There were at least three Brown families living in Hollidaysburg during the 19th and early 20th century. I have written a blog post on Moses Brown’s and his family. This post is a brief overview of the John “Jack” Brown, David Brown, and C. Randolph Brown’s families of Hollidaysburg

Jack or John Brown, (1797 to 1878), came to the Hollidaysburg’s area in 1828. According to the death notice from the Altoona Mirror’s archives of January 4, 1878, pg. 4, his home was in Mifflin County, born near McVeytown. He was brought to this area by Major Vance and his family. Jack may have been an enslaved person.

There was a Mary Vance who was a member of First Hollidaysburg Presbyterian. She gave funds to the American Colonization Society (ACS) in 1881, 1883 and 1885.  (The ACS supported the founding of the Liberia to send American Black residents to that country as one solution to ending American slavery. There were several African Americans from Hollidaysburg and Johnstown who moved to Liberia in 1853 and some were members of First Presbyterian of Hollidaysburg.  I don’t know if she is related to Major Vance and his wife.

According to the 1850 Census, he was 53 years old. The 1850 census record notes that he was married to Mary Brown, age 39. The following children were listed: Roth (or Robert) age 20, William age 14, George, age 9, Henry age 6, Hall (or Hale) age 4, Melton (or Milton) age 2 and another Brown, age 13.  David’s birth year is 1852.

Robert, Andrew W., William A., and Henry L. Patterson Brown or Henry C. Patterson Brown fought in the Civil War. Robert fought with the 45^th Infantry.  Andrew W. fought with the 21^st or 22^nd Infantry. William fought with the 22^nd Infantry. and Henry fought with the 54^th Massachusetts. All 3 are buried in the Union Cemetery.

Henry was employed in the law office of Thaddeus Banks in Hollidaysburg and became acquainted with the law, legal processes, and procedures. He used his knowledge of the law to assist the local black community in dealing with legal issues. According to his death notice from the Altoona Tribune’s archives of February 13, 1895, pg. 4,Henry was at the charge at Fort Wagner, South Carolina, on July 18, 1863, but survived unscathed. He died in 1895 as the result of an injury that occurred in Williamsburg while working on that railroad line.

Altoona Tribune’s archives of February 13, 1895, pg. 4

Andrew died in the 1880s. Robert died in 1893.

Milton went into the ministry and moved to Steubenville OH.  George also moved to Ohio and stayed with Milton for a time.

Milton Brown preached at Hollidaysburg AME Zion Church after the funeral of Robert Brown. From the Altoona Tribune’s archives of Oct 31, 1893 pg. 4

William died in January 1916. The funeral was held in David’s home. William was buried in the Union Cemetery. From the Altoona Tribune’s archives of January 25, 1916, pg. 3.

George W. Brown died June 7, 1914, in Pittsburgh. He was buried in Allegheny County. This information came from the Altoona Tribune’s archives of June 12, 1914, pg. 7.

David Brown (1852 to 1920) married Idella Josephine Lockard Brown (born in 1852 or 1854 or 1858 to 1934). They were the parents of Charles Randolph Brown (1878 to 1967) , Bertha Elizabeth Brown Faithful (1884 to 1951), Louise I. Brown Ferguson (1887 to 1987), and Frank Goodfellow Brown (1891 to 1954). David was employed as a laborer. One of his job requirements was to kill rabid animals in found in Hollidaysburg.

Idella, was born in an area of Virginia which would later be located in West Virgina. She moved to Cleveland. After, David’s death, she moved back to Cleveland where she died in 1934.She was buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland. Idella was a domestic worker in Hollidaysburg. According to the Altoona Mirror’s archives of September 2, 1913, pg. 14, Idella’s aunt and 3 other Black people fleeing from slavery were found in Chimney Rock. They were brought to the courthouse jail for safekeeping and then freed by the local Black community and their White allies. David met Idella in Ohio.

The David Brown family lived on Garber Street. Census records state that he and his family were in the 1st Ward of Hollidaysburg.

From Ancestry.com

After the Civil War, David and his brother Henry became involved in local politics and state politics. David was a member of the Hollidaysburg’s African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ), where he was a class leader, a member of the literary society committee, was one of the caterers which provided food and snacks for the church’s camp meetings. The death notice of Hollidaysburg’s William Jackson from the Altoona Tribune’s archives of March 25, 1916, pg. 3, stated that William and his father was found in Chimney Rocks by David and his dog. William and his father had arrived in that area by way of the “Underground Railroad.” David brought his family to where the Jacksons were on Chimney Rocks, and they brought the Jacksons to Hollidaysburg and they were integrated into the life of Hollidaysburg’s black community. David was asked to speak at the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation in September 1913. At that program, David shared a story of an underground railroad incident that occurred in Hollidaysburg.  He died in March of 1920 in Scottdale, Westmoreland County PA. He moved to Scottdale and lived with his daughter, Louise Brown Ferguson and his son-in-law, Earle or Earl Ferguson. David was buried in Hollidaysburg’s Union Cemetery.

