USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 7
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James Moore, jr., became wealthy and was one of the most highly re- 9
62
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
spected men in the county. Through his instrumentality religious services were held by Rev. Linn, of Bellefonte. These services were usually held in Squire McClure's barn. James Moore, jr., acted as agent for Fox & Roberts, who owned a large tract of land in the northwest part of the county. Be- sides James, jr., were two other sons of James Moore, sr., Jeremiah and An- drew. The three brothers built and operated both saw and grist-mills.
The locality to which frequent reference has been made, known as the " Grampian Hills," was so named by Dr. Samuel Coleman, concerning whom, prior to his coming here, but little is known. He never spoke of his parentage, birth, or early life. He was supposed by many persons to have been of noble birth. He named the place " Grampian Hills," from a resemblance it bore to the Grampian Hills in the old country. The firm of Hopkins, Griffiths & Boone had a large tract of land in that vicinity, and they gave Dr. Coleman three hundred acres to induce him to settle there. Not liking the profession for which he was educated, Coleman accepted the offer and took up the land, came here and made his first clearing in 1808. As understood, Dr. Coleman named his farm the "Grampian Hills," and that the whole vicinity has ever since been so designated. Dr. Coleman had one slave with him.
About the time that Dr. Coleman settled on the "hills," Joseph Boone came. The latter was a friend of Coleman, but the circumstances of his com- ing here were quite different. He had been sheriff at Washington, and while acting in that capacity, a prisoner, named John Nicholson, was given him in custody. Having the liberties of the jail yard, Nicholson managed to escape. This made Boone and his bondsmen liable, and to meet that liability his prop- erty was sold. Boone then came to Williamsport, and from there went to Philadelphia. At the last named place he found Nicholson. In order to make Boone some reparation for the loss he and his sureties had sustained, Nicholson transferred to them a number of warrants, which were afterward surveyed for Hopkins, Griffiths & Boone, upon lands in this county. In the early part of the summer, in the year 1809, Boone and his family arrived at " Squire " McClure's, having come by boat from Williamsport. From the Squire's place they proceeded to their future home on the hills. Boone com- menced the erection of a mill on Bell's Run, but never completed it. He was chosen prothonotary and recorder of the county while living here. He returned after several years to Philadelphia, and practiced law.
Abraham Goss, an old Revolutionary veteran, came and made a settlement about 1806 at the place known as "Goss Settelment," in (now) Decatur town- ship.
Among the many names of old settlers in the county, not before men- tioned, were those of Nicholas and Henry Kephart, Valentine and David Flegal, Absalom Pierce, John Gearhart, Benjamin and Nicholas Smeal, and others probably forgotten.
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EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
James Rhea made an improvement in the Erhard neighborhood in 1806, but remained here only a few years.
In 1808, Thomas Jordon, brother of Benjamin, came and made a farm. James McNeil came during the same year, and located near "Fruit Hill." McNeil was appointed justice of the peace by Governor Shultz, and held the office until justices were made an elective office.
About this time came the McKees, the Dunlaps, the Cathcarts, the Anns, the Feltwells, and others.
The Scotch-Irish settlement, so called, was near Fruit Hill, but the people who first settled there were not Scotch-Irish, as the name would seem to im- ply There were the Thompsons, Johnstons, Currys, Blooms, Pattersons, Jor- dans, Williamses, Wises, and Swans.
Robert Collins, whose name became popular in the county, came here in 1805, about the time the county buildings were erected. Collins died in 1855, leaving a large family of descendants.
Jacob Spencer, sr., with his family, came to the county in 1808. He pur- chased land from Benjamin Jordon between Pennville and the river.
William Feltwell came to the county in 1806, as agent for a large tract of land known as the Morgan tract, in what is now known as Jordon township.
In 1809 a settlement was made at the mouth of Muddy Run, by the family of William Alexander.
In the vicinity of Mount Pleasant settlements were made prior to 1810 by the Smileys, Dillons, Goons, and the Feltwells.
Robert and Samuel Hagerty purchased and improved lands at the mouth of Muddy Run, as early as 1809, but did not bring their families here until some years later, about 1813.
Ignatius Thompson made an improvement and came to reside on the ridges in 1810. He was of Irish parentage, and moved here from Huntingdon county.
Moses Norris also came in the same year and settled on the Ridge. He made a fine farm.
