USA > Pennsylvania > A pioneer outline history of northwestern Pennsylvania > Part 24
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War with Mexico .- April 12, 1846, to July 4, 1848: Regulars, 30,954; militia and volunteers, 73,776; total, 112,230.
Americans killed, 4,197; Americans killed in navy, 140; killed from Jefferson County, I.
The United States has always been successful in every war, on land or sea.
A British statesman made the declaration at the commencement of hos- tilities in 1812, " that the assembled navy of America could not lay siege to an English sloop of war." I guess the siege was pretty well laid.
The aggregate number of men raised by the government for the Union armies from 1861 to 1865 reached over two million six hundred and eighty-eight thousand soldiers, and if you add to this the Confederate forces, you will have a grand aggregate of four million of men, at once the largest force ever put on a war footing in any one country in any age of the world.
The United States paid during the Mexican War, to privates in in- fantry, seven dollars per month, and to privates in cavalry, eight dollars per month.
In the war of the Rebellion the United States government paid, until August, 1861, to privates of cavalry, twelve dollars per month, and to privates of infantry, eleven dollars per month. From August 6, 1861, until January 1, 1862, the pay of privates was thirteen dollars per month. Specie payment was suspended by the nation, January 1, 1862, and all payments to soldiers after that were in depreciated currency. From January 1, 1862, the pay of all privates in currency was thirteen dollars per month, until May 1, 1864, equal to about eight dollars in gold. From May 1, 1864, to the close of the
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war in 1865, the pay of all private soldiers was sixteen dollars per month in currency, equal to about ten dollars per month in gold.
Over fourteen million lives were lost from 1800 to 1900 in war.
COST OF PENSIONS
" Of the amount that has been expended for pensions since the foundation of the government, $70,000,000 was on account of the war of the Revolu- tion, $45,326,774.16 on account of service in the war of 1812, $6,980,896.93 on account of service in the Indian wars, $35,162,130.35 on account of ser- vice in the Mexican war, $8,586,200.09 on account of the war with Spain, $2,287,924.99 on account of the regular establishment, and $3,011,373,235.13 on account of the War of the Rebellion."
AN OUTLINE OF THE PIONEER LEGAL RELATIONS OF MAN AND WIFE
Up to and later than 1843, Pennsylvania was under the common law system of England. Under this law the wife had no legal separate existence. The husband had the right to whip her, and only in the event of her com- mitting crimes had she a separate existence from her husband. But if the crime was committed in her husband's presence, she was then presumed not guilty. Her condition was legally little, if any, better than that of a slave.
Under the common law, husband and wife were considered as one person, and on this principle all their civil duties and relations rested.
The wife could not sue in her own name, but only through her husband. If she suffered wrong in her person or property, she could, with her hus- band's aid and assistance, prosecute, but the husband had to be the plaintiff. For crimes without any presumed coercion of her husband, the wife could be prosecuted and punished, and for these misdemeanors the punishments were severe.
The wife could make no contract with her husband. The husband and she could make a contract through the agency of trustees for the wife, the wife, though, being still under the protection of her husband.
All contracts made between husband and wife before marriage were void after the ceremony. The husband could in no wise convey lands or realty to his wife, only and except through a trustee. A husband at death could bequeath real estate to his wife.
Marriage gave the husband all right and title to his wife's property, whether real or personal, but he then became liable for all her debts and con- tracts, even those that were made before marriage, and after marriage he was so liable, except for " superfluities and extravagances."
If the wife died before the husband and left no children, the husband and his heirs inherited her real estate. But if there were children, the husband remained in possession of her land during the lifetime of the wife, and at his death the land went to the wife's heirs.
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All debts due to the wife became after marriage the property of the hus- band, who became invested with power to sue on bond, note, or any other obligation, to his own and exclusive use. The powers of discharge and assign- ment and change of securities were, of course, involved in the leading prin- ciple. If the husband died before the recovery of the money, or any change in the securities, the wife became entitled to these debts, etc., in her own right. All personal property of the wife, such as money, goods, movables, and stocks, became absolutely the property of the husband upon marriage, and at his death went to his heirs.
Property could be given to a wife by deed of marriage settlement.
Property could be settled on the wife after marriage by the husband, pro- vided he was solvent at the time and the transfer not made with a view to defraud.
