JOURNALISM

On July 14th 1868, the CITIZEN ceased its publication at Smethport, the issue being the 43rd in number of the sixth volume. Capt. Rogers, in his sketch of the removal of the office to Emporium, addressed to Mr. Gould in 1888 says: " for reasons which I cannot now recall, the publication of the CITIZEN and was not resumed in Shippen until December 28th following. It was probably owing to my being engaged in the oil business on Oil Creek and at Tidioute that season. On the day mentioned , the first number the Cameron citizen made its appearance and in the salutatory occurs the following passage: " We have finally made the commencement of which we promised you should be made in July or August last. In explanation of our course in not issuing a paper in this county at the time originally intended, we have only to say the circumstances of a business nature which we consider a far more importance than publishing a county newspaper demanded our personal attention " if the first paper December 28th 1860 is announced the gratifying a fact that the courthouse will be ready for occupancy one week from next Monday when the first court in the county was to be held. The first work on the courthouse was not commenced until September 1st. The same paper appears the ordinance of secession passed by the South Carolina convention of December 20th. In the issue of The CITIZEN of April 19th appears the startling news of the surrender Fort Sumter. The Kane Rifles or Bucktails left Shippen for Harrisburg on the 28th. On the 30th, the legislature convened an extraordinary session in response to the call of Governor Curtain. Recruiting officers were frequently seen , their business been to gather into the ranks of the nation's defenders the bone and sinew of the land and in. It was one of these, I think the late J. K. Haffy, a former resident of Bradford, who took from the CITIZEN Office, Thomas Malone a young man who had learned his trade in my office, had resided in my family for years, and was as near to me as brother. Malone left sometime in July. Early in August S. D Barrows, of Lock Haven, came to Shippen for Calvarymen recruits, and one of the first men to enlist with them was my brother, William R. Rogers, who up to that time was a partner in the business.

Very soon after my brother left, I received an appointment from Col. Carleton B. Curtis, of Erie, to raise a company, he having been commissioned by Governor curtain to raise a regiment of volunteers in the northwestern counties. I commenced recruiting in the latter part of August, and I think the last CITIZEN was published in the first or second week of September. Sometime after I was mustered into the service the printing office was sold to a committee of citizens of the town, and I believed what remained of it subsequently passed into your hands.

There was no effort made to revive the paper until the summer of 1865 when two young men, Stacey and Young came from Ohio and started the CITIZEN again, they continued publication only a few weeks, and left suddenly, leaving many unpaid bills behind them. The paper could have been made a success with the proper labor and enterprises, but the young man walked experience, and, it is said, greatly. Neglected their business.

The PRESS- the story of the the establishment of this excellent Journal was told by the owner, C.B. Gould, in 1888: " in 1866, an association of gentleman, residents of the county, purchased the printing material of the defunct CITIZEN, with a view of establishing a Republican paper and sent to us, then in Binghamton, NY, to come in and published it. We arrived here at the last day of February, 1866, and a more desolate looking place, or one more uninviting to embark in the enterprise of establishing a newspaper, could rarely be found. The only view that met our eye, on stepping from the cars was the towering mountains, woods, and stumps, but the few scattering houses including the Biddie House, then kept by J. L. Cook. Our first impulse was to take the return train, then due, for New York State, and not show ourself to the committee that we felt had imposed upon us, but just then Frank McCollum, who had preceded us here, and was engaged to work in the printing office, put in his appearance and informed us that James G. Clark (an old acquaintance from Utica) was to give a concert in the court house that evening, and desired to see us. After supper at the Biddie House, we were piloted to the courthouse meandering between stumps (sidewalks were a luxury unknown), and through mud we imagine to be about 3 ft. deep, and at last arrived at the temple of Justice, a thoroughly disgusted individual. To our surprise we found a large audience of intelligent, fashionably dressed men and women, and a better class of people we never met. But where did they come from? Was a query we could not answer. There were but a few dilapidated dwellings to be seen, but woods and stumps, and stumps and woods everywhere. Did these people live in hollow trees or behind stumps? Where else could they live? We did not then know that the woods were full of the best kind of people, engaged in lumbering, living in their own the lumber camps, a wealthy, prosperous class, and many of them educated and refined. After the concert, were taken through the audience in introduced to the people, during much as a new minister would be exhibited to his flock. We then made the acquaintance of many who had been our most valued friends these years. Some of them still reside here, a few have made the residence and other places, in many of ceased from labors and gone to their eternal rest. The next morning after our arrival in Emporium, we went to the printing office, then in the old Gibson House, at the lower end of the borough, and found the sorry looking concern. It was a hand press, some newspaper type, and very little material for job work. The forms of the citizen had been left without washing, and having been in that condition for nearly a year, printers can readily understand the labor required to clean the type and get ready for use. The office was in terrible condition, and almost a complete mass of " pi ". However, we want to work, and in about 10 days but the office in good shape, and issued the first number of the press. The paper was of a 6 column folio just half the present size, set in long primer, but a creditable looking sheet, in the Enterprise proved a financial success from the start. Was then the only paper published on the line of the P & E Railroad, between Lock Haven and Warren, and our business increased so rapidly that we were compelled, in a few weeks, to put it in the establishment a Gordon job press and add-largely to do our jobbing facilities. The business steadily increase, and the press had been enlarged to and 8 column paper, the establishment was complete in every department, when, in November 18th 77, it was completely destroyed by fire without a dollar of insurance; the hard earnings of 11 years went up in flames and smoke, and we were compelled to start at the bottom round again; and now, after 11 years more of toil, and many discouragements, we have a better office, one of the most complete newspaper and job establishments in northern Pennsylvania; a large and rapidly growing business, a and brighter prospects for the future. H. H. Mullen is the indefatigable assistant editor, and to him particularly the readers of the press are indebted for the extent and interesting character of the local pages.

