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

Author: McKnight, W. J. (William James), 1836-1918
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Philadelphia, Printed by J. B. Lippincott company
Number of Pages: 718


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


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).


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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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