About the same time John Rowles, the progenitor of a large family, lo- cated on the ridge. His sons were great hunters and woodsmen.
Archibald and Robert Shaw, brothers, of Scotch-Irish descent, took up lands on the west side of the river, about one and a half miles below the county seat, in the year 1810. From Archie have descended some of the most enter- prising citizens of the county. His children were John, Richard, Robert, Ar- chibald, jr., Margaret, who married William Daniel; Barbara, who became the wife of William Leonard; Mary, who married James Fulton; and Jane, who became the wife of Andrew Welch.
Robert Shaw, the pioneer, remained here but a short time. His children were James and John, by his first wife; and by his second wife, Robert, jr., Archie and Adam.
64
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
David Hanna and one of his sons came to the county early in the present century, and was soon after followed by the rest of the family. In the family were thirteen children. David, the eldest son, was a surveyor, and at one time justice of the peace.
CHAPTER VIII.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
Erection of the County - Boundaries-An Error-Jurisdiction of Centre County Officers Extended Over this County-The Governor's Order -Proceedings of the Commissioners- County Seat Fixed at Clearfied -Election Districts -- Return of Taxables -The First Townships -Population -Act of 1812 -The Civil Organization Completed -Subsequent Townships - Erection of Elk County -- Townships taken from Clearfield County.
CLEARFIELD county was erected by an act of the Legislature, passed on the 26th day of March, 1804. At the same time, and by the same act, five other counties were created, viz .: Jefferson, Mckean, Potter, Tioga, and Cam- bria. That portion of the act relating to the erection and boundaries of Clear- field county is as follows :
" Sect. III. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That so much of the county of Lycoming, included in the following boundaries, to wit : Beginning where the line dividing Cannon's and Brodhead's district strikes the west branch of the Susquehanna River; thence north along the said dis- trict line until a due west course from thence will strike the southeast corner of Mckean county ; thence west along the southern boundary of Mckean county to the line of Jefferson county ; thence southwesterly along the line of Jeffer- son county to where Hunters district line crosses Sandy Lick Creek; thence south along the district line to the Canoe Place on Susquehanna River ; thence an easterly course to the southwesterly corner of Centre county, on the heads of Mushanon Creek; thence down the Mushanon Creek, the several courses thereof to its mouth; thence down the west branch of Susquehanna River to the place of beginning, be, and the same is hereby erected into a separate county, to be henceforth called Clearfield county, and the place of holding the courts of justice in and for the said county, shall be fixed by the Legislature at any place which may be most beneficial and convenient for the said county."
There is an undoubted error in the section above quoted, wherein it states that only "so much of the county of Lycoming, etc.," shall be erected into a separate county. Lycoming county embraced the territory that lay north and west of the West Branch, while the lands between the Mushanon and the West Branch were, at the time of the enactment, in Huntingdon county.
65
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
To have been correct, the section should have read, "That so much of the counties of Lycoming and Huntingdon included without the following bound- aries, to wit, etc."
Under section seven of the same act provision was made for the appoint- ment of three commissioners by the governor, to run the line and mark the boundaries of the county.
By section eight, " That as soon as it shall appear by an enumeration of the taxable inhabitants within the counties thus created, that any of them ac- cording to the rates which shall then be established for apportioning the repre- sentation among the several counties of the Commonwealth, shall be entitled to a separate representation, provision shall be made by law for apportioning the said representation, and enabling such county to be represented separately, and to hold the courts of justice at such place in said county as is, or hereafter may be, fixed for holding the same by the Legislature, and to choose their county officers in like manner as the other counties of this Commonwealth."
The next section provided that the governor be required to appoint three suitable persons for trustees, who shall receive proposals in writing for the grant or conveyance of any lands within the county, or the transfer of any other property, or the payment of any money for the use of said county, for fixing the place of holding courts of justice in the county.
Section eleven provides, "That for the present convenience of the inhabitants of said counties of Clearfield and Mckean, and until an enumeration of the taxable inhabitants of the said counties shall be made, and it shall be otherwise directed by law, the said counties of Clearfield and Mckean shall be, and the same are hereby annexed to the county of Centre, and the jurisdiction of the several courts of the county of Centre, and the authority of the judges thereof shall extend over, and shall operate and be effectual within said counties of Clearfield and Mckean."
