HISTORY: Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, PA, Roland D. Swoope, 1911, Chapter 23 - Townships - G 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 REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 275 Gulich Township This township enjoys the distinction of having 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 section 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 dividing line between Blair and Clearfield counties, on the south by part of the dividing line between 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 height 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 transporting 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 supplies, 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 before-mentioned; the Glasgows, who were first known by Mr. John Glasgow moving in about 1840; the Cresswells, headed by John Cresswell; John Nevling, John Hannah (about 1854); Joseph Fry and family; David and Henry Alleman; Harry Hummell, from Dauphin county; the Rameys, the Flynns, the Coonrods, the Ganoes, the Kingstons, the McKiernans, the Davises, the Stevenses and others. Janesville, the first town in Gulich township, was named from Jane Nevling, who afterward became the wife of Dr. Caldwell, of Glen Hope. When the postoffice was established 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- HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY 276 field county. Around this place grew up the settlement of Allemansville, where a postoffice was established in 1868, with Henry Alleman as postmaster. A Methodist church was built in 1871 and a schoolhouse erected. Mr. Alleman was for a number of years treasurer of the township. Ramey, in the northern part of the township, 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 township was legally erected, but it is believed to have been about the month of September, 1832, because at the term of court held in September, 1832, it appears to have been recognized 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 Covington 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 mountainous. 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 Livergood commenced a farm near the mouth of Surveyor's Run, which stream was named from the fact that a party of surveyors encamped 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 Huntingdon 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 Girard, 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 combination 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 Hugueny. 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 AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 277 and Dodge, who were extensive lumbermen, both here in the township and elsewhere. The 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 hamlet of Lecontes Mills owes its origin to the efforts 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 Augustus 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 Covington 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 farming. The population, according to the census of 1910, was 664. Graham township was named after John B. Graham, who came to the county with his parents in 1822, but who did not become a resident 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 Clearfield, 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 political offense and was imprisoned at Fort Mifflin, but was subsequently released. He died in 1868. Conrad W. Kyler, who came here in 1843, 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 Kepples, the Smeals, and the Flegels; while among the taxable inhabitants in 1857 (the year following that in which the township was erected) were B. F. Ackley, M. D., Moses Boggs, William Burlingame, William Bennett, William Bagley, William Burge, John Cook, William Cole, M. & S. Catherman, David Chollar, Henry Colegrove, David Crowell, Israel Crowell, Basil Crowell, Patrick Curley, James Curley, Benjamin Chance, Frederick Conklin, Francis Colegrove, Samuel Davidson, Thomas Duncason, John Dixon, Robert Elder, William English, Thomas H. Forcey, Martin French, Francis Graham, Ira Green, William R. Green, Amos Hubler, HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY 278 George Hoover, Jacob Hoover, John Holt, Michael Fink, Jacob Hubler, Simon Hauckenbury, Joseph Ishman, John H. Irvin, Edmund Jones, Henry Kyler, Conrad W. And Isaac Kyler, Peter Keppler, John M. Katon, Samuel Lonsbury, Benjamin and Abraham Lonsbury, Re. J. M. Mason, Mark McGuire, Gerge Moyer, John Martin, Jacob Mack, George Nearhood, Henry Nearhood, William Phenix, Christian Pace, Jonas Powel, Harrison 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 Ummerman, 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 Clearfield 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 most engaged 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 Sinnamahoning, 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 having been formerly owned by William Leonard, father of Abraham Leonard. The latter about 1835 made an improvement on the location 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 family 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, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 279 William L. Shaw, Daniel Lewis, William L. Rishel, Merrick Housler, Horatio Hall, Henry Lewis, William Housler, Nathaniel Brittain, Thompson Read, James A. Read, John Jenton, 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 taxables 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 borough. Ellis Irwin, a former merchant of Clearfield, 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 erection 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 managed in connection with his other extensive business interests. The Lick Run Mills postoffice was established in 1872 and Mr. Irwin appointed postmaster. This office took the place of the previous one at Shawsville, further down the river, which was thereafter discontinued. 