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.
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.
