USA > Pennsylvania > Venango County > Centennial Discourse: A Sketch of the History of Venango County, Pennsylvania. > Part 1
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US 16812.15 EATON CENTENNIAL DISCOURSE. 1876
9016812110
Darbard College Library
VE RI
TAS
FROM THE BRIGHT LEGACY
One half the income from this Legacy, which was re- ceived in 1880 under the will of
JONATHAN BROWN BRIGHT of Waltham, Massachusetts, is to be expended for books for the College Library. The other half of the income is devoted to scholarships in Harvard University for the benefit of descendants of
HENRY BRIGHT, JR.,
who died at Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1686. In the absence of such descendants, other persons are eligible to the scholarships. The will requires that this announce- ment shall be made in every book added to the Library under its provisions.
UC.
Cover
1776.
ASv8anl COLLEGE HARVARD
VENANÇO COUNTY.
1876.
.
0
CENTENNIAL DISCOURSE:
11
A SKETCH
OF THE
HISTORY OF
VENANGO COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA.
DELIVERED AT FRANKLIN, PA., JULY 4th, 1876,
BY S. J. M. EATON, D. D.
. AlIngtrated by a Map of the Olia freash fort and its Surroundings,
.
0 FRANKLIN, PA .: Y ENANGO SPECTATOR JOB OFFICE. 1876.
- 1883, Sekt. 12. Knight Freund.
.
ERRATUM.
Miss BETSY BROADFOOT died May 11, 1857, and not in 1864, as print- ed on page 34.
A Hill N SO West 350
A Hill 'S 75 M West 22 Jams from the fire and ned 60 yards high
yards from the Fort. and almost is yards high
A Scale of yards to measure distances
A Scale of yards to measure the Fort & Houses
Road to Le Boeuf
Barracks for Soldiers
D
Venango 3
Fort
DAAAAAA
Saw Mill
00
at the mouth 100 yards wide
me GAD Det any S Eabout Se af a mile
Barracks
A Range about 30 yards high
Road to Pittsburgh
.
EXPLANATION
OF THE MAP ON THE OPPOSITE PAGE.
( .- Magazine, three feet thick of earth.
b .- Barracks, two stories high, with stone chimneys.
c .- Door to a large cellar.
d .- The gate.
e .- Rising ground, that the Fort stands on, fifteen feet higher than the bank of the river.
5 .- Bank of the river, twelve feet high.
9 .- The landing.
h .- A good fording, 200 yards across the river.
i .- Bridge across a hollow.
k .- Hollow fifteen feet deep and sixty feet broad, with a small stream of water.
N. B .- Venango Fort is situated on a rising piece of ground on a rich bottom, abounding with clover, sixty yards west of the Ohio. The north and south Polygon, is forty-five yards; and the east and west Polygon thirty- seven yards. The Bastions are built of saplings eight inches thick, and thirteen feet in length, set stockade fashion. Part of the Curtains are of hewn timber, laid lengthways upon one another which also makes one side of the barracks.
NOTE .- The above is the exact description of the French Fort as given on the margin of the ancient map. The English Fort was located about fifty feet north of the French saw-mill.
.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF
VENANGO COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA.
VENANGO COUNTY, although organized at a later period than many of her sisters, has yet a history that is full of thrilling interest. In many of its features it borders on the romantic. The beginning of the century that is just closing found this region covered with its primeval forest. The Indian had his home here, and what little of civilization had been seen in earlier days under the French rule had vanished.
