TITT'1 rcuc advocate, A LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWSrAPEB, Is Published Ereru Thursday. UY OHNF. MOOHK. Tor Year in advance $1 CO STA11 subscriptions to bo paid in ad vance. Orders for Job Work respectfully olicicd. t"2)w.Ofllcc on Main Street, in the second elory of Ilouk & Gillis Store. Address JOHN G. HALL, EDiTon & rr.opiUKTon . msTom"OF K COUNT Y By a Northwestern Fcnnsylvanian. EARLY SETTLEMENT OF MDCIWAT AND VICINITY CONTINUED. Enos Gillis was pushing lkis improve, knouts rapidly on, his saw mill was in operation, and his tannery about com. file ted, ho removed his family to Ridg Tray in 1827. The saino year Levi Alyworth came in and took nn interest with his brother in building a saw mill, it was a failure producing considerable merriment at the time, thought a some, what serious affair to the owners. It is worthy of a mention. Alyworth and James L. Gillis had purchased the land of Mr. Ridgway, from the river at a point near the west end of the present bridge, thence west to below Hughes & Dickinson's mill and including all be low this line to the river ; about eighty five acres, known as the " mill lot." At the lower end of the lot is an island, which any one having been at Dickin. eon's mill will recollect. Back of this island and yet below the present mill, Mr. Alyworth decided to set his saw mill, with the expectation that with a slight dam across the stream at the head of the island, he would turn the water through and have sufficient head for all purposes. The mill was about comple ted, the bulkhead at the eutrance was finished and considerable progress on the dam, when it was suggested that a level being taken it would appear a mis. take and that he could not get a suffi cient head. Upon examination, this was found to be the case. To obtain sufficient head and fall, a dam would be lequired so high as would overflow the whole eighty acres, besides, no such dam could possibly stand the first ice freshet. The tools were dropped and every laborer discharged immediately. It subsequently had to be removed to make room for the present improve. incuts. A similar anecdote is told of Thomas Jefferson. In sight from his office window on his plantation was a mound or pinnacle. It struck him that a wind power could bo erected on this summit that would carry a saw mill. A contract was made with a mechanic for its erection. It was completed and after a settlement with the contractor, he said to Mr. Jefferson, " that ho thought the power fully sufficient," but says he, " I have often wondered how you would get the logs to the mill." Mr. Jeffer son was instantly struck with its im practability, aDU replied ; " I r.ever thought of that." Of course it was only a wind-mill. This mistake of Mr, Alyworth was a theme of much annoy' ance, besides the loss of money ; " old " Jacob Stafer frequently gave him sonic hard hits about it, Mr. Shafer was an early settler on " Little Toby," near the tho south line of Ilidgway township; which then comprised a largo territory, consisting of the present township of Ilidgway, Snyder, Spring Creek, Highland, and Jones townships. The lections were held in Ilidgway, and al though there were less than ten voters they were spirited ; particularly for the office of supervisor. Mr. Alyworth was running for that offico and opposed by Shafer, who declared " he would not vote for any man who would erect saw-mill that he could get neither wind or water to it." Mr. Shafer was a lo gitimate scion of Pennsylvania German stock, he was a sound Democrat. Such was tho firmness of his character that fllandcr often imputed it to obstinacy, As his residenco was half way. from Ilidgway to Brookvillo,ho kept an "en . . i H J 11 tcriainmeni auu was wen Known throughout tho whole country: He imbibed a prcjudico against tho Ilidg. wayitcs at an early period. Ono of tho causes was this ; la the settlement of Ridgway, spirituous liquors were " ta booed " teetotally, except as a medicine. There was no temperance society, no pledges, but it was tho spontaneous de sire of the whole people to keep it out of the place. Mr. Shafer, either from a desire to add to his profits or from the importunities' of his guests, kept a bot tle of " twitch-eye " or " rot-gut " in his cupboard, which from its scarcity, more probably than from its quality was eagerly sought 9 Iter, frequently tempt- 11 j I ! JOHN Q. HALL, 12ditoi iolv.iih v.vinnr,n to. ing those, whose appetites from long abstinence had well nigh been cured of its former effects. The dipetsation of th's "tabooed" article by Mr.Shafcr,and without any limine from tho Common wealth had its deleterious effect upon tho settlement at Ilidgway, though eighteen miles distant, and in foct be came an nimoyancc. Mr. Alyworth be. ing on the grand jury deemed the case a proper one for a presentment, and the court as properly fined Mr. Shafer five dollars and costs, with the admonition, ;o, and sin no more." Mr. Shafer never torgave tins prosecution. Sub. sequent action on the part of Mr. Shafer showed that he must evidently have studied the laws of nations with regard to " Reprisals," carrying it into effect so long as his " entertainment " was ab. solutcly necessary to the returning lum bermen of Ridgway or when any of its citizens were his guests. The price of meals suddenly rose fifty per cent, and the astonished raftsmen upon their re monstrance, was quietly told, " that the Ridgwajites had got him fined for scl- ing liquor and he must make it up; " now there was logic in this. Mr. Shafer regarding Ridgwayitcs as a sort of hos. tile nation, having despoiled him of his property by fine, believed it his duty (as well as interest) to make these reprisals. Did General Jackson do less when ho threatened France for her delay in nia. king good her despoliation ou American citizens f It is unnecessary to add that Mr. Shafer was a good Jackson man. One other anecdote of Mr. Shafer will exhibit the peculiar logic of his mind. It was after Mr. Viall had established his well known tavern at Rrandy Camp, (of which, special notice will be made hereafter") the writer, with a friend,, were on their way to Ridgway from Pittsburgh, travelling on horseback, night overtaking them, they " turned in at Shafer's." Nono but children were at home, so they hitched their horses in tho old open log barn, ap. propriating for them the only article of food to be found, parts ot two sheaves of oats. Mr. Shafer havinc returned in the evening, met his guests at an ear ly hour next morning starting to Viall's for breakfast. To the call for the bill he apologized for its amount, stating '' that having no conveniences for keep. ing travellers he had to charge high, that Mr. Viall, having a good barn and plenty of oats, good house and beds, could afford to keep cheaper than he his argument was conclusive, and never was a good hotel bill paid with greater cheerfulness. But to retnrn to Mr. Alyworth. This mistake of his with regard to his mill, led to a survey by himself and James L. Gillis of '.ho race, which now courses through tho west part of the village of Ilidgway. A com' petcnt engineer was employed, and al though a perfect maze of forest, swamps and under brush, so correctly was it staked out, its several cuttings marked, that when the whole was completed, mill erected, and the water applied to the wheels there was not an inch varia tion of head and fall from the draught made bv the engineer. It is safer to abide the result of calculation and in, fitrumcntal guide, in caes of like char acter. The failure of tho " Alyworth mill " gave Levi Alyworth a distaste for forest lite and he determined to quit, the country which did. During the time he remained, Mr. Ridgway came in, looking after his affairs. He was accompanied by his son John, who had just emerged from college lifo with no experience in business details, nor of a woodman's occupations. Mr. Ilidg. way, always an admirer of robust, stal wart forms, could not but notice the slender and delicate figure of Levi Aly worth and contrastins: it with what ho deemed so necessary for clearing land asked (a number of who were together) what Levi was going to do, " Oh 1 he will get along, he is deputy post mas ter," (the avails of this offico have been before mentioued) " John " very naive i i i i .. iv asiieu now mucn tne " oHice was worth ? " Tho elder Ilidgway was evi dently vexed at John's simplicity, ut. tenng a scarcastio " pish ! " ''the devil, not a cent." From the laugh that fol lowed, John iu turn was embarrassed. without fully understanding the entire ntnoiv.tp, pejtji'., JUjrEzsth, isce. meaning, he saw however, that it was necessary to become acquainted with the value of property, so he questioned L. Gillis as to the real value of effects which he sold at the college, ho wished to know whether he had got quid pro quo t He had a bed, " first-rate bed and bedding, towels, washstand and ba sin, and all the appurtenances for a stu. dent's room " well how mnch did you sell them for ? " a dozen watermelons to treat my friends with ; " you made a good sale for the purchaser but don't you report it to the old man," John kept whist, no doubt. Those who huve dealt with " John " in after years when all these lands came into his possession, will not underrate his advancement in the science of political economy, nor his judgment in all matters relating tobusi- ncss affairs, and here we must relate another story showing the nirvette of the Backwoods. After "John" had gone to Paris, whero he now resides en. joying his fortune, his land affairs con tinued under the agency of Mr. John Colegrove, who had always regarded John " as a sort of protege. No man was more scrupulously exact than Mr. Colegrove, and "John's" interest was peculiar care. " Communications " were necessarily frequent and usually dated from his " Hotel," Paris, Mr. Colegrove had often puzzled himself as to why ' John " should stay so long at Paris. His " communications " still continued, dated as before mentioned, the idea that 'John" had retired from the active business that his father had led was not to be thought of. To the many inqui ries, as to when Mr. Ridgway might again be at Ridgway, Mr. Colegrove would reply ; His " communications " from Mr. Ridgway did not specify ; he supposed that as he was keeping a " Ho tel " its cares would