Caldwell's Completely Indexed 1878 Clearfield County Illustrated Atlas

Clearfield County: or, Reminiscences of the Past" 1859 by S.B. Row.

Some Genealogies and Family Records by A.Y. Straw Indexed

Marriage Records of Clearfield County PA Prior to October 1, 1885 compiled by Robert Allison

KURTZ BROS.-A Centennial History 1894-1994 (Employees, Families, and Community)

Pennsylvania Bucktails:  A Photographic Album of the 42nd, 149th, and 150th Pennsylvania Regiments

The Clearfield Area — Today and Tomorrow - Education in Focus

The Clearfield Area — Today and Tomorrow - Railroads of the Area

"Clearfield County Train Excursions" booklet

An Illustrated History: Quarries of Curwensville, People and Legends by Ed Morgan

The 1895 Illustrated Overview of Clearfield

Clearfield County Flag

Registration for Students at Law and Admission to the Bar 1866-1971

A View From ... Volume 1

A View From ... Volume 2

Postcard History Series Clearfield

Indians Of Clearfield County 10,000 BC to 1800 AD

Mystery of the Fort Field The Bell Site Dig

Pottery of the Bell Site

$25.00, per copy plus $4.50 postage and handling. (Pa residents add PA sales tax $1.50)

$100.00 per copy plus $8.00 postage and handling. (PA residents add PA sales tax $6.00)

    We are very excited about the Society's reprinting of the Clearfield County Atlas published by Caldwell in 1878. This new publication is close to the original size of 14 by 17 inches and is printed on archival acid free paper for the enjoyment of future generations

      It has everything the 1878 book contained. In addition, the approximately 35 blank pages in the 219 page original have been filled with additional maps, including Rumbarger, Cherry Tree, and 1843 Clearfield. Some pages have also been filled with photographs, documents such as the original Peter Karthaus deed, and a genealogy of the county and townships compiled by the Works Progress Administration in 1939.

     The original volume has more than 100 sketches of county buildings: businesses, farms, schools, and homes. Perhaps your ancestors' properties are pictured. The reprint also includes the approximately 22 by 34 inch fold out maps of Clearfield, DuBois, and Houtzdale.

     An important added feature is that the Atlas has been completely indexed to include every surname of property owners listed on all maps, people mentioned in the text and the business directories. The index also lists mills, banks, cemeteries, churches, schools, hotels, mines, roads, creeks, rivers, towns, villages, and places of interest.

This is a beautiful book that will be appreciated by all. For anyone interested in county history, old buildings, or family history it is a must! This edition is copy writed and will never be published again. Hurry, as you don't miss this opportunity.

263 pages, Hardback, Measures 14" x 17 1/4"

$35.00 per copy plus $4.50 shipping and handling. (PA residents add PA sales tax $2.10)
(Please make checks payable to Cathie Hughes)

In the early part of 1859, S.B. Row and Lewis Krans conceived the idea to compile the history of Clearfield County's first settlers. The two gentlemen visited every township and settlement in the county and secured correct data from original ancestors and surviving settlers. Mr. Row published the historical record of Clearfield County in a series of weekly articles in the "Raftsman's Journal," beginning in the May 4, 1859 issue and ending in the December 28, 1859 issue, titled Clearfield County: Or, Reminiscences of the Past.

This 2000 publication is the first time Row's History is in book form. The only additions to the original text herewith are 56 illistrations, 3 maps, 6 documents, 68 original signatures, and completely indexed by place, township and name. The name index contains over 950 names. The documents are from 1822 to 1846 and include original oaths of office for Samuel Fulton, Lebbeus Luther, Ludwig Snyder, James McGhee, and David Mitchell. Original signatures are as early as 1822 and include Arthur Bell, Abraham Kyler and Hugh Jordan. Several of these people had towns and townships named after them.

This publication is copyrighted and hard cased bound. The book will be available for sale June 1, 2000 at the Historical Society and would be of great interest to those who are working on genealogy. We believe this book will be an excellent compliment to our existing history book collection we offer for sale at the museum. With almost 1,000 ancestral county names from across the county included, the writings give the reader an excellent insight into the early settler's lifestyle, adventures, sufferings, and fate.
Compiled by Cathie Hughes and Sara Stephenson, the supporting maps and photos took almost one year to gather. The renderings, photos, signatures, and maps compliment Row's discussions. Several of the photos were retrieved from ancestors of those mentions and historic courthouse documents supplied many original signatures. Photos of historical structures and cemeteries are also included.

Click here for Family names contained in the book

131 pages, Hardback, Measures 8 3/4" x 11 1/4"

$30.00 per copy plus $4.50 postage and handling. (PA residents add PA state sales tax $1.80)

The names considered herein run up into the thousands and we have exerted the utmost cure in securing correct data and we trust, that but few errors will be found. The data on the early pioneers has been secured from, family records', tombstones, Archives of Pennsylvania, records of their landings at Philadelphia and other seaports, Revolutionary war records, County Court House records and some legendary, ect.

