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YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

WILUAM J. McKNiL'.HT.

^7^^ A PIONEER HISTORY ^^^4

OF

Jefferson County, Pennsylvania

AND

MY FIRST RECOLLECTIONS OF BROOKVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA,
1840-1843, WHEN MY FEET WERE BARE AND
MY CHEEKS WERE BROWN

BY
W. J. lyicKNIGHT, M.D.
BROOKVILLE, PA.

PHILADELPHIA
PRINTED BY J B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
1898

TO MY
FATHER AND MOTHER
THESE PAGES ARE
AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED

preface.

To write a pioneer history of a single county years and years after all
the fathers and mothers have gone to that "country from -whose bourn
no traveller returns" is a task to appall the most courageous. To say it
mildly, it is a task requiring a vast amount of labor and research, untiring
perseverance, great patience, and discrimination. In undertaking this
task I realized its magnitude, and all through the work I have determined
that, if labor, patience, and perseverance would overcome error and false -
traditions and establish the truth, the object of this book would be fully
attained. This book is not written for gain, nor to laud or puff either the
dead or the living. It is designed to be a plain, truthful narrative of the
pioneer men and events of Jefferson County. I have compiled, wherever
I could, from the writings of others.
I am indebted to the following historical works, — viz., "Jefferson
County Atlas," "Jefferson County History," Day's "Historical Recol
lections," Egle's " History of Pennsylvania," W. C. Elliott's "History
of Reynoldsville," and the county histories of Indiana, Armstrong, Elk,
Centre, Lycoming, Venango, Crawford, and Northumberland ; also to
many individuals. I am greatly indebted to the late Mr. G. B. Good-'
lander, of Clearfield, for a complete file of the Brookville Republican for
the year 1837, to Clarence M. Barrett for a file of the Republican for 1834,
and also to the Ladies^ Home fournal of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In every instance, as far as possible, credit has been given to the
writings of those who have preceded me. But, dear reader,
" Whoever thinks a faultless work to see.
Thinks what ne'er was, nor is, nor e'er shall be.
In every work regard the writer's end.
Since none can compass more than they intend.
And if the means be just, the conduct true.
Applause, in spite of trivial faults, is due."
W. J. McKnight.
Brookville, Pennsylvania. 3

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER L

PAGE

Introductory — Times, Privileges, Social Habits of the Pioneers, Chris
tianity OF those days, etc.  '."  9
CHAPTER II.
Our Aborigines — The Iroquois, or Six Nations — Indian Towns, Villages,
Graveyards, Customs, Dress, Huts, Medicines, Doctors, Bark-
Peelers, Burials, etc   12
CHAPTER III.
The -Wilderness in 1755 — The Savage Indian — Marie Le Roy and Bar
bara Leininger, the First White Pioneers to Tread this Wil
derness — The Chinklacamoose Path — Punxsutawney and Kit-
tanning — Rev. Heckewelder, Rev. Zeisberger, Rev. Ettwein, and
Rothe  ,  ; . . 32
CHAPTER IV.
The Purchase of 1784   42
CHAPTER V.
Titles and Surveys — Pioneer Survey's and Surveyors — District Lines
run in Northumberland, now Jefferson, County, Pennsylvania 78
CHAPTER VI.
Pioneer Animals — Beaver, Buffalo, Elk, Panthers, Wolves, Wildcats,
Bears, and other Animals — Pens and Traps — Birds — Wild Bees . 88
CHAPTER VII.
Runways, Paths, Trails, Deer Runs and Crossings, Indian Trails —
The White Man's Path — David and John Meade — Meade's Pack-
horse Trail — Pioneer Settlement in the Northwest— White
Boys captured and reared by Indians— Pioneer Explorers and
Settlers  115

CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII.
PAGE
Provision for opening a Road— Report of the Commissioners to the
Governor — Streams, etc. ...  124
CHAPTER IX,
The Old State Road— Early Roads and Trails— Why the State Road
was made — The First Attempt to open the Road — Laws, etc,
touching the Subject — The Survey — The Road completed — The
Act of the Legislature which sanctioned the Building of the
Road   137
CHAPTER X.
Pioneer Agriculture — How the Farmers in the Olden Time had to
makeshift — The Pioneer Homes — Pioneer Food — Pioneer Evening
Frolics — Trees, Snakes, axd Reptiles — Soldiers of 1812 — Pioneer
Legal Relations of Man and Wife — Early and Pioneer Music
— List of Taxable Inhabitants in 1820 — The Transportation of
Iron — The First Screw Factory — Population of the State and
OF THE United States ...  150
CHAPTER XI.
The Erection of the County — Site for County established, and Deed
FOR Public Lots — Pioneer Court-House and Jail — The Pioneer
Academy  .  185
CHAPTEPv xii.
The Common School System — Its Inception — Introduction into America
— State Effort — History of Education in the State — Schools
of Jefferso.n County — Progress of Education, etc. ... . . 199
CHAPTER XIII.
Pioneer Missionary Work — The First White Man to travel the Soil
of Jefferson County — Revs. PoiT, Heckewelder, and Others , . 229
CHAPTER XIV.
Pioneer and Early Ch;urches — Presbyterian the Pioxeer Church in
THE County — The Pioneer Preacher and Church .... .237

CHAPTER XV.
White Slavery— Origin— Nature in Rome, Greece, and Europe— Afri
can Slavery in Pennsylvania — George Bryan — Pioneer Colored
Settler in Jefferson County— Census, etc.— Days of Bondage in
this County   266
6

CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVI.
PAGE
Pioneer Money  ...  . . 296
CHAPTER XVII.
" Scotch-Irish" — Origin of the Term under James I. — Lords and Lairds
— Early Settlers in Pennsylvania — The Pioneer and Early Set
tlers IN Jefferson County ...  299
CHAPTER XVIII.
From 1830 to 1840 . . .  311
CHAPTER XIX.
Pioneer Settlement of Western Pennsylvania— Pioneer Pennsylvania
IxDi.AN Traders — The Pioneer Road by Way of the South
Branch of the Potomac and the Valley of the Kiskiminitas —
The Pioneer Ro.ad from East to West, from Raystown, now Bed
ford, to Fort Duquesne, now Pittsburg, a Military Necessity —
General John Forbes opens it ix the Summer and Fall of 1758
— Colonel George Washington opposed to the New Road and
IN Favor of the Potomac Road — Death of General John Forbes
— Pioneer Mail-Coaches, Mail-Routes, and Post-Offices . . . 334
CHAPTER XX.
Pioneer Roads in Provisional Jefferson County from 1808 to 1830 . 346
CHAPTER XXI.
Pioneer Court — Pioneer Judges — President and Associates — Pioneer
Bar and Early Lawyers — Minutes of Pioneer Sessions of Court
— December Session, 1830, and February Session, 1831 — List of
Retailers of Foreign Merchandise in the County, February
Sessions, 1831 — Early Constables . ..... 364
CHAPTER XXII.
The Pioneer Physician in the County, Dr. John W. Jenks, of Punx
sutawney— The Pioneer Physician on the Little Toby, Dr.
Nichols — Other Early Physicians, Dr. Evans, Dr. Prime, Dr.
Darling, Dr. Bishop, Dr. A. M. Clarke, Dr. James Dowling, Dr.
WiLLiA.M Bennett — Pioneer Major Operation in Surgery in 1S21
— Early Rides, Fees, etc. . . . .... . 391
CHAPTER XXIII.
Pioneer Townships and Boroughs and Pioneer Taxables  396
7

CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXIV.
PAGE
Pioneer Newspaper in the West. — Pioneer Newspaper in the County' —
Terms — Early Market — Other Papers . ... 407
CHAPTER XXV.
Militia and Townships ... ... ... 414
CHAPTER XXVI.
My First Recollections of Brookville ... ... . . 512
CHAPTER XXVII.
Cornplanter — Our Chief — Chief of the Senecas, one of the Six Na
tions — Brief History — Some Speeches — Life and Death — Moses
Knapp — Saw-Mills — John Jones . . . .... 560
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Joseph Barnett — Biographical Sketch of the Patriarch of Jefferson
County . . .  . . 570

Appendix

593

A PIONEER HISTORY

OF

JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

CHAPTER I.

introductory — times, privileges, social habits of the pioneers,
christianity of those days, etc.
At this time all the pioneers have passed away, and the facts here
given are collected from records and recollections. Every true citizen
now and in the future of Jefferson County must ever possess a feeling of
deep veneration for the brave men and courageous women who penetrated
this wilderness and inaugurated civilization where savages and wild beasts
reigned supreme. These heroic men and women migrated to this wilder
ness and endured all the hardships incidental to that day and life, and
through these labors and tribulations they have transmitted to us all the
comforts and conveniences of a high civilization. When pioneers pass
off a given spot they disappear from that locality forever. This county
was redeemed by the Barnetts, Scotts, and others. We will know them
or their like no more forever. The graves have closed over all these
pioneer men and women, and I have been deprived of the great assistance
they could have been to me in writing this history.
In 1800, when Joseph Barnett settled on Mill Creek, then Lycoming
County, the United States contained a population of five million three
hundred and five thousand nine hundred and twenty-five people. Now,
in iSgo, we have sixty-two million six hundred and twenty-two thousand
two hundred and fifty.
Men at this time wore no beard, whiskers, or moustaches, a full beard
being held as fitted only for heathen or Turks.
In 1800 Philadelphia and New York were but overgrown villages, and
Chicago was unknown. Books were few and costly, ignorance the rule,
and authors famed the world over now were then unborn ; now we
spend annually one hundred and forty million dollars for schools. Then
2 9

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
there was no telegraph, telephone, or submarine cable ; now the earth is
girdled with telegraph wires, and we can speak face to face through the
telephone a thousand miles apart, and millions of messages are sent every
year under the waters of the globe. To day in the United States an
average of one to twelve telegraphic messages are sent every minute, day
and night, the year through.
In 1800 emigrants to America came in sailing vessels. Each emi
grant had to provide his own food, as the vessel supplied only air and
water. The trip required a period of from thirty days to three months.
Now this trip can be made by the use of Jefferson County coal in less
than six days. Now ocean travel is a delight. Then canals for the pas
sage of great ships and transatlantic steamers were unknown.
In I Soo electricity was in its infancy, and travel was by sail, foot,
horseback, and by coach. Now we have steamers, street-cars, railroads,
bicycles, and horseless carriages. Gas was unheard of for stoves, streets,
or lights. Pitch-pine, fat, and tallow candles gave the only light then.
In 1800 human slavery was universal, and irreligion was the order of
the day. Nine out of every ten workingmen neither possessed nor ever
opened a Bible. Hymn-books were unknown, and musical science had
no systera. Medicine was an illiterate theory, surgery a crude art, and
dentistry unknown. No snap shots were thought of. Photography was
not heard of. Now this science has revealed " stars invisible" and micro
scopic life.
In 1800 there were but few daily papers in the world, no illustrated
ones, no humorous ones, and no correspondents. Modern tunnels were
unknown, and there was no steam heating. Flint and tinder did duty
for matches. Plate-glass was a luxury undreamed of. Envelopes had not
been invented, and postage-stamps had not been introduced. Vulcan
ized rubber and celluloid had not begun to appear in a hundred dainty
forras. Stationary wash-tubs, and even wash-boards, were unknown.
Carpets, furniture, and household accessories were expensive. Sewing-
machines had not yet supplanted the needle. Aniline colors and coal-
tar products were things of the future. Stem-winding watches had not
appeared ; there were no cheap watches of any kind. So it was with
hundreds of the necessities of our present life.
"In the social custoras of our day, many minds entertain doubts
whether we have made improvements upon those of our ancestors. In
those days friends and neighbors could meet together and enjoy them
selves, and enter into the spirit of social amusement with a hearty good
will, a geniality of manners, a corresponding depth of soul, both among
the old and young, to which raodern society is unaccustomed. Our
ancestors did not make a special invitation the only pass to their dwell
ings, and they entertained those who visited them with a hospitality that
is not generally practised at the present time. Guests did not assemble
10

PIONEER HISTORV OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
then to criticise the decorations, furniture, dress, manners, and surround
ings of those by whom they were invited. They were sensible people,
with clear heads and warm hearts ; they visited each other to promote
mutual enjoyment, and believed in genuine earnestness in all things.
We may ignore obligations to the pioneer race, and congratulate our
selves that our lot has been cast in a more advanced era of mental and
moral culture ; we may pride ourselves upon the developments which
have been made in science and art, but while viewing our standard of
elevation as immeasurably in advance of that of our forefathers, it would
be well to emulate their great characteristics for hospitality, honor, and
integrity. " The type of Christianity of that period will not suffer by compari
son with that of the present day. If the people of olden times had less
for costly apparel and ostentatious display, they had also more for offices
of charity and benevolence ; if they did not have the splendor and lux
uries of wealth, they at least had no infirmaries or paupers, very few law
yers, and but little use for jails. The vain and thoughtless may jeer at
their unpretending manners and customs, but in all the elements of true
manhood and true womanhood it may be safely averred that they were
more than the peers of the generation that now occupy their places. That
race has left its impress upon our times, — whatever patriotism the present
generation boasts of has descended from them. Rude and illiterate,
comparatively, they may have been, but they possessed strong minds in
strong bodies, made so by their compulsory self-denials, their privations
and toil. It was the mission of many of them to aid and participate in
the formation of this great commonwealth, and wisely and well was the
mission performed. Had their descendants been more faithful to their
noble teachings, harmony would now reign supreme where violence and
discord now hold their sway in the land.
" The pioneer times are the greenest spot in the memories of those who
lived in them ; the privations and hardships they then endured are con
secrated things in the recollection of the survivors."

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTV, PENNA.

CHAPTER 1 1.*

OUR ABORIGINES — THE IROQUOIS, OR SLK NATIONS  INDIAN TOWNS, VIL
LAGES, GRAVEYARDS, CUSTOMS, DRESS, HUTS, MEDICINES, DOCTORS,
BARK-PEELERS, BURIALS, ETC.
AyuANUscHiONi, or "united people," is what they called themselves.
The French called them the Iroquois ; the English, the Six Nations.
They formed a confederate nation, and as such were the most celebrated
and powerful of all the Indian nations in North America. The confed
eracy consisted of the Mohawk, the fire-striking people ; the Oneidas,
the pipe-makers ; the Onondagas, the hill-top peo
ple ; the Cayugas,. the people from the lake ; the
Tuscaroras, unwilling to be with other people ; and
the Senecas, the mountaineers.
The Iroquois, or Six Nations, were divided into
what might be called eight families, — viz., the
Wolf, Bear, Beaver, Turtle, Deer, Snipe, Heron,
and Hawk. Each of the Six Nations had one of
each of these families in their tribe, and all the
raembers of that family, no matter how wide apart
or of what other tribe, were considered as brothers
and sisters, and were forbidden to marry in their
own family. Then a wolf was a brother to all
other wolves in each of the nations. This family
bond was taught from infancy and enforced by
public opinion.
"If at any time there appeared a tendency toward conflict between
the different tribes, it was instantly checked by the thought that, if per
sisted in, the hand of the Turtle must be lifted against his brother Turtle,
the tomahawk of the Beaver might be buried in the brain of his kinsman
Beaver. And so potent was the feeling that, for at least two hundred
years, and until the power of the league was broken by the overwhelming
outside force of the whites, there was no serious dissension between the
tribes of the Iroquois.
" In peace, all power was confined to ' sachems ;' in war, to ' chiefs.'
The sachems of each tribe acted as its rulers in the few matters which
required the exercise of civil authority. The same rulers also met in

¦* For much in this chapter I am indebted lo Riipp's History.
12

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
council to direct the affairs of the confederacy. There were fifty in all,
of whom the Mohawks had nine, the Oneidas nine, the Onondagas four
teen, the Cayugas ten, and the Senecas eight. These numbers, however,
did not give proportionate power in the councils of the league, for all the
nations were equal there. There was in each tribe, too, the same num
ber of war-chiefs as sachems, and these had absolute authority in time of
war. When a council assembled, each sachem had a war-chief near him
to execute his orders. But in a war-party the war-chief commanded and
the sachem took his place in the ranks. This was the system in its
simplicity. " The right of heirship, as among many other of the North America
tribes of Indians, was in the feraale line. A man's heirs were his
brother, — that is to say, his mother's son and his sister's son, — never his
own son, nor his brother's son. The few articles which constituted an
Indian's personal property — even his bow and tomahawk — never de
scended to the son of him who had wielded them. Titles, so far as they
were hereditary at all, followed the same law of descent. The child also
followed the clan and tribe of the mother. The object was evidently to
secure greater certainty that the heir would be of the blood of his de
ceased kinsman. The result of the application of this rule to the Iroquois
system of clans was that if a particular sachemship or chieftaincy was
once established in a certain clan of a certain tribe, in that clan and tribe
it was expected to remain forever. Exactly how it was filled when it
became vacant is a matter of some doubt ; but, as near as can be learned,
the new official was elected by the warriors of the clan, and was then
inaugurated by the council of sachems.
"If, for instance, a sachemship belonging to the Wolf clan of the
Seneca tribe became vacant, it could only be filled by some one of the
Wolf clan of the Seneca tribe. A clan council was called and, as a gen
eral rule, the heir of the deceased was chosen to his place, — to wit, one
of his brothers, reckoning only on the mother's side, or one of his sister's
sons, or even some more distant male relative in the female line. But
there was no positive law, and the warriors might discard all these and
elect some one entirely unconnected with the deceased, though, as before
stated, he must be of the same clan and tribe. While there was no un
changeable custom compelling the clan council to select one of the heirs
of the deceased as his successor, yet the tendency was so strong in that
direction that an infant was frequently chosen, a guardian being ap
pointed to perform the functions of the office till the youth should reach
the proper age to do so. All offices were held for life, unless the incum
bent was solemnly deposed by a council, an event which very seldora oc
curred. Notwithstanding the modified system of hereditary power in
vogue, the constitution of every tribe was essentially republican. War
riors, old men, and women attended the various councils and made their
13

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
influence felt. Neither in the government of the confederacy nor of the
tribes was there any such thing as tyranny over the people, though there
was a great deal of tyranny by the league over conquered nations. In
fact, there was very little government of any kind, and very little need
of any. There was substantially no property interests to guard, all land
being in common, and each man's personal property being limited to a
bow, a tomahawk, and a few deer-skins. Liquor had not yet lent its
disturbing influence, and few quarrels were to be traced to the influence
of women, for the American Indian is singularly free from the warmer
passions. " His principal vice is an easily aroused and unlimited hatred ; but
the tribes were so small and enemies so convenient that there was no dif
ficulty in gratifying this feeling (and attaining to the rank of a warrior)
outside ofhis own nation. The consequence was that although the war-
parties of the Iroquois were continually shedding the blood of their foes,
there was very little quarrelling at home.
" Their religious creed was limited to a somewhat vague belief in the
existence of a Great Spirit and several inferior but very potent evil spirits.
They had a few simple ceremonies, consisting largely of dances, one called
the 'green-corn dance,' performed at the time indicated by its name, and
others at other seasons of the year. From a very early date their most
important religious ceremony has been the 'burning of the white dog,'
when an unfortunate canine of the requisite color is sacrificed by one of
the chiefs. To this day the pagans among them still perform this rite.
" In common with their fellow-savages on this continent, the Iroquois
have been termed ' fast friends and bitter enemies.' Events have proved,
however, that they were a great deal stronger enemies than friends. Re
venge was the ruling passion of their nature, and cruelty was their abiding
characteristic. Revenge and cruelty are the worst attributes of human
nature, and it is idle to talk of the goodness of men who roasted their
captives at the stake. All Indians were faithful to their own tribes, and
the Iroquois were faithful to their confederacy ; but outside of these
limits their friendship could not be counted on, and treachery was always
to be apprehended in dealing with thera.
" In their faraily relations they were not harsh to their children and
not wantonly so to their wives ; but the men were invariably indolent,
and all labor was contemptuously abandoned to their weaker sex.
"Polygamy, too, was practised, though in what might be called
moderation. Chiefs and eminent warriors usually had two or three
wives, rarely more. They could be discarded at will by their husbands,
but the latter seldom availed themselves of their privilege.
" Our nation — the Senecas — was the most numerous and comprised
the greatest warriors of the Iroquois confederacy. Their great chiefs,
Cornplanter and Guyasutha, are prominently connected with the tradi-
14

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
tions of the head-waters of the Allegheny, Western New York, and North
western Pennsylvania. In person the Senecas were slender, middle-sized,
handsome, and straight. The squaws were short, not handsome, and
clumsy. The skin was a reddish brown, hair straight and jet-black."
There was a village of Indians at Summerville, one at Brookville,
and as late as 1815 there were six hundred Indians living between Brook
ville and New Bethlehem. There was a village at Port Barnett, at Rey
noldsville, at Big Run, and a big one at Punxsutawney. The country was

Indian wigwam.
thickly inhabited, especially what is now Warsaw. Their graveyards or
burial-places were always some distance from huts or villages. There was
one on the Temple farm, in what is now Warsaw ; one on Mill Creek, at
its junction with the Big Toby Creek, in what was afterwards Ridgway
township. They carried their dead sometimes a long way for burial.
" After the death of a Seneca, the corpse was dressed in a new blanket
or petticoat, with the face and clothes painted red. The body was then
laid on a skin in the middle of the hut. The war and hunting imple
ments of the deceased were then piled up around the body. In the even
ing after sunset, and in the morning before daylight, the squaws and rela
tions assembled around the corpse to mourn. This was daily repeated
until interment. The graves were dug by old squaws, as the young
squaws abhorred this kind of labor. Before they had hatchets and other
tools, they used to line the inside of the grave with the bark of trees, and
when the corpse was let down they placed some pieces of wood across,
IS

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
which were again covered with bark, and then the earth thrown in, to
fill up the grave. But afterwards they usually placed three boards, not
nailed together, over the grave, in such a manner that the corpse lay
between thera. A fourth board was placed as a cover, and then the
grave was filled up with earth. Now and then a proper coffin was
procured. "At an early period they used to put a tobacco-pouch, knife, tinder-
box, tobacco and pipe, bow and arrows, gun, powder and shot, skins,
and cloth for clothes, paint, a sraall bag of Indian corn or dried bilber
ries, sometimes the kettle, hatchet, and other furniture of the deceased,
into the grave, supposing that the departed spirits would have the same
wants and occupation in the land of souls. But this custom was nearly
wholly abolished among the Delawares and Iroquois about the middle of
the last century. At the burial not a man shed a tear ; they deeraed it a
shame for a man to weep. But, on the other hand, the women set up a
dreadful howl." THE ORIGINAL BARK-PEELERS.
An Indian hut was built in this manner. Trees were peeled abound
ing in sap, usually the linn. When the trees were cut down the bark was
peeled with the tomahawk and its handle. They peeled from the top of
the tree to the butt. The bark for hut-building was cut into pieces of six
or eight feet ; these pieces were then dried and flattened by laying heavy
stones upon them. The frame of a bark hut was made by driving poles
into the ground and the poles were strengthened by cross-beams. This
frame was then covered inside and outside with this prepared linnwood
bark, fastened with leatherwood bark or hickory withes. The roof ran
upon a ridge, and was covered in the same manner as the frame, and an
opening was left in it for the smoke to escape, and one on the side of the
frame for a door.

HOW THE INDIAN BUILT LOG HUTS IN HIS TOWN OR VILLAGE.
They cut logs fifteen feet long and laid these logs upon each other, at
each end they drove posts in the ground and tied these posts together at
the top with hickory withes or moose bark. In this way they erected a
wall of logs fifteen feet long to the height of four feet. In this same
way they raised a wall opposite to this one about twelve feet away. In
the centre of each end of this log frame they drove forks into the ground,
a strong pole was then laid upon these forks, extending from end to end,
and from these log walls they set up poles for rafters to the centre-pole ;
on these improvised rafters they tied poles for sheeting, and the hut was
then covered or shingled with linnwood bark.' This bark was peeled
from the tiee, commencing at the top, with a tomahawk. The bark-strips
i6

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
in this way were sometimes thirty feet long and usually six inches wide.
These strips were cut as desired for roofing.
At each end of the hut they set up split lumber, leaving an open space
at each end for a door-way, at which a bear-skin hung. A stick leaning
against the outside of this skin raeant that the door was locked. At the
top of the hut, in place of a chimney, they left an open place. The
fires were made in the inside of the hut, and the smoke escaped through
this open space. For bedding they had linnwood bark covered with
bear skins. Open places between logs the squaws stopped with moss
gathered from old logs.
There was no door, no windows, and no chimney. Several families
occupied a hut, hence they built them long. Other Indian nations
¦erected smaller huts, and the farailies lived separate. The men wore a
blanket and went bare-headed. The women wore a petticoat, fastened
about the hips, extending a little below the knees.
Our nation, the Senecas, produced the greatest orators, and raore of
them than any other. Cornplanter, Red Jacket, and Farmer's Brother
were all Senecas. Red Jacket once, in enumerating the woes of the Sen
ecas, exclaimed, —
" We stand on a small island in the bosom of the great waters. We
are encircled, we are encompassed. The evil spirit rides on the blast,
and the waters are disturbed. They rise, they press upon us, and the
waters once settled over us, we disappear forever. Who then lives to
mourn us ? None. What marks our extinction ? Nothing. We are
mingled with the common elements."
The following is an extract from an address delivered by Cornplanter
to General Washington in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1790:
" Father, — When you kindled your thirteen fires separately the wise
men assembled at them told us that you were all brothers, the children
of one Great Father, who regarded the red people as his children. They
¦called us brothers, and invited us to his protection. They told us he resided
beyond the great waters where the sun first rises, and he was a king whose
power no people could resist, and that his goodness was as bright as the
sun. What they said went to our hearts. We accepted the invitations
and promised to obey him. What the Seneca nation promises they faith
fully perform. When you refused obedience to that king he commanded
us to assist his beloved men in making you sober. In obeying him we
did no more than yourselves had bid us to promise. We were deceived ;
but your people, teaching us to confide in that king, had helped to
¦deceive us, and we now appeal to your breast. Is all the blame ours ?
"You told us you could crush us to nothing, and you demanded from
us a great country as the price of that peace which you had offered us, as
if our want of strength had destroyed our rights."
17

PIOXEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" Drunkenness, after the whites were dealing with them, was a com
mon vice. It was not confined, as it is at this day among the whites,
principally to the ' strong-minded,' the male sex ; but the Indian female,
as well as the male, was infatuated alike with the love of strong drink ;
for neither of them knew bounds to their desire : they drank while they
had whiskey or could swallow it down. Drunkenness was a vice, though
attended with many serious consequences, nay, murder and death, that
was not punishable among them. It was a fashionable vice. Fornica
tion, adultery, stealing, lying, and cheating, principally the offspring of
drunkenness, were considered as heinous and scandalous offences, and
were punished in various ways.
" The Delawares and Iroquois married early in life ; the men usually
at eighteen and the woraen at fourteen ; but they never married near
relations. If an Indian man wished to marry he sent a present, consist
ing of blankets, cloth, linen, and occasionally a few belts of wampum, to
the nearest relations of the person he had fixed upon. If he that made the
present, and the present pleased, the matter was formally proposed to the
girl, and if the answer was affirmatively given, the bride was conducted
to the bridegroom's dwelling without any further ceremony ; but if the
other party chose to decline the proposal, they returned the present by
way of a friendly negative.
"After the raarriage, the present made by the suitor was divided
araong the friends of the young wife. These returned the civility by a
present of Indian corn, beans, kettles, baskets, hatchets, etc., brought in
solemn procession into the hut of the new married couple. The latter
commonly lodged in a friend's house till they could erect a dwelling of
their own.
" .\s soon as a child was born, it was laid upon a board or straight
piece of bark covered with moss and wrapped up in a skin or piece of
cloth, and when the mother was engaged in her housework this rude
cradle or bed was hung to a peg or branch of a tree. Their children
they educated to fit them to get through the world as did their fathers.
They instructed them in religion, etc. They believed that Manitou, their
God, 'the good spirit,' could be propitiated by sacrifices; hence they
observed a great many superstitious and idolatrous ceremonies. At their
general and solemn sacrifices the oldest raen perforraed the offices of
priests, but in private parties each man brought a sacrifice, and offered it
hiraself as priest. Instead of a temple they fitted up a large dwelling-
house for the purpose.
"When they travelled or went on a journey they manifested much
carelessness about the weather ; yet, in their prayers, they usually begged
'for a clear and pleasant sky.' They generally provided themselves
with Indian meal, which they either ate dry, mixed with sugar and water,
or boiled into a kind of mush ; for they never took bread made of Indian
iS

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA,
corn for a long journey, because in summer it would spoil in three or four
days and be unfit for use. As to meat, that they took as they went.
" If in their travels they had occasion to pass a deep river, on arriving
at it they set about it immediately and built a canoe by taking a long
piece of bark of proportionate breadth, to which they gave the proper
form by fastening it to ribs of light wood, bent so as to suit the occasion.
If a large canoe was required, several pieces of bark were carefully sewed
together. If the voyage was expected to be long, many Indians carried

Indians moving
everything they wanted for their night's lodging wi1;h them, — namely,
some slender poles and rush-mats, or birch bark."
When at home they had their amusements. Their favorite one was
dancing. " The common dance was held either in a large house or in an
open field around a fire. In dancing they formed a circle, and always
had a leader, to whom the whole company attended. The men went
before, and the women closed the circle. The latter danced with great
'decency and as if they were engaged in the most serious business ; while
thus engaged they never spoke a word to the men, much less joked with
them, which would have injured their character.
"Another kind of danee was only attended by men. Each rose in
his turn, and danced with great agility and boldness, extolling their own
or their forefathers' great deeds in a song, to which all beat time, by a
monotonous, rough note, which was given out with great vehemence at
the coraraencement of each bar.
" The war-dance, which was always held either before or after a cam
paign, was dreadful to behold. None took part in it but the warriors
themselves. They appeared armed, as if going to battle. One carried
his gun or hatchet, another a long knife, the third a tomahawk, the fourth
19

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
a large club, or they all appeared armed with tomahawks. These they
brandished in the air, to show how they intended to treat their enemies.
They affected such an air of anger and fury on this occasion that it made
a spectator shudder to behold them. A chief led the dance, and sang
the warlike deeds of himself or his ancestors. At the end of every cele
brated feat of valor he wielded his tomahawk with all his might against
a post fixed in the ground. He was then followed by the rest ; each
finished his round by a blow against the post. Then they danced all
together ; and this was the most frightful scene. They affected the most
horrible and dreadful gestures; threatened to beat, cut, and stab each
other. They were, however, amazingly dexterous in avoiding the threat
ened danger. To complete the horror of the scene, they howled as
dreadfully as if in actual fight, so that they appeared as raving madmen.
During the dance they sometimes sounded a kind of fife, made of reed,
which had a shrill and disagreeable note. The Iroquois used the war-
dance even in times of peace, with a view to celebrate the deeds of their
heroic chiefs in a solemn raanner.
"The Indians, as well as 'all human flesh,' were heirs of disease.
The most comraon were pleurisy, weakness and pains in the stomach and
breast, consumption, diarrhoea, rheumatism, bloody flux, inflammatory
fevers, and occasionally the small-pox made dreadful ravages among
them. Their general remedy for all disorders, small or great, was a
sweat. For this purpose they had in every town an oven, situated at
some distance from the dwellings, built of stakes and boards, covered
with sods, or were dug in the side of a hill, and heated with some red-
hot stones. Into .this the patient crept naked, and in a short time was
thrown into profuse perspiration. As soon as the patient felt himself
too hot he crept out, and immediately plunged himself into a river or
some cold water, where he continued about thirty seconds, and then
went again into the oven. After having performed this operation three
times successively, he smoked his pipe with composure, and in many cases
a cure was completely effected.
"In some places they had ovens constructed large enough to receive
several persons. Some chose to pour water now and then upon the
heated stones, to increase the steam and promote more profuse perspira
tion. Many Indians in perfect health made it a practice of going into
the oven once or twice a week to renew their strength and spirits. Some
pretended by this operation to prepare themselves for a business which
requires mature deliberation and artifice. If the sweating did not remove
the disorder, other means were applied. Many of the Indians believed
that medicines had no efficacy unless administered by a professed physi
cian ; enough of professed doctors could be found ; many of both sexes
professed to be doctors.
" Indian doctors never applied medicines without accompanying them

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
with mysterious ceremonies, to raake their effect appear supernatural. The
ceremonies were various. Many breathed upon the sick ; they averred
their breath was wholesome. In addition to this, they spurted a certain
liquor made of herbs out of their mouth over the patient's whole body,
distorting their features and roaring dreadfully. In some instances physi
cians crept into the oven, where they sweat, howled, roared, and now
and then grinned horribly at their patients, who had been laid before the
opening, and frequently felt the pulse of the patient. Then pronounced
sentence, and foretold either their recovery or death. On one occasion
a Moravian raissionary was present, who says, ' An Indian physician had
put on a large bear skin, so that his arms were covered with the fore legs,
his feet with the hind legs, and his head was entirely concealed in the
bear's head, with the addition of glass eyes. He came in this attire with
a calabash in his hand, accompanied by a great crowd of people, into the
patient's hut, singing and dancing, when he grasped a handful of hot
ashes, and scattering them into the air, with a horrid noise, approached
the patient, and began to play several legerdemain tricks with small
bits of wood, by which he pretended to be able to restore him to
health. '
" The coramon people believed that by rattling the calabash the
physician had power to make the spirits discover the cause of the disease,
and even evade the malice of the evil spirit who occasioned it.
" Their materia medica, or the remedies used in curing diseases, were
such as rattlesnake-root, the skins of rattlesnakes dried and pulverized,
thorny ash, toothache-tree, tulip-tree, dogwood, wild laurel, sassafras,
Canada shrubby elder, poison-ash, wintergreen, liverwort, Virginia poke,
jalap, sarsaparilla, Canadian sanicle, scabians or devil's-bit, bloodwort,
cuckoo pint, ginseng, and a few others.
"Wars among the Indians were always carried on with the greatest
fury, and lasted much longer than they do now among them. The offen
sive weapons were, before the whites came among them, bows, arrows,
and clubs. The latter were made of the hardest kind of wood, from
two to three feet long and very heavy, with a large round knob at one
end. Their weapon of defence was a shield, made of the tough hide of
a buffalo, on the convex side of which they received the arrows and
darts of the enemy. But about the middle of the last century this was
all laid aside by the Delawares and Iroquois, though they used to a later
period bows, arrows, and clubs of war. The clubs they used were pointed
with nails and pieces of iron, when used at all. Guns were measurably
substituted for all these. The hatchet and long-knife was used, as well
as the gun. The army of these nations consisted of all their young men,
including boys of fifteen years old. They had their captains and subor
dinate officers. Their captains would be called araong them com
manders or generals. The requisite qualifications for this station were
21

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

prudence, cunning, resolution, bravery, undauntedness, and previous
good fortune in some fight or battle.
" 'To lift the hatchet,' or to begin a war, was always, as they de
clared, not till just and important causes prompted them to it. Then
they assigned as motives that it was necessary to revenge the injuries done
to the nation. Perhaps the honor of being distinguished as great warriors
may have been an ' ingredient in the cup.'
"But before they entered upon so hazardous an undertaking they
carefully weighed all the proposals made, compared the probable advan
tages or disadvantages that raight accrue. A chief could not begin a war
without the consent of his captains, nor could he accept of a war-belt
only on the condition of its being considered by the captains.
" The chief was bound to preserve peace to the utmost of his power.
But if several captains were unanimous in declaring war, the chief was
then obliged to deliver the care of his people,
for a time, into the hands of the captains, and
to lay down his office. Yet his influence tended
greatly either to prevent or encourage the com
mencement of war, for the Indians believed that
a war could not be successful without the con
sent of the chief, and the captains, on that ac
count, strove to be in harmony with him. After
war was agreed on, and they wished to secure the
assistance of a nation in league with them, they
notified that nation by sending a piece of to
bacco, or by an embassy. By the first, they
intended that the captains were to smoke pipes
and consider seriously whether they would take
part in the war or not. The embassy was in
trusted to a captain, who carried a belt of wam
pum, upon which the object of the embassy was
described by certain figures, and a hatchet with
a red handle. After the chief had been in
formed of his commission, it was laid before a council. The hatchet
having been laid on the ground, he delivered a long speech, while hold
ing the war-belt in his hand, always closing the address with the request
to take up the hatchet, and then delivering the war-belt. If this was
complied with, no raore was said, and this act was considered as a solemn
proraise to lend every assistance ; but if neither the hatchet was taken
up nor the belt accepted, the ambassador drew the just conclusion that
the nation preferred to remain neutral, and without any further cere
raony returned home.
"The Delawares and Iroquois were very informal in declaring war.
They often sent out small parties, seized the first man they met belong-

^ ^JJsBjf

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
ing to the nation they had intended to engage, killed and scalped him,
then cleaved his head with a hatchet, which they left stick in it, or laid
a war-club, painted red, upon the body of the victim. This was a formal
challenge. In consequence of which, a captain of an insulted party would
take up the weapons of the murderers and hasten into their country, to
be revenged upon them. If he returned with a scalp, he thought he had
avenged the rights of his own nation.
"Among the Delawares and Iroquois it required but little time to
make preparations for war. One of the most necessary preparations was
to paint themselves red and black, for they held it that the most horrid
appearance of war was the greatest ornament. Some captains fasted and
attended to their dreams, with the view to gain intelligence of the issue
of the war. The night previous to the march of the army was spent in
feasting, at which the chiefs were present, when either a hog or some
dogs were killed. Dog's flesh, said they, inspired them with the genuine
martial spirit. Even women, in some instances, partook of this feast, and
ate dog's flesh greedily. Now and then, when a warrior was induced to
make a solemn declaration of his war inclination, he held up a piece of
dog's flesh in sight of all present and devoured it, and pronounced these
words, ' Thus will I devour my enemies!' After the feast the captain
and all his people began the war-dance, and continued till daybreak, till
they had become quite hoarse and weary. They generally danced all
together, and each in his turn took the head of a hog in his hand. As
both their friends and the women generally accompanied them to the first
night's encampment, they halted about two or three miles from the town,
danced the war-dance once more, and the day following began their march.
Before they made an attack they reconnoitred every part of the country.
To this end they dug holes in the ground; if practicable, in a hillock,
covered with wood, in which they kept a small charcoal fire, from which
they discovered the motions of the enemy undiscovered. When they
sought a prisoner or a scalp, they ventured, in many instances, even in
daytime, to execute their designs. Effectually to accomplish this, they
skulked behind a bulky tree, and crept slyly around the trunk, so as not
to be observed by the person or persons for whom they lay in ambush. In
this way they slew many. But if they had a family or town in view, they
always preferred the night, when their enemies were wrapt in profound
sleep, and in this way killed, scalped, and made prisoners many of the
eneraies, set fire to the houses, and retired with all possible haste to the
woods or some place of safe retreat. To avoid pursuit, they disguised
their footmarks as much as possible. They depended much on stratagem
for their success. Even in war they thought it more honorable to dis
tress their enemy more by stratagem than combat. The English, not
aware of the artifice of the Indians, lost an army when Braddock was
defeated. 23

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"The Indian's cruelty, when victorious, was without bounds; their
thirst for blood was almost unquenchable. They never made peace till
compelled by necessity. No sooner were terms of peace proposed than
the captains laid down their office and delivered the government of the
state into the hands of the chiefs. A captain had no more right to con
clude a peace than a chief to begin war. When peace had been offered
to a captain he could give no other answer than to mention the proposal
to the chief, for as a warrior he could not make peace. If the chief in
clined to peace, he used all his influence to effect that end, and all hos
tility ceased, and, in conclusion, the calumet, or peace-pipe, was smoked
and belts of wampum exchanged, and a concluding speech made, with
the assurance ' that their friendship should last as long as the sun and
moon give light, rise and set ; as long as the stars shine in the firmament,
and the rivers flow with water.' "
The weapons employed by our Indians two hundred years ago were
axes, arrows, and knives of stone. Shells were sometimes used to make
knives. The Indian bow was made as follows : the hickory limb was cut with
a stone axe, the wood was then heated on both sides near a fire until it
was soft enough to scrape down to the proper size and shape.
A good bow measured forty-six inches in length, three-fourths of an
inch thick in the centre, and one and a quarter inches in width, narrow
ing down to the points to five eighths of inch. The ends were thinner
than the middle. Bow-making was tedious work.
" The bow-string was made of the ligaments obtained from the verte
bra of the elk. The ligament was split, scraped, and twisted into a cord
by rolling the fibres between the palm of the hand and the thigh. One
end of the string was knotted to the bow but the other end was looped,
in order that the bow could be quickly strung."
Quivers to carry the arrows were made of dressed buckskin, with or
without the fur. The squaws did all the tanning.
The arrow-heads were made of flint or other hard stone or bone ;
they were fastened to the ash or hickory arrows with the sinews of the
deer. The arrow was about two feet and a half in length, and a feather
was fastened to the butt end to give it a rotary motion in its flight.
Poisoned arrows were made by dipping them into decomposed liver,
to which had been added the poison of the rattlesnake. The venom or
decomposed animal raatter no doubt caused blood-poisoning and death.
Bows and arrows were long used by the red men after the introduc
tion of fire-arms, because the Indian could be more sure of his game
without revealing his presence. For a long time after the introduction
of fire-arms the Indians were more expert with the bow and arrow than
with the rifle.
Their tobacco-pipes were made of stone bowls and ash stems. Canoes

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
were made of birch or linnwood bark, and many wigwam utensils of that
bark. This bark was peeled in early spring. The bark canoe was the
American Indian's invention.
When runners were sent with messages to other tribes the courier took
an easy running gait, which he kept up for hours at a time. It was a
"dog-trot," an easy, jogging gait. Of course he had no clothes on
except a breech-clout and moccasins. He always carried both arms up
beside the chest with the fists clinched and held in front of the breast.
He eat but little the day before his departure. A courier could make a
hundred miles from sunrise to sunset.
When a young squaw was ready to marry she wore something on her
head as a notice.
Then kettles were made of clay, or what was called " pot stone."
The stone hatchets were in the shape of a wedge ; they were of no use
in felling trees. They did this with a fire around the roots of the tree.
Their stone pestles were about twelve inches long and five inches thick.
They used bird-claws for " fish-hooks." They made their ropes, bridles,
nets, etc., out of a wild weed called Indian hemp.
The twine or cords were manufactured by the squaws, who gathered
stalks of this hemp, separating them into filaments, and then taking a num
ber of filaments in one hand, rolled them rapidly upon their bare thighs
until twisted, locking, from time to time, the ends with fresh fibres. The
cord thus made was finished by dressing with a mixture of grease and
wax, and drawn over a smooth groove in a stone.
Their hominy-mills can be seen yet about a mile north of Samuel
Temple's barn, in Warsaw township.
All the stone implements of our Indians except arrows were ground
and polished. How this was done the reader must imagine. Indians
had their mechanics and their workshops or " spots" where implements
were made. You must remember that the Indian had no iron or steel
tools, only bone, stone, and wood to work with. The flint arrows were
made from a stone of uniform density. Large chips were flaked or broken
from the rock. These chips were again deftly chipped with bone chisels
into arrows, and made straight by pressure. A lever was used on the rock
to separate chips, — a bone tied to a heavy stick.
From Jones's " Antiquities of the Southern Indians" the writer has
gleaned most of the following facts. They had a limited variety of cop
per implements, which were of rare occurrence, and which were too soft to
be of use in working so hard a material as flint or quartzite. Hence it is
believed that they fashioned their spear- and arrow-heads with other im
plements than those of iron or steel. They must have acquired, by their
observation and numerous experiments, a thorough and practical knowl
edge of cleavage, — that is, " the tendency to split in certain directions,
which is characteristic of most of the crystaUizable minerals." Captain
3 25

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
John Smith, speaking of the Virginia Indians in his sixth voyage, says,
" His arrow-head he quickly maketh with a little bone, which he weareth
at his bracelet, of a sphnt of a stone or glasse, in the form of a heart, and
these they glue to the ends of the arrows. With the sinews of the deer
and the tops of deers' horns boiled to a jelly they make a glue which
will not dissolve in cold water." Schoolcraft says, " The skill displayed
in this art, as it is exhibited by the tribes of the entire continent, has
excited admiration. The material employed is generally some form of
horn stone, sometimes passing into flint. No specimens have, however,
been observed where the substance is gun-flint. The horn-stone is less
hard than common quartz, and can be readily broken by contact with
the latter." Catlin, in his "Last Ramble among the Indians," says,
" Every tribe has its factory in which these arrow-heads are made, and in
these only certain adepts are able or allowed to make them for the use of
the tribe. Erratic bowlders of flint are collected and sometimes brought
an immense distance, and broken with a sort of sledge-hammer made of
a rounded pebble of horn-stone set in a twisted withe, holding the stone
and forming a handle. The flint, at the indiscriminate blows of the
sledge, is broken into a hundred pieces, and such flakes selected as from
the angles of their fracture and thickness will answer as the basis of an
arrow-head. The master-workman, seated on the ground, lays one of
these flakes on the palm of his hand, holding it firmly down with two or
more fingers of the same hand, and with his right hand, between the
thumb and two forefingers, places his chisel or punch on the point that is
to be broken off, and a co-operator — a striker — in front of him, with a
mallet of very hard wood, strikes the chisel or punch on the upper end,
flaking the flint off on the under side below each projecting point that is
struck. The flint is then turned and chipped in the same manner from
the opposite side, and that is chipped until required shape and dimensions
are obtained, all the fractures being made on the palm of the hand. In
selecting the flake for the arrow-head a nice judgment must be used or
the atterapt will fail. A flake with two opposite parallel, or nearly par
allel, planes of cleavage is found, and of the thickness required for the
centre of the arrow-point. The first chipping reaches nearly to the cen
tre of these planes, but without quite breaking it away, and each clip
ping is shorter and shorter, until the shape and edge of the arrow-head
is forraed. The yielding elasticity of the palm of the hand enables the
chip to come off without breaking the body of the flint, which would be
the case if they were broken on a hard substance. These people have no
metallic instruments to work with, and the punch which they use, I was
told, was a piece of bone, but on examining it, I found it to be of sub
stance rauch harder, made of the tooth — incisor — of the sperm whale,
which cetaceans are often stranded on the coast of the Pacific."
"A considerable number of Indians must have returned and settled
26

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
along the Red Bank as late as 1815-16. James White, of 'Mexico,'
informed the writer that three hundred of them, about that time, settled
along this stream below Brookville, partly in Armstrong County. Re
specting their return to this section. Dr. M. A. Ward wrote to Eben
Smith Kelly at Kittanning, from Pittsburg, January 18, 1817, —
" ' I am not at all surprised that the sober, industrious, religious in
habitants of Red Bank should be highly incensed at their late accession
of emigrants, not only because by them they will probably be deprived
of many fat bucks and delicious turkeys, to which, according to the strict
interpretation of all our game laws, they have as good a right, if they
have the fortune to find and the address to shoot them, as any "dirty,
nasty" Indians whatever, but because the presence and examples of such
neighbors must have a very depraving influence upon the morals. Their
insinuating influence will be apt to divert the minds of the farmers from
the sober pursuits of agriculture and inspire a propensity for the barbarous
pleasures of the chase. . . . But what is worse than all, I have heard that
they love whiskey to such an inordinate degree as to get sometimes
beastly drunk, and even beat their wives and behave unseemly before
their families, which certainly must have a most demoralizing tendency
on the minds of the rising generation.' " — History of Armstrong County.
The Delaware Indians styled themselves " Lenni Lenape," the original
or unchanged people. The eastern division of their people was divided
into three tribes, — the Unamies, or Turtles of the sea-shore ; the Una-
chlactgos, or Turkeys of the woods ; and the Minsi-monceys, or Wolves of
the mountains. A few of the Muncy villages of this latter division were
scattered as far west as the valley of the Allegheny.
From Penn's arrival in 1682 the Delawares were subject to the Iro
quois, or the confederacy of the Six Nations, who were the raost warlike
savages in America. The Iroquois were usually known among the
English people as the Five Nations. The nations were divided and
known as the Mohawks, the fire-striking people, having been the first to
procure fire-arms. The Senecas, mountaineers, occupied Western New
York and Northwestern Pennsylvania. They were found in great num
bers in the Allegheny and its tributaries. Their great chiefs were Corn-
planter and Guyasutha. This tribe was the most numerous, powerful, and
warlike of the Iroquois nation, and comprised our Jefferson County Indians.
"But these were Indians pure and uncorrupted. Before many a log
fire, at night, old settlers have often recited how clear, distinct, and im
mutable were their laws and customs ; that when fully understood a white
man could transact the most important business with as much safety as
he can to-day in any commercial centre.
" In this day and age of progress we pride ourselves upon our rail
roads and telegraph as means of rapid communication, and yet, while it
was well known to the early settlers that news and light freight would
27

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
travel with incomprehensible speed from tribe to tribe, people of the
present day fail to understand the complete system by which it was
done. "In many places through the western counties you will find traces of
pits, which the early settlers will tell you were dug by white raen looking
for silver, which, as well as copper, was common among the Indians, and
was supposed by first comers to be found in the vicinity ; but experience
soon proved the copper came, perhaps, frora Lake Superior, by this
Indian express, as we might term it, and the silver, just as possible, from
the far West. Our railroads wind along the valleys, almost regardless of
length or circuit, if a gradual rise can only be obtained. To travellers on
wheels straight distances between points are much less formidable than is
generally supposed. We find traces of the example of the Indian in the
first white men. The first settlers of 1799 and 1805 took their bags of
grain on their backs, walked fifty miles to the mill in Indiana or Arm
strong County, and brought home their flour the same way."
" The following is taken from the ' Early Days of Punxsutawney and
Western Pennsylvania,' contributed a few years ago to the Punxsutawney
Plaiihiealer by the late John K. Coxson, Esq., who had made considerable
research into Indian history, and was an enthusiast on the subject. .\c-
cording to Mr. Coxson, ' More than eighteen hundred years ago the
Iroquois held a lodge in Punxsutawney (this town still bears its Indian
name, which was their sobriquet for "gnat town"), to which point they
could ascend with their canoes, and go still higher up the Mahoning to
within a few hours' travel of the summit of the Allegheny Mountains.
There were various Indian trails traversing the forests, one of which
entered Punxsutawney near where Judge Mitchell now resides.
" ' These trails were the thoroughfares or roadways of the Indians, over
which they journeyed when on the chase or the "war-path," just as the
people of the present age travel over their graded roads. "An erroneous
impression obtains araong many at the present day that the Indian, in
travelling the interminable forests which once covered our towns and
fields, roamed at random, like a modern afternoon hunter, by no fixed
paths, or that he was guided in his long journeyings solely by the sun and
stars, or by the course of the streams and mountains ; and true it is that
these untutored sons of the woods were considerable astronomers and
geographers, and relied much upon these unerring guide-marks of nature.
Even in the most starless nights they could determine their course by feel
ing the bark of the oak-trees, which is always smoothest on the south
side and roughest on the north. But still they had their trails, or paths,
as distinctly marked as are our county and State roads, and often better
located. The white traders adopted them, and often stole their naraes,
to be in turn surrendered to the leader of sorae .\nglo Saxon army, and,
finally, obliterated by some costly highway of travel and commerce.
28

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
They are now almost wholly effaced or forgotten. Hundreds travel
along, or plough over them, unconscious that they are in the footsteps of
the red men. " * It has not taken long to obliterate all these Indian land
marks from our land ; little more than a century ago the Indians roamed
over all this western country, and now scarce a vestige of their presence
remains. Much has been written and said about their deeds of butchery
and cruelty. True, they were cruel, and in many instances fiendish, in
their inhuman practices, but they did not meet the first settlers in this
spirit. Honest, hospitable, religious in their belief, reverencing their
Manitou, or Great Spirit, and willing to do anything to please their white
brother, — this is how they met their first white visitors ; but when they
had seen nearly all their vast domain appropriated by the invaders, when
wicked white men had introduced into their midst the " wicked fire
water," which is to-day the cause of many an act of fiendishness perpe
trated by those who are not untutored savages, then the Indian rebelled,
all the savage in his breast was aroused, and he became pitiless and cruel
in the extreme.
" ' It is true that our broad domains were purchased and secured by
treaty, but the odds were always on the side of the whites. The " Colo
nial Records" give an account of the treaty of 1686, by which a deed for
" walking purchase was executed, by which the Indians sold as far as a
man could walk in a day. But when the walk was to be made the most
active white man was obtained, who ran from daylight until dark, as fast
as he was able, without stopping to eat or drink. This much dissatisfied
the Indians, who expected to walk leisurely, resting at noon to eat and
shoot game, and one old chief expressed his dissatisfaction as follows :
' Lun, lun, lun ; no lay down to drink ; no stop to shoot squirrel, but
lun, lun, lun all day; me no keep up ; lun, lun for land.' That deed,
it is said, does not now exist, but was confirmed in 1737."
" ' When the white man came the Indians were a temperate people,
and their chiefs tried hard to prohibit the sale of intoxicating drinks
among their tribes; and when one Sylvester Garland, in 1701, intro
duced rum among them and induced them to drink, at a council held in
Philadelphia, Shemekenwhol, chief of the Shawnese, complained to
Governor William Penn, and at a council held on the 13th of October,
1 70 1, this man was held in the sum of one hundred pounds never to deal
rum to the Indians again ; and the bond and sentence was approved by
Judge Shippen, of Philadelphia. At the chief's suggestion the council en
acted a law prohibiting the trade in rum with the Indians. Still later the
ruling chiefs of the Six Nations opposed the use of rum, and Red Jacket,
in a speech at Buffalo, wished that whiskey would never be less than "a
dollar a quart." He answered the missionary's remarks on drunkenness
* Judge Veech.
29

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
thus : " Go to the white man with that. ' ' A council, held on the Allegheny
River, deplored the murder of the Wigden family in Butler County by
a Seneca Indian while under the influence of whiskey, approved the
sentence of our law, and again passed their prohibitory resolutions, and
implored the white man not to give rum to the Indian.'
"Mr. Coxson claims that the council of the Delawares, Muncys,
Shawnese, Nanticokes, Tuscorawas, and Mingos, to protest against the
sale of their domain by the Six Nations, at Albany, in 1754, was held at
Punxsutawney, and cites Joncaire's ' Notes on Indian Warfare,' ' Life of
Bezant,' etc. ' It is said they ascended the tributary of La Belle Riviere
to the mountain village on the way to Chinklacamoose (Clearfield) to
attend the council.' * At that council, though Sheklemas, the Christian
king of the Delawares, and other Christian chiefs, tried hard to prevent
the war, they were overruled, and the tribes decided to go to war with
their French allies against the colony. 'Travellers, as early as 1731,
reported to the council of the colony of a town sixty miles from the
Susquehanna.' f
"'After the failure of the expedition against Fort Duquesne, the
white captives were taken to Kittanning, Logtown, and Pukeesheno
(Punxsutawney). The sachem, Pukeesheno (for whom the town was
called), was the father of Tecumseh and his twin brother, the Prophet,
and was a Shawnese. We raake this digression to add another proof that
Punxsutawney was named after a Shawnese chief as early as 1750.' J
" ' I went with Captain Brady on an Indian hunt up the Allegheny
River. We found a good many signs of the savages, and I believe we
were so much like the savages (when Brady went on a scouting expedition
he always dressed in Indian costume) that they could hardly have known
us from a band of Shawnese. But they had an introduction to us near
the mouth of Red Bank. General Brodhead was on the route behind
Captain Brady, who discovered the Indians on a march. He lay con
cealed among the rocks until the painted chiefs and their braves had got
fairly into the narrow pass, when Brady and his raen opened a destructive
fire. The sylvan warriors retuned the volley with terrific yells that shook
the caverns and mountains from base to crest. The fight was short but
sanguine. The Indians left the pass and retired, and soon were lost sight
of in the deepness of the forest. We returned with three children re
captured, whose parents had been killed at Greensburg. We iraraediately
set out on a path that led us to the raountains, to a lodge the savages had
near the head-waters of Mahoning and Red Bank.
" ' We crossed the Mahoning about forty railes frora Kittanning, and
entered a town, which we found deserted. It seemed to be a hamlet,
built by the Shawnese. From there we went over high and rugged hills.

¦ Joncaire. f Bezant. + History of Western Penn.sylvania, p.
30

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
through laurel thickets, darkened by tall pine and hemlock groves, for
one whole day, and lay quietly down on the bank of a considerable
stream (Sandy Lick). About midnight Brady was aroused by the sound
of a rifle not far down the creek. We arose and stole quietly along about
half a mile, when we heard the voices of Indians but a short distance
below us ; there another creek unites its waters with the one upon whose
banks we had rested. We ascertained that two Indians had killed a deer
at a lick. They were trying to strike a light to dress their game. AVhen
the flame of pine-knots blazed brightly and revealed the visages of the
savages, Brady appeared to be greatly excited, and perhaps the caution
that he always took when on a war-path was at that tiaie disregarded.
Revenge swallowed and absorbed every faculty of his soul. He recog
nized the Indian who was foremost, when they chased him, a few months
before, so closely that he was forced to leap across a chasm of stone on
the slippery rock twenty-three feet ; between the jaws of granite there
roared a deep torrent twenty feet deep. When Brady saw Conemah he
sprang forward and planted his tomahawk in his head. The other Indian,
who had his knife in his hand, sprang at Brady. The long, bright steel
glistened in his uplifted hand, when the flash of Farley's rifle was the
death-light of the brave, who sank to the sands. . . . Brady scalped the
Indians in a moment, and drew the deer into the thicket to finish dress
ing it, but had not completed his undertaking when he heard a noise in
the branches of the neighboring trees. He sprang forward, quenched
the flame, and in breathless silence listened for the least sound, but noth
ing was heard save the rustling of the leaves, stirred by the wind. One
of the scouts softly crept along the banks of the creek to catch the
faintest sound that echoes on the water, when he found a canoe down
upon the beach. The scout communicated this to Brady, who resolved
to embark on this craft, if it was large enough to carry the company. It
was found to be of sufficient size. We all embarked and took the deer
along. We had not gone forty rods down the stream when the savages
gave a war-whoop, and about a mile off they were answered with a hun
dred voices. We heard them in pursuit as we went dashing down the
frightful and unknown stream. We gained on them. We heard their
voices far behind us, until the faint echoes of the hundreds of warriors
were lost ; but, unexpectedly, we found ourselves passing full fifty canoes
drawn up on the beach. Brady landed a short distance below. There
was no time to lose. If the pursuers arrived they might overtake the
scouts. It was yet night. He took four of his men along, and with
great caution unmoored the canoes and sent them adrift. The scouts
below secured them, and succeeded in arriving at Brodhead's quarters
with the scalps of two Indians and their whole fleet, which disabled them
much from carrying on their bloody expeditions.'
" In the legend of Noshaken, the white captive of the Delawares, in
31

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
1753, whowas kept at a village supposed to have been Punxsutawney,
occurs the following : ' The scouts were on the track of the Indians, the
time of burning of the captives was extended, and the whole band pre
pared to depart for Fort Venango with the prisoners. . . . They con
tinued on for twenty miles, and encamped by a beautiful spring, where the
sand boiled up from the bottom near where two creeks unite. Here they
passed the night, and the next morning again headed for Fort Venango.
" 'This spring is believed to have been the "sand spring" at Brook
ville. Thus both the earlier histories and traditions would lead us to
believe that Jefferson County was once the scene of Indian occupation.
The early settlers found many vestiges of them, and even at this late day
" Indian relics" in the shape of stone tomahawks, flint arrows, darts, etc.,
are frequently found.
" 'But it was long after these scenes, when Joseph Barnett, the first
white settler, came into the wilds of what is now Jefferson County. Then
nearly all the Indians had gone, some toward the setting sun, others
toward Canada. Of all the tribes that once composed the great Indian
confederations, only a few Muncies and Senecas of Cornplanter's tribe
remained. These Indians, for a number of years after the white men
came, extended their hunting excursions into these forests. They were
always peaceable and friendly. The first settlers found their small
patches of corn, one of which was planted where the fair-grounds are
now located, and another in the flat at Port Barnett. Indian corn, or
maize, as it was sometimes called, is undoubtedly an American cereal,
being first discovered on this continent in 1600, though it is now grown
in all civilized lands.' " * — Kate Scott's History of fefferson County.

CHAPTER IIL
THE WILDERNESS IX 1 755  THE SAVAGE INDIAN  MARIE LE ROY AND
BARBARA LEININGER, THE FIRST WHITE PIONEERS TO TREAD THIS
WILDERNESS  THE CHINKLACAMOOSE PATH  PUNXSUTAWNEY AND KIT
TANNING — REV. HECKE^\'ELDER, REV. ZEISBERGER, REV. ETTWEIN, AND
ROTHE.From what I can learn, the first white pioneers to tread the soil of
Jefferson County, as it now is, were Marie Le Roy and Barbara Leininger.
They were Swiss people, and lived with their parents about fifteen miles
from where the city of Sunbury now is, in Northumberland County, then
¦* Drs. Sturlevant, Pickering, and other eminent botanists and antiquarians, believed
ihat maize (or Indian corn) is mentioned by the old Icelandic writers, who are thought
to have visited the coast of eastern North .-Vmerica as early as Ioo5.
,32

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Lancaster or Berks County. These girls were Indian prisoners, and were
being taken to Kittanning, as it is called now, by and over the " Chink
lacamoose path" or "Indian trail." This "trail" passed through Punx
sutawney, and here the Indians with these captive girls rested five
days. I quote from the "Narrative of Marie Le Roy and Barbara Leinin
ger' ' as follows :
" Early in the morning of the i6th of October, 1755, while Le Roy's
hired man went out to fetch the cows, he heard the Indians shooting six
times. Soon after eight of them came to the house and killed Marie
Le Roy's father with tomahawks. Her brother defended himself des
perately for a time, but was at last overpowered. The Indians did not
kill him, but took him prisoner, together with Marie Le Roy and a little
girl, who was staying with the family. Thereupon they plundered the
homestead and set it on fire. Into this fire they laid the body of the
murdered father, feet foremost, until it was half consumed. The upper
half was left lying on the ground, with the two tomahawks with which
they had killed him sticking in his head. Then they kindled another
fire, not far from the house. While sitting around it, a neighbor of Le
Roy, named Bastian, happened to pass by on horseback. He was imme-
¦diately shot down and scalped.
"Two of the Indians now went to the house of Barbara Leininger,
where they found her father, her brother, and her sister Regina. Her
mother had gone to the mill. They demanded rum ; but there was none
in the house. Then they called for tobacco, which was given them.
Having filled and smoked a pipe, they said, ' We are Allegheny Indians,
and your enemies. You must all die ! ' Thereupon they shot her father,
tomahawked her brother, who was twenty years of age, took Barbara and
her sister Regina prisoners, and conveyed them into the forest for about
a mile. There they were soon joined by the other Indians, with Marie
Le Roy and the little girl.
" Not long after several of the Indians led the prisoners to the top of
a high hill, near the two plantations. Toward evening the rest of the
savages returned with six fresh and bloody scalps, which they threw at
the feet of the poor captives, saying that they had a good hunt that
day. " The next morning we were taken about two miles farther into the
forest, while the most of the Indians again went out to kill and plunder.
Toward evening they returned with nine scalps and five prisoners.
" On the third day the whole band came together and divided the
spoils. In addition to large quantities of provisions, they had taken four
teen horses and ten prisoners, — namely, one raan, one woman, five girls,
and three boys. We two girls, as also two of the horses, fell to the share
of an Indian named Galasko.

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" We travelled with our new master for two days. He was tolerably
kind, and allowed us to ride all the way, while he and the rest of the In
dians walked. Of this circumstance Barbara Leininger took advantage,
and tried to escape. But she was almost immediately recaptured, and
condemned to be burned alive. The savages gave her a French Bible,
which they had taken from Le Roy's house, in order that she might pre
pare for death ; and when she told them that she could not understand
it, they gave her a German Bible. Thereupon they made a large pile of
wood and set it on fire, intending to put her into the midst of it. But a
young Indian begged so earnestly for her life that she was pardoned,
after having promised not to attempt to escape again, and to stop her
crying. " The next day the whole troop was divided into two bands, the one
marching in the direction of the Ohio, the other, in which we were with
Galasko, to Jenkiklamuhs,* a Delaware town on the west branch of the
Susquehanna. There we stayed ten days, and then proceeded to Punck-
sotonay,f or Eschentown. Marie Le Roy's brother was forced to remain
at Jenkiklarauhs. " After having rested for five days at Puncksotonay, we took our way
to Kittanny. As this was to be the place of our permanent abode, we
here received our welcome, according to Indian custom. It consisted of
three blows each, on the back. They were, however, administered with
great raercy. Indeed, we concluded that we were beaten raerely in order
to keep up an ancient usage and not with the intention of injuring us.
The month of December was the time of our arrival, and we reraained at
Kittanny until the month of September, 1756.
" The Indians gave us enough to do. We had to tan leather, to make
shoes (moccasins), to clear land, to plant corn, to cut down trees and build
huts, to wash and cook. The want of provisions, however, caused us the
greatest suffering. During all the time that we were at Kittanny we had
neither lard nor salt, and sometimes we were forced to live on acorns,
roots, grass, and bark. There was nothing in the world to make this
new sort of food palatable, excepting hunger itself.
"In the month of September Colonel Armstrong arrived with his
men, and attacked Kittanny Town. Both of us happened to be in that
part of it which lies on the other (right) side of the river (Allegheny).
We were immediately conveyed ten railes farther into the interior, in
order that we raight have no chance of trying, on this occasion, to escape.
The savages threated to kill us. If the English had advanced, this might
have happened, for at that time the Indians were greatly in dread of
Colonel .Vrmstrong's corps. After the English had withdrawn, we were

-- Chinklacamoose, on the site of the present town of Clearfield.
f Punxsutawney, in Jefferson Coimty. 34

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
again brought back to Kittanny, which town had been burned to the-
ground. " There we had the mournful opportunity of witnessing the cruel end-
of an English woman, who had attempted to flee out of her captivity and
to return to the settlements with Colonel Armstrong. Having been recap
tured by the savages and brought back to Kittanny, she was put to death
in an unheard-of way. First they scalped her, next they laid burning
splinters of wood here and there upon her body, and then they cut off
her ears and fingers, forcing them into her mouth, so that she had to
swallow them. Amidst such torments this woman lived from nine o'clock
in the morning until toward sunset, when a French officer took compas
sion on her and put her out of her misery. An English soldier, on the
contrary, named John  , who escaped from prison at Lancaster and
joined the French, had a piece of flesh cut from her body and ate it.
When she was dead, the Indians chopped her in two, through the middle,
and let her lie until the dogs came and devoured her.
"Three days later an Englishman was brought in, who had likewise
attempted to escape with Colonel Armstrong, and burned alive in the
same village. His torments, however, continued only about three hours ;
but his screams were frightful to listen to. It rained that day very hard,
so that the Indians could not keep up the fire : hence they began to dis
charge gunpowder at his body. At last, amidst his worst pains, when
the poor man called for a drink of water, they brought him melted lead
and poured it down his throat. This draught at once helped him out
of the hands of the barbarians, for he died on the instant.
"It is easy to imagine what an impression such fearful instances of
cruelty make upon the mind of a poor captive. Does he attempt to
escape from the savages, he knows in advance that if retaken he will
be roasted alive : hence he must compare two evils, — namely, either to
remain among them a prisoner forever or to die a cruel death. Is he
fully resolved to endure the latter, then he may run away with a brave
heart. "Soon after these occurrences we were brought to Fort Duquesne,
where we remained for about two months. We worked for the French,
and our Indian master drew our wages. In this place, thank God, we
could again eat bread. Half a pound was given us daily. We might
have had bacon, too, but we took none of it, for it was not good. In
some respects we were better off than in the Indian towns. We could
not, however, abide the French. They tried hard to induce us to for
sake the Indians and stay with them, making us various favorable offers.
But we believed that it would be better for us to remain among the In
dians, inasmuch as they would be raore likely to make peace with the
English than the French, and inasmuch as there would be more ways
open for flight in the forest than in a fort. Consequently we declined
35

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
^the offers of the French and accompanied our Indian raaster to Sackum,*
where we spent ths winter, keeping house for the savages, who were con
tinually on the chase. In the spring we were taken to Kaschkaschkung,t
an Indian town on the Beaver Creek. There we again had to clear the
.plantations of the Indian nobles, after the German fashion, to plant corn,
and to do other hard work of every kind. We remained at this place for
about a year and a half.
"After having, in the past three years, seen no one of our own flesh
and blood, except those unhappy beings who, like ourselves, were bearing
the yoke of the heaviest slavery, we had the unexpected pleasure of meet
ing with a German, who was not a captive, but free, and who, as we
heard, had been sent into this neighborhood to negotiate a peace between
¦the English and the natives. His name was Frederick Post. We and
all the other prisoners heartily wished him success and God's blessing
upon his undertaking. We were, however, not allowed to speak with
him. The Indians gave us plainly to understand that any attempt to do
¦this would be taken amiss. He himself, by the reserve with which he
treated us, let us see that this was not the time to talk over our afflictions.
-But we were greatly alarmed on his account, for the French told us that
if they caught him they would roast him alive for five days, and many
Indians declared that it was impossible for him to get safely through, that
he was destined for death.
" Last summer the French and Indians were defeated by the English
in a battle fought at Loyal-Hannon, or Fort Ligonier. This caused the
utmost consternation among the natives. They brought their wives and
children from Lockstown,J Sackum, Schomingo, Mamalty, Kaschkasch-
kung, and other places in that neighborhood, to Moschkingo, about one
hundred and fifty railes farther west. Before leaving, however, they de
stroyed their crops and burned everything which they could not carry
¦with them. We had to go along, and stayed at Moschkingog the whole
winter. " In February, Barbara Leininger agreed with an Englishman, named
David Breckenreach (Breckenridge), to escape, and gave her comrade,
Marie Le Roy, notice of their intentions. On account of the severe
season of the year and the long journey which lay before them, Marie
strongly advised her to relinquish the project, suggesting that it should
-"¦ Sakunk, outlet of the Big Beaver into the Ohio, a point well known to all In
dians; their rendezvous in the French wars, etc. Post, in his Journal, under date of
August 20, 1758, records his experience at Sakunk (Reichel). See Post's Journal,
Pennsylvania Archives, 0. S., vol. iii. p. 527.
f Kaskaskunk, near the junction of the Shenango and Mahoning, in Lawrence
•County. t Loggstown, on the Ohio, eight miles above Beaver. — \Veiser''s Journal.
§ Muskingum. 36

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
be postponed until spring, when the weather would be milder, and
promising to accompany her at that time.
" On the last day of February nearly all the Indians left Moschkingo,
and proceeded to Pittsburg to sell pelts. Meanwhile, their women
travelled ten miles up the country to gather roots, and we accompanied
them. Two men went along as a guard. It was our earnest hope that
the opportunity for flight, so long desired, had now come. Accordingly,
Barbara Leininger pretended to be sick, so that she might be allowed to
put up a hut for herself alone. On the 14th of March, Marie Le Roy
was sent back to the town, in order to fetch two young dogs which had
been left there, and on the same day Barbara Leininger came out of
her hut and visited a Gerraan woman, ten miles from Moschkingo. This
woman's name is Mary  , and she is the wife of a miller from the
South Branch.* She had made every preparation to accompany us on
our flight ; but Barbara found that she had meanwhile become lame, and
could not think of going along. She, however, gave Barbara the pro
visions which she had stored, — namely, two pounds of dried meat, a quart
of corn, and four pounds of sugar. Besides, she presented her with pelts
for moccasins. Moreover, she advised a young Englishman, Owen Gib
son, to flee with us two girls.
" On the 1 6th of March, in the evening, Gibson reached Barbara Lei-
ninger's hut, and at ten o'clock our whole party, consisting of us two girls,
Gibson, and David Breckenreach, left Moschkingo. This town lies on
a river, in the country of the Dellamottinoes. We had to pass many
huts inhabited by the savages, and knew that there were at least sixteen
dogs with them. In the merciful providence of God not a single one of
these dogs barked. Their barking would at once have betrayed us and
frustrated our design.
"It is hard to describe the anxious fears of a poor woman under such
circumstances. The extreme probability that the Indians would pursue
and recapture us was as two to one compared with the dim hope that,
perhaps, we would get through in safety. But, even if we escaped the
Indians, how would we ever succeed in passing through the wilderness,
unacquainted with a single path or trail, without a guide, and helpless,
half naked, broken down by more than three years of hard slavery,
hungry and scarcely any food, the season wet and cold, and many rivers
and streams to cross? Under such circumstances, to depend upon one's
own sagacity would be the worst of follies. If one could not believe that
there is a God who helps and saves from death, one had better let run
ning away alone.
"We safely reached the river (Muskingum). Here the first thought
in all our minds was. Oh, that we were safely across ! And Barbara Lei-

-* South Branch of the Potomac.
37

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
¦ninger, in particular, recaUing ejaculatory prayers from an old hymn,
which she had learned in her youth, put them together, to suit our present
¦circumstances, something in the following style :
" O bring us safely across this river !
In fear I cry, yea, my soul doth quiver.
The worst afflictions are now before me.
Where'er I turn nought but death do I see.
Alas, what great hardships are yet in store
In the wilderness wide, beyond that shore !
It has neither water, nor meat, nor bread.
But each new morning something new to dread.
Yet little sorrow would hunger me cost
If but I could flee from the savage host.
Which murders and fights and burns far and wide.
While Satair himself is array'd on its side.
Should on us fall one of its cruel bands.
Then help us. Great God, and stretch out Thy hands !
In Thee will we trust, be Thou ever near.
Art Thou our Joshua, we need not fear.
" Presently we found a raft, left by the Indians. Thanking God that
He had himself prepared a way for us across these first waters, we got on
board and pushed off. But we were carried almost a mile down the river
before we could reach the other side. There our journey began in good
earnest. Full of anxiety and fear, we fairly ran that whole night and all
next day, when we lay down to rest without venturing to kindle a fire.
Early the next morning Owen Gibson fired at a bear. The animal fell,
but when he ran with his tomahawk to kill it, it jumped up and bit
him in the feet, leaving three wounds. We all hastened to his assistance.
The bear escaped into narrow holes araong the rocks, where we could not
follow. On the third day, however, Owen Gibson shot a deer, ^^'e cut
off the hind-quarters and roasted them at night. The next morning he
again shot a deer, which furnished us with food for that day. In the
evening we got to the Ohio at last, having made a circuit of over one
hundred miles in order to reach it.
".\bout midnight the two Englishraen rose and began to work at a
raft, which was finished by morning. We got on board and safely crossed
the river. From the signs which the Indians had there put up we saw
that we were about one hundred and fifty miles from Fort Duquesne.
After a brief consultation we resolved, heedless of path or trail, to travel
straight toward the rising of the sun. This we did for seven days. On
the seventh we found that we had reached the Little Beaver Creek, and
were about fifty miles from Pittsburg.
"And now that we imagined ourselves so near the end of all our
troubles and misery, a whole host of mishaps came upon us. Our pro
visions were at an end, Barbara Leininger fell into the water and was

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
nearly drowned, and, worst misfortune of all ! Owen Gibson lost his flint
and steel. Hence we had to spend four nights without fire, amidst rain
and snow.
"On the last day of March we came to a river, Alloquepy,* about three
miles below Pittsburg. Here we made a raft, which, however, proved to
be too hght to carry us across. It threatened to sink, and Marie le Roy
fell off, and narrowly escaped drowning. We had to put back and let
one of our men convey one of us across at a time. In this way we reached
the Monongahela River, on the other side of Pittsburg, the same evening.
" Upon our calling for help. Colonel Mercer immediately sent out a boat
to bring us to the fort. At first, however, the crew created many diffi
culties about taking us on board. They thought we were Indians, and
wanted us to spend the night where we were, saying they would fetch us
in the morning. When we had succeeded in convincing them that we
were English prisoners, who had escaped from the Indians, and that we
were wet and cold and hungry, they brought us over. There was an
Indian with the soldiers in the boat. He asked us whether we could
speak good Indian. Marie Le Roy said she could speak it. Thereupon
he inquired why she had run away. She replied that her Indian
mother had been so cross and had scolded her so constantly, that she
could not stay with her any longer. This answer did not please him ;
nevertheless, doing as courtiers do, he said he was very glad we had
safely reached the fort.
" It was in the night from the last of March to the first of April that we
came to Pittsburg. Most heartily did we thank God in heaven for all
the mercy which he showed us, for His gracious support in our weary
captivity, for the courage which He gave us to undertake our flight and
to surmount all the many hardships it brought us, for letting us find the
road which we did not know, and of which He alone could know that on
it we would meet neither danger nor enemy, and for finally bringing us
to Pittsburg to our countrymen in safety.
" Colonel Mercer helped and aided us in every way which lay in his
power. Whatever was on hand and calculated to refresh us was offered
in the most friendly manner. The colonel ordered for each of us a new
chemise, a petticoat, a pair of stockings, garters, and a knife. After
having spent a day at Pittsburg, we went, with a detachment under com
mand of Lieutenant Mile,t to Fort Ligonier. There the lieutenant
presented each of us with a blanket. On the 15th we left Fort Ligonier,
under protection of Captain Weiser and Lieutenant Atly,J for Fort Bed
ford, where we arrived in the evening of the i6th, and remained a
week. Thence, provided with passports by Lieutenant Geiger, we
¦* Chartiers Creek. f Lieutenant Samuel Miles.
i Lieutenant Samuel J. Atlee. 39

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
travelled in wagons to Harris' Ferry, and from there, afoot, by way of
Lancaster, to Philadelphia. Owen Gibson remained at Fort Bedford
and David Breckenreach at Lancaster. We two girls arrived in Phila
delphia on Sunday, the 6th of May."
In 1762 the great Moravian missionary, Rev. John Heckewelder, may
have, and probably did, spend a day or two in Punxsutawney. In or
about the year 1765 a Moravian missionary — viz.. Rev. David Zeisber
ger — established a mission near the present town of Wyalusing, Brad
ford County, Pennsylvania. He erected forty frame buildings., with
shingle roofs and chimneys, in connection with other improvements, and
Christianized a large number of the savages. The Muncy Indians were
then living in what is now called Forest County, on the Allegheny River.
This brave, pious missionary determined to reach these savages also,
and, with two Christian Indian guides, he traversed the solitude of the
forests and reached his destination on the 16th of October, 1767. He
remained with these savages but seven days ; they were good listeners to
his sermons, but every day he was in danger of being murdered. Of
these Indians he wrote, —
" I have never found such heathenism in any other parts of the Indian
country. Here Satan has his stronghold. Here he sits on his throne.
Here he is worshipped by true savages, and carries on his work in the
hearts of the children of darkness." These, readers, were the Indians
that roamed over our hills, then either Lancaster or Berks County. In
1768 this brave minister returned and put up a log cabin, twenty-six by
sixteen feet, and in 1 769 was driven back to what is now called Wya
lusing by repeated attempts on his life. He says in his journal, " For ten
months I have lived between these two towns of godless and malicious
savages, and ray preservation is wonderful."
In 1768 the six Indian nations having by treaty sold the land from
"under the feet" of the Wyalusing converts, the Rev. Zeisberger was
compelled to take measures for the removal of these Christian Indians,
with their horses and cattle, to some other field. After many councils and
much consideration, he determined to remove the entire body to a mis
sion he had established on the Big Beaver, now Lawrence County, Penn
sylvania. Accordingly, "on the nth of June, 1772, everything being
in readiness, the congregation assembled for the last time in their church
and took up their march toward the setting sun." They were "di
vided into two companies, and each of these were subdivided. One
of these companies went overland by the Wyalusing path, up the Sugar
Run, and down the Loyal Sock, -^ia Dushore. This company was in
charge of Ettwein, who had the care of the horses and cattle. The
other company was in charge of Rothe, and went by canoe down the
Susquehannah and up the west branch." The place for the divisions to
unite was the Great Island, now Lock Haven, and from there, under the
40

Rattlesnake.

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
lead of Rev. John Ettwein, to proceed up the west branch of the Susque
hanna, and then cross the mountains over the Chinklacamoose path,
through what is now Clearfield
and Punxsutawney, and from
there to proceed, via Kittanning,
to the Big Beaver, now in Law
rence County, Pennsylvania.
Reader, just think of two hun
dred and fifty people of all ages,
with seventy head of oxen and a
greater number of horses, trav
ersing these deep forests, over a
small path sometimes scarcely dis
cernible, under drenching rains,
and through dismal swamps, and
all this exposure continued for days and weeks, with wild beasts to the
right and to the left of them, and the path alive with rattlesnakes in front
of them, wading streams and overtaken by sickness, and then, dear
reader, you will conclude with me that nothing but "praying all night
in the wilderness" ever carried thera successfully to their destination.
This story of Rev. Ettwein is full of interest. I reprint a paragraph or
two that applies to what is now Jefferson County, — viz. :
^^ iT/2, Tuesday, July 14th. — Reached Clearfield Creek, where the
Buffaloes formerly cleared large tracts of undergrowth, so as to give them
the appearance of cleared fields. Hence the Indians called the creek
' Clearfield.' Here we shot nine deer. On the route we shot one hun
dred and fifty deer and three bears.
" Friday, July ijtli. — Advanced only four railes to a creek that comes
down frora the Northwest." This was and is Anderson Creek, near Cur-
wensville, Pennsylvania.
"fuly 18 th. — Moved on . .
" Sunday, July igth. — As yesterday, but two families kept up with
me, because of the rain, we had a quiet Sunday, but enough to do drying
our effects. In the evening all joined me, but we could hold no service
as the Ponkies were so excessively annoying that the cattle pressed toward
and into our camp to escape their persecutors in the smoke of the fire.
This vermin is a plague to man and beast by day and night, but in the
swamp through which we are now passing, their name is legion. Hence
the Indians call it the Ponsetunik, i.e. the town of the Ponkies." This
swamp was in what we now call Punxsutawney. These people on their
route lived on fish, venison, etc.

41

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

CHAPTER IV.
THE PURCHASE OF 1784.
The following article on the purchase raade by the Commonwealth
from the Indian tribes known as the Six Nations in 1784, of all the lands
within the charter boundaries of Pennsylvania in which the Indian title
had not been extinguished by previous purchases, was written and com
piled by Major R. H. Forster, of the Department of Internal Affairs, for
this book :
"At the close of the war of the Revolution, in the year 1783, the
ownership of a large area of the territory within the charter boundaries
of Pennsylvania was still claimed by the Indians of the several tribes that
were commonly known as the Six Nations. The last purchase of lands
frora the Six Nations by the proprietary government of the province was
made at Fort Stanwix in November, 1768, and the limit of this purchase
raay be described as extending to lines beginning where the northeast
branch of the Susquehanna River crosses the northern line of the State,
in the present county of Bradford ; thence down the river to the mouth
of Towanda Creek, and up the same to its head-waters ; thence by a range
of hills to the head-waters of Pine Creek, and down the same to the west
branch of the Susquehanna ; thence up the same to Cherry Tree ; thence
by a straight line, across the present counties of Indiana and Armstrong,
to Kittanning,* on the Allegheny River, and thence down the Allegheny
and Ohio Rivers to the western boundary line of the province. The In
dian claim, therefore, embraced all that part of the State lying to the
northwest of the purchase lines of 1768, as they are here described.
With the close of the Revolutionary struggle, the authorities of the new
Commonwealth, anxiously looking to its future stability and prosperity.

* "Canoe Place," so called in the old maps of the State to designate the head of
navigation on the -west branch of the Susquehanna River, is the point at which the pur
chase line of 1768 from that river to Kittanning, on the Allegheny River, begins. A
survey of that line was made by Robert Galbraith in the year 1786, and a cherry-tree
standing on the west bank of the river was marked by him as the beginning of his sur
vey. The same cherry-tree was marked by William P. Brady as the southeast cor
ner of a tract surveyed by him " at Canoe Place,'' in 1794, on warrant No. 3744, in the
name of John Nicholson, Esq. The town of Cherry Tree now covers part of this
ground. The old tree disappeared years ago. Its site, however, was regarded as of
some historic importance, and under an appropriation of $1500, granted by the Leo-isla-
ture in 1893, a substantial granite monument has been erected to mark the spot where it
stood. 42

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTV, PENNA.
soon found themselves confronted with duties and responsibilities differ
ent in many respects from those that had engaged their serious attention
and earnest effort during the previous seven years of war. They were to
enact just and equitable laws for the government of a new State, and to
devise such measures as would stimulate its growth in wealth and popula
tion and promote the development, settlement, and improvement of its
great domain.
"As early as the 12th of March, 1783, the General Asserably had
passed an act setting apart certain lands lying north and west of the Ohio
and Allegheny Rivers and Conewango Creek to be sold for the purpose
of redeeming the depreciation certificates given to the officers and sol
diers of the Pennsylvania Line who had served in the war of the Revolu
tion, and also for the purpose of raaking donations of land to the same
officers and soldiers in compliance with a promise made to them by a res
olution passed in 1780. It will be observed that when this act was passed
the Indian claim of title to the laiids mentioned was still in force ; but
the State authorities, though seemingly slow and deliberate in their
actions, were no doubt fully alive to the necessity of securing as speedily
as possible the right to all the lands within the State — about five-six
teenths of its area — that remained unpurchased after the treaty at Fort
Stanwix in 1768. With that purpose in view, the first movement made
by the General Assembly to be found on record was on the 25th day of
September, 1783. This action is in the form of a resolution passed on
that day by the recommendation of the report of a committee that had
been previously appointed ' to digest such plans as they might conceive
necessary to facilitate and expedite the laying off and surveying of the
lands' set apart by the act of the previous March. The resolution reads, —
'"Resolved, unanimously. That the supreme executive council be,
and they are hereby authorized and empowered to appoint commissioners
to hold a meeting with the Indians claiming the unpurchased territory
within the acknowledged limits of the State, for the purpose of purchasing
the same, agreeable to ancient usage, and that all the expenses accruing
from the said meeting and purchase be defrayed out of the Treasury of
the State.' — Pennsylvania Archives, vol. x. p. in.
"It next appears by a minute of the Supreme Executive Council, of
February 23, 1784, that Samuel John Atlee, William Maclay, and Francis
Johnston were on that day chosen commissioners to treat with the In
dians as proposed in the resolution of the General Assembly. The gentle
men named — all of them prominent citizens — were informed on the 29th
of the same month of their appointment, but they did not acknowledge
the receipt of President Dickinson's letter until the 17th of May follow
ing. On that day Messrs. Atlee and Johnston reply in a letter of thanks
for the honor conferred upon thera, and explain the delay as having been
caused by circumstances that required Mr. Maclay and Colonel Atlee to
43

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENXA,
visit their families, the first named still remaining absent. The letter
also contains a statement of their views upon various matters pertaining
to the mission upon which they are about to enter. They suggest Sam
uel ^Veiser, a son of Conrad Weiser, the noted Indian missionary, as a

Conrad Weiser.

proper person to notify the Indians of the desire to treat with them, and,
from his familiarity with their language and customs, to act as interpreter.
The tirae and place for holding the treaty are mentioned, but nothing
definite suggested, owing to the fact that the Continental Congress had
likewise appointed commissioners to raeet the Six Nations for the purpose
of treating with thera in relation to the lands of the Northwest, beyond
the limits of Pennsylvania, and it was deemed proper to permit the rep
resentatives of Congress to arrange for the meeting.* Fort Stanwix, in
the State of New York, was finally agreed upon as the place where the

'^ Pennsylvania Archives, vol. .v. p. 265.
44

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
meeting should be held, and thither the commissioners on the part of
Pennsylvania were directed to proceed. On the 25th of August, 1784,
a committee of the General Assembly, having Indian affairs under con
sideration, made the following report :
" ' That weighty reasons have occurred in favor of the design for hold
ing a conference with the Indians on the part of this State, and if under
the present situation of Continental affairs that raeasure can be conducted
on sure ground and without too unlimited an expense, it ought to take
place and be rendered as effective as this House can make it, under whose
auspices a foundation would thus be laid of essential and durable advan
tage to the public, by extending population, satisfying our officers and
soldiers in regard to their donation lands and depreciation certificates,
restoring that ancient, friendly, and profitable intercourse with the In
dians, and guarding against all occasions of war with them.'— Pennsyl
vania Archii>es, vol. x. p. 316.
" To aid the commissioners in their efforts to attain objects so worthy
and laudable, the above report was accompanied by a resolution that
authorized the Supreme Executive Council to expend ^9000 in the pur
chase of ' such goods, merchandize, and trinkets' as would be acceptable
to the Indians, to be given them as part of the consideration in the event
of a purchase being made. In pursuance of this resolution the council
promptly ordered a warrant to be issued by the treasurer in favor of the
commissioners for the sum of f'^^T^ (equivalent in Pennsylvania cur
rency to 59100), to be expended by them in purchasing the necessary
articles.* "After a tedious and fatiguing journey, in which they met with a
number of unexpected delays, the commissioners reached Fort Stanwix
early in the month of October, where they found some of the tribes
already assembled, and with them the commissioners of the Continental
Congress. In a letter to President Dickinson, dated October 4, 1784,
they announce their arrival, and state that the negotiations had already
commenced, and while they would not venture aa opinion as to the final
issue, they say the disposition of the Indians appeared to be favorable.
The negotiations continued until the 23d of the same month, and on that
day ended in an agreement by which the Indian title to all the lands
within the boundaries of the State that remained after the treaty of 1768
was extinguished. The Indians represented at the conference were the
Mohawks, the Oneidas, the Onondagas, the Senecas, the Cayugas, and the
Tuscaroras. The consideration fixed for the surrender of their rights was

* For a list of the articles designated in the order see Colonial Records, vol. xiv.
p. 186. After the negotiations at Fort Stanwix had been concluded the commissioners
gave an obligation for an additional thousand dollars in goods, to be delivered at
Tioga. For this list see Pennsylvania Archives, vol. x. p. 496.
45

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTV, PENNA.
$5000. The deed is dated October 23, 1784, is signed by all the chiefs
of the Six Nations and by the Continental commissioners as witnesses.
The boundaries of the territory ceded are thus described : ' Beginning on
the south side of the river Ohio, where the western boundary of the State
of Pennsylvania crosses the said river, near Shingo's old town, at the
raouth of Beaver Creek, and thence by a due north line to the end of the
forty-second and the beginning of the forty-third degrees of north lati
tude, thence by a due east line separating the forty-second and the forty-
third degrees of north latitude, to the east side of the east branch of the
Susquehanna River, thence by the bounds of the late purchase raade at
Fort Stanwix, the fifth day of November, Anno Domini one thousand
seven hundred and sixty- eight, as follows : Down the said east branch of
Susquehanna, on the east side thereof, till it comes opposite to the mouth
of a creek called by the Indians Awandac, and across the river, and up
the said creek on the south side thereof, all along the range of hills called
Burnet's Hills by the English and by the Indians  , on the north side
of them, to the head of a creek which runs into the west branch of Sus
quehanna, which creek is by the Indians called Tyadaghton, but by the
Pennsylvanians Pine Creek, and down the said creek on the south side
thereof to the said west branch of Susquehanna, thence crossing the said
river, and running up the south side thereof, the several courses thereof
to the forks of the same river, which lies nearest to a place on the river
Ohio called Kittanning, and from the fork by a straight line to Kittan
ning aforesaid, and thence down the said river Ohio by the several courses
thereof to where said State of Pennsylvania crosses the same river at the
place of beginning. ' After the commissioners had accomplished in so
satisfactory a manner the object for which they had journeyed to Fort
Stanwix, it became necessary to appease the Western Indians, the Wyan
dots and the Delawares, who also claimed rights in the same lands. The
same commissioners were therefore sent to Fort Mcintosh, on the Ohio
River, at the site of the present town of Beaver, where, in January, 1785,
they were successful in reaching an agreement with those Indians for the
same lands. This deed, signed by the chiefs of both tribes, is dated
January 21, 17S5, and is in the same words (except as to the consid
eration money, which is jg2ooo) and recites the same boundaries as the
deed signed at Fort Stanwix in the previous month of October.*
".After the purchase of 1768 a disagreement arose between the pro
prietary government and the Indians as to whether the creek flowing into
the west branch of the river Susquehanna, and called in the deed ' Tya
daghton,' was intended for Lycoming Creek or Pine Creek. The In-
¦* The conference of the commissioners at Fort Stanwix and Fort Mcintosh with
the deeds signed at those places are published in the Appendix to the General Assembly
for the session of Febru.ary to April, 1785. 46

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
dians said it was the former, and that the purchase only extended that
far, the proprietaries clairaed the latter stream to be the extent of the pur
chase ; but, in order to avoid any trouble that might arise from the dis

pute, it was wisely deterrained that no rights should be granted for lands
west of Lycoming Creek. This determination, however, did not deter
or prevent adventurous pioneers from entering upon and making settle
ments within the disputed territory, and from their persistency in so
47

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTV, PENNA.
doing arose an interesting, not to say serious, condition of affairs, to
which reference will again be made. The commissioners at Fort Stan
wix were instructed to ascertain definitely from the Indians which of the
two streams they meant by 'Tyadaghton.' They then admitted that it
was Pine Creek, being the largest emptying into the west branch of the
Susquehanna. "The Indian claim of right to the soil of Pennsylvania, within its
charter limits, had thus, in a period of a little more than one hundred
years, ceased to exist. A glance at a map of the State will show that
within the raagnificent domain that comprises the purchase of 1784 are
to be found at the present day the counties of Tioga, Potter, McKean,
Warren, Crawford, A'enango, Forest, Clarion, Elk, Jefferson, Cameron,
Butler, Lawrence, and Mercer, and parts of the counties of Bradford,
Clinton, Clearfield, Indiana, Arrastrong, Allegheny, Beaver, and Erie.*
This large and important division of our great Commonwealth, now teem-
ing[with population and wealth, the abiding-place of a noble civilization,
and containing within its boundaries thousands upon thousands of homes
of comfort and many of elegance and luxury, fertile valleys to reward the
labor of the husbandman, thriving villages, busy towns, and growing,
bustling cities, was, in 1784, largely an uninhabited and untraversed
wilderness. "LANDS EAST OF THE ALLEGHENY RIVER AND CONEWANGO
CREEK.
"The General Assembly of the State did not delay in enacting laws
which would open to settlers and purchasers that part of the late acquisi
tion that had not been otherwise appropriated. As a matter of fact, in
anticipation of the purchase, an act was passed on the 1st day of April,
1784, in which it was provided that as soon as the Indians were ' satisfied
for the unpurchased lands,' the suprerae executive council should give
official information thereof to the surveyor-general, who was then to ap
point district surveyors to survey all such lands within the purchase as
should ' be found fit for cultivation. ' The tracts were to contain not
more than 500 nor less than 200 acres each, and were to be numbered
on a general draft of each district. When a certain nuraber of lots were
surveyed, they were to be sold at public auction, the purchaser having
the privilege of paying one moiety at the time of purchase and receiving
a credit of two years for the other moiety. The mode of disposing of the
lands thus indicated was soon changed by subsequent legislation. By an
act passed December 21, 1784, to amend the act of April i, the pro
visions of the law for sales by public auction and the giving of credit
were repealed. Section 6 of the act provided that the land-office should
*" See accomp.anying map, which shows the extent of the purchase.
48

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
be open on the ist day of May, 1785, to receive applications for lands at
the rate of ^30* for every hundred acres of the same, and that the sur
vey of an application should not contain more than 1000 acres, with the
usual allowance of six per centum for highways. This act was intended
to apply to all lands within the purchase, except the lands north and west
of the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers and Conewango Creek (which, as
already mentioned, had been appropriated for the redemption of depre
ciation certificates and for the donations of land to the soldiers of the
Pennsylvania Line) and the disputed territory between Lycoming and
Pine Creeks. By Section 7, a warrant issued in pursuance of the act
was not descriptive, and was not confined to any particular place, but
could be located on any vacant land, not within the excepted districts,
that the applicant might select. Sections 8, 9, and 10 of the act pro
vide for the persons who occupied lands between Lycoming and Pine
Creek, in violation of the proprietary mandate. The situation of these
settlers was peculiar. When the disagreement in regard to the purchase
lines of the purchase of 1768 occurred, the proprietaries, always ex
tremely anxious to avoid giving offence to the Indians, decided to with
hold the territory between the two streams from sale and settlement until
the differences could be properly adjusted by mutual agreement. Though
many applications for land west of Lycoming Creek were on file, surveys
would not be accepted, and at the same time stringent orders were issued
protesting against persons making settieraent beyond that stream, and
warning those already there to depart. In defiance of warnings, protests,
and proclamations, however, many sturdy, self reliant raen persisted in
occupying the forbidden ground, where they found themselves beyond
the bounds of lawful authority, and could not expect to receive encour
agement or protection from the proprietary government. But with the
energy and courage common to pioneer settlers they at once began the
work of subduing the wilderness and building homes for their families,
and from accounts that have come down to us, the little community, if it
did not live in luxury, was at least able to earn a subsistence that was not
meagre in quantity, whatever raay have been its quality. Being without
law or government, the members of the community were compelled by
the necessities of their situation and surroundings to adopt a system of
government of their own, the details of which are not fully known. All,
however, were under solemn obligations to support and defend their
agreement for mutual support and protection. They called theraselves
Fair-Play Men, and it is known that annually they elected three of their
nuraber to constitute a court, which held stated meetings to dispense jus
tice. To this tribunal all disputes and controversies were referred for
settlement, and from its decisions there was no appeal. A stranger
¦* In Pennsylvania currency this was at the rate of 80 cents an acre.
49

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
coming araong thera was obliged to appear before the court and promise
under oath to submit to the laws of the coraraunity. If he did this, he
could remain, take possession of unoccupied land, and receive assistance
in building his cabin. If he would not take the obligation, he was quickly
notified to absent himself without delay, which he usually did, without
awaiting the call of a committee, whose methods of expulsion might be
none too gentle. Many of these brave frontiersmen served in the army
during the Revolutionary War, and Section 8 of the act recited that by
reason of their services as soldiers, thev merited the ' pre-emption of
their respective plantations.' Sections 9 and 10 of the same act allowed
a pre-emption to all settlers and their legal representatives who had set
tled on the lands between the two streams prior to the year 1780, limit
ing each claim to 300 acres, providing that the application should be
made and the consideration paid on or before November i, 1785. It
will be remembered that the tirae fixed by the act of December 21,
1784, forthe land- office to be opened to receive applications was May
I, 17S5. Before that day arrived, however, the Legislature passed
another act, which, in many respects, changed the policy previously pur
sued in disposing of unappropriated lands. This act became a law on
the 8th day of April, 1785, and with it came the practice, as provided in
the act, of numbering all warrants for land in the last purchase to the east
of the Allegheny River and Conewango Creek, a change in practice that
has always been regarded as a valuable improvement on the old system.
The act is entitled ' An act to provide further regulations, whereby to
secure fair and equal proceedings in the land- office, and the surveying of
lands.' It was believed that when the office was opened on the day fixed
by the law, numerous applications would be made at the same time, and
that preference would necessarily be given to some persons to the disad
vantage of others, and thereby cause dissatisfaction. In order to prevent
any one from profiting by such preference, it was enacted in Section 2 '
of the act that the priority of all warrants to be granted on applications
received during the first ten days after the opening of the office should
be deterrained by a lottery to be drawn under the supervision of the
Secretary of the Land- Office. Not more than 1000 acres were to be
included in one application, and the warrants were to be numbered
'according to the decision of the lottery.' For conducting the lottery
the section contains minute directions. All applications made after the
expiration of ten days were to have priority according to the order in
which they came into the hands of the Secretary, and were to be num
bered accordingly. The other sections of the act relate raainly to the
duties of the surveyor-general and the deputy- surveyors to be by him
appointed, and the way in which surveys were to be raade and returned.
It also prescribes the fees to be received by the officers of the land office
and the deputy surveyors, and attaches the territory east ofthe .-Allegheny
50

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
River and Conewango Creek to Northumberland County, a part of which
county it remained until Lycoming County was formed in 1795, when it
became part of that county. The reraaining portion of the purchase was
attached to Westmoreland County, and so continued until Allegheny was
formed in 1788, when it was included in the boundary of that county.
The applications received during the first ten days from the opening of
the office were listed and numbered, placed in the lottery-wheel, and
drawn therefrom in the manner provided by the second section of the
act. They numbered five hundred and sixty-four, and warrants for that
number of tracts were issued, and received a number that corresponded
with the nuraber drawn from the wheel. These warrants were called
' Northumberland County Lottery Warrants,' and under that designation
are yet carried on the warrant registers of the office. They could be,
and were, located in such localities within the purchase east of the Alle
gheny River as the owners might select, except on a reservation of 1000
acres at the forks of Sinnemahoning Creek, for which General James
Potter held a pre-emption.
"The surveyor general had authority to appoint deputy-surveyors,
and to fix the number, extent, and boundaries of the districts to which
they were to be assigned. The territory was divided into eighteen dis
tricts, and a deputy- surveyor appointed for each. These districts were
numbered consecutively, beginning with No. i, on the Allegheny River,
and running eastward to No. 18, which extended to the north branch of
the Susquehanna in the northeast corner of the purchase. This arrange
ment of the districts continued until after the year 1790, when a change
was made by the surveyor-general. The number of districts was then
reduced to six, and were numbered westward from district No. 1, begin
ning at the mouth of Lycoming Creek. In the new arrangement John
Adlum was appointed deputy-surveyor for district No. i, John Broadhead
for No. 2, John Canan for No. 3, James Hunter for No. 4, William P.
Brady for No. 5, and Enion Williams for No. 6, on the Allegheny River.
In 1793, John Adlum, whose surveys were principally along the northern
line of the State, was succeeded by William Ellis, and Enion Williams
by John Broadhead. After the drawing of the lottery warrants the busi
ness of the land-office does not appear to have been very pressing. It
would seem that at the price fixed by the act of December, 1784—^30
per hundred, or 80 cents an acre — purchasers were not numerous. The
records show that from the time of the drawing and issuing of the lottery
warrants in May, 1785, down to the year 1792, not more than 400 war
rants were granted for these lands, and among these warrants were raany
to religious and educational institutions issued under various acts of
endowment. There were 32 to Dickinson College, — 28 of 300 acres
each, and 4 of 400 acres each, making in all 7000 acres ; the Episcopal
Academy had 33 warrants, — 32 of 300 acres each, and i of 400 acres,
51

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
making 10,000 acres; the Lutheran congregation, of Philadelphia, 10
warrants of 500 acres each, making 5000 acres ; the Pittsburg Academy,
10 warrants of 500. acres each, making 5000 acres; the Washington
Academy, 10 warrants of 500 each, making 5000 acres; the Reading
Academy, 7 warrants, — 3 of 1000 acres each and 4 of 500 acres each,
raaking 5000 acres ; and Franklin College 33 warrants of 300 acres each,
and I of 100 acres, making 10,000 acres, — making in the aggregate 112
warrants for 52,000 acres of land.
"It had now become apparent to the authorities that the price of
land was too high to induce investments of money in them, and that
the General Assembly must fix a lower rate to promote sales. Benjamin
Franklin, the president of the Supreme Executive Council, under date of
February 23, 1787, addressed a letter to that body in which he says,
' We are convinced that it will be of advantage to the State to lower the
price of land within the late Indian purchase ; only eight warrants have
been taken out for lands these six months passed.'* The Legislature
accordingly passed an act, October 3, 1788, to reduce the price from the
rate of ^30 per hundred acres to ^20. This rate was to be charged
after March i, 1789, and was a reduction from the old rate of 80 cents
an acre to S3}i cents an acre. This rate continued until April 3, 1792 ;
but, contrary to expectations, did not have the effect of increasing sales,
and, therefore, brought little or no change in the business of the office.
By another act, passed April 3, 1792, the price was again reduced. The
rate fixed by this act was ^5, or ^13.33^4, for each hundred acres, and
at this rate sales almost astonishing in extent were made, and the years
1792-93-94 proved to be noted and important years for disposing of un
appropriated lands. The low price at which lands could now be bought,
and the alluring prospect of a large increase in their value, undoubtedly
induced many large purchasers to enter their applications. The applica
tions received at the land-office were for a large number of tracts, and
in the course of the years named more than 5000 warrants of 900 and
1000 acres each, covering almost 5,000,000 acres, were granted for
lands north and west of the purchase line of 1768, and east of the Alle
gheny River. These were all nurabered in consecutive order, as required
by the act of April, 1785, and were sent to the deputy surveyors of the
six districts to be executed. They were issued in the names of a com
paratively small number of persons, but the holdings, as a rule, were very
large. While it would be tedious to give the names of all the holders of
these warrants, generally called 'late purchase warrants,' it may not
prove uninteresting to mention a few of those whose purchases were more
than usually large, if only to show that a spirit of speculation might have
existed in those days, even as it does at the present time. The first to

^'' Colonial Recoi'ds, vol. xv. p. 167.
52

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
be mentioned will be the warrants issued in the names of Wilhelra Willink,
Nicholas Van Staphorst, Christian Van Eeghan, Pieter Stadnitski, Hen
drick VoUenhoven, and Ruter Jan Schimmelpenninck. These gentle
men were merchants of the city of Amsterdam, Holland. In the land
history of Pennsylvania they are known as the ' Holland Land Com
pany,' and through agents they invested a large amount of money in
land in the purchase of 1784 The warrant registers show that in the
three years, 1792-93-94, they paid for and received 1105 warrants of 900
acres each, aggregating 995,400 acres of land lying east ofthe Allegheny
River. These warrants were divided araong the deputy-surveyors of the
six districts. James Wilson was another large owner of warrants, the
number held by him being 510, of 900 acres each, making 451,000 acres.
Herman Le Roy and Jan Lincklean, A. Z., also of Amsterdam, 303
warrants of 900 acres each, raaking 272,700 acres. John Nicholson 300
warrants of 1000 acres each, raaking 300,000 acres. Thomas M. Willing,
311 warrants of 1000 acres each, making 311,000 acres. George Meade,
306 warrants of 1000 acres each, making 306,000 acres. Robert Gil
more, 200 warrants of 1000 acres each, making 200,000 acres. Samuel
Wallis, 100 warrants of 1000 acres each, raaking 100,000 acres. Williara
Bingham, 125 warrants of 1000 acres each, making 125,000 acres. Robert
Morris, 185 warrants, 141 of 1000 acres each, and 44 of 500 acres each,
making 163,000 acres. The magnitude of the purchases made by a few
individuals is here clearly indicated. There were, however, other large
purchasers, such as Robert BlackweU, John Olden, Charles Willing,
Philip Nicklin and Robert Griffith, James Strawbridge, Jeremiah Parker,
and others whose names we are obliged to omit. The surveys generally
were carefully and correctly made, and, considering the extent of terri
tory covered by them, and the large interests involved, no great amount
of litigation from conflicting locations afterwards grew out of defective
or careless work by the surveyor, as was too often the case with surveys
made in other sections of the State. In 181 7 the price of the lands was
again changed to 26^ cents an acre, to correspond with the price in the
older purchases. At the same time warrants were made descriptive, and
have since been carried in the warrant registers by counties. The sur
veys made on the numbered warrants did not appropriate all the land
within the limits to which they were restricted, and since then many
warrants have been granted in all the counties erected from the territory
that in 1785 was made to form a part of the county of Northumberland.
"LANDS NORTH AND EAST OF THE OHIO AND ALLEGHENY
RIVERS AND CONEWANGO CREEK.
"After the surveys of the tracts to be sold for the redemption of
depreciation certificates and the donation lots to be given to the soldiers
of the Pennsylvania Line had been made, there remained in this part of
53

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
the purchase a large surplus of lands to be otherwise appropriated. The
Legislature, on the 3d of April, 1792, passed an act for the sale of these
lands, entitled ' An act for the sale of vacant lands within this Common
wealth.' This act differs from all previous laws for disposing of the
public lands, by providing that they should only be offered for sale to
such persons as would ' cultivate, improve, and settle the same, or cause
the same to be cultivated, improved, and settled.' The price fixed was
^7 10s. in Pennsylvania currency, for every hundred acres, or in other
words, 20 cents an acre, and the warrants were limited to 400 acres each.
The surveyor general was authorized to divide the territory offered for
sale into proper and convenient districts and appoint deputy-surveyors,
who were to give the customary bond for the faithful performance of their
duties. They were to execute warrants according to their priority, but
' not to survey any tract actually settled and improved prior to the date
of the entry of such warrant with the deputy, except to the owner of such
settlement and improvement.' The territory was divided into eleven
districts, and a deputy-surveyor appointed for each ; Thomas Reese for
district No. i, William Powers for No. 2, Benjamin Stokely for No. 3,
Thomas Stokely for No. 4, John Moore for No. 5, Samuel Nicholson for
No. 6, John McCool for No. 7, Stephen Gapen for No. 8, Jonathan and
Daniel Leet for Nos. 9 and 10, John Hoge for No. ii.
" By Section 8 of the act, on application being made to the deputy-
surveyor of the proper district by any person who had made an actual
settieraent and improvement, that officer, on being paid the legal fees,
was required to survey the lines of the tract, not exceeding 400 acres, to
which such person may have become entitled by virtue of his settlement.
Many such surveys were returned to the land^ office and constituted pre
emptions to persons for whom they were made. Some of the tracts thus
returned still remain unpaid, as a glance at the land lien docket of the
land-office will show. By Section 9, no warrant or survey made in pur
suance of the act was to vest title to the lands unless the guarantee had,
' prior to the date of such warrant made, or caused to be made, or should
within the space of two years next after the date of the sarae, raake, or
cause to be made, an actual settlement thereon, by clearing, fencing, and
cultivating at least two acres for every hundred acres contained in one
survey, erecting thereon a messuage for the habitation of man, and re
siding or causing a family to reside thereon, for the space of five years next
following his first settling of the same, if he or she shall so long live.'
In default of such actual settlement and residence the right was forfeited,
and new warrants, reciting the original warrants and the lack of compli
ance with the requirements of the act, could be granted to other actual
settlers. It was provided, however, ' that if any actual settler or any
grantee in any such original or succeeding warrant, shall by force of
arms of the enemies of the United States, be prevented from making
54

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
such actual settlement, or be driven therefrom and shall persist in his
endeavors to raake such actual settieraent as aforesaid, then, in either
case, he and his heirs shall be entitled to have and to hold the said lands
in the sarae manner as if the actual settlement had been made and con
tinued.' Under the provisions of this act many surveys, as already
stated, were returned for actual settlers, and many warrants were taken
out immediately after its passage. The warrants were for 400 acres each,
and immense numbers of them in fictitious names, in which great families
of Inks, Pims, etc., appear, were taken out by a few individuals. For
instance, the Holland Land Corapany, previously mentioned, again
appears in the territory west of the Allegheny. That company alone
took out 1162 warrants representing 464,800 acres of land, and making
the entire purchases of the company from the State amount to more than
1,500,000 acres. John Nicholson was another purchaser who held a
large number of these warrants. To the ' Pennsylvania Population
Company' he assigned 100,000 acres lying principally in the present
County of Erie, and proposed to assign 250,000 acres lying along Beaver
Creek and the western line of the State to another of his land schemes
called the 'North American Land Company.' The warrants all con
tained the actual settlement clause, but not any of the large owners of
warrants made the slightest pretence of complying with it. Owing to
the disturbed condition of the western border at the time it was impossi
ble to do so. A state of war existed with the western Indians. The
United States forces had met with serious reverses in the defeat of Harmer
and St. Clare in 1791, and it was not until after Wayne's treaty, in
December, 1795, gave peace and safety to the borders that settlers with
their families could enter upon those lands free from the fear and danger
of Indian incursions.
"But with the settling of the Indian disorders and the return of peace,
there soon came other troubles, with expensive and vexatious litigation,
to annoy and harass settlers and warrantees by the uncertainty that was
cast upon their titles. This uncertainty grew out of differences of opinion
in relation to the construction the two years' clause of the law requiring
actual settlement, after the termination of the Indian hostilities that had
prevented such settlement from being made, should receive. The oppo
site views held by those interested in titles are clearly stated in Sergeant's
' Land Laws,' page 98 : 'On one side it was contended that the conditions
of actual settieraent and residence, required by the act, was dispensed with,
on account of the prevention for two years after the date of the warrant*
by Indian hostilities ; and that the warrant holder was not bound to do
anything further, but was entitled to a patent. On the other side it was
insisted that the right under the warrant was forfeited, at the expiration

•* Nearly all of these warrants were granted in 1792-93.
55

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
of two years, without a settlement, and that actual settlers raight then enter
on such tracts and hold them by making a settlement. On this and other
constructions, numbers of persons entered on the lands of warrantees
and claimed to hold under the act, as settlers, after a forfeiture.' The
authorities of the State at the time — 1796 to 1800 — held to the first
opinion, and by the advice of Attorney-General Ingersoll, the Board of
Property devised what was called a 'prevention certificate,' which set
forth the fact of the inability of the warrantee or settler to make the re
quired settlement. This certificate was to be signed by two justices, and
on its presentation, properly signed, the land officers freely granted a
patent forthe land described. Under prevention certificates of this kind
many patents were granted. The Holland Land Company received more
than one thousand, and John Field, William Crammond, and James Gib
son, in trust for the use of the Pennsylvania Population Company, more
than eight hundred. These patents all contained a recital of the preven
tion certificate, as follows : ' And also in consideration of it having been
made to appear to the Board of Property that the said (name of warrantee)
was by force of arras of the eneraies of the United States prevented from
making settlement as is required by the ninth section (act of April 3,
1792), and the assignees of the said (warrantee) had jjersisted in their
endeavors to make such settlement,' etc. With a change of administra
tion in October, 1799, there followed a change of policy. The new
authorities did not regard the policy and proceedings of the former Board
of Property binding, and the further issuing of patents on prevention
certificates was refused. In the mean tirae, the contentions between the
owners of warrants and settlers were carried into the courts, where a like
difference of opinion in regard to the rights of the contending parties
under the act of 1792 soon manifested itself, the judges disagreeing as
widely in their construction of the ninth section as the parties in interest.
It was only after years of exciting and troublesome litigation, and the
enactment of a number of laws bythe Legislature of the State to facilitate
an adjustment of the contentions, that titles became settled and owners
felt secure in their possessions. It raay be said that while the judges of
the courts often differed in their opinions on the points at issue, the liti
gation ended generally in favor of the holders of the warrants. The Hol
land Land Company, being coraposed of foreigners, could appeal to the
courts of the United States. In one case carried to the Supreme Court,
the company was actually absolved from making the settlement prescribed
by the ninth section. Chief Justice Marshall, holding that a warrant for
a tract of land under the Act of 1792 ' to a person who, by force of arms
of the enemies of the United States, was prevented from settling and im
proving the said land, and from residing thereon from the date of the
warrant until the ist of January, 1796, but who, during the said period,
persisted in his endeavors to make such settieraent and residence, vests in
56

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
such grantee a fee-simple in said land.'* That the uncertainty in re
gard to land titles during these years did much to retard the growth and
prosperity of this northwestern section of the State cannot be doubted ;
but, under the influence of better conditions, brought about by the adjust
ment of land rights and the aUaying of local strife, it afterwards made
marvellous strides forward in the march of progress and improvement.
" The dispositions made of the unsold depreciation and the undrawn
donation lots in this part of the purchase were fully treated of in former
papers, and, therefore, need no further notice. It may not, however, be
amiss to say a word in relation to the purchase of the Erie triangle, an
acquisition that was of vast importance to Pennsylvania by reason of the
outlet of Lake Erie. The triangle was claimed by the States of New
York and Massachusetts, but was ceded by both States, in the years 1781
and 1785, to the United States. The Pennsylvania authorities, antici
pating its possession, had, through a treaty made at Fort Mcintosh by
General St. Clair, Colonel Harmer, and others, secured a deed from the
Indians by which their claim of title was extinguished. This deed,
signed by the chiefs of the Six Nations, is dated January 9, 1789, and the
consideration paid was ^2000. It was then, by a deed dated March 3,
1792, ceded by the United States to Pennsylvania. This deed is signed
by George Washington, President, and Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of
State. In 1790, Andrew EUicott made a survey of the triangle and
found it to contain 202,287 acres, and the purchase- money paid to the
United States, at the rate of 75 cents an acre, amounted to ^151,640.25.
This purchase having been completed before the passage of the act of
April 3, 1792, the lands within it, except the reservations, were sold
under the provisions of that act. Before the completion of the purchase,
John Nicholson had made application for the entire tract, and probably
held a larger number of warrants for lands within its boundaries than any
other individual.
"THE RESERVATIONS NORTH AND WEST OF THE OHIO AND ALLE
GHENY RIVERS AND CONEWANGO CREEK.
" In the act of March 12, 1783, setting apart the depreciation lands,
two reservations for the use of the State were raade, — one of ' three thou
sand acres, in an oblong of not less than one mile in depth from the
Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, and extending up and down the said rivers,
from opposite Fort Pitt, so far as may be necessary to include the same ;'
and the other ' three thousand acres on the Ohio, and on both sides of
Beaver Creek, including Fort Mackintosh.' There was also reserved
on Lake Erie for the use of the State the peninsula of Presque Isle, a
tract extending eight miles along the shores of the lake and three miles

* Smith's Laws, vol. ii. p. 228.
57

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
in breadth, and another tract of 2000 acres on the lake at the mouth of
Harbor Creek ; and also tracts at the mouth of French Creek, at Fort
Le Bceuf, and at the mouth of Conewango Creek. For the purpose of
raising an additional sum by the sale of town lots to be used in paying
the debts of the State, the President of the Supreme Executive Council
was authorized by an act passed the nth day of September, 1787, to
cause a town to be laid out on the reservation opposite Fort Pitt. The
tract, except 312 acres within its boundaries, was accordingly surveyed
into town and out lots and sold at public auction. The regular lots of
the town, as laid down in the survey, were in dimensions 60 by 240 feet,
while the out lots contained from five to ten acres. The part containing
3 1 2 acres, not included in the plan of the town, was patented to James
O'Hara on the 5th day of May, 1789. This town has grown into the
large and flourishing city of Allegheny. By another act, passed Sep
teraber 28, 1 79 1, the governor was given power to authorize the sur
veyor-general to cause a part of the reservation at the mouth of Beaver
Creek to be laid out in town lots, ' on or near the ground where the old
French town stood,' in such manner as commissioners, to be appointed
by the governor, should direct. By this act 200 acres were to be sur
veyed into town lots, and 1000 acres, adjoining on the upper side, into
out lots to contain not less than five acres, nor more than ten acres.
Daniel Leet, a deputy- surveyor, who had previously surveyed district
No. 2, of the depreciation lands and one of the donation districts, was
eraployed to lay out these town and out lots, and his survey of the town
and out lots was confirmed by an act passed in March, 1793. The same
act directed the governor to proceed to make sale of the lots and grant
conveyances for them, in the manner prescribed by the act authorizing
the laying out of the town. The town was called Beavertown, and when
the county of Beaver was erected in 1800 was made the county seat.
The act erecting the county appropriated 500 acres of the reservation for
the use of such school or academy as might thereafter be established in
the town. The town then called Beaver was incorporated into a borough
in 1802, and the boroughs of Rochester and Bridgewater, on opposite
sides ofthe creek, also occupy parts ofthis reservation.
"The towns of Erie, Franklin, Waterford, and Warren were estab
lished by an act passed on the iSth day of April, 1795. Of 'he large
reservation on Lake Erie, at Presque Isle, the governor was authorized to
appoint two commissioners to survey 1600 acres for town lots and 3400,
adjoining thereto, for out lots, with such streets, alleys, lanes, and reser
vations for public uses as the commissioners should direct. The town
lots were to contain not raore than one- third ofan acre,* the out lots not

¦* The regular town lots of Erie as laid down in the map of the town are 82 feet 6
inches front and 165 feet in depth. 58

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
more than five acres, the reservations for public uses not to exceed twenty
acres, and the town was to be called Erie. After the survey of the town,
made by General William Irvine and Andrew EUicott, was filed in the
office of the secretary of the Commonwealth, the governor was directed
to sell at public auction one-third of the town lots and one- third of the
out lots to the highest bidders, and grant patents to the purchasers upon
the condition that within two years they respectively should ' build a
house, at least sixteen feet square, and contain at least one brick or stone
chimney,' on each lot purchased, the patent not to be issued until after
the expiration of two years, and then only on proof that the condition of
the sale had been complied with. In addition to the surveys of the town
and out lots, the act provided that three lots — one of 60 acres on the
southern side of the harbor, another of 30 on the peninsula, and a
third of 100 acres also on the peninsula — should be surveyed for the
' use of the United States in erecting and maintaining forts, magazines,
and dock-yards thereon.' Of the tract at the mouth of French Creek,
300 acres for town lots and 700 acres for out lots were to be surveyed for
the town of Franklin ; and of the tract at the raouth of Conewango Creek,
300 acres for town lots and 700 acres for out lots were to be surveyed
for the town of Warren. At the time the act providing for the laying
out of these towns became a law a settlement had been made at Fort Le
Bceuf. Andrew EUicott had surveyed and laid out a town, and his draft
of the town was accepted and confirmed by the Legislature. It was pro
vided, however, that in addition to the town lots of EUicott's survey,
500 acres should be surveyed for out lots, and that the town should be
called Waterford. The size of the town and out lots for Franklin and
Warren, the out lots for Waterford, and the provisions for streets, lanes,
alleys, and reservations for public use, — the reservations reduced to ten
acres, — were the same as for the town of Erie, as were also the regulations
for the sale of the lots. At Waterford a number of settlers who had built
houses were given a right of pre emption to the lots on which they settled.
A subsequent act passed April 11, 1799, provided that surveys should be
made of the reserved tracts adjoining Erie, Franklin, Warren, and
Waterford, not laid out in town or out lots, into lots not to exceed
150 acres in each, to be sold by commissioners, one of whom was to
reside in each town. The tracts were to be graded in quality, and no
sale was to be made at less than four dollars an acre for land of the first
quality ; three doUars for the second quality, and two dollars for the third
quality, and purchasers, before title could vest in them, were required
within three years frora the date of their purchases to make an actual
settlement on the land ' by clearing, fencing, and cultivating at least two
acres for every fifty contained in one survey, and erect on each lot or
tract a messuage for the habitation of man and reside thereon for the
space of five years following their first settlement of the same.' The
59

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
same act required 500 acres in each of the reserved tracts to be surveyed
for the use of schools or academies, and provision was made for the ap
praisement of the residue of the town and out lots, and for their sale by
the coramissioner residing in the town. It was also provided in this act
that the reserved lot in the town of Erie, at the mouth of Cascade Creek,
was to be sold at public sale, on consideration of settlement and im
provement, provided it brought $50 an acre. By an act passed Feb
ruary 19, 1800, the clause of the act that required settlement and im
provement of lots was repealed. The other reservation of 2000 acres in
the Erie triangle, at the mouth of Harbor Creek, was donated by an act of
the Legislature to General WiUiam Irvine to indemnify him for the loss of
Montour's Island (now called Neville Island), in the Ohio River below
the city of Pittsburg. General Irvine held the island under a Penn
sylvania patent, but was divested of his title by a judgment of the Supreme
Court of the United States in an ejectment suit brought against him by a
party who claimed ownership under a Virginia right, which, under the
agreement between Pennsylvania and Virginia for settling the south
western boundary dispute, was held by the court to be good."
INDL\N TREATIES AT FORTS STANWIX AND McINTOSH.
" Proceedings of the treaties held at Forts Stanwix and Mcintosh, be
tween the commissioners of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the
deputies of the Six Nations and the Wyandott and Delaware Indians,
claiming the unpurchased territory within the acknowledged limits of the
said Commonwealth : " Fort Stanwix, October 4, 1784.
" The commissioners of Indian affairs from the State of Pennsylvania,
pursuant to their letter of the 3d instant, met in conference with the
commissioners on part of the Continent.

The Hon. Oliver Wolcott,
Richard Butler, and
Arthur Lee, Esqs.,
The Hon. Samuel F. Atlee,
Willi.vm McClay, and

Commissioners on part of the
United States.

\ Commissioners on part of the

Francis Johnston, Esqs., j ^^^^^ "^ Pennsylvania.
" It was requested by the State commissioners that the coraraissioners
for the United States should introduce and announce them in their offi
cial character to the Indians, and to inform them that they, by consent
of Congress, had some business of importance to transact with them, re-
60

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
lating to the affairs of said State, to be brought forward at a proper
period. " Which requisition, after being discussed, was unanimously agreed to.
" Fort Stanwix, October 17, 1784.
" At the request of the commissioners from the United States, the
commissioners from the State of Pennsylvania met them this day in con
ference on the same subject as above. Present as before.
" Whereupon it was agreed. That upon the close of the council to be
held this day with the Indians in the council-house of Fort Stanwix, the
commissioners on part of said State should be introduced and announced
in due form to the Indian chiefs or sachems in full council.
"The same day, in council held between the commissioners on part
of the United States and the representatives of the Six Indian Nations,
present also the commissioners for the State of Pennsylvania, General
Wolcott arose and addressed the Indians as follows, — viz. :
" ' Sachems and Warriors, — We now announce to you Colonel Atlee,
Mr. McClay, and Colonel Johnston, three honorable gentleraen from
the State of Pennsylvania, who have come, by the consent of Congress,
as commissioners, to transact some affairs with you, on the part of their
State, after the conclusion of the present treaty, should it be concluded
in a manner satisfactory to the United States.'
"After which Colonel Atlee, in behalf of the Indian commissioners
for the State of Pennsylvania, delivered the foUowing speech, — viz. :
" ' Sachems and "Warriors, — You have been now told by the honor
able commissioners from Congress that we attend as commissioners frora
your old friends of Pennsylvania to transact business with you on the
part of that State. At a proper season we will produce to you our com
mission, and lay before you the business committed to our charge, and
we doubt not but you will take it under immediate consideration and
return a favorable answer. ' " (Four Strings.)
"In Conference, Fort St.vnwix, October 22, 1784.
" present :
The Hon. Samuel F. Atlee,
Francis Johnston, and
William McClay, Esqs.
Griffith Evans, Secretary.
The Rev. Samuel Kirkland ]
and Mr. James Dean, j '' "'P''' ^^^'
And the deputies of the Six Indian Nations.
" The commissioners, through Colonel Atlee, opened their business by
addressing them as follows, — viz. : 61

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" 'Brothers of the Six Nations, — It is probable that the business
between you and the Continental commissioners will be settled this day
in council. Previous to which we are desirous of meeting you this
morning with a view of laying before you the particular objects of our
mission, and which we have attended here so long to negotiate with you
on the part of the State of Pennsylvania. It is not our wish to settle
any matters finaUy until the conclusion of the Continental treaty. The
design of our present interview is to prepare your minds for the introduc
tion of our business at a proper season, to discuss with freedora and seri
ously deliberate upon the subjects necessary to be taken into consideration,
that we may fully and perfectly understand each other.
" We now inform you that we are commissioned, and sent from your
old friends in Pennsylvania to purchase from you, according to ancient
custom, the unpurchased lands within the acknowledged limits of the said
State. This has been the invariable usage of our forefathers, and we,
desirous of pursuing their good example, wish that our young men, who
have become very numerous and require more lands, should settle and
improve the sarae in quietness and peace ; for this desirable purpose we
have brought with us a valuable cargo of goods, suited to your various
wants and necessities, as a compensation for your right to these Lands.
But these lands being more remote and consequently less valuable than
those our fathers have heretofore purchased, you ought not, therefore, to
expect so great a consideration for them.'
" (The commissioners then produced a map of the State, pointing out
to them the unpurchased land now intended to be purchased.)
' ' ' We here produce to you all the deeds of purchase made by our
forefathers from their first coming into this country, which, if you require,
shall be read and explained to you for your information and satisfaction,
by which you will learn the extreme regard the people of Pennsylvania
have ever shown the Six Confederated Nations.'
" To which Captain O'Bale,* a chief of the Seneca Nation, replied in
behalf of the Six Nations :
" 'Brothers of Pennsylvania, — We now call your attention to our
reply to what you have said. We greatly rejoice in meeting our brothers
of Pennsylvania once more in peace and friendship. Your language has
been friendly and agreeable to us, as that of your forefathers always was.
You have informed us of the business you are commissioned from the
State of Pennsylvania to transact with us. We have seen the deeds given
by our fathers to yours and understand you well. We will take up the
matter, keep it in mind, and deliberate upon it till the close of the
Continental business.'

* Captain O'Bale was more generally known as the great chief " Cornplanter,'' who
lived on the .Allegheny River, in what is now Warren County. He received two thou
sand acres of land from the State. 62

viz.:

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
' The commissioners then thanked them, and proceeded as follows.

" ' We come in the most peaceable and friendly manner, and do not
wish to irritate your minds with a recapitulation of former grievances,
but to make the road between us smooth and even. We are to inforra
you that one of our brothers present (pointing to Mr. McClay) is ap
pointed by the government of Pennsylvania to run the boundary line
between you and us next spring, when we wiU expect some of you to ac
company him, in order to prevent all disputes in future touching the

same.

" 'Having it in charge from the State, we must not omit to be in
formed by you the Indian name of Burnet's Hills, mentioned in our deed
of 1 768. And also which of the two streams, Lycoming or Pine Creek
(both of which empty into the west branch of Susquehanna), is known
among you by the name of Tiadaghton.' (To which they answered :)
.As to Burnet's HiUs, they call them the Long Mountains, and knew
them by no other name, and that Tiadaghton was Pine Creek or the
uppermost and largest of the two, but of this they would consider and
return a more positive answer.
"The conference was then closed.

"October 23, 1784, IN Conference.
" Present as before.
" The commissioners again produced the map of the State, pointing
out the purchased and unpurchased lands within the same, particularly
describing and explaining to them the forty-second degree or line of lati
tude (being the northern boundary of the State), and also mentioned the
place where it was supposed it would pass. All which Captain Aaron
Hill, a Mohock chief, who spoke English very well, perfectly understood
and explained in a satisfactory manner to the other chiefs.
" Captain O'Bale then spoke, and informed the commissioners ' that
it is not the wish of the Six Nations at present to part with so much of
their hunting-grounds,' and pointed out a line on the map which he
hoped would be agreeable to them.
"This being far short of the boundary of the State, was, therefore,
deemed by the commissioners totally inadmissible.
" The commissioners then spoke to them as follows :
" ' Brothers, — Though the lands that we are about to purchase are
already ceded by the line of cession described in the Articles of Peace
between the United States and Great Britain, yet we mean not to take
advantage of you, but are desirous of paying you a valuable consideration
for them, after the manner of our ancestors, your brothers of Pennsyl
vania. This consideration we have with us, and consists of an excellent
assortment of goods, amounting in value to four thousand dollars, and
63

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
which you will find to be of the first quality, which will certainly con
vince you that many advantages will flow to you from a trade and corre
spondence with your brothers of Pennsylvania.
" ' We now desire you would raake up your minds on these important
matters, that our business may be in such forwardness on the conclusion
of the Continental treaty as to be ready to receive a public and final
sanction, on the completion of which we will deliver you a belt.
" 'We wish once more to impress our brothers with an idea that our
intention is to pursue the same method of obtaining lands from you that
our forefathers did, with whose conduct we conceive you must be per
fectly satisfied, as they never wronged you, but have fulfilled all their
engagements and paid you faithfuUy for all the lands they have from
time to time purchased of you.
" ' Least any doubts should arise respecting the quality of the goods,
if such chiefs as are desirous of seeing them will attend at the stores, the
several packages shall be opened and shown to them.
" ' It has been intimated by some of you that you are desirous of having
a privilege of hunting on these lands. To this we have no objections, more
especially as the Continental commissioners have granted you the same
indulgence. This, in our opinions, will tend to our mutual advantage.
" 'Brothers, to-morrow being Sunday, on which we can transact no
public business, being a great way from our respective families and winter
approaching fast upon us, we must, therefore, again request you to come
to a conclusion on these raatters, and let us know your minds as soon as
possible.' " The commissioners then withdrew, the chiefs still remaining in con
sultation. After some time the Indians requested their attendance.
They returned accordingly, when the chiefs present spoke by Captain
O'Bale as follows :
" ' Brothers of Pennsylvania, — You have communicated to us your
business, you have pointed out the lands you are directed to purchase of
us, and we understand you. You have likewise shown your authority, of
which we are satisfied. .And as we wish to keep the way between us
smooth and even, and to brighten the chain of friendship and make it
lasting, we have agreed that the lands you have described be granted to
you in the sarae manner as you have requested. But as lands afford a
lasting and rising profit, and as the Pennsylvanians have always been
generous, we hope you will give us something next year as a farther
consideration.' "The commissioners, after consulting together, repUed, —
" ' We thank you for meeting us here, and are glad to find you so
well disposed to peace and friendship. We expected we had brought
you sufficient presents for the lands we are commissioned to purchase,
but have nevertheless agreed to give you goods to the amount of one
64

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
thousand dollars more, which we will deliver to you or to any persons
you may appoint to receive them at Tioga, the ist day of next October.
This cargo of goods shall be assorted in the best manner to serve you,
for the performance of which we will obligate ourselves, if you think it
necessary. '
" Then the chiefs, by Captain O'Bale, spoke as foUows,— viz. :
" ' We most cheerfully agree to this. We will make an obligation for
the purpose of securing to us the privilege of hunting on the lands, and
also for delivery of the goods, which will perfectly satisfy us. We wish
that our brothers of Pennsylvania would send us a faithful gun- and black
smith to reside at or near Tioga, who would be of great advantage to us
when we come down in hunting-parties ; and also that the government
of Pennsylvania would establish trading-houses at the same place, that we
may be conveniently and honestly supplied with such articles as we stand
in need of. '
"The commissioners answered, 'We will make true report of these
requests to the State, and make no doubt they will be complied
with.' "Two of the principal chiefs, — Captain Aaron Hill, of the Mohawks,
and Captain O'Bale, of the Senecas, — desirous of having each a rifle of
the " manufacture of Pennsylvania, being informed they were very good,
requested the commissioners to give thera two of the best quality, to be
delivered to them on the ist day of April next, at the new store at New
town, near Tioga, which the coraraissioners complied with and gave their
obligation for that purpose.
" The conference ended. " The same day In Council.
" present:
The Hon. Oliver ^VoLCOTT, \
Richard Butler, and \ Commissioners on part of
Arthur Lee, Esqs., ) United States.
The Hon. Samuel F. Atlee, n
-ITT -\r r^ J / Commissioners on part of the
William McClay, and )- ^ -'
-r- T T^ i State of Pennsylvania.
Francis Johnston, Esqs., j -' -^ .
The Rev. Samuel Kirkland )
and Mr. James Dean, | Interpreters.
And a full representation of the Six Indian Nations.
"At the close ofthe Continental business. General Wolcott addressed
the Indians as follows :
" ' Sachems and Warriors, — We informed you some time past that
these gentlemen commissioners from the State of Pennsylvania had some
65

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
public business to transact with you on the part of the said State. If
they are ready to bring it forward, now will be a proper time.'
" Upon which Colonel Atlee, in behalf of the Pennsylvania commis
sioners, delivered the following speech, prepared for the purpose :
" ' Brothers of the Six Nations, — After a long separation of nine
years, during which period the great Congress have been at war with
and conquered their enemies from the other side of the great water, we,
the commissioners from your old friends of Pennsylvania, with the con
sent of the United States in Congress assembled, are well pleased to
meet you this day; and from our hearts rejoice with you that peace and
friendship are once more estabhshed by these honorable gentleraen, the
commissioners of Congress.' "(Six Strings.)
" 'Brothers, — Listen with great attention to what we are going to
say to you. We come in the name and from the government of Penn
sylvania, of which you have already been informed ; our commission we
here produce, which we will read to you publicly.'
" (The commission was read.)
" ' Brothers, — From the first coming of our fathers to this country,
about one hundred years ago, to the time of the last treaty and purchase
in 1768 at this place, which raany of you now present must well remem
ber, your brothers of Pennsylvania, as they wanted lands for their young
men to settle on, applied for and purchased from the natives from time
to time such quantities within the bounds of their charter as they judged
suiScient. " ' The several deeds for the different purchases we here produce, as
authentic proofs of the justice of our conduct towards our brethren the
Six Nations, and others clairaing and possessing the country, — testimonies
which cannot lie.'
" (Produced the deeds.)
" ' This last deed, brothers, with the map annexed, are descriptive of
the purchase made sixteen years ago at this place ; one of the boundary
lines calls for a creek by the name of Tyadoghton ; we wish our brothers
the Six Nations to explain to us clearly which you call the Tyadoghton,
as there are two creeks issuing from the Burnet's Hills, Pine and Lyco
ming. " ' Brothers, you will observe by our commission just now read to you
that our present business is to satisfy you, as was our ancient custom, for
the lands lying within the acknowledged limits of Pennsylvania, for
which you have not heretofore received any compensation.
" ' This compensation has been mutually agreed to by you and us in
conference this morning. It was also agreed that, in addition to the
goods we have now on this ground for your use, we should give our obli
gation for the amount of one thousand dollars in such goods as will best
66

PIOXEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
suit yourselves to be delivered at or near Tioga, on the Susquehanna, on
the first day of October next. It now remains for us mutually to carry
into execution our respective agreements, and that in the most solemn
and public manner, as it is our fixed determination that they shall be
inviolate for ever.
" 'Brothers, before we conclude we desire you to appoint some suit
able persons among yourselves to receive and distribute the goods with
impartiality and justice, and that you will also nominate a fit person to
attend running the boundary between you and us, when due notice shall
be given thereof. ' "(.\ Large Belt.)
" To which they replied by Captain xAaron Hill, —
" 'Brothers from Pennsylvania, — We have heard what you have
said, and are well pleased with the same. The consideration we have
fully agreed on, which we are to receive for the lands, and agreeable to
your request have appointed Captain Aaron Hill, Onequiandahonjo, and
Honeghariko, of the Mohawk tribe ; Kayenthogkke, Thaghneghtanhari,
and Teyagonendageghte, of the Seneca ; Obendirighton and Thoneeyade,
ofthe Cayuga; Sagoyahalongo and Otoghfelonegh, Ojestalale, Oneyanha,
Gaghsawweda, and Odaghfeghte, of the Oneida ; and Onefaghweughte
and Tharondawagon, of the Tuscarora, as suitable persons to receive the
goods from you.
" ' With regard to the creek called Tyadoghton, mentioned in your
deed of 1768, we have already answered you, and again repeat it, it is the
same you call Pine Creek, being the largest emptying into the west branch
of the Susquehannah.
"'Agreeable to your wish we have appointed Thaghneghtanhari to
attend your surveyor in running the line between you and us.'
" ' We do certify that the foregoing speech was this day made by Cap
tain Aaron Hill, on behalf of the Six Nations, to the Pennsylvania com
missioners. " ' Witness our hands this twenty-third day of October, Anno Domini
one thousand seven hundred and eighty- four.
(Signed) "' Sahiuel Kirkland, Missionary.
Ja-MES Dean, Interpreter.'
" The deed was then produced and publicly read, when the chiefs of
the respective nations sealed and delivered the same, saying, ' We deliver
this as our grant and deed, and give up the land therein mentioned,
according to the description thereof, to their brothers, the Pennsylva
nians, for their use forever.' After the same being witnessed, the com
missioners sealed and delivered the two obligations mentioned above,
one for the delivery of the goods and the other for securing to them the
privilege of hunting on the lands now purchased.
67

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" The council arose.
" The foregoing is a true state of the proceedings of the Indian treaty
at Fort Stanwix. " Griffith Evans, Secretary.
" October 23, 17S4."
"The six Indian Nations, to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
Deed for lands purchased October 23, 1784.
" To ALL People to whom these presents shall come. We Anigwenda-
honji and Teweghnitogon, Sachems or Chiefs of the Indian nation called
the Mohocks. Kanonghgwenya, Atyatonenghtha, and Tatahonghteayon,
Sachems or Chiefs of the Indian nation called the Oneidas. Obendarigh-
ton and Keatarondyon, Sachems or Chiefs of the Indian nation called the
Onondagoes. Oraghgwanentagon, Sachem of the Indian nation called the
Cayogaes. Tayagoneatageghti, Tehonweeaghreyagi, Thaghnaghtanhari,
Sachems or Chiefs of the Indian nation called the Senecas. And Onongh-
sawanghti and Tharondawagon, Sachems or Chiefs of the Indian nation
¦called the Tuscaroras, being raet together in a general council of the Six
Nations convened at Fort Stanwix, by the Honorable Oliver Wolcott,
Richard Butler and Arthur Lee, Esquires, commissioners of Indian affairs,
duly appointed by the honorable the Congress of the United States, for
the northern and middle districts, send Greeting. Know ye that We
the said Sachems or Chiefs, for and in consideration of the sum of five
thousand dollars, to us in hand paid, before ensealing and delivery of
these presents, by the honorable Samuel John Atlee, Esquire, and Wil
liam M'Clay, and Francis Johnson, Esquires, commissioners for and in
behalf of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the receipt whereof We
do hereby acknowledge Have granted bargained, sold, released and con
firmed, and by these presents, for us and the said Six Nations, and their
¦confederates and dependent tribes, all of whom we represent, and by
whom we are thereunto authorized and impowered. Do grant, bargain,
sell, release and confirm unto the said Commonwealth, all that part of
the said Commonwealth not yet purchased of the Indians within the
acknowledged limits of the same. Beginning on the south side of the
river Ohio, where the western boundary of the state of Pennsylvania
crosses the said river, near Shingo's old Town, at the mouth of Beaver
creek, and thence by a due north line to the end of the forty second and
beginning of the forty-third degrees of north latitude, thence by a due
east line seperating the forty second and forty third degrees of north lati
tude, to the east side of the east branch of the river Susquehanna, thence
by the bounds of the late purchase made at Fort Stanwix, the fifth day
of November, anno domini, one thousand seven hundred and sixty eight,
as foUows : ' Down the said east branch of Susquehanna, on the east side
thereof, till it comes opposite to the mouth of a creek called by the In-
68

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
dians, Awandac, and across the river, and up the said creek on the south
side thereof, and along the range of hills, called Burnett's Hills by the
English, and by the Indians, ... on the north side of them to the^
head ofa creek which runs into the west branch of Susquehannah, which
creek is by the Indians called Tyadaghton, but by the Pennsylvanians
Pine Creek, and down the said creek on the south side thereof, to the
said west branch of Susquehanna, then crossing the said river, and run
ning up the same on the south side thereof, the several courses thereof,
to the fork of the same river, which lies nearest to a place on the river
Ohio called Kittaning, and from the fork by a straight line to Kittaning
aforesaid, and then down the said river Ohio by the several courses
thereof, to where the western bounds of the said state of Pennsylvania
crosses the same river,' at the place of Beginning. Together with all
lakes, rivers, creeks, rivulets, springs, waters, soils, lands, fields, woods,
underwoods, mountains, hills, valleys, savannahs, fens, swamps, isles, in
lets, mines, minerals, quarries, rights, liberties, privileges, advantages,
hereditaments, and appurtenances whatsoever, to the said tract of land
and country belonging or in any wise appertaining, and all the right,
title, interest, claira and deraand whatsoever, of us the said sachems or
chiefs, and of the said Six Nations, and their confederates and depend
ent tribes, and every of them. To have and to hold the said tract
of land and country, with the appurtenances thereunto belonging, unto
the said comraonwealth to the only proper use and behoof of the said
commonwealth. For ever, so that we, the said sachems or chiefs, nor
any of us, nor the said Six Nations, nor their confederates and dependent
tribes, nor any of them, nor any of our or their heirs, children or de-
scendents, shall claim, demand or chalenge, any right, title, interest, or
property, of, in, or to the said tract of land or country, but from the
same shall be forever barred and excluded ; and the same tract of land
and country, shall forever hereafter be peaceably and quietly possessed
by the said commonwealth, and all persons, who shall settle thereon,
under the authority of the same, without the let, hindrance, molestation,
interruption, or denial of us the said sachems or chiefs, or the said Six
Nations, or their confederates, and dependent tribes, or any of them, or
of our or their heirs, children, or descendents. In Witness Whereof,
We the said sachems or chiefs, for ourselves and the rest of the Six Na
tions, and their confederates and dependent tribes, have hereunto set our
hands and seals. Dated at Fort Stanwix aforesaid, this twenty third day
of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and
eighty four. "Oraghgwanentagon, his X mark, L. S.
Tayagoneatageghti, his X mark, L. S.
Tehonweeaghreyagi, his X mark, L. S.
Thaghnagtanhari, his X mark, L. S.
69

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" Ononghsawanghti, his X mark, L S.
Tharondawagon, his X raark, L. S.
.¦Anigwendahonji, his X mark, L. S.
Teweghnitogon, his X mark, L. S.
Kanonghgwenya, his X mark, L. S.
Atyatonenghtha, his X mark, L. S.
Tatahonghteayon, his X mark, L. S.
Obendarighton, his X mark, L. S.
Keatarondyon, his X mark, L. S.
" Sealed and delivered in the presence of us,
' ' Oliver Wolcott, \
Arthur Lee, V United States Commissioners.
Richard Butler, j
Aaron Hill,
Samuel Kirkland, Missionary.
"James De.an, Interpreter.
Alexander Campbell, Sec. Com. U. S.
Samuel Montgomery, Ag. &-' St. K. C C.
G. Evans, Sec. Penns. Ind. Commis.
" State of Pennsylvania, S.S.
" Be it Remembered, That on the seventeenth day of February, in
the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty five, and in
the ninth year of the independence of the Lf^nited States of Araerica,
came the honourable Arthur Lee, Esquire, LL.D. one of the commis
sioners of the United States of America for holding treaties with the
Indian nations, and Griffith Evans, Esquire, Secretary to the commission
ers of the said State of Pennsylvania, for treating and purchasing, &c. of
said Indians, before the honourable Thomas McKean Esq., doctor of
Laws, chief justice of the supreme court of the said state of Pennsyl
vania, and made oath on the holy Evangelists of .Almighty God, that
they were present and did see the thirteen Indian sachems or chiefs, in the
above deed named as grantors, make the signatures or marks to their
respective names adjoining, and seal and deliver the above conveyance,
as and for their act and deed, that they severally subscribed their names
as witnesses thereof, and also seen the other seven witnesses subscribe
their names as witnesses to the same, and that the naraes Arthur Lee and
G. Evans above subscribed, are of their respective hand writing.
" In Testimony, Whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal the
day and year above said. "Thos M'Kean, L. S."
FORT McINTOSH.
After having successfully completed their mission to Fort Stanwix,
the Pennsylvania commissioners, accompanied by those representing the
70

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
United States, immediately proceeded to Fort Mcintosh, on the Ohio
River, now the site of the present town of Beaver, to treat with the
Wyandott and Delaware Indians, who claimed rights in the same lands
ceded to the State by the treaty at Fort Stanwix. The following are the
proceedings : " Fort McIntOSH, January, 1785.
" In Council, fanuary g, i'j8^.

• present.

The Hon.

George Rogers Clarke, r
Richard Butler, and Commissioners on part of tJie
Arthur Lee, Esqs., ( Umted States.
The Hon. Samuel F. Atlee arid ( Commissioners on part of the
Francis Johnston, Esqs., ( State of Penfisylvania.
Griffith Evans, Secretary.
John Montour, Interpreter.
And the chiefs, etc., of the Wyandott, Delaware, Chippewa, and
Ottawa Indian Nations.
" The commissioners on part of the United States, in consequence of
the State commissioners' letter of yesterday, addressed the Indians as
follows :
" ' Sachems and Warriors, — These gentlemen. Colonel Atlee and
Colonel Johnston, are commissioners from the State of Pennsylvania,
who have attended here by consent of Congress to transact some public
business with you on the part of said State, which they will be ready to
introduce after the present treaty is concluded.'
"Note. — It appearing to the commissioners that the Wyandott and
Delaware nations were the only claimants of the unpurchased lands in
Pennsylvania among the western Indians, consequently the present nego
tiations on part of the State are confined to them.
" /« Coj ference, fanuary 14, iy8§.

present. e and ~i Commissioners.

The Hon. Samuel F. Atlee and )

Francis Johnston, Esqs., j
Griffith Evans, Secretary.
John Montour and )
Joseph Nicholson, | ^^t^freters .
And the chiefs of the Wyandott and Delaware Indian
nations.
" The commissioners addressed them in the following words by Colonel
Atlee : 71

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" ' Brothers, — We have been long separated by the wars that have
subsisted between us, which are now terminated and over. We are very
glad to meet you here, and have great occasion to rejoice that we have
an opportunity of brightening the chain of friendship between us, and we
hope soon to take you by the hand in a happy and lasting peace, — when
established by the commissioners from Congress.
" ' We have called you together this morning with a view of explain
ing to you the nature of the business we have to negotiate with you.
" ' Brothers, we are commissioned and sent frora your old friends of
Pennsylvania to purchase of the natives all the unpurchased lands within
the territory of Pennsylvania. For this purpose we met your brothers
and uncles, the Six Nations, last October at Fort Stanwix, and, accord
ing to our ancient custom, purchased the said lands of them, and this is
the deed they gave us to confirm the same.'
" (Then produced the deed executed by the Six Nations last October,
and also a map of the country explaining the same to them. )
" 'Your brothers and uncles suggested to us that they had a right to
act for you also in disposing of this land ; but hearing you claimed, and
knowing that you hunted on, part of this ground, we conceived we had
better meet you ourselves on the subject, that we might also see each
other and remove all obstructions out of the way between us. We have,
therefore, reserved a proportion of the presents, and have brought them
with us to give you as a compensation for your right to this country.
" ' The amount of what we have reserved is two thousand dollars, con
sisting of an excellent assortment of goods of the first quality, calculated
in the best manner to supply your wants, which is a greater proportion
than what we have given to your uncles the Six Nations, and is certainly
a very generous consideration.
" ' You are now fully informed of our business with you. We earn
estly desire that you may think seriously of it, for what we are about to
do must be as permanent as the sun.. We wish you to go and consult
together upon our words, and let us know your minds as soon as con
venient. ' ' ' Brothers, we inform you that it is not our wish to settle our business
finally with you previous to the conclusion of the Continental treaty,
but only that we may fully understand each other and have our minds
prepared, that when the commissioners on the part of the United States
shall have completed their business we may have ours ready to bring
on.' "To which they replied by Captain Pipe, of the Delawares, — viz. :
" ' Brothers, — We rejoice from our hearts to see our brothers from
Pennsylvania, and are very glad that we are Ukely once more to live in
peace and friendship with you. Your speech is very pleasing to us.
You have told us the business you have raeet us here upon, and we think
72

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
we fully understand you. We will council together and let you know
our minds some time soon.
" ' Brothers, we are glad to hear of your having met with our uncles,
the Six Nations, at Fort Stanwix, and that they have given up their
lands to you, agreeable to the deed you just showed us.'
"In Conference. Present as before.
" Captain Pipe spoke in behalf of the Wyandott and Delaware nations
as follows :
" 'Brothers of Pennsylvania, — We met last night and counselled
together upon the speech you delivered to us yesterday. We thank you
for saving some of your presents for us, for in this, brothers, you were
very right, for our fathers always told us, and we tell our children, that
from Vinango to Little Beaver Creek, and out to the lake was our hunt
ing-ground. But we have now all agreed to let our brothers, the Penn
sylvanians, have it, excepting a few tracts, which we would wish to
reserve, that we might make a present of a piece of ground to you and
your young men for meeting us here at this inclement season, and that'
we may have it in our power to fulfil our promise to some of our friends,
which we made long ago.'
" To which the commissioners replied, —
" ' Brothers, — We thank you for your kind offer, but we cannot, con
sistent with our instructions from the State, agree to any reservations.
Our purchase must be for our whole claim. At the same time, we have
no doubt, but that if any individuals have just claims to any part of these
lands, that upon application being made to the government of Pennsyl
vania, they will be properly attended to.'
" The chiefs, after consulting together for some time, answered, —
" 'Well, then, we have agreed that this country shall be yours, and
that our brothers of Pennsylvania shall have it forever. '
"The commissioners then thanked them, and said, —
" ' We shall expect a deed from you for these lands, and we request you
will nominate the persons who are to sign it, that it may be ready for
execution at the proper season, when we wiU meet you in public council ;
and also that you would appoint fit persons to receive the goods from us,
when we shall be ready to deliver them out. '
" They replied that Montour, the interpreter, should wait on the com
missioners the next day and give them the names of those persons.
" Conference ended. "January l6, 1785.
" Montour, agreeable to the appointment of yesterday, attended the
commissioners, and returned the names of the following persons, who
were to sign the deed, — viz., Deungquat, or the Half King, Tauwarah,
6 73

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
or the Sweat House, and Abraham Kuhn, of the Wyandotts ; and Kee-
skanohen, or the Pipe, Peechemelind, or the Present, Wialindeoghin,
or the Council Door, Hyngapushes, or the Big Cat, Tatabaughsey, or
the Twisting Vine, and Whingohatong, or the Volunteer, of the Dela
wares. And Abraham Kuhn, Wialindeoghin, and Wingenum, to receive
the goods. "In Council, fanuary 21, 1/8^.
" PRESENT.
The Hon. George Rogers Clarke, ^ Commissioners on part of the
Richard Butler, and v u„if,j states.'
Arthur Lee, Esqs., )
Alexander Campbell, Secretary.
The Hon. Samuel F. Atlee and ") Commissioners 07i part of the
Francis Johnson, Esqs., J State of Pennsylvatiia.
Griffith E\'ans, Secretary.
Joseph Nicholson and John Montour, Interpreters.
And the deputies of the Wyandott, Delaware, Chippewa, and Ottawa
and Muncy Indian nations.
"Upon the completion of the Continental treaty, the Pennsylvania
commissioners delivered the following speech by Colonel Atlee :
"'Brothers of the Wyandott and Delaware Nations, — Listen
with attention" to what your brothers of Pennsylvania are going to say.
You have been informed by the Continental commissioners at their first
meeting that we come from the government of Pennsylvania as com
missioners duly authorized to transact public business with you, as will
appear by our commission under the seal of the State, which we will read
to you.' " (Read the comraission.)
" ' Pursuant to this commission, we met your brothers and uncles, the
Six Nations, at Fort Stanwix in October last, and after a solemn peace
was established with them by the honorable commissioners of the United
States, we, in conformity to ancient custom, purchased their right to all
the lands within the acknowledged limits of Pennsylvania not already
purchased of them, for which we gave a valuable consideration in goods
of the first quality.
" 'That this may be known to all, we here produce their deed exe
cuted to us in the most public manner, and witnessed by the honorable
commissioners of Congress, Captain Aaron Hill, a chief of the Mohawk
tribe, and several others.
"'Now, brothers, as you have been called together to this place
74

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
by the honorable the commissioners of the United States, we, by consent
of Congress, are happy to meet you, and rejoice that peace and friend
ship are once more established among us. In testimony of our sin
cerity we present you with these strings.' " (Five Strings.)
"'Brothers, — Knowing that for some time past you have hunted
upon and claimed a portion of the lands within Pennsylvania, and being
actuated by the strict principles of peace and justice towards you in the
same degree that you have seen we have manifested to your brothers and
uncles, the Six Nations, and to prevent future trouble between your
people and ours, we have determined, according to the known usage of
Pennsylvania, to give you the consideration agreed upon between us, for
this purpose we have brought with us a quantity of the best goods such
as will minister to your relief and comfort. These goods shall be de
livered out to proper persons appointed by each nation to receive them ;
and that no misunderstanding may arise in future, a map of the land we
wish to have confirmed to the Commonwealth shall be affixed to the
deed to be executed by you, that your children and ours, may hereafter
have recourse to the same.' " (A Belt.)
' ' To which they, by the Half King, chief of the Wyandotts, re
plied, —
" ' Brothers of Pennsylvania, — Give attention to what we shall say
to you. Your words have pleased us very much, and we all thank you
for your kindness towards us ; our grandfathers have always said that
your conduct towards them was just the same you discover to us now.
Pennsylvania has never deceived or wronged us out of anything, and we
all thank you not only from our lips, but also from our hearts for your
honesty. ' " (Three Strings.)
" The commissioners then produced the deed* that was prepared, and
informed them it was ready for them to execute, when the persons who
had been appointed for the purpose walked forward and sealed and de
hvered the same, in the most solemn manner, in the presence of many
witnesses, as their quit-claim and deed for the land therein described, for
the use of Pennsylvania forever.
" The council fire was raked up.
" The foregoing is a true state of the proceedings of the Indian treaty
held at Fort Mcintosh. "Griffith Evans, Secretary.
"January 23, 1785."

* The deed executed at Fort Mcintosh, excepting the consideration money men
tioned which was two thousand dollars instead of five thousand dollars, is in the same
75

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
GOODS TO BE DELIVERED TO THE INDIANS AT FORT
STANWIX.
" The Supreme Executive Council mei.
"Philadelphia, August 28, 1784, Saturday.
"present.
His Excellency John Dickinson, Esquire, President.
The Honorable Jajies Irvine, Samuel John Atlee, ¦,
John McDowell, Bernard Dougherty, l Esqrs.
and Stephen Balliott, John Boyd, )
' ' Council having considered the resolution of the General Assembly
bf the twenty fifth instant, it was
" Ordered, That the Commissioners be requested to procure immedi
ately the undermentioned articles, but if the sum of three thousand and
three hundred and seventy five pounds will not be sufficient to purchase
the whole, that then they be desired to reduce the quantity or number of
such of the articles as they shall think fit.
words, and for the same lands with the same boundaries as the deed previously signed
by the Sachems and Chiefs of the Six Nations at Fort Stanwix. It is dated at Fort
Mcintosh, the 21st day of January, 1785, and signed by the Sachems and Chiefs of the
two tribes as follows :
Wialindeoghin, or the Council Door, X his mark, L. S.
Hyngapushes, or the Big Cat, X his mark, L. S.
Tatabaughsey, or the Twisting Vine, X his mark, L. S.
Whingohatong, or the Volunteer, X his mark, L. S.
Deungquat, or the Half King, X his mark, L. S.
Tauwarah, or the Sweat House, X his mark, L. S.
Abrah.-\.m Kuhn, X his mark, L. S.
Keeskanohen, or the Pipe, X his mark, L. S.
Peechemelind, or the Present, X his mark, L. S.
[Sealed.]
Sealed and delivered in presence of
G. R. Clark, -v
Richard Butler, I Commissioners of the United Stales,
.\RTHUR Lee, j
Jos. Harmer, Lieutenant-Colonel Com.,
.Vlexd. Lowkey,
John Boggs,
Wm, Butler,
Alex. Campbell, Secretary Commissioners United States,
W. Bradford,
Daniel Elliot,
John Montour, Interpreter,
G. Evans, Secretary Pennsyk'ania Commissioners,
Edw. Butler. 76

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

2oJ^ casks of gun powder.
I ton of bar lead.
2 groce of thimbles.
2 do jews harps.
50 dozen white ruffled shirts.
5 do laced hats.
50 do knives.
10 do hatchets.
10 do pipe tomahawks.
12 do looking glasses.
2 M awl blades.
5 M needles.
I C. Vermillion.
50 rifles.
60 M wampum — 30 white, 30 black.
12 dozen silver arm bands.
12 do wrist bands.
20 dozen pipes, Moravian.
20 do callicoe shirts.
I hogshead of tobacco.
500 lb of brass kettles in nests,
coraplete.
IOO lb of small white beads.
2 gross of morrice bells.
5 dozen of pieces of yellow, green
and purple ribbon.

5 pieces of embossed flannel.
60 dozen broaches.
2 do gorgets.
12 do nosebobs.
12 do hair pipes.
12 do rings.
6 pieces scarlet broad cloth.
IOO lb of brass wire.
20 dozen silk handkerchiefs.
2 do pieces of callicoe.
4 dozen of saddles and bridles.
1,000 flints, or i keg.
I gross sheers.
I do scissars.
I do horn combs.
I do ivory do.
50 lb of thread sorted.
1 2 gross scarlet and star gartering.
12 do green and yellow bedlace.
3 hogsheads of rum.
30 p's best London stroud.
30 do French match coats.
10 do blankets.
20 do half thicks, purple and white
nap.

" Ordered, That a warrant be issued to the Treasurer for the sum of
three thousand three hundred and seventy five pounds specie, in favor of
the Commissioners appointed to negotiate a purchase from the Indians
claiming the unpurchased territory within the limits of this State, to be
applied to the purchase of the article above enumerated, in pursuance of
the resolution of the General Assembly of the twenty fifth inst." — Colo
nial Records, vol. xiv. p. 186.

COMMISSIONERS ON INDIAN TREATY, 1785.
" Sir, — In pursuance of the Order of Council of 30th July last, I have
made out a List of the Goods necessary to be furnished the Indians in
October next w" I do rayself the honor to inclose.
" I am your Excellency's
"most Obedient Serv't,
" F. Johnston.
" Directed, "To His ExceUency John Dickinson, Esqr.
77

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" A list of the goods to be furnished the six nations of Indians on the
First day of October next.
8 pieces Blue Stroud. 2 Dozen Ivory ditto.
20 pairs 3 point Match Coats. 25 lb Vermillion.
60 pairs 2i^ point ditto. 50 Galloqs Barbadoes rum.
25 yards Scarlet Flannel. 56 lb Gun powder.
I Piece Scarlet Broad Cloth. 4°° lb Barr Lead.
IOO White Ruffled Shirts. 300 lb Tobacco.
50 Callico ditto. i Kegg pipes.
18 French Castors. 3 Pieces Gartering.
6 Dozen coarse Combs.

Aug't 10, 1785.'

— Pennsylvania Archives, vol. x. p. 496.

CHAPTER V.

titles and surveys — pioneer surveys and surveyors — district lines
RUN in NORTHUMBERLAND, NOW JEFFERSON, COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
"In 1670 Admiral Sir William Penn, an officer in the EngUsh navy,
died. The government owed this officer sixteen hundred pounds, and
William Penn, Jr., fell heir to this claim. King Charles II. liquidated
this debt by granting to William Penn, Jr., 'a tract of land in Amer
ica, lying north of Maryland and west of the Deleware River, extend
ing as far west as plantable.' King Charles signed this deed March 4,
1 66 1. William Penn, Jr., was then proprietor, with power to form a
government. Penn named the grant Pennsylvania, in honor of his father.
In 1682 Penn published his form of government and laws. After making
several treaties and visiting the Indians in the interior as far as Cones-
toga, Penn sailed for England, June 12, 1684, and remained away till
December 1, 1699. On his return he labored to introduce reforms in the
provincial government, but failed. He negotiated a new treaty of peace
with the Susquehanna Indians and also with the Five Nations. In the
spring of 1701 he made a second journey into the interior, going as far
as the Susquehanna and Swatara. Business complications having arisen,
Penn sailed for England in the fall, and arrived there the middle of De
cember, 1701. Owing to straitened financial circumstances, he entered
into an agreement with Queen Anne, in 1712, to cede to her the prov
ince of Pennsylvania and the Lower Counties for the sum of twelve thou
sand pounds sterling ; but before the legal papers were completed he
was stricken with paralysis, and died July 30, 17 18, aged seventy-four.
While Penn accomplished much, he also suffered much. He was perse-
7S

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
cuted for his religion, imprisoned for debt, and tried for treason. After
his death it was found that, owing to the complication of his affairs and
the peculiar construction of his will, a suit in chancery to establish his
legal heirship was necessary. Several years elapsed before the question
was decided, when the Proprietaryship of the province descended to
John, Richard, and Thomas Penn. John died in 1746 and Richard in
1771, when John, Richard's son, and Thomas became sole Proprietaries.
But the Revolution and the Declaration of Independence soon caused a
radical change in the provincial government." — Meginnis.
During the Revolution the Penn family were Tories, adherents of
England, and on the 27th of November, 1779, ^^ Legislature of Penn
sylvania confiscated all their property except certain manors, etc., of
which surveys and returns had been made prior to the 4th of July, 1776.
The Penns were granted as a compensation for these confiscations one
hundred and thirty thousand pounds sterling. This ended the rule of
the Penns in America. The treaty of peace between England and what
is now the United States was ratified by Congress in January, 1784. All
foreign domination or rule in the colonies then ceased, but internal
troubles with the savages still continued in this State in the north and
northwest. " The Indians were jealous of their rights, and restive under any real
or fancied encroachments that might be made upon them, and it re
quired the exercise of great care, caution, and prudence on the part of
the authorities to avert trouble on the northern and western boundaries
of the State ; and this they did not always succeed in doing, as many
adventurous spirits, pushing far out into the unsettled wilderness, discov
ered to their sorrow. Fortunately, however, by the treaty of October,
1784, with the Six Nations at Fort Stanwix, and that of January, 1785,
with the Wyandots and Delawares at Fort Mcintosh, the Indian title
was extinguished to all the remaining territory within the then acknowl
edged limits of the State which had been previously purchased. The
boundaries of that great northwestern section of the State covered by
this purchase may be briefly described as follows : Beginning on the east
branch of the Susquehanna River where it crosses the northern boundary
of the State in Bradford County ; thence down the east branch to the
mouth of Towanda Creek ; thence up Towanda Creek to its head
waters ; thence by a straight line west to the headwaters of Pine Creek ;
thence down Pine Creek to the west branch of the Susquehanna ; thence
up the west branch to Cherry Tree in Clearfield County ; thence by a
straight line to Kittanning, on the Allegheny River, in Armstrong County ;
thence down the Allegheny River to the Ohio River ; thence down the
Ohio River to where it crosses the western boundary to Lake Erie ; and
thence east along the northern boundary of the State to the beginning.
And within this territory at the present day we find the counties of
79

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Tioga, Potter, McKean, Warren, Crawford, Venango, Forest, Clarion,
Elk, Jefferson, Cameron, Butler, Lawrence, and Mercer, and parts of the
counties of Bradford, Clinton, Clearfield, Indiana, Armstrong, Allegheny,
Beaver, and Erie." — Annual Report of Internal Affairs.
The Indians received for this territory ten thousand dollars in cash.
Our wilderness was then in Northumberland County. "All land within
the late (1784) purchase from the Indians, not heretofore assigned to any
other particular county, shall be taken and deemed to be within the
limits of Northumberland County and Westmoreland County. And that
from Kittanning up the Allegheny to the mouth of Conewango Creek,
and from thence up said creek to the northern line of this State, shall be
the line between Northumberland County." — Smith's Laws, vol. ii.
P- 325- "Under the Proprietary government which ended 27th November,
1779, land was disposed to whom, on what terms, in such quantities, and
such locations as the proprietor or his agents saw proper. The unoccu
pied lands were never put in the market, nor their sale regulated by law.
Every effort made by the Assembly to secure uniformity in the sale and
price of land was resisted by the proprietor as an infringement upon his
manorial rights. After the Coraraonwealth became vested with the pro
prietary interests, a law was passed April 9, 1781, for establishing the
land-office, for the purpose of enabling those persons to whom grants
had been made to perfect their titles. July i, 17S4, an act was passed
opening the land-office for the sale of vacant lands in the purchase of
1768. The price was fixed at f\o per 100 acres, or 333^ cents per acre,
in addition to the warrant survey and patent fees, and the quantity in
each warrant limited to 400 acres and the 6 per cent, allowance. The
purchase of 1784 having been completed and confirmed by the treaty at
Fort Mcintosh, January, 1785, the land-office was opened for the sale of
lands in the new purchase December 21, 1785, at which the price was
fixed at ;^3o per 100 acres, and warrants were allowed to contain 1000
acres, with 10 per cent, overplus, besides the usual allowance." This
is the reason why so raany old warrants contained 1100 acres, with 6
per cent., or 60 more acres. "Nevertheless, the price of the land was
placed so high that but few speculators ventured to invest in the hilly
and heavily timbered lands of Northern Pennsylvania. Under the pressure
of certain land-jobbers, who were holding important offices (?) in the
Commonwealth, like John Nicholson, Robert Morris, and WiUiam Bing
ham, an act was passed April 3, 1792, in which the price of vacant lands
was reduced to 50 shillings per 100 acres, or 6^3 cents per acre. Specu
lation ran wild. Applications for warrants poured into the office by tens
of thousands. The law, while it appeared to favor persons of small means,
and prevent the wealthy from acquiring large portions ofthe public domain,
was so drawn that by means of fictitious applications and poll deeds —
So

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
that is, mere assignments of the application without the formalities of ac
knowledgment — any party could possess himself of an unlimited quan
tity of the unappropriated lands. Within a year or two nearly all the
lands in the county (then Northumberland) had been applied for, Nich
olson, Morris, Bingham, James D. Le Roy, Henry Drinker, John
Vaughan, Pickering, and Hodgdon being the principal holders." —
Craft's History of Bradford County, pp. 40, 41.
" When, in the pursuance of this policy which had been adopted by
William Penn, by treaties with and by purchases of the Indians, they
finally became divested of their original title to all the lands in Pennsyl
vania; then, under what was called 'The Late Purchase,' which covered
all of this section of country and included it in Northumberland County,
in the year 1785 certain warrants, called ' Lottery Warrants,' were issued
by governmental authority to persons who would pay twenty pounds per
hundred acres, authorizing them to enter upon the lands and make selec
tions where they pleased. This was done to some extent, and on those
warrants surveys were made ; but, as there was no road by which emi
grants could come into. the country, no settlements could be made in any
place except where the sturdy pioneer could push his canoe, ignoring, or
overcoming all the privations and difficulties incident to a pioneer life in
such a wilderness."
With a desire to give a complete history of the pioneer surveys of the
county, I addressed a letter to Hon. I. B. Brown, Deputy Secretary of
Internal Affairs, asking for all the information known by the State. I
herewith submit his reply, — viz. : " Department of Internal Affairs,
" Harrisburg, Pa., March 7, 1895.
" Mr. W. j. McKnight, Brookville, Pa.
" Dear Sir, — In answer to your letter of the 5th instant, we beg to
say that prior to the opening of the land office in May, 1785, for the sale
of lands within the purchase of 1784, that part of the purchase lying east
ofthe Allegheny River and Conewango Creek was divided into eighteen
districts, and a deputy surveyor appointed for each. These districts were
numbered consecutively, beginning with No. i, on the Allegheny River,
and running eastward. The southern line of district No. i began on the
old purchase line of 1768 at Kittanning, and following that line in suc
cessive order were districts Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, the latter terminating
' at the marked cherry-tree on the bank of the west branch of the Susque
hanna River at Canoe Place. From that point the district line between
the sixth and seventh districts, as then constituted, is supposed to be the
line that divides the present counties of Indiana and Jefferson from the
county of Clearfield as far north as Sandy Lick Creek.
"An old draft and report, found among the records of this depart-
Si

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
ment, show that Robert Galbraith, one of the early surveyors of Bedford
County, ran the purchase line of 1768 from the cherry-tree to Kittanning
for the purpose of marking it and ascertaining also the extent of the sev
eral survey districts north of the line and between the two points. This
draft and accompanying report are without date, but the survey was pre
sumably made during the summer of 1 786. A reference to the appoint
ment of Mr. Galbraith by the surveyor-general to perform this work, and
the confirmation of the appointment by the Supreme Executive Council
on the 8th of April, 1786, appear in the ' Colonial Records,' vol. xv. pp.
3 and 4. In the same volume, p. 85, is found the record of an order in
favor of Galbraith for forty-five pounds, twelve shillings, to be in full for
his services in running and marking the line and 'laying off' the dis
tricts of the deputy-surveyors. He says in his report, ' I began at the
marked cherry-tree and measured along the purchase line seven miles and
forty perches for James Potter's district, thence fifty-four perches to the
line run by James Johnston for the east line of his district ; from the post
marked for James Potter's district seven miles and forty perches to a post
marked for James Johnston's district, thence fifty-two perches to the line
run by Jaraes Hamilton for the east line of his district ; frora Johnston's
post seven miles and forty perches to the post marked for James Hamil
ton's district, thence fifty-two perches to the line run by George Wood,
Jr.; for the east line ofhis district; from the post marked for Hamilton's
district six miles and one hundred and fifty-two perches to the line run
by Thomas B. McClean for the east line of his district, thence two hun
dred and eight perches to the post marked for George Wood, Jr. 's, dis
trict, thence six miles and one hundred and fifty perches to the line run
by John Buchanan for the east line of his district, thence two hundred
and ten perches to the post marked for Thomas Brown McClean's dis
trict, thence two miles and one hundred and twenty perches to the Alle
gheny River for John Buchanan's district.'
"With the exception of the first, these districts each extended seven
miles and forty perches along the purchase line, with the division lines
between them running north to the line of New York. Undoubtedly the
fourth, fifth, and sixth districts, of which James Hamilton, James John
ston, and General James Potter were respectively the deputy-surveyors,
must have embraced, if not all, at least much the larger part of the terri
tory that subsequently became the county of Jefferson, while the earliest
surveys were made within that territory during the summer of 1785 by
the surveyors named. It is possible, however, that part of the third dis
trict, of which George Wood, Jr., was the deputy -surveyor, may have
been within these limits, and if so, surveys were no doubt also made
by him. These first surveys were principally made and returned on
the first warrants granted within the purchase, commonly known as the
lottery warrants, and many of them in the name of Timothy Pickering
82

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
and Company were located on lands that are now within Jefferson
County. " General James Potter died in the year 1789, and was succeeded by
his son, James Potter, who was appointed in 1 790. One of the reasons
given for the appointment of James Potter, second, was that he had filled
the position of an assistant to his father, and had done so much of the
actual work in the field, and was therefore so thoroughly conversant with
the lines of surveys already run, that he would avoid the interferences
another person might fall into, thus preventing future trouble arising from
conflicting locations.. It does not appear, however, that the second James
Potter ever did any work in the district, as the deputies' lists of surveys
on file in the land-office show no returns frora him.
"Soon after the year 1790 a change was made by the surveyor-gen
eral in the arrangement of the districts within the purchase of 1784, by
which the number was reduced to six, counting west from the mouth of
Lycoming Creek to the Allegheny River. In this arrangement the two
western districts, Nos. 5 and 6, were assigned respectively to William P.
Brady and Enion Williams. Williams was succeeded in 1794 by John
Broadhead. Brady's district is described as ' beginning at a cherry-tree of
late General Potter's district, and from thence extending by district No.
4 due north to the northern boundary of Pennsylvania, thence by the
same west fourteen miles, thence south to the line of purchase of 1768,
late the southern boundary of James Johnston's and General Potter's dis
tricts, and by the same to the place of beginning.'
" The sixth district comprised all the territory west of Brady's dis
trict to the Allegheny River and Conewango Creek. All of the present
county of Jefferson must have been within these districts. The surveys
made and returned by Brady, Williams, and Broadhead, for the Holland
Company, John Nicholson, Robert Morris, and other large purchasers of
lands, are so numerous as to practically cover all the lands left unsurveyed
by their predecessors within that particular section of the State. A small
part of the county, in the vicinity of Brockwayville, was in Richard
Shearer's district. No. 7, east of General Potter's line, and a number of
lottery warrants was surveyed by Shearer in that locality in 1785. That
part of the county subsequently fell within district No. 4, of which James
Hunter was the surveyor, who also returned a few surveys.
" In what manner these pioneer surveyors in the wilderness were
equipped, and what the outfit for their arduous and difficult labors may
have been, we do not know and have no means of ascertaining. Doubt
less they had many severe trials and endured many hardships in preparing
the way for future settlements and advancing civilization, for which they
receive little credit or remembrance at this day. Possibly their only
equipment was the ordinary surveyor's compass and the old link chain of
those days, but they nevertheless accomplished much work that remains
83

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
valuable down to the present time. For their labor they were paid by
fees fixed by law. The law of that day also provided a per diem wage
of three shiUings for chain-carriers, to be paid by the purchaser of the
land. " Very truly yours, "Isaac B. Brown,
" Secretary."
You will see from the above that in 1785, Richard Shearer, with his
chain-carriers and his axe-men, traversed what is now Brockwayville and
the forest east of it ; that James Potter, with his chain- carriers and axe
men, traversed the forests near Temples, now Warsaw ; that James John
ston, with his chain-carriers and axe-men, traversed the forest where
Brookville now is, and that Jaraes Hamilton, with his chain-carriers and
axe men, traversed the forest near or where Corsica now is. Each of these
lines ran directly north to the New York line. Where these lines ran was
then all in Northumberland County. In 1794, James Hunter, with his
chain-carriers and axe-men, was in what is now Brockwayville region,
William P. Brady, with his chain- carriers and axe-men, was in what is
now the Temple region, and Enion Williams and John Broadhead, with
chain-carriers and axe-men, were between where Brookville now is and
the Clarion region. This wilderness was then in Pine Creek township,
Northumberland County.
Elijah M. Graham was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Oc
tober 19, 1772. His father's name was John Graham, who served five
years in the Continental army.
Elijah M. Graham was one of the original explorers of what is now Jef
ferson County, Pennsylvania. He explored this region in 1794 under
Deputy- Surveyor John Broadhead. In that year Broadhead surveyed the
district line which now forms the western boundary of Brookville borough.
Broadhead and his party of nine men were in this wilderness surveying
from May until the middle of October, 1794. The party consisted of
Departraent- Surveyor Broadhead, two chain-carriers (Elijah M. Graham
and Elisha Grahara, brothers), two axe-raen (unknown), one cook (un
known), one driver with two horses (unknown), and two other men (un
known), one of whora was a hunter. These parties crossed streams on log
floats, encamped in log huts, and carried their outfit and their provisions
on pack-horses from what is now Franklin, Pennsylvania, and from some
point then in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Graham was six
months on this survey without seeing a paleface other than those that
comprised the party.
In 1797, Elijah M. Graham located on French Creek, now Crawford
County, Pennsylvania, where he resided with his father until 1804, when
he returned to this wilderness and worked on Joseph Barnett's mill for three
84

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
years, when and where he married Miss Sarah Ann Barnett and located
on the State Road near and afterwards in what is now Eldred township.
He was the first court crier, and served in various township offices.
In 1804 there were but seven or eight families here, — viz., the Bar
netts, Longs, Joneses, Vasbinders, and Dixons, and one colored family.
Mr. Graham reared a family of ten children, only three or four of
whom, including J. B., are now Uving. Elijah M. Graham died in
1854, aged eighty- two years.
John Graham, Elijah M. Graham's father, moved to Jefferson County
from Crawford County about 181 2, locating about three miles northeast
of Brookville, where he died in 1813, and this Revolutionary soldier was
buried in the first graveyard, now in East Brookville, the land owned
and occupied by W. C. Evans.
"By an act ofthe Legislature, passed April i, 1794, the sale of these
lands was authorized. The second section of this \aw provides that all
lands west of the Allegheny Mountains shall not be more than three
pounds ten shillings for every one hundred acres.
" Section four provides that the quantity of land granted to one per
son shall not exceed four hundred acres. Section six provides for the
survey and laying out of these lands by the surveyor-general or his depu
ties into tracts of not more than five hundred acres and not less than two
hundred acres, to be sold at public auction at such times as the ' Supreme
Executive Council may direct. '
"When all claims had been paid, 'in specie or money of the State,'
for patenting, surveying, etc., a title was granted to the purchaser. In
case he was not ready or able to make full payment at the time of pur
chase, by paying all the fees appertaining thereto, he was allowed two
years to complete the payment by paying lawful interest, and when the
last payment was made a completed title was given.
"By the act of April 8, 1785, the lands were sold by lottery, in por
tions not to exceed one thousand acres to each applicant. Tickets, com
mencing with number one, were put in a wheel, and the warrants, which
were called ' Lottery Warrants, ' issued on the said applications, were sev
eraUy numbered according to the decision of the said lottery, and bore
date from the day on which the drawing was finished.
"Section seven of this act allowed persons holding these warrants to
locate them upon any piece or portion of unappropriated lands. The
land upon each warrant to be embraced in one tract, if possible.
"On the 3d of April, 1792, the Legislature passed an act for the sale
of these lands, which, in some respects, differed from the laws of 1784
and 1785. It offers land only to such persons as shall settle on them,
and designates the kind and duration of settlement.
"By section two of this act all lands lying north and west of the
-Ohio and Allegheny Rivers and Conewango Creek, except such portions
85

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
as had been or should be appropriated to public or charitable uses, were
offered to such as would ' cultivate, improve, and settle upon them, or
cause it to be done, for the price of seven pounds ten shillings for every
hundred acres, with an allowance of six per centum for roads and high
ways, to be located, surveyed, and secured to such purchasers, in the
manner hereinafter mentioned.'
'• Section three provided for the surveying and granting of warrants
by the surveyor-general for any quantity of land within the said limits,
to not exceed four hundred acres, to any person who settled upon and
improved said land.
"The act provided for the surveying and division of these lands.
The warrants were, if possible, to contain all in one entire tract, and
the form of the tract was to be as near, as circumstances would admit,
to an oblong, whose length should not be greater than twice the breadth
thereof. No warrants were to be issued in pursuance of this act until the
purchase-money should have been paid to the receiver-general of the
land-office. "The surveyor-general was obliged to raake clear and fair entries of
all warrants in a book to be provided for the purpose, and any apphcant
should be furnished with a certified copy of any warrant upon the pay
ment of one-quarter of a dollar.
" In this law the rights of the citizen were so well fenced about and
so equitably defined that risk and hazard came only at his own. But
controversies having arisen concerning this law between the judges of
the State courts and those of the United States, which the Legislature,
for a long time, tried in vain to settle, impeded for a time the settlement
of the district. These controversies were not settled until 1805, by a deci
sion of Chief Justice Marshall, of the Supreme Court of the United States.
" At the close of the Revolutionary War several wealthy Hollanders, —
Wilhelra Willink, Jan Linklaen, and others, — to whom the United States
was indebted for money loaned in carrying on the war, preferring to in
vest the money in this country, purchased of Robert Morris, the great
financier of the country at that time, an immense tract of land in the
State of New York, and at the same time took up by warrant (under the
law above cited) large tracts in the State of Pennsylvania, east of the
Allegheny River. Judge Yeates, on one occasion, said, ' The HoUand
Land Company has paid to the State the consideration money of eleven
hundred and sixty-two warrants and the surveying fees on one thousand
and forty eight tracts of land (generally four hundred acres each), besides
making very considerable expenditures by their exertions, honorable to
themselves and useful to the community, in order to effect settlements.
Computing the sums advanced, the lost tracts, by prior improvements
and interferences, and the quantity of one hundred acres granted to each
individual for making an actual settlement on their lands, it is said that,
86

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
averaging the whole, between two hundred and thirty and two hundred
and forty dollars have been expended by the company on each tract.'
"An act was passed by the Legislature, March 31, 1823, authorizing
Wilhelra Willink, and others of Holland to ' sell and convey any lands
belonging to them in the Commonwealth.'
" Large tracts of lands in Jefferson County were owned by the Hol
land Company, and Charles C. GaskiU, of Punxsutawney, was the agent
of the company for their sale. He was appointed by John J. Vander-
cainp, the general agent. He finally sold out to Alexander Caldwell, and
Lee, and Gilpin. Mr. GaskiU conveyed much of these lands to actual
settlers in this county. Mr. GaskiU was very lenient to settlers. A day
was generally set for those parties who had payments to make to meet the
owners or their agents, from whom they had purchased lands, at a certain
place ; but money was scarce, and it was hard for the early settlers to
meet their obligations, small as was the price paid in those days. In
order to stir his delinquent debtors up to a sense of their indebtedness
Mr. GaskiU inserted the following notice in a paper published at Kit
tanning :
"'Notice. — Having been very indulgent towards those persons in
debted for "Holland land" in Indiana, Jefferson, and Armstrong
Counties for some time past, I am now under the necessity of informing
them that it will be necessary for them to exert themselves and make as
considerable payments, and as soon as possible, on their respective
bonds, etc. " ' Charles C. Gaskill.
"' Punxsutawney, November 20, 1819.' "
— Kate Scott's History of fefferson County.
"Legally, there never was any such thing as the Holland Land Com
pany, or the Holland Company, as they were usually called.
" The company, consisting of Wilhelm Willink and eleven associates,
merchants and capitalists of the city of Amsterdam, placed funds in the
hands of friends who were citizens of America to purchase several tracts
of land in the United States, which, being aliens, the Hollanders could
not hold in their names at that time; and in pursuance of the trust
created, there were purchased, both in New York and Pennsylvania,
immense tracts of land, aU managed by the same general agent at
Philadelphia. "The names of the several persons interested in these purchases, and
who composed the Holland Land Company, so called, were as follows :
Wilhelm Willink, Nicholas Van Staphorst, Pieter Van Eeghen, Hendrick
VoUenhoven, and Ruter Jan Schimmelpenninck. Two years later the
five proprietors transferred a tract of about one million acres, so that the
87

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
title vested in the original five, and also in Wilhelm Willink, Jr., Jan
Willink, Jr., Jan Gabriel Van Staphorst, Roelif Van Staphorst, Jr.,
Cornelius VoUenhoven, and Hendrick Seye."
Charles C. Gaskill came to Punxsutawney about 1820 from Philadel
phia, Pennsylvania. He resided there until 1849, during which time he
visited regularly the courts of this and adjoining counties, making sales
and receiving payments for land. In this year he disposed of all the
Holland land to Reynolds, Smith, Gilpin & Co., when he returned to
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. jMr. Gaskill was a kind, courteous Quaker
gentleman. He died at Cooper's Point, New Jersey, in 1872.

