USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > The history of Erie County, Pennsylvania, from its first settlement > Part 1
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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
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Cornell University Library F 157E6 S221894
History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, fr
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BRIE-Y
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THE HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA,
From its First Settlement.
BY
LAURA G. SANFORD.
$
new and Enlarged Edition.
ERS
E. DRIE
FIRST SEAL OF ERIE COUNTY, MADE IN 1808.
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 1894.
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A678195
Copyrighted by J. B. LIPPINCOTT & Co., in 1861, and by LAURA G. SANFORD, in 1894.
PREFACE.
IF in every State we had those who were unprejudiced and truth-loving to examine and test the supposed history of their, respective localities, and to record the testimony of the aged, " before they go hence and be no more," truth would be vindi- cated, much that is interesting rescued from oblivion, and a correct and minute history of our country secured.
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1 For the encouragement of those attempting this duty, Sal- lust says : " Among the different ways of employing one's abilities, that of writing history is of eminent use ; but I shall . say nothing of its excellence, because many have already' shown it, and lest I should be charged with vanity for ex- tolling what I am myself engaged in."
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Grateful acknowledgments are due to the many friends who have contributed to the History of Erie County by the use of their libraries, by the loan of valuable unedited manuscripts, and by their pertinent suggestions. Of these are Dr. U. Par- sons, of Providence, Rhode Island ; Madams William A. Brown, Chas. Pollock, J. C. Reid, J. H. Bliss, H. Russel, J. Dickson, and Miss I. Williams ; Gen. C. M. Reed, Capt. W. W. Dobbins, William Nicholson, G. J. Ball, J. Sill, J. B. Johnson, B. B. Vincent, J. C. Spencer, T. G. Colt, A. H. Caughey, and G. W. Starr, Esqs .; Rev. Wm. M. Blackburn, and Rev. T. St. John, of Erie ; Rev. S. M. Eaton, Franklin ; Mr. I. Eaton, Fairview ; Miss H. R. Cutler and Mr. R. Bar- nett, Girard ; Miss Sarah Vincent and Mrs. McGill, Water- ford ; Rev. A. H. Carrier and Wm. E. Marvin, Esq., North- east ; and Mrs. M. Courtright, New York.
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In this new edition we have given in the form of a supple- ment events of latter years only of main importance, the want of space being our plea for not giving much that is worthy of record.
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The Editors of the county are entitled to many thanks for their files, and for favorable mention of the work.
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CATALOGUE OF WORKS CONSULTED.
American State Papers ; American Archives ; Proud's His- tory of Pennsylvania ; Colonial History of New York ; Docu- mentary History of New York ; Pennsylvania Colonial Records ; Pennsylvania Archives ; Western Annals ; History of Western Pennsylvania ; Thatcher's Lives of the Indians ; Naval Monument ; Hennepin's Discoveries in America ; Historical Collections of Pennsylvania ; Shea's Discovery of the Mississippi ; Shea's Jesuit Missions ; Annals of America, by Dr. Holmes ; Schoolcraft's Indian Tribes; Conspiracy of Pontiac ; Niles's Register ; Burgess's Account of Perry's Victory ; Mckenzie's Life of Perry ; Dawson's American Battles ; Dr. Parson's Discourse ; Calvert's Oration ; Battle of Lake Erie Monumental Association ; Bancroft's United States ; Irving's Life of Washington ; Stone's Life of Brandt ; Elements of History, by J. E. Worcester ; Historical Account of Erie County, by Dr. W. M. Wood ; Dwight's Travels ; Goodrich's History of the United States ; Smith's Laws of Pennsylvania ; Howe's Historical Collections of the West ; State Geologist's Report ; Poor's History of Railroads ; Files of the Mirror, Erie; Erie Gazette; Erie Observer ; Girard Republican ; Encyclopedia Americana; Allegheny Magazine ; Pennsylvania Gazetteer, by Thos. F. Gordon ; Pennsylvania State Book, by Burrows ; Old Fort Le Bœuf, by a Waterford- ian ; Inauguration of the Perry Statue, Cleveland ; History of the Railroad War, by Wilson Laird, Esq .; Buffalo Express ; Buffalo Commercial; History of Erie County, published in Chicago, 1884, Warner, Beers & Co .; Illustrated History of Pennsylvania, by W. H. Egle, M.D. ; Old Portage Road, by. H. C. Taylor, M.D. ; Ship-yard of the Griffon, by C. K. Rem- ington.