But we will find it interesting to go back a few years and notice some of the incidents connected with the movements of the French in their determination to hold possession of the Valley of the Missis- sippi. This will take us back to the year 1749. The French based their claims on the original discoveries of MARQUETTE and LA SALLE, together with their construction of the treaties of Ryswick, Utrecht and Aix la Chapelle. As early as the beginning of the eighteenth century, BANCROFT tells us that, "Not a fountain bubbled on the west of the Allegheny, but was claimed as belonging to the French Empire." Later they seem to have claimed all west of the Alleghe- ny Mountains, In pursuance of this claim, in the year 1749. GALLI- SONIERE, Governor of Canada, sent CELERON to bury leaden plates at different points, along the line from Lake Erie to the Mississippi, as evidences of this claim. One of these plates was buried at this place, near the mouth of French creek. It bore an inscription in the French language. stating that they had " Buried this plate at the con- fluence of the To-ra-da-koin. this 20th July near the river Ohio, oth- wise Beautiful River, as a monument of renewal of possession."
This plate was not permitted to remain long in its little bed, as it was stolen by the Indians and taken to the State of New York, that "the devilish writing," as they called it, might be interpreted to them.
--
6
VENANGO COUNTY.
It was then resolved to erect a line of Forts extending from Lake Erie to the lower Ohio. Fort Presque Isle was builded at Erie, Le Bœuf at Waterford, and Machault at this place. The two former were completed in 1753, the latter was commenced in the fall of that year and completed early in 1754. The Indians seem at first to have been unwilling to have a Fort erected here. To overcome their scruples a Frenchman by the name of JONCAIRE was sent to propitiate them. We find his name mentioned frequently in connection with this place. He was a wily, plausible and shrewd man, and would have made a good politician at the present day. He had been adopt- ed by the Indians, won their confidence, and under the plea that the new building was to be a trading house for their convenience, was permilled to commence operations.
Undoubtedly the first white man who located in Venango Coun- ty was JOHN FRAZIER, a Scotchman. He was a gunsmith and trad- er. In the year 1753, EDWARD SHIPPEN, of Lancaster, in writing to Governor JAMES HAMILTON, says of him and this place: " We- ningo is the name of an Indian town on Ohio, where Mr. FRAZIER has had a gunsmith shop for many years. It is situate about eighty miles up the said river beyond Logstown."
When JONCAIRE came to commence the erection of the Fort here, he drove FRAZIER out of his house and took possession. It was at this house that GEORGE WASHINGTON had the famous interview with JONCAIRE in December, 1753. There is no evidence that the Fort here was occupied at the time of WASHINGTON'S visit, for he speaks of finding the French colors raised over FRAZIER's house. We would like much to know now just where that was located, but its site is forgotten forever.
At that interview the Frenchman was thoroughly outgeneral- ed by the young American. Whisky was produced, with the in- tention of getting the Indians and the American youth under its in- fluence. But the results were that while the Indians became drunk- en, WASHINGTON remained perfectly sober, and picked the brains of the half-drunken Frenchman of all their secrets. He found out the plans of the French without exciting the suspicions of the soldiers. The service commenced by GEORGE WASHINGTON in this region, at twenty-one years of age, was the beginning of his culture for the events of the Revolutionary War.
The Fort here seems to have been completed in April, 1754, un- der the superintendence of Captain JONCAIRE. It was not an elab- orate work, but suited to the circumstances of the case. It was call- ed Machault, after a celebrated French financier and politician. The name is not a familiar one here, but in every instance in which the Fort is spoken of by the French authorities, either here or in Canada,
7
VENANGO COUNTY.
it is called Machault. By the English it was usually called the French Fort at Venango. Although grave doubts existed until re- cently as to its exact location, yet facts have been brought to light recently, that fix the site beyond all controversy. Its exact location was on the bank of the Allegheny, about sixty rods south of the mouth of French creek. Elk street runs directly through it, and Sixth street nearly touches it on the south.
An ancient document describes it in this wise: "It is situated on a rising piece of ground, in a rich bottom abounding with clover, sixty yards west of the Ohio. The north and south polygon is forty- five yards, and the east and west poly gon thirty-seven yards, in per- imeter. The bastions are built of saplings eight inches thick and thirteen feet high, set stockade fashion. Parts of the curtains are of hewn timber, laid lengthwise upon one another, which also makes one side of the barracks." Inside the Fort were six ranges of barracks, two stories high, with stone chimneys. Outside were also long ranges of barracks for soldiers. The magazine within was cased with earth to the depth of three feet. On the little stream just below eighth street, where the English Fort was afterwards built, was a saw-mill, the machinery of which had been brought from Canada, if not from France.
