USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 51
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Mrs. Haney was a courageous woman, and related to Rev. John Reams, that while they lived in their first log cabin, which had only a " coverlet " hung for a door the first summer, and a little distance from the house was a cattle pen in which their cattle were kept at night. One night when Mr. Haney was away the wolves attacked their cattle, whereupon she opened the door (?) and resolutely scolded the wolves, and they left; but some nights afterward they came again when Mr. Haney was at home, and he took his gun and went out, and in the dim moonlight he saw one, fired at him, and some time afterward found him lying dead near where William McClarren now lives.
Mrs. Haney once was going home late in the afternoon, carrying one of her sister's children, when suddenly a large wolf stopped a short distance in front of her, showed his teeth and looked savagely; but she stood still and scolded him with energy to go home, when he scampered off, and she hast- ened home, but was afraid of being pursued, and that the scamp might want the child for supper. She also once when going alone to George Ogden's, (Carlile Station now) saw a panther jump on a log at the side of the road, a little distance before her. The beast then lowered the tail and crouched, but Mrs. Haney stood and scolded vigorously and the panther ran off. And yet
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Mrs. Hany was not a scold in that sense of the word, and lived until these wild animals became few in number.
Besides those already named, Jonathan Ogden was also an early settler, and on his land the Union Cemetery, a mile east of Troutville, is located. One day, in 1835, while carelessly leaning on his gun, which had a short bar- rel, his dog licked the trigger and discharged the gun, killing Mr. Ogden in- stantly. He was the first person buried in his grave-yard.
TOWNSHIP ANNALS.
Brady may be termed the mother of townships, as originally she covered a large territory (twelve miles square), of which she yielded largely portions in the formation of Union, Bloom and Sandy townships. The establishment of Brady township as a separate "bailiwick" took place in 1826. Mr. Benj. Bonsall was the first justice of the peace, by appointment of Governor Shulze. Mr. John Carlile was the second in line, appointed by the governor in 1831. Mr. Carlile was his own successor, once by appointment in 1836, and next by election under act of 1842. Fred. Zeigler was the first collector (by appoint- ment) in the township. In 1835 Luthersburgh was, "laid out" as a town by Jacob Flick, who had purchased the land from Lebbeus Luther, after whom the new town was named. [Major M. H. Luther (son of Leb. L.) was born in 1814, and was elected county auditor in 1839. He claims that the " tightest " place he ever was in was when he was drawn as a grand juror (about 1840), and appointed foreman of the grand jury It nearly "scared " him out of his wits, but Mr. Lewis Barrett (brother of Judge Barrett), being a juror, came to his rescue and all went well. In 1842 John Carlile was elected county com- missioner on the Democratic ticket, with over three hundred majority over his Whig opponent, Ebenezer Winslow, of Caledonia (now in Elk county), then belonging to Clearfield county.
In 1861 Jacob Kuntz was elected county commissioner on the Democratic ticket. It is to be regretted that the limited space does not admit of a com- plete register of all who held office up to the present time. The vote in 1830 counted sixty. Population in 1880, U. S. census, was 1,888. In the winter of 1886, application was made by S. G. Kuntz, Lewis Schoch, H. E. Ginter, Daniel Rishel and others, to divide Brady township into two precincts for elec- tion purposes ; a commission of three was appointed consisting of D. W. Moore, W. D. Bigler and P. S. Weber, to investigate and report to court ; their report was unanimous in favor of a new precinct with Troutville as the election poll ; said report was confirmed absolute in September, 1886, and first election in the new precinct was held in November, 1886, casting 139 ballots.
