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Page 118
FORMATION OF SANDY TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER XXIV
IN 1872 the center of population of Brady Township was
around Luthersburg. All of the officials of the township, viz:
justice of the Peace, Tax Collector, School Directors, Overseer of
the Poor, Constable and the Election Board, resided either at
Luthersburg or very close to it. Luthersburg was the commercial
center of the western end of Clearfield County, and the merchants of
Luthersburg looked upon that territory as their legitimate field of
trade. The people in this locality regarded the persons from the
northern end of the township, in and around DuBois, rather crude and
not entitled to anything except the few crumbs that they might let
slip from their table. Not even a member of the school board was
elected from this section. Intermarriages took place outside of what
was known as the "north country." In fact, the population around
Luthersburg were rather snobbish, and gave the "backwoods" the cold
shoulder.
In 1872, when this infant commenced to bawl for its
rights, the other end of the township looked upon them with contempt
and decided they had no rights. It did not occur to the inhabitants
of DuBois that they could go to the elections in a body and elect
the officials, if they wished to do so. The old settlers of Brady
Township complained bitterly that to get more and better schools
would increase the tax rate. If there were any poor around DuBois
they were shunted off, if possible. The Supervisors likewise were
from Luthersburg. This was a time when people worked out their road
tax. Of course, it did not suit the working men of DuBois to leave
their work for a day and work out their taxes on the roads, and they
paid the tax in cash. The result was that the roads in the locality
of the Supervisors and the "old timers" were well cared for, and
little attention paid to the roads in and around DuBois. This was a
tax that the older inhabitants expected to be very materially
increased on account of the muddy conditions of the DuBois roads.
There was a great deal of discontent in the vicinity of DuBois.
The matter took shape about the last of August, 1877.
From an old newspaper published at Reynoldsville on the 4th. of
September, 1877, under the title "DuBois City Star," the following
appeared:
"There was a meeting of the citizens on last Tuesday
evening for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety
of incorporating our town. There was quite a large attendance of the
property owners, but not so large as should have been, as it is a
matter that they are directly interested in. We hope all property
holders will make it a point to be there on Thursday evening as the
committee will have their report ready,********
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