Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume I, Part 68

Author: McKnight, W. J. (William James), 1836-1918
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers
Number of Pages: 650

USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume I > Part 68

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).

"SECTION 8 .- And that all moneys now in the treasury of Rose township school district, assessed on the citizens of the borough afore- said, shall be paid to the use and for the sup- port of schools in said borough, that now are, or that may be hereafter, organized under the provisions of the act aforesaid."

"Approved-the fourth day of April, .A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven."

The first election of school directors for the borough was held on Saturday, September 9. 1837, when the people chose the following : Levi G. Clover. Samuel Craig, David llenry, C. A. Alexander, William A. Sloan, James Corbet.

The pioneer schoolhouse in the town was built in 1832. It was a small one-storied brick building, Maj. William Rodgers says, about twenty feet square. It stood near the north- west corner of the present location of the county jail. The building was erected under the provisions of the law of 1800, and was paid for by voluntary subscriptions. Col. Alexander McKnight taught the pioneer term of school in it in 1832-33. Anticipating the want of a stove for the contemplated building, Maj. William Rodgers, then one of the busi- ness men of the new town, wrote the follow- ing "subscription paper" and collected the money on it. The money was invested in what was then called a "tenplate stove," so called because it was formed of ten pieces or "plates of metal." The fuel used in it was wood.

We, the undersigned subscribers, do severally promise to pay the sums set to our names, on de- mand, to the trustees of the Brookville school, to be

applied to the purchase of a stove for the use of the schoothouse in Brookville. Witness our hands, the 18th day of February, 1832 :

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES

William Clark $0 50

Joseph Clements.

Etijah Heath. 1 00

Isaac Milis. . 50

Thomas Robinson. 50

Thomas Barr 25

Joseph McCutlough 50

James Hall. 25

James Corbet. 50

Aaron Fuller . 25

David Henry. 25

Thomas Hall.

Joseph Sharp

Andrew Vastbinder. 25

Fr. Heterick 50

Thomas Lucas. 50

Thomas Hastings 50

C. J. Dunham. 50

William Kelso 25

William Rodgers 25

W. MeCuttough 25

Słoan.

Total

$9 00

As happens nowadays, a few of these sub- scriptions were not paid.

In the memories of some of our oldest citi- zens now cluster recollections of this little old briek schoolhouse and the tenplate stove thus purchased to warm it. About that little school- house were formed many ties which bound men and women together as friends in long succeeding years. Around that little temple of learning I have seen

The hoop, the bow and arrow, The soaring of the kite and swing, The humming of the "over-batl," And the marbles in the ring ; The sleds, the rope, and sliding-boards, The races down the yard, And the war of snowball armies, The victors and the scarred.

In this little brick house the Methodists for years held their weekly prayer meetings. The principal members were Judge Heath, Arad Pearsall, John Dixon, Jolin Heath, David and Cyrus Butler, and David Henry and wife, and Mary, Jane, and Sarah Gaston.

The schoolmasters who taught in Brookville subscription schools under the law of 1809 were: 1832-33, Col. Alexander McKnight, pioneer ; 1834. Miss Charlotte Clark, Charles E. Tucker; 1835, John Wilson ; 1836, Hanni- bal Craighead.

Masters who taught under the common school law of 1834: 1837, Cyrus Crouch,

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pioneer, who had sixty scholars in a house where the United Presbyterian church now stands (he whipped with a rawhide) ; 1838. Rev. Dexter Morris, a Baptist preacher ; 1839, Rev. Jesse Smith ; 1840. S. M. Bell, Mrs. M. T. 11. Roundy: 1841, D. S. Deering-all or nearly all of the above masters taught in the little brick schoolhouse that was built on the back of the lot where the jail now stands ; 1842, R. J. Nicholson, Miss Elizabeth Brady (first to teach in the academy buikling ) ; 1843, R. J. Nicholson, Miss Nancy Lucas; Silas J. War- ren: . 1. 1. Gordon ; George .1. Jenks; 1859. Miss Penelope. G. Clarke.

The following is a list of the pioneer school directors for the borough of Brookville, Rose township: 1834. Col. Alexander McKnight, James Green, Robert Andrews, Irwin Robin- son. Darius Carrier : 1835. Darins Carrier, Col. Alexander McKnight.

