 65 34 90 38 28 45 34
Conemaugh Bor 81 66 10 14 28 104 56 148 133 39 35 186 70 230
Conemaugh Bor 2 ... ... ... ... 27 68 56 106 91 47 39 130 66 202
Coopersdale Bor ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 36 39 12 65 11
Croyle 72 67 5 ... 31 84 60 99 76 82 90 116 123 114
Dean ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 11 22
East Conemaugh
Borough ... ... ... ... ... ... 31 47 29 24 50 48 94 55
Ebensburg Bor 115 82 ... ... 69 12 92 21 21 88 75 28 62 22
Ebensburh Bor,
West Ward ... ... ... ... 74 76 61 74 75 62 64 89 57 91
Elder ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 93
Franklin Bor ... ... ... ... ... ... 63 27 12 72 78 41 99 29
Gallitzin Bor ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 28 90 41 116
Gallitzin 45 57 ... ... 17 90 53 121 81 60 27 71 28 46
Jackson 107 34 ... ... 68 54 102 55 26 84 120 76 51 143
Johnstown, 1st 181 37 20 1 124 57 201 55 52 226 223 84 317 88
Johnstown, 2d 60 67 14 6 103 39 122 50 30 140 139 46 174 53
Johnstown, 3d 58 23 14 3 49 80 71 79 84 68 72 95 99 107
Johnstown, 4th 108 15 40 5 70 45 105 61 42 106 98 79 167 120
Johnstown, 5th ... ... ... ... 149 64 149 61 44 130 135 77 186 94
Johnstown, 6th ... ... ... ... ... ... 55 22 25 110 115 59 169 91
Loretto 9 33 ... 1 10 33 11 48 47 8 8 51 11 48
Millville 122 19 7 31 86 102 206 117 98 161 87 22 181 68
Millville 2d ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 71 126 80 103
Munster 19 85 ... ... 8 102 22 119 74 13 14 110 14 109
Portage ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 62 75
Prospect Bor ... ... ... ... 3 27 21 49 43 17 12 53 28 59
Reade ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 162 52
Richland 160 36 5 ... 127 133 170 141 24 92 108 74 104 91
Stonycreek ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 68 32 94 56
Summerhill 64 66 1 ... 43 71 45 106 43 63 58 79 48 65
*Summitville 2 34 ... ... 4 30 6 29 32 7 7 24 3 25
__________
* Abandoned June 5, 1882.
106 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Susquehanna 84 56 ... ... 65 87 106 109 65 76 74 97 71 85
Taylor 138 38 1 ... 116 52 142 64 26 90 127 65 152 60
Tunnel Hill Bor ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 41
Washington 72 119 1 ... 27 176 63 217 151 50 45 271 33 228
White 88 15 1 ... 74 44 156 60 14 112 112 53 33 41
Wilmore Bor 48 28 ... ... 41 24 51 27 36 17 22 20 29 38
Woodvale Bor ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 38 11 54 30 75 35
Yoder 93 72 3 49 61 43 104 44 77 14 75 34 109 47
Yoder, Lower ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 48 17 64 55 99 56
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Totals 2277 1643 124 110 2244 3036 2935 3558 2841 2547 2989 4257 3962 4555
( 1) Blaine and Logan, Republican
( 2) Cleveland and Hendricks, Democratic
( 3) Harrison and Morton, Republican
( 4) Cleveland and Thurman, Democratic
( 5) Harrison and Reid, Republican
( 6) Cleveland and Stevenson, Democratic
( 7) McKinley and Hobart, Republican
( 8) Bryan and Sewall, Democratic
( 9) McKinley and Roosevelt, Republican
(10) Bryan and Stevenson, Democratic
(11) Roosevelt and Fairbanks, Republican
(12) Parker and Davis, Democratic
(13) Swallow and Carroll, Prohibition
DISTRICTS IN 1904.
1 City.
24 Boroughs.
28 Townships. ( 1) ( 2) ( 3) ( 4) ( 5) ( 6) ( 7) ( 8) ( 9) (10) (11) (12) (13)
102 Election Districts. 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 - - 1904 - -
Adams 123 93 110 103 135 116 160 92 177 90 175 65 9
Adams, Dunlo ... ... ... ... ... ... 106 42 175 58 168 75 ...
Adams, Gramlingtown ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 49 12 4
Allegheny 35 226 36 193 38 177 31 184 53 197 61 179 1
Ashville Borough ... ... 13 34 16 48 26 24 26 27 32 43 ...
Barnesboro (Bor.) ... ... ... ... ... ... 139 43 195 55 144 35 7
Barnesboro, South ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 167 53 8
Barr 63 107 79 113 74 117 81 104 101 117 106 16 ...
Barr, South ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 100 82 1
Blacklick 81 34 81 42 65 45 107 50 191 77 152 34 3
Blacklick, No. 2 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 68 20 1
Cambria Bor., 1st W. 9 157 3 182 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Cambria Bor., 2d W. 17 189 21 248 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Cambria 173 42 189 50 197 42 215 43 209 49 227 41 4
Carroll 41 204 38 226 52 235 66 215 106 249 115 31 5
Carroll, Northeast ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 66 49 2
Carroll, East ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 29 86 2
Carroll, West ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 138 94 3
Carrolltown Bor 13 94 14 119 14 126 16 121 40 130 51 149 ...
Chest 20 84 16 75 13 63 12 76 27 75 31 57 1
Chest Springs Bor 14 30 20 37 13 35 22 28 22 24 23 17 ...
Clearfield 28 208 22 211 16 174 11 189 36 184 61 137 1
Conemaugh Bor, 1st 78 239 86 278 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Conemaugh Bor, 2d 80 205 105 240 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Conemaugh 54 33 78 35 85 37 75 34 66 39 137 60 4
Conemaugh, Upper ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 7 30 9 30 1 ...
Coopersdale Bor 76 4 84 13 103 20 121 8 ... ... ... ... ...
Cresson ... ... ... ... ... ... 86 151 108 210 203 260 1
Croyle 158 158 118 162 76 105 121 175 125 71 123 46 9
Croyle, No. 2 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 82 72 83 1
Croyle, No. 3 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 54 24 2
Daisytown Borough ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 37 42 41 20 32 2
Dale Borough ... ... ... ... 122 102 175 84 185 94 226 106 17
Dean 11 27 24 43 22 41 41 27 56 27 75 23 1
East Conemaugh Bor 86 57 149 64 185 90 248 85 326 93 237 57 11
E. Conemaugh B., 2d ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 209 38 8
East Taylor 90 29 96 33 71 26 57 2 53 6 59 6 6
East Taylor, No. 2 ... ... ... ... ... ... 52 12 49 15 48 26 1
Ebensburg, East Wd 64 19 68 22 77 24 92 19 106 22 122 20 5
107 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Ebensburg, West Wd 58 78 66 82 91 82 110 80 124 101 167 94 7
Elder 15 96 22 123 26 117 61 121 44 163 79 157 4
Ferndale Borough ... ... ... ... ... ... 35 4 40 7 53 1 2
Franklin Borough 71 36 98 43 67 84 100 44 117 49 126 61 8
Gallitzin Borough 54 174 112 263 117 232 135 230 200 195 249 214 6
Gallitzin 41 39 54 68 59 62 74 67 93 58 120 55 1
Grubbtown Borough 42 23 58 22 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Hastings Borough ... ... ... ... 117 129 148 125 132 117 164 109 5
Jackson 135 53 132 72 92 57 142 62 177 54 144 51 5
Jackson, Vintondale ... ... ... ... ... ... 42 13 63 9 69 10 1
Jackson, Nanty Glo ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 91 5 ...
Johnstown, 1st Wd 266 122 317 151 295 115 365 123 407 123 419 133 6
Johnstown, 2d 150 66 178 86 109 46 180 42 187 47 217 71 4
Johnstown, 3d 71 114 98 139 41 72 76 69 103 64 88 79 2
Johnstown, 4th 102 59 138 74 111 84 128 68 159 68 159 88 7
Johnstown, 5th 151 101 199 100 234 134 298 124 306 151 336 125 21
Johnstown, 6th 184 103 261 122 304 172 362 147 401 183 254 85 11
Johnstown, 6th, No. 2 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 225 71 4
Johnstown, 7th 72 94 127 167 163 207 261 179 292 223 249 144 18
Johnstown, 7th, No. 2 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 157 86 10
Johnstown, 8th ... ... ... ... 91 43 98 47 136 41 131 36 11
Johnstown, 8th, Rox’y ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 140 26 26
Johnstown, 9th ... ... ... ... 89 289 124 263 134 306 151 283 5
Johnstown, 10th ... ... ... ... 58 206 70 202 81 236 108 198 2
Johnstown, 11th ... ... ... ... 52 70 77 80 96 112 133 123 5
Johnstown, 12th ... ... ... ... 55 140 94 139 103 112 123 99 1
Johnstown, 13th ... ... ... ... 136 82 183 70 160 67 169 55 2
Johnstown, 14th ... ... ... ... 56 118 76 110 95 89 103 77 ...
Johnstown, 15th ... ... ... ... 4 102 17 111 24 111 36 185 ...
Johnstown, 16th ... ... ... ... 20 269 55 279 66 287 117 323 ...
Johnstown, 17th ... ... ... ... 212 145 251 135 349 179 462 157 69
Johnstown, 18th ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 156 34 175 49 17
Johnstown, 19th ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 155 50 193 38 27
Johnstown, 20th ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 229 56 229 38 21
Johnstown, 21st ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 116 16 143 15 13
Lilly Borough 22 70 55 97 51 114 80 96 103 133 138 126 2
Loretto Borough 11 48 4 46 8 38 4 39 6 44 10 49 ...
Morrellville Bor. 1 ... ... ... ... 140 55 212 39 ... ... ... ... ...
Morrellville, 2d ... ... ... ... 112 41 159 33 ... ... ... ... ...
Morrellville, 3d ... ... ... ... 82 49 133 37 ... ... ... ... ...
Lower Yoder 159 101 299 185 40 115 101 140 120 168 54 135 3
Munster 13 105 17 88 15 89 19 70 21 67 21 64 1
Millville Bor., 1st Wd. 180 68 195 113 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Millville Bor., 2d 59 87 67 112 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Patton Borough ... ... ... ... ... ... 248 131 308 197 214 132 11
Patton Bor., 2d Wd ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 165 111 4
Portage Borough ... ... ... ... 57 44 90 40 100 45 112 61 2
Portage 82 86 109 103 53 67 139 130 94 61 85 64 7
Portage South ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 100 85 156 53 1
Prospect Borough 35 65 33 76 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Reade 192 46 231 91 187 49 123 32 139 29 139 23 3
Reade, North ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 63 11 89 13 3
Reade, South ... ... ... ... 115 46 115 46 194 42 183 40 2
Reade, West ... ... ... ... 72 46 117 26 47 15 47 11 ...
Richland 129 79 133 77 152 82 180 65 159 58 172 75 10
Roxbury Borough ... ... ... ... ... ... 78 30 112 21 ... ... ...
Rosedale Borough ... ... ... ... ... ... 59 3 67 4 43 6 5
Scalp Level Borough ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 70 21 66 16 7
South Fork Borough ... ... 184 50 220 64 129 48 193 41 242 60 24
South Fork Bor., 2d W ... ... ... ... ... ... 150 27 213 26 284 19 48
Spangler Borough ... ... ... ... ... ... 63 85 92 111 151 153 5
Stony Creek 90 76 162 104 121 63 199 43 197 43 239 65 21
Summerhill Borough ... ... ... ... 48 54 40 60 65 60 64 69 4
Summerhill 59 57 71 44 60 50 73 62 64 64 58 38 9
Summerhill, South ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 127 32 3
Susquehanna 112 93 121 99 153 109 89 32 94 33 71 30 2
Susquehanna, South ... ... ... ... ... ... 71 88 82 83 68 69 1
Susquehanna, West ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 103 15 2
108 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Tunnelhill Borough 9 42 20 95 18 75 21 92 19 87 25 71 ...