The Fort was one hundred and five feet in length and seventy- five feet in breadth, exclusive of the bastions.
To this description all allusions in the French records correspond. Captain POUCHOT, Chief Engineer of the forces in Canada, says in a letter: " We have a small mean Fort on the Ohio." A French prisoner, STEPHEN CHAUVIGNERIE, taken in Eastern Pennsylvania, says: "Fort Machault is a wooden Fort filled up with earth," and further states that they had "six swivel-guns, or wall pieces," and that the whole ground embraced about two acres.
At this point there were sometimes as many as one thousand men. A large force had assembled here in July, 1759, to make an attack on Fort Pitt, to recover what they had lost in Fort Du Quesne, when intelligence came that Fort Niagara was beseiged, and orders to evacuate and hasten thither to the rescue. The creek was too low to convey their effects by boat, and there was no transportation by land, beyond personal baggage. So, presents were distributed with a lavish hand to the Indians. Grim warriors were seen strutting about in laced coats and hats, without other clothing, and dusky maidens were rich with red blankets, worn shawlwise, and gaudy with immense strings of beads. The property was collected into the Fort, set on fire, and all that would burn was reduced to ashes .- Thus, after a possession here of five and a half years, the French claim was abandoned forever.
8
VENANGO COUNTY.
The authority on which this description and location of Fort Machault is based, is a map of the Fort and adjacent territory, re- cently brought to our knowledge. It was found amongst the pa- pers of the SHIPPEN family, brought to western Pennsylvania in 1825. It is a well-known fact that EDWARD SHIPPEN, of Lancas- ter, grand-father of Judge SHIPPEN, formerly of this Judicial Dis- trict, was, during the French occupation here, the confidential agent of Governor JAMES HAMILTON, and intimately connected with mat- ters pertaining to the struggle here. In August, 1753, we find him forwarding a letter from JOHN FRAZIER, the pioneer trader here, to Governor HAMILTON, in which occur these words: "Here is en- closed the draught of the Fort the French built the other side of Sugar creek, not far from Weningo, where they have eight cannon."
Now, although this was probably not the Fort at this place, yet it shows that Mr. SHIPPEN was connected with matters relating to Forts and military affairs here, and the probability is that through him the plan of Fort Machault was obtained, that has come down to our day.
We have not only an exact drawing of the ground plan and de- scription of the Fort, but the distances and bearings of the adjacent hills. These hills are just above the stone quarry, near the Gas Works. Attached to the hills are the following note: " A hill S. 75° W., two hundred and twenty yards from the Fort, near sixty yards high. A hill N. 50' West. three hundred and forty yards from the Fort, about seventy-five yards high." To test the matter a com- pass has been set at the point described as the site of the Fort, and found to correspond very nearly to the bearings given in the anno- tations. The original plan is in the possession of WILLIAM REY -- NOLDS, Esq., of Meadville, Pennsylvania,
Nothing can exceed the energy and perseverance with which this French claim was pushed. They labored under great difficulties. All their supplies, armament and material of war, were brought from Canada. The route was by boat to Erie; then carried across the country to Waterford, fifteen miles; then floated down French creek to this place. They had the friendship of the Indians, but these un- scrupulous creatures were constantly levying blackmail upon them. The last time the Fort was reinforced here, by men and provisions, it was from Kaskaskia, Illinois, by the Mississippi, Ohio and Wabash rivers, then across to Lake Erie and so by Fort Le Boeuf and French creek. This was only a few days before the final evacuation.
The effort was a hold one, and the energy commensurate to it, but Providence had some better things in store for this country, and so the vision faded, and the lilies of France withered to bloom no more south of the Lakes and the St. Lawrence.