These early pioneers were mostly of German extraction, although, some Scotch, Irish, English and Welsh settled among them. Irregardless of their nationality they were Christians, but belonged to different denominations. They were endowed with the three Virtues, Faith, Hope and Charity, and "the greatest of these was Charity.'' Their Faith cleared out their farms and built their homes; their hopes were rewarded by good crops of cereals and grasses; their Charity knew no bounds. It was only, through, their charitable co-operative spirits that the wilderness was made over into productive farms; that the population increased and communities grew making it possible to build centralized community places of worship and later the community school houses. It was as one large family working for a common purpose. It was a great heritage they left to their progeny.

When the third and fourth generations come on the arena the spirit of selfishness became marked in many instances, possibly through intermarriage, etc. This vast progeny now numbering many thousands is merged through intermarriages into a loyal American citizenship in which our origin is almost lost.

Let us not forget those splendid characters who during the past century or more have passed to their reward. Let us remember not so much the material heritages they left, but rather those noble traits of character that will endure.

355 pages, Hardback, Measures 6 1/2" x 9 1/4"

$20.00 per copy plus $4.50 postage and handling. (PA residents add PA sales tax $1.20)

To make available to Genealogists, amateur or professional, a record of marriages in Clearfield County before they were part of the official record at the Courthouse (October 1, 1885).

Spelling in some instances needed correction, and when sure of our ground, correction was made. We also noted in a very few cases, a conflict in marriage date from two sources, in which case a family record was given precedence.

Marriages performed out of the county are included if one or both participants were county residents or former residents. These are designated with an asterisk.

188 pages, Paperback, Measures 8½" x 11"

$5.00 per copy plus $4.50 postage and handling. (PA residents add PA sales tax $0.30)

This book is to commemorate the 100 years of Kurtz Bros. It is written not to just chronicle the corporate events of that century, but to take a look at some of those who have shaped and influenced the past as well as those in whose hands the present and future of the company are entrusted.

Whether you look upon this as the history of a company told through the story of a family, or whether it appears to be the story of a family told around the history of a company, either or both interpretations are correct. A portion of this book is devoted to Kurtz family history and early photos.

We hope you enjoy this historical record of Kurtz Bros. which has both influenced and been influenced by the community and all those who have been associated with us in so many ways over the past 100 years.

Kurtz Bros. Centennial 1894 - 1994
112 pages, Spiral Bound Measures 8 1/2" x 11"

$45.00 per copy plus $4.00 postage and handling. (PA residents add PA state sales tax $2.70)

Pennsylvania Bucktails:  A Photographic Album of the 42nd, 149th, and 150th Pennsylvania Regiments

One of the most distinguished units to serve in the Civil War was the 42^nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (13^th Reserves), popularly known as the Bucktails.  These men adorned their own caps with buck tails and were thus set apart from the typical Federal soldier by their distinctive plumage.  These Pennsylvanians saw action early in the war at Drainesville under the command of Col. Thomas Kane, who later fought with four companies in the Shenandoah Valley, while Major Roy Stone led the additional six companies on the Virginia Peninsula with the Army of the Potomac—both contingents rendering distinguished service.  Kane’s men figured prominently at Harrisonburg, Cross Keyes, and Cedar Mountain, while Stone’s soldiers were equally gallant at Mechanicsville, Gaines’ Mill and Charles City Crossroads.  Upon reunification of the regiment, they consistently displayed consistent courage and tactical ability on the battlefields of Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, and Spotsylvania.  Sometimes the Bucktails stood and fought in a line of battle, but often were detailed as skirmishers and sharpshooters where they could employ their deadly talents more effectively until mustering out on June 11, 1864.  

            The gallant service of the original Bucktails led to the call in the summer of 1862 for an entire brigade of Bucktailed regiments.  In the end, only two Bucktail regiments managed to take the field the 149^th and 150^th Pennsylvania Infantry.  The men of the new Bucktail regiments, sought to be worthy of their more famous predecessors.  Initially called into service during the 1862 Maryland Campaign, the two regiments were posted for a time in the vicinity of Washington, DC.  One company had the illustrious honor to be assigned the duty of protecting President Abraham Lincoln.  The greatest trial by fire for these two regiments came at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.  Serving side by side in the same brigade, the next blood-letting for the 149^th and 150^th came during the horrendous fighting at the Battle of The Wilderness in early May 1864.  They continued on with the Army of the Potomac through the actions at Spotsylvania, and Petersburg, especially along the Weldon Railroad.  With the numerical strength of each regiment greatly reduced, they were withdrawn from the lines and sent to Elmira, New York, in February 1865.

