USA > New Jersey > Early historical events in the Delaware Valley > Part 9
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GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
JAN 6 1959
DELAWARE VALLEY
50
boat to Nowburgh, then by the furly-Ho and Four over the pike to the Dela- ware Valley , he began talking as soon as he got upon the boat. The passen- gers all crowded around him causing the boat to list heavily. In great slaru the Captainsought Matt and told him they would upset and asked him to go to soud other part of the boat. Matt went tothe other side and the crowd follow- ed. The crew was then ordered to shift ballast to moet demands.
CHAPTER XXIV
January 71923
When the Newburgh and Cochecton furnpóke was completed and made a traffic way in 1810, and when two years later it had been extended across the great hills to Great Bend, Pa., making a thoroughfare from that point to the Hudson river, there was great rejoicing over the great achievement of human ingenuity and well there might be for did so not give bhe still pioneer settlement in the Delaware Valloy an ingress egress other than pushing a cando of heavier boat up against the strongly flowing river. It planndd the topography of this section through which it was built and it caused villages to spring up where they would not otherwise have been built and men built homes along it be- cause it gave them a way to and from their home. It imparted new life to the pioneer struggling for an existence in the heart of an unbroken forest. It was a great convenience while it lasted but it was too primitive for long life, its day was soon over, less than half a century leter the iron horse with a roar that almost shook the hillsides thundered up the Delaware river. COMING OF THE ERIE
December 21,1843 the Erie Railroad Company sent its construction train, the Piermont up tjo line then finished a little west of Galiicoon. To most of the settlers among the river which the railroad papalleled its coming was unhor- alded and as it cameslowly up the line of iron rails iron grinding upon iroos, and rumble and rattle, with a crude steam whistle at full vont people were all but frightened out of their wits as the like had never before been beard. Two Lunters were in the cicinity of Pike Pond, now Kenoza Lake, when they heard the woird screoch of the whistle and listening concluded it was a panther or paintor as old timbers called it, and at once started pellmeal across the wooded stretch to intercept and kill the varment. Nothing stopped then and their dogs in their aad race, through swamps and briars over ridges and ledges the men plunged until panting for breath, their clothing torn and bespattered with aud, they rushed out of the underbrush at where is now Callicoon ,only a few jumps behind the irond monster that had dust stopped and with stead bissing fromits valves they were willed with a consternation that would not have been manifested had they seen the object of their bunt. It was their first sight of a locomotive and how it thrilled them as they gave it the look-over cannot be oven conjectured.
Like the turnpike, the railroad was not constructed in a day. The Erie bogan the work of surveying and blazing the way in 1832, sixteen years before the Piermont made the run to Callicoon. Carrying passengers was started in 1849 Lx but the regular opening for passengers and baggage and freight was not until 1830. But literally speaking, the people went wild, on May 14,1851, at the for- mal opening of the Erie. That important morning two trains started from Pier- mont, New York, the eastern terminus and went to Dunkirk, N. Y. the western end of the line, ,a distance of about 450 miles, taking two days for the trip. On tl the train as guests were the president of the United States and mary of the most distinguished public men in the United States. The trains stopped at every station and crowds were there to greet them with wild enthusiasm. Traine had been making regular trips as far west as Corning in 1850, the first locomot: tive to enter being in December, 1849. For fifteen years the Erie Company had desperate struggles against adverse conditions, but by the help of Gen. Diven c of Elaira in brains and pluck the line was finished from tidewater to Lake Erio.
AN IMPORTANT EVENT
It was at that time the most important event in the history of railroadins building that had ever occurred in America. It was the opening of the long- est continuous line of railroad in the world; it was the beginning of the present great era of railroad building and rule in the financial and commer- cial realms. consequently it was just considered worthy of national attentie'
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DELAWARE VALLEY
and the managers of the Company arranged for giving the very first through ex- cursion party ever known in this country, and made it one which has never been equalled in the number of distinguished men who composed it. They were Millard Fillmore of the United States, Daniel Webster, secretary of State, W. C. Graham sec'y of mary, N. K. Hall, postmaster general : Unstod-states-senatoraJohn J.Critten. den, attorney general; U.S.Senators-F. K. Seward, Hamilton Fish, Stephen A. Douglas, Gov. Hunt and staff; ex-Gov. Marcy; J. C.Mather, cabal commissioner; Hon. Daniel S. Dickerson, William E. Dodge, Hon. W. H. Jessup, Gen. Alexander S. Diven, Dt. Eldridge .
