USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
From this time to the treaty and sale made in 1736, there were numerous sales of smaller tracts made at different times and by different Indian chiefs ; but at the conference made in this year (1736), October 11, the Five Nations chiefs seem to have been called upon to settle certain questions disputed by
45
EARLY LAND OPERATIONS.
the resident chiefs. It will be remembered that the Five Nations conquered the tribes, descendants of the Lenni Lenapes, in this region, and by virtue of that conquest claimed the ownership of the whole territory. When called in the matter they seriously upbraided the resident Indians for presuming to sell the lands at all, and when they had done so they should have stood by the sale. The conveyance made at this time was executed by the Five Nations chiefs, and they confirmed the sales previously made. The territory embraced by it included the lands within the present counties of Adams, York, Lancas- ter, Chester, Delaware, Philadelphia, Montgomery, Berks, Lehigh, Northamp. ton, Bucks, Cumberland, and parts of Franklin, Dauphin, and Lebanon.
The next considerable purchase was made in the year 1749. In the esti- mation of the Six Nations (for now the Tuscaroras were added), there were questions of great import to be discussed on the consummation of this sale, for word had reached them that white settlers were trespassing on unsold lands, and that proper representatives might be sent to the conference at Philadelphia, a council of the Six Nations was held at Onondaga, at which time the del- egates were chosen. The Senecas arrived first, and having made a stop at Wyoming to inquire as to the trespassing, were fully informed concerning them. In addition to the Six Nations, the Delawares, Shawnese, and Sham- okin Indians joined in the deed. The lands embraced by the sale include the present counties of Schuylkill, Carbon, Monroe, and parts of Dauphin, North- umberland, Columbia, Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Pike.
To convey a fair understanding of the facts regarding the treaties of 1753 and 1754, and the subsequent compromise agreed upon in 1758, it will be necessary to explain at some length. Some mention was made concerning this in an earlier chapter, and a full narration of the facts are here given.
In 1753, Canassatego and several others of the leading chiefs attached to the British interests, were dead, and the sachem at the head of the council of the Six Nations was known to be in the French interest, and the affections of that people appeared to be much shaken. Those who adhered to the colonists were threatened by the French, and Indian affairs looked serious. At this time the friendly Indians were unwilling to do anything that might give rise to suspicion regarding their fidelity. They remonstrated, but they did so without threats. They desired that our people would forbear settling on In- dian lands over the Allegheny hills, and advised the government to call back the intruders ; that none should settle on the Juniata lands till matters were settled between them and the French. The treaty at Albany in 1764, with the Six Nations, was held by order of the king. The lords of trade and plant- ers had recommended this, that all the provinces might be comprised in one general treaty to be made in his majesty's name, as the practice of each pro- vince making a separate treaty for itself, in its own name, was considered to be improper. The Indian deed was executed at Albany July 6th, 1754. Many 7
46
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
of the Indian tribes (not referring to the Six Nations), seeing their lands gone, joined the French, and according to the address of Governor Morris, "it seemed clear from the different accounts he had received, that the French had gained to their interest the Delaware and Shawnese Indians, under the ensnar- ing pretense of restoring them to their country."
The lands embraced within the terms of the treaty included the hunting grounds of the Delawares, the Nanticokes, the Tuteloes, and the home lands of the Shawnese and Ohio Indians. Reference was made to the boundary line in the foregoing chapter (Chapter III). The controversy was finally settled by the compromise deed executed October 23, 1757, limiting the extent of the purchases of 1753-4, to the territory included within the boundaries of the present counties of Bedford, Fulton, Blair, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, and parts of Centre, Union, Snyder, and Cumberland.
The next considerable purchase was made at Fort Stanwix, N. Y., Novem- ber 5, 1768, and this was the last sale of lands by them to the proprietaries. The consideration of this sale was ten thousand pounds. The tract of land embraced by this purchase was a strip of land extending from the northeast to the southwest corners of the province. The north boundary line extended through Clearfield county, following the courses of the West Branch on the south side thereof. This purchase embraced, in whole or in part, the present counties of Bradford, Susquehanna, Wayne, Lackawanna, Pike, Wyoming, Luzerne, Sullivan, Lycoming, Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Union, Centre, Clinton, Clearfield, Cambria, Indiana, Armstrong, Allegheny, Beaver, Washington, Green, Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland.