CHAPTER VL

pioneer animals  beaver, BUFFALO, ELK, P.ANTHERS, WOLVES, WILD
CATS, BEARS, AND OTHER ANIMALS  PENS AND TRAPS — BIRDS  WILD
BEES.
The mountainous character of this county and the dense forests that
covered almost its whole area made the region a favorite haunt of wild
beasts. "Many of them have disappeared, and it is difficult to believe
that animals now extinct on the continent at large were once numerous
within the boundaries of this county."
The beaver, the buffalo, the elk, and the deer were probably the most
numerous of the animals. "Beaver will not live near man, and at an

early period after the settlement ofthis State these animals withdrew into
the secluded regions and ultimately entirely disappeared." The last of
them known in this State made their homes in the great " Flag Swamp,"
or Beaver Meadow, of what was then Jefferson County. This swamp was
88

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
i Jenks township, and is now situated in Jenks township. Forest County.
'.I'he beavers were still in this swamp in the thirties. Late in the thirties
a trapper named George W. Pelton would occasionally bring a " beaver
pelt" from this swamp on Salmon Creek to Brookville and "barter" it
for merchandise. Centuries ago herds of wild buffaloes fed in our valleys
and on our hills. Yes, more, the " buffalo, or American bison, roamed
in great droves over the meadows and uplands from the Susquehanna to
Lake Erie." HOW THE BEAVER BUILT HIS DAM.
If the place chosen was stagnant water or a swamp, he at once com
menced building on the bank with low entrances from the water, but if
the stream was a running one, a large company of beavers would co-op
erate in order to keep the water at its level. Then they would go up the
stream, gnaw down trees from two feet in diameter down, trim them, float
them down to the "site," lay them crosswise, and fill in with mud and
stone, which they carried between their forepaws and chin. When the
water was high enough in a dam to prevent freezing to the bottom of it
in winter, they separated into families and built their houses against the
bank or dam. The entrance to the house was beneath the water, and
the roof of the house was well covered with mud to protect against
wolves. Beavers laid up food for winter by sinking bark and logs in the
dam near their house, and in summer fed on grass, roots, etc. Every
stream in the county, big or little, had beaver meadows, but they were
mostly located on the smaller streams.
The American elk was widely distributed in this great forest in 1794.
The habitat of this noble game was the forest extending across the north
ern part of the State. These animals were quite numerous in Jefferson
County in. the thirties.
In 1834, Mike, William, and John Long and Andrew Vasbinder cap
tured a full-grown, live elk. Their dogs chased the animal onto a
high rock, and while there the hunters lassoed it. The elk only lived
three weeks in captivity. The last elk in the State was killed in our
forests. A noted hunter thus describes a battle between wolves and a
drove of elk : "I heard a rush of feet from the opposite direction, and
the next moment a band of elks swept into sight. Magnificent fellows
they were, eight males and three does, with a couple of calves. They
had evidently been stampeded by something, and swept past me without
seeing me, but stopped short on catching sight of the wolves. The does
turned back and started to gallop away in the direction from which they
came, but one of the bucks gave a cry, and they stopped short and hud
dled together with the fawns between them, while the bucks surrounded
them. Each buck lowered his horns and awaited the attack. The
wolves, seeing the cordon of bristling bone, paused, disconcerted for a
moment ; then the foremost, a gaunt old wolf, gave a howl and threw

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
himself upon the lowered antlers. He was flung fully ten feet with a
broken back, but his fate did not deter the others. They threw them
selves upon the elks only to be pierced by the prongs. It was not until
fully twenty had in this way been maimed and killed that they seemed
to realize the hopelessness of the thing."
The largest carnivorous beast was the panther. After the advent of
white men into this wilderness panthers were not common. In the early
days, however, there were enough of them in the forests to keep the set
tler or the hunter ever on his guard. They haunted the wildest glens and
made their presence known by occasional raids on the flocks and herds.
It is probable that here in our northwestern counties there are still a few
of these savage beasts.
The puma, popularly called by our pioneers panther, was and is a
large animal with a cat head. The average length of a panther from
nose to tip of tail is about six to twelve feet, the tail being over two feet
long, and the tip of which is black. The color of the puma is tawny, dun.

^ ///,^^^~

Panther.

or reddish along the back and side, and sometimes grayish-white under
neath or over the abdomen and chest, with a little black patch behind
each ear. The panther is a powerful animal, as well as dangerous, but
when captured as a cub can be easily domesticated. These animals are
occasionally to be found in this wilderness. The pioneers shot them
and captured many in panther- and bear-traps. The pelts sold for from
one to two dollars.
The Longs, Vasbinders, and other noted hunters in our county kiUed
many a panther. A law was enacted in 1806 giving a bounty of eight
dollars for the "head" of each grown wolf or panther killed, and the
" pelts" bringing a good price for fur, stimulated these hunters greatly to
do their best in trapping, hunting, and watching the dens of these dan-
90

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
gerous animals. The bounty on the head of a wolf pup was three dollars.
The bounty on the head of a panther whelp was four dollars. The
county commissioners would cut the ears off these heads and give an
order on the county treasurer for the bounty money. A panther's pelt
sold for about four dollars. On one occasion a son of Bill Long, Jack
son by name, boldly entered a panther's den and shot the animal by the
light of his glowing eyes. Jackson Long's history would fill this volume.
In 1833, Jacob and Peter Vasbinder found a panther's den on Boone's
Mountain. They killed one, the dogs killed two, and these hunters
caught a cub, which they kept a year and then sold it to a showman. In
1819 the Legislature enacted a law giving twelve dollars for a full-grown
panther's head and five dollars for the head of a cub.
"One hundred years ago wolves were common in Northern and
Western Pennsylvania. In the middle of the last century large packs of

Wolf.
them roamed over a great portion of the State. To the farmer they were
an unmitigated nuisance, preying on his sheep, and even waylaying be
lated travellers in the forest. After the State was pretty well settled
these beasts disappeared very suddenly. Many people have wondered as
to the cause of their quick extinction. Rev. Joseph Doddridge in his
' Notes' ascribes it to hydrophobia, and he relates several instances where
settlers who were bitten by wolves perished miserably from that terrible
disease." I have listened in my bed to the dismal howl of the wolf, and for the
benefit of those who never heard a wolf's musical soiree I will state here
that one wolf leads off in a long tenor, and then the whole pack joins in
the chorus.
Wolves were so numerous that, in the memory of persons still living
in Brookville, it was unsafe or dangerous to permit a girl of ten or twelve
years to go a mile in the country unaccompanied. In those days the
Longs have shot as many as five and six without moving in their tracks,
91

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
and with a single-barrelled, muzzle-loading rifle, too. The sure aim
and steady and courageous hearts of noted hunters made it barely possi
ble for the early settlers to live in these woods, and even then they had to
exercise "eternal vigilance." In 1835, Bill Long, John and Jack Kahle
captured eight wolves in a "den" near the present town of Sigel. Wolf-
pelts sold for three dollars. Wild-cats were numerous ; occasionally a cat
is killed in the county yet, even within the borough limits.
One of the modes of Mike Long and other pioneer hunters on the
Clarion River was to ride a horse with a cow-bell on through the woods
over the deer-paths. The deer were used to cow-bells and would aUow
the horse to come in fuU view. When the deer were looking at the horse,
the hunter usually shot one or two.

Buffalo.

Every pioneer had one or more cow-bells ; they were made of copper
and iron. They were not cast, but were cut, hammered, and riveted
into shape, and were of different sizes.
The black bear was always common in Pennsylvania, and especially
was this so in our wild portion of the State. The early settlers in our
county killed every year in the aggregate hundreds of these bears. Bear
skins were worth frora three to five dollars a-piece. Reuben Hickox, of
Perry township, as late as 1822., killed over fifty bears in three months.
Captain Hunt, a Muncy Indian, living in what is now Brookville, killed
sixty-eight in one winter. In 1831, Mrs. McGhee, living in what is now
92

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Washington township, heard her pigs squeaUng, and exclaimed, "The
bears are at the hogs !" A hired man, Phillip McCafferty, and herself
each picked up an axe and drove the bears away. One pig had been
killed. Every fall and winter bears are still killed in our forests.
Peter Vasbinder when a boy shot a big bear through the window of
his father's house, and this, too, by moonlight. This bear had a scap of
bees in his arms, and was walking away with thera. The flesh of the
bear was prized by the pioneer. He was fond of bear meat. Bears
weighing four or five hundred pounds rendered a large amount of oil,
which the pioneer housewife used in cooking.
Trapping and pens were resorted to by the pioneer hunters to catch
the panther, the bear, the wolf, and other game.
The bear-pen was built in a triangular shape of heavy logs. It was
in shape and build to work just like a wooden box rabbit-trap. The
bear steel-trap weighed about twenty-five pounds. It had double springs
and spikes sharpened in the jaws. A chain was also attached. This
was used as a panther-trap, too. " The bear was always hard to trap.
The cautious brute would never put his paw into visible danger, even
when allured by the most tempting bait. If the animal was caught, it
had to be accomplished by means of the most cunning stratagem. One
successful method of catching this cautious beast was to conceal a strong
trap in the ground covered with leaves or earth, and suspend a quarter of
a sheep or deer from a tree above the hidden steel. The bait being just
beyond the reach of the bear, would cause the animal to stand on his
hind feet and try to get the meat. While thus rampant, the unsuspecting
brute would sometimes step into the trap and throw the spring. The
trap was not fastened to a stake or tree, but attached to a long chain,
furnished with two or three grab-hooks, which would catch to brush and
logs, and thus prevent the game from getting away."
An old settler informs me that in the fall of the year bears became
very fat from the daily feasts they had on beechnuts and chestnuts, and
the occasional raids they made on the old straw beehives and ripe corn
fields. In pioneer times the bear committed considerable destruction to
the corn. He would seat himself on his haunches in a corner of the field
next the woods, and then, collecting a sheaf of the cornstalks at a time,
would there and then enjoy a sumptuous repast.
Wolves usually hunt in the night, so they, too, were trapped and
penned. The wolf-pen was built of small round logs about eight or ten
feet high and narrowed at the top. Into this pen the hunter threw his
bait, and the wolf could easily jump in, but he was unable to jump out.
The wolf-trap was on the principle of the rat-trap, only larger, the jaws
being a foot or two long.
Trappers rated the fox the hardest animal to trap, the wolf next, and
the otter third. To catch a fox they often made a bed of chaff and got
93

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
hira to lie in it or fool around it, the trap being set under the chaff. Or
a trap was set at a place where several foxes seemed to stop for a cer
tain purpose. Or a fox could be caught sometimes by putting a bait a

Fox,
little way out in the water, and then putting a pad of moss between the
bait and the shore, with the trap hid under the moss. The fox, not
liking to wet his feet, would step on the moss and be caught.
THE AMERICAN ELK— DEER AND DEER COMBATS— HUNTERS, PRO
FESSIONAL AND NON-PROFESSIONAL— STALKING AND BELLING
DEER— OTHER ANIMALS, ETC.
The American elk is the largest of all the deer kind. BiU Long and
other noted hunters killed elk in these woods seven feet high. The early
hunters found their range to be from Elk Licks on Spring Creek, that
empties into the Clarion River at what is now called "Hallton," up
to and around Beech Bottom. In winter these heavy footed-animals
always " yarded" theraselveson the " Beech Bottora" for protection from
their enemies, — the light footed wolves. The elk's trot was heavy,
clumsy, and swinging, and would break through an ordinary crust on the
snow, but in the summer-time he would throw his great antlers back on
his shoulders and trot through the thickets at a Nancy Hanks gait, even
over fallen timber five feet high. One of his reasons for locating on the
Clarion River was that he was personally a great bather and enjoyed
spending his summers on the banks and the sultry days in bathing in that
river. BiU Long presented a pair of enormous elk-horns, in 1838, to
John Smith, of Brookville, who used them as a sign for the Jefferson Inn.
" The common Virginia white-tailed deer, once exceedingly numerous
94

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
in our county, is still to be found in Umited numbers. This deer when
loping or running elevates its tail, showing the long white hair of the
lower surface. If the animal is struck by a bullet the tail is almost in
variably tucked close to the hams, concealing the white.

Elk.
" The American deer, common deer, or just deer, is peculiar to Penn
sylvania. It differs from the three weU-known European species, — the red
deer, the fallow deer, and the pretty little roe. Of these three, the red
deer is the only one which can stand comparison with the American.
" The bucks have antlers peculiar in many cases, double sharp, erect
spikes or tines. The doe lacks these antlers. The antlers on the bucks
are shed and removed annually. Soon after the old antlers fall, swellings,
like tumors covered with plush, appear ; these increase in size and assume
the shape of the antlers with astonishing rapidity, until the new antlers
have attained their full size, when they present the appearance of an
ordinary pair of antlers covered with fine velvet. The covering, or
' velvet,' is filled with blood-vessels, which supply material for the new
growth. The furrows in the complete antler show the course of the cir
culation during its formation, and no sooner is the building process com
pleted than the ' velvet' begins to wither and dry up. Now the buck
realizes that he is fully armed and equipped for the fierce joustings which
must decide the possession of the does of his favorite range, and he busies
himself in testing his new weapons and in putting a proper poUsh upon
95

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
every inch of them. He bangs and rattles his horn daggers against con
venient trees and thrusts and swings them into dense, strong shrubs,
and if observed during this honing-up process he frequently seems a dis
reputable-looking beast, with long streamers of blood-stained ' velvet'
hanging to what will shortly be finely polished antlers with points as
sharp as knives. When the last rub has been given and every beam
and tine is furbished thoroughly, our bravo goes a-wooing with the best
of thera. He trails the coy does through lone covers and along favorite
runways unceasingly ; he is fiery and impetuous and full of fight, and
asks no fairer chance than to meet a rival as big and short-tempered as
himself. He meets one before long, for every grown buck is on the war
path, and when the pair fall foul of each other there is frequently a long
and desperate combat, in which one gladiator must be thoroughly whipped
or killed. All deer fight savagely, and occasionally two battling rivals
find a miserable doom by managing to get their antlers securely inter
locked, when both must perish. Two dead bucks thus locked head to
head have been found lying as they fell in an open glade, where the
scarred surface of the ground and the crushed and riven shrubs about
told an eloquent tale of a wild tourney long sustained, and of miserable
failing efforts of the v/earied conqueror to free himself of his dead foe."
— Outing. The Vasbinders, Longs, and all the early hunters found just
such skulls in these woods.
Artificial deer-licks were numerous, and made in this way : A hunter
would take a coffee-sack and put in it about half a bushel of common
salt, and then suspend the sack high on the branch of a tree. When the
rain descended the salt water would drip from the sack to the ground,
making the earth saline and damp, and to this spot the deer would come,
paw and lick the earth. The hunter usually made his blind in this way:
A piece of board had two augur-holes bored in each end, and with ropes
through these holes was fastened to a limb on a tree. On this board
the hunter seated himself to await his game. Deer usually visit licks
frora about 2 a.m. until daylight. As a rule, deer feed in the morning
and evening and ramble around all night seeking a thicket for rest and
seclusion in the daytime.
"For ways that were dark and for tricks that were vain" the old
pioneer was always in it. When real hungry for a venison steak he would
often use a tame deer as a decoy, in this way : Fawns were captured when
small, tamed, reared, and permitted to run at large with the cattle. A
life insurance was " written" on this tame deer by means of a bell or a
piece of red flannel fastened around the neck. Tame deer could be
trained to follow masters, and when taken to the woods usually fed around
and attracted to their society wild deer, which could then be shot by the
secreted hunter. At the discharge of a gun the tame deer invariably ran
up to her master. Sorae of these does were kept for five or six years.
96

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Deer generally have two fawns at a time, in May, and sometimes three.
The horns of a deer drop off about New-Year's.
Love of home is highly developed in the deer. You cannot chase him
away from it. He will circle round and round, and every evening come
to where hewas born. He lives in about eight or ten miles square of his
birthplace. In the wilds of swamps and mountains and laurel-brakes he
has his "roads," beaten paths, and "crossings," like the civilized and
cross roads of man. When hounded by dogs he invariably strikes for a
creek or river, and it is his practice to take one of these "travelled
paths," which he never leaves nor forgets, no matter how circuitous the
path may be. Certain crossings on these paths where the deer will pass
are called in sporting parlance "stands." These "stands" never change,
unless through the clearing of timber or by settlement the old landmarks
are destroyed." The deer loves for a habitation to wander over hills, through thick
swamps or open woods, and all around is silence save what noise is made
by the chirping birds and wild creatures like himself. He loves to feed
a little on the lowlands and then browse on the high ground. It takes
him a long time to make a meal, and no matter how much of good food
there may be in any particular place, he will not remain there to thor
oughly satisfy his appetite. He must roam about and eat over a great
deal of territory. When he has browsed and fed till he is content, he
loves to pose behind a clump of bushes and watch and listen. At such
times he stands with head up as stanch as a setter on point, and if one
watches him closely not a movement of his muscles will be detected. He
sweeps the country before him with his keen eyes, and his sharp ears will
be disturbed by the breaking of a twig anywhere within gunshot.
" When the day is still the deer is confident he can outwit the enemy
who tries to creep up on him with shot-gun or rifle. But when the wind
blows, he fears to trust himself in those places where he may easily be
approached by man, so he hides in the thickets and remains very quiet
until night. To kill a deer on a still day, when he is not difficult to find,
the hunter must match the deer in cunning and must possess a marked
degree of patience. The deer, conscious of his own craftiness, wanders
slowly through the woods ; but he does not go far before he stops, and
like a statue he stands, and can only be made out by the hunter with a
knowledge of his ways and a trained eye.
"The deer listens for a footfaU. Should the hunter be anywhere
within the range of his ear and step on a twig, the deer is off with a
bound. He does not stop until he has reached what he regards as a safe
locality in which to look and listen again. A man moving cautiously
behind a clump of bushes anywhere within the sweep of his vision will
start him off on the run, for he is seldom willing to take even a small
chance against man. Should the coast be clear, the deer wiU break his
97

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
pose, browse and wander about again, and finally make his bed under the
top of a fallen tree or in some little thicket.
" To capture the deer by the still-hunting method, the hunter must
know his ways and outwit him at his own game. First of all, the still-
hunter wears soft shoes, and when he puts his foot on the ground he is
careful not to set it on a twig which will snap and frighten any deer that
may be in the vicinity. The still-hunter proceeds at once to put into
practice the very system which the deer has taught him. He strikes a
pose. He listens and looks. A deer standing like a statue two hundred
yards away is not likely to be detected by an inexperienced hunter, but
the expert is not deceived. He has learned to look closely into the de
tail of the picture before hira, and he will note the difference between a
set of antlers and a bush.
" The brown sides of a deer are very indistinct when they have for a
background a clump of brown bushes. But the expert still-hunter sits
quietly on a log and peers into the distance steadily, examining all de
tails before him. Occasionally his fancy will help him to make a deer's
haunch out of a hump on a tree, or he will fancy he sees an antler mixed
with the small branches of a bush, but his trained eye finally removes all
doubt. But he is in no hurry. He is like the deer, patient, keen of
sight, and quick of hearing. He knows that if there are any deer on
their feet in his vicinity he will get his eyes on them if he takes the time,
or if he waits long enough he is likely to see them on the move. At all
events he must see the deer first. Then he must get near enough to him
to bring him down with his rifle." — Outing.
Deer will not run in a straight line. They keep their road, and it is
this habit they have of crossing hills, paths, woods, and streams, almost
invariably within a few yards of the same spot, that causes their destruc
tion by the hounding and belling methods of farmers, lumbermen, and
other non-professionals. Deer-licks were numerous all over this county.
A "deer-lick" is a place where salt exists near the surface of the earth.
The deer find these spots and work them during the night, generally in
the early morning. One of the methods of our early settlers was to sit
all night on or near a tree, " within easy range of a spring or a ' salt-lick,'
and potting the unsuspecting deer which may happen to come to the lick
in search of salt or water. This requires no more skill than an ability to
tell from which quarter the breeze is blowing and to post one's self ac
cordingly, and the power to hit a deer when the gun is fired from a dead
rest." " Belling deer" was soraewhat common. I have tried my hand at it.
The mode was this : Three men were located at proper distances apart
along a trail or runway near a crossing. The poorest marksman was
placed so as to have the first shot, and the two good ones held in reserve
for any accidental attack of "buck fever" to the persons on the first and
98

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
second stands. An experienced woodsman was then sent into a laurel
thicket, carrying with him a cow-bell ; and when this woodsman found
and started a deer, he followed it, ringing the bell. The sound of this
bell was notice to those on the " stand" of the approach of a deer. When
the animal came on the jump within shooting distance of the first stand,
the hunter there posted would bleat like a sheep ; the deer would then
come to a stand -still, when the hunter could take good aim at it ; the
others had to shoot at the animal running. The buck or doe rarely
escaped this gauntlet.
" The deer was always a coveted prize among hunters. No finer dish
than venison ever graced the table of king or peasant. No more beauti
ful trophy has ever adorned the halls of the royal sportsman or the humble
cabin of the lowly hunter on the wild frontier than the antlers of the fallen
buck. The sight of this noble animal in his native state thrills with ad
miration alike the heart of the proudest aristocrat and the rudest back
woodsman. In the days when guns were rare and ammunition very costly,
hunters set stakes for deer, where the animal had been in the habit of
jumping into or out of fields. A piece of hard timber, two or three
inches thick and about four feet long, was sharpened into a spear shape,
and then driven firmly into the ground at the place where the deer were
accustomed to leap over the log fence. The stake was slanted towards
the fence, so as to strike the animal in the breast as it leaped into or out
of the fields. Several of these deadly wooden spears were often set at the
same crossing, so as to increase the peril of the game. If the deer were
seen in the field, a scare would cause them to jump over the fence with
less caution, and thus often a buck would impale himself on one of the
fatal stakes, when but for the sight of the hunter the animal might have
escaped unhurt. Thousands of deer were killed or crippled in this way
generations ago. ' ' — Outing.
A deer-skin sold in those days for seventy-five to ninety cents. Of
the original wild animals still remaining in our county, there are the fox,
raccoon, porcupine, musk-rat, martin, otter, mink, skunk, opossum,
woodchuck, rabbit, squirrel, mole, and mouse. Fifty years ago the
woods were full of porcupines. On the defensive is the only way he
ever fights. When the enemy approaches he rolls up into a little wad,
sharp quills out, and he is not worried about how many are in the be
sieging party. One prick of his quills will satisfy any assailant. When
he sings his blood-curdling song, it is interpreted as a sign of rain.
The wholesale price of furs in 1804 were: Otter, one dollar and a
half to four dollars ; bear, one to three dollars and a half ; beaver, one
to two dollars and a half; martin, fifty cents to one dollar and a half;
red fox, one dollar to one dollar and ten cents ; mink, twenty to forty
cents ; muskrat, twenty-five to thirty cents ; raccoon, twenty to fifty
cents ; deer-pelts, seventy-five cents to one dollar.
99

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

The pioneer hunter carried his furs and pelts to the Pittsburg market
in canoes, where he sold them to what were called Indian traders from
the East. In later years traders visited the cabins of our hunters in the
county, and bartered for and bought the furs and pelts from the hunters
or from our merchants.

Porcupine.
Old William Vasbinder, a noted hunter and trapper in this wilder
ness, and pioneer in what is now Warsaw township, was quite successful
in trapping wolves one season on Hunt's Run, about the year 1819 or
1820 ; but for some unknown reason his success suddenly stopped, and
he could not catch a single wolf. He then suspected the Indians of
robbing his traps. So one morning bright and early he visited his traps
and found no wolf, but did find an Indian track. He followed the
Indian trail and lost it. On looking around he heard a voice from
above, and looking up he saw an Indian sitting in the fork of a tree, and
the Indian said, " Now, you old rascal, you go horae. Old Bill, or Indian
shoot." With the Indian's flint-lock pointed at him, Vasbinder imme
diately became quite hungry and started home for an early breakfast.
Bill Long often sold to pedlers fifty deer-pelts at a single sale. He
had hunting shanties in all sections and quarters of this wilderness.
In 1840 the late John Du Bois, founder of Du Bois City, desired to
locate some lands near Boone's Mountain. So he took Bill Long with
hira, and the two took up a residence in a shanty of Long's near the
head-waters of Rattlesnake Run, in what is now Snyder township. After
four or five days' rusticating, the provisions gave out, and Du Bois got
hungry. Long told him there was nothing to eat here and for him to
leave for Bundy's. On his way from the shanty to Bundy's Mr. Du Bois
killed five deer.
George Smith, a Washington township early hunter, who is still
living in the wilds of Elk County, has killed in this wilderness fourteen
panthers, five hundred bears, thirty elks, three thousand deer, five hun
dred catamounts, five hundred wolves, and six hundred wild-cats. He
IOO

GOLDEN EAGLE

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

has killed seven deer in a day and as many as five bears in a day. All
these animals were killed in what was originally Jefferson County. Mr.
Smith has followed hunting as a profession for sixty years.

NATURAL LIFE OF SOME OF OUR WILD AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS.

Elk . . .
Beaver .
Panther .
Catamount Buffalo .
Cow HorseBear , . .
Deer . .

Years. 5°
50 25 252020 20
20 20

Hog . .
Wolf. .
Cat .
FoxDog . .
Sheep .
Squirrel Rabbit

Years .
20
• 15
• IS
. 1510 10 7 7

(¦

BIRDS.
" If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or
on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting
upon the young, or upon
the eggs, thou shalt not
take the dam with the
young : but thou shalt in
anywise let the dam go,
and take the young to
thee ; that it may be well
with thee, and that thou
mayest prolong thy days. ' '
— Deut. xxii. 6, 7.
With the exception of
the wild turkey and raven,
which are now about ex
tinct, we have almost the
same variety of birds here
that lived and sung in this
wilderness when the Bar
netts settled on Mill Creek.
Some of these original
birds are quite scarce . We
have one new bird, — viz., -Wjid turkey.
the EngUsh sparrow.
Before enumerating our birds it might be proper to give a few sketches
of some of the principal ones. THE RAVEN.
A very handsome bird, numerous here in pioneer time, now extinct.
He belonged to the crow family. He had a wonderful intellect. He

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
could learn to talk correctly, and was a very apt scholar. He lived to
an extreme old age, probably one hundred years. He was blue-black,
like the coramon crow. He made his home in the solitude of the forest,
preferring the wUdest and most hiUy sections. In such regions, owing
to his intellect and strength, his supremacy was never questioned, unless
by the eagle. In the fall of the year he would feast on the saddles of
venison the hunters would hang on a tree, and the Longs adopted this
method to save their meat : Take a small piece of muslin, wet it, and
rub it all over with gunpowder ; sharpen a stick and pin this cloth to
tl\e venison. The raven and crow would smell this powder and keep
away from the venison.
THE "bald" EAGLE OUR NATIONAL EMBLEM.
The name "Bald" which is given to this species is not applied be
cause the head is bare, but because the feathers of the neck and head of
adults are pure white. In Jefferson County, as well as throughout the
United States, we had but two species of eagles, the bald and the golden.
The " Black," " Gray," and " Washington" eagles are but the young of
the bald eagle. Three years, it is stated, are required before this species
assumes the adult plumage. The bald eagle is still found in Pennsyl
vania at all seasons of the year. I have seen some that measured eight
feet from tip to tip of wing.
" The nest, a bulky affair, built usually on a large tree, mostly near
the water, is about four or five feet in diameter. It is made up chiefly of
large sticks, lined inside with grass, leaves, etc. The eggs, commonly two,
rarely three, are white, and they measure about three by two and a half
inches. A favorite article of food with this bird is fish, which he obtains
mainly by strategy and rapine. Occasionally, however, according to dif
ferent observers, the bald eagle will do his own fishing. Geese and brant
form their favorite food, and the address displayed in their capture is very
remarkable. The poor victim has apparently not the slightest chance for
escape. The eagle's flight, ordinarily slow and somewhat heavy, becomes,
in the excitement of pursuit, exceedingly swift and graceful, and the fugi
tive is quickly overtaken. When close upon its quarry the eagle sud
denly sweeps beneath it, and turning back downward, thrusts its powerful
talons up into its breast. A brant or duck is carried off bodily to the
nearest marsh or sand-bar. But a Canada goose is too heavy to be thus
easily disposed of; the two great birds fall together to the water beneath,
while the eagle literally tows his prize along the surface until the shore is
reached. In this way one has been known to drag a large goose for
nearly half a mile.
' ' The bald eagle occasionally devours young pigs, lambs, and fawns.
Domestic fowls, wild turkeys, hares, etc., are also destroyed by this species.
I have knowledge of at least two of these birds which have killed poultry

BALD EAG LE

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTV, PENNA.
¦(tame ducks and turkeys) along the Susquehanna River. Sometimes, like
the golden eagle, this species will attack raccoons and skunks. I once
found two or three spines of a porcupine in the body of an immature
bald eagle. The golden eagle occurs in this State as a winter visitor.
The only species with which it is sometimes compared is the bald eagle
in immature dress. The two birds, however, can be distinguished at a
glance, if you remem-feer that the golden eagle has the tarsus (shin)
¦densely feathered to the toes, while, on the other hand, the bald eagle
has a bare srfin. Vhe golden eagle breeds in high mountainous regions
and the Arctic coutitri^. *
" Golden eagles ar^<rather rare in this region, hence their depreda
tions to poultry, game^^^nd live-stock occasion comparatively little loss.
Domestic -fowls, ducks, and turkeys especially, are often devoured ; dif
ferent species of water-birds, grouse, and wild turkeys suffer chiefly among
the game birds. Fawns are sometimes attacked and killed ; occasionally
it destroys young pigs, and frequently many lambs are carried off by this
powerful.-bird. Rabbits ^re preyed upon to a considerable extent."
Of our birds, the eagle is the largest, swiftest in flight, and keenest-
eyed, the humrt»fj!g-bird the smallest, the coot the slowest, and the owl
the dullest. W
The spring birds, such as the bluebird, the robin, the sparrow, and
the martin, were edrl^^o come and late to leave.
I reproduce from Olive Thorne Miller's Lectures the following, — viz. :
' ' There are matrimonial quarrels also among birds. As a rule, the
female is queenof the nest, but once I saw a male sparrow assert his
power. He was awful4y angry, and tried to oust his spouse from a hole
in a maple-tree in which they had made tKewijthp^me. He did drive her
out at last, and absolutely divorced her, for he'was back before long with
a bride whom, with some trouble and a good:' many antics, he coaxed to
accept the nest.
"The female bird is the queen of the home, and usually selects the
' place for the nest, the male bird sometimes lendjng a beak in building it,
» but most of the tirae singing his sweet song to' encourage his mate.
" That the female is queen is shown by a litUg^story related of a spar
row. She was hatching her eggs, and was rejie^d now and then by her
".inflate while she went off for exercise and food, i One day the male bird
was late and the female called loudly for him. He came at last, and
she gave him an unmerciful drubbing, which he took without a murmur.
Thoroughly ashamed of himself, he sat down meekly on the eggs.
" The robin is the most familiar of our birds. Running over the lawns,
with head down, it suddenly grabs a worm, which it shakes as a cat does
a mouse. Having swaUowed it, the robin looks up with infinite pride.
They are great insect-destroyers, though they insist on having the earliest
spring peas and the first mulberries, raspberries, and grapes. The robin
103

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
is the great enemy of the bird observer, giving warning of his approach
to every bird in the neighboring thickets. They are brave, and will help
any bird in distress. A sparrow-hawk had seized an English sparrow,
one of the robin's worst enemies, but the robin attacked the hawk so
viciously that it released the sparrow. In another instance a cat had cap
tured a young robin, but was so fearlessly attacked l/ an older bird that
she parted with her tender meal and sought shelter under the barn.
" The robins make charming but most mischievous pets. I heard
of a case where a child helped bring up a brood of these birds. When
they were fledged they would follow her about the yard like a flock of
chickens. " The wood-thrush or wood-robin is ofa shy and retiring nature, fre
quenting thick woods and tangled undergrowth, and at daybreak and sun
down this bird carols forth its thankfulness for a day begun and a day
ended. The nest is made in some low tree, with little or no mud in its
composition, and contains from four to six eggs. The veery, or tawny
thrush, is a wonderful songster, but a raost retiring bird.
"The American cuckoo, unlike her English cousin, builds her own
nest, and is a most devoted parent. These birds, with white breast, are
numerous here in the summer, and the male bird's courting is most
grotesque. After each note he makes a profound bow to the mate, and
then opens his mouth as wide as possible, as if about to emit a loud cry,
but only the feeblest of ' coos' can be heard.
"The blue-jay, though one of our best-known birds, is greatly mis
understood. It is said he is always quarrelling and fighting, whereas
really he is only full of frolic and mischief and is a most affectionate
bird, and instead of tyrannizing over other birds is most kind to them.
These birds have shared a room with a dozen others much smaller than
theraselves and were never known to molest them. They will defend
their young against all comers, and James Russell Lowell tells a story of
discovering three young birds who were held to their nest by a string, in
which they had got entangled. He determined to cut them loose. The
old birds flew at him at first, but on learning what his object was, sat
quietly within reach of him, watching the operation, and when the birds
were released noisily thanked him.
"A story is told of the frolicsomeness of this bird. One was seated
on a fence-rail, and two kittens, having espied him, essayed to stalk him.
They got up near him ; then he began playing leap-frog over those two
kittens until they returned full of offended dignity to the house. The
bird tried to coax them out to a game several times afterwards, but the
kittens had had enough of it.
" The kingbird is said to fight and drive away every bird that comes
near it, but this is a libel. He attends to his own business almost wholly,
and though not particularly social, is no more belligerent in the bird
104

AMERICAN GOSHAWK.

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
world than most birds are when they have nests to protect. He is a
character, and interesting to watch.
"The shrike, or butcher-bird, has imputed to him the worst charac
ter of any of our birds. He is not only accused of kiUing birds, but of
impaling them afterwards on thorns. That he does kill birds is un
doubted, but only when other food is scarce, for he much prefers field-
mice, grasshoppers, and other noxious insects. That he impales his prey
is certain, and the reason for this is, I think, that he has such small, deli
cate feet that they are not strong enough to hold down a mouse or insect
while he tears it to pieces.
" Blackbirds are gregarious, forming blackbird cities in the tops of
trees. He and the fishhawk have a strange friendship for one another,
often three or four pairs building their nests in the straggling outskirts of
the hawk's large nest, and they unite in protecting one another.
"The red- winged blackbirds are the most independent of birds, as
far as the two sexes are concerned. The dull brown-streaked females
come up in flocks some time after the males have arrived, and as soon as
the breeding season is over they separate again, the males keeping to the
marshes, while the females seek shelter in the uplands, but always near
water. They nest in marshy places, and insist on plenty of water.
"The cowbird is undoubtedly the most unpopular of this class of
birds, simply from the fact that no nest is built, the egg always being
placed in the nest of some vireo, warbler, or sparrow, and the rearing of
one of these birds means the loss of at least two song-birds, for they
always smother the rightful owners. The popular idea that the foster-
parents are unaware of this strange egg is doubtful. I believe it to be
another instance of the great good nature of the birds to the young of any
sort. The cowbirds nearly kill with overwork whatever birds they have
been foisted on.
" The bobolink, who later in the year becomes the reed- or rice-bird,
is a handsome bird in his plumage of black and white and buff. The
female is a quieter-colored bird. While breeding they are voracious in
sect-eaters, but when they get down to the rice marshes it is almost im
possible to drive them away. A hawk seems to be the only thing they
are afraid of.
" The Baltimore oriole is one of the most beautiful and best- known
birds. Its long, pendant, woven nest is known to every one, and it is
wonderful how the bird, with only its beak, can build such a splendid
structure. They have been known to use wire in the structure of their
nests. "The meadow-lark, one of the largest of this family, is a wonderful
singer, sitting on a fence-raU, carolUng forth its quivering silvery song.
All these birds, except the oriole, walk while hunting for food, and do
not hop as most other birds do.
8 i°5

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

"The crow does not belong to the blackbird family, but owing to
his uniform I will speak about him. Much has been said against him,
but the truth is that he is a most useful bird in killing mice, snakes,
lizards, and frogs, and is a splendid scavenger. He has been persecuted
for so many generations that perhaps he is the most knowing and wary
of birds. He will always flee from a man with a gun, though paying little
attention to the ordinary pedestrian. These birds are gregarious in their
habits, and make their large, untidy nests at the tops of trees.
" They have regular roosting-places, and, curious to say, it is not first
come first served. As each flock reaches the sleeping-grove they sit
around on the ground, and it is only when the last wanderer returns that
they all rise simultaneously and scramble for nests. Crows as pets are
intensely funny.
¦¦ "In July, when nesting is over, there are no more frolicsome birds
than the highholes, or woodpeckers. They are like boys out of school,
and actually seem to play
games with each other, one
that looks very much like
' tag' being a favorite.
" The young of these
birds never cease in their
clamor for food, and even
when they have left their
hole-nest they are fed by
the parent birds.
"The feeding process
is a strange one. The old
one half loses its long bill
down the throat of the
youngster, and from its
crop gives up a sufficient
supply of half-digested food
for a full meal.
" The courtship of these
birds is exquisitely quaint,
and a correspondent has
given an account of a
game, or dance, in which
they began with a waltz of an odd sort and went through various evolu
tions, ending with crossing their beaks, and standing so for a moment
before they drew back and did the whole thing over.
"The downy woodpecker is particularly fond of apple-trees, and
though popularly supposed to be an enemy of the orchard, is in reality
one of its greatest friends. They tunnel for the worms, and it has been
106

c4

Woodpeckers.

PIGEON HAWK.

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
conclusively proved that trees drilled with their holes have long outlived
in usefulness the trees unvisited by these birds.
" The clown of the family is the red-headed woodpecker, which, as
well as the others shown, is a Pennsylvanian, and a most original and
quaint character. He has been studied for many years in Ohio and many
of his tricks described by Mr. Keyser, of that State. He lays up food
for the winter, and in places where he has been accustomed to depend
on the sweet beechnut for provisions he refuses to stay when the nut
crop fails, but at once betakes himself to a more inviting region.
" The sapsucker, or yellow-breasted woodpecker, was shown with his
mate and a young one, and his characteristics defended against the charge
of sap sucking, which has been made against him. Sufficient evidence
from several scientific ornithologists was produced to show that the bird
is insectivorous in a great degree, and the small amount of sap he may
drink is well paid for by the insects he consumes.
"The junco, or snowbird, is often found in flocks, except in the
nesting season. Their favorite nesting-place is in the roots of trees that
have been blown over. That birds are considerate of one another is
certain. I know of a case where a family had fed a flock of juncos during
a long spell of cold weather. They got so tame that they would come
up to the stoop to be fed ; but it was noticed that one bird always re
mained on the fence and the other ones fed it. On examination, it was
found that the bird had an injured wing, and in case of sudden danger
would not have been able to leave with the flock in the rush, so it was
left in a place of safety and fed.
"The snow-bunting is to be seen in our part of the world only in
blizzard times, or when there are snow-scurries around." — Miller.
OF HAWKS.
The red-shouldered hawk, called by farmers and hunters the hen-hawk,
nests in trees in April or May. The eggs are two to four, white and
blotched, with shades of brown. The nest is built of sticks, bark, etc.
The goshawk was a regular breeder in our woods and mountains.
He is a fierce and powerful bird. The hawk feeds upon wild turkeys,
pheasants, ducks, chickens, robins, rabbits, and squirrels. The cooper-
hawk, known as the long-tailed chicken-hawk, is an audacious poultry
thief, capturing full-grown chickens. This hawk also feeds upon pigeons,
pheasants, turkeys, and squirrels. This bird nests about May in thick
woods ; the nest containing four or five eggs. In about twelve weeks the
young are able to care for themselves. The sharp shinned hawk bears a
close resemblance to the cooper, but feeds by choice upon young chickens
and pullets, young turkeys, young rabbits, and squirrels. If a pair of
these birds should nest near a cabin where chickens were being raised,
in a very few days they would steal every one.
107

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

Wild pigeon.

When I was a boy large nestings of wild pigeons in what was then
Jenks, Tionesta, and Ridgway townships occurred every spring. These
big roosts were occupied
annually early in April each
year. Millions of pigeons
occupied these roosts, and
they were usually four or
five miles long and one or
two miles wide. In this
territory every tree would
be occupied, some with
fifty nests. These pigeons
swept over Brookville on
their migration to these
roosts, and would be for
days passing, making the
day dark at times. The
croakings of the pigeons in these roosts could be heard for miles.
The coopers and the bloody goshawk, the great-horned and barred
owls, like other night wanderers, such as the wild bear, panther, wolf,
wild cat, lynx, fox, the mink, and agile weasel, all haunted these roosts
and feasted upon these pigeons. The weasel would clirab the tree for
the pigeons' eggs and the young, or to capture the old birds when at
rest. The fox, lynx, and mink depended on catching the squabs that fell
from the nests.
Like the buffaloes of this region, the wild pigeon is doomed. These
once common birds are only to be seen occasionally. Isolated and scat
tered pairs still find a breeding-place in our wilds, but the immense
breeding colonies that once visited our county will never be seen again.
The extermination of the passenger pigeon has gone on so rapidly that
in another decade the birds may become a rarity. The only thing that
will save the birds from this fate is the fact that they no longer resort to
the more thickly populated States as breeding-places, but fly far into the
woods along our northern border. Thirty years ago wild pigeons were
found in New York State, and in Elk, Forest, Warren, McKean, Pike,
and Cameron Counties, Pennsylvania, but now they only figure as
migrants, with a few pair breeding in the beech-woods.
To give an idea of the immensity of these pigeon-roosts, I quote from
the Elk Advocate as late as May, 185 1 :
' ' The American Express Company carried in one day, over the New
York and Erie Railroad, over seven tons of pigeons to the New York
market, and all of these were from the west of Corning. This company
alone have carried over this road from the counties of Chemung, Steuben,
and Allegheny fifty-six tons of pigeons." 108

RED SHOULDERED HAWK.

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

The wild pigeon lays usually one or two eggs, and both birds do their
share of the incubating. The females occupy the nest from 2 p.m. until
the next morning, and the males from 9 or 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The
males usually feed twice each day, while the females feed only during
the forenoon. The old pigeons never feed near the nesting-places, always
allowing the beechmast, buds, etc., there for use in feeding their young
when they come forth. The birds go many miles to feed, — often a
hundred or more.
Our birds migrate every fall to Tennessee, the Carolinas, and as far
south as Florida. Want of winter food is and was the cause of that migra
tion, for those that remained surely picked up a poor living. Migrating
birds return year after year to the same locality. In migrating northward
in the spring, the males usuaUy precede the females several days, but on
leaving their summer scenes of love and joy for the south, the sexes act
in unison. Of the other pioneer birds, there was the orchard-oriole, pine-gros
beak, rose-breasted grosbeak, swallow, barn-swallow, ruff- winged swallow,
bank swallow, black and white warbler, chesnut-sided warbler, barn-owl,
American long-eared owl, short-eared owl, screech-owl, great-horned owl,
yellow-billed cuckoo, black-billed cuckoo, kingbird, crested flycatcher,
phoebe-bird, wood-pewee, least flycatcher, ruffed grouse (pheasant, or
partridge), quail, also known as the bob- white, marsh-hawk, sparrow-
hawk, pigeon-hawk, fish-
hawk, red-tailed hawk,
American ruff-legged hawk,
horned grebe, loon, hooded
merganser, wood-duck,
buff-headed duck, red
headed duck, American
bittern, least bittern, blue
heron, green heron, black-
crowned night-heron, Vir
ginia rail, Carolina rail,
American coot, American
woodcock, Wilson's snipe,
least sandpiper, killdeer
plover, belted kingfisher, turtle-dove, turkey-buzzard, whippoorwiU,
nighthawk, ruby-throated humming-bird, blue-jay, bobolink, or reed-
bird, or rice-bird, purple grackle, cowbird (cow-bunting), red-winged
blackbird, American grosbeak, red-poll, American goldfinch, or yellow-
bird, towhee-bunting, cardinal- or redbird, indigo bunting, scarlet tana-
ger, cedar- or cherry-bird, butcher-bird, or great northern scarlet tanager,
red-eyed vireo, American redstart, cootbird, brown thrush, bluebird,
109

Grouse 01 pheasant

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
house-wren, wood-wren, white-breasted nuthatch, chickadee, golden-
crowned knight.

Humming birds

N.ATURAL LIFE OF SOME OF OUR BIRDS.
Years.
Raven ... . loo ; Pheasant
Eagle . . . , , IOO [ Partridge .
Crow IOO : Blackbird ...
Goose . . 5° Common fowl
Sparrowhaivk  40 I Robin 
Crane 24 ! Thrush .
Peacock 24 Wren
Lark . - 16

Years. '5
15 10
10 10 10 5

WILD BEES— BEE-HUNTING, BEE-TREES, BEE-FOOD, ETC.
In pioneer times these woods were alive with bee-trees, and even yet
that condition prevails in the forest part of this region, as the following
article on bees, from the pen of E. C. Niver, clearly describes :
" Although the natural range of bee-pasturage in this section is prac
tically unlimited, singular to relate, apiculture is not pursued to any great
extent. With all the apparently favorable conditions, the occupation is
too uncertain and precarious to hazard much capital or time on it. At
the best, apiculture is an arduous occupation, and in the most thickly
populated farming communities it requires constant vigilance to keep
track of runaway swarms. But in this rugged mountain country, with
its thousands of acres of hemlock slashings and hard-wood ridges, it is
virtually impossible to keep an extensive apiary within bounds. The rich
pasturage of the forests and mountain barrens affords too great a tempta
tion, and although the honey-bee has been the purveyor of sweets for the
ancients as far back as history reaches, she has never yet become thor
oughly domesticated. At swarming tirae the nomadic instinct asserts
itself. Nature lures and beckons, and the first opportunity is embraced

'H,**

BLUE JAY

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
to regain her fastness and subsist upon her bounty. Never a season goes
by but what some swarms escape to the woods. These take up their hab
itation in hollow trees or some other favorable retreat, and in time throw
off other swarms. Thus it is that our mountains and forests contain an
untold wealth of sweetness, but little of which is ever utilized by man.
" Here is the opportunity of the bee-hunter. In the backwoods coun
ties of Western Pennsylvania bee-hunting is as popular a sport with some
as deer-hunting or trout-fishing. It does not have nearly so many devo
tees, perhaps, as these latter sports, for the reason that a greater degree
of woodcraft, skill, and patience is required to become a proficient bee-
hunter. Any backwoodsman can search out and stand guard at a deer
runway, watch a lick, or follow a trail ; and his skill with a rifle, in the
use of which he is familiar from his early boyhood, insures him an equal
chance in the pursuit of game. It does not require any nice display of
woodcraft to tramp over the mountains to the head of the trout stream,
with a tin spice-box full of worms,
cut an ash sapling, equip it with the
hook and line, and fish the stream
down to its mouth. But to search
out a small insect as it sips the nec
tar from the blossoms, trace it to its
home, and successfuUy despoil it of
its hoarded stores, requires a degree
of skill and patience that compara
tively few care to attain. Yet in
every community of this section are
some old fellows who do not consider
life complete without a crockful of strained honey in the cellar when
winter sets in. Then, as they sit with their legs under the kitchen-table
while their wives bake smoking-hot buckwheat cakes, the pungent flavor
of decayed wood which the honey imparts to their palates brings back
the glory of the chase. Whenever a man takes to bee-hunting he is an
enthusiastic devotee, and with him all other sport is relegated to the
background. " There are many raethods employed in hunting the wild honey-bee.
The first essential is a knowledge of bees and their habits. This can
only be acquired by experience and intelligent observation. The man
who can successfully ' line' bees can also successfully ' keep' them in a
domestic state?, but a successful apiarist is not necessarily a good bee-
hunter. " September and October are the best months for securing wild honey,
as the bees have then in the raain completed their stores. At that season
they can also be most readily lined, for the scarcity of sweets makes them
more susceptible to artificial bait. But the professional bee-hunter does

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
not, as a rule, wait until fall to do all his lining. He wants to know
what is in prospect, and by the time the honey-bee suspends operations
for the winter the hunter has perhaps a dozen bee-trees located which he
has been watching all summer in order to judge as near as possible as to
the amount of stored honey they contain. If the hunter wants to save
the bees he cuts the tree in June and hives the inmates in the same man
ner as when they swarm in a domestic state. Many swarms are thus ob
tained, and the hunter scorns to expend any money for a swarm of bees
which he can get for the taking. As a matter of course, when the honey
is taken in the fall the bees, being despoiled of their subsistence, inevi
tably perish. " ' I'll gather the honey-comb bright as gold.
And chase the elk to his secret fold.'
' ' The first warm days of April, when the snows have melted from the
south side of the hills, and the spring runs are clear of ice, find the bee-
hunter on the alert. There is nothing yet for the bees to feed upon, but
a few of the advance-guard are emerging from their long winter's hiber
nations in search of pollen and water, and they instinctively seek the
water's edge where the warm rays of the sun beat down. Where the
stream has receded from the bank, leaving a miniature muddy beach,
there the bees congregate, dabbling in the mud, sipping water and carry
ing it away. The first material sought for by the bees is pollen, and the
earliest pasturage for securing this is the pussy -wiUow and skunk- cabbage,
which grow in the swamps. After these comes the soft maple, which also
affords a large supply of pollen. Sugar-maple is among the first wild
growth which furnishes any honey. Then comes the wild cherry, the
locust, and the red raspberries and blackberries. Of course, the first blos
soms and the cultivated plants play an important part, but the profusion
of wild flowers which are honey-bearing would probably supply as much
honey to the acre as the cultivated sections.
"The wild honeysuckle, which covers thousands of acres of the
mountain ranges with a scarlet flame in May, is a particular favorite with
bees, as is also the tulip-tree, which is quite abundant in this section.
Basswood honey has a national reputation, and before the paper-wood
cutters despoiled the ridges and forests the basswood-tree furnished an
almost unlimited feeding -ground. This tree blooms for a period of two
or three weeks, and a single swarm has been known to collect ten pounds
of honey in a day when this flower was in blossom. Devil's-club fur
nishes another strong feed for bees, as well as the despised sumach. Last,
but not least, is the golden-rod, which in this latitude lasts from August
until killed by the autumn frosts. While these are the chief wild-honey
producing trees and plants, they are but a fractional part of the honey
resources of the country.

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" Having discovered the feeding-ground and haunts of the wild
honey-bee, the hunter proceeds to capture a bee and trace it to its habi
tation. This is done by ' lining,' — that is, foUowing the bee's flight to its
home. The bee always flies in a direct line to its place of abode, and
this wonderful instinct gives rise to the expression, ' a bee-line.'
" To assist in the chase the hunter provides himself with a ' bee- box,'
which is any small box possessing a lid, with some honey inside for bait.
Arrived at any favorable feeding-ground, the hunter eagerly scans the
blossoms until he finds a bee at work. This he scoops into his box and
closes the lid. If he can capture two or more bees at once, so much the
better. After buzzing angrily for a few moments in the darkened box
the bee scents the honey inside and immediately quiets down and begins
to work. Then the box is set down and the lid opened. When the bee
gets all the honey she can carry she mounts upward with a rapid spiral
motion until she gets her bearings, and then she is off like a shot in
a direct line to her habitation. Presently she is back again, and this time
when she departs her bearings are located and she goes direct. After
several trips more bees appear, and when they get to working the bait
and the line of their flight is noted, the box is closed when the bees are
inside and moved forward along the direction in which they have been
coming and going. The hunter carefully marks his trail and opens the
box again. The bees are apparently unconscious that they have been
moved, and work as before. This manoeuvre is repeated until the spot
where the swarm is located is near at hand, and then comes the most try
ing part of the quest to discover the exact location of the hive. Some
times it is in the hollow of a dead tree away to the top ; sometimes it is
near the bottom. Again, it may be in a hollow branch of a living tree
of gigantic proportions, closely hidden in the foliage, or it may be in an
old stump or log. To search it out requires the exercise of much patience,
as well as a quick eye and an acute ear.
"To determine the distance of the improvised hive after a line has been
established from the bee-box the hunter resorts to ' cross-lining.' This
is done by moving the box when the bees are at work in it some distance
to one side. The bees as usual fly direct to their home, the second line
of flight converging with the first, forming the apex of a triangle, the
distance between the first and second locations of the box being the base
and the two lines of flight the sides. Where the Unes meet the habita
tion is to be found.
"Different kinds of bait are frequently used in order to induce the
bees to work the box. In the flowering season a little anise or other pun
gent oU is rubbed on the box to attract the bees and keep them from
being turned aside by the wealth of blossoms along their flight. It is a
mistake to mix the oil with the bait, as it spoils the honey the bees make
and poisons the whole swarm. Sometimes in the early spring corn-cobs
"3

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
soaked in stagnant brine proves an attractive bait, while late in the fall
beeswax burned on a heated stone will bring the belated straggler to the
bee-box. " Cutting a bee-tree is the adventuresome part of the sport. An
angry swarm is a formidable enemy. Then, too, the treasure for which
the hunter is in search is about to be revealed, and the possibilities bring
a thrill of anticipation and excitement. So far as the danger goes the
experienced hunter is prepared for that, and protects his head and face
by a bag of mosquito-netting drawn over a broad-brimmed hat. With
gloves on his hands he is tolerably protected, but sometimes a heavy
swarm breaks through the netting, and instances are on record where
bee-hunters have been so severely stung in despoiling wild swarms as to
endanger their lives. In felling a tree great care must be exercised in
order that the tree may not break up and destroy the honey. Sometimes
trees are felled after night, as bees do not swarm about in the darkness,
and the danger of getting stung is not so great.
"The amount of honey secured depends upon the age of the swarm.
Frequently much time and labor have been expended in lining and cut
ting a tree which yielded nothing, while again the returns have been
large. There are instances in this coraraunity where a single tree
yielded over two hundred pounds of good honey. Not long since a
hunter cut a tree in which a hollow space about eighteen inches in diam
eter was filled with fine honey for a length of fifteen feet. Often a
tree is cut which has been worked so long that part of the honey is spoiled
with age. Often the comb is broken and the honey mingled with the
decayed wood of the tree. The bee-hunter, however, carefully gathers
up the honey, wood and all, in a tin pail, and strains it, and the pungent
flavor of the wood does not in the least detract from the quality in his
estimation. "Bee-hunting as a sport could be pursued in nearly every section of
Western Pennsylvania, particularly in the lumbering and tannery districts.
In these sections thousands of acres are annually stripped of timber, ex
tending raany railes back frora the settled districts. Fire runs through
these old slashings every year or so, and a dense growth of blackberry
and raspberry briers spring up. These, with the innumerable varieties of
wild flowers, afford a rich and vast pasturage for the honey-bee which has
thrown off the restraints of civilization. Swarm upon swarm is propa
gated, the surplus product of which is never utilized. With a little en
couragement bee- hunting might become as popular a form of sport with
the dweller of the town as with the skiUed woodsman."

114

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

CHAPTER VII.
RUNWAYS, PATHS, TRAILS, DEER RUNS AND CROSSINGS, INDIAN TRAILS 
THE WHITE man's PATH— DAVID AND JOHN MEADE — MEADE's PACK-
HORSE TRAIL  PIONEER SETTLEMENT IN THE NORTHWEST  WHITE
BOYS CAPTURED AND REARED BY INDIANS — PIONEER EXPLORERS AND
SETTLERS.Previous to the white man's advent here this wilderness had public
highways, but they were for the wild deer and savage Indians. These
thoroughfares were called "deer paths" and "Indian trails." These
paths were usuaUy well beaten and crossed each other as civilized roads
now do. The first trail discovered and traversed by the white man was
the Indian Chinklacamoose path, which extended from what is now Clear
field town to what is now Kittanning. This Indian trail passed through
what is now Punxsutawney, and over this path and through this Indian town
Allegheny Indians carried their white prisoners from the eastern part of the
State to what was then called Kittany, on the Allegheny River. From a
most careful and thorough search to ascertain when the first path or trail of
the white man was made through or in what is now our county, I find it to
be in the year 1787. In this year of grace two hardy and courageous men,
David and John Meade, were living in what is now Sunbury, Pennsyl
vania, where John was keeping an inn or tavern. These two brothers
having read General George Washington's report to Governor Dinwiddle,
of Virginia, of the rich lands and valleys that were unoccupied in what is
now called Venango and Crawford Counties, Pennsylvania, determined
to explore that region for themselves. To reach this uninhabited section
they were corapelled to open a path from east to west, through what is
now called Jefferson County, then Northumberland County, and which
path is now called in history " Meade's Trail. ' ' This trail passed through
what are now West Reynoldsville, Port Barnett, and Brookville.
Fired with the zeal and energy of youth, David and John Meade
blazed their way through this wilderness, over or through streams and
across hills until they reached a broad valley upon whose bosom now
reposes the city of Meadville. Being pleased with the valleys and hills,
these two brothers returned to Sunbury over their trail in the spring of
1788, only to invite and bring with them in the same year, over the same
trail, to the rich valleys they had found, the following-named friends and
neighbors :
Thomas Martin, John Watson, James F. Randolph, Thomas Grant,
Cornelius Van Horn, and Christopher Snyder.
115

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
These men, with their goods packed on four horses, passed through
where Brookville now is in 1788, and settled in and around what is now
Meadville, then Allegheny County. Meade's trail commenced at the
mouth of Anderson's Creek, near Curwinsville, Clearfield County, Penn
sylvania, and over this trail until 1802 all transportation had to be car
ried into or through this wilderness on pack-saddles by pack-horses. A
pack-horse load was from two to three hundred pounds. In 1802-3 the
first wagon-road, or the old Milesburg and Waterford State Road, was
opened for travel. The Meade settlers in Crawford County in 1788 com
prised the pioneer permanent settlement in Northwestern Pennsylvania.
Soon after David Meade and his neighbors reached their new home
the great chief of the Six Nations, accompanied by a number of his tribe,
made these pioneers a social visit. This chief was Cornplanter, and he
was then chief over our Indians who belonged to this confederation. In
one of these friendly visits Meade discovered that five white men who
had been captured when boys v/ere reared by the Indians and were then
living under Cornplanter ; that these boys had all attained manhood
and three of them had married Indian woraen. The five white men
were Lashley Malone, of Bald Eagle Valley, Pennsylvania, Peter Krause,
of Monongahela, Elijah Matthews, of Ohio, Nicholas Rosencrants and
Nicholas Tanewood, of Mohawk Valley, New York State.
In 1789, Darius Meade, father of David and John, Robert F. Ran
dolph, and Frederick Baum passed over this "trail" on their way to what
is now ]\Ieadville. Many of the pioneers who travelled over this trail to
the northwest were captured and murdered by the Indians in the raids of
1791-92 and 1793. In 1791, Darius Meade was captured by two Indians
while ploughing in a field. His captors were Captain Bull, a Delaware
chief, and Conewyando, a Seneca chief. Meade in an effort to escape
got possession of Bull's knife and killed Bull with it, and after a fierce
struggle with Conewyando was killed, but Conewyando died in a few
days from the wounds Meade gave him. Two of our soldiers buried
Meade and Bull side by side where they fell.
"Indian trails were 'bee lines,' over hill and dale, from point to
point. Here and there were open spots on the summits, where runners
signalled their coming by fires when on urgent business, and were
promptly met at stated places by fresh men."
Of the pioneer settlers who came over this trail and settled in what is
now Jefferson and Clarion Counties, Judge Peter Clover, of Clarion
County, in 1877, -^vrote as follows :
"As stated in the outset, I will give a brief account of the pioneer
settlement of Jefferson County. In 1800, Joseph Barnett and Samuel
Scott settled forty miles west of Curwinsville, Clearfield County. They
were men of great energy and industry, and soon made valuable iraprove
raents. They built a saw-mill, which was a great help to the people,
116

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
providing them with boards, etc. They settled among the Indians of
the Seneca tribe, who were, however, civil. Joseph Barnett was a very
eccentric, high-minded man, and took a leading part in all the business
transactions of the day ; a man long to be remembered by those who knew
him. Shortly after, their mill was raade, perhaps as early as 1802, Henry
Fir, a German, and a number of other famUies settled on the west of MiU
Creek, — Jacob Mason, L. Long, John Dickson, Freedom Stiles, and a
very large negro by the name of Fudge Vancamp, whose wool was as
white as the wool of a sheep and whose face was as black as charcoal, and
yet he was married to a white woman (?).
" In about 1802, John Scott came to the county and settled on the
farm where Corsica now stands, and about 1805, Peter Jones, John Roll,
Sr., the Vasbinder famiUes, and Elijah Graham, and, in 1806, John
Matson and some others, settled near where Brookville now stands. In
the southern part of the county, near Mahoning, John Bell settled at
an early day. He was a man of iron will and great perseverance, afraid
of neither man nor beast, and was a mighty hunter. Moses Knapp was
also an early settler. 'Port Barnett,' as the settlement of Barnett and
Scott was called, was the only stopping-place from Curwinsville for all
those who came in 1801-2 through or for the wilderness over the
' trail. ' We iraagine that these buildings would have a very welcorae
look to those footsore and weary travellers, — an oasis in the desert, as it
were. "In the year 1801, with a courage nothing could daunt, ten men left
their old homes and all the comforts of the more thickly settled and older
portions of the eastern part of the State for the unsettled wilderness of
the more western part, leaving behind them the many associations which
render the old home so dear, and going forth, strong in might and firm
in the faith of the God of their fathers, to plant homes and erect new
altars, around which to rear their young families. Brave hearts beat in
the bosoms of those men and women who made so many and great sacri
fices in order to develop the resources of a portion of country almost un
known at that time. When we look abroad to-day and see what rapid
strides have been made in the march of civilization, we say all honor to
our forefathers who did so great a part of the work. It would be difficult
for those of the present day to imagine how families could move upon
horseback through an almost unbroken wilderness, with no road save an
' Indian trail, ' the women and children mounted upon horses, the cook
ing utensils, farming implements, such as hoes, axes, ploughs, and shovels,
together with bedding and provision, placed on what were called pack-
saddles, while following upon foot were the men with guns upon their
shoulders, ready to takedown any small game that might cross their path,
which would go towards making up their next meal. After a long and
toilsome journey these pioneers halted on their course in what was then
117

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
called Armstrong County (now Clarion County), and they immediately
began the clearing of their lands, which they had purchased from General
James Potter, of the far-famed ' Potter Fort,' in Penn's Valley, in Centre
County, familiar to every one who has ever read of the terrible depreda
tions committed by the Indians in that part of the country at an early
period of its history.
" The names of the men were as follows : William Young, Sr., Philip
Clover, Sr., John Love, James Potter, John Roll, Sr., James McFadden,

Bear.

John C. Corbett, Samuel Wilson, Sr., William Smith, and Philip Clover, Jr.
Samuel Wilson returned to Centre County to spend the winter, but death
removed him. Inthe following spring of 1802 his widow and her five sons
returned, — namely, Robert, John, W'illiam, Samuel, and David. Those
who did not take their farailies along in 1801, built their cabins, cleared
some land, put in some wheat, raised potatoes and turnips, put them in
their cabins and covered them with earth for safe-keeping for the next
suraraer's use, and when they got all their work done, in the fall they
118

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
returned to their families in Centre and Mifflin Counties, in the spring
of 1802. Those, with some others, who also came at an early date,
James Laughlin and Frederick Miles, built a saw-mill in 1804, at or near
the mouth of Pine Creek, and they were the first to run timber to
Pittsburg from what is now Clarion County.
" The food and raiment of the first settlers made a near approach to
that of John the Baptist in the wilderness. Instead of locusts they had
wild turkey, deer, and bear meat, and their raiment consisted of home
spun wooUen, linen, or tow cloth, the wool and flax being all prepared
for weaving by hand, there being no carding-machines in the county for
many years after its first settlement; then women carded by hand.
When woollen cloth was wanted for men's wear, the process of fuUing
was as follows : The required quantity of flannel was laid upon the bare
floor, and a quantity of soap and water thrown over it ; then a number
of men seated upon stools would take hold of a rope tied in a circle and
begin to kick the flannel with their bare feet. When it was supposed to
be fulled sufficiently, the men were released from their task, which was a
tiresome one, yet a mirth provoking one, too, for, if it were possible, one
or so must come from his seat, to be landed in the midst of the heap of
flannel and soapsuds, much to the merriment of the more fortunate ones.
Flax was prepared by drying over a fire, then breaking, scutching, and
hackling before being ready to spin. The linen and tow cloth supplied
the place of muslin and calico of the present day. That which was for
dress goods was made striped, either by color or blue through the white,
which was considered a nice summer suit, when made into what was
called a short gown and petticoat, which matched very well with the
calfskin slippers of that day. The nearest store was at Kittanning, thirty-
five miles distant, and calico was fifty cents per yard, and the road but a
pathway through the woods.
" In those days men appeared at church in linen shirts with coUars
four inches wide turned down over the shoulders, linen vest ; no coat in
summer. Some wore cowhide shoes, others moccasins of buckskin, others
again with their feet bare. In winter, men wore deerskin pantaloons
and a long loose robe called a hunting- shirt, bound round the body with
a leathern girdle, and some a flannel warmus, which was a short kind of
a coat, the women wearing flannel almost exclusively in the winter.
" During the first two years after the first settlement the people had
to pack their flour upon horseback from Centre, Westmoreland, and In
diana Counties ; also their iron and salt, which was at ten dollars per
barrel ; iron fifteen cents per pound. Coffee and tea were but little used,
tea being four doUars per pound, coffee seventy-five cents. Those arti
cles were considered great luxuries, both from the high price at which
they came, and the difficulties attending their transportation through the
woods, following the Indian trail. As to vegetables and animal food,
119

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
there was no scarcity, as every one had gardens and the forest abounded
with wild game, and then there were some expert huntsmen that kept the
settlement supplied with meat. Those who were not a sure shot them
selves would go and work for the hunter while he would go out and sup
ply his less fortunate neighbor. Many, however, got along badly, some
having nothing but potatoes and salt for substantial. I knew one hunter
who killed one hundred and fifty deer and twenty bears in the first two
years of the settlement, besides any amount of sraall game. When people
began to need barns and larger houses, one would start out and invite the
whole country for miles around, often going ten or twelve miles, and
then it often took two or three days to raise a log barn, using horses to
help to get up the logs."
THE PIONEER EXPLORERS, ANDREW BARNETT AND SAMUEL SCOTT
—THE PIONEER SETTLERS, JOSEPH HUTCHISON AND WIFE— THE
PATRIARCH OF THE COUNTY, JOSEPH BARNETT— OTHER EARLY
SETTLERS.
In regard to the first settlement and early history of the county I
have made diligent research, and find, what is not unusual, some con
flicting accounts and statements. These I have endeavored to compile,
arrange, and harmonize to the best of ray ability.
From the best information I am enabled to gather and obtain, Andrew
Barnett and Samuel Scott were sent in 1795 by Joseph Barnett, who was
then living in either Northumberland, Lycoming, or Dauphin County,
Pennsylvania, to explore the famous region then about French Creek,
now Crawford County, Pennsylvania. But when these two "explorers"
reached Mill Creek, now Port Barnett, they were forcibly impressed with
the great natural advantages of the place for a saw-mill. They stopped
over two or three days to exaraine the creek. They explored as far down
as to where Summerville now is, and, after this careful inspection, con
cluded that this spot, where " the lofty pine leaned gloomily over every
hill-side," was just the ideal home for a lumberman.
They went no farther west, but returned east, and informed Joseph
Barnett of the "Eureka" they had found. In the spring of 1797,
Joseph and Andrew Barnett, Samuel Scott, and Moses Knapp came from
their home at the mouth of Pine Creek, then in Lycoming County, to
the ideal mill-site of Andrew, and so well pleased were they all that they
commenced the erection of the pioneer cabin and mill in the wilderness,
in what was then Pine Creek township, Lycoming County. The cabin
and raill were on the present site of Humphrey's mill and grounds at Port
Barnett. The Indians assisted, about nine in number, to raise these
buildings, and not a stroke of work would these savages do until they
had eaten up all the provisions Mr. Barnett had. This took three days.
Then the rascals exclaimed, "Me eat, me sleep; now me strong, now
120

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
me work." In the fall of the same year Joseph Barnett returned to his
family, leaving his brother Andrew and Scott to finish some work. In a
short time thereafter Andrew Barnett became ill and died, and was buried
on the north bank of the creek, at the junction of Sandy Lick and Mill
Creek, Scott and two Indians being the only attendants at the funeral.
Joseph Barnett was, therefore, soon followed by Scott, who was his
brother-in-law, bringing the melancholy tidings of this event, which for
a time cast a gloom over the future prospects of these sturdy pioneers.
In 1798, however, Joseph Barnett, Scott, Knapp, and a married man
by the name of Joseph Hutchison, came out with them and renewed
their work. Hutchison brought his wife, household goods, also two
cows and a calf, and commenced housekeeping, and lived here two years
before Joseph Barnett brought his family, who were then living in Dauphin
County. Hutchison is clearly the pioneer settler in what is now Jeffer
son County. He was a sawyer. In that year the mill was finished by
Knapp and Scott, and in 1799 there was some lumber sawed. In the fall
of 1800, Joseph Barnett brought his wife and family to the home prepared
for them in the wilderness. Barnett brought with him two cows and
seven horses, five loaded with goods as pack-horses and two as riding or
family horses. His route of travel into this wilderness was over Meade's
trail. The first boards were run in 1801 to what is now Pittsburg. About
four thousand feet were put in a raft, or what would be a two-platform
piece. Moses Knapp was the pioneer pilot.
In a paper contributed to \he fefferson County Graphic by Mrs. Sarah
Graham, a daughter of Joseph Barnett, this portion of the county is there
described as " the home of the Indian, the panther, the bear, and deer ;
and wolves were as plenty as dogs in Brookville. ' '
Farther on this interesting account continues : " The first white child
born in the county was J. P. Barnett. The next person that came here
was Peter Jones. He settled on the farm now owned by John McCul-
lough, and the next was a Mr. Roll, who settled on the farm now owned
by John S. Barr. Then came Fudge Vancamp (negro), who built his
cabin on the farm now owned by John Clark ; and then Adam Vasbinder,
who settled on the farm at the present time owned by Samuel BuUers.
William Vasbinder pitched his tent on the Kirkman homestead. Ludwick
Long put up his wigwam on the place now owned by Mr. McConnell.
Here Long erected a distillery, and the great dragon first opened his
mouth and cast out his flood of water in the wilderness. John Dixon
came next. He was our first school-master. The school-house was built
on the McConnell farm ; built of round logs, and oiled paper for glass.
Everything had to be carried from the settlements on horseback ; glass
was too easUy broken to try to bring so far. The second school-house
was built on the south side of the pike, at the forks of the Ridgway road.

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Here the first graveyard was laid out, and the first person buried in it was
a child of Samuel Scott.
"An old Muncy Indian, called Captain Hunt, was a frequent visitor
at Port Barnett, and had his camp for several years on the Red Bank,
within the limits of the southwestern part of what is now the town of
Brookville. It is related of him that a cave near what is now the con
fluence of Sandy Lick and North Fork was occupied by him for several
years as a hiding-place. He was a fugitive from his tribe for having
killed a fellow Indian, and was frequently pursued by members of his
race to avenge the crime. On these occasions he always managed to
escape to his cave, approaching it by running in the water of the stream
to avoid being followed by his track, and in this way he safely secreted
himself and successfully evaded his pursuers.
" In this same connection, a story is told of the capture ofa child in
Westmoreland County by the Muncy Indians, who carried him to their
tribe and adopted him. By the law of this tribe, when one of their
number was a fugitive from them for kiUing another, he was not per
mitted to return until the place of the murdered Indian was supplied by
the capture of another male from the whites or some other tribe. It is,
therefore, alleged and generally supposed that the little boy from West
moreland County, who had been sent by his mother on an errand to his
father in the field, was observed by these Indians, seized and carried off
to their camp, and that after this old Captain Hunt was at liberty to re
turn to his tribe. It is also related of the boy, that when he grew to be
a man he was permitted to visit his parents and friends, but declined to
remain among them, and returned to his Indian home.
" Old Captain Hunt was a noted and successful hunter, obtaining his
living in this way, and John Jones was often his companion on hunting
excursions. One year he is said to have killed seventy-eight bears, and
having the Indian appetite for whiskey, the skins of these were nearly all
expended by him in procuring this beverage.
"These dense forests were the abode of wild animals and game in
greater numbers than most any other part of the country. Panthers,
bears, and wolves roamed the woods undisturbed, the deer travelled about
in droves, and flocks of wild turkeys were numerous."
I may not be able to give the names of all the early settlers and the
date of their arrival, but John, William, and Jacob Vasbinder reached
here about the year 1802 or 1803, John Matson, Sr., about 1806, and
the Lucases soon after.
In 1803 the name Keystone was first applied to the State. This was in
a printed political address to the people. Pennsylvania was the central
State of the original thirteen.
John and Archibald Bell settled in the southern part of the county
about 1809 or 1810, and that locality was then an unbroken wilderness

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
for miles around. Archie Hadden came and settled a mile southeast of
him about 1812, and in 1815 Hugh McKee settled half a mile east of
PerrysviUe. Jacob Hoover came in 181 4 and settled at the present site
of Clay ville. John Postlethwait, Sr., came in 18 18 from Westmoreland
County, and located with his family a mile and a half northwest of Perrys-
vUle. A family by the name of Young settled about two miles west of
this place about the same time. People began to settle in the vicinity of
Punxsutawney about the year 181 6, the first being Abram Weaver, and

• _; ' >i",'/ f^ /

Deer and fawn.

Rev. David Barclay, Dr. John W. Jenks, and Nathaniel Tindle, with
their families, and Elijah Heath arrived there about 1817 or 1818.
Charles C. Gaskill, Isaac P. Carmalt, John B. Henderson, and John Hess
came some time later. About 1818, David, John, and Henry Milliron
settled on Little Sandy, and Henry Nolf located on the same stream,
where Langville now stands, and erected a saw-mill. In 1820, Lawrence
Nolf came to Pine Run, two mUes south of Ringgold, but made no im
provement, and afterwards sold to John Miller, who opened up a farm.
Hon. James Winslow and others were also among the first settlers in the
neighborhood of Punxsutawney. James McClelland and Michael Lantz
123

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
came into the southwestern part of the county, within the limits of what
is now Porter township, previous to the year 1820. William Stewart and
Benjamin McBride made a settlement in the Round Bottom, -west of
Whitesville, in 182 1, and in the same year James Stewart came and
located three miles northwest of PerrysviUe. The year 1822 brought a
number of families to the county, among whom were the following : David
Postlethwait, who purchased Stewart and McBride's right of settlement
in the Round Bottom, and settled with his brother John on Pine Run,
who had preceded him there ; John McHenry, James Bell, and some
others, who moved into the Round Bottom, near Whitesville, and a Mr.
Baker, who settled across the creek east of Whitesville ; Jesse Armstrong
and Adam Long, the former locating near where Clayville now is, and
the latter at a place near Punxsutawney ; John FuUer, who settled near
Reynoldsville ; and Samuel Newcome, who settled on Pine Run, about a
raile above the Postlethwaits. In 1823, John Mcintosh and Henry Keys
settled in Beech Woods, now Washington township, and the year 1824
brought Alexander Osborn. John McGee, Matthew and William
McDonald, Andrew Smith, John Wilson, William Cooper, and William
McCuUough were also among the first settlers in the northeastern part of
the county. Other names of early settlers will be found in that part of
this history devoted to the different towns and townships.

CHAPTER VIII.
provision for OPENING A ROAD  REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO
the governor — streams, etc.
"An Act to provide for opening a Road from near the Bald
Eagle's Nest, in Mifflin County, to Le Boeuf, in the County
of Allegheny.
" Whereas, A road has, under the direction of the Legislature, been
in part laid out from Reading and Presque Isle ; and whereas. It is con
sidered that opening and improving said road would be greatly conducive
to the interests of the community by opening a communication with the
northwest part of the State, and would much facilitate an intercourse with
Lake Erie ;
" Section 1. Therefore be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives of ihe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly
met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same. That the gov
ernor be empowered to contract for the opening and improving of the
road between the Bald Eagle's Nest and the Allegheny River to Le
Bceuf. 124

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"Section 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
when it shall appear to the persons who may contract for the opening of

said road that deviations from such parts of the road as laid out are
essentially necessary, he or they shall be authorized to make such devia-
125

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
tions, provided that such deviations do not depart materially from the
survey already made.
" Section 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
in order to carry this into effect the governor is empowered to draw his
warrant on the State Treasurer for five thousand dollars, to be paid out
of the sale of reserved lands and lots in the towns of Erie, Franklin,
Warren, and Waterford."
Passed April 10, 1799. Recorded in Law Book No. 6, p. 443.
The Bald Eagle's Nest referred to above was Milesburg. The nest
was not that of a bird, but that of an Indian warrior of that name, who
built his wigwam there between two large white oaks. The western ter
minus of the road, then called Le Boeuf, is now known as Waterford,
Erie County, Pennsylvania. On the completion of the turnpike most of
this road was abandoned in this county. It is still in use from Brook
ville, about seven or eight miles of it, to the Olean road north of Cor
sica. It passed through where Brookville now is, near or on what is now
Coal Alley. It was a great thoroughfare for the pioneers going to the
West and Northwest. " Department of Internal Affairs,
"Harrisburg, Pa., May 18, 1895.
"Mr W. J. McKnight, Brookville, Pa.
"Dear Sir, — -In answer to your letter of the ist instant, we send
you this contract and the accompanying papers, which are among the
records of the department. As requested, we send you a copy of the
report of the commissioners who made the survey of the road.
" Very truly yours,
" Is.AAC B. Brown,
' ' Deputy Secretary. ' '
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO THE GOVERNOR.
"Whereas, In and by an Act ofthe General Assembly entitled 'An
Act for laying out and opening sundry Roads within this Commonwealth
and for other purposes,' it is among other things provided and declared,
that your Excellency shall be empowered and required to appoint three
persons as Commissioners, ' to view the ground and estimate the expense
of opening and making a good Waggon Road from the Bald Eagle's
Nest, or the end of Nittany Mountain, to the Town of Erie at Presque-
isle, and to cause the said Road to be Surveyed and staked out, by the
most practicable Route, and also cause a draft ofthe survey to be made out
in Profile, and to report to the Legislature the several parts of the ex
pense that will be incurred in each County through which the said Road
will pass : Provided, That the Commissioners thus appointed shall not
stake out any part of the said Road when it may be carried on Roads
126

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
heretofore laid out and opened, agreeably to the Provisions of former
laws of this State.'
" And Whereas, In pursuance of the power and authority given and
granted in and by the said recited Act of Assembly, William Irvine,
Andrew EUicott, and George Wilson, Esquires, were by Letters Patent
under your Excellency's hand, and the great Seal of the State, bearing
date the thirteenth day of .\pril, in the year of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and ninety-six, appointed Commissioners for the purposes
aforesaid; but the said Andrew EUicott, Esq., hath since resigned the
said appointment, and his resignation hath been duly accepted.
" And Whereas, In pursuance of the power and authority given and
granted in and by the said recited Act of Assembly, Joseph EUicott was,
by Letters Patent, under your Excellency's Hand and the great Seal of
the State, bearing date the nineteenth day of August, in the year of our
Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, appointed a Commis
sioner in the lieu and stead of the said Andrew EUicott, Esq., who had
resigned as aforesaid, and in conjunction with the said WiUiam Irvine
and George Wilson, Esquires, the two other Commissioners for the pur
pose of viewing and laying out the said Road in manner as stated in and
by the above recited Act of Assembly.
" Now Therefore, The said George Wilson and Joseph EUicott, two
of the Commissioners appointed as aforesaid for the purposes aforesaid,
beg leave to report :
" I. That the said William Irvine, George Wilson, and Joseph EUi
cott, the Commissioners appointed as aforesaid, in conformity to your
Excellency's Instructions in pursuance of the above recited Act of Assem
bly, with all convenient dispatch, in the execution of the trust reposed in
them, proceeded to examine the situation of the Country at the Bald
Eagle's Nest and to the end of Nittany Mountain, and having viewed the
respective scites, they unanimously agreed to take their departure from the
Bald Eagle's Nest. .-Vs soon as this decision took place the said William
Irvine left the other Commissioners and returned home.
" II. That the said George Wilson and Joseph EUicott then pro
ceeded to view, survey, and stake out by a route, in their opinion,
deemed the most practicable, a Road from the Bald Eagle's Nest towards
the town of Erie at Presque-isle, and that they have ascertained the various
courses and distances, the topographical situation, cSzc, of the said Road
for the length of one hundred and sixteen railes, as represented in and by
the Draft in profile hereunto annexed.
"III. That in consequence of the failure of Horses, the scarcity of
Provisions, the advanced season of the year, and various other obstacles
which retarded the prosecution of the business, they were compelled to
relinquish the object of their mission, and have left above thirty-six miles
of the Road unfinished. 127

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"IV. That they have used their utmost diligence and attention to
direct the course of the said Road over firm and level ground ; but that
frequently became totally impracticable, and where the ascent and descent
of hills and mountains became unavoidable they made use of an altitude
level, and have so adjusted its course that in its greatest elevation or de
pression it never exceeds an angle of six degrees with the horizon : Hence
it may easily be inferred that considerable deviations frora a straight line
have necessarily occurred.
" V. That the land in that part of Mifflin County through which the
Road passes is generally of an indifferent quality. For a part of this
distance the Road passes over the declivities of the Allegheny Mountain
and the Mushanon Hills. The country, however, for several miles be
tween the summit of the Allegheny Mountain and the Mushanon hills,
and also that part of Huntingdon County which the Road intersects, is
generally level and free from stones, well timbered with Hickory, White
and Black Oak, Dogwood, Ash, Chestnut, Poplar, White Pine, &c., and
upon the whole well calculated for settlements. The soil of that part of
Lycoming County which is intersected by the Road is generally of a lux
uriant quality, abounding in many places with Stone coal, well timbered
with various species of wood, and adapted to the production of all kinds
of grain, &c., peculiar to the climate.
"VI. Your Commissioners with pleasure remark that from the Sus
quehanna River at Anderson's Creek to the first navigable stream of
Sandy Lick Creek (a branch of Allegheny River) the portage along the
said road is but twenty-two Miles. The road crosses Sandy Lick Creek
about fifty miles from its junction with the Allegheny River, and from
the Susquehanna to the North-Western branch of Sandy Lick Creek the
portage is thirty-three miles. The North-Western branch discharges its
waters into Sandy Lick Creek, about sixty perches below the place where
it is intersected by the Road at the junction of the North-Western branch.
The Sandy Lick Creek is as large as the Susquehanna River at Anderson's
Creek, and the distance of the said Creek frora the Allegheny River is
about thirty-five miles. The Portage from the Susquehanna at Ander
son's to Toby's Creek is forty-nine miles. Toby's Creek is twenty-two
perches wide, and its distance from the intersection of the Road to the
Allegheny River is about forty miles. It is navigable for boats, rafts, &c.,
from the intersection of the Road to the Allegheny River and about fifty
or sixty miles above the place of intersection. The portage frora the
Susquehanna to the Allegheny River at Sussunadohtaw is seventy-two
miles, and for the greater part of the distance of these portages the Road
passes through a rich and fertile country.
"VII. That your Commissioners have formed their estimate of ex
penses upon the supposition that the said Road, as far as it has been sur
veyed, will be opened thirty feet in width ; sixteen feet in the middle to
1 28

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
be cut and cleared as nearly level with the surface of the earth as prac
ticable, but where digging and levelling on the sides of HiUs and Moun
tains shall become necessary that a passage will be dug twelve feet wide,
and that Bridges and causeways will be erected and forraed over all miry
places to enable Waggons to pass.
"A general estimate of expenditures requisite in opening, clearing,
digging, levelling, erecting Bridges and forraing causeways over the said
Road. " The expenses in opening the Road through the County of Miffiin,
commencing at the Bald Eagle's Nest and ending at the Big Mushanon
Creek, nineteen miles & sixteen perches.
"For opening, cleaning, digging, levelling, forming ^ _ ,.
causeways on the said Road and erecting a Bridge over the V
Little Mushanon in the said County. J
" The expenses in opening the Road through the County of Hunting
don, commencing at the Big Mushanon Creek and ending at the West
branch of the Susquehanna River, twenty-one miles one hundred and
fifty-seven perches.
"For opening, clearing, digging, levelling, forming ~j
causeways on the said Road and erecting a Bridge over V 2643.37.
Alder Run in said County. J
"The expenses in opening the Road through the County of Ly
coming, commencing at the West branch of Susquehanna and ending at
the Allegheny River, seventy-two miles & 193 perches.
" For opening, clearing, digging, levelling, and forming ]
Causeways on the said Road. J
" VIII. That the said Road in its whole length passes through one
entire and uninterrupted Wilderness, and the expenses already incurred
in the execution of the business have considerably exceeded the legal
appropriation intended for its completion.
" Geo. Wilson.
Joseph Ellicott."
DELAWARE INDIAN AND PIONEER NAMES FOR RIVERS AND CREEKS;
ALSO ACTS OF LEGISLATURE DECLARING THESE STREAMS PUB
LIC HIGHWAYS.
" Where skimmed the Indian bark.
And the song of the boatman re-echoed through the forest."
Topi-hanne — Toby Creek; 1749, Riviere au Fiel— Gall River.
Ma-onink — Mahoning.
Tangawunsch-hanne — North Fork.
Legamwi mahonne — Sandy Lick, or Red Bank; 1749, Riviere au
Vermilion. 129

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Legamwi-hanne — Sandy Creek.
The reason why Toby Creek was subsequently called Clarion River
was because there were no less than three or four Toby Creeks in Penn
sylvania. There was one in Monroe County, one in Luzerne, and one
in Venango, which is now Clarion. Now, Tobyhanna, or Toby Creek,
is corrupted from Topi-hanne, signifying alder stream ; that is, a stream
whose banks were fringed with alders. I find also that the Clarion River
was called by the Delawares Gawunsch-hanne ; that is, brier stream, a
stream whose banks are overgrown with briers. There seems to be an
incongruity, but the probabilities are that farther down in what is now
Clarion County the stream was overgrown with alder-bushes. Mahoning
is a corruption of Ma-onink, and signifies where there is a lick, or at the
lick ; sometimes a stream flowing there or near a lick. This name is a
very common one for rivers and places in the Delaware country, along
which or where the surface of the ground was covered with saline de
posits, provisionally called " Ucks," from the fact that deer, elk, buffalo,
and other animals frequented these places and licked the salted earth.
Mahonitty signifies a small lick, and Ma-oning a stream flowing from
or near a lick.
By the act of Assembly, March 21, 1808, this creek was declared to
be a public highway for the passage of rafts, boats, and other vessels from
its confluence with the Allegheny River to the mouth of Canoe Creek, in
Indiana County. That act authorized the inhabitants along its banks, and
others desirous of using it for navigation, to remove all natural and arti
ficial obstructions in it, except dams for mills and other water -works, and
to erect slopes at the mill and other dams, which must be so constructed
as not to injure the works of such dams. Any person owning or possess
ing lands along this stream has the liberty to construct dams across it,
subject, however, to the restrictions and provisions of the general act
authorizing the riparian owners to erect dams for raills on navigable
streams. William Travis and Joseph MarshaU were appointed to super
intend the expenditure of eight hundred dollars for the improvement of
this stream, authorized by the act of March 24, 181 7, to whom an order
for their services for two hundred and one doUars was issued by the com
missioners of this county December 23, 1818.
The Act of Legislature, No. 129, declaring part of Big Mahoning
Creek a public highway, approved April 13, 1833, reads as follows:
" Section 2. From and after the passage of this act, that part of Big
Mahoning Creek, in Jefferson County, from the mouth of Canoe Creek,
in said county, is hereby declared a public highway for the passage of
rafts, boats, and other craft ; and it shall and may be lawful for persons
desirous of using the navigation of said creek between the points afore
said to remove all natural and artificial obstructions from the bed or
channel of said creek, except dams for mills and other water works, and
130

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
also to erect such slopes at the mill or other dams on said creek as may
be necessary for the passage of rafts, boats, and other vessels. Provided,
such slopes be so constructed as not to injure the works of such dams.
And provided also, that any person or persons owning or possessing lands
on said creek shall have liberty to construct any dam or dams across the
same, agreeably and subject to all the restrictions and provisions ofan act
of the General Assembly of this Commonwealth, passed the twenty-third
day of March, one thousand eight hundred and three, entitled ' An Act
to authorize any person or persons owning lands adjoining navigable
streams of water declared public highways to erect dams on such streams
for mill and other water- works.' "
Tangawunsch-hanne, North Fork, meant in the Indian tongue Little
Brier Stream, or stream whose banks are overgrown with green brier.
The following act of the Legislature declared it a public highway.
An act. No. 64, declaring the North Fork of Sandy Lick Creek, in
the county of Jefferson, from the mouth thereof to Ridgway, in said
county, a public highway :
" Section i. Be it enacted, etc.. That the North Fork of Sandy Lick
Creek, in the county of Jefferson, from the mouth thereof to Ridgway, in
said county, be, and the same is hereby declared a public highway ; and
it shall and may be lawful for any person or persons desirous of improving
or using the navigation of said stream to remove thereout all obstruc
tions, except dams for mills and other water-works already built, on which
dam any such person or persons as aforesaid shall have full power to
make slopes, such as are hereinafter described, and to keep the same in
repair for the passage of boats, rafts, and other craft. Provided, that
such slopes be so constructed as not to injure such dams.
"Approved — the thirteenth day of March, a.d. one thousand eight
hundred and thirty-three.
' ' George Wolf,
" Governor."
" Legamwi-mahonne means a sandy lick creek ; that is, Sandy Lick,
which was the name of this stream as late as 1792, from its source to its
mouth, according to Reading Howell's map of that year. It bore that
name even later. By the act of Assembly, March 21, 1798, ' Sandy Lick
or Red Bank Creek' was declared to be a public stream or highway ' from
the mouth up to the second or great fork.' The writer has not been able
to ascertain just when, why, or at whose suggestion its original name was
changed to Red Bank, by which it has been known by the oldest inhab
itants now living in the region through which it flows. Perhaps the
change may have been suggested by the red color of the soil of its banks
many miles up from its mouth." — History of Armstrong County, Pennsyl
vania. 131

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF RED BANK CREEK.
In 1749 the governor-general of Canada sent an expedition under
Celeron de Bienville down what is now known as the Allegheny and
Ohio Rivers, to take possession of the country in the name of the king
of France. The command embraced two hundred and fifteen French
and Canadian soldiers and fifty-five Indians. Father Bonnecamp, a
chaplain of this expedition, drew a map of the route, locating the tribes
of Indians, and giving the Indian names of the tributaries of these rivers
and also the name of the Indian villages. This manuscript map was de
posited and is still in the archives of the Department de la Marine in
Paris, and is styled " Map of a Voyage made on the Beautiful River in
New Flanders, 1749, by Rev. Father Bonnecamp, Jesuit Mathematician."
The map is very correct, considering all the circumstances. It has
been reproduced on a smaller scale by George Dallas Albert and pub
lished in "The Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania," in vol. ii., with an ex
planation of the map, French names, and their corresponding American
designations. In this map I find Riviere au Vermilion emptying into
the Allegheny River, corresponding to the exact location of what is now
called Red Bank Creek, and unfortunately translated by Mr. Albert as
Mahoning Creek. On the Allegheny River going downward I find
Riviere aux Boeuf, Beef, or Buffalo River, now called French Creek ;
then Riviere au Fiel, — Gall River or Clarion River ; third. Riviere au
Vermilion or Red Bank Creek ; fourth, a stream not named, which
must have been Mahoning ; and then Attique, a village, or what is now
Kittanning. Mr. Albert should have named the undesignated stream
Mahoning and the Vermilion River Eed Bank.
In 1 798 this stream was designated by legal statute as Sandy Lick or
Red Bank Creek, but later by common acceptance the name Sandy Lick
was applied to that portion above where the North Fork unites, and Red
Bank from Brookville to the mouth.
" The first lot of lumber which Barnett and Scott sent down the Red
Bank was a small platform of timber, with poles instead of oars as the pro
pelling power. There was a flood in this stream in 1806 which reached
eight or ten feet up the trees on the flats.
"One thousand dollars was appropriated by the act of Assembly
' making appropriations for certain internal improvements,' approved
March 24, 181 7, for the purpose of improving this creek, and Levi Gib
son and Samuel C. Orr were appointed commissioners to superintend the
application of the money. By the act of April 4, 1826, ' Sandy Lick, or
Red Bank Creek,' was declared a public highway only for the passage of
boats, rafts, etc., descending it. That act also made it lawful for all
persons owning lands adjoining this stream to erect mill-dams across it,
and other water-works along it, to keep them in good repair, and draw
132

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
off enough water to operate them on their own land, but required them
' to make a slope from the top, descending fifteen feet for every foot the
dam is high, and not less than forty feet in breadth,' so as to afford a
good navigation, and not to infringe the rights and privileges of any owner
of private property.
"The first flat-boat that descended this stream was piloted by Sarauel
Knapp, in full Indian costume. In 1832 or 1833 two boats loaded with
sawed lumber owned by Uriah Matson, which found a good market in
Cincinnati, with the proceeds of which Matson purchased the goods
with which he opened his store at Brookville." — History of Armstrong
County. An act declaring the rivers Ohio and Allegheny, and certain branches
thereof, public highways :
"Section i. Be it enacted, etc.. That from and after the passing of
this act, the river Ohio, from the western boundary of the State up to the
mouth of the Monongahela, Big Beaver Creek, from the mouth of the
first fork in the seventh district of donation land, Allegheny River, from
the mouth to the northern boundary of the State, French Creek to the
town of Le Boeuf, and Conewango Creek, from the mouth thereof to the
State line, Cussawago Creek, from the mouth of the main forks. Little
Coniate Creek, from the mouth up to the inlet of the Little Coniate
Lake, Toby's Creek, from the mouth up to the second fork (now Clarion
River, and Johnsonburg was the second fork). Oil Creek, from the mouth
up to the main fork. Broken Straw Creek, from the mouth up to the second
fork, Sandy Lick, or Red Bank Creek, from the mouth up to the second
great fork, be, and the same are hereby declared to be public streams
and highways for the passage of boats and rafts ; and it shall and may be
lawful for the inhabitants or others desirous of using the navigation of
the said river and branches thereof to remove all natural obstructions in
the said river and branches aforesaid." Passed 21st March, 1798. Re
corded in Law Book No. VI. page 245.
The first fork was at BrookviUe's site, the second great fork was at
Port Barnett.
An act. No. 189, declaring Little Toby's Creek, Black Lick Creek,
Little Oil Creek, and Clark's Creek pubUc highways :
"Section i. Be it enacted, etc.. That from and after the passage of
this act Little Toby's Creek, in the counties of Clearfield and Jefferson,
from the mouth of John Shaffer's mill run, on the main branch of Toby's
Creek, and from the forks of Brandy Camp (or Kersey Creek) to the
Clarion River,
be, and the same are hereby declared public highways for the passage of
rafts, boats, and other craft, and it shall and may be lawful for, etc.
(The same provisions follow here as in No. 129.)
133

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" Approved— the fourteenth day of April, a.d. one thousand eight
hundred and twenty-eight. " J. Andw. Shultz,
" Governor."
The Little Sandy Creek makes a long circuit through about what is
now the centre of the county. Numerous runs approach it from the east
and north. The principal streamlets are Big Run, Elk Run, and Pine
Run. This region of the county is hilly and the ravines are deep, and
at some points wide ranges of bottom flats. When the pioneer settled
here the stream was the southwestern portion of the county. The table
lands along this stream range in height from twelve hundred to eighteen
hundred feet above the sea. "THAT FLOOD.
"The flood is here. During the past week all has been bustle and
hurry. Our lumbermen have had an exceUent time to start their lumber
to market, and now the great body of the lumber manufactured on the
Clarion and its tributaries during the past year is floating down-stream.
The waters have been very accommodating for a few days past, — neither
too high nor too low. Pilots are in their glory. Each one was the first to
discover that stray ' snag' which had hid itself beneath the foaming waters
in some critical spot, and although some of them happened to run pretty
close to it, yet all knew it was there, and would have missed it, if they
could ; and sorae of them did miss it by dint of ' cracking her up behind'
with all their power.
"The rafting season on these waters is a season of life and activity,
bustle and confusion, wet limbs and red wamuses. It gives to our town
an important and business-like appearance. The landing of steamers and
other craft in a great commercial mart may be some, but the landing of
rafts in ' Dick's Pond' and ' the Eddy' is considerable more. The skill,
nerve, and muscle here exhibited — to say nothing of an occasional big
word that accidentally falls from some excited pilot or proprietor — can
find its equal nowhere only on some lumbering stream during a rafting
freshet. There is something fascinating about this rafting business, not
withstanding its incessant hard labor. As they proceed downward, float
ing majestically over the virgin bosom of the mighty waters, the scene
changes with them, the fare changes, the atmosphere changes, the waters
change. Here the hungry raftraen recruit their drooping energies with
' the best the country can afford, ' and such as are so disposed (and we
are happy to say there are but few of this class) can wet their whistles
with pure, unadulterated ' rot gut, ' with which ' our bar' is always boun
tifully supplied. On their course they soon find beef and potatoes and
hot cakes more scarce, but are cheered up by a change from this fare to
' a great many molasses, ' lots of flitch, and mouldy bread that has been
134

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
kept over from the last rafting for their especial benefit, with common
corn whiskey. But anything for a change. No matter if you do flop out
of the frying-pan into the fire. Peradventure, our hardy fellow- citizens,
with rough exterior, but large, generous souls glowing within them,
arrive at towns below, where they are greeted with ' Olean hoosiers'
from every long nine, with a smutty-faced urchin attached to it, they
meet. But no matter. - They have ' better clothes' at home and more

I

j''li It ¦

1. "IW^^

Banking logs.

rhino in their pockets than any score of these foppish nobodies. They
command respect wherever they land, whether it be in a skiff at some
little settlement to get a small stock of provisions, or in the populous
cities where they find a market. Their frank, open countenances, their
independent swagger, and their muscular appearance is enough to secure
them from molestation. They see all the curiosities of the city, visit the
theatre, take a peep into the 'punch-room,' just to see what is there.
They get a view of all the fashionable resorts of the city. But we are not
going to speak of all the places they frequent ! They do not care for
expenses. They go down the river for fun, not for profit, and as they
135

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
did not have much going down,— tugging away at an oar, in rain-, hail-,
and snow-storms,— they are bent on making up for lost time. FinaUy,
after they have become sick and tired of smoke and confusion, they turn
their steps homeward, and in due time they arrive at their mountain home,
and are ready to go to work— when they get rested." — Elk Advocate.
In 1844 the waters of what is now called the Clarion were as clear as
crystal, pure as life, and gurgled into the river from mountain springs.
No tannery or other refuse was to be found in it. In 1749 the French
named the stream Gall River. It was declared a public highway, as

Driving logs.
Toby's Creek, by an act of the Legislature, March 21, 1798, up to the
second great fork.
In early times this river was known as Stump Creek, and sometimes
as Toby's Creek, and it is said that it got these two naraes after two
Indian hunters, who were in the habit (in the winter) of going up this
river in canoes to hunt and trap. They would return each spring
with their furs and meat to their villages down the AUegheny and Ohio
Rivers. It was caUed Toby's Creek as early as 1758. Unable myself to find
any authority for a change to Clarion, I wrote to the Secretary of Internal
Affairs, and received the following reply, — viz. :
136

PIONEER PIISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"June 8, 1897.
" Hon. W. j. McKnight, Brookville, Pa.
" Dear Sir, — In answer to your letter of recent date, we beg to say
that we are unable to find any act of Assembly changing the name of
Toby's Creek to Clarion River. In an act to authorize the erection of a
dam, passed in 1822, this stream is designated as 'Toby's Creek, other
wise called Clarion River.' " Very truly yours, " James W. Latta,
" Secreta7j."
CHAPTER IX.
the old st-ate road — early roads and trails — why the state road
W.AS MADE  the FIRST ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE ROAD- — LAWS, ETC.,
touching the SUBJECT  THE SURVEY  THE ROAD COMPLETED — THE
ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE WHICH SANCTIONED THE BUILDING OF THE
ROAD.In 1791 and 1793 ^ State road through this wilderness to what is now
called Waterford was incepted, agitated, and legalized ; but, owing to
the Indian troubles of 1791, '92, '93, and '94, all efforts had to be
stopped and all legal proceedings annulled and repealed. The Indian
troubles were settled in 1794 by war and purchases, arid then legal steps
were again taken to open up this great northwest in 1 795 and 1796. The
reader will please bear in mind that Le Boeuf is now Waterford, Penn
sylvania, Presque Isle is now Erie City, Pennsylvania, and Bald Eagle's
Nest is now Milesburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania.
EARLY ROADS AND TRAILS.
In 1784-85 the old State Road from the east was opened through
to Fort Pitt in the west over what had been previously a path, or what
was called Forbes's Trail. This trail passed through Bedford, Westmore
land, and other counties. In those days the State surveyed and laid
out county seats and sold the lots. The lots were generally sold at
auction. All government stores, as well as groceries and goods of every
description, were for a long time carried from the east to the west on
pack-horses over trails. One man would sometimes drive a hundred
horses. Guards from the militia were a necessity for their trains. Guards
were also a necessity for the road surveyors and road-makers. A body
of about fifty militia was the usual number, and sometimes these soldiers
would do some work as well as guard the road-makers. Transportation
was also carried over Meade's trail, which passed through ^Vest Reynolds-
10 137

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
ville, in the same way. In 1787 the only road from Fort Pitt to Le Bceuf
(now Waterford) was a trail or path through what is now Butler County
and up the Allegheny River. The turnpike over or across the old Forbes's
trail was finished to Pittsburg in 1819.
In 1794 the great problem was a thoroughfare from the east to the
northwest. The defence of the western portion of the State from In
dians required the State and the national authorities to be constantly on
the alert. On the 28th of February, 1794, the Legislature passed an act
for "raising soldiers for the defence of the western frontiers." Also at
this time a combined effort of the nation and State was made to lay out
a town at Presque Isle (now Erie) on Lake Erie.
WHY THE STATE ROAD WAS MADE.
In order to protect these frontiers from the British and Indians a
road through this wilderness seemed an absolute necessity, hence an act
was passed through the Legislature previous to or in 1794, authorizing
the surveying and making of a State road from Reading to Presque Isle
(Erie City). Colonel Williara Irvine and Andrew Ellicott were the com
missioners. These men were also commissioners to lay out the town of
Erie (Presque Isle). The official instructions to the commissioners and
Captain Denny were as follows : "Philadelphia, March i, 1794.
" Gentlemen, — In providing for the general defence of the frontiers,
the Legislature has authorized me to form a detachment of troops, for
carrying into effect the act directing a town to be laid out at or near
Presque Isle ; and as the subject of the commission to survey and lay out
a road from Reading to Presque Isle raay be promoted by the same
measure, I have instructed Captain Denny, the commanding officer of
the detachment, to grant to you as commissioners all the aid and pro
tection that is compatible with a due attention to the particular charge
which is confided to him. Under these circumstances, I trust you will
find it convenient to proceed immediately in the execution of your work.
" I am, gentleraen,
"Your most obedient servant, <
" Thojias Mifflin.
" To William Irvine and Andrew Ellicott, Commissioners for lay
ing out a road from Reading to Presque Isle." "Philadelphia, March i, 1794.
"The Legislature having made provision for surveying and opening
two roads, — one frora Reading and the other frora French Creek to
Presque Isle, — it is obvious that the establishment of the town is inti
mately connected with those objects ; and, therefore, you shall deem it
your duty to grant all the aid and protection to the respective commis-
138

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
sioners and contractors employed in surveying and opening those roads
that is compatible with due attention to the particular charge confided in
you. " Your most obedient servant, "Thomas Mifflin.
"To Ebenezer Denny, Esq., Captain of the Allegheny Company,
&c." FIRST ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE ROAD.
Captain Ebenezer Denny, with a detachment of soldiers, was ordered
by the government to accompany these men. On the arrival of Denny
and the soldiers at what is now Franklin, Venango County, he discovered
that the Indians were cross and ugly, and General Wilkins, in talking to
Mr. Dallas, said, " The English are fixed in their opposition to the open
ing of the road to Presque Isle, and are determined to prevent it by the
English and Indians." Orders were then given to Captain Denny to go
no farther than Le Boeuf (now Waterford), and occupy two small block
houses, which had been erected for Commissioners Irvine and Ellicott.
This was the first attempt to open up a road through the wilderness
of what is now Jefferson County. Governor Mifflin applied to the Presi
dent for a thousand militia soldiers to enforce this work; but the Presi
dent counselled peace. Work was suspended at Presque Isle, and it was
not until in April, 1795, that all difficulties were removed and Colonel
William Irvine and Andrew Ellicott resumed work. At this time Irvine
commanded the troops and Ellicott had charge of the surveyors.
LAWS, ETC., TOUCHING THE SUBJECT.
The following letter to the author from Hon. Isaac B. Brown, Secre
tary Pennsylvania Department of Internal Affairs, of Harrisburg, gives
some valuable information concerning the road. " Harrisburg, April 29, 1895.
" Mr. W. j. McKnight, Brookville, Pa.
" Dear Sir, — In answer to your letter of the 13th instant, we beg to
say that you will find ' An Act to provide for opening a road from near
the Bald Eagle's Nest, in Mifflin County, to Le Bceuf, in the county of
Allegheny,' passed April 10, 1790, published in full in Bioren's 'Laws
of Pennsylvania,' vol. vi. p. 24. The reference in the preamble of this
act to a road ' in part laid out from Reading to Presque Isle, ' is probably
to an act passed April 11, 1793, appropriating certain sums of money
for laying out a large number of roads within the State. The following
appropriation is made in the first section : ' For viewing and laying out
a road from Reading to Presque Isle, one thousand three hundred and
thirty-three dollars.' This act appears in Bioren's 'Laws,' vol. iv. p.
277 I?/ seq. It is possible, however, that the reference was intended to
139

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
apply to a road from the Bald Eagle's Nest to the Allegheny River, which
was surveyed and laid out under an act passed April 4, 1796, entitled
' An Act for laying out and opening sundry roads within this Common
wealth, and for other purposes.' This act will be found in full in Bioren's
'Laws,' vol. V. p. 187. By this act the governor was authorized and
empowered to appoint ' three skilful persons to view the ground, and
estimate the expense of opening and raaking a good wagon road from
the Bald Eagle's Nest, or the end of the Nittany Mountain, to the town
of Erie at Presque Isle.'
"Under this last act the governor, on the 13th day of April, 1796,
appointed William Irvine, Andrew Ellicott, and George Wilson commis
sioners to make the survey. Andrew Ellicott declined the appointment,
and Joseph Ellicott was appointed in his place. These men raet to ex
amine the situation of the country at the Bald Eagle's Nest and at the
end of Nittany Mountain, and determined to start at the Bald Eagle's
Nest, now Milesburg, Centre County. It appears, however, that William
Irvine returned home, and George Wilson and Joseph Ellicott proceeded
to make the survey. Their draft and report are among the records of
this department, and show their work from the Bald Eagle's Nest to the
Allegheny River, a distance of one hundred and sixteen miles by their
measurement. After reaching the Allegheny River, they say that ' in
consequence of the failure of horses, the scarcity of provisions, the ad
vanced season of the year, and various other obstacles which retarded the
prosecution of the business, they were compelled to relinquish the object
of their mission, and have left above thirty-six miles of the road unfin
ished.' " Very truly yours,
" Isaac B. Brown,
"Secretary."
TPIE SURVEY.
The point on the Allegheny River where these surveyors stopped in
the fall of 1796 was on the land where Eli Holeman settled in 1800. It
is three miles below Tionesta borough. Forest County, Pennsylvania.
For the sixteen years of travel and traffic of emigrants and others over
this old State Road each and all had to force or cross this ferry. The
old State Road never passed through where Clarion now is, or through
Franklin or Meadville. It passed through the wilderness away north of
these towns, but connected with other State roads running through them.
.\11 of the county histories which have been written prior to this one
confound this road with the turnpike, which was not built or opened for
traffic until November, 1820. ,\t Brookville the turnpike survey in 1818
took a separate and distinct southerly course from the old State Road,
and passed through Franklin, Meadville, and so forth.
140

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
THE ROAD COMPLETED.
The road was officially taken from the contractors and a quietus en
tered as to the contract April 2, 1804. The course of the road through
what is now Winslow township was through Rathmel, down Sandy Lick
to the south side, crossing the creek between Sandy Valley and near
where West Reynoldsville now is, where it deflected to the right over the
hiU, through the farm now occupied by Robert Waite. This State road
was the great public thoroughfare for emigrants from the east to the
northwest for a period of sixteen years, until the turnpike was finished in
1820. A portion of about seven miles is still in use from Brookville to
the Clarion County line, parallel, but north of that part of the turnpike
which extends from Brookville to Corsica.
SANCTIONED BY THE LEGISLATURE.
The following is the act which authorized the building of the State
Road, of which this article is a history :
"An Act for laying out and opening Sundry Roads within this
Commonwealth, and for Other Purposes.
"Whereas, From the increasing population of the northern and
northwestern parts of this State, it becomes expedient at this time to pro
vide for the laying out and opening the necessary roads, for the accom
modation of the same ; therefore,
" Section i. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is
hereby enacted by the authority of the same. That the governor be, and he
is hereby, authorized and empowered to appoint three skilful persons to
view the ground and estimate the expense of opening and making a good
wagon road from the town of Northampton, in the county of Northamp
ton, to the mouth of Tioga, in the county of Luzerne, and from thence,
by the most practicable route, to the northern line of this State ; and
three skilful persons to view the ground and estimate the expense of
opening and making a good wagon road from the Bald Eagle's Nest, or
the end of the Nittany Mountain, to the town of Erie, at Presque Isle ;
and to cause the said roads to be surveyed and staked out by the most
practicable routes ; and also to cause drafts of the roads to be made in
profile, and report to the Legislature the proportional parts of the ex
pense that will be incurred in each county through which the said road
will pass ; provided that the commissioners thus appointed shall not stake
out any part of the said roads when they may be carried on roads hereto
fore laid out and opened agreeably to the provisions of former laws of
this State.
" Section 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
the governor be, and he is hereby, empowered to contract, either with
141

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
individuals, or with companies, for opening a road from Pittsburg, by
the way of Fort Franklin, to Le Boeuf, and to draw his warrant on the
State Treasurer for a sum not exceeding two thousand dollars, to defray
the expense of laying out the roads to Tioga and Erie ; a sum not ex
ceeding four thousand doUars, to defray the expense of opening the road
from Pittsburg, by Fort Franklin, to Le Boeuff. Provided always. That
all contracts to be made by virtue of this act shall be registered by the
governor, according to the directions of the eighth section of the act,
entitled 'An Act to provide for the opening and improving sundry navi
gable waters and roads within the Commonwealth,' passed the thirteenth
day of April, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one.*
" Section 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
the governor be, and he is hereby, empowered to draw his warrant in
favor of Joseph Horsefield for any sura not exceeding five hundred dol
lars, to be applied towards removing the fallen timber and other obstruc
tions in the road leading from Jacob Heller's tavern, in Northampton
County, to Wilkesbarre, in Luzerne County. Passed 4th April, 1796."
"Department of Internal Affairs,
"Harrisburg, Pa., June 7, 1895.
"Hon. W. j. McKnight, Brookville, Pa.
" Dear Sir, — Herewith you wiU find copies of the contract and the
reports of John Fleming relating to the road from Bald Eagle's Nest to
Le Bceuff. ' ' Very truly yours,
"James W. Latta,
" Secretary."
"Articles of Agreement made and entered into this third day of
July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-
nine, between Thoraas Mifflin, Governor of the Commonwealth of Penn
sylvania, of the one part, and Samuel Miles and Roger Alden, of the
City of Philadelphia, Esquires, of the other part.
"Whereas, In and by an Act of the General Assembly, entitled
' An Act to provide for opening a Road from near the Bald Eagle's Nest,
in Mifflin county, to Le Bceuff, in the county of Allegheny,' passed the
tenth day of April, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-
nine, the Governor is empowered to contract for opening and improving
the said road in the manner and on the terms in the said act prescribed :
and Whereas, The said Samuel Miles and Roger Alden have made pro
posals for entering into the said contract upon principles which appear
to the Governor raost likely to accoraplish the good purposes by the Legis-
* For the act referred to in this section, see vol. iv. chap. 1558.
142

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
lature intended : Now these Articles Witness, That the said Sarauel
Miles and Roger Alden, jointly and severally for themselves, their Heirs,
Executors, and Administrators, covenant, promise, and agree to and with
the said Thomas Mifflin and his successors. Governors of the Common
wealth of Pennsylvania, in consideration of the Covenant on behalf of the
said Commonwealth hereinafter made. That they, the said Samuel Miles
and Roger Alden, their Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, shall and
will, well and faithfully, and with all convenient diligence, open, extend,
and improve the said Road in manner following, — that is to say : That
the Road shall be opened generally of such width as to enable and adrait
two waggons to pass each other, except only in such place or places as
from great natural difficulty of Mountains, Hills, Rocks, and Morasses
shall render such an undertaking impracticable or unreasonably laborious
and expensive, considering the public consideration therefor given. But
in all such place or places there shall be a good passage of at least ten feet
wide, with proper and convenient passing places in view : And that the
said Contractors will advance by anticipation (if necessary) the sums of
money requisite to open the said Road in the manner aforesaid. And
the said Thomas Mifflin, in consideration of the Covenants and under
taking of the said Contractors, and by virtue of the power in the said
Act of Assembly to hira given, covenants, promises, and agrees to and
with the said Samuel Miles and Roger Alden, their Executors, Adminis
trators, and Assigns, that they shall have and receive the sum of Five
Thousand Dollars, to be paid out of the first money arising from the sale
of the reserved Lands & Lots at the Towns of Erie, Franklin, Warren,
and Waterford : And for which sum of Five Thousand Dollars, the said
Thomas Mifflin covenants, promises, and agrees to draw his Warrant or
Warrants on the State Treasurer in favor of the said Contractors. In
Witness whereof the parties have hereunto set their respective hands &
seals the day and year first above written.
(Signed) "Samuel Miles, [seal]
Roger Alden, [seal]
Thos. Mifflin, [seal]
"Sealed and Delivered'
in the presence of
A. W. Foster,
Jno. Miles."
To the above contract appear the names of George Fox, James
PhiUips, and Tench Coxe as sureties for its " true, faithful, perfect, and
diligent performance," and also the following endorsement on the back
of the same :
"The Governor, being satisfied, from three several reports of John
Fleming, Esquire, (the two first dated on the i6th of December, 1801,
143

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
& the I oth of January, 1803, respectively; & the last without date, but
delivered into the Secretary's Office in the month of January last,) that
Samuel Miles &: Roger Alden, Esquires, have completed their contract
for opening a road from near the Bald Eagle's Nest lo Le Boeuff, by
opening & improving the same agreeably to the terms of said contract,
as far as could reasonably be expected from the situation and nature of
the country through which said road passes, & the public consideration
given therefore, this day directed a quietus to be entered upon the
contract. (Signed) " T. M. Thompson, &;:.
" April the 2nd, 1804."
"To his Excellency Thomas McKean, Esquire, Governor of the
State of Pennsylvania .
"Sir, — In pursuance of your Excellency's letter appointing me a Com
missioner to view and report on that part of the State Road from Miles
burg to Le Boeuff, which was undertaken to be opened by Col. Samuel
Miles, I proceeded to Milesburg and viewed the said Road as shewn to
me by Mr. Richard Miles, and beg leave to submit the following Report :
"Beginning at Milesburg the road crosses Bald Eagle creek, over
which is a sufficient wooden Bridge, thence up the said creek on the
north side of it for five miles ; the road passable for waggons. Within
these five miles, on the west side of Wallis's run, there is some wet ground
a little swampy.
"Leaving the Bald Eagle creek and thence to the foot of the Alle
gheny mountain, five miles, the Road is good excepting some trees that
have fallen across it since it was opened.
Across the mountain is three miles. The ascent is one mile, of which
240 perches are dug, in some places, nine feet wide. Towards the top it
is too steep for carriages. The descent of the mountain is about two
miles and gradual.
" About one mile from the foot of the mountain is a sraall run diffi
cult to pass.
" Here I must beg leave to remark, as applicable to this as well as to
other small runs that may be mentioned in this Report, that many very
small streams in the country over which this road passes run in narrow
channels, the bottoms of which lie from one to three feet below the sur
face of the earth. A footman can step over many of them, where, from
the nature of the soil at the bottom, a horse is in great danger of being
mired. "After crossing the last-mentioned run there is a hill of which in
ascent there are thirty perches, and in descent twelve perches not pas
sable for waggons for want of digging. Near this are two small runs, both
difficult to pass. 144

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" To Phillipsburg from thence, a distance of more than eight miles,
the Road is good, excepting some very swampy ground on the east of
what is called the five mile run, and some miry ground at Coldstream,
one mile from Phillipsburg. Some more work is necessary on the hill
west of the five mile run. The whole distance from Milesburg to Phil
lipsburg is twenty-six miles.
"Passing PhiUipsburg one mile is Moshannon creek. It is not
bridged nor is it fordable at the place where the Road crosses it at any
season. There is some timber prepared at the place for a bridge. It is
about six perches wide with steep banks. There is a Fording about half
a mile below. Three miles further the road is good excepting a few wet
places. Within two miles further there are two runs, the banks of which
are dug, and the road is good.
" Thence to Clearfield creek, four miles, some digging done in two
places, and on the hill descending to Clearfield forty perches are well
dug ; the road is good.
" Thence to the Susquehanna river, five miles, the road good. The
breadth of the river is twelve perches.
" Thence to Anderson's creek, nearly three miles, some digging done
on Hogback hill. The road in general good.
" Thence to a branch of Anderson's creek, about eight miles, several
places dug and some bridges made : the road is tolerably good. More
digging and bridging wanted.
"Thence to the waters of Stump creek, about three miles, several
bridges made and digging done in some places ; the road good.
" Thence five miles, crossing two ridges on each of which there is
digging done, and several runs, two of which are bridged. In the latter
part of these five miles are two runs necessary to be bridged. With this
exception the road is tolerably good.
" Thence to a branch of Sandy Lick creek, about six railes, in several
places the road is dug and some bridges made. The road tolerably good.
"Thence about three miles ; several steep banks, deep runs and wet
places ; road not passable.
"Thence to the end of Col. Miles' opening is four miles. The road
good. " From Milesburg until the road crosses the Susquehanna the road is
opened from sixteen to twenty feet wide, and from thence to the end it is
opened from twelve to sixteen feet wide. The whole length of the road
opened as aforesaid by Col. Miles is seventy- four miles and eighty- six
perches. (Signed) " Jno. Fleming.
" December i6th, 1801."
Only the commonest goods were hauled into this county from Phila
delphia over the old State Road. The freightage from Philadelphia to
145

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Port Barnett was about six dollars per one hundred pounds, and it took
four weeks to come from Philadelphia. In 1800 wheat brought one dollar
and a half a bushel, wheat flour four and five dollars per one hundred
pounds, corn one dollar per bushel, oats seventy-five cents, potatoes
sixty-five cents. Tobacco was sold by the yard at four cents per yard,
coramon sugar thirty-three cents, and loaf (white sugar) fifty cents per
pound. A hunter's rifle cost twenty-five dollars, a yoke of oxen eighty
dollars, boots from one to three dollars, a pair of moccasins about three
or four shillings.
S. B. Rowe, in his "Pioneer History of Clearfield County," says,
"The State, in order to connect the western frontier with the eastern
settlements, had laid out several roads, among others one leading from
Milesburg to Erie. This road was opened in the year 1803. It crossed
the Susquehanna River near the residence of Benjamin Jordan.
"The Milesburg and Le Bceuff road became subsequently an impor
tant and leading thoroughfare. It was a road ofthe worst kind, laid out
with very little skill, and made with a great deal of dishonesty. It had
but one bridge — at Moshannon — between Bellefonte and Anderson's
Creek, and to avoid digging the hill-side, Anderson's Creek was crossed
three times in less than two miles. Large quantities of merchandise
passed over it, principally upon pack-horses, companies of which, ex
ceeding a score in number, might often be seen traversing it. Until the
place of this road was supplied by an artificial road, located on or near its
bed, it was the principal road leading to Erie and the great West. About
the time the State Road was supplanted by the turnpike the now alraost
forgotten Conestoga wagon, with its heavy horses, walking leisurely along,
their tread raeasured by the jingling of bells, afforded cheaper and better
mode of transportation for goods. A trip to Philadelphia to purchase
goods or to ' see the sights' of that village was then quite an undertaking,
and called for weeks of preparation."

" To his Excellency Thomas McKean, Esquire, Governor of the Com
monwealth of Pennsylvania .
" Agreeably to your Instructions received through the Secretary of
the Commonwealth, I proceeded to review that part of the road leading
from Milesburg to Le Bceuff, opened by Major Roger Alden, and beg
leave to submit the foUowing report :
" Beginning at the west end of Col. Sarauel Miles' opening,
" 2 miles, a hill with some digging ; the road good.
" I j4 miles to the crossing of the north branch of Sandy Lick creek.
The road good.
"9m farther. The road good.
" 4 m of rough road. There is in this distance four streams of water
146

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
crossing it, with bad hills on each side of each of them. They are gen
erally all dug that carriages may pass.
"4m farther to Toby's creek : some digging done on the descent of
the hill going down to the creek — the road tolerably good.
" 2 m farther to the hill descending to Little Toby's creek. The
road good. When I reported before, this descent to the creek was im
passable with waggons ; since that time the road has been changed, and
laid on better ground, and the road dug. The road good. West of the
creek the road is somewhat difficult for carriages.
"4 m. The road passable for carriages.
" I m. A hill descending to Licking creek, bad, as is also the hill
on the west side of the creek. There is some digging done here. These
hills coraprehend a distance exceeding a mUe.
" 10 m. Road good, lying on chestnut ridges. In this distance there
is little difference in the road.
"4m to the Allegheny river, lying over pine ridges, some of them
steep. The hill to the river near a mile long. Since my last report
some bridging and digging has been done. Passable for carriages.
"6m from the crossing of the Allegheny river to Pi thole creek. The
road crosses several ridges, one of which is dug.
" 2 m of good road.
"2 m of very swampy ground, principally bridged and causewayed.
Passable with carriages.
"3 m to the crossing of the south-east branch of Oil creek There
are several bridges made in this distance. There is a good one across the
creek. The road good.
"7m to the crossing of the N. W. branch of Oil creek. There are
several bridges made in this distance. Since my last report the fording
of the creek is changed for the better.
" I m. West of the creek for near a mile the road is altered, making
the ascent of the hills that I noticed easier. They are still difficult for
carriages. " 7 m to where this road intersects the public road from Pittsburg to
Le Bceuff by the way of Franklin. In this distance the road in general
is good. A number of bridges are made on it.
" 3 m to the crossing of Muddy creek — several bridges made. The
road something wet.
" 12 m to the crossing of French creek — a number of bridges made.
" 3 m to Le Boeuff — a number of bridges made, and the road good.
From the intersection of the Franklin road to Le Bceuff the soil is gen
erally wet.
" I would generally observe that a considerable quantity of timber is
fallen across the road, and the sprouts in such quantities grown up in
many places, since the road was opened, as to render travelling difficult.
147

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
There has not been any cutting done since I reported, unless where the
road is changed in the two places before mentioned.
" I am Sir,
" Your Excellency's very humble servant,
"John Fleming."
"An Act making Appropriation for Certain Internal Improve
ments.
"Section 14. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid.
That the sum of four hundred and fifty dollars be, and the same is hereby
appropriated to be paid to John Litle and James Weston, for improving
the following roads in the county of Erie : to wit, two hundred and
twenty-five dollars for the State Road from Milesburgh to Waterford, etc.
"Section 17. That the sum offive hundred dollars be, and the same
is hereby appropriated to be paid to the commissioners of Venango
County for improving the following roads : viz., . . . and two hundred
and fifty doUars for the State Road from Waterford to Milesburgh, where
it passes through the county of Venango, and crosses the Allegheny River
at the ferry of Eli Holeman.
"Section 20. That the sum of seven hundred dollars be, and the
same is hereby appropriated to be paid to the commissioners of Indiana
County for improving the State Road from Milesburgh to Waterford, where
it passes through the county of Jefferson, between the counties of Clear
field and Armstrong ; and that the further sura of seven hundred dollars
be, and the same is hereby appropriated to be paid to the commissioners
of Armstrong County ; three hundred dollars thereof for improving that
part of the Milesburgh and Waterford road which passes through the
County of Armstrong, etc.
" Section 22. That the sum of seven hundred dollars be, and the same
is hereby appropriated to be paid to the commissioners of Centre County
for improving the roads in Clearfield County, as follows: viz., . . four
hundred dollars for the road frora Milesburgh to Waterford between the
west branch of the Susquehanna River and the line between the counties
of Clearfield and Jefferson, and one hundred dollars for the said road
from Clearfield Creek to the line of Centre County.
" Section 29. That it shall be the duty of the county commissioners,
and trustees, and the commissioners appointed by this act, to whom the
sums hereby appropriated are to be paid respectively, to advertise that
proposals will be received at a certain time and place, to be by them fixed,
for making the improvements in this act specified, and shall contract
with such person or persons as will in their judgment secure the most
advantageous expenditure of the several sums herein appropriated ; and
they shall furnish to the auditors of their several counties a detailed
statement of the manner in which the said monies shall have been ex-
148

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
pended ; and the county commissioners, and trustees, and commissioners
appointed by this act, as soon as their accounts shall have been settled
and adjusted, shall transmit a certified copy of the detailed statement
aforesaid to the auditor-general, together with the vouchers, which ac
counts shall be settled by the accountant department in the usual manner.
"Section 30. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid,
That at any time after the first day of August next, the State treasurer be,
and he is hereby authorized and directed to pay to the county commis
sioners, and trustees, and commissioners appointed by this act, on their
producing satisfactory evidence that the several contracts have been made,
and the necessary securities for the faithful application of the monies
taken, and the work actually commenced, the several sums hereby appro
priated out of any monies in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
' ' x-\.pproved — the second day of April, one thousand eight hundred
and eleven. " SiiiON Snyder."
The road was opened and finished to Holeman's Ferry, on the AUe
gheny River, in 1804. This point is now in Forest County. There was
no provision made to complete the road from there to Waterford by the
Legislature until 1810. At that time Clarion County was not organized,
and the part of the State Road that now lies in Clarion County was then
in Venango County. As near as can be learned, the following contracts
were let for work on the road in the year i8ti :
" Wm. Hays contracted to dig a part of said road on the north side
of 'Three Mile Run at 40 cts. per perch.'
" Isaac Connelly contracted to dig a part of said road on the north
side of ' Hemlock Creek at 50 cts. per perch.'
"Williara Hays contracted to dig and open a part of said road on
the south side of ' Hemlock Creek at 40 cts. a perch.'
' ' Samuel and Alexander McHatten agree to open and bridge a part
of the said road near Hicks cabin at eight doUars.
" Charles Holman contracted to open and dig a part of said road for
66 cts. per perch for digging, and a reasonable prize for any part which
may be opened.
"Sarauel and Alexander McHatten contracted to dig and open a part
of said road at 57 cts. a perch on the north side of Little Toby's Creek.
"Alexander McElhaney contracted to bridge a part of said road,
supposed to be 26 rods, at 99 cts. per perch, and to open and repair at a
reasonable price.
"Samuel and Alex McHatten agree to dig and open a part of said
road on Toby's Creek Hill at twenty-four and a half cents per perch."
In Brookville the State Road came up the hill between Mrs. Show-
alter's and the Lutheran church, turned to the right and over what is now
an aUey between Dr. McKnight and Robert Darrah.

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA,

CHAPTER X.
pioneer agriculture — how the farmers in the olden time had to
make shift — the pioneer homes — pioneer food — pioneer even
ing frolics  TREES, SNAKES, AND REPTILES  SOLDIERS OF l8l2 
pioneer legal RELATIONS OF MAN AND WIFE  EARLY AND PIONEER
MUSIC  LIST OF TAXABLE INHABITANTS IN 1820  THE TRANSPORTA
TION OF IRON — THE FIRST SCREW FACTORY  POPULATION OF THE
STATE AND OF THE UNITED STATES.
For convenience in description I may here state that the soil of Jef
ferson County was covered in sections with two different growths of tim
ber, — viz., sections of oak and other hard-wood timber, with underbrush
and saplings. Sorae of these sections were called the barrens. The
other sections were covered with a dense and heavy growth of pine,
hcQilock, poplar, cucumber, bass, ash, sugar, and beech, with saplings,
down timber, and underbrush in great profusion. The mode of clearing
in these different sections was not the same. In the first-mentioned or
sparsely covered section the preliminary work was grubbing. The saplings
and underbrush had to be grubbed up and out with a mattock and piled
in brush-piles. One man could usually grub an acre in four days, or you
could let this at a job for two dollars per acre and board. The standing
timber then was usually girdled or deadened, and allowed to fall down in
the crops from year to year, to be chopped and rolled in heaps every spring.
In the dense or heavy growth timber the preliminary work was underbrush-
ing, cutting the saplings close to the ground, piling the brush or not, as
the necessity of the case seemed to require. The second step was the
cutting of all down timber into lengths of ten or fifteen feet. After this
came the cutting of all standing timber, which, too, had to be brushed
and cut into twelve- or fifteen-foot lengths. This latter work was always
a winter's job for the farmer, and the buds on these falling trees made
excellent browsing feed for his cattle. In the spring-time, after the brush
had become thoroughly dry, and in a dry time, a good burn of the brush,
if possible, was obtained. The next part of the process was logging,
usually after harvest. This required the labor of five men and a team of
oxen, — one driver for the oxen and two raen at each end of the log-heap.
Neighbors would " morrow" with each other, and on such occasions each
neighbor usually brought his own handspike. This was a round pole,
usually made of beech-, dog-, or ironwood, without any iron on or in it,
about six feet long, and sharpened at the large end. Logs were rolled on
the pile over skids. Soraetimes the cattle were made to draw or roll the
logs on the heap. These piles were then burned, and the soil was ready
150

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
for the drag or the triangular harrow. I have looked like a negro many
a time while working at this logging. Then money was scarce, labor
plenty and cheap, and amusements few, hence grubbing, chopping, and
logging "frolics" were frequent and popular. For each frolic one or
more two-gaUon jugs of whiskey were indispensable. A jolly good time
was had, as well as a good dinner and supper, and every one in the
neighborhood expected an invitation.
As there was a fence law then, the ground had to be fenced, accord
ing to this law, "horse-high, bull-strong, and hog-tight." The effort
made by the pioneer to obey this law was in four ways, — viz. : First, by
slashing trees and placing brush upon the trees ; second, by using the
logs from the clearing for the purpose of a fence ; third, by a post- and
raU-fence, built straight, and the end of each rail sharpened and fastened
in a mortised post ; fourth, by the common rail- or worm-fence. These
rails were made of ash, hickory, chesnut, linn, and pine. The usual price
for making rails per hundred was fifty cents with board. I have made
them by contract at that price myself.
" I seem to see the low rail-fence.
That worming onward mile on mile.
Was redolent with pungent scents
Of sassafras and camomile.
Within a fence-rail tall and bare.
The saucy bluebird nested there ;
'Twas there the largest berries grew.
As every barefoot urchin knew !
And swiftly, shyly creeping through
The tangled vine and the bramble dense.
The mingled sunshine and the dew.
The Bob-White perched atop the fence ;
And, flinging toil and care away.
He piped and lilted all the day."
In 1 799, when Joseph Hutchison lived here, wheat sold in this sec
tion of the State for two dollars and fifty cents per bushel, flour for eighteen
doUars per barrel, corn two doUars, oats one dollar and fifty cents, and
potatoes one dollar and fifty cents per bushel.
The early axes were called pole-axes. They were rude, clumsy, and
heavy, with a single bit. About 1815 an improved Yankee single-bit
axe was introduced, but it, too, was heavy and clumsy. In about 1825
the present double-bitted axe came to be occasionally used.
I have never seen the wooden plough, but I have seen them with the
iron shoe point and coulter. These were still in use in the late twenties.
I have driven an ox-team to the drag or triangular harrow. This was the
principal implement used in seeding ground, both before and after the
introduction of the shovel-plough in 1843.
151

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"The greatest improvement ever made on ploughs, in this or any
other country, was made by Charles Newbold, of Burlington, New Jersey,
and patented in 1797. The mould-board, share, landside, and point were
all cast together in one solid piece. The plough was all cast iron except
the beam and handles. The importance of this invention was so great
that it attracted the attention of plough-makers and scientific men all
over the country. Thomas Jefferson (afterwards President of the United
States) wrote a treatise on ploughs, with a particular reference to the
Newbold plough. He described the requisite form of the mould-board,
according to scientific principles, and calculated the proper form and cur
vature of the mould-board to lessen the friction and lighten the draught.
"The Newbold plough would have been nearly perfect had it not
been for one serious defect. When the point, for instance, was worn out,
which would soon be accomplished, the plough was ruined and had to
be thrown aside. This defect, however, was happily remedied by Jethro
Wood, who was the first to cast the plough in sections, so that the parts
most exposed to wear could be replaced from the same pattern, by which
means the cast-iron plough became a complete success. His plough was
patented in 1819, twenty-two years after Newbold's patent. It is a won
der that so long a tirae should have elapsed before any one thought of
this improvement. These two men did more for the farmers in relation
to ploughs than any others before their time or since."
In harvest-time the grain was first reaped with a sickle ; then came
the cradle. In my boyhood all the lying grain thrown down by storms
was still reaped with a sickle. I carry the evidence of this on my fingers.
Grain was usually thrashed by a flail, though some tramped it out with
horses. By the flail ten bushels of wheat or twenty bushels of oats was
a good day's work. Men who travelled around thrashing on shares with
the flail charged every tenth bushel, including board. The tramping
was done by horses and by farmers who had good or extra barn floors.
The sheaves were laid in a circle, a man stood in the raiddle of the circle
to turn up and over the straw as needed, and then, with a boy to ride
one horse and lead another, the "tramping" in this circuit commenced.
This was hard work for the boy ; it made him tired and sore where he sat
down. To prevent dizziness, the travel on the circuit vvas frequently re
versed. One man, a boy, and two horses could tramp out in this way
in a day about fifteen bushels of wheat or thirty-five bushels of oats.
Grain was cleaned by means of two hand-riddles, one coarse and one fine.
These riddles had no iron or steel about them, the bottom of each being
made of wooden splints woven in. The riddles were two and one-half
feet in diameter and the rings about four inches wide. Three men were
required to clean the grain, — one to shake the riddle, while two others,
one at each end of a tow sheet, doubled, swayed the sheet to and fro in
front of the man shaking the riddle. These three men in this way could
152

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
clean about ten or fifteen bushels of wheat in a day. This process was
practised in the- twenties. Windmills came into use about 1825. For
many years there were extremely few wagons and but poor roads on
which to use them. The early vehicles were the prongs of a tree, a sled
made of saplings, called a " pung," and ox- carts. In fact, about all the
work was done with oxen, and in driving his cattle the old settler would
halloo with all his might and swear profusely. This profanity and hal
looing was thought to be necessary. The pioneer sled was made with
heavy single runners, the " bob"-sled being a later innovation.
" HAYING IN THE OLDEN TIME.
" Haying in the old days was a much more formidable yearly under
taking than it is to modern farmers. Before the era of labor-saving
haying implements farmers began the work of haying early in the day
and season, and toiled hard until both were far spent. Human muscle
was strained to exert a force equal to the then unused horse-power. On
large farms many ' hands' were required. Haying was an event of im
portance in the farmer's year. It made great demands upon his time,
strength, and pocket-book. His best helpers were engaged long in ad
vance, sometimes a whole season. Ability to handle a scythe well enti
tled a man to respect while haying lasted. Experts took as rauch pains
with a scythe as with a razor. Boys of to-day have never seen such a
sight as a dozen stalwart men mowing a dozen-acre field.
" On the first day of haying, almost before the sun was up, the men
would be at the field ready to begin. The question to be settled at the
very outset was as to which man should cut the ' double. ' This was the
first swath to be cut down and back through the centre of the field.
" The boys brought up the rear in the line of mowers. Their scythes
were hung well 'in,' to cut a narrow swath. They were told to stand
up straight when mowing, point in, keep the heel of the scythe down,
and point out evenly, so as not to leave ' hog-troughs' on the meadow
when the hay was raked up. Impatient of these admonitions, they
thought they could mow pretty well, and looked ambitiously forward to
a time when they might cut the ' double.
DRESS OF MEN.
Moccasin shoes, buckskin breeches, blue broadcloth coats and brass
buttons, fawn-skin vests, roundabouts, and woollen warmuses, leather or
wooUen gaUowses, coon- or seal-skin caps in winter with chip or oat-straw
hats for summer. Every neighbbrhood had then usually one itinerant
shoemaker and tailor, who periodically visited cabins and made up shoes
or clothes as required. All material had to be furnished, and these itin
erant mechanics worked for fifty cents a day and board. Corduroy pants
and corduroy overalls were common.
II 153

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
The warmuses, breeches, and hunting-shirts of the men, the linsey
petticoats, dresses, and bed-gowns of the women, were all hung in some
corner of the cabin on wooden pegs. To some extent this was a display
of pioneer wealth. DRESS OF WOMEN.
Home made woollen cloth, tow, linen, linsey-woolsey, etc. I have
seen "barefoot girls with cheek of tan" walk three or four miles to
church, when, on nearing the church, they would step into the woods to
put on a pair of shoes they carried with them. I could name some of
these who are living to-day. A woraan who could buy eight or ten yards
of calico for a dress at a dollar a yard put on queenly airs. Every married
woman of any refinement then wore day-caps and night-caps. The
bonnets were beaver, gimp, leghorn, and sun-bonnets. For shoes, women
usually went barefoot in the summer, and in the winter covered their feet
with moccasins, calf-skin shoes, buffalo overshoes, and shoe-packs.
Linen and tow cloth were made from flax. The seed was sown in the
early spring and ripened about August. It was harvested by " pulling."
This was generally done by a "pulling frolic" of young people pulling
it out by the root. It was then tied in little sheaves and permitted to
dry, hauled in, and thrashed for the seed. Then the straw was watered
and rotted by laying it on the ground out of doors. Then the straw was
again dried and " broken in the flax-break," after which it was again tied
up in little bundles and then scutched with a wooden knife. This scutch
ing was a frolic job too, and a dirty one. Then it was hackled. This
hackling process separated the linen part from the tow. The rest of the
process consisted of spinning, weaving, and dyeing. Linen cloth sold for
about twenty-four cents a yard, tow cloth for about twenty cents a yard.
In the State Constitutional Convention of 1837 to amend the con
stitution I find the occupation of the raembers elected to that body to be
as follows, — yiz. : Farmers, 51; iron-masters, 3; manufacturer, i; me
chanics, 2 ; house-carpenters, 2 ; brick-maker, i ; paper-maker, i ;
printers, 2; potter, i; judge, i ; attorneys, 41; doctors, 12; editor, i;
merchants, 9; surveyors, 4; clerks, 4; total membership, 136. From
this it will be seen that farmers received proper recognition in the earlier
elections. THE PIONEER HOMES OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
" This is Ihe land our fathers loved.
The homestead which they toiled to win.
This is the ground whereon they moved.
And here are the graves they slumber in."
The home of the pioneer in Jefferson County was a log cabin, one
story high, chinked and daubed, having a fireplace in one end, with a
chimney built of sticks and mud, and in one corner always stood a big
154

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
wooden poker to turn back-logs or punch the fire. These cabins were
usually small, but some were perhaps twenty by thirty feet, with a hole
cut in two logs for a single window, — -oiled paper being used for glass.

For Brussels carpet they had puncheon floors, and a clapboard roof held
down by weight poles to protect them from the storm. Wooden pegs
were driven in the logs for the wardrobe, the rifle, and the powder-horn.
Wooden benches and stools were a luxury upon which to rest or sit while
feasting on mush and milk, buckwheat cakes, hog and hominy.
155

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Hospitality in this log cabin was simple, hearty, and unbounded.
Whiskey was pure, cheap, and plenty, and was lavished bountifully on
each and all social occasions. Every settler had his jug or barrel. It
was the drink of drinks at all merry-makings, grubbings, loggings, chop-
pings, house-warmings, and weddings. A drink of whiskey was always
proffered to the visitor or traveller who chanced to call or spend a night
in these log cabins.
Puncheon boards or planks were made from a log of straight grain
and clear of knots, and of the proper length, which was split into parts

Cabin barn.
and the face of each part smoothed with a broadaxe. The split parts
had to be all started at the same time, with wedges at the end of the
log, each wedge being struck alternately with a maul until all the parts
were separated.
The furniture for the table of the pioneer log cabins consisted of
pewter dishes, plates, and spoons, or wooden bowls, plates, and noggins.
If noggins were scarce, gourds and hard-shelled squashes answered for
drinkmg-cups. The iron pots, knives and forks, along with the salt and iron, were
156

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
brought to the wilderness on pack-horses over Meade's trail or over the
Milesburg and Le Bceuf State road.
Some of these log cabins near Brookville were stiU occupied in the
forties. I have been in many of them in my chUdhood. In proof of the
smallness ofthe early cabin I reproduce the testimony on oath of Thoraas
Lucas, Esq., in the following celebrated ejectment case, — viz. :
" EJECTMENT.
" In the Court of Common Pleas of Jefferson County. Ejectment for
sixteen hundred acres of land in Pine Creek township. Elijah Heath vs.
Joshua Knap, et al.
" i6th September, 1841, a jury was called per minets. The plaintiff
after having opened his case in support of the issue, gave in evidence as
follows :
" Thomas Lucas. — Masons have in the surveys about twelve acres of
land, a cabin house, and stable thereon. They live near the line of the
town tract, the town tract takes in the apple-trees ; think they claim on
some improvement. Some of this improvement I think is thirty-five
years old,— this was the Mason claim. The first improvement was made
in 1802 ; I call it the Pickering survey, only an interference. Jacob Mason
has been living off and on since 1802, — two small cabin houses on the
interference, one fifteen or sixteen feet square, the other very small,
twelve or fifteen feet, — a log stable."
At this time and before it many of these cabins were lighted by
means of a half window, — viz., one window-sash, containing from four to
six panes of seven by nine glass. Up to and even at this date (1841) the
usual light at night in these cabins was the old iron lamp, something like
the miner wears in his hat, or else a dish containing refuse grease, with
a rag in it. Each smoked and gave a dismal light, yet women cooked,
spun, and sewed and men read the itw books they had as best they could.
The aroma from this refuse grease was simply horrible. The cabin was
daily swept with a split broom made of hickory. The hinges and latches
of these cabins were made of wood. The latch on the door was raised from
without by means of a buckskin string. At night, as a means of safety,
the string was " pulled in," and this locked the door. As a further mark
of refinement each cabin was generally guarded by from two to six
worthless dogs.
Of pests in and around the old cabin, the house-fly, the bed-bug, and
the louse were the most common on the inside ; the gnat, the wood-tick,
and the horse-fly on the outside. It was a constant fight for life with
man, cattle, and horses against the gnat, the tick, and the horse-fly, and
if it had not been for the protection of what were called "gnat-fires,"
life could not have been sustained, or at least it would have been unen
durable. The only thing to dispel these outside pests was to clear land
157

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
and let in the sunshine. As an all-around pest in the cabin and out, day
and night, there was the flea.
PIONEER FOOD— WHAT THE PIONEER COULD HAVE, OR DID
HAVE, TO EAT.
Buckwheat cakes, mush, and souens, corn-mush and milk, rye-mush
and bread, hominy, potatoes, turnips, wild onions or wramps, wild
meats, wild birds, fish, and wild fruits.
In the early cooking everything was boiled and baked ; this was
healthy. There was no "rare fad," with its injurious results. The
common dishes served were wheat- and rye bread, wheat- and rye-mush,
corn-pone, cakes, and mush, sweet and buttermilk boiled and thickened,,
doughnuts, and baked pot-pies. Soda was made by burning corn-cobs.
Buckwheat souens was a great pioneer dish. It was made in this
wise : Mix your buckwheat flour and water in the morning ; add to this
enough yeast to make the batter light ; then let it stand until evening, or
until the batter is real sour. Now stir this batter into boiling water and
boil until it is thoroughly cooked, like corn mush. Eat hot or cold with
milk or cream. MEATS.
Hogs, bears, elks, deer, rabbits, squirrels, and woodchucks.
The saddles or hams of the deer were salted by the pioneer, then
smoked and dried. This was a great luxury, and could be kept all the
year through.
The late Dr. Clarke wrote, "Wild game, such as elks, deer, bears,
turkeys, and partridges, were nuraerous, and for many years constituted
an important part of the animal food of the early settlers in this wilder
ness. Wolves and panthers came in for a share of this game, until they,
too, became game for the hunters by the public and legal offer of boun
ties to be paid for their scalps, or rather for their ears, for a perfect pair
of ears was required to secure the bounty. All these have become nearly
extinct. The sturdy elk no longer roves over the hills or sips ' salty
sweetness' from the licks. The peculiar voice of the stately strutting
wild turkey is heard no more. The howl of the wolf and the panther's
cry no longer alarra the traveller as he winds his way over the hills or
through the valleys, and the flocks are now perraitted to rest in peace.
Even the wild deer is now seldom seen, and a nice venison steak rarely
gives its delicious aroma among the shining plate of modern well-set
tables." FISH.
Pike, bass, catfish, suckers, sunfish, horn-chubs, mountain trout, and
eels. The old settler shot, seined, hooked with a line, and gigged his fish.
Gigging was done at night by means of a light made from burning fagots
158

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
of pitch-pine. It usually required three to do this gigging, whether
" wading" or in a canoe, — one to carry the light ahead, one to gig, and
one to care for the fish. BIRDS.
Pheasants were plentiful, and enlivened the forests with their drum
ming. The waters and woods were full of wild ducks, geese, pigeons,
and turkeys.
The most remarkable bird in America was the wild turkey. It is
the original turkey, and is the stock from which the tame turkeys sprung.
In the wild state it was to be found in the wooded lands east of the
Rocky Mountains. In pioneer times it was called gobbler or Bubly
Jock by the whites, and Oo-coo-coo by the Indians. Our pioneer
hunters could mimic or imitate the gobbling of a turkey, and this decep
tive ruse was greatly practised to excite the curiosity and bring the bird
within shooting distance. The last wild turkey in our county was killed
in the seventies near the town of False Creek.
To obtain a turkey roast when needed, the pioneer sometimes built in
the woods a pen of round logs and covered it with brush. Whole flocks
of turkeys were sometimes caught in these pens, built in this wise :
" First, a narrow ditch, about six feet long and two feet deep, was
dug. Over this trench the pen was built, leaving a few feet of the chan
nel outside of the enclosure. The end of the part of the trench enclosed
was usually about the middle of the pen. Over the ditch, near thq wall
of the pen, boards were laid. The pen was made tight enough to hold
a turkey and covered with poles. Then corn was scattered about on the
inside, and the ditch outside baited with the same grain. Soraetiraes
straw was also scattered about in the pen. Then the trap was ready for its
victims. The turkeys came to the pen, began to pick up the corn, and
followed the trench within. When they had eaten enough, the birds
tried to get out by walking around the pen, looking up all the time.
They would cross the ditch on the boards, and never think of going to
the opening in the ground at the centre of the pen. When the hunter
found his game he had only to crawl into the pen through the trench and
kiU the birds."
In the fall turkeys became very fat, and gobblers were sometimes
captured for Christmas in this way weighing over twenty pounds.
FRUITS.
Apples, crab-apples, wild, red, and yellow plums, blackberries,
huckleberries, elderberries, wild strawberries, choke-cherries, and wild
gooseberries. SWEETS.
Domestic and wild honey, maple-sugar, maple-molasses, and corn-cob
molasses. Bee-trees were numerous, and would frequently yield from
159

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
eight to twelve gallons of excellent honey. These trees had to be cut in
the night by the light of pitch-pine fagots.
DRINK.
MethegUn, a drink made from honey; whiskey, small beer, rye
coffee, buttermilk, and fern, sassafras, sage, and mint teas.-
To fully illustrate the pioneer days I quote from the " History of
Crawford County, Pennsylvania," — viz. :
" The habits of the pioneers were of a simplicity and purity in con
formance to their surroundings and belongings. The men were engaged
in the herculean labor, day after day, of enlarging the little patch of sun
shine about their homes, cutting away the forest, burning off the brush
and debris, preparing the soil, planting, tending, harvesting, caring for
the few animals which they brought with them or soon procured, and in
hunting. While they were engaged in the heavy labor of the field and
forest, or following the deer, or seeking other game, their helpmeets were
busied with their household duties, providing for the day and for the
winter coming on, cooking, making clothes, spinning, and weaving.
They were fitted by nature and experience to be the consorts of the
brave men who first came into the western wilderness. They were heroic
in their endurance of hardship and privation and loneliness.
" Their industry was well directed and unceasing. Woman's work
then, like man's, was performed under disadvantages, which have been
removed in later years. She had not only the common household duties
to perform, but many others. She not only made the clothing, but the
fabric for it. That old, old occupation of spinning and of weaving,
with which woman's name has been associated in all history, and of which
the modern world knows nothing, except through the stories of those
who are great-grandmothers now, — that old occupation of spinning and
weaving which seems surrounded with a glamour of romance as we look
back to it through tradition and poetry, and which always conjures up
thoughts of the graces and virtues of the dames and damsels of a genera
tion that is gone, — that old, old occupation of spinning and of weaving
was the chief industry of the pioneer woman. Every cabin sounded with
the softly whirring wheel and the rhythmic thud of the loom. The woman
of pioneer times was like the woman described by Solomon : ' She seeketh
wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands ; she layeth her
hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.'
"Almost every article of clothing, all of the cloth in use in the old
log cabins, was the product of the patient woman-weaver's toil. She spun
the flax and wove the cloth for shirts, pantaloons, frocks, sheets, and
blankets. The linen and the wool, the ' linsey-woolsey' woven by the
housewife, formed all of the material for the clothing of both men and
women, except such articles as were made of skins. The men commonly
1 60

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
wore the hunting-shirt, a kind of loose frock reaching half-way down the
figure, open before, and so wide as to lap over a foot or more upon the
chest. This generally had a cape, which was often fringed with a ravelled
piece of cloth of a different color from that which composed the garment.
The bosom of the hunting- shirt answered as a pouch, in which could be
carried the various articles that the hunter or woodsman would need. It
was always worn belted, and made out of coarse linen, or linsey, or of
dressed deer-skin, according to the fancy of the wearer. Breeches were
made of heavy cloth or of deer-skin, and were often worn with leggings
of the same material or of some kind of leather, while the feet were most
usually encased in moccasins, which were easily and quickly made, though
they needed frequent mending. The deer- skin breeches or drawers were
very comfortable when dry, but when they became wet were very cold to
the limbs, and the next time they were put on were alraost as stiff as if
made of wood. Hats or caps were made of the various native furs. The
women were clothed in linsey petticoats, coarse shoes and stockings, and
wore buckskin gloves or mittens when any protection was required for
the hands. All of the wearing apparel, like that of the men, was made
with a view to being serviceable and comfortable, and all was of home
manufacture. Other articles and finer ones were sometimes worn, but
they had been brought from former homes, and were usually relics
handed down from parents to children. Jewelry was not common, but
occasionally some ornament was displayed. In the cabins of the more
cultivated pioneers were usually a few books, and the long winter even
ings were spent in poring over these well-thumbed volumes by the light
of the great log-fire, in knitting, mending, curing furs, or some similar
occupation. "As the settlement increased, the sense of loneliness and isolation
was dispelled, the asperities of life were softened and its amenities multi
plied ; social gatherings became more numerous and more enjoyable.
The log-roUings, harvestings, and husking-bees for the men, and apple-
biitter-raaking and the qmlting-parties for the women, furnished frequent
occasions for social intercourse. The eariy settlers took much pleasure
and pride in rifle-shooting, and as they were accustomed to the use of
the gun as a means often of obtaining a subsistence, and relied upon it as
a weapon of defence, they exhibited considerable skiU.
"Foot-racing, wrestUng, and jumping matches were common. The
jumping matches consisted of the 'single jump,' backward jump, high
jump, three jumps, and the running hop, step, and jump.
" A wedding was the event of most importance in the sparsely settled
new country. The young people had every inducement to marry, and
generaUy did so as soon as able to provide for themselves. When a mar
riage was to be celebrated, all the neighborhood turned out. It was
customary to have the ceremony performed before dinner, and in order
i6i

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
to be in time, the groom and his attendants usually started from his
father's house in the morning for that of the bride. All went on horse
back, riding in single file along the narrow trail. Arriving at the cabin
of the bride's parents, the ceremony would be performed, and after
that dinner served. This would be a substantial backwoods feast, of
beef, pork, fowls, and bear- or deer-meat, with such vegetables as could
be procured. The greatest hilarity prevailed during the meal. After it
was over, the dancing began, and was usually kept up till the next morn
ing, though the newly made husband and wife were, as a general thing,
put to bed in the most approved fashion and with considerable formality
in the middle of the evening's hilarity. The tall young men, when they
went on the floor to dance, had to take their places with care between
the logs that supported the loft-floor, or they were in danger of bumping
their heads. The figures of the dances were three- and four-hand reels,
or square sets and jigs. The commencement was always a square four,
which was followed by 'jigging it off,' or what is sometimes called a
'cutout jig.' The 'settlement' of a young couple was thought to be
thoroughly and generously made when the neighbors assembled and raised
a cabin for them."
PIONEER EVENING FROLICS, SOCIAL PARTIES, PLAYS, AND AMUSE
MENTS—HOW THE PIONEER AND EARLY SETTLERS MADE THEIR
LOG CABINS MERRY WITH SIMPLE, PRIMITIVE ENJOYMENTS.
In the pioneer days newspapers were few, dear, printed on coarse
paper, and small. Books were scarce, only occasional preaching, no
public lectures, and but few public meetings, excepting the annual Fourth
of July celebration, when all the patriots asserabled to hear the Declara
tion of Independence read. The pioneer and his family had to have fun.
The common saying of that day was that " all work and no play makes
Jack a dull boy." As a rule, outside of the viUages, everybody lived in
log cabins, and were bound together by mutual dependence and acts of
neighborly kindness. At every cabin the latch-string was always out.
The young ladies of the " upper ten" learned music, but it was the hum
ming of to "knit and spin;" their piano was a loom, their sunshade a
broom, and their novel a Bible. A young gentleman or lady was then
as proud of his or her new suit, woven by a sister or a mother on her own
loom, as proud could be, and these new suits or "best clothes" were
always worn to evening frolics. Social parties among the young were
called "kissing parties," because in all the plays, either as a penalty or
as part of the play, all the girls who joined in the amusement had to be
kissed by some one of the boys. The girls, of course, objected to the
kissing, but then they were gentle, pretty, and witty, and the sweetest
and best girls the world ever knew. This was true, for I attended these
parties myself. To the boys and girls of that period —
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" The earth was like a garden then.
And life seemed like a show.
For the air was rife with fragrance.
The sky was all rainbow.
And the heart was warm and joyous ;
Each lad had native grace.
Sly Cupid planted blushes then
On every virgin's face."
The plays were nearly all musical and vocal, and the boys lived and
played them in the "pleasures of hope," while usually there sat in the
corner of the cabin fireplace a granddad or a grandma smoking a stone
or clay pipe, lighted with a live coal from the wood-fire, living and
smoking in the " pleasures of memory."
The plays were conducted somewhat in this way :
A popular play was for all the persons present to join hands and
form a ring, with a dude of that time, in shirt of check and bear-greased
hair, in the centre. Then they circled round and round the centre
person, singing, — " King William was King James's son.
And of that royal race he sprung;
He wore a star upon his breast.
To show that he was royal best.
Go choose your east, go choose your^west.
Go choose the one that you like best ;
If he's not here to take your part.
Go choose another with all your heart."
The gentleman in the centre then chose a lady from the circle, and she
stepped into the ring with him. Then the circling was resumed, and all
sang to the parties inside, —
" Down on this carpet you must kneel.
Just as the grass grows in the field;
Salute your bride with kisses sweet.
And then rise up upon your feet."
The play went on in this manner until all the girls present were
kissed. Another popular play was to form a ring. , A young lady would step
into the circle, and all parties would join hands and sing, —
" There's a lily in the garden
For you, young man ;
There's a lily in the garden.
Go pluck it if you can," etc.
The lady then selects a boy from the circle, who walks into the ring
with her. He then kisses her and she goes out, when the rest all sing, —
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" There he stands, that great big booby.
Who he is I do not know ;
Who will take him for his beauty ?
Let her answer, yes or no."
This play goes on in this way until all the girls have been kissed.
Another favorite play was :
" Oats, peas, beans, and barley grows ;
None so well as the farmer knows
How oats, peas, beans, and barley grows;
Thus the farmer sows his seed.
Thus he stands to take his ease ;
He stamps his foot and claps his hands.
And turns around to view his lands," etc.
Another great favorite was :
" Oh, sister Phcebe, how merry were we
The night we sat under the juniper-tree.
The juniper-tree, I, oh.
Take this hat on your head, keep your head warm,
And take a sweet kiss, it will do you no harm.
But a great deal of good, I know," etc.
Another was : " If I had as many lives
As Solomon had wives,
I'd be as old as Adam ;
So rise to your feet
And kiss the first you meet.
Your humble servant, madam."
" It's raining, it's hailing, it's cold, stormy weather;
In comes the farmer drinking of his cider.
He's going a-reaping, he wants a binder,
I've lost my true love, where shall I find her."
A live play was called " hurly-burly." " Two went round and gave
each one, secretly, something to do. This girl was to pull a young
man's hair ; another to tweak an ear or nose, or trip some one, etc.
When all had been told what to do, the master of ceremonies cried out,
'Hurly-burly.' Every one sprang up and hastened to do as instructed.
This created a mixed scene of a ludicrous character, and was most prop
erly named 'hurly-burly.' "
TREES, SNAKES, AND REPTILES.
Our forests were originally covered by a heavy growth of timber-trees
of various kinds. Pine and hemlock predominated. Chestnut and oak
grew in some localities. Birch, sugar-maple, ash, and hickory occupied

Another was :

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
a wide range. Birch- and cherry-trees were numerous, and linnwood-,
cucumber-, and poplar-trees grew on many of the hill-sides, butternut,
sycamore, black ash, and elm on the low grounds.
In all, about one hundred varieties of trees grew here. These forests
have become the prey of the woodman's axe. There has been no voice
raised effectively to restrain the destruction, wanton as it has been, of the
best specimens of the pine which the eye of man ever saw. The growth
of hundreds of years felled to the ground, scarified, hauled to the streams,
tumbled in, and floated away to the south and east and west for the pal
try pittance of ten cents a foot I Oh, that there could have been some
power to restrain the grasping, wasteful, avaricious cupidity of man, of
some voice of thunder crying, "Woodman, woodman, spare that tree!
That old familiar forest-tree, whose glory and renown has spread over
land and sea, and woodmen hacked it down !"
But they are gone, all gone from the mountain's brow. The hands,
also, that commenced the destruction are now mouldering into dust, thus
exemplifying the law of nature, that growth is rapidly followed by decay,
indicating a common destiny and bringing a uniform result. And such
are we ; it is our lot thus to die and be forgotten.
Reptiles and snakes were very numerous. The early pioneer had to
contend against the non-poisonous and poisonous snakes. The non-
poisonous were the spotted adder, blacksnake, the green-, the garter-,
the -vvater-, and the house-snake. The blacksnake sometimes attained a
length of six and eight feet. But dens of vicious rattlesnakes existed
in every locality in the county. In the vicinity of Brookville there was
one at Puckerty, several on the north fork, one at Iowa Mills, and
legions of rattlers on Mill Creek. The dens had to be visited by bold,
hardy men annually every spring to kill and destroy these reptiles as
they emerged in the sun from their dens. Hundreds had to be destroyed
at each den every spring. This was necessary as a means of safety for
both man and beast. Of copperheads, there were but a few dens in the
county, and these in the extreme south and southwest, — viz., in Perry
township, in Beaver township, on Beaver Run ; and two or three dens in
Porter township, on the head- waters of Pine Run, — viz., Nye's Branch
and Lost Hill. Occasionally one was found in Brookville.
The copperhead is hazel- brown on the back and pinkish on the belly.
On each side there are frora fifteen to twenty-six chestnut blotches or
bands, that somewhat resemble an inverted Y- His head is brighter and
almost copper-colored on top, and everywhere over his back are found
very fine dark points. The sides of his head are cream-colored. The
dividing line between the cream of the side and the copper of the top
passes through the upper edge of the head, in front of the eye, and
involves three-fourths of the orbit. The line is very distinct.
He is commonly found wherever the rattler is, but he does not Uve
165

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
quite so far north. He has a variety of names, — upland moccasin,
chunkhead, deaf-adder, and pilot-snake among the rest. It is agreed
that he is a much more vicious brute than the rattlesnake. He is more
easily irritated and is quicker in his movements. It is said that he will
even follow up a victim for a second blow. On the other hand, his bite
is very much less dangerous for a variety of reasons. In the first place,
he is no more than three feet long, and his fangs are considerably shorter
than those of a rattler of the same size, while his strength is less, and the
blow, therefore, less effective. So he cannot inflict as deep a wound nor
inject so much venom. The chances of his getting the venom directly
into a large vein are proportionately less.
Rattlesnakes, copperheads, and other large snakes do most of their
travelling in the night. "Snakes, it appears, are extremely fastidious,
every species being limited to one or two articles of diet, and prefer
ring to starve rather than eat anything else apparently quite as tooth
some and suitable. Individual snakes, too, show strange prejudices in
the matter of diet, so that it is necessary in every case to find out what
the snake's peculiarities are before feeding him."
Rattlesnakes eat berries for food, hence they avoid ash and sugar,
and live on barren, rocky, or on huckleberry land. They like to bathe,
drink, and live in the sunshine. This, too, makes them avoid ridgy,
heavily timbered land.
The bigger the reptile, of course, the raore poison it has. Further
more, it is to be remembered that of all American serpents the rattle
snake is the raost dangerous, the copperhead less so, and the water-
moccasin least. It is a fact that the poisonous snakes are proof against
their own venom. That this is true has been demonstrated repeatedly by
inoculating such serpents with the poisonous secretion from their salivary
glands. It is believed that there exists in the blood of the venomous
snake some agent similar to the poison itself, and that the presence of
this toxic principle is accountable for the immunity exhibited.
One safety from the snakes to the pioneer and his family was the
great number of razor-back hogs. These animals were great snake-
hunters, being very fond of them.
RATTLESNAKES FIRST KILL THEIR PREY, THEN SWALLOW IT
WHOLE.
The rattlesnake is not found anywhere but in America. It belongs
to the viper family. There are twelve species and thirteen varieties.
They vary in size and color, one variety being red. A rattle is formed
at each renewal of the skin, and as the skin may be renewed more than
once a year, rattles do not indicate the exact age. They live to a ripe old
age, and have sometimes as many as thirty rattles. Some writers call our
variety the "banded snake." In the natural state the rattler sheds his
i66

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
skin but once a year, but in confinement he can be forced to shed the
skin two or three times annually by giving him warm baths and keeping
him in a warm place. Rattlers are unable to climb trees, are fond of

Dr. Ferd. Hoffman and rattlesnakes.

music, and do not chase a retreating animal that has escaped their
"strike." The rattlesnake of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, is the Crotalus
horridus, or North American species, and is the black variety, somewhat
spotted. Our snake attains the length of five feet, but usually only four
and one-half feet, and they inhabit the barren, rocky portions of our
167

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
county, formerly in immense numbers, but of late years they are not so
plentiful. Dr. Ferd. Hoffman, of our town, celebrated as a snake-charmer,
brought a rattlesnake into our store one day, in a little box covered
with wire screen. The snake was small, being only thirty inches long
and having seven rattles. Desiring to see the reptile eat, and know
ing that they will not eat anything but what they kill themselves, we
conceived the idea of furnishing his kingship a repast. Mr. Robert
Scofield went out and captured a large field-mouse (not mole) and
brought it in, and, in the presence of myself, Scofield, Albert Gooder,
'Squire McLaughlin and brother, and Frank Arthurs, dropped it into
the box under the screen. The box was fourteen inches long and seven
inches wide. The snake, being lively, immediately struck the mouse
back of the head. The mouse gave a little squeak of terror and ran
fourteen inches, then staggered fourteen inches, the length of the box,
then was apparently seized with spinal paralysis, for it had to draw its
hind limbs with its front feet to a corner of the box. It then raised
up and fell dead on its back. After striking the mouse, the snake paid
no attention to anything until the mouse dropped over dead, then his
snakeship wakened up and apparently smelled (examined) the mouse all
over. Satisfied it was healthy and good food, the snake caught the
mouse by the nose and pulled it out of the corner. After this was done,
the snake comraenced the process of swallowing in this manner, — viz. :
He opened his jaws and took the head of the mouse in one swallow,
pulling alternately by the hooks in the upper and lower jaw, thus forcing
the mouse downward, taking an occasional rest, swallowing and resting
six times in the process. He rattled vigorously three times during this
procedure. It is said they rattle only when in fear or in danger. This
rattling of his must have been a notice to us that he was dining, and to
stand back.
I am inforraed by my friend Dr. Hoffman, of Brookville, Pennsyl
vania, that the rattlesnake is possessed of both a high intelligence and a
raemory ; that he can be domesticated, and in that state become quite
affectionate and fond of his master, and that snakes thus domesticated
will vie and dispute with each other in manifestations of affection to and
for their master. He also informs me that rattlesnakes are unlike in dis
position, — some are cross and ugly, while others are docile and pleasant.
He also informs me that the rattlesnake can be trained to perform
tricks, as he has thus trained them himself and made them proficient in
numerous acrobatic tricks, such as suspending a number by the head of
one on his thumb, the forming of a suspension chain or bridge, and per
mitting thera to kiss hira, and many other tricks too nuraerous to relate.
To my personal knowledge, he has educated or trained the rattlers in
numbers to perform in the manner indicated here, and without removing,
i68

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
in a single instance, any poisonous tooth or sac. These trained rattlers
will fight any stranger the moment he presents himself; but if the master
or their acquaintance presents himself, the rattlers will at once recognize
him, and to him be kind, docile, and affectionate.
The snapping-turtle, the mud-turtle, and the diamond-backed ter
rapin existed in great numbers in the swamps and around the streams,
and formed a part of the Indian's food. The tree-toad, the common toad,
common frog, lizard, and water-lizard lived here before the pioneers took
possession of the land.
The tools of the pioneer were the axe, six-inch auger, the drawing-
knife, the shaving-knife, a broadaxe, and a cross-cut saw. These were
"all used in the erecting of his shelters." The dexterity of the pioneer
in the "slight" and use of the axe was remarkable and marvellous. He
used it in clearing land, building cabins, making fences, chopping fire
wood, cutting paths and roads, bridges and corduroy. In fact, in all
work and hunting, in travelling by land, in canoeing and rafting on the
water, the axe was ever the friend and companion of the pioneer.
The civilized raan in his first beginning was farraer, carpenter, mason,
merchant, and manufacturer — complete, though priraitive, in the indi
vidual. But he was a farmer first and foremost, and used the other avo
cations merely as incidentals to the first and chief employment. Less
than half a century has elapsed since the spinning-wheel and the loom
were common and necessary in the home.

SOLDIERS OF 1812 WHO PASSED THROUGH PINE CREEK TOWN
SHIP TO FIGHT GREAT BRITAIN— AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT
OF THE PENNSYLVANIA MILITIA WHICH MARCHED OVER THE
OLD STATE ROAD THROUGH BROOKVILLE AND WITHIN TWO
MILES OF WHERE REYNOLDSVILLE NOW STANDS, WHILE ON
ITS WAY TO ERIE.
George Washington never passed through any portion of Jefferson
County with soldiers ; neither did Colonel Bird, who was stationed at
Fort Augusta in 1756; neither was there a "road brushed out for the
purpose of transferring troops to Erie." In 1814, early in the spring, a
detachment of soldiers, under command of Major William McClelland,
travelled through our county, over the old State Road (Bald Eagle's Nest
and Le Bceuf road) to Erie. They encamped at Soldiers' Run, in what
is now Winslow township, rested at Port Barnett for four days, and en
camped over night at the " four-mile" spring, on what is now the Afton
farm. Elijah M. Graham was impressed with his two " pack-horses" into
their service, and was taken as far as French Creek, now in Venango
County. Joseph B. Graham gave me these facts in regard to McClelland.
These soldiers were Pennsylvania volunteers and drafted men, and
12 169

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
were from Franklin County. Major McClelland, with his officers and
men, passed through where Brookville now is, over the old Milesburg
and Waterford Road. Three detachments of troops left Franklin
County during the years i8i 2-14 at three different times, — one by way
of Pittsburg, one by way of Baltimore, and the last one through this
wilderness. All of these troops in these three detachments were under
the supervision of the brigade inspector. Major McClelland.

N. B. BOILEAU TO WILLIAM MCCLELLAND.
"Harrisburg, Februai-y i, 1814.
"To William McClelland, Esq., Inspector Second Brigade, Seventh
Division.
" Sir, — By last evening's mail the Governor received a letter from
the Secretary of War, requiring a detachment of one thousand militia to
march to the defence of Erie. He has it in contemplation to order them
from the counties of Cumberland, York, Adaras, and Franklin. The
Governor directs me to give you this intimation in order that you may
make arrangements to execute as promptly as possible the orders which
which will be sent to you in a few days.
" Very respectfully, sir,
"Your obedient servant,
"N. B. Boileau."
Note. — Similar letters were written to George Welsh, James Lamber-
ton, and Archibald S. Jordan.

governor SIMON SNYDER TO N. B. BOILEAU.
"General Orders. " Harrisburg, February 7, 1814.
"To N. B. Boileau, Aide-de-Camp.
"In compliance with a requisition by the President of the United
States, I do order into the service of the Union one thousand men, rank
and file, of the Pennsylvania militia, and a competent number of officers,
to be composed of the quotas of the First and Second Brigades of the
Seventh Division, and of the Second Brigade of the Fifth Division, desig
nated for the service of the United States, under general orders of the
12th of May, 1812, to rendezvous at Erie on the 5th day of March, then,
or as soon thereafter as possible, to be organized into one regiment, and
to be agreeably to law. " Simon Snyder,
" Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."
170

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
N. B. boileau to WILLIAM MCCLELLAND.
" Harrisburg, February 24, 1815.
" To William McClelland, Esq., Inspector of Second Brigade, Seventh
Division.
" Sir, — In answer to yours of the 21st ult., to the Governor, I am
directed to state that in case your first draft does not furnish a quota suf
ficient when added to those frora Mr. Lamberton's and Welsh's brigades
to make one thousand men, rank and file, then you put under the direc
tion of Major Lamberton the number you may have ready to march, and
proceed to make another draft to make up the deficiency of your quota,
and march them on to the general place of rendezvous as expeditiously as
practicable. You will make an arrangement with Mr. Lamberton as to
the point where your detachment will join his. A sufficient number of
tents, together with those at Carlisle, to accommodate the whole detach
ment, are now on the road from Philadelphia, and will be at Carlisle op
Saturday next.
" By order of the Governor. "N. B. Boileau."
I quote from an early history of Franklin County, Pennsylvania :
"In the early part of the year 18 14, the general government having
made a call upon the State of Pennsylvania for more troops. Governor
Simon Snyder, about the beginning of February of that year, ordered a
draft for one thousand men from the counties of York, Adams, Franklin,
and Cumberland, Cumberland County to raise five hundred men and the
other counties the balance. The quota of Franklin County was ordered
to assemble at Loudon on the ist of March, 1814. What was its exact
number I have not been able to ascertain.
"At that time Captain Samuel Dunn, of Path Valley, had a small
volunteer company under his command, numbering about forty men.
These, I am informed, volunteered to go as part of the quota of the
county, and were accepted. Drafts were then made to furnish the
balance of the quota, and one full company of drafted men, under the
command of Captain Samuel Gordon, of Waynesburg, and one partial
company, under command of Captain Jacob Stake, of Lurgan township,
were organized, and assembled at Loudon in pursuance of the orders of
the Governor. There the command of the detachment was assumed by
Major WiUiam McClelland, brigade inspector of the county, who con
ducted it to Erie. It moved from Loudon on the 4th of March, and
was twenty-eight days in reaching Erie. According to Major McClel-
land's report on file in the auditor-general's office at Harrisburg, it was
composed of one major, three captains, five Ueutenants, two ensigns, and
two hundred and twenty-one privates. 171

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" Captain Jacob Stake lived along the foot of the mountain, between
Roxbury and Strasburg. He went as captain of a company of drafted
men as far as Erie, at which place his company was merged into those
of Captains Dunn and Gordon, as the comraissions of those officers ante
dated his commission and there were not men enough in their companies
to fill them up to the required complement."
LTpon the arrival of these troops at Erie, and after their organization
into companies, they were put into the Fifth Regiment of the Pennsyl
vania troops, commanded by Colonel Jaraes Fenton, of that regiraent.
James Wood, of Greencastle, was major, and Thomas Poe, of Antrim
township, adjutant, the whole army being under the command of Major-
General Jacob Brown.
Adjutant Poe is reputed to have been a gallant officer, one to whom
fear was unknown. On one occasion he quelled a mutiny among the
men in carap, unaided by any other person. The mutineers afterwards
declared that they saw death in his eyes when he gave them the com
mand to "return to quarters." He fell mortally wounded at the battle
of Chippewa, July 5, 181 4, and died shortly afterwards.
These soldiers did valiant service against the British. They fought
in the desperate battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane, on July 5 and
25 of the year 1814.
War has cost the United States nearly $10,000,000,000 and over
680,000 lives, to say nothing of 30,000 lives lost in colonial wars before
the Revolution. Here are the details :
Revolution 
War of 18 1 2 ....
Mexican war . . . .
Civil war .....
Indian wars 

Cost.

Lives.