            The Bucktails did the Keystone State proud and earned a noted place in the pantheon of Civil War regiments.  Their legacy has had the admiration of many over the years and their fame remains strong today.  This book is an extensive photographic look at the three Bucktail regiments, that contains 264 images of these noted soldiers. Each soldier included in the book has been extensively researched, and a detailed biographical sketch is given about each identified Bucktail.  Complete with capsule unit histories and a photo index.  Hardcover.  High quality, glossy paper.  318 pages;

ISBN: 1-889246-14-X   

$10.00 per copy  plus $4.00 postage and handling (PA residents add PA sales tax $.60)

The Clearfield Area — Today and Tomorrow - Education in Focus

"The Clearfield Area — Today-Tomorrow" series of articles was conceived by Publisher W. K. Ulerich of The Progress and suggested to Editor George A. Scott early in January 1966. "I want you to develop a series of research articles on at least six diverse fields — and maybe more," he wrote in a memo to Editor Scott. "The general title will be Clearfield Area — Today, Tomorrow and the six fields that I have developed so far are Industry, Transportation, Education, Health and Welfare, Recreation and Conservation, and Municipal Development. Each of the series should include background with historical patterns and developments, the present situation and the outlook for the future, with recommendations as to how the future may be implemented.

This "Education in Focus" series was launched April 21, 1966 following an introductory column the day previous and originally included 24 articles, published once a week during 1966. A series of six articles published the week of April 17-22, 1967 under the heading "The Driving Park" also is included because it is related to the interest of the Clearfield Area School District in securing the Park as a site for a new junior high school building and for future expansion. A two-part series on the status of the Clearfield Area Vocational-Technical School, published April 27-28, 1967, is included because of its relationship to the original "Education in Focus" series.

The original 24-part "Education in Focus" series was awarded first place in the news feature series category
of the 1967 Keystone Press Awards contest, sponsored
by The Pennsylvania Society of Newspaper Editors, The
Pennsylvania Publishers Association and The Pennsylvania State University School of Journalism.
127 page, Paperback, Measures 5 1/2" x 8"

$10.00 per copy  plus $4.00 postage and handling (PA residents add PA sales tax $.60)

Digging into the history of the railroads of Clearfield County turned out to be a time-consuming but rewarding task. It was time-consuming because we found very little in existing histories of the area concerning railroads and as a result spent many hours checking microfilm files of The Clearfield Republican and its predecessors as far back as 1845, The Raftsman's Journal of Clearfield from 1868 to 1875 and many other sources. It was rewarding to see, as our research progressed, the pattern and network of rail lines across and into the county emerge from the initial line, the Tyrone & Clearfield, in the 1860s.

Although early railroad plans apparently considered a route through Clearfield County for a main line between New York and Chicago, none ever materialized. The real impetus for railroad construction into and across the county was the rich coal fields that existed in Clearfield and adjoining counties. As a result, primarily to reach coal sources but also to provide access routes to the metropolitan markets, there was developed some 24 railroads of various sizes in the county over 60 years or so, starting in the 1860s. This was exclusive of name changes as a result of mergers. Eventually all of these lines were abandoned or merged into the Baltimore & Ohio, New York Central or Pennsylvania Railroad corporate structures and today, as a result of recent mergers, the County is served only by the Penn Central and the Chesapeake & Ohio-Baltimore & Ohio Railroads (the Erie-Lackawanna still has trackage rights into the county but has not exercised them for nearly 10 years).

140 pages, Paperback  Measures 5 1/2" x 8"

$5.00 per copy  plus $3.00 postage and handling

This booklet has been published by the Clearfield County Historical Society for the autumn railroad tours which center on Clearfield County.  This four color, 24 page booklet contains 15 illustrations, maps of the excursion routes, brief histories of the railroad companies and the communities to be visited.

$30.00 per copy plus $4.50 postage and handling (PA residents add PA sales tax $1.20)

    From the time Curwensville emerged from the wilderness of Penn's Woods only a score and three years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, no period of local history has been
more romanticized than the days of its sandstone industry.

    The industry came and went with little fanfare, but its contributions have remained a favorite topic among townspeople. Visual attributes to the rime and its people exist, both here and afar, as do the quarry sites themselves. From within those sites beautiful edifices evolved.

    The quarries are not the Grand Canyon or some other superlative wonder. Certainly not. But their historical value to a small town's heritage is surely worthy of preservation. It is also time to elevate the
artisans of that day to a higher level of distinction in the pages of history.

    What sometimes is truly remarkable is often overlooked until viewed through the lens of time. During a distinguished past, the sandstone industry played a major role in the building revolution of the Northeast. It produced a prized quality of stone which in some circles was hailed as the best of the best.

    Fueled by the talent of gifted European immigrants, the quarries in the hills around Curwensville made significant and lasting contributions to the very substance of American architecture.