render it difficult for him to leave ! How much more exalted, does human nature appear when viewed from this (unsophisticated as we may say) stand point ; the dia mond is not the less valuable because of its outer rugged covering ! would e were more such good and true men as Jonathan Colegrove. But wo have been " off the track " of our " his tory " in digressions, and wo will now return to about 1827, after Enoa Gillis had arrived with his family : The con struction of the "pike," was next to personal affairs, the engrossing object of the settlers, and its value was never over estimated. James L. Gillis was untiring, and it was necessary : Every winter must ho appear at Ilarrisburg, pressing for aid, the land owners scold. ing at his importunities, deelaring at every subscription, " it should be the last," " don't you call again " was re. peated at every application. To these bursts of impatience he would argumcn tatively reply, you have already paid something, which must be irretrievably lost unless you add more to its comple tion, otherwise the work must stop." Thus these land owners must be impor. tunca to tneir own interests, it was like a beggary for some charitable ob ject, those taking the lead " get more kicks than coppers." As subscriptions were often made, conditional that the same should be expended upon, and through the subsenbor's lands, detach ed parts were made, by adding the state appropriation per mile. It was necessary that five consecutive miles should be finished, and a certifi cate to that effect mado by the mana gers before the money from the State could be received. The settlers would tako a contract to make a mile, perhaps half a mile, taking their own suhscrip. tions, the State money, fifty cents per rod and a draft upon the treasury for tho balance. As is ulways the case where a treasury is to be supplied by such contingencies as we have named such drafts could net always be relied upon for remuneration. Many of those drafts were never paid at the treasury. and it bore hard upon the settlers and contractor. Many miles were construc ted in a superficial manner, ao as to an swer the requirements of tho law, to ob. tain the State subscription. Indeed, it was absolutely necessary, as there was " no other way " under Heaven by which they eould obtain provisions. In such cases it was always designed to go over the work and make a better finish, Many were unablo to do so, and the road thus left had the appearance of a public highway under the care of super, visors, who generally worked the road on such portions over which they, them selves, would likely travel. That por tion of the turnpike from Milcsburg to Snow Shoe was the third section. We have already stated that Mr. Karthaus had made the road from the Susquehan na to Snow Shoe. This section extend ed to the coal beds and was greatly traveled, and the tolls were, fully suffic ient to keep it in repair. The next sec tion was from Bennett's Branch, (Cale. donia), to Ridgway, soon afterwards it was extended up to Montmorency .thence north to tho creek. That portion from Ridgway to tho creek or west fork of the Clarion, was mainly, with Mr. Ridg way, subscription and the State appro priation. Thus was left two sections in the line of road which, from, the fact that funds and labor had become exhaus ted, was really appalling. Gillis, how. ever eontrived to obtain other subscrip tions from Mr. Ridgway, and Benjamin and A. M. Jones, proprietor of the lands, sufficient to make the road from " 11 Mile Spring " to the webt branch towards Montmorency. Then came a " sticking point " for two or three yearst where we leave it for a period. Benjamin and A.M. Jones were then the owners of a large body of land lying principally in what is now Jones town. ship. In their advertisement for their salo they say, " They had no desire to transmit these lands to their grand children," and offering them for one dollar and twenty .five cents an acre. They secured the services of Wm. P. Wilcox, of Nunda, N. Y., as the agent o reside upon and sell these lands. In the winter of 1832-3, Mr. Wilcox com menced hauling in provisions, mill-irons, &c, preparatory to a commencement the next spring. The same winter, L. Wil. marth, Arthur Hughes, and George Dickinson came into Ridgway. As lumbering site was their object, they at once selected and built upon the location which has been so long known upon the Clarion below as the "HughestfcDickin son Mill." So familiar was tho name along the Clarion to its mouth, that ma ny of the people living on the stream spoke of Clark Wilmarth, then a lad, and who frequently went down with the raft.0, as Hughes Diciason's son, and actually considered him as such for sev eral years. As the " Wilcox settlement " and the construction of the race and mill by H. & D. were simultaneous, and may be regarded as an Era in the His tory of Ridgway. Their origin and progress will make a subject of com. ment hereafter. to be continued. CjfRl. It is a long time sinoe Geary has written a letter. Perhaps his bold and perilous avowal that railroads are " use ful for the carriage of coal, iron, lumber, merchandise, flour, baoon, and other