COMPLIMENTARY NOTICES.
The following note from the Hon. Geo. Bancroft explains itself, and is indirectly a flattering tribute to the worth of the book from the very highest source :
"NEW YORK, February 3d, 1862.
. Your charming work on Erie County has so much merit, that I cannot bear to lie under your misapprehension of my judgment on a point, which has cost me a good deal of research. If you turn to page 163 of Vol. III., in the copy I sent to Erie, or any edition since 1853, you will find that I put the first ship yard at the 'Mouth of the Cayaga Creek.' It cost me a world of trouble to find the authorities to correct my mistake, and I am sorry you charged upon me the sins of my earlier years, instead of the revised opinion of mature study.
." Very truly yours, "GEO. BANCROFT."
"The History of Erie County, Pennsylvania, by Laura G. San- ford is in manibus. It is an interesting book to any one, being full of Indian traditions, antiquarian gossip, and facts relating to co- - temporary American heroes, all connected together in a very agreeable style. To a resident of Erie County, we think the work invaluable, comprising as it does the history of places and persons, forming subjects of his own daily conversation and observation. The tremendous ' War of the Gauges" has not received as much attention from the fair historian as we could wish. 'She passes it with a bare mention. Possibly a lady could not do justice to an event which above all others requires a manly pen to portray."
From Frie Gazette.
"'History of Erie County.' This is the title of a neatly printed and handsomely bound volume, just issued from the press of J. B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia, for a copy of which we are in- debted to the authoress, Miss Laura G. Sanford, of our city. It consists of 347 pages, and embodies much interesting and valuable
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COMPLIMENTARY NOTICES.
information relative to the County, from an early date to the present time. Biographical notices of well-known citizens form a prominent feature-citizens like Seth Reed, R. S. Reed, P. S. V. Hamot, Hon. Thos. H. Sill, Giles Sanford, Judah Colt, Rev. Robert Reid, Daniel Dobbins, and Hon. John Galbraith, accompanied in several cases by finely executed steel engraved likenesses. The work bears marks of careful preparation, and is doubtless strictly correct in its statements of material facts and events. We regard it as quite creditable to the authoress and the publishers, and cor- dially recommend it to all who would possess a reliable ' History of Erie County.' It is thus spoken of by a gentleman long and favorably known here :
" PROVIDENCE, R. I., October 8, 1860.
"It has been my privilege to be allowed the perusal of many of the sheets of Miss Sanford's History of Erie in manuscript, and I cordially bear testimony to its great value as embodying about all the material facts relating to that frontier city that such a work should contain, sought out with great industry, and carefully and candidly stated.
"USHER PARSONS."
From Providence (Rhode Island) Daily Journal.
"This is a valuable contribution to the history of our western frontier. It begins with the history of the Indians and their sway over the lake shores. It then gives us an account of the arrival of the first French settlers from Montreal, as missionaries, on Lake Erie and the upper lakes, and of the trappers and hunters who soon followed in their train, their first landing after leaving Lake Ontario being at this port. Here they established one of the first forts west of Niagara Falls, and opened a road eighteen miles south of Le Bœuf, now called Waterford, at the head waters of the Ohio. At that place, Washington, a century after, commenced his military career, at the age of twenty. Beyond this they estab- lished other forts at Venango and Pittsburg, and moved on further south; intending to secure the trade for Canada of the vast regions west of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. An account is given of the first vessel that traversed the lakes and of the gradual increase of shipping until the War of 1812, when Perry's fleet was commenced and equipped. A faithful description is also fur- nished of the fleet's armament and crews, and of the celebrated battle of the 10th of September, with portraits of some of the offi- cers (Commodore Perry and Dr. Parsons among them), and also of many of the prominent citizens who first settled in Erie.
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COMPLIMENTARY NOTICES.
"Erie is now a beautiful city, its inhabitants having increased from 300 or 400 at the time of the war to 12,000.
