Illustrated souvenir history of Philipsburg, Pennsylvania ..
Philipsburg, Pa. Old home week association. Historical committee. [from old catalog] | Row, S. B., 1828-1904 | Hoffer, C. U. [from old catalog]
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Part III. — Philipsburg illustrated. Printed, Engraved and Published by GRIT PUBLISHING COMPANY WILLIAMSPORT, PENNA. Under the Auspices of the HISTORICAL COMMITTEE OF THE OLD HOME WEEK ASSOCIATION Copyrieht, 1909, by Grit Publishine Co. History of Philipsburg FROM PIONEER DAYS TO PRESENT TIME Names of Founders and First Settlers. Early Indus- tries, including the First Screw Mill in the United States, and first Attempt to Build a Railroad Across the Allegheny Mountain. C Facts about the Organi- zation of the Borough, Schools, Saw Mills, Mines, and other interesting information never before published. By S. B. ROW *CopyriBht, 1909. by Agrnes E. Row Philipsburg in 1813 ■■'. -^ D to ^ 1/1 r Copy of Map Made by Geo. Schultz GUIDE FOR MAP On Preceding Page 1. Schultz's house, first in town, built 1707. 2. Simler's first house, built in 1797. Sold to and occupied by Loraine iu 1813. 3. Ries' house, afterwards moved to No. —. 4. B\' John Weld, and occupied by him. 5. Turner's house. 6. Joseph Earth's house, not finished. 7. Schillo's house, occupied by Clinton's in 1813. 8. Doctor Leopoldt's house. 9. Jacob Meyers' house, occupied by Weis in 1813. 10. Dr. Bergman's house, occupied by Jacob Hoover. 11. Henry and James Philips' house, occupied by Hardman Philips in 1818. 12. Simler's second house, built in 1813. 13. McAuley's house. 14. Klumbach'? house. 15. Weis' cabin. 16. Rigley's house, occupied by his son-in-law, Isaac Goon, in 1813. 17. Rigley's bam. X. Soldiers' Encampment in 1818. EXPLANATORY N the summer of 1898, an "Historical Sketch of Philipsburg," which I had previously prepared from rather scant data for "Notes and Queries," was republished in one of the local newspapers. Since then, from hitherto un- explored sources, much interesting information on the subject generally, but more especially concerning the commencement of the town, has been collected little by little, as the herbalist gathers his simples, and incorporated with the original narrative which, however, forms only about one-fourth of the following history, the greater portion of it being constructed of material never before used in any work relative to this locality. A well-pre- served day-book and ledger of the Philips' stores for the years 1797, 1798 and 1799, kindly furnished by Mr. John D. Gill, have supplied dates, facts and names that were partially or wholly lacking, and have likewise thrown a great deal of light on the manners, customs and occupations of the pioneers as well as on the way in which the work of improvement was carried on. In the chapters on saw-mills, lumber and coal, incidents not occurring in this imme- diate vicinity are referred to because they are essential to a full and correct understanding of matters having a direct bearing on enterprises with which citizens of Philipsburg had been closely identified. It is for this reason that the unfortunate collisions growing out of the in- troduction of log-floating are mentioned, and the recital of circumstances connected with some of the events will give people of the present day a fair conception of the bitter feeling that actuated the contending parties, but which died out years ago and is now nearly for- gotten. A full list of Burgesses and members of the Town Council; from the organization of the Borough until the present time, will be found in the part devoted to that subject. The names of citizens who composed the several Boards of Education, from 1887 till 1903 inclusive, are also given, but it is regretted, for the reason set forth in the article on schools, that a complete list of former Directors could not be procured. It should be kept in mind, too, that what is said about the Coal Industry represents the condition of the business from the start in 1861 to the close of the year 1903, and while some changes have more recently taken place, the writer feels confident that on this, as on every other subject, all essential statements for the period they cover, are correct and reliable. With the assurance that he has confined himself to well-authenticated facts and endeavored to present them in a plain, perspicuous manner, he hopes the intelligent reader will not only be interested in the perusal of the subjoined pages, but will also realize the wonderful transformation this region has undergone in its general appearance during the hundred and odd years which have elapsed since Mr. Henry Philips selected a site for the town still bearing his family name. To my good friends, Christopher C. and Frederick W. A. Schultz, I am indebted for numerous courtesies, especially for the privilege of gleaning from the manuscript of their