commodities," made in an epistle to the merchants of Pittsburgh, and which we noticed at the time of its publication, has exhausted his courage, and he tears to excite and exasperate the public mind by any more startling- declarations of tho same nature. He has not taken np the pen since, though publio ques tions of the mightiest importance have been pressed upon his attention, nia conversation is said to be altogether meteorological, consisting of profound allusions to the temperature of the at mosphere, the direction of the wind, the appearance of the sky, and tho proba. bilities of rain. When these interesting topics, as sometimes happens, begin to wax tedious, and ono of his auditors ventures to inquire . what he thinks about the political situation, and how he likes negro suffrage, and what is his word on reconstruction, the mouth of the great man suddenly closes ; he as. Bumes an oracular frown, and replies ,: These are great questions, sir, great question questions of great importance vital que&tions, sir j how very warm it is wonderful weather for the season isn't it ? " and the sage shoots off again into meteorology, and pours out his weather-wisdom with a suddenness and volubility which quite palsy the faculties of his questioner. J. F. MOORE, Publisher. TEIUVS1 SO Per Pear in Advance. But it is not so easy to answer written qucriei. Ihe weatuer Tails then as a refuge. It will not do to reply to a let ter demanding an explicit reply to po. litical questions that they aro " great " and ' important " and " vital," and that, in short, " it will likely rain." Hence it is we suspect that the General, whose pen although mightier than his sword is desperately weak, impressed with the sorry fate of his epistolary efforts on pro. tection and railroad communication, dreads any further attempts of that kind with the fear which scorched in fants are proverbially alleged to enter, tain of conflagrations. We have moro than once tried to lure him from his si lence and to encourage him in again at tempting a written exposition of his views, by furnishing him a draft of cer. tain model political letters, which it Was only necessary that he should copy and sign to satisfy the public and establish his claims to their support. Although' our efforts have been vain hitherto, and our benevolent assistance has been slighted, we are not to he discouraged, and have, accordingly, prepared another letter for the signature of the reticent warrior, on the subject of reconstruo. tion, which we commend to his attcn. tion. It is not copv.riahted. and he need have no fear that we will basely attempt to reclaim it when he has made it his own, as was done by the Gover nor of Massachusetts when Geary bor rowed his inaugural, and recited It to the people of Kansas. " Here we are " : Dear Sir : I have read with great attention the reports respectively of the majority and minority of the Commit tee' on Keconstruction, and have been much struck with the perspicuity and patriotism by which they are distin. guisbed. I have also carefully studied the constitutional amendmendments which have recently passed Congress, and which are about to be submitted to the legislatures of the respective States. I am opposed to unnecessary innovations and needless alterations in the great charter but have no doubt that the pro visions now proposed to be added to it, if ratified by three. fourths of the States, will be accepted as valid, at least by that portion of our citizens who are fa vorable to them. The government owes much to its stability to the Constitution. and the broader the base the steadier the apex. Having thus frankly declar ed my sentiments upon the great issue of the day, I remain yours &o. This document only needs the potent initials " J. W. G." at the bottom of it to give it currency (in the Republican journals at least), as one of the clearest and profoundest political papers of the day. We charge nothing for this hint, or this help. PhiUa Age. H'uat irojnEjr cjijv do. Among the strangers in Philadelphia at this moment aro two ladies from Mar. tinsburg, W. V. Yesterday they were purchasing a seed drill, a mowing ma chine, and other agricultnral iinplo meots, whose cost in the aggregate was about $800. Their home was very close to the theatre of the lata war. Between tne two contending armies their houses and their barns were burn. ed, their horses and cattle driven off, their only brother oonscripted into the Rebel army, and themselves left utterly destitute and homeless. Any one who, seeing a young lady such as we saw yes terday, had been told that she had per sonally plowed and planted many acres of land, would have laughed to scorn the party so informing him. Such, however is literally the case. We learned the facts from a gentleman residing in the vicinity. The smoking ruins of the farm upon which these young people resided had scarcely cool ed when the neighbors clubbed togeth er, built them a log houso, and extern. porized a sort of a barn. Horses were loaned to them, and tho girls with their own hands plowed the ground and seed ed it with corn. The crop grew apaee, and with their own hands they harvest ed it They sold it to good advantage, ibey Dad owned torty-seven negro slaves. Some of these went into the Union army, others deserted the locality The girls were left alone to battle with the vicissitudes of war. Our informant, whose respectability is beyond all question, says that these girla produced by their work in the field more deoided and productivo re suits than were accomplished by the en. lntofl of Advertising. Adm'rs And Exeeto'a Notices, each G times , i....? if) Auditor's Notii-os, each 2 til Transient advertising, per square of 10 lines or less, 8 times or leesO 2 01 For encli subsequent insertion... .i... r..l Professional cards, 1 year ( ' Special notices, per line 1 Obituary and Mairingo Notices, encli 1 l Yearly Advertising, one square. 