and many other local mon of less luminary importance. The two trains pulled into Elmira at 6.30 P.M. of the day of starting (May 14,184] (51) About 600 guests were aboard the train as mon of importance locally joined the excursion at every stop made. All along the train was cheered by thousands of people as it wended ets way and cannon were fired. Dodworth's famous New York band accompanied the party. The entrance of this distinguished party into aimira was amid the cheers of an immense crowd and the booming of heavy artillery. Feople from far end near in the surrounding country had assembled to take part in the great event. GREAT MEN AT OPENING EVENT
The trains stopped for the night at that point. President Fillmore and suite and some of the guests were escorted by the military band to the Brainerd House and Daniel Webster, Governor Marcy, and others to the Haight Houst. The President held a levee in the evening when he was introduced to the citizens. A sumptuous supper was served followed by music and dancing, many of the notables joining in the mirth. The train left Elmira at 6.30 taxt morning, May 15, and reached Corning about 7. It stopped briefly as many people were assembled to see it. Webster, Crit tonden, and Marsy alighted from the train and walked about the platform; but according to an old resident, no enthusiasm was manifested there and no one from Corning joined the distinguished party because they were all Whigs and the senti. ment of Corning was not much inclined towards Whigs. Viewing it now that would seem to have been a very narrow way to look upon the celebration of the greatest transportation event of the century, beginning as it did, an era in the history of Corning. In these progressive days such a fact would have a decidedly strange sound.
From Coraing westward the trains were greeted by immense crowds at every station, and the party was presented with flags and banners by the enthusiastic populace. Either President Pillmore, Webster, Crittenden, Seward, or some other of the dis- tinguished men nade addresses. At Dayton, east of Dunkirk, a tragic incident hap- pened, followed by one which should be historic. A sannon that was being fired in honor of the occasion burst and fatally injured tuo mon. Daniel Webster inmed- lately started a collection among the excursionists, dropping a $5 gold piece in his bat to begin with, for the benefit of the two men and a generous response was met. At 4 o'clock on the second day of the trip, with flags flying and cannor booming, amit shouts of fully 20,000 people the trains pulled into Dunkirk. The entire trains and equip,ent, locomotives and all did not represent as large an outlay in construction as any one of the palaces in the service of any first class railroad of today, but the most palatial train that ever made tts way over the richest road in America, since that day, ever numbered among human freight a 1 more distinguished party than the one who alighted from these primitive cars at Dunkirk on that momentous occasion. At that time only one other great railroad had been built, anf that was from St. Detersburg to Mosco in Russia. The pre- sont stupenduous Pennsylvania Railroad was than but a local line owned by the state of Pennsylvania with ist western terminus at Hollidaysburg, Pa. Albany was then connected with Buffalo and Rochester only by a ramshackle chain of local roi of different guages subsequently combined into uniform system, which is the power ful New York Central of today. The Baltimore and Chic, the pioneer great railroad line of America had yet no important western connection add was conspicuous only as the protector of Baltimore's trade against the attractions of southern markets which were made convenient by the Mississippi river navigation; thence hhe arrivi of that memorable train at Dunkirk seventy-six years ago, marked the first epoc! in railroad transportation of really national importance.
A GREAT CELEBRATION
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Great preparations had been made in Dunkirk for this celebration of event. It was the
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DELAMARE VALLEY 52
the first locomotive they had seen. Bells rang, Canson boomed, flags waved, bands played, ceremonial processions wound about the city and great orators addressed the crowd, admiring and astonished crowd. Luncheon was spread upon a table a quarter of a mile long and a public barbecue, for which two oxen and ten sheep had been roasted. Platforms had been erected and from these the eminent guest spoke to the crowds. Webater was not of the speakers and crics for him were loud and long between every speech, but met with no response fro him and murmurs of disappointment increased to positive and emphatic manifost ations of digmat. Finally after a speech by Gon.Joe Hoxie, whose humor and witticiam convinced the assemblage, Mr. Webster appeared, in response to cries and demonstrations that seemed morelike those of rioters than of peaceable citizens. The great orator was haggard and disheveled. His speech consisted mostly in excusing himself in consequence of fatigue and illness but he made a few remarks about the great work just completed and dwelt at some length on the necessity of preserving the union. Murmurs of disappointment followed Mr. Webster's withdrawal from the platform. He was too ill to leave the city until the second day after tje celebration. Before he departed be made a speech to the citizens that more than compensated then for their former dis- appointment.
