Cameron County PA Miscellaneous News Paper Articles From the Past

The Blairsville Press (Blairsville, Pennsylvania)
November 5 1869

Williamsport Gazette describes Emporium, Cameron county

The Williamsport Gazette thus describes Emporium, Cameron county: "This is a quiet town - some 1,500 inhabitants - is presently and prominently, bounded on the north by a mountian and on the south by a "do" - on the east, same - on the west, also "do" - locality, between Mountains. The sun striked the town about fifteen minutes in the day - after that you have to lay flat on your back to see daylight. No frost here - its so far down between the mountains that it won't reach. Area of visible ground, almost ten acres square - customs of the people, mountainous - amusements at night, "crawl in your hole" - scenery, mountainous - society, lumbermen - gossip, "I'll be five dollars Bill Sikes can chop more timber than any other man in Cameron county."

Daily Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
December 28 1870

Obituaries - David B. Mather

In the death of this gentleman, which occurred at Emporium on the 16th of December, at the early age of twenty-nine, Cameron county has lost one of its most enterprising citizens. Speaking of his demise the Cameron Herald says that he was identified with the early history of Emporium, having come there when the town contained less than two hundred inhabitants and entered into business with his brother-in-law, E. J. Whiting. For a long number of years they were at the head of the mercantile business in that county, doing an immense business in general Merchandise and as proprietors of the Emporium Mills, manufactured flour, feed, &c., under Mr. Mather's name, and under his direct supervision. Both of these branches of business were prosecuted with entire success yielding immense profits to the partners. In 1865 or 1866, Mr. Whiting left the county, and Mr. Mather, whose name had become almost a household word throughout the county, connected himself in business with Mr. Wiley, and under their united efforts their business was conducted successfully and with prompt, but judging incorrectly of the effect the closing up of the war and return to peace would have upon the country, Mather purchased an unusually heavy stock of goods just before a heavy (…?….), which resulted in the firm going down in the general crash with thousands of others. The effect of this misfortune upon Mr. Mather was unexpected, his energy and business tact seemed to depart from him, he ceased to struggle against the (…?….) of ill fortune, and gave himself up as one of those unfortunate persons whom dame fortune sometimes pursues with a constant stream of bad luck, until their spirit is completely broken. In 1869 Mather left there and went to Kansas, where he remained, rapidly declining in health, (….?….) days ago, when his physician informed him that if he ever wished to see his wife and children again he would have to start at once. With that energy which we sometimes see in dying men, he arose from his bed, performed a journey of fifteen hundred miles in three days and nights, arriving at Emporium completely exhausted and unable (…?….) without assistance. On the cars he caught a severe cold, which resulted in congestion of the lungs, which was the immediate cause of his death.

Daily Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
July 15 1871

New Churches

The Cameron Herald says that four new churches are now building in Cameron county, viz: Union church at Driftwood, M.E. church at Sterling, Messiah church at Driftwood, and the M.E. church at Emporium.

The prize fight that was to commence near Emporium last week did not take place. One of the parties did not come to time. Sensible.

Daily Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
August 31 1871

Almost Another Horror: Train Accident

The Cameron Herald of this week has the following. On Friday last the mail train west met with an accident and very narrow escape from total wreck. As the train was going at full speed, about two miles this side of Westport, a large stone became detached from the bank and rolled down, striking the tender and knocking the covers off from the oil boxes. It then rolled under the baggage and passenger cars, throwing the rear passenger car off the track and breaking it so that they were compelled to leave it and transfer the passengers to other cars. Fortunately on one was injured.

