USA > Pennsylvania > A pioneer outline history of northwestern Pennsylvania > Part 49
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Caleb Dill was the "post-boy" in 1828.
The pioneer tannery was started in 1830. Enos Gillis, owner; James Gallagher, tanner.
Dr. A. M. Clarke writes us of his advent in Elk County in 1818:
" When in Russell, St. Lawrence County, New York, I attended a terni in the village school, two miles from our home. How much I was benefited by it I know not-I cannot remember that I learned anything. Shortly after- wards my father disposed of his property there, in Russell, New York, and we came to Pennsylvania. The journey was long and tedious, about six weeks. We moved with oxen and wagon; a canvas cover over the wagon gave us shelter from sunshine and storm. I was eleven years old, being the oldest of the children; there were three of us. I had sometimes to drive the team while father supported the wagon to keep us from upsetting. When we got through at last into the wilderness of Pennsylvania our people were much disappointed. In Pennsylvania we came on an old road. the old State Road. The Susquehanna and Waterford turnpike was being built at that time. When we arrived at Neeper's tavern, about four miles east of where Luthersburg now is, we took the Fox, Norris & Co. road over the mountain, which was really a path, and followed our journey over the hills and moun- tains. Finding we could not get through in a day, we had to stop over night at a place where the road-makers of Fox, Norris & Co. had built a shanty which had been burned, so it was called the ' burnt shanty.' Here our wagon- cover gave us a good shelter, and a good spring of water to drink from was pleasant, indeed. The next day we crossed over Boone's Mountain, came to the crossing of Little Toby near where was built, many years afterwards. the 'Oyster House.' We pursued our journey onward to Kersey settlement.
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when my father thought best to examine the land, for which he had ex- changed his New York property, before going any further. He was utterly disappointed and disgusted with these lands, so that he made explorations in various directions in search of a mill site, and finally located and erected a round log cabin, with greased paper for windows, where Brockport now is. Here he built, in 1821, a saw-mill, the first ever built on this stream. He put a small grist-mill with bolts into the saw-mill, which mill answered the
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Taking out a timber stick
requirements of the neighborhood for a time. He then built a good grist- mill, which did good work for the people until the great flood in 1844 carried it off. My father died in Brockwayville, January, 1852.
" Isaac Horton, since Judge Horton, Hezekiah and Zebulon Warner, and Alanson Viall began improvement on Brandycamp in 1820. Chauncey Brockway, Sr., moved there in 1821. In 1822 Dr. Jonathan Nichols came there to make his home. He was for a long time the only minister who had regular services every Sabbath."
In 1840 labor was cheap. Pine boards of the finest quality sold in Louis- ville, Kentucky, at seven and nine dollars per thousand. If the operator cleared twenty-five or fifty cents on a thousand feet he was thankful.
All goods and groceries were dear; they had to be hauled from Olean. New York, or Waterson's Ferry on the Allegheny River. Money was scarce, the people social and kind. Whiskey and New England rum was three cents a drink.
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Nelson Gardner and Mary, his wife, pioneers of Elk County. Nelson Gardner was a mighty hunter, and killed the last panther in Elk County
HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
The pioneer and early teamsters from St. Mary's to those points were John Walker, Charles Fisher, and Joseph Wilhelm. The merchandise carried from Pittsburg to this region was by canal to Freeport, by keel-boat and steamboat to Kittanning and Waterson's Ferry. The teamsters loaded their wagons with wheat flour, etc., in barrels bound with hickory hoops, bacon and salt and whiskey in barrels bound with iron hoops. But, strange to say, there was always a soft stave in these whiskey-barrels through which a " rye straw" could be made to reach the whiskey for the teamster and his friends while en route home.
EARLY HOME OF THE WILD PIGEON
In 1845 Ridgway Township was the nesting and roosting home of the wild pigeon. There was a roost at or near what is now Bootjack, one near Whistletown, and another near Montmorenci. These big roosts were occu- pied early in April each year. They were usually four to five miles long and from one to two miles wide. Every tree would be occupied, some with fifty nests. The croakings of the pigeons could be heard for miles.
The wild pigeon laid one or two eggs, and both birds did their share of incubating, the female from two P.M. until nine A.M., and the male then to two P.M. These roosts were great feeding-places for animals as well as for man. As late as 1851 the American Express Company carried in one day, over the New York and Erie Railroad, over seven tons of pigeons to the New York markets. A wild pigeon can fly from five hundred to one thou- sand miles in a day.
Like the buffalo and elk of this region, the wild pigeon has been doomed.
