USA > Pennsylvania > A pioneer outline history of northwestern Pennsylvania > Part 18
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" When hungry, wolves and bears will eat one another. A bear will fight for its cubs even to death ; a panther will not. Wolves make some fight for their young but not a close one. A large bear will kill a panther in a fight. Bears have wallows, and have paths for miles to and from their dens. These paths are usually blazed on hemlock-trees. Each bear, big or little, travelling the same path, will bite the blazed trees. Wolves have their paths too. Wolves will kill a deer for their young, cut it up, and bury it along their paths. Panthers usually have from two to three cubs in September of each year. A panther will eat only fresh meat.
" I have tamed panthers until they were about two years old, when they became vicious and had to be killed. I have tamed wolves and used them for the same purposes as a dog. They would follow me as dogs, and hunted with me, but at the age of two years I generally had to kill them. For bear-traps, I used venison, groundhog, and beef, for bait. A bear will patiently dig a whole day for a groundhog. I have found many deer horns in the woods, that were locked by combat, each deer having died from this fight. In 1853 my father and I killed five grown panthers on Medix Run. In March of the same year Peter Smith and Erasmus Morey killed six full-grown panthers in the same neighborhood, making eleven in all."
Andrew Jackson Long died at his home, about two miles from Du Bois, June 18, 1900.
CHAPTER VIII
THE OLD STATE ROAD-EARLY ROADS AND TRAILS-WHY THE STATE ROAD WAS MADE-THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE ROAD-LAWS, ETC., TOUCHING THE SUBJECT-THE SURVEY-THE ROAD COMPLETED-THE ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE WHICH SANCTIONED THE BUILDING OF THE ROAD
IN 1791 and 1793 a State road through this wilderness to what is now called Waterford was incepted, agitated, and legalized; but, owing to the Indian troubles of 1791, '92, '93, and '94, all efforts had to be stopped and all legal proceedings annulled and repealed. The Indian troubles were settled in 1794 by war and purchases, and then legal steps were again taken to open up this great northwest in 1795 and 1796. The reader will please bear in mind that Le Bœuf is now Waterford, Pennsylvania, Presque Isle is now Erie City, Pennsylvania, and Bald Eagle's Nest is now Milesburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania.
EARLY ROADS AND TRAILS
In 1784-85 the old State Road from the east was opened through to Fort Pitt in the west over what had been previously a path, or what was called Forbes's Trail. This trail passed through Bedford, Westmoreland, and other counties. In those days the State surveyed and laid out county seats and sold the lots. The lots were generally sold at auction. All gov- ernment stores, as well as groceries and goods of every description, were for a long time carried from the east to the west on pack-horses over trails. One man would sometimes drive a hundred horses.
Guards from the militia were a necessity for their trains. Guards were also a necessity for the road surveyors and road-makers. A body of about fifty militia was the usual number, and sometimes these soldiers would do some work as well as guard the road-makers. Transportation was also car- ried over Meade's Trail, which passed through West Reynoldsville, in the same way. In 1787 the only road from Fort Pitt to Le Bœuf (now Water- ford) was a trail or path through what is now Butler County and up the Allegheny River. The turnpike over or across the old Forbes's Trail was finished to Pittsburg in 1819.
In 1794 the great problem was a thoroughfare from the east to the north- west. The defence of the western portion of the State from Indians required the State and the national authorities to be constantly on the alert. On the
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28th of February, 1794, the Legislature passed an act for " raising soldiers for the defence of the western frontiers." Also at this time a combined effort of the nation and State was made to lay out a town at Presque Isle (now Erie) on Lake Erie.
WHY THE STATE ROAD WAS MADE
In order to protect these frontiers from the British and Indians a road through this wilderness seemed an absolute necessity, hence an act was passed through the Legislature previous to or in 1794, authorizing the surveying and making of a State road from Reading to Presque Isle (Erie City). Colonel William Irvine and Andrew Ellicott were the commissioners. These men were also commissioners to lay out the town of Erie ( Presque Isle). The official instructions to the commissioners and Captain Denny were as follows :
" PHILADELPHIA, March 1, 1794.
