usgwarchives.net/maps/pa/county/blair/1873/hollida2.jpg http://usgwarchives.net/maps/pa/county/blair/1873/
A photo of Hollidaysburg’s Canal era houses from the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation (https://pahistoricpreservation.com/hollidaysburgs-canal-era-houses/)
Unknown Hollidaysburg family. Thanks to Blair County Genealogical Society’s volunteer John Young for this find.
Why would black people come to Hollidaysburg?
My research on why African Americans came to Hollidaysburg points to the desire to work on jobs that were available for them. As more and more people rode the canals to travel through Pennsylvania, it resulted in jobs being created to build the connections between canals and to “man” the canal boats. The canal systems provided jobs and also resulted in providing services to those who worked or traveled on the canals. The information provided by past Blair County newspapers reflected what occurred in early migrations movements, where future residents moved from the east to the west. Carlisle was the birthplace of William Nesbit, Lewistown was the hometown of Daniel Williams, and emancipated blacks and blacks fleeing from slavery came from Virginia including what would become West Virginia and Maryland to this part of Central Pennsylvania. Some freed blacks who lived in those states may have traveled to Pennsylvania in response to the newly passed southern states’ laws on the rights or lack of rights given to free black people. Until the passage of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendment, black men and women were not officially U, S. citizens. Also rebellions that occurred in 1800, 1822 and 1831 in the states of South Carolina and Virginia led to the passage of laws restricting black men and women movements and access to becoming literate. In Philadelphia, laws were passed which restricted where black people could ride on public transportation, black children attending school with white children and where African Americans could work. (https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/african-american-migration/)
During the second Great Awakening, Protestant ministers saw a need to preach to the growing communities in Central Pennsylvania. This was also true for the growing black communities. Two black women, Jarena Lee and Zilphia Elaw, who felt the call to ministered to these communities traveled on the Pennsylvania canals in the 1830s to 1840s.
Thanks to the Allegheny Portage Railroad’s staff who informed me of Minister Jarena Lee’s ministerial activities of traveling on the railroads and canals through Central PA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarena_Lee
Minister Zilphia Elaw is mentioned in joining Minister Lee in traveling through Central PA. http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/bios/Elaw_Zilpha.html
Kimberly Blockett, English Department, Pennsylvania State University, Delaware County
Preachers on The Philadelphia (Cross)Road: The Dangerous Travels of Zilpha Elaw and Jarena Lee on “The Great Highway from North to South” http://www.sedwim.org/Documents/Profiles_of_pioneering_AME_WIM_revised_5_08.pdf
Black men and women lived in what would become Blair county before the creation of the county in 1846. The following census records provide evidence of their existence.
PHMCanalsOfPennsylvaniaMap http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r017_0452_CanalMapBooks/CanalMapsInterface.htm
The Horseshoe Curve was finished in 1854, which connected the eastern and western areas of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This connection impacted the transportation on the Hollidaysburg’s Canal basin. It continued to provide transportation until the 1870s. http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/portal/communities/documents/1776-1865/horseshoe-curve.html
Until 1846, Blair County was part of Huntingdon and Bedford counties. http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/IncorporationDatesForMunicipalities/pdfs/blair.pdf?catid=7
1820 Census
According to the 1820 Census, 11 African Americans lived in Williamsburg 11, African Americans lived in Frankstown Township, and 8 African Americans lived in Frankstown.
A total of 40 African Americans lived in Huntingdon County in 1820
1830 Census
14 African Americans lived in Williamsburg and 12 African Americans lived in Woodbury Township.
17 African Americans lived in Frankstown Township
A total of 48 African Americans lived in Huntingdon County in 1830
From the Altoona Tribune’s archives of January, 29, 1880 pg. 4 noting the population of Hollidaysburg and Gaysport (now a suburb of Hollidaysburg) in 1835.
“Add to the above thirty-one colored persons for Hollidaysburg and one for Gaysport, and we have a total of twelve hundred and nine.” (1835 enumeration, pg. 63)
US Black residents were identified in census records as “colored”, “negro”, “mulatto”, “octoroon” and “black”.
History of Huntingdon and Blair Counties. J. Simpson African, 1883. Philadelphia: Louis H. Evarts
In the 1830s Hollidaysburg black residents worshipped in their homes before the African Methodist Episcopal (AME)/African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) church was built in the 1840s.
1840 Census
A total of 161 African Americans lived in Huntingdon County. 89 African Americans lived in Hollidaysburg, 26 in Antis Township home, Tyrone Township had 14 African American residents and Williamsburg had 17. The total population for Hollidaysburg was 1,896.
1846 is the year that Blair County was formed out of the two former counties of Huntingdon and Bedford.
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 live in Williamsburg. The total population for Gaysport was 590 and for Hollidaysburg was 2,430.
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. The total population for Gaysport was 601 and the total population was 2,469 for Hollidaysburg.
1870 Census
137 African Americans lived in Hollidaysburg: 41 lived in 1st Ward, 53 lived in 2nd Ward, 15 lived in 3rd Ward, 28 lived in 4th Ward. The total population was 2,952. 9 African Americans lived in Gaysport. The total population of Gaysport was 799.
1870 -The ratification of the 15th Amendment on February 3, 1870, invalidating the 1838 PA legislation.
Sources: United State Census Bureau. First Census of the United States 1790 to Twentieth Census of the United States. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C.