Bertha Elizabeth Brown Faithful was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY. Find a grave for Bertha Elizabeth Brown Faithful

Louise Ingold Brown Ferguson was buried in Hghland Park Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio. Find a grave for Louise I. Brown Ferguson

Frank Goodfellow Brown was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Sharpsburg, Allegheny County, PA. Find a grave for Frank Goodfellow Brown

Charles R. was called “Ran” (I heard this nickname from the Rev. Dr. Gwen Pattillo). C. Randolph lived from 1878 until 1967, where he died in Detroit, MI. Ran was hired in 1908 as one of the first 3 employees of the US Postal Service (USPS) in Hollidaysburg. He was involved in the creation of the Pennsylvania State NAACP and was elected as one of their State Presidents. Throughout most of his life, he was involved in the Hollidaysburg and Blair County NAACP branches.

Find a grave for Charles Randolph Brown

From the Altoona Mirror’s archives of December 29, 1955 pg. 13.

A brief history of the USPS in Hollidaysburg.

Postal carrier C.R. Brown finds lost wallet and returns it. From the Altoona Mirror’s archives of July 31 1915 pg. 12.

He married Florence Oneita Grady in 1899. From that union came Dr. Randolph Kelly Brown (1909-1975), Dr. Kenneth B Brown or Kenneth Grady Brown (1910-1984), and Sue or Sudell Idella Brown (1912 -1994)

Kelly, Kenneth and Sue were graduates of Hollidaysburg High School. Kelly and Kenneth were admitted to Howard University as undergraduates and graduates of its College of Medicine. Both were inducted into the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. (From the 1933 Bison yearbook)

All were musically inclined and shared their talents in school and at their home church of Bethel AME in Altoona and other local churches.

1927 High School graduate photo (Ancestry.com)

After his graduation from Howard University College of Medicine, Dr. Kelly Brown eventually taught at his Alma Mater’s College of Medicine.

Altoona Mirror Newspaper Archives October 22, 1951 pg. 3 word document

Altoona Mirror Newspaper Archives October 22, 1951 Page 3 Dr. Kelly Brown tackles unusual health issue.

Kenneth Brown HHS graduate of 1928 admitted to Howard University Feb. 1930 (From the Altoona Tribune’s archives of February 6, 1930 pg. 9)

Kenneth Brown 1928 High School graduate photo (Ancestry.com)

Sue Brown 1930 High School graduate photo (Ancestry.com). After her High School graduation, she attended Freeman Hospital in Washington where she learned and met the requirements to became a Registered Nurse. She graduated in June 1933. After graduation, she returned to Hollidaysburg and was employed by the State Health Board. She married Dr. John B. Green(e) in 1935. She and her husband moved to Detroit after she was accepted a position as a supervisory nurse for a Detroit hospital.

The  C. Randolph Brown family lived on 918 Wayne Street, 918 Union Street and 918 N. Wayne Street in Hollidaysburg.

The Altoona Mirror’s archives of Jan 3, 1967 pg. 17 informed the readers of the death of C. Randolph Brown, He died in Detroit where he was living with his daughter Sue. He was buried in the First Presbyterian Church of Hollidaysburg’s cemetery.

http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/portal/communities/documents/1776-1865/abolition-slavery.html#:~:text=Nevertheless%2C%20slavery%20never%20was%20prominent,a%20total%20of%20120%2C000%20residents.

The link listed above is information on the “An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery – March 1, 1780”, from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

From the Altoona Mirror’s archives of December 9, 1938 pg. 6.

The J. Rosamond Johnson Singers were officially formed in 1934. The idea of this quartet began as a chorus associated with the local community welfare organizations for Blair County African American residents. Their rehearsals were first held at the Altoona City Hall’s community hall. When Howard W. Lindman, the Altoona High School music director, offered to direct this quarter, the practices were held at the Altoona High School auditorium.

Rosamond Johnson composed the music and his brother, James Weldon Johnson wrote the words to what is called the “Black National Anthem” “Lift Every Voice and Sing”.

Rosamond performed jazz music in Altoona in the month of August 1911 and the month of October 1918 at the Orpheum Theatre. This theatre was located on 1124 – 1126 11th Avenue.

