HISTORY OF THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENT OF CLARION COUNTY, 
TOGETHER WITH A SLIGHT NOTICE OF JEFFERSON COUNTY

BY JUDGE PETER CLOVER.

        Having been requested again and again by numerous friends to write something concerning the first settlement of Clarion County, I have at last yielded to their entreaties, feeling sensible that abler pens than mine have preceded me in this work, yet by much younger men, who have had to depend entirely upon information gathered from various quarters, many names being omitted, mistakes as to dates occurring in consequence of lack of personal knowledge.  Although in the seventy-fourth year of my age, I find my mind clearer with regard to names and early dates, than during the more active years of my life, while engaged in its business pursuits.  There is no truer saying than that “first impressions are lasting.”  While looking back to-say, scenes of my childhood and early youth come before me with almost perfect distinctness, and I well remember the faces and forms of the early settlers as they came to my father’s house either on business or pleasure, and I do not think in going back that I have made any mistakes either as to names or dates.  Those who expect to find flowery language or poetic thoughts, in connection with what I have written, will be mistaken, as my object has been to state facts and give correct dates, that the present generation may know who deserves credit for the hardships which were endured, that the wilderness might blossom as the rose.

        In the year 1801, with a courage nothing could daunt, ten men left their homes and all the comforts of the more thickly settled and older portions of the eastern part of the State for the unsettled wilderness of the more western part, leaving behind them the many associations which render the old home so dear, and going forth strong in might and firm in the faith of the God of their fathers, to plant homes and erect new altars, around which to rear their young families.  Brave hearts beat in the bosoms of those men and women who made so many and great sacrifices in order to develop the resources of a portion of country almost unknown at that time.  When we look around today and see what rapid strides have been made in the march of civilization, we say all honor to our forefathers who did so great a part of the work.  It would be difficult for those of the present day to imagine how families could move upon horseback through an almost unbroken wilderness, with no road save an “Indian Trail,” the women and children mounted upon horses, the cooking utensils, farming implements, such as hoes, axes, ploughs and shovels, together with bedding and provisions, placed in what was called pack saddles, while following upon foot were the men with their guns upon their shoulders ready to take down any small game that might cross their path, which would go towards making up their meal.  After a long and toilsome journey these pioneers halted on their course in what was then called Armstrong County (now Clarion County), and they immediately began the clearing of their land, which they had purchased from General James Potter, of the far famed “Potter Fort,” in Penn’s Valley, in Centre County, familiar to every one who has ever read of the terrible depredations committed by the Indians in that part of the country, at an early period of its history.