US and Pennsylvania’s Laws and lack of Civil Rights
1780 – Pennsylvania Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery was passed, African Americans born before 1780 who were slaves were enslaved for life; in 1847 the legislature passed a law to free all enslaved blacks.
1813 – Pennsylvania considered a law requiring registration of Blacks in the Commonwealth. (Harrisburg requires all blacks to register within 24 hours after moving into the city in 1820.)
1820 – Black men were prohibited from fighting for the US in military conflicts.
1838 – Black men were disenfranchised in the revised PA State Constitution.
1850 – The Compromise of 1850 stated that runaway slaves could be compelled to become slaves again and those who assisted them in escaping could be charged with breaking that law and fined.
1857 – The Dred Scott case decision declared that black people, free or slave, had no citizenship rights. The 14th Amendment which was ratified on July 9, 1868, invalidated that decision.
Arrival of African Americans in Hollidaysburg
According to Sylvia Shorter Lee’s account of “Black History and Heritage of Hollidaysburg” pg. 64 and pg. 65 (Hollidaysburg’s Women Society book on the history of Hollidaysburg), she shared the oral history stories from her family which stated that African Americans came to the Hollidaysburg area from Dauphin County and were employed to work on the old Allegheny Portage Canal and Railroad in the late 1700s and early 1800s. These workers were ex-slaves, whose ship had been diverted to Nova Scotia and other parts of Canada and were released once they arrived on free soil. I have found one black resident of Hollidaysburg who listed Canada as their birth country.
Other news articles and obituaries stated of African Americans moved to Hollidaysburg from Carlisle York, Lewistown, and Bedford County (William Nesbit, Daniel Hale Williams, Jr., Moses Brown).
The first murder case in Blair County occurred in 1850 on Hollidaysburg’s canal. Alexander or Nathanial Edmundson (black) is murdered by Alexander Hutchinson (white) on the Hollidaysburg Canal Basin. Alexander or Nathanial was a Mifflin County resident. The alleged murderer was convicted, but not executed. The convicted murderer was set free or escaped. (Lewistown Gazette, September 20, 1850, pg. 2, Hollidaysburg Register and Standard of 1850 and Altoona Tribune, February 19, 1885, pg. 2)
(Lewistown Gazette article in 1850)
Who else came to Hollidaysburg in the 1830s/1840s/1850s?
Daniel Williams, II born June 21 1817 in Mifflin County, moved to Hollidaysburg and died May 5 1867 in Annapolis, MD. His wife, was Sarah Price Williams They were the father of Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, III. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146320409/daniel-williams
The Hollidaysburg Methodist Episcopal Church baptism record of Daniel Hale Williams III, May 15, 1857 (Daniel was born January 18, 1856 in Hollidaysburg)
1860 Census Record for D. H. Williams in Hollidaysburg
A Levi Grates/Gates is listed in the Hollidaysburg 1846 tax roll. He was assessed with owing $200 worth of property. (pg.65). The 1860 census record stated that he was born in 1815 in Maryland and his occupation was a wagoner and living in Hollidaysburg. The 1850 census record showed that he was living in Woodbury, PA and that his birth state is unknown. The other members of his family (wife, children and older relative) birth state were listed as Pennsylvania. The 1850 Census record did not list his or his family race. Typically, white residents’ race was not recorded in the early census records. His occupation was listed as a Carter, which indicates that he moved goods by cart or wagon.
John ‘Jack’ Brown (approx. 1796-1877)
This is Jack’s obituary from the Altoona Mirror of Friday 4 January 1878:
“On Wednesday morning, 18 of December, John Brown, familiarly known as Jack Brown, a respected colored citizen, departed this life. He was born in Mifflin County, near McVeytown, and was raised in the family of Major Vance, of that county. He removed to Hollidaysburg over fifty years ago, and we believe has resided here ever since. He was our oldest citizen, and although in humble circumstances, was respected by all for his uprightness and good character. As near as can be ascertained, his age was between ninety-three and one hundred years. He raised a numerous family, most of whom are residents of this place, and his remains were followed to their last resting place by many of all classes of our citizens. Peace to his memory – The Register”
The Altoona Tribune of Dec. 27, 1877, informed its readers that “Jack” Brown of Hollidaysburg had died on Dec. 19, 1877, pg. 3. John “Jack” Brown was the father of David Brown.
The age given for John in the above obituaries was exaggerated (either by the reporter or by his or her sources). This was not uncommon for elderly citizens at the time. Based on census and other records, it is believed that John was born around 1796. (From Lance Brown, a great-great grandson of Jack Brown)
There is a Mary Vance who was a member of First Hollidaysburg Presbyterian who gave monetary support to the American Colonization Society in 1881, 1883 and 1885. (The ACS supported the founding of Liberia and supported the transfer of freed and newly freed blacks to that African country.) I don’t know if Mary is related to the Major Vance.
The Altoona Tribune of September 18, 1879, pg. 4, lists a couple of older Hollidaysburg citizens and mentions that James Kelley is older than those listed in the article and maybe 100 years old.
Rev. Snider or Snyder or Simon Carr was listed in the 1840 Census for Hollidaysburg, Huntingdon County. In addition to him, there were 5 other blacks listed in the 1840 Census. Carr and his family are listed as living in Gaysport in the 1850 census. His birth year was listed as 1812 and he was born in Pennsylvania. He was a minister of the African Methodist Church and pastored the AME Church in Altoona. He died around 1859 or 1860
While as a Penn State Altoona student, Justin Paul shared this information with this amateur historian: On the 1873 map of Hollidaysburg, it looks like an “Eaton” owned the Front Street property. This is interesting because Snyder Carr sold his property to Catherine Eaton in February of 1860. I’m not sure if there is a correlation, but there might be one.
