USA > Pennsylvania > Clinton County > Historical and biographical work, or past and present of Clinton County, comprising a sketch of every town and township of the county from date of settlement up to the present time > Part 6
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PIONEER TAVERNS-FLOOD .- "The first tavern was kept by Jacob Berge, in the house now owned by Caleb Cannon, situated about one mile from the mouth of the Sinnema- honing creek, and bore the very queer name of 'Mad House,' by which name the building is known at the present day. Robert Lusk also had a distillery (on a small scale), in which he made apple-jack from the large orchard on his farm. In the year 1847 the great flood swept away nearly every improvement in the shape of buildings in the town- ship."
The first store in the township was built by C. C. Mc- Clelland, near the mouth of the Sinnemahoning creek.
The pioneer industry of the township was lumbering. Each settler would cut and make his own raft, and float it down the river, sometimes as far as Marietta.
Hunting and fishing at odd times kept the settlers in meat, and the skins of the animals killed would be taken to Jersey Shore and disposed of for groceries and other needed articles.
East Keating has three railroad stations and three post- offices, viz: Round Island, Wistar and Keating.
East Keating has four schools and West Keating three. The latter has no postoffice.
LAMAR TOWNSHIP.
Lamar township lies between the Bald Eagle and Sugar valley mountains. It is bounded on the north by Beech Creek, Bald Eagle, Castanea and Wayne, on the east by Crawford and Green, on the south by Green, Logan and Porter, on the west by Porter township.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Before Clinton county was formed, Lamar township be- longed to Centre county, and included at that time the ter- ritory now embraced in Lamar and Porter townships.
This township was named in honor of Major Lamar, a gallant Revolutionary officer, who was killed at the battle of Paoli. About one-half of Lamar township lies in Nit- tany valley, often called the "Garden of Clinton County," on account of the fertility of its soil.
Among the first settlers of Lamar township were two men named Cowden and Birchfield. They both located in the east end of Nittany valley. They never secured a title to the land, hence it is not supposed that they remained very long, neither is it definitely known just what time they came to the section. It was, however, previous to 1800. About this time John George Furst came from near Sun- bury, Northumberland county, and obtained a patent for about 500 acres, also near the east end of the valley. This purchase was subsequently divided among his heirs, five in number, one of whom, Cline G. Furst, Esq., of Lock Haven, now owns the original homestead. The Snyders, Brumgards and several other families came to the township at an early day, and located where their representatives now reside, in what is known as the East End of the valley. The Snyder farm was purchased by a grandfather of John Snyder, its present occupant, previous to 1800.
Though the early settlers of the township were mostly of German descent, there were some of other nationalities. Besides those already mentioned were the Herrs, Leidys, Hartmans, Kleckners, McGhees, Browns, Spanglers, Mc- Nauls, Heards, Wilsons, Rishels, Mckinneys and Porters, all of whom were permanent citizens.
The first school house in Lamar was built about 1810. It was constructed of logs, and at one stage of its existence was heated by a large stove, which projected through one side of the building, and received its supply of fuel, in the shape of logs, four feet long, from the outside. It stood on or near the lands of George Furst.
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In 1833 or 1834 a furnace was erected just within Lamar Gap by Messrs. Kurtz and Hepburn. It was thought that sufficient ore, of a good quality, could be obtained in the vicinity, but when the furnace was in blast the supply of material at hand proved to be unsuitable for profitable man- ufacture, and it was found necessary to haul all the ore used from some distance up the valley, which made operations so expensive that the enterprise was soon abandoned.
About the year 1824 Samuel Hepburn & Co. started a store at what is called Cedar Springs. In 1833 they were succeeded by John S. Furst, Esq.
At quite an early day Samuel Brown kept a tavern at or near the place now occupied by Furst's store. It was prob- ably the first public house in the township. Brown also had the first tan yard in the vicinity.
Lamar township has turned out more prominent men than any other township in Clinton county. Among the _ number were Hon. Joseph Quay, who served as state sen- ator from 1843 to 1846, and as associate judge and county commissioner in Clinton county. John Miller, first sheriff of Clinton county. Dr. George C. Harvey, who served as associate judge of the county from 1850 to 1856. Thomas McGhee, who served one term as sheriff and two terms as prothonotary. Hon. George J. Eldred, who represented the county in the Legislature.
