Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-06-01
[coPrRIGHT SECURED.
CLEARFIELD COUNTY:
OR, "REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST

OR, "REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST.
Near the old ssRed House." on the stretch
of bottom land above Anderson's creek, VIM.
Bloom, the elder, man of German descent,
whose ancestors, 1T an early day, had settled
In New Jersey, from whence he, with others
of his family, had emigrated to Penn's Valley,
Centre county, settled in 1901. lie brought
with him -four of his and his daughter Eliz-
abeth, afterwards Mrs. Ogden. During the
summer OF that year, small patch of ground
was cleared and planted with corn, potatoes
and turnips, and house erected, bot not fin
ished. In the fsll, Bloom returned to Penn's
Valley, accompanied by his sons Isaac and
William, leaving John, Benjamin and Eliza
beth to take care of things until he returned.
For some unknown cause. he did not get back
TO Clearfield until the following spring. Du-
ring the interval, the remaining sons and E.
lizabeth took care of themselves the best way
they could. John was the eldest, Elizabeth
about sixteen, and Ben. nine or ten years of
age. John was fond of adventure apd spent
most of his time with the Indians hunting.
In February, their stock Of provisions nearly
ran out. For two weeks they were without
bread, and Elizabeth and Ben. lived upon tur-
nips, which, as one of them informed us, they
ate s'raw, cooked and roasted" The winter
was an unusually severe one, and starvation at
last began to stare them in the face. John re-
turning from hunting expedition, they want
cd him to go over the mountain, or to a mill
to get some ground corn. He started, as they
supposed, for that purpose, but as John took
matters easy, aud did not realize the dangers
with which his brother and sister were sur
rounded, he was in no hurry, but went and
mingled again with the Indians, among whom
lie spent some time. During his protracted
absence, snow fell to the depth of foar feet,
and Elizabeth and Ben. were reduced to the
greatest straits for want of food but Eliza
beth, being girl of determined character and
indomifable energy, concluded to make a trip
to Paul ClOyer's, an uncle Cf hers, who had
come to this county about the time her father
did, and settled at the mouth of Anderson's
creek, near TIE present residence OF William
Irwin, Esq. The distance, it is true, only
about three-fpufths of mile, yet it was al
most a herculean task for these children to
shovel road through the snow, to their un-
cle's, which presented the only means they
had OF reaching there. To this task. Eliza
beth and Ben. set themselves with hearty
good will, and on the second day, at sunset,
succeeded in reaching their nncle'S, wcaried
and suffering from hunger and exposure.
Paul Clover, who had warm and generous
heart, was with his family in but little better
circumstances than his young viSiters. He
gave them all the bread there was in the house
at the time which was an Indian cake not
much larger than four-p penny loaf. This the
children made to last for two weeks. and rel
ished it with as much gusto as the most deli
cate and savory dish would be by an epienre.
The children suffered intensely from the cold,
there being neither window ror door in the
house, openings being left in the wall for light
and passage. There no floor, but when
The cold weather set in, they took some of the
clapboards and, after splitting the thickest,
laid them around the Fireplace to keep them
selves off the damp ground. No wood had
been provided, and Ben. was compelled to go
ont in the snow. cut down saplings aud drag
them to the door, where Elizabeth assisted in
cutting them up. Their situation was rem
dered more unpleasant and friGhtfui by pam
thers and other wild animals proving around
the house and making terrific noises during
nighttime This brief account must con-
vince all that the endurances OF these TWO
young persons during that winter, ana until
Mr.. Bloom returned with the rest oil the ialii-
" in 1902, were of such a character that lew
of those who now consider themselves men OF
courage and endurance, would agree to un-
dergo.
William Bloom had eleven children, from
whom have descended very large family, the
greater part of whom now reside in Pike town
ship, aud many of whom have been called to
fll offices within the gilt Of The people. To