The Blair County’s J. Rosamond Johnson singers consisted of Dr. George Walker, Sr., Mrs. Agnes Walker, Mrs. Grace Bell and Mr. William J. Merritt.

Dr. George Walker, Sr. (1900 -1969) grew up in Hollidaysburg, was a Hollidaysburg High School graduate in 1918 and a 1923 graduate of Howard University with a dentistry degree. He moved back to Hollidaysburg where he set up a dentist office to take care of the Hollidaysburg residents. His wife, Mrs. Agnes (Hughey) Walker (1902 – 1992), grew up in Everett and was a 1921 graduate of Everett High School, Bedford County. She married George in 1926. Her father taught at Storer College in Harpers Ferry, WV. Storer is a HBCU (Historically Black College and University) institution.

Mrs. Grace (Russell) Bell (1888 -1966) lived in Indiana, married Calvin Bell in 1913 in Atlantic City, NJ and moved to Altoona. Calvin Bell was employed as an Altoona police officer.

Mr. William J. Merritt, Sr. (1890 -1952) was from Altoona. He was a barber and owned the shop.

Mrs. Christine (Washington) Richardson (1917 -1967) worked at the Penn Alto and was an organist and pianist for the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church.

The quartet performed in Blair and Bedford churches such as Trinity United Methodist Church in Roaring Spring (which was known as Trinity Methodist Episcopal), Grace Evangelical and Reformed Church in Altoona, Hollidaysburg Church of the Brethren, civic and fraternal organizations.

Their repertoire consisted of Black spirituals, Christmas carols and other appropriate songs reflecting Black Culture like “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, which is also known as the Black National Anthem.

From the Altoona Mirror Newspapers’ archives of November 27, 1937, pg. 2

https://naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/lift-every-voice-and-sing (Lift Every Voice and Sing recognized by the NAACP as National Black Anthem)

After the death of William Merritt in 1952, the quartet disbanded.

Mrs. Grace Bell provided the history of this musical group in her writings on the history of the Booker T. Washington Community Center. (From the Altoona Mirror’s archives of April 13, 1961, pg. 66.) The formation of this quartet was also mentioned in the Altoona Mirror’s archives of December 17, 1935, pg. 18.

In addition to the quarter, these members were involved with the NAACP of Hollidaysburg and Blair County, the Community Aid organization, Booker T. Washington Community Center, the Mary McLeod Bethune reading club, Masonic lodges and members of Altoona’s Bethel AME Church and Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church.

From the Altoona Mirror’s archives of December 17, 1935, pg. 18.

From the Altoona Mirror’s archives of December 14, 1940 pg. 10.

Here is a version of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONgOH_tq7-Q

Information about the history of the poem and music and how it came to be designated as the “Black National Anthem” can be viewed at this YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe4rwFDpyeQ

In Honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Holiday:

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., (1929 to 1968) spoke at the Rec Hall of PSU University Park campus on Thursday, January 21, 1965.

From the Altoona Mirror Newspaper archives of January 22, 1965 pg. 17

His wife, Coretta Scott King, (1927 to 2006) spoke in Altoona at the Jaffa Shrine on Saturday, June 9, 1984 on behalf of a fundraiser for the Altoona’s Martin Luther King, Jr Cultural Center. The Center was a non-profit organization sponsored by the Prince of Peace Church of God in Christ.

From the Altoona Mirror News archives of June 4, 1984 pg. 26.

From the Altoona Mirror News archives of June 11, 1984 pg. 11.

Yolanda King, (1955 to 2007) the oldest daughter of Dr. and Mrs. King, spoke at Juniata College on Tuesday, February 7, 1989, she returned to Juniata College and gave the commencement address on May 14, 2005 and was granted a honorary degree. She spoke at Penn State Altoona on Sunday, January 19, 1997 and Wednesday, January 22, 2003.

F

Former Penn State Altoona Professor Sharon Redhawk Love contributed to the book “Open My Eyes, Open My Soul”, which was edited by Yolanda King and Elodia Tate.

From the Altoona Mirror News archives of January 25, 1989 pg. 17.

From the Altoona Mirror News archives of January 3, 1997 pg. 7.

From the Altoona Mirror News archives of January 20, 1997 pg.1.

