USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > Twentieth century history of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and representative citizens > Part 33
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The first erection in the vicinity of "Por- ter's Mill," was made about 1836, by Philip Antes and George Leech, with an interest owned by Christopher Kratzer. A saw-mill on the east side of the river was first built. The property went to James T. Leonard on forced sale, but was afterward deeded to the Antes boys, and by them to William Porter and Philip C. Heisy. Porter bought the Heisy interest. The first grist-mill on the place was erected by William Porter in 1877, at a cost of nearly ten thousand dollars. It burned in 1882. Another mill was immedi- ately erected in its place, larger and of greater capacity, at a cost of about seventeen thousand dollars. Subsequently the roller process ma- chinery was introduced into this mill and was purchased by W. R. McPherson.
On the site of the Ferguson mills in the year 1842, George B. Logan and Thomas Read built a saw-mill on the south side of the river, and about 1850, built a grist-mill on the north bank. A division of the property was made by which Logan took the grist-mill. and Reed the saw-mill, but subsequently Lo- gan became the owner of the whole property. About 1860 he sold to the Farmers' Company, but that was not a successful organization and the property came back to Logan again. In the early eighties George E. Ferguson became owner and proprietor. The dam across the West Branch was constructed at the time the first mill was built.
On the site formerly occupied by Matthew Ogden's pioneer mill on Moose Creek, there was built by Alexander Irvin, in the year 1830, a substantial grist-mill. Irvin sold to Richard Shaw, who operated it until his death, when it went to Richard Shaw, Jr.
About the year 1842, William Bigler and
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William Powell built a saw mill in the south part of the township, and afterward christened it the "Doniphan Mill," in honor of Colonel Doniphan of Mexican War fame. After Mr. Bigler's election to the office of governor of the State, the property went to the firm of G. L. Reed & Co. It has also been owned by Weaver and Betts, William Brown, Daniel Mitchell and again by Weaver and Betts.
The Ringgold Mill was built by George R. Barrett and Christopher Kratzer, in the year 1847, on Clearfield Creek, about half a mile from the railroad bridge, the cost being about seven thousand dollars. During the extremely high water on the creek that year, the mill was carried down stream to the river, and thence down to Karthans bridge, where all trace of it was lost, no part ever being recovered. A new mill was immediately erected on the site of the former structure. Both of these were among the very best in the lumber country, the first being an unusually fine mill. It was a double mill, having two saws, and manufac- tured a large amount of lumber for that time. The dam built by the owners was very objec- tionable to raftsmen on account of its height. and many were the rafts and arks that went to pieces in attempting its passage. The prop- erty was afterward sold to Wilson Hoover. and burned while he owned it.
Although Lawrence is one of the pioneer townships of the county, and in all matters of county progress and advancement, she is not entitled to first honor in matters of education so far as the first school erected is concerned, but from the best authority obtainable, the second schoolhouse was built in the township in the year 1806. This was located north and east from Clayville town nearly opposite the mouth of Clearfield Creek. Here the redoubt-
able Samuel Fulton taught, and was after- ward followed by Miss Davis and Miss Goon. An old school was built about twenty rods above the covered bridge at Clearfield town, on the west side of the river within the limits of the present borough of West Clearfield. The exact date of its erection is unknown. Among the early teachers there can be remembered the names of John Campbell, Miss Brockway and Benjamin Merrell.
MORRIS TOWNSHIP
This township was erected by a decree of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Clearfield County, dated April 3rd, 1836, and was named in honor of the Hon. Robert Morris, a dis- tingnished patriot of the Revolutionary War.
The township is bounded on the north by Graham Township, on the east by Cooper Township, and part of the dividing line be- tween Centre and Clearfield Counties, on the south by Decatur Township and on the west by Boggs Township.
The Township contains fine coal deposits and many well cultivated farms. The popula- tion, according to the census of 1910, was 4994.
