HISTORY: Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, PA, Roland D. Swoope, 1911, Chapter 4 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja and Claire White Copyright 2004. 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 IV. THE EARLY SETTLERS. HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 27 Character of Clearfield County's Early Population - Former Political Divisions - The First White Settler - The Leading Pioneers of the County and the Credit Due Them. The future character of the population of a country is largely dependent upon the type of men and women who were the first to locate in it, and the people of Clearfield County are fortunate in the fact that those who originally settled here; who cut out roads through its forests, cleared its first farms and made themselves homes, were of that strong and sturdy stock that produces men able to cope with great difficulties and overcome them. These were the kind of men who were the early pioneers in opening up the territory now Clearfield County and battling with the forces of nature. Prior to the year 1804, what is now the great and rich County of Clearfield was a part of Lycoming and Huntington Counties. These counties were divided by the West Branch of the Susquehanna, those living on its Northern or Western bank being located in Lycoming county, while those who settled on its Southern or Eastern bank became citizens of Huntingdon county. It has long been a disputed question as to who was the first resident in the territory now comprising Clearfield County. Undoubtedly the first white settler was a man known as Captain Edward Rickerts, mentioned in the journal of James Harris, who surveyed along Clearfield Creek in the autumn of 1784. But it is argued that Captain Rickerts did not remain long enough in this section of the country to be counted as a resident. So it is generally conceded that James Woodside, who settled in the vicinity now known as Brady township in 1785, was the first white resident of what is now Clearfield county. A monument to his memory was erected in Luthersburg cemetery in 1886, and a year previous the centennial of his birth was celebrated in the town of Luthersburg. Some old residents of the central part of the county still insist that Daniel Ogden, who settled on the site of the present town of Clearfield in 1797, has a right to this honor. However, it is entirely possible that Mr. Woodside lived on the western side of the great forests for many years, without ever coming in contact with Mr. Ogden. This theory peacefully settles the discussion and so we shall adopt it here. The next pioneer to come "up the river" was Arthur Bell, who arrived soon after Daniel Ogden. He settled in the locality now known as Bell township. His son, Grier, is said to have been the first white child born in this county. Next came Casper Hockenberry 28 HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY and James McCracken, who were related by marriage to Arthur Bell, and settled near him. In 1799 Thomas McClure, better known as "Squire" McClure, came to this vicinity from Cumberland. About this time a widow by the name of Lewis, but called "Granny Leathers" came to Clearfield and started a distillery. When the War of 1812 broke out, Granny disappeared, but her son, David, remained. He, with several other men, made a good living by holding up and robbing the wagons of Bellefonte merchants. Finally they were captured by several Center county citizens, and David was shot, and died. Settlement became more rapid after 1800, and we shall not attempt to make more than a mention of the numerous families who came to this section of the country from 1800 until the year Clearfield county was organized. Longer accounts of some of these men may be found in the histories 0f the various townships and boroughs. Martin Hoover, who came from York county, settled in 1801, in what afterwards became Lawrence township, and Alexander Read, (who became the first postmaster in the county) settled in the vicinity the following year. Frederick Hennich, or Haney, built a home near Hoover about this time, and in 1803 Abraham Hess came from York county and located on Clearfield creek. Paul Clover, the first resident on the site of Curwensville made a settlement in 1801 at the junction of Anderson creek and the Susquehanna river. Robert Askey settled just below this place at about the same time. David Litz made a clearing at the place afterwards known as Litz's bridge. He is said to have floated the first log raft down the river. Joseph Leonard occupied the cabin built by Captain Rickerts on Clearfield creek. Abraham Leonard settled on the Showshoe and Packersville turnpike in 1801. John Owens and Robert Graham settled on the opposite side of the creek about this time. Abraham Passmore, Henry Irwin, Thomas Mapes and Daniel Turner located along the river in 1802. Settlements were being made farther east at the same time; in 1801 Jacob Wise, Robert Anderson and a man named Potter made homes along Moshannon Creek. In 1802 John Kline settled near Montgomery creek, and Hugh Frazier built a cabin on Wolf Run. John Carothers built a house a few miles farther down the river the same year. William Bloom made a clearing along the Susquehanna in 1801 on the land now called the Irvin Farm. A few years ago Colonel E. A. Irvin of Curwensville had the site of this settlement marked by a sign bearing a suitable inscription. Others who settled along the river about this time were Robert Creswell, Benjamin Jordon, George and John Welch, John Ferguson, Peter Young, Samuel Ewing, Nicholas Straw, Samuel Fulton (the first prothonotary) and Leonard Kyler, for whose family Kylertown is named. After the organization of Clearfield county in 1804, the population of this territory increased rapidly. Of the many who came then, we mention the following: Thomas Forcey, Joseph Patterson (a maker of spinning-wheels), John Moore, William Tate, Robert Maxwell, William Kersey, James and Samuel Ardery, Benjamin Hartshorn (who built the first tannery in this county), John Bennett, Nun England, William Hepburn, Joseph Spencer, Francis Stephens, Samuel Cochran (an escaped slave), James Gallagher, Hugh Carson, James Moore AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS 29 (at whose home the first public religious services were held), the Johnson's, David Wall, Caleb Davis, Gideon Widemire, Jonathan Wain, Dr. Coleman (who named our Grampian Hills), Joseph Boone, Abraham Goos, Nicholas and Henry Kephart, Valentine and David Flegal, Absalom Pierce, John Gearhart, Benjamin and Nicholas Smeal, James Rhea, James McNeil, the McKees, Dunlaps, Cathcarts, Ames, Feltwells, Thompson, Currys, Williamses and Swans; Robert Collins, Jacob Spencer, William Alexander, Robert and Samuel Hagerty, Ignatius Thompson, Moses Norris, John Rowles, Archibald and Robert Shaw, David Hanna, the Smileys, Dillons and Goons. From this time on, the country opened up by these courageous and industrious pioneers became more thickly populated year by year. Large and productive farms were made, good roads built, towns and villages sprang up, until today it is hard for us to realize that all this country was once a vast forest. It is harder still for us with our latter day comforts and luxuries to understand the privations and hardships which these first citizens endured. But as we read these names, which have come to stand for so much in our country, state and nation, we are moved to a deeper respect and appreciation of these men who made our country, our prosperity - and even ourselves, possible!