USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 56
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
Covington, as it is at the present time, is one of the northern tier townships of the county, and like those adjoining it, is decidedly irregular in form, none of its boundaries except the north, being a right line. The township is bounded on the north by Cameron county ; east by Karthaus township ; south
503
COVINGTON TOWNSHIP.
by the Susquehanna river, and west by Girard township. The surface of the land is hilly, broken and irregular, the hills in some localities partaking of the nature of mountains. Over a great portion of the township the rocks dip gradually to the south and east away from the first anticlinal axis, but in the region of Mulsenburg and Central Point, the dip is strongly to the east toward the Karthaus canoe-shaped basin. On Bigleman Run sandstone rock is found at an elevation of over thirteen hundred feet above tide. As a north course from Flood's Hotel is pursued, the rocks are found steadily rising towards the first anticlinal axis, and at a distance of about three miles to a point beyond William Kune's place the conglomerate comes up and forms the country rock. Beyond this point and for a distance of over six miles northward, there is an uninhabited wilderness having no improvements whatever but containing an abundance of excellent timber. Along Mosquito Run and the other streams of sufficient magnitude to furnish water power, there has been carried on ex- tensive lumber operations during the last thirty years, both by residents of the township and speculators from other places. From north to south Covington has an average length of from eleven to twelve miles, while east and west the mean breadth is only about three and one-half miles, aggregating in superficial area about forty square miles of land. The township is well watered and drained ; on the south by the West Branch and its tributaries, Sandy Creek, Mowry's Run and Rock Run. Sandy is a stream of considerable size and has Bigleman Run as its main tributary, besides others of less magnitude. Mos- quito Run, the name being changed from "Little Moshannon " to distinguish it from the larger Moshannon on the south side of the West Branch River, forms the drainage system for the whole northern part of the township, and is, furthermore, an important factor in the lumbering trade of the upper region. Sandy runs through the settled part of the township, and along its banks are many fine farms. It, too, is utilized for water privileges as the many saw- mills along its course (both past and present), will fully attest.
While it is evident that the earliest settlements in the township were made by those persons whose names are recorded on the roll of taxables, yet'no act- ive steps were taken toward improvement, and no material growth in popula- tion was accomplished until some twelve or fifteen years later, at which time the French settlements were begun. One John Keating owned an extensive tract of land both in Clearfield and Clinton counties, and as an inducement to attract settlers, he offered to the first twelve persons who should purchase of him fifty acres of land, an addition of twelve acres. This is, however, disputed by some well-informed persons, who state that the twelve acres were added only as an allowance for road purposes, and that the fifty-acre tracts had no allowances. The first persons to locate on the tract, as near as can be ascer- tained, were Nicholas Roussey and Irene Plubel, who took up lands in the year 1830, on tract number 1939. Both of these pioneers have descendants now
504
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
living in the township. Plubel died in a few years after coming to the settle- ment. Roussey died about twenty years ago.
The third of the French settlers in the township was Francis Coudriet, who came during the year 1831, and was followed in the same year by Claude F. Renaud. Coudriet became a prominent personage in the township, and by in- dustry and thrift acquired a large estate. He was the first postmaster at Frenchville, and held the office about eighteen years. His son, Leon Mitchell Coudriet, is now the postmaster of the town, having held the office since about 1880.
In the year 1832 a number of families came to the settlement, among them Peter Mulson, Hyacinthe Mignot, father of Charles Mignot, of Clearfield ; Francis Hugueney, Stephen Hugueney, Peter Brenoel, Augustus Gaulin, father of Captain Peter A. Gaulin, of Clearfield ; John B. Fournier, P. Bergey, and possibly others whose names are now forgotten.
During the succeeding year, 1833, there came another party of French immi- grants, among them the families of John B. Barmoy, Francis La Motte, Francis Liegey, Francis Garmont, Christopher Bigleman, John Rougeux, T. R. Verbeck, M. Tourail, Francis Rolley, Francis Hugard and others. Alphonso Leconte settled here about the year 1835, and three years later, was followed by his brother, Augustus. They were thorough and enterprising business men, and did much toward improving the township. They moved to the locality after- wards known as Leconte's Mills, in Girard township, where a saw and grist-mill was built and a mercantile business established. The extensive estate left by Augustus Leconte is still owned by his heirs, and by them the business is now managed.
