Near Olanta in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Civil War Draft Resistance

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, September 1, 2017

1. Civil War Draft Resistance Marker

Inscription. The county draft roll of August of 1864 had over 500 names, and only 150 men answered the call. In June 1863 assistant marshal David Cathcart was shot in Knox Twp. by draft dodgers working as loggers. Homes were set fire in Graham Twp. by draft dodgers while deserters were looting throughout the county. Copperheads liberated arrested deserters in Troutville, and secret societies were formed to resist the draft and gather slaves. In October 1864 recruitment officer Col. Cyrus Butler was killed in Lawrence Twp., and provost marshal John McKiernan of Janesville resigned for fear of his life.

On December 13, 1864 Tom Adams' log house was surrounded by Capt. Southworth, who marched troops from Philipsburg. Shots were fired killing deserter Adams and federal soldier Edgar Reed in this yard. 18 men were arrested that night at this place, and within a month 150 more were incarcerated. Only New York City had more civil violence than Clearfield County during the war, which ended four months later.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1863.

Location. 40° 53.479′ N, 78° 27.688′ W. Marker is near Olanta, Pennsylvania, in Clearfield County. It can be reached from Curwensville Tyrone Highway.

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Located at the Bloody Knox Cabin Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6246 Curwensville Tyrone Highway, Olanta PA 16863, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bloody Knox (a few steps from this marker); The Bell Site Dig (approx. 4.2 miles away); Alexander's Fording (approx. 4.6 miles away); Alexander Cemetery (approx. 4.6 miles away); Curwensville Dam (approx. 5.4 miles away); Hogback (Porter's) Bridge (approx. 5.9 miles away); McClure Cemetery (approx. 6.2 miles away); The First Church in Clearfield County (approx. 6.2 miles away).

Also see . . . Bloody Knox Log Cabin. Visit Clearfield County website entry (Submitted on July 29, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, September 1, 2017

2. Civil War Draft Resistance Marker

Barnett Log Home in the background

Barnett Log House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, September 1, 2017

3. Barnett Log House

Credits. This page was last revised on July 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2017, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 927 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 3, 2017, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.