The establishment of the first post-office in Brady township was Luthers- burgh, and dates back to the completion of the "turnpike," about 1820. David Irvin was the first postmaster, "Gust" Schnell the second, followed by
59
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
P. W. Barrett. The post-office at Troutville was established through the ef- forts of Rev. John Reams and Jacob Kuntz, in 1857 or '58; Mr. Kuntz also was its first postmaster. Troutville was "laid out " as a town three years pre- vious to this time. The village was named after Jacob Trautwein. The town was often nick-named "Fishtown," deriving that "sobriquet" from a large trout which was painted on a swinging sign of the first hotel or tavern (as it was then called) of the town. As the Rev. John Reams claims the honor of naming the village of Troutville, also of drawing up the writings and securing the post-office there, and also of starting the first Sunday-school at that place, we will permit him to state the following facts :
"In those years, between 1838 and 1850, much grain, pork, salt, etc., was hauled into Clearfield county from below Punxsutawney, and many teams stopped with Mr. Trautwein, who for some years lived in his round log house, built, as was customary then, with a clapboard roof, and the door hung in primitive style-wooden hinges. This cabin was often inconveniently full, but having inherited some money from Germany, he had a comfortable frame house erected in 1845. A year or two later two or three other houses were built and occupied, and a village seemed in prospect. Soon after a Mr. Wins- low, from Punxsutawney, started a small store there, but in a year or so with- drew, and Carlile & Co. started a store in 1852, where Mr. Carlile still resides. About this time C. F. Grape started a small store at the east end of the pres- ent town. This he sold to Mr. Kuntz, sen., in a year or two. In marking goods to be brought here some were marked . New Salem ' and others 'New Germany,' and as Mr. Trautwein had no children to perpetuate his name, he wished the place called Troutweinville. It so happened one rainy day that a number of neighbors met at the ' Carlile store,' when the narrator proposed to settle the name by a vote, and it was thereupon agreed that Troutweinville was inconveniently long and objectionable; he was willing to adopt 'Trout,' drop the 'wein,' and add the 'ville'; so, after two or three names were proposed, and each one had made a mark opposite his choice, the name of Troutville carried largely ; whereupon he wrote a notice and tacked it on the wall: 'Take Notice ! This place is named Troutville from this date.' The notice is lost and date forgotten, but it was probably in 1854. A year or two later they wanted a post-office at Troutville, and the narrator drew up a peti- tion to Postmaster-General Kendall and sent it to Hon. Wm. Bigler, U. S. senator, and soon after our post-office was granted and Jacob Kuntz appointed postmaster. The village was regularly laid out in 1857, after Mr. Trautwein's death, and several lots sold before, date further back than those in the plan."
Stores .- To Matthew Irvin belongs the credit of being the first merchant in Brady township, locating at Luthersburgh in about 1835. Matthew sold out to his brother, David Irvin, in 1837. Daniel Barrett, father of Judge George R. and James C. Barrett, opened a store at the same place in 1838. He was fol-
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lowed by James Loughlan, of Clarion county, then followed G. W. and S. Arnold in 1844, who were succeeded by Samuel and F. K. Arnold in 1848. About 1850 to 1852 Barrett, Flegal & Postlethwait started a store in New Salem. This firm sold out to Barrett Brothers, and they in turn to a Mr. Montgomery, and he to J. Heasly. About the same time Charles F. Grape and George Knarr started a small store in Troutville, followed by Winslow & Gillespie in 1852. A few years later Fred. Kohler opened a store at the site of his present resi- dence. Mr. John Carlile opened a store in the room formerly occupied by Winslow & Gillespie. The latter carried it on but a few months in 1852, and built a suitable room in 1856, which he occupied for many years, doing a suc- cessful business. At this (or even prior) time, John Hoover started a store at West Liberty, followed by others with varied success. About in 1859 Arnold & Terpe opened a store at Salem, or what is more particularly known as " Goodlander's." All these stores carried a general or mixed stock, which they exchanged for square timber and shaved shingles, making a large profit on the goods, and a larger margin on the timber and shingles. Careful and economical merchants could scarcely fail to succeed. Luthersburgh now has two general stores, one hardware store, one furniture and wagon shop, two shoe shops, one harness shop, one blacksmith shop, and two hotels, and had a private banking house, F. K. Arnold & Co., from 1871 to 1874.
Troutville has two general stores, two groceries, one wagon shop, one blacksmith shop, two shoe shops, three furniture and repair shops, and one hotel.
Manufacturing .- Joab Ogden built the first grist-mill (it was a small affair, turning bolting-cloth by hand) in the township. The exact year cannot be established, nearer than that it was prior to 1830, in which year " Jerry " and Andrew Moore, of Penn township, built a saw and grist-mill at what is now known as Rockton (Union township), known to this day as Moore's Mill. From 1849 to 1850 Jacob Kuntz built a grist-mill on East Branch (of Mahoning) about one and a half miles south of Troutville. This mill had two pair of French burrs, originally run by water power but now by steam, and known to- day as Rishel's Mill. In 1854 Jeremiah Miles built a steam and water-power grist-mill on the head waters of Stump Creek, two miles west of Luthersburgh. It was a wooden structure forty-eight by fifty feet, three stories high. Mr. Miles operated this mill till October, 1858, when he sold it to his son, Samuel Miles, who operated till April, 1864, when it was purchased by Adam Knarr and George A. Weaver, who operated it till January, 1872, when Jacob Edin- ger bought Adam Knarr's interest, changing the firm name to Weaver & Edin- ger, who run it until June, 1875, when the claim of George A. Weaver was purchased by the junior partner of the old firm, the present owner and opera- tor ; capacity per day, twenty-five barrels of flour, and about ten tons of chop and feed.