In October, 1784, a treaty was made at Fort Stanwix between three com- missioners of the United States and the sachems of the Six Nations, by which treaty a large tract of land was conveyed, not only in Pennsylvania but in New York. This sale included all the remaining territory in the State, not pre- viously disposed of by the Indians. At the council the Marquis de La Fayette was present and made a speech, though not one of the commissioners. The chief, Red Jacket, was also there, but took no part in the council. Cornplanter spoke on behalf of the Senecas, but "Old King" was the recognized sachem of that tribe at the council. The purchase there made included in this State the territory embraced, in whole or in part, by the present counties of Brad- ford, Tioga, Potter, Mckean, Lycoming, Clinton, Cameron, Elk, Clearfield, Indiana, Jefferson, Forest, Warren, Armstrong, Clarion, Butler, Venango, Allegheny, Beaver, Lawrence, Mercer, Crawford, and Erie.
The above treaty at Fort Stanwix was, in January, 1785, ratified and confirmed by a deed executed by the Wyandot and Delaware Indians at Fort McIntosh, which deed conveyed the same lands as mentioned in the convey- ance of 1784.
The title to the small triangular tract in the extreme northwest corner of
47
EARLY LAND OPERATIONS.
the State was acquired on the 4th day of September, 1788, by act of Congress, declaring "that the United States do relinquish and transfer to Pennsylvania all their right, title and claim to the government and jurisdiction of said land forever."
By the act of October 2, 1788, the sum of twelve hundred pounds was appropriated to purchase the Indian title to the tract. The deed from the United States of the above tract, was dated March 3, 1792.
The proprietaries professed not to sell any lands beyond the boundaries of the purchases made from time to time. If surveys were made over them with- out their consent, they were illegal and void. To have departed from this principle would have occasioned wars with the Indians and resulted most fatally to the interests of the province ; and would have been a gross violation of the sacred rights of the natives and of the promises made them.
This provision was so strictly adhered to by the proprietaries that acts were passed by the provincial government positively forbidding such unlawful surveys, and providing a penalty for a disobedience of them.
By this it will be seen that if surveys were made on the north side of the West Branch, or the west side within the present boundaries of Clearfield county, prior to the treaty at Fort Stanwix, October, 1784, no title would have passed, nor could it be acquired by such survey ; it would have been void. In relation to the lands on the south or east side, within the same limits, the same rule would apply had any such survey been made prior to 1768, un- less made under the assumption that the purchase of 1754 was a valid one, and in fact included the lands as far north as the West Branch of the Susque- hanna River.
William Penn died in the year 1718. By the terms of this will, which was dated in 1712, his lands, rents, etc., in the provinces, were devised to his wife, Hannah Penn, in trust to sell or dispose of so much of his estate as was neces- sary to pay his indebtedness, and then convey to his son by a former wife, forty thousand acres of land, and all the residue of his estate in lands in the prov- inces to his children by his second wife.
After Penn had made his will he had agreed to sell his whole estate in the province to the crown for twelve thousand pounds, and had in fact received a part of the purchase money therefor, and, although the sale was never com- pleted by actual transfer, the serious question arose on the construction of the will, whether his interest in the estate was real or personal property-if per- sonal, it went to his widow-if real, to his children. This question was a subject of many years of litigation in chancery, but was finally compromised, and the government of the province became vested in his sons by his second marriage, John, Thomas, and Richard Penn.
In the year 1732 Thomas Penn came to this country and took charge of the affairs of the province, acting for himself and his brothers, John and Rich- ard Penn.
48
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
In the year 1779 the title of the Penns as proprietaries of the province was transferred to the Commonwealth under what is known as the "Divesting Act." The Legislature, on the 28th day of June, passed an act by which all the private estates, manors, and quit-rents throughout were reserved to the proprietaries; their other estates in land became the property of the Common- wealth, and the State agreed to pay the proprietaries the sum of one hundred and thirty thousand pounds sterling, after the close of the Revolutionary War.
