Quick Links

  Joseph F. McKenrick was a young man when the Civil War swept around his home in Adams County in the summer of 1863. Confederate troops invaded the county June 25 and remained there until after the July 1 to 3 Battle of Gettysburg. From the beginning of the three-day battle until the end, the wounded and dead of both armies littered the fields. Many of those who could be removed were taken to makeshift hospitals in homes throughout Adams County.

  Young Joe McKenrick felt an urge to help the suffering soldiers, as well as to see close-up what was unfolding on the field. He donned a badge: Confederate Ambulance Corps. On July 3 and 4, Joe served with the ambulance corps of Gen. James L. Kemper's brigade in Gen. George Pickett's Virginia division. It was there he met a young Yankee soldier, William H. Connell of Clearfield County, who had been wounded and captured on the first day of battle.   Connell was a member of Co. B, 149th Pennsylvania Volunteers, known as the "Bucktails." Connell was taken to a Confederate hospital in charge of a Dr. Hayes, who attended the wounded Yank with compassion.  

  On the afternoon of July 3, Connell, another Union soldier and a wounded Rebel were having a friendly argument. In a Sept. 23, 1905, story in The Johnstown Tribune, Connell gave this account.   “During this discussion, a big boy looking more like a farmer than a Reb, came up and was asked to decide which theory was correct. His reply was, 'Come over to the shade of that tree and we will decide it. Connell and the Reb followed and the three sat down.

  The big boy took out a bottle of whiskey and two large slices of bread, spread with butter, and handed one to each of us, also gave each a drink from the flask. "Only old soldiers who have not seen homemade bread and fresh butter or tasted good whiskey for a long time can appreciate the appetizing effect of such a lunch."

  The "farm boy" was young McKenrick, who observed the tragedy of Pickett's Charge and the bloodshed that resulted. For two days after the Confederates withdrew from Gettysburg, Joe McKenrick continued to pull the wounded off the field and bury the dead.   Thirty years passed, and the scene shifted to Ebensburg. Joseph McKenrick called Connell to the Mountain House and asked him whether he was the William Connell who had served with the Bucktails and been wounded at Gettysburg. Connell said he was and asked why McKenrick wanted to know.

  McKenrick mentioned the meeting under the tree and the boy who gave Connell and a Rebel buttered bread and whiskey while the battle raged.   "Well, you are that Bucktail and I am that boy, and I have wanted to meet you for 30 years," McKenrick said. Connell returned to Clearfield after the war and later moved to Ebensburg. He served several years as a jury commissioner, town clerk and in other positions.

  Joseph McKenrick became a lawyer and schoolteacher. He moved to Clearfield County where he served two terms as district attorney. He practiced law in Cambria County from 1892 until his death Aug. 26, 1913. He and Connell became close friends and neighbors. They are buried in adjoining plots in Holy Name Catholic Cemetery in Ebensburg.

  Joseph was the first of four generations of McKenricks to practice law in Ebensburg, all with offices in the same building. His son, Ivan J. McKenrick, served 30 years as a judge, eight years as president judge. He died in 1972 at age 88. His son, Fremont J. McKenrick, has been practicing law since 1952. Upon his father's death, he took over as organist and pianist at Ebensburg Presbyterian Church, where he continues to serve. His father had played there for about 35 years.   Fremont’s son, Bruce, has been practicing law since 1978.

Editor’s Note:  The preceding article was written by Bill Jones for the Johnstown-Tribune Democrat. It appeared on September 21, 2003.

  ^Top

Artifacts

     Board game - Entrepreneurs of Ebensburg. – Bob Mulvehill

     Violin, bow and case – LaRue Randall Sherry

Books

      175 Southwestern PA Marriages - Hon. Karl Parrish

     Apostle of the Alleghenies, Reverend Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin – Prince Gallitzin Chapel House

     Bedford in Ye Olden Time - Hon. Karl Parrish

     Blair County Pennsylvania Church Records - Hon. Karl Parrish

     Blair County, PA Church and Cemetery Records – Sinking Valley Presbyterian Church - Hon. Karl

          Parrish

     Blair County, PA Church Records – Logan Valley Presbyterian, Bellwood, PA - Hon. Karl Parrish

     Duncansville Sesquicentennial Celebration - Hon. Karl Parrish

     Historic Resource Study: Allegheny Portage Railroad  - Ralph J. Michaels

     History of Greene County - Hon. Karl Parrish

     Mining Record: Centre, Clearfield, Cambria Counties, PA – Justin Kirk Houser

     The People of Cambria County – Dave Huber   

     Pittsburg(h) Pennsylvania Marriages (1803-1867) - Hon. Karl Parrish

     The Saga of the Johnstown City Schools – Dr. Clea P. Hollis

     Sandyvale Cemetery – Johnstown, PA (1850-1906) - Hon. Karl Parrish

     Smull’s Legislative Handbook and Manual of the State of Pennsylvania 1904 – Frank and Betty