The above quotations from the acts of the Legislature are made for the pur- pose of correcting an erroneous impression that has existed in the minds of many persons that this county was formerly a part of Centre county; and for the further purpose of making known just how far and in what manner the interests of this county were identical with those of Centre. A question arose, however, as to whether the jurisdiction of justices of the peace of Centre county were, by the act, intended to extend over Clearfield county. This question was settled by a further act passed March 25, 1805, which declared that the jurisdiction of jus- tices of the peace did not extend over this county in cases of debts or de- mands.
An act supplemental to the act of March 26, 1804, was passed on the 14th day of March, 1805, whereby it was provided that the power and authority of the commissioners and other county officers of Centre county, should extend over and be as full and effectual in this county, as if it were a component part
66
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
of Centre county ; and that the inhabitants of this county were entitled to ex- ercise and enjoy the same rights and privileges, and to be subject to the same regulations as if this were in fact a part of Centre county. And further, that the commissioners, treasurer, and recorder of deeds of Centre county, should keep separate books of the affairs of this county.
Section four of the act provides, "That the county of Clearfield shall be an election district, and the electors thereof shall hold their general elections at the house of Benjamin Jordon, in the said district, and shall be entitled to vote for members of the Federal and State Legislatures, sheriffs, commissioners, and other county officers for Centre county." This election district, comprising the whole county, was known as "Chincleclamousche." In pursuance of the author- ity vested in him by the act of April 4, 1805, the governor issued to the com- missioners the following order :
" Pennsylvania, ss.
" Thomas Mckean. In the name and by the authority of the Com-
Place of the monwealth of Pennsylvania: Thomas Mc-
Great Seal. Kean, Governor of the said Commonwealth.
"To Roland Curtin, of the County of Centre, John Fleming, of the County of Lycoming, and James Smith, of the County of
" GENTLEMEN :-
" Sends Greeting.
" Whereas, In and by an Act of the General Assembly of this Com- monwealth, dated the 4th day of April, instant, it is amongst other things pro- vided, that the Governor shall be authorized and empowered to appoint three disinterested Commissioners, who do not reside or own any land in the County of Clearfield, which Commissioners, or a majority of them, shall meet at the house of Benjamin Patton in the town of Bellefonte, on the twentieth day of May next, and from thence proceed to view and determine on the most eligible and proper situation for the seat of Justice and public buildings for the County of Clearfield.
" Now Know Ye, That having full confidence in your integrity, judgment and abilities, I have appointed, and by these Presents I do appoint you the said Roland Curtin, John Fleming and James Smith, Commissioners for the pur- pose aforesaid; Hereby requiring you and each of you, with all convenient dis- patch to proceed in the execution of the trust in you reposed as aforesaid, and to make a full and accurate report in writing, into the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, on or before the first Monday of December next.
" Given under my Hand and the Great Seal of the State at Lancaster, this Sixth day of April, Anno Domini, 1805, and of the Commonwealth the twenty- ninth.
" By the Governor.
T. M. THOMPSON,
"Secretary of the Commonwealth."
67
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
By virtue of the authority vested in them, the commissioners met at the house of Benjamin Patton, in Bellefonte, on the 20th day of May, 1805, and received several proposals for the purpose intended. They then visited the county and proceeded to view the several localities before finally determin- ing the place of locating the county buildings. They visited the lands of Paul Clover, near the present borough of Curwensville, and those at the junction of Clearfield Creek and the West Branch. The latter were in dispute, being claimed by one Samuel Boyd, a colored man. They also viewed the lands of Martin Hoover, between Chincleclamousche and Curwensville, about where Wright's nursery is now located; but Hoover thought the lands were more valuable for farming purposes, and would not part with them. The site was finally fixed upon lands of Abraham Witmer, a resident of Lancaster, on the place where the borough of Clearfield now stands, and on which the Indian town of Chincleclamousche formerly stood. For the proposed erection Abra- ham Witmer donated one town lot for the court-house, one for the jail, one for a market lot, and three for an academy. He also contributed three thou- sand dollars, one-half of which was to be used in the erection of the public buildings, and the other half for the academy or public school in said town.
