USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume I > Part 66
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346
JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
county papers that hereafter they would not receive the "eleven penny bit" for twelve and a half cents, neither would they take the "six penny bit" for merchandise at six and a fourth cents, but that they would receive these coins only at the value of United States money, ten cents and five dents, respectively. Up to this date the business of the country had been largely transacted on the basis of foreign and Colonial coin.
It is hard to believe in these prosperous days, unless one has lived in the same period as myself, that from 1850 to 1860 our minor sil- ver coins were nearly driven out of circula- tion by the abundance of gold over silver, and by this comparison silver became scarce and dear, although the gold and silver dollar had the same legal value. Yet by the inexorable law of "supply and demand," in 1849 a silver dollar was worth in the market one hundred and one cents, and by 1859 the market for silver dollars had gone up to one hundred and five cents in gold. Consequently, silver coins were bought and sold then as every other commodity, thus driving silver coins out of circulation and giving us people great trouble in making change. So great was the distress in this respect in the autumn of 1857 that about every bank in the United States was forced to suspend specie payment for a time. Now under our national bank system there is no hoarding of gold and silver, people preferring paper money.
PRICE OF GOLD
The price of gold during the War of the Rebellion is shown in the following condensed table :
1862
Lowest
Highest
January
IO1
105
October
122
I37
December
130
134
1863
Lowest
Highest
January
134
160
February
153
172
December
I47
152
1864
Lowest
Highest
January
151
160
July
222
285
December
21I
2.44
1865
Lowest
Ilighest
Jannary Ist
225
227
January 20th
200
217
BANKS AND BANKING
Only one association for banking purposes is found mentioned previous to 1775, and that
was the "Land Bank" of Massachusetts, estab- lished in 1739-40. The only banks in exist- ence when the national government went into operation were the Bank of North America, chartered in 1781 : the Bank of New York, established in 1784. chartered in 1791; and the Bank of Massachusetts, in Boston; with an aggregate capital of about two million dol- lars. On the ist of January, 1811, the whole number of banks in the United States was eighty-eight, their aggregate capital twenty- two million, seven hundred thousand dollars, and of specie nine million, six hundred thou- sand dollars. In 1830 there were three hun- dred and thirty banks, capital one hundred and forty-five million dollars; in 1840, nine hundred and one banks, capital three hun- dred and fifty-eight million dollars; in 1843, six hundred and ninety-one banks, capital two hundred and twenty-eight million dollars; in 1850, eight hundred and seventy-two banks, capital two hundred and twenty-seven million dollars ; and in 1860, one thousand, five hun- dred and sixty-two, with a capital of four hun- dred and twenty-one million dollars. On the Ist of November, 1865, the national banks numbered one thousand, six hundred and one, of which six hundred and seventy-nine were new banks, and nine hundred and twenty-two were conversions from State institutions.
The first National Bank law of the United States was enacted February 25, 1863. This act was repealed in 1864, and the act of June 3, 1864, substituted. This law is now known as the National Bank Act, and was established to create a currency for the whole country. The present National Bank system is the best in the world, safest, soundest, and, in my opin- ion, cannot be much improved.
State banks were chartered before the adop- tion of the Federal Constitution.
The pioneer act of the Leglislature of Penn- sylvania regulating banks was passed March 21, 1813, but Governor Snyder vetoed the bill. On March 21, 1814, this bill was "log-rolled" through the Legislature and became a law over Governor Snyder's veto. Previous to that time banks were organized under articles of association.
The savings bank system originated in Scot- land in 1810, and the movement spread to England and thence to Europe and America. The first institution of this kind in America was the Philadelphia Savings-Fund Society, which was started privately in 1816, and opened for business December 2d of that year.
347
JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
JEFFERSON COUNTY BANKS
In the pioneer days, there was no bank in Jefferson county. There was no way to trans- mit funds except to send them with a direct messenger or by some neighbor who had buisi- ness in the locality where you desired to send your money. An adroit way was to secure a ten-, fifty- or one-hundred-dollar bill, cut it in two, send the first half in a letter, wait for a reply, and then inclose the other half in a letter also, and the party receiving the halves could paste them together.
The first National Bank of Brookville was organized February 14, 1863, and went into voluntary liquidation March 26, 1874.
Brookville Bank, organized for business May 28, 1866, closed out October, 1874.
