Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 30

Author: Swoope, Roland D. (Roland Davis), 1885-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 1040

USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 30

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).

J. E. Du Bois Iron Works. Du Bois

American-French-Belgian Glass Works. Du Bois

Central School Building, Du Bois

New Division Office Building of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railway, Du Bois

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wards became Woodward township, their names being given in the remarks on that township.

The religious and educational opportunities of these pioneer settlers were very limited. Mention has already been made of the services held by Rev. Valentine Flegel. The second son of old Henry Kephart (Henry, Jr.) was ordained a minister in the United Brethren church, and acted as missionary for that de- nomination for a number of years. His sons all became ministers and one a bishop.

For a long time the township had but two schools. What was probably the first was built near the spot subsequently occupied by the residence of Andrew Kephart. and Abram Goss, Jr., was the teacher. Many stories have been told of his prowess with the rod, and the story tellers themselves were not slow to ad- mit that they deserved most of the thrashings they got The other early schoolhouse was built on the Crane farm. The Crane and Goss farm houses were about the only houses in the southeast part of the township as late as the year 1860. A sketch of Chester Hill borough may be found in the suceeding chapter of this volume.

FERGUSON TOWNSHIP

This township was erected by a decree of court dated February 7, 1839, and named in honor of John Ferguson, one of the earliest settlers in the township. The township is bounded on the north by Lumber City bor- ough and Penn township, on the east by part of the line of Pike township and part of the line of Knox township, on the south by Jor- dan township and part of Chest township, on the west by parts of Greenwood and Bell town- ships. The principal business of its inhabit-

ants is farming. The population of the town- ship, according to the eensus of 1910 was 765.

The first settlement within the present bounds of the township was made, in all prob- ability, by Robert McKee, some time previous to 1819, on the farm subsequently owned by W. H. Smith. McKee made but little im- provement. Some time between 1806 and 1819, James Rea and James Hagarty came with their families to MeKee's to a wood- chopping. In the evening they all returned home execpt Hagarty, who lingered behind talking to Robert MeCracken. He did not re- turn and at early dawn Mr. Rea went back to see what had become of his neighbor. He found him in the woods dead, a short distance below MeKee's shanty. The surroundings in- dicated that he had been murdered, but by whom was never clearly proven.

John Henry lived on the place a short time, but in 1836 John Miles, Sr., came to the town- ship and purchased 200 acres of land which included the MeKee property. In 1838 he sold one-half of it to John S. Williams, and in 1857, a short time before his death, he sold the balance to his son-in-law, William H. Smith, who still occupies it.

Jolın Ferguson (for whom the township was named), Thomas McCracken, John Hoek- enberry, William Wiley and John Campbell, all came to the township about 1823.

John Ferguson married Elizabeth Wiley, a sister of William Wiley. He built a saw-mill on the head waters of Little Clearfield Creek, where he lived several years, subsequently re- moving to Lumber City, where he engaged in the grocery business. He afterwards removed to Lockport, Pa., where his death occurred in 1874.

John Hockenberry lived on the farm later

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

owned by David Read. He had several sons and daughters, two of whom-David and Marion-moved to the west, the others re- maining in this vicinity.

William Wiley moved to Knox township and later to Wisconsin, where he died some time in the eighties. Thomas McCracken mar- ried Rebecca Bell, of Pike township, in which township he lived for a few years. He died in 1847, having had ten children, sons and daughters, most of whom grew up and mar- ried.

Among other early settlers of Ferguson township were John Campbell (born 1797), who came from Juniata county, and who was still living on the mountain road between Janesville and Tyrone in 1887 (had a numer- ous family) ; David Ferguson, a brother of John, who came from the vicinity of Lumber City in 1839 (he was a civil engineer and school teacher, and married Rachel McKee, of Cumberland county. Pa., by whom he had six children) : Grier Bell, son of Arthur Bell, and said to have been the second white child born in the county (he married Hettie Roll. of Armstrong county) : Robert MeCracken and George G. Williams, the latter coming from Center county. Most of these pioneers have numerous descendants now living in the county, some in this township and others else- where. They were a sturdy and energetic class of people, as were also most of those who followed them a little later, such as the Straws, Moores, and Tubbses.

The first schoolhouse was built previous to 1841 on the John Ferguson farm, Ross Rob- ison being the first teacher. He was suc- ceeded by Joseph Moore, a prominent citizen of the township, who has long ago passed away. David Ferguson was the third teacher.

Other schools were later erected, according to the needs of the community, and the town- ship's present educational facilities will com- pare favorably with those of almost any rural community of its size.

