History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics, Part 114

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) comp. cn; J.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1320

USA > Pennsylvania > McKean County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 114
USA > Pennsylvania > Potter County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 114
USA > Pennsylvania > Elk County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 114
USA > Pennsylvania > Cameron County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 114

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).

Justices. - C. Y. White. 1873-74; T. C. Page, 1876; Jerome B. Earl, 1879; Harry Dutcher, 1880; H. B. Mears. 1881; James Brusan, 1882; John McGillis, 1883-88; J. B. Earl, 1884; B. Nefey. 1885.

School Directors. - E. Hatten, 1873; G. H. Chamberlin. 1873; D. Lupro, 1873; William Roach, 1873-75; Saul Buck, 1874; C. MeMinn, 1874-78; J. M. Reynolds, 1875; A. J. McDonald, 1876-79-82: Mark Sendder. 1876; Levi Musser. 1877-80; J. O. Brookbank, 1877-80; J. B. Earl, 1877-80-82; John E. Barr, 1878-81; William Young, 1879; D. Angell, 1879-81-84; S. S. Smith, 1883; R. Rothrock, 1884; John MeDonald, 1885; B. Nefey, 1886; T. -J. Riley, 1886; J. A. Mothersbaugh, 1887; M. J. B. Brooks, 1887; P. W. Householder, 1888; G. L. Smith, ISSS.

Assessors .- W. A. Hatten, 1873; E. Vosburg, 1874: G. W. Smith, 1875; Mark Scudder. 1876; C. F. Laughton, 1877: John I. McCarty, 1878; Levi Dougherty, 1879-80-81; F. Rothrock, 1882; M. P. Whiting, 1883; J. G. Grimshaw, 1884; F. G. Rothrock, 1885; T. J. Riley, 1886-87; R. Roth- rock, 18SS.

Auditors .- J. O. Brookbank, 1873; M. Curdde, 1874; C. Y. White, 1875; T. C. Page, 1875; F. A. Blackwell, 1876; John McGillis, 1876: W. H. Van- Lew, 1877; A. C. Becken, 1878-79; Levi Dougherty, 1880; A. C. Becken, 1881-82; J. Grimshaw, 1883: H. D. Earl, 1884; D. B. Reed, 1885; M. P. Whiting, 1886-87: C. E. Pealer, 1SSS.

The Driftwood elections of February, 1889, resulted in the choice of A. R. McDonald, burgess; W. G. Sanders and Charles E. Pealer. councilmen; S. D. MeCool, justice of the peace; Thomas J. Riley, Samuel Louck and F. F. Kirk, school directors; M. Fitzgerald. constable and collector; George Towers, high constable; Robert Trude, constable; J. W. Carey, overseer of poor; F. B. Sanders, auditor, and P. M. Hanes, assessor. Mr. McDonald did not qualify, when C. F. Laughton was appointed by the district court. The constable elect failed to qualify, when the court appointed Matt. Kirk, who also failed in this matter, so that the borough was, for a time, withont that officer.

The officers of Driftwood borough elected in February, 1590. are C. F. Laugh- ton, burgess; Charles E. Pealer, T. J. Riley, R. Rothrock and Charles Gleason, councilmen; M. J. B. Brooks, John T. Earl and S. P. Kreider, school directors; M. P. Whiting and Charles Gleason, overseers of poor; James Letz, high con- stable; Wilbur Miller, constable; M. Fitzgerald, constable and collector; James Fulton, justice, and William G. Miller, auditor.

Driftwood in 1876 .- In September, 1876, the editor of the Lock Haven Republican visited the village, and before the close of the month published the following description:

There is undoubtedly more husiness done at Driftwood than at Emuporium, or any town of its size on the West Branch. We were shown through the mammoth store-room of J. O. Brookbank & Co., dealers in general merchandise, and find they are carrying a heavy stock, with sales reaching from $8,000 to $10,000 per month. J. O. Brookbank. Robert Rothrock, J. W. Cochran and J. H. Cochran compose the firm. and they occupy a room about 200x40 feet, stocked with a line of goods suitable to their trade, which em- braces largely the Bennett's hranch and Driftwood branch of the Susquehanna; and

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HISTORY OF CAMERON COUNTY.

their house largely supplies the jobbers on these streams and their tributaries with such articles as are needed to carry on their lumber camps, etc. It is needless to say they are enterprising, reliable business men. The fact is patent. There is a Masonic hall in the second story of this building, finished in elegant style, and furnished very completely. Col. I. S. Bates, an enterprising citizen engaged in the real estate business, is largely the man to whom the fraternity are indebted for this beautiful and comfortable lodge room. The Cochran Bros. are putting in about 27.000,000 feet of lumber on the tributaries to Bennett's branch, etc., for different parties at Williamsport and other points along the river.

