USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Brookville > A pioneer history of Jefferson county, Pennsylvania and my first recollections of Brookville, Pennsylvania, 1840-1843, when my feet were bare and my cheeks were brown > Part 33
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"J. J. Y. THOMPSON, " Secretary."
A temperance society was formed in Brookville by a small number, principally young men, on the evening of the 23d of September, 1836. At this meeting there were only ten names signed to the pledge. The following officers were duly chosen,-viz. : President, Andrew C. Hall ; Vice-Presidents, Samuel Craig, William A. Sloan ; Recording Secretary, James M. Craig ; Corresponding Secretary, James McCrackin ; Treasurer, James Park ; Managers, Thomas McGinty, Thomas M. Barr, John Shrenk.
The pledge was at first " only to abstain from ardent spirits ;" but on the 2d of January, 1837, after several meetings held in the school-house, it was changed "to that of total abstinence." The secretaries, in a re- port to the society, on the evening of March 6, 1836, say since the organ- ization of the society seven meetings have been held, at which the names of forty-one persons, at different times, have been added.
" The secretaries feel that they, in common with all other members of this society, owe a tribute to the ladies of Brookville and vicinity, no less than nineteen of whom have nobly come out and attached their names to the pledge." Rev. Hallock, Rev. Barris, Thomas Lucas, and other speakers addressed the monthly meetings.
This society was the only one organized body in the temperance work in the county until 1842, when the Washingtonians organized their socie- ties. Colonel Hugh Brady, S. B. Bishop, Esq., and others led this movement.
325
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
CONTINUOUS WATER COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE EASTERN AND WESTERN WATERS.
" To carry out successfully the gigantic project of uniting the great eastern with the great western waters was supposed to require an amount of capital and of credit beyond the control of any joint-stock company, and the pre eminent power and credit of the State herself was enlisted in the enterprise. Unfortunately, to do this required legislative votes. and these votes were not to be had without extending the ramifications of the system throughout all the counties whose patronage was necessary to carry the measure. In March, 1824. commissioners were appointed to explore a route for a canal from Harrisburg to Pittsburg by the way of the Juniata and Conemaugh, and by the way of the West Branch of the Susquehanna. Sinnemahoning, and the Allegheny, and also between the head-waters of the Schuylkill, by Mahanoy Creek. to the Susquehanna. with other pro- jects. In 1825 canal commissioners were appointed to explore a number of routes in various directions through the State. In August, IS25. a convention of the friends of internal improvement, consisting of delegates from forty-six counties. met at Harrisburg, and passed resolutions in favor of 'opening an entire and complete communication from the Sus- quehanna to the Allegheny and Ohio, and from the Allegheny to Lake Erie. by the nearest and best practicable route.' The starting impulse being thus given, the great enterprise moved on, increasing in strength and magnitude as each successive Legislature convened ; and the citizens of every section were highly excited. not to say intoxicated, with local schemes of internal improvement. Contemporaneously with these enter- prises. anthracite coal began to be successfully introduced for family use ; and, besides, the discovery of vast and rich deposits of this mineral, almost exclusively in Pennsylvania. the circumstance was an additional reason for the construction of improvements. Iron-mines and salt-wells were also opened. stimulated by the high tariff of 1828, and the rich bitu- minous coal-fields west of the Allegheny invited enterprise and specula- tion to that quarter. To describe the various public works that grew out of the powerful impulse given from 1826 to 1836 would require itself a small volume. Suffice it to say that in October, 1834. the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad was opened for travelling. The main line of canal had been previously completed, and in the same month, on the completion of the Allegheny Portage Railroad, an emigrant's boat, from the North Branch of the Susquehanna, actually passed over the Allegheny Mountains, with all its family on board, and being launched into the canal at Johnstown, proceeded on its route to St. Louis :"-Day's Recollections.
" Yesterday the report of B. Aycrigg, Esq., the engineer employed by the State to examine and report on the practicability of a continuous
326
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
water communication between the Susquehanna and Allegheny Rivers, was received, accompanied by his estimate of the expense. The House ordered two thousand copies to be printed.