One of the most terrible events that ever took place in this township was the burning of the Nicholas Tubbs residence in the autumn of 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Tubbs had gone to at- tend a meeting in the old schoolhouse at Mar- ron, leaving their four children, the eldest of whom was about twelve, at home. An alarm of fire was heard and when the congregation rushed out they found the Tubbs house in flames. Nothing could be done to save the children, who were roasted to death in sight of the frantic parents and neighbors.

The village of Gazzam, located on both sides of the East Branch of Little Clearfield Creek, in the southern part of the township, was named in honor of Hon. Joseph M. Gaz- zam, of Philadelphia. Mines were opened here in 1884 by the Clearfield Bituminous Coal Co., and dwelling houses erected. This is chiefly a mining community, but there are stores and other industries, with good church and school facilities.

Kerrmoor-This village was named in honor of its originators, Moore Bros. & Kerr, and is located at the forks of Little Clearfield Creek. It sprang into existence as a conse- quence of the building of the Beech Creek Railroad. The land was owned by Joseph and William Moore, two of the early settlers and prominent citizens of the township, and occu- pied by Ross McCracken, who lived here alone for many years in a shanty. In 1884 Robert and Milton (sons of William) Moore, and James Kerr, under the firm name of Moore Bros. & Co., purchased the land and immedi-

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ately laid it out in town lots. The Clearfield Lumber Co. built a large steam mill for the manufacture of lumber, while other business enterprises soon followed. The community is thriving and has church and school facilities.

GULICH TOWNSHIP

This township enjoys the distinction of hav- ing as part of its boundaries, portions of the lines of three other counties. The township was erected by a decree of court made in 1858. The township was named in honor of Peter Geulich, one of the early settlers in that sec- tion of the county, the official spelling having since been changed to "Gulich."

The township is bounded on the north by Bigler and Woodward townships, on the east by part of the dividing line between Centre and Clearfield counties and part of the divid- ing line between Blair and Clearfield counties, on the south by part of the dividing line be- tween Cambria and Clearfield counties and on the west by Beccaria township.

There is considerable coal development in this township, and also many fine farms. Its population, according to the census of 1910 was 2,112.

The surface of Gulich township shows great inequalities in altitude. At the mountain top known as Highland Fling, half a mile from the head waters of Moshannon Creek, it reaches a lieight of between 900 and 1,000 feet higher than Bellwood or Bell's Mills in Blair county, while the channel of the Muddy Run, near Madera, in the northwest part of the township, the channel is cut deep into gullies and ravines. This Run forms the boundary between Gulich and Beccaria townships, and originates in a number of beautiful springs but a short distance south of the county line.

It was for many years the only means of trans- porting timber to the eastern market.

The first opening for coal in this township was made by George W. Davis in 1851 on Muddy Run, blacksmiths and others coming to his bank from long distances for their sup- plies, since which time the coal industry has grown to considerable proportions.

Among the first comers to Gulich township were the Geulichs, with old Peter Geulich be- fore-mentioned; the Glasgows, who were first known by Mr. John Glasgow moving in about 1840; the Cresswells, headed by John Cress- well; John Nevling. John Hannah (about 1854): Joseph Fry and family: David and Henry Alleman; Harry Hummell, from Dau- phin county; the Ramcys, the Flynns, the Coonrods, the Ganoes, the Kingstons, the Mc- Kiernans, the Davises, the Stevenses and others.

Janesville, the first town in Gulich town- ship, was named from Jane Nevling, who afterward became the wife of Dr. Caldwell, of Glen Hope. When the postoffice was estab- lished it was given the name of Smith's Mills. In 1851 Abraham Nevling, who had moved to this vicinity, built a house for his own use, and was soon followed in building by Westley and Mrs. Nevling. This was the origin of the town of Janesville and Smith's Mills. The postoffice was established in 1868, Joseph D. Ganoe being the first postmaster.

Henry Alleman moved into the county and township in 1851, taking possession of a shanty previously occupied by John Potter. He afterwards enlarged and rebuilt it. It was situated right on the division line between Cambria and Clearfield counties, so that, of a party at table, those sitting on one side were in Cambria and those on the other in Clear-

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

field county. Around this place grew up the settlement of Allemansville, where a postoffice was established in 1868, with Henry .Alleman as postmaster. . \ Methodist church was built in 1871 and a schoolhouse erected. Mr. Alle- man was for a number of years treasurer of the township.

Ramey, in the northern part of the town- ship, is a borough and mention of it will be found in the succeeding chapter of this volume.

GIRARD TOWNSHIP

The records of the quarter sessions court of Clearfield county do not show when this town- ship was legally erected, but it is believed to have been about the month of September, 1832, because at the term of court held in Sep- tember. 1832, it appears to have been recog- nized as a township in the returns made by the constables.