father, George Schultz, deceased, information and reminiscences that could not have been obtained from any other source. My thanks are also due several other persons for kindly furnishing me some quite useful data. S. B. ROW. Philipsburg, Centre Co., Pa., 1903. History of Philipsburg PART I. Purchase of Lands — Selection of Town Site — Work of Improvement, Etc. N the extreme western border of Center County, where a stream with an aboriginal name forms the line that separates it from that of Clearfield, snugly nestles the town of Philipsburg. It is in a limited sense an old place, for its inception dates back more than a century of time, and some of the leading events in its history are neither ordinary nor un- interesting. In the years 1795-6, Henry Philips a mem- ber of the firm of John Leigh Philips & Brothers, of Manchester, England, purchased on account of his house, from Robert Morris, Chancellor Wharton, Thos. Billington and others, for the sum of $173,000, a large tract of unimproved lands, on the western slope of the Allegheny mountain, covering parts of the present counties of Center, Clearfield and Cambria. The region was then a dense wil- derness, the habitation of bears, wolves, panthers and other wild animals. A few of the Cornplanter tribe of Indians also lingered on their hunting grounds in this vicinity, but being peaceable and inoffensive, readily adapt- ed themselves to the new order of things, and ere many moons had passed away, traded moccasins, raccoon, fox, deer and other skins, for blankets, shawls, handkerchiefs, etc. Their surnames are not given in the account books of the Philips' store, but some of them are designated as "Big John," "Big John's Broth- er," "Little John," "Captain Logan," and one as "Lady Indian." The period of the town's settlement has heretofore been involved in doubt, but the day-book and ledger of 1797, 1798 and 1799, mentioned in the Preface, have entries fixing the time somewhat definitely, and clearing up other matters that were obscure or enig- matical. They contain numerous dates and facts which, grouped and considered together, render it certain that Henry Philips, in the summer of 1796, located at the village of Milesburg, which had been laid out three years previously, and from there directed the initiatory affairs of the great enterprise en- trusted to his management. One of his first acts was to start a skillful surveyor, named Trcziyulney (pronounced Tre-yul-ney), with such assistants as were needed, in search of a suitable location for a town. This work was performed expeditiously, and the site chosen was on a piece of rising ground on the eastern side of the Moshannon, along the banks of which were stretches of meadow where that ingenious rodent, the beaver, built dams and made his home. For his own con- venience, and as a means of promoting the business he had in hand, Mr. As an inducement to settlers, Mr. Philips offered a town lot, together with a four-acre outlet, to each one of the first twelve men who would come hither with the intention of remaining. Those who availed themselves of this offer were Dr. Konrad Bergman, a native of Upper Saxony; Jacob Dimeling, of Wur- temburg; John George Schultz, from Magde- burg, in Lower Saxony; John Henry Simler, of Saxe-Coburg; Jospeh Barth, of Strasburg, celebrated for its great cathedral ; Christian Ries, of Hesse-Cassel ; Jacob Meyer, Eber- hart Klumbach, John Schillo and John Leo- poldt, also from Germany, but from what par- ticular provinces is not known ; James Mc- Cauley from Scotland, and William Leary from Ireland. These men had all braved the dangers of the ocean in emigrating from Europe to Amer- ica, and influenced no doubt by alluring in- ducements, plodded their way into what then was a remote backwood's region, conveying some of their effects on horses and part of them on their own shoulders. After a long and tiresome journey they arrived at their destination, but instead of the sloop masts they had expected to see on a navigable river, they saw only tall pine trees on the banks of a small and crooked stream — in olace of neat and cozy abodes, they found nothing but an unbroken forest in which to seek shelter. Yet in this direct, open contact with nature there was an attractive, exhilarating sensation of freedom never before experienced, and with wild game abundant in the woods and the limpid waters fairly alive with beautiful trout, they had at hand a means of subsistence until ordinary edibles could be obtained. So adapt- ing themselves as best they could to their new environments, they went to work with seem- ingly good will to cut down the giant trees and put up temporary abodes, but eventually tiring of discomforts and deprivations that were unavoidable, they imbibed a feeling of unrest which neither time nor circumstances could allay. History of Philipsburg Among the names in the old ledger appear