The wife could not sell her land, but any real estate settled upon her to a trustee she could bequeath.
The husband and wife could not be witnesses against each other in civil or criminal cases where the testimony could in the least favor or criminate either. One exception only existed to this rule, and that was that "the per- sonal safety or the life of the wife gave her permission to testify for her protection." For further information, see my " Recollections."
A PIONEER SONG THAT WAS SUNG IN EVERY FAMILY
" Old Grimes is dead, that good old man, We ne'er shall see him more; He used to wear a long black coat All buttoned down before.
"His heart was open as the day, His feelings all were true; His hair was some inclined to gray, He wore it in a queue.
" Whene'er he heard the voice of pain His breast with pity burned ; The large round head upon his cane From ivory was turned.
"Kind words he ever had for all; He knew no base design; His eyes were dark and rather small, His nose was aquiline.
" He lived in peace with all mankind, In friendship he was true; His coat had pocket-holes behind, His pantaloons were blue.
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" Unharmed, the sin which earth pollutes He passed securely o'er, And never wore a pair of boots For thirty years or more.
"But good Old Grimes is now at rest. Nor fears misfortune's frown; He wore a double-breasted vest, The stripes ran up and down.
" He modest merit sought to find, And pay it its desert : He had no malice in his mind, No ruffles on his shirt.
"His neighbors he did not abuse. Was sociable and gay ; He wore large buckles on his shoes, And changed them every day.
" His knowledge hid from public gaze He did not bring to view, Nor make a noise town-meeting days. As many people do.
" His worldly goods he never threw In trust to fortune's chances, But lived (as all his brothers do) In easy circumstances.
" Thus undisturbed by anxious cares His peaceful moments ran ; And everybody said he was A fine old gentleman."
-ALBERT G. GREENE.
EARLY AND PIONEER MUSIC-PIONEER MUSIC-SCHOOLS AND PIONEER SINGING- MASTERS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY
" Oh, tell me the tales I delighted to hear, Long, long ago, long, long ago; Oh, sing me the old songs so full of cheer, Long, long ago, long, long ago."
I. D. Hughes, of Punxsutawney, informs me that the first music-book he bought was Wyeth's " Repository of Sacred Music," second edition. I have seen this book myself, but a later edition (the fifth), published in 1820. Mr. Hughes says that Joseph Thompson, of Dowlingville, was the pioneer " singing-master" in Jefferson County, and that he sang from Wakefield's " Harp," second edition. He used a tuning-fork to sound the pitches, and accompanied his vocal instruction with violin music.
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George James was an early " master," and used the same book as Thomp- son. These two taught in the early thirties. I. D. Hughes taught in 1840 and used the " Missouri Harmony." This was a collection of psalm and hymn tunes and anthems, and was published by Morgan & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. The first tune in this old "Harmony," or "buckwheat" note-book, was " Primrose":
" Salvation, oh, the joyful sound, 'Tis pleasure to our ears, A sovereign balm for every wound, A cordial for our fears."
On the second page was "Old Hundred," and on the same page " Canaan" :
"On Jordan's stormy banks I stand, And cast a wishful eye To Canaan's fair and happy land, Where my possessions lie."
The dear old pioneers who used to delight in these sweet melodies have nearly all crossed this Jordan, and are now doubtless singing " Harwell":
"Hark! ten thousand harps and voices Sound the note of praise above ; Jesus reigns, and heaven rejoices ; Jesus reigns, the God of love."
Rev. George M. Slaysman, of Punxsutawney, was the pioneer teacher of round notes-the do ra me's-in the county. Judge William P. Jenks was also an early instructor in these notes.
We talk about progress, rapid transit, and electricity, but modern music- teachers have failed to improve on the melody of those old pioneer tunes, " that seemed like echoes from a heavenly choir ; echoes that seemed to have increased power every time the pearly gates opened to admit some sainted father or mother."
" God sent these singers upon earth With songs of sadness and of mirth, That they might touch the hearts of men And bring them back to Heaven again."
The pioneer organ used in church music was in Boston in 1714.
A PIONEER SONG FOR THE SUGAR-TROUGH CRADLE DR. WATTS' CRADLE HYMN " Hush, my babe, lie still and slumber, Holy angels guard thy bed; Heavenly blessings, without number, Gently falling on thy head.