In 1836 J. S. Hyde reached Ridgway clothed in overalls, and with all his possessions tied up in a handkerchief. He entered the store of George Dick- inson and wanted to buy an axe on credit; on being refused credit, he told the store-keeper to keep his axe and go to h-11, that he would see the day when he could buy the whole store. He was ambitious and an untiring worker. Mr. Hyde had great force and a habit of carrying his hands in front of him with the " thumbs up," especially if he was in earnest or excited. Whenever his thumbs were up in the presence of any one, there was sure to be something happen,-an explosion of Christian indignation.
Mrs. Penelope Goddard Clarke planted the first nursery in the county, at what is now Brockport, and supplied the neighbors with fruit-trees.
The most noted hunters of Elk County were George Nolf, Erasmus Morey, Peter Smith, George Smith, Nelson Gardner, and William Eastman.
These men were professionals. Chasing the wild deer was their daily life and delight. They all possessed in a high degree the agile, cat-like step, the keen eye, the cool nerve, and the woodcraft of the " still hunter."
I knew them well, but was not intimate enough to learn the story of their encounters and adventures. The buffaloes that once roamed in great num-
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HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
bers, the beavers that built their dams, and the stately elks that once traversed the forests of Elk are now extinct, and I believe the screaming panther and the prowling wolf can now, too, be so classed.
In 1853 the county paid for panther- and wolf-scalps two hundred and twenty-five dollars and fifty cents.
Ralph Hill settled at Portland Mills about 1832. He came from Massa- chusetts to the wilds of Mckean in 1825. He lived the life of a hermit and hunter. Portland becoming too much in civilization, he moved up Spring Creek, and lived in Forest County, the companion of wild animals, " where his right there was none to dispute." He died at a ripe old age.
The pioneer justice of the peace was Reuben A. Aylesworth, appointed February 18, 1832.
In the year 1833 there were seven families in what is now Ridgway,- viz., Reuben Aylesworth and Caleb Dill west of the river, and Enos Gillis, James W. Gallagher, H. Karns, Thomas Barber, and Joab Dobbins, who was the pioneer shoemaker, on the east side. In 1833 Ralph Hill and a man named Ransom were living in a shanty at Beech Bottom.
In 1839 James Watterson, of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, settled at the mouth of Spring Creek, and he and Job Paine built a saw-mill.
About 1840 common hands on the river received one dollar per day and board. Pilots, two and three dollars per day and board. The " head" sawyer on the Red Mill received twenty-five dollars per month and board; the assist- ant, eighteen dollars per month and board; and common hands, fifteen dollars a month and board.
The usual religious exercises on Sunday at the Red Mill, in 1842, were wrestling. fishing, pitching quoits, shooting at mark, running foot-races, and " jumping by the double rule of three."
In the winter of 1832 L. Wilmarth, Arthur Hughes, and George Dickin- son erected the red saw-mill. Ridgway was laid out for a town in 1833.
" In 1834 the first bridge was put across the Clarion River. This was a toll-bridge. It was built of twelve by sixteen inch stringers resting on cribbing. Before this time teams forded the river, and in high water boats were used. The country was covered by a thick growth of hemlock-trees. Game, such as elks, deer, bears, panthers, and wild-cats were found in great abundance, fish abounded in the streams," and rattlesnakes and other reptiles were numerous and dangerous.
Up to 1835 Ridgway Township included all that portion of Snyder Township that is now Brockwayville borough, and even west of Sugar Hill, as well as a good portion of what is now Washington Township. Ridgway in 1836 was a small village. At the west end of the town was George Dickin- son's boarding-house, then Henry Gross's home, then Dickinson's saw-mill and barn. Caleb Dill's home, justice office. and blacksmith-shop, Stephen Weis's home and John Cobb's house. Hon. James L. Gillis's home and store,
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E.C.HALL. PHOTO
Skidding logs
HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
George Dickinson's home and store, and on the east side of the Clarion was the Exchange Hotel, owned by David Thayer, then Edward Derby's old red house, then the Lone Star Hotel, owned by P. T. Brooks.
When P. T. Brooks, who was quite a wag, very polite and demonstrative, was keeping this hotel in the wilderness, two finely dressed and appearing gentlemen rode up one day in front of and stopped at his hotel for dinner. Of course, this was an opportunity for Mr. Brooks to be demonstrative and polite. After seeing that the horses were properly cared for, Brooks ap- proached the gentlemen in this way: " What kind of meat would you gentle- men prefer for dinner?" "Why, Mr. Landlord, we would prefer venison."
