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The Mill Creek Rod and Gun Club was organized in August, 1888, with C. H. McCauley, E. J. Grant, O. B. Grant, Irving Schultz, G. B. Horton and Norman Schultz, members.

CHAPTER XVI.

MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP-SPRING CREEK TOWNSHIP.

TION-ELECTION.

MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP- -TOPOGRAPHY-FIRST SETTLEMENT-MILLS-POPULA SPRING CREEK TOWNSHIP -GENERAL CONFORMATION-POPULATION-ELECTIONS, ETC.-SOME FIRST THINGS-VILLAGES-MISCELLANEOUS.

MILLST

ILLSTONE TOWNSHIP, which juts into Forest county, is bounded south by the Clarion river. Into this river flows the creek after which the township is named, the east branches of which spread out north and east to the Spring creek divide, and form a confluence with the main stream at a point north by west of Millstone village. Topographically the country is similar to Spring Creek township, but the plateaus are larger and the streams much less numerous. Here, after the forest strippers began regular lumbering, the woodman's ax was heard on every side, and within a few years the pine and hemlock clothing of the flat hills was carried down the Clarion to the great mills, leaving the traveler of 1878 to behold as rugged a country as might be seen in Scotland. The supposed existence of coal and gas here gave some hope for the future, but no one credited Millstone with even the preten. sion of being ever an agricultural valley. Years have brought with them improvement, and the township of to-day, although robbed of its forests, gives promise of taking an important place among the divisions of Elk county.

The first settlement dates back to 1826, when John Wynkoop located at the mouth of the creek bearing his name. In 1832 the first school was opened at Millstone village by Miss Graham; in 1834 the first school-house was built by the directors elected that year; in 1835 a second house, and the third house in 1847. Since that time school affairs have interested the people.

The Millstone mills, near the mouth of the creek of that name, have been operated by the Moore Brothers for many years. In 1884-85 the water power was changed for steam-power, and its capacity increased to 70,000 feet per day. ...Raught's mills are also in the township of Millstone, on the Clarion river, seven miles from Arroyo.... The Crispin, Darragh & Moore shingle mills, two miles north of the mouth of Millstone creek, were burned in 1876.

The population in 1880 was 209. In 1888 the voters were represented by 39 Democrats, 23 Republicans and 1 Prohibitionist, a total of 63, representing about 315 inhabitants.

The Millstone elections of February, 1890, resulted in the choice of the following named officers: Adam Zimmerman, justice; H. Cutzs, treasurer; G. D. Donahy, collector; J. W. Lawton, clerk; J. W. Cutzs, assessor; C. T.

Painter, constable; John Wilson and W. P. Painter, auditors; W. B. McCormick, Peter Heffron and Samuel Witherow, school directors; W. K. Moore and H. Aharah, supervisors.

SPRING CREEK TOWNSHIP.

Spring Creek township is named after the native creek, which enters the Clarion river at a point about one mile west of Irvin's mills. The main river enters the township about eight miles below Ridgway, flows west through a tortuous channel to Spring Creek village, where it turns southwest to form the extreme southwest line of the county (elevation 1,250 feet), as the dividing line between Millstone township and Jefferson county. A little stream, flowing north through the extreme southeast corner, enters the river just west of the east line. This stream is called Little Toby branch. In the southwest corner is Maxwell's run, Laurel run and a hundred rivulets run into the streams named from the various summits. Near Lake City one of the largest plateaus in the county exists, and there, also, is the divide of the southwest part of this township. The northern divide is near the north line, between Bear creek and one of the sources of Spring creek.

As early as 1852-53 coal deposits were developed near Spring Creek village, at Laurel Run forks in 1871, and at Irwin's Mills in 1877. So well was the coal established in 1873, that it was proposed to build a narrow-gauge road eighteen miles from this point to Sheffield.

The population in 1880 was 467. In 1888 there were 4 Prohibition, 120 Republican and 119 Democratic votes cast, or a total of 243, representing 1,215 inhabitants. The February election of 1846 in Spring Creek township resulted in the choice of Job P. Payne and Thomas Lynn for justices; Rufus Gallatin, constable; Ephraim Shaul and Thomas Beatty, supervisors; J. P. Payne, James Crow and George Rhines, school directors; John L. Givens, with Crow and Rhines, auditors; J. P. Payne, clerk; Jonathan Beatty, assessor; T. Lynn and W. M. Redline, overseers of the poor; James Crow, judge, with Thomas Irwin and George Rhines, inspectors of election. D. H. Damon and John Kenning were elected justices in 1849; Silas Blake and Ŏ. B. Thing, in 1850. The elections of February, 1890, show 172 votes for A. Webster and 53 for O. T. Minor, candidates for justice of the peace; C. E. McCrea was chosen school director; John Trimper and T. Jefferson, supervisors; E. C. Barrett, treasurer; John Hamilton, overseer of the poor; R. Mohney, collector; E. M. Rodgers, clerk, and P. R. Smith, auditor. In East Spring Creek, N. G. McClosky received 85 votes and A. Webster 82, for justice of the peace.