General D. H. Hastings, the hero of Johnstown, and adju- tant general under Governor Beaver, was also a barefooted boy of Lamar township; and the citizens of the said town- ship are very proud of the fact.
Martin W. Herr, former county superintendent of Clinton county. S. M. McCormick, a prominent member of Clin- ton county bar, and Professor Daniel Herr, the oldest teacher in Clinton county and at one time county superintendent. Samuel Porter, who at one time resided in Lamar town- ship, was a member of Morgan's rifle command in the Revolutionary war. He died January 10th, 1825, aged 79
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years. He was buried the next day in Great Island ceme- tery, Lock Haven.
Lamar township contains three villages-Salona, Mackey- ville and Rote. This township also contains Cedar Hill cemetery.
We are under obligations to 'Squire J. C. Sigmund, of Salona, for the following sketch of the same:
The Cedar Hill cemetery association was incorporated in the year 1870. Prior to that time the residents of the lower portion of Nittany valley had no place of interment except the old cemetery on the hill at the western end of Lock Haven, and several smaller ones, one of which was located in Bald Eagle valley, and the other two severally at the eastern end of the town of Salona, and on the hill on the southwest, where the old Reformed church stood. All of these had become crowded, and none of them possessed that order, nor were kept in that secure condition, which the eye of affection loves to see around the resting place of its dead. And more than this, no proper title, or guarantee against the ruthless hand of encroaching enterprise, was held by the parties who had buried in them.
These considerations, and principally the last, impelled some of the prominent citizens of the valley to place their names to a petition, asking the Court to grant them the charter under which they could attain to the ends desired.
At a meeting of the petitioners held February 9th, 1870, five persons were chosen as managers, viz: Hugh Conley, G. J. Eldred, John P. Heard, James L. Stephenson and J. C. Sigmund. Another meeting was called on the 21st of the same month, for the purpose of effecting a more thorough organization, but, owing to the illness of Mr. Conley, was adjourned, and before another meeting was held the asso- ciation had lost one of its most respected and active mem- bers, and the remains of Mr. Conley were the first, with the exception of those of a little child, to find a resting place in the newly consecrated ground, he having died just fifteen days after the first meeting of the association.
ยท
JOHN F. BROWN,
PROTHONOTARY OF CLINTON COUNTY, PA.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
At the next meeting William Hays was chosen to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Conley, and the follow- ing were elected officers: President, John P. Heard; Secre- tary, John C. Sigmund; Treasurer, James Stephenson.
Among the dead buried here may be found the names of many of the early settlers of the valley, and some prominent strangers, notably those of the Chisholm family, who were murdered in the state of Mississippi in 1877, and brought to Cedar Hill and interred in 1779.
The brutal murder of three innocent persons, father, son and daughter, in DeKalb, Kemper county, Mississippi, is still fresh in many memories, but we recall, briefly, some of the circumstances. Judge Chisholm had been pursued for ten years, and threatened by the Ku Klux, of Kemper county, and their sympathizing friends across the Alabama line. Several raids had been made upon him, the last just before the election. The matter coming before the United States District Court, the Judge and John P. Gilmer testified against the ruffians before the grand jury. This so enraged the gang that they determined to kill those who had sworn against them as soon as a pretext could be found.
One of the leaders, John W. Gully, was shot on the 26th of April, 1877, while riding through the woods on his way from DeKalb to his home. The banditti at once accused Chisholm, Gilmer and others with having instigated the murder.
They were arrested-or rather, they gave themselves up- and Gilmer was shot on his way to jail, whilst Chisholm and his two children were mortally wounded in the jail; the others escaped. Subsequent events revealed the fact that Gully was shot by a negro whom he had threatened to kill, and who has since been hanged. More than this, there has never been a fact or circumstance that would sustain the shadow of a suspicion against Chisholm or anyone of the accused.
LEIDY TOWNSHIP.
Leidy township was stricken from Chapman township in
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1847. It is bounded on the north by Potter county, on the east by Chapman township, on the south by Noyes town- ship, on the west by Cameron county.
