Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-05-04

which seems to spring the ETHEREAL arch be-
low him flows the West Branch, alive with jol-
ly raftsmen hugging point, running bend,
or experiencing the risks of navigation in
Transporting the products of the winters labor
of the woolsmen to market; on one side he
observes village SO surrounded with hills he
can scarce believe its inhabitants are ever dis
turbed by the anxieties and troubles OF the
busy world, and here and there he discovers
few deadened trees, the rude beginning of
some stout-hearted youth, or broad fields COW
cred with grain just awakening from its lethar-
gy, near which are those evidences of comfort
that display the owper's wealth and taste.
The county contains 1850 square miles of
territory, is generally tiIlable aud has gener-
Gus soil yielding to the husbandman reward
for his labor. The West Branch and its trib-
utaries ramiiy throughout the county, offering
advantages for the erection of water works un-
surpassed in the State. Possessed of salu-
brious climate, untold wealth in her forests,
and inexhaustible stores of iron ore, limestone,
bitumnous coal and other minerals, she must
some day support a large and thriving COM
munity and take rank among the most impor-
tant counties in PennSy lyania.
On the Goth of March, 1904, the provisional
county of Cleariield was erected. 1t included
in its boundaries all that part of Lycoming
and Huntingdon counties, s'beginning where
the line dividing Cannan and Broadhead IS dis
trict strikes the West Branch of the Susque-
hanna river, thence north along the said dis
trict line until due west course from thence
,,,t e&,.1 H. Vt r.
county, thence west along the southern boun-
Diary of Mexican to the line of Jefferson coun-
ty, thence southwestwardly along the line of
Jefferson county TO where Hunters district
line crosses Sandy Lick creek, thence south
along the district line to the Canoe place on
the Susquehanna river, thence an easterly
course to the southwest corner of Centre
county on the heads of Mushannon creek,
thence down the Musnannon creek the several
courses thereof to the mouth, thence down the
West Branch OF the Susquchanna river to the
place of beginning" Some of this territory
has been taken OFF and forms part of Elk
county. The county was united TO Centre
county for Judicial purposes until 1922, when
it was regularly organized and the same priv
sister counties. Its name was derived from
an old Indian town at or near the present seat
of Justice and called by the Indians Chincha-
clamoose. The ssCanoe place." mentioned in
the boundary, and also known the Cherry
Tree, from the fact that Cherry tree stand
ing near the bank of the river where it re-
mancd until few years since, was marked as
I Of
hanna river to Kittanning about the year 1770,
deserves passing notice. The Canoe place
was the highest point at which the river was
then nsvigable by that species of vessel, tho
now, since distractions have been removed,
| RATS are navigated from higher point. II
was, until Cherry-tree village was erected in
| to borough, the corner of four counties-In-
diana, Cambria, Jefferson and CIearfield. The
| Canoe place is memorable because it formed a
point in the boundary line of the last purchase
which the proprietaries Of Pennsylvania made
from the Indians at Fort Stanwix, D oyembcr
5th, 1868, by which large scope of country.
embracing that part of Cearfield county to the
southeast of the West Branch, was acquired
and the title Of the Indians to the soil extin
gushed; and also being corner of the pur
chase made by the Commonwealth at the trea
ty of Fort Stanwix, October Sd, 1884, by which
the Six Nations ceded their whole right tc
the residue of the Indian lands contained with
| in the charter bounds of Pennsylvania, which
purchase included that portion of Clcarfield t.
the northwest of the West Branch.
Doubts having been entertained of the au
thority of the Commissioners of Centre coun
ty to levy and assess taxes in Clearfeld, il
March 1906 the Legislature conferred ON then
that power, bnt they were to keep the account
of the two counties seperate and distinct. A
the same time, Clearfield county was made al
election District and the general elections or
dered to be held at the house of Benjamin Jor
dan, known Familiarity as Grand dad Jordan,
who then lived on the southeast side of TIL
River, on the farm now owned by Benjamin
Spackman, and near where the State road from
Milesburg to LIE Boeuf crossed. The citizen
of Centre and Clearfield united in selecting
the same officers, and with the exception tha
the Jurisdiction Of the justices of the peace o
Centre county did not extend to Ciearfiei'
county IN ciyif-cases, the territory of thes
two counties and the uninhabited countr.
known as Mexican county, were to all intent
and purposes one political division. Th
eastern part of the county gaining some popu
lation. we find that a new election district wa
formed in 1908 out of Bradford and Beccari
townships and that part of Half-moon town
!; shin in Centre county west of the AlleGhen,
mountains, which held its elections at tn
house OF John Gearhart, the progenitor OF
,.,ge and worthy family, who still reside j