Upper Yoder 92 18 131 49 192 57 119 23 101 16 124 14 5
Washington 36 207 26 127 32 145 40 142 48 129 67 113 ...
Washington, No. 2 ... ... 28 96 20 79 ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Westmont Borough ... ... ... ... 28 9 67 4 79 6 152 19 6
West Taylor 111 49 113 50 112 43 130 28 128 46 78 8 4
West Taylor, No. 2 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 89 28 6
White 32 36 54 62 47 42 66 48 87 41 79 25 ...
Wilmore Borough 39 31 40 28 27 80 38 29 30 22 34 18 4
Woodvale Borough 65 60 114 121 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Totals 4253 5517 6020 8838 10476 13106 646
4817 5948 6259 6560 7168 7223
Plurality 564 431 239 2278 3308 5883
We give the table of votes for every presidential election, as a study of
it is of great value to the historical student. It clearly discloses the gradual
progress of the county, and the shifting of the population. For instance, in
1852 there were 383 votes cast in Summerhill township, while in 1860 there were
but 140; in Washington township there were 573 votes in 1852, and 192 in 1860.
It recalls the issues of the campaigns and the men who led the parties, and
substantially when each district was formed; not precisely, however, as that is
accurately given in another chapter. In 1808 the twenty electoral votes of
Pennsylvania, out of 175 in the country were cast for James Madison and George
Clinton.
On June 12, 1811, war was declared against England, and Madison was re-
elected. After three years of warfare, a treaty of peace was made which decided
nothing of value, and left both countries as they were when it began. The
twenty-five electoral votes of the state were given to James Madison and
Elbridge Gerry, out of 277 in the country.
The Federal party was very feeble in 1816, and in the following year,
ceased to have a national organization, although in local affairs it continued
in spots until 1825, or thereabouts. James Monroe received 183 electoral votes
to 34 for Rufus King, the Federalist, and in 1820 he received all of them with
one exception. In the latter year there was but one electoral ticket in
Pennsylvania, having 24 votes. John Todd of Bedford was the elector for this
district. This period in our political history was known as the "era of good
feeling." Under James Monroe's administration five states were admitted to the
Union: Mississippi in 1817; Illinois in 1818; Alabama in 1819; Maine in 1820,
and Missouri in 1821.
Pennsylvania voted for James Monroe and Daniel D. Tompkins in both years.
With three exceptions, Pennsylvania has
109 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
always voted for the successful candidates. In 1832, it voted for William
Wilkins for vice-president but Martin Van Buren was elected: in 1884 and 1892 it
voted for James G. Blaine and Benjamin Harrison, and both were defeated. The
total electoral vote in 1816 and 1820 was 217 and 235, respectively.
James Monroe had adopted and carried into practice many of the principles
of the Federal party, especially those of internal improvements. In 1821 he
built the National turnpike from Cumberland to Wheeling, which passes through
Somerset county. These acts of Monroe revived the spirits of the old
Federalists, therefore there were four candidates for president. in 1824: John
Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, Wm. H. Crawford, and Andrew Jackson.
Jackson, the Republican-Democratic candidate, had a plurality but not a
majority of the electoral votes, and the election was thrown into the lower
house, where Adams received the votes of thirteen states; Jackson of seven, and
Crawford of four. Henry Clay was made secretary of state, which caused the
unfounded charge of a "corrupt bargain," which was sufficient to prevent him
from ever being president. The twenty-four electoral votes of Pennsylvania were
cast for Andrew Jackson.
The cry of the "corrupt bargain" and the Jacksonian policy of "to the
victors belong the spoils" swept the country in 1828, and Andrew Jackson's
admirable decision of character in managing the South Carolina nullifiers
increased his vote in 1832.
Cambria was overwhelmingly for Jackson in 1832. Notwithstanding the fact
that Henry Clay was the exponent of the protective policy, Pennsylvania never
gave him her electoral vote; even in 1832, when he was a candidate, there was
not a Clay ticket in Cambria county or the state. The 96 opponents of Jackson in
Cambria voted for William Wirt and Amos Ellmaker, the Anti-Masonic candidates.
The Whig party was organized in 1830. Pennsylvania had 28 electoral votes out of
261 in the nation in 1832.
Martin Van Buren was a protégé of Andrew Jackson, and won over William H.
Harrison in 1836 on Jackson's reputation, especially on his attitude on the
United States Bank question. In the following year occurred the most distressing
panic the country ever had.
Cambria, for the first time, was carried for the anti-Demo-
110 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
cratic candidate in 1836, when William H. Harrison and Francis Granger had a
majority of 104. Pennsylvania had 30 electoral votes in 1832-36 and '40.
General William Henry Harrison was again nominated in 1840. John Tyler took
the place of Francis Granger for vice-president on the Harrison ticket. The
Jackson policy on the bank question was not satisfactory to the country, nor
were its free trade principles acceptable, and Harrison and Tyler were elected
by 240 to 60 electoral votes. William Henry Harrison died within a month after
his inauguration and John Tyler succeeded to the office. He reversed the
policies upon which the ticket was elected, adopted the free trade principles of
the Virginia class of statesmen, and wrecked the Whig party. Cambria county did
not cast its vote for Harrison this time.
The campaign in Cambria county was vigorous. The Allegheny Portage railroad
was in the control of the State Democracy. The Democratic county convention met
in Ebensburg on June 30, and nominated a full ticket. R. P. Linton was chairman
of the committee. At that time each borough and township was entitled to two
delegates. The friends of Van Buren called a meeting in the court house for that
evening at early candle-light. The members of the standing county committee
were: Robert P. Linton, Charles Litzinger, William Todd, Jacob Luther, John
Anderson, John McGough, Hugh Dugan, Jesse Patterson, John Singer, Christian
Horner, James Murray, William Pryce, Patrick Shiels, David Summerville, Peter
McGuire, John Lucket, John Pringle, Jacob Horner, Charles Wilson, and George
Kring.
While slavery was a vexed question for many years it began to show itself
prominently in the campaign of 1844. The advocates of slavery switched the
question to the annexation of Texas, and with it James K. Polk and George M.
Dallas won over Henry Clay and T. Frelinghuysen. Clay had been a candidate in
1824, 1832, as well as this year. The refusal of the Democratic party to
nominate Van Buren in '44, caused trouble in New York state, but it was not
sufficient that year to elect Clay. James C. Birney, the anti-slavery candidate,
reduced the Clay vote there and Polk succeeded in getting the electoral vote.
Pennsylvania had only 26 votes in the electoral college in '44, having
proportionately lost its population through the free trade policies of Jackson,
Van Buren and Tyler.
In 1848 General Zachary Taylor, the hero of the Mexican
111 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
War was nominated for president by the Whig party and Lewis Cass by the
Democrats. The anti-slavery advocates in New York, with the Van Buren barn-
burners, reduced the Cass vote and gave the state to Taylor, who was a Louisiana
slaveholder. Cambria county had at this time 2,619 votes, out of which Cass only
had a majority of 153. The state had 26 electoral votes. President Taylor died
in 1850, and Millard Fillmore, of New York, succeeded him.
The Clay, Calhoun-Webster compromise of 1850 was intended to quiet the
slave question, but it really opened it wider than ever. The most unfortunate
event was the speech of Daniel Webster, made in the senate on March 7, 1850, by
which he lost the confidence of the North. Its idol now lay shattered. He had
agreed to the enforcement of the fugitive slave law. The Whig party was dying;
Winfield Scott could not get the vote in the South. Franklin Pierce received a
large vote, having 254 electoral votes out of 296. Scott lost Cambria county by
574 votes.
Senator Douglas introduced and congress passed in 1854 the Kansas-Nebraska
bill, which embodied the policy that slavery could be established in any state
or territory. It repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which had made
provision for the admission of Maine and Missouri into the Union. That Act of
Congress was the beginning of the Civil war which ended at Appomattox in April,
1865. Kansas was the preliminary battle-field, and John Brown was there
solidifying the antislavery vote.
The Whig party had disappeared and ended its mission. The Republican party
was founded in Pittsburg in 1855, but was not organized until June, 1856, when
at Philadelphia it nominated John C. Fremont and William L. Dayton. The vote for
Fremont was surprisingly large, but not sufficient to defeat Buchanan. It was
practically the beginning of the end of a thirty-five year warfare on slavery,
which closed with the defeat of the Confederacy. James Buchanan and J. C.
Breckinridge were elected. Cambria county gave them a majority of 1322.
Slavery had divided the National Democratic party, and in Cambria county it
was as badly split. The regular Democratic county convention met July 9, 1860,
and nominated a full ticket, with George Nelson Sinith, of Johnstown, for the
As-
112 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
sembly. But it was not done without a bolt by the Breckinridge adherents. The
Douglas men controlled the convention.
On July 23, the Republicans nominated a complete ticket with Alexander C.
Mullin of Ebensburg, for the Assembly.
On August 28 the Breckinridge Democrats met at Ebensburg and also nominated
a complete ticket, with Michael Dan Magehan for the General Assembly. All the
parties held meetings throughout the county. Howard Roberts, then of Ebensburg,
was the chairman of the Republican county committee. Among his leading workers
were Colonel J. M. Campbell, James M. Swank, D. J. Morrell, A. A. Barker,
William M. Jones, John M. King, John Roberts, James D. Hamilton, of Wilmore,
Hugh Gallagher of Allegheny, Samuel Reed, of Blacklick, David Watt, of
Gallitzin, Jason Pringle, of Summerhill, and Edwin A. Vickroy, of Yoder. Samuel
McKeever, of Johnstown, was captain of the "wide awakes."
Augustine Durbin was the chairman of the Breckinridge committee, and his
leading assistants were S. B. McCormick, W. Weimer and William P. Patton, of
Johnstown; Richard White and James McGough, of Allegheny; James Burk, of
Summerhill; Peter McGough and Thomas Short, of Washington; Francis Bearer and
Thomas Powers, of Susquehanna; W. William Hudson and F. K. Herlinger, of Croyle;
Simon Dunmyer, of Jackson, and Jacob Dunmyer, of Richland. Their headquarters
were at Ebensburg, and their adherents, who were plentiful,. were: John A.
Blair, Charles Murray, Joseph McDonald; John Thomas, Michael Dan Magehan, John
Buck, Jeremiah McGonigal, of Hemlock (now Lilly), Isaac B. Wike, James Myers,
Augustine McConnell and James Riffle, of the Summit, Jordan Marbourg, A. J.
Hite, Lewis Plitt, John Hannan.
The leaders of the Douglas-Democratic party were Philip and Thomas Collins,
Robert L. Johnston, Phil S. Moon, John Rhey, Michael Hasson, John Fenlon, R. A.
McCoy, Rees and John Lloyd and Chrysostom Noon, of Ebensburg; John P. Linton, W.
H. Rose, Harry A. Boggs, who had been a Breckinridge adherent, and succeeded
John Buck as postmaster at Johnstown. George Nelson Smith was a delegate to the
Charleston convention for Douglas, and subsequently voted for him at Baltimore;
and Michael Bracken of Gallitzin.
It was the most bitter political contest ever held in Cambria county; it
was a trial of strength between factions, with an element of slavery or anti-
slavery in each. On one occasion,
113 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
there was a struggle between the Douglas and the Breckinridge Democrats for the
possession of the court house to hold a political meeting. Judge Taylor was
holding court, and as soon as he had directed the court cryer to adjourn, and
before he had left the bench, Philip Collins arose and nominated Thomas Collins
as president of the meeting. Immediately some one nominated John A. Blair for
the Breckinridge partisans. Collins was declared president and endeavored to
take the seat before Judge Taylor could adjust his papers on the bench. Blair
resisted, and his followers sent word to other friends about the hotels to come
to their assistance, and they obeyed the summons. It was in the old court room,
with the wooden rail around the bench. Discussion gave way to physical strength;
the rail was torn down, the stove upset, and chairs and seats generally broken.
It is said that Tom Collins presided at that meeting such as it was.