Morris township as laid out by the viewers was perhaps as irregular in conformation as any in the county, and at the same time it was numbered among the larger in superficial area. It extended from a point opposite and west of Philipsburg on the south, to the West Branch on the north, a mean distance of something like thirteen miles, and while it has no parallel sides, its average width was about six or seven miles. This, of course, is an estimate of its area before any of its territory was taken for the formation of other townships. The West Branch River formed the north, and the Mo-
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shannon the east boundary. Having such ex- tensive water boundary, of course Morris town- ship was well cut by smaller streams tributary to the larger ones named above. Among these tributary to the Susquehanna were Big Run, Wilhelm Run, Alder Run, Rolling Stone Run, and Basin Run. Those that discharged their waters into the Moshannon were Crawford Run, Weber Run, Moravian and Little Mora- vian Runs (neither, however, being the stream that is correctly so named), Grass Flat Run, Brown's Run, Big Run, Hawk Run, and Emigh Run. It will be seen that some of these names correspond with names of other streams in other townships, which is due to the fact that many of these names were applied at a more recent date by persons not thoroughly acquaint- ed with the county.
er, Abraham Kyler, John B. Kyler, Henry Lorain, John Merryman, Joseph Morrison, Ja- cob Pierce, William Ricord, Joseph Senser, Frederick Senser, Moses Thompson, Samuel C. Thompson, Samuel Waring. The total amount of the assessment for the year 1837, as shown by the roll made by Mr. Allport, was $14,318.
In the year 1861, nearly twenty-five years after the above enrollment was made, John Rayhorn became the assessor of the township, and as such made a list of the persons residents of the township, who were subject to militia duty, the names being as follows: John Will, George Kehner, Michael Leibatt, Daniel Beams, Joseph Fulmer, Christian Hartle, Robert Ro- senhoover, John Miller. John Weaver, Adam Knobb, John Stipple, William McKee. David
In the year next succeeding that in which . Wagoner, G. L. Clapland, George Steinca- Morris township was erected (1837), James richner. John Wait. Jacob May, John Steer, John Keen, Vincent Flegal, Miles Pelton, W. E. Williams, George Wise, John Troy. Wil- liam Rothrock, David Shimmel. Harry Glea- son, Elwood Dehaven. Reuben Wait, Peter Munce, C. P. Wilder, Leonard Kyler, David Kyler, Zachariah Jones, David Cramer, Jesse Beams, George D. Hess, Daniel Zones, John Hoover. Allport made an enumeration of the taxable inhabitants, the enumeration or assessment roll containing the following names: James All- port, Robert Ardery, Henry Beams. Abraham Brown, John Brown. David Cooper, John Coonrod. William Dillon, George R. Dillon. Joseph Denny. Samuel Davison, David Dale, William Everhart, Martin Flegal. Valentine Flegal, David Flegal. Samuel C. Hall, George It is observed from the foregoing roll that there was a strong element of German settlers that came to the vicinity subsequent to the erection and prior to the year 1861. This lo- cality was, before this growth, largely popu- lated with Germans, or descendants from Ger- man parents. They were, and always have been a thrifty. energetic and progressive class of people, and make admirable citizens. Hoover. Thomas Hancock, Vincent Holt. Nich- olas Heister, John Hoover, William M. Hunter, John W. Irvin, Leonard Kyler, Jacob Wise. William Shimmel. George Shimmel. Sr .. Philip Shimmel. Jacob F. Runk, John Ready. Chris- tian Roubly. John Roubly, John Beams. Jacob Beams, Jonas Bumbarger, Henry Bumbarger, Jacob Gearhart, Valentine Gearhart. David Gearhart. Peter Gearhart, John L. Gearhart, David Gray, Peter Gray, Jeremiah Hoover, Samuel Hoover, Evans Hunter, Reuben Hunt-
Amongst the first settlers of the township was Captain Jacob Wise, who located in the southern part, cleared up a farm, and also car-
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Another of the old citizens of the township was Samuel C. Thompson, who located near to Captain Wise's, and cleared up a fine farm. He raised a large family. Being a man of good education and fine judgment, he was elected justice of the peace, and served in that capacity for fifteen years. His land being un- derlaid with a vein of excellent bituminous coal, he opened up the bed and supplied the home de- mand with coal ; the only coal that could be used for blacksmithing in the whole neighborhood for many years. He was also elected to the office of county commissioner, and filled it with credit to himself and the township. He subsequently sold his farm and timber land and removed to near Hublersburg, Centre county. The land belonging to Captain Wise was sold to D. W. Holt & Co., who opened up the coal, commenced and carried on a very successful business for a number of years. Then they sold to R. B. Wigton & Co., who enlarged and increased the business. Mr. Holt was for- merly a citizen of Bradford township, this county, but as an enterprising lumberman, came to this township and purchased a part of the pine timber known as the Allport timber. After the second year's operation in square timber, he built a large steam saw-mill and en- gaged in the manufacturing of sawed lumber for a few years. He married Miss Catharine Allport. Some time later he purchased the
ried on blacksmithing. The "Captain," as he Captain Wise property, and commenced operat- was always called, was endowed with quite a ing in the coal business, and was the first to ship coal from Morris township. Shortly after he purchased a valuable property in Philipsburg, and extended his coal and lumber operations in different parts of the neighborhood very ex- tensively, being one of the foremost among the enterprising men in this vicinity. military spirit, and figured conspicuously in military gatherings in his day, and many a good joke that came from him was enjoyed by his many friends. He lived to a good old age and his death was much lamented by his many friends and neighbors. He reared a large fam- ily of children.
