USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 49
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1878. Burgess, John Holt; justice, T. M. Holt ; treasurer, Fred. Camp- man ; assessor, D. I. Turner.
1879. Burgess, John Holt ; justice, J. H. Turner; treasurer, Fred. Camp- man ; assessor, John Holt.
1880. Burgess, T. Toubin; justice, M. D. Reidy ; treasurer, J. H. Turner ; assessor, J. H. Turner.
1881. Burgess, Fred. Campman ; justice, M. D. Reidy ; treasurer, J. H. Turner; assesor, D. I. Turner.
1882. Burgess, William Lyman ; justice, M. D. Reidy ; treasurer, J. H. Turner; assessor, D. I. Turner.
1883. Burgess, William Lyman; justice, George Emigh; treasurer, James H. Turner; assessor, F. Campman.
1884. Burgess, David Turner; justice, M. Tippery ; treasurer, James H. Turner ; assessor, J. H. Turner.
1885. Burgess, Jesse Goss; justices, Jas. H. Turner, Wm. Lyman ; treas- urer, Fred. Campman'; assessor, Jas. K. Turner.
1886. Burgess, D. R. P. Shirey ; justices, Jas. H. Turner, Wm. Lyman ; treasurer, S. E. Kramer; assessor, R. Hackman.
1887. Burgess, Andrew Klear ; justice, William Lyman ; treasurer, S. E. Kramer; assessor, Frank Colegrove.
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
HISTORY OF BRADFORD TOWNSHIP.
T "HE pioneer and early history of this township, or the territory that origi- nally was a part of the old township of Chincleclamousche, but was in the year 1807 erected into Bradford township, antedates its organization by only a very few years ; in fact, at the time that separate organization was made there was a population in the whole county not to exceed eight hundred persons, both old and young.
At the time the first efforts were made looking to the subdivision of the county (for at that time Chincleclamousche township embraced the whole county), it was, for judicial and nearly all other purposes, attached to Centre county, and the application was made at a term of the Quarter Sessions Court, held in the month of January, of the year 1807, upon the petition of the in- habitants of Clearfield county, praying for the erection of two new townships. The court, as required by law, appointed John Dunlap, William W. Feltwell and Thomas Burnside, viewers to examine into the matter and make report upon the advisability of the division prayed for.
At the August Sessions, held during the same year, the viewers reported upon two new townships, one to be called Bradford, so named in honor of Surveyor-General William Bradford, of Pennsylvania, and the other to be called Beccaria, in honor of the distinguished philosopher, Marquis De Beccaria but why so named in his honor no reliable information is obtainable.
The boundaries of Bradford township, as laid out on the report of the view- ers, were as follows : Beginning at the head of Moshannon Creek, thence down the same to the mouth thereof; thence up the Susquehanna River to the mouth of Clearfield Creek; thence up Clearfield Creek to the mouth of Muddy Run ; thence up the Muddy Run to the head of the east branch thereof; thence a straight line to the head of Moshannon Creek, the place of beginning. The straight line referred to in the latter part of the description is the present boundary north of Cambria and south of Clearfield county. It will be seen that from the description of the boundaries of Bradford, the township was ex- ceedingly large, and that its territorial limits have been curtailed and reduced by the subsequent formation of no less than nine separate townships. To be sure, some of the more recently organized were but subdivisions of the older townships, yet the territory originally included within Bradford now forms the nine municipalities as above stated. The first reduction was made in the year 1828, when Decatur was set off. This was followed in 1835, by the erection of Morris. Boggs came third, in the year 1838, Graham in 1856, and Cooper in 1884. The history of each of which said several townships will be found writ- ten in their proper place in this work.
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BRADFORD TOWNSHIP.
In the month of February, 1852, the Court of Quarter Sessions confirmed the report of A. K. Wright, D. W. Moore and James B. Graham, by which certain lands then belonging to John Duncan and John Hanna were set off from Bradford and annexed to Lawrence township.