David Crabb and his family were listed in the 1850 Census for Hollidaysburg. His birth year was listed as 1816 and Pennsylvania was his birth state. David died in 1869. He was a minister and a barber. According to the Altoona Tribune’s archives of July 5, 1913 pg. 6 and the Altoona Times’ archives of July 7, 1913 pg. 7 he performed the marriage of Moses Brown and Sydney Keith Brown on January 1, 1852. His wife, Eliza, died in 1893 and was 77 years old. Her death notice stated that she was raised by a Coleman family from Lebanon. At the time of her death, she was living on Wayne Street. She also worked with Moses Brown in his restaurant/catering business and sold the first ice cream to Hollidaysburg denizens.
Crabb and Brown as “Eating House” owners in Hollidaysburg and the amount of taxes paid are listed in the Altoona Tribune’s archives of April 28, 1859 pg. 2.
From the Altoona Tribune’s archives of December 21, 1893 pg. 1. The Rev. D. H. Barron, D.D. was listed as the minister in charge of Eliza Crabb’s funeral. Rev. Barron was the pastor of the Hollidaysburg Presbyterian Church. (1861 to 1903).
Moses Brown born on May 15, 1827, in Bedford, PA to Perry and Hannah Bosten Brown. He came to Hollidaysburg at age 19 (1846) and worked as a barber/minister with a Mr. David Crabb on Montgomery Street and then Moses moved his barber business to Allegheny Street. He was selected as part of the grand jury that recommended the building of the new courthouse in Hollidaysburg. He was one of the first subscribers of the Altoona Tribune. Moses married Sidney (or Sydney) Ellen Keith of Maria Forges (located in Taylor Township, south of McKee’s Gap), PA. Sydney proceeded him in death on July 4, 1913. Moses died on March 27, 1916. His and Sydney’s remains were interred at Union Cemetery in Hollidaysburg. In 1866, the Christian Recorder (the official African Methodist Episcopal newspaper) noted that Moses Brown was the “wealthiest colored man in this place” (Hollidaysburg) and “is the owner of some of the most favorably located property the town contains.” Moses was in the salon/catering business for over 65 years.
Moses Brown sold the first ice cream in Altoona according to the Altoona Mirror of January 16, 1926, pg. 16
Moses Brown obit Alt Tribune March 29, 1916 pg. 3
John Thomas came from Washington D.C. He was a slave whose owner lived in the capital city. The article about his life stated that he saw Washington burn during the 1812 war. He was able to escaped from that position and eventually end up in the Mifflin County. When his former master saw him that county he fled to Bellefonte, then to Huntingdon and approximately in 1837, he moved to Gaysport/Hollidaysburg. He worked on the canal and after the Logan House was built in Altoona. He was employed as a porter. Occasionally, the local newspapers would print the speeches he made in “slave” dialect.
From the Altoona Mirror’s archives of November 12, 1877 pg. 4
Hollidaysburg AME/AMEZ Church and Union Cemetery
The church is located on 911 Front Street Hollidaysburg PA. The above photo was taken by the researcher.
Churches historically associated with the UGRR (Underground Railroad) are the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ).
Hollidaysburg had an AMEZ Church (African Methodist Episcopal Zion), est. 1835. The building is located at 511 Front Street after moving from McGraw Street, near Pine and Hickory Streets.
The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Hollidaysburg was established at Front and Pine Streets in 1854, although church records indicate that worship services occurred as early as 1835 in the homes of its congregants. In 1893, socials and dinners were given by the female congregants to raise funds to move the church to 511 Front Street to accommodate the growing congregation. (Sylvia Shorter Lee)
Altoona had an AME Church (African Methodist Church) (it first existed in Hollidaysburg approximately 1854 and then the denomination moved to Altoona in 1858.) The building is located at 1620 16th Street in Altoona.
The AME and AME Zion churches utilized “circuit” riders to meet the spiritual needs of these smaller communities. This allowed information to be shared within the black communities about events and ideas happening throughout Central Pennsylvania and larger cities. (The pastor of a church in Hollidaysburg could travel to Altoona, Bellefonte, Huntingdon, Lewistown and maybe other towns for sermons, baptisms, weddings, funerals, and other religious rites.)
The Christian Recorder of March 17, 1887, informed it readers that prior to becoming a Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, James A. Shorter was a circuit rider in Central Pennsylvania. In 1847, he was given the Lewiston Circuit charge, which consisted of Lewistown, Bellefonte, Mifflin, and Hollidaysburg. www.accessible.com/accessible (Accessible Archives)
The African Methodist Episcopal/African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was first held in family homes in the 1830s and built it first church on McGraw Street, near Pine and Hickory. Moses Brown purchased the land on 511 Front Street in March of 1893 for the present building. Moses Brown was a restaurant owner, caterer, and ice cream owner. The original church was located on Hickory Street across from the Lutheran cemetery. At some time, the first structure was destroyed by fire, which may have also destroyed their records as well. The African Methodist Episcopal/African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AME or AME Zion) was the oldest in the Allegheny Conference having come into existence before 1859. Over the years, membership dwindled, and the building was eventually purchased and transformed into an apartment complex in 1991.