" The venerable Giles Sanford, Esq., who arrived there in 1810, is the father of the author, and being engaged since then as a prominent merchant and furnisher of supplies for the army and navy, is better acquainted with the history and concerns of Erie than any person living. He has been able to furnish his daughter with many of the materials of this valuable work, which we cor- / dially recommend to the attention of all persons interested in the times, localities, and events of which it treats. It is written with great candor and truthfulness, and evinces a vast amount of in- dustry and patient research."
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From the Crawford Democrat, February 25, 1862.
"This is a work of great value as a depository in which are treasured up, so as to secure them in a permanent form, the facts and incidents of the early settlement of the portion of our State of which it is the history. The accomplished authoress has done the task she assigned herself in a way to deserve the thanks of the whole country, but particularly the inhabitants of this State, and most especially of the dwellers in Erie County. Her book will be read with satisfaction and pleasure because of the important infor- mation it contains-information collected by much industry and perseverance-and for the attractive manner in which it is imparted. Erie County is fortunate in having one to write its history who is so well qualified by possessing both the literary and scientific ability and taste, and the love of the work necessary to success.
" The plan adopted-and, indeed, required by the subject-is such as to give the 'History of Erie County' more than a merely local interest. Interesting sketches are given of various Indian tribes, whose braves formerly roamed over this then great western wilderness, following on the war path ; whose hunters pursued their game through the vast forests that then, unbroken, covered all this region ; whose young men and maidens whispered their tale of love by the sparkling brooks in the waters of which the speckled trout sported, while over them the green boughs meeting formed Nature's sweet bowers ; and whose frail canoes were the only craft which then furrowed the lakes and rivers. The diffi- culties met and vanquished by the hardy early settlers are well narrated, and examples given. The naval operations on the lakes, and the victories gained on them by American heroes, receive attention. Besides these, other matters of general interest are noticed- such as relate to the occupancy of this region by the
A Beacon Light-House.
B Land Light-House.
C Flash Light-House.
D Life Saving Station. E Soldiers' Home.
F Massassauga Point.
G Tracy Point.
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MAP OF ERIE HARBOR
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(PRESQUE ISLE BAY) From a Survey in 1888 By Ensigns H. Kimmel and H. Hetherington, U. S. N., of the U. S.S. Michigan. Com- mander H. F. Picking, U. S. N., command'g.
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CONTENTS.
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1
An Account of the Eries-Traditions concerning them-Their Destruction-Symbols found on Kelly's or Cunningham's Island-Indian Remains. 15
CHAPTER II.
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La Salle-The Griffon-Relics-Gov. Shirley's Proposition- Braddock's Advice - Gov. Delancy's Plan - Estimating Presqu'ile-Hudson's Bay Company. 24
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CHAPTER III.
The English and French Claims - Construction of Forts Presquile (Erie) and Le Bœuf (Waterford)-Washington's Visit-Condition of these Forts in 1756, '57, '58, and '59-Their Desertion after the taking of Fort Niagara-Tradition in Erie-Major Rogers takes Possession for the English in 1760. 29
CHAPTER IV.
Pontiac-Destruction of Forts Presqu'ile and Le Boeuf, as de- scribed by Bancroft, Parkman, and Harvey-Col. Bradstreet at Presquile, in 1764-Col. Bouquet's Treaty-A Detachment of British Soldiers and Indians embark at Chautauqua Lake -Hannastown burnt-Mr. Adams's Suggestion. 48
CHAPTER V.
Penn's Charter-Boundaries of Pennsylvania-Mason and Dixon's Line-Review of said Line by Col. Graham-Wes- tern Boundary of Pennsylvania fixed in 1786-Boundary be- tween New York and Pennsylvania confirmed by Act of Assembly in 1789-Purchase of Triangle, 1791-Anecdote of Mr. William Miles.
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CHAPTER I.
x
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VI.
Arrangements for the Settlement of the Triangle-Pennsyl- vania Population Company-Act to lay out a Town at Presqu'- ile; afterward repealed-Block-house at Le Bœuf-Indian Murders-Gov. Mifflin to the President-Attorney-General Bradford's Opinion-Ransom's Deposition-Letters of Capt. Denny-Andrew Ellicot and Gen. Chapin-Joseph Brandt- Cornplanter-A Present of Land-Treaty of Peace at Canan- daigua.