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
Saw-Mills .- The first saw-mill, Mr. Fred. Zeigler claims, was built by him between 1824 and 1830, on the present site of Jesse Lines's saw-mill; Jeremiah Miles the second, which latter was known as Zeigler's Mill. The third saw- mill was probably the one built in connection with the grist-mill at Rockton by the Moore Brothers in 1847. Mr. Jacob Kuntz claims that he built the fourth saw-mill in the township, about one mile east of his grist-mill, on East Branch (Rishel's Mill). All these, and those which followed for many years after, were the old "up and down " pattern. At present the saw and shingle mills in the township are making an average run of about six months in the year. The saw-mills of to-day differ as much from the old-time saw-mills, as the present " roller " process grist-mill differs from the old " burr" system.
Church Organization .- The establishment of church organizations was no easy task in such a sparsely settled country as Brady township in its pioneer days, and the hazards and hardships of the early pioneer circuit riders would make a volume itself of intense interest and importance. The first minister who came to Brady township was a Rev. - Anderson, who preached in the bar-room of " Leb." Luther's tavern in 1822 or 1823. Rev. Anderson was a Presbyterian. The next minister who made his appearance was the Rev. David Kennison, a young Virginian, who was sent by the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1827; he also preached in the tavern at Luthersburgh. At about this time Rev. John Althaus, a Reformed minister, came occasionally from Armstrong county ; he also preached in the old tavern at Luthersburg to the German settlers of the vicinity. These faithful and hon- est servants endured many privations. They generally traveled on horseback with saddle-bag and musket or rifle, the latter for defense. They generally traveled on a four or six weeks circuit, receiving seldom over, but oftener under one hundred dollars salary per year; yet they were cheer and hopeful- a condition of mind which springs from a contented heart.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- Rev. David Kennison, the young Virginian above mentioned, organized the first M. E. class in 1827, in Carson's barn, about a mile and one-half west of Luthersburgh. Among this class were Fred. Hollowpeter, Jos. Lines, David Irvin and Daniel Barrett. Mr. Barrett was the first class leader. In 1828 Revs. David Steel and Pierce preached every four weeks, covering the following appointments, viz. : Philipsburg, Clearfield, Karthaus, Sinamahoning, Hickory Kingdom, Luthersburgh and Cherry Tree. In 1828 Revs. Jas. Lanks and Zach. Jordan were on this circuit and preached every four weeks. In 1830 Rev. Oliver Ague was the pastor and preached at each of the above appointments once in every six weeks. In 1831 Rev. Peter McEnally was the pastor, who labored part of the year, but finally became dis- couraged with the members because they neither attended the means of grace nor supported the gospel ; he became disgusted and burned the class-book and bade them all good-bye. In 1832 the Baltimore Conference dropped Luth-
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ersburgh and vicinity. It was at about this time that two circuit riders, one a Rev. Blake, and the name of the other is not remembered, traveled on a four weeks' circuit, receiving about $100 per year, supplied Luthersburgh and vi- cinity until in 1833, when Luthersburgh was taken up by the Pittsburgh Con- ference and added to the Brookville mission. In 1835 the territory comprising the Pittsburgh Conference was divided, and Brookville mission was transferred to Erie Conference. In 1836 Revs. J. K. Hallock and J. R. Lock were the first missionaries sent to Brookville mission, including Luthersburgh. In 1841 the Luthersburgh class commenced building a church. In 1842 Brookville mis- sion was divided into Redbank charge and Luthersburgh mission. In 1845 John K. Coxson and H. M. Chamberlin were the pastors; Coxson afterward a prin- ter and lawyer in Punxsutawney, Pa. In 1851 Luthersburgh was made a "charge," with about seven appointments; West Liberty was an appointment in '54 to '55 ; in '56 the parsonage was completed; in 1860 the first church record was commenced ; in '63 Troutville was added to charge; New Salem was made an appointment in 1860. From '63 to '71 the congregation moved along in a seeming "rut "; lowest and highest memberships during this period were fifty and one hundred and eighty. In 1871 a church building was com- menced at Salem; amount of subscription (for the building), $1,200. During the same year the present church edifice at Luthersburgh was commenced ; amount of subscription for the purpose was $5,600; Rev. L. G. Merrill, pastor. In 1872 " a heavy financial cloud hung over the New Salem and Luthersburgh societies." Troutville and another appointment were dropped. The winter of 1872 to '73 being a long and severe one, church attendance was meager. New Salem church was completed in spring of '73 at a cost of $2,250, and dedicated March 16, '73, by P. E. Rev. J. R. Lyson. The Luthersburgh church was completed and dedicated June I, '73 ; T. C. Pershing, D. D., preached dedication sermon ; cost of building $12,664.32, which amount was nearly all provided for on day of dedication. The furniture cost $2,225. Capt. L. B. Carlile was the leading worker and spirit in erection of the new building.
All Sunday-schools prior to 1872 had been organized as union schools, opening in the spring and closing in the fall ; denominational schools were de- clared to be absurd. The pastor (D. W. Wampler), urging the change, was denounced as selfish and bigoted, and even some of his own members would not hear him preach or support him, denouncing him as a raving sectarian ; but the Luthersburgh society organized its Sunday-school according to disci- pline of the M. E. Church. Church membership of Luthersburgh society in '73 was one hundred ninety-three. In 1878 the old parsonage was sold and pro- ceeds applied on church debt; during the same year the church debt was liquidated. In 1882 a new parsonage was built; cost of lot and house about $1,800; membership in '84 was about eighty; present membership about same ; a prosperous Sunday-school in connection with church.
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
Presbyterian Church .- This denomination did not maintain its early foot- hold in the township through the efforts of its visiting ministers. Rev. Ander- son, above cited as the first minister who preached in the township, was followed by the Rev. Garry Bishop, from Clearfield, who preached the Presby- terian doctrine at Luthersburgh between the years of 1835 to '40. Rev. - Betts (father of Senator Betts) organized a congregation. In this class were Benj. Bonsall, Wm. Wallace, Roswell Luther, Samuel Postlethwait (father of S. and Jos.), David Dressler, Mr. - Anthony, John Seyler, and others. The Presbyterians, by paying sixty dollars to the Lutheran Church, had the privilege to worship in it by arranging their appointment so as not to conflict with the other congregation, but a few years later the organization was dis- solved and has not been reorganized.
Evangelical Lutheran Church (German) .- About the year 1833 the Ger- man missionary, Rev. John Althaus (above mentioned) established an organi- zation of members of the German Reformed and Evangelical Lutheran faith among the German settlers, at and near Luthersburgh, holding their services in private houses and barns, until 1842, when this so-called " Vereinigte " (united) congregation built a church of hewn logs, at the west side of the Union ceme- tery, three miles west of Luthersburgh on the Punxsutawney road. The almost exact spot where this building stood is marked by a sturdy red oak tree which was a mere sapling then. Prior to and during the year 1851, the members of this mixed congregation could no further agree, and a division or separation took place ; the Lutherans as well as the Reformed organized separate congre- gations. In 1852 the Lutherans built a church, an edifice with cathedral-like minarets, two and one-half miles west of Luthersburgh on Punxsutawney road. It was dedicated October 17, 1852. This congregation, like most pioneer churches, had its misunderstandings and consequent estrangement of some members ; but time healed all differences, and in 1879 to '80 the congregation decided that they needed a new church edifice, and accordingly built a com- modious house of worship, sixty by forty, with vestibule. It is a plank build- ing, plastered, and surmounted by a neat steeple seventy-five feet high. The house was dedicated December 5, 1880, by the present pastor, Rev. C. Engel- der ; present membership about two hundred, and a Sunday-school in con- nection.
Reformed Church ( German) .- What has been said of the Lutheran con- gregation up to 1851 applies equally to the Reformed congregation, as their interests up to that date were mutual and identical. Rev. Althaus was a Re- formed minister. His regular successor, Rev. Engelbach, leaned toward the Reformed tenets, although he passed as "Evangelisch Vereint," (Evangelical United). About this time (1851) Rev. Engelbach resigned, and was succeeded by Rev. Brandt, a pronounced and radical Lutheran. The advent of Rev. Brandt hastened and precipitated the separation of the Reformers from the
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Lutherans, and after the erection of the new house of worship by the Lutherans, who, also, tore down and removed the old Union building, the Reformers commenced the erection of a church of their own. In 1853 the foundation and corner-stone was laid, and in the year following (1854) the church was dedicated as "Trinity-Reformed Church." Rev. C. A. Limberg was called (and accepted) the same year. The building committee consisted of Fred. Wingert, H. Lott, sr., and Michael Schuker, sr. Besides these, the following also were among the members at the organization of the congregation: Fred Zeigler, Conrad Mehrwein, sr., Adam Weis, George and Fred Buchheit, Jacob Weber and his sons, Jacob, Henry and Peter, J. J. Weber, John Weber, Christ. Haag, sr., Mr. Aurand, George Schucker, Lewis Kuntz, Jacob Hummel, sr., Peter Shafer, Jacob Mehrwein, John Ergott, and others. In 1855 or 1856 a Sunday-school, under the care of the church, was established, both in the Ger- man and English languages. Rev. Limberg labored successfully for ten years, when he resigned and accepted a call at Butler, Pa. The following pastors have served this congregation, since 1854 to the present time, in the order given : Revs. H. Bielfield, Paul Wald, L. Christ, H. Hoffmeier, John Wolbach, and B. S. Metzgar. Present membership about three hundred ; Sunday-school about one hundred.