A LEGAL QUARREL
A great dinner was spread in the Loder House- named in honor of the presiden of the New Yrok and Erie Railroad Company- for President Fillmore and the distinguished guests. The after dinner speeches were great but one came near leading to serious consequences. This speech was made by the famous New York ; awyer, William B. Ogden, Be reflected severely on the state of Pennsylvania for charging the Erie company $60,000 a year for the privilege of passing over a poor portion of its territory. This aroused and incensed Gen. Irwin of Pitts burg who denied the charge of meanness and made som uncomplimentary allusions to kr.Ogden, who defended the position. Angry words followed and a personal collision was imminent when Judge Jessup of Montrose, Pa. arose and said that he was employed by the railroad to obtain the law at Harrisburg and that it was perfectly satisfactory. Mr.Ogden apologized handsomely saying be bad been misinformed. On the return trip the excursion party again remained over night in Elmira were a grand ball was given. Neither pen nor brush cam ade- quately portray tjás most illustrous opening of the railroad that winds through the Delaware Valley jarallelling its course.
ORIGIN OF NAMESALONG ERIE.
The origin of some of the names of some of the stations in the Delaware Valley follovs. Deposit, an Indian name, was Cookhurse, or Owland River . The first settler was John Hulce who came there in 1789. The village was incorporated in 1811. After ground was broken for the Erie in 1848, the village took on ra- pid growth. Hale's Eddy was named from a man named Hale, and from
the eddy in the river.
Hancock was named in honor of John Hancock, who wrote the Declaration of Inde pendence, The first name of the village was Checocton, or Shohawken. The place was also called Forks of the Delaware and mail was addressed to that place as much. Similar sounding names made the postal department change the name to Hancock about 1850. Stephen Read was an early settler and Jonas Lakin the founder. Long Eddy, or Basket, was named for a long eddy of
the Delaware.
Hankins was named after John Banking. It was for-
werly Tremont, but after the advent of the Erie became Hankins.
Callicoon, derived its name fro an old Dutch mane, Kalligen which meant tur- key tje country abounding in that game in the back sections. It was later tra Cocheaton took its name from Cushe- translated to the present name. Skinner's Falls so named tunk, or Cuchietunk, a name of Indiaa origia.
from a pioneer name and the falls in the Delaware. Marrowsburg named for
the narrowosas of the Delaware at the village. The fact that the river imod- iately broadens to a lake in size ,or eddy, the village for a time was called Big Kody/ Mast Hop named so because some men of Philadelphia who were furnishing the lumber for the ship Constitution hunted along the Delaware for n tree muitab;e for a main mast but had given up in despair when they were told by some natives to go back up about six miles and they would find what they wanted. They found the tree and it took eight teams of oxen to get it to
DELAWARE FALLET 53 the river. Hence the name Mast Hope. Lackawaxen at the junction of the Delaware and hackawaxen rivers is of Indian origin, meaning the meeting or joining of waters. Parker's Glen named in honor of Alton Parker, a lund ber and stone dealer, He has a niece residing in Galileo, i Shahoàn is derived from Indian words meaning goose reat, so called on account of the number of geese that came there to feod.
Chapter January 17,1938
Friter's note: On account of errors and omissions in a former issue and general mix-up in the Lesaley sketch in Chapter XXII we are giving it again corrected and revised, )
THE LASSLEYS
John Leasleywas the forbear of all the Lassleys ub the Cushetunk Falley, Ba came to this section of the Delazare Valley at the same time as the Thomas, Tyler, Rose, Skinner, Calkin and Young families did- 1754, Ha took up a tract of land adjacent to that of Aaron Thomas on the Pennsylvania side of the Dela- ware river immediately below Cochecton Falls. He came as a single man but soo: married Sarah Tyler, They had three children, Cornelius, who married Lass Deck- Monster, Sarah who became the wife of Parks Baird and Elizabeth who married John Salisbury, who settled in Cayuga county, K.Y.