Early Church leaders: John Thomas of Altoona and Gaysport, Superintendent; Mrs. Elizabeth Sturrett/Sterrett, Assistant Superintendent; Teachers were Miss Eliza Neil, Miss Sarah Thomas, Miss Anna Taylor, Miss Anna Williams for the female Sunday School attendees; Mr. Holliday Brown and Mr. George Ford were the teachers for the male Sunday School attendees
Publication: THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
Date: July 15, 1865
Title: LETTER FROM HOLLIDAYSBURG
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
www.accessible.com/accessible (Accessible Archives)
In 1884, the trustees of the Hollidaysburg AME/AMEZ Church were Reuben Huff, David Brown, and M. Kennedy or Kennady.
Publication: THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
Date: January 7, 1884
Title: NOTICE
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The building and land that the church stands on now was purchased by Moses Brown (African American) in March of 1893. The original church was located on Hickory Street across from the Lutheran cemetery. At some time, the first structure was destroyed by fire, which may have also destroyed their records as well. The African Methodist Episcopal/African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was the oldest in the Allegheny Conference having come into existence before 1859.
Noted National Black Leaders and community leaders and citizens who visited Hollidaysburg or claimed Hollidaysburg as one of their hometowns
Dr. Martin R. Delany wrote to Frederick Douglass about his travels in Pennsylvania on Nov. 5, 1848. He expressed concern that some whites and blacks in Philadelphia were not interested in the abolitionist movement. He indicated that he would travel across Pennsylvania to solicit interest in the North Star newspaper and the cause to free slaves. He stated that on his way back to the West, he would hold meetings in Lewistown, Hollidaysburg, Johnstown and possibly Huntingdon. The meetings would be held among the black people of the communities and thus this group would be aroused to understand their own condition and have the “means necessary to change that condition.”
www.accessible.com/accessible (Accessible Archives) for Dr. Martin Delany’s visit through Central Pennsylvania
Dr. Martin Delany 1812 to 1885
Frederick Douglass 1817 to 1895
William Nesbit was a barber, hairdresser, author, masonic leader, civil rights leader and AME Sunday School Teacher. William moved to Hollidaysburg from Carlisle, PA in 1841 at age 19. according to the ads in Hollidaysburg Register of 1849 and 1850, Nesbit traveled to Philadelphia, PA for the wares he sold in Hollidaysburg on the corner of Montgomery and Allegheny Street. William sold the “Mystery” newspaper, in Hollidaysburg (1843 to 1847) published by Dr. Martin Delany. After his trip to Liberia for the American Colonization Society in 1853, Nesbit travels around New York and Pennsylvania talking about the problems of colonization of African Americans and debating other prominent African Americans of that time regarding this issue. In his debates and travels, he met Frederick Douglass, Morris Chester, Octavius Cato, and other black Civil Rights leaders. Dr. Martin Delany wrote the Preface for Nesbit’s book “4 Months in Liberia”, which was published in 1855. William moved to Altoona in 1855. He was elected as the Pennsylvania State Equal Rights League President from late 1865 until this organization was disbanded in 1877. Nesbit’s obituary of October 26, 1895, in the Altoona newspaper of that time indicated that he was a conductor of the Underground Railroad. This information was also confirmed in a Bedford’s UGRR conductor obituary the following year. (Benjamin H. Walker in 1896)
http://www.info-ren.org/projects/btul/exhibit/neighborhoods/downtown/down_n105.html
Daniel Williams, Jr. sold “Mystery” newsletter, in Hollidaysburg, which was published by Martin R. Delany (1843-1847) He attended National and State Conventions for free African Americans prior to the start of the Civil War. Daniel owned property and an iron ore mine on Brush Mountain. He traveled for business (he was a barber shop owner) from Hollidaysburg to Lewistown and back according to an advertisement in Nov. 7, 1846, from the Hollidaysburg’s Democratic Standard (The Williams family was from Lewistown). Daniel was a member of AME Zion Church and trustee of the church property. The church is now located on Pine Street in Hollidaysburg but was originally located across from Captain Jack’s home/Sill’s/Webster’s home, located along North Juniata Street. Some of the abolitionists’ conferences and voting right’s conference that Daniel Williams attended were the State Convention of Colored Citizens of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, PA in December of 1848, the National Equal Rights League in Syracuse, NY in October of 1864, the Pennsylvania State Equal Rights League in Harrisburg in the months of February and August of 1865 and the Pennsylvania State Equal Rights League in Pittsburgh, PA in September 1866. His son, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, III, was credited with being the first person to successfully perform open-heart surgery in 1893. Daniel Williams, Jr. died in Annapolis, MD of tuberculosis in 1867. There is a historical marker at 315 Blair Street in Hollidaysburg, PA that honors the birth home of Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, III.
http://www.info-ren.org/projects/btul/exhibit/neighborhoods/downtown/down_n105.html
Photo of Daniel Hale Williams, II. Courtesy of the Stubbs-Fleming family from Ancestry.com
10 years anniversary of Historical Marker May 1999
The Underground Railroad (UGRR) in Hollidaysburg
Dr. Wilbur Siebert’s 1898 book “The Underground Railroad from Slavery to Freedom: A Comprehensive History” noted that escaping slaves were routed to Hollidaysburg from Bedford County. He received at least 3 letters from local Blair County residents informing him of incidents that occurred in Hollidaysburg involving escaping slaves. He also received letters from Bedford residents informing him of the Underground Railroad presence in their county and how they were sent on to the next part of the freedom journey, Hollidaysburg is mentioned as a stop on the Underground Railroad. There are obituaries mentioning that these freedom seekers from slavery came to Hollidaysburg and found a community that helped them lived their lives as freed people.