A protracted meeting is now in progress under the pastorate of Rev. L. G. Heck, with fine congregations and marked interest. The meetings on Saturday evening and Sabbath were conducted by a delegation from the district executive committee of the Y. M. C. 1. Presiding Elder J. J. Pearce preached on Monday evening, and the services will be con- tinned for the entire week. The ladies of the town have shown great taste, and devotion to the interests of religion, by trimming the church with evergreens, and otherwise beau- tifying the house of worship in which these meetings are held. There are two churches in the place, a Catholic and Union meeting house, used by the different Protestant de- nominations. They are both neat, commodious buildings, a credit to the people of the the place. Rev. James Brennan is the pastor of the Roman Catholic Church, Rev. L. G. Heck, of the Methodist.

It struek us the curse of the place was the number of hotels and saloons; seven hotels and two saloons we should deem a superabundance, and yet there seems to be that number to be supported or starved by the citizens and visitors to Driftwood. As an off- set to this, there is a Murphy organization, which seems to he thriving amid all the oppo- sition from the dealers in liquors. Some new buildings are in progress, which are im- provements to others already occupied, and. taken all in all. Driftwood seems to be about over the crisis, aud proposes to march forward, taking the advance among the up-river towns.

In Centennial year the borough officers were: Burgess, C. Y. White; coun- cilmen, J. S. Bates, E. Vosburg, William Roach, J. O. Brookbank, Ira De- Witt; D. J. McDonald; justice of the peace, T. C. Page; school directors, Mark Scudder, A. J. McDonald; judge of election, T. C. Page; inspectors, William Roach. E. Vosburg; assessor, Mark Scudder; assistant assessors, Ira De Witt. John McCathy; high constable, John Lupole; auditors, Fred Black- well. John McGillis; overseers of poor, D. J. McDonald, L. Musser.

The Catholic Church was presided over by Dr. Brennan, and Rev. L. G. Heck was the minister in charge of the Methodist circuit. The hotels com- prised the McDonald House, conducted by A. R. McDonald; the Sherman, by John A. Gillis & Co., and the Tyler by M. V. and R. J. Gillis. The restau- rants were conducted by T. H. Cartin and J. B. Earl; W. H. VanLew was baker and confectioner. The great general store was carried on by the then new firm of Robert Rothrock, Ira De Witt, J. W. Cochran and J. Henry Coch- ran; the drug and hardware store by O. J. Spafford; the Brookbank store; the boot and shoe store, by T. J. Robison, and the liquor store by Coleman & Nefcy. A few small concerns were also in existence. . . . The postmaster was J. O. Brookbank, who held the office from 1872 to 1888, when M. P. Whiting was commissioned. In January, 1890, J. O. Brookbank was commissioned. O. J. Spafford has also been postmaster at this point . . . . The Philadelphia & Erie Railroad and the Low Grade Division of the Allegheny Valley Railroad were in operation as well as a lumber road, all of which are noticed in the pages devoted to railroads . .. . The American Union telegraph line was com- pleted to Driftwood via the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad in 1880, thus giving four telegraph lines.

Manufactures. - Miles Dent, born at the old homestead, near Mix run, June 16, 1823, died March 18, 1889, at Dent's run, where he settled forty-two years before, and where his wife died in December, 1887. He was one of the leading lumbermen of the State. In 1881 he built a large saw-mill, a railroad and bridge in 1883-85, and the store building in 1888.

The Brookbank & Company's lumber and stave mill at Castle Garden was es-

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HISTORY OF CAMERON COUNTY.

tablished nine years ago as a stave mill, and in 1889 saw-mill machinery was introduced. This industry gives employment to six men ... . The Standard Shingle Company's mill on Red run, near Driftwood, was built in 1887-88 .... S. S. Miller's stave-mill at Castle Garden, near Driftwood, is another lal:or- giving concern .... L. R. Gleason & Sons' tannery, established at Drift- wood in 1889, promises to equal in importance the great tanneries at Wilcox, Johnsonburg, Ridgway, Emporium, Costello and other places in this district. The tannery is now producing one car-load of leather per week. This industry gives employment to thirty-five men. It was reported in March, 1890, that another tannery would be brought into existence here this year.