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"Sleep, my babe, thy food and raiment, House and home thy friends provide, All without thy care or payment, All thy wants are well supplied.
" How much better thou'rt attended Than the Son of God could be, When from heaven He descended And became a child like thee.
"Soft and easy is thy cradle, Coarse and hard thy Saviour lay, When His birthplace was a stable, And his softest bed was hay.
" Blessed babe! what glorious features, Spotless, fair, divinely bright ! Must He dwell with brutal creatures? How could angels bear the sight ?
" Was there nothing but a manger Wicked sinners could afford To receive the heavenly stranger ? Did they thus affront the Lord?
"Soft, my child, I did not chide thee, Though my song may sound too hard :
'Tis thy mother sits beside thee, And her arms shall be thy guard.
" Yet, to read the shameful story, How the Jews abused their King ; How they served the Lord of Glory, Makes me angry while I sing.
" See the kinder shepherds round Him, Telling wonders from the sky ; There they sought Him, there they found Him, With his virgin mother by.
"See the lovely babe a-dressing, Lovely infant ! how He smiled ! When He wept, His mother's blessing Soothed and hushed the holy child.
"Lo! He slumbers in a manger Where the horned oxen fed ! Peace, my darling, here's no danger, Here's no ox about thy bed.
"'Twas to save thee, child, from dying, Save my dear from burning flame, Bitter groans, and endless crying, That thy blest Redeemer came.
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" May'st thou live to know and fear Him, Trust and love Him all thy days ! Then go dwell forever near Him, See His face and sing His praise.
" I could give thee thousand kisses Hoping what I most desire ; Not a mother's fondest wishes Can to greater joys aspire."
MAPLE-SUGAR INDUSTRY
One of the pioneer industries in this wilderness was maple-sugar-making. The sugar season commenced either in the last of February or the first of March. In any event, at this time the manufacturer always visited his camp to see or set things in order. The camp was a small cabin made of logs, covered usually with clapboards, and open at one end. The fireplace or crane and hooks were made in this way: Before the opening in the cabin four wooden forks were deeply set in the ground, and on these forks was suspended a strong pole. On this pole was hung the hook of a limb, with a pin in the lower end to hang the kettle on. An average camp had about three hundred trees, and it required six kettles, averaging about twenty-two gallons each, to boil the water from that many trees. The trees were tapped in various ways,-viz .: First, with a three-quarter-inch auger, one or two inches deep. In this hole was put a round spile about eighteen inches long, made of sumach or whittled pine, two spiles to a tree. The later way was by cutting a hollow notch in the tree and putting the spile below with a gouge. This spile was made of pine or some soft wood. When a boy I lived about five years with Joseph and James McCurdy, in what is now Washington Township, and the latter method of opening trees was practised by them. Indeed, all I say here about this industry I learned from and while with them. At the camp there were always from one to three storage-troughs made of cucumber or poplar, and cach trough held from ten barrels upward. Three hundred trees required a storage of thirty barrels and steady boiling with six kettles. The small troughs under the trees were made of pine and cucumber and held from three to six gallons. We hauled the water to the storage-troughs with one horse and a kind of "pung." the barrel being kept in its place by plank just far enough apart to hold it tight. In the fireplace there was a large back log and one a little smaller in front. The fire was kept up late and early with smaller wood split in lengths of about three feet. We boiled the water into a thick syrup, then strained it through a woollen cloth while hot into the syrup- barrel. When it had settled, and before putting it on to "sugar off," we strained it the second time. During this sugaring we skimmed the scum off with a tin skimmer and clarified the syrup in the kettle with eggs well beaten in sweet milk. This " sugaring off" was always done in cloudy or cold days, when the trees wouldn't run " sap." One barrel of sugar-water from a sugar-
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crocante
Pioneer cabin
HISTORY OF NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
tree, in the beginning of the season, would make from five to seven pounds of sugar. The sugar was always made during the first of the season. The molasses was made at the last of the season, or else it would turn to sugar in a very few days. The sugar was made in cakes, or "stirred off" in a granulated condition, and sold in the market for from six and a quarter to twelve and a half cents a pound. In "sugaring off," the syrup had to be frequently sampled by dropping some of it in a tin of cold water, and if the molasses formed a "thread" that was brittle like glass, it was fit to stir. I was good at sampling, and always anxious to try the syrup, as James
James McCurdy. Born January, 1816; died October, 1902
McCurdy, if he were living, could substantiate. In truth, I was never very hungry during sugar-making, as I had a continual feast during this season of hot syrup, treacle, and sugar.