The first white settler of Leidy township was Simeon Pfouts, who settled on Kettle creek in 1813. In the spring of 1814 he moved his family from their home in Perry county to the rude cabin he had built in the fastness of the mountains. He was an expert hunter, and game and fish furnished the largest share of his provisions. He reared a family of nine children. One of his daughters became the wife of Isaac Summerson, who is now a prominent citizen of Leidy township. Simeon Pfouts died August 26th, 1856, from the bite of a rattlesnake which he was handling.
Previous to 1820-probably about 1819-several men came to Kettle creek and settled upon the rich bottom lands of what is now Leidy township. An Englishman named Summerson settled on the northeastern side of Ox-Bow bend. He reared a family of ten children. Isaac Summerson, mentioned above, is a son of this pioneer; he now resides on the old homestead.
During the year 1824 Jacob Hammersley and Archie Stewart settled at the mouth of the first fork of Kettle creek. They erected the first grist mill in this section. This mill was a great boon to the settlers, who, heretofore, were compelled to carry their flour from the river. Their groceries at that time were purchased near the "Great Island " and shipped to the homes of the settlers in canoes. Jacob Hammersley was a great hunter. He is said to have killed five elks in one day. He reared a family of nine children. Many of his descendants still reside on Kettle creek. "Old Jake," as he was familiarly called, died in February, 1873, at the age of ninety years.
The first school house erected in Leidy township was built on the east bank of the creek, on the farm now occu- pied by Isaac Walters. The said house was erected in 1844. The first teacher in the school was a man named Grimes. The next school house was erected on the western bank of
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the creek, opposite the point where the Boone road reaches the stream. There are now five schools in the township, which are kept open during the summer season.
The first store where goods were offered for sale was erected on what is known as the Leonard farm. This was in 1858. In 1860 Hamilton Fish engaged in the mercantile business. In 1862 Munson & Goodman started a store, which they conducted for about nine years; then Munson sold out to Goodman & Brother. Clement & Mills con- ducted a mercantile business for about five years. They failed in January, 1874.
John J. Walton, Benjamin Wheaton, Michael Campbell, Arthur Clement and Nicholas Watt have served as justices of the peace for Leidy township. The latter is acting in that capacity at the present time.
The first hotel where liquor was lawfully sold in the township was kept by Isaac Summerson.
The Paddy's Run road was constructed by Derlin, Chat- ham & Co., in 1862.
The first road extending from the river to Kettle creek was built many years before there was any settlement on Kettle creek. It was built under the supervision of an engineer named Boone, and has ever since been called Boone road.
The Butler road was constructed from Sugar Camp run to the river in 1850. The distance was twelve miles.
In 1869 an act of Assembly was passed authorizing the construction of a road from Westport to the Potter county line. A. C. Noyes, Hamilton Fish and Nicholas Watt were appointed to superintend the work.
The township was named after Judge Leidy, of Salona. The first election in the township was held in the house of Alexander Kelly.
In 1864 a New York company put down an oil well to the depth of 888 feet, and as no oil was found the company ceased operations.
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White and red sandstone, of an excellent quality, are found in the mountains of the township. . Fire clay and coal, of a superior quality, also exists in the township. Several large tracts of land have recently been purchased, and it will be but a short time until the clay and coal mines will be fully developed. A. H. Mann, of Lock Haven, owns a number of acres of land in the township, which is under- laid with the finest quality of fire clay yet discovered.
Many Indian relics have been discovered in the Kettle creek region, such as fire places built of stone, stoneware, arrow heads and pipes, all of which go to prove that the section was once the home of the red man.
LOGAN TOWNSHIP.
What is now Logan township was originally included in Miles township, Centre county, and was organized previous to the formation of Clinton. At that time it contained the territory now embraced in Green township.
Logan township is bounded on the north by Porter and Lamar, on the east by Green, on the south and west by Centre county.
The township received its name in honor of the celebrated Indian chief, Logan, who, according to tradition, had a path across the valley. The place where he crossed Nittany mountain is still called "Logan's Gap."
The only stream in the township of any importance is Fishing creek.
