| Local Communities in Clearfield county |
| ANSONVILLE-part of Jordan township, located between Berwinsdale, Glen Hope, Carnwath and Grampian. Named in honor of Anson Swan, eldest son of John Jr. and Phoebe (Tubbs) Swan. Born in one of the New England states, Anson was deaf and mute. He never married. He died 09/21/18982 in Ansville at the age of 76 and was buried in the Zion Cemetery. This family came to Jordan township from Tyrone, PA. Anson's brothers and sisters: Sophronia; Harvey; Eliza; john; Henry and Harriet who were twins. Some of the first homes built in Ansonville were the homes of Jacob Myers in 1832; and a building built by Mr. Singer and John Miles and James Foutz which was used as a store. No date. Other surnames assocated with Ansonville: Truman Vitz; Eliza Chase Bloom; Henry Swan and his wife Lucinda (Bloom) Swan; W.W. Norris; Robert Miles; W.T. Bloom; Wilson Dillen; Dr. A.E. Creswell; Dr. J.K. Wriglen; Dr. J.A. Murray; Dr. S.J. Miller; Dr. H. Gl Purnell; George Bollinger; Peter Witmer; John Klinger; William Klinger; Wise; John Smith. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ATLANTIC-located in Bigler township. Directions from Houtzdale S R 153 North from Houtzdale at intersection turn left. Mining is what brought this community into existence. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BALD HILL-located in Girard township. Kyler Murry one of the first settlers and farmers in the area. Area also was a favorite spot for Indian villages. Other names associated with the area. Harrier; Kyler; Snowden; Stiner. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BANNER RIDGE-Surnames associated with the area. Stagner; Passmore; Baker; Meckley Beatty; Sunderlin; Bennett; Johnston; Lerch. Land for the church was donated by, Adam and Jacob Coupler. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BELLS LANDING-located in Greenwood township between Grampian and Mahaffey along route 219. Named after Greenwood Bell, who was a son of the second white setler of Clearfield co. Arthur Bell. This was an important logging town. A stop over for the loggers rafting down the river. This community was affected by man's desire to build a flood control dam. People had to relocate. Stores were lost due to the project. Some surnames associated with the area: Passmore; Wright; Lewis; Dickey; Johns. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BERWINSDALE-located between LaJose, Ansonville and Irvona First business was a saw mill built about 1847 by David McKeenen. Other names associated with the area: Joseph Patterson Sr.; William Irvin; Hezekiah Patterson and Henry Swan. A.L. Pearce was instrumental in improving Mariposa Park. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BETZ-located in Bigler township, near Madera route 555. Another mining community with surnames; Shoff; Washic; Richardson; Gillen. Names of schoolteachers: Sterling; Elton and Albert McGary; Paul Carson; Tilda Mae Pusey. also includes the community of Bucher. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BIGLER- located in Bradford township along route 322 between Clearfield and Philipsburg. First resident was Edward H. Williams, who farmed. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BLACK MOSHANNON-McCord cemetery is located here. Daniel and Catherine Smay's six children are buried here, they died from the diptheria epidemic in 1881. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BLOOMINGTON-located 4 miles east of Curwensville, founded in the early 1800's. Another coal mining town. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOARDMAN-located in Knox township, 9 miles south of Curwensvile. between Kellytown and Oak Ridge. The name Boardman came from Julia (Boardman) Kerr. This was a large coal mining town at one time. Schoolteachers; Pearl Fisher; Calvin Synder; Bernice Mather. Other surnames include; Boag; Katzman; Patterson. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BRIDGEPORT-located near Curwensville, by Anderson Creek. One of the first homes was built in 1876 by Joseph and Malinda Whitaker. Mrs. Whitaker was toll-taker for the Erie Pike road. David Harvery built an iron foundry in 1840. In 1863 Thomas Hill built a mill. N.E. Arnold sawmill was built in 1881. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BURNSIDE-located along 219 between Mahaffey and Barnsboro. Lumbermen settled this area. George Atchison settled in this area in 1820, he was born in Ireland about 1792 and left to escapte prosecution. He was anti-slavery and was part of the underground railroad. He used his home to hide slaves and send them on their way to freedom. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CARNWATH-located in Knox township.another coal mining town. History of this area states that the town was laid out built by James Lang Sommerville, who was born in Scotland on Aug. 16, 1837 and came here with his father in 1846. It is said that the town is named after a place in Scotland. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CENTRE HILL-located between Bigler and Summit Hill. Also known as sington. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHERRY CORNER-located in Greenwood township. School teachers were Margaret Stephenson; Hattie Johnson; Leoma Dickey; Eval Bell, Mervil Straw; Inex Redden; Lina Passmore Young; Roberta Stephenson. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHERRY TREE-located along 219 between Burnside and Barnesboro. First settler was John Bartlebaugh in 1822. Other surnames: Camp; Bard; Mills; Newman. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHESTNUT GROVE-is located in Bloom township, 10 miles northwest of Curwensvile. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLOVER RUN- located in Bell township. NEWTONBURG, surnames: Dashier; Beatty; Skyes; Shields; Daughterty; Kuntz; Andaholds; Oberg; Mercelllick -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CROFT - located in Goshen township between Shawville and Suveyor. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CURRY RUN- located in Greenwood township along Route 219 between Bells Landing and Mahaffey. This area was chosen by the indians to camp on because of the water streams and the river located nearby. The area was once named Lewisville. Lewis Smith was a large land owner in the area and one of the pioneers of the county. Joseph McCracken, son of James McCracken Sr. settled here. There is an area here called McCracken's Run. Other surnames, Dickey; Curry; Johnston -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EARNESTVILLE- located one mile south of Osceola Mills. In the late 1800's Albert Earnest settled in the area and became a large land owner. Other surnames: Slabon, Romaniec, Supko, Bynak, Walko and Philiposki. The majority of the residents were farmers. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EAST END- located in Clearfield. along route 322 (Bigler Ave). The family of Barretts were among the first settlers. East End was quite a self sufficient community, with many grocery stores and other businesses. Located within walking distance of the brickyard. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ERHARD- Located in Knox township. Some surnames: Tobias, Dale, Black, Wallace, Freeman, Swatsworth and McGarry. Land in the area was sold by Warren Bell to the Erhard family in 1872. Company doctors were Dr. Elmer Erhard and his father-in-law, Dr. Parks. The deep mines were owned by Thomas Gould Coal Co. |
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