The Douglas-Breckinridge advocates in the state had made a fusion on the
electoral vote, each to have a certain proportion of the vote in case of
success; this arrangement was known as the "Reading ticket." In accordance
therewith, a fine pole was raised at Gideon Martz's, at Pensacola, on the
Wilmore plankroad, with a Douglas-Breckinridge flag floating from the tiptop. It
was a great success for a short time. That night two men, said to be Captain
Thomas Davis and Milton Jones, cut it down by boring it with an auger, inasmuch
as quietness was necessary. The pole falling on a pig pen, started the animals
to squeal, which noise brought out the residents. The flag was procured and torn
lengthwise. The portion with the name of Douglas was stretched to the breeze and
the Breckinridge portion was fouled in the mud at the foot of the tree.
The election was then held on the second Tuesday of October, and resulted
in the election of the entire Republican county ticket. The vote is a study to
the student of history, disclosing the fact that about one-third of the
Democratic voters were followers of Breckinridge. Comparing the vote with that
of 1856, it will be observed that many anti-slavery Democrats voted the
Republican ticket.
The vote in the county was:
Assembly: Mullin, Rep., 1,542; Smith, Douglas Dem., 1,172; Magehan,
Breckinridge Dem., 900; Potts, New County, 1,107.
Vol. I-8
114 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA A COUNTY.
Register and Recorder: Lytle, Rep.. 1,459; Griffin, Douglas Dem., 1,429;
Gregg, B. Dem., 1,117; Canan, Ind., 692.
Commissioner: Cooper, Rep., 2,302; Ferguson, Douglas Dem., 1,479; Gill, B.
Dem., 831.
Auditor: Nelson, Rep., 2,181; Christy, Douglas Dem., 1,527; Stall, B. Dem.,
832.
Poor House Director: Douglas, Rep., 2,361; Hopple, Dent, 2,151.
By referring to the table of the presidential vote it will be observed that
there were four candidates in 1860, and that Cambria for the second time had
cast a majority vote against the combined opposition, excepting that Foster, for
governor had 406 votes over Curtin.
Michael Dan Magehan left the Whig party with John Fenlon, R. L. Johnston
and others shortly after the Know-Nothing issue raised in 1854. Judge Johnston
has stated that he was undecided to which party he would become attached until
1856, when he joined the Democratic ranks.
Abraham Lincoln had a majority of 89,159 in the state over the fusion, or
what was termed the "Reading ticket." The Reading ticket was a fusion of the
Douglas-Breckinridge electors. Each party had a certain number of followers on
the electoral ticket, with the understanding if Pennsylvania should decide the
issue that its entire vote should be cast for the candidate who could win. Mr.
Lincoln had a plurality over Douglas of 251,265; over John Bell, 255,254; and a
majority of 61,618 over all. In the electoral college Lincoln received 180 votes;
John C. Breckinridge, 72; John Bell, 39, and Stephen A. Douglas, 12, making
303 electoral votes in the country.
During the interregnum between the election and the inauguration of Mr.
Lincoln, several of the southern states, led by South Carolina, seceded and
formed the Confederacy. On Aril 12, 1861, about 4 o'clock in the morning, the
Confederates fired the first shot upon the little garrison in Fort Sumter.
President Lincoln was re-elected in 1864, over Major-General George B.
McClellan, on the Democratic ticket. The platform of the latter contained a
plank that decreed the war a failure, and advocated a compromise. Mr. Lincoln
received 212 electoral votes to 21 for General McClellan. There were 81
electoral votes missing because the southern states were for the time being out
of the Union.
The vote cast by the troops in the field is only important to
115 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
establish the fact of the politics of each soldier who was then defending the
Union. It shows conclusively that party politics were ignored. The soldiers
voted in 1861, but there was much opposition to it by the Democratic party on
the ground that it was unconstitutional. Therefore, it appears that the vote for
1862 and 1863 was not counted. But in the meanwhile the vexed question of
constitutionality had been determined by the court, and in 1864 the soldiers
voted and their votes were returned and counted with the county and state vote.
The Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment was in Camp Curtin at
Harrisburg, on the day of the election, October 8, 1861, and voted thus:
( 1) Judge -- Geo. Taylor, Rep
( 2) Assembly -- C. L. Pershing, Dem
( 3) Abraham Koplin, Rep
( 4) Sheriff -- John Buck, Dem
( 5) James D. Hamilton, Rep
( 6) Treasurer -- Thomas Callan, Dem
( 7) Charles B. Ellis, Rep
( 8) Robert H. Canan, Ind
( 9) Commissioner -- P. J. Little, Dem
(10) James Conrad, Rep
(11) Associate Judge -- Geo. W. Easly, Dem
(12) Henry C. Devine, Dem
(13) Isaac Evans, Rep
(14) James Purse, Rep
Captain, Regiment and Company
( 1) ( 2) ( 3) ( 4) ( 5) ( 6) ( 7) ( 8) ( 9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14)
John Suter, 54th, A 12 7 9 2 11 1 7 6 1 10 1 1 10 10
T. H. Lapsley, 54th, E 7 ... 9 1 8 1 8 ... 1 8 1 1 8 8
P. Graham, 54th, E 15 9 13 4 8 7 3 10 7 4 17 9 3 3
W. B. Bonacker, 54th, I 22 13 15 10 17 12 15 ... 11 17 14 14 14 14
James Carroll, 55th, A 7 17 13 15 10 21 9 ... 20 8 23 22 8 8
M. O’Connell, 55th, E 12 12 ... 12 ... 12 ... ... 12 ... 12 12 ... ...
At Point of Rocks, Md. –
Co. F., 28th Penn. Vols. ... 18 6 18 7 20 ... ... 18 7 20 20 1 ...
At Camp Tennally, D. C. –
Co. A, 11th Pa. Reserves 41 20 19 18 25 20 16 3 22 18 23 22 21 19
Co. H, 12th Pa. Reserves 3 ... 3 ... 3 ... 3 ... ... 3 ... ... 3 3
At Camp Harlan, D. C. –
Co. G, 4th Pa. Reserves 17 3 28 9 24 8 6 15 7 9 26 24 6 4
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Totals 136 99 115 89 113 102 67 34 99 84 137 125 74 69
It will be observed that there was not a Republican vote in Captain
O'Connell's company, and not a Democratic vote in Company H, Twelfth Reserves,
while the others were about the same as if each soldier had voted at home.
The Pennsylvania soldier vote in field and camp, October 11, 1864, was as
follows:
116 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
(1) Congress – B. L. Johnston, Dem
(2) A. A. Barker, Rep
(3) Assembly C. L. Pershing, Dem
(4) Evan Roberts, Rep
LOCATION AND COMPANY. (1) (2) (3) (4)
Fortress Monroe, Va., Co. F, 3d Pa. Artillery, 152d Pa. Vols ... 2 ... 2
Yellow House, Va., Weldon Railroad 3 ... 3 ...
Clarysville Hospital, Maryland ... 3 ... 3
Camp Carroll, Md., Co. F., 194th Pa. Infantry ... 7 ... 7
Camp near Nashville, Tenn ... 1 ... 1
Camp Parole, Annapolis, Md ... 1 ... 2
Douglass Hospital, D. C. ... 1 ... 1
Navy Yard Hospital, Annapolis, Md ... 1 ... 1
Camp Fry, Washington City, D. C. ... 2 ... ...
Camp on the field, Army of James River, Co. K, 106th Pa. Vols. ... 14 ... 14
Fort Brady, Va., Co. A, 206th Pa. Infantry ... 2 ... 2
Camp near Petersburg, Va., Co. F, 198th Pa. Infantry ... 51 ... 51
Cuyler Hospital, Philadelphia ... 3 ... 3
Mower Hospital, Philadelphia 1 7 1 7
Old Court House, Va ... ... 1 ...
Lieut. Snodgrass' Headquarters, Co. D, 149th Pa. Infantry 1 2 1 2
Camp near Petersburg, Va 1 2 ... ...
Camp near Point of Rocks. Md., Co. B, 211th Pa. Infantry 1 ... 1 ...
Sickel's Barracks Hospital, Alexandria, Va ... 1 ... 1
Fort Delaware, Del ... 1 ... 1
Judiciary Hospital, Washington City, D. C. 1 ... 1 ...
Baptist Church Hospital, Alexandria, Va ... 1 ... 1
Camp Biddle, Pa ... 8 ... 8
Camp Cadwallader, Philadelphia, 187th Pa. Infantry 3 7 2 7
United States Steamer "Express" 2 4 2 4
Near Winchester, Va., Co. F, 49th Pa. Infantry ... 1 ... ...
General Hospital, York, Pa ... 1 ... 1
Bermuda Hundreds, Va., 206th Pa. Infantry ... 5 ... 5
Bolivar Heights, W. Va., Co. M, 12th Pa. Cavalry 5 10 5 9
Bolivar Heights, W. Va 10 3 9 3
Rectortown, Va., Co. D, 5th Pa. Heavy Artillery 22 22 21 28
Huddington Hospital, Philadelphia ... ... ... 1
Fort Steadman, near Petersburg, Va ... 1 ... ...
Capt. Wishart's Headquarters, Army of James River, Co. H, 208th ... ... 1 ...
Thoroughfare Gap, Va., 202d Pa. Infantry ... 1 ... ...
City Point, Va., Co. G, 21st Pa. Infantry 2 18 2 18
Cedar Creek, near Strasburg, Va., Co. A, 54th Pa. Infantry 1 14 1 14
Camp near Hatcher's Run, Va., Co. C, 209th Pa. Infantry ... 49 ... 49
Chattanooga, Tenn ... 1 ... 1
Cedar Creek, Va., 54th Pa. Infantry ... 9 ... 10
Cedar Creek, Va., Co. D, 54th Pa. Infantry ... 8 ... 8
Fort Blois, Va ... 1 ... ...
Camp near Petersburg, Va., Co. D, 53d Pa. Infantry ... ... 1 ...
Fort Duchesne. Va., Co. E, 11th Pa. Infantry ... 1 ... 1
Camp near Winchester, Va., Co. E, 49th Pa. Infantry ... 1 ... 1
Cedar Creek, Va., 54th Pa. Infantry ... 9 ... 9
--- --- --- ---
Totals 53 281 52 276
It will be noted that in the last year of the war the proportion of votes
cast was more than five to one in favor of the Republican candidates.
117 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
The leading question to be determined in the Grant and Seymour campaign of
1868 was the reconstruction of the southern states. The Republican party
insisted that they should not be clothed with their former rights until they
would recognize the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments to the
Constitution. The plank in the Democratic platform was ambiguous on this
question. It declared "amnesty for all past political offenses, and the
regulation of the elective franchise in the states by their citizens." Ulysses
S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax were elected by 214 to 80 electoral votes, 23 votes
not participating, their constituents being still disfranchised. Pennsylvania
gave 26 votes.
The general issues in the Grant-Greeley campaign of 1872 were the same as
in 1868; however, discontented Republicans and a portion of the Democratic party
nominated Horace Greeley. U. S. Grant and Henry Wilson received 286 electoral
votes out of 352, of which Pennsylvania gave 29, and a plurality of 137,728.
In 1873 a severe financial panic came upon the country. The following year
the Democratic party carried the XLIVth Congress for the first time since 1856,
and Pennsylvania politics went the same way.
In 1876 the country was in distress, principally on account of the
financial conditions. The Republicans had declared that specie payments should
be resumed on January 1, 1879, and the Democrats were opposed, with a battle cry
of reform in the tariff and civic affairs. The campaign closed with 185
electoral votes for Rutherford B. Haves and 184 for Samuel J. Tilden. The
Republicans contested the vote of Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina and one
vote of Oregon, but the electoral commission by a vote of eight to seven
sustained the Hayes vote. Pennsylvania gave Haves 29 votes.
Samuel J. Tilden declined a renomination in 1880. The Democratic party
began its campaign on the alleged "great fraud" of 1876, which became futile on
the exposure of the cipher telegrams between the Democratic managers. Near the
close of the campaign the tariff became the live question, and General Hancock
declined to consider it and averred that it was a "local issue."
James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur received 214 electoral votes out of
369, 29 of which were from Pennsylvania. General Garfield was assassinated July
2, 1881, and died at
118 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Elberon, New Jersey, September 19, when Chester A. Arthur succeeded.