Another prominent citizen of old Morris township was James Allport, who contributed a great amount to the good of the citizens, and also to the general public. William Hunter, likewise, a very good citizen and kind neighbor, was among the pioneers of Morris township, as were also David Dale, George R. Dillen, and John W. Irvin.
We should also mention John Hoover, Sr .. a worthy and respected citizen, who came to Morris township from Union county at an early day. He raised a large and industrious family, the sons of whom were, or perhaps still are among the people of Cooper township (a part of Morris), which derived its name from David Cooper, one of the first settlers of that part of Morris township known at Cooper Set- tlement, and a stalwart pioneer who crossed the Allegheny Mountains to make his home in Clearfield county.
The sons of John Hoover, Sr., helped to clear up a farm near to the village of Allport, and then passed on northward in Morris town- ship to what is known as Hickory Bottom Set- tlement, where they purchased for themselves land in the woods, and by industry and sobriety. and fair dealing became the owners of excel- lent farms.
Among those who settled in that part of the township known as "Cooper Settlement," was Leonard Kyler, Sr., who, with David Cooper, settled at or near Kylertown, where each of
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them opened for themselves large and produc- tive farms, part of which were later sold off in town lots. Leonard Kyler's family consisted of two sons and three daughters. The sons were John B. and Thomas Kyler, the latter be- ing the founder of the village of Kylertown. John B. Kyler became the son-in-law of David Cooper, and purchased the Cooper farm. He divided a part of it into lots, which form a con- siderable part of the village site. John B. Ky- ler lived on the Cooper homestead, and reared a large family. He survived his wife several years, and died about 1883, much lamented by his many friends, as he was a kind and gener- ous neighbor and a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church.
Another of the old and worthy citizens of Morris township was Abraham Kyler, famil- iarly called "Uncle Abraham." He was uncle of John B. and Thomas Kyler. He located, at an early day, in the southern end of the town- ship. He was for many years a successful farmer, an honest and upright man, and died an earnest member of the Presbyterian Church.
Among the prominent citizens of Kylertown was James Thompson, eldest son of Samuel C. Thompson. His parents came from Centre county to Morris township in 1830. He lived with his father until he arrived at manhood, and while at home received a good common school education. He taught school for a number of years; then worked at the carpen- ter's trade. After that he was employed as clerk by Joseph C. Brenner, at the village of Morrisdale, in this township, where Mr. Bren- ner carried on the mercantile business for a number of years. He also started a branch store at Kylertown, and James Thompson took charge of the store and carried on the bus- iness for a time. Mr. Brenner closed his bus-
iness in Kylertown and moved to Williams- port, where he engaged in the lumber business. From there he removed to Philadelphia, where he went into the notion business, and died in 1886.
E. C. Brenner, the eldest son of Josephi C. Brenner, was a citizen of Kylertown for over twenty years. He removed here to settle the business of his father. He was appointed postmaster at Kylertown during the adminis- tration of Abraham Lincoln, but, being a Re- publican in politics, was removed, and suc- ceeded by Peter Moyer, Democrat, under the administration of Grover Cleveland. E. C. Brenner was one of the best and mnost obliging postmasters that there was in the county; the loss of him as postmaster, and his estimable family, on his removal to Philadelphia, was much regretted. He was elected justice of the peace, and served in that office over two years. He made an upright and impartial officer, and was much respected by the general public.
Another of the old citizens of Morris, now Cooper township, was James Hughes, who lived one half inile east of Kylertown. He came to this vicinity in 1841 or '42, and mar- ried a daughter of David Cooper, rearing a family of four children. After his wife died he married Mrs. Sarah J. Hall, a widow of Lancaster county, Pa., who, as well as her hus- band, had a family of children. Mr. Hughes was one of the early settlers who helped the old and noted surveyor, Joseph Quay, in sur- veying this and adjoining townships.
