USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume I > Part 42
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1833 .- Jefferson county placed in the Eight- eenth Judicial district by section 8 of the act of 1833, which reads as follows:
"And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That from and after the first day of September, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five, the said county of Potter, and the counties of MeKean. War- ren. and Jefferson, shall be formed into a sep- arate judicial district, to be called the Eight-
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
eenth district, and a person of integrity, learned in the law, shall be appointed and com- missioned by the governor to be president and judge of the courts of Common Pleas within the said district, which president shall receive the like salary, and have. and execute all and singular the powers, jurisdictions and author- ity of president judge of the court of Com- mon Pleas, court of Oyer and Terminer and General Jail Delivery, Orphans' court, and justice of the court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace, agreeably to the constitution and laws of this Commonwealth. The courts in Potter county shall be held on the first Mon- days of February, May. September, and De- cember of cach year; the courts in Mckean county on the first Monday after those in Pot- ter county ; the courts in Warren county on the first Monday after the courts in Mckean county ; and the courts in Jefferson county on the first Monday after the courts in Warren county, the courts in each county to continue one week if necessary."
1834 .- Recognizances and bonds of the sheriff of Jefferson county fixed at seven thou- sand dollars.
1835 .- Courts of Jefferson county author- ized to be held on the second Mondays of February, May, September, and December.
1835 .-- Wheat, rye and corn flour, designed for exportation as a product of Jefferson county, to be stamped.
1839 .- An act authorizing one person to hold and exercise the several offices of pro- thonotary, clerk of the courts, register and recorder in the county of Jefferson. This act remained in force until 1893.
1840 .- Commission appointed to run and mark the division line between the counties of Jefferson, Warren, McKean and Clearfield, consisting of Jonathan Colgrove, of the county of Mckean, Elijah Heath, of the county of Jefferson, and John S. Brockway, of the county of Clearfield.
1840 .- An act to encourage the destruction of wolves and panthers, giving a bounty of twenty-five dollars on wolves and sixteen dol- lars on panthers. Repealed in 1841.
1841 .- An act requiring township elections in the county of Jefferson to be held on the second Tuesday of February, annually.
1842 .- Township elections to be held on the fourth Monday of February, annually.
1842 .- County commissioners of Jefferson county authorized to issue orders to super- visors on county treasurer for road taxes col- lected on unseated lands, and prescribing the form thereof.
1842 .- Jefferson county commissioners au- thorized to issue orders on county treasurer for school taxes collected on unseated lands in favor of the school treasurers of the respec- tive townships, and the form thereof pre- scribed.
1843 .- Act granting premiums on destruc- tion of wildcats and foxes repealed as to Jef- ferson county.
1843 .- Mechanics' lien law extended to Jef- ferson county.
1843 .- Elk county erected out of parts of Jefferson, Clearfield and Mckean counties ; Timothy Ives, Jr., of Potter county; James W. Guthrie, of Clarion county ; and Zachariah H. Eddy, of Warren county, appointed com- missioners to "ascertain and plainly mark the boundary lines of said county of Elk."
By same act, Jefferson county to receive and provide for all Elk county prisoners for three years, or until Elk county erects a jail.
1843 .- Jefferson county placed in the Twenty-third Congressional district, composed of the counties of Eric, Warren, Mckean, Clarion, Potter and Jefferson.
1843 .- Jefferson county placed in the Twenty-eighth Senatorial district, composed of the counties of Warren, Jefferson, Clarion, McKean and Potter. Same act places Jeffer- son, Clarion and Venango counties together in one legislative district, and authorizes the three counties to elect two members.
1844 .- Supplement to the act erecting Elk county, regarding the bringing of suits, liens, revival of judgments, and the issuing of exe- cution writs, etc.
1845 .- All expenses for laying out and open- ing roads in Jefferson county to be paid out of the road funds of the several townships through which the same may pass. All ex- penses for the election of township officers in said county to be paid out of township rates and levies. Supervisors in the county of Jef- ferson required to give bond in double the amount of the sum assessed for road pur- poses ; and township auditors, within ten days after settlement with supervisors, to file a copy of said settlement with the clerk of the quarter sessions.
1846 .- Certain deeds made and improperly executed by Jefferson county commissioners legalized.
Brookville Borough
1830 .- County commissioners authorized to lay out the town, and limits thereof defined by courses and distances.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1834 .- Borough incorporated. Election of borough officers authorized, and Thomas Hast- ings and Jared B. Evans, Esqs., to publish notice "and see to the opening of -the elec- tion."