        The names of the men were as follows:  William Young, Sr., Philip Clover, Sr., John Love, James Porter, John Roll, Sr., Jas. McFadden, John C. Corbett, Samuel Wilson, Sr., William Smith, and Philip Clover, Jr.  Samuel Wilson returned to Centre County to spend the winter, but death removed him.  In the following spring of 1802 his widow and her five sons returned, namely Robert, John, William, Samuel, and David.  Those who did not take their families along in 1801, built their cabins, cleared some land, put in some wheat, raised potatoes and turnips, put them in their cabins and covered them with earth for safe keeping for the next summers use, and when they got all their work done, in the fall they returned to their families in Centre and Mifflin Counties, in the spring of 1802.  Those, with some others, who also came at an early date, James Laughlin and Frederick Miles, built a saw mill in 1804, at or near the mouth of Pine creek, and they were the first to run timber to Pittsburgh.  I would just mention here of a useful man for a new country, by the name of John Simpson, who came at a somewhat later date.  He was a wagon maker, and also made ploughs, harrows, and sleds, they being useful articles for a new country.  There as not a single wagon in the country.  He also made door and window frames, sashes for windows not being needed as glass was a luxury not to be thought of, oiled paper being a much cheaper substitute.  In the year 1801 other parties came from Westmoreland County.  Their names were James Maguire, Alex., John and Thomas Guthrie, William Maffet and Harmon Skiles, his mother (a widow) and her family, all moving, as the others had done, upon horseback;  also the Widow Fuller and her three sons, James, Cochran, and Henry.  I will give a little circumstance in connection with this family:  One morning, early, my father was out in pursuit of wild game, when, much to his surprise he heard a cow bell.  Starting immediately, he traced the sound, and soon came upon a small clearing and cabin, together with the widow’s family.  They were as much surprised as he was, they not knowing that anyone was living near them.  In the same year Samuel C. Orr, Tate Allison, William Cochran, Robert Warden, Peter Pence, Thomas Meredith, John Sloan, Sr., and Mark Williams.  In 1802 Hugh Reid; also the Rev. Robert McGarrah, of whom I shall speak more fully here after.  In 1804, Thomas Brown, Richard Nesbit, William Adams.  The above named settled near where Reidsburg now is.  On Leatherwood Creek, in 1802, settled Robert Travis, John, William, and Robert Beatty, Christian Smothers, Nicholas Polliard, Michael Harriger, and the Delp family in 1804 – 05.  And in the vicinity of Curllville, in 1802 – 03, Abraham Stanfer, Henry Benn, William Manks, William Binkel, John and Isaac Stanford, Abram Courson, William Wilson, Thomas Watson, John Anderson, Samuel and William Austin, John McKee, Samuel Nelson.  In Toby Township: Alexander McKain, Hon. Joseph Rankin, Mathers Hosey, Ephraim Gardner, William Stewart, James McCall, David and Thomas McKebler; and on Cherry Run, Alexander Wilson, Levi and John.  And further toward the Allegheny River were the Hagans, Pollocks and Everts.  All of the above named came from 1801 to 1806, bearing with others the heat and burden of its day.  In addition to the above I would also mention John Clugh, Isaac Fitzger, Joseph McClare, in Monroe Township, and John Hindmanm, who settled on the farm now owned by R.M. Corbett, adjoining the Jefferson County line, and Moses Watson, on the farm now owned by William Courson.

       The first settlements on Red Bank Creek were made in 1801-02-03-05 by Archibald McKelip, Henry Nulf, Jacob Hetrick, John Shafer, John Mohney, Jacob Miller, and the Doverspike family, Moses Kirkpatrick, William Latimer, John Ardery, John Wilkins, John Washy, Calvin McNutt.  Some of the above named came from Westmoreland County, some from Lehigh County.

        Other settlements soon followed on the north-west side of the Clarion.  Captain Henry Neely, Frederick Berlin, George Berlin, Jacob Atelbarger, Jacob Sweitzer, Henry Mong, A.D. and the Best family; also the Knights, Kelley’s, Koevers, and many who very soon followed, were the first on the north-west side of the Clarion, and Henry Best built the first grist mill in that section, on Beaver Creek; and Henry Myers, the father of Colonel James S. Myers, of Franklin, built the first grist mill on the Clarion River, in that section, at or near the place where Davis’ mill now stands.  This part of the county, at that day, was all Richland Township, Venango County.

HISTORY OF THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENT OF CLARION COUNTY, 
TOGETHER WITH A SLIGHT NOTICE OF JEFFERSON COUNTY

BY JUDGE PETER CLOVER.

        Having been requested again and again by numerous friends to write something concerning the first settlement of Clarion County, I have at last yielded to their entreaties, feeling sensible that abler pens than mine have preceded me in this work, yet by much younger men, who have had to depend entirely upon information gathered from various quarters, many names being omitted, mistakes as to dates occurring in consequence of lack of personal knowledge.  Although in the seventy-fourth year of my age, I find my mind clearer with regard to names and early dates, than during the more active years of my life, while engaged in its business pursuits.  There is no truer saying than that “first impressions are lasting.”  While looking back to-say, scenes of my childhood and early youth come before me with almost perfect distinctness, and I well remember the faces and forms of the early settlers as they came to my father’s house either on business or pleasure, and I do not think in going back that I have made any mistakes either as to names or dates.  Those who expect to find flowery language or poetic thoughts, in connection with what I have written, will be mistaken, as my object has been to state facts and give correct dates, that the present generation may know who deserves credit for the hardships which were endured, that the wilderness might blossom as the rose.

