Throughout the pages of the history of the counties literary credit is given to those, who, in earlier years, did so much for the cause of history in this district; acknowledgment is made to others for the ready assistance given in the prosecution of the work. The number who have assisted by suggestion, relation or written testimony to render this volume what it is, is too large to warrant individual mention here, but the aid and courtesy of each one are fully remembered and appreciated.

Special thanks are tendered to the prothonotaries, commissioners' clerks and recorders, and to all other officials of these counties, for their co-operation with the writer in searching the public record books and documents. To the clerks of the boroughs and the record keepers of religious, secret, benevolent, temperance and military organizations, acknowledgement is gratefully made for their material aid.

To the members of the newspaper circle of McKean county, who not only permitted the examination of their most valuable files, but also suggested many interesting historical points, hitherto unpublished, much of the complete character of this volume must be credited. The files examined comprise the Miner, in possession of Lucius Rogers; the Reporter, of A. J. Hughes; the Era and older papers, as well as the Oil News, of the Era Publishing Company, through Editors P. C. Boyle and A. L. Snell; the Star, of the Star Publishing Company, through Editor H. F. Barbour; the Eldred Eagle, of A. D. Gould; the McKean Democrat, of Clark Wilson; the Kane Leader, of Ada C. Malone, and the Oswayo Valley Mail, of J. P. Herrick; while a thorough summary was made of the old newspaper files of 1832-42; of the King survey books of 1799-1805, and historical papers of Orlo J. Hamlin, published in 1832, all in possession of Byron D. Hamlin. The reminiscences of Loyal Ward, and the private documents in possession of Henry Hamlin, proved very valuable.

To the editors of Elk county an equal measure of thanks is extended. The old files of the Advocate, in possession of Jerome Powell, the new ones, of Editor Baker, the files of the Democrat, of George R. Dixon; the Gazette, of the Wilmarth Brothers, and the Herald, of F. A. Jacob, yielded up a wealth of local history. The pamphlet entitled Our Common Schools, by George R. Dixon, the papers by Erasmus Morey, Jefferson L. Brown and George A. Rathbun, with short sketches by Henry Souther and Dr. C. R. Earley, contributed largely to render the history of Elk county complete; while the collection of old school records and documents in possession of Charles Luhr, and the reminiscences of Ignatius Garner, were invaluable contributions to the sketches of Benzinger township and St. Mary's borough. From copies of the Clarion Breeze accounts of modern Johnsonburg and vicinity are taken.

Forest county is singularly fortunate in its possession of citizens who have always taken a deep interest in her history. In 1876 Samuel D. Irwin wrote his Centennial sketches, a valuable collection of pioneer memoirs. Daniel Harrington's contributions to the Spectator were equally valuable. To James B. Muse, of the Democratic Vindicator, the writer is indebted for the Harrington reminiscences, and to Mr. Jacob E. Wenk, of the Forest Republican, for the Irwin history; and to both editors much is due for their successful efforts in preserving historical facts. The files of the National Democrat, of J. M.

Kepler, have also afforded valuable data for this compilation.

To all people, whose intelligent co-operation renders this work successful, is sent a message of hope and belief that this volume will prove authentic and be acceptable.

THE PUBLISHERS.

PREFACE.

Go fix some weighty truth;

Chain down some passion; do some good;
Teach ignorance to see or grief to smile;
Correct thy friend; befriend thy greatest foe;
Be just in all things; make amends

For follies past, and, with warm heart,

Forgive, and be forgiven. Let work not words
Thy virtue prove. Go act as well as prate,
And then thy counsels will be strong,
Thy reprimands avail.-ANON.

HE province of the historian is to gather the threads of the past ere they

66

the art preservative" may give immortality. Therefore he, who would rescue from fast-gathering oblivion the deeds of a community, and send them on to futurity in an imperishable record, should deliver a plain, unvarnished tale. In such a spirit have the compilers of the following pages approached the work of detailing the history embodied therein, and trust they have been fairly faithful to the task imposed. It has been their honest endeavor to trace the history of the development of this section from that period when it was in the indisputed possession of the red man to the present, and to place before the reader an authentic narrative of its rise and progress to the prominent position it now occupies in the Keystone State.

