Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-02-28


occasionally enjoy glass of beer, and
few that may sometimes prefer some.
thing little stronger, but drunken
man is rare sight in our town, unless
he comes from some other place.
Our population is partly made up Of
retired farmers, men who have earned
their living by the sweat Of their brows,
who have been economical, of temperate
habits. and have thereby gained com
petence sufficient to sustain them In
very respectable and enviablc position
during the remainder of their lives.
But we also have professional men, mer.
chants and mechanics living here.
Three ministers, three doctors, one
lawyer, one squire, three merchants and
a number Of good mechanics. We have
four churches two school houses (but
three schools), and three stores. Our
villge is noted for wide streets and
flowing pumps in the middle Of the
street.
We have the very purcst mountain
water conveyed in pipes from beanti
ful spring near town. This town was
laid out by Aaron Levi, jew, living in
Philadelphia who owned large body
Of land around here and wishing to
dispose Of it laid out a town on rather a
/ l.. IL 4 Z.
lots for churches and school purposes.
In order to dispose Of these town lots,
he made a lottery, sold tickets and a
good many Of the lots were drawn by
persons who never presented their
/ claims and in course Of time were occupi.
ed by others and are now held by.
possession right.
This the place where James Duncan,
| father Of Hon. W. C Duncan Of Lewi-
burg Pa, and grandfather Of r. II.
Duncan of Spring Mills, located when
! quite young man. Old people used to
say that all the wealth he had when he
firt came TO Pcnnsyalley was a bundle
of goods which lac carried on his back.
lie then got few more goods and com.
menced business in this town where he
continued during his lifetime aud at the
| time of his death owned eight or ten
Of the best farms in Pcnnsyallcy and
two very fine brick Grist Mills. Here
| must state that during Mr.. Duncan's
time, business was done in quite dif
fcrent way from whatit IS done now.
Merchants generally got good but once
| year, sometimes twice, but very sol
dom. Before the canal was built good
were brought from Philadelphia on wa
gons. It took from three TO four weeks
70 makea trip and tho merchants role
on horseback to the city TO buy good.
At that time the wheat was Toured aud
/ during the winter hauled 20 Penus and
I Pine Creek stored in houses built for
that purpose, awaiting spring freshets,
when 1t was loaded in nrks specially
/ built ios thu purpose and taken down
Pcnns Creek toto the Susquchanna river
thence to Baltimore. This style created
considerable stir a~d commo'iou al1rc
tho creeks whom ths arks commenced
TO 60, every person was anxious to see
thcm start, men women and children
stood on the hanks. bidding ad.cu and
waving their kcrohicfs to the sturdy
men that had hold of the oars a they
usre winding around The bouls au3
finally passing into The mountain -ap
not knowing bat what il may be- the
last time 10 behold each others faces.
Wrecks were frequent aud sometimes
the hard earnings Of q whole year was
Joe. or at least damaged TO .uch au *.
tent that IL did not bring much in mar.
kst The arks were from seventy FIVE to
ono hundred feet long. sixteen feet
wide with pointed ends. The sides aud
ends we're boarded four feet high, bot
tom and sides made water tight, no
cover except q platform at each end for
the men that worked the oars They
would load from two hundred to two
hundred and fifty barrels Of -four on
one ark. There was -four storehouse at
Spring Mills oneat Penns Creek Mills,
one at the Forks (now Coburn) one at
Pine Creek Mills and one on the farm
Ialong Pine Creek now occupied by
Samuel Ard. Tho -four from Penns
and Brushvalley was hauled to these
points sEd from there taken Fast. Well
Mr. Editors must close. There are
great many things connected with the
history Of Aaronsbnrg and its former
citizens that might be interesting to
your readers. but ! am afraid have
been too lengthy already.
OCCASIONAL.
SENATOR SHERAAN is reported as admit.