$135, 193,703

30,000

107,159,003

2,000

74,000,000

2,000

8,500,000,000

600,000

1,000,000,000

49,000

The two Napoleons cost France in war nearly §3,500,000,000. For
the Napoleonic wars France paid Si, 275, 000,000. Over 5,000,000 men
were killed in these wars.
AN OUTLINE OF THE PIONEER LEGAL RELATIONS OF MAN AND
WIFE.
Up to and later than 1843, Pennsylvania was under the common law
system of England. Under this law the wife had no legal separate ex
istence. The husband had the right to whip her, and only in the event
of her committing crimes had she a separate existence from her husband.
But if the crirae was committed in her husband's presence, she was then
presumed not guilty. Her condition was legally little, if any, better than
a slave. 172

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Under the common law, husband and wife were considered as one
person, and on this principle all their civil duties and relations rested.
The wife could not sue in her own name, but only through her hus
band. If she suffered wrong in her person or property, she could, with
her husband's aid and assistance, prosecute, but the husband had to be
the plaintiff. For crimes without any presumed coercion of her husband,
the wife could be prosecuted and punished, and for these misdemeanors
the punishments were severe. The wife could make no contract with her
husband. The husband and she could make a contract through the
agency of trustees for the wife, the wife, though, being still under the pro
tection of her husband.
All contracts made between husband and wife before raarriage were
void after the ceremony. The husband could in no wise convey lands or
realty to his wife, only and except through a trustee. A husband at death
could bequeath real estate to his wife.
Marriage gave the husband all right and title to his wife's property,
whether real or personal, but he then became liable for all her debts and
contracts, even those that were made before marriage, and after marriage
he was so liable, except for "superfluities and extravagances."
If the wife died before the husband and left no children, the husband
and his heirs inherited her real estate. But if there were children, the
husband remained in possession of her land during the lifetime of the
wife, and at his death the land went to the wife's heirs.
All debts due to the wife became after marriage the property of the
husband, who became invested with power to sue on bond, note, or any
other obligation, to his own and exclusive use. The powers of discharge
and assignment and change of securities were, of course, involved in the
leading principle. If the husband died before the recovery of the money,
or any change in the securities, the wife became entitled to these debts,
etc., in her own right. All personal property of the wife, such as money,
goods, movables, and stocks, became absolutely the property of the
husband upon marriage, and at his death went to his heirs.
Property could be given to a wife by deed of marriage settlement.
Property could be settled on the wife after marriage by the husband,
provided he was solvent at the time and the transfer not made with a
view to defraud.
The wife could not sell her land, but any real estate settled upon her
to a trustee she could bequeath.
The husband and wife could not be witnesses against each other in
civil or criminal cases where the testimony could in the least favor or
criminate either. One exception only existed to this rule, and that
was this, " the personal safety or the life of the wife gave her permission
to testify for her protection." For further information, see my "Recol
lections." 173

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
A PIONEER SONG THAT WAS SUNG IN EVERY FAMILY
'• OLD GRIMES.
" Old Grimes is dead, that good old man.
We ne'er shall see him more;
He used to wear a long black coat
All buttoned down before.
" His heart was open as the day.
His feelings all were true;
His hair was some inclined to gray.
He wore it in a queue.
" When'er he heard the voice of pain
His breast with pity burned ;
The large round head upon his cane
From ivory was turned.
" Kind words he ever had for all ;
He knew no base design;
His eyes were dark and rather small.
His nose was aquiline.
" He lived in peace with all mankind,
In friendship he was true ;
His coat had pocket-holes behind.
His pantaloons were blue.
" Unharmed, the sin which earth pollutes
He passed securely o'er.
And never wore a pair of boots
For thirty years or more.
" But good Old Grimes is now at rest.
Nor fears misfortune's frown ;
He wore a double-breasted vest,
The stripes ran up and down.
" He modest merit sought to find.
And pay it its desert :
He had no malice in his mind.
No ruffles on his shirt.
" His neighbors he did not abuse.
Was sociable and gay ;
He wore large buckles on his shoes.
And changed them every day.
" His knowledge hid from public gaze
He did not bring to view.
Nor make a noise town-meeting days.
As many people do.
174

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" His worldly goods he never threw
In trust to fortune's chances.
But lived (as all his brothers do)
In easy circumstances.
" Thus undisturbed by anxious cares
His peaceful moments ran ;
And everybody said he was
A fine old gentleman." — Albert G. Greene.
EARLY AND PIONEER MUSIC— PIONEER MUSIC-SCHOOLS AND
PIONEER SINGING-MASTERS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
I. D. Hughes, of Punxsutawney, informs me that the first music-book
he bought was Wyeth's "Repository of Sacred Music," second edition.
I have seen this book myself, but a later edition (the fifth), pubUshed in
1820. Mr. Hughes says that Joseph Thompson, of Dowlingville, was
the pioneer "singing-master" in Jefferson County, and that he sang from
Wakefield's "Harp," second edition. He used a tuning-fork to sound
the pitches, and accompanied his vocal instruction with violin music.
George James was an early "master," and used the same book as
Thompson. These two taught in the early thirties. I. D. Hughes taught
in 1840 and used the "Missouri Harmony." This was a collection of
psalm and hymn tunes and anthems, and was published by Morgan &
Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. The first tune in this old "Harmony," or
"buckwheat" note-book, was "Primrose" :
" Salvation, oh, the joyful sound,
'Tis pleasure to our ears,
A sovereign balm for every wound,
A cordial for our fears."
On the second page was "Old Hundred," and on the same'page
" Canaan" : " On Jordan's stormy banks I stand,
And cast a wishful eye
To Canaan's fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie."
The dear old pioneers who used to delight in these sweet melodies
have nearly all crossed this Jordan, and are now doubtless singing
"Harwell": " Hark ! ten thousand harps and voices
Sound the note of praise above ;
Jesus reigns, and heaven rejoices ;
Jesus reigns, the God of love."
Rev. George M. Slaysman, of Punxsutawney, was the pioneer teacher
of round notes — the do ra me' s — in the county. Judge William P. Jenks
was also an early instructor in these notes.
175

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
We talk about progress, rapid transit, and electricity, but modern
music- teachers have failed to improve on the melody of those old pioneer
tunes, "that seemed like echoes from a heavenly choir; echoes that
seemed to have increased power every time the pearly gates opened to
admit some sainted father or mother."
" God sent these singers upon earth
With songs of sadness and of mirth.
That they might touch the hearts of men
And bring them back to Heaven again."
A PIONEER SONG FOR THE SUGAR-TROUGH CRADLE.
dr. watts's cradle hymn.
" Hush, my babe, lie still and slumber.
Holy angels guard thy bed;
Heavenly blessings, without number,
Gently falling on thy head.
" Sleep, my babe, thy food and raiment,
House and home thy friends provide.
All without thy care or payment,
All thy wants are well supplied.
" How much better thou'rt attended
Than the Son of God could be.
When from heaven He descended
And became a child like thee.
" Soft and easy is thy cradle.
Coarse and hard thy Saviour lay.
When His birthplace was a stable.
And his softest bed was hay.
" Blessed babe! what glorious features.
Spotless, fair, divinely bright !
Must He dwell with brutal creatures ?
How could angels bear the sight?
"Was there nothing but a manger
Wicked sinners could afford
To receive the heavenly stranger ?
Did they thus affront the Lord ?
" Soft, my child, I did not chide thee,
Though my song may sound too hard :
'Tis thy mother sits beside thee.
And her arms shall be thy guard.
" Yet, to read the shameful story.
How the Jews abused their King ;
How they served the Lord of Glory,
Makes me angry while I sing.
176

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" See the kinder shepherds round Him,
Telling wonders from the sky ;
There they sought Him, there they found Him,
With his virgin mother by.
" See the lovely babe a dressing.
Lovely infant! how He smiled!
When He wept. His mother's blessing
Soothed and hushed the holy child.
" Lo ! He slumbers in a manger
Where the horned oxen fed !
Peace, my darling, here's no danger,
Here's no ox about thy bed.
" 'Twas to save thee, child, from dying.
Save my dear from burning flame.
Bitter groans, and endless crying,
That thy blest Redeemer came.
" May'st thou live to know and fear Him,
Trust and love Him all thy days !
Then go dwell forever near Him,
See His face and sing His praise.
" I could give thee thousand kisses
Hoping what I most desire ;
Not a mother's fondest wishes
Can to greater joys aspire."
COMPLETE LIST OF TAXABLE INHABITANTS IN JEFFERSON
COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, IN A.D. 1820.
PINE CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Robert Andrews, William Andrews, single man, Joseph Barnett, saw-
and grist-mill, John Barnett, single man, Andrew Barnett, single man,
Thomas Barnett, grist-mill. Summers Baldwin, single man, half a saw
mill, Israel Bartlett, David Butler, single man, Peter Bartle, Harraen
Bosley, single man, J. Bowen, Joseph Clements, Paul Campbell, Joseph
Carr, Euphrastus Carrier, single man, Samuel Corbett, single man, John
Dixon, Robert Dixon, single man, John Z. Early, two saw-mills, J.
Stephens, half a saw-miU, Henry Feye, Sr., Henry Feye, Jr., single
man, George Feye, single man, Aaron FuUer, Solomon Fuller, saw-miU
and grist-mill, John Fuller, saw-miU, Elijah Graham, Andrew Grinder,
Alexander Hatter, single man, John Hise, Christopher Himes, William
Himes, single man, Frederick Hetrick, John Jones, single man, Robert
Knox, Henry Kailor, Moses Knapp, Lewis Long, John Lucas, John
Lattimer, single man, Thomas Lucas, Henry Latt, John Matson, half a
saw-miU, Jacob Mason, Abraham Milliron, Philip MiUiron, WilUam
Morrison, Joseph McCuUough, Samuel McGill, William MiUiron, John
177

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Mason, single man, John McCartney, single man, John McClelland,
single man, Adam Newenhouse, John Nolf, Jr., John Nolf, Sr., saw-mill,
Peter B. Ostrander, half a saw-miU, Alexander Powers, Jacob Pierce,
single man, John Reed, Hulet Smith, James Shields, Samuel Shaffer,
Henry Sharp, Walter, Templeton, Adam Vasbinder, Sr., Jacob Vas
binder, William Vasbinder, Henry Vasbinder, John Vasbinder, Andrew
Vasbinder, Jr., single man. Fudge Van Camp, colored, Richard Van
Camp, single man, colored, Sarah Van Camp, colored, Enos Van Camp,
colored, Hugh Williamson, John Welsh, saw-miU, Charles Sutherland,
colored. PERRY TOWNSHIP.
Jesse Armstrong, James Brady, Jr. , John Bell, Esq. , James Bell, single
raan, Joseph Bell, single man, John Bell, single man, Asa Grossman, Sr.,
Asa Crossman, Jr., Joseph Crossman, Elisha Dike, Benjamin Dike, Na
thaniel Foster, Charles C. Gaskill, David Hamilton, James Hamilton,
Archibald Hadden, Jacob Hoover, saw-mill, Elijah Heath, John Hoover,
Jaraes Hutchinson, Jaraes Irven, Dr. John W. Jenks, Stephen Lewis,
Isaac Lewis, Michael Lantz, Jacob Lantz, single man, Adam Long,
James McClelland, EUzabeth McHenry, John McDonald, David MUl-
iron, John Milliron, Hugh McKee, James McKee, John Newcome, John
Postlethwait, David Postlethwait, single man, John Pifer, Thomas Pagne,
Peter Reed, Samuel Stokes, William Smith, Jaraes Stewart, John Stewart,
Jacob Smith, William Thompson, James Wachob, John Young.
MAPLE-SUGAR INDUSTRY.
One of the pioneer industries in this wilderness was maple-sugar-
making. The sugar season commenced either in the last of February or
the first of March. In any event, at this time the manufacturer always
visited his camp to see or set things in order. The camp was a small
cabin made of logs, covered usually with clapboards, and open at one
end. The fireplace or crane and hooks were made in this way : Before
the opening in the cabin four wooden forks were deeply set in the ground,
and on these forks was suspended a strong pole. On this pole was hung
the hook of a limb, with a pin in the lower end to hang the kettle on.
An average camp had about three hundred trees, and it required six ket
tles, averaging about twenty-two gallons each, to boil the water from that
many trees. The trees were tapped in various ways, — viz. : First, with
a three-quarter-inch auger, one or two inches deep. In this hole was
put a round spile about eighteen inches long, made of sumach or whit
tled pine, two spiles to a tree. The later way was by cutting a hollow
notch in the tree and putting the spile below with a gouge. This spile
was made of pine or some soft wood. When a boy I lived about five
years with Joseph and James McCurdy, in what is now Washington town-
178

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
ship, and the latter method of opening trees was practised by them. In
deed, all I say here about this industry I learned from and while with
them. At the camp there were always from one to three storage-troughs
made of cucumber or poplar, and each trough held from ten barrels up
ward. Three hundred trees required a storage of thirty barrels and
steady boiling with six kettles. The small troughs under the trees were

Stirring off maple sugar

made of pine and cucumber and held from three to six gallons. We
hauled the water to the storage-troughs with one horse and a kind of
"pung," the barrel being kept in its place by plank just far enough
apart to hold it tight. In the fireplace there was a large back log and
one a Uttle smaller in front. The fire was kept up late and early with
smaller wood spUt in lengths of about three feet. We boiled the water
into a thick syrup, then strained it through a woollen cloth while hot into
the syrup-barrel. When it had settled, and before putting it on to
"sugar off," we strained it the second time. During this sugaring we
skimmed the scum off with a tin skimmer and clarified the syrup in the
kettle with eggs well beaten in sweet milk. This "sugaring off" was
always done in cloudy or cold days, when the trees wouldn't run "sap."
One barrel of sugar-water from a sugar-tree, in the beginning of the
season, would make from five to seven pounds of sugar. The sugar was
always made during the first of the season. The molasses was always
179

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
made at the last of the season, or else it would turn to sugar in a very few
days. The sugar was made in cakes, or "stirred off" in a granulated
condition, and sold in the market for from six and a quarter to twelve
and a half cents a pound. In " sugaring off," the syrup had to be fre
quently sampled by dropping some of it in a tin of cold water, and if the
molasses forraed a " thread" that was brittle like glass, it was fit to stir.
I was good at sampling, and always anxious to try the syrup, as James
McCurdy, who is still living, can substantiate. In truth, I was never
very hungry during sugar-making, as I had a continual feast during
this season of hot syrup, treacle, and sugar.
Skill and attention were both necessary in "sugaring off," for if the
syrup was taken off too soon the sugar was wet and tough, and if left on
too long, the sugar was burnt and bitter. Time has evoluted this indus
try frora our county. In the census chapter of 1840 you will find how
many pounds of raaple-sugar were manufactured in each township and the
sum total in pounds for the county.
" While maple-sugar-making has passed in Jefferson County, it still is
quite an important industry in many parts of the country. According to
the statistics gathered in the census of 1890, Vermont leads in the pro
duction of maple-sugar, at least in the number of large producers. There
were 23,533 producers who manufactured each 500 pounds or over of
sugar, according to that census. Of these, Vermont reported 10,099 > New
York, 7884; New Hampshire, 1725; Michigan, 1135; Pennsylvania,
iioi ; Ohio, 930; Massachusetts, 415 ; Maryland, 78 ; Maine, 39; West
Virginia, 26; Indiana, 24; Iowa and Minnesota, 23 each; Illinois, 8;
Connecticut and Missouri, 5 each ; Wisconsin and Virginia, 4 each ;
Tennessee and North Carolina, 2 each; and Kentucky, i.
"It is the hard-maple tree that makes the sugar. Windham County,
Vermont, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and Delaware County, New
York, are the three greatest maple-sugar producing counties in the Union,
the first leading the list with an annual yield of about 3,000,000 pounds,
the second producing 2,500,000 pounds, and the third 2,000,000 pounds.
The largest single sugar-bush is in Windham County ; it contains 7000
sap-bearing trees."
Joseph and James McCurdy were pioneer settlers. Joseph has been
dead many years, and I can cheerfully say that he was an honest and
true Christian.
THE TRANSPORTATION OF IRON THROUGH JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Centre County, Pennsylvania, was richly supplied by nature with the
finest quality of iron ore and all the other requisites for its manufacture
into iron. The pioneer in the iron business in what is now Centre
County was Colonel John Patton, of the Revolutionary war. Imme
diately after peace was declared he removed to this region and erected
1 80

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" Centre Furnace." He died in 1804. The iron in early days, before
1800, was called "Juniata Iron," and the market was to be found on the
Atlantic seaboard.
The development of this rich iron field, thus early coraraenced,
gradually developed under the old charcoal systera, until in 1826, when,
from an increased demand from the Western market, there was in active
operation in that county thirteen furnaces raaking annuaUy eleven thou
sand six hundred tons of pig-raetal and three thousand one hundred tons
of bar-iron, — with such a production of iron new markets had to be sought
out. The completion of the Susquehanna and Waterford Turnpike
through this wilderness suggested the feasibility to the Greggs, Curtins,
and others of transporting pig-metal, blooms, and iron to the waters of
Red Bank by horse power, a distance of about eighty-eight miles, and
from here by water to Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Louisville, Ken
tucky. As near as I can ascertain, about the year 1828 a contract was entered
into by iron men of Centre County with Henry Riley, of Armstrong
County, Pennsylvania, to deliver blooms and pig-iron to Pittsburg and
the Western market at a stated price per ton. The transportation on
land to Port Barnett was principally carried on during the winter months
by farraers in subcontracts. Port Barnett was so named because it was
a shipping-point. Henry Feye hauled with an ox-teara, and Joseph Mc-
Giffin, of this county, hauled with a horse-team. The late Uriah Matson
and Peter B. Ostrander took subcontracts from Riley for delivering at
Port Barnett. They hauled with oxen and sleds and carried their own
board and ox-feed with them. The round trip took thera about ten days.
Matson and Ostrander received about ten dollars per ton for their work.
Peter B. Ostrander was a veteran of the war of 181 2. Other Port Barnett
teamsters were Samuel Jones and David Butler. Fudge \''an Camp, our
colored patriarch and brother, hauled this pig-metal as well as fiddled in
the old inns and taverns. Riley's teamsters were Captain F. Downs,
Christ Shick, and others. These men were all well supplied with old
rye and used it freely. They hauled with wooden sleds, having wooden
soles. The iron was principally hauled from PhiUipsburg. A number of
Armstrong farmers (now Clarion) took subcontracts from Riley,— viz.,
the Joneses, Crookses, Hindmans, and Shieldses. The "silver craze"
prevailed then, for Riley paid his contract workers all in silver.
From Port Barnett the pioneer transportation to Pittsburg was on
rafts. The rafts were made of dry or dead pine timber, in this wise :
The sticks were notched on each side and a hole was bored through
each ; then the sticks were placed side by side in the water to form a
platform, and poles were driven through these flat platforms and wedged
on each side. These dry pine logs forming the platform were marketed
in Pittsburg for wood. Samuel T. Corbett, uncle of W. W. Corbett,
iSi

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PEN.NA.
was the pioneer to pilot one of these rafts to market. Henry Feye con
ceived the idea that barges would afford better transportation facilities
for the iron, and he built one, loaded it, and had the misfortune to stove
it on what is now called, on that account, "Iron Bar Ripple." This
ripple is about one and one-half miles from the mouth of Red Bank.
WiUiam Jack, of Brookville, built boats on the North Fork, at the head
of what is now Heidrick, Matson & Co.'s dam. The late James K. Hoff
man and John Dixon worked on these boats and helped run them to
market. The barge business continued, and Major William Rodgers, of
Brookville, and Thomas Chapman, of Westmoreland County, Pennsyl
vania, received the contract in 1832 for the transportation of three hun
dred tons. This contract was for but two years, and was for bar-iron
to be delivered at Louisville, Kentucky. Their shipping-point was the
mouth of the North Fork. Joseph McGiffin, WiUiam Kennedy, and
William Kelso, of this county, hauled for this firm. Chapman and
Rodgers shipped entirely by barges or flat-boats about eighty feet long.
After the iron was unloaded an eighty-foot boat brought them eighty
dollars. This mode of transportation ceased in 1S34, but iron and nails were
still brought here for our local market for many years thereafter.
THE FIRST SCREW F.4.CTORY.
"It is an especially noteworthy fact, known to comparatively few
persons, that the first screw-mill in the United States was erected in 1821
by Mr. Phillips in the little mountain village of Phillipsburg, hundreds of
railes distant from any of the great marts of the country. The neces
sary buildings were put up near the Moshannon Creek, in a suburb of the
town that is now called Point Lookout. The capacity of the factory was
fifteen hundred gross per week, but the largest quantity produced during
the time it was in operation was one thousand gross per week, the material
for which was prepared from the blooms by rolling and wire-drawing
machinery operated by steam- and water-power. The nearest and best
market was at Pittsburg, through Port Barnett, and the products of the
forge- and screw-mill had to be hauled at no inconsiderable expense to
the waters of the Allegheny River in wagons, and thence transported in
arks to their destination."
The old Chinklacamoose trail passed through and over the high
table- lands in the county of Centre, passing through or near Milesburg,
PhiUipsburg, and Snow Shoe. Snow Shoe took its name from the follow
ing circumstances : About or previous to the year 1775, "a party of white
hunters went out on the old Chinklacamoose trail and were overtaken on
these high table-lands of the .\llegheny Mountains, near the forks of
Moshannon Creek, by a heavy snow-storm. Their provisions becoming
exhausted they had to make snow-shoes and walk in them to the Bald
182

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Eagle settlement. It required about two days to travel in these snow-
shoes a distance of thirty miles. ' ' This old Indian path passed through
the Indian town of Chinklacamoose, — old town, or what is now called
Clearfield. " This was the central point of the great Chinklacamoose
path." " Post lodged at this village on his way to the Ohio country in
the night of August 2, 1758. 'We arrived,' he writes in his journal,
' this night at Shinglimuce, where we saw the posts painted red and stuck
in the ground, to which the Indians tie their prisoners. It is a disagree
able and melancholy sight to see the means they use to punish flesh and
blood.' "
At this point Indian trails connecting the great eastern and western
waters crossed the mountains in various directions. There was a trail
towards Fort Venango (through Brookville), another towards Kittanning
(through Punxsutawney), and one towards the source of the Sinnema
honing (through Brockwayville). Punxsutawney was another central
point for Indian paths, and this Chinklacamoose trail is famous, made
so by the fact that the "white prisoners" were carried over it to Kit-
han-ne, in Munsi Indian, and Gicht-han-ne, in Delaware, meaning Kit
tanning, or a town near or on the main stream, — viz., the Allegheny
River. I copy from the Armstrong history a few of the early cruelties prac
tised on the prisoners carried over this trail.
"At a council, held in Philadelphia, Tuesday, September 6, 1756,
the statement of John Coxe, a son of the widow Coxe, was made, the
substance of which is : He, his brother Richard, and John Craig were
taken in the beginning of February of that year by nine Delaware In
dians from a plantation two miles frora McDowell's mill, which was
between the east and west branches of the Conococheague Creek, about
twenty miles west of the present site of Shippensburg, in what is now
Franklin County, and brought to Kittanning 'on the Ohio.' On his
way hither he met Shingas with a party of thirty men, and afterwards, with
Captain Jacobs and fifteen men, whose design was to destroy the settle
ments in Conogchege. When he arrived at Kittanning he saw here
about one hundred fighting men of the Delaware tribe, with their famiUes,
and about fifty English prisoners, consisting of raen, women, and chil
dren. During his stay here Shingas's and Jacobs's parties returned, the
one with nine scalps and five prisoners. Another company of eighteen
came from Diahogo with seventeen scalps on a pole, which they took to
Fort Duquesne to obtain their reward. The warriors held a council,
which, with their war-dances, continued a week, when Captain Jacobs left
with forty-eight men, intending, as Coxe was told, to fall upon the in
habitants of Paxton. He heard the Indians frequently say that they
intended to kill all the white folks except a few, with whom they would
afterwards make peace. 183

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" They made an example of Paul Broadley, whom, with their usual
cruelty, they beat for half an hour with clubs and tomahawks, and then,
having fastened him to a post, cropped his ears close to his head and
chopped off his fingers, calling all the prisoners to witness the horrible
scene. " Among other English prisoners brought to Kittanning were George
Woods, father-in-law of the eminent lawyer, James Ross (deceased), and
the wife and daughter of John Grey, who were captured at Bigham's
Fort, in the Tuscarora Valley, in 1756. Mr. Grey came out here with
Armstrong's expedition, hoping to hear from his family. These three
prisoners were sent from Kittanning to Fort Duquesne and subsequently
to Canada. " Fort Granville, which was situated on the Juniata, one mile above
Lewistown, was besieged by the Indians July 30, 1756. The force then
in it consisted of twenty- four men under the command of Lieutenant
Armstrong, who was killed during the siege. The Indians having offered
quarter to those in the fort, a man by the name of John Turner opened
the gate to them. He and the others, including three women and several
children, were taken prisoners. By order of the French commander the
fort was burned by Captain Jacobs. When the Indians and prisoners
reached Kittanning, Turner was tied to a black post, the Indians danced
around him, made a great fire, and his body was run through with red-
hot gun-barrels. Having tormented him for three hours, the Indians
scalped him alive, and finally held up a boy, who gave him the finishing
stroke with a hatchet.
" Such were a few of the terrible enactments of which Kittanning was
the scene in the eighteenth century."
POPULATION OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA AND OF THE
UNITED STATES FROM 1790 TO 1840 INCLUSIVE.
1790.
Whites. Free Colored. Negro Slaves. Total in Pennsylvania.
424.099 6,537 3.737 434,373
Population in the United States, 3,929,827.
1800.
586,098 14,561 1,706 602,365
Population in the United Slates, 5,305,941.
1810.
786,704 22,492 795 810,091
Population in the United States, 7,239,814.
1820.
1,017,094 32.153 2" 1,049,458
Population in the United States, 9,638,191.
184

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

Whites.
1,309,900

,676,115

1830.
Free Colored. Negro Slaves. Total in Pennsylvania.
37,930 ' 403 1,348,233
Population in the United States, 12,866,020.

1840.
47,854 64
Population in the United States, 17,069,453.
RATIO FOR A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

1,724,033

1790—33,000

Number in Pennsylvania, 13

Total membership

105

iSoo — 33,000

18

"

141

1 810 — 35,000

23
"
181
1820^40,000
26
213
1830 — 47,000
28
"
240
1840 — 70,680
24
<•
223
Salarj'
of a Congressman,
eight dollars a day.
CHAPTER XL
THE ERECTION OF THE COUNTY  SITE FOR COUNTY ESTABLISHED, AND
DEED FOR PUBLIC LOTS  PIONEER COURT-HOUSE AND JAIL  THE
PIONEER ACADEMY. ERECTION OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
When William Penn came to what is now the State of Pennsylvania
and organized what has become our present Commonwealth, he erected
three counties, which were Bucks, Philadelphia, and Chester. Chester
County extended over the western portion of the State at that time. In
reality, it had jurisdiction over only the inhabitable portion, but its
boundary lines extended west of what is now Jefferson County.
On May 10, 1729, Lancaster County was erected from Chester. On
January 27, 1750, Cumberland County was erected from Lancaster. On
March 9, 177 1, Bedford County was erected from Cumberland. March
27, 1772, Northumberland County was erected, and for thirteen years our
wilderness was in this county. On April 13, 1795, Lycoming County
was erected from Northumberland, and on March 26, 1804, Jefferson
County was erected from Lycoming County. Thus you will see that this
wilderness was embraced in six other counties before it was erected into
a separate county. The name of the county was given in honor of
Thomas Jefferson, who was then President of the United States. The
original area of Jefferson County contained 1 203 square miles, but it now
has only about 413,440 acres; highest altitude, from 1200 to 1880 feet
above sea-level ; length of county, 46 miles ; breadth, 26 miles.
13 185
PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" Jefferson County is now in the fourth tier of counties east of the Ohio
line, and in the third tier south of the New York line, and is bounded by
Forest and Elk on the north, Clearfield on the east, Indiana on the south,
and Armstrong and Clarion on the west. Its south line now runs due
west twenty-three and one-third miles from the Clearfield-Indiana corner ;

MCKEAN

ih</ 1 N D ) A N A

Map of Jefferson County, 1842.
its west line thence due north twenty-eight and one-quarter miles to the
Clarion River ; its north line, first up the Clarion River to Elk County,
thence due south one-half mile, thence southeast thirteen and three-
quarter miles, to Clearfield County ; its east line runs first southwest ten
railes, thence due south fifteen and one-third miles, to the starting-place
at the Clearfield- Indiana corner. 1 86

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
GEOGRAPHY.
" The original boundary lines enclosed an area of more than one thou
sand square miles, embracing much of what is now Forest and Elk, be
yond the Clarion River. At what time the present boundaries were
erected is not certain ; but much shifting took place, especiaUy along the
northern border, until comparatively recent years.
" The pioneer people were mainly of Scotch-Irish descent, with a
considerable intermixture of the German element, industrious, prudent,
and thrifty. TOPOGRAPHY.
"The surface of Jefferson County is uniformly broken and hilly;
everywhere occupied by the same set of rock strata, lying nearly hori
zontal, and excavated into valleys and ravines in the same style. Although
one valley cannot be said to be the exact counterpart of another, nor the
streams be considered of equal size and importance, yet the type of the
topography is the same wherever we look at it, and any one part of the
county, therefore, is, in this respect, a picture of the whole.
" Standing upon one of the many elevated points of the region, the
observer may see beneath him a broad valley, from three hundred to five
hundred feet deep, and as irregular in its trend and course as its slopes
are variable in their fall. Here precipitous walls face the stream on both
sides; there a sharp descent upon the one side is faced by a long gentle
slope upon the other, according as the dips are arranged ; at another
place the valley widens under the influence of a synclinal, and both its
slopes are gradual. Numerous ravines, some short, some long, some deep,
others shallow, debouch into the valley from both sides. Uplands un
dulating, but ofa pretty uniform height, stretch away in both directions.
No mountain ridges are anywhere visible on the horizon. As far as the
eye can see there spreads an elevated table-land, broken by vales, valleys,
and ravines.
" The height above tide of the upland summits ranges from twelve
hundred to eighteen hundred and eighty feet. They are lowest at the
southern end of the county, and highest at the northern end, in obedi
ence to a topographical law prevailing throughout Western Pennsylvania :
that the surface elevations gradually increase in the direction of the rising
anticlinal axes, — i.e., towards the northeast.
"To this law there isone notable exception in Jefferson County;
the southeast corner borders on the high table-land of the Chestnut Ridge
anticlinal, whose summits frequently attain an elevation of two thousand
feet ; and some few points in Gaskill township rise nearly to that height ;
but these points are related more closely to the topography of Indiana
aud Clearfield Counties than to that of Jefferson, which is in fact a mere
continuation of that prevailing throughout Clarion, Armstrong, and
western Indiana Counties. 187

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
ELEVATION.
Feet.
Hillman .... . . above sea-level, 1880
PerrysviUe . . . " " 1170
Winslow  u ,> 1636
Horatio .... . . . " " I2II
Falls Creek ... . . . above tide, 1405
Evergreen  . . . " " 1398
Magee's (Sandy Valley P. O.) . . " " 1387
Panther Run ... . .... . " " 1386
Reynoldsville . . <¦ <. 1^77
Prior Run  . .... 1366
Prindible ... . .< .< 1360
McAnnulty's Run . . . . n u l^jg
Camp Run ... . n 1. 1341
Fuller's . . .... . . " " 1327
Wolf Run  « « I3ig
Iowa Mills . . . , " " 1299
Bell's Mills . . '¦ " iz68
Brookville Tunnel, east end . . . " " 1242
Brookville Station .... . . . . " " 1235
Coder's Run . . . . . . . " " 1223
Puckerty Point . . . . . " " 1214
Rattlesnake Run . . . " " 1207
Baxter ... . . . " '¦ 1206
Troy. . . . . . " " 1186
Heathville . . . " " 1161
Patton's . . ... . " '• 1131
ELEVATION ABOVE TIDE FROM FALLS CREEK TO RIDGEWAV.
Near Falls Creek Station . ... above tide, 1406
Surface ot ground, McMiiin's Summit  " " 1625
(McMinn's Summit is the Boon Mountain divide.)
Brockwayville .... .... .< « 1466
Ordinary low water in Little Toby . . ¦< n 1441
On the main Ridgway Road . " " 145 1
Mouth of Little Toby Creek  . . . " " 1321
(This is the ordinary water-level.)
Big Run  . . . . " " 1287
Sykesville .... . " " 1350
Punxsutawney . . . " " 1225
DRAINAGE.
" The drainage of Jefferson County is all westward towards the Ohio
River, through (i) the Clarion River at the north end of the county, (2)
Red Bank Creek in the centre, and (3) Mahoning Creek on the south.
Each of these streams has its own complex system of tributaries, each
with its own system of small branches and branchlets ; and thus the sur
face ofthe whole county is broken into hills.
188

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" Although the Clarion and Mahoning are larger streams, yet they flow
on the borders of the county, and are less important to it than the Red Bank.
" Red Bank Creek is the principal stream, as a glance at the map will
at once show. Its water basin is unsymmetrical on the two sides, a much
larger part of its drainage coming in from the north than from the south.
Excepting indeed from the Little Sandy branch its basin on the south
side would be confined pretty much to the hills which overlook the creek ;
whereas towards the north its far-reaching arms extend to what is now the
Elk County Une.
" Red Bank Creek in the original maps and drafts of Jefferson County
bore the name of Sandy Lick, which name is still retained for its main
branch, coming from Clearfield County, along which the Bennett's
Branch Railroad is laid. The creek assumes the name of Red Bank at
Brookville, where Sandy Lick unites with the North Fork, and both
branches carry enough water during floods to float rafts and logs.
" Mill Creek, a branch ofthe Sandy Lick, is also a rafting stream.
"Little Sandy, before alluded to as occupying the southwestern part
of the county, is a rafting stream.
"The volume of water, however, in all the streams, large and small,
is extremely irregular, varying as it does from stages of high flood when
the larger streams are destructive torrents, to stages of almost complete
exhaustion during periods of severe drought. This extreme of variability
is largely the consequence of the porous and loose condition of the surface
rocks, which thus copiously yield water so long as they hold it. In
1879, 3-^ exceptional year, after a succession of prolonged droughts,
there was a dearth of water in all parts of the county ; the larger streams
had barely enough in them to turn a mill ; and considerable difficulty
was experienced, especially in the upland country, to obtain water for the
cattle. As a rule, the county is abundantly watered for agricultural pur
poses, and for domestic supply in towns and villages.
"The Red Bank-Mahoning divide in the southeast corner of the
county crosses from Clearfield at a point nearly due east of Reynoldsville.
Thence it follows an irregular southwest line, around the heads of Elk
Run, and around the heads of Little Sandy. Paradise settlement stands
at the top of it ; so does Shamoka, Oliveburg, and Frostburg. Porter
Post-Office at the southwest end of the county marks the top of the divide
in that region.
" The Red Bank-Clarion divide on the north enters Jefferson south of
Lane's Grove, where one branch of Rattlesnake Run takes its rise. After
passing Brockwayville the water-shed is forced almost to the edge of Little
Toby valley, as will be seen on examination of the county map. Along
the last-named stream it passes in Elk County, where curving about the
heads of the North Fork (Red Bank system), it returns again to Jefferson,
whence closely skirting the Clarion River, it runs southwest of Sigel.

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
There it turns sharply about and next sweeps around the head of Big
Mill Creek, extending thence south to within a few miles of the Red
Bank valley. It therefore describes a semicircle in northern Jefferson,
stretching from one side of the county to the other."
FOREST-TREES.
"The southern portion of Jefferson County was mostly covered with
white oak, black oak, rock oak, chestnut, sugar, beech, and hickory.
"The rock areas of northern Jefferson were covered with pine and
hemlock, with scarcely a trace of white oak. There is still a consider
able quantity of marketable hemlock left.
"White oak, chestnut, sugar, beech, and hickory were the principal
kinds of wood on the cleared lands.
"White oak was found mostly on the high uplands.
" W. C. Elliott says, ' There were four kinds of maple, four of ash, five
of hickory, eight of oak, three of birch, four of willow, four of poplar,
four of pine, and from one to three of each of the other varieties. The
foUowing are the names of all of them ; some of the trees are not correctly
named, but the names given are the only English naraes by which they
go. Their Latin names are all correct and would be given, but would not
be understood. Sweet-bay, cucumber, elkwood, long-leaved cucumber,
white basswood, toothache-tree, wafer-ash, spindle-tree, Indian-cherry,
feted buckeye, sweet buckeye, striped maple, sugar-maple, white maple,
red maple, ash-leaved maple, staghorn sumach, dwarf sumach, poison
elder, locust, coffee-nut, honey-locust, judas-tree, wild plum, hog-plum,
red cherry, black cherry, American crab-apple, crab-apple, cockspur,
thorn, scarlet haw, blackthorn, Washington thorn, service-tree, witch-
hazel, sweet-gum, dogwood, boxwood, sour-gum, sheep-berry, stag-bush,
sorrel-tree, spoonwood, rosebay, southern buckthorn, white ash, red ash,
green ash, black ash, fringe-tree, catalpa, sassafras, red elra, white elm,
rock elm, hackberry, red mulberry, sycamore, butternut, walnut, bitter-
nut, pignut, kingnut, shagbark, white hickory, swamp white oak, chest
nut oak, yellow oak, red oak, shingle oak, chinquapin, chestnut, iron-
wood, leverwood, beech, gray birch, red birch, black birch, black alder,
speckled alder, black willow, sand-bar willow, almond-willow, glaucous
willow, aspen, two varieties of soft poplar, two varieties of Cottonwood,
two varieties of necklace-poplar, liriodendron (incorrectly called poplar),
white cedar, red cedar, white pine, hemlock, balsam, fir, hickory, pine,
pitch-pine or yellow pine, red pine, Virginia date, and forest olive. In
addition to the above were numerous wild berries, vines, etc. '
GEOLOGICAL .STRUCTURE.
"The rocks of Jefferson County are folded in a regular succession of
paraUel anticlinal ridges and synclinal basins, stretching from southwest
190

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
to northeast. The folds are not all equidistant from each other. Those
west of PerrysviUe anticlinical are nearly so.
' ' The anticlinical arches are low, and the synclinal basins are shal
low ; and while they are not equal in height and depth, when compared
with one another, the difference is small, although of considerable im
portance in its effect upon mining interests. Some idea of how gently
the rocks incUne from the horizontal may be got from the fact that the
whole thickness of strata outcropping at the surface in any basin does
not exceed five hundred feet, although the basin is in some cases six
miles wide.
"The axes of the rolls and troughs being parallel, the line of strike
is necessarUy uniform in all parts of the county ; about N. 40° E. (S.
40° W.).
"The normal dip, therefore, is either to the N. 50° W. or S. 50'=' E.
But the real dip is somewhat different, owing to the plainly marked rise
of the whole region (with its anticlinals and synclinals) towards the
northeast." — Geological Report of fefferson County, Pennsylvania.
"An Act to erect Parts of Lycoming, Huntingdon, and Somerset
Counties into Separate County Districts.
" Section i. Be it enacted, etc., and it is hereby enacted by the author
ity of the same. That part of the county of Lycoming, included within
the following lines, to wit: Beginning atthe northeast corner of Venango
County, and thence east thirty miles (part along the line of Warren
County), and thence by a due south line fifteen miles, thence a south
westerly course to Sandy Lick Creek, where Hunter's district line crosses
said creek ; thence south along Hunter's district line to a point twelve
miles north of the canoe-place, on the west branch of Susquehanna ;
thence a due west line until it intersects the eastern boundary of Arm
strong County ; thence north along the line of Armstrong and Venango
Counties, to the place of beginning, be, and the same is hereby erected
into a separate county, to be henceforth called Jefferson County ; and the
place of holding the courts of justice shall be fixed by the Legislature at
any place at a distance not greater than seven miles frora the centre of
the said county, which raay be most beneficial and convenient for the
said county.
"Section 7. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
the Governor shall, as soon as convenient, appoint three Commissioners
to run and mark the boundary lines of the counties of Jefferson, Clear
field, and Cambria, and shall appoint three other Commissioners to run
and mark the boundary lines of the counties of McKean, Potter, and
Tioga, according to the true intent and meaning of this act ; and the
said Commissioners, or any two of them, shall have power to run the
aforesaid lines, and shall have, for their services, the sum of two dollars
191

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
for every mile so run and marked, to be paid out of the treasury of this
Commonwealth. " Section 8. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
as soon as it shall appear by an enumeration of the taxable inhabitants
within the counties of Jefferson, McKean, Clearfield, Potter, Tioga, and
Cambria, that any of the said counties, according to the ratio which shall
then be established for apportioning the representation among the several
counties of this Commonwealth, shall be entitled to a separate representa
tion, provision shall be made by law apportioning the said representa
tion, and enabling such county to be represented separately, and to hold
the courts of justice at such place in the said county as is or may here
after be fixed for holding the same by the Legislature, and to choose
their county officers in like manner as in the other counties of this
Commonwealth. " Section 9. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
the Governor be, and he is hereby authorized and required to appoint
three suitable persons for trustees in each of the said counties, who shall
receive proposals in writing frora any person or persons, or any bodies
corporate or politic, for the grant or conveyance of any lands within the
said counties respectively, and within the limits prescribed by this act for
fixing the place of holding courts of justice in said counties respectively,
or the transfer of any other property, or payment of money for the use of
said counties, and transmit to the Legislature from time to time a copy
of the proposals so received under their hands ; and when the place of
holding courts of justice in the said counties respectively shall be fixed
by the Legislature, to take assurances in the law for the lands and other
valuable property, or money contained in any such proposals, which shall
or may be accepted of.
"Section 13. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid.
That for the present convenience of the inhabitants of the county of Jef
ferson, and until an enumeration of the taxable inhabitants of said county
shall be made, and it shall be otherwise directed by law, the said county
of Jefferson shall be, and the same is hereby annexed to the county of
Westraoreland ; and the jurisdiction of the several courts of the county
of Westmoreland, and the authority of the judges thereof, shall extend
over and shall operate and be effectual withia the said county of Jef
ferson. "Section 15. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid.
That the electors within the counties erected by this act shall continue
to elect at the same places and with the same counties as heretofore.
"Approved — the twenty-fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord
one thousand and eight hundred and four.
"Thomas McKean,
" Governor of the Commowealth of Pennsylvania."
192

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"An Act approving the Appointment of Commissioners to fix upon
a Proper Site for the Seat of Justice in Jefferson County.
" Section i. Be it enacted, etc., and it is hereby enacted by the authority
ofthe same. That John Mitchell, ofthe county of Centre, Alexander Mc-
Calmont, of the county of Venango, and Robert Orr, Junior, of Arm
strong County, be and they are hereby appointed Commissioners, who, or
a majority of whom, shall meet at the house of Andrew Barnett, in the
county of Jefferson, on the first Monday in September next, and from
thence proceed to view and determine the raost eligible and proper situa
tion for the seat of justice for the said county of Jefferson, and make report
into the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth on or before the
first Monday of December next ; and each of said Commissioners shall
receive three dollars per day for every day they shall be necessarily em-
ploj'ed in the duty aforesaid, to be paid by warrants drawn by the Commis
sioners of Jefferson County on the treasurer of said county : Provided, That
in case of death, resignation, or inability of any one or more of the
Commissioners to serve, the Governor shall be authorized and required
to appoint such suitable person or persons to fill such vacancy or
vacancies. " Section 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
the Commissioners of Jefferson County shall have power, and it shall be
their duty to take assurances, by deed, bond, or otherwise, of any land,
lots, money, or other property which hath or may be offered for the use
and benefit of the said county, either for the purpose of erecting public
buildings, or for the support of an academy or other public use.
" Approved — the eighth day of April, a.d. one thousand eight hun
dred and twenty-nine. "J. Andw. Shulze."

In accordance with the provisions of this act these men met at the
house of Joseph Barnett on the first Monday of September, 1829, and
located the site on the Waterford and Susquehanna turnpike, at the con
fluence of the Sandy Lick and North Fork, where they form the Red
Bank, and named the place Brookville.
The boundaries of the town as then laid out were as follows : Butler
Alley, running east and west, north of the second (or old graveyard),
thence east, taking in the mills and dam of Robert P. Barr, now Heidrick,
Matson & Co. On the west was an alley, now east of the Presbyterian
church, down that alley to Water Street, taking in or including " Hunt's
Point," thence along Water Street to Pickering Street, and across Red
Bank, near the bridge, and out Pickering Street to lot No. 25, and thence
to the Sandy Lick. 193

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
' An Act to authorize the Provisional County of Jefferson, to
elect County Commissioners, and for Other Purposes.
" Section i. (The citizens to elect three County Commissioners and
three Auditors on the second Tuesday of October next :)
' ' Provided, that the largest in vote of the said County Commission
ers, and also the lowest in vote of the said County Auditors, shall only
serve one year, the next lowest two years, whose places respectively shall
be supplied according to the laws of this Commonwealth. Provided
always. That all and singular the costs and expenses in laying out and
opening roads, all costs chargeable to the county of Jefferson, arising
from criminal prosecutions instituted against persons within said county,
and all other costs and expenses incidental to said county, and which of
right should be paid by the same, on account of the jurisdiction of the
several Courts of Indiana County, and the authority of the judges thereof
extending over the said county of Jefferson, shall be paid by the said
county of Jefferson, on warrants drawn by the Commissioners of Indiana
County, and countersigned by the Commissioners of the county of Jeffer
son. " Section 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
it shall and may be lawful for the said Commissioners of the county of Jef
ferson, or their successors, to call on the Commissioners of the county of
'Indiana for the purpose of examining, liquidating, and receiving such
balances as shall be found due to the said county of Jefferson, and if, on
such examination, it be found that a balance is due from the county of
Jefferson to the county of Indiana, then it shall be the duty of the Com
missioners of Indiana County to call on the Commissioners of Jefferson
County and receive said balance.
*¦' Section 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
the said County Commissioners and Auditors so elected shall hold their
office and transact the public business as Commissioners and Auditors of
said county at such place as shall be fixed upon by a majority of the
Commissioners first elected in said county of Jefferson, until the seat of
justice is ascertained, and thereafter at the seat of justice.
" Section 4. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
so much of any act or acts of the General Assembly of this Common
wealth as is altered or supplied by this act be, and the same is, hereby
repealed. " Passed 21st January, 1824."
^ -1- ^^ "^ -^ % ^^ -^ i^
PIOXEER COMMISSIONERS, TREASURERS, AUDITORS, COLLECTORS,
AND ASSESSORS— SATURDAY AFTERNOON A TIME TO PREPARE
FOR SUNDAY.
In pursuance of this act of Asserably, approved January 21, 1824,
granting to the provisional county of Jefferson the privilege of electing
194

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
its own commissioners, auditors, etc., an election was held the 12th day
of October, 1824. Andrew Barnett was duly elected commissioner of
Jefferson County for three years, John Lucas was duly elected for two
years, and John W. Jenks was elected for one year, the election of these
three being certified to by Alexander Taylor, prothonotary of Indiana
and Jefferson Counties. Andrew Barnett and John Lucas took the oath
of office before Joseph McCuUough, of Pine Creek township, Friday,
October 29, and John W. Jenks before John Bell, Esq., of Perry town
ship, on the 3d day of Noveraber, 1824.
November 12, 1824, Barnett, Lucas, and Jenks met at the home of
Joseph Barnett, in Pine Creek township, and organized as a board. Ira
White was appointed clerk for one year at one dollar a day for the " time
employed in the office." A room was rented in Barnett's Inn for an
office " at the rate of one dollar a week for the time occupied," " arid a
closet in said room to be in the use of the county continually."
On the i6th day of February, 1825, John Matson, Sr., was appointed
county treasurer.
The pioneer county auditors were elected in 1825,— viz., Thomas
Robinson, James Corbett, and Alonzo Baldwin. They were sworn in
before Joseph McCuUough, Esq., January 2, 1826.
The pioneer assessors and collectors under the commissioners for
Jefferson County were, in 1825: Pine Creek — assessor, James Shields;
collector, John Barnett ; Perry — assessor, Elijah Heath ; collector, Isaac
McKinley. The pioneer contract to supply the public buildings with wood and
coal for fuel was in November, 1831, for one year, by Joseph Clements,
for thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents. As the county buildings had
only ten-plate stoves, wood, three feet in length, and no coal, was sup
plied under this contract.
Previous to and as late as 1850 it was the rule for mill-men, woods
men, and laboring men generaUy to stop work every Saturday at noon.
The idea was to better prepare for the observance of the Sabbath. As
far as my observation reminds me, I can assure you that spiritualizing was
practised freely on these Saturday afternoons.
COPY OF DEED DELIVERING GROUND FOR THE PUBLIC PURPOSES.
"John Pickering ^z' a/. -\ Deed dated July 31st, 1830.
to [-Recorded in Deed Book No. 1, at
Commissioners of Jefferson Co. 3 page 133.
" And Whereas, The said John Pickering, with the approbation and
consent of a majority of the said Company, being the parties of the sec
ond part hereto, which consent is signified by their becoming parties to
this indenture, for and in consideration of the seat of justice for Jefferson
195

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
County being established upon the said tract of land, did agree {inter
alia) to grant and convey unto the said parties of the third part, and
their successors in office, ground for the public buildings, and also for
churches and a public burying-ground, as also ten inlots in the town to
be laid out upon said tract of land.
"And Whereas, The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, by an act passed on the second day of April, a.d. one
thousand eight hundred and thirty, did establish the seat of justice for
said county of Jefferson at the town of Brookville, to be laid out upon
said tract of land, and thereby authorize and empower the said parties of
the third part to receive {inter alia) from the party of the first part a deed
in fee simple for the purposes above mentioned.
"Now ihis Indenture Witnesseth, That the said John Pickering, as
weU as for and iu consideration of the sum of one dollar, lawful money
of the United States to him in hand paid by the said Thomas McKee,
Thomas Lucas, and Elijah Heath, Commissioners of Jefferson County, at
and before the ensealing and delivery hereof, the receipt whereof is
hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained, and sold, aliened, en-
feofed, released, and confirmed, and by these presents doth grant, bar
gain, and sell, alien, enfeof, release, and confirm unto the said Thomas
McKee, Thomas Lucas, and Elijah Heath, Commissioners of Jefferson
County, and their successors in office, all that square or piece of ground
in the said town of Brookville, situated, lying between, and bounded by
Pickering Street, Market Street, Chestnut Alley, and Court .\Uey, and
marked in the general plan of said town. Public Square, and also the
outlets known and numbered in the general plan of the same by the
numbers twelve (12) and thirteen (13). And also all those ten inlots of
ground known and numbered in the general plan of said town by the
numbers thirty-four (34), thirty-five (35), thirty-six (36), thirty-seven
(37), thirty-eight (38), sixty-four (64), sixty-five (65), sixty-six (66),
sixty-seven (67), and sixty-eight (68), together with the privileges and
appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining. To
have and to hold the same to the said Thomas McKee, Thomas Lucas,
and Elijah Heath, Commissioners of Jefferson County, and their suc
cessors in office, to the only proper use and behoof of the said Thomas
McKee, Thomas Lucas, and Elijah Heath, Commissioners of Jefferson
County, and their successors in office, forever. In trust, nevertheless,
and to and for the uses and purposes hereinafter declared, — that is to
say, that the said square shall be and remain for the use of the Public
Buildings. That outlet Nuraber twelve (12) shall be and reraain for the
purpose of erecting churches or houses of public worship thereon for any
denomination that sees proper to build thereon. That outlet Number
thirteen (13) shall be and remain a public burying-ground. That as te
the said ten inlets before raentioned and described, the said parties of
196

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
the third part and their successors in office shall sell and dispose of the
same and pay the proceeds thereof into the Treasury of said county, to
be applied towards the erection of the public buildings in the Town of
Brookville. "In witness whereof the said parties have hereunto set their hands
and seals the day and year first above written.
"Jno. Pickering, Trustee. [L. S.J
Jno. Pickering, Executor. [L. S.]
Octavius Pickering, Executor. [L. S.]
" Tho-mas a. Dexter,
Samuel Hunt,
"Witnesses to the signature of John Pickering and Octavius
Pickering. "Nich's Fish. [L. S.]
Leonard Kip. [L. S.]
Maria I. Kip. [L. S.]
" David Clyde, Clerk.
Wm. H. Ma.xwell, Counsellor and Commissioner, New York.
"Witnesses to the signatures of Nich's Fish : Wm. Johnson, Leonard
Kip, Leonard Kip, as attorney, and Maria I. Kip, his wife.
" Leonard Kip. [L. S.]
" Attorney for all the heirs of Duiican Ingraham.
" Redwood Fisher, Executor. [L. S.J
" Witnesses to the signature of Redwood Fisher : Andrew Geyer
and J. C. WiKOFF. "Jaboy M. Fisher, Executor. [L. S.]
' ' Witnesses to the signature of Jaboy M. Fisher : Andrew Geyer and
Ralph Smith. "Ann Wikoff. [L. S.J
"Witnesses to the signature of Ann Wikoff: Andrew Geyer and
J. C. Wikoff."
The pioneer court-house was contracted for in 1830 and finished in
1833. The county records show this "Article of Agreement, made the
14th day of December, 1830, between Thomas Lucas and Robert Andrews,
Commissioners of Jefferson County, of the first part, and John Lucas, of
Jefferson County, and Robert Barr, of the county of Indiana, of the
second part. The party of the second part agrees to build court-house,
two offices, one fire-proof, within two years from the ist day of January
next. The Commissioners, on their part, agree to pay contractors the
sum of three thousand dollars, in manner as follows : two thousand dol
lars as the work progresses, and one thousand dollars in full on the ist
day of January, 1833, to be paid out of the funds arising from the sale
197

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
of lots in said town of Brookville, if there shall be sufficient ; if not, to
be made up eut ef the county funds.
(Signed) "Thomas Lucas,
Robert Andrews,
" Commissioners .
"John Lucas,
Robert Barr,
" Contractors.
" Witnesses :
" William M. Kennedy,
James Hall."
Our first jail was a stone structure, built of common stone, in 1831.
It was two stories high, was situated en the northeast corner of the public
square lot, near Joseph Darr's residence, and fronting en Pickering Street.
Daniel Elgin was the contractor. The building was divided into eight
rooms, two down-stairs and two up-stairs for jail proper, and two down
stairs and two up-stairs for the sheriff's residence and office. The sheriff
occupied the north part. It cost eighteen hundred and twenty-four
dollars and twenty-three cents.
The pioneer academy in Jefferson County was authorized by an act of
the Legislature, approved April 13, 1838. This act authorized the treas
urer of the Comraonwealth to subscribe two thousand dollars, to be ex
pended in building an academy building in Brookville, Pennsylvania.
The trustees appointed by said act were John J. Y. Thompson, C. A.
Alexander, Thomas Hastings, Levi G. Clover, John Pierce, and Richard
Arthurs. In 1841 the Legislature authorized the commissioners of Jeffer
son County to subscribe five hundred dollars, and five hundred dollars
being raised by subscription of citizens, this made a fund of three thou
sand dollars to erect the building.
The site selected was the lot on the corner of Jefferson and Barnett
Streets, and the lot was kindly donated for this purpose by John Picker
ing. The let was in a state of nature then, being covered with pine-
trees. The contractors were Robert P. Barr, Thomas M. Barr, and
Robert Larrimer. The building was of brick, and was completed in
1843. Professor J. M. Coleman was the first to teach classics and high
mathematics in this institution.

^

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

CHAPTER XI L
THE COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM  ITS INCEPTION — INTRODUCTION INTO AMER
ICA  STATE EFFORT— HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN THE STATE — SCHOOLS
OF JEFFERSON COUNTY  PROGRESS OF EDUCATION, ETC.
As an introduction to this chapter, I cannot do better than reproduce
an extract from a speech delivered by myself before a convention of Jef
ferson County school directors, — viz. :
" Gentlemen of the Convention, — I thank you for this honor. I
highly appreciate it. As the representatives of thirty-two school districts,
two hundred and forty schools, and twelve thousand pupils, we have met
this day to consider modes and methods by which we can best advance
the cause of education. This is wise and patriotic. Perhaps it might be
well as an introduction to our work to review a little history as te the
origin and present status of our common schools. Martin Luther, a Ger
man, was the first to advocate the public school system. This he did in
1524, ably, vigorously, and boldly. He asserted that the ' government, as
the natural guardian of all the young, has the right to compel the people
to support schools.' He further said, ' Now, nothing is more necessary
than the training of those who are to come after us and bear rule. ' The
education ef the young of all classes in free schools was one of the objects
nearest Luther's heart. Scotland is the only other country of Europe
that took an early interest in public school education. In 1560, John
Knox urged the necessity of schools for the poor. These grand humane
impulses of John Knox and ether Scotch fathers have spread abroad,
'wide as the waters be,' only to germinate, bud, and bloom into the
grandest social, theological, and political conditions ever attained by
man. But it remained for the Puritan fathers of New England (America)
to completely develop the common school system of our time. In New
England education early made great progress. Under the eaves of their
church the Puritans always built a school-house. As early as 1635, Boston
had a school fer ' the teaching of all children with us.' In 1647, Massa
chusetts made the support of schools compulsory and education universal
and free by the enactment of the following law, — viz. ; ' It is therefore
ordered that every township in this jurisdiction, after the Lord hath in
creased them to the number of fifty householders, shall then forthwith
appoint one within the town to teach all such children as shall resort to
him to write and read, whose wages shall be paid either by the parents
or masters of such children, or by the inhabitants in general by way of
199

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
supply, as the major part of those who order the prudentials of the town
shall appoint, provided those that send their children be not oppressed
by paying much more than they can have them taught for in other towns.'
In Connecticut, in 1665, every town that did not keep a school for three
months in the year was Uable to a fine. On April i, a.d. 1834, one hun
dred and eighty-seven years later than the enactment ef the common
school law of Massachusetts, the law creating the common school system
of Pennsylvania was approved by George Wolf, governor. Our second
State superintendent of public instruction was appointed under this law.
His name was Thomas H. Burrowes.
" The foundation of our common school system was built by the
convention to form a State constitution in 1790. The article as incor
porated in that document reads as follows :
" ' Section i. The Legislature shall, as soon as conveniently may be,
provide by law for the establishment of schools throughout the State, in
such a manner that the poor may be taught gratis.
"'Section 2. The arts and sciences shall be promoted in one er
more seminaries of learning.'
"This educational article was also incorporated into the constitution
of 1838. But little effort was made under the first constitution by legis
lative bodies to establish schools under the first section. Their only aim
seemed to be to aid the churches and neighborhood schools to carry on
the work they had been doing for a hundred years. The pioneer effort
by the Legislature seems to have been in 1794, when, on December 8,
1794, a committee was appointed by the House to report a proper mode
of carrying into effect that part ef the governor's message in regard to
schools. The committee reported as follows :
" ' Resolved, That schools may be established throughout the State,
in such a manner that the poor may be taught gratis.
" 'Resolved, That one-fifth part of the expense necessary to support
the raasters of said schools be paid out of the general funds of the State.
" ' Resolved, That the remaining four-fifths of the said expense be
paid in each county, respectively, by means of a county tax.
"'Resolved, That the said schools be put under the direction of
trustees in each county, subject to such limitations and regulations, as to
the distribution of their funds, the appointment ef masters, and their
general arrangements, as shall be provided by law.
"' Resolved, That the schools thus established shall be free schools,
and that at least spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetic shall be taught
therein. ' ' ' Resolved, That ten thousand dollars a year be appropriated out of
the funds of this Commonwealth to encourage the establishment ef acad
emies, in which grammar, the elements of matheraatios, geography, and
history shall be taught.

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" 'Resolved, That the said sum be apportioned amongst the city and
several counties of the State in proportion to their respective population.
" ' Resolved, That whenever a sum sufficient, with the addition of the
sums proposed to be given by the public, to support an academy for the
purpose aforesaid shall have been subscribed, or contributed, the addi
tional sum of one hundred dollars a year shall be given out of the public
treasury in aid of such academy.
' ' ' Resolved, That when the number of academies in any county shall
be so great that the sum to which such county is entitled becomes insuffi
cient to afford one hundred dollars to each, it shall be divided by the
trustees aforesaid among the whole of such academies, in proportion to
the number of masters employed and scholars taught, and the length of
time in each during which each academy is so kept and supported.
" ' Resolved, That whenever a sum is subscribed and contributed suf
ficient, if added to the income of any of the inferior schools, to procure
the instruction contemplated to be given in the academies, such school
shall become an academy and receive the additional bounty of one hun
dred dollars as aforesaid, subject to a reduction in the manner aforesaid.'
" A bill was prepared in accordance with these resolutions and passed
both branches, but was lost in conference committee. This was forty
years before the enactment of 1834."
THE PIONEER ACT.
On the ist day of March, 1802, Governor McKean approved the
pioneer lawof this State making a provision for the education of the poor,
the title being ' ' An Act to provide for the Education of Poor Children
gratis. ' '
' ' Whereas, By the first section of the seventh article of the Constitu
tion of this Commonwealth it is directed ' That the Legislature shall as
soon as conveniently may be provide by law for the establishment of
schools throughout the State, in such manner as that the poor may be
taught gratis;' therefore,
"Section i. Be it enacted, etc.. That from and after the passing of
this act the Guardians and Overseers of the Poor ef the City of Philadel
phia, the District of Southwark, and Townships and Boroughs within this
Commonwealth, shall ascertain the names of all those children whose
parents or guardians they shall judge te be unable to pay for their school
ing, to give notice in writing to such parent or guardian that provision is
made by law for the education of their children or the children under
their care, and that they have a full and free right to subscribe at the
usual rates and send them to any school in their neighborhood, giving
notice thereof as soon as may be te the Guardians or Overseers of the
term fer which they have subscribed, the number of scholars and the
rate of tuition ; and in those Townships where there are no Guardians or

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Overseers of the Poor, the Supervisors of the Highways shall perform the
duties herein required to be dene by the Guardians or Overseers of the
Poor. " Section 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
every Guardian or Overseer of the Poor, or Supervisor of the Highways,
as the case may be, in any township or place where any such child or
children shall be sent to school as aforesaid, shall enter in a book the
name or names, age, and length of time such child or children shall have
been so sent to school, together with the amount of schooling, school-
books, and stationery, and shall levy and collect in the same way and man
ner and under the same regulations as poor taxes or road taxes are levied
and collected a sufficient sum of money from their respective townships,
boroughs, wards, or districts te discharge such expenses, together with
the sum of five per cent, fer their trouble.
" Section 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
the Guardians or Overseers of the Poor for the time being, or Supervisors
of the Highways, as the case may be, shall use all diligence and prudence
in carrying this act into effect, and shall settle their accounts in the sarae
way and manner as by the existing laws of the State, the Guardians, Over
seers of the Poor, and Supervisors of the Poor, and Supervisors of the
Highways are authorized and required to settle their accounts.
" Section 4. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
this act shall continue in force for the term of three years, and from thence
to the end of the next sitting of the General Assembly and no longer."
It was found that the act of 1802 was unsatisfactory, and, in the hope
of betterment, this act of 1804 was passed :
"An Act to provide for the more Effectual Education of the
Children of the Poor gratis.
"Whereas, The law passed the first day of March, Anno Domini
one thousand and eight hundred and two, entitled ' An Act to provide for
the Education of Poor Children gratis,' has net been found by experi
ence to answer the constitutional purposes intended by it ; therefore,
"Section i. Be it enacted, etc., That from and after the passing of
this act it shall be enjoined as a duty on all school-masters and school
mistresses teaching reading and writing in the English or German lan
guages and arithmetic te receive into their schools and teach as aforesaid
all such poor children as shall be recommended to them by the Overseers
of the Poor, or where there are no Overseers of the Poor, by a Justice of
the Peace and two respectable freeholders ef the city, district, or town
ship where such school is kept.
"Section 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid.
That upon the perforraance of any such service by any school-master or
school-mistress as aforesaid, the Overseers of the Poor or Justices of the
202

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Peace and freeholders who have recommended as aforesaid, shall certify
to the Commissioners of the proper county or city the names of such
poor children, the time they have been respectively taught, and the usual
rate of schooling paid for other children at the same school, who shall
examine such certificate, and, finding it correct, shall draw an order
in favor of such school-master or school-mistress for the amount on the
treasurer of the proper county or city, to be paid out of the county
stock. " Section 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid.
That this act shall continue in force for three years, and from thence to
the end of the next session of the General Assembly and no longer, and
the act entitled ' An Act to provide for the Education of Poor Children
gratis,' shall be and hereby is repealed."
That this act also was considered an incomplete fulfilment of the con
stitution appears from the message of the governor the next year after its
passage. Agitation and discussion over the law resulted in the act of 1809,
better drawn, with the same title and aim.

THE LAW OF
"An Act to provide for the Education of the Poor gratis.
" Section i. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is
hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That it shall be the duty of
the Commissioners of the several counties within this Commonwealth, at
the time of issuing their precepts to the assessors, annually to direct and
require the assessor of each and every township, ward, and district to re
ceive from the parents the names of all the children between the ages of
five and twelve years whe reside therein, and whose parents are unable to
pay for their schooling ; and the Commissioners when they hold appeals
shall hear all persons who may apply for alterations or additions of names
in the said list, and make all such alterations as to them shall appear just
and reasonable, and agreeably to the true intent and meaning of this act ;
and after adjustment they shall transmit a correct copy thereof to the re
spective assessor, requiring him to inform the parents of the children
therein contained that they are at liberty to send them to the most con
venient school free of expense ; and the said assessor, fer any neglect ef
the above duty, shall forfeit and pay the sum of five dollars, to be sued
for by any person, and recovered as debts of that amount are now recov
erable, and to be paid into the county treasury, for county purposes:
Provided always. That the names of no children whose education is
otherwise provided for shall be received by the assessors of any township
or district. 203

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" Section 2.. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That
the said assessor shall send a list of the names of the children aforesaid to
the teachers of schools within his township, ward, or district, whose duty
it shall be te teach all such children as may come to their schools in the
same manner as other children are taught, and each teacher shall keep a
day-book, in which he shall enter the number of days each child entitled
to the provisions of this act shall be taught, and he shall also enter in
said book the amount of all stationery furnished for the use of said child,
from which book he shall make out his account against the county, on
oath or affirmation, agreeably to the usual rates of charging for tuition in
the said school, subject to the examination and revision of the trustees of
the school where there are any ; but where there are no trustees, to three
reputable subscribers to the school ; which account, after being so exam
ined or revised, he shall present to the County Commissioners, whe, if
they approve thereof, shall draw their order on the county treasurer for
the amount, which he is hereby authorized and directed to pay of any
moneys in the treasury.
"Approved — the fourth day of April, one thousand eight hundred
and nine. " Simon Snyder."
Each of these acts compelled parents to publish to the world their
poverty and to send their children to school as paupers.
The method of organizing schools and hiring masters under these
laws was as follows : A school-meeting was called by a notice posted in
the district. The inhabitants then met and elected in their own way
three of their number to act as a committee or as trustees with power to
hire a master or mistress, and this committee executed a supervision
over the school. A rate bill was always made eut by the master and
handed to the committee, who collected the moneys and paid it to the
master. The pioneer and early modes of school discipline were the cat-o'-
nine-tails and the rod, carrying the offender on the back of a pupil and
then flogging him, setting the boys with the girls and the girls with the
boys, fastening a split stick to the ear or the nose, laying the scholar
over the knee and applying the ferule to the part on which he sat. These
punishments lasted for years after the common schools came into use.
For the benefit of young teachers I will give the mode of correction.
The masters invariably kept what was called toms, or, more vulgarly,
cat-o' -nine-tails, all luck being in odd numbers. This instrument of tor
ture was an oaken stick about twelve inches long to which was attached
a piece of raw-hide cut in strips, twisted while wet, and then dried. It
was freely used for correction, and those who were thus corrected did
not soon forget it, and not a few carried the marks during life. Another
204

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
and no less cruel instrument was a green cow-hide. Comment upon the
above is useless, as the words cruelty and barbarity will suggest thera
selves to the minds of all who read it. For our text-books we had
Dilworth's and the " United States SpeUer," and our readers were the
good old Bible and Testament. The " Western Calculator" was all the
arithmetic that was in use, and the one who got through the "rule of
three" was called tolerably good in figures, and the lucky wight who got
through the book was considered a graduate in mathematics. Grammar

Governor Joseph Ritner.
and geography were not taught in common schools, being considered
higher branches.
Not one of the governors of the State during the time the law of 1809
was in force believed it raet the requirements of the constitution, hence
in 1824 an act was passed repealing it and another one substituted. The
new act was violently opposed, never went into effect, was repealed in
1826, and the act of 1809 was re-enacted. The policy enforced in our
State for fifty years after the Revolutionary War was the endowment of
academies and the free instruction of poor children in church and neigh
borhood schools.
Governor Wolf, in 1833-34, made education the leading topic ef his
message. Among other things he said, —
" To provide by law ' fer the establishment of schools throughout the
State, and in such a manner that the poor may be taught gratis,' is one
205

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
of the public measures to which I feel it to be my duty now to call your
attention, and most solemnly to press upon your consideration. Our
apathy and indifference in reference to this subject becomes the more
conspicuous when we reflect that whilst we are expending millions for
the physical condition of the State, we have not hitherto appropriated a
single dollar that is available for the inteUectual improvement of its youth,
which, in a moral and political point of view, is of tenfold more conse
quence, either as respects the moral influence of the State or its political
power and safety.

Governor George Wolf.

"According to the returns of the last census, we have in Pennsyl
vania five hundred and eighty-one thousand one hundred and eighty
children under the age of fifteen years, and one hundred and forty-nine
thousand and eighty-nine between the ages of fifteen and twenty years,
forming an aggregate of seven hundred and thirty thousand two hundred
and sixty-nine juvenile persons of both sexes under the age of twenty
years, most of them requiring mere or less instruction. And yet with all
this numerous youthful population growing up around us, who, in a few
years, are to be our rulers and our law-givers, the defenders of our country
and the piUars ef the State, and upon whose education will depend in
great measure the preservation of our liberties and the safety of the re
public, we have neither schools established for their instruction nor
provision made by law for establishing them as enjoined by the con
stitution." 206

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
In 1827, William Audenreid, then a senator from Schuylkill County,
introduced a bill into the Senate, the title of which was, " To provide a
Fund in support of a General System of Education in Pennsylvania."
This bill passed the Senate that session, but was defeated in the House,
but being urged and pressed every season it became a law April 2, 1831.
This law entitled Senator Audenreid to be called the author of our school
system. The law reads as follows :
"Section i. That there shall be and there hereby is established a
fund, to be denominated a Common School Fund, and the Secretary of
the Commonwealth, the Auditor- General, and the Secretary of the Land-
Office shall be Commissioners thereof, who, or a majority of them, in
addition to the duties they now perform, shall receive and manage such
moneys and other things as shall pertain to such fund, in the most advan
tageous raanner, and shall receive and hold to the use of said fund all
such gifts, grants, and donations as may be made ; and that said Com
missioners shall keep a correct record of their proceedings, which, to
gether with all papers and documents relative to said fund, shall be kept
and preserved in the office of the Auditor-General.
" Section 2. That from and after the passage of this act, all moneys
due and owing this Commonwealth by the holders of all unpatented
lands ; also all moneys secured to the Commonwealth by mortgages or
liens on land for the purchase- money of the sarae ; also all moneys paid
to the State Treasurer on any application hereafter entered, or any war
rant hereafter granted for land, as also fees received in the land-office, as
well as all moneys received in pursuance of the provisions of the fourth
section of an act entitled ' An Act to increase the County Rates and
Levies for the Use of the Commonwealth,' approved the twenty-fifth day
of March, 1831, be and the same are hereby transferred and assigned to
the Common School Fund ; and that at the expiration of twelve months
after the passage of this act, and regularly at the expiration of every
twelve months thereafter, the State Treasurer shall report to the said
Commissioners the amount of money thus received by hira during the
twelve months last preceding, together with a certificate of the amount
thereof, and that the same is held by the Commonwealth for the use of
the Common School Fund, at an interest of five per cent.
" Section 3. That the interest of the moneys belonging to said fund
shall be added to the principal as it becomes due, and the whole amount
thereof shall be held by the Commonwealth, and reraain subject to the
provisions of an act entitled ' An Act relative to the Pennsylvania Canal
and Railroad,' approved the twenty-second of April, 1829, until the in
terest thereof shall amount to the sum of one hundred thousand dollars
annually, after which the interest shall be annually distributed and ap
plied to the support of common schools throughout this Commonwealth,
in such a manner as shall hereafter be provided by law. ' '
207

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
THE PIONEER SCHOOLS— SCHOOL-MASTERS AND SCHOOL-
HOUSES.
"The pioneer schoolhouse in the southern part of the county was
built ef logs, in the fall of 1820, near John Bell's, a little more than a
mile northeast of where PerrysviUe stands. It was built after the fashion
of the first school-house in the county, with paper instead of window-

Pioneer school-house.

glass, boards pinned to the wall for desks, floors and seats made of
puncheons, and fireplace along one end. John Postlethwait, Sr., John
Bell, Archibald Hadden, Hugh McKee, and James Stewart were the prin
cipal citizens engaged in organizing and starting the school. John B.
Henderson, of Indiana County, taught the school in this part of the
county, in that pioneer house, the first winter after it was built. The
Testaraent, Bible, Catechisra, and the ' United States Spelling-Book'
were used as text-books in the school. Ira White, a Yankee from the
State of New York, succeeded Mr. Henderson as master. Some time
afterwards a school was taught by Crawford Gibson, in a house near the
county line. Some parties claim that Gibson taught before Henderson,
about a mile south of PerrysviUe. Somewhat later a school was taught
by John Knox, in a log house across the creek, southeast of PerrysviUe.
They paid him with grain, in part at least. James C. Neal, Sr., then a
young man, hauled a load of grain with a yoke of oxen, to pay Mr. Knox
for teaching, from PerrysviUe to some place near Troy, a distance of about
twenty miles, through the woods.
"The pioneer school held in Punxsutawney was opened by Andrew
Bowman, about 1823, in a house then owned by John B. Henderson.
Dr. Jenks, Charles Barclay, Judge Heath, Rev. David Barclay, Mr. Black,
and others took an active part in starting the school. They hired a raas
ter by the year. The tuition for the small pupils was twelve dollars each,
and for the large ones fifty dollars a year. The first school- house was
20S

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
built in Punxsutawney by the above-named gentlemen about 1827, where
the Baptist church stands. Hugh Kenworthy was the first man who was
well educated that was employed as a master there. The next master
was Dr. Robert Cunningham. After him came Thomas Cunningham,
since Judge Cunningham.
" The pioneer master in Rose township was Robert Knox. When he
taught the house was not floored and the pupils sat on the sleepers. The
venerable Joseph Magifen, stUl Uving, taught a six months' term in 1827.
Tuition, fifty cents a month per scholar and to board with the scholars.
"A school was taught in the vicinity of BrockwayvUle in 1828, —
then Ridgway township, — for which the master was to receive twelve
dollars per month in maple-sugar.
" .\1 exander Cochran taught the pioneer school in what is now Wash
ington township, in 1831, in a school-house near the Beech woods grave
yard. Messrs Cooper, Keys, Mcintosh, and the Smiths were instrumental
in organizing the school.
"BrookviUe's pioneer school was taught by Alexander McKnight,
father of Dr. McKnight, in a small brick school-house in 1832-33.
" A pioneer school was commenced within the present limits of Union
township about 1834 or 1835. James Barr taught first, in the summer.
There were about twenty pupils, and the tuition was fifty cents a month
for each pupil. Samuel Davison, Robert McFarland, John W. Monks,
John Hughes, and Robert Tweedy were prominent in organizing the
school. " In every locality in the county in which the population was dense
enough to support a school one seems to have been organized previous
to the common school system." — Blose.
The creation of the common schools in Pennsylvania was not the
work of any one man or set of men, nor was it imported from any other
State. It was the outgrowth of freedom. In a book like mine I cannot
enumerate all the glorious workers in the fight. The Pennsylvania So
ciety for the Promotion of Public Schools, organized in Philadelphia in
1827, was a great factor in the work. Senator Audenreid, Dr. Anderson,
and Senator Smith, of Delaware County; N. B. Fetterman, of Bedford;
Samuel Breck, a senator from Philadelphia ; and Thaddeus Stevens, all
deserve to be forever remembered for their able and untiring labor in
this direction.
The pioneer school in the United States for the education of teachers
was the model school of Philadelphia, established and opened in 1838.
The finest and most costly educational structures in the world are the
Girard CoUege buildings in Philadelphia.
In the session of 1834, Samuel Breck, a senator from Philadelphia,
was made chairman ef a joint committee on education. The members of
this committee on the part of the Senate were Samuel Breck, Charles B.
209

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Penrose, WiUiam Jackson, Almon H. Read, and William Boyd ; of the
House, Samuel Anderson, William Patterson, James Thompson, James
Clarke, John Wiegand, Thomas H. Crawford, and Wilmer Worthington.
This committee secured all possible information on the subject from all
sources. The author of the bill as passed was Samuel Breck. It was but
Uttle discussed and met with but little opposition in the Legislature.
THE LAW OF 1834 AND ITS WORKINGS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
" Whereas, It is enjoined by the constitution, as a solemn duty which
cannot be neglected without a disregard of the moral and political safety
of the people ; and
"Whereas, The fund fer the common school purposes, under the act
of the 2d of April, 1831, will, on the 4th of April next, amount te the
sum of ^546,563.72, and will soon reach the sum of $2,000,000, when it
will produce at five per cent, an increase of |ioo,ooo, which, by said act,
is to be paid for the support of common schools ; and
" Whereas, Provisions should be made by law for the distribution of
the benefits of this fund to the people of the respective counties of the
Commonwealth ; therefore,
" Section i. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is
hereby enacted by the authority of the same. That the city and county of
Philadelphia, and every other county in this Commonwealth, shall each
form a school division, and that every ward, township, and borough,
within the several school divisions, shall each forra a school district.
" Section 2. It shall be the duty of the sheriff of each county, thirty
days previous to the third Friday in September ofthe current year, 1834,
to give notice, by proclamation, to the citizens of each school district to
hold elections in their respective townships, wards, and boroughs at the
places where they hold their elections for supervisors, town councils, and
constables, to choose six citizens, of each school district, to serve as
school directors of said districts respectively ; which elections shall, on
the said day, be conducted and held in the same manner as elections for
supervisors and constables are by law held and conducted ; and on the
day of the next annual election of supervisors in the respective townships,
and of constables in the respective cities of the Commonwealth, a new
election for directors shall take place in the said townships, boroughs,
and cities, at which election, and annually thereafter at that time, and in
manner and form aforesaid, two directors shall be chosen, who shall serve
for three years ; the sheriff giving thirty days' notice previous to such
election." OF MANUAL SCHOOLS.
"Section 10. Whereas, Manual labor maybe advantageously con
nected with intellectual moral instruction in some or all ofthe schools, it
210

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
shall be the duty of the school directors to decide whether such connec
tion in their respective districts shall take place or not ; and if decided
affirmatively, they shall have power to purchase materials and employ
artisans for the instruction of the pupils in the useful branches of the
mechanic arts, and where practicable, in agricultural pursuits : Provided,
nevertheless, That no such connection shall take place in any common
school, unless four out of the six directors shall agree thereto."
Many of the sections were found to contain requirements that were
crude, hence they were repealed in 1836 and perfected. These referred
to the building of school-houses, employing masters, locating houses, etc.
No pay was allowed a director other than as a delegate to the county
convention. PROCLAMATION— COMMON SCHOOLS.
"Whereas, The act of Assembly approved ist April, 1834, and en
titled ' An Act to establish a General System of Education by Common
Schools,' provides 'that the city and county of Philadelphia, and every
other county in this Commonwealth, shall each form a school division, and
that every ward, township, and borough within the several school divisions
shall each form a school district : Provided, That any borough which is
or may be connected with a township in the assessments of county rates
and levies shall, with the same township, so long as it remains so con
nected, form a district, and each of said districts shall contain a com
petent number of common schools for the education of every child within
the limits thereof, who shall apply either in person, or by his or her
parents, guardian, or next friend, for admission and instruction.'
" And Whereas, The said act further directs, ' that it shall be the
duty of the sheriff of each county to give notice by proclamation to the
citizens of each school district to hold elections in their respective town
ships, wards, and boroughs, on the third Friday of September next, at
the places where they hold their elections for supervisors, town council,
and constables are by law held and conducted.'
" Now, therefore, I, William Clark, High Sheriff of the county of
Jefferson, in pursuance of the duty enjoined on me by the above recited
act, do issue this, my proclamation, giving notice to the citizens of said
county, qualified as aforesaid, that an election will be held on the third
Friday of September next, to choose six citizens residing therein, te serve
as school directors of said districts respectively.
" The electors of the borough of Brookville are to meet at the Court-
House in said borough.
" The electors of Rose township are to meet at John Lucas'.
"The electors of the township of Pine Creek are to meet at Joseph
Barnett's. "The electors of Barnett township are to meet at the house of Wil
liam Armstrong.

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" The electors of Perry township are to meet at the house of Chris
topher Heterick.
"The electors of Young township are te meet in Punxsutawney.
" The electors of Ridgeway township are to meet at the house of
James Gallagher.
" Given under my hand at Brookville, this fifth day of August, one
thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, and of the independence of the
United States the fifty-eighth. "William Clark, "Sheriff.
" Sheriff's Office, August 5, 1834."
PIONEER SCHOOL DIRECTORS IN THE COUNTY.
Those elected under this proclamation and the law of 1834 were:
Rose township and Brookville borough — Alexander McKnight, James
Green, James Linn, Robert Andrews, Irwin Robinson, Darius Carrier.
Barnett township — Cyrus Blood, William Armstrong, Edwin For-
sythe, Trumble Hunt, Alexander Murray, John Hunt.
Pine Creek township — David Butler, John Lattimer, .-Vndrew Barnett,
William Cooper, Samuel Jones.
Young township — John W. Jenks, William Campbell, Jos. Winslow.
Perry township — John Philliber, AA'illiam Postlethwait, Martin Sheff,
Esq., William Marshall, Andrew Gibson, David Lewis.
Ridgeway township — L. Wilmarth, James Gallagher, J. L. Gillis.
As soon as these proclamations were made by the sheriff the liveliest
discussion took place for and against the system. The majority of the
citizens in most of the counties were against it. It was net so, however,
in Jefferson, six of the districts adopting it. Nearly half of the nine
hundred and eighty-seven districts in the State rejected it. Families
quarrelled over and about it. In some districts a free-school man was
ostracized. Life-long enmities were engendered. Several religious de
nominations placed themselves against this law, — Catholics, Episco
palians, Mennonites, Friends, and Lutherans. These were not opposed
to education, but they believed in religious instruction and secular edu
cation, and that the two should go hand in hand, as their fathers had it.
The Germans opposed it on account of a change in language. But the
ignorant, the penurious, and the narrow-minded fought against it most
bitterly, on account of supposed increased taxation. James Findlay was
the pioneer superintendent of common schools.
The school question entered into the nomination and election of
members for the session of 1834-35, and perhaps a majority of those
elected were anti-school. But Governor Wolf and friends of the com
mon school were undismayed, bold, and able, and braved the tempest
of that session. Competent judges whe witnessed that struggle in the

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Legislature agree that had it not been for Thaddeus Stevens, a young
member from Adams County, the law of 1834 would have been repealed,
or only saved by a veto from the governor. This session ended the last
bitter and great fight in the State and Legislature for common schools.

Thaddeus Stevens.

The ablest and most determined leaders of the anti-school were William
Hopkins, of Washington County, and Henry W. Conrad, of Schuylkill.
Children as late as 1842 were admitted to the schools at the age of
four years.

APPOINTMENT OF SCHOOL INSPECTORS UNDER THE LAW OF 1834.
"Section 12. The several courts of quarter sessions ofthis Common
wealth shall annually, at their first session, after the election of school
directors, within their respective counties or divisions, appoint two com
petent citizens of each school district to be inspectors of the public school
therein, established by this act, who shall be exempt during the perform
ance of the duties of their said office from militia duty, and from serving
in any township or borough office.
"Section 13. It shall be the duty of the school inspectors to visit
every three months, and as much oftener as they may think proper, to
inquire into the moral character, learning, and ability of the several
teachers employed therein ; they shall have power te examine any per
sons wishing to be employed as a teacher, and of good moral character,
213

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
shall give him or her a certificate to that effect, naming therein the
branches which he or she is found qualified to teach, certificates shall be
valid for one year from the date thereof, and no longer ; and no person
who shall not have obtained such certificate shall receive from the county
treasury, or the treasury of the Commonwealth, any compensation for his
services. "Section 14. The inspectors of any school division may meet at
such times and places as they may deem expedient, and adopt such rules
for the examination of teachers and schools, and prescribe such form or
certificates, as they may deem necessary to produce uniformity in such
examinations and certificates throughout the school division, and they
may, if they deem it expedient, appoint days for the public examination
of teachers to be examined in public, and said inspectors, or any one of
them, may visit all district schools in their school division and examine
the same.
"Section 15. Whenever the inspectors meet together, as they are
empowered by the preceding section, they shall organize themselves for
the proper transaction of business, and each inspector shall be governed
by the rules then adopted in his examinations and observe such forms in
his certificates as shall be prescribed by the majority of the inspectors of
the school division thus assembled, and no certificate of qualification
shall be given by the inspectors, or any of them, to any teacher unless he
or she shall be found qualified to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic.
"Section 16. The school inspectors shall minutely examine into the
state and condition of the schools, both as respects the progress of the
scholars in learning and the good order of the schools, and make an
annual report to the superintendent of the public schools on or before the
first Monday in November of the situation of the schools in their respec
tive districts, founded on their own observation and the report of the re
spective school directors ; to include the characters of the teachers ; the
nuraber of scholars admitted during the year in the several schools under
their inspection ; the branches of study taught in each school ; the num
ber of days in the year during which each school shall have been kept
open ; the cost of the school-house for either building, renting, or repair
ing, and all other costs that may have been incurred in maintaining the
several schools in their respective districts, and also shall cause the same
to be published in the school division, at the expense of the respective
city or county." PIONEER STATE AID.
" The first money received from the State for school purposes, by this
county, was by an order drawn August 5, 1836, on the State Treasurer,
Joseph Lawrence, Esq., to the Treasurer of Jefferson County, by Thoraas
H. Burrowes, Superintendent of Common Schools, under an act entitled
' An Act to establish a General Systera of Education by Common Schools,'
214

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
passed on the ist of AprU, 1834, and, a supplement thereto passed April
^5) 1835, for one hundred and four dollars and ninety-four cents, for the
year 1835. Also, on the same date, one hundred and four dollars and
ninety-four cents, for the year 1836.

^A

Thomas H. Burrowes.
" The following table will show the townships receiving the State aid,
the officers of their school boards, the number of the warrants, and the
amounts received :

Barnett township — W. P. Armstrong, President; Cyrus
Blood, Treasurer and Secretary . . ...
Eldred township — Thomas Hall, President; Wm. M.
Hindman, Treasurer; John W. Monks, Secretary . .
Perry township — Thomas Williams, President ; Isaac
Lewis, Treasurer; John Philliber, Secretary ...
Pine Creek township — Wm. Cooper, President; Samuel
Jones, Treasurer; A. Barnett, Secretary ....
Ridgeway township -J. Gallagher, President; L. Wil
marth, Treasurer and Secretary ......
Rose township — Wm. Kelso, President; B. McCreight,
Treasurer; C. A. Alexander, Secretary - .
Snyder township — A. Brockway, President; A. Ross,
Treasurer ; Wm. Shaw, Secretary 
Young township — Wra. Campbell, President; J. W.
Jenks, Treasurer; J. Winslow, Secretary . . ,

215

No. of
Warrant.

State Aid.

76 $49.20

37

209

103

40

252

41

146

23-9535-31
66.68 25.89
163.14 26.54
94-52
$4^5.23

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" It would seem from the above table that it includes the appropria
tion of 1837 also."
ORGANIZATION UNDER THE COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM IN
JEFFERSON COUNTY.
" From the best inforraation to be had, it appears that in 1837 Cyrus
Crouch taught the first school in BrookvUle under the common school
system. He taught two terms, and was followed by Jesse Smith, Craig
head, and Hannibal.
"As early as the fall of 1835 a man by the name of Timblin made
application for the school in Punxsutawney. He was examined by the
Board of Directors, and was the first master under the new school system.
The members of the Board were C. C. GaskiU, James Winslow, and
James Torrence. Mr. GaskiU attended to the examination of the mas
ters. It was held in an old log house in which Mr. Torrence lived. The
house known as the old farm-house of Dr. Jenks was the first house built
in Punxsutawney. The master was examined in reading, writing, and
arithmetic. The 'United States Speller,' the 'English Reader,' and
the ' Western Calculator' were the text-books used in the school. At
that time Young township included BeU, McCalmont, Gaskill, Hender
son, and parts of Winslow and Oliver.
" There was a great deal of hostility to the school system at first in
Punxsutawney. Four schools were organized, under the common school
system, in the fall of 1835 in Pine Creek township, — one near where
Nathaniel Butler lives, another near the Bowers school, then called the
Frederick school, another near Richardsville, and the other in the school-
house near the Beechwoods graveyard. The directors were John Latti
mer, William Cooper, and Andrew Barnett. A school-master of the time
says that David Butler, John Lattimer, and Andrew Barnett examined the
masters at Andrew Barnett's house. Mr. Thomas Kirkman taught first
under the school system at the Butler school-house. Mrs. Mary McKnight
taught the sumraer term in this house in 1840. Mr. Kirkman taught
thirty days for a month, receiving fourteen dollars a month and boarding
himself. They used the ' English Reader' and the ' United States Spell-
ing-Book. ' The schools began some time in November, and continued
three months. Thoraas Reynolds taught the Waite school in Beech-
woods first under the school system. He received twelve dollars a
month and ' boarded round' with the scholars. They had a ten-plate
stove in the school-house, and their fuel consisted entirely of chestnut
and hemlock bark, which the large pupils helped the master to pull from
dead trees in the vicinity. There were about twenty-eight pupils attend
ing the school, with an average daily attendance of eighteen. Judge
.\ndrew Barnett, John Lattimer, and William Cooper were the principal
citizens who took part in having the schools started. John Wilson was
216

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
probably the first master at Richardsville. They had about fifteen
pupils there." PAUL DARLING, A PIONEER SCHOOL-MASTER.
Dr. George Darling located in Brookville in 1834 and was the father
of Paul. When still young, about thirteen years old, Paul was obliged

r"

n

Paul Darling.

to help himself. In the year 1836 Paul taught a school in Pine Creek
township. His certificate read as follows :
" We, the undersigned School Directors of Pine Creek township, do
hereby certify that we have examined Paul Darling, and have found him
15 217

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
qualified to teach Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic and the principal
rules of Grammar and Geography. (Signed) "James Moore,
Archd. McMurray,
John Long,
Geo. S. Matthews."
From a long and intimate acquaintance with Paul Darling, I can
truthfully say that he was a type ef the truest men of his time ; he was
modest, yet determined, honest in deeds as well as in words, indus
trious and intelligent, frugal and liberal, kind-hearted, friendly and
charitable, social and poetic, yet prudent and just. As a financier he
was eminently successful, as his large estate of over five hundred thousand
dollars fully attested.
" In 1836 a school-house was built above Mr. Prescott's, at Prescott-
ville, called the Fuller school-house. Mr. Thomas Reynolds taught the
first school in it. During the summer of the same year a contract for
building a hewed log school-house near Mr. Dickey's, in Henderson
township, was given to Mr. Caufman, and a school was commenced the
following winter, under a Mr. Heisy as master. From the best informa
tion to be had, a schrool-appears to have been organized in the Bowers
settlement some time before that. About 1836 a school was organized
under the school system in Perry township, and taught in one of the old
log dwelling-houses in the vicinity of PerrysviUe. No one remembers
who the master was.
" In the winter of 1835 or 1837 a school was kept in an old house
near Frederick Stears', by a Mr. Travis. That was the first school in
that locality under the school system. A Mrs. Travis taught a summer
school in the same place. It was then in Perry, but was included in
Porter township when it was organized. About the year 1839 a frame
school-house was built just above PerrysviUe. T. S. Smith, Sr., furnished
the nails and spikes, and some other citizens furnished other material
and built the house. The same year a hewed log school-house was built
near George Blose, Sr.'s. Wm. Postlethwait, George Blose, Sr., Youngs,
and some others were prominent in having the school organized.
"The first common schoolwas commenced in what is now Eldred
township in the beginning of the winter of 1837. The house was built
the same fall, near where the Hall school-house now stands. It was a
hewed log house, and was built by the citizens. John Lucas taught the
first school in it. There were about forty scholars. About 1837 or 1838
a round log school-house, called the Milliron school, was built a short
distance northwest of where Ringgold now is. Samuel Hice was the first
master there. He received not mere than ten dollars a month. They
used 'Cobb's Spellers' as text-books. Henry Freas, John Hice, Ben-
218

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
jamin Campbell, and others were the principal citizens in having the
school organized. A school-house was built in Rose township, near
Mr. Spyker's, in 1836. They previously rented a house on what is
now the PleasantvUle road, near John J. MUler's. The first school in
Union township under the school system was taught by Jesse or Theoph
ilus Smith, about 1 838, in a log school-house, with a wooden chimney
along one end. The house was about two miles from Corsica, near
Dallas Monks'. The pupils studied their lessons out loud. The teacher
was paid sixteen or eighteen dollars a month, and boarded himself.
Some of the citizens who took part in starting the school were John
Fitzsimmons, the Barrs, Hindmans, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Monks.
John Kahle taught the first school in Kahletown, Eldred township, about
1837 or 1838, in one end ofhis father's house. That was the first school
in that part of the county. Clover township was organized into a sepa
rate school district in 1842. The first board of directors was organized
May 24, 1842. Rev. C. Fogle was President, John Shields, Secretary,
and D. Carrier, Treasurer. The wages of male teachers were from eigh
teen to twenty-five dollars a month, and of female teachers from twelve
to fifteen dollars a month, and board themselves and make their own
fires. ' ' — Blose. PIONEER SCHOOL INSPECTORS.
Pioneer school inspectors appointed by the court December 8, 1834,
under the act of 1834 :
Rose township — Dr. George Darling, Rev. John Shoap.
Young township — Charles C. Gaskill, Charles R. Barclay.
Perry township — David Lewis, Parlen White.
Pine Creek township — Andrew Barnett, John Lattimer.
Ridgeway township — Lyman Wilmarth, Reuben A. Aylesworth.
Barnett township — Cyrus Blood, WiUiam Armstrong.
EXTRACT FROM COMMON SCHOOL LAW OF 1834.
"Section 3. It shall be the duty of the said school directors, within
ten days after the period of their election, annuaUy to meet in their re
spective school districts, when such board shall choose, out of their own
body, a president and secretary, and a delegate to join the delegate
meeting provided for in the foUowing section ; they shall appoint a
treasurer for the district where no township or borough treasurer shall be
otherwise appointed ; and it shall be the duty of each board, on the day
of their first assembling as aforesaid, to divide themselves into three
classes, the first of which shall serve until the next election, the second
until the second election, and the third until the third election follow
ing, so that one-third of each board may be chosen annually ; and if any
vacancy shall occur, by death or otherwise, it shall be the duty of the
219

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
body in which such vacancy may occur to fill the same until the next
election. " Section 4. On the first Tuesday of November, in the year one
thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, and the first Monday in May in
each year thereafter, there shall be held, at the county court-house in
each division, a joint meeting of the county commissioners and one dele
gate from each board of school directors within said county or school
division, in which it shall be decided whether or not a tax for the expen
diture of each district be levied ; and if a tax be authorized by a major
ity of the joint meeting, it shall be apportioned among the several dis
tricts as county levies are now by law apportioned. Each delegate to
the joint meeting shall be entitled to receive one dollar per day for each
day's attendance spent by him in travelling to and from and attending
said meeting, to be paid out of the county treasury."
PIONEER SCHOOL CONVENTION UNDER THE COMMON SCHOOL
LAW OF 1834.
From The feffersoniaii, Brookville, Pennsylvania, Thursday, Novem
ber 6, 1834:
"The delegates appointed by the several boards of school directors
in the respective districts of Jefferson County, together with the commis
sioners of said county, met agreeably to law at the court-house, in the
borough of Brookville, on Tuesday, the 4th of November, inst. (being
the first Tuesday of the month). The following delegates were in
attendance :
"County Commissioners — Levi G. Clover, James Corbett.
" Rose — Robert Andrews.
" Barnett — Cyrus Blood.
" Pine Creek — Andrew Barnett.
"Young — John Hoover.
" Perry — ^John Philliber.
" Ridgeway — Jaraes L. Gillis.
"The above delegates met the 4th of November and adjourned until
the 5 th in consequence of the absence of some delegates.
"They met the 5th of November in pursuance to previous adjourn
ment, and proceeded to business.
" On motion, the convention was organized by calling Robert
Andrews to the chair and appointing John Beck secretary.
"On motion of Mr. Andrew Barnett, and seconded, it was unani
mously resolved that an appropriation for common schools be made.
" 'Resolved, That a tax be levied and raised of double the amount of
the appropriation made by the Commonwealth for comraon schools. '
"The following shows the proportionable share due each township
out of the money appropriated by the Commonwealth, — viz. : Barnett

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
township, ^6.13; Ridgeway township, $7.06 ; Perry township, ^21.86;
Pine Creek township, ^13.20 ; Rose township, ^37.60; Young township,
I19.20; total, ^105.05.
" The tax to be raised off the people, for the pupose of carrying into
effect the ' free school' system, is estimated at double the amount appro
priated by the Commonwealth.
" 'Section 17. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shaU be super
intendent of all the pubUc schools established by virtue of this act.' "
COMMON SCHOOL NOTICE.
"For the purpose of settling controversies, of collecting and impart
ing information connected with the Common School System, so as to
produce harmony and vigor in every department of its operations, the
Superintendent will be at the county towns mentioned in the following
lists on the days therein designated at 10 o'clock a.m.
"Directors, Teachers, and all others who may have business to trans
act with the Superintendent, under the 4th paragraph of loth section of
the school law, will meet him at their proper county towns on the days
respectively named. As the chain of appointments now made will not
admit of more than one day's delay at each place, early and punctual
attendance is earnestly requested.
Town. County. Date.
Brookville. Jefferson. Saturday, Sept, 2.
" Thos. H. Burrowes,
' ' Superintendent Common Schools.
" Secretary's Office, Harrisburg, July 18, 1837."
" Section 19. Seventy-five thousand dollars are hereby appropriated
out of the school fund for the year one thousand eight hundred and
thirty-five, which amount shall be annually thereafter appropriated and
paid as hereinafter directed until the year when the school fund shall
yield an interest of one hundred thousand doUars annually, when that
sum shall be distributed in each year amongst the school divisions created
by the adoption of this act in manner following : The superintendent of
common schools shall give notice in at least one public newspaper in
every division in this Commonwealth for the space of three weeks of the
sum to which such division may be entitled, having reference in such
distribution to the number of taxable inhabitants in said division, and
these funds shall again be distributed to the different districts according
to the provisions of this act, and as soon as practicable thereafter the
said superintendent shall cause the distributive share of each school
division entitled thereto to be paid to the county treasurer, which share

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
shallbe appointed amongst the respective districts ofthe several divisions
according to the said principle of distribution prescribed for the superin
tendent ; and the same rule shall be observed in the distribution of the
proceeds of the tax imposed upon the county for the same purpose by the
delegate meeting hereinbefore provided for."
The law of 1831 of Senator Audenreid is the foundation-stone, and
that of 1834 and the act of 1837 completed our common school system,
erroneously called " the free school system."
I cannot do better than to reproduce here a little speech of mine in
response to the toast " Our Free Schools" :
" The free school is our nation's hope. It is education that forms the
common mind, and the continuance of our free institutions requires an
educated common mind. To thoroughly educate the common people our
schools should be free and equal. No special privileges or conditions
should be permitted in them, either for the rich or the poor. We pride
ourselves on our common schools, and well we may ; but the schools are
not equal, and only partially free. Before they can become either we
must emancipate them from favoritism and unequal burdens. The con
ditions are unequal because the rich can buy all needful books to make
the schools thorough and efficient for them, but the widow, the day
laborer, and the mechanic cannot. True, we have free houses, free
desks, free fuel, free black-boards, free maps, and free teachers, every
thing free except the most important, the one thing needful, — books.
It is our duty, then, to perfect the school system by furnishing free
books, free paper, free pens, free ink, free slates, free pencils, and free
sponges. For it must be plain to all that with this heavy burden yet re
maining on the shoulders of poor parents and pupils the word free schools
is a misnomer and a mockery. Give us, then, by legislation equal privi
leges in the schools, and free text-books for all.
" Hasten the day, just Heaven,
Accomplish Thy design,
And let the blessings of the school Thou hast given us
On all men and women shine.
Until free schools be everywhere and equally enjoyed,
And human power be for human good employed."
For much of the local information in this chapter, and which I quote,
I am indebted to the writings of Professor G. Ament Blose.
PIONEER LICENSES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY FROM 1812 TO 1830.*
Name. Place. Date.
Joseph Barnett . . . . Bald Eagle road . . ... December 16, 1812.
John Matson . . . . Bellefonte road .  Issued.
Joseph Barnett ... . Residence . . . . March 6, 1819.
¦* Copied from the records of Indiana County by J. N. Banks, Esq.
222

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

Name. Place.
Joseph Barnett  Residence 
Henry Feye ... . . Sandy Lick settlement 
Joseph Barnett  Residence on State Road . . .
Isaac Packer  Where Northern pike crosses
Sandy Lick Creek 
Joseph Barnett  Continued 
Joseph Barnett  " 
Elijah Heath  Punxsutawney 
Elizabeth Winslow .... " 
Joseph Long  " 
Williara Vasbinder .... Rose township 
Joseph Potter  On Turnpike road 
John W. McAnulty .... Bellefonte road 
Joseph Barnett 
Elijah Heath  Punxsutawney 
Alexander Powers .... Pine Creek township 
Isaac Packer ...... " " " 
John Barnett  House formerly owned by Jo
seph Barnett 
Joseph Barnett  Port Barnett 
Andrew Vasbinder .... Pine Creek township . .
Joseph Barnett  Port Barnett 
Isaac Packer  At his residence 
Elijah Heath  Punxsutawney 
Alexander Powers .... Pine Creek township 

Date.
September 27, 1820.
December 15, 1812.
December 12, 1814.
December 12, 1823.
December 24, 1821.
March 23, 1823.
December 25, 1822.
March 24, 1829.
it t<
March 23, 1829.
(( it
March 25, 1825.
Dated Sept. 27, 1824.
March 22, 1824.
December 26, 1824.
March 30, 1824.
Granted.September 22, 1822.
June 25, 1827.
March 27, 1827.
it it
Marked granted.
June 27, 1827.

PIONEER CONSTABLES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY FROM 1811 TO 1830.

Name.
Freedom Styles
Freedom Styles
Joseph Barnett
Freedom Styles
Elijah Graham
Elijah Graham
Freedom Styles
David Harailton
Jesse Armstrong
Jacob Mason .
Jacob Hoover .
John Dixon . .
Moses Knapp .
James Wachob
David McDonald
Silas Sally
Elijah Heath .
James Diven .
Isaac McHenry
Stephen Reed .
Thoraas Robison
Charles R. Barclay

Place.
Pine Creek .

Perry . .
Pine Creek
Perry . .
Pine Creek
((
Perry . .
Pine Creek
Perry .
Pine Creek
Perry . .
Pine Creek
((
Perry .
223

Date of Election.
March 15, 1811.
March 20, 1812.
March 18, 1814.
March 17, 1815.
March 15, 1816.
March 15, 1817.
March 20, 1818.
tt ti
March 19, 1819.
(( ti
March 17, 1820.
March 18, 1820.
March 16, 1821.
ii ((
March 15, 1822.
March 14, 1823.
March 19, 1824.
March 18, 1825.

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

Name.
Thomas Robison
Thomas McKee .
James Park . . .
Joseph Lowry . .
Nehemiah Bryant
William McAndrish
James Wachob
Peter Ostrander . .
Williara Love . . .
Clark Eggleston . .
William Bowers . .
William Smith .
James McCollough .
James M. Brockway
Herbert Sraith . .
William Bowers . .

Place.
Pine Creek
PerryPine Creek .
Young Ridgeway Perry . .
Pine Creek
Rose
Ridgeway Young .
Perry .
Pine Creek
Ridgeway Rose . .
Young .

Date of Election.
March 17, 1 826.
ti it
March 16, 1827.

March 20, 1829.

March 19, 1830.
it it

EARLY CONSTABLES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY FROM 1831 TO 1843.

Name.
John George .
Stephen Tibbets .
John B. Williams
Joseph Cochran
Adam George
John George . . .
James Wachob .
Alvah Payne . .

Date of
Election. 183I.

John George .
Henry Walburn
Wiliam Clark .
John Dixon, Sr.
Caleb Dill . .
John Maize . .
John Drum . .
William M._ Cochran
John Smith . . . .
George Newcomb
William Clawson
Jacob Dobbins .
Edwin Forsythe . .
James K. Hoffman .
John Christy . . . .
Joseph Sharp . . .
George Newcomb .
Nathan Phipps . .
Thomas W. Barber
John Wilson . . . .
William Clawson

Place.
Rose ....
Ridgeway  "
Young  "
Perry  "
(-Rose. Tie vote. Adam George -\
\ acted as constable, no doubt >- 1832.
I by appointment of court. '
( Perry. Tie vote. James Wa-
¦j chob evidently appointed by
*- the court.
Pine Creek .
Ridgeway
, Rose  . 1833.
. Pine Creek
. Ridgeway
. Barnett . .
. Young .
Perry . .
. Rose  . 1834.
Perry
. Young . .
. Ridgeway
Barnett . .
. Pine Creek
. Rose .  1835.
. Brookville
. Perry . .
Barnett . .
Ridgeway
. Pine Creek
. Young . .
224

PIONEER HISTORY

Name.
Miram Gibbs .
Joseph Sharp . .
Joseph Chitister .
Joseph Cochran .
Andrew Alcorn .
Thomas W. Barber
Miram Gibbs . .
John Wilson . . .
Elijah M. Graham
James Aharrah . .
John McLaughlin
William Kelso . .
Henry Smith
Henry Philliber .
John McGhee . .
Edward Adams
Elijah M. Graham
Henry Shaffer ,
George Dickinson
Jaraes Aharrah . .
John McLaughlin
William Kelso .
William Robinson
James R. Postlethwait
John McGhee
Henry Shaffer
Thomas Dixon
T. B. Maize .
Cyrus Blood .
John Gallagher
Samuel Newcomb
David Barnett . .
Robert E. Kennedy
Robert Mcintosh . ,
George S. Matthews
Galbraith Wilson
Christ. McNeil .
MatthcAv L. Ross
James Aharrah .
George R. James
Williara Long .
Andrew Gibson
John Hice .
George Matthews
David Riggs . .
Christ. McNeil
Peter Rickard, Jr
Robert Huling .
David Thayer .
John Dougherty

OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Date of
^'^'=°- Election.
Snyder  1835.
Brookville  1836.
Rose 
Young  "
Perry  "
Ridgeway  "
Snyder  "
Pine Creek  . "
Eldred  "
Barnett  "
Brookville  1837.
Rose  "
Young  "
Perry . . . ..."
Washington  "
Pine Creek  "
Eldred  "
Snyder  "
Ridgeway  **
Barnett . . 
Brookville  1838.
Rose 
Young   "
Perry 
Washington  "
Snyder . . . . •  "
. Pine Creek  "
Barnett  . . "
Jenks  "
Brookville  1839.
Rose  "
. Young  "
, Perry  "
. Washington .  "
. Pine Creek  "
Snyder  "
. Eldred  "
, Ridgeway  "
Barnett .... . "
. Rose  1840.
. Young  "
Perry  "
Porter . . . . . "
. Pine Creek ... . . . "
. Washington  "
. Eldred  . "
. Snyder  "
. Barnett  ... "
. Ridgeway .  "
. Brookville  "
225

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

Name. Place.
George R. James  Rose . . .
James St. Clair  Young
Michael Palmer  Perry . .
John Hice  . Porter . .
Michael Elliott  . Washington
Nicholas McQuiston  Pine Creek
Jaraes Wilkins  . Snyder .
Joseph Winslow ... .... Gaskill .
Charles Gillis . ... . . . Ridgeway
Jaraes Steele  . Eldred .
Jaraes Aharrah  Barnett .
William Rodgers  . Brookville
William McGarey . .... Rose . .
David L. Moore ... .... Clover .
Absalom De Haven .  Young .
Michael Palmer  Perry
James Dickey  . Paradise
John McAninch  Porter .
Michael Elliott  Washington
Peter Rickard  Snyder . .
Nicholas McQuiston  Pine Creek
David Thayer  Ridgeway
John D. Kahle  Eldred .
Robert Wallace .... .... Barnett . .
Oran Bennett  Jenks . .
John Brownlee  Brookville
Isaac Hughes  Rose . . .
William E. Gillespie  Young
Nicholas McQuiston  Pine Creek
De Witt C. White  Snyder . .
David C. Riggs  Warsaw .
John McAninch  . . Porter . .
Samuel Kyle  . . . Washington
Charles Jacox ... . . Clover . .
David Thayer  Ridgeway
John Reynolds  ... Barnett . .
Job M. Carley . . ... Eldred . .
John Coffman  Gaskill .
James H. Ames  Jenks . .
M. Palmer  Perry . .
William Rodgers ... .... Brookville

Date of
Election. 1 841.

1842.

1843.

'PIONEER CENSUS OF LYCOMING AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

' Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in 1800 .
'Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, in i8lo .
'• " " in 1820 .
" " in 1830 .
" " " in 1840 226

Total. 5414
Whites. 161
561
2003 7196

Negro Slaves.
39
Colored. Slaves.
I
10
21 I
57

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"Taxable list of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, from 1807 up to
and including 1842 : 1807,23; 1814,35; 1821,161; 1828,356; 1835,
904; 1842, 1788.
" Receipts and expenditures of Jefferson County from January 2, 18 16,
to January i, 181 7, both days inclusive :
"John Taylor, Esq., Treasurer.
"Dr.
" To cash of Joseph Barnett, Collector of Pine Creek township for 1813,
in full  $n-43H
Received on unseated lands  . 2475.61^
" land sold .  101.92

^2594.97
List of outstanding debts due from the collectors for 1815  $1-10}
On unseated lands before 1 816, for which the lands have been sold to the
Commissioners  2140.27
County tax, i8l6 . . . . .  790-92

^2938.89^^
"Cr.
" By cash paid on sundry road orders  ^(1626. 76
" " on election orders ... ... . ... . 34.00
" " on wolf orders . .  ^57-37/4
" " to road viewers  . 18.00
" " on contingent expenses  102.00
Paid to Indiana County the proportionate part of the general expenses . 298.56
Treasurer's fees of sixty-five tracts of land sold to Commissioners . . . 182.92
Treasurer's fees on J!l933.l3)^ at 2 per cent  38.66
Balance in treasury ....   I36-^9.J^
S2594-97
" Garwin Sutton,
Thomas Sharp,
Thomas Laughlin,
" Commissioners.
" Attest :
"Daniel Stanard, " Clerk."
— Indiana American, February 10, 181 7.
INCIDENTS.
On October 23, 1819, was the "dark day." Between nine and ten
o'clock in the morning the darkness was so great that the pioneer had to
light his old lamp or blaze his pitch-pine knot.
In January, 1828, there was a great flood in Jefferson County, and
also a great one on February 10, 1832.
1 816, or the year without a summer. Frost occurred in every month
in 181 6. Ice formed half an inch thick in May. Snow feU to the
227

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
depth of three inches in June. Ice was formed to the thickness of a
common window-glass on the 5 th day of July. Indian corn was so
frozen that the greater part was cut in August and dried for fodder, and
the pioneers supplied from the corn of 1815 for the seeding ofthe spring
of 1817. In 1809, Fulton patented the steamboat.
The pioneer steam-vessels that made regular trips across the Atlantic
Ocean were the " Sirius" and " Great Western" in the year 1830.
The pioneer use of gas for practical illumination was in 1802.
The pioneer mill to make finished cloth from raw cotton was erected
in Waltham, Massachusetts, in 1813.
In 1807 wooden clocks were -made by machinery.
The anthracite coal business was established about 1820.
In 1836 matches were patented.
" The first practical friction matches were made in 1827 by an Eng
lish apothecary named Walker, who coated splints of card-board with
sulphur and tipped them with a mixture of sulphate of antimony, chlo
rate of potash, and gum. A box of eighty-four matches sold for one
cent, a piece of glass-paper being furnished with it for obtaining ignition.
In 1830 a London man named Jones devised a species of match which
was a little roll of paper soaked in chlorate of potash and sugar, with a
thin glass globule filled with sulphuric acid attached to one end. The
globule being broken, the acid acted upon the potash and sugar, pro
ducing fire. Phosphorus matches were first introduced on a commercial
scale in 1833, and after that improvements were rapid.
" The modern lucifer match combines in one instrument arrange
ments for creating a spark, catching it on tinder, and starting a blaze, —
steps requiring separate operations in primitive contrivances. It was in
1836 that the first United States patent for friction matches was issued.
Splints for them were made by sawing or splitting blocks of wood into
slivers slightly attached at the base. These were known as ' slab' or
' block' matches, and they are in use in parts of this country to-day."
The pioneer strike in America was that of the journeymen boot
makers of Philadelphia in 1796. The men struck, or "turned out," as
they phrased it, for an increase of wages. After two weeks' suspension."
of trade their demands were granted, and this success gained them
greater strength and popularity, so that when they " turned out in 1798,
and again in 1799, for further increases, they were still successful and
escaped indictment.
Vulcanized rubber was patented in 1838.
In 1840, Daguerre first made his pictures.
The express business was started about 1840.
The pioneer telegram was sent in 1845.
The pioneer steamer to cross the Atlantic was built in Nevv York in
228

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
i8i8 by Francis Picket. The vessel was called the "Savannah." In
the trip she carried seventy-five tons of coal and twenty-five cords of
wood. She left Savannah, Georgia, in May, 1819, and arrived at Liver
pool in June, 1819. She used steam eighteen of the twenty-six days.
James Piles was the pioneer blacksmith, in 1808, in Jefferson County.
Joseph McCuUough was the second blacksmith, in 1819. Before " stocks"
were invented oxen had to be thrown and tied and the shoes nailed on
while down. McCuUough did this.
In 181 1 a furious tornado swept across this county.
In 1828, March 9, an earthquake shock was felt in Jefferson County.
The earliest recorded tornado in the United States was in 1794. It
passed north of Brookville, in what is now Heath and other townships,
and extended to Northford, Connecticut.
PIONEER THANKSGIVING DAYS.
The first recorded Thanksgiving was the Hebrew feast of the Taber
nacles. The New England Thanksgiving dates from 1633, when the Massa
chusetts Bay colony set apart a day for thanksgiving.
The first national Thanksgiving proclamations were by Congress
during the Revolutionary War.
The first great American Thanksgiving day was in 1784, for the
declaration of peace. There was one more national Thanksgiving in
1789, and no other till 1862, when President Lincoln issued a national
proclamation for a day of thanksgiving.
The pioneer Thanksgiving day in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania,
was on the last Thursday of November, 18 19, by proclamation of
Governor Findlay.

CHAPTER XIIL
pioneer missionary work — THE first white man to travel the soil
OF JEFFERSON COUNTY  REVS. POST, HECKEWELDER, AND OTHERS.
The pioneer minister to travel through what is now Jefferson County
was a Moravian missionary or a preacher of the United Brethren Church,
the Rev. Christian Frederic Post. He travelled from Philadelphia to the
Ohio (Allegheny) River in 1758 on a mission from the government of
Pennsylvania to the Delaware, Shawanese, and Mingo Indians. These
Indians were then in aUiance with the French, and Rev. Post's mission
was to prevail on them to withdraw from that alliance. Post passed
through what is now Jefferson County, from Clearfield, over Boone's
Mountain, crossed Little Tobec (Little Toby), and then over Big Tobec
(Big Toby) Creek. 229

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
From Post's journal I quote the foUowing extract :
"August 2nd — We came across several places where two poles, painted
red, were stuck in the ground by the Indians, to which they tye the pris
oners, when they stop at night, in their return from their incursions. We
arrived this night at Shinglimuce, where was another of the same posts.
It is a disagreeable and melancholy sight, to see the means they make
use of, according to their savage way, to distress others.
" jrd — We came to a part of a river called Tobeco, over the moun
tains, a very bad road.
" 4.th — We lost one of our horses, and with much difficulty found him,
but were detained a whole day on that account [at what is now Brock
wayville]. I had much conversation with Pisquetumen [an Indian chief
that travelled with him] ; of which I think to inform myself further when
I get to my journey's end.
"5th — We set out early this day, and made a good long stretch,
crossing the big river Tobeco, and lodged between two mountains. I
had the misfortune te lose my pocket book with three pounds five shil
lings, and sundry other things. What writings it contained were illegi
ble to any body but myself.
"6th — We passed all the mountains, and the big river, Weshawaucks,
and crossed a fine meadow two miles in length, where we slept that night,
having nothing to eat.
" yth — We came in sight of fort Venango, belonging to the French,
situate between two mountains, in a fork of the Ohio [AUegheny] river.
I prayed the Lord to blind them, as he did the enemies of Lot and Elisha,
that I might pass unknown. When we arrived, the fort being on the
other side of the river, we hallooed, and desired them to fetch us over :
which they were afraid to do ; but showed us a place where we might
ford. We slept that night within half gun shot of the fort."
^c ;[; ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ;};
"Christian Frederic Post accompanied by several friendly Indians,
set out from Bethlehem on the 19th of July, for Fort Augusta (Sunbury).
There he took the path along the right bank of the West Branch, leading
over the Chillisquaque, over Muncy, Loyalsock, and Pine Creeks, crossed
the Susquehanna at the Great Island, and then struck one of the main
Indian thoroughfares to the West. On the 3rd of July he forded Beech
Creek, on whose left bank he carae to the forks of the road. One branch
led southwest along the Bald Eagle, past the Nest to Frankstown, and
thence to the Ohio country ; the other due west te Chinklacamoose. Post
took the latter. It led over the Moshannon, which he crossed on the ist
of August. Next day he arrived at the village of Chinklacamoose in the
'Clear Fields.' Hence the travellers struck a trail to the northwest,
crossed Toby's Creek (Clarion River), and on the 7th of August reached
Fort Venango, built by the French in 1753, in the forks of the AUe-
230

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
gheny. 'I prayed the Lord,' writes Post, 'to blind the French, as he
did the enemies of Lot and Elisha, that I might pass unknown.'
" Leaving Venango, Post and his companions turned their horses' heads
to the southwest, struck the Conequenessing on the 12 th of August,
crossed the Big Beaver, and next day arrived at Kaskadkie, the terminus
of their journey and the head -quarters of 'the Beavers' and 'Shingas,'
war-chiefs of the western Delawares. ' ' Post was, therefore, the first Mora
vian west of the AUeghenies. He closes his interesting journal with these
words :
" Thirty-two days that I lay in the woods, the heavens were my cov
ering, and the dew fell so hard sometimes that it pricked close to the skin.
During this time nothing lay so heavily on my heart as the man who went
along with me [Shamokin Daniel], for he thwarted me in everything I
said or did ; not that he did it against me, but against the country on
whose business I was sent. When he was with the French he would speak
against the English, and when he was with the English he would speak
against the French. The Indians observed that he was unreliable,
and desired me not to bring him any more to transact business between
them and the prisoners. But praise and glory be to the lamb that was
slain, who brought me through a country of dreadful jealousy and mis
trust, where the Prince of this world holds rule and government over the
children of disobedience. It was my Lord who preserved me amid all
difficulties and dangers, and his Holy Spirit directed me. I had no one
to commune with, but Him ; and it was he who brought me from under
a thick, heavy and dark cloud into the open air, for which I adore, and
praise and worship him. I know and confess that He, the Lord my God,
the same who forgave my sins and washed my heart in his most precious
blood, grasped me in his almighty hand and held me safe, — and hence I
live no longer for myself, but for Him, whose holy will to do is my
chiefest pleasure. ' '
" Christian Frederic Post, the most adventurous of Moravian mis
sionaries employed among the North American Indians, was born at
Conitz, Polish Prussia, in 1710. He immigrated to this country in June,
1742. Between 1743 and 1749 he was a missionary to the Moravian In
dians in New York and Connecticut. He first married Rachel, a Wam-
panoag, and after her death, Agnes, a Delaware. Having become a
widower a second time, he, in 1 75 1, returned to Europe : hence he sailed
for Labrador in 1752, engaging in an unsuccessful attempt to bring the
gospel to the Esquimaux. Having returned to Bethlehem in 1754, he
was sent to Wyoming, where he preached to the Indians until in Novem
ber of 1755. In the summer of 1758, Post undertook an embassy in be
half of government to the Delawares and Shawanese of the Ohio country,
which resulted in the evacuation of Fort Duquesne by the French and
the restoration of peace. In September of 1761 he engaged in an inde-
231

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
pendent mission to the Indians of that distant region, and built him a hut
on the Tuscarawas, near Bolivar, in Stark County, Ohio. John Hecke
welder joined him in the spring of 1762. But the Pontiac war drove the
missionaries back to the settlements, and the project was abandoned. Im
pelled by his ruling passion. Pest now sought a new field of activity in the
southern part of the continent, and in January of 1 764 sailed from Charles
ton, via Jamaica, for the Mosquito coast. Here he preached to the natives
for upward of two years. He visited Bethlehem in July of 1767, returned
to Mosquito, and was in Bethlehem, for the last time, in 1784. At this
date he was residing with his third wife, who was an Episcopalian, in
Germantown. Here he deceased April 29, 1785. On the 5th of May
his remains were interred in the Lower Graveyard of that place. Rev.
William White, of Christ Church, conducting the funeral service. A
marble slab, bearing an appropriate obituary record, was placed, some
thirty years ago, upon the veteran missionary's grave." — Transactions of
the Moi'avian Historical Society, vol. i.
The second minister to cry aloud in this wilderness was the Rev. John
Heckewelder in 1 762. He came from Bethlehem ever the Chinklacamoose
trail to Punxsutawney. He was a Moravian missionary, and travelled
some thirty thousand miles in Indian missionary work between the years
1762 and 1814.
The third preacher to penetrate this wilderness was a Moravian min
ister, the Rev. David Zeisberger, and he passed through or near Brock
wayville over the northwest trail to what was then the Ohio, now the
Allegheny (in what is now Forest County) River.
I quote as follows frora " Day's Collections" :
' ' In the year 1 7 6 7 an unarmed raan ef short stature, remarkably plain
in his dress, and humble and peaceable in his demeanor, emerged from
the thick forest upon the Allegheny River, in the neighborhood of the
Seneca towns. This was the Moravian missionary. Rev. David Zeis
berger, who, led by Anthony and John Papanhunk, Indian guides and
assistants in his pious labors, had penetrated the dense wilderness of
Northern Pennsylvania, from W)^alusing, on the Susquehanna, to preach
the gospel to the Indians in this region. His intended station was at
Goshgoshunk, which appears to have been on the left bank of the AUe
gheny, not far from the mouth of Tionesta. Possibly Goshgoshunk was
the same as the Indian narae Cush-cush.
" The Seneca chief, believing Brother Zeisberger to be a spy, received
him roughly at first ; but, softened by his mild demeanor, or perhaps by
the holy truths which he declared to the chief, he at length bade him
welcome, and permitted him to go to Goshgoshunk. He warned him,
however, not to trust the people there, for they had not their equals in
wickedness and thirst for blood. This was but another incentive to him
who came to preach ' not to the righteous, but to sinners.' However, on
232

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
his arrival he was well received, and shared the hospitality of a relative
of one of his guides. ' Goshgoshunk, a town of the Delawares, consisted
of three villages on the banks of the Ohio [Allegheny]. The whole town
seemed to rejoice at the novelty of this visit. The missionary found,
however, that the Seneca chief had told him truly. He was shocked at
their heathenish and diabolical rites, and especiaUy by their abuse of the
holy name of God. An Indian preacher, called Wangomen, strenuously
resisted the new doctrines of the missionaries, especially that of the in
carnation of the Deity, and instigated the jealousy of his people ; but the
truth, preached in its simpUcity and power, by the raissionaries, over
came him, and he yielded his opposition so far as te join the other In
dians in an invitation to the missionaries to settle among them. The old
blind chief, AUemewi, was awakened, and afterwards baptized, with the
Christian name of Solomon. The missionary went home to report his
progress to his friends in Bethlehem. The following year Zeisberger re
turned, accompanied by Brother Gottlob Senseman and several Moravian
Indian families from the Susquehanna, to establish a regular mission at
Goshgoshunk. They built a block-house, planted corn, and, gathering
round their block-house several huts of believing Indians, they formed a
small hamlet, a little separated from the other towns. ' To this a great
number resorted, and there the brethren ceased not, by day and night, to
teach and preach Jesus, and God in Christ, reconciling the world unto
himself.' These meetings were fully attended, ' and it was curious to see
so many of the audience with their faces painted black and vermilion and
heads decorated with clusters of feathers and fox-tails. ' A violent oppo
sition, however, succeeded, occasioned by the malicious lies of the ma
gicians and old women, — ' the corn was blasted, the deer and game began
to retire from the woods, no chestnuts nor bilberries would grow any
more, merely because the missonaries preached a strange doctrine, and
the Indians were changing their way of life. ' Added to this, the grand
council at Onondaga and Zeneschio (Ischua) looked with extreme jealousy
upon this new encroachment of white raen upon their territories and dis
countenanced the establishment. In consequence of these things the rais
sionaries left Goshgoshunk, and retired fifteen miles farther up the river,
to a place called Lawanakanuck, en the opposite bank, probably near
Hickorytown. Here they again started a new settlement, built at first a
hunting-den, and afterwards a chapel and a dwelling-house, ' and a bell,
which they received frora Bethlehem, was hung in a convenient place.'
"About the year 1765 the Moravian missionary David Zeisberger
established the mission of Friedenschnetten, near the present town of
Wyalusing, in Bradford County. This town, the name of which signifies
'tents of peace,' contained 'thirteen Indian huts, and upward of forty
frame houses, shingled, and provided with chimneys and windows.'
There was another mission about thirty miles above Friedenschnetten, —
16 233

PIONEER HISTORY OF, JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
' Tschechsehequanink,' or, as it was translated, ' where a great awakening
had taken place. ' This latter mission was under the charge of Brother
Roth. ' ' These missions prospered greatly, and much good was done among
the Indians, until 1768, when the Six Nations, by the treaty made that
year, ' sold the land from under their feet, ' and the missionaries en
countered so much trouble from both the Indians and whites, that in
1772 the brethren decided to abandon these missions and remove to the
new field which had been planted by the indefatigable Zeisberger on the
banks of the Ohio. They therefore started from Wyalusing on the 12th
day of June, 1772, in number two hundred and forty-one souls, mostly
Indians, of all ages, with their cattle and horses. Their destination was
Friedenstadt,* near the present site of Beaver, Pennsylvania. They were
under the guidance of Brothers Roth and Ettewein, and their course was
from the North Branch across the Allegheny Mountains, by way of Bald
Eagle, to the Ohio River. Brother Roth conducted those who went by
water and Brother Ettewein those who travelled by land. In 1886 the
Moravian, published at Bethlehem, gave the journal of Rev. John Ette
wein, and we give the extracts from it of the progress ef the party through
the territory now comprised by southern Jefferson County, with the
explanatory foot-notes in the Moravian, translated by Mr. Jordan :
" '!•/¦/ 2.
" ' Tuesday, fuly 14. — Reached Clearfield Creek, where the buffalos
formerly cleared large tracts of undergrowth, so as to give the appearance
of cleared fields. Hence, the Indians called the creek 'Clearfield.'
Here at night and next morning, to the great joy of the hungry, nine
deer were shot. Whoever shoots a deer has for his private portion, the
skin and inside ; the meat he must bring into camp and deliver to the
distributors. John and Cornelius acted in this capacity in our division.
It proved advantageous for us not to keep so closely together, as we had
at first designed ; for if the number of families in a camp be large, one
or two deer, when cut up, afford but a scanty meal to each individual.
So it happened that scarce a day passed without there being a distribu
tion of venison in the advance, the centre and the rear camp. (On the
route there were one hundred and fifty deer and but three bears shot.)
In this way our Heavenly Father provided for us ; and I often prayed for
our hunters, and returned thanks for their success.
' ' ' Thursday, fuly j6. — ... I journeyed on, with a few of the brethren,
two railes in a falling rain, to the site of Chinklacamoose, where we found
*"The .\nnals of Friedenschnetten, on the Susquehanna, with John Ettewein's
Journal of the Removal of the Mission to Friedenstadt, 1765 and 1772, by John W.
Jordan." 234

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
but three huts, and a few patches of Indian corn. The name signifies
' No one tarries here willingly. ' It may, perhaps, be traced to the cir
cumstance that some thirty years ago an Indian resided here as a hermit,
upon a rock, who was wont to appear to the Indian hunters, in frightful
shapes. Some of these, too, he killed, others he robbed of their skins ;
and this he did for many years. We moved on four miles, and were
obliged to wade the West Branch three times, which is here like the
Lehigh at Bethlehem, between the island and the mountain, rapid and
full of ripples.
" ' Friday, fuly ij. — Advanced only four miles to a creek that comes
down from the northwest.* Had a narrow and stony spot for our camp.
"' Saturday, fuly i8. — Moved on without awaiting Roth and his
division, who on account of the rain had remained in camp. To-day
Shebosch lest a colt from the bite of a rattlesnake. Here we left the
West Branch three miles to the Northwest, up the creek, crossing it five
times. Here, too, the path went precipitately up the mountain, and four
or five miles up and up to the summit — to a spring the head- waters of the
Ohio. I Here I lifted up my heart in prayer as I looked westward, that
the Son of Grace might rise over the heathen nations that dwell beyond
the distant horizon.
" ' Sunday, fuly ig. — As yesterday, but two families kept with me, be
cause of the rain, we had a quiet Sunday, but enough to do drying our
effects. In the evening all joined me, but we could hold no service as
the Ponkis were so excessively annoying that the cattle pressed towards
and into our camp, to escape their persecutors in the smoke of the fires.
This vermin is a plague to man and beast, both by day and night. But
in the swamp through which we are now passing, their name is legion.
Hence the Indians call it the Ponksutenink, i.e., the town of the Ponkis. J
The word is equivalent to living dust and ashes, the vermin being so
small as not to be seen, and their bite being hot as sparks of fire, or hot
ashes. The brethren here related an Indian myth, to wit : That the afore
cited Indian hermit and sorcerer, after having been for so many years a
terror to all Indians, had been killed by one who had burned his bones,
but the ashes he blew into the swamp, and they became living things, and
hence the Ponkis.
" ' Monday, fuly 20. — After discoursing on the daily word — ' The Lord
* "Anderson's Creek, in Clearfield County, which they struck at a point near the
present Curwensville. "
f " Probably the source of the North Branch of the Mahoning, which rises in
Brady township, Clearfield County, and empties into the Allegheny, in Armstrong
County, ten miles above Kittanning."
t " Kept down the valley of the Mahoning, into Jefferson County. Punxsutawney
is a village in Young township, Jefferson County. The swamp lies in Gaskill and
Young townships." 235

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
our God be with us, may he not forsake us' — we traveled on through the
swamp, and after five miles crossed the path that leads from Frankstown *
to Goshgoshunk, and two miles from that point encamped at a run. At
5 p.ii., came Brethren Peter, Boaz, and Michael, with fourteen unbap-
tized Indians, from Lagundontenink, to meet us with four horses, and
five bushels ef Indian corn, also Nathaniel's wife from Sheninga f with a
letter from Brother Jungman. I thought had I but milk or meat, I would
add rice, and prepare a supper for the new-comers. But two of them
went to hunt, and in half an hour Michael brought in a deer to my fire.
My eyes moistened with tears. Sister Esther hunted up the large camp
kettle, and all had their fill of rice and venison, and were much pleased.
That night and the following morning there were four deer shot by the
corapany. " ' Tuesday, fuly 21. — The rear division came up, and the destitute,
viz., such as had lived solely upon meat and milk, were supplied each
with one pint of Indian corn. We proceeded six miles to the first creek.
In the evening a number of the brethren came to my fire, and we sat to
gether right cheerful until midnight. Once when asleep I was awakened
by the singing of the brethren who had gathered around the fire of the
friends from Lagundontenink. It refreshed my inmost soul.
" ' Wednesday, fuly 22. — We journeyed on four miles, to the first fork J
where a small creek comes down from the mouth.
" ' Thui-sday,fuly 2j. — Also four miles to the second fork, to the creek,
coming in from the south-east. § As a number of us met here in good
time we had a raeeting. Corneliu's brother-in-law stated that he was
desirous of being the Lord's ; therefore he had left his friends so as to
live with the brethren, and to hear of the Saviour.
"' Friday, fuly 24. — The path soon left the creek, over valleys and
heights to a spring. Now we were out of the swamp, and free from the
plague of the Ponkis. Also found huckleberries, which were very grate
ful. Our to-day's station was five miles, and about so far we advanced on.
" ' Saturday, fuly 25-.— On which day we encamped at a Salt Lick, and
kept Sunday some three miles from the large creek, which has so many
curves, Uke a horseshoe, so that if one goes per canoe, when the water is
high, four days are consumed in reaching the Ohio, whereas, by land,
the point can be reached in one day.|| Our youngsters went to the creek

¦* " Near Hollidaysburg. See Scull's map of 1759 for this path."
f " Sheninga is a township in Lawrence County, just above Friedenstadt."
J " A branch of the Mahoning."
I " Query. — The creek that coraes in and up below Punxsutawney."
II " The Mahoning, formed by the junction of the East and South Branch, which
meets at Nicholsburg, in Indiana County. This route to the Allegheny was the same
path taken by Post in 1758, when returning from his second visit to the Ohio Indians
in that year, and between Chinklacamoose and the Allegheny, over the same path
236

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
to fish, and others to hunt ; and at sunset they came in with two deer,
and four strings of fish.' "
"John Roth was born in Brandenburg, February 3, 1726, of CathoUc
parents, and was brought up a locksmith. In 1748 he united with the
Moravians and emigrated to America, arriving at Bethlehem in June of
1756. He deceased at York, Pennsylvania, July 22, 1791.
"John Ettewein was born 29th ef June, 1721, in Freudenstadt, Wiir-
temberg. He united with the Moravians in 1740, and came to Bethle
hem in April of 1754. Here he was set apart for service in the schools
of his adopted church, when, in 1758, a new field of labor was assigned
him at the Brethren's settlements in Western North CaroUna (Forsyth and
adjacent counties). During his residence in Wachovia he itinerated
among the spiritually destitute Germans of South Carolina (1762), and
visited the Salzburgers and Swiss of Ebenezer (in Georgia) in 1765.
The following year he was recalled to Bethlehem. This place was the
scene of his greatest activity, as here, under God, he led the Moravian
Church in safety through the stormy times of the Revolution. He was
ordained a bishop in 1784. In 1789 he sailed for Europe, and attended
a general synod convened at Herrnhut. John Ettewein was one of the
remarkable men ofthe Brethren's Church in North America. He deceased
at Bethlehem, 2d of January, 1S02."

CHAPTER XIV.
PIONEER AND EARLY CHURCHES  PRESBYTERIAN THE PIONEER CHURCH IN
THE COUNTY  THE PIONEER PREACHER AND CHURCH.
The pioneer Presbyterian preaching in Pennsylvania was in Philadel
phia in 1698. In 1704 they erected a frame church on Market Street
and called it "Buttonwood."
I quote from Rev. Fields as to the organization of the pioneer Pres
byterian Church of Jefferson County :
"Its first name was Bethel, and continued to be for many years.
The records of the church are not to be found farther back than Septem
ber 20, 185 1. Records were in existence as far back as 1832, but where
they are or who has them cannot now be ascertained. The church had
its beginning in Port Barnett. Preaching seems to have been in the set
tlement in June, 1809. At that time a communion service was held in
the house of Peter Jones, near where John McCuUough now lives. Robert
travelled by Barbara Leininger in 1755, when Chinklacamoose and Punxsutawney were
villages." 237

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
McGarraugh administered the supper. He was then pastor of Licking
and New Rehoboth, now in Clarion County. He had come to the
Clarion region as a licentiate of the Presbytery of Redstone in the fall of
1803. Whether he visited Port Barnett settlement at that time cannot
now be ascertained. At all events, when he returned from Fayette
County with his family, June, 1804, and was ordained pastor of Licking
and New Rehoboth churches, November 12, 1807, he seems to have
taken the Port Barnett settlement under his care. When he ' held the
communion,' June, 1809, certain persons were received into the church
in such a way that he baptized their children. This much is plain from
the memory and Bible record of Mrs. Sarah Graham, daughter of Joseph
Barnett." A word here with regard to that good and God-fearing man. He was
highly educated and able in prayer, yet, like Moses, slow of speech, often
taking two and three hours to deliver a sermon. He preached without
notes, and with great earnestness pleaded with his hearers to forsake
their sins and the errors of their ways and turn to the Lord. So earnest
would he become at times that the great tears would roll from his eyes to
the floor. It was often said that he preached more eloquently by his tears
than by the power of his voice. He lived poor and died poor, and
preached in the clothes in which he worked.
" How long Robert McCiarraugh continued to preach in the house of
Peter Jones reraains uncertain. .-Vfter some years religious services were
held in the house of Sarauel Jones, five railes west of Brookville. The
church was fully organized in a school-house, near the present site of the
LTnited Presbyterian Jefferson Church on the Andrews farm. That seems
to have been in 1824. The AUegheny Presbytery reported to the Synod
of Pittsburg twenty-three churches in 1823. In 1824 the Presbytery
reported twenty-five churches, and among them Bethel and Zelienople,
so that the record of the Synod establishes conclusively the fact that in
that year (1824) Bethel for the first time was recognized as a separate
congregation. The next record is in the minutes of the i\llegheny Pres
bytery, April, 1825. It there appears as vacant, and, shortly afterwards,
as connected with Red Bank, both having sixty-eight members.
"Bethel Church, as organized in the Jefferson school-house, was re
moved, in the fall of 1824, to a farm on the road from Brookville to
Clarion. The farm was owned by Joseph Hughes (the father of Isaac
D. Hughes, of Brookville), and was distant from Brookville three miles.
There they built a church, and dedicated it The Bethel of Jefferson
County. The church was built of logs, small and closely notched to
gether. It stood to the right of the road as one goes towards Clarion,
near the pike, and on a line between it and the ' Old Graveyard.' The
latter is still in existence, but all traces of the old meeting-house are gone.
The floor was genuine mother-earth, and the seats slabs or boards on
23S

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
logs. A board on two posts constituted the 'pulpit-stand,' and a seat
was made out of a slab or a block of wood. The first stated preacher in
that log church was Rev. William Kennedy. His name appears as a
stated supply October 13, 1825 ; also April, 1827. Bethel was then con
nected with Red Bank. He ceased to be a member of the Allegheny
Presbytery after April, 1827. He was dismissed to Salem Presbytery,
Indiana Synod. He became a member of Clarion Presbytery January
I?) 1843, ^iid died November 2, 1846, aged sixty-seven years and four
months. The last years of his life were devoted to the congregations of
Mount Tabor and Mill Creek.
"The next record concerning Bethel is that the Rev. Cyrus Riggs
was appointed to supply at Bethel on the second Sabbath of July, 1827.
Bethel and Red Bank were marked vacant April, 1828. Mr. Riggs was
appointed April, 1829, to supply one Sabbath at discretion. Rev. John
Core and Rev. John Munson were selected to 'administer the Lord's
Supper at Bethel on the fifth Sabbath of August, 1829.' Bethel and Red
Bank were still vacant April, 1831. 'Rev. Cyrus Riggs and Rev. John
Core were appointed to administer the Lord's Supper on the third Sab
bath of August, 1 83 1.' Mr. Core afterwards preached that same year at
discretion., " The first jail building in Brookville was of stone, two stories in
height. It was built before the first court-house, and for that reason be
came the first place of preaching, in the second story. Bethel Church
seems to have renewed its youth in the summer of 183 1. No further
trace of preaching in ' the old log church' is found after that date. In
the summer of 1832 the first court-house was erected, and religious ser
vices were then held in it. Bethel does not appear in the minutes of
April, 1832. In 1833, Mr. Riggs was appointed to supply Bethel on the
fifth Sabbath of June, and Messrs. McGarraugh and Riggs to administer
the Lord's Supper the fourth Sabbath of August. On the ist of July,
1833, the following persons were dismissed to form the organization of
Pisgah, — viz. : Samuel Davidson and wife, Samuel Lucas and wife, Philip
Corbett and wife, John Wilson and wife, William Corbett and wife, John
Hindman and wife, John M. Flemming and wife, David Lamb and wife,
Christwell Whitehill and wife, and William Douglass. They were organ
ized the next day by Mr. Riggs, in the house of Philip Corbett, a short
distance west of Corsica, where his son, Robert Corbett, now resides.
" The next record of Presbytery is August 24, 1834 : ' The congrega
tions of Bethel, Pisgah, and Beechwoods requested by their commissioners
that Mr. John Shoap, a licentiate of Allegheny Presbytery, be appointed
to preach steadily in those congregations until the spring meeting of
Presbytery.' The request was granted, and Mr. Shoap accepted the call,
October 8, 1834, from the churches of Bethel and Pisgah. The conditions
of the call were, ' Each half-time and two hundred dollars by each.' ' To
239

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
be paid,' as one lady remarked, 'in pork and maple-sugar.' Mr. Shoap
was never ordained, never installed. He died March 13, 1835, ef con-

The Presbyterian Church of Brookville. Erected in 1859.

sumption. His body was interred in the ' Old Graveyard' in Brookville,
and perhaps but one person can identify his grave. Rev. Gara Bishop,
M.D., came to Brookville June 23, 1835. He supplied in that year
240

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Beechwoods more frequently than either Bethel or Pisgah. April 3,
1S38, Bethel requested the one-half of the labors of the Rev. Gara
Bishop as a stated supply. One-fourth ofhis labors were given to Beech
woods. He remained until the spring of 1840. Rev. David Polk, a
cousin of President James K. Polk, was then invited to give one-half of
his labors to Bethel. On the 2 2d of October Clarion Presbytery was
formed from Allegheny, and Bethel's history henceforward was a part of
the records of Clarion. Rev. Bishop died in Brookville, October 17,
1852, andwas buried in the 'Old Graveyard.' In 1841 a smaU frame
church (contract price being eleven hundred dollars) was erected on the
site of the present edifice, and was dedicated in August, 1842. Rev.
Polk remained until December 24, i&4^." —Fields.
Bethel Church was changed to " The Bethel Congregation of the
Brookville Presbyterian Church" by articles and charter of incorporation
May 13, 1842. The trustees named in the articles were James Corbett,
Samuel Craig, and Andrew Barnett. On May 13, 1842, the court de
cided that the persons associated in the articles should " become a cor
poration and a body politic, ' ' and that the charter be entered in the office
for recording deeds in the said county of Jefferson. In accordance with
this decree the articles were recorded in Deed Book No. 3, pages 521, 522.
On August 18, 1843, 3-' ^ meeting held for that purpose, Jameson
Hendricks, W. A. Sloan, and Thomas M. Barr were duly elected elders.
The pioneer regular preacher for Bethel was the Rev. WilUam Ken
nedy, — viz., from October, 1825, to April, 1827, one-half of his time.
The membership then was sixty-eight. When Bethel removed to Brook
ville in 1830, all west of the old log church moved west, thus forming
two churches out of one. On July 2, 1833, the members of the western
division were organized into Pisgah Church (the third organization) by
a committee from the AUegheny Presbytery, Rev. Cyrus Riggs, chair
man, and on that date the organization was completed in Philip Corbett's
barn, one mile west of where Corsica now stands. In this society there
were twenty-five members, — twelve men and their wives and one widower.
The elders elected at that time were William Corbett, William Douglass,
Samuel Lucas, Samuel Davison, James Hindman, and John M. Flem
ming. Two meetings preliminary to the organization were held at the
house of Robert Barr, Sr., one mile east of where Corsica now stands, —
viz., February 22, 1833, and April 13, 1833. On February 22 it was re
solved that the congregational name be Pisgah, and that the edifice for
worship be erected on the hill south of McAnulty's, close to the Olean
road. A committee was appointed to purchase the land, and a commit
tee was appointed to present the petition of the church people to Presby
tery for an organization. At the April meeting the committee reported
the purchase of ten acres of ground on the west side of the Olean road
for the sum of fifteen dollars and a deed of trust received. It was also
241

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
resolved that Philip Corbett's barn, in Clarion County, be the place for
worship that summer. The pioneer house of worship was built on that
hill in 1841, at a cost ef one thousand doUars.
Pisgah was first regularly supplied by Rev. John Shoap in connection
with Bethel (Brookville) in 1834 and 1835. Rev. Shoap was a married
man, and lived in Brookville, where Judge John Mills now resides.
Rev. Gara Bishop was put in for one-third time, from May, 1835, to
May, 1836. During the next four years only supplies. The first installed
minister was Rev. David Polk, one- half time, from 1840 to 1845.
THE BEECHWOODS PRESBYTEPvIAN CHURCH.
Rev. W. H. Filson, in his history ofthis church, says, "The Presby
terian Church of Beechwoods was organized December 2, 1832, and is,
therefore, nine years younger than the settlement. In 1826, Rev. Cyrus
Riggs visited the settlement, and the same year a Sunday-school was
started, and at its close a sermon was read. Andrew Smith was the first
reader. Rev. Riggs frequently visited these people between 1826 and
1832. The following is a copy of the minutes as found on the sessional
records :
" ' On the first day of December, 1832, the Rev. Cyrus Riggs, accom
panied by three elders of Bethel (Brookville) Church, arrived in Beech
woods, and having preached on Sabbath, the second, after sermon gave
public notice that they would proceed at the house of Matthew Keys, on
Monday, the third of December, to organize a church, and hold an elec
tion for elders in this congregation. .\t the time appointed the following
persons, having presented certificates or given other satisfaction of their
standing and right to membership in the church, did publicly agree and
covenant to and with each other that they would walk together as a
church of Christ, according to the order and discipline of the Presby
terian Church in the United States of .-America ; and, further, that they
would love, watch over each other, and not suffer sin on any brother, but
would faithfuUy, and in the spirit of the gospel only, exhort and admonish
one another, wherever they saw or knew of any one overtaken, or in dan
ger of being overtaken, with evil, and that they would endeavor te pro
voke each other to love and good works. .A,n election was then held for
ruling elders, and Robert Mcintosh, Williara McConnell, and Robert
Morrison were duly elected.' Then following is a list of members : Wil
liam McConnell, Robert Mcintosh, WiUiam Cooper, Martha Cooper,
David Dennison, Martha Dennison, Susan Keys. The first coramunion
was held in the hewed log house of William Cooper, and was conducted
by Rev. Robert McGarraugh, of Clarion County. The only person re
ceived into membership at that time was James Smith, the father of
Elder William Smith.
"Rev. Riggs was born in Morris County, New Jersey, October 15,
242

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
1774. While yet a boy his father emigrated to Washington County,
Pennsylvania. Rev. Riggs studied theology under Dr. McMillen. He
graduated from Jefferson College in 1803, and was Hcensed to preach
October 7, 1805. He was married to Miss Mary Ross, of New Jersey,
July 25, 1797. He died in lUinois in 1849.
"In 1835. Rev. Gara Bishop, M.D., pastor at Brookville, began to
preach for them, and continued to do so for eleven years. During his
ministry Joseph McCurdy, John Hunter, and John Millen were elected
elders and thirty-three members added to the church. During all this
time the congregation had worshipped in the log school-house on the
farm of James Wait."
THE PERRY CHURCH IN PERRY TOWNSHIP.
" The Presbyterian Church of Perry stands tenth in order of age in
Clarion Presbytery. The older churches were organized as follows:
New Rehoboth and Licking, 1802; Concord, 1807; Rockland, 1822;
Richland, 1823; BrookviUe, 1824; Beechwoods, 1832; Pisgah, at Cor
sica, 1833; Bethesda, at Rimersburg, 1S36.
"This church of Perry, so called from the name ofthe township, was
organized September 4, 1836, by Revs. John Reed and E. D. Barret, a
committee appointed by the Presbytery of Blairsville. It was composed
of the following twenty-four members : WiUiam Stunkard, Stephen Lewis,
and Samuel Kelly, elders, and their wives, Ruth Stunkard, Ann Lewis,
and Elizabeth Kelly, James and Sarah Chambers, John and Mary Framp
ton, Thomas and Eleanor Gourley, Elizabeth and Margaret Kelly, David
and Elizabeth Lewis, William and Rebecca Marshall, Joseph and Jane
Manners, Margaret McKinstry, and Elizabeth McKee. AU of these
were received by letter, and Robert Gaston and Sarah Wachob on exami
nation. " The original members brought their letters from churches in In
diana and Arrastrong Counties. The Gourley family came from Sinking
Valley, though John Gourley, a brother of Thomas, was elected an elder
in this church in 1841 while residing at Covode, and George Gourley
(the first) came here from Smicksburg.
"John Perry was precentor. Isaac Lewis, and after him David
Harl, lined out the hymns. The precentor and outliner stood in an ele
vated box, and the pulpit was high over the heads of the people, as is
still the case in some instances in modern times.
" PASTORS.
" This church has had six pastors. For four years after its organiza
tion its pulpit was filled by supplies, during which time thirty-two mem
bers were received by letter and nineteen on examination, or fifty-one
in all. 243

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" The first pastor was Rev. John Carothers, who was ordained and
installed June 4, 1840, by the Presbytery of Blairsville as pastor of the
churches of Gilgal and Perry.
"During this pastorate additions to the eldership were received at
three different tiraes. May S, 1841, Joseph Manners and John Gourley
were ordained and installed, and Jaraes Chambers installed. May 13,
1842, John Sprankle; May 6, 1848, Wm. M. Johnston, Wm. Newcomb,
and Isaac McHenry." THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This denomination has five congregations within the limits of Jeffer
son County. The first society was organized in a log school-house, in
the borough ef Punxsutawney, February i, 1836, and is called the Jeffer
son Congregation. At the time of the organization there were seventeen
communicants and two elders, — Alex. Jordan and Dr. John AV. Jenks.
Their first pastor was Rev. Charles R. Barclay.
Writing under date of March 5, 1895, J. B. Morris, Sr., of Punxsu
tawney, Pennsylvania, says, —
"This organization continued to worship in the same house until
about the year 1834. In the fall of 1833 they began the erection of a
brick church on what is now known as the Public Square.
"History tells us that the first organization of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church was in the old log school-house above men
tioned. This is an error in history, for reasons which can be ex
plained. The first organization of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
was formed in the home of Dr. John W. Jenks, now the City Hotel,
in the room now used as a dining-hall, during the afternoon of Feb
ruary I, 1836, with the following-named members, as recorded in the
minutes ef the meeting taken from the session-book : John Hutchinson,
Isabella Hutchinson, Obed Morris, Mary Morris, Alexander Jordan,
Flora Jordan, John White, Kesiah White, Richard Kendall, WiUiam
Shields, Eleanor Shields, John W. Jenks, Mary D. Jenks, Elizabeth Bar
clay, Mary Barclay, Rev. David Barclay, and Rachel ^^'illiams. At the
meeting above mentioned Obed Morris was called to preside, with Charles
R. Barclay as clerk. Resolutions were adopted as follows : ' Dissolving
our connection with the Presbytery of Blairsville, we seek to unite our
selves with the Pennsylvania Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church ; also that Charles R. Barclay is hereby appointed comraissioner
of this congregation to meet the Pennsylvania Presbytery of the Curaber
land Presbyterian Church at its next meeting,' which convened at Car-
michael's, Greene County, Pennsylvania, April 7, 1836. The moderator
and clerk were te sign the resolutions, attested by the two elders, John
'\y. Jenks and .Alexander Jordan. Upon presentation of the resolutions
to the Pennsylvania Presbytery by the commissioner, the request of the
244

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
congregation was granted, and so recorded in the minutes of the Presby
tery. At this meeting of Presbytery, Charles R. Barclay was examined
as a candidate for the ministry, was ordained, and on his return preached
his first sermon in April, 1836, in the old brick church, and was pastor
of the congregation until the fall of 1841. During about six months of
this pastorate, while the pastor was absent, his son-in-law, Samuel McCol-
lum, occupied the pulpit. The pastor was also frequently assisted by such
men as John ^Morgan, Milton Bird, and A. M. Bryan, from all of whom
the writer remembers hearing noble gospel sermons.
' ' A regular Presbyterian Church had been formed in Punxsutawney
in 1826, and in about 1833 they built a brick church in the Public Square,
but the feeble organization was not permanent.
' ' A brief sketch of the old brick church erected on the Public Square
might not be out of place. The bricks were prepared and delivered on
the ground by John Hunt, familiarly known as ' Old Pappy' Hunt, in
the summer of 1833, at two dollars and fifty cents per thousand, and late
in the fall of the same year, perhaps October or November, they were
laid. The carpenter-work was managed by John Drum, father of Mrs.
Evans and Mrs. Winslow, and perhaps there are now none living who
worked on the building, except Mr. Ephraim Bair and Mr. Daniel
Rishel. The house was not finished for years afterwards, although used
for religious and school purposes.
" Early ruling elders of the Punxsutawney congregation in the order
of their ordination : John W. Jenks, Alexander Jordan, James E. Cooper,
Thomas McKee, Edward Means, John McHenry, Sr. , John Couch, Charles
R. White, C. R. B. Morris, John Hutchinson."

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This church is one of the youngest of the Presbyterian bodies in
America, but the history of its antecedents extends back more than a
century. Its original antecedents were the Associate and Reformed
Presbyterian bodies. The former body was composed of Presbyterians
who seceded from the General Assembly ef Scotland in 1733 and formed
themselves into what was known as the "Associate Presbytery," or, as
the masses knew them, " the Seceders." The first minister of that de
nomination to arrive in America was Rev. Alexander Gellatly, who set
tled at Octoraro, Pennsylvania, in 1753, where he labored for eight
years. Many members of the body had preceded him to this country,
settling along the seaboard, and some of them going as far south as the
Carolinas. The church was largely increased by immigration from year
to year, and the Presbytery of Pennsylvania was organized in 1758.
The first minister of the Reformed Presbyterian or Covenanter Church
to arrive in America was Rev. John Cuthbertson, who came in 1752.
24s

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Soon after he was joined by two other ministers from the Reformed
Presbyterian Church of Ireland.
A Presbytery was formed in 1774, and the church, as a body, obtained
a foothold in the New World. The subject of union between these bodies
was agitated before either was many years old, the leading ministers be
lieving that such an alliance would add to the efficiency of both. During
the Revolutionary War several meetings of ministers of the two denomi
nations were held, at which the matter was thoroughly discussed. In
1782 three Presbyteries met in Philadelphia, and a union was consum
mated. The new organization took the name of the "Associate Re
formed Synod of North America." A few of the ministers of both bodies
refused to enter into the alliance, and the original bodies maintained a
separate existence.
The Associate Reformed Church flourished. It spread rapidly to the
westward, and was largely and steadily increased by immigration. In
1793 it had a firm hold on the territory now known as Western Pennsyl
vania. In that year the original Presbytery of Pennsylvania was divided
into two, — the First and Second Associate Reformed Presbyteries of
Pennsylvania. The Second, by order of the Synod, took the name of the
Monongahela. It was composed of four ministers, — Revs. John Jamison,
Henderson, Warwick, and Rankin, with their elders. This was the first
Presbytery organized in connection with any of the Reformed Churches
west of the Allegheny Mountains. Its boundary lines were the Allegheny
Mountains on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west.
The prosperity of the new body in Western Pennsylvania was remark
able. Soon it became necessary to form new Presbyteries in the territory
originally covered by the Presbytery ef the Monongahela, and the church
commanded the attention of the entire country.
A union of the Associate with the Associate Reformed Churches of
North America had been for a long time considered desirable by the lead
ing ministers of both denominations, and it was accomplished in 1858.
The consummation took place in Old City Hall, Pittsburg, and was the
occasion of general rejoicing among the ministers and members of both
bodies. It was in this city of ecclesiastical reunions that the United
Presbyterian Church as a distinct Presbyterian body was born.
The Rev. John Jamison mentioned as one of the original four in the
Second or Monongahela Presbytery was my maternal great-grandfather.*
He was born at EUerslie, Renfrewshire, Scotland. His mother was a
AVallace, of Sir William's clan. He read theology with John Brown,
of Haddington. He migrated to America, landing in PhUadelphia, Penn
sylvania, in November, 1782. He carae from the Associated Burgher
Synod of Scotland. He moved from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to
¦*¦ Dr. McKnight. 246

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, where he purchased a grist-mill and
six hundred acres of land, including what is known as Big Springs. He
was for some years pastor of a Shippensburg church. Mentally, he
was able and educated ; physically, he was six feet two inches high,
possessing wonderful energy and powerful endurance. In the year 1790
he crossed the mountains with his wife and three children, locating
near Blairsville, Pennsylvania,' being the first minister to locate in In
diana County, Pennsylvania. In 1791 he was installed pastor of Brush
Creek, Hannahstown, and Conemaugh Churches. In 1793 his time was
given to New Alexandria and Conemaugh. Rev. Jamison travelled as a
supply for his church from New York to Georgia, organizing churches.
In May, 1795, ^^ '^'^'^•S charged with misconstruing the action of Synod in
reference to the use of Watts's hymns, days of fasting, the use of tokens,
etc., in connection with the Lord's Supper, being opposed to innova
tions. He was hyper-Calvinistic in his views. These charges were sus
tained in Philadelphia at the trial, and he was suspended. Nothing
daunted, he wrote a book, defending his views and the old-time customs of
his church. Also he continued to preach as an Independent till the day
of his death. The country being new, he preached from settlement to set
tlement, in the cabins, barns, and in tents in the woods. For roads he had
forest-paths, bridges there were none, and, in devotion to duty, he braved
alike the beasts of the forests, the summer's heat, and the winter's cold.
Rev. John Jamison married Nancy Gibb in Scotland. He died in
1821, aged seventy-six years. He is buried in the United Presbyterian
Church graveyard at Crete, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. Nancy, his
wife, died in 1841, aged ninety-one years.
"The pioneer church organized in Jefferson County was the Jeffer
son, now United Presbyterian, Congregation.
"About the year 1820 a number of families of like faith settled in
Jefferson County. These had most of them been settled in Huntingdon
County, in this State, for a few years (some more, some less), but were
originally from the same neighborhood in the north of Ireland. Drawn
together by a coramon faith, as they had all been educated in the seces
sion church, and stimulated by the laudable enterprise of securing homes
for themselves and for their families, they struck for this country, then an
almost unbroken wilderness, covered mostly with pine forests.
" The place selected for their settlement is north of the Red Bank and
southwest of what is now Brookville, the county seat. At that time jus
tice for them was administered in Indiana, some forty-five miles south.
This arrangement for the administration of justice continued for some
ten years after their location here.
' ' From the circumstance adverted to, — of these people being emi
grants from Ireland, — the neighborhood was long known as the Irish
Settlement. 247

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" The names of the founders were John Kelso and Isabella, his wife ;
John Kennedy and Ann, his wife ; James Shields and Elizabeth, his
wife ; William Morrison and Nancy, his wife ; Samuel McGill and Mar
garet, his wife ; James McGiffin and Sarah, his wife ; Matthew Dickey
and Elizabeth, his wife ; Jaraes Ferguson and Margaret Bratton, his
wife ; Robert Andrews and Jane Lucas, his wife ; Alexander Smith and
Annie Knapp, his wife ; Christopher Barr and Sarah Lucas, his wife ;
also, by subsequent marriage, Elizabeth McGiffin, widow of Joseph
Thompson ; Clement McGarey and Mary, his wife ; Hugh Millen and
Esther, his wife ; Joseph Millen and Polly Brown, his wife. These last
three settled south of Red Bank, and constituted the nucleus of what
became Beaver Run Congregation.
"Then there were Moses Knapp and Susanna, his wife; nene of that
name are now members of the United Presbyterian Church here.
" There were also a William Ferguson and family south of Red Bank ;
none of that family are now in the county or members of this church.
" ORGANIZATION.
"As nearly as I can ascertain, the first dispensation of the Lord's
Supper in this congregation was in the autumn of 182S. The ministers
officiating were Revs. Joseph Scroggs and Thomas Ferrier. James Fulton,
an elder from Piney Congregation, which seems to have been organized
some time previous, was present at this communion. He and James
McGiffin were the officiating elders on that occasion. About that time
John Kelso was elected and ordained to the eldership. These two,
Kelso and McGiffin, were the only elders, as would appear, until after
their first pastoral settlement.
" Matthew Dickey and his family moved into these bounds in 1832,
and the first recorded minutes of Jefferson Session which has come into
my hands is dated August 31, 1833, and is said to be in the handwriting
of Mr. Dickey. The Session as then constituted consisted ef Rev. Jaraes
McCarrell, moderator ; James McGiffin, John Kelso, Matthew Dickey, and
John Shields.
"The next rainute of Session is dated July 14, 1838. At this meet
ing the name of Solomon Chambers appears as a member of the court.
It is probable he was elected at the same time with the others mentioned
in the pastorate of Brother McCarrell.
" The next recorded minute is dated July 3, 1842, and is in a different
handwriting, without any name subscribed. Changes had taken place,
which are not noticed in these records. Rev. McCarrell had left (when
or for what cause does not appear), and Rev. John McAuley appears, who
at that time examined three applicants for admission, — viz., John Thomp
son, Joseph Millen, and John Millen. These three men are elders in the
church, — one in BrookviUe, the others in Beaver Run. At the same time
248

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
eight children were baptized, — William T. Love, Mary A. Ferguson, Eliza
beth Campbell, Martha Chambers, Margaret Lucas, Chambers Millen,
Joseph K. Gibson, and Hugh McGill.
"The next date in the minute-book. May i6, 1843, states that Rev.
John Hindman, upon the occasion of the moderation of a call, moderated
the Session, and baptized two children, — John Kelso Moore and Rebecca
McGiffin. Rev. John McAuley disappears as unceremoniously as did his
predecessor, and we are left to infer that the call moderated at this time
by Brother Hindman was for Mr. John Tod, as the next minute, dated
October 15, 1843, represents the sarae Rev. Tod administering an admo
nition as the organ of a constituted court.
"PASTORS AND PASTORAL CHANGES.
" No one with whom I have conversed in this vicinity is able to in
form me who first ministered in preaching the gospel to these people of
Jefferson. When last I met our aged father. Rev. David Blair, in 1872,
he informed me that he, first of all his ministerial brethren, visited and
preached to this people. Then, as a result, he supplied them to some
extent, as he and they were long in the same Presbytery, and, in the ab
sence of evidence to the contrary, I am disposed to admit his claim. One
circumstance, however, renders it doubtful. When the first of these
people came here, Rev. John Dickey was ministering as the settled pas
tor of Piney, Cherry Run, and Rich Hill ; this last is where he spent
most of his ministerial service and ended his life. But Piney is so near,
and the relations were so intimate, it seems improbable that they should
enjoy a regular dispensation of gospel ordinances and Jefferson not even
have any supply.
" The names of Thomas McClintock, Daniel McLean, Joseph Scroggs,
David Blair, Thomas Ferrier, and some ethers have been mentioned to
me as having preached here at an early day, some before the congregation
organized and some afterwards.
"The first communion was held in 1S28, as has been before men
tioned, and it would seem that measures were taken soon afterwards to
call a pastor. It is not possible from any data within my reach to deter
mine the date of the settlement of the first pastor. There is no doubt
but that the man was Rev. James McCarrell and that his settlement was
about 1830.
"In the minute-book of this Session there are only two recorded
minutes under his pastorate, — the first, August 31, 1833, and the second,
May 24, 1834.
" I remember having seen Mr. McCarrell once when a probationer,
about the year 1829. This was shortly before his settlement here.
'•' Of Mr. McCarrell's capabilities as a minister of the Word, or ofhis
success as a pastor, I can form no judgment. His place of residence was
17 249

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Strattanville, so far out of the bounds of Jefferson Congregation that few
of these people had opportunity of becoming acquainted with him. He
was a raan of blameless Ufe, exemplary in his deportment, and attentive,
as much as his domestic cares would permit, to all pastoral duties.
" The next date in the minute-book of Session reveals the presence of
Rev. John Hindman and John McAuley. It seems to be the occasion of
Mr. McAuley's first communion here after his settlement. Mrs. McAuley,
whose maiden name was Reed, and raised in the vicinity of South Han
over, in Southern Indiana, — raised in the Presbyterian Church, — presented
a certificate, and it is recorded that on this certificate and her 'acceding
to the principles of our church' she was received. It would seem that the
pastorate of Brother McAuley in Jefferson lasted about four years. He
must have left in 1842, as the next settlement was in the following year.
" Rev. John Tod was installed pastor of Jefferson, Beaver Run, and
Piney on the 15th of August, 1843. His time was divided, — one-half to
Jefferson, one-third to Beaver, and one-sixth to Piney. This congrega
tion was organized in the Associate Church, under the care of the Pres
bytery of Allegheny.
" The United Presbyterian Congregation of Brookville was organized
in the Associate Reformed Church, and continued in that connection till
the union of the Associate and Associate Reformed Church was consum
mated in the city of Pittsburg, May, 1858.
"Jefferson is perhaps the most recently settled of the counties in
Western Pennsylvania. The first of those who settled here and felt an
interest in our cause came about the year 1830, some earlier, some later,
but no movement was made to have preaching here till 1836.
" Isaac Temple, who was one of the first elders, went te Presbytery,
and solicited preaching for the place where he lived. Of course he was
encouraged, hence a subscription was taken for service to be rendered
during the year 1837.
" The first name en the list is that of David McCormick. I think he
was one of the elders of the congregation, but whether he was ordained
here or in the place of his forraer residence we have at present no means
of knowing. Then foUows Thomas McCormick, Job McCreight, Job
and W. Rogers, Levi G. Clover, Benjamin McCreight, WiUiam Clark,
C. A. Alexander, A. Vasbinder, Daniel Coder, Joseph Kerr, James M.
Craig, Isaac Teraple, Andrew Moor, John McClelland, William McCul-
lough, David Dennison, William McDonald, Alexander Hutchinson,
Andrew McCormick, Charles Boner, Andrew Hunter.
" This comes into my hands as the roll of honor. The first men who
gave their names, and with their names their money, built up and sus
tained the Secession or Reformed Presbyterian cause in this county. Sorae
of these were not then, nor ever became, members of the church which
they chose te patronize. Some of them had perhaps little sympathy with
250

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Christianity at all ; but I find them here signing their names and giving
their support to a cause to which I have given the labor of my life. I
honor them. Most of the names on that paper represent men of worth
and weight of character, known in the neighborhood in which they re
side as such, and over all Jefferson County as it then was. It will be
seen that the parties subscribing to this paper were widely scattered, —
from Brookville to the vicinity of Rockdale and Brockwayville. The
amount of this first subscription is fifty-four dollars. The compensation
agreed upon among the psalm-singing churches was six dollars per Sab
bath. This same paper upon which is the subscription contains also the
disbursement of the money. In this connection we find, first of all, the
name of Joseph Osburn. With this brother I had no acquaintance. He
belonged to the Associate Reformed branch of the United Presbyterian
Church, and died several years before the union, while yet a young man.
" The next name is that of Jonathan Fulton, of whom the same thing
may be said. He died young. He is represented as gifted in a very
high degree, both as a reasoner and a pulpit orator. Many of you well
remember him. His ministrations here did much to give respectability
to our cause. Joseph H. Pressly also ministered here at an early day and
with much acceptance. This brother, who has now gone to his rest,
represented to me, when in the act of moving to this place, that it was
the place of all others he ever visited, the one where he wished to live.
But a Providence shapes our ends differently from our anticipations, and
even wishes and efforts to the contrary. This brother performed all his
life-work in the city of Erie, and there he ended his life.
" I find also among those who rendered acceptable service the names
of M. H. Wilson, — this brother labored in JacksonviUe, Indiana County,
Pennsylvania, — A. G. Wallace, Samuel Brown, William Jamison, and
others. These services covered a space of about twenty years, and
were the means of keeping the people together and keeping up their
sympathy with the cause. The pioneer church edifice was on Church
Street, and was built about 1845.
" BEECHWOODS CONGREGATION.
" David Dennison was a member of the Beechwoods Congregation,
and died some time during the winter of 1875.
"As far as I have the means of judging, it appears that Rev. Joseph
Osburn was the first Associate Reformed minister who visited this section
of country, I suppose in 1837. After him the name of N. C. Weed
occurs as dispensing the Lord's Supper for the first time in this wilderness
in 1842. " Shortly after this Rev. Alexander McCahen rendered service here
as a stated supply for the space of four years.
"The number of communing membebs at the first sacrament was
251

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
thirteen. This communion was held in the barn of Elder Isaac Temple.
David McCormick was also an elder officiating at the first communion,
but whether either of these fathers, long since departed, was ordained
here or had been in the exercise of that office previous to their coming
here does not appear from any record. Warsaw was the residence of
the brethren, and the congregation up to this tirae went by that name.
The place ef worship was about eight miles to the northeast of Brook
viUe." * — Aliss Scott's History of fefferson County.
This church has always been a consistent opponent of human slavery.
The Scotch-Irish element, of which the church is largely composed, is
usuaUy stalwart on the side of all reforms and all right.
This denomination holds a few distinctive principles, by which it is
distinguished from the larger Presbyterian bodies. It holds to the exclu
sive use of an inspired psalmody ; in theory it is opposed to the affiliation
of its merabers with secret orders, and it practises a restricted communion.
PIONEER METHODISM— CIRCUIT RIDERS— CHURCH AND MEMBERS
IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
On the 7th of March, 1736, John Wesley preached the pioneer Meth
odist sermon in America, in Savannah, Georgia. Other early Methodist
service in the United States was conducted in New York City by a Mr.
Embury, urged and assisted by Barbara Heck. Barbara Heck emigrated
from Ireland to New York in 1765. From her zeal, activity, and pious
work as a Christian she is called the mother of American Methodism.
Methodism was introduced into Pennsylvania in 1767 by Captain Thomas
Webb, a soldier in the British army. Webb was a preacher, and is called
the apostle of American Methodism. In 1767 he visited Philadelphia,
preached, and formed a class of seven persons. The first Annual Con
ferences of the Methodist Church held in America were in Philadelphia, —
viz. : in the years 1773, 1774; and 1775. After this year aU Conferences
were held in Baltimore, ]^Iaryland, until the organization of the church in
the New World.
The pioneer Methodist preaching in Pennsylvania was in Philadel
phia, in a sail-loft near Second and Dock Streets. St. John's Church
was established in 1769. Methodism was to be found in Philadelphia in
1772, York in 1781, Wilkesbarre in 1778, WiUiamsport in 1791, and in
Pittsburg in 1801.
The pioneer Sunday-school in the world was opened at Glencastle, in
England, in 17S1, by Robert Raikes. The idea was suggested to him by
a young woman, who afterwards became Sophia Bradburn. This lady
assisted him in the opening of the first school. The pioneer Sunday-
schools were started in the New World in i 790 by an official ordinance
¦* Dr. Vincent.
252

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
of the Methodist Conference establishing Sunday-schools to instruct poor
children, white and black: "Let persons be appointed by the bishops,
elders, deacons, or preachers to teach (gratis) all that will attend and
have a capacity to learn, from six o'clock in the morning till ten, and
from two o'clock in the afternoon until six, when it does not interfere
with public worship."
The Methodist Church was really the first temperance organization in
America. The general rules of the society prohibited the use of liquor
as a beverage. Other modern temperance organizations are supposed to
have their beginning about 1811. But little was done after this period
outside of the churches for about twenty-five years.
Rev. William Watters was the pioneer American itinerant Methodist
preacher. He was born in Baltimore County, Maryland, October 16, 1751.
Until 1824 Western Pennsylvania, or "all west of the Susquehanna
River, except the extreme northern part, was in the Baltimore Confer
ence." In 1824 the Pittsburg Conference was organized, and our wil
derness came under its jurisdiction. In 1833 the first Methodist paper
under the authority of the church was started. It was in Pittsburg, Penn
sylvania, and the paper is now called The Pittsburg Christian Advocate.
In 1836 the Erie Conference was formed, and Jefferson County was
placed within its jurisdiction.
Methodism in Jefferson County has been, first, in the Baltimore Con
ference ; second, in the Pittsburg Conference ; and third, is now in the
Erie Conference.
The Methodists were slow in making an inroad in Jefferson County.
The ground had been occupied by other denominations, and a hostile
and bitter prejudice existed against the new "sect."
The pioneer Methodist minister in the county was the Rev. Elijah
Coleman. He was a local.
The pioneer Methodist Church in the county was organized by him
in Punxsutawney in 1821, ten members in all. This circuit was a part
of the Baltimore Conference then, and contained forty-two appointments.
It took the preacher six weeks to travel over it. In 1830 Punxsutawney
was in the Pittsburg Conference. In 1836 this church was taken into the
Erie Conference.
The pioneer church edifice in the county was erected there in 1833.
Services previous to that time were held in Jacob Hoover's grist-mill.
The pioneer circuit in the county was the Mahoning district, which
was created in 181 2 by the Baltimore Conference, but no appointments
were made in our county until 1822.
The pioneer circuit riders in this district were as foUows, — viz. : Revs.
Ezra Booth, William Westlake, 1822 ; Revs. Dennis Goddard, Elijah H.
Field, 1823; Revs. Ira Eddy, B. O. Plimpton, 1824; Rev. I. H. Tackett,
1825; Rev. James Babcock, 1826-27; Rev. Nathaniel Callender, 1828;
253

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Revs. John Johnson, John C. Ayers, 1829 ; Revs. Fleck and Day, 1830;
Rev. Summerville, 1832; Rev. Bump, 1833; Rev. Kinnear, 1834; Rev.
Butt, 1835; Rev. S. Heard, 1837; Rev. J. P. Benn, 1838 — associate.
Rev. R. Peck; Revs. Shinebaugh and Peck, 1839; Revs. Mershon and
George Reeser, 1840; Revs. John Graham and George Reeser, 1841 ;
Revs. H. W. Monks and I. Scofield, 1842; Revs. D. H. Jack and H.
W. Monks, 1843.
Summerville, or Troy, was an early field of Methodism. Darius and
Nathan Carrier were zealous Methodists, and frequently opened their
homes for service as early as 1S25-26. The first church was organized
there in 1830 by Rev. Ayers.
Missionary Methodist preachers travelled through this wilderness in
those times, preaching anywhere and everywhere they could. This itin
erancy makes it hard to systeraize the church history.
The Brookville Church seems to have been the head-quarters for the
northern part of the county, and the first class was organized in 1828 in
an old log barn at the head of Ditch's dam, on the east side of the North
Fork. The members of this class were five, — Cyrus Butler and wife,
David Butler and wife, and John Dixon, Jr. A Sunday-school was
started, with Cyrus Butler as superintendent. Services were held in
private houses, the old jail, and in the court-house, as the congregation
was too weak to build a house even as late as 1845.
The pioneer church was organized in Brookville under Rev. Johnson
in 1829. In 1829 and 1830 all services were held in the house of David
Butler, on the east side of the North Fork Creek, at the upper end of
Litch's dam.
The pioneer and early members (1829) were David Butler and wife,
Cyrus Butler and wife, John Long and wife, William McKee, William
Steel, and John Dixon, Jr. The last is the only one now living.
The pioneer circuit riders in the north side of the county were : Rev.
John Johnson, 1829; Rev. Jonathan Ayers, 1830; Rev. Job Watson,
1831 ; Revs. Abner Jackson and A. C. Barnes, 1832; Rev. Abner Jack
son, 1833, who had twenty-nine preaching-places and a circuit of two
hundred and fifty miles (it was the BrookviUe and Ridgeway mission) ;
Rev. A. Kellar, 1834; Revs. John Sava and Charles C. Best, 1835;
Revs. J. A. Hallock and J. R. Locke, 1836 ; Rev. Stephen Heard, 1837 ;
Rev. L. Whipple, 1838; Rev. H. S. Hitchcock, 1839 ; Rev. D. Prichard,
1840. In 1841, supplies and Revs. G. F. Reeser and John Graham ; in
1842, Revs. Isaac Scofield and William Monks; in 1843, Revs. WiUiam
Monks and D. H. Jack; in 1844, Revs. S. Churchill and J. K. Coxson;
in 1845, Revs. R. M Bear and Thomas Benn.
These ministers always travelled on horseback. The horse was usu
ally " bobbed," and you could see that he had a most excellent skeleton.
These itinerants all wore leggings, and carried on the saddle a large pair
254

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
of saddle-bags, which contained a clean shirt, a Bible, and a hymn-book.
The sermon was on a cylinder in the head of the preacher, and was ready
to be graphophoned at any point or time.
The pioneer presiding elders were : Rev. Wilder P. Mack, 1828-31;
Rev. Joseph S. Barris, 1832; Rev. Zerah P. Caston, 1833-34; Rev.
Joshua Monroe, 1835 ; Rev. Joseph S. Barris, 1836; Rev. WilUam Car
roll, 1837-40; Rev. John Bain, 1841-42; Rev. John Robinson, 1843.

Methodist Episcopal Church, Brookville, Pennsylvania. Erected in 1886.
Pioneer Presiding Elder, Brookville Mission District : " Rev. William
CarroU, presiding elder on the Brookville Mission District, was a stout,
energetic man, of medium preaching talents, and was selected for this
field of labor because it required bone and muscle, as well as faith and

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
zeal, te accomplish its duties. That entire region of country was new,
wild, rough, and mountainous, with many rapid bridgeless streams to
cross. The settlements were far from each other, and the people poor
but generous. Never since the days of Young and Finley did any pre
siding elder encounter such difficulties. Calvinism in its primitive char
acteristics had been planted there, and its advocates contested the ground
with great tenacity and zeal. But to this field of toil and sacrifice the
new presiding elder and his little band of youthful heroes hastened away
and sowed the good seed with tears, and reaped a rich harvest of souls.
That sterile soil has since become very fruitful." — Gregg's History of
Methodism. Ridgeway Mission was created in 1834. Pioneer circuit riders : Rev.
G. D. Kinnear; 1835, Rev. Alured Plimpton.
As a rule, these pioneer Methodists were good singers, and when and
wherever they held a service in this wilderness they usually made our
hills and valleys vocal with the glorious and beautiful hymns of John and
Charles Wesley.
The pioneer female to pray in public or in the general prayer-meet
ings in BrookviUe was "Mother Fogle," Rev. Christopher Fogle's first
wife. The pay of the pioneer Methodist ministers and preachers, and for
their wives and children, was as follows :
"1800. — ' I. The annual salary of the travelling preachers shall be
eighty dollars and their travelling expenses.
" ' 2. The annual allowance of the wives ef traveUing preachers shall
be eighty dollars.
" '3. Each child of a travelling preacher shall be allowed sixteen dol
lars annually to the age of seven years, and twenty-four dollars annually
from the age of seven to fourteen years ; nevertheless, this rule shall not
apply to the children of preachers whose families are provided for by
other means in their circuits respectively.
" ' 4. The salary of the superannuated, worn-out, and supernumerary
preachers shall be eighty dollars annually.
'"5. The annual allowance of the wives of superannuated, worn-out,
and supernumerary preachers shall be eighty dollars.
" ' 6. The annual allowance of the widows of travelling, superannu
ated, worn-out, and supernumerary preachers shall be eighty dollars.
" ' 7. The orphans of traveUing, superannuated, worn-out, and super
numerary preachers shall be allowed by the Annual Conference, if possi
ble, by such means as they can devise, sixteen dollars annually.'
"1804. — The following inserted in clause 3, before 'nevertheless' :
' and those preachers whose wives are dead shall be allowed for each
child annually a sum sufficient to pay the board of such child or children
during the above term of years.' 256

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" The following added at the clos-3 of the section :
" ' 8. Local preachers shall be allowed a salary in certain cases as
mentioned.' " 1816. — 'The allowance of all preachers and their wives raised to
one hundred dollars. '
"1824. — Under clause 2 (allowance to wives) it is added, 'But this
provision shall not apply to the ^vives of those preachers who were single
when they were received for trial, and marry under four years, until the
expiration of said four years. '
"1828. — The seventh clause (relating to orphans) was altered se as
to read as follows :
" ' 7. The orphans of travelling, supernumerary, superannuated, and
worn-out preachers shall be allowed by the Annual Conferences the same
sums respectively which are allowed to the children of living preachers.
And on the death of a preacher, leaving a child or children without so
much of worldly goods as should be necessary to his or her or their sup
port, the Annual Conference of which he was a member shall raise, in
such manner as may be deemed best, a yearly sum for the subsistence
and education of such orphan child or children, until he, she, or they
shall have arrived at fourteen years of age, the amount of which yearly
sum shall be fixed by the committee ef the Conference at each session in
advance. '
"1832. — The following new clause was inserted :
" ' 8. The more effectuaUy to raise the amount necessary to meet the
above-mentioned allowance, let there be made weekly class coUections in
all our societies where it is practicable ; and also for the support of mis
sions and missionary schools under our care.'
"i8j6. — The regulation respecting those who marry 'under four
years' was struck out, and bishops mentioned by name as standing on the
same footing as other travelling preachers. Clauses i, 2, 4, and 5 thrown
into two, as follows :
" ' I. Theannual allowance of the married travelling, supernumerary,
and superannuated preachers and the bishops shall be two hundred dol
lars and their travelling expenses.
" ' 2. The annual allowance of the unmarried travelling, supernumer
ary, and superannuated preachers and the bishops shall be one hundred
doUars and their travelling expenses.'
" The pioneer members were prohibited from wearing ' needless orna
ments, such as rings, earrings, lace, necklace, and ruffles.' " — Strickland' s
History of Discipline. PIONEER AND EARLY CAMP-MEETINGS.
The pioneer camp-meeting in the United States was held, between
1800 and 1 80 1, at Cane Ridge, in Kentucky. It was under the auspices
257

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
of several different denominational ministers. The meeting was kept up
day and night. It was supposed that there were in attendance during the
meetings from twelve to twenty thousand people. Stands were erected
through the woods, from which one, two, three, and four preachers
would be addressing the thousands at the same time. It was at this place
and from this time our camp-meetings took their rise.
Evans, the Shaker historian, who is strong in the gift of faith, tells us
that " the subjects of this work were greatly exercised in dreams, visions,
revelations, and the spirit of the prophecy. In these gifts of the Spirit
they saw and testified that the great day of God was at hand, that Christ
was about to set up his kingdom on earth, and that this very work would
terminate in the full manifestation of the latter day of glory. ' '
From another authority, endowed perhaps with less fervor but with
more of common sense, we get a description of these "exercises," which
has a familiar ring that seems to bring it very near home. " The people
remained on the ground day and night, Ustening to the most exciting
sermons, and engaging in a mode of worship which consisted in alternate
crying, laughing, singing, and shouting, accompanied with gesticulations
of a most extraordinary character. Often there would be an unusual out
cry, some bursting forth into loud ejaculations of thanksgiving, others
exhorting their careless friends to ' turn to the Lord,' some struck with
terror and hastening to escape, others trembling, weeping, and swooning
away, till every appearance of life was gone and the extremities of the
body assumed the coldness of a corpse. At one meeting not less than a
thousand persons fell to the ground, apparently without sense or motion.
It was common to see them shed tears plentifully about an hour before
they fell. They were then seized with a general tremor, and sometimes
they uttered one or two piercing shrieks in the moment of falling. This
latter phenomenon was common te both sexes, to all ages, and to all sorts
of characters. "After a time these crazy performances in the sacred name of re
ligion became so much a matter of course that they were regularly classi
fied in categories as the rolls, the jerks, the barks, etc. The rolling ex
ercise was effected by doubling themselves up, then rolling from one side
to the other like a hoop, or in extending the body horizontally and roll
ing over and over in the filth like so many swine. The jerk consisted in
violent spasms and twistings of every part of the body. Sometimes the
head was twisted round so that the face was turned to the back, and the
countenance so much distorted that not one of its features was to be rec
ognized. When attacked by the jerks they sometimes hopped like frogs,
and the face and limbs underwent the most hideous contortions. The
bark consisted in throwing themselves on all-fours, growling, showing
their teeth, and barking like dogs. Sometimes a number of people
crouching down in front of the minister continued to bark as long as he
258

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
preached. These last were supposed to be more especially endowed with
the gifts of prophecy, dreams, rhapsodies, and visions of angels."
Exactly when the pioneer camp-meeting was held in Jefferson County
is unknown to me. Darius Carrier advertised one in the feffersonian as
early as 1836, to be held near Summerville. The first one I remember
was near Brookville, on the North Fork, on land now owned by F.
Swartzlander. Others were held near Roseville, and in Perry township
and kindred points. The rowdy element attended these services, and
there was usually a good deal of disturbance frora whiskey and fights,
which, of course, greatly annoyed the good people. The first " Dutch
camp-meeting" was held in what is now Ringgold township. In fact,
these German meetings were only abandoned a few years ago. I repro
duce a " Dutch camp-meeting hymn" :
" cajip-meeting hymn.
" Satan and I we can't agree,
Halleo, halleolujah !
For I hate him and he hates rae,
Halleo, halleolujah !
" I do believe without a doubt,
Halleo, halleolujah!
The Christian has. a right to shout,
Halleo, halleolujah!
" We'll whip the devil round the stump,
Halleo, halleolujah !
And hit him a kick at every jump,
Halleo, halleolujah !"
The mode of conducting our wood meetings was patterned after the
original in Kentucky. The manner of worship and conversions were the
same, and while a great deal of harsh criticism has been made against
this mode of religious worship, there is one thing that must be admitted,
— many bad, wicked persons were changed into good religious people.
Pitch-pine fagots were burned at night to light the grounds.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
The pioneer Baptist preaching in Pennsylvania was at Cold Spring,
Bucks County, in 1684, by Rev. Thomas Dungan. This church died in
1702. In 1 81 8, Rev. Jonathan Nichols settled on Brandy Carap, in the Little
Toby Valley. He was a regularly ordained Baptist minister and an edu
cated physician. His labors extended all over this county. He was the
pioneer Baptist. His was " the voice of one crying in the wilderness.
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." Rev. Jona
than Nichols migrated to this region from Connecticut. He died in
1846, aged seventy-one years. His wife Hannah died in 1859, aged
259

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
eighty-two years. As a physician his labors were extended, and his
ministry was well received by the scattered people of all beliefs. For a
while he adhered to the close comraunion, but owing to the different
beliefs adhered to by his hearers, he after a few years invited all Christian
people who attended his services te the "Lord's table." His daughter
told me his heart would not let him do otherwise. One who knew him
well wrote of him : " He was a generous, kind-hearted gentleraan, genial
and urbane in his manners, with a helping hand ready to assist the
needy, and had kind words to comfort the sorrowing." Winter's snow
never deterred him from pastoral work or visits te the sick. After
Nichols came Rev. Samuel Miles, of Clearfield County. The first regular
Baptist church was organized in what is now Washington township, in
June, 1834, with thirteen members, in Henry Keys' barn, by Rev. Brown.
Henry Keys and Jaraes McConnell were elected deacons. The members
of this pioneer church were Jaraes McConnell, Henry Keys and wife.
Miss Betty Keys, Mrs. Eliza Haney, Mary Ann McConnell, Mrs. Catha
rine Keys, Margaret McConnell, Mrs. Nancy McGhee, Mrs. McClelland,
Miss HaU,, and Robert Mcintosh and wife. The pioneer church in the
county was erected on the Keys farm in 1841-42. It was a frame. James
McConnell was the carpenter. The immersions took place in Mill Creek,
now Allen's Mills. Before organizing their own church the men and
women of the Mcintosh, Keys, and McConnell families would start early
on Sunday morning and walk to Zion Church, in Clarion County, thirty
miles, and return the same day.
BROOKVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH MISSION,
The pioneer minister to do mission labor was Rev. Samuel Miles. He
appeared on this field in 1833.
The pioneer Baptist communicant te locate in Brookville was James
Craig, in 1834.
The pioneer convert in the borough was Miss Jane Craig. She was
"immersed" near the covered bridge by Rev. Samuel Miles in 1838.
The second minister te perform mission work was Rev. Thomas E.
Thomas, called Father Thomas. He carae here from 1839 to 1843. The
third minister to pioneer as a missionary in Brookville was the Rev.
Thomas Wilson. He preached in BrookviUe in 1844. He pioneered in
the county as early as 1840.
The early Baptists in this mission were Thomas Humphrey and wife,
John BuUers and wife, Michael Troy and wife, William Humphrey and
wife, Mrs. John Baum, Williara Russell and wife, Samuel C. Espy and
wife, and others.
The pioneer and early " immersion" points were at the covered bridge
at the junction of Sandy Lick and North Fork Creeks, — at or in the tail-
race and in the sluice, — the mill-dam of R. P. Barr.
260

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
The Punxsutawney Church was organized October 30, 1840, by Rev.
Thomas E. Thomas and Benoni AUen, with the following members by
letter, — viz. :

BrookviUe Baptist Church. Erected in 1883.
Isaac London, Hiram London, Lemuel Carey, Sr., Hannah Carey,
John R. Reed, Margaret Reed, James Armstrong, Mary Armstrong,
261

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Esther McMillan, Eliza Cochrane, Sarah Gilhausen, and Elizabeth Mc-
Cracken. Revs. Thomas and Allen continued te preach, each one-
fourth of his time, until April i, 1841. William Campbell was elected
clerk. The pioneer immersions were Stephen London and James Mc-
Conaughey, — viz., on November i, 1840. On the 2d the following were
immersed, — viz. ; William Davis, William Campbell, Ephraim Bair, Jacob
Bair, Sarauel Gilhausen, John Hunt, and Prudence Stewart. On the 3d
day of this month the following were immersed : James H. Bell, Ann
Bell, William Torance, Lemuel Carey, Jr., Mary Davis, Jane Hunt, Eliz
abeth McDermott, and Jane Major. The Rev. Thomas continued with
this church until October, 1841, when he was succeeded by the Rev.
Thomas Wilson. THE WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH.
the beechwoods church.
"The society was organized in 1835, under the direction of Rev.
Stoughton. The first raembers were Henry Keys and wife, Eliza Keys,
Joseph Keys, James McConnell and two sisters, Mrs. Osborne, and several
others whose names are forgotten. The first elders were Henry Keys and
James McConnell. The first stated pastor was Rev. Sarauel Miles, of
Milesburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania. The first Baptist in the county
was Eliza Keys, a sister of Henry and daughter of Joseph Keys. She was
a woman of unusual energy, and whose qualities of mind and heart were
eminently designed for the duties of a missionary, as she was in deed if
not in name. From 1824 to the organization of the church in the
county they went to Clarion County, and worshipped in the old ' Zion'
Church and in the houses of Messrs. Lewis, Frampton, and Williams, and
latterly in a little frame church near Corbett's Mills. The distance trav
eUed by the members of the congregation was from twenty- eight to forty
miles, and many of the good people traversed the country on foot, and
nothing but sickness prevented them from a regular attendance on divine
services. Rev. Thomas E. Thomas, whose services are mentioned in
brief in a sketch of the Punxsutawney Baptist Church, was one of the
leading preachers in the Clarion region, and by his efforts built up the
cause in Western Pennsylvania. In 1825 the only Baptist churches in
Western Pennsylvania were Pittsburg, one ; Huntington, one ; Milesburg,
one ; and Freeport, one. In 1S26 a Baptist church was erected near Cor
bett's Mills, Clarion County, and thither the people of that faith were
accustomed to congregate till the erection of a little church in Beech
woods, the date being 1837. This in time was succeeded by the present
edifice." THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The pioneer CathoUc service in Pennsylvania was in Philadelphia in
1708. The pioneer priest was either Polycarp Wicksted or James Had-
262

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
dock. The pioneer church erected was St. Joseph's, in Philadelphia, in
1730. The pioneer Catholic to locate in the county was perhaps John

Catholic Church, Brookville, Pennsylvania. Erected in 1875.
Dougherty, of Brookville. He came in 1831. The pioneer priest to
visit BrookviUe was the Rev. John O'Neill, of Freeport, Pennsylvania.
He visited here in 1832, and performed the pioneer baptism, — viz., of
263

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Miss Kate, the daughter of John Dougherty. There was no resident
priest here until 1847. The pioneer Catholics in the county were at
tended by priests from Armstrong and Westmoreland Counties. Pioneer
services were held in the houses of John Dougherty, John Gallagher,
Jacob Hoffman, and others.
THE MORMON CHURCH IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
About 1S15 there lived in Wayne County, New York, a young man
by the name of Joseph Smith. In the twenties he proclaimed himself a
prophet from God. In 1827 he published to the world that an angel had
placed in his hands sorae golden plates, with a pair of spectacles, too,
through which he alone could decipher the writing on the plates. His
revelation from God consisted of a book styled the Book of Mormon.
The book is a silly, childish kind of a romance. I possessed a copy for
many years and tried at different times to read it through, but never had
the grace or gift of continuance. This book pretends to give a history
of Nephi, a Hebrew, who, six hundred years before the advent of Christ,
was miraculously carried from Palestine in vessels to this American con
tinent. When Nephi landed on this continent there were no inhabitants,
and the American Indians are declared by the book to be the descend
ants of Nephi. The Mormons taught that there were many Gods in
in heaven, and that each God had many wives and children, — viz. :
Sraith would be a god ; his superior would be Jesus ; above Jesus would
be Adam, above Adam would be Jehovah, and above all would be Elo-
him. In 1830, Smith had about thirty believers, and organized his church
at Manchester, New York. In 1831, under the lead of an angel, this band
moved to Kirtland, Ohio. In 1838 they migrated to Missouri. From
here they raoved to Illinois, and built the city of Nauvoo. In the early
forties Smith received a "revelation" establishing polygamy in the
church. This caused internal dissensions. Smith was arrested, placed in
jail, and finally shot by a mob. Brigham Young was then elected prophet,
and the church migrated in a body beyond the Rocky Mountains to what
is now the State of Utah. PIONEER M0RM(.-)N MISSIONARV.
" Mormonism ! On Saturday evening last our borough was visited by
a youth of apparently not more than twenty-two years of age, a graduate
of the disciple Jo Smith, S. Rigdon, and others of the Mormon creed,
fresh from the ' Holy Land.' He remained here over Sabbath, during
which time he kept himself principally secluded from company till even
ing, when he appeared in the court-house, and attempted to instruct the
citizens of this place in the 'sublime mysteries' of Mormonism (?), but
his ' new-fangled doctrine' didn't take. 264

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"In the prosecution ofhis mission he labored to prove that events of
transcendent importance were about being ushered in ; that the millen-
niura was dawning on our astonished visions ; that a revelation had been
made on plates of gold to the said Jo Smith by the hands of an angel,
and last, though not least, that a revelation of the hidden mysteries were
important, etc.
" He taxed his most deceptive genius — a science in which he appears
to be well versed — to rivet the attention of the congregation, by telling
them that he had 'strange things yet to tell them,' and finally brought
his exhibition to a close. We have not learned that he discipled any
here, but believe that the decision and intelligence of the people of Jef
ferson County is a sure and certain guarantee against such delusions ever
gaining their credence. He was permitted to depart in peace." — Brook
ville Republican, Thursday, October 12, 1837.
Our brother, the editor, was not exactly correct in his estimate of the
intelligence of the people of Jefferson County, for quite a little congrega
tion of Mormons was formed in the extreme eastern end of Snyder town
ship, this county, and the western portion of Fox township, Clearfield
County. The principal members were some of the Cobbs, Heaths,
Bundys, Hoyts, and others. Religious meetings were held in each other's
houses for some time. A nuraber of these members migrated to the
"Holy Land." LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The pioneer Lutheran congregation in the United States was at New
Hanover, Montgoraery County, Pennsylvania, with Justus Faulkner, pas
tor, in 1703.
The pioneer Lutheran minister to visit this county was the Rev.
George Young, of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. Rev. Young or
ganized the pioneer church in the county in 1835, and erected a log
building for that purpose, te which was attached a cemetery. The pio
neer services were held in the barn of Abraham Hoch, one mile south of
Sprankle's Mill, and now Oliver township. Communion was commem
orated in this barn. The pioneer log church building was erected in
1838, about halfa mile from Mr. Hoch's, on the farm now occupied by
Boaz D. Blose. This log church was used for ten years, when it was
abandoned for school purposes, and a large frame house of worship was
then erected on the ridge two miles from Sprankle's Mill. This congre
gation was and is still known as St. John's, General Council.
The second Lutheran church organized was in 1838, and a log build
ing erected. This church was also called St. John's, and belonged to the
General Synod branch of the denomination. Joel Spyker and Peter
Thrush took an active part in the organization. This church was on
what is now Andrew Ohl's farm, and was about three and one-half miles
18 265

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
south of Brookville. The pioneer members at this communion were
Thomas Holt, Peter Thrush and wife, Samuel Johns and wife, Mattie
Chesly, Charles Merriman and wife, Armenia Grove, Hannah Himes,
Mary Johnson, Jacob Wolfgang and wife, Mary Spyker, and Joseph
Kaylor. The pioneer preaching in Brookville was by the Rev. Young. He
preached in the homes ef members and in the second story of the old
stone jail. Rev. John Rengan, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, preached in
the jail in 1844. Ne organization was effected. Rev. John Nuner came
after Rengan, but in what year and for how long is unknown.
The pioneer Lutherans in BrookviUe were John and Catherine Eason,
Daniel Coder and wife, Hannah McKinley, Mary A. Yoemans, Jacob
Burkett and wife, Jacob Steck and wife, John Boucher and wife, Maria
Von Schroeder. Pioneer elder, Daniel Coder. Pioneer deacon, John
Boucher. Lutheran services were also held at Paradise, Grubes, Reynoldsville,
Emerickville, Punxsutawney, and Ringgold, but no dates of service or
records of organization can be found. I acknowledge valuable aid in
this compilation to Mrs. Virginia Blood.

