| On leaving
his settlement in 1807, Johns sold the town to
William Hartley and Dr. John Anderson for $5,000.
They kept it three years and in 1808 sold out to
John Holliday of the Juniata Valley. Holliday
built an iron forge on the banks of the
Stonycreek, but abandoned the project when a
flood destroyed his equipment. Holliday sold his holdings
in Conemaugh Old Town to Peter Levergood for
$8,000 in 1811. Two years later Levergood sold
out to George Brenizer and Thomas Burell for
$12,583.
However,
Levergood eventually regained the property and
became the town's most successful developer. In
1818, when Brenizer and Burrell could not make
the payments agreed upon, Levergood bought the
property back at sheriff sale for $6.18.
Levergood kept the property in his possession
until his death in 1860. When he died he left
$50,000 in gold in a Johnstown bank.
|