In 1882 the Democrats carried congress, and Grover Cleveland had over
192,000 majority in New York for governor. It was attempted to make the contest
in 1884 on the tariff question, but it failed, and to the shame of the country
the campaign became personal to the candidates. Grover Cleveland is claimed to
have carried New York by 1,149 out of a total vote of over 1,200,000, which gave
him 219 electoral votes out of 401. During Cleveland's administration the senate
was controlled by the Republicans, and the house by the Democrats.
The issue in 1888 was solely on the tariff question, and Benjamin Harrison
was elected by 233 electoral votes out of 401. Pennsylvania gave 30 votes in '84
and '88.
Senator M. S. Quay was the chairman of the Republican national committee in
1888. The Republicans controlled both houses of congress, and admitted four new
states--Idaho, with three electoral votes; North Dakota, three; South Dakota,
four, and Wyoming, three, making a total of 444, thus weakening the vote of the
solid south.
In 1892 the same presidential candidates led their respective parties as in
the last campaign. The country was generally very prosperous, but discontent
prevailed in some of the western states, where General James B. Weaver was
nominated by the People's party, and received over 1,000,000 votes, thus giving
Mr. Cleveland 277 electoral votes out of 444. The Democrats also succeeded in
carrying both the senate and the house, for the first time in thirty-five years.
Pennsylvania gave 32 electoral votes in 1892, 1896 and 1900 to the Republican
candidates for president and vice-president. Grover Cleveland carried Cambria
county by 239 plurality in 1892. Since that election the county has been
substantially and strongly Republican, excepting for factional differences in
electing county officers on the Democratic ticket. The Democrats passed the
Wilson tariff bill.
A severe financial panic came in May, 1893, as a result of the election of
1892, and caused much distress. The depression continued until 1897. The
paramount issue was placing the country on a gold basis; and secondarily, the
tariff question. William McKinley and Garrett A. Hobart received 271 electoral
votes out of 447 in the nation. The Republican party repealed
119 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
the Wilson tariff act and adopted the Dingley protective bill, July 24, 1897.
The Spanish-American tear began April 21, 1898, and practically closed July
3, 1898, when Admiral Sampson destroyed Cervera's fleet at Santiago.
William McKinley and William J. Bryan again led their parties in 1900. The
issues were empirism and the tariff. The Democratic party endeavored to condemn
the Republicans for taking the Philippine Islands as a result of the war with
Spain. Little stress was laid on the tariff question, inasmuch as the country
was exceedingly prosperous. William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt received 292
electoral votes out of 447. Mr. McKinley was shot at Buffalo, September 6, 1901,
and died there on the 14th, when Mr. Roosevelt succeeded him.
The general prosperity continued, and the opposition to the policies of the
Republican party was feeble. At no time in the campaign of 1904 was it
substantial. Theodore Roosevelt and Charles W. Fairbanks received 336 out of 476
electoral votes, and a popular plurality of 2,547,656, which was the largest
ever cast. Pennsylvania, having 34 electoral votes, gave Roosevelt a plurality
of 505,519. The entire vote was 1,236,738, as follows: Theodore Roosevelt,
840,949; Alton B. Parker, 335,430; Silas C. Swallow, Prohibitionist, 33,717;
Eugene V. Debs, Socialist, 21,863; Charles E. Corregan, Socialist Labor, 2,211;
and Parker, Independent, 2,568.
OUR GOVERNORS.
The first constitution of Pennsylvania was that of September 28, 1776,
under which Benjamin Franklin was the chairman of the committee of safety. The
next one was that of 1790. The president of the latter convention was General
Thomas Mifflin, of Philadelphia, a Revolutionary soldier of great courage and
distinction, who was that year elected the first governor over General Arthur
St. Clair, of Westmoreland county. Governor Mifflin was re-elected in 1793 and
1796.
Judge Thomas McKean, who had been chief justice of the supreme court, was
elected in 1799 over James Ross, the Federalist. Governor McKean was re-elected
in 1802 and 1805. He was the nominee of the Jefferson Democracy, then known as
the Republican-Democratic party. It was under Judge McKean's administration that
the policy of "to the victors belong the spoils" was inaugurated in the state.
In a letter to Jeffer-
120 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
son in 1801 he said: "I am sorry that I did not displace ten or eleven more, for
it is not right to put a dagger in the hands of an assassin."
The first vote in Cambria county for governor was taken in 1808. Simon
Snyder was a Jefferson Democrat. The candidate of the Federal party was Senator
James Ross. Governor Snyder received 67,975 votes to 39,575 for Ross. The
Federal party was declining in the state, and Ross only carried the counties of
Delaware, Chester, Bucks, Lancaster, Luzerne and Adams. The vote in Cambria was
as follows:
Snyder. Ross.
Allegheny township 47 51
Cambria township 96 31
Conemaugh township 37 37
---- ----
180 119
It will be observed that Ross carried Allegheny township through the
vigorous efforts of Father Gallitzin, who was an ardent Federalist and a pastor
who believed in maintaining his political views at the polls.
Governor Snyder was renominated in 1811. The Federal vote was divided
between Judge William Tilghman, Richard Folwell and others. In Cambria county
Snyder lead 220 and Tilghman 34.
The war with England was nearing the end, Snyder had conducted a patriotic
and satisfactory administration, and was therefore nominated for a third terns
in 1814. The first nomination made by a political convention in the state was
for Snyder, and took place at Lancaster, March 7, 1808. The opposition was
divided between George Latimore and Isaac Wayne. In Cambria county Snyder had
145 votes; Latimore, 29, and Wayne, 22.
Governor Findlay, elected in 1817, was a Jefferson Democrat. The old
Federalists supported Joseph Heister. Findlay only had a majority of 7,059. The
election was contested, but Findlay was sustained. Cambria gave Findlay 205 and
Heister 150.
Findlay and Heister were renominated in 1820 to lead their respective
parties, the former at Lewistown and the latter at Carlisle. The indiscriminate
chartering of banks with the flood of paper currency caused financial
difficulties, and Heister was elected by a majority of 7,605. This was the first
time the Fed-
121 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
eralists succeeded in carrying Cambria county-Heister 207; Findlay, 191.
Governor Shulze was the candidate of the Democratic party in 1823, and the
name has continued till this day. The opposition candidate was Andrew Gregg, but
the party had no substantial title, simply an opposition force. Shulze had over
25,000 majority. For the second time, Cambria was against the Democratic
candidate; Gregg had 269 and Shulze 252.
Governor Shulze was renominated in 1826, and had no organized opposition in
the state, receiving 72,000 votes. He had 392 in Cambria to 38 scattering votes.
It was under his administration that the Pennsylvania canal and the old Portage
railroad system was commenced.
George Wolf was nominated by the Jackson Democracy in 1829. The Whigs were
then organized, and nominated Joseph Ritner. Cambria for the third time gave its
vote against the Democratic party; thus: Ritner, 434; Wolf, 210; however,
Governor Wolf was re-elected. It was under Governor Wolf's leadership and that
of Thaddeus Stevens in the house that the common school system was adopted:
Wolf was an enthusiastic follower of Jackson, and was renominated in 1832.
The Whigs and the Anti-Masonic parties renominated Ritner. Wolf was elected. The
vote in Cambria was: Wolf, 598; Ritner, 340.
Wolf was renominated for a third term March 7, 1835, at Lewistown. The
storm arising from the Anti-Masonic sentiment and the adoption of the common
school system caused a disagreement in the Democratic party, and on the
following day the dissenters nominated Henry A. Muhlenberg, and passed a
resolution in favor of Martin Van Buren for president. The Whigs and their
allies renominated Ritner, who was elected, the vote being Ritner, 94,023; Wolf,
65,801; Mulenberg, 40,586. Cambria again voted for the Whig candidate, thus:
Ritner, 694 ; Wolf, 610, and Muhlenberg, 38. The Whigs and Anti-Masons elected
71 out of 100 members of the Assembly. The same parties made a combination with
the Muhlenberg senators and had 19 out of 33 in the senate. Since 1790 this was
the second defeat for the Democracy for governor, and the first time that the
opposition had control of both houses and the executive.
In October, 1838, the amendments to the constitution were adopted by a vote
of 113,971 to 112,759. Governor Ritner was
122 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
renominated by the Whigs, and David Rittenhouse Porter, who was nominated by the
Democratic party, was elected by a majority of 5,504, the vote being 127,825 to
122,321. In Cambria county Porter had 844 and Ritner 762. The vote was close and
was not settled for several weeks. The excitement throughout the state was
intense. The Democrats had a small majority in the house, while the Whigs
controlled the senate. This situation produced a dual house and the famous
"Buckshot war."
Governor Porter was re-elected in 1841 over John Banks, the Whig candidate.
His vote in the state was 136,504 to 113,473 for Banks. F. J. Lemoyne, the
Abolition candidate, received 763 votes. In Cambric county, Porter received 844
votes and Banks 810.
In 1844 the Democratic party nominated Francis Pawn Shunk, and the Whigs,
Joseph Markle, of Westmoreland county. The former received 160,322 votes in the
state, and Markle 156,040. In Cambria county the former had 1,129 to 969 for the
latter.
On Friday, November 1, 1844, the day of the presidential election, a vote
was taken to ascertain whether the state should dispose of its public works,
which consisted of the canals and the Allegheny Portage railroad. The
proposition was defeated, and the vote in Cambria county was even--955 in favor
and the same number against it.
Governor Shunk, the Democratic nominee, was re-elected over James Irvin,
the Whig candidate, in 1847, by almost 18,000 plurality. In Cambria county Shunk
had 1,139 votes, and Irvin 974.
Governor Shunk resigned on the 9th of July, 1848. There is an interesting
story in the political situation of that period. The governor, being very ill
with a pulmonary disease, was not expected to live, and died within a few days
thereafter. The law was then as it is now--if the vacancy should occur within
ninety days of the next election his successor should serve another full year.
In this case the gubernatorial election would be delayed until October, 1849. If
the vacancy occurred prior to the ninety days' limitation, the election would
take place in October, 1848. The Democratic managers decided that the election
must be held in the presidential year of 1848, believing that Lewis Cass would
carry the state, and they would thereby procure another Democratie governor. The
Rev. Theodore Witt, of Harrisburg, the governor's pastor, prevailed upon him
123 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
to resign on Sunday, July 9th, which was the last day it could be done in order
to secure the object the Democrats desired. The election took place October 9,
1848, and Morris L. Longstreth, the Democratic candidate, was defeated by
William F. Johnston, and Zachary Taylor carried the state for president over
Lewis Cass by almost 14,000 plurality. If the election had gone over until the
following year, the Democratic candidate would in all probability have been
elected, as the dying Whig party could not have made an energetic campaign. The
hero of the Mexican war overturned all the calculations of the political
managers.
In 1848, William Freame Johnston succeeded Shunk as governor by virtue of
succession, he being the speaker of the senate. He was nominated by the Whigs
for the regular term, and Morris L. Longstreth was his Democratic opponent.
Johnston was elected, and was the third governor elected against Democratic
opposition since 1790. In Cambria county Johnston had 1,151 votes, and
Longstreth 1,421. The vote in the state was: Johnston, 168,522; Longstreth,
168,225; a plurality of 297. E. B. Gazzan, the Free Soil candidate, only polled
48 votes in the state.
The Democratic party nominated Senator William Bigler in 1851, and the
Whigs renominated William F. Johnston, both of whom had formerly represented the
Cambria senatorial district. The paramount issue in this campaign was that of
slavery, caused by the compromise of 1850, which re-affirmed the Fugitive Slave
Law. It caused a division of the antislavery vote, and Bigler, of Clearfield,
was elected. His vote in Cambria was 1,765, to 1,230 for Johnston.
Governor Bigler was renominated in 1854, and the Whigs nominated Judge
James Pollock, of the Northumberland-Lycoming judicial district. The Whig, Free
Soil and Know-Nothing vote swept the state. In Cambria county Bigler had 1,739
votes to 1,627 for Pollock. The latter declined a renomination in 1857.