CHAPTER XV.
WHITE SLAVERY  ORIGIN  NATURE IX ROME, GREECE, AND EUROPE — AFRI
CAN SLAVERY IN PENNSYLVANIA — GEORGE BRYAN  PIOXEER COLORED
SETTLER IN JEFFERSON COUNTY — CENSUS, ETC.  DAYS OF BONDAGE IN
THIS COUNTY.
White slavery is older than history. Its origin is supposed to be
frora kidnapping, piracy, and in captives taken in war. Christians en
slaved aU barbarians and barbarians enslaved Christians. Early history
tells us that Rome and Greece were great markets for all kinds of slaves,
slave-traders, slave-owners, etc. The white slaves of Europe were mostly
obtained in Russia and Poland in times of peace. All fathers could sell
children. The poor could be sold for debt. The poor could sell them
selves. But slavery did not exist in the poor and ignorant alone. The
most learned in science, art, and mechanisra were bought and sold at
prices ranging in our money from one hundred to three hundred dollars.
Once sold, whether kidnapped or not, there was no redress, except as to
the will of the master. At one time in the history of Rome white slaves
sold for sixty-two and a half cents apiece in our money. The state, the
church, and individuals all owned slaves. Every wicked device that
raight and power could practise was used to enslave men and women
266

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
without regard to nationality or color. And when enslaved, no raatter
how well educated, the slaves possessed no right in law and were not
deemed persons in law, and had no right in and to their children.
Slavery as it existed among the Jews was a milder form than that which

existed in any other nation. The ancients regarded black slaves as
luxuries, because there was but little traffic in them until about the year
1441, and it is at that date that the modern African slave-trade was
commenced by the Portuguese. The pioneer English African slave-
267

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
trader was Sir John Hawkins. Great companies were formed in London
to carry on African traffic, ef which Charles II. and James II. were mem
bers. It was money and the large profits in slavery, whether white or
black, that gave it such a hold on church and state. The English were
the most cruel African slave-traders. Genuine white slavery never ex
isted in what is now the United States. In the year a.d. 1620 the pio
neer African slaves were landed at Hampton Roads in Virginia, and
nineteen slaves were sold. In 1790 there were six hundred and ninety-
seven thousand six hundred and eighty-one African slaves in the Middle
States. Slavery was introduced in Pennsylvania in 1681, and was in full force
until the act quoted below for its gradual abolition was enacted in 1780,
by which, as you will see, adult slaves were liberated on July 4, 1827,
and the children born before that date were to become free as they
reached their majority. This made the last slave in the State becorae a
free person about i860.
In 1790 Pennsylvania liad slaves 3737

In 1800
In iSio
In 1820
In 1830
In 1840
In i860

1706 795
211
403
.... 64
(in Lancaster County) i

On December 4, 1833, sixty persons met in Philadelphia, Pennsyl
vania, and organized the American Anti-Slavery Society.
NEGRO SLAVERY.
" He found his fellow guilty — of a skin not colored like his own ; for such a cause
dooms him as his lawful prey."
Negro slaves were held in each of the thirteen original States.
In March, 1780, Pennsylvania enacted her gradual abolition law.
Massachusetts, by constitutional enactment in 1780, abolished slavery.
Rhode Island and Connecticut were made free States in 1 784, New
Jersey in 1S04, New York in 1817, and New Hampshire about 1808 or
1810. The remaining States of the thirteen — viz., Maryland, Delaware,
Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia — each retained their
human chattels until the close of the Civil "War. In one hundred years,
frora 1676 until 1776, it is estiraated that three million people were im
ported and sold as slaves in the United States.
As late as i860 there was still one slave in Pennsylvania; his narae
was Lawson Lee Taylor, and he belonged to James Clark, of Donegal
township, Lancaster County. 26S

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
The first man who died in the Revolution was a colored raan, and
Peter Salem, a negro, decided the battle of Bunker Hill ; cUnging to the
Stars and Stripes, he cried, " I'll bring back the colors or answer to God
the reason why !" His example fired the hearts of the soldiers to greater
valor, and the great battle was won by our men.
" It was on the soil ef Pennsylvania in 1682 that the EngUsh penalty
of death on over two hundred crimes was negatived by statute law, and
the penalty of death retained on only one crime, — viz., wilful murder.
It was in the province of Pennsylvania that the law of primogeniture was
abolished. It was on the soil of Pennsylvania that the first mint to coin
money in the United States was established. It was en the soil of Penn
sylvania in 1829, and between Honesdale and Carbondale, that the pio
neer railroad train, propelled by a locomotive, was run in the New
World. It was on the soil of Pennsylvania that the first Continental
Congress met. It was on the soil of Pennsylvania that the great Magna
Charta of our liberties was written, signed, sealed, and delivered to the
world. It was on the soil of Pennsylvania that the fathers declared ' that
all men are born free and equal, and are alike entitled to life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness.' It was on the soil of Pennsylvania that
the grand old Republican party was organized, and the declarations of
our fathers reaffirmed and proclaimed anew to the world. It was on the
soil of Pennsylvania that Congress created our national emblem, the
Stars and Stripes ; and it was upon the soil of Pennsylvania that fair
women made that flag in accordance with the resolution of Congress. It
was upon the soil of Pennsylvania that our flag was first unfurled to the
breeze, and from that day te this that grand old flag has never been dis
graced nor defeated. It was upon the Delaware River of Pennsylvania
that the first steamer was launched. It was in Philadelphia that the first
national bank opened its vaults to commerce. It was upon the soil of
Pennsylvania that Colonel Drake first drilled into the bowels of the earth
and obtained the oil that now makes the ' bright light' of every fireside
' from Greenland's icy mountains to India's coral strand.' It was on the
soil of Pennsylvania that the first Christian Bible Society in the New
World was organized. It was on the soil of Pennsylvania that the first
school for the education and maintenance of soldiers' orphans was
erected. It was on the soil of Pennsylvania that the first medical col
lege for the New World was established.
"And now, Mr. President, I say to you that it was permitted to
Pennsylvania intelligence, to Pennsylvania charity, to Pennsylvania peo
ple, to erect on Pennsylvania soil, with Pennsylvania money, the first
insane institution, aided and encouraged by a State, in the history of
the world."
The above is an extract from a speech made by me when Senator in the
Senate of Pennsylvania in 188 1. I reproduce it here only to reassert it and
269

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
crown it with the fact that Pennsylvania was the first of the united colonies
to acknowledge before God and the nations of the earth, by legal enact
ment, the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. Pennsylva
nia was the first State or nation in the New World to enact a law for the
abolition of human slavery. This act of justice was passed, too, when
the struggle for independence was still undetermined. The British were
pressing us on the east, and the savages on the west were torturing and
kiUing the patriot fathers and mothers of the Revolution.
George Bryan originated, prepared, offered, and carried this measure
successfully through the Legislature. I quote from his remarks on this
raeasure : " Honored will that State be in the annals of mankind which
shall first abolish this violation of the rights of mankind ; and the
memories of those will be held in grateful and everlasting remembrance
who shall pass the law to restore and establish the rights of human nature
in Pennsylvania." George Bryan did this. He was born in Dublin,
Ireland, in 1732, died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1791. To ex
hibit the advanced sentiment of George Bryan, I republish his touching
and beautiful preamble to his law, and a section or two of the law which
will explain its work.
"An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery.
" When we contemplate our abhorrence of that condition to which the
arms and tyranny of Great Britain were exerted to reduce us, when we look
back on the variety of dangers to which we have been exposed, and how
miraculously our wants in many instances have been supplied, and our de
liverances wrought, when even hope and human fortitude have become un
equal to the conflict, we are unavoidably led to a serious and grateful sense
of the manifold blessings which we have undeservedly received frora the
hand of that Being frora whom every good and perfect gift cometh. Im
pressed with these ideas, we conceive that it is our duty, and we rejoice that
it is in our power, to extend a portion of that freedom to others which hath
been extended to us, and release from that state of thraldom to which
we ourselves were tyrannically doomed, and from which we have now
every prospect of being delivered. It is not for us to inquire why, in the
creation of mankind, the inhabitants of the several parts of the earth
were distinguished by a difference in feature or complexion. It is suffi
cient to know that all are the work of an Almighty hand. We find, in
the distribution of the human species, that the most fertile as well as the
most barren parts of the earth are inhabited by men of complexions dif
ferent from ours, and from each other ; from whence we may reasonably,
as well as religiously, infer that He who placed them in their various
situations hath extended equally His care and protection to all, and that
it becometh not us to counteract His mercies. We esteem it a peculiar
blessing granted to us that we are enabled this day to add one raore step

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
to universal civilization, by removing, as much as possible, the sorrows
of those who have lived in undeserved bondage, and from which, by the
assumed authority of the kings of Great Britain, ne effectual legal relief
could be obtained. Weaned, by a long course of experience, from those
narrow prejudices and partialities we had imbibed, we find our hearts
enlarged with kindness and benevolence towards men of all conditions
and nations ; and we conceive ourselves at this particular period extraor
dinarily called upon, by the blessings which we have received, to mani
fest the sincerity of our profession and to give a substantial proof of our
gratitude. "II. And whereas the condition of those persons, who have hereto
fore been denominated Negro and Mulatto slaves, has been attended
with circumstances which not only deprived them of the common bless
ings that they were by nature entitled to, but has cast them into the
deepest afflictions, by an unnatural separation and sale of husband and
wife from each other and from their children, an injury the greatness of
which can only be conceived by supposing that we were in the same un
happy case. In justice, therefore, to persons so unhappily circumstanced,
and who, having ne prospect before them whereon they may rest their
sorrows and their hopes, have no reasonable inducement to render their
service to society, which they otherwise raight, and also in grateful
commeraoration of our own happy deliverance from that state of un
conditional submission to which we were doomed by the tyranny of
Britain. " III. Be it enacted, and ii is hereby enacted. That all persons, as well
Negroes and Mulattoes as others, who shall be born within this State
from and after the passage of this act, shall not be deemed and con
sidered as servants for life, or slaves ; and that all servitude for life, or
slavery of children, in consequence of the slavery of their mothers, in
the case of all children born within this State from and after the passing
of this act as aforesaid, shall be, and hereby is, utterly taken away, ex
tinguished, and forever abolished.
' ' IV. Provided always, and be it further enacted. That every Negro
and Mulatto child born within this State after the passing of this act as
aforesaid (who would, in case this act had not been made, have been
born a servant for years, or life, or a slave) shall be deemed to be, and
shall be, by virtue of this act, the servant of such person, or his or her
assigns, who would in such case have been entitled to the service of such
child, untU such child shall attain unto the age of twenty-eight years, in
the manner and on the conditions whereon servants bound by indenture
for four years are or may be retained and holden ; and shall be liable to
like correction and punishment, and entitled to like relief, in case he or
she be evilly treated by his or her master or mistress, and te like freedom,
dues, and other privileges, as servants bound by indenture for four years
271

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
are or may be entitled, unless the person to vi'hom the service of such
child shall belong, shall abandon his or her claim to the same ; in which
case the overseers of the poor of the city, township, er district, respec
tively, where such child shall be so abandoned, shall by indenture bind
out every child so abandoned as an apprentice, for a time not exceeding
the age herein before limited for the service of such children." Passed
March i, 1780. PIONEER COLORED SETTLER.
The pioneer colored settler in this wilderness was Fudge A^an Camp. He
was jet-black, fine-featured, and thin- lipped. Fudge Van Carap was born
a slave, but purchased his freedom after he grew to manhood. He came
to Port Barnett from Easton, Northuraberland County, Pennsylvania, in
the winter of 1801, and travelled this distance on foot. The last thirty-
three railes were travelled without food, in a heavy snow-storm and in a
two-foot fall of snow. Van Camp was a large and powerful man, but
gave out and had to work his way for the last mile or tvvo on his hands
and knees to Port Barnett. He arrived there at midnight exhausted
and almost frozen. He came over what was then called the Military or
Milesburg and Le Bceuf State road. Being pleased with the country,
he returned to Easton only to migrate here with his four children,
bringing his effects on two horses, and settled on what is now the
John Clark farm. He brought apple-seeds with him and planted them
on this farm, this being the first effort to raise fruit in this wilderness.
Sorae of the trees are still living. Fudge Van Carap married a white
woman. She died in Easton. His family consisted of two sons and two
daughters, — viz., Richard and Enos, Susan and Sarah. Susan mar
ried Charles Sutherland, and Sarah raarried Williara Douglass. Douglass
was a hunter. Richard married Ruth Stiles, a white woman, and left
the county.
Fudge A'"an Carap was the only colored person living in the county as
late as 18 10. He was a fiddler and a great fighter, and was the orchestra
fer all the early frolics.
In 1824 I find Jaraes Parks is assessed in Pine Creek township (but
lived then where Christ's brewery is now) with one negro raan, " Sam,"
valuation fifty dollars. " Sam" was a miller. In 1826 he is assessed at
one hundred dollars. Transferred to Rose township in 1829 and as
sessed at one hundred dollars. In 1830 Parks's log-mill is assessed at
fifty doUars and "Sam" at one hundred doUars. Now "Sam" disap
pears. According to the census of 1830, the county contained twenty-two
colored people, — one of these a slave. This slave was James Parks's man
Sam. Master and slave lived in Brookville. I find one negro slave in
Brookville in 1833. ^^'llliam Jack is assessed among other property with
"one boy of color," valuation forty dollars. Jack lived at that time in

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
the Darr residence, north of the court-house. This slave boy fled to
Canada and secured his liberty. In 1836, Jesse Smith, a Presbyterian
minister living one mile north of where Corsica now is, on the Olean road,
and then in Rose township, is assessed with one mulatto, valuation fifty
dollars. It appears from this that slavery existed in Jefferson County
from 1824 until 1836, — twelve years.
Thank God this cruel slavery, which existed once in Jefferson County,
is forever wiped out in these United States ! There is now no master's
call, no driver's lash, no auction-block on which to sell, and no blood
hounds to hunt men and woraen fugitives not from justice, but fugitives
for justice. Thank God for John Brown, and raay " his soul go march
ing on !"
Van Camp's real name was Enos Fudge. His owner's name was Van
Camp. Fudge was hired by his master to the patriot army of the Revo
lution to drive team, and by playing the violin to the soldiers and in
other ways he accumulated five hundred dollars, which he presented to
his master, who in consideration of this gave him his freedom. Two
white men, Stephen Roll and August Shultz, carae with Van Camp into
this wilderness. Van Camp died about the year 1835, and is buried in
the old graveyard in Brookville.
THE " UNDERGROUND RAILROAD" IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
" My ear is pained,
My soul is sick with every day's report
Of wrong and outrage with which this earth is filled."
The origin of the system to aid runaway slaves in these United States
was in Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In 1787, Samuel
Wright laid out that town, and he set apart the northeastern portion for
colored people, and to many of whom he presented lots. Under these
circumstances this section was settled rapidly by colored people. Hun
dreds of manumitted slaves from Maryland and Virginia migrated there
and built homes. This soon created a little city of colored people, and
in due time formed a good hiding-place for escaped slaves. The term
" underground railroad" originated there, and in this way : At Columbia
the runaway slave would be so thoroughly and completely lost to the pur
suer, that the slave- hunter, in perfect astonishment, would frequently ex
claim, " There must be an underground railroad somewhere." Of course,
there was no railroad. There was only at this place an organized sys
tem by white abolitionists to assist, clothe, feed, and conduct fugitive
slaves to Canada. This systera consisted in changing the clothing, se
creting and hiding the fugitive in daytime, and then carrying or direct
ing him how to travel in the night-time to the next abolition station,
where he would be cared for. These stations existed from the Maryland
273

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
line clear through to Canada. In those days the North was as a whole
for slavery, and to be an abolitionist was to be reviled and persecuted,
even by churches of nearly all denominations. Abolition meetings were
broken up by mobs, the speakers rotten-egged and murdered ; indeed,
but few preachers would read from their pulpit a notice for an anti-
slavery meeting. Space will not permit me to depict the degraded state

Charles Brown handcuffed and shackled in Brookville jail, 1834.
¦' The shackles never again shall bind this arm, which now is free."
" My world is dead,
A new world rises, and new manners reign."

of public morals at that tirae, er the low ebb of true Christianity in that
day, excepting, of course, that exhibited by a small handful of abolition
ists in the land. I can only say, that to clothe, feed, secrete, and to con
vey in the darkness of night, poor, wretched, hunted human beings flee
ing for liberty, to suffer social ostracism, and to run the risk of the heavy
penalties prescribed by unholy laws for so doing, required the highest
type of Christian men and women, — men and women of sagacity, cool
ness, firmness, courage, and benevolence ; rocks of adamant, to whom
the down-trodden could flock for relief and refuge. A great aid to the
ignorant fugitive was that every slave knew the "north star," and, fur
ther, that if he followed it he would eventually reach the land of free
dom. This knowledge enabled thousands to reach Canada. All slave
holders despised this "star."
To William Wright, of Columbia, Pennsylvania, is due the credit of
putting into practice the first "underground railroad" for the freedom
of slaves. There was no State organization effected until about 1838,
274

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
when, in Philadelphia, Robert Purvis was made president and Jacob C.
White secretary. Then the system grew, and before the war of the Re
bellion our whole State became interlaced with roads. We had a route,
too, in this wilderness. It was not as prominent as the routes in the
more populated portions of the State. I am sorry that I am unable to
write a complete history of the pure, lofty, generous men and women in
our county who worked this road. They were Quakers and Methodists,
and the only ones that I can now recall were Elijah Heath and wife,
Arad PearsaU and wife, James Steadman and wife, and the Rev. Chris
topher Fogle and his first and second wife, of Brookville (Rev. Fogle
was an agent and conductor in Troy), Isaac P. Carmalt and his wife, of
near ClayviUe, James A. Minish, of Punxsutawney, and William Coon
and his wife, in Clarington, now Forest County. Others, no doubt, were
connected, but the history is lost. Our route started from Baltimore,
Maryland, and extended, via Bellefonte, Grampian Hills, Punxsutawney,
Brookville, Clarington, and Warren, to Lake Erie and Canada. A branch
road came from Indiana, Pennsylvania, to Clayville. At Indiana, Penn
sylvania, Dr. Mitchell, James Moorhead, James HamUton, WiUiam
Banks, and a few others were agents in the cause.
In an estimate based on forty years, there escaped annually from the
slave States fifteen hundred slaves ; but still the slave population doubled
in these States every twenty years. Fugitives travelled north usually in
twos, but in two er three instances they went over this wilderness route
in a small army, as an early paper of Brookville says, editorially,
" Twenty-five fugitive slaves passed through Brookville Monday morn
ing on their way to Canada." Again: "On Monday morning, Oc
tober 14, 1850, forty armed fugitive slaves passed through Brookville to
Canada." Smedley's "Underground Railroad" says, "Heroes have had their
deeds of bravery upon battle-fields emblazoned in history, and their
countrymen have delighted to do them honor ; statesmen have been re
nowned, and their names have been engraved upon the enduring tablets
of fame ; philanthropists have had their acts of benevolence and charity
proclaimed to an appreciating world ; rainisters, pure and sincere in
their gospel labors, have had their teachings collected in religious books
that generations might profit by the reading ; but these moral heroes,
out of the fulness of their hearts, with neither expectations of reward nor
hope of remembrance, have, within the privacy of their own hemes, at
an hour when the outside world was locked in slumber, clothed, fed,
and in the darkness of night, whether in calm or in storms, assisted poor
degraded, hunted human beings on their way to liberty.
-j^ "^ -^ "j^ '^ '^ -^^ "^ "^
" When, too, newspapers refused to publish antisiavery speeches, but
poured forth such denunciations as, ' The people will hereafter consider
275

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
abolitionists as out of the pale of legal and conventional protection
which society affords its honest and well-meaning members,' that
' they will be treated as robbers and pirates, and as the enemies of man
kind ;' when Northern merchants extensively engaged in Southern trade
told abolitionists that, as their pecuniary interests were largely connected
with those of the South, they could not afford to allow them to succeed
in their efforts to overthrow slavery, that millions upon millions of dol
lars were due them from Southern merchants, the payment of which
would be jeopardized, and that they would put them down by fair means
if they could, by foul means if they must, we must concede that it re
quired the manhood of a man and the unflinching fortitude of a woman,
upheld by a full and firm Christian faith, to be an abolitionist in those
days, and especially an ' underground railroad' agent."
SLAVE TRAFFIC AND TRADE.
•• And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he
shall surely be put to death." — Exod. xxi. 16.
Inthe United States Constitutional Convention of 1787 the Carolinas,
Georgia, and New York wanted the slave-trade continued and more slave
property. To the credit of all the other colonies, they wanted the foreign
slave traffic stopped. After much wrangling and discussion a compromise
was effected by which no enactment was to restrain the slave-trade before
the year 1808. By this compromise the slave-trade was to continue
twenty-one years. On March 2, 1807, Congress passed an act to pro
hibit the importation of any' more slaves after the close of that year.
But the profits from slave trading were enormous, and the foreign traffic
continued in spite of all law. It was found that if one ship out of every
three was captured, the profits stiU would be large. Out of every ten
negroes stolen in Africa, seven died before they reached this market. A
negro cost in Africa twenty dollars in gunpowder, old clothes, etc., and
readily brought five hundred dollars in the United States. Everything
connected with the trade was brutal. The daily ration of a captive on a
vessel was a pint of water and a half-pint of rice. Sick negroes were
simply thrown overboard. This traffic "for revolting, heartless atrocity
would make the devil wonder." The profits were so large that no slave-
trader was ever convicted in this country until 1861, when Nathaniel
Gordon, ofthe slaver " Erie," was convicted in New York City and exe
cuted. It was estimated that from thirty to sixty thousand slaves were
carried to the Southern States every year by New York vessels alone. A
wicked practice was carried on between the slave and free States in this
way. A complete description of a free colored man or woman would be
sent from a free State to parties living in a slave State. This description
would then be published in hand-bills, etc., as that of a runaway slave.
276

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
These bills would be widely circulated. In a short tirae the person so
described would be arrested, kidnapped in the night, overpowered, man
acled, carried away, and sold. He had no legal right, no friends, and
was only a " nigger." Free colored men on the borders of Pennsylvania
have left home to visit a neighbor and been kidnapped in broad day
light, and never heard of after. A negro man or woman would sell for
from one to two thousand dollars, and this was more profitable than horse
stealing or highway robbery, and attended with but little danger. A re
port in this or any other neighborhood that kidnappers were around
struck terror to the heart of every free colored man or woman. Negroes
in Brookville have left their shanty homes to sleep in the stables of
friends when such rumors were afloat.
Before giving any official records in this history, I must pause to
present the fact that one Butler B. Amos, an all-around thief, then in
this county, was, in 1834, in our jail, sentenced to "hard labor" under
the law.
Early convicts were sentenced to hard labor in the county jail, and
had to make split-brooms from hickory-wood, as will be seen from this
agreement between the commissioners and jailer :
"Received, Brookville, Sept. 29th, 1834, of the commissioners of
Jefferson county, thirty-seven broomsticks, which I am to have raade
into brooms by Butler B. Amos, lately convicted in the Court of Quarter
Sessions of said county for larceny and sentenced to hard labour in the
gaol of said county for six months, and I ara also to dispose of said
brooms when made as the said commissioners may direct, and account
to them for the proceeds thereof as the law directs. Received also one
shaving horse, one hand saw, one drawing knife and one jack knife to
enable him to work the above brooms, which I am to return to the said
commissioners at the expiration of said term of servitude of the said
Butler B. Amos, with reasonable wear and tear.
"Arad Pearsall, Gaoler."
Amos had been arrested for theft, as per the following advertisement
in the feffersonian of the annexed date :
"Commonwealth vs. Butler B. Amos. Defendant committed to
September term, 1834. Charge of Larceny. And whereas the act of
General Assembly requires that notice be given, I therefore hereby give
notice that the following is an inventory of articles found in the posses
sion of the said Butler B. Amos and supposed to have been stolen, viz. :
I canal shovel, i grubbing hoe, 2 hand saws, 2 bake kettles, i curry
comb, 2 wolf traps, i iron bound bucket, i frow, 3 log chains, i piece
of log chain, 2 drawing chains, i piece of drawing chain, i set of breast
chains, i hand ax, &c. The above mentioned articles are now in pos-
277

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
session of the subscriber, where those interested can see and examine for
themselves.
"Alx. M'Knight, /. P.
" Brookville, August 25th, 1834."
A few years after this sentence was complied with Amos left Brook
ville on a flat-boat for Kentucky, where he was dirked in a row and
killed. Although Amos was a thief, he had a warm "heart" in him, as
will be seen farther on.
The earliest official record I can find of our underground road is in
\he feffersonian of September 15, 183;], which contained these advertise
ments, — viz. : "$150 REWARD.
"ESCAPED frora the jail of Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, last
night — a black man, called Charles Broion, a slave to the infant heirs ef
Richard Baylor, deceased, late of Jefferson county Virginia ; he is about
5 feet 7 inches high, and 24 years of age, of a dark complexion — pleasant
look, with his upper teeth a little open before. I was removing him to
the State of Virginia, by virtue of a certificate from Judges' Shippen,
Irvin iSr" M' Kee, of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Venango,
as my warrant, to return him to the place from which he fled. I will
give a reward of $150 to any person who will deliver him te the Jailor of
Jefferson county Virginia, and if that sum should appear to be inadequate
to the expense and trouble, it shall be suitably increased.' ' John Yates,
" Guardian ofthe said heirs.
" Sept. 15, 1834." "$150 REWARD!!
"ESCAPED frora the Jail ef Jefferson county; Pennsylvania last
night, a black man, nam'd WILLIAM PARKER alias ROBINSON a
slave, belonging te the undersigned: aged about 26 years, and about 5
feet 6 inches high ; broad shoulders ; full round face, rather a grave
countenance, and thick lips, particularly his upper lip, stammers a little,
and rather slow in speech. — I was removing him to the State of Virginia,
by virtue of a cirtificate, from Judges Shippen and Irvin, of the Court of
Common Pleas, of Venango county ; as my warrant to return him to the
place, from which he fled. I will give a reward of S150, to any person,
who will deliver him to the Jailor of Jefferson county Virginia ; and if
that sum should appear to be inadequate to the expense and trouble, it
shall be suitably increased.
" Stephen Delgarx.
" September 15, 1834,"
Arad Pearsall was then our jailer, and he was a Methodist and an
abolitionist. 278

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Our pioneer jail, as I remember it, was constructed from stone spawls,
with wooden doors and big iron locks. For safety, the prisoners were
usually shackled and handcuffed, and they were fed on " bread and water. ' '
When recaptured, escaped slaves were lodged in county jails and shackled
for safety. These slaves had been so lodged, while their captors slept on
beds " as soft as downy pillows are." Charles Brown and William Parker
reached Canada. Heath and Steadman furnished augers and files te the
thief Amos, who filed the shackles loose from these human beings, and
with the augers he bored the locks off the doors. Pearsall, Heath, and
Steadman did the rest. Some person or persons in Brookville were
mean enough to inform, by letter or otherwise, Delgarn and Yates that
Judge Heath, Arad Pearsall, and James Steadman had liberated and run
off their slaves, whereupon legal steps were taken by these men to recover
damages for the loss ef property in the United States Court at Pittsburg,
the minutes of which I here reproduce :
" Clerk's Office, United States Circuit Court,
" Western District of Pennsylvania,
" Pittsburg, October 9, 1897.
" W. J. McKnight, Brookville, Pa.
" Dear Sir, — Judge Buffington has referred your letter to rae, and I
enclose a pencil memoranda of the proceedings in the two suits against
Heath and others.
" This is about as full as we can give it, except the testimony in so far
as it appears in depositions filed. Most of the evidence was oral, the
names of the witnesses appearing in subpcenas on file.
" Yours truly,
" H. D. Gamble,
" Clerk United States Circuit Court."
"At No. 4 of October Term, 1835, in the District Court of the United
States for the Western District of Pennsylvania, suit in trespass, brought
July 10, 1835, by Thomas G. Baylor and Anna Maria Baylor, minors, by
John Yates, Esq., their guardian, all citizens of Virginia, against Elijah
Heath, James M. Steadman, and Arad Pearsall.
" At No. 5, October Term, 1835, suit in trespass by Stephen Delgarn,
a citizen of Virginia, against same defendants as in No. 4, brought at
same time. Burke and Metcalf, Esqs., were attorneys for the plaintiffs
in each case, and Alexander M. Foster for the defendants.
"Suit, as No. 4, was tried on May 3, 4, and 5, 1836, and on May 6,
1836, verdict rendered for plaintiff for six hundred doUars.
"Suit No. 5 was tried May 6 and 7, 1836, and verdict rendered May
7, 1836, for eight hundred and forty doUars. November 24, 1836,
judgments and costs collected upon execution and paid to plaintiffs'
attorneys. 279

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"In suit No. 4 the allegations as set forth in the declarations filed
are : That plaintiffs, citizens of Virginia, were the owners of ' a certain
negro man' naraed Charles Brown, otherwise ' Charles,' of great value, —
to wit, of the value of one thousand doUars, — to which said negro they
were lawfully entitled as a servant or slave, and to his labor and service
as such, according to the laws of the State of Virginia. That on or about
the ist day of August, 1834, the said negro man absconded, and went
away from and out of the custody of said plaintiffs, and afterwards Avent
and came into the Western District of Pennsylvania ; and the said plain
tiffs, by their guardian, did, on or about the 13th day of September, 1834,
pursue the said servant or slave into the said Western District of Penn
sylvania, and finding the said servant or slave in said district, and there
and then claimed him as a fugitive from labor, and caused hira to be ar
rested and brought before the judges of the Court of Common Pleas of
Venango County, in said Western District of Pennsylvania ; and it ap
pearing upon sufficient evidence before them produced in due and legal
form, that the said negro man did, under the laws of Virginia, owe ser
vice and labor unto said plaintiffs, and that the said negro man had fled
from the service of his said raaster in Virginia into Venango County,
Pennsylvania, aforesaid ; and the said plaintiffs, by their guardian, did,
on the said i8th day of September, 1834, obtain from the said judges of
the Court of Common Pleas of Venango County aforesaid a warrant for
the removal of the said negro man to Virginia aforesaid ; and the said
guardian was returning and taking with hira, under and by virtue of the
said warrant, said servant or slave to the said plaintiffs' residence in Vir
ginia; and while so returning — to wit, on or about the day and year
last aforesaid — the said guardian at Jefferson County, in the Western Dis
trict of Pennsylvania aforesaid, did, with the assent and by the permis
sion of the person or persons having charge of the public jail or prison in
and for said County of Jefferson, place the said servant or slave in said
jail or prison for safe-keeping, until he, the said guardian, could reasonably
proceed on his journey with the said aforesaid servant or slave to Virginia
aforesaid. Yet the said defendants, well knowing the said negro man to
be the servant or slave of the plaintiffs and to be their lawful property,
and that they, the said plaintiffs, by their guardian aforesaid, were enti
tled te have the possession and custody of him, and to have and enjoy
the profit and advantage of his labor and services ; but contriving and
unlawfully intending to injure the said plaintiffs, and to deprive them of
all benefits, profits, and advantages of and which would accrue to these
said plaintiffs from said services, then and there, on or about the day
and year aforesaid at Jefferson County aforesaid, did secretly and in the
night-time unlawfully, wrongfully, and unfustly release, take, and assist
in releasing and taking, or procure to be released or taken, the said negro
man, then being as aforesaid the servant or slave of the said plaintiffs,
280

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
from and out of the said prison or jail, where said servant or slave was
placed for safe-keeping by said guardian as aforesaid ; whereby said ser
vant or slave escaped, ran off, and was and is wholly lost to said plaintiffs,
and said plaintiffs deprived of all the profits, benefits, and advantages
which might and otherwise would have arisen and accrued to said plain
tiffs from the said services of said servant or slave.
" The allegations and declarations in No. 5 were materially the same
as in No. 4."
Isaac P. Carmalt was co-operating with Heath and others at this
time. Heath was a Methodist, and se was Pearsall. Heath moved away
about 1846, and Pearsall died in Brookville about 1857.
Isaac P. Carmalt was a Quaker, a relative of WiUiam Penn, and was
born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1794. He learned the carpenter
trade. In 181 8 he left his native city with two horses and a dearborn
wagon, and in three weeks he crossed the Allegheny Mountains and
located in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. In 1821 he moved to Punx
sutawney. In 1822 he bought a farm near ClayviUe. In 1823 he mar
ried Miss Hannah A. Gaskill, a Quakeress, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
But little can be given of his great work in this direction owing to his
death. His daughter, Mrs. Lowry, writes me as foUows :
" The last slave that came to our house was after the insurrection at
Harper's Ferry. He claimed to have been in the insurrection. He
came with a colored man who Uved near Grampian Hills, whose name
was George Hartshorn. This one was a mulatto, and claimed to be the
son of Judge Crittenden, who, I think, held sorae important office at
Washington, — Senator or Congressman. The slave was very nervous
when he carae, and asked for a raw onion, which, he said, was good to
quiet the nerves. He was also quite suspicious of Joe Walkup, who was
working at our house at the time. He called hira out and gave him his
revolver, and told him he would rather he would blow his brains out
than to inforra on him, for if he was taken he would certainly be hung.
He left during the night for Brookville. Most of the fugitives came
through Centre and Clearfield Counties. One of the underground rail
road stations was in Centre County, near Bellefonte, kept by a friend by
the name of Iddings, who sent them to the next station, which was Gram
pian Hills, from thence to our house, and from here to BrookviUe. I re
member well one Sabbath when I was coming home from church ; Lib
Wilson was coming part way with me. We noticed a colored man ahead
of us. I paid but little attention, but she said, ' I know that is a slave.'
I knew Wilson's pro slavery sentiments, and replied very carelessly that
' there was a colored faraily living near Grampian Hills. I supposed he
was going to our house, as we had been there a short time before, want
ing to trade horses for oxen to haul timber with.' But as soon as she left
me I quickened my pace and tried to overtake him. I was afraid he
19 281

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
might go through Clayville, where I knew there was a perfect nest of pro-
slavery men, who had made their threats of what they would do if father
assisted any more slaves te gain their freedom. Among them were the
Gillespies, who boasted of being overseers or slave-drivers while they
were in the South. He kept ahead of me and stopped at James Minish's,
and I thought it was all over with him, as they and the Gillespies were
connected, and most likely were of the same sentiment in regard to
slavery. But imagine my surprise when I came up, Mr. Minish handed
rae a slip of paper with the name of ' Carmalt' on it, and remarked that
I was one of the Carmalt girls. (I suppose it was the name of a station.)
But he hurried the fugitive on, and I directed him to ge up over the hill
through the woods. I then hurried home for father to go and meet him.
But when I got home, father was net there, so I put on my sun-bonnet
and went but a short distance, when I met him. There were several per
sons in the house, so I slipped him in the back way. He seemed to be
in great misery and could not eat anything, but asked for something te
bathe his foot in. Then he gave a short account of his escape from
slavery three years pre-vious. After escaping he stopped with a man
near Harrisburg, at what he called Yellow Breeches Creek, and worked
for him, during which time he married and had a Uttle home of his own.
One day when ploughing in the field he discovered his old master from
whom he had escaped and two other men coming towards him. He
dropped everything and ran to his benefactor's house, and told him whom
he had seen. His benefactor then pulled off his coat and boots and di
rected him to put them on, as he was in his bare feet, having left his own
coat and boots in the field. Being closely pursued, he ran to the barn, and
the men followed him. He was then compelled to jump from a high
window, and, striking a sharp stone, he received a severe cut in one heel,
not having had time to put on the boots given him by his benefactor.
When he came to our house he was suffering terribly, not having had an
opportunity to get the wound dressed. His benefactor had charged him
not to tarry on the road. But father, seeing the seriousness of his
wound, persuaded him to ge to bed until midnight. But the poor fellow
could not sleep, but moaned with pain. We gave him his breakfast, and
then father had him get on a horse, while he walked, and it was just
breaking day when they arrived at Brookville. A gentleman by the name
of Christopher Fogle was waiting to receive them. We heard afterwards
that the poor slave succeeded in reaching Canada, but returned for his
wife, and was captured and taken back to slavery.
" There is just one more incident that I will mention, which occurred
at an earlier date. One morning I went to the door and saw four large
colored men hurrying to the barn. I told father, and he went out and
brought them in. Our breakfast was just ready. We had them sit down
and eat as fast as they could, taking the precaution to lock the door, for
282

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
several persons came along while they were eating. Father noticed that
one of the slaves looked dull and stupid, and inquired if he was sick.
One of the others replied that he was only a little donsey. When they
were through eating, father hurried them to the woods and hid them
somewhere near the old school-house then on the farm. When father
went to take their dinner to them, the one said hewas still a little donsey,
and then showed father his back. His shirt was sticking to his back.
He had been terribly whipped, and they had rubbed salt in the gashes.
They then gave a short history of their escape. They said they had a
good master and mistress, but their master had died and the estate was
sold. The master's two sons then sold them, and they were to be taken to
the rice-swamps to toil their lives away. They were determined to make
their escape, but the one who had been so terribly whipped was captured
and taken back. Their old mistress planned and assisted him to make
his escape by dressing him as a coachman, and with her assistance found
his way to Washington, where he met his companions and friends.
From 'Washington they were guided by the north star, travelling only
by night. " I think but few fugitives came by the way of Indiana, though I re-
• member of hearing father tell of one or two that he brought with him
when he first came from Indiana who had escaped by way of Philadel
phia. I think most came through Baltimore, where a Quaker friend by
the name of Needles assisted the runaways through this branch of the
underground railroad. From Baltimore they came through the Quaker
settlements in Centre and Clearfield Counties. Father was the only one
who conveyed them from our house near Clayville to BrookviUe. This
he generally did by going himself or by sending some reliable person
with them. Father concealed a man from Baltimore, a German, who
used to smuggle slaves through. He had a furniture wagon, in which he
concealed them, but was discovered and put in jail at York, Pennsylva
nia, but he escaped to Iddings, near Bellefonte, thence to Grampian
Hills, and from there to father's, where he worked five years. He then
left, and moved to Ohio. He became afraid to stay, for there were a
few who had an inkling ef his history and knew there was a reward of
three thousand dollars for his arrest. One day in going to his work he
met the sheriff from Baltimore, who knew him well, and told him to
keep out of his sight, that there was a big reward offered for him. When
he was first arrested he had a colored girl concealed in a bureau which
he was hauling on his wagon."
Christopher Fogle was born in Baden, Germany, in 1800. His father
came with his family to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1817, and Christo
pher learned the tanning trade in Germantown. On June 26, 1826, he was
married in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. About this time he joined
the Methodist Church. In 1835 he migrated to Heathville, Jefferson
283

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
County, Pennsylvania, and built a tannery. In 1843 ^e moved to Troy
and had a tannery. This he afterwards sold out to Hulett Smith, when
he moved to Brookville and purchased from Elijah Heath and A. Colwell
what was called the David Henry tannery. Rev. Fogle was in the un
derground railroad business in Heathville, and Mrs. Jane Fogle, his
second wife, who still survives him, informs me that he continued in that
business until the war for the Union, and she assisted him. The points
in and around BrookviUe where the Rev. Fogle lived and secreted fugi
tives were, first, the old tannery ; second, the K. L. Blood farm ; third,
the little yellow house where Benscotter's residence now is ; and, fourth,
the old house formerly owned by John J. Thompson, opposite the United
Presbvterian Church. Officers frequently were close after these fugitives,
and sometimes were in Brookville, while the agents had the colored
people hid in the Aveods. The next station on this road to Canada was
at the house of Williara Coon, in Clarington, Pennsylvania. Coon would
ferry the slaves over the Clarion, feed, refresh, and start them through
the wilderness for Warren, Pennsylvania, and when Canada was finally
reached, the poor fugitive could sing with a broken heart at times, thinking
of his wife, children, and parents yet in bonds, —
" No more master's call for me.
No more, no more.
No more driver's lash for me,
No more, no more.
No more auction-block for me.
No more, no more.
No more bloodhounds hunt for me.
No more, no more.
I'm free, I'm free at last; at last.
Thank God, I'm free!"
INDENTURED APPRENTICES, WHITE SLAVERY, AND REDEMP-
TIONERS.
Colored people were not the only class held in servitude by Pennsyl
vanians. Another form of slavery was carried on by speculators called
Newlanders. These traders in " white people" were protected by custom
and legal statutes. They ran vessels regularly to European seaports, and
induced people to emigrate to Pennsylvania. By delay and expensive
formalities these emigrants were systematically robbed during the trip of
any money they might have, and upon their arrival at Philadelphia would
be in a strange country, without raoney er friends to pay their passage or
to lift their goods frora the villanous captains and owners of these ves
sels which brought thera to the wharves ef Philadelphia. Imagine the
destitute condition of these emigrants. Under the law of imprisonment
for debt the captain or merchant either sold these people or imprisoned
them. 284

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
The Newlanders were the first German emigrants to Pennsylvania.
Actuated by sinister motives, the Newlander would return to Germany,
and rely on his personal appearance and flattering tongue to mislead and
induce all classes, from the minister down to the lowest strata of human
ity, to migrate to the New ^Vorld. The Newlanders would receive from
the owner or captain of a vessel a stipulated sum per passenger. By arts
and representations the Newlander ingratiated himself into the confidence
of the emigrant, securing possession of his property, and before taking
passage the emigrant had to subscribe to a written contract in English,
which enabled the Newlander the more fully to pluck his victim, for
when the vessel arrived at Philadelphia the list of passengers and their
agreements were placed in the hands of merchants. The Newlander
managed it so that the emigrant would be in his debt, and then the poor
foreigners had to be sold for debt. The raerchants advertised the cargo ;
the place of sale on the ship. The purchasers had to enter the ship,
make the contract, take their purchase to the merchant and pay the price,
and then legally bind the transaction before a magistrate. Unmarried
people and young people, of course, were more readily sold, and brought
better prices. Aged and decrepit persons were poor sale ; but if they had
healthy children, these children were sold at good prices for the combined
debt, and to different masters and in different States, perhaps never to see
each other in this world. The parents then were turned loose to beg.
The time of sale was from two to seven years for about fifty doUars of our
money. The poor people on board the ship were prisoners, and could
neither go ashore themselves or send their baggage until they paid what
they did not owe. These captains made more money out of the deaths of
their passengers than they did from the living, as this gave them a chance
to rob chests and sell children. This was a cruel, murdering trade. Every
cruel device was resorted to in order to gain gold through the misfortune
of these poor people. One John Stedman, in 1753, bought a license in
Holland that no captain or merchant could load any passengers unless he
had two thousand. He treated these deluded people so cruelly on ship
board that two thousand in less than one year were thrown overboard.
This was monopoly.
As will be seen in this chapter, under the head of advertisements,
many of the leading merchants in Philadelphia were engaged in this
nefarious business. In answer to the daily advertisements of " Redemp-
tioners for Sale," citizens from all parts of Pennsylvania and adjoining
States visited Philadelphia and bought these poor white people, the same
as sheep and oxen. Many of the best families and people in this State
are descendants of these " white slaves. ' ' We have some such descendants
in Jefferson County. I could name them.
Under this debasing system of indentured apprentices, the legal exist
ence of African slavery, and the legalized sale of white emigrants in our
285

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
State, is it any wonder that among the people intemperance, illiteracy,
lottery schemes fer churches, gambling, and profanity was the rule, or
that to the poor, the weak, and the wretched the prisons were the only
homes or hospitals for them, and that the " driver's lash" fell alike on the
back of the old and young, black or white, minister, school-master, or
layman ? " I pity the mother, careworn and weary.
As she thinks of her children about to be sold ;
You may picture the bounds of the rock-girdled ocean.
But the grief of that mother can never be told."
ACT OF 1700.
"An Act for the Better Regulation of Servants in this Province
AND Territories.
" For the just encouragement of servants in the discharge of their
duty, and the prevention of their deserting their masters' or owners' ser
vice. Be it enacted. That no servant, bound to serve his or her time in
this province, or counties annexed, shall be sold or disposed of to any
person residing in any other province or government, without the con
sent of the said servant, and two Justices ef the Peace of the county
wherein he lives or is sold, under the penalty of ten pounds ; to be for
feited by the seller.
"II. And be it further enacted. That ne servant shall be assigned
over to another person by any in this province or territories, but in the
presence of one Justice of the Peace of the county, under the penalty of
ten pounds ; which penalty, with all others in this act expressed, shall be
levied by distress and sale of goods of the party offending.
" III. And be it enacted. That every servant that shall faithfully serve
four years, or more, shall, at the expiration of their servitude, have a dis
charge, and shall be duly clothed with two complete suits of apparel,
whereof one shall be new, and shall also be furnished with one new axe,
one grubbing-hoe, and one weeding-hoe, at the charge oftheir master or
mistress. " IV. And for prevention of servants quitting their masters' service.
Be it enacted. That if any servant shall absent him or herself from the
service of their master or owner for the space of one day or more, with
out leave first obtained for the same, every such servant shall, for every
such day's absence, be obliged to serve five days, after the expiration ef
his or her time, and shall further make such satisfaction to his or her
master or owner, for the damages and charges sustained by such absence,
as the respective County Court shall see meet, who shall order as well the
time to be served, as other recompense for damages sustained.
" V. And whosoever shall apprehend or take up any runaway servant,
and shall bring him or her to the Sheriff of the county, such person shall,
286

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
for every such servant, if taken up within ten miles of the servant's abode,
receive ten shillings, and if ten miles or upwards, twenty shillings reward,
of the said Sheriff, who is hereby required to pay the same, and forthwith
to send notice to the master or owner, of whom he shall receive five shil
lings, prison fees, upon delivery of the said servant, together with all
other disbursements and reasonable charges for and upon the same.
" VI. And to prevent the clandestine employing of other men's ser
vants. Be it enacted, That whosoever shall conceal any servant of this prov
ince or territories, or entertain him or her twenty-four hours, without his
or her master's or owner's knowledge and consent, and shall not within
the said time give an account thereof to some Justice of the Peace of the
county, every such person shall forfeit twenty shillings for every day's
concealment. And in case the said Justice shall not, within twenty-four
hours after complaint made to him, issue his warrant, directed to the
next constable, for apprehending and seizing the said servant, and com
mit him or her to the custody of the Sheriff of the county, such Justice
shall, for every such offence, forfeit five pounds. And the Sheriff shall
by the first opportunity, after he has received the said servant, send
notice thereof to his or her master or owner ; and the said Sheriff,
neglecting or omitting in any case to give notice to the master or owner
of their servant being in his custody as aforesaid, shall forfeit five shil
lings for every day's neglect after an opportunity has offered, to be
proved against him before the next County Court, and to be there
adjudged. "VII. And for the more effectual discouragement of servants imbez-
zling their masters' or owners' goods. Be it enacted. That whosoever
shall clandestinely deal or traffic with any servant, white or black, for any
kind of goods or merchandise, without leave or order from his or her
master or owner, plainly signified or appearing, shall forfeit treble the
value of such goods to the owner ; and the servant if a white, shall make
satisfaction to his or her master or owner by servitude, after the expira
tion of his or her time, to double the value of the said goods ; And if the
servant be a black, he or she shall be severely whipped, in the most public
place of the township where the offence was committed."

ACT OF 1705.
"Section 2. Provided, That no person shall be kept in prison for
debt or fines, longer than the second day of the next session after his or
her commitment, unless the plaintiff shall make it appear that the person
imprisoned hath some estate that he will not produce, in which case the
court shall examine all persons suspected to be privy to the concealing
of such estate ; and if no estate sufficient shall be found, the debtor shall
make satisfaction by servitude to the judgment of the court where such
287

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
action is tried (not exceeding seven years if a single person, and under
the age of fifty and three years, or five years if a married man, and under
the age of forty and six years) if the plaintiff require it ; but if the plain
tiff refuse such manner of satisfaction, according to the judgment of the
court as aforesaid, then and in such case the prisoner shall be discharged
in open court.
"Section 3. Provided, That nothing in this act contained shall be
construed to subject &ny master of ship or other vessel, trading into this
province from other parts, to make satisfaction for debt by servitude as
above said."
Up to 1842 this law of Pennsylvania authorized the imprisonment of
men for debt. The act of July 12 of that year abolished such imprison
ment. Quite a number of men were committed to the old jail in Brook
ville because of their inability to pay their debts. Sometimes their
friends paid the debt for them, and sometimes they came out under the
insolvent debtor's law. Belew I give an exact copy of an execution
issued by 'Squire Corbett, a justice of the peace in Brookville :
"Jefferson County, ss.
"The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to James Cochran, constable
of borough, greeting : Whereas judgraent against Stephen Tibbits for the
sum of 5 dollars and 27 cents and the costs was had the 6th day of Jany,
'39, before me, at the suit of Heath, Dunham & Co. : These are there
fore in the name of the commonwealth, te command you to levy distress
on the goods and chattels of the said Stephen Tibbits, and make sale
thereof according to law to the amount of said debt and costs, and what
may accrue thereon, and make return to me in twenty days from the date
thereof; and for want ef goods and chattels whereon to levy, you are
commanded to convey the body of said Stephen Tibbits to the jail of the
said county, the jailer whereof is hereby commanded to receive the same,
in safe custody to keep until the said debt and costs are paid, or other
wise discharged by due course of law. Given under my hand and seal
the 15 day ef May, 1841. , ^
^ ^ ' "James Corbett."
This execution was numbered 811. The debt was S5-27 ; interest, 60
cents; justice's costs, 25 cents; execution and return, 2oJ^ cents; total,
S6.32j'2- The whole sum was paid May 26, 1841.
By the act passed April 8, 1785, entitled " An Act for establishing the
office ofa register of all German passengers who shall arrive at the port
of Philadelphia, and of all indentures by which any of them shall be
bound servants for their freight, and of the assigments of such servants
in the city of Philadelphia," it was provided that the register should un
derstand and speak both Gerraan and English languages, and that he
could have "all the powers and authorities of a justice of the peace, as
2S8

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
far as the same shall be required fer -the support and efficiency of his
office, and the laws respecting the iraportation of German passengers and
binding them out servants." All indentures and assignments to be made
and acknowledged before the register or his deputy, and he to register
all indentures or assignments, as servants' indentures or assignments.
Under the act for regulating the iraportation of German and other
passengers, passed February 7, 181 8, the captain was compelled to give
a bill of lading of merchandise to passengers, under a penalty of one
hundred dollars. Passengers to be discharged on payment of freight.
When passengers were sold for servitude, the indenture to be acknowl
edged before the mayor of the city of Philadelphia; "but no master,
captain, owner, or consignee of any ship or vessel shall separate any
husband and wife, who came passengers in any such ship or vessel, by
disposing of them to different masters or mistresses, unless by mutual
consent of such husband and wife ; nor shall any passenger, without his
or her consent, be disposed of to any person residing out of this Com
monwealth, under the penalty of one hundred dollars." The goods of
each passenger to be a pledge for freight.
AN ACT FOR THE RELIEF OF REDEMPTIONERS.
' ' Section i . Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
ofthe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, i7i General Assembly met, and it is
hereby enacted by the authority of the same. That the several provisions of
an act of Assembly of this Commonwealth, passed the twenty-ninth day
of September, one thousand seven hundred and seventy, entitled ' An Act
for the regulation of apprentices within this province,' and of an act
passed the eleventh day of April, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-
nine, entitled a supplement to the act, entitled ' An Act for the regula
tion of apprentices, ' be and the same are hereby extended to all Redemp-
tieners bound to service for a term of years. " Passed 9th February, 1820.
ACT OF SEPTEMBER 29, 1770.
" Section i. All and every person or persons that shall be bound by
indenture, to serve an apprentice in any art, mystery, labour, or occupa
tion, with the assent of his or her parent, guardian or next friend, or
with the assent of the overseers of the poor, and approbation of any two
Justices, although such persons, or any of them, shall be within the age
of twenty-one years at the time of raaking their several indentures, shall
be bound to serve the time in their respective indentures contained, so
as such time or term of years of such apprentice, if female, do expire at
or before the age of eighteen years, and if a male, at or before the age
of twenty-one years, as fully to all intents and purposes as if the same
apprentices were of full age at the time of making the said indentures.
" Section 2. If any master or mistress shall misuse, abuse, or evilly
289

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
treat, or shall not discharge his or her duty towards his or her apprentice,
according to the covenants in the indentures between them made, or if
the said apprentice shall abscond or absent him or herself from his or her
master's or mistress's service without leave, or shall not do and discharge
his or her duty to his or her master or mistress, according to his or her
covenants aforesaid, the said master or mistress, or apprentice, being
aggrieved in the premises, shall or may apply to any one Justice of the
Peace, of any county or city, where the said master or mistress shall re
side, who, after giving due notice to such master or mistress, or appren
tice, if he or she sha,ll neglect or refuse to appear, shall thereupon issue
his warrant for bringing him or her, the said master, mistress, or appren
tice, before him, and take such order and direction, between the said
master or mistress and apprentice, as the equity and justice of the case
shall require : And if the said Justice shall not be able to settle and ac
commodate the difference and dispute between the said master or mistress
and apprentice, through a want of conformity in the master or mistress,
then the said Justice shall take a recognizance of the said master or mis
tress, and bind him or her over, to appear and answer the complaint of
his or her apprentice, at the next county court of Quarter Sessions, to be
held for the said county or city, and take such order with respect to such
apprentice as to him shall seem just ; and if through want of conformity
in the said apprentice he shall, if the master or mistress or apprentice re
quest it, take recognizance of him or her with one sufficient surety, for his
or her appearance at the said sessions, and to answer the complaint of his or
her master or mistress, or commit such apprentice for want of such surety,
to the common gaol or work-house of the said county or city respectively ;
and upon such appearance of the parties and hearing of their respective
proofs and allegations, the said court shall, and they are hereby author
ized and empowered, if they see cause, to discharge the said apprentice
of and from his or her apprenticeship, and of and from all and every the
articles, covenants, and agreements in his or her said indenture con
tained ; but if default shall be found in the said apprentice, then the said
court is hereby authorized and empowered to cause, if they see sufficient
occasion, such punishment by imprisonment of the body, and confine
ment at hard labour, to be inflicted on him or her, as to them, in their
discretion, they shall think his or her offence or offences shall deserve."
ACT OF .\PRIL II, 1799.
"Section i. If any apprentice shall absent hiraself or herself from
the service ef his or her master or mistress, before the time of his or her
apprenticeship shall be expired, without leave first obtained, every such
apprentice, at any time after he or she arrives at the age of twenty-one
years, shall be liable to, and the master or mistress, their heirs, executors,
or administrators, are hereby enabled to sustain all such actions, and
290

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Other remedies against him or her, as if the said apprentice had been of
full age at the time of executing his or her indenture of apprenticeship.
" Section 2. When any master or mistress shall die before the term
of apprenticeship shall be expired, the executors or administrators of
such master or mistress, provided the term of the indenture extended to
executors and administrators, shall and may have a right to assign over
the remainder of the term of .such apprenticeship to such suitable person
of the same trade or calling mentioned in the indenture, as shall be
approved of by the court of Quarter Sessions of the county where the
master or mistress lived, and the assignee to have the same right to the
service of such apprentice as the master or mistress had at the time of his
or her death ; and also when any master or mistress shall assign over his
or her apprentice to any person of the same trade or calling mentioned
in the indenture, the said assignment shall be legal, provided the terms of
the indenture extended to assigns, and provided the apprentice, or his or
her parents, guardian or guardians, shall give his, her, or their consent
to such assignment before some Justice of the Peace of the county where
the master or mistress shall live. ' '
These advertisements are selected from a large nuraber of a similar
kind that are found in Relf's Philadelphia Gazette and Daily Advertiser
for the years 1804-5 • " GERMAN REDEMPTIONERS.
" To be disposed of, the time of a number of German Redemptioners,
consisting of Clerks, Shoemakers, Taylors, Cloth makers. Weavers, Stock
ing weavers. Blacksmiths, Watch makers. Miniature painters &c. on board
the Ship Cato, Capt. Barden, from the river Jade, lying off Vine Street,
apply to the captain on board Cato.
"Smith Ridgway & Co.
" No. 50 n. front street.
"Nov. 3rd (1804)." "TO BE DISPOSED OF.
" The Time ofa German Servant Girl, who has eight years to serve.
She is strong and hearty, understands EngUsh, and can be well recom
mended. Enquire at No. 15 South Third Street.
" January gth 1805." "GERM.\N REDEMPTIONERS.
"A number of German Redemptioners of different ages and profes
sions, te be disposed of on board ship Venus from Amsterdam. For
terms apply on board, opposite Callowhill street.
"Sept. gth 1805." "SWISS AND GERMAN PASSENGERS.
"The Time
" Of the foUowing passengers mostly farmers and a few mechanics,
viz: 17 men, 11 women, 13 boys and 14 girls now to be seen at the
291

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Spread Eagle Tavern, Callowhill street near the water, to be disposed of
by their agents Winkleblick & Bund, at the Red Lion Tavern, Market
Street, between 6 and 7 street. South from 9 in the morning till 6 o'clock
in the evening. The payment to be made at the counting house of Mr.
L. Huson, No. 19 South Wharves."
" GERMAN REDEMPTIONERS.
" On board the ship Indostan laying in the stream above Vine street,
consisting of carpenters, bakers, butchers, gardeners, blacksmiths, sugar
refiners, glass makers, taylors, servants &c. &c. whose times are to be
disposed of, by "Isaac Hazelhurst & Sons.
"April 1 6th 1S04." "20 DOLLARS REWARD.
" Ran away on Saturday last from the subscriber, a German in
dentured servant man, named Tobias Schwenck, a weaver by trade, about
25 years of age, about 5 feet 6 inches high. When he speaks he has
a fashion of swinging his arms in a very passionate manner, pale face,
slender made, light straight hair, speaks a little English ; took with him
a tight body blue coat made in the Gerraan fashion, a blue surtout coat,
two pair of Russia sheeting trousers, and a pair of blue velvet pantaloons,
and a number of other clothing, a pair of new full boots broad round
toed. ' ' Whoever secures the above run-away in any gaol, or delivers him
to the subscriber, shall receive the above reward and reasonable charges
paid by
"Henry Dotterer,
" Sign of the Buck, Second street, Philadelphia.
"Oct. 1804." "2 DOLLARS REWARD.
"Ran away, an indentured Dutch servant girl, (the property of
Richard Baily, near the 7 mile stone, Germantown) about 8 years of
age, light complection, named Maria, was dressed in a striped lindsey
short gown and petticoat, blue worsted stockings, and speaks but little
of her native language. All persons are cautioned against detaining or
harboring the said girl. In addition to the above reward, any reason
able expense will be allowed.
" Dec. iSth 1804." " 10 DOLLARS REWARD.
" Ran away from the subscriber living in the village of New- Holland,
Lancaster County, on the evening of the 7th last, a German indentured
servant Girl, named Anna Maria Wagner, she came from Germany last
fall in the brig Newton, Capt. Reilly. She is about 19 or 20 years old,
292

PIONEER PIISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
of a low stature, she hath short and sandy hair, freckled face, her arms,
hands, and feet, very small. Had on when she went away, a blue and
white striped petticoat of German manufacture, and a blue jacket, which
is remarkable, being lined after the German manner with whalebone. It
is said that she hath a sister living in the neighborhood of Kutz town,
Berks county, bound to Mr. Lesher. Whoever wiU secure and deliver
her in any gaol, and give notice to the subscriber thereof, so that he may
get her again, shall have the above reward, and reasonable charges paid.
AU persons are hereby forewarned not to harbour her at their peril.
"Jonathan Roland.
" New-Holland, Jan. 3rd 1805."
"In law, this system was known as an apprenticeship, or service en
tered into by a free person, voluntary, by contract for a term of years on
wages advanced before the service was entered. The servants, by per
forming the service, were redeeming themselves, and therefore called ' Re
demptioners.' In practice, however, with a certain class of people, and
in instances hereinafter related, this system was as revoltingly brutal and
degenerating as the negro slavery abolished in our own time in its worst
aspects. " It was conceived and had its beginning in the harmless and in
some respects benevolent idea te help a poor person in Europe who
wished to emigrate to America and had not the money to pay for his
passage across the ocean, by giving him credit for his passage-money, on
condition that he should work for it after his arrival here, by hiring as a
servant for a term of years to a person who would advance him his wages
by paying his passage-money to the owner or master of the vessel.
" There are instances on record when school-teachers, and even min
isters of the gospel, were in this manner bought by congregations to
render their services in their respective offices. Laws were passed for the
protection of the masters and of the servants. Whilst this is the bright
side of the Redemptioners' life, it had also a very dark side. The Re
demptioners on their arrival here were not aUowed to choose their mas
ters nor kind of service most suitable to them. They were often sepa
rated from their family, the wife from the husband, and children from
their parents ; were disposed of for the term of years, often at public sale,
to masters living far apart, and always to the greatest advantage of the
shipper. I have read many reports of the barbarous treatment they re
ceived, how they were literally worked to death, receiving insufficient
food, scanty clothing, and poor lodging. Cruel punishments were in
flicted on them for slight offences when they were at the mercy of a hard
and brutal master. Their fellow black slave was often treated better, for
he was a slave for life, and it was in the interest of the master to treat
him well to preserve him, whilst the poor Redemptioner was a slave for
293

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
a number of years only, and all his vital force was worked out of him
during the years of his service.
" No public records were kept of the contracts entered into abroad
by the Redemptioners, nor of the time of the expiration of their service.
The Redemptioners were not furnished with duplicates of their contracts.
They were sometimes, and could be, mortgaged, hired out for a shorter
period, sold, and transferred like chattel by their masters. The Redemp
tioners belonging to the poor and most of them to the ignorant class, it
is apparent that under these conditions they were at a great disadvantage
against a rapacious master, who kept them in servitude after the expiration
of their true contract time, claiming their services for a longer period.
"For manyyears the Redemptioners in Maryland had come prin
cipally from England and Ireland. The abuses of the system having be
come known in England, rigorous laws and measures were adopted in
England for their better protection, and letters and articles appeared in
the newspapers warning the poor people from entering into these con
tracts. The first and early immigration of Germans came into Maryland
from Pennsylvania. From Lancaster County it extended into Baltimore,
Harford, Frederick, and the western counties of our State. As wages
advanced, the trade of shipping Redemptioners to the colony became
highly lucrative. Large profits were made in a successful voyage with a
full cargo of human beings, who, on their arrival here, were sold to the
highest bidder for a term of years.
"The Dutch, who, in 1620, had sent the first cargo of negro slaves
to this country, and had amassed great wealth in the pursuit of the negro
slave-trade from distant Africa, discovered that it was less troublesome
and equally reraunerative to engage in a sort of a white slave-trade, by
shipping Redemptioners from their own country, Germany, Switzerland,
and adjoining countries, to the American colonies. The shipping mer
chants of Holland would send regular agents, or drummers, as we now
would call them, who received one-half of a doubloon fer every Redemp
tioner shipped by them into these colonies. These agents generally ap
peared in gaudy dress, with flourish of trumpets, and in glqwing language
depicted the wealth and happiness of the people of this country, whereof
all could partake if they only would come here ; that they did not need
any money for their passage, as all they had to do was to sign a contract
that on their arrival here they would pay for the same eut of their first
earnings. In this manner these agents would travel from village to vil
lage, deluding the poorest and most ignorant to follow them to the New
Eldorado. " Whenever such an agent had collected a sufficient number, he would
take them personally to the shipping harbor in Holland. It was a gay
crowd which travelled in this manner in wagons across the country. The
horses and wagons were decorated with gay ribbons, and joyous songs
294

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
were heard from the emigrants, who believed they were leaving toil and
poverty to go to the fabulously rich America to enjoy the ease and plenty
of this world's goods. This spirit was artificially kept up by the liberal
ity of the agent until they were safely aboard the ship. Frora thence
such a life of suffering, privation, and hardship commenced, that it seems
incredible that the Christian nations of Europe and America should have
permitted such a trade to flourish up to nearly the end of the first quarter
of the present century. I myself know several very old persons yet living
in Baltimore who came to this country in this manner. The contracts
which these Redemptioners had to sign in HoUand, and which few of
them then understood, contained the proviso that if any passenger died
on the voyage, the surviving members of the family, or the surviving Re
demptioner passengers, would make good his loss. Thereby a wife who
had lost her husband during the sea-voyage, or her children, on her arrival
here would be sold for five years for her own voyage and additional five
more years for the passage-money of her dead husband or dead children,
although they may have died in the very beginning of the voyage. If
there were no members of the family surviving, the time of the dead was
added to the time of service of the surviving fellow-passengers. The
effects and property of the dead were confiscated and kept by the cap
tain. By this the shipping merchant and the captain of the vessel would
gain by the death of a part of the passengers, for the dead did not require
any more food and provision. It seems that many acted on this prin
ciple. The ships were often so overcrowded that a part of the passengers
had to sleep on deck. Christoph Saur, in his petition to the governor
of Pennsylvania in 1775, asserts that at times there were not more than
twelve inches room for each passenger (I presume he means sleeping
room below deck), and but half sufficient bread and water. Casper
¦\^'ister, of Philadelphia, in 1752, writes, 'Last year a ship was twenty-
four weeks at sea, and of the one hundred and fifty passengers on board
thereof more than one hundred died of hunger and privation, and the
survivors were imprisoned and corapelled to pay the entire passage-money
for themselves and the deceased.' In this year ten ships arrived in
Philadelphia with five thousand passengers. One ship was seventeen
weeks at sea, and about sixty passengers thereof died. Christoph Saur,
in 1758, estimates that two thousand of the passengers on the fifteen
ships which arrived that year died during the voyage. Heinrich Kep-
pele, the first president of the German Society of Pennsylvania, writes in
his diary that of the three hundred and twelve passengers on board of the
ship wherein he crossed the ocean, two hundred and fifty died during
the voyage. In February, 1775, Christoph Saur relates in his news
paper, 'Another ship has arrived. Of the four hundred passengers,
not more than fifty are reported alive. They received their bread every
two weeks. Some ate their portion in four, five, and six days, which
295

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
should have lasted fifteen days. If they received no cooked victuals
in eight days, their bread gave out the sooner, and as they had to wait
until the fifteen days were over, they starved, unless they had money with
which to buy of the mate flour at three pence sterling a pound, and a
bottle of wine fer seven kopstick thalers.' Then he relates how a man
and his wife, who had ate their bread within eight days, crawled to the
captain and begged him to throw them overboard, to relieve them of
their misery, as they could not survive till bread-day. The captain re
fused to do it, and the mate in mockery gave them a bag filled with sand
and coals. The man and his wife died of hunger before the bread-day
arrived. But, notwithstanding, the survivors had to pay for the bread
which the dead ought to have had. Pennsylvania, in 1765, at the insti
gation of the German Society, passed rigorous laws for the protection of
the Redemptioners, but Maryland remained inactive until more than
fifty years later." — Hennighausen.
In Pennsylvania this traffic in white people continued until about
1820-25, when public sentiment compelled it to be discontinued.

CHAPTER XVI.
PIONEER MONEY.
" The subject of a national mint for the United States was first intro
duced by Robert Morris, the patriot and financier of the Revolution. As
head of the finance department, Mr. Morris was instructed by Congress
to prepare a report on the foreign coins then in circulation in the United
States. On the 15th of January, 1782, he laid before Congress an expo
sition of the whole subject. .Iccompanying this report was a plan for
American coinage. But it was mainly through his efforts, in connection
with Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, that a mint was estab
lished in the early history of the LTnion of the States. On the 15th of
.\pril, 1790, Congress instructed the Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander
Hamilton, to prepare and report a proper plan for the establishment ofa
national mint, and ]Mr. Hamilton presented his report at the next session.
.\n act was framed establishing the mint, which finally passed both
houses and received President Washington's approval April 2, 1792.
"A lot of ground was purchased on Seventh Street near Arch, and
appropriations were made for erecting the requisite buildings. An old
StiU- house, which stood on the lot, had first te be removed. In an
account-book of that time we find an entry on the 31st of July, 1792, of
the sale of some old materials of the still-house for seven shillings and
296

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
sixpence, which ' Mr. Rittenhouse directed should be laid out for punch in
laying the foundation-stone.'
" The first building erected in the United States for pubUc use under
the authority of the federal government was a structure for the United
States Mint. This was a plain brick edifice, on the east side of Seventh
Street near Arch, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the corner-stone of which
was laid by David Rittenhouse, director of the mint, on July 31, 1792.
In the following October operations of coining commenced. It was
occupied for about forty years. On the 19th of May, 1829, an act was
passed by Congress locating the United States Mint on its present site.
"The first coinage of the United States was silver half-dimes, in
October, 1792, of which Washington makes mention in his address to
Congress, on November 6, 1792, as foUows : 'There has been a small
beginning in the coinage of half-dimes, the want of small coins in circu
lation calling the first attention to them.' The first metal purchased for
coinage was six pounds of old copper at one shilling and three pence per
pound, which was coined and delivered to the treasurer in 1793. The
first deposit of silver bullion was made on July 18, 1794, by the Bank of
Maryland. It consisted of ' coins of France,' amounting to eighty thou
sand seven hundred and fifteen dollars and seventy-three and a half cents.
The first returns of silver coins to the treasurer was made on October,
15, 1794. The first deposit of gold bullion for coinage was made by
Moses Brown, merchant, of Boston, on February 12, 1795; it was of
gold ingots, worth two thousand two hundred and seventy-six dollars and
seventy-two cents, which was paid for in silver coins.
"The first return of gold coinage was on July 31, 1795, and con
sisted of seven hundred and forty-four half-eagles. The first delivery of
eagles was on September 22, sarae year, and consisted of four hundred
pieces. "Previous to the coinage of silver dollars at the Philadelphia Mint,
in 1794, the following amusing incidents occurred in Congress while the
emblems and devices proposed for the reverse field of that coin were
being discussed.
"A member ofthe House from the South bitterly opposed the choice
of the eagle, on the ground of its being the ' king of birds,' and hence
neither proper nor suitable to represent a nation whose institutions and
interests were wholly inimical to monarchical forms of government.
Judge Thatcher playfully, in reply, suggested that perhaps a goose might
suit the gentleman, as it was a rather humble and republican bird, and
would also be serviceable in other respects, as the goslings would answer
to place upon the dimes. This answer created considerable merriment,
and the irate Southerner, conceiving the humorous rejoinder as an insult,
sent a challenge to the judge, who promptly declined it. The bearer,
rather astonished, asked, ' Will you be branded as a coward ?' ' Cer-
20 297

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
tainly, if he pleases,' replied Thatcher; ' I always was one, and he knew
it, or he would never have risked a challenge.' The affair occasioned
much mirth, and, in due time, former existing cordial relations were
restored between the parties, the irritable Southerner concluding there
was nothing to be gained in fighting with one who fired nothing but
jokes. " Previous to the passage of the law by the federal government for
regulating the coins of the United States, much perplexity arose from the
use of ne less than four different currencies or rates, at which one species
of coin was recoined, in the different parts of the Union. Thus, in
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Ver
mont, Virginia, and Kentucky the dollar was recoined at six shillings ; in
New York and North Carolina at eight shilUngs ; in New Jersey, Penn
sylvania, and Maryland at seven shillings and six pence ; in Georgia and
South Carolina at four shillings and eight pence. The subject had en
gaged the attention of the Congress of the old confederation, and the
present system of the coins is formed upon the principles laid down in
their resolution of 1786, by which the denominations of money of ac
count were required to be dollars (the dollar te be the unit), dimes or
tenths, cents or hundredths, and mills or thousandths of a dollar. Noth
ing can be more simple or convenient than this decimal subdivision. The
terras are proper because they express the proportions which they are in
tended to designate. The dollar was wisely chosen, as it corresponded
with the Spanish coin, with which we had been long farailiar." — G. G.
Evans' s History of the United States Mint.
table of the DENOMINATIONS OF UNITED STATES MONEY.
Standard Weight as established by Law. Dwt, Gr.
\ cent ... ... 3 12
10 raills make i cent ... 7 00
\ dime . o 20j-'iy
10 cents make I dime . I I7tV
i dollar . 4 8
\ dollar .... 8 16
10 dimes make I dollar 17 8
i eagle . . . 2 16^';^
\ eagle . ... 5 9
10 dollars make I eagle ... ... 10 iS
The mills were imaginary and never coined. The old cents were
made of copper, round, and about one inch in diameter and one-sixth of
an inch in thickness. PIONEER BANKS.
The pioneer act of the Legislature of Pennsylvania regulating banks
was passed March 21, 1813, but Governor Snyder vetoed the bill. On
29S

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
the 2istof March, 1814, this bill was "log-rolled" through the Legis
lature and became a law over Governer Snyder's veto. Previous to that
time banks were organized under articles of association.
CURRENCY.
" The best currency of those times was New York bank-notes, and
the poorest those of the Western banks. Pennsylvania bank-notes had
only a small circulation in the county, and held a place in popular esti
mation intermediate between the above. There was a discount on all
these, ranging from one to twenty per cent. It was for the interest of the
private bankers to circulate the notes on which there was the largest
discount, and as a consequence the county was flooded with the bills of
banks the locations of which were hardly known. Every business man
had to keep a 'Bank- Note Detector,' revised and published monthly
or weekly; on hand, and was not sure then that the notes he accepted
would not be pronounced worthless by the next mail. There was hardly
a week without a bank failure, and nearly every man had bills of broken
banks in his possession. To add to the perplexities of the situation,
there were innumerable counterfeits which could with difficulty be dis
tinguished from the genuine. Granting that the bank was good, and
that the discount was properly figured, there was no assurance that the
bill was what it purported to be. All this was a terrible annoyance and
loss to the people, but it was a regular bonanza to the 'shaving-shops.'
Even of the uncertain bank-notes there was not enough to do the busi
ness of the community. Most of the buying and selling was dene on
long credit, and occasionally a manufacturing firm, to ease itself along
and relieve the necessities of the public, would issue a mongrel coin,
which went by the name of ' pewterinctum.' "

CHAPTER XVIL
'•SCOTCH-IRISH"  ORIGIN OF THE TERM UNDER JAMES I.  LORDS AND
LAIRDS  EARLY SETTLERS IN PENNSYLVANIA  THE PIONEER AND EARLY
SETTLERS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY. SCOTCH-IRISH.
The term "Scotch-Irish" is so frequently used, particularly in Penn
sylvania, and is so little understood, even by those who claim such
relationship, that I consider it appropriate in this place to explain its
derivation. In the time of James I. of England the Irish earls of Tyrone
and TyrconneU conspired against his government, fled from Ireland,
were proclaimed outlaws, and their estates, consisting of about five hun-
299

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
dred thousand acres of land, were seized by the crown. The king
divided these lands into small tracts, and gave tracts to persons from
his own country (Scotland), en the sole condition that each individual
securing a tract ef land should cross over into Ireland within four years
and reside upon the land permanently. A second insurrection soon
after gave occasion for another large forfeiture, and nearly six counties in
the province ef Ulster were confiscated and taken possession of by the
officers of the crown. King James was a zealous sectarian, and his
primary object was to root out the native Irish, who were all Catholics,
hostile to his government, and almost continually plotting against it,
and to populate Ireland with those from his own country, Scotland,
whom he knew would be loyal to him.
The distance from Scotland to County Antrim, in Ireland, was but
twenty miles. The lands offered by James free of cost were among
the best and most productive in the Emerald Isle, though they had been
made barren by the strifes of the times and the indolence of a degraded
peasantry. Having the power of the government to encourage and pro
tect them, the inducements offered to the industrious Scotch could not
be resisted. Thousands went over. Many of them, though not lords,
were lairds, or those who held lands direct from the crown, and all were
men of enterprise and energy, and above the average in inteUigence.
They went to work to restore the land to fruitfulness, and to show the
superiority of their habits and belief corapared with those of the natives
among whom they settled. They soon raade to blossom as a rose the
counties of Antrim, Armagh, Caven, Donegal, Down, Fermanagh, Lon
donderry, Monaghan, and Tyrone, — all names familiar to Jeft'erson
County and Pennsylvania settlers.
These were the first Protestants to settle in Ireland, and they at once
secured the ascendency in the counties in which they settled, and their
descendants have maintained that ascendency to the present time against
the efforts of the Church of England on the one hand and the Roman
Catholic Church on the other. These Scots refused to intermarry with
the Irish who surrounded them. The Scotch were Saxon in blood and
Presbyterian in religion, while the Irish were Celtic in blood and Roman
Catholic in religion. These were elements that would not coalesce ;
hence the races are as distinct in Ireland to-day, after a lapse of raore
than two hundred and fifty years, as when the Scotch first crossed over.
The term Scotch-Irish is purely American. It is not used in Ireland ; in
the United States it is given to the Protestant eraigrants from the north
of Ireland, simply because they were descendants of the Scots who had
in former times taken up their residence in Ireland.
But few Scotch-Irish emigrants found their way to the Province of
Pennsylvania prior to 1719. Those that came in that year came from
the north of Ireland. Subsequently the descendants of the Scots in Ire-
300

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
land were bitterly persecuted by the English government ; hence thou
sands of them migrated to and settled in Pennsylvania. In 1729
thousands of Scotch-Irish arrived in Philadelphia from Ireland, as well
as some English, Welsh, and Scotch people, many of whom were sold in
servitude for a term of from three to seven years, for about forty dollars
each, to pay passage-money or for their goods. For a further description
of this form of slavery, see Chapter XV., German Redemptioners.
In September, 1736, one thousand Scotch-Irish families sailed from
Belfast because of an inability to renew their land leases upon satisfactory
terms, and the most of these people settled in the eastern and middle
counties of Pennsylvania. By a change of residence they hoped to find
an unrestrained field for the exercise of industry and skill, and for the
enjoyment of religious opinions. They brought with them a hatred ef
oppression and a love of freedom that served much to give that inde
pendent tone to the sentiments of the people of the province which pre
vailed in their controversies with the English government years before
these Scots entertained a thought ef American political independence.
The Scotch-Irish who settled in the Cumberland Valley of Pennsyl
vania brought its fair lands under cultivation. They fought the savages
and stood as a wall of fire against savage forays eastward. It is said that
between 1771 and 1773 over twenty-five thousand of these Scotch-Irish
were driven from Ireland by the rapacity of Irish lairds or landlords,
and located either in that rich valley or west of the Allegheny Mountains
in Pennsylvania. This was just before the Revolutionary War, and while
the angry controversies that preceded it were taking place between the
colonists and the English government. Hence these Pennsylvanians
were in just the right frame of mind to make them espouse to a man the
side of the patriots. A Tory was unheard of among thera. They were
found as military leaders in all times of danger, and were among the
most prominent law-makers through and after the seven years' struggle
for freedom and human rights. The Scotch-Irish in the United States
have furnished Presidents, United States Senators, Congressmen, judges,
and many others in civil as well as in all stations of life.
The pioneers of Westmoreland, Indiana, and Jefferson Counties were
made up principaUy of these Scotch-Irish or their descendants.* I am
indebted to the " History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania," 1876, for
the data and facts contained in this article.
PIONEER RECORD OF CIVIL LIST.
Roster of State Officers in 1804, at Organization. — Thomas McKean,
Governor ; Thomas McKean Thompson, Secretary ofthe Commonwealth ;
* The Barnetts and others were of this origin. Washington township was settled
alraost exclusively by thera. 301

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
George Duffield, Audi tor- General ; Andrew Ellicott, Secretary of Land-
Office ; Timothy Matlack, Master of RoUs ; John McKissick, Receiver-
General ; Samuel Bryan, Controller-General ; Clement Biddle, Escheator-
General ; Samuel Cochran, Surveyor-General ; Isaac Weaver, State
Treasurer ; Joseph B. McKean, Attorney-General ; Richard Hampton,
Adjutant-General ; Simon Snyder, Speaker of the House of Representa
tives ; Robert Whitehill, Speaker of the Senate ; Edward Shippen, Chief
Justice of Supreme Court. Pennsylvania then had eighteen Congressmen.
Her United States Senators were George Logan and Samuel Maclay.
In 1838 the amended constitution as adopted limited the rights of
any one man to serve in the office of governor to six years out of nine.
Under the first constitution of 1790 the limit of service in this office
was nine years out of twelve.
Up to 1840 the judges were all appointed by the governor with
the advice and consent of the Senate. Supreme Court judges were
appointed for fifteen years, district judges of the Court of Common
Pleas were appointed fer ten years, and the associate judges were
appointed for five years. ^
OFFICIALS OF WESTMORELAND AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.
President judge, 1805, Alexander Addison > 1806, John Young.
OFFICIALS OF INDIAN-\ AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.
Jefferson was attached to Indiana from 1806 until 1830. Hon. John
Young, of Greensburg, was president judge from 1806 until 1830.
Associate fudges appointed and elected. — James Smith, Charles Camp
beU, 1806; Joshua Lewis, 1818; John Taylor, 1828; Andrew Browning,
1829; Samuel Morehead, 1830.
Prothonotary, Clerk, and Register and Recorder. — James McLain,
1806-18; John Taylor, 1818-21.
Prothonotary, Clerk, etc. — James ^NlcCahan, 1821-24; Alexander
Taylor, 1824-2S; WiUiam Banks, 1828-30.
Register and Recorder. — James Speer, 1821-24; Alexander Taylor,
1824-28; Williara Banks, 182S-30. - -•
6'Af«/:— Thos. McCartney, 1806-9; Thos. S'utton, 1S09-12; Robert
Robinson, 1812-15; Thos. ^j|fton, 1815-18; Jaraes EUiott, 1818-21 ;
Henry Kinter, 1821-24; Clements McGara,^i82 4-2 7 ; and James Gor
don, 1827-30. ¦*'¦ _ ,0f^
Treasurer. — James McKnight^ 1811-12; Thos. Sutton, 1813 ; John
Taylor, 1815-16; Willia'm-Lucas, 1817-18; Wiljjam Douglass, 1820-21 ;
Alexander Taylor, 1822-23; WilUam Trimly, 1^4-26; William Lucas,
1827-29 ; and Blaney Adair, 1830.
Commissioners.— W\\\\'A.m. Clark, 1806-7; James Johnson, 1806;
302

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Alexander McLain, 1806; Wm. Clark, 1808; Alexander McLain, 1808;
Wm. Clark, 1809; Rev. John Jamison, 1809; James McKnight, 1810;
Rev. John Jamison, 1810; Robt. Robinson, 1810-11; Joshua Lewis,
1811-12; Rev. John Jamison, 1811; Robt. Robinson, 1812; Joseph
Moorhead, 1812; Francis Boals, 1813-14; Joshua Lewis, 1813 ; Joseph
Moorhead, 1813-14; Francis Boals, 1814-15 ; Alexander McLain, 1814-
16; Garvin Sutton, 1815-17; Thomas Sharp, 1816-18; John Smith,
1817-19 ; Thoraas Laughlin, 1818-19; Joseph Henderson, 1819-21;
Wm. Clark, 1820; John Sraith, 1820; Clements McGara, 1821-22;
Stewart Davis, 1822-24; Wm. Clark, 1822; Clements McGara, 1823;
Alexander Pattison, 1823-24; Ja-mes Gordon, 1824-25.
Clerk to Commissioners. — Jaraes Riddle, 1806; James McKnight,
1807; Daniel Stannard and James M. Biddle, 1808; Daniel Stannard,
1809-10; James McKnight, 1811; James M. Kelley, 1812-13; John
Wilson and James Coulter, 1814; John Wilson and John Taylor, 1815 ;
Garvin Sutton and John Taylor, 18 16; Daniel Stannard and Stewart
Davis, 1817; Stewart Davis, 1818-20; Robert Young, 1822-23;
Ephraim Carpenter, 1824.
In 1824 Jefferson County elected three commissioners independent
of Indiana. The pioneer elections in Jefferson County for President and governor
were as follows :
For President. — 1832, Andrew Jackson, 175; William Wirt, 105.
1836, Martin Van Buren, 244; William H. Harrison, 231. 1840,
Martin Van Buren, 592; WiUiam H. Harrison, 476. 1844, James K.
Polk, 731; Henry Clay, 591.
For Governor. — 1832, Geo. Wolf, 250; Joseph Ritner, 173. 1835,
Geo. Wolf, 356 ; Joseph Ritner, 246 ; Muhlenberg, 3. 1838, David R.
Porter, 591; Joseph Ritner, 421. 1841, David R. Porter, 678; John
Banks, 447. 1844, Francis R. Shunk, 727; Joseph Markle, 617.
Pioneer Congressional Districts and Early Members. — Pioneer district,
Indiana, Westmoreland, and Jefferson: 1816-17, David Marchand ;
1820-24, Rev. Plummer; 1826-28-30, Richard Coulter. Early districts,
Armstrong, Butler, Clearfield, and Jefferson: 1832-34, Sarauel S. Harri
son; 1836-38, William Beatty; 1840, William Jack, first Congressman
from Jefferson County. Clearfield, McKean, Warren, Potter, Erie,
Venango, and Jefferson: 1833, Chas. M. Reed.
Pioneer Senatorial Districts and Senators. — Pioneer district, Indiana,
Westmoreland, and Jefferson: 1815,-John Reed; 1819, Henry Alls-
house. Early districts, Indiana, Cambria, Armstrong, Venango, Warren,
and Jefferson: 1822, Robert Orr, Jr.; 1825, Ebon S. Kelley. Jefferson,
Indiana, Armstrong, Venango, and Warren: 1829, Joseph Fox; 1830,
WiUiam D. Barclay; 1831, Philip Mechling; 1834, Meek Kelley. Jef
ferson, Venango, Warren, McKean, and Tioga: 1838, Samuel Hays.
303

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Elk, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Warren, and Clarion: 1842, William P.
Wilcox. Twenty-eight years and Jefferson no Senator.
Pioneer Legislative Districts and Members. — Pioneer district, Jeffer
son, Indiana, and Armstrong: 1816, Joshua Lewis, James M. Kelley;
181 7, James M. Kelley, Sarauel Houston; 1818, Samuel Houston,
Robert Orr, Jr. ; 1819, Robert Orr, Jr. ; 1820, Robert Orr, Jr., Robert
MitcheU ; 1821, Robert Mitchell, James Taylor ; 1822-23, John Taylor,
Joseph Rankin; 1824, Joseph Rankin, William Lawson; 1825, William
Lawson, Thomas Johnson; 1826, David Lawson, Joseph Rankin; 1827,
Robert MitcheU, Joseph Rankin; 1828, Joseph Rankin, David Lawson.
Early districts, Indiana and Jefferson, with one member: 1829, Robert
Mitchell; 1830-31, Williara Houston; 1832, James M. Stewart; 1833-
34, William Banks; 1835, James Taylor; thirty years connected with
Indiana and Jefferson never conceded a member by Indiana. Jefferson,
Warren, and McKean, with one member: 1836-37, C. B. Curtis; 1838-
39, William P. Wilcox; 1840, James L. Gillis, first member from Jeffer
son; 1841, Lewis B. Dunham, of Jefferson; 1842, Joseph Y. James.
In 1843 another district was formed, and James Dowling, of Jefferson,
was elected in 1844.
"At the election held in 1835 votes were cast on the question of a
convention to amend the constitution ef the State, which resulted in
Jefferson as follows: for a convention, 424; against a convention, 59.
" In 1836 the votes cast for delegate to the convention were as follows :
Thoraas Hastings, 303; O. Hamlin, 284; Benjamin Bartholomew, 127;
and  Powell, 10.
" In 1838 the vote on the amendraent to the constitution stood as fol
lows : for amendment, 593; against amendment, 356.
"At the general election in 1839 the first prothonotary was chosen.
Levi G. Clover received therefor 544 votes, and William Campbell 358
votes. " The first county treasurer chosen by the people was at the election in
the year 1841. Samuel Craig received 357 votes ; Thomas Hastings, 300 ;
David Henry, 230; and Samuel Carey, 219.
" The act of Assembly, passed April 8, 1830, having bestowed full
powers, rights, and privileges upon the citizens of Jefferson, and invest
ing complete authority in the county, as an organized body politic, the
first general election for State and county officers was held on the second
Tuesday of October of that year. The number of townships was then
five, — viz. : Pine Creek, Ridgeway, Perry, Rose, and Young. The officers
voted for and the number of votes received by each candidate are as fol
lows :
"Congress. — Richard Coulter, 162 ; James Pollock, 121.
"Senate. — Philip Mechling, 143; Joseph M. Fox, 41 ; Williara D.
Barclay, 103. 304

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"Assembly. — William Houston, 176 ; Meek Kelley, 108.
Sheriff. — Thomas McKee, 130; Frederick Heterick, 129; William
Bowers, 93.
"Coraner. — John Lucas, 230; John Barnett, 2; Joseph Long, 51;
John Hess, i.
"Commissioner. — Robert Andrews, 90; Jacob Hoover, 83 ; John Lat
timer, 36 ; William Kennedy, 6 ; Isaac Lewis, 59 ; John McClelland, 13.
"Auditor. — John Hess, 138 ; John Welsh, 102 ; John Eason, 20 ; John
BeU, 2 ; Peter Sutton, i." — Atlas.
The county was erected in 1804, but there was no election of any
kind held until Friday, March 20, 1807. Pine Creek township was estab
lished in 1806, and the election district made at Joseph Barnett's. In
1819, Perry was created. This made two election districts, one at Bar
nett's and one at Bell's. Little Sandy was the dividing line. Previous
to 1826 all the settlers on the north of this line had to vote at Port Bar
nett, and all south at John Bell's. AU legal business had to be trans
acted at Indiana until 1830. No voters in the county before 1814 could
vote at a general election. Yet even after 1814 there was no record of
our vote, for Jefferson votes were counted in with Indiana.
PIONEER ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR OFFICE PREVIOUS TO NOMINATING
CONVENTIONS.
"To the free and independent electors of Jefferson County, who
are opposed to petty aristocracies and serving friends out of the public
treasury, I offer myself as a candidate for the office of County Auditor,
and pledge myself, if elected, to pay some regard to the oath of office,
and oppose the settling of any account paid out of the county treasury that
is not strictly legal.
" Elijah Heath."
— Brookville Republican, August 24, 1837.
"to the free and independent electors of JEFFERSON COUNTY.
" To all who are opposed to petty aristocracies, to serving friends and
pensioners out of the public treasury, and, in short, to all who are op
posed to petty monopolies, petty larceny, and to those who sacrifice
honor, truth, and honesty at the shrine of Mammon, or in any manner
worship the golden calf at the hazard of the damnation of their souls, I,
on the suggestion, and at the earnest solicitation of many friends, offer
myself, at the ensuing election, as a candidate for the office of County
Auditor, and I hereby stand pledged, if elected, to pay full and com
plete regard te the oath of off.ce and to oppose settlement of any account
not in good faith strictly honest.
" C. A. Alexander."
— Brookville Republican, August 31, 1837.
305

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
PIONEER ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH NOMINATING CONVENTIONS FOR
COUNTY OFFICERS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Previous and up to the year 1837 everybody who wished announced
and ran for office in the county without a caucus nomination, but in that
year the pioneer effort was made to organize a party system of nominating
candidates, — viz. : " public .meeting.
" In pursuance of a notice in the Brookville Republican the Democratic
citizens ef Jefferson County assembled at the court-house in the borough
of BrookviUe, on Saturday, the 26th of August, instant, to take into
consideration the propriety of electing delegates to meet similar dele
gates at Montmorency from the counties of Warren and McKean, to
put in nomination a suitable person to be supported at the next general
election to represent the district composed of the counties of Warren,
McKean, and Jefferson.
"On motion, Richard .-Yrthurs, Esq., was appointed President, Wil
liam Rodgers, Esq., and Daniel Coder, Vice-Presidents, and Jesse G.
Clark, Secretary.
" The object of the meeting being briefly and ably stated by John J.
Y. Thompson, Esq., the following resolutions were adopted, — viz. :
"Resolved, That Uriah Matson and Thomas Hastings, Esqrs., be ap
pointed delegates of the Democratic party to meet similar delegates from
Warren and McKean Counties, at Montmorency, on the 30th day of
August, inst., to put in nomination a suitable person to be supported at
the general election to represent this district in the next Legislature.
"Resolved, That a notice be published in the Brookville Republican,
requesting the several townships in the county to send delegates to meet
at the court-house on the Wednesday evening of the next September
court, to put in nomination suitable persons to fill the various offices in
said county, to be supported at the next annual election.
"Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the
officers and published in the Brookville Republican.
" R. Arthurs,
President.
William Rodgers,
Daniel Coder,
Vice .Presidents.
Jesse G. Clark,
Secretaty."
PIONEER NOMINATING CONVENTION— ORGANIZATION OF THE SYS
TEM OF CONVENTION NOMINATIONS IN THE COUNTY.
" TOWNSHIP MEETINGS.
"The citizens of the several townships throughout this county are
requested to hold meetings in their several townships, and appoint dele-
306

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
gates to meet in convention, in the court-house, on Wednesday evening,
the 13th of September next (court week), for the purpose of putting in
nomination suitable persons to be supported by the Democratic Anti-
Bank, Anti-Shinplaster party for the several county officers.
"Democrats."
— Brookville Democrat-Republican, .\ugust 31, 1837.
PIONEER ELECTION OF DELEGATES— DEMOCRATIC GENERAL
'COUNTY MEETING.
" Pursuant to a resolution ofthe convention which assembled in War
ren on the 6th of September last, for the purpose of nominating a can
didate to represent the legislative district composed of the counties of
Jefferson, Warren, and McKean in the General Assembly, it is enjoined
on the several counties in the assembly district to appoint two delegates
from each county to meet in convention on future occasions to bring up a
candidate for this district, and that they assemble for said purpose at the
house of Gould Richardson, in Montmorency, Jefferson County, on the
last Wednesday in .August next.
" Agreeable to the foregoing resolve the Democratic citizens of Jeffer
son will meet at the court-house, in the borough of Brookville, on Satur
day, the 26th instant, at five o'clock, to appoint two delegates to confer
with the delegates from other counties in said convention.
" Many Democrats."
— Brookville Republican, August 10, 1837.
PIONEER JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
It appears by the records in the office of the Secretary of the Com
monwealth at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, that the pioneer justices ef the
peace for Jefferson County were appointed in the year 1809, — viz. :
Thomas Lucas, on the i6th of January, a.d. 1809, and John Scott on
the 17th of March, a.d. 1809.
In the books at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, containing the appoint
ments of justices of the peace from the year 1809 until the year 1840,
when the office became elective, the following record of justices of the
peace of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, appears :
FIRST DISTRICT.
Composed of the townships of Perry and Young and that part of Pine
Creek lying south of the State Road leading from Milesburg to Erie,
bounded by the county line and said road :
John Bell, appointed March 8, 181 8.
Thomas Lucas, appointed January 16, 1809.
Charles C. Gaskill, appointed August 15, 1822. Resigned March 12,
1824. 307

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Andrew H. Bowman, appointed February 28, 1826. Resigned.
Elijah Heath, appointed May 16, 1828.
John Hess, Sr., appointed August 20, 1830. Resigned March 7, 1831.
John Winslow, appointed May 20, 1831.
WiUiam Stunkard, appointed October 22, 1831.
James Bell, appointed November 13, 1832.
John Robinson, appointed May 27, 1833.
Alexander McKnight, appointed October 25, 1833.
Martin Shoaf, appointed October 31, 1833.
James M. Steedman, appointed January i, 1834.
William Ferguson, appointed May 27, 1835.
John Robinson, appointed in 1836.
James Corbett, appointed June, 1837, for District No. i, composed
of the townships of Perry, Young, and that part of Pine Creek lying
south of the State Road leading from Milesburg to Erie, bounded by the
county line and said road, including the borough of Brookville.
second DISTRICT.
To include the reraainder of said county lying north of the State
Road leading frora Milesburg to Erie, bounded by the county line and
said State Road, including Ridgeway township :
Joseph McCuUough, appointed December i, 1823.
John Stratton, appointed March, 31, 1837.
Reuben A. Aylesworth, appointed February 18, 1832, and resides in
Ridgeway township. Resigned March 15, 1836.
John Wilson, appointed January 8, 1835.
Stephen Tibbetts, appointed February 14, 1835.
EARLY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE— PIONEER ELECTION, 1840.
Young Township. — William Davis, Lemuel Carey.
Porter Township — John Robinson.
Paradise Township. —
Pine Creek Township. — John J. Y. Thompson, Nathaniel Butler.
Washington Township. — Andrew Sraith, William Reynolds.
Eldred Township. — William McNeil, David Lamb.
Snyder Township. — Milton Johnston, Asaph M. Clarke.
Barnett Township. — Oran Butterfield, John A. Maize.
Ridgeway Township. — James Gallagher, Lyman Wilmarth.
Tionesta Township. — John G. Williamson.
fenks Township. — Cyrus Blood. 1842.
Rose Township. — WiUiam Kelso.
Clover Township. — Darius Carrier.
Porter Township. — Martin H. Shannon. 30S

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Snyder Township. — Isaac Ingalls.
Pine Creek Township. — Samuel Howe. '
fenks Township. — Russell Buffum.
JEFFERSON COUNTY ROSTER.
The various offices in Jefferson County have been filled by the fol
lowing persons, either by election or appointment, since 1824. The
commissioners, treasurer, and auditors, being the first officers of the pro
visional county, we commence with them. The figures at the com
mencement of the line denote the year they were elected or appointed.

Year.

1824 .

1825 .
1826 .
1827 .
1828 .
1829 .
1830
I83I 1832IS33 1834183s 183618371838 1839
1840 IS4I184218431844

Commissioners.
c .\nd. Barnett
< John Lucas .
I J. W. Jenks
. D. Postlethwait

. F. Heterick . .
. Thos. McKee .
. Thos. Lucas
. Elijah Heath
. R. Andrews
. J. Henderson
. C. R. Barclay
. L. G. Clover . .
. Jas. Corbett .
Jas. Winslow
. J. Philliber .
. John Pierce . . .
. Daniel Coder .
. Irwin Robinson .
B. McCreight . .
. Joel Spyker .
J. Gallagher .
. John Drura . . .
. Enoch HaU . '.

I reasurers.

John Matson

Christopher Barr

Andrew Barnett .

J. B. Evans

Wm. A. Sloan
J. M. Stedman
Jas. L. Gillis .
A. McKnight

Daniel Sraith
Wm. Rodgers .
J. G. Clark
Nathaniel Butler
Samuel Craig
J. Henderson.

Auditors.

A. Baldwin.
James Corbett.
T. Robinson.
, J. Brockway.
. Jonathan Coon.
John Christy.
. J. McCuUough.
. John Hess.
Wm. Kelso.
. D. Postlethwait.
. John Welsh.
. Wm. Ferguson.
J. J. Y. Thompson.
. H. Robinson.
. C. Alexander.
. Jesse Smith.
M. Johnston.
James Gray.
. James Perry.
. W. Reynolds.
. John Pifer.
. A. McKinstry.

The first election for treasurer took place in 1841, when Samuel
Craig was elected. Previous to that time they were appointed by the
commissioners for one year, and were eligible to reappointment.
Jonathan Coon died in the spring of 1838, and Samuel Newcomb
was elected in his place at the general election to fill the unexpired term
as auditor. Charles R. Barclay, commissioner, resigned in the spring of 1834.
John Lattimer was appointed until the election, and then Jaraes Winslow
was elected to fill the vacancy one year.
Treasurer McKnight died June 20, 1837, and on the 22d of the same
month Daniel Smith was appointed to fill the vacancy.
309

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Prothonotaries were appointed by the governor until 1839, the amended
constitution making them elective for three years. James Corbett, ap
pointed in 1830; Thomas Hastings in 1832; Thomas Lucas in 1835;
Levi G. Clover, appointed in 1839, and elected in the fall of the same
year; John McCrea, elected in 1842.
Sheriffs. — 1830, Thomas McKee; 1833, William Jack, appointed in
June, in room of McKee, dead ; in the fall of the same year William
Clark was elected; in 1836, Joseph Henderson elected; 1839, John
Smith; 1842, Thompson Barr.
Coroners. — 1830, John Lucas; 1833, J. Christy; 1836, Joseph Sharp;
1838, John Earheart; 1839, John Lucas; 1842, Henry Frease. The office
of coroner has been considered of such small importance that but few
persons lift their comraissions.
President fudges. — 1830, Thomas Burnside appointed; resigned in
1835, and Nathaniel B. Eldred appointed; Eldred resigned in 1839, and
Alexander McCalmont appointed, whose term expired in 1849.1
Associate fudges. — In 1830, John W. Jenks and Elijah Heath were
appointed; Heath resigned in 1835, and William Jack was appointed;
Jack resigned in 1837, and Andrew Barnett was appointed. In 1841
James Winslow was appointed in room of John W . Jenks, whose term of
office expired under the amended constitution. In February, 1843,
Andrew Barnett's time expired, and James L. Gillis was appointed, but
in consequence of the erection of Elk County, Gillis resigned in Novem
ber of the same year, and Levi G. Clover was appointed.
commissioners' clerks.
1824-26, Ira White; 1828, James Diven; 1S29, William Morrison;
1830-31, William M. Kennedy; 1832, Benjamin Bartholomew; 1S33,
Jesse Sraith; 1834-35, John Beck; 1836, John Wilson; 1838-39, Jesse
G. Clark; 1840-41, William Rodgers; 1842-43, Hugh Brady.
PIONEER APPEALS.
" NOTICE.
"The taxable inhabitants of Jefferson County will take notice that
the commissioners will hold the appeals for said county as follows, — viz. :
" On Tuesday, the 17th day of February next, at James Caldwell's
in Punxsutawny for Young township.
"On Wednesday, the i8th February next, at Sprankle's Mill for
Perry township.
" On Thursday, the T9th day of February next, at Andrew Barnett's
for Pine Creek township.
" On Friday, the 20th day of February next, at the commissioners'
office in Brookville for Rose township.
" On Tuesday, the 24th day of February next, at James Gallagher's for
Ridgeway township. 310

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" On Tuesday, the 24th day of February next, at WilUam Armstrong's
for Barnett township.
" By order of the commissioners. " John Beck, Clerk.
"Commissioners' Office, Brookville, Feb. 12, 1835.

CHAPTER XVIIL
FROM 1830 TO 1840.
I COPY from a book published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1832,
the following :
" Jefferson County was provisionally erected by an act of 26th March,
1804, and is bounded north by McKean and Warren, east by McKean
and Clearfield, south by Indiana, and west by Armstrong and Venango
Counties. Greatest length 46 miles, mean breadth 26 ; area, 1200 square
miles. Central lat. 41° 15' N., long. 2° W. from W. C.
" Like the rest of Northwestern Pennsylvania, the county is hilly, and
iron and coal are in abundance ; the latter is in every part of the county.
The soil in the valleys is in many places highly fertile, but the great body
of the county cannot be rated above second quality. It is abundantly
watered, having on the south Mahoning Creek ; on the west Little
Sandy Lick Creek and Big Sandy Lick Creek, whose branches stretch
across the county. Clarion River, or Toby's Creek, with its many and
large ramifications, intersects the northern half of the county in every
direction. "The State Road from Kittanning to Hamilton, in the State of New
York, runs diagonally across the county from southwest to northeast, and
the turnpike road from Phillipsburg to Franklin traverses it from south
east to northwest, passing through the town of Brookville ; and a company
has lately been incorporated for making a turnpike road from Ridgeway,
through Warren County, to the State line in New York, in the direction
of Jamestown. "There are three small villages in the county, including the seat of
justice, — viz. : Brookville, Punxsutawney, and Ridgeway. At the first,
which was commenced in August, 1830, there are about 40 dwellings, 4
taverns, and 4 stores; at Punxsutawney 10 or 15 dwellings, 2 taverns,
and I store ; and at Ridgeway some half-dozen dwellings, etc. Port
Barnett, Centre, Cooper, and Jefferson are marked on the map as towns.
There is a tavern at the first. The others are mere names.
" There are two or three grist-mills only, but more than four times as
many saw-mills, and the export of the county is lumber solely, unless
venison hams be included. Two million of feet of white pine boards,
3"

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
etc., were cut in 1830 and rafted down the Big ^Mahoning, Red Bank,
or Sandy Lick Creek, and Clarion River, to the Allegheny River, and
thence to Pittsburg and other towns on the Ohio.
"The population is composed of Germans, some EngUsh, and some
settlers from New York, and consisted, by the census of 1830, of 2025.
That there is room for great increase is obvious, when we observe that
this population might be comfortably supported on 2000 acres, whilst
766,000 acres are unsettled. There are several sects of Christians in
these wilds, chiefly Presbyterians, Seceders, and Methodists. But there
is not a church in the county.*
"Venango, Warren, Armstrong, Indiana, and Jefferson form the
twenty-fourth senatorial district of the State, sending one member to the
Senate. Indiana and Jefferson, united, send one member to the House
of Representatives. Jefferson belongs to the fourth judicial district, and
to the western district of the Suprerae Court, and, connected with West
moreland and Indiana, constitutes the seventeenth Congressional district.
"This county paid into the State treasury in 1831 for —
"Tax en writs, S35 ; for tavern licenses, $33.44; fer duties on
dealers in foreign merchandise, 531.69; total, $100.13. Value of tax
able property in 1829, real estate, $509,801 ; of personal estate, $14,777 J
rate of levy, 7j4 mills on the dollar.
" LTnimproved lands are offered for sale in this county at from 150 to'
200 cents per acre."
" ST.\TISTICAL TABLE OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, 1832.

Townships.

j Greatest

Area in Acres.

Population.

Ta.iables.

Length.

Breadth.

1820.

1830.

Perry

I I

9

49,280

205

j 2025 in

86

Pine Creek

IS

12

85,760

30

1 the whole

49

Rose

39

12

28g,520

county.
"5
Ridgeway
23
17
262,040
26
Young .
9
9
51,840
1
70
" The population has not been classed by townships in 1830.
'JEFFERSON COUNTY, 1832.
Brockwayville . .
BrookvilleMontmorencyPunxsutawney Ridgeway . . . .
-Gordon's Gazetteer, 1832.
Miles from
Washington. 226
238
Names of Postmasters
Alonzo Brockway
Jared B. Evans .
James L. Gillis  242
John W. Jenks  216
Reuben A. Aylesworth . 236
Miles from
Harrisburg. 154
165 171160
165."
* There was one abandoned log church building in the county near Roseville, -
viz. : Rehoboth. — McKnight. 312
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
OFFICIAL ELECTION RETURNS FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY, 1837.
Borough. Rose. j?'^°^ Young. Perry Snyder. Eldred. ^'"^Se- Burnett.
ASSEMBLY.
Carleton B. Curtis . 22 27 13 2 4 8 15 15 26

William Clawson

52

64

47

115

84

9

9

COMMISSIONER.

John Pierce . .
32
28
28
12
9
7
12
Christopher Barr .
20
34
IS
4
28
I
6
David Henry .
13
5
48
7
I
3
William Kelso . .
6
50
I
16
2
John Smith
2
4
53
12
12
I
Robert K. Scott
6
5
I
2
James P. Stewart .
7
I
22
3
AUDITOR.
Daniel Coder
24
33
6
10
16
9
5
C. A. .\lexander
43
6
42
93
69
6
14
Elijah Heath .
13
iS
14
15
2
8
I
Joseph Magififin
6
43
I
7
5
1S3:
7— APPOINTED BY
THE
COMIV
nssio:
NER
14
I
14 2
3 II
s
69
II
"Alexander McKnight, Esq., to be treasurer of Jefferson County for
the current year of 1837 from the ist instant.
"(Note. — We are gratified te be able to announce the reappoint
ment of Esquire McKnight. He has filled the office with honor to him
self and credit to the county.)" — Brookville Republican, January 12,
1837. "DIED.
"In this borough, on Thursday last, of pulmonary consumption,
.Alexander [NIcKnight, Esquire, treasurer of Jefferson County, aged
twenty-seven years and six days, leaving a disconsolate widow and three
helpless children to deplore his untimely exit.
"In the death of Esquire ]\IcKnight it may truly be said that this
county and community at large have sustained an irreparable loss. His
deportment through life was frank, open, and circumspect. Honesty
was one of his most ennobling characteristics. Esteemed by those with
whom he had intercourse in life, his decease was equally lamented. In
a word, he was a faithful officer, the honest man, and the good citizen.
Peace to his memory. — Brookville Democrat-Republican, June 22, 1837.
Pioneer book- and medicine-store advertised in the Brookville Repub
lican, August 31, 1837 :
"'Books and Medicines'
"just received and for sale at this office."
^ ^ ^ :{; ^.^ :{: ^ :.c ?{i
=1 313
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
A RAILROAD COLLISION OF 1837.
" fatal railroad accident. " Steamboat ' Columbus,'
"August 12, 1837.
"The most serious accident has occurred in Eastern Virginia since
my recollection happened on the Portsmouth and Roanoke Railroad, one
and a half miles from Suffolk, yesterday, between nine and ten o'clock.
A company, consisting of about one hundred and fifty ladies and gentle
men, from the counties of the Isle of Wight, Nansemond, and Southamp
ton, carae down on the railroad on Thursday, the loth inst., with the
view of visiting Portsraouth, Norfolk, Fortress Monroe, and returning the
next day. On their return, at the time and place above mentioned, they
met a locomotive and train ef burden-cars, and, horrible to relate, the
two ran together while going at the rate of ten or twelve miles an hour."
— Brookville Republican, August 31, 1837.
NOTICE.
"list of retailers.
"In pursuance of an act of Assembly, approved the 7th day of April,
1830, requiring the county treasurer to publish a list of the retailers of
foreign merchandise, designating those who have and those who have not
paid for license on or before the ist day of June, I publish the following
list, certified by the associate judges and commissioners on the 14th day
of February, 1837 :
Retailers. Class. Paid.
WiUiam Campbell . 7 Not.
Charles R. Barclay 8 "
James McKennon & Co. ... . y , u
James Robinson . . 8 "
Evans 6k Clover . 6 "
Jared B. Evans . . 7 "
Heath, Dunham & Co. . 6 "
Enos Gillis . 8
Hughes & Dickenson . 8 "
"All retailing foreign merchandise in Jefferson County and not enu
merated in the above list are requested, under penalty of law, to take out
license. " The eighth section of the above act requires the treasurer to bring
suits in June against all delinquent retailers of foreign merchandise.
" It is hoped that those interested will prevent legal action by calling
in due time for the license. Those who neglect may rest assured the
requisitions of the law will be strictly complied with. All persons having
314

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
obtained liberty to keep public houses are requested to call and take their
license. Those who neglect will be returned to court as the law directs.
"A. McKnight,
" Treasurer.
"Treasurer's Office, Brookville, May 15, 1837."
Table of taxable inhabitants of Jefferson County, together with the
seated and unseated township taxes, for the year 1837 :

Township.

Inhabitants.

Seated Tax.

Unseated Tax.

Ridgeway . . .

40

S42.32

$38.27

Barnett

76

74-34

74-34

Eldred .

37

39-14

36.43

Perry 

209

221.12

205.80

Pine Creek .

103

10S.97

101.38

Rose .

252

264.50

248.14

Snyder . .

41

43-38

40.37

Young . .

146

154.46

143-47

able of township assessors

for the year

1837:

Rose township . .

Samuel Lucas.

Perry township . .

Thoraas Gourley.

Ridgeway township

. . Lyman
. Wilmarth.
Eldred township
John Wilson.
Tionesta to-\vnship . . .
David Mead.
Barnett township
James
Aharrah.
Jenks township .
Cyrus '.
Blood.
Pine Creek township .
. Joseph
Carr.
Washington township . . .
. . Henry
Keys.
Snyder township . .
. Joseph
McAfee.
Young township .
John G
rrube.
"ONE CENT REW.\RD.
" Ran away from the subscriber on the 5th inst. an indentured ap
prentice to the tailoring business, named Michael Stine, of German de
scent. His clothing consisted of a straw hat, flannel roundabout, black
cloth pantaloons, and coarse shoes. Any person returning said runaway
shall receive the above reward, but neither thanks nor charges.
" Benjamin McCreight.
" Brookville, March 7, 1837."
PAMPHLET LAWS.
" Persons wishing to subscribe for the pamphlet laws of the present
session will do well to apply soon.
"A. McKnight,
" Treasurer.
"Treasurer's Office, Brookville, December 22, 1836."
315
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
The laws were bound in "board" and sold at fifty cents, and were
then published in English and German editions.
"JACKSON DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN CELEBRATION.
"Pursuant to previous arrangements, the citizens commemorated the
4th day of July by appointing
"Colonel Wm. Jack, president ef the day.
"Hon. E. Heath, vice-president.
"C. G. M. Prime, orator.
" L. B. Dunham, reader of the Declaration ef Independence.
"J. J. Y. Thompson, reader of toasts.
" Colonel John Smith, marshal of the day.
"regular toasts.
" I. The day we celebrate.
"2. President and Vice-President of the United States.
" 3. General George Washington. His virtue and patriotism will
long remain in the minds of the .\merican people. May laurels thicken
around his grave.
" 4. The heroes of the Revolution, who fought our battles and in the
dark days of our adversity wrought out our political salvation ; men whose
disinterested achievements are not transcended in all the annals of
chivalry, and who for us confronted horrors not surpassed in all the
history of the martyrs. They are entitled to the gratitude and liberality
of American people.
"5. Governor Wolf, our venerable chief magistrate, a consistent
Democrat and faithful servant of the people, his administration insures
him the suffrages and gratitude of his constituents.
" 6. General Lafayette, the benefactor of the eld and the liberator
of the new world. His generous virtue and patriotic principles, more
powerful than the armed hosts of nations, swayed empires and controlled
the destinies of the earth. Alas ! death has summoned his choice spirit
horae to that celestial bower, where he sits in the highest niche in that
bright constellation of patriots. His raemory is indelibly engraven on
the hearts of all freemen. The hero, philanthropist, and champion of
liberty. "7. The Constitution of the United States. The highest evidence
of learning, genius, profound wisdom, and devout patriotism ; our
nation's most redoubtable fortress defends the invasions of aspiring
demagogues or intriguing political jugglers. The first who dare attack
it, may he perish beneath its ramparts.
" 8. The United States Bank. Old Nick's kingdom. Satan and his
angels are roving to and fro, from the east to the west, seeking whom
316

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFE-RSON COUNTY, PENNA.
they may devour; but, fortunate for America's people, the meridian is
fast approximating, when Satan shall be bound and his kingdom washed
away. " 9. United States Senate. An ambitious and turbulent cabal ; they
present to the people of the United States a perfect picture of what man
is when deprived of the divine faculty ef reason.
"10. Agriculture and commerce. The bone and sinew of our re
pubhc; our stronghold in war, our wealth in peace; twin stars that will
Ught us into prosperity and glory.
"11. Arts and manufactures. To encourage and foster them is
placing a dome over our national fabric, and finishing the stately edifice
with the touch of a masterly hand.
"12. Thomas Jefferson, the iUustrious author of the Declaration of
Independence, the able supporter and advocate of the Federal Constitu
tion, the champion of civil and religious liberty.
" 13. The American fair. Last in our toasts, first in our hearts, and
last to be forgotten. " ' The fair, how fairer can they be ?
From all corruptions and faults are free.
Their hearts all beat for sacred liberty.
For union to a man, and so are we.'
"volunteer toasts.
"By the president ofthe day, Colonel Wm. Jack. Samuel McKean.
Unworthy the situation he holds, the next Legislature will request his
retiring to his original obscurity.
" By the vice-president of the day, Hen. Elijah Heath. The judiciary
of Pennsylvania. May they always keep themselves untrammelled from
politics. " By the orator of the day, C. G. M. Prime. Andrew Jackson. Like
Moses, he has rescued us by the rod of his miracles ; but unlike .-Yaron,
with that rod he smote the Golden Calf.
" By C. J. Dunham. Anti-Masons. Although the noisy advocates
of 'law and order,' they are usually the first to outrage the one and mar
the harmony of the other.
"By John Dougherty. The hero of New Orleans. The undaunted
chieftain, ever ready to drop the gauntlet to the foes of freedom. The
liberal sons of Neptune in Charleston have rigged him with a constitu
tional shillalah from the timber of old Ironsides. May it defend the
deposits from the grasp of King Biddle, as it did Uberty from the chains
of King George.
"By J. J. Y. Thompson. Hon. Samuel McKean. The fawning
sycophant of Clay, Webster and Co., against whom no prudence can
317

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
guard, no courage defend. The insidious smile upon his cheek should
warn his constituents of the canker in his heart.
" By Robert Larrimore. Anti-Masonry. A rotten ladder for down
hill politicians to climb to power.
" By Jesse Clark. General Lafayette. He sat by the cradle of our
independence, and never in a long and eventful life was he for a moment
unfaithful to the principles of our independence, to the maintenance of
which his youth and manhood were devoted. Americans will hold him
in grateful remembrance while the earth bears a plant or the sea rolls a
wave. " By Richard Arthurs. May Congress lay by their political weapons
of rebellion and unite in protecting the Union.
" By John Gallagher. The President of the United States. In spite
of nuUifiers and blue lights, he wiU ride eut the storm in safety, the
vestal fire of liberty, whose light illuminates the path of the patriot to
the temple of freedom, may its genial rays not be shed in vain o'er the
green fields of America.
"By L. B. Dunham. Henry Clay, the great grand high priest of
envy, malice, and all uncharitableness. His efforts to sacrifice our be
loved President at the altar of his horrid deity, the United States Bank,
will only sink him deeper in the bog.
" By John B. Butler. Martin Van Buren. May the laurels he has
won so nobly in defending the principles of Andrew Jackson and hurling
political Anti-Masonry to the regions of darkness eventually elevate him
to the Presidential chair.
" By Colonel John Saiith. John Quincy Adams. A great pelitcal
sinner. " By Wra. Clark, Esq. Martin Van Buren. The next candidate for
the Presidential chair. .A.11 opposition te him will be in vain. His
eneraies will vanish away like snow in the grasp of a heated hand.
"By John Earheart. To the afflicted. Down-hill politicians are
hereby informed that there is yet room for them in the Anti-Masonic
ranks. "By John Beck. Hon. WiUiam Wilkins, our talented Senator in
Congress. His able and zealous support of our venerable President and
the acts of his administration, particularly in reference to the British
bank, merits and will receive the approbation of all true Pennsylvanians.
"By George R. Barrett. The Deraocratic party of Jefferson County.
God speed its progress !
"By C. Blood. The citizens of BrookviUe. May peace, prosperity,
and independence ever attend thera for their disinterested attention and
hospitality to strangers.
"By C. J. Dunham. The orator of the day. Mighty in the cause
of truth. 31S

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" By Daniel Smith. The fair sex.
" ' Auld nature smiles, his lovely dears
Her noblest work she classes, O.
Her 'prentice han' she tried on man,
And then she made the lasses, O.'
"By L. B. Dunham. The fair sex. The patent work of God's
invention. " By Richard .\rthurs. He that tramples upon the rights and speaks
disdainful of the fair sex, may all good society treat him with unUmited
contempt. " By a guest. PoUtical blacklegs : Senator Clay, two buUets and a
bragger. Hard case ! Senator Forsyth, two bullets and a bragger, and
the eldest hand. Do you give it up? Tune, Sweep-Stakes.
" By a guest. The liberty pole. May we see it rising in strength as
long as Democracy shall dwell in the breasts of man, and those who
would attempt to put it down be treated as tyrants trampling upon the
liberties of their country.
" By the company. The officers of the day. The dignity with
which they presided and the faithful discharge of their duty is calculated
to raise them in the estimation of their fellow-citizens.
" By the company. Our worthy host and hostess : for our excellent
entertainment receive our warmest thanks."
"FOURTH OF JULY.
"JACKSON CELEBRATION.
"The citizens of Brookville and vicinity friendly to a National
and State administration celebrated the fifty-eighth anniversary of
American independence in a manner creditable to themselves and to the
party to which they have the honor to belong. The evening immediately
preceding the Fourth of July preparations were raade to raise a liberty
pole, which had been previously drawn to the place for that purpose (a
hickory-tree about one hundred feet in length). Our opponents boasted
through the streets that our force was too weak, and that we would not
find ten Jackson men in our town to aid in planting our pole. But
when we made an attempt to rally our force, we soon found forty stern
Democrats surrounding the tree, and some of them willingly yielded their
services to guard it until morning, for fear of an attack by the enemy.
" Our cannon was prepared ; but some person, having no other way
of giving vent to a confined genius er displaying their cunning, stole it
from the place where it had been left. AVe wish it to be understood that
we do not, neither do we believe it to be the opinion of one of the
319

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
party, that any of the respectable citizens would be guilty of so mean
and contemptible an act ; none would condescend to such insignificance.
We believe the act te be done by some wag, hawbuck, or scullion pos
sessing more impudence than brains, willing to be called the ready tool
of every sycophant who would put themselves on a level with him.
" The morning of the Fourth every preparation was made, and at one
o'clock a large and respectable company of ladies and gentlemen as
sembled at the court-house at the ringing of the bell, where the Declara
tion of Independence was read by L. B. Dunham, Esq., and an excellent
address delivered by C. G. M. Prime, Esq., well adapted to the occasion.
' ' .\fter which the company repaired in perfect order to the Franklin
House, and partook of an excellent dinner, and we are much pleased to
state that the ladies to a considerable number — we know not exactly how
many — honored us with their presence, and, to the great gratification of
the guests and credit of our village, participated in the festival, joined us
in a glass of wine, etc., after which they were accompanied to their
respective homes. We must say to the credit of our village that we doubt
indeed whether we have a precedent in any of the country towns in the
western part of Pennsylvania. The ladies were dressed rich and ele
gant, — in the line of procession from the court-house as well as at the
dinner-table, presented a most raagnificent appearance. We wish our
readers to rem.ember, when we speak of the manner in which the birthday
of -American Independence was celebrated by the citizens ef Brookville,
that four years ago the place where this town now stands was an entire
wilderness ; where stately edifices are now erected four years ago was the
abode of beasts of the forest ; the ground where the liberty pole now
stands was then probably occupied by a howling wolf or panther. Little
did any who then viewed the site where our flourishing village is situated
expect four years hence to see the tall pines and scrubby oaks removed,
and in their stead stately dwellings reared ; little did they expect at this
time to see a court-house not surpassed in the western country where then
the prospective eye could only view a doleful-looking forest. However,
we will not at this time leave the subject which we have commenced to
portray, the grandeur of our village and its rapid progress.
"After the ladies had retired the cloth was removed, and the table
covered with the choicest and best selection of liquors ; the corapany re
assembled and drank their toasts with loud cheers. Every member of
the celebration displayed great zeal in defending the administration of
General Andrew Jackson. .-Vfter the toasts which had been coraraitted to
paper were passed, a proposition was raade that each member should give
a sentiment extemporaneously, which was complied with by several gen
tlemen present, some of which we will cite : ' Hon. John McLean, of
Ohio, the Devil on two sticks ;' second, ' General Andrew Jackson : may
the sons of America appreciate his worth, and never suffer the indepen-
320

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
dence which he aided in achieving to be trampled by the foes of x\merican
freedom.' Received with cheers and shouts of applause. Thecompany
were blessed while together with the prevalence of an unanimity of sen
timent and identity of feeling ; they joined, as we predicted, like a band
of brothers cemented together by the fond endearing ties of Jacksonism,
and celebrated the day without a single occurrence calculated to disturb
their peace or mar their harmony. They separated in the evening in
perfect order." — The feffersonian, Brookville, Pennsylvania, Thursday,
July 10, 1834. George R. Barrett, editor. Mr. Barrett afterwards be
came the distinguished Judge Barrett.
A CALL FOR AND A REPORT OF THE DOINGS, AND AN EDITORIAL
NOTICE OF AN OLD-TIME POLITICAL FOURTH OF JULY CELE
BRATION. "JACKSON DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN MEETING.
" A large and respectable meeting of the Democratic Republican cit
izens of Brookville and vicinity, friendly to the national and State ad
ministration, convened at the house of WiUiam Clark, Esq., on Monday,
the 23d inst., for the purpose of making arrangements preparatory to
celebrating the approaching anniversary of our National independence.
"On motion, Colonel WiUiam Jack was called to the chair, and J. J.
Y. Thompson appointed secretary.
" Whereupon the following persons were chosen a committee of
arrangements : C. G. M. Prime, J. J. Y. Thompson, A. McKnight, J.
Beck, and William Rodgers, Esqrs. On motion,
"Resolved, That C. G. M. Prime, C. J. Dunham, G. R. Barrett, be a
committee to draft regular toasts suitable to the occasion."
" FOURTH of JULY.
"We, the undersigned, a committee appointed to make arrangements
for celebrating the anniversary of American independence, beg leave to
inform their constituents and the public that in pursuance of the duties
incumbent upon them they have made necessary arrangements for the
entertainments of that day. A dinner will be prepared at the Frank
lin House by Mr. Clark, and an appropriate address delivered in the
court-house at the hour of twelve o'clock. "William Rodgers,
C. G. M. Prime,
J. J. Y. Thompson,
J. Beck,
Alexander McKnight.
" Brookville, June 25, 1834."
— The feffersonian. 321

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
IMPROVEMENT MEETING— RESIGNATION OF JUDGE BURNSIDE.
" At a meeting of the citizens of Jefferson County, on Thursday after
noon of court week, the following proceedings were adopted :
" On motion, James Clover was called to the chair, and R. A. Ayles
worth appointed secretary.
" On motion,
" Resolved, That the following persons compose a committee to draft
resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting, te be reported at an ad
journed meeting to be held in the court-house this evening at early can-
dle-Ught,— viz. : William Jack, Thomas Hastings, G. R. Barrett, A.
McKnight, and R. A. Aylesworth.
"Resolved, That James M. Stedman, James Clover, and John Galla
gher be a committee to wait on the Hon. Thomas Burnside and General
WilUam R. Smith, and solicit thera to address the meeting this evening.
" Resolved, That the meeting adjourn te meet this evening at early
candle-light. "adjourned meeting.
"At an adjourned meeting of the citizens of Jefferson County, held
at the court-house on Thursday evening of the February court, the fol
lowing proceedings were had :
" On motion, the Hon. Elijah Heath was called to the chair.
" Thomas Lucas and James H. Bell, Esqs., vice-presidents.
" Jaraes M. Steedman and John Beck, Esqrs., secretaries.
" When Judge Burnside opened the meeting by reading the part of
the bill relative to extending the Pennsylvania Canal to the mouth of
French Creek, by raeans of canal or railway, and, to the gratification of
all present, delivered a very elaborate and appropriate address.
" He was succeeded by General William R. Smith, who addressed the
meeting with great earnestness in a brief but pithy address, after which
the committee reported the following resolutions :
" Resolved, That we view with deep interest the importance of extend
ing the West Branch Canal, or slack-water navigation, to the mouth of
Anderson's Creek, in Clearfield County, and from thence a water navi
gation, by raeans of canal or slack-water, along the Sinnamahoning and
Clarion Rivers, or railway through Jefferson and Armstrong Counties to
connect the French Creek division of the Pennsylvania Canal.
" Resolved, That Jefferson County is large in territory and embraces
a body of land with soil unsurpassed in Pennsylvania, covered with tim
ber of the first order, with large bodies of stone-coal, salt-wells, and iron
ore in abundance, and, in fact, everything calculated to advance the
interest and further the improvement of our county.
322

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
' ' Resolved, That we highly approve of the measures of the canal
commissioners for the improvement of this our important section of
the county.
" Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting the facilities which
will be afforded by the contemplated connection of the eastern and
western waters are too vitally important te be looked over. The trade
passing east and west by way of this communication will surpass the most
sanguine expectations of the people.
" Resolved, That if the present contemplated connection is carried
into effect it will ere long form the most prominent part of our im
provement. " A motion was then made that the meeting adjourn, and the people
invited to keep their seats to hear the foUowing resolution, which was
unanimously adopted by the meeting with loud cheers of applause, every
one responding to the sentiment :
"Resolved, That we appreciate the talents, stability, character, and
public worth of the Hon. Thomas Burnside, and that the citizens of this
county and members of the bar sincerely regret his departure as presi
dent judge of this district ; that the highest testimonial of respect we are
able to pay hira is the assurance that he carries with him our best wishes
for his future happiness, and we will ever cherish a grateful remembrance
of our former acquaintance." burnside' s response.
"Gentlemen, — I have this day received the flattering resolution
passed unanimously by the meeting over which you presided last evening
at the court-house.
" I want words to express my thanks and my feelings for this mark
of respect from the people and the bar of Jefferson County.
"It is grateful to ray heart to have their confidence both in ray public
and private capacity.
" I bear testimony to the kindness of the people, their regard for the
law, and their promptness on all occasions to maintain it. It is due to
the bar to declare my entire approbation of their correct and gentle
manly deportment, and I part with them all with feelings of kindness
and respect. I shall always reraeraber them with the deepest sense of
gratitude. "Accept, gentlemen, my most grateful respects, and permit me to
tender through you to the people of Jefferson County and the bar my
unfeigned thanks for the kind and flattering sentiments conveyed in their
resolution. " Thomas Burnside.
"Directed to the officers of the meeting."
— The feffersonian, February 19, 1835. 323

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
SHOOTING-STARS IN 1833— A SHOWER OF FIRE— NATURAL
PI-IENOMENON.
" The heavens declare thy glory, O Lord."
On Wednesday, Noveraber 13, 1833, about 5 o'clock a.m., the
heavens presented a spectacle in this wilderness as has seldora been seen
in the world. Te those who saw it in this county it struck terror to their
hearts, and raany ran away from home to their neighbors, declaring that
the "day of judgment had arrived." The duration of the display was
about an hour. One account says, —
" Yesterday raorning, between the hours of five and six o'clock, the
heavens presented a very unusual and brilliant display of shooting me
teors, a more full account of which, I hope, will be furnished by those
better versed in astography than the writer of this.
" At one period probably more than one hundred, of various sizes
and brightness, appeared shooting forth from zenith to the horizon, illumi
nating not only the azure vault, already bright and clear with the vast num
ber of stars with which it was studded, but actuaUy lighting up our very
chambers, as if to allure the slothful to a scene very rarely to be wit
nessed. They were attended with no noise, at least distinguishable to us,
but were remarkable for their number, their startling velocity, and bright
ness with which they seeraed to dart athwart the sky, and the brilliant
track they left behind.
"The phenomenon continued until the approach of the sun, when
the light of the meteors was lost in the near effulgence of his blaze.
"In a book recently published, called 'The Geography of the
Heavens, with a Celestial Atlas,' by E. H. Barritt, A.M., pages 104-
195 J-^, an account is given of a scene similar to the above.
" ' Mr. Andrew Ellicott, who was sent eut as our commissioner to fix
the boundary between the Spanish possessions in North .America and the
LTnited States, witnessed a very extraordinary flight of shooting-stars,
which filled the whole atmosphere from Cape Florida to the West India
Islands. This grand phenomenon took place the 12th of November,
1799, and is thus described: "I was called up," says Mr. Ellicott,
" about three o'clock in the morning te see the shooting-stars, as they are
called. The whole heavens appeared as if illuminated with sky-rockets,
which disappeared only by the light of the sun after daybreak. The
meteors, which at any one instant of time appeared as nuraerous as the
stars, flew in all possible directions, except from the earth, towards which
they all inclined more or less, and some of them descended perpendicu
larly over the vessel we were in, so that I was in constant expectation of
their falling upon us." '
"The notion that this phenomenon betokens high winds is of great
antiquity. Virgil, in the first book of ' Georgica,' expresses the same idea:
324

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" ' And oft, before temptations winds arise.
The seeming stars fall headlong from the skies,
.\nd shooting through the darkness, gild the night
With sleeping glories and long tails of light.' "
— Tlie Jejfersonian.
THE PIONEER TEMPERANCE WORK IN JEFFERSON COUNTY— THE
PIONEER TEMPERANCE WORKERS— ORGANIZATION OF TPIE JEF
FERSON COUNTY TEMPERANCE SOCIETY, AN AUXILIARY TO.
THE PENNSYLYANIA ST.-VTE TEMPERANCE SOCIETY— WASHING-
TONIANS.
In what year this society was forraed and by whom is unknown. I
find the following call in The feffersonian, Thursday, April 3, 1834:

"temperance meeting.
".A meeting of the Jefferson County Temperance Society will be
held in the court-house on Monday evening, the 7th day of April next.
An address will be delivered by Mr. John Wilson. The ladies and
gentlemen are invited to attend. "J. J. Y. Thompson, " Secretaiy."
A temperance society was formed in BrookviUe by a small number,
principally young men, on the evening of the 23d of September, 1836.
At this meeting there were only ten names signed to the pledge. The
following officers were duly chosen, — viz. : President, Andrew C. Hall;
Vice-Presidents, Samuel Craig, WiUiam A. Sloan ; Recording Secretary,
James M. Craig ; Corresponding Secretary, James JNIcCrackin ; Treasurer,
James Park ; Managers, Thomas McGinty, Thomas M. Barr, John Shrenk.
The pledge was at first " only to abstain from ardent spirits ;" but on
the 2d of January, 1837, after several meetings held in the school-house,
it was changed "to that of total abstinence." The secretaries, in a re
port to the society, on the evening of March 6, 1836, say since the organ
ization of the society seven meetings have been held, at which the names
oi forty -one persons, at different times, have been added.
" The secretaries feel that they, in comraon with all other members of
this society, owe a tribute to the ladies of Brookville and vicinity, no less
than nineteen of whora have nobly come out and attached their names
to the pledge." Rev. Hallock, Rev. Barris, Thomas Lucas, and other
speakers addressed the monthly meetings.
This society was the only one organized body in the temperance work
in the county until 1842, when the Washingtonians organized their socie
ties. Colonel Hugh Brady, S. B. Bishop, Esq., and others led this
movement. 325

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
CONTINUOUS WATER COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE EASTERN
AND WESTERN WATERS.
"To carry out successfuUy the gigantic project of uniting the great
eastern with the great western waters was supposed to require an amount
of capital and of credit beyond the control of any joint-stock company,
and the pre eminent power and credit of the State herself was enlisted in
the enterprise. Unfortunately, to do this required legislative votes, and
these votes were not to be had without extending the ramifications of the
system throughout all the counties whose patronage was necessary to carry
the measure. In March, 1824, commissioners were appointed te explore
a route for a canal from Harrisburg to Pittsburg by the way of the Juniata
and Conemaugh, and by the way of the West Branch of the Susquehanna,
Sinnemahoning, and the Allegheny, and also between the head-waters ef
the Schuylkill, by Mahanoy Creek, to the Susquehanna, with other pro
jects. In 1825 canal commissioners were appointed te explore a number
of routes in various directions through the State. In August, 1825, a
convention of the friends of internal improvement, consisting of delegates
from forty-six counties, met at Harrisburg, and passed resolutions in
favor of ' opening an entire and complete communication from the Sus
quehanna to the Allegheny and Ohio, and from the .Allegheny to Lake
Erie, by the nearest and best practicable route.' The starting impulse
being thus given, the great enterprise moved on, increasing in strength
and magnitude as each successive Legislature convened ; and the citizens
of every section were highly excited, not to say intoxicated, with local
schemes of internal improvement. Contemporaneously with these enter
prises, anthracite coal began to be successfully introduced for family use ;
and, besides, the discovery of vast and rich deposits of this mineral,
almost exclusively in Pennsylvania, the circumstance was an additional
reason for the construction of improvements. Iron-mines and salt-wells
were also opened, stimulated by the high tariff of 1828, and the rich bitu
minous coal-fields west of the Allegheny invited enterprise and specula
tion te that quarter. To describe the various public works that grew out
of the powerful impulse given from 1826 to 1836 would require itself a
small volurae. Suffice it to say that in October, 1834, the Philadelphia
and Columbia Railroad was opened for travelling. The main line of
canal had been previously completed, and in the same month, en the
completion of the Allegheny Portage Railroad, an emigrant's boat, from
the North Branch of the Susquehanna, actually passed over the Allegheny
Mountains, with all its faraily on board, and being launched into the
canal at Johnstown, proceeded on its route to St. Louis!" — Day's
Recollections. " Yesterday the report of B. Aycrigg, Esq., the engineer employed
by the State to examine and report on the practicability of a continuous
326

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
water communication between the Susquehanna and Allegheny Rivers,
was received, accompanied by his estimate of the expense. The House
ordered two thousand copies to be printed.
" The canal will be 129 miles long, and is estimated to cost $3,767,377 ;
add five per cent., ^188,368 ; making a total of $3,955,745.
" Mr. Aycrigg remarks that the estimate is not of the probable, but
of the greatest expense, and that he believes if the work be properly con
structed a considerable surplus will be left.
" The tunnel, according to his estimate, will cost two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars, and will take two years longer to make than the
other parts of the canal. He therefore recommends an immediate appro
priation to that part of the work, including the heavy embankments
forming the reservoir.
"We think this is the most important State object that can occupy
the attention of the Commonwealth. It will open an avenue by water to
Philadelphia, not only for the comraerce of the Ohio, but the commerce
of the Great Lakes. It will do away with the necessity of a transship
ment over the mountains, and it will crown our canals, so as in a short
time to require double locks, and not only contribute to our commercial
prosperity, but enrich the treasury of the Commonwealth. The Legisla
ture, then, ought not a moment to delay its action. If any improveraent
is to be delayed, let it be sorae of the almost useless ones that have re
ceived the favor of the Committee on Internal Improvements, as will be
seen by a reference to the appropriation bill now on the files of the
House." — Pennsylvania Intelligencer, March 9, 1837.
" We are pleased to learn by our Harrisburg papers that Mr. Aycrigg
— the engineer who was engaged last summer in exploring the country
between the waters of the Susquehanna and Allegheny Rivers — made his
reporf to the Legislature on Thursday morning last, the 15th. What
will be most gratifying to the citizens of this section of country is the
fact that the report is favorable to the Red Bank route. The Pennsylva
nia Intelligencer says, ' We have taken the trouble to read his report in
manuscript, and are pleased with the valuable information it contains.
He has found a route by the way of Anderson's Creek, which empties
into the West Branch, and Red Bank, which empties into the Allegheny,
where a water communication can be made. He recommends a reservoir
on the summit. By constructing a mound 40 feet high, across the valley
of Sandy Lick Creek, three-eighths of a mile in length, a reservoir of 3
square miles can be made, which will contain 1,672,704,000 cubic feet
of water, and that water can be supplied there during 240 days to pass
115,600 boats. The lockage is 693 feet, — by 83 locks westward to the
Allegheny River at the mouth of Red Bank, and by 99 locks eastward to
the mouth of the Sinnamahoning. The whole distance from the mouth
of the Sinnamahoning to the m.outh of Red Bank is 128^4^ miles.'
327

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
' ' It may be remembered that we during the course ef the past
season took occasion to remark that it was our opinion, and we thought
well founded, too, that Mr. Aycrigg would report in favor of this route.
Though we do not pretend to the spirit of prophecy, yet we felt certain
that our prediction would, as it did, prove true. But a word with regard
to the great advantages that will arise to this county. Perhaps no docu
ment ever issued from the press is of more vital iraportance to our citizens
than the report in question. It involves the interests of the farmer and
mechanic, and deeply interests the merchant and tradingman. Our un
improved lands must immediately rise in value ; our timber will prove a
source of wealth, and for years an almost inexhaustible quantity of it will
be found ; our bituminous coal, iron ore, and other minerals make the
prospects of our county equally flattering, should this contemplated im
provement be completed, with any other in Western Pennsylvania." —
The feffersonian, December 22, 1836.
It is needless to say this great enterprise was never consummated.
PIONEER COUNTY BRIDGE ACROSS RED BANK.
"Petition for a bridge across Red Bank Creek at Brookville. Re
corded on Road Docket, January 19, 1836. " Thomas Hastings, Clerk.
" To the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the County of
Jefferson now holding a Court of Quarter Sessions of the
Peace in and for said County :
" The petition of the subscribers, inhabitants of the township of Rose
in said county, respectfully represent that a bridge is much wanted over
Red Bank Creek at the place where the public highway from the borough
of Brookville to Indiana crosses the said creek in the township of Rose
in said county, and that the erection of said bridge will require raore
expense than it is reasonable the said township should bear.
" Your petitioners therefore pray the Court to appoint proper persons
to view the premises, and to take such order on the subject as is required
and directed by the act of Assembly in such case made and provided.
-And they will ever pray, etc.
"John J. Y. Thompson, Charies C. GaskiU, John Beck, Wm. Corden,
John Rhoads, James Shields, Wm. Thompson, Joseph :\Iagiffin, Robt.
Andrews, Wm. B. Kennedy, Robert Morrison, Jacob ^MiUiron, Sheridan
McCuUough, John Love, Williara Steele, John Jones, John McAninch,
James Clover, Henry Smith, John Brownlee, Jacob M.  , Isaac
Hallon, John Rine, Peter Groff, Philip Burns, Wm. Clark, Robert E.
Kennedy, Lewis Sharer, John AMIson, Thos. Lucas, Thomas Witherow,
Robert Witherow, Frederick Heterick, Joseph Hughes, Isaac Covert,
Joseph Hall, Ramsey Potter, Wm. Kennedy, Thomas Hastings, John A.
328

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Matthews, D. M. Riddle, Paul Vandevort, John Smith, Miran Gibbs,
Jacob Mason, Cyrus Blood, James M. Craig, George Darling, James
FuUerton, James Henry, Wm. Rodgers, Christopher Barr, WiUiam Fer
guson, Joseph Sharpe, John Christy."
This pioneer county covered bridge was a wooden one, made of pine
timber. It was erected across Red Bank Creek in the borough of Brook
ville, a few feet west of where the present iron structure on Pickering
Street now stands. There were no iron nails used in its construction,
and only a few hand-made iron spikes. The timbers were mortised and
tenoned, and put together with wooden pins. This was a single span
bridge of one hundred and twenty feet in length, with no centre pier,
and of the burr truss plan. It had two strings of circle arches, resting
on the stone abutments. I find the following official records in the court
dockets :
"At the February session of court, February 13, 1836, 'upon the
petition to the honorable judges of said court of many inhabitants of
Jefferson County, setting forth that they labor under great inconvenience
for want of a bridge across Red Bank Creek, where the Hamilton road
enters Pickering Street in the borough of BrookviUe, asking the Court to
appoint viewers, whereupon the Court appointed the following-named
persons to view the road and make a report to the Court, — viz. : John
Dougherty, John Matson, Sr., James K. Huffman, Daniel Coder, Robert
Morrison, and John Philliber.' " These viewers made their report to the
Court May 10, 1836, "that the bridge was indisputably necessary."
At the September session, 1836, the Court approved this report and
ordered the county to pay four hundred dollars to the construction of the
bridge. The following official advertiseraent for bids I copy from the Brook
ville feffersonian for 1836 : " NOTICE.
"The building of a bridge across Red Bank Creek, on Pickering
Street, will be sold to the lowest bidder on Thursday, the 15th day of
September next, at i o'clock p.m.
"A plan of said bridge will be shown at the commissioners' office,
on Monday, 12. Sufficient security will be requested of the undertaker
for the faithful performance.
" By order of the commissioners. "John Wilson, Clerk.
" Commissioners' Office, Brookville, November 24, 1836."
The bridge was let by the commissioners December 15, 1836, to
Messrs. Thomas Hall and Richard Arthurs, contractors. The contract
called for the completion of the bridge by September, 1837. The ac-
22 329

PIONEER HISTORV OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
cepted contract bid was seven hundred and ninety-five dollars. When
finished the bridge was a good solid structure, but was a curious pile of
wood and stones.
Many memories to the old citizen clustered around this bridge, but
time has effaced the bridge and will efface the memories. On its planks
generations have met, passed, and repassed, and from its stringers fishers
dropped many a hook and line. Up to and later than 1843, Brookville
had three natatoriums, or swimming-pools, — viz., one at the head of
what is now Heidrick, Coleman & Co. 's dam on the North Fork, one at
the " Deep Hole" near the Sand Spring, on the Sandy Lick, and one at
or underneath the covered bridge on Red Bank. In those days, from
the time we had May flowers until the chilling blasts of November ar
rived, one of the principal sports of the men and boys was swimming
in these "pools." We boys, in summer months, all day long played on
the bosom of these waters or on the border-land. The busy men, the
doctor, the statesman, the lawyer, the parson, the merchant, the farmer,
the mechanic, and the day laborer, all met here in the summer eve with
boisterous shouts of joy and mirth to welcorae up the raoon. Of course,
we had sorae skilful plungers and swimmers, who were as much at home
in these waters as the wild ducks and geese of that day. An artist
could swim on his back, on either side, under the water, float on his
back, tread or walk in the water, and plunge er dive from almost any
height. The beginner or boy, though, always commenced his apprentice
ship in this graceful profession by swimming with his breast on a piece of
plank, board, or old slab. But alas to the pioneer, —
" Swimming sports, once deemed attractive.
Haunts amidst the bloom of laurel flowers.
Radiant charms that pleased my senses
In my boyhood's sunny hours.
Have departed like illusions.
And will never more be ours."

Counties. Adams
Allegheny
.Armstrong BeaverBedfordBerks .
BradfordBucks .
ButlerCambria .
CentreChester

POPUL.\TION OF PENNSYLYANIA.

Year 1840,
23.044
81,23528,36529,368 29,335
64,569
32,769
48,107 22,378 11,256
20.49257.515

330

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

Counties. Clarion . , .
Clearfield . .
Clinton
Columbia .
Crawford Cumberland .
Dauphin . .
Delaware Erie . .
Fayette . .
Franklin GreeneHuntingdon .
Indiana ....
Jefferson . .
Juniata . . .
Lancaster .
Lebanon , . .
Lehigh ....
Luzerne .
Lycoming .
McKean ....
Mercer . .
Mifflin ....
Monroe . .
Montgomery . .
Northampton .
Northumberland
Perry . .
Philadelphia . .
Pike . . .
Potter . .
Schuylkill . .
Somerset . .
Susquehanna . .
Tioga ....
Union . . .
Venango Warren ....
WashingtonWayneWestmoreland .
Wyoming . . .
York . .

Year 1840.
9.5007.834 8,323
24,26731,724
30,953 30,118 19,791 3,412
33,57437,793 19,147
35.484 20,782 7,253
1 1 ,080
84,203 21,87225-78735,906 22,649 2,975
32,873 13,092 9,879
. 47.241
40,996 20,027 17,096
¦ 258,037 3,832
3,371
29,053 19,650
21,195 15,498
22,787 17,900 9,278
• 41.279 11,848
¦ 42,699 8,100
47,oio
1,705,601

Jefferson County was not organized in 1830, and the census was not
reported, only as a whole. Males in county, 1065 ; females, 940; total,
2005. 331

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
PIONEER AND EARLY COUNTIES, DATE OF FORMATION, AND
NUMBER OF ACRES IN EACH.

No

Name.

Date of Formation

Acres.

I

Philadelphia .

March 10, 1682

One of Penn's original counties . .

80,840

2

Chester . . .

" 10, 1682

<< 11 << <i _ _

472,320

3

Bucks . .

" 10, 1682

" " " " . .

387,200

4

Lancaster . . .

May 10, 1729

From a part of Chester . . . .

608,000

5

York . .

Aug. 19, 1749

" " Lancaster . . . .

576,000

6

Cumberland

Jan. 27, 1750

" " Lancaster . . .

348,160

7

Berks . , . .

March 11, 1752

" " Philadelphia, Ches
ter, and Lancas
ter 

588,800

8

Northampton .

" II, 1752

" " Bucks 

240,000

9

Bedford . . .

9, 1771

1 " " Cumberland . . .

636,160

10

Northumberland

" 27, 1772

" " Cumberland, Berks,
Bedford, and
Northampton . .

292,480

11

Westmoreland .

Feb. 26, 1773

" " Bedford, andin 1785
part of the Indian
purchase of 1 784
was added . .

672,000

12

Washington .

March 28, 17S1

" " Westmoreland . .

573,440

13

Fayette . . .

Sept. 26, 1783

" " Westmoreland , .

527,360

14

Franklin .

9, 1784

" " Cumberland .

480,000

>5

Montgomery .

" 10, 1784

Philadelphia . . .

303,080

i6

D.iuphin .

March 4, 1 785

" " Lancaster . . .

357,760

'7

Luzerne . . .

Sept. 25, 1782

" " Northumberland

896,000

i8

Huntingdon . .

20, 17S7

Bedford . .

537,600

19

Allegheny .

24, 178S

" " Westmoreland and
Washington . ,

482,560

20

Mifflin . .

19, 1789

" " Cumberland and
Northuraberland

286,800

21

Delaware .

26, 1789

" " Chester . . .

113,280

22

Somerset .

April 17, 1795

Bedford . .

682,240

23

Greene .

Feb. 9, 1796

" " Washington

389,120

24

Wayne . .

March 26, 1796

" " Northampton .

460,800

25

Lycoming . . .

April 13, 1796

" " Northumberland .

691,200

26

Adams

Jan. 22, I Soo

York 

337,920

27

Centre . . .

Feb. 13, I Soo

Mifflin, Northum
berland, Lyco
ming, and Hunt
ingdon . . .

688,000

28

Armstrong

March 12, 1800

" " Allegheny, West
moreland, and
Lycoming . . .

408,960

29

Beaver ....

" 12, iSoo

" " Allegheny and
Washington . .

298,240

30

Butler ....

" 12, 1800

" " Allegheny . .

502,400

31

Crawford

" 12, iSoo

" " Allegheny . .

629,760

32

Erie

" 12, I Soo

" " Allegheny . . .

480,000

33

Mercer ....

" 12, 1800

" " Allegheny ....

416,000

34

Venango .

" 13, 1800

" " Allegheny and Ly
coming . . .

330,240

35

Warren . .

" 12, 1800

" " Allegheny and Ly
coming . . .

551,040

36

Indiana

" 30, 1803

" " Westmoreland and
Lycoming . .

492,800

37

McKean .

" 20, 1S04

" " Lycoming ....

716,800

332

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
PIONEER AND EARLY COUNTIES, D.\TE OF FORMATION, AND
NUMBER OF ACRES IN 'EhCU.— Continued.

No.

Name.

Date of Formation.

Acres.

38

Clearfield . .

March 26,

1804

From a part of Lycoming and
Northumberland

761,600

39

Jefferson . .

" 26,

1804

" " Lycoming . .

412,800

40

Potter . .

" 26,

1804

" " Lycoming . .

384,000

41

Cambria

" 26,

1804

" " Huntingdon, Som
erset, and Bedford

428,800

42

Tioga ....

" 26,

1804

" " Lycoming ....

714,240

43

Bradford *

Feb. 21,

iSio

" Luzerne and Ly
coming ....

751,300

44

Susquehanna .

21,

1810

" " Luzerne 

510,080

45

Schuylkill . . .

March i.

iSii

" Berks and North
ampton

485,400

46

Lehigh .

" 6,

1812

" " Northampton . . .

232,960

47

Lebanon . . .

Feb. 16,

1813

" '' Dauphin and Lan
caster

195,840

48

Columbia . . .

March 22,

1813

" " Northumberland .

275,840

49

Union ....

" 22,

1813

" " Northumberland .

165,120

50

Pike 

" 26,

1814

" " Wayne 

384,000

51

Perry . .

" 22,

1820

" " Cumberland

344,960

52

Juniata ....

" 2,

1S31

Mifflin . .

224,640

53

Monroe ....

April I,

1836

" " Northampton and
Pike 

384,000

54

Clarion . . .

March II,

1839

" " Venango and Arm
strong 

384,000

55

Clinton . .

June 21,

1839

" " Lycoming and Cen
tre

591,360

56

Wyoming . . .

April 4,

1842

" " Northumberland and Luzerne . .

261,760

57

Carbon ....

March 13,

1843

" " Northampton and
Monroe

256,000

58

Elk .

April 18,

1843

" Jefferson, Clearfield,
and McKean

446,720

* Previous to March 24, 1812, this county was called Ontario.

333

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

CHAPTER XIX.
PIONEER settlement OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANLA  PIONEER PENNSYL
VANIA INDIAN TRADERS  THE PIONEER ROAD BY WAY OF THE SOUTH
BRANCH OF THE POTOMAC AND THE VALLEY OF THE KISKIMINITAS  THE
PIONEER ROAD FROM EAST TO WEST, FRO.M RAYSTOWN, NOW BEDFORD,
TO FORT DUQUESNE, NOW PITTSBURG, A MILITARY NECESSITY  GEN
ERAL JOHN FORBES OPENS IT IN THE SUMMER AND FALL OF 1 758 
COLONEL GEORGE WASHINGTON OPPOSED TO THE NEW ROAD AND IN
FAVOR OF THE POTOMAC ROAD  DEATH OF GENERAL JOHN FORBES —
PIONEER MAIL-COACHES, MAIL-ROUTES, AND POST-OFFICES.
"Western Pennsylvania was untrodden by the foot of the white
man before the year 1700. As early as 1715 and 1720 occasionaUy a
trader would venture west ef the Allegheny Mountain, and of these the
first was James Le Tort, who resided in 1700 east of the Susquehanna,
but took up his residence west of it, Le Tort Spring, Carlisle, in 1720.
Peter Cheaver, John Evans, Henry DeVoy, Owen Nicholson, Alexander
Magenty, Patrick Burns, George Hutchison, all of Cumberland County ;
Barnaby Currin, John McGuire, a Mr. Frazier, the latter of whom had
at an early day a trading-house at Venango, but afterwards at the Mo
nongahela, at the mouth of Turtle Creek, were all traders among the
Indians. But no attempt had been made by the whites at settlements in
the region now occupied by the several counties west of the AUeghenies
before 1748, when the Ohio Company was formed. This company sent
out the undaunted Christopher Gist, in 1750, te explore the country and
raake report. He, it is said, explored the country ' from the South
Branch of the Potomac northward to the heads of the Juniata River,
crossed the mountains, and reached the .\llegheny by the valley of Kis
kiminitas. He crossed the Allegheny about four miles above the forks,
where Pittsburg now stands, thence went down the Ohio to some point
below Beaver River, and thence ever to the Muskingum valley.' The
first actual settlement made was within the present limits of Fayette
County, in 1752, by Mr. Gist himself, on a tract of land, now well known
there as Mount Braddock, west of the Youghiogheny River. Mr. Gist
induced eleven families to settle around hira on lands presumed to be
within the Ohio Company's grant.
" The raore southern part of Western Pennsylvania (Greene, Wash
ington, Fayette, and part of Somerset), which was supposed to be within
the boundaries of Virginia, was visited by adventurers from Maryland
334

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
prior to 1754. Among these were Wendel Brown and his two sons
and Frederick Waltzer, who lived four miles west of Uniontown. David
Tygart had settled in the valley which still bears his name in Northwest
ern Virginia ; several other families came here a few years afterwards.
These were the only settlements attempted prior to Braddock's defeat,
and those raade immediately afterwards, or prior to 1760, were repeatedly
molested, families murdered, cabins burnt, and, for a time, broken up,
alternately abandoned and again occupied.
" The treaty of 1762 brought quiet and repose to some extent to the
English colonies, and the first settlers on the frontiers returned to their
abandoned farms, but they were soon again obliged to leave their homes
and retire for safety to the raore densely settled parts. Bouquet prosecuted
his campaign with success against the Indians, and in November, 1764,
compelled the turbulent and restless Kyashuta to sue for peace and bury
the hatchet on the plains of Muskingum, and finally humbled the Delawares
and Shawanese. Soon after the refugee settlers returned to their cabins
and clearings, resumed their labors, extended their improvements, and
cultivated their lands. Frora this time forth the prosperity of Pennsyl
vania increased rapidly, and the tide of immigration with consequent
settlements rolled westward, though the pioneer settlers were afterwards
greatly exposed.
" Previous to 1758, Westmoreland was a wilderness trodden by the
wild beast, the savage, and, like other portions of Western Pennsylvania,
by an occasional white trader or frontiersman. No settlements were
attempted prior to this date, when Fort Duquesne, afterwards Fort Pitt,
was abandoned by the French, became an English military post, and
formed a nucleus for an English settieraent, and two years afterwards
(1760) a small town was built near Fort Pitt, which contained nearly two
hundred souls, but on the breaking out of the Indian war, in 1763, the
inhabitants retired into the fort, and their dwellings were suffered to fall
into decay. In 1 765, Pittsburg was laid out. ' ' — History of Western Penn
sylvania. This southern exploration was through what is now Somerset, Fayette,
Westmoreland, and Allegheny Counties. In 1754, Lieutenant-Colonel
George Washington, then twenty-one years old, penetrated this wilder
ness and improved this road. In 1755, General Braddock, accompanied
by Washington, marched his army over this road. Hence the road has
always been called Braddock's road.
The pioneer road from east to west was opened up in September,
1758, by General John Forbes. He commanded an army of about eight
thousand men. General Forbes marched in the spring from Philadelphia
with his troops to Raystown (now Bedford), but on account ofthe small
pox in his army he was detained at Carlisle, and failed to reach what is
now Bedford until the middle of September. At a consultation of his
335

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
officers at this point it was decided to cut out a new road over the
mountains from Kaystown to Loyalhanna, now in Westmoreland County,
a distance of forty-five miles.
This new road passed through what is now Bedford, Somerset, and
Westmoreland Counties. Colonel Bouquet, with twenty-five hundred
men, cut out the road in September and October of that year.
Colonel Washington was at this consultation, and was opposed to the
new road. Washington's arguments in favor of the southern route were
as foUows : " Camp at Fort Cumberland, August 2, 1758.
"Sir, — The raatters of which we spoke relative to the reads have,
since our parting, been the subject of ray closest reflection, and so far
ara I from altering my opinion that the more time and attention I bestow
the more I am confirmed in it, and the reasons fer taking Braddock's
road appear in a stronger point of view. To enumerate the whole of
these reasons would be tedious, and to you, who are become se much
master of the subject, unnecessary. I shall, therefore, briefly mention a
few only, which I think so obvious in themselves, that they must effect
ually remove objections.
" Several years ago the Virginians and Pennsylvanians commenced a
trade with the Indians settled on the Ohio, and, to obviate the many in
conveniences of a bad road, they, after reiterated and ineffectual efforts
to discover where a good one might be made, employed for the purpose
several of the most intelligent Indians, who, in the course of many years'
hunting, had acquired a perfect knowledge on these mountains. The
Indians, having taken the greatest pains to gain the rewards offered for
this discovery, declared that the path leading frora Will's Creek was in
finitely preferable to any that could be raade at any other place. Tirae
and experience so clearly demonstrated this truth that the Pennsylvania
traders commonly carried out their goods by Will's Creek. Therefore
the Ohio Company, in 1753, at a considerable expense, opened the road.
In 1754 the troops whom I had the honor to command greatly repaired
it, as far as Gist's plantation, and in 1755 it was widened and completed
by General Braddock to within six miles of Fort Duquesne. A road that
has so long been opened and so well and so often repaired must be much
firmer and better than a new one, aUowing the ground to be equally
good. " But supposing it were practicable to make a road from Raystown
quite as good as General Braddock's, I ask, have we time to do it ? Cer
tainly not. To surmount the difficulties to be encountered in making it
over such mountains, covered with woods and rocks, would require so
much tirae as to blast our otherwise well-grounded hopes of striking the
iraportant stroke this season. 336

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" The favorable accounts that some give of the forage on the Rays
town road, as being so much better than that on the other, are certainly
exaggerated. It is well known that on both routes the rich valleys be
tween the mountains abound with good forage, and that those which are
stony and bushy are destitute of it. Colonel Byrd and the engineer who
accompanied him confirm this fact. Surely the meadows on Braddock's
road would greatly overbalance the advantage of having grass to the foot
of the ridge, on the Raystown road ; and all agree that a more barren
road is nowhere to be found than that frora Raystown to the inhabitants,
which is likewise te be considered.
" Another principal objection raade to General Braddock's road is in
regard to the waters. But these seldom swell so much as to obstruct the
passage. The Youghiogheny River, which is the raost rapid and soonest
filled, I have crossed with a body of troops after raore than thirty da)'s
almost continued rain. In fine, any difficulties on this score are so
trivial that they really are not worth mentioning. The Monongahela,
the largest of all these rivers, may, if necessary, easily be avoided, as
Mr. Frazier, the principal guide, informs rae, by passing a defile, and
even that, he says, may be shunned.
"Again, it is said there are raany defiles en this road. I grant that
there are sorae, but I know of none that raay not be traversed, and I
should be glad to be informed where a road can be had over these moun
tains not subject to the same inconvenience. The shortness of the dis
tance between Raystown and Loyal Hanna is used as an arguraent against
this road, which bears in it something unaccountable to rae, for I must
beg leave to ask whether it requires raore time er is more difficult and
expensive to go one hundred and forty-five miles on a good road already
made to our hands than to cut one hundred miles anew, and a great part
of the way over impassable mountains.
" That the old road is many railes nearer Winchester in Virginia and
Fort Frederick in Maryland than the contemplated one is incontestable,
and I will here show the distance from Carlisle by the tvvo routes, fixing
the different stages, some of which I have frora information only, but
others I believe to be exact.
FROM CARLISLE TO FORT DUQUESNE BY WAY OF RAYSTOWN. Miles.
From Carlisle to Shippensburg . . . 21
" Shippensburg to Fort Loudon . . . . .24
" Fort Loudon to Fort Littleton . . . . .20
" Littleton to Juniata Crossing  . . . 14
" Juniata Crossing to Raystown ... 14
93
" Raystown to Fort Duquesne  . . 100193
337

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
FRO.M CARLISLE TO FORT DUQUESNE BY WAY OF FORT FREDERIC AND CUM
BERLAND.
Miles.
From Carlisle to Shippensburg . 21
" Shippensburg to Chamber's . . . . 12
" Chamber's to Pacelin's ... .12
" Pacelin to Fort Frederic . . .... 12
" Fort Frederic to Fort Cumberland . . . .... 4097
" Fort Cumberland to Fort Duquesne . . . . . . 115

" From this computation there appears to be a difference of nineteen
miles only. AVere all the supplies necessarily to come from Carlisle, it is
well known that the goodness of the old road is a sufficient compensation
for the shortness of the other, as the wrecked and broken wagons there
clearly demonstrate." — The Olden Time, vol. i.
For many years all government supplies for western forts, groceries,
salt, and goods of every kind, were carried from the east on pack-horses
over this Forbes road. One man would sometimes have under his con
trol from fifty to one hundred pack-horses. A panel pack-saddle was
on each horse, and the load for a horse was about two hundred pounds.
Forts were established along the line of the road, and guards from the
militia accompanied these horse-trains, guarding them by night in their
"encampments" and protecting them by day through and over the
mountains. This Braddock road and Raystown road were nothing more than
trails or military roads, and it was not until 1784 or 1785 that the State
opened a road from the east to the west over Forbes's railitary trail.
General John Forbes died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the 15th
of March, 1759.
One hundred years ago this pioneer read was crowded by carriers with
their pack-horses going westward, laden with people, salt, iron, and
merchandise. " The pack-horses then travelled in divisions of twelve or fifteen, going
single-file, each horse carrying about two hundred-weight ; one man pre
ceded and one brought up the rear of the file. Later on the carriers, to
their bitter indignation, were supplanted by the Conestoga wagons, with
their proud six-horse teams, with huge belled collars, the wagon stored
with groceries, linens, calico, rum, molasses, and hams, four to five tons
of load ; by law none of these wagons had less than four inch tires on its
wheels. ' '
Frora 1784 to 1834 was the stage-coach era in this country. In the
year 1802 the government started a line of coaches between Pliiladelphia
338

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
and New York, carrying their own mail. This was continued for three
years, clearing an average profit yearly of four thousand dollars. In 1834
the postmaster-general and the government preferred railroad transporta
tion where it could be had. The government required from the railroads
a schedule time of thirteen miles an hour for the mails. I give as near
as I can learn the pioneer individual stage-coach mail lines.

PIONEER MAIL-COACHES EAST AND WEST, AND TO CROSS THE
ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS.
"PHILADELPHIA AND PITTSBURGH MAIL STAGES.
"A line of stages being established and now in operation to and
from each of the above places. This line will start from John Tomlin-
son's. Market-street, Philadelphia, every Friday morning, via Harris-
burgh and Chambersburgh, to Pittsburgh, and perforui the trip in 7 days.
It will also start from Thomas Ferree's the Fountain Inn, Water-street,
Pittsburgh, every Wednesday morning, same rout to Philadelphia, and
perform the trip in 7 days ; Fare — Passengers 20 dollars and 20 lb. bag
gage free ; all extra baggage or packages, if of dimentions such as to be
admitted for transportation by this line, to pay 12 dollars per 100 lb.
the baggage or the packages to be at the owner's own proper risque unless
especially receipted for by one of the proprietors, which cannot be done
if the owner is a passenger in the stage, same trip. These stages are
constructed to carry three passengers on a seat, and more never shall be
admitted. " This line will also leave John Tomlinson's as above every Tuesday
morning for Chambersburgh, making the trip in 2^-3 days, and leave
Mr. Hetrick's tavern in Chambersburgh, every Wednesday at noon, for
Philadelphia, and make the trip in 2j< days; fare 9 dollars and 50 cents,
under the same regulations as above.
"The public will perceive by this establishment, that they have a
direct conveyance from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh once a week, and
from Philadelphia and Chambersburgh twice a week.
"The proprietors being determined that their conduct shall be such
as to merit support in their line.
"John Tomlinson & Co.
"July 3rd, 1S04."
"PHILADELPHIA AND PITTSBURGH MAIL STAGES.
" The Proprietors
" With pleasure now inform the public that they run their line of
stages twice in the week to and from the above places.
"They leave John Tomlinson's Spread Eagle, Market-street, Phila
delphia, every Tuesday and Friday morning, at 4 o'clock, and Thomas
339

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Ferry's Fountain Inn, AVater-street, Pittsburgh, every AVednesday and
Saturday morning, perforra the trip in seven days. Fare each passenger
20 dollars; 14 lbs. of baggage free; extra baggage to pay 121^ cents per
lb. This line runs through Lancaster, Elizabeth Town, Middle Town,
Harrisburgh, Carlisle, Shippensburgh, Chambersburgh, McCennell's-
town, Bedford, Sommerset, Greensburgh, &c.
"As usual they continue to run their line of Stages in conjunction
with Mr. Scott, frora Philadelphia, te the City of Washington, via Lan
caster, Columbia, York, Hanover, Petersburgh, Frederick Town, ^ic.
three times a week, Sumraer establishment, and twice a week in winter.
Also their daily Stages from Philadelphia and Lancaster continue, as
heretofore. All baggage transported by any of the above lines of Stages
is to be and reraain at the risque of the owner. The Proprietors of the
above lines respectfully thank the public for their past favours : AVould
be glad they would increase them ; and they will pledge themselves,
neither expence in reason, or attention, shall not be wanting on their
part to raake their several lines respectable.
"John Tomlinson & Co.
" Nov. 9th, 1804."
PIONEER MAIL-ROUTES AND POST-OFFICES— EARLY MAIL-ROUTES
AND POST-OFFICES— TR.ANSMISSION OF MONEY THROUGH MAILS
AND OTHERWISE.
The pioneer post-office was established in this State under an act of
Assembly, Noveraber 27, 1700, — viz.:
".\n Act FOR erecting and establishing a Post Office.
" Whereas, The King and the late Queen Mary, by their royal letters
patent under the great seal ef England, bearing date the seventeenth of
February, which was in the year one thousand and six hundred and ninety-
and-one, did grant to Thomas Neal, Esquire, his executors, administrators
and assigns, full power and authority to erect, settle and estabUsh within
the King's colonies and plantations in Araerica, one or more office or
offices for receiving and dispatching of letters and packets by post, and
to receive, send and deliver the same, under such rates and sums of money
as shall be agreeable to the rates established by act of parliament in Eng
land, or as the planters and others should agree to give on the first settle
ment, to have, hold and enjoy the same for a term of twenty-one years,
with and under such powers, limitations and conditions as in and by the
said letters patent may more fully appear ;
" And whereas. The King's Postmaster- General of England, at the
request, desire and nomination of the said Thomas Neale, hath deputed
Andrew Hamilton, Esquire, for such tirae and under such conditions as
in his deputation is for that purpose mentioned, to govern and manage the
340

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
said General Post Office for and throughout all the King's plantations
and colonies in the main land or continent of America and the islands
adjacent thereto, and in and by the said deputation may more fully
appear :
"And whereas, The said Andrew Hamilton hath, by and with the
good liking and approbation of the Postmaster General of England,
made application to the proprietary and governor of this province and
territories and freemen thereof convened in general assembly, that they
would ascertain and establish such rates and sums of money upon letters
and packets going by post as may be an effectual encouragement for
carrying on and maintaining a general post, and the proprietary and
governor and freemen in general assembly met, considering that the
maintaining of mutual and speedy correspondencies is very beneficial to
the King and his subjects, and a great encouragement to the trade, and
that the same is best carried on and managed by public post, as well as
for the preventing of inconveniences which heretofore have happened
for want thereof, as for a certain, safe and speedy dispatch, carrying and
recarrying of all letters and packets of letters by post to and from aU
parts and places within the continent of America and several parts of
Europe, and that the well ordering thereof is matter of general con
cernment and of great advantage, and being willing to encourage such a
public benefit :
" (Section i.) Have therefore enacted, and be it enacted by the said
Proprietary and Governor of this Province and Territories, by and with
the advice and consent of the Freemen thereof in General Assembly met,
and by the authority of the same, That there be from henceforth one
general letter office erected and established within the town of Phila
delphia, from whence all letters and packets whatsoever may be with
speed and expedition sent into any part of the neighboring colonies and
plantations on the mainland and continent of America, or into any other
of the King's kingdoms or dominions, or unto any kingdom or country
beyond the seas ; at which said office all returns and answers may like
wise be received, etc., etc."
The pioneer mail-route through this wilderness was over the old State
Road ; it was established in 1805. It was carried on horseback from
Bellefonte to Meadville. The route was over the State Road to what is
now the Clarion line ; from there over a new road to the AUegheny
River or Parker's Ferry, now Parker's City ; up the river to Franklin,
and from there to Meadville. The pioneer contractor's name was James
Randolph, from Meadville. The next contractor was Hamilton, from
Bellefonte ; then by Benjamin Haitshour and others, until the turnpike
was completed ; then the first stage contract was taken by Clark, of
Perry County. He sent on his coaches by John O'Neal, and from that
time until the present the mail has been carried through this county ;
341

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
and in 1812 we got our news from a Meadville paper, edited by Thomas
Atkinson, called the Crawford Weekly Messenger. The nearest post-
office west was Franklin, and east was Curwinsville. All papers that
came through the county were carried outside the mail and delivered by
the mail-carrier. Our nearest post-office south was at Kittanning, Arm
strong County, and when any one in the neighborhood would go there
they would bring the news for all and distribute the same.
In 1815 the United States had three thousand post-offices. The
postage for a single letter, composed of one piece of paper, under forty
miles, eight cents ; over forty and under ninety miles, ten cents ; under
one hundred and fifty miles, twelve and a half cents ; under three hun
dred miles, seventeen cents ; under five hundred railes, twenty cents ;
over five hundred miles, twenty-five cents. The law was remodelled in
1 816 and continued until 1845, ^-s foUows, — viz.: Letters thirty miles,
six and a quarter cents ; over thirty and under eighty miles, ten cents ;
over eighty and under one hundred and fifty miles, twelve and a half
cents ; over one hundred and fifty and under four hundred miles,
eighteen and three-quarter cents ; over four hundred miles, twenty-five
cents. If the letter weighed an ounce, four times these rates were
charged. Newspaper rates, in the State or under one hundred miles,
one cent ; over one hundred miles or eut of the State, one and one-half
cents. Periodicals, from one and one-half to two, four, and six cents.
A portion of the records of the postmaster-general's office at Washing
ton were destroyed by fire in the year 1836; but it has been ascer
tained that an advertisement was issued May 20, 1814, for once-a-week
service on route No. 51, Bellefonte to Franklin, Pennsylvania, from Janu
ary 1, 1815, te December 31, 1817, Jefferson Court-House being men
tioned as an intermediate point ; that on May 26, 181 7, an advertisement
was issued for service between the same points from January i, 1818, to
December 31, 1819; and on May 26, 1819, service as above was again
advertised frora January i, 1820, to December 31, 1823; the service
during these years connecting at Franklin with another route to Mead
ville. Owing to the incompleteness of the records of the office at AYashing
ton, for the reason above stated, the naraes of all the contractors prior
to 1824 cannot be given; but under advertisement of June 10, 1823, for
once a- week service on route 158, Bellefonte to Meadville, from January
I, 1824, to December 31, 1827, contract was made with Messrs. Hayes
and Bennett, of Franklin, Pennsylvania, at the rate of sixteen hundred
dollars per annum.
From the best information at hand, it appears that a post-office was
established at Port Barnett, Pennsylvania, January 4, 1826, the name
changed to Brookville, Septeraber 10, 1830; that from the date of the
estabUshment of the post-office to December 31, 1839, '^e office was
342

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
suppUed by star route from Bellefonte to Meadville, Pennsylvania, Messrs.
Bennett and Hayes being the contractors to December 31, 1831, Messrs.
J. and B. Bennett to December 31, 1835, and Mr. Benjamin Bennett to
December 31, 1839.
From January i, 1840, Brookville was supplied by route from Cur
winsville to Meadville, Pennsylvania (the service having been divided on
Curwinsville, the eastern route being from Lewistown via Bellefonte and
other offices to Curwinsville), Mr. Jesse Rupp being the contractor to
June 30, 1844, and Mr. John Wightman to June 30, 1848.
Prior to 1826, or the completion of the turnpike, there was no post-
office in this wUderness. Not until the county had been organized for
twenty- two and the pioneers had been here for twenty- five years was a
post-office created. The second maU-route in this county commenced at
Kittanning, Pennsylvania, and ended in Olean, New York. The route
was one hundred and ten miles long. It was established in 1826. Ros
well P. Alford, of Wellsville, Ohio, contractor and proprietor. The
mail was to be carried through once a week, and this was done on horse
back, and the pay for this service was four hundred dollars a year. The
following-named post-offices were created in this county to be supplied
by the carrier on this route :
Port Barnett, Pine Creek township, January 4, 1826 ; Joseph Barnett,
postmaster. Montmorenci, Ridgeway township, February 14, 1826 ; Reuben A.
Aylesworth, postmaster.
Punxsutawney, Young township, February 14, 1826; Charles R.
Barclay, postmaster.
Hellen, Ridgeway township, April, 1828 ; Philetus Clarke, postmaster.
Brockwayville, Pine Creek township, April 13, 1829, Alonzo Brock
way, postmaster.
From the information at hand it appears that an advertisement was
issued in the year of 1825 for proposals carrying the mails on star route
No. 79, from Bellefonte, by Karthaus, Bennett's Creek, Rockaway, Gil-
lett's, and Scull's, to Smithport, Pennsylvania, once in two weeks, from
January i, 1826, to December 31, 1827 ; and that in 1827 an advertise
ment was issued for service on route Ne. 219, from Bellefonte, by Karthaus,
Fox, Bennett's Branch, Ridgeway, Gillett's, Scull's, Montmorenci, Ser
geant, and Smithport, Pennsylvania, to Olean, New York, once a week,
from January i, 1828, to December 31, 1831.
There is no record showing the contractors during the above terms.
In the year 1831 an advertisement was issued for star route No.
1 127, from Bellefonte, by Milesburg, Karthaus, Bennett's Branch, Fox,
Kerseys, Ridgeway, Montmorenci, Clermontville, Smithport, Allegheny
Bridge, Pennsylvania, and Mill Grove, New York, to Olean, New York,
once a .week, from January i, 1832, te December 31, 1835, and contract
343

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
was awarded te Mr. James L. Gillis, of Montmorenci, with pay at the
rate of six hundred and seventy-four doUars per annum.
In 1835 a-n advertiseraent was issued for service en route No. 1206,
frora Bellefonte, by Milesburg, Karthaus, Bennett's Branch, Caledonia,
Fox, Kersey, Ridgeway, Williamsville, Clermontville, Smithport, Farmers
Valley, Allegheny Bridge, Pennsylvania, and Mill Grove, New York, te
Olean, New York, once a week, from January 1, 1836, to December 31,
1839, and contract was awarded to Mr. Bernard Duffey (address not
given) at six hundred and twenty-eight dollars per annum.
In 1839 an advertisement was issued for service on route No. 1593,
from Bellefonte, by JNIilesburg, Karthaus, Caledonia, Fox, Kersey,
Ridgeway, Williamsville, Clermontville, Smithport, Farmers VaUey,
Allegheny Bridge, Pennsylvania, and Mill Grove, New York, to Olean,
New York, ence a week between Bellefonte and Smithport, and twice a
week the residue of route, from January i, 1840, to June 30, 1844, a-nd
contract was awarded to Mr. Gideon Ions (address not given) at eight
hundred and forty-five doUars per annum.
EARLY POSTMASTERS, WHEN APPOINTED.
Brookville. — Jared B. Evans, September 30, 1830; Cephas J. Dun
ham, March 30, 1833; WiUiam Rodgers, January 19, 1835; John
Dougherty, August 18, 1840; Samuel H. Lucas, June 25, 1S41.
Brockwayville. — Dr. Asaph M. Clarke, March 14, 1838.
Clarion, now Corsica. — John McAnulty, February 8, 1833 j John J.
Y. Thompson, November 29, 1843.
Cool Spring. — J.ames Gray, ,\pril 17, 1838.
Heathville. — Elijah Heath, Septeraber 24, 1841.
Montmorenci. — Jesse Morgan, March 13, 1828; Jaraes L. Gillis,
April 7, 1828.
Punxsutawney. — John W. Jenks, Deceraber 15, 1828 ; David Barclay,
November 2, 1830; Charles R. Barclay, December 21, 1831 ; John Hunt,
October 17, 1837; James McConaughey, February 11, 1839; John R.
Rees, December 29, 1843.
Prospect Hill. — Tilton Reynolds, May 18, 1842.
Summerville. — David Losh, February 14, 1839; Geo. Richards,
October 4, 1839; Samuel B. Taylor, October 20, 1840; James Gardner,
October 4, 1841; Ira Baldwin, January 12, 1843.
Warsaw. — Thos. McCormick, August 15, 1836; David McCormick,
January 17, 1838; Moses B. St. John, May 12, 1839.
J'Vhitesville. — John Keira, December 14, 1835.
Like every other business in those days, the postmaster trusted his
patrons, as the following advertisement exhibits, — viz. :
"AU persons indebted to C. J. Dunham for postage on letters or
newspapers are notified to call and pay off their bills to James M. Steed-
344

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
man, or they may look for John Smith, as no longer indulgence can or
will be given.
" February 18, 1834."
Barter was taken in exchange for postage. In those days uncalled-
for letters were advertised in the papers. The pioneer advertiseraent of
letters was in the Philadelphia Ga'zette, March 26, 1783.
In the thirties distance governed the postage on letters up to four
hundred miles and more. The price of such a letter was twenty-five
cents. The postmaster, who was also a merchant, took produce for
letters the same as for goods, and for postage on such a letter as named
would receive two bushels of oats, two bushels of potatoes, four pounds
of butter, or five dozen eggs. To pay the postage on thirty-two letters
such as named the farmer would have to sell a good cow. " In early
tiraes it was death by the law to rob the United States mails."
In the pioneer days, or previous to about i860, there was no bank in
Jefferson County. There was no way to transmit funds except sending
them with a direct messenger or by some neighbor who had business in
the locality where you desired to send your money. An adroit way was
to secure a ten-, fifty-, or one-hundred-dollar bill, cut it in two, send the
first half in a letter, wait for a reply, and then enclose the other half in
a letter also. The party receiving the halves could paste them together.
The pioneer merchants when going to Philadelphia for goods put their
silver Spanish dollars in belts in undershirts and on other parts of their
person, wherever they thought it could be best concealed. In this way
on horseback they made journeys. Every horseback rider (tourist)
carried a pair of leather saddle-bags.
In the United States on the ist of July, 1837, the post roads were
about 118,264 miles in extent, and the annual transportation ofthe mails
was at the rate of 27,578,620 miles, — viz. •
On horseback and in sulkies, 8,291,504; in stages, 17,408,820; in
steamboats and railroad cars, 1,878,297.
The number of post-offices in the United States on the ist of July,
1835, was 10,770; on the ist of July, 1836, it was 11,091 ; and on the
ist of December, 1837, 11,100.
In the year 1837 the postmaster-general recommended revision of
the present rates of postage of about twenty per cent., to take effect on
the ist of July next. To this end he suggested the foUowing letter
postage :
75 miles and under . .  5 cents.
150 miles and over 75 miles .  10 "
300 miles and over 150 miles  15 "
600 miles and over 300 miles  20 "
Over 600 miles  . 25 "
2i. 345

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Postage stamps were invented by James Chalmers, an Englishman,
and first used May 6, 1840, in London.
The first issue of the United States stamps took place in 1845, but
the postmasters of several places had issued stamps for their own con
venience a few years before this. These " Postmasters'," or provisional
stamps, ef course, were net good for postage after the government issue
took place.
The first stamp sold of this issue was bought by the Hon. Henry
Shaw. This issue consisted of but two denominations, the five- and ten-
cent ones, and were unperforated, as were the stamps of the next series,
issued in 1851-56.
The pioneer post-office was established in this State under an act of
Assembly, November 27, 1700.

