HISTORY: Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, PA, Roland D. Swoope, 1911, Chapter 23 - Townships - P 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 HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY 302 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 Township 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 township is well watered, although not possessed of any streams of note except where the Susquehanna 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 Anderson 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 discharged in Pike township on the east. Besides 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 entire region was densely wooded, and every AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 305 effort at improvement or cultivation was attended with great labor and considerable expense, 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 districts of the county. It may be said to have been divided, so far as settlement was concerned, 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 subsequently taken up by John Bennett, Nun England, William Hepburn, Joseph Spencer, Francis Severns, and Samuel Cochran. From 1805 to 1808, a large tract here was claimed by Charles Smith, but his claim was without foundation, 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 township. William Hepburn, of Scotch descent, was a man possessed of many peculiarities, and yet, withal, a good citizen. He died leaving a family, John and Samuel C., sons, and Catharine, who married James Thompson, being his children. 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 divided 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 respected in the county. His descendants are numerous in the county. Francis Severns and Samuel Cochran were descendants of African blood. The later, Cochran, is described as being a light mulatto. His mother, as well as himself, were said to have been born in slavery. Several times Samuel escaped from bondage. Once he was captured, and on the other occasions he voluntarily returned to captivity, but eventually purchased 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 resort for teamsters on the old Kittanning turnpike. Cochran raised a family of several sons and was anxious that they receive a good education, 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 striking resemblance the locality bore to the Grampian Hills of Bonnie Scotland, the doctor gave it this name in honor of his native country and home. HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY 306 The lands, or a very large body of them, in the townships now included by Bell, Pike, and Penn, were surveyed in the name of Hopkins, Griffith, and Boone, and were afterward known as the Nicklin and Griffith lands. This company 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 proceeded 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 enterprise was abandoned. He afterward was chosen prothonotary and recorder of the county, 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 located on the site of the village of Pennville, and near which passed the Glen Hope, and Little Bald Eagle, and also the Punxsutawney turnpikes. This place was distant from the river about four miles. Mr. Moore and his 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 Roberts land, so called, an exceedingly large tract owned by a wealthy Philadelphia family. 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, shows strongly of the efforts of this family, as well as the other resident members of that society. Prior to the settlement of the Moore family there had been no regular religious services held in the vicinity, 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 Esquire McClure's land. After years of occupancy the old building was abandoned, and a more commodious one was built at Curwensville, in Pike township. Among the others of the old settlers of Penn township, and who came in about or soon after the year 1810, were the families of Samuel Johnson, David Wall, Caleb Davis, Gideon Widmire, Jonathan Wall, Joseph Giddings, Jonathan Taylor, David Allen and others from time to time, down to the erection of the township, in the year 1835, and later. Pike Township This township was erected by a decree of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Centre County, to which Clearfield County was then attached for judicial purposes, dated November Sessions 1813, and was named in honor of General Zebulon Pike, an officer in the United States Army, during the War of 1812. The township is bounded on the north by Pine Township, on the east by Lawrence township, on the south by Knox Township and west by Bloom, Penn and Ferguson Townships. The township contains many fine and well cultivated farms, also many fine