Fugitive Slave Captured on railroad train, but Rescued J . (Twentieth Century Hist* of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania. 1911. By Jesse C. Sell.)
A Hollidaysburg Episode of the Days of Slavery (about 1852). [Blair County]. (A. W. Snyder in Altoona Tribune, Jan. 15, 1916).
Hiding Place in Chimney Rocks, north of Hollidaysburg, ( Blair County); Hollidaysburg, an Underground Station.(Letter from K. Virginia Krick, Jul. 5, 1944.)
https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/siebert/id/28513
The Wellman Scale for determining if an area is associated with the Underground Railroad list 5 levels that a site needs to address:
The highest level (Level 5) lists that a primary source must exist showing that the site and/or person was associated with the Underground Railroad, the primary documentation may include an obituary written by someone who knew the person and their association with the UGRR. Level 4 indicates that the place has a strong oral tradition, along with strong written information that lacks primary sources. Level 3 indicates that African Americans lived in the area, especially those who moved to the area from the South or Canada, that there existed an antislavery organization, and antislavery church membership. Level 2 list that there is evidence of the existence of blacks living in the area before the Civil War and there maybe oral stories about potential Underground Railroad sites, but there is no collaborating evidence. Level 1 indicates that there is no evidence of the underground railroad presence in the area.
The Wellman Scale for documenting UGRR presence
Churches historically associated with the UGRR (Underground Railroad) are the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ). Both denominations call themselves the “Freedom Church”.
Hollidaysburg had an AMEZ Church (African Methodist Episcopal Zion), established approximately 1835. The building is located at 511 Front Street after moving from McGraw Street, near Pine and Hickory Streets.
Altoona had an AME Church (African Methodist Church) The church began in Hollidaysburg approximately 1854 and then the denomination moved to Altoona in 1858 as that town continue to grow. The building is located at 1620 16th Street in Altoona.
The AME and AME Zion churches utilized “circuit” riders to meet the spiritual needs of these smaller black communities. This allowed information to be shared within the black communities about events and ideas happening throughout Central Pennsylvania and larger cities. (The pastor of a AME or AMEZ church in Hollidaysburg could travel to Altoona, Bellefonte, Huntingdon, Lewistown and maybe other towns for sermons, baptisms, weddings, funerals, and perform other religious rites.)
The Christian Recorder of March 17, 1887, informed it readers that prior to becoming ordained as a Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, James A. Shorter was a circuit rider in Central Pennsylvania. In 1847, he was given the Lewiston Circuit charge, which consisted of Lewistown, Bellefonte, Mifflin, and Hollidaysburg. www.accessible.com/accessible (Accessible Archives)
In response to the passage of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Law, black people left the US to move to the African country of Liberia, which was “founded” by freed American blacks and emancipated slaves. In Hollidaysburg, William Nesbit, the Deputie or Deputee or Deputy Family and Samuel Williams of Johnstown left in 1853 to go to Liberia. The trip was sponsored by the American Colonization Society (ACS), the First Hollidaysburg Presbyterian Church gave funds in support of the ACS organization.
The Christian Recorder, which is the recognized publication of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Frederick Douglass’ North Star and other blacked owned newspaper, gave updates on the travelers to Liberia. One article about those who traveled from Hollidaysburg and Johnstown was published in 1874.
www.accessible.com/accessible (Accessible Archives)
To the Colored People of the State
of Pennsylvania.
Publication: The Christian Recorder
Date: October 8, 1874
Title: A Missionary Family. On the tenth of November 1853, a number
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Publication: FREDERICK DOUGLASS’ PAPER
Date: April 20, 1855
Title: THE AFRICAN COLONY AT LIBERIA
Location: Rochester, New York
Publication: PROVINCIAL FREEMAN
Date: January 5, 1856
Title: The following articles of interest we copy as found in the
Location: Chatham, Canada West
Date: December 13, 1877
Title: LIBERIA . —– —–
Author: JAMES H. DEPUTIE.
Location: Philadelphia, PA
the Christian Recorder
Publication: FREDERICK DOUGLASS’ PAPER
Date: November 16, 1855
Title: LIBERIA
Location: Rochester, New York
www.accessible.com/accessible (Accessible Archives)
The Allegheny Portage Railroad was honored with the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom in 2011. Their staff, along with a Penn State Altoona intern, found the documentation to determine that an incident that happened in October of 1855 in the Gaysport/Hollidaysburg area of Blair County was associated with the Underground Railroad. You can find the primary sources and the story of the incident on their web site: http://www.nps.gov/alpo/historyculture/index.htm The Blair County Genealogical Society also has an article written about this incident from the April 12, 1883 Altoona Tribune newspaper.
The Altoona Tribune’s archives of February 14, 1856, pg. 3 informs it readers of a couple of court cases associated with and adjudicated regarding the 1855 incident in Gaysport/Hollidaysburg:
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 fugitive being pursued by his former owners, Jacob Parsons, etc. in October of 1855 in Gaysport/Hollidaysburg)
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 (Rev. Snyder Carr was 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) (Altoona Tribune February 14, 1856, pg. 3)
Rev. Snyder or Snider or Simon Carr or Car was the pastor of the Altoona AME Church (Altoona Tribune Oct. 14, 1858, pg.)