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CHAPTER VII.
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An Act to lay out the Towns of Erie, Waterford, Franklin, and Warren-To protract the Enlistment of Troops at Le Bœuf- Deposition of Tho. Rees, Esq .- Actual Settlers-Memorial to the Population Company-Deacon Chamberlain's Story- Capt. Martin Strong to William Nicholson, Esq .- Louis Philippe at Mr. Rees's-Murder of Rutledge and Son-Mr. Augustus Porter's Visit-Mr. Judah Colt's MS. Autobi- ography-Number of White Settlers on the Lakes west of Genesee River-General Wayne's Death at Presqu'ile, 1796. 76
CHAPTER VIII.
Erie County from 1785-Organization in 1803-Its Geography, etc .- Original Townships-Changes-Extent of Townships and Population-Population decennially from 1800-Census Items-Vote of 1808 and 1860-Receipts and Expenditures do. -Extract from Auditor-General's Report-Post-offices in 1830, 1856, 1860-List of Judges-Members of Congress- State Senate- Representatives - Prothonotaries - Registers and Recorders-Sheriffs-Coroners-First Section incorpo- rated - Courthouses - Act for Public Landing - Borough Charter altered in 1833 - Canal Basin - Peninsula - Poor- house-Several Acts-Government of Erie changed to that of a City-Present Population and Business-List of Bur- gesses and Mayors-Collectors of Customs-Postmasters in Erie. 91
CHAPTER IX.
First Road-Population Company Roads-Erie and Waterford Turnpike-Salt Trade-Gen. O'Hara's Contract-Road to Buffalo- First Coaches- Erie Canal - Railroads - Erie or Wattsburg Railroad-Sunbury and Erie-Erie and North-
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CONTENTS.
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east-Franklin Canal Company-Pittsburg and Erie Railroad -Plank-roads. . 107
CHAPTER X.
Shipping-The Washington, the First Vessel built on the South Shore of the Lake-Hudson's Bay Company-British Government Vessels-American Government Vessels-The Salina-Valuable Cargoes-Walk-in-the-Water-First Light- house -- William Penn-First Steamer at Chicago-Cholera- Tonnage and Number of Vessels in 1810-20-31-36-47-60-Lake Disasters-Commerce of Port of Presqu'ile-Vessels and Tonnage registered at Presqu'ile in 1860-United States
Steamer Michigan-Revenue Cutters.
. 123
CHAPTER XI.
Banks-Gas Company-Insurance-Fire Companies-Volun- teer Military-Agriculture-Mutual Aid-Cemeteries-Moral, Benevolent, and Literary Societies. . 132
CHAPTER XII. -
Newspapers-Common Schools-Academies-Normal School- Sabbath School-First Protestant Missionaries West of Utica -Moravians in Venango County, 1767-First Religious Service in Erie County-First Church Edifice-A Religious Experience-Presbytery of Erie-Revs. Patterson and Eaton -Extract from Rev. A. H. Carrier's Historical Sermon- Rev. R. Reid-Churches of different Denominations in Erie -Revivals. . 147
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CHAPTER XIII.
Waterford-Edinboro-Northeast-Wattsburg-Girard-Union Mills - Albion - Cherry Hill - Wellsburg - Cranesville - Lockport-Pageville - Lexington - Fairview-Manchester- Mckean Corners-Wesleyville-West Springfield-Spring- field- Beaverdam-Concord Station. . 178
CHAPTER XIV.
Biographical Sketches of Col. Seth Reed-Rufus Seth Reed- Judah Colt-Dr. U. Parsons-Dr. John C. Wallace-Rev. Robert Reid-Thos. Wilson-P. S. V. Hamot-Capt. D. Dob-' bins-T. H. Sill-G. Sanford-Judge J. Galbraith. . 195
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XV.