" GENTLEMEN,-In providing for the general defence of the frontiers, the Legislature has authorized me to form a detachment of troops, for carry- ing into effect the act directing a town to be laid out at or near Presque Isle ; and as the subject of the commission to survey and lay out a road from Reading to Presque Isle may be promoted by the same measure, I have instructed Captain Denny, the commanding officer of the detachment, to grant to you as commissioners all the aid and protection that is compatible with a due attention to the particular charge which is confided to him. Under these circumstances, I trust you will find it convenient to proceed immediately in the execution of your work.
" I am, gentlemen, " Your most obedient servant, " THOMAS MIFFLIN.
" To WILLIAM IRVINE and ANDREW ELLICOTT, Commissioners for lay- ing out a road from Reading to Presque Isle."
" PHILADELPHIA, March 1, 1794.
" The Legislature having made provision for surveying and opening two roads,-one from Reading and the other from French Creek to Presque Isle, -it is obvious that the establishment of the town is intimately connected with those objects; and, therefore, you shall deem it your duty to grant all the aid and protection to the respective commissioners and contractors employed in surveying and opening those roads that is compatible with due attention to the particular charge confided in you.
" Your most obedient servant,
" THOMAS MIFFLIN.
" To EBENEZER DENNY, EsQ., Captain of the Allegheny Company, &c."
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FIRST ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE ROAD
Captain Ebenezer Denny, with a detachment of soldiers, was ordered by the government to accompany these men. On the arrival of Denny and the soldiers at what is now Franklin, Venango County, he discovered that the Indians were cross and ugly, and General Wilkins, in talking to Mr. Dallas, said, " The English are fixed in their opposition to the opening of the road to Presque Isle, and are determined to prevent it by the English and Indians." Orders were then given to Captain Denny to go no farther than Le Bœuf (now Waterford), and occupy two small block-houses, which had been erected for Commissioners Irvine and Ellicott.
This was the first attempt to open up an east and west road through this wilderness. Governor Mifflin applied to the President for a thousand militia soldiers to enforce this work; but the President counselled peace. Work was suspended at Presque Isle, and it was not until in April, 1795, that all difficulties were removed and Colonel William Irvine and Andrew Ellicott resumed work. At this time Irvine commanded the troops and Ellicott had charge of the surveyors.
LAWS, ETC., TOUCHING THE SUBJECT
"'An Act to provide for opening a road from near the Bald Eagle's Nest, in Mifflin County, to Le Bœuf, in the county of Allegheny,' passed April 10, 1790, published in full in Bioren's ' Laws of Pennsylvania,' vol. vi. p. 24. The reference in the preamble of this act to a road 'in part laid out from Reading to Presque Isle,' is probably to an act passed April II, 1793, appro- priating certain sums of money for laying out a large number of roads within the State. The following appropriation is made in the first section: 'For viewing and laying out a road from Reading to Presque Isle, one thousand three hundred and thirty-three dollars.' This act appears in Bioren's 'Laws,' vol. iv. p. 277 et seq. It is possible, however, that the reference was intended to apply to a road from the Bald Eagle's Nest to the Allegheny River, which was surveyed and laid out under an act passed April 4, 1796, entitled ' An Act for laying out and opening sundry roads within this Commonwealth, and for other purposes.' This act will be found in full in Bioren's 'Laws,' vol. v. p. 187. By this act the governor was authorized and empowered to appoint 'three skilful persons to view the ground, and estimate the expense of opening and making a good wagon road from the Bald Eagle's Nest, or the end of the Nittany Mountain, to the town of Erie at Presque Isle.'
" Under this last act the governor, on the 13th day of April, 1796, appointed William Irvine, Andrew Ellicott, and George Wilson commis- sioners to make the survey. Andrew Ellicott declined the appointment, and Joseph Ellicott was appointed in his place. These men met to examine the situation of the country at the Bald Eagle's Nest and at the end of Nittany Mountain, and determined to start at the Bald Eagle's Nest, now Miles-
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burg, Centre County. It appears, however, that William Irvine returned home, and George Wilson and Joseph Ellicott proceeded to make the survey. Their draft and report are among the records of the department, at Harris- burg, and show their work from the Bald Eagle's Nest to the Allegheny River, a distance of one hundred and sixteen miles by their measurement. After reaching the Allegheny River, they say that in consequence of the failure of horses [gnats and flies killed them], the scarcity of provisions, the advanced season of the year, and various other obstacles which retarded the prosecution of the business, they were compelled to relinquish the object of their mission, and have left above thirty-six miles of the road unfinished.'"