The Independent-and 1866 Emporium independent was established by S. S. Hackett. This enterprises continued to the present time, and the independent is classed among the largest country papers in the state of Mr. Hackett devotes a greater part of his attention to his lumber and other interest he controls a policy of this journal; Jonathan Gifford: However is the defacto editor.

The Herald-1869 J. B. Newton, commenced a publication of the Cameron Harold. This was a boy conducted until 1873, when at the burning of the Cook block on July 8th, the press and all material were burned, and the career the paper terminated. John B. Newton, said to a been born in Franklin Vilma York January 4, 1839, a studied law under Judge spring after graduating from the Tenn Brook Academy. He was admitted to the bar and Buffalo New York May 7, 1862 and same year came to Emporium, where, in October 18th 62 he was admitted to the bar of Cameron, as related in the transactions of the District Court. After the war he married Miss Emily J. Mercereau, of this county, who still reside here. Mr. Newton and died December 8th 1887 after a quarter of a century of service to the county. The Press, noticing his death says: " it's the deceased was, perhaps, more closely identified with prosperity of Emporium than any other city. "

The Sterling Gazette was issued in Sterling in March 1877 by H. D Earl and company. This was a very small journal, indeed, until was enlarged in March of 1879, and converted into a newspaper. In 1880 the office was moved to driftwood.

The Driftwood Gazette was issued June 16th 1880 by H. D Earl and company, who continued until December 8th 1885, when J. T. Earl and company issue their salutatory as publishers. Daily editions were issued during meetings of the Institute in 1887 to 1888.

John Brooks, the first historian of the county, as well as Dr. land and J. B. Newton, who contributed a viable historical sketches and centennial year deserve of first place in the history of letters in this section of the state. Mrs. E Newton, widow of J.B. Newton,  is the authoress of Boscobel and other stories.

EDUCATION*

The first school taught on the Sinnemahoning river was taught in 1818 by one William Boyd, a native of Chester county, Penn., who was a graduate of one of the Philadelphia colleges. This school was held in a round log house, built by one Peter Walters, for a dwelling, and stood on the Devling farm, near a spring, and near where the Lumber school house No 1 now stands. About the year 1820 the first school house within the county limit was built. This house was erected on the Mason farm, near the Pine Street Church; it was built of round logs, was chinked and daubed with mud mortar made from the clay soil. The roof consisted of rough clapboards, put on without nails, and kept in place by round logs called "weight poles." The school house in question, thus built of round logs, chinked and daubed with mud mortar made from the clay soil on which it stood, with rough clapboard roof, held on by weight poles, instead of nails, was built in the year 1820, on the Mason farm near the cemetery. The gables were cabined off with round logs, the door made of rough pine boards fastened upon long wooden hinges, and with wooden latches, the buckskin latch strings pendent on the outside. The windows were made of rough sash, with oiled paper substituted for glass. The floor was of rough boards laid loose upon hewn sleepers. The house was heated from an immense corner chimney, constructed with rough stones and mud, with a wooden mantel over the wide fire-place, in front of which was an extended hearth of flag stones. Occasionally, the huge pile of logs in the fire-place, in full combustion, would set on fire the wooden mantel, and then boys and girls, eager for a fray, at the command of the master, would bring snow from the yard, or water from the spring, to play upon the ignited mantel, until the fire was extinguished. The house was seated with rows of long benches made of slabs or plank, in which holes were bored and round sticks fitted in them, for legs, and without backs. The desks were boards or plank, driven into the walls. The pupils who were being taught to write and cypher occupied these desks. The wood in the fire-place was ignited by light-wood shavings set on fire by "punk." which was ignited by sparks obtained by striking a steel upon a flint. There were no Lucifer matches in those days, though it was thought some of the natives were a match for Lucifer himself.

