USA > Pennsylvania > Clarion County > History of Clarion County, Pennsylvania > Part 1
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HISTORY
OF
CLARION COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS
EDITED BY
A. J. DAVIS
SYRACUSE, N. Y. D. MASON & CO., PUBLISHERS 1887
3 n'00.
PRESS OF D. MASON & CO .. 63 WEST WATER ST., SYRACUSE, N. Y.
1-383
PREFACE.
J
JOSEPHUS says, "Those who undertake to write histories, do not, I per- ceive, take that trouble on one and the same account; but for many and various reasons. For some apply themselves to this part of learning to show their great skill in composition ; and that they may therein acquire a reputa- tion. Others write histories in order to gratify those who happen to be con- cerned in them ; But there are others who of necessity are driven to write history, because they are concerned in the facts, and so cannot excuse themselves from committing them to writing, for the advantage of pos- terity."
The editor of the following pages can not profess any of these motives, but in analyzing his own emotions he finds that he must have been impelled to this " labor of love " by a desire to wrest from oblivion the annals of a people un- pretentious in their manners, simple in their habits, but strong in manly virtues.
Not many thrilling adventures are related in this narrative of the doings of the people of Clarion county, but here and there we are afforded glimpses of the sterling patriotism, the noble daring, and the lofty courage of those whom occasion afforded the opportunity to display these virtues.
The record of the settlement and development of Clarion county contains few startling incidents. Peaceful and quiet has been the history of this people, and while our fathers and brothers bear a record of loyal devotion to their country in at least two wars, no spot within the borders of our county can be pointed out with certainty as the scene of sanguinary battle. So may it be evermore.
Owing to many pressing duties the editor has been able to write but a small portion of this work, and he is indebted to George J. Reid, Esq., of Clarion, for the preparation of all of the county history, excepting the annals of the civil war, which were compiled and written by Hon. W. A. Beer, of Cal-
2
PREFACE.
lensburg. Besides these gentlemen the following persons each wrote the local history of one or more townships or boroughs: C. E. Rugh, Benton Price, L. L. Himes, Miss Clara Campbell, S. C. Hepler, W. W. Deatrick, M. E. Hess, C. F. McNutt, David Bryner, John Beer, Miss Alice Allen, and John Graham.
The compiler of the general part of the county history desires the editor to make his acknowledgments to the many who lent him their assistance ; but he is particularly indebted for kind aid and co-operation to Samuel D. Irwin, Esq., of Tionesta, Hon. J. B. Lawson, Hon. D. McClay, Hon. James Campbell, B. J. Reid, Esq., C. A. Rankin, Benjamin Gardner. For the his- tory of the Clarion township settlements, Mr. Joseph M. Owens rendered val- uable assistance. Reynolds Laughlin, Esq., furnished useful data concerning the early military affairs, as well as other subjects; and to the courtesy of Mr. M. E. Hess the compiler is indebted for many of the facts of the oil develop- ment in our county. Mr. Joseph W. Long furnished a list of county officials, which was valuable in making up the political history.
In a work so comprehensive, a few omissions and inaccuracies are unavoid- able. In spite of great caution and diligent research, some errors have found their way into the work. To obtain accurate data of long-past local events is one of the most difficult among the labors of the historian ; and it will not be surprising if some mistakes are found in this volume, which, with all its imper- fections, as well as such merits as it may possess, is respectfully dedicated to the people of Clarion county. A. J. D.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PENNSYLVANIA FROM FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE REVOLUTION.
Introductory-The Natives -Hudson -Dutch Settlements-Settlement by the Swedes - Conquest of the Swedish Colony by the Dutch - Conquest of the New Netherlands by the British - Re-conquest by the Dutch - Final Cession to England - New Jer- sey - William Penn - Charter of Charles II - Settlers sent to Pennsylvania - Phila- delphia - Penn in America-Disputes with Lord Baltimore -Treaty with the Indians - Rapid Immigration - Division into Counties - Troubles with Maryland - Penn Returns to England- Death of Charles II - Dissensions in the Colony - Public Schools in Philadelphia - Penn Arrested in England-Governor Fletcher - Penn Re- turns to America - Sails for Europe - Death of King William - Discord in the Col- ony - Death of Penn - Hannah Penn - French and Indians - Trouble with Mary- land - Logan - Whitefield - War with France -- Peace of Aix - French Encroach- ments in the West - Celeron - Ohio Company - Washington -- Fort Necessity -- First Congress- Braddock's Defeat - Battle at Kittanning -Capture of Fort Du Quesne - Death of George II - Pontiac's War.