These Keating lands, of which mention has already been made, were very extensive and were not in Covington alone; they extended from Karthaus village west and southwest to a point opposite Millstone Creek. A very elaborate plan of these lands was made in France, showing not only the tract in detail, but containing a full explanation of the route of travel to be pursued in reaching them from New York city to Philadelphia, both by land and water, and thence overland the best and most convenient route into this county as far as Clearfield borough (then town). That part of the lands which were mapped for disposal contained twenty-two thousand acres, and besides this there was a large tract held in reserve.
The first French settlers are said to have reached this country off the coast of Maine, near Portland, where the captain of the ship desired them to land, but their tickets called for a passage to New York city, and the officer was compelled to carry them to that place, which on the map was called the "point of disembarquement."
J. F. W. Schnars acted as agent for the sale of these lands, which sale was commenced in the year 1827, or thereabouts. These French immigrants were,
RIITTLF PHILA.
2. Il Potter
505
COVINGTON TOWNSHIP.
of course, unable to speak English, but were accompanied by an agent, Jacob Weiskopf. The first surveys were made by Charles Treziyulney, a Polish en- gineer, who became well and favorably known in the county. He was ap- pointed as one of the commissioners to lay out Pike and Lawrence townships in the year 1813, and occupied at various other times positions of trust and importance in the county.
The central point of settlement was in the neighborhood of Frenchville, by which name the locality has always been known and distinguished. It can scarce be called a village as it has no municipal organization whatever, but generally throughout the vicinity are scattered dwellings and improvements, the church, the store, and the saw and grist-mill, giving it whatever of the characteristics of a village the people may claim for it.
It must not be understood that the French occupation and settlement of this township ceased with the arrival of those of whom mention has been made ; in fact this was but the commencement, and even to this day there is an occa- sional arrival fresh from the mother country, and not only by French immi- grants, but by Germans and Americans as well. A large majority, however, were of French birth or descent, who came from that part of France known as Haute Marne and Haute Saone. As an evidence of the increase of population in the township, it may be stated that the first enumeration of taxables, made in the year 1818, showed a total of only seventeen inclusive of two single free- men, or an equivalent in number of about eighty persons, while the taxable inhabitants as shown by the enrollment for the year 1887, numbers two hun- dred and twenty-seven, which represents a population of about one thousand persons.
The village or hamlet of Frenchville is situate in the western part of the township, about three and one-half miles north from the river. Sandy Creek passes through the central portion of the settlement.
On the extreme east of the township is another small settlement and post- office called Keewaydin. It is about like Frenchville in point of improvement, having a church, store, school, two or three local industries and a hotel, the latter being some distance out and to the west of the village proper. The people are mainly Americans and Germans with an occasional French resi- dent. They, too, have a resident physician in the person of Dr. J. W. Potter, who has been a prominent figure in social, professional and political life in the county for many years. The local merchant and postmaster at Keeway- din is M. Kratzer, who enjoys the respect and confidence of the people of the township.
At the present time the chief industry and occupation of the inhabitants of Covington township, is agriculture, although lumbering has been and is now carried on to a considerable extent. The chief operators at an early day were Bigler and Powell, of Clearfield, and Leon M. Coudriet, Augustus and Alphonso
506
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
Leconte, residents of the township. Francis La Motte purchased a part of the Keating lands on Sandy Creek, on which he built a saw-mill about the year 1837. He afterward erected a grist-mill a short distance further down. These mills are well remembered by the older residents of the locality. Help was scarce and expensive at that time, and, as the proprietor had several strong and worthy daughters, they were put at work in the mills, and it was a fre- quently observed fact that the lumber manufactured by these fair hands was of the best quality, and so far as even and uniform thickness was concerned their manufacture was not excelled. The property was afterward sold to Francis Coudriet, and the mill twice substantially rebuilt by him. At the time of his death, in 1877, it passed into the hands of Leon M. Coudriet. Francis Cou- driet built a grist-mill on Sandy about the year 1864. It was supplied with two run of French burr-stones of fine quality. Leon Coudriet purchased this property at the time of his father's death.
