Visit the Clearfield County Tourism webpage here for more information about the Clearfield County Geotrail, passports, geocoins, and previous Geotrail’s that are still open.
Clearfield County is full of old and historical locations, buildings, and remnants of by gone eras. Come and cache Clearfield County to learn about its rich history through ghost towns, abandoned cemeteries, Civil War uprisings and its rich Native American presence.
Please be respectful of this area and replace cache as found. It is placed near the final resting place of Hiram Woodward...
When lumbering began to subside in Maine and along the Hudson in the 1840's, Lumbermen from these areas migrated to Western PA for work, bringing their skills with them. The area was deeply forested with virgin White Pine, Hemlock and Poplar. The issue was, how to get these logs to the mills in the center of the state.
In 1854 Hiram Woodward, bringing 14 men, came from the Lehigh river to Bennets branch valley to cut lumber for Reading, Fisher & Co. In conjunction with John DuBois he cleared the stream of obstructions and began the industry of cutting logs and floating them to the great mills at Williamsport. In 1855, Woodward and DuBois completed their first logging drive to Williamsport. This work continued for 40 years, and not less than two billion feet of lumber in logs went out of Bennets branch. The settlers, who had been burning the beautiful clear pine stuff in log heaps to get rid of it, opposed log-floating, and tried to prevent Woodward and DuBois carrying it on. In 1856 Woodward moved to Penfield and acquired the property of Wilson and Hoyt. The former’s log cabin gave place to a frame house, and this became the headquarters for the large and prosperous lumbering operations of Woodward.
From "A Log Drive to Williamsport in 1868" by Samuel A. King...
'John DuBois' partner in the Bennetts Valley drives was Hiram Woodward, who had studied at Wyoming Seminary before devoting his life to the woods. Short of stature, strong of physique, Woodward was famed throughout the northwoods as a champion wrestler. On one occasion, according to a kinsman, he interrupted his noon meal long enough to defeat a challenger from the Clarion River. Another time he saved John DuBois' life at Keating. "Algerines" or log rustlers were stealing from the Reading-Fisher firm when they were detected by DuBois. "You damn rascals," he shouted as he approached them. "What are you doing here?" One of the Algerines raised his pike to knock DuBois into the swift river when Woodward dashed up and flattened the culprit with his brawny fist.'