|
Page 145
EARLY BUSINESS AND BUILDING
CHAPTER XXX
DOCTOR W. J. Smathers gives the population of DuBois in
June 1873, at the time he located, as sixteen families. There is no
other method of fixing the population except by the census periods.
As before stated, the census of Brady Township in 1870 was 2,009.
Sandy Township had been separated from Brady Township in 1878, and
the census of 1880 gives the population of Sandy Township 3,84o. The
census report makes this memorandum, "Part taken from Brady Township
in 1878." This census report also states, "DuBois, Sandy Township,
Clearfield County, 2817, listed with the unincorporated places in
Pennsylvania." This would indicate that the census of the balance of
the township was 1162. In other words, the population of DuBois had
grown from 16 families in 1873 to 2718 at the time of the taking of
the census in 1880.
The advertisements of John Rumbarger as the central
location between Brockway and Luthersburg must have been attractive
to cause such an influx of people. However, it is more likely that
the establishment of the industries by John DuBois, commencing about
1871 or 1872, had more to do with it than this advertisement. This
matter will be dealt with in another chapter.
One wonders how this influx of people was provided with
homes in a wilderness.
However, the emigrants into DuBois were very much
similar to the pioneer, that is, they were not accustomed to
luxuries. A great many of them came from farms driven to hunt work
by the panic of 1873 and were glad to get work. The wife made her
own clothing. A hat was good for five or six years and a coat made
in the house would be worn the same length of time. The houses were
lighted with coal oil lamps and the fuel was wood and coal. There
were plenty of cattle, hogs and sheep for the local butcher to
provide meat. The farmer raised grain and hay for feeding both the
population and the horses and cattle needed to supply the wants of
the local people. There were no dairies to furnish milk, but the
well-to-do kept his own cow and sold milk to his neighbors.
There were no silks or satins, and the clothing was all
plainly made. If one saw a woman on the street dressed in what was
known as the "latest style" she would not be rated with "Caesar's
wife."
Land was cheap. Mr. Rumbarger sold his lots as low as
$100.00 each. The subdivisions of the Henry Shaffer land were
likewise sold for very low prices. The lot at the corner of Brady
Street and West Long Avenue, now occupied by the Deposit National
Bank, was sold for $150.00 about 1875; a two-story frame dwelling
house was built on it and was later sold for $1000.00 In 1893, after
the building had been destroyed by fire, the same lot sold for
$10,000.00.
|
