HISTORY: Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, PA, Roland D. Swoope, 1911, Chapter 23 - Townships - C Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja and Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other chapters: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm ________________________________________________ TWENTIETH CENTURY HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS BY ROLAND D. SWOOPE, JR. PUBLISHED BY RICHMOND-ARNOLD PUBLISHING CO. F. J. Richmond, President C. R. Arnold, Secretary and Treasurer CHICAGO, ILL. CHAPTER XXIII THE TOWNSHIPS AND REPRESENTATICE CITIZENS 267 Chest Township This township was erected by a decree of court dated October 16th, 1826. It is situated in the southwestern part of the County and is bounded on the north by parts of Greenwood and Bell Townships, on the east by Ferguson and Jordan Townships and part of Beccaria Township, on the south by part of the dividing line between Cambria and Clearfield Counties and on the west by Burnside Township. It is one of the oldest townships in the County. The principal occupation of the inhabitants at the present time is farming. The population of the township, according to the census of 1910 was 872. Among the early settlers of this township were Daniel Snider and Lewis Snider, Jr., and Sebastian and Jacob Snider, John Rorabaugh, Jr., William Ramsay, John Lees, Henry Ross, Jacob P. Lingafelter, John Smith, James McGhee, Cyrus Thurstin, Elias Hurd, George Smith, Gilbert and Thomas Tozier, B. Tozier, David Rorabaugh, William Carson and Salmon T. Tozier, Joseph Michael, Nathaniel N. Sabin and Christopher Rorabaugh. Valuable timber was found by the early settlers, and upon a market being opened, the greater part of it was cut and floated down to market. The settlers in Chest township mainly devoted their attention to farming, the growth of the villages being "slow but sure." The year 1887 saw the advent of the railroad, in the extension of Bell's Gap Railroad from Irvona, in Clearfield county, to Punxatawney, in Jefferson county, by the Clearfield & Jefferson Railroad Company. A branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad now traverses the western part of the township in an almost northerly and southerly direction. From the southern boundary, through the whole length of the township, and to the northwestern corner, flows Chest Creek, which has its source in Cambria county. Situated on this creek were some of the oldest lumber camps in the township. The creek is usually tortuous, and the difficulties attendant upon the floating of rafts on its waters, resulted in the sudren death of many an old time raftsman. Upon the banks of Chest creek, near the northern boundary of the county, a settlement was made in early days which was first called Hurd's Post office, deriving its name from the Hurd family which lived in the vicinity, and where the first dwelling was erected by Henry Hurd. This town was incorporated in 1885 as Newburg borough, and further notice of it may be found in the chapter on Boroughs, which follows the present chapter. In the same HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY 268 chapter may also be found a notice of the other flourishing borough of Westover. Covington Township This township was erected by a decree of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Centre County, to which Clearfield County was at that time attached for judicial purposes, at April Sessions 1817. The Township is situated in the Northeastern part of the County and is bounded on the north by part of the dividing line between the counties of Cambria and Clearfield, east by Karthaus Township, south by Cooper and Graham Townships and west by Girard Township. This township was largely settled by people of French descent, the principal occupation of its people has been agriculture and the township contains some of the finest farms in Clearfield County. Its population, according to the census of 1910 was 649. The surface of Covington township is hilly, broken and irregular. The township is well watered and drained, - on the south by the West Branch and its tributaries, Sandy Creek, Mowry's Run and Rock Run. Sandy is a stream of considerable size and has Bigleman Run as its main tributary, besides a number of smaller ones. Mosquito Run forms the drainage system for the whole northern part of the township, and has been an important factor in the lumbering trade of the upper region. Along the banks of Sandy Run are many fine farms. This stream has also been utilized for water purposes by many saw-mills. In 1817 Covington township had not over 80 inhabitants. The list of its taxable inhabitants in that year shows but seventeen names, and of these two were single freemen. They were as follows: Jonathan Deckion, Frederick Geisenhainer, John Hanson, Jacob Michael, John Peters, Andrew Peters, Hugh Rider, William Russell, John Rider, Frederick Rider, Michael Rider, George Rider, J. F. W. Schnars, John Troutman, Harmon Young, the single freemen being John Neff and Michael Rider. Some of the above mentioned were residents of that part of Covington which was set off to the formation of Karthaus township in 1841. While the earliest settlements in the township were made by the above mentioned persons, no active steps were taken towards improvements, and no material