Banking logs
" I am sorry that we are just out of venison." "Oh, well," said the strangers, " a little good beef or mutton will do." "Well, well," replied Mr. Brooks. " I am sorry to say we are just out of beef and mutton." At this the strangers were a little nonplussed, but finally said, "We will be satisfied with fish." " Well, well," replied Mr. Brooks, rubbing his hands, " I am sorry to say that we are just out of fish, but we have some very excellent pickled pork."
Uncle Eben Stevens, an old hunter who came to the Sinnemahoning region about 1812, told me there was an Indian graveyard at the mouth of
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HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
Mill Creek, that he used to go up there and hunt with the Indians, and in the spring they would paint their canoes red with that "iron paint" on the Clarion.
And down the Toby Creek-
" Where the rocks were gray and the shores were steep.
Where the waters below looked dark and deep,
Where the shades of the forest were heavy and deep the whole day through,"
Stevens and the Indians in these red canoes would carry their game, skins, and furs to the Pittsburg market.
In 1854 Elk County was one vast wilderness, and was so called on ac- count of the great herds of elks that once roamed through those wilds. There were no elks killed during my residence, but Grandpap Luther told me that in 1852 a drove of twelve or fifteen was found by two hunters near the village of Ridgway, and seven were killed of that drove. Elks are gregarious. Where Portland now is, was a great rendezvous for elks. It was a great wintering place for them. All other wild animals were numerous.
The pioneer effort to erect what is now the county of Elk was on Tues- day, February 28, 1837, when an act to erect the county of Ridgway was reported in the State Senate.
The present town or borough of St. Mary's was established in 1842. Father Alexander had the colony in charge then. Early in the summer of 1842 a number of Germans in the cities of Baltimore and Philadelphia asso- ciated themselves in a society to form a German settlement on the community plan, and appointed John Albert, Nicholas Reimel, and Michael Deileth to select the place for settlement. This committee selected Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, and the site where the borough of St. Mary's and the adjoining settlement now is. For this colony they purchased thirty-five thousand acres Father Alexander had the colony in charge then. Early in the summer of settlers-one from Philadelphia and one from Baltimore-reached John Green's, in Kersey. From Kersey these men, in two instalments, opened a path to where St. Mary's now is, and immediately set to work to erect their log cabins on St. Mary's Street. In December, 1842, they moved their fami- lies to these cabins, and the county of Elk was organized in 1843.
PIONEER TRANSPORTATION
I copy an editorial from an Advocate of June 10, 1854, giving a résumé of the stage in operation at that time :
" STAGING-As an evidence of the rapid increase of the business of this county, and of its general prosperity, it is not necessary to refer to every branch of business that is conducted here; but a reference to the single item of staging will make it clear to all that we are a rising nation. Two years ago there was no mode of communication through these interminable forests
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except that only true republican way, a 'foot-back,' and wading through the mud up to your knees, at least, into the bargain.
" About that time the pioneer stager of the county, Townsend Fall, coroner of Elk County, and landlord in Mckean County, commenced running a one-horse mud boat from Bellefonte to Smethport. That was considered a great enterprise, and every body predicted that Fall must get lost in the mud, and his hazardous undertaking would certainly be the ruination of that visionary man. These predictions would probably have all been verified had it not been for the fact that Mr. Fall is one of those live Yankees who is always ready to whittle out a wooden nutmeg while waiting for his horse to gain wind when stuck in the mud.
" He added another branch of trade to his staging which served to make up the losses that caused him, and assisted him in keeping body, soul, horse, and mud boat together. He procured a quantity of steel traps suitable for bears, wolves, and such animals, which he stationed along at intervals, and while waiting for his old horse to browse he could examine them and take care of their contents without losing any time. The furs, skins, and scalps he thus procured soon enabled him to purchase another horse to put by the side of the old veteran that had long served him so faithfully.
"From that day his prosperity and the prosperity of the stage interests of this region has been rapidly onward. He soon was enabled to get a wagon with a top to it; the first trip was a proud day for Elk County. Now Mr. Fall is running a tri-weekly line of splendid four-horse coaches between Smethport and Ridgway, for particulars of which see advertisement in this paper."
"NEW ARRANGEMENT.
"THROUGH AND BACK BY DAYLIGHT!
