Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-12-11
Vic woodhull and her Sister l'sunie.

Vic Woodruff and her Sister Tennie.
1t is probably not generally Known
that the notorious Tennie G. Clafin
once made Williamsport her homo.
About ten or twelve years ago Tennio
and another sister whose name VIC do
not now remember, together with
their mother domiciled 10 tho vicinity
Of Fourth and Penn streets, and made
their way in the world by csirvoy-
ance, fortune. telling and kindred sc-
complishments. Tho Woodruff at
that time was living in the west, and
the father, "Buck' Clafin, though not
formerally separated from his family,
only visited tbcm occasionally, and
his visits we're brief Wdlidmsport Sun.
In vcrifcalion of tho above, We
heard party now resident here re-
mark that he had had his "fortuc" told
by Tennic While located as above stat
cd. The father OF this notorious couple
at one time resided in Clinton county
(thcn Ccnlrei at Beech Creek, about
1927, where he taught school, and tho
wife of our informant was one of his
pupils. "Buck" Claiin, as he was fa
miliarly called, was considered a rigid
disciplinaran and pretty smart fell
low, though somewhat crratic. He
afterwards kept a small country store
at the same place. From there he
moved TO lhc mouth OF the First Fork
of the Sinncmahoning were he and
his brother Abner kept tavern and
and a small store and dealt to small
extent in lumber "Buck" was at
The time single man He afterwards
,ual,isd :. the vicinity of bhamokin
Dam and subsequently moved to'tho
State of Ohio While resident hero
our informant speaks of Buck and
Adncr as clever fellows; shrcwd, yet
standing fair with their associates,
and Buck was one of the best rife shot
in the valley. An ancedote is told of
him about the manner in which he
got his spouse that indicates, if true,
cunning disposition. His dulcinea's
old dad was 4 respectable old squire.
but n little "close." He was opposed
20 the match, and Buck was deter
mincdly IN favor of it. The old mans
objections were mainly 10 the poverty
of his would-be son-n-law With
fatherly care, lie wanted to start his
daughter out fairly provided for
Bucks part was to overcome those
objections, and as he hadn't the hard
cash, he had TO adopt a ruse to sur
mount the difficulty. II seems he had
on hand some counterfeit notes, tech
nically called "the queer" Just what
Buck was doing with this kind OF
money or where be got it tradition
doth not say. 70 be charitable wo
should suppose he borrowed il for tho
occason. BE that as il may, the story
runs that he filed a pocket with this
stuff and managed TO have himself fall
into the river. Rescued from wat
cry grave, he soakedly presented him
self at tho house and after telling of
his narrow escape in manner that
would heighten the dramatic effect OF
his plan, he proceeded to empty his
pockets of the soiod bank bills. Tho
game worked like charm The old
dads eye sparkled, paternal smilo
lit up his usually stern features, and
everything grew lovely for Buck. A
man who carried so much money
about him as this accident bad shown
Buck to have, was amply able TO take
care of a wife, and patertamilias gra-
ciously gave his eeasent And so
Buck Claflin is said TO haze won his
wife. 1t was "quecr' dodge, bnt
his counterfeit passed current and got
him the ''dry goods y 1t may be adj
i ded that Vic and Tcnnic are now in
! iail. in default OF SIS 200 bail, nwat3-
4 l'ng trlai on tne unargc or itvv', cUn-
tanned in the lato publication in which
Henry Ward Beochcr,s name was
made to pay an uneuviably conspicn-
; GUS part Clinton Democrat.