When the Revolutionary War broke out our subject in company with his relative the Tylers, enlisted in a New York state company and served under Captain Petex Miller and in Captain Baldwin's regiment, and was honorable discharged.at the close of the war, His name appears on the monument recently erected in Hones- dale dedicated to the Soldiers of the American Revolution.
He was a man of small structure but of wonderful activity andendurance, It was said that he was one of the best marksnen with a rifle among the pioneers of eastern Wayne county. Then he returned to his home along the Delaware after the close of the war he engaged in farming and lumbering and lived an honored and respected citizen and neighbor to the ripe old age of one hundred years. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Salisbury in Cayuga county New York. A touching incidnet in the life of the grand old pioneer soldier has often boon rehearsed by bas grandson Cornelius add handed down to the younger generations as a lesson in patriotism. As his grandson, a more boy approached the home of this venerable relative on one of his many morning call he was both surprised and frightened to see crepe floating from the door latch but he continued onward to the humble home of his revered relative. The old gentleman was not at the door and with tears streaming down his furrowed check told him that George Washington was dead and he had hung the emblem of mouraiz upon the door because he loved the departed man as though he were his father, and he was the Father of his country.
His only son, Cornelius, was drowned in the Delaware river at Marrozabudg while trying to save a raft during a flood. His son Corn lius left four child ren, viz, Cornelius, John, Catherine, and Eleanor. John Married Mary Bran- ning and they had five children, viz. Cornelius 3rd, John Junes, Esther and Lana. Cornelius married Josephine daughter of Jospoh G. and Sabra Prova-Bolbez of Lackawaxen and bought a fars along the Narrowaburg turnpike is Damascus
township in 1850 where he and his brother John farmed and lumbered. Corneliu had six daughters and three sons, viz; Rilla, Etta, Lana, Marcus, Sabra, Beorge, Josephine, Mattie and Cornelius J, Cornelius the father, died in 1907 leaving eight childfon surviving. The last named son resides on the old homestead bougt
in 1850. John Langley married E ixabeth, daughter of Thomas and Nora
Slocum-Woodley and to them were born four daughters, viz. Fannie, Hora, Eva and Elizabeth. The last named married George Whittaker and they resido at De- posit. She is the only survivor of the family. The father, John, located near the home of his brother Cornelius. He was killed at Narrowaburg, N.Y. in 1887 by an Krie train. The children of John Y.Lassley referred to above were Fabbia to married George Cochran, Mora who married Samuel Bernard, Era who married Jobn Keppel.
Of the children of James and July Hendricks we cannot ant excepting that they named their children Gonore, Warren and a daughter who married Marcus Ilmore want to reside in Dunmore, Pa. James Larsley located at Svamp Milla, New York .. Esther 22
C
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LALAWARE HALLEY
Esther Lasaley married William Warren Tyler of Damascus and their only child was Louisa Y. who married Bay. Theron Brittain of Cochecton, as bis second wife. Both are deceased.
Lana Lassley married'James Tyler, son of Judge Moses nad Bally Ross-Tyler. Their children are Xora, the wife of B.B.Bush of Greene, Chenango co.N.Y. They have a son Hanford but his residence in unknowa to the writer, and a daughter who mar- ried Elmer Tyler and they reside at Conklin Hill; and Carried who married Thomas Ellison as his second wife, The husband is decessed and Kra. Klison x+- sides in Dashacus,
The children of Cornelius and Josephine Bolbar- Lasgley are - Itta kho married Lou Stanton for a first husband and H. G. Curaichael as a second, By the first mar riame thers vare three song, Cornelius, Charles and Nathan. The oldest and young ost died young, Charles married and residen in Delamson, N.7, and bau soven child. ren; Rilla married a Saith, nor deceased. They had four children. Most of this family has branched into families af their own. Marcus married and resides in Zast Falls Church, Ya, Mis con May and wife reside in Washington, D.C. Lama mar- ried Banaleel C.Ross and their progeny are Porter of Jersey City, R.J. ; Chester who with a wife and child reside in Wilmington, Delaware; Laura became the wife of Clinton E. Abrahan (deceased). They had one daughter Bertie; Sabra married Joseph Wood of Boyd Hills, Have no knowledge concerning the family; George B. ma: ried Mary, daughter of Peter and Louisa Stlinetghofer-Alfast, Their children are Myrtlewho became the wife of Squire Louis A. Hocker of Milanville and their child. ren are George, Inez and Willard, and Joseph G. married Pauline Melva Seipp and their children are Mary Lucille and Alfred George; Miss Josephing, ;Nattie decea: ed; Cornelius J. who married Nora Davis. Their family is one mon John Y. who married Miante Steffina, They have one daughter, Mildred.