In the territory now embraced within the boundaries of Clearfield county there were numerous surveys made at an early day, some of them prior to the Revolutionary War; but any extensive movement in this direction was at- tended with considerable danger. The Indians were not friendly, and the prospect of seeing their favorite hunting and fishing grounds occupied by the adventurous whites was exceeding unpleasant to them. Judge Smith, an old surveyor, ran off a considerable tract in this vicinity as early as 1769, and soon after the treaty at Albany, but not until after the treaty at Fort Stanwix did the rush begin. James Harris and a party made extensive surveys in the easterly and southerly part of the county. Some extracts are given from Harris's diary or journal, made on that occasion, October, 1884. The party were as follows: "William Brown, James Harris, G. Meek, David Milligan, Andrew Small, Daniel Beats, and Thomas Pierce. They were subsequently joined by John Reed, D. Alexander, and R. Alexander. On the 23d they left Warrior Marks and crossed over to Moshannon and encamped for the night. On the 25th made a survey for Mr. Brown of twenty-one hundred and fifty acres in pursuance of five warrants. On the 27th left the forks of Mos- hannon and proceeded a nearly due west course about eight miles to Clearfield creek, just at the head of the narrows. Here they were met by Mr. Miller and two young men named Mitchell. The land here is described as an ex- tensive rich bottom, a creek about thirty or forty yards wide, the upland not rich, but well timbered in places. On the 28th they met five men named Rickerts, who came to the camp and claimed by improvement a great deal of the land up the creek, and say they will not allow it to be surveyed. Mr. Canan made two surveys on the south side of the creek for Reed, Alexander & Co., the second including the mouth of a large run, and extending up the same about a mile. James Alexander's including the mouth of this run, is in John Gill's name.
"N. B .- On the 28th George Meek killed one large buck, pretty fat, not unwelcome news to the company."
The next day, the 29th, Mr. Canan began a survey on the northwest side of Clearfield Creek, above the narrows, but was compelled to quit on account of rains. On the 30th he surveyed on the west side of the creek and extended the line up as far as Rickerts's land. On the 3Ist Mr. Canan, John Reed, and William Miller were left to perform their surveys, and the balance of the party
49
EARLY LAND OPERATIONS.
moved up to the forks of Beaver and Clearfield Creeks. They encountered great difficulties here on account of fallen trees. The 2d and 3d of November were spent in surveying in the vicinity, but were obliged to stop on the 4th on account of heavy rains. On the 14th they depart and reached Chest Creek in search of lands warranted, which were located in June prior. After search- ing and surveying several days through snow and rain the party returned to Juniata.
The Canans made numerous surveys along the various streams of the county, some of them being made as late as 1802. In this year they came to the lands bordering on Chest Creek, to run a dividing line between Fisher's and McConnell's claims, and settle interferences. They started at the " Scotch Cabins," in (now) Cambria county, at the point where the Indian road from Kittanning to Carlisle crosses Chest Creek, and followed the courses and dis- tances of that creek for over thirty miles. They then came down to the West Branch, and thence down that stream. In the Canan party was the redoubt- able Samuel Fulton, concerning whom further mention will be made.
Among the many other surveyors who, from time to time made surveys in this neighborhood, appear the names of Samuel Brady, the renowned hunter and Indian fighter, Daniel Turner, who was interested in surveyed lands from the Susquehanna to Milesburg, a large part of which were in this county. Turner first visited the county in 1794. William Anderson, for whom the creek of that name was called, was also one who became largely interested in land speculations here.
There were many persons never residents, but speculators, who bought warrants and land claims in the county, many of whom held exceedingly large tracts. Of these there may be prominently mentioned the Holland Land Com- pany, Nicklin, Griffith & Boon, James Hopkins, McConnel & Reynolds, James Yard, Gramer & Bates, John Keating, whose lands included nearly the entire township of Karthaus; the Keating lands, which bordered on the West Branch for many miles; the Mead tracts, Thomas Kitland, Jeremiah Parker, James Wilson, Samuel M. Fox, the Drinker lands, George Roberts, on Chest Creek, Joseph P. Morris, John Hallowell, Robert Morris, Walter Stewart, Rev. Smith, Archibald Woodside, jr., William Griffiths, of Burlington, N. J .; Wilhelm Wil- link and others, Henry Drinker, Archibald McCall, James and William Mil- ler, Abraham Witmer, Peters, Rawle & Morgan, Phillips & Co., James C. Fisher, William Scott, of Trenton, N. J., and many others who owned and controlled tracts of various sizes and localities.