growth in population was accomplished until some twelve or fifteen years later, at which time the French settlements were begun. One John Keating owned an extensive tract of land both in Clearfield and Clinton counties, which he offered for sale. The first persons to locate on this land, as near as can be ascertained, were Nicholas Roussey and Irene Plubel, who took up lands in the year 1830. They were followed in this vicinity by Francis Courdriet, in 1831, and also by Claude F. Renaud in the same year. Coudriet became a prominent person in the township and acquired a large estate. Soon after came many other French settlers, among them Peter Mulson, Hyacinthe Mignot, Francis Hugueney, Stephen Hugueney, Peter Brenool, Augustus Gaulin, John B. Fournier, P. Bergey, Alphonso Leconte, and others. These French immigrants were, of course, unable to speak English, but were accompanied by an agent, Jacon Weiskopf. The central point of settlement was in the neighborhood of Frenchville, by which name the locality has always since been distinguished. Since the date of the French settle- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 269 ment many other immigrants have arrived - French, German and American. Among the early lumber men were Bigler & Powell of Clearfield, Leon M. Coudriet, Augustus and Alphonso Leconte. Francis LaMotte built a saw-mill on the Keating lands on Sandy Creek about 1837, and afterwards erected a grist-mill a short distance further down the creek. As help was scarce at that time, his daughters went to work in the mills, and, it is said, turned out both excellent lumber and flour. The property afterwards passed into the hands of the Coudriets. Francis Coudriet built a grist-mill on Sandy about the year 1864. It was supplied with two run of French burr stones on fine quality. The property was purchased by Leon Coudriet at the time of his father's death. Another saw-mill was built on Sandy by Claude Barmont about 1845 and afterwards became the property of F. F. Coudriet. The Picard mill, one of the pioneer industries of the township, was built on Sandy Creek by John J. Picard, and was subsequently sold to Leon M. Coudriet. The firm of L. M. Coudriet & Co. also had another saw-mill built on Sandy, on tract No. 1891, and above this stood the saw-mill of Liegiey & Beauseigneur. In 1839 Alphonso Leconte built a sawmill on tract 1892, it subsequently becoming the property of Augustus Leconte. Another pioneer industry of the township was the Flood mill, at the mouth of Sandy Creek, which was builtt when lumbering was in its infancy. One Lutz had an early interest in it, but it afterwards passed into the hands of Lawrence Flood. One of the first merchants of Covington was Mr. Alexander, who established a store near Frenchville about 1837. He was succeeded by the Maurers, who were in turn succeeded by Levi Lutz and others. A schoolhouse was established near Frenchville about 1838, and it was followed by others at Mulsonburg, Fairmount, Mignot, Union and other places. The French settlers have always shown a disposition to educate themselves in English, rather than in their mother tongue, though French has been occasionally taught in the parochial school. The Rev. Father Leavey was the first priest in the township and said mass at the house of Irene Plubel. He was followed by other missionary priests, Father Oriack coming in 1841-42. About this time or soon after a log church was erected, which subsequently gave place to a more commodious structure - a substantial stone edifice, a few rods north of the Clearfield and Karthaus road. The Evangelical Lutheran church was built at Keewaydin in 1869, during the pastorate of Rev. Samuel Croft, a substantial parsonage being also built. This was an offshoot from the Lutheran Church Society, whose house of worship was erected on Karthaus Hill. Other interests of the township may be found mentioned under their respective headings in other parts of this volume. Cooper Township This township was erected from Morris township by a decree of the Court of Quarter Sessions, dated the 18th day of January, 1884. The township was named in honor of the Cooper family, who were among the earliest settlers in the locality, Daniel Cooper having located near Kylertown, in 1828. The township is bounded on the north by Karthaus Township and part of the dividing line between Centre and Clearfield Counties, which line also constitutes its western and HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY 270 southern boundaries, it is bounded on the west by parts of Morris and Graham Townships. Valuable deposits of coal have been found in this township and are being operated at the present time. There are also many fine farms in the township. The population according to the census of 1910 was 5713. Cooper is one of the youngest townships in the county and its earlier history therefore belongs to Morris township, from which it was taken. It has had a considerable increase in population, as in the year 1887 it contained but 375 taxables, the increase having been due to the development of its coal and other mineral resources. The village of Kylertown is named from an old and highly respected family that settled in the locality many years ago, substantial representatives of which are still living. The other settlements are West Clymer, Winburne and Peale.