The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-09-16

More than three-tourths of the land OF
Elk county is yet woodland, and had, be-
fore the establishment of the tanneries,
served the world only by its timber
pine and hemlock lumber. The saw
mills are numerous. Mr.. Hyde alone
owns about dozen of them, of which
seven are now in operation. Hard times
affect these regions as well as other parts
of the country, and the ladoring men
must work hard for wages a good deal
lower than few years ago, whilst the
business of tanning seems to have be-
come more profitable.
In regard to the qualities of the soil
for agricultural purposes there is dit
ference of opinion among persons with
whom l have conversed on the subject,
and / cauoot decide. Potatoes, oats
and grain that does not require very
long summer is raised mostly now. The
future must yet be developed.
When 1 had written thus far, Judge
James l.. Gillis, a venerable looking
gentleman, S3 years of age, called to see
me to give me some information which l
desired. He was, although quite a
young man then, an officer in the war of
1S12-15 served in both Houses Of the
Legislature at Harrisburg, was mem.
Der OF Congress for number of years,
and served as Indian Agent among the
Shawnee tribe in the far West for three
years, under the administration oil
Buchanan, and filled other positions Of
honor and trust. He was no doubt the
leading man in business and politics in
this part of the country for about 4C
years, up to 1862, when he moved tc
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where he now re
sides, and is at present ouly here on 6
visit. l "interviewed" the bright and
very intelligent old gentleman for sew
eral hours, and he gave me an exceed
ingly instructive history of his life, ex
perience and observations during more
than fifty years. He came here from
the State of New York in 1922 with al
OK team aud six or eight hired men t,
make the first settlement in the distric
now called Elk county. After he hac
built small and cheap house, h
brought his family here in the follow
ing Summer. Then he opened road
in the wilderness and used all possible
means to develope aud improve tn
large tract of land until then only usec
as hunting grounds by the indians
The nearest Post office he had when h
came here was in Coudersport, Potte
county, 70 miles from here, where th
mail arrived once in two week. Hi
nearest neighbors were l6 miles on
way and "a the other way. For count
and judicial business be had to 20 t
the county seat of Indiana county, wit
which this county then. was in conneC
ton, a distance of 80 miles, alway
travelling on horseback mostly througl
dense forests where he seldom met
human being.
Judge Gilis said: "I have ouflive
all the Presidents Of the United State.
but one, "Grant, being born in 179l
when the Father of his Country" wa
still living. TIE Judge is in many rt
spects one Of the most remarkable me
| ever met. The amount of his ez
perieuce as Agent of the Govern men
among the Indian tribes in the West, a
we'll as his life among the wild region
of Pennsylvania deserve to be publishe
in full.
Father Gillis says that this part Of tb
State will never be of great value a
farming country, and says with Greele
20 young men, $50 West"
In conclusion I would advise a
young people to learn from old people
listen to their history, much of which
not found in books, and treasure it u
before it is too late The experienc
and the wisdom of the aged should b
more appreciated by the young. S. X. L