In the year 1843, Frederick Neabel, a prom- inent German, came to the Cooper Settlement, bought land and commenced clearing up a farm, lumbering in the winter. He made the first timber road to the Susquehanna River, at a point known as the Big Basin, to which place
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY
he hauled his square timber to be rafted and run to market. He lived and died a prominent member of the Catholic Church, and was great- ly lamented by a large circle of friends.
Jacob Raymond, Sr., was an old pioneer of the German settlement, who came here in 1844, bought land and settled near the Cath- olic Church, of which he was a member. He raised a large family of sons and daughters.
Amongst the other old settlers of the Ger- man Settlement may be mentioned the names of Joseph and Michael Steindechner, Michael Rader, Christian Hartle, and Robert Rasen- hoover.
In 1839 there were but four school-houses in Morris-one in the southern end, which was built on the farm of Abraham Kyler, and was used for a church as well as for school pur- poses ; one at Old Morrisdale, now known as Allport ; one on the farm of John Brown, also occasionally used for church or religious meet- ings ; one in the German Settlement, known at that time as Cooper Settlement. These houses were built before the common school system came into operation, and could be used in com- mon for school and religious purposes also. As the township became more thickly settled, and when the free school system became adopt- ed it became necessary to have more school- houses and at the present time the educational interests of the township are well cared for.
PENN TOWNSHIP
This township was erected by a decree of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Clearfield County, dated February 4th, 1834. It is bounded on the north by part of Brady Town- ship and by Bloom Township, on the east by Pike Township, on the south by Ferguson and
Greenwood townships and on the west by Greenwood and Bell Townships.
This township has many fine farms well cultivated and also valuable coal deposits. The population of the township, according to the census of 1910, was 936.
The township contains some very high lands, especially in the northern and western part, where the summits rise in places to an altitude of two thousand feet above tide-water. From the river front, on the south, back for a short distance, there is considerable level land, but with a gradual inclination upward as a north or northwest direction is pursued. The town- ship is well watered, although not possessed of any streams of note except where the Sus- quehanna River skirts its south boundary. The creeks tributary to the river that have their course through the township are Curry's Run. in the extreme west part; Poplar Run, having its course about two miles east from Curry's Run; Bell's Run, which practically intersects the township, and runs a generally south course just west of the center; Little Ander- son Creek, the course of which is opposite to that of the other streams, running a north and east direction, and is tributary to the greater Anderson Creek, into which its waters are dis- charged in Pike township on the east. Be- sides these, there are other and smaller runs and rivulets incident to a mountainous district.
At an early day, and less than ten years after the erection of the county, the lands along the river were nearly all taken up and occupied, so that subsequent pioneers turned to the most available of the hill, or ridge lands, whereon to erect their habitations and make their farms. In this locality, as elsewhere, there was but little to attract the notice of settlers, as the en- tire region was densely wooded, and every
The Reservoir, Clearfield
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Township High School, Karthaus
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Market Street, Clearfield
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Karthaus Fire Brick Plant, Karthaus
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effort at improvement or cultivation was at- tended with great labor and considerable ex- pense, and ready cash was an exceedingly scarce article at that time.
The locality known as the "Grampian Hills," was one of the first settled of the upland dis- tricts of the county. It may be said to have been divided, so far as settlement was con- cerned, into two localities, the one toward the river, on the lower lands, near the base of the "Hill," and that more remote from, and back of the bottom lands, or the "Hills" proper. The lowlands were occupied by the Bells, the Fergusons, and the Fentons, and was subse- quently taken up by John Bennett, Nun Eng- land, William Hepburn, Joseph Spencer, Fran- cis Severns, and Samuel Cochran. From 1805 to 1808, a large tract here was claimed by Charles Smith, but his claim was without foun- dation, and therefore unsuccessful.
The Bennett improvement was divided among his heirs. The England lands passed to the ownership of other parties, and most of his family left the county many years ago. Job and George England (sons of Nun), left and went to Ohio; Isaac moved to Morris town- ship. William Hepburn, of Scotch descent, was a man possessed of many peculiarities, and yet, withal, a good citizen. He died leaving a fam- ily, John and Samuel C., sons, and Catharine, who married James Thompson, being his chil- dren.