That portion of Bradford that is left after the several reductions of its terri- tory, is situate on the south side of the West Branch River and the northern townships of Goshen and Girard. Graham township forms the east, Boggs the south and Lawrence the west boundary. The course of the West Branch on the northern side of the township is exceedingly tortuous and winding, forming no less than eight sharp bends at various points in passing the short distance of about eight or ten miles, by direct route or air line. Clearfield Creek passes on the west side, just touching the township and dividing it at that point from Lawrence. The largest stream lying or having its course within the township is Roaring Run, which drains the whole southern and southwest portion, and has as tributaries several rivulets named respectively : Fork Valley Run and Forcey's Run, on the north, and Jake's Run on the south. Roaring Run is tributary to Clearfield Creek and Clearfield Creek to the Susquehanna River. The other streams, each of which discharge their waters directly into the river are, Abe's Run, Devil's Run, Millstone Run, Bear Run and Moravian Run, the latter, however, courses only a short distance through the township on the extreme east side, but lies mainly in Graham township. Graffius's Run is a tributary of Moravian Run.
It will be remembered that long before the first settlers ventured into this country, and during the Indian occupation, a party of Moravian missionaries, on their journey to the region of the Ohio River, made a halt on this stream and buried one of their number, a child, who had died during their passage across the Allegheny Mountains. From this fact the stream was ever after known as Moravian Run. The exact route taken by this party of pilgrims across the township, or the precise spot at which the interment was made, can- not now be definitely fixed, but as they followed the general course of the river, the fair presumption arises that the route took them across the northern portion.
The surface of the land generally throughout the entire township is very hilly but not mountainous, although in some portions there are level and fertile areas well adapted to agriculture. From this it cannot be assumed that the hill lands are wholly unproductive, as some of the best producing lands are among those classed as " hill farms."
The population of the township as originally laid out could not at that time have exceeded one hundred and seventy-five persons. An enumeration of the taxable inhabitants made by the assessor, Thomas Winters, for the year 1809, showed the entire number of taxables as follows: Robert Anderson, Robert Beers, John Crowell, Jebish Darling, John Darling, John Darling, jr., Valen- 57
446
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
tine Flegal, Abraham Goss, Betty Goss, Samuel Green, Devolt Hess, Abra- ham Hess, Adrew Kephart, George Kephart, Henry Kephart, Conrad Kyler, Leonard Kyler, John Kyler, Abraham Leonard, David Litz, Absalom Pierce, Philip Benson, Nicholas Smell, Benjamin Smell, George Shimmel, John Vanal, Thomas Winters, John Weld, Jacob Wise, John Wiser, George Wilson, Peter Young and John Bagley. There were also three single freemen, viz .: Ru- dolph List, George Kephart and John Shimmel. At that time there was neither saw-mill nor grist-mill in the entire township.
The roll for the succeeding year, 1810, shows no increase and but one or two removals, but as an evidence of stimulated manufacturing growth, or per- haps as it might be more aptly stated, the growth of manufactured stimulants, George Shimmel and Peter Young were each assessed as having a “still- house."
In the year 1812 an enumeration of taxables was made by Absalom Pierce, assessor, and a slight decrease shown, there appearing on the roll only thirty- two names, two of whom were single freemen. Some of the names on the first roll had disappeared and a few new ones replaced them. These new comers were William Alexander, Elizabeth Fathers, Jacob Hoover and Samuel Turner. The still-house of Peter Young seems to have disappeared, but that of George Shimmel remained, having acquired the more dignified title of "distillery."
Many whose names appeared on the several rolls above mentioned resided in that part of Bradford which was subsequently erected into the townships of Decatur, Morris and Boggs, so that a mention of them more in detail should be found in the several chapters relating to those townships.
Among the early settlers of that remnant of the original township was the family of Robert Ross, formerly of Huntingdon county, who came about the time of or before the War of 1812. They located on the river above the mouth of Trout Run. William, George, Robert, Elsie, Lavina and Susan Ross were children of the pioneer Robert. This family became prominent in the county, · and many descendants are still living in various localities and townships.
The Forcey family, the pioneer being Matthew, came to Bradford from old Chincleclamousche township, having settled south of Clearfield town in the year 1804, and in Bradford about 1813 or '14. They were a large family and progressive. Thomas H. Forcey, president of the County National Bank of Clearfield, is a descendant from this stock, and has owned a very large amount of land in Bradford from time to time.
Robert Graham emigrated from Ireland to this country about the close of the last century and settled in Huntingdon county. In 1802 the family came to Clearfield county and located in Lawrence township, where they lived until 18II. They then went to Bradford where the pioneer, Robert, died in 1855. He was buried in the old Ross grave-yard opposite the mouth of Surveyor's Run. It was customary in these early times to give nearly every family some
447
BRADFORD TOWNSHIP.
distinguishing nick-name, and this family of Grahams were called " Grimes," a name that followed them for many years and was supposed by new settlers to be their correct surname.