9
VENANGO COUNTY.
A claim has been set up for another French Fort on the opposite side of French creek at the mouth. Such a Fort is said to be marked on an old map in Quebec. Also, in one of the French despatches, Machault is said to be built "one-half on the Ohio and one-half on the Les Bœufs." But there is a mistake in the matter. No French writer ever speaks of more than one Fort. Nor do the English .- The earliest settlers came here less than thirty years after the aban- donment of the country by the French, and they found not a trace of any military works on the Point. The expression, half on the Ohio and half on Les Bœufs, probably means that the Fort was designed to cover both streams.
A relic of the French Fort was found about forty years ago, in the shape of a four-pounder cannon. It was dug from the bank in the neighborhood of the Fort. The trunnions had been knocked off, the gun spiked and laid away to its long sleep. No doubt other sim- ilar guns are buried in the neighborhood, as the French were unable in their haste to remove them. This gun was afterwards repaired and used for patriotic purposes, until on one occasion in excessive patriotism it was loaded too heavily, and was blown to pieces.
The next chapter finds us under English rule. In 1760, a new and much more substantial Fort was erected by the English Government. The site chosen was just below the mouth of French creek, at the junction of Elk and Eighth streets. It was composed of heavy, substantial earthworks. According to the plan of the town in the office of the Surveyor General, it had bastions at the corners and also in the middle of the curtains. The central work was eighty- eight feet square. Outside of this was a ditch twenty-four feet wide, and outside of this the embankment.
We cannot tell how extensively this Fort was garrisoned. We' know but this : In the year 1763, it was commanded by Lieutenant GORDEN. At this time PONTIAC, that grand old Sachem, was organ- izing his forces for a simultaneous attack upon every Fort from De- troit to Pittsburgh. The attack was made, and every Fort but three fell into the hands of the enemy. Forts Presque Isle and Le Bœuf were taken by assault, and Fort Venango, as the English work was called, by stratagem. The Indians were playing ball in the neigh- borhood, and occasionally knocked the ball into the enclosure. Ob- taining leave to go in for the ball, they finally made a rush through the gate, massacred the garrison, and tortured Lieutenant GORDEN over a slow fire until relieved by death. They then set the Fort on fire.
The sites of both these Forts give abundant evidence of their destruction by fire. Melted glass, bits of burned iron and burned stones. were found at both places by the early settlers. On the site
10
VENANGO COUNTY.
of the French Fort large numbers of singularly formed scalping knives were found that had passed through the fire. Coarse glass beads were numerous that had been designed to trade to the Indians. A number of grape-vines of a peculiar kind were found in the neigh- borhood. These, no doubt, had been brought from France.
Underneath the earthworks of the English Fort was recently found an English half-penny of the date of 1749. There was also found in the neighborhood a medal struck to commemorate the vic- tory of Admiral VERNON at Portobello.
The last vestige of both these Forts has passed away. Wall and fortress and buttress and bastion have been leveled down. The spirit of the present has crushed out the past.
The third chapter brings us under the United States rule. In- dependence has been achieved. We are within the century whose ex- ploits we are celebrating.
In the Spring of 1787, a company of United States soldiers, un der Captain HART, was sent up from Pittsburgh to erect a Fort for the protection of possible settlers. The site was a novel one. It was on the south bank of French creek, just above the upper bridge. Otter street runs through it. It was not a very formidable work. It was about one hundred feet square, with bastions at the angles, and surrounded by a ditch, outside of which was a line of pickets, or pine logs, some sixteen feet in hight. In this Fort a garrison of about one hundred men was kept until 1796, when it was abandoned for a new site. This was on the creek bottom, a little above the mouth. This new work was a strong wooden building, a story and a half high, and thirty by thirty-six feet square. It was surrounded by a line of pine pickets, but had no arrangement for cannon. The Fort was garrisoned by soldiers until about 1799, when they were withdrawn and the building used in the interests of peace. These United States works were known, the first as Fort Franklin, the lat- ter as " the Old Garrison." The last traces of them have now pass- ed away.