War declared-Commodore Perry-Capt. Dobbin's Corre- spondence-Commodore Chauncey, Mr. Henry Eckford, and Noah Brown-Difficulties in fitting out the Fleet-Gen. Mead-Capt. Perry at Fort George-Five Vessels brought from Buffalo-Provincial Marine Corps-Difficulties in pro- curing men-Letters to Commodore Chauncey and the Secre- tary of the Navy-A Providence recognized in the War- Getting the Vessels over the bar-Commodore Barclay at Port Dover-Seven of the Vessels make a Cruise-Officers and Men from Lake Ontario-August 12, Perry sails for San- dusky-Interview with Gen. Harrison-They proceed to Malden-Kentucky Militia-Sick ness - Letters from the Secretary-Ohio dispatched to Erie-Strength of the British Force-The American Force-Americans look in at Malden- Corrected Instructions for the Battle.
CHAPTER XVI.
British Vessels appear-Commodore Perry remodels his Line, and other Preparations-A brief Description of the Battle of September 10, by Dr. Parsons-The Vessels return to Erie with the Wounded and Prisoners-Capt. Perry promoted- His Reception at Erie-A Remark of Mckenzie-President Madison-Congress-Prizes.
CHAPTER XVII.
Block-houses built in 1813-14-State of Society-Buffalo burned -Alarms at Erie-Capt. Sinclair arrives-Bird, Rankin, and Davis executed-Disposition made of Government Vessels- List of Commanding Officers at Erie from 1813 to 1825- Topography of Presqu'ile Bay and the Peninsula-Misery Bay-Gen. Bernard and Maj. Totten's Survey-Appropria- tions made by the State and the United States-Changes since 1813-Rise and fall of Water in Lake Erie-A singular Phenomenon-Lake Survey.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Geology from Professor Rogers-Character of the Soil-Calca- reous Marl-Bog Ore-Petroleum-Mineral Waters-Descrip- tion of the Sink -hole by Mr. R. Andrews-The Devil's Back- bone and Nose-Botanizing.
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIX.
Miscellaneous Items, among which are: A Tradition-Gen. Wayne-An Anecdote-Price of Provisions-Wm. W. Reed, Esq .- First National Celebration-Churches-The Garrison -A Relic-Saturday Afternoon-Game-Mrs. P.'s Reminis- cences-H. Russel's Journal-An Early Settler in Fairview- La Fayette's Visit in Erie-Cholera-Perry Monument-An Informal Meeting-Speculation-Fires-Sad Accidents-Ex- President Adams - Patriot War-Old Courthouse Bell-Pio- neers-Perry-Lieut. Yarnall-Survivors of the Battle of Lake Erie-Perry Monument at Cleveland-Inventions-Mora- vian Lands-Omissions-Bankers and Exchange Brokers. . 270
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SUPPLEMENT.
SECTION I.
The Shipyard of the Griffon-Northern State Boundary - Ownership of the Peninsula-The Pontiac Conspiracy-Le Bœuf-Letters of a Surveyor, etc .- Scenery. . 303
SECTION II.
Magnitude of the Great Lakes-Lake Currents-Fish Exhibit -Hatcheries - Ancient Mariner-The Lighthouses - Flash Lighthouse Life-saving Station-Waterworks-War for the Union-Soldiers and Sailors' Home. . 319
1 SECTION III.
Johnson Island Plot-United States Steamer Michigan-Rev- enue Cutters - Railroads - Rapid Transit - Liberty Bells- Erie - Some Towns and Townships- Grapes - Postoffices- Census-City Hall-Government Building-Petroleum-Gas -The Weather-Parks-Massassauga-Height of Lakes. . . 341 SECTION IV.
Biographies of Dr. Usher Parsons-Capt. W. W. Dobbins (an extract)-Oliver H. Perry-Maj. Andrew Ellicott-Two For-
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CONTENTS.
eigners-Dr. F. N. Thorpe-Rev. C. Dickson, D.D .- William Wallace, Esq .- Wallace Family-Judge Converse-Rev. T. H. Robinson, D.D. - Judge A. Tourgee - Bishop J. F. Spaulding-Rev. Dr. Stuckenberg-Dr. Artemas Martin- Rev. Dr. Chamberlain-Miss E. Ditto-Dr. and Ernest Inger- soll -- Rev. K. Fullerton - Messrs. Perkins -Judge James Thompson and family-Hon. William L. Scott-Visits of Nine Presidents-Citizens mentioned
SECTION V.
