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 34
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Colonel Washington was at this consultation, and was opposed to the new road. Washington's arguments in favor of the southern route were as follows :
"CAMP AT FORT CUMBERLAND, August 2, 1758.
" SIR,-The matters of which we spoke relative to the roads have, since our parting, been the subject of my closest reflection, and so far am I from altering my opinion that the more time and attention I bestow the more I am confirmed in it, and the reasons for taking Braddock's road appear in a stronger point of view. To enumerate the whole of these reasons would be tedious, and to you, who are become so much master of the subject, unnecessary. I shall, therefore, briefly mention a few only, which I think so obvious in themselves, that they must effect- ually remove objections.
" Several years ago the Virginians and Pennsylvanians commenced a trade with the Indians settled on the Ohio, and, to obviate the many in- conveniences of a bad road, they, after reiterated and ineffectual efforts to discover where a good one might be made, employed for the purpose several of the most intelligent Indians, who, in the course of many years' hunting, had acquired a perfect knowledge on these mountains. The Indians, having taken the greatest pains to gain the rewards offered for this discovery, declared that the path leading from Will's Creek was in- finitely preferable to any that could be made at any other place. Time and experience so clearly demonstrated this truth that the Pennsylvania traders commonly carried out their goods by Will's Creek. Therefore the Ohio Company, in 1753, at a considerable expense, opened the road. In 1754 the troops whom I had the honor to command greatly repaired it, as far as Gist's plantation, and in 1755 it was widened and completed by General Braddock to within six miles of Fort Duquesne. A road that has so long been opened and so well and so often repaired must be much firmer and better than a new one, allowing the ground to be equally good.
" But supposing it were practicable to make a road from Raystown quite as good as General Braddock's, I ask, have we time to do it? Cer- tainly not. To surmount the difficulties to be encountered in making it over such mountains, covered with woods and rocks, would require so much time as to blast our otherwise well-grounded hopes of striking the important stroke this season.
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
" The favorable accounts that some give of the forage on the Rays- town road, as being so much better than that on the other, are certainly exaggerated. It is well known that on both routes the rich valleys be- tween the mountains abound with good forage, and that those which are stony and bushy are destitute of it. Colonel Byrd and the engineer who accompanied him confirm this fact. Surely the meadows on Braddock's road would greatly overbalance the advantage of having grass to the foot of the ridge, on the Raystown road ; and all agree that a more barren road is nowhere to be found than that from Raystown to the inhabitants, which is likewise to be considered.
" Another principal objection made to General Braddock's road is in regard to the waters. But these seldom swell so much as to obstruct the passage. The Youghiogheny River, which is the most rapid and soonest filled, I have crossed with a body of troops after more than thirty days almost continued rain. In fine, any difficulties on this score are so trivial that they really are not worth mentioning. The Monongahela, the largest of all these rivers, may, if necessary, easily be avoided, as Mr. Frazier, the principal guide, informs me, by passing a defile, and even that, he says, may be shunned.
" Again, it is said there are many defiles on this road. I grant that there are some, but I know of none that may not be traversed, and I should be glad to be informed where a road can be had over these moun- tains not subject to the same inconvenience. The shortness of the dis- tance between Raystown and Loyal Hanna is used as an argument against this road, which bears in it something unaccountable to me, for I must beg leave to ask whether it requires more time or is more difficult and expensive to go one hundred and forty-five miles on a good road already made to our hands than to cut one hundred miles anew, and a great part of the way over impassable mountains.
" That the old road is many miles nearer Winchester in Virginia and Fort Frederick in Maryland than the contemplated one is incontestable, and I will here show the distance from Carlisle by the two routes, fixing the different stages, some of which I have from information only, but others I believe to be exact.
FROM CARLISLE TO FORT DUQUESNE BY WAY OF RAYSTOWN.
Miles.
From Carlisle to Shippensburg 21
Shippensburg to Fort Loudon 24
Fort Loudon to Fort Littleton 20
66 Littleton to Juniata Crossing . 14
Juniata Crossing to Raystown 14
93
Raystown to Fort Duquesne . 100
193
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
FROM CARLISLE TO FORT DUQUESNE BY WAY OF FORT FREDERIC AND CUM- BERLAND.
Miles.
From Carlisle to Shippensburg 21
Shippensburg to Chamber's I2
66 Chamber's to Pacelin's 12
66 Pacelin to Fort Frederic I2
66 Fort Frederic to Fort Cumberland 10
97
Fort Cumberland to Fort Duquesne 115
212
" From this computation there appears to be a difference of nineteen miles only. Were all the supplies necessarily to come from Carlisle, it is well known that the goodness of the old road is a sufficient compensation for the shortness of the other, as the wrecked and broken wagons there clearly demonstrate."- The Olden Time, vol. i.