13
CHAPTER II. FROM THE REVOLUTION TO THE PRESENT TIME.
Mason and Dixon - Indian Troubles - Stamp Act-Connecticut and Virginia Claims - First Continental Congress -- Second Continental Congress - Declaration of Inde- pendence - New Constitution for Pennsylvania - Retirement of Governor Penn and the Proprietary Assembly -- Evacuation of Boston - Attack on Charleston - British take New York - Battle of Trenton - Princeton - Assembly of the New Legislature - Brandywine - The British Occupy Philadelphia -Attack on Fort Mercer - Battle of Germantown - Valley Forge - Aid from France -- Evacuation of Philadelphia - Battle of Monmouth -- Abolition of Slavery in Pennsylvania-Wyoming Massacre - Overtures of Peace - Mutiny of the Pennsylvania Line - Disaster of Colonel Craw- J ford - Peace - Revolt of Pennsylvania Troops - Treaty of Fort Stanwix - Constitu- tion of United States Framed and Adopted - New Constitution for State - Whisky Insurrection -- War of 1812 -Coal - Public Schools - Revision of Constitution - Buckshot War - Mexican War - Sale of Public Works - Petroleum and Gas- Se- cession - Invasion of Pennsylvania- Battle of Gettysburg - Burning of Chambers- burg - Soldiers' Orphan Schools - Revision of the Constitution - Centennial Exposi- tion - Riots of 1877-Extra Session of the Legislature 27
CHAPTER III.
TOPOGRAPIIY OF CLARION COUNTY.
Table-Land Character - Drainage - Streams - Elevations -General Description - For- ests - Scenery - Ancient Channels
38
4
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV. GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY.
Definition - Anticlinals and Synclinals-Geologic Column - Surface Rocks -- Measures - Freeport Group- Kittanning Group -- Ore and Limestone - Analyses - Clarion Group - Brookville Coal - Homewood Sandstone - Rocks Beneath - Other Minerals - Petroleum - Theories - Natural Gas - Fuel Value 42
CHAPTER V. FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PURCHASE OF 1784.
Aborigines, Senecas, and Delawares - Indian Remains - Petroleum - Christian Frederick Post - Tobeco and Toby - Redbank Creek - Brodhead's Expedition - Captain Sam- uel Brady 57
1
CHAPTER VI.
FROM THE PURCHASE OF 1784 TO THE SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY.
The Purchase - Pickering & Co. - Small Warrantees - The Fox Estate - Lewis and Peters - The Holland Land Company - The Bingham Lands - Mifflin Warrants - Franklin College - Northumberland and Lycoming - David Mead - The State Com- missioners 63
CHAPTER VII.
FROM THE SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY TO THE WAR OF 1812.
Absalom Travis - Securing Warrants - John Laughlin - Settlers from Westmoreland - From Centre County - Character of Pioneers - Pioneer Life - Mills - Churches- Schools - Pastimes - "First Things " 76
CHAPTER VIII. THE WAR OF 1812.
Alarms on the Frontier - Drafts-Captain Wallace's Company - Incidents of the March to the Maumee - Fort Meigs - Neely's Company - Proceedings at Erie - Volunteers 87
CHAPTER IX. FROM THE WAR OF 1812 TO THE ERECTION OF THE COUNTY.
Land Changes- Lancaster Land Company - The Bingham Estate -Fox - Postal Facili- ties - Roads and Steamboats- "Clarion " River - Early Militia -- Prices of Land, etc .- General Progress 92
CHAPTER X.
FROM THE ERECTION OF THE COUNTY TO THE IRON ERA -1839-1845. Legislation, etc., Previous to Organization - The Act - Change of Boundaries - Selection of Site of County Seat - Public Buildings - Militia - Politics -- Statistics- County Finances 101
CHAPTER XI. THE FURNACES.
The Pioneer Furnace - Structure of the Stacks- Methods of Manufacture - Review of the Industry - List of Furnaces 112
5
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XII. FROM THE IRON ERA TO THE CIVIL WAR. - 1845-1861.
Mexican War - The Underground Railway - The Tornado of '60 - Floods - War Senti- ment - Politics - Statistics - County Finances - Old-Fashioned Temperance - A Fourth of July Celebration - Fox Hunt -A Mass Meeting in '60. ... 121
CHAPTER XIII.