Fires, Floods, Etc .- The Driftwood fire of April 14, 1875, destroyed J. B. Earl's hotel and W. A. Hatten's billiard saloon, and A. J. McDonald's dwelling was torn down. The Patchel House was saved by great effort . . . . The fire of May, 1882, destroyed the Kelso House, Simon Brothers' store and barns, the principal loser being A. R. McDonald. .. . In June, 1882, another fire swept away Kane's new block, on the Kelso lot, in which was Frank Rothrock's store. Patrick Kane's loss was $3,000 and Frank Rothrock's $4, 500. A month before the locality boasted of the Kelso House, two stores. a dwelling. barns, etc., but after this fire the old three-story Gore House was the only building on the square between the post-office and depot. The forest fires of May, 1884, did much damage in the neighborhood, but that summer did not pass away until the fire fiend returned. On July S a number of oil cars were standing on the siding, and it is said the cars were put in at an unreasonable speed, cans- ing them to collide with the oil tanks, and setting them on fire. The burning oil was thrown in every direction, and soon the heart of the town was in a blaze. The barn back of the McDonald House first took fire, then Duell's con- fectionery store, spreading to McDonald's block near the railroad. and then to Torbert's drug store, and crossing the street to Cochran Brothers' buildings on the south and the McDonald House on the east, and to the buildings east of the McDonald House, destroying, in all, fifteen buildings. Losses: D. J. McDon- ald's loss was as follows: McDonald House and furniture, $8,000; store build- ing, $2,900; goods in store, $6,000; dwelling and household goods, $4.000; Blakely House, $2,000; two warehouses, $600; barn $300-total loss, $23.800. A. J. McDonald's estate, loss on store building, $2,500, fully insured; Cochran Brothers, on buildings, $6,000, insurance $3,000; Torbert & Co., loss $10.000. insurance $5,500; Weil clothing store, loss $3,000; Gazette printing office and book store, loss $5,000, insurance $3,500; Duell confectionery, loss $500, no insurance; Thomas Buck, household goods, $100; Timley Tailor saved most of his goods, loss small; Edward Drumel, loss small in moving household goods: Joseph Lechner, boots and shoes, loss $150, no insurance: George Heiserman, barber, loss $150, fully insured; J. B. Earl's loss on furniture, $200, fully insured; the band lost their instruments (in the Gazette office), valued at $200: G. A. R. Post, No. 241, loss on furniture, $100; no insurance .... In October, 1887, B. Nefcy's house, occupied by Joe Krotzer, was burned.

The wind storm of January 12, 1890, carried away part of the roof of the Hotel Lafayette, destroyed one of the large windows in Brookbank's store and created other damage .... The floods of 1889 did not let Driftwood escape. The waters of Bennett's branch, as well as the Upper Sinnemahoning. met here. converting the valley into a broad, rushing river. The new county bridge over the Sinnemahoning creek, constructed in 1883-84, by the borough, one span of which was carried away in the flood of June 1, 1889, was rebuilt in January and February, 1890, by Contractor Palmer, for the county.

Since 1872 Driftwood and vicinity have become famous for the number of

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HISTORY OF CAMERON COUNTY.

accidents on railroads and in the woods. Among the number the following are noticed: James Nefcy, of Driftwood, was killed by the cars August 18. 1889: Charles McQuade was accidentally killed while hunting, near Huntley. in Octo- ber, 1879. William Grafius was killed on Bark Shanty run by a falling tree, in July, 1888. Benjamin Smith, a native of this section, also died from the results of an accident at Castle Garden. In January, 1890, J. L. Barclay, of Potter county, was crushed under the wheels of a freight train at Emporium, and died a few days later.

Hotels. The first hotel was kept by Jacob Coleman on the bank of the creek near the north end of railroad bridge. Andrew Dent and others kept this house prior to the building of the Lafayette House by Gore during the Civil war, which is the beginning of the modern hotels. F. F. Kirk is the genial pro- prietor of the Lafayette House, having come here in 1885. John Coleman built a hotel on the south side of the river (the site being now covered by railroad embankment) before the war, which was rented to Corny Wainright.