          Seymour

     Two Generations on the Allegheny Portage Railroad - Hon. Karl Parrish

     The Valley of the Pines - Hon. Karl Parrish

Genealogies

     The Pringle Family – Wade Pringle

     The Michael’s Family History – Charles Ellis Michaels

     The Trent and Coleman Families - Charles Ellis Michaels

     The Reilly’s of St Augustine, Clearfield Township, Cambria County, PA – Kenneth  MacDonald

     John Price Family (175- to 1984) – Hon. Karl Parrish

    Chest Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania (1826-1840, Vol. 1) - Hon. Karl Parrish

Newspapers

     Democrat and Sentinel (Nov 30, 1865) – Charles E. Tritinger

     The Johnstown Daily Democrat Souvenir Edition, Autumn 1894 - Ralph P. Michaels

     The Somerset Whig (Oct 1815-Oct 1817) – Ralph P. Michaels

^Top

  The evening of August 23, 2003 was perfect. A large tent was raised on the lawn of the A. W. Buck house, candles lit, melodies of a jazz band filled the air and guests dined on a gourmet meal.

  At the suggestion of board member, John Kimball, the first of what is hoped to be a summertime tradition at the museum was well attended and enjoyable for all.

  Society President, Fremont McKenrick was in his element as he played keyboard with the jazz group. Likewise, Nicole Wood enjoyed decorating the tables and a group of “society friends” prepared a delicious array of hors d’oeuvres.

Successful Evening Program

  Helen Paige and Pat Stock presented an appreciative audience with a very interesting program of local postcards from her personal collection. Helen has been a member of a postcard club for many years. This was the first of a series of evening programs being planned to take place in the Society’s refurbished community room.

  If you would like to be a future speaker at one of our evening programs please contact Pat Stock or Toni Marie Clarke through our curator, Kathy Jones at 814-472-6674.

^Top

Thanks to the planning efforts of Society friend, Cecelia Farabaugh, a full bus of day-trippers dipped below the Mason-Dixon Line into the historic areas of Cumberland and Frostburg, Maryland. The October day was crisp and sunny as travelers took an hour-long train between the two towns. A short visit was made to the very interesting Thrasher Carriage Museum.

  Back in Cumberland, the group stepped back into the Victorian Age at the Gordon-Roberts House along historic Washington Avenue. The docents at the historic house were well informed and filled with Southern charm. At the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, which overlooks the city and rests atop the ruins of Fort Cumberland, visitors are treated to the exquisite stained-glass windows designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Dinner was served at the Apple Bin Restaurant in Fishertown. 

^Top

Nick Persio Wins “Kimball” Donated Car

  Dressed in his restaurant whites, Nick Persio needed only to walk one block from his downtown Ebensburg business, Amici’s Restaurant, to pick up the keys to his prize car.   Thanks to the generous donation of a 1999 Buick Regal by L. Robert Kimball and Associates, of Ebensburg, our historical society has benefited both financially and by public exposure.

  John Kimball, a member of the historical society’s board of directors made the car donation in July. Many society members, especially our president, Fremont McKenrick, spent many hours selling chances and promoting the project. Thanks to L. Robert Kimball and Associates and to all who bought and sold tickets.

Just Published

the official history book of Cambria County’s Bicentennial Celebration!

The People of Cambria County

compiled by Dave Huber

...looks at the legends, labors and lives of the hard-working people of this Western Pennsylvania community.

Richard Burkert of the Johnstown Area Heritage Association says: “Dave Huber has taken a large amount of material and successfully assembled a collection of the smaller, individual stories that make up the interesting history of Cambria County.”

 A great Christmas Gift !

Only $12.00—Available at the Cambria County Historical Society

$15.00—Mail Orders (includes tax and S/H)

Payable to:  Dave Huber

214  S. Marion Street

Ebensburg, PA  15931

or visit: www.peopleofcambria.com accepting Paypal and credit cards

Email: peopleofcambria@aol.com

Please plan to Join us for our annual Holiday Open House

Sunday December 7 From 2:00—4:00pm

October’s Evening Speakers Program

The second set of speakers in the monthly speakers program were Joe Cameron and Bud Vescovi, who talked about their favorite subject– Native Americans of the region. Pictured here, Joe Cameron goes over the details of his arrowhead collection with board member Andrea Fedore Sims.

  These programs have been very well received. Organizers Pat Stock and Toni Marie Clarke encourage all who have not yet attended to treat themselves to an informative and entertaining evening.

Next Program– November 19th County Folklore by Dave Huber

Starting at 7:00pm in the new community room

ALL NEW PRINTING

1890 Atlas Cambria County

 Back by popular demand

Reprint of J. A. Caldwell’s Atlas of Cambria County is an 11”x14” hardbound edition with black/white etchings of local houses and farms, biographies, portraits, maps of towns and townships as well as information on the 1889 Johnstown Flood.

Only $45/each

Cash and Carry at the Historical Society

CALL ABOUT MAIL ORDERS. Small s/h charge will be applied.

 Make check payable to

Cambria County Historical Society  
615 N. Center St., PO Box 278
Ebensburg, PA  15931

^Top