" The canal will be 1 29 miles long, and is estimated to cost $3,767, 377 : add five per cent., $188,368 ; making a total of $3,955,745.
" Mr. Aycrigg remarks that the estimate is not of the probable, but of the greatest expense, and that he believes if the work be properly con- structed a considerable surplus will be left.
" The tunnel, according to his estimate, will cost two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and will take two years longer to make than the other parts of the canal. He therefore recommends an immediate appro- priation to that part of the work, including the heavy embankments forming the reservoir.
" We think this is the most important State object that can occupy the attention of the Commonwealth. It will open an avenue by water to Philadelphia, not only for the commerce of the Ohio, but the commerce of the Great Lakes. It will do away with the necessity of a transship- ment over the mountains, and it will crown our canals, so as in a short time to require double locks, and not only contribute to our commercial prosperity, but enrich the treasury of the Commonwealth. The Legisla- ture, then, ought not a moment to delay its action. If any improvement is to be delayed, let it be some of the almost useless ones that have re- ceived the favor of the Committee on Internal Improvements, as will be seen by a reference to the appropriation bill now on the files of the House."-Pennsylvania Intelligencer, March 9, 1837.
" We are pleased to learn by our Harrisburg papers that Mr. Aycrigg -the engineer who was engaged last summer in exploring the country between the waters of the Susquehanna and Allegheny Rivers-made his report to the Legislature on Thursday morning last, the 15th. What will be most gratifying to the citizens of this section of country is the fact that the report is favorable to the Red Bank route. The Pennsylva- nia Intelligencer says, ' We have taken the trouble to read his report in manuscript, and are pleased with the valuable information it contains. He has found a route by the way of Anderson's Creek, which empties into the West Branch, and Red Bank, which empties into the Allegheny, where a water communication can be made. He recommends a reservoir on the summit. By constructing a mound 40 feet high, across the valley of Sandy Lick Creek, three-eighths of a mile in length, a reservoir of 3 square miles can be made, which will contain 1,672,704,000 cubic feet of water, and that water can be supplied there during 240 days to pass 115,600 boats. The lockage is 693 feet,-by 83 locks westward to the Allegheny River at the mouth of Red Bank, and by 99 locks eastward to the mouth of the Sinnamahoning. The whole distance from the mouth of the Sinnamahoning to the mouth of Red Bank is 12814 miles.'
327
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" It may be remembered that we during the course of the past season took occasion to remark that it was our opinion, and we thought well founded, too, that Mr. Aycrigg would report in favor of this route. Though we do not pretend to the spirit of prophecy, yet we felt certain that our prediction would, as it did, prove true. But a word with regard to the great advantages that will arise to this county. Perhaps no docu- ment ever issued from the press is of more vital importance to our citizens than the report in question. It involves the interests of the farmer and mechanic, and deeply interests the merchant and tradingman. Our un- improved lands must immediately rise in value ; our timber will prove a source of wealth, and for years an almost inexhaustible quantity of it will be found ; our bituminous coal, iron ore, and other minerals make the prospects of our county equally flattering, should this contemplated im- provement be completed, with any other in Western Pennsylvania."- The Jeffersonian, December 22, 1836.
It is needless to say this great enterprise was never consummated.
PIONEER COUNTY BRIDGE ACROSS RED BANK.
" Petition for a bridge across Red Bank Creek at Brookville. Re- corded on Road Docket, January 19, 1836.
" THOMAS HASTINGS, Clerk.
" TO THE JUDGES OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF THE COUNTY OF JEFFERSON NOW HOLDING A COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS OF THE PEACE IN AND FOR SAID COUNTY :
" The petition of the subscribers, inhabitants of the township of Rose in said county, respectfully represent that a bridge is much wanted over Red Bank Creek at the place where the public highway from the borough of Brookville to Indiana crosses the said creek in the township of Rose in said county, and that the erection of said bridge will require more expense than it is reasonable the said township should bear.
" Your petitioners therefore pray the Court to appoint proper persons to view the premises, and to take such order on the subject as is required and directed by the act of Assembly in such case made and provided. And they will ever pray, etc.