The first assessment of Spring Creek township was made in 1846. Among the industries taxed were the saw-mills of William Armstrong, George Ryan, George Dull, and the saw- and grist-mills of Payne & Watterson. The other resident taxpayers were James Crow, Squire T. Carr, Henry Dull, William Evans, Jonathan Beatty, John Grant, John Given, Thomas Irwin, Robert Jewett, Thomas Lynde, Eben Lee, John Lukins, William Payne, W. Redline, Ephraim and Andrew Shaul, Rufus Gallatin, Silas Blake, Zach Double, Isaac Nichols, Orville Thing, Dan Wolford, Francis Mayberry and Peter Connor. The last named operated a shingle machine.

In Spring Creek township in 1850 were fifteen dwellings, fifteen families, ninety-one inhabitants, four farms and three industries.

The first settlements were made by Philip Clover and Sowers in 1831-32. The first school-house was built in 1840, at the mouth of Spring creek, and opened by the very primitive John Knox, Miss Crow and Horace Warner following successively. In 1846 Miss Clements opened a subscription school at George

Rhines' house on Maxwell run. In 1852 the directors authorized the building of a house at Arroyo; but this was not erected, and Miss Thom was compelled to teach over the ox-shoeing establishment of Thomas Irwin. In 1856 a school house was erected between Arroyo and Spring Creek, at a cost of $338, $115 of which were subscribed on condition that the building could be used for religious and other meetings.

Arroyo, in the township of Spring Creek, on the river Clarion, and ten miles from Ridgway, of which Thomas Irwin was the founder, is a lumber town. Arroyo post-office was removed from Irwin's in April, 1880, to Beech Bottom, and E. W. Rogers was appointed postmaster. The Arroyo Bridge Company was incorporated in April, 1883, with F. Shaffner, E. M. Rogers, C. H. Smith, James B. Wickes and Charles Millen, directors. The object was to bridge the Clarion at Arroyo.

Carman is a comparatively modern settlement. Here is the hospitable Carman House of Mr. Casey. Early in 1890 a society of the Protestant Episcopal Church was organized at this point. A large Catholic congregation assembles here at stated times to worship. Hiram Carman moved into this township in 1858, and for thirty-two years has been prominent in the industrial, political and social life of the township.

The Clarion River & Spring Creek Oil Company signed articles of agree. ment in March, 1865, with F. F. Bernadin, Gouverneur Emerson, James S. Bewley, Gustave English and Andrew K. Hay, stockholders. The object was to develop coal and oil lands in Forest and Elk counties. This company drilled one well in Spring Creek township. In August, 1889, indications that the territory in the vicinity of the Grant mill on the Clarion river would be fully tested for oil and gas were manifest, as preparations were made for drilling a number of wells. Those familiar with this territory, and in a position to know, express it as their positive belief that it will ultimately prove a great oil-producing center, and as soon as the Standard company, who now own or control by lease most of the land and have invested large sums of money in that section are ready, the new field will be opened up. wells in the world are already found there, and in the of some little moment have already been discovered. Creek will soon boom as an oil center. A venture of the Standard Oil Company is now being made on one of the Powell lots.

Some of the best gas neighborhood oil wells Millstone and Spring

In the pages of the assessment roll for 1889 the following industries appear: Portland Lumber Company, 4,990 acres in Spring Creek township, of which 900 were stripped, with saw-mills; Horton, Crary & Co., 7,046 acres unseated, 184 acres seated, with tannery, storehouses, etc.; G. W. Rhines' saw-mill; Hall & Gardner's saw-mill; Empire Lumber Company's saw-mill and 1,600 acres; J. L. Ellis' saw-mill, and Craig, Henderson & Co.'s shingle-mill.

CHAPTER XVII.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES RIDGWAY TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF RIDGWAY.

N. T. ARNOLD, attorney at law, Ridgway, son of W. W. and Margaret Ann Arnold, was born in Allegany county, N. Y., in 1857. In 1858 he was taken by his father to Potter county, Penn., where he was reared and educated in the lower branches. Being desirous of obtaining an education, and his father being in limited circumstances, he taught school to obtain the money to defray his expenses at a higher school, and finally graduated from the normal school at Lock Haven in 1879. He had determined to make law his profession, and accordingly began his studies with D. C. Larrabee, of Coudersport, in 1881, and in 1884 was admitted to the bar. He began the practice at Ridgway, being associated with Dyson Rishell, and later, with W. W. Barbour, formed the present firm of Arnold & Barbour. Mr. Arnold takes great interest in his professional practice, and is also devoted to scientific studies, taking an especial interest in the study of astronomy. He is a Republican in politics, though not an active politician. He married Hannah Thompson, a daughter of Robinson and Cynthia J. Thompson, of Cedar Springs, Clinton Co., Penn., August 24, 1881, and they have two children: Laura (born in 1883) and Paul (born in 1889). Mr. and Mrs. Arnold are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are among the prominent young people of Ridgway.