CHAPTER XX.

PIONEER ROADS IN PROVISIONAL JEFFERSON COUNTY FROM 1808 TO 1830.
ABSTRACT OF INDIANA RECORDS.*
PIONEER ROAD.
" The petition of a number of citizens of Jefferson County and parts
adjacent was presented to Court and read, praying for the view of a road
from Brady's mill,f on Little Mahoning Creek, to Sandy Lick Creek, in
Jefferson County, where the State Road crosses the same. Whereupon
the Court did appoint Samuel Lucas, John Jones, Moses Knapp, Samuel
Scott, John Park, and John AVier to view and make report to next Court.
September sessions, 1808, report filed."
There is no report of the viewers on record, nor is the report in the
file with the old papers. SEPTEJIBER SESSIONS, A.D, 1809.
"The petition of a number of the inhabitants of Jefferson County
was presented to Court and read, praying for a view of a road from a
bridge at the end of Adam Vasbinder's lane to Samuel Scott's mills on
Sandy Lick Creek. Whereupon the Court did appoint William A^as-
binder, Moses Knapp, Ludwick Long, Sarauel Scott, Adam Vasbinder,
and John. Taylor to view and make report to next Court. Order issued.
Distance, 2j^ miles and 53 perches."
¦*¦ By J. N. Banks, Esq., Indiana, Pennsylvania.
f Indiana County. 346

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
MARCH SESSIONS, 181I.
" The petition of the inhabitants of Jefferson County was presented
to Court and read, setting forth that they labored under great inconveni
ences from the want of a public road from the settlement in Jefferson
County to the settlement in Mahoning township, Indiana County, to
begin near Moses Knapp's mill, on the State Road, to Big Mahoning
Creek, near John Bell's. Whereupon the Court did appoint John Tay
lor, John Bell, Thomas Lucas, Moses Knapp, John Matson, and John
Jones to view and make report to next Court. Order issued. Distance,
15 miles and 95 perches; 20 feet wide."
"The petition of a number of the inhabitants of the county of In
diana and county district of Jefferson was presented to Court and read,
setting forth that they labor under great inconvenience from want of a
public road from Puxsutawney, to intersect the road leading from Brady's
mills to the mouth of Anderson's Creek, at or near Lucas's camp.
AYhereupon the Court appointed John AV. Jenks, Zephaniah Weakland,
John Bell, Esq., Samuel Bell, Esq., Peter Dilts, and Moses Crawford to
view the ground over which the proposed road is petitioned for and to
to make return next sessions. Approved April 12, 1820. Distance, 7^'
miles and 34 perches."
"The petition of the inhabitants of Perry township, in Jefferson
County, and also of Mahoning township, in Indiana County, was pre
sented to Court and read, setting forth that they labor under great incon
venience from the want of a public road from the four-mile tree, upon a
road leading from John Bell's, Esq., in Jefferson County, to David Law-
son's, in Armstrong County; from thence to intersect the road leading
from Jacob Knave's to James Ewing's mill, at or near the north end of
the farm of Joshua Lewis. AYhereupon the Court appointed James
Ewing, William Dilts, James McComb, AVilliam Davis, Sarauel Bell,
Esq., and David Cochran to view the ground over which said road is
contemplated to be made and make repert to next Court. Distance, 7j^
miles and 26 perches; 25 feet wide. Approved March 29, 1820."
" The petition of a number of the inhabitants of Pine Creek town
ship, in Jefferson County, was presented to Court and read, setting forth
that they labor under great inconveniences from the want of a public
road from the county line of Arrastrong County, to which place there is
a road leading out near AVilliam King's; from thence to the town of
Troy, which is about a mile. Whereupon it is considered by the Court
and ordered that Salmon Fuller, John Welch, John Lucas, James Shields,
James Clemens, and Peter Bartle do view the ground over which the
proposed road is petitioned for and make repert to next Court. Dis
tance, 253 perches. Approved December 28, 1820."
" The petition of a number of the inhabitants of Pine Creek township
347

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
was presented to Court and read, setting forth that they labor under
great inconvenience fer the want of a road or cart-way from the eighty-
mile post near Alexander Power's on the State Road, to intersect the road
leading to Indiana at or near Little Sandy Creek, and praying the Court
to appoint viewers te view and lay eut the same. AYhereupon the Court
appointed John Bell, John Matson, .-Vrchibald Hadden, John Bartle,
Joseph McCuUough, and Robert Anderson to view the ground over
which the said road is contemplated to be made and make report to next
Court. Distance, 9 miles and 63 perches. December 28, 1820, order
of view approved."
" The petition of a nuraber of the inhabitants of Perry township, in
Jefferson County, was presented to Court and read, setting forth that
they labor under great inconvenience from the want of a public road
from Punxsutawney, to intersect the read leading from Indiana te Bar
nett's, at or near John Bell's, Esq. AYhereupon the Court appointed
John Bell, Esq., Archibald Hadden, Michael Lantz, Hugh McKee,
Jacob Hoover, and William P. Brady to view the ground over which the
proposed road is contemplated to be made and make report to next
Court. Distance, 6 miles and 120 perches. Approved December 28,
1820." " The petition of a number of the inhabitants of the counties ef In
diana and Jefferson was presented to the Court and read, setting forth
that they labor under great inconvenience for the want of a read from
the settieraent on the Indiana and Susquehanna road to Punxsutawney
and Barclay's mill, conveniently at the northeast corner of Abraham AVil-
cock's lots, or near it, to intersect the road from Punxsutawney Leasure's
camp, at or near where said road crosses Canoe Creek. AA^hereupon it
is considered and ordered by the Court that Moses Crawford, John Park,
Robert Hamilton, John Jamison, AA'illiam Hendricks, and James AA'erk
do view the ground over which the proposed road is contemplated to be
made, and if they or any four of these actual viewers agree that there is
occasion for said road, they shall make report to next Court.
"June 25, 1822, report of viewers approved and ordered to be
opened. " No distance is given in the return of viewers."
SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL ROADS AND COUNTY BRIDGES FROM
1S30 TO 1840.
DECEMBER SESSIONS, 1830.
Petition No. i. — Petition of the commissioners of Jefferson County
for a bridge over Sandy Lick Creek where public highway to Indiana
crosses said creek in the township of Pine Creek in said county, etc.
Deceraber 7, 1830, the Court appointed Joseph Barnett, WiUiam Rob-
34S

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
inson, David Butler, Samuel Jones, John Christy, and Joseph Potter to
view the same and report according to law.
The contract for this bridge was made August ii, 1829. The com
missioners were Thomas McKee and Thomas Lucas. The contractors,
William Morrison and William KelsD. Witnesses to agreement, Andrew
Barnett and John McGhee. Consideration, ^320, to be paid as follows,
— viz. : to give them now in hand the subscription of §75, and a draft
en the supervisors of Pine Creek township for $50, and the remainder,
$195, in county orders when completed.
The bridge was 16 feet wide, with stone abutments 75 feet apart, suf
ficiently strong to support roofing, and to be finished in 113 days.
Petition No. j. — Road from Barclay & Jenks's mill to Brookville.
December 7, 1830. Viewers : James Winslow, Charles G. Gaskill,
AVilliam Ma.xwell, Reuben Hickox, Alexander Jordan, and John Hess.
Confirraed September session, 1831.
Petition No. 2. — Road from Jacob Hoover's mill to intersect the
road leading from Barclay & Jenks's mill to the Jefferson road through
Gibson's clearing.
A'iewers : James Winslow, Obed Morris, Stephen Lewis, Reuben
Hickox, John Hess, and Alfred Carey. Read and confirmed and ordered
to be opened 35 feet wide, unless where digging and bridging is neces
sary. December 13, 1831.
Petition No. J. — Road frora Brookville to David Hamilton's on the
Indiana county line.
February 8, 1831. Viewers: David Postlethwait, Archibald Haddon,
AATlUam Newcomb, John Christy, John Shields, and John Barnett. Sep
tember 7, 1831, read and confirmed.
Petition No. 4. — Road from AVilliam McKee's on the turnpike to
James Linn's improvement on the Olean road.
February 8, 1831. Viewers: Christopher Barr, Jared B. Evans,
Thomas Lucas, Esq., Thoraas Robinson, Samuel Knapp, and AVilliam
Vasbinder. Read and confirmed. December 13, 1832, ordered to be
opened. Report No. 5. — Of a road from Brookville to Matson's mill.
Viewers report in favor of same February 7, 1831 : Thomas Robin
son, R. R. Scott, Samuel Hughey, AA'illiam Vasbinder, Joseph Clements.
Confirmed by the Court and ordered to be opened 25 feet wide. May
10, 1831. MAY SESSIONS, I 83 I.
Petition No. i. — Fora road from Moses Knapp's miU to intersect the
Sandy road at or near W. Godfrey's.
Viewers : Jaraes Corbett, Esq., Isaac McElvane, Nathan Carrier, Sam
uel Kennedy, James Hall, and Daniel Elgin. Reported. December 13,
1 83 1, approved and ordered to be opened. 349

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Petition No. 4. — For a road from the thirty-fourth mile-stone on the
Susquehanna and Waterford turnpike road te or near the house of Jo
seph McCuUough.
Viewers: Peter Sutton, Thomas Lucas, Esq., A. Barnett, John Latti
mer, David Butler, and James Stewart. May 10, 1831. February 8, 1832,
read and approved.
Petition No. 5. — For a road from Troy to intersect the Olean road at
John !Mc.\nulty's.
Alewers : John Shields, Thomas Robinson, Thomas Lacy, Alonzo
Baldwin, John Shoemaker, and Hiram Carrier. May 9, 1831. Read «z
si February 8, 1832. MAY SESSIQNS, 1832.
Petition No. i. — For a road from Squire McCuUeugh's shop to David
Butler's. Viewers : Andrew Barnett, Joseph McCuUough, Esq., David Butler,
Jacob A^asbinder, Samuel Jones, and John Lattimer. December 12,
1832. Read and approved «z' «'.
Report No. 7. — Of a road from Shields's Lane to the road running
along Red Bank Creek.
Viewers report in favor of road January 31, 1833 : AVilliam B. Ken
nedy, Thomas Robinson, Isaac iSIcElvane, Darius Carrier. Confirmed
May II, 1833. MAY SESSIONS, 1833.
Petition No. 2. — For a road from Shoemaker's to intersect the road
from Hance Robinson's to Troy.
Viewers : John MiUiron, Samuel ^MiUiron, Isaac McElvane, John J.
Y. Thompson, Hulet Smith, and Darius Carrier. December 12, 1833,
approved. DECEMBER SESSIONS, 1833.
Petition No. 2. — For a road from Thomas Barr's on the Olean road
to the Union School-House.
Viewers : J. J. Y. Thompson, J. W. Alonks, John Barnett, John
Shields, Samuel Jones, and Israel Gray. May 13, 1834, approved.
FEBRUARY SESSIONS, 1 834.
Petition No. i. — For a road from Port Barnett on the Indiana road
to the Ceres road at or near Punxsutawney.
Viewers : John Long, John J. Y. Thompson, James M. Steedman,
George Gray, David Henry, and Stephen Lewis. February 12, 1834.
September 11, read ni si. January 12, 1847, ordered to be opened.
Petition No. 2. — For a road from a public road leading from Brook
viUe to Kittanning at the county line to McKinstry's saw-miU near the
mill of John Robinson. 350

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Viewers : John J. Y. Thompson, Euphrastus Carrier, Aaron Fuller,
John Nolf, Sr., William Ferguson, and John Shoemaker. February 12,
1834. December 13, 1843, approved and ordered to be opened 50 feet
wide. MAY SESSIONS, 1 834.
Petition N'a. i. — For a road from Israel Gray's fulling-mill and card-
ing-machine to a point at or near where the Olean road crosses Little
Mill Creek.
Viewers : Williara B. Kennedy, Israel Gray, John Monks, Samuel
McGill, Rev. AA'iUiam Kennedy, and WiUiam Steel. September ii,
1834. June II, 1835, ordered to be opened 20 feet wide.
Petition No. 2. — For a road from the bridge ever Mill Creek to the
house of AVilliam McCuUough in Pine Creek township.
Viewers: John J. Y. Thompson, Henry Keys, Frederick- Heterick,
William Cooper, James Kyle, and Michael Long. September 11, 1834.
Opening order issued October 23, 1835, ^o be 20 feet wide.
Report No. j. — Of a road from Ball's mill on Tionesta to the Hepler
Camp road near the four-mile tree.
Viewers report in favor of road November 15, 1834: Cyrus Blood,
David Reynolds, AVilliam Arrastrong, Trumble Hunt, and John Hunt.
Opening order issued October 16, 1835.
MAY SESSIONS, I 835.
Petition No. i. — For a road from Robert P. Barr's on the turnpike
to Andrew Vasbinder's improvement on the North Fork.
Viewers : Hugh Brady, AVilliam B. Kennedy, Andrew Barnett, Fred
erick Heterick, AVilliam Long, and Michael Long. December i6, 1836.
Read and ordered to be opened 50 feet wide.
Petition No. 6. — For a bridge across Red Bank Creek where the
Brookville and Hamilton road crosses.
Viewers: John Dougherty, John Matson, Sr., James K. Huffman,
Daniel Coder, Robert Morrison, and John Philliber. February 13,
1836. Viewers report in favor, March 8, 1836.
Petition No. 7. — For a bridge on Big Mahoning.
Viewers : Thomas Kerr, James E. Cooper, Daniel Henneigh, Christian
Reischel, John Drum, and James W. Bell. February 13, 1836. August
20, 1836, report in favor and county pay ^180.
Report No. 10. — Of a road from John Hoover's mill to intersect the
Ceres read at or near Daniel Graffius's, Jr.
Viewers report in favor of road February 4, 1836: James H. Bell,
Nathaniel Tindall, John Hoover (miller), Samuel Bowers, James E.
Cooper. May term approved.
Petition No. 2. — For a road from James Ross's to intersect the Brock
way road at or near S. Tibbetts's. 351

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Viewers : Frederick Heterick, Paul Vandevort, AA'illiam Cooper, James
Smith, John McLaughlin, and Jared B. Evans.
Petition No. j. — For a road frora the tan-yard of John AV. Jenks in
Punxsutawney to the saw-miU of AVm. Campbell.
Viewers : Thomas Kerr, James E. Cooper, Andrew Bowers, James
AA'inslow, John Ham, and John Hunt. Approved May lo, 1836.
Report No. 8. — Of a road from the west end of Morrison's Lane to
the west end of John Kennedy's.
A'iewers report in favor of road (ne date) 1835 ¦ John J. Y. Thomp
son, Moses Knapp, Nathan Carrier, John Love, Sr. , AA'allace Bratton.
May 10, 1836, read and confirraed.
SEPTEMBER SESSIONS, 1S36.
Petition No. 2. — For a road from Vasbinder's improvement to
Frederick Heterick's.
A'iewers : AVilliam Kennedy, Jr., Frederick Heterick, Michael Long,
James Moorhead, Hugh Brady, Esq., and Jesse Clark. May lo, 1836.
Deceraber 17, 1836, read and confirmed.
Petition No. j. — For a road frora Mill Creek road near John AA'il-
son's to Maize's Gap en the Clarion River.
Viewers : AVilliam Armstrong, Nathan Phipps, Thos. Callin, Henry
M. Clark, Daniel Elgin, and George Catz. September 16, 1836. May
10, 1837, read and approved.
Petition No. 6. — For a road from Ball's mill on Tionesta Creek to
intersect the AVarren and Hepler Camp road near the four-mile tree.
A'iewers : Cyrus Blood, AVilliam Arrastrong, Trumble Hunt, Thomas
Maize, John Hunt, and David Reynolds. ,
DECEMBER SESSIONS, 1S36.
Petition No. i. — For a road frora Jacob Smith's to intersect the Ceres
road at or near John Rhoads's.
A'iewers : David Kerr, John, Hoover (miller), John Rhoads, Sr., John
Pifer, Sr., John Bouthart, and Nathaniel Tindall. December i6, 1836.
Petition No. 2. — For a road from the house of James Smith to inter
sect the Ceres road at or near the farm of AVm. Smith.
Viewers : Isaac Packer, John Fuller, .Andrew Barnett, John Matson,
Sr., Henry Vasbinder, John J. Y. Thompson. Deceraber 16, 1836.
October 14, 1837, viewers report in favor of road. May 16, 1838, con
firmed. FEBRUARY SESSIONS, 1 83 7.
Petition No. i. — For a road from Arrastrong &: Reynolds's mill at
the mouth of Maple Creek te Thomas Mechan's farm on the line of
Jefferson and Venango.
A^iewers : John H. Maize, Nathan Phipps. John Cook, James Aharrah,
352

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
George Armstrong, and Joseph Reynolds. February 14, 1837. July 24,
1837, viewers report in favor of road. September 15, 1837, read and
confirmed ni si.
Petition No. 2. — For a road from the public road at or near David
Milliron's to intersect the Troy road at or near Benjarain Shaffer's.
A'iewers : John Robinson, John BeU, Esq., Jaraes Corbett, AVm. New
comb, David Postlethwait, and John Alcorn. February 17, 1837.
MAY SESSIONS, I S3 7.
Petition No. i — Fer a road from Daniel Elgin's to the turnpike near
the Widow Mills's.
Viewers : Thomas Hall, John Monks, John J. Y. Thompson, Thomas
.Arthurs, John Barnett, and Samuel Davidson. May 10, 1837. Con
firraed September 15, 1837.
Petition No. 2. — For a road from the road from AA'hitesville to Punx
sutawney, one-half mile east of AA'hitesville, to intersect the road from
Hamilton's to Brookville near Henr-y Philliber's.
Alewers : John Bell, Esq., AVilliam Newcomb, Wm. Stunkard, John
J. Y. Thompson, AA'ra. Johnston, and Daniel Postlethwait. May 10, 1837.
September 15, 1837, confirmed ni si. Order issued December 23, 1837,
for opening to John C. Ferguson, and to be paid by him.
Petition No. j. — For a road from the Smethport and Milesburg
turnpike where it crosses Clarion River to the mouth of Spring Creek.
Viewers : Henry Kerns, Caleb Dill, Lyman AA'ilraarth, George Pelton,
John Lirara, and Gould Richards. May 10, 1837. September 15, 1837,
read and confirmed ni si.
Petition No. j. — For a road from John Bowers's to James H. Bell's
grist-mill. Viewers : .Andrew Bowers, Joseph AV. AVinslow, James AA'inslow,
James E. Cooper, James Hunter, and John Grube. May 10, 1837. Sep
tember 15, 1837, read and confirmed ni si. February 10, 1845, on the
application of George R. Barrett, deputy attorney-general, the Court
order and direct that the road be opened 40 feet wide.
SEPTEMBER SESSIONS, 1837.
Petition No. 2. — For a road from David Dennison's to the seventy-
first mile-stone.
Viewers : James Ross, Joseph McAfee, Henry Keys, Henry Mcintosh,
James M. Brockway, and A. Sibley. Confirraed May 16, 1838.
Petition No. 10. — For a bridge on Mahoning Creek near Charles C.
Gaskill's. .
Viewers : David Henneigh, John Hutchison, John Drura, John
Grube, Samuel Steffy, and Philip Bowers to view and report on sarae.
September 1837. The county builds this bridge. John Hutchison,
353

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENN.A.
foreman. The Court approve the finding of the grand jury and direct
the within-named bridge to be recorded as a county bridge. December
13, 1837- DECEMBER SESSIONS, 1 837.
Petition No. 2. — For a road from the forks of Jones's Run to intersect
the Olean road about one mile east of Mr. Gorden's near the Black
Swamp. Viewers : Joseph Hughes, John Barnett, John Wilson, Samuel
Hughes, Williara Mendenhall, and John J. Y. Thompson. December
13. December 18, 1840, confirmed. Order to open, April 24, 1841.
Petition No. j. — For a road from Thoraas AVilkins's to Ebenezer
Carr's. Viewers : Samuel Clark, Thomas AA'ilkms, John Long, John J. Y.
Thompson, Samuel McQuiston, and Daniel Chistiter. December 12,
1837. Read and confirraed May 16, 1838.
Petition No. 6. — For a bridge across Red Bank Creek at or near
Carrier's mill.
A'iewers : David Henry, John Lattimer, James Matson, John Smith,
John AVynkoop, and Job McCreight. December 12, 1837. Approved
by the grand jury, and the county to assist in building the same. Feb
ruary 16, 1838. FEBRUARY SESSIONS, 183S.
Report A^o. J. — Ofa road frora Curry's let to John Bell's in Perry.
A'iewers report in favor of road February 9, 1838 : John Hutchison,
James AV. Bell, Samuel K. AA'illiams, Andrew Gibson, AAlUiam Haddon,
AVilliam Marshall. February 16, 1838, confirmed ni si. May 17, 1838,
confirmed. Petition No. i. — For a bridge across Red Bank Creek at the place
where the road from Aaron Fuller's to Hance Robinson's crosses.
Viewers : Thomas Hastings, John Lucas, Robert Andrews, Isaac
McElvane, Jesse Sraith, and John Barnett. Approved September 12,
1838, by Court. MAY SESSIONS, 1838.
Petition No. i. — For a road from Benjamin Shaffer's to David Mill-
iron's. Viewers : Aaron Fuller, Hance Robinson, Conrad Nolf, Isaac Mc
Elvane, Thomas Gourley, and Jaraes AA'inslow, Esq. Read and con
firmed February 16, 1839.
Petition A^o. 2. — For a road from Dennison's to William McCon-
nell's. Viewers : Henry Keys, Andrew Smith, James Moorhead, Stephen
Tibbetts, James Ross, and Isaac Temple. May 17, 1838. Confirmed
Deceraber 14, 1838. Ordered to be opened 50 feet wide, December 15,
1843. 354

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
DECEMBER SESSIONS, 1 838.
Petition No. 4. — For a road from the twentieth mile-stone on the Sus
quehanna and FrankUn turnpike to the Sandy Lick Creek at the Irish
Town path.
Viewers : AVilliam Reynolds, Sarauel Rea, Henry ]\IcIntosh, Andrew
Smith, AVoodward Reynolds, and David Rhea. December 14, 1838.
May 15, 1839, read and confirmed. MAY SESSIONS, 1839.
Petition No. i. — For a road frora AA'akefield's in Pine Creek town
ship to the district line near Andrew McCormick's, Snyder township.
Viewers : Isaac H. Metcalf, David jMcCormick, John AA'ilson, Ira
Brownson, and Elihu Clark. Approved ;z/ jz' December 10, 1839.
Petition No. 2. — For a road from Aaron Fuller's to the Brookville and
Hamilton road near Mr. Holt's.
Alews : Alonzo Baldwin, John Robinson, Esq., Salmon Fuller, Jr.,
Joel Spyker, John AVelsh, and John Shoemaker. May 14, 1839. Read
and confirmed ni si Deceraber 13, 1839, and ordered to be opened Feb
ruary 10, 1840.
Petition No.j. — For a road from Hance Robinson's mill to the Arm
strong County line near the land of Hulet Smith.
Viewers : Joel Spyker, Alonzo Baldwin, Frederick Heterick, Samuel
Newcomb, Hulet Smith, and Nathan Carrier. May 14, 1839. Read and
confirmed «/« September 10, 1839. Order te open October 7, 1840.
Petition No. 4. — For a road from Daniel Elgin's in Eldred township
to the mouth of Spring Creek in Ridgeway township.
Viewers : James Crow, John McLaughlin, James Moorhead, Henry
Vasbinder, Jr., Peter Vasbinder, and James FuUerton. May 14, 1839.
Read and confirmed ni si December 11, 1839.
Petition No. 6. — For a road from the borough of Brookville to the
Beech Bottom on Clarion River.
Viewers : James Moorhead, John McLaughlin, William Long, Henry
Vasbinder, Jr., Almond Sartwell, and AVilliam Humphreys. May 14,
1839. Read and confirmed December 13, 1839.
Petition No. 8. — For a road from the upper end ofthe Clearfield and
-Armstrong turnpike east of Punxsutawney to intersect the old State Road
at or near John McHenry's.
Viewers : James AA'inslow, Samuel Steffy, David Barnett, Daniel Hen
neigh, Robert Cunningham, and Christian Reischel. May 14, 1839.
Read and confirmed December 13, 1839.
SEPTEMBER SESSIONS, 1 839.
Petition No. i. — For a road from the farm of Levi G. Clover to the
Olean road at or near James Cochran's. 355

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
A'iewers : AA'illiam Kennedy, James Summerville, Henry M. R. Clark,
AYilliam Hindman, John McCracken, and John AYilson, Esq. September
II, 1839. Read ni si 1839. Ordered to be opened May 22, 1840.
Petition A^o. 8. — For a road from the twelfth mile-stone on the turn
pike to intersect the road half a mile east ef John McGhee's.
A'iewers : John Mcintosh, John Atwell, AA'illiam Cooper, John Mc
Ghee, Oliver McClelland, and James Moorhead. September 11, 1839.
May 12, 1840, confirmed and ordered to be opened 50 feet wide.
Report A^o. g. — Of a road from the southeast corner of the Graham
lot on the Punxsutawney road to intersect the turnpike at the northeast
corner of .Andrew Barnett's land.
A'iewers report in favor of road August 23, 1839 : Samuel McQuiston,
Joseph Kerr, Elijah Clark, John J. Y. Thompson, John AA'. Baum. Peti
tioned for May 15, 1839. December 13, 1839, read and confirraed.
Report A^o. 16. — Of a bridge across the Big Mahoning Creek at the
Bell's mills.
Viewers report in favor of bridge November 30, 1837 : John Drum,
Philip Bowers, Daniel Henneigh, John Grube, Samuel Steffy, John
Hutchison. Petitioned for September, 1837. County appropriated
S250 to build said bridge. David McCormick, foreman. Court concur
September 1 1, 1839. DECEMBER SESSIONS, 1839.
Petition A^o. i. — -For a road frora Richards's mill on the Brookville
and Beech Bottom road to intersect the Brockway road at or near the
farm of Almon Sartwell.
A'iewers : John McLaughlin, Jaraes K. Huffman, AVilliam Hum
phreys, Peter Chamberlain, Henry A'asbinder, Jr., and Thomas Drum.
December lo, 1839. May 12, 1840, confirmed.
Petition No. j. — For a road from the Hogback road near Frederick
Lantz's to intersect the Brookville and Indiana road at or near T. S.
Mitchell's store.
A'iewers : George Bless, David Postlethwait, Michael Lantz, Archi
bald Haddon, Jaraes Means, and David Lewis. Approved by Court,
Deceraber 16, 1841.
Petition Ah>. 4. — For a road from T. S. Mitchell's on the Indiana
and Brookville road te intersect the road that leads from Irvin Robin
son's to the Indiana County line.
A'iewers : George Bloss, David Postlethwait, Michael Lantz, .Archi
bald Haddon, James Means, and David Lewis. December 13, 1839.
Confirmed December 18, 1S40.
Petition A\i. 5. — For a road from John Quiggles's to the Big Maho
ning Creek where the line between James Solesby and AA'illiam Campbell
crosses said creek. 356

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
A'iewers : James H. Bell, David Kerr, Samuel Steffy, Samuel Bowers
Charles Shipman, and WiUiam Cochran. Read and confirmed February
term, 1841.
Petition A'o. 6. — For a road from the road that has been of late made
from the twentieth mile-stone to Sandy Lick Creek to the Beechwoods
road, one and a quarter miles from the twentieth mile-stone road.
A'iewers : AVoodward Reynolds, Ramsey Potter, Henry Mcintosh,
Samuel Sprague, and Thomas Reynolds. December 9, 1839. Con
firmed May 12, 1840.
Petition A'o. 7. — For a road from the AA'aterford turnpike one-half
mile east of the twenty-fifth mile-stone to David Losh's grist-mill.
Viewers : William Reynolds, Isaac T\IcElvane, Jacob Horm, Ramsey
Potter, AA'oodward Reynolds, and David Rhea. Deceraber 9, 1839.
Confirmed May 12, 1840. FEBRUARY SESSIONS, 1840.
Petition A'^o. I. — For a road from the Brockway road at or near S.
Tibbetts's to the Beehwoods road at or near James Ross's Lane.
A'iewers : David Dennison, Henry Mcintosh, Henry Keys, Findley
McCormick, AVilliam Cooper, and Isaac Temple. February ii, 1840.
Confirmed May 12, 1840.
Petitioned for to Shaw's from Ross's Lane, September, 1836. Con
firmed to these points May 10, 1837.
.MAY SESSIONS, 1840.
Petition A'o. j. — For a road from the Brockway road at or near Peter
Richards's smith-shop to the Beechwoods road at or near the top of MiU
Creek Hill.
Viewers : John McLaughlin, James Ross, AVilliam Shaw, Henry Vas
binder, Jr., Henry Keys, and Milton Johnston. May 13, 1840. Feb
ruary 10, 1841, read and confirmed to be opened fifty feet wide.
SEPTE.MBER SESSIONS, 1840.
Petition No. 5. — For a road from the Clearfield County line near
Robert Dixon's to Osborne's mill.
"Viewers: John McLaughlin, John McGhee, Henry Mcintosh,
Henry Keys, William Reynolds, and .Andrew Hunter. September ii,
1840. Read and confirmed February lo, 1841.
Report No. p. — Of a road from the road leading from Barnett's to
Punxsutawney, about one mile south of Barnett's, to the old Indiana
road, near the Five-Mile Run.
Ylewers report in favor of read. May 12, 1840: John McLaughlin,
George L. Matthews, William Taylor, Ebenezer L. Kerr, AA'illiam Wiley.
September 17, 1840, read ni si. February 10, 1841, read and confirmed.
357

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

SUSQUEHANNA AND AVATERFORD TURNPIKE— THE OLD TOLL-
G.ATES ALONG THE ROUTE— A FULL HISTORY OF THE OLD
TURNPIKE, A PART OF AVHICH IS NOW MAIN STREET IN REY
NOLDSVILLE.
In 1792 the first stone turnpike in the United States was chartered.
It was constructed in Pennsylvania in 1794 from Lancaster to Philadel
phia. In this year also began the agitation in Pennsylvania for internal
improvement. An agitation that resulted in a great era of State road,
canal, and turnpike construction, encouraged and assisted by the State
government. From 1792 until 1832 the Legislature granted two hundred
and twenty charters for turnpike alone.
These pikes were not all made, but there was completed within that
time, as a result of these grants, three thousand miles of passable roads.
The pioneer turnpike through our wilderness was the Susquehanna and
AA'aterford turnpike. On February 22, 181 2, a law was enacted by the
Pennsylvania Legislature enabling the governor to incorporate a corapany
to build a turnpike from the Susquehanna River, near the mouth of An
derson Creek, in Clearfield County, through Jefferson County and what
is now Brookville, and through the town of Franklin and Meadville, to
AA'aterford, in Erie County. The governor was authorized to subscribe
twelve thousand dollars in shares towards building the road. Joseph
Barnett and Peter Jones, of Jefferson County, and two from each of the
following counties, Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Clearfield, Venango, and
Philadelphia, and two from the city of Philadelphia, were appointed com
missioners to receive stock. Each of the counties just named was re
quired to take a specified number of shares, and the shares were placed
at twenty-five dollars each. Jefferson County was required to take fifty
shares. The war ef 1812 so depressed business in this part of the State that
all work was delayed on this thoroughfare for six years. The corapany
commenced work in 1818, and the survey was completed in October. of
that year. In November, 1818, the sections were offered for sale, and in
November, 1822, the road was completed.
The commissioners employed John Sloan, Esq., to make the survey
and grade the road. They began the survey in the spring and finished
it in the fall of 1818, a distance of one hundred and four miles. The
State took one-third of the stock. James Harriet, of Meadville, Pennsyl
vania, took the contract to build the road, and he gave it out te sub
contractors. Some took five miles, some ten, and so en. AA'ork began
in 1821, and was completed in 1824. The bridge over the Clarion River
was built in 1821, by Moore, from Northumberland County; it was built
with a single arch.
In March, 182 1, an act was passed by the Legislature appropriating
358

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
two thousand five hundred dollars for improving the road. Appoint
ments were made in each county through which the road passed of
people whose duty it was to receive the money for each county and to
pay it out. Charles C. Gaskill and Carpenter AA'inslow represented
Jefferson County.
Andrew Ellicott never surveyed or brushed out this turnpike. He
was one of the commissioners for the old State Road.
Our turnpike -was one hundred and twenty-six miles long. The in
dividual subscriptions to its construction were in total fifty thousand dol
lars, the State aid giving one hundred and forty thousand dollars. This
was up to March, 1822. The finishing of our link in November, 1824,
completed and opened one continuous turnpike road from Philadelphia
to Erie. Our part of this thoroughfare was called a " clay turnpike,"
and in that day was boasted of by the early settlers as the most con
venient and easy travelling read in the United States. That, in fact,
anywhere along the route over the mountain the horses could be treated
to the finest water, and that anywhere along the route, too, the traveUer,
as well as the driver, could regale himself "with the choicest Monon
gahela whiskey bitters, " clear as amber, sweet as musk, and smooth as
oil. " Immediately after the completion of the turnpike mile-stones were
set up. They were on the right-hand side of the road as one travelled
east. The stones when first erected were white, neat, square, and well
finished. On each stone was inscribed, ' To S. 00 miles. To F. 00 miles.'
Of course figures appeared on the stones where ciphers have been placed
above. S. stood for Susquehanna, which is east, and F. for Franklin,
which is west."
Only the commonest goods were hauled into this country ever the
old State Road, and in the early days of the turnpike, Oliver Gregg, with
his six horses, and Joseph Morrow, with his outfit of two teams, were
regularly employed for many years in carrying freight from Philadelphia
to this section. It took four weeks to reach here from Philadelphia, and
the charge for freight was about six dollars per hundred pounds. A man
by the name of Potter in latter years drove an outfit of five roan horses.
Each team had a Conestoga wagon and carried from three to four tons of
goods. THE TOLL-GATE.
AAlth the completion of the turnpike came the toll-gate. One was
erected every five or ten miles.
Gangs of men were kept busy constantly repairing the pike, and they
were individually paid at these gates. The road was then kept in good
condition.

359

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"An Act to enable the Governor of this Com.monwealth to incor
porate A Company for making an Artificial Road, by the Best
AND Nearest Route, fro.m AA'aterford, in the County of Erie,
through Me.\dville and Franklin to the Ri\-er Susquehanna, at
OR NEAR the Mouth of Anderson's Creek, in Clearfield County.
' ' Sectkjn 13. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
the said company, having perfected the said road, or such part thereof,
from tirae to time as aforesaid, and the same being examined, approved,
and licensed as aforesaid, it shall and may be lawful for them to appoint
such and so many toll-gatherers as they shall think proper, te collect and
receive of and from all and every person and persons using the said road
the tolls and rates hereinafter mentioned ; and to stop any person riding,
leading, or driving any horse er mule, or driving any cattle, hogs, sheep,
sulkey, chair, chaise, phaeton, cart, wagon, wain, sleigh, sled, or other
carriage of burden or pleasure from passing through the said gates or
turnpikes until they shall have respectfully paid the same, — that is to say,
for every space of five miles in length ef the said road the following sum
of money, and so in proportion for any greater or less distance, or for
any greater or less number of hogs, sheep, or cattle, to wit : For every
score ef sheep, four cents ; for every score of hogs, six cents ; fer every
score of cattle, twelve cents ; for every horse or mule, laden or unladen,
with his rider or leader, three cents ; for every sulkey, chair, chaise, with
one horse and two wheels, six cents ; and with two horses, nine cents ;
for every chair, coach, phaeton, chaise, stage-wagon, coachee, or light
wagon, with two horses and four wheels, twelve cents; for either of the
carriages last mentioned, with four horses, twenty cents ; for every other
carriage of pleasure, under whatever name it may go, the like sum, ac
cording to the number of wheels and ef horses drawing the same ; for
every sleigh or sled, two cents for each horse drawing the same ; for
every cart or wagon, or other carriage of burden, the wheels of which do
not in breadth exceed four inches, four cents for each horse drawing the
same ; for every cart or wagon, the wheels of which shall exceed in
breadth four inches, and shall not exceed seven inches, three cents for
each horse drawing the sarae ; and when any such carriages as aforesaid
shall be drawn by oxen or mules, in the whole or in part, two oxen shall
be estimated as equal to one horse ; and every ass or mule as equal to
one horse, in charging the aforesaid tolls."
completion of the turnpike.
The first stage line was established over the AVaterford and Susque
hanna turnpike from Bellefonte to Erie by Robert Clark, of Clark's
Ferry, Pennsylvania, in November, 1824. It was called a Concord line,
and at first was a tri-weekly. The first stage-coach passed through where
Brookville now is about the 6th of November, 1S24. In 1824 the route
360

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
was completed to Philadelphia, through Harrisburg, and was a daily
line. " The arrival of the stages in old times was a rauch more important
event than that of the railroad trains to-day. Crowds invariably gathered
at the public houses where the coaches stopped to obtain the latest news,
and the passengers were of decided account for the time being. Money

t, , >.^

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was so scarce that few persons could afford to patronize the stages, and
those who did were looked upon as fortunate beings. A short trip on the
stage was as formidable an affair as one to Chicago or Washington is now
by railroad. The stage-drivers were men of considerable consequence,
especiaUy in the villages through which they passed. They were in-
24 361

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
trusted with many delicate missives and valuable packages, and seldom
betrayed the confidence reposed in theria. They had great skill in hand
ling their horses, and were the admiration and envy of the boys. Talk
about the modern railroad conductor, he is nothing compared with the
importance of the stage-coach driver of sixty and seventy years ago
"The traffic on the turnpike began, of course, at its completion in
November, 1824. It increased gradually until it reached enormous pro
portions. A quarter of a century after the road had been built it arrived
at the zenith of its glory."
Pedlers of all kinds, on foet and in covered wagons, travelled the
pike. From Crawford County came the cheese and white-fish pedier.
Several people, including the hotel-men, would each buy a whole cheese.
The pioneer inns or taverns in Jefferson County along this highway
were about six in nuraber. Five of the six were built of hewed logs, —
viz. : one where Reynoldsville is ; the Packer Inn, near Peter Baum's ;
one near Campbell Run (Ghost Hollow) ; the AVilliam A'asbinder Inn ;
James AVinter's tavern at Roseville; and John McAnulty's inn, kept by
Alexander Powers, where Corsica is now located. The Port Barnett Inn
at this tirae was a " frarae structure," as its picture represents.
The early settlers along the pike east of Port Barnett were John and
Rebecca Fuller in 1822, the Potters in 1S24-25, Andrew McCreight
and wife in 1832, Tilton Reynolds and wife in 1834, Valentine Sraith
in 1835, Woodward Reynolds in 1S37, Thoraas Doling, and others.
These were all in what is now Winslow township. AVest of Port Barnett
the settlers along the pike were Moses Knapp, Joseph Kaylor, E. M.
Graham, Alexander Powers, John Scott, Samuel D. Kennedy, Rev.
Williara Kennedy, John Christy, and John Monks. Lee Tipton had a
store in 1835 about where Corsica is. See chapter on ray early " Recol
lections of Brookville, Pennsylvania."
As Morrow, Gregg, and Potter carried our produce to the Lewistown
market, I reproduce a market-table herewith :
lewistown market, 1837.
Wheat flour per barrel . .  $10.00
Rye ti It li . . , ... 5.00
Wheat grain per bushel ... . 1.95
Rye """... ... 1. 00
Corn <i " 11 , yQ
Oats u .< .. _ ^  ^^Q
Potatoes at'  ^j
Ham . . . .... . . .12
Butter .... . . . . . ... .15
Beeswax  .  ,20
Timothy-seed per bushel . . . . . . 2.50
Clover- "i 11 " . _ . . y 00
Flax- <¦.<'.. , . , . I 25
362

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" An Act to authorize the Commissioners of Jefferson County to
ALTER .A Certain Part of the Susquehanna and AVaterford Turn
pike Road.
" Section i. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repi-esentatives
of the Commomaealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is
hereby enacted by the authority of the same. That the commissioners of
Jefferson County be, and they are hereby authorized and empowered to
lay out and make one mile and ten perches of turnpike road through the
village of Brookville in said county, said road not to exceed five degrees
from a horizontal line, and to be connected with the Susquehanna and
AA'aterford turnpike road at both ends.
" Section 2. A^id be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That
as soon as the said road is finished, so much of the said Susquehanna and
Waterford turnpike road as lies between the points of intersection afore
said may be vacated ; and the commissioners of said county are hereby
authorized to draw their warrant on the treasurer of Jefferson County for
the amount necessarily expended by them in raaking said road.
" Section 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
from and after the ist day of April next it shall be the duty of the super
visors of the public highway in each and every township in the county of
Jefferson to lay out and expend at least two-thirds of the amount of all
the road taxes assessed each year in each and every township aforesaid,
in opening and repairing the public highways within said township and
county, on or before the ist day of October in each and every year.
"Approved — the fourth day of April, one thousand eight hundred
and thirty one.
" George Wolf."
This law authorized a change in the pike in BrookviUe frora Jefferson
Street to Main Street. The Commonwealth awarded the contract for
this work to Thomas and James Hall, who completed the change.
Stage-passengers' rights were guarded as herein by legal statutes.
ACT OF MARCH 6, 1820.
"An Act relative to the Owners and Drivers of Public Stages
AND other Carriages for the Conveyance of Passengers, and
FOR other Purposes.
" Section i. From and after the 1st day of July next, if the driver of
any public stage, mail-coach, coachee, or carriage shall leave the same
with the horses attached thereto, without some suitable person te take
care of such horses, or securely fastening the same, such driver, and the
owner or owners, or any of them, of such stage, mail-coach, coachee, or
carriage shall for every such offence forfeit and pay any sum not less
363

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
than ten nor more than fifty dollars, one moiety whereof shall go to
the person giving information of the comraission of such offence, and the
other moiety to the stock of the county where such offence shall have
been committed : Provided, That the party aggrieved shall have a right
to appeal to the next court of common pleas of the county wherein the
offence was coraraitted.
"Section 2. If any wagoner, carter, drayman, or driver of any
stage, mail coach, coachee, or carriage shall wilfully and vexatiously ob
struct or delay any person or persons traveUing on the public highways
of this Commonwealth, he shall for every such offence forfeit and pay
the sum of twenty dollars, one-half whereof shall go to the person giving
inforraation of the commission of such offence, and the other moiety to
the stock of the county where the offence shall have been committed.
" Section 3. The said penalties may be recovered before any alder
man or justice of the peace, in the same manner as sums not above one
hundred dollars are now by law recovered ; and in any suit or action
brought to recover the sarae, the informer shall be a competent witness,
leaving his credibility, as in other cases, to be judged of by the proper
authority determining the same. And no such suit or action shall be
abated, nor a nonsuit therein ordered, on account of the names of all
the owners of any such stage, mail-coach, coachee, or carriage not being
embraced as defendants, but it shall be lawful to bring and sustain any
such suit or action against any one or more of the said owners : Provided,
That no such suit or action shall be brought against any person for the
penalty incurred by a violation of the provisions of this act after the
expiration ef thirty days from the commission of the offence." *

CHAPTER XXI.
pioneer court — pioneer judges — president and associates — pioneer
bar and early lawyers — minutes of pioneer sessions of court
 december session, 183o, and february session, 183i  list of
retailers of FOREIGN MERCHANDISE IN THE COUNTY, FEBRUARY SES
SIONS, 183I  EARLY CONSTABLES.
The first legislation creating a judiciary in this State was called the
provincial act of March 22, 1722. This court was styled "The Court
of Quarter Sessions of the Peace and Gaol Delivery." The Orphans'
Court was established in 1713. The constitution of 1776 provided for
the continuance of these courts. By the constitution adopted in 1790
¦* For turnpike, see my " Recollections of Brookville."
364

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTA', PENNA.
the judicial power of the State was vested in a Supreme Court, in a Court
of Oyer and Terminer and General Jail Delivery, Coramon Pleas, Quarter
Sessions, Orphans' Court, and Register Court for each county, and for
justices of the peace for boroughs and townships. The early judges
were appointed by the governor.
In 1806, for the more convenient establishment of the Supreme
Court, the State was made into two districts, — viz., the Eastern and
AA'estern. Jefferson County was in the Western.
By an act of the Legislature passed April 2
was attached to the Eighteenth Judicial District.

1830, Jefferson County
Thomas Burnside was

appointed president judge, and John AA'. Jenks and Elijah Heath asso-

Hon. Thomas Burnside, pioneer judge, 1830-35.
ciate judges. They were the pioneer judges of this county. The salary
of an associate judge was one hundred and fifty dollars per year.
Both the president judge of a district and the associate judges for a
county were appointed in this State until 1850, when the State consti
tution was changed to make them elective. The term of the president
judge ran ten years, but the term of the associates was for five years.
In 1835, Burnside resigned and Nathaniel B. Eldred was appointed
district judge. In a short time he resigned, when Alex. McCalmont was
appointed and served ten years. Neither Burnside, Eldred, nor McCal
mont lived in Jefferson County. The president judge's salary was sixteen
hundred dollars a year and mileage.
The early associates, all of whom resided in the county, and whose
service extended only until 1844, were, — viz.: AVilliam Jack, Andrew
Barnett, James AVinslow, and James L. Gillis.
365

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
The early local or home lawyers were Hugh Brady, Cephas J. Dun
ham, Benjamin Bartholomew, Caleb A. Alexander, L. B. Dunham,
Richard Arthurs, Elijah Heath, D. B. Jenks, Thomas Lucas, D. S.
Deering, S. B. Bishop, and Jesse G. Clark. Many very erainent lawyers
from adjoining counties attended our courts regularly at this period.
They usually came en horseback, and brought their papers, etc., in large
leather saddle-bags. Most of these foreign lawyers were very polite
gentlemen, and very particular not to refuse a "drink."
The pioneer law student in the county was Lewis B. Dunham. He
was admitted to the bar of the county at the September term, 1835. It
may be a matter of pride to recall the fact that Benjamin Bartholomew
had a son born while living in Brookville, who became distinguished as
one of the great orators of the State, the Hen. Linn Bartholomew.
PIONEER SESSION  DECEJIBER SESSION, 1830  HELD IN THE UPPER ROOMS
OF THE OLD JAIL.
" Minutes of a Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, held
at Brookville, for the county of Jefferson, on Monday, the sixth day of
December, 1830 :
"Present, the Honorable Thomas Burnside, President, and John AA'.
Jenks and Elijah Heath, Esquires, Judges of said Court. High Sheriff
of Jefferson County, Thomas McKee. Constables, Alfred Cory, Con
stable of Young township, and Hulet Smith, Constable of Rose town
ship, sworn.
"The Court order and direct that a Grand Jury of twenty-four and
a Traverse Jury of thirty-six be summoned returnable to next term."
The following-named gentlemen were admitted to practise law in the
several courts of Jefferson County, and were all sworn and affirmed, — to
wit : Thomas Blair, Thomas AVhite, George AV. Smith, Josiah W. Smith,
John Johnston, Williara Banks, and Hugh Brady, Esq. December 7,
Robert E. Brown, Esq., admitted and sworn as an attorney ofthe several
courts of Jefferson County.
James M. Brockway appointed constable of Ridgeway township and
sworn in open court ; Sarauel Jones appointed constable of Pine Creek
township and sworn in open court ; AA'illiam Hopkins appointed constable
of Perry township for the present year and sworn in open court.
The following constables appeared and made their returns, — to wit :
.Alfred Cory, constable ef Young township, and Hulet Smith, constable
of Rose township. FEBRUARY SESSIONS, 183I.
Grand jurors for February sessions, 1831. Thomas McKee, Esq., high
sheriff of Jefferson County, returns his precipe to him directed and the
366

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
following- named persons for grand jury at February sessions, 1831, — te
wit :

No. I
2 3 4
5
6 .
7
8 .
9 •
10
II
12^3
14 '5
16 '71819
2021
22 .
23
24 .

Name.
. Andrew Barnett
. Jacob Shaffer
. Aaron FuUer
Samuel Jordan
. Joseph Sharp
. John Welsh . .
. Andrew Bowers
William Summerville
John Christy.
Archibald Hadden.
Christ. Heterick.
John H. AVise
John Millen ...
Henry Walborn
Darius Carrier
John McGiffen
, Jacob .Shillery
, Clark Eggleston
Joseph Bell
John Hughes .
Jacob Hoover .
Robert K. Scott .
William Love, Sr.
Thompson Barr

Township.
Pine Creek.
Ridgeway.
. Rose.
Perry Rose.
Rose.
Young. Rose.

Rose.
Perry. Ridgeway. Rose.
. Rose.
Young.
Ridgeway.
. Perry.Rose.
Young. Rose.
Rose.
Rose.

constables' RETURNS FOR FEBRUARY SESSIONS, 1 83 1.
The following constables appeared and made their returns at Febru
ary sessions, 1831, — to wit : Samuel Jones, Pine Creek township; Alfred
Cory, Young township ; WiUiara Hopkins, Perry township ; Hulet Smith,
Rose township ; James Brockway, Ridgeway township.
List of retailers of foreign merchandise in the township of Rose, re
turned at February sessions, 1831, — to wit: William Douglass, Jared B.
Evans, AVilliam Rodgers, Joseph Chambers, John Robinson, John Mc
Anulty, Sr., Andrew Vasbinder, John Eason, AA'illiam Clark.
"A list of retailers of foreign merchandise in the county of Jefferson,
classified according to the act of Assembly in that case provided, — viz. :
John AV. Jenks, 8th class. Young township ; AVilliam Douglass, 8th
class. Rose township; Jared B. Evans, 8th class, Rose township; John
Smith & Co., 8th class, Rose township ; AA'illiam Rodgers, 8th class. Rose
township; Joseph Chambers, 8ch class. Rose township; John Robinson,
8th class. Rose township.
"We, the undersigned Judges and Commissioners of Jefferson County,
367

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENN.A.
do certify the foregoing to be a correct list as returned by the several
Constables, given under our hands the 9th day of February, 1831.
" John AA'. Jenks,
Elijah Heath, fudges.
Thos. Lucas,
Robert Andrew's,
Commissioners of County."
PIONEER ADillSSIONS TO THE BAR FROM 1830 TO 1843.
The naraes of the members of the Jefferson County bar as they have
been recorded on the annals of the court in the order in which they were

Court-house and iail, iS

admitted. Some of these attorneys were not residents ofthis county, but
were admitted to this bar, and practised regularly in our courts.
36S

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
admitted at DECEMBER TERM, 1830.
"Thomas Blair, of Kittanning ; Thoraas White, of Indiana ; George
W. Sraith, of Butler, for ten or fifteen years was afterwards president
judge of this district ; Joseph AV. Smith, of Clearfield ; John Johnston,
of Clearfield ; AVilliam Banks, of Indiana, practised in this court for
many years ; Hugh Brady ; Robert E. Brown, of Kittanning."
FEBRUARY TERM, I 83 I.
"Joseph Martin; AA'illiam AA'atson, of Kittanning, Pennsylvania;
Joseph Buffington, of Bellefonte, practised at this bar for many years ;
was appointed president judge of this district, and afterwards served as
meraber of Congress frora this district."
SEPTEMBER TERM, 1831.
"Cephas J. Dunham, of Brookville ; Ephraim Carpenter, of Indiana,
came here for many years ; Lewis AV. Smith, of Clearfield, came here oc
casionally ; Benjamin Bartholomew, resided in BrookviUe a number of
years, and represented the district in the Legislature in 1846. He removed
from Brookville to AA'arren, and then to Schuylkill County, where he was
afterwards district attorney. Hon. Linn Bartholomew, his son, was born
in Brookville." DECEMBER TERM, 1833.
" Michael Gallagher, of Kittanning ; James McManus, of Bellefonte."
FEBRUARY TERM, I 834.
"AVilliam F. Johnston, of Kittanning, practised regularly at this bar
for many years ; was afterwards governor of Pennsylvania."
MAY TERM, 1S34.
" C. A. Alexander; James Burnside, of Bellefonte."
FEBRUARY TERM, 1835.
" Michael Dan ^NIcGeehan, of Ebensburg ; General AVilliam R. Smith,
from the eastern part of the State, was only here once ; removed to Du
buque, Iowa." MA-l' TERM, 1835.
" Hiram Bayne, of McKean County, practised at this bar regularly
for a number of years. He was engaged in the sale of lands, and was a
member of the State constitutional convention of 1837."
SEPTEMBER TERM, 1835.
"Lewis B. Dunham, of BrookviUe, was the pioneer man admitted on
examination to the Jefferson County bar, and the pioneer law student in
369

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
the county. He practised here for a number of years, and then removed
to the West, — Maquoketa, Iowa. Mr. Dunham did not practise his pro
fession after he left Brookville. He represented Iowa in the State senate.
Stewart Steele, of Blairsville." DECEMBER TER.M, 1835.
" Alexander McCalmont, ef Franklin, practised for many years at this
bar, and was president judge of the district. James Ross Snowdeii, of
Franklin, a prominent attorney and politician, came here occasionally.
Elijah Heath, of Brookville; David Barclay Jenks, of Brookville."
SEPTEMBER TERM.
" Richard Arthurs, of Brookville." SPRING TERM, 1 838.
"Jesse G. Clark." SEPTEMBER TERM, I 839.
"John AV. Howe, of Franklin, came here regularly for many years.
He was a prominent attorney, and was elected member of Congress from
his district. Thomas Struthers, of AVarren, also came here regularly for
many years." DECEMBER TERJI, 1839.
" William M. Stewart, ef Indiana."
DECEMBER TERM, 184O.
"Thomas Lucas, of Brookville." SEPTE.MBER TERM, 1842.
"J. W. McCabe, of Kittanning, came here a few times."
FEBRUARY TERM, 1 843.
"Carlton B. Curtis, of Warren, came here frequently; elected to the
Legislature and Congress twice from the districts of which Jefferson
County formed a part. Andrew Mosgrove, of Kittanning, came here
occasionally. ' ' MAY TERM, 1843.
" David S. Deering, of Brookville, read law, was admitted, and prac
tised at this bar for several years. He now resides in Iowa."
370

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTV, PENNA.
PIONEER LEGAL CARD AND NOTICE IN "THE JEFFERSONIAN.'

Cephas J. Dunham,
Attorney at Law.

office:
PICKERING STREET,
Brookville, Pa.

April, 1834. " TO THE PUBLIC.
" This is to inform the public that I employed C. A. Alexander, Esq.,
attorney-at-law, to conduct a suit for me, for which he agreed to take two
dollars, and took my note for the same, to be paid when I collected the
money, in two or three weeks, the time not exactly remembered; he kept
the note and sued me on an account of three dollars for the same ser
vices, but only get judgment for two. If he has such an ambition for
money the other lawyers will get my business. " Andrew Vastbinder.
" Brookville, August i, 1834."
PIONEER LAWS AND PIONEER HIGHWAYS.
Stewart H. AVhitehill, Esq., of Brookville, Pennsylvania, has kindly
prepared for me this summary of the pioneer laws speciaUy enacted for
Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, and for Brookville, Pennsylvania; also
a summary of the pioneer laws pertaining to the townships and public
highways of said county, as follows :
COUNTY.
March 26, 1804. — Jefferson County erected and boundaries named;
but by the same act annexed to Westmoreland County for judicial pur
poses. February j, 1806. — Authority of commissioners of Westmoreland
County and other county officers of said county extended over and within
the county district of Jefferson.
February 24, 1806. — Jefferson County placed in the Western District
for the Supreme Court, and the State divided into ten judicial districts,
the counties of Somerset, Cambria, Indiana, Armstrong, and Westmore
land comprising the tenth.
March 10, 1806. — Jefferson County annexed to the county ef In
diana, and the authority of the county commissioners and other county
officers of said Indiana County to extend over and within the county of
371

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Jefferson. It remained thus annexed to Indiana County for all purposes
until 1824, and for judicial purposes until 1830.
March ji, 1806. — Jefferson County made into a separate election
district, elections therein to be held at the house of " Joseph Barnett, on
Sandy Lick, in said county."
March 21, 1808. — Jefferson County placed in a Senatorial District,
composed of the counties of Armstrong, Indiana, and Jefferson, the return
judges thereof to "meet at the house occupied by Widow Elder, in Black-
lick township, Indiana County."
By the sarae act Jefferson County placed in a State Representative
District, composed ef the counties of Armstrong, Jefferson, and Indiana,
the return judges of which were to raeet at the house of Absalom AVood
ward in Armstrong County.
March 20, 7(5'i-2. ^Jefferson County placed in the Eleventh Congres
sional District, coraposed of the counties of Westmoreland, Arrastrong,
Jefferson, and Indiana.
March 14, 18 14. — Authority granted for the subdivision of Jefferson
County into six districts, for the election of justices of the peace.
March 8, 181^. — Jefferson County placed in the Sixteenth Senatorial
District, composed of the counties of AVestmoreland, Indiana, and Jef
ferson, the return judges thereof to meet at the house of John Kelly, in the
town of Newport, in Blacklick township, Indiana County.
By the same act Jefferson County was placed in a State Representa
tive District, along with Armstrong and Indiana Counties, the three
counties being entitled to two raerabers, and the return judges were to
meet at the house of Absalom AA'eodward, in Indiana County.
182J. — The Milesburg and Smethport Turnpike Road Company,
authorized " for the purpose of making a turnpike road from Milesburg
in Centre County, past Karthaus in Clearfield County, and Smethport in
McKean County, to the NewYork line," and Jonathan Colgrove, Paul
E. Scull, John King, and Joseph Otto, of McKean County; Peter A.
Karthaus, of Clearfield County ; James L. Gillis, of Jefferson County ;
John Mitchell and Roland Curtin, of Centre County; George Vaux and
Simon Gratz, of the city of Philadelphia, appointed commissioners to
solicit subscriptions for said road, which passed through Ridgeway, then in
the county of Jefferson. Notice of the time and place when and where
books to be opened to receive subscriptions of stock to be published in
the Bellefonte Patriot and the Lycoming Gazette, and one paper pub
lished in the city of Philadelphia. Upon subscription of twenty er mere
persons, representing six hundred or more shares of twenty dollars each,
the governor to incorporate the company, which was to have power to
erect and maintain toll-gates upon and across said turnpike, as will be
seen by the following section of the act :
"Section 13. — And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid,
372

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
That whenever and as often as the said company shall have finished five
miles or more of said road the president thereof may give notice to the
governor, who shall thereupon forthwith appoint three skilful, judicious,
and disinterested persons to view and examine the same and report on
oath or affirmation to hira whether the road is so far executed in a com
petent and Vorkmanlike manner, according to the true meaning and
intent of this act ; and if their report shall be in the affirmative, then the
governor shall, by license under his hand and seal of the State, permit
and suffer said corapany to erect and fix such and so many gates or turn
pikes upon and across the said road as will be necessary and sufficient
to collect from all persons travelling the same, otherwise than on foot,
the same tolls which are hereinafter authorized and granted : Provided,
That all persons attending funerals, military parades, or trainings or
divine worship on the Sabbath-day shall at all times be exempt from the
payment of any toll on said road."
1828. — "A Supple.ment to the Act entitled 'An Act author
izing THE Governor to incorporate the Milesburg and Smeth
port Turnpike Road Co.mpany.'
" Section i. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is
hereby enacted by the authority of the same. That the governor be and is
hereby authorized and required to subscribe twenty thousand doUars, in
shares of twenty dollars each, to the stock of the Milesburg and Smeth
port Turnpike Road Company ; and as soon as any five railes of the
road shall be completed, it shall be the duty of the governor to draw his
warrant on the State treasurer for a sum in proportion to the whole dis
tance, and a like sum for every five miles, until the whole sum shall be
drawn : Provided, That previous to any payment from the treasury satis
factory evidence shall be furnished to the governor that sums equal at
least in amount to the sums drawn from the treasury shall have been paid
by individual stockholders and expended agreeably to the provisions of
the twelfth section of the act incorporating the said turnpike road com
pany, passed the eleventh day of April, one thousand eight hundred and
twenty-five: And Provided further. That there shall not be more than
five thousand dollars of the aforesaid sum of twenty thousand doUars
drawn from the said treasury in any one year.
" Approved — the second day of February, a.d. one thousand eight
hundred and twenty-eight. "J. Andw. Shulze."

373

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
1831. — "A Further Supplement to the said Act incorporating said
Turnpike Road Company, being the Second Section of the
Act of the 4TH Day of April, a.d. 1831, as follows:
"Section 2. And he it further enacted by the authority aforesaid.
That the proceedings which are authorized by the thirteenth section of
the act entitled ' A Further Supplement to the Act entitled An Act
authorizing the Governor te incorporate the Milesburg and Smethport
Turnpike Road Company,' passed eleventh day of April, one thousand
eight hundred and twenty-five, and a supplement te the said act, passed
the second day of February, one thousand eight hundred and tAventy-
eight, in cases when the said company shall have finished five miles or
more of said road, be and the same are hereby authorized and extended
to portions less than five miles of said road, which are and shall hereafter
be finished as aforesaid."
i8'26. — .A further supplement authorizing the State to subscribe five
thousand doUars additional stock in said turnpike.
March 24, i8iy. — The county having been divided into two election
districts, — Pine Creek and Perry, — the latter declared a separate election
district by act of Assembly, — elections therein to be held at the house of
John Bell, of said township.
April 22, 1822. — Jefferson County placed in the Seventeenth Con
gressional District, composed of the counties of AVestmoreland, Indiana,
and Jefferson.
December 2j, 1822. — Sales of unseated lands in Jefferson County for
taxes authorized.
fanuary 21, 1824. — Election of county commissioners and county
auditors first authorized; and when elected, to "hold their office and
transact the public business at such places as shall be determined upon
by a majority of the commissioners first elected until the seat of justice
is ascertained." 1826. — County commissioners of the provisional county of Jefferson
to draw their warrants on the county treasurer for expenses of laying out
roads, criminal prosecutions, and all other costs and expenses incidental
to said county ; and the authority of the county commissioners of Indiana
County over Jefferson County to cease.
1826. — One-half of all road taxes received by the treasurers of Jeffer
son and McKean Counties from unseated lands to be applied for seven
years to the improvement of the "leading roads" in said counties; and
C. C. Gaskill and James Gillis, of Jefferson County, and Jonathan Col
grove and Paul E. Scull, of McKean County, appointed commissioners
to expend said fund in the "making, clearing, and opening" of said
" leading roads."
1828. — The above act repealed as to Jefferson County.
374

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
April 10, 1826. — Young township having been erected, now made a
separate election district, — elections therein to be held at the house of
Elijah Heath, in Punxsutawney.
April 16, 182/. — Ridgeway township, of Jefferson County, having
been formed, the same is now raade into a separate election district, —
elections to be held at the house ef James Gallagher in said township.
April 14, 1828. — Rose township having been erected, the same is
now declared a separate election district, — elections therein to be held
at the house of John Lucas, in said township.
March j, i82g. — An act te encourage the destruction of foxes and
wild-cats, awarding a bounty of thirty-seven and a half cents on the scalp
of every fox produced, and one dollar on the scalp of every wild-cat.
April 8, i82g. — John Mitchell, of Centre County; Alexander Mc
Calmont, of Venango County ; and Robert Orr, of Armstrong County,
appointed to raeet at the house of .Andrew Barnett, of Jefferson County,
and from thence to view, select, and " determine the most eligible and
proper situation for the seat of justice for the said county of Jefferson."
April 2, i8jo. — "An .Act to organize the Provisional County of
Jefferson for Judicial Purposes.
" Section i. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is
hereby enacted by the authority of the same. That from and after the first
day of October next the inhabitants of the county of Jefferson shall
enjoy all and singular the jurisdictions, powers, rights, liberties, and
privileges whatsoever within the same which the inhabitants of other
counties of this State do, may, or ought te enjoy by the laws and consti
tution of this Commonwealth.
" Section 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
the county of Jefferson shall be attached to and form a part of the Fourth
Judicial District, until otherwise ordered by law, and that the judges of
the Supreme Court, and the president of the Fourth Judicial District,
and the associate judges to be appointed in the said county of Jefferson,
shall have like powers, jurisdictions, and authorities within the same, as
are or may be warranted to and exercised by the judges in the other
counties of this Commonwealth, and the said county of Jefferson is hereby
annexed to the Western District of the Supreme Court of this Common
wealth. " Section 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That
the citizens and inhabitants of the said county of Jefferson, who are or
shall be qualified to vote agreeably to the Constitution and laws of this
Commonwealth, shall at the first general election, to be held on the
second Tuesday in October next at their respective election districts,
choose two fit persons for sheriffs, two for coroners, and all other officers
375

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
necessary to be elected for the said county ef Jefferson in the same
manner and under the same rules, regulations, and penalties as by the
laws of this Commonwealth similar officers are chosen in other counties,
and said officers when chosen as aforesaid and duly qualified to enter on
the duties of their respective offices shall have and enjoy all and singular
the powers, authorities, privileges, and emoluments in or any way arising
out of their respective offices, in and for the county aforesaid, as fully as
such officers are entitled to in any other county within this Common
wealth ; and it shall and is hereby declared lawful for all the public
officers of the said county of Jefferson, from and after the first day of
October next, to do, perform, and exercise all the duties of their respec
tive offices in as full and ample raanner as if the several courts should be
opened on that day by the president and judges of the same, and any
process that may issue returnable to the first term in said county shall
bear test as of the first day ef October next.
' ' Section 4. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
the Courts of Comraon Pleas and General Quarter Sessions of the Peace,
and Orphans' Court for the county of Jefferson shall, from and after the
first day of October next, commence and be holden on the first Monday
after the courts in Clearfield County.
" Section 5. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
all suits which shall be pending and undetermined in the Court of Com
mon Pleas of Indiana County on the first day of October next, when the
defendant or defendants in such suit or suits shall at that tirae be resident
in Jefferson County, shall be transferred to the Court of Coramon Pleas
of Jefferson County, and shall be considered as pending in said court,
and shall be proceeded on in like manner as if the same had been
originally commenced in said court, except that the fees thereon, due to
the officers in Indiana County, shall be paid to them when recovered by
the prothonotary or sheriff of Jefferson County, and the prothonotary of
Indiana County shall procure a docket and copy therein all the docket
entries respecting the said suits to be transferred as aforesaid, and shall
on or before the fourth Monday in November next have the said docket,
together with the records, declarations, and other papers respecting said
suits, ready to be delivered to the prothonotary of Jefferson County, the
expense of said docket and copying to be paid by the prothonotary of
Jefferson County, and reimbursed by the said county of Jefferson on
warrants to be drawn by the commissioners of Jefferson County on the
treasury thereof.
" Section 6. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That
it shall and may be lawful for the commissioners of Jefferson County,
and they are hereby required, as soon as they may deem it expedient, to
erect or cause to be erected on such part of the public square in the town
of BrookviUe as they may deem best suited thereto a court-house, and
376

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
offices for the safe-keeping of the papers and records of the said county,
and until such court-house is erected the courts of justice shall be opened
and held in such house in said county as the judges and commissioners
may obtain for that purpose.
" Section 7. A)id be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
the sheriff, coroner, and other public officers of Indiana County shall
continue to exercise- the- duties ef their respective offices within the
county of Jefferson until similar officers are appointed and elected agree
ably to law within and for the said county of Jefferson.
" Section 8. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That -
the sheriffs and coroners of the said county of Jefferson before they enter
on the duties of their offices shall give security in like sums as similar
officers do in the county of Indiana and in the same manner, and under
the restrictions as similar officers are compelled to do in the several
counties ef this Commonwealth.
" Section 9. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
the seat of justice for the county of Jefferson shall be, and the same is
established and confirmed at the mouth of the North Fork of Sandy Lick
Creek, in the county of Jefferson, and it shall be the duty of the com
missioners of said county to demand and receive from John Pickering,
Esq., a sufficient deed or deeds in fee-simple, in trust to them and their
successors in office for the use of said county, for all the lands or lots
which the said John Pickering, Esq., has agreed to give for the purpose
of aiding in the erection of public buildings, agreeably te the act of the
General Asserably of the eighth day of April, a.d. one thousand eight
hundred and twenty-nine, entitled ' An Act authorizing the Appointment
of Commissioners to fix a proper Site for the Seat of Justice in Jefferson
County, and also for one Public Square in the said Town of Brookville
for the purpose of erecting Public Buildings thereon,' and the said com
missioners shall procure the said deed or deeds when recorded in the
office for the recording of deeds in the county of Indiana, to be recorded
in the proper books directed to be kept for the county of Jefferson, and
the said commissioners and their successors in office, or a majority of
them, shall and are hereby authorized to sell and dispose of the said lands
or lots aforesaid, and to make and execute deeds to the purchasers, and
the moneys arising from such sales shall be by them applied to the erec
tion of public buildings for the use of the said county of Jefferson.
"Section 10. And be it further etiacted by the authority aforesaid.
That the said commissioners shall, as soon as may be, proceed to lay out
the said town of BrookviUe, and file a draught and return of the survey
of the said town, together With the proceedings under and by virtue of
this act, in the office for the recording of deeds in and for the county of
Jefferson, and an exemplification of the same shall be evidence in all
matters of controversy touching the same.
25 377

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"Approved — the second day of April, a.d. one thousand eight hun-
dred and thirty. "Geo. AVolf."
i8ji. — An act relieving the prothonotary, register, and recorder of
Jefferson County frora payment of State tax on his fees and commissions,
and refunding all such taxes already paid by hira.
i8ji. — Commissioners of Jefferson County authorized to alter the
location of, and to lay out and make one raile and ten perches of, the Sus
quehanna and Waterford turnpike, where it passes through the village of
BrookviUe. i8ji. — Township supervisors of Jefferson County authorized and re
quired te expend at least two-thirds of the annual road tax in the repair
and iraproveraent of the public roads of their respective townships, on or
before the ist day of October in each and every year.
February 7, i8j2. — Boundary line between Jeft'erson and A'enango
Counties fixed, Richard Irvin, Esq., having run and raarked the same
" to the entire satisfaction of both counties."
i8jj. — Jefferson County placed in the Eighteenth Judicial District
by section 8 of the act of 1833, which reads as follows :
" And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That from and
after the first day of September, Anno Domini one thousand eight hun
dred and thirty-five, the said county of Potter, and the counties of
McKean, Warren, and Jefferson, shall be formed into a separate judicial
district, to be called the Eighteenth District, and a person ef integrity,
learned in the law, shall be appointed and commissioned by the governor
to be president and judge of the Courts of Common Pleas within the said
district, which president shall receive the like salary, and have and exe
cute all and singular the powers, jurisdictions, and authority of president
judge of the Court ef Common Pleas, Court of Oyer and Terminer and
General Jail DeUvery, Orphans' Court, and justice of the Court of Quar
ter Sessions of the Peace, agreeably to the constitution and laws of this
Commonwealth. The courts in Potter County shall be held on the first
Mondajs ef February, May, September, and December of each year ; the
courts in McKean County on the first Monday after these in Potter
County ; the courts in Warren County on the first Monday after the courts
in McKean County; and the courts in Jefferson County en the first
Monday after the courts in AVarren County, the courts in each county to
continue one week if necessary."
i8j4. — Recognizances and bonds of the sheriffof Jefferson County
fixed at §7000.
i8jS- — Courts of Jefferson County authorized to be held on the second
Mondays of February, May, September, and December.
/(Syj. — AA'heat, rye, and corn flour, designed for exportation as a
product of Jefferson County, to be stamped.
37S

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
z^jp. — An act authorizing one person to hold and exercise the several
offices of prothonotary, clerk of the courts, register, and recorder in the
county of Jefferson. This act remained in force until 1893.
1840. — Commission appointed to run and mark the division line be
tween the counties of Jefferson, Warren, McKean, and Clearfield, consist
ing of Jonathan Coalgrove, of the county of McKean, Elijah Heath, of the
county of Jefferson, and John S. Brockway, of the county of Clearfield.
1840. — -An act to encourage the destruction of wolves and panthers,
giving a bounty of twenty- five dollars on wolves and sixteen dollars en
panthers. Repealed in 1841.
1841. — An act requiring township elections in the county ef Jefferson
to be held on the second Tuesday of February, annually.
1842. — Township elections to be held on the fourth Monday of Feb
ruary, annually.
1842. — County commissioners of Jefferson County authorized to issue
orders to supervisors on county treasurer for road taxes collected on un
seated lands, and prescribing the form thereof.
1842. — Jefferson County commissioners authorized to issue orders on
county treasurer for school taxes collected on unseated lands in favor of
the school treasurers of the respective townships, and the form thereof
prescribed. 184J. — -Act granting premiums on destruction of wild-cats and foxes
repealed as to Jefferson County.
1843. — jNIechanics' lien law extended to Jefferson County.
184J. — Elk County erected out of parts of Jefferson, Clearfield, and
McKean Counties. Timothy Ives, Jr., of Potter County; James W.
Guthrie, ef Clarion County ; and Zachariah H. Eddy, of AVarren County,
appointed commissioners te "ascertain and plainly mark the boundary
lines of said county of Elk."
By same act, Jefferson County to receive and provide for all Elk
County prisoners for three years, or until Elk County erects a jail.
1843. — Jefferson County placed in the Twenty-third Congressional
District, composed ef the counties of Erie, Warren, McKean, Clarion,
Potter, and Jefferson.
1843. — Jefferson County placed in the Twenty- eighth Senatorial Dis
trict, composed of the counties of AVarren, Jefferson, Clarion, McKean,
and Potter. Same act places Jefferson, Clarion, and Venango Counties
together in one legislative district, and authorizes the three counties to
elect two members.
1844. — Supplement to the act erecting Elk County, regarding the
bringing of suits, liens, revival of judgments, and the issuing of execution
writs, etc.
i84§. — All expenses for laying out and opening roads in Jefferson
County to be paid out of the road funds of the several townships through
379

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
which the same may pass. All expenses for the election of township offi
cers in said county to be paid out ef township rates and levies. Super
visors in the county of Jefferson required to give bond in double the
amount of the sum assessed for road purposes ; and township auditors,
within ten days after settlement with supervisors, to file a copy of said
settlement with the clerk of the quarter sessions.
1S43. — '^^ ^ct authorizing but three road and bridge viewers in Jef
ferson County, and requiring all to view.
1846. — Certain deeds made and improperly executed by Jefferson
County commissioners legalized. brookville borough.
1830. — County commissioners authorized to lay out the town, and
limits thereof defined by courses and distances.
1834. — Borough incorporated. Election of borough officers author
ized, and Thomas Hastings and Jared B. Evans, Esqs., te publish notice
"and see to the opening ef the election."
1833. — Manner and tirae of electing constable for Brookville pre
scribed. J837. — Six school directors to be elected in the borough on the first
Monday of January annually.
1837. — Brookville to have and own the school taxes assessed against
its own citizens by Rose township.
1S38. — Brookville Academy established "for the education of youth
in the English and other languages, and in the useful arts, sciences, and
literature, under the care and directions of six trustees and their suc
cessors in office." The six trustees first appointed were C. .A. Alexander,
Thomas Hastings, John J. Y. Thompson, Levi G. Clover, John Pearce,
and Richard .Arthurs. By same act the State appropriated §2000 to said
Brookville Acaderay.
183S. — Brookville Feraale Seminary authorized and established, and
Andrew Barnett, Thomas Hastings, Levi G. Clover, William Jack, Elijah
Heath, C. A. Alexander, John Bell, Charles K. Barclay, and John AV.
Jenks appointed trustees.
1841. — County commissioners authorized to subscribe S500 te the
Brookville Academy. Three trustees thereafter to be elected annually
" by the qualified voters of the county."
1842. — After payment of the S500 to the BrookviUe Academy, to be
subscribed and paid by the county, trustees of the said academy to be
elected by the voters of the whole county.
1842. — Brookville borough to elect two constables and one assessor
annually. 1843. — Voters of Jefferson County not to vote for trustees until the
3S0

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
county commissioners have subscribed and paid the aforesaid $500 here
tofore authorized to be subscribed.
1843. — Borough officers to be elected on the first Monday of March
annually. J843. — Market, Water, Jefferson, and Church Streets, of the borough
of Brookville, authorized. TOWNSHIPS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
1804. — Pine Creek was the original township, coextensive with the
county as erected in 1804. PERRY.
1817. — Perry township made a separate election district, and elections
therein to be held in the house of John Bell in said township.
1826. — Elections in Perry township to be held at the house of Jacob
Heterick in said township.
1830. — Auditors of Young and Perry townships authorized to audit
and settle the accounts of John Van Horn as supervisor of Perry town
ship previous te its division into the said townships of Perry and Young,
and to apportion the balance found due him between the said townships.
1833. — Elections in Perry township to be held at the house of AVilliam
Stunkard in said township.
1842. — Perry township divided into two school districts, — Perry and
Whitesville. YOUNG.
1826. — Young township to hold its elections at the house of Elijah
Heath, in the town of Punxsutawney. RIDGEWAY.
1827. — Ridgeway township made a separate election district, and
elections to be held at the house of James Gallagher.
rose.
1828. — Rose township made a separate election district, and elec
tions to be held at the house of John Lucas in said township.
1834. — Rose township elections to be held at court house, Brook
ville, Pennsylvania.
1836. — Rose township divided for election purposes, the western end
thereof to hold its elections at the house of Darius Carrier.
1838. — Rose township again divided for election purposes by a dif
ferent Une from that estabUshed by the act of 1836 ; but both parts of
the township were required to vote at Brookville. This was very un
satisfactory, and so in 1840 this act of 1838 was repealed by a revival of
the act of 1836, permitting again the western end of the township to vote
381

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
at the house of Darius Carrier, the site of which is now, in 1897, within
the limits of the borough of Summerville.
1838. — Boundaries ef Rose township determined and fixed, extend
ing to the Armstrong County line.
1842. — Rose township elections to be held at the court-house in the
borough of Brookville. barnett.
1832.. — Barnett township elections to be held at the house of John
Wyncoop in said township.
/cJj'j.— Barnett township elections to be held at the house of Alexan
der Murray in said township. YOUNG.
1838. — Young township divided for election purposes by an east and
west line, and all electors north of that line to hold their elections "at
the Paradise School-House, near Jacob Smith's, in said district."
eldred.
1836. — Eldred township declared a separate election district, and elec
tions to be held at the house of James Linn in said township.

1833. — Snyder township declared a separate election district, and
elections to be held "at the house of John McLaughlin on the Brockway
road in said township."
1838. — Elections in Snyder township to be held on the third Tuesday
of February, instead of the first Friday of March.
1842. — Elections in Snyder township to be held at the house of
James M. Brockway in said township. WASHINGTON.
1838. — AA^ashington township declared a separate election district,
and elections therein to be held at the house of John Mcintosh in said
township. JENKS.
1838. — Jenks township in Jefferson County declared a separate elec
tion district, and elections therein to be held at the house of Cyrus
Blood in said township. porter.
1840. — Porter township declared a separate election district, and elec
tions therein to be held at the house of Henry Freese in said township.
closer.
1842. — Clover township elections to be held at the house of Darius
Carrier, in the village of Troy in said township.
382

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
GASKILL.
1842. — Elections in Gaskill township to be held at the house of
Henry Miller in said township.
1844. — Elections in said township to be held at "Miller's District
School- House." WARSAW.
1842. — AA'arsaw township declared a separate election district, and
elections therein to be held at the house of AVilliam Weeks in said town
ship. TIONESTA.
1838. — Tionesta township, in Jefferson County, declared a separate
election district, and elections therein to be held at the house of John
Noeff in said township.
1844- — One-fourth of the road taxes levied and coUected in Tionesta
township, in the county of Jefferson, to be applied annually for six years
to repairs and improvement of the Warren and Ridgeway turnpike.
HIGHWAYS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY AS MADE BY ACT OF
ASSE.MBLY.
I7g8. — Red Bank Creek declared a public highway from its mouth to
the "second great fork," which is the North Fork.
1817. — One thousand doUars appropriated by the State " for the pur
pose of improving the navigation of Red Bank Creek from the mouth
thereof as far up as it is declared navigable."
1820. — Sandy Lick Creek declared a public highway up to Henry
Nulf's saw mill in the county of Jefferson.
I7g8. — Toby's Creek, now Clarion River, declared a public highway
from its mouth up to the second great fork thereof.
1817. — Two hundred dollars appropriated by the State " for the pur
pose of improving the navigation of Toby's Creek."
1808. — Big Mahoning declared a public highway from its mouth up to
the mouth of Canoe Creek, and permission given and regulated to erect
dams in said creek.
1817. — Appropriation by the State of §800 "for the purpose of re
moving obstructions in Big Mahoning Creek, and improving the navi
gation of the same between the mouth of Little Mahoning and the
confluence of said creek with the river Allegheny."
1835. — Big Mahoning Creek declared a public highway from the
mouth of Canoe Creek to the forks of Stump Creek in Jefferson County.
1843. — Incorporation of the Mahoning Navigation Company author
ized, and J. W. Jenks, AVilliam Campbell, and James Torrence appointed
commissioners to procure books, solicit subscriptions, and organize the
company. 383

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
1812. — Incorporation of the Susquehanna and AVaterford Turnpike
Company authorized. Governor of Pennsylvania to subscribe §125,000
in the stock ef said road.
1814. — Supplement to said act extending the time fer subscriptions
to the stock ef said company three years from the 22d ef February, 1815.
1818. — Supplement extending the time five years from March 20,
1818. 1821. — Governor of Pennsylvania, en behalf of the State, authorized
to subscribe §15,000, in addition to the amount before subscribed, to the
Susquehanna and Waterford Turnpike Company. By a report made in
the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, March 23, 1822, it appears
that the contemplated length of this road was one hundred and twenty-
six miles, one hundred and seventeen of which were completed at that
date. About twenty six miles of this turnpike were laid eut within the
limits of the county of Jefferson.
1838. — Susquehanna and AA'aterford Turnpike Road Company author
ized to open their road one hundred feet wide through marshy places,
"so as to let the light and air upon the same."
OLEAN ROAD.
i8ig. — This State road was authorized by the following act of As
sembly ¦
"An Act .authorizing the Governor to appoint Com.missioners for
THE PURPOSE OF LAVING OUT A StATE RoaD FROM THE ToWN OF KIT
TANNING TO THE State Line, in Diraection to the A'illage of
Hamilton, in the Township of Olean, i.n the State of New
A^ORK, AND ALSO FROM MiLESBURG IN CeNTRE CoUNTY TO ClaRION
River in Jefferson County.
' ' Section 1 . Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of tiie Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is
hereby enacted by tiie autliority of the same. That the governor be, and is
hereby authorized and required to appoint three coraraissioners, one of
whora shall be a practical surveyor, to view, mark, and lay out a State
road from the town of Kittanning, in the county of Armstrong; thence
on the nearest and best route to the State line, en a direction to the vil
lage of Hamilton, on the Allegheny River, in the township of Olean, in
the State of Nevv A'ork ; and the commissioners so appointed shall pro
ceed to perform the duties required of them by this act on or before the
first Monday in June next, and shall raake out apd deposit a copy of the
draft of said road in the office of the clerk of the Court of Quarter Ses
sions in each county through which said road shall pass, and the said
clerks shall enter the sarae in their respective offices, which shall be a
record of said road ; and from thenceforth the said road shall be, to all
384

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COU.NTY, PENNA.
intents and purposes, a public highway, and shall be opened and kept in
repair in the same raanner as roads laid out by order of the Court of
Quarter Sessions of the county through which said road passes."
Section 2 provides for the oath of the commissioners, their pay, and
the settlement of their accounts.
Sections 3 and 4 pertain only to the other State road mentioned in
the title of the act.
"Approved — the twenty-third day of March, one thousand eight
hundred and nineteen."
1821. -Appropriation of SSooo to the Olean road by the nineteenth
section of "An Act for the Improvement of the State," which reads as
follows :
" Section 19. And be it further enacted by tlie autliority aforesaid. That
the sum of eight thousand dollars be, and the same is hereby appropriated
for the opening and improving a State road, recently laid out from the
town of Kittanning in Armstrong County to the State Une, on a direction
to the village ef Hamilton, in the State of New York, which passes through
Armstrong, Jefferson, and McKean Counties, to be expended in the said
counties through which said road passes in proportion to the distance
it passes through the same respectively. And the governor is hereby
authorized to draw his warrant on the State treasurer in favor of the
following named persons — that is, for that part of the said road which
lies in Armstrong County in favor of David Lawson and James Cochran,
Armstrong County; and for that part of said road which lies in Jeffer
son County in favor of John Sloan, Jr., of Armstrong County, John
Matson, and John Lucas, of Jefferson County ; and for that pait of said
road that lies in McKean County in favor of Brewster Freeman and Jo
seph Otto, of McKean County, who are hereby appointed commissioners
to receive and expend the said sum in opening and iraproving the said
road within the limits of the counties to which they are appointed to
superintend, etc.
"Approved — March 26, 1821."
i8jg. — State road from Kittanning to the mouth of Anderson's
Creek, in Clearfield County, authorized by
"An Act to authorize the Governor to appoint Commissioners to
LAY OUT a State Road from the Town of Kittanning in a Direc
tion TO the Mouth of Anderson's Creek.
" Section i. Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is
hereby enacted by the authority of the same. That the governor is, and he
is hereby authorized to appoint three commissioners, one of which shall
be a practical surveyor, to view, mark, and lay out a State road from the
3S5

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
town of Kittanning, thence by the nighest and best route on a direction
towards the mouth of Anderson's Creek, in Clearfield County, to inter
sect a road from Bellefonte to Erie. And the commissioners so ap
pointed shall proceed to perform the duties ef their appointment at such
time as the governor shall direct. And they shall make out and deposit
a draft of said road in the office of the clerk of the Court ef Quarter
Sessions in each county through which said road shall pass, and the said
clerks shall enter the same in their respective offices, which shall be a
record of said road, and frora thenceforth the said road shall be to all
intents and purposes a public highway, and shall be opened and kept in
repair in the same raanner as roads laid by order of the Courts ef Quarter
Sessions of the counties through which said road passes.
"Approved — January 27, 1819."
1821. — .Appropriation of S2500 tothe State road from Kittanning to
Anderson's Creek, Clearfield County, by ".An Act for the Improvement
of the State."
" Section 18. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That
the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars be, and the same is hereby
appropriated for the purpose of opening and improving a State road re
cently laid out from the mouth of Anderson's Creek, in Clearfield County,
to the town of Kittanning, in Arrastrong County, which passes through
the counties of Clearfield, Jefferson, Indiana, and .Armstrong, to be ex
pended in the same counties through which said road passes in proportion
to the distance it passes through the sarae, and the governor is hereby
authorized to draw his warrant on the State treasurer in favor of the fol
lowing-named persons, — that is, for that part of said read which lies in
Armstrong County in favor of James Hannagan and Joseph Marshall,
of -Armstrong County ; for that part of said road which lies in Indiana
County in favor of James McComb and AVilliam Travis, of Indiana
County ; for that part of said road lying in Jefferson County in favor of
Charles C. Gaskill and Carpenter AA'inslow, of Jefferson County; and for
that part lying in Clearfield County in favor of David Ferguson and
Moses Boggs, of said county, who are hereby appointed commissioners
to receive and expend the said sum in opening and improving the said
road within the limits of the counties to which they are appointed to
superintend, and the said commissioners shall each be entitled to receive
as a full compensation one dollar and fifty cents per day for every day
they shall be necessarily employed in performing their respective duties.
" .Approved — March 26, 1821."
T824. — State road frora AVarren to Brookville authorized.
1823. — "State road frora Indiana through Punxsutawney, in the
county of Jefferson, and Smethport, in the county of McKean, to the
386

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
town of Ceres, in said county of McKean," authorized, and Meek Kelly,
of Indiana County, John Sloan, Jr., of Armstrong County, and Charles
C. Gaskill, of Jefferson County, appointed commissioners to view, lay
out, and mark the sarae.
1826. — AVarren and Jefferson County Turnpike Road Company author
ized " for the purpose of making a turnpike road from the town ef War
ren, in AVarren County, to the Susquehanna and Waterford Turnpike, at
or near the bridge over the north fork of Sandy Lick Creek, in Jefferson
County," and Joseph Hackney, John .Andrews, and Archibald Tanner,
of AVarren County ; Thomas Lucas, Charles C. Gaskill, and John Matson,
of Jefferson County, appointed commissioners to solicit subscriptions and
organize the company.
1826. — An act to improve the leading roads in McKean and Jefferson
Counties. 1826. — Clearfield and Jefferson Turnpike authorized, and Charles C.
Gaskill, Dr. John W. Jenks, Andrew Barnett, and Thoraas Lucas, ofthe
county of Jefferson; and Greenwood Bell, John Irvin, David Ferguson,
and Alexander B. Read, of Clearfield County, appointed commissioners
to procure books and solicit subscriptions for said road, and generally to as
sist in the organization of the company, to be known as " The President,
Managers, and Company of the Clearfield and Jefferson Turnpike Road."
1826. — Sandy Lick or Red Bank Creek declared a public highway
frora the eastern boundary of Jefferson County to its mouth, for the
passage of descending boats, rafts, etc. ; and permission granted, and
regulations prescribed, fer the erection of dams in said creek.
1828. — Little Toby's Creek, in the counties ef Clearfield and Jeffer
son, from the mouth of John Shaffer's mill-run, on the main branch of
Toby's Creek, and from the forks of Brandy Camp (or Kersey Creek) to
the Clarion River, declared a public highway for the passage of rafts,
boats, and ether craft, and permission given to erect and regulate daras
on said creek.
1833. — North Fork Creek, in Jefferson County, frora its mouth to
Ridgeway, declared a public highway.
1834. — State road from Kittanning to Brookville authorized, and John
Sloan, Jr., Alexander Duncan, and James Corbett appointed commission
ers to view and lay out the same.
1833. — Commissioners appointed to lay out State road from Kit
tanning to Brookville: AA'illiam Jack, John Cribbs, Jr., and Robert
Richards. 1838. — Luthersburg and Punxsutawney Road Company authorized,
" for the purpose of making a turnpike from the town of Punxsutawney,
in the county of Jefferson, to the town of Luthersburg, in Clearfield
County," and Lebbeus Luther, John Jordan, Benjamin Bonsall, David
Irvin, Jacob Flick, Benjamin Carson, David Hoover, David Henny, and
387

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Jeremiah Miles, of the county of Clearfield ; AVilliam Campbell, Charles
R. Barclay, Charles C. Gaskill, James AVinslow, James AV. Bell, and John
Hoover (miller), of the county of Jefferson, appointed commissioners to
solicit subscriptions fer stock, and generally to assist in the organization
of the company to be known as "The Luthersburg and Punxsutawney
Road Company."
1838. — The governor of Pennsylvania authorized and required to sub
scribe 8 4000 to the Luthersburg and Punxsutawney Turnpike Company
"if incorporated the present session."
1830. — State road from AA'arren to Ridgeway's settlement, in Jeffer
son County, authorized, and Robert Falconer, John Andrews, and Lan
sing AA'itmore, of AA'arren County, and Reuben A. Aylsworth, and Enos
Gillis, of Jefferson County, appointed commissioners to lay out the sarae.
1831. — Company organized and incorporated to build said road,
called the AVarren and Ridgeway Turnpike Road Company. " The said
commissioners are hereby authorized to employ one surveyor, whose com
pensation shall not exceed one dollar and fifty cents per day, and two
chain-bearers and one axe-man, at per diem allowance, net exceeding
one dollar per day, and one packer and pack-horse, if necessary, for
which a reasonable allowance shall be made. Further, that the compen
sation of the said coraraissioners shall be one dollar and fifty cents each
for every day they may be necessarily employed by virtue of this act."
1836. — In consideration of privileges granted by the State to the State
bank, it was authorized and required to pay S5000 to this AA'arren and
Ridgeway Turnpike Road Company.
1838. — Governor of Pennsylvania authorized to subscribe §2000 stock
in said AA'arren and Ridgeway Turnpike Road Company.
1842. — Having completed forty miles of the Warren and Ridgeway
turnpike road, said corapany was authorized to deraand, receive, and
collect tolls thereon.
1844. — The managers and stockholders of the AVarren and Ridgeway
Turnpike Road Company having abandoned the sarae, it was enacted
that one-half of the road taxes levied in the township of Sheffield, and
one-fourth of the road tax levied in the township ef Kinzua, in the
county of Warren ; one-fourth of the road tax levied in the township of
Tionesta, in the county ef Jefferson ; one-fourth of the road tax levied in
the township of Ridgeway, and one-eighth of the road tax levied in the
township of Jones, in the county of Elk, should, for a period of six years,
be paid and expended by Richard Dunham and Erastus Barnes, of the
county of AA'arren, and Joseph S. Hyde, of the county of Elk, commis
sioners, to the best advantage, in repairing, mending, and iraproving
said turnpike road through the counties of Warren, Jefferson, and Elk.
183 1. — .Armstrong and Clearfield turnpike road authorized to cora-
raence at Kittanning, pass through Punxsutawney, and to end at the
388

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
mouth of Anderson's Creek, in Clearfield County. Thomas Blair, Jacob
Pontius, and Joseph Marshall, of Armstrong County; Charles C. Gaskill,
and John W. Jenks, of Jefferson County; John Ewing and Henry Kin
ter, of Indiana County ; David Ferguson and John Irvin, of Clearfield
County ; and William .A. Thoraas and Hardman Phillips, of Centre
County, were appointed commissioners by said act to solicit subscrip
tions, give notice of organization of company, etc.
1838. — Governor of Pennsylvania authorized and required to sub
scribe $5600 to said Armstrong and Clearfield Turnpike Road Company.
1844. — Time for the completion of the said .Armstrong and Clearfield
turnpike road extended fer the term of ten years from .April 16, 1844.
1834. — State road frora the raouth of Little Bald Eagle Creek, in
Huntingdon County, through Clearfield County, to Punxsutawney, in
Jefferson County, authorized, and James Winslow, of Jefferson County;
Elisha Fenton, of Clearfield County; and Benjarain Johnson, of Hunt
ingdon County, appointed coraraissioners to lay out the same.
1833. — Supplement extending time for raaking out drafts of location
of said State road from Little Bald Eagle Creek to Punxsutawney.
1834. — State road authorized from the settlement on the head-waters
of Millstone Creek, in Jefferson County, to the State Road leading from
the Clarion River bridge, on the Susquehanna and AA'aterford turnpike,
in the county of Venango, at or near the farm of Peter AA'alley, Jr., and
Jaraes Gillis and AA'illiam Armstrong, of Jefferson County ; and David Rey
ner, of Venango County, appointed commissioners to lay out the same.
1833. — State road from Shippenville to Ridgeway, in Jefferson
County, authorized, and Daniel Rhyner and James Hasson, of Venango
County ; and AVilliam Arrastrong, of Jefferson County, appointed commis
sioners to view, lay out, and raark the same.
1838. — State road from Brookville to Tionesta authorized, and
James HuUng and Richard Irvin, of Venango County, and Philip G.
Clover, of Jefferson County, "appointed coraraissioners to view, lay out,
locate, and mark the same by the nearest and best route."
1840. — Incorporation of the Armstrong, Jefferson, and Clearfield
Turnpike Company authorized, to begin "at the northern termination
of the Freeport and Kittanning turnpike road, on the top of the Mahoning
hills, and continue by the most practical route, via the borough of Brook
ville, in Jefferson County, and the Brandy Carap, to the Milesburg and
Smethport turnpike road, at or near Ridgeway, in Jefferson County. By
same act James Kerr, Hance Robinson, Jacob Miller, of the county of
Armstrong ; and Hiram AVilson, William Jack, John Dougherty, and
Jacob Shaffer, of the county of Jefferson ; and Isaac Horton, Daniel
Oyster, Uriah Rodgers, and Jonathan Nichols, of the county of Clear
field, were appointed commissioners to solicit subscriptions and organize
the company. 389

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTV, PENNA.
1840. — State road from Ebensburg to Punxsutawney authorized, to
begin "at the town of Ebensburg, in Cambria County; thence by the
nearest and best route to the Cherry Tree ; thence by the nearest and best
route to the town of Punxsutawney, Jefferson County;" and Stephen
Lloyd and James Rhey, of Cambria County ; James Bard, of Indiana
County ; David Ferguson, of Clearfield County ; and James AVinslow, of
Jefferson County, appointed commissioners to view, lay out, and mark
the same.
April 2, 1841. — Time for completing the survey and location of State
road from Ebensburg to Punxsutawney extended one year frora April 2,
1841, and Stephen Lloyd, John B. Douglass, of Cambria County;
Richard Bard, of Clearfield County ; William Thompson, of Indiana
County ; and James AA'inslow, of Jefferson County, appointed commis
sioners in place of those named in the act originally authorizing the road.
May 3, 1841. — Original act authorizing the State road from Ebens
burg to Punxsutawney revived, "and AA'illiam Thompson, of Indiana
County; Richard Bard, of Clearfield County; and Stephen Lloyd, John
B. Douglass, and James Rhey, of Cambria County, appointed commis
sioners te carry the provisions of the said act into execution."
1842. — Chutes of dams on the Red Bank and Sandy Lick Creek to be
twenty feet long for every one foot high.
1841. — Jefferson County commissioners authorized to subscribe stock
in the Mahoning Mouth Bridge Company " such number of shares as they
may deem right and proper."
1842. — State road from Cherry Tree in Indiana County to Clarion
authorized, and David Peeler, Heth F. Carap, and John Decker, of
Indiana County; John Sloan, Jr., Peter Clover, Jr., of Clarion County ;
and Robert AVoodward, of Armstrong County, appointed commissioners
to view and lay out the said State road, which was to begin at " Cherry
Tree in Indiana County, and to intersect the Susquehanna and Water
ford Turnpike at or near the town of Clarion, in Clarion County, by
the nearest and best route between the said points."
1843. — Time for executing and returning drafts of the survey of this
State road from Cherry Tree to Clarion extended one year, and Henry
Freese, of Jefferson County, added to the board of commissioners.
1843. — State read from Brookville to Ridgeway by way of the mouth
of Little Toby authorized.
1843. — State read frora Elderton to Punxsutawney authorized, and
Thoraas Armstrong, of Elderton ; Peter Dilts, of Mahoning, Indiana
County; and AVilliam Campbell, of Jefferson County, " appointed com
missioners to view and lay out the road from Elderton, in Arrastrong
County, te Punxsutawney, in Jefferson County, by way of Plumville, in
Indiana County, by the nearest and best route from point te point."
1844. — The county commissioners of the several counties through
390

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
which the State road from Elderton by way of Plumville to Punxsutaw
ney was laid out authorized and required to settle the accounts of the
commissioners viewing and laying out said road.
1844. — State road from the borough of AA'arren, in AA'arren County,
to the borough of BrookviUe, in Jefferson County, authorized, and
Henry G. Sergeant and Orin L. Stanton, of AVarren County; and Samuel
Findley, of Jefferson County, appointed commissioners to view and lay
out the same ; drafts of the location of said State road to be made and
deposited " in the office of the clerk of the court of the respective
counties in which said road may be laid out."
1846. — Act relating to dams and obstructions in the Clarion River.
1846. — State road from Smicksburg, Indiana County, to the borough
of Brookville, Jefferson County, authorized, and Hugh Brady, Levi G.
Clover, of Jefferson County ; and George Bernard, of Indiana County,
appointed commissioners to view and lay out the same "en the nearest
and best route, to a straight line, and in no place to exceed an elevation
of five degrees."
Viewers required to make draft and file copy of same in both counties,
and courts of the respective counties authorized to fill vacancies occurring
in the board of commissioners.

CHAPTER XXII.
THE pioneer physician IN THE COUNTY, DR. JOHN W. JENKS, OF PUNX
SUTAWNEY — THE PIONEER PHYSICIAN ON THE LITTLE TOBY, DR.
NICHOLS — OTHER EARLY PHYSICIANS, DR. EVANS, DR. PRIME, DR.
DARLING, DR. BISHOP, DR. A. M. CLARKE, DR. JAMES DOWLING, DR.
WILLIAM BENNETT  PIONEER MAJOR OPERATION IN SURGERY IN 182I
 EARLY RIDES, FEES, ETC.
In 1818, Dr. John AV. Jenks came from Bucks County, Pennsylvania,
and settled in what is now Punxsutawney, where he built a cabin, raade
improvements, and reared a family. He was quite a prominent man,
and filled positions of profit and trust. He was one of the first associate
judges, and father of Judge AV. P. Jenks, Hon. G. A. Jenks, and Mrs.
Judge Gordon.
The pioneer physician and pioneer clergyman to settle in the Little
Toby VaUey was the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Nichols, who died in 1846,
aged seventy-one. His wife, Hannah, died in Brookville in 1859, aged
eighty-two years.
Rev. Dr. Jonathan Nichols migrated from Connecticut, and settled
on Little Toby, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1818. He
was a preacher and a doctor. He was the first minister to preach reg-
391

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
ularly in this county ; also the pioneer physician in the northern part.
The date of Dr. Nichols's first settlement in this wilderness was in 1812,
on the Sinnamahoning. Dr. Nichols was a regularly educated physician,
but, being of a very pious turn of mind, he studied and was ordained a
Baptist minister. One who knew him well wrote of Dr. Nichols, — viz. :
" He was a generous, kind-hearted gentleman, genial and urbane in his
manners, with a helping hand ready to assist the needy, and had kind
words to comfort the sorrowing. As a physician his visits were required
over a large extent of the county. As a clergyman his meetings were
wejl attended by the people."
PIONEER MAJOR SURGICAL OPERATION.
Moses Knapp moved to what is now called Baxter in the spring
of 1 82 1, and while cutting timber he got a foot and leg crushed so
that his limb had to be amputated above the knee. Dr. Stewart, of
Indiana, and Dr. Williara Rankin, of Licking, now Clarion County,
performed the amputation in the summer of 182 1. Knapp that year
was constable, having been elected in the spring election.
Prior to 1825, Dr. R. K. Scott settled on what is now the Cowan
farra, a little east of Roseville. The doctor was a pleasant, intelligent
gentleraan, and at one time was in the newspaper business. Where he
removed to I do net know.
.About the year 1831, Dr. Alvah Evans carae to BrookviUe and opened
an office for practice. He remained but a few raonths.
In the spring of 1832, Dr. G. C. M. Prime came to Brookville and
commenced the practice of medicine. Dr. Prime was a man of skill.
He amputated the arm of Henry (Hance) Vasbinder. Inflammation
and gangrene in the arm, caused by a bite on his thumb while fighting,
made this amputation necessary. Dr. Prime left Brookville in 1835.
In June, 1833, Dr. Geo. Darling (father of the late Paul Darling)
carae from Smithport, McKean County, Pennsylvania, and located in
Brookville. In 1843, ^r. Darling left BrookviUe and located in Ohio.
He was a well-bred, intelligent, educated physician.
In the summer of 1835, Rev. G. Bishop, M.D., located in Brookville,
both preaching and practising medicine. He preached regularly to the
Presbyterians of Beechwoods, Brookville, and where Corsica now stands.
In the spring of 1S36, Dr. A. M. Clarke (who read and practised
under Dr. Nichols) located in Brockwayville and commenced to practise
for and by himself. Dr. Clarke was born in Granby, Connecticut, in
1808. His father was Philetus Clarke, who came into this wilderness in
1819. After a long and useful life Dr. Clarke died. May 2, 1884, leav
ing a family and his aged wife, nee Rebecca M. Nichols. The following
tribute was paid him at his death by a literary friend, Eugene Miller,
Esq., — viz. : 392

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" Deceased was intellectually a remarkable man. Denied the advan
tages of wealth and education, he became not only a learned and skilful
physician, but a literary raan of high order. Books were the mine in
which he delved, and from their pages he brought forth jewels of infor
mation and thought most rare. He loved poetry with an ardor words
cannot express, and was not only familiar with the leading poets of the
past and present, but was himself the author of a number of fragments,
which show him to have been possessed of a poetic fire that, in the
hands of one less modest and unassuming than he ever proved himself to
be, would have made him an enduring name. His qualities of heart
were no less choice than were those of his head. He was generous to a
fault, and as meek and gentle as a child. Nothing seemingly gave him
more pleasure than to do good to his fellow-men, and raany there are
who have partaken bountifully of his store. In the sicjc-room his pres
ence was always a sweet solace, and his delicate touch almost as soothing
as a narcotic. In the social circle he was ever popular, the diversity of
his knowledge and the easy flow of his language rendering hira a delight
ful companion. As a man and citizen he was highly respected, as was
proved by the spontaneity with which his neighbors gathered about his
grave and dropped a tear to his precious raeraory. His death, like his
life, was peaceful, and the name he leaves behind is as pure as the lily
and as fragrant as the rose. ' '
Dr. James Dowling came from ]Mercer County, Pennsylvania, in
1841, and located in what is now called Baxter. In 1843 ^^ removed to
BrookviUe. In 1844 he was elected a member of the Legislature. Dr.
Dowling was a little raan in stature, but a "big raan in head and brain."
He was greatly in advance of the raany theoretical, narrow-rainded,
bigoted doctors of his tirae. He was popular in his manner and pleasing
in his address. His practice was extensive and his reputation great. I
remember his many kind acts to me, and I cherish his memory. He
died Deceraber, i860.
Dr. WiUiara M. Bennett was married to a Miss Orilla Ralston, of
Angelica, Alleghany County, New York, about the year 1818 or 1819.
He lived a short time where the city of Bradford now stands. He emi
grated with his family te Jefferson County early in the year 1843, and
settled on the Little Toby, in Snyder township, three miles below Brock-
wayviUe, where he built a saw-miU and engaged in the practice of his
profession. Dr. Bennett was not a highly educated man, but he had a
wonderful fund of comraon sense, and in his career of physician was
popular, successful, and useful. In his treatment of diseases he was far
in advance of what was then called science in raedicine. He died Octo
ber II, 1875, and was buried at Temple's graveyard, AVarsaw township,
this county.
The pioneer and early doctor was a useful citizen, and his visits to the
26 393

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
early settlers when afflicted was a great comfort. How we all long now
to see the doctor when we are sick ! These isolated people longed just
the sarae for the coming of their doctor. The science of medicine then
was very crude, and the art ef it very imperfect, hence the early practi
tioner had but limited skill, yet while exercising whatever he professed
for the relief of suffering, his privations and labor while travelling by
night or day on horseback with his " old pill-bags" were hard and severe
in the extreme. The extent of his circuit was usually from fifty to one
hundred miles over poor roads and paths, swimming his horse through
creeks and rivers as best he could. I have travelled a circuit ef one hun
dred miles in my day. In those days every one had respect for the doc
tor, and every family along his circuit was delighted with an opportunity
to eyXer^dfree hospitality to the doctor and his horse.
In some of my long rides I have become so tired about midpight that
I felt I could not ge a step farther, when I would dismount from my
horse, hitch him on the outside to a log of a log barn, slip the bridle
around his neck, climb into the mow, threw the horse an armful of hay,
and then fall asleep in the hay, only to awaken when the sun was an heur
or two high. The pioneer doctor carried his pill-bags well stocked with
calomel, Dover's powder, tartar emetic, blistering salve, a pair of old
turnkeys for extracting teeth, and a spring and thumb lance for bleeding
purposes, as everybody had to be bled, sick or well. Twenty-five cents
was the fee for bleeding, and the amount- of blood drawn from the arm
was from half a pint to a quart. The custom of bleeding sick or well
fell into disrepute about 1850. A town visit was from twenty-five to fifty
cents, a visit in the country twenty-five cents a mile, an obstetric fee five
dollars. The pioneer doctor always wore green leggings or corduroy
overalls. I was no exception to this rule.
THE PIONEER MEDICAL SOCIETY OF JEFFERSON COUNTA', PENN
SYLVANIA.
On July 3, 1857, a call was published in the Jefferson Star by Drs. A.
P. Heichhold and J. G. Simons for the physicians ef Jefferson County
"to meet at the court-house in the borough of BrookviUe, on the loth
of July, 1857, at 10 o'clock a.m.," to organize a raedical society.
The call was responded to, and below I give the rainutes of the raeet
ing as published in the Star of July 17, 1857 :
" In compliance with a call to the merabers of the medical profession
in Jefferson County, a meeting was held in Brookville and a county med
ical society was formed with the following members, — viz. : Drs. C. P.
Cummins, Mark Rodgers, Charles Baker, A. J. Johnston, R. B. Brown,
VV. J. McKnight, D. A. Elliott, J. G. Simons, and A. P. Heichhold.
" The meeting was organized by calling Dr. M. Rodgers to the chair,
and Dr. A. P. Heichhold was appointed secretary /ro tem.
394

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" Dr. Simons was then called on to state the object of the meeting,
which he did in a neat and appropriate manner.
" The following resolution was then offered : ' Resolved, That in con
sequence of the indisposition of a portion of the raembers of the profes
sion to the formation of a medical society, we deem it inexpedient to
organize one at this time,' which was rejected, and a committee was then
appointed to draft a constitution, and the society was organized perma
nently. The following officers for the ensuing year were then elected :
President, Rev. Dr. C. P. Cummins ; A'ice-Presidents, Drs. A. J. Johns
ton, M. Rodgers ; Secretary, D. A. EUiott ; Treasurer, Dr. A. P. Heich
hold ; Censors, Dr. .A. P. Heichhold, J. G. Simons, A. J. Johnston.
The society then adjourned to meet at the court-house, in Brookville,
on Tuesday, the 28th day of July, at 7.30 p.m.
" C. P. Cummins,
' ' President.
" .A. P. Heichhold,
" Secretary."
In this same issue of July 17 the following official notice was pub
lished :
" A meeting of the Jefferson County Medical Society will be held in
the court-house, in the borough ef BrookviUe, on Tuesday evening, the
28th instant, at 7.30 o'clock p.m. An address will be delivered by the
Rev. Dr. C. P. Cummins, the president of the society. The ladies and
gentlemen of Brookville and vicinity are respectfully invited to attend.
" D. A. Elliott,
" Secretaty."
"Of this lecture the 6'/a;' says, in an editorial of July 31, 1857, —
"County Medical Society. — This body held a public meeting in
the court-house on Tuesday evening last, which was addressed by Rev.
C. P. Cummins, M.D. The reraarks of the Rev. Dr. are highly ex
tolled by those who had the pleasure of being present. The society raet
next morning at Dr. Heichhold's office for the transaction of business.
AA'e are glad to observe a great interest manifested in its proceedings by
the physicians of the county."
The above address was published in full in the Star. The next meet
ing was publicly announced by the secretary " for September 14, at 7.30
o'clock. Dr. J. G. Simons will deliver an address, to hear which the
ladies and gentlemen of Brookville and vicinity are invited to attend."
Of the members of the county medical society formed forty years
ago in Brookville but two are now living, — viz.. Dr. Charles Baker and
the writer. 395

PIONEER HISTORA' OF JEFFERSON COUNTA', PENNA.

CHAPTER XXIIL
pioneer townships and boroughs and pioneer taxables.
PINE CREEK.
Created in 1806 by an act of Assembly, and embraced all the county.
complete taxable list in pine creek township (this county)
for the year 1807.
Joseph Barnett, farmer and distiller ; John Dickson, weaver ; Elijah
M. Grimes, laborer; Lewis Heeb, farmer; Peter Jones, blacksmith;
John Jones, farmer ; Moses Knapp, farmer ; Samuel Lucas, tailor ;
Thomas Lucas, farmer, and grist- and saw-miU; AVilliam Lucas, tailer;
Ludwig Long, farmer and distiller; Alexander McCoy, farmer; Jacob
Mason, laborer ; Stephen Roll, cooper ; Daniel Roadarmil, farraer ; John
Scott, Sr., farmer; Samuel Scott, miller, saw- and grist-mill ; John Scott,
Jr., farraer; Adam Vastbinder, farmer; Jacob A' astbinder (single man),
farmer ; John Y^astbinder (single man), laborer ; Fudge A^an Camp
(colored), farmer. Number of horses, 23; number of cows, 35.
PERRY.
Formed in 1S18, and was taken from Pine Creek. Perry tovifuship as
originally organized was bounded on the north by Pine Creek township,
on the west by the Armstrong County line, on the south by the Indiana
line, and on the east by the Clearfield County line.
PIONEERS IN PERRY TOWNSHIP AS PER ASSESSMENT IN l8lS.
A'ames of Taxables. — Jesse Armstrong, John Bell, Esq., James AV.
Bell (single man), Joseph Bell (single man), John Bell (single man),
Elijah Dykes, Benjamin Dykes, .Archibald Hadden, Jacob Hoover,
David Hamilton, Elizabeth AIcHenry, James Hamilton (single man),
Adam Long, Michael Lantz, Henry Lott, Stephen Lewis, Isaac Lewis,
Jacob Lane, James AlcClelland, David Alilliron, Hugh McKee, James
Hutchison, John Postlethwait, David Postlethwait (single man). Porter
Reed, John Piper, James McKee, Thomas Page, Samuel States, James
Stewart, John Stewart, James AVachob. YOUNG.
Young township was organized in 1826, and was taken from Perry.
It was bounded on the east by the Clearfield line, on the south by the
Indiana line, on the west by Perry, and on the north by Pine Creek
township. 396

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
PIONEERS IN YOUNG TOWNSHIP AS PER ASSESSMENT IN 1 82 6.
A^ames of Taxables. — Jesse Armstrong, John Archibald, David Burk-
hart, Andrew Bowers, Rev. David Barclay, house and lot in Punxsutaw
ney, two-thirds of a grist-mill and t-vvo-thirds of a ,saw-mill ; John Bowers,
Philip Bowers, John Buck, Andrew Bowman, house and lot ; Charles B.
Barclay, house and lot ; James Black, house and lot ; Daniel Coffman,
Charles Clawson, Matthias Clawson, Abraham Craft, Jaraes Caldwell,
Benijah Corey, John Corey, house and lot ; Isaac Carraalt, house and lot ;
Nichols Dunmire, Adam Dunmire, Daniel Graffius, Charles C. Gaskill,
house and lot ; Sarauel Ganor, John Henderson, house and lot ; Henry
Hum, John Hum (single man), Jacob Hoover, one grist-mill ; John
Hoover, WiUiam Hemmingray, John Hess, house and lot in Long's
Town; John Hutchison, Elijah Heath, house and lot; John W. Jenks,
one third ofa grist mill, one-third of a saw-miU, one bull; Adara Long,
Joseph Long, house and lot ; Adam Long, cooper ; Francis Leach,
George Leach, Isaac Lunger, Obed Morris, Joseph Potter, Frederick
Rinehart, Christian Richel, Samuel Steffy, James Smith, Samuel States,
Nathaniel Tindall, house and lot ; Jaraes AVilliaras, Benoni WilUaras,
Ira AVhite, James AVinslow, Carpenter AVinslow, Sr., Carpenter AA'inslow,
Jr., Ebenezer Winslow, Charles Winslow, Reuben Winslow, Caleb AA'ins
low (single man), Thoraas AVheatcraft, AA'illiara AVebster, Abrahara Weaver,
house and lot ; George Weaver (single man), Parlin AA'hite.
RIDGEAVAY.
Organized in 1826, and was taken from Pine Creek. Ridgeway
township was bounded on the east by McKean County line, on the north
by the AA'arren County line, on the south by the Clearfield County line,
and on the west by Pine Creek township.
PIONEERS IN RIDGEWAY TOWNSHIP AS PER ASSESSMENT IN 1827.
SEATED LIST.
Names of Taxables. — Aylesworth & Gillis Co., one grist- and saw-
miU; Jaraes Brockway, Collins Brooks (single man), Naphtalia Burns,
Nehemiah Bryant, Sampson Crooker, Clark Eggleston, Henry Francis
(single raan), Enos Gillis, James Gallagher, Joseph P. King, George
March (single man), WiUiam Maxwell (single man), Harvey B. Moor-
house (single man), James McDougal, Lorenzo Preaket (single man),
Jacob Shaffer, John Stratton, William Taylor, Jacob Taylor (single
man), Alanson Vial, Henry AA'alborn. ROSE.
Organized in 1827, and was taken from Pine Creek. Rose township
was bounded with Pine Creek on the east. Young and Perry on the south.
397

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
PIONEERS IN ROSE TOWNSHIP, AS PER .ASSESSMENT IN 1827.
A'ames of Taxables. — Robert Andrews, Johns Avery & Caleb
Howard, one saw-miU, trade ; Christopher Barr, Joseph Barnett, one
saw-miU; John Barnett, David Butler, one- half of a saw-miU ; Nathaniel
Butler, Alonzo Baldwin, Lorenzo Brooks (single man), Euphrastus
Carrier (single man). Christian Conrad, John Coon, one half of a saw
mill ; John Christy, James E. Corbett, AA'illiam Cooper, James Crow
(single man), Samuel Kennedy, Joseph Clements, W. B. Clements,
George Crispen, James Divin, trade; Samuel Davidson, Robert Dixon,
John Dixon, AA'illiam Douglass (colored), George Eckler, Henry Feye,
Sr., Henry Feye, Jr., Samuel Feye, AVilliam Guthrie, John Fuller, trade;
Elijah ^I. Graham, AVilliam Graham,  Himes, one-half of a saw-
mill ; Frederick Heterick, one saw-mill ; James Hall (single man), John
Horam, Closes Knapp, Samuel Knapp, one saw- and grist-mill; Robert
Knox, John Kelso, John Kennedy, Joseph Keys, Matthew Keys (single
raan), Henry Keys (single man), AVilliam Long (single man), John
Lucas, AA'illiam Love, Sr., AA'illiam Leve, Jr. (single man), John Love
(single man), Thoraas Lucas, one-half of a saw-miU, land ; John Latti
mer, one-half of a saw- mill; John Long, .Alex. Lyons, Henry Lot, one
saw-mill ; Peter Lot, Daniel Long, AVilliam Lattimer, Isaac INIatson,
John AIcGiffin (single raan), AA'illiam Morrison, Samuel MagiU, Isaac
McElvaine, Abraham Milliron, Jacob Mason, Benjarain Mason (single
man, Joseph McCuUough, John Matson, John Mcintosh, John AIcGhee,
trade ; Timothy Nightingale, P. B. Ostrander, Alexander Osburn, James
Parks, grist-mill; .Alexander Powers, Isaac Packer, AA'illiam Rodgers,
Hance iRobinson, one-half of a saw-mill; David Roll, one saw-miU ;
Joshua Rhea, Thomas Robinson, Robert Smith, James -Shields, trade;
John Shields, Peter Slogerbuck, Samuel Stiles, Michael Shadle, Heulet
Smith, Andrew Shippen, Charles Sutherland (colored), Robert K. Scott,
Joseph Sharp, AValter Templeton, Joshua Vandevort, Jesse Vandevort,
Jacob A'astbinder, Adam A'astbinder, AVilliam A'astbinder, Henry A'ast-
binder, Andrew A'astbinder, Hugh AVilliarason, John AA'elsh, house and
lot in Troy; John AA'alters, Beach AVayland, Patience AA'heeler, John
AA'ebster (single man), Peter AA'alters, Robert AYeir, Daniel Yeomans,
AA'illiam ^McDonald, Nathan Carrier, AA'illiam Mendenhall, Alexander
Scott, Benjarain Sies, Joseph Hastings, Robert Tweedy, James Sharp,
Nicholas Sharp, Joseph Butler, Jeremiah AlcCallester, Samuel Rhodes,
John Hayes, John Scott (single man), Samuel Johns, Robert Maxwell.
BARNETT.
Organized in 1833, ^^^ '"'^^ taken from Rose. Barnett originally
contained Jenks and Tionesta townships and all that part of Jefferson
County lying north of the Clarion River. In 1838 the two above-men
tioned townships were organized out of it.
398

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
PIONEERS IN BARNETT TOWNSHIP .4S PER ASSESSMENT IN 1S33.
Ahimes of Taxables. — WiUiam .Armstrong & Co., one saw-mill ; Luther
Barns &: Co., Israel Ball, AVarren Barns (single man), John Cook, one
saw-mill ; Job Carr, Nathan & Elijah Tipps, David Meads, Thaddeus
Meads, Erastus Gibson, WiUiara Manross, one saw-miU ; David Reynolds,
John AVyncoop, two saw-mills ; John Mays, James W. Mays, Smith heirs,
one saw-miU; Alexander Murray, Thomas B. Mays, Thomas Fords, John
A. Kramer, John Fitzgerald, Smith N. Myers, James Orwin, William
Beer, William Thomas, George & Samuel Armstrong, Ebenezer Kingly,
William Gordon, AVilliam Forsythe. SNYDER.
Organized in 1835, and was taken from Ridgeway and Pine Creek.
Snyder township was bounded on the east by Clearfield County line, on
the north by Ridgeway township, on the south and west by Pine Creek
township. PIONEERS IN SNYDER TOWNSHIP AS PER ASSESSMENT IN 1 836.
A^ames of Taxables. — Dillis Allen, Hugh Anderson, George Addison,
James & Alonzo Brockway, one saw- mill ; Elihu Clark, David Carr, Joel
Clark, Sr., Joel Clark, Jr. (single man), David Dennison, John Dougherty
(single man), Thomas Dougherty (single man), Miron Gibbs, Francis
Goodar, Benjamin Hulet, Frederick Heterick, Joseph Houston (single
man), WiUiam Houston (single man), Milton Johnston, Joseph McAfee
(single man), Robert McCurdy (single man), Joseph McCurdy (jingle
man), John McLaughlin, Thomas McCormick, Hamilton Moody,
Thomas Moody, Andrew McCormick, James Moorhead (single man),
James W. Moorhead (single man), John Moorhead, David Moorhead
(single man), John Pearsall, Arad Pearsall, Jaraes Ross, David M.
Riddle, Henry Shaffer (single raan), Jacob Shaffer, Ami Sibbley, Wil
liam Shaw, Stephen Tibbetts, Isaac Temple, Andrew Vastbinder, Paul
Vandevort, Joseph Whitehill. ELDRED.
Organized in 1836, and was taken from Rose and Barnett. Eldred
township was bounded on the north by Barnett, on the east by Ridgeway
township, en the south by Rose, and on the west by the Armstrong County
Une. PIONEERS IN ELDRED TOWNSHIP AS PER ASSESSMENT IN 1837.
Names of Taxables. — Thomas Arthurs, George Armstrong, WiUiam
Anderson, Henry Boyles, David Barr, Thomas Barr, Samuel Barr, Abra
ham Bickler, Smith Benedict, Richard Burns, AVilliam Booth, Jacob
Beer, Thomas Callen, Jacob Craft, Moses H. Carly, Peter Coonsman,
John D. Kahle, George Catz, Henry Clark, Job Carly, AVilliam Douglass
(colored), Daniel Elgin, Alexander Fredericks, Elijah M. Graham, Jo-
399

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
seph Grahara, Elias Gearhart, Dolly George, Isaiah Guthrie, AVilliam
Gordon, Israel Hughes, Thomas Hughes, Thoraas HaU, William Hop
per, Malachi Hopper (single raan), William M. Hindman, WiUiam
Hughes, Richard Hague, Richard Hague, Jr., AVilliam & John Hutchi
son, AVilliam B. Kennedy, Frederick Kahle, AVilliam Kennedy, David
Aikens, James Cochran, David McKee, John W. Monks, Isaac Matson,
Sr., mill seat ; Jaraes McManigle, James McNeal, John McCracken, David
MiUer, Robert McFarland, Stewart Ross, Jacob Riddleburger, Chris
tian Ruffner, George Royer, Andrew Steel, James Stewart, Jr., Paul
Stewart, Alexander Scott, Hiram Sampson, John Summerville, AVilliam
Summerville, James Summerville, David Silvis, Jacob Trautman, James
L. Thompson, James Templeton, Michael Traper, George Wilson, Jr.
(single man), Robert AA'ilson, John Wilson, Jr., AVilliam Wallace, John
Wilson, Esq., George AA'alford, Abram Yokey, Christy A'okey.
TIONESTA.
Organized in 1838, and was taken frora Barnett.
PIONEERS IN TIONESTA TOWNSHIP AS PER ASSESSMENT IN 1838.
Names of Taxables. — Jaraes Adams, George Bests, Samuel Cupins,
Erastus Gibson, Ebenezer Kingsley, Perry Kingsley, Ephraira Kingsley
(single man), Edward Kingsley, Count Kingsley, John Lukins (single
man), George Leadlie, one saw-mill with two saws ; David AV. Mead,
sawyer ; John Nolf JENKS.
Organized in 1838, and was taken from Barnett.
PIONEERS IN JENKS TOWNSHIP AS PER ASSESSilENT IN 1838.
Ai'ames of Taxables. — James Anderson, Cyrus Blood, Benjamin L.
Baley, Aaron Brockway, Sr., Aaron Brockway, Jr., Amos Fitch, Isaac
Fitch, John Hunt, Phelps Hunt, Jessie Jackson, Josiah Leary, John
Lewis, Robert McLatchlie, Oran Newton, Samuel Reyner, Andrew J.
Reyner. ^VASHINGTON.
Organized in 1839, and was taken from Pine Creek and Snyder.
AA'ashington township was bounded on the east by Clearfield County line,
on the north by Snyder township, and on the south and west by Pine
Creek township.
PIONEERS IN WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AS PER ASSESS.MENT IN 1838.
A'ames of Taxables. — Dillis Allen, one saw-mill; Frederick Alexan
der, Hugh Alexander, John .Atwell, Jaraes Alexander and father, Jaraes
Bond, Samuel Beman, Sarauel Crawford, John Clendennen, John Craw
ford, AVilliam Cooper, John P. Clark, Aaron Clark, Robert Douthard,
one grist-mill ; Thoraas Dougherty, James Doughertv, James Downs,
400

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Robert Dickson, Michael Elliott, AVilliam Feely, John Fuller, Alexander
B. Fowler, George Feely, George Hughes, .Andrew Hunter, George
Horam, Jacob & William Horam, John Horam, Sr. , John Horam, Jr.,
Matthew Keys, Henry Keys, Joseph Keys, James Kyle, Sarauel Kyle,
Samuel Miles, John McGhee. Oliver McClelland, Andrew Moore, Robert
Morrison, AVilliam McConnell, James McConnell, Joseph McConnell
(single man), John McClelland, AA'illiara McCuUough, WiUiara Mc
Donald, Robert Mcintosh, occupation ; Henry Mcintosh, John Mcintosh,
AA'Uliam Mcintosh, Jr., AA'illiam Mcintosh, Sr., Rebecca Mcintosh, George
Ogden, Joseph Potter, tavern ; Ramsey Potter, Jacob Peters, Tilton Rey
nolds, AA'illiam Reynolds, Thomas Reynolds (single man), David Rey
nolds, Joshua Rhea, Samuel Rhea, James Rany, James Smith, .Andrew
Smith, Matthew Smith, B. Sprague, Ephraim Stephen, Peter Sharp,
John Sprague, Thoraas Tedlie, Henry A'astbinder, Jaraes AA'aite, John
AA'ilson, Oliver AA'elsh, Daniel Yeomans, Henry A'eomans.
PORTER.
Organized in 1840, and was taken from Perry. Porter township was
bounded on the west by .Armstrong County line, on the south by Indiana
County line, on the north by Rose township.
PIONEERS IN PORTER TOWNSHIP AS PER ASSESSMENT IN 184I.
A^ames of Taxables. — John Alcorn, AA'illiam Alcorn, Sarauel Albert,
Thomas Adams, Alexander Adams, George Barickhouse, Lawrence Bair,
Ludwick Byerly, Gideon Bush, Powel Baughman, Robert Brice, Ann-
strong Bartley, Rev. Elisha Coleraan, S30 on interest ; John Coleraan,
AA'illiam Callen, Benjamin Campbell, Henry Cherry, David Callen,
Peter Callen, Andrew Callen, John Cherry (single man), Elisha Camp
bell, Frederick Coonrod, James Chambers, John Chambers, Harrison
Coon, Jacob Dinger, Benjamin Dimick, Michael Tumas, Henry Dorn-
hime, John Thomas, Edward Enty (colored), John Flisher, Jr., John
Flisher, Henry Flisher, AA'illiam Ferguson, Sr., AAlUiam Ferguson, Jr.,
John Ferguson, Ebenezer Ferguson, Henry Faringer, AA'illiara Foster,
David Fairman, Francis Fairman, Henry Freece, Thomas Gaghagen,
James Gaghagen, Gearhart & Spangler, Henry Glontz, Daniel Gag
hagen, Peter Graver, Daniel Geist, one saw-miU ; Solomon Geist, Sara
uel Geist, Jesse Geist, John Geist, Sr., John Geist, Jr., PoUie Gilbreth
(widow), AA'illiam Gillespie, occupation ; Daniel Hinderlighter, Michael
Hinderlighter, Daniel Hass, AVilliam Hiraes, Jaraes Hamilton, Elias
Hulwick, David Hamilton, Michael Heterick, Peter Heterick, Samuel
Hice, Michael HoUoback, E. E. Hannager, Joseph Hannah, Adam
Hane, Harry Heckendern, John Hice, office ; Isaac Hamilton, Jacob
Huffman, Daniel Huffman, .Andrew Hazlet (single man), John James,
Robert Kennedy, John Conklin, Joseph Kinnear, George Knarr, Michael
401

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Lantz, John Lantz, Frederick Lantz, George Letich, Samuel Lerch
David Langard, John Miller, John Mohney. John Motter, Henry Mill-
iron (single man), AViUiara McAninch, Jr., AViUiam McAninch, Sr., Hugh
McGuier, occupation ; John McAninch, John McClelland, John Mower,
Jr., John Mower, Sr., AVilliam Montier, AViUiam McNutt, Robert Mc
Nutt, Martin ^Miller, Peter Minich, George Milliron, David INIilliron,
Philip Alilliron, AA'illiam Milliron, Peter MiUiron, Daniel Motter, Sara
uel Motter, Jacob Motter, George McGregor, M. McGregor, John
Alartz, Gillmore Montgomery, Daniel AIcGregor, Matthew McDavid,
John MiUer, Andrew McDaniel, Jacob Minich, David McDaniel,
John McMillen, Thomas AIcAIillen, Henry Minich, occupation; Samuel
Mickle, Coonrod Nulf, N. J. Nesbit, occupation ; Thomas Nice, Wil
liam Niel, John Potts, George Potts, John Postlethwait, David Postle
thwait, Elias Powel, Moses Powel, Peter Procius, Daniel Procius, Henry
Peter, James Robinson, David Richard, George Reitz, John Robinson,
Esq., one saw-miU; AVilliam Robinson, Irwin Robinson, Samuel Richard,
Carl Randolf, Philip Reed, Joshua B. Farr, George Rinehart, Henry
Ross, occupation ; George Reitz (single man), John Silvas, occupation ;
Michael Shaffer, Simon Stahlman, Henry Spare, Sr., Isaac Shaffer,
Frederick Steer, Jacob Snyder (single man), Abraham Shipe, Henry
Shipe, one tan-yard ; Philip Smith, Andrew Shaffer, Abraham Shaffer,
Benjamin Shaffer, A'alentine Shaffer, money on interest ; Francis Shraw-
ber, office; John Shrawber, Martin Shannon, occupation; Peter Spang
ler, Absalom Sraith, John Shadle, John Steel, Jacob Startzel, John
Shofner, Henry Spare, John Startzel, Coonrod Snyder, AValter Snyder,
Daniel Snyder, Aloses Shoffstall, Stephen Travis, Broce Taylor, Edward
Charaberlin, Henry Truckmiller, Henry Charaberlain, George Chamber
lain, George Travis, James Travis, Samuel Trayor, John AVilson, occupa
tion ; Edward Uptagraff, George Wise, Amos AVeaver, Moses AA'eaver,
James AVatts, Jaraes AVilson, Esq., office; Benjamin AA'eary, Abraham
AValker, Robert AA'ilson, Jacob AVise, George Young, Jr., George Young,
Sr. , Lawrence Yeager. CLOVER.
Organized in 1841, and was taken from Rose. Clover township was
bounded on the east and north by Rose, on the west by the Clarion
County line, and on the south by Perry.
PIONEERS IN CLOVER TOWNSHIP AS PER ASSESSMENT IN 1843.
A'ames of Taxables. — Daniel Baldwin, AVallace Bratton, John H. Bish,
Hudson Bridge, Samuel Bratton, Michael Brocius, John Brocius, Peter
Brocius, Jacob Brocius, George Burns, Alonzo i.\: Fred. Baldwin, one
saw-miU, one yoke ef oxen, one cow, and two horses ; .Adam Brocius,
John Baughman, John Bruner, occupation as sawyer; John Campbell,
Hiram Carrier, one saw-miU ; Nathan Carrier, one fourth of a saw-miU ;
402

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Darius Carrier, Lorenzo Campbell, Sanford Campbell, George and Na
than Carrier, George Cain (single man), Alichael Crawford, George Car
rier, one-fourth of a saw-miU ; Darius Carrier, one-half of a saw-miU;
Euphrastus Carrier, Darius & Hirara Carrier, one grist-mill ; Isaac
Covert, George Carapbell, Matthew Dickey, Dr. Jaraes Dowling, James
S. Dean, Andrew Doyle (single man), James Defords, George Eckler,
William Edmond, Thoraas Edraend, one saw-raill ; David Edmond,
John Fuller (single man), John H. Flemming, Solomon Fuller, Jr., Chris
topher Fogle, one tan-yard ; David Farriweather, C. Jacox, house and
lot; Ira FuUer, one saw-raill; William Fitzsimmons, transferred to
Baldwin, Jaraes Ferguson, Abraham Funk, Hiram Fuller, Thomas
Guthrie, Aaron FuUer, one saw-miU ; George Gray, occupation ; AA'il
liam Guthrie, James Guthrie (single man). Carder Gilmore, James B.
Guthrie, James Guthrie, Sr., Alexander Guthrie, Jacob Grame, James
Gardner, Elijah Heath, one grist-mill and one sawmill; Jacob Heck-
man, Jaraes Hildebrand, Peter Himes, Joseph HaU, Sr., Joel & Porter
Haskill, one saw-miU ; Gideon Haskill, Simon Hays, one house and lot ;
Abram Hidelman, occupation as miller; John Johnston, William Jack,
Samuel Johns, Hazard Jaycock, Charles Jaycock, Matson J. Knapp,
Samuel Knapp, Moses Knapp, Jr., one grist-mill and one sawmill; Jo
seph Knapp, one yoke of oxen and three cows ; John Knapp, John
Kelso, Jr., one dog; George Keck, James Kelso, WiUiam Kelly, Wil
liam Lucas (single man), James S. Lucas, occupation; Peter Lucas,
John Lucas, Jr., Daniel Leech, John Lucas, Sr. , Samuel Lucas, Sr., John
Lucas (of Sarauel), Sarauel Lucas, Jr., tradesman ; John T. Love, John
Love (Yankee), William Lucas (single man), Lucas & Knapp, guardians
of Buttle's estate; James Long, trade; Rev. John McCauley, Samuel
Magill, AVilliam MagiU, Hugh McGiffin (A'ankee), Daniel MiUiron, Sam
uel Milliron, John McGiffin, Robert Alorrison, David Moore, Isaac Mot
ter, Andrew AIcElwaine, estate ; Eli McDowel (single man), Abraham
Milliron, Hugh ^McGiffin, Solomon Milliron, tradesman ; Elijah McAn
inch, estate; George McAninch, Williara ^McAninch (of Samuel), Henry
Milliron, Jonathan MiUiron, WiUiara Aliller, one house and lot ; Sarauel
Newcomb, one saw-miU ; Coonrad & Frank Nolf, AViUiam B. Newcomb,
Joseph Osborne, William Rhoney, Levi Reed, AViUiam Rodgers, James
Ross, one saw-raill ; Hance Robinson, one grist-mill and saw-raill ;
Joseph Ross, William Robinson (single man), Richards Richard, George
Richard, one house and lot ; John Reitz, Isaac Reitz (single man), David
Smith, William Simpson, Alexander Sraith, Hulet Smith, John Shields,
Sr., James Shields, Peter Swab, tradesman ; Robert Shields, one yoke
oxen and cow ; Daniel and James Shields, one covv and yoke of oxen ;
James Shields, Jr., George Simpson, Benjarain Sowers, Abraham Stine,
one house and lot ; Henry Scott, Henry Sowers, John B. Shields,
James Sowers, Jr., David Shields, James Sowers, Sr., Gideon Trumbull,
403

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Joseph M. Thompson, Samuel B. Taylor, one lot and store; Jesse A'an-
devort, occupation ; Paul A'andevort, one house and lot ; David A'an-
devort, Stephen AA'ebster, five lots ; Beech Wayland, Patience AA'heeler,
John R. AVelsh, Jackson AVelsh (single man), Monroe Webster, Ezekiel
AVhite. BROOKVILLE BOROUGH.
The pioneer borough, and taken from Rose, bounded on the east by
Pine Creek. BROOKVILLE BOROUGH AS PER ASSESSMENT IN 1 844.
A^ames of Taxables. — Richard Arthurs (single man), house and lot,
profession; Caleb Alexander, one patent-lever watch, S35 ; Charles
Anderson (colored), one outlet and house ; Jaraes .Acheson (single raan),
Isaac Allen, two lots iraproved. one-half lot and house, and blacksmith-
shop ; John Arthurs, James H. Ames, occupation ; John Alexander, Rev.
Garey Bishop, profession ; Cyrus Butler, house and lot ; Sarauel B.
Bishop, house and stable, profession, one gold watch, J50; Thorapson
Barr (single man), office ; Robert P. Barr, house and lot, one grist-mill,
mill lot and house, saw-miU ; Hugh Brady, one lot improved, profession ;
Thoraas Barr, house and lot, outlet, lot iraproved ; John Brownlee,
house and lot, printing-office; Samuel M. Bell, David Bittenbenner
(single man), AA'akefield Corbett (minor), one patent-lever watch ; Bar
clay & Hastings, printing-office; Jesse G. Clark, house and lot, brick,
tavern stand, lot improved, outlets improved, profession, one gold watch,
^50; James Corbett, one lot, office, justice of peace; Levi G. Clover,
house and lot, lots, outlets, office judgeship ; Solomon Chambers, house
and lot ; Joseph Clements, house and lot, lots iraproved ; Samuel Craig,
house and lot, lot improved ; James Craig, house and let ; Andrew Craig
(single man), Corbett &: Barr, house and lot, inlet and smith-shop;
Jaraes C. Coleraan, AViUiara F. Clark (single man), inlet, one lever
watch, ^35 ; George Darr, Joseph Deering (single raan), Hugh Dowling
(single man), George Darling, house and lot; Lewis B. Dunham, house
and lot, outlet, profession, one pleasure carriage, $30 ; Daniel Dunkle-
burg (single man), David Deering (single man), profession, one lever
watch, ^35 ; John Dougherty, house and lots (tavern), house and lots
(brick), house and lots, inlet improved, inlots, one geld watch, ,§45 ;
James Dowling, profession ; Jared B. Evans, four lots and houses and
stables, eight lots ; Samuel Espy, house and lot ; Charles Evans, house
and lot, brick, main street ; Evan Evans, John Gallagher, lot improved,
office justice of peace, outlet; Enoch Hall, house and lot; AVilliam
Fleming (single man), John Hutchison, house, lot, and shop; Joseph
Henderson, house and one and two-thirds lots; John Hastings, occupa
tion, one lever watch, S35 ; Jamison Hendricks, occupation ; James
HaU estate, house and lot, outlet; Joseph Hughes, house and lot;
404

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
George Irwin, David B. Jenks, house and two lots, profession; AVilliam
Jack, house and one-half lot, house and lot, inlots, inlots improved,
outlets; William P. Jenks, Sr., Samuel H. Lucas, house and let, one
gold watch, I40 ; Thomas Lucas, house and lot, inlet improved, pro
fession; John ]\Iatson, Jr., house and lot; Uriah Matson, house and lot,
James C. JNIatson, Joseph McAfee, inlet improved, outlets iraproved;
Benjamin McCreight, house and lot, brick, partly finished, house and
lot, four lots ; Geo. McLaughlin (single raan), house and lots, lot im
proved ; William McCandless (single man), Robert Matson (single man),
John McCrea, office prothonotary ; George Porter, house and two lots ;
John Richards, occupation, one gold watch, ^75 ; John Ramsey, house
and lot; William Rogers, occupation ; Alexander Scott, Jr. (single man),
PhiUp Schrader, house and two lots ; John Sraith, house and one-half lot,
tavern, outlet ; Daniel Smith, house and let ; Gabriel Vastbinder, inlot
improved ; George AVilson (single man), AVilliam Wilkins (single raan),
one pleasure carriage ; Thoraas Wilkins, James C. Wilson (single man),
watch, value of §25 ; AVilkins & Irwin, one and one-half lots and house,
tan-yard and house; Michael Woods, Adara Goodman, T. B. McCleUan,
house and lot, lot improved ; Ephraim AA'ashburn, occupation ; Alexander
Scott, Sr., lot improved; George Scott (single man), Wm. .A. Sloan,
house and lot, lot improved ; Samuel Truby, house and lot, lot im
proved ; John Templeton, house and lot ; James Humphrey (single man).
GASKILL.
Organized in 1842, and was taken from Young. Gaskill township
was bounded on the east by the Clearfield Comity line, on the south by
the Indiana County line, and on the west and north by Young township.
PIONEERS IN GASKILL TOWNSHIP AS PER ASSESSMENT IN 1 842.
A'ames of Taxables. — Levi Anthony, unimproved land judgraents, S38 ;
Henry Bowman, PhiUp Bowers, Andrew Bowers, John Bowers, Eli Bow
ers, Henry & Samuel Beam, Calvin Brooks, AVilliam Brooks, Peter Bu-
chite, George Culp, John Cary, Daniel Coffman, John Coffman, Oliver
Cathers, Joseph Cofflett, Abraham Cofflett, Jacob Cofflett (single man),
Josiah Covert, John Douthett estate, Francis Doros, John Deamer, Jaraes
Dickey, Alexander Dickey, Thomas Davis, Josiah Davis, George Gregg,
David Henry, John Hoover, Joseph Hoover, Sally Hess, Rufus Jorley,
Frederick Kuhuley, Thomas Kerr, one promissory note, §20; George
Keller, occupation ; Joseph Keller, Abraham Keller, .Alexander Lyons,
Henry Lot, Francis Leech, George Leech, occupation; Abraham Lud
wick, George Ludwick, Elizabeth Ludwick, John Long, Andrew Mc
Creight, Sharp McCreight, James :SIcCreight (single man), Henry Miller,
mason ; John Miller, George Miller, Henry MiUer, farmer ; William ]\Ic-
Elheny, George Pifer (single man), John Pifer, Jonas Pifer, Henry & John
405

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
D. Philipi, Samuel Pershing, Adam Quigley, John Rider, George Rhodes,
Jacob Smith, Sr., Jacob Smith, Jr., Jonathan Stouse, James Solesley,
Sarauel Smith, Adam States, Henry Sprague, .Ashel Sprague, Milton
Sprague, carpenter; Thomas Thorapson, Adara Wise, Jacob Weaver;
Joseph AVilson, Richard AVainwright, George AVainwright, William AVil
liams, James AVilliams, Adara A'ohey, Henry Yehey, Sarauel A'ohey
(single raan), Samuel Zufall, one saw-miU.
WARSAW.
Organized in 1842, and was taken from Pine Creek. Warsaw was
bounded by Snyder and AYashington on the east, by Ridgeway on the
north, Eldred on the west, and Pine Creek on the south.
PIONEERS IN WARSAW TOWNSHIP AS PER ASSESSMENT IN 1 843.
A'ames of Taxables. — AVilliam Anderson, John Alexander, Gilbert
Burrows, Ira Bronson, John Bell, John AV. Baum, Joseph Buell, Na
thaniel Butler, Philo Bowdish, David Butler, Bartholomew Cavinere,
 Chapman, one cow and trade ; Peter Charaberlin, Elihu Clark, David
Carlton, Sarah Dixon, John Dill, Thomas Dixon, Jared .A. Evans,
Thomas Ewing, John Fleming, George Frederick, Aaron Fuller, Milton
Gibbs, AA'illiam Gray, Francis Goodar, Miron Gibbs, AA'illiam Humphrey,
Matthew Humphrey, Philip Heterick, Sarauel Howe, Joel Howe, Elijah
Heath, Jaraes K. Huffman, George Hunter, John Heterick, Joseph E.
Hannah, Joseph Hoey, Davis Ingraham, Eli I. Irvin, AA'illiam Jack,
Milton Johnson, Henry Keys, AA'illiam Long, Michael Long, Sarah .Ann
Lithgow, Josiah Loomis, Sarah McCormick, Thoraas McCormick, David
McCormick, Jr., one silver watch; James & John Moorhead, David
Moorhead, Joseph McConnell, Matthew Metcalf, one silver watch ; Wil
liara and James McElvain, Asa Morey, Jacob Moore, Mundale Metcalf,
Ozias P. Mather, Robert Montgomery, Andrew McCormick, Sarauel P.
McCormick, Findley McCormick, one silver watch ; David McCormick,
Sr., Thomas McWilliams, EInathan Marsh, Charles Munger, Nathan
Perrin, John M. Phelps, Arad Pearsall, trade , John Pearsall, Solomon
Riggs, George RusseU, AA'illiam R. Richards, two saw-mills, one silver
watch; Peter Richards, Sr., Peter Richards, Jr., Abraham Rufsnyder,
AA'illiam Russell, John N. Riggs, Davis E. Riggs, James L. L. Riggs,
Daniel Snyder, Eli Snyder, xAbrahara Snyder, Nathan Snyder, Samuel
Shul, one saw-mill and house ; Moses B. St. John, Gideon TrumbuU,
Isaac Teraple, Jacob A'astbinder, Sr., Joshua A'andevort, Sr., Jacob Vast-
binder, Jr. (single raan), John A'astbinder, Andrew A'astbinder, Abram
Vandevort, Levi Vandevort, Joshua Vandevort, Jr., Peter Vastbinder,
James .A. AA'ilkins, John J. AA'ilson, Isaac AA'alker, John AVakefield, John
AValker, Solomon AVales, William Weeks, John R. AVilkins, Galbraith
AA'ilson, Jeremiah AA'ilson, one tannery ; Hiram Wilson.
406

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

CHAPTER XXI A'.
PIONEER NEWSPAPER IN THE WEST  PIONEER NEWSPAPER IN THE COUNTY
 TERMS — EARLY MARKET — OTHER PAPERS.
Previous to 1793 there were no postal er post-office facilities. Letters
and papers had to be sent with friends, neighbors, or by special carriers.
The first newspaper started in the western part of the State was the Pitts
burg Gazette. It was published by John Scull, and issued in 1786. It
was distributed to patrons by special carriers. The pioneer newspaper
for Jefferson County was pubUshed in Indiana, Pennsylvania. It was es
tabUshed in 1826. It was a four-column paper, printed on paper eleven
inches wide and seventeen inches long. I have No. 13 of vol. i., and
reprint here from it, — viz. :
THE AMERICAN, AND
INDIANA & JEFFERSON REPUBLICAN.
" He is a freeman whom the truth makes free and all are slaves besides." — Cowper.
Alexander T. Moorhead, Proprietor, and Edited by James Moorhead.

New Series — Vol. I.

Monday, May 22, 1826.

No. 13.

PRINTED BY
WM. MOORHEAD,
in the frame house next door to Mr.
Jos. Thompson, Chair Maker and
Fainter, North of the Court House,
Water Street, Indiana, Pa.

Terina of Publication.
THE AMERICAN, AND INDI
ANA AND JEFFERSON RE
PUBLICAN will be published every
Monday, at two dollars per annum,
exclusive of postage ; and two dollars
and fifty cents, including postage,
payable half yearly in advance.
No subscription taken for a &borier
period than six months, and no with
drawal whilst in arrears.
A failure to notify an intention to
discontinue at the end of six months
is considered a new engagement.
Advertisements will be inserted at
the rate of ONE DOLLAR per
square for the three first insertions,
and TWEXTV-FIVE cents for every
continuance; those of greater length
in proportion.
AU orders directed to the Editor
must be post paid or they cannot re
ceive attention.
GRAIN, RAGS, BEES-WAX, OR
TALLOW, will be taken in payment
of subscription, if paid within the
current year.

407

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Inside and local column :

THE AMERICAN.

INDIANA:

MOND.W, JI.VY 22, 1826.

The price of lumber by retail as advertised
by the Diamond ]\Ii]ls, JIarch 6th, 1826.
Bill of Price of Pine BOARDS, and
SCANTLING at the MILLS.'
Inch boards price per 100 feet ^0.80
^ inch do do 0.75
^ inch do do 0.70
2 inch plank (selected) 0.50
lyi. inch (do) 1.25
3 inch (do) 2.00
2 inch common plank for barn or
stable floors 1.20
Scantling for Joists, &c. &c. 2^
inches by 10, running measure per
IOO feet. 1.30
3 inches by 8, per 100 feet 1-37/2
3 inches by 7, do 1.25
3 inches by 5, (selected) 1.25
3 inches by 4, (do) i.izy^
5 inches by 5, (do) 1.50
Scantling for Rafters in proportion.
Lath for palings <S:c. per IOO feet 0.26
Selected boards of the best timber
for Sash, or other particular uses 1. 00
Purchasers are invited to give us a call.
ROBERT MITCHELL,
TA.MES HA.MILTON,
A. T. MOORHEAD.
A common advertiseraent of those days as found in the above paper :
"Si-x; Cents Rewaril.
" RAN away from the residence of his father,
in Green Township, Indiana County,
SIMON CONNER,
without any just cause; I therefore forbid
any person from harboring said boy, or the
law will be rigidly enforced against them.
He had on when he absconded a drab coat
and pantaloons, and other clothing; one fur
and one wool hat. The above reward and
all reasonable expenses paid if brought home.
JOHN CONNERS."
May 22, 1S26.
The following market report is taken from the Blairsville Record and
Conemaugh Reporter, dated February 18, 1830, published by L. McFar
land :
" Butter, per pound, 11 cents ; bacon, per pound, 6 and 7 ; bags, 37
and 62 ; beans, per bushel, 87 and Si-oo ; boards, pine, per 100 feet, Si-50
408

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

Wheat per bushel
Rye Corn " "
Oats " "
Wheat flour per barrel

50 and 56
45 and 59
31 and 33

70 cents.

— ..„...„... ^v.. .,„,,^, .... . . . p_,.
Buckwheat flour per hundredweight . . ^^2.50 and J?3.
Flaxseed per bushel ... , . . 90 certs to ^l.
Dried apples per bushel . 40 and 50 cents.
" peaches  . . . . §1.
Feathers per pound   33 and 40 cents.
Rags " "  5 and 5>^ "
Wool it it  .... 30 cents.
Spanish hides per pound  16 and 19 cents.
Green """... . . 5 cents.
Beeswax per pound ... 16 and 18 cents.
Havana coffee per pound ... . . 14 and 14^ cents.
Rio " " " . I^J4 and 17 "
Java " " •' . 16 and 18 cents.
Whiskey per gallon  . . . 23 and 25 "
— Copied from the Olive Branch, Freeport, Pennsylvania, April 26, 1834,
vol. i.. No. 30.
In the year 1832, John J. Y. Thompson established in Brookville,
Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, and issued the first number of the
pioneer paper within the confines of the county. This paper was printed
on coarse paper, thirteen inches wide and twenty inches long. The
terms of subscription were the same as printed for the American. In
politics it was Democratic. In 1833, Thomas Reid purchased a half
interest in the establishment. The paper then was published as a neu
tral or independent, and still called Gazette. Thompson and Reid not
agreeing, Reid retired, and Thorapson and James P. Blair continued the
publication. In 1833, Thompson disposed of his interest to Dr. R. K. Scott, and
the firm became Blair & Scott. They changed the name te feffersonian,
and in politics it was Democratic. On February 27, 1834, Blair & Scott
sold out to George R. Barrett, who published it as the feffersonian
for one year. It was printed and published each week on Thursday, and
27 409

pI()NI-:f.r h!st()R\' oi-^ ji£1''m-:r.sox ci iU-NT^', i'f:xxA.
on the same terms as the In, liana .Inierican. The jjioneei- printing office
under all these parties, except 'rhom].ison, was in a one story-and-a-lialf
frame building, unpainted, on the corner of .Main and I'lckerinj,' Streets,
ojiposite the old, and nijw the ne«', court-house. ?\Iatson's brick block
is now located on tlie groinid. for \ears tliis little office, as well as the
\illat,'e, which was named lirookville liy Joseph Barnett, the [jatriarch of
the county, was surrounclcil li\- a boundless forest, the tall and lofty jjines

"S

J%

J. ]. "W Tlmnips'))!, piuneer ])ul)li.sher of paper.

in the immediate vicinit)- towerini; np towards the clouds, obscuring the
sun's rays until noontide, while nightl\- re\-els of hungr\- wolves awakened
the pioneer in his cabin. Next Jesse (i-. (.'lark and Blair bouL;ht and ran
the paper for jsi.x months, at which time James H. I.averty and lames
.Met 'rackin bought and published the jiaper until 1.S36. -\t this time
La\'ert)' retired, and McCrackin chan^^^ed the name to the Bi-o,<kvill,- Re-
puhliciin, and continued the jiulilication until January i. 1.S31J, when ke
removed with his paper from the count)-.
( 'opy of George R. Barrett's indenture, the man who published the
Broi'Iiille fcffci'saiiian in i-S^4: 411.1

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"Article of agreement made and concluded this first day of Septem
ber, eighteen hundred and thirty- one, between John Bigler, of the
borough of Bellefonte, Centre County, on the one part, and Daniel
Barrett, of Clearfield County, on the other part.
"The said John Bigler, printer, doth agree te teach George Barrett,
son of the said Daniel, the art and mystery of printing ; and during the
period that the said George shall so Uve with him the said Bigler is te

Hon. George R. Barrett, editor of paper.

board and clothe said George, and during his time give him one-quarter
of day schooling, one quarter night schooling, and when free give the
said George a good suit of clothes, to be nevv at that tirae.
"And the said Daniel doth hereby covenant and agree that the said
George shall reraain with the said Bigler for the terra of three years and
six months from the date of these presents, and comport himself in such
manner as is the duty of an apprentice to a master.
" John Bigler,
Daniel Barrett.
" 'Witness present — Franklin B. Smith."
411

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
In June, 1838, Thomas Hastings and son started and published in
Brookville a new paper called the Backwoodsman. In 1841, Colonel
^Yilliam Jack bought this paper and had it published by George F.
Humes. This was not a success, and Humes, in a valedictory to his
patrons, told them to go to h — 11 and he would ge te Texas. In 1843
the paper was owned and published by David Barclay and Barton T.
Hastings. In a short time Barclay retired and Hastings continued the
publication. Those papers were all printed on the old Ramage or
Franklin press, and every publisher made his own "roller" out of glue
and molasses, in the proportion of a pound ef glue to a pint of molasses.
In Brookville the "youngest devil" in the office carried to the residence
of each subscriber his or her paper. The boy who delivered these papers
was called the " carrier." Each New Year's day this carrier would have
an address in poetry, written by seme local bard, recounting the events of
the year just closed. This New Year's address he offered fer sale to his
patrons.
"ADDRESS TO HIS PATRONS BY THE CARRIER OF THE BROOKVILLE
DEMOCRAT-REPUBLICAN, JANUARY i, 1S37.
" Here I come, the ' little herald' of our town,
So early in the morning, to prance the streets around,
Bringing to you news from near and far,
Of murder, marriage, death, and war ;
Through the bleak winter's snow-storm,
Through ram, hail, and weather of every form,
I my weekly courses round to your house run.
As regularly as the bright and unvarying sun;
And since I my first visit here have made.
Changes many and strange, it is said,
Have fallen to the poor creature man :
To some, many thousands is a clan.
" But since I have thus taken upon me
To be merry and busy as a honey-bee,
You will please bear with me awhile, —
I will tell you of wars strange and vile,
Which, within twelve months, have taken place,
On Texas's fair soil, by the Mexican race,
Who, like bloody monsters and fiend,
Butcher'd man, woman, and child.
Brave Crockett, like a hero has a fallen,
Far in Texas, while the Mexican mailing.
His fame, may it be handed down,
Like the never-fading laurels of a crown.
May a lasting tribute be fully paid
To him that low m the Alamo was laid ;
But, the commander, Santa Anna, soon in snare,
Was taken by Houston and his men of war;
412

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
In chains and fetters he long lay,
Now turned at liberty, they say.
To Washington in haste he comes.
There in its lofty and pure domes,
To acknowledge Texas to be at liberty;
And that she shall no longer fear he,
In the presence of Jackson, noble and brave,
To declare her free as the sea-rolling wave.

' Another President has been made,
Martin Yan Buren, it is truly said,
Will take this high nation's reins,
Will, on the fourth, if the Lord deigns.
Of March next President be,
Over this great nation of Liberty;
While Johnston, of Kentucky great,
Yet has to stand before the Senate.

" Now to you, fair lasses, a word.
I will speak to you of neither famine nor sword,
But of pleirty and happiness, full and free,
Around Avell-furnished tables of tea.
Leap year has taken its flight,
And the bachelors are glad of the sight;
Beaus you will soon have in full store,
Since you have courted them no more;
But I would advise and warn you,
To beware lest they despise and scorn you.
That you pass not sweet twenty-five,
In single blessedness to live.
You will please take this friendly warning,
And I will bid you a good-morning.
" Old maids, like to have forgotten you I had ;
Your condition is surprisingly bad ;
Next to an old bachelor's dreadful state
I deplore your wonderfully hard fate.
But cheer up, ye lovely old dames.
Husbands you shall have in picture-frames.
" But of all IMPS I am the completest,
Of all patrons you are the neatest,
All so very kind, loving, and civil
To your young friend, the printer's devil ;
Then take it not as impudent of me,
Little, jDoor, and despised you see.
To wish you a happy New Year ;
And you need not feel anxiety or fear,
413

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
About produce that may fall or rise,
If you just hand over to me twenty-five.
To do this you may not be willing,
Then extend unto me but one shilling.

' Carrier.

'¦Republican Office, BROOKVILLE, January I, 1S37."

CHAPTER XXV
MILITIA AXD TOWXSHIPS.
PIONEER MILITIA REGIMENT.
Our pioneer miUtia regiment was the One Hundred and Forty-fifth,
Second Brigade, Fifteenth Division, Pennsylvania Militia.
The first reference I can find of a militia company was in what is
now "Washington township. I am unable to give any further information
of the militia at that date. " Attention.
"The enrolled militia, comprising the Seventh Company, First Bat
talion, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment, Second Brigade, Fif
teenth Division, Pennsylvania ]Militia, are ordered to meet, properly
equipped for drilling, at the home of Joseph Keys, in Pine Creek town
ship, on the first Monday of May next, at the hour of ten o'clock of said
day. "John Wilson, Captain."
April 10, 1S34.
The lieutenants of this company were Henry Keys and Oliver Mc
Clelland. Our battalion seems to have been comprised of five corapanies, formed
part of the One Hundred and Forty- fifth Regiment, and belonged to the
Fifteenth Division. The regiment was composed of two battalions, one
in Jefferson, and the division was composed of the counties of Allegheny,
Armstrong, Indiana, and Jefferson. William F. Johnston, of Kittanning,
afterwards governor of the State, was the colonel ; Alexander McKnight
(my father), of Brookville, was lieutenant-colonel ; and WiUiam Rodgers,
of Brookville, was major.
These regimental officers were commissioned .August 3, 1835, for
seven years, or during good behavior.
The companies were numbered, "first," "second," etc., instead of
being designated by letters, as at present 414

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
OFFICIAL FIRST COMPANY.
Pioneer Militia Company of Eldred and Barnett Townships. — List of
the voters or enroUed raen of the First Company of the militia of Jeffer
son County, Pennsylvania, March 21, 1836:
Thomas Arthurs, Jacob Craft, Henry M. R. Clark, Daniel Elgin,
John West, Joseph B. Graham, Nathan Phipps.
At an election held at the house of Thomas Arthurs, on the 21st of
March, 1836, John West was elected captain, Nathan Phipps was elected
first lieutenant, and Joseph B. Grahara second lieutenant.
Pioneer Militia Officers of the Third Company, for the Township of
Perry. — .-\.t an election held on the 21st of March, 1836, at the house ef
John Sprankle, the following officers were elected :
For captain, Clark Kithcart had seven votes.
For first lieutenant, William Ferguson had seven votes.
For second lieutenant, John N. Shaffer had seven votes.
Pioneer Militia Officers of the Fourth Company of Militia, for the
Township of Young. — .\t an election held at the house of A. Weaver, on
March 21, 1836, the following officers were elected :
For captain, William Clawson had twelve votes.
For first lieutenant, John Drum had eleven votes.
For second lieutenant, James Torrence had ten votes.
Pioneer Militia Company, Sixth Company, for the Township of Rose. —
At an election held March 21, 1836, at the house of Alonzo Baldwin,
in the township of Rose, for company officers for the Sixth Corapany of
the Jefferson County Militia, Second Brigade, and Fifteenth Division :
For captain, Isaac Mcllvaine had thirteen votes.
For captain, Christopher Barr had one vote.
For first lieutenant, Enoch Hall had seven votes.
For first lieutenant, John Heterick had seven votes.
For second lieutenant, John Lucas, Jr., had nine votes.
For second lieutenant, WiUiam Godfrey had five votes.
J. J. Y. Thompson, Clerk.
Voters on enrollment :
Christopher Barr, Andrew Mcllvaine, William Godfrey, John Wil
liams, George McAninch, John Heterick, Isaac Mcllvaine, Hiram Carrier,
Andrew Mcllvaine, Jr., Philip Burns, William McAninch, David Moore,
John J. Y. Thompson, .\lonzo Baldwin.
Pioneer Militia Company of Brookville. — .\t an election held March
21, 1836, at the house of Thomas Hastings, inn-keeper in Brookville, for
the purpose of electing officers for the Seventh Company of the Jefferson
County Battalion, Pennsylvania Militia, the following members polled
their ballots :
Job McCreight, Robert Barr, Henry Dull, William McGarey, William
415

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Barr, Thomas Craddick, Jr., Andrew C. Vastbinder, Jared B. Evans,
Thomas Hastings, John Gallagher, John Brownlee, Samuel Craig, Cephas
J. Dunham, John Beck, Thomas Barr, Daniel Coder, Isaac Hallen, Jo
seph Sharp, Charles A. Wells, Joseph Clements, Jesse G. Clark, Benja
min McCreight, Hugh Brady, Samuel Truby, William Rodgers, Arad
PearsaU, Alexander C. Hamilton, William Kelso, James Craig, Andrew
C. Hall, Richard Arthurs, James Lucas, Caleb A. Alexander, James
McCracken, John Barnett, James Templeton, Henry Smith.
WiUiam Kelso was elected captain, Daniel Coder first lieutenant, and
Henry Sraith second lieutenant.
The following notice, dated November 17, 1836, was published in
the Brookville Republican by the brigade inspector, as required by law :
"An appeal for the First Battalion, One Hundred and Forty-fifth
Regiment, will be held at the house of J. Pierce, in the borough of
BrookviUe, en Monday, the 12th day of December next. The field
oflicers of said battalion are requested to attend for the purpose of hear
ing excuses and exonerating constables, etc. Persons interested are
requested to attend. All persons having claims for railitary services are
requested te present thera at the above tirae and place.
"S. S. Jamison, Brigade-Inspector,
" Second Bat., Fifteenth Div., P. M."
The pioneer musters and reviews were held either at Port Barnett, the
McCuUough farm, or Samuel Jones's farm ; also on what is now Jackson
Heber's farm, and on what is now our fair grounds. ."Ml marching was
done to the tune of "Yankee Doodle." The militia carried all kinds of
weapons, including "corn-stalks," and hence were called the "corn
stalk militia."
The militia drills ceased in this State about 1847 or 1848.
Marching was in single file. In drill it was "by sections of tvvo,
march." Instead of " file right" or "file left," it was "right" or "left
wheel." Instead of "front" it was "left face." The Brookville militia
and Jefferson Blues company drilled en the flat now covered with water
by Heidrick, Matson & Co.'s dam.

VOLUNTEERS— THE PIONEER MILITARY COMPANY — JEFFERSON
BLUES— CONSTITUTION OF THAT ORGANIZATION— MILITARY
FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION.
As near as I can learn, the pioneer military volunteer company in the
county was the Jefferson Blues. This body of men was organized at
BrookviUe some time in 1836, and was a "Volunteer Rifle .\ssociation."
416

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
The pioneer oflicers were, captain, John Wilson ; lieutenants, William
Kelso and Henry Vastbinder ; orderly Sergeant, Samuel Chitister.
Band : Samuel Lucas, fifer ; Oliver George, snare drummer ; Evans R.
Brady, bass drummer.
From the Brookville Democrat- Republican ef 1837 I quote the fol
lowing account of the pioneer military celebration of the Fourth of July,
1776: "JEFFERSON BLUES  ANNIVERSARV CELEBRATION.
"The sixty-first anniversary of American Independence was cele
brated in this place on the meraorable Fourth by the Jefferson Blues,
commanded by Captain John Wilson, together with the citizens of Jef
ferson County, in a spirit worthy of the occasion. The company formed
in procession, and after parading in the streets and through the borough
for a time, adjourned to the public house of William Clark, Esq., where
they partook of a sumptuous repast, served up in his best style.
"Dinner over, the procession marched to the grove southeast of
Brookville, where an oration was spoken by Richard Arthurs, Esq. , after
which the following toasts were drunk :
" By Captain John Wilson. The young republic of Texas : may she
soon be united into the confederacy ef our happy Union, and with her
sound the trumpet of liberty.
"By Lieutenant Vastbinder. The heroes of the army and navy of
the last war : may their memories be cherished while the earth bears a
plant or the sea rolls a wave.
"By Sergeant Samuel Chitister. The Jefferson Blues: may they have
the pleasure of being commanded hereafter by a comraander of their own
who is capable of performing the duties assigned him.
" By Samuel MiUer. The Jefferson Blues : it is now about one year
since their organization ; it it is hoped that hereafter they will agree
better, and become a respectable volunteer company.
" By William Clark. The North Fork Company : may they last as
long as laurel grows green or I keep a tavern in Brookville.
"By S. Miller. Carlton B. Curtis, Esq., our late representative in
the Legislature. The talent and ability with which he represented us
last winter insures him our suffrage for another term.
"Sent by Levi L. Tate. Universal education, the railroad to in
ternal improvement : may it go ahead and prosper.
"By Samuel Lucas. The Jefferson Blues: may they never be com
pelled to slavery while the soil yields fruit or the ocean rolls a wave.
"By George O. George. May we stand firm in the field of battle,
undaunted and unshaken by the toils and dangers of a military life.
"By Joseph Chitister. Free and independent Blues: may love and
unity prevail among us. 417

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"By D. Chitister. Our Constitution: may we aU fearlessly support
it while we are able to beat a drum or shoulder our arms.
" By John W. Carr. The farmers of Jefferson County who sold their
grain out of the county last winter : raay they have the pleasure of
living on potatoes for three months.
" By David Vandyke. The Reform Convention: consists of many
men, many minds, and I believe of birds of various kinds, a great singing
and humming, and at least not much doing.
"By Thomas Dixon. The people of Jefferson County: may virtue,
liberty, independence, ever be their polar star.
" By George Matthews. The volunteers ef Pennsylvania: may they
have but one object, that the good of their country.
" By William W. Stewart. Daniel Webster, a Democrat and Anti-
Mason, and the best statesman in the United States : may he be chosen
President in eighteen hundred and forty.
" By Thomas Dixon. Nicholas Biddle, Daniel Webster, Henry Clay,
and others will find they have ' barked up the wrong sapling' in their
efforts to underrate the virtue of Old Hickory in his dealings towards the
LTnited States Bank.
" By John T. Crow. The Jefferson Blues : may her raembers increase
in number and in knowledge of military tactics, and may our next choice
of a captain result in the selection of one who understands the first prin
ciples of military duties.
"By U. Matson. Short shoes and long corns to be the enemies of
liberty. "By J. S. McCuUough. j\Iay the Jefferson Blues be as gallant as the
heroes of seventy-six under the gallant Washington.
" BY THE COMPANY.
"The Independence of the United States made the Fourth of July
sixty-one years ago. Let us remember our leader Washington while we
volunteer. "The captain of our company: thanks to you for your good per
formance this day.
" May the Jefferson Blues be united unanimously, so that they may
understand their duty to defend their country.
" May our company becorae more united together, and encourage
one another to do their duty here and hereafter.
"The hero of Tippecanoe: raay his name be handed down to pos
terity in letters of gold.
"(Note-query. — Whether were the toasts drunk, or the persons by
whom they were given ? We hope not the latter. — Editors Republican.)"
The martial bands at every celebration and muster kept constantly
beating the tune of all tunes that delighted the pioneer, — viz. .
418

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" Yankee Doodle is the tune,
Yankee doodle dandy ;
How we made the redcoats run
At Yankee doodle dandy !"
This tune was sometimes alternated with "The Girl I Left Behind
Me." AGREEMENT TO FORM COMPANY.
" The subscribers, whose names are hereunto affixed, agree to form
theraselves into a A'olunteer Rifle Association, the name of which shall be
the 'Jefferson Blues,' and have adopted the following constitution for
our government : "JEFFERSON blues' CONSTITUTION.
(" Published by request.)
"Article i. Uniform. — Citizen's blue coat, white pantaloons, white
vest, red belt, black hat, with red scarf trimraed with white tape or cord,
black cockades, white plumes with red tops, and black leather stocks or
handkerchiefs. "Article 2. Time of Parade.. — The corapany shall parade upon
the three days appointed by law, fixing upon the tenth of September for
the third, and as raany times thereafter as a majority of the company
shall parade. Notice of the time and place of each parade shall be pub
licly given by the orderly sergeant at least ten days previous to the time
of the parade.
"Article 3. Fines. — The fines shall be as foUows : On law days, for
each commissioned officer two dollars, for non- coraraissioned officer one
dollar and fifty cents, and privates one dollar, and on days appointed by
the company one-half of said fine.
"Article 4. The non-commissioned officers shall be elected and
act during good behavior. The commissioned officers having the
power to remove the non commissioned officers and hold another
election, the officer so removed, if aggrieved, may appeal to the com
pany. "Article 5. The orderly sergeant shall act as clerk of the company,
and the orderly sergeant shall collect all fines, etc.
"Article 6. The commissioned officers shall constitute a standing
executive committee to manage all the concerns of the company, and
court ef appeals.
"Article 7. Signing the constitution and fulfilling the promises
shall constitute a membership previous to the organization, after which,
in addition to the above, every applicant shall be adraitted by the con
currence of two-thirds of the company. 419

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"Article 8. The constitution shall not be altered or amended ex
cept with the consent of two-thirds of the corapany.
"Adopted this 4th day ef July, 1836.
"John Wilson, Williaji Kelso,
Henry Vastbinder, Samuel Chitister,
Thomas Dixon, David Chitister,
WiLLiA.M Dixon, Daniel Chitister,
John Dixon, Joseph Chitister,
James Dixox, James Murphy,
Daniel Long, David Masox,
William Long, William Mason,
Michael Long, Jacob Mason,
John Knapp, Benjamin Mason,
Joshua Knapp, James S. McCullough,
Samuel Knapp, William McCullough,
Paul Vandevort, Moses Knapp, Jr.,
Da\td Vandevort, D.amd Moore,
Joshua Vandevort, John Heterick."
J. B. Graham,
"attention, JEFFERSON BLUES !
" Notice is hereby given that an Appeal will be held at the house of
Williara Clark on Monday, the sixth day of Noveraber next, when those
concerned can have an opportunity of attending. Appeal to open at 10
o'clock. " By order of the captain. "Samuel Chitister, 0. S.
"Brookville, October 19, 1837."
These Blues had an existence of seven years.
" MILITIA APPEAL.
"An appeal for the First Battalion, One Hundred and Forty-fifth
Regiraent, will be held at the house of J. Pierce, in the borough of
Brookville, on Monday, the 1 2th day of December next. The field
oflicers of said battalion are requested to attend for the purpose of hearing
excuses and exonerating constables, etc. Persons interested are requested
to attend. " All persons having claims for railitary services are requested to
present them at the above time and place.
" S. S. Jamison, Brigade Inspector,
" Second Bat., Fifteenth Div., P. M.
" November 17, 1836."
— Brookville Democrat-Republican. 420

PIONEER PIISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"THE AMERICAN BOY.
•• A POEM OF 1836.
" ' Father, look up and see that flag.
How gracefully it flies ;
Those pretty stripes, that seem to be
A rainbow in the skies.'
" ' It is your country's flag, my son.
And proudly drinks the light,
O'er ocean's wave — in foreign climes,
A symbol of our might.'
" ' Father, what fearful voice is that,
Like thundering of the clouds ?
Why do the people wave their hats.
And rush along in crowds ?'
" ' It is the noise of cannonry,
The glad shout of the free ;
This is a day to meraory dear, —
'Tis freedom's jubilee.'
" ' I wish that I was now a man,
I'd fire my cannon too.
And cheer as loudly as the rest;
But, father, why don't you?'
" ' I'm getting old and weak, but still
My heart is big with joy;
I've witnessed many a day like this;
Shout you aloud, my boy.'
" ' Hurrah for Freedom's Jubilee !
God bless our native land !
And may I live to hold the sword
Of Freedom in my hand.'
ti t "v^eji done, my boy. Grow up and love
The land that gave you birth ;
A home where freedom loves to dwell
Is Paradise on earth.' "J. G. H."
— Baltimore Chronicle. PINE CREEK— THE MOTHER TOWNSHIP.
Pine Creek in the Delaware language is " Cucoeu-harrue," — i.e., a
pine creek, a stream flowing through pine woods.
This township was established by an act of Assembly in 1806, being
the first and only township in the county, and named in honor of Pine
Creek township, Lycoming County, from which the county and this town-
421

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
ship were taken. This township was the mother ef all the others, and its
historic reminiscences are all commemorated in the general history of the
county. The resident taxables in 1807 were 23; in 1814, 35 ; in 1821. in
cluding Perry township, 161; in 1S28, 60; in 1835, 103; in 1842, 98.
The population by census in i8io was 161 ; in 1820, 561 ; this also in
cluded Perry township; in 1830, not obtained; in 1840, 628.
Though the county was organized provisionally in 1804, there seems
to have been no records kept nor any elections held untill 1807.
The pioneer election district in the county and in Pine Creek town
ship, Jefferson County, was created by an act creating certain election
districts, and making alterations in other districts already enacted. Ap
proved 31st March, a.d. 1806, which read as follows, — viz., Jefferson
County made a separate district :
"Section 9. And be it further enacted by the authoritv aforesaid.
That the county of Jefferson shall be a separate election district, and the
electors thereof shall hold their general elections at the house now occu
pied by Joseph Barnett, on Sandy Lick Creek, in said county."
The pioneer election returns are as follows :
" 1807 — Jefferson County. At an election held at the house ef Sarauel
Scott, in said county, on Friday, the 20th of March, a.d. 1807, the fol
lowing persons were duly elected :
"Supervisors, John Scott had eighteen votes, Peter Jones had eigh
teen votes. Signed, Sarauel Scott, Thomas Lucas, judges."
"1808— .\t an election held at the house of Samuel Scott, in said
county, on the i8th day of March, a.d. i8o8, the following persons were
duly elected as returned below :
" Supervisors, John Jones, Alexander McCoy, were duly elected ; au
ditors, Samuel Lucas, Samuel Scott, Moses Knapp, and Adam Vastbinder
were duly elected. Signed, Samuel Scott, John Dixon, judges."
These returns are as copied from the records of Indiana County,
where the returns had to be made, this county then being under the legal
jurisdiction of Indiana.
In June, about the year 18 18, a terrible hail-storm swept through this
region and extended its ravages several miles, killing and destroying the
largest pine-trees, leaving them standing as dead. The width of this
storm was about half a mile.
On the 6th of June, 1806, there Avas a total eclipse of the sun.
Fowls went to roost and bees hastened to their hives. The pioneers
and Indians were greatly alarmed.
Between the hours of three and seven o'clock in the morning of
Deceraber 16, 181 1, two distinct shocks of earthquake startled the pio
neers of Jefferson County. The violence was such as to shake their log
cabins. 422

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
The pioneer explorers of the land were Andrew Barnett and Samuel
Scott, in 1796.
The pioneer settler was Joseph Hutchison and wife in 1798. The
patriarch was Joseph Barnett, who settled here in the fall of 1800. The
pioneer birth was Rebecca Barnett, in 1802.

y^rfif,.

