USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 2
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Swoope, Roland D.
365
Smail, T. D.
902
Swoope, Roland D., Jr.
396
Smathers, Dr. Wilson J.
738
Swoope. Wm. I. 196
Smeal, Daniel J.
888
Smith, Allison O.
353
Tate, Ira F. 561
2
Swoope, Henry B. 686
Sloppy, George H.
Straw, Uriah H.
Shimel, H. M.
539
Stone, John
Shaffer, Emanuel S.
964
Sommerville, James L.
Rusnak, Martin
938
18
INDEX
Telford. Mrs. Lavina
695
Watson, James
792
Thompson, Edward A.
572
Way, David 613
Thompson, Roll B.
377
Way. Thomas L. 613
Thompson. R. William
414
Weaver, Charles C. 980
Thomson, William H.
554
Weaver. James L.
651
Thorp. C. A.
SS3
Weaver, John H.
790
Tobias, William E.
903
Weber, George J.
923
Todd. II. W.
498
Webster. Edward W.
909
Tonkin, Robert D.
901
Welch, Walter
197
Torrence, Charles L.
479
Welty, S. B.
714
Towns, George E.
598
Wilkinson, John II.
649
Tozer. Salmon
874
Williams, A. C.
588
Tozer, William F.
37S
Williams, David
699
Turner, E. K.
543
Williams, Luther H.
345
Turner, James K., Esq.
537
Wilson. Dr. Robert V. 461
Turley. Edgar W.
369
Wilson, Smith V. V. . 194
Turley, George W.
369
Wilson, Dr. Ward O. 435
Tyler, David
658
Wingert, William 406
583
Urey, John M. 197
Wise. S. J.
746
Wise, William L.
646
Van Tassel, A. R.
519
Womer. George D).
820
Veeser, John
513
Wood. Dr. George W.
382
Viebahn, Edward A.
584
Woods, Franklin M.
800
Viebahn, Julius
479
Woodside, Dr. H. A.
449
Woodward, A. H.
196
Wachob. George B.
697
Woodward, Walter H.
347
Wagner, Harry E.
640
Woolridge. Edward II.
504
Walker, E. J.
391
Work, Aaron N.
570
Walker, George W.
514
Work. John N.
708
Wall, Isaiah
350
Wrye, Charles
957
Wall, James D.
430
Wynn. D. Ross
601
Wall, Miles
809
Wall, Thomas
430
Yeaney. Dr. Gillespie B.
371
Wall. W. I.
350
Yingling. Isaac J.
877
Wallace, Harry F.
194
Yingling. William Irwin 801
Wallace, Robert
540
Young. Augustus J.
S32
Wallace, William A.
490
Young. David S.
709
Wallace, William E.
497
Young, John W.
691
Walls, Harvey
710
Young, Newton B. 811
Ward. Prof. Harry E.
967
Waring. De Lancey H.
939
Zeigler. George W. 196
Waterworth, Dr. S. J. 519
Wink, William T.
0
Wearfield County Court House, Clearfield
Clearfield County Jail, Clearfield
Dimeling Hotel, Clearfield
Clearfield County House, Clearfield
Clearfield Hosplial, Clearfield
History of Clearfield County
CHAPTER I.
GEOGRAPHY, TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY.
Dimensions and Acreage of the County-Its Situation and Boundaries-Hills and Valleys- Streams-Character of the Soil-Geological Strata-Coal Measures-Conglomerate- Mahoning Sandstone-The Three Great Coul Basins-Firc-Clay -- Limestone-Oil and Gas-Iron Ore, Etc.
Geography-Clearfield County is one of the largest in Pennsylvania, covering a territory of thirty-six and seventeen-twentieth miles from north to south, and about forty and one-half miles from east to west. It has an area of eleven hundred and thirty square miles, or seven hundred and twenty-three thousand, two hun- dred acres.