The bank of W. F. Clark & Son was opened in Brookville November. 1869, and discon- tinued July, 1879.
The Jefferson County National Bank was organized in Brookville July 27, 1878. The original cashier, Joseph B. Henderson, be- came president January 9, 1883, and has held the position since, William H. Gray being now vice president and James S. Carroll cashier. Capital, $50.000.
The National Bank of Brookville was organ- ized August 25, 1883. Capital, $50,000. Original officers : Ira C. Fuller, president ; W. D. J. Marlin, vice president ; B. M. Mar- lin, cashier. On November 3. 1885, E. H. Darrah was elected a director and also presi- clent to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Fuller's resignation. Reorganized in 1891 with a capi- tal of $100,000, and officers : William Dickey, president ; Calvin Rogers, vice president ; Thomas L. Templeton, cashier ; D. L. Taylor. assistant cashier.
Present officers : Charles Corbet, presi- dent ; Dr. W. J. McKnight, vice president ; Lawrence V. Deemer, cashier ; John M. Bros- itis, assistant cashier ; Claude K. Hawthorne, bookkeeper. The bank is located in the Stone Bank building in Brookville. It is now ( 1915) a conservative bank, loaning its own money, pays no interest on deposits, is safe, sane and slow. The stockholders are wealthy. and the officers practical, experienced men.
The Brookville Title and Trust Company was organized in 1903, with R. M. Matson as president and D. L. Taylor cashier. The latter became president in 1912.' H. C. Beach has been vice president from the beginning. and 1. D. Deemer is also vice president. John F. (ieist is secretary and treasurer. . Capital, $125,000.
The First National Bank of Reynoldsville was organized in April, 1893, with Camden Mitchell as president, his successor being Scott McClelland. John H. Kaucher, the former cashier, became president in January, 1906, and is still holding the office, with J. S. Ham- mond as vice president; F. K. Alexander, cashier ; E. D. Deible, assistant cashier. Capi- tal, $75,000.
The People's National Bank of Reynolds- ville was so organized in 1905. It was founded in 1874. Capital. $100,000. Present officers : Dr. J. C. Sayers, president; August Baldauf, vice president ; F. D. Smith, vice president ; Albert G. Christy, cashier; John Baldauf, assistant cashier.
The Citizens National Bank of Reynolds- ville was started in July, 1906. Capital, $50,- 000. Present officers: J. W. Stewart, presi- dent ; J. F. Dinger, vice president ; J. W. Hun- ter, cashier.
The pioncer bank in Punxsutawney was the Mahoning, which opened its doors June 24, 1870. In July, 1886, M. J. Dinsmore pur- chased the entire stock, and in December of the same year sold the bank to Dr. Joseph Shields and retired from the business. It was then organized with Dr. Shields as president ; Dr. S. S. Hamilton, vice president ; Lon Pant- all, cashier. It discontinued business in 1902.
The First National Bank of Punxsutawney was organized August 7, 1883. It was ab- sorbed by the Punxsutawney National Bank in 1909.
The Citizens' Bank of Punxsutawney was organized in 1890. It was later taken over by the Punxsutawney National Bank.
The Punxsutawney National Bank was or- ganized in January, 1901, and opened for busi- ness in the Kurtz Block March 12th of that year, with W. W. Winslow as president. This honor was within the year of its beginning transferred to Samuel A. Rinn, who has since worn the regalia, which he may pass on to his successor clean and unsoiled. Capital, $200,- 000; surplus, $250,000. The present officers are: S. A. Rinn. president ; Irwin Simpson, W. W. Winslow. vice presidents ; F. C. Lang, cashier ; J. L. Kurtz. W. A. Sutter, B. W. Young, assistant cashiers.
The Farmers & Miners Trust Company of Punxsutawney was organized as such in 1907. Capital. $150.000. It began business Decem- ber 5. 1901, as the Farmers' National Bank. with Samuel States as president ; J. H. Proth- roe, vice president : James H. Maize, cashier. Upon the reorganization, in October, 1907, Jefferson G. Wingert became president ; J. H.
348
JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Fink, vice president; James Il. Maize, treas- urer; Glenn Shaffer, assistant treasurer. The present officers are: J. Il. Fink, president ; II. G. Bowers, vice president; G. E. Hag- strom, treasurer : T. B. Mitchell, secretary.