Andrew Barnett, Jr.

The pioneer marriage was Sarah Barnett to Elisha M. Graham, March
30, 1.807.
The pioneer minister of the gospel to visit and preach was a Rev.
Mr. Greer, a friend of Joseph Barnett. He came on a visit in 1801.
He remained two weeks, and preached several times. He returned on a
visit in 1802, and again preached.
The pioneer death was that of Andrew Barnett, in the fall of 1797.
423

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
He was buried en the bank of Mill Creek, by Samuel Scott and two
friendly Indians, and to this day no man knoweth the exact place of his
burial. The second faraily te follow the Barnetts into this wilderness was Peter
Jones, from Centre County, Pennsylvania. He carae in 1801. In the
winter of 1801, Stephen RoU, August Shultz, and a negro named Fudge
Van Camp started on foot near Easton for the Barnett settlement.
When they struck " Meade's trail," at the mouth of Anderson's Creek,
there yet reraained for thera to travel thirty-three miles of unbroken wil
derness. They were foolish enough to start on this part of their journey
without anything to eat on the way. After they started it snowed all
day in this wilderness until the snow was two feet deep. Van Camp was
a large and powerful man. He undertook to break the road for the other
two, but hunger and cold overcame hira when within a raile of Barnett's,
and this last mile he had to make on his hands and knees.
He reached Barnett's at midnight, half frozen, and so exhausted as to
be scarcely able to tell of the condition of his two companions. A rescue
party of four or five men was at once started. Roll was met a few rods
from the house, making his way on his hands and knees. Shultz was found
some two railes farther, alraost frozen. He lost several toes from his feet,
and eventually died from this exposure. Roll and Van Camp lived to be
old raen. In 1802, John, WiUiara, and Jacob Vastbinder settled on what
is now the Ridgeway road, near Kirkman Post-Office. In the year 1803,
Ludwig Long, a hunter, settled on the Ridgeway read, two miles from
Brookville. He was father of our great hunters, jNIike, John, Dan, and
WiUiam Long. He started the first distillery. At an early day he
moved to Ohio, leaving his sons here. Jacob Mason and Master John
Dixon came in 1802. In 1805 or 1806, John Matson settled where Robert
now lives.
The second or third mill built in the county was at the head of what
is now Heidrick, Matson & Co.'s mill pond. It was erected by Moses
Knapp in 1800. In the thirties the Matsons and McCuUoughs erected
mills on the North Fork and Mill Creek. These were only mills in
name, being the old up-and-down raills, er commonly called thunder-
gust mills. The raill at Bellport was erected in 1830 by Benjamin
Bailey. It was carried away in a flood, and then John J. Y. Thompson
rebuilt it in 1838.
The pioneer graveyard in the county was located on the property
now of William C. Evans, near the junction of the Ridgeway road with
the pike. I found this graveyard in my boyhood, and thought they were
Indian graves. My mother told me its history. The graves are now lost
and the grounds desecrated. The second graveyard in the township was
laid out in 1842, on Nathaniel Butler's farm, and is still called Butler's
graveyard. 424

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
In 1816, Cyrus, Nathaniel, and David Butler, and John Lattimer set
tled on farms near the Barnetts.
Pioneer efforts to secure a county road at September term, 1807, of
Indiana Court :
William C. Brady, Thomas Lucas, Samuel Scott, James McHenry,
Captain Hugh Brady, and James Johnston were appointed to lay out a
road from Joseph Barnett's, on Sandy Lick Creek, Jefferson County, to
Brady's mill, on the Little Mahoning, Indiana County.
The pioneer road was the Indiana and Port Barnett, for the creation
of which the petition of a nuraber of citizens of Jefferson County and
p,arts of Indiana County was presented te the Indiana County Court at
the September term, 1808. The points of the road were from Brady's
mill, on Little Mahoning Creek, Indiana County, to Sandy Lick Creek,
in Jefferson County (Port Barnett), where the State (Milesburg and
Waterford) road crosses the same. The Court appointed as viewers
Samuel Lucas, John Jones, Moses Knapp, and Samuel Scott, of Jefferson
County, and John Park and John Wier, ef Indiana County, to view and
make a report at the next term. This road was probably built in 1810.
The pioneer justice of the peace was Thomas Lucas, appointed Janu
ary 16, 1809.
The early settlers to erect cabins on the Indiana road in Pine Creek
township were Joseph Carr in 181 7, Manuel Reitz, George Gray, and
Samuel McQuiston in 1827, John Matthews in 1830, Elijah Clark in
1833, Andrew Hunter and WiUiam Wyley in 1834, and Isaac Swineford
in 1835. The pioneer school-house in this settlement was built in 1830 ;
the pioneer graveyard was on the McCann farm in 1830.
" Fines for Misdemeanors. — In the early days of the county's his
tory the penalties prescribed by the laws of the Commonwealth for any
offence against any of the statutes was rigorously enforced, seemingly
without regard to the social standing of the offender. Sabbath-breaking,
swearing, and intoxication seem to have been the sins most vigorously
punished by the arm of the law. In an old docket, opened en the
15th day of January, 1810, by Thomas Lucas, the first justice ef the
peace of Pine Creek township, are the following entries :
(Copy.)
" ' (L. S.) Jefferson County, ss ¦
" 'Be it remembered that on the seventh day of May, in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten, Gabriel Puntus, of sd
county, is convicted before me, Thomas Lucas, Esq., one of the Justices
of the Peace in and for sd county, going to and from mill unnecessarily
upon the sixth of Alay instant, being the Lord's day, commonly Coled
Sunday, at the county aforesaid, contrary to the Act of Assembly in
23 425

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Such cases made and provided, and I do adjudj him to forfeit for the
same the sum of four dollars.
" ' Given under my hand the day and year aforesaid. " 'Thomas Lucas.'
(Copy.)
" ' Commonwealth vs. John Dixon.
" ' (L. S.) Jefferson County, ss :
"'Be it remembered that on the 13th day of January, in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twelve, John Dixkson, of
Pine Creek township, in the county of Jefferson, is convicted before me,
Thomas Lucas, one of the Justices of the Peace, in and for sd county, of
being intoxicated with the drink of spirituous liquors, and for cursing one
profane curse, in these words : " God dam," that it is to say this Day at
Pine Creek township, aforesaid, contrary to the Act of General Assembly
in such cases made and provided, and I do aguge him to forfeit for the
same the sum of sixty -seven, cents for each offence.
" ' Given under my hand and seal the day and year afore s'd.
" ' TH0M.4S Lucas.
" ' Justice's Cost 35 cents ; Constable's Cost 31 cents.'
" Lewis Long is also convicted in 181 5 fer 'having hunted and car
ried the carcis of one deer on the 23d day of July instant, being the
Lord's day, commonly Coled Sunday, up Pine Creek township aforesaid,'
and sentenced to pay four dollars penalty.
" The first entry in this old docket is an action for debt. ' Thomas
McCartney vs. Freedom Stiles, to recover on a promisory note, dated
June 2oth, 1805, for ^4.25.'
" The next entry is an action of surety of the peace :
(Copy.)
" ' Commonwealth vs. Henry Vastbinder.
"'Surety of the peace and good behavour on oath of Fudge Van
Camp, January 25th, 1810.
" 'Warrant issued January 25 th, 1810.
" ' Fudge Van Camp, principal, tent, in Si 00, to appear, &c. Samuel
Lucas, (bail,) tent, in $100, to prosicute, i&c. referred to Samuel Scott,
John Scott, Elijah M. Graham, Peter Jones, and John Matson.
"'Justice's Costs. — information 15 cents. Warrant 15 cents, 2 recog
nizances 40 cents, notice to refferees 15 cents, One Sum. 3 names 19
cents, One Sum. 1 name 10 cents, Swearing 3 witnesses 56 cents. Five
referees 35 cents,' Entering rule of renewment 10 cents. Constable's Cost
51.96, referees $2.50, Witnesses $1.50.
" ' We, the refferees within named having heard the parties, the proofs
and allegation to wit : We find from the evidence that the run is to be
426

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
the line between Fudge Van Camp and Henry Vastbinder, from the line
of the tract of land to the corner of  by the camp, and thence along
the old fence to the corner, thence by a direct line the same across the
ridge to the run, and each party to enjoy these clearings till after harvest,
next. Fudge Van Camp to enjoy the benefit of his sugar camp till the
Une is run, and John Jones and Moses Knap is for to run the line be
tween the parties, and eavery one of the partis is to move there fence on
their own ground, sd Van Camp is te leave sixteen feet and a half in the
clear between the stakes of the fences for a lane or outlet between the
partis, and each party is to give sureity for there good behavior unto each
other, there goods and chatties, for the term of one year and one day from
entering of sureity, to be entered ameditly if it can be had ; if not to be
had at the present time, bail is to be entered on Tuesday, the sixth day
of February, A.D. 1810. The plaintiff to pay fifty cents costs, and the
defendant the remainder of the costs of Sute.
" ' Witness our hands and seals this second day of february, A.D. 1810.
" ' Samuel Scott, (L. S.)
John Scott, (L. S.^
Elijah M. Graham, (L. S.)
Peter Jones, (L. S.)
John Matson, (L. S.)
" ' Before me Thomas Lucas.'
" The fines for Sabbath-breaking, profane swearing, and intoxication
seem to have been rigidly enforced all through the term of office of Mr.
Lucas, as we find numerous entries, in sorae instances the fines araount-
ing to twelve dollars for one person. Numerous other offences are en
tered, the most curious being the indictments of the ' Commonwealth vs.
Francis Godyear and Mollie Taylor for Poligamy,' September 12, 1835.
"In the same old docket is the account of Thomas Lucas's fees on
probates on fox, wolf, and wild-cats, from February 14, 1832, to June 11,
1838. Among the hunters are the names of WiUiam and Michael Long,
Adam, Philip, Henry, and WiUiam Vastbinder, John, Samuel, and James
Lucas, John and Thomas Callen, Jacob Shaffer, James Linn, Ralph Hill,
John Wyncoop, William Dougherty, Frederick Heterick, Nelson T.
McQuiston, William Horan, and WilUam Douglass. The list embraces
thirty wild-cats, forty-eight wolves, seventy-six foxes, and one panther
(shot by Thomas Callen). The justice's fee on each probate was twelve
and a half cents.
" On the whole, however, the early settlers of the county seem to have
been a law-abiding people, for, with the exception of a few actions for
'assault and battery,' there were no serious breaches ef the peace in the
first quarter of a century that this old docket legally chronicles." — Kate
Scotf s History of fefferson County. 427

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
The following were the early settlers up to 1818 :
Jacob Mason, Richard Van Camp, Samuel States, John Hice, Henry
Lott, Joseph Clements, Charles Sutherland (colored), Robert Dickson,
Enos Van Camp (colored), Frederick Frants, George Evans, Robert
Knox, William Hayns, Israel Stiles, Hulet Smith, John Templeton, and
Joseph Greenawalt, and perhaps a few others.
Fudge Van Camp was the pioneer colored settler.
The pioneer school in the county was started here, a description of
which will be found under the chapter on education.
"The first election in the county was held at Port Barnett, and up to
1818 it was the only polling and election precinct in and for the county.
At the last election (when the township was the whole county), in
181 7, Friday, March 14, the names of the contestants for office and the
votes were as follows, — viz. : Constable, Elijah M. Graham, 22 votes;
John Dixon, 13 votes. Supervisors, Joseph Barnett, 25 votes; Thomas
Lucas, 28 votes. Overseer of the Poor, Henry Keys, 9 votes; John
Matson, 6 votes. Fence Appraisers, Moses Knapp, 7 votes ; WiUiam
Vastbinder, 7 votes. Town Clerk, Elijah !M. Graham, 22 votes.
"Signed and attested bythe judges, Walter Templeton and Adam
Vastbinder." — Kate Scotf s History of fefferson County.
From 1831 to 1842, Andrew Barnett kept a licensed tavern at Port
Barnett. Jacob Kroh kept the tavern from 1842 until 1843. Isaac
Packer kept the log tavern near Peter Baum's from 1834 until 1842. In
1834 there were but two buildings between Port Barnett and Reynolds
ville, — Packer's tavern and Hance Vastbinder's house near where
Emerickville now is. The pioneer store was opened by the Barnetts
and Samuel Scott, who, in 1826, sold it out to Jared B. Evans, and he,
in the fall of 1830, removed it to Jefferson Street, Brookville, Penn
sylvania. PORT barnett.
Port Barnett, where the pioneer settlers of Jefferson County founded
a home for themselves, was the property of Joseph Barnett and Samuel
Scott. The county records describe the ownership of this property as
follows :
"The Port Barnett property containing two hundred and fifty-six
acres and one hundred perches. One part conveyed to Samuel Scott by
Jeremiah Parker, by deed dated i6th day of  , 181 8, recorded in
Indiana County, in Deed Book No. 2, page 727, and by sundry convey
ances to Andrew Barnett. Other moiety conveyed to Joseph Barnett by
Jeremiah Parker, by deed dated 26th of June, 1821, recorded in Indiana
County, in Deed Book No. 4, page 482, and by will of Joseph Barnett
devised to .\ndrew Barnett."
In 181 8 there were but three saw-mills in the county, and nineteen
miles of county road. "The only road then in this region was one
42S

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
from Port Barnett, which crossed the Sandy near where Fuller's dam is
now built, and from thence to Indiana. There were fourteen men em
ployed in cutting it out, under the direction of Judge Shippen, of
MeadvUle. " The party had a wagon to haul their provisions, and was composed of
Mr. Kennedy and tvvo men named Halloway and Williamson. Ne respect
was had for the future comfort of the traveller, or the poor horses that
had to toil over the road, no digging was done, and it was up one hill
and down another. The second road was from Port Barnett to Troy,
and was made in the same manner as the ether. These reads were made
so as to pass the homes of as many settlers as possible. The unseated
taxes were sufficient to pay all expenses. The nearest grist-mill was run
by a man named Parks, and was the Knapp mill. This mill was in
what is now Brookville. The belting was done by hand, and William
Kennedy says he often took his turn at this work when waiting for his
grist." Timber tracts could be bought fer twenty-five and fifty cents per acre.
In 1820 there were twenty-five saw-mills in the county, and one hundred
and fifty miles of county road. The early paths of the settlers ran over
the steepest part of the hills, and these paths were usuaUy enlarged into
reads. These paths and roads were run over the hills by sighting from
peak to peak with a compass to keep from being lost in the wild woods.
the pioneer square timber raft.
Ludwig Long and sons about 1834 ran the first square timber raft. It
took them six days to reach the mouth. Up to the year 1830 our people
were unable to run much timber to market in any other way than in
boards. A Yankee by the name of Samuel Seeley moved into this county
about the year 1830 or 1832 and located at Port Barnett. This man
Seeley either invented or introduced into this wilderness the idea of
rafting timber sticks together with white oak bows and ash pins.
About the year 1834, Long's timber raft was taken out near Port
Barnett, hauled to the creek, and rafted in. It was three platforms long.
The timber sticks were of uniform length, which left no stiffness in the
structure. The oar-blades and stem, as was the custom then, were hewed
out of a good-sized pine-tree in one body. The cables were hickory, and
the halyards wild grape-vine. The pilot stood on the front end of the
raft, and steered from there. The timber was marketed at Pittsburg.
"Although more or less of the lumber has from the origin of the
business until now been annually exported, the trade in square timber
and spars was not until 1842 considered remunerative. Prior to that it
was carried on from necessity. It was important to clear the land that
bread might be raised and population supported, and, whilst the growing
trees were considered of little or no value, our citizens were satisfied if
429

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
the pittance they then received for their timber would pay them for the
labor of cutting and exporting.
" During all the early years of the settlement, varied with occasional
pleasure and excitements, the great work of increasing the tillable ground
went slowly on. The impleraents and tools were few and of the most
primitive kinds, but the soil that had long held in reserve the accumu
lated richness of centuries produced splendid harvests, and the husband
man was well rewarded for his labor. The soil was warmer then than
now, and the seasons earlier. The wheat was occasionally pastured in
the spring to keep it from growing up so early and so fast as to become
lodged. The harvest came early, and the yield was often from twenty to
thirty bushels per acre. Corn grew fast, and roasting ears were to be
had by the ist of August in most seasons."
PERRY TOWNSHIP.
This was the second organized township, being taken, in 1818, from
Pine Creek. The division line separating at that time these two town
ships was called the " Mason and Dixon line of Jefferson County." This
township was named in honor of Commodore Perry, the hero of the navy
on the Lakes, in the war of 1812 ; and its boundary then was, on the
north by Pine Creek township, east by Clearfield County, south by
Indiana County, and west by Armstrong County. There are two pioneer
villages in the township, — viz., PerrysviUe and Whitesville; and the
former has a post-office called Hamilton, and the latter's post-office is
Valier ; also the taxables were as follows : in 1828, 85 ; 1835, 209 ; 1842,
251. The population by census of 1840 was 1076.
The pioneer settler in what is now Perry township was John Bell.
He erected his cabin there in 1809. His nearest neighbor was nine
miles distant, in Indiana County, and the Barnetts were the nearest on
the north side. Bell came from Indiana Town. He died on the 19th of
May, 1855, in his eighty-sixth year. He was an intelligent, industrious
farraer, a justice of the peace, appointed in 1818 by Governor Findley,
and held this office for twenty-five years by appointment or election.
Once, while on his way home frora Port Barnett, he observed an Indian
taking aim at him with his rifle from behind a tree. Mr.>Bell said in his
Ufetime, "That Indian was never seen afterwards." Mr. John BeU was
a great hunter, during his life in Jefferson County he killed two panthers,
ninety-three wolves, three hundred and six bears, and over six hundred
deer. The next settler in Perry was Archibald Hadden. He came from
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 18 10, and settled near Mr. John
Bell. In 1812, Hugh McKee, a soldier of this war, settled near Perrys
viUe. John Postlethwait came in 1818, Reuben Hickox in 1822.
Reuben Hickox's hunting exploits alone would make a book. He,
430

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
in three days, caught six bears, and in the early part of the season, in
less than three months, secured over fifty of the "bruin" family. He
trapped and hunted principally for bears and wolves. Wild- cats were
numerous, and often got into his traps, but he cared naught for them,

Perry township.
as their fur was valueless, only bringing in the market ten cents apiece.
As for the deer, they formed the major portion of his bill of fare.
Turkeys, wild ducks, etc. , were numerous, and whenever he had a desire
for fowl, his trusty rifle would soon secure an amount far in excess of the
wants of his family.
Other early settlers in Perry were WilUam Johnston, Benjamin Mc
Bride, WilUam Stewart, Isaac Lewis, Sarauel Newcorab, and Thoraas S.
Mitchell. One of the most useful and prominent citizens ef Perry township was
Thomas Sharp Mitchell, who migrated in 1828, at the age of fifteen years,
to the wilderness of Perry township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.
He came in the employ of Alva Payne, from Armstrong County, Penn
sylvania, who in the year 1828 opened the pioneer store in what is new
PerrysviUe. Young Mitchell was Payne's clerk. In addition to being
salesman in the store, Thomas peddled with a wagon among the pioneers,
trading goods for deer pelts, furs, etc. In this vocation he sometimes ex
tended his trips into the adjoining counties. He peddled and clerked in
431

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
this way for about two years, when Payne left the country for parts un
known. From 1831 to 1837, Mitchell peddled for himself. In 1837 he
and his brother James opened a general merchandise store in PerrysviUe,
and continued in active operation as a firm until 1842, when James
moved to Indiana County, Pennsylvania, leaving Thoraas still engaged
in merchandising, lumbering on the Mahoning, and droving. Our enter-

-if, ".f '

¦»«; A

Early barn.
prising merchants were drovers of horses and cattle, and Thomas S.
MitcheU was a successful one. For several years he "drove" several
droves each season, a single drove sometimes containing as many as four
hundred head of cattle. Thomas S. Mitchell's mother was Agnes Sarah
Sharp, daughter of Captain Sharp, one of the pioneers on the Kiskimini
tas, and of sorae fame as an Indian fighter. He died of wounds received
in an engagement with redskins outside of Fort Pitt. But the hero cap
tain landed his wife and children in Fort Pitt, where he died in fourteen
days from his wounds.
Thomas S. Mitchell married Miss Sarah Blose, of Perry township, in
1 83 1. She was a daughter of George Blose, who emigrated from West-
432

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
moreland County, Pennsylvania, to Perry towmship, Jefferson County,
in the twenties. George Blose owned the land where PerrysviUe is
now located.
Thomas S. Mitchell was a large raan of exceedingly fine presence,
able, intelligent, genial, social, and popular. He served a term as sheriff.
I knew him well, and remember hira with great kindness and respect.
He died in August, 1883. His wife died in 1875.
The pioneer church was built in 1835, at Perry; the pioneer school-
house in 1820, in what is now PerrysviUe. The pioneer saw-miU was
built by Elijah Heath, above the Round Bottom. The pioneer hotel
in PerrysviUe was kept by Irvin Robinson, and the pioneer store was
opened by Alva Payne. The pioneer graveyard was located where Perry
church was built, and Robert Stunkard was the pioneer burial.
At the pioneer election held at Bell's, on Friday, March 20, 18 18,
the following were contestants for the township offices, — viz. : " Con
stables, David Hamilton, 5 votes ; Jacob Hoover, 3 votes. Supervisors,
John Bell, 5 votes; Hugh McKee, 5 votes. Auditors, Archibald Hadden,
5 votes; Jesse Armstrong, 5 votes; James McClennen, 5 votes; Michael
Lance, 5 votes. Fence Appraisers, Joseph Crossman, 5 votes ; Adam
Long, 5 votes. Overseers, Henry Lott, 5 votes ; Elijah Dykes, 5 votes.
Signed, Archibald Hadden, Hugh McKee, judges.
" At the next election the voters had increased to eight, and at the last
election before Young township was formed the number of voters ap
pears to have been seventy-seven. At this election in 1825 'schoolmen'
appear to have been voted fer, John W. Jenks, Charles C. Gaskill, and
John BeU being elected. This is the only record of any such office in
the election returns of the county from 1807 to 1830. These elections
were held at the house of John Bell, and in the first ten years he was
eight times elected to office, being supervisor, auditor, overseer of the
poor, and schoolman."
Act of the Legislature, No. 174, estabUshing the polling-place :
" Section 29. The electors of the township of Perry, in the county
of Jefferson, shall hereafter hold their general elections at the house of
William Stunkard, in said township. Approved — April 15, 1835."
Among the pioneer and early settlers along Little Sandy Creek, in
Perry township, were Andrew Shaffer, David Milliron, and Mr. Vanlear.
Daniel Geist erected his cabin there in 1834, and founded Geistown,
now called Worthville. He built a grist-mill in 1840. Henry Frease
located also near where the town ef Ringgold now stands, and erected a
grist-mill about 1840. John Philliber, Ludwick Byerly, Henry Nulf,
Conrad Nulf, Solomon Gearhart, George Reitz, and Michael Heterick
all erected cabins on farms in the early thirties. Thomas Holt, a veteran
of the war of 181 2, settled there in 1837. Samuel Lerch, a carpenter
and cabinet-maker, erected his cabin near Ringgold in 1836. Farther
433

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
up the stream from Geistown, near where the Indiana and Brookville road
now crosses, William Hadden settled in 1831, and, being a great hunter,
killed annually turkeys, bears, and deer. George and William Newcomb
erected cabins in 1825, John Jones in 1826, Peter Depp in 1828, Alex
ander and William McKinstrey in 1833, Joseph Manners in 1835. James
Gray, in 1 836, opened a small store near McKinstrey's. James Gray was
postmaster for Cool Spring. In 1833, Frederick Sprankle erected a grist
mill near the junction of Big Run and Kellar's Run. Adam Dobson
located his cabin in 1833, John and WiUiam Coulter in 1841, and Samuel
Burket in 1S42. YOUNG TOWNSHIP.
Young, the third township, was organized in 1826, and was taken
from Perry township. The township was then of very large proportions,
but is now rather attenuated. It was naraed after Judge Young, then
president judge of the Westmoreland judicial circuit.
The taxables in the township were, in 1828, 73 ; in 1829, 70 ; in 1831,
70; in 1835, 146; in 1842, 271. The population by the census in 1840
was 132 1.
Abraham Weaver was the pioneer settler in Young township. In 181 8,
Dr. John W. Jenks, Rev. David Barclay, and Nathaniel Tindle came to
what is now Young township, prospecting for a future home, and they
were so well pleased that in the spring of 1819 they returned with their
families and settled where Punxsutawney now stands. Phineas W. Jenks
was the first white child born. Rev. Barclay and Dr. Jenks donated and
laid out the ground for the present cemetery.
Isaac P. Carmalt, John B. Henderson, and John Hess came in 182 1,
Joseph Long came in 1824, James St. Clair came in 1831, William and
Robert Campbell and John Dunn carae in 1832, Obed Morris came in
1824, Daniel Graffius came in 1823.
Among the early lumbermen were Jesse -Armstrong and William
Neel. The pioneer church erected was a hewed log building, — Presbyterian.
The first school-house was built ef round logs in 1822, on er near T.
Pantall's farm. Rev. Barclay laid out Punxsutawney for " a white man's
town" in 1821. In 1832 it contained fifteen dwellings, two taverns,
and a store. Adara Long was the pioneer hunter.
The pioneer tavern was kept by Elijah Heath, and his first license to
sell liquor was in 1824. This tavern was built by Elijah Heath in
1824 The pioneer military company was organized in the thirties. William
Long was captain in 1840. The company was attached to the Third
Battalion, Second Brigade, Fifteenth Division, Pennsylvania Militia.
The pioneer election held for the township of Young after it was sep-
434

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
arated from Perry, as the returns appear in the office ef the prothonotary
at Indiana, are as foUows :
" Young township return for 1826: Constable, Joseph Long had 32
votes, John Hum 11 votes. Signed PhiUp Bowers, judge, etc."
At an election held at the house of Elijah Heath, in Punxsutawney,
Young township, on the i6th of March, 1827, the foUowing persons
contested for the township offices: Constable, Joseph Long, 22 votes;
Obed Morris, 13 votes. Supervisors, Nathaniel Tindle, 29 votes ; Benoni
Williams, 32 votes. Auditors, Andrew H. Bowman, 30 votes ; Josiah
Caldwell, 27 votes ; Matthias Clawson, 24 votes ; Philip Bowers, 18 votes.
Poor Overseers, Frederick Rinehart, 15 votes ; Christian Rishel, 20 votes.
Fence Appraisers, Adam Long (cooper), 20 votes; John Hum, 9 votes.
Signed, Frederick Rinehart, Joseph Long, Josiah CaldweU, judges ;
Matthias Clawson, A. H. Bowman, clerks.
" TURNPIKE notice.
" The stockholders of the Armstrong and Clearfield Turnpike Road
Company are hereby notified that an election will be held at the house
of James Caldwell, in Punxsutawney, on Wednesday, the 1 7th day of
September next, to elect officers of said company for the ensuing year.
By order of the President. " William Campbell, Secretary.
"Punxsutawney, .August 17, 1834."
"One ofthe first settlers of the southern portion of the county, and,
if tradition serves us right, one of the earliest lumbermen of the Maho
ning, was Jesse Arrastrong, who built his cabin in a bend of the creek,
now called Armstrong's Bend, a short distance below where the mill of
J. U. Gillespie now stands. He, with William Neel, devised the plan of
constructing a raft, and early in the spring of 18 18 the two men, with
Sally, Armstrong's wife, and, tradition says, assisted by two Indians, who
had been in the neighborhood, perhaps visiting the graves of their
people, started on their raft to explore the lower waters of the Mahoning,
a peaceful enough stream in summer, but when swollen by the spring
rains and melting snows a veritable rushing, foaming river. The raft,
which was not one of the deftly put together square timber or board
rafts of the present day, but constructed of round logs roughly withed
together, was swept down the mad current. The oars were poor, and the
oarsmen and pilot unskilled and ignorant of the stream ; and at length
the frail craft struck on the rocks, and the crew barely escaped with their
lives to the shore. Indeed, poor Sally Armstrong would have found a
watery grave had not Billy Neel caught her long red hair and pulled her
out of the seething flood. It is said that the eddy where this catastrophe
435

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
occurred was ever after known as 'Sally's Eddy.' Just before this mis
hap occurred, Sally had prepared sorae food from the stores which they
had with them ; but Owenoco, one of the Indians, said, ' No, no, we ne
eat now; maybe never eat.' At the same time he was trying with great
strength and skill to keep the tossing craft from dashing against the great
rocks that loomed up on every side. Suddenly they were drawn into the
fearful eddy, and, the oar of Owenoco breaking off suddenly, he lost
control of the craft. Extricating themselves with difficulty from their
perilous predicament, the white men and Indians finally got their broken
raft safely moored to shore and tied fast to a tree. Then, by the aid of
a flint and torch, the Indians called down a sacred fire, which they as
cribed as a gift from their Manitou, and soon the little band of lumber
men and the poor drenched lumber-woman were gathered around the
welcome fire. All their provisions, with the exception of some bread
and salt Sally had placed in a box, which was saved, went down into the
watery flood, with some crocks of honey, the product of wild bees, which
Sally was taking to Pittsburg to purchase finery with. The bows and
arrows of the Indians soon, however, procured them food, and in the
cheerful light and warmth of the fire they soon regained their spirits,
and after a night's rest were ready early the next morning to again under
take the perilous journey, and without any more serious mishaps gained
their journey's end, being safely landed at Pittsburg, where their dusky
companions bade them farewell forever and wended their way to Canada,
there to join the remainder of their tribe.
"Armstrong and his wife exchanged their logs for such provisions
and wearing apparel as they could carry, and returned on foot te Punxsu
tawney. It was after night when they carae in sight of their cabin,
where Adam Long and his wife dwelt with them. The loud barking of
the dog announced their coraing, and Adam said to his wife, ' I bet a
deer-skin it bees Jess and Sail comin' ; and soon the weary travellers
were seated around their own fireside, enjoying the rest they so much
needed; and while they partook of the repast of bear's meat, etc., that
Mrs. Long hastily provided fer them, they told the story of their perilous
journey and its successful ending, and Adam Long in turn narrated the
story of his fight with the bear whose skin was then drying on the wall
of the cabin, and which he had killed near their very door. ' Oh, lor',
but I am tired !' said Mrs. Armstrong. ' I would not do that again for
all the plagued raft and honey. I feel so crippled up I can scarcely walk.'
' Yes,' said Adam, ' but you give the honey to the fish an' to te allegators.'
' Yes, I lost my seven crocks of honey, and if it hadn't been for Billy
Neel I would have went with the honey. I'll always respect him for
that. Jesse never tried to put out his hand to catch me,' said the irate
darae. ' Why, Sally,' said Arrastrong, ' you know that when you jumped
in I was trying to save myself on the other side of the raft.' 'But what
436

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
te tivel you do mit Neel ?' said Adam. ' Did de Injun kill him, or did
you sell him mit your raft?' 'Oh,' said Jesse, 'Neel went with us to
Pittsburg, where we left him. We got on Leslie Ramsey's boat. I
helped to push the boat up to Kittanning, and Sally and me come afoot
from there along the Indian path. We come it in two days.'
" Then Adam Long told the story of the bear's death. His dog had
started the bear on the hill above the creek, and they had followed it
frora crag to crag until at last, just on the bank of the creek, it turned
and gave them battle, and caught the dog in its embrace, when the
hunter dealt the huge beast a powerful blow with his hatchet. The
furious animal relaxed its hold on the dog and sprang at Adam with ex
tended jaws, and seemed to realize that the conflict was for life or death.
The hunter's gun was useless. He had no time to aim at the bear, but,
springing aside, he drew his long, keen hunting-knife and returned to the
charge. The huge black beast was standing erect, and received the
thrust of the knife in his neck, and as Long was about to give him an
other blow with his knife he struck him with his powerful paw and
stretched him on the ground, while the knife flew from his hand into the
creek ; and had not the dog at this juncture come to the rescue, poor
Adara would never have lived to tell of this exploit ; but seeing his
master at the raercy of their common enemy, he sprang upon the bear,
and there ensued a fierce struggle ; but the bear was badly wounded, and
the dog at last threw him almost into the creek, when the bear gave up
the contest, and, springing into the water, made for the other shore, the
brave dog still holding on to his flank. Adam Long had by this time
recovered his faculties, and, reloading his gun, fired at the bear, the ball
taking effect in his shoulder. He then plunged into the creek and en
countered him upon the other shore with his hatchet, and soon despatched
him. He believed that the huge beast would have weighed at least four
hundred pounds. Adam always loved to narrate this story." — History
of fefferson County.
Among the early settlers ef Young township, east of Punxsutawney, on
the Mahoning stream, were Jesse Armstrong and John Grube in 1833,
Daniel Smeyers in 1839, Abraham Rudolph in 1833, Jacob Bowersock,
and Daniel Graffius. John Hess built a saw-miU in 1828. Jaraes H. Bell
settled on this stream in 1831, built a grist-miU in 1833, and opened a
store in 1840. James McCracken erected his cabin near Bell in 1839,
building saw-mills and farming. Mr. McCracken was an active, popular
man. John Pifer erected his cabin in what is now known as Paradise in
1829. The pioneer church in the Pifer settlement was built in 1840. Other
early settlers to erect cabins on farms north of the Mahoning in 1 830
were John Smith, John Deemer, William Best, Samuel McGhee, and
others. 437

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Joseph and Daniel North erected cabins in the early thirties. The
pioneer saw-miU was built on Big Run by William Best in 1830.
This illustration is of South Side pioneers who, by invitation of D.
S. Altman, Esq., and wife, partook of a dinner at their horae in Punxsu-

o .

a! W

. o
is

tawney, Pennsylvania, on the 8th day of February, a d. 1877. This
picture was taken with the pioneers seated and standing in the snow.
The first name is in the standing row, and the second name in the row
of seated pioneers. 438

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

Name.
Rev. Jacob F. Wall
David Willard
Thomas McKee .
Isaac P. Carmalt .
Robert Law . . .
James Winslow
James H. Bell . .
Reuben Hickox .
J. K. Coxen, Esq.
John Drum, Esq. .
Dr. George Kurtz
Isaac Rodgers . .
Ellis Evans . . .
Joseph W. Winslow
Abraham Ruth.
Obed Morris . . ,

Date of Birth. Where Born. Located in Jef
ferson Co., Pa.
. June 29, 1805 . . Allegheny County, Pa. . . . 1854
. June II, 1801 . . Westmoreland County, Pa. . 1837
. Oct. 24, 1801 . . Centre County, Pa  1839
. Sept. 9, 1794 . . Philadelphia, Pa  1819
. Nov. 10, 1802 . . Huntingdon County, Pa. . . 1836
. Apr. 14, 1798 . . Maine  1818
. Oct. i8, 1800 . . New York City  1826
Nov. II, 1794. . New Haven, Conn. . . .1820
. July 12, 1802 . Mercer County, Pa. ... 1S44
. July 12, i8o6 . . Westmoreland County, Pa. . 1831
. Nov. II, 1792 . . Germany  1836
. June 18, 1806 . . Huntingdon County, Pa,
. Feb. 13, 178S . . Schuylkill County, Pa. . . 1837
. Dec. 10, 1804 . . Maine  1818
"rDec. 8, 1792 . . Bucks County, Pa  1824

These old pioneers met after this event annually for a few years at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Altman, to partake of a dinner and relate inci
dents of pioneer hardships ; but sickness, extreme old age, and death
soon stopped their pleasant reunions.

"a pioneer postal route.
" More than sixty- seven yeark ago the first Tuesday of April, 1830, a
bright, beautiful morning, I started forth from my log cabin home with
a United States mail-bag, on my black pacing horse Billy, with Bob
Thompson, then about my own age (twelve years), on his dwarf mule
Bully, to penetrate the wilderness through a low grade of the Allegheny
Mountains, between the Allegheny River at Kittanning and the west
branch of the Susquehanna River at Curwensville, sixty-five miles and
return each week, Robert going along to show me the way.
" I have climbed the Rockies with a burro since that period in search
of gold and silver, but I have never met either so primitive a people or a
rougher route of sixty-five miles than that wilderness route. The post-
offices were Glade Run, Smicksburg, Ewing's Mill, Punxsutawney, and
Curwensville. The first of these was eighteen miles from Kittanning,
near where is now the little town of Dayton.
"In about three months the route was changed up the Cowanshan-
nock, and the Rural Valley post-office established about two miles above
Patterson's mill. The changed route intersected the old one at Glade
Run post-office. The next place east of Glade Run was the residence of
George McComb, where I rested for dinner and fed my horse. A stretch
of over two miles brought me to Smicksburg, as now spelled, but the
original founder spelled his name Schmick. Mr. Carr, the blacksmith,
439

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
was postmaster. For more than four miles there was not a single house
on the road, though a cabin was to be seen in the distance, until I reached
Ewing's Mill, another post-office. My place of lodging for the first night
was with James McComb, four railes from Punxsutawney, and never did
a boy find a more pleasant home.
" The second day I rode ten miles for breakfast, passing Punxsutaw
ney, where Dr. Jenks was postmaster. The town was a mere hamlet,
principally a lumbering carap, surrounded with the finest of white pine,
which was rafted in hewed logs down Mahoning Creek to the Allegheny
River, and thence to Pittsburg. It is a rapid, rocky, crooked stream,
and the logs were hewed square to make their transit over safe, both by
reducing their size and securing a smooth, even surface. Six miles farther
on was a farm, a few acres, the home of Andrew Bovvers, where I ate
breakfast, then entered a wilderness of sixteen miles. Those sixteen
miles of wilderness were then a raost dismal district of country, heavily
timbered with pine, spruce, hemlock, and chestnut, with much under
growth of laurel In this dreary waste I saw every animal native to the
clime, except the panther, of which more hereafter.
" After emerging from this wilderness, in which the sun was never
visible, there was a settlement of Quakers, known as the Grampian Hills,
near the centre of which was a fine farm, the home of a colored man,
Sarauel Cochran, where I took dinner, and then passed on to Curwens
ville, the end of my route. I returned to Cochran's for the second night's
rest, The object of this return was te be ready to enter the wilderness
and give good tirae to get through it before the shades of evening had
fallen. Once I realized the wisdom of this plan when high water delayed
me, so that I was compelled to stop at Bowers's place for the night and
ride through the wilderness twice in a day, entering at the dawn of
morning and reaching the place of departure araid darkness.
" Was I lonely? If the shriek of the panther, the growl of the bear,
the howling ef the wolf, the hooting of the owl is society, I was far from
lonely. When I realized ray situation I drove the spurs into ray horse
and rushed him with all his speed. My heart-beats seemed to drown the
racket of his hoofs upon the stony road. The return was but a repetition
of the outgoing journey. I never made such a trip again.
" My predecessor was John Gillespie, of whose history since I know
nothing, but there was a story that in his ambition to create a favorable
impression of the importance of his charge he frequently horrified a
good Presbyterian preacher, whe was the Glade Run postmaster, by
stuffing the mail-bag with crab-apples, and made indignant the good Mrs.
McComb, where he had lodged the night previously, by laying the mis
chief to the McComb children. A plethoric mail-bag always opened the
eyes of the rural postmaster, and it was fun to John to witness the indig
nation of the good Mr. Jenks and hear the screaming of laughter of the
440

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
villagers, just arrived to get the latest news, when a peck of crab-apples,
but no letter, rolled out on the floor at Punxsutawney.
" Those were the days of WiUiam T. Barry as postmaster general. I
used to collect government's moiety in each of the little post-offices in
driblets of five to ten dollars, with the plain signature of ' Wra. T. Barry,
P. M. G.,' attached to the orders, and looked at the great man's name
with admiration, until I really think 1 could distinguish his handwriting
now. " On more than two-thirds of the little farms no wagon-tracks were
to be seen, all the work being done with sleds. Nevertheless, there were
occasional freighters through the wilderness, generally loaded with salt.
The only stores in that sixty miles were one at Glade Run and one at
Punxsutawney. The people made all their own clothes. Nearly every
family that had a daughter as old as fourteen years had a weaver. The
blooming miss who learned that art was an artist indeed. It was a treat
for the boys who had no sister weaver to carry the yarn to the neighbor girl
and help her adjust the web for the work. Their clothes were made from
the backs of the sheep and the flax in the field. The girls wore linsey-
woolsey and the boys linen and tow shirts, and indeed full suits of the
same for common work. The fine clothes for the girls were barred flan
nel of their own spinning, and the boys satinet, — then generally called
cassinet, — ^flax, and wool. The preachers and the teachers were rever
enced and respected, but woe unto them if they even seemed to put on
airs on account of their ' store clothes. '
" Many were the expedients for social gatherings ; but to these brave,
industrious pioneers it was essential to unite business with pleasure, and
I rarely heard ef a party which was not utilized for the advancement of
improvements on the farm. The singing-school was the only exception.
In the log-rolling, the wood-chopping, the flax-skutching, the sheep-
, shearing, all the neighbors would go the rounds helping each other, in
the spirit of the song, —
" ' Let the wide world wag as it will,
We'll be gay and happy still.'
" ' Skutching' was the term used for the primitive mode of separating
the woody part of the flax from the fibre used in weaving cloth, and a
skutching was a jolly party, in which the boys took the heavier part, and
passed the ' hank' to the girls for the lighter, more delicate work of
polishing. " Thus the logs were rolled in the clearings, the flax and wool pre
pared for the loom, and the firewood made ready for the winter. But
the most primitive, most amusing, and the merriest gathering of all was
the kicking frolic.
20 441

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" It is doubtful whether any of the readers of this book have ever seen
a kicking frolic. Let me try to describe it. As I have said, the people
made all their own clothes in those days. After the web was woven, the
next process was fuUing, whereby the cloth was properly shrunken for
use. Generally it was taken to fuUing-mills, but in some parts they were
so far away and so expensive that the wits of the pioneers were compelled
to invent a substitute. One night, at my journey's end for the day, near
Punxsutawney, I was invited to go with the McComb beys to Hender
son's kicking. The girls of the whole neighborhood had spent the after
noon at quilting, for the quilting was an accompaniment of nearly all the
other frolics, and at dark the boys assembled for the kicking. The good
old Mrs. Henderson had prepared a boiler full of soapsuds. The web
of cloth was placed on the kitchen floor, — a floor generally made from
puncheons, — that is, logs split and smoothed with the axe and adze.
Around the web was placed a circle of chairs, with a plough-line er a
clothes-line circling the chairs, to hold the circle together for work.
Thus equipped the boys took off shoes and stockings, rolled up their
pants to their knees, placed themselves on the chairs in the circle, and
then the kicking began. The old lady poured on the soapsuds as hot
as the boys' feet could stand, and they sent the web whirling and the
suds splashing te the ceiling ef the kitchen, and thus the web was fulled
to the proper thickness and dimensions. Despite the good Mrs. Hen
derson's protestations that ' the hard work would kill the boys,' I stripped
and went in, and never did a boy so sweat in his life. The work was
done. The barred flannel was ready for the girls' dresses, the blankets for
the beds, and the satin for the boys' clothes. A merrier time boys and
girls never enjoyed, nor did a party ever have a better supper than Mrs.
Henderson prepared. There was no dance, but the kissing plays of the
time lent zest to the occasions, and
" ' In the wee sma' hours ayont the twal'
all returned to happy homes.
"The threshing machinery was unknown to the farmers anywhere,
and the flail did the work of threshing. Even the fanning-mill was un
common, as I remember of but three on all that route. There was a
mode of winnowing grain by three men, one shaking the wheat in the
chaff through a ridder or sieve, and two waving a tightly drawn sheet,
producing wind to separate the chaff from the grain.
"In places I have seen hand-mills for grinding corn and wheat.
They had an upper and nether millstone, the upper stone being turned
by a 'handle' standing nearly perpendicularly above the centre of the
stone. "In the wilderness was every animal native to the clime, — the deer,
442

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
the wild turkey, the fox, the raccoon, the wolf, the porcupine, the bear,
and the panther. There I have seen scores of such animals. Frequently
I have met bears in pairs, but I never saw a panther, though I frequently
heard their familiar screams. It was a shy animal, but considered the
most dangerous of all wild animals. On one occasion, when near the
middle of that wilderness of sixteen miles, I was startled by the fearful
screams of a panther, which, from the sound, seemed fast approaching
me. Hurriedly breaking a limb from a spruce-tree, I lashed my horse
into all his speed ; still the screams became more distinct and frightful.
I had perhaps run my horse a quarter of a mile, when a bear rushed
through the thick underbrush across the road, not more than two rods
ahead of me, the screaming of the panther sounding as if he was not a
rod behind in the brush. The bear never stopped to look at me, and I
plied my stick to the horse's back, shoulder, and flank with all my power,
running him until the sounds gradually died away, and the exhausted
horse gave out and I was compelled to slacken my speed. My first stop
ping-place was at the house of Mr. Andrew Bowers, at the edge of the
wilderness. I told him my story, and he replied, ' John, that was a
"painter," and that "painter" was after that bear, and if he had come
up to that bear when you were near it, he would have jumped onto you
quicker than the bear. Now, John,' he continued, ' don't run, nor don't
advance on it. If you do either, the "painter" will attack you. But
just stop and look the "painter" in the eye, and by and by he will
quietly walk off. '
" I have twice seen in the wilderness that rarest of animals, the black
fox, whose fur rivals the seal and the sable in ladies' apparel.
" Did I ever see ghosts ? Of course I did. What could a poor post
boy know of cause and effect in the wilderness which has since developed
some of the most wonderful gas-wells of the age ? In that wild country
the ignis-fatuus was frequently seen. Once I saw a floating light in the
darkness, and in my fright was trotting my horse at his best speed, when
he stumbled on a rock, throwing me clear over his head, the mail-bag
following. I grabbed the bags and was on my horse's back before he
could get off his knees. The ' ghost' in the mean time had vanished.
Once, when about half-way between Smicksburg and Punxsutawney, a
light as brilUant, it seemed to me, as Paul saw on his way to Damascus,
shot up under my horse. I grabbed my hat, as my hair seemed to stand
on end. I was so alarmed that I told my story to the postmaster at
Ewing's MiU, and he reUeved my mind greatly by explaining the phe
nomenon. He said, 'Was there snow on the ground?' 'Yes.' And
then he went on to relieve my fears in the most kindly way, telling me
that all the stories about ghosts, spooks, and hobgoblins could be ex
plained on natural principles. He said that at times natural gas exuded
from between the rocks, and that the snow confined it, and that my
443

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
horse's shoe had struck fire from the flinty rock, and the gas exploded.
I believed him, and my ghost story was exploded, too, but I would have
killed a horse before I would have ventured over that spot in night-time
again. "The boys of that period had as much fun in their composition as
those of the present age. One Halloween we sauntered ' on fun intent'
near where Dayton now stands. We lodged a yearling calf in a hay
mow, changed the hind wheels of the only two wagons in the neighbor
hood to the forward axles, and vice versa, robbed a loom and strung the
maiden's web from tree to tree across the read, and changed the natural
order of things generally. I remember especially that in our mischief we
accidentally broke a window in the house of a good old couple. We re
paid damages by a bey slipping up and depositing fifty cents on the sill
of the broken window. The old people were se universally esteemed that
malicious mischief would have been investigated ; but whether the motive
for recompense was remorse for a bad act or esteem for their two beautiful
daughters with raven locks and black eyes, this boy will only confess for
hiraself. The McComb boys reported that one of the girls called on the
way to the store the next day for glass and expressed the gratitude of the
family for the kind consideration of the boys in making restitution.
"I distinctly remember how we all put in our utmost strength to
place a log endwise against the door of Dr. Sims's house, so as to press
it inward with such force that an urgent call before morning compeUed
the doctor te crawl out ef the window." — Punxsutawney A^ews.
RIDGW.AY TOWNSHIP.
THE PIOXEER SETTLER AND OTHER EARLY SETTLERS  PIONEER ROAD UP
hogback HILL  PIONEER GRIST-JIILL FOR THE WILDERNESS  PIONEER
PHYSICIAN AND MINISTERS — PIONEER BLACKSMITH  THE PIONEER ELEC
TION — JAMES L. GILLIS, ETC.
Ridgway, the fourth township, was organized in 1826, being taken
frora Pine Creek, and named after a Mr. Jacob Ridgway, residing in
Philadelphia, a large landholder in the township. It was then bounded
on the north and east by McKean County, and south and west by Pine
Creek township. The ta.xables in 1826 were 20 ; in 1835, 40 ; in 1842,
75. The population by census in 1830 was 50; and in 1840, 195. In
1843 this township was separated from Jefferson County by the organiza
tion of a new county called Elk, and has now within its bounds the seat
of justice for that county, and which is also named Ridgway.
The pioneer settler of Ridgway township was "a pioneer hunter
named General Wade and family, with a friend naraed Slade, who carae
to the head-waters of the Little Toby in 1798, and settled teraporarUy.
In 1803 the party returned east, but the same year came hither and built
444

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

445

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
a log house at the mouth of the Little Toby on the east bank. In 1806,
while Wade and Slade were hunting near what is now Blue Rock, they
saw an Indian girl watching them. Approaching her. Wade enticed her
to fellow him to his home, and there introduced her to Mrs. Wade. In
1809 this Indian girl married Slade, Chief Tamisqua performing the cere
mony. Slade removed with his wife to where Portland now is and estab
lished a trading house there." — Elk County History.
Of the early settlers Dr. A. M. Clarke wrote as foUows :
"About the time of the 'late war' with England, in 1812, some ven
turesome men pushed their way up the Susquehanna River and up the
Sinnemahoning Creek to the mouth of Trout Run on Bennett's Branch,
at which place Leonard Morey located and built a saw-mill. Dwight
CaldweU, John Mix, and Eben Stephens came at the same time. These
were the first settlers on Bennett's Branch. About the same time a large
tract of country, containing some one hundred and forty thousand acres,
which had been surveyed on warrants issued in the name of James Wil
son, had come into the possession of Fox, Norris & Co., Quakers, of
Philadelphia, who sent William Kersey as agent to construct a road into
their lands and build a mill. The road started from a point on an old
State road leading to Waterford, Pennsylvania, about eight miles west of
the Susquehanna River, passed through the woods over Boon's Mountain,
crossed Little Toby's Creek, without a bridge, where Hellen Mills now
stand, followed up the creek seven miles to the point of Hogback Hill,
up which it went, though steep and difficult, continued over the high and
undulating grounds to the spot which had been selected for a mill site on
a stream which was afterwards called Elk Creek, where the mill was built,
about two miles from the present CentreviUe. Jacob Wilson was the
miller who for many years attended this mill. Often the old man had
to ge a mile and a half from his own house to the mill to grind a small
grist of a bushel, brought on horseback ; but his patience was quite equal
to the emergency, and he did it without complaining.
"A few settlers came into the county about the time the Kersey Mill
was built ; of these I may mention Elijah Meredith, James Green, Josiah
Taylor, J. R. Hancock, David Reesman, John Kyler, and John Shafer,
with their families ; these constituted the Kersey- settlement."
This settlement was in Clearfield County, but was along the line of
Jefferson, and its history is a part of ours.
"In 1822, Alonzo and James W. Brockway settled en the Henry
Pfeffer tract. Lottery Warrant No. 34 ; they had to cut their way down
the creek five miles from Philetus Clark's. This was the first settlement
in what afterwards became Snyder township, and where Brockwayville
now stands. Rev. Jonathan Nichols settled on the Brandy Camp. He
was the first clergyman who settled in this section, and spent his life in
serving the people. He was the first physician, and his visits were re-
446

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
quired over a large extent of country. As a clergyman, his ministrations
were generally well accepted, and his meetings as well attended as could
be in a country so sparsely settled ; people frequently went six or eight
miles to meeting. In the winter their carriages were sleds drawn by
oxen ; in the summer, men, women, and children could walk nine or ten
miles and home again the same day. ' '
The old State read spoken of here by Dr. Clarke was the Milesburg
and Le Boeuf road that passed through Port Barnett.
One of the pioneers of Ridgway township was James L. GilUs. In
June, 1820, he left his home in Ontario County, New York, to look over
the land, and in December, 1820, he moved his family into the wilder
ness. They came in sleds, and it required two days ; they had to camp
out overnight. Gillis was an agent for Ridgway, and was furnished
ample means for all expenses. He cleared five hundred acres of land,
erected a large frame house, and built a grist-mill and a carding-machine.
Reuben A. Aylesworth and Enos Gillis came with his family.
James L. Gillis was a man of State celebrity. He was absent nearly
all the time, lobbying at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, or at Washington.
He was a very interesting man to talk with.
In 1826, William Morgan, of Batavia, New York, was abducted from
his home at night and never heard of afterwards. Morgan had been a
Mason, and published the alleged secrets of the Masonic order. The
Masons were charged with abducting and murdering him- Mystery sur
rounds his disappearance to this day. Intense excitement prevailed all
over the nation.
yir. Gillis was a Mason, and was arrested at Montmorenci and carried
to New York State, and there tried for the abduction and murder of
Morgan. In the trial he was cleared.
Mr. Gillis was a cavalry soldier in the war of 1812, and took part in
several severe engagements. He was taken prisoner by the British and
suffered severely. He was a model man physically, and by nature en
dowed with much intelligence. This, added to his extensive travels and
political experience, gave him a prominence in the State and nation that
few men possessed. Gillis was the Patriarch in Ridgway township. He
migrated in 1821 to what he named Montmorenci, Pine Creek township,
then in Jefferson County. He brought his children and brother-in-law
with hira. He cleared four hundred acres of land in one chopping, and
built a grist-mill and a carding-mill in those woods.
For five years he was monarch of all he surveyed, and without any
post-office nearer than fifty miles of him. He came to Port Barnett,
near Brookville, to vote, was liable to and for militia service, and for all
legal business had to go to Indiana, Pennsylvania, a distance of ninety
miles. While at Montmorenci in 1826 he was instrumental in securing
a mail-route from' Kittanning to Olean, New York. This gave him mail
447

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
service once in two weeks. He was a great horseman and horseback
rider. Gillis was related to Jacob Ridgway, one of the richest men in the
State, and he was agent for all his lands in Jefferson County. Gillis was
slow and methodical in his habits; was fond of games, — viz., chess,
backgammon, checkers, and euchre. He carried a snuff-box that held
about a pint of the choicest snuff, in which was buried a Tonka bean,
that imparted to the snuff a delightful aroma. He walked with a gold-
headed cane, and in winter he wore a panther-skin overcoat. Physically
he was a large man, and was sociable and agreeable. In 1830 he moved
to where Ridgway now is. He was elected to several offices, including
Congress. He moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where he died in 1881,
aged eighty-nine years. " Sleep, soldier, though many regret thee
Who pass by thy cold bier to-day ;
Soon, soon shall the kindest forget thee.
And thy name from the earth pass away.
The man thou didst love as a brother
A friend in thy place will have gained,
And thy dog shall keep watch for another.
And thy steed by another be reined."
The second saw-miU was erected by Enos Gillis in 1823, at the
western end of what is now Ridgway, and is standing as it did seventy
years ago, only it is transformed into part of an axe-factory.
James Gallagher and family arrived in 1825, over the same trail
Gillis came. Enos Gillis and James Gallagher were the pioneers in what
is now called Ridgway borough, by having erected there three or four
log cabins and a saw-miU in 1824. About 1838, J. S. Hyde, father of
Hon. W. H. Hyde, reached Ridgway clothed in overalls, and all his
possessions tied up in a handkerchief. He entered the store of Gillis iv:
Clover and wanted to buy an axe on credit ; on being refused he told
the storekeeper to keep his axe ; that he would see the day when he
could buy the whole store.
Caleb Dill was the "post-boy" in 1828.
The pioneer tannery was started in 1830. Enos GiUis, owner; James
Gallagher, tanner. " WANTED IMMEDIATELY.
"Two apprentices to the T.inning Business. Two boys, about 17 or 18 years of
age, who can come well recommended, will find a good place. All pains will be taken
to acquaint them with the business. " James Gallagher.
"Ridgway township, March 13, 1834."
— The feffersonian. 448

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
The pioneer road was the State road from Kittanning to Olean.
There was great exciteraent and enthusiasm by the land-owners and
settlers over this State road. But it all came to naught, for the road has
never been used to any extent. It is still known as the Olean read
where it is not grown up and abandoned.
The Ceres road was laid out in 1825 and finished in 1828. The
Milesburg and Smethport Turnpike Company was incorporated in 1825,
and the road was finished about 1830. (See Laws.)
In 1840 the waters of what is now called the Clarion were as clear as
crystal, pure as life, and gurgled into the river from the mountain
springs. No tannery or other refuse was to be found in it. In 1749 the
French named the stream Gall River. It was declared a public highway
as Toby's Creek by an act of the Legislature, March 21, 1798, up te the
second great fork.
In early times this river was known as Stump Creek, and sometimes
as Toby's Creek, and it is said that it got these two names after two
Indian hunters, who were in the habit (in the winter) of going up this
river in canoes, to hunt and trap. They would return each spring with
their furs and meat to their villages down the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers.
It was called Toby's Creek as early as 1758. Unable myself to find
any authority for a change to Clarion, I wrote to the Secretary of Inter
nal Affairs, and received the following, — viz. : "June 8, 1S97.
•" Hon. W. j. McKnight, Brookville, Pa.
" Dear Sir, — In answer to your letter of recent date, we beg to say
that we are unable to find any act of Assembly changing the name of
Toby's Creek to Clarion River. In an act to authorize the erection ofa
dam, passed in 1822, this stream is designated as 'Toby's Creek, other
wise called Clarion River.' " Very truly yours,
"James W. Latta,
' ' Secretaiy. ' '
The early mills in and around Ridgway were the Elk Creek Mill,
owned by J. S. Hyde, the MiU Creek MiU, owned by Yale & Healey,
and the Dickinson MiU. This mill was erected by Hughes & Dickinson,
and painted red. The boarding-house was also red.
In the year 1833 there were seven families in what is now Ridgway,
— viz., Reuben Aylesworth and Caleb Dill west of the river, and Enos
GilUs, James W. Gallagher, H. Karns, Thomas Barber, and Joab Dobbins
on the east side.
About 1840, common hands on the river received one dollar per day
and board. Pilots, two and three dollars per day and board. The
"head" sawyer on the Red MiU received twenty-five doUars per month
449

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
and board ; the assistant, eighteen dollars per month and beard ; and
common hands, fifteen doUars a month and board.
The usual religious exercises on Sunday at the Red Mill, in 1842,
were wrestling, fishing, pitching quoits, shooting at mark, running foot
races, and "jumping by the double rule of three."
The Beech Bottom Mill belonged to the Portland Lumber Company.
The diet at these eld mills was bread, potatoes, beans, flitch, and mo
lasses ; brown sugar, old tasted butter, coffee and tea without cream, and
for dessert dried apple-sauce or pie. Labor was cheap. Pine boards of
the finest quality sold in Louisville, Kentucky, at seven and nine dollars
per thousand. If the operator cleared twenty-five or fifty cents on a
thousand feet he was thankful.
All goods and groceries were dear, they had to be hauled from Olean,
New York, er Waterson's Ferry on the Allegheny River. Money was
scarce, the people social and kind. Whiskey and New England rum was
three cents a drink.
pioneer teamsters — MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.
" On Thursday, the 4th of July, a man by the name ef John Schram,
from Ridgway settlement, in Jefferson County, a wagoner, while at
Freeport waiting the arrival of some store goods from Pittsburg, carae to
a sudden and untimely end by his wagon oversetting upon him, while
driving rather faster than prudence would justify, along the towpath.
An inquest was held by Robert Criswell, Esq. Verdict that he came to
his death by the upsetting of his wagon in the Pennsylvania Canal. The
unfortunate stranger was interred in decency and respect." — Armstrong
Democrat, July 4, 1837.
Other early tearasters frora Ridgway te Freeport, Kittanning, and
Waterson's Ferry were Conrad Meyer, Coryell Wilcox, Barney McCune,
and Charles B. Gillis. The pioneer and early teamsters from St. Mary's
to those points were John Walker, Charles Fisher, and Joseph Wilhelra.
The merchandise carried from Pittsburg to this region was by canal to
Freeport, by keel-boat and steamboat to Kittanning and Waterson's
Ferry. The tearasters loaded their wagons with wheat flour, etc., in
barrels bound with hickory hoops, bacon and salt and whiskey in barrels
bound with iron hoops. But, strange to say, there was always a soft stave
in these whiskey -barrels through which a " rye straw" could be made to
reach the whiskey for the teamster and his friends while en route home.
" From 1825 to 1845 the plan of Fourier — that of communities with
a union of labor and capital and working under fixed rules — was actively
put into operation in this section of Pennsylvania. On the main road
from Ridgway to Smethport are the reraains of the town of Teutonia,
once a large community ; but jealousies grew up, and the members dis-
450

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
persed among the people at large, and became industrious and useful
citizens. " The sudden advent and exit of this community had its prototype
within half a mile of Teutonia. The mouldering wood and growth of
trees of half a century mark the spot where was laid out the town of
Instanter. Its plot is duly recorded in McKean County. Mr. Cooper,
a large landholder, was the instigator, if not the forerunner of the settle
ment. As the streets were marked out, the buildings went up like magic ;
but Madam Rumor spread a report that the land-title was unsound, and
on investigation such was found to be the fact. Work suddenly ceased
and the settlers left."
Part of the Cooper lands were situated in what was then Jefferson
County, and the flaming hand-bill which was gotten up to advertise these
lands gave the following explicit directions for getting to them :
" Title. — Three hundred thousand acres of land for sale and settle
ment. In the counties of McKean and Jefferson, in the State of Penn
sylvania, joining the New York line and the Genesee lands, extending
for forty miles, and situate about two hundred and fifty miles northwest
from Philadelphia, etc.
" Settlers and others wishing to go into the aforesaid lands from the
northern part of Jersey, New York, and New England States, take the
Newburg and Cohecton Turnpike, or such roads as will be most direct to
the Painted Post ; then cross the York and Pennsylvania line, taking the
Tioga road to Dr. Willar's or Widow Barry's ; thence to and on the east
and west road, passing Wellsborough and Coudersport to Smethport ;
thence ten miles to Instanter (proposed county town of McKean). For
settlers and others south of Easton, fall into the Lehigh and Berwick or
Sunbury pike, from thence te WiUiamsport, passing by Jersey Shore to
the aforesaid east and west road. For such as go on foot or horseback,
they can take the Ellicott road from Jersey Shore, passing through Duns-
town, and up the Susquehanna and Sinnemahoning to Cox's settlement
and Instanter. "Benjamin B. Cooper.
" Cooper's Point, April 25, 1812."
— History of Pennsylvania.
In 1835 a man by the name of Frank Goodar lived in Ridgway town
ship, on the Beechwoods road, near what is now Brockwayville, Snyder
township. He was married, but concluded that he ought to have two
wives, so with the consent of wife No. i he married MoUie No. 2, Squire
McCuUough, of Pine Creek township, performing the ceremony in the
summer of that year. For this offence against morals Isaac Temple
prosecuted Goodar before Thomas Lucas, Esq., for bigamy; but at the
451

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
hearing of September 12, 1835, he failed to prove a marriage with wife
No. I, and of course Goodar was discharged. All three lived together
for seven years in a log cabin, on what was afterwards the Frost farm,
and now the WiUiam Kearney place, where Frank and Mollie deserted
Beckie, wife No. i.
Ralph Hill settled at Portland Mills about 1832. He came from
Massachusetts. He Uved the life of a hermit. Portland becoming toe
much in civilization, he moved up Spring Creek, and lived in Forest
County, the companion of wild animals, ' ' where his right there was none
to dispute." He died at a ripe old age.
The pioneer railroad was the Sunbury and Erie. " The Sunbury and
Erie, now the Philadelphia and Erie, a portion of that magnificent sys
tem, the Pennsylvania Railroad, was chartered April 3, 1837, but it was
not until 1852 that construction was commenced, and the road was not
completed until 1864."
In the speculative times of 1836 non-residents of then Jefferson
County bought largely of the wdld lands in and around Ridgway town
ship, which, of course, when railroad and other bubbles burst, was left
on their hands. This land had been advertised to contain valuable iron
ore and bituminous coal, and much of it could have been bought as late
as 1841 at fifty and twenty-five cents an acre.
To build a railroad through a dense wilderness of worthless hemlock,
ferocious beasts, gnats, and wintergreen berries required a large purse
and great courage. Of course, there was no subject talked about in the
cabin homes of that locality so dear to the hearts of the pioneers as this
railroad. There was not a cabin on the line of this proposed road from Shippen
to Ridgway, and but one at Johnsonburg from Ridgway to the waters
of Tionesta. The pioneer justice of the peace was Reuben A. Aylesworth, appointed
February 18, 1832.
In 1839, Jaraes Watterson, of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania,
settled at the mouth of Spring Creek, and he and Job Paine built a saw-
mill. In 1833, Ralph Hill and a man named Ransom were living in a
shanty at Beech Bottom.
"The pioneer school was held in Gallagher's log cabin (near the
present Ridgway Central Graded School), in 1826, under the control of
Hannah Gilbert, and attended by the children of the three families re
siding there. Subsequently Ann Berry and Betsey Hyatt taught in an old
red school-house, which was situated at the present site of Dillon's meat
market. In 1834 a house for common school purposes was erected
above the old Dickinson homestead, en the west side of the race and
north side of ]\Iain Street, by Messrs. Crow, Gallagher, Thayer, Dickin
son, Cobb, and Cady, and Betsey (EUzabeth M.) Hyatt installed teacher.
452

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
She was succeeded by Mr. Barnutz in 1835. A second building was
erected in 1838, near where the B. R. & P. depot now stands.
In the winter of 1832, L. Wilmarth, Arthur Hughes, and George
Dickinson erected the red saw-miU. Ridgway was laid out for a town
in 1833. " In 1834 the first bridge was put across the Clarion River. This was
a toll-bridge. It was built of twelve by sixteen inch stringers resting on
cribbing. Before this time teams forded the river, and in high water boats
were used. The country was covered by a thick growth of hemlock-trees.
Game, such as elks, deer, bears, panthers, and wild-cats were found in
great abundance, fish abounded in the streams," and rattlesnakes and
other reptiles were numerous and dangerous.
Up to 1835, Ridgway township included all that portion of Snyder
township that is now Brockwayville borough, and even west of Sugar
Hill, as well as a good portion of what is now Washington township.
Ridgway in 1836 was a small viUage. At the west end of the town was
George Dickinson's boarding-house, then Henry Gross's home, then
Dickinson's saw-mill and barn, Caleb Dill's home, justice office, and
blacksmith-shop, Stephen Weis's home and John Cobb's house, Hon.
James L. Gillis's home and store, George Dickinson's home and store,
and on the east side of the Clarion was the Exchange Hotel, owned by
David Thayer, then Edward Derby's old red house, then the Lone Star
Hotel, owned by P. T. Brooks.
When P. T. Brooks, who was quite a wag, very polite and demon
strative, was keeping this hotel in the wilderness, two finely dressed and
appearing gentlemen rode up one day in front of and stopped at his hotel
for dinner. Of course, this was an opportunity for Mr. Brooks to be
demonstrative and polite. After seeing that the horses were properly
cared for. Brooks approached the gentlemen in this way : " What kind
of m.eat would you gentleraan prefer for dinner?" "Why, Mr. Land
lord, we would prefer venison." "I am sorry that we are just out of
venison." " Oh, well," said the strangers, "a Uttle good beef or raut
ton wiU do." "Well, well," replied Mr. Brooks, "I am sorry to say
we are just out of beef and mutton." At this the strangers were a little
nonplussed, but finally said, "We will be satisfied with fish." "WeU,
well," replied Mr. Brooks, rubbing his hands, " I am sorry to say that we
are just eut of fish, but we have some very excellent pickled pork."
Uncle Eben Stevens, an eld hunter who came to the Sinnemahoning
region about 1812, told me there was an Indian graveyard at the mouth
of Mill Creek, that he used to go up there and hunt with the Indians, and
in the spring they would paint their canoes red with that "iron paint"
on the Clarion.
And down the Toby Creek — 453

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" Where the rocks were gray and the shores were steep.
Where the waters below looked dark and deep,
Where the shades of the forest were heavy and deep the whole day through,"
Stevens and the Indians in these red canoes would carry their game,
skins, and furs to the Pittsburg market.
The pioneer effort to erect what is now the county of Elk was on
Tuesday, February 28, 1837, when an act to erect the county of Ridg
way was reported in the State Senate.
The present town or borough of St. Mary's was established in 1842.
Father Alexander had the colony in charge then. Early in the summer
of 1842 a number of Germans in the cities of Baltimore and Philadelphia
associated themselves in a society to form a German settlement on the
community plan, and appointed John Albert, Nicholas Reimel, and
Michael Deileth to select the place for settlement. This committee
selected Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, and the site where the borough
of St. Mary's and the adjoining settlement now is. For this colony
they purchased thirty-five thousand acres of land from Mr. Kingsbury.
In October of this year the first instalment of settlers — one from Phila
delphia and one from Baltimore — reached John Green's, in Kersey.
From Kersey these men, in two instalments, opened a path to where St.
Mary's now is, and immediately set to work to erect their log cabins on
St. Mary's Street. In December, 1842, they moved their families to
these cabins, and the county of Elk was organized in 1843.
The pioneer election for township officers was held in Ridgway
township, at the house of James Gallagher, on the i6th of March, 1837.
The following persons contested, — viz. : Constable, Nehemiah Bryant, 8
votes ; Alanson ViaU, 7 votes. Supervisors, Jaraes Gallagher and Alonzo
Brockway, no opposition. Poor Overseers, Naphtala G. Barrun and
William Maxwell, no opposition. Fence Appraisers, Nehemiah Bryant
and AVilliam Taylor, no opposition. Town Clerk, James Gallagher.
Officers of Election : Inspector, John Stratton ; Judges, Nehemiah
Bryant, James Brockway, and Alonzo Brockway; Clerk, James Gal
lagher. ROSE TOWNSHIP.
Rose, the fifth township, was organized in 1827, and was also taken
from Pine Creek township. It was named for Dr. Rose, then a prom
inent landholder in its territory. He founded the village of Roseville,
and labored hard to make it the countyseat, but failed in this aspiration.
Roseville was celebrated for the early horse-racing. The other village in
the township is Bellview (post-office, Stanton), about five miles south of
Brookville. The taxables in 1828, 123; in 1835, 252 (this included the
taxables in the borough of Brookville). The town and township held
their elections together for a number of years, and the taxables were as-
454

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
sessed together up to 1845. The population of Rose township, including
Brookville, in 1840, was 1421. The pioneer settlers in Rose township
were John Matson and Mary, his wife. He built his cabin on the land
now owned by his son, Robert L., in 1805. The next settler was Joseph
Clements, the next Andrew Vastbinder. John Lucas came from Crooked
Creek, Indiana County, in 181 6, and settled at Puckety. John Kennedy
came in the spring of 1822. Walter Templeton, grandfather of Thomas
L. Templeton, the efficient cashier of the Brookville National Bank, was
living in the township then. He was the mechanic of that time. He
could do any and all kinds of repairing. In 1826, Samuel D. Kennedy
settled on the pike near Corsica. There was a log house then in what is
now Corsica, and a man by the name of Powers kept a tavern in it.
Luther Geer settled in the township in 1833. Peter Thrush in 1837.

Square timber.

Peter Himes in 1838. The Enoch and Joseph E. Hall family came in
1833. Joel Spyker came in 1835. The Witherows came in 1833.
William Thompson came in 1834.
James Corbett built the pioneer saw-mill on Red Bank, near Coders.
The pioneer church building was the Bethel leg, in 1824 (Presbyterian).
The pioneer brick-yard was started by Colonel William Jack and
General Wise. It was situated on the head of what is now Heidrick,
Matson & Co.'s mill-pond, on the east side of the North Fork, and was
operated about 1830. 455

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
The pioneer improvement in what is now Rose township was made
by John Matson. He built the first pioneer grist-mill in the township,
on the North Fork, above Verstine & Kline's saw-mill, in 1830. In
1829 he built the saw-miU now known as Verstine & Kline's mill.
The pioneer election polling-place was at the house of John Lucas.
In 1836 it was changed as follows : By an act of the Legislature passed
the 1 6th day of June, 1836, it was enacted " that all that part of Rose
township, in the county of Jefferson, lying west of a line commencing at
the home of Robert Morrison, on the line of Perry township ; thence
north along an old line to the Eldred township line, be, and the same is
hereby, erected into a separate election district, and shall hereafter hold
their general elections at the house now occupied by Darius Carrier
within said bounds."
Among the pioneer industries was tar-burning. Kilns were formed
and split fagots of pitch-pine knots were arranged in circles and burned.
The tar was collected by a ditch and forced into a chute, and from there
barrelled. John Matson, Sr., marketed on rafts as high as forty barrels
in one season. Freedom Stiles was the king " tar-burner. ' ' Pioneer prices
at Pittsburg fer tar was ten dollars a barrel.
The pioneer licensed tavern was kept by John Matson en the old State
Road in 1812.
The early tavern-keepers, or those te whom license to sell whiskey
was granted, were William Vastbinder, Williara Christy, John Shoemaker,
David Orcutt, Anthony Rowe, James Green, Isaac Mills, and Joshua
]N[cKinley. The two latter kept at Roseville. Joseph Henderson at
Dowlingville in 1841.
The early brick-kilns were started in 1832, one by Robert P. Barr
and the other by Joseph Kaylor.
The pioneer birth in the township was Jane, daughter of John and
Mary Matson.
At the pioneer local election for 1828 the number of votes cast was
65, and at the general election in the fall, 66.
At an election held at the home of John Lucas, March 20, 1829, the
following persons contested, — viz. : Supervisors, Moses Knapp, 39 votes;
James Shields, 30 votes. Poor Overseers, John Lucas, 10 votes; John
/Vvery, 10 votes. Auditor, John Hughes, 50 votes; Alonzo Baldwin, 42
votes; R. K. Scott, 36 votes; WiUiam Morrison, 32 votes. Constable,
A\'illiam Love, Jr., 51 votes. Fence-Viewers, John Kelso, 16 votes;
Elijah M. Grahara, 14 votes. Town Clerk, John Christy, 3 votes; James
Corbett, 3 votes, .\ttest : Alonzo Baldwin, John Lucas, judges.
Election district according to the act of April 16, 1838:
" Section 52. That the citizens of Rose township, Jefferson County,
within the foUowing boundaries, — viz. : Beginning at the mouth of a run
putting into the north side of Red Bank Creek, a short distance west of
456

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
the mill of Dr. Dowling ; thence up said creek till it strikes the Rose dis
trict line ; thence west to county line between Armstrong and Jefferson
Counties, and from a place or point the nearest opposite the mouth of the
aforesaid run, by a line running due south till the same shall strike the
northern line of Perry township, shall hold their elections in the borough
of Brookville, at the place now appointed by law for holding the borough
election." A POLITICAL CANDIDATE.
" Prior to March, 1832, our neighboring county of Jefferson was with
out any newspaper, and the announcements of candidates for county
offices were then made through the weekly papers of this county, and it
might be incidentally added that then, as ever since over that way, there
was no scarcity of candidates.
" The announcements were generally inserted prominently in large
type, occupying from three to five times as much space as would be
allowed in these days.
" One of these announcements, which was shown us a few days ago by
one of our subscribers, appeared regularly in the Indiana Free Press for
three months prier to the October election in 1S31. It is a curiosity.
Here it is in its original form and style :
" ' TO THE FREE AND INDEPENDENT ELECTORS OF JEFFERSON COUNTV.
" ' Solicited it's I have been.
To stand a poll by many.
For office of Commissioner
Before, have not agreed to any ;
My name at length I will let go.
Through medium of the press.
By word of mouth and by hand-bills.
Which way they think it best ;
It's free and independent times,
October you will see.
The second Tuesday, if I'm right.
The polls will ended be ;
And now I'll say what I have said
Before, on such occasions.
That if elected to an office,
I'll do my best endeavors
To fill the office I'm put in
With punctuaiiiy,
And with the utmost of my skill.
Though best it may not be ;
If I'm elected to that trust,
My best wishes shall be fervent.
Whilst here I stand a candidate.
Your most obedient servant.
30 457

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
John Christie is my name in full,
America is my nation,
Rose township is my dwelling place,
A Farmer is my station.
"'July 31, 1831.'"
— Indiana Messenger.
I copy the following advertisement frora the Brookville Democratic
Republican of the year 1837 :
" CAMP-MEETING.
"There will be a camp-meeting held by the Methodist Episcopal
Church below Troy, to commence on Friday, the ist day of September,
1837- " Darius Carrier.'
horse-racixg.
Horse-racing was practised as early as when Trey was besieged by
the Greeks. In the plain before the city the besiegers celebrated holi
days by sports and horse-races, and Homer says the walls of Troy were
covered with sporting Trojans watching the result.
The trotting horse is an institution of the present century. Before
1800 running was the only method of racing.
Horse-racing as practised in the pioneer days of our county was a
great sport. People came here from all the northwest.
THE ROSEVILLE PIONEER RACE -GROUND.
"fefferson County Races. — On Tuesday, the 14th of November,
instant, will be run over the race-course on the Lewistown and Erie
Turnpike, near the public house of Mrs. MUls, four miles west of Brook
ville, a match race of 600 yards between the celebrated racers Robin and
Zib. The public and all others friendly are hereby invited to attend.
By order of " The Proprietors.
"November 2, 1837."
" Robin' ' was a Brookville horse, and won this race. He was a sorrel,
and belonged to John Pierce and Major William Rodgers. These men
purchased him from Ephraira Bushly for five hundred doUars, and they
sold him to Benjamin Bennett, Sr., of Bellefonte, where he was taken and
matched for a race. He had never been beaten in a race, but before this
match took place in Centre County he was poisoned and ruined.
" Zib" was a dark bay horse, and was owned by a Mr. Chambers, of
Crawford County, Pennsylvania. The "stake" in the above race was
three hundred dollars. Great crowds attended these races. People
came from Indiana, Armstrong, Crawford, Clearfield, and Centre. The
458

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
stake was usually three hundred dollars, and the exciteraent and side-
betting was lively.
The act of the Legislature Ne. no, regulating election districts, ap
proved July II, 1842, established the polling-place for Rose township as
follows :
"Section ii. That the qualified voters of Rose township, Jefferson
County, shall hereafter hold their general election at the court-house of
Brookville, in said county."
The pioneer to clear land in what might be called South Rose was
Joseph Millen. Robert Morrison was the second.
The pioneer school-house was on the farm of WiUiam Carr. The
one at Bellview was built in 1842.
The pioneer church was on the land of William Ohl in 1837.
The Brookville Republican, under date of June 13, 1837, contains the
following : "DISTRESSING ACCIDENT.
" On Saturday, the 24th day of May last, a few men were collected
in building a church in this vicinity. While in the act of pushing up a
log it accidentally slipped off the skates and fell upon Mr. Robert Mor
rison and crushed him, so that he survived but a few hours. ' '
This church was on the farm now owned by Simon Reitz, of Beaver
township. "Between the years of 1830 and 1840 a number of German farailies
came into the lower part ef the county and settled near Red Bank
Creek. "The impulse given to the lumber trade by the speculations in the
State of Maine was not without its influence in the remote sections of the
Union. The keen sagacity of the Yankee discovered that there were
vast bodies of pine lands lying around the sources of the Allegheny River,
not appreciated at their full value by the few pioneers who lived among
them. The Yankees had learned to estimate the value of pine land by
the tree and by the log ; the Pennsylvanians stiU estimated it by the acre.
Somewhere between 1830 and 1837 individuals and companies from New
England and New York purchased considerable bodies of land on the
head-waters of Red Bank and Clarion Rivers from the Holland Land
Company and other large land-holders. They proceeded to erect saw
mills and to drive the lumber trade after the most approved method.
The little leaven thus introduced caused quite a fermentation among the
lumbermen and land-holders of the county. More land changed owners,
new water privileges were improved, capital was introduced from abroad,
and during the spring floods every creek and river resounded with the
preparation of rafts and the lively shouts of the lumbermen as they shot
45.9

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
their rafts over the swift chutes of the mill-dams. The population of the
county was trebled in ten years."

Matson dam.

In 1840-43 large bodies of original tracts were still held by rich pro
prietors at a distance. The price of land then was fifty cents, one dollar,
and three dollars per acre.

BARNETT TOWNSHIP.
This township was so called fer Joseph Barnett, the patriarch ; it was
the sixth organization, and was separated frora Rose township in 1833.
That part lying north of the Clarion River was taken away from it by
the organization of Forest County. The taxables in 1835 were 70;
1842, 67. The census gave it for population, in 1840, 259.
In 1827, William, George, and Samuel Armstrong came to that sec
tion. In 1829, David and Joseph Reynolds, John Cook, John H. Maize,
and Alex. Murray located. David Reynolds cleared the first land and
ran the first lumber in 1829. Other early settlers were Alex. Forsythe,
Robert WaUace, Richard Burns, and Orrin Butterfield. The pioneer
birth was Evaline Armstrong, daughter of William.
The pioneer marriage was Thomas Maize, who married Martha Hall
in 1836. The pioneer death was James Maize, who died in 1831. The
first grave was at Troutman's Run. The pioneer school-house was built
460

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
at the mouth of this run. The pioneer grist-mill was built on the Toby,
now Clarion River, bv William Armstrong, who also opened a store,
in 1830. The pioneer hotel-keeper was Alex. Murray. The pioneer
blacksmith was Andrew Clough. The pioneer saw-mill was built by
Wm. Reynolds, at Maple Creek, in 1829.
The pioneer election for township officers was in 1833, and the follow
ing officers were elected : Constable, John Maize ; Supervisors, David
Mead, William Armstrong; Auditors, John Wynkoop, Edwin Forsythe,
Wm. Manross ; Poor Overseer, Enos Myers, John Maize.
From an act regulating election districts in the State :
"Section 29. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid.
That the electors of Barnett township, in the county ef Jefferson, shall
hereafter hold their general elections at the house now occupied by John
Wynkoop, in said township.
"Approved — the third day of May, a.d. one thousand eight hundred
and thirty-two.
' ' Section 64. The electors of the township of Barnett, in the county
of Jefferson, shall hereafter hold their elections at the house of Alexander
Murray, in said township.
"Approved — the fifteenth day of April, one thousand eight hundred
and thirty-five."
In 1833, Job Carr had a saw-miU about a mile above Millstone, on
the river.
In Big Toby Creek (now Clarion River) and in the Little Toby
Creek pike were occasionally shot and gigged weighing from thirty to
fifty pounds. The Mahoning, Sandy Lick, North Fork, and Red Bank
also were full of choice pike, catfish, bass, sunfish, suckers, and chubs.
It was a common thing to shoot pike ; the others were caught by hook
and line, in seines, and gigged after night. The lesser streams, like the
mill creeks, in addition to many of the others just mentioned, were alive
with speckled trout, and every run in the county then contained these
speckled beauties.
"In 1835, James Aharrah migrated with his faraily frora Indiana,
Pennsylvania, to Wynkoop Run, and erected a cabin eighteen by
twenty feet with a few small windows in it. One night when James
was absent a panther paid them a visit. Sitting up on his haunches,
he peered into the small cabin. In desperation Mrs. Aharrah seized
an axe which was standing near by and took her place at the side of
the window, ready to receive the visitor should he decide to enter,
while her son, armed with the old-time poking-stick, came to her
assistance and took post at the opposite side of the window. Henry
and his sister Jane (Jack Knopsnyder's mother), who were beth
quite young, took refuge under the bed and waited for the panther's
departure. 461

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" Mr. Panther soon tired of this, and bade them an affectionate fare
well, which shook the earth with its vibrations."
The provisions were brought by canoes up the Clarion River from the
place where Parker now stands. Two canoes were engaged in delivering
groceries, etc. Ephraim and John Shawl were the two men who had
control of one, and David Ridder and a man by the name of Sampson
manned the other. CRIME.
From 1778 to 1855, inclusive, three hundred and twenty-eight per
sons were hanged in Pennsylvania. Of these, five suffered the penalty of
death for high treason, eight fer robbery, fourteen for burglary, three for
assault, one for arson, four for counterfeiting, and seven for unknown
offences. On April 22, 1794, the death penalty was abolished except for
murder in the first degree. Before 1834 hangings took place in public,
and since then in jail yards or corridors.
The pioneer murder in Jefferson County was committed on May i,
1844. Daniel Long, one of the mighty hunters of Pine Creek township,
and Samuel Knopsnyder, were murdered in Barnett township, now
Heath, near Raught's Mills. There was a dispute between Long and
James Green about a piece of land. The land was a vacant strip. James
Green and his son Edwin took possession of Long's shanty on this land
while Long was absent. On Long's return te the shanty in company
with Knopsnyder, Long was shot by young Green as he attempted to
enter the shanty, with Long's own gun. Knopsnyder was so terribly cut
with an axe in the hands of the Greens that he died in a few days. The
Greens, father and son, were arrested, tried, and convicted of murder in
the second degree, and each semtenced to four years in the penitentiary.
James Green, the father, served a year and was pardoned. Edwin
served his time and returned to Jefferson County a few days only, as he
was in terror of the Longs. He therefore returned to Pittsburg, and
settled down somewhere and lived and died highly respected.
"In 1784, the year in which Pittsburg was surveyed into building
lots, the privilege of mining coal in the ' great seam' opposite that town
was sold by the Penns at the rate of thirty pounds for each mining lot,
extending back to the centre of the hill. This event may be regarded
as forming the beginning of the coal trade of Pittsburg. The supply of
the towns and cities on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers with Pittsburg
coal became an established business at an early day in the present century
or in 1800. Pittsburg coal was known long before the town became
noted as an iron centre.
"Down to 1845 ^^^ 'he coal shipped westward from Pittsburg was
floated down the Ohio in flat -bottomed boats in the spring and fall
freshets, each boat holding about fifteen thousand bushels of coal. The
462

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
boats were usually lashed in pairs, and were sold and broken up when
their destination was reached. In 1845 steam tow-boats were introduced,
which took coal-barges down the river and brought them back empty. ' '

PIONEER FLAT-BOATS — PIONEER TIPPLES, ETC.
The pioneer boats in what is now Jefferson County were built at
Port Barnett for the transportation of Centre County pig-metal. In 1830

Making a boat. Clarion River.
they were built on the North Fork fer the same purpose. In after-years,
when tipples were used, boats were built and tipples erected at the fol
lowing points, — viz. : at Findley's, on Sandy Lick, by Nieman and D. S.
Chitister ; at BrookviUe, by John Sraith ; at Troy, by Peter Lobaugh ;
at Heathville, by A. B. Paine and Arthur O'Donnell; at the raouth of
Little Sandy, by William Bennett ; at Robinson's Bend, by Hance Rob
inson. This industry along Red Bank was maintained by the charcoal
furnaces of Clarion and Armstrong Counties. The boats were sold at
the Olean bridge at Broken Rock, and sold again at Pittsburg for coal-
barges. Some of the boats were sold for the transportation of salt to
the South from Freeport. The industry on Red Bank ceased in the
fifties. Anthony and Jacob Esbaugh built scaffolds and boats for the dealers
on Red Bank. The pioneer boat was sixteen feet wide and forty feet
463

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
long. These boats were always built from the best lumber that could be
made from the choicest timber that grew in our forests. Each gunwale
was hewed out of the straightest pine-tree that was to be found, — viz. :
twenty-eight inches high at the "rake," fourteen inches at the stern, ten
inches thick, and forty feet long, two gunwales to a beat. The ties were
hewed six inches thick, with a six-inch face, mortised, dove-tailed, and
keyed into the gunwale six feet apart. The six " streamers" for a boat
were sawed three by twelve inches, sixteen feet long, and "pinned" to
the ties with one pin in the middle of each streamer. These pins were
made ef white oak one and a half inches square and ten inches long.
The plank fer the "bottoms" were first-class white pine one and a half
inches thick, and pinned to the streamers and gunwales with white oak
pins, calked with flax or tew. All pioneer boats were built on the
ground and turned by about ten men — and a gallon of whiskey — over

i^~^«..^

/

I r- ¦ f VfT'l- r— -

-SSl

Rafting-in on the Clarion, at Armstrong's.
and on a bed raade of brush to keep the planks in the bottom from
springing. All beats were "sided up" with white oak studding two and
a half by five inches and six feet (high) long. Each studding was mor
tised into a gunwale two feet apart. ' Inside the boat a siding eighteen
inches high was pinned on. These boats were sold in Pittsburg, to be
used as coal-barges for the transportation of coal to the Lower Missis
sippi. The boats were manned and run by two or three men, the pilot
always at the stern. The oar, stem and blade, was made the same as for
ordinary rafts. The pioneer boats were tied and landed with halyards
made of twisted hickory saplings. The size of these boats in 1843 '^^'ss
eighteen feet wide and eighty feet long, built on tipples similar to the
464

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
present method. The boats are now made from one hundred and twenty
to one hundred and fifty feet long and from twenty to twenty-four feet
wide, and from spliced gunwales.
Sixty years ago boats were built on the Big Toby at Maple Creek,
Clarington, Millstone, Wynkoop, Spring Creek, Irvine, and Ridgway.
The pioneer boat was probably built at Maple Creek by WiUiam Reynolds.

Turning a boat.
The pioneer boats were gems of the art as compared with those made to
day. Now the gunwales are spliced up of pieces to make the required
length, and the boats are made of hemlock. The industry, hovvever, is
carried on more extensively on the Clarion now than ever and for the
same market.
From this time forth, as has been the case for several years of the
past, the boat bottom will be of hemlock, patched of many pieces, spiked
together instead of built with long oak pins, and they will have te be
handled with care to serve the purpose. Of such a kind of boat bottoms
there is small danger of scarcity.

SNYDER TOWNSHIP.
THE BEGINNING OF ITS EXISTENCE AS AN ORGANIZED COMMUNITY  DR. A.
M. Clarke's reminiscences — joel Clarke's settlement with his
SONS — pioneer LUMBERING ON LITTLE TOBY — PIONEER POST-ROUTE,
1828  POST-OFFICE AND POSTMASTER  PIONEER ELECTION — PIONEER
HUNTER, ETC.
Snyder, the seventh township, was organized out of Pine Creek and
Ridgway townships in 1835. It is situated and lies on the western and
465

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
southwestern water- shed of the Elk Mountains, which consist of spurs of
the Allegheny range. One of the most prominent of these high grounds
is called Boone's Mountain, or frequently, in the common usage of the
neighborhood, " The Mountain." The rock formation of this eminence
is sandstone and conglomerates, giving rise to many springs of pure
cold water. These are the sources of Little Toby and Sandy Lick
Creeks. The township was called for Governor Simon Snyder. The taxables
in 1835 were 41 ; in 1842, 72. The population by census of 1840 was
291. In 1843 P^rt of this towmship was detached and added to Elk

County. Owing to so many changes in the lines I am unable to tell the
pioneer settlers.
Ami Sibley was one of the early hunters and trappers in this sec
tion, having arrived in 1818. The tales of his adventures in hunting
would make an interesting volume. He died in 1861. His wife was
Rachel Whitehill, to whom he was married in 1827, when they located
in what is now Snyder. 466

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
In 1819, Joel Clarke, with his wife and sons, Elisha and Joel, Jr.,
came to and settled on Little Toby from Russell, St. Lawrence County,
New York. Later, the same year, Philetus, the third son of Joel Clarke,
came also from Russell, New York, and settled on Little Toby. The late
Dr. Clarke describes their coming as follows, — viz. :
"I was about eleven years old when my father, Philetus Clarke, came
from St. Lawrence County, New York, into the Little Toby wilderness.
The journey was long and tedious. We moved with oxen in wagons,
which were covered with canvas, and which gave us shelter from sun
shine and storm. I was the oldest child, and there were three of
us. Sometimes I had to drive, while my father would support the
wagon to keep it from upsetting. The Susquehanna and Waterford
turnpike was being made, and we came along an old road near it
to 'Neeper's Tavern,' about four miles from where Luthersburg now is.
This was the old State Road from Bald Eagle's Nest, Mifflin County,
to Le Boeuf, Allegheny County, at this time the Milesburg and Water
ford read. I remember the motto that was over the sign-board at
Neeper's : " ' It is God's will
This woods must yield.
And the wildwood turn
To a fruitful field.'
"From that place the road was very rough over the hills and moun
tains. We could not get through in one day, and had to stop one night
at a place where the road-makers had built a shanty, but it had burned
down and the place was called 'Burnt Shanty.' Our wagon gave us
shelter, and a good spring was pleasant indeed. The next day we passed
over Boone's Mountain, came to the crossing of Little Toby, near where
the Oyster House was built many years afterwards. We pursued our jour
ney onward to Kersey settlement. My father thought best to examine
the lands for which he had exchanged his New York property before
going any farther, and was utterly disappointed and disgusted with them.
He made explorations in various directions in search of a mill site, and
finally concluded to settle at what is now Brockport, where he built a
saw-miU, the first ever built on Little Toby. He put a small grist-mill
with ' bolts' in the saw-mill, which answered the requirements of the few
settlers for a while, and afterwards built a good grist-mill, which did good
service for the people." His first home was a cabin, twelve by fourteen,
of round logs.
Old settlers, frequently carrying a peck or a half-bushel of corn on
their backs, came to this mill and waited for their grist to be ground.
Ofttimes a bushel or two of grain, too heavy to carry, was suspended
across the yoke of an ox team.
In 1823, Jacob Shafer located about a mile and a half above Brock-
467

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
wayville, on the Henry Sivert tract. He was a fine old German gentle
raan of the olden time. He was always a good Democrat, and voted
for Jackson for many years. He died in 185 1 . Henry Walborn, brother-
in law of Mr. Shafer, came at the same time, and located near Mr. Shafer
on the stream which took his name, — Walborn Run. He sold his place
to Joel Clarke, Jr., and went off, and his name, but for the run, would
have been forgotten.
In 1828 the lumbermen of Little Toby commenced te open up the
creek for a public highway. This was attended with much labor, and re
quired two years' time. In 1830 the lumber from these mills was started
to market, — viz., Brockway's, Philetus Clarke's, and Horton's, these
being the only miUs at that time en the creek. Dr. A. M. Clarke says,
" I went with the first lumber that was sent from Little Toby to Pitts
burg. It was a great company raft, awkwardly put in and poorly man
aged from beginning to end. After a great deal of trouble and much
staving, the rafts were all collected and coupled together in one unwieldy
raft at Miller's Eddy, on the Allegheny River. On account of the ex
ceeding rough appearance of this raft it was called the 'Porcupine.'
Want of experience and lack of skill nearly wrecked the whole business,
for in their anxiety to get to market, and encouraged by their pilot, the
unwieldy craft — I think it was three abreast and thirty-two platforms
long — was started on very high water. They soon discovered their mis
take, but were unable te land, and went rushing forward, and miles of
foaming water were traversed before the frightened crew effected a land
ing. I was sent to take care of my father's share in the adventure. We
went down in May, 1830, and came back in July. Our best sales were
made for five and ten dollars per thousand feet for common and clear
stuff." In 1828 a post-route was established, and the mail ordered to be car
ried once a week on horseback from Kittanning to Smethport, McKean
County. The route lay through this section of country, and in April of
that year Hellen Post-Office was established, and Philetus Clarke was ap
pointed postmaster ; this was the first post-office in this neighborhood.
Letter postages were six and a quarter, twelve and a half, eighteen and
three quarters, and twenty-five cents, according to the distance over
which they were conveyed. In 1829 a post-office was established at
Brockwayville, and Alonzo Brockway appointed postmaster ; this gave
name to the place, which it has retained.
The first burial was an infant child of Alonzo and Huldah Brockway.
The scathed stump of a pine-tree, which grew over the grave, until re
cently it was struck by lightning, marks the place, though the appearance
of a grave has been entirely obUterated, and the unconsci6us passer-by,
as he walks over the spot, has no thought that a huraan form lies mould
ering under his heel. The second burial was also a child, one of the
468

PIONEER HISTORY OP JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
family of Mr. Jacob Shafer. They buried it in a corner of a field, on a
somewhat elevated spot, between two ravines, by the roadside, near where
Marvin Allen now resides. Others were afterwards buried there, until
it came to be called "Shafer's Burying- Ground." In that "Uttle city
of the dead" rest the remains of Joel Clarke and Chloe, his wife, Baily
Hughes, A. J. Ingalls, Joel Clarke and Mary, his wife, Philetus Clarke
and Ada, his daughter, Annie Sibley, Mrs. Monahan, Mrs. Stephens,
Samuel Beman and wife, Jacob Shafer and Mary, his wife, Hiram,
WiUis, and Jane, children of Joel and Mary Clarke, Jacob Myers,
Comfort D. Felt, and others. It has lately been much neglected, and
is rapidly going to decay. Some of the dead have been removed te
Wildwood Cemetery.
"In 1 82 1, John S. Brockway purchased at treasurer's sale, at Indiana,
the ' Henry Peffer' tract on Little Toby, and the next year Alonzo and
James M. Brockway moved over from Bennett's Branch and commenced
improvements on the land. They had to cut their way five miles down
the creek from Philetus Clarke's. They planted fruit-trees of various
kinds as soon as the land was cleared, and peach- and plum-trees were
soon in bearing. They also made large quantities ef maple-sugar, raised
all their own supplies, and, with game in abundance, lived luxuriously
for those days. This was the first settlement in what is now Snyder
township." Other early settlers were Baily Hughes, A. J. Ingalls, James
Pendleton, Dr. WilUam Bennett, A. R. Frost, Samuel Beman, Stephen
Tibbetts, Jacob Myers, Alonzo Ferman, Bennett Prindle, Charles Mat
thews, Joseph W. Green, McMinns, and others.
The pioneer saw-miU was built in 1828 by the Brockway brothers.
Dr. William Bennett built one of the first saw-mills in the township. In
1836, Hoyt and WUson built a mill where Ferraan's is now. In 1841,
James Pendleton built a saw-miU, grist-mill, and carding-mill on Rattle
snake. Early school-teachers were Miss Clarissa Brockway, A. M. Clarke,
John Kyler, and Mary Warner.
The first township election was held in 1835 at what is now Matthew
Bovard's, and the following officers were elected, — viz. : Constable, Myron
Gibbs ; Supervisors, John McLaughlin, Ami Sibley ; Auditors, Milton
Johnston, Thomas McCormick, Joseph McCurdy ; Town Clerk, Thoraas
McCormick ; Overseers of the Poor, Myron Gibbs, Joseph McAfee ;
Assessor, Milton Johnston ; Inspector, Myron Gibbs ; Fence Appraiser,
James Ross.
In 1836, Dr. A. M. Clarke moved into the township and laid out the
town of Brockwayville. It is pretty hard to locate these old settlers.
They are found in different townships, owing to the fact that new town
ships were being formed, county lines changed, and townships or parts
thereof stricken from one county and added to either Clearfield or
Elk. 469

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"No. 174. An Act establishing and altering Certain Election
Districts, and for Other Purposes.
"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of tlie Com
monwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is hereby
enacted by the autliority of the same. . .
" Section 28. The township of Snyder, in the county of Jefferson,
shall hereafter be a separate election district, and the electors thereof
shall hold their general elections at the house of John McLaughlin, on
the Brockway road, in said township. Approved April 15, 1835."
The act of the Legislature, No. no, regulating election districts,
approved July 11, 1842, established the polling-place for Snyder as
follows :
" Section 27. That the qualified voters of the township of Snyder, in
the county of Jefferson, shall hereafter hold their general and towmship
elections at the house of James M. Brockway, in said township."
The pioneer justice of the peace was Stephen Tibbetts, appointed
February 14, 1835.
Dr. A. M. Clarke relates the following incident : " When I was about
twelve or thirteen years of age I was sent, in the winter season, with a yoke
of oxen and a sled to procure a load of corn frora any source from which
it could be obtained, and found myself belated in the woods ; but at last
came to a little clearing, where there was an old man by the name of
Stevens and his wife living in a poor log cabin. I was made welcorae to
the warmth of their fire, which was very pleasant, as I was cold, tired,
and perhaps hungry. I had brought forage with me, and the team was
soon cared for, and the old lady busied herself for some time in pre
paring a supper for me. She first fried some salt perk, then greased a
griddle with sorae of the fat procured from the meat and baked some
corn-cakes, then made what she called 'a good cup of rye coffee,' sweet
ened with pumpkin molasses. I was not hungry enough to much enjoy
this repast. In the morning, on inquiry of ray host, I learned that six
miles farther down the stream (Bennett's Branch) I could likely get the
corn at a Mr. Johnston's. I must not return without it, so onward we
went in the morning, bought the corn and returned home."
ELDRED TOWNSHIP.
Eldred, the eighth township, was organized in 1836, and was taken
from Rose and Barnett townships, and named for Hon. Nathaniel B.
Eldred, then president judge of this judicial district. Taxables in 1835,
37 ; in 1842, 123. The census was, in 1840, 395.
The pioneer settler in Eldred was Isaac Matson, in 1828. In 1829,
Walter Templeton, James Linn, and Robert McCreight. In 1830, Elijah
M. Graham and John McLaughlin. In 1831, David English and Jacob
470

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Craft. In 1832, Paul Stewart, James Templeton, and James Trimble. In
1833, Stewart Ross, John Wilson, and Thomas Hall. In 1834, William
and George Catz and James Summerville. In 1836, Frederick Kahle.
In 1842, Professor S. W. Smith. Mr. Smith was a highly educated man,
and served the county as teacher, professor in the academy, and county
superintendent of schools.
The pioneer school-house was built at Hall's in 1839.
The first election for township officers was in 1836. The following
persons were elected, — viz. : Constable, Elijah M. Graham ; Supervisors,
Thomas Barr and Thomas Anthony ; School Directors, George Catz,
Henry Boil, Thomas Hughes, Thomas Hall, Jacob Craft, and John Maize ;
Poor Overseers, Thomas Callen and Michael Long ; Town Clerk, Jacob
Craft. The pioneer polling-place was at the home of James Linn, now
the farm of Timothy Caldwell.
Joseph Matson, Esq., lived in Eldred township, and in the early days
he built an outside high brick chimney. He employed a pioneer stone
mason by the name of Jacob Penrose to do the job. Penrose was a very
rough mason, but had a high opinion of his own skill, and was quite
confiding and bombastic in his way. After he finished the chimney, and
before removing the scaffold, he came dowm to the ground to blow off" a
little steam about his work. Placing his arms around Matson's neck,
he exclaimed, pointing to the chimney, "There, Matson, is a chimney
that will last you your lifetime, and your children and your children's
children." "Look out !" said Matson. " God, she's a coming !" True
enough, the chimney fell, a complete wreck.

JENKS TOWNSHIP— A LOST TOWNSHIP.
Jenks, the ninth township, organized in 1838, was taken from Barnett
township. This and Tionesta township might be called twins, as both
were separated at the same time from the same township. Taxables in
1842, 16; in 1849, 32- The population in 1840 was 40. The township
was named in honor of Hon. John W. Jenks, then one of the associate
judges of Jefferson County. It is now in the bounds of Forest County.
Cyrus Blood was the pioneer of Jenks and Tionesta townships. He
brought his family into this wilderness in 1833. For years his farm was
called the "Blood settlement." When he settled there, the region was
full of panthers, bears, wolves, wild cats, and deer. Mr. Blood was a
powerful man, of great energy and courage. He was well educated and
a surveyor. Cyrus Blood was born at New Lebanon, New Hampshire, March 3,
1795. He was educated in Boston. When twenty-two he migrated to
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, where he was the principal of the academy.
He was afterwards princi])al of the Hagerstown Academy, Maryland.
471

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
He accepted and served as a professor in the Dickinson College, at Car
lisle, Pennsylvania.
Ambitious to found a county, Cyrus Blood made several visits into
this wilderness, and finding that the northern portion of Jefferson County
was then an almost unbroken wilderness, he finally purchased a tract of
land on which Marienville is now located, and decided to make his
settlement there.
It was understood when Mr. Blood purchased in Jefferson County
from the land company that a road would be opened into it fer him. In
1833, when Mr. Blood arrived where Corsica now is, on the Olean road,
he found to his annoyance that no road had been made. Leaving his
family behind hira, he started frora what was then Armstrong's MiU, now
Clarington, with an ox team, sled, and men to cut their way step by step
through the wilderness twelve miles to his future home. Every night the
men camped on and around the ox-sled. When the party reached Blood's
purchase, a patch of ground was cleared and a log cabin reared. In
October, 1833, Mr. Blood and his five children took possession of this
forest home. For many years Mr. Bleed carried his and the neighbors'
mail from Brookville. Panthers were so plenty that they have been seen
in the garden by the children, playing like dogs. For years they had
to go with their grist to mill to Kittanning, Leatherwood, er Brook
ville. Trumbull Hunt was the second pioneer.
The pioneer election was held in Jenks township in 1838. The fol
lowing persons were elected to fill township offices : Constable, Cyrus
Blood ; Supervisors, Cyrus Blood, John Hunt ; School Directors, Cyrus
Blood, John Hunt, Aaron Brockway, Sr., Aaron Brockway, Jr., Josiah
Lacey, and John Lewees ; Auditors, John Hunt, Aaron Brockway, Sr.,
and Aaron Brockway, Jr. ; Poor Overseers, Cyrus Blood, Aaron Brock
way, Sr. ; Town Clerk, John Hunt ; Fence Viewer, Aaron Brockway,
Jr. ; Inspector, John Hunt.
The last and only beavers in this State made their homes here in the
early thirties, in the great flag swamp or beaver meadows on Salmon Creek.
These meadows covered about six hundred acres. Furs were occasion
aUy then brought to BrookviUe from these meadows by trappers.
Pioneer election district according to the act of April 16, 1838 :
" Section 48. That the township of Jenks, in the county of Jefferson,
is hereby declared a separate district, the election to be held at the house
now occupied by Cyrus Blood in said township."
The pioneer hunter was John Aylesworth. He came to Barnett town
ship, Jefferson County, or what in 1838 became Jenks township, Jefferson
County, and is now Jenks township. Forest County, in 1834. He was a
Connecticut Yankee, but came to this wilderness from Ashtabula, Ohio.
He was the most noted and famous hunter in this section of Jefferson
472

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
County. Other early professional hunters were Philip Clover and Ami
Sibley.

o

The pioneer path or trail was opened by Cyrus Blood from Claring
ton to Blood's settlement. This was in the year 1833. The pioneer
31 473

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
road was this "path" widened and improved by Blood several years
later. The pioneer tavern was the home of Cyrus Blood. Mr. Blood built
the pioneer saw-miU in 1834 and the pioneer grist-mill in 1840. These
mills were erected by him on Salmon Creek.
The pioneer school-raaster was John D. Hunt. He taught in the
winter of 1833-34 in Mr. Blood's horae.
The pioneer preacher was Dr. Otis Smith. The pioneer sermon to
white people was preached in Mr. Blood's house.
BrookviUe was the post-office for this settlement from 1833 to 1843.
The pioneer court house of Forest County was built in Marienville,
of hewed logs, and afterwards weather-boarded and painted white. The
work was done by Bennett Dobbs. (See illustration.)
AVhat is now Marienville was called for many years " the Blood
settlement." TIONESTA TOWNSHIP— A LOST TOWNSHIP.
This, the tenth township organization, was taken from Barnett, in
1838, and naraed after a river in its boundary. Taxables in 1842, 9;
population in 1840, 27. This township is now Howe, a member of
Forest County.
Pioneer election district according to the act of April 16, 1838 :
"Section 49. That the township of Tionesta, in the county of
Jefferson, is hereby declared a separate election district, and the election
shall be held at the house of John Noef, in said township."
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
ANDREW hunter's BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY AN HISTORICAL EVENT.
Washington, the eleventh township, was organized in 1839, and was
taken from Snyder and Pine Creek. The township was named for the
" Father of our Country. ' ' Taxables in 1842, 112. Population by census
1840, 367.
The township embraced Prospect HiU, Prescottville, Reynoldsville,
and West Reynoldsville, until Winslow township was formed, hence the
early settlers on the old State Road and on the turnpike were originaUy
in Washington. The pioneer settlers in what is now Washington township were Henry
Keys, John McGhee, Thomas Moore, Alexander Osborne, and John
Mcintosh. These pioneers located in 1824. In 1826, Andrew Smith,
William Cooper, and John '\Yilson settled. In 1829, James Smith, Esq.,
settled also. Other early settlers were as follows: John Millen, James
Ross, David Dennison, William Shaw, Robert Morrison, Robert Smith,
George Senior, WiUiam Smith, Thomas TedUe, John Magee, William
McConnell, Alvin H. Head, T. B. McLain, William B. McCullough,
474

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Alexander Keys, Robert Patton, Daniel Groves, James Groves, John
Groves, James Welsh, Frederick R. Brown, James Bond, and John
McCleUand. Joseph McCurdy came to Beechwoods from Indiana County in the yea,r
1835. He was accompanied by his mother, two brothers, Robert and
James, and three sisters, Martha, Margaret, who married John Millen,
and Betsy, who married Andrew Hunter. They settled where James
McCurdy now lives. As a man, he was very quiet and unassuming,
without show or pretence. He was faithful as a Christian, firm and de
cided as an elder in maintaining discipline in the church, and mild in
enforcing the same ; a firm believer in the doctrines of the Presbyterian
Church as being the truth taught by the word of God. These truths he
unflinchingly maintained and defended through life. He did much for
the church, and after his death his mantle fell upon his brother James.
In 1830, John and Andrew Hunter settled on farms. Andrew Uved
to be over one hundred years old, and as the celebration of his centen
nial birthday was the first and only event of the kind in this county, I
reprint my report of that interesting occasion, made at the time for the
Brookville feffersonian- Democrat, — viz. :
"A GREAT BIRTHDAY.
"CELEBRATION OF ANDREW HUNTER's ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LIFE.
"fefferson County's Centenarian.
" Born in Ireland, October i, 1790, living in Jefferson County, Penn
sylvania, October i, 1890. Has one sister living aged ninety-seven, and
a brother ninety-five. Located on his farm in Washington township in
1830. He is bright, inteUigent, and pleasant to converse with. Hand
some, short in stature, rosy.-cheeked, with a fine head of iron-gray hair.
A widower for many years, and will probably not remarry. Always an
early riser and a hard worker. Has never been sick, never used tobacco,
but drinks tea and coffee, and believes that a little 'gude whuskey,' un
less taken to excess, 'will not hurt ony man at all, at all.' Occasion
ally goes to a wedding, but attends church regularly. A strict Presby
terian. Leads the family devotions night and morning. Is lively, loves
jokes, laughs heartily, and enjoys life. Is opposed to all modern innova
tions in the church, such as organs, improved psalmody, etc.
" A friend remarked to him, ' I suppose, Mr. Hunter, they are getting
some new-fangled ideas in the church up here ?' ' Aye, feth, that's jest
what they're doin'. They are singin' human composition in the church
now. I fought it with all my might, but they overpowered me, and I
did not go back for three months. I thought I never would go back ;
but then I said for all the wee time I had to stay, I might just as weel
go back. Our preacher came over to make us a visit, and I just took the
475

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
opportunity to give him a piece of my mind, and after I was through he
had not one word in reply to make, for he had not a particle of founda
tion to stand upon.'

Andrew Hunter, one hundred years old.
"The gathering at Mr. Hunter's home yesterday was an immense
affair, worthy of the occasion, — the celebration of the one hundredth anni
versary of his birth. Relatives, friends, and neighbors were present. The
old, the middle-aged, and the infant were there.
476

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"The company numbered fully a thousand, coming from various
parts of the county, and some from outside. At noon refreshments were
served for all present, a special table being prepared for the old patri
arch, with Judge Jenks, Rev. Filson, Dr. McKnight, James McCurdy, and
other friends near him. The old gentleman laughed, joked, and ate-
a hearty meal. He hears ordinary talk and has nearly all his lower
teeth. "At one P.M. Rev. Filson preached an old-fashioned serraon. Rev.
Hill explaining the psalm. The clerks in charge of the singing were A.
McCullough and Elder WiUiam Smith, one lining the psalm and the
other leading the music. Mr. Hunter joined in the singing.
"Addresses were made by Hon. W. P. Jenks and Dr. W. J. Mc
Knight ; an original poem, by Willie Wray, was read by Rev. Hill. Mr.
Hunter's neighbors presented him with a gold-headed cane on which to
lean in the second century of his life. A photograph of the company
was taken by E. Clark Hall, of Brookville. This was the greatest event
ever witnessed in this section of Jefferson County.
" The following old people were present : James Welsh, William Mc
Connell, W. P. Jenks, W. McCurdy and wife, of Indiana, Dr. McCurdy,
of Freeport, John Cooper, S. Patton, D. B. McConnell, J. Shaw, R. Os
borne, I. Morrison, J. Sterrett and wife, N. Riggs, J. Snoddy, Dr. Niver
and wife, J. Clover, W. Smith, R. Smith, J. R. Millen, W. Patton, J.
McCurdy, M. Smith, T. Moore, J. Crawford, J. Dixon, R. Sterrett,
James Cooper, H. Maginnis, D. MothereU, Mrs. Wray, Mrs. J. B. Hen
derson, Mrs. McClure, Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. McCurdy, Mrs. Harker, Mrs.
Daily, Mrs. Patterson, Mrs. J. Hunter, Mrs. M. Smith, Miss A. McCurdy,
Mrs. Mcintosh, Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Maxwell, Mrs J. J. Stewart, N. B.
Lane and wife.
" Following is the address delivered by Dr. W. J. McKnight :
"'Ladies and Gentlemen, — Ordinary birthday celebrations are
pleasant to neighbors and friends, but the pleasure to celebrate the birth
day of a friend and neighbor who has reached the age of one hundred
years is seldom realized or enjoyed by any community. We are here
to day to celebrate a centennial birthday. Our neighbor, Andrew
Hunter, was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, October i, 1790. It is
now October i, 1890. He emigrated to America in 1825, and located
where he now resides in 1830, having Uved here sixty years. He is
what we Americans call a Scotch-Irishman. As Americans we are proud
Of this blood. In our struggle for independence they were loyal. A
Tory was unheard of among them. Pennsylvania and the nation owe
very much of their greatness to this race. Natural-born leaders and
orators, they have given us statesmen, teachers, professors, ministers,
physicians, judges. Congressmen, and generals, even to our Sheridan
and Grant. They have furnished the nation with seven Presidents and
477

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
our State with seven governors. Brave, intelligent, warm hearted, and
true, their influence must and always will be potent.
" ' But, ladies and gentlemen, others have spoken of Mr. Hunter and
his virtues as a man and a citizen. I endorse all that has been said. To
say more of hira personally would be unseemly. Therefore let us
'• ' Lift the twilight curtains of the past
And, turning from familiar sight and sound.
Sadly and full of reverence, let us cast
A glance upon tradition's shadowy ground.'
" ' When Andrew Hunter first saw the light of day George Washing
ton was President, our territory small, only thirteen States, and our pop
ulation but three million. He has lived to see our nation grow te forty-
four States, our people increase to sixty-five million, and our country to
rise from poverty to the wealth of fifty-six billion dollars. He has lived
to see our territory become as large as Russia in Europe, Norway, Sweden,
Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Austria- Hungary, Switzerland,
Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Great Britain, and Ireland, fronting on
two great oceans, and populated, toe, with a people only twenty per
cent, of whom are unable to read and write.
" ' In the year Andrew Hunter was born letter postage was twelve and
a half cents every one hundred miles ; to-day two cents will send a letter
three thousand miles. Then we had but seventy-five post-offices ; now we
have sixty thousand one hundred and forty. In those days the mails
were carried on horseback or in stage-coaches. Communications of news,
business, or affection were slow and uncertain, but to-day, with rapid
railroad transportation, " ' Letters are but affection's touches,
Lightnings from friendship's lamp.'
"'In 1790 railroads were unknown. To-day there is in the United
States one hundred and seventy thousand miles of railroad. Over these
roads there were carried last year five hundred miUion people and six
hundred million tons of freight. Employed upon them are one million
men, thirty thousand locomotives, twenty-one thousand passenger-cars,
seven thousand baggage cars, and one million freight cars. The total
capital invested is eight billion dollars. The disbursements fer labor
and repairs are yearly six hundred and fifty million dollars. As a Penn
sylvanian I am proud to say our own Pennsylvania road is the greatest,
the best, and most perfect in management and construction of any road
in the world. We have smoking-cars, with bath roora, barber-shop,
writing-desks, and library. We have dining cars in which are served
refreshraents that a Delraonico cannot surpass. We have parlor- cars
47S

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
with bay-windows and luxurious furniture, and we have cars with beds
for sleeping soft as the "eider down."
"'In the year Andrew Hunter was born training-day was a great
event. All men were required by law to participate in a day of general
military drill. No uniforms were worn, save the homespun dress of each
soldier. Each company was armed with sticks, pikes, muskets, or guns,
and were preceded in their marches by a fife or drum. An odd and
comic sight it must have been. Royal amusements in 1790 were shoot
ing-matches, rollings, huskings, scutchings, flax-breakings, apple-parings,
and quiltings. Dancing was not entirely overlooked. Books were few
and but little schooling to be had. Woman's extravagances in dress was
then and is now a juicy topic for grumblers.
" ' In 1790 no steamboat had ever navigated the water, nothing but
old sail-crafts being used. A trip across the ocean required from four
weeks to three months. Father Hunter was six weeks on the ocean.
Now we skip across in six and seven days. Then it took weeks and
months to hear the news from Europe or Asia ; now we hear daily from
the whole world. We have only to speak across the ocean, when our
brother in Europe or Asia greets us and replies.
"'In the year Andrew Hunter was born Pennsylvania contained a
population of four hundred and thirty-four thousand three hundred and
seventy-three; now we have five million people. In 1790 the curse of
slavery rested on Pennsylvania, for in that year three thousand seven
hundred and thirty-seven human beings were considered "property"
within her borders and held as slaves. Sixty-four of these slaves were
still in our State in 1840.
"'In 1790, Jefferson County was unknown. No white man lived
within her borders. Nature reigned supreme. The shade of the forest
was heavy the whole day through. Now our county contains a popula
tion of forty-three thousand. We have schools, churches, telegraphs,
telephones, and court all the tirae.
" ' The great coal deposits that underlie forty-two of our counties was
known to exist at that early date, but its use was not understood. Seme
hard coal was mined and shipped to Philadelphia for a market, but not
knowing what to do with it, it was finally used to repair the roads. Our
people are alive now to its use, as the following exhibit will show : In
1888 there was mined in Pennsylvania of hard coal forty-one million six
hundred and thirty eight thousand four hundred and eighty-four tons,
giving employment to one hundred and sixteen thousand and forty- two
people. In 1888 there was mined in Pennsylvania thirty-three miUion
seven hundred and seventy-two thousand two hundred and eighty-five
tons of bituminous coal, giving employment to sixty thousand nine hun
dred and forty-six people. Total output of hard and soft coal in 1888,
seventy-five million four hundred and ten thousand seven hundred and
479

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
sixty- nine tons. Total number of people employed in mining, one
hundred and seventy-six thousand nine hundred and eighty-nine.
" ' In the year 1790 men were imprisoned for debt and kept in prison
until the last farthing was paid. The jails ef that day were but little
better than dungeons. There was no woman's Christian temperance
union, no woman's relief corps, no society for the prevention of cruelty
to animals or children.
"'In 1790 doraestic coraforts were few. No stove had been in
vented. Large, deep fireplaces with cranes, andirons, and bake- ovens
were the only raodes of heating and cooking. Friction-matches were
unknown. If the fire of the house went out, you had to rekindle with a
flint or borrow of your neighbor. I have borrowed fire. House furni
ture was then meagre and rough. There were ne window-blinds or car
pets. Rich people whitewashed their ceilings and rooms, and covered
their parlor-floors with white sand. Hence the old couplet :
" ' Oh, dear mother, my toes are sore
A dancing over your sanded floor.'
" ' Pine-knots, tallow-dipped candles burned in iron or brass candle
sticks, and whale oil burned in iron lamps were the means for light in
stores, dwellings, etc. Food was scarce, coarse, and of the most common
kind, with no canned goods or evaporated fruits. In addition to cooking
in the open fireplace, women had to spin, knit, dye, and weaye all domes
tic cloths, there being no mills run by machinery to make woollen or
cotton goods. Mrs. Winslow's soothing syrup and baby-carriages were
unknown. The bride of 1790 took her wedding-trip on foot or on horse
back behind the bridegroom on a "pillion."
" ' Men wore no beards, whiskers, or moustaches, their faces being as
clean shaven and as smooth as a girl's. A beard was looked upon as an
abomination, and fitted only for Hessians, heathen, or Turks. In 1790
not a single cigar had ever been smoked in the United States. I wish I
could say that of to-day. There were no aniline dyes, no electric Ughts,
no anaesthetics and painless surgery, no gun-cotton, no nitre glycerin, no
dynamite, giant powder, audiphones, pneumatic tubes, or type-writers.
No cotton-gin, no planting-machine, no mower or reaper, no hay-rake,
no hay-fork, no corn-sheller, no rotary printing-press, no sewing-machine,
no knitting-machine, no envelopes for letters, no india-rubber goods,
coats, shoes, or cloaks, no grain elevator except man, no artificial ice, no
steel pens, no telegraph or telephone, no street-cars, no steam-mills, no
daguerreotypes or photographs, no steam -ploughs, no steam-thresher,
only the old hand-flail, no wind-mill, and no millionaire in the whole
country. General AA'ashington was the richest man, and he was only
worth eight hundred thousand dollars.
" 'In 1790 slavery prevailed in all Christendom, It was everywhere
480

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
in manner and in fact. Men, women, and children were bought and
sold like cattle. Now there is no slavery in all Christendom. No more
human auction-blocks, no more masters, no more driver's lash. Bless
God! " ' Our fathers established the first Christian, non-sectarian govern
ment in the world, and declared as the chief corner-stone of that govern
ment Christ's teaching, that all men are "born free and equal;" love
your neighbor' as yourself. Since this thought has been carried into
effect by our non-sectarian government, it has done more to elevate and
civiUze mankind in the last one hundred years than had ever been ac
complished in all time before. Under the humane and inspiring influ
ence of this grand idea put into practice the wheels of progress, science,
religion, and civilization have made gigantic strides, and our nation espe
cially, from ocean to ocean, from arctic ice to tropic sun, is filled with
smiling, happy homes, rich fields, blooming gardens, and bright firesides,
made such by Christian charity carried into national and State constitu
tional enactment.' "
The pioneer voting-place was at the cabin of James AVait.
The pioneer birth in the township was that of AA^illiam McGhee in
1825. The pioneer marriage, Henry Keys and Catherine Wilson in 1826.
The pioneer death, Mary, wife of John Hunter, in 1830. The pioneer
graveyard, on Cooper's Hill in 1831. Pioneer raerchant, Thomas B. Mc
Lain, near Beechtree. Other early merchants, W. B. McCullough, Alvin'
Head. Pioneer church, Presbyterian, organized Deceraber 3, 1832, with
fourteen raembers. The pioneer cabin was constructed by three men
only, — viz. : Thomas Moore, Henry Keys, and John Mcintosh.
The pioneer township election was held in 1839, and the following
persons were elected, — viz. : Constable, John McGhee ; Supervisors, John
Mcintosh and Tilton Reynolds ; Auditors, Andrew Smith, Oliver Mc
Clelland, William Reynolds, and Joshua Rhea ; School Directors, Oliver
McCleUand, Andrew Smith, James McConnell, William Reynolds, John
Fuller, and John Horm ; Fence Appraisers, James Smith and Oliver
Welch ; Poor Overseers, Henry Keys and Tilton Reynolds ; Town Clerk,
John Wilson.
In 1831, John Wilson erected an up-and-down saw-raUl near Rock
dale. Archie Campbell, James Wait, Sarauel, James, and Robert Kyle were
early settlers, too. Archie Campbell and James Kyle were brothers-in-
law. They were odd, eccentric, and stingy, but each prided himself on
being very generous. The Kyles and CampbeU had the reputation of
being wealthy. Early in the forties the women in that part ef Washing
ton township took a notion to fix up Prospect Graveyard, and in order to
reach the Kyles and Campbell a subscription paper was put in the hands
of Jimmie Kyle. Jimmie was an old bachelor. The first thing he did'

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
after getting the paper was to call on Archie Campbell, when the follow
ing conversation, in a dignified manner, took place :
" Gud-merning, Muster Cummell."
" Gud morning. Muster Kyle."
"Are yez all well this morning. Muster Cummell?"
" Yes, Muster Kyle, there's only me and Mary, and we're all well."
" Muster Cummell, I've got a subscription paper here to fix the grave
yard beyand, and wud you be after putting something down?"
" Egad, no, Muster Kyle, not a cint for that ould cow-pasture. As
long as I luv I won't be hurried there. Egad, I won't."
" WuU, Muster Cummell, we duffer in opinion on that, for if I luv
and kape me health, I wuU."
Pioneer school-master, WilUam Reynolds, in 1832. Other early
instructors: Alexander Cochran, 1833; William Kennedy, 1834; Betsy
McCurdy and Thomas Reynolds, 1835 ; Oliver and Nancy Jane McClel
land, 1836; Fanny McConnell and Rev. Dexter Morris, 1838; Peggy
Mcintosh and Finley McCormick, 1839 ; Joseph Sterrett and Nancy Jane
McClelland, 1840. The master taught three-month terms in the winter,
the women two in the summer.
This township was settled by Scotch-Irish, mostly from the counties
Antrim and Tyrone, Ireland. They were as a unit agricultural. One
noted hunter was reared there, — viz. : George Smith. Before the advent
of the settlers the Indians made maple-sugar here. Trees are still stand
ing that were notched for this purpose by the savage tomahawk. The
early Irish settlers took up this business and made tons and tons and
barrels and barrels of maple molasses and sugar every spring. As a result
no sugar trust or Claus Spreckels had any terrors for them.
Money was scarce, and the pioneers and early settlers of this township
paid their debts usually " with sugar in the spring and oats after harvest."
I lived in my boyhood four years with Joseph McCurdy, in this township.
I desire to say here that he was an honest man and a true Christian gen
tleman. The pioneer history of this section of the county has been graphically
portrayed by Rev. Boyd McCullough, who settled with his parents in the
Beechwoods in 1832, in his "Sketches of Local History" and the
"Shamrock," published by him, from which the following incidents are
taken :
"In 1833 therewas a beautiful fall. Keys's folks sowed wheat in
November. The next spring was favorable, and it was a bountiful crop.
This was a great loss to the settlement, for the people were encouraged to
sow as much as they could get in any time through October, and the rust
generally ruined it, until they learned wit by dear experience.
" The winter of 1831 was a very cold one, and in the severest part of
it the house of John Hunter was burned down. The neighbors soon

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
gathered together and put up a log house for him, but he lost nearly
everything he owned by the fire.
" It was in the spring of 1832 that we moved into the woods. There
were seventeen famiUes in the woods at that time. We stopped at An
drew Smith's. I was seven years old. The next morning I ran in with
the news that there was an ass with very slim legs and a small nose in the
yard. I was told it was a deer. They had petted several young deer at
different times.
" That faU the first school was started in the place. (Waites ) The
log school-house had one regular window with six lights. The other
window was made by removing a log and placing panes of glass in the
cavity joining each other. A writing-desk was made by driving pins in
the logs below this window, and laying rough boards upon it. The fire
place was made by building a stone wall against the logs as high as the
loft ; from this a kind of a flue was made of pine sticks and clay. Some
times the smoke found its way up the chimney and sometimes it wandered
through the house. William Reynolds taught this first school for ten
dollars a month, half in cash and half in grain after harvest. People
who do not know half as much would turn up their noses at treble that
pay now.
"The kindly spring came gently on, and we then comraenced to
make sugar. Right pleasant it is to see the luscious juice drop, drop,
dropping from trees all over the hill, while roaring fire makes the syrup
go foaming and dancing in the kettle till it is time to take it out and put
fresh sap in. It is hard work, but then you can see the progress you are-
making, and you get your pay immediately.
" There was no school in suraraer, but we attended Sabbath-school in
the school-house. This school was organized by Rev. Mr. Riggs in 1831,
but it existed before that. Robert Mcintosh and Betty Keys had started
it when there were but few families in the place. It went from house to
house before there was any school house.
"James and Andrew Smith, father and son, Thomas Ledlie, and
Alexander Cochran might be mentioned as men whose deep thought gave
an intellectual tone to discussions. Robert Mcintosh, Sr., was the first
superintendent. He was not a man of extended information, but his
devoted spirit and warm cordial impulse gave a great interest to his devo
tional exercises, and made him universally respected. AVell do I remem
ber the last time I saw him in the Sabbath-school. He closed by singing
the sixth psalm, long meter, in the old version, — ' Lord, in thy wrath,
rebuke me not.' That was the fall of 1833, and he died in the fall of
1834. "Betty Keys was also the life of the school, as long as her health
enabled her to attend. She was said to be very self-willed and opiniona
tlve, and on one occasion the young women, returning from Sabbath-
483

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
school, were walking ahead, and the men in a company behind, all except
Oliver McClelland, who was walking with the girls. She invited him to
fall back in the company of men, and so maintain the decorum due the
day. That she loved to rule might be true, but certain it is that if she
ruled it was by the gentle power of love. AVe children, no matter what
class we belonged to, were accustomed to look up to her as to one su
perior to the rest, and as one whe could scarcely do anything wrong.
We carried our dinners with us, as there was Sabbath-school in the morn
ing and prayer-meeting in the afternoon.
" When we came to the Beechwoods the soil was rich and the vegeta
tion luxurious, but the subsoil was poor. Thousands of years ago great
currents of water must have swept westward, carrying the soil into Ohio,'
Indiana, and Illinois, leaving the heavy deposits of iron and rock. When
the climate became drier and the streams shrank te their present size, a
growth of forest followed. The decaying leaves of two or three thou
sand years formed this rich mould. Scarcely was the snow of winter gone
when the wild leeks peeped up like corn. At first they had not much of
their rampant taste, and cattle nipped them off greedily. Before they got
strong, the curley weed showed itself, vellera and broad leaf followed.
All these had thick juicy roots, which lived ever winter. By the middle
of June the wild peavine gave pasturage. Besides, these, which the cattle
ate, there were many flowers that they did not eat, the mandrake, the
sweet-william, the phlox, the honeysuckle, and the violet.
' ' Bees found homes in the hollow trees as conveniently as food in the
flowers. The blossoms of the trees also gave them their choice honey.
The crops were often good. In 1835 we planted a bushel and a half of
potatoes in one patch of new ground, covering them with leaves, and
scratching enough clay over them to keep the leaves down. It was a wet
season, which was the most suitable for such planting, and we dug thirty-
six bushels of potatoes. The same year the Keyses had four hundred
bushels to the acre. Another year James Smith had as good a yield.
" One year, perhaps in 1836, William Smith, Sr. , had soft corn, owing
to the season, and the next year he thought he would plant raore. His
wife planted a patch by the house and took every care ef it. The crop
yielded at the rate of a hundred bushels of shelled corn to the acre. In
those days people hardly ever sowed timothy seed at all. A little seed
in the wheat got into the ground, and taking hold in fence corners and
around stumps, was ready to spread when a field was thrown out. Two
tons of hay to the acre was thought nothing remarkable, yet all this was
the product of rich mould on the surface. People did not know hew
poor the subsoil was or they would have kept up the condition of their
land. " Rev. Joseph McGarrah assisted Rev. Mr. Riggs to hold the first com
munion in the Beechwoods. A son of Mr. McGarrah told me, in a chat
484

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
about the old times, that in 1815 he went to a store with a bag of wheat.
He went on horseback twelve miles, and got seventy-five cents a bushel
for his wheat, and paid fifty cents a pound foT coffee and twenty-five
cents a piece for tin cups to eat mush and milk out of. It was night when
he got back, and he brought two pounds of coffee and two tin cups for
his bag of wheat.
"It was not so bad in 1836 as in 1815, but stiU we had the difficulty
of cheap produce and dear store goods. It was five pounds of coffee, four
yards of coarse musUn, or six yards of poor calico for a dollar, when a
dollar represented two days' hard work. And then cash could not be had
for work, and many articles the merchants would not sell without money.
" If the young people want to know how we got along in those days,
I will tell them we got along exactly as we do now. AVhen tired we
grunted, when hurt we grinned, when pleased we laughed, exactly as we
do now. The young men winked at the girls, and the girls smiled back
as often and pleasantly as you do now. But to be more definite, the men
shore the sheep, the women scoured the wool, and the girls made a
froUc to pick it. It was sent to the carding-machine, and then spun by
hand. The yarn was carried to the weaver. The cloth was soused in
soapsuds and thrown on the kitchen floor, where the boys kicked it until
it was fulled up ; then, colored with butternut, it was made up into men's
clothing. The women were a little more tasty, and wore barred flannel
colored with indigo, madder, etc. If people did not look quite as well
in homespun as in broadcloth, they felt as happy.
" In 1841, Billy Richards set up a fulling-mill on North Fork. This
was a great relief, as before we had to carry our cloth te Frederick Holo-
peter's, somewhere in Clearfield County. Remember, this home-made
cloth cost more, counting the labor, than fine cloth dees now, but it was
the best we had, and we felt proud of it.
"I think it was in 1830 that Rev. Gary Bishop came from Phillipsburg
to marry James Waite and Mattie Mcintosh. The temperance reform
had not started then. Mr. Bishop carried a jug of whiskey in one end of
his saddle-bags and a stone in the other to cheer the wedding-guests. It
was the whiskey, not the stone, that cheered the guests. They had no
fighting. He baptized Susan Mcintosh, now Mrs. Stevenson, at the
wedding. The reader will perceive that they were in the habit of killing
two birds with one stone in those economical days. ' '
The pioneer temperance society was the Washingtonians, organized
in 1842, by Hugh Brady, S. B. Bishop, and Sarauel Lucas, of Brookville,
Pennsylvania. Fifty members were enrolled.
In 1831, Rev. Riggs made a missionary tour through the settlement.
He made a pastoral visit to each family, and preached on two Sundays.
The only capitalist in the " Woods" was Matthew. Keys, — he had a five-
dollar bill. Each settler agreed to give Keys twenty-five cents apiece as
485

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
soon as he could get it if he would give Mr. Riggs the bill. This Keys
did, and then the settlement was without a cent.
Archie Campbell married Mary Ann Kyle. Archie and his wife lived
in the vicinity of what is now Reynoldsville, and one winter day they
concluded to visit the Kyles. They hitched up their horse in a little
juraper, and reached their destination, some four miles over the Ceres
road, and remained overnight with their relations. During the night
there was a heavy snow-fall. On starting home in the morning the
Kyles presented Mary Ann with a small crock of apple-butter. The
crock was stored between Mrs. Campbell's feet when she took her seat in
the jumper. The road-track was covered with fresh snow, and Archie
could not, of course, discern it. After driving some distance he struck a
trot, the jumper went over a stump, and threw Archie and Mary Ann
violently into the snow. Archie scrambled up and cried, " Mary Ann,
my dear, are you hurted ?" " My thigh is broken, my thigh is broken,
Archie !" Archie rushed to her aid, and running his hand up her limb to
ascertain her injury, he exclaimed, " It's wurse than that, it's wurse than
that, Mary Ann; your bowels are busted, your bowels are busted!"
And it was only apple-butter.

PORTER TO^VNSHIP.
Porter, the twelfth township, organized in 1840, was taken from Perry
township, and named for David R. Porter, then the governor of Penn
sylvania. This township has a post-office called Porter, situated about
twenty miles south of Brookville. Taxables in 1842, 192; population
by census in 1840, 977.
"It is difficult to point out the distinguishing characteristics of the
several townships, and we will not attempt to specify the advantages or
the opposites ef this division. It is similar to Perry and Ringgold, and
its early settlers were cast in the same rugged mould. Agriculture ranks
first in this section, and the farms generally are in excellent condition."
— Atlas. Pioneer settlers: in 1803, Jaraes McClelland; in 1804, Benjamin
Ions; in 1806, David Hamilton; in 1815, Elijah Ekis, Michael Lantz,
and WiUiam Smith. The first person born in the township was Robert
Hamilton. The pioneer graveyard was in 1843. The pioneer church
society organized was by the Methodists in 1838. The pioneer church
was built in 1843. The pioneer camp meeting was held in this township
in 1836. The pioneer election for township officers was in 1840, and the fol
lowing officers were chosen, — viz. : Justice of the Peace, John Robinson ;
Constable, John Hice; Supervisors, Conrad Nolf, Geo. MiUer; Auditors,
John McAninch, John Robinson, AA'iUiam McAninch, WiUiam Ferguson ;
486

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Judge of Election, WiUiam Foster; Inspectors, Robert E. Kennedy,
Daniel McGregor. CLOVER TOWNSPIIP.
This was the thirteenth township, being organized in 1841. It was
taken from Rose township, and called for Levi G. Clover, then prothono
tary of the county. Troy (post-office Summerville) is the place where
the people get their mails, and is now an important shipping-point and
trade centre. Taxables in 1842, 145.
The pioneer settler in what is now Clover township was Samuel
Baldwin, in 181 2. Early settlers, Solomon Fuller, John AA^elch, before
1816; Darius Carrier, 1816; in 1818, Thomas and John Lucas ; in 1819,
Robert Andrews and AValter Templeton; in 1820, Frederick Heterick,
Henry Lot, Alonzo Baldwin, and the Carrier brothers; and in 1821,
Moses Knapp.
The pioneer church was organized in 1828, by the Associate Reformed
Seceders. In 1831 the pioneer church building was erected by this asso
ciation on the farm of Robert Andrews, and the Rev. Joseph Scroggs
was pastor. The pioneer school-house was built on the John Lucas farm
in 1825. The pioneer school-master was Robert Knox. Rev. AA^illiara
Kennedy preached here occasionaUy at that time. In 1827, Joseph
McGiffin taught a six-months' term of school, at fifty cents a month per
scholar, in the Lucas school-house.
In 1840, Dr. James Dowling organized a militia company called the
" Independent Greens," — a rifle company. The uniform of these soldiers
consisted of green baize cloth trimmed with red fringe. The coat was
made in the form of a shirt. The uniform of the band or drum corps
was a bright red, and the members were the "Lucas Band." Muster
and reviews at that time were occasionally held on the farm of Robert
Andrews. The pioneer physician in what is now Clover township was Dr. R. K.
Scott, in 1826; Dr. James Dowling, in 1837.
The people of that day seemed to be as anxious for " salt territory"
as we are now for "oil territory." Thomas and John Lucas settled on
the flat called Puckerty. They bored for salt, found some salt water, but
never made a success of their well. In 1840 Major Johnston sank a
well with pole power, eight hundred and fifty feet deep, and struck what
was then called a three barrel well. This was below Trey. James An
derson purchased these works from Johnston, and made salt at the " salt
works below Troy" for twenty-five years. Before these works were
started our people had to go to Saltsburg, Indiana County, Pennsylvania,
for salt, and bring the salt on horseback on pack-saddles. Salt sold then
for five and six dollars a barrel.
Pioneer saw-mills: 1814, on Hiram's Run, Mr. Scott; 1820, Thos.
487

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Lucas, at Puckerty ; 1822, Moses Knapp, at Baxter ; 1825, Moses Knapp,
at Knapp's Bend. In 1838, Moses Knapp built a grist-mill alongside of
this mill at the Bend. In 1836, Darius Carrier built a grist-mill in what
is now called Troy.
The pioneer election in Clover township was in 1842, and but one
officer was elected, — viz. : AYm. Magill, fence viewer.
In 1843 the foUowing-naraed persons were elected to fill the township
offices, — viz. : Inspectors, Sarauel MiUiron, Euphrastus Carrier ; Judge of
Election, Solomon Fuller ; Supervisors, Jaraes Sowers, Hazard Jacox ;
School Directors, Hiram Carrier, Matthew Dickey, John Shields, Henry
Scott, Samuel Lucas, and Christopher Fogle ; Constable, Charles Jacox ;
Assessor, Euphrastus Carrier ; Auditors, D. Fairweather, P. I. Lucas ;
Poor Overseer, Elijah Heath, Robert Andrews ; Town Clerk, A. Baldwin.
The act of the Legislature No. no, regulating election districts,
approved July 11, 1842, estabUshed the polling-place for Clover town
ship as follows :
" Section 12. That the qualified voters of Clover township, Jefferson
County, shall hereafter hold their general election at the house of Darius
Carrier, in the village of Troy, in said township."
GASKILL TOWNSHIP.
Gaskill was the fourteenth township, organized in 1842, taken from
Young township, and named after Hon. Charles C. Gaskill, then agent
of the Holland Land Company, of Jefferson and adjoining counties.
Taxables in 1842, 78.
" 'This is a good township,' an observing farmer from Eastern Penn
sylvania reraarked, and well he said, for the landscape is dotted with
real farm-homes, and the products of the soil are of many kinds, and of
a quantity and quality that would suit the fastidious taste of an Orange
County (New York) agriculturist. This is the home of Joseph Winslow,
the pioneer. The priraitive tilling of the past has been followed by the
advanced (theoretical as well as practical) culture of the present, and
they who could not raise wheat in the early part of the century are known
only by tradition. The times have changed, and with them the moon-
consulting and sign-believing wiseacres of fifty years ago. We can only
say, Tempus fugit." — Atlas.
The pioneer settler was Carpenter Winslow, in 1818. He came from
Maine. Other early settlers were Francis Leech, Daniel Coffman, Reuben
Clemson, John and Philip Bowers, and John Van Horn, in 1820. The
pioneer grist- and saw-miU in the township was built by AVilliam Neel in
1843. " AA'hen these families settled in the neighborhood game was very
plenty, and it is said that they were frequently obliged to go out at
night and drive whole droves of deer out of their grain-fields. Like all

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
the other early pioneers, these people had to encounter hardships, priva
tions, and dangers, which called forth all their powers of endurance, and
they were for many years obliged to practise the closest economy ; but
hope, faith, and endurance overcame all difficulties, and they lived to see
beautiful farms as the result of those years of toil."
The pioneer lumberman was Philip Bowers, in 1836.
The pioneer graveyard was at Bowers's, in 1840.
The pioneer election was held in the township in 1841, and the fol
lowing township officers were elected : Constable, Joseph Winslow ;
Supervisors, John Pifer, Henry Miller, John Kauffman ; Auditors, Henry
Phillips, Philip Bowers, Thomas Thompson ; School Directors, Henry
Miller, Jonathan Strouse, David Harney, Philip Bowers ; Judge of Elec
tion, John D. Phillips ; Poor Overseers, Thoraas Thorapson ; Town
Clerk, Henry Miller ; Fence-Viewers, Andrew McCreight and John Pifer.
The act of the Legislature No. no, regulating election districts, ap
proved July IT, 1842, established the polling-place for Gaskill township
as follows :
"Section 9. That the qualified voters of Gaskill township, Jefferson
County, shall hereafter hold their general and township elections at the
house of Henry Miller, in said township."
fence-viewers.
It will be noticed that in each of these pioneer elections that one or
more persons were annually elected as fence-viewers. This office was
abolished by act of Legislature in 1842, and in order that the readers of
this volume may understand the duties of this office I here reproduce the
act creating this office :
"An Act for regulating and maintaining Line-Fences, and for
OTHER Purposes.
"Section i. Be it enacted, etc.. That in addition to the duties now
imposed upon the township auditors, they shall hereafter perform the
duties hereinafter prescribed as fence-viewers. That in addition to the
oath now prescribed to be taken by the auditors, they shall annually be
sworn or affirmed to discharge their duties as such viewers faithfully and
impartially. "Section 2. In case of the death, removal, or resignation ... so
elected, the judges of the court of the proper county shall appoint a suit
able person. . . .
" Section 3. AVhen any two persons shall improve lands adjacent to
each other ... so that any part of the first person's fence becomes the
partition fence between them, in both these cases the charge of such
division fence, so far enclosed on both sides, shall be equally borne
and maintained by both parties.
32 489

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" Section 4. On notice given the said viewers shall within five days
thereafter view and examine any line fence as aforesaid, and shall make
a certificate in writing, setting forth whether, in their opinion, the fence
if one has been already built is sufficient, and if not, what proportion of
the expense of building a nevv or repairing the old fence should be borne
by each party, and in each case they shall set forth the sum which in
their judgment each party ought to pay to the other in case he shall re
pair or build his proportion of the fence, a copy of which certificate shall
be delivered to each of the parties ; and the said viewers shall receive the
sum of one dollar for every day necessarily spent by them in.the discharge
of their duties, which they shall be entitled to receive from the delin
quent party, or in equal sums from each as they shall decide to be just.
"Section 5. If the party who shall be delinquent in making or re
pairing of any fence shall not, within ten days after a copy of the certifi
cate of the viewers shall have beeii delivered to him, proceed to repair or
build the said fence, and complete the same in a reasonable time, it shall
be lawful for the parties aggrieved to repair or build the said fence ; and
he may bring suit before any justice of the peace or alderman against the
delinquent party, and recover, as in other actions, for work, labor, ser
vice done, and materials found, and either party may appeal from the
decision of the justice or aldermen as in other cases.
"Section 7. If any viewer shall neglect or refuse to perforra any
duty herein enjoined upon him, he shall pay fer each such neglect or re
fusal the sum of three dollars, to be recovered by the party aggrieved as
debts of a like amount are recoverable.
" Approved — the eleventh day of March, one thousand eight hundred
and forty-two. WARSAW TOWNSHIP.
pioneer history of the largest township in JEFFERSON COUNTY.
AA'arsaw, the fifteenth township, organized in 1842, was taken from
Pine Creek and Snyder townships, and named by the people after a city
of Poland, and lately the metropolis of that country, in the palatinate of
Masovia. Taxables in 1842, 77.
Before the white man came to settle in this county a part of Warsaw
was " a barren" and thickly settled with Indians, and what is now called
Seneca HiU, on the M. Hoffman farm, is where they met for their orgies.
They had a graveyard on the Temple place, and S. W. Temple has found
a number of curious Indian relics from time to time since he Uved
there. The pioneer settlers in what is now A\'arsaw township were John,
Jacob, and Peter Vastbinder. They settled on farms in 1802.
" John Dixon settled in what is now AVarsaw about the year 1803, on
the farm now owned by C. H. Shobert. The venerable John Dixon, of
490

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Polk township, a son of the above pioneer, relates some of the incidents
of those early days. He remembers when coffee was seventy-five cents
and tea four doUars a pound, and salt ten dollars a barrel. His father
on one occasion walked to Indiana, where he bought a bushel of salt, for
which he paid four dollars. He carried it home on his back, and then
found that he had been cheated in the measurement, as it lacked con
siderably of a bushel. The family subsisted chiefly on wild game, deer,
bears, and wild turkeys being abundant. Their corn was ground on
hand-mills, or else taken to Blacklick, in Indiana County, until Joseph
Barnett erected his little mill at Port Barnett."
Mr. Dixon was the pioneer school-teacher in Jefferson County, and
was an exemplary citizen. He died in 1834, aged about seventy-six
years. Mrs. Dixon, nee Sarah Ann Armstrong, died in i860, aged about
ninety-two years. In 1825, Joshua Vandevort located at the place where
Mayville, otherwise Bootjack, now stands, the pioneer settler in what
is now Bootjack. In 1834, Thomas McCormick, Myron Gibbs, and
Milton Johnson, Esq., settled on farras about two miles from Vandevort's.
In 1835, Elihu Clark, Isaac Temple, and Andrew McCormick moved into
that neighborhood, which afterwards became Warsaw. Mrs. Chloe
Johnson died, and was the first interment in the burying-ground near
Isaac Temple's residence.
The pioneer settlement near Richardsville was made by James Moor
head, who built a house on the farm now owned by the heirs of Jackson
Moorhead in 1835, but he did not move his family there until the spring
of 1836. John AVakefield built a house and moved his family on the
farm now owned by Joseph McCracken in 1836, but returned to Indiana
to spend the following winter. William Humphrey built a house on the
farm now owned by his son, Samuel M. Humphrey, in the fall of 1836,
and moved his farailythere in April, 1837. Michael Long built a cabin
on the farm now owned by Matthew Humphrey in 1836, and occupied it
for a short time. Isaac Walker built a house the same year on the farm
now owned by Thomas Brownlee, to which he moved his family the next
spring. Matthew Humphrey commenced operations on the farm on
which he still resides in 1837. He is the only one of the original settlers
of West Warsaw remaining. He says when he came to the township
there were no roads, only a trail leading through the woods to ' ' Boot
jack." (Hazen.)
AViUiam Russell, father of "Indian" George Russell, the hunter,
settled in what is now Warsaw in 1834, and built a saw-miU on the
North Fork. This was the pioneer saw-miU.
In 1837, William R. Richards located on the north fork of Red Bank
Creek, six miles from Brookville, built a saw- mill, woollen- factory, and
grist-mill, and called the place Richardsville. He had cleared a farm in
Snyder township the year before, which he left in care of Alex. Hutch-
491

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
inson. Daniel Gaup and Thomas McCormick settled on farms this year
also. In 1837, David McCormick, Moses B. St. John, John Wilson,
and William Perrin settled on farms. In 1838, John Bell, Peter Ricord,
and Nelson Riggs also located there.
The pioneer graveyard was in the pine grove at Vastbinder's, the
second at Temple's. Warsaw is now the largest township in the county.
The country is very hilly and much broken, though few of the hills rise
more than four hundred feet above the level of the larger streams. Some
bituminous coal of good quality is found in the hills, lying in veins of
three feet above the water-level ; it is therefore very accessible for
mining. Fire-clay has a place among these coal-measures, and ought to
be utilized. Various kinds of iron-ores are abundant, and white and
blue sandstones suitable for building purposes may readily be found in
many places. Limestone in very large deposits is found in many localities.
The soil is moderately fertile, and will amply reward the careful culti
vator for his well-directed efforts. For some reason, a large extent of
the township was caUed by the early settlers "The Barrens. " The hills,
as well as the vales between them, were formerly covered by a dense and
heavy growth of timber-trees of various kinds. Pine and hemlock pre-
domdnated. Chestnut and oak grew in some localities. Birch, sugar-
maple, ash, and hickory occupied a wide range. Birch- and cherry-trees
were numerous, and linwood-, cucumber-, and poplar-trees grew on many
of the hill-sides. Butternut and sycamore, black ash and elms, grew on
the low grounds.
The pioneer grist-mill was built on Mill Creek by E. Holben. The
pioneer hotel-keeper was Isaac Temple. The pioneer merchant was
Solomon Wyant, in Dogtown, or at what is now John Fox's hotel.
The act of the Legislature No. no, regulating election districts,
approved July 11, 1842, established the polling-place for Warsaw town
ship as follows :
"Section 26. That the township of Warsaw, in the county of Jef
ferson, be and the same is hereby erected into a separate election district,
and that the general as well as the township elections shall be held at
the house of AVilliam Weeks in said township."
In the forties, Peter Ricord, Sr., and his son Peter erected on their
farm in what was then called "Jericho," and now Warsaw Post-Office, a
frame grist-mill structure thirty by thirty feet. This mill had one run of
stones, and the motive power was one yoke of oxen. I cannot describe it.
The capacity was about thirty bushels of corn er grain a day. Ephraim
Bushly was the millwright ; Peter Ricord, Jr. , the miller. The scheme
not proving a financial success, the running gear was removed in a few
years, and the building utilized as a barn by the Ricords, and afterwards
by John A. Fox.
The pioneer election held in Warsaw township for local offices was
492

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
in 1843, ^'^d the following-named persons were elected, — viz. : Judge of
Election, John Moorhead ; Inspectors, Thomas McCormick, Peter Cham-
berlin; Supervisors, AVilliam Weeks, James K. Huffman; School Directors,
O. P. Mather, Ira Bronson, G. D. Frederick, Arad Pearsall, James A.
Wilkins, Peter Charaberlin ; Constable, David C. Riggs; Assessors, An
drew McCormick, Jacob Moore, Eli B. Irvin ; Auditors, John Pearsall,
Thomas McCormick, Finley McCormick ; Poor Overseers, Jacob Vast-
binder, William Richards ; Town Clerk, Ira Bronson.
PARADISE TOWNSHIP— A DEAD TOWNSHIP.
It appears on the records of the county that prior to or about the
year 1839 a township was organized and known from 1839 until 1842 as
Paradise township. From the names embraced in the officers elected in
this township the territory must have taken all of what is now Gaskill,
Bell, Henderson, McCalmont, and part of Winslow. The township dis
appears from the records of the county as mysteriously as it appears.
Pioneer election in Paradise township in the year 1839 : Assessor,
David Barnett; Judge of Election, John Pifer; Inspectors of Election,
Peter Deemer, John Rhoads.
Second election, 1840, Paradise township: Judge of Election, John
Rhoads; Inspectors of Election, John Deemer, Henry PhiUpi.
Third election, 1842: Constable, James Dickey; Supervisors, John
Pifer, Henry Miller; Auditors, Henry Philipi, Thomas Thompson,
Philip Bowers; Town Clerk, Henry Miller; School Directors, Henry
Miller, Thomas Kerr ; Overseers of the Poor, Andrew McCreight, An
drew Bowers ; Assessor, David Harvey ; Judge ef Election, John Pifer ;
Inspectors of Election, George Pifer, George Sraith.
PIONEER CENSUS, 1840.
The following is the population of Jefferson County by the several
censuses taken since 1810 : in 1810, 161 ; in 1820, 561 ; in 1830, 2025 ;
and in 1840, 7253, as follows:
Brookville . .... 276
Washington. . . .367
Ridgway .... 195
Tionesta  2?
Jenks . 20
Porter  977
Young . . . ¦ .1321
Rose . . ... . 1421
Snyder ... ... 291
Eldred. . . ... 395
Barnett ... - ¦ - 259
Pine Creek  - . . 628
Perry  . - 1076
Total ...  . 7253
493

Horses.

Cattle.

Slmep.

Swine.

Wheat.

Gals.

Rye

Buck
wheat.

Corn.

Potatoes.

Sugar.

Brookville .

29

66

27

87

97

150

40

50

50

500

Rose . . ...

314

•315

2001

1 4-14

10,805

17.095

5.813

4,011

5.S48

13,748

Washington

66

405

391

520

2,223

7 3;0

701

367

1,586

5,739

14.591

Snyder . .

36

248

190

254

1.757

3.930

349

531

1,142

3.470

7,250

Ridgway

29

87

30

48

290

1,440

157
505
3.575
4,226
Eldred . .
91
332
403
651
1,777
4,180
2,046
775
660
2,51s
Co Tionesta . .
4
9
400
30
ISO
Barnett .
23
85
68
248
547
1,065
560
521
365
2,275
Jenks .
4
^5
12
40
500
170
680
1,000
Pine Creek . .
79
485
456
621
3.488
7,300
2.393
1,042
1,732
8,170
Porter
213
815
1234
1506
7.28s
9.501
4,416
2,004
2,843
7,>77
Perry , . .
299
1003
1582
1876
9,070
15,982
4.936
3,221
4,463
8,258
.» . .
Young
240
898
960
1631
6,219
8,184
3.213
1,695
4,155
8,003
. . .
Total .... ....
1427
5773
7342
8898
43.598
77.077
24,467
14,404
23,369
64,110
27,067
2
o 2;tdtd?oXO<
Ow tdJ«
wO ^no
c •z •z •z>
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Since 1840, Ridgway and part of Snyder townships were taken to
Elk County. Clover township was taken from Rose ; Union from Rose
and Eldred; Heath from Barnett; AVarsaw from Pine Creek, Washing
ton, and Snyder; Gaskill from Young; AVinslow from GaskiU, Wash
ington, and Pine Creek. Punxsutawney is erected into a' borough. Its
census is separate from Young township. Porter is divided.
The accompanying tables show the number of horses, cattle, etc. ,
amount of grain raised, value of home-made woollens and linens and
lumber produced, and the number of grist- and saw-mills in the several
townships of Jefferson County at this period.

BrookviUeRose . .
Washington SnyderRidgway ,
EldredTionesta Barnett
Jenks .
Pine Creek
Porter Periy .
Young .
Total

" Home-made
s and Linens.

Value of Lumber
produced.

Grist-Mills.

Saw-Mill

^3,450

1

I

S2283

15,732

5

17

497

410

I

I

1,550

I

3

4,720

7
450
1,15s
500
I
104
6,310
9
85
I
653
4,140
I
8
1281
3,700
2
1771
826
2
4
1334
8,025
3
14
^50,603
14
68
In 1839 there were six tanneries, that tanned five hundred and twenty
sides of sole leather and eight hundred and five of upper leather. In
these six tanneries seven hands were employed.
In the produce of lumber three hundred and fifty-three hands were
employed. In 1840, Rose township took the lead in population, and in every
thing else except swine and sugar.
Perry took the lead in swine.
AYashington was the sweetest, and Snyder next, for they made the
most sugar ; but we have only to remember the narae, for both townships
were called after good and great men.
The total value of skins and furs, $io2g ; nuraber of stores in county,
19, — viz., Brookville, 8; Rose, 2; Snyder, i ; Ridgway, i ; Porter, i ;
Perry, 2 ; Young, 4.
Bituminous coal used : Brookville, 2000 bushels, Charles Anderson,
miner; Rose township, number of bushels used, 500. The second miner,
and in Rose, was Isaac Hallam ; two miners in the county and 2500
bushels of coal used. 495
PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
BROOKVILLE BOROUGH.
This borough, the seat of justice of Jefferson County, commenced its
first building in June of 1830. After the lots were sold, it being then in
Rose township, its citizens voted with the township until 1848, when it

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was set apart as a distinct polling place by act of the Legislature No. 285,
regulating election districts, and for other purposes, approved the 7th
day ef April, a d. 1848.
BrookviUe was named for, or on account of, the springs or brooks on
its hUl-sides, — springs which here to all in these continuous woods did
496

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
freely flow unbought. Brook, with the French ' ' ville, ' ' or Latin ' ' viUa, ' '
a country-seat, in common English, a town ; these put together formed
the name. The population by the census of 1840 was 276.
Brookville was incorporated as a borough on April 9, 1834 (see
pamphlet laws of that year, page 209). The pioneer election for the new
borough, for borough officials, was in the spring of 1835. Joseph
Sharpe was elected constable, and Alexander McKnight, my father, was
elected school director.
"An Act (of April, 1834) to erect Brookville, Armagh, Shrews
bury, AND Greenfield into Boroughs, and to alter the Act
incorporating the Borough of Meadville.
"Section i. Be it enacted, etc.. That the town of Brookville, in the
county of Jefferson, shall be, and the same is hereby erected into, a
borough, which shall be called ' the borough of BrookviUe, in the county
of Jefferson,' bounded and limited as follows, — viz. : Beginning at the
southwest corner of lot number twenty-two in said town, near or adjoining
Hunt's Point ; thence due north along the marked line of said town to a
post on the north side of Butler's Alley; thence along the north side of
said alley to its extremity ; thence by a continued east line to the north
east corner of the mill lot ; thence south three degrees, east eighty-four
perches, to a red oak ; thence south eighteen perches to a post ; thence
south ten degrees, west seventeen perches, to a white pine ; thence south
twenty-four degrees, west fifty-nine perches, to a post ; thence west twenty
perches to the west side of Sandy Lick Creek at high-water mark ; thence
up said creek, following the several courses thereof, to a point east of and
opposite the mouth of the south end of Rose AUey, being the extremity
of the outlets ; thence east to a maple opposite the south end of Picker
ing Street ; thence north to the northeast corner of AYater and Pickering
Streets ; thence along the south side of AYater Street to the northeast
corner of lot number twenty-two aforesaid ; thence around the lines of
said lot to the place of beginning.
" Section 2. It shall and may be lawful for all persons entitled to
vote for members of the Legislature, who have resided in said borough
twelve months immediately previous to such election, to meet at the
court-house in said borough (or at such other place as may hereafter be
appointed) on the second Monday in May in every year, and then and
there elect by ballot, between the hours of twelve and six o'clock of the
same day, one reputable citizen residing in said borough, who shall be
styled the burgess of said borough, and five reputable citizens residing in
said borough, who shall be a town council, and shall also elect one rep
utable citizen as town constable ; but previous to such election the in
habitants shall elect two reputable citizens as judges, one inspector, and
two clerks of said election, which shall be regulated and conducted ac-
497

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
cording to the general election laws of this Commonwealth, se far as re
lates te receiving and counting votes, and who shall be subject to the
sarae penalties fer malpractices as by the said laws are imposed. And
the said judges, inspector, and clerks respectively, before they enter upon
the duties of their respective offices, shall take an oath or affirmation
before any justice of the peace of said county to perform the same with
fidelity; and after the said election shall be closed shall declare the per
sons having the greatest number of votes to be duly elected ; and in case
any two or more candidates shall have an equal number of votes, the
preference shall be deterrained by lot, to be drawn by the judges and in
spector ; whereupon duplicate returns thereof shall be signed by the said
judges, one of which shall be transraitted to each of the persons elected,
and the other filed among the records of the corporation. And in case
of death, resignation, removal, or refusal to accept, or neglect or refusal
to act after acceptance, of any of the said officers, the burgess, or in case
of his death, absence, or inability to act, er when he neglects or refuses
to act, the first named of the town council shall issue his precept, directed
to the high constable, or when there is no high constable, er when he
refuses or neglects to act, then any of the members of the town council
shall advertise and hold an election in manner aforesaid te supply such
vacancy, giving at least ten days' notice thereof by advertisements set up
at four of the most public places in the said borough.
" Section 3. From and after the passage of this act the burgess and
town council, duly elected as aforesaid, and their successors, shall be one
body politic and corporate, in law, by the name and style of ' The Bur
gess and Town Council of the Borough of Brookville, in the County of
Jefferson,' and shall have perpetual succession ; and the said burgess and
town council aforesaid, and their successors, shall be capable in law to
receive, hold, and possess goods and chattels, lands and tenements, rents,
liberties, jurisdictions, franchises, and hereditaments, to them and their
successors, in fee-simple, or otherwise, not exceeding the yearly value
of five thousand doUars, and also to give, grant, sell, let, and assign the
same lands, tenements, hereditaments, and rents ; and by the name and
style aforesaid they shall be capable in law to sue and be sued, plead
and be impleaded, in any of the courts of law in this Commonwealth or
elsewhere, in all manner of actions whatsoever, and to have and use one
common seal, and the same from time to time at their will to change and
alter." The first complete set of borough officers was elected under this law
and the act of the 23d of February, 1835, hereafter referred to. This
first election was in the spring of 1837, and those elected were as follows :
Burgess, Thomas Lucas ; Council, John Dougherty, James Corbett, John
Pierce, Samuel Craig, AVm. A. Sloan ; Constable, John McLaughlin.
498

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
This man McLaughlin was a great hunter, and could neither read nor
write ; he moved to Brockwayville, and from there went AVest.
By an act of Assembly passed April 2, 1830, it was provided that
from and after the ist day of October, thereafter, the inhabitants of Jef
ferson County should "enjoy all and singular the jurisdiction, powers,
rights, liberties, and privileges whatsoever within the same which the
inhabitants of other counties of this State do, may, or ought to 'enjoy,
by the law and Constitution of this Commonwealth. ' '
Our first president judge, Thomas Burnside, was born in the county of
Tyrone, Ireland, July 28, 1782, and resided in Bellefonte, Centre County.
His father, William Burnside, with his family, emigrated to Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, in 1792. In 1800, Thomas comraenced to read law with
Hon. Robert Porter, and on the 13th day of February, 1804, he was
admitted to the Philadelphia bar. In the month of March of that year
Thomas moved to, and settled in, Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsyl
vania. In 181 1 he was elected to the State Senate. In 1815 he was
sent to Congress. In 18 16 hewas appointed a president judge. In 1823
he was again elected a State Senator and was made Speaker. In 1826
he was again appointed a president judge. In 1854 he was commissioned
a judge for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
In stature. Judge Burnside was of medium height, dark complexioned,
and very homely. He was a learned lawyer, an able jurist, and a kind,
blunt, honest, open-hearted gentleman.
Many of the details of the history of Brookville are given in frag
ments throughout this general history. The place was laid out in 1830
as the county seat, and in June of that year the lots were sold, the price
ranging from thirty to three hundred doUars. In 1831 a traveller speaks
of it as a "shanty town," and doubts that the population might amount
to fifty. In 1840 the inhabitants numbered two hundred and seventy-six.
and there were sixty dwellings and stores. From an early history, in
speaking of Jefferson County, and especially of Brookville, we quote the
following : " The scenery around this town would be fine were it not
that all the hills, except on the north side, are still clothed by the original
forest of pines, being held by distant proprietors,, who neither sell nor
improve. Its situation is on the Waterford and Susquehanna Turnpike,
forty-four miles east of Franklin, and immediately at the head of Red
Bank Creek, which is here formed by the confluence of two branches.
The great State road, called the Olean road, between Kittanning and
Olean, passes through the county about seven miles west of Brookville.
North of the turnpike, however, the road has been suffered to be closed
by obstructions, and is not now used." Another writer says "that
Meade's trail from Port Barnett crossed the creek five times." Still
another says, ' ' This hole can never become a place of any importance,
the county seat must be removed to Punxsutawney er Port Barnett."
499

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"A few straggling Indians occasionally called at the village, reminding
one of former scenes." " Times are slow," says another ; " our lumber
at the creek will not bring more than three or four dollars." They had
hard times in the past, and times that made the county seat what it is, —
a commercial centre, a centre of religion and morals, a place for culture
in literature and music, which for its age will compare with learned
Boston. The population to-day is about three thousand.
pioneers and pioneer events in brookville.
" The deeds of our fathers in times that are gone,
Their virtues, their prowess, the toils they endured."
The pioneer settler to locate where Brookville is was Moses Knapp.
The pioneer to locate in the county seat was John Eason, father of Rev.
David Eason. He bought the lot on the corner of Main Street and
Spring Alley, and erected the pioneer house in the county seat, — viz., in
August, 1S30, and opened it for a tavern. Mr. Eason died in 1835. In
1831, AVilliam Robinson lived in a little log house on the corner of Mill
and AVater Streets. This log house and log stable had been built by
Moses Knapp in 1806. The next person to locate was perhaps Thomas
Hall. Benjarain McCreight was an early settler. Mr. McCreight was a
tailor and carried on the business. He was an honorable and useful
raan, and held many responsible positions during his life here. John
Dougherty attended the sale of lots, bought several, and in 1831 moved
to Brookville. Thomas M. Barr came here in 1830. He was a stone
mason and bricklayer, and assisted to build up the town by taking con
tracts. The pioneer blacksmith was Jacob Riddleberger, in 1832-33.
Wm. Clark, Sr. , came to Brookville in 1830, and erected a tavern on the
northwest corner of Pickering and Jefferson Streets. In the fall of 1830,
Jared B. Evans moved his store from Port Barnett to BrookviUe, and was
appointed the pioneer postmaster for Brookville post-office. Brookville,
by post-road, was one hundred and sixty-five miles northwest of Harris
burg, Pennsylvania, and two hundred and thirty-eight miles northwest of
Washington, D. C. Mr. Evans's was the pioneer store. The second
store was opened three days later by Major William Rodgers. Thoraas
Hastings located in 183 1, and built the Jefferson Tavern. Robert P.
Barr came in 1830. He was a useful and public-spirited man. He built
the saw-miU and flouring-mill on the North Fork. Joseph Sharpe was
the first shoemaker and the first constable. He lived on the lot now
occupied by the National Bank of Brookville.
WiUiam Jack came to Brookville in 1831, and was sent to Congress
from this district. Richard Arthurs, Esq., located here in 1831 or there
abouts. Cyrus Butler in 1830-31. James Corbett in 1830. Alexander
McKnight located in Brookville in 1832. He taught the first term of
500

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
school in the first school building, was the first school director elected
for the new borough, held the office of justice of the peace, lieutenant-
colonel in the militia, had served a year as private in the regular army
of the United States, and was county treasurer when he died, in 1837,
aged twenty-seven years.
Samuel Craig located in Brookville in 1832, Hugh Brady, Esq., in
1832, and John Ramsey, the pioneer wagon-maker, in 1834. Hugh
Brady and family came from Indiana, Pennsylvania, in a Conestoga
wagon drawm by four horses, — the lead horses having bells on. That
was the wagon of that period. (See iUustration.) There was no bridge
across the North Fork. They came via Port Barnett. John Showalter
located here in 1843. He lived in Snyder's Row, was a gunsmith,
and had a confectionery. James R. FuUerton located in Brookville in
1833. The pioneer gunsmith was Isaac Mills. He located where Thomas
L. Templeton now resides. The pioneer doctor was Alvah Evans;
he came in September, 1831. He was a young, handsome, portly man.
He remained four or five months and left. Where he came from or
where he went to nobody knows. The second doctor was C. G. M.
Prime. He came in the spring of 1832. Dr. Prime amputated the arm
of Henry (Hance) Vastbinder. During his residence here he married
a Miss Wagley. He was a hard drinker. He left here April 3, 1835,
for Mississippi, where he was shot and killed at a card-table. He
became a lawyer while here, delivered political speeches and Fourth of
July orations.
The pioneer merchant to sell drugs and medicines in Brookville was
Major William Rogers, in 1831. He sold Dover's powder. Hooper's
pills, mercurial ointment, wine, brandy, whiskey, quinine, etc.
The pioneer fire-engine was bought June 29, 1839. Cost, two hun
dred and fifty dollars. It was a hand-engine. This same year it was
resolved by the council that " the timber standing or lying on the streets
and alleys be sold for the use of said borough. ' ' The first volunteer fire
company in the United States was at Philadelphia, 1 736.
The pioneer saddle and harness manufactory in Brookville was opened
by John Brownlee, on May 8, 1834, in the rear of his lot facing Mill
Street, and opposite D. E. Breneman's residence.
 McDonald started the pioneer cabinet and furniture factory in
1831-32. The pioneer foundry was started by a man named Coleman, in 1841.
It was located where the Fetzer building now is.
The pioneer grist-mill was built by Moses Knapp.
The pioneer saw-mill was built by Moses Knapp.
The pioneer borough election was in 1835.
John J. Y. Thompson settled in Brookville in 1831, Andrew Craig in
1838, Robert Darrah in 1837, Arad Pearsall in 1833, Samuel C. Espy in
501

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
1842, Hon. Philip Taylor in 1841, J.ohn Gallagher in the early thirties,
WiUiam Farley in 1843. Isaac Allen was an early settler.
The pioneer silversmith and watch- and clock-maker was Andrew
Straub, in 1833-34. Watches were then assessed as property.
The pioneer graveyard was on lands now owned by W. C. Evans, on
Litch's Hill. The second one is now called the " old graveyard."
The pioneer dentists were Dr. A. M. HiUs and T. M. Van Valzah.
These were travelling dentists, and came here periodically. The first
dentist to locate was William J. Chandler.
In 1832, Peter Sutton built and kept a tavern on the corner ef
Taylor Street, across the North Fork, now Litchtown. In 1832 or 1833
there was a frame tavern adjoining the Franklin Tavern. It was kept
for a number ef years by a raan named Craig, Mrs. Wagley, and
others. The pioneer tannery was built in 1831 by David Henry, on the lot
now occupied by the United Presbyterian church. As late as 1843 a
great gully crossed Main Street, carrying the water from this institution
over and through the lot now occupied by that model institution of the
towm, the National Bank of BrookviUe.
Miss Julia Clark opened the pioneer millinery and mantua-making
business in Brookville. Prices: bonnets, leghorn, $5; silk, $2.50;
gimp, $1.50; straw, $1. In her advertisement she says, "She can be
seen at her residence, four doors east of E. Heath's store, on Main
Street. Persons, so wishing, can be supplied by her with ladies' leghorn
hats, flats and crown, from No. 32 to 42 ; ladies' Tuscan and French
gimp ; Italian braid hats ; Leghorn braid, Tuscan and Italian edge.
Misses' gimp hats, Tuscan ; French gimp by the piece. She hopes, by
giving her undivided attendon te the above business, te merit a share of
public patronage. Brookville, July 13th, 1834."
The pioneer tinner was Samuel Truby. He came from Indiana,
Pennsylvania, arriving here on January i, 1834. The last thirteen miles
of the journey was through a dense forest, without house or clearing.
They stopped at John Eason's tavern, and as soon as possible he com
menced to cut down the trees on and clear his lot, corner of Jefferson
and Pickering Streets, preparatory to building a house, a contract for the
building of which was taken by the late R. Arthurs, he agreeing to fur
nish all the material and finish it as specified by April i for the sum of
forty dollars, which was paid in silver quarters. The house was sixteen
feet square and one and a half stories high.
Hon. Thomas Hastings carae in May, 1831. " Nearly all of what is
now the principal part of the town — Main Street and Jefferson Street —
was then a forest. Only three houses had yet been built, — the Red Lion
Hotel, where Gregg's barber-shop now is, the hotel now occupied by
P. J. AUgeier, and another hotel, which stood where J. M. White's
502

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
dwelling now stands. Besides these houses just built, a little log house
stood down by the North Fork Creek. Such was BrookviUe in May,
1 83 1, sixty-seven years ago. There was not a street opened, and the
turnpike ran in a straight line from AUgeier's hotel to Dr. Hunt's resi
dence." There is one person (John Butler) still living in Brookville who has
seen a slave that was owned in Brookville whipped with a blacksnake
whip on Pickering Street, between Joseph Darr's residence and where
the Methodist Episcopal church now stands.
In 1835, Brookville contained about one hundred and thirty-five
people. The village had six merchants, — viz., Evans & Clever, WiUiam
kodgers, James Corbett, Jared B. Evans, Jack & AVise, and Steadman &
Watson. Each storekeeper had a large dry pine block, called "upping
block," in front of his store-room, to assist men and women to mount or
alight from their horses. The stores were lighted with candles and
warmed with wood-fires. Wood-fires in stoves and chimneys were very
dangerous, on account of the accumulation of wood-soot in the chimney ;
for when this soot gathered in quantity it always ignited, burned out, and
endangered the shingle roof. Towns and cities then had men and boys
called professional "chimney-sweeps." These "sweeps" entered the
chimney from the fireplace, climbing up and out at the top by the aid
of hooks, announcing their exit in a song and looking as black as ajn
African negro. In 1835 some of the legal privileges of the town were :
" That no citizen of the town shall be permitted te keep on Main Street,
at one time, more than ten cords of wood, not more than enough brick
to build a chimney, or before his door more lumber than will build a
spring-house ; not more than two wagons and a half-sled ; a few barrels
of salt, five thousand shingles, or twenty head of horned cattle." Of
course, there was no legal restriction as to the number of "chickens in
the garden" or geese and hogs on the street. On dark nights the people
then carried lanterns made of tin, holes being punched in thera, and the
light produced by a candle. The lantern had a side door to open, to
light, blow out, and replace the candle.
"mail arrivals and departures.
' ' The Mail arrives from Philadelphia by way of Harrisburg, Lewis-
town, and Bellefonte every Monday evening, Wednesday evening, and
Friday evening in a four Horse Coach.
"From Erie, by way of MeadviUe, Franklin, &c., every Monday,
Wednesday, and, Friday evenings, and returns the same day, in a four
Horse Stage.
"From Washington City, by way of Chambersburgh, Indiana, &c. ,
every Friday and returns same day — carried on a Horse.
503

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
' ' From Pittsburg by way of Kittanning every Friday, and returns on
Tuesday — carried en a Horse.
"Arrive at this place every Tuesday, from Smethport, McKean
county by way of Gillis Post-office, and returns on Friday — carried on a
Horse." — Republican, Brookville, January, 1835.

EARLY schools  PIONEER ACT AUTHORIZING BROOKVILLE TO ELECT
SCHOOL DIRECTORS^PIONEER ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND PIONEER
MASTERS. The act of the Legislature No. 109, approved April 4, 1837, author
ized the election of school directors. Section 7 and 8 read as follows :
" Section 7. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and it is
hereby enacted by authority of the satne. That the citizens of the bor
ough of Brookville, in the county of Jefferson, be and are hereby author
ized to raeet at the usual place of holding borough elections, on the first
Monday of January, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-
seven, and afterwards annually, at the time of holding their borough elec
tions, and elect six school directors, in the manner provided for the
election of school directors by law.
" Section 8. And that all moneys now in the treasury of Rose town
ship school district, assessed on the citizens of the borough aforesaid, shall
504

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
be paid to the use and for the support of schools in said borough, that
now are, or that may be hereafter, organized under the provisions of the
act aforesaid. "Approved — the fourth day of April, a.d. one thousand eight hun
dred and thirty seven."
The following notice of pioneer election for directors appeared in the
Brookville Republican , Thursday, Septeraber 7, 1837 :
" Saturday next, at three o'clock in the afternoon, is the time agreed
upon by the citizens of Brookville for holding an election to elect six
school directors for this borough. It is important that every friend of
education, and we hope we have no citizen who would oppose it, should
be in attendance and give his vote for delegates, in order to give weight
to the proceedings. We repeat that we hope there will be a unaniraous
attendance of the citizens at said election."
On September 9, 1837, the people elected the following school direc
tors : Levi G. Clover, Samuel Craig, David Henry, C. A. Alexander,
William A. Sloan, James Corbett.
The pioneer school-house in the town was built in 1832. It was a
small one-storied brick building. Major AVilliam Rodgers says, about
twenty feet square. It stood near the northwest corner of the present
location of the county jail. The building was erected under the pro
visions of the law of 1809, and was paid for by voluntary subscriptions.
Alexander McKnight taught the pioneer term of school in it in 1832-33.
Anticipating the want of a stove for the contemplated building. Major
AViUiam Rodgers, then one of the business men of the new town, wrote
the foUowing "subscription-paper" and collected the money on it. The
money was invested in what was then called a "ten-plate stove," so
called because it was formed of ten pieces or "plates of metal." The
fuel used in it was wood.
' ¦ AVe, the undersigned subscribers, do severally promise to pay the
sums set to our names, on demand, to the trustees of the Brookville
school, to be applied to the purchase of a stove for the use of the school-
house in Brookville. AVitness our hands, the i8th day of February, 1832 :
"subscribers' names.
William Clark . ... , . . • |!o.5o
Joseph Clements ... . .50
Elijah Heath . . . . . . .1.00
Isaac Mills .... . . . ... .50
Thomas Robinson ... ... . .50
Thomas Barr  . . • -25
Joseph McCullough . ¦ .5°
James Hall. ..... .25 ^
33 505

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

James Corbett

.50

Aaron Fuller   25
David Henry . . .  25
Thomas Hall .... ... . . .50
Joseph Sharp  .... .25
Andrew Vastbinder . ... .25
Fr. Heterick ... . . .50
Thomas Lucas . ... . .50
Thomas Hastings .... ... . .50
C. J. Dunham • . . .... .50
William Kelso . . . .25
William Rodgers . . ... .  25
W. McCullough . . - -25
 Sloan . . . .25
Total . . . . S9-00"
As happens nowadays, a few of these subscriptions were not paid.
In the memories of some of our oldest citizens now cluster recollec
tions of this little old brick school- house and the ten-plate stove thus
purchased to warm it. About that little school-house were formed many
ties which bound men and women together as friends in long succeeding
years. Around that little temple of learning I have seen
" The hoop, the bow and arrow.
The soaring of the kite and swing.
The humming of the ' over-ball,'
And the marbles in the ring ;
The sleds, the rope, and sliding-boards.
The races down the yard.
And the war of snow-ball armies.
The victors and the scarred."
In this little brick house the Methodists for years held their weekly
prayer-meetings. The principal members were Judge Heath, Arad Pear
sall, John Dixon, John Heath, David and Cyrus Butler, David Henry
and wife, and Mary, Jane, and Sarah Gaston.
The pioneer Sunday-school teacher in Brookville was Cyrus Butler.
Professor Blose and Miss Kate Scott both err in saying that Cyrus Butler
taught the first or pioneer school in the old jail in BrookviUe in 1830.
The old jail was not built until 1831, and Cyrus Butler never taught any
school or class in this county but in the Sunday-school.
School-masters who taught in Brookville subscription schools under
the law ef 1809 :
1832-33. — Alexander McKnight, pioneer.
1834. — Miss Charlotte Clark, Charles E. Tucker.
1833. — John AVilson.
1836. — Hannibal Craighead. 506

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Masters who taught under the common school law of 1834 :
1837. — Cyrus Crouch, pioneer, had sixty scholars in a house where
the United Presbyterian church now stands.
1838. — Rev. Dexter Morris, a Baptist preacher.
i83g. — John Smith.

