USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Brookville > A pioneer history of Jefferson county, Pennsylvania and my first recollections of Brookville, Pennsylvania, 1840-1843, when my feet were bare and my cheeks were brown > Part 47
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The pioneer hunter was John Aylesworth. He came to Barnett town- ship, Jefferson County, or what in 1838 became Jenks township, Jefferson County, and is now Jenks township, Forest County, in 1834. He was a Connecticut Yankee, but came to this wilderness from Ashtabula, Ohio. He was the most noted and famous hunter in this section of Jefferson
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County. Other early professional hunters were Philip Clover and Ami Sibley.
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Marienville court-house, old Forest.
The pioneer path or trail was opened by Cyrus Blood from Claring- ton to Blood's settlement. This was in the year 1833. The pioneer
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
road was this "path" widened and improved by Blood several years later.
The pioneer tavern was the home of Cyrus Blood. Mr. Blood built the pioneer saw-mill in 1834 and the pioneer grist-mill in 1840. These mills were erected by him on Salmon Creek.
The pioneer school-master was John D. Hunt. He taught in the winter of 1833-34 in Mr. Blood's home.
The pioneer preacher was Dr. Otis Smith. The pioneer sermon to white people was preached in Mr. Blood's house.
Brookville was the post-office for this settlement from 1833 to 1843.
The pioneer court house of Forest County was built in Marienville, of hewed logs, and afterwards weather-boarded and painted white. The work was done by Bennett Dobbs. (See illustration. )
What is now Marienville was called for many years "the Blood settlement."
TIONESTA TOWNSHIP-A LOST TOWNSHIP.
This, the tenth township organization, was taken from Barnett, in 1838, and named after a river in its boundary. Taxables in 1842, 9 ; population in 1840, 27. This township is now Howe, a member of Forest County.
Pioneer election district according to the act of April 16, 1838 :
"SECTION 49. That the township of Tionesta, in the county of Jefferson, is hereby declared a separate election district, and the election shall be held at the house of John Noef, in said township."
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
ANDREW HUNTER'S BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY AN HISTORICAL EVENT.
Washington, the eleventh township, was organized in 1839, and was taken from Snyder and Pine Creek. The township was named for the " Father of our Country." Taxables in 1842, 112. Population by census 1840, 367.
The township embraced Prospect Hill, Prescottville, Reynoldsville, and West Reynoldsville, until Winslow township was formed, hence the early settlers on the old State Road and on the turnpike were originally in Washington.
The pioneer settlers in what is now Washington township were Henry Keys, John McGhee, Thomas Moore, Alexander Osborne, and John McIntosh. These pioneers located in 1824. In 1826, Andrew Smith, William Cooper, and John Wilson settled. In 1829, James Smith, Esq., settled also. Other early settlers were as follows: John Millen, James Ross, David Dennison, William Shaw, Robert Morrison, Robert Smith, George Senior, William Smith, Thomas Tedlie, John Magee, William McConnell, Alvin H. Head, T. B. McLain, William B. Mccullough,
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Alexander Keys, Robert Patton, Daniel Groves, James Groves, John Groves, James Welsh, Frederick R. Brown, James Bond, and John McClelland.
Joseph McCurdy came to Beechwoods from Indiana County in the year 1835. He was accompanied by his mother, two brothers, Robert and James, and three sisters, Martha, Margaret, who married John Millen, and Betsy, who married Andrew Hunter. They settled where James McCurdy now lives. As a man, he was very quiet and unassuming, without show or pretence. He was faithful as a Christian, firm and de- cided as an elder in maintaining discipline in the church, and mild in enforcing the same ; a firm believer in the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church as being the truth taught by the word of God. These truths he unflinchingly maintained and defended through life. He did much for the church, and after his death his mantle fell upon his brother James.
In 1830, John and Andrew Hunter settled on farms. Andrew lived to be over one hundred years old, and as the celebration of his centen- nial birthday was the first and only event of the kind in this county, I reprint my report of that interesting occasion, made at the time for the Brookville Jeffersonian Democrat,-viz. :
"A GREAT BIRTHDAY.
"CELEBRATION OF ANDREW HUNTER'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LIFE. "Jefferson County's Centenarian.