Daily Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
September 14 1871

A Chapter of Accidents

The Emporium Independent of the 14th says that on Saturday last, a man in the employ of Griswold Brothers, on Sterling Run, cut his knee severly with a peeling axe. He was placed under the care of Dr. J. T. Laning, of Sterling, who rendered necessary attention.
     Miss Crawford, a young lady residing at Cameron, made a misstep the other evening in attempting to descend a flight of stairs and was precipitated to the bottom in a sudden and unexpected manner severely injuring her in several places, and causing her to lie in an unconscious state for a number of hours. She was immediately placed under the care of Dr. Laning and is recovering rapidly.
     On Tuesday last two strangers from Troy, Bradford county, came to Cameron for the purpose of engaging in lumbering. They stopped for a short time at the Railroad Saloon at the above place. While standing at the bar, surrounded by a number of men of leisure, they proposed to make a trade with the bar tender of a watch for a revolver owned by the latter. One of the strangers took the revolver in his hand and cocked it. It immediately, through his careless handling, went off, discharging the bullet to the left side of his comrade, directly over the region of his heart. Fortunately it struck the rib in an oblique direction and instead of penetrating the chest followed the course of the rib for the distance of five inches. Dr. Laning was sent for and immediately extracted the ball. The men both started for home on the evening mail, sadder and wiser for their adventure.

Daily Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
November 3 1871

Liberal Donation: Church Lots donated by Maj. G. J. Ball

The Cameron Herald says that Maj. G.J. Ball, on behalf of the Philadelphia and Erie Land Company presented last week, to the trustees of the Presbyterian church in Emporium, a deed for two village lots on which their church is built. He had previously presented two lots to the Episcopal and two to the Methodist church. The cash value of the lots thus presented to the churches was $1,350.00 which we call a very liberal donation. We understand that they have also offered two more lots to the Catholic church, which will raise the amount to $1,800. Our people ought to feel truly thankful to the company for their generous gift, and to their kind hearted and efficient Superintendent Maj. G. J. Ball, who has done so much to assist our working people to secure comfortable homes for themselves by extending the payments on the lots until they could build and pay for their houses.

Daily Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
May 8 1874

Fatal Accident of G. M. Bar

On Wednesday last a young man named G. M. Barr, son of John Barr of Sterling Run, Cameron county, while on a trip down the river with James O. White, met with a terrible mishap which cost him his life. They had proceeded down the river as far as what is known by our river men as Girty's Notch, a point about 30 miles above Harrisburg, without any mishap and had tied up in the upper part of (…?…..) concluded to drop the raft lower down, and in this operation, by some means young Barr got entangled in the coil of the cable at the snubbing post, and the current being strong, and he not being able to extricate himself, the cable tightened up on him, cutting his leg into three parts at or near the ankle, at the knee and at the thigh. Medical aid was immediately summoned and everything that skill and care could do was rendered him, but after lingering in great agony for twenty-four hours, he expired. - Emporium Independent.

Daily Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
March 15 1875

Cameron County Local News

     Court commences April 19.
     Traveling shows have given Emporium a wide berth this winter.
      The carpenters are busy at work in the Brick Bock, finishing the second and third stories.
     The B.N. and P. offices at Emporium did $1,900 more business last month than in February 1874.
     Several eastern capitalists have been looking around in Emporium with the view of starting a bank.
     Martin & Co. have upwards of five thousand cords of bark piled at their tannery. The sleighing has been so remarkably good that they have now got in the entire stock they had peeled last summer.
     A more favorable winter for lumbering in Cameron county is not within the memory of the "oldest inhabitant". Lumbermen and jobbers have all finished their work and broke camp, and yet the prospect for several weeks of excellent sleighing is flattering, as an addition of several inches of snow falls every twenty-four hours.

Daily Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
March 22 1875

Cameron County Local News

     Twenty six cases are down for trial at the next term of court in this county, which will set on the 19th of April.
     Mary Catharine, daughter of our friend Sol. Ross, and only seven years old tastily pieced a bed quilt, completing it in six weeks.
     The Cameron Press, of March 11th, says that Frank Ryan was arrested in Emporium on Tuesday, and taken to McKean county, on a charge of forgery.
     Bryan & Co. have been driving spikes around the edge of their dam to protect it and hold their logs during freshets, so that they will not be carried away with the wild rush of water.
     Cook's block, Emporium is being finished for a hotel. Two stories will be added to the building on Broad street and one of Fourth street. The second and third stories of the entire building to be used for the hotel.