Pioneer academy.
1840.—%. M. Bell, Mrs. M. T. H. Roundy.
1841. — D. S. Deering.
All or nearly all of the above masters taught in the little brick school-
house that was built on the back of the lot where the jail now stands.
1842. — R. J. Nicholson, Miss Elizabeth Brady, first to teach in the
academy building.
1843. — R. J. Nicholson, Miss Nancy Lucas.
pioneer school DIRECTORS.
The following is a list of the pioneer and early school directors fer
the borough of Brookville, Pennsylvania, from 1834 to 1805 :
Rose Township.
1834. — Colonel Alexander McKnight, James Green, Robert Andrews,
Irwin Robinson, Darius Carrier.
1833. — Darius Carrier, Colonel Alexander McKnight.
507

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Brookville Borough.
1837. — General L. S. Clover, C. A. Alexander, David Henry, Samuel
Craig, William A. Sloan, James Corbett.
i83g. — Cyrus Butler, John Dougherty, Robert P. Barr.
/(J^o.— John M. McCoy, Robert P. Barr.
1841. — John Smith, Esq., Samuel B. Bishop.
1842.— V>. B. Jenks, Esq., J. G. Clark, Esq., Hugh Brady, Esq.
1843.— George Irwin, John Dougherty.
1844. — Samuel B. Bishop, C. A. Alexander, Thomas Wilkins, L. B.
Dunham. 1843. — Dr. James Dowling, David S. Deering, Thomas M. Barr,
Hon. J. B. Evans.
Fifty years ago spelling contests in schools were coramon, regularly
every Saturday afternoon, and soraetiraes a neighborhood had rival
school contests at night. It was one of the backwoods amusements, and
a useful one, too. It was conducted in this wise : Two of the best spell
ers were chosen captains, these would alternately select other spellers, and
form their foUowers on opposite sides, sitting or standing. The school
master would give out the words from a book agreed upon, or sometimes
at his option. When a scholar missed a word he vacated his place ; this
plan was pursued until but one scholar remained of either side. Then his
side was declared victorious and the best speller was a hero. A spelling
craze passed over the United States in 1875, ^-nd Brookville caught the
fever and had a contest, — viz. :
"spelling-bee" IN BROOKVILLE.
The following account of a spelling-bee in Brookville is taken from
an issue of th.e feffersonian published in the fall of 1875. I's perusal will
doubtless call up in the minds of many the incidents of the evening. It
will be remembered how "Schuylkill" seated E. Heath Clark, and
" inter-nos" settled Dr. Sweeney:
" The first spelling-match in BrookviUe came off on Thursday even
ing last. The original intention was to hold it in the room of the musi
cal society, but it was found there would not be room there for the crowd,
when the court-room was secured. The attendance was large, and the in
terest taken in it by both contestants and spectators was marked. The cap
tains were AVilliam Dickey and David Eason, Esqs. Each side numbered
twenty, and among the spellers were found lawyers, doctors, school
teachers, etc. The difficult task of pronouncing was assigned to Hon.
George A. Jenks, whe probably discharged his duty as satisfactorily to
all parties as any one could have done. After the arrangements neces
sary had been made, the speUing commenced, and was continued for one
hour, when it was found that Captain Eason's side had missed thirty-one
508

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
words, while Captain Dickey's side had missed thirty-two words. On
Eason's side there were seven who had not missed a word, and on
Dickey's side four. Between these eleven commenced the contest for
the prize,- — Macaulay's 'History of England,' in five volumes. In a
short time but one speller was up on Eason's side, and he our old friend.
Dr. McKnight, while Rev. A. B. Fields and Mrs. T. L. Templeton on
Dickey's side were arrayed against him. The word 'soiree,' however,
was too much for the doctor, and he retired as gracefully as a French
dancing-master. The contest now was between Mrs. Templeton and
Mr. Fields, both of Dickey's side ; but ' apropos' soon left Rev. Fields
master of the field and the possessor of the prize. We were surprised to
hear so few words missed, and, taken altogether, the spelling was much
above the average."
Note. — I should have been declared the victor in this match. After
it became z. personal contest, Mr. Fields went down on the word "guar
anty," and after we had spelled several rounds he was permitted to take
his place again. Great sympathy existed in this community for Rev.
Fields on account of his domestic troubles. The management of the
class acted outrageously in their determination to favor the reverend. I
spelled the word "soiree" in this way: "s-o-i-r-e," and before pro
nouncing the word corrected the spelling in the last syllable by saying
" double-ee," but still I was ruled out, because they wished the reverend
to have the prize. I made no objection.
minutes of the pioneer session of brookville town COUNCIL.
" On the 19th day of July, 1834, the following officers having been
duly elected, chosen, and sworn te serve the borough of Brookville,
in Jefferson County, for the current year, — viz . Thomas Lucas, Esq.,
Burgess; WiUiam Jack, James Corbett, John Eason, Robert Larrimer,
Thomas Hastings, Town Council ; Cyrus G. M. Prime, Constable, met
in session, when the following proceedings were had and done, — ^viz. :
" On motion, WiUiam Jack was duly chosen president of the board.
Hugh Brady was appointed clerk. Benjarain McCreight was appointed
treasurer, with directions that he give bond to the borough with one or
more sureties in the sum of three hundred dollars, and that his compen
sation be two and a half per cent, on all moneys received and paid over
by him. Joseph Sharpe was appointed street commissioner, with a com
pensation of one dollar per diem, and that the compensation of the clerk
be ten dollars per annum.
" That James Corbett and Hugh Brady be appointed a committee to
procure a seal for the said borough on the most reasonable terms, and that
the device of said seal be ' The Seal of the Borough of Brookville. '
" That David Henry be appointed assessor ; that the rate per cent, be
509

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
one-third per cent, of the dollar for this year ; that AVilliam Jack and
James Corbett be appointed to assist the assessor in making a valuation ;
and that the assessor be directed at the time of making his assessment to
show his duplicate to the person assessed the amount of his or their
assessment. On motion, council adjourned."

"ordinance no. i.
"An Ordinance to repair Main Street in the Borough of
Brookville.
" Be it ordained by the Town Council of the Borough of Brookville, in
the County of fefferson, and it is hereby ordained by the authority of the
same. That all the moneys about to be raised by the present assessment
in said borough (except what may be needed for the payment of officers,
procuring seal, books, and stationery for the use of the corporation) shall
be paid over to the street commissioner, by orders drawn by the presi
dent of the council upon the treasurer, which said orders shall be coun
tersigned by the clerk, for the purpose of repairing and amending Main
Street from the east side of Mill Street to the western boundary of said
borough ; and that the said street commissioner is hereby authorized to
proceed immediately, upon the receipt of any such moneys, to making
the repairs as aforesaid, under the direction of the town council.
" Ordained in council the 2d day of August, 1834.
"Attest: Hugh Brady,' ' Secretary. ' '
In 1835 the burgess was Thomas Lucas. Council, William Jack,
James Corbett, Jared B. Evans, Samuel Craig, Alexander McKnight.
An act of July 11, a.d. 1842, " Regulating Election Districts and for
other Purposes" :
" Section 14. That the qualified voters ofthe borough ef Brookville,
in the county of Jefferson, shall annually hereafter, at the time and place
of electing a high constable, town council, and other borough officers,
elect two reputable citizens of said borough as constables, and return
the names ofthe persons so elected to the next Court of Quarter Sessions
of said county, agreeably to the provisions and regulations of the act of
Asserably passed the third day of February, a.d. one thousand eight
hundred and thirty-five, and shall also on the same day and place afore
said elect one reputable citizen of said borough as an assessor ef all tax
able property in said borough, and that all county rates, and levies, and
other taxes shall be levied according to the valuation of said assessor,
and that so much of the act passed the fifteenth day of April, a.d. one
thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, entitled ' An Act relating to
County Rates and Levies, and Township Rates and Levies,' as compels the
510

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
assessors of said township with the commissioners to ascertain the real
value of all property (made taxable by law) within the limits of said
borough be and the same is hereby repealed."
Under this act of 1842 the pioneer and separate assessment of Brook
ville as'a borough was made in 1844.

BROOKVILLLE S historic spring  INDIANS AND THEIR WHITE CAPTIVES —
JIM hunt's cave — THE OLD-TIME EMIGRANT.
As early as 1755 there is authentic record that the Delaware Indians
carried white captives over a trail through what is now Punxsutawney and
Brookville to the Allegheny River and Lake Erie region. These Indians
stopped overnight occasionally where Sandy Lick and the North Fork
unite, eating their corn-meal and drinking from the spring. It was here
that the fugitive Indian, Jim Hunt, had a hiding-place in an artificial
cave. Jim was a fugitive from his tribe for murder, and when apprised
by the whoops of his friends always hid in this cave. The water was
too cool for Jim's stomach, hence he spent most of his time about Bar
nett's, where he could get " fire-water." The old State Road lay on the
left of the pike coming from Port Barnett, and came down what is now
Litch Hill, close by and near to this spring ; and for eighteen years the
old-time emigrant, with his flint-lock gun, his dog, wagon, and family,
always stopped at the foot of the hill, in a sly little nook ef laurel blossoms,
to quench his thirst with old rye and pearly, pure potations of water
from this bubbling white-sand spring.
In my early days Sunday-school picnics and occasionally a Fourth of
July was celebrated here. To the people of BrookviUe it was a great
resort during the hot days of summer. As a rule, everybody went over
on Sabbath with a tin cup to refresh themselves. I clip the following
from the pen of Bien H. Butler :
"It is at the foot of the hill just below Heidrick, Matson & Co.'s
mill, and it has poured refreshing drinks down many times more throats
than did ever Clover's or Tomray Wesley's still, which stood on the pike
not far away.
' ' The sand spring is a great pool in the white rock, where water
enough gushes out to run a prohibition campaign and give every man a
drink as often as he wants one. AA'hen I first knew the spring it was
doing business single-handed and alone, although the distillery close by
and the brewery across the creek were rivals for public favor, to say
nothing of Heber's tavern on the corner. But the spring is there yet,
while the distillery is gone ; and the path that leads down to the spring
has borne the footprint, often, too, of nearly every man, woman, or
child who has travelled this forest or lived in BrookviUe in the last one
hundred years." 5'i

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
brookville's early pugilists.
I clip the following from the pen of Bien H. Butler: " Harry Clover
was a strong man, and as supple as he was strong. He could lift with
his teeth a chair on which was a man weighing two hundred and twenty-
five pounds. He could take up a barrel of whiskey easy and drink from
the bung-hole.
" Clover was a blacksmith. He weighed two hundred pounds, but
he was as agile as any man you ever saw. One day, when he had gone
with some lumber to Pittsburg in rafting season, he went into a store to
buy a hat. The price did not suit him, so in the course of the banter
he told the merchant to hang it on a hoek that was screwed in the
ceiling and let him kick at it. If he kicked it down it was to be his.
If not, he would pay double for it. The first kick Clover brought the
hat down, kicking a hole in the ceiling which was a sight for raftsmen
for years. " Harry had no scientific pugilistic training, and never sought a row.
On the contrary, he was cowardly, and often would not fight when bullies
set on him. But when his anger was aroused his great strength and his
activity made him a terrible enemy. When he worked in the old black-
sraith-shop by the bridge I have seen him shoe unruly horses, and he just
held them by main force. His reputation had extended all along the
creek ; and in the spring, when we went to Pittsburg with lumber, the
first question asked was as to whether Harry Clover had come down.
"More or less rivalry always existed between the raftmen and the
furnace-men along the river. One time the Red Bank furnace hands
concluded they would clean out the raftmen, and a fellow by the name
of Tem Fagan, who had heard of Clover, came down frora Catfish Fur
nace to do him up. Clover never wanted to quarrel when sober, and he
hid behind a door when Fagan came to look for him. After much per
suasion he was brought forth. When he stepped up before Fagan he
closed an eye with each fist before Fagan could get a successful blow on
Clover anywhere."

CHAPTER XXVI.
MY FIRST recollections OF BROOKVILLE.
I WAS born in Brookville when wolves howled almost nightly on what
is now known as our " Fair Ground ;" when the pine in its lofty pride
leaned gloomily over every hill-side ; when the shades of the forest were
heavy the whole day through ; when the woods around our shanty town
was the horae of many wild animals, such as panthers, bears, wild-cats,
foxes, deer, wolves, catamounts, coons, ground-hogs, porcupines, par-
512

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
fridges, elks, rabbits, turkeys, and pheasants ; when the clear sparkling
waters of the North Fork, Sandy Lick, and Red Bank Creeks contained
choice pike, many bass, sunfish, horned chubs, trout, and other fish;
when the wild "bee trees" were quite numerous and full of luscious
sweets for the woodsman's axe. As you will see, choice meals for hunters
and Nimrods could easily be obtained from the abundance of this game.

p-

III

riir III

i-

in
III

LB- i

SlI ill M li-l

Pioneer court-house and jail, 1831, —
" Where gross misconduct met the lash.
And there see the rock-built prison's dreadful face."
The conditions and circumstances of the county made every man a
hunter, and each and every one had his gun, bullet-moulds, shot-pouch,
and powder-horn for any and every emergency. It was frequently found
necessary before going to church on Sunday to shoot a wild turkey or a
deer to ' ' keep them off the grass. " The " mighty hunters, ' ' though, were
"Mike," "Dan," John, and "BiU" Long. Dan was murdered on the
Clarion River, near Raught's mill. John was the father of Hon. James
E. Long. In winter these hunters wore a white garment, called a " hunt
ing-shirt," buckskin breeches, and moccasin shoes. In their shirt belts
each carried a flint-knocker, spunk, hunting-knives, and a tomahawk.
513

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Animals were ruthlessly killed for their skins. Deer were thus slaughtered,
only the "saddles" or hind quarters being saved for food. If a history
ef these Longs could be truthfully written, — a full narration of their ad
ventures, perils, coolness, and daring while on the trail ef bears, wolves,
and panthers, — it would, perhaps, make a book equally as interesting as
the " Life of Daniel Boone and Simon Girty."
In the way of a preface to these imperfect reminiscences ef BrookviUe
and our dear fathers I simply ask of you this :
" Let not ambition mock their useful toil,
These homely joys and destinies obscure,
Nor grandeur hear with a disdainful smile
These short and simple annals of the poor."
My first clear and distinct recollections of our town and the people
in it are in the years 1840 to 1843. The ground where the Democrat is
now printed was then covered with pines. Then Brookville was a town
of forty or fifty "shanties" and eight or ten business places, including
the "old brick court-house" and the "old stone jail." The number of
people in the town was three hundred and twenty-two. These " shanties"
were principally on Main Street, and extended from where the Baptist
church now is in the east to where Judge Clark now lives in the west.
There were a few scattered shanties on Jefferson Street. A great deep
gully crossed Main Street about where the Brookville National Bank now
stands. A coramon sign in those days was, " Cakes & Beer For Sale Here,"
—a bottle of foaming beer in a glass in the corner. The first of these
signs which I remember was one on John Brownlee's house, on the north
east corner of Main and Mill Streets, and one on John Showalter's house
(the late gunsmith), now the property of John S. Moore. The cakes
were made of New Orleans molasses, and were delicious, more so than
any you can make or buy now. They were sold for a cent apiece. The
beer was home-made, and called "small beer," and sold for three cents
a glass. It was made of hops, ginger, spruce, sassafras-roots, wheat bran,
molasses, yeast, and water. About every family made their own beer.
Mrs. Showalter and other old ladies living in the town nov/, I venture to
say, have made "barrels" of it.
The hotels in the town then were four in number. First, the " Red
Lion," located then where Frank P. Rankin now has his hardware store.
This hotel was kept by John Smith, the step-father of David Eason. The
second was the "Jefferson House," then kept by Thomas Hastings, now
occupied and kept by Phil. J. AUgeier. In this hotel the "light fantas
tic toe" was tripped to the airs of "Money Musk," "Virginia Reel,"
"French Four," and "Pine Creek Lady." The orchestra for these
occasions was George Hayes, a colored fiddler of the town, who could
514

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
play the violin behind his back as well as before his face, with his left or
right hand, and asleep or awake. I could name quite a number of ladies
in the town now whom I used to see enjoying themselves in this way.
The third was the " FrankUn House," built by John Gelvin, and then
kept by John Pierce. The Central Hotel, owned by S. B. Arthurs, has
been erected on the ground occupied by the Franklin. The fourth was
on the corner of Main and Barnett Streets, erected by John Dougherty.
It swung the sign, — " Peace and Poverty, by John Dougherty."
In 1840 it was occupied and kept by John Gallagher. Each of these
hotels had Ucense, and sold whiskey at three cents a drink, mostly on
credit. You could have your whiskey straight, or have brown sugar or
' ' tansy bitters' ' in it. The bars had to be opened regularly on Sunday
for " morning bitters." Single meals were given for twenty-five cents, a
" check" or cold meal for a " 'leven-penny bit," and a bed for ten cents.
You could stop overnight, have supper, bed, morning bitters, and break
fast, all for fifty cents.
The Susquehanna and AVaterford turnpike was completed in 1822-23.
It was a good road, and was kept in fair repair. In 1840 it passed
from under State control, and the magnitude of the travel over it was
great. The stage Une' was started in 1825. Morrow started his team
in 1835, and cattle and other droving commenced in 1835. All this I
am told ; but I know the stage was a big factor in 1840. Morrow was
on time, and droving was immense. I have seen passing through Brook
ville on their way east from four to six droves of cattle in a day. The
droves were generally divided into three sections. At the head of the
first would be a man leading a big ox, his extra clothing strapped on the
ox's head, and the man would be crying out ever and anon, " K-o,
b-o-s-s;" "Come, boss." I have seen two and three droves of sheep
pass in a day, with occasionally a drove of hogs sandwiched between
them. Horse droves were numerous, too. I have seen a few droves of
colts, and a few droves of turkeys. I could not give an estimate of the
number of these droves I have seen passing our home in a day. The
business of droving began in June of each year, and ended in November.
There was no other way to take this merchandise east than to drive it.
But you must not think everybody was going east. A big lot of
people were going west, including their cousins and their aunts. This
turnpike was the shortest Une west. We Uved where T. L. Templeton
now lives, and every few days all through the summer months I would
see, nearly opposite the Baptist church, in the middle of the street, two
men and a dog, and one of the men usually carrying a gun. They were
the advance-guard for an " emigrant train." In a few minutes from one
to six wagons would come in sight and stop,— all stopping here for a
515

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
short rest. " AVhere are you going ?" was the usual inquiry. "Going
West; going to Ohio." The wagons were heavy, wide-tracked, covered
with hoops and a white canvas, and had a stiff tongue and iron pole-
chains. The horses wore heavy harness with iron trace-chains. An
occasional emigrant would locate in our county, but the great majority
generally struggled on for the far West, — Ohio.
The usual mode of travel for the people was on foot or on horseback ;
but the most interesting mode was the daily stage, which " brought" and
" took" the mail and carried the passengers who were going east or west.
This was the " limited mail," and the " day and night express" of these
days, — a through train, only stopping thirty minutes for meals. Of
course this "Umited mail," this "day and night express," over this
" short route," eclipsed and overshadowed every other line and mode of
travel. It was "grand, startling, and stupendous." There were no
through tickets sold, to be
" Punched, punched with care.
Punched in the presence of the passengaire."
The fare was six cents a mile in advance, and to be paid in "bimetal
lism." When the officials made their usual tour of inspection over this
" road," they had extended to them the genuine hospitaUty of everybody,
including that of the landlords, and free whiskey. President Roberts,
of the great Pennsylvania line, is a small potato to-day in contrast with
the chief manager of our line in that day, for our line was then the van
guard of every improvement a passenger might desire or a traveller wish
for. The coaches were made in Concord, New Hampshire, and were called
"rockaway coaches." Each coach had heavy leather belt-springs, and
was a handsome vehicle, painted red, with gold stripes and letters, and
was drawn by four horses. The coach was made to carry nine passengers,
but I have often seen it with a dozen inside, two on the seat with the
driver, and some on top. Trunks were carried on the top and in the
"boot." Every driver carried a horn, and always took a "hern."
When nearing a "relay" or a post-office, the valleys and hills were made
to echo and re-echo to the " er-r-a h, er-r-a-h, tat, tat, t-a-h, tat t-a-h"
of the driver's horn, which was to attract the attention of the landlord
or postmaster by night or by day. Sometimes the coaches were the
most ordinary hacks, and the horses could be "seen through," whether
sick or well, without the aid of any X-rays.
The roads in spring, summer, and fall were a succession of mud-holes,
with an occasional corduroy. Don't mention bad roads now. The male
passengers usually walked up the hills.
I take frora an old paper the experience of one who rode in these
stages : 516

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"Jolted, thumped, distracted,
Rocked, and quite forlorn.
Oh ! wise one, what duties
Now are laid on corn ?
Mad, disgusted, angry,
In a swearing rage,
'Tis the very d — 1
Riding in this stage.''
The prominent stage-drivers in 1840 were Gabriel Vastbinder, Bill
Adams, Joe Stratton, and others. Each driver carried a whip made as
follows : a hickory stock, and a buckskin lash ten or twelve feet long,
with a silk cracker on the end. These whips were handled with marvel
lous dexterity by drivers, and were made to crack over the horses' heads
like pistols. The great pride of a driver then was to turn a " coach-
and-four" with the horses on a " complete run." Bill Adaras was good
at this. A laughable incident occurred in one of these turns on Main
Street. The driver was showing off in his usual style, and in making the
turn with the horses on a complete run the coach struck a stone, which
upset it. The weight of all the passengers coraing against the coach -
door burst it open, and the passengers, one and all, were thrown out and
hterally dumped into the hotel bar-room. This was a perfection in stage
driving not easily attained.
In 1840 the BrookviUe merchant kept his own books, — or, as he
would have said, his own accounts, — wrote all his letters with a quill,
and when they were written let the ink dry or sprinkled it with sand.
There were then no envelopes, no postage stamps, no letter-boxes in the
streets, no collection of the mail. The letter written, the paper was
carefully folded, sealed with wax or a wafer, addressed, and carried to
the post-office, where postage was prepaid at rates which would now seem
extortionate. In 1840, Brookville merchants purchased their goods in Philadelphia.
These purchases were made in the spring and fall. It took about two
and a half days continuous travelling in the "limited mail" day and
night stage-coach to reach Lewistown, Pennsylvania, and required about
one day and a half travelling over the canal and railroad to reach Phila
delphia from that point. From Brookville to Philadelphia it required
some four or five days' constant travelling. Our merchants carried their
money on these trips as well as they could, mostly secreted in some way
about their persons. After purchasing their goods in Philadelphia,
they were ordered to be shipped to Brookville as " heavy freight," over
the great corporation freight line of " Joe Morrow." Joe was a " bloated
corporationist," a transportation monopolist of that day. He was a
whole " trust" in himself. He owned and managed the whole line, and
had no opposition, on this end at least. His line consisted of two Con-
517

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
estoga wagons, the bed on each at least four feet high and sixteen feet
long. Each wagon was painted blue, and each was covered with a white
canvas, this covering supported by hoops. The wagon was always loaded
and unloaded from the rear end. The tires on the wheels were six inches
wide. Each wagon would carry over three tons of freight, and was
drawn over good roads by six magnificent horses, and over bad roads by

«

eight ot such horses. This was the " fast" and heavy freight line from
Philadelphia to BrookviUe until the canal was built to Lewistown, Penn
sylvania, when Morrow changed his head-quarters from Philadelphia to
Lewistown, and continued to run his semiannual "freight train" from
Lewistown to Brookville. Morrow's advent into town was always a great
518

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
event. He always stopped his " train" in front of the Red Lion Hotel,
then kept by John Smith. The horses were never stabled, but stood day
and night in the street, three on each side of the stiff tongue of the
wagon, and were fed in a box he carried with him, caUed his " feed-
trough." The harness was broad and heavy, and nearly covered the
horses; and they were "hitched up" to the wagon with iron "pole"
and "trace-chains." The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the
Switchmen's Union, the "American Railway Union," and all the
Sovereigns and Debses put together, had no terrors for Joe, for he had but
one employee, a "brakeman," for his second wagon. Joe was the em
ployed and the employer. Like a " transportation king," like a " robber
baron," he sat astride a wagon saddle on the hind near horse, driving
the others with a single line and a blacksnake whip, to the words,
"Gee," "Jep," and "Haw." Morrow always remained in Brookville
four or five days, to buy our products and load his train for the horae
trip. He bought and loaded clover, timothy, and flaxseed, feathers,
old rags, tar, beeswax, wheat, rye, chestnuts, furs, and dried elder
berries. The western terminus of his line was Shippenville, Clarion
County, Pennsylvania, and on his return from there he bought up these
products. Morrow's last trip to Brookville with his train was about the year
1850. He was an Irishman, slim, wiry, industrious, and of business
habits. He was killed by the kick of a horse, at Cross's tavern. Centre
County, Pennsylvania, — kicked on the nth day of September, 1855,
and died on the 12th. I remember that he usually wore a spotted
fawn-skin vest, made from the skin with the hair on. The merchants in
Brookville of that day who are still living, and for whom Morrow hauled
goods, as far as I can recollect, are Uriah Matson, Harry Matson, Judge
Henderson, Samuel Truby, Wm. Rodgers, and AV. W. Corbett, who now
reside in or near the town. Captain John Hastings, of Punxsutawney,
W. F. Clark, of Maquoketa, Iowa, and S. M. Moore, of Minneapolis,
Minnesota. The town was laid out in 1830. My father moved here in 1832.
He taught the first term of the school in the town, in the winter of
1832. He was lieutenant-colonel in the militia, a justice of the peace,
and was county treasurer when he died, in 1837, at the early age of
twenty-seven years, leaving my mother in this wilderness, a widow with
three small children to support and rear. In 1840 my mother taught a
sumraer term of school in what was then and is now called the Butler
school-house. This school house is on the Ridgway road, in Pine Creek
township, three miles from town. I was small, and had to go and come
to and from this school with mother. We carae home every Saturday to
remain over Sunday, and to attend Presbyterian church, service being
then held in the old brick court-house. The Presbyterians then called
519

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
their church " Bethel." In 1842 it was changed to Brookville. We had
no choir in the church then, but had a " clerk," who would stand in front
ef the pulpit, read out two lines, and then sing them, then read two
more and sing them, and so on until the hymn or psalm was sung, the
congregation joining in as best they could. Of these clerks, the only
ones I can now recollect were Thomas Lucas, Samuel McQuiston, and
John S. Lucas. I have no recollection of David's psalms being used
other than is found in Watts's version, in combination with the hymns.
I recollect two ofthe favorite hymns at that time with this church. The
first verse of each hymn was as follows :
" When I can read my title clear
To mansions in the skies,
I'll bid farewell to every fear.
And wipe my weeping eyes.''
The first verse of the second hymn was :
" There is a land of pure delight.
Where saints immortal reign ;
Infinite day excludes the night.
And pleasures banish pain."
One by one, these early pioneer Christians have left for this ' ' land
of pure delight!" to occupy these "mansions in the skies." I hope
and pray that each one is now —
" In seas of heavenly rest."
After returning heme from the Butler school-house one Saturday, I
remember I asked my mother for a " piece." She went to the cupboard,
and when she got there the cupboard was not bare, for, lo 1 and behold, a
great big snake was therein, coiled and ready for fight. My mother, in
horror, ran to the door and called Mr. Lewis Dunham, a lawyer, who lived
in the house now occupied by R. M. Matson, Esq. Mr. Dunham came
on a run, and tried to catch or kill the snake with our " tongs," but it
made good its escape through a big hole in the corner of the cupboard.
Reptiles, such as black-, rattle-, house-, and other snakes were very
plenty then in and around BrookviUe, and dangerous, too. These snakes
fed and lived on birds, raice, etc., and were very fond of railk, which they
drink after the manner of a horse.
In a former chapter I called Brookville a town of shanties. .-Vnd so it
was; but there was one exception, there was one solid building, a dwell
ing occupied by a raan named Bliss, on Water Street, on or near the lot
at present owned and occupied by BiUy Barr. It was built of logs. The
other shanties were solid enough, fer they were built in a different raan-
520

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
ner from shanties now, being put together with "frame timbers," mor
tised and tenoned, and fastened with oak pins, as iron and nails were
scarce, people being poor and having little or no money. Every build
ing had to have a "raising," and the neighbors had to be invited to
help " raise." Cyrus Butler, a bluff, gruff Yankee, was the captain at all
raisings. He would stand off by himself, crying out at the proper time,
" All together, men, he-o-he! he-o-he !"

My mother.
" Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell.
And kiss the place to make it well ?
My mother !"
No dwelUng in the town was then complete without having in the
back-yard an "out-oven," an "ash-hopper," a "dye-kettle," and a
rough box fastened to the second story of the necessary, in which to
raise early cabbage-plants. At the rear of each kitchen was a hop-vine
with its pole, and each family raised its own catnip, peppermint, sage,
and tansy. " The hand of the reaper
Takes the leaves that are hoary.
But the voice of the weeper
Wails manhood in glory."
521

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
In 1840 there was a law requiring the enrollment ef all able-bodied
men between twenty-one and forty-five years of age in the militia. These
were formed into companies and battalions, and organized into brigades,
each brigade to meet once a year in "encampment," for a period of
three days, two days for "muster and drill" and one day for "review."
The encampments were held in May or June, and for some reason or
other these soldiers were called the " cornstalk militia," because some of
the soldiers carried cornstalks for guns. No uniforms were worn in most
cases. The soldier were his homespun or store-clothes, and each one re
ported with his own pike, wooden gun, rifle, or musket, and, under the
inspiring influence of his accoutrements, discipline, and drill, —
" Each bosom felt the high alarms,
And all their burning pulses beat to arms."
For non-attendance by a soldier at these encarapments a fine of fifty
cents was imposed for every day's absence. This fine had to be paid in
cash, and was quite a severe penalty in those days of no money, county
orders, and store barter.
The first encampment I remember was held on what is now called
Granger (Jack) Heber's farm. Brigadier- General Mercer was the com
raander then. He rode a sorrel horse, with a silver mane and tail, and. a
curled moustache. His bridle was ornamented with fine leather straps,
balls, and tassels, and the blue saddle-cloth was covered with stars and
spangles, giving the horse the appearance of a "fiery dragon." The
general would occasionally dismount, to make some inspection on foot,
when the army was drawn up in Une, and then a great race, and fre
quently a fight, would occur among the small boys for the possession of
the horse. The reward for holding him at this time was a " fippenny-
bit." The camp grounds were alive with whiskey-sellers, ginger-bread
and small beer dealers. AVhiskey was to be had from barrels or jugs, in
large or small quantities. When the army was in line it was dealt out to
the soldiers from a bucket with a dipper. Anybody could sell whiskey
and anybody could drink it. It was worth from twelve to twenty cents
a gallon. The mere brawls and fist-fights, the livelier, better, and greater
was considered the muster. The bad blood between neighbors was al
ways settled here. Each party always resolved to meet the other on re
view-day te fight it out, and after the fight to meet, drink together, and
make up their difference. PugiUsm was practised in that day, not on
scientific principles, but by main strength. The terror of all public
gatherings was a man called "Devil John Thompson." He Uved in
Indiana County, and came here always on reviews. Each military com
pany had a fifer or drummer, seldom a complete band. I have seen the
late Judge Taylor blowing his fife, the only musician of and for one of
these companies. This occurred on Main Street, in front of our house ;
522

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
and when I look back on this soldier scene, it seems to me these soldiers,
frora their appearance, must have been composed of the rag tag and bob
tail of creation. An odd and comic sight it really was. To be an officer
or captain in one of these companies was considered a great honor, and
something which the recipient was in duty bound to thank God for in
his morning and evening prayers. I cannot do this subject justice.
Such was the Pennsylvania militia as I saw it, and all that remains for
me to say is, " Great the State and great her sons."
In 1840 we had two big men in the town,— Judge William Jack, who
was sent to Congress, and who built and lived in the house on Pickering
Street now owned and occupied by Joseph Darr, Esq., and General
Levi G. Clover, who lived on Main Street, in a house that was burned
down, which stood on the lot now owned by Mrs. Clarissa Clements,
and is the place of business of Misses McLain and Fetzer. Clover was a
big man physically, a big man in the militia, a big man in politics, and
a big man in business. Like most big men in those days, he owmed and
ran a whiskey-still. This distillery was located on or near the property
of Fred. Starr, in what is now Litchtown. I used to loaf occasionally in
this distillery, and I have seen some of our old citizens take a pint tin
cup and dip it full of whiskey from out of Clover's copper kettles, and
then drink this whole pint of whiskey down apparently at one gulp. I
might pause to say right here, that in drinking whiskey, racing, square
pulling, swearing, and fighting the old settler was "right in it." The
wrestling- and fighting-ground then for the men and boys was the ground
now occupied by the Jenks machine-shop, and the highway to and from
these grounds was down the alley between Ed. Snyder's blacksmith-shop
and C. A. Carrier's store. I have had business on that ground with some
boys myself.
In the woods in and around BrookviUe in 1840 there were many sweet-
singing birds and beautiful wild-flowers. I remember the laurel. We
used to adorn our mantels and parlor fireplaces with these every spring.
I remember the honeysuckle, the wild rose, the crab-apple tree, the thorn,
and others. The aroma from many of these flowers was delightful.
House-plants were unknown. The garden flowers of that day were the
pink ("a flower most rare"), the lilac, the hollyhock, the sunflower, and
the rose. Each garden had a little bed of "sweet-williams" and " johnny-
jump ups." The garden rose was a beautiful, sweet flower then, and it is
a beautiful, sweet flower to-day, and it ever will be sweet and beautiful.
My mother used to sing to me this hymn of Isaac AVatts's as a lullaby :
" How fair is the rose, what a beautiful flower !
In summer so fragrant and gay ;
But its leaves are beginning to fade in an hour;
And they wither and die in a day.
523

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" Yet the rose has one powerful virtue to boast
Above all the flowers of the field :
When its leaves are all dead and its fine colors lost.
Still how sweet a perfume it will yield.
" So frail are the youth and the beauty of men.
Though they look gay and bloom like the rose,
Yet all our fond care to preserve them is vain.
Time kills them as fast as he goes.
" Then I'll not be proud of my youth or my beauty,
Since both will soon wither and fade,
Btit gain a good name by performing my duty ;
This will scent like the rose when I'm dead."
In 1840 there was no church building in the town. Our Presby
terian preacher in the town was the Rev. David Polk, a cousin te Presi
dent Polk. The token was then given eut on Saturday to all those who
were adjudged worthy te sit at the Lord's table. These tokens were
taken up on the following Sunday while seated at the table. Friday was
"fast" or preparation day. We were not allowed to eat anything, or
very little, until the sun went down. I can only remember that I used
to get hungry and long for night to come. Rev. Polk preached half
ef his time in Corsica, the other half in Brookville. His salary was
four hundred dollars per year, — two hundred dollars from Brookville
and two hundred dollars from Corsica. He lived on the pike in the
hollow beyond and west of Roseville. He preached in the court
house until the Presbyterians completed the first church building in
the town, in 1843. ^^ stood where the church now stands, and was
then outside ef the borough limits. The building was erected through
the efforts of a lawyer then residing in Brookville, named C. A. Alex
ander. The ruling elders of the church then were Thomas Lucas, John
Matson, Sr., Elijah Clark, John Lattimer, Joseph McCullough, and John
AVilson. Other preachers came to town occasionally in 1840, and held their
services in the court-house. One jolly, aged AA'elshraan was called Father
Thoraas. He was a Baptist, a dear old man, and a great singer. I al
ways went to his church to hear him sing. I can sing some of his songs
yet. I will repeat a stanza from one of his favorites :
" Oh, then I shall be ever free,
Happy in eternity.
Eternity, eternity,
Happy in eternity."
Dear eld soul, he is in eternity, and I have no doubt is happy singing
his favorite song there. 524

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
A Methodist preacher named Elijah Coleman came here occasionally.
Methodist head-quarters were at David Henry's and at Cyrus Butler's.
The first Methodist prayer-meeting held in town was at Cyrus Butler's.
It was held in the little yellow house occupied for years by Mrs. Rachel
Dixon, and torn down by C. C. Benscoter, Esq., in 1887, in order to
erect his present dweUing. In 1840 raen and women were not permitted
to sit on the same seat in church, or on the same side of the house.
The physicians in the town in 1840 were Dr. George Darling, father
of the late Paul Darling, and Dr. Gara Bishop, father of Mrs. Edmund
English. Dr. Bishop was also a Presbyterian preacher.
In 1840, Jefferson County contained a population of seven thousand
two hundred and fifty- three people, and embraced nearly all of Forest
and Elk Counties. Ridgway was then in the northeast corner of our
county, and Punxsutawney was a village of about fifteen or twenty
dwellings. The politics of the county was divided into AVhig and Democrat.
The leading Whigs in Brookville, as I recollect them, were Thomas
Lucas, Esq., James Corbett, father of Colonel Corbett, Benjamin Mc
Creight, father of Mrs. Dr. Hunt, Thomas M. Barr, and Samuel H.
Lucas. The leading Democrats were Hon. AA'illiara Jack, General L. G.
Clover, Judge Joseph Henderson, John Smith, Daniel Sraith, Jesse G.
Clark, father of Judge Clark, D. B. Jenks, John Dougherty, Richard
Arthurs, and Thomas Hastings. Politics ran so high that year that each
party had its own Fourth of July celebration. The AVhigs celebrated at
Port Barnett. Nicholas McQuiston, the miller who died at Langville a
few years ago,. had one of his legs broken at this celebration by the ex
plosion of a log which he had filled with powder. The Democrats cele
brated in Brookville, in front of the Franklin Hotel, now the Central.
I was big enough to have a full run and clear view of this table and cele
bration. The table was covered with small roasted pigs, roasted turkeys,
venison, pies, gingerbread, "pound-cake," etc. I Was not allowed to
participate in the feast, although my father in his lifetime had been a
Democrat. Boys and girls were then taught modesty, patience, and man
ners by parents. Children were taught and compelled to respect age and
to defer to the wishes of father and mother. Now the father and mother
must defer to the wishes of children. There was more home and less
public training of children, and, as a result, children had more modesty
and patience and less impudence. In 1840 children slept in "trundle-
beds," and were required by their mothers to repeat every night before
going to sleep this little prayer :
" Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep ;
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take."
525

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
This home training was a constant building up of individual charac
ter, and I believe a much more effectual way for good than the present
public way of building character collectively.
In 1840 our Congressman was Judge Jack, of BrookviUe, and our
meraber of the Legislature was Hon. James L. Gillis, of Ridgway town
ship. The county officers were : Prothonotary, General Levi G. Clover ;
Sheriff, John Smith ; Treasurer, Jesse G. Clark ; Commissioners, Daniel
Coder, Irwin Robinson, and Benjamin McCreight. The county was
Democratic by one hundred and twenty-five majority.
The postmaster in Brookville was John Dougherty, and Joseph Hen
derson was deputy United States marshal for Jefferson County. He took
the census of 1840 for our county.
Of the above-named politicians and officials. Judge Henderson is the
only one now living (1895). Every day yet the judge can be found at
his place of business, pleasant, cheerful, and intelUgent, — a fine old gen
tleman. In his many political contests I always admired, defended, and
supported him. One thing I begin to notice, " he is not as young as he
used to be." " Oh, tell me the tales I delighted to hear.
Long, long ago, long, long ago ;
Oh, sing me the old songs so full of cheer.
Long, long ago, long, long ago."
In 1840 we boys amused ourselves in the winter months by catching
rabbits in box-traps, — the woods were full of them, — skating on Geer's
pond, a small lake then located where AUgeier's brewery now stands (this
lake was destroyed by the building of Mabon's mill-race), skating on
Barr's (now Litch's) dam, and coasting down the town or graveyard hill.
In the summer and fall months the amusements were alley-ball behind the
court-house, town-ball, over-ball, sock-ball, fishing in the streams and in
Geer's pond, riding floats of slabs on the creek, swimming in the " deep
hole," and gathering blackberries, crab-apples, wild plums, and black
and yellow haws. But the amusement of all amusements, the one that
was enjoyed every day in the year by the boys, was the cutting of fire
wood. The wood for heating and cooking was generaUy hauled in
"drags" to the front door of each house on Main Street, and there cut
on the " pile" by the boys of each house. The gathering of hazel-nuts,
butternuts, hickory-nuts, and chestnuts was an agreeable and profitable
recreation. My boy associates of those days — where are they? I can
only recall the following, who are now living in Brookville : David Eason,
W. C* Evans, Dr. C. M. Matson, Thomas E. Espy, Thomas P. McCrea,
Daniel Burns, Clover Smith, W. C. Sraith, and W. R. Ramsey. I under
stand John Craig, Frederick and Lewis Dunham, Elijah and Lorenzo
Lowell, and Alexander Barr live in the State of Iowa, Richard Espy in
Kentucky, and John L. and Anson AVarren in AVisconsin.
526

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
In 1840 every housewife in Brookville cooked over a fireplace, in
which a crane was fastened so as to swing in, out, off, on, and over the
fire. Every fireplace had a wooden poker, a pair of tongs to handle
burning wood, and a shovel to remove the ashes. The fuel used was
wood, — pine, maple, oak, birch, and hickory. To every fire there had to
be a "back logj" and the smaller or front pieces were supported on
"andirons" or common stones. Matches were not in use, hence fires
were covered at night so as te preserve some live coals for the morning
fire. Rich people had a little pair of bellows to blow these live coals
into a blaze, but poor people had to do the best they could with their

Kitchen and fireplace in 1840.
mouths. After having nearly smoked my eyes out trying to blow coals
into life, I have had to give it up and go to a neighbor to borrow a shovel
of fire. Some old settlers used "spunk," a flint, and a barlow knife to
start a fire in an emergency like this. Spunk — punk or touchwood— was
obtained from the inside of a hollow white maple-tree. When matches
were first brought around great fear was entertained that they might burn
everybody out of house and home. My mother secured a tin box with a
safe lid in which to keep hers. For some reason they were called loco-
foco matches.
The crane in the fireplace had a set of rods with hooks on each end,
and they were graduated in length so as to hang the kettle at the proper
527

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
height from the fire. In addition to the kettles we had the long-handled
frying-pan, the handle of which had to be supported by some one's hand,
or else on a box or a chair. Then there was the three-legged, short-
handled spider. It could support itself. And I must not forget the
griddle for buckwheat cakes. It had to be suspended by a rod on the
crane. Then there was the old bake-kettle, or oven, with legs and a
closely-fitted cover. In this was baked the " pone" for the family. I can
say truthfully that pone was not used more than thirty days in the month.
This was a hard way to cook. AVemen would nearly break their
backs lifting these heavy kettles on and off, burn their faces, smoke their
eyes, singe their hair, blister their hands, and "scorch" their clothes.
Our spoons were pewter and iron ; knives and forks were iron with
bone handles. The chinaware was about as it is now.
The every-day bonnet of women then was the "sun-bonnet" for sum
mer, and a quilted "hood" for winter. The dress bonnet was made of
paper or leghorn, and was in shape something Uke our coal-scuttles.
In 1840 nearly every wife in BrookviUe milked a cow and churned
butter. The cows were milked at the front door on Main Street. These
cows were ornery, ill-looking, ill-fed, straw-stealing, and blue-milk giving
creatures. The water with which to wash clothes and do the scrubbing
was caught in barrels or tubs from the house-roof. Scrubbing the floors of
a house had to be attended to regularly once a week. This scrubbing had
to be done with powdered sand and a home made " split broom." Every
wife had to make her own soap, bake her own bread, sew and dye all the
clothes for the family, spin the wool for and knit the mittens and socks,
make the coverlets, quilt the quilts, see that the children's shoes for Sun
day were greased with tallow every Saturday night, nurse the sick, give
"sheep saffron" for the measles, and do all the cooking. About every
family had a cow, dog, cat, pig, geese, and chickens. The town gave
these domestic animals the right to " life, liberty, and the pursuit of hap
piness." Of course, under these sanitary conditions, the town was alive
with fleas, and every house was full of bedbugs. Bats were numerous,
and the "public opinion" then was that the bats brought the bedbugs.
This may be given as an illustration of the correctness of public opinion.
However, we were contented and happy, and used to sing, —
" Home, home, sweet, sweet home.
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home."
In 1840 there were doubtless many fine horses in Jefferson County,
yet it seemed to me nearly every horse had stringhalt, ring-bone, spavin,
high-step, or poll-evil. Horses with poll-evil were numerous then, but
the disease has apparently disappeared. It was an abscess en the horse's
head, behind the ears, and was doubtless caused by cruelty to the animal.
If a horse did not please his master in his work it was a common thing
528

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
for his master to knock him down with a handspike, a rail, or the butt end
of a blacksnake whip. Poor food and these blows undoubtedly caused
this horrible disease. Sick horses were treated in a barbarous manner.
When sick they were not allowed to lie down ; hence they were whipped,
run, and held upon their feet. I have seen horses held up with hand
spikes, rails, etc. The usual remedies were bleeding and drenching with
filthy compounds. " Bots" was the almost unfailing disease.
The cattle were home stock, big-horned, heavy-beUied, and long-
legged. They could jump over almost anything, and could outrun the
"devil and his imps." They were poorly fed, received little care, and
had little or no stabling. In the spring it was common for cows to be on
the " lift." The common trouble with cattle was " hollow horn," " wolf
in the tail," and loss of " cud." These were little else than the results
of starvation. I have witnessed consultations over a sick cow, when one
man would declare positively she had hollow horn, and another declare
just as positively it was wolf in the tail. After a spirited dispute they
would compromise by agreeing to bore her horn and split her tail. If
they had called it hollow belly and woU in the stomach they would have
been nearer the truth. A better remedy would have been a bucket of
warm slop, a good stable, and plenty of hay. The remedy for " hollow
horn" was to bore a gimlet hole in the horn near the head and then sat
urate a cloth with spirits of turpentine and wrap-it around the horn. The
cure for- wolf in the tail was to split the tail near the end with, a knife, and
fill the cut with salt and pepper. The cure for "lifts" was to call the
neighbors, lift the cow to her feet and prop her up so she could not lie
down again. The cures for loss of " cud" were numerous and filthy. A
"sure cure," and common, too, was to roll human excrement in dough
and force it down the animal's throat. The same remedy was used for
" founder." If the critter recovered, the remedy was the right one ; if it
died, the reason was the remedy had been used too late. Of course, these
conditions were all imaginary. They were only diseases resulting from
exposure and want of nourishing food. A wild onion called "ramp,"
and a shrub called " tripwood," grew in the woods" and were early in
their appearance each spring. These, ef which the cattle ate freely, were
often their only dependence for food.
The hog of that time was a racer, and could outrun the average
horse. His snort when startled was something terrible. He was of the
" razor-back" variety, long-bodied, long-legged, and long-snouted. By
means of his snout he could plough through everything. Of course he was
starved in the winter, like all the other animals, and his condition re
sulting from his starvation was considered a disease and called "black
teeth." The remedy for this disease was to knock out the teeth with a
hammer and a spike.
Ignorance was the cause of this cruelty to animals. To the readers
529

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
of this volume the things mentioned are astonishing. But I have only
hinted at the barbarities then inflicted on these domestic animals, which
had no rights which man was bound to respect. Not until 1866 was any
effort made in this country te protect dumb animals from the cruelty of
man. In that year Henry Berg organized the American society in New
York, and to-day the movement is felt throughout a great portion of the
world. In 1890 there were five hundred and forty-seven societies in ex
istence for the prevention of cruelty to animals, two hundred and twenty-
three of them in the United States. The work of humane organizations
is not a matter of mere sentiment. "The economic necessity for the
existence of societies having for their object the better care and protec
tion of animals becomes manifest when it is considered that our indus
tries, our commerce, and the supply of our necessities and comforts de
pend upon the animal world. In the United States alone it is estimated
that there are 14,000,000 horses, valued at ^979,000,000. There are also
2,330,000 mules, 16,000,000 milk cows, 36,800,000 oxen and other cattle,
44,000,000 sheep, and 50,000,000 swine. The total domestic animals
in 1890 were estimated at 165,000,000, valued at over §2,400,000,000."
To-day every good citizen gives these humane societies or their agents his
support, and almost every one is against the man or men who in any way
abuse dumb beasts.
Along about 1840 the winters were very severe and long, much more
so than now. Regularly every fall, commencing in November, —
" Soft as the eider down.
Light as the spider gown.
Came the beautiful snow, till
Over the meadow lots.
Over our garden plots,
Over the ponds and the lakes,
Lay only beautiful flakes.
Then with this snowing.
Puffing and blowing,
, Old Boreas came bellowing by.
Till over the by-ways.
And over the highways.
The snow-drifts were ever so high.''
The snow was several feet deep every winter. It came early and
remained till late.
I have made frequent reference in these chapters to the old court-house.
As I find there is some confusion in regard to its size, and as I find our
county history contains this error : " The court-house, a one-story brick
building, was finished in 1832," I deem it of sufficient importance to
correct these errors, and to state that the court-house was a two-story
building, with a one story wing on the west extending along Main Street.
530

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
This wing was divided into two rooms, the first for the prothonotary's
office and the other for the commissioners' office. The main building
was two-storied, with an attic and belfry. The second story was divided
into four good-sized rooms, called jury-rooms. The southwest room was
used by the Methodists for a long time for their Thursday.evening prayer-
meeting. Alexander FuUerton was their janitor. The Union Sunday-
school was held here for years also. The northwest room was used as an
armory by the Brookville Rifles, — a volunteer company. The other two
were used as jury-rooms. I have played in every room of the old build
ing, and know every foot of it. The building cost three thousand dol
lars. The contractors were John Lucas and Robert P. Barr. It was torn
down in 1866 to make room for the present fine structure. Our alley-
ball games were all played for years behind the old court-house.
Our first jail was a stone structure, built of common stone, in 1831.
It was two stories high, was situated on the northeast corner of the public
lot, near Joseph Darr's residence, and fronting on Pickering Street.
Daniel Elgin was the contractor. The building was divided into eight
rooms, two down stairs and two up-stairs for the jail proper, and two
down-stairs and two up-stairs for the sheriff's residence and office. The
sheriff occupied the north part. The early church services in this building
were held in the jail part, up stairs. This old jail has a history, not the
most pleasant to contemplate or write about. It was used to imprison run
away slaves, and to lodge them overnight, by slave captors. Imprisoning
men for no other crime than desiring to enjoy life, Uberty, and the pur
suit of happiness ! There was a branch of the underground railroad for
the escape of slaves running through BrookviUe at that time. As many
as twenty-five of those unfortunate creatures have passed through Brook
ville in one day. Judge Heath, then living in our town, — a great Meth
odist and an abolitionist, — had to pay a fine of two thousand doUars for
aiding two slaves to escape from this old stone jail ; a big sura of money
to pay for performing a Christian, humane act. Was it not ? In this
stone jail men were imprisoned for debt, and kept in it until the last
penny was paid. I have seen some of the best men of that day in our
county imprisoned in this old jail for debt or bail money. I have seen
Thomas HaU, than whom I knew no better man, no better Christian, an
elder in the Presbyterian church, incarcerated in the old stone jail for
bail money. He had bailed a relative for the sum of fifty dollars, and
his relative let him suffer. Honest, big-hearted, generous. Christian
Thomas Hall ! Thank God that the day for such inhumanities as those
stated above are gone forever. This old jail was rented after the new
one was erected, and used as a butcher-shop until it was torn down to
make room for the present court-house.
In these days of fine carriages and BrookviUe wagons it might be
well to describe the wagon of 1840. It was called the Pennsylvania
531

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
wagon, was wide-tracked, and had wooden axles with iron skeins on the
spindles. The tongue was stiff, and reached about three feet ahead of
the horses. The horses were hitched to these wagons by iron trace- and
long tongue-chains. In rough roads I used to think every time the
tongue would strike a horse on the leg it would break it. Old team
horses understood this and would spread out to avoid these leg-blows.
The wheels were kept in place by means of an iron strap and linch-pin.
Every wagon carried its own tar on the coupling-pole under the hind
axle. The carriage of that day was called a dearborn wagon. I am
unable to describe these, although I used to see thera. The making of
tar was one of the industries then. It retailed at twenty and twenty-five
cents a gallon, and brought from three to four dollars a barrel at Pitts
burg. These old wagofts would screech fearfully if they were not kept
properly lubricated with this tar.
Big political conventions were held in those days, and a great custom
was to have a young lady dressed in white to represent each of the dif
ferent States, and have all these ladies in one wagon, which would be
drawn by four or six horses.
In the hotels of that day the " bar" was constructed for the safety of
the bartender. It was a solid structure with a counter in front, from
which a sliding door on iron rods could be shoved up and locked, or
shut down and locked; hence the hotel man could "bar" himself in
and the drunken raen out. This was for safety in dispensing whiskey,
and is the origin of the word "bar" in connection with hotels. In 1840
all our hotel bars were so raade.
Lumbering in 1840 was one of our principal industries. AA''e had no
eastern outlet, and everything had to be rafted to Pittsburg. The saw
mills were nearly all "up and down" mills. The "thunder-gust" mills
were those on small streams. All were driven by flutter-wheels and
water. It required usually but one man to run one of these mills. He
could do all the work and saw from one to two thousand feet of boards
in twelve hours. Pine boards sold in the Pittsburg market then at three
and four dollars per thousand ; clear pine at ten dollars per thousand.
Of course these sales were on credit. The boards were rafted in the
creek in "seven-platform" pieces, by means of grubs. The oars were
hung on what were called thole-pins. The front of each raft had a
bumper and splash-board as a protection in going over dams. The creeks
then were full of short bends, rocks, and drift. Cables were unknown
here, and a halyard made from hickory withes or water-beech was used
as a cable to tie up with. " Grousers" were used to assist in tying up.
A pilot then received four dollars to the mouth of the creek ; forehands,
two doUars and expenses. The logging in the woods was all done with
oxen. The camp and mill boarding consisted of bread, flitch, beans,
potatoes, Orleans molasses, sometimes a little butter, and coffee or
532

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
tea without cream. Woodsmen were paid sixteen doUars a month and
boarded, and generally paid in store- orders or trade.
We usually had three floods on which to run this lumber, — spring,
June, and fall. At these tiraes rafts were plenty and people were scarce,
and, as time and tide wait for no man, whenever a flood came every
body had to turn out and assist to run the rafts. The boy had to leave
his school, the minister his pulpit, the doctor abandon his patients, the
lawyer his briefs, the merchant his yard- stick, the farmer his crops or
seeding. And there was one great corapensation in this, — nearly every
body got to see Pittsburg.
"Running down the creek and gigging back" was the business lan
guage of everybody. " How many trips have you made?" etc. It took
about twelve hours to run a raft from the neighborhood of Brookville to
the mouth, or the Allegheny River, and ordinarily it required hard
walking to reach home the next day. Sorae ambitious, industrious pilots
would "run down in the daytime and walk back the same night."
James T. Carroll has made four of these trips in succession, Joseph Sho
bert five, and William Green four or five. Of course, these pilots re
mained down the last night. This extraordinary labor was accomplished
without ever going to bed. Although some may be incredulous, these are
facts, as the parties interested are still alive (1895). Pilots sometimes ran
all night. Joseph Shobert has started from Brookville at five o'clock p.m.
and reached the raouth at five o'clock in the morning. Other pilots
have done this also.
Pine square timber was taken out and marketed in Pittsburg. No
other timber was marketable, and then only the best part of the pine
could be hewed and rafted. Often but one stick would be used frora a
tree. In Pittsburg this tiraber brought from four to eight cents a foot,
running measure.
The square timber business was then the business. Every lumberman
followed it, and every farraer ran one timber raft at least. The "taking
out of square timber" had to be done in the fall, before snow came.
The trees were felled, "cut in sticks," "scored in," and hewn smooth
and square. Each "lumber tract" had its log cabin and barn. The
"sticks" were hauled to the creek on a "bob" sled in the snow by oxen
or horses, and banked until time to "raft in" and get ready for the
" spring flood." It was the timber trade that made the pioneer prosper
ous and intelligent.
The lumbermen could contract with hewers for the cutting, scoring,
and hewing of pine timber, complete, ready to be hauled, for from three-
quarters to one and a quarter cents per foot. All timber was generally
well faced on one side, and was rafted with lash-poles of iron-wood or
white oak, and securely fastened in position by means of white-oak bows
and ash pins. Bows and pins were an article of merchandise then. Bows
533

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
sold at seventy-five cents a hundred, and ash pins brought fifty cents a
hundred. Grubs for board rafts sold at two dollars and fifty cents a
hundred. Oar stems were then made from small sapling dead pines.

shaved down. Pine timber or wild lands could then be bought at from
one dollar te two doUars per acre.
Along the lower end of our creeks and on the Allegheny River there
lived a class of people who caught and appropriated all the loose logs,
shingles, boards, and timber they could find floating down the streams.
534

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
These men were called by the early lumbermen Algerines, or pirates.
The name Algerine originated thus: In the war of 1812 "the dey of
Algiers took the opportunity of capturing an American vessel and con

demning her crew to slavery. Then a powerful squadron, under Porter
and Perry, early in 1815, appeared in the Mediterranean, captured the
largest frigate in the Algerine navy, and with other naval successes so
terrified the dey that he immediately consented to a treaty of amicable
relations, surrendered all his prisoners, made certain pecuniary in-
535

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
demnities, and renounced all future claim to any American tribute or
payments. ' '
As there has been considerable agitation over my paragraph on poll-
evil in horses, I reprint here a slip that has been sent me :
"an OLD TIME CURE FOR POLL- EVIL.
" Ed. Spirit, — I am moved by your quotation from Dr. McKnight's
article in the Brookville Democrat on the old-time nonsense in relation
to poll-evil in horses to say that the doctor's explanation of the cause
of that severe affliction on the poor brute's head is in part correct ; but
it was mainly owing te the low door- ways and the low mow-timbers just
above the horse's head as he stood in the stall of the old-time log stables.
The horse often struck his head en the lintel of the low door-way as he
passed in and out ; and as he stood in the stall, when roughly treated by
his master, in throwing up his head it came in violent contact with the
timbers, and continued bruising resulted uUiraately in the fearful, painful
abscesses referred to. There were those in that day who had reputations
for skill in the cure of poll- evil, and their method was this : The afflicted
animal must be brought to the doctor before the break of day. An axe
was newly ground. The doctor must not speak a word to any person on
any subject after the horse was given into his hand until the feat was per
forraed. Before sunrise the doctor took the axe and the horse and pro
ceeded out of sight of any human habitation, going towards the east.
When such a spot was reached he turned towards the animal, bent down
its head firmly and gently, drew the sharpened blade of the axe first
lengthwise, then crosswise of the abscess sufficiently to cause the blood
to flow, muttering meanwhile some mystic words ; then, just below where
the head of the horse was, he struck the bloody axe in the ground, left it
there, turned immediately around, walked rapidly away, leading the
animal, and not at all looking back until he had delivered it into the
hand of the owner, who was waiting at a distance to receive it, and who
took it home at once. The next morning at sunrise the axe was re
moved, and in due time the cure was effected. "An Old-Timer.
"Smicksburg, Pa., September 7, 1S94."
The first known person to live within the confines of the present
borough was Jim Hunt, an Indian of the Muncy tribe. He was here as
early as 1797, and was in banishment for killing a warrior of his own
tribe. By an Indian law he was not allowed to live in his tribe until
the place of the warrior he had slain was filled by the capture of another
male from white people or from other Indians. In 1808, Jim's friends
stole a white boy in AA'estraoreland County, Pennsylvania, and had him
accepted into the tribe in place of the warrior Jim had killed. Jim
Hunt's residence or cave was near the deep hole, or near the sand
536

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
spring, on Sandy Lick, and was discovered in 1843 by Mr. Thomas
Graham. After 181 2 Jim Hunt never returned. He was a great bear-
hunter, having kiUed seventy-eight in one winter. He loved "fire
water," and all his earnings went for this beverage; yet he never dared
to get so drunk he could not run to his cave when he heard a peculiar
Indian whoop on Mill Creek hills. His Indian enemies pursued him,
and his Indian friends looked after him and warned him to flee to his
hiding-place by a peculiar whoop. Little Snow, a Seneca chief, lived at
the sand spring in 1800, and it was then called " Wolf Spring."
The first white person to settle in what is now Brookville was Moses
Knapp. He built a log house about 1801 at the mouth of North Fork
Creek, on ground now owned by Thomas L. Templeton, near Christ's
brewery. The first white child born within the limits of what is now
Brookville was Joshua Knapp, on Mr. Templeton's lot, at the mouth of
the North Fork, in the month of March, 1810. He is still living (1895)
in Pine Creek township, about two miles from the town. About 1806 or
1807, Knapp built a log grist-mill where the waters of the North Fork then
entered the Red Bank. It was a rude mill, and had but one run of rock-
stones. In 18 18 he sold this mill to Thomas Barnett. James Parks, Bar
nett's brother-in-law, came to run this mill about 1824 (Barnett having
died), and lived here until about 1830. Parks came from Westraoreland
County, Pennsylvania, and brought with him and held in legal slavery
here a negro man named "Sam," who was the y?rj-^ colored person to
live in what is now called Brookville.
Joseph B. Graham, Esq., of Eldred township, informs me that he
carried a grist on horseback to this mill of one half-bushel of shelled
corn for this Sam to grind. Mr. Grahara says his father put the corn
in one end of the bag and a big stone in the other end to balance the
corn. That was the custom, but the 'squire says they did not know any
better. Joshua Knapp, Uriah Matson, and John Dixon all took grists
of corn and buckwheat to this miU for "Sam," the miller, to grind.
" Happy the miller who lives by the mill.
For by the turning of his hand he can do what he will."
But this was not so with "Sam." At his master's nod he could
grind his own "peck of meal," for his body, his work, his Ufe, and his
will belonged to Parks. Many settlers in early days carried corn to the
grist-mill on their own shoulders, or on the neck-yoke of a pair of oxen.
I have seen both of these methods used by persons living ten and fifteen
miles from a mill.
The census of 1830 gives Jefferson County a population of 2003
whites, 21 free colored persons, and i colored slave. This slave, we
suppose, was " Sam."
BrookviUe was laid out as the county seat in 1830, but it was not
35 537

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
incorporated as a borough until April 9, 1834. (See pamphlet laws of
1834, page 209.) The first house was erected in August, 1830. The
first election held in the new borough for officials was in the spring
of 1835. Joseph Sharpe was elected constable. Darius Carrier and
Alexander McKnight were elected school directors. The first complete
set of borough officers were elected in 1835, and were as follows :
Burgess, Thomas Lucas ; Council, John Dougherty, James Corbett,
John Pierce, Samuel Craig, AVm. A. Sloan; Constable, John McLaughlin
(this man McLaughlin was a great hunter, and could neither read nor
write ; he moved to Brockwayville, and from there went West) ; School
Directors, Levi G. Clover, Sarauel Craig, David Henry, C. A. Alexander,
Wra. A. Sloan, Jaraes Corbett.
In 1840 the borough officers were :
Burgess, AVilliam Jack ; Council, Elijah Heath, John Gallagher, Cyrus
Butler, Levi G. Clover, John Dougherty, William Rodgers ; Constable,
John Dougherty.
Of these early fathers the only one now living (1895) is Major William
Rodgers. He resides about a mile from town, on the Corsica road.
In 1840 the "itch" was in BrookviUe, and popular all the year round.
As bath-tubs were unknown and family bathing rare, this itch was the
seven-year kind. Head-lice among the people and in the schools were
also common. Had I been familiar with Burns in my boyhood, many a
time, while seeing a louse crawl on and ever a boy or girl in our schools,
I could have exclaimed, — •
" O, Jenny, dinna toss your head
An' set your beauties a' abraed ;
Ye little ken what cussed speed
The beast's a makin'."
The only cure for lice was to "rid" out the hair every few days with a
big, coarse comb, crack the nits between the thumb-nails, and then satu
rate the hair with "red precipity," using a fine-tooth comb. The itch
was cured by the use of an ointment made of brimstone and lard.
During school-terms many children wore little sacks of powdered brim
stone about their necks. This was supposed to be a preventive.
In 1840 the only music-books we had were " The Beauties of Har
mony" and "The Missouri Harmony." Each of these contained the
eld "buckwheat" notes of me, fa, sol, la. Every one could not afford
one of these books. Music- teachers travelled through the county and
taught classes. A class was twenty-six scholars, a term thirteen nights,
and the tuition-fee fifty cents for each scholar. Teachers used " tuning-
forks," and some played a violin in connection with the class-singing.
The teacher opened the singing by exhorting the class to "sound your
pitches, — sol, fa, la." 538

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
In 1840, Billy Boo, an eccentric, intelligent hermit, lived in a hut en
the farm in Rose township now occupied by William Hughey. Although
he Hved in this hut, he spent most of his wakeful hours in Brookville. He
was a man of good habits, and all that he would tell, or any one could
learn of hira or his nativity, was that he came from England. He was
about five feet five or six inches high, heavy set, and stoop-shouldered.
He usually dressed in white flannel clothes. Sometimes his clothing,
from being darned so much, looked as if it had been quilted. He Uved
upon the charity of the people, and by picking up a few pennies for
some light gardening jobs. He died as a charge on Brookville borough
in 1863. Indian relics were found frequently on our hills and in our valleys in
1840. They consisted of stone tomahawks, darts, arrows, and flints.
Prior to and during 1840 a form of legalized slavery was practised in
this State and county in regard to minor children. Poor or destitute
children were "bound out" or indentured by the poor overseers to
masters or mistresses, boys until they were twenty- one years of age and
girls until they were eighteen. Parents exercised this privilege also. All
apprentices were then bound to mechanics to learn trades. The period
of this indenture was three years. The law was severe on the children,
and in favor of the master or mistress. Under these conditions cruelties
were practised, and children and apprentices tried to escape them. Of
course, there were bad children who ran away from kind masters and
mistresses. The master or mistress usually advertised these runaways.
I have seen many of these in our papers. I reprint one of these ad
vertisements, taken from the Gazette and Columbian, published by J.
CroU & Co., at Kittanning, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, on August
8,1832: "^5 Reward.
" Run away from the subscriber, living in the borough of Kittanning,
on the 2 2d inst., an indentured apprentice to the Tailoring business, named
Henry P. Huffman, between 18 or 19 years of age, stout made and black
hair, had on when he went away a light cotton roundabout, and panta
loons of the same, and a new fur hat. Whoever apprehends the said
runaway and delivers him to the subscriber in Kittanning shall receive
the above reward. "John AVilliams.
" Kittanning, July 25, 1832."
In the forties the election for State officers was held on the second
Tuesday of October of each year, and in the absence of telegraphs, rail
roads, etc., it took about four weeks to hear any definite result from an
election, and then the result was published with a tail to it, — "Pike,
Potter, McKean, and Jefferson to hear from. " It is amusing to recall
539

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
the reason usually given for a defeat at these elections by the unsuccess
ful party. It was this : " The day v^as fine and clear, a good day for
threshing buckwheat; therefore our voters failed to turn out." The
editor of the defeated party always published this poetic stanza for the
consolation of his friends :
" Truth crushed to earth will rise again.
The eternal years of God are hers.
While error, wounded, writhes in pain.
And dies amidst her worshippers."
In a Presidential contest we never knew the result with any certainty
until the 4th of March, or inauguration-day.
In 1840, according to the census, the United States contained a pop
ulation of 17,062,666 people, of which, 2,487,113 were slaves. The em
ployments of the people were thus divided: Agriculture, 3,717,756;
commerce, 117,575; manufactures and trades, 791,545; navigating the
ocean, 56,025; navigating rivers, canals, etc., 33,067; mining, 15,203;
learned professions, 65,236.
The Union then consisted of 26 States, and we had 223 Congress
men. The ratio of population for a Congressman was 70,680. In this
computation five slaves would count as three white men, although the
slaves were not aUowed to vote. Our Territories were populated thus :
District of Columbia, 43,712; Florida, 54,477; Wisconsin, 30,945;
Iowa, 43,112. The chief cities and towns were thus populated :
New York . . . 312,710
Philadelphia . . .... 228,691
Baltimore . ... 102,313
New Orleans . , . 102,193
Boston . 93,393
Cfncinnati . . . 46,338
Brooklyn . . 35,234
Albany ... . . . , . 33,721
Charleston ... .... 29,261
Washington . ... . 23,364
Providence . . . 23,171
Louisville . .  21,210
Pittsburg. . ... 21,115
Lowell . . . 20,796
Rochester . ... 20,191
Richmond . . .  20,133
Buffalo .... . ... 18,210
Newark . ... 17,293
St. Louis ... , 16,469
Portland . . . . . . 15,218
Salem .... . . 16,083
Brookville .  276
540

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Household or family goods were produced in 1840 to the amount of
^29,230,380. Total amount of capital employed in manufactures, ^267,726,579.
The whole expenses of the Revolutionary War were estimated, in
specie, at $135,193,703.
In 1840 it was the custom for newspapers to publish in one of their
issues, after the adjournment of the Legislature, a complete list by title of
all the enactments of that session.
In the forties fruit was scarce and inferior in these woods, and as
" boys were boys then" all kinds of means, both fair and foul, were re
sorted to by the boys to get a fill of apples. Johnny Lucas, Johnny Jones,
Yankee Smith, and Mrs. Fuller used to bring apples and peaches into the
village and retail them out on the street. I have seen this trick played
frequently on these venders by two boys, — viz. : a boy would go up
to the wagon, holding his cap with both hands and ask for a sixpence
worth of apples or peaches. The vender would then count the apples
and drop them in the cap. The boy would then let go of the cap with
one hand as if to pay, when boy No. 2 would snatch the cap and
apples out of his hand and run for dear Ufe down the street and into
the first alley. The owner of the cap, in apparent anger, would imme
diately take after this thief, forget to pay, and in the alley help eat the
apples. In 1840 " shingle weavers" brought their shingles to Brookville to
barter. A shingle weaver was a man who did not steal timber. He only
went into the pine-woods and there cut the clearest and best tree
he could find, and hauled it home to his shanty in blocks, and there
split and shaved the blocks into shingles. He bartered his shingles
in this way : he would first have his gallon or two-gallon jug filled with
whiskey, then take several pounds of Baltimore plug-tobacco, and then
have the balance coming to him apportioned in New Orleans molasses,
flitch, and flour. Many a barter of this kind have I billed when acting
as clerk. Timothy Pickering & Co., Leroy & Linklain, AA'^elhelm AA^illink,
Jeremiah Parker, Holland Land Company, Robert Morris, Robert Gil
more, William Bingham, John Nicholson, Dr. AA^illiam Cathcart, Dr.
James Hutchinson, and a few others owned about all the land in Jef
ferson County. This goes a great length to disprove the demagogy
you hear so much nowadays about the few owning and gobbling up
all the land. How many people own a piece of Jefferson County
to-day ?
In 1840 the only newspaper pubUshed in Jefferson County was the
Backwoodsman, published in BrookviUe by Thomas Hastings & Son.
Captain John Hastings, who is still living in Punxsutawney, was the son.
The terms of this paper were one dollar and seventy-five cents in advance,
541

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
two doUars if paid within the year, and two dollars and fifty cents if not
paid within the year. Hastings & Son sold the paper to William Jack.
Jack rented the paper to a practical printer by the name of George F.
Humes, who continued the pubUcation until after the October election
in 1843, when he announced in an editorial that his patrons might go to
h — U and he would go to Texas. Barton T. Hastings then bought and
assumed control of the paper, and pubUshed it until 1846 as the Brookville
feffersonian. Mr. Hastings is still living in Brookville.
I reprint here a large portion of the proceedings of an old-time cele
bration of the Fourth of July in 1843 '^'^ Brookville. AVe copy from the
Backwoodsman, dated August i, 1843, then edited by George F. Humes.
The editorial article in the Backwoodsman is copied entire. The oration
of D. S. Deering, all the regular toasts, and part of the volunteer toasts
are omitted because of their length. Editor Huraes's article was headed
"FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION.
"The citizens of Brookville and vicinity celebrated the sixty-seventh
anniversary of Araeriean independence in a spirited and becoming man
ner. The glorious day was ushered in by the firing ef cannon and ring
ing of bells. At an early hour the ' Independent Greens,' commanded
by Captain Hugh Brady, formed into parade order, making a fine ap
pearance, and marched through the principal streets, cheering and en
livening the large body of spectators, whose attention appeared to be
solely drawn to their skilful rehearsals of military tactics ; and, after
spending some time in a course of drilling, joined the large assembly,
without distinction of party or feeling, under the organization and direc
tion of John McCrea, Esq., president of the day, and Samuel B. Bishop
and Colonel Thomas AVilkins, marshals ; when they proceeded to the
court-house, where the Declaration of Independence was read in a clear
and impressive tone by L. B. Dunham, Esq., after which David S. Deer
ing, Esq., delivered an address very appropriate to the occasion, touch
ing with point and pathos upon the inducements which impelled our
fathers to raise the flag of war against the mother- country. The com
pany then formed into line, and proceeded to the hotel of Mr. George
McLaughlin, at the head of Main Street, where they sat down to a well-
served, delicious, and plentiful repast, the ladies forming a smiling and
interesting ' platoon' on one side of the table, which added much to
the hilarity of the celebration. After the cloth was removed, and the
president and committees had taken their seats, a number of toasts
applicable to the times, and as varied in sentiment as the ages of the mul
titude, were offered and read, accompanied by repeated cheering and a
variety of airs from the brass band, thus passing the day in that union
and harmony so characteristic ef Americans. It was indeed a ' Union
celebration.' 542

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"VOLUNTEER TOASTS.
" By John McCrea. Our Brookville celebration : a union of parties, a
union of feeling, theimien estabUshed by our Revolutionary fathers of ' 76.
May union continue to mark our course until time shall be no more.
" By AA'. AV. Corbett. Liberty, regulated by law, and law by the
virtues of American legislators.
"By WUUam B. AVilkins. Henry Clay: a man of tried principles,
of admitted competency, and unsuUied integrity, may he be the choice of
the people fer the next Presidency in 1844.
" By Evans R. Brady. The Democrats of the Erie district : 2, form,
locked up in the chase of disorganization ; well squabbled at one side by
the awkward formation of the district. If not locked tight by the side-
sticks of regular nominations, well driven by the quoins of unity, and
knocked in by the sheep' s foot oi "pnre principles, it will be battered "by the
points of whiggery, bit by the frisket of self interest ; and when they^^r^-
man comes to lift it on the second Tuesday of October, will stand a fair
chance to be knocked into //
"By Michael Woods. Richard M. Johnston, of Kentucky : a states
man who has been long and thoroughly tried and never found wanting.
His nomination for the next Presidency will still the angry waves of politi
cal strife, and the great questions which now agitate the nation will be
settled upon democratic principles.
" By Hugh Brady. The citizens of Jefferson County : they have
learned their political rights by experience ; let them practise the lesson
with prudence.
" By B. T. Hastings. The Hon. James Buchanan ; the Jefferson of
Pennsylvania and choice for the Presidency in 1844. His able and
manly course in the United States Senate on all intricate and important
subjects entitles him to the entire confidence and support of the whole
Democracy. "By Andrew Craig. Henry Clay : a worthy and honest statesman,
who has the good of his country at heart, and is well qualified to fill the
Presidential chair.
" By A. Hutcheson. American independence: a virtuous old maid,
sixty-eight years old to-day. God bless her.
"By David S. Deering. The Declaration of Independence: a rich
legacy, bequeathed us by our ancestors. May it be transmitted from
one generation to another until time shall be no more.
" By the company. The orator of the day, David S. Deering : may
his course through life be as promising as his commencement.
" By D. S. Deering. The mechanics of BrookviUe : their structures
are enduring monuments of skill, industry, and perseverance.
" By George F. Humes. The American Union : a well adjusted
543

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
form of twenty-six pages, fairly locked up in the chase of precision by the
quoins ef good workmen. May their proof-sheets be well pointed and
their regular impressions a perfect specimen for the world te look upon.
"By John Hastings. James Buchanan: the able defender of the
rights of the people and the high wages candidate for the Presidency in
1844. His elevation to that pest is now without a doubt. "
In 1840 the mails were carried on horseback or in stage-coaches.
Coramunications of news, business, or affection were slow and uncertain.
There were no envelopes for letters. Each letter had to be folded so as
to leave the outside blank and one side smooth, and the address was
written on this smooth side. Letters were sealed with red wafers, and
the postage was six and a quarter cents for every hundred miles, or frac
tion thereof, over which it was carried in the mails. The postage on a
letter to Philadelphia was eighteen and three-quarter cents, or three "fip-
penny bits." You could mail your letter without prepaying the postage
(a great advantage to economical people), or you could prepay it at your
option. Postage-stamps were unknown. When you paid the postage the
postmaster stamped on the letter " Paid." When the postage was to be
paid by the person addressed, the postmaster marked on it the amount
due, thus: "Due, 6J4^ cents."
In 1840 nearly half of our American people could neither read nor
write, and less than half of them had the opportunity or inclination to
do so. Newspapers were small affairs, and the owners of them were poor
and their business unprofitable.
The candles used in our houses were either "dips" or "moulds."
The "dips" were made by twisting and doubling a number of cotton
wicks upon a round, smooth stick at a distance from each other of about
the desired thickness of the candle. Then they were dipped into a kettle
of melted tallow, when the ends of the sticks were hung on the backs of
chairs to cool. The dipping and cooling process was thus repeated till
the ' ' dips' ' attained the proper thickness. This work was done after the
fall butchering. " Moulds" were made in tin or pewter tubes, two, four,
six, eight, ten, or twelve in a frame, joined together, the upper part of
the frarae forming a trough, into which the moulds opened, and from
which they received the melted tallow. To make the candles, as many
wicks as there were tubes were doubled ever a small round stick placed
across the top of the frame, and these wicks were passed down through
the tubes and fastened at the lower end. Melted tallow was poured into
the trough at the top till all the tubes were filled. The moulds were
usually allowed to stand overnight before the candles were "dravvn."
The possession of a set of candle-moulds by a family was an evidence of
some wealth. These candles were burned in "candlesticks," made of
tin, iron, or brass, and each one had a broad, flat base, turned up around
the rim to catch the grease. Sometimes, when the candle was exposed
544

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
to a current of air, it would " gutter" all away. A pair of " snuffers,"
made of iron or brass, was a necessary article in every house, and had to
be used frequently to cut away the charred or burned wick. Candles
sold in the stores at twelve to fifteen cents per pound. One candle was
the number usually employed to read or write by, and two were generally
deemed sufficient to light a store, — one to carry around to do the seUing
by, and the other to stand on the desk to do the charging by.
Watches were rare, and clocks were not numerous in 1840. The
watches I remember seeing in those days were " EngUsh levers" and
"cylinder escapements," with sorae old "bull's-eyes." The clocks in
use were of the eight-day sort, with works of wood, run by weights
instead of springs. Along in the forties clocks with brass works, called
the "brass clock," came into use. A large majority of people were
without " time pieces." Evening church services were announced thus :
"There will be preaching in this house on  evening, God willing,
and no preventing providence, at early candle-lighting. ' '
In 1840 the judge of our court was Alexander McCalmont, of Frank
lin, Venango County. Our associate judges from 1841 te 1843 '^^ere
James Winslow and James L. Gillis. Our local or home lawyers were
Hugh Brady, Cephas J. Dunham, Benjamin Bartholomew, Caleb A.
Alexander, L. B. Dunham, Richard Arthurs, Elijah Heath, D. B. Jenks,
Thomas Lucas, D. S. Deering, S. B. Bishop, and Jesse G. Clark. Many
eminent lawyers from adjoining counties attended our courts regularly
at this period. They usually came on horseback, and brought their
papers, etc. , in large leather saddle-bags. Most of these foreign lawyers
were very polite gentlemen, and very particular not to refuse a " drink."
Moses Knapp, Sr., was our pioneer court crier. Elijah Graham was
our second court crier, but I think Cyrus Butler served in this capacity
in 1840. In 1840 there was no barber-shop in the town. The tailors then cut
hair, etc., for the people as an accommodation. My mother used to send
rae for that purpose to McCreight's tailor-shop. The first barber to
locate in BrookviUe was a colored man named Nathan Smith. He bar-
bered and ran a confectionery and oyster saloon. He lived here for a
number of years, but finally turned preacher and moved away. Some
high old times occurred in his back room which I had better not men
tion here. He operated on the Major Rodgers lot, now the Eddleblute
property. Then "Hollow Eve," as it was called, was celebrated regularly on
the night of October 31 of every year. The amount of malicious mis
chief and destruction done on that evening in BrookviUe, and patiently
suffered and overlooked, is reaUy indescribable. The Presidential con
test in 1840, between Harrison, AVhig, and Van Buren, Democrat, was
perhaps the most intense and bitter ever known in this nation.
545

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
The first exclusively drug-store in Brookville was opened and managed
by D. S. Deering, Esq., in 1848. It was located in a building where
McKnight & Brothers' building now stands, on the spot where McKnight
& Son carry on their drug business. The first exclusively grocery-store in
Brookville was opened and owned by AV. W. Corbett, and was located in
the east room of the American Hotel. The first exclusively hardware-
store in the town was opened and owned by John S. King, now of Clear
field, Pennsylvania. Brookville ewes much to the sagacity of Mr. King
for our beautiful cemetery.
In the forties the boring of pitch-pine into pump-logs was quite a
business in Brookville. One of the first persons to work at this was
Charles P. Merriman, who moved here from the East. By the way, Mer
riman was the greatest snare-drummer I ever heard. He also manufac
tured and repaired drums while here. He had a drura-beat pecuUarly
his own, and with it he could drown out a whole band. He introduced
his beat by teaching druraraing-schools. It is the beat of the Bowdishes,
the Bartletts, and the Schnells. It consists of single and double drags.
I never heard this beat in the array or in any other locality than here,
and only from persons who had directly or indirectly learned it from Mer
riman. Any old citizen can verify the marvellous and wonderful power
and skill of Merriman with a drum. No pupil of his here ever approached
him in skill. The nearest to him was the late Captain John Dowling,
of the One Hundred and Fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. It
was the custom then for the different bands in the surrounding townships
to attend the Fourth of July celebrations in Brookville. The Monger
band, father and sons, from Warsaw township, used to come. They had
a peculiar open beat that old Mr. Monger called the 18 12 beat. The
Belleview band came also. It was the Campbell band, father and sons.
Andrew C. and James (1895), after going through the war, are still able
on our public occasions to enliven us with martial strains. The Lucas
band, from Dowlingville, also visited us in 'the forties. Brookville had
a faraous fifer in the person of Harvey Clover. He always carried an
extra fife in his pocket, because he was apt to burst one. When he
" blowed" the fife you would have thought the devil was in it sure.
In 1847 the town had water-works, the enterprise of Judge Jared B.
Evans. The Spring that furnished the water was what is now known as
the American Spring. The conduit-pipes were bored yellow- pine logs,
and the plant was quite expensive, but owing to some trouble about the
tannery, which stood on the spot where the American barn now stands,
the vvater- plant was destroyed. Judge Evans was a useful citizen. He
died some three years ago.
In 1840 the church collection was either taken up in a hat with a
handkerchief in it or in a little bag attached to a pole.
H. Clay Campbell, Esq., has kindly furnished me the legal rights of
546

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
married women in Pennsylvania from 1840 until the present date. The
common law was adopted by Pennsylvania, and has governed all rights
except those which may have been modified from time to time by statute.
Blackstone's Commentaries, Book I., page 442, says, "By marriage, the
husband and wife are one person in law ; that is, the very being or legal
existence of the woman is suspended during the marriage, or at least is
incorporated and consolidated into that of her husband, under whose
wing, protection, and cover she performs everything. ' '
You see the rights surrendered by a woman marrying under the com
mon law were two : First, the right to make a contract ; secondly, the
right to property and her own earnings. To compensate for this she
acquired one right, — the right to be chastised. For as the husband was to
answer for her misbehavior, the law thought it reasonable to intrust him
with the power of restraining her, by domestic chastisement, with the
same moderation that a man is allowed to correct his apprentice or his
children. In 1840 married women had no right te the property bequeathed to
them by their parents, unless it was put into the hands of a trustee, and
by marriage the husband became the immediate and absolute owner of
the personal property of the wife which she had in possession at the time
of marriage, and this property could never again revert to the wife or
her representatives. She could acquire no personal property during
marriage by industry, and if she obtained any by gift or otherwise,
it became immediately by and through the law the property of her hus
band. This condition prevailed until the passage of an act, dated
nth of April, 1848, which in sorae slight degree modified this injustice
of the common law. By that act it was provided that all property which
belonged to her before marriage, as well as all that might accrue to her
afterwards, should remain her property. Then came another modifica
tion by the act of 1855, which provided, among other things, that " when
ever a husband, from drunkenness, profligacy, or other cause, shall
neglect or refuse to provide for his wife, she shall have the rights and
privileges secured to a. femme-sole trader under the act of 17 18." Modi
fications have been made from year to year, granting additional privi
leges to a wife to manage her own property, among which may be noted
the act of 1871, enabling her to sell and transfer shares of the stock of a
railroad company. By the act of May, 1874, she may draw checks upon
a bank. During all these years of enlightenment the master has still
held the wife in the toils of bondage, and it was with great grudging that
he acknowledged that a married woman had the right to claim anything.
The right to the earnings of the wife received its first modification when
the act of April, 1872, was passed, which granted to the wife, if she
went into court, and the court granted her petition, the right to claim
her earnings. But legally the wife remained the most abject of slaves
547

PIONEER HISTORY OE JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
until the passage of the "married woman's personal property act" of
1887, giving and granting to her the right to contract and acquire prop
erty ; and it was not until 1893 ^hat she was granted the same rights as
an unmarried woman, excepting as to her right to convey her real estate,
make a mortgage, or become bail.
The higher education of women in the seminary and college is of
American origin, and in 1840 there was an occasional young ladies' semi
nary here and there throughout the country. These isolated institutions
were organized and carried on by scattered individuals who had great
persistency and courage. Being of American origin its greatest progress
has been here, and at present there are mere than two hundred institu
tions for the superior education of women in the United States, and fully
one half of these bear the name of college. The women who graduate
to-day from colleges and high schools outnumber the men, and as a result
of this mental discipline and training women are now found throughout
the world in every profession, in all trades, and in every vocation.
" Preferring sense from chin that's bare
To nonsense 'throned in whiskered hair."
AVemen are now admitted to the bar in nine different States of the
Union, and by an act of Congress she may now practise before the
United States Supreme Court.
In 1840 woraen had but one vocation for a livelihood, — viz., marriage
and housekeeping. Then female suffrage was unknown. To-day (1895)
women vote on an equality with men in two States, Colorado and
AA'yoming, and they can vote in a limited form in twenty other States
and Territories.
In 1840 women had no religious rights. She did not dare to speak,
teach, or pray in public, and if she desired any knowledge in this direc
tion, she was admonished to ask her husband at home. The only excep
tion I knew to this rule was in the Methodist Church, which from its
organization has recognized the right of women te teach, speak in class-
meetings, and to pray in the public prayer-meeting.
In 1840 women had no industrial rights. I give below a little ab
stract from the census of 1880, fourteen years ago, which will show what
some of our women were working at then and are working at now.
FEMALE WORKERS.
.-Vrtists, 2016; authors, 320; assayists, chemists, and architects, 2136;
barbers, 2902; dress-makers, 281,928; doctors, 2433; journalists, 238;
lawyers, 75 ; musicians, 13,181 ; preachers, 165 ; printers, 3456; tailors,
52,098; teachers, 194,375; nurses, 12,294; stock raisers, 216; farmers,
56,809; in government employ as clerks, 2171; managing commercial
and industrial interests, 14,465. And now in 1894 we have 6000 post-
548

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
mistresses, 10,500 women have secured patents fer inventions, and
300,000 women are in gainful occupations. I confess that this statement
looks to the intelligent mind as though " the hand that rocks the cradle' '
will soon not only move but own the world.
The earliest schools established by the settlers of Pennsylvania were
the home school, the church school, and the public subscription school,
the most simple and primitive in style. The subscription or public school
remained in force until the law of 1809 was enacted, which was intended
for a State system, and which provided a means of education for the
poor, but retained the subscription character of pay for the rich. This
1809 system remained in force until 1834. The raethod of hiring
"masters" for a subscription school was as follows: A meeting was
called by public notice in a district. At this gathering the people chose,
in their own way, three of their number to act as a school committee.
This committee hired the master and exercised a superintendence over
the school. The master was paid by the patrons of the school in pro
portion to the number of days each had sent a child to school. A rate-
bill was made out by the master and given to the coraraittee, who col
lected the tuition-money and paid it to the master. The terms of these
schools were irregular, but usually were for three months.
The studies pursued were spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetic.
The daily programme was two or four reading lessons, two speUing les
sons, — one at noon and one at evening, — the rest of the tirae being de
voted to writing and doing "suras" in arithmetic. It was considered at
that time (and even as late as my early schooling) that it was useless and
foolish for a girl to learn more at school than to spell, read, and write.
Of course there was no uniformity in text-books. The child took to the
school whatever book he had, hence there was, and could be, no classifi
cation. Black-beards were unknown. When any information was wanted
about a " sum," the scholar either called the master or took his book and
went to him.
The first school-master in Jefferson County was John Dixon. His first
term was for three months, and was in the year 1803 or 1804. The first
school-house was built on the Ridgway road, two miles from BrookviUe,
on the farm now owned by D. B. McConnell. I give Professor Blose's
description of this school-house :
" The house was built of rough logs, and had neither window-sash
nor pane. The Ught was admitted through chinks in the wall, over which
greased paper was pasted. The floor was made with puncheons, and the
seats from broad pieces spUt from logs, with pins in the under side, for
legs. Boards laid on pins fastened in the wall furnished the pupils with
writing-desks. A log fireplace, the entire length of one end, suppUed
warmth when the weather was cold."
The era of these log school-houses in Jefferson County is gone,— gone
549

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
forever. We have now (1895) school property to the value of $269, 300.
We have 196 modern school-houses, with 262 school-rooms, 295 schools,
and the Bible is read in 251 of these. There is no more master's call in
the school-room, but we have 131 female and 149 male teachers, — a total
of 280 teachers in the county. The average yearly term is six and a half
months. The average salary fer male teachers is ^39 50, and for female
teachers, I33. Total wages received by teachers each year, $64,913.20.
Number of female scholars, 5839 ; number of male scholars, 6073. The
amount of tax levied for school purposes is $56,688.23. Received by
county from State appropriation, $42,759.72.
The act of 1 809 raade it the duty of assessors to receive the naraes of
all children between the ages of five and twelve years whose parents were
unable to pay for their schooling, and these poor children were to be
educated by the county. This law was very unpopular, and the schools
did not prosper. The rich were opposed to this law because they paid
all the tax-bills, and the poor were opposed to it because it created a
" caste" and designated them as paupers. However, it remained in force
for about twenty-five years, and during this period the fight over it at
elections caused many strifes, feuds, and bloody noses. This was the
first step taken by the State to evolve our present free-school system.
The money to pay for the education of these "pauper" children was
drawn from the county in this way: "The assessor of each borough or
township returned the names of such indigent children te the county
commissioners, and then an order was drawn by the coraraissioners on
the county treasurer for the tuition-money."
One of the most desirable qualifications in the early school-master
was courage, and willingness and ability to control and flog boys. Physi
cal force was the governing power, and the master must possess it. Never
theless, many of the early masters were men of intelligence, refinement,
and scholarship. As a rule, the Scotch-Irish master was of this class.
Goldsmith describes the old master well :
" He was kindly, and if severe in aught.
The love he bore to learning was in fault.
The village all declared how much he knew,
'Twas certain he could write and cipher, too.
In arguing the parson owned his skill.
For e'en though vanquished he would argue still."
The government of the early masters was of the most rigorous kind.
Perfect quiet had to be maintained in the school-room, no buzzing, and
the punishment for supposed or real disobedience, inflicted on scholars
before, up to, and even in my tirae, was cruel and brutal. One punish
ment was to tie scholars up by the thumbs, suspending them in this way
over the doer. "Spare the rod and spoil the child" was the master's
550

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
slogan. Whippings were frequent, severe, and sometimes brutal. Thorn,
birch, and other rods were kept in large number by the master. Other
and milder modes of punishment were in vogue, such as the dunce-block,
sitting with the girls, pulling the ears, and using the ferule on the hands
and sometimes on the part of the body on which the scholar sat.
" What is man,
If his chief good and market for his time
Be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more."
In 1840 the country master boarded round with the scholars, and he
was always given the best bed in the house, and was usually fed on dough
nuts and pumpkin-pie at every meal. He called the school to order by
rapping on his desk with his ferule.
During the twenty-five years of the existence of the pauper schools
the agitation for a better system was continually kept up by isolated in
dividuals. This was done in various ways, — at elections, in toasts to a
" free-school system" at Fourth of July celebrations, and in conventions
of directors. The first governor who took a decided stand in favor of the
common schools was John A. Schultze. He advocated it in his message
in 1828. Governor Wolf, in 1833, found that out of four hundred thou
sand school children of the legal age, twenty thousand attended school,
and that three hundred and eighty thousand were yearly uninstructed.
Therefore, in his message to the Legislature, he strongly recommended
the passage of a law to remedy this state of affairs. William Audenreid,
a senator from Schuylkill County, introduced a bill during the session
of the Legislature of 1833, which becarae what is known as the school
law of 1834, — the establishment of the common-school system. Our
second State superintendent of public instruction was appointed under
this law. His narae was Thomas H. Burrowes. The first State aid for
schools in Jefferson County was in 1835, and through Mr. Burrowes. The
amount received was one hundred and four dollars and ninety-four cents.
"Barring the master out" of the school-room on Christmas and New
Year's was a custom in vogue in 1840. The barring was always done by
four or five determined boys. The contest between the master and these
scholars was sometimes severe and protracted, the master being deter
mined to get into the school-room and these boys deterrained to keep
him out. The object on the part of the scholars in this barring out was
to compel the master to treat the school. If the master obtained posses
sion of the school-room, by force or strategy, he generally gave the boys
a sound flogging, but if the boys "held the fort," it resulted in negotia
tions for peace, and in the master eventually signing an agreement in
writing to treat the school to apples, nuts, or candy. It took great nerve
on the part of the boys to take this stand against a master. I know this,
as I have been active in some of these contests.
551

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
In 1840 a woman could teach an A, B, C, or "a-b ab," school in
summer, but the man that desired to teach a summer school was a lazy,
worthless, good-for-nothing fellow. Cyrus Crouch taught the first term
in Brookville under the common school law of 1834.
In the forties the school-books in use were the New England Primer,
Webster's Spelling- Book, Cobb's SpeUing-Boek, the English Reader,
the New England Reader, the Testament and Bible, the Malte Braun
Geography, Olney's Geography, Pike's Arithmetic, the Federal Calcula
tor, the Western Calculator, Murray's Grammar, Kirkham's Grammar,
and Walker's Dictionary. A scholar who had gone through the single
rule of three in the AVestern Calculator was considered educated. Our
present copy-books were unknown. A copy-book was then made of six
sheets of foolscap- paper stitched together. The copies were set by the
master after school hours, at which time he usually made and mended the
school pens for the next day. Our pens were made of goose-quills, and
it was the duty of the master to teach each scholar how to make or mend
a goose quill pen. One of the chief delights of a mischievous boy in
those days was to keep a master busy mending his pens.
The first school-house in Brookville that I recollect of was a little brick
on the alley on the northeast side of the American Hotel lot. Mrs. Pearl
Roundy was the first teacher that I went to. She taught in this house.
She was much beloved bythe whole town. I afterwards went to Hamlin
and others in this same house.
AVhen the first appropriation of seventy-five thousand dollars was
made by our State for the common schools, a debt of twenty- three mil
lion dollars rested on the Commonwealth. A great many good, conser
vative men opposed this appropriation, and "predicted bankruptcy from
this new form of extravagance." But the great debt has been all paid,
the expenses of the war fer the Union have been met, and now (1895) the
annual appropriation for our schools has been raised to five and a half
miUion dollars. This amount due the schools for the year ending June
5, 1893, was all paid on November i, 1893, and our State treasurer had
deposits still left, lying idle, in forty-six ef our banks, amounting to six
and a half million dollars, which should have been appropriated for
school purposes and not kept lying idle. This additional appropriation
would have greatly relieved the people from oppressive taxation during
these hard times.
The act of May 18, 1893, completed the evolution in our school sys
tem from the early home, the church, the subscription, the 1809 pauper,
the 1834 common, into the now people's ox free school system.
This free school is our nation's hope. Our great manufacturing inter
ests attract immigrants to our land in large numbers, and to thoroughly
educate their children and form in them the true Araeriean mind, and to
prevent these children from drifting into the criminal classes, will task to
552

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
the utmost all the energies, privileges, and blessed conditions of our
present free schools. In our free schools of Pennsylvania the conditions
are now equal. The child of the raiUionaire, the mechanic, the widow,
and the day laborer all stand on the same plane. We have now, for the
first time in the history of our State, in addition to the free school-
houses, free desks, free fuel, free black-boards, free maps, free teachers,
free books, free paper, free pens, free ink, free slates, free pencils, free
sponges, and, in short, free schools.
In 1840 our houses and hotels were never locked at night. This was
from carelessness, or perhaps thought to be unnecessary. But every
store-window was provided with heavy outside shutters, which were care
fully closed, barred, or locked every night in shutting up.
Then every merchant in Brookville was forced, as a matter of protec
tion, to subscribe for and receive a weekly bank-note detecter. These
periodicals were issued to subscribers for two dollars and fifty cents a
year. This journal gave a weekly report of all broken banks, the dis
count on all good bank-notes, as well as points for the detection of coun
terfeit notes and coin. The coin department in the journal had wood
cut pictures of all the foreign and native silver and gold coins, and also
gave the value of each.
Money was scarce then, and merchants were compelled to sell their
goods on credit, and principally for barter. The commodities that were
exchanged for in Brookville stores were boards, shingles, square timber,
wheat, rye, buckwheat, flaxseed, clever-seed, timothy-seed, wool, rags,
beeswax, feathers, hickory-nuts, chestnuts, hides, deer-pelts, elderberries,
furs, road orders, school and county orders, eggs, butter, tow cloth, linen
cloth, axe-handles, rafting bows and pins, rafting grubs, maple-sugar in
the spring, and oats after harvest.
In those days everybody carae to court, either on business or to see
and be seen. Tuesday was the big day. The people came on horse
back or on foot. We had no book-store in town, and a man named
Ingram, from Meadville, came regularly every court and opened up his
stock in the bar-room of a hotel. An Irishman by the name of Hugh
Miller came in the same way, and opened his jewelry and spectacles in
the hotel bar-room. This was the time for insurance agents to visit our
town. Robert Thorn was the first insurance agent who came here, at
least to my knowledge.
In 1840 every store in town kept pure Monongahela whiskey in a
bucket, either on or behind the counter, with a tin cup in or over the
bucket for customers to drink free of charge, early and often. Every
store sold whiskey by the gallon. Our merchants kept chip logwood by
the barrel, and kegs of madder, alum, cobalt, copperas, indigo, etc., for
women to use in coloring their homespun goods. Butternuts were used
by the women to dye brown, peach-leaves or smartweed for yellow, and
36 553

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
cobalt for purple. Men's and women's clothing consisted principaUy of
homespun, and homespun underwear. Men and boys wore warmusses,
roundabouts, and pants made of flannels, buckskin, Kentucky jean, blue
drilling, tew, linen, satinet, bed-ticking, and corduroy, with coon-skin,
seal-skin, and cloth caps, and in summer oat-straw or chip hats. The
dress suit was a blue broadcloth swallow-tail coat with brass buttons, and
a stove-pipe hat. "Galluses" were made of listing, bed-ticking, or knit
of woollen yarn. Women wore barred flannel, linsey-woolsey, tow, and
linen dresses. Six or eight yards of "Dolly Varden" calico made a
superb Sunday dress. Calico sold then for fifty cents a yard. Every
home had a spinning-wheel, some families had two, — a big one and a
little one. Spinning-parties were in vogue, the women taking their wheels
to a neighbor's house, reraaining for supper, and after supper going horae
with their wheels on their arras. Wool-carding was then done by hand
and at home. Every neighborhood had several weavers, and they wove
for customers at so much per yard.
About 1840, Brookville had a hatter, — John Wynkoop. He made
what was called wool hats. Those that were high-crowned or stove-pipe
were wreath-bound with some kind of fur, perhaps rabbit-fur. These
hatters were common in those days. The sign was a stove-pipe hat and
a smoothing-iron. There was a standing contest between the tailors,
hatters, and printers in drinking whiskey (doctors barred).
Then, too, coopers were common in every town. These coopers
raade tubs, buckets, and barrels, all of which were bound with hickory
hoops. Ours was a Mr. Hewitt. His shop was on the alley, rear of the
Commercial Hotel lot. These are now two lost industries.
In 1840 there was but one dental coUege in the world, — the Baltimore
CoUege of Dental Surgery, established in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1839,
— the first dental college ever started. Up to and in that day dentistry
was not a science, for it was practised as an addenda by the blacksmith,
barber, watch-maker, and others. In the practice no anatomical or sur
gical skill was required. It was something that required muscular strength
and manual dexterity in handUng the "turnkey." With such a clumsy,
rude condition of dentistry, is it any wonder that Tora Moore wrote these
lines ? " What pity, blooming girl, that lips so ready for a lovei,
Should not beneath their ruby casket cover one tooth of pearl,
But like a rose beneath a churchyard stone,
Ee doomed to blush o'er many a mouldering bone."
All the great discoveries and iraproveraents in the science and art of
dentistry as it is to-day are American. Dentistry stands an American in
stitution, not only beautified, but almost perfected upon a firm pedestal,
a most noble science. Through the invention, by Charles W. Peale, of
Philadelphia, of porcelain teeth, our molars shall henceforth be white as
554

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
milk. If Moore lived to-day, under the condition of American dentistry,
he might well exclaim, in the language of Akenside, —
" What do I kiss ? A woman's mouth,
Sweeter than the spiced winds from the south.''
In 1796, when Andrew Barnett trod on the ground where Brookville
now stands, slavery existed throughout all Christendom. Millions of
men, women, and children were held in the legal condition of horses and
cattle. Worse than this, the African slave-trade — a traffic so odious and
so loudly reproved and condemned by the laws of religion and of nature —
was carried on as a legal right by slave-dealers in and from every Chris
tian nation. The horror with which this statement of facts must strike
you is only proof that the love of gold and the power of evil in the world
is most formidable. The African slave-trade was declared illegal and un
lawful by England in 1806-7, by the United States in 1808, by Denmark,
Portugal, and Chili in 181 1, by Sweden in 1813, by Holland in 18 14-15,
by France in 1815, and by Spain in 1822.
When Andrew Barnett first trod the ground where Brookville now
stands the curse of slavery rested on Pennsylvania, for in that year three
thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven huraan beings were considered
"property" within her borders and held as slaves.
"Chains him and tasks him, and exacts his sweat
With stripes, that Mercy with a bleeding heart
Weeps when she sees it inflicted on a beast."
In 1840 slavery still existed in Pennsylvania, the total number being
75, distributed, according to the census of that year, as foUows : Adams
County, 2 ; Berks, 2 ; Cumberland, 25 ; Lancaster, 2 ; Philadelphia, 2 ;
York, i; Greene, i; Juniata, i; Luzerne, i; Mifflin, 31; Union, 3;
Washington, 2; Westmoreland, i ; Fayette, i.
It wiU be seen there was no slave held or owned in Jefferson County.
There is not to-day a slave in all Christendom, after a struggle of nearly
two thousand years. " Little by little the world grows strong,
Fighting the battle of Right and Wrong.
Little by little the Wrong gives way;
Little by little the Right has sway ;
Little by little the seeds we sow
Into a beautiful yield will grow."
In 1840, according to the census, there were fifty-seven colored people
and no slaves in Jefferson County. The most prominent of these colored
people who lived in and around Brookville were Charles Sutherland,
called Black Chariey ; Charles Anderson, called Yellow Charley ; John
555

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Sweeney, called Black John; and George Hays, the fiddler. Charles
Sutheriand came to Jefferson County and settled near Brookville in 1812.
He came from Virginia, and was said to have held General Washington's
horse at the laying of the corner-stone of the national capitol at Wash
ington. He was a very polite man, a hard drinker, reared a family, and
died in 1852, at the advanced age of nearly one hundred years.
Charley always wore a stove-pipe hat with a colored cotton handker
chief in it. He loafed much in Clover's store. The late Daniel Smith
was a young man then, and clerked in this store. Mr. Smith in his
manhood built the property now owned and occupied by Harry Matson.
Charley Sutherland, if he were living now, would make a good Con
gressman, because he was good on appropriations. One day there was
no one in the store but Smith and Charley. There was a crock of eggs
on the counter. Smith had to go to the cellar, and left the store in the
charge of Charley. On returning he glanced in the direction of the
eggs, and discovered that Charley must have pilfered about a dozen of
them. Where were they? He surmised they must be in Charley's hat ;
so stepping in front of Sutherland, he brought his right fist heavily down
on his hat, with the exclamation, " Why the h — 11 don't you wear your
hat on your head?" Much to the amusement of Smith and the discom
fort of Sutherland, the blow broke all the eggs, and the white and yellow
contents ran down over Charley's face and clothes, making a striking
contrast with his sooty black face.
The lives of many good men and women have been misunderstood
and clouded by the thoughtless, unkind words and deeds of their neigh
bors. Good men and women have struggled hard and long, only to go
down, down, poisoned and persecuted all their days by the venomous
and vicious slanders of their neighbors ; while, strange to say, men and
women who are guilty of all the vices are frequently apologized for, re
spected, and are great favorites with these same neighbors.
Charles Anderson, or, as he was called, "Yellow Charley," came to
Brookville in May, 1831. From his first entry into the town until his
death he was a public and familiar character, a kind of family visitor. He
was the pioneer coal merchant. He was the first man to mine, transport,
and sell coal in this city. He mined his coal on what is now the John
Matson property, opposite Samuel Truby's, on the Sigel road, and also on
the Clements farm. He dug this coal from the spring ravine where our
school building receives its supply of water. The vein of this mine was
about two feet thick. Anderson stripped the earth from the top of the
vein, dug the coal fine, and transported it in a little, old, rickety one-
horse wagon, offering, selling, and retailing the coal at each family door
in quantities of a peck, half-bushel, and bushel. The price per bushel was
twelve and a half cents, or an eleven-penny bit, and a fippenny bit for a half-
bushel. I had a free pass on this coal line, and rode on it a great deal.
556

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
To me it was a Une of "speed, safety, and comfort." Anderson was a
" Soft Coal King," a baron, a robber, a close corporationist, a capitalist,
and a monopolist. He managed his works generally so as to avoid
strikes, etc. Yet he had to assume the role of a Pinkerton or a coal
poUceman at one time, for "there was some litigation over the owner
ship of this coal-bank, and Charley took his old flint-lock musket one
day and swore he would just as soon die in the coal-bank as any other
place. He held the fort, too."
Charley was a greatly abused man. Every theft and nearly all out
lawry was blamed on him. PubUc sentiment and public clamor were
against him. He tried at times to be good, attend church, etc., but it
availed him nothing, for he would be so coldly received as to force him
back into his former condition. As the town grew and other parties
became engaged in mining coal, Charley changed his business to that of
water-carrier, and hauled iri his one-horse wagon washing- and cooking-
water in barrels fer the women of the town. He continued in this business
until his death, which occurred in 1874. In early days he lived on the
lot now owned by Dr. T. C. Lawson. He died in his own home, near
the new cemetery.
It is unfortunate enough in these days to have been painted black by
our Creator, but in 1840 it was a terrible calamity. A negro then had
no rights ; he was nothing but a " d — d nigger ;" anybody and everybody
had a right to abuse, beat, stone, and maltreat him. This right, too, was
pretty generally exercised. I have seen a white bully deliberately step
up in front of a negro, in a public street, and with the exclamation,
" Take that, you d — d nigger !" knock him down, and this, too, without
any cause, word, or look from the negro. This was done only to exhibit
what the ruffian could do. Had the negro, even after this outrage, said
a word in his own defence, the cry would have been raised, " Kill the
d — d nigger ! " I have seen negro men stoned into Red Bank Creek, for
no crime, by a band of young ruffians. I have seen a house in Brook
ville borough, occupied by negro women and children, stoned until every
window was broken and the door mashed in, and all this for no crime
save that they were black. It used to make my blood boil, but I was
too little lo even open my mouth. A sorry civilization this, was it not ?
The accompanying cut represents Brookville as I first recollect it, —
from 1840 to 1843, — a town of shanties, and containing a population of
two hundred and forty people. It is made from a pencil sketch drawn on
the ground in 1840. It is not perfect, Uke a photograph would make it
now. To understand this view of Main Street, imagine yourself in the
middle of the pike then, street now, opposite the Union or McKinley
Hotel, and looking eastward. The first thing that strikes your attention is
a team of horses hauUng a stick of timber over a newly laid hewed log
bridge. This bridge was laid over the deep gully that can be now seen in
557

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
G. B. Carrier's lot. Looking to the left side of the street, the first build
ing, the gable end of which you see, was the Presbyterian church, then out
side of the west line of the borough. The next, or little house, was Jimmie
Lucas's blacksmith shop. The large house with the paling fence was the
residence and office of John Gallagher, Esq., and is now the Judge Clark
property. The next house was east of Barnett Street, and the Peace and

Brookville, 1843.

Poverty Hotel. East of this hotel you see the residence and tailor-shop
of Benjamin McCreight. Then you see a large two-story house, which
stood where the Commercial Hotel now stands. This building was
erected by John Clements, and was known as the Clements property.
Then there was nothing until you see the court-house, with its belfry,
standing out, two stories high, bold and alone. East of this and across
Pickering Street, where Harry Matson now resides, was a large frame
building, occupied by James Craig as a store-room for cabinet work.
Rev. Gara Bishop resided here for a long time. Next to this, where
Guyther & Henderson's store now stands, were several brick business
buildings belonging to Charles Evans. Next came Major William
Rodgers's store, on what is now the Edelblute property. Then came Jesse
G. Clark's home ; then the Jefferson House (Phil. AUgeier's house) ; and
the present building is the original, but somewhat altered. Then across the
alley, where Gregg's barber-shop now is, was the Elkhorn, or Red Lion
Hotel, kept by John Smith, who was sheriffof the county in 1840. The
next house was on the Mrs. Clements property, and was the home and
blacksmith-shop of Isaac .-VUen. Then came the Matson row, just as it
558

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
is now down to the Brownlee house, northeast corner of Main and Mill
Streets. Now please come back and look down the right-hand side. The
first building, the rear end of which only can be seen behind the tree,
was the first foundry built in town. It stood near or on the ground
where Fetzer's brick building now stands, and was built and owned by a
man named Coleman. It was afterwards the Evans foundry. When built
it was outside the borough. The second house, with the gable next the
street, was the home of James Corbett, Esq., father of Colonel Corbett,
and it stood where the gas-office now is. The next and large building,
with the gable- end next the street, was called the James Hall Building,
and stood on the ground now occupied by the Bishop Buildings. This
building was used for day-school and singing-school purposes. I went to
day-school here to Miss Jane Clark then, now Mrs. E. H. Darrah. It
was also used by a man named Wynkoop, who made beaver hats. The
next building was a house erected by a Mr. Sharpe, and was located on
the let west of where the National Bank of Brookville now stands. The
building having the window in the gable-end facing you was the Jack
Building, and stood on the ground now occupied by McKnight & Son
in their drug business. East of this, on the ground now occupied by R.
M. Matson's brick, stood a little frame building, occupied by John
Heath, Jr. It cannot be seen. East and across Pickering Street you
see the Franklin House and its sign. Here now stands the Central
Hotel of S. B. Arthurs. East of the Franklin House, but not distinctly
shown on the picture, were the houses of Craig, AVaigley, Thomas M.
Barr, Levi G. Clover, Mrs. Mary McKnight, Snyder's row, and Billy
McCuUeugh's house and shop, situate on the corner of Main and Mill
Streets, or where the Baptist church now stands.
The buildings on each side of Pickering Street, east of the court
house, you will see, are not very plain or distinct on the picture.

559

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

CHAPTER XXVII.
CORNPLANTER — OUR CHIEF — CHIEF OF THE SENECAS, ONE OF THE SIX
NATIONS  BRIEF HISTORY  SOME SPEECHES  LIFE AND DEATH  MOSES
KNAPP  SAW-MILLS — JOHN JONES.
In the year 1784 the treaty to which Cornplanter was a party was
made at Fort Stanwix, ceding the whole of Northwestern Pennsylvania to
the Commonwealth, with the exception of a small individual reserve to
Cornplanter. The frontier, however, was not at peace for some years
after that, nor, indeed, until Wayne's treaty in 1795.
Notwithstanding his bitter hostility, while the war continued, he be
came the fast friend ef the United States when once the hatchet was
buried. His sagacious intellect comprehended at a glance the growing
power of the United States, and the abandonment with which Great
Britain had requited the fidelity of the Senecas. He therefore threw all
his influence at the treaty of Fort Stanwix, now Rome, New York, and
Fort Harraar in favor of peace. And notwithstanding the large con
cessions which he saw his people were necessitated to make, still, by his
energy and prudence in the negotiation, he retained for them an ample
and beautiful reservation. For the course which he took on those occa
sions the State of Pennsylvania granted him the fine reservation upon
which he resided on the AUegheny. The Senecas, however, were never
satisfied with his course in relation to these treaties, and Red Jacket,
more artful and eloquent than his elder rival, but less frank and honest,
seized upon this circurastance to proraote his own popularity at the ex
pense of Cornplanter.
Having buried the hatchet, Cornplanter sought to make his talents
useful to his people by conciliating the good will of the whites and se
curing from further encroachment the little remnant of his national
domain. On more than one occasion, when some reckless and blood
thirsty whites on the frontier had massacred unoffending Indians in cold
blood, did Cornplanter interfere to restrain the vengeance of his people.
During all the Indian wars from 1791 to 1794, which terminated with
AVayne's treaty, Cornplanter pledged hiraself that the Senecas should
remain friendly to the United States. He often gave notice to the garri
son at Fort Franklin of intended attacks from hostile parties, and even
hazarded his life on a mediatorial mission to the Western tribes.
The following is an extract from a speech of Cornplanter te repre
sentatives of the United States government appointed to meet him at
Fort Franklin, Sth of March, 1796: 560

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" 'I thank the Almighty for giving us luck to meet together at this
time, and in this place as brethren, and hope my brothers will assist me
in writing to Congress what I have now to say.
" ' I thank the Almighty that I am speaking this good day. I have
been through all Nations in America, and am sorry to see the folly of
many of the people. What makes me sorry is they all tell lies, and I
never found truth amongst thera. AU the western Nations of Indians,
as well as white people, have told me lies. Even in Council I have
been deceived, and been told things which I have told to my chiefs and
young men, which I have found not to be se, which makes me tell lies by
not being able to make good my word, but I hope they will all see their
folly and repent. The Almighty has not made us to lie, but to tell the
truth one to another, for when two people meet together, if they lie one
to the other, them people cannot be at peace, and so it is with nations,
and that is the cause of so much war.
" ' General Washington, the father of us aU, hear what I have now
to say, and take pity on us poor people. The Almighty has blest you,
and not us. He has given you education, which enables you to do many
things that we cannot do. You can travel by sea as well as by land, and
know what is doing in any other country, which we poor people know
nothing about. Therefore you ought to pity us. When the Alraighty
first put us on this land he gave it to us to live on. And when the white
people first came to it they were very poor, and we helped them all in
our power ; did not kill them, but received them as brothers. And now
it appears to me as though they were agoing to leave us in distress.' " —
Pennsylvania Archives.
"After peace was permanently established between the Indians and
the United States, Cornplanter retired from public life and devoted his
labors to his own people. He deplored the evils of intemperance, and
exerted himself to suppress it. The benevolent efforts of missionaries
among his tribe always received his encouragement, and at one time his
own heart seemed to be softened by the words of truth, yet he preserved
in his later years many of the peculiar notions of the Indian faith.
"In 1821-22 the commissioners of Warren County assumed the right
to tax the private property of Cornplanter, and proceeded to enforce its
collection. The old chief resisted it, conceiving it not only unlawful,
but a personal indignity. The sheriff again appeared with a small posse
of armed men. Cornplanter took the deputation to a room around
which were ranged about a hundred rifles, and, with the sententious brevity
of an Indian, intimated that for each rifle a warrior would appear at his
call. The sheriff and his men speedily withdrew, determined, however,
to call out the militia. Several prudent citizens, fearing a sanguinary
collision, sent for the old chief in a friendly way to come to Warren and
compromise the matter. He came, and after some persuasion, gave his
561

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
note for the tax, amounting to forty-three dollars and seventy-nine cents.
He addressed, however, a remonstrance to the governor of Pennsylvania,
soliciting a return ef his money and an exemption from such demands
against lands which the State itself had presented to him. The Legislature
annulled the tax, and sent two coraraissioners to explain the affair to him.
He met them at the court-house in Warren, on which occasion he deliv
ered the following speech, eminently characteristic of himself and his race :
" 'Brothers, yesterday was appointed for us all to meet here. The
talk which the governor sent us pleased us very much. I think that the
Great Spirit is very much pleased that the white people have been in
duced so to assist the Indians as they have dene, and that he is pleased
also to see the great men of this State and of the United States so friendly
to us. AVe are much pleased with what has been done.
" ' The Great Spirit first raade the world, and next the flying animals,
and found all things good and prosperous. He is immortal and ever
lasting. After finishing the flying animals, he came down on earth and
there stood. Then he made different kinds of trees and weeds of all
sorts, and people of every kind. He made the spring and other seasons
and the weather suitable for planting. These he did make. But stills to
make whiskey to be given te the Indians he did not make. The Great
Spirit bids me tell the white people not to give Indians this kind of
liquor. AVhen the Great Spirit had raade the earth and its animals, he
went into the great lakes, where he breathed as easily as anywhere else,
and then made all the different kinds of fish. The Great Spirit looked
back on all that he had made. The different kinds he had made to be
separate and not to mix with or disturb each other. But the white peo
ple have broken his command by mixing their color with the Indians.
The Indians have done better by not doing so. The Great Spirit wishes
that all wars and fightings should cease.
" ' He next told us that there were three things for our people to
attend to. First, we ought to take care of our wives and children. Sec
ondly, the white people ought to attend te their farms and cattle.
Thirdly, the Great Spirit has given the bears and deers to the Indians.
He is the cause of all things that exist, and it is very wicked to go
against his will. The Great Spirit wishes me to inform the people that
they should quit drinking intoxicating drink, as being the cause of disease
and death. He told us not to sell any more of our lands, for he never sold
lands to any one. Some of us now keep the seventh day, but I wish to quit
it, for the Great Spirit raade it fer others, but not for the Indians, who
ought every day to attend to their business. He has ordered me to quit
drinking intoxicating drink, and not to lust after any woman but my own,
and informs me that by doing so I should live the longer. He raade
known to me that it is very wicked to tell lies. Let no one suppose this
I have said now is not true. 562

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" ' I have now to thank the governor for what he has done. I have
informed him what the Great Spirit has ordered me to cease from, and I
wish the governor to inform others what I have communicated. This is
all I have at present to say.' " — Day's Recollections.
The old chief appears after this again to have fallen into entire seclu
sion, taking no part even in the politics of his people. He died at his
residence on the 7th of March, 1836, at the age of one hundred and four
years. " Whether at the time of his death he expected to go to the fair
hunting-grounds of his own people or to the heaven of the Christian is
not known."
" Notwithstanding his profession of Christianity, Cornplanter was very
superstitious. ' Not long since,' says Mr. Foote, of Chautauqua County,
' he said the Good Spirit had told him not to have anything to do with
the white people, or even to preserve any mementos er relics that had
been given to him from time to time by the pale-faces, whereupon, araong
other things, he burnt up his belt and broke his elegant sword.' "
In reference to the personal appearance of Cornplanter at the close of
his life, a writer in the Democratic Arch (Venango County) says, —
" I once saw the aged and venerable chief, and had an interesting in
terview with him about a year and a half before his death. I thought
of many things when seated near him, beneath the wide-spreading shade
of an old sycamore, on the banks of the Allegheny, — many things to ask
him, the scenes of the Revolution, the generals that fought its battles
and conquered, the Indians, his tribe, the Six Nations, and himself. He
was constitutionally sedate, was never observed to smile, much less to
indulge in the luxury of a laugh. When I saw him he estimated his
age to be over one hundred ; I think one hundred and three was about
his reckoning of it. This would make him near 'One hundred and five
years old at the time of his decease. His person was stooped, and his
stature was far short of what it once had been, not being over five feet
six inches at the time I speak of. Mr. John Struthers, of Ohio, told me,
some years since, that he had seen him near fifty years ago, and at that
period he was at his height, — viz., six feet one inch. Tirae and hard
ship had made dreadful impressions upon that ancient form. The chest
was sunken and his shoulders were drawn forward, making the upper
part of his body resemble a trough. His limbs had lost size and become
crooked. His feet (for he had taken off his moccasins) were deformed
and haggard by injury. I would say that most of the fingers on one
hand were useless ; the sinews had been severed by the blow of a toma
hawk or scalping-knife. How I longed to ask him what scene of blood
and strife had thus stamped the enduring evidence of its existence upon
his person ! But to have done so would, in all probability, have put an
end to all further conversation on any subject. The information desired
would certainly not have been received, and I had to forego my curiosity.
563

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
He had but one eye, and even the socket of the lost organ was hid by
the overhanging brew resting upon the high cheek-bone. His remaining
eye was of the brightest and blackest hue. Never have I seen one, in
young or old, that equalled it in briUiancy. Perhaps it had borrowed
lustre from the eternal darkness that rested on its neighboring orbit. His
ears had been dressed in the Indian mode, all but the outside ring had
been cut away. On the one ear this ring had been torn asunder near the
top, and hung down his neck like a useless rag. He had a full head of
hair, white as the driven snow, which covered a head of ample dimensions
and admirable shape. His face was not swarthy, but this may be ac
counted for from the fact, also, that he w^as but half Indian. He told me
he had been at Franklin more than eighty years before the period of our
conversation, on his passage down the Ohio and Mississippi with the
warriors of his tribe, in some expedition against the Creeks or Osages.
He had long been a man of peace, and I believe his great characteristics
were humanity and truth. It is said that Brandt and Cornplanter were
never friends after the massacre of Cherry Valley. Seme have alleged,
because the AVyoming massacre was perpetrated by Senecas, that Corn-
planter was there. Of the justice of this suspicion there are many reasons
fer doubt. It is certain that he was not the chief of the Senecas at that
time. The name of the chief in that expedition was Ge-en-quaU-toh, or
He-goes-in-the-smoke. As he stood before me — the ancient chief in
ruins — how forcibly was I struck with the truth of that beautiful figure of
the old aboriginal chieftain, who, in describing himself, said he was ' like
an aged hemlock, dead at the top, and whose branches alone were green' !
After more than one hundred years of most varied life, — of strife, of
danger, of peace, — he at last slumbers in deep repose on the banks of his
own beloved Allegheny.
"Cornplanter was born at Cenewongus, on the Genesee River, in
1732, being a half-breed, the son of a white man named John O'Bail, a
trader from the Mohawk Valley. In a letter written in later years to the
governor of Pennsylvania he thus speaks of his early youth : ' When I
was a child I played with the butterfly, the grasshopper, and the frogs ;
and as I grew up I began to pay some attention and play with the Indian
boys in the neighborhood, and they took notice of my skin being of a
different color from theirs, and spoke about it. I inquired from my
mother the cause, and she told me my father was a resident of Albany.
I still ate my victuals out of a bark dish. I grew up to be a young man
and married a wife, and I had no kettle or gun. I then knew where my
father lived, and went to see him, and found he was a white man and
spoke the English language. He gave me victuals while I was at his
house, but when I started to return home he gave me no provisions to
eat on the way. He gave me neither kettle nor gun.'
" Little further is known of his early life beyond the fact that he was
564

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
aUied with the French in the engagement against General Braddock in
July, 1755. He was probably at that time at least twenty years old.
During the Revolution he was a war chief of high rank, in the full vigor
of manhood, active, sagacious, brave, and he most probably participated
in the principal Indian engagements against the United States during the
war. He is supposed to have been present at the cruelties of Wyoming
and Cherry Valley, in which the Senecas took a prominent part. He
was on the war-path with Brandt during General Sullivan's campaign in
1779, and in the following year, under Brandt and Sir John Johnson, he
led the Senecas in sweeping through the Schoharie and the Mohawk Val
leys. On this occasion he took his father a prisoner, but with such cau
tion as to avoid an immediate recognition. After marching the old man
some ten or twelve miles, he stepped before him, faced about, and
addressed him in the following terms :
" ' My name is John O'Bail, commonly called Cornplanter. I ara
your son. You are my father. You are now my prisoner, and subject
to the custom of Indian warfare ; but you shall not be harmed. You need
not fear. I am a warrior. Many are the scalps which I have taken.
Many prisoners have I tortured to death. I am your son. I was anxious
to see you and greet you in friendship. I went to your cabin and took
you by force ; but your life shall be spared. Indians love their friends
and their kindred, and treat them with kindness. If you now chose to
follow the fortunes of your yellow son and to live with our people, I will
cherish your old age with plenty of venison, and you shall live easy. But
if it is your choice to return to your fields and live with your white chil
dren, I will send a party of trusty young men to conduct you back in
safety. I respect you, my father. You have been friendly to Indians,
and they are your friends.' The elder O'Bail preferred his white children
and green fields to his yellow offspring and the wild woods, and chose to
return. ' ' Cornplanter was the greatest warrior the Senecas, the untamable
people of the hills, ever had, and it was his wish that when he died his
grave would remain unmarked, but the Legislature of Pennsylvania
willed otherwise, and erected a monument to him with this beautiful
inscription : " ' Cyantwahia, The Cornplanter,
John O'Bail, Alias Cornplanter,
DIED
At Cornplanter Town, Feb. 18, A. D. 1836,
Aged about too years.'
" Upon the west side is the following inscription :
" ' Chief of the Seneca tribe, and a principal chief of the Six Nations from the
period of the Revolutionary War to the time of his death. Distinguished for talent,
courage, eloquence, sobriety, and love for tribe and race, to whose welfare he devoted
his time, his energy, and his means during a long and eventful hfe.' "
565

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
In the above I have copied largely from Rupp's history, and from the
' ' History of Warren County, Pennsylvania. ' '
MOSES KNAPP.
In the spring of 1797, Joseph Barnett, of Linesville, Dauphin County,
Pennsylvania, Samuel Scott and Moses Knapp, of Lycoming County,
Pennsylvania, left the mouth of Pine Creek, on the west branch of the
Susquehanna, in Lycoraing County, and wended their way over Meade's
Trail to the confluence of Mill Creek with Sandy Lick, now Port Bar
nett, for the purpose of starting a settlement. Port Barnett was then in
Pine Creek township, Lycoming County. Upon their arrival they com
menced the erection of a saw-miU. " Samuel Scott was a millwright by
trade, and was assisted in his work by Moses Knapp, who was an adopted
son, then about nineteen years of age. They first built a saw-miU on
MiU Creek, about where the present mill of Mr. Humphrey now stands.
This raill was the property of Mr. Scott. Young Knapp exhibited a good
deal of mechanical ingenuity in this work, and the next year built a mill
for himself on the North Fork, on a site about the head ef Heidrick,
Matson & Co.'s mill-pond. Leaving his mill in the fall to stand still
during the winter, young Knapp went to Indiana to attend a term of
school. While there he became acquainted with Miss Susan Matson, a
daughter of Uriah Matson, ef that place. The acquaintance thus made
soon ripened into an engagement, and Moses Knapp and Susan Matson
were united in matriraony, and thus in one short absence from the scene
of his labors Moses had accomplished much, and when all this was ac
complished she returned with him to Port Barnett. He then built a
camp or residence at his saw-miU on the North Fork, and there they
commenced keeping house, a beginning which resulted in the production
of a family of eleven children. Here, in 1801, was born Polly, and
afterwards Isabel and Samuel.
" He sold out his mill and ' betterments' at the head of Heidrick,
Matson & Co.'s pond to Samuel and AVilliam Lucas, and then began
house-keeping in a new place, at the mouth of the North Fork, now
Brookville. After he had got his family in living shape here, he built an
other saw-miU on what was known as Knapp's Run. The name of this
stream has since been changed te Five-Mile Run. This mill Knapp sold
to Thomas Lucas, Esq. He then built a log grist-miU on the North
Fork, near his residence, only a few rods from the Red Bank Creek.
This mill had one run of rock-stones. The water was gathered by a wing-
dam of brush and stones, that extended nearly up to where the road now
crosses below Heidrick, Matson & Co.'s dam, and was thus brought into
a chute, that passed it under a large under-shot water-wheel. A ' face-
gear' wheel upon the water-wheel shaft ' meshed' into a ' trundle-head'
upon the ' spindle' which carried the revolving-stone, comprised the pro-
566

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
peUing machinery. This mill was often taxed to its utmost capacity.
People would come here to get their grain ground from distances of
twenty and thirty miles, through the woods on horseback and on bare
foot carrying the grain on their backs. A big day's grind was from six
to ten bushels of grain."
While residing at this place, in what is now Brookville, John Knapp
was born in 1807, and afterwards Amy, Joshua, Moses, Clarissa, and
Joseph, the last in 1818.
During the time of Knapp's residence at the head of what is now
Heidrick, Matson & Co.'s pond, and many years thereafter, " the cheap
est and most expeditious method of obtaining such supplies as could not
be produced on the ground was to go to Pittsburg for them. Rafts of
sawed lumber were run to Pittsburg in the spring of the year. A canoe
was taken along, and when the raft was sold most of the avails would be
invested in whiskey, pork, sugar, dry goods, etc. These goods were then
loaded into the canoe, and the same men that brought the raft through
to market would "pole" or "push" the loaded canoe up the river and
up the creek to Port Barnett. This was a " voyage" that all men of full
strength were very desirous of making, and was the subject of conversa
tion for the remaining part of the year.
These canoes were hewed out of a large pine-tree, large enough to re
ceive a barrel of flour crosswise. A home-made rope of flax was attached
to the front end of the canoe to be used in pulling the canoe up and over
ripples. The men with these canoes had to camp in the woods wherever
night overtook them, and their greatest terror and fear was rattlesnakes,
for the creek bottoms were alive with them.
The pioneer keel-boat built on these western waters was at Pittsburg
in 1811, — viz., the " New Orleans." The first river steamboat was built
in 1817. In 182 1, Moses Knapp "articled" with the Holland Land Company
for a quantity of land in what is now Clever township. The land was
taken from warrants numbered 3082 and 3200, which included the land
upon which Dowlingville is situated, and also that upon which the Baxter
property and mills now are.
After building a cabin and moving his family into it, he commenced
the building of a dam pretty rauch on the site of the present dam, and a
saw-miU on the site of the present miU. He took a partner in the busi
ness and vigorously prosecuted the work. In cutting timber for the mill
he in some way got his foot crushed so badly that it became necessary to
have the leg amputated above the knee. The mill was completed, and
the business of manufacturing lumber, etc., was carried on for a few
years by Knapp & Ball.
He had two children born here,— Isaac M. and Eliza. He was
elected constable while here in 1821, the year he was hurt.
567

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Moses Knapp was the pioneer pilot on Red Bank Creek. The pioneer
board-raft contained about eight thousand feet of boards. Pilots received
but two dollars per trip and found ; common hands but one dollar per
trip and found. The pioneer pilots steered the rafts then with the front
oar. The pioneer oars and stems were then hewn out of a single dry
pine-tree. Elijah M. Graham was the first to saw oar-blades separate
from the stera. SAW-MILLS.
The earliest form of a saw-mill was a "saw-pit." In it lumber was
sawed in this way : by two men at the saw, one man standing above the

^JJ

A pioneer saw-mill erected on Rattlesnake Creek, in Snyder township, in 1841,
by James Pendleton.
pit, the Other man in the pit, the two men sawing the log on trestles
above. Saws are prehistoric. The ancients used "bronzed saws."
Saw-raills were first run by "individual power," and water-power was
first used in Germany about 1322. The primitive water saw-mill con
sisted of a wooden pitman attached to the shaft of the wheel. The log to
be sawed was placed on rollers, sustained by a framework over the wheel,
and was fed forward en the rollers by means of levers worked by hand.
The pioneer saw-miU erected in the United States was near or on the di
viding line of Maine and New Hampshire, in 1634.
The early up-and-down saw-mills were built of frame timbers mor-
568

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
tised and tenoned and pinned together with oak pins. In size these
miUs were from twenty to thirty feet wide and from fifty to sixty feet in
length, and were roofed with clapboards, slabs, or boards. The run
ning-gear was an undershot flutter-wheel, a gig-wheel to run the log-car
riage back, and a bull-wheel with a rope or chain attached to haul the
logs into the mill on and over the slide. The capacity of such a mill
was about four thousand feet of boards in twenty-four hours. The total
cost of one of these up-and-down saw-raills when completed was about
three hundred dollars, one hundred dollars for iron used and two hun
dred dollars for the work and material. Luther Geer, an old pioneer,
built about twenty-eight of such mills. Moses Knapp died near Dow
lingville, in 1853, and is buried in the graveyard of the Jefferson United
Presbyterian Church. Mr. Knapp was a Seceder in belief, and was a
leading member of that church, — to wit, the Jefferson.
JOHN JONES.
"The subject of this sketch was born in Northumberland County,
Pennsylvania, the loth of February, 1781, and in the year 1797 he
came to what is now Port Barnett, about one and a half miles east of
Brookville, Jefferson County, as an apprentice to the millwright trade
with his uncle, Samuel Scott. After the erection of this mill (being as
sisted by the Indians) he engaged in the lumber business with his uncle,
and became quite a woodsman, killing as many as one hundred deer in
a season. The Indians being quite nuraerous at that tirae in the forest,
he even camped and hunted in partnership with them. He was often
heard to remark that he could beat them killing deer, but they could
beat him on the bear. In the year 181 1 he settled on his farm, east of
Strattonville. He erected a cabin and commenced clearing, and in a
short time he was drafted into the military service. After clearing off a
portion of ground and sowing his wheat and fencing the same, he was,
with several of his neighbors, ready for the call, and on the 25th of Sep
tember they started for Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and they remained there
for a short time and elected their officers. A man by the name of Wallace
was elected captain, and Robert Orr, major. They then marched through
the State of Ohio to the Maumee River, and there they built Fort Meigs ;
remained there until spring, then returned to their home.
"Jones then commenced opening up more land, but still lumbering
occasionally on Red Bank, and canoeing provisions and groceries from
Pittsburg, there being no store of any account nearer. After they got to
raising some grain, it had to be taken to Samuel Scott's at Port Barnett,
fifteen miles distant. When the mill failed, some of the neighbors had
to go to Mudlic, Indiana County. Some went to a horse miU on Bear
Creek, below Parker City. There were also quite a number of hand
mills in use in the country for grinding corn. The first store in what is
37 569

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
now Clarion County was located where Reimersburg now stands, in 1812,
and owned by Jaraes Pinks, and if you happened to run out of salt for
your venison, you could get a bushel from him for five dollars, and all
other things in proportion.
"In the year 1818 the mildew struck the wheat and it was totally de
stroyed, and starvation stared them in the face ; but he knew where to go.
So off he starts te the pine-woods, selects a place for himself and brothers,
and at it they went, and gathered and split, and burned each of them a
kiln of tar ; and when they got the tar barrelled, they then had to haul
it four miles to the Clarion River, made a canoe and run the tar to Pitts
burg, and traded it for the necessaries of life. He also piloted the viewers
and surveyors of the Brookville and Meadville turnpike, or, more prop
erly, the Bellefonte and Erie turnpike, and many other roads, he being
considered the best posted in regard to location."

CHAPTER XXVIII.
JOSEPH BARNETT  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE PATRIARCH OF JEFFER
SON COUNTY.
Joseph Barnett, the patriarch of Jefferson County, was the son
of John and Sarah Barnett, and was born in Dauphin County, Penn
sylvania, in 1754. His father was born in Ireland, and located in
Pennsylvania in the early part of the eighteenth century, and was a
farmer up to the time of his death in 1757. His mother died a few
years later, and Joseph was "brought up" by his relatives. He was
raised on a farm, and was thus peacefully employed when the Revolu
tion commenced. As a son of a patriotic sire he could not resist taking
part in the struggle, and so joined the army and served for some years.
The exact duration of his service cannot now be ascertained, but this
we learn: "he was a brave and efficient soldier, and never faltered
in the path of duty." He also served in the State militia in the cam
paign against the Wyoming boys. After the war he settled in North
umberland County, where he owmed a large tract of land, but was dis
possessed of it by some informalities of the title. Here he was married
to Elizabeth Scott, sister of Samuel Scott and daughter of John Scott,
July 3, 1794.
I find Joseph Barnett assessed in Pine Creek township, Northumber
land County, April 28, 1786. I find him in 1788 assessed in thesame
township and county with a saw-miU and as a single freeman. This was
his saw-miU at the mouth of Pine Creek, and the mill on which he lost
570

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
his eye. The property is now in CUnton County. After losing his raill
and land Barnett returned in the nineties to Dauphin County, Pennsyl
vania, and engaged in contracting for and building bridges. In 1799 I
find him again assessed in Pine Creek township, then Lycoming County,
Pennsylvania, with two hundred and twenty-five acres of land. This
was his Port Barnett property, where he migrated to with his family in
1800, and here he engaged in the erection of mills and in the lumbering
business that eventuaUy made Port Barnett, then in Lycoming County,
the centre of business for a large extent of territory. In a short time a
tub grist-mill was added to his saw-miU, and,' with his "Port Barnett
flint-stone binns," he made an eatable, if not a very desirable, quality
of flour. The Indians (Cornplanters and Senecas) then in the country
were good customers of our subject, and what few whites there were for
thirty or forty miles around would make his cabin a stopping-place for
several days at a time. His log cabin became a tavern, the only one
in a seventy-five miles' journey, and was frequented by all the early
settlers. " His Indian guests did not eat in the house, but would in winter make
a pot of mush over his fire and set it out in the snow to cool ; then one
fellow would take a dipper and eat his fill of the pudding, sometimes with
milk, butter, or molasses ; then another would take it and go through the
same process until all were satisfied. The dogs would then help them
selves from the same pot, and when they put their heads in the pot in
the Indian's way he would give them a slap over the head with the
dipper. ' '
He kept a store, rafted lumber on Sandy Lick and Red Bank, and at
the same time attended to his saw- and grist-mills. I find him assessed
in Pine Creek township in 1800 as a farmer.
" The Senecas of Cornplanter's tribe were friendly and peaceable
neighbors, and often extended their excursions into these waters, where
they encamped, two or three in a squad, and hunted deers and bears,
taking the hams and skins in the spritig to Pittsburg. Their rafts were
constructed of dry poles, upon which they piled up their meat and skins
in the form of a haystack, took them to Pittsburg, and exchanged thera
for trinkets, blankets, calicoes, weapons, etc. They were friendly,
sociable, and rather fond of making money. During the war of 181 2
the settlers were apprehensive that an unfortunate turn of the war upon
the lakes might bring an irruption of the savages upon the frontier
through the Seneca nation.
" Old Captain Hunt, a Muncy Indian, had his camp for some years
on Red Bank, near where is now the southwestern corner of Brookville.
He got his living by hunting, and enjoyed the results in drinking whiskey,
of which he was inordinately fond. One year he killed seventy-eight
bears, — they were plenty then; the skins might be worth about three
571

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
dollars each, — nearly all of which he expended for his favorite bev
erage. "Samuel Scott resided here until 1810, when, having scraped to
gether, by hunting and lumbering, about two thousand dollars, he went
down to the Miami River and bought a section of fine land, which made
him rich.
" It is related that Joseph Barnett at one time carried sixty pounds of
flour on his back from Pittsburg. Their supplies of flour, salt, and other
necessaries were frequently brought in canoes from that place. These
were purchased with lumber, which he sawed and rafted to that city, and
which in those days was sold for twenty-five dollars per thousand. The
nearest settieraent on Meade's trail eastward of Pert Barnett was Paul
Clover's, thirty-three miles distant, on the west branch of the Susque
hanna, where Curwensville now stands ; and westward Fort Venango was
forty-five miles distant, which points were the only resting-places for the
travellers who ventured through this unbroken wilderness. The Seneca
Indians, of Cornplanter's tribe, heretofore mentioned, often extended
their hunting excursions to these waters, and encamped to hunt deer and
bears and make sugar. They are said to have raade sugar by catching
the sap in small troughs, and, after collecting in a large trough, hot
stones were dipped into it to boil it down." — Day's Collections.
About the year 1802, Joseph Barnett consented to act as banker for
the Indians around Port Barnett. The Indians were all " bimetallists,"
and had the " silver craze," for their money was all silver ; and bringing
their monometallism to Mr. Barnett, he received it from them and de
posited it in their presence in his private vault, — viz., a small board
trunk covered with hog-skin, tanned with the bristles on. On the Ud
were the letters "J. B.," made with brass tacks. The trunk was now
full ; the bank was a solid financial institution. In a short time, how
ever, the red men concluded to withdraw their deposits, and they made
a "run" in a body on the bank. Barnett handed over the trunk, and
each Indian counted out his own pieces, and according to their combined
count the bank was insolvent ; there was a shortage, a deficiency of one
fifty-cent piece. Mr. Barnett induced the Indians to recount their silver,
but the fifty-cent piece was still missing. The Indians then declared
Mr. Barnett must die ; they surrounded the house and ordered him on
the porch to be shot. He obeyed orders, but pleaded with them to
count their pieces the third time, and if the fifty-cent piece was still
missing, then they could shoot him. This the Indians considered fair,
and they counted the silver pieces the third time, and one Indian found
he had one raore piece than his own ; he had the missing fifty-cent
piece. Then there was joy and rejoicing among the Indians. Banker
Barnett was no longer a criminal ; he was the hero and friend of the
Indians. 572

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
The following sketch of the first white settlement within the county
was principaUy derived from Andrew Barnett, Jr., Esq., in 1840 :
" Old Mr. Joseph Barnett was the patriarch of Jefferson County. He
had done service on the West Branch under General Potter during the
Revolution, and also under the State against the Wyoraing boys. After
the war he settled in Northumberland County, at the mouth of Pine
Creek, and very probably might have been one of the Fairplay boys ; at
any rate, he lost his property by the operation of the common .law, which
superseded the jurisdiction of fair play. Again, in 1797, he penetrated
the wilderness of the Upper Susquehanna by the Chinklacamoose path,
and, passing the headlands between the Susquehanna and the Allegheny,
arrived on the waters of Red Bank, then called Sandy Lick Creek. He
had purchased lands here of Timothy Pickering & Co. He first erected
a saw-mill at Port Barnett, where Andrew Barnett, Jr., now resides, at
the mouth of Mill Creek, about two miles east of Brookville. His com
panions on this expedition were his brother, Andrew Barnett, and his
brother-in-law, Samuel ' Scott. Nine Seneca Indians, of Cornplanter's
tribe, sissisted him to raise his mill. Leaving his brothers to look after
the new structure, he returned to his family in Dauphin County, intend
ing to bring them out. But Scott soon followed him with the melan
choly news of the death of his brother Andrew, who was buried by the
friendly Indians and Scott in the flat opposite the present tavern. This
news discouraged him for a while; but in 1800 he removed his family
out, accompanied again by Mr. Scott. They sawed lumber and rafted it
down to Pittsburg, where it brought in those days twenty-five dollars per
thousand. The usual adventures and privations of frontier life attended
their residence. The nearest mill was on Black Lick Creek, in Indiana
County. Mr. Barnett knew nothing of the wilderness south of him, and
was obliged to give an Indian four dollars to pilot him to Westmoreland.
The nearest house on the eastward was Paul Clover's (grandfather of
General Clover), thirty-three miles distant on the Susquehanna, where
Curwensville now stands ; westward Fort Venango was distant forty-five
miles. These points were the only resting-places for the travellers through
that unbroken wilderness."
Their children were as follows : Sarah and Thomas, twins, born in
Pine Creek township, Northumberland County, in 1790, now Clinton
County. John was born in LinesviUe, Dauphin County, June 16, 1795.
Andrew, born in Dauphin County, November 22, 1797, where Joseph
Barnett was engaged in contracting for and building bridges in the nine
ties. He emigrated with his family from Dauphin County to Mill Creek,
Port Barnett, Lycoming County, in 1800, now Jefferson County; and
Rebecca was born at Port Barnett, Lycoming County, August 6, 1802.
She was the first white female child born within the present limits of Jef
ferson County. J. Potter was born at Port Barnett, Lycoming County,
573

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
May 23, 1800. Margaret Annie was born October 22, 1805, at Port
Barnett, Pine Creek township, Jefferson County. Joseph Scott, the
youngest child and the first white male child born in the county, was
born April 12, 181 2, at Port Barnett, Pine Creek township, Jefferson
County; and Juliet was born April 12, 1808, at Port Barnett, Pine
Creek township, Jefferson County.
The original Pine Creek township was erected in Northuraberland
County atthe August terra of court in 1785. In 1795, when Lycoming
was organized. Pine Creek township became a part of that county. In
1804, when Jefferson County was organized and taken from Lycoming,
Pine Creek township was divided, and that part taken from Lycoming
was thrown into Jefferson and made into Pine Creek township, and was
the whole of Jefferson County until the year 1818.
The census of 1800 shows that Lycoming had a population of 5414.
The population of Pine Creek township, Lycoming County, in 1800,
when Joseph Barnett migrated and located at Mill Creek, now Jefferson
County, was: whites, 682; colored, 24; slaves, 5; total, 711.
The following advertisement is a relic of the institution of slavery in
Pennsylvania at the time Joseph Barnett migrated to what is now Jefferson
County : " 2 s. (shillings) reward.
" Ran away on the 2d inst. negro man John, about 22 ; also negro
girl named Flora, about 18, slender raade, speaks bad English and a
little French. Has a scar on her upper lip and letters branded on her
breast. Whoever secures the runaways in any place where their master
can get them shall have the above reward and reasonable charges paid
by "John Patton.
" Centre Furnace, Mifflin County, July 26, 1799."
— History of Centre County.
When Joseph Barnett settled on Mill Creek, Pine Creek township,
Lycoming County was divided into two election districts, — the third and
fourth, — viz. : " 3. That part of Lycoming township west of Pine Run,
and that part of Pine Creek east of Chatham's Run, and the township of
Nippenose, to form the third district. Elections to be held at the house
of Thomas Ramey, Pine Creek.
" 4. All that part ef Pine Creek township west ef Chatham's Run to
constitute the fourth district, and elections to be held at the house of
Hugh Andrew, Dunnsburgh." Dunnsburgh, or Dunnstown, as it is now
called, is in CUnton County, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1768 by
WiUiam Dunn, and is about one-half mile down the river from Lock
574

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Haven, and on the opposite or east side of the river. This fourth district
was the polling- or voting-place for the Port Barnett settieraent.
Hon. Jacob Rush was then president judge. He was the president
judge of the third judicial district, formed, in part, of Northumberland
County, from which Lycoming County was taken, the act of April 13,
i795i providing that it shall be within his jurisdiction. He was born in
Philadelphia in 1746, was a brother of the famous Benjarain Rush, of that
city, and a graduate of Princeton Cellege.
The first road we have any account of in Lycoming County was
the "pack-horse" road into the valley of Loyalsock ; it was cut across
the mountain from Muncy to Hillsgrove, for the use of explorers and sur
veyors, and was called the " Wallis road," because it was made by Samuel
AVaUis. In 1793 another " pack-horse" road was cut. It left the WaUis
road at the foot of the AUeghenies, then ran northward to the left ef
Hunter's Lake and on the forks of the Loyalsock, where Ii"orksville is now
situated. It was called the " Courson road." In 1792, Williamson cut
his famous road through from Trout Run to the Block House and be
yond to enable him te conduct a company of colonists to the Genesee
country. In stature, Mr. Barnett was five feet eight inches, and would weigh
about one hundred and eight pounds. His presence was prepossessing,
and with his smooth-shaved face, and a countenance open and frank, his
appearance was such as to attract the attention of all.
In 1800 the only road was Meade's trail. Before the axe of the lum
berman had visited these forests, the trees stood tall, lordly, and free
from undergrowth, the great trunks standing straight in the air, with the
ground cool and damp in the shade. You could ride a horse almost any
where through the woods. In 1801, Barnett got out of salt. The nearest
place to obtain it was in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Barnett
could not make the trip through the woods himself, and he bargained for
three days with an Indian to guide him. The Indian wanted just as
much more as Barnett felt able to give. At the end of three days the
bargain was closed for v/hat the Indian believed to be half-price, — viz.,
two dollars. The trip to AVestmoreland was then made, and after Barnett
secured his salt, the Indian coolly remarked, " Me no go back; me no
go back." All then that was left for Barnett to do was to give him his
original price of four dollars. Joseph Barnett was rather a homely man
in face and features. He was Scotch-Irish. He was a practical business
man, a strict Presbyterian, a true Christian of that time. He had his
left eye gouged out in a rough and-tumble fight on his saw-miU. He
died as he had lived, a true-hearted man, on the 15 th of April, 1838,
and was buried in our old graveyard above Church Street. His wife
passed away four months later, in her sixty-fifth year, and was buried
there also. 575

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
BIOGRAPHY OF BILL LONG.
THE "king hunter"  THE HUNTER OF HUNTERS IN THIS WILDERNESS 
SOME OF THE ADVENTURES AND LIFE OF "BILL LONG" FROM HIS
CHILDHOOD UNTIL HE WAS SEVENTY VEARS OLD.
William Long, a son of Louis (Ludwig) Long, was born near Read
ing, Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 1 794. His father and mother were
Germans. In the summer of 1803, Louis Long, with his family, moved

Bill Long.

into this wilderness and settled near Port Barnett (now the McConnell
farm). Ludwig Long's family consisted of himself, wife, and eleven
children, — nine sons and two daughters, — AVilliam, the subject of this
sketch, being the second child. The Barnetts were the only neighbors
576

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
ofthe Longs. Louis Long brought with him a small " still' ' and six flint
lock guns, the only kind in use at that time. It was not until about the
year 1830 that the percussion-cap rifles were first used, but they were not
in general use here for some years after that. As soon as Mr. Long
raised some grain he commenced to operate his "still" and manufacture
whiskey, this being the first manufactured west of the mountains and
east of the Allegheny River.
This part of Pennsylvania was then the hunting-grounds of the Seneca
Indians, — Cornplanter tribe. The still-house of Long soon became the
resort for these Indians. Pittsburg was the nearest market for pelts, furs,
etc., and the only place to secure flour and other necessaries, etc. From
the mouth of Red Bank Creek these goods had to be poled up to Bar
nett's in canoes. By scooping the channel, wading, and polling, a
round trip to the mouth could be raade in from one to two weeks. Al
though the woods swarmed with Seneca Indians, as a rule, they never
committed any depredations.
In the summer of 1804, when AA^illiam was ten years old, he killed his
first deer. One morning his father sent him into the woods for the cows.
Nature was resplendent with verdure. William carried with him a flint
lock gun, and when a short distance from the house he found the cows
and a deer feeding with them. This was William's opportunity. He
shot and killed this deer, and, as a reward for merit, his father gave hira
a flint-lock gun as a present. This circumstance determined his course
in Ufe, for from that day until his death it was his delight to roam in the
forest and pursue wild animals, and hunting was his only business. He
was a "professional hunter," a "still hunter," or a man who hunted
alone. In this summer of 1804, William went with his mother to Ligonier, in
Westmoreland County, to get some provisions. The only road was an
Indian path, the distance sixty miles. They rode through the brush on
a horse, and made this trip in about five days.
The Indians soon became civilized, as far as drinking whiskey and
getting drunk was an evidence. They visited this stUl-house for de
bauchery and drunken carnivals. As a safeguard to himself and family,
Louis Long had a strong box made to keep the guns and knives of these
Indians in while these drunks were occurring. The Indians desired hira
to do this. Mr. Long never charged the Indians for this whiskey, al
though they always off'ered pelts and furs when they sobered up. In
consideration of this generosity, the Indians, in broken English, always
called Louis Long, "Good man; give Indian whiskey. Indian fight
pale-face ; Indians come one hundred miles to give ' good man' warning."
Ludwig Long kept his boys busy in the summer months clearing
land, farming, etc. The boys had their own time in winter. Then
William, with his gun and traps, traversed the forest, away from the
577

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
ocean's tide, with ne inlet or outlet but winding paths used by the deer
when he wished to slake his thirst in the clear, sparkling water of the
North Fork.
The boy hunter, to keep from being lost while on the trail, foUowed
up one side of this creek and always came down on the opposite. AVhen
he grew older he ventured farther and farther into the wUderness, but
always keeping the waters of the North Fork, MiU Creek, and Sandy
Lick within range until he becarae thoroughly educated with the country
and woods.
In his boyhood he frequently met and hunted in corapany with In
dians. The Indians were friendly to him on account of his father's rela
tions to them, and it was these Indians that gave young William his first
lesson in the art of hunting. Young WiUiam learned the trick of calUng
wolves in this way. One day his father and he went out for a deer.
AViUiara soon shot a large one, and while skinning this deer they heard
a pack of wolves howl. AViUiam told his father to lie down and be
ready to shoot, and he would try the Indian method of "howling" or
caUing wolves up to you. His father consented, and William howled
and the wolves answered. AViUiara kept up the howls and the wolves
answered, coming closer and closer, until his father became scared ; but
AViUiam wouldn't stop until the wolves got so close that he and his father
had to fire on the pack, killing two, when the others took fright and
ran away. The bounty for kiUing wolves then was eight dollars a piece.
A short time after this WiUiam and his father went up Sandy to watch
an elk lick, and at this point they killed an elk and started for home.
On the way home they found where a pack of about twenty wolves had
crossed their path, near where the town of Reynoldsville now is. Look
ing up the hill on the right side of Sandy they espied the whole pack,
and, both father and son firing into the pack, they killed two of them.
William then commenced to " howl," and one old wolf through curiosity
carae to the top of the hill, looking down at the hunters. For this
bravery WiUiara shot him through the head. On their return home that
day Joseph Barnett treated them both to whiskey and "tansy," for,
saidhe, " the wolves this day have killed one of my cows." When Long
was StUl a young man, one day he went up the North Fork to hunt.
About sundown he shot a deer, and when he had it dressed there carae
up a heavy rain. Being forced to stay all night, he took the pelt and
covered himself with it, and lay down under the bank to sleep. After
raidnight he awoke, and found hiraself covered with sticks and leaves.
In a minute he knew this was the work of a panther hunting food for her
cubs, and that she would soon return. He therefore prepared a pitch-
pine fagot, lit it, and hid the burning fagot under the bank and awaited
the coming of the panther. In a short time after this preparation was
completed the animal returned with her cubs, and when she was within
578

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
about thirty feet of him. Long thrust his torch up and out, and when it
blazed up bright the panther gave out a yell and ran away.
John Long and William started out one raorning on Sandy Lick to have
a bear-hunt, taking with them nine dogs. William had been sent out the
day before with two dogs, and had a skirmish with one on Sandy Lick,
near where Fuller's Station now stands. The two brothers went to this
point and found the track, and chased the bear across the creek at Rocky
Bend, the bear making for a windfall ; but the dogs stopped him before
he reached the windfall and commenced the fight. They soon heard
some of the dogs giving death-yells. They both hurried to the scene of
conflict, and the first sight they beheld was three favorite dogs stretched
out dead and the balance fighting. William ran in and placed the muzzle
of his gun against bruin's breast and fired. The bear then backed up to
the root of a large hemlock, sitting upright and grabbing for dogs. John
and William then fired, and both balls entered bruin's head, not more
than an inch apart. In this melee three dogs were killed and the other
six badly wounded. When William was still a boy he went up the North
Fork and killed five deer in one day. On his way home about dark he
noticed a pole sticking in the hollow of a tree, and carelessly gave this
pole a jerk, when he heard a noise in the hole. The moon being up, he
saw a bear emerge from this tree sorae distance up. Young Long shot
and killed it before it reached the earth. In that sarae fall. Bill Long
killed in one day, on Mill Creek, nine deer, the largest number he ever
kiUed in that space of time. At that time he kept nothing but the
pelts, and carried them home on his back. Panthers often came around
Louis Long's home at night, screaming and yelUng. So one morning,
after three had been prowling around the house all night, William
induced his brother John to join him in a hunt for thera. There was
,snow on the ground, and they took three dogs with thera. The dogs
soon found the "tracks." Keeping the dogs back, they soon found
three deer killed by the brutes, and then they let the dogs go. The dogs
soon caught these three panthers feasting on the fourth deer. The dogs
treed two of the panthers. John shot one and Billy the other, the third
escaped. The hunters then camped for the night, dining on deer- and
,panther-meat roasted, and each concluded the panther-meat was the
sweetest and the best.
In the morning they pursued the third panther, treed it, and kiUed
it. These were the first panthers the Long boys ever killed. This stim
ulated young WUliam, so he took one of the Vastbinder boys and started
out again, taking along two dogs. They soon found one, the dogs at
tacking it. Young Vastbinder fired, but missed. The panther sprang
for Long, but the dogs caught him by the hams and that saved young
Long. The panther broke loose from the dogs and ran up on a high
root. Long then fired and broke the brute's back. The dogs then
579

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
rushed in, but the panther whipped them off. Then Long, to save the
dogs, ran in and tomahawked the creature. Long was about eighteen
years of age now. At another time a panther sprang from a high tree for
Long. Long fired and killed the panther before it reached him, but the

Shooting a panther.
weight of the animal striking Long on the shoulder, felled him to the
earth. In 1815 six brothers of Cornplanter's tribe of Indians erected wig
wams in the Beaver Meadows, where Du Bois now stands. These
brothers called themselves respectively "Big" John, "Little" John,
"Black" John, "Saucy" John, "John" John, and "John" Sites. In
1823, Long coaxed these Indians to go with him to Luther's tavern to
shoot at mark with Lebbeus Luther. Luther made on purpose several
careless shots, when the Indians were greatly elated at their victory ; but
then, to their amazement and fear, all at once he pierced the centre every
time. The Indians were then afraid, and casting superstitious glances at
Luther, said, " W'e are not safe. Luver is a bad medicine-man. Let us
go." This was great fun for Long. Long told me this story in 1862 in
Hickory Kingdom.
In 1826, Ludwig Long moved to Ohio, and young Bill went with the
family. He remained there about twenty months ; but finding little
580

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
game, concluded to return to the mountain-hills of Jefferson County,
then the paradise of hunters. In 1828, William Long married Mrs.
Nancy Bartlett, formerly Miss Nancy Mason, and commenced married
life in a log cabin on the North Fork, three miles from where Brookville
now is, and on what is now the Albert Horn farm, formerly the Gaup
place. About this time, game being plenty, and the scalps, skins, and
saddles being hard to carry in. Bill Long induced a colored man named
Charles Sutherland to build a cabin near him on what is now known as
the Jacob Hoffman farm. Long was to provide for Charlie's family.

Long sees one.
The cabin was built, and Sutherland served Long for about five years.
Charles never carried a gun. I reraeraber both these characters well in
my childhood, and doctored Long and his wife in my early practice and
as late as 1862. In 1830, taking Charlie, Long started up the North
Fork for bear ; it was on Sunday. After Long killed the first bear, he
called Charlie to come and bring the dogs. When Charlie reached him
he yelled out, "Good God, massa, hab you seed one?" They con
tinued the hunt that day, and before dark had killed seven bears.
Charlie had never seen any bears killed before, but after this day was
crazy to be on a hunt, for, he said, if "dem Uttle niggers of mine hab
plenty of bear-grease and venison, tKey will fatten well enough." This
581

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
fall Long killed sixty deer and twenty-five bears, all on the North Fork,
and the bears were all killed near and around where Richardsville now is.
This locality was a natural home for wild animals, —
" With its woodland dale and dell,
Rippling brooks and hill-side springs."
" A life in the forest deep,
Where the winds their revels keep ;
Like an eagle in groves of pine,
Long hunted with his mate."
In 1832, the day after Long killed the seven bears, he took Charlie
Sutherland, and travelled over the same ground that he had been over
the day before. He heard nothing, however, during the day but the
sigh of the breeze or the speech of the brook until near evening, when,
within about a mile of home, he saw a large buck coming down the hill.
He fired and wounded the buck, and then motioned Charlie to come up
to him while he was leading. Charlie came with a large pine-log on his
back. Long asked him what he was doing with that log. Sutherland
replied, he wanted it for dry wood. Long told him to throw the wood
away, and made him carry the buck home for food. Long then yoked
his two dogs up and told Charlie to lead them, but soon discovering
bear signs, told Charlie to let the dogs go. The dogs toojc the trail, and
found two bears heading for the laurel on the head of the North Fork.
Long knew the route they would take, and beat them to the laurel path.
Soon Long heard them coming, the dogs fighting the bears every time
the bears would cress a log, catching them from behind. The bears
would then turn around and fight the dogs until they could get over the
log. When the bears came within about thirty yards of Long, he shot
one through the head and killed him. At this time Long only took the
pelts, which he always carried home, the meat being of no account.
This same year Long took Charlie with him to get some venison by
watching a lick, and he took Charlie up a tree with him. In a short
tirae a very large bear came into the lick. Long shot it while he and
Charlie were up the tree. Much to Long's amusement, Charlie was so
scared that he fell from the tree to the ground, landing on his back with
his face up. He was, however, unhurt, and able to carry home to his
cabin the pelt and bear oil. The next morning they saw a bear, and
Long fired, hitting him in the lungs. This same fall, on the head of
the North Fork, Long saw something black in the brush, which, on
closer inspection, proved to be a large she bear. On looking up, he
saw three good-sized cubs. Long climbed up, and brought the whole
three of them down, one at a time. He then handed them to Charlie,
who tied their legs. Long put them in his knapsack and carried them
582

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
home. Bears have from one to four cubs annually, about the ist of
February. Knapsacks were made out of bed-ticking or canvas, with shoulder-
straps. One of these young bears Long sold to Adam George, a butcher
in Brookville. Even at this late day Long only took the skins and what
meat he wanted for his own use. This fall Long was not feeling well,
and had to keep out of the wet. He therefore made Charlie carry him
across the streams. He also made Charlie carry a wolf-skin for him to
sit on at night, when he was watching a lick. At another time Charlie
and Long went out on a hunt near the head of the North Fork. In lonely
solitude the dog started a bear, and Long could not shoot it for fear of
hitting the dog, so he ran up and made a stroke at the bear's head with
a tomahawk, wounding it but slightly. The bear jumped for Long, and
the dogs came to the rescue of their master by catching " the tip of the
bear's tail end," and, with the valor and fidelity of a true knight, held

A common bear-pen.

it firmly, until Long, who had left his gun a short distance, ran for
it. Charlie thought Long was running from the bear, and took to his
heels as if the "Old Harry" was after him. Long tried to stop hira,
but Charlie only looked back, and at this moment his foot caught under
a root, throwing him about thirty feet down a hill. Charlie landed on
583

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
a rock hard enough to have burst a shingle-bolt. Long, seeing this,
ran to the bear with his gun and shot him. He then hurried dowm the
hill to see what had become of Charlie, calling to him. Charlie came
out from under a bunch of laurel, saying, " God Almighty, Massa Long,
I am failed from heben to hell ! Are you still living ? I tot that ar bar
had done gon for you when I seed him come fer you with his mouth
open. Bless de good Lord you still live, or this nigger would never git
out of dese woods !" That night Charlie and Long laid out in the woods.
The wolves came up quite close and commenced to howl. Long saw
there was a chance for a little fun, so he commenced to howl like a
wolf Charlie became nervous. " When lo ! he hears on all sides, from
innumerable tongues, a universal howl, and in his fright" said there
must be five thousand wolves. Long said he thought there was, and
told Charlie that, if the wolves came after them, he must climb a tree.
In a few minutes Long made a jump into the woods, yelling " The wolves
are coming," and Charlie bounded like a deer into the woods, too. The
night was dark and dreary ; but deep in the forest Charlie made out to
find and cUmb a majestic oak. Long, therefore, had te look Charhe
up, and when he got near to our colored brother, he heard him solilo
quizing thus : " Charles, you have to stick tight, for if this holt breaks you
are a gone nigger. ' ' Long then stepped up to the tree and told Charlie
the danger was over ; but coming down the tree was harder than going
up, for Charlie fell to the earth like a thunder-bolt and doubled up like a
jack-knife. Charlie's domestic life was not all peace, as the following newspaper
advertisement will explain : " CAUTION.
" Whereas my wife Susey did on the 26th day of March last leave my
bed and board, and took with her two of my sons and some property,
having no other provocation than ' that I would not consent to my son
marrying a white girl, and bring her home to live with us.' Therefore I
hereby caution all persons against harboring or trusting 'her on my
account, as I will pay no debts of her contracting.
" If she will come home I promise to do all in my power to make her
comfortable, and give an equal share of all my property.
" Charles Southerland.
" April 7, 1847."
AVhen this wilderness commenced to settle up. Long visited Broken
Straw Creek, in Warren County, on the head of the Allegheny River, to
see a noted hunter by the name ef Cotton, and to learn from him his
method of hunting young wolves. He learned much from this man
Cotton, and afterwards secured many young wolves by the instruction
given him by Cotton. In the winter of 1835, Mike and Bill Long went to
584

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Boone's Mountain to hunt. This mountain was a barren region in those
days, that always looked in winter-time like
" Rivers of ice and a sea of snow,
A wilderness frigid and white."
During the season Bill killed one hundred and five deer and Mike
one hundred and four, and together they killed four bears. At this time
there was some local demand in BrookviUe and other towns for venison,
and in this year the Long's sent loads of venison to Harrisburg, making
a trip to the capital in seven or eight days. In 1839, Long moved into
Clearfield County, and his history in this county ceased.
Number of animals killed by Long in his life-tirae : bears, 400 ; deer
(in 1835 Orie white one), 3500; panthers, 50; wolves, 2000; elks, 125 ;
foxes, 400; wild-cats, 200; catamounts, 500; otters, 75.
Long used to catch fawns, mark their ears, turn them loose, and kiU
them when full-grown deer. Elks were easily domesticated, and sold as
follows, — viz. : for a living male elk one year old, ^50 ; two years old, ^75 ;
three years old, Sioo ; and for a calf three months old, ^25. In 1835,
Long had five wolf-dens that he visited annually for pups, about the ist
of May each year.
In 1834, Bill Long, his brother Mike, and Ami Sibley started on a
hunt for elk near where Portland now is. At the mouth of Bear Creek
these three hunters carae across a drove of about forty elks. Bill Long
fired into the herd and broke the leg of one. This wounded elk began
to squeal, and then the herd commenced to run in a circle around the
injured one. Sibley's gun had the wiping-stick fastened in it, and he
could not use it. Bill and Mike then loaded and fired into the drove as
rapidly as they could, the elks continuing to make the circle, until each
had fired about twenty-five shots, when the drove became frightened and
ran away. On examination, the hunters found eight large elks killed.
They then made a raft, ran the load down to where Raught's raill is now,
and hauled the meat, pelts, and horns to Brookville.
In 1836, Bill Long took Henry Dull and started on a hunt for a young
elk. On the third day Long saw a doe elk and calf. He shot the
mother, and his dog caught the calf and held it without hurting it.
Long removed the udder from the mother, carrying it with the " teats"
uppermost, and giving the calf milk from it until they reached Ridgway,
where a jug of milk was secured, and by means of an artificial " teat" the
calf was nourished until Long reached his North Fork home. Dull led
the litde creature by a rope around its neck. Mrs. Long raised this elk
with her cows, feeding it every milking-time, and when the calf grew to
be some size he would drive the cows horae every evening for his supper
of milk. When this elk was full grown, I,ong and Dull led him to Buf
falo, New York, via the pike westward to the Allegheny River, and up
38 585

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
through Warren, and sold the animal for two hundred dollars, — one hun
dred dollars in cash and a note for the other hundred, that was never
paid. In the fall of 1836, Long took Henry Dull with him to hunt wolves.
The second evening. Long found an old wolf with six half-grown pups.
He shot two and the rest ran away. Long and Dull then cUmbed a hem
lock, and Long began his wolf howl. On hearing the howl, two pups
and the old wolf came back. Long then shot the mother, and afterwards
got all the pups. Dull became so frightened that he fell head first, gun
and all, through the brush, striking the ground with his head, producing
unconsciousness and breaking his shoulder. " Thanks to the human
heart, by which we live," for Long nursed Dull at his home on the
North Fork for three months. Scalps then brought twelve dollars a
piece. In that same year Fred. Heterick and Bill killed an elk at the
mouth of Little Toby which weighed six hundred pounds. In 1824, Bill
Long had a thrilling adventure with a huge panther in what is now War
saw township. He, in a hand-to-hand encounter, killed the animal
near where Bootjack now stands.
In the winter of 1834, AA'illiam Dixon, Mike and Bill Long, with
dogs, went out to "rope" or catch a live elk. They soon started a
drove on the North Fork, and the dogs chased the drove over to the
Little Toby, a short distance up frora the raouth. The dogs separated
one buck frora the drove, and this elk, to protect himself from the dogs,
took refuge on a ledge of rocks. Bill Long, while Mike and Dixon and
the dogs attracted the attention of the elk from below, scrambled in some
way to the top of the rocks and threw a rope over the elk's horns, and
then cabled the elk to a small tree. This infuriated the elk, so that he
jumped out over the rocks and fell on his side. Mike and Dixon now
had the first rope. Bill Long then rushed on the fallen elk and threw
another rope in a slip-noose knot around the elk's neck, and fastened this
rope as a guy to a tree. Each rope was then fastened in an opposite direc
tion to a tree, and after the buck was choked into submission, his feet
were tied, and the elk was dragged by these three men on the creek ice to
where Brockwayville now is. Here they secured a yoke of oxen and sled
frora Ami Sibley, a raighty hunter. A sraall tree was then cut, the main
stera being left about five feet long and the two forks about three feet in
length. Each prong of the tree was fastened to a horn of the buck,
and the raain stem permitted to hang down in front over the buck's nose,
te which it was fastened with a rope. A rope was then tied around the
neck and antlers, and the loose end tied around the hind bench of the
sled ; this drove the elk close up to the hind part of the sled. The ropes
around the feet of the elk were then cut, and the buck lit on his feet.
After the animal had made many desperate efforts and plunges, he
quieted down, and no trouble was experienced until within a few miles
586

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
of Brookville, when, meeting an acquaintance, Dixon became so much ex
cited over the success in capturing a live elk, that he ran up and hit the
elk on the back, exclaiming, " See, we have done it !" and this so scared
the elk that he made a desperate jump, upsetting the sled into a ditch
over a log. The oxen then took fright, and in the general melee the elk
had a shoulder knocked out of place and the capture was a failure.
There grew in abundance in those days a tree called moose or leather-
wood. The pioneers used the bark for ropes, which were very strong.

ELK AND VENISON JERK.
This was " venison flesh cut off in a sheet or web about half an inch
thick and spread on the tops of pegs driven into the ground, whilst under
neath a fire was kindled, fed with chips of sassafras and other odorous
woods, that gradually dried it." The web would be removed and re
placed until the jerk was thoroughly dried. The old hunter used to carry
a little jerk always with him to eat with his bread. This jerk was a
deUcious morsel. BiU Long gave me many a "cut." I think I can
taste it now. Mike and Bill Long would bring it to Brookville and retail
it to the people at five cents a cut.
AN INCIDENT ON THE PIKE.
In the spring of 1820, when the pike was being constructed, there was
an early settler by the name of George Eckler living near Port Barnett.
This man Eckler liked a spree, and the Irish that worked on the pike
were not averse to " a wee drop at ony time." A jug or two of Long's
" Mountain Dew" whiskey, fresh from the still, was secured, and a jolly
" Donnebrook fair" time was had one night in the woods. Eckler came
in for the worst of it, for his eyes were blackened and he was battered up
generally. On sober reflection he concluded to swear out a warrant before
Thomas Lucas, Esq., for the " Paddies of the pike." The warrant was
placed in the hands of the constable, John Dixon, Sr. There were about
twenty-five in this gang of Paddies, and Constable Dixon summoned a posse
of eight to assist in the arrest. This posse consisted of the young Dixons,
Longs, and McCuUoughs, and when this solid column of foresters reached
the Irish on the pike, one of the Paddies told the constable to " go home
and attend to his own business." He then commanded the pike battalion
to remove the handles from their picks and charge on the posse. This
they did, to the complete rout of the natives, chasing them all in con
fusion Uke a herd of deer through and across Mill Creek. Young BiU
Long was with this posse, and he ran home, too, but only to arm him
self, not with a shillelah, but with his flint-lock, tomahawk, and knife.
Thus armed and single-handed he renewed the conflict, keeping in the
woods and above the Irish, and sending balls so close to their heads that
587

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
the whiz could be heard, until he drove the whole pack, with their carts,
etc., from above Port Barnett to where Brookville now stands.
As I remember Long, he was about five feet and four inches high,
chubby, strongly built, active, athletic, and a great dancer,- — danced
what he called the " chippers" and the "crack," — was cheerful, lively,
and good-natured. He carried a heavy single-barrel, muzzle-leading rifle.
His belief was that he could shoot better with a heavy rifle than with a
light one. Although there were dozens of professional hunters in this
wilderness, this raan was the king. He had an enduring frame, a catlike
step, a steady nerve, keen eyesight, and a ripe knowledge of all the laws
governing "still hunts for deer and bear." To reach the great skill he
attained in mature life required natural talents, perseverance, sagacity,
and habits of thought, as well as complete self-possession, self-control,
and quickness of execution.
In these woods Long had great opportunities for perfecting himself in
all that pertained to proficiency in a great hunter. Of the other hunters
that approached him, I only recall his brothers, the Knapps, the three
Vastbinders, the Lucases, the BeUs, the Nolfs, Sibley, Fred. Heterick,
Indian Russell, and George Smith, who is still living.
The professional hunter was created by the lawof 1705 under the
dynasty of AA''illiam Penn. The law reads as follows :
"An Act for the Killing of AVolves. For preventing the De
struction OF Sheep and Ca'ttle by Wolves.
"Section i. Be it enacted by fohn Evans, Esquire, by tiie Queen's
royal approbation Lieutenant- Governor under William Penn, Esquire, ab
solute Propi-ietary and Governor-in- Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania
and Territories, by and with the advice and consent of the freemen of the
said Province in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same.
That if any person within this province shall kill a dog- wolf, he shall have
ten shiUings, and if a bitch-wolf, fifteen shillings, to be paid out of the
county stock. Provided such person brings the wolf's head to one of the
justices of the peace of that county, whe is to cause the ears and tongue
of the said wolf to be cut off. And that the Indians, as well as others,
shall be paid for killing wolves accordingly.
"Section 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That
all and every person or persons who are wiUing to make it their business
to kill wolves, and shall enter into recognizance before two or more jus
tices of the peace of the respective counties where he er they dwell, with
sufficient security in the sum of five pounds, that he or they shall and will
make it his or their sole business, at least three days in every week, to
catch wolves, shall have twenty-five shillings for every wolf, dog or bitch,
that he or they shall so catch and kill within the tirae mentioned in the
588

PIONEER PIISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
said recognizance, to be paid out of the county levies where the wolves
are taken as aforesaid. ' '
Repealed by the acts of 1782 and 1819.
Long's early dress was a coon-skin cap, moccasin shoes, a hunting-
shirt, and generally buckskin breeches. The hunting-shirt was worn by
all these early hunters, and sometimes in militia drill. It was a kind
of frock, reached down to the thighs, had large sleeves, was open be
fore, and lapped over a foot or so when belted. This shirt was made of
linsey, coarse linen, or of dressed buckskin. The deer-skin shirt was
cold and uncomfortable in wet and cold rains. The bosom of the shirt
served as a receptacle for rye bread, wheat cakes, tow for cleaning the
rifle, jerk, punk, flint and knocker to strike fire with, etc. Matches were
first made in 1829, but were not used here for many years after that.
The belt was tied behind ; it usually held the mittens, buUet-bag, toma
hawk, and scalping-knife in its long buckskin sheath. The raoccasin in
cold weather was sometimes stuffed with feathers, wool, and dry leaves.
The heavy early rifles carried about forty-five bullets to a pound of lead.
The hand-to-hand conflicts of this noted hunter with panthers, bears,
catamounts, wolves, elks, and bucks, both on the land and in the streams,
if written out in full, would make a large volumeof itself. Elks and deer
frequently took to the creeks, and a battle royal with knife and horns
would have to be fought in the water. Long was several times mistaken
while in a thicket for a wdld animal, and careless hunters shot at him.
Once his cheek was rubbed with a ball. Dozens of Indians and pale-
faced men hunted in this wilderness as well as he, and the table giving
an exhibit of the aggregate nuraber of animals killed by Long during his
life as a hunter only goes to show what a great zoological garden of wild
animals this wilderness raust have been. For sorae of the data in this
article I am indebted to Mrs. Dr. Gibson, nee Anna McCreight, of Rey
noldsville, Pennsylvania.
William Long died in Hickory Kingdom, Clearfield County, Penn
sylvania, in May, 1880, and was buried in the Conway Cemetery, leaving
two sons, — Jack, a mighty hunter, and a younger son, AVilliam.
Peace to his ashes. In the haunts of this wilderness, scorched by the
summer sun, pinched by the winds of winter wailing their voices like
woe, separated for weeks at a time in his lonely cabins from the society
of men and women, and then, too, awakened in the dark and dreary
nights by the howl of the wolf, the panther's scream, and the owl's
to-hoo ! to-hoo ! Long steadily, year in and year out, for sixty years
pursued this wild, romantic life.
THE habits of SOME OF THE GAME LONG HUNTED.
Our bears cub in February, have two cubs at a birth, and these cubs
are about the size of a brown rat, without hair, and blind for nine days.
589

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
They are suckled by the mother for about three months, when they reach
the size of a cat ; then the mother takes them out and teaches them to eat
nuts, berries, bugs, little animals, green corn, vegetables, hogs, sheep, and
sometimes cattle. A full-grown bear will weigh four hundred pounds.
He is exceedingly strong. He can carry a heavy burden and walk on
his hind legs for a long distance.
He frequently gnawed himself out of hunters' pens, is a bold, intelli
gent beast, and his meat was considered a delicacy by the hunters.
Bears lived in "homes," holes, or dens, and sometimes in a rocky
place there would be a "coraraunity." They, like deer, follow their
own paths.
Our panther was fully as strong as the bear, but was rather cowardly,
and especially fearful of dogs. A single blow from one forefoot or a bite
from a panther would kill a dog. As a preservation, the panther hunter
always had a trained dog with hira, for a single bark from a dog would
often scare a panther up a tree. The panther, as a rule, sought and
sprang upon his victim in the dark. He could throw a buck, hog, or
cow without a struggle. A panther attained sometimes a length of ten
feet from nose to end of tail. They lived in dens and had two cubs at
a time. Rowe, of Clearfield, says of the hunter Dan Turner, "Once, when
going out to a ' bear wallow,' his attention was attracted by a panther
acting in a strange manner. He soon saw a large bear approaching it.
With hair erect and eyes glaring, the panther gnashed his teeth, and,
waiting until bruin came up, sprang upon him. .\ mortal struggle ensued.
Turner watched with much interest the fight, which lasted some ten
minutes or more. At last the growls of the fierce combatants became
faint, and the struggle ceased. The panther slowly disengaged himself
from his dead eneray and took position upon the carcass. It was now
Turner's tirae, and, raising his rifle, he shot the panther in the head. After
examining it, he was of the opinion that it could have lived but a very
few minutes longer. Nearly every bone in its body was broken, and its
flesh was alraost reduced to a pulp by the blows and hugs ef the bear."
Our wolves always had their dens in the wildest, most hidden part of
the wilderness. They always manage to get under the rocks or ground
to shelter theraselves and young from all storms. The male fed the
female when the "pups" were small He would travel a great distance
in search ef food, and if what he found was too heavy to carry horae, he
would gorge himself with it and go home and vomit it up for the family.
The wolf and fox were very chary and hard to trap. But Long and
other hunters knew their habits so well that they could always outwit
thera. A wolf could carry a sheep for railes in this way : seize it by the throat
and throw it over or on his back. AVolves hunted the deer in packs ; they
59°

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
all hunted together until a deer was started. The pack would keep up
the chase until they were tired ; then one wolf would keep up the chase at
full speed, while the balance of the pack watched, and when the deer
turned a circle, fresh and rested wolves struck in and pursued ; thus the
deer was pursued alternately by fresh wolves and soon tired out, and
would then fly to some stream ; the wolves would follow, and while the
deer would remain in the stream the wolves would separate, a part of the
pack forming in line on each side of the stream, when the deer would
become an easy prey to these ravenous creatures.
The most dangerous animal or reptile was the rattlesnake. AVe had
these colors : the black, yellow, or spotted. Millions ef them inhabited
these woods, and some were four and five feet long. Snakes, as well as
other wild animals, travel and seek their food in the night. To escape
this danger, each pioneer kept a large herd of hogs, who would kill and
eat snakes with impunity. Dogs, too, were faithful in this direction.
But how did the woodsman and hunter escape ? Well, he wore woollen
stockings, moccasins with anklets, and buckskin breeches. A snake
could not bite through these, and at night he usually laid his head on the
body of his dog to protect his upper extremities.
It was seldom that the elk or deer had twins. The bear, panther,
and wolf always had a litter. Wolves reared in the same pack lived
friendly, but strange males always fought.
The deer, when frightened, circled round and round, but never left
his haunt. The elk would start on a trot, and never stop under ten or
fifteen miles. The bear was and is a wanderer, — here to-day and away
to-morrow. The wolf and panther were fierce and shy.

591

APPENDIX.