The Altoona Tribune of Thursday, Dec. 18, 1879, reprinted an article from the Cambria Freeman newspaper of Ebensburg, PA about the death of a black person named “Black Sam” or Samuel Williams who had lived in Hollidaysburg and Duncansville. He worked in Ebensburg in the hotels as a porter and rode the Portage Railroad back and forth from Duncansville/Allegheny township to Ebensburg beginning in 1850. In the years prior to the Civil War, Sam shared the story that his former master came looking for him and Sam saw him on the train. He pulled out his carving knife and stuck it in his boot, preparing for the worse in his encounter with his master. However, Sam was able to get off the train and was not pursued by his former owner.
The Altoona Times’ May 19, 1909, obituary of Mrs. Elizabeth aka “Lizzie” Ross Irons, stated that Mrs. Irons of Hollidaysburg had died at the age of 74. The Times informed the reader that Mrs. Irons was a slave on James Tolliver’s Virginia plantation, She was brought to Bedford around 1849 to 1850. She learned that Tolliver was planning to sell her and with the assistance of Rev. John Fidler, an African Methodist Episcopal Zion minister living in Bedford, she was brought to Hollidaysburg in 1850. Elizabeth or Lizzie was found in the 1850 census record living in Hollidaysburg. She was living with David Crabb, his wife Eliza, and a Lewis Brown. David was a minister and barber. She married twice. First to Bryson or Charles Smith and after his death, she married George Irons. George was known for his shoemaking skills, fought in the Civil War with USCT Company K, 22nd Infantry and played for Hollidaysburg’s Civil War band. Elizabeth and George are buried in Hollidaysburg’s Union Cemetery.
From the Altoona Times’s archives May 19, 1909, pg. 3 and the Altoona Tribune’s archives of May 19, 1909, pg. 8.
The obituary of William Jackson from the Altoona Tribune’s archives of Saturday, March 25, 1916, pg. 3 gave the following information:
William Jackson, “one of the oldest and best-known colored residents of Hollidaysburg, died on Friday morning at 7:15 at the Blair County hospital of fatty degeneration of the heart and other diseases incident to old age. He had been able to work up until a few months ago, but recently his health failed rapidly and two weeks ago he was removed to the hospital. He was born at Mercersburg, Va., and was aged at death about 75 years. When a young man he and his father, who were slaves in Virginia, ran away from their master’s plantation and made their way northward a short time prior to the breaking out of the Civil war. One day in their travels the father and son arrived at Hollidaysburg by way of Cumberland, Md., and Bedford. They paused on the Chimney Rocks ridge to rest and were found there by David Brown of Hickory Street, who was taking a stroll with his dog, the animal discovering the fugitives and leading his master to them. They told Mr. Brown that they had run away from their master and asked him to shield them. He went back to his home near the foot of the ridge and told his father and brothers who guided by Dave, went back to the ridge, and brought the men home with them. They stayed at the Brown home for a few days when they secured employment on the farm of Judge Smith at Mentzer’s Mills.” Mr. Jackson was a member of the Hollidaysburg AMEZ Church. He was buried in the Union Cemetery.
The Altoona Tribune of Thursday, July 12, 1888, informed it readers of a former Hollidaysburg black man, Thomas Thornberg, now living In Huntingdon, PA, who had suffered maltreatment due to being bedridden. The article continued to inform its readers that Mr. Thornberg came to Hollidaysburg after escaping from his former master in 1827. He lived in Hollidaysburg for a while before moving to Huntingdon.
David Brown, s/o of John “Jack” Brown of Hollidaysburg named Nicholas Hewit, Jacob Snyder, John Brotherline, Stephen Potts, Colonel William Stone, Chris Yerger, A.L. Holliday, and Thomas Rooney, all of Hollidaysburg, as UGRR agents in the Altoona Mirror’s, September 9, 1913, article. The article informed its readers that the program was recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and David was asked to speak at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Altoona to help commemorate this event. David was the father of C. Randolph Brown, a postal carrier in Hollidaysburg and Randolph was elected as president of the PA NAACP (The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People).
David Brown also shared a story of 4 Fugitive slaves (3 women and 1 man), who had escaped from a plantation in Virginia, and were found hiding in the Chimney Rock area around the year of 1858. When sympathetic residents heard of these peoples’ plight, they found them and brought them to the town of Hollidaysburg for safe keeping. They were placed in the old Blair County jail in “protective custody”. The DA, Benjamin Hewitt, left town rather than charged these escaped slaves and the community people with breaking the law. The case was handled by Attorney Essington Hammond, an assistant District Attorney. The “owner” of the escaped slaves was informed that they were living in Hollidaysburg. The black citizens of the town took matters into their own hands and removed the escaping slaves out of the jail and with the assistance of several white citizens, moved them northward to Canada via the UGRR.
One of the former slaves moved back to Hollidaysburg after the Civil War. David Brown married the niece of that former slave. His wife’s name was Idella J. Brown.
The Bedford Gazette of Friday, Nov. 22, 1901, pg. 1 informed its readers of a New York State reporter by the name of Raymond S. Spears, who had traveled down the Hollidaysburg Pike to Bedford and was gathering stories about freed black people who had been kidnapped by slavecatchers, the UGRR and other stories of interest. Mr. Spears wrote for Harper’s Weekly and submitted articles to newspapers like the Altoona Tribune.