The County National Bank of Punxsutaw ney was opened in 1910, with W. J. Brown as president ; J. R. Pantall, vice president ; and J. E. Pantall, cashier. The officers are still the same except that 11. Meade McGee is vice president. Ruth Sprankle and J. Carlton Miner are assistant cashiers. Capital, $100,- 000.
The Citizens' National Bank of Big Run was opened in 1890 as the Citizens' Bank, with a capital of $31,000. William Irvin was president ; Adam Miller vice president: and Silas Swartz, cashier. The bank was incor- porated October 29, 1900, as the Citizens' Na- tional, with a capital of $35,000, and began business February 1, 1901, with G. W. Miller as president. He is now vice president, Charles II. Irvin having become president in 1912. J. M. McClure is first vice president ; G. C. Bowers, cashier. The bank has occupied its own building since 1892.
Falls Creek has one bank, the First National, established in 1902, with D. T. Dennison as president, and Fred .A. Lane as vice president. The latter was president for several years, but is now again vice president, with Mr. Denni- son as president.
The Brockwayville Bank was opened in 1889, and reorganized as the First National Bank of Brockwayville July 12, 1900. It was chartered in June. 1900. The first officers were: R. L. Buzard, president: S. C. Bond. vice president ; C. IT. Marshall, cashier. They served until S. C. Bond succeeded Mr. Buzard in the presidency in 1904, Robert Humphreys becoming vice president. AAnother change was made October 22d of that year, when A. R. Chapin became cashier. still serving. Mr. Humphreys succeeded Mr. Bond as president January 12, 1915, and served until his death, July 21, 1915. when J. L. Bond became presi- dent. The latter had succeeded Mr. Hum- phreys as vice president when Mr. Humphreys was advanced to the presidency. Since Mr. Bond became president the vice president has been Dr. George II. Humphreys.
The Union National Bank of Summerville was organized in 1903. under the supervis- ion of 1. M. Shannon, of Clarion, Pa., and Dr. James A. Ilaven, of Summerville, Pa. It was reorganized some years later with D. T. Shields as president and John Slicker first
vice president; C. E. Carrier, cashier. The latter died April 24, 1915. Capital, $50,000.
Sykesville First National Bank was opened in January, 1905, with J. B. Sykes as presi- dent ; John S. Weakland, vice president ; Fred S. Maize, cashier. Capital, $25,000. This bank is a United States depositary. Present officers: Dr. J. Frank Raine, president; C. H. Boyles, vice president ; W. D. McHenry, cashier.
WAR STAMPS OF 1862
The date of the passage of the original act imposing the stamp duty was July 1, 1862. The act of June 6, 1872, repealed said taxes on and after October 1, 1872, except the tax of two cents on bank checks, drafts or orders. The act of March 3d. 1883, repealed the stamp act on bank checks on and after July Ist, 1883.
Stamp duties imposed, prior to July Ist, 1865, on agreements, contracts and other docu- inents, viz. :
Original Act: Act July 1, 1862. Reenact- ment : Act June 30, 1864. Amendments : Act March 3, 1865, Act July 13, 1866, Act March 2, 1867, Act April 10, 1869, Act July 1.1, 1870. Repealing Acts: Act June 6, 1872, Act March 3, 1883.
T'alue of Stamps Used
Agreement of appraisements, five cents on cach sheet.
Leases, five cents for rents not over three thousand dollars.
Notes, five cents for one hundred dollars, and five cents for each additional hundred dollars or fraction.
Orders, for the payment of money, two cents for over ten dollars.
Receipts, two cents for over twenty dollars.
Deed. fifty cents for land sold not exceed- ing five hundred dollars, and fifty cents for each additional five hundred dollars or frac- tion.
Judgment note, fifty cents for one hundred dollars or over.
FINANCIAL CONDITION IN THE UNITED STATES TO-DAY
Fifty years ago the financial center of the world was London. The Rothschilds were the greatest bankers and the Bank of England the greatest bank in the world. It is not so now. New York City is the financial center, and the
349
JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
STATISTICAL RECORD OF THE UNITED STATES
Wealth.
Public debt, less cash in Treasury July 1.
Year.
Area, I
Population June 1.2
Popu- lation per square mile.3
Total.
Per capita.
Total.5
Per capita.
Sq. miles.
Dollars.
Dollars.
Dollars.
Dolls.
