Henry Wilson Storey's History of Cambria County, V.I, p.402

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History of Cambria County, V.1

402 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

the Laurel Hill to the Ross Furnace, in Westmoreland county, to be made into pig metal, for the purpose of testing the quality. The metal was taken to a forge on the Juniata river, in Blair county, and proved very good bar iron, excepting that it was excessively hard or brittle. But the prospectors had confidence in the ore and purchased from Mr. Seigh the land on which their first find was located.
     The terms for acquiring ore and limestone for Ben's Creek Furnace were as follows:

     "We, the undersigned land owners in the Township of Conemaugh and County of Somerset on the Ben's Creek and its waters, do hereby convenant and agree that Geo. S. King of Johnstown, and such other persons as may join with him in Company, shall erect a Furnace on said Ben's Creek for the purpose of making Iron Castings, etc., that in such case, We, the undersigned do hereby grant to him and them the privilege of using any Iron ore and Limestone that can or may be found on the Land of all or any of the undersigned, and do hereby grant to him and them the privilege of making immediate examination and search for the same; and shall pay to the person or persons from whose land the ore shall be taken ten dollars a year in advance from the time they commence naming the same for use, so long as they may continue to haul and use the same; provided always, nevertheless that whatever damage may accrue to the owners of the lands where said ore may be found in raising and hauling the same, by roads, lanes or other wise, the same shall be paid for to the owner of said land by the person or persons using said ore.
     "Witness our hands this -- March, 1841.
     "William McCoy by his attorney in fact, Abraham Morrison, grants the above privilege on three tracts, including the forks of Ben's Creek for the names of John Clark, Stephen Clark and James Dalton. Garit Ream."

     Mr. King and Mr. Stewart formed a partnership under the firm name of George S. King & Co., and built the Cambria Furnace, on the Seigh tract, which was finished and blown in in 1842, and was the first furnace in this county. They shipped the pig metal to Pittsburg, exchanging it for dry goods, etc., and continued the store formerly owned by Mr. King.
     In 1843, Mr. King finding a better vein of ore in Benshoff's Hill, operated it, hauling the ore to the canal, transporting it to the Bucket factory, and then hauling it up to Cambria Furnace. The vein of ore on the upper and lower sides of Hinckston's run was the best in quantity and quality of all those about Johnstown, and was mined for some years after the Cambria

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402	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
the Laurel Hill to the Ross Furnace, in Westmoreland county, to be made into pig metal, for the purpose of testing the quality. The metal was taken to a forge on the Juniata river, in Blair county, and proved very good bar iron, excepting that it was excessively hard or brittle. But the prospectors had confidence in the ore and purchased from Mr. Seigh the land on which their first find was located. The terms for acquiring ore and limestone for Ben's Creek Furnace were as follows: "We, the undersigned land owners in the Township of Conemaugh and County of Somerset on the Ben's Creek and its waters, do hereby convenant and agree that Geo. S. King of Johnstown, and such other persons as may join with him in Company, shall erect a Furnace on said Ben's Creek for the purpose of making Iron Castings, etc., that in such case, We, the undersigned do hereby grant to him and them the privilege of using any Iron ore and Limestone that can or may be found on the Land of all or any of the undersigned, and do hereby grant to him and them the privilege of making immediate examination and search for the same; and shall pay to the person or persons from whose land the ore shall be taken ten dollars a year in advance from the time they commence naming the same for use, so long as they may continue to haul and use the same; provided always, nevertheless that whatever damage may accrue to the owners of the lands where said ore may be found in raising and hauling the same, by roads, lanes or other wise, the same shall be paid for to the owner of said land by the person or persons using said ore. "Witness our hands this -- March, 1841. "William McCoy by his attorney in fact, Abraham Morrison, grants the above privilege on three tracts, including the forks of Ben's Creek for the names of John Clark, Stephen Clark and James Dalton. Garit Ream." Mr. King and Mr. Stewart formed a partnership under the firm name of George S. King & Co., and built the Cambria Furnace, on the Seigh tract, which was finished and blown in in 1842, and was the first furnace in this county. They shipped the pig metal to Pittsburg, exchanging it for dry goods, etc., and continued the store formerly owned by Mr. King. In 1843, Mr. King finding a better vein of ore in Benshoff's Hill, operated it, hauling the ore to the canal, transporting it to the Bucket factory, and then hauling it up to Cambria Furnace. The vein of ore on the upper and lower sides of Hinckston's run was the best in quantity and quality of all those about Johnstown, and was mined for some years after the Cambria