For many years all government supplies for western forts, groceries, salt, and goods of every kind, were carried from the east on pack-horses over this Forbes road. One man would sometimes have under his con- trol from fifty to one hundred pack-horses. A panel pack-saddle was on each horse, and the load for a horse was about two hundred pounds. Forts were established along the line of the road, and guards from the militia accompanied these horse-trains, guarding them by night in their " encampments" and protecting them by day through and over the mountains.
This Braddock road and Raystown road were nothing more than trails or military roads, and it was not until 1784 or 1785 that the State opened a road from the east to the west over Forbes's military trail.
General John Forbes died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the 15th of March, 1759.
One hundred years ago this pioneer road was crowded by carriers with their pack-horses going westward, laden with people, salt, iron, and merchandise.
" The pack horses then travelled in divisions of twelve or fifteen, going single-file, each horse carrying about two hundred-weight ; one man pre- ceded and one brought up the rear of the file. Later on the carriers, to their bitter indignation, were supplanted by the Conestoga wagons, with their proud six-horse teams, with huge belled collars, the wagon stored with groceries, linens, calico, rum, molasses, and hams, four to five tons of load ; by law none of these wagons had less than four inch tires on its wheels."
From 1784 to 1834 was the stage coach era in this country. In the year 1802 the government started a line of coaches between Philadelphia
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
and New York, carrying their own mail. This was continued for three years, clearing an average profit yearly of four thousand dollars. In 1834 the postmaster-general and the government preferred railroad transporta- tion where it could be had. The government required from the railroads a schedule time of thirteen miles an hour for the mails. I give as near as I can learn the pioneer individual stage-coach mail lines.
PIONEER MAIL-COACHES EAST AND WEST, AND TO CROSS THE ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS.
"PHILADELPHIA AND PITTSBURGH MAIL STAGES.
"A line of stages being established and now in operation to and from each of the above places. This line will start from John Tomlin- son's, Market-street, Philadelphia, every Friday morning, via Harris- burgh and Chambersburgh, to Pittsburgh, and perform the trip in 7 days. It will also start from THOMAS FERREE'S the Fountain Inn, Water-street, Pittsburgh, every Wednesday morning, same rout to Philadelphia, and perform the trip in 7 days ; Fare-Passengers 20 dollars and 20 lb. bag- gage free ; all extra baggage or packages, if of dimentions such as to be admitted for transportation by this line, to pay 12 dollars per 100 1b. the baggage or the packages to be at the owner's own proper risque unless especially receipted for by one of the proprietors, which cannot be done if the owner is a passenger in the stage, same trip. These stages are constructed to carry three passengers on a seat, and more never shall be admitted.
" This line will also leave John Tomlinson's as above every Tuesday morning for Chambersburgh, making the trip in 212 days, and leave Mr. Hetrick's tavern in Chambersburgh, every Wednesday at noon, for Philadelphia, and make the trip in 21% days ; fare 9 dollars and 50 cents, under the same regulations as above.
" The public will perceive by this establishment, that they have a direct conveyance from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh once a week, and from Philadelphia and Chambersburgh twice a week.
" The proprietors being determined that their conduct shall be such as to merit support in their line.
" JOHN TOMLINSON & CO. " July 3rd, 1804."
"PHILADELPHIA AND PITTSBURGH MAIL STAGES.
" The Proprictors
" With pleasure now inform the public that they run their line of stages twice in the week to and from the above places.
" They leave John Tomlinson's Spread Eagle, Market-street, Phila- delphia, every Tuesday and Friday morning, at 4 o'clock, and Thomas
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
Ferry's Fountain Inn, Water-street, Pittsburgh, every Wednesday and Saturday morning, perform the trip in seven days. Fare each passenger 20 dollars ; 14 lbs. of baggage free ; extra baggage to pay 1212 cents per 1b. This line runs through Lancaster, Elizabeth Town, Middle Town, Harrisburgh, Carlisle, Shippensburgh, Chambersburgh, McConnell's- town, Bedford, Sommerset, Greensburgh, &c.
