Peale, Pennsylvania was founded in 1883 and was named after S.R. Peale of Lock Haven.

The following excerpt from The Raftman's Journal, published on June 24, 1885 gives us insight into what this area was like:  

A correspondent of the Lock Haven Express recently took a trip from that place to Peale, this county, and he thus gives his impressions of the beauties of the new route and the location of Peale:

"The country through which the road passes is grand and romantic in the extreme. At the base of some gigantic mountain you will pass what a poet would call a babbling brook of a murmuring stream, which indeed is enough to inspire a common man with poetic ardor. Our trip up the mountain was a delightful one. As we approached the Snow Shoe regions malfestations were abundant on every side that the proper industry and capital had been employed to make this wild section yield a portion of its inherent wealth and adds its share to the prosperity and importance of our state. After passing through a tunnel a short distance this side of the town of Peale in Clearfield County, the scenery becomes grand beyond description.

As we came in sight of town we were in full view of the most magnificent gorge it has ever been our fortune to behold. On our left was the beautiful natural park, where the party was to spend the day; on our right a ravine, at the bottom of which fully one thousand feet below where the cars ran is the beautiful little stream of the Moshannon; on the other side of this ravine, on a gently sloping hillside, stands the town of Peale, elegantly located for health and comfort. With the best of drainage and abundance of pure water, which is carried into every house and barn in the town, by pipes running from the fountain, it is destined to become a place of some importance."

While the above description brings to mind an image of beauty, the following excerpt from The Raftman's Journal, published on August 20, 1885, describes more in-depth what the town was like: 

"The town of Peale is located on the line of the Beech Creek Railroad 75 miles west of Williamsport. It was named after S.R. Peale of Lock Haven and is owned, and everything in it too, by the coal company. Two years ago the ground was a wilderness; today there are nearly 300 buildings and a population of 2,500 souls in the place, every one of whom is employed or dependent upon those employed by the coal or railroad company."

"The town was built on a hill above Moravian Run. It is divided in two by a small tributary stream. The place is laid out with all the regularity of a city. Down in the ravine, at the foot of town are the slaughter houses, while all the stables drain into the little stream running through the center. A reservoir in back of town distributes pure water into every street and to every house in the place. The houses are 2 story frame buildings painted brick red; wainscoted to 4 ft. and plastered throughout; three rooms on the first floor, 2 or 3 on the second. They rent for $4.25 - $6.75 per month including water. Altogether they are the most comfortable miners' cabins seen throughout the county and the rent is not high for a man earning $9 - $12 per week."

 "The only store in the place is owned by the company and everything is sold there a man would likely use. Liquor is the exception. An account is kept with each family and once a month the books are balanced. There is an Episcopal Church and a town hall used by the Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran Societies. The Police Chief's duties are nominal; no one is ever arrested and there is no jail."

"The government of all these people and institutions is confined to one man, Mr. George Platt. Fortunately, he is a man of good judgment, and he succeeds admirably in governing without causing dissatisfaction. The men seem contented, and, as they receive fair pay for their work, make few complaints."

Moravian Run, which ran through Peale, has an interesting history by itself.  The following is an excerpt from http://www.pa-roots.com/~clearfield/aldrich/chap4.html: 

Two bands of Moravian Indians set forth to Ohio.  They were divided into two bodies, one pursuing the journey in boats up the West Branch under the charge of John Roth, and the other by land under John Ettwein.  The party in boats carried their church bell in advance of the fleet, and proceeded in this manner as far as the island, where they were soon after joined by those on the land route.  From this point the boats were abandoned, and all proceeded together by land.

"It was an onerous trip, but was blessed for me.  The number of Indians numbered 240, with a few strangers, of which over fifty had the measles on the trip and was buried at Moravian Run, where the Indian path crosses, about a mile west of Big Moshannon Creek, and from this the name was given to the run."

Below is some interesting information about Wages and Prices of Items:

The following Price List was derived in 1902 from Chas. W. Albrigh, Cash Grocer of the Woolridge Building:

Best Chop, $ 1.50 sk or 5 sk Lots at $ 1.45
Gold Mine or Diamond Metal Flour, $ 1.15 sk or $ 4.50 bbl
Best Potatoes, $ 1.05 bu.
Pure Shaker Sweet Dried Corn, 3 lbs., 25¢
2 Extra Large Mackerel, 23¢
2 Bottles Best Maple Syrup, 25¢
Best Eating Apples, 45¢ per pk.
6 pounds Best Quality Rolled Oats, 25¢
4 Nice Mackerel, 25¢
5 pounds Best Small Prunes, 25¢
Very Finest Country Butter, 28¢
Large Bottles of Lemon or Vanilla Extract, 10¢
Very Large Bottles of Best Preserves, 10¢
5 pounds Best Ginger Snaps, 25¢
1 Gallon Can Finest Maple Syrup, 79¢
3 pkgs. Best Currants (full weight, guaranteed), 25¢
3 cans Finest New York State Corn, 25¢
Heinz's Best Mince Meat, 10¢ per lb.
Very Best Lard, 12 ½ ¢ per lb.
5 pounds Best Loose Starch, 25¢

An announcement was listed with the above price list:

"These prices take effect Friday, February 7, 1902, and continue one week.  We guarantee everything we sell and deliver goods free to all parts of the town." 

Here are some prices from 1915:

200 Ladies Skirts, All wool, Regular Price $3 and $4, Special at $1.98, Come Early, at Mirkin's
Tomatoes, Choice Hand Packed Stock, per can, 8¢
Extra Quality Canned Corn, per can, 8¢
Extra Quality Canned Peas, per can, 8¢
Home Grown Potatoes, A-1 Stock, Free from Decay and Well Sorted, 45¢ 

In 1880, the following Wages were the Average for various Mining Positions:

Miner:  $ 11.43 per week
Driver in Mines:  $ 10.00 per week

In 1901, The English Board of Trade Statistics made changes in rates of wages ranging from 36% to 43%.