There were three candidates for governor in 1857--Senator Packer, of the
Democrats; David Wilmot, of the Republican party; and Isaac Hazlehurst, of the
Native American party. Packer was elected by 14,000 over both. In Cambria county
Packer had 2,379; Wilmot, 1,042; and Hazlehurst, 165.
The ebb-tide of slavery was now rapidly approaching. In 1860 the Republican
party nominated Andrew G. Curtin, of
124 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Bellefonte, and the Democrats named Henry D. Foster, of Greensburg, a former
congressman for the Cambria district. Curtin was elected by a majority of
32,000. The vote in Cambria county was: Curtin, 2,177; Foster, 2,583.
Governor Curtin was renominated in 1863, and Judge George W. Woodward was
the candidate of the Democratic party; the former was elected. His vote in
Cambria county was 2,164, to 3,000 for Woodwind.
General John W. Geary, a former resident of Cambria county, was the
Republican nominee in 1866, and Heister Clymer that of the Democratic party.
Geary was elected by over 17,000 majority. His vote in Cambria was 2,643, to
3,295 for Clymer.
Governor Geary was renominated in 1869, and Asa Packer was nominated by the
Democrats; the former was elected; his vote in Cambria county was 2,539, to
3,189 for Packer.
Cyrus L. Pershing, of Johnstown, was the Democratic candidate for the
supreme court at this election, receiving 3,220 votes, to 2,418 for Henry W.
Williams in the county; the latter was elected.
General John Frederic Hartranft was the nominee of the Republicans and
Senator Charles R. Buckalew of the Democrats in 1872, when the former was
elected; his vote in Cambria county was 2,823, to 3,530 for Buckalew.
Delegates for Cambria county district to the proposed constitutional
convention were elected at this time; A. C. Finney, 2,756; John G. Hall, 3,269,
and George A. Achenbach, 3,270, were chosen, and served in the convention of
1873.
On December 16, 1873, a special election was held to vote upon the new
constitution. It was adopted; the vote in Cambria county was: in favor, 1,972;
against, 1,813.
General Hartrauft was re-nominated in 1875. Cyrus L. Pershing, formerly of
Johnstown, but then president judge of the courts of Schuylkill county, was
nominated at Erie, by the Democratic party. Governor Hartranft was re-elected;
the vote in Cambria county was, Hartranft 2,325, to 3,399 for Judge Pershing.
The leading issue in 1878 was the resumption of specie payments on January
1, 1879. Henry Martyn Hoyt was nominated by the Republicans, Andrew Dill by the
Democrats, and Samuel R. Mason by the Greenback party. Many gold Democrats voted
for Hoyt, who was elected. The vote in Cambria was
125 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Hoyt, 3,342; Dill, 2,196; Mason, 1,081. Governor Hoyt was the first governor to
serve a full term of four years under the new constitution, and was ineligible
for re-election to succeed himself.
The Republican party was not united in 1882, owing to differences in the
political management of the party. The regulars nominated James Adams Beaver;
the Democrats, Robert E. Pattison; the Independent Republicans, John Stewart,
and the Greenback-Labor party, Thomas Armstrong. Stewart polled 43,743 votes,
which elected Pattison by a plurality of 40,202. In Cambria the vote was:
Beaver, 3,279; Pattison, 4,247; Stewart, 188; and Armstrong, 551.
General Beaver was renominated in 1886, Chancy Forward Black was named by
the Democrats, and Charles Wolfe by the Prohibition party. General Beaver was
elected by a plurality of 42,651. In Cambria county he had 3,865 votes; Black,
4,966, and Wolfe, 345.
Senator George Wallace Delamater, of Meadville, was nominated by the
Republican party in 1890, and Governor Pattison was renominated by the
Democrats, after the lapse of the term of Governor Beaver. The Republicans were
dissatisfied with the political situation, and a sufficient number voted for
Pattison to elect him. His plurality was over 16,000. In Cambria the vote was
Delamater 4,092, and Pattison 5,834.
Adjutant-General Daniel Hartman Hastings, who had represented Governor
Beaver in the work at Johnstown in maintaining order, removing the debris, and
protecting the public health, subsequent to the flood of May 31, 1889, was
nominated for governor by the Republican party in 1894, and William M. Singerly
by the Democratic. The panic of 1893 caused a material change in the political
situation in Cambria county. The entire Republican county ticket was elected
that year for the first time since 1808, and since that year it has been
substantially an anti-Democratic county. Hastings had 6,813 and Singerly 5,120
in the county, and a plurality of 241,397 in the state.
The political conditions in the state were complicated in 1898. A successor
to Senator M. S. Quay was to be chosen; ambition and jealousy were alert. The
Republicans nominated William A. Stone for governor; the Democrats, George
Jenks, of Brookville, and the Prohibitionists, Silas C. Swallow. Stone was
elected by a large plurality, 117,906, but was
126 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
minority official. The vote in Cambria county was: Stone, 5,765; Jenks, 6,490;
and Swallow, 1,966. Swallow had 132,931 votes in the state.
Attorney-General John P. Elkin, of Indiana, carried Cambria county for the
Republican nomination for governor in 1902, but Judge Samuel Whitaker
Pennypacker received the nomination. Robert E. Pattison was named by the
Democrats for a third term, but Samuel W. Pennypacker was elected by a plurality
of 112,350. In Cambria the vote was: Pennypacker, 8,909; Pattison, 8,492, and
Swallow, 380. Swallow had 23,327 votes in the state.
PRESIDENT JUDGE ELECTIONS.
Since January 1, 1851, all judges of Pennsylvania have been elected for ten
year periods by a direct vote of the people, the same as other officials. Prior
to that year, they were appointed by the governor, as judges of the federal
government have been and are now appointed by the president.
The first elective judge candidates in 1851 in the judicial district of
which Cambria formed a part, were George Taylor, of Huntingdon, and Thomas P.
Campbell, of Huntingdon; the former a Whig, and the latter a Democrat, who
removed to Davenport, Iowa, in 1865, and died there February 6, 1881. The
election took place the same day as the Bigler-Johnston contest for governor in
1851, resulting thus:
Blair. Cambria. Huntingdon. Total
Taylor, Whig 2,296 1,220 2,382 5,898
Campbell, Democrat 1,647 1,719 2,028 5,394
In 1861 Judge Taylor had no opposition for another ten-year term on the
bench, excepting 19 votes, thus:
For. Against.
Blair 3,636
Cambria 2,474 17
Huntingdon 2,636 2
The opposition votes in Cambria were all cast in Loretto. Judge Taylor also
received a soldiers' vote of 136, the 54th and 55th Regiments being in Camp
Curtin at Harrisburg, and Company A of the 11th Reserves and Company H of the
12th being at Camp Tenally, D. C.
In 1811 there were three candidates, Judge Taylor running as an
independent. The vote in Cambria county was: Thaddeus Banks, Democrat, 2,818;
John Dean, Republican, 2,208;
127 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
George Taylor, Independent. 390. Judge Dean was elected in the district.
There was no organized opposition to the re-election of Judge Dean in 1881,
his name appearing on both the Republican and Democratic tickets. He received
5,984 votes, with 250 cast for Colonel John P. Linton.
XLVIITH JUDICIAL DISTRICT.
At an extra session of the legislature in August, 1883, an act designating
the judicial districts was passed, August 7, 1883 (pamphlet laws, 1885, page
325), making Cambria county the Forty-seventh judicial district, and authorizing
Judge Dean to continue to preside over the courts of Blair county.
On November 6, 1883, Robert L. Johnston, Democrat, was elected president
judge of the courts of Cambria county, receiving 4,144 votes to 3,688 for George
M. Header the Republican candidate. Judge Johnston served until his death, which
occurred October 28, 1890, when Governor Beaver appointed Augustine Vinton
Barker to serve as such until the first Monday of January, 1892.
It being necessary to elect the successor of Judge Johnston at the November
election in 1891, caused a new beginning of the ten years' term of service,
which would otherwise have been in 1893. Judge A. V. Barker was elected to
succeed himself, receiving 6,532 votes to 5,565 for Colonel John P. Linton, the
Democratic candidate, the former being the regular Republican nominee.
The candidates in 1901 were Judge A. V. Barker, Republican, of Ebensburg,
and Francis J. O'Connor, Democrat, of Johnstown. The latter received 8,990 votes
on the Democratic ticket and 33 on the Union ticket, making an aggregate vote of
9,023; Judge Barker received 8,952 votes, which gave F. J. O'Connor a plurality
of 71. Judge O'Connor entered upon his ten-year term on the first. Monday of
January, 1902.
CONGRESSMEN FROM THE CAMBRIA DISTRICT.
We give the vote for each congressman in Cambria, but the first named was
the one elected in the district. The elections for congressmen up to 1874 were
held in October, in even years, subsequently, in November, in even years. The
term begins March 4 in odd years, for a two year term.
The year and number given is the beginning of the term and the number of
the congress, beginning March 4, 1789. We
128 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
also give the counties which composed the district, and the date of the
apportionment; also the speaker of the House.
Act of April, 1802, 3 Smith, 502. This district consisted of Westmoreland,
Somerset, and Armstrong counties, with 18 districts in the state. Cambria county
was not organized until 1807.
1809. XI. William Findley, R-D., 153; Robert Philson, 145. Speaker, Joseph
B. Varnum, Dem., Mass.
1811. XII. William Findley, R-D., 181; John Kirkpatrick, Fed., 82. Speaker,
Henry Clay, Fed., Ky.
Act of 20 March, 1812, 5 Smith, 330.--Eighth district--Bedford, Cambria and
Somerset; 23 Congressmen:
1813. XIII. William Piper, R-D., 162; Samuel Riddle, Fed., 114. Speakers,
Henry Clay and Langdon Cheves, Dem., S. C.
1815. XIV. William Piper, R-D., 100; Dr. John Anderson, Fed., 101. Speaker,
Henry Clay.
1817. XV. Alexander Ogle, D., 339; John Fletcher, Fed., 11. Speaker, Henry
Clay.
1819. XVI. Robert Philson, D., 157; John A. Burd, 161. Speakers. Henry Clay
and John W. Taylor, Dem., N.Y.
1821. XVII. John Todd; D., 305; Robert Philson, D., 96. Speakers, Philip P.
Barbour, Dem., Va.
Act of 2 April, 1822, 7 Smith, 666. Thirteenth district, composed of
Bedford, Cambria and Somerset. 26 Congressmen
1823. XVIII. John Todd, D., 96; no opposition. Speaker, Henry Clay.
Alexander Thomas served the unexpired term of Todd.
1825. XIX. Alexander Thomas, 358; no opposition. Chauncey Forward served
the unexpired term. Speaker, John W. Taylor, Dem., N. Y.
1827. XX. Chauncey Forward, D., 114; William Piper, Fed., 191. Speaker,
Andrew Stevenson, Dem., Va.
1829. XXI. Chauncey Forward, D., 177; William Piper, Whig, 377. Same
Speaker.
1831. XXII. George Burd, W., 273; David Mann, D., 356. Same Speaker.
Act of 9 June, 1832, P. L. 560.--28 Congressmen. Eighteenth district,
Bedford, Cambria and Somerset:
1833. XXIII. George Burd, W., 617; David Mann, D., 267. Speakers. Andrew
Stevenson, D., and John Bell, W., Tenn.
1835. XXIV. Job Mann, D., 601; Charles Ogle, W., 113. Speaker, James K.
Polk, D., Tenn.
We also give the full vote in the district: October, 1834:
Mann. Ogle.
Bedford County 2,102 920
Cambria County 601 413
Somerset County 831 1,611
------ ------
3,534 2,944
129 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
1837. XXV. Charles Ogle, W., 565; Job Mann, D., 452. Polk, Speaker.
1839. XXVI. Charles Ogle, W., 756; Job Mann, D., 854. Speaker, R. M. T.
Hunter D., Va.
1841. XXVII. Charles Ogle, W., 697; Joseph Imhoff, D., 868. Speaker, John
White, Dem., Ky.
1841. XXVII. Henry Black, W., 517; William Philson, D. 587. White, Speaker.
1841. XXVII. James M. Russell, W., 349; William Philson, D., 505. White,
Speaker.