coal and fire clay deposits, which are now being operated on an extensive scale. The population, according to the census of 1910, was 1671. The land of Pike township is mostly of a mountainous character, interspersed with narrow valleys and rolling plateaus, varying in elevation from eleven hundred to fifteen hundred feet above the sea level, and presenting many beautiful scenic effects. On the high table lands, and along the river valley, are located some of the most productive farms in the county, and despite the extensive lumbering operations of the past many fine bodies of timber still exist. Paul Clover was probably the first settler in the township, having arrived in 1797, and built a house and blacksmith shop where the "corner store," in Curwensville, now stands. Thomas McClure, William McNaul, Elisha Fenton, the Blooms, Spencers, Moores, John Smith, Robert Ross, Samuel Caldwell, William Dunlap, the Hartshorns, Robert Maxwell, Dr. J. P. Hoyt, James McCracken, the Rolls, Hugh Hall, John and William Irvin, Arthur Bell, John Patton, Sr., and Daniel Barrett, were among the early pioneers. Dr. J. P. Hoyt came to Clearfield county from Halfmoon Valley, in Centre county, about the year 1814, and located at Curwensville. Here he remained for some years, and then removed to a property near Lumber City. He was a man of strict integrity, and by a long life of industry and excellent business abilities accumulated considerable property, which he lived many years to enjoy, dying at the ripe age of ninety-one years. John Patton, Sr., was born in Philadelphia, in 1783; moved to Curwensville in 1828; he served as associate judge of the county for five years; was justice of the peace for a number of years, and died in 1848, aged sixty-five years. Jason Kirk, Sr., came to Clearfield county about 1812; settled in what is now Penn township, at that time in Pike, and was one of the most respected citizens, living to an old age, and leaving a large family. Samuel Caldwell was one of the first settlers, arriving about 1804. He was an influential citizen, and left a considerable family. John W. McNaul and his wife, Sarah, nee Ferguson, emigrated from the northern part of Ireland to this country in about 1793. Mr. McNaul was a Scotchman. On landing in this country they resided, for a short time, in Chester county, thence removing to Lock Haven, and later living in Nittany Valley. Of their eight children, Margaret, James, John and Ann were born in Ireland, William, Alexander, Zachariah, and Mary, were born in this country. WilliamMcNaul was a tanner, and first started business on his own account in Halfmoon, Centre county, where he married Hannah Way. In the fall of 1813, he, in compa- HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY 308 ny with Dr. John P. Hoyt (then a young physician practicing in Halfmoon), started on horseback, one snowy morning, to cross the mountains and see the famous new town of Curwensville, recently laid out by John F. Curwen. Early in the following spring William McNaul, with his family, moved to Curwensville, occupying a log house located on the lot where the residence of Mrs. Martha Thompson now is. He soon proceeded to erect a house on the site of the present McNaul residence. He also built the tannery adjoining. His children were: Robert, Zachariah, Jane, Urbane, Lydia, John and Mary. The McNauls belong to the Society of Friends, and are most highly respected both at home and abroad. The Hartshorn family is one of the oldest, and is widely connected, and as a class are model, respectable citizens. Benjamin Hartshorn, Sr., was born in 1765. He married Isabella McClure, and they emigrated from Maryland to Centre county in the year 1796. In 1806 he moved his family to Clearfield county, living on the land now known as the Jonathan Hartshorn farm. This was then nothing but woods, and the family endured untold hardships before a home could be provided. The children were: Margaret, Anna, Jonathan, William, Benjamin, Nancy, Eliza and Mary Ann, all of whom married, and whose families reside in or near Curwensville. About the year 1750 the family of Spencers emigrated from England to America. In 1808 Joseph Spencer, Sr., moved from Northumberland county to Clearfield county. His family consisted of three sons - Samuel, Joseph, and Jesse - and three daughters. From Benjamin Fenton he purchased four hundred and forty acres of land, which was in its primitive state, excepting two acres which was cleared, and had a small log house upon it. The tract was situated between the present site of the village of Pennville and Susquehanna River, about one mile south of Pennville. This was divided into four farms, the father retaining one and setting apart a farm of corresponding size for each of his three sons. Most of the family were and are consistent