Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-06-02
ADDITIONAL LOCALS.

I
to our friend, j. II. Holt, Esq, for copy
! Of Col. james Gilliland's "Historical
Sketches Of the Snow Shoe Region" re-
Gently published in pamphlet form. We
have read this excellent little work with
/ great pleasure and interest II opens with
an account Of the "early surveys and own
ers Of land in the region Of which 1t
treats, in 1873. Then there is an exceed.
ingly interesting sketch Of the "Grst set
TIERS beginning with John Betchtol who
in the year 1918 became the first perma-
nent resident John Belchtol was follow
ed in the same year by Samuel Askey,
/ who was a famous woodsmAn and hunter.
/ The anecdotes related by Col. GillilAnd Of
Samuel Askcy's hunting adventures are
well told and interesting. Mr.. Askey died
IN the year lsj7 in his eighty-artt year,
leaving twelve children, forty-two grand
I children and five great grand children.
/ Mrs, Austin Hinton, one Of his daugh-
. tcrs, and number Of his grand and
/ grca,-chidrcn are At the present time resi-
/ dents Of Snow Shoc.
/ After Betchtol and Afkey, came John
| Holt The sketch Of the Holt family Is 30
interesting that We cannot forbeAr 70 give
( it in full. We therefore take the follow
extract from the chapter upon the "frst
settlers
"Thcrc was no further settlement until
the spring of 1922, when John Holt, Esq.,
from Bald Eagle Valley, located about d
I milce quidisiant from Beichtol aud Askey.
He made q judlcious selection of land The
situation is beautiful, commanding pleas
ant and extensive view Of the surrounding
country land smooth and easily cultiyAt-
I cd, producing good crops, with desirable
home lie was useful and highly re-
specte1 citizen. For many years be iillcd
the Office Of justice Of the peace, and dis
charged the duties Of other Offices Of the
township, 20 which he WAS frequently
called by the people. lie died at the resi-
dence Of his daughter, Mr.. Hughy, in the
State Uf Illinois, while on visit, on the
28d day of November, 1863 His remains
were brough. home and deposited in Snow
Shoe Cemetery.
His greAt-grAndfAihcr was a son Of Sir
June iA'lAf hA ENElhWgs ana ttNlEFhltu 10
. America and setilcd In the Cumberland
1 Valley before the Revolution. He leil
home 90 GO on business TO Philadelphia.
and never was heard Of afterwards. Ii
wss supposed that he was killed by the In
dians. He left one son, Thomas, and two
daughters, who with the Buchsnans, were
the hrst settlers at Lewistown Pennsylvs.
mis-. Thomas Holt had four sons and three
| daughters. William, the ancestor of Judge
Holt, Postmaster-G General during Mr. b.
| Chanans administration, cmigrated 10
! Kentucky; James WAS killed by the In
dians Thomas went to Ohio and Col.
John Holt, the father of John Holt, Etq.,
of Snow Shoe, settled in the Bald Eagle
Valley, near Curtins iron works, in 1882
He was a colonel in the Revolution, and
was ST the battle Of Germantown and in
several others He was fond Of hunting,
and II s ssid was the lrst white man that
! followed the Indian trsil 20 Snow Shoe 10
hunt game. 1t was his custom to spend n
few weeks during every fall season hunt
ing. Samuel Askey, Joseph and Charles
Lucas, and his son John, when a boy, gen.
orally accompanied him. He raised a
1 family Of four sons-Thomas, James,
John, and Robert-and four daughters
Mary, married 10 Jacob Barnhart; Eliza
beth, to Henry BArnhatt; Jane, TO Fred
erick Ants and Nancy, TO James Patter.
son. Colonel Holt died in the summer Of
! 1881, in the seventy-sixth year Of his age
Mrs. Mary Holt, wife Of John Holt,
died on the 9th Of July, 1867, aged seven
/ ty.two years. She was = woman Of more
( than ordinary intelligence, highly esteem
/ cd by her neighbors and by all who knew
I her a devoted Christian, following the
example Of her Divine Master. ''going
abroad doing good; in cases Of sickness
attending upon the humble and the lowly
as well as the more favored Mrs. Holt
was the daughter OF John Harrison, an
I Englishtnan, and one Of the first settlers
Of Milcsburg, whose descendants are num-
erous, including the Bairds, Holts, Swan
zys, Mckibbenses, and others.
John Hollis family consisted Of two
sons and three daughters. William, his
oldest con, was killed at the breaking down
of the trcstle across Millers Hollow, when
in the cars, on his way 10 = political meet
ing. He was one Of the most enterprising
men of the country, a skillful and success.
ful farmer, and alec engaged extensively
in lumber operations. His death was 4 |
great loss TO his family, and was much |
lamented by the community. His brother,
J. II. Holt, IL also prominent and useful |
citizen Of Snow Shoe, extensively engaged |
in the square-timber business and In farm /
ing. Ars. nughys the only daughter
living, resides in tho State OF Illinois"
These old settlers attracted others and
in short time came John Mayes, from
Madisonburg, in Miles township, Perry
John Lucas and others mentioned By Col.
Gilliland. The succeeding parts are de-
voted 10 the growth, development and i'm
provemenso Of the region. The work should
be in the hands Of every one interested in
Snow shoe and Burnside township !