Daily Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
April 26 1875

Cameron County Local News

     A hook and ladder company is being organized in Emporium.
     Looking desolate that part of Driftwood where the recent fire passed.
     Emporium citizens are suggesting the idea of building a town hall in connection with an engine house.
     On Saturday, Jev. Johnson broke his right leg while jumping off a train at the P&E depot at Emporium.
     A son of James Devin, of Emporium, was drowned on Saturday, the 10th inst. He was about seven years old.
     Covalescent - Thos. McCloskey, the brakeman who was injured by falling from his train a short time ago.
      In 1867 there were 422 taxable inhabitants in Cameron county, now there are 1,328. A large increase in seven years.
     John F. Lewis, one of the oldest and most esteemed citizens, died at his residence, Wednesday morning, aged 61 years.
     Twenty-seven tramps, says the Cameron Press, visited Emporium in a drove recently. This was aside from the regular population of that village.
     The eating house at the Emporium Junction, is being overhauled and remodeled, for the purpose of converting it into a Union passenger depot.

Daily Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
June 9 1875

Cameron County Local News

     Edward Mayo, lost a finger in the mill at Cameron last week. A circular saw did it.
     Geo. W. Corwin, night telegraph operator at Emporium for three years has been appointed day operator.
     H. C. Rockwell will commence rebuilding his block on Fourth street, Emporium during the month of July.
     The Union express company has selected John D. Logan, as their agent at Emporium, in place of Charley Beaver, who was so unceremoniously requested to step down and out.
     The log men are very anxious for a flood, as the logs are nearly all in the stream. F. DeLoy has his drive all out of Brooks' Run. Ross, Rockey & Co., have their drive nearly all out of Lorshbaugh's Run.

Chester Times (Chester, Pennsylvania)
January 5 1886

Saw Logs and Mill Property Carried Away On the Tide

Bradford, Pa., Jan. 5 - A special to The Era from Emporium says: Heavy rains for the past two days and large quantities of snow on the timbered hills have conspired to produce the most violent flood known in many years along the Driftwood and Sinnamahoning creeks. Millions of logs have broken from their fastenings and are going down the swollen rivers at a terrific rate. It is said the loss to lumbermen will approach $3,000,000. At this place there is over two feet of water in many of the streets. All telegraphic communication to the east is lost, and trains on the Philadelphia and Erie railroad are obliged to flag their way east. Reports from Cameron state that the greater part of that place is under water, and residents are in great fear lest their houses be swept away. Many residences had to be vacated. A million feet of logs were torn loose and swept down Hunt's run. Sawmills and dams in various places along the creeks are much exposed and in imminent danger of being carried away. The water is well up in Driftwood, where considerable damage has been done. This is a night of great anxiety and excitement all through the valley. No further idea of the loss can be obtained until daylight. The water has risen slowly.

The Courier (Connellsville, Pennsylvania) November 15 1901

Our Pensioners: Four Widows of Revolutionary Soldiers are kept by Uncle Sam

There are four widows and five daughters of Revolutionary soldiers on the pension rolls of the United States. Of the widows the oldest is 88 and the youngest 85. Two of the daughters of Revolutionary soldiers are residents of Pennsylvania, the first Susannah Chadwick, aged 86, residing at Emporia, Cameron county and the second, Sarah C. Hurlbutt, aged 83, at Little Marsh, Tioga county. The oldest of these pensioners is Hannah N. Barrett of Boston, aged 101 and the youngest Rhoda A. Thompson, aged 80, of Woodbury Conn. Both the latter are daughters of soldiers who fought in the Revolution. The last survivor of the war of the Revolution Daniel F. Bakeman, died in Freedom, Cattaraugus county, N.Y., April 5, 1869, aged 109 years, 6 months and 8 days. The Revolutionary war ended in 1783 or 118 years ago. Should the widows and children of the Civil war attain the years of those of the struggle for independence there will be Civil war pensioners at late as 1983. If the last survivor of the Civil war lives to the age of Daniel F. Bakeman, the last survivor of the Revolutionary war, the active pension list for the war for the Union will not be ended until 1851.

