Travel diary: D. Stabler, 1823

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a vast extent of Mountains and vallies over which we had pass'd. The ascent was easy, the road smooth, and the day again fine, not oppressively hot any part of it, and sometimes such a cool breeze, that we kept the back and one side curtain down all day. We travaild 9 miles at one time without seeing the residence of a human being, except the deserted Cabbins of the Turnpike laborers, some not more that 10 feet square cover'd with pine bark. It is the 6 of the M^o and we have seen on the mountain many of the small white oaks with the leaves not larger than a Squirrels Ears, and our old acquentances Black Berry briers not yet in bloom, but a few of them had began to bloom, and a few lonely strawberry vines also in bloom. We have pass'd over and in sight of many thousand of acres on the high parts of the moutain, cover'd with small Shrubbery small oaks, Aspans from 3 to 6 feet high interspers'd with white middle siz'd white Pines, and the lower places and sides of the adjoining mountains loaded with white Pines of the most enormous height, G Wilson thought in some places if

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it were cut up and corded, that it would nearly cover the ground, and once we judged that at one veiw in the hollow between the hills, that we could count trees enought if within reach of one of our Cities would sell for a thousand dollars. We saw one cut off 8 feet from the root, which measur'd 13 1/4 feet round, wher it was cut off, we Yesterday pass'd 1 Furnace, and two Forges, this day we have pass'd one and are now in a village call'd Philipsburg, 24 miles from W^m Fishers.

7^th of 6 M^o, After good accomodations and respectful attention from our hostess, we are nearly ready to ride at 6 oclock, and hope to reach Clearfield settlement, the extreme point of our Journey. _ we feel renew'd cause day by day, to acknowledge that we lack nothing, and have much to be thankful for; we have had large opportunity to view, and wonder, at the mighty works of an

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almighty hand, in contemplating these wonders, many powerful, Scriptural figures as well as sublime but mysterious passages have been brought into recollection and comprehended I believe with clearness; that state having at sometimes of my life been experienced, when the sense of the want of all that is good; and the administration of condemnation rested upon disobedience to the law of life and love; I thought when passing thro' the deep vallies with mountains on both sides the rocks, almost over our heads, in other places, the lofty timbers, which darken'd the air, many of them, half burnt in two; looking as if a breeze would overturn them on us, some we saw that had actually fallen on the road from that cause, and were cut out. The application of that text, or passage of scripture which calls upon the Rocks to fall, and the mountains to cover, from the divine presence, was understood. _ another very

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impressive figure contain'd in the prophet Daniels Vision, when he saw the Stone cut out of the mountain without hands which was to destroy the Image &c&c, a work utterly impossible by human effort, in its most powerful form, presented in viewing the stupendous works of the great architect, in forming the perpetual Hills, the rocks, plains and all the wonders we have seen in our six days Journey. _ We have travaild near 18 miles to day on this new Turnpike, an excellent smooth road, on which T Stabler would make six miles an hour with a lively pair of horses, if he had but 20 or 30 miles before him but prudence dictates and regulates our march; for if we wish our Horses to take us home, we must move slowly. _ In this, and almost every thing we perfectly coincide with our excellent caretaker G Wilson; we thought yesterday evening we were off the Allegany mountain, but this days 18 miles, has not finis'd it, 36 miles is done and how much more we do not know, we have cross'd Clear Creak and the west branch of Susquehanna on bridges the latter was well

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cover'd, we have cross'd several coverd bridges, both these waters are navigable for Rafting down to the Susquehanna. _ In the course of this forenoons ride, we were gratified with sight of a fine Deer; I saw its first Leap to recede from our view, Cousin Hannah had been watching for days with strong desires to see one, and as she said was hunting Deer, but the one she at last saw was too nimble to give her a good look at it. _ We are now at a friends house within seven miles of Clearfield meeting, detaind perhaps for the night by an approaching Storm, it is too fearful to Venture out, on account of the mighty timber, which, with but little exception, borders the newly made road. _

The Stormy appearance encreasing we staid all night at Job Packer, was once a member, stands disown'd for marrying, both himself and wife, entertaind us with affectionate attention without suffering us to pay a Cent, they gave us an early breakfast, and his wife follow'd us to the meeting which was held in a new dwelling house, the Horseback people