1800
892, 135
5,308,453
6.12
82,976,294. 35
15.63
1810
1,720, 122
7,239,881
4.29
53,173,217.52
7.34
1820
1,792,223
9, 638, 453
5,50
91,015, 566. 15
9.44
1830
1,792, 223
12, 866, 020
7.34
48,565,406.50
3.77
1840
1,792, 223
17,069, 453
9.73
3,573,343. 82
.21
1850
2,997,119
23, 191, 76
7.88
307.69
63, 452, 773.55
2.74
1855
3,026, 789
27,256,000
9.16
35, 586, 956. 56
1,31
1856
3,026,789
25, 083, 000
9.14
10,965, 953. 01
1.14
1857
3.026,759
25, 916,000
9. 72
9,998,621. 76
.99
1858
3, 026,789
29, 758, 000
10.01
37,900,191. 72 |
1.51
1859
3,026,759
30,596, 000
10 29
53, 405, 234. 19
1.91
1860
3,026,789
31,443,321
10.57
16, 159, 616, 000
513. 93
59, 964, 402. 01
1.91
1861
3,026, 789
32, 064, 000
10.78
87,718,660. 80
2.74
1862
3,026,789
32, 704, 000
11.00
505, 312, 752. 17
15.45
1863
3,026,789
33, 365, 000
11.22
1,111,350, 737. 41
33.31
1864
3,026, 789
34,046,000
11.45
1, 709, 452, 277.04
50.21
1865
3,026,789
34, 748,000
11.68
2, 674, 815, 856. 76
76.98
1866
3,026,789
35, 469, 000
11.93
2, 636, 036, 163. 84
74.32
1867
3,026,789
36,211,000
12.18
2, 508, 151, 211. 69
69.26
1868
3, 026,789
36,973,000
12.43
2, 480, 853, 413. 23
67. 10
1869
3,026,789
37,756,000
12. 69
2. 432, 771, 873. 09
64.43
1870
3,026,789
12. 96
30, 068, 518, 000
779.83
2,331, 169, 956. 21
60. 46
1871
3,026,749
39,555,000
13.30
2,246, 994, 068. 67
56. 81
1872
3,026.789
13. 65
2, 149, 780,530.35
52.96
1873
3, 026, 789
41,677,000
14.01
2, 105, 462, 060. 75
50.52
1874
3, 026, 789
42,796, 000
14.39
2, 104,149, 153. 69
49,17
1875
3,026,789
43,951,000
2, 090, 041, 170. 13
47.53
1876
3,026,789
45,137,000
2, 060, 925, 310. 45
45.66
1877
3, 026, 789
46,353, 000
15.59
2, 019, 275, 431. 37
43.56
1878
3, 026,789
47,598,000
16. 00
1, 999, 382, 280. 45
42.01
1879
3,026,789
48, 866, 000
16.43
1,996, 414, 905. 03
40,85
1880
3, 026, 789
50, 155, 783
16.>6
43,642, 000,000
870. 20
38. 27
1881
3,026,789
17.25
1, 819, 650, 154. 23
35.46
1882
3, 026, 789
52, 495, 000
17.65
1,675, 023, 474. 25
31.91
1883
3,026,789
53, 693, 000
18.05
1,538, 781, 825. 15
28.66
1884
54,911,000
18. 46
1, 138, 542, 995. 39
26.20
1885
3, 026,789
18. 88
1,375,352, 443. 91
24.50
1886
3.020. 789
19.30
1,282, 115, 840. 44
22.34
1887
3 026,789
19.73
1, 175, 168, 675. 42 20.03
1888
59,974,000
20.17
1,063, 004, 894. 73
17.72
1×89
3,026,789
61,289, 000
20. 61
975, 939. 750.22
15,92
1890
3, 026,789
62,947, 714
21.16
890,784, 370.53
14.15
1891
3,026,789
63,844, 000
21.47
851, 912, 751. 78
13.34
1892
3. 026, 789
65,086,000
21.88
811,526, 463. 60
12. 93 12. 64 13.30
1895
3,026,7×9
68,934,000
9 77, 000, 000, 000
901,672, 966. 74
13.08
1896
3,026,789
70,254.000
23. 62
955,297.253. 70
13.60
1897
3,026,789
71,592, 000
24.07
956,656,086. 14
13.78
1898
3,026,789
72, 947,000
24.53
1,027,085, 492. 14
14.08
1899
3,026,789
21.99
1, 155, 320, 235. 19 15.55
1900
3,026,789
25.55
1,107,711, 257.89
14.58
1901
3,026, 789
26.10
1,044,739, 119.97 969, 457, 241. 04
12.24
1903
3,026, 789
27.18
925,011, 637.31
11.44
1904
3,026,789
82, 466, 551
107,104, 212, 000
1,318.11
967,231, 773. 75
11.73
1905
3.026,789
S4. 084,545
1906
3,026, 789
85,702,533
28.82
961, 435, 686. 79
11.25
1907
3,026.789
87,320,539
29.36
878,596, 755.03
10,06
1908
3, 026, 789
88, 938, 527
29. 90
938, 132, 409.38
10. 55
1909
3.026,789
90,556,521
30. 45
1,023,861,530. 79
11.31
1910
3,026,789
92,174,515
30.99
1,046, 449, 185. 25
11.35
1911
3.026,789
93, 792, 509
31.51
1,015, 784, 338. 46
10. 83
1912
3,026,789
95, 410,503
32.08
1,027,574, 697.28
10.77
1913
3,026,789
97,028,497
32.63