" HAVING taken the contract for carrying the mail from Bellefonte to Smethport, the subscriber is happy to announce to the travelling public and the world in general. that he is going to 'crack her threw' regularly rain or shine, hot or cold, mud or dust. from this time forth, leaving Smethport every Monday morning, arriving at Ridgway same evening, passing along so as to reach Bellefonte on Wednesday night. On the return trip leaves Bellefonte on Thursday morning, arrives at Ridgway Friday night and Smethport Saturday night.
"A" Good horses and coaches and sober drivers, will always be kept on this route.
"Reg" Particular attention will be paid to baggage, which will be carried at my risk where freight is paid. Also, all kinds of errands promptly attended to, along the line. Patronage is respectfully solicited.
" TOWNSEND FALL .. 14-tf"
" CENTREVILLE, July 9, 1852.
PIONEER COAL OPERATORS
Dr. C. R. Earley lived at Kersey. The year he came to Elk I do not know. He was energetic, kind, and industrious. He had to keep himself busy, and
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for some time he and Jesse Kyler, rival pioneers, were the baron soft coal kings of the county. Earley's and Kyler's cards, published in the newspapers of that period, are here given :
" IMPORTANT FROM THE MINES
" Having recently commenced operations at the new 'placer' in the 'San Francisco' coal-mine, the subscriber wishes to inform the public that he is prepared to furnish those wishing it an article of coal far superior to any ever before offered in Elk County at his mines in Fox Township. He would also say that he has a lime-kiln in full blast at the mines aforesaid, and will keep constantly on hand a superior article of lime. All of which will be sold on reasonable terms.
"C. R. EARLEY.
"SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 8, 1851. 48-tf"
‘ COAL
" The subscriber, thankful for the very liberal patronage he has hitherto and is still receiving, takes this opportunity to inform his friends and the public generally, that he still continues the mining and sale of coal at his old establishment, being the centre of the coal basin, and the identical bed recently opened in another place. He is unwilling to admit inferiority, nor is he bombastic enough to claim superiority, where neither one nor the other can possibly exist. In respect to the quality of coal, it is true, by removing the dirt from the top of the out crop, coal may be got in larger chunks and will seem to burn more free, because the air circulates through it better. But he that buys a bushel of coal by measure, mixed coarse and fine together, gets more for the same money in mining under. However, no section of the country has an advantage over another, and but little can be obtained without. He will therefore furnish coal as usual in quality and price, and abide the judgment of a discerning public.
"January 10, 1851.
" JESSE KYLER. 49-6t."
The pioneer school taught within the present limits of Elk County was at Medix Run, now in Benezette Township, by Master Cephas Morey, in the year 1821. The pioneer master in what is now Fox Township was Dr. William Hoyt, in 1823.
The pioneer school in what is now Horton Township was taught by Miss Olive Brockway, in 1826; salary, one dollar per week.
The pioneer school in what is now Jay Township was taught in 1822 by Captain Potter Goff.
The pioneer school in Jones Township in 1842 was taught by Peter Hardy.
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HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
The pioneer school in Millstone Township was started in 1834.
The pioneer school in what is now Spring Creek Township was taught by John Knox.
In the fall of 1846, or in the spring of 1847, the first public school was opened in Benziger Township. Frederick Clarinaar, master.
The pioneer school in the village of Ridgway was held in the year 1826.
" There were three families in the settlement at that time, and the fact that they started a school immediately speaks plainly the great value at which they held the culture of their children. The building was partitioned by suspending bedquilts from the ceilings, which partitions certainly had their advantages as well as disadvantages. The memorable teacher who here guided the little flock in wisdom's ways was Miss Hannah Gilbert, a sister of Mrs. Gallagher. It was a subscription school, and the wages were about seventy cents per week. The text-books were very few and often read. The ink was of home manufacture, and the pens were calculated to inspire lofty thoughts, for they were made of the plucked pinions of the birds of flight. The next schools were held also in private dwellings, in what is known as the old red house, for instance, and the teachers were Ann Berry, Betsy Gyant. and others. The first school-house was built in 1834, immediately on the adoption of the common school system, and it was situated on the west side of the Clarion River, near Judge Dickinson's residence. It is said that Miss Betsy Hyatt was about the first teacher who held pedagogic sway therein. The second school building was erected a little prior to 1840, and was located also on the west side of the Clarion, not far from the first one. This was a large building for a graded school."
The pioneer physician was Dr. Rogers, in 1809.
Joseph Smith Hyde was born in the village of Tamworth, Carrol County. New Hampshire, August 30, 1813, and died at Ridgway, Elk County, Penn- sylvania, June 30, 1888.
