A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. I, Part 7

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray
Publication date: 1909-1930
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press
Number of Pages: 734

USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. I > Part 7

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

* See original 1787 survey of Plymouth Township previously mentioned.

+ See Chapter XXXVII.

# See "The Harvey Book," page 623.

VIEW OF TILLBURY'S KNOB AND A PART OF WEST NANTICOKE. From Honey Pot Mountain, opposite Nanticoke Falls and the mouth of Harvey's Creek. From a photograph taken in Angust, 1903.

HARVEY'S CREEK, Near the base of Tillbury's Knob, in 1899.

Nanticoke Creek-in Hanover Township on the south or left side of the river, into which the creek empties nearly a half inile east of Nanticoke Falls. The falls, the creek and the nearby borough of Nan- ticoke received their common name by reason of the fact that, prior to the first settlements in Wyoming by white men, a band of Nanticoke Indians dwelt for a few years near this particular locality-as will be more fully related in a subsequent chapter. Nanticoke Creek is forined by two branches-one, the eastern branch, rising in the mountains back of tlie borough of Sugar Notch, flowing into the valley through Warrior Gap, and known in that locality as Warrior Ruin; the other, the main branch, having its source partly in Newport Township, and joined by the eastern branch about one and a-half miles east of the borougli of Nanticoke. Near its mouth the creek is joined by Newport Creek, which flows from the hills of Newport down between the borough of Nanticoke and Honey Pot Mountain to the lowlands. On the plot of the Manor of Stoke previously referred to Nanticoke Creek is set down as "Muddy Run"; but certainly as early as 1776-as is shown by the

Westinoreland records-it had received its present name. On the manu- script map referred to on page 27 Newport Creek is correctly shown, but bearing the name "Nanticoke Creek."

Solomon's Creek-so called, says Pearce ("Annals," page 170), "from a Mr. Solomon who settled near its confluence with the Susque- hanna in 1774." This stream has its chief source in Wright Township, Luzerne County, whence it flows through Solomon's Gap, previously mentioned, into Hanover Township. It passes through the borough of Ashley, receiving in its course two or three small tributaries, the prin- cipal one of which rises in the uplands of Wilkes-Barre Township. Crossing the Wilkes-Barre-Hanover boundary-line it flows a short distance within the limits of the city of Wilkes-Barre, and then, flowing back into Hanover, pursues a south-westerly course along the margin of the Upper Hanover Flats to the river. From the Wilkes-Barre line to the river the streamn has been known for some years as Buttonwood Creek, because there were at one time inany buttonwood trees grow- ing along its banks. This stream-from source to mouth-is desig-

nated as "Moses' Creek" on the plot of the Manor of Stoke previously mentioned ; and is indicated by the same name on William Scull's maps of Pennsylvania published in 1770 and 1775. On the manuscript map mentioned on page 27 it is noted as "Moses' or Solomon's Creek." Why the name "Moses" was given to it we do not know ; but in all probability it was named for some Indian chief who dwelt hereabouts in early days, and was known by the name of "Moses" to the traders and surveyors who visited the valley at that period.

The accompanying photo-illustra- tions of the Lower and Upper Falls of Solomon's Creek are reduced copies of LOWER FALLS. wood-engravings, after drawings by Jacob Cist of Wilkes-Barré, published in The Portfolio of Philadelphia in the year 1809-the one in the November and the other in the December issue of the inagazine. In the latter issue there appears, also, the following description (in part) of these falls-written without doubt by Mr. Cist :

"Among the numerous streams that rush from the mountain into the bosomn of the majestic Susquehanna, the beautiful cascade of Solomon's Falls is well calculated to gratify the ardent admirer of the works of Nature. It is situated about three miles from Wilkesbarre, the county-town of Luzerne, Pennsylvania. Surrounded with dark hem- locks, the rocks stained with moss and partially covered with laurel and other ever- greens, it forms one of the finest scenes for the pencil of the painter. Dashing, foaming and working its tempestuous way down the mountain's side, it here precipitates itself, in the most romantic and picturesque manner, over a ledge of rocks between fifty and sixty feet high into a natural bason of about twenty-five feet diameter ; from which, winding beneath o'erhanging rocks, it passes through a narrow, perpendicular fissure and pours into a second bason, forming the lower fall-from which latter it runs in a rapid and winding course to the river."

VIEW OF THE UPPER HANOVER FLATS AND OF THE UPPER END OF RICHARDS' ISLAND. From a photograph taken in 1901 from the west end of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad bridge.