The first teacher employed in this school house was one Dennis Lynch, a native of Ireland. He taught in 1821 and 1822. Succeeding him were Elihu Chadwick, Jr., of New Jersey, and who now is a resident of the city of Cleveland, Ohio, and a worthy and excellent man; afterward William Boyd, already referred to, and Dr. Joseph T. Hunt, of Lycoming county, Penn., and others, among whom some were exceedingly illiterate, and were discharged for incompetency after a short trial. The schools were all subscription schools prior to 1838, when the common-school system was introduced. The next school-house was built in 1819, on ground now occupied

by the Tannery school, a very short distance above Emporium on the road to Rich Valley. This was first taught by John Chadwick, the father of Richard Chadwick, the first county superintendent of the county of Cameron after its organization. It is contended, indeed, by some, that the latter school-house was really the first in the county. English grammar was not taught in the schools until about 1836. About the years 1834-35 the science of land surveying was taught by a teacher named Baker, in a hewed log school-house which was erected near the mouth of the first forks of the Sinnemahoning. This school-house and the Pine Street Church, also built of hewn logs, were erected about 1826. The first high-grade schools in the county were established at Sinnemahoning, in 1864-65. These schools were founded by John Brooks, who employed principals and teachers and among these mentioned are Miss Henrietta Baker (a graduate of Oxford College, Penn.), Prof. J. H. Vosburg and Mrs. J. H. Vosburg, of Binghamton, N.Y.), Miss E. Baldwin, of London, Rev. A. B. Miller, of Gettysburg College, Penn., and Profs. A. B. Clough, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and B. W. Hollen, of Iron City College, Penn. The last two named were principals of the commercial department. These schools were suspended in 1873, on account of financial embarrassment. The first county superintendent of common schools in the county of Cameron was Richard Chadwick, who was elected to office in 1861 for two years. The second was Francis J. Chadwick, elected in 1863, for a term of three years. The third was J. B. Johnson , who was elected in 1866, and re-elected in 1869, and again in 872, holding it altogether for three consecutive, or during, nine years. The next was N.H. Schenck, who was elected in 1875. Prof. Pearsall is now superintendent of schools.

In November 1866, Mrs. J. B. Johnson opened a select school in Felt’s block. The district school was then presided over by Miss Anna Hendry and Miss Williamson.

The report of Supt. Pearsall for year ending June 4, 1888, give the following statistics: School-houses, 34; school rooms, 44; schools, 43; graded schools, 14; number of districts supplying text-books freed, 1; number in which Bible is read, 36; number of male teachers, 6; of female, 48, of whom 8 held professional certificates; male pupils, 711, female pupils, 716 - total 1,427, of whom 1,114 attended school; school tax, $11,987.50; State moneys, $1,429.61, of which the sum of $8,930.39 was paid teachers, the total expenditure being $12,446.59.

The Teachers’ Institute was organized in 1867, and the seventh annual meeting held December 2, 1873, with J. B. Johnson, superintendent of schools, presiding. Miss M. C. Simpson presided over the business meeting with J. W. Eldred, secretary.

_______________________________________________________________________________*F. J. Chadwick writes with regard to the schools of Cameron county that William Boyd taught in 1818 was not the first school taught on the Sinnemahoning. And the school-house "built on the Mason farm in 1820" was not the first school-house "built within the county limit". Miss Eliza Dodge, who was educated at the Williamsport Academy, taught a summer term in the new framed barn, at the mouth of North creek, in 1817. The barn is still standing, and is at present occupied by Mr. George Dodge, who is, however, no relative of Miss Eliza. There was a log house build in 1819, where the new school-house now stands, just above Emporium, and John Chadwick taught a winter term in it, in 1819-20; Miss Jedidah Freeman taught a summer term in 1820; Mr. Leonard Townsend taught a winter term in 1829-21.