The Commercial Hotel, completed in February, 1887, is one of the most complete houses in the State. The building is 80x50 feet, three stories high, with mansard roof; the dining-room, 26x28; office, 20x20; sample room, 16x18; writing-room, 17x18; ladies' parlor, 15x22, and twenty-seven bed- rooms-all large and airy-the ceilings on first and second floors being twelve feet, and on third floor ten and a half feet. The plans for this building were prepared by T. J. Riley, assisted by G. T. Smith, who had charge of erection. The house is papered and painted artistically, and finished in hard wood. The house employs nine hands. Electric bells, steam-heaters and gas- light mark the completeness of the house.

The present Curtin House was erected in 1885-86 on Driftwood avenue by John Kane. The building is 116x44 feet, with a wide hall on the first floor; large reading and waiting-rooms; a dining room, 41x30; large kitchen and private parlors. There are twenty-four bed-rooms on each of the upper floors. The building was completed in November, 1885.

Churches .- The Methodist Episcopal society of Driftwood dates back to 1810, when Rev. James Allen preached to his strange audience at Overturf's house, the particulars of which service are given in the history of the Meth- odist society of Emporium, where also the story of the old Methodist circuit of this district is related. Services were held in the old school-houses of the vil- lage and neighborhood until the completion of the Union Church house, since which time regular meetings have been held therein. The present mem- bership is fifteen. The camp-meeting at the Driftwood confluence with Ben- nett's branch was held August 18, 1853, with Elders J. V. Himes, J. T. Lan- ning and J. Litch in charge.

Rev. Thomas Holler died in May, 1882. He was married first at Sinnema- honing, January 10, 1836, but the lady dying in 1871, he married, a second time, in July, 1873. The second wife died in December, 1880, and the pioneer himself on the date given, in his seventieth year.

The Messiah society hold services here at intervals, over which the preacher of Kersey, Elk county, presides.

The Catholic Church of St. James is the central church of a large mission, extending almost to the line of Tioga county, or to Galeton, in Potter county. Germania is also included in this extensive parish, Sterling being the only mission easy of access. The congregation at Driftwood is large and influential, as is evident from the beautiful house of worship and pastoral residence. The buildings are situate on the side of the mountain above the railroad depot, and command a view of the Sinnemahoning and Bennett's

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HISTORY OF CAMERON COUNTY.

Branch valleys, as well as of the town beneath. The congregation was formed here about the period of railroad building, and has grown steadily since that time. Monsigneur Brennan, to whom references are made in other pages, is the respected pastor of this church.

Schools. - The old school-house near the flats was built about 1870-71, and in that building religious services were held by all the Protestant denomi- nations. Prior to this services were held in a school-house, at Castle Garden, built during the Civil war, and prior to the war, in the old school-house which occupied the site of the present engine-house. Among the pupils in that old building were John Coleman's children, the Wykoffs, Dents, Smiths, Wesley Shafer and a few others. The contract for the present school building was sold in July, 1886, to G. T. Smith, for $2,950.

Cemetery .- Oak Hill Cemetery Company, of Driftwood, was chartered Au- gust 2, 1886, with S. S. Smith, W. G. Sanders, W. A. Hatten, John McDon- ald, F. A. Blackwell and M. P. Whiting, stockholders.

Societies and Associations. Driftwood Lodge, No. 532, A. F. & A. M .. was chartered December 2, 1874, with the following named members: J. S. Bates, C. F. Barclay, Fred A. Blackwell, Mack Scudder, David B. Reed, J. Henry Cochran, G. W. Huntley, G. B. Barclay, Samuel Buck, Levi Musser, J. Or- lando Brookbank, James Fulton, Sylvester S. Smith, J. M. Shaffer, James Wylie, Jr., Alonzo Bailey, A. E. Taylor. Josiah Fink, J. S. Shirk, David P. Baird, M. J. B. Brooks. The past masters have been J. S. Bates, C. F. Barclay. F. A. Blackwell. J. H. Cochran, G. B. Barclay, G. W. Huntley, S. S. Smith, C. G. Matson, J. O. Brookbank, J. H. Fink, W. G. Sanders, C. W. Beldin, L. W.

