The story of Johnstown : its early settlement, rise ... - JohnstownCafe

EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Genekai, Campbell's Applicatk-jn — Original Sir\ tv of the Site of the Coming
Metropolis — Fac-Simile of the Retcen tu the Land Office — Transfers and
Changes of Property — Duplicate of the First Patent — Arrival of Joseph
Johns— Points in the Life of the Founder of the Town — Removal to the
Country— His Death and Burial— Laid to Rest in a Secludld Nook — Aboriginal
Remains — Pioneers or Civilization — Hopes and Aspirations.
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RIL 3rd, 1769, is a date never to be forgotten
bv residents of Cambria county. On that
dav General Charles Campbell, of Philadelphia,
filed an application in theLand Office,
at Harrisbury. for a lot that was to become
the birthplace of a prosperous community.
The quaint old book recording the transaction
spells the name •'Campble," and indexes
the order as No. 1683. The tract lay
at the junction of two streams, to \\ liich the
names of Little Conemaugh Ki\er and Stony
Creek had been given. United they formed
the Big Coneinaugh. though all three were
once included in the coniprehensi\'e title
of Kiskiminetas River, into which they
JOHNSTO N FIFTY' Y"EA
emptied. Thomas Smitli, deput\- of Sur-
vevor-Genera 1 John Lukens, surveyed th.e Campbell and adjoining properties,
returning; the former to tiie Land Office in these words :
A Draas^ht tif a Tract of Land c.illeci Conemaugh Old Town ;
situntc on the East side of