those of pioneers to whom lots had been donated. Eberhart Klumbach and John Leo- poldt, who probably did carpenter work, pur- chased four planes and a "keyhole saw" on the 20th of April, 1797. James McCauley is charged on the 27th of the same month with 1 lb. coffee, 2 lbs. sugar, and at other times with shad, cheese, 1 shawl, muslin, stockings and 1 quart of whiskey. John Henry Simler is debited on May 7th to shad, coffee, files, etc., and on May 11th Konrad Bergman bought coffee and sugar. John Schillo and Wm. Leary were each charged, on July 5th, with 3 half pints rum. On Sept. 4th, John G. Shooltz, as his name is spelled in the ledger, had £6, 18s. 9d. settled through Alexander Mclntire, and on Oct. 31st William Leary got 1 pair women's cloth shoes, 2 red-spotted shawls, 1 case of razors and a shaving cup. On Jan. 25th, 1798, Christian Ries is charged $2.47 for "sundries carried to his account at Moshannon." While these dates show conclusively that a portion, if not all, of the original dozen of Bettlers were here in the spring of 1797, the day-book of the "Milesborough" store has en- tries making it equally certain that the first of these man had arrived as early as the 7th of February. This day-book also contains item- ized lists of provisions and other articles, with the names of the persons by whom they were "packed to Moshannon," (the suffix "town" not being used in any instance), and this mode of transportation was continued until the store was removed in August, 1798, to the new set- tlement, which at that time already bore the name of "Philipsburg." Meanwhile a two- story building had been put up by Mr. Philips on the southeast corner of Front and Pine streets, where the one owned by S. B. Row now stands. This house he and his younger brother Nathaniel occupied during the time they stayed here, and when it became neces- sary utilized part of it for a store room un- til one was provided elsewhere. After the death of Henry it was occupied by James, and subsequently by Mr. Hardman Philips. Only a few items in the book accounts are dated in January, 1797, but in the months of February and March they become more nu- merous. Fourteen commence on the 11th of April, and a larger number on the ensuing four days, among them being those of Philip Antes, Robert Askey, Joseph Green, John Halt, John Holt, George Hoover, Jon. McClure, Col. John Patton, Joseph Pugh, James Wil- liams and Joshua Williams. _ The prices which various kinds of commodities commanded at that time are given in some of these accounts. For example, Joseph Green is charged 47 cents a yard for calico, 43 cents a pound for coffee, 25 cents a pound each for sugar, cheese and soap, and on a later date with "4 yards of striped calico, $4.00." William McMuUen paid $2.00 for a half bushel of salt; Alex. McNaughton $3.00 for 100 lbs. of flour ; Chris- topher Erwin 75 cents for three pounds of nails; Mr. Nicholson $1 for half a pound of saltpeter; Robert Moore 75 cents a yard for linen and 18 cents for one nutmeg; Sarah Lewis 80 cents per yard for muslin ; Robert Fleming $1 a yard for "flowered muslin," and Mrs. Jane Leathers was charged, on May 20th, with "one pair of white cotton stockings, $1.33." While one kind of tobacco retailed at 3 cents per "yard," another sold at 33, and a better grade at 40 cents a pound. Writing paper cost 40 cents a quire, and "ink-powder" 25 cents a "pack." Wheat and rye brought $1 and corn 75 cents a bushel, beef 4;X and pork 6 cents a pound. Whiskey sold readily at 25 cents a quart, "American" segars at 50 cents, and "Spanish" at $1 per hundred. Com- mon poultry, it seems, however, was not held in very high esteem, for Martin Hoover was allowed but 17 cents for a "dung-hill cock" delivered on the 23d of May. * * ^ :!: 55: * A singular item, dated April 5th, 1797, is found in the account of Hugh Goloher, in these words : — "100 American segars, per James the Rover, 0.50." Just what is meant by the appellation of "rover," is not altogether cer- tain. It may be synonymous with that of "wood ranger," an officer appointed in early days by the Courts, in at least some of the counties of Pennsylvania. In England it was formerly the custom for owners of large landed property to have a "wood reeve" — that is a steward or overseer of the woods — who had, with his other duties, to see that the roads were kept free from obstructions, es- pecially from the drooping limbs of trees, watch the deer, recover missing animals, and prevent trespassing. A tolerably well-founded opinion prevails that the Philipses, at the start, had in- tended to establish a manor, patterned after the British model, or like that of Rensselaer- wick on the Hudson in New York, and this they might possibly have effected had the idea not been wholly at variance with our form of government,. But be this as it may, it is not improbable that they deemed it expedient to have