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Page 141
THE POOR DISTRICT
CHAPTER XXIX
THE reader will notice that in the order of Court
creating the Borough of DuBois a "poor district" was provided for as
well as a School District, and at the February election of 1881 two
"Overseers of the Poor" were elected. In 1881 these officers were of
considerable importance, and had power to levy taxes, see that the
taxes were collected and to spend the money at their discretionfor
the maintenance of the poor.
This system had originated in the State of Pennsylvania
at a very early date. Under the law each township and borough within
the State was constituted a poor district. Later a law was passed
that if the electors of the County so desired the poor district
became a county affair, and the boroughs and townships within its
limits were merged into the larger unit. However, at the time of the
creation of the Borough of DuBois, Clearfield County had not voted
on the question and the Borough remained a separate poor district
for many years.
In the earlier, or pioneer days, there were few, if any
paupers in Brady Township. If a father or mother of a family died,
leaving little children which the survivor could not support, these
children were usually provided for among the relatives of the
parents.
What was known as the apprentice system existed in
Pennsylvania from the inception of the State in the colonial days.
Under this system children could be indentured as an "apprentice."
This indenturing could be done by the parents or by the Overseers of
the Poor. It was a procedure that covered a multitude of trades and
occupations, and among others was that of binding little girls to
serve their master for a term of years, usually until they were 18.
Under this contract the master was supposed to teach the little girl
in the art and industry of keeping house, to sew, knit, spin, and
the various other occupations of the household of the time. In
return for this service the master was bound to provide meat, drink,
clothing, bed, schooling and such medical attendance in sickness as
the community afforded. In other words, it was an establishment of
the relation of parent and child under a form of contract.
Boys were sometimes apprenticed by their parents to a
tradesman such as carpenter, tanner, machinist, etc., for a period
of three years, to learn the trade of their master, but in the case
of the dependent child the boy would be apprenticed to the age of 21
years, or he might be emancipated at an earlier date if the con
tract so provided. It will be recalled that Kit Carson was so
indentured when he ran away and joined a caravan going to Sante Fe.
His master offered a reward of one cent for his return. The master
was responsible for his ward
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