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 75

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 75
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 75
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 75
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 75

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).

CORYDON TOWNSHIP.

M. J. JOHNSON, farmer, P. O. Corydon, Warren Co., Penn., was born in Livingston county, N. Y., March 9, 1835. When eighteen years of age he left home and worked for farmers by the day until he had earned enough to buy a farm in Allegany county, N. Y., which he cultivated and owned until 1867, when he exchanged his farm for a tract of wild land in McKean county, Penn., which he has cleared and improved, and now has one of the best farms in Corydon township. Mr. Johnson was married April 2, 1862, to Miss Mary A. Kirstatter, of Warren county, Penn., and they have four children-Marion W., Alice M., Cora E. and Harrie F. - all living at home. The parents of Mr. Johnson were named Daniel and Elizabeth, the former of American and the latter of German descent. Mrs. Johnson's par- ents were named Lorenzo and Maria Anna Kirstatter, of German birth.

C. D. SEAMAN. farmer and lumberman, P. O. Cornplanter. Warren Co., Penn., is a native of Mckean county, Penn., born December 25. 1836. He was reared on a farm, and on reaching manhood bought a tract of wild land, which he has improved, and which is now one of the best farms in Corydon township. In addition to attending to the cultivation of his farm Mr. Seaman is extensively engaged in the lumber business. He was married in October, 1862, to Miss Annie Smith, of Cuba, N. Y., and they have one son, Allen, who is still at home.

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP.

JAMES ANDERSON, merchant, Morrison's, was born in Kent county, England, near London, October 25, 1814, a son of William and Mary (Bainbridge) Anderson. He lived in his native county until seventeen years of age, and learned the cutter's trade in London. In 1831 he came to America, and for a year was employed as cutter in a wholesale clothing house, and then removed to Corydon, Penn., and opened a general store, being one of the first merchants of the town. He was obliged to undergo many hard- ships in the early days of Mckean county, but has ever been a live, ener- getic business man, and is now one of the leading citizens of the township. He has served one term as commissioner of Mckean county, and has been jus- tice of the peace thirty-five years. He was married February 22, 1841. to Miss Isabelle Hoop, of Lafayette, Penn. Mr. Anderson's father, William An- derson, was born in Kent county, England, October 5, 1783, and his mother was born in Pontefract, England, September 1, 1787. They were married May 6, 1806. In 1809 William Anderson bought a captain's commission in the Eng- lish army, and served until after the battle of Waterloo, when he sold his commis- sion and went into the mercantile business in London. In 1829 he came to the United States, for a year was in business in Utica, N. Y., and in 1830 bought

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HISTORY OF MCKEAN COUNTY.

a large tract of land in MeKean county, Penn., and was oue of its pioneer settlers. December 24, 1836, after a visit at his son's, James Anderson, of Corydon, he started home through the woods afoot. The snow was very deep, and the weather very cold. It is supposed that he became wearied and sat down on a log to rest, as he was found the next day, December 25, by Mr. Thomas, the mail carrier, between Smethport and Warren, Penn., frozen to death, in a sitting posture. His widow departed this life at 8 o'clock on the morning of December 3, 1889, at the advanced age of one hundred and two years.

J. G. CURTIS, tanner, merchant and lumber manufacturer, Ludlow, was born in Fairfield county, Conn .. November 7, 1830, a son of John and Lucy (Blackman) Curtis. John Curtis was one of the pioneers of Fairfield county, and a tanner by trade. Mr. Curtis received an ordinary education, and when eighteen years of age left home and learned the machinist's trade at Naugatuck, Conn. ; afterward went to Painted Post, N. Y., and later traveled as a journeyman workman for several years. He afterward, in connection with J. D. Hamilton, of New York, built a tannery at Curtis Station, N. Y., which they operated for eight years, after which he took charge of the Lehigh Tan- nery at White Haven, Penn., for Thomas Smull & Sons, for three years. He then erected a tannery at Emporium, Penn., the firm being styled Hamil- ton, Curtis & Co. In 1869 he came to Ludlow and built the present Ludlow tannery, making harness and rough leather, associating with him Mr. Maxwell, in 1886, under the firm name of Curtis. Maxwell Co., for the purpose of finishing shoe leather. Mr. Curtis also operates an extensive mercantile busi- ness at Ludlow, and is interested in manufacturing lumber. In 1855 he married Miss Mary Chambers, a native of Yates county, N. Y., and they have two sons, Daniel and John S., living at home. Mr. Curtis is a supporter of the Republican party, and he and family are members of the Episcopal Church. He has served as postmaster at Ludlow since 1882.

