The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-29
THE BUUKALEWS.

MESSRS. EDITORS
Dear Sirs Excuse me for present.
ing letter mixed with history, remin-
iscences and personalities. The oppor-
tunity presented itself and WI improved
ii. If exceptions should be taken to it,
protect us from all harm. In the south
eastern portion Of Fishingcreek town
ship, Columbia county, little way
back from the North Mountain, along
side the Luzerne county line and ex-
tending to the old Berwick turnpike
was timber tract of several hundred
acres, or, what might be termed very
dense forest of towering pines Of ex-
quisite beauty and quality, which SEEM
cd to contain an inexhaustible supply
of lumber. The owner, or owners, al
ways numbering, drew from the forest
with studied economy, and With a
judicious view for the best preserva-
tion of the timber. A sawmill run by
water power located on big Pine Creek
did its yearly work from time immem-
orial during water supply times on the
manufacture of lumber with telling ef
feet. 1t is no longer forest that could
defy the lumberman's axe with impun-
ity. There are yet many pines, but
wonderfully thinned out, but not Gull
ed. That has not been part of the pro-
gramme. This tract was owned by
John M. Buckalew, long since dead,
but nevertheless still owned by the sur
viving heirs, viz: William (deoeased's)
heirs, Perry, Charles r., John M, we'll
we can not positively say, but think
Mahalah, wife of B. G. Hess. The
Buckalew family was remarkable
one. The father, powerful man of
constitution and will, was slow of
speech, but every word was coined in
to opinion that could neither be refut-
ed nor gainsayed. The old venerable
neighbor we will remember to our dy.
ing day. William was surveyor and
the counterpart of his father in inte-
gritty and character, though not in con-
stitution and fatigue enduring powers.
He had turning lathe also run by
water power located on the same
stream and residing only across the
bridge from the homestead. Perry is
farmer and an excellent citizen whose
integrity has never been questioned,
and as candid in every expression as
though it were gospel truth. His ply
sique is more delicate than that of his
brothers. John M. owns the home
stead, and is counseled much in conse-
quence of his business qualifications
and legal knowledge gained by close
application and study. He has large
library and Unsuitable thirst for read
ing Mahalah, more properly Mrs.
Hess resides at Van Camp, in beauti
full rural home, amuses herself very
much with her pet bird of the parrot
kind, which her brother brought from
South America and presented it to her
on his return home, when Minister at
Equedor, under Buchanan's admins
tration. The bird has long since gone
blind and ia no less than twenty-seyen
years old. 1t has such powerful
beak that it can Herewith crack wal
nuts. 1t has beautiful plumage, and
while it can ramble all over tree, yet
it never could fly on account of the un-
proportionate contrast between its body
and wings. We doubt whether Mrs
Hess would exchange it for a farm.
Mrs. Hess is a woman of dignity and
character, and portraysa noble bearing.
Charles L. the most distinguished per-
sOnage in the county and perhaps in
the state, second to none in ability and
intellect, and devoted to his profession
and renowned in its practice, has had
a very brilliant and successful career,
with probability of reaching the
highest climax attainable in the ma
tion's honor-a result devoutly hoped
for by all his friends. The following
anecdote we have frequently heard re-
lated, but for its trulhfulness We can
not vouch. That when a small boy
his father set him to hoeing corn, and
when asked how many rows he had
hoed, said he could not tell, but told
how many hills there were in the field,
Upon this startling development OF
mathematical comparisons the father
decided that it paid better TO send the
boy to school than to keep him at the
farm. If this anecdote is true it only
further proves the wisdom and pru
dence so characteristic of the father
in shaping the future destiny of his
son. The Buokalew family is an hon
ored and distinguished one though
all are republicans except Charles X
Many laughable anecdotes we could
relate as told by John M. with whom
we are more intimately acquainted thar
with any other member of the family
Excuse me, / should say, Captain John
NJ. Buckalew, if you please. y. Y. u