Claude Barmont erected a saw mill on Sandy about 1845, and operated it for a time. It is now owned and run by F. F. Coudriet, brother of Leon M. Coudriet. The Picard mill, so-called, was another of the pioneer industries of the township, built on Sandy Creek by John J. Picard. It was subsequently sold to Leon M. Coudriet, who associated his son and son-in-law with him in its management. The firm of L. M. Coudriet & Co. also had another saw-mill built on Sandy some years ago, on tract No. 1891. Above this and on the same tract stood the saw-mill of Liegiey & Beausingeaur. Still another known as Leconte's saw-mill was built by Alphonso Leconte in the year 1839, on tract No. 1892. He operated it about three years, after which it was sold to Augustus Leconte, and is still a part of his estate.
The Flood mill, at the mouth of Sandy Creek, also takes a place among the pioneer industries of the township, having been built when lumbering was in its infancy. One Lutz had an early interest in it, but it is now owned by Law- rence Flood. Flood is also interested in the hotel business near Keewaydin, having succeeded Mr. Heugeney. This hotel was formerly kept by Solomon Bauder, who sold to Mr. Schnars, the predecessor of Heugeney.
One of the first merchants of Covington was Mr. Alexander, who estab- lished a trade near Frenchville about the year 1837. He purchased land from Peter Mulson, on which his storehouse was built. He was succeeded by the Maurers, who in turn were succeeded by Levi Lutz. The latter was followed by Hagerty & Gaulin, and they by Leon M. Coudriet.
There can be obtained but little data regarding the early educational insti- tutions of the township. A school-house was, however, established near Frenchville about the year 1838. Notwithstanding the fact that but very few of the early French settlers were familiar with the English language, and to this day French is mainly spoken in the vicinity. There has been no French school taught in the township, both parents and pupils preferring to educate
507
COVINGTON TOWNSHIP.
themselves in the language of the country rather than the mother tongue. An exception may be made to this statement so far as relates to the parochial school occasionally taught by the priest, and known as the priest's school, wherein the scholars received instruction in the French language.
There are at the present time five established schools in Covington town- ship, known and located as follows : Frenchville, at Frenchville ; Mulsonburg, at Mulsonburg ; Fairmount, in the southwest part of the township; Mignot, in the west part, and so named in honor of the Mignot family ; Union or Cen- tral Point, in the northern part of the township.
Irene Plubel came to the vicinity of Frenchville about the year 1831. Af- ter having been a resident here for something like a year and a half he was taken ill, and soon after died. During this illness Rev. Father Leavey was called to attend him. This was the first visit by a priest to the township, and on the occasion he said mass at the house of Mr. Plubel. After this, and for several years, the place was occasionally visited by different priests, and mass was said at the houses of Francis Renaud, Peter Mulson, Nicholas Roussey, and also at the house of a German named Schnell. About 1841-2 a priest named Rev. Oriack came to the mission and remained some time, and as the settlement increased, the erection of a church was begun. While the edifice was building Father Oriack said mass at the house of Francis LaMotte, and in the school-house. The church, a log structure, was situate about thirty rods east of the present church site, the spot of its erection being now occupied as a cemetery.
After a short time Father Oriack left, and his place was taken by Rev. Father Berti. He soon went away, after which Rev. Father Prendergast, of Bellefonte, occasionally visited the parish. After him, and early in the year 1846, came Father Rauder, but was succeeded after a few months by Rev. John Berbigier, who remained in charge as pastor until the year 1880, but be- ing occasionally called away, his place was supplied at various times by Revs. Joseph Billou, M. A. De La Rouque, C. Berard, and Eugene Cogneville.