GEORGE P. FOULKROD. lumberman, P. O. Bradford, was born in Tioga county, Penn., January 17, 1849. When he was sixteen years old his parents moved to Sheffield, Penn., where he grew to manhood. His father was a lumberman, and he went into the mill to learn to fit saws, becoming an expert in the business. and he has fitted saws for the best lumbermen in Mc- Kean county. In 1888 he located at Martindale, Hamilton township, built a mill, and now does a good business, cutting 25,000 feet of lumber per day. He is one of the successful lumbermen of the county, and is a prominent and influential citizen. He is a member of Lodge No. 373, I. O. O. F., of Kinzua, Penn. Mr. Foulkrod was married October 15, 1877, to Miss Sarah S. Springer, of Ludlow, Penn.

EDWARD N. HALLOCK, lumberman, P. O. Bradford, was born in Craw- ford county, Penn., August 29, 1852. When he was sixteen years old he be- gan clerking in a bank in Erie. and remained there five years. then accepted a position with a pipe line company in Foxburg, Penn. In 1879 he moved to Bradford, Penn., and bought oil and lumber property, and has since been en- gaged in both the production of petroleum, and also owns a fine saw-mill at Watsonville, where he turns out 25,000 feet of lumber per day. Mr. Hallock was married May 21, 1878, to Miss Phebe E. Keith, of Rome. N. Y., and they have two children: Charles S. and Florence B. Samuel T. Hallock, father of Edward N. Hallock, was born in Ulster county, N. Y., July 4. 1809, and died in Crawford county, Penn., September 25. 1877. Sara C. (Baily) Hallock. the mother of Edward N .. was born in Greenfield, Mass .. May 6, 1814, and died in Crawford county. Penn .. November 12, 1882. Charles F.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,

Keith, father of Phebe E. (Keith) Hallock, was born in Herkimer county. N. Y., September 19, 1823, and died in Oneida county, N. Y., August 27. 1883. Jerusha (Read) Keith, mother of Mrs. P. E. Hallock, was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., in 1826, and died there in 1855.

H. W. MARTINDALE, lumberman, Bradford, was born in Erie, Erie Co., Penn., June 2, 1855, a son of A. C. and Abbie (Borrows) Martindale, former a native of Erie county, and a farmer by occupation, latter a native of Jamestown, Chautauqua Co., N. Y. ; they are still living in Erie county. and are prominent members of the Presbyterian Church. They have three children living: Elsie (wife of J. J. Wheelock, of Titusville), Ruby (living at home) and H. W. H. W. Martindale was reared on the homestead farm, and received his education at the State normal school at Edinborough. At the age of twenty-three years he left home and located at Bolivar, N. Y., engaging in the livery business. He was also a commercial traveler for three years. In 1884 he came to Mckean county, and accepted a position with H. S. Southard as foreman of his lumber-mills in Hamilton township. This position he held for three years, and has since been engaged in manufacturing lumber for B. Ne smith & Co., employing sixty men. In 1880 he married Miss Ida, daughter of W. H. Burlingham, of Holland, Erie Co., N. Y., and they have one child: Roy E. Mrs. Martindale is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Martindale in politics is a Republican.

HISTORICAL ADDENDUM.

The following list of soldiers buried in the vicinity of Bradford, Penn .. was furnished by T. J. Fennerty, but received too late for insertion in its proper chapter:

BRADFORD CEMETERY,

James De Long, First Company Fourteenth New York Volunteers, War of 181; died April 21, 1872, aged ninety.

A. Beaman, New York Volunteers, War of 1812.

M. P. Brown, Company D. One Hundred and Forty-sixth Pennsylvania Volun- teers, died May 21, 1872.

Julius Buchanan entered service in 1861, died July 27, 1872.

George Ingraham, soldier of 1812, died July 27. 1872.

M O'Brien, Company F, Seventy-second New York Volunteers, died November 27, 1877.

Barnabus Pike, soldier of 1812, and the first white settler in this valley, died Oc- tober 30, 1880.

H. D. Hicks. Company C. Two Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, died at Petersburgh, Va., April 2, 1865, aged forty-three years and two weeks. Sam Brownlee, Forty-ninth New York Vol- nnteers, died in June, 1880.

Thomas Maben, Pennsylvania Volunteers, died May 1, 1881.