Churches - Revivals - Missionary Annual Meeting - Public Schools-Academy-Villa Maria-Lake Shore Seminary-St. Benedict-Clark's Business College-W. C. T. U .- Y. M. C. A. -Hamot and St. Vincent Hospitals-Home of the Friendless -Three New Charities-Bequests of John Weis and R. Wil- cox-Sisters of St. Joseph. . 407
SECTION VI.
Water Commissioners-Hon. W. L. Scott-Palatial Residences -The Wadena-Ore Docks-Trestle-Metric Metal-Railroads -County Roads-Freight Report-Banks-Disasters-Storage
-Homeopathic Hospital-A Synopsis-World's Fair Awards. 434
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
An Account of the Eries-Traditions Concerning Them-Their De- struction-Symbols found on Kelly's or Cunningham's Island- Indian Remains.
" A noble race! but they are gone, With their old forests wide and deep, And we have built our homes upon Fields where their generations sleep."-BRYANT.
AT the beginning of the seventeenth century the fierce and powerful Indian tribe called Erigas, Eries, Erie-honons, Mad Spirits or Cat tribe, occupied the southern borders of the lake now bearing their name. The same tribe was known to the French as the Neutral nation or Chats, and to the Dutch as Shaonons or Satanas. Champlain, in his first map, made no mention of them, locating other tribes in their territory ; subsequently he heard of them when in the Huron country. The territory they occupied, according to Charleroix, was the celebrated valley of the Niagara River. On its northern margin they were found spreading both east and west on the shores of Lakes Erie and Ontario, but not to any great dis- tance. Shea describes the localities of the tribes thus : "The Wyandots, traders of the West, lay in their densely-peopled villages, well fortified by ditch and palisade, on a small penin- sula in Lake Huron ; southwest lay their allies, the Tionon- tates, whose luxuriant fields of tobacco won for them and their fertile hills the name of Petuns ; and south and east of these, stretching beyond the Niagara and its marvelous cataract, lay the many clans of the Atiwandaronk, friends to the Huron and Algonquin, friends, too, to the Iroquois, and . called by the French the Neutral nation ; east of these, in
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
New York, stretching from the Genesee to the mouth of the Mohawk, lay the five clans of the Hohnnoncliiendi, whose name remains in the natural features of New York, and who are now known collectively by the French name Iroquois ; west of these, on the southern shore of Lake Erie, lay the far- famed archers, the Eries or Cat tribe, who have melted away like a dream; on the Susquehanna were the Andastes or Conastagues, friends of the Huron and Swede, few but brave." The Eries at this time numbered twenty-eight villages, and twelve large towns or forts ; these contained 12,000 souls, 4,000 of whom were fighting men.
In 1653, Le Moyne, an adopted Indian and priest, took his departure from Quebec, and landing at Oswego proceeded to the town of Onondaga. Here he was received with pomp, and after offering the authorities presents from the French governor, he commended to them peace and the faith of which he was the minister. Captive Hurons, of whom there were no less than a thousand in their midst, had prepared the way for the missionary by their instructions, causing the adults and children to desire baptism at his hands. Among others, a chief setting out against the Eries, on the eve of his departure begged for baptism. The prudent missionary coun- seled him to defer the rite to a future time, when he would visit them again. "Ah, brother !" exclaimed the chief, "if I have the faith can I not be a Christian to-day? Art thou master of death, to prevent its striking me without thy order ? Will the shafts of the foe be blunted for me? Must I, at every step in battle, dread hell rather than death? Unless thou baptize me I shall not dare to meet the blows. Baptize me, for I will obey thee, and give thee my word to live and die a Christian." Such entreaties could not be resisted, and Le Moyne being persuaded of the chieftain's fitness, baptized him by the name of John Baptist, and the next day each set out on his different career. The baptized warrior was success- ful. Inspired by his zeal, the braves when surrounded by the Eries, invoked the God of the Christian, and vowed to embrace the faith if victory were granted. The tide of battle was changed, and the thousand braves of Onondaga drove an Erie force, which quadrupled theirs, from a strong post and
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