The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-09-26
mot entered, etc. No rights rsserved.l
SKETCHES
PIONEER LIFE on the ALLEGHENIEs.
my heart is awed within me when think
OF the great miracle that still goes on

MY heart is awed within me when think
OF the great miracle that still goes on
In silence round me"
Why do poets write poetry? Because they are /
constrained by innate and subtitle consciousness
of the laws and workings Of nature-a conscious I
ness more acute and piercing than that bestowed [
or the generality OF mankind.
Of mere utility bodily comfort; IL perceives (
waving fields Of wheat, rye, oats maize, huckwheat,
berriesEall good and luscious to the palate. Pc |
tatoes beans. peas. cabbages onions, and all the
host Of the vegetable kingdom. are very good and /
con venient for the storing of cellars during the 4
reign Of barren winter-all this is perceived and
domestic emotions But the poetic mind sees /
things In different light. It not only enjoys the (
prudent and domestic emotions engendered by I
view Of nature but also percelves an occult souics
of enjoyment through tho outward scene Whlch I
grass plants water rocks, clouds and rain. with /
all the muitldUnious phenomena which appear De
nizes stupendOus miracle Of the highest art and
science in continuous operation all around A poet
admires grand evening scene around the Geparl,
ing footsteps Of the king OF day he bows behind
the western hills. and well he may love to look on
enin picture into its constituent parts so that we
may look into its nature In the first place there
which nhfIosophers know little about. Next comes
the mysterious nists suspended in the heavens DE
wondrous law Of nature, the waters aDoye the
hrInament'' There hangs the cloud suspended in
the warm air OF the calm evening, tnulsible
approaching night breathes over the scene, and
Ike spirit the mysterious clouds spring INTO VS.
those misty curtains OF evening tinted with their
blending fairy colors? Who can make plain the
geons display2 This Is not visionary, but true,
substartlated fact. Let any one search into these
things and he viii be amazed NJ the WONDERS OF y
We will now take up the thread OF our ''Pionoer
Solomon Forshee settled in within the limits Of
Cambria county about the same time with Ander-
dam branch of CIearield creek, near the present
site Of Chest Springs. Forshee and his boys ioi-
tRey aid not bother their heads with any other
avocation. The Forshees were the most active men
Of their day in the athletic and manly sports OF
running. leaping. wrestling. etc. Along the bank
Of the SusquehanLa, not far from Columbia, Ian
caster county, stone slabs, set up 10 marx the
length OF three leaps by young Solomon Forshee.
These slabs are sixtysix feet apart-three pro
digieus leaps. which, believe, have not yet been
surpassed I'm Pennsylvania. The SLAMS are sun
thcre 10 be seen by any curious observer who may
wish to investigate. They were placed there by
citizens Of the locality who were desrous OF mark
ing such extraordinary feat solomon torshee
died in his cabin up along Doug trough Run, near
Nagle's Mill. on the place At present owned Dy
Michael Gooderham. The pioneers remains are
now lying on the old Baum place below Nagie's
The Forshees were quiet, unobtrusivc people, who
ALWAYS kept themselves aIoOf from the turmoil and
chickering's Of the world. They lived and employed
themselves amid the wild scenes Of nature, seeking
neither fame wealth nor favor. They were bold.