From the Altoona Mirror News archives of January 19, 2003 pg. 18

From the Altoona Mirror News archives of January 23, 2003 pg. 1

From the Altoona Mirror News archives of May 17, 2007 pg.1

https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/46514/union-african-methodist-episcopal-cemetery

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Union+Cemetery/@40.4396047,-78.4012923,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x62e2dd4972896064!8m2!3d40.4396047!4d-78.4012923 (map of Union Cemetery on North Montgomery Street, Hollidaysburg, PA)

In the late 1860s, the AMEZ (African Methodist Episcopal Zion) and the AME (African Methodist Episcopal) churches’ cemetery known as the African Zion Union or Union Cemetery was moved from North Juniata Street to North Montgomery Street in Hollidaysburg. Thanks to the Blair County Genealogical Society for finding and providing a copy of the deed of the cemetery. The land on North Montgomery was owned by “Colonel” William Jack. The trustees of the Union cemetery were William Nesbit, Moses Brown, and Daniel Williams, II. Daniel died in 1868 in Baltimore, MD. William died in 1895 and Moses died in 1916. William and Moses are buried in the Union Cemetery. The descendants of Daniel Williams, II and William Nesbit moved from Blair County. Moses Brown’s grandson, M. Irvin Brown, died on August 29, 1966, and was buried in Union cemetery.  After his death and the closing of the Hollidaysburg’s African Methodist Episcopal Church in the late 1980s, the upkeep of the cemetery was done by a few of Hollidaysburg’s black military veterans and a next-door neighbor. In 2015, the Sons of the American Legion Squadron of Hollidaysburg took over the care of the cemetery.

Deed for Union Cemetery

Census records from 1840 to 1860 of Hollidaysburg

1846 is the year that Blair County was formed out of the two former counties of Huntingdon and Bedford.

1840 Census

A total of 161 African Americans lived in this part of Huntingdon; 89 lived in Hollidaysburg, 26 in Antis Township home, Tyrone Township has 14 African American residents and Williamsburg has 17

1850 Census

260 African Americans lived in Blair County; 141 in Hollidaysburg; 19 in Gaysport; 23 in Allegheny Township; 19 in Blair Township; 24 lived in the “Morrision Cove” area of Blair County (N. Woodbury, Huston, Woodbury, Martinsburg); 10 lived in Williamsburg.

The Altoona Tribune of Dec. 30, 1858, stated that 168 people of color resided in Hollidaysburg. The total population of Hollidaysburg was 3,175 at that time.

1860 Census

14 African Americans lived in Gaysport; 116 African Americans lived in Hollidaysburg

Union Cemetery houses the remains of Black men and women who were involved in the Underground Railroad, fought for the Union in the Civil War, fought for the US in WWI and WWII, and were involved in the life of Hollidaysburg.

Underground Railroad

In October of 1855, Jacob Green, who had escaped from the Parsons’ plantation in Romney, Virginia, now in West Virginia, came to Hollidaysburg. He was found by James Parsons, Jr., a nephew of the slaveowner, Isaac Parson, in Hollidaysburg on the Allegheny Portage Railroad. When James Parson, Jr., attempts to take Jacob Green back to Virginia, he is asked by a local resident, Stephen Potts (who would be elected as the first mayor of Altoona), to produce proof that Jacob was owned by Isaac Parsons. James stated that he did not have to provide proof that Jacob was a slave due based upon the provisions of the Fugitive Slave Act. Other white and black residents of Hollidaysburg and Gaysport (which is now incorporated into Hollidaysburg), appeared and added to the heighten atmosphere. Eventually, some of the black and white residents succeeded in freeing Jacob Green and sending him further north. A few of the Pennsylvania newspapers’ accounts stated that Jacob was staying with Snyder or Simon Carr, a black Gaysport resident, who was a African Methodist Episcopal minister and barber. Carr, his son and three other black men were charged with creating a “riot” while assisting Jacob Green to escape from James Parsons, Jr.

From the Altoona Tribune’s archives of February 14, 1856, pg. 3.

Commonwealth vs. William Carr, Benjamin Johnson, Richard Martin, and Hiram Watkins: “a party of colored boys”, Indictment: Riot. True Bill. “Johnson, Martin, and Watkins not taken.  Verdict as to Carr, guilty.  Sentenced to pay $10 and costs of prosecution. (These men were involved in the rescuing of Jacob Green, a runaway slave being pursued by his former owners, Jacob Parsons, etc. in October of 1855 in Gaysport/Hollidaysburg)

and

Commonwealth vs. Snyder Carr – Indictment: Assault and Battery.  Not a true bill and Daniel Beatty, prosecutor, pay the costs except for $4, which was to be paid to the county.

Several of Rev. Carr’s children are buried in the Union Cemetery and according to the Hollidaysburg Register’s archives of October 7, 1891 pg. 3, his wife’s body was sent from Washington DC and buried in Union Cemetery. Rev. Carr died in 1859 or 1860.