a person acting in the capacity of over- seer of their forests in this section of country, and as he would be rambling or wandering around in the performance of his duties, per- haps to prevent the spoliation of timber, the rural populace, discerning in him the habits and characteristics of a "rover," called him by that simple name instead of designating him by the unusual title of "wood reeve" — and as the man was the recognized employee of wealthy landowners, and invested with some authority, he could be safely entrusted with the purchase of the segars, if he did not, in- deed, for reasons satisfactory to Mr. Goloher, become their actual recipient. Another account shows that James McCauley was the man re- ferred to in the item quoted at the beginning of this paragraph. ****** There are no existing obtainable data by which to determine the exact extent of im- provements made in 1797 — how much land was cleared, what part of their subsistence the settlers raised on it, or the actual number of 'log cabins" they erected that year. It is known to a certainty, however, that they suc- ceeded in putting up and rendering habitable several buildings in which they resided that summer and the following winter, and it is reasonable to suppose they had patches of ground where they planted potatoes, turnips and other vegetables which in due season History of Philipseurg "yielded seed after their kind." They must, too, have made considerable headway at clear- ing, for they had two fields ready for buck- wheat when the regular time for sowing that kind of cereal came around in the ensuing spring. Much of what was done subsequently is noted in a time record covering many pages of the old day-book and ledger. It gives the names of persons employed, what kind of work each one was daily performing, and un- der the caption of "general remarks'' has a great deal of information concerning the im- provements that were then being made. It also specifies the number of pack horses, teams, yokes of oxen, and to what use they were put. As some of these memoranda throw a strong side light on the condition of affairs in the new settlement, they will be quoted at appro- priate places in the course of the narrative, but in doing this it will not be practicable in all in- stances to adhere to strict chronological se- quence. ****** As there is neither traditional nor docu- mentary' evidence to the contrary' it may be taken for granted that the pioneer settlers passed through the first winter without experi- encing any serious want or suffering. In the spring of 1798, as soon as the weather condi- tions would permit, the work of improvement was resumed and vigorously continued during the ensuing summer. While no record of what ^^•as done in the earlier part of the season has been found, the one above alluded to gives many details of the later operations. It states that "Thomas Blood, James Develin, John Leo- poldt and James Ross were "clearing for wheat near the town" on the 20th of August and this work was continued by them, off and on. until completed in the latter part of September. In the meantime they also "built a fence around the small buckwheat field." the seed in which, as well as that in "the big buckwheat field." was sown towards the end of June, probablv on the •27th or "seven sleeper's day," which some of the earK- inhabitants imagined would insure its certain growth.* Again, it is stated in the record that Joshua Skidmore. on the 27th of August, "rolled logs in the new wheat- field :" on the succeeding four days was clear- ing for ]\IcDonnel. making fence A\-ith Mc- Caulev. and butchering. During the first eight davs of October. "Ries, the miller." operated the saw mill, located on Coldstream near where the Port Matilda road now crosses it. At a later date he "made a bridge" over its clear, rippling waters. On October 10th. James Ro5?_. with two of the millwrights, was at "a raising" with Robert Anderson: at a "frolick" with Lawrence McDonnel on the 14th: sowing wheat on the 17th and 18th : finished grubbing the turnip field on the 20th. and on the 21st •The "Seven Sleepers,*' according to a legend of early Christianity, were seven noble youths of Ephesus. name-i Maximian," Malchus. Jlartinian. Denis. John. Serapion and Constantine. During the time of the persecutions under Decius. emperor ot Rome from 2-19 to 251. they fled to a cavem for refuge, were pursued, discovered and walled in for a cruel death. Tradition has it that they fell into a deep sleep and were miraculously kept in that state until their bodies were found two centuries afterwards, when thev were taken out and exposed to the veneration of the faithful. The church consecrated the 2Tth of Jtine. the date of their incarceration, to their memory, and hence the belief that no harm will befall seed sown on that day. was "clearing and burning brush below the field on the