Centre County PA
Miscellaneous Newspaper Articles From the Past
The Lycoming Gazette, Williamsport, PA
October 9 1821
Died on Tuesday last, at his residence in the borough of Bellefonte, Centre county, PA, William Pelricken, Esq., in the 60th year of his age. His life was exemplary and he had filled various public stations, under the administrations of Mr. Kean, Snyder and Findlay, with deserved reputation. The loss of this valuable citizen is deeply lamented by his family and friends.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
April 7 1824
Wood Screws
It is with pleasure we mention, that the wood screw manufactory of Phillips and Co is now in complete operation at Phillipsburg, in Centre county, Pa., and in all probability will be able to supply almost the whole United States with that useful article, with which we have hitherto been supplied from England. This is the only manufactory of the kind in the Union, and superior to any in England, nay, in the World! A specimen of those screws have been handed us, and we hesitate not to say they are superior to those imported, and we are informed will be sold cheaper. America can now manufacture a hob nail. - Mercer, Pa Press
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
April 7 1824
Bellefonte, (PA.) March 22.
Shocking Occurrence
A man named Yarrick, was killed on Friday the 13th inst. In Lamar township, in this county. The circumstances of the death of this man, as far as we can learn, are as follow: He was engaged in digging a well for Mr. Archibald Allison, and having arrived at a rock he commenced blowing it. He had charged the rock with a heavy load of powder, but in attempting to put it off it missed fire. He then foolishly descended the well to examine it, and after adjusting the match, he was on his retreat, when about half way up to the top of the well the powder caught fire by some means or other, and went off. A large piece of the rock in its ascent out of the Well passed through the unfortunate man, carrying away four or five of his ribs and right area. He survived but a few hours after, and expired in the most awful agonies. - Patriot.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
May 12 1824
Huntingdon, Pa April 15
We learn that about the middle of the last week, a person of the name of Hamilton, residing in the adjacent part of Centre county, was shot by his brother-in-law Thompson, who living on the adjoining plantation. Some enmity had arisen between the parties in consequence of dissatisfaction or the part of Hamilton respecting the division of some estate of effects which had accrued to them by the death of their father-in-law, or some other mutual relative. Immediately preceding the fatal event, Thompson had demanded of the deceased the amount of his promissory note which had been passed to a third person, and ultimately transferred to Thompson. On this demand being made, Hamilton became much incensed, and furnishing himself with an axe, he commenced to cut and destroy the wagon and other property of Thompson. In order to prevent the destruction of his property, Thompson procured the assistance of another person of the name of Hull, who, armed with a gun, sallied out on Hamilton, and made an attempt to fire on him, but the gun missed fired and subsequently the gun had been taken by Thompson, and Hamilton, brandishing his axe, having pursed him into the angle of a fence, was about to close upon him, when Thompson without raising the gun to his shoulder, fired upon Hamilton, who received the contents in his breast and expired in a few minutes. Thompson immediately surrendered himself, and was committed to the jail of Bellefonte, but has been since liberated on bail. - Advocate
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
May 26 1824
Bellefonte, Pa. May 10
The court of Oyer and Terminer and Quarter Sessions for this county terminated on the 25th ult. After dispatching a good deal of business. Among other matters that came before the court, was that of the trial of Andrew Thompson for the murder of Charles Hamilton. After the evidence had been gone through, Mr. Burnside, the counsel for the prisoner, addressed the jury in a very able and pathetic manner, and was followed by the counsel of the part of the prosecution. His honor judge Huston then delivered the charge to the jury, who, without leaving the box, made out a verdict of justifiable homicide. Mr. Thompson was thereupon immediately discharged. - Patriot.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
May 18 1825
Bellefonte, April 30
A small boy of Mr. John Hosterman, of Haines township in this county, whilst playing in a wagon shed, under the bed of a wagon, was crushed to death by the falling of the wagon bed from the upper part of the shed to which it was attached by ropes. The falling of the bed was occasioned by rats having gnawed the ropes to which it was suspended, so much as to render them too weak to sustain the weight attached to them.