SOME LOCAL HISTORY— A LINCOLN STORY— THE MEMORABLE CAM
PAIGN OF 1864.
In the spring of 1864 we had thirty thousand human, living skeletons
in rebel prisons. The war had been carried on for three years. The
following great and sanguinary battles had been fought, — viz. : Bull Run,
Seven Pines, Fort Donelson, Fort Pillow, Shiloh, Seven Days' battle in
Virginia, second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Stone
River, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Cold Harbor, Spott-
sylvania, and the Wilderness. These battles, or most of thera, had been
the bloodiest that modern history records. In our sorrow and despair,
the most bitter antagonisms existed at home between the war and anti
war people. A new President was to be elected that year, and in order
to save the country and to punish rebellion, nearly all patriots — this
included war Democrats — believed that the re election of Lincoln was
absolutely necessary. Actuated by these impulses. Judge Joseph Hender
son, of Brookville, was chosen our Congressional delegate to the national
convention, which was to meet on the 7th of June, 1864, in Baltimore,
Maryland. Judge Henderson, Major Andrews, and myself were warm
friends. The judge was a great friend of Lincoln and Johnson. On the
5th of June I accompanied the judge to Baltimore. Our State delegation
consisted of fifty-two men, — forty-eight district delegates and four at
large, — viz., Simon Cameron, W. AA^ Ketcham, Morrow B. Lowry, and A.
K. McClure. Simon Cameron was made chairman ofthe delegation. The
following States were represented in that body : Maine, Vermont, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennes-
~see, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, AVisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Cali
fornia, Oregon, AVest Virginia, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Nevada, and
Missouri. There was a dispute as to the right of Tennessee to represen
tation, but the convention voted them in. In this the judge voted aye,
and on the first ballot Lincoln received every vote except Missouri, which
cast a solid vote for General Grant. For Vice-President, Andrew John
son, of Tennessee, was nominated on first ballot over Hamlin, of Maine,
Dickinson, of New York, and Rosseau, of Kentucky. It was thought by
593

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
the convention expedient to strengthen the ticket by nominating a man
for this office who was known te be a war Democrat and from the South,
and as this was a convention of freemen, wise leaders, and not of bosses,
the people and wisdom ruled.
From Baltimore I went to Washington on business to see Stanton. I
found him haughty and austere. I therefore sought and received an audi
ence at the White House. I had heard Lincoln denounced verbally and
in the newspapers as " Lincoln, the gorilla," " Lincoln, the ape," " Lin
coln, the baboon," etc., and, true enough, I found him to be a very
homely man, tall, gaunt, and long-limbed, but courteous, sympathetic,
and easily approached. My business with hira was this : In 1863 a thir
teen-year-old boy from Jefferson County, whose father had been killed
in battle, was recruited and sold for bounty into the Fourteenth United
States Regulars at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. After a few months' service,
this boy, tired of military life, was told by his soldier companions that he
could not be held in the service, and, instead of demanding his discharge
in a proper way, unceremoniously left and deserted, for which he was
afterwards arrested, court-martialled, and sentenced to be shot. As early
as April 28, and after that, legal efforts were put forth, and miUtary in
fluence used by myself and others to save this boy, but without avail.
" .Adjutant-Gener.al's Office,
" Washington, D. C, xApril 28, 1864.
" Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your commu
nication of the 9th ultimo, requesting the discharge of  frora the
military service of the United States, of the Fourteenth United States In
fantry, on the ground of minority, and to inform you in reply that he is
now under arrest for trial by court-martial for desertion, and no action
can be taken for his discharge, or that will prevent his punishraent if
found guilty. " I ara, sir, very respectfully,
" Your obedient servant,
"Tho.mas M. Vincent,
"Assistant Adjutant- General.
" A\'. J. McKnight, Brookville, Pa."
My business was to save this boy's life, and while everything else had
been done by legal talent and railitary influence, I went to Lincoln with
a sad heart. He was at that tirae perhaps the busiest man in the world.
He listened patiently to my story, and then said, " Is all this true. Dr.
McKnight, that you have told me? Will no one here listen to you?"
I repUed, " Yes, Mr. President, it is all true." He arose, reached for his
hat, and remarked to me, " I'll be a friend to that fatherless boy." He
put his arm in mine and took me to Stanton's office, and, after a few
594

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
minutes' talk with the Secretary, he turned to me and said, " You can go
home, doctor, and if that boy has not been shot, you can rest assured he
will be discharged." In due time, after my return home, I received by
mail the following : " Adjutant-General's Office,
" Washington, D. C, July 13, 1864.
" Sir, — I have the honor to inform you that, by direction of the
President,  , alias John Scott, Fourteenth United States Infan
try, was discharged the miUtary service of the United States, by special
orders No. 204, Par. 25, current series, from this office.
" I am, sir, very respectfully,
" Your obedient servant,
" Samuel Breck,
"Assistant Adfutant- General.
"Mr. W. j. McKnight, BrookviUe, Pa."
AVashington at this time was the greatest panorama of war in modern
times. It took me days to secure an audience with Mr. Lincoln. I was
then, and am yet, perhaps too ultra and bitter a Republican, but after
this humane act of President Lincoln I was as bitter a partisan as ever,
and, in addition to that, a personal admirer of Lincoln from the crown
of my head to the end of my toes. The call for our county convention
that year was issued July 13, 1864, as foUows, — viz. :
"delegate election.
" The Republicans of Jefferson County will meet in their respective
townships and boroughs on Tuesday, the 2d day of August, between the
hours of two and six o'clock p.m., to elect two delegates of each township
and borough, te meet at the court-house in the borough of BrookviUe, on
Friday, the 5th day of August, at one o'clock, to nominate candidates to
be supported for the different county offices.
"M. M. Meredith,
'¦'¦Chairman County Committee."
The county then had twenty three townships and four boroughs,
giving us fifty-four delegates. The date fixed for the primaries was on
the day set by the law of the State, passed in the spring of that year, for
the special election fer three amendments to our Constitution, one of
which was to permit the soldiers in the field te vote. The date fixed for
this call was a shrewd policy, as it materially assisted in bringing out a
full Republican primary, and was a great aid in carrying that "soldier
vote" issue in the county, which we did, as the full return gave fourteen
hundred and ninety-seven for this amendment and twelve hundred and
twenty against it, a majority of two hundred and seventy-seven. This
595

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
issue was bitterly fought. After the national convention I had been ap
pointed a member of the Union State Central Committee by Simon Cam
eron, who was then chairman of that committee, and this soldier cam
paign in the county was conducted by Captain Meredith. The county
convention was held on August 5, as called, and the following ticket
selected : For District Attorney, A. C. AVhite ; County Commissioners,
I. C. Jordan, Eli B. Irvin; Auditor, Joseph P. North; Trustees of
Academy, P. H. Shannon, M. M. Meredith, Calvin Rodgers.
G. W. Andrews was raade county chairman. Our Representative dis
trict was Clarion and Jefferson, and on September 9, at Corsica, Hunter
Orr, of Clarion County, was declared the nominee for the Legislature.
On September 15, G. AV. Schofield was declared in Ridgway our nominee
for Congress. Dr. A. M. Clarke and S. W. Temple were our conferees
there. This completed our ticket. There were no State officers to be
elected. Nothing but district and county tickets in that October elec
tion. I do not recollect who was the Democratic chairman, but it is im
material, for ex-Senator K. L. Blood dominated and controlled the Demo
cratic party in this county then, and a bold, wiry, vigorous antagonist he
was. Our Democratic Dutch friends used to raake this reply : " I do not
know how I votes. I votes for der Kennedy Blute anyhows." School-
house meetings were held in all the townships. Local speakers were
scarce. Most of them were in the army, and this labor then principally
devolved upon Andrews and me. Dr. Heichhold was furloughed about
October 20 te help us. In our meetings we all abused Blood, and he
in return abused us. Major Andrews was a great worker, and usually
took a number of papers and documents to read from. What little I
said was off-hand. The major would always say in his speeches that
" the common people of the Democrats were honest, but the leaders of
that party were rascals, traitors, and rebels." He was a Maine Yankee.
AA'e elected hira to the State Constitutional Convention in 1872, and after
his service there he reraoved to Denver, where he lived and died.
For the August and October elections we had no funds except our
own, and we were all poor alike. Our newspaper editor was John Scott,
Esq. He was poor, too ; paper was high and hard to get, and, as a con
sequence of this, our organ, the Republican, was only published occasion
ally, and often only half-sheets : hence our meetings had to be adver
tised verbally and by written and printed posters. I had one horse. I
traded sorae books for a second-hand buggy, and bought another horse
that I would now be ashamed to own, and in this buggy and behind this
team the raajor and I drove the circuit in October and November, stop
ping for dinner and over night, Methodist preacher fashion, with the
brethren. It was a rainy fall, and all through October and November
there was mud, — mud rich and deep, mud here and there, mud on the
hill and everywhere, mud on the ground and in the air, and to those who
596

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
traveUed politically it was a mud-splashing as well as a mud-slinging cam
paign. We had a mass -meeting on October 8 in BrookvUle, and on that
day we had a strong address published, reviewing the issues to the people,
signed by I. G. Gordon, Philip Taylor, T. K. Litch, A. S. Rhines, R. G.
AVright, and J. P. AVann. The speakers for the mass-meeting were Chair
man Andrews, Colonel Childs, of Philadelphia, Congressman Myers, and
A. L. Gordon. J. AV. Pope, the great carapaign singer, from Philadel
phia, by his patriotic songs, impelled us all to greater earnestness. In the
October struggle we lost our county and Representative ticket, but Scho
field was re-elected to Congress. A Congressman then never thought of
having one or two bosses in a county te dispense post-offices. The Demo
crats carried the State on the home vote ; but, with the, aid of the sol
diers, we carried the State by a small majority. The anti-war Democrats
greatly rejoiced at their victory on the home vote, and they confidently
expected, as McCleUan was a Pennsylvanian, that State pride would carry
him through in November. The two elections were about one month
apart. The soldier vote was denounced as the "bayonet vote" and
"bayonet rule." Simon Cameron, our State chairman, was greatly dis
appointed at the loss of our State on the "home vote." After the Octo
ber election Cameron sent me a draft for two hundred dollars in "rag-
money," which I expended as judiciously as I knew how. We gained in
the county sixty votes for the Noveraber election. I am sorry that I can
not give the manner of expenditure of this raoney. My accounts were
all audited and the settlement- paper left with G. W. Andrews. McClel-
lan had been the idol of the array and the people, and although he and
Pendleton were nominated at Chicago on August 31, 1864, on a peace
platform that the war had been a failure and a call to suspend hostilities,
there never was a day that McCleUan would not have been overwhelm
ingly elected in 1864, until in September, when Sherman captured At
lanta and Sheridan went whirUng through the valley of Virginia. Every
body, Lincoln and all, knew this. These two victories gave the Union
people great heart for hard work. After these victories, Fremont and
Cochrane, who had been nominated at Cleveland, Ohio, on May 31,
1864, for President and Vice-President by radicals of the Republican
party, withdrew, and both supported Lincoln. Our army before Rich
mond was idle, and, to effectually stop the " bayonet rule" charge, Meade
furloughed five thousand soldiers for two weeks. Sheridan did the same,
making ten thousand in all, and they were home and voted. This gave us
the State on the home vote by about five, and with the " bayonet vote,"
by about twenty, thousand. In this election our county went as follows :
Lincoln. McCltllan.
Home vote  . . • i6i4 '756
Army vote  207 1 1 1
Total vote  1821 1867
597

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
In the November election our county went Democratic ; but we Re
publicans had a grand jubilee after the returns came in from the na
tion, as McCleUan only carried three States,- — viz., Kentucky, Delaware,
and New Jersey. Brevity requires many things that I would delight to
say about Lincoln and this campaign to be omitted. Republican suc
cess gave assurance to the world that " the war for the Union would
still be prosecuted," and it was, and Pennsylvania performed her
duty, both politically and on the battle-fields. Pennsylvania gave to
the national government during the war three hundred and sixty-seven
thousand four hundred and eighty-two soldiers, and during the same
period organized and put in the field eighty-seven thousand men for
State defence, making a grand total of four hundred and fifty-four
thousand four hundred and eighty-two soldiers. Three times during
the war Pennsylvania was invaded, and it remained fer the Rebel
lion to receive its AVaterloo at Gettysburg and from a Pennsylvania
commander. In conclusion, it was the soldiers' bayonets and the " bayonet voters"
of " Lincoln's hirelings" that crushed rebellion and saved the Union.
"BROOKVILLE'S PIONEER RESURRECTION; OR, 'WHO SKINNED THE
NIGGER?'— THE TRUTH TOLD FOR THE FIRST TIME, BY THE
ONLY ONE NOW LIVING OF THE SEVEN WHO WERE ENGAGED
IN IT— ORIGIN OF THE STATE ANATOMICAL LAW.*
" On Sunday morning, November 8, 1857, BrookviUe was thrown into
a state ef the greatest commotion and excitement, occasioned by the
discovery by W. C. Sraith (then a lad of fifteen) of the mutilated re
mains of a huraan being in an ice-house belonging to K. L. Blood, on
the corner of Pickering Street and Coal Alley, or where Mrs. Banks
now lives. When discovered by Sraith, the door was broken open,
having been forced during the night, and the body was found lying
on the ice, with a board under the shoulders and head, the legs and
arras spread apart, the intestines taken out, a lump of ice placed in
the abdominal cavity, and the body literally skinned, the cuticle hav
ing been removed entirely from the crown of the head to the soles of
the feet.
"Filled with terror, young Smith ran from the spot, telling his dis
covery to all he met. Men, women, and children rushed en masse to the
ice-house. Thoughts of savage butchery, suicide, and horror took hold
of the people. Women cried, and men turned pale with indignation.
The news of Smith's discovery spread like wildfire, and the exciteraent
and indignation became more and more intense as hundreds of men.

* By W. J. McKnight, M.D.
598

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
women, and children from the town and vicinity gathered around the
lonely ice-house. It was at first supposed to be murder most foul ; but,
on a closer inspection of the 'remains' by Henry R. FuUerton, a Uttle
'curly hair,' resembling 'negro wool,' was found lying loose near the
body. This was a clue. FuUerton then declared it was the mutilated
corpse of one Henry Southerland, who had died about ten days before and
been buried in the old graveyard. Tools were at once procured by the
excited mob, led by Henry R. FuUerton, Cyrus Butler, Sr., Richard
Arthurs, Esq., and others, and a rush was made for Southerland's grave.
Arriving there, and upon the removal of a few shovelfuls of dirt, a loose
slipper was found, and farther on its mate. When the coffin was reached,
the body was found to be gone, and only the clothes, torn off and lying
inside, were to be seen. What was this desecration for ? Cyrus Butler,
Sr., a gruff old man, said, ' For money.' He boldly asserted that men
nowadays would do anything for money. 'Yes,' he said, 'skin human
excrement and eat the Uttle end on't.' Soon, in the absence of any bet
ter theory, everybody seemed to accept his belief, and it was positively
asserted from one to another that 'a negro hide would sell for five
hundred dollars, to make razor-strops,' etc.
" During the entire day the mob were at sea. The officials perraitted
the body to remain exposed, — a revolting spectacle to men, women, and
children. To all of this I was an interested spectator.
"At nightfaU an inquest was summoned of twelve men by Justices
John Smith and A. J. Brady, as appears from the following Quarter
Sessions' record : (Copy.)
" commonwealth's summons to jurors.
'"November 8, 1857. Served personally on aU the within-named
jurors. Cost, $1.20. " ' C. Butler, " ' Constable.

" ' The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to C. Butler, constable of the
township of Pine Creek, in the county of Jefferson : AVe coramand you
immediately upon sight hereof, to sumraon twelve good and lawful men
of Jefferson County aforesaid, whose names are hereto annexed, to be and
appear before A. J. Brady and John Smith, two of the justices of the
peace of the county of Jefferson, at the ice-house of K. L. Blood &
Brother, in the borough of Brookville, at four o'clock p.m. of this day ;
then and there to inquire of, do, and execute aU things as in our behalf
shaU be lawfully given them in charge, touching the supposed body of
Henry Southerland ; and be you then and there to certify what you shall
599

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
have done in the premises ; and, further, to do and execute what in our
behalf shall be then and there enjoined you.
" ' Given under our hands and seals, this Sth day of Noveraber, 1857.
" 'A. J. Brady, [l. s.J
John S.mith, [l. s ]
"'The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, greeting, to E. R. Brady,
John J. Y. Thompson, A. Craig, John Boucher, L. A. Dodd, Christopher
Smathers, Henry FuUerton, G. AV. Andrews, S. C. Arthurs, John Carroll,
John Ramsey, D. Smith. " subpcena for witnesses.
"'November 8, 1857. Served personally en the within names by
reading. Cost, §1.75. " ' C. Fullerton, ' ' ' Constable.
"'The Comraonwealth of Pennsylvania to K. L. Blood, Thomas
Espy, J. P. George, Joseph Darr, Thomas Graham, John Hamilton,
WiUiara J. McKnight, T. B. McLain, James Dowling, James Scott, J. S.
Steck, George Smith, A. B. McLain, Charles Windsor, Robert St. Clair,
J . P. MiUer, AVest. Bowman, greeting : We coramand you and every of
you, that you set aside all business and excuses whatsoever, you do in
your proper persons appear before A. J. Brady and John Sraith, two of
the justices ef the peace in and for said county ef Jefferson, and an inqui
sition now sitting at the office of John Smith, Esq., in the borough of
BrookviUe, in said county, to testify the truth and give such information
and evidence as you and every of you shall knew touching the man
ner in which the said body ef Henry Southerland, or some person un
known, lying at the ice-house of K. L. Bleod & Brother, in the borough
of Brookville, dead, carae by his death or carae there, and touching all
other raatters in relation to which you shall be examined. And this you
are in nowise to omit, under the penalty that may ensue.
" ' Witness our hands and seals, at Brookville, the Sth day of Novem
ber, a.d. 1857. "'A. J. Brady, [l. s.J
John Smith, [l. s.J
"coroner's inquest.
" ' Proceedings of the coroner's inquest, held in the borough of Brook
ville, upon the body of a man found in the ice-house belonging to K. L.
Blood, on the corner of Pickering Street and Spring [Coal] Alley, on the
morning of Sunday, Noveraber 8, 1857.
" ' In pursuance of the summons issued by Justices John Sraith and
A. J. Brady, the following persons were called and sworn, — to wit : E.
600

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
R. Brady, J. J. Y. Thompson, Andrew Craig, John Boucher, Levi A.
Dodd, Christopher Smathers, Henry R. FuUerton, G. W. Andrews, S.
C. Arthurs, John E. Carroll, John Ramsey, Daniel Smith, who re
paired to the ice-house and made an examination of the body there de
posited, and found the remains of a male human being, with the breast
sawed open, the bowels and entrails removed, the toe-and finger-nails
cut off" at the first joint, and the skin of the entire body reraoved.
" 'The grave in which Henry Southerland (colored), of Pine Creek
township, had been buried having been opened in the presence of a
number of the jurors and other persons, and it being found that the body
of said deceased had been removed from the said grave, the following
witnesses were called and sworn :
" ' David Banks, sworn : I helped open the grave in which the body
of Henry Southerland (colored) had been buried ; found no body in the
coffin ; found the burial clothes rolled up in a bundle and placed in the
head of the coffin; found one of the slippers in which deceased was
buried in the clay about a foot above and before coming to the coffin ;
the body had evidently been removed.
" ' F. C. Coryell, sworn: AVas present at the opening of the grave
to-day ; saw the coffin opened and no body there ; found the clothes
thrown in carelessly in a heap ; one slipper with the clothes in the coffin
and another in the clay some distance above the coffin ; these slippers had
my cost mark on, and are the same as purchased frora rae by the friends
of Henry Southerland for his funeral.
" 'A. R. Marlin, sworn : Henry Southerland was buried in the grave
yard at BrookviUe on AVednesday or Thursday last ; helped to bury hira ;
the grave opened to-day is the one in which deceased was placed ; no
body in the coffin when opened to day.
"'Richard Arthurs, sworn : I examined the body in the ice-house
this day ; looked at the raouth and tongue ; they resembled those of a
person who had died of a disease ; two double teeth out ; seemed as if
they had recently been drawn ; found some hair about the back of the
neck, which was black and curly ; think it was the hair of a negro, or
whiskers ; think this is the body of Henry Southerland ; toes, fingers, and
skin taken off.
" 'After making these enquiries and believing the body found in the
ice-house to be that of Henry Southerland, which had been removed
from the graveyard in the borough of Brookville, the jury caused the
same to be taken up and deposited in the coffin, and placed in the grave
from which the body of said Southerland had been removed, and the
same filled up in their presence ; then returning to the office of John
Smith, Esq., a justice of the peace, adjourned, to meet at nine o'clock
to-morrow (Monday) morning.
" 'The jury render their verdict as foUows : That the body found in
6oi

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.

the ice-house is, to the best of their knowledge and belief, the body of
Henry Southerland, stolen from the grave in which the same had been
deposited ; and that the skin, bowels, and toe- and finger-nails had been
removed by some person or persons to the jury unknown.
" ' E. R. Brady, Foreman.
A. J. Brady,
John Smith,
" 'E. R. Brady,
John J. Y. Thompson,
Andrew Craig,
John Boucher,
Levi A. Dodd,
H. R. Fullerton,
C. Smathers,
G. AA'. Andrews,
S. C. Arthurs,
John E. Carroll,
John Ramsey,
D. Smith,

[l

S.J

[l

s.]

[l.

S.J

[l.

s ]

[l.

S.J

[l.

s.]

[l.

s.]

[l.

s.]

[l.

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[l.

s.]

[l.

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[l.

s.]

[l.

S.J

[l.

S.]

" Coroners fury.

"BILL OF COST ON inquisition.
' Fee of coroner, or justices
Viewing dead body ....
Summoning and qualifying inquest
" witnesses, each 25 cents, 4
Jurors, 12, each 2 days . . ...
Constable Fullerton
Constable Butler . . ...
Witnesses' costs :
David Banks, i day . . . .
F. C. Coryell, i day . . ...
A. R. Marlin, I day ... ...
R. Arthurs, l day .... ...

S4.00
- - 2-75
• ¦ - i-37>^ 1. 00
24,00
• - 1-75
1.20 .62K
- • .62>^
. . . .62>^
 62^
^38 57^
" ' Jefferson County, ss. .
" ' We hereby certify that the above is a true bill of the costs in this
above case.
" ' AVitness our hands and seals, this 15th day of Deceraber, a.d. 1857.
" ' .'V. J. Brady, [l. s.J
John S.mith, [l. s.]
" ' December 17, 1857. It is adjudged that there was probable cause
for holding the inquest. "'By the Court,
"'J. S. McCalmont.'
602

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"This coroner's verdict was supposed to have been manipulated by
the 'Masons.' It was the custom then to charge aU unpopular verdicts
on ' the Masons.' '
"After the inquest jurors viewed the body and ice-house on Sunday
evening, a rope was tied around Southerland's neck, he was dragged into
Coal Alley, thrown into his coffin, and reburied in the old graveyard,
where lie '" Hearts once pregnant with celestial fire.
Hearts that the rod of empire might have swayed.
Or waked to ecstacy the living lyre.'
" Who were the ghouls ? As usual, stupidity and prejudice came to
the front, and picked out for vengeance two innocent and inoffensive
colored men living in the suburbs of the town. ' The law ordained in
reverence we must hold,' and so on Sunday evening Theresa Sweeney, a
sister of Southerland's, was sent for, and she made inforraation against
Charles .\nderson and John Lewis. Cyrus Butler, Jr., a constable then
in Pine Creek township, arrested forthwith these two harmless colored
men and thrust them into jail. On Monday morning, the 9th, Anderson
and Lewis had a hearing before Justices Smith and Brady. George AA''.
Zeigler, an able lawyer, represented the Commonwealth ; but the poor
negroes were without friends or a lawyer. However, as there was no
evidence against them, they were discharged. The excitement was now
so intense that several newly made graves were opened to see if friends
had been disturbed. A few tiraid people placed night-guards in the
cemetery. "In commenting en this atrocity, the feffersonian said, 'Taking
everything into consideration, it was one of the most inhuman and bar
barous acts ever committed in a civilized community; and although the
instigators and perpetrators may escape the punishment which their
brutality deraands, they cannot fail 'to receive the indignant frowns of
an insulted community. They may evade a prosecution through the
technicalities of the law, and they may laugh it off, and when we have
no assurance but our bodies, or those of our friends, may be treated in
the same manner, cold and hardened must be the wretch who does not
feel the flame of indignation rise in his breast at the perpetration of such
an offence. " ' Since the above was in type and the excitement somewhat aUayed,
it is now believed by every person that the body was placed in the ice
house for dissection, and it is supposed that those who had the matter in
charge had the key to the door and left everything safe and secure on
Saturday night, and that some thief, knowing that during the warm
weather butter had been placed there for protection, broken open the
door and entered the place for the purpose ef stealing, and on striking a
603

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
light or groping around in search of butter, he carae across the " dead
darky," and, in his haste to get away, forgot to shut the door, and we
have no doubt that the fellow who broke open the door left in a hurry.
This is, no doubt, the true state of the case.'
"All this confusion was a good thing for the guilty parties, as it gave
time for the angry populace to cool off.
" AVho was this Henry Southerland? He was a stout, perfect speci
men of physical manhood. He was a son of Charles and Susan Souther
land, «^(? Van Camp. Charles Southerland came herein 1812,— a run
away slave. Miss Van Camp came to Port Barnett with her father.
Fudge Van Camp, in iSoi. Henry Southerland was born on the farm
now owned by John Hoffman. He was a North Forker, and, like the
other 'North Fork' boys, could drink, swear, wrestle, shoot, jump, 'pull
square,' and raft. In rhe latter part of October, 1857, he took the fever
and died in a few days, aged about thirty years. He lived then on what
is called the Charles Horn farm. He was married and had one child.
His widow and daughter now reside in the county, highly respectable
people. " Dr. J. C. Simons was then living in BrookviUe, practising medi
cine under his father in law. Dr. Jaraes Dowling. Simons was ambitious
to become a surgeon. He beUeved, like all intelligent doctors then,
that a knowledge of anatomy was the foundation of the healing art.
Dissection of huraan bodies then in Pennsylvania was a crirae. You
could dissect mules and monkeys, but not raen. It was legal in New
York State, and was made so in 1789, and this law in New York Avas
greatly improved in 1854. New A'ork was the first State in the New
World to legalize ' the use of the dead to the living.'
"The first human body dissected was in Alexandria, Egypt, the
cradle of anatomy. England legalized dissection in 1820. The first
subject dissected in Jefferson County was in Brookville, in the winter of
i854-S5> by Dr. George Watt, Dr. McClay, Sarauel C. Arthurs, and a
student, G. AV. Burkett, now a doctor in Tyrone City, Pennsylvania.
This subject was stolen from a graveyard in Clarion County, Pennsylva-
vania. He was an Irishman who froze to death. He drank too much
water in his whiskey.
" .\rabition is soraething like love, — laughs at law and takes fearful
risks. The death of Southerland, Simons thought, was a good chance for
a subject and a surgical school to advance himself and assist the rest of
us,. On the day of Southerland's death Dr. Simons visited separately
each of the following doctors in the town, and appointed a meeting to be
held on Saturday night, October 31, at ten o'clock, in K. L. Blood's
drug-store, for the purpose of organizing and resurrecting the dead
negro : Drs. J. G. Simons, John Dowling, Hugh Dowling, A. P. Heich
hold, and W. J. McKnight. By request, I secured, on Friday, October
604

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
30, permission from Dr. Clark to use for our school the empty house
then owned by him, and where John Means now lives. Augustus BeU,
an educated gentleman from Philadelphia, who lived and died here, and
K. L. Blood, both medically inclined, were taken in as friends.
Promptly at ten o'clock, Saturday night, October 31, 1857, all these
parties met in council in the drug-store. Simons, the two Dowlings,
and 'Little Bell' filled themselves full to the brim with Monongahela
whiskey. Blood, Heichhold, and McKnight remained dry and took not
a drop. At about eleven o'clock p.m. we all marched up Pickering
Street, with a mattock, shovel, and rope. John Dowling and I were
quite young men, and were stationed as watchers, or guards. The others
were to resurrect. Simons and ' Little BeU' worked like ' bees,' and were
as brave as lions as long as the whiskey stimulated them ; but when that
died out they kicked- and balked badly. Mr. Blood then took hold like
a hero. He dug, shovelled, broke open the coffin, and ' there, down
there in the earth's cold breast,' placed the rope around the subject and
assisted in the resurrection of Southerland. Remember this :
" ' It was a calm, still night.
And the moon's pale light
Shone soft o'er hill and dale,'
when we, seven ghouls, stood around the empty tomb of Henry Souther
land. The grave was then hastily filled, and carefully too. The naked
corpse was now placed on a 'bier.' John Dowling and I took one side
side, K. L. Blood and Simons the other, and under the autumn's full moon
we left the graveyard ; down Barnett Street, crossed Coal Alley, across Jef
ferson Street, down to Cherry Alley, at the rear of Judge Clark's prop
erty now, and up Cherry Alley to the rear of the lot now owned by John
Means, and down that lot to the kitchen part of the house, into which
the body was carried and placed in a little bedroom west and south of
the kitchen. This was done between the hours of one and two a.m., un
observed. Tired and weary, we all went home to rest, and expected to
open the school on Monday night, the 2d, but for reasons I will give you
farther on this was not done.
" On the evening of the 2d of November, 1857, my mother called me
to one side and said, ' You have gotten yourself into trouble. You have
been out nights. Don't say a word to me, just listen. You have been
helping the other doctors to dig up Henry Southerland. Dr. Heichhold
told Captain Wise all about it, AVise told his wife, she told Mrs. Sarauel
C. Arthurs, she told Mrs. Richard Arthurs, and Mrs. Richard Arthurs
told me this afternoon. Now take care of yourself. As you are poor,
you will have to suffer; the others are all rich and influential.'
" This was a nitre-glycerin explosion to me. I raade no reply to my
dear mother, but left for Blood's drug-store, and repeated to him what
605

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
mother had told me. His left hand went up as if struck by a Niagara
electric current. I said to him, ' I want Dr. Clark protected now ; South
erland must be removed from his house.' Blood agreed with me. A
caucus was then called for that night at the store, when it was decided
to remove the body from the house down through the cellar and secrete
it under those present front steps of John Means's house, and there it lay
naked from Monday night until AVednesday night, when the cadaver was
reraoved from there to Blood's ice-house, in a large coffee-sack, about
nine p.m., as follows : McElhose had his printing-office in a little build
ing east and on the same lot. It was en that vacant piece next te Cor
bett's house now. It was built for and used as a drug-store. There was
a door under the west side that opened into the under part of the porch
and the front steps. If McElhose or any of his imps had ever opened that
door, 'a dreadful sight would have raet their startled view.' I was a
printer and had learned the art in part with McElhose, and I was de
tailed to go into his office and raake all kinds of noises and detract the
attention of the printers from any sounds under the porch. This I did
by dancing, kicking over furniture, etc. I could hear the other parties
at times; but McElhose thought I was drunk, or such a fool that he only
watched and heard me. Everything worked favorably, and 'Black Hen'
was successfully reraoved to a house whose inside walls were frigid and
white. ' In the icy air of night' the school for dissection was opened on
Wednesday and closed on Saturday morning. As our secret was known
to so many, and realizing that we could net dissect in Brookville without
being caught up, we only mutilated the cadaver for our personal safety.
"At this time BrookviUe was full of burglars, thieves, and house
breakers. On Friday night, the 6th, A. B. McLain was patrolling for
robbers in Coal Alley, and under the ' ebon vault of heaven, studded with
stars unutterably bright,' he espied what he thought to be three suspi
cious persons, and pounced down on thera like a hawk on a chicken.
The suspects proved to be Drs. Hugh Dowling, Heichhold, and ' Little
Bell' (Augustus Bell). McLain was then taken a prisoner by the suspects,
dumped into the ice-house, and for the first time in his life saw ' a man
skinned.' The job was corapleted that night, and the cuticle, toes,
fingers, and bowels were buried under a large rock in the ' Dark Hollow,'
on Saturday forenoon, by Drs. Heichhold and John Dowling.
"For dissection the cadaver is divided into five parts: the head is
given to one party, the right arm and side to another, the left arm and
side to a third person, the right leg to a fourth, and the left leg to a
fifth. In this way Dr. Simons and the four doctors skinned Henry
Southerland. For us to dissect Southerland would have required about
fifteen to twenty days.
" .\s dissection is a slow and intricate work, and to avoid discovery
and arrest, efforts were made to remove as early as possible the subject
606

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFp-ERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
from towm. Dr. David Ralston, then practising medicine in Reynolds-
viUe, was seen, and he agreed to come after the cadaver and take it home
on Saturday night, the 7th. Dr. W. H. Reynolds, who resides now at
PrescottviUe, this county, was then a young man, living on a farm near
Rathmel, and Dr. Ralston secured his co-operation. On Saturday these
two gentlemen carae to BrookviUe with two mules in a wagon, and
stopped at the American Hotel, J- J. Y. Thompson, proprietor. At a
conference of all parties, it was arranged that Ralston and Reynolds
should drive to the ice-house from the west end of Coal Alley about
eleven o'clock p.m. They had a large store-box in the wagon te cairy
the corpse. The night was black dark. At ten p.m. J. Y. said, ' I'll he
danged to Harry, what are so many doctors loafing here to-night for ?' A
little later, when Ralston ordered out the mules and wagon, Thompson
was perfectly astonished, and exclaimed, 'I'll be dod danged to Harry
and dangnation, if you men will leave my house at this late hour and this
kind of a night for Reynoldsville.' But his objections were futile. AA^e
ghouls were detailed as follows : Blood and Bell as watchers, Heichhold
and Hugh Dowling to open the ice-house door, and John Dowling and
myself to hand the ' cadaver' out of the house to the men in the wagon.
Explicit directions were given to avoid meeting there and forming a
crowd. " Dr. John Dowling and I were there at our appointed time, but the
door was unopened, and so we left. Dr. Heichhold in some way lost the
key at or near the ice-house, and had to go and find a hatchet to open
the door. This he did, and the wagon came along, and, finding no one
there, stopped a moment and left without the subject. On the North
Fork bridge they pushed their box into the creek. I always felt that
Dowling and myself were somewhat to blame ; but we were young and
had received orders not to loiter around, and if the door was not opened
to leave. "About eight or nine o'clock on Sunday morning I went up to
Dowling's and told John we had better go up and 'view the land.'
AVhen we arrived on the tragic scene we found the door open and broken.
We peeped in, and while doing so we observed William C. Smith on
Pickering Street watching us. We walked briskly away up Coal AUey ;
but our actions and the ' broken door' excited his curiosky, and, hurry
ing over to the ice-house, he looked in, only to be horrified, and with
arms extended towards heaven, pale as death, he ran home, exclaiming
excitedly to those he met, that a man had been ' skinned alive' in Blood's
ice-house. He had seen the man, and also saw Dr. John Dowling and
Tom Espy looking at the raan in the ice-house. William C. Smith has
told his version of the discovery to me many times, and always put ' Tom
Espy' in my place.
" In the evening of Sunday, the Sth, loud mutterings against the doc-
607

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
tors were heard, and we all hid. I hid in the loft above our old kitchen.
At midnight, ' in the starlight,' I left for McCurdy's, in the Beechwoods.
Monday morning, Blood had business in Pittsburg. David Barclay, a
very able man and lawyer, was then our member of Congress, and he
took charge of the prosecution. He and Blood had a political feud, and
Barclay thought now was his time to annihilate Blood. Hearing of Bar
clay's activity, my brother, the late Colonel A. A. McKnight, then a
young lawyer, made inforraation against me before Esquire Smith, under
the act of 1849, to protect graveyards. I returned on Tuesday night, and
was arrested, taken before Smith, pleaded guilty, and was fined twenty-
five doUars and costs, which I paid in full to the county coraraissioners,
and I was the only one who had to pay a penalty. Under the above act
the penalty was fine or iraprisonment, or both. My conviction before
Smith was to give me the benefit in court of that clause in the constitu
tion which says, ' No person for the same offence shall be twice put in
jeopardy oflife or lirab.' Barclay was a Republican, Blood was a Demo
crat. I was a Republican, without money or friends, therefore Barclay
commenced his prosecution against Blood and me, leaving the others all
out for witnesses. The criminal records of Justices Smith and Brady for
some reason have been destroyed, therefore I cannot give them. Barclay
kept up his prosecution until 1859, as the following legal records of the
court show. (Copy.)
"'No. 14 Feby. 1859. Q. S.
" ' Comraonwealth vs. Kennedy L. Blood and AViUiam J. McKnight.
" ' Indictment for removing a dead body frora burial-ground. Prose
cutrix, Tracy Sweeney.
" ' Witnesses, Charles Anderson, F. C. Coryell, L. A. Dodd, John
McGiven, A. P. Heichhold, Richard Arthurs, John Dowling, John Car
roU, AViUiara Smith, Thomas Espy, Myron Pearsall, Hugh Dowling,
.A.ug. Beyle, WiUiam Reynolds, Henry Fullerton, Matthew Dowling, Wil
liam Russell, Sinthy Southerland, Zibion Wilber, James Dowling, A. M.
Clarke, George Andrews, A. B. McLain, AVilliam Lansendoffer, I. D. N.
Ralston, Charles McLain, James McCracken, Charles Matson. In the
Court of Quarter Sessions for the County of Jefferson, February Session,
1859. "'The grand inquest of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in
quiring for the body of the county, upon their oaths and affirmations re
spectfully do present, that Kennedy L. Blood and WiUiam J. McKnight,
late of the County of Jefferson, on the fifth day of November, in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven, with force and
arms, at the County of Jefferson, the burial-ground of and in the borough
of BrookviUe there situate, unlawfully did enter and the grave there in
608

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
which the body of one Henry Southerland deceased had lately before then
been interred ; and these two, with force and arms, unlawfully, wantonly,
wilfully, and indecently, did dig open, and afterwards, — to wit, on the
same day and year aforesaid, — with force and arms, at the county afore
said, the body of him, the said Henry Southerland, out of the grave afore
said, unlawfully and indecently, did take and carry away, against the
peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
"'And the grand inquest aforesaid, upon their oaths and affirma
tion, do further present, that Kennedy L. Blood and WiUiam J. Mc
Knight, late of the County of Jefferson, on the fifth day of November, in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, with
force and arms, at the County of Jefferson, the burial-ground of and in
the borough of Brookville there situate, unlawfully and clandestinely, did
enter, and the grave there in which the body of one Henry Southerland,
deceased, had lately before then been interred ; and these two, with
force and arms clandestinely, did dig open, and afterwards, — to wit, on
the same day and year aforesaid, with force and arms, at the county afore
said, the body of him, the said Henry Southerland, out of the grave afore
said, clandestinely and indecently, did take, remove, and carry away,
against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
and contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided.
" ' A. L. Gordon,
" ' District Attorney.
" ' Comraonwealth vs. K. L. Blood and William J. McKnight.
" ' In the Court of Quarter Sessions of Jefferson County.
'"No. 14 Feby. Session, 1859. Q. S. D. No. 2, page 87.
" ' Indictment for removing a dead body. Not a true bill. County
to pay costs. "'AA'illiam M. Johnston, " ' Foreman.
" 'Received of A. L. Gordon, ray costs, Hugh Dowling, Charles An
derson, John E. Carroll, A. P. Heichhold, AV. C. Smith, M. A. Dow-
Ung, A. B. McLain, H. R. Fullerton, M. M. Pearsall. Justice Brady,
54-52; attorney, 53.'
"This indictment was under the act of 1855, 'To protect burial-
grounds,' the penalty of which was : If any person shall open any tomb
or grave in any cemetery, graveyard, or any grounds set apart for burial
purposes, either private or public, held by individuals for their own use,
or in trust for others, or for any church or institution, whether incor
porated or not, without the consent of the owners or trustees of such
grounds, and clandestinely or unlawfully reraove, or attempt to reraove,
609

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
any human body, or part thereof, therefrom, such person, upon convic
tion thereof, shall be sentenced to undergo an imprisonment in the
county jail or penitentiary for a term of not less than one year, nor more
than three years, and pay a fine of not less than one hundred dollars, at
the discretion of the proper court.
" The witnesses before the grand jury were of two kinds, — those who
knew and those who didn't know. Those who knew refused to testify,
on the ground of incriminating themselves, and Judge McCalmont sus
tained them.
"The attorneys for the Commonwealth were A. L. Gordon, district
attorney, and Hon. David Barclay. Our attorneys were Amor A.
McKnight, Benjamin F. Lucas, and Williara P. Jenks.
" K. L. Blood and Dr. Heichhold, until the day of their death, were
opposite political party leaders, and whenever either one addressed a
political assembly some wag or opponent in ambush would always inter
rogate the speaker with ' AVho skinned the nigger ?'
" Before concluding this article it might be well to say that the ' ice
house' was never used for any purpose after November 8, 1857.
"In 1883, when I was a State senator, I was invited te dine with
Professor W. H. Pancoast, of Philadelphia. The city. State, and nation
was agitated over the robbing of ' Lebanon Cemetery,' in that city. It
was thought that these subjects were for dissection in Jefferson Medical
College. Dr. Pancoast was then professor of anatomy in that school.
AVhile at dinner the question was raised as to what effect this scandal
would have upon the college. During this talk I broached the idea that
now would be an opportune time to secure legal dissection for Pennsyl
vania. The wisdom of my suggestion was doubted and controverted. I
defended my position in this wise : The people of the city and State are
excited, alarmed, and angered, and I would frame the 'act to prevent
the traffic in huraan bodies and to prevent the desecration of graveyards. '
This would appeal to the good sense of the people, as an effort, at least,
in the right direction. Dr. Pancoast soon coincided with me, and from
that moraent took an active interest in the raatter. He raet with opposi
tion at first from those who ought to have supported him ; but I assured
the doctor if he would get the Anatomical Association of the city to draft
a suitable law and send it to Senator Reyburn, of that city, I would sup
port it frora the country, and that we would push it through the Senate.
Dr. Pancoast deserves great praise for his energy in overcoming the timid
ity and fears of the college deans and others in the city, and in finally
inducing the ' Association' to frame the present act and send it to Senator
Reyburn. This law in Pennsylvania legalizing dissection was passed
finally on June 4, 1883. Its passage raet serious and able opposition in
both Houses. I firmly believe that had I not been connected with and
prosecuted in this pioneer resurrection case in Brookville, I would not
610

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
have been impelled to propose such a law or to champion it in the
Senate. As introduced by Senator Reyburn, the title was, ' Senate
bUl 117, entitled An Act for the promotion of medical science, by the
distribution and use of unclaimed human bodies for scientific purposes,
through a board created for that purpose, and to prevent unauthorized
uses and traffic in human bodies.'
" The act as passed and approved reads as follows, — viz. :

it < ¦

¦ No. 106. An Act for the Promotion of Medical Science by the
Distribution and Use of Unclaimed Human Bodies for Scien
tific Purposes through a Board created for that Purpose, and
TO prevent Unauthorized Uses and Traffic in Human Bodies.
" 'Section i. Be it enacted, etc., That the professors of anatomy, the
professors of surger)-, the demonstrators of anatomy, and the demonstra
tors of surgery of the medical and dental schools and colleges of this
Commonwealth, which are now or may hereafter become incorporated,
together with one representative from each of the unincorporated schools
of anatomy or practical surgery, within this Commonwealth, in which
there are frora time to time, at the time of the appointment of such rep
resentatives, shall be not less than five scholars, shall be and hereby are
constituted a board for the distribution and deUvery of dead human
bodies, hereinafter described, to and among such persons as, under the
provisions of this act, are entitled thereto. The professor of anatomy in
the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, shall call a meeting of
said board for organization at a time and place to be fixed by him within
thirty days after the passage of this act. The said board shall have full
power to establish rules and regulations for its government, and to ap
point and remove proper officers, and shall keep full and complete
minutes of its transactions ; and records shall also be kept under its
direction of all bodies received and distributed by said board, and of the
persons to whom the sarae raay be distributed, which minutes and
records shall be open at all times to the inspection of each member of
said board, and of any district attorney of any county within this Com
monwealth. " 'Section 2. All public officers, agents, and servants, and all offi
cers, agents, and servants of any and every county, city, township,
borough, district, and other municipality, and of any and every almshouse,
prison, morgue, hospital, or other public institution having charge or
control over dead huraan bodies, required to be buried at the public ex
pense, are hereby required to notify the said board of distribution, or
such person or persons as raay, from time to time, be designated by said
board or its duly authorized officer or agent, whenever any such body or
bodies come to his or their possession, charge, or control ; and shall,
without fee or reward, deliver such body or bodies, and permit and suf-
611

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
fer the said board and its agents, and the physicians and surgeons from
tirae to time designated by them, who may comply with the provisions
of this act, to take and remove all such bodies to be used within this
State fer the advancement of medical science ; but no such notice need
be given nor shall any such body be delivered if any person claiming
to be and satisfying the authorities in charge of said body that he or she
is of kindred or is related by marriage to the deceased, shall claim the said
body for burial, but it shall be surrendered for interment, nor shall the
notice be given or body delivered if such deceased person was a traveller
who died suddenly, in which case the said body shall be buried.
"'Section 3. The said board or their duly authorized agent may
take and receive such bodies so delivered as aforesaid, and shall, upon
receiving them, distribute and deliver thera to and among the schools,
colleges, physicians, and surgeons aforesaid, in manner following : Those
bodies needed for lectures and demonstrations by the said schools and
colleges incorporated and unincorporated shall first be supplied ; the
remaining bodies shall then be distributed proportionately and equitably,
preference being given to said schools and colleges, the number assigned
to each to be based upon the number of students in each dissecting or
operative surgery class, which number shall be reported to the board
at such times as it may direct. Instead of receiving and delivering said
bodies themselves, or through their agents or servants, the beard of dis
tribution raay, from time to tirae, either directly or by their authorized
officer or agent, designate physicians and surgeons who shall receive
them, and the nuraber which each shall receive : Provided always, how
ever. That schools and colleges incorporated and unincorporated, and
physicians or surgeons of the county where the death of the person or
such person described takes place, shall be preferred to all others : And
provided also. That for this purpose such dead body shall be held subject
to their order in the county where the death occurs for a period not less
than twenty-four hours.
"'Section 4. The said board may employ a carrier or carriers for
the conveyance of said bodies, which shall be well enclosed within a
suitable encasement, and carefuUy deposited free from public observation.
Said carrier shall obtain receipts by name, or if the person be unknown
by a description of each body delivered by him, and shall deposit said
receipt with the secretary of the said board.
" 'Section 5. No school, coUege, physician, or surgeon shall be al
lowed or perraitted to receive any such body or bodies until a bond shall
have been given to the Commonwealth by such physician or surgeon, or
by or in behalf of such school or college, to be approved by the prothon
otary of the court of coramon pleas in and for the county in which such
physician or surgeon shall reside, or in which such school or college may
be situate, and to be filed in the office of said prothonotary, which bond
612

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
shall be in the penal sum of one thousand dollars, conditioned that all
such bodies which the said physician or surgeon, or the said school or col
lege shall receive thereafter shall be used only for the promotion of medi
cal science within this State ; and whosoever shall sell or buy such body
or bodies, or in any way traffic in the same, or shall transmit or convey
or cause to procure to be transmitted or conveyed said body or bodies,
to any place outside 'of this State, shall be deemed guilty of a misde
meanor, and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding two
hundred dollars, or be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year.
" ' Section 6. Neither the Commonwealth nor any county or munici
pality, nor any officer, agent, or servant thereof, shall be at any expense
by reason of the delivery or distribution of any such body; but all the
expenses thereof and of said board of distribution shall be paid by those
receiving the bodies, in such manner as may be specified by said board
of distribution, or otherwise agreed upon.
" ' Section 7. That any person having duties enjoined upon him by
the provisions of this act who shall neglect, refuse, or omit to perform
the same as hereby required, shall, on conviction thereof, be liable to
fine of not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred dollars
for each offence.
" 'Section 8. That all acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act
be and the same are hereby repealed.
" 'Approved — the 13th day of June, a.d. 1883.
" ' Robert E. Pattison.'
"In closing this narrative I quote a paragraph from my remarks in
the Senate in support of the passage of the law and in reply to the
speeches of other senators :
'"Where would the humanity exist then, especially that kind of
which so much is said in regard to the dead ? Humanity, I think, should
first be shown to the living, and the Great Physician, whom senators
quote on this floor as having had a regard for humanity, said, " Let the
dead bury the dead." He took the same practical view that humanity
should be practised for the living. We take a harsh view as medical
men in regard to the dissection of dead bodies. We consider subjects
just as clay. I know this is repugnant to the common idea of mankind,
but it is the true idea. It is the idea that wiU enable a medical man to
be of sound, practical good, professionally, in the worid. For the crushed,
reUef in life is the great object, not relief after death. AVe have nothing
to do with that. Beautiful poetry and nice homilies can be delivered
here by senators about death, but it is the living that we want to be
humane to and not the dead, and if it requires the dissection of ninety-
nine dead persons to relieve one living sufferer, I would dissect the
ninety-nine dead persons and relieve the one living person. Other
613

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
senators here would have us do just the reverse of that. I repeat, Mr.
President, this measure is in the interest of the laboring man ; it is in
the interest of the mechanic ; it is in the interest of science ; it is in the
interest of the poor the world over ; it is in the interest of the man who
gets torn and lacerated in our mines and workshops, and who is too poor
to travel to Philadelphia for his surgical aid. Enact this law, and the
young man can go from Allegheny, from Jefferson, and from Armstrong
Counties to Philadelphia, and he can legally take the human body, which
is the A B C of all medical knowledge, and he can dissect it there, and
learn by that means just where each artery is, and where each vein is,
and where the different muscles lie and the different relations they sus
tain to one another, and then he is qualified to return to Allegheny or
Jefferson Counties, locate at the cross-roads or in the village, and per
form the operations that are so much needed there for the relief of suffer
ing humanity and the suffering poor.
"'You all know that the surgeons of Philadelphia are famous, not
only in Philadelphia, but throughout the world, and why ? It is be
cause they have studied the anatomy of the human body so thoroughly
and so perfectly.
" ' We must have anatomical dissections. No man learns anatomy in
any ether way in the world than through anatomical dissections. Pic
tures, models, and manikins won't do. He must not only dissect one
body, but he must dissect a large number of bodies. He cannot dissect
too many, neither can he dissect too often ; therefore humanity requires
that this dissection be legalized and go on.
" 'Of course, we must have some regard for the sentiment of the
Uving, and to respect that, we, in this bill, only ask that the unclaimed
bodies of paupers be given to the medical colleges, not the bodies of
those having friends. No body can be taken if any one objects.'
"AVe have now, in 1897, legalized dissection of the human body in
twenty-four States, and, as a result, the skill of the physician in the future
' shaU lift up his head, and in the sight of great men he shall stand in
admiration.' " — feffersonian Democrat, January, 1897.
THE TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.
The following is an extract from the proceedings held in Brookville,
Pennsylvania, November 23, 1896:
"The Jefferson County Teachers' Institute met in the court-house,
Brookville, on Monday, at two p.m. After the enrollment of teachers
and the selection of T. T. Millen as secretary, the following address of
welcome te the teachers was delivered by Dr. W. J. McKnight, of Brook
ville : 614

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" ' Mr. Chairman and Teachers,— This is an assemblage of teachers,
called an " institute"— the institute of Jefferson County. What is its his
tory? Let us lift the veil from the past and ascertain. The Rev. John
C. Wagaman, of Punxsutawney, was our first county superintendent,
elected in 1854, and paid a salary of three hundred doUars a year. He
resigned in 1856, and Samuel McElhose, of Brookville, succeeded him
by appointment. Our first county institute was held by McElhose, in
the old Academy building, in Brookville, in October of 1856, continuing
two weeks. The published call for it read as follows :
" ' " TO teachers.
" ' " Believing that much good can be done to the cause of common
school education by means of a county institute for the benefit of teach
ers, I hereby issue this call te teachers and those who wish to teach, re
questing and urging each one of them to meet in Brookville on Monday,
the 2oth day of October, at which time will commence in the Academy
the first session of the Jefferson County Teachers' Institute. It will last
two weeks.
" ' " Professor S. AA^ Sraith will be present during the session. He is
a graduate of the best of the New England schools, and has the advantage
of several years' practice as a teacher. The course of instruction will
extend to a general review of the branches required to be taught in our
common schools. It will be our leading object to treat at large on the
subjects of school government, classification of scholars, and the im
proved methods of teaching.
" ' " Persons who attend the institute will be at no expense except for
their own boarding. Several gentlemen have tendered their services and
will deliver lectures on topics connected with education at the proper
times in the session. We again solicit the attendance of those who de
sire to teach in this county, and also extend a cordial invitation to the
friends of education in this and other counties to be present.
"' "S. McElhose,
"¦ ' " County Superintendent.
"'"Brookville, September 22, 1856."
"'This institute was opened with prayer by Professor Smith. The
work consisted largely of daily class drills, conducted by Professor Smith
and Superintendent McElhose. Professor Smith was an educated gentle
man, and died in BrookviUe a few years ago, after serving two terms as
county superintendent most acceptably.
" ' The evening lectures before this first institute were free, delivered
in the Presbyterian church by local talent. They were by Rev. Thomas
Graham, on "The Duties of Teachers;" A. L. Gordon, Esq., on "Self-
Knowledge," and I. G. Gordon, Esq., on '•' Discipline." All these even-
615

PIONEER HISTORV OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
ing entertainments were announced to be held at " candle-lighting."
Day lectures were given before the institute by Superintendent McElhose,
Professor Sraith, on astronomy, and Dr. Cummins, on physiology. Nu
merous essays were read by the teachers present, en the beauties of nature,
on education, on teaching, etc. Of the forty-two teachers who attended,
1 can recall but these: .-A. H. Brown, A. L. Gordon, J. C. Wilson,
AViUiam Monks, T. Evans, John H. McKee, A. J. Monks, R. .A.. Travis,
J. Kelso, Misses Maggie Polk, Jennie Craig, M. Kinnear, Abbie Mc
Curdy, Martha Dennison, Emma Bishop, Mary McCormick, H. Thomas,
Martha McCreight, and Messrs. C. M. Matson, David Dickey, and S. A.
McAllister. T'he last three naraed are present with us to-day.
" ' Extended discussion was had, and resolutions were passed, in regard
te the construction of school-houses and concerning school furniture and
school-books. The county then had one hundred and five school-houses
and sixty-eight male and fifty female teachers.
" ' Sarauel McElhose served as superintendent a part of a term by ap
pointment and two full terms by election, at a yearly salary offive hun
dred dollars. He was an educated and popular gentleman, a great
worker, and the first in the county to agitate institutes. He held many
of these, — sometimes three or four in a year, — some lasting three or four
weeks. He was a good citizen and a patriot, and died a private soldier
in the army in 1863.
" ' Ninety-two years ago, in the winter of 1804, John Dixon, father of
the venerable John Dixon, of Polk township, taught the first school in
this county. It was a subscription school, and the term was three
months. The "school-house" was two railes east of Brookville, on what
is now the AlcConnell farm. It was twelve feet wide and sixteen feet
long, was built of rough logs, and had no window-sash or glass. The
light was adraitted to the school-room through chinks in the walls, over
which greased paper was plastered. The floor was of " puncheons," and
the seats of broad pieces split from logs, with pins underneath for legs.
The roof was covered with " clapboards" held down by poles. Boards
laid on pins driven into auger-holes in the walls furnished writing-desks.
A log fireplace, occupying an entire end of the room, supplied warmth
when the weather was cold.
" 'The second school was taught by John Johnson, in 1806, on the
old "State road," near the present residence of WiUiara C. Evans, be
tween Port Barnett and Brookville. The house was similar to the first
one named, with the exception ef a single window of six lights of eight-
by-ten glass. This school cabin vvas heated by a ten-plate wood-stove,
the invention of Franklin in 1800, and called by the people "The
Little Devil." This was a subscription school also, and was known in
those days as a "neighborhood," to distinguish it frora the "faraily"
school. The building was erected by those interested. The tools used
616

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
in constructing it were a pole-axe and an auger. The master was hired
by a committee of three, elected by the people at their own time and in
their own way. This committee supervised the school. Children had
to travel three or four miles, in some cases over trails and paths where the
Indian lurked and the wUd beast prowled.
" ' Although Penn had declared in founding his colony that " wisdom
and virtue must be carefully propagated by a virtuous education of the
youth," and although the constitution of 1790 declared in favor of the
estabUshment of schools throughout the State that the poor might be
taught gratis, yet it was not until 1809 that the Legislature attempted to
obey this mandate. Colleges and academies were, it is true, sparsely
inaugurated, but they were not for the poor. Education was carried on
by voluntary effort. The law of 1809 simply provided that it should be
the duty of the county commissioners and assessors of the townships to
ascertain from the parents the names of all the children between the ages
of five and twelve years who reside in each township, and whose parents
were unable to pay for their schooling. These children then had the
privilege of attending the nearest subscription school, under the restric
tions of the committee, and the county had to pay for each pauper
scholar by the month, the same as the subscribers paid. This law was in
existence for twenty-five years. It was despised by the poor and hated
by the rich. The poor would not accept it because it declared them
paupers. Its existence, however, kept up an agitation for a better system,
which culminated, in 1834-36, in what is known as the common school
law. " 'In 1833, Governor Wolf ascertained by careful inquiry that under
this law of 1S09, out of four hundred thousand children in the State be
tween the ages of five and twelve years, only twenty thousand attended
any school whatever.
" ' The pioneer school-house in the southern part of the county was
built of logs, in the fall of 1820, near John Bell's, a little more than a
mile northeast of PerrysviUe. It was built after the fashion of the first
school-house in the county, — Ughted, warmed, and furnished in thesame
manner. John B. Henderson taught the first school in this pioneer house
in the winter of 1820.
" ' Our oldest school-master in the county is Joseph Magiffin, hale and
hearty at the age of ninety. He taught near Dowlingville in 1827. The
books used in the pioneer schools were generally the Bible, Columbian
Reader, Murray's Grammar, Pike's Arithmetic, Catechism, United
States SpeUer, and New England Primer. As a matter of care and
economy these books were covered by the mothers with paper or cloth,
generally calico or bed-ticking. The pioneer school-masters were nearly
all Irishmen, and, as a rule, well-educated. In the winter they usuaUy
wore a red flannel warmus, and sometimes white flannel pants. They
40 617

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
laught their scholars from the proverbs of the poets, from the maxims of
the surrounding forests, and from the tenets of the blessed Bible, whose
apocalypse is love. Is it any wonder, then, that the log cabin and log
school house proved to be the birthplace and nursery of mental giants,
of men who have blessed our country as rulers, statesmen, soldiers,
scholars, orators, and patriots ? What nation, old or new, has produced
the equal of our AA^ashington ? What nation has equaUed our Jefferson,
with his declaration " that all men are created free and equal" ? AVhat
nation has equalled our Lincoln, born and reared in a cabin, one of the
people and for the people ? With a heart alive to pity, like an angel of
mercy, he was ever at home in his office of President to the most humble
citizen. This I know by personal experience. What nation has pro
duced the superior of Chief Justice Marshall ? What orators have been
more eloquent than Clay or Webster? What nation has produced a
greater than our railitary chieftain. Grant, who coraraanded larger arraies,
fought more battles, and won more victories than any other general his
tory records ? Napoleon's career is pigmy-like when compared to Grant's
successes. What nation has equalled our inventors ? Fulton, born in
Pennsylvania's woods, who harnessed steam to water-craft ; AYliitney,
who invented the cotton-gin ; Morse, whe sought out the telegraph ;
McCormick, who made the reaper; Howe, who made the sewing- ma
chine, and Edison, the intellectual wonder and marvel of the world, —
born in Ohio and reared in the woods of Michigan ? Such a mental
genius as he is could only be the son of an American " school-marm."
" 'I have not time to recapitulate the history of our country and its
achievements. I can enly say that what we are to-day we owe to the log
cabin, the log school house, and the pioneer school-master.
" 'We live in the age of steam and railroads, telegraphs, telephones,
and of a free school system. " AVe live in an age on ages telling ; to be
living is sublime." Yet you are pioneers, pioneers of a new era, an era
of moral courage, of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man ;
an era of honesty, of temperance, of plenty, of virtue, of wisdom, and
of peace. And you, teachers, are the leaders in this grand new era.
As such we welcome you to Brookville. AVe welcorae you most heartily
as friends and neighbors. We welcorae you as citizens of our county,
whose hills and valleys are sacred te us. AA^e welcome you as the chil
dren of noble, courageous, patient, toiling pioneer heroes and heroines,
who subdued the savage and the wild beasts of the forest and reclaimed
these lands. We welcome you as teachers under the free school system
of the great State of Pennsylvania, made great by her forests, her fertile
valleys, her raountains of coal, rivers of oil, and the enterprise of her
sons and daughters, and whose free school system is the continued as
surance of American liberty. We welcome you as teachers in an empire
whose State insignia proclaims to the world Virtue, Liberty, and Inde-
6i8

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
pendence. We welcome each one of you to BrookviUe for your indi
vidual worth, and we welcome you as an aggregation of intelligent force
assembled in our midst for the public good. Finally, we welcorae you
as teachers convened to learn more thoroughly how to impart intelli
gence, teach virtue, wisdom, and patriotism under our flag, the emblem
of all that is dear to man and woman in and for the best government on
the face of the earth.' "
ORGANIZATION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN JEFFERSON
COUNTY— THE PIONEERS AND FATHERS.
On February 22, 1856, a number of self-appointed delegates from all
parts of the republic, —
Men of principle,
" Men who had opinions and a will,
Tall men, sun-crowned, who lived above the fog.
In public duty and in private thought," —
met at Lafayette Hall, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and organized the
National Republican party, the first national convention of which was
held that year in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There was then in exist
ence two other parties, — viz., the Democratic and the American Na
tional. This gave the country in the Presidential race of that year
three candidates for the Presidency, — viz., Buchanan, Democrat, Fill
more, American, and Fremont, Republican. The Democrats were suc
cessful and Buchanan was elected. The Republicans were next strongest,
and the Americans third in the race. In 1856 the Republicans in our
county had more votes than the Americans, yet they had no organization.
In 1857 the Republicans of Jefferson coalesced with the Americans and
swallowed them by organizing a party in the county as the American
Republican. The pioneer primaries for this organization to choose dele
gates were held on the last Saturday of June, at each election precinct,
between the hours of two and six p.m. The county convention was held
in the court-house at Brookville on the first Tuesday ef July following.
Each township or borough was to elect two delegates, except Heath and
Polk, and they but one each.
There were then twenty towmships and two boroughs in the county,
and at the county convention, held July 7, 1857, the following delegates
were present, — viz. :
Beaver. — G. Montgomery, R. Dinger.
Barnett.'^ — Not represented.
Bell. — John Grube, James Miller.
Brookville. — k. B. McLain, D. C. Gillespie.
Clover.— Q.. McCullough.
Eldred.— y^'\\\vi.xa Hall, J. B. Graham. 619

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Heath. — Not represented.
Knox.'^~ — M. E. Steiner, William Davidson.
McCalmont.—]. P. North, S. McGhee.
Oliver.—]. P. McKee, W. P. Gastin.
Porter. — Jacob Howard.
Polk.'* — Not represented.
Perry.*— C. R. B. Morris.
Pine Creek.*— OMwex Brady, J. P. Black.
Rose.*—'E. P. Cochran, T. Witherow.
Ringgold. — R. T. Perry, J. A. Frees.
Snyder.* — Not represented.
Punxsutawney.* — J. R. Reese, W. A. Dunlap.
Union.* — John S. Barr, John Gibson.
Washington.* — John Crawford, Robert Morrison.
Warsaw.* — I. M. Temple, Emory Bartlett.
Winslow.* — G. Burrows, R. Ross.
Young. — S. B. Hughes, Thoraas North.
The nominees of that convention were : Sheriff, Lawrence McQuown;
Prothonotary, etc., Joseph Henderson; Treasurer, Samuel Craig; Com
missioner, John North ; Auditor, John Thompson. The townships
raarked thus * were carried for the Republicans in 1857, therefore the
pioneer Republican townships in the county.
The election on the second Tuesday of October went Democratic,
both State and county. Our county was carried by the Democrats by
majorities ranging from six to one hundred.
The carapaigns then were educational, and conducted by oratory
in school- houses, etc. The pioneer "stumpers" in the county for the
Republican party were I. G. Gordon, B. F. Lucas, A. A. McKnight,
A. P. Heichhold, A. B. McLain, D. C. Gillespie, W. W. Wise, L.
D. Rogers, Dr. W. J. McKnight, and J. K. Coxson. AU evening
meetings were announced to be held at "early candle-lighting." In
stumping the speaker gave his own time and furnished his own transpor
tation. If too poor to do this, some Republican would convey him in a
hack, free of charge, or a number of workers would chip in and hire a
team and go along. There was no campaign boodle to draw upon. We
always had a begging committee ; A. B. McLain was always on it, and
the best beggar I ever knew. When we imported a " foreign speaker,"
McLain had to hustle to get money for the speaker's expenses, and he
never failed. We had a county vigilance committee of one or two in
each township. This committee was appointed at the county convention
by the presiding officer, and was usually selected from the delegates
present. State delegates were selected as follows : An editorial notice was pub
lished in the Star that a meeting would be held at the court-house in
620

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Brookville on the evening of  -, at "early candle-light," to appoint
a delegate to the State Convention. The crowd that gathered elected
him viva voce.

EARLY HISTORY OF RIDGWAY — SOME SKETCHES ABOUT THE
TOAVN AND VICINITY FROM 1852 TO 1856.*
In the fall of 1852 I made my pioneer trip as a mail-boy on the
"Star Route" from Brookville to Ridgway, Pennsylvania. In 1852
this was still a horseback service of once a week, and was to be performed
weekly, as follows: Leave Brookville Tuesday at five o'clock a.m., and
arrive at Ridgway same day at seven o'clock p.m. Leave Ridgway
AA^ednesday at five o'clock a.m., and arrive same day at Brookville at
seven o'clock p.m.
The proprietor of the route was John G. Wilson, then keeping the
American Hotel in Brookville. To start the service on schedule time
was easy enough, but to reach the destined point in the schedule time was
almost impossible. The mail was usually from one to three hours late.
Indeed, it could not be otherwise, for the route was through a wilder
ness, over horrid roads, and about seven miles longer than the direct
road between the points.
It was too much work in too short a time for one horse to carry a
heavy mail-bag and a boy. On my first trip I left Brookville at five a.m.,
James Corbett, the postmaster, placing the bag on the horse for me. I
rode direct te Richardsville, where William R. Richards, the pioneer of
that section, was postmaster. From Richardsville I went to Warsaw,
where Moses B. St. John was postmaster. He lived on the Keyes farm,
near the Warsaw graveyard. From St. John's I rode by way of what is
now John Fox's te the Beechwoods McConnell farra, or Alvan post-
office, Alex. McConneU, postmaster. From Alvan I went direct to what
is now Brockwayville for dinner. Dr. A. M. Clarke was postmaster, and
it was at his house I ate, to my disgust, salt-rising bread.
The doctor and his father lived in a large frame house near where the
old grist-mill now stands. The old up and-down saw-miU across the
creek was then in operation. C. K. Huhn, I think, lived near it. The
old frame school-house stood on a prominence near the junction of the
BrookvUle and Beechwoods roads. Henry Dull, one of the pioneer
stage-drivers in Jefferson County, Uved in an old frame building near
where D. D. Groves now resides, and John McLaughlin lived in an old
log house down by the Rochester depot.
With these exceptions, all west of the creek in what is now Brock
wayville was a wilderness. East of the creek the bottom land was

* This " Early History of Ridgway" was published in pamphlet form, and is re
published here, revised and corrected. 621

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
cleared, and along the road on each side was a log fence. W. D.
Murray and the Ingalls family lived near the Pennsylvania depot.
There was no other family or store or industry, to my recollection,
in what is now the beautiful town of Brockwayville.
About five miles up the Little Toby, and in Elk County, Mrs. Sarah
Oyster kept a licensed hotel, the only licensed tavern in that year out
side ef or between BrookviUe and Ridgway. Near this hotel Stephen
Oyster lived and had erected a grist-mill and saw- mill. Oyster was
postmaster, and the office was named Hellen Mills.
Stephen Oyster's house and mills were alongside or on the pioneer
road to this region. The road was surveyed and opened about 1812,
and ever it the pioneers came te Brandy Camp, Kersey, and Little Toby.
The history of the road is something like this : Fox, Norris & Co. owned
about one hundred and forty thousand acres of land in this vicinity, and,
being desirous to open these lands for settlement, employed and sent a
surveyor by the name of Kersey to survey, open a road, and build a mill
on their lands.
Kersey and his men started the road on the Susquehanna River near
Luthersburg, en the old State read, crossed over Boone's Mountain,
reached Little Toby at what is now Hellen, went up the creek seven
miles over what is called "Hog-Back HiU" to a point on Elk Creek near
where CentreviUe now is, and then located and built " Kersey Mill."
Kersey had an outfit and a number of men, and erected shanties
wherever necessary while at his work. One of these he built on Brandy
Camp. Among other necessaries. Kersey had some choice brandy with
him. The men longed for sorae of this brandy, but Kersey kept it for
hiraself. One day, in the absence of Kersey, the cabin burned down.
On Kersey's return he was chagrined, but the men told him that the
Indians in the neighborhood had drunk his brandy and burned the
shanty. This story had to be accepted, and hence the stream has ever
since been called Brandy Camp. " The Travellers' Home Hotel" was
on this stream. It was famous fer dancing parties, blackberry pies, and
sweet cake, but was closed this year and occupied as a private residence
by a man naraed Brown.
Night came upon me at the farm of Joel Taylor, and through nine
miles of wilderness and darkness I rode on a walk. There was a shanty
at Bootjack occupied by a raan named McQuone. From Taylor's to
Ridgway was a long ride to me. It was a wearisome time.
I reached Ridgway, a small village then, about nine o'clock p.m. John
Cobb was postmaster, and the office was in his store, near where Powell's
store is now. My horse knew the route perfectly, and I left all details
to her. Two hotels existed in the village, — the Exchange, kept by David
Thayer, near the river, and the Cobb House, kept by John Cobb, on
622

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
the ground where Messenger's drug-store now is. Mr. P. T. Brooks was
in charge that night. My horse stopped at the Cobb. For some reason
the house was unusually full that night, and after supper I expressed to
the landlord a doubt about a bed.
Mr. Brooks patted me on the back and said, " Never mind, my son,
I'll take care of you, I'll take care of you." Bless his big heart, he did.
Boy-like, my eyes and ears were open. I took in the town before leaving
it. The only pavement was in front of the Gillis house. I knew of the
judge's reputation as a Morgan killer, and I wanted to see where and
how he lived. I had seen him in Brookville many a time before
that. There was a board fence around the public square. Charles Mead
was sheriff, and lived in the jail. The viUage had a doctor, one Chambers.
The school-teacher was AA^ C. Niver, afterwards Dr. Niver, of Brockway
ville, Pennsylvania.
Of the viUage inhabitants then, I can recall these : Judge Gillis, E.
C. Derby, M. L. Ross, Henry Souther, Caleb Dill, Jair^es Love, J. C.
Chapin, Lebbeus Luther, a hunter and great marksman ; Lafe Brigham,
'Squire Parsons, E. E. Crandall, Charles McVean, Judge Dickinson, J. S.
Hyde, and Jerome Powell, editor of the Advocate.
I have an old issue of the Advocate of that date, from which I copy
two advertisements, one of the coal industry of the county then, and the
other on stage and transportation facilities :
"great excitement in the coal regions!
" Removal of the Deposits from the Miners' Bank of Fox Townsliip '
" Providence having in days of yore deposited in the above bank a
choice supply of coal for the use of mankind, to be drawn as need re
quires, the proprietor is now engaged in removing the funds from bank
to his office adjoining, where he will always be ready to distribute liber
ally, at a trifling charge for his services, to those who caU, whether Vul-
cans, people, or common folks. "Jessie Kyler.
" Office of the Miners' Bank of Fox Township,
November 13, 1851."
" NEW arrangement.
" Through and Back by Daylight I
" Having taken the contract for carrying the mail from Bellefonte to
Smethport, the subscriber is happy to announce to the travelling public
and the world in general that he is going to ' crack her threw' regulariy,
rain or shine, hot or cold, mud or dust, from this time forth, leaving
Smethport every Monday morning, arriving at Ridgway same evening,
623

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
passing along so as to reach Bellefonte on Wednesday night. On the
return trip leaves Bellefonte on Thursday morning, arrives at Ridgway
Friday night, and Smethport Saturday night.
" Jti®" Good horses and coaches and sober drivers will always be
kept on this route.
" J3@" Particular attention will be paid to baggage, which will be
carried at my risk where freight is paid. Also, all kinds of errands
promptly attended to along the Une. Patronage is respectfully solicited.
" Townsend Fall.
" Centreville, July 9, 1852."
I lived in Ridgway and worked on the Advocate, and afterwards in
the Reporter office from August, 1S54, to September, 1S56. Ridgway
was then but a village, containing three stores, — J. S. Hyde's, George
Dickinson's, and Hall & Whitney's ; two hbtels, the Exchange and the
Ridgway, nee Fountain, n<:e Oyster, nee Cobb. One grist-mill and a
little saw-mill on Elk Creek ; one shoe-shop. Parson & Crandall ; one
gunsmith, Horace Warner; one blacksmith, Caleb Dill; one tailor, M.
L. Ross. Lawyers, Souther, WilUs, Chapin, Mickel, and Pattison.
The town was too small and healthy for a physician to remain. There
was a school-house near the residence of Caleb Dill, and the winter term
of 1854-55 was taught by C. M. Matson, of BrookviUe, Pennsylvania;
also a court-house and a stone jail. AVilliam N. Whitney was postmaster.
The town and township contained about eighty-one voters.
The county officers were : President Judge, R. G. White, of Tioga
County; Associate Judges, George Dickinson, of Ridgway, and W. P.
AVilcox, of Jones township; Prothonotary, etc., Charles Horton; Treas
urer, Jerome Powell; Sheriff, Alvan H. Head. The commissioners I do
not remember.
The following lawyers, afterwards distinguished, then attended the
courts : Brown, Curtis, and Johnson, of AVarren ; Barrett, Wallace, Mc
Cullough, and Larimer, of Clearfield; J. G. Gordon, AV. P. Jenks, Mc
Cahen, and Lucas, ef Jefferson ; and Goodrich and Eldred, of McKean.
The merchants hauled their goods from Watterson's Ferry, on the
Allegheny River, or Olean, New York. Minor Wilcox drove on the
road with Charles B. Gillis, Ben. McClelland, and others. In 1855-56
there was one colored teamster in Ridgway, — viz., Charles Matthews.
He had a wife, and drove for Sheriff Healy. Although the town water
was as pure as the snow on the mountain, yet it did not agree with
Charles's stomach. Like other teamsters, he had to take "soraething a
little warmer and stronger. ' '
There was no church edifice of any kind in the town, and but few
church members. Sheriff Mead tried to run a Sunday-school, with a few
scholars. The pioneer Sunday-school was organized by the Rev. R. L.
624

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Blackmarr, April 14, 1850. The circuit riders of the Methodist church
that year were Revs. Shaffer and Colburn. They preached in the court
house, and service was held once in two or four weeks, I cannot recall
which. The elder's name was Poisdell. All of these gentlemen were
appointed by the Baltimore Conference.
These ministers always travelled on horseback. The horse was
usually "bobbed," and you could see that he had a most excellent
skeleton. These itinerants all wore leggings, and carried on the saddle a
large pair of saddle-bags, which contained a clean shirt, a Bible, and a
hymn-book. The sermon was on a cylinder in the head of the preacher,
and was ready to be graphophoned at any point or time.
Rev. John Wray was the first Presbyterian minister to regularly " cry
aloud" to the people of Ridgway, " Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven
is at hand. Come buy wine and milk without money and without
price. ' ' During my two years' stay he preached regularly once in four
or six weeks. He may have had a few female members in his church,
but to my observation the people generally preferred the "world, the
flesh, and the devil," whiskey and New England rum.
Rev. Wray was the pastor of the Beechwoods church in Jefferson
County, and came to Ridgway as a missionary. His first advent was in
1S50. He had been a missionary in India for seven years. He was a
pleasant, earnest, good Irishman, and always stopped with Mr. Luther.
He was small of stature, and rode astride his horse and saddle-bags as
stiff and upright as though he were a keg of nails. He died at Brock
wayville in August, 1 883, aged eighty-nine years.
J. S Hyde was then a young, active business man. He came to
Ridgway "as poor as a church mouse," and died, at a ripe old age, a
millionaire. He was ambitious, an untiring worker, and an honorable
citizen. In 1855 he twice solicited rae to enter his service ; I was flattered,
but refused, and told him that "a doctor I would be." Mr. Hyde had
great force and a habit of carrying his hands in front of him with the
" thumbs up," especially if he was in earnest or excited. Whenever his
thumbs were up in the presence of any one, there was sure to be some
thing happen,— an explosion of Christian imagination.
Elk County then was one vast wilderness, and was so called on ac
count of the great herds of elks that once roamed through those wilds.
There were no elks killed during my residence, but Grandpap Luther
told me that in 1S52 a drove of twelve or fifteen was found by two
hunters near the village, and seven of them were kiUed. Indians camped
near Ridgway as late as 1850 to hunt for elks. Elks are gregarious.
Where Portland now is was a great rendezvous for the elks. It was a
great wintering-place for them. All other wild animals were numerous.
Erasmus Morey told me that in March, 1853, he and Peter Smith kiUed
in one week six full-grown panthers. 625

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
The total bounty paid by the county in iS-;4 for killing wolves and
panthers in 1853 was ^225.50. There lived on the Smethport pike, be
tween Ridgway and Montmorenci, two hunters with their families, —
viz.. Bill Easton and Nelse Gardner, the latter the father of James K.
Gardner, who now resides in Ridgway.
These men were professionals. Chasing the wild deer was their daily
life and delight. They both possessed in a high degree the agile, cat-like
step, the keen eye, the cool nerve, and the woodcraft of the " still hunter."
I knew them well, but was not intimate enough to learn the story of
their encounters and adventures. The buffaloes that once roamed in
great nurabers, the beavers that built their dams, and the stately elks
that once traversed the forests of Elk are now extinct, and I believe the
screaming panther and the prowling wolf can now, too, be so classed.
The pioneers to settle where Ridgway now is were Jaraes Gallagher
and Enos Gillis. About 1824 they built two log houses and a saw-miU.
Gallagher was the pioneer tanner, and built a tannery there in the early
thirties. He died February 22, 1S50, aged seventy years. James L.
Gillis christened the village Ridgway. I came to Ridgway in 1854 by
invitation of Jerome Powell, Esq., to work for him on the Advoeate. I
received eight dollars per month and bearding. I made my heme with
Lebbeus Luther. His wife was a most excellent cook, tidy, kind, and
as neat in her housework as a pink.
About the first of August, 1854, I left Brockwayville for Ridgway.
This was the stage era for Ridgway, and I took passage in Murray &
Thayer's stage. My fare was one dollar.
The Advocate was a five column to the page paper, each column about
eighteen inches long. The press was an old Franklin. AVe made our own
rollers out of glue and molasses. The work on the paper was all done
by Mr. Powell, Ben. Dill, and myself. The composing, press-work, and
sanctum were all in one room. The paper was in its fifth volume. No.
I, vel. i., was issued March 9, 1850. Henry Souther was editor for
about one year. Mr. Powell was the pioneer publisher and father ofthe
craft in Elk County.
Some of the happiest days of my Ufe I spent in this eld court-house
office. True, I was poor and ragged, but I had the confidence of my
employer, I was free froni cares, and there in that old office in winter's
snows and summer's heat, " Happy hearts, happy hearts, with mine have
laughed in glee, the charms of which tirae can never efface."
Mr. Powell was a polite, affable, genial employer, and Ben. Dill was a
pleasant associate.
In .August, 1854, the supervisors let a job to take the great stumps out
of and straighten Main Street. The stumps were removed, and the
spring water was brought to the public grounds. An eagle was shot
that year near Ridgway that weighed twenty-four pounds.
626

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Elk County then had in the navy of the United States a passed mid
shipman, — viz., J. Henry Gillis, — who, by his bravery and long service,
is now a commodore in Uncle Sam's " navee."
James L. Gillis, who lived in Ridgway, was a raan of State celebrity.
He was absent nearly all the time, lobbying at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,
or at Washington. He was a very interesting man to talk with. I used
to go over to his house, when he was at home, to be entertained in an
evening. In 1 85 4 the bridge across Big Toby Creek, now called the Clarion
River, was destroyed. William Crawford had the contract for that year
and built a new one.
In looking over old copies of the Advocate I used to read advertise
ments something like this :
" Hunters. — Several young fawns are wanted, for which a liberal
price will be given. Enquire at this office."
In some of the old papers published before 1854, Caleb Dill, of Ridg
way, advertised for elk, soraething like this : " For a living raale elk one
year old I will give $50 ; two years old, I75 ; three years old, ^100 ; and
for a calf three months old, §25." Elk were easily tamed.
In 1854 the principal part of Elk County was covered with white
pine and hemlock. Pine-lands could be bought from three to five dol
lars an acre. Hemlock had no value only for farm lands. The bark
even was not used for tanning. Pine was about the only timber manu
factured. Tall, straight "pine in lofty pride leaned gloomily on every
hiU-side." The streams were alive with pike, sunfish, bass, chubs, magnificent
trout, and other fish. Every fall and spring hunters with dogs and
fishermen from the adjoining counties and from across the line in New
York State would flock to these hills, valleys, and streams for recreation
or profit. The principal owners of all this wild land in 1854 lived in
Philadelphia, — viz., Ridgway estate, Jones estate, Parker estate, and
Fox and Norris estate.
I said in a former article that 1854 was the beginning of Ridgway's
stage era. Prior to that time isolated attempts had been made in the
establishment of lines, but all the efforts in that direction, with the excep
tion of the Smethport or Townsend Fall's line were failures. I copy an
editorial from the Advocate of June 10, 1854, giving a resume of the stage
in operation at that time :
"Staging. — As an evidence of the rapid increase of the business of
this county and of its general prosperity, it is not necessary to refer to
every branch of business that is conducted here, but a reference to the
single item of staging will make it clear to all that we are a rising nation.
627

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Two years ago there was no mode of coraraunication through these
interminable forests except that only true republican way, a ' foot-
back,' and wading through the mud up to your knees, at least, into the
bargain. " About that time the pioneer stager of the county, Townsend Fall,
coroner of Elk County and landlord in McKean County, commenced
running a one-horse mud-boat from Bellefonte te Smethport. That was
considered a great enterprise, and everybody predicted that Fall must get
lost in the mud, and his hazardous undertaking would certainly be the
ruination of that visionary man. These predictions would probably
all have been verified had it not been for the fact that Mr. Fall is one of
those live Yankees who is always ready to whittle out a wooden nutmeg
while waiting for his horse to gain wind when stuck in the mnd.
"He added another branch of trade to his staging which served to
make up the losses that caused him, and assisted him in keeping body,
seul, horse, and mud-boat together. He procured a quantity of steel-
traps suitable for bears, wolves, and such animals, which he stationed
along at intervals, and while waiting for his old horse to browse he could
examine them and take care of their contents without losing any time.
The furs, skins, and scalps he thus procured soon enabled him to pur
chase another horse and put by the side ef the old veteran that had long
served him so faithfully.
" From that day his prosperity and the prosperity of the stage in
terests of this region have been rapidly onward. He soon was enabled
to get a wagon with a top to it. The first trip was a proud day for Elk
County. Now Mr. Fall, is running a tri-weekly line of splendid four-
horse coaches between Smethport and Ridgway, for particulars of which
see advertisement in this paper.
"There is also a weekly line running regularly between here and
Bellefonte, and a semi-weekly line between here and BrookviUe, in
connection, by Murray & Thayer, as will be seen by their advertisement
in this paper. And with all these stage facilities, we receive no mails
oftener than once a week. Where is Uncle Sam with his daily mails ?"
In the stage advertisements of that year each proprietor advertised
"sober drivers," otherwise the passenger would never have dreamed that
the driver was in a sober condition. The proprietor occasionally drove
over the route himself. I do not recall any of the drivers except Jim
Clark, of the BrookviUe line.
One of the pioneers of Ridgway was David Thayer. He was an all-
round business man, hotel-keeper, lumberman, and stage man. He was
the father of a large faraily. Henry S. Thayer, living in Ridgway, is his
son. He was the proprietor of the pioneer line of stages to AVarren and
Brockwayville, Pennsylvania. 628

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
The following advertisements published at that time speak for thera
selves : "another stage line.
" David Thayer announces to the traveUing public that he has taken
the contract for carrying the mail between Ridgway and Brookville. He
has put on a line of stages, and wUl run regularly between these two
points named. Leaving Brookville every Tuesday morning, and leaving
Ridgway every Wednesday morning.
" Brookville, January 4, 1854."
"semi-weekly line to brookville.
" The undersigned have commenced running a line of stages between
BrookviUe and Ridgway. AA^ill leave Brookville Tuesday and Friday
mornings, arrive at Ridgway same evenings. Will leave Ridgway Wednes
day and Saturday mornings, and arrive at Brookville same evenings. This
is a permanent arrangeraent, and may be relied upon. This line connects
at Brookville with daily lines east, south, and west ; and at Ridgway
with semi-weekly and weekly lines north and northeast. Good coaches,
fast horses, and sober drivers will always be kept on this line.
" Murray & Thayer.
"June 7, 1854."
David Thayer had opened a stage line in 1S53 through the wilderness
to AVarren. It failed, but was revived, and a livery stable opened in
connection with it in 1S54, as you will see in this advertisement.
" STAGE LINE REVIVED.
" The undersigned, having taken the contract for carrying the mail
between Ridgway and AVarren, will commence running a stage on Satur
day, July 8, and wiU continue to run it regularly hereafter, going out on
Saturdays and back on Sundays as heretofore. This line may be de
pended on, as it will go through every time without fail. Good horses
and coaches and sober drivers will always be kept on the route.
"Joseph Grandprey.
Wm. Corley.
" Ridgway, June 30, 1854.
<tN. B.  We wiU also keep on hand Horses and Carriages, so that
persons traveUing thro' here, and others, can at all times be carried to
any point to which they may wish to go.
"G. &C."
This line failed also, and the old horseback method had to be resorted
to. There were too many panthers, bears, wolves, etc., on the route and
too few people. 629

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" THREE TIMES A WEEK.
' ' Fall has coramenced running his stages three times a week be-
tween Ridgway and Smethport. He will leave Smethport every Monday,
AVednesday, and Friday morning, and leave Ridgway every Tuesday,
Thursday, and Saturday.
" June IO, 1854."
In 1854, Ridgway by stage was "forty miles from anywhere," forty
miles from Brookville, forty miles from AVarren, and forty miles from
Smethport. The pioneer coaches were neither rockaways nor palaces.
They were the most ordinary hacks, and the horses could be " seen
through," whether sick or well, without the aid of any X-rays.
The roads in spring, sumraer, and fall were a succession of mud-holes,
with an occasional corduroy. Don't mention bad reads now. The male
passengers usually walked up the hills.
In the year 1855 a man by the name of Nicholas CoUins, from the
Centreville region, had a contract to repaint the court-house. The
court-house was a frame, and was painted white. The board fence
around the square was white, too. He boarded with Mr. Luther, and,
with true Christian patience, he and Williara Lahey painted on the out
side of the building one entire Sunday.
However, the stores were open, the shops, teo, and some men were
shooting at mark. Our State motto then was, "Virtue, Liberty, and
Independence," and evidently the latter part of the motto was Uved up
to in Ridgway.
In 1855 the county consisted of eight townships, — viz., Benezette,
Benzinger, Fox, Gibson, Jay, Jones, Ridgway, and Spring Creek, con
taining a voting population of seven hundred and sixty-five. Lumbering
was the principal industry.
In 1784, the year in which Pittsburg was surveyed into building lots,
the privilege of mining coal in the "great seam" opposite the town was
sold by the Penns, at the rate of thirty pounds for each mining lot, ex
tending back to the centre of the hill. This event may be regarded as
forming the beginning of the coal-trade of Pittsburg. The supply of the
towns and cities on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers with Pittsburg coal
became an established business at an early day in the present century or
in 1800. Pittsburg coal was known long before the town became noted
as an iron centre.
Down to 1845 ^^1 the coal shipped westward from Pittsburg was floated
down the Ohio in flat-bottomed boats, in the spring and fall freshets, each
boat holding about fifteen thousand bushels of coal. The boats were
usually lashed in pairs, and were sold and broken up when their destina
tion was reached. In 1845 steam-towboats were introduced, which took
coal-barges down the river and brought them back empty.
630

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
The mills in and around Ridgway were the Eagle Valley mill, con
ducted by Isaac Horton, Jr. ; the Elk Creek miU, owned by J. S. Hyde ;
the Mill Creek mill, owned by Yale & Healey; and the Dickinson
mill. In 1855 there were still some remnants of the old boat scaffold
at the "Red MiU."
This mill was erected by Judge Dickinson, and painted red. The
boarding-house was also red. The boat scaffold was erected in the
spring of 1844. The work was done by "Brush" Baxter for John S.
Barr and WiUiam McMahill. These men built eleven boats that sum
mer, each twenty feet wide and a hundred feet long. Lumber was car
ried to market in them for one dollar per thousand, and fifteen thousand
feet was a load. In Pittsburg, Barr and McMahill sold their boats for
one hundred dollars each.
Common hands on the river received one dollar per day and board ;
pilots, two and three doUars per day and board. Lebbeus Luther kept
the Red MiU boarding-house in 1843-44. Then the "head" sawyer on
the Red Mill received twenty-five dollars per month and board ; the
assistant, eighteen dollars a month and board ; and common hands,
fifteen dollars a month and board.
Mr. John S. Barr, who is still living, informs me that the usual re
ligious exercises on Sunday at the Red Mill in 1844 were wrestling, fish
ing, pitching quoits, shooting at mark, running foot-races, and "jumping
by the double rule of three. ' '
The Bear Creek mill was run by Alvan H. Head, and the Beech Bot
tom mill by Cobb & Ruloffson. The logging was conducted with cattle.
Cobb & Ruloffson had that year an advertisement in the paper for hands
to drive oxen. The diet at these old mills was bread, potatoes, beans,
flitch, and molasses, brown sugar, old-tasted butter, coffee and tea with
out cream, and, for dessert, dried apple-sauce or pie. Labor was cheap.
Pine boards of the finest quality sold in Louisville, Kentucky, at seven
and nine dollars per thousand. If the operator cleared twenty-five or
fifty cents on a thousand feet he was thankful.
AVhat pilots and hands on the river received, I cannot recall. All
goods and groceries were dear; they had to be hauled from Olean, New
York, or AA^atterson Ferry, on the Allegheny River. Money was scarce,
the people social and kind. Whiskey and New England rum were three
cents a drink. The landlords, being generaUy hard up, were always a
little short, but managed to get a fresh supply of whiskey for court
week, — I suppose for the judges.
In 1855 the township officers were :
Assessor. — Horace Warner.
Assistant Assessors.— 'M.. L. Ross, D. S. Luther.
School Directors. — H. A. Pattison and H. Souther for three years
each, and Isaiah Cobb for two years. 631

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Supervisors. — P. T. Brooks and Harvey Henry.
Auditor. — H. A. Pattison.
Justice of the Peace. — Matthew L. Ross.
fudge of Election. — Caleb Dill.
Inspectors of Election. — H. A. Parsons, R. Maginnis.
Overseers of the Poor. — Horace J. Thayer, Charles McVean.
Town Clerk. — M. L. Ross.
Constable.— A. H. Head.
In this year the first Protestant church was coramenced in the county.
AU I know about that is this : One day a large, fine-looking, well-dressed
man came into the office and requested Mr. Powell to subscribe some
thing for a church. Mr. PoweU was poor, and demurred. The man per
sisted, but Mr. Powell further objected, whereupon the stranger became
indignant, and vehemently declared, "It is a God damn shame there
isn't a Protestant church in the county, and I'll be God damned if I
stop till there is one!" At the end of this Christian exhortation Mr.
Powell subscribed five dollars. The scene was so dramatic and ridiculous,
I inquired who the stranger was, and Mr. Powell told me he was Alfred
Pearsall, from Jay township. I understood afterwards Mr. Pearsall suc
ceeded and erected his church, called Mount Zion Methodist Church.
FOURTH OF JULY IN RIDGWAY IN 1854.*
" As usual, the Fourth was a happy day in Ridgway, on Tuesday last.
The old baby-waker proclaimed about eleven o'clock the night previ
ously that the Fourth was coming, but it did not actually arrive till about
twelve o'clock, when it caught some of us napping. The 'wind-fall'
boys say the Fourth arrived there about eleven o'clock; but we don't
beUeve it, for it generally gets here about as quick as anywhere else.
"AVhen it had become light enough to see, and the smoke from the
thousand battle-fields of the Revolution had cleared away, the patriotic
old Fourth was seen, sweating and foaraing with heat, smoking with the
fires of '76, and roaring like a lion, seeking a Britisher whom he might
devour. General Frank Dill had charge of the flying artillery, and
Clark, the judge, and Hank controlled the sraall arras, such as fire
crackers and torpedoes, making in all an effective force, which, under
charge of Field Marshal Maginnis, might well spread panic and confusion
among the enemies of the 'glorious Fourth.'
" Soon after daylight the people from the surrounding country began
to flock in, and long before noon the streets were thronged with an in
telligent and happy people. .At eleven o'clock the citizens asserabled at
the court-house, where the exercises were as follows : Hon. James L.
Gillis was chosen president of the day. The chaplain, Charles Mead,

By Jerome Powell.
632

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Esq., offered up a fervent prayer to the throne of grace. The audience
were for a few moments highly entertained by a few patriotic songs by
the choir. The Declaration of Independence was then read by WiUiam
B. GUUs. Albert Willis, Esq., was then introduced as the orator of the
day, who entertained the audience with a highly instructive and interest
ing address, which was Ustened to with marked attention by all present.
"After the oration was concluded, Henry Souther, Esq., was called
upon, who made a few remarks.
" H. A. Pattison, Esq., and others also were called upon, and enter
tained the audience with interesting, pointed, and appropriate speeches.
"After the performance at the court-house was closed, a procession
was formed, under the direction of Major Maginnis, marshal of the day,
and marched to the Bowery prepared by Joseph Grandprey, Esq., pro
prietor of the Exchange, where a dinner was served up that did honor to
Mr. Grandprey and his excellent lady, and to which the company did
ample justice. The table fairly groaned under the weight of good things
that were spread before the hungry multitude.
"After the removal of the cloth, the foUowing regular toasts, which
had been previously prepared by the committee, were announced by the
president of the day : " REGULAR TOASTS.
" 1. The day we celebrate : a day around which will cluster sacred
memories, while liberty has a resting-place in a single huraan heart.
(Three cheers and three guns.)
"2. George AA'ashington. (Drunk standing and in silence.)
" 3. The signers of the Declaration of Independence : men who had
the heart to desire, the mind to conceive, and the nerve to execute.
Their memory will ever be cherished.
" 4. The heroes of '76 : they will soon all be in heaven.
"5. The Star-Spangled Banner: may it continue to wave until its
ample folds encircle the world.
" 6. The Constitution and the Union : the Gibraltar of strength and
national glory.
"7. The President ofthe United States: President ofthe whole
Union. "8. The governor of Pennsylvania: a Pennsylvanian all over.
" 9. The citizen soldiery: the right arm of our nation's defence.
" (Major Maginnis, being called upon, responded to this toast, in a
few appropriate and timely remarks. )
" 10. The ladies : '-God bless them.'
" II. The orator of the day : may he live to a good old age, and in
the evening of his days may the fires ef patriotism burn in his bosom as
brightly as now in the morning of his life.
41 (>i2

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" (Mr. WiUis returned his thanks to the audience in a very neat and
appropriate manner.)
" 12. The reader of the Declaration : may he ever be guided by the
immortal principles set forth in the Declaration he has read to us to-day.
" 13. Mine host : we seldom raeet with as good fare.
" The toasts were received with cheers and guns. The aged seemed
to have their youth renewed by memories ef the past, the young were
fired with the spirit ef '76. All seemed to enter into the spirit of the
day and the occasion. Even the old gun, which has stood the test of
' five hundred Fourths of July,' felt as young as on the day it came from
its maker's hands, and spoke in eloquent tones of the times that tried
men's souls, until patriotism got so thick throughout this whole valley
that it could hardly be cut with a two-edged sword.
" A nuraber of volunteer toasts were then announced, only a part of
which we can now remember. The following were among them :
" By WiUiam B. Gillis. The Elk Advocate and its editor. The Elk
being called upon, responded in ' his usual happy style.'
" By a young lady. The gentlemen: may the ladies bless them.
(Cheers and guns.)
" There was no response to this, but it is hoped they will all respond
by giving the ladies a chance to — ' bless them.'
"Judge Gillis was toasted by some one, and responded only as he
can respond to a Fourth of July sentiment. Each returning ' Fourth'
finds the judge ' at home' and on hand with any quantity of patriotic
speeches. He is worth a whole regiment of ordinary men at a Fourth of
July celebration.
"By H. A. Pattison. Thoraas Jefferson : the author of liberal prin
ciples, as embodied in the Constitution and government of the United
States. (Cheers and guns.)
"By a lady. The young gentlemen of Ridgway: may they be
blessed with good wives and fat babies. (A ' fat baby' eloquently
responded.) " By J. Powell. The Fourth of July : may it be celebrated five
hundred million years from now by a free and happy people.
"The president announced five hundred million cheers and a Uke
number of guns for this toast.
" By a guest. The gunner : raay rejoicings always attend his labors.
(The gun responded in a very eloquent speech.)
" There were raany other volunteer toasts offered, which were lost to
our reporter, and we are consequently compelled to omit them.
"After the toasts were concluded, those who* enjoy such recreations
adjourned to the ball-room of the Exchange, where, we are told, they
had a very happy time. It is suspected that they ' ran all night. '
" The day was pleasant, and the celebration, from beginning to end,
634

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
passed off in an unexceptional manner. The celebration was a sober
one, no intoxicating Uquors being used.
"The fireworks, under the direction of Captain Souther, went off
admirably." In 1 85 4, Dr. C. R. Earley lived at Kersey. The year he came to Elk
I do not know. He was energetic, kind, and industrious. He had to
keep himself busy, and for some time he and Jesse Kyler, rival pioneers,
were the baron soft coal kings of the county. The following is Farley's
card as it appeared in the Advocate :
'¦ IMPORTANT FROM THE MINES.
" Having recently coramenced operations at the new ' placer' in the
' San Francisco' coal-mine, the subscriber wishes to inform the public
that he is prepared to furnish those wishing it an article of coal far supe
rior to any ever before offered in Elk County at his mines in Fox town
ship. He would also say that he has a lime-kiln in full blast at the
mines aforesaid, and will keep constantly on hand a superior article of
Ume. All of which will be sold on reasonable terms. "C. R. Earley.
"San Francisco, February 8, 1S51."
The following is Kyler's announcement as it appeared in the Advo
cate. He was the pioneer dealer. " coal.
"The subscriber, thankful for the very liberal patronage he has
hitherto and is still receiving, takes this opportunity to inform his friends
and the public generally that he still continues the mining and sale of
coal at his old establishment, being the centre of the coal basin, and
the identical bed recently opened in another place. He is unwilling
to admit inferiority, nor is he bombastic enough to claim superiority,
where neither one nor the other can possibly exist. In respect to the
quality of coal, it is true, by removing the dirt from the top of the out
crop coal may be got in larger chunks and will seem to burn more free,
because the air circulates through it better. But. he that buys a bushel of
coal by measure, mixed fine and coarse together, gets more for the same
money in mining under. However, no section of the country has an
advantage over another, and but little can be obtained without. He
will therefore furnish coal as usual in quaUty and price, and abide the
judgment of a discerning public. "Jesse Kyler.
"Fox, February 10, 1 851."
In 1854 there Uved in Ridgway one Major Robert Maginnis. He was
full of military enthusiasm, and through his exertion a military company
635

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
was organized in August, — viz., the Elk County Guards. Captain, R.
Maginnis ; first Ueutenant, Harvey Henry ; second lieutenant, William
N. Whitney ; ensign, J. F. Dill. I think its life was of short duration, if
it ever mustered. Maginnis, faiUng in war, bought a few medical books
from Dr. Farwell, and left town in the spring of 1S55 to practise the
healing or killing art soraewhere in the AVest.
The result of the election on the second Tuesday in October, 1854,
resulted in the choice of the following county officers : Prothonotary,
Charies McVean ; Commissioner, Wm. A. Bly ; Auditor, W. N. Whitney.
In the winter of 1854-55, —
" There was snow, snow everywhere.
On the ground and in the air.
On the streets and in the lane,
On the roof and window-pane."
It snowed every day for thirty days, —
" Until over the highways,
And over the byways
The snowdrifts were ever so high."
The supervisors had to shovel turnouts along the public roads so that
teams could pass.
In December, Mr. Powell wrote an editorial on the weather, a part of
which I reproduce :
" Yes, winter is here. The season for the hunter to don his white cap
and shirt and, properly armed and equipped, hie to the woods away,
intent on depriving the innocent denizens of the forest of ' life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness.' Our hunters are new reaping their har
vest. The ' tracking snow' never was better, and it is too early in the
season fer the rascally York State hunters to molest the deer or make
them afraid. Crack ! crack ! goes the rifle, and at every flash down
comes an antlered monarch, which is soon ' hung up,' and off goes the
hunter in search of another. Fine sport to the hunter, but death to the
deer. Se goes the world, — the weaker must ever fall a victira to the
rapacity of the stronger. In vulgar parlance, the ' big fish always eat
the little ones.'
" In this country winter is the season. As we are seated in our sanc
tum, made comfortable and cheerful by the glowing heat of McCready's
black diamonds, listening to the wind as it whistles through the old
court hall and moans dismally for admission, and as the space between
the brick fire-proofs is turned into an eddy of snow-flakes, the feathery
rafts floating about in such beautiful confusion that it is impossible to tell
whether the current runs up-stream or down, we are almost inclined to
become poetical, but will endeavor to keep cool. We once read some
636

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
poetry written by a love-sick swain, upon seeing 'a snow-flake faU upon
the bosom of his lady-love. It seemed by his description that a snow-
flake couldn't begin to compare with ' that whiter skin of hers than snow,
and smooth as monumental alabaster,' yet it had the temerity to place its
charms in competition with the lady's, with the most disastrous result, for
the snow-flake had no sooner laid itself upon the more than snowy breast
than it saw that its own charms were suffering by the comparison, when,
'grieved to see itself surpassed, melted into a tear.' Served the snow-
flake right. It had no business there. Another chap, less poetical and
more practical, perpetrated a similar one upon his ' gal' and snow-flakes.
He said the snow kept falling upon her bosom and melting, ' until at last,
at last, oh, dear, her shirt was wet as water !' "
One of the modes of Mike Long and other pioneer hunters on the
Clarion River was to ride a horse with a cow-bell on through the woods
over the deer-paths. The deer were used to cow-bells and would allow
the horse to come in full view. While the deer was looking at the horse
the hunter usually shot one or two. I don't know whether Daniel Da
vison, of Portland, ever practised this or not.
In November the following-named physician located in Ridgway, and
published his card in the Advocate :
'" DR. S. S. FARWELL,
" Having changed his residence from Second Fork to Ridgway, ten
ders his professional services to the citizens of the town and vicinity.
Office in the Oyster House, where he can be found at all times, unless
professionally absent.
"November 13, 1854."
The doctor was a good-looking little man ; he stuttered and stam
mered and received no encouragement from the people. He had a good
medical library. There were but few people sick, and nearly everybody
employed either Dr. Earley, Dr. A. M. Clarke, or Dr. W. C. Niver. In
January, 1855, Dr. Farwell brought into the office this poem. It was
given to me to " set up." Here it is :
" SAY NOT MY HEART IS COLD.
" BY DR. S. S. FARWELL.
" Say not my heart is cold.
Because of a silent tongue;
The lute of faultless mould
In silence oft hath hung.
The fountain soonest spent
Doth babble down the steep ;
But the stream that ever went
Is silent, strong, and deep.
637

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" The charm of a secret life
Is given to choicest things;
Of flowers, the fragrance rite
Is wafted op viewless wings.
We see not the charmed air
Bealing some witching sound ;
And ocean deep is where
The pearl of pi ice is found.
" Where are the stars by day ?
They burn, though all unseen.
And love of purest ray
Is like the stars, I ween.
Umnarked is the gentle light,
When the sunshine of joy appears ;
But even in sorrow's night
'Twill glitter upon thy tears."
A few weeks after notifying the people in this poetry that he had a
warm heart the doctor left for parts to me unknown.
In 1854 or 1856, Elk County had no medical society, but they had an
adopted fee-bill, which I here reproduce :
"TO ALL CONCERNED.
"We, the undersigned, physicians of the county of Elk, would re
spectfully announce the following as our lowest fee-bill, — to wit :
I. Call and medicine near residence, or medicine in office . . . $ .50
2. At night  1.00
3. Visit in country one mile  . ... i.oo
4. F^ach subsequent mile under 12  .25
5. Visit of 12 miles  . . . 5 od
6. do. 20 miles  10.00
7. do. at night, fifty per cent, to be added to the ordinary charge
above.
8. All necessary medicine to be included in the above.
9. Consultation with additional mileage (as above) ... . 5.00
10. Obstetrics, natural labor (wilh additional mileage)  5.00
II. Inslruraental, or by turning  7.00
12. Cupping in office  ... . i.oo
13. Vaccination (including after attendance) . .  i.oo
14. Reducing fractures and dislocation of the femur (wilh mileage
as above)  . . . . 10.00
15. All other fractures and dislocations . . 5.00
16. Amputation of inferior extremities . . . . 40.00
17. Amputation of superior extremities  30.00
18. Operation for strabismus  25.00
19. Strangulated hernia ... .  30.00
20. Plydrocele ... .... . 10.00
21. Single hairlip  .... 20.00
22. Double do  . . ... . . 30.00
638

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
23. Paracentesis abdominis  $10.00
24. Excising enlarged tonsils . .  10.00
All necessai-y after attendance, surgical and obstetrical cases,
to be charged for at the usual rates.
25. Examination of persons for certificates to exempt from mili
tary duty  IOO
"C. R. Earley.
A. B. Pulling.
Lewis Iddings.
"May, 1851." G. Bachmann.
Dr. Fuller, a root and herb doctor, lived in Jones township, and in
1855 came to Ridgway, boarded at the hotel, and practised medicine.
His panacea for every ill was lobelia and capsicum. He was there, I
think, when I left in 1856. He "called" for the cotUlon parties, and
was himself a fiddler. Jim Harm and Frank Dill composed the orchestra
for all dancing parties. Dr. Fuller was a genial, pleasant old gentleman,
and if his remedies were not compounded with the highest skiU or pre
scribed accurately, his intentions were good.
Like a great many men of that time, he never permitted himself to
get too dry. I have only kind words for him.
" Let us speak of a man as we find him.
And heed not what others may say,
And if a man is to blame let us remind him
That from faults there are none of us free.
If the veil from the heart could be torn,
And the mind could be read on the brow.
There are many we've passed by in scorn
We would load with high honors now."
In January, 1855, I carried the mail one trip on horseback to Warren
from Ridgway. A man by the name of Lewis was the proprietor, and
he boarded at Luther's. I performed this service free, as I was anxious
to see Warren.
I had to start from Ridgway on Friday night at nine p.m., ride to
Montmorenci, and stop all night. A family by the name of Burrows
lived there. I stopped on Saturday in Highland for dinner with Town-
ley's. There were living in that township then Wells, EUithorpe, Camp
bell, and Townley. I arrived in Warren Saturday after dark, and stayed
over night at the Carter House. I returned on Sunday from Warren to
Ridgway, and, the weather being intensely cold, " I paid too dear for
my whistle."
In 1855-56, Ben. McClelland, then a young man, was driving team
for Sheriff Healey. In the winter he was sent to Warren with two horses
and a sled. On his way home he expected to stop over night at High
land. Before Ben. reached "Panther Hollow" — a few miles north of
Townley's — it became quite dark. 639

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
At the hollow Ben.'s horses snorted, frightened, and ran. In the
dark Ben. quickly recognized the form of a panther after him. The
horses had the beaten track, the panther the deep snow alongside, and
afraid to attack the heels of the horses on account of the sled, the horses
crazy and furious.
It was a neck-to-neck race for Highland. The panther never gave up
the race until the cleared land was reached. Ben. was a hunter, but was
unarmed and almost dead frora fright. AA^hen Townley's farm was reached
the horses were all in a lather of sweat and nearly exhausted. A posse
of hunters started in the early morning, and found the big brute near the
hollow and killed him.
This was Ben.'s ride, not Sheridan's. Had Ben. been on a horse he
would never have seen Highland.
Lebbeus Luther, with whora I boarded, was a great old joker. He
was president of the school board in 1854. I spent many an hour hear
ing his reminiscences. He migrated in 1820 to Clearfield County from
Massachusetts and settled in what is now Luthersburg. Luthersburg
took its name from him.
In what year he moved to Ridgway I cannot exactly recall. He was
appointed postmaster in 1855, and lived where P. T. Brooks now re
sides. Lebbeus Luther, Sr., kept a hotel while in Luthersburg, and was an
active proprietor. In addition to his jovial good quaUties, he was a great
marksman. BiU Long, the king hunter of Jefferson County, visited this
hotel frequently for pure air and when he had a dryness in his throat.
On these occasions he used to try his hand with Grandpap Luther shoot
ing at target. Luther's coolness always counted.
D. S. Luther, a son, and Jim Harm, a grandson of 'Squire Luther,
were hunters, kiUing wolves and a great raany deer. Jim lived with his
grandparents, and used to furnish us venison.
In 1854, William B. Gillis was elected county superintendent. He
was the pioneer. Pennsylvania in school ro.atters was behind New York
and sorae of the Western States, and in that year adopted the county
superintendent idea frora these States. The foreign population of the
State was bitterly opposed to this change, to this advance. The law of
1854 also required orthography, reading, writing, English grammer,
geography, and arithmetic to be taught in every district. The State
superintendent also recoramended the adoption of uniformity in books.
The law of 1854 was a dreadful blow to the old log school-house,
with its poor light, high boards around the walls for writing-desks, un
qualified and incompetent teachers, short terms, and diversity of books.
The appropriation from the State to the township in that year was forty-
two doUars and eighty-four cents.
W. C. Niver taught the summer and winter terms of 1850, '51, '52, '53.
Miss Statira Brown, now Chapin, a summer term in 1853. A Mr. Buck-
640

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
ley, frora New York State, a winter term in 1853-54. C. M. Matson,
from Brookville, a winter term in 1854-55. S. J. WiUis, from New York
State, summer and winter term in 1855-56. I give below a roU-of the
scholars who attended the summer term of the Ridgway school, com
mencing May 6, 1850, W. C. Niver, teacher.
Males.— ]a.xnes, Harm, Barrett Cobb, Roland Cobb, John Ross, George
F. Dickinson, Benezette Dill, Robert GiUis, Ezra Dickinson, George W.
Connor, Patrick Cline, Calvin Luther, Claudius Gillis, Joseph Fest,
Franklin Dill, Bosanquet GiUis.
Females.— 'Esth.er J. Thayer, Augusta GilUs, Clarissa D. Thayer,
Mary E. Thayer, Mary AA'eaver, Sarah Ann Thayer, Albina E. Thayer,
Ellen C. Gillis, Lovina Harm, Angeline Wilcox, Clementine Harm,
Phoebe M,. Wilcox, Anna E. Connor, Sarah Weaver, Alzinah Weaver,
Semiramis Brown, Louisa V. Brooks, Mary M. Meddock, Ann Eliza
Geff, Ardissa Wilcox, Elizabeth Luce, Martha Dill, Amanda Mead,
Elizabeth Winslow, Laura Cook, Emily Cook.
The winter terra coraraenced October 14, 1850, under W. C. Niver,
teacher, and had on the roll, in addition to the above enumerated
scholars, the names of, —
Males .—George EUithorpe, Henry Thayer, W. P. Luce, Edward
Derby, MelviUe Gardiner, J. P. Pearce, J. AV. Pearce.
Females. — Malonia Ely, Statira Brown, Christina Gray, Eliza A.
Hyde, Caroline Pearsall, Rosamund Jackson, Margaret Mohen, Emily
Clark, Elizabeth Wescott, Maria Cobb, Emeline King.
William B. Gillis resigned the superin tendency in the winter of 1855.
His salary was three hundred doUars. Dr. C. R. Earley, of Kersey, was
appointed to the position. His salary was four hundred doUars a year.
The doctor made an efficient superintendent. He held the pioneer
county institute in the court-house in June, 1856. I reproduce the full
p-oceedings of that institute, as taken frora an issue of the Reporter of
June 22, 1856 : "teachers' institute.
" First Day.
"Monday, June 2, 1856, pursuant to previous call, the Elk County
Teachers' Institute met at the Academy at three o'clock p.m., and organ
ized by appointing the following persons as permanent officers during
the session : Dr. C. R. Earley, president ; S. J. Willis and Miss Olive J.
Brown, vice presidents ; and H. A. Pattison, secretary.
" On motion, the chair appointed the following business committee :
E. F. Taylor, S. S. Buckley, Miss Mary Warner, Mrs. E. S. Thurston,
and H. A. Pattison, who are to report the business of each day every
morning. 641

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"On motion, the following gentlemen were appointed a committee
on resolutions : Albert Willis, H. Souther, H. A. Pattison, J. L. Brown,
and E. F. Taylor, who are to repert at the close of the session.
" On motion, it was resolved that the institute hold its sessions in the
court-house. " On motion, adjourned, to meet to morrow morning, June 3, in the
court-house. "The second day was occupied with exercises in the several branches
taught in the coraraon schools, conducted by Dr. William C. Niver, of
Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. D. F. Brown, Esq., of Brooklyn, New
York, deUvered a very interesting and instructive lecture on penmanship.
"Third day's proceedings same as above, with a lecture on alpha
betical characters, by H. A. Pattison.
" The sessions of the institute were occupied in reviewing the branches
taught in the coramon schools, each teacher giving his or her method of
teaching. The evening sessions were devoted exclusively to penman
ship, under D. F. Brown, Esq. ' ' Second Week.
" Monday, June 9. The usual exercises omitted, for discussion on
the best method ef school government.
"On Tuesday morning, F. A. Allen, county superintendent of Mc
Kean County, made his appearance in the institute. Mr. Allen, by re
quest, took charge of the exercises, and gave instructions of the most
interesting character in the several branches under review.
"The exercises in penmanship closed on Tuesday evening. On
Wednesday the usual exercises were conducted by Mr. AUen and Dr.
Niver. "During the evening session Mr. Allen delivered a very interesting
lecture on the subject of education generally.
"The exercises of Thursday were conducted by Mr. Allen and
Samuel Earley, Esq.
"The evening session was devoted to instruction on mathematical
geography, by Mr. AUen.
" Friday was devoted to the usual exercises, accompanied by remarks
on the general character of institutes, by Mr. AUen. After some remarks
by Dr. Earley, A. WiUis, and H. A. Pattison, A. Willis, chairman of the
Committee on Resolutions, made, on behalf ef the committee, the fol
lowing report :
" ' A\'hereas, AVe regard a system of common school education as one
of paramount iraportance, lying at the foundation of all truly free and
enlightened governments, and especially the chief, if not the only, safe
guard of our own, whose very existence depends upon the virtue and
intelligence of its citizens ; therefore, 642

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
"'Resolved, That we regard the present law creating the county
superintendent as giving a new impetus to the cause of education, and
look upon its continuance as essential to the efficiency and well-being of
the common school system.
" ' Resolved, That we recognize in our worthy county superintendent.
Dr. C. R. Earley, an efficient and zealous laborer in the educational field,
and that we look with feelings of pride upon the changes that are now
taking place in our county with regard to our common schools through
his labors, and that we most cordially invite the co-operation of all
friends of the people's college — the common schools — to aid him in the
good work begun.
"^Resolved, That we, as members of the institute, hereby express
our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Allen, the able county superintendent of
McKean County, Dr. William C. Niver, and Samuel Earley, who, by
their disinterested and most valuable services, have made the exercises of
the institute interesting and instructive.
" ' Resolved, That we as an institute will most heartily co-operate
with organizations of a similar character throughout the State in advancing
the interests of education by the common school system.
"'Resolved, That teaching should be considered a profession equal
in importance with that of any other, and that the compensation ought
to correspond with that importance.
" ' Resolved, That the teacher while teaching ought not to study any
other profession than that of teaching.
" ' Resolved, That females ought to receive equal compensation with
the males for equal services rendered.
" '¦Resolved, That we recommend to our State Legislature to grant a
State appropriation, for the purpose of sustaining a County Teachers'
Institute in each and every county in the Commonwealth.
" 'Resolved, That we recommend to our County Superintendent the
propriety of calling another institute as' soon as he may think prac
ticable. " 'Resolved, That a synopsis of the proceedings of this institute be
published in the Elk Reporter, McKean Citizen, and the Pennsylvania
School fournal.
" ' On motion, the institute adjourned sine die.
" 'C. R. Earley,
President.
H. A. Pattison,
Secretary.
'• ' Ridgway, June 13, 1856."
Colonel Corbett, who clerked for GiUis in 1845, informs me that the
court-house was built in the summer of that year. The contractors were
643

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
General Levi G. Clover and Edward H. Derby. The supplies for the
men were furnished through the store of James L. GiUis. S. M. Burson
was the first lawyer to locate in Ridgway. In 1854 the court crier was
M. L. Ross. On public occasions he wore a blue broadcloth swallow-
tailed coat, with brass buttons in front. " This coat had pocket-holes
behind fer 30 years or more." The commissioners were E. C. Schultze,
C. F. Luce, L. Luther.
John C. McAllister, Esq., of Brandy Camp, was clerk to the com
missioners in 1 85 5. He would walk over and back home, and take his
meals while in Ridgway with Mr. Luther. The 'squire was a red-hot
Democrat then. In looking ever the records of Jefferson County I find
that Enos Gillis, of Ridgway township, was assessed first in 1830 with
one grist-mill and one tannery, and James Gallagher was assessed with
an occupation tax of tanner. This tannery was on Elk Creek, nearly
opposite Powell's store.
Gallagher tanned with both hemlock and oak bark, and made a dif
ference in the price of his leather of six cents per pound between cash
and trade. He ground bark in a mill raade on a large scale, something
like an old-fashioned coffee-mill.
I venture the assertion that W. H. Osterhout, with all his experience
and ability, could not to-day run this pioneer tannery successfully. Sole
leather sold per pound for about thirty cents. Gallagher kept the pioneer
hotel. He never had license. His wife would not permit him to have
Uquor about the house. AA^hiskeyor its odor always made Mr. Gallagher
very sleepy.
Powell sold the Advocate to J. L. Brown, of Jones township, I think
about September, 1855. Mr. Brown was a premising poor young man,
but knew nothing about the " art preservative." He changed the name
of the paper to Reporter, and continued the terms about as they had
been. He and I ran the paper; he was the editor, of course. During
the ten or eleven months that Mr. Brown published the Reporter he lived
in a little frame house on the rear of a lot along an alley near the resi
dence of AV. C. Healey. The house was set on blocks. It was well ven
tilated, for it was neither painted, weather-boarded, lined, nor plastered.
Mr. Brown had been newly married, and commenced house-keeping hei-e.
I boarded with him. Notwithstanding the little deficiencies mentioned,
we enjoyed ourselves. It was home, and "be it ever so hurable, there is
no place like home."
Mr. Brown had two brothers, A\'. W. and I. B. Brown. W. W. lived
in Ridgway that year awhile and clerked in a store. I. B. used to come
down on a visit, and then the three Browns and myself would all be
seated at a "sumptuous repast" within those "palace walls." AVho
owmed the shanty I do not know. Strange to say, these three Browns
and myself were all in public life at the same time. AVe met in Harris-
644

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
burg in 1881, AV. AV. as a Congressman, J. L. as Elk's representative,
I. B. as an Erie County representative, and myself as a State senator.
The three Brown boys deserve great credit. They had a superior
mother. Mr. Brown, having tired of newspaper life, advertised the plant for
sale, and a Methodist minister from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Rev.
J. A. Boyle, came out into the wilderness and bought the Reporter. He
had a wife, five boys, — Richard, Melville, Olin, Samuel, and Harlow,
the latter born in December, 1856, in the Brown "palace" which I have
just described, — and two daughters, — Harriet and Jennie. I boarded
with hira. He lived later near the Gillis house. Two of his boys
worked on the paper with me. I reraained in his employ until about the
last of September, 1856.
Mr. Boyle was a man of intellectual power and an eloquent orator,
but in rather feeble health. He changed his residence and occupation
for the mountain air and rest. When the Rebellion broke out Mr. Boyle
enlisted, was commissioned a captain, and was killed at Wauhatchie,
Tennessee, October 29, 1863, having been promoted to major of the One
Himdred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers. Elk County lost in
him a good citizen, an able man, and the country a brave soldier. His
wife was one of the dearest motherly women I ever met. Aftel: the
major's death the family returned to Philadelphia.
In the issue of September 27, 1856, a week after I left Ridgway, Mr.
Boyle paid me this compliment in the Reporter :
"MR. W. J. m'KNIGHT.
" This young gentleman, who has been at work in the Reporter office
for some time past, has just left us. It is seldom we meet a young man
who seems to us to have in view the great object of life, but when we do
our heart rejoices and our hopes for humanity and the world are enlarged.
Self-culture is our highest duty. To produce a harmony between the
intellectual and moral of our nature, and have both striving for the
highest development, is the true road to usefulness and respectability.
Mr. McKnight has resolved to devote himself to a useful profession, and
to do this he has determined to lay a foundation of thorough training.
Self-reliant, with a good constitution and a well-developed intellect, he
is about to commence a regular course of medical lectures. He has suf
ficient enthusiasm to impel him forward in the arduous toil required to
master the science, and we trust he has too high an ambition to stop at
any of the resting-places of Quackery, but will push forward until he
reaches the highest pinnacle in the temple of ^sculapius.
" One of the grandest sights presented in this working worid of ours
is to see a young man, unaided by wealth, pushing his way through un-
645

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
toward circumstances to a useful position in society and an honorable
post. Go forward, Mac, and may the blessing of a thousand hearts
cheer you in your labors !."

THE TOWNSHIP OF RIDGWAY.
Ridgway township was originaUy formed as a part of Jefferson County
in 1826, and remained there until 1843, when it was taken from that
county by the following act of Assembly to create the county of
Elk:

"An Act erecting parts of Jefferson, Clearfield, and McKean
Counties into a Separate County, to be called Elk.
" Section i. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is
hereby enacted by the authority of the same. That all those parts of the
counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and McKean lying between the follow
ing boundaries, — viz. : Beginning at the northeast corner of Jefferson
County; thence due east about nine miles to the northeast corner of lot
number two thousand three hundred and twenty- eight ; thence due south
to Clearfield County ; thence east along said line to the east line of Gib
son township ; and thence south so far that a westwardly line to the
mouth of Mead's Run shall pass within not less than fifteen miles of the
town of Clearfield ; and thence westwardly to Little Toby's Creek, along
said line to the mouth of Mead's Run ; thence in a northwesterly direc
tion to where the west line of Ridgway township crosses the Clarion
River ; thence so far in the same direction to a point from whence a due
north line will strike the southwest corner of McKean County ; thence
along said line to the southwest corner of McKean County ; and thence
east along the south line of McKean County to the place of beginning,
be and the same is hereby erected into a separate county, to be hence
forth called Elk.
"Section 2. That Timothy Ives, Jr., of Potter County, James W.
Guthrie, of Clarion County, and Zachariah H. Eddy, ef Warren County,
are hereby appointed commissioners, who, or any two of whom, shall
ascertain and plainly raark the boundary lines of said county of Elk ; and
it shall be the duty of the said commissioners to receive proposals, make
purchase, or accept donation land in the eligible situations fer a seat of
justice in the said county ef Elk, by grant, bargain, or otherwise, all such
assurances for payment of money and grants of land that may be offered
to them, or their survivors, in trust for the use and benefit of the said
county of Elk ; and to lay out, sell, and convey such part thereof, either
in town lots or otherwise, as to them, or a majority of them, shall appear
646

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTA', PENNA.
advantageous and proper, and to apply the proceeds thereof in aid of the
county : Provided, That before the commissioners aforesaid shall proceed
to perform the duties enjoined on them by this act, they shall take an
oath or affirmation before some judge or justice of the peace, well and
truly and with fidelity to perform said duties according to the true intent
and meaning of this act : Provided also. That as soon as the county com
missioners are elected and qualified, the duties enjoined on the said com
missioners shall cease and determine, and shall be performed by the
county commissioners so chosen and elected.
"Section io. That it shall be lawful for the commissioners of the
county of Elk, who shall be elected at the annual election in one thou
sand eight hundred and forty-three, to take assurances to them and their
successors in office of such lot or lots, or piece of ground as shall have
been approved of by the trustees appointed as aforesaid, or a majority of
them, for the purpose of erecting thereon a court-house, jail, and offices
for the safe-keeping of the records.
" Section ii. That the judges of the Supreme Court shall have like
powers, jurisdictions, and authorities within the said county of Elk as by
law they are vested with, and entitied to have and exercise in other
counties of this State ; and said county is hereby annexed to the western
district of the Supreme Court.
"Section 12. The county of Elk shall be annexed to and compose
part of the eighteenth judicial district of this Commonwealth ; and the
courts in the said county of Elk shall be held on the third Monday of
February, May, September, and December in each and every year, and
continue one week at each term, if necessary.
" Approved — the eighteenth day of April, one thousand eight hundred
and forty- three." POST-OFFICES AND POST-ROADS.
From 1854 to 1856 there was a continual agitation over railroads,
frequent public meetings, addresses made, and resolutions passed. These
three were the most favored : the Allegheny Valley, the Pittsburg and
Rochester, and the Sunbury and Erie.
All State elections were then held on the second Tuesday of October
each year. The city papers always published the result in full, with this
note, " Potter, McKean, Elk, Forest, and Jefferson to hear from."
The bridge over the Clarion up to 1854 was a toll-bridge. The
pioneer jewelry-store, etc., was started west of the bridge by Ed. Gillis,
April 23, 1853. The pioneer dentist to visit Ridgway was Dr. A. Blake,
of Albion, New York, in May, 1853.
The pioneer tin and hardware store was opened by George Gillis in
June, 1853. The pioneer millinery-store was opened by Caroline GUUs
in 1856. 647

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
It was a custom in 1S54 to send to the printer with the wedding-
notice a piece of the bride's cake or a gold dollar.
Rattlesnakes were occasionally killed on the streets as late as 1854.
A paper of June, 1853, said in an issue that " this is a great country for
timber. A man over on the Sinnemahoning has got a tract of land con
taining two acres, on which there is timber enough to make twenty-five
canoes, forty timber rafts, fifty spars, forty thousand rattlesnakes, and
one hundred thousand porcupines."
H. S. Jaquish was the pioneer daguerrian artist, who visited the town
in 1850. The naraes of post-offices and the postmasters supplied on the route
from Warren to Ridgway in the year 1S55, and the name of the con
tractor for such service, were as follows :
Warren. — C. Masten and S. J. Goodrich.
Mead. — Jonathan Mott.
West Sheffield.— ]. P. Blanchard.
Sheffield. — John Gilson.
New Highland. — Charles Stubbs.
Ridgway. — WiUiam N. AVhitney.
The contractor was David Thayer, of Ridgway, and his compensa
tion was at the rate of one hundred and ninety-seven dollars and fifty
cents per annum. THE COUNTY SEAT FIGHT.
" At a raeeting ef the citizens of Elk County, held at the court-house
in Ridgway on the 20th day of January, 1849, for the purpose of taking
into consideration the best means to prevent the reraoval of the county
seat of said county from Ridgway to St. Mary's, as the question was about
being agitated in the State Legislature, Hon. George Dickinson was called
to the chair, Joseph S. Hyde and James Gallagher, Esqs., were chosen
vice-presidents, and Henry Souther and Caleb S. Dill, Esqs., secretaries.
"On motion, a committee of six were appointed to draft and report
resolutions to the meeting, who reported the following, which were
unanimously adopted :
" ' Whereas, AVe are apprised that secret movements are in progress
to effect a removal of the county seat in Elk County, by privately circu
lating petitions in certain sections of the county, and simultaneous efforts
by one or more individuals at Harrisburg (who are personally and pecu
liarly interested) to procure hasty and (of course) unfair legislation, to
effect their object, that as citizens of Elk County, we regard such a course
as an attempt to forestall and coerce legislation as impolitic, unfair, and
mischievous. Impolitic, as the county is yet new, population sparse, and
the county buildings already erected and finished, the location con
venient, and fixed by commissioners appointed by a former Legislature.
Unfair, as the grounds were conveyed and the buildings constructed
648

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
principally by private donations, insuring but littie expense compara
tively to the county. Mischievous, inasmuch as changing the county
seat, when judiciously and legally located with regard to present and
future conveniences, would be establishing a precedent which in a few
years may again agitate the citizens of the county whenever aspiring and
interested land-holders, or the more subtle and private intriguing of the
temporary sojourn may see fit again to disturb its location, its prospects,
or permanency. With these views we do, as citizens of Elk County,
"'Resolve, That we will use our best endeavors to defeat any and
every attempt to remove the seat of justice of Elk County from its present
location ; and that our representatives in the Senate and Assembly are
earnestly requested to interpose their influence in exposing its nature and
injustice. " ' Resolved, That copies of the proceedings of this meeting be trans
mitted to the Hon. Timothy Ives, of the Senate, and A. I. AVilcox,
Esq., of the Assembly, and the proceedings published in the Union at
Harrisburg, and in the fefferson Democrat and Elk County Advertiser, of
Brookville. " ' Signed by the officers.
" ' Februaiy 6, 1849.'
"At a very large and general meeting of the people of Elk County,
held on the nth of February, 1849, during court week, in the court
house at Ridgway, Hon. E. C. AVinslow was called to the chair, and
John Johnston and Edward McQuone were appointed secretaries.
" On motion of George Weis, Esq., a committee of seven was appointed
by the chair to prepare resolutions in regard to the expediency of re
moving the county seat.
"The following gentleraen were appointed as the committee, — viz.,
Joseph F. Comely, C. F. Law, Bob AVeed, Patrick Malone, Rasselas A\'.
Brown, James Mcintosh, and Alfred Pearsall, who reported the following
preamble and resolutions :
" ' AA'hereas, a few persons, mostly inhabitants of or visitors to
Ridgway, met in the court-house on the 20th of January, and without
notice to the citizens at large, passed resolutions in favor of retaining
the county seat at Ridgway, in the name of the citizens of the county,
but without their knowledge, presence, or authority, which resolutions
have been pubUshed in the newspapers, and are circulated to deceive the
Legislature ;
"'And whereas. The settled and permanent inhabitants of Elk
County are almost unanimous in desiring the .removal of the county
seat, aware that it was located at Ridgway by unfair means and iraproper
influence, and that its continuance there is burthensome, expensive, in
convenient, and unjust ;

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PEN.NA.
" ' And whereas. The borough of St. Mary's offers a location proper
and convenient in all respects for the county seat ; therefore we, the
people ef Elk County, assembled during court frorn township, and em
bracing most of the citizens of the county, without distinction of
party, do
" ' Resolve, That we repudiate the proceedings of the meeting above
referred to, and repel the insult offered us by persons whose only "power
lies in their presumption, pretending to speak in our names, but without
our knowledge or authority, and in direct opposition to our views, wishes,
and interests ; and especially do we disown the acts of strangers and tem
porary sojourners who have participated in these proceedings.
" ' Resolved, That we have carefuUy examined and thoroughly approve
the bill for removing the county seat from Ridgway to St. Mary's, with
out expense to the county, because Ridgway is near the western limits of
the county, distant many miles from the mass of the population, a place
having no agricultural country to support it, without trade or manufac
tures, containing no internal means of increase, affording only the raost
insufficient accommodations for visitors, and in all respects improper, in
convenient, and expensive. While St. Mary's is a large and growing
town, surrounded by a large and flourishing country, central both geo
graphically, and, in reference to population, convenient, easy of access,
having excellent hotels, stores, mechanics of all kinds, and is in all
respects the only fit and proper place for the county seat.
" ' Resolved, That we call on the representatives of the people in the
Senate and House to respect the popular will and to use their best exer
tion to procure forthwith the removal ef the county seat from its present
improper location to the borough of St. Mary's.
' ' ' Resolved, That these proceedings be laid before both branches of
the Legislature by their respective speakers and published in 'Ca.e feffer
sonian, McKean Yeoman, Democratic Union, Keystone, and Intelligencer
at Harrisburg.' " The resolutions and the question of the removal of the county seat
were debated at length by William A. Stokes, Esq., and Reuben Wins
low, Esq., in favor of, and Hon. James L. Gillis, and Henry Souther,
Esq., against the removal.
"The question being taken, the resolutions and preamble were
adopted by a large majority.
" E. C. Winslow,
" Chairman."
"a night in the north.
" Mr. Brady : Having occasion to visit Ridgway, the county seat of
Elk County, this week, I was so amused with some of the performances
which were transacted during my stay that I cannot refrain frora giving
you a report for the colurans of your paper. The scenes were rich, and
650

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
if I should rub rather close on some individuals I hope they will excuse
me. But to my story.
" It was court week, or rather the week appointed for court ; but, as
there was no president judge, and only one associate in attendance, no
business could be transacted. I observed that a general feeling of dis
satisfaction prevailed, and many, indeed, were the imprecations heaped
upon the president judge. But I shall leave those interested to settle
this matter among themselves and pass on to something raore interesting.
" About two or three o'clock on Monday afternoon I observed a num
ber of sleds and sleighs coming into town, loaded with Germans ; my
first irapression was that an emigrant vessel had just landed, but on in
quiry I was inforraed that it was ' Gulliver and the Lilliputians' coming
to remove the county seat, and that they were going to have a meeting
in the court-house that evening for the purpose.
"After supper, in corapany with several others, I went to the court
house, anticipating some fun, as I had learned that several ' big guns'
would be there ; and sure enough, there they were, ready primed, and
only waiting the application of the torch to send forth their powerful
discharges. "As we entered we found that the meeting had already been organ
ized, although it was quite early ; and after a few minutes' conversation
among those gathered in the centre of the bar, a motion was made that
a committee of six be appointed to draft a preamble and resolutions
expressive of the sense of the meeting, etc.
" I observed the president reach out his hand and receive a small slip
of paper, from which he read the names of the committee. He then
handed the paper to one of the committee, who took a candle and pro
ceeded towards the jury- room ; on arriving at the door which led into the
hall he called over the names, but from the slow and reluctant response
it was evident that the committee had been selected before the meeting
had been opened.
"In the absence of the committee a motion was made that William
.\. Stokes, Esq., of St. Mary's, address the meeting. Mr. S. responded
to the call, and then the ' bear-dance' commenced ; the ball was opened.
" Mr. Stokes commenced by referring to the preamble and resolutions
of the meeting held at Ridgway on the 20th of January, ult., asserting
that an unprovoked and wanton attack had been made by that meeting
on an absent citizen ; he believed it was intended for him, and if so
he hurled back the charges to those who made them as false.
" He appeared ready to defend himself, and called upon the six per
sons who framed those resolutions to meet him, as he was prepared to
meet his accusers face to face. He hoped the opportunity would be
afforded to any of the opposite party to reply to his remarks ; he desired
them to do so, and he would claim the privilege of answering them.
651

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" Mr. Souther : Mr. President, I was one of those who held that meet
ing, and I hurl back the charges of the gentleman who has just addressed
you with as much fury as they were given. (Tremendous cheers.)
" Here such an excitement was created that it was impossible for him
to proceed. "Mr. Stokes hoped the audience would hear Mr. Souther; he had
called upon hira to speak, and he wanted to hear him. The Ridgway
people had paid attention to him while speaking, and he thought those
from St. Mary's would be as liberal.
" Mr. Souther : Mr. President, I am not going to be gagged. I have
been called upon to speak, and I ara going te do it. Just grounds were
had for holding the meeting on the 20th. Letters received from Harris
burg informed them that a strong effort would be made at the present
session to reraove the county seat to St. Mary's, and urged the propriety
of holding meetings and sending on remonstrances immediately.
"He thought this looked very much Uke forming legislation without
giving the citizens of the county an opportunity to canvass the subject.
He could prove by documents that Mr. Stokes had been at Harrisburg
boring for the passage of the bill ; while there he called upon Messrs.
Wilcox, Hastings, McCalmont, and others, asking their support and in
fluence in the measure.
" He (Mr. Stokes) had called upon Mr. Wilcox, and had told him he
could vote as he pleased ; the bill could be passed without hira. Con
siderable exciteraent ensued, which prevented our hearing his further
remarks. " Mr. Stokes admitted that he had been at Harrisburg, and proceeded
to read a bill which had been read in Senate on the 7th of February by
Hon. Timothy Ives.
"The bill provided that the citizens of St. Mary's should procure a
suitable lot of ground for the erection ef public buildings ; they should
erect a good and sufficient court-house and public offices, under the
supervision of a committee appointed for that purpose, and should also
erect a suitable county prison, te be built by direction of the county
coraraissioners, by donation, etc. ; and after said buildings were corapleted
and accepted the seat of justice of Elk County should cease to be at
Ridgway, and the public records should be removed and safely deposited
in the buildings erected for their reception.
" The same bill also provides that so soon as the county seat shall be
removed from Ridgway the present public buildings shall be sold and the
proceeds thereof placed in the county treasury ; and that the commis
sioners of Elk County shall not pay out any moneys for the erection of
the new, buildings at St. Mary's.
" Mr. Stokes further said that the population of the county was nearly
all east of St. Mary's, therefore justice to the citizens demanded a removal.
652

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
While the country in the neighborhood of Ridgway was one unbroken
forest, that about St. Mary's was fertile and thickly settled.
" Four hundred farms were already opened and being improved. One
man on the Driftwood Branch had to travel sixty-one miles to Ridgway
when he came to court ; but if the countyseat were removed to St. Mary's
no person would have to travel more than twenty miles. Ridgway, he
humorously remarked, was twenty one years old, — ^just of age, — conse-
sequently full grown, as large as she ever would be ; but St. Mary's, yet
in her infancy, being only six years old, beat her two hundred to
one. Petitions had been sent to all parts of the county relative to
removal. "Mr. Souther (interrupting) asked if any petitions were at Harris
burg previous to the reading of the bill in the Senate.
"Mr. Stokes said he could not tell, but presumed there were, as they
were sent through the county on the 27th of January, and ample tirae
had passed between that and the 7th of February to have them signed
and forwarded. After various other reraarks, which were not distinctly
heard, he resumed his seat.
" Mr. Souther obtained the floor, and dwelt chiefly on the injustice of
the proposed removal. The question, he said, should be submitted to
the people ; they ought to have an opportunity of deciding upon its
merits by ballot. He entered into a detail of the manner in which the
public buildings at Ridgway had been erected. They cost five thousand
four hundred and thirty-two doUars and thirty-two cents.
" Of this sum, John J. Ridgway donated three thousand doUars, Dick
inson and Wilmarth eight hundred dollars, and Jaraes L. GiUis two hun
dred dollars. John J. Ridgway advanced to the county one thousand
doUars in payment of his taxes.
" Mr. Souther gave it as his opinion that if the public buildings were
sold and the proceeds placed in the county treasury, the donors could
bring an action for the recovery of the money, and any panel of jurors
would decide that it should be refunded. The use of it by the county
would be nothing less than a bold attempt to rob the givers of the amount
subscribed. He referred to the project of annexing Shippen township,
McKean County, to Elk, for the purpose of making St. Mary's a more
central point, and unfolded a scheme which, if carried into effect, would
ultimately create disturbance in parts then uninterested.
"The noise again commencing, his concluding remarks could not be
heard, but, quiet being again in a manner restored, Mr. Stokes obtained
the floor.
" He said that Mr. Souther gave it as his opinion that, suits being
brought, the money donated for the present public could be recovered.
" Mr. Souther : I did, and I don't charge anything for it.
" Mr. Stokes : Well, there is one thing, and every lawyer present will
653

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
bear me out in it, that a lawyer's opinion which he charges nothing for is
not worth much. (Great cheering). But I will give my opinion, and if
any one tenders a fee, I will take it. If suits are brought, they will not
lay, and the donors cannot recover a cent. This is my opinion, and I
will take a fee in order to make it good.
"Mr. Souther (interrupting, and handing him a copper coin) said,
' Mr. Stokes, here is a fee some gentleman requested me to give you.'
" The applause elicited by this sally was so loud and continued so long
that the further remarks of Mr. Souther were lost. A tumult then arose.
Some shouted for Souther and Gillis and others for Stokes. Mr. Gillis
mounted a table and endeavored to make some remarks of a general char
acter, when the committee appeared and asked leave to report.
" The preamble and resolutions were read by Mr. Reuben A^''inslow,
but in so low a tone that a call was raade to have them read by a louder
voice. Mr. Barr then read them, when a motion for their adoption was
made. " Mr. Gillis then resumed his speech in opposition to the resolutions,
but the noise was so great that I could not hear his remarks sufficiently
correct to report them, but I heard him say that he had been told by a
person from St. Mary's that they had the power in Elk County, and they
were going to make use of it.
"Here one of the secretaries, dressed in a blue overcoat, rose and
interrupted him and said, ' You mean me ; I told you so.'
" Mr. Gillis replied that he mentioned no names, and did not person
ally implicate any one, but he had been told so, and could prove it.
" The sarae person interrupted hira, saying, ' You raeant me ; I can
tell by the wink of yer eye, Jim Gillis, who you referred to.'
"Mr. Gillis: If the coat fits, wear it. But it will not do for St.
Mary's to come out so bold at this early day.
" Here a call was raade for a vote on the resolutions, which was taken,
but the confusion became so loud that the chairman was unable to de
cide upon the vote.
"Mr. Johnson, of AA'arren, rose to make a few reraarks; said he felt
a delicacy in participating in a raatter which in no way concerned him.
He thought the measures adopted by the removal party were only calcu
lated to breed disturbance and prolong the consummation of their object.
His sympathies were with the citizens of Ridgway, and believed it would
be an injustice to remove the county seat from its present location. He
recoramended that the passage of the resolutions should not be insisted
upon, and would move that they be laid upon the table.
" Several voices : He has no business to raake a motion ! He don't
live in the county !
"Mr. Gillis: I live in the county. I have a right to speak, and I
make the motion. 654

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" Mr. Stokes : I move as an amendment that Mr. Gillis's motion be
laid on the table.
" Here a discussion ensued in relation to parliamentary usage (a thing
very common in such places), in which sorae half a dozen voices partici
pated at the sarae tirae.
"The chairman called for a division of the house on the passage of
the resolutions, but no division could be made ; the house was too full.
But it was amusing to see the few of the removal party who understood
English running to and fro, gathering their flock together.
" The chairman then put the motion viva voce, when one of the leaders
of the ' Lilliputian' band jumped upon the judge's desk and waved his
hand, when one tremendous, unearthly, unmeaning ' yaw' burst forth,
which caused the walls of the building to tremble for its fate ; which
being partially subsided, without calling for the negative, the president
declared the resolutions passed unanimously.
" AA^e doubt very much whether the resolutions could have been passed
fairly, as the largest portion of the meeting was opposed to the removal.
" Iraraediately after the announcement of the chairman several persons
endeavored to obtain the floor, and each party called for its speaker ; but
before it could be decided which should have it the candles were blown
out, and all was darkness.
"A general rush was made for the doors and windows, and if the
court-house was not reraoved, we are certain that considerable glass in the
windows was destroyed.
" I am sorry that I could not procure a copy of the resolutions, etc., as
they were no doubt drawn up for publication, but at the time when dark
ness prevailed, neither resolutions, president, secretaries, nor anything re
lating to thera could be found. But I have no doubt the above report
will be received by your readers as well without as with thera. It was a
' bear fight' certain, and, like the old woraan, I did not care which
whipped, but I am of the opinion that the removal party met with a
warmer reception than was anticipated, and when I left the next day the
court house and jail were still in Ridgway. The meeting adjourned to
meet in two weeks, whether in St. Marys or in Ridgway, I cannot say,
but if I can get to it I will let you hear from me again.
" Yours truly,
" A Rambler.
" February 22, 1849." ELK county meeting;.
"At a large meeting of the citizens of Benzinger township and the
county of Elk generaUy held at the borough of St. Marys, on Monday
evening, February 12, 1849, George AVeis, Esq., was called to the phair,
and Ignatius Garner and James P. Barr were appointed secretaries.
"William A. Stokes, Esq., in compliance with the unanimous call of
655

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
the assemblage, addressed them in plain and practical speech on the sub
ject of the county seat.
" Anthony Hanhauser, Esq., moved fer the appointment of a commit
tee of three to draft resolutions, whereupon the following were appointed :
Dr. B. D. Holcorab, I. Garner, and A. A'olmer, who, having retired,
reported on their return the following preamble and resolutions :
" ' AVhereas, Petitions now before this meeting from the various town
ships of this county, prove by the names thereto, that a large majority of
the permanent inhabitants and substantial farmers and freeholders of the
county desire the removal of the county seat from Ridgway to St. Marys,
and whereas the former location is inconvenient, expensive, and im
proper, and the latter location is central, easy of access, convenient, and
suitable in all respects ; and whereas, we are able, willing, and ready to
erect the public buildings without cost te the county, by individual and
private subscription ; therefore,
" ' Resolved, That we unite in application to the Legislature for the
removal of the seat of justice of Elk county from Ridgway to St. Mary's,
according to the provisions of the bill before the Senate.
" 'Resolved, That the attempt of a part of the small population of
Ridgway te anticipate expected action of those who are favorable to the
reraoval of the county seat and to forestall public opinion on this has
been ludicrously ineffective, except in so far as it has precipitated what
otherwise raight have been delayed, a movement of the people to an end
always desired by them, the removal of the county seat from Ridgway,
Avhere it was located against their wishes, and by intrigue and arrange
ment, directed enly to answer the selfish purposes and private ends of a
few interested individuals.
" ' Resolved, That the people of this county feel quite competent to the
management of their own business, and consider it derogatory to their
character that gentlemen from other States, and other persons, not resi
dents of this county, should have largely participated in the efforts made
to keep the county seat at Ridgway.
" ' Resolved, That the will of the people should always be the supreme
law, and that what the citizens of this county desire in regard to the re
moval of the county seat should be done without respect to the influence
of wealth, or the representations of self-appointed leaders, who have for
years, by the mere power of presumption, managed all the public affairs
for their own private ends ; and we call on our senators and representa
tives in the General Asserably to hear and respect that popular voice
which at the polls is decisive, and now emphatically demands that justice
be done to the oppressed people of this county, by removing the courts
and offices from the inconvenient, expensive, and improper location at
Ridgway to the central and convenient point which the borough of St.
^Mary's presents, free of cost for that purpose.'
656

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" The preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted.
" On motion of George F. Schaefer, a committee was appointed to
attend to the petitions and other business connected with the removal of
the county seat.
"The following gentlemen constituted the committee: J. Walker,
Charies Fisher, G. Schaefer, G. Schcening, X. Brieberger, J. Fitzpatrick,
J. Dill, A. PearsaU, E. C. AVinslow, A. Fochtmann, M. Spuler, J. Schaus,
J. Ganser, M. Schissle, A. Ostermann, M. AA^ellendorf, L. Stockmann, A.
Andrews, L. Diez, Dr. Sap, M. Munich, P. Steavens, M. Frey, J. Seel,
A. Hoffman, J. Meyer, John A. Durgind, David Hubbard, James C.
Parkhurst, S. B. Gardner, C. Clinton, John Keller, AViUiam Rodroch,
AA'illiam Hicks, and Williara Myers.
"On motion of ^Ir. AVilliam A. Stokes, Esq.,
' ' ' Resolved, That copies of these proceedings be sent to the Senate and
House of Representatives, and be published in the fefferson Democrat,
McKean Yeoman, Harrisburg Union, and Philadelphia Pennsylvanian.'
' ' George AA'eis,
" Chairtnan."
public meeting in kersey.
"At a large meeting, held at Kersey, on the 3d of March, 1849,
Joseph T. Comely, Esq., was called to the chair, and C. Spely and P.
Malone were appointed secretaries.
" .\ committee, consisting of John T. Comely, Matthew McEwen,
and Charles Lewis, was appointed to prepare resolutions, who reported
the following, which were considered and unanimously passed :
" ' Resolved, That the county of Elk, being poor and thinly settled, it
is particularly iraportant that the public expenses should be as moderate
as possible, and with this view the seat of justice should be central and
convenient to the mass of the people, and not (as it is at Ridgway) on
one side of the county and remote for the people generally, thereby sub
jecting the county for the public charges and the citizens for their private
expenses, to great and unnecessary loss and inconvenience.
" ' Resolved, That we are in favor of repairing the great injustice which
was done by locating the county seat at Ridgway, and of removing it
frora that place at the earliest raoraent to St. Mary's.
"' Resolved, That we protest against a division of this county, — a
movement made for the mere purpose of retarding the removal of the
seat of justice. The county is already too small, and if reduced in size
and the courts are held at Ridgway, the taxes will necessarUy be increased
to a most ruinous and oppressive extent.
" 'Resolved, That we hereby instruct our Senator and Representative
to use all honorable means to carry out these views by having the bill for
that purpose passed without delay, according to the resolutions of the
county meeting, which truly represented and fairly spoke the views, in-
657

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
terests, and opinions of the large majority of the people of the county,
who are in favor of the removal of the seat to St. Mary's.'
"The meeting was addressed by William A. Stokes, Esq., Joseph T.
Comely, Patrick Malone, Edward McQuone, and Charles Lewis.
" On motion, ' Resolved, That these proceedings be communicated to
the Legislature, and be published in the Philadelphia Spirit of the Times,
Harrisburg Keystone and Intelligencer, McKean Yeoman, and Brookville
fefferson Democrat. ' "J. T. Co.mely,
" Chairman."
Meetings were held in Fox and other towmships, of which there is no
printed record.
During the progress through the State Legislature of the bill for the
removal of the county seat of Elk County, an important amendment was
proposed by the Hon. Timothy Ives, repaying to the donors the whole
amount of raoney expended by thera in erecting the present county
buildings. The bill being brought up on second reading in the Senate on Mon
day, the 26th of March, Mr. Ives offered an amendment so as to raake
the fifth section read as follows :
"The commissioners of Elk County are hereby required, so soon as
the aforesaid seat of justice is removed, to sell the court-house and jail of
Ridgway, and to pay the proceeds thereof to the several persons who
have contributed towards the erection and completion of said buildings ;
the balance, if any, to be paid into the county treasury, for the use of
said county," which was agreed to.
The bill, as amended, was then read a second time (yeas, fifteen ;
nays, ten), and afterwards a third time, and passed finally.
Colonel A. I. AVilcox, who is still living in his eightieth year, was
opposed to the change, and the removal act failed in the House. This
agitation in Elk County started an epidemic of "removal of county
seats." A petition was introduced in the Senate of Pennsylvania asking
the removal of the county seat from AVarren to Youngsville. Agitators
were desirous to reraove the county seat from Smethport, McKean County,
the county seat from Clearfield to Curwensville, and from BrookviUe to
Punxsutawney. The cause ofthis agitation was land speculation and the
" cursed love of gold." LOCAL HISTORY.
PIONEERS OF RIDGWAY- TOWNSHIP, ELK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AS PER
AsbEsS.MENT IN 1843, ^^ JEFFERSON COUNTY SEATED LIST.
A'ames of Taxables. — AA'illiara Arrastrong, AVatts Anderson, Thomas
Graniff, Pierce T. Brooks, Ephraim Barnes, David Benninger, AVilliam S.
Brownell, AA^illiam Crew, James Cochran, John G. Clark, Jesse Cady,
658

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
James Crow, John Cobb, Job Carr, WiUiam H. Clyde, -\bsalom Conrad,
^Squire Carr, AViUiam Daugherty, Henry Dull, Caleb Dill, George Dick
inson, Eli Frederick, John Evans, Daniel Fuller, Ridgway O. Gillis,
Caroline Gillis, James L. Gillis, Silas German, Rufus Galusha, Enos
Gillis, William H. Gallegher, James Gallegher, Esq., Charies Gillis, Rich
ard Gates, Aliles German, Arthur Hughes, Peter Hardy, Joseph S. Hyde,
Ralph HUl, Charles H. & L. Horton, Frederick Heterick, Chester Hayes,
Harvey Hoyt, Hughes & Dickinson, James A. Johnston, Henry Karns,
Frederick Kiefer, Benjarain Kiefer, John Knox, Reuben Lyles, Thomas
Lynn, Ebenezer Lee, William McLatchey, Erasmus Morey, John Mc-
Latchey, Joseph Meffert, AViUiam Meade, Horace Olds, Riverus Prindle,
Paine & AA'atterson, Chester Paine, George Phillips, AVilloughby Redline,
D. S. Ramsey, Amos Sweet, John Snyder, John Sharley, George L.
Smith, Samuel Stoneback, Ephraim Shawl, Jaraes Shawl, David H. &: L.
Thayer, Cornelius Van Orsdale, Jamison Veasey, Van Schirk, Elisha
AA'eaver, David AVorden, Maria AA'ilcox, Boston Lumber Company.
THE FIRST PAPERS PUBLISHED.
As I have given you the history of the first paper published in the
county, — viz., the Elk Advocate, — I will now give the name of the first
paper published for the county, — viz,, the fefferson Democrat and feffer
son and Elk County Advertiser.
This paper was published every AVednesday morning, in Brookville,
by Evans R. Brady and Clark Wilson ; terms, one dollar and fifty cents
a year. This paper was pubUshed to and ended with the issue of April
6, 1850. I find in vol. iv.. No. 1, of the feffersonian, in the issue of
January 5, 1848, the following:
" Having made arrangements with some of the officers of Elk County
to furnish blanks, to do their advertising, etc., we have changed the
narae of our paper to suit this arrangeraent."
I see by the paper that David Thayer was sheriff, Charles Horton,
prothonotary, and Henry Souther, treasurer.
The only item of interest that I can find in these papers is in rela
tion to two or three Democratic meetings in Ridgway.
The total vote of the county in 1848 was four hundred and twenty-
eight. THE FIRST POLITICAI, MEETING.
The first political gathering in Ridgway of which there is any pub
lished record was held in the court-house, February 28, 1848. It was
a Democratic meeting. Hon. Isaac Horton was appointed president,
Nathaniel Hyatt and John S. Brockway, vice-presidents, and Charles
Horton and AY. A. Simpson, secretaries.
The object ofthe meeting having been stated by S. M. Burson, Esq.,
on motion, a committee of eight — viz., Thomas Dent, .Samuel Overturf,
659

. PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
John Mead, H. Reburger, Joseph Taylor, Joseph S. Hyde, Isaac Keefer,
and Thomas Irwin — was appointed to draft resolutions.
In their absence, B. Rush Petriken and D. B. Jenks addressed the
meeting at length.
A. I. Wilcox was appointed delegate to the 4th of March convention
as representative delegate.
The committee returned and reported the following preamble and
resolutions, which were unanimously adopted :
"Whereas, The sovereign power of this government, vested in the
people of these United States, is again to be called into action in the
choice of agents through whom this pow-er is to be exercised, it becomes
the pleasure and duty of freemen by a public expression of their will, to
announce to the world the principle by which they will be governed in
the selection of their agents, therefore,
"Resolved, That we will sustain our present administration in all its
raeasures, and that we will support no man for office who will not carry
out the same in principle and in detail.
" Resolved, That those who denounce the present war and give aid and
comfort to the enemy secure for themselves present shame and eternal
infamy. "Resolved, That the Hon. James Buchanan, by his dintinguished
services and unwavering fidelity to the principles of the Democratic
party, has secured our entire confidence, and that we will reward him for
his services by using our influence to secure his nomination for the Presi
dency ; and that our representatives be, and they are hereby instructed,
to give him their support at the 4th of March convention.
"Resolved, That our delegates to the 4th of March convention be
instructed to support Timothy Ives for canal commissioner.
"On motion. Resolved. That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be
transmitted to John S. McCalmont and A. I. AA'ilcox.
" On motion. Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be pub
lished in the Democratic Union at Harrisburg, and in all the Democratic
papers in this senatorial district.
"On motion. Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be
signed by the officers.
" Isaac Horton,
President.
Charles Horton,
W. A. Simpson,
Secretaries.
Natha.ni EL Hyatt,
John S. Brockway,
]'icc Presidents.
660

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
The pioneer court held in the county was at Caledonia, twenty miles
east of Ridgway, on the Milesburg and Smethport turnpike, in Jay town
ship. The judges present were ; Associates, James L. GiUis and Isaac
Horton ; Prothonotary, etc., W. J. B. Andrews ; Commissioners, Reuben
Winslow, Chauncey Brockway, and a Mr. Brooks. But little business was
transacted. Attorneys present : George R. Barrett, Ben. R. Petriken,
and Lewis B. Smith. The first court held in Ridgway was in the school-
house, February 19, 1844, Alexander McCalmont, president judge ; Isaac
Horton, associate judge ; and Eusebius Kincaid, sheriff.
The pioneer court crier was Nathaniel Hyatt, from Kersey, and, like
everybody else in those days, was fond of attending court, for the sake
of visiting, seeing the judge, telling stories, and "smiling with his
neighbors. ' '
Mr. Hyatt was a large man, peculiar, and had a coarse voice. Judge
McCalmont, of A^enango, was on the bench, a very easy-going, mild-
mannered man.
One day, while the court was in session, Mr. Hyatt, in a loud tone of
voice, was busy telling stories te his neighbors in the court-room. The
judge thought there was a little teo much noise, and, te personally repri
mand Mr. Hyatt, he commenced " a rapping, gently tapping, tapping"
three times on the desk, and addressing Mr. Hyatt thus : " Crier, there
is a little too much noise in court.' '
Promptly Mr. Hyatt responded by stamping his right foot violently
on the floor, and, in his loud, coarse voice, exclaimed, "Let there be
silence in court ! What the h- — are you about ?"
early railroads.
The Sunbury and Erie Railroad, now the Philadelphia and Erie, was
chartered April 3, 1837, but it was not until about 1852 that construc
tion was commenced, and it was not completed until about the fall of
1864. In the speculative tiraes of 1836 non-residents of then Jefferson
County bought largely of the wild lands in and around Ridgway town
ship, which, of course, when railroad and other bubbles burst, was left
on their hands. This land had been advertised to contain valuable iron
ore and bituminous coal, and much of it could have been bought as late
as 185 1 at fifty cents an acre.
To build a railroad through a dense wilderness of worthless hemlock,
ferocious beasts, gnats, and wintergreen berries, required a large purse
and great courage. Of course, there was no subject talked about in the
cabin homes of that locality so dear to the hearts of the pioneers as this
raUroad. Living, as they were, in the backwoods, they were perfectiy
excusable when the subject of railroads was broached, even if they did
cut all kinds of fantastic tricks. 661

PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
The first railroad raeeting held in Ridgway, Elk County, was in the
fall of 1845. Gentlemen were present from Erie, Warren, McKean,
Centre, Philadelphia, and other counties. The deliberations were held
in the old school-house, and there the road was constructed in words, as
it was all through the seasons for years afterwards.
In any event, I suppose those railroad barons enjoyed themselves in
Ridgway, and were fed on elk-steak for breakfast, blackberry-pie for
dinner, speckled trout and bear meat for supper, with nothing stronger
to drink than sassafras tea. This generous diet, in sleep at least, would
build railroads.
1852 was the railroad era. Engineers surveyed the route through
Ridgway for the Allegheny Valley Railroad, the Venango Road, and the
Sunbury and Erie Road. Numerous other railroads were talked about, —
viz., the Clearfield and the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg. In antici
pation of the completion of all these railroads, I suppose, the county
commissioners, in September of this year, erected a stone wall around the
jail-yard two feet thick and fourteen feet above the ground, and to civil
ize the AVhistletown section for these iron horses, my old friend, B. F.
Ely, Esq., in this month, killed three bears in fifteen minutes.
early home OF THE WILD PIGEON.
In 1845, Ridgway township was the nesting and roosting home ofthe
wild pigeon. There was a roost at er near what is now Bootjack, one
near AA^histletown, and another near Montmorenci. These big roosts
were occupied early in April each year. They were usually four to five
miles long and from one to two railes wide. Every tree would be occu
pied, some with fifty nests. The croakings of the pigeons could be heard
for miles. The wild pigeon laid one or two eggs, and both birds did their share
of incubating, the female from two p.ii. until nine a.m., and the male
then to two p.m. These roosts were great feeding-places for animals as
well as for man. k% late as 1851 theAmerioan Express Company car
ried in one day, over the New York and Erie Railroad, over seven tons
of pigeons to the New York markets. A wild pigeon can fly from five
hundred to one thousand miles in a day.
Like the buffalo and elk of this region, the wild pigeon has been
doomed.

662

INDEX.

Abolition meetings, 274; law, 268
Abolitionists, early, 275
Academy, 507; trustees of, 198
Advertisements, 623
Advocate, 626, 627, 644
Agriculture, pioneer, 152, 153
Algerines, 535
Allegheny Portage Railroad, 326; town,
S8
Allegheny River lands, 48
American Anti-Slavery Society, 268
Amusements, 161, 440, 441, 479, 526, 530,
555
Animals, 88-100, 442 ; natural life of, loi
Apprentices, indentured, 284—296, 539
Armstrong, Colonel, 34
Armstrong, Jesse, 435-437
Assembly acts, 43, 48, 49, 50, 52, 54, 57,
60, 85, 87, gt, 124, 126, 130, 132, 136,
138, 141, 142, 191, 193, 194, 198, 20c-
203, 205, 207, 210, 211, 214, 270, 272,
286-290, 304, 314, 340, 358, 360, 363,
365- 373. 375. 380, 3S4, 385, 421, 433,
459, 461, 470, 488, 489, 492, 496, 497,
499, 504, 550, 588, 611, 613, 646
Associate Reformed Church, 246
Atlee, Samuel John, 43
Atly, Lieutenant, 39
Audenried, Senator, 209
Backwoodsman, The, 41 2
Bald Eagle, 102, 126, 137, 140
Baltimore Conference, 253
Bank-note detector, 299, 553
Bank of Mainland, 297
Banks, pioneer, 298
Baptist church, 259-262
Barclay, Rev. David, 208
Barnett, Andrew, 120, 193, 195, 423
Barnett, Joseph, 9, 32, 84, 116, 117, 120,

121, 193, 195, 410. 570. 575

I Barnett township, 460
. Barring-out, 551
! Barry, William T., 441
Bear-pen, 93
Bear-skins, 92
j Beaver, county of, 58
I Beaver dam, building of, 89
j Beaver Meadow, 88
I Beechwoods church, 242
Bee-hunting, II i-i 14
Bee-trees, 112
Bethel church, 237-239, 241
Bethesda church, 243
Bienville, Celeronde, 132
Bingham, William, So
Bird, Colonel, i6g
Birds, loi-lio, 158
Birthday, celebration of, 475-481
Blood, Cyrus, 472
Blood settlement, 474
Bonnecamp, Father, 132
Bounty, 90, 375, 379, 626
Braddock, General, 335
Braddock's road, 335
Brady, Captain, 30, 35
Breck, Senator, 209
Biick-yard, 455
Bridges, 328,329, 453
Bridges and roads, county, 348, 357
Brodhead, General, 30
Brookville, 243, 558; church, 254; church
mission, 260; Academy, 380; Female
Seminary, 380; Reptiblican.^ 410; bor
ough, 496 ; pioneer resurrection, 598-
610
Brown, Major-General Jacob, 172
Bryan, George, 270
Budding, raising a, 521
Burnside, Hon. Thomas, 32J, 365, 366
Burnside, Judge William, 499
Burrowes, Thomas H., 200, 214, 221
663

INDEX.

Campaign of 1 864, 593-59S
Canal, 326, 327
Candles, making of, 544
Canoe Place, 42
Canoes, 567
Carding-mill, 469
Carraalt, Isaac P., 281
Catholic church, 262
Census, 206, 226, 227, 493, 537, 555
Centre Furnace, 181
Chain-carriers, 84
Cherry Tree, 42, 79, 82
Chimney-svi'eeps, 503
Churches, 237-265, 433, 459, 487,
632
Civil war, 268
Clark, William, 212
Clarke, Dr. A. M., 466
Clocks, 545
Clothes, 160, 161, 441
Clover, Judge Peter, 116
Clover, Levi G., 523
Clover township, 487
Coal, 228, 326, 479, 492, 495, 556, 630,
635
Coinage, first, 297
Coleman, Professor J. jNI., 19S
Colonial records, 29
Commissioners, auditors, and collectors,
names of, 195
Concord church, 243
Conewango Creek lands, 48
Congress, 297
Constables, early, 223, 224, 226, 367
Continental Congress, 44, 269
Conventions, 305, 306, 307
Convictions, 426
Cooking, 527, 528
Cooper, Benjamin B., 451
Cooper lands, 451
Copper, 28
Cornplanter, 560-565
Counties, 48, 185, 186, 191, 192, 332,
333
County rates, 207; seat, 58
County seat fight, 649-659
Courts, 364, 365, 553
Court-houses, 473, 513, 530
Coxson John K., 28
Crawford Weekly Messenger, 342
Cumberland church, 244

Delaware Indians, 16, 18, 21-23, 27, 30J
31. 71, 72, 74, 79, 129, 130, 183, 229,
231, 233- 335, 5"
Denial College, 554
Deputy surveyors, 51, 53, 54, 57-59, 82-84
Dinwiddle, Governor, 115
Dissection, 604, 606
Distillery, 121, 423, 523
District lines, 79-88
Dixon, John, 6i5
Doctor, description of, 393
Drainage, 18S
Dress, 153, 154
Drink, 160
Eagles, golden, 103
Early, Dr. C. R., 635
Earthquake, 422
Eclipse of the sun, 422
Education, acts, 201-204 ; law of 1809,
203 ; general system of, 207 ; committee
on, 209, 210; of womeu, 54S
Ejectment, 157
Eldred township, 470
Elections, 210, 211, 304, 305, 422, 428,
433. 434, 454, 456, 461, 469, 481, 486,
488, 489, 492, 493, 497, 498, 505, 53S,
539. 540
Electors, 2U, 212, 433
Elk, county of, 454
Ellicott, Andrew, 127, 138
Ellicott, Joseph, 127
England, common law of, 172, 173
Erie Conference, 253, 254
Erie triangle, purchase of, 57
Ettwein, Rev. John, 41, 234, 237
Express business, 228
Factory, woollen, 491 ; furniture, 501 ;
harness, 501
Fair-Play Men, 49
Farming implements, 152, 157
Fawns, capture of, 96
Female workers, 54S
Fence law, 151 ; viewers, 4S9
Fenton, Colonel J.imes, 172
Fetterman, N. B., 209
Fields, Rev. Mr., 237
Findlay, James, 212
Fines for misdemeanors, 425-427
Fireplace in 1840, 527

664

INDEX.

First steamer, 269
Fish, kinds of, 158
Five Nations, 27, 28, 78
Fleming, John, 143
Flint, uses of, 26
Floods, 134
Flour, 28 ; mill, 500
Fogle, Mother, 256
Forbes, General John, 338
Forbes road, 338; trail, 137
Forest- trees, 190
Fort Bedford, 39 ; Duquesne, 30, 35, 335 ;
Franklin, 560; Granville, 184 ; Harmar,
560 ; Le Boeuf, 58,59; Ligonier, 36, 39 ;
Mcintosh, 46, 57, 60, 70, 71, 75, 79, 80 ;
Pitt, 57, 58, 137, 138,335; Potter, 118;
Stanwix, 42, 44, 45, 46, 48, 60, 61, 70,
71. 72, 73. 74. 76, 79.560; Venango,
32, 183, 230
Forts, magazines, and dock-yards, 59
Foundry, pioneer, 501
Fourth of July, 162, 321, 417, 543,632-635
Fox, George, 143
Franklin, Benjamin, 52; house, 320, 321
French 'and Indian war, 30
French Creek, 59
Friedenschnetten, mission settlement at,
233
Friedenstadt, mission established at, 234
Frolic, kicking, 442
Fruits, 159
Fulton steamboat, 228
Furs, price of, 99
Gaskill, Charles C, 87, 88, 123
Gaskill township, 488
Game, 122
Gazette, The, 409
Geiger, Lieutenant, 39
General Assembly, report of, 45
Geological structure, 190, 191
Germans, importation of, 289, 291, 294
German Redemptioners, 291, 294, 295,
296 ; settlement, 454
Gigging, 158
Gillis, Hon. James L., 447, 526, 627
Girard College, 209
Gist, Christopher, 334
Government, Proprietary, 80
Graham, M. Elijah, 84, 169
Grampian Hills, 440

Grand jurors, 366
Graveyards, 85, 122, 238, 241, 424, 425,
469, 489, 492, 502
Grist-mill, 429, 433, 447, 467, 469, 491,
492, 501, 566, 571, 622
Habits of game, 589-591
Hail-storm, 422
Hall, Thomas, 531
Hamilton, Alexander, 296
Harmer, Colonel, 57
Harris Ferry, 40
Harvest-time, 152
Hawkins, Sir John, 268
Haying, 153
Heath, Judge, 208, 531
Heck, Barbara, 252
Heckewelder, Rev. John, 40, 232
Henderson, Judge, 526
Highways, 371, 383; supervisor of, 202
Hoffman, Dr. Fred., 168
Holland Land Company, 86,g87,"l68, 567
Hollow-eve, 545
Honey, securing of, 114
Horse-racing, 454, 458
Hotels, 433, 514, 532
Houses, early, 558, 559
Hunters, 430, 453, 466, 472, 475, 491,
513, 576, 585, 586, 588, 5S9, 625, 626
Hunting, still-, 98
Hurly-burly, 164
Hutchinson, Joseph, 120, 121, 151, 423
Incidents, interesting, 227-229
Independent Greens, 542
Indi II, rulers of tribes, 12, 13 ; heirship,
13; religion, family relations, 14; fu
neral customs, 15, l6; bark-peeling,
16; hut-building, 16, 17; marriage, 18;
travelling, 18, 19; amusements, 19;
war-dance, 19, 20; medical customs,
20, 21 ; wars, weapons, 21-24, 335 ;
declaration of war, 22, 23 ; canoe, run
ners, antiquities, 25 ; household and
war implements, 24-26 ; intemperance,
27, 29, 30; trails, 28, 115, 1x6, 182,
183; council, 30; corn, 32; captives,
35, 116, 122, 184; relics, 32, 538; con
ference, 45; deed of lands, 46, 68;
claims, 48; treaties, 29, 60-78, 79;
price for land, 80

665

INDEX.

Indiana American, 410
Indiana Free Press, 457
Indians, families of Iroquois, 12-32; last
ramble among, 26 ; Yirginia, 26
Ingersoll, General, 56
Institution for insane, 269
Irish settlement, 247, 248
Iron Bar Ripple, 182
Iron ore, 180, 492; furnace, 181 ; ship
ping, 181, 182
Iroquois Indians, 12-32
Irvine, General William, 59, 60, 127, 138
Jack, Judge William, 523
Jefferson Blues, 416, 417,419,420; church,
247
Jefferson County, 371, 372, 375-3S0;
Graphic, topography, 121 ; rattlesnake,
167 ; area, name, 185 ; map, 186 ; geog
raphy, 187; jails, 198, 239, 513, 531;
year of 1816, flood, 227; officials, 302;
description of, 311, 312; statistical table,
312; taxable inhabitants, 315; land,
322; townships of, 381-383 ; highways
of, 383-391
Jefferson, 'J'homas, 57, 152, 296
Jeffersoniati , The, 321, 409
Jenks, Dr. John W., 391
Jenks, Judge W. P., 391
Jenks township, 471
Jews, slavery among the, 267
Johnson, Francis, 43
Jones, John, 569
Juniata iron, 181
Jurors, grand, 366
Justice of the peace, 202, 307, 308, 425,
452
Justice, seat of, 193, 377
Keystone State, 122
Knapp, Moses, 566
Knox, John, 199
Kyler, Jesse, 635
Land, fraudulent sale of, 40; purchase,
42 ; grants to associations, 51 ; laws, 55 ;
office established, 80; holders, 81 ; ele
vation of, 18S; deed, 195; owners, 541
Lawanakanuck mission, 233
Lawof 1834, 212, 219; of 1806, 90; of
1809, 203; of 1705, 588
Lawrence, Joseph, 214

Laws, pioneer, 371 ; pamphlet, 315
Lawyers, 366, 369, 37c, 624
Legal rights of married women, 172, 547
Le Roy, Marie, and Barbara Leininger,
32-40
Letter postage, 478
Letters, 43, 81-84, 138, 139, I44, 146, 170,
171, 279,544, 594
Life, description of, 119, 120, 485, 528,
529, 553
Light, artificial, 157, 480, 503
Lincoln story, a, 594
Linen, making of, 154
Liquor introduced, 29
Local history, 593
Log church, old, 239, 241
Logging, 150
Long, Bill, 576-584
Lottery warrants, 81, 85; land-office, 50
Lumber, 459, 468
Lumbering, 532, 533
Luther, Martin, 199
Lutheran Chuich, 265
Maclay, William, 43
Magna Charta, 269
Mail" route, 341, 343, 345, 447; coach, 339
Mails, 503, 544; robbery of, 345
Manufactures, 541
Map, 80, 186
Maple-sugar industry, 17S-180; camp, 178
Marshall, Chief Justice, 56, 86
Marshall, Joseph, 130
Maryland, Bank of, 297
Mason and Dixon line, 430
Mass-meeting, 597
Matches, making of, 228
McCalmont, Judge, 545
McClelland, Major William, 169
McGarraugh, Rev. Robert, 258
McKean, Governor Thonias, 144, 146, 192
McKnight, Alexander, 313, 500
McKnight, W. L, 645
Mead, David, 116
Meade's trail, 115, 116, 121, 137, 424, 575
Meats, 158
Medical society, 394; college, 269
Mercer, Colonel, 39
Methodism, 252
Methodist Episcopal Church, 255
Methodist paper, 253

666

INDEX.

Mifflin, Thomas, 138
Mile, Lieutenant, 39
Mile-stones, 359
Militai-y officers, 417 ; company, 434
Militia, 137, 522; company, 415, 487;
drills, 416
Mill Creek, 120, 165, 239, 260
Mills, 123, 228, 246, 424, 429, 433, 447,
448, 449, 452, 455, 456, 459, 461, 467,
469, 481, 487, 491, 492, 500, 501, 566,
568, 570, 571, 631
Ministers, early, 239-256, 259-262, 265,
266, 391, 392, 423, 474, 484, 524, 625
Ministers' salaries, 239, 256, 257
Mint, establishment of, 296
Missions established, 40
Mitchell, Judge, 28
Mitchell, Thomas Sharp, 431, 432
Montour's Island, 60
Morgan, William, 447
Mormon Church, 264
Mormonism, 264
Morris, Robert, 80, 85, 296
Morrow's freight line, 517, 519
Mowers, 153
Music teachers, 538
Napoleon, 172
National bank, 269
Newbold, Charles, inventor of plough , 152
Newlanders, 284
New Rehoboth and Licking church, 243
Newspapers, 407-409, 541
Nicholson, John, 80
North American Land Company, 55
Northumberland County Lottery Warrants,
51
Noshaken, legend of, 31
Occupations of the people, 154
Ocean voyage, 479
Olean road, 384
Overseers of the poor, 201, 202
Pamphlet laws, 315
Paradise township, 493
Patton, Colonel John, 180
Peale, Charles W., 554
Penn, William, 29, 81, 185, 617; treaty
with Indians, government land granted,
78

Penn's arrival in 1682, 27
Penn's Valley, 1 18
Pennsylvania, 78, 268-270; population,
330, 331, 479; common school law,
200; mint, 269; canal, 322
Pennsylvania Canal and Railroad, 207, 322
Pennsylvania Population Company, 55,
56; trustees for, 56
Perry church, 243
Perry, Commodore, 430
Perry township, 430
Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad, 326
Philadelphia Gazette, 345
Philadelphia mint, 297
Phillips, James, 143
Physicians, 446, 487, 525, 637, 638
Pigeon-roosts, 108, 662
Pine Creek township, 421
Pioneer, surveys and surveyors, 78-88 ;
animals, 88-100; hunters, 89-94, 9^.
100; trapping, 93; settlement, 116;
settlers, 120, 121, 423; explorers, cabin
and mill, 120 ; tailors, 153; wagons, 153,
531 ; homes and mode of life, 154-163 ;
days, 160 ; tools, 169; songs, 174, 176;
singing masters, 175; transportation,
181; court-house, 197; academy, 198,
507 ; licenses, 222, 223 ; constables,
223 ; telegram, gas, steam-vessels, strike,
228 ; thanksgiving days, 229 ; mission
ary work, 229-237 ; churches, 237-266;
circuit riders, 253, 254, 256; temper
ance society, 253 ; meetings, 257-259 ;
train, 269 ; mill, 288 ; money, 296 ;
banks, 298 ; appeals, 310; county bridge,
328, 329; counties, 332, 333; trading
house, 334; coach, 33S, 339; taverns,
362, 434, 456, 474, 502, 571; courts,
364,365; bar, 364; lawyers, 366; ses
sion, 366; highways, 371; physicians,
391-395; society, 394, 395 ; townships,
396; newspaper, 407-409, 412; print
ing-office, 410 ; militia regiment, 414-
416; military volunteer company, 416,
434 ; musters, 416 ; marriage, 423 ; hotel,
433 ; tanneries, 448, 449, 502; railroad,
452; coal trade, 462; flat-boats, 463-
465; training-day, 479; census, 493;
fire-engine, 501 ; court, 662
Pioneers, names of, 9; first white, 32;
ancestry of, 1S7

667

INDEX.

Pisgah church, 239, 241, 242
Pittsburg, 335, 630; Conference, 253; coal
trade, 462
Political meeting, 659
Politics of the county, 525
Poll-evil, 536
Population, 184, 185, 206, 330, 331
Port Barnett, 32, 117, 120, 122, 133, 146,
181, 237, 428
Porter township, 486
Post, Rev. C. Frederick, 36, 229-231
Post road, 345 ; office, 340-346, 474, 647,
648; route, 439, 440, 468, 647
Po.stage, 342, 345, 544; stamps, 346
Post's journal, 230, 231
Potter, Fort, 118
Presbyterian Church, 237
Presbytery, 238, 241, 246
Presque Isle, 57, 58, 126, 137, 138,
139
Priest, pioneer, 263
Primogeniture, 269
Printing-office, 510
Public buildings, 377
Puma, description of, go
Punxsutawney, 440; church, 245, 261
Puritans, igg
Purvis, Robert, 275
Rabbits, 526
Rafting season, 134
-Raftmen, 134-136
Railroad collision, 314; pioneer train, 269;
history, 661, 662
Railroads, 478
Rattlesnakes, 165, 166, 169
Red Bank, 27, 129, 132, 181, 182, 189,
383
Registry office, 288
Reptiles and snakes, 165
Republican party, 269; celebration, 316—
319; organization, 619-621
Reservations, 57
Revolutionary war, expenses of, 541
Rewards, 278, 315, 539, 574
Richland church, 243
Ridgway, 453; township, 444; mission,
256; early history, 621
Ridgway, Jacob, 444
Rittenhouse, David, 297
Rivers and creeks, 129-137

Road, 137-149, 425, 429, 446, 449, 575;
expenses, 129; appropriation, 139; di
rection, 144, 145 ; review, 146, 147 ;
tax, 360, 363, 374,378; obstruction, 364
Roads, 116, 379; opening of, 124-129;
improvement of, 148 ; jDetitions for, 347,
348; roads and county bridges, 348-357,
384-391
Rockland church, 243
Rodgers, Major William, 182
Roth, John, 234, 237
Salaries of teachers, 209, 2l6, 218, 220,
228, 530
Salem, Peter, 269
Salt territory, 487
Sand spring, 32
Saturday, observance of, 195
Saw-mills, 123, 428, 429, 433, 448, 452,
453. 455. 456. 459, 461, 469, 481, 487,
491, 500, 501, 566, 568, 570, 622
Schooling, price of, 208, 209
School-masters, 121, 208, 209, 216, 452,
474,482,491,506, 507, 519, 549,551,
552, 616, 617, 623, 624, 640, 641
Schools, 121, 208, 209, 216-222, 425, 428,
433, 452, 459. 471, 483, 501, 505, 549.
616,617; Sunday, 242, 252,483,624;
manual training, 210
School system, igg; law, 200, 212; tax,
202, 207, 221 ; fund, 200, 207, 210, 214,
221, 552; discipline, 204, 550; meet
ing, 204 ; trustees, 204, 380 ; text-books,
205, 208, 216, 218, 549, 552; organizers,
208, 209, 216, 2ig, 452; directors, 211,
212, 2i5, 2ig, 507, 508, 538; age, 213;
inspectors, 213, 214, 219; attendance,
216; convention, 220; superintendents,
471, 483
Scotch-Irish, 29g, 300
Scott, Samuel, 120, 423
Screw factory, 182
Session, pioneer, 366
Settlements, 173
Settler, pioneer colored, 272
Settlers, early, 85, 1 15-124, 334, 362, 424,
425, 42S, 430, 431, 433, 434, 435, 437,
444, 446, 447, 448, 452, 455, 460, 467,
46g-47i, 474, 481, 486, 487, 48S, 4go-
492, 500, 536, 537, 626
Sheriff, 210, 211

668

INDEX.

Shingle-weavers, 541
Shippen, Judge, 2g, 429
Shoemakers, 153
Shooting-stars, 32
Shulze, Governor John A., 134, 551
Silver, 28
Six Nations, 12, 27, 29, 30, 42, 44, 46, 57,
60, 63, 66, 68, 69, 72-74, 79, 116, 234,
563, 565
Slavery, 266-268, 480, 537; act for the
gradual abolition of, 270
Slave traffic and trade, 276
Slaves, 268, 275, 282, 283, 294
Smith, Captain John, 26
Smith, Joseph, 264
Smith, Senator, 209
Snow Shoe, 182
Snow storm, 636
Snyder, Governor Simon, 149, 204, 466
Snyder township, 465
Soldiers of 1812, 169-172
South Side pioneers, 438
Spelling-bee, 508
Spinning, 160
Stage coach, 338, 361 ; line, 515, 516,
627-630
St. Clair, General, 57
St. John's Church, 265
Star-Spangled Banner, 269
State roads, 137-149, 384-391
Steamboat, 567
Stevens, Thaddeus, 209, 213
Stores, 495
Sugar, 146; making, 572
Sunday-schools, 242, 252, 483
Surveys and surveyors, 51, 53, 54, 57-59,
82-84, 140
Susquehanna and Waterford Turnpike,
181,384, 515
Swiss settlers, 291
Tailors, 153
Tanneries, 448, 495, 502
Taverns, 362, 434, 456, 474, 5°2, 57'
Tax, 207, 562
Taxables, 177, 178, 39Mo6, 422, 430,
434, 444, 454, 466, 49°, 658
Teachers, salaries of, 209, 216, 218, 220,
228, 550; institute, 614-619, 641-643
Telegram, pioneer, 228
Temperance society, 253, 325, 485

Text-books, 205, 208, 216, 21S, 549, 552,
617
Thanksgiving days, 229
Timber, 128, 132, 150, 429, 492 ; raft, 429,
627
Titles and surveys, 78-88
Tobacco, 146
Toby's Creek, 133, 136, 449
Toll-gate, 359
Toll-gatherers, 360
Tolls, 360
Town lots, 58; surveys, 58, 59
Townships, 215, 396-402, 404, 405, 406,
444, 465, 493, 495, 630, 646
Trading house, 334
Trails, 28, 115, Ii5, 182, 183
Training-day, 479
Trapping, g3
Travis, William, 130
Treaties, 2g, 60-78, 7g, 335, 560
Trees, 164, 165
Tschechsehequanink mission, 234
Turkey, wild, I5g
Turnpike companies, 387-38g
Turnpikes, 138, 358-360, 363, 372, 374
Underground railroad, 273, 281, 284, 531
United Presbyterian Church, 245
United States, first coinage of, 297
Volunteer Rifle Association, 416
Wagons, 153, 531
War, cost of, 172
^Varsaw township, 490
Washington, George, 57, 115, 169, 296,
335, 336, 480
Washington township, 474
Water routes, 326; works, 546
Wayne's treaty, 560
Weddings, 161, 162
Weiser, Captain, 39
Weiser, Conrad, 44
Weiser, Samuel, 44
Wesley, John, 252
Westmoreland County, officials of, 302-304
Wheat, price of, 146, 151
White, Jacob C, 275
White, Rev. William, 232
Wild pigeon, 662
Wilkins, General, 139

669

INDEX.

Wilson, George, 127
Windmills, 153
Wolf, Governor George, 131, 200, 205,
212, 378,551
Wolf-pen, 93
Women lawyers, 548
Wood, Jethro, improvement in plough,
152
Wood, Major James, 172

Wright, William, 274
Wyalusing, 40, 233, 234
Yeates, Judge, 86
Young, Brigham, 264
Young township, 434
Zeisberger, Rev. David, 40, 232
Zion Church, 262

THE END.

670

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