The only surviving pensioned soldier of the war of 1812 is Hiram Cronk, of Ava, Oneida county NY. Mr. Crock is 101 years old. There are, however, 1,527 pensioned widows of the war of 1812. There are 7,368 survivors of the soldiers who served in the war with Mexico, which ended in 1848 and, in addition, there are 8,109 pensioned widows of such soldiers, making a total of 13,677 who are receiving government bounty on account of the Mexican war, ended 53 years ago. The list is decreasing, however, nearly 900 having died during the last fiscal year.

Clearfield Progress (Clearfield, Pennsylvania)
January 25, 1938

Buys Tom Mix Boyhood Home For $450

Emporium, Jan 25 (AP) Sheriff Cash E. Henry of Cameron County sold the boyhood home where Tom Mix played cowboy and Indian to Michael Prime of Driftwood for $450. Prime will convert the home near Driftwood into a hunting lodge. Mix, cowboy star of silent films, is now a circus owner.

Times Herald (Olean, New York)
October 19 1935

Mines in Cameron County Closed Since June To Open
Forty Miners to Resume Work Soon

Emporium: Cameron County coal mines which have been closed since June, were ordered opened today following a conference of Democratic Chairman Michael A. Prime with state officials.

Prime said today that approximately forty miners would be called back to work at the institution of the new law which was authorized by Thomas Buchanan, state secretary. The mines are on state-owned property. Leases will be renewed as fast as miners make application, Buchanan said. New mines, however, will not be considered. The local mines were not found to be polluting streams to any marked degree but were closed in compliance with the law.

Times Herald (Olean, New York)
October 19 1935

Clarence Morrison  seriously injured

Emporium: Clarence Morrison, seventy-six of West Creek Road, was seriously injured Friday evening at seven forty-five o’clock when he was struck by a truck one mile west of Emporium. He was removed to the office of Dr. James L. Hackett and later to Saint Mary’s Hospital where it was determined he is suffering a compound fracture of the right arm and head injuries. His condition is serious.  The truck was owned by the Texaco Company and driven by Joseph J. Keller, Ridgeway.

Times Herald (Olean, New York)
November 20 1937

Lone Pupil at Mix Run School Finds Life Dull

When the Sherry family recently moved out of Mix Run, near Driftwood, Cameron County, the Mix Run school enrollment dropped seventy-five percent. The remaining twenty-five percent is finding school life a bit lonesome.

The total enrollment of the one-room school was, until a few days ago, four. Now, only one remains – Jesse, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Monte. Merrill, Johanna and Phillip, children of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Sherry moved to Dayton, near Kittanning, where the father has found work.

Miss Gladys Colegrove, the young teacher, whose home is in Lock haven, but who lives with the Montes, opens school at nine A.M., assigns and hears lessons, has recesses and dismisses school at four P.M., just as she did before.

Once each week, Harold M. Bushheit, supervisor of music in Cameron County rural schools, includes the school in his circuit and conducts a music class. Asked how he does it, the music teacher re?ed: “There of us get together and sing.”

Jesse is a model sixth grade pupil and “smart” according to his brother James, a freshman at Emporium High School. But Jesse wishes the Sherrys had not moved away. Anyway, whoever heard of playing “Skinny” with a teacher during recess.

Times Herald (Olean, New York)
November 20 1937

Season On Bears Ends Today

Emporium

With the last day of bear season upon them, Cameron County hunters, many of whom have been reared with guns from early boyhood, have been forced to yield to the shooting prowess of non-county nimrods this year. Of the dozen bears reported killed during the first four days of the season, only one has been credited to a resident of the county.