In 1795, an act was passed by the Legislature to lay out a town at the mouth of French creek, on land that had been reserved by the State. The provisions of this act were carried out by General WIL- LIAM IRVINE and ANDREW ELLICOTT, the same season. The plan of the town we have now before us. With its future history, and that of the county, we are now to speak.
The County of Venango was erected by act of Assembly, March 12, 1800, though not organized for Judicial purposes until April 1, 1805. That portion of its territory east of the river was taken from Lycoming county; that on the west from Allegheny county. In
II
VENANGO COUNTY.
1839 its proportions were curtailed by the formation of Clarion coun- ty, and in 1866 by setting off a portion of its territory to Forest.
The ancient name of the river now called Allegheny, was Ohio, or, as the French called it, "La Belle Riviere," Beautiful River .- French creek, in COFFEN's statement, is called " Bœuffs." On the leaden plate buried by CELERON, it is called Toradakoin. The French invariably called it the River Aux Bœufs. In one of the French despatches it is said that it was called by the English Ve- nango River. At the time of WASHINGTON'S visit here, he re-chris- tened it French creek, by which name it has been known ever since.
As to the name of the Indian town anciently located here, COF- : FEN called it Ganagarahhare. In Mr. SHIPPEN's letter to Governor HAMILTON, it is called Weningo. It was then said to be an old town. In later years it was spelled Wenango, then Vinango, and still later Venango. The latter has become the permanent way of spelling it. As there were different tribes of Indians in this locality, this may have given occasion to different names, meaning the same thing, as in the case of the names given to the river by the French and Indians. There is an old tradition that the name Venango was derived from a vulgar figure carved on a tree near the banks of the stream; but the old name of the village, Weningo, being much older than this alleged tradition, the presumption is fair that Weningo was the root from which the present Venango sprang. The name has been so popular that it has been reduplicated in two of the neigh- boring counties.
-
The first settlement of the County was attended with difficulty. The Indians were for many years quite hostile, regarding the white settlers as innovators of their natural rights. The first settlement was madeat Franklin. GEORGE POWERS came in 1790, and began as an Indian trader. A few others followed him, but with great caution. . About this time the women and children were sent down from Mead- ville for safety.
In 1794, ALEXANDER MCDOWELL came out as a Deputy Surveyor, but found the Indians quite hostile. They had that year attacked a . boat on the river and killed two men. Two men had also been kill- ed about twenty miles south of Franklin. The same summer, CORN- PLANTER notified all surveyors to leave the woods, as after the 13th of September they might expect to be attacked. The next year, the same alarm prevailed. Some were seeking refuge in the Fort .-
.
There is every reason for supposing that a plan was on foot, on the part of the Indians in 1794, for the total destruction of the white settlers in this county. But there was no PONTIAC to manage affairs for them. CORNPLANTER was the principal man. But he hesitated to carry out the plan, if he was not really opposed to it. He had a
.
..
12
VENANGO COUNTY.
warm feeling for the white man, but his people " had blood in their eyes." They were smarting under real or imaginary difficulties, and were determined to act on the offensive.
We have a deposition of DANIEL RANSOM, dated June 11, 1794: " This deponent further saith. that the STANDING STONE, a Chief of the Onondago's, also informed him at Fort Franklin, that he thought the times would soon be bad, and pressed him very much to leave Fort Franklin, and assisted him in packing up his goods, etc .; that from what he had seen and heard from other Indians, he has every reason to believe the account to be true; that seven white men came down the Allegheny a few days ago to Fort Franklin, who informed him that the Indians appeared very surly, and had not planted any corn on the river, at their towns."
Captain DENNY, who was in command at Fort Franklin at the same date, had similar forebodings. He says: "Upon summing up the whole, we have not a shadow of doubt but that a plan was formed to destroy all the posts and settlements in this quarter."
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