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 1886 the 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 decree 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 township, and on 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 township at the time of its formation were as follows: 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, HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY 280 Samuel Hullihan, James Frampton, G. M. Passmore, John Cunningham, William D. Beck, Thompson McLaughlin, G. D. McCracken, Thomas Thompson, C. A. Rorabaugh, H. D. Rowles, Frank Sawyer, A. T. Goldthread, John Robbins, William T. Thorpe, Charles Thorpe, David Mitchell, A. B. Tate, David McCracken, R. C. McCracken, William Tunblin, John W. Haslet, James K. Henry, Immanuel Hoover. From Ferguson township: Hon. John P. 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, John L. Johnson, David Johnson, Matthew W. Johnson, Wesley Horn, James Newcomer, Patrick Rafferty, Aaron Newcomer, 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: Justices of the peace, Isaac Kester and John W. Bell; constable, Aaron H. Newcomer; assessor, David Bell; supervisors, G. D. McCracken and Conrad Hullihan; overseers, George M. Passmore and Joseph Newcomer; auditors, Frampton Bell, three years, Z. L. Hoover, two years, Nelson Young, one year; school directors, T. J. Thompson and John 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, Wilson McCracken; judge of election, David Lee. The Susquehanna River crosses Greenwood township in a general course from southwest to northeast, but its course is exceedingly tortuous 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 mentionable size. The country generally throughout the township is very hilly and mountainous, but along the valley of the river is much productive farming land. Among the first families to settle in this locality was that of Greenwood Bell, a son of Squire Bell, who was one of the very first settlers of the county. In honor of Squire Bell and his son, Greenwood, Bell township was so named. The son, Greenwood, in the erection of this township, comes before the court and public for still further honor, in the formation of this township, it being named in his honor. Mr. Bell lived on the river near the location of Belleville, one of the small towns of the township. Here he cleared a farm and built a saw and grist-mill, they being among the first industries in this part of the county. The descendants of Arthur Bell are numerous in this section, and are recognized as being among the substantial men of the county. Greenwood Bell married Elizabeth Roll, by whom he had ten children: Arthur, Mary, Delilah, John, William, David, Julia Ann, Harvey, Grier, and Frampton. He was a man highly respected in the county, and took an active part in every enterprise of public welfare. In 1820-1 he held the office of county commissioner. In 1822 he was appointed sheriff of the county, being the first incumbent of the office. He was again chosen in 1823, and served until 1826. The pioneer worker of Greenwood township, he who took the burden of the labor in AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 281 its erection, was Dr. John P. Hoyt. In the year 1846, then having had a residence in the county of nearly thirty years, Dr. Hoyt moved to a place on the Susquehanna River, about three miles above Lumber City, and in the extreme eastern part of the territory that, in 1875, was erected into Greenwood township. Here he lived, and here he died at an advanced age, surrounded by family and friends, and in the enjoyment of the comforts earned by a life of toil and perseverance. Dr. Hoyt was married, in 1820, to Mary, daughter of Thomas McClure, a pioneer of Pike township, From 1852 until 1857, Dr. Hoyt acted with Richard Shaw, as associate judges of Clearfield county. Another of the pioneers of this locality was William Haslet, who came here with his family, from what is now Clinton county, in the year 1828. He settled on lands later owned by William McCracken, the first farm west from the hamlet of Bower. He was a substantial resident of Greenwood, or the territory that was formed into that township, for twenty-five years. He died in the year 1853. The McClures were represented in pioneer days in this vicinity. "Squire" Thomas McClure first came to the county in the year 1799, from Cumberland county, but did not bring his family until the succeeding year. The McCrackens, who are to be numbered among the pioneers of the county, came to the then unsettled river country about the beginning of the present century, soon after the advent of 'Squire Arthur Bell, to whom they were related. The pioneer of the McCracken family was James. He is remembered as having been a man of great physical strength and activity, a trait that was transmitted to his sons, and of which they made frequent use in all athletic sports. James, Thomas and John McCracken were sons of the pioneer James. The descendants of this family are numbered among the substantial residents of Greenwood township. Among the many familiar names of pioneer families, whose descendants now help to make the population of the township, are to be found some representing various localities or sections of the river country. There are Thompsons, Johnsons, Young, Passmore, Kester, Hullihan, McLaughlin, Rowles, Robbins, Thorpe, Mitchell, Tate, Henry, Hoover, Ross, Wiley, Smith, Newcomer, Curry, Kester, and perhaps others whose names have been lost.