Chimney Rocks is mentioned in an article written on the presence of the Underground Railroad in Bellefonte in 2005. In 1856, Andrew Gregg Curtin, an UGRR conductor, and future Pennsylvania Governor, attempted to rescue Henry Thomas, a former slave who was employed at the Pennsylvania House Hotel in Bellefonte and was kidnapped by slave catchers. Curtin was unable to rescue Thomas in Centre County, but he and other Bellefonte residents rescued Henry when they found him in Chimney Rocks (the story mentions Huntingdon rather than Blair County as the place of Chimney Rocks). The story is first documented in 1909 by Rev. William H. Mills, Sr., an AME minister from Bellefonte. Rev. Mills was the grandfather of the famous “Mills Brothers.”
“Riots, Rumors, and Stories: The Underground Railroad and Abolitionists in the Valleys of the Susquehanna Region”
https://susquehannagreenway.org/sites/default/files/UGRR_tour_expansion.pdf
Photo of Chimney Rocks, courtesy of Hollidaysburg Borough.
Census records of the 1840 and 1850 noted several blacks who came from slave owning states and were living in Hollidaysburg. The James Gardner family housed 4 black people in 1850. Ann Blain, who was 45 was from Virginia, her son William Blain, who was 8 years old was from Pennsylvania. Jane Brown, age 32 and Lydia Brown, age 20 were from Maryland.
Other Conductors and Abolitionists in Hollidaysburg and Central PA
Dr. Crawford Irwin of Hollidaysburg was identified as an Abolitionist in his obituary of Altoona Tribune Tuesday, October 9, 1900, pg. 5 and Tyrone Daily Herald’s obituary on Thursday, October 11, 1900, pg. 4. He attended Jefferson College in Canonsburg, PA (Washington County) and was an 1844 graduate. This is the same institution that Dr. Martin Delany attended. Dr. Irwin was buried in 1st Presbyterian Church of Hollidaysburg’s cemetery.
Samuel S. Blair is recognized by the black community of Altoona and Hollidaysburg as a supporter of the Underground Railroad in the Altoona Mirror article of December 10, 1890, pg. 4. The article was presented as a resolution of the late Honorable Blair’s actions in supporting enslaved people to earn their freedom. The resolution listed William Nesbit, John Alexander, and Edward Thompson as the authors.
David C. Henshey (or Henchey), formerly of Hollidaysburg was identified as an Abolitionist (Altoona Tribune. Saturday, January 15, 1916, and Hollidaysburg Register and Blair County Inquirer of Wednesday, October 8, 1851, pg. 2).
Barker, A. A. 1816 – 1898
Location: Ebensburg, Cambria County; Role: UGRR stationmaster; abolitionist
Documentation: Henry W. Storey, History of Cambria County, 1907, p. 186-192, 501.
Abraham Andrew Barker was a Maine-born lumberman who moved to Ebensburg, Cambria County about 1856. A staunch abolitionist from back in Maine, Barker was also a regular stationmaster, sheltering and conducting fugitive slaves both in Maine and later from his Ebensburg home. A. A. Barker received fugitives from Bedford, via Hollidaysburg and after sheltering them for the night forwarded them to George Atchison in Clearfield County.
As told by Morris Walker, brother of Bedford’s Thomas Walker and son of Benjamin Walker (abolitionists) in Bedford County
On the day of General Taylor’s election as president (March 4, 1848) of the United States, or possibly the day following, a giant negro slave came to Walker’s by some route unknown to informant and remained there several days. At one time during his stay, he was secluded in the haymow, concealing himself underneath the hay. Some children playing in the barn at the time were jumping from the upper logs of the building down upon the hay, and repeatedly landed upon the sport underneath which he was located. This sport was much less entertaining to him than to the children, and he was finally obliged to reveal his hiding place, much to the surprise of the youngsters, as can be readily imagined. On looking out of the gable of the barn he spied his master passing nearby on an old bald-faced horse which had long been a great favorite of his on the old plantation, and it required the exercise of all his courage to keep from calling out and giving himself up to his owner. Suppressing this feeling, however, he kept in seclusion for a day or so, and then, to evade capture by pursuing that course, he was brought back under cover of darkness by Josiah Penrose and Eli Miller to the Quaker Settlement, whence he was afterward taken on another route to Hollidaysburg. Here were parties, also, by name of Low, Showmo and Cypher, who were friends to such fugitives, and who doubtless advanced him to Centre County for still further guidance.
Bedford County, PA in the Civil War (1861-1865), its sites, places, and people. Complied by Clair Albert Becker, 1994.
USCT and Hollidaysburg
From the Altoona Tribune’s archives of Wednesday, June 8, 1864, pg.3 List of county men drafted, among that group of men were Henry Carr (colored) from Gaysport Bough and William Lather (colored) from Blair Township.