William Fairfax. United States Colored Troops.

Joseph Carpenter, Eleventh New York Vol- unteers, died September 19, 1877, aged thirty-two years.

Henry Schlegel, Company F. Thirty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, died Deeem- ber 17, 1881.

Frank Humbart, Pennsylvania Volunteers. died during the year 1881.

A. L. West, Company D, Twenty-third Regiment N. J. Volunteers, died in Oc- tober, 1880, at Knapp's creek.

A. S. Magee, died in December, 1881, at Bradford.

G. Hutchinson, Company E, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, died May 5. 1880.

Benjamin Lecompt, Company B, Eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers.

Richard Chancellor, Company B, United States Colored Troops.

J. B. Jamison, Fiftieth New York Engin- eers.

H. Ingles, Company D. Fourth Pennsyl- vania Cavalry.

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HISTORY OF MCKEAN COUNTY.

OAK HILL CEMETERY.

E. W. Skinner, corporal Company F, One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, killed March 2, 1863.

Wash. Walter, corporal Eleventh Ohio Bat- tery, died December 5, 1881.

L. G. Beecher, First New York Dragoons. died April 6, 1883.

James Maginnis, Company K, Ninety-Sec- ond New York Volunteers. died April 25. 1883. '

J. N. Towles, regiment unknown.

James Caserly, Company F, First New York Cavalry.

C. L. Grant, Company I, One Hundred and Seventh New York Volunteers.

J. H. Powell, Company H, Twenty-ciglith Iowa Infantry.

George Allen, regiment unknown.

A. B. Irwin, regiment unknown.

ST. BERNARD CEMETERY.

A Crocker, One Hundred and Sixth New York S. V.

William Quinlan, regiment unknown M. Rodell, Massachusetts regiment.

KENDALL CEMETERY.

C'apt. I N. Thompson, Company K. Six- teenth Maine Volunteers, died May 6, 1880.

Himan Cole, One Hundred and Seventh N.

Y. S. V. Moses Cole, soldie of 1812.

DEGOLIA CEMETERY.

John Inglesby, War of 1812. died April 16, 1865.

J. W. Cobbett, Company A, One Hundred and Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania Volun- teers, died in October, 1867.

Orville Jewett. Company A, One Hundred and Ninety ninth Pennsylvania Volun- teers, died in October, 1880.

A. M. Cram, Company E, Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, died March 17, 1880.

W. Tanner, War of 1812. Simmond Hammond, War of 1812. died December 20, 1862.

W. Watrons, Fifty -third Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, died December 23, 1877.

Col. J. K. Haffy, Forty-Second Pennsyl- vania Volunteers (Bucktails), died near Richmond, Va., 1865.

Charles Price, Wisconsin regiment.

LAFAYETTE CEMETERY.

John Cool. Company F, One Hundred and Forty-Second Pennsylvania Volunteers. Alfred Hoop, Company I, Forty-Second Pennsylvania Volunteers (Bucktails). George Talbot, Company F. Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers.

Charles A. Tenney. Company H. Seventh Ohio Infantry.

Joseph Norton, Company E, One Hundred and Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volun- teers, died December 25, 1878.

LUDLOW CEMETERY, HAMILTON TOWNSHIP.

S D. Morrison, Company E. Twelfth Penn- sylvania Cavalry, died April 19, 1871. ond Pennsylvania Volunteers (Buck- tails)

C. Morrison, Company G, Independent In- fantry of Pennsylvania.

James W. Cabbott, Company I, Forty-sec-

BOLIVAR RUN CEMETERY.

Tobias Cornelius, Company G. Fifty-third Zadock Reynolds, War of 1812, died April Pennsylvania Volunteers, died March 13, 1850.

25. 1863.

SAWYER CEMETERY.

W. J. Snyder, Company I, Forty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers (Bucktails), died Oc- tober 7, 1867.

HISTORY OF ELK COUNTY.

ELK COUNTY.

CHAPTER I.

TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY.

FORMATION-JUDGE GEDDES' REPORT-GENERAL TOPOGRAPHY-POPULATION, AREA AND NATURAL RESOURCES-OIL AND GAS WELLS AND PIPE LINES- COAL DEPOSITS, ETC .- LUMBER RESOURCES-FIRES AND FLOODS-WILD FRUITS, ANIMALS, ETC.