Of the foregoing mentioned land operators, there are none that have been more prominently before the people and the courts of the State than the " Hol- land Land Company," and " Wilhelm Willink, and others." The "Holland Land Company " and " Wilhelm Willink and others," are synonymous names.
Legally, there never was any such thing as the Holland Land Company, or the Holland Company, as they were usually called.
,
ATA
'? ??
››››
50
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
The company, consisting of Wilhelm Willink and eleven associates, mer- chants and capitalists of the city of Amsterdam, placed funds in the hands of friends who were citizens of America, to purchase several tracts of land in the United States, which, being aliens, the Hollanders could not hold in their names at that time; and in pursuance of the trust created, there were pur- chased, both in New York and Pennsylvania, immense tracts of land, all man- aged by the same general agent at Philadelphia.
The names of the several persons interested in these purchases, and who composed the Holland Land Company, so called, were as follows: Wilhelm Willink, Nicholas Van Staphorst, Pieter Van Eeghen, Hendrick Vollenhoven, and Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck. Two years later the five proprietors transferred a tract of about one million acres, so that the title vested in the original five, and also in Wilhelm Willink, jr., Jan Willink, jr., Jan Gabriel Van Staphorst, Rælif Van Staphorst, jr., Cornelius Vollenhoven, and Hendrick Seye. Pieter Stadnitzki was also made a partner, though in an unknown man- ner. The title to the three hundred thousand acres of the entire tract was conveyed to Wilhelm Willink, Wilhelm Willink, jr., Jan Willink, and Jan Willink, jr., but the tract was not in this locality.
The title to the vast extent of lands of this company, held as joint tenants, not tenants in common, but to the survivors, became the subject of long and serious litigation, but was finally determined in the United States Supreme Court in favor of the company. The lands of the company in this county lay mainly on the west and north side of the West Branch, in Chincleclamoose township.
CHAPTER VII.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
Early Settlements- Territory Divided - The First Settlers - Difference of Opinion - The First Mill - First Marriage - First Child Born - The Christening - Other Settlements - - Settlement Down to 1810.
T THE reader must bear in mind the fact that at the time the first settlements were made in this vicinity, there was no such thing as Clearfield county ; and the settlers who came here prior to the year 1804, were locating either in Lycoming or Huntingdon county. The West Branch of the Susquehanna divided the counties, and every pioneer on the north or west side of that river was located in Lycoming county, while those on the south and east of the stream were citizens of Huntingdon county.
red
5 I
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The question as to who was the first settler in the county, is now, and for many years past, has been in dispute. On this point the records of past writers differ materially. Those whose interests and associations are identical with the western territory of the county, claim that James Woodside was the original pioneer of the county, and that his settlement was made in the vicinity afterward known as Brady township, in the year 1785; while the residents in the eastern and central parts have always understood and maintained that Daniel Ogden was the first settler of the county, and that his settlement was made near and just south of the present county seat on the bank of the Sus- quehanna, in the year 1797, or twelve years later than the date of James Wood- side's settlement. This question cannot be settled at this time, nor will any attempt be made to do so. It is possible, of course, that Mr. Woodside could have been in the western part in 1785, and the fact not known to the Ogdens. Between the points of location was then a dense forest, never touched by the woodman's ax ; high hills also intervened, and the distance between the local- ities exceeded twenty miles. Another question arises: What constituted, at that time, a settlement ? If occupancy, improvement, and cultivation with intention of remaining created a settlement, perhaps James Woodside, of 1785, and Daniel Ogden, of 1797, both, will have to yield this honor in favor of Captain Edward Rickerts, basing the assumption of his settlement upon the the journal of James Harris, surveyor. The party on the 28th day of October, 1784, were surveying on Clearfield Creek, and on that day, says the journal, " five men by the name of Rickerts came to our camp, said they claimed by improvement a great deal of land up this creek, say they will not suffer it to be surveyed." Again, "on the 30th, Mr. Canan performed one of the sur- veys on the west side of Clearfield, extending it as high up as Rickerts claim." The reader will understand that we do not intend to assert, as a fact, that Cap- tain Rickerts was the first settler of the county, but only to lay the fact before the public as bearing upon the question.