The Lassleydaughters (Cornelius and wife) now surviving and Mrs. Laura Abrahna all reside in Binghamton, X.Y.
Chapter XXVI (atsaing)
;
Chapter XXVII
DELAWARE VALLEY A$55.56 57 February 26,1828
BATTLE OF ST TAMMANY FLATS
(Writer's nota. An interesting and valuable historical account of the female battle on the north end of the St Yammany Flats nearly two hundred years ago is from the archives of the late Kara F. Calkin of Cochecten who was gradeousl sont to usby his daughter Mrs. Etta Calkin-Burr, of Cochecton, who was # Schoolmate nad friend of ours at the Damascus Usion Aondeny. )
In the spring of 1774 Nat Evans, Abraban Rose and Phineas Clark lived in a bouse on the ground where Judge loses Tyler later butlt a house for one of hi sons. On of the Skinners lived on the Flats about 80 rods from where. George Bush resided later. Evans Ross and Clark had proposed to each other to com- bine forces and drive Skinner out ot the country that they might have the whe flats to themselves and the cutting and rafting of the lumber on the Flats. But as Skinner had his brother Haggia living with him and both ere resolute men who would not give up without a fierce struggle they hesitated in the un- driaking, neverless they had a stoung desire for the coveted Flats yet they dreaded to make the attack upon the Skinners and thus matter stood réthout any conclusioj.
The women had heard their husbands tall of the proposed attack and then alone they had plans of their own. If the new folks had not the courage to attack two men they would make the attack upon lits Skinzor. The belligerents were aunt Sarah(irs. Svans) aunt Eulda (Are. Ross) and Mrs Clark, At length raftir time came and the men were all kusy at the river, The vores left to thomselvc thought it time to strike to decisive blow. Accordingly one pleasant afternc in May the chroo wowoa beld another council meeting and decided finally to make the attack if theri husbands lacked the courage to do so, Aunt Hulda said to Lor associates that if Dkimmer can be driven off vo could move into his house and Roas and Evans could help Clark and they would soon put up a house ou the clearing on the lower end of the flat for you and Clark, Mrs. Clakk acquiessed saying all very good, wo aro fretting about the inactivity our busbande when we have the power bo pat ourselves in possession without assistance. We are stout women and thinner's wile you know is a Little bit of a thing and her daughter Phoebe but a child and if I au not mistaken they are very cowardly. Then all we have to do is to put their things outdoors and - our's in and if they resist I'se bold Mrs. Skinner whi lo mida will . throw their things out and put ours in and then you will have full possession. This .sounded like good logic to the two listening women and all felt assured Chat the conquest would be an easy ono and they sallied forth to execute the pala so easily formulated. However, they soon found out to their dismay that the battle is not always to the strong. When they arrived at Skinner's house they found only Phoobe (13) Reuben (5) Danicl(3) and Idille about 3 months of Skinner's wife had cone a short distance on sume errand and left Phoebe to care for the house and the childron. Finding the house as it was practically dsertod they fancied themselves amanhauge already in pessession of the coveti prise. But alas! little theydid think they were about to catch a Tartar, It fair to presume that preliminaries vere brief. Aunt Fulda proceeded to carry the household effects into the street, but Phoebe, who possessed a fair share - of her mother's grit, carried them back in again. Anut Julda continued to carry the goods out doors and wan Phoche attempted to carry them back Mrs. Clark caught hold of ber tp prevent it, Phoebe by the trip of bor foot, that she had learned from the Yankee boys, brought her boavily to the floor, and i the same time clinched hur by the hair(it was not bobbed in those days) and as she had often seen the necks of chickens wrung, she ondenvored to do the same thing with Mrs. Clark. Thes act of Phoebe together with the impact of th fall upon the hard floor so badly disabled her that she lay apparently lifel At this stage in the melee Mrs. Skinner appeared upon the scene and seeing Phoebe mauling the prostrate figure of Ars Clark went to pull her away, not comprehending the true nature of affairs. Auta Mulda supposing Mrs. Skinner
. .
