Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-07-19
NEW SERIES--VOL. II, NO. 2S


with no other ornaments than the dew
drops of earth to gid it, and the sun
beams Of heaven to shine upon 1t, has
been as highly honored as the most
ancient seats Of learning in Europe,
''with their spires and domes glisten'
ing IN the rising and setting suns OF q
thousand years"
our PROGRESS IN THE PAST.
In this Centennial year tho nations
OF earth have buried their past re-
sentiments, and come up to greet this
young Republic, and bid her God speed
in her great mission. As they file into
the historic grounds of Independence
Square, to engage in celebrating her
anniversary, they unite with us in
attesting that our experiment at
popular government has been a
glorious success. Our soil has not
been more fertile, nor our vegeta-
ton greener, nor our skies bluer, than
those of other climes, but under the
benign influence Of such a government,
and the broad civilization which it has
brought us, our wilderness and soli-
tary places have been made glad, and
our deserts caused to rejoice and
blossom as the rose" 1t was by their
unwavering confidence in the God OF
nations, and their deathless faith in the
natural rights, older and more impreg-
nable than all the systems Of oppres-
sion on earth, with which He had en-
dowed them, that the fathers ensured
the triumph of their cause, and trans
mitted to their posterity this great her
itage of freedom. By liberal system
Of education, which has brought the
elements OF knowledge to every home,
and given us a civilization that has
dug wealth and comfort from our rug
ged mountains, and planted peace and
prosperity in our deepest valleys, that
posterity has preserved this glorious
heritage for an hundred years.
OUR FUTURE.
Let us emulate their example, and
in the future, "untrammelled and free,
and cultivated and virtuous, our coun-
try will continue to lead in the van of
nations. Her voice viii break in thun-
der tones across the oceans and make
the world feel the magic spell Of her
great power The beacon light OF
freedom will break upon the islands OF
the sea and myriads Of the race crop
ing in darkness, and in the shadow of
death they will lit up their eyes and
hail its long expected approach, and
welcome the day of their redemption,
She will bear the torch of inspiration
into the dark and benighted places Of
earth, and enlightcn and elevate, and
save humanity"
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Murray's
oration, the choir sang the "Centen-
nial 0de,p at the conclusion OF which,
the multitude was disturbed by the
alarm for dinner, and recess was de-
clared. After the "inner man" had
been supplied, the crowd was called to
order, and, gathering around the stand,
listened to DR.. John p. Hoyt, who had
been chosen County Historian.
HISTORY OF cLEARFIELD COUNTY.
The Doctors address was delivered
from memory, but the following out
line will indicate the drift Of his re-
marks:
Came to Clear6eld town in 1919.
There were but three dwellings here
at that time; one on the present
Mansion House" property was occu-
pied by man named Collins, car
penter by trade, who afterwards built
the first Court House in Clcarfeld he
opened his house to the traveller as a
hotel. The second stood near where
Shirk's tannery now stands and was
occupied by the father of our citizen,
NJ. Shirk, and was also tanner The
third stood near the present property
of c. Kratzer, and was occupied by
the father of Ed. Perks, former Sher-
III of this county.
In Curwensville there was but one
occupied dwelling and two vacant
ones. The former was occupied by
Mark Jordan, and one of the latter be-
longed to Josiah Evans.
Probable number Of inhabitants in
the county, two hundred. The people
were characterized by honesty and
benevolence, but superstition prevailed
TO a certain extent.
The clearing OF land was done by
first girdling the larger trees to kill
them, and then grubbing out the
smaller trees and roots, otherwise it
would have been impossible to use the
wooden plows--thc only kind then in
use in a few years alter this the iron
plow made its appearance.
The roads were mere paths brushed
out through the woods and could only
be Travelled on horseback.
There were three or four school
houses in The county in 1919. They
were quite small and built of logs.
Whisky was kept in almost every
house used by everybody; little or
no drunkenness. When settler clear
ed n piece of ground 1t was customary
to have clog rolling" and call oil his
neighbors to his assistance. AT these,
nights were frequent, but always set
tied without lawsuits
All KINDS oi game-such as deer,
plenty. Deer and bear skins were
taken 20 other settlements and traded
far amunition ete
Tho sneaker then referred TO the
Cartheornion Renublic and lis exist.
cnce for seven hundred years, until
overcome bv the Romans. We would
rcfar tho reader IN Rollins' History of
p.. II. Al. a,,,as a..
hohio, US we nave hoe tho spaoo w
aupfp