It lies a little to the west of the center of the State on parallel 41°, 4' north latitude, and lon- gitude 1°, 30' west from Washington, D. C. It is bounded on the north by Elk and Cameron. on the east by Centre and Clinton, on the south by Cambria and on the west by Jefferson and Indiana counties.
Topography -- Clearfield County is situated in the western foothills of the Allegheny Moun- tains, lying between the main ridge and the great secondary formation known as the "Stony Mountains." Although at some points these hills reach an altitude of from sixteen to twenty-two hundred feet. they form no dis- tinct chains, but are interspersed with table- lands and valleys.
The county is traversed by a number of streams, the most important of which is the West branch of the Susquehanna river, which has its source in Cambria county and enters Clearfield County at its southwestern boundary. It flows in a northeasterly direction through the county in a winding course of nearly one hundred miles, entering Clinton County at its western boundary. Finally it unites with the North Branch at Sunbury, Northumberland County, forming the broad Susquehanna which empties its waters into Chesapeake Bay. The most important tributaries to the West Branch within Clearfield County are Chest, Ander- son. Montgomery. Moose, Clearfield, Moshan- non. Deer. Sandy and Musquito creeks, and Lick Run. Trout Run and Upper Three Run.
Moshannon Creek forms the boundary be- tween Clearfield and Centre counties.
Clearfield Creek has two tributaries-Little Clearfield and Muddy Run.
Chest Creek traverses the mountainous ter- ritory in the Southern part of the county.
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY
Anderson Creek has its source in the north- eastern part of the county, and unites with the West Branch at Curwensville. It has several tributaries, the most important of which is Little Anderson Creek.
These various streams furnish splendid nat- ural drainage to all sections of the county, and in the valleys traversed by them, large areas of very fertile land, suitable for agri- cultural purposes, are to be found.
The highlands are well watered by smaller streams, and the soil is especially adapted for farming land. Although it is only since the exhaustion of the timber supply in the county, in the last fifteen years, that attention has been turned to agriculture, today some of the finest and most profitable farms in the state lie within the boundaries of Clearfield County.
Geology-Geology is the science which treats of the history of the earth and its life, especially as recorded in the rocks.
The principal authorities on the science of geology have agreed upon the following clas- sification of the different periods of time indi- cated by the rock formation :
AGES
AEONS ORGANIC REIGNS
Caenozoic
Quaternary
Man
Tertiary
Mammals
Cretaceous
Mesozoic
Jurassic
Reptiles and Birds
Triassic
Upper Carbon- iferous
Amphibians
Lower Carbon-
and Land An- imals
Palaeozoic
iferous
Fishes
Silurian
Marine Inver- tebrates
Cambrian
Eozoic
Huronian
Protozoans
The principal geological measures appear- ing in the formations within Clearfield County are the lower carboniferous measures of the Paleozoic formation. It is by reason of the existence of these measures that the county is so rich in mineral wealth. What is known as the Pottsville or Seral conglomerate is the foundation of all the great coal fields and no productive coal measures have ever been found beneath this rock.
The conglomerate is a coarse sand rock, con- taining large, white flint-like pebbles, and is a species of silicious quartz. Wherever it is found, it is considered as a sure indication of the presence of coal in the hills covering this rock. The out-crop of this conglomerate is usually found in the beds of streams, where the water has washed away the soil and ex- posed the surface of the rock.
Clearfield County contains seven veins of bituminous coal that are thick enough to be profitably mined. These veins are designated by letters, the bottom vein being generally known as "A" and the top, or cap vein, as "G." Between veins "B" and "C" is an intermediate vein, usually found at a distance of thirty feet above "B." Between "C" and "D" are also found intermediate veins at about the same distance.
Above the "G" or cap vein is found the Ma- honing sandstone, the presence of which indi- cates the top of the coal measures. Still above this are found the rocks composing what are known as the barren measures, such as are found near Ramey and capping the summits of the Bloomington Ridge south of Curwens- ville.