Sharp D. Lewis of Wilkes-Barré, writing of these falls in 1830, said (see Chapman's "Wyoming," Appendix, page 186) :

UPPER FALLS.

"In Solomon's Creek, about midway up the mountain and two miles from Wilkes- barre, in what is called Solomon's Gap, is a beautiful cascade, which has long been visited as a great natural curiosity. Its wild and romantic aspect, and the delightful natural scenery around it, have, within a few years, been considerably injured by the erection of a very superior merchant mill immediately below the falls, by Gen. William Ross of Wilkesbarre, who is the proprietor of this valuable water-power."

A visitor of to-day to the locality just described would find it difficult to discover many remains or traces of the "picturesque" and "delight- ful" conditions mentioned as exist- ing there seventy and more years ago; and which, in fact-as the present writer remembers-con- tinued in evidence, to a degree, up to about thirty or thirty-five years ago.

Mill Creek-rising in Jenkins Township, Luzerne County, and flowing from two sources in two branches (one of which is locally known as Gardner's Creek) into Plains Township, where, near the village of Hudson, the branches unite. Flowing in a zig-zag course through the latter township Mill Creek is joined by Laurel Run near the northern boundary of Wilkes-Barré, from which point the creek runs about three-quarters of a mile east to the river. Laurel Run rises in Bear Creek Town1- ship and flows into Wilkes-Barré Town- ship, whence, run- ning a north-easterly course between Wyo- ming Mountain and Wilkes-Barré Moun- tain, it enters Plains Township, then runs rapidly down into the valley through MILL CREEK NEAR ITS MOUTH, October, 1903. Laurel Run Gap pre- viously mentioned. Both Mill Creek and Laurel Run were streams of considerable size and importance up to about thirty years ago. Mill Creek was originally known as "Beaver Brook," but on the plot of the Manor of Stoke reproduced in Chapter VII it is noted as Mill Creek.

On drafts of surveys* made by Charles Stewart for the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania in 1771, in the region through which this creek runs, it is designated "Beaver Brook-now Mill Creek." On William Scull's maps of Pennsylvania published in 1770 and 1775 it is noted as Mill Creek. This name it has borne to the present time without change.

A GLIMPSE OF LAUREL RUN, August, 1903.

The fact that this stream- as well as the pond mentioned on page 54-once bore the name "Beaver," would indicate that at the time the name was applied it was known that beavers lived and worked in and about those partic- 11lar bodies of water. The remark- able animals known by this name are now said to be very rare, even in remote parts of the United States and Canada; and, until the year 1901, none had been seen in Penn- sylvania-except in captivity-for many years. But in the year men- tioned it was discovered that several beavers had settled themselves in a swamp near Stroudsburg, in Mon- roe County-which, by the way, is

alinost on the south-eastern border of the old-time Wyoming region. In consequence of this new "settlement" the Pennsylvania Legislature at its last session passed a law for the protection of beavers. t

In addition to the streamns just described there were in Wyoming Valley, in early days, several other brooks and creeks tributary to the Susquehanna. Of some of these the beds still remain, and along them rivulets run for a few days during seasons of rains and freshiets ; but of the other streams and their chan- nels every trace has disappeared. Among the latter was a little brook that had its source in several springs lying near the intersection of the present Washington and Jackson streets, Wilkes-Barré. Flowing south to a point a little way above the present West Market Street, between North Baltimore Street and the tracks of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, this brook was joined by

ANOTHER VIEW OF LAUREL RUN.

* See early copies in possession of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society.

+ It is a well-authenticated fact that in early times the Iroquois Nation once made war against the Illinois Indians, and nearly destroyed that tribe, because they had violated one of the game-laws of the hunting nations in not leaving a certain number of male and female beavers in each pond or stream where they had their habitat

VIEW OF THE MOUTH OF MILL CREEK, HOLLENBACK CEMETERY, ETC. From a photograph taken in 1901 from the Kingston shore of the river

another little stream flowing down from near the corner of the present Scott and Bowman streets. At about Market Street the brook flowed into a "bog-pond" or marsh lying along the foot of the heights to the south- east of Public Square. Thence the brook meandered in a south- westerly course down to a point a little below the corner of the present Wood Street and South Main Street; then tttried to the north and flowed to about the corner of the present Terrace and West River streets, whence, changing its course slightly, it ran a short distance across the flats and emptied into the river at its elbow, where the swirling waters

long bore the name of Fish's Eddy .* The course (across the flats) of this old-time, nameless brook is fairly well shown on the plot of the Manor of Stoke reproduced in Chapter VII, and also on a "Map of the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys" facing page 328 of The American Journal of Science and Arts for July, 1830 (No. 2 of Vol. XVIII). Henry B. Plumb, referring to this brook, says in his "History of Hanover Township" (page 39) :

