Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-07-11
[C0PYEIGHT sECUREDl
CLEARFIELD COUNTY:

Whilst the head of Clearfed Creek was be-
ing settled, settlements were also being made
towards the mouth, in that part of the county
afterwards called Bradford township. David
Litz, who had formerly resided in Centre coun-
ty, moved, about the beginning of the centu-
~, to near the Clearfeld Bridge, where he
made farm, and raised large family. He
ran the first raft which went down the River
1t was composed of saw-logs, and was sold to
Joseph Quay, who owned a saw-miil at Queens
Run. This was in 1905. Pete Young, Jer-
seyman, cleared some land near Ardery's dead
water, where he for some time kept tavern
or place of entertainment, and where he also
was engaged, part of the time, in distilling.
He was one of the contractors on the Miles
burg and lie Beuf road, and made a consid-
cradle part of the road east of the Creek. He
a rough, ungainly man, wanting of an eye,
and was the brother of William Young, who
made the first Improvement on Jason Kinks
farm on the River. Hezekiah Bye took up
piece of land as vacant, lived on it few years,
and in 1906 sold it to George Wilson, the ell
der, who came out here at that time, and made
of the property so purchased fine farm.
= 1t was in 1901 that Abraham Leonard came
TO this county to look at the country. He
worked here during that and the next two
years. On the 11th of March, 1904, there be-
ing then three feet of snow on the ground, he
moved his family, on a sled, to cabin, about
II feet square, which he, in the summer of
1903, had erected on the land which he had
cleared, near where the toll gate now is, on
D.
couple miles east of Cicarfeld Borough. His
family consisted of his wife and three chill
dren-James T., Thomas, and Elizabeth, the
wife OF John Spackman. He had several chill
dren born to him after settling in this coun-
ty-Rachel, the wife of Jonathan Hartshorn ;
Zenas, who went to Jackson county, Missouri,
in 1880, and died there in 1857, and whose ad-
ventures in the Rocky Mountains are we'll
known; Hannah, the wife of the Hon. Wm.
l.. Moore, at present an Associate Judge Of
the county Robert, deceased; Agnes, who is
married to kbraham Peirce of Bradford town.
ship; and Andrew, who died in 1915. He
cleared more or less land every year until
1873 or IA. His progress was slow. The
family were often compelled to do without
bread for several days. Potatoes were their
main dependence. Once, when deprived of
this article of diet, by the ground being fro
zen so hard that they could not be dug, they
had to resort to parched corn, and as the
grains would fly out of the skillet, during the
time the old gentleman was stirring it over
the fire, scramble would ensue among the
children to obtain the precious morsel. Leo
10 yaf flor
ground, and to obtain his leather and his gro
ceries, where they had to pay from 30 to 40
cents pound for coffee, and from 2o to 30
cents for sugar. 1t was not until about 1913,
that they could obtain coffee in this county,
and then only at the moderate price of fifty
cents a pound. Salt was worth $500 per
bushel, and the little poke which contained it.,
was considered quite treasure by the family.
We have heard Hon. James T. Leonard, (the
eldest chiid,) talking of his early days, speak
of the pleasure he experienced, when his
mother would allow him to have a lick at a
lump of salt at the time the bag was taken
down for the purpose of seasoning the bread.
IT Judge Leonard was in his early days de-
prived of those Injuries with which the chill
dren OF the afiuent are pampered, life OF
weli-directed industry, in which has been dis
played perseverance,, business tact, and a
knowledge of mankind, has enabled him to
realize such an amount of wealth that he can
now crafty his every desire. This plain, un-
assuming. self-made man, who, at one time,
could with difficulty raise S4.87J, the price
which he bid for a lot in Clcarfeld, at Treasu-
-sr's sale, has 70, some years been the master