1835 .- Manner and time of electing con- stable for Brookville prescribed.
1837 .- Six school directors to be elected in the borough on the first Monday of January annually.
1837 .- Brookville to have 'and own the school taxes assessed against its own citizens by Rose township.
1838. - Brookville Academy established "for the education of youth in the English and other languages, and in the useful arts, sciences, and literature. under the care and directions of six trustees and their successors in office." The six trustees first appointed were C. A. Alexander, Thomas Hastings, John J. Y. Thompson, Levi G. Clover, John Pearce, and Richard Arthurs. By same act the State appropriated two thousand dollars to said Brookville Academy.
1838 .- Brookville Female Seminary au- thorized and established, and Andrew Bar- nett, Thomas Hastings, Levi G. Clover, Wil- liam Jack. Elijah Ilcath, C. A. Alexander, John Bell, Charles K. Barclay, and John W. Jenks appointed trustees.
1841 .- County commissioners authorized to subscribe five hundred dollars to the Brook- ville Academy. Three trustees thereafter to be elected annually "by the qualified voters of the county."
1842 .- AAfter payment of the five hundred dollars to the Brookville Academy, to be sub- scribed and paid by the county, trustees of the said academy to be elected by the voters of the whole county.
1842 .- Brookville borough to elect two con- stables and one assessor annually.
1843 .- Voters of Jefferson county not to vote for trustees until the county commis- sioners have subscribed and paid the afore- said five hundred dollars heretofore authorized to be subscribed.
18.45 .- Borough officers to be elected on the first Monday of March annually.
1845. - Market, Water, Jefferson, and Church streets, of the borough of Brookville, authorized.
Pinecreek Township
1804 .- Pinecreek was the original town- ship, coextensive with the county as erected in 1804.
Perry Township
1817 .- Perry township made a separate election district, and elections therein to be held in the house of John Bell in said town- ship.
1826 .- Elections in Perry township to be held at the house of Jacob Heterick in said township.
1830 .- Auditors of Young and Perry town- ships authorized to audit and settle the ac- counts of John Van Horn as supervisor of Perry township previous to its division into the said townships of Perry and Young, and to apportion the balance found due him be- tween the said townships.
1835 .- Elections in Perry township to be held at the house of William Stunkard in said township.
1842 .- Perry township divided into two school districts, Perry and Whitesville.
Young Township
1826 .- Young township to hold its elections at the house of Elijah Heath, in the town of Punxsutawney.
Ridgway Township
1827 .- Ridgway township made a separate election district, and elections to be held at the house of James Gallagher.
Rose Township
1828 .- Rose township made a separate elec- tion district, and elections to be held at the house of John Lucas in said township.
1834 .- Rose township elections to be held at courthouse, Brookville, Pennsylvania.
1836 .- Rose township divided for election purposes, the western end thereof to hold its clections at the house of Darius Carrier.
1838 .- Rose township again divided for election purposes by a different line from that established by the act of 1836; but both parts of the township were required to vote at Brookville. This was very unsatisfactory, and so in 1840 this act of 1838 was repealed by a revival of the act of 1836, permitting again the western end of the township to vote at the house of Darius Carrier, the site of which is now within the limits of the borough of Summerville.
1838 .- Boundaries of Rose township de- termined and fixed, extending to the Arm- strong county line.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1842 .- Rose township elections to be held at the courthouse in the borough of Brook- ville.
Barnett Township
1832 .- Barnett township elections to be held at the house of John Wyncoop in said town- ship.
1835 .- Barnett township elections to be held at the house of Alexander Murray in said township.
Young Township
1838 .- Young township divided for elec- tion purposes by an east and west line, and all electors north of that line to hold their elec- tions "at the Paradise schoolhouse, near Jacob Smith's, in said district."
Eldred Township
1836 .- Eldred township declared a separate election district, and elections to be held at the house of James Linn in said township.
Snyder Township
1835 .- Snyder township declared a separate election district. and elections to be held "at the house of John Mclaughlin on the Brock- way road in said township."
1838 .- Elections in Snyder township to be held on the third Tuesday of February, in- stead of the first Friday of March.
1842 .- Elections in Snyder township to be held at the house of James M. Brockway in said township.
Washington Township
1838 .- Washington township declared a sep- arate election district, and elections therein to be held at the house of John McIntosh in said township.