For the performance of the above covenant or donation, Witmer made and executed a bond as follows : "Know all men by these presents, That I, Abraham Witmer, of Lancaster township, in the county of Lancaster, and Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania, am held and firmly bound unto Roland Curtin, John Fleming and James Smith in the sum of Ten Thousand dollars lawful money of the United States, to be paid to the said Roland Curtin, John Flem- ing and James Smith, or either of them, their or either of their attorneys, heirs, executors, administrators or assigns. To which payment well and truly to be made, I bind myself, my heirs, executors and administrators firmly by these presents. Sealed with my seal, dated the Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and five. Whereas, Thomas W. McKean, Esquire, Governor of Pennsylvania, by Letters under the Great Seal of this Commonwealth, dated at Lancaster the sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and five, appointed Roland Curtin, John Fleming and James Smith, or a majority of them, Commissioners for the purpose of viewing and determining on the most eligible and proper situation for the seat of justice and public buildings in and for the county of Clearfield.
" And Whereas, by an act of the General Assembly of this Commonwealth, dated the fourth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- dred and five, it is made the duty of the Commissioners so to be appointed, to take assurances by deed, bond or otherwise, of any lands, lots, monies or other property which hath been or may be offered for the use and benefit of the said county, either for the purpose of erecting public buildings, the support of an academy or other public use. And Whereas, the aforesaid Commissioners in
68
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
pursuance of the power given them for that purpose, have determined and fixed on for the purpose aforesaid, a certain tract or parcel of land, the prop- erty of the said Abraham Witmer. And whereas the said Abraham Witmer hath agreed to sell and convey in such a manner and to such person or persons as may be hereafter legally appointed for that purpose, one lot in said town for the purpose of having a court-house erected thereon, one for a jail, one for a market house, three for an academy and two pieces of ground for the public.
" And the said Abraham Witmer further agrees and engages to give his bond or other security as may be required to such person as may be author- ized to receive the same for the payment of Three Thousand dollars on the first day of May, which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twelve, one-half thereof to be applied for the use of an academy or public school in said town and one-half for the purpose of erecting public buildings in said town.
"Now the condition of the foregoing obligation is such, that if the before bounden Abraham Witmer, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns shall from time to time, and at all times do keep and perform the aforesaid under- takings and agreements on his part, then and in such case the above obliga- tion to be void and of none effect, otherwise to be and remain in full force and virtue.
" ABRAHAM WITMER. [Seal.]
" Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us, " BENJN. PATTON. " ROBT. T. STEWART."
The report of the commissioners was duly made to the governor as soon as the location was fixed. The original report that should be among the old records at Harrisburg has been reported as lost, but fortunately, a certified copy was found at Clearfield among the papers of one of the attorneys of the place. It is as follows: " Sir,-By virtue of an act of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, entitled, 'An act authorizing the appointment of Commissioners to fix upon a proper site for the seat of justice in Clearfield county.'
"We, the subscribers, appointed by his excellency the Governor, agree- able to the provisions of the above mentioned act, passed on the tenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and five,-Report, That agreeable to the provisions of the above mentioned act, we met at the house of Benjamin Patton in the town of Bellefonte, on the twentieth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and five, and after receiving the different proposals made by several persons, proceeded to view and determine on the most eligible and proper situation for the seat of justice and public buildings for the said county of Clearfield, and do find that the old town of Chinclecla- mouse in the said county (the property of Abraham Witmer of the township
69
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
of Lancaster in the county of Lancaster and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania) situated on the south side of the west branch of the Susquehanna river in the county aforesaid, is the most eligible and proper situation for the seat of justice and public buildings in the said county ; and that we have laid out the said town ; (a plan of which is attached to the report) ; and we also further report that we have received from the said Abraham Witmer, his bond, which is hereto annexed for the conveyance of certain lots and the payment of certain sums of money at the time and for the purpose therein mentioned.
" We are with respect your humble servants,
" ROLAND CURTIN, " JNO. FLEMING, " JAS. SMITH.
"To THOMAS MCKEAN,
" THOMPSON EsQ. Secy."
The proceedings of the General Assembly, following and relating to the report of the above commissioners, confirmed their report, as follows: The commissioners appointed by this act fixed the place of holding the courts, etc., on lands of Abraham Witmer, at Chingleglamouch, old town, on the west branch of Susquehanna, and the new county town is now laid out and called Clearfield.