Jacob Hoover was the head of a large family of that name, who were among the pioneers of Bradford, living in the eastern part of the township not far from the site of Grahamton. The name of Hoover is well represented throughout the county.
There were also two heads of families both named Samuel Turner, one of whom came to Bradford about the time of the War of 1812. This is the Tur- ner referred to in the old assessment roll above mentioned. The other Samuel Turner came to this country from Ireland, about the year 1809, but did not settle in this county until 1824, at which time he located at Grahamton, or the place afterward so named, and about thirty years before Graham township was erected.
The Hurd family lived, at a very early day, in the eastern part of the town- ship. After his death John Dale lived on the same place. Dale was a hat- maker and worked at Philipsburg as well as Bradford. Several descendants of the Dale family are still living.
John Kyler located about the same time between the towns now known as Wallaceton and Bigler, on the old Susquehanna pike. The Kylers are now numerous in the eastern part of the county, and some have been very active in county and local affairs.
Absalom Pierce was assessor of Bradford township in the year 1812, there- fore was one of its pioneers. He lived near John Kyler's about where Bigler station is located.
John Woolridge was born in England and came to this country in the year 1819. He located on lands on the Clearfield road about two and one-half miles from Woodland village. His children were William, John, Edward and Sarah, all of whom are still living. Edward is now in Minnesota, William on the old homestead, John in the north part of Bradford, and Sarah in Clearfield borough, the wife of Isaac Johnson, boot and shoe merchant.
The family of John Shirey came to the township about the same time and settled on lands in the Graham neighborhood. The descendants of John still live on the old farm.
Adam Myers, a colored man, lived in the Graham quarter. He had no children except by adoption.
Richard Shaw, a pioneer of the Mount Joy ridges, in the north part of Lawrence, moved into Bradford on lands about a mile from the river. The family afterward came to Clearfield town.
David Wilson was another of the early settlers in the Graham neighbor- hood, and owned a farm adjoining Graham's. Wilson was twice married and had quite a large family, but few of the children are now living in the town- ship.
448
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
Archie Campbell also came to Bradford at an early day. He was a native of Ireland, and quite an old man when he made a settlement in the township. He died after a few years' residence there, and was buried in the old Ross grave-yard.
John Stewart lived on the river, about half a mile from Graham. Dr. Stewart, of Clearfield borough, is a grandson of this pioneer.
The older residents will remember among the pioneer names that of Cæsar Potter, the colored settler, who lived with his wife and family a couple of miles from Mill Stone Run, near the centre of the township, on the north side. Some of the family died there, and the others long since moved away.
Among the other old families of Bradford were the Graffiuses, who to-day are numerous there; the Mayhews, who moved in from the opposite side of the creek; the Burges, of which family Adam Burge was the head, and the Dixons, who lived near the Grahams.
After 1820 the lands then comprising Bradford township were taken up very rapidly, the larger streams along its borders, the Susquehanna on the north, the Moshannon on the east, and Clearfield Creek on the west, beside the numerous tributaries to these streams throughout its entire length and breadth made the township a desirable place of residence.
These waters were sufficiently large to navigate rafts of logs and lumber, and became, in after years, and still continue important factors in the lumber interests of the county. As an evidence of this rapid taking up of the timber and farming lands Jacob Hany, the assessor for the year 1825, enrolled over one hundred and thirty land owners in the township, but all were not resi- dents there at that time. This was prior to the division of the territory, which division as a matter of course, reduced the population as well as the area of what had previously been known as Bradford township. The subdivision was made three years later, in 1828, when Decatur was erected. This took from Bradford something more than one-third of its territory, and even Decatur has since been made to surrender its territory to the formation of still younger townships, so that the lands that in 1828 were formed into Decatur are now represented in whole or in part by Decatur, Woodward, Geulich, and Bigler townships. The territory left to Bradford, after this first division, has also been subdivided, and is now represented by the remnant of the township itself and the subsequent formation of Morris, Boggs, Graham, and Cooper. The last township that took territory direct from Bradford was in the erection of Graham, in the year 1856. The succeeding year Jacob Pearce, the assessor of the township, enrolled the taxables thereof, which roll showed seventy-five regular taxable inhabitants and twenty-two single freemen, or an equivalent in population of about three hundred and fifty persons. This shows a strong increase in population in the township after all reductions of territory in the for- mation of new townships. At the same time the assessor enrolled the militia-
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BRADFORD TOWNSHIP.