Jenks Township
1838 .- Jenks township in Jefferson county declared a separate election district. and elec- tions therein to be held at the house of Cyrus Blood in said township.
Porter Township
1840 .- Porter township declared a separate election district, and elections therein to be
held at the house of Henry Freese in said township.
Clover Township
1842 .- Clover township elections to be held at the house, of Darius Carrier, in the village of Troy in said township.
Gaskill Township
1842 .- Elections in Gaskill township to be held at the house of Henry Miller in said township.
1844 .- Elections in said township to be held at "Miller's District schoolhouse."
Warsaw Township
1842 .- Warsaw township declared a sep- arate election district, and elections therein to be held at the house of William Weeks in said township.
Tionesta Township
1838 .- Tionesta township, in Jefferson county, declared a separate election district, and elections therein to be held at the house of John Noeff in said township.
IS14 .- One fourth of the road taxes levied and collected in Tionesta township, in the county of Jefferson, to be applied annually for six years to repairs and improvement of the Warren and Ridgway turnpike.
COURTHOUSE AND JAIL
From "An Act approving the appointment of commissioners to fix upon a proper site for the seat of justice in Jefferson county" we quote :
"Section 1. That John Mitchell, of the county of Centre, Alexander McCalmont, of the county of Venango, and Robert Orr, Junior, of Armstrong county, be and they are hereby appointed commissioners, who, or a majority of whom, shall meet at the house of Andrew Barnett, in the county of Jefferson, on the first Monday in September next, and from thence proceed to view and determine the most eligible and proper situation for the seat of justice for the said county of Jeffer- son, and make report into the office of the sec- retary of the Commonwealth on or before the first Monday of December next; and each of said commissioners shall receive three dollars per day for every day they shall be neces-
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
sarily employed in the duty aforesaid, to be paid by warrants drawn by the commissioners of Jefferson county on the treasurer of said county : Provided. That in case of death, res- ignation, or inability of any one or more of the commissioners to serve, the governor shall be authorized and required to appoint such suitable person or persons to fill such vacancy or vacancies.
"Section 2. That the commissioners of Jef- ferson county shall have power, and it shall be their duty to take assurances, by deed, bond, or otherwise, of any land, lots, money, or other property which hath or may be offered for the use and benefit of the said county, either for the purpose of erecting public buildings, or for the support of an academy or other public use.
"Approved-the eighth day of April, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine. "J. ANDW. SHULZE."
In accordance with the provisions of this act these men met at the house of Joseph Barnett on the first Monday of September, 1829, and located the site on the Waterford and Susquehanna turnpike, at the confluence of the Sandy Lick and North Fork, where they form the Red Bank, and named the place Brookville.
The boundaries of the town as then laid out were as follows: Butler Alley, running east and west, north of the second (or old graveyard), thence east, taking in the mills and dam of Robert P. Barr. now Anthony Wayne Cook. On the west was an alley, now east of the Presbyterian Church, down that alley to Water street, taking in or including "Hunt's Point," thence along Water street to Pickering street, and across Red Bank, near the bridge, and out Pickering street to lot No. 25, and thence to the Sandy Lick.
The act approved April 2, 1830 (Pioneer County Laws), gave them authority to pro- ceed with the erection of a courthouse.
SYNOPSIS OF DEED DELIVERING GROUND FOR THE PUBLIC PURPOSES
"John Pickering et al. to Commissioners of Jefferson Co. Deed dated July 31st, 1830. Recorded in Deed Book No. I, at page 133.
"AND WHEREAS, The said John Pickering. with the approbation and consent of a ma- jority of the said company, being the parties of the second part hereto, which consent is signi- fied by their becoming parties to this inden- ture, for and in consideration of the seat of justice for Jefferson county being established
upon the said tract of land, did agree (inter alia ) to grant and convey unto the said parties of the third part, and their successors in office, ground for the public buildings, and also for churches and a public burying ground, as also ten inlots in the town to be laid out upon said tract of land.
"AND WHEREAS, The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by an act passed on the second day of April, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty, did estab- lish the seat of justice for said county of jefferson at the town of Brookville, to be laid out upon said tract of land, and thereby authorize and empower the said parties of the third part to receive (inter alia) from the party of the first part a deed in fee simple for the purposes above mentioned.