"As usual they continue to run their line of Stages in conjunction with Mr. Scott, from Philadelphia, to the City of Washington, via Lan- caster, Columbia, York, Hanover, Petersburgh, Frederick Town, &c. three times a week, Summer establishment, and twice a week in winter. Also their daily Stages from Philadelphia and Lancaster continue, as heretofore. All baggage transported by any of the above lines of Stages is to be and remain at the risque of the owner. The Proprietors of the above lines respectfully thank the public for their past favours : Would be glad they would increase them ; and they will pledge themselves, neither expence in reason, or attention, shall not be wanting on their part to make their several lines respectable.
" JOHN TOMLINSON & CO. " Nov. 9th, 1804."
PIONEER MAIL-ROUTES AND POST-OFFICES-EARLY MAIL-ROUTES AND POST-OFFICES-TRANSMISSION OF MONEY THROUGH MAILS AND OTHERWISE.
The pioneer post-office was established in this State under an act of Assembly, November 27, 1700,-viz. :
"AN ACT FOR ERECTING AND ESTABLISHING A POST OFFICE.
" Whereas, The King and the late Queen Mary, by their royal letters patent under the great seal of England, bearing date the seventeenth of February, which was in the year one thousand and six hundred and ninety- and one, did grant to Thomas Neal, Esquire, his executors, administrators and assigns, full power and authority to erect, settle and establish within the King's colonies and plantations in America, one or more office or offices for receiving and dispatching of letters and packets by post, and to receive, send and deliver the same, under such rates and sums of money as shall be agreeable to the rates established by act of parliament in Eng- land, or as the planters and others should agree to give on the first settle- ment, to have, hold and enjoy the same for a term of twenty-one years, with and under such powers, limitations and conditions as in and by the said letters patent may more fully appear ;
" And whereas, The King's Postmaster General of England, at the request, desire and nomination of the said Thomas Neale, hath deputed Andrew Hamilton, Esquire, for such time and under such conditions as in his deputation is for that purpose mentioned, to govern and manage the
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
said General Post Office for and throughout all the King's plantations and colonies in the main land or continent of America and the islands adjacent thereto, and in and by the said deputation may more fully appear :
" And whereas, The said Andrew Hamilton hath, by and with the good liking and approbation of the Postmaster General of England, made application to the proprietary and governor of this province and territories and freemen thereof convened in general assembly, that they would ascertain and establish such rates and sums of money upon letters and packets going by post as may be an effectual encouragement for carrying on and maintaining a general post, and the proprietary and governor and freemen in general assembly met, considering that the maintaining of mutual and speedy correspondencies is very beneficial to the King and his subjects, and a great encouragement to the trade, and that the same is best carried on and managed by public post, as well as for the preventing of inconveniences which heretofore have happened for want thereof, as for a certain, safe and speedy dispatch, carrying and recarrying of all letters and packets of letters by post to and from all parts and places within the continent of America and several parts of Europe, and that the well ordering thereof is matter of general con- cernment and of great advantage, and being willing to encourage such a public benefit :
" (SECTION 1.) Have therefore enacted, and be it enacted by the said Proprietary and Governor of this Province and Territories, by and with the advice and consent of the Freemen thereof in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, That there be from henceforth one general letter office erected and established within the town of Phila- delphia, from whence all letters and packets whatsoever may be with speed and expedition sent into any part of the neighboring colonies and plantations on the mainland and continent of America, or into any other of the King's kingdoms or dominions, or unto any kingdom or country beyond the seas ; at which said office all returns and answers may like- wise be received, etc., etc."
The pioneer mail-route through this wilderness was over the old State Road ; it was established in 1805. It was carried on horseback from Bellefonte to Meadville. The route was over the State Road to what is now the Clarion line ; from there over a new road to the Allegheny River or Parker's Ferry, now Parker's City ; up the river to Franklin, and from there to Meadville. The pioneer contractor's name was James Randolph, from Meadville. The next contractor was Hamilton, from Bellefonte ; then by Benjamin Haitshour and others, until the turnpike was completed ; then the first stage contract was taken by Clark, of Perry County. He sent on his coaches by John O'Neal, and from that time until the present the mail has been carried through this county ;
341
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
and in 1812 we got our news from a Meadville paper, edited by Thomas Atkinson, called the Crawford Weekly Messenger. The nearest post- office west was Franklin, and east was Curwinsville. All papers that came through the county were carried outside the mail and delivered by the mail-carrier. Our nearest post-office south was at Kittanning, Arm- strong County, and when any one in the neighborhood would go there they would bring the news for all and distribute the same.