"It is entirely unknown to the present generation, the sources of it having been cut off by the digging of the canal in 1833, and its bed having been filled in nearly all the way from the canal to the river ; but, at and near the river, there is quite a depression where the creek once ran and fell into the larger stream. This creek carried off the water -the surface drainage-from the region now known as 'Moseytown,' and from all the back part of ancient Wilkes-Barré Borough. This creek, or 'small stream,' emptied into the river at the place where the ice-pondt now [1885] is, but its channel thien was as deep as the river bed, and passed along the upper side and partly through the present ice-pond, and emptied into the river six or eight rods above the foot of Ross Street. This is about midway between Market Street and the island [Fish's]."

It is impossible now to state with any certainty when the name Wyoming-considered in any one of the various forms in which it has appeared in the past-was first applied to the region just described. According to Heckewelder (mentioned on page 42) the word Wyoming is a corruption of Maugh-wau-wa-me, the name given to the valley by the Lenni Lenâpé or Delaware Indians ; which name being compounded of the words maugh-wau, meaning "large, or extensive," and wa-me, signifying "plains, or meadows," may be translated "The Large Plains." Chapinan, Stone, Miner, Pearce and other authorities have adopted this explanation of the origin and meaning of the name.}

Heckewelder says, further, that the Delawares pronounced the first syllable of Maugh-wau-wa-me short, and the early Moravian mission- aries, catching the sound as nearly as they could, "wrote the name Pchweu-wa-mi." This form of the name, however, does not occur anywhere in the records of the many formal and informal transactions that took place between the different Governors of Pennsylvania and the Indians in early times. The first allusion to Wyoming in those records -so far as can now be ascertained-is contained in the minutes of a conference held by Governor Gordon with Indians from the Susque- hanna "at the great meeting-house in Philadelphia" in June, 1728, on which occasion Sassoonan, or Allummapees, King of the Delawares, stated that the Monseys, or Minsis, lived "in the Forks of Susquehanna above Mechayomy [Wyoming]." In September, 1732, at a conference

* See Miner's "Wyoming," page 343.

+ This ice-pond was situated on a small plot of ground in the territory now bounded by West Ross, West River, Terrace and Sheldon streets.

¿ See Isaac A. Chapman's "A Sketch of the History of Wyoming," page 10; W. I .. Stone's "Poetry and History of Wyoming," page 80; Charles Miner's "History of Wyoming," page xv; Stewart Pearce's "Annals of Luzerne County," page 159, and Bulletin of the United States Geological Survey, No. 197, page 278.

in Philadelphia between the Governor and some Indians from Onondaga, New York, the chief speaker in behalf of the latter requested that they be helped on their "journey homewards with horses, from Tulpehocken [in Berks County] to Mechayomy."* In this same year Governor Gordon received information from four Shawanese chiefs relative to the removal in 1728 of certain Shawanese from Pechoquealin on the Delaware River to "Mcheahowming (Wyoming), by order of the Six Nations."" These recorded forins, "Meehayomy" and "Meheahowming", resulted, without doubt, from the writers' attempts to spell the name Maugh-wau-wa-me, or AIchweu-wa-mi, according to their conception of its pronunciation.

In later years other corruptions and pronunciations succeeded those mentioned, and we find, in official and other authentic records, "Weyomin," in the year 1742; "Woyumoth" and "Woyumok" used at an Indian Council at Philadelphia in April, 1743; "Wyomic" and "Wajomick" used at this same period by Moravian missionaries ; "Wiöming" on Lotter's map of 1748 and Evans' map of 1749, reproduced in Chapter IV; "Wioming" on Kitchin's map of 1756 (reproduced in Chapter V), on Scull's map of Pennsylvania published in 1759, and even on a map of the United States published in London, England, as late as December, 1783. In numerous official communications that passed between Governor Hamilton of Pennsylvania and Conrad Weiser (Indian Agent and Interpreter for the Province) during the years 1753- '55 "Wyomink" was the forin generally used by both men ; although Weiser sometimes used the form "Wyomock." "Wyoming" is the form used on Scull's maps of Pennsylvania published in 1770 and 1775, by which time-or, in fact, a few years earlier-the spelling and pro- nunciation of the name had become pretty generally well settled, and have remained so to the present time.