members of the Society of Friends, and are eminently respectable and prosperous citizens. The Blooms, as a class, are worthy citizens; almost all farmers, and are the largest or one of the largest families in Clearfield county. William Bloom, Sr., was born in Germany, in 1752 and emigrated to this country at an uncertain time, reaching Clearfield county in 1801. Previous to this he had been in the State of New Jersey, also in Centre county, Pa. During the Revolutionary War he served for some time in the ranks. In 1778 he married Mary Metter, who was born in 1754. The pioneer Bloom came to Clearfield county alone, and settled one mile up the river from Curwensville. Pike township is the stronghold of the Blooms. Probably two-thirds of the family are located here. Andrew Moore, Sr., emigrated to America from Ireland in 1688, and settled in Chester county, Pa. James, the second son of Andrew Moore, Jr., was born January 8, 1760, at Sadsbury, Chester county. He married in 1785, Lydia, daughter of Abram and Anna Sharpless. In 1795, they moved to Halfmoon, Centre county, and in 1810, James, with his son Jeremiah and daughter Lydia, started on foot across the mountains, and in due time arrived at the site of Pennville, in Penn township, Clearfield county. He purchased three hundred and seventy- five acres of land; built a cabin, and commenced clearing; the rest of the AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 309 family following. He was a consistent member of the Society of Friends, and trained up his family in that religious faith. In 1809 Dr. Samuel Coleman settled on a tract of three hundred acres north of the site of Pennville. Dr. Coleman was a Scotchman, and had no family. He gave the name of "Grampian Hills" to his place, remarking that it reminded him of the renowned hills of the same name in Scotland. He held office about the time of the organization of the county, being clerk to the county commissioners. His grave is on the farm of Colonel Miller, of Penn township. At the last meeting of the "County Medical Association" a committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions toward erecting a monument to the memory of the pioneer physician of Clearfield county. The first assessment of the township was made in 1814, and contains the following names: Robert Askey, David Allen, George Brown, Alex. Caldwell, Sam'l Cochran, Jesse Cookson, Wm. Bloom, Jr., Joseph Bloom, Caleb Bailey, Benj. Bloom, John Brink, Wm. Bloom, Peter Bloom, John Bloom, Isaac Bloom, John Bell, Arthur Bell, John Bennett, Benj. Carson, Dr. Samuel Coleman, Amos Davis, Wm. Dunlap, Nimrod Derich, David Dunlap, Caleb Davis, Jonathan Evans, Peter Everhart, Joseph Edding, John Fullerton, David Ferguson, John Ferguson, Jonah Griffith, John Haughenberry, Hugh Hall, Benj. Hartsborn, Wm. Hepburn, James Hayes, Saml. Johnson, Mark Miller Jordon, John Kyler, Jason Kirk, John Kirk, David Liggit, Elijah Meredith, Sam'l Miller, Robert Maxwell, Jos. McCracken, Robert McGee, Robert McCracken, John McCracken, Thomas McClure, Thos. McCracken, James McCracken, Daniel McCracken, James Moore, Job Ogden, Job Parker, Merchant; Abraham Passmore, James Reed, Alexander Reed, Jr., Alex. B. Reed, Wm. Reed, John Rolls, blacksmith; Geo. Shaffer, Geo. Shaffer, Jr., Wm. Smith, Nicholas Shaw, John Stuggart, Philip Stuggart, Joseph Spencer, Joseph Spencer, Jr., Sam'l Spencer, Francis Severas, Wm. Tate, James Woodside, David Walls, John Wrigley, merchant; Geo. Williams, weaver; Gideon Widemire, Geo. Welsh, Jacob Wilson. Town lots in Curwensville were assessed at $12.50; cows, $10; horses, $30; unimproved land, and timber at $1 per acre; farm land at $2 to $3 per acre. The early settlers experienced many trials and privation. The roads were but little more than trails through the woods. Indians frequently visited the locality and usually encamped on the bank of the river. An Indian burial-place was located at the mouth of Anderson Creek, and before the floods had made inroads on the lands, stone arrow-heads, and tomahawks were occasionally found. In 1819 Mathew Caldwell cut out the first road from Curwensville to Bloomington. The principal towns are Bloomington and Olanta. (For Curwensville borough see succeeding chapter). Pine Township This township was erected by an act of the Legislature approved the 10th day of April 1873. It has practically no inhabitants and no separate township organization, but for the purpose of taxation, is annexed as a part of Lawrence Township. The township is bounded on the north by Huston Township, on the east by Lawrence Township, on the south by Pike Township and on the west by Union Township. It consists mostly of a vast wilderness. HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY 310 The population of the township, according to the census of 1910 was 32.