PHYSICIANS

In the history of Elk county reference is made to the first physician who settled on Bennett’s branch. The first physician who practiced within the limits of this county was Dr. Kincaid. *He settled near the present village of Sterling Run, and for years treated the various diseases that flesh is heir to. One incident occurred in his practice, that is remembered distinctly by the people who were living in the country at that time, that is somewhat amusing. He was treating a patient at the old Dent place on Bennett’s branch. Leaving his saddle-bags outside, near the creek, while he went within the house, a certain cow, not having the fear of the god Æ sculapius before her eyes, and instigated by the very spirit of mischief and with malice aforethought proceeded to eat the saddle bags and all their contents, and when the Doctor returned she was quietly chewing the cud. If the proof of the pudding is in the chewing of the bag, by a parity of reasoning that cow should have obtained the full benefit of the medicine, but what was the actual effect upon the animal or what became of her, or how the Doctor replenished his stores, this deponent sayeth not, as history is entirely silent upon those points. We have to add that the Doctor was the father of the great Baptist missionary to India, Eugenio Kincaid.

In the sketches of the several townships, villages and boroughs mention is also made of the old physicians who practiced within what is now Cameron county.

The Cameron County Medical Society was organized July 25, 1879, and the following officers elected: President, W. H. DeLong, M.D., Emporium; vice-president, S. S. Smith, M.D., Driftwood; secretary, E. O. Bardwell, M.D., Emporium; treasurer, R. P. Heilman, M.D., Emporium. The list of members comprises W.H. Delong, R.P. Heilman, E.O. Bardwell and S.S. Smith of Emporium; E. G. Torbert of Driftwood, and C. S. French, of Sterling.

February 16, 1882, the by-laws were approved by the State Society, and in May 1882, the society was represented in the Pennsylvania State Society by E. O. Bardwell. In 1883, owing to the paucity of the membership, the society voted to join and did join the Elk County Medical Society. At the present time all the regular physicians in Cameral county are members in good standing of the elk County Medical Society. John C. McAllister, Jr., registered in December 1889, as a physician of Cameron county. In March of that year he graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md. Dr. J. G. Bryan died in Jacksonville, Fla., in December 1889.

_______________________________________________________________________________*From John Brooks Centennial Sketch

COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS

Agricultural Societies --. The first agricultural society was organized September 20, 1876, with the following named officers: President, John Brooks; vice-presidents, J. L. Cook, C.H. Sage; secretary, A.H. Boynton; treasurer, J. Henry Cochran.

With a view to the holding of a county fair early in October the following gentlemen were selected as a committee of arrangements: Emporium - Dr. J. G. Bryan, J.W. Cochran, J.B. Newton, George W. Warner, John Day, J.W. Phelps, C.B. Gould, Johnathan Gifford, L.G. Cook, S. Kirk, C.C. Fay, J.C. Johnson, George Metzger, H.C. Olmsted, L. Taggart, D.P. Catlin, Joel Shives, Henry Edgecomb, J.M. Judd, Riley Warner, Dr. J.T. Lanning, J.W. Frank, R. M. Overhiser, E.R. Mayo, C. Sweazey, M.M. Larrabee, Seneca Freeman, James Matteson, A.G. Holbrook, J.F. Parsons, H.C. Rockwell, G. A. Walker, I. Morro, Amos Finton, J.P. Felt, Edward J. Ralph, N. Seger, F. D. Leet, M.C. Tulis. Shippen - J.S, Wiley, W. Russell, Allen Russell, Sol. Rose, John Jackson, Charles Weller, L.B. Jones, L.A. Freeman, Noah Parker, Karl Zimmer, N.P. Minard, I.L. Caraven, George Thayer, R. E. Thompson, Gillis Bliss, B.S. Morrison, John Morrison, L.T. More, J.R. Buckwalter, W. C. Clark, C.C. Craven, George Dodge, B. Sweazey, Philip Lewis, Morris Lewis, John C. Lewis, William Lewis, Aden Housler, Joseph Housler, B.L. Emery, Franklin Hausler, John Chandler, Henry Haines, Henry Lewis, Penrose Chadwick. Portage - L. Lucore, D. Burlingame, W. L. Ensign, N.D. Sizer, E. D. Sizer. Lumber - P. W. Whiting, W.P. Herrick, Philip Smith, John Chapman, C.C. Devling, C.C. Lyman, E.P. Lester, J.H. Barrows, G.H. Mayo, Matt. Phoeniz, V.A. Brooks, Milo Bull, D. D. Alderfer, H.J. Smith, Joseph Ritchie, John Summerson. Gibson - John Mason, James Wylie, B.V. Wykoff, Hezekiah Mix, Levi Hicks, Adam Smith, Darius Barr, Reuben Collins, Harrison Logue, William Dent, G. W. Huntley, Isaac Smith, William Wylie, Washington Mason, William Miller. Driftwood - Col. J.S, Bates, C.Y. White, D.J. McDonald, Levi Musser, J.B. Earl, R. Rothrock. Grove - R.M. Williams, G.A. Barclay, Josiah Fink, Jacob Shafer, Washington Bailey, J.W. Phillips, George Goss, John A. Wykoff, John C. Logue, Isaac Ramage, Joseph M. Shafer, A.P. Floyd.