Margaret Carr 1843, Ellenor Carr 1850 and Elizabeth Carr 1855

From the Altoona Tribune’s archives of July 29 1858 pg.1, it listed the Altoona’s churches and their ministers.

Remains of Mrs. Snyder Carr are brought back to Hollidaysburg from Washington DC and is buried in Union Cemetery.

Obelisk of William and Sarah Nesbit

William Nesbit (1822 to 1895) obituary from the Altoona Tribune’s archives of October 28, 1895, pg. 5 informed the readers of some of the achievements. The obituary stated that he was an conductor on the underground railroad in Blair County. HIs remains were buried in the Union Cemetery.

Benjamin H. Walker’s obituary in 1896 informed its readers that Walker sent escaping fugitives to William Nesbit.

Obituary of Benjamin Walker of Pleasantville, Bedford County, from the archives of Altoona Tribune March 28 1896 pg. 1.

The March 29, 1896 archives of Altoona Tribune corrected the information of Benjamin’s race. He was identified as a black man in the March 28, 1896 archive

David Brown of Hollidaysburg and his family assisted a few escaping fugitives in finding freedom. The archives of Altoona Tribune March 25, 1916 pg. 3 informed its readers that William Jackson and his father were found in Chimney Rocks by David and his dog. William was buried in the Union Cemetery. Chimney Rocks is a formation of rocks that overlook the Hollidaysburg borough.

http://www.hollidaysburgpa.org/depts/Parks/Pages/ChimneyRocksPark.aspx

In 1913, David Brown spoke at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, on the 50th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. David informed the readers of an incident in which several other escaping fugitives were found at Chimney Rocks and eventually sent further North to freedom.

From the Altoona Tribune’s archives of September 2, 1913, pg. 1.

In addition to the obituary of William Jackson, the obituaries of John Thomas and Elizabeth Ross Irons mentioned that these persons gained their freedom through the Underground Railroad.

From the Altoona Mirror’s archives of November 12, 1877 pg. 4, announcement of “Major” John Thomas’s death.

From the Altoona Times’ archives of May 19 1909 pg.3, announcement of Elizabeth Ross Iron’s death.

wtaj.com/news/local-news/local-veterans-revisit-history-through-cemetery-restoration-project/ In 2015, Hollidaysburg’s American Legion Post 516, took over the care of the African Zion Union Cemetery. This TV article explains their mission and how they learned about a part of Hollidaysburg’s history.

From Bondage to Freedom

“The passage of the fugitive slave law by congress in September, 1850, provoked a deluge of denunciation in Western Pennsylvania as elsewhere throughout the north.”

From the archives of Pittsburgh Gazette, September 30, 1850.

“East of the Allegheny River fragmentary routes extended from Greensburg through Indiana County to Clearfield and from Cumberland, Maryland, through Bedford and Pleasantville to Altoona. From
Clearfield an important branch ran northwest to Shippensville and Franklin, and from thence to Erie, the place of deportation.”

From Siebert, Under ground Railroad from Slavery to Freedom, pg. 123.

Bedford to Clearfield UGRR Routes created by Dr. David Switala, which can be found in his book “Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania”. The drawings are based upon the research of Dr. Wilbur Siebert (1866 – 1961) of the Ohio State University and Charles Blockson (1933 -), a Pennsylvania State University Alumnus.

Siebert, Wilbur Henry

The Underground Railroad: From Slavery to Freedom

New York: The Macmillan Company, 1898.

Wilbur H. Siebert, professor at Ohio State University, presented a history of the Underground Railroad based on his years of research on the American anti-slavery movement.

https://archive.org/details/DKC0090

Blair County UGRR incidents noted in Wilbur Seibert ‘s book of the Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania

The presence of the Underground Railroad in Hollidaysburg was published in local newspapers in October of 1855.

“On October 20, 1855, an incident occurred in Hollidaysburg/Gaysport in which Jacob Green, a former slave from Romney, Virginia (now W.Va.), was pursued by James Parsons, nephew of the slave owner, Isaac Parsons. James’ uncle and father were heading to Altoona and Johnstown to find Jacob based upon the information that was given to them when they caught the fugitives that Jacob has assisted in leaving the Parsons’ plantation. James was able to catch Jacob and had him arrested, but the next day in attempting to get him to appropriate authorities, a “riot” occurred involving leading white citizens and free blacks.  This melee resulted in James Parson being charged with kidnapping Jacob Green. Jacob is freed in this chaotic situation and was never seen again. Virginia’s Attorney General, J.R. Tucker represented James Parsons in court.  The news of the time seemed to suggest that Virginia was willing to go to war with Pennsylvania over the non-enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act.”

www.nps.gov and Allegheny Portage Railroad Named Underground Railroad Site

West Virginia was granted statehood on June 20, 1863. Romney, WV is located in Hampshire County and is the county seat.