THE SOLDIERS OF CLARION COUNTY IN THE REBELLION.
Introductory
142
CHAPTER XIV.
COMPANY H, THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT -EIGHTH RESERVE. Organization - Service in the Field - Roll of the Company . 145
CHAPTER XV.
COMPANY E, THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT -TENTH RESERVE.
Organization - Route to the Field - Service in the Field - Losses - Rocord of Hugh Wilson - Roll of Company . .. . 152
CHAPTER XVI.
COMPANIES OF THE FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT-MILITIA OF 1863.
Company D: Recruiting - Service in the Field - Roll. Company H: Enlistment - Service - Roll. Company I: Recruiting - Familiar Names - Roll of Company. Company K : Where Recruited - Service - Roll of Company . 164
CHAPTER XVII. COMPANY C, SIXTY-SECOND REGIMENT, P. V.
When Recruited - Organization and Muster - Service in the Field - Death of Colonel Black - Roll of Company 167
CHAPTER XVIII. COMPANY E, SIXTY-SECOND REGIMENT.
When Recruited - Captain Kerr's Dismissal - Service in the Field - Roll 178
CHAPTER XIX. COMPANY F, SIXTY-THIRD REGIMENT.
When and By Whom Recruited - Officers - Service on the Field - Roll of Company .... 189
CHAPTER XX. COMPANY F, SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, P. V.
When Recruited - Familiar Names - Roll of Company. .... 209
CHAPTER XXI.
COMPANY C, SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, P. V.
Recruiting - Service - Roll of Company. 1
218
6
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXII.
COMPANY E, SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, P. V. Recruited - Mustered - Service - Familiar Names - Roll of Company. 225
CHAPTER XXIII.
COMPANY A, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD REGIMENT, P. V. Enlistment - Route to the Field - Services - Roll. 232
CHAPTER XXIV.
COMPANY B, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD REGIMENT, P. V. Enlistment - Route to the Field - Services - Death of Captain Gillespie - Roll. .
243
CHAPTER XXV.
COMPANY F, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD REGIMENT, P. V. Enlistment - To the Field - Services - Roll. 250
CHAPTER XXVI.
COMPANY H, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD REGIMENT P. V. Recruiting - To the Field - Services - Roll 257
CHAPTER XXVII.
COMPANY C, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH REGIMENT P. V. Recruiting - To the Front - Services - Severe Losses - Distinguished Names - Roll .... 264
CHAPTER XXVIII.
COMPANY L, ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTH REGIMENT, P. V .- ELEVENTH CAVALRY.
Enlistment - To the Field - Services - Captain Loomis's Death - Roll. 277
CHAPTER XXIX.
COMPANY K, ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, P. V. Enlistment - To the Field - Services - Roll. 289
CHAPTER XXX.
COMPANY H, ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT P. V. Enrollment - Route to the Field - Services - Roll. 299
CHAPTER XXXI.
COMPANY G, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIFTH REGIMENT P. V. Enlistment - To the Field -Services -- Roll. 308
CHAPTER XXXII.
COMPANY H, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIFTH REGIMENT P. V.
Enrollment - - Services - Casualties - Roll 318
7
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
COMPANY K, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY - NINTH REGIMENT P. V .- FOUR- TEENTH CAVALRY.
First Enlistment Recruits - Other Recruits -- In the Field - Record of the Men .. ... . . .. 327
CHAPTER XXXIV. COMPANY B, ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT.
Enlistment - Remarkable Number of Desertions -- Roll. 329
CHAPTER XXXV.
MISCELLANEOUS ENLISTMENTS.
Captain Tanner's Independent Company : Muster -Service - Roll. List of Soldiers En- rolled in Various Other Organizations Than Those Already Named. 334
CHAPTER XXXVI. FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO THE OIL ERA-1865-1877.
Oil Mania - Apprentices-The Allegheny Valley Railroad -The Low Grade - Telegraphic - Attempt to Move County Seat - Politics-Statistics -- County Finances .. ......... 343
CHAPTER XXXVII. THE DEVELOPMENT OF PETROLEUM.
Deer Creek Oil Spring - The Pocohontas -- Early Operations - Graham's Landing - Fox- burg - First Pipe Line- Grass Flats-St. Petersburg - Turkey City and Monroeville - The St. Lawrence - Edenburg -- Beaver City - Elk City - Pipe Lines - Cogley Field - Reidsburg - Statistics. . .