JMoshannon." James Develin and James McGlaughlin, on the 17th, were hunt- ing the old horse "Arthur," who had strayed away some time in the previous week. Under the head of "wagons," it is noted that "two wheels were used b\- Drur\-, ^^'eis and Meyer to haul flour" on the latter day, and that Pat Brj'son was employed at "mending wagons" on the three succeeding days. On the 27th, "all the townspeople and settlers" were at the raising of a very large barn on the ground where the Pennsylvania freight house now stands ; James Ross was "thrashing flax a. m." of the 28th, and burning logs around the barn in the afternoon. On Oc- tober 1st, ^McGlaughlin, Ross and Skidmore were "mowing the big buckwheat field," and on the third seven men were husking corn, re- minding one of the husking parties that in times past were common in the agricultural sections of our country. On the 4th and 5th. five millwrights with thirteen assistants, all of whose names are given in the record, were "raising at the mill." The same crew worked at the bam on the 6th. James Develin. who went on the 7th with three yoke of oxen for the millstone to the "half-way house," re- turned with it on the following day. From the 8th to the 11th inclusive, several men were gathering and threshing buckrvvheat. On the loth, James Ross made a "riddle" and on the next daj- commenced "riddling the buck- wheat," a process for cleaning grain that may appear quite novel to a farmer who now uses a power separator for that purpose. Peter Younge, with the Indian and two horses, started on the 12tli for the venison and came home the same evening, but there is nothing to indicate whether the "red man," the skill- ful Peter, or some other "might}' hunter" had killed the deer. Game of this kind was then ver\' plenty, for an entry in the day-book shows that 78 deer skins, together with 2 panther. 5 bear and 16 fox pelts, were sent from the store of "Henrj' Philips & Co." to Philadelphia at one time, and mention of the venison incident was doubtless made more for the purpose of accounting for the time of Younge and the two horses than to note the circumstance of a buck or a doe having been shot on this occasion. For probably a similar reason, it is stated that James McCauley. who had been sent on the 29th of November for a couple of bears, which it was said, had been killed in the woods, returned without finding either game or hunter, but as "the Indian came in during the evening with the ne-n-s that he had shot one four miles from here." Nicho- las Gebhart, with two horses, accompanied the Indian on the following day and brought in the bear, which was purchased, as the record has it, at a "price not yet determined." ****** The foregoing extracts, culled indiscrimi- nateh- from a large number, show clearly that the affairs of the new community were con- ducted S}'Stematically. It was a busy hive and drones were not tolerated. Not even sex, it seems, secured immunitj- from duty, for fe- males as well as males labored in the fields. On various da}-s. from June 5th to October 20th, the wives of Bergman. Brison, Heatley, History of Philipsburg Klumbach and Weis were hoeing or digeing potatoes, raking hay, hoeing corn; Mrs. Kep- hart and Mrs. Dimeling, who no doubt could wield their sickles dexterously, were helping to reap the rye and fall wheat, and it is likely that others may have "gathered sheaves after the reapers." If the outdoor work at which these good women assisted was not oi a pleas- urable kind, it is probable that by taking part in it they brought more genuine content and happiness to the humble fireside of these sturdy frontiersmen than is now found in some of the palatial dwellings where luxury and ostentation abound. ****** The founders of the town, like people of the present era, experienced more or less trouble with domestic help, as is evinced by the statement that James Develin, on the 20th of August, was "cooking for the hands, be- cause Mrs. Leathers had been discharged," and ■was "housekeeping" for eight or nine addi- tional days, as well as "attending the crea- tures"— the domestic animals. Occasionally, too, one of the "sterner sex" would do some- thing to cause annoyance. For example, Patrick Kerrighan, a good, all-around worker, was fond of his poteen and once in a while indulged so freely that he would unfit himself fori duty. An occurrence of this kind having taken place near the end of August, he is laconically but quite expressively described as being "idle, alias in liquor" for a period of three days, after which it seems, Patrick re- gained his equilibrium, and during the ensuing fortnight was placidly chopping logs, burning brush, cutting firewood, attending masons, or doing whatsoever else was required of him. In tracing out the varied labors performed by Kerrighan the interesting fact is learned that, on the 19th of September, 1798, he com- menced clearing