The following Pennsylvania newspapers informed their readers of this 1855 incident:

From The Public Ledger’s archives of October 26, 1855 pg. 1 (Philadelphia, PA)

From the archives of Oct 29, 1855 Richmond Dispatch, pg. 1.

From The Pittsburgh Gazette’s archives of October 30, 1855 pg. 1. (Pittsburgh, PA)

From the Luzerne Union’s archives of October 31, 1855 pg. 2. (Luzerne, PA)

From the Lewisburg Chronicle’s archives of Nov 2, 1855 pg. 2. (Lewisburg, PA)

From The Shippensburg News’ archives of Nov. 3, 1855 pg. 2. (Shippensburg, PA)

From The Sunbury Gazette’s archives of November 3, 1855 pg. 3 (Sunbury, PA)

The Altoona Tribune’s archives of June 14, 1860, pg.2 informed its readers of a riot in Blairsville, PA involving former slaves from Hampshire County, VA (now WV). The county seat is Romney, VA (WV) and one route would have these former slaves leaving Hampshire, traveling through Cumberland MD, then Bedford and being directed to go through Cambria County or through Blair County and then directed to Cambria County and arriving in Blairsville.

During the Civil War, the local newspapers of Bedford and Blair County noted the arrival of black people in their communities. Some newspapers were supportive of these blacks seeking freedom. other newspapers displayed disdain for these new residents.

• On Friday, May 3, 1861, pg. 2, the Bedford Inquirer’s archives noted that a number of “Negroes” seen around the town and the mountains surrounding Bedford County were assumed to be “runaway slaves”.

• On Thursday, May 9, 1861, pg. 2 of the Altoona Tribune’s archives also noted that there were a group of unknown Black people in Altoona and were assumed to be escaped slaves. The Tribune urged its readers to follow the law of the day (1850 Fugitive Law) and not give aid or harbor these people.

• On Friday, June 13, 1862, pg.2, the Bedford Gazette’s archives stated that there were Black people who were in Bedford and were headed northward. The writer of the article hoped that this large number of Black people would end up in either Hollidaysburg or Altoona and be a plague upon the citizenry and abolitionists who lived in those areas.

• According to the Cambria Tribune’s news archives, fugitive slaves called “contrabands” filtered northward and came to towns like Altoona and Johnstown as a result of Union Armies moving through the South during the Civil War.

In April 1862, the Altoona Tribune informed its readers of an incident that occurred in Altoona involving a Cumberland Maryland slave holder or slave catcher and 3 to 4 fugitives. The slave catcher or owner asked an Altoona constable to arrest them for stealing horses. Two of the fugitives, a male and a female, were arrested and brought to Hollidaysburg and placed in the county jail. A community comprised of black and white residents assisted the fugitives in escaping from the jail and gaining their freedom.

From the  Altoona Altoona Tribune’s archives of April 17 1862 pg. 3.

1859 Map of Altoona

Altoona circa 1860s St Luke’s Episcopal Church bell is visible.

Thanks to the Blair County Historical Society for granting permission to display these photos of Altoona in the 1859 and 1860s.

After the Civil War, the local newspapers (Altoona Tribune, Altoona Times, Altoona Mirror, Hollidaysburg Register, Hollidaysburg Standard, Hollidaysburg Whig, etc.) mentioned the presence of the Underground Railroad in obituaries of those who assisted escaping slaves and the former slaves’ obituaries. Also, there are written reminisces of that past given by local civic leaders in those newspapers.

The following articles that are posted in this blog are what I have found in my research informing the readers of the Underground Railroad presence in Blair County.

A brief history of “Major” John Thomas. From the Evening Altoona Mirror’s archives of November 12, 1877 pg. 4.

The death notice of Black Sam aka Samuel Black, from the Altoona Tribune’s archives of December 18, 1879, pg. 3. Sam lived in Duncansville and worked in Ebensburg for the hotels there in the 1850s. In 1850, he spied his former master on the Portage canal arriving in Ebensburg. Sam place a knife in his boots in case he needed to defend himself and hid from his master. The former slave owner did not see Sam. He lived in constant fear until he heard about the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of the Civil War.