Spelling "Bees"

In 1840 spelling contests in schools were common, regularly every Saturday afternoon, and sometimes a neighborhood had rival school contests at night. It was one of the back- woods amusements, and a useful one, too. It was conducted in this wise: Two of the best spellers were chosen captains, these would alternately select other spellers, and form their followers on opposite sides, sitting or standing. The schoolmaster would give out the words from a book agreed upon, or some- times at his option. When a scholar missed a word he vacated his place; this plan was pursued until but one scholar remained of either side. Then his side was declared vic- torions and the best speller was a hero.

1 spelling craze passed over the United States in 1875, and Brookville caught the fever and had a contest. The following account is taken from an issue of the Jeffersonian pub- lished in the fall of 1875. Its perusal will doubtless call up in the minds of many the incidents of the evening. It will be remem- bered how "Schuylkill" seated E. Heath Clark, and "inter-nos" settled Dr. Sweeney :

"The first spelling match in Brookville came off on Thursday evening last. The original intention was to hold it in the room of the musical society, but it was found there would not be room there for the crowd. when the courtroom was secured. The attendance was large, and the interest taken in it by both contestants and spectators was marked. The captains were William Dickey and David Eason, Esqs. Each side numbered twenty, and

among the spellers were found lawyers, doc- tors, school teachers, etc. The difficult task of pronouncing was assigned to Hon. George A. Jenks, who probably discharged his duty as satisfactorily to all parties as anyone could have done. After the arrangements neces- sary had been made, the spelling commenced, and was continued for one hour, when it was found that Captain Eason's side had missed thirty-one words, while Captain Dickey's side had missed thirty-two words. On Eason's side there were seven who had not missed a word, and on Dickey's side four. Between these eleven commenced the contest for the prize, Macaulay's 'History of England,' in five volumes. In a short time but one speller was up on Eason's side, and he our old friend, Dr. McKnight, while Rev. . 1. B. Fields and Mrs. T. L. Templeton on Dickey's side were arrayed against him. The word 'soirée,' how- ever, was too much for the Doctor, and he retired as gracefully as a French dancing master. The contest now was between Mrs. Templeton and Mr. Fields, both of Dickey's side ; but 'apropos' soon left Rev. Fields mas- ter of the field and the possessor of the prize. We were surprised to hear so few words missed, and, taken altogether, the spelling was much above the average."

NOTE .-- I should have been declared the victor in this match. After it became a per- sonal contest, Mr. Fields went down on the word "guaranty," and after we had spelled several rounds he was permitted to take his place again. Great sympathy existed in this community for Rev. Fields on account of his domestic troubles. The management of the class acted outrageously in their determina- tion to favor the Reverend. I spelled the word "soirée" in this way : "s-o-i-r-e." and be- fore pronouncing the word corrected the spell- ing in the last syllable by saying "double-ee," but still I was ruled out, because they wished the Reverend to have the prize. I made no objection.

Brookville Torem Council Minutes of the Pioneer Session

"On the 19th day of July, 1834, the follow- ing officers, having been duly elected, chosen, and sworn to serve the borough of Brookville, in Jefferson county, for the current year, viz. : Thomas Lucas, Esq., burgess; William Jack, James Corbet, John Eason, Robert Larrimer, Thomas Hastings, town council; Cyrus G. M. Prime, constable, met in session, when the following proceedings were had and done, viz. :

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"On motion, William Jack was duly chosen president of the board. Benjamin McCreight was appointed treasurer, with directions that he give bond to the borough with one or more sureties in the sum of three hundred dollars, and that his compensation be two and a half per cent. on all moneys received and paid over by him. Joseph Sharpe was appointed street commissioner, with a compensation of one collar per diem, and that the compensation of the clerk be ten dollars per annum.

"That a committee be appointed to procure a seal for the said borough on the most rea- sonable terms, and that the device of said seal be 'The Seal of the Borough of Brookville.'

"That David Henry be appointed assessor ; that the rate per cent. be one-third per cent. of the dollar for this year; that William Jack and James Corbet be appointed to assist the assessor in making a valuation; and that the assessor be directed at the time of making liis assessment to show his duplicate to the person assessed the amount of his or their assessment. On motion, council adjourned."

Ordinance No. I was :

"An Ordinance to Repair Main Street in the Borough of Brookville

"Be it etc.

"That all the moneys about to be raised by the present assessment in said borough (ex- cept what may be needed for the payment of officers, procuring seal, books and stationery for the use of the corporation) shall be paid over to the street commissioner, by orders drawn by the president of the council upon the treasurer, which said orders shall be coun- tersigned by the clerk, for the purpose of re- pairing and amending Main street from the east side of Mill street to the western bound- ary of said borough : and that the said street commissioner is hereby authorized to proceed immediately, upon the receipt of any such moneys, to making the repairs as aforesaid, under the direction of the town council.