a lot, and on seven subse- quent days he and James Resides were "dig- ging a cellar for the brewery," for which they were to receive "% dol. per yard." The work was continued by Resides alone during the first six days of October, and for it was to be paid "18d. per yard solid." The two men labored in the aggregate twenty days at the cellar excavation, but there is nothing in the book to show that the brewery itself was ever built, and all inquiries have failed to elecit anything satisfactory on the subject. ****** At the time Henry Philips commenced making improvements on the Moshannon there was no road, worthy of being so called, that led thither from the east side of the moun- tain. As early as 1791 a highway had been projected to run from Reading, through this locality, to Lake Erie, but in consequence of the unfriendly disposition of the Indians it could not be constructed. Gov. Mifflin, realiz- ing the necessity of providing for the general defence of the frontier, and especially for the settlement at PresquTsle, made an effort in 1794 to have it located, but it does not ap- pear that anything was accomplished on that occasion. An Act of Assembly, passed on the 4th of April, 1796, having authorized the ap- pointment of "three skillful persons to view the ground and estimate the expense of ooen- ing and making a good wagon road from Bald Eagle's Nest, or the end of Nittany mountain, to the town of Erie, at Presq'isle," the Gover- nor selected William Irvine, George Wilson and Andrew Ellicott as commissoners to per- form the duties specified therein. The last named having declined to serve, Joseph Elli- cott was appointed in his stead. After this change had been made the commissioners "proceeded with all convenient dispatch to examine the country" at the starting point, but when ready to "take their departure from the Bald Eagle's Nest," Mr. Irvine, as is stated in a subsequent report, "left the other two and returned home." Thereupon George Wilson and Joseph Ellicott continued the work themselves, and during that season surveyed the course of the road for a distance of one hundred and sixteen miles. Just when the mountain part of it was either commenced or finished is not definitely known. It is certain, however, that on the 3d of July, 1799, Samuel Miles and Roger Alden entered into an agree- ment with Governor Mifflin "to open, extend and improve the said road," the wording of which seems to imply that some work on it had already been done. John Fleming, whom Governor McKean commissioned on a later date "to view that part of the State Road which was undertaken to be opened by Col. Samuel Miles," reported on December 16th, 1801, that after crossing the Bald Eagle creek at Milesburg, on "a sufficient wooden bridge," it leads up the north side of the stream for a distance of five miles, and is "passable for wagons." From the Bald Eagle creek "to the foot of the mountain, five miles, the road is good excepting that some trees have fallen across it since it was opened. Towards the top it is too steep for carriages." * * "About one mile from the foot of the mountain (west side) is a small run difficult to pass," and near this is a little knoll "not passable for wagons for want of digging." * * "To Phil- ipsburg, from thence, a distance of more than eight miles, the road is good, except some very swampy ground on the east side of what is called Five-Mile rum, and some miry ground on Coldstream, one mile from Philipsburg." * * "Some more work," says the report, "is necessary on the hill west of Five-Mile run; Moshannon creek is not bridged, nor is it fordable in any season at the place where the road crosses it, but there is a fording about a half mile below," and "there is some timber prepared at the place for a bridge," on the same site where Troy bridge is at pres- ent. From thence to the Susquehanna river, over Hogback hill, the Anderson, Stump and Sandy Lick creeks, "to the end of Col. Miles' opening," the most of the road is represented as being "good," and its length is fixed at "seventy-four miles and 86 perches." The sec- tion of Major Alden, from the end of Miles' opening to LeBoeuff, now Waterford, was 8V/2 miles long. Taking the above statements from Mr. Fleming's report, and considering them in con- nection with the repeated mention of pack horses being sent to Dunlop's, Evans', Tacks', McCormick's or Patton's — that Mr. Curtin rode to Milesburg on frequent occasions, Mr. Drury to Northumberland or into "the settle- ment," Nicholas Kephart with his wife to 10 History of Philipsburg Penn's Valley, and Mr. Trcziyulney to Phila- delphia— it is evident that four-wheeled ve- hicles could scarcely have been used in travel- ing over the mountain east of Philipsburg dur- ing the years 1796 and 1797. The lack of wagon roads was greatly felt, and the making of a new one was therefore an affair of gen- eral interest