"Nowe this Indenture Witnesseth, That the said John Pickering, as well as for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar, lawful money of the United States to him in hand paid by the said Thomas McKee, Thomas Lucas, and Elijah Heath, commissioners of Jefferson county, at and before the ensealing and delivery hereof, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained, and sold, aliened, enfeofed, released, and con- firmed, and by these presents doth grant, bar- gain, and sell, alien, enfeof, release, and con- firm unto the said Thomas McKee, Thomas Lucas and Elijah Heath, commissioners of Jefferson county, and their successors in of- fice, all that square or piece of ground in the said town of Brookville, situated, lying be- tween, and bounded by Pickering street, Mar- ket street, Chestnut alley and Court alley, and marked in the general plan of said town, Public Square, and also the outlots known and numbered in the general plan of the same by the numbers twelve ( 12) and thirteen (13). And also all those ten inlots of ground known and numbered in the general plan of said town by the numbers thirty-four (34), thirty-five (35), thirty-six (36). thirty-seven (37). thirty-eight (38), sixty-four (64), sixty-five (65), sixty-six (66), sixty-seven (67), and sixty-eight (68). together with the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining. To have and to hold the same to the said Thomas MeKee, Thomas Lucas, and Elijah Heath, commissioners of Jefferson county, and their successors in of- fice, to the only proper use and behoof of the said Thomas MeKee, Thomas Lucas, and Elijah Heath, commissioners of Jefferson county, and their successors in office, forever. In trust, nevertheless, and to and for the uses
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PIONEER COURTHOUSE AND JAIL, 1831
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Brevtoutetta
COURTHOUSE AND JAIL, 1915
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
and purposes hereinafter declared, that is to say, that the said square shall be and remain for the use of the public buildings. That out- lot Number twelve (12) shall be and remain for the purpose of erecting churches or houses of public worship thereon for any denomina- tion that sees proper to build thereon. That outlot Number thirteen (13) shall be and re- main a public burying ground. That as to the said ten inlots before mentioned and described, the said parties of the third part and their successors in office shall sell and dispose of the same and pay the proceeds thereof into the treasury of said county, to be applied toward the erection of the public buildings in the town of Brookville.
"In witness whereof the said parties have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.
"INO. PICKERING, Trustee. [L. S.]
JNO. PICKERING, Executor. [L. S.]
OCTAVIUS PICKERING, Executor. [L. S.]"
The proceeds of the first sale of lots at Brookville were to be used for the construc- tion of a courthouse. The pioneer courthouse was contracted for in 1830 and finished in 1833.
The pioneer contract to supply the public buildings with wood for fuel was let in November, 1831, for one year, to Joseph Clements, for thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents. The county buildings had only ten- plate stoves, and wood, three fect in length, was supplied under this contract. Up to 1846 the courthouse and jail buildings were heated by wood fires, while coal was burned in the county commissioners' and prothonotary's of- fices, in grates. In 1845 provision was made for heating the courtroom with coal stoves. Article of agreement made and concluded by and between John Gallagher, John Drum, and Enoch Hall, Esqs., commissioners of Jefferson county, and their successors in office, of the first part, and Evan Evans, of the borough of Brookville, of the second part, witnesseth : That the party of the second part doth agree to furnish the parties of the first part with two new coal stoves for the use of the court- house in said county ; said stoves to be after the pattern of the Clarion county courthouse stoves ; said stoves to be ironed and completed with drawer and set up in the courthouse, in the borough of Brookville, ready for use, and warranted free from any crack or flaw for one year from the time said stoves are put up. In consideration thereof the parties of the first part agree to pay the party of the second part the sum of fifty dollars, in warrants
drawn on the treasurer of said county, and the two old stoves now in the courthouse to be delivered to said Evans where they now stand. In testimony whereof we have here- unto set our hands, this second day of June, A. D. 1845.
Our first jail was a stone structure, built of common stone. in 1831. Daniel Elgin was the contractor. It was two stories high, and was situated on the northeast corner of the public square lot, near the late Cyrus Blood's resi- dence, fronting on Pickering street. The building was divided into eight rooms, two downstairs and two upstairs for the jail proper, and two downstairs and two upstairs for the sheriff's residence and office. The sheriff oc- cupied the northern part. It cost eighteen hun- dred and twenty-four dollars and twenty-three cents.
FIRST ASSESSMENT
The first assessment for the county was made for the year 1807, and was as follows :
Joseph Barnett, one hundred acres of land, distillery, one horse, and five cows ; total val- uation, $329.
