Henry Wilson Storey's History of Cambria County, V.III, p.386

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History of Cambria County, V.3

386 HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

    John Carthew, son of John and Mary (Lewis) Carthew, was employed in the open-hearth mill of the Cambria Iron Company at the time of the flood. Amid all the horrors of this appalling calamity he was enabled, by his extraordinary presence of mind, to save his life in a remarkable manner. Being on a roof, with others, he was observed to be intently gazing into the water in the mill yards. Upon the onslaught of the waters he was thrown into the air with the rest, and after making several revolutions came down on his feat, remaining, to the surprise of all, on the spot where he landed, whence he was afterward rescued. Knowing, that in a certain place in the yards was a large pile of metal, he had decided to land upon it, and, wonderful to relate, had been able to accomplish his purpose in spite of the startling manner in which he was carried over. Although he recovered from the immediate effects of this experience, his system was weakened by it to such an extent that he shortly after fell a victim to typhoid fever and died December 20, 1889. He left a widow, Minnie (Lightner) Carthew, and one child, John.
    WILLIAM CARTHEW. The late William Carthew, a successful miner and well-known citizen of Johnstown, was born in 1832, in Cornwall, England, son of John and Mary (Grace) Carthew, the former a worker in the lead and copper mines of Cornwall.
    William Carthew was left an orphan at an early age, and while still quite young was thrown upon his own resources. His opportunities for acquiring an education mere extremely limited, and when a young man he went to the lead and copper mines of North Wales, where he worked until about 1865, when he emigrated to the United States. 0n landing he went immediately to Johnstown, whither his brother John had preceded him. He found work in the ore mines under James Morley, and at the end of two years was in circumstances which justified him in sending for his wife and four children. After a time he left the ore mines and went to work in the coal mines, still serving under James Morley. In the coal mines he was employed for eighteen years, building up for himself, during that time, a well-deserved reputation for ability and faithfulness. His financial success is attested by the fact that he was able to build five houses on New street. He was a public-spirited citizen and represented the Twelfth ward in the borough council. From the time of his arrival in this country his political allegiance was given to the Republican party. He was a member of St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal church.
    Mr. Carthew married, about 1854, in Montgomeryshire, North Wales, Jane Evans, and the following children were born to them: John, died in 1905, in Johnstown. Lewis, of Johnstown, married Mary J. Harvey, seven children. Thomas, at home. Grace, wife of Daniel Lewis, died in Johnstown, leaving two children, William Roy and Marion. Harriet, wife of William Bailey, of Johnstown.
    The death of Mr. Carthew, although occurring in 1889, the year of the flood, was in no way connected with that great disaster, being the result of asthma, a disease extremely prevalent among miners. In consequence of the state of his health he was forced to relinquish his labors and to live in retirement for a considerable period prior to his death, which was sincerely lamented by the many who knew him as an estimable man and an upright citizen. His was the first body to be carried in a hearse through the streets of Johnstown after the flood. He is buried in Grand View cemetery.

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386	HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
John Carthew, son of John and Mary (Lewis) Carthew, was employed in the open-hearth mill of the Cambria Iron Company at the time of the flood. Amid all the horrors of this appalling calamity he was enabled, by his extraordinary presence of mind, to save his life in a remarkable manner. Being on a roof, with others, he was observed to be intently gazing into the water in the mill yards. Upon the onslaught of the waters he was thrown into the air with the rest, and after making several revolutions came down on his feat, remaining, to the surprise of all, on the spot where he landed, whence he was afterward rescued. Knowing, that in a certain place in the yards was a large pile of metal, he had decided to land upon it, and, wonderful to relate, had been able to accomplish his purpose in spite of the startling manner in which he was carried over. Although he recovered from the immediate effects of this experience, his system was weakened by it to such an extent that he shortly after fell a victim to typhoid fever and died December 20, 1889. He left a widow, Minnie (Lightner) Carthew, and one child, John. WILLIAM CARTHEW. The late William Carthew, a successful miner and well-known citizen of Johnstown, was born in 1832, in Cornwall, England, son of John and Mary (Grace) Carthew, the former a worker in the lead and copper mines of Cornwall. William Carthew was left an orphan at an early age, and while still quite young was thrown upon his own resources. His opportunities for acquiring an education mere extremely limited, and when a young man he went to the lead and copper mines of North Wales, where he worked until about 1865, when he emigrated to the United States. 0n landing he went immediately to Johnstown, whither his brother John had preceded him. He found work in the ore mines under James Morley, and at the end of two years was in circumstances which justified him in sending for his wife and four children. After a time he left the ore mines and went to work in the coal mines, still serving under James Morley. In the coal mines he was employed for eighteen years, building up for himself, during that time, a well-deserved reputation for ability and faithfulness. His financial success is attested by the fact that he was able to build five houses on New street. He was a public-spirited citizen and represented the Twelfth ward in the borough council. From the time of his arrival in this country his political allegiance was given to the Republican party. He was a member of St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal church. Mr. Carthew married, about 1854, in Montgomeryshire, North Wales, Jane Evans, and the following children were born to them: John, died in 1905, in Johnstown. Lewis, of Johnstown, married Mary J. Harvey, seven children. Thomas, at home. Grace, wife of Daniel Lewis, died in Johnstown, leaving two children, William Roy and Marion. Harriet, wife of William Bailey, of Johnstown. The death of Mr. Carthew, although occurring in 1889, the year of the flood, was in no way connected with that great disaster, being the result of asthma, a disease extremely prevalent among miners. In consequence of the state of his health he was forced to relinquish his labors and to live in retirement for a considerable period prior to his death, which was sincerely lamented by the many who knew him as an estimable man and an upright citizen. His was the first body to be carried in a hearse through the streets of Johnstown after the flood. He is buried in Grand View cemetery.