The township is situated in the northern part of the county, and it is bounded on the north by part of the dividing line between Elk and Clearfield counties, on the east by Cov- ington township, on the south by parts of Graham and Bradford townships and west by Graham township. The occupation of the people is mostly agriculture. The township had a population, according to the census of 1910, of 606.

The surface north of the river is generally rough, hilly, and in some parts quite moun- tainous. In the western part, at what is known as "The Knobs," the hills reach a height of 2,230 to 2,280 feet. The township is drained by the waters of Surveyor's Run. Bald Hill Run, Deer Creek, Buck Run. Sandy Creek, Mosquito Creek and some smaller streams.

Girard township was first settled by Peter and Mordecai Livergood, brothers, who came

from Chester county in 1818, Peter making an improvement near the river, a mile east from the mouth of Surveyor's Run, not far from the old Indian path. Mordecai Liver- good commenced a farm near the mouth of Surveyor's Run, which stream was named from the fact that a party of surveyors en- camped at an early date on its banks.

John Irwin made the next settlement in 1821, a few miles east from Peter Livergood's clearing. Irwin, who was a native of Ireland, afterward moved to Wolf Creek, east of Clearfield.

In 1821 came also John Murray from Hunt- ingdon county, accompanied by his family. He died in the winter of 1824, leaving his widow with a number of small children to provide for.

About 1824 John Spackman and Thomas Leonard, with their families, located in Gi- rard, and about the same time came William Irwin. Soon after came Peter Lamm, from Northumberland county. He was a millwright and built a mill at the mouth of Deer Creek. This mill was afterwards made into a com- bination saw- and grist-mill. It ground no wheat flour, however, but only feed for cattle and a small quantity of corn meal.

Other early settlers were Abraham Jury, a potter from Dauphin county, who supplied the residents with earthenware: Zacheus Mead, who started a farm about 1826. and among the French settlers who overflowed into the township from Covington about 1838 were Alphonso and Augustus Leconte. Francis Grossanit, Francis Coudriet and Stephen Hu- gueny. Their lands lay in the vicinity of the Leconte Mills settlement, as it was called. Francis Grossaint built a saw mill in 1844. and Francis Coudriet built one in 1846. The first steam mill was erected on the lands of Phelps

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and Dodge, who were extensive lumbermen, ing. The population, according to the census both here in the township and elsewhere. The of 1910, was 664. second steam saw mill was built by Irwin & Sons, on Bald Hill Run, about 1867 or 1868. The third, known as the Burgett mill, was built on Deer Creek.

Though it was not until nearly 1860 that regular religious services were held in the township, occasional meetings were held as early as 1827, when Rev. William McDowell, of the Methodist Society, preached at the house of the widow of John Murray. George P. Geulich would sometimes hold services at different houses. The French residents are principally of the Catholic faith and attend their own church at Frenchville. Through the efforts of John McCorkle, a Presbyterian church was erected in 1873.

The first school in the township was taught by Cornelia Kincade. It was in the locality afterward known as Congress Hill. The ham- let of Lecontes Mills owes its origin to the ef- forts of Augustus and Alphonso Leconte. who built a mill and residence at the confluence of Deer Creek and Buck Run. A postoffice was afterward established there, of which Au- gustus Leconte was postmaster until 1872, when he was succeeded by Charles Mignot, who was followed by other incumbents.

GRAHAM TOWNSHIP

This township was erected by a decree of court dated August 22, 1856. The township is situated in the eastern part of the county and is bounded on the north by parts of Cov- ington and Girard townships, on the east by Cooper township, on the south by Morris township and on the west by part of Boggs township and by Bradford township.

The principal business of the people is farm-

Graliam township was named after John B. Graham, who came to the county with his pa- rents in 1822, but who did not become a resi- dent of this locality until some 14 or 15 years later. The town of Grahamton was named for him, he being one of its most enterprising residents. He built both saw and grist mills there and also engaged in the lumber business. In 1852 he removed to the borough of Clear- field. of which he became a prominent citizen. Jacob Hubler and Bassel Crowel, came to this locality about 1827 or 1828. Each reared a large family and cleared up a good farm. In 1864 Jacob Hubler was arrested for a polit- ical offense and was imprisoned at Fort Mif- flin, but was subsequently released. He died in 1868.