In the course of time the old log church became too small for the growing congregation, and was therefore abandoned and a new church commenced. The corner stone was laid by Right Rev. T. Mullen, bishop of the diocese. The edifice, a substantial stone building, stands on an elevated piece of land about ten rods north of the Clearfield and Karthaus road, and is distant from Clearfield twenty miles, and from Karthaus seven miles. The church was ded- icated October 8, 1873, by Bishop Mullen.
In the year 1880 Father Berbigier was succeeded by Rev. H. Mullen, who is now the pastor in charge. The congregation is in a decidedly healthful condition, and numbers about two hundred families, residents mainly of Cov- ington township.
The cemetery lot on which the old log church was built comprised two
508
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
acres of land, and was donated to the society by Francis La Motte ; but Mr. Keating, of Philadelphia, the proprietor of an extensive tract of land in this and adjoining townships, reimbursed Mr. La Motte for his gift, and presented to the society a thirty acre tract, on which the present church stands.
The society of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church is practically an offshoot or branch from the Lutheran Church Society, whose house of worship was erected on Karthaus Hill, and was the result of a division of the society, not through dissension, but for the convenience of the members. The corner stone of this church edifice, at Keewaydin, was laid, with appropriate ceremo- nies, on the 14th day of August, 1869, and during the pastorate of Rev. Sam- uel Croft. Upon this occasion Rev. Nixdorf assisted. The building committee were: C. Schnars, C. Brown, and George Emerick. The church was formally dedicated on the 18th day of December, 1870. The entire cost of the build- ing and furniture for the church was eighteen hundred dollars, all of which was paid or provided for, before the day of dedication.
A substantial parsonage was built on the same lot on which the church stands, the funds therefor being raised by a sale of the old parsonage and prop- erty in Karthaus township.
After the resignation of Rev. Croft, the charge remained vacant for about two years, after which Rev. P. B. Sherk became pastor, and served two years. Then followed another vacancy of two years, when Rev. G. W. Stroup was called, and is still pastor, having served the charge since April 1, 1878. The present membership of St. John's church numbers about ninety persons.
Although as yet in a comparatively undeveloped condition, owing almost wholly to the lack of railroad communication with the outside world, there is known to exist in Covington township a rich vein, five feet in thickness, of clean, bright, shining, columnar coal. This bed is opened for home consump- tion, a short distance east from Lawrence Flood's hotel, at an elevation of four- teen hundred and ten feet above tide. This is distant from Karthaus and its good producing beds only a few miles. A short extension of the Karthaus railroad will reach this point, when Covington, in common with a majority of the other townships of the county, will develop her latent resources and take her place among the rich producing townships of the county.
509
COOPER TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
HISTORY OF COOPER TOWNSHIP.
T HIS township was brought into existence by a proceeding that was com- menced in the September Quarter Sessions on the 27th day of September, in the year 1882, and, after having been subjected to the various delays known only to the law, was completed and confirmed by a decree of the court dated the 18th day of January, 1884. It is therefore one of the youngest of the county's townships. The proceeding by which it was created was instituted by J. M. Holt, John Leavy, and others; and upon the presentation of their peti- tion the court did appoint S. F. McClosky, John L. Pearce and David Gear- hart, commissioners, to view the territory sought to be divided, and to report thereon their opinion as to the advisability of the division contemplated.
For the erection of the new township, only Morris township was called upon to surrender its territory, and this by a line running from west to east from the southeast part of Graham township to the Moshannon. The report of the commissioners, defining this line, is as follows : " Beginning at a post, the southeast corner of Graham township, on the line between two tracts in the name of Michael and Jacob Gratz, thence through Jacob Gratz (now O. Par- dee's), south six degrees west, sixty perches to a point in the township road leading from Morrisdale to Kylertown ; thence along another township road, south eight and one-half degrees east, twenty-two perches; thence south sev- enty-nine perches : thence seven and three-fourths degrees east, forty-two perches ; thence south one-half degree west, sixty-five perches to the line be- tween Jacob Gratz's tract and Christian Wirtz ; thence along the line between said tracts, and between said Pardee and Miles Johnson, south eighty-six degrees east, thirty-three perches to a post; thence by the same northeast two perches to a post; thence south eighty-eight degrees east, thirty perches to a dead white pine, a corner of tracts in the name of Christian Wirtz and Joseph Turner ; thence between said tracts, lands now owned by Miles Johnson and Adam Moyer on the west, and O. L. Schoonover on the east, south three and one-half degrees west three hundred and thirty-three perches to a post, a cor- ner of tracts in the name of Philip Wagoner and George Habaker; thence through the Joseph Turner survey south eighty-six and one-half degrees east, twenty-four perches to a post by a marked white oak on the west bank of Moshannon Creek."