" Born in Ireland, October 1, 1790, living in Jefferson County, Penn- sylvania, October 1, 1890. Has one sister living aged ninety-seven, and a brother ninety-five. Located on his farm in Washington township in 1830. He is bright, intelligent, and pleasant to converse with. Hand- some, short in stature, rosy-cheeked, with a fine head of iron-gray hair. A widower for many years, and will probably not remarry. Always an early riser and a hard worker. Has never been sick, never used tobacco, but drinks tea and coffee, and believes that a little ' gude whuskey,' un- less taken to excess, ' will not hurt ony man at all, at all.' Occasion- ally goes to a wedding, but attends church regularly. A strict Presby- terian. Leads the family devotions night and morning. Is lively, loves jokes, laughs heartily, and enjoys life. Is opposed to all modern innova- tions in the church, such as organs, improved psalmody, etc.
" A friend remarked to him, ' I suppose, Mr. Hunter, they are getting some new-fangled ideas in the church up here?' 'Aye, feth, that's jest what they're doin'. They are singin' human composition in the church now. I fought it with all my might, but they overpowered me, and I did not go back for three months. I thought I never would go back ; but then I said for all the wee time I had to stay, I might just as weel go back. Our preacher came over to make us a visit, and I just took the
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opportunity to give him a piece of my mind, and after I was through he had not one word in reply to make, for he had not a particle of founda- tion to stand upon.'
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Andrew Ilunter, one hundred years old.
" The gathering at Mr. Hunter's home yesterday was an immense affair, worthy of the occasion,-the celebration of the one hundredth anni- versary of his birth. Relatives, friends, and neighbors were present. The old, the middle-aged, and the infant were there.
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" The company numbered fully a thousand, coming from various parts of the county, and some from outside. At noon refreshments were served for all present, a special table being prepared for the old patri- arch, with Judge Jenks, Rev. Filson, Dr. McKnight, James McCurdy, and other friends near him. The old gentleman laughed, joked, and ate a hearty meal. He hears ordinary talk and has nearly all his lower teeth.
" At one P.M. Rev. Filson preached an old-fashioned sermon, Rev. Hill explaining the psalm. The clerks in charge of the singing were A. Mccullough and Elder William Smith, one lining the psalm and the other leading the music. Mr. Hunter joined in the singing.
" Addresses were made by Hon. W. P. Jenks and Dr. W. J. Mc- Knight ; an original poem, by Willie Wray, was read by Rev. Hill. Mr. Hunter's neighbors presented him with a gold-headed cane on which to lean in the second century of his life. A photograph of the company was taken by E. Clark Hall, of Brookville. This was the greatest event ever witnessed in this section of Jefferson County.
" The following old people were present : James Welsh, William Mc- Connell, W. P. Jenks, W. McCurdy and wife, of Indiana, Dr. McCurdy, of Freeport, John Cooper, S. Patton, D. B. McConnell, J. Shaw, R. Os- borne, I. Morrison, J. Sterrett and wife, N. Riggs, J. Snoddy, Dr. Niver and wife, J. Clover, W. Smith, R. Smith, J. R. Millen, W. Patton, J. McCurdy, M. Smith, T. Moore, J. Crawford, J. Dixon, R. Sterrett, James Cooper, H. Maginnis, D. Motherell, Mrs. Wray, Mrs. J. B. Hen- derson, Mrs. McClure, Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. McCurdy, Mrs. Harker, Mrs. Daily, Mrs. Patterson, Mrs. J. Hunter, Mrs. M. Smith, Miss A. McCurdy, Mrs. McIntosh, Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Maxwell, Mrs J. J. Stewart, N. B. Lane and wife.
" Following is the address delivered by Dr. W. J. McKnight :
"' LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,-Ordinary birthday celebrations are pleasant to neighbors and friends, but the pleasure to celebrate the birth- day of a friend and neighbor who has reached the age of one hundred years is seldom realized or enjoyed by any community. We are here to day to celebrate a centennial birthday. Our neighbor, Andrew Hunter, was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, October 1, 1790. It is now October 1, 1890. He emigrated to America in 1825, and located where he now resides in 1830, having lived here sixty years. He is what we Americans call a Scotch-Irishman. As Americans we are proud of this blood. In our struggle for independence they were loyal. A Tory was unheard of among them. Pennsylvania and the nation owe very much of their greatness to this race. Natural-born leaders and orators, they have given us statesmen, teachers, professors, ministers, physicians, judges, Congressmen, and generals, even to our Sheridan and Grant. They have furnished the nation with seven Presidents and
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
our State with seven governors. Brave, intelligent, warm-hearted, and true, their influence must and always will be potent.
" ' But, ladies and gentlemen, others have spoken of Mr. Hunter and his virtues as a man and a citizen. I endorse all that has been said. To say more of him personally would be unseemly. Therefore let us
'' Lift the twilight curtains of the past And, turning from familiar sight and sound, Sadly and full of reverence, let us cast A glance upon tradition's shadowy ground.'