347
CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE LUMBER AND COAL INDUSTRIES.
Early Lumbering - Hahn & Metzgar - Marvin, Rulofson & Company - Penn Mills - Shoup & Siegworth -Cobb & Sons - Paint Mills -Star Mills - P. Haskell - Byrom, Minor & Gordon-Higby Tract-Arthurs Coal and Lumber Company-Blake Tract- F. Vowinckel-T. Raine-Observations -- Statistics-Fairmount Mines-Mineral Ridge - New Catfish - Hardscrabble - Pine Run - Clarion Shaft - Star and Long Run - Church Hill - Sligo Branch - Western Shaft. 359
CHAPTER XXXIX. FROM THE OIL ERA TO THE PRESENT TIME, 1877-1887.
Railroads - Politics - Statistics - County Finances - Civil List - Newspapers - Post- offices - Agricultural Association - Public Buildings. 367
CHAPTER XL. THE BENCH AND BAR.
The First Court-Judge Alexander McCalmont - The First Attorneys - Later Ones - Judges Buffington, Knox, and J. S. McCalmont -The Logue Trial - Murder Cases - Judges Scofield and Campbell - Additional Sketches - Judge Jenks-The Standard Proceedings - Hons. Corbett and Wilson- History of the District - List of Attor- neys - First Records - County Officers. . 387
8
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XLI. SCHOOLS.
First Schools - Free Schools - The County Superintendency - Superintendent Orr - The First Institutes - Superintendent Magonagle - Superintendent Walker - Super- intendent Kelly - Superintendent Wood - Superintendent Davis - Superintendent Anderson - Superintendent McNutt - Parochial Schools. 411
CHAPTER XLII.
CHURCHES 420
CHAPTER XLIII.
HISTORY OF ASHLAND TOWNSHIP
.... 432
CHAPTER XLIV.
HISTORY OF BEAVER TOWNSHIP
441
CHAPTER XLV.
HISTORY OF BRADY TOWNSHIP
449
CHAPTER XLVI.
HISTORY OF EAST BRADY BOROUGH
452
CHAPTER XLVII.
HISTORY OF CALLENSBURG BOROUGH
459
CHAPTER XLVIII.
HISTORY OF CLARION TOWNSHIP
467
CHAPTER XLIX.
HISTORY OF CLARION BOROUGH
474
CHAPTER L.
HISTORY OF CURLLSVILLE BOROUGH
496
CHAPTER LI.
HISTORY OF EDENBURG BOROUGH
499
CHAPTER LII.
HISTORY OF ELK TOWNSHIP
506
CHAPTER LIII.
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON TOWNSHIP
513
CHAPTER LIV.
HISTORY OF HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP 516
9
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER LV.
HISTORY OF KNOX TOWNSHIP 519
CHAPTER LVI.
HISTORY OF LICKING TOWNSHIP 524
CHAPTER LVII.
HISTORY OF LIMESTONE TOWNSHIP
531
CHAPTER LVIII.
HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER LIX.
HISTORY OF MILL CREEK TOWNSHIP
543
CHAPTER LX.
HISTORY OF MONROE TOWNSHIP
CHAPTER LXI.
HISTORY OF NEW BETHLEHEM BOROUGH
551
CHAPTER LXII.
HISTORY OF PAINT TOWNSHIP
562
CHAPTER LXIII.
HISTORY OF PERRY TOWNSHIP 565
CHAPTER LXIV.
HISTORY OF PINEY TOWNSHIP
569
CHAPTER LXV.
HISTORY OF PORTER TOWNSHIP
. 573
CHAPTER LXVI.
HISTORY OF REDBANK TOWNSHIP
582
CHAPTER LXVII.
HISTORY OF RICHLAND TOWNSHIP
588
CHAPTER LXVIII.
592
HISTORY OF RIMERSBURG BOROUGH
CHAPTER LXIX.
HISTORY OF ST. PETERSBURG BOROUGH 600
536
546
IO
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER LXX.
HISTORY OF SALEM TOWNSHIP .. 606
CHAPTER LXXI.
HISTORY OF SLIGO BOROUGH
611
CHAPTER LXXII.
HISTORY OF STRATTANVILLE BOROUGH 613
CHAPTER LXXIII.
HISTORY OF TOBY TOWNSHIP
617
CHAPTER LXXIV.