1,028,564, 055. 14
10. 60
1914
3. 026,789
98,646,491
33.17
1,042,399, 898. 00
10.53
1893
3,026,789
66,319,000
22.31
838, 969, 475. 75
189 4
3,026,789
67, 632,000
22. 74
899, 313, 380. 55
23.18
91.117.01
13.46
1902
3, 026,789
26.64
88,517,307, 000
1 164.79
77,612,569 79, 230, 563 80,848,557
27.73 28.27
989, 866, 772. 00
11.77
3,026,789
56,148, 000
57,404,000 58, 680, 000
3,026,789
65, 037,091, 000
1,035.57
1, 919, 326, 747. 75
51,316,000
14.78
15. 18
.
74,318. 000
75,941,575
38,558,371
40,596,000
7, 135, 780, 000
350
JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
late J. Pierpont Morgan was the man. King Edward solicited financial tips from him. The Bank of England to-day controls $174.500,- 000, while Morgan dominated and controlled over two billion dollars. The wealth of Uncle Sam in 1915 exceeds that of the realms of England, France and Germany combined. In one generation we have increased ninety-four billions. We have a per capita of forty-three dollars for each man, woman and child of the best currency in the world.
Up to about 1860 there were not more than six or seven millionaires in the country. In 1901 there were three thousand, eight hundred and twenty-eight. Eighty-seven per cent of our millionaires, under our improved condi- tions, have built their own fortunes, and most of these from extreme poverty.
Cornelius Vanderbilt began life as a farmer. Wanamaker's first salary was $1.25 a week.
Jim Keene drove a milk wagon in a Cali- fornia town.
P. T. Barnum was a bartender in Niblo's theater. New York.
Jay Gould canvassed Delaware county, N. Y., selling maps at $1.50 apiece.
Andrew Carnegie did his first work in a Pittsburgh telegraph office at $3 a week.
Adam Forepaugh was a butcher in Phila- delphia when he decided to go into the show business.
In my opinion, the enormous supply of both gold and silver (depreciated money) in the world to-day is in part the cause of the rising prices in the cost of living. Tariff, labor unions, trusts, corporations and combinations have but little to do with this rise. The law of "supply and demand" must and will adjust and correct unequal conditions among the people, if we rest in peace and exercise patience. Time rectifies all things. We need more farm help.
I am sorry to say that in these days of uni- versal graft the practice and song is, "Dimes and dollars, dollars and dimes; an empty pocket is the worst of crimes. Steal by night. steal by day, but do it all in a legal way." Or, if you get caught in this act of stealing, get some one to clear you on "Points of Law."
We close this chapter with a statistical record of the United States, by decades for the first half of the nineteenth century, yearly since 1855.
CHAPTER XXI
BOROUGH OF BROOKVILLE
BROOKVILLE'S HISTORIC SPRING-JIM HUNT'S CAVE-PIONEER NOTES-RECOLLECTIONS OF BROOK- VILLE, 1840-1843-BROOKVILLE'S EARLY PUGILISTS - TAXABLES, POPULATION, ETC. - DIS- TANCES FROM BROOKVILLE TO OTHER COUNTY POINTS-BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT-MAILS AND STAGES-PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS-PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND BUILDINGS-CEMETERIES-FIRES- -
BOROUGH OFFICES, 1915-FIFTY YEARS AGO
Brookville was named for, or on account of, the springs or brooks on its hillsides, springs which here to all in these continuous woods did freely flow unbought. Brook, with the French "ville," or Latin "villa," a country-seat, in common English, a town- these put to- gether formed the name.