But, for a period of thirty or more years, Wyoming was known to many Indians (particularly the Iroquois) and some white men by another name also-"Skehantowana" or "Skahendowana." In April, 1737, Conrad Weiser referred to a visit that he had made to "Skehan- dowana" a short time previously when returning from a journey to Onon- daga. In 1742 Count Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf (of whom much is related in succeeding chapters) wrote in his "Narrative" a brief account of his visit to "Skehandowana."} In March, 1755, Conrad Weiser wrote Governor Morris relative to the contemplated settlement of New England men at "Scahantowana."$ In July, 1755, deputies of the Six Nations in conference with Sir William Johnson said : "The land which reaches down from Oswego to Schahandowana, we beg may not be settled by Christians." Conrad Weiser reported to Governor Morris in December, 1755, relative to certain Delaware Indians living at Nescopeck, "half way from Shamokin to Schandowana or Wyomick" ;|| and in the same inonth the Rev. Gideon Hawley, at Aughquagey [Oquaga, or Ocquaga], New York, wrote to Sir William Johnson concerning a certain English- man who, shortly before, had gone to "Scahandowana, alias Wioming."T

* See W. C. Reichel's "Memorials of the Moravian Church," I : 69.

+ See Pearce's "Annals." page 21.

# See Reichel's "Memorials of the Moravian Church." 1 : 69.

¿ See "Pennsylvania Archives," First Series, II : 259.

See Reichel's "Memorials," I : 69, 70.

" See "Documentary History of the Colony of New York, " VII : 17.

Colonel Stone says in his "Poetry and History of Wyoming" (note, page 81) : "I have two manuscript letters of Sir William Johnson dated March 23 and 25, 1763, in both of which he writes 'Skahandowana, or Wyoming'." Referring to this name, Chapman says: "The lower flats of the valley-both Wilkesbarre and Plymouth-probably contained 110 trees of any consequence. The name Sgahontowano ('the large flats') given to the valley by the Six Nations, would indicate this; gahonto meaning in their language 'a large piece of ground without trees.'"*

Relative to this seldom-used and less-familiar name of Wyoming, the Rev. Dr. Beauchamp, previously mentioned, has recently given the writer this information :

"Skehantowana is Iroquois, variously spelled. Zeisberger (in his Onondaga Lexi- con ) gives Gahunta as 'a field'-Gahuntowanna as 'flat country.' Although a notable authority, I rarely depend on him. In Onondaga, K'ahentah is now 'a field' ; in Mohawk, Kaheanta; in Cayuga, Kaheantae. These differences disappear in combination, and secretaries and interpreters did not always hear or spell alike. Of course there are some- times several words to express the same thing. Thus Kwana, Io and Gowah all mean 'great' ; so that Skehantowana and Skehandowa are essentially the same. The con- tracted prefix 's' is locative, and does not materially affect the meaning ; it is added or dropped at pleasure. In combinations of nouns and adjectives there is often a contrac- tion, and sometimes the original word is contracted. Thus the Senecas call Elmira [New York ] by contraction Skwedoa, 'Great Plain', from the longer form once applied to Wyoming, and meaning the same. Among the Iroquois 'd' and 't,' also 'g' and 'k,' are interchangeable.

"The definition of this word as now used in Onondaga would be 'great plain, or field,' from Skahenta, or Kahentah, 'field,' and either Gowah, or Gwanne, 'great.' All the other variations depended on the ears and hands of early writers ; and from my own experience in taking down Indian words these variations are not surprising. Chapman's explanation is good, but Gahonto is simply 'a field,' not a large field."

Reference is made in the preceding chapter to some of the many histories of Wyoming that have been published. In all of them are to be found passages, more or less interesting, describing some of the natural beauties of the valley. But, in addition to the publications mentioned, others issued from the press within the past century and a-quarter liave contained many contributions of prose and verse to the collection of descriptive and legendary literature relating to Wyoming ; and it is a fact, without much doubt, that up to about fifty years ago poetry and legend had done more than anything else to immortalize the name and the beauty of this valley-for strangers and pilgrims came to it, visited its historic spots, wandered through its woods, floated on the bosom of its river and climbed its mountains quoting Campbell, Halleck and other writers not historians.

In the circumstances, therefore, it seems appropriate and desirable to gather into this chapter at this point, and make readily accessible, some extracts from a few of the most interesting poems and descriptive passages referred to; especially in view of the fact that within recent years great changes have taken place in the physical as well as the artificial features of the valley. Villages, towns and cities now crowd upon each other throughout the whole length of the valley, where, less than one hundred years ago, there were only a few hamlets sparsely inhabited. But, although the Genius of Civilization has despoiled Wyoming of many of its natural beauties and charms, still

"From the fair glory of hier girdling hills, To Flora's inmost fane, on fair Wyoming Lingers a grace of outline fine, which fills Brimful the sense of beauty !"