E LK COUNTY was carved out of the hills and valleys of McKean, Jeffer- son and Clearfield counties, April 18, 1843. Judge Geddes, who in 1831- 32 surveyed the Clarion and Sinnemahoning summit for the proposed canal of that period, says in his report: "At the head of Bennett's Branch is a marsh called Flag Swamp, from which in wet seasons the water flows both ways, and where at such seasons the summit might easily be passed in a canoe. This point is remarkable as, probably, the only one in the State where the beaver can be found. Everywhere else they have been driven out by the approach of human footsteps. In the same region a few elk still remain." Running from the southeast corner of Warren county through Mckean's southwest corner, and as far as Daguscahonda was the old Buffalo swamp. The big level or ridge, running in opposite directions through the northwest corner of the county, made the swamp look greater to the old-time travelers than it really was, while the Warren and Ridgway State road, cut through in 1832, aided such travelers in obtaining glimpses of the historic swamp in its extensions.

The elevations of the county are given as follows, the figures represent- ing the number of feet above tide level: Hyde House, Ridgway, 1,400; P. & E. R. R., Ridgway, 1,393; S. & R. R. R. crossing Ridgway and Centreville road, 1,925; Lower Kittanning bed at Mine No. 8, 1,605; L. K. bed at Mine No. 15, 1,845; L. K. bed, McAllister's farm, 1,600; road at J. C. McAllister's, 1,580; Clarion bed at Mine No. 7, 1,685; Clarion bed at Mine No. 16, 1,735; Boot Jack, 2,166; road forks, warrant 4,248, 1,760; road at Brandy Camp Hotel, 1,565; lower Freeport bed ( " M vein "), Faust farm, 1,760; lower Freeport bed (" M vein ") west side of Mead's run, north of Mead's Run School-house, 1,710; lower Freeport bed, tunnel opening, southwest of Meade Run School- house, 1,650; Freeport lower limestone, McAllister farm, 1,740; ferriferons limestone, month of Karns run. 1,535; George Faust's house, 1,765; J. C. Wellington's house, Karns run, 1,600; Mead's Run (Colomo) School-honse. 1,550; Theodore Fox's house, 1,530; summit of Fox hill, 1,755; Freeport lower limestone, west of Fox hill, 1,580; bottom bench of Freeport upper coal. west of Fox hill, 1,650; J. S. Chamberlin's house, 1.545; summit of Cham-

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HISTORY OF ELK COUNTY.

berlin hill, 1,845; Freeport lower limestone, Chamberlin hill, 1,730; fer- riferous limestone, Chamberlin hill, 1,585; Brockport, 1,545.

Rathbun, 1,316 above mean ocean level on track, West Creek Summit, 1,695; St. Mary's, 1,667; a point near St. Mary's, 1,888; Scahonda, 1,519; Daguscahonda. 1,478; Shawmut, 1,426; Ridgway, 1,393; Whistletown, 1,414; Johnsonburg, 1,441; Rolfe, 1,446; Clarion, 1,482; Wilcox, 1,526; Dahoga, 1,601; mouth of Johnson's run, 1,505; Benezette depot, 1,040; Medix run bridge, 1,099; Caledonia tunnel, 1,148; Dent's run, 924; a point east of Farley, 2, 265, and a point just south, 2,108.

The population in 1870 was 8,488, in 1880, 12,800, and in 1888, 17,075, based on the election returns, which, in November of that year, show 1.824 Democratic votes, 1.321 Republican, 52 Prohibitionist and 18 Union Labor, a total of 3,215. The area is 774 square miles or about 495,360 acres. The vast resources of this territory are principally lumber and coal. There are seven veins of bituminous coal, each twenty eight feet thick, two veins of can- nel coal, three feet each in thickness, and two beds of lime partly fossilized. Iron ore, which yields 30 to 40 per cent of pure metal, abounds in the hills. Heavily timbered wildernesses cover a large portion of the county. Tanning and lumber are the principal active industries. In the vicinity of St. Mary's. coal of good quality is mined and shipped to market.

In the "sixties " an oil well was put down 800 feet near Ridgway, but abandoned. In June, 1876, travelers noticed the old well flowing, and the oil stampede was resumed. About this time the oil well at Wilcox was blowing gas at a tremendous rate, and many residents felt certain they lived within the envied oil circle. The oil lease from David Scull to Maurice M. Schultz for an oil tract in Jones township, was entered March 19, 1877, and in April, Alonzo Field leased lands there to W. L. Holman, T. W. Ryan and W. W. Griffith. The lease on the Mulroy lands in Benezette was made in February to R. W. Pet- rikin, Julius Jones. George Rolfe, S. P. Romig and D. A. Waddell. The same parties leased several tracts in that and adjoining townships, making the actual beginnings of oil leases in this county.