Skill and attention were both necessary in " sugaring off," for if the syrup was taken off too soon the sugar was wet and tough, and if left on too long, the sugar was burnt and bitter. Time has evoluted this industry from North- western Pennsylvania.
Sugar is supposed to have been first used by the Hebrews.
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Joseph McCurdy came to Beechwoods, Jefferson County, from Indiana County in the year 1834. He was accompanied by his mother, two brothers, Robert and James, and three sisters, Martha, Margaret, who married John Millen, and Betsy, who married Andrew Hunter. They settled where James McCurdy lived before his recent death. As a man, he was very quiet and unassuming, without show or pretence. He was faithful as a Christian, firm and decided as an elder in maintaining discipline in the church, and mild in enforcing the same; a firm believer in the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church as being the truths taught by the Word of God. These truths he un- flinchingly maintained and defended through life. He did much for the church, and after his death his mantle fell upon his brother James.
HOW THE PIONEER BUILT HIS CABIN
" On the first day the material was gathered at the point for erection, the clapboards for the roof and the puncheons for the floors were made. The puncheons were made from trees eighteen inches in diameter, and had the face hewed by a broad-axe. They were in length one-half that of the floor.
" In the morning of the next day the neighbors collected for the raising. The first thing to be done was the election of four corner-men, whose business it was to notch and place the logs. The rest of the company furnished them with the timbers. In the mean time the boards and puncheons were collect- ing for the floor and roof, so that by the time the cabin was a few rounds high, the sleepers and floor began to be laid. The door was made by sawing or cutting the logs in one side, so as to make an opening about three feet wide. This opening was secured by upright pieces of timber, about three inches thick, through which holes were bored into the ends of the logs, for the purpose of pinning them fast. A similar opening, but wider, was made at the end for the chimney. This was built of logs, and made large, to admit of a back and jambs of stone. At the square, two end logs projected a foot or eighteen inches beyond the wall, to receive the butting poles, as they were called, against which the first row of clapboards was supported. The roof was formed by making the end logs shorter, until a single log formed the comb of the roof. On these logs the clapboards were placed, the ranges of them lapping some distance over those next below them, and kept in their places by logs placed at proper distances upon them.
" The roof, and sometimes the floor, were finished on the same day of the raising. A third day was commonly spent by a few carpenters in levelling off the floor, making a clapboard door and a table. This last was made of a split slab, and supported by four round logs set in auger-holes. Some three- legged stools were made in the same manner. Some pins stuck in the logs at the back of the house supported some clapboards, which served for shelves for the table furniture. A single fork, placed with its lower end in a hole in the floor, and the upper end fastened to a joist, served for a bedstead, by
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placing a pole in the fork, with one end through a crack between the logs of the wall. This front pole was crossed by a shorter one within the fork, with its outer end through another crack. From the front pole, through a crack between the logs of the end of the house, the boards were put on which formed the bottom of the bed. Sometimes other poles were pinned to the fork a little distance above these, for the purpose of supporting the front and foot of the bed, while the walls were the supports of its back and head. A few pegs around the walls, for a display of the coats of the women and
Cabin barn
hunting-shirts of the men, and two small forks or buck's horns fastened to a joist for the rifle and shot-pouch, completed the carpenter work.
" In the mean time the masons were at work. With the heart pieces of timber of which the clapboards were made, they made billets for chunking up the cracks between the logs of the cabin and chimney. A large bed of mortar was made for daubing up these cracks. A few stones formed the back and jambs of the chimney."
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CHAPTER XIII
PIONEER MISSIONARY WORK, PIONEER CHURCHES, ORGANIZATIONS, ETC .- REV. JOHN JAMIESON AND OTHERS-SYNODS AND PREACHERS
" It is religion that will give Sweetest comfort while we live."