THE SURVEY
The point on the Allegheny River where these surveyors stopped in the fall of 1796 was on the land where Eli Holeman settled in 1800. It is three miles below Tionesta borough, Forest County, Pennsylvania. For the twenty years of travel and traffic of emigrants and others over this old State Road each and all had to ford or cross this ferry. The old State Road never passed through where Clarion now is, or through Franklin or Meadville. It passed through the wilderness away north of these towns, but connected with other State roads running through them. All of the county histories which have been written prior to this one confound this road with the turn- pike, which was not finished or opened for traffic until November, 1824. At Brookville the turnpike survey in 1818 took a separate and distinct southerly course from the old State Road, and passed through Franklin, Meadville, and so forth.
THE ROAD COMPLETED
The road was officially taken from the contractors and a quietus entered as to the contract April 2, 1804. The course of the road through what is now Winslow Township was through Rathmel, down Sandy Lick to the south side, crossing the creek between Sandy Valley and near where West Rey- noldsville now is, where it deflected to the right over the hill, through the farm now occupied by Robert Waite. This State Road was the great public thoroughfare for emigrants from the east to the northwest for a period of twenty years, until the turnpike was finished in 1824. A portion of about seven miles is still in use from Brookville to the Clarion County line, parallel with but north of that part of the turnpike which extends from Brookville to Corsica.
SANCTIONED BY THE LEGISLATURE
The following is the act which authorized the building of the State Road, of which this article is a history :
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" AN ACT FOR LAYING OUT AND OPENING SUNDRY ROADS WITHIN THIS COM- MONWEALTH, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
" WHEREAS, From the increasing population of the northern and north- western parts of this State, it becomes expedient at this time to provide for the laying out and opening the necessary roads, for the accommodation of the same; therefore,
" SECTION I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, etc., That the governor be, and he is hereby, authorized and empowered to appoint three skilful persons to view the ground and estimate the expense of opening and making a good wagon road from the town of Northampton, in the county of Northampton, to the mouth of Tioga, in the county of Luzerne, and from thence, by the most practical route, to the northern line of this State; and three skilful persons to view the ground and estimate the expense of opening and making a good wagon road from the Bald Eagle's Nest, or the end of the Nittany Mountain, to the town of Erie, at Presque Isle ; and to cause the said roads to be surveyed and staked out by the most practicable routes ; and also to cause drafts of the roads to be made in profile, and report to the Legislature the proportional parts of the expense that will be incurred in each county through which the said road will pass ; provided that the commissioners thus appointed shall not stake out any part of the said roads when they may be carried on roads heretofore laid out and opened agreeably to the provisions of former laws of this State.
" SECTION 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the governor be, and he is hereby, empowered to contract, either with indi- viduals, or with companies, for opening a road from Pittsburg, by the way of Fort Franklin, to Le Bœuf, and to draw his warrant on the State Treasurer for a sum not exceeding two thousand dollars, to defray the expense of laying out the roads to Tioga and Erie; a sum not exceeding four thousand dollars, to defray the expense of opening the road from Pittsburg, by Fort Franklin, to Le Bœuff. Provided always, That all contracts to be made by virtue of this act shall be registered by the governor, according to the directions of the eighth section of the act, entitled 'An Act to provide for the opening and improving sundry navigable waters and roads within the Commonwealth,' passed the thirteenth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one .*
" SECTION 3. And be it further enacted, etc., That the governor be, and he is hereby, empowered to draw his warrant in favor of Joseph Horsefield for any sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, to be applied toward remov- ing the fallen timber and other obstructions in the road leading from Jacob Heller's tavern, in Northampton County, to Wilkesbarre, in Luzerne County.
" Passed 4th April, 1796."
* For the act referred to in this section, see vol. iv. chap. 1558.
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CONTRACT AND REPORTS
Here is a copy of the contract and the reports of John Fleming re- lating to the road from Bald Eagle's Nest to Le Bœuff :
" ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT made and entered into this third day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine, between Thomas Mifflin, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, of the one part, and Samuel Miles and Roger Alden, of the City of Philadel- phia, Esquires, of the other part.