    The following pages represent a humble attempt to document that special time and the lives, sacrifices and hardships of the people who lived it.

    It is a story that would better have been told by the quarrymen themselves and the many craftsmen who traveled from city to city to build perpetual monuments we now embrace.

    They and much of their history are gone, but their memory and their legacy fondly remain in the hearts and minds of countless families who can trace their roots to those heydays.

    Their legacy also lives in stone edifices around Curwensville and nearby places, in the magnificence of institutions of higher learning, in homes, schools, churches and government buildings, and in a myriad
of highway and railroad bridges and tunnels in small towns and large cities across the land.

    So geometrically precise is the craftsmanship and so durable the building material that nothing short of a natural calamity, or a deliberate act of man, may ever cause their demise.

    To the memory of those hardy souls, their struggles, their loyalty and devotion to hard work, family, community and country, this book is dedicated

106 pages, Paperback Measures 10" x 8"

$8.00 each plus $4.50 shipping and handling. (PA residents add PA sales tax $.50)

$25.00 each  plus $4.50 postage and handling (PA residents add PA sales tax $1.50)

Two layers of heavy duty nylon, Printed on both sides. Flag measures    2' x 3'.

 $10.00 per copy  plus $4.00 postage and handling (PA residents add PA sales tax $.60)

The following pages are reproductions of those in the early ledger, "Registration for Students at Law and Admission to the Bar," maintained until mid-1995 in the Clearfield County Courthouse's Prothonotary's Office and now housed at the Clearfield County Historical Society because of its obvious importance to the history of this county.

The first registration was made in the year 1866, and the last registration was |completed in 1971. It is assumed that this method of registering students at law was discontinued after the use of "Miscellaneous Dockets" became a normal procedure of making registrations of attorneys' credentials. It may also be noted that there
may have been times during our county's history when a prothonotary may not have maintained this early register or did not list attorneys who read under the sponsorship of lawyers outside this county's boundaries.

No court was held in Clearfield County until 1822. The first Clearfield County cases after the county's formation in 1804 were heard in Centre County. The first twelve judges hearing cases in this county starting in October 1822 and onward to November 1883 are not in this register. They were, in chronological order: Charles Huston, Thomas Bumside, George W. Woodward, Robert G. White, John C. Knox, James T. Hale, James Burnside, James Gamble, Samuel Linn, Joseph Benson McEnally (the first to be a resident of Clearfield County), Charles A. Mayer, and John Holden Orvis (the first to be elected rather than appointed). David Luther Krebs, who is in this register, followed Orvis to the bench, and this was the first term in which Clearfield County was a district unto itself rather than one of several counties.

204 pages, Paperback  Measures 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"

$11.80 per copy  plus $4.50 postage and handling (PA residents add PA sales tax $.70)

"A View From..." is a weekly feature of The Progress. It highlights area communities so readers can learn more about their neighbors in Progressland.

Regular readers of The Progress will recognize the preceding sentences; they have greeted readers of the "A View From..." column each Saturday for the past two years.

The column became a regular feature of The Progress on Aug. 29, 1992. A history of New Washington Borough kicked off the series, and now more than two years later over 100 area communities have been highlighted in this weekly column.

The column started as a means of educating readers about the many diverse communities that make up what we at The Progress like to call "Progressland." But as the series continued, it became clear that the stories were fulfilling another purpose:

preserving the rich history of our region. In many cases, reporters had the chance to interview life-long residents of small communities, whose oral history would have been lost had it not been recorded in this series.

This book contains al! of the "A View From..." columns from Aug. 29, 1992 through Aug. 20, 1994. The individual stories appear in the order in which they were published. An alphabetized index appears in the back of the book for easy reference.

Readers often ask how long the series will run. There are many communities yet to be written about, so The Progress anticipates publishing the stories for several years to come. As the years pass, it is our hope that future columns also will be compiled into books.
 

A final note of thanks to all who have helped make "A View From..." a success. Thanks to all who have supplied interviews, information and personal photos, and also thanks to The Progress reporters and staff members, who have devoted many long hours to this important pursuit.

144 pages, Paperback, Measures 8 1/2" x 11"

        

      

   

  

 $11.80 per copy  plus $4.50 postage and handling (PA residents add PA sales tax $.70)

296 pages, Paperback, Measures 8 1/2" x 11"

$20 per copy plus $4.00 postage and handling (PA residents add PA sales tax $1.20)

By Julie Rae Rickard 128 pages 200 photos

$15.00 per copy plus $4.00 postage and handling (PA residents add PA sales tax $.72)

By Harry A Matlack 252 pages

$8.00 per copy plus $4.00 postage and handling (PA residents add PA sales tax $.30)

By Harry A Matlack 53 pages

$8.00 per copy plus $4.00  postage and handling (PA residents add PA sales tax $.30)

By Harry A Matlack 43 pages