USCT (United States Colored Troops) Soldiers buried in Hollidaysburg
Pvt. John H. Baptish 1833-1910
Pvt. Andrew W. Brown
Pvt. Henry P. Brown 1843-1895 54th Mass, (Company B)
Pvt. Robert Brown 1829-1893 Company F http://www.pa-roots.com/pacw/usct/45thusct/45thusctcof.html
Pvt. Charles Elder 1839-1899 22nd Regiment, USCI/USCT (Company K)
Pvt. Alfred Green 1838-1921 54th Mass, (Company B)
Pvt. Reuben Huff 1841-1906 5th Regiment, Massachusetts Cavalry (Colored) (Company D)
Pvt. George J. Irons 1832-1909 22nd Regiment, USCI/USCT, (Company K)
Pvt. George W. Lyons 1847-1904
Pvt. Henry Murphy
Pvt. George Penlow 1825-1891
Pvt. Simon Peters 1824-1892
Pvt. Charles Robison 1845 -? 127th Regiment, USCI/USCT (Company K )
Soldiers of Blair County” by Floyd Hoenstine, 1940
Source: Bates, Samuel P. History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865, Harrisburg, 1868-1871.
Other USCT Soldiers from Hollidaysburg:
Pvt. James Elletts 54th Mass (Company B), died in Charleston, SC 1863, captured at Fort Wagner 1863
Pvt. Samuel Elletts 54th Mass (Company B)
Corpl. James Lyons 54th Mass (Company B)
Pvt. George Washington Streets (Company B) died in Beaufort, SC 1863, wounded at Ft. Wagner 1863
Thomas E. Knox 54th Mass, died in Johnstown on May 31, 1889 (Johnstown Flood)
http://www.pa-roots.com/pacw/usct/45thusct/45thusctcof.html
http://54th-mass.org/
Publication: THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
Date: December 23, 1865
Title: LETTER FROM HOLLIDAYSBURG
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pvt. Andrew W. Brown
Pvt. Henry P. Brown 1843-1895 54th Mass.
Pvt. Robert Brown 1829-1893
These three men are buried in Union Cemetery in Hollidaysburg, PA (all fought in the Civil War) are listed in the book “Soldiers of Blair County” by Floyd Hoenstine, 1940 (which can be found at the Blair County Genealogical Society in Hollidaysburg) and in and Samuel Bates’ “History of the PA Volunteer”.
For information about the USCT soldiers who came from Hollidaysburg, I will refer you to the blog post “A brief history of the Blair County USCT soldiers”
Civic Engagement
Frederick Douglass’ North Star newspaper of November 28, 1848, pg. 4 stated that the black women of Hollidaysburg were involved with the Pennsylvania Union of Daughters of Temperance, also known as the Henry Highland Garnet Union of Daughters of Temperance and the local union was called “Piety”. This union was in contact with several other unions in Lewistown, Bellefonte, Carlisle, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia
Hollidaysburg’s black residents and other Pennsylvania towns’ black residents celebrated in August the Independence of West Indies and Haiti prior to the start of the Civil War. (Altoona Tribune August 4, 1859, pg. 3)
In 1865, the Hollidaysburg African American citizenry formed a local Pennsylvania State Equal Rights League. Members of the local and PA State Equal Rights League included Daniel Williams, Moses Brown M.W. L. Knox, and Samuel Ambrose from Hollidaysburg.
Publication: THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
Date: December 23, 1865
Title: LETTER FROM HOLLIDAYSBURG
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Publication: THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
Date: November 25, 1865
Title: PROCEEDINGS
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Publication: THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
Date: November 18, 1865
Title: PROCEEDINGS
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Publication: THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
Date: August 18, 1866
Title: PROCEEDINGS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE EQUAL RIGHTS LEAGUE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING HELD IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH, AUGUST 8, 9, 10, 1866
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Publication: THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
Date: December 2, 1865
Title: PROCEEDINGS
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
www.accessible.com/accessible (Accessible Archives)
https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbaapc.27700/?sp=1 “PA State Equal Rights League Convention” held in Harrisburg in 1865. (Library of Congress)
The Pennsylvania State Equal Rights League existed to promote the passage and ratification of the 13th, 14th, 15th Amendment, to promote the integration of black and white children with attending public schools and the integration of public transportation. The league was based upon the National Equal Rights League.
15th Amendment Celebration in Blair County
The amendment that prohibits the federal government and each state from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen’s “race, color, or previous condition of servitude” was ratified on February 3, 1870.
(African American men could vote in the South due to the passage of new state constitutions, but 11 northern states did not have suffrage laws in place for African American men living in those states)
On Tuesday, April 26, 1870, the African American and white citizens of Altoona and Hollidaysburg met to celebrate the passage of the 15th amendment granting African American men the right to vote. The celebration committee decided to hold an event in both cities. The parade of people started in Hollidaysburg along the “turnpike” near McCahan’s “Bluff” and ended up in the Diamond for the first major speech. The group reformed and marched on Plank Road to Altoona’s City Hall for the final speeches. William Howard Day was the keynote speaker. The committee consisted of William Nesbit, president, Morris W.L. Knox, “Major” John Thomas, Moses Brown, William Walton, vice-presidents, Thomas H. Shorter, Samuel Richardson, secretaries, Rev. William T. Biddle, chaplain. Other citizens involved in setting up the celebration included E.D.W. Johnson, George Jones, J.W. Wagner, J. (John) Alexander, C. Ambrose, George Hooper, John H. Ferguson, Robert S. Merrells, James Burris and John A. Jones.
Hollidaysburg Register and Altoona Tribune, April 29, 1870, pgs. 3
The celebration of the 15th amendment maybe the highlight of Hollidaysburg’s black history in the 19th century, but it is not the end of Hollidaysburg’s black history.