On the Julius Jones farm, one mile west of Benezette, on Bennett's creek. "The Nearest Oil Company " (which is composed of numerous Bradford spec- ulators) cleaned out, in February, 1890, an old hole drilled in 1882, during the Cherry Grove excitement. When the well was first drilled there was a showing for a good twenty or twenty-five barrel well, but owing to the discour. aging outlook for a better price for oil at that time, the well was abandoned. G. W. Newman, the principal projector of the modern prospecting, states that the company own 6,000 acres in the vicinity.

The Ernhout & Taylor well No. 1, at Wilcox, reached a depth of 276 feet in February, 1878, and work on the Benezette well was commenced. Schultz No. 3 was yielding three to five barrels; a well on the Hedsnecker farm was com- menced, also one on the Bridgetown tract, and one for Boughton, Frisbee & Van Sickle on Big Mill creek. In March Capt. Ernhout leased 117 acres at Whistletown and the Osterhout lands along the Clarion, in Jones and Ridgway townships, for oil prospecting purposes. . . . In June, 1880, the Huling's well at Daguscahonda was down to third sand ... . Hallock & Johnson's well in Millstone township, near Raughts, was shot in July, 1881, and a 1,200-barrel tank erected. The Johnsonburg well, six miles south of Wilcox, was then reported yielding from fifty to seventy-five barrels per day.

The Grant & Horton gas well was struck in June, 1883, at 2,300 feet, and a light oil producer the same month. . . . In May, 1885, the White. Oyster & Short gas well was drilled at Johnsonburg, and in June a gas

577

HISTORY OF ELK COUNTY.

run was struck at 1,734 feet .... In August, 1886, S. B. Hughes & Co.'s well in the northeastern part of warrant 3663 made forty barrels the first three days after being shot, while the well of M. J. Feeley & Co., in the northeast corner of 3672, was credited with six barrels a day from an upper sand, which was supposed to correspond with the Clarendon formation. These wells are over three miles apart, and were thought to mark the beginning of two new and distinct oil-producing districts. Armstrong. Boggs & Co. had two wells drilling in this region, one on 2032 and the other on 3655, and several other test wells were started .... In 1871 the old John well was drilled near the Schultz well of 1887. In May, 1887, five wells were completed in Elk county, and there were eighteen producing wells in the field averaging seven barrels each. Mike Murphy's well on warrant 2027 was then a mystery; Clark & Foster's wells on 3663 and 3664 were fair producers; their No. 3 on 2033 was drilling, and No. 4 on same warrant struck sand May 31, while a rig was up on 2020. The Elk Company's well on 3663 was yielding fifteen barrels, and another well was started by them; Porter, Thyng & Co.'s No. 4 on 2033, and No. 6, were doing well; the Highland Oil Company's hole on same war- rant was also giving fifteen barrels. The Wilcox Tannery Company's well was finished on 2676 (on Lanigan's run) to a depth of 1,750 feet. and proved a producer. Round it were the National Transit Company's gassers.

In August, 1887, John Markham had his pipe line complete from his Kane wells to the Highland oil field: Porter, Thyng & Co.'s No. 10 on the north- east corner of 2033 was rated at twenty barrels per day; Boggs, Curtis & Co.'s well on 2027 was being drilled; the venture of the Gillis Farm Oil Com- pany was closed down after going over 2,300 feet; the Sill. O'Dell & Barnsdall well on the Crawford lot was drilling, while Clark & Foster found two new producers. The Elk County Oil & Gas Company's well, three miles north- west of Ridgway, was shot in July, 1886, and showed a strong flow of gas. Many oil ventures have been made in the Elk county field, but success seldom rewarded the ventures. Within the last few years the gas reservoirs in the Johnsonburg neighborhood have proven themselves worthy of notice, and gas from these wells is being conducted into the towns and villages of the county, as related in the sketches of such localities.

In February, 1890, the T. F. Barnsdall lands in Elk county, and wells producing 275 barrels per day. were sold to Noyes, Wood and others for $325,000.

The coal deposits of Elk are scattered everywhere, but developed only at a few places-St. Mary's and Dagus mines being the mining centers. In the his- tory of the townships much is given relating to the development of the coal beds .... The paint-ore mine, extending from Eagle Valley to Whistletown, was discovered by D. R. Kline on the lands of J. S. Hyde, in 1887.