The death notice of Elexis or Alexis Reeder, from The Altoona Tribune’s archives of June 22, 1882,. His grandson, Jimmy Reeder, was a boxer, a porter and an Altoona law enforcement officer.

In 1890, Samuel S. Blair of Hollidaysburg, died suddenly. He was a former US congressman and one of the original members of Blair County Bar. Leaders of the Black Community sent to the local newspapers a resolution thanking the Honorable S. S. Blair for providing financial support to assist those who were involved in the Underground Railroad in Blair County.

The resolution is from the Altoona Mirror’s archives of December 10, 1890 pg.4.

From the Altoona Tribune’s archives of October 28, 1895, pg. 5, the readers learned of the death of William Nesbit of Altoona PA. Nesbit was recognized as an underground railroad conductor for Blair County in Dr. Wilbur Siebert’s “The Underground Railroad from Slavery to Freedom: A Comprehensive History, first published in 1898. His last name was spelled “Nesbet” in Dr. Siebert’s book. His last name was also spelled as “Nesbitt” in other newspapers.

The Altoona Tribune informed its readers that Benjamin Walker sent fugitives to William Nesbit to assist them in escaping from slavery.

Death notice of Benjamin Walker of Bedford County Alt Tribune March 28 1896 pg. 1

Remembrances of Judge Adam Moses role in freeing slave, from the Altoona Tribune’s archives of April 10, 1896, pg. 2. John Keatley, author of this article, informed the readers of how Judge Adam Moses from the Blue Knob area was selected for a case involving a slaver owner/catcher and two fugitive slaves charged with horse stealing. Black community leaders asked for the judge to come to Hollidaysburg to hear the case.

An unknown writer informed the readers of the Altoona Tribune of his father being involved in the Underground Railroad in Tyrone. His father assisted escaping fugitives in being moved to Centre County.

From the Altoona Tribune’s archives of April 14, 1896 pg. 7

Thomas Shorter of Altoona died in 1897. He was born in Barree, Huntingdon County, PA in 1819. He moved to Hollidaysburg between 1830 and 1840. The 1850 census listed him as living in Bellefonte.  Eventually, he would move to Altoona. In 1861, he is listed as a Hairdresser/Barber working in Altoona along with George Hooper, William Molson and William Nesbit. He was involved in church affairs of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church through their literary society debates, involved in local politics and according to the Altoona Tribune’s archives of December 29, 1897, pg. 5, he was involved in the Underground Railroad.

Mrs. Elizabeth Ross Irons‘ obituary from the Altoona Times’s archives of May 19, 1909, pg. 3 informed the reader that Mrs. Irons was brought to Hollidaysburg by Rev. John Fidler. She was brought to Bedford when she was approximately 15 year old by her slaveowner and overheard that she was to be sold to a plantation further south. She was assisted in meeting with Rev. Fidler and he helped her get her freedom.

Sylvia Shorter Lee (1917 to 1985)

A resident of Hollidaysburg, Sylvia graduated from Hollidaysburg High School in 1935. (From the Altoona Mirror’s archives of July 1, 1970, pg. 22 and the Altoona Mirror’s archives of October 3, 1975, pg. 32.) Sylvia also attended and graduated from the Altoona School of Commerce-Zeth (now known as the South Hills Business School) Sylvia married Harold Lee on June 15, 1939. (From the Altoona Mirror’s archives of June 23, 1939, pg. 30) 

Sylvia Shorter, President of Hiking Club, Secretary of First Aid Club, President of Health Club, President of Homeroom 1.

1935 Hollidaysburg High School (Chimrock) Yearbook photo. From Ancestry.com.

Harold “Boots” Lee, Football, Track, Boys League Secretary, Athletic Club Secretary, Home Room Chaplain, Vice President of Home Room.

1935 Hollidaysburg High School (Chimrock) Yearbook photo. From Ancestry.com

Marriage of Sylvia Shorter and Harold Lee from the Altoona Tribune’s archives of June 23, 1939, pg. 4

Mary Walker Shorter was Sylvia’s mother. (From the Altoona Mirror’s archives of Nov. 1, 1970, pg. 56.)  Sylvia’s siblings were Mary Shorter Kennard and Carolyn Shorter Strickland. Her father was William Shorter. Mary was the daughter of Henry Walker and the sister of Dr. George Walker, a Hollidaysburg dentist who was a local and state NAACP leader. 