* See page 42, quotation from Heckewelder.

Charles Miner, who had come to Wyoming in the year 1800, and who lived here for the greater part of his life thereafter, wrote of the valley in 1845 (see his "History of Wyoming," pages xiii and xiv) :

"The valley, itself, is diversified by hill and dale, upland and intervale. Its character of extreme richness is derived from the extensive flats, or river bottoms, which in some places extend from one to two miles back from the stream, unrivalled in expansive beauty ; unsurpassed in luxuriant fertility. Though now generally cleared and culti- vated, to protect the soil from floods a fringe of trees is left along each bank of the river -the sycamore, the elm and, more especially, the black-walnut ; while here and there, scattered through the fields, a huge shellbark yields its Summer shade to the weary laborer, and its Autumn fruit to the black and gray squirrel or the rival plough-boy.

"Pure streams of water come leaping from the mountains, imparting health and pleasure in their course, and all of them abounding with the delicious trout. Along those brooks and in the swales, scattered through the uplands, grow the wild-plum and the butternut, while, wherever the hand of the white man has spared it, the native grape may be gathered in unlimited profusion. I have seen a grape-vine bending beneath its purple clusters, one branch climbing a butternut tree, loaded with fruit, another branch resting on a wild-plum tree, red with its delicious burden ; the while growing in their shade the hazlenut was ripening its rounded kernel.

"Such were common scenes when the white people first came to Wyoming, which seems to have been formed by Nature a perfect Indian paradise. Game of every sort was abundant. The quail whistled in the meadow ; the pheasant rustled in its leafy covert ; the wild-duck reared her brood and bent the reed in every inlet ; the red-deer fed upon the hills, while in the deep forests, within a few hours' walk, was found the stately elk. (Several persons now living delight to relate their hunting prowess in bringing down this noblest of our forest inhabitants. ) The river yielded at all seasons a supply of fish- the yellow-perch, the pike, the cat-fish, the bass, the roach and, in the Spring season, myriads of shad."

The Rev. Edmund D. Griffin, a grandson of Col. Zebulon Butler, and at the time of his death in 1830 a member of the faculty of Columbia College, New York, wrote as follows in 1817 (when he was only a youth) after a visit to Wyoming :

"When we had ascended the second mountain we went a short distance from the road upon a ledge of rocks *- and what was it first struck my sight? Was it a darkly frowning wilderness beneath me? Did a rushing, foaming cataract pour its streams along ? No ! a scene more lovely than imagination ever painted presented itself to my sight-so beautiful, so exquisitely beautiful, that even the magic verse of Campbell did not do it justice. The valley extends far and wide, beautified with cultivated fields, and interspersed with beautiful groves. The Susquehanna meanders through it, now disap- pearing and losing itself among the trees, now again appearing to sight, till it is at last entirely hidden among the mountains. * *

"Farewell, Wyoming ! perhaps farewell forever, thou that art beautiful enough to be called the elysium of the ancients, or the promised paradise of Mahomet. Thy groves might be the recesses of departed sages ; thy forests, those of the forgotten Druids of antiquity ; thy cultivated fields, the product of the amusement of those who during life loved rural scenes and employment ; thy open areas, the places where the shades of youth exercised themselves in warlike sports; thy Susquehanna, the bathing-place of nymphs and naiads, and thy houses, the dwellings of those who had formerly been dis- creet housewives."

Prof. Benjamin Silliman of Yale College, who spent a number of days in Wyoming in the Spring of 1830, wrote as follows under date of May 24, 1830 :

"It [the valley] is bounded by grand mountain barriers, and watered by a noble river and its tributaries. The first glance of a stranger entering at either end, or crossing the mountain ridges which divide it (like the happy valley of Abyssinia) from the rest of the world, fills him with the peculiar pleasure produced by a fine landscape, combining ricliness, beauty, variety and grandeur. From Prospect Rock near the rocky summit of the eastern barrier, and from Ross Hill on the west, the valley of Wyoming is seen in one view as a charming whole, and its lofty and well-defined boundaries exclude more distant objects from mingling in the prospect.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. I, Part 7

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray Publication date: 1909-1930 Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press Number of Pages: 734

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray
Publication date: 1909-1930
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press
Number of Pages: 734