In 1815 the United States had three thousand post-offices. The postage for a single letter, composed of one piece of paper, under forty miles, eight cents ; over forty and under ninety miles, ten cents ; under one hundred and fifty miles, twelve and a half cents : under three hun- dred miles, seventeen cents ; under five hundred miles, twenty cents ; over five hundred miles, twenty-five cents. The law was remodelled in 1816 and continued until 1845, as follows,-viz. : Letters thirty miles, six and a quarter cents ; over thirty and under eighty miles, ten cents ; over eighty and under one hundred and fifty miles, twelve and a half cents ; over one hundred and fifty and under four hundred miles, eighteen and three-quarter cents ; over four hundred miles, twenty-five cents. If the letter weighed an ounce, four times these rates were charged. Newspaper rates, in the State or under one hundred miles, one cent ; over one hundred miles or out of the State, one and one-half cents. Periodicals, from one and one-half to two, four, and six cents. A portion of the records of the postmaster-general's office at Washing- ton were destroyed by fire in the year 1836; but it has been ascer- tained that an advertisement was issued May 20, 1814, for once-a-week service on route No. 51, Bellefonte to Franklin, Pennsylvania, from Janu- ary 1, 1815, to December 31, 1817, Jefferson Court-House being men- tioned as an intermediate point ; that on May 26, 1817, an advertisement was issued for service between the same points from January 1, 1818, to December 31, 1819 ; and on May 26, 1819, service as above was again advertised from January 1, 1820, to December 31, 1823; the service during these years connecting at Franklin with another route to Mead- ville.
Owing to the incompleteness of the records of the office at Washing- ton, for the reason above stated, the names of all the contractors prior to 1824 cannot be given ; but under advertisement of June 10, 1823, for once a-week service on route 158, Bellefonte to Meadville, from January 1, 1824, to December 31, 1827, contract was made with Messrs. Hayes and Bennett, of Franklin, Pennsylvania, at the rate of sixteen hundred dollars per annum.
From the best information at hand, it appears that a post-office was established at Port Barnett, Pennsylvania, January 4, 1826, the name changed to Brookville, September 10, 1830 ; that from the date of the establishment of the post-office to December 31, 1839, the office was
342
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
supplied by star route from Bellefonte to Meadville, Pennsylvania, Messrs. Bennett and Hayes being the contractors to December 31, 1831, Messrs. J. and B. Bennett to December 31, 1835, and Mr. Benjamin Bennett to December 31, 1839.
From January 1, 1840, Brookville was supplied by route from Cur- winsville to Meadville, Pennsylvania (the service having been divided on Curwinsville, the eastern route being from Lewistown via Bellefonte and other offices to Curwinsville), Mr. Jesse Rupp being the contractor to June 30, 1844, and Mr. John Wightman to June 30, 1848.
Prior to 1826, or the completion of the turnpike, there was no post- office in this wilderness. Not until the county had been organized for twenty-two and the pioneers had been here for twenty-five years was a post-office created. The second mail-route in this county commenced at Kittanning, Pennsylvania, and ended in Olean, New York. The route was one hundred and ten miles long. It was established in 1826. Ros- well P. Alford, of Wellsville, Ohio, contractor and proprietor. The mail was to be carried through once a week, and this was done on horse- back, and the pay for this service was four hundred dollars a year. The following-named post-offices were created in this county to be supplied by the carrier on this route :
Port Barnett, Pine Creek township, January 4, 1826 ; Joseph Barnett, postmaster.
Montmorenci, Ridgeway township, February 14, 1826 ; Reuben A. Aylesworth, postmaster.
Punxsutawney, Young township, February 14, 1826; Charles R. Barclay, postmaster.
Hellen, Ridgeway township, April, 1828 ; Philetus Clarke, postmaster.
Brockwayville, Pine Creek township, April 13, 1829, Alonzo Brock- way, postmaster.
From the information at hand it appears that an advertisement was issued in the year of 1825 for proposals carrying the mails on star route No. 79, from Bellefonte, by Karthaus, Bennett's Creek, Rockaway, Gil- lett's, and Scull's, to Smithport, Pennsylvania, once in two weeks, from January 1, 1826, to December 31, 1827 ; and that in 1827 an advertise- ment was issued for service on route No. 219, from Bellefonte, by Karthaus, Fox, Bennett's Branch, Ridgeway, Gillett's, Scull's, Montmorenci, Ser- geant, and Smithport, Pennsylvania, to Olean, New York, once a week, from January 1, 1828, to December 31, 1831.
There is no record showing the contractors during the above terms.