Conrad W. Kyler, who came here in 18.43. cleared and developed a fine farm. He was made county commissioner in 1875 and for ten years was a justice of the peace of Graham township. Other early settlers were Samuel Turner, the Monos, the Hitchins, the Kep- ples, the Smeals, and the Flegels; while among the taxable inhabitants in 1857 (the year fol- lowing that in which the township was erected) were B. F. Ackley, M. D., Moses Boggs, William Burlingame, William Ben- nett, William Bagley. William Burge, John Cook, William Cole, M. & S. Catherman, Da- vid Chollar, Henry Colegrove. David Crow- ell, Israel Crowell, Basil Crowell, Patrick Curley, James Curley. Benjamin Chance, Frederick Conklin, Francis Colegrove, Sam- uel Davidson, Thomas Duncason. John Dixon, Robert Elder, William English, Thomas H. Forcey, Martin French, Francis Graham, Ira Green, William R. Green, Amos Hubler,

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

George Hoover, Jacob Hoover, John Holt, Michael Fink. Jacob Hubler, Simon Haucken- bury, Joseph Ishman, John H. Irvin, Edmund Jones, Henry Kyler. Conrad W. and Isaac Kyler, Peter Keppler, John M. Katon, Samuel Lonsbury, Benjamin and Abraham Lons- bury, Rev. J. M. Mason. Mark McGuire, Gerge Moyer. John Martin, Jacob Mack, George Nearhood, Henry Nearhood, William Phenix, Christian Pace. Jonas Powel, Harri- son Ross, F. W. Russell, William Rolston, Alexander Rolston, William P. Smeal, John Smeal, Samuel Smeal, George Stever. William Shimmel, Jr., John W. and David Turner, Joseph Thompson, Samuel Ulrich, John Um- merman, John and Jacob Wilhelm, William Woolridge, James E. Watson. George W. Wells and others. This will serve to show who were the pioneers of Graham township, though some of the above mentioned were the sons or descendants of the original pioneers of this locality.

GOSHEN TOWNSHIP

This township was erected by a decree of court of quarter sessions of Clearfield county, dated May 5, 1845. It is situated in the northern part of the county, being bounded on the north by part of the dividing line between Elk and Clearfickl counties, on the east by Girard township, on the south by parts of Bradford and Lawrence townships and west by part of Lawrence township.

Although a large part of the township is a comparative wilderness, containing only a few scattered inhabitants, the southern part is well cultivated and embraces in its limits some of the finest and most fertile land in the county. The people of the township are mostly en- gaged in farming.

The population, according to the census of 1910, was 514.

The main streams of Goshen township are Lick Run and Trout Run, in the southern half. both of which discharge into the river, and Laurel Run, which drains the northern half, and which discharges into the Sinnama- honing, and finally into the West Branch.

Among the pioneers of the township was the Bomgardner family, who took up lands near the mouth of Trout Run in the year 1820. Joseph Thorndyke, another old settler, located in the same neighborhood two years later. He was a trapper and hunter, without family, and made few or no improvements. John, Henry and James Irwin were sons of Henry Irwin, Sr., who lived at the mouth of Wolf Run, and afterward in Goshen. The sons were natives of the county, but the parents of Irish birth. John Irwin early claimed land in Karthaus township.

William Ross improved land about a mile below the mouth of Trout Run, the place hav- ing been formerly owned by William Lcon- ard, father of Abraham Leonard. The latter about 1835 made an improvement on the lo- cation subsequently owned by John Sankey.

Another pioneer of the township was Jacob Flegel (brother of Valentine), who made a farm about 1842 or '43, not far from the head of Flegel's Run, in the southwest part of the township. He afterwards built a saw mill on the Run. The Flegels were a numerous fam- ily and have many descendants yet living in the township. Other settlers were Isaac and Robert Graham, who later emigrated to the West: Matthew Tate, who bought lands on Jerry Run: Robert C. Shaw, brother of Judge Richard Shaw, and son of Archie Shaw, the pioneer of Mt. Joy Ridges: Joseph Morrison,

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William L. Shaw, Daniel Lewis, William L. Rishel, Merrick Housler, Horatio Hall, Henry Lewis, William Housler, Nathaniel Brittain, Thompson Read, James A. Read, John Jent- ton, Matthew Tate, Q. W. Graham, John Barr, Isaac Lewis. The above, with others, owned land or cattle within the township in 1846, at the time the first enumeration of tax- ables was made, though possibly some of them may not have been actually residents of the township. There was then but one saw mill in the township-that of Bigler, Boynton & Powell, who were residents of Clearfield bor- ouglı.