chting mood too, knocked her downwith the stone, the blog inflictin
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DELAWARE VALLEY 58
an ugly gashin her head fra which the blood flowed freely, then caught her by the hair and called lustily for Aunt Sarah to help her. Phoebe who by this time bad rendered her opponent horsdecombat ,sprang to assist ber mboher. Aunt Sarah sprang upon Phoebe and then the battle raged fiercely, each having an opponent to deal with. Although the battle had only begun each party in the affray was minus both cap and hair. The quarteete of fighting females surged to and fro each inflicting upon the other all the punishment she could. Neither tredition not the data from which we writer states whether foul language or anathesse vas used as it vas their privilege to use discretion when rocounting the account. How long this equal and unequal fight night have continued is a matter of con- jecture but it had not been for e pail of ashes that stood near Mre. Skinner. She caught up a handful intendeng to apply them to the wound upon her head to stop the flow of blood but this she never did as the demon of war whispered to ber to oram it into the mouth and eyes of aunt Julda. Thos she did and seeing th good effect followed it with another handful. This gave the desired effect and s was given the solarplexis blow that put her of the fight also. Mrs. Skinner tho badly wounded and nearly exhausted with a mother's instinct turned to her daugh ter. But by that time both Phoebe and Aunt Sarah had become pretty nearly ex- hausted and had called an armistice until they could get their second breath. B foro this branch of the army were ready to resume hostilities, two against one row. Mrs. Clark had recovered sufficiently to come forward and sue for peace. In the meantime Aunt Hulda had gone to the Delaware river to wash the ashes from be mouth and eyes and returned as Wirs. Clark begged for mercy. With one acco all sat down to talk the matter over and formulate plans of peach. Each lamented that they had lost their caps (matrons wore caps of light material, with ruffle fronts in those days) and hair but each consoled herself that all had lost e- qually. The passion or revenge and further prospect of getting possession of the coveted Flate with its immense growth of virgin pine threes had somewhat cooldd off and reason began to appear in their blurred vision and muddled brains. All h found out that there was no pleasure in having their hair pulled out and their bead adornmente ruined. But it was a case of "with what measure yo mete it shall be measured unto you", and "All that tako the sword shall perish with the sword Under these consideration nome vere anxious to resume the fight. All were losing precious blood and thr wound on Mrs. Skinner's head was serious. What a subject for a skilled artist of the brush, or one with a camera. this quintette would be madenas they squattedin this log cabin near the Delaware at the head of the Flats named in honor of the great Indian chief Tamanend- St. Tammany. Five respectable women, capless, hairless, clothes in tatters (homspun goodd at that) and covered with dust and gore. What a sight for these women to gare upon! In this posture they remained only a few minutes and then all repafred to the river, not to wash away the sing they had just committed, and repented, but to mash the filth from their bodies and to stanch the flow of blood that was coming from their nose, head, and other lacerations on their body, While thus engaged the three besieging women explained their motive for the attack, acknowledging their wrong, prayed for forgiveness and solemnly promised to refrain from their evil and machination ways in the future. When she had heard this confession Mrs. Skinner show true Christianity by sending Phoebe (who had suffered leas t of all in the aftra to the house telling ber to put over the teakettle, bake a johnny cake, boil some potatoes nad roast some dried eels as all needed refreshments after what they had been through. Phoebe carried out the order to the letter and soon the steam- ing dainties were spread upon the table around which the three aimable ladies, their hostess and her daughter surrounded. It is said the meal was eaten with a cheerful and harmonious spirit. The guests exonerated themselves from being the principals in the shameful act throwing the blame upon others.At this feast the entered into a covenant of friendship and ponce which was never violated, and At Sarah and Mrs. Skinner fived many years near neighbors in peaceful harmony. CHAPTER XXVIII March 13,1928
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