USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Brookville > A pioneer history of Jefferson county, Pennsylvania and my first recollections of Brookville, Pennsylvania, 1840-1843, when my feet were bare and my cheeks were brown > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66
1900
S
Class F157
Book14MI
Copyright N.º.
Copy 2
COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT.
٠
.
WILLIAM J. MCKNIGHT.
1755
A PIONEER HISTORY
1844
OF
JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
AND
MY FIRST RECOLLECTIONS OF BROOKVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, 1840-1843. WHEN MY FEET WERE BARE AND MY CHEEKS WERE BROWN
Lechiain
BY W. JS MCKNIGHT, M.D. BROOKVILLE, PA.
PHILADELPHIA PRINTED BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 1898
Copy 2
F157 J4MI Copy 2
COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY W. J. MCKNIGHT, M.D.
E
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 Journal 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 I.
INTRODUCTORY-TIMES, PRIVILEGES, SOCIAL HABITS OF THE PIONEERS, CHRIS- TIANITY OF THOSE DAYS, ETC. 9
PAGE
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 SURVEYS AND SURVEYORS-DISTRICT LINES RUN IN NORTHUMBERLAND, NOW JEFFERSON, COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 78
CHAPTER VI.
PIONEER ANIMALS-BEAVER, BUFFALO, ELK, PANTHERS, WOLVES, WILD CATS, BEARS, AND OTHER ANIMALS-PENS AND TRAPS-BIRDS -- WILD BEES . SS
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 .
5
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 MAKE SHIFT-THE PIONEER HOMES-PIONEER FOOD-PIONEER EVENING FROLICS-TREES, SNAKES, AND REPTILES-SOLDIERS OF ISI2-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 IS5
CHAPTER XII.
THE COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM-ITS INCEPTION-INTRODUCTION INTO AMERICA -STATE EFFORT-HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN THE STATE-SCHOOLS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY-PROGRESS OF EDUCATION, ETC. 199
CHAPTER XIII.
PIONEER MISSIONARY WORK-THE FIRST WHITE MAN TO TRAVEL THE SOIL OF JEFFERSON COUNTY-REVS. POST, HECKEWELDER, AND OTHERS . 229
CHAPTER XIV.
PIONEER AND EARLY CHURCHES-PRESBYTERIAN THE PIONEER CHURCH IN TIIE COUNTY-THE PIONEER PREACHIER AND CHURCHI . 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 IS40 31I
CHAPTER XIX.
PIONEER SETTLEMENT OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA-PIONEER PENNSYLVANIA 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, FROM RAYSTOWN, NOW BED- FORD, TO FORT DUQUESNE, NOW PITTSBURG, A MILITARY NECESSITY- GENERAL JOHN FORBES OPENS IT IN THE SUMMER AND FALL OF 175S -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 ISOS 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, IS31-LIST OF RETAILERS OF FOREIGN MERCHANDISE IN THE COUNTY, FEBRUARY SESSIONS, IS31-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. WILLIAM BENNETT-PIONEER MAJOR OPERATION IN SURGERY IN IS21 -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
S
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 1890, 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 ISoo 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 system. 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 forms. 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 customs 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 modern 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 HISTORY 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."
II
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
CHAPTER II .*
OUR ABORIGINES-THE IROQUOIS, OR SIX NATIONS-INDIAN TOWNS, VIL- LAGES, GRAVEYARDS, CUSTOMS, DRESS, HUTS, MEDICINES, DOCTORS, BARK-PEELERS, BURIALS, ETC.
AQUANUSCHIONI, 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 members 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 to Rupp's History.
1 2
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 female 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 seldom 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
I3
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 of his 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 them.
" In their family 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-
1.4
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
Niw
a
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,
15
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 them. 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 small 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 deemed it a shame for a man to weep. But, on the other hand, the women set up a dreadful how]."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.