There are three great coal basins which pass through the county in a general southwest and northeast direction. These are known as the
Laurentian
Devonian
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
first, second and third coal basins, and are sep- arated by two anticlinals known as the first and second axis. The third basin is sepa- one of the principal industries of the county. rated by the Boon's mountain anticlinal from the basin of Jefferson and Elk counties, known as the fourth coal basin.
The first basin covers the coal territory of Gulich, Bigler, Beccaria, Woodward and Mor- ris townships, which include the Coalport, Madera, Houtzdale, Osceola, Philipsburg and Morrisdale coal developments.
The second basin includes the Ansonville. Gazzam, Boardman and Karthaus sub-basins and the Penn township sub-basin.
The third basin contains the Brady, Sandy, and Huston townships, and the DuBois coal territory.
A more detailed account of the various coal measures and their operation may be found in the chapter relating to the history of the coal interests of the county.
Another geological formation of great im- portance to the county is the fire-clay, which is found at the bottom of the lower coal measures in all three of the coal basins that pass through the county. It is found in veins, ranging from four to twelve feet in thickness, and is usually in three layers. It is of superior qual-
ity and has been developed by manufacturing the various kinds of brick, which now forms
In many places in the county are found ex- tensive deposits of sandstone, which have been quarried on a large scale, the stone, on account of its peculiar qualities, and extreme purity and whiteness, is specially adapted for build- ing purposes and bridge work.
Three beds of limestone have been found about two hundred feet above the river in Greenwood township. Various experiments have been made in burning this limestone, but it has been found to be too impure to make good lime.
Several test wells were drilled for oil and gas, but were abandoned before reaching the proper strata, although all the geological for- mations along Anderson Creek indicate that oil and gas will be found when wells are drilled to sufficient depth.
Small deposits of iron ore have been found at various points in the county. Attempts have been made to utilize this ore, the princi- pal one by Peter A. Karthaus at the old fur- nace on Moshannon Creek, but this enterprise did not prove successful.
CHAPTER II
INDIAN OCCUPATION
The Andastes-Their Conflict with the Iroquois and Partial Destruction-Brule's Expedition -His Capture and Escape-The Lenni-Lenapes or Delawares-The Monceys-Their Subjection by the Iroquois-The Shawnees and Tuscaroras-Retreat of the Indians.
A great tribe of Indians known as the An- dastes occupied the country now called western Pennsylvania as early as the sixteenth century. This tribe belonged to the Algonquin family and were bitter enemies of the Iroquois, with whom they carried on continual war, until only a remnant of the Andastes remained. These survivors finally settled near the mouth of the river now known as the Susquehanna, and were called Susquehannocks or Conestoga Indians.
In Champlain's narrative of his voyage of 1618, which is the earliest account we have of the West Branch valley, it is recorded that he sent a Frenchman, named Etienne Brule, with a small party of Indians to endeavor to secure the assistance of the Andastes in his attack on the Iroquois towns. Brule succeeded in this design, and marched with a large party of An- dastes to join Champlain, but was unable to reach him, because prior to his arrival Cham- plain had been forced to retreat. Brule re- turned with the Andastes to their camp, and spent the balance of the year with them. From there he attempted, with guides fur- nished by the Andastes, to reach Quebec, but was captured by the Iroquois. Finally he es-
caped, and after many perils rejoined Cham- plain.
After the Andastes left the West Branch valley, it was inhabited by the Lenni-Lenapes or Delaware tribe, who were also of the Al- gonquin family. The term "Lenni-Lenape" meant "Original People," and they were di- vided into various tribes.
The Moncey, or Wolf tribe, the most active and warlike of them all, occupied the moun- tainous country between the Blue Mountains and the sources of the Susquehanna river.