" WHEREAS, In and by an Act of the General Assembly, entitled 'An Act to provide for opening a Road from near the Bald Eagle's Nest, in Mifflin county, to Le Bœuff, in the county of Allegheny,' passed the tenth day of April, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine, the Governor is empowered to contract for opening and improving the said road in the manner and on the terms in the said act prescribed : AND WHEREAS, The said Samuel Miles and Roger Alden have made proposals for entering into the said contract upon principles which appear to the Governor most likely to accomplish the good purposes by the Legislature intended: Now THESE ARTICLES WITNESS, That the said Samuel Miles and Roger Alden, jointly and severally for themselves, their Heirs, Executors, and Adminis- trators, covenant, promise, and agree to and with the said Thomas Mifflin and his successors, Governors of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in consideration of the Covenant on behalf of the said Commonwealth herein- after made, That they, the said Samuel Miles and Roger Alden, their Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, shall and will, well and faithfully, and with all convenient diligence, open, extend, and improve the said Road in manner following,-that is to say: That the Road shall be opened generally of such width as to enable and admit two waggons to pass each other, except only in such place or places as from great natural difficulty of Mountains, Hills, Rocks, and Morasses shall render such an undertaking impracticable or unreasonably laborious and expensive, considering the public consideration therefor given. But in all such place or places there shall be a good passage of at least ten feet wide, with proper and convenient passing places in view : And that the said Contractors will advance by anticipation (if necessary) the sums of money requisite to open the said Road in the manner aforesaid. And the said Thomas Mifflin, in consideration of the Covenants and undertaking of the said Contractors, and by virtue of the power in the said Act of Assem- bly to him given, covenants, promises, and agrees to and with the said Samuel Miles and Roger Alden, their Executors, Administrators, and Assigns, that they shall have and receive the sum of Five Thousand Dollars, to be paid out of the first money arising from the sale of the reserved Lands & Lots at the Towns of Erie, Franklin, Warren, and Waterford: And for which sum of Five Thousand Dollars, the said Thomas Mifflin covenants, promises, and
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agrees to draw his Warrant or Warrants on the State Treasurer in favor of the said Contractors. In Witness whereof the parties have hereunto set their respective hands & seals the day and year first above written. (Signed) " SAMUEL MILES, [SEAL ]
ROGER ALDEN, [SEAL ] THOS. MIFFLIN. [SEAL ]
"Sealed and Delivered in the presence of A. W. FOSTER, JNO. MILES."
To the above contract appear the names of George Fox, James Phillips, and Tench Coxe as sureties for its " true, faithful, perfect, and diligent per- formance," and also the following endorsement on the back of the same :
" The Governor, being satisfied, from three several reports of John Fleming, Esquire, (the two first dated on the 16th of December, 1801, & the Ioth of January, 1803, respectively; & the last without date, but delivered into the Secretary's Office in the month of January last,) that Samuel Miles & Roger Alden, Esquires, have completed their contract for opening a road from near the Bald Eagle's Nest to Le Bœuff, by opening and improving the same agreeably to the terms of said contract, as far as could reasonably be expected from the situation and nature of the country through which said road passes, & the public consideration given therefor, this day directed a quietus to be entered upon the contract.
(Signed) " T. M. THOMPSON, Sec.
" April the 2nd, 1804."
" TO HIS EXCELLENCY THOMAS MCKEAN, ESQUIRE, Governor of the State of Pennsylvania:
" SIR,-In pursuance of your Excellency's letter appointing me a Com- missioner to view and report on that part of the State Road from Milesburg to Le Bœuff, which was undertaken to be opened by Col. Samuel Miles, I proceeded to Milesburg and viewed the said Road as shewn to me by Mr. Richard Miles, and beg leave to submit the following Report:
" Beginning at Milesburg the road crosses Bald Eagle creek, over which is a sufficient wooden Bridge, thence up the said creek on the north side of it for five miles; the road passable for waggons. Within these five miles, on the west side of Wallis's run, there is some wet ground a little swampy.
" Leaving the Bald Eagle creek and thence to the foot of the Allegheny mountain, five miles, the Road is good excepting some trees that have fallen across it since it was opened.
" Across the mountain is three miles. The ascent is one mile, of which 240 perches are dug, in some places, nine feet wide. Toward the top it is too steep for carriages. The descent of the mountain is about two miles and gradual.
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" About one mile from the foot of the mountain is a small run difficult to pass.