hardy men, who valued their manhood above the
corrupting wealth Of kingdoms and the liberty
sweeter 10 them than the adulation VI sycophahts
10 the ears of the lofty 1T heart II they lived IN
poverty and seclusion they lived far removed from
the up9s circle of tho scufeT the derider and the
corrupt. They took their cue Of living from the
freshness and purene5s OF nature lying everywhere
about thcm-pure air, pure water, ana purity IN
everything. Amid such circumstance, purity OF
thought and living is natural consequence, At
least where human nature las fair play. Ihey
were not crowded down by the weight OF an inter
minable pyramid of mani Matched casts Of society,
but stood God designed that all men should
stand, free and untrammelled citizens OF the world
This pride-hatched pyramid Of European oPPres
SION ifnS Z, T sbnIs he eIevatod tons TO
he IS
prerogatiye OF co-heir with Christ. Let any one
John baum settled in on the banks Of Chest
creek. below Nagle's mill, about the year lIYs.-
Baum followed nothing but farming for occupa-
tion. He raised large family, and some Of his
descendants now reside IN the neiEhbOThood ci the
f,bcrr Tree In Susguehanna township A daugh-
ter his tin lives in the vicinity Of the old home
on Chest creek. This daughter IS now a very aged
,sornan E,f@hfy times mas the earth circle its or
BIT since she first viewed the light The Baum
nrver having any trouble with any one Baum
was at no time an ohico hunter nor did he mix in
politics all. lie cCntcntCd with n passage
In the shin OF state without striving for berth as
one Of the crew. Sometimes the crew OF vessel IS
made up OF only ordinary material in moral sense,
but nevertheless wel fitted for their duty as bold
and hardy seamCu. So mere passenger in the
ropes anv further than TO choose good scaulen who
are competent and willing to conduct MN safely on
Christian Walters and family settled in near
the Turner's about the year lS22. He followed
numbering well farming Tor j livelihood. This
family lived in a log house which is worth describ-
no1r-s-davs This house was constructed like an
ordinary log house an but the end which held the
fireplace. and that capacous receptacle of fuel
most abnormal in its character. One whole end OF
/ tho building would glow with an enormous blaze
during n cold winters night, and the volumes Il
-reck' freely generated from tho burning logs Is
capped through aperture running the Whole
. length OF the hro ulace-which aperture was ef-
fcctci by leaving out log in building the end
some hys six feet from the ground. This open
ipy served most htlv. IN conjunction with the
chimney built against the wall outside, in giving
powerful draft to the fire inside. On a cold win
this huge aud lengthy fire place, with the family
occupiud Ia various ways sitting before it, afforded
n cosy picture Of domestic comfort and happin, So
Strings Of onions and dried apple hung in estoons
from the hre-lit raners above, giving idea Of
. plenty rs they aIintod in the warm light There
hang the ride and powder horn ga a handy posi-
ton. while not far away IS an abundance Of dried
veuison-thc product Of 4 recent hunt The faith
ful dog lies asleep before the cheering blaze the
fectioi tho mother, who ls busy engaged atlooping
the worsted thread into warm feet for the
family. group o. laughing and chatting children,
seated on heecy skins from the Sleeps back, are
busily and happily empoye in cracking wanuts
and deyourInS the rich kernel hidden and protect
B ed within. As the glowing blaze lights up their
happy faces they present such picture as might
not "e found in a palace. The poet Burns says
ITS no in titles nor IN rank A.;
It's no in wealth like Lon'on bank.
To purchase peace and rest
It's no in making muckle mair
It's no in looks. its no IN lear,
To max truly blestt
f If happiness haze not her scat
And centre in the breast,
We may bc wise. rich, or great.
But never can be blest.
Nae treasures nor pleasures
Could make us happy lang
The heart aye : the part aye
That makes US right OF wrang"
SO that pioneer family. buried in the wIlds Of the
. Auegheuics. were as happy the wealth Of worlds
could make them with none Of the trouble and
strife and eDyv which are sometimes the concomi.
tauts Of riches. so could all men live as happily
there vile disturbing natures In the q
. who cannot live without stirring up strife. Such
. natures must, forsOCth- show their domineering
aUd hateful spirit in order to prove their superior
ty their fellows. when in they are far in
fcrior 10 an intelligent peaceful nature-pride
3 alone being commonly the prime mover in the &C
tlons OF such disturbers. II all had sufficient
right part, they would need very lit lie governing
The public school, # properly conducted viii
a guide-pOst along the road Of life 10 the church
and millions through It's influence might be guided
into the paths Of religion who otherwise would
& never ind the way.
We will now proceed with orr pen panorama o
life in the wilderness.
John Burtsoon. the father Of Andrew william
and Louis BurgoOn, Of this county, used TO pacL
iron on horse from DorSey's Forge. along tn,
Kfttanuing Path, westward far Pittsburgh
mesntme disposiHg Of the iron along the rout,
wherever in demand among tho black sTniths. Ths
fr0n-uackCrS generally went In companies Of o
twelve and campcd in the forest wherever hi ightfl
overlook thew. These lovial traders must hay,
smoked around the campfire while the evening
meal being prepared. We viii Just depict !
scene Of his Kind for the entertainment OF tn,
reader. It ts a calm evening IN early autumn whei
. the Iron-laden cavaicade winds slowly along tn,
1arrow trail through the intermInabic forest whcs
leaves putting on the many. hued colors Of thu
melancholy days The sun Is Just visible abovt
the horizon mid the crimson tinted western clouds
. peeuing here and there between the boles OF IN.
mighty giants of the wilderness and casting slant
. lug CLEANS Of rcd light through amongst the vii
dcrng colors Of the changeiUl scene. Man and
beast are weary and hungry and the ehatterln.
Gight OF the wood bird to its snug. nest sug