"' When Andrew Hunter first saw the light of day George Washing- ton was President, our territory small, only thirteen States, and our pop- ulation but three million. He has lived to see our nation grow to forty- four States, our people increase to sixty-five million, and our country to rise from poverty to the wealth of fifty-six billion dollars. He has lived to see our territory become as large as Russia in Europe, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Great Britain, and Ireland, fronting on two great oceans, and populated, too, with a people only twenty per cent. of whom are unable to read and write.
" ' In the year Andrew Hunter was born letter postage was twelve and a half cents every one hundred miles ; to day two cents will send a letter three thousand miles. Then we had but seventy-five post-offices ; now we have sixty thousand one hundred and forty. In those days the mails were carried on horseback or in stage-coaches. Communications of news, business, or affection were slow and uncertain, but to-day, with rapid railroad transportation,
"' Letters are but affection's touches, Lightnings from friendship's lamp.'
"' In 1790 railroads were unknown. To-day there is in the United States one hundred and seventy thousand miles of railroad. Over these roads there were carried last year five hundred million people and six hundred million tons of freight. Employed upon them are one million men, thirty thousand locomotives, twenty-one thousand passenger-cars, seven thousand baggage-cars, and one million freight cars. The total capital invested is eight billion dollars. The disbursements for labor and repairs are yearly six hundred and fifty million dollars. As a Penn- sylvanian I am proud to say our own Pennsylvania road is the greatest, the best, and most perfect in management and construction of any road in the world. We have smoking-cars, with bath room, barber-shop, writing-desks, and library. We have dining cars in which are served refreshments that a Delmonico cannot surpass. We have parlor cars
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
with bay-windows and luxurious furniture, and we have cars with beds for sleeping soft as the " eider down."
"' In the year Andrew Hunter was born training-day was a great event. All men were required by law to participate in a day of general military drill. No uniforms were worn, save the homespun dress of each soldier. Each company was armed with sticks, pikes, muskets, or guns, and were preceded in their marches by a fife or drum. An odd and comic sight it must have been. Royal amusements in 1790 were shoot- ing-matches, rollings, huskings, scutchings, flax-breakings, apple-parings, and quiltings. Dancing was not entirely overlooked. Books were few and but little schooling to be had. Woman's extravagances in dress was then and is now a juicy topic for grumblers.
""' In 1790 no steamboat had ever navigated the water, nothing but old sail-crafts being used. A trip across the ocean required from four weeks to three months. Father Hunter was six weeks on the ocean. Now we skip across in six and seven days. Then it took weeks and months to hear the news from Europe or Asia ; now we hear daily from the whole world. We have only to speak across the ocean, when our brother in Europe or Asia greets us and replies.
""'In the year Andrew Hunter was born Pennsylvania contained a population of four hundred and thirty-four thousand three hundred and seventy-three ; now we have five million people. In 1790 the curse of slavery rested on Pennsylvania, for in that year three thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven human beings were considered " property" within her borders and held as slaves. Sixty-four of these slaves were still in our State in 1840.
"" In 1790, Jefferson County was unknown. No white man lived within her borders. Nature reigned supreme. The shade of the forest was heavy the whole day through. Now our county contains a popula- tion of forty-three thousand. We have schools, churches, telegraphs, telephones, and court all the time.
"' The great coal deposits that underlie forty-two of our counties was known to exist at that early date, but its use was not understood. Some hard coal was mined and shipped to Philadelphia for a market, but not knowing what to do with it, it was finally used to repair the roads. Our people are alive now to its use, as the following exhibit will show : In 1888 there was mined in Pennsylvania of hard coal forty-one million six hundred and thirty eight thousand four hundred and eighty-four tons. giving employment to one hundred and sixteen thousand and forty two people. In 1888 there was mined in Pennsylvania thirty-three million seven hundred and seventy-two thousand two hundred and eighty-five tons of bituminous coal, giving employment to sixty thousand nine hun- dred and forty-six people. Total output of hard and soft coal in ISSS, seventy-five million four hundred and ten thousand seven hundred and
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
sixty nine tons. Total number of people employed in mining, one hundred and seventy-six thousand nine hundred and eighty-nine.
""' In the year 1790 men were imprisoned for debt and kept in prison until the last farthing was paid. The jails of that day were but little better than dungeons. There was no woman's Christian temperance union, no woman's relief corps, no society for the prevention of cruelty to animals or children.