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
622
CHAPTER LXXV.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 631
BRIEF PERSONALS. i
INDEX Ixv
II
CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Andrews, Charles E., facing 552
Arnold, Frank M., facing 494
Arnold, G. W., facing 492
Arnold, M. facing 484
Barr, W. W., facing 396
Berlin, George N. facing 508
Bowman, David, facing 514
Black, Jacob,
facing 658
Campbell, James, facing 402
Clarion County Map of Larger
Land Patents facing 64
Collner, W. F. facing 408
Craig, Colonel C. A.,
. facing 264
Cresswell, John, facing 580
Davis, A. J.,
facing 410
facing 534
Fox, J. M., between 634-635
Fox, S. M. between 634-635
Strattan, John R facing 614
Fox, William L.,
facing 636
Foxburg Memorial Church. .facing 637
Hamilton, William R., facing 554
Hess, Michael E.
. facing 500
Kahle, Hon. John W. facing 628
Kaufman, C., facing 480
Keating, H.,. facing 590
Klingensmith, John, facing 542
Knox, Hon. James B. facing 156
Leeper, C., facing 468
Lowry, Samuel, facing 218
Payne, T. J., facing 652
Reynolds, David, facing 120
Ritts, Elias, facing 602
Ritts, John V., facing 604
Robinson, Robert, facing 456
Ross, J. Frank, facing 476
Rulofson, R., facing 360
Siegwarth, A. L. facing 512
Eaker, P. K.,
Shanafelt, William, . facing 576
Sloan, W. C., facing 584
Sweny, James, facing 404
Wilson, J. H. facing 548
Yeany, John,
facing 662
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Andrews, Charles E., 642
Arnold, Frank M., 650
Arnold, George W. 632
Klingensmith, John, 660
Arnold, Manasseh, 661
Knox, Hon. James B., 638
Barr, Hon. W. W.,
657
Lowry, Samuel, 634
Berlin, George N., 648
Payne, T. J.,
653
Bowman, David, 653
Reynolds, David,
654
Black, Jacob, 659
Ritts, Elias,
637
Campbell, Hon. James, 631
Ritts, John V., 651
Collner, W. F. 658
Ross, J. Frank, M. D.
649
Craig, Colonel C. A. 655
Rulofson, R., 641
Siegwarth, A. L., 650
Shanafelt, William, 645
Sloan, William C., 642
Strattan, John R., 663
Sweny, James, . 664
Fox, William L.,
635
Hess, M. E., 639
Kahle, Hon. John W. 643
Kaufman, Charles, 633
Keating, John, 662
Cresswell, Dr. John, 648
Davis, A. J., 647
Eaker, Philip K. 644
Fox, J. M., 635
Fox, S. M., 635
Wilson, Hon. J. H., 662
Yeany, John,
663
HISTORY
OF
CLARION COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.1
PENNSYLVANIA FROM FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE REVOLUTION.
Introductory - The Natives - Hudson - Dutch Settlements - Settlement by the Swedes --- Conquest of the Swedish Colony by the Dutch -Conquest of the New Netherlands by the British - Re-conquest by the Dutch - Final Cession to England - New Jersey - William Penn - Charter of Charles II - Settlers sent to Pennsylvania - Philadelphia -Penn in America - Disputes with Lord Baltimore - Treaty with the Indians - Rapid Immigration - Division into Counties -- Troubles with Maryland - Penn Returns to England - Death of Charles II - Dis- sensions in the Colony - Public Schools in Philadelphia - Penn Arrested in England-Gov- ernor Fletcher - Penn Returns to America -Sails for Europe - Death of King William - Discord in the Colony-Death of Penn - Hannah Penn - French and Indians - Trouble with Maryland - Logan -- Whitefield - War with France -- Peace of Aix - French Encroach- ments in the West -- Celeron - Ohio Company - Washington -- Fort Necessity -- First Con- gress- Braddock's Defeat - Battle at Kittanning - Capture of Fort Du Quesne - Death of George II - Pontiac's War.