Sanders, present master. The office of secretary has been filled first by David B. Reed, followed by F. A. Blackwell, J. C. Martin, W. A. Hatten and F. A. Blackwell, who is now serving. The hall was completed December 2. 1874. This lodge claims seventy-six members. The officers for 1890 are as follows: J. C. Martin. W. M .; D. P. Baird, S. W .; F. B. Sanders, J. W .: C. F. Barclay. treasurer, and F. A. Blackwell, secretary, in December, 1889.

Washington Camp, No. 310, P. O. S. of A., was instituted under charter April 19. 1888, with the following named members: W. E. Dougherty. J. T. Earl, A. C. Winslow, F. S. Kirk, I. E. Hatten, J. D. Tinsley, C. E. Pealer. S. P. Kreider, S. D. McCoole, E. L. Means, D. B. Reed, J. P. MeNarney. P. M. Hanes, M. A. Lane, M. M. Smith, Nate Ives, Joseph Krotzer, G. B. Richardson, V. E. Crum, W. E. Rothrock, H. Clay, M. C. Crum, C. E. Hanes. E. D. McCracken, T. F. McCracken, John C. Zell, C. MeCracken and E. S. Vosburg. The first president was J. P. McNarney, and S. P. Kreider is pre- siding at present, with P. M. Hanes, recording secretary. There are now thirty-eight members. The officers elected in December, 1889, are Jolin T. Earl, P .; E. L. Means, P. P .; W. E. Dougherty, V. P .; S. D. MeCoole, M. of F. and C .; William VanLew, C .; John F. Miller, O. G .; P. M. Hanes, I. G .; C. E. Pealer, S. ; E. D. McCracken, F. S., and W. E. Rothrock, T.

In July. 1880. the first cornet band of Driftwood was organized, with J. H. Cochran, president; G. W. Huntley and D. J. McDonald. vice-presidents: H. Mitchell, secretary; Levi Dougherty, corresponding secretary; W. A. Hatten. treasurer; John T. Murphy, manager; Thomas Dougherty, R. Rothrock, D. D. Angell and A. R. McDonald, trustees. Of the musicians in the old band only one, Eddie Dougherty, is a member of the present band.

The officers of Lieut. D. W. Taggart Post, No. 241, G. A. R., elected in December, 1889, are: G. B. Barclay, C .; J. R. Buckwalter, S. V. C .; G. W. Gore, J. V. C .; Almeron Chapman, O. D .; G. A. Dudley, O. G. ; D. D. Col- cord, surgeon; P. O. Chelson, C .; J. O. Brookbank, Q. M .: Lemuel Lucore

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HISTORY OF CAMERON COUNTY.

and M. M. Larrabee, delegates, and T. W. Deninney and Sam Faucett, altern- ates. The history of this post is given in the pages devoted to Emporium.

The W. R. C. elected the following named officers in January, 1890: Mrs. Marion Thompson, P .; Mrs. Helen Taggart, S. V .; Mrs. Deninney, J. V .; Mrs. A. Dougherty, treasurer; Mrs. Downey, chaplain; Mrs. Jane Brooks, conductor; Mrs. Mary VanLew, guard; Mrs. Adams, Julia Earl and Helen Taggart, delegates; Miss Maria Brookbank, secretary; Mrs. Mattie Slagle, assistant conductor, and Mrs. D. Mumford, assistant guard.

A. O. H., Division No. 1, of Driftwood, was organized May 12, 1889, with E. G. Bishop, P .; P. O'Connor, V. P .; John McMahon, secretary; Rev. Dr. T. F. Brennan, treasurer, and W. H. Roach, financial secretary. The present president is P. O'Connor, and vice-president, M. Hacket. There are forty. two members in good standing.

CONCLUSION.

Driftwood of pioneer days is no more. Here, in years long passed, a few of the earliest settlers of the county gathered and withstood the rigors of climate and deprivations of pioneership, as well as the daily excitements of the times. There is in the history of this old river settlement a poetic romance and rustic simplicity that fascinates; but the days of old Driftwood are gone forever-good old days-and in their place have come the hurry and ameni- ties of civilized times. The cabins have disappeared with the solemn woods- all the past is wiped out save in memory, and on its ruins appears the modern town, with its churches, schools, secret, benevolent and literary societies, and municipal government.

CHAPTER X.

GROVE TOWNSHIP.