His life presents an illustration of the possibilities of our country. The history of his early struggles, his laborious youth, and final success is preg- nant with meaning to all young men. At the age of nineteen he was con- strained to quit the parental roof and seek a living for himself. He went to Bangor, Maine, where he secured work on a saw-mill at a salary of thirteen dollars a month. He remained in that vicinity working in mills and in the lumber-woods for a period of nearly five years, during a large portion of which time his wages were remitted to his father. In the fall of 1836 he went to Baltimore, where he remained a year. In 1837 he came for the first time to Elk County. He remained a short time at Caledonia and then drifted to Ridgway, where he worked at digging on an embankment for Enos Gillis. He then secured a contract from Mr. Gillis to run his saw-mill, but this not proving profitable, he moved, in 1840, to St. Croix, Wisconsin, where he remained for about one year. While there he was taken with a severe illness.
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and, thoroughly disheartened and discouraged, decided to return to Ridg- way, where he again went to work in the lumber-woods. His sister Adaline at this time came on from New Hampshire and kept house for him in the " Red House." Mr. Hyde's stories of his poverty at this time, and the make- shifts to which they were at times reduced in order to have both ends meet, were both laughable and pathetic. On the 25th day of July, 1842, he married Jane, daughter of Enos Gillis. They lived at Montmorency about two years and then moved to Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania. He there found some work about the foundries, but not enough to keep him busy, and in 1846 he re-
Joseph Smith Hyde
turned to Elk County, determined to cast his final lot there. He took up his quarters at the Gillis & Mckinley mill. The following year he bought the mill and about four hundred acres of land adjoining, on credit. From this date his untiring industry was rewarded, and his indomitable will com- manded success. He lived there three years, at the end of which time he was worth three thousand dollars. He then opened a small store. He also bought timber lands as fast as his credit warranted, until he became the leading lumberman of the county. At his death he was undoubtedly the wealthiest man in Elk County. Mr. Hyde was twice married.
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Joseph Smith Hyde despised dishonesty and idleness, but loved the honest and faithful, however lowly. He was a man of magnificent physique and fine personal appearance, and up to the time of the illness which caused his death was wonderfully preserved for his years. He was the very type of the courageous, hardworking, tenacious, brainy New Englander, and his career is a monument to tireless industry and clean-handed business integ- rity. I can say all this from a personal acquaintance. When riding as a pioneer physician over and through Elk County, I met Mr. Hyde every hour of the day and night.
A HUNTER HUNTED
In 1855-56 Ben McClelland, then a young man, was driving team for Sheriff Healey. In the winter he was sent to Warren with two horses and a sled. On his way home he expected to stop over night at Highland. Before Ben reached " Panther Hollow," a few miles north of Townley's, it became quite dark.
At the hollow Ben's horses snorted, frightened, and ran. In the dark Ben quickly recognized the form of a panther after him. The horses had the beaten track, the panther the deep snow alongside and afraid to attack the heels of the horses on account of the sled, the horses crazy and furious.
It was a neck-to-neck race for Highland. The panther never gave up the race until the cleared land was reached. Ben was a hunter, but he was unarmed and almost dead from fright. When Townley's farm was reached the horses were all in a lather of sweat and nearly exhausted. A posse of hunters started in the early morning, and found the big brute near the hollow and killed him.
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CHAPTER XXX
FOREST COUNTY (OLD)-FORMATION OF COUNTY-COUNTY SEAT-PIONEERS- PIONEER ROADS AND PATHS-PIONEER ELECTIONS, MAILS, OFFICERS- BOAT-BUILDING
FOREST is the only county in the State created by a joint resolution of the Legislature.
" The joint resolution, approved April, 1848, establishing Forest County, detached the territory within the following described boundaries, from Jef- ferson County : From termination of a straight line running west on the south side of Elk County ; thence due west to intersection of north and south line on the west side of Jefferson County; then along Jefferson County line to its ter- mination ; thence east along the line of that county to the line of Elk County ; along the line of Elk County to the place of beginning. The Commissioners to locate such lines, as well as the county seat, were Joseph Y. James, of War- ren County, W. P. Wilcox, of Elk County, and Hiram Payne, of McKean County, who were ordered to report to the Commissioners of Jefferson County, to which Forest was to remain attached for judicial and county purposes until organized, and township elections were to be held without reference to county lines until that period. The act approved April 15, 1851, placed the new county in the eighteenth judicial district, when organized. In April, 1850, an act of the Legislature fixed the southern boundary of Forest County at the north bank of the Clarion River, from a point where the east line of Clarion County crosses that river to the west line of Elk County."
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