Hence the record states that on August 16th, 1799, Andrew Kephart, Robert McCracken, George Gephart, Moses Boggs and Jacob Weis were "assisting the Chinckac- lamoush people in opening a road to get their custom to our mill." At the time to which this refers, August, 1799, there were only a few persons besides Daniel Ogden and his family at the old Indian hamlet of Chinkac- lamoose, which was afterwards chosen as the site for Clearfield town, but as the territory embraced the entire county was then known by that name, it is probable that such persons as were living along the line of the projected road were more especially meant by the term "Chinckaclamoush people" as used in this in- stance. A portion of this old road, it is not amiss to state, w-as utilized in 1820 in the construction of the Philipsburg and Susque- hanna turnpike. ****** The task of furnishing the new settlement with supplies was not an easy one. This was due largely to the lack of transportation facil- ities. Some goods from the east, as is shown by entries in the old day-book, were forwarded by way of Middletown to Derrstown, now Lewisburg in Union county. From there they were either hauled across the country, or boated up the River and Bald Eagle creek, to Milesburg. In other instances, as will be learned further on, articles were conveyed overland the whole distance from Philadel- phia. From Milesburg, everything had at the start to be carried on pack horses to its des- tination on the west side of the mountain. The first mention of anything connected with this phase of the matter is an item of ex- pense, dated Feb. 7th, 1797, viz:— "9 lbs. of sugar for Moshannon settlers," and another on the 14th of "2 lbs. candles for Moshannon hands," the "hands" evidently being persons who were attached to the surveying party. On March 6th, 9th, 17th, 23d and 27th, coffee, tea, sugar and 304 lbs. of bacon were forwarded to these people. On various days in the months of May, June, July and August, Robert An- derson has credits in the day-book for "pack- ing" considerable quantities of flour, chopped rj'e, bran, salt, groceries, leather, etc., from "Milesborough" to "Philipsborough," and in September, October and November, George Rockey and James Gibson also have credits for conveying more of the same kind of com- modities to the new town. On Jan. 13th. 1798, "four quarters of beef, one hog, 813 lbs. of flour, 155 lbs. of corn meal, four sides of leather, one set of shoemaker's tools," and on March 1st, flour, chopped rye, "one barrel of nails, two axes, one bake-oven" and other ar- ticles were hauled over on "sleds." Accord- ing to the time record, James McCauley. on the 15th of February "arrived from Bald Eagle with two loads, (also on sleds"), one drawn by the old yoke and the other by the late bought yoke, bringing 16 bushels of oats. 8 bushels of corn, 7 bushels of timothy seed, and 3 bushels of flax-seed." On Oct. 2d, Thomas Blood brought in 3 bags of salt on three horses, and on the 16th of September James McGlaughlin came in with a quantity of "flour and 3 bushels of wheat from Mc- Cormick's, and 2 kegs of whiskey from Jack's." On the 25th, "three horses arrived with 381 lbs. of flour from McCormick's," and John Leopoldt, who had gone away two days previously, returned on the 28th, with "95 lbs. of coffee, 240 lbs. sugar, 39 lbs. tobacco. 1 can of snuff, and one piece of sheeting, from Pat- ton's." James McGlaughlin, on the same day, brought in, on pack horses, "12 bushels of wheat, and 484 lbs. of flour— toll taken, 1 bushel." These details, which could have been ex- tended over several additional pages, show more clearly than wordy description the great amount of care and attention that must have been required to keep up necessary supplies, and superintend their transportation over the rugged Alleghenies. But even the closest over- sight did not always prevent things from go- ing wrong. One instance of this kind is spe- cially mentioned. A load of goods had been "sent by Mr. Henry Philips in Mr. McKin- nty's ■ wagon from Philadelphia to Bellefonte, and from there brought by his own team to Philipsburg," where they were delivered on the 27th of December, 1799. The invoice showed that a keg of powder was missing al- together, while a 5-gallon keg of Sherry was found by measurement to have but 2 gallons and a pint in it, and a Cognac keg of the same size only 154 gallons. After ascertain- ing these facts and giving a detailed list of all goods received the bookkeeper added this explanatory postscript: — "N. B. The brandy and wine more than half gone on account of leaking — one keg of powder lost by Mr. Mc- Kinney's carter." Whatever may have become of the powder, the responsibility for its dis- appearance was fixed positively on the "car- ter" in whose care it had been forwarded. As the cause of shortage in the wine and brandy could not be definitely determined, it