T THE surface of what is now known as Pennsylvania was, at the time of the coming of the white men, one vast forest of hemlock, and pine, and beech, and oak, unbroken except by an occasional rocky barren upon the precipitous mountain side, or by a few patches of prairie, which had been reclaimed by annual burnings, and was used by the indolent and simple-minded natives for the culture of a little maize and a few vegetables. The soil, by the annual ac- cumulations of leaves and abundant growths of forest vegetation, was luxurious, and the trees stood close and were of gigantic size. The streams swarmed with fish, and the forest abounded with game. Where now are cities and ham- lets filled with busy populations intent upon the accumulation of wealth, the
1 Chapters I and II are compiled and condensed from Bates's " History of Pennsylvania," and from the State Archives.
2
14
HISTORY OF CLARION COUNTY.
mastery of knowledge, and the pursuits of pleasure, the deer browsed and sipped at the water's edge, and the pheasant drummed his monotonous note. Where now is the glowing furnace, from which day and night tongues of flame are bursting, and the busy water-wheel sends the shuttle flashing through the loom, half-naked, dusky warriors fashioned their spears with rude implements of stone, and made themselves hooks out of the bones of animals, for alluring the finny tribe. Where now are fertile fields, upon which the thrifty farmer turns his furrow, which his neighbor takes up and runs on until it reaches from one end of the broad State to the other, and where are flocks and herds re- joicing in rich meadows, gladdened by abundant fountains, or reposing at the heated noontide beneath ample shade, not a blow had been struck against the giants of the forest, the soil rested in virgin purity, the streams glided on in majesty, unvexed by wheel and unchoked by device of man.
Where now the long train rushes on with the speed of the wind over plain and mead, across streams and under mountains, awakening the echoes of the hills the long day through, and at the midnight hour screaming out its shrill whistle in fiery defiance, the wild native, with a fox skin wrapped about his loins and a few feathers stuck in his hair, issuing from his rude hut, tro ted on in his forest path followed by his squaw with her infant peering forth from the rough sling at her back, pointed his canoe, fashioned from the barks of the trees, across the deep river, knowing the progress of time only by the rising and setting sun, troubled by no meridian for its index, starting on his way when his nap was ended, and stopping for rest when a spot was reached that pleased his fancy. Where now a swarthy population toils ceaselessly deep down in the bowels of the earth, shut out from the light of day in cutting out the material that feeds the fire upon the forge, and gives genial warmth to the lovers as they chat merrily in the luxurious drawing-room, not a mine had been opened, and the vast beds of the black diamond rested unsunned beneath the superincumbent mountains, where they had been fashioned by the Creator's hand. Rivers of oil seethed through the impatient and uneasy gases, and vast pools and lakes of this pungent, parti-colored fluid, hidden away from the coveting eye of man, guarded well their own secrets. Not a derrick protruded its well- balanced form in air. Not a drill with its eager, eating tooth descended into the flinty rock. No pipe line diverted the oily tide in a silent, ceaseless current to the ocean's brink. The cities of iron tanks, filled to bursting, had no place amidst the forest solitudes. Oil exchanges, with their vexing puts and calls, shorts and longs, bulls and bears, had not yet come to disturb the equanimity of the red man as he smoked the pipe of peace at the council fire.
When the Europeans came this territory was occupied by some of the most bloody and revengeful of the savage tribes. They were known as the Lenni Lenapes, and held sway from the Hudson to the Potomac. They came to be known to the Europeans as the Delawares, after the name of the river along
I 5
PENNSYLVANIA.
the numerous branches of which they principally dwelt. The Monseys, or Wolves, another tribe of the Lenapes, dwelt upon the Susquehanna and its tributaries, and, by their warlike disposition, won the credit of being the fiercest of their nation.
The " Five Nations."-the Senecas, Mohawks, Oneidas, Cayugas, and the Onondagas-occupied the greater part of the territory now known as New York, and from their hearty union came to exercise a commanding influence. The Tuscaroras, a tribe which had been expelled from their homes in North Carolina, were adopted by the Five Nations, and from this time forward were known by the English as the Six Nations ; by the Lenapes they were called Mingoes, and by the French Iroquois.
In 1609 Henry Hudson, an English navigator then in the employ of the Dutch East India Company, discovered and partially explored the Delaware Bay and the Hudson River. The adjacent country was subsequently claimed by Holland, and the States General designated it as New Netherlands. A permanent settlement was made on the Hudson, and in 1623 a settlement was. made by a party of Walloons, Protestant fugitives from Belgium, under Cor- nelis Jacobson Mey, on the eastern shore of the "South." or Delaware River, about fifty miles above the mouth. A fort was built which was called Nassau, but after a few months it was abandoned and the settlers returned to their friends on the Hudson. Nassau afterward became a trading-post between the Dutch and the Indians.
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