"John J. V. Thompson, Charles C. Gaskill, John Beck, Wm. Corden, John Rhoads, James Shields, Wm. Thompson, Joseph Magiffin, Robt. Andrews, Wm. B. Kennedy, Robert Morrison, Jacob Milliron, Sheridan Mccullough, John Love, William Steele, John Jones, John McAninch, James Clover, Henry Smith, John Brownlee, Jacob M. - , Isaac Hallon, John Rine, Peter Groff, Philip Burns, Wm. Clark, Robert E. Kennedy, Lewis Sharer, John Wilson, Thos., Lucas, Thomas Witherow, Robert Witherow, Frederick Heterick, Joseph Hughes, Isaac Covert, Joseph Hall, Ramsey Potter, Wm. Kennedy, Thomas Hastings, John A.
328
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Matthews, D. M. Riddle, Paul Vandevort, John Smith, Miran Gibbs, Jacob Mason, Cyrus Blood, James M. Craig, George Darling, James Fullerton, James Henry, Wm. Rodgers, Christopher Barr, William Fer- guson, Joseph Sharpe, John Christy."
This pioneer county covered bridge was a wooden one, made of pine timber. It was erected across Red Bank Creek in the borough of Brook- ville, a few feet west of where the present iron structure on Pickering Street now stands. There were no iron nails used in its construction, and only a few hand-made iron spikes. The timbers were mortised and tenoned, and put together with wooden pins. This was a single span bridge of one hundred and twenty feet in length, with no centre pier, and of the burr truss plan. It had two strings of circle arches, resting on the stone abutments. I find the following official records in the court dockets :
" At the February session of court, February 13, 1836, 'upon the petition to the honorable judges of said court of many inhabitants of Jefferson County, setting forth that they labor under great inconvenience for want of a bridge across Red Bank Creek, where the Hamilton road enters Pickering Street in the borough of Brookville, asking the Court to appoint viewers, whereupon the Court appointed the following-named persons to view the road and make a report to the Court,-viz. : John Dougherty, John Matson, Sr., James K. Huffman, Daniel Coder, Robert Morrison, and John Philliber.'" These viewers made their report to the Court May 10, 1836, " that the bridge was indisputably necessary."
At the September session, 1836, the Court approved this report and ordered the county to pay four hundred dollars to the construction of the bridge.
The following official advertisement for bids I copy from the Brook- ville Jeffersonian for 1836 :
" NOTICE.
" The building of a bridge across Red Bank Creek, on Pickering Street, will be sold to the lowest bidder on Thursday, the 15th day of September next, at 1 o'clock P.M.
" A plan of said bridge will be shown at the commissioners' office, on Monday, 12. Sufficient security will be requested of the undertaker for the faithful performance.
" By order of the commissioners.
" JOHN WILSON, Clerk.
" COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE, BROOKVILLE, November 24, 1836."
The bridge was let by the commissioners December 15, 1836, to Messrs. Thomas Hall and Richard Arthurs, contractors. The contract called for the completion of the bridge by September, 1837. The ac-
22
329
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
cepted contract bid was seven hundred and ninety-five dollars. When finished the bridge was a good solid structure, but was a curious pile of wood and stones.
Many memories to the old citizen clustered around this bridge, but time has effaced the bridge and will efface the memories. On its planks generations have met, passed, and repassed, and from its stringers fishers dropped many a hook and line. Up to and later than 1843, Brookville had three natatoriums, or swimming-pools,-viz., one at the head of what is now Heidrick, Coleman & Co.'s dam on the North Fork, one at the " Deep Hole" near the Sand Spring, on the Sandy Lick, and one at or underneath the covered bridge on Red Bank. In those days, from the time we had May flowers until the chilling blasts of November ar- rived, one of the principal sports of the men and boys was swimming in these " pools." We boys, in summer months, all day long played on the bosom of these waters or on the border-land. The busy men, the doctor, the statesman, the lawyer, the parson, the merchant, the farmer, the mechanic, and the day laborer, all met here in the summer eve with boisterous shouts of joy and mirth to welcome up the moon. Of course, we had some skilful plungers and swimmers, who were as much at home in these waters as the wild ducks and geese of that day. An artist could swim on his back, on either side, under the water, float on his back, tread or walk in the water, and plunge or dive from almost any height. The beginner or boy, though, always commenced his apprentice- ship in this graceful profession by swimming with his breast on a piece of plank, board, or old slab. But alas to the pioneer,-
" Swimming sports, once deemed attractive,
Haunts amidst the bloom of laurel flowers,
Radiant charms that pleased my senses In my boyhood's sunny hours,
Have departed like illusions, And will never more be ours."
POPULATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Counties.
Year 1840.
Adams
23,044
Allegheny
S1,235
Armstrong
28,365
Beaver
29,368
Bedford
29,335
Berks
64,569
Bradford
32,769 Bucks .
48,107
Butler
22,378
Cambria
11,256
Centre
20.492
Chester
57.515
330
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Counties.
Year 1840.
Clarion
9,500
Clearfield
7,834
Clinton
8,323
Columbia
24,267
Crawford
31.724
Cumberland
30,953
Dauphin
30,1IS
Delaware
19,791
Erie
3.412
Fayette
33,574
Franklin
37,793
Greene
19,147
Huntingdon
35,484
Indiana
20,782
Jefferson
7,253
Juniata
II.OSO
Lancaster
84,203
Lebanon
21,872
Lehigh
25.787
Luzerne
35,906
Lycoming
22,649
McKean .
2,975
Mercer
32,873
Mifflin
13,092
Monroe
9,879
Montgomery
47,241
Northampton
40,996
Northumberland
20,027
Perry
17,096
Philadelphia
258,037
Pike
3,832
Potter .
3,371 Schuylkill
29,053
Somerset
19,650
Susquehanna
21,195
Tioga
15,498
Union
22,787
Venango
17,900
Warren
9,278
Washington
41,279
Wayne
11,848
Westmoreland
42,699
Wyoming
8,100
York
47,010
1,705,601
Jefferson County was not organized in 1830, and the census was not reported, only as a whole. Males in county, 1065 ; females, 940 ; total, 2005.
331
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
PIONEER AND EARLY COUNTIES, DATE OF FORMATION, AND NUMBER OF ACRES IN EACH.
No.
Name.
Date of Formation.
Acres.
I
Philadelphia
March 10, 1682
One of Penn's original counties
So,S40
2
Chester .
66
387,200
3
Lancaster
May
10, 1729
6.
Lancaster
576,000
5
York .
Aug.
19, 1749
66
66
Lancaster
348,160
6
Cumberland
Jan.
27, 1750
66
Philadelphia, Ches- ter, and Lancas-
S
Northampton
66
II, 1752
66
66
Bucks
240,000
9
Bedford
Northumberland
66
27, 1772
66
Cumberland, Berks, Bedford, and
292,480
II
Westmoreland . Feb. 26, 1773
Bedford, and in 1785 part of the Indian purchase of 1784 was added
672,000
12
Washington .
March 28, 17SI
Westmoreland
573,440
13
Fayette .
Sept.
26, 1783
66
Cumberland
480,000
15
Montgomery .
10, 1784
66
Philadelphia
303,080
16
Dauphin
March
4, 1785
66
Lancaster
357,760
17
Luzerne
Sept.
25, 1782
66
Northumberland
S96,000
IS
Huntingdon
66
20, 1787
66
Bedford
537,600
19
Allegheny .
66
24, 17SS
66
Westmoreland and Washington
482,560
20
Mifflin
19, 1789
66
66
Cumberland and
Northumberland
286,Soo
21
Delaware
66 26, 1789
66
Chester
113,2So
22
Somerset
April
17, 1795
66
Washington
389,120
23
Greene
Feb.
9,1796
66
Northampton
460,Soo
25
Lycoming
April
13, 1796
66
66
Northumberland
691,200
26
Adams
Jan.
22, ISOO
66
66
York
337,920
27
Centre
Feb.
13, 1800
Mifflin, Northum- berland, Lyco- ming, and Hunt- ingdon .