THE pioneer minister to travel through this wilderness was a Moravian missionary, or a preacher of the United Brethren Church, the Rev. Christian Frederic Post. He travelled from Philadelphia to the Ohio (Allegheny) River in 1758, on a mission from the government of Pennsylvania to the Delaware, Shawnee, and Mingo Indians. These Indians were then in alli- ance with the French, and Rev. Post's mission was to prevail on them to withdraw from that alliance. Post passed through what is now Jefferson County, from Clearfield, over Boone's Mountain, crossed Little Tobec (Little Toby), and then over Big Tobec (Big Toby) Creek.
From Post's journal I quote the following extract :
"August 2nd-We came across several places where two poles, painted red, were stuck in the ground by the Indians, to which they tye the prisoners, when they stop at night, in their return from their incursions. We arrived this night at Shinglimuce, where was another of the same posts. It is a disagreeable and melancholy sight, to see the means they make use of, accord- ing to their savage way, to distress others.
" 3rd-We came to a part of a river called Tobeco, over the mountains, a very bad road.
" 4th-We lost one of our horses and with much difficulty found him, but were detained a whole day on that account [at what is now Brockwayville]. I had much conversation with Pisquetumen [an Indian chief that travelled with him]; of which I think to inform myself further when I get to my journey's end.
" 5th-We set out early this day, and made a good long stretch, cross- ing the big river Tobeco, and lodged between two mountains [at Cooks- burgh]. I had the misfortune to lose my pocket-book with three pounds five shillings, and sundry other things. What writings it contained were illegible to anybody but myself.
" 6th-We passed all the mountains, and the big river, Weshawaucks, and crossed a fine meadow two miles in length, where we slept that night, having nothing to eat.
" 7th-We came in sight of Fort Venango [now Franklin], belonging
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to the French, situate between two mountains, in a fork of the Ohio [Alle- gheny] river. When we arrived, the fort being on the other side of the river, we hallooed, and desired them to fetch us over : which they were afraid to do ; but showed us a place where we might ford. We slept that night within half gun shot of the fort."
*
* *
" Christian Frederic Post accompanied by several friendly Indians, set out from Bethlehem on the 19th of July, for Fort Augusta (Sunbury). There he took the path along the right bank of the West Branch, leading over the Chillisquaque, over Muncy, Loyalsock, and Pine Creeks, crossed the Susque- hanna at the Great Island, and then struck one of the main Indian thorough- fares to the West. On the 30th of July he forded Beech Creek, on whose left bank he came to the forks of the road. One branch led southwest along the Bald Eagle, past the Nest to Frankstown, and thence to the Ohio country ; the other due west to Chinklacamoose. Post took the latter. It led over the Moshannon, which he crossed on the Ist of August. Next day he arrived at the village of Chinklacamoose in the 'Clear Fields.' Hence the travellers struck a trail to the northwest, crossed Toby's Creek (Clarion River), and on the 7th of August reached Fort Venango, built by the French in 1753, in the forks of the Allegheny. 'I prayed the Lord,' writes Post, ' to blind the French, as he did the enemies of Lot and Elisha, that I might pass unknown.'
" Leaving Venango, Post and his companions turned their horses' heads to the southwest, struck the Conequenessing [now in Butler County] on the 12th of August, crossed the Big Beaver, and next day arrived at Kaskadkie, the terminus of their journey and the head-quarters of 'the Beavers' and ' Shingas,' war-chiefs of the western Delawares." Post was, therefore, the first Moravian west of the Alleghenies. He closes his interesting journal with these words :
" Thirty-two days that I lay in the woods, the heavens were my covering, and the dew fell so hard sometimes that it pricked close to the skin. During this time nothing lay so heavily on my heart as the man who went along with me [Shamokin Daniel], for he thwarted me in everything I said or did; not that he did it against me, but against the country on whose business I was sent. When he was with the French he would speak against the English, and when he was with the English he would speak against the French. The Indians observed that he was unreliable, and desired me not to bring him any more to transact business between them and the prisoners. But praise and glory be to the Lamb that was slain, who brought me through a country of dreadful jealousy and mistrust, where the Prince of this world holds rule and government over the children of disobedience. It was my Lord who preserved me amid all difficulties and dangers, and his Holy Spirit directed me. I had no one to commune with, but Him: and it was He who brought me from under a thick, heavy, and dark cloud into the open air, for which
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