"Ordained in council the 2d day of August, 1834."

In 1835 the burgess was Thomas Lucas ; council, William Jack. James Corbet, Jared B. Evans. Samuel Craig. Col. Alexander Mc- Knight.

An act of July 11, 1842, was for

"Regulating Election Districts and for other Purposes."

"SECTION 14. That the qualified voters of the borough of Brookville, in the county of

Jefferson, shall annually hereafter, at the time and place of electing a high constable, town council and other borough officers, elect two reputable citizens of said borough as con- stables, and return the names of the persons so elected to the next court of Quarter Ses- sions of said county, agreeably to the provis- ions and regulations of the act of Assembly passed the third day of February, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five, and shall also on the same day and place afore- said elect one reputable citizen of said bor- ough as an assessor of all taxable property in said borough, and that all county rates, and levies, and other taxes shall be levied accord- ing to the valuation of said assessor, and that so much of the act passed the fifteenth day of April. A. D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, entitled 'An Act relating to County Rates and Levies, and Township Rates and Levies,' as compels the assessors of said town- ship with the commissioners to ascertain the real value of all property (made taxable by law) within the limits of said borough be and the same is hereby repealed."

Under this act of 1842 the pioneer and sep- arate assessment of Brookville as a borough was made in 1844. ,

MY FIRST RECOLLECTIONS OF BROOKVILLE, 1840 TO 1843*

When my feet were bare and my cheeks were brozen

How dear to my heart are the scenes of my child- hood,

mead, wy, the deep tangled wildwood.

When fond recollection presents them to view. The 1 And every loved spot which my infancy knew.

I was born in Brookville when wolves howl- ed almost nightly on what is now known as our "Fair Ground" ; when the pine in its lofty

*At the repeated solicitation of Maj. John McMur- ray, I wrote these, my "Recollections of Brookville in 1840-1843." for his newspaper, the Jeffersonian Democrat. The articles appeared weekly, and were about a column in length, running from July 19, 1894. until December 6. 1801. After the first article was published Major MeMurray further suggested that the type, after being used in the paper, be weekly set aside and reprinted in pages for a small pam- phlet. and that I publish a limited number of these for distribution among friends and neighbors. . .. It is but just to the reader of it to say, that the articles were not written with the seclusion and care of a historian, or to appear in a book. but were writ- ten from my own childhood remembrances of that period, and penned for the Jeffersonian Democrat at times when I had a little leisure from business and professional duties .- W. I. MCKNIGHT, Brookville, Pa., January Ist, 1895. (Preface to pamphlet.)

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

pride leaned gloomily over every hillside ; when the woods around our shanty town was the home of many wild animals and birds, such as panthers, bears, wildcats, foxes, deer, wolves, elks, rabbits, catamounts, coons, groundhogs, porcupines, partridges, turkeys, and pheasants; when the clear sparkling waters of the North Fork. Sandy Lick and Red Bank creeks contained choice pike, many bass, sunfish, horned chubs, trout and other fish : when the wild "bee trees" were quite numerous and full of luscious sweets for the wood man's axe. As you will see, choice meals for hunters could easily be obtained from the abundance of this game. All flesh- eating animals were either hunters, fishers, or both.

The conditions and circumstances of the county made every man a hunter, and each and every one had his gun, bullet-moulds. shot-pouch, and powder-horn for any and every emergency, a moccasin awl and deerskin thongs. It was frequently found necessary before going to church on Sunday to shoot a wild turkey or a deer to "keep them off the grass." The "mighty hunters," though, were "Mike," "Dan," John and "Bill" Long. Dan was murdered on the Clarion river, near Raught's mill. John was the father of Hon. James E. Long. In winter these hunters wore a white garment, called a "hunting-shirt." buckskin breeches and moccasins. In their shirt belts each carried a flint-knocker. spunk, hunting-knives and a tomahawk. Animals were ruthlessly killed for their skins. Deer were thus slaughtered, only the "saddles" or hind- quarters being saved for food. If a history of these Longs could be truthfully written, a full narration of their adventures, perils, cool- nes, and daring while on the trail of bears. wolves and panthers, it would, perhaps, make a book equally as interesting as the "Life of Daniel Boone and Simon Girty."