6SS,000
28
Armstrong
March 12, 1800
66
Allegheny, West- moreland, and
408,960
29
Beaver
Washington
298,240
30
Butler
66
12, 1800
66
Allegheny
629,760
32
Erie
66
12, IS00
66
Allegheny
480,000
33
Mercer
12, 1800
66
66
Allegheny
416,000
34
Venango
66
13, 1800
66
Allegheny
I Ly-
coming
330,240
35
Warren
"
12, ISOO
66
66
Allegheny and Ly- coming
551,040
36
Indiana
30, 1803
Lycoming
492,800
37
McKean
66
20, IS04
66
66
Lycoming
716,800
66
9, 177I
66
66
Cumberland
636,160
IO
Bucks
.6 10, 1682
From a part of Chester
608,000
4
7
Berks
March II, 1752
ter
588,800
Northampton . .
66
66
Westmoreland
527,360
1.4 Franklin
66
9, 1784
66
Allegheny
and
12, ISOO
66
Allegheny
502,400
31 Crawford
Bedford
682,240
24
Wayne
March 26, 1796
66
Lycoming .
12, ISO0
332
66
Westmoreland and
472,320
10, 16S2
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
PIONEER AND EARLY COUNTIES, DATE OF FORMATION, AND NUMBER OF ACRES IN EACH .- Continued.
Acres.
38
Clearfield
March 26, IS04
From a part of Lycoming
and
Northumberland
761,600
39
Jefferson
66
26, IS04
66
66
Lycoming
412,800
40
Potter
26, 1804
66
Lycoming
384,000
41
Cambria
26, IS04
Huntingdon, Som-
42S,Soo
42
Tioga
6
26, IS04
66
66
Lycoming
714,240
43
Bradford *
Feb.
21, ISIO
66
66
Luzerne an coming
Ly-
44
Susquehanna
66
21. ISIO
66
66
Luzerne
510,080
45
Schuylkill .
March
I, ISII
Berks and North- ampton
485,400
46
Lehigh
66 6, 1812
66
Northampton .
232,960
47
Lebanon
Feb.
16, 1813
Dauphin and Lan- caster .
195,840
48
Columbia
March 22, ISI3
66
Northumberland
275,840
49
Union
66
22, 1813
66
Northumberland
165,120
50
Pike
26, 1814
66
66
Wayne
384,000
51 Perry .
66 22, 1820
66
Cumberland
344,960
52
Juniata
66 2, 1831
66
Mifflin
224,640
53
Monroe
April
1, IS36
66
66
Northampton Pike
and
54
Clarion
March 11, 1839
66
Venango and Arm- strong .
384,000
55
Clinton
June 21, 1839
66
Lycoming and Cen- tre
591,360
56
Wyoming
April 4, 1842
66
Northumberland and Luzerne
261,760
57
Carbon
March 13, IS43
66
Northampton
and
5S
Elk
April IS, IS43
66
66
Jefferson, Clearfield, and McKean
446,720
* Previous to March 24, IS12, this county was called Ontario.
333
Monroe
256,000
No,
Name.
Date of Formation.
erset, and Bedford
751,300
384,000
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
CHAPTER XIX.
PIONEER SETTLEMENT OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA-PIONEER PENNSYL- VANIA INDIAN TRADERS-THE PIONEER ROAD BY WAY OF THE SOUTH BRANCH OF THE POTOMAC AND THE VALLEY OF THE KISKIMINITAS-THE PIONEER ROAD FROM EAST TO WEST, FROM RAYSTOWN, NOW BEDFORD, TO FORT DUQUESNE, NOW PITTSBURG, A MILITARY NECESSITY-GEN- ERAL JOHN FORBES OPENS IT IN THE SUMMER AND FALL OF 1758- COLONEL GEORGE WASHINGTON OPPOSED TO THE NEW ROAD AND IN FAVOR OF THE POTOMAC ROAD-DEATH OF GENERAL JOHN FORBES- PIONEER MAIL-COACHES, MAIL-ROUTES, AND POST-OFFICES.
"WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA was untrodden by the foot of the white man before the year 1700. As early as 1715 and 1720 occasionally a trader would venture west of the Allegheny Mountain, and of these the first was James Le Tort, who resided in 1700 east of the Susquehanna, but took up his residence west of it, Le Tort Spring, Carlisle, in 1720. Peter Cheaver, John Evans, Henry DeVoy, Owen Nicholson, Alexander Magenty, Patrick Burns, George Hutchison, all of Cumberland County ; Barnaby Currin, John McGuire, a Mr. Frazier, the latter of whom had at an early day a trading-house at Venango, but afterwards at the Mo- nongahela, at the mouth of Turtle Creek, were all traders among the Indians. But no attempt had been made by the whites at settlements in the region now occupied by the several counties west of the Alleghenies before 1748, when the Ohio Company was formed. This company sent out the undaunted Christopher Gist, in 1750, to explore the country and make report. He, it is said, explored the country 'from the South Branch of the Potomac northward to the heads of the Juniata River, crossed the mountains, and reached the Allegheny by the valley of Kis- kiminitas. He crossed the Allegheny about four miles above the forks, where Pittsburg now stands, thence went down the Ohio to some point below Beaver River, and thence over to the Muskingum valley.' The first actual settlement made was within the present limits of Fayette County, in 1752, by Mr. Gist himself, on a tract of land, now well known there as Mount Braddock, west of the Youghiogheny River. Mr. Gist induced eleven families to settle around him on lands presumed to be within the Ohio Company's grant.
" The more southern part of Western Pennsylvania (Greene, Wash- ington, Fayette, and part of Somerset), which was supposed to be within the boundaries of Virginia, was visited by adventurers from Maryland
334
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
prior to 1754. Among these were Wendel Brown and his two sons and Frederick Waltzer, who lived four miles west of Uniontown. David Tygart had settled in the valley which still bears his name in Northwest- ern Virginia ; several other families came here a few years afterwards. These were the only settlements attempted prior to Braddock's defeat, and those made immediately afterwards, or prior to 1760, were repeatedly molested, families murdered, cabins burnt, and, for a time, broken up, alternately abandoned and again occupied.
" The treaty of 1762 brought quiet and repose to some extent to the English colonies, and the first settlers on the frontiers returned to their abandoned farms, but they were soon again obliged to leave their homes and retire for safety to the more densely settled parts. Bouquet prosecuted his campaign with success against the Indians, and in November, 1764, compelled the turbulent and restless Kyashuta to sue for peace and bury the hatchet on the plains of Muskingum, and finally humbled the Delawares and Shawanese. Soon after the refugee settlers returned to their cabins and clearings, resumed their labors, extended their improvements, and cultivated their lands. From this time forth the prosperity of Pennsyl- vania increased rapidly, and the tide of immigration with consequent settlements rolled westward, though the pioneer settlers were afterwards greatly exposed.
" Previous to 1758, Westmoreland was a wilderness trodden by the wild beast, the savage, and, like other portions of Western Pennsylvania, by an occasional white trader or frontiersman. No settlements were attempted prior to this date, when Fort Duquesne, afterwards Fort Pitt, was abandoned by the French, became an English military post, and formed a nucleus for an English settlement, and two years afterwards (1760) a small town was built near Fort Pitt, which contained nearly two hundred souls, but on the breaking out of the Indian war, in 1763, the inhabitants retired into the fort, and their dwellings were suffered to fall into decay. In 1765, Pittsburg was laid out."-History of Western Penn- sylvania.
This southern exploration was through what is now Somerset, Fayette, Westmoreland, and Allegheny Counties. In 1754, Lieutenant-Colonel George Washington, then twenty-one years old, penetrated this wilder- ness and improved this road. In 1755, General Braddock, accompanied by Washington, marched his army over this road. Hence the road has always been called Braddock's road.
The pioneer road from east to west was opened up in September, 1758, by General John Forbes. He commanded an army of about eight thousand men. General Forbes marched in the spring from Philadelphia with his troops to Raystown (now Bedford), but on account of the small- pox in his army he was detained at Carlisle, and failed to reach what is now Bedford until the middle of September. At a consultation of his
335
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
officers at this point it was decided to cut out a new road over the mountains from Raystown to Loyalhanna, now in Westmoreland County, a distance of forty-five miles.
This new road passed through what is now Bedford, Somerset, and Westmoreland Counties. Colonel Bouquet, with twenty-five hundred men, cut out the road in September and October of that year.
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