Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-06-15
IcoPrRIGHr sEcURgD
CLEARFIELD COUNTY:

CLEARFIELD COUNTY:
OR. "REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST.
Whilst Fulton and his party were surveying,
they fell in with Alexander and Thomas Reed,
(sons of Alexander, whose family will be ro-
ticed hereafter,) clearing the field where AL
len Mitcheli's orchard is. They were assisted
in their labors by Gear Potter colored man,
who had been raised by the family, and whose
good-natured lace and silvery locks are fami-
liar to the citizens of Bradford township, a
mong whom he resides, on the land he pur-
chased over forty years ago.
The place to the north of Clearfield borough
known as Liberty Spring was then the home
OF Henry Irwin, native of Irelard, who came
10 this county in 1901 or 1902 with his wife
and three childrcn-John, at present acting as
County Commissioner-Mary, who afterwards
married the Hon. Richard Shaw, and Joseph
Irwin. He had six children born to him in
this county--William, who now lives in Ohio
-fIenry-Margaret, wife of Zacheus Mead
Jane Ann, married to John Spackman-James,
and Nancy, who was married to Asahel Swan.
Margaret, Jane Ann, and Nancy are dead.
Henry Irwin brought his family here in sort
of car drawn by a-steer. The road from Phil
1ipsburg being cut through for the passage of
their conveyance by Daniel Ogden. Irwin had
not profted by the counsel of Solomon, ssHe
that is surety for stranger shall smart for it,'
for having gone bail for fellow countryman,
RodcIick Conner, who lived in Huntingdon
county-his home was afterwards sold to s,tis-
fy Conner's creditor. Irwin was obliged to
commence anew and opened ont the farm
where his son Henry now lives. When Irwin
first moved there, wolves were abundant and
rendered it almost impossible to keep sheep
or hogs. For security he built a pen at the
side of his house in which he had shoat. On
one occasion when about retiring, wolf got
into the pen, captured the shoat and was max
Ing off with it, when its squeal giving the a.
larm, Irwin (having no gum ran to the barn
for weapon. He returned armed with pitch
fork, gave pursuit, and on reaching the intru-
der made thrust at him and-killed the pig.
Nearly opposite to Irwin's lived Thomas
Mapes, who was originally from the eastern
States. He was married to Elizabeth Ogden,
lived here but few years and then with his
wife and children removed to the Ohio. Hugh
Frazer. from whom Frazcr's rock derived its
name, was then living near the mouth of Wolf
Run, at Joseph Jordan's place. He was a
Scotchnan had lived at the Big Island. He
lad two sons aud two daughters. Frazer fell
a victim, when in 1924 the dysentery prevail
ed to such an alarming extent along the river.
He was buried, at his request, in a lot he own
ed in Clearfeld borough, and his wife's re-
mains were removed from Ogden's burial
ground and deposited by his side. He had
served in the Indian war, was man of good
natural ability, lacked education, and was
teemed a good citizen.
Fulton and his party ran line through the
Morgan lands up Clearfield creek to above the
month of Muddy Run, where they were de-
.tained one day whilst Pete Young went to
bring down Dan. Turner, SO that they might
ascertain from him a corner. From Muddy
Run they took the Indian path to Phillips
burg, staying over night with Abraham Goss.
And from thence Fulton, accompanied by
BENZ. r. Morgan of Philadelphia, proceed, by
way of Half Moon, to huntingdon.
OF the men who first settled this countJ,
few deserve more notice than Samuel Fulton.
Having located near Alexandria, he headed
several surveying parties, which came into
this county in 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905 and 1906,
and from that time to this has industriousiy
followed his calling, spending much OF his
time in the woods. A practica. and expert
enced surveyor, energetic and Industrious, be
has become familiar witE every point IN the
county, which contains few lines he has not
examined or remarked. Whilst ON one OF
his surveying tours, he was thirty days In the
woods, during which time he was not IN sight
of a habitation. He had established his camp
at the mouth of a small run, which from that
fact has received the name of Surveyors Rum
to which place he would resort, and after sup
plying himself with sufficient provisions to last
for three or four days, he would resume his
labors, packing his food on his back In 1907,
Fulton came to this county with his wife, hav
ing married in the beginning OF the year 1906