Act of 25 March, 1843, P. L., 115.--24 Congressmen in the State. Nineteenth
district,--Bedford, Cambria and Westmoreland:
1843. XXVIII. Henry D. Foster, D., 1095; no opposition. Speaker, John W.
Jones, Dem., Va.
1845. XXIX. Henry D. Foster, D., 1144; Jacob D. Mathiot, AV., 922. Speaker,
John W. Davis, Dem., Indiana.
1847. XXX. Job Mann, D., 876; Joseph H. Kuhn, W., 549. Speaker, Robert. C.
Winthrop, Whig, Mass.
1849. XXXI. Job Mann, D., 1440; Peter Levergood, W., 1118. Speaker, Howell
Cobb, Dem., Ga.
1851. XXXII. Joseph H. Kuhn, W., 891; Joseph McDonald, D., 792: John
Snodgrass, D., 727. Speaker, S. Linn Boyd, Dem., Ky.
Act of 1 May, 1.852, P. L., 492-.-25 Congressmen. Eighteenth District,
Blair, Cambria, Huntingdon and Somerset:
1853. XXXIII. John McCullough, D., 1108; Emanuel Shaffer, W., 1910.
Speaker: Boyd.
1855. XXXIV. John R. Edie, W., 1645; Jacob Cresswell, D., 1560. Speaker,
Nathaniel P. Banks, W., Mass.
1857. XXXV. John R. Edie, Rep., 1474; Cyrus L. Pershing, D., 2823. Speaker,
James L. Orr, Dem., S. C.
1859. XXXVI. Samuel S. Blair, Rep., 1700; Cyrus L. Pershing, D., 2273.
Speaker, William Pennington, Rep., N. J.
1861. XXXVII. Samuel S. Blair, R., 2263; Archibald McAllister, D., 2452.
Speaker, Galusha A. Grow, Rep., Penna.
Act of 10 April, 1862, P. L., 405.--24 Congressmen. Seventeenth. District,-
-Blair, Cambria, Huntingdon, and Mifflin:
1863. XXXVIII. Archibald McAllister, D., 2855; Samuel S. Blair, R., 1418.
Speaker, Schuyler Colfax, Rep., Indiana.
1865. XXXIX. A. A. Barker, R., 1888; R. L. Johnston, D., 2688. Same
Speaker.
1867. XL. D. J. Morrell, R., 2791; R. L. Johnston, D., 3146. Same Speaker.
1869. XLI. D. J. Morrell, R., 2917; John P. Linton, D., 3512. Speaker,
James G. Blaine, Rep., Maine.
1871. XLII. R. Milton Speer, D., 2843; D. J. Morrell, R., 2943. Same
Speaker.
Vol. I-9
130 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Act of 28 April, 1873, P. L., 79.--27 Congressmen. Seventeenth District,--
Bedford, Blair, Cambria and Somerset:
1873. XLIII. R. Milton Speer, D., 3523; A. A. Barker, R., 2768. Same
Speaker.
1875. XLIV. John Reilly, D., 3733; Samuel S. Blair, R., 192'8. Speaker,
Michael C. Kerr, Dem., Ind.--Samuel J. Randall, Dem., unexpired term, Pa.
1877. XLV. J. M. Campbell, R., 2973; John Reilly, D., 4335. Randall,
Speaker.
1879. XLVI. Alexander H. Coffroth, D., 3246; J. M. Campbell, R., 2415,
Speaker: Randall.
1881. XLVII. J. M. Campbell, R., 4090; A. H. Coffroth, D:, 4455. Speaker.
John W. Keifer, Rep., Ohio.
1883. XLVIII. J. M. Campbell, R., 3738; A. H. Coffroth, D., 4265. Speaker,
John G. Carlisle, Dem., Ky.
1885. XLIX. J. M. Campbell, R., 4429; Americus Enfield, D., 4956. Speaker,
John G. Carlisle, Dem., Ky.
1887. L. Edward Scull, R., 3848; Humphrey D. Tate, D., 4778. Speaker, John
G. Carlisle.
1889. LI. Edward Scull, R., 5475; Thomas H. Greevy, D., 6017. Speaker,
Thomas B. Reed, Me., Rep.
1891. LII. Edward Scull, R., 4191; Thomas H. Greevy, D., 5590. Speaker,
Charles F. Crisp, Dem., Ga.
1893. LIII. Josiah D. Hicks, R., 6050; Lucian D. Woodruff, D., 6282.
Speaker, Charles F. Crisp, Dem., Ga.
1895. LIV. Josiah D. Hicks, R., 6977; Thomas J. Burke, D., 5076. Speaker,
Thomas B. Reed, Me., Rep.
1897. LV. Josiah D. Hicks, R., 5641; R. C. McNamarra, D., 6717; Joseph E.
Thropp, Ind., 1822. Speaker, Thomas B. Reed, Me., Rep.
1899. LVI. Joseph E. Thropp, R., 5914; James M. Walters, D., 7069. Speaker,
David B. Henderson, Iowa, Rep.
1901. LVII. Alvin Evans, R., 10,209; James M. Walters, D., 7,291. Speaker,
David B. Henderson, Iowa, Rep.
Act of 11 July, 1901, P. L., 653, changed the district to Cambria, Bedford
and Blair, and designated it the Nineteenth district:
1903. LVIII. Alvin Evans, R., 9314; Robert E. Cresswell, D., 8187. Speaker,
Joseph G. Cannon, Ills., Rep.
1905. LIX. John Al. Reynolds, R., 10,312; Joseph E. Thropp, D., 8681.
Speaker, Joseph G. Cannon, Ills., Rep.
1907. LX. John M. Reynolds, R., 8152; Joseph E. Thropp, D., 4979; Warren
Worth Bailey, Bryan party, 2019; John W. Blake, Ind., 350. Speaker, Joseph G.
Cannon, Ills., Rep.
STATE SENATORS FROM THE CAMBRIA DISTRICT.
At the time Cambria county was organized, the senatorial district was
composed of Bedford, Cambria and Somerset counties, under the apportionment of
March 21, 1808, 4 Smith, 496.
131 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
The senate consisted of 31 members on a ratio of 4,500. One member from each
district. The name first given is the person who was elected and served for the
district, disregarding the vote in Cambria.
1809. Jacob Blocker; Alexander Ogle, D.,117; Josiah Espy, 91.
1813. John Todd, 259; Jacob Saylor, 43.
Act of March 8, 1815, 6 Smith, 268. Under this act the district was the
same, and known as the XIVth district, with a ratio of 5,250; 31 members in
senate
1817. William Piper. 174; John A. Burd, 182.
1821. David Mann, 177; William Reynolds, 96.
Act of March 25, 1822, 7 Smith, 515. The district was composed of Venango,
Warren, Armstrong, Indiana, Jefferson and Cambria, and known. as the XXIVth
district. The senate consisted of 33 members
1825. Eben Smith Kelley; Hugh Brady, 459; Alexander McCalmont, 152. Kelley
died. October 13, 1829, Joseph M. Fox succeeded; his term expired 1830.
Act of April 20, 1829, 10 Smith, 359. The district consisted of Huntingdon,
Mifflin, Juniata and Cambria counties, and was known as the XVIIth district. The
ratio was 7,700, with 33 senators:
1829. Thomas Jackson, term expired 1832; Joseph M. Fox, 349; William
Houston, 148; David Lawson, 157.
1833. George McCulloch, 591; John Williamson, 348.
Act of June 16, 1836, P. L., 794. This district was composed of Indiana,
Armstrong, Cambria, and Clearfield counties, and designated as the XXIIId
district. The ratio was 9,256, with 33 senators:
1837. Meek Kelly, term expired 1838; Alexander Irvin, term expired 1839.
1839. Irvin resigned; Anson V. Parsons elected, term expired 1839.
1839. Findley Patterson, D., 770; term expired 1841; William Todd, W., 768;
David Leech, 514.
1841. William Bigler, D., 901; Samuel Hutchinson, W., 723.
Act of April 14, 1843, P. L., 251. Under this act the district consisted of
Cambria, Clearfield, Armstrong, and Indiana. It was designated as the XXth
district; the ratio was 11,746; 33 senators:
1844. William Bigler, D., 1130; Robert Craig, W., 937.
1847. William F. Johnston, W., 940; Thomas C. McDowell D., 1125. Senator
Johnston was elected speaker, and succeeded Governor Shunk on the death of the
latter.
1849. Augustus Drum, D., 1123; Robert L. Johnston, W., 971.
Act of May 1, 1850, P. L., 777. The district was composed
132 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
of Blair, Cambria and Huntingdon counties. It was designated as the XVth
district, with a ratio of 14,743. Senators, 33:
1850. Robert A. McMurtrie, W., 929; Thomas C. McDowell, D., 1436.
1853. John Cresswell, Jr., D., 1367; A. M. White, W., 767; Martin Bell;
630.
1856. John Cresswell, Jr., D., 2768; Alexander C. McMulten, W., 1544.
Act of May 20, 1807, P. L., 619. The district was changed to the XXth
district, containing Cambria, Clearfield and Blair counties. Ratio, 17,011, with
33 senators.
1859. Louis W. Hall, R., 1391; Augustin Durbin, D., 2070.
1862. William A. Wallace, D., 2680; Louis W. Hall, R., 1601.
Act of May 5, 1864, P. L., 258. Under this act it was the XXIId district,
consisting of Cambria, Indiana and Jefferson counties. Senators, 33.
1864. Thomas St. Clair, R.
1865. Harry White, R., 1973; Kennedy L. Blood, D., 2710.
1868. Harry White, R., 2826 ; William K. Piper, D., 726.
Act of May 6, 1871, P. L., 252, changed it to the XVIIIth Senatorial
district, composed of Clinton, Cambria, Clearfield and Elk counties; 33 members:
1871. William A. Wallace, D., 3051; Jesse Merrill, R., 2439.
The apportionment of May 19, 1874, P. L. 197, changed it to the XXXVth
district of Blair and Cambria counties. 50 members:
1875. John A. Lemon, R., 2548; Samuel Henshey, D., 3291.
1876. John A. Lemon, R., 3098; W. Fisk Conrad, D., 4119.
1880. Harry A. Boggs, R., 4161; Herman Baumer, D., 4399.
1884. Harry A. Boggs, R., 4365; C. Blythe Jones, D., 4958.
1888. John A. Lemon, R., 5583; A. V. Dively, D., 5906.
1896. J. C. Stineman, R., 8424; Francis P. Martin, D., 6939.
1900. J. C. Stineman, R., 9806; Harry E. Stahl, D., 7330.
1904. J. C. Stineman, R., 10,191; Thomas H. Greevy, D., 8460.
The Act of February 17, 1906, P. L. 31, continued the XXXVth district, but
made Cambria a separate senatorial district. 50 senators.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Members from the county of Cambria, and from the district of which it was a
part since 1808. The first two named persons were elected in the district and
served, excepting from 1843 to 1849, inclusive, and from 1857 to 1873,
inclusive, during which periods there was but one member.
133 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Act of March 21, 1808, 4 Smith, 496. The district consisted of Cambria and
Somerset counties. The ratio was 1500, with 95 members in the House
1808. Alexander Ogle, D., 162; James Hanna, 198; John Wells, 142; Charles
Boyle, 72.
1809. James Hanna, 31; Daniel Stoy, 79; Peter Kimmell, 175; Lewis Mitchell,
127.
1810. James Hanna, F.; Daniel Stoy, F.; Alexander Ogle, D., 178; James
Meloy, D., 195.
1811. James Hanna, F.; Alexander Ogle, D., 180; James Meloy, 182; John
Wells, 61; Daniel Stoy, F., 7.
1812. James Hanna, F., 125; Alexander Ogle, D.; James Meloy, D., 186.
1813. Daniel Stoy, F.; James Mitchell, 193; Isaac Husband, 172.
1814. Joseph Reed, D., 129; Thomas King, 29; Isaac Proctor, 140.
Act of March 8, 1815, 6 Smith, 269. The district was Cambria and Somerset
counties. The House consisted of 97 members instead of 95. Ratio, 1750:
1815. Henry Black, F., 31; Thomas King, 26; Joseph Reed, 151; Daniel Stoy,
F., 52.