WILLIAM W. BARBOUR, attorney at law, Ridgway, was born in Indiana county, Penn., March 20, 1863, a son of William and Elizabeth (Lee) Barbour, of Westmoreland and Lycoming counties, respectively. Mr. Barbour received an academic education in his native county, graduating from the State Normal School in 1883. He then came to Elk county and accepted the position of principal of the high school of Wilcox, which he filled for one year, during which time he was elected professor of mathematics in the Indiana State Normal School, at Indiana, Penn. After enjoying that position one year, he resigned to enter the law office of Rishell & Arnold, of Ridgway, with whom he read law. He was admitted to the bar in 1886, and immediately formed a partnership with Mr. Arnold, remaining in Ridg way until September, 1888, when they purchased the law business of W. W. Ames, of St. Mary's, of which branch Mr. Barbour had charge till his removal to Ridgway, where he now resides. He takes an active part in Republican politics, and was the candidate of that party for district attorney in 1888. In that year he married Helen, daughter of Hon. Horace Little, of Ridgway. Mr. and Mrs. Barbour are members of the Ridgway Presbyterian Church.

J. S. BARDWELL, M. D., Ridgway, was born in Warren county, Penn., February 17, 1834. In his childhood his parents moved to Yates county, N. Y., and later returned to Warren county, Penn., where he was educated and began the study of medicine with his brother, Dr. Richard C. Bardwell. He began his practice in Warren in 1857, but in 1863 removed to Ridgway, where he has since resided. After pursuing a regular practice several years, he at

tended the Vitipathic Medical College, at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1883. In his practice he makes use of electricity and magnetic appliances and the application of hot-air vapor baths, and is pre-eminently successful in the treatment of spinal, heart, rheumatic and asthmatic troubles. In addition to his profession he devotes considerable attention to agriculture and also has a fine dairy. From trees on his land was taken the first bark used for tanning purposes in Ridgway. Dr. Bardwell married, December 22, 1855, Edna C. Seeley, who died October 20, 1883, leaving three children: Addie R. Bardwell, Clarice E. Bardwell and Stoddard William Bardwell. His present wife was Susan Cathbert, whom he married, January 7, 1885.

I. D. BELL, cashier of the Ridgway Bank, was born in Warsaw, Jefferson Co., Penn., in 1862, a son of John and Eleanor Bell. He received a good business education, completing it at the Williamsport Commercial College, Williamsport, Penn., where he graduated in the spring of 1883. then employed in the general store of John Cuneo, at Brockport, four months, when he was employed as book-keeper in the Ridgway Bank, which position he filled acceptably until December, 1889, when he was elected cashier. He is a good business man, and in addition to attending to his duties in the bank, has been identified with J. H. McEwen & Co., machinists of Ridgway, Penn., since May, 1887, and is also secretary of the New Era Gas Company of the same place. Mr. Bell was married, in 1884, to Miss Ada E. Thompson, daughter of Peter Thompson, of Brandy Camp, Elk county, and they have one child, Cliff Ronald. In politics Mr. Bell is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the First Congregational Church.

P. F. BOGERT, general merchant, Johnsonburg, Quay P.O., was born in Sullivan county, N. Y., December 31, 1844. His parents, Peter J. and Rebecca (Fonda) Bogert, were natives of Fulton county, N. Y., and farmers by occupation. Mr. Bogert was reared in Sullivan county, N. Y., and received but an ordinary education. At the age of twenty-five he engaged in the hotel business at Jeffersonville, Sullivan county, and in 1880 came to Ridgway, Elk Co., Penn., and established the Bogert House, which he conducted for five years. He then took a trip to San Francisco, Cal., and afterward located at Sheffield, Warren Co., Penn. He established his present business in February, 1888, under the firm name of Bogert & McGeehin. In 1870 he married Miss Hannah M., daughter of Peter R. Wood, of Ulster county, N. Y. Mr. Bogert is a member of Sheffield Lodge, No. 969, I. O. O. F., and the Knights of Pythias.

L. A. BRENDELL, groceries and provisions, Ridgway, is a native of Philadelphia, Penn., born in 1851, son of Ludwig and Barbara Brendell, who came to America from Germany in 1850. In his childhood his parents moved to Lock Haven, where he grew to manhood and completed his school days. After reaching his majority, January 22, 1872, he came to Ridgway, opened a grocery and bakery, and here he has built up a good trade. He keeps a full line of staple and fancy groceries, and fresh bakery goods, confectionery, etc. He is also the owner of a fine farm, and keeps constantly on hand fresh dairy goods, butter, cheese, etc. November 19, 1874, Mr. Brendell married Miss Jennie Cuthbert, daughter of A. G. and Ann Cuthbert, who came from Canada, and are of Scotch descent. Mr. Brendell is a Republican in politics, and has served five years as overseer of the poor, his term expiring in the spring of 1889. He is a member of the Ridgway Lodge, No. 969, I. O. O. F. Mrs. Brendell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

N. M. BROCKWAY, lumberman, P. O. Oyster, Jefferson county, Penn., was born in Keystone, Perry Co., Penn., January 25, 1829, the second in a

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