" Here I must beg leave to remark, as applicable to this as well as to other small runs that may be mentioned in this Report, that many very small streams in the country over which this road passes run in narrow channels, the bot- toms of which lie from one to three feet below the surface of the earth. A footman can step over many of them, where, from the nature of the soil at the bottom, a horse is in great danger of being mired.
" After crossing the last-mentioned run there is a hill which in ascent there are thirty perches, and in descent twelve perches not passable for wag- gons for want of digging. Near this are two small runs, both difficult to pass.
" To Phillipsburg from thence, a distance of more than eight miles, the Road is good, excepting some very swampy ground on the east of what is called the five mile run, and some miry ground at Coldstream, one mile from Phillipsburg. Some more work is necessary on the hill west of the five mile run. The whole distance from Milesburg to Phillipsburg is twenty-six miles.
" Passing Phillipsburg one mile is Moshannon creek. It is not bridged nor is it fordable at the place where the Road crosses it at any season. There is some timber prepared at the place for a bridge. It is about six perches wide with steep banks. There is a Fording about half a mile below. Three miles further the road is good excepting a few wet places. Within two miles further there are two runs, the banks of which are dug, and the road is good.
"Thence to Clearfield creek, four miles, some digging done in two places, and on the hill descending to Clearfield forty perches are well dug; the road is good.
" Thence to the Susquehanna river, five miles, the road good. The breadth of the river is twelve perches.
" Thence to Anderson's creek, nearly three miles, some digging done on Hogback hill. The road in general good.
" Thence to a branch of Anderson's creek, about eight miles, several places dug and some bridges made: the road is tolerably good. More digging and bridges wanted.
" Thence to the waters of Stump creek, about three miles, several bridges made and digging done in some places; the road good.
" Thence five miles, crossing two ridges on each of which there is dig- ging done, and several runs, two of which are bridged. In the latter part of these five miles are two runs necessary to be bridged. With this exception the road is tolerably good.
" Thence to a branch of Sandy Lick creek, about six miles, in several places the road is dug and some bridges made. The road tolerably good.
" Thence about three miles; several steep banks, deep runs and wet places ; road not passable.
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" Thence to the end of Col. Miles' opening is four miles. The road good.
" From Milesburg until the road crosses the Susquehanna the road is opened from sixteen to twenty feet wide, and from thence to the end it is opened from twelve to sixteen feet wide. The whole length of the road opened as aforesaid by Col. Miles is seventy-four miles and eighty-six perches.
(Signed) " JNO. FLEMING.
"December 16, 1801."
Only the commonest goods were hauled into this county from Phila- delphia over the old State Road. The freightage from Philadelphia to Port Barnett was about six dollars per one hundred pounds, and it took four weeks to come from Philadelphia. In 1800 wheat brought one dollar and a half a bushel, wheat flour four and five dollars per one hundred pounds, corn one dollar per bushel, oats seventy-five cents, potatoes sixty-five cents. Tobacco was sold by the yard at four cents per yard, common sugar thirty-three cents, and loaf (white sugar) fifty cents per pound. A hunter's rifle cost twenty- five dollars, a yoke of oxen eighty dollars, boots from one to three dollars, a pair of moccasins about three or four shillings.
S. B. Rowe, in his "Pioneer History of Clearfield County," says, " The State, in order to connect the western frontier with the eastern settlements, had laid out several roads, among others one leading from Milesburg to Erie. This road was opened in the year 1803. It crossed the Susquehanna River near the residence of Benjamin Jordan.
" The Milesburg and Le Bœuff road became subsequently an important and leading thoroughfare. It was a road of the worst kind, laid out with very little skill, and made with a great deal of dishonesty. It had but one bridge- at Moshannon-between Bellefonte and Anderson's Creek, and to avoid dig- ging the hill-side, Anderson's Creek was crossed three times in less than two miles. Large quantities of merchandise passed over it, principally upon pack- horses, companies of which, exceeding a score in number, might often be seen traversing it. Until the place of this road was supplied by an artificial road, located on or near its bed, it was the principal road leading to Erie and the great West. About the time the State Road was supplanted by the turn- pike the now almost forgotten Conestoga wagon, with its heavy horses, walking leisurely along, their tread measured by the jingling of bells, afforded cheaper and better mode of transportation for goods. A trip to Philadelphia to purchase goods or to 'see the sights' of that village was then quite an undertaking, and called for weeks of preparation."
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