In the year 1808, Joseph Spencer came with his family, and took up lands that had been purchased from Benjamin Fenton, some four hundred and more acres in extent. He divid- ed his farming and wood lands into four parts, of one hundred acres each, and gave one to each of three sons, retaining one tract for his own use. Joseph Spencer, the pioneer, was of
the Society of Friends, and a man highly re- spected in the county. His descendants are numerous in the county.
Francis Severns and Samuel Cochran were descendants of African blood. The latter, Cochran, is described as being a light mulatto. His mother, as well as himself, were said to have been born in slavery. Several times Sam- uel escaped from bondage. Once he was cap- tured, and on the other occasions he volunta- rily returned to captivity, but eventually pur- chased his freedom and came north. Early in the present century he came to Clearfield from Lycoming county, and settled, about the year 1804, on the south side of the river. Later he took up some three hundred acres of land in one of the best localities on the Grampian Hills. He cleared over one hundred acres, built a substantial log house, and a large, double log barn. He kept a number of horses and a large quantity of other live stock, and became one of the most thrifty and successful farmers on the "hills." His house was the popular re- sort for teamsters on the old Kittanning turn- pike. Cochran raised a family of several sons and was anxious that they receive a good edu- cation, such that he had not, nor was allowed to acquire during the days of his youth, and in the bonds of slavery.
The name of "Grampian Hills" as applied to the locality heretofore mentioned, was not given until the time of the settlement here by Dr. Samuel Coleman, a person of supposed noble birth, who was of Scottish parentage, but who came to this county from the eastern part of the State in the year 1809. From a strik- ing resemblance the locality bore to the Gram- pian Hills of Bonnie Scotland, the doctor gave it this name in honor of his native coun- try and home.
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The lands, or a very large body of them, in river about four miles. Mr. Moore and his the townships now included by Bell Pike, and sons Jeremiah, Andrew, and James, built a saw- and grist-mill at an early day. James, Jr., was for a time, agent for the Fox and Rob- erts land, so called, an exceedingly large tract owned by a wealthy Philadelphia family.
Penn, were surveyed in the name of Hopkins, Griffith, and Boone, and were afterward known as the Nicklin and Griffith lands. This com- pany gave to Dr. Coleman a tract of about three hundred acres as an inducement for him to settle thereon, which he accepted. In the year 1809, he commenced clearing, having the assistance of three men, one named Gibson, and one slave (colored), named Otto. They encamped for a time in an open shed, thatched with brush, and slept on pieces of chestnut bark in lieu of beds, and until better quarters could be constructed.
Early in the summer of 1809, Joseph Boone and his family reached the home of Esquire McClure, having come up the West Branch from Williamsport by boat. The party pro- ceeded to Coleman's camp in wagons, upon which they slept on the night of their arrival. The next day a cabin was built of logs, and roofed with bark from the trees in the vicinity. Boone was a man of education and worth ; a zealous Catholic, and devoted to his church. He commenced the erection of a grist-mill on Bell's Creek, but through some cause the enter- prise was abandoned. He afterward was chosen prothonotary and recorder of the coun- ty, and held other positions of public trust, all of which he most satisfactorily filled. He lived for several years at Clearfield town.
James Moore, formerly a resident of Half Moon township, Centre county, came with his family to the "Hills" in the year 1810, and lo- cated on the site of the village of Pennville, and near which passed the Glen Hope, and Lit- tle Bald Eagle, and also the Punxsutawney turnpikes. This place was distant from the
The Moores were a prominent family in the affairs of the locality, always having at heart the interests of all who were around them. They were members of the Society of Friends, and actively participated in the welfare and progress of that society, show's strongly of the efforts of this family, as well as the other res- ident members of that society. Prior to the settlement of the Moore family there had been no regular religious services held in the vi- cinity, although, as early as 1806, Rev. Daniel Stansbury came and preached occasionally in the neighborhood. Rev. Stansbury was a tailor by trade, and his coming was a welcome one on that account, as he could clothe the outer man and provide for his bodily comfort as well as for his spiritual welfare. Rev. Linn, of Bellefonte, came to the vicinity and delivered an occasional sermon, but his visits were not frequent. In the year 1822 regular services were begun, and a log edifice was built on Es- quire McClure's land. After years of occu- pancy the old building was abandoned, and a more commodious one was built at Curwens- ville, in Pike township.
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