In the year 1831 an advertisement was issued for star route No. 1127, from Bellefonte, by Milesburg, Karthaus, Bennett's Branch, Fox, Kerseys, Ridgeway, Montmorenci, Clermontville, Smithport, Allegheny Bridge, Pennsylvania, and Mill Grove, New York, to Olean, New York, once a week, from January 1, 1832, to December 31, 1835, and contract
343
PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
was awarded to Mr. James L. Gillis, of Montmorenci, with pay at the rate of six hundred and seventy-four dollars per annum.
In 1835 an advertisement was issued for service on route No. 1206, from Bellefonte, by Milesburg, Karthaus, Bennett's Branch, Caledonia, Fox, Kersey, Ridgeway, Williamsville, Clermontville, Smithport, Farmers Valley, Allegheny Bridge, Pennsylvania, and Mill Grove, New York, to Olean, New York, once a week, from January 1, 1836, to December 31, 1839, and contract was awarded to Mr. Bernard Duffey (address not given) at six hundred and twenty-eight dollars per annum.
In 1839 an advertisement was issued for service on route No. 1593, from Bellefonte, by Milesburg, Karthaus, Caledonia, Fox, Kersey, Ridgeway, Williamsville, Clermontville, Smithport, Farmers Valley, Allegheny Bridge, Pennsylvania, and Mill Grove, New York, to Olean, New York, once a week between Bellefonte and Smithport, and twice a week the residue of route, from January 1, 1840, to June 30, 1844, and contract was awarded to Mr. Gideon Ions (address not given) at eight hundred and forty-five dollars per annum.
EARLY POSTMASTERS, WHEN APPOINTED.
Brookville .- Jared B. Evans, September 30, 1830 ; Cephas J. Dun- ham, March 30, 1833; William Rodgers, January 19, 1835 : John Dougherty, August 18, 1840 ; Samuel H. Lucas, June 25, 1841.
Brockwayville .- Dr. Asaph M. Clarke, March 14, 1838.
Clarion, now Corsica .- John McAnulty, February 8, 1833; John J. Y. Thompson, November 29, 1843.
Cool Spring .- James Gray, April 17, 1838.
Heathville .- Elijah Heath, September 24, 1841.
Montmorenci .- Jesse Morgan, March 13, 1828; James L. Gillis, April 7, 1828.
Punxsutawney .- John W. Jenks, December 15, 1828 ; David Barclay, November 2, 1830 ; Charles R. Barclay, December 21, 1831 ; John Hunt, October 17, 1837 ; James McConaughey, February 11, 1839 ; John R. Rees, December 29, 1843.
Prospect Hill .- Tilton Reynolds, May 18, 1842.
Summerville .- David Losh, February 14, 1839; Geo. Richards, October 4, 1839 ; Samuel B. Taylor, October 20, 1840 ; James Gardner, October 4, 1841 ; Ira Baldwin, January 12, 1843.
Warsaw .- Thos. McCormick, August 15, 1836 ; David McCormick, January 17, 1838 : Moses B. St. John, May 12, 1839.
Whitesville .- John Keim, December 14, 1835.
Like every other business in those days, the postmaster trusted his patrons, as the following advertisement exhibits,-viz. :
" All persons indebted to C. J. Dunham for postage on letters or newspapers are notified to call and pay off their bills to James M. Steed-
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PIONEER HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNA.
man, or they may look for John Smith, as no longer indulgence can or will be given.
" February 18, 1834."
Barter was taken in exchange for postage. In those days uncalled- for letters were advertised in the papers. The pioneer advertisement of letters was in the Philadelphia Gasette, March 26, 1783.
In the thirties distance governed the postage on letters up to four hundred miles and more. The price of such a letter was twenty-five cents. The postmaster, who was also a merchant, took produce for letters the same as for goods, and for postage on such a letter as named would receive two bushels of oats, two bushels of potatoes, four pounds of butter, or five dozen eggs. To pay the postage on thirty-two letters such as named the farmer would have to sell a good cow. "In early times it was death by the law to rob the United States mails."
In the pioneer days, or previous to about 1860, there was no bank in Jefferson County. There was no way to transmit funds except sending them with a direct messenger or by some neighbor who had business in the locality where you desired to send your money. An adroit way was to secure a ten-, fifty-, or one-hundred-dollar bill, cut it in two, send the first half in a letter, wait for a reply, and then enclose the other half in a letter also. The party receiving the halves could paste them together. The pioneer merchants when going to Philadelphia for goods put their silver Spanish dollars in belts in undershirts and on other parts of their person, wherever they thought it could be best concealed. In this way on horseback they made journeys. Every horseback rider (tourist) carried a pair of leather saddle-bags.
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