Building stone of excellent quality is found outcropping on the sum- mits and hillsides. In 1888-89 the first organized effort to find an outside market for this sandstone succeeded, and quarrying and shipping building stone is to-day an important industry .... Throughout the county great hem- lock tracts still exist, with smaller tracts of pine and hardwood. How long this forest may continue to clothe the hills and valleys may be learned from a review of the great lumber mills scattered here and there, the sketches of which are contained in the pages devoted to local history. The forest fires of centuries seem to have done little injury to the great trees, as only a few sec- tions of the forest disappeared before the flames. In May, 1884, the great fire which swept over parts of Cameron county, damaged property here: The saw-mill of Steinhelfer & Otto, near Swissmont, together with lumber, logs

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HISTORY OF ELK COUNTY.

and houses, loss, $8,000; insurance, $4,000. The saw-mill of Joseph Goetz, also near Swissmont, together with 100,000 feet of lumber, 1,000,000 feet of logs, house and household effects, involving a loss of $6,000, upon which there was no insurance. The house of Mr. Tyler and its contents, near by, were also burned. Andrew Kaul lost his saw-mill on Spring run, 2,500,000 feet of lum- ber, over 100,000 feet of logs, boarding house, stables, blacksmith shop, and nearly a mile of plank road; on Wolf run 1,000,000 feet of logs, 300 cords of bark, camps, stables, blacksmith shop, etc., his loss at both places aggregating about $25,000. Mr. Kaul also lost a saw-mill, all his houses and 60,000 feet of lumber at Sterling run, Cameron county, upon which there was an insurance of $7,500. Near Hemlock station the large Otto mill and a great amount of lumber were destroyed. Will Sykes' mill, at the same place, escaped.

The flood of August 12 and 13, 1885, deluged Johnsonburg, threatening the Bayard mills at Whistletown; carried away 400,000 feet of logs from the Hyde mills at Eagle Valley; carried away the Dickinson Brothers' boom lower down, and at Portland did more damage. At Ridgway the water was two feet deep on Main street, near the R. & C. depot, and the water entered the Bogert House and the Congregational Church. The high waters of May and June, 1889, also caused damage.

When the pioneers arrived, they found wild fruit in abundance. Mr. Brooks states that native grapes from the size of the Delaware to the Fox grape, grew as large as crabapples, yielding fifty bushels from one vine. Native plum trees grew on the river bottom lands by hundreds and thousands, the fruit of which were large, juicy and luscious, delicious as nectar, fit food for the gods. Peach, pear and apple trees were planted by the immigrants, and in a few years peaches were so abundant that thousands of bushels of the fruit fell to the ground and became food for the swine. About 1832-33 the severity of the winters killed many of the peach trees, and since that time, there has been comparative scarcity. Game, like fruit, were offered to the pioneers. Elk were found in the Flag swamp neighborhood as late as 1850, and in 1867 the last elk in the State was killed on Bennett's branch. In the fall of 1886 the presence of one was reported. The deer, bear, wolf and fox are regular inhabitants down to this day. A story of a bear hunt is chronicled under date, December 19, 1876. It is unlike a pioneer bear story in the round- about way taken by the hunter to capture bruin. It appears that on the date mentioned, Ralph Johnson of Dry saw-mill, while in the woods about one mile from his house, stopped by the side of a large standing hemlock, when he heard, as he supposed, the breaking of ice, caused by his own weight, but a visual ray of about seven feet of his height proved to him that some- thing with its head poked out of a small hole was grating its teeth within six inches of his boot. From the size of the hole, as it appeared from the outside of the tree, he thought it an animal of some description, of inferior size, and blocked up the hole. Next morning, in company with John and Will Wainwright, with two axes and a single-barrel rifle (the old family gun) carried by Will, went to capture the prize, and to their surprise found a hollow larger than a flour barrel, which evidently had been lately vacated by old bruin; following the trail about one mile, they found him under a flat rock. Ralph, Will and the dog stood guard until John went and re- turned with John Johnson, commonly known as "Old Farmer," with two more rifles, a double and single barrel. But one shot from the gun manu- factured in our fathers' day gave him such a headache that a shot from the other single-barrel gun, piercing a second hole in his forehead, laid out a bear weighing about 260 pounds by the "Farmer's" scales.

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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