The entire territory embraced by the boundaries of the county was, by an order of the Quarter Sessions of Centre county, in August, 1804, formed into an election district known as Chincleclamousche, and the elections were ap- pointed by the Legislature to be held at the house of Benjamin Jordon, famil- iarly known as " Grand-dad Jordon."
The first enumeration of taxable inhabitants in the county, made after its organization, showed a total of one hundred and four, of which number sixteen were single freemen. There were returned for taxation twenty-one thousand seven hundred and sixteen acres of land, seventy horses, one hundred and twenty cows, thirty-seven oxen, two grist-mills and two saw-mills. The counties of Lycoming, Centre, Clearfield, McKean, Tioga, and Potter, were found to have an aggregate of four thousand five hundred taxables, and were thereby entitled to one member of the State Senate. Centre, Clearfield, and McKean counties were, on the number of taxables returned, entitled to one member of the House of Representatives.
In December, 1806, the commissioners of Centre county, having jurisdiction by law over the county of Clearfield, by their warrant under their hands com- manded Alexander Read, assessor of the township of Chincleclamousche, to take an account of all the freemen and the personal property made taxable by law, together with a just valuation of the same, and also a valuation of all trades. and occupations subject to taxation, and to return the same to the said com -. missioners at Bellefonte on or before the 28th day of January, 1807.
10
70
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
The following list will show the names of the taxable inhabitants of Chin- cleclamousche township, made in compliance with the above warrant: Robert Anderson, Robert Askey, David Allen, Arthur Bell, Greenwood Bell, John Bell, William Bloom, sr., William Bloom, jr., Isaac Bloom, Thomas Bramen, Samuel Beaty, Samuel Beer, Caleb Bailey, John Cook, Robert Cresswell, Paul Clover, Peter Clover, Nicholas Cline, John Cline, John Crea, Hugh Carson, Samuel Cochran, John Carothers, George Cowhart, Benjamin Carson, Jude Cunningham, John Crowell, John Coulter, Robert Collins, Anne Deal, John Dennis, William Dunlap, Caleb Davis, Alexander Dunlap, Peter Erhard, Nun England, Samuel Ewing, Benjamin Fenton, John Ferguson, Valentine Flegal, David Flegal, Henry Fye, Hugh Frazier, John Finall, William W. Feltwell, John Gearhart, Abraham Goss, Robert Graham, James Gallagher, Samuel Green, Martin Hoover, Frederick Haney, John Hall, Abraham Hess, George Hunter, Hugh Hall, Benjamin Hartshorn, William Hanna, William Hepburn, Dewalt Hess, Henry Irwin, Hugh Jordon, John Jordon, Benjamin Jordon, John Hiler, Andrew Kep- hart, Henry Kephart, Conrad Kyler, Leonard Kyler, Thomas Kirk, David Ligat, David Lewis, Thomas Lewis, Joseph Leonard, David Litz, Jane Lathers (Lewis), Abraham Leonard, William Leonard, James McCracken, Thomas McClure, Thomas McCracken, Joseph McCracken, Robert McCormick, John Moore, Thomas Mapes, James McCracken, jr., Robert Maxwell, Robert Mc- Cracken, Thomas McGee, Daniel Ogden, Matthew Ogden, John Owen, Joab Ogden, Joseph Patterson, Absalom Pierce, Abraham Passmore, William Rob- inson, Isaac Ricketts, Edward Ricketts, Alexander Read, sr., Alexander Read, jr., George Reynolds, Nicholas Straw, Benjamin Smeal, Nicholas Smeal, George Shimmel, John Shirley, Elisha Schofield, Christian Straw, Francis Severns, William Tate, Samuel Turner, William Underwood, George Wilson, John Weld, John Welch, George Welch, Jacob Weiser, John Weiser, Thomas Winters, George Williams, Peter Young.
The following were the single freemen of the county: Joseph McCracken, Robert McCracken, James McCracken, Andrew Beer, jr., Robert Maxwell, Peter Clover, John Kyler, Conrad Kyler, jr., Samuel Jordon, Thomas Kirk, James Kirk, James Carson, Lewis Lewis, James Dunlap, John Welch, James Galloway, Job England, Robert Howey, Andrew Bean, Daniel McCracken, David Flegal, George Haney, David Dunlap, James Dunlap, Solomon Cline, Samuel Jordon, Samuel Boyd, Thomas Kirk, Thomas Read, John Conneway.
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