men of the township as follows : Henry Graffius, John Graffius, Hamilton Graf- fius, Joshua' Graffius, Neely Green, Enoch Cosgrove, Thomas Luzier, William Dixon, Alexander Livingston, James Lingle, Emanuel Graham, Washington Graham, Samuel P. Wilson, John Stewart, Daniel Stewart, James Lansbury, John Buck, James C. Graham, John Wilson, Eli Soult, George H. Barger, William Wiggins, William Peters, Park Gardner, William Albert, George Al- bert, Henry Albert, Joseph Yothers, Henry Kyler, John Harrier, John Sheas- ley, Adam Stoney, Howard Merrill, Levi Pearce, Benjamin Knepp, David Hitchens, John Woolridge, John Ireson, Joseph Shirey, Ludolph Buck, Jacob Graham, Abraham Luzier, George G. Smeal, Henry Smeal, Elijah Smeal, Ellis Smeal, Joel Dixon, James Dixon, jr., John W. Graham, Francis Graham, Absalom P. Barger, Henry Wisor, Jonathan Wisor, jr., Jacob Hess, Luke Kyler, Abraham Pearce, Edmund Albert, John Falls.
There seems to have been, prior to this time, 1856, and even later, a lack of manufacturing industries in Bradford township. The portion which was set off to the formation of Graham had several saw-mills, some of them having been built many years before. The locality of Grahamton was thickly set- tled, and the manufactories were mainly built there through the enterprise of the Graham family, for whom the town was named. Still there were from time to time several industries in Bradford. Among these was a saw-mill built on Roaring Run, near the present village of Woodland, by James Leon- ard, and about the year 1825. Another was built about one or two years later by Robert Graham on Mill Stone Run, not far from the river. Beside the regular manufacture of lumber, this mill produced a large number of arks for river use. A third saw-mill was built by John Stewart, near, or on the upper waters of Mill Stone Run, about the year 1845. Its use was discon- tinued some years ago.
The present industries appear to be confined to the hamlets of Woodland and Bigler. These, too, undoubtedly owe their existence to the construction of the Tyrone and Clearfield Railroad through the township. Recently, how- ever, the Beech Creek, Clearfield and South Western Railroad Company laid their tracks through the township, running substantially the same courses, and touching at the same points, Woodland and Bigler, at each of which places both companies have stations. These roads furnish a means of communica- tion directly with the county seat, and also with Philipsburg, the outlet from the county on the east. Of these places Woodland is much the larger, having from four to five hundred population, dependent mainly upon the number of persons employed at the extensive works of the Woodland Fire Brick Com- pany.
While it is a conceded fact that Woodland would have amounted to nothing as a town or village without its railroad advantages, yet the operations of the Fire Brick Company have had much to do with its subsequent progress in point of population at least.
450
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
These works, which are known as the " Lower Works," were started in the year 1870, by Albert Brothers, John McMath, and Isaac Reese, and by them operated until the year 1874, at which time an interest was sold to Kessler & Du Bree, of Philipsburg. In 1875, with Hope Fire Brick Company, the whole was consolidated under the name of the Woodland Fire Brick Company, lim- ited.
The Hope Company was started at Woodland in 1872, two years later than the lower works, by Wile & Richards, of Philadelphia, and in 1875 merged in the Woodland Fire Brick Company with the other company above mentioned.
In 1876 a destructive fire occurred at Woodland, by which the town lost several dwellings, two of them being very fine, the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Hope Fire Brick Works, an extensive lumber-mill with about a million feet of manufactured lumber, the property of Albert Brothers, and much other valuable property in the town. The brick works were immedi- ately rebuilt and have since been in successful operation. The present officers of the company are Hepburn Walker, chairman ; S. P. Harbison, treasurer ; J. S. Showers, secretary. As an evidence of the growth of this industry at Woodland it may be stated that the total annual capacity and output of both works for the year 1872 was 8,000; for 1877, 15,000; 1880, 20,000; 1884, 25,000, and with the present increased facilities for manufacture, and the great demand for the superior quality of brick here made, the company are now producing at the rate of 800,000 per month, or over 9,000,000 annnally. There are now regularly employed in the Woodland works about 200 persons.