1 C-J Yearly Advertising, two squares. I'i(n) Yeai'y Advcr'ing three squares 'JO iKI Yearly Advertising, 1 column 2" 00 Yearly Advertising, I column 00 Yenrly Advertising, 1 column 70 Ot) Advertisements displayed more than ordinarily will ho charged for at the rate (per column) of 90 00 tire gang of slaves. They toiled fof three yeers and bow have a comfortable house and most substantial barns upon their property, whilo improvement have" been made upon it to such an eaten I that makes it of considerable more value than before the torch of conflicting ar mies reduced its buildings to esbes. - Ono of the young ladles has since tnar ricd ; but the others still do duty a their own "overseers," and they them, selves purchased yesterday, and directed the shipment of the agricultural i tuple mcnts to which wo have above referred; The Wonder to tho dealer was that a lady, delicately gloved, and attired as though she had never overstepped the bounds of the boudoir, should descant experimentally and intelligently upon the respective merits of the different reaping machines, and Upon the coin- para five values 0f t"be different machine8 for threshing out the cereals. These young ladies Were educated in this city, and are Well known to many of our best people. Phil. Gazetlefitttinti. PEJYS yiL FY J s .i.rn THE SOUTH. Shall we have Union or disunion ? That is the question upon which the people of Pennsylvania, and of all the Northern States, must decide by their' votes in the coming elections. The modified plan of the Sonate caucus pn poses to'dclay tho restoration the Un ion no less than the more objectionable proposition of the Committee of Fifteen To subserve the purposes of Republican; politicians the Union is to bo kept di. vided. To enable them to carry out this infamous purpose they rely upon their ability to keep alive in the North a feeling of hatred toward the South.- If they caunot succeed in that the peo. pie will decide against them and their schemes by aB overwhelming majority. Will the people ot Pennsylvania still be led blindfolded by passion 7 The war is over. All tho purpose proposed to be accomplished have been successfully achieved. If the Union is not restored it is the fault of the Radi. cals in Congress. Slavery, Whether tho cause of the rebellion or not, has been wiped out. Tho news, even as publish--ed in the Radical newspapers, show that the people of the entire South ac cept tho results of the war, and are wil ling to bear true allegiance to the Con stitution of tho United States. Tho slaves aro Well treated and are only do ing and faring badly where injiidiciou-t agents of tho Freedmcn's Bureau and Northern speculators interfere between them and the whites. There is no ani mosity on tho part of the negroes to wards their former owners. Kven in Memphis riots it has been proved to tho satisfaction of tho Radicals themselvea that citizens and returned Confederal soldiers had no hand in tho disturbance cs. The whites of the South are nriu- I cipally concerned about repairing thJ ravages of tho war. They arc builJing, planting, and doing their best in every way to better their material condition. What is the proper courso for tho people of Pennsylvania to pursue under such circumstance. Do not our duty and our iutcrcsts alike demand that wo should lay aside passion aud prcjudico and aid these people with whom we so lately waged war. Their section is part of our common country they an impor. tant part of a people with whom we have common interests and a common destiny We would not permit them to separata from us. Now that they aro rcrtJy to coaleseo with us, shall wo act as if all ouf professed love lor the Union was a sham and a lie ? Pennsylvania is closely allied with the South. Joining Maryland aud Vir ginia along her entire extended South em border, she is geographically united to that section. Heretofore the inter- courso between our people and their Southern neighbors has been iuot friendly. They havo married and iu termarried, until everywhere a thnn sand tics of kindred and of blood tm-o knit them together in bonds of tin closest and mot-t kindly relationship, In material interests we are no closely related Our rivers all run toward the South, and our channel of trade tend in that direction. We are ii all respect. nearer akin to th s 8ont'i more cicely allied to that sootion i.i
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers