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NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 08044242 3
The New York Public Library
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http://www.archive.org/details/pioneersketchess00sarg
M. P. SARGENT.
PIONEER SKETCHES:
SCENES AND INCIDENTS -OF --
FORMER DAYS.
THRILLING SCENES AND INCIDENTS, FIERCE ENCOUNTERS WITH INDIANS AND WILD BEASTS, EARLY PRIVATIONS OF THE AMERICAN PIONEERS, BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY EARLY SETTLERS.
BY M. P. SARGENT.
Illustrated by Goddard, under the personal supervision of the Author, from real life.
ERIE, PA .: HERALD PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY, LIMITED. 1891.
The reproduction of this book has been made possible through the sponsorship of the Ashtabula County Genealogical Society, Ashtabula, Ohio.
The New York Public Library A TOR LEMON AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
A Reproduction by UNIGRAPHIC, INC. 1401 North Fares Avenue Evansville, Indiana 47711 nineteen hundred and seventy-six
This book was reproduced for the Ashtabula County Genealogical Society through the courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Fox, Andover, Ohio, and in memory of the late Mr. Henry Fox and his wife, T. Mary Hakola Fox.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Reproduction of PIONEER SKETCHES was made possible through the efforts of many persons who felt that its availability would encourage more interest in local his- tory. Members assisting in its preparation were:
Mary Kelley Crane, index Donna McLeod Rodebaugh, index Dorothy Baker Scott, index Ruth Grove Prostor, orders Karen Wible Wuchter, orders Carol Colby Carraher, orders Marcella Jenness Farr, orders Carol Thomas Fox, publicity Judith Smith Magons, index, orders, and distribution
The loan of an original book used in the reprinting was given by Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Fox of Andover, Ohio.
We are grateful to Miss Minnie Salisbury of Ashtabula, Ohio, through whom we obtained copies of the family records appearing in the Sargent Family Bible now owned by Eva Sargent Hutcherson of Clinton, Missouri.
It is suggested that the researcher check several spellings of indexed names and support conflicting state- ments with documented proof whenever possible.
The Ashtabula County Genealogical Society P. O. Box 885 Ashtabula, Ohio 44004
THE SARGENT FAMILY BIBLE
Capt. Phineas Sargent - Born Nov. 20, 1770 in Worcester, Mass. Died Feb. 15, 1855 in Spring Township, Pa. Married Mary "Kingsbery" Sargent in 1792.
Mary "Kingsbery" Sargent (wife of Phineas), born 1763 in Worcester, Mass. Died May 11, 1850 in Spring Tps. Crawford Co., Pa.
They emigrated from Worcester, Mass. to Cincinnatus, Cortland Co., N. Y. in 1792. All their children were born in Cincinnatus, N. Y. They removed to Spring Tps. , and settled on banks of Conneaut Creek March 7, 1818 where they remained till death.
Children of Phineas and Mary "Kingsbery" Sargent
Charles - born Oct. 23, 1795, in Cincinnatus, N. Y. Died in 1865 in Blackhawk Co., Iowa. Charles married Polly Woodward in 1814. Charles removed from to town in 1854( ?)
Nancy - born March 26, 1798 in Cincinnatus, N. Y. Married Ira Lock in 1836. Settled in Spring a few years later and removed to the town adjoining Elk Creek where they remained.
Anson D. - born Feb. 26, 1800 in Cincinnatus, N. Y. Died May 9, 1850. Anson lived and died in Spring.
Polly - born March 7, 1802.
Alfred Hooey - born March 13, 1804 in Cincinnatus, N. Y. Married Maria Phelps Oct. 20, 1831. Lived in Spring "till" his wife's death April 2, 1875 when he removed to Girard, Erie Co., Pa. with his daughter Addie Cheesman.
Betsy - born May 1807 in Cincinnatus, N. Y., died May 14, 1825. The first person buried in the old Herd Cemetery north of Spring Boro.
Birthplace, Age, and Residence of Four Generations Sargeant Family
Alfred H. Sergeant son of Phinehas Sergeant Worchester, Mass.
Born March 13th 1804 at Cincin- natus, Courtland, N. Y. Present address Miles Grove, Erie Co. , Pa.
Martin P. Sergeant son of Alfred H. Sergeant
Born July 15th 1832 at Spring, Crawford Co., Penn. Present residence Ashtabula, Ashtabula Co., Ohio.
James D. Sergeant son of Martin P. Sergeant
Born May 25, 1856 at Spring, Crawford Co., Penn. Present resident Painesville, Lake County, Ohio.
Fred W. Sergeant Son of James D. Sergeant
Born Jan. 14, 1884 at Painesville, Lake Co., Ohio. Present address Painesville, Lake County, Ohio.
Family Record of Martin P. and Melvina Sargent
Martin P. Sargent - born July 15, 1832 - Spring Township Crawford County, Pa. Died January 30, 1896 of pneumonia Age: 63 yrs. , 6 mo., 16 days.
Melvina Salisbury Sargent - born June 30, 1830, Girard Tps., Erie Co., Pa. Died May 7, 1913 (3:40 pm) at Painesville, Ohio Melvina Salisbury's father was Sanford Salisbury who was born in Westford, N. Y.
Martin P. Sargent and Melvina Salisbury were married at Lockport, Girard Tps., Erie Co., Pa., Sept. 7, 1854 by Rev. John B. Page, Baptist Minister at the residence of the bride's brother, Henry Edward Salisbury.
Children of Martin P. and Melvina Salisbury Sargent
James Dayton Sargent, born May 25, 1856, Spring Tps., Crawford Co., Pa.
Edward Sargent, born May 17, 1861, Spring Tps. , Craw- ford Co., Pa. Died March 10, 1862.
Fred Stockton Sargent, born July 7, 1863, Spring Tps. , Crawford Co., Pa. Died Aug. 29, 1926 at Sedelia, Missouri.
Electa Sargent Paul, born Aug. 29, 1843, died Sept. 14, 1903.
Copied from the Sargent Family Bible by the owner, Mrs. Eva Sargent Hutcherson, of Clinton, Mo.
PREFACE.
The object of this work is to give the reader life sketches of some of the early settlers of our country, scenes and inci- dents of former days, current topics, sparks of humor, gems of thought, etc., in which I have endeavored to give correct statements and dates from reliable sources, that the reader can refer to reminiscenees of the past, we hope, with some degree of pleasure, knowing there is a VAST FIELD for the his- torian to chronicle events and incidents of the heroic pioneers of our great beneficent land of America.
While the Heroes of the Dark Continent and the Mission- ary of India and other heathen lands enter into the work with unbounded zeal, to delineate to a finality the condition of the heathen race; "very well," but in the interim, let us not be unmindful of our own kin and kindred. We find there are many families in our land who cannot give a correct family history for two or three past generations, thus cansing much annoyance and litigation, pertaining to estates, etc., and a living vacuum of a knowledge of the family pedigree.
"Then let us hope others may write a book As well as some who have undertook In days of yore, that have gone by Along down the ages to you and I.
'Tis not necessary to pick out the man of great renown ; From the rank and file many heroes have been found Whose names doth not appear on historic scroll ;
Yet patriotic heroes in mind, in body and in soul."
People nowadays desire to condense matters, therefore I have thought it best not to torture the reader with long-spun articles, nor with borrowed clippings, other than naturally be- long to incidents and history, of which proper credit is given. "What I offer is my own." With these remarks I present this volume to the public, asking no favor, but hoping that it may be of interest to the reader.
Respectfully,
ASHTABULA, June 15, 1891. AUTHOR.
INDEX.
CHAPTER I-The Pioneer. 13
CHAPTER HI-The Vessel of the Pymatuning-Old Forts 15
CHAPTER IH-GREAT MEN-Columbus, Washington, Lincoln, Grant-From Poverty to the Pinnacle of Fame 17
CHAPTER IV - Life and Accident Insurance. 23
CHAPTER V-MEADVILLE-Meadville and Crawford County, Pa .. 25
CHAPTER VI-FORMER DAYS Sketches of Early History of Craw- ford County and Meadville-Major George Washington -Thrown from a Ratt by Ice-Stone War Club-Arrow Heads-Indian Remains-Stockade Forts - Wild Game-Millions of Pigeons- Death of James Finley and B. McCormick -General Wayne's Treaty-Old Houses and Residences. 27
CHAPTER VI :- CORNELIUS VAN HORN-An Exploring Party- Captured by Indians-Tied to a Tree-Escape-Retaken Prisoner - Liquor Exchanged for Him-More Indian Troubles. 36
CHAPTER VIII-EARLY SETTLERS -Arrival of William Dick in Meadville-The First Saw Mill-The First Grist Mill-General Mead's Stoekade House-The Early Bar-Privations of Early Settlers-William Dick's Encounter with an Indian-Half Town's Fat Turkey 41
CHAPTER IX-AN INDIAN JOKE-Colonel Joseph Hackney- Trade with the Indians-The Beaver Skin. 47
CHAPTER X-A Duel-Holland Land Company-William Gill- Jennie Finney -Navigation of French Creek -Singular Sui- cide-Melancholy Disaster. 49
CHAPTER XI-The Ancient Military of Crawford County-Train- ing Day-Uniforms-The Band-Description of Various Com- panies-The Meadville Stock Raising Dragoons-Meadville Artillery 54
CHATPER XII-ALFRED SARGENT-Birth-Removal to Pennsyl- vania Marriage-Clearing Lands - Manufacturing Black Salts -The Rapacious Wolf -The Salt Well-First Vote. 65
72
CHAPTER XIII-ERIE CITY - Presque Isle Bay - Trophies of Perry's Victory - Seth Reed-Judah Colt-The Small-Pox Pass -The Erie & Pittsburg Canal-Early Settlers.
CHAPTER XIV-ERIE CITY - Its Early History - Subsequent Progress- Pre-Historic Remains-Curions Mounds -Chorean Beads-The French and Indian Struggle-Old Log Houses and Forts-Ruins-Evacuation of Presque Isle-The Pontiac Con- spiracy-The Triangle-Gen. Anthony Wayne- Construction of Perry's Fleet-Scraps of History 78
CHAPTER XV-Alfred King. 95
CHAPTER XVI-PIONEER SOLDIERY-The Pioneer Soldiery of Crawford County-Lieutenant, Captain, Major-General Train- ing, Etc-The Old Block House-Beaver Rangers. 97
CHAPTER XVII-THE COUNTRY SCHOOL HOUSE-Healthy Sports -Cracking the Whip-Spelling Schools-Exhibitions. 101
CHAPTER XVIII- Ripe Age. 107
CHAPTER XIX-The Wild Hog Chase. 108
CHAPTER XX-Logging-Burning Fallow I11
CHAPTER XXI-OBED WELLS-Characteristics-Farm Products -The Pittsburg Market -- The Milking Scene-The Dutchman and the Bull-Frog-Pulling Turnips. 113
CHAPTER XXII-The Bounding Hart. 122
CHAPTER XXIII - DANIEL STURTEVANT-Buying Cattle-Drov- ing Cattle-Farming. 123
CHAPTER XXIV-ERI THOMAS-Characteristics-Selling a Pair of Boots. 127
CHAPTER XXV-EARLY SETTLERS - Flemming - Jackson H. McKee's Encounter with the Wolf. 130
CHAPTER XXVI-M. P. SARGENT-Birth-Ancestry-Boyhood - The Old Block House on the Hill-Puncheon Floors-The Wood Bee-The Old Fire Place - The Kids on the Hill-The Nimrods -- Picnic-Chet and Charlie - Uncle Charlie's Fieet Ride-A Narrow Escape .. 134
CHAPTER XXVII-OUR FIRST FIDDLE-How Got-A Nevada Silver Mine-My Good Mother-Weaving. 145
CHAPTER XXVIII-COONING-Line of Tactics-Coon, Oppossum, Porcupine-The Nimrods- Cuff and Ponto-A Painful Accident 147 CHAPTER XXIX-SUGAR MAKING-Tapping Trees-Gathering Sap-The Rescue-The Festival-Our Cabin-Sugaring Off ...... 153
CHAPTER XXX-OUR FIRST TRIP ON THE RAGING CANAL- The Summit-The Feeder - Hartstown Pond - Hundreds of Snakes-Tribes of Indians -Their Departure for the Southwest -The Polk and Dallas-Towed by a Steamboat-Rounding Beaver Point-A Narrow Escape.
CHAPTER XXXI-Captain of a Canal Boat, with Papers in My llat-A Cheese Deal 167
CHAPTER XXXII-AN EARLY VISITOR - A Terrific Yell - A Magical Effect. 170
CHAPTER XXXIII-In Love and Out. 175
CHAPTER XXXIV-The Home of Our Youth 126
CHAPTER XXXV-The Ilog-His Exploit in a Well-The Rescue 175 CHAPTER XXXVI-A Trip to Meadville for a Pound of Tea ...... 181
CHAPTER XXXVII - Thirty-two Pounds of Butter for a Pound of Tea 183
CHAPTER XXXVIII-Manufacturing Black Salts-Salt Wells ... 185
CHAPTER XXXIX-Sparks of Humor. 158
CHAPTER XL-A Trip on Lake Erie-Ohio City - Akron-Re- turn to School 189
CHAPTER XLI-THE SUNNY SOUTH-Down the Ohio and Mis- sissippi - Teachers' Institute - Bolton and Dickens, Slave Dealers-Scenes-Death of Brown-The Barbecue. 193
CHAPTER XLII-The New Year. 205
CHAPTER XLIII-Our Forest Home-Marriage-Organizing a School District-Phrenological Lecture-Wholesale Blessing ..... 206
CHAPTER XLIV-LUMBERING-An Incident-Shipping Lumber to Erie, Bntfalo, Troy and Albany. 209
CHAPTER XLV-Recruiting-Prospecting-Leasing Coal Lands- The Cox Farm, McFate-Drilling for Coal-My Return-Death of My Sister-Removal-Death of Our Son, Edwin-Prospect- ing Armstrong and Butler Counties-Lease and Purchase-Oil Business-Bear Creek Property-Sale of Timber Lands-Death of a Brother-in-Law-Grain and Flour Shipment - Drop in Oil Lands-Destruction of Property-Indians-Prisoners Released -Brady's Bend. 215
CHAPTER XLVI-Mining and Shipping Coal-Towing Boats- Low Stage of Water on the Allegheny River -Pegg's Chute- Crapo House -A Rebel Landlord-A Loyal Connecticut Man- Palmy Days of Oildom. 22
CHAPTER XLVII-LUMBER YARDS-Meadville and Oil Creek -- Leasing Oil Lands and Operating-Drilling. 228
CHAPTER XLVIII-The North Shore-Lake Superior-The Mercer Party-Lake Huron-Dancing-Sumner Overboard-A Ride Over the Falls. 231
CHAPTER XLIX-Return from Prince Arthur-Lumbering- Building-American Insurance Company of Chicago- Charles L. Currier's Letter-E. A. Butts, State Agent-The Prizes -The Field-The Bible and the Hunting Scene-General Insurance Agent-Author Pioneer Sketches, Scenes and Incidents of For- mer Days. 237
CHAPTER L-Gems of Thought 243
CHAPTER LI-Sparks of Humor. 244
CHAPTER LII-SPRINGBORO-Old Chums-Shadeland-Stockmen 245
CHAPTER .LIII-Tragic Death of Orson Chapman 247 CHAPTER LIV- Return of Spring. 249
CHAPTER LV-To the Agent. 250
CHAPTER LVI-Edmund Sargent-Characteristics. 251
CHAPTER LVII-Things that are Queer. 254
CHAPTER LVIII-J. F. Woodard 255
CHAPTER LIX-R. H. and Byron Sargent. 257
CHAPTER LX-Sparks of Humor. 260
CHAPTER LXI -WILLIAM S. ALDERMAN - Raising the Log House-An Incident-An Ugly Elevation-Boating-Clearing up Lands-Settling on His Lands-Marriage. 261
CHAPTER LXII-The Clever Bears of Calveras County-Their Sagacity-The Pig Sty. 265
CHAPTER LXIII-ALFRED SARGENT-Hunting Geese Eggs- - Vaughn's Pond-Westward Bound-Iowa-Colorado-Pike's Peak- Frozen Feet-Return to Iowa-Marriage-Farming ..... 268
CHAPTER LXIV-Ritner H. Sturtevant, 272
CHAPTER LXV-Sparks of Humor. 274
CHAPTER LXVI-John C. Sturtevant. 275
CHAPTER LXVII-Samuel F. Woodard 277
CHAPTER LXVIII-Lucins F. McLanghlin 279
CHAPTER LXIX-Mr. Frey Goes Out for His Breakfast. 281 CHAPTER LXX-Sparks of Humor. 2-3
CHAPTER LXXI-Trade in Former Days.
CHAPTER LXXII-Sparks of Humor 288 CHAPTER LXXIII-John P. Locke 2-9
CHAPTER LXXIV-Gems of Thought. 291
CHAPTER LXXV-Wild Bees-Chester Morley's Big Bonanza ..... 292
CHAPTER LXXVI-Finding a Bee Tree-Bill, the Ox-Teamster- When to Cut a Pig Yoke 295
CHAPTER LXXVII- W. G. and S. J. Thomas 297
CHAPTER LXXVIII-Gems of Thought .. 30I
CHAPTER LXXIX-SHADELAND - Powell Brothers, the C'ele- brated Stockmen 302
CHAPTER LXXX-The Agent of To-Day 304
CHAPTER LXXXI-A. C. QUINBY-Making Hoops and Shingles -Canal Boating -- Dealing in Nursery Stock-Livery and Sale Stable 305
CHAPTER LXXXHI -The Legal Trio.
307
CHAPTER LXXXIII-CONNEAUT LAKE-Location and Size- Crossing Over on the Ice-Awful Suspense 310
CHAPTER LXXXIV-R. Cheeseman 314
CHAPTER LXXXV-A. O. PAUL -- The Gander-Agent-Staging -Livery-Nursery Stock-Horse Dealer 315
CHAPTER LXXXVI-A. C. Martindale 317
CHAPTER LXXXVII -- Lexington-Early Settlers. 320
CHAPTER LXXXVIII- SANFORD SALISBURY-Mechanical Gen- ius-H. E. Salisbury-A Natural Born Mecbanie - Building Saw Mills-Inventing Machinery Death - Canal Boating- James P. Salisbury-The Revolving Wooden Horse-Rake -- Removal to Kansas-Hot Times with the Border Ruffians- Farming 323
CHAPTER LXXXIX-Lockport - Cranesville -Albion-Girard- Across Lake Erie in a Canoe-Treed by a Bear. 328
CHAPTER XC -- A. DENIO-Ostego Fork Mills-Miles Grove, Pa .. 336 CHAPTER XCI -- America 339
CHAPTER XCII-THE FATHER OF WATERS -- Romance and. Frag- edy of the Mighty Mississippi-Its Waters Cover the Remains of the First European Who Traversed Them-Ferdinand De Soto, Lasalle and Others. 343
CHAPTER XCIII -- Cooped by a Lion 347
CHAPTER XCIV -- Loving Words 352
CHAPTER XCV -- Pittsburg, 353
CHAPTER XCVI -- Butler 354
CHAPTER XCVII-Colonel Drake, the Discoverer of Petroleum Oil 355
CHAPTER XCVIII-Franklin 357
CHAPTER XCIX-Oil City 359
CHAPTER C -- The Steele Farm 363
CHAPTER CI-THE BENNEHOFF FARM -- Oil Production-The Robbery of Half a Million-The Mystery-The Arrest and Release. 365
CHAPTER CII -- Titusville.
370
CHAPTER CIII -- Conneaut-The Harbor-Early Settlers. 372
CHAPTER CIV -- Pithole City-Wonderful Growth and Collapse. 375
CHAPTER CVI-Roads in Oildom . 377
CHAPTER CVII -- Ashtabula, Ohio - Harbor- Early Settlers - Growth - Reminiscenses. 379
CHAPTER CVIII-East Side-Improvements 387
CHAPTER CIX-Early Settlers of Ashtabula-The First Baptism -- " Put Her in Again." 389
CHAPTER CX -- John Metcalf -- Carrying Mail in Former Days -- The Dance at Bunker Hill 392
CHAPTER CXI -- The First Vessel Launched at Ashtabula-Sad Accident. 395
CHAPTER CXII -- William Humphrey
397
CHAPTER CXIII-L. W. Smith 399
CHAPTER CXIV-The Fargo Brothers. 401
CHAPTER CXV-The Ashtabula Disaster
403
CHAPTER CXVI-Granville Loomis
405
CHAPTER CXVII-Painesville, Ohio. 412 CHAPTER CXVIII-Jefferson, Ohio. 415 CHAPTER CXIX -- Geneva, Ohio 417
CHAPTER CXX -- Warren 419
CHAPTER CXXI -- The Indian 421
CHAPTER CXXII-Joseph Bennett 423
CHAPTER CXXIII-Indian Chiefs 424
CHAPTER CXXIV-Cleveland .. 425
CHAPTER CXXV-Youngstown 428
CHAPTER CXXVI-Curtis Goddard -- Birth-Boyhood-Manufac- turer -- Removal to Ashtabula .. 431
CHAPTER CXXVII-The Privations of Early Settlers
433
CHAPTER CXXVIII-The Railroad Brakeman 435
CHAPTER CXXIX-The Ashtabula Strike 436
CHAPTER CXXX-Capital and Labor 440
CHAPTER CXXXI - Do You Ever Think ?- Life's Seven Stages ... 442
CHAPTER CXXXII-Early Sports and Pastimes - The Grape Vine Swing 443
CHAPTER CXXXIII-The Blind Man Everett
445
CHAPTER CXXXIV -- An Interesting Corpse. 447
CHAPTER CXXXV-A Pioneer Mortgage. 450
CHAPTER CXXXVI-The Court House Removal 451
CHAPTER CXXXVHI-A SAD INCIDENT-The Farmer-A Tavern Keeper-A Farm Consumed by Whisky-Removal -- Downfall and Trial of a Young Girl-Release-License Taken from a Tavern Keeper. 452
CHAPTER CXXXVIII-Noted Life Swindler Caught
454
CHAPTER CXXXIX-The Shenango Railroad 455
CHAPTER CXL -- The Round-Up. 457
CHAPTER CXLI-Fossil Mines of the West
459
CHAPTER CXLII-Big Salaries and Insurance
466
CHAPTER CXLIII -- The Insurance Agent of the Future. 468
CHAPTER CXLIV-The Waterways-Their Importance and Com- mercial Value -- Ship Canal Surveys. 470
CHAPTER CXLV-Lemuel Cook-Encounter with Indians-The Artist, Charles H. Goddard. 477
CHAPTER CXLVI-War Time Heroes -Pretty Mrs. Mason -- How She Made Herself Useful to the Confederate Government ... 479
CHAPTER CXLVH-Our Country-Its Possibilities. 483
CHAPTER CXLVIII -- The Forces of Nature 486
CHAPTER CXLIX-The American Conflict 487
CHAPTER CL -- Sparks of Humor 489
CHAPTER CLI -- The Outlook. 492
CHAPTER CLII -- The Giants 497
CHAPTER CLIII -- Wonderful Progress. 499
CHAPTER CLIV -- The Morning Time 500
CHAPTER CLV-The Locomotive Engineer.
501
CHAPTER CLVI -- Cost of Life Insurance. 503
CHAPTER CLVII -- The Telegraph Operator. 506
CHAPTER CLVIII-The Hairy Chicken 507
CHAPTER CLIX-Sparks of Humor.
509
CHAPTER CLX -- Now and Then 511
CHAPTER I.
THE PIONEER.
A
S THE pioneer penetrated the primeval forest, he had to adapt himself to the pe- culiar conditions in which he was placed. Next to the Indian, he was the original man.
The trees first must be ent away, To let in the light of day: They had to live in crude log houses, And wear tow shirts and linen trousers.
They had to use both muscle and a willing hand, To clear the timber from the land; They had to come to this decision,
And work hard to get their daily coarse provisions.
Were it not for the hope of a brighter future, the heart of the Pioneer, at times, would fail; but no, he resolutely pushed forward from day to day and made the primeval forest yield him and his family a fair subsistence.
We should not be unmindful of the heroie struggles of the American Pioneer. Struggling not only for a sub- sistence, but that the Banner of America might wave un- poluted by a foreign foe, as the emblem of his country, forever free.
١٠
THE PIONEER.
CHAPTER HI.
THE VESSEL OF THE PYMATUNING-OLD FORTS.
I N 1850 John Hadlock, now of Ashtabula, O., in company with John McMurtry, of Harmons- burg, Pa., visited the Pymatuning Swamp, situated in Crawford County, Pa. At a point where the Pymatuning Creek and another stream come together, they boarded an old vessel (which had long been known to exist there) for the purpose of ob- taining some of its timber as a relic.
They succeeded in getting a piece of live oak plank from the deek near the bow of the vessel, from which Mr. MeMurtry made two canes, which are now in the possession of his family. Mr. McMurtry died in 1885 at the age of 102 years. He was one of the Pioneers of Crawford County.
This vessel lies about twenty feet from the channel of the Pymatuning Creek, overgrown with moss, birch and tamarack trees from four to eighteen inches in diameter. The bow stem stuck up about two feet from the mucky earth at this time. On the opposite side of the creek from where this vessel lay is an old fort, embankments thrown up in a semi-circular form, like breastworks, and within this semi-circle Spanish coins have been found, and trees were standing, some of which were two feet in diameter.
In his Pioneer Sketches, the Hon. Alfred Huidekoper mentions that there seems to have been a preoccupancy of this
16
PIONEER SKETCHES.
country by a more powerful nation than the Indians. The above mentioned fact of this vessel in the Pymatuning Swamp furnishes a problem for the historian and evidently sustains the theory that there was some nation other than the Indians, preoccupying this country. And, who was it ? That's the question. We will have to go back two or three centuries at least to attempt anything of a solution of this problem.
And then we are left in the fog ; In this we have no tradition, But are left to supposition.
It is said there is nothing impossible with God. And it also seems that there are many wonderful things not im- possible for man to accomplish. Then we might suppose that when De Soto made his discoveries on this continent that a portion of his fleet might have ascended the Missis- sippi, the Ohio or the Shenango-
And got stuck in the Pymatuning bog, But as to this we are left in the fog.
CHAPTER III.
GREAT MEN.
COLUMBUS, WASHINGTON, LINCOLN, GRANT. INCE the creation of the world it seems that men from humble birth have been created and raised up for the great emergencies of the day.
We need go back but nineteen centuries to note Christ crucified for his goodness to humanity.
A. D. 1492.
"Columbus said there was land in the West, Others said no; but he knew best."
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.
The Four-hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America and its observance by a World's Fair at Chicago is approaching, and it is meet that we make some mention of the Italian seaman, whose labors resulted in the discov- ery of a new continent.
Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa in 1436, the son of a poor wool-carder. He early took to the sea. His spare time was devoted to the study of astronomy, geometry, arithmetic, cosmography, history and philosophy. He obtained a very good education, which was perfected in the University of Pavia.
2
.
18
PIONEER SKETCHES.
At the age of fourteen he went aboard an Italian ves- sel and worked his way up until he had assumed the com- mand of a cruiser. He married the daughter of the gov- ernor of Santa Porta, who was an able navigator but a poor man.
Columbus not only had hard work supporting his own family, but was obliged to help sustain his father and young brother. While struggling along in poverty, he heard of the finding of great reeds and a bit of earved wood floating out at sea from the West.
The idea at once presented itself of a western ocean passage to India. This theory was strengthened by ancient tradition, and after negotiations with scientists, who had given the subject their attention, he applied to King John II of Portugal for means to fit out an expedition to scek a western passage to India. The Portuguese King kept him waiting with half promises. Columbus' wife died, and he left Portugal in indignation.
He wandered with his little son to a convent in Anda- lusia, where he was taken up and lived two years, through the aid of the Prior of the Convent, who became enlisted in Columbus' cause. The latter was presented to Queen Isabella of Spain, to whom he applied for the same privi- lege he had asked of King John. After much solicitation, three small vessels, the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria, were fitted out, and Columbus was given the title of Viceroy or Governor of all the land that he might discover.
August 3d, 1492, he set sail from Palos with 120 men, and on October 12th of the same year discovered land- the island of San Salvador. On the latter part of the voy- age the crew had become mutinous, and, had not land been found when it was, Columbus would have been thrown
19
PIONEER SKETCHES.
overboard by a set of foolhardy mutineers who, in all prob- ability, would never again have reached their native land. Cuba and Hispaniola (Hayti) were also discovered, and in March, 1493, the adventurers reached home, where they were received with high honors. Columbus was given the title of Admiral. He made two subsequent voyages, dis- covering Jamaica. Porto Rico and other islands: visited terra firma at the mouth of the Orinoco and founded a colo- ny at Hispaniola, of which he assumed the Governorship. In 1500 he was deposed and taken in chains to Spain. The publie were indignant, and Columbus was released, but not replaced in power.
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