To add to their mortification, a Mrs. Mann, of Aliquippa, Pa., treed a wounded bear in Lushbaugh valley. Her marksmanship caused the small bear to loose his hold and fall into a crotch of the tree, where it took hunters more than an hour to dislodge and lower him to the ground.

Roy Chadwick of Emporium, Cameron County Sheriff, has in some measure regained the reputation of the natives. In the vicinity where a bear recently was hanged in a tree, near the abandoned Bobby’s Run CCC camp, the sheriff shot a 150-pound black bear Wednesday.

The first bear reported to have been killed in Cameron County as shot near the Potter County line, where Fred Alden of Bradford brought down a 175-pound black bear. He is a brother of Gene Alden of Emporium.

Many bear have been passing through Emporium wedged between fenders and hood of automobiles, but virtually all of them were killed in Potter, McKean and Clinton counties.

Times Herald (Olean, New York)
December > 10 1937

Cameron County Democratic Head Hurt In Accident

Emporium : John Schwab, of Emporium Cameron County Democratic chairman and former member of the Pennsylvania State Assembly, suffered a severe knee injury when his automobile skidded on Morrison Hill, three miles west of Emporium, and crashed into a bridge at the foot of the hill Thursday morning.

Mrs. Schwab, who accompanied her husband, suffered slight body bruises in the accident. The Schwabs were on their way to keep a ten o’clock appointment at Dubois when the icy conditions of the road caused the car to skid.

Tannery Starts Operations after Being Shut Down

The Flinstone plant of the Elk Tannery Company at Emporium, started soaking hides today, an indication that the plant will soon be on full working schedule again after being shut down for almost a month. As the hides are moved into various departments, men will be put to work, said R. A. Eick, superintendent of the tannery today. At present the plant began operations with less than eighty percent of its working personnel. It usually employs about 100 men.

Times Herald (Olean, New York)
December 14 1937

Women Deer Hunters in Cameron County

Emporium – Cameron County’s big show is over. Like a circus that begins to tear down its main tent before the last performance is over. Emporium merchants began to remove hunting equipment and stuffed game animals from shop windows on the day the buck season ended.

When residents entered the business section Monday, Christmas gift suggestions, surrounded by Yuletide decorations, enticed them within stores.

It will be several weeks before game wardens will know the exact toll of deer visiting and local hunters took out of Cameron County woods, fifty-two percent of which is state owned. Estimates by sportsmen’s associations place the number killed at 700, which means that every tenth hunter achieved his desire. Of this number, women had their share of distinction.

To Miss Helen Smith of Westmoreland County goes the honor of bagging the best head specimen this season. She brought down a twenty-three-point buck early in the first week of the season near Sterling Run.

Mrs. Sue Stiman of Youngstown holds the distinction of being the only hunter to bring down a deer without getting a chance to hunt. Upon waking on the morning of her arrival at Emporium, she saw a buck in the backyard. Still clothed in her nightgown, she stepped out on the porch and fired, killing the deer.

Another woman – she asked that her name be withheld – had her shirt tails snipped, not because she kept other hunters waiting an hour for their dinner, but because she shot at a buck and missed. While cooking for a party of nimrods, she saw a buck deer near the camp in the lower end of the county. By the time she loaded her gun, the deer had loped off into a ravine. After half a hour’s stalking she saw him in a clearing. Her shot went wild. When she returned, she proved herself a true sportsman by permitting the hunters to cut off her shirt tails.

Perhaps the most chagrined huntress is Mrs. George Holden of Emporium. A year ago, while away on a hunting trip with a party, she returned empty-handed. During her absence three buck deer were shot down in her year within a stone’s throw from her home. This year she had two deer shot in the same yard. Next year, she declares, she will post her backyard and stay home to do her hunting.

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