        In the year 1801, with a courage nothing could daunt, ten men left their homes and all the comforts of the more thickly settled and older portions of the eastern part of the State for the unsettled wilderness of the more western part, leaving behind them the many associations which render the old home so dear, and going forth strong in might and firm in the faith of the God of their fathers, to plant homes and erect new altars, around which to rear their young families.  Brave hearts beat in the bosoms of those men and women who made so many and great sacrifices in order to develop the resources of a portion of country almost unknown at that time.  When we look around today and see what rapid strides have been made in the march of civilization, we say all honor to our forefathers who did so great a part of the work.  It would be difficult for those of the present day to imagine how families could move upon horseback through an almost unbroken wilderness, with no road save an “Indian Trail,” the women and children mounted upon horses, the cooking utensils, farming implements, such as hoes, axes, ploughs and shovels, together with bedding and provisions, placed in what was called pack saddles, while following upon foot were the men with their guns upon their shoulders ready to take down any small game that might cross their path, which would go towards making up their meal.  After a long and toilsome journey these pioneers halted on their course in what was then called Armstrong County (now Clarion County), and they immediately began the clearing of their land, which they had purchased from General James Potter, of the far famed “Potter Fort,” in Penn’s Valley, in Centre County, familiar to every one who has ever read of the terrible depredations committed by the Indians in that part of the country, at an early period of its history.

        The names of the men were as follows:  William Young, Sr., Philip Clover, Sr., John Love, James Porter, John Roll, Sr., Jas. McFadden, John C. Corbett, Samuel Wilson, Sr., William Smith, and Philip Clover, Jr.  Samuel Wilson returned to Centre County to spend the winter, but death removed him.  In the following spring of 1802 his widow and her five sons returned, namely Robert, John, William, Samuel, and David.  Those who did not take their families along in 1801, built their cabins, cleared some land, put in some wheat, raised potatoes and turnips, put them in their cabins and covered them with earth for safe keeping for the next summers use, and when they got all their work done, in the fall they returned to their families in Centre and Mifflin Counties, in the spring of 1802.  Those, with some others, who also came at an early date, James Laughlin and Frederick Miles, built a saw mill in 1804, at or near the mouth of Pine creek, and they were the first to run timber to Pittsburgh.  I would just mention here of a useful man for a new country, by the name of John Simpson, who came at a somewhat later date.  He was a wagon maker, and also made ploughs, harrows, and sleds, they being useful articles for a new country.  There as not a single wagon in the country.  He also made door and window frames, sashes for windows not being needed as glass was a luxury not to be thought of, oiled paper being a much cheaper substitute.  In the year 1801 other parties came from Westmoreland County.  Their names were James Maguire, Alex., John and Thomas Guthrie, William Maffet and Harmon Skiles, his mother (a widow) and her family, all moving, as the others had done, upon horseback;  also the Widow Fuller and her three sons, James, Cochran, and Henry.  I will give a little circumstance in connection with this family:  One morning, early, my father was out in pursuit of wild game, when, much to his surprise he heard a cow bell.  Starting immediately, he traced the sound, and soon came upon a small clearing and cabin, together with the widow’s family.  They were as much surprised as he was, they not knowing that anyone was living near them.  In the same year Samuel C. Orr, Tate Allison, William Cochran, Robert Warden, Peter Pence, Thomas Meredith, John Sloan, Sr., and Mark Williams.  In 1802 Hugh Reid; also the Rev. Robert McGarrah, of whom I shall speak more fully here after.  In 1804, Thomas Brown, Richard Nesbit, William Adams.  The above named settled near where Reidsburg now is.  On Leatherwood Creek, in 1802, settled Robert Travis, John, William, and Robert Beatty, Christian Smothers, Nicholas Polliard, Michael Harriger, and the Delp family in 1804 – 05.  And in the vicinity of Curllville, in 1802 – 03, Abraham Stanfer, Henry Benn, William Manks, William Binkel, John and Isaac Stanford, Abram Courson, William Wilson, Thomas Watson, John Anderson, Samuel and William Austin, John McKee, Samuel Nelson.  In Toby Township: Alexander McKain, Hon. Joseph Rankin, Mathers Hosey, Ephraim Gardner, William Stewart, James McCall, David and Thomas McKebler; and on Cherry Run, Alexander Wilson, Levi and John.  And further toward the Allegheny River were the Hagans, Pollocks and Everts.  All of the above named came from 1801 to 1806, bearing with others the heat and burden of its day.  In addition to the above I would also mention John Clugh, Isaac Fitzger, Joseph McClare, in Monroe Township, and John Hindmanm, who settled on the farm now owned by R.M. Corbett, adjoining the Jefferson County line, and Moses Watson, on the farm now owned by William Courson.