After the Iroquois had succeeded in driving out the Andastes, they made war upon the Lenni-Lenapes, whom they soon conquered. Terms of peace were made, by which the Dela- wares gave up their lands to the Iroquois, and thereafter held them as tenants of that pow- erful tribe.
The Shawnee and Tuscarora tribes, by per- mission of the Iroquois, moved from the Caro- linas northward and occupied, with the Lenni- Lenapes, the country along the West Branch valley. These Indians occupied this territory until about 1750, when they were driven out by the encroachments of the white men, and moved west of the Ohio river.
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23
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
There is no reliable data upon which to tell it would require more space than we have found a history of any greater length than we at our command. have given in this brief resume of the terri- tory which is now Clearfield county, at the time it was occupied by the Indians. There are many legends and traditions which have been handed down from the time the first white men followed the Indian paths through the West Branch Valley; but all of these are so intermingled with the Indian history of other sections of the State that to properly
Suffice it to say that in this region, as in all others where the white man met the red man in the inevitable conflict of the superior against the inferior race, the Indians were forced back, and ever backward, toward the setting sun, from whence tradition told them they had come. The war-whoop was heard no longer, and the last Indian was driven from his be- loved hunting grounds along the river "Otzin- achson."
CHAPTER III
LAND TITLES
Charles the Second's Grant to William Penn-Penn's Lease from Governor Dongan-Indian Deed Confirming the Purchase-Indian Deed to Penn's Heirs-The Articles of Consid- eration-Penn's Will-His Sale to the Crown-Thomas Penn Assumes Charge of the Province-First Surveys-Early Land Owners-Litigation Over Titles.
The lands in the province of Pennsylvania were granted to William Penn by King Charles II of Great Britain by Royal Charter, dated the fourth day of March, A. D. 1681, in payment of a claim which Penn's father, Admiral William Penn, had at the time of his death against the English Government, amounting to £16,000.
Under this charter Penn and his descend- ants claimed title to all the lands in the prov- ince, but in order to avoid trouble with the Indians, Penn's representatives, on coming into possession, negotiated with the various tribes for a release of their claim to the lands.
In Vol. 1, of Pennsylvania Archives, pages 121 and 122, may be found a copy of the cu- rious instrument, dated January 12, 1696, by which William Penn leased from Thomas Dongan, late governor of New York, for one thousand years, at the annual rental of a "pepper corn." the lands of which Clearfield County is a part.
Governor Dongan had acquired from the Iroquois, either by purchase or gift, the title which they claimed to said lands by right of conquest. On January 13, 1696, Dongan
made a decd to William Penn for the same lands for a consideration of £100, and on Sep- tember 13, 1700, the Indian chiefs occupying these lands confirmed the purchase by William Penn by a deed which may be found recorded in the Recorder's office at Philadelphia, in Deed book F, Vol. VIII, page 242.
By an article of agreement, dated April 23, 1701, recorded at Philadelphia in Deed book F. Vol. VIII, page 243. the chiefs of the Sus- quehanna Indians confirmed the deed of Gov- ernor Dongan.
Thirty-five years later, October 11, 1736, at a great council called at Philadelphia a large number of chieis, representing the different tribes, executed a deed forever releasing to John, Thomas and Richard Penn all titles and claims to the Susquehanna lands. This decd is also recorded in Philadelphia, in Deed book G, Vol. V. page 277. This deed describes the property conveyed as follows :
"They, the said Kakiskerowand, Tayen- hunty, Caxhaayn, Kuchdachary Saweegateeos, Sachems or Chiefs of the Nations of ye Onon- dagoe-Kanickhungo, Tagachskaholoo, Sagoa- yaton-dackquas, Ashcoalaax, Hetquantagech-
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
ta, Sachems or Chiefs of the Senekaes; Sayneh- sanyunt, Sunaratchy, Kanawatoe, Tecochtsee gherochgoo, Sachems of Chiefs of the Cayoo- goes; Saliscaquoh, Shecalamy, Tahashwanga- roras, Sachems or Chiefs of the Oneydoes, and Sawantga and Tyeros, Sachems or Chiefs of the Tuskaroros, for themselves and on behalf of all the five nations aforesaid, and every of them, have given, granted, bargained, sold, Re- leased and Confirmed, and by these presents Do, and every one of them doth give, grant, Bargain, sell, release and Confirm unto the said proprietaries, John Penn, Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, their Heirs, Successors and Assigns, all the said River Susquehannah, with the lands lying on both sides thereof, to Ex- tend Eastward as far as the heads of the Branches or Springs which run into the said Susquehannah. And all the lands lying on the West side of the said River to the setting of the Sun, and to extend from the mouth of the said River Northward, up the same to the Hills or mountains called in the language of the said Nations, the Tyannuntasacta, or End- less hills, and by the Delaware Indians, the Kekkachtananin Hills, together, also, with all the islands in the said River, Ways, Waters, Watercourses, Woods, Underwoods, Timber and Trees, Mountains, Hills, Mines, Valleys, Minerals, Quarries, Rights, Liberties, Privi- leges, Advantages, Hereditaments and Appur- tenances thereunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining."
Among the articles mentioned as the consid- eration of this curious document, and partic- ularly interesting on account of the well-known peace-loving qualities of the Penns are: 500 lbs. of powder, 600 lbs. of lead, 45 guns and 25 gallons of rum, besides 200 lbs. of tobacco, and 1,000 pipes.
William Penn died in 1713, and by his will, his property in the province was devised to hiis wife, Hannah, in trust to sell so much of his estate as was necessary to pay his indebted- ness ; and then to convey to his son by a former wife 40,000 acres of land; and all the residue of his lands in the province to his children by his second wife-John, Thomas and Richard.
After Penn made this will, he agreed to sell his Pennsylvania property to the Crown for £12,000 and received part of the purchase money. This agreement of sale was never consummated, but it caused litigation between the widow and children which was, however, finally compromised.
In 1732 Thomas Penn came to this country to take charge of the province for himself and brothers, in whom the title of William Penn was then vested.
In 1779 the Commonwealth of Pennsylva- nia purchased the title of the Penns for the sum of £130,000 sterling, by virtue of an act of assembly, approved June 28th, 1779, known as the Devesting Act.
The first surveys of the land in the territory now composing Clearfield County were made as early as 1769.
Among the earliest surveyors were: Judge Smith, James Harris, Canan, Samuel Brady, the Indian fighter, and Daniel Turner.
After the lands were opened to purchase, they were rapidly taken up and surveyed, and patents issued to the purchasers, most of whom were non-residents.
Among the largest land-holders were the Holland Land Company, Nicklin and Griffith, James Hopkins, McConnell and Reynolds, James Yard, Cramer and Bates, the Keatings, Charles Mead, Thomas Kitland, William Parker, James Wilson, Samuel M. Fox, Henry
26
HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY
Drinker, George Roberts, Joseph P. Morris, Robert Morris, John Hallowell, Walter Stew- art, Archibald McCall, Richard Peters, Rawle and Morgan, Phillips and Company, James C. Fisher and William Scott. These men owned many thousand acres of land in what is now Clearfield County.
For many years after the organization of the county there was tedious and expensive lit- igation over land titles, most of which was caused by the difficulties encountered by the early surveyors, but these disputes were finally settled by the Supreme Court.
CHAPTER IV
THE EARLY SETTLERS
Character of Clearfield County's Early Population-Former Political Divisions-The First White Settler-The Leading Pioneers of the County and the Credit Due Them.
country is largely dependent upon the type of men and women who were the first to locate in it, and the people of Clearfield County are for- tunate in the fact that those who originally set- tled here; who cut out roads through its for- ests, cleared its first farms and made them- selves homes, were of that strong and sturdy stock that produces men able to cope with great difficulties and overcome them. These were the kind of men who were the early pioneers in opening up the territory now Clearfield County and battling with the forces of nature.