1816. Henry Black, F., 158; James Hanna, F., 178; Jacob Ankeny, D., 147.
1817. Henry Black, F., 58; James Hanna, F., 292; John Wells, 182.
1818. Philip Noon, D., 301; John Hindman, F., 132.
1819. John Hindman, F., 201; Alexander Ogle, D., 97 ; Philip Noon, D., 378;
Peter Levergood, F., 203.
1820. Chauncey Forward, D., 43; John Mosteller, 187; Philip Noon, D., 359:
John Harman, 59; William Fulford, 48.
1821. Chauncey; Forward, D., 171; Alexander Ogle, Jr., D., 161.
Act of March 25, 1822, 7 Smith, 515. The district continued as Cambria and
Somerset counties. The ratio was 2100 with 100 members in the House:
1822. Chauncey Forward, D., 201; John Kurtz, F., 348; Benjamin R.
McConnell, 411.
1823. Peter Levergood, F., 488; Alexander Ogle, D., 182; John Kurtz, F.,
340.
1824. William Philson, D., 133; John Gephart, 186; Peter Levergood, F.,
340; Alexander Ogle, D., 96.
1825. William Philson, D., 287; John Gephart, Jr., 301; Moses Canan, F.,
598.
1826. John Matthews, F., 402; John Gephart, Jr., 322.
1827. John Matthews, F., 532; George Pile, F., 342; Irwin Howell. 201.
1828. George Pile, F., 230; John Gephart, Jr., D., 102; John Rush, D., 398;
Joshua F. Cox, D., 235.
134 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Act of April 20, 1829. 10 Smith, 359. The same:
1829. John Matthews, F., 637; Samuel Statler, D., 383; Joshua F. Cox, D.,
110.
1830. Peter Levergood, Whig, 363; John Gephart, D., 82; Samuel Statler, D.,
365; Michael Dan Magehan, Whig, 251.
1831. John Gephart., D., 317; Daniel Weyand, D., 364; John Matthews, Whig,
537; Peter Levergood, Whig, 315.
1832. Norman M. Bruce, D., 257; Bernard Conley, Jr., D., 255; John
Matthews, W., 682; Daniel Weyand, D., 543.
1833. Bernard Conley, Jr., D., 230; Peter Will, D., 216; Henry Fox. W.,
448; William Philson, D., 444.
1834. Joseph Imhoff, D., 556; Joshua F. Cox, D., 349; Moses Canan, W.,
538; David Lavan, D., 446.
1835. Joshua F. Cox, D., 707; John Gephart, D., 633; Robert P. Linton, D.,
699; David Lavan, D., 574.
Act of June 16, 1836, P. L. 794. The district still continued as Cambria
and Somerset counties, with two members there-from. The ratio was 3057; 100
members:
1836. George Mowery, W., 561; Joseph Chamberlain, W., 585; William A.
Smith, D., 435; Jacob G. Miller, D., 444.
1837. Joseph Chamberlain, W., 532; Jonas Keim, W., 510; John Kean, D., 602;
Joseph Cummins, W., 582.
1838. Jonas Keim, W., 837; Joshua F. Cox, D., 761; Solomon Baer, D., 834;
John Williams, 781.
1839: Jonas Keim, W., 470; Frederick Neff, D., 713; William Todd, 768;
Michael Dan Magehan, W., 569.
1840. John Hanna, W., 374; Joshua F. Cox, D., 393; Michael Dan Magehan, W.,
1117; Solomon Baer, D., 894.
1841. John Rover, W., 917; John Hanna, W., 874.
1842. John Linton, W., 922; Tobias Musser, Ind., 491; Jonathan Knepper,
Ind., 474; John Will, 388.
Act of April 14, 1843, P. L. 251. Under this act Cambria county was made a
separate district, with one member. The ratio was 3876, with 100 members in the
House.
1843. John Linton, W., 817; David Somerville, D., 691; John Francis, Ind.,
113.
1844. Michael Dan Magehan, W., 872; Joseph McDonald, D., 804; George
Murray, Ind., 404.
1845. Michael Dan Magehan, W., 1016; George Murray, D., 828.
1846. Michael Hasson, D., 600; Michael Dan Magehan, W., 559; John Bell,
Ind., 306.
1847. John Kean, D., 1116; George W. Kern, W., 975.
1848. John Fenlon, W., 1307; John Kean, D., 1202.
1849. William A. Smith, D., 1282; John Fenlon, W., 1202.
Act of May 15, 1850, P. L. 777. This act changed the district to Bedford
and Cambria counties, with two members of the House. The ratio was 4865 with 100
members.
Fulton county was organized April 19, 1850, and was at-
135 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
tached to Bedford and Cambria district. It formerly formed a part of Bedford
county.
1850. John Cessna, D., 1404; elected speaker; John Linton, W., 1387;
William A. Smith, D., 931; Samuel J. Castner, W., 944.
1851. John Kean, D., 1753; William P. Schell, D., 1706; John Linton, W.,
1198; Aaron Barnhart, W., 1121.
1852. Thomas Collins, D., 1767; William P. Schell, D., 1791; Daniel
Litzinger, W., 1280; J. E. Satterfield, W., 1137.
1853. Thomas Collins, D., 1526; W. T. Dougherty, D., 1581; Abraham Kopelin,
W., 1250; J. H. Wilkinson, W., 1180.
1854. George S. King, W., 1760; William T. Dougherty, D., 2506; William A.
Smith, D., 1511; Peter Schell, W., 436.
1855. George Nelson Smith, D., 2076; Joseph Bernard, D., 2084; R. S.
Alexander, W., 1422; William W. Kirk, W., 1425.
1856. George Nelson Smith, D., 2778; William C. Reamer, D., 2778; William
W. Sellers, Rep., 1548; John Pringle, Rep., 1549.
Act of 20 May, 1857, P. L. 622, made Cambria a separate district with one
member. There were 100 members, with a ratio of 5796.
1857. George Nelson Smith, D., 2035; William Palmer, R., 1549.
1858. Thomas H. Porter, D., 2091; Richard J. Proudfoot, R., 1779.
1859. Richard J. Proudfoot, R., 1849; Daniel Litzinger, D., 1590.
1860. A. C. Mullen, R., 1542; George Nelson Smith, D., 1172; James Potts,
D., 1107; Michael Dan Magehan, D., 900.
1861. Cyrus L. Pershing, D., 2369; Abraham Kopelin, R., 1235.
1862. Cyrus L. Pershing, D., 2750; James Cooper, R., 1537.
1863. Cyrus L. Pershing, D., 3024; James Carroll, R., 2106.
Act of 5 May, 1864, P. L. 260, made no change in Cambria.
1864. Cyrus L. Pershing, D., 2688; Evan Roberts, R., 1863.
1865. Cyrus L. Pershing, D., 2739; James Conrad, R., 1934.
1866. John P. Linton, D., 3375; John J. Glass, R., 2565.
1867. John P. Linton, D., 3031; Samuel Singleton, R., 1971.
1868. John Porter, D., 3504; James Morley, R, 2854.
1869. John Porter, D., 3172; F.M. Flanagan, R., 2434.
1870. W. Horace Rose, D., 2909; Henry D. Woodruff, Ind. D., 2707. Removal
issue.
Act. of 6 May, 1871, P. L. 252, did not change the situation.
1871. Samuel Henry, R., 2912; W. Horace Rose, D., 2545.
1872. Samuel Henry, R., 3426; John Hannan, D., 2952.
1873. Samuel Henry, R., 3171; Henry Scanlon, D., 2825.
136 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
The apportionment of 19 May, 1874, P. L. 197, continued the district as
separate, and gave Cambria two members. 201 members in the house.
1874. John Hannan, D., 3293; John Buck, D., 3097; Thomas H. Lapsley, R.,
2491; John C. Gates, R., 2393.
1876. James J. Thomas, D., 4243; John Downey, 3985; John H. Brown, R.,
3240; W. H. Sloan, R., 3154.
1878. L. D. Woodruff, D., 3228; John Fenlon, D., 3136; Alexander Kennedy,
R., 2197; D. M. Kratzer, R., 1801.
1880. L. D. Woodruff, D., 4551; John Fenlon, D., 4307; S. A. Criste, 4130;
John W. Seigh, G.-R., 4078.
1882. Nathaniel Horne, D., 4384; Joseph McDonald, D., 4298; Samuel P.
Morrell, R., 3602; W. W. McAteer, R., 3346.
1884. Nathaniel Horne, D., 5009; John C. Gates, R., 4868; William H.
Sechler, D., 4791; James Cooper, R., 4169.
1886. John S. Rhey, D., 4909; Daniel McLaughlin, D., 4365; Emanuel James,
R., 4066; Joseph Masters, R., 3833.
1888. John S. Rhey, D., 5848; John M. Rose, R., 5762; Daniel McLaughlin,
D., 5645; David K. Wilhelm, R., 5611.
1890. Edward T. McNeelis, D., 5447; Michael Fitzharris, D., 5224; Samuel
D. Patterson, R., 4506.
1892. J. C. Stineman, R., 6224; James J. Thomas, D., 6169; Slater W. Allen,
D., 6112; John C. Gates, R., 5994.
1894. Samuel D. Patterson, R., 6870; J. C. Stineman, R., 6836; John B.
Denny, D., 5145; John Ricketts, D., 4958.
1896. S. D. Patterson, R., 8549; William P. Reese, R., 8485; Thomas J.
Itell, D., 6796; C. F. Frazer, D., 6662.
1898. Thomas T. Sheridan, D., 6568; W. C. Lingle, D., 6379; Harry L.
Rodgers, R., 6144; J. Swan Taylor, R., 6067.
1900. Thomas Davis, R., 9830; James M. Shumaker, R., 9770; Thomas T.
Sheridan, D., 7719; W. C. Lingle, D., 7517.
1902. Thomas Davis, R., 9098; E. E. Hohmann, R., 8798; Harry Somerville,
D., 8403; Thomas J. Itell, D., 8321.
1904. Edmund James, R. 10,661; E. E. Hohmann, R., 10,543; John P. Bracken,
D., 7878; W. C. Hubbard, D., 7481.
The apportionment of 15th February, 1906, P. L. 24, gave Cambria three
members--one from the city of Johnstown, and two from the other parts of the
count. There are 207 members in the house.
1906. First District, City of Johnstown: F. P. Barnhart, Rep., 2757; T. J.
Itell, Dem., 1865; W. C. Wikon, Pro., 272 ; Charles H. Stroup, Lincoln, 233.
Second District, two from the county: Alvine Sherbine, Rep., 4873; Edmund
James, Rep., 4730 ; A. C. Strittmatter, Dem., 3905; W. C. Hubbard, Dem., 3340;
David Irvine, W. C.Lin., 2106; Edward Fisher, W. C. Lin., 1657.
137 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
SHERIFFS OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
It will be observed that the act creating Cambria county directed that two
persons be elected to the office of sheriff. This was an old Colonial practice
and applied to every county, but only one was commissioned. The two having the
highest votes submitted their names to the governor, who had the discretion to
select one of the two. This custom prevailed until the constitution of 1838,
which provided that one person should be elected for sheriff, and one for
coroner.
The first named was commissioned or elected.
1807. James Meloy.
1810. Philip Noon, R. D., 109; William R. Williams, Fed., 107.
1813. James Meloy, R. D., 156; Michael Skelly, Fed., 101.
1816. John Murray, R-D., 198 ; John Keepers, Fed., 177.
1819. Owen McDonald, R-D., 188 ; Samuel McAnulty, Fed., 157.
1822. John Murray, R-D., 251; Henry J. McGuire, Fed., 222.
1825. John McGough, R-D., 375; John Mathews, 292.
1828. Fleetwood Benson, D., 306; William Pryer, 202.
1831. Robert P. Linton, D., 452; John Anderson, Whig, 134.
1834. William Rainey, D., 422. There were nine candidates--Daniel Huber,
W., 410; Francis Christy, 267; William Scott, 140; William Todd, 68; Paul
Benshoff, 23; Thomas Priestly, 10; Richard Lewis, 8; Charles Litzinger, 8; 158
returned for a scattering vote.