was at- tributed, probably with a mental reservation, to the process of "leaking;" but when it_ is remembered that these articles were_ being conveyed over a long, lonesome mountain road during Christmas-tide, and that they were a tempting means for indulging in a quiet cele- bration of the season, as well as for counter- acting the effects of the cold wintry weather, it is believed the extraordinary shrinkage of liquids on this occasion could be accounted for in a quite different way from the one sug- gested by the clerk. A matter of much interest to the whole community is thus mentioned under date of Nov. 15th, 1798:— "The grist mill is finished except the bolt- ing gears, which have been postponed until spring, as the bolting cloth could not be pro- cured. In the afternoon seven bushels of grain have been chopped, to our very great satisfaction, and Mr. McKinney (the mill- wright) promises to return in the spring." 11 History of Philipsburg As the weather during the greater part of December was "snowy and severe," the gates of both the grist and saw mills were frozen fast. Men were put to work to remove the icy fetters. After laboring several days, aided by "fine, warm sunshine" on the 27th, and rain on the 28th, the saw mill gate was "with great difficulty" raised on the 29th. However, in January, with the temperature on the 4th, 5th and 6th ranging from 1 to 14 degrees "be- low extreme cold," it froze down again, but on the 11th "the mill gates were both raised.' This was followed by a serious mishap on the 20th, when "the race broke," and it can be imagined that the repairing of it in midwinter was not easily effected. From twelve to fifteen horses and at least three yoke of oxen were kept here after the first year to carry on the various operations of the new settlement. Several cows were also required to supply milk and butter for the table and for culinary purposes. These animals being occasionally subjected to acci- dents, or the ills which equine and bovine flesh is heir to. more or less horse and cattle dealing had of necessity to be resorted to, and a considerable part of it appears to have been entrusted to Mr. Roland Curtin. Several transactions of this kind are noted in the ac- count books. On April 19th, 1798, Richard Clark is charged $24 for "one cow and one calf bought of Mr. Curtin," with the stipula- tion that "the cow and calf belong to the Company until paid for — if not, a reasonable allowance is to be made for the time she is in use." On January 25th, 1799, "Mr. C. sold the sorrel mare to J. McCord for a fat steer and 40 bushels of corn." At another time he procured "a yoke of steers from Nat. Simp- son, for 14 cwt. of iron to be given by John Dunlop." On Feb. 4th, "the gray mare re- turned by James Ross is sold by R. C. to J. McCIanahan for six milk cows to be de- livered before the 15th of April next;" and on the 5th, "Mr. C. sold the black horse to Andrew Boggs for 110 dollars if he will thrive within two weeks after he is delivered." It is evident from these specifically defined con- ditions that Mr. Curtin knew how to drive an advantageous bargain, and his careful atten- tion to details was of itself sufficient to con- vince Mr. Philips that this part of his busi- ness was being properly looked after. In pioneer days the inhabitants of re- mote settlements, who had no civil officers in their midst, were impelled by self-interest to preserve order and protect each other. Un- der such conditions, although well inclined in a general way, it is not surprising- that they should entertain rather primitive notions as to the circumstances under which the laws of the land ought to be respected. If a proceed- ing of itself seemed right to them, as when Andrew Boggs, the assessor, on the 7th of January, "came to estimate the value of the houses, they afforded the officer every reason- able facility to properly perform his duty. If, on the other hand, they considered a pre- cept wrong or oppressive, a different course was pursued. An instance of the last kind having taken place on the 14th of February, is thus briefly but significantly noted : — "Gray and Heakly, constables, came out with sundry summons and executions. They returned next morning without being permitted to levy." There is nothing to indicate by what particu- lar means the levying on this occasion was prevented, but it may be inferred that a dem- onstration of such a character was made as deterred the officers from attempting to carry out the object of their visit. Whatever this may have been, the solution after all has to be left to the imagination of the reader, who may possibly conclude that the interested par- ties here baffled the constables in the same manner that mountaineers formerly got rid of troublesome bailiffs in Connemara, "vi et armis" — by force and shillalahs, as the phrase may, not quite literally, be interpreted. 