The first actual settlement in Sugar valley was made soon after the Revolution by John Christopher Culby, who had been a Hessian soldier. He deserted the British cause and joined the Americans. He located on the farm afterwards owned by Joseph Herb, at Logan Mills. Samuel Jones, another Revolutionary soldier, was the next to arrive. The Grenningers, whose descendants now live at Tylersville, were also among the pioneer settlers of the valley. Philip Schreckengast, John Philips, John Strawcutter and Henry Spangler came at nearly the same time. Quite a number of
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settlers came from Brush valley and located in Sugar valley at a very early date. Among the number were Barnet Rockey, Michael Bressler, Michael Kettner, Philip Glantz and Frederick Womeldorf. About the year 1840 Colonel Anthony Kleckner built the stone mill at Logan Mills. About the same time Michael Kettner built a grist mill about three miles west of Tylersville.
This property is now owned by John Ruhl, who now has a saw and shingle mill, which is erected near the site of the old mill. There are several saw and shingle mills in the township at the present time.
John Lamey made a settlement in 1829 on the north side of the valley, which has since been known as "John Currin's improvement." A settlement was made on the south side of the valley about 1819 by John Kitchen.
The township contains three villages-Tylersville, Boone- ville and Logan Mills. There are six schools in the town- ship, with an average term of six months. The schools of the valley, although for many years in a backward state, are now in a flourishing condition.
NOYES TOWNSHIP.
Noyes township was cut off from Chapman in 1875. It is bounded on the north by Leidy, on the east by Chapman and Grugan, on the south by Beech Creek, and on the west by East Keating township. It is well watered by many streams. Among the number are Kettle creek and Drury's run. Bitumious coal abounds in the mountains, and valu- able mines are now being operated. There is also an un- limited amount of the best fire clay beneath the surface of the lands of Noyes township. A. H. Mann, of Lock Haven, owns a large tract of land in the township, underlaid with clay.
The first settlement in the territory was made about the time of the Revolution, by Richard Gilmore.
SHINTOWN SETTLEMENT. - The first settlement at Shin- town was made by a Mr. Long about the year 1790, and 6
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after he abandoned it a man by the name of George Hunter succeeded him. Hunter lived here in 1806 or 1807 at the earliest; he had two sons and two daughters; lived in an old log house with the chimney built on the outside. Hunter subsequently moved west. He was succeeded by David Drake and David Summerson. Drake also moved west in course of time. The property at this time was owned by John Caldwell. It was sold by him to David Summerson, and was afterwards sold out by the sheriff and again purchased by John Caldwell, and finally sold by him to Jacob Kepler about 1831, who moved on it from Drury's Run.
The land on the north side of the river was improved by Joseph Carns and John Berry about 1806 or 1807. This property was owned by a Philadelphia party and sold to Jesse Hall. Carns moved to the flat now owned by William Stout, where he lived for many years. He finally sold his land to John Bridgens, who, after living on it for a number of years, sold it to William Stout.
The land on the south side of the river, near the mouth of McSherry's run, was settled by Barney McSherry be- tween the years 1810 and 1815.
COOK'S RUN SETTLEMENT .- Cook's Run was settled at an early day by a man by the name of James McGinley, per- haps about the time of the Revolution or shortly after. It was known for many years as McGinley's Bottom. This was then Pine Creek township, Northumberland county. This land was claimed by pre-emption right, and the war- rant dated August 2d, 1785, and patent issued in the name of William Cook, under Governor Mifflin, dated May 26th, 1795. The land was purchased by William Cook, of the McGinley heirs.
William Cook subsequently sold this property to one Samuel Hains, of Loyalsock township, Northumberland county, and in time he sold to John Carskaddon, May 6th, 1795, and Carskaddon sold to John Baird, May 7th, 1810, both of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Mr. Baird had the first postoffice established at Cook's Run, and he also got the mail route through from Dunns- town to Coudersport. He was appointed postmaster at Cook's Run, and also had the mail route. This was the only postoffice for many years in what is now Noyes town- ship. The office and the route were established in 1830. The Cook's Run postoffice was abolished by the department in 1863. Mr. John Baird closed his earthly career in the year 1851. His property at Cook's Run was divided be- tween two of his daughters, Nancy, who is married to Abner McCloskey, and Emily, married to John McCloskey. Each of these have raised large families. A. O. Caldwell, late of Westport, was married to a daughter of Mr. Baird.
PORTER TOWNSHIP.
This township was cut off from Lamar in 1841, and named in honor of Governor Porter. It is bounded on the north by Beech Creek, on the east by Lamar, on the south by Logan, and on the west by Centre county.
