Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-05-11

CLEARFIELD COUNTY:
OR. "REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST


The first settler within the limits of Clear
field county was Daniel Ogden, who, in 1877,
emigrated hither from Cherry Valley, in the
State of New Y ork, where, during the time of
the Revolutionary war, when Matthew, the
youngest son, was babe, and whilst the faith
was away from home, his house and barn
were fired and destroyed by the Indians. Mrs.
Ogden had to fee, with her little family, to
the woods, and remain there during the entire
night, exposed to the mcrciess peItings of a
hail storm; and in orderto stfe the cries of the
babe Matthew, which otherwise might lead the
savages ID the place of her concealment, she
was compelled to stuff corner of the blanket
into the child's mouth. Ogden was the father
of eight children-Abner, Jonathan, David,
Daniel, Joab, Jehu, Matthew and Margaret
none of whom were born in Clearield.
On his first visit to this county, he was accom-
panied by three ofthe children. They reached
here by ascending the West Branch of the SRs-
quehanna in large canoe. The river at that
time was full of rocks, trunks of trees, sand
bars and other distractions, and its ascent was
performed with the greatest difficulty. They
were often compelled to unload all their arti-
cles, drag their canoe over piles of drift, and
then carry their goods on their backs and re-
load the canoe. Struggling thus, they reach
ed q small stream, about half mile above the
mouth of Chinchaclamoose, on the opposite
side of the river. Here Ogden made his first
Improvement and home. He selected this To-
cation, believing it.possessed advantages for
the erection of a mill which he then contem-
plated, but he found afterwards that the stream
was too small for the purpose.
The country was a vast wilderness, never
having been trod by the foot of a white man,
save for the purpose of exploration and sur
vey. The majestic pines and oaks of centu-
ries' growth stood in their pristine beauty.
The axe of the woodSman had not echoed, nor
the death-dealing bullet OF the hunter whistled
through this wild and rugged region. But
one break occurred in the illmitable forest.
1t was convenient to Ogden's future home, was
the site of the old Indian town of Chinchacla-
moose, and the place upon which the county
seat of Clearfield now stands. This opening
had been recently used as a corn-aeld by
small remnant of the Cornplanter tribe of In
dans, that was still lingering in the neighbor-
hood, The cred men, were peaceable and
friendly disposed, andsno difficulties occurred
between the settlers and them, during their So
iourn here, which lasted until the winter OF
1902, when the last of them departed. Pan
;hers, wolves, wildcats and bears were nu-
merous. Deer, elk and other beasts of chase
roamed through the woods, furnishing abun-
dance Of meat, and the streams were full of
salmon, shad, pike, and other fish.
Ogden at once commenced clearing out the
farm now occupied by his grandson, Matthew
s. Ogden, adjoining to the south Clearfield
Borough, and erected cabin, with shingIe
roof and double doors. Ii is probable that he
used the Indian field at first for the raising of
crops. Having finished his house, and secured
his property, he went for the rest of his fami-
", all of whom, except David, who had been
killed by the Indians in Cherry Valley, accom-"
panied him on his return.
It matter of regret that so little is known
OF the manner in which Ogden and his family
got along during the first year or two after be
was settled in this country. The data we
have, and the circumstances which we have
been able to pick up here and there, are too
meagre for portraying life, filed undoubted-
ly with incidents and adventures of highly
interesting character, such as must always be
found IN the lives OF the first settlers of wild
and unnhabited region, and which, if detailed
with all their surroundings, would thrill any
one possessed OF humanity. One circumstance
might be here related, which shows the diff
eulties they had to contend with. and their IN
genuity in overcoming them. There was no
mill nearer than the "Big Island - at Lock
Haven. To reach this was work of time
20 return, laborious and difficult The time of