BROOKVILLE'S HISTORIC SPRING-JIM HUNT'S CAVE
As early as 1755 there is anthente record that the Delaware Indians carried white cap- tives over a trail through what is now Punx- sutawney and Brookville to the Allegheny river and Lake Erie region. These Indians stopped overnight occasionally where Sandy
Lick and the North Fork unite, eating their cornmeal and drinking from the spring. It was here that the fugitive Indian. Jim Hunt. had a hiding place in an artificial cave. Jim was a fugitive from his tribe for murder, and when apprised by the whoops of his friends always hid in this cave. ( See also recollections of Brookville, in this chapter). The water was too cool for Jim's stomach. hence he spent most of his time about Barnett's, where he could get "firewater." The old State road lay on the left of the pike coming from Port Bar- nett, and came down what is now Litch Hill. close by and near to this spring; and for eighteen years the old-time emigrant, with his flintlock gun, his dog, wagon and family, al- ways stopped at the foot of the hill, in a sly
351
JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
little nook of lattrel blossoms, to quench his thirst with old rye and pearly, pure potations of water from this bubbling white-sand spring.
In my early days Sunday school picnics, and occasionally a Fourth of July, were cele- brated here. To the people of Brookville it was a great resort during the hot days of summer. As a rule, everybody went over on Sabbath with a tin cup to refresh themselves. It is at the foot of the hill just below Anthony Wayne Cook's late mill.
The sand spring was a great pool in the white rock, where water enough gushed out to run a prohibition campaign and give every man a drink as often as he wanted one. When I first knew the spring it was doing business single-handed and alone, although the dis- tillery close by and the brewery across the creek were rivals for public favor, to say nothing of Heber's tavern on the corner. But the spring remained, while the distillery went ; and the path that led down to the spring has borne the footprint, often, too, of nearly every man, woman or child who has traveled this forest or lived in Brookville in the last one hundred years.
The town of Brookville as first laid out did not cover a very large area. The northern boundary was Butler alley, north of the old graveyard, and thence to the North Fork on the east, taking in the mills and pond of A. Wayne Cook. On the west the line was Gor- don's alley leaving out the Presbyterian church, thence down Gordon's alley to Water street, taking in "Hunt's Point," thence along Valley to Pickering, and across the Red Bank and out Pickering street to lot No. 25, taking in the property of Thomas Mabon, thence to the Sandy Lick. Several additions, viz., Dow- ling's, Mabon's, Taylor's, Litch's and Has- tings', have been made from time to time, until the present dimensions of the borough are quite extended, covering an area of two square miles. The town as it has grown larger has improved in like manner, and now, with its beautiful residences, paved streets and elegant large business blocks, is second to no town of its size in the State. The surrounding scenery .is grandly beautiful, and the location an emi- nently healthy one, epidemics being almost unknown in the history of the town.
From an early history, in speaking of Jef- ferson county, and especially of Brookville, we quote the following: "The scenery around this town would be fine were it not that all the hills, except on the north side, are still clothed by the original forest of pines, being held by distant proprietors, who neither sell nor im-
prove. Its situation is on the Waterford and Susquehanna turnpike, forty-four miles east of Franklin, and immediately at the head of Red Bank creek, which is here formed by the confluence of two branches. The great State road, called the Olean road, between Kittan- ning and Olean, passes through the county about seven miles west of Brookville. North of the turnpike, however, the road has been suf- fered to be closed by obstructions, and is not now used." Another writer says "that Meade's trail from Port Barnett crossed the creek five times." Still another says, "This hole can never become a place of any importance, the county seat must be removed to Punxsutaw ney or Port Barnett." "A few straggling In- dians occasionally called at the village, re- minding one of the former scenes." "Times are slow," says another; "our lumber at the creek will not bring more than three or four dollars." They had hard times in the past, times that made the county seat what it is, a commercial center. a center of religion and morals, a place for culture in literature and music, which for its age will compare with learned Boston.
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