1837. Robert P. Linton, D., 638. There were sixteen candidates, in addition
to the scattered vote: Daniel Huber, W., 487; Paul Benshoff, 57; Hiram Craver,
56; William Benson, 18; Charles Litzinger, 18; William Todd, 18; Christian
Horner, 15; John Lucket, 14; Thomas D. McGough, 12; Jacob Luther, 10; Fleetwood
Benson, 10; Charles Dillon, 8; Thomas Priestly, 7; John Williams and John Fels,
5 each.
1840. William Todd, D., 834; David Davis, W., 727.
1843. James Murray, D., 620; David Davis, W., 582; Augustine Durbin, Ind.,
451.
1846. Jesse Patterson, D., 1055; Henry Glass, W., 426.
1849. John Brawley, D., 1444; Robert B. Gogeby, W., 1065.
1852. Augustine Durbin, D., 2048; Alexander McVicker, W., 1062.
1855. John Roberts, D., 2107; Joseph Campbell, W., 1399.
1858. Robert P. Linton, 2176; James Myers, 1754.
1861. John Buck. D., 2242; James D. Hamilton, R., 1339.
1864. James Myers, D., 2670; George Engelbach, R., 1593.
138 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
1867. John A. Blair, D., 3031; Samuel Singleton, R., 1971.
1870. William B. Bonacker, D., 3545; Francis Craver, R, 2112.
1873. Herman Baumer, D., 2978: John T. Harris, R., 2765.
1876. John Ryan, D., 3692; Thomas Davis, R., 3481.
1879. Thomas Griffith, R., 3072; Michael J. Nagle, D., 2588.
1882. Demetrius A. Luther, D., 3975; D. H. Kinkead, R., 3923.
1885. Joseph A. Gray, D., 3740; J. C. Stineman, R., 3469.
1888. J. C. Stineman, R., 6111; John J. Kinney, D., 5421.
1891. J. M. Shumaker, R., 6235; Joseph A. Gray, D., 5664.
1894. D. W. Coulter, R., 6909; Robert H. Nixon, D., 5236.
1897. Geo. M. Wertz, R., 6831; Herman Baumer, D., 6594.
1900. Elmer E. Davis, R., 9638; John H. Waters, D., 7973.
1903. Samuel Lenhart, D., 8898; John L. Sechler, R., 8283.
1906.Webster Griffith, R., 8189; W. H. Strauss, D., 7159.
THE PROTHONOTARY.
When the county was organized, the prothonotary of the courts was appointed
by the governor, but under the constitution of 1838 the office became elective.
In addition to his duties as they exist at present, he was also register of
wills, recorder of deeds and clerk of the orphans' court, which so continued
until 1854.
1808. Edward V. James.
1809. James C. McGuire.
1821. Cornelius McDonald.
1823. Philip Noon.
1833. Adam Bausman.
1836. David T. Storm, W., removed by Gov. Porter.
1839. William A. Smith, D., appointed by Gov. Porter.
1839. William A. Smith, D., 753; Edward Shoemaker, 528.
1842. William A. Smith, D., 734; George J. Rodgers, W., 647.
1845. Joseph McDonald, D., 863; John Linton, W., 732; George Burgoon, 190;
Michael Hay, 96.
1848. William Kittell, D., 1552 ; Edwin A. Vickroy, W., 998.
1851. Robert L. Johnston, W., 1569; William Kittell, D., 1381.
1854. Milton Roberts, W., 1818; Geo. C. K. Zahm, D., 1411.
1856. Joseph McDonald, D., 2756; Howard J. Roberts, R., 1556.
1859. Joseph McDonald, D., 1906; Howard J. Roberts, R., 1683.
139 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
1862. Joseph McDonald, D., 2738; William K. Carr, R., 1531.
1865. Geo. C. K. Zahm, D., 2764; Edward F. Lytle, R., 1909.
1868. Josiah K. Hite, D., 3650; J. M. Christy, R., 2753.
1871. Josiah K. Hite, D., 3186; Charles C. Teeter, 2175.
1874. Bernard McColgan, D., 3005; D. H. Kinkead, R., 2629.
1877. Charles F. O'Donnell, D., 2475; William A. McDermitt, R., 1051; Emery
West, G., 1252; Nathaniel Horne, Ind., 583.
1880. John C. Gates, R., 4356; Charles A. Langbein, D., 4242.
1883. Harry A. Shoemaker, D., 4064; John C. Gates, R., 3751.
1886. Harry A. Shoemaker, D., 5031; Clark H. Laughry, R., 3838.
1889. James C. Darby, D., 4546; Charles E. Troxell, R., 4187.
1892. James C. Darby, D., 6255; Abraham A. Stutzman, R., 6012.
1895. Samuel W. Davis, R., 5915; William S. O'Brien, D., 4969.
1898. Samuel W. Davis, R., 6660; H. A. Shoemaker, D., 6491.
1901. Charles E. Troxell, R., 9215; R. L. Boner, D., 8409.
1904. Charles E. Troxell, R., 11005; John T. Long, D., 7667; H. O. Winslow,
Pro., 593.
RECORDER OF DEEDS, REGISTER OF WILLS, AND CLERK OF ORPHANS'
COURT.
1854. William C. Barbour, W., 1692; James J. Will, D., 1478.
1857. Michael Hasson, D., 1802; George C. K. Zahm, D-R., 1715.
1860. Edward S. Lytle, R., 1459; James Griffin, D., 1429; Albert M. Gregg,
BD., 1117; Robert H. Canan, Ind., 692.
1863. James Griffin, D., 3014; Robert Litzinger. R., 2138.
1866. James Griffin, D., 3288; William A. McDermitt, R., 2640.
1869. George W. Oatman, D., 3088; Samuel W. Davis, R., 2526.
1872. James M. Singer, D., 3495; S. A. Kephart, R., 2905.
1875. James M. Singer, D., 3180; B. P. Anderson, R., 2649.
1878. John G. Lake, D., 2963; Israel W. Watterman, R., 2240; W. W. Saupp,
G., 1364; William A. Noel, Ind., 45.
1880. John H. Brown, R., appointed vice John G. Lake, deceased.
1880. John H. Brown, R., 4652; Michael Sweeney, D., 3959.
1883. John H. Brown, R.., 3933; Hugh McMonigal, D., 3848.
1886. Celestine J. Blair, D., 4864; John H. Brown, R., 4001.
140 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY
1889. Celestine J. Blair, D., 4538; D. H. Kinkead, R., 4186.
1892. Daniel McGough, D., 6237; Samuel W. Davis, R., 6013.
1895. F. B. Jones, R., 5870; Daniel A. McGough, D., 4997.
1898. F. B. Jones, R., 6683; Dr. George E. Conrad, D., 6619.
1901. William H. Strauss, D., 9418; Charles C. Linton, R., 8334.
1904. Arthur Griffith, R., 10179; Win. H. Strauss, D., 8899; Alex.
McDowell, Pro., 466.
ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
Where a judicial district consisted of more than one county, each of them
was entitled to have two associate judges to sit with the president judge, who
until 1851 were appointed by the governor. For Cambria county they were:
1807. Abraham Hildebrand and George Roberts.
1826. George Roberts and John Murray.
1838. John Murray and Richard Lewis.
1843. John Murray and Philip Noon. Judge Lewis was appointed by Governor
Ritner, and Governor Porter desired to appoint Judge Noon, but Lewis refused to
resign, when he was removed.
1851. Harrison Kinkead, D., 1610; Evan Roberts, W., 1451; George W. Easly,
D., 1417; Michael Levy, W., 1294. Judge Roberts resigned September 3, 1855, and
Governor Pollock appointed Moses Canan to fill the unexpired term.
1855. Harrison Kinkead and Moses Canan.
1856. George W. Easly, D., 2742; Richard Jones; Jr., D., 2710; Stephen
Lloyd, Rep., 1537; Moses Canan, Rep., 1590.
1861. George W. Early, D., 2304; Henry C. Devine, D., 2239; Isaac Evans,
Rep., 1279; James Purse, Rep., 1272.
1866. George W. Early, D., 3307; James Murray, D., 3281; John Williams, R.,
2605; Charles B. Ellis, R., 2485.
1871. Rees J. Lloyd, D., 3057; John Flanagan, D., 3051; Daniel J. Jones,
R., 2367; David Hamilton, R., 2287.
1876. John Fl Flanagan, D., 4283; John D. Thomas, D., 4135; Richard Jones,
R., 3020; Irvin Rutledge, R., 2950.
1881. Joseph Masters, R., 3840; John Flanagan, D., 3433 Richard Elder, R.,
3165; James Dryers, D., 3120.
The December court, 1886, was the last one to sit where associate judges
sat.
J. Frank Condon was appointed court reporter on June 8, 1.880, by Judge
Dean, and died at Altoona, April 25, 1901. Mr. Condon was succeeded by F. C.
Sharbaugh, of Ebensburg.
141 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
Prior to the act of 1850, the prosecuting officer for the county was the
attorney general for the state, who appointed a deputy attorney general in each
county, or wherever he deemed it necessary; after that date the office of
district attorney was made elective. The following are the attorney generals and
their deputies:
1808. Joseph M. McKean.
1809-1810. Walter Franklin. William R. Smith.
1811. Richard Rush.
1812 to 1816. Jared Ingersoll. William R. Smith.
1817 and 1818. Amos Ellmaker. Moses Canan.
1819 and 1820. Thomas Sergeant. Henry Shippen.
1821, '22 and '23. Thomas Elder. William R. Smith.
1823-1826. Frederick Smith. Carpenter.
1828-29. Amos Ellmaker.
1829. Philip S. Markley.
1830-32. Samuel Douglass. Carpenter.
1833. Ellis Lewis. Michael Dan Magehan.
1834-35. George M. Dallas. L. G. Pearce and
Carpenter.
1836-37. James Todd. Michael Dan Magehan.
1838. William B. Reed. Moses Canan.
1839-44. Ovid F. Johnson. Thomas C. McDowell.
1845. John K. Kane. Michael Hasson.
1846. John M. Reed. Michael Hasson.
1847-'48. Benjamin Champneys. Michael Hasson.
1849-1850. Cornelius Darrah. Edward Hutchinson and
T. H. Hever.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
This office became elective in 1850.
1850. Edward Hutchinson, Jr., W., 1175; Michael Hasson, D., 1081.
1853. T. L. Heyer, D., 1675; Geo. M. Reade, W., 1046.
1856. T. L. Heyer, D., 2755; Charles W. Wingard, R., 1500.
1859. Philip S. Noon, D., 1838; Joseph H. Campbell, R., 1660.
1862. Philip S. Noon, D., 2773; John H. Fisher, R., 1455.
1865. John F. Barnes, D., 2715; Samuel Singleton, R., 1946.
1868. Francis P. Tierney, D., 3293; Joseph McDonald, 3037.
1871. William H. Sechler, D., 3107; Thomas W. Dick, R., 2253.
1874. W. Horace Rose, D., 3480; E. G. Kerr, R., 2082.
1877. W. Horace Rose, D., 3192; James C. Easly, D., 1577.
1880. William H. Sechler, D., 4460; no opposition.
142 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
1883. Harry G. Rose. D., 4281; no opposition.
1886. Harry G. Rose, 5070; T. F. Zimmerman, R., 3907.
1859. John Fenlon, appointed vice Harry G. Rose, deceased.
1889. Francis J. 0'Connor, D., 4619; Henry Wilson Storey, R., 4061.
1892. Robert S. Murphy, R., 6334; Francis J. O'Connor, D., 6032.
1895. Robert S. Murphy, R., 5924; James M. Walters, D., 5019.
1898. M. B. Stephens, R., 7039; Francis P. Martin, D., 6450.
1901. M. B. Stephens, R., 9580; Horace R. Rose, D., 8228.
1904. J. W. Leech, R., 10951; Edward T. McNeelis, D., 8376.