A new industry is developing at this place, or the town, that is attracting much attention among the coal operators. The firm of Cooke & Brison, of Philipsburg and Bellefonte, have a lease of lands owned by Eli Soult, situated short distance northeast from Woodland depot, from which they are taking a superior quality of coal known as Woodland semi-anthracite, and in the vicinity called the Soult coal. At the present time they are shipping about three cars daily, but arrangements are being completed for the production of a far greater quantity.
The fire clay deposits of Woodland and vicinity are apparently boundless. The Clearfield Fire Brick Company, and the Wallaceton Fire Brick Company, as well, obtain large quantities of their raw material here, which are taken to Clearfield and Wallaceton for manufacture into brick.
The mercantile business interests of Woodland are represented by two large stores-one owned by Ashley E. Woolridge & Co., and the other by Gingery, Wentzel & Co. The first was established in the year 1879, by Aaron Peters, and he was succeeded, in 1880, by the present firm above mentioned, the mem- bers of which are Ashley E. Woolridge, John A. Woolridge, and William A. Woolridge. They have a general stock usual to country stores.
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45I
BRADFORD TOWNSHIP.
I. V. Gray & Co.'s general merchandise store was established in 1876, the company being D. D. Gingery. In 1880, the firm was changed to D. D. Gin- gery & Co., the other partners being D. J. Gingery and I. V. Gray. Again in 1886, another change was made, and the present firm of Gingery, Wentzel & Co. was formed.
The other local interests are represented by two blacksmith shops, two shoe shops, one restaurant and two livery stables, the latter managed by Dugan & Blattenberger, and William Varnur, respectively.
For a period of about twenty-five or more years before the fire of 1876 occurred, there stood at Woodland an extensive saw-mill, which, during that conflagration was entirely destroyed, together with its product. It was formerly owned by Reuben McPherson. A new mill is in course of erection, owned and to be operated by Zenas Turner. The Woodland Methodist Epis- copal Church, which was burned in 1876, was built about the year 1873, from funds raised by general contribution. It was a substantial frame edifice, having a spire one hundred and twelve feet high, the whole costing about four thousand dollars. Among its prominent early members were Henry Albert, Dr. J. A. Bouse, John M. Keton, Daniel Ross, William Wynn, Rev. J. F. Anderson, and other residents of the town and vicinity. Rev. W. W. Reese was formerly pastor of the church.
There is also building at Woodland, opposite the Tyrone and Clearfield depot, a church edifice for the United Brethren Society. The persons promi- nent in this work are: William Varnur, O. C. Buck, D. D. Gingery, Jesse Stone, C. W. Barger, and others. The church of the United Brethren in Christ, called Bradford Church, was built in the year 1843, on lands about one and one- half miles north from Woodland. It was a log building, lined and boarded, and proved sufficient for the necessities of the society for a period of over forty years. Among the residents of the locality who were prominently connected with the society, and who have descendants yet living in the township, were : Bassel Crowell, Dennis Crowell, Joseph, Isaac, and George Barger, John Soult, John Shirey, William K. Wrigley, George and John Wilson, William Hoover, and William Woolridge.
Southeast from Woodland, and about two miles distant therefrom, on the line of the Tyrone and Clearfield, and also the Beech Creek railroad, there is found a gathering or cluster of about twenty houses and two stores, and known as Bigler, so named in honor of the late governor of the Commonwealth, Hon. William Bigler, deceased, a resident, during his lifetime, of Clearfield borough. Prior to the construction of the Tyrone and Clearfield railroad, this hamlet was called Williams's Grove, the name being so applied by Edward Williams, a former resident of the lower part of the township, and even to this day the post-office there is called Williams's Grove. The office there was obtained through the efforts of Hon. John Patton during his first term in Congress.
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
James E. Watson was commissioned the first postmaster, which office he held for some years, when he was succeeded by John Funk. The latter was, in turn, succeeded by Patrick Curley, under a commission from Postmaster-Gen- eral Jewell, of date December, 1873. Mr. Curley is the present incumbent.
The business interests of Bigler comprise two stores, a blacksmith and a shoemaker's shop. Patrick Curley started a grocery, flour, and feed store in the town during the year 1870. The other was started about three years ago by Stephens Brothers, Frank P. and Blair Stephens constituting the firm.
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