        The first settlements on Red Bank Creek were made in 1801-02-03-05 by Archibald McKelip, Henry Nulf, Jacob Hetrick, John Shafer, John Mohney, Jacob Miller, and the Doverspike family, Moses Kirkpatrick, William Latimer, John Ardery, John Wilkins, John Washy, Calvin McNutt.  Some of the above named came from Westmoreland County, some from Lehigh County.

        Other settlements soon followed on the north-west side of the Clarion.  Captain Henry Neely, Frederick Berlin, George Berlin, Jacob Atelbarger, Jacob Sweitzer, Henry Mong, A.D. and the Best family; also the Knights, Kelley’s, Koevers, and many who very soon followed, were the first on the north-west side of the Clarion, and Henry Best built the first grist mill in that section, on Beaver Creek; and Henry Myers, the father of Colonel James S. Myers, of Franklin, built the first grist mill on the Clarion River, in that section, at or near the place where Davis’ mill now stands.  This part of the county, at that day, was all Richland Township, Venango County.

        Clarion County was organized in 1839; the town laid out in the early part of 1840, and the building commenced immediately.  The donors of the land for the county-seat were; Philip Clover, Esq., James P Hoover, Levi G. Clover, Judge Myers and Judge Clover.  They also donated the public square.  The survey was made by John Sloane, Esq.  The first house was built by Philip and Peter Clover, in 1840, out of hewn logs, and stood at the western end of the town, near the brick house formerly owned by J.R. Clover, between First and Second Avenues.  The first hotel was built by Col. J.W. Coulter, and was called the Great Western.  The first court held in the county was in the house now occupied by Capt. A.H. Alexander, then by the late Capt. Robert Barber.  I was afterwards held in the upper part of the old jail until the old court house was finished, in 1844.  This court house was destroyed by fire in March of 1859.  The courts from that date to the finishing of the new court house in 1862, were held in the Presbyterian Church; the old jail was used as a prison until within the last three years, when the new jail was built, at the cost of about $120,000.00.
        Among the early settlers here, who still survive, are Judge Campbell, Col. Coulter, Judge Sweny, and Col. Alexander.  The town numbers about sixteen hundred inhabitants, and is situated on an elevated table land or plateau, on the south side of the Clarion River, the ground sloping away in all directions.  The streets are broad, straight, and laid out at right angles to one another.  The principal streets, running nearly 30° east and west, are Liberty, Main, Wood and others.  These are intersected by cross streets, having a direction at right angles – First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Avenues.  The streets can be extended regularly in any direction.  The scenery around the town is picturesque and beautiful.  The streets are free from filth.  The roads are dry and in good condition.  The sidewalks are principally of brick on Main Street – some stone was used.  An ordinance was passed several years ago, requiring that brick walks should be laid on Main Street and Fifth Avenue.
        The buildings of the town are substantial, and there are many fine residences, surrounded by everything that makes life pleasant.  The court house is a large two-story structure, built in 1862 at the cost of $23,000.  The jail is the most expensive building in the town; it is built of cut stone and brick; it is two stories high and has an observatory.  The front portion of the building, which is occupied by the sheriff and his family, is of brick; the rear portion, where the prisoners dwell, is of solid cut stone masonry.  There is a Methodist, a Presbyterian, a Catholic, and a Baptist Church.

Caldwell's Illustrated Historical and Combination Atlas of Clarion County, Pennsylvania, 1877, page 29. Thanks to Deb Ciroli for this and for using a magnifying glass on some of the initials.  I have only scanned the part of Limestone Township which shows the Clover places. The Philip Clover is probably the son of Philip and Mary Cooper. He died in 1888.  The P. C. Clover should be Philip C. Clover, his son.   The PS and JD Clover on the top right are Philip S. Clover and John D. Clover. Both were sons of John, grandsons of Philip and Mary Cooper. Neither ever married that I know of and they appeared in the same dwelling in the censuses. That explains the way it is written on the map.