Evangelical Lutheran ( English) .- In the year 1832 the general synod of the Lutheran Church presented Father Phil. Geulich (residing at Clearfield) with a "Book of Sermons" in the German language, who, once in each month dur- ing 1832 and 1833, came to Luthersburgh to read a sermon from this book, which was listened to with reverence and attention. It was, at this time, that Rev. John Althaus, the Reformed pioneer minister, made his appearance, who preached rather regularly in the old "round" log church and school-house, which had been built prior to his coming. In 1842 the German Lutherans and Reformers built a union church, between Luthersburgh and Troutville. During the time from 1833 to 1842 Revs. John Willox, Gotwald and others preached. During this period Rev. John Willox gave catechetical instruction in the English language. In September, 1843, Rev. George J. Donmeyer organized the "St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran" congregation of Luthers- burgh, Pa. He became its pastor ; William Rishel and Henry Goodlander were elected elders ; Peter Arnold and Elias Rishel, deacons, Peter Arnold serving as secretary. In 1845 a frame church, 40 by 40 feet, was built-still standing. It was this church in which the Presbyterians worshiped, by paying sixty dol- lars into the building fund, which secured for them the privilege. In Novem- ber, 1845, Rev. J. A. Nuner took charge of the pastorate. He served till October, 1847. Rev. P. P. Lane followed, serving till about 1850, when there occurred a vacancy, lasting till 1852, when Rev. Christ. Diehl became the reg- ular pastor, serving till the early part of 1856, when he was succeeded by Rev. W. H. Rex, who served two years. He was followed by Rev. J. J. Stein, who
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only served a few months, when Rev. Joseph R. Focht became the pastor, in May, 1858, and resigned in May, 1860. In 1861 Rev. Joseph Welker served a short time. Rev. J. H. Bratton was pastor during 1862 and 1863. A vacancy occurred till sometime in 1867, when Rev. S. S. Stouffer took charge for about two years. During the long vacations of 1870-71 Jacob A. Clutz, a student in the theological seminary at Gettysburg, served the congregation as a supply. During the summer vacation of 1872 Abraham G. Fastnacht served as a supply. After being without a pastor for nearly four years, Rev. E. Manges was called and accepted in March, 1873, who resigned in Decem- ber, 1877. Early in 1873 lots were secured by F. K. Arnold, and during the summer of the same year a parsonage was built. During the pastorate of Rev. E. Manges, one hundred and sixteen members were added to this congrega- tion. Rev. J. T. Gladhill became pastor of the charge in 1879, and resigned in February, 1882. During his pastorate the remaining debt on the parsonage was liquidated (amount $1,114), and membership increased. In May, 1883, Rev. W. Selner became pastor. During his pastorate the present new church edifice was erected (1883), at a cost of $5,000. The building committee con- sisted of D. Goodlander, J. H. Edinger, T. F. Rishel, and J. L. Seyler ; arch- itects, D. P. Frampton & Co .; size of building, 40 by 54, with steeple one hundred feet high. It was dedicated November 18, 1883. Accessions to the congregation during Rev. Selner's pastorate to the present, fifty-nine. Present membership in prosperous condition, and an interesting Sunday-school in con- nection. In 1878 Rev. E. Manges organized an Evangelical Lutheran (gen- eral synod) congregation at Troutville. This congregation built a neat little church in 1885, and is known as St. Paul's. Present membership, twenty ; Sunday-school (union) members, about fifty scholars. In 1869 or 1870 Jacob Kuntz bought the old school-house (the one built in 1853), which he tendered to nearly all kinds of gatherings, and especially to the Lutheran congregation before they had their own house of worship-this old "rendezvous " was latterly known as " St. Jacob's Temple."
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