In the way of a preface to these imperfect reminiscences of Brookville and our dear fathers I simply ask of you this :

Let not ambition mock their useful toil, Their homely joys and destiny obscure, Nor grandeur hear with a disdainful smile These short and simple annals of the poor.

My first clear and distinct recollections of our town and the people in it are in the years 18440 to 1843. The ground where the Dem- ocrat is now printed was then covered with pines. Then Brookville was a town of forty or fifty "shanties" and eight or ten business

places, including the "old brick courthouse" and the "old stone jail." The number of people in the town was three hundred and twenty-two. These "shanties" were principally on Main street, and extended from where the Baptist church now is in the east to where Judge Clark now lives in the west. There were a few scattered shanties on Jefferson street. A great deep gully crossed Main street about where the Brookville National Bank now stands.

A common sight in those days was, "Cakes & Beer For Sale Here," a bottle of foaming beer in a glass in the corner. The first of these signs which I remember was one on the northeast corner of Main and Mill streets, and one on John Showalter's house (the late gun- smith ), now the property of John S. Moore. The cakes were made of New Orleans molasses, and were delicious, more so than any you can make or buy now. They were sold for a cent apiece. The beer was home-made, and called "small beer," and sold for three cents a glass. It was made of hops, ginger, spruce, sassafras roots, wheat bran, molasses, yeast and water. About every family made their own beer. Mrs. Showalter and other old ladies living in the town now ( 1898). ] venture to say, have made "barrels" of it.

The taverns in the town then were four in number. First, the "Red Lion." This inn was kept by John Smith, the stepfather of David Eason. The second was the "Jefferson House," then kept by Thomas Hastings, now occupied and kept by Phil J. Allgeier. In this hotel the "light fantastic toe" was tripped to the airs of "Money Musk." "Virginia Reel," "French Four" and "Pine Creek Lady." The orchestra for these occasions was George Hayes, a colored fiddler of the town, who came from Westmoreland county, who could play the violin behind his back as well as before his face, with his left or right hand, and asleep or awake. I could name quite a number of ladies in the town now whom I used to see enjoying themselves in this way. The third was the "Franklin House," built by John Gelvin, and then kept by John Pierce. The "Central Hotel," owned by S. B. Arthurs, has been erected on the ground occupied by the "Franklin." The fourth was on the cor- ner of Main and Barnett streets, erected by John Dougherty. It swung the sign.

Peace and Poverty.

In 1840 it was occupied and kept by John Gallagher. Each of these hotels had license,

WESTERN ENTRANCE TO BROOKVILLE, 1840 (John Thompson, Driving Team)

BROOKVILLE KITCHEN, 1840

LAL. TRY

IFN.OX

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

and sold whiskey at three cents a drink, mostly on credit. You could have your whiskey straight, or have brown sugar or "tansy bit- ters" in it. The bars had to be opened reg- ularly on Sunday for "morning bitters." Single meals were given for twenty-five cents, a "check" or cold meal for a "'leven-penny bit," and a bed for ten cents. You could stop over night, have supper, bed, morning bitters and breakfast, all for fifty cents. There was but one table, one hour, one ringing of the bell.

The Susquehanna and Waterford turnpike was completed in 1824. It was a good road, and was kept in fair repair. In 1840 it passed from under State control, and the magnitude of the travel over it was great. The stage line. was started in 1824. Morrow started his team then, and cattle and other droving com- menced in 1835. All this I am told; but I know the stage was a big factor in 1840. Morrow was on time, and droving was im- mense. I have seen passing through Brook- ville on their way east from four to six droves of cattle in a day. The droves were generally divided into three sections. At the head of the first would be a man leading a big ox, his extra clothing strapped on the ox's head, and the man would be crying out ever and anon, "K-o, b-o-s-s," "Come, boss." I have seen two and three droves of sheep pass in a day. with occasionally a drove of hogs sandwiched between them. Horse droves were numerous. too. I have seen a few droves of colts, and a few flocks of turkeys. I could not give an estimate of, the number of these droves I have seen passing our home in a day. The business of droving began in June of each year, and ended in November. There was no other way to take this merchandise east than to drive it.

