The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-03-06
Potter County in Past Times.

Half a Century'S LabGrs In the Gospel,
INoLUDNG THIRTYFIvE YEARS OF BAcKWooDs
MISSION WORK, AND EvAYGELIzING, IN New YORK
AND PENNSYLVANIA An. Auto Biography by THos
S. SHEARDowN, related, in his 7lth year, to
ographer.-With an Appendix, &C. Published
by o. N WoRDEN and E. B. CASE
The Volume before US contains much that
is Of interest to the general reader, particu-
larly if he has belonged for any length of time
to the Northern Tier of counties in Pennsyl-
yania, or the Southern Tier in New York.
Mr.. Sheardown was emphatcalIy one Of the
pioneers in this wild region. His story is told
in simple, honest style, and with no attempt
at colorng, that must, commend it to the
attention Of those desiring to compare the
present with the past. Many things are great
oaly by comparison. Progress in any depart
ment of morals or science is gained by COM
pairing the condition of to-day with that of
some past time. We are all prone to think
that we have a wild and perhaps very rude
country, that our pleasures ale limited and
our opportunities for advancement very much
restricted. A glance through this volume
will show US wherein we have erred, and in
what we have improved. Of course the old
inhabitants Of ttis, as we'll as any other
county, can see improvements upon the Gus
toms and privileges of their youth, but the
young have not these comparisons to make
and are sometimes dissatisfied. To them We
commend especially careful perusal of this
velRsne. We copy an extract below;
81 Ihad been travelling some in Potter county
When came to a school-house, if there was
school, would arrange with the scholars, at
noon, to run around and give notice to few
OF the nearest neighbors, who, with the chill
drens would make up quite congregation
and ~oGld try and preach to them Jesus and
the resurrection. Thnn ! would inquire the
course in which there was another school
house, and, if it was in my reach before school
was dismissed, would get out an evening
appointment, theG fad scme somebody with
whom could stay all night,
Thus pushing round from place TO place, |
finally crossed the line into Tiega countwand
preached in settlement where [ had spoken
a few times before After the meeting was
out, man came up, shook hands with me, and
called me by name. had to look prettey
close, for all the light we had through the
service was from few sliyers of fat pine, in
serted in the jams of the old fashioned log
house Fireplace, He asked me ifI would not
go home and stay all night with him. | told
him preferred not going any further, if
coule stay where l was; but he insisted that
I should go with him. l asked HIM the dis
tauce. He said not over mile. His wife was
I'M ,N-ifl, nd Io
that if she could walk that distance through
the pitcn darkness, | certainly could ride
They were both irreligious. l talked with
them, prayed with them, and endeavored to
point them again to the Lamb of God that
TAX tn away the sins of the world. | had
preached to them in York State They ap.
peard to be among the very poor, but what
they had was as free as water Ny horse
faired great deal worse than myself but he
said nothing, had no fault to find, for he had
learned, no doubt, that the mission field was
often very scarce of provender.
"In conversation with the man, cary in the
morning, after having eaten very light break
fast indeed we talked about theway to Ph9-
nix Run He wanted to know how far from
Pine Creek. | told him as near a. | could
guess. swell, now," he said, "Elder, you
are pretty good back woodsman, and if you
can keep the course through the woods as
will give it to you, you will strike the Run at
the foot Of Round mountain" ! thought that
there was so many mountains, and round ones
too, that it was not very definite direction.
He said it was only eight miles through the
woods, bat there was no path, not even marked
trees, by which could be guided. He pointed
out the direction where the wind was, and
sald' If | kept it SO and SO, Iwould no doubt
come out right. | concluded to try it, mas
muen as it was going to shorten, very greatly
my travel. Having got perhaps two miles
INTO the deep wilderness, my horse made signs
tnat there was something around that hs did