"' In 1790 domestic comforts were few. No stove had been in - vented. Large, deep fireplaces with cranes, andirons, and bake ovens were the only modes of heating and cooking. Friction-matches were unknown. If the fire of the house went out, you had to rekindle with a flint or borrow of your neighbor. I have borrowed fire. House furni- ture was then meagre and rough. There were no window-blinds or car- pets. Rich people whitewashed their ceilings and rooms, and covered their parlor-floors with white sand. Hence the old couplet :
" ' Oh, dear mother, my toes are sore A dancing over your sanded floor.'
" ' Pine-knots, tallow-dipped candles burned in iron or brass candle- sticks, and whale oil burned in iron lamps were the means for light in stores, dwellings, etc. Food was scarce, coarse, and of the most common kind, with no canned goods or evaporated fruits. In addition to cooking in the open fireplace, women had to spin, knit, dye, and weave all domes- tic cloths, there being no mills run by machinery to make woollen or cotton goods. Mrs. Winslow's soothing syrup and baby-carriages were unknown. The bride of 1790 took her wedding-trip on foot or on horse- back behind the bridegroom on a " pillion."
" ' Men wore no beards, whiskers, or moustaches, their faces being as clean shaven and as smooth as a girl's. A beard was looked upon as an abomination, and fitted only for Hessians, heathen, or Turks. In 1790 not a single cigar had ever been smoked in the United States. I wish I could say that of to-day. There were no aniline dyes, no electric lights, no anæsthetics and painless surgery, no gun-cotton, no nitro glycerin, no dynamite, giant powder, audiphones, pneumatic tubes, or type-writers. No cotton-gin, no planting-machine, no mower or reaper, no hay-rake, no hay-fork, no corn-sheller, no rotary printing-press, no sewing-machine, no knitting·machine, no envelopes for letters, no india-rubber goods, coats, shoes, or cloaks, no grain elevator except man, no artificial ice, no steel pens, no telegraph or telephone, no street-cars, no steam-mills, no daguerreotypes or photographs, no steam-ploughs, no steam-thresher, only the old hand-flail, no wind-mill, and no millionaire in the whole country. General Washington was the richest man, and he was only worth eight hundred thousand dollars.
""' In 1790 slavery prevailed in all Christendom, It was everywhere
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
in manner and in fact. Men, women, and children were bought and sold like cattle. Now there is no slavery in all Christendom. No more human auction-blocks, no more masters, no more driver's lash. Bless God !
"' Our fathers established the first Christian, non-sectarian govern- ment in the world, and declared as the chief corner-stone of that govern- ment Christ's teaching, that all men are " born free and equal ;" love your neighbor as yourself. Since this thought has been carried into effect by our non-sectarian government, it has done more to elevate and civilize mankind in the last one hundred years than had ever been ac- complished in all time before. Under the humane and inspiring influ- ence of this grand idea put into practice the wheels of progress, science, religion, and civilization have made gigantic strides, and our nation espe- cially, from ocean to ocean, from arctic ice to tropic sun, is filled with sıniling, happy homes, rich fields, blooming gardens, and bright firesides, made such by Christian charity carried into national and State constitu- tional enactment.' "
The pioneer voting-place was at the cabin of James Wait.
The pioneer birth in the township was that of William McGhee in 1825. The pioneer marriage, Henry Keys and Catherine Wilson in 1826. The pioneer death, Mary, wife of John Hunter, in 1830. The pioneer graveyard, on Cooper's Hill in 1831. Pioneer merchant, Thomas B. Mc- Lain, near Beechtree. Other early merchants, W. B. Mccullough, Alvin Head. Pioneer church, Presbyterian, organized December 3, 1832, with fourteen members. The pioneer cabin was constructed by three men only,-viz. : Thomas Moore, Henry Keys, and John McIntosh.
The pioneer township election was held in 1839, and the following persons were elected,-viz. : Constable, John McGhee ; Supervisors, John McIntosh and Tilton Reynolds ; Auditors, Andrew Smith, Oliver Mc- Clelland, William Reynolds, and Joshua Rhea ; School Directors, Oliver McClelland, Andrew Smith, James McConnell, William Reynolds, John Fuller, and John Horm; Fence Appraisers, James Smith and Oliver Welch ; Poor Overseers, Henry Keys and Tilton Reynolds ; Town Clerk, John Wilson.
In 1831, John Wilson erected an up-and-down saw-mill near Rock- dale.