GROVE TOWNSHIP-BOUNDARY-ELEVATIONS AND STREAMS-POPULATION AND ASSESSMENT-INDIAN HISTORY-INDUSTRIES.

SINNEMAHONING-SURVEY AND SALE OF VILLAGE LOTS-HISTORIC APPLE TREE-FIRST BUSINESS IN THE PLACE-HOTELS-MAILS-EARLY SCHOOLS- FIRES-CHURCH, ETC .- SOCIETIES.

G ROVE TOWNSHIP is bounded north by Potter county, south and east by T Clinton county, and west by Lumber and Gibson townships. The lowest point is where the Sinnemahoning enters Clinton county, the elevation being only 787 feet above ocean level, and the highest known point, four and one-half miles northeast of Shafer's hotel (807 feet), at the head of Arksill creek, 2,287 feet. while the hill between First Fork and Bailey run is only 1,932 feet. The First Fork flows in a tortuous course through the center of the township, from north to south, entering the main stream three-fourths of a mile west of Sinnemahon- ing depot, or at Old Town. This fork receives from the eastern summits the following named creeks: Rattlesnake, Muley, Lorshbaugh, Bailey, Short Bend, Wood Rock, Bronson, Gugs', Arksill and Ellicott's, all native streams from one to four miles long. South of Sinnemahoning the main river receives from the southwest divide, Wykoff's, Upper Jerry and Middle runs, with

yours truly John F. Earl.

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HISTORY OF CAMERON COUNTY.

numerous small streams, while above the village a number of petty streams flow east into the First Fork, such as Logue's, Norcross, Mill, Brooks, House Log, Lick Island and Pepperhill runs.

The population in 1880 was 494. In November, 1888, there were ninety - nine Republican and sixty-five Democratic votes cast, the total, 164, multiplied by six, giving 984 as the present population. The large lumber industries and mills at Wyside, and up Wykoff's run, contribute largely to this increase in number of inhabitants. The assessment of 1889 was as follows: 187 taxables; exempt, $2,000; occupation, $6,345; seated real estate, $30,314; unseated real estate, $159,143; 102 cows and oxen, $1,382; sixty-five horses, $2,676; total, $299.860. Money, etc., at interest, $8, 355.96.

The recorded Indian history of Cameron county begins at Sinnemahoning; but so much has been gathered from John Brooks and others, relating thereto, for the pages of the general history, it is unnecessary to repeat it in this chapter. The tree near which the Groves killed their red enemies remained among the old settlers several years. Mr. Brooks calls it " Peter Grove's tree," and de. scribes it as a scraggy one, with a large branch six feet from the ground. He thinks that the tree was carried away before the time named by Chadwick.

Owing to the historic character of this section of Cameron county, a large part of the chapter on pioneers has been devoted to a review of the men and events of early years; so that, like the Indians, their records find mention in the general history of this county, and in that of Elk county.

In 1829 Wykoff's saw- and grist-mills stood near where Barclay's lumber- mills now are, but were decaying prior to 1840. John Miller had a saw-mill and corn-cracker three miles up the fork, in 1824-25, which also decayed. Baird's mill at Cook's run below, was also in existence. Joseph Mason and sons took down six rafts of square timber in 1829, to Middleton, the timber selling then at 3 cents per foot.

Barclay Brothers' present lumber-mill was built in 1881, on the south side of the river, below Sinnemahoning. The capacity is 50,000 per day, employ- ing thirty five men in the mill and forty outside. The lumber is taken from the First Fork valley and from Wykoff's run. The buildings were designed and erected by G. A. Barclay. Wilmot, Quinn, Sherman & Co., was organ- ized in November, 1887. In May, 1888, the company began the construction of saw-mills on Wykoff's run, one-eighth of a mile above the Sinnemahoning. At this time the company had seventy-five men in the woods, bark-peeling and cutting timber. The mills were opened July 4, 1888, and give employment, generally, to twenty men. The company also erected two large double resi- dences on the river bank, a large store building on the railroad, and five single houses at the mills, together with other buildings in the woods and adjacent to the mills, costing with machinery, $16,000. The mill role averages thirty men, and the company own 11,000 acres on Wykoff's run. The locality was named Wyside by the railroad company, in 1888, on account of the " Y " used on the track.

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Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) comp. cn; J.H. Beers & Co., pub Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1320

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) comp. cn; J.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1320