But you must not think everybody was going cast. A big lot of people were going west, including their cousins and their aunts. This turnpike was the shortest line west. We lived where T. L. Templeton now lives, and every few days all through the summer months I would see, nearly opposite the Baptist church, in the middle of the street, two men and a dog, and one of the men usually carrying a gun. They were the advance guard for an "emigrant train." In a few minutes from one to six wagons would come in sight and stop. all stopping here for a short rest. "Where are you going?" was the usual inquiry. "Going west ; going to Ohio." The wagons were heavy. wide-tracked, covered with hoops and a white canvas, and had a stiff tongue and iron pole- chains. The horses wore heavy harness with

iron trace-chains. An occasional emigrant would locate in our county, but the great ma- jority generally struggled on for the far West -Ohio.

The usual mode of travel for the people was on foot or on horseback; but the most interesting mode was the daily stage, which "brought" and "took" the mail and carried the passengers who were going east or west. This was the "limited mail," and the "day and night express" of these days-a through train, only stopping thirty minutes for meals. Of course this "limited mail," this "day and night express," over this "short route," eclipsed and overshadowed every other line and mode of travel. It was "grand, startling and stupendous." There were no through tickets sold, to be

Punched, punched with care, Punched in the presence of the passengaire.

The fare was six cents a mile in advance, and to be paid in "bimetallism." When the offi- cials made their usual tour of inspection over this "road." they had extended to them the genuine hospitality of everybody, including that of the landlords, and free whiskey. The president of the great Pennsylvania line is a small potato to-day in contrast with the chief manager of our line in that day, for our line was then the vanguard of every improvement a passenger might desire or a traveler wish for.

The coaches were made in Concord, N. H .. and were called "rockaway coaches." Each coach had heavy leather belt-springs, and was a handsome vehicle, painted red. with gold stripes and letters, and was drawn by four horses. The coach was made to carry nine passengers, but I have often seen it with a dozen inside, two on the seat with the driver. and some on top. Trunks were carried on the top and in the "boot."" Every driver car- ried a horn, and always took a "horn." When nearing a "relay" or a post office, the valleys and hills were made to echo and reëcho to the "er-r-a-h, er-r-a-h, tat, tat, t-a-h, tat, t-a-h" of the driver's horn, which was to attract the attention of the landlord or postmaster by night or by day. In later years , the coaches were the most ordinary hacks, and the horses could be "seen through," whether sick or well, without the aid of any X-rays.

The roads in spring, summer and fall were a succession of mudholes, with an occasional corduroy. Don't mention bad roads now. The male passengers usually walked up the hills.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

All this in the blackness of darkness without a match, lantern, or light. I take from an old paper the experience of one who rode in these stages :

Jolted, thumped, distracted, Rocked, and quite forlorn, Oh! wise one, what duties Now are laid on corn? Mad, disgusted, angry, In a swearing rage, 'Tis the very d-1 Riding in this stage.

From 1832 to about 1840 the drivers were Henry Dull and Andrew Loux, father of Enoch Loux. The prominent stage drivers in 1840 were John S. Barr, S. P. Barr, Gabriel Vastbinder, Bill Adams, Joe Stratton and others. Each driver carried a whip made as follows: a hickory stock, and a buckskin lash ten or twelve feet long, with a silk cracker on the end. These whips were handled with mar- velous dexterity by drivers, and were made to crack over the horses' heads like pistols. The great pride of a driver then was to turn a "coach-and-four" with the horses on a "com- plete run." Bill Adams was good at this. 1 laughable incident occurred in one of these turns on Main street. The driver was show- ing off in his usual style, and in making the turn with the horses on a complete run the coach struck a stone, which upset it. The weight of all the passengers coming against the coach door burst it open, and the pas- sengers, one and all, were thrown out and literally dumped into the hotel barroom. This was a perfection in stage driving not easily attained.

In 1840 the Brookville merchant kept his own books, or, as he would have said, his own accounts, wrote all his letters with a quill, and when they were written let the ink dry or sprinkled it with sand. There were then no envelopes, no postage stamps. no letter boxes in the streets, no collection of the mail. The letter written, the paper was carefully folded. sealed with wax or a wafer. addressed. and carried to the post office, where postage was prepaid at rates which would now seem extor- tionate.

In 1840 Brookville merchants purchased their goods in Philadelphia. These purchases were made in the spring and fall. It took about two and a half days' continuous travel- ing in the "limited mail" day and night stage- coach to reach Lewistown, Pa., and required about one day and a half traveling over the canal and railroad to reach Philadelphia from that point. From Brookville to Philadelphia

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Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume I, Part 68

Author: McKnight, W. J. (William James), 1836-1918 Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers Number of Pages: 650

Author: McKnight, W. J. (William James), 1836-1918
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers
Number of Pages: 650