Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-06-29


mark valley. Isaac and Thomas soon followed
their father to this county. The former lived
on the farm occupied by the late /. Warrick
and has now two sons and several daughters
settled near the homestead. Thomas relftain-
ed here but few years, and then went to
French creek. Capt. Ricketts, lost the farm
on which he settled, having been elected by a
Mr.. Brown. He afterwards settled ou the
place now owned by VIM. w. Wright, where
he died in 1918, in INDECENT circumstances.
Though his services were long and meri-
torious, he neither asked nor received pen,
sion.
Speculation in wild lands induced Daniel
Turner to make his first visit to this county,
to locate surveys. He owned or was interest
ed in the larger part of the surveys in the then
county of Huntingdon, extending from the
Susquehanna towards Milesburg, and now for
ming large portion of the territory of Gen.
tire, Cambria and Clearlield counties. Turner
was surveyor, and united with his other
traits, spirit of bold and daring speculation.
OF his birthplace parentage we know moth
ing. He resided in Westmoreland county at
the commencement of the Revolutiary war.
His house was then on the frontier, in woody
region, with no neighbors near. As was his
habit, he rose one morning, shortly before day
break, to seek his horses, which lie knew
were to be found in of two places, where
they were in the habit of pasturing. Not
finding them in the first place he visited, he
started for the other, on the opposite side of
his house, and on approaching the house, was
horror stricken at the sight of three Indians,
who were stealthily approaching his home.
He had left his wife and two children asleep.
knowing the habits of the Indians, he, unper-
ceived, hid himself behind tree, from whence
he watched their movements. The Indians
drew near 10 the house, and laid down behind
a large log, where they could have a good
view of the door. Every few moments, Tur-
ner could see one of the trio cautiously raise
his head aboYe the log, TO observe the first
stir about the house. Fearing that his wife,
unconscious of her danger, might make her
appearance at the door and become the victim
OF the savages, Turner resolved on action,
and when one of the Indians again raised his
head above the log, a bullet, sped with unerr-
ing aim, penetrated his brain. Turner rushed
towards the remaining Indians, crying at the
top of his voice, ssHere, Tom, Dick and Har-
ry, at them shoot, boys, shoot!" when the
affrighted savages, fearing they were entrapped,
made good their escape. Turner scalped the
Indian he had shot, took the scalp to Pitts
burgh, where he sold it for $50, placed his
family in a fort, joined the 1st Pennsylvania
regiment, went to Boston, and served faith
fully through the war.
We believe that Turner's first visit to this
county was about the year 1874. As an evil
dence of the anxiety which was then felt to
become possessed of wild lands, there were
several rival surveying parties then on the
ground. One of the leaders, fearing that Tur-
ner's men might get ahead of him, stole Tur-
ner's chain. But Dau not to be baked in
that way. A grape vine, growing near where
the party were, was torn down from the tree
upon which it had climbed, and branch cut,
as they supposed, the proper length, and made
a substitute for chain, with which they con-
tinued their operations. More recent explo-
rations, which had become necessary to ascer-
tain the work then so imperfcctly done, have
shown that the piece of vine used was not
cut too short.
Turner lived for some time at Bellefonte,
near where he erected Rock Forge, which was
afterwards owned by Mr. Benner. He was
then in easy circumstances, and had unbound
ed credit 1t was then his custom to pay of
his hands on the Saturday night of each week,
which he would do by filling up half bushel
measure with half dollars, set it on the coun-
A. la,1 fNraff flflr one II
in such quantities as were needed. a mann
moth speculation in wild lands in Kentucky,
brought about financial embarrassment and the
total wreck of Turner's fortune. This in
duced him to remove to and settle on the head
waters of Clearfield creek, near the Cambria
county line, in the month of April, 1902.
(To BE coSTISUED)