Captain Edward Rickerts was a native of Maryland, and while a boy emi- grated with his father's family to Pennsylvania. At the age of nineteen Edward entered the service as an Indian fighter, and was considered one of the most experienced frontiersmen in the whole country. During the Revolu- tion his services to the province were so valuable that he was given a captain's commission.
Having made the improvement referred to, and built a cabin, Captain Rickerts went for his wife and household goods, and returned with them in the year 1801. Upon his return he found the cabin occupied by Joseph Leonard and family. The two families lived there together during the winter following, but Rickerts having no claim to the land except by improvement, was after- wards compelled to vacate and settle elsewhere. Captain Rickerts died in the year 1813. The lands improved by him, above referred to, lay on Clearfield
52
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
Creek, above the narrows, between places afterward known as Glen Hope and Coalport.
James Woodside first came to this county, or rather to Lycoming county, in the month of July, 1785, with a surveying party from Chester county. Several tracts were located by them, one of which, under warrant number five hundred and seventy, belonged to Woodside, and his land was located on the stream known as Stump Creek. James Woodside lived here many years, the only white resident among the few remaining Indians, who were quite friendly. He is described as a man of decidedly peculiar habits, having no family, and content to live alone in his forest home. A monument has recently been erected by the enterprising citizens of Du Bois, known as the " Woodside Monument," in honor of the memory of this venerable pioneer, now dead and gone, to which reference will be made in the chapters relating to that portion of the county.
Daniel Ogden, prior to his coming to this locality, was a resident of Cherry Valley, New York State. During the war that place was the scene of a mas- sacre almost equal to Wyoming. All his property was destroyed, and one of his sons, David, was killed by the Indians. . His wife, with the remaining chil- dren, were compelled to flee to the woods for safety, and remained there dur- ing the entire night. In the year 1797 Mr. Ogden, with three of his sons, came to this place, ascending the West Branch in canoes. In this work they met with great difficulty. The channel in places was narrow and filled with rocks, rifts, and water-soaked trees, and they were obliged frequently to un- load and drag their empty canoes over these places, which hindered their pro- gress considerably. They passed above the old Indian town, and made a landing on the site now occupied by Matthew S. Ogden, about half a mile south of Clearfield court-house. There was but one break in the vast wilder- ness, the far-famed clear fields near the site of the Indian village of Chinclecla- moose. These fields bore evidence of recent cultivation upon the arrival of the pioneer. After having made a clearing and erected a log house, which was done with some assistance rendered by the few Indians then here, Mr. Ogden returned to Cherry Valley and brought his family here. Of his eight children, none were born here. They were Abner, Jonathan, David, who was captured and slain by the Indians at Cherry Valley ; Daniel, jr., Joab, Jehu, Matthew, and Margaret.
The Indians above mentioned were always referred to as the Cornplanter tribe. In fact there was no such tribe of Indians. Cornplanter was a war- chief of the Seneca tribe, and had two wives and many children, but they all belonged to the Senecas. The family, and perhaps the chief himself, may have resorted hither, but this is unlikely, as the Allegheny was nearer and larger. A special reservation was made for the children and descendants of Corn- planter on the banks of the Allegheny, in Warren county, where about eighty
53
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
of the Cornplanter descendants still reside, and where the " Cornplanter Mon- ument " is erected.
Daniel Ogden, the father, was a strong, muscular man, a great hunter, and quite fond of joking. There was no grist-mill nearer than Lock Haven, and when meal was low, he used an old jointer-plane turned bottom up, and by drawing an ear of corn along the surface, managed to manufacture a sufficient quantity of meal to supply the family demand. His son, Matthew, being of an ingenious turn of mind, built a grist-mill in 1804, on Chincleclamoose Creek. The greatest novelty, in construction, that ever was erected in the country, was Mat. Ogden's mill. There was but one piece of iron in the whole structure, a spike used for a spindle. The bolter was made of cap- cloth, and geared to the water-wheel with a strap, but notwithstanding its rude construction, the mill supplied the grist for the neighborhood for some time, and until Robert Maxwell built the second mill on Anderson Creek some years later. Matthew Ogden married Elizabeth Bloom, daughter of William Bloom, in the year 1802. This was the first marriage ceremony performed in the county. " Squire " Arthur Bell officiated.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.