The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-08-24
OBITUARY.
HON. J. G. DALE.

issue, was not unexpected. His useful
life, of more than fourscOre years, was
one of greatest activity. and, though he
retained his physical and mental powers
in a wonderful degree, the fact could not
be concealed, for some months past, that
his life was approaching its termination.
The body that had faithfully served the
energetic spirit encased within it, was
gradually wearing out and waited but
the swapping of the thread of life to give |
freedom to the soul. His suffering at
times was most severe, put he bore it all |
with patience and fortitude characteris- |
tic of his life.
The subject of this sketch was born in
Centre county, Pa. May Is, 1915. His
father, Rev. Joseph Dale, was a clergy
man of the Methodist Episcopal church,
and came of good Quaker parentage. His
mother was Mary Gates, a daughter of
Thomas Gates, Esq, gentleman OF
great enterprise, and one of the pioneer
settlers of this section uf Forest county
Mrs. Dale was a woman of highest Chris
tisn culture, whose "liie was marked
with some act of goodness every day,
and whose lovliness of character was
iondly cherished in the memory oi her
three children who attained the years of
maturity. Ofthese, but one, Mrs. Susan
McClatchey OF Erie county, is still living.
The eldest, son, the late Hon. John A.
nj
In 1916 Mrs. Dale being left widow,
brought her little children over a rough
mountainous road, through the wilder
ness, to her fathers home on the Tio-
nesta, at Oldtown flats. Some few years
later, she moved "to small improve
ment near the mouth of the creek, on
what was afterwards known as the Kiser
farm" And here, along the beautiful
stream, shut in by forest covered hills,
were spent the boyhood days of Joseph
Dale, and, like all the youths of eighty
years ago, he was skilled in all the arts
of the forest aud knew the hardships and
dangers OF pioneer life.
We of the present generation who are
enjoying the many improvements the in
ventions and discoveries of the last few
decades have brought to us, can scarcely
realize our Indebtedness to the early set
tiers. 1t can hardly seem possible that
one who was with us so recently, and
whose youthful spirit kept in close touch
with the times in which he lived, saw
this section of the country when 1t was
an unbroken wilderness, on the east side
of the Allegheny, from his home to East
Hickory. But he did, and lived in time
when all the travelling here was done in
canoes in the summer and on the ice in
the winter. There were no roads-noth-
ing but foot-paths from one settlement to
another, and for this reason, the pious
mother often carried her son Joseph five
miles to preaching service that was held
at Dawsons, on the headwaters OF Stew
arts Run. From the history of Tionesta
that he wrote, and that was published in
the TindicdtOT in the winter of 81, we
learn that the "Indians were very num-
erous here at that time along the creek
and river in the summer time, fishing
and killing deer. Game of all kinds was
plenty, especially deer, and wolves could
be heard bowling almost every night
! The land upon which Tionesta borough
is located was covered with a heavy
growth of hickory, walnut and butternu
timber"
Judge Dale's hoyhood days were spen
in an age when men did not know how
| to make a match to light their fires with
f before electricity was harnsed to the ma
. chinery of life, and was found to posses
( a power without measure. He lived I,
see the wilderness transformed into
I well cultivated valley with fine broat
, acres, and little hamlet widen till it be
f came town of worth. Quite in contras
with the puncheon floors of the old loI
4 cabin, were the soft rich carpets of hi
4 late home. Natural gas was a source @
8 great comfort compared with the ope
n fireplace and the back log. When LAD
medical aid was brought by him, horse
i, back, on path through the wilderness
: sixteen miles, but before his death, elec
tricity became his messenger to sum
mon physician to his residence
And one of the very pleasing things T.
-, note is the fact that the venerable gentle
man, as the present generation kney
. him, was one of the most important fac
!. tors in the wonderful changes and i'm
, provements that have taken place.
Coming of an honorable and intelligen
ancestry, he inherited a love of learnin
and great mental vigor that proved a
the environment necessary for him
=, overcome every obstacle to obtain lii
eral education, that fitted him to hold tn
many positions of honor and trust dul
+ ing his lifetime. This helped TO max
;. him a man of broad views, clear judl
y, ment, quick insight and student all h
DAYS; and his library of hundreds
. choice volumes, shows the high order
+ his literary tastes.
.. Judge Dale began the battle of life f
himself at the age of fifteen at lumberir
=, and rafting, and during his lifetime
=, was also engaged in merchandise, banl
:, ing and oil producing. When engage
30 in the latter pursuit, he purchased u
=, Ball farm, near Pithole, for SlO5, 900, and
: that time ne was director of the Pitho
~ Valley Railroad company. When b
= twenty-one he was appointed lieute
ant in the State militia, con manded
:. Gov. Ritner. and held the position +