Sylvia was elected twice as a Fee Assessor for the 1st ward in Hollidaysburg. She was a member of the Blair County NAACP and the Hollidaysburg Council of Republican Women. She played organ, piano, was a church clerk and trustee for the Hollidaysburg African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ). Sylvia was a conference worker for the Allegheny Conference of the AMEZ Church.  Her mother and material grandmother had also played organ and the piano for the Hollidaysburg AME Zion Church. She was married to Harold C. “Boots” Lee, a WWII combat veteran. He was a 1940 graduate of Hollidaysburg High School, played football for Hollidaysburg High School as a fullback. During his time at Hollidaysburg, he played for a winning football team. (From the Altoona Mirror’s archives of June 20, 1966, pg. 32)  

Sylvia Shorter was reelected as Assessor of Hollidaysburg 3rd Ward from the Altoona Mirror’s archives of Nov 3 1965 pg. 46.

Dr. George Walker, Sr., was a well known and well liked dentist who grew up and lived in Hollidaysburg. When he died in December of 1969, the family wanted to buried him in the Alto Reste Cemetery. The family learned that the cemetery association had a covenant which stated that no black person could be buried in that cemetery, Sylvia took the initiative to take this issue to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. (From the Altoona Mirror’s archives of January 13, 1970, pg. 3.)

During her life, she wrote several articles for the Altoona Mirror informing its readers of the history of Hollidaysburg’s black citizens. She stated that she learned of this history by listening to her relatives. She also wrote about the history of Hollidaysburg’s African American history for the General Federation of Women’s Club (GFWC) Hollidaysburg’s Area Area Women’s Club history book.  

Sylvia S Lee installed as Secretary of Historic Hollidaysburg Foundation from the Altoona Mirror’s archives of April 27, 1982 pg. 12

Sylvia S Lee installed as Secretary of Historic Hollidaysburg Foundation from the Altoona Mirror’s archives of April 26, 1983 pg. 14.

Sylvia Shorter Lee’s editorial on Hollidaysburg Black history from the Altoona Mirror’s archives of April 17, 1965 pg. 5.

Blacks helped build the Allegheny Portage Railroad, an article by Sylvia Shorter Lee from the Altoona Mirror’s archives of August 2, 1968, pg. 16.

In 1981, Sylvia wrote an article on the history of Black residents in Hollidaysburg for the Hollidaysburg’s Area Women’s Club pictorial history of Hollidaysburg. The book was called “Heritage of Hollidaysburg”.

From the archives of Altoona Mirror’s on October 28, 1971, pg. 34, a noticed was posted informing the heirs of James Taylor of Antis Township of the upcoming sale of the land that had been in his property.  The notice named Sylvia Lee, Louise Armstrong, Hattie (Harriet) Shorter, Mary (Marie) Scotland, Anna Molson, Corena A. Walker, Arnold Shorter, Andrew Shorter, William Shorter, Betty Kennard, and Carolyn Strickland as descendants of James Taylor.    

Sylvia died on May 28, 1985.  She was born on Oct. 17, 1917 in Pittsburgh. (From the Altoona Mirror’s archives of May 29, 1985, pg. 30.) According to the death notice, she was the first stenographer for the Blair County Court House. 

The local media of Blair County and Central PA in February 2022 published information about Black History and obstacles to being successful in this area. I have pasted some of the writings and recordings in this post.

Penn State Altoona advisor records Black history in Blair Country through blog

https://wjactv.com/news/local/recognizing-african-american-contributions-to-railroad-city

Honoring Black History: Remembering the late NAACP President Donald Witherspoon

Honoring Black History: Remembering the late NAACP President Donald Witherspoon

by: Alyssa Royster

Posted: Feb 8, 2022 / 10:12 AM EST / Updated: Feb 8, 2022 / 12:12 PM EST

Bellefonte Art Museum: a safe house on the Underground Railroad

Bellefonte Art Museum: a safe house on the Underground Railroad

by: Peyton Kennedy

Posted: Jan 25, 2022 / 05:41 PM EST / Updated: Jan 25, 2022 / 05:41 PM EST

Honoring Black History: Mount Union council woman puts on annual contest to teach importance of knowing Black history

Honoring Black History: Mount Union council woman puts on annual contest to teach importance of knowing Black history

by: Alyssa Royster

Posted: Feb 9, 2022 / 11:30 AM EST / Updated: Feb 8, 2022 / 12:08 PM EST

Altoona student helps bring new African American history course to curriculum

Altoona student helps bring new African American history course to curriculum

by: Maggie Smolka

Posted: Feb 8, 2022 / 01:43 PM EST / Updated: Feb 8, 2022 / 04:01 PM EST

Minorities succeed despite obstacles

https://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2022/02/minorities-succeed-despite-obstacles/

FEB 8, 2022

ANDREW MOLLENAUER