On the 4th day of April, 1883, the report was confirmed absolutely, and an election was ordered to be held July 10th, following, at which time the ques- tion should be submitted to the determination of the electors of the township, as to whether or not the division should be made. This election resulted in 65
510
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
the polling of ninety-four votes for, and twenty-two against the proposition, and upon a proper return being made by the officers of that election, the court, by its decree, dated January 8, 1884, erected the township of Cooper.
The only line necessary to be run in creating the township of Cooper, was that of which the description has been given, the other boundaries that divided the land in Morris that lay north of it remaining the same. Cooper township, by this proceeding, took from Morris a large part of its most valuable land, both in point of surface production and in mineral deposits.
The township was so named in honor of the Cooper family, the pioneer of which was Daniel Cooper. He came to the locality in the year 1828, and set- tled within a short distance of Kylertown.
The early history and settlement of Cooper township, and its progress and development prior to its erection, were made while it formed a part of Morris, from which it was taken, and for its history the reader will refer to the chapter on Morris township. Since its organization, Cooper has acquired but little his- tory, yet, by reference to the tax-rolls of the township, there appears a notice- able growth in point of population at least. In the year 1885, there were but two hundred and thirty-nine taxables in the entire township, while on the roll for the year 1887, there appears a total of three hundred and seventy-five, showing an increase in two years of one hundred and thirty-six taxables, or an increase in population in that time of something over five hundred. This is accounted for, in a measure, by the development of its mineral and coal inter- ests, particularly in the vicinity of the village of Peale.
This little town is situate in the extreme east part of the township, and has become the center of an extensive coal region. Its existence is due to the building of the Beech Creek Railroad, and although the town is considerable distance from the station, yet it would be of little consequence without the road, which furnishes transportation for the immense quantities of coal and lumber produced in the vicinity.
The only other hamlet or village worthy of note in connection with this chapter is Kylertown, so named from an old and highly respected family, named Kyler, that settled in the locality many years ago, and although the older stock are now dead, the township and village is well supplied with sub- stantial representatives of the name and family.
5II
DECATUR TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
HISTORY OF DECATUR TOWNSHIP.
T HIS township was formed in 1828, by dividing Bradford township. Its
boundaries at that time being, on the north, Bradford township (but now Boggs and Morris townships), on the east the Moshannon Creek, which divides it from Centre county ; on the south Huntingdon county (now Cambria county, and Woodward township), and on the west Muddy Run and Clearfield Creek (now Woodward township).
The township was covered with a magnificent pine and hemlock forest, and early attracted the attention of settlers. The lands of the township were owned, or at least the greater portion of them, by Hardman Philips, an Eng- lishman, who settled in, and gave his name to Philipsburg, a town in Centre county, and just across the township line on the east, and in which county he also owned thousands of acres.
Mr. Philips offered inducements to his own countrymen, and to the Prot- estant Irish, to settle on his lands, and as early as 1797, a settlement was made at a place now called Stumptown, a mile northeast of Osceola Mills. This settlement was known at that time as the "Goss " settlement, and derived its name from Abram Goss, who settled there at the time mentioned, and pro- ceeded to clear out a farm from the surrounding forest.
This settlement was then supposed to be in Centre county, from the fact that Clearfield county not being then organized, the settlers were under the government, or courts of the former named county, but in reality, the town- ship never formed a part of that county. Mr. Goss raised a family of thirteen children, twelve of whom lived to years of maturity, and who assisted in settling the township. His son, Abram, now lives in Osceola Mills, and is surrounded by a numerous line of descendants.
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.