Archie Campbell, James Wait, Samuel, James, and Robert Kyle were early settlers, too. Archie Campbell and James Kyle were brothers-in- law. They were odd, eccentric, and stingy, but each prided himself on being very generous. The Kyles and Campbell had the reputation of being wealthy. Early in the forties the women in that part of Washing- ton township took a notion to fix up Prospect Graveyard, and in order to reach the Kyles and Campbell a subscription paper was put in the hands of Jimmie Kyle. Jimmie was an old bachelor. The first thing he did
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
after getting the paper was to call on Archie Campbell, when the follow- ing conversation, in a dignified manner, took place :
" Gud-morning, Muster Cummell."
" Gud morning, Muster Kyle."
" Are yez all well this morning, Muster Cummell?"
" Yes, Muster Kyle, there's only me and Mary, and we're all well."
" Muster Cummell, I've got a subscription paper here to fix the grave- yard beyand, and wud you be after putting something down ?"
" Egad, no, Muster Kyle, not a cint for that ould cow-pasture. As long as I luv I won't be burried there. Egad, I won't."
" Wull, Muster Cummell, we duffer in opinion on that, for if I luv and kape me health, I wull."
Pioneer school-master, William Reynolds, in 1832. Other early instructors : Alexander Cochran, 1833 ; William Kennedy, 1834; Betsy McCurdy and Thomas Reynolds, 1835 ; Oliver and Nancy Jane McClel- land, 1836; Fanny McConnell and Rev. Dexter Morris, 1838; Peggy McIntosh and Finley McCormick, 1839 ; Joseph Sterrett and Nancy Jane McClelland, 1840. The master taught three month terms in the winter, the women two in the summer.
This township was settled by Scotch-Irish, mostly from the counties Antrim and Tyrone, Ireland. They were as a unit agricultural. One noted hunter was reared there,-viz. : George Smith. Before the advent of the settlers the Indians made maple-sugar here. Trees are still stand- ing that were notched for this purpose by the savage tomahawk. The early Irish settlers took up this business and made tons and tons and barrels and barrels of maple molasses and sugar every spring. As a result no sugar trust or Claus Spreckels had any terrors for them.
Money was scarce, and the pioneers and early settlers of this township paid their debts usually " with sugar in the spring and oats after harvest." I lived in my boyhood four years with Joseph McCurdy, in this township. I desire to say here that he was an honest man and a true Christian gen- tleman.
The pioneer history of this section of the county has been graphically portrayed by Rev. Boyd Mccullough, who settled with his parents in the Beechwoods in 1832, in his "Sketches of Local History" and the " Shamrock," published by him, from which the following incidents are taken :
" In 1833 there was a beautiful fall. Keys's folks sowed wheat in November. The next spring was favorable, and it was a bountiful crop. This was a great loss to the settlement, for the people were encouraged to sow as much as they could get in any time through October, and the rust generally ruined it, until they learned wit by dear experience.
" The winter of 1831 was a very cold one, and in the severest part of it the house of John Hunter was burned down. The neighbors soon
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gathered together and put up a log house for him, but he lost nearly everything he owned by the fire.
" It was in the spring of 1832 that we moved into the woods. There were seventeen families in the woods at that time. We stopped at An- drew Smith's. I was seven years old. The next morning I ran in with the news that there was an ass with very slim legs and a small nose in the yard. I was told it was a deer. They had petted several young deer at different times.
" That fall the first school was started in the place. (Waites ) The log school house had one regular window with six lights. The other window was made by removing a log and placing panes of glass in the cavity joining each other. A writing-desk was made by driving pins in the logs below this window, and laying rough boards upon it. The fire- place was made by building a stone wall against the logs as high as the loft ; from this a kind of a flue was made of pine sticks and clay. Some- times the smoke found its way up the chimney and sometimes it wandered through the house. William Reynolds taught this first school for ten dollars a month, half in cash and half in grain after harvest. People who do not know half as much would turn up their noses at treble that pay now.
" The kindly spring came gently on, and we then commenced to make sugar. Right pleasant it is to see the luscious juice drop, drop, dropping from trees all over the hill, while roaring fire makes the syrup go foaming and dancing in the kettle till it is time to take it out and put fresh sap in. It is hard work, but then you can see the progress you are making, and you get your pay immediately.
" There was no school in summer, but we attended Sabbath-school in the school-house. This school was organized by Rev. Mr. Riggs in 1831, but it existed before that. Robert McIntosh and Betty Keys had started it when there were but few families in the place. It went from house to house before there was any school house.
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