Prior to the year 1804, what is now the great and rich County of Clearfield was a part of Lycoming and Huntington Counties. These counties were divided by the West Branch of the Susquehanna, those living on its Northern1 or Western bank being located in Lycoming county, while those who settled on its Southern or Eastern bank became citizens of Hunting- don county.
It has long been a disputed question as to who was the first resident in the territory now comprising Clearfield County. Undoubtedly the first white settler was a man known as Cap- tain Edward Rickerts, mentioned in the jour- nal of James Harris, who surveyed along
The future character of the population of a Clearfield Creek in the autumn of 1784. But it is argued that Captain Rickerts did not re- main long enough in this section of the country to be counted as a resident. So it is generally conceded that James Woodside, who settled in the vicinity now known as Brady township in 1785, was the first white resident of what is now Clearfield county. A monument to his memory was erected in Luthersburg cemetery in 1886, and a year previous the centennial of his birth was celebrated in the town of Luthers- burg.
Some old residents of the central part of the county still insist that Daniel Ogden, who set- tled on the site of the present town of Clear- field in 1797, has a right to this honor. How- ever, it is entirely possible that Mr. Woodside lived on the western side of the great forests for many years, without ever coming in con- tact with Mr. Ogden. This theory peacefully settles the discussion and so we shall adopt it here.
The next pioneer to come "up the river" was Arthur Bell, who arrived soon after Dan- iel Ogden. He settled in the locality now known as Bell township. His son, Grier, is said to have been the first white child born in this county. Next came Casper Hockenberry
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28
IIISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY
and James McCracken, who were related by marriage to Arthur Bell, and settled near him. In 1799 Thomas McClure, better known as "Squire" McClure, came to this vicinity from Cumberland.
About this time a widow by the name of Lewis, but called "Granny Leathers" came to Clearfield and started a distillery. When the War of 1812 broke out. Granny disappeared, but her son, David, remained. He, with sev- eral other men, made a good living by holding up and robbing the wagons of Bellefonte mer- chants. Finally they were captured by several Center county citizens, and David was shot, and died. Settlement became more rapid after 1800, and we shall not attempt to make more than a mention of the numerous families who came to this section of the country from 1800 until the year Clearfield county was organized. Longer accounts of some of these men may be found in the histories of the various townships and boroughs.
Martin Hoover, who came from York coun- ty, settled in 1801, in what afterwards became Lawrence township, and .Alexander Read, (who became the first postmaster in the coun- ty) settled in the vicinity the following year. Frederick Hennich, or Haney, built a home near Hoover about this time, and in 1803 Abraham Hess same from York county and located on Clearfield creek. Paul Clover, the first resident on the site of Curwensville made a settlement in 1801 at the junction of Ander- son creek and the Susquehanna river. Robert Askey settled just below this place at about the same time. David Litz made a clearing at the place afterwards known as Litz's bridge. He is said to have floated the first log raft down the river. Joseph Leonard occupied the cabin built by Captain Rickerts on Clearfield creek.
Abraham Leonard settled on the Showshoe and Packersville turnpike in 1801. John Owens and Robert Graham settled on the oppo- site side of the creek about this time. Abra- ham Passmore, Henry Irwin, Thomas Mapes and Daniel Turner located along the river in 1802.
Settlements were being made farther east at the same time; in 1801 Jacob Wise, Robert .Anderson and a man named Potter made homes along Moshannon Creek. In 1802 John Kline settled near Montgomery creek, and Hugh Frazier built a cabin on Wolf Run. John Carothers built a house a few miles far- ther down the river the same year.
William Bloom made a clearing along the Susquehanna in 1801 on the land now called the Irvin Farm. A few years ago Colonel E. .A. Irvin of Curwensville had the site of this settlement marked by a sign bearing a suitable inscription.
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