John Dixon, weaver, one horse and one cow; total valuation, $66.
E. M. Graham (no property assessed).
Joseph Hutchison, one horse, but no valua- tion.
Peter Jones, blacksmith, one hundred acres of land, one horse and two cows; total valua- cion, $195.
John Jones, one horse and one cow; total valuation. $61.
Moses Knapp, two horses and one cow ; total valuation, $108.
Thomas Lucas, grist- and sawmill, two horses and two cows: total valuation, $222.
William Lucas, tailor, one cow; total val- uation, $19.
Samuel Lucas, three cows; total valuation, $50.
Ludwick Long. distillery, two horses and one cow ; total valuation, $185.
Jacob Mason, one cow ; valuation, $14.
Alexander McCoy, three cows ; total valua- tion, $54.
John Roll, carpenter. two horses and two cows ; total valuation, $122.
Samuel Scott, milk", one hundred acres of land, saw- and gristmill, four horses and five cows; total valuation, $600.
John Scott, one hundred acres of land, two horses and two cows; total valuation, $499.
Jacob Vastbinder (single man), one hun-
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
dred acres of land, one horse ; total valuation, $247.
William Vastbinder, one hundred acres of land, one horse and three cows; total valua- tion, $201.
Adam Vastbinder, one hundred acres of land, two horses and two cows; total valua- tion, $222.
John Vastbinder ( single man) ; total valua- tion, $100.
Taxables, twenty ; land taxed, seven hun- dred acres; grist- and sawmills, two ; horses. twenty-three: cows, thirty-five; aggregate valuation, $3.313. Samuel Scott seemed to be the richest man in the county, with a total valuation of $600.
PIONEER LICENSES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, 1812 TO 1830
Joseph Barnett, Bald Eagle road, December 16, 1812.
John Matson, Bellefonte road, issued.
Joseph Barnett, residence on State road, Decem- ber 12, 1814.
Joseph Barnett, residence, March 6, 1819.
Joseph Barnett, residence, September 27, 1820.
Henry Feye, Sandy Lick settlement, December 15, 1812.
Isaac Packer, where Northern pike crosses Sandy Lick creck, December 12, 1823.
Joseph Barnett, continued, December 24, 1821.
Joseph Barnett, continued, March 23, 1823.
Elijah Heath, Punxsutawney, December 25, 1822. Elizabeth Winslow, Punxsutawney, March 24, 1829. Joseph Long, Punxsutawney, March 24, 1829.
William Vasbinder, Rose township, March 23, 1829. Joseph Potter, on Turnpike road, March 23, 1829. John W. McAnulty, Bellefonte road, March 25. 1825.
Joseph Barnett, dated Sent. 27, 1824.
Elijah Heath, Punxsutawney, March 22, 1824.
Alexander Powers, Pinecreek township, Decem- ber 26, 1824.
Isaac Packer, Pinecreek township, March 30, 1824. John Barnett, house formerly owned by Joseph Barnett, granted.
Joseph Barnett, Port Barnett, September 22, 1822. Andrew Vasbinder, Pinecreek township, June 25, 1827.
Joseph Barnett, Port Barnett, March 27, 1827. Isaac Packer, at his residence, March 27, 1827. Elijah Heath, Punxsutawney, marked granted. Alexander Powers, Pinecreek township, June 27. 1827.
The county paid into the State treasury in 1831 for tax on writs. $35; for tavern licenses. $33-41: for duties on dealers in foreign mer- chandise, $31.60: total. $100.13.
Value of taxable property in 1829: Real estate, $509,801 ; of personal estate, $14.777; rate of levy, seven and one-half mills on the dollar.
"In pursuance of an act of Assembly, ap-
proved the 7th day of April, 1830, requiring the county treasurer to publish a list of the retailers of foreign merchandise, designating those who have and those who have not paid for license on or before the Ist day of June, I publish the following list, certified by the asso- ciate judges and commissioners on the 14th day of February, 1837 :
Retailers Class
Paid
William Campbell.
7 Not
Charles R. Barclay
8 Not
James McKennon & Co
7 Not
James Robinson.
8 Not
Evans & Clover
6 Not
Jared B. Evans
7 Not
Heath, Dunham & Co
6 Not
Enos Gillis.
8 Not
Hughes & Dickenson.
8 Not
" All retailing foreign merchandise in Jeffer- son county and not enumerated in the above list are requested, under penalty of law, to take out license.
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