The McKibbens are supposed to have been the first set- tlers. They were of Scotch-Irish descent. The first settlers were pretty much all Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, and went to church at Jacksonville, where stood the only church in that part of the country at that time Rev. Wilson was the first stationed preacher at that place. Then came James Linn, the father of Judge Linn, who used to preach in the neighborhood, sometimes at the houses of James McKibben, David Allison and others.
Other early settlers in the township were the Stephen- sons, Watsons, Dornblazers, Reeds, Brownlees, Allisons, McCloskeys and Shields. The Stephensons came to the township in April, 1795. They bought the land and set- tled where H. C. Allison now lives. John Watson settled near where Clintondale now stands. William, his brother, settled on the Dornblazer farm. John Shield settled on the land of which the farm of James Wilson is now a part.
From the year 1800 to 1820 the following named persons
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came to this township: Andrew Eakins, father of the pres- ent James Eakins; Philip Walker, father of Philip and John Walker; Joseph Gamble, who married the widow of John Watson; Alex. Robertson, the Moores, Peter Smith, George Ohl, Esq., the Millers, Bechtols, William and Thomas Brown, James Nixon, and a number of others. Between 1820 and 1830 came William C. Wilson, David Allison, Peter Seyler (who had a large family of boys and girls), William Devling, Valentine Meyer, Solomon Crotzer, J. P. Mc Elrath (who was afterwards sheriff of the county), Martin Long, Robert Tate, John Best, Jacob Krape, Sr., John Solt, John Dornblazer, father of the present John and Peter Dornblazer. The latter came in 1831.
Washington iron works were built in 1809 by William Beattie and John Dunlop. The latter was killed in the ore bank. Beattie carried on the works for some time and failed, and left the country, after which Valentine Showers took the works and used up the stock. The works were then out of use for fifteen years, during which time they became the property of Mrs. Henderson, mother of Mrs. Calvert and Mrs. Bressler, of Lock Haven. About 1825 Irvin & Huston took possession and operated the furnace successfully for about ten years, when Whitaker & Co. became operators. After the death of Benjamin Pyle, one of the firm, the works were operated by McCormick & Morris and James Irvin, and finally sold to Messrs. Fallon, and oper- ated by them during the war, and since then by Samuel Watson, Barlow & Day, and later by Jacob Yearick. The works were abandoned in 1878, and have never since been operated.
The first school house of which we could obtain any authentic information in that part of Lamar, now embraced within the territorial limits of Porter township, was located near Clintondale, on the farm of Mr. John Watson. It was built in 1808, and, like all other primitive buildings, was made of logs.
JOHN W. HARRIS, ESQ.,
LOCK HAVEN, PA.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF CLINTON COUNTY.
The first term of school in this house was taught by Andrew Ackens, who did good service here in the capacity of teacher for a number of years.
A year or two after the establishment of the school near Clintondale, a school was opened by Mr. Patrick Hughs, in a house located on Cedar Run, near the residence of David Allison. The third school building, erected about 1820, was located west of Cedar Run, on the farm of James Mc- Kibben. This was a frame house, and a slight improve- ment, in several essential particulars, on those previously built in the district. About 1830 a fourth school was es- tablished near the public highway leading to Bellefonte. The question of accepting or rejecting the system of in- struction, provided by law, was submitted to the people some time during the spring or summer of 1834; and although the verdict pronounced at the ballot-box was in favor of ac- cepting, yet the system met with a strong and bitter oppo- sition, which did not wholly subside for many years after.
In the autumn of this year (1834) seven free schools were opened in the township, and placed under the control of the following teachers : Mrs. J. W. Ferree, George Furst, Samuel Hartman, James Stephenson, John Brady, James Crawford and Ezra G. Bartram. The first Board of School Directors were John Dornblazer, Sr., President; Joseph Milliken, Secretary; William C. Wilson, Israel Nuffy, David Allison and Valentine Meyer.
Porter township now has seven schools, all in a flourish- ing condition.
PINE CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Pine Creek is one of the twelve townships into which the county was first divided, and is so called from the creek of that name which flows along its eastern border.
It is bounded on the south by the West Branch, on the west by Dunnstable, on the north by Gallauher and Lycom- ing county, and on the east by Lycoming.
The township is well supplied with water. At one time the region through which Pine Creek flows was bountifully
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