This volume has been prepared in strict accordance with the announcements made in the prospectus issued more than a year ago. The publishers were fortunate in securing the services of Prof. M. A. Leeson, whose many years of labor in the field of local history have especially fitted him for the work. To him was assigned the task of preparing the general histories of these counties.

The biographical sketches, which are an important feature of the work, were prepared, for the most part, by a special corps of writers, who gathered the facts from those immediately interested, to whom they were submitted, in type-written form, for revision and correction. The personal and family histories given in these sketches chronicle much interesting and valuable matter which, through death and the ravages of time, would otherwise be lost, and it is believed that in succeeding years they will be found to possess an additional interest and value.

The volume is believed to contain a larger and more varied amount of historical materials than was ever before embodied in a local history; but he who expects to find it entirely free from errors or defects has little knowledge of the difficulties attending the preparation of a work of this kind. To procure material for its compilation, official records have been carefully examined; newspaper files searched; manuscripts, letters and memoranda have been sought, and hundreds of citizens interviewed. In some cases it was necessary to reconcile contradictory statements. Some errors are unavoidable. The publishers trust that the book will be received in that generous spirit which is gratified at honest and conscientious effort, and not in that captious spirit which refuses to be satisfied short of unattainable perfection.

Throughout the pages of the history of the counties literary credit is given. to those, who, in earlier years, did so much for the cause of history in this district; acknowledgment is made to others for the ready assistance given in the prosecution of the work. The number who have assisted by suggestion, relation or written testimony to render this volume what it is, is too large to warrant individual mention here, but the aid and courtesy of each one are fully remembered and appreciated.

Special thanks are tendered to the prothonotaries, commissioners' clerks and recorders, and to all other officials of these counties, for their co-operation with the writer in searching the public record books and documents. To the clerks of the boroughs and the record keepers of religious, secret, benevolent, temperance and military organizations, acknowledgement is gratefully made for their material aid.

To the members of the newspaper circle of McKean county, who not only permitted the examination of their most valuable files, but also suggested many interesting historical points, hitherto unpublished, much of the complete character of this volume must be credited. The files examined comprise the Miner, in possession of Lucius Rogers; the Reporter, of A. J. Hughes; the Era and older papers, as well as the Oil News, of the Era Publishing Company, through Editors P. C. Boyle and A. L. Snell; the Star, of the Star Publishing Company, through Editor H. F. Barbour; the Eldred Eagle, of A. D. Gould; the McKean Democrat, of Clark Wilson; the Kane Leader, of Ada C. Malone, and the Oswayo Valley Mail, of J. P. Herrick; while a thorough summary was made of the old newspaper files of 1832-42; of the King survey books of 1799-1805, and historical papers of Orlo J. Hamlin, published in 1832, all in possession of Byron D. Hamlin. The reminiscences of Loyal Ward, and the private documents in possession of Henry Hamlin, proved very valuable.

To the editors of Elk county an equal measure of thanks is extended. The old files of the Advocate, in possession of Jerome Powell, the new ones, of Editor Baker, the files of the Democrat, of George R. Dixon; the Gazette, of the Wilmarth Brothers, and the Herald, of F. A. Jacob, yielded up a wealth of local history. The pamphlet entitled Our Common Schools, by George R. Dixon, the papers by Erasmus Morey, Jefferson L. Brown and George A. Rathbun, with short sketches by Henry Souther and Dr. C. R. Earley, contributed largely to render the history of Elk county complete; while the collection of old school records and documents in possession of Charles Luhr, and the reminiscences of Ignatius Garner, were invaluable contributions to the sketches of Benzinger township and St. Mary's borough. From copies of the Clarion Breeze accounts of modern Johnsonburg and vicinity are taken.

Forest county is singularly fortunate in its possession of citizens who have always taken a deep interest in her history. In 1876 Samuel D. Irwin wrote his Centennial sketches, a valuable collection of pioneer memoirs. Daniel Harrington's contributions to the Spectator were equally valuable. To James B. Muse, of the Democratic Vindicator, the writer is indebted for the Harrington reminiscences, and to Mr. Jacob E. Wenk, of the Forest Republican, for the Irwin history; and to both editors much is due for their successful efforts in preserving historical facts. The files of the National Democrat, of J. M.

Kepler, have also afforded valuable data for this compilation.

To all people, whose intelligent co-operation renders this work successful, is sent a message of hope and belief that this volume will prove authentic and be acceptable.

THE PUBLISHERS.