Ellis Irwin, a former merchant of Clear- field, moved to Lick Run in 1856, having previously purchased property there. This was the saw-mill erected on the run by Martin Nichols in 1845. Mr. Irwin completed the mill and began lumbering, which business he followed for many years thereafter. In 1847 he bought the uncompleted mill and dam erec- tion below him on the other side of the stream, which had been started by F. P. Hurxthal and James Irwin, together with adjacent lands, and completed the construction, thus acquiring a valuable water frontage. In 1852 he started a general merchandise store, which he man- aged in connection with his other extensive business interests. The Lick Run Mills post- office was established in 1872 and Mr. Irwin appointed postmaster. This office took the place of the previous one at Shawsville, fur- ther down the river, which was thereafter dis- continued. The latter place was named in honor of Judge Richard Shaw, who built a grist mill here, at the mouth of Trout Run in 1852, on lands purchased from Stewardson, of Philadelphia. At his death the property went to Arnold B. Shaw of Clearfield. In

[886 thie machinery for making roller process flour was placed in the mill. A water-power saw-mill was built on Trout Run, above Shawsville, by Morrow and Smith, about 1870, and afterwards became the property of H. H. Morrow. The Shirey saw mill, on the west branch of Trout Run, was built at an early date by William Mapes. It was rebuilt by A. H. Shirey and subsequently became the property of Frederick B. Irwin.

The first school erected after the formation of the township was on the lands of Isaac Graham, and this was the starting point of the educational interests of the township, which are today well looked after, there being an adequate number of good schools and teachers.

GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP

This township was erected from parts of Bell, Ferguson and Penn townships, by a de- cree of court of quarter sessions of Clearfield county, dated the 19th day of March, 1875. The township is bounded on the north by Penn township, on the east by Ferguson town- ship, and on the south by Chest township, and on the west by Bell township. Agriculture is the principal occupation of the people of this township.

The population, according to the census of 1910, was 590.

The taxables embraced in the new town- ship at the time of its formation were as fol- lows: From Bell township, R. C. Thompson, E. B. Thompson, Charles Hullihan, John Mills, J. N. McCracken, D. W. McCracken, Eli Campbell, Jacob Fryer, J. Q. A. Johnson, G. W. Dickey, Jacob Uber, John W. Bell, Henry Sharp, Marion Sharp, William Bell, James Wiley. Nelson Young, Eli Passmore, J. N. Kester, William Kester, Frampton Bell,

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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY

Samuel Hullihan, James Frampton, G. M. township in a general course from southwest Passmore, John Cunningham, William D. to northeast, but its course is exceedingly tor- Beck, Thompson MeLaughlin, G. D. MIc- tous and winding. The principal streams tributary to the river on the north are Haslet's Run, Curry's Run, and Bell's Run; on the south side are several rivulets of no mentiona- ble size. The country generally throughout the township is very hilly and mountainous, but along the valley of the river is much pro- ductive farming land. Cracken, Thomas Thompson, C. A. Rora- baugh, H. D. Rowles, Frank Sawyer, A. T. Goldthread, John Robbins, William T. Thorpe, Charles Thorpe, David Mitchell, .1. B. Tate, David McCracken, R. C. McCracken, William Tunblin, John W. Haslet, James K. Henry, Immanuel Hoover.

From Ferguson township: Hon. John F. Hoyt, S. H. Vanhorn. George Ross, Wesley Ross, John F. Wiley, D. D. Wiley, John A. Rowles, William Rowles, Balser Hullihan, Matthias Hullihan, Conrad Hullihan, Thomas Tubbs.

From Penn township: W. C. Hoover, Elah Johnson, William Smith, Albert Smith, James Johnson, Jolin L. Johnson, David Johnson, Matthew W. Johnson, Wesley Horn, James Newcomer, Patrick Rafferty, Aaron New- comer, Josiah Newcomer, Job Curry, Jesse Kester, Frank Kester.

The first election for township officers was directed to be held on the 11th day of May, 1875, at the public house of Samuel Hullihan. The first officers elected were as follows: Jus- tices of the peace, Isaac Kester and John W. Bell; constable, Aaron H. Newcomer; asses- sor, David Bell; supervisors, G. D. McCracken and Conrad Hullihan; overseers, George MI. Passmore and Joseph Newcomer; auditors, Frampton Bell, three years, Z. L. Hoover, two years, Nelson Young, one year : school direct- ors, T. J. Thompson and Jolm S. Johnson, for three years; John A. Rowles and John P. Hoyt, for two years: James Stevenson and J. Q. A. Johnson, for one year ; treasurer, Wil- son McCracken; judge of election. David Lee.

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Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens, Part 30

Author: Swoope, Roland D. (Roland Davis), 1885- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co Number of Pages: 1040

Author: Swoope, Roland D. (Roland Davis), 1885-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 1040