The Cameron County Agricultural Society was incorporated November 19, 1881 with G.A. Walker, Joel Shives, J.B. Newton, Allen Russell, J.G. Bryan and J.W> Cochran, trustees. They, with the following named, were the stockholders: J.D. Logan, H. Edgcomb, R.P. Heilman, L.G. Cook, Frank Shives, H.C. Olmsted, William Frane, A.A. McDonald, C.C. Fay and B.W. Green.

Centennial Association - The county organization, for the purpose of making arrangements for and carrying out the celebration of the Centennial Fourth of 1876, comprised: President, E. R. Mayo; vice presidents: Shippen - J. S. Wiley, W. C. Clark, L.T. More, Benjamin Emery, Joseph Housler; Portage - William L. Ensign, L Lucore; Lumber - P.W. Whiting. D. R. Nelson; Driftwood - Henry Cochran, Levi Musser; Gibson - John Brooks, Hezekiah Mix, G. W. Huntley; Grove - Charles Barclay, Isaac Ramage, R. M. Williams. Marshall, J. W. Phelps; assistant marshalls: L. Taggart, J.O. Brookbank, J. M. Shafer. Committee of arrangements: Emporium - C. B. Gould, William Howard, G. A. Walker, J.W. Cochran, s. S. Hacket, F. D. Leet, L. G. Cook, Samuel Kirk: Shippen - W. C. Clark, Franklin Hausler, Charles Weller; Lumber - Green Mayo, Ra and J. Barrows, Milo Bull; Driftwood - Col Bates, Thomas Dougherty, Daniel McDonald; Gibson - M. J. B. Brooks, James Wylie, Isaac Smith; Grove - Joseph Shafer, Josiah Fink, Alonzo Bailey.

Semi-Religious Societies - The County Temperance Convention was organized at Sterling, April 10, 1874, with Levi Musser, president and Thomas M. Lewis, secretary. The delegates present were Miss Frances Pinney, Rev. L. H. Schenck, L. H. Chase, James Estes, William Herring, William Arnold, Rev. M. H. Moyer, David Chapman, Mrs. Jinks, Ella Herrick, John Lane, A. R. Smith, T. C. Page, Annie Page, Revs. A. E. Taylor, Washington Shaffer and J. W. Bell.

The County Sabbath-school Association was organized in May 1874, with L. Tagart, president; J. H. Cole, secretary; Philip Smith, treasurer; L. Musser, H. C. Whitner, Joseph Shaffer, Sr., D. R. Nelson, D. Burlingame, J. C. Chandler and George Metzger, vice-presidents.

RAILROADS

In August, 1850, Lemuel Lucore sold to Cameron & Stanton the right of way for their railroad, then built as far as Salt Spring run. Work on the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad was commenced in 1859, but suspended for a time. In January 1862, the company entered into a contract with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company to lease to the latter their partly constructed road from Erie to Sunbury for a term of 999 years, subject to all encumbrances. The road was completed to Emporium October 20, 1863, and opened throughout its entire length in 1864. In December 1881, the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad depot, above the junction of Bennett’s branch extension of the Allegheny Valley Railroad, was moved to the junction, the last named company agreeing to leave title of the building in the Philadelphia & Erie Company. The Buffalo, New York & Philadelphia Railroad was completed to Emporium December 23, 1872. The first rail was placed in October 1867 on the old Buffalo & Washington Railroad, and completed to East Aurora January 23, 186. Work was resumed September 15, 1870, and the road was formally opened to Emporium December 28, 1872, the borough entertaining the visitors. J. F. Parsons purchased the first ticket, and received the first bill of goods from Buffalo via this …………………..to follow soon.