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Page 18
EARLY ROADS
CHAPTER III
At the time of the Indian Purchase of 1783 there were no roads,
except
Indian trails, through the woods of Clearfield County. But the
Indians, not
having horses, oxen, mules, or wagons, paid little attention to
making roads
that could be traveled by the white man. The Indians had villages
scattered
along the West Branch of the Susquehanna, one of which was at
Clearfield,
bearing the Indian name of Chinchaclamoose, which was reached by a
trail from
Big Island below Lock Haven. From Chinchaclamoose the trail extended
over the
divide to Punxsutawney, and thence to Kittanning on the Allegheny
River.
However, when this Indian purchase was made, something more than an
Indian
trail through the forest was needed to induce the white man to
emigrate into
this wilderness, and the purchasers of the land prevailed on the
State to
construct a highway or road at State expense, known as the "Old
State Road."
This road entered Clearfield County near Philipsburg and proceeded
westerly
near Curwensville, crossing Anderson Creek at about Bridgeport. The
route of
this road was south of what is known as the present pike. It left
the county
north of Eriton or West Liberty. Traces of this road have been found
by George
C. Kirk, Esq., from near Curwensville west. This is set forth in Mr.
Kirk's
"Pioneer History of Brady Township." Although other pseudo authors
have given a
different location, their information seems to have been obtained by
hearsay
from data given by person or persons, who thought they knew. Mr.
Kirk's data is
from his surveys made over this section of the county during a
period of more
that fifty years, and he had obtained his information from marks he
has found
on the ground, which should be conclusive.
This old State Road was used during the war of 1812 to transport
troops
from the eastern part of the state through to Erie to assist
Commodore Perry,
who was then in charge of military operations on that lake. (Pioneer
History of
Brady Township).
This State Road was like other state institutions. There being very
few
votes in the locality, this road was allowed to care for itself. The
purchasers
of the land had disposed of their holdings, and there seemed to be
no interest
taken in it to keep it in repair, as will be noticed in a prior
chapter as to
the condition of this road.
Prior to 1820 a charter was obtained from the Legislature of
Pennsylvania
to build a pike, which afterwards became known as "The Erie &
Waterford
Turnpike", but which evidently extended from the Susquehanna River
west through
Waterford to Erie.
Who the corporators were, or what their intentions were, is of
little
interest, except as to what this Pike did for Clearfield County in
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