Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-09-14
coPYRIGHT SECURED. W
CLEARFIELD COUNTY,:
OR, "REMINISCENCES oFTHe PAST.

About 1903, Peter Erhard settled in the
neishborhood of the village of New Millport.
He erected distillery, and connected the
business of distilling with clearing and cultI-
waiting land. He was accidentally drowned in
1927. Several of his sons now reside in the
ncighborhood. Here they erected mills which
gave rise to the small, but thriving, town a.
bove named. Christian, Philip and George,
the latter at present County Commissioner,
1906. James Rea came from ork county, and
settled quite handy to Mr.. Erhard. He re-
manned here for about Is years, and then re-
moved to his present farm about four miles
from Glen Hope. He was OF large frame and
great muscular power and endurance. His
farm in Jordan township is perhaps the largest
piece of land cleared by one family in the
county. Thomas Jordan, a brother of Ben.
Jordan, moved to this settlement, but at what
time We unable to ascertain. He came 20
the county in 1903. The McKees, Dunlaps,
Cathcarts, Ames, Feltwells and others moving
into this region and expending their labor in
clearing the land, have made this section a
valuable and desirable portion of the county,
Notwithstanding Mr.. Rea left it, as he alleged,
because working on the hills had tendency to
make him crooked in form and in disposition.
James McNiel commenced improving
piece of land in 1S0S near Fruit Hill and on
the edge of what is sometimes called the
Scotch Irish settlement. McNiel was born in
Ireland in 1776, and emigrated to Huntingdon
county when twenty y-one years of age. The
nearest neighbor he knew of was Capt. Rick
etts on Clcarfeld creek, more than six miles
distant. During the first winter which he, his
wife and child spent in this county, there was
over two feet of snow On the ground, and for
more than three months no person visited
them Mr.. McNiel was commissioned as a
justice of the peace by Governor Shultz. He
served in that capacity until Justices were
made elective, and afterwards was twice elect
ed to that sofiice. Age and the affiiction of
member of his family have made their impress
on this worthy gentleman, but having parted
his farm among his children and seen removed
the source of much anxiety, he now enjoys re-
pose in the bosom of his family. Mr.. McNiel
was twice married. By his first wife he had
five children, two of them sons. His second
wife was Mary Cameron Ricketts,. daughter
of Capt. Ricketts,, by whom he had four sons
and four daughters.
The Scotch-Irsh settlement lies to the south
and west OF Fruit Hill. This is a fine settle
ment, containing good farms, owned end cul-
tivated by men whose moral worth would give
character to any community. 1t is not, as
might be supposed by its name, made up of
men of foreign birth alone. Many of those
who have added much towards developing this
part OF the county, are sons of pioneers in
other and older settlements of the county. A
mong those who have aided in reclaiming the
Scotch families; numerous family named
Curry; the defendants of Peter Bloom the
Pattersons and Jordans, the defendants of
those whom we have mentioned in connection
with one of the ridge settlements; the Will
liamses, Wises and Swans. Ansonville, a
small town ON the edge of this settlement, is
of recent growth. 1t sprang into existence a
bout the time the Glen Hope and Little Bald
Eagle Turnpike was projected and was named
after Anson, son of John Swan, who had re-
sided on the land for some years, and who, in
connection with his brothers John and Henry
swan, laid out the town after the decease of
their father
We should have mentioned in connection
with the river settlement, William Tate. He
was a member of the Society of Friends, was
born in Chester County, from whence he re-
moved to Half Moon in Centre County. SHe
lived for several years on the farm now occu-
pied by Joseph Irwin. His first residence, IN
1904, was in log house erected on or close
by the Catholic Church lot in Clearfel6 Bor-
ough. In February 1908, whilst Mr.. Tate was
at Belieforte attending Court his house took
nre and was, with all the household goods, des |
troyed. The fire originated down stairs and
the devouring element had made considerable
progress before Mrs. Tate was aware of the /
accident. By throwing feather bed out of |
the window and casting her children on to it. |
Mrs. Tate succeeded in saving the lives of her /
family. Tho children of William Tate were.
Dinah, wife Of John Solt, Samuel, Lydia,
oi William Irwin, Joshua, Martha, wife Of Jo-