Bellefonte, May 7
On Monday last, at the militia muster at Potter's Mills in this county, a man named Anderson, whilst in the act of firing a gun at a target, accidentally shot another man through the head, and he instantly fell and expired. We have not yet learned the particulars of this tragical affair, nor the name of the person who was killed.
The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
July 15 1829
The Bellefonte, Centre county, Pa. Patriot says "Counterfeit half dollars of the Spanish stamp, are in circulation in this county, dated 1815. We were shown one of them, which was attempted to be passed in this town. It was fresh from the mint, being quite bright, and the metal having all the appearance of silver. It will be well be on the look out: the manufactory of this spurious coin is doubtless in the county."
The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
March 13 1832
A Bellefonte, Centre county Pa. Paper of the 24th ultimo, tells us that canine madness rages "to an extent truly alarming", in that neighborhood. Two young sons of Maj. Neff, in Penn's Valley, had recently been bitten. Madness also prevailed among the hogs and the cows.
The Lycoming Gazette (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
May 30 1832
The Stage which runs between Williamsport and Bellefonte, was upset in the latter place a few days since. The Centre Democrat says there were a number of passengers in the Stage, several of them were injured, one lady, we have been informed, was very badly bruised. Whilst descending a hill near the town, the lock-chain broke, and the stage rushed forward on the horses with great force - the horses started at full speed, and when in the set of making a turn, the stage flew over. The passengers attach no blame to the driver.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
February 26 1833
Bellefonte, Feb. 9
Fire and Loss of Life
The dwelling house of Mr. ___ Brown, of Boggs township, near Curtin's Works, was entirely consumed, will all its contents, by fire, on Saturday the 2d inst. Mr. And Mrs. B., we have been informed were absent at the time the fire occurred, and had left two small children in the house, who, dreadful to relate, fell victims to the fury of the element, before relief could be extended. The agony and distress of the parents, on being called on to witness such a scene, may be imagined, but cannot be described. -- Democrat
The Lycoming Gazette (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
July 24 1833
An Unknown Woman and Child
A correspondent of the Bellefonte Patriot states that about the beginning of May last, a woman, apparently forty years of age, with black eyes, delicate features, five feet high, ragged and sunburnt, was found by Mr. Joel Ferree, of Centre county, on the Nittany Mountains, on the road from Nittany Valley to Sugar Valley. She had with her a boy apparently three or four years of age, of fair complexion, grey eyes, light hair, an interesting child, and intelligent for his years. She was going in the direction of Union county, and would necessarily have to pass a mountainous country, without a road of 20 miles in one way, and 30 in another. She seemed deranged, but she said her husband's name was Wilham Brooks, the child's name was Edward; and that she came from North Carolina. She refused to return to Nittany Valley with Mr. Ferree. The next day, however, he pursued and overtook her within a quarter of a mile of the wilderness, (as it is called) east of Sugar Valley. He succeeded in taking the child from her, expecting of course she would follow it, as she had evinced great attachment for it, but she has not done so, and it is now in Mr. Ferree's care, and at his residence in Lamar township, Centre county. It is thought that she is now in Buffaloe Vally, Union county, as there is a woman who suits the description now there. There is no obvious resemblance between the woman and the child, and it is not certain that she is the mother. She said her husband had left her and she was hunting him. Editors of newspapers may serve the cause of humanity by inserting this notice.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
August 23, 1836
Philipsburg Forge Burnt
We regret to learn the Philipsburg Forge, the property of Hardman Philips, Esq., of Centre county, was almost entirely destroyed by fire on Wednesday night, the 3d instant. The fire is supposed to have been communicated to the building from the sparks which had slept in the cinder from that evening, and was not discovered until about three o'clock, on Thursday morning, which, however, was so late as to render all efforts to retard its progress ineffectual. The loss is estimated at about Two Thousand dollars - property insured. - Clearfield Pioneer
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