USA > Pennsylvania > A pioneer outline history of northwestern Pennsylvania > Part 45
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" The land generally is undulating, of good quality ; better adapted, how- ever, to the raising of stock than of grain, but there is nevertheless an ample proportion suitable for the latter. French Creek, formerly known as Venango River, enters from Erie County, and, meandering centrally through the county, passes out through a corner of Mercer into Venango County, empty- ing into the Allegheny River at Franklin. It is a beautiful stream, navigable for large boats and rafts during high-water, and affords an abundant supply, at all seasons, for the various mills along its banks. Several other small streams water the county, as Cussewago, Big and Little Sugar Creeks, Oil Creek, Woodcock Creek, Muddy Creek, and Conneauttee Creek.
"'According to the pronunciation of the venerable Cornplanter, the first of these names should be spelt Kos-se-wau-ga. Tradition states that the Indians, on coming to the creek for the first time, discovered a large black- snake, with a white ring round his neck, among the limbs of a tree. The snake exhibited a wonderful protuberance, as if it had swallowed a rabbit. They hence called the creek Kossewauga, which means big-belly.
"'Conneaut, or Conneot, means something about snow, or the snow place. It was noticed that the snow remained some time on the ice of the lake after it had disappeared in the vicinity. Con-ne-aut-tee is a diminutive, formed by the American, from the name of the larger lake.'-Rev. Mr. Alden.
" There are three handsome lakes in the county. The Conneaut is a beautiful sheet of water, about four miles by two, abounding with fine fish. The other two are of smaller size, but equally picturesque. Agriculture is
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the main object of pursuit. The manufactures of the county are chiefly for the consumption of its own citizens. Iron ore is found in many localities. The French Creek feeder, which supplies the canal from Pittsburg to Erie, and is of the same size, runs from Bemis's dam, three miles above Meadville, down French Creek eleven miles, and then up the valley of Conneaut outlet, to the summit level near that lake. Slackwater navigation also extends down French Creek to the Allegheny."-Day's Collections.
Previous to the white man's advent here this wilderness had public high- ways, but they were for the wild deer and savage Indians. These thorough- fares were called "deer paths" and "Indian trails." These paths were usually well beaten, and crossed each other as civilized roads now do. The first trail discovered and traversed by the white man was the Indian Chink- lacamoose path, which extended from what is now Clearfield town to what is now Kittanning. This Indian trail passed through what is now Punxsu- tawney, and over this path and through this Indian town Allegheny Indians carried their white prisoners from the eastern part of the State to what was then called Kittany, on the Allegheny River. From a most careful and thor- ough search to ascertain when the first path or trail of the white man was made through this wilderness, I find it to be in the year 1787. In this year of grace two hardy and courageous men, David and John Meade, were living in what is now Sunbury, Pennsylvania, where John was keeping an inn or tavern. These two brothers having read General George Washington's re- port to Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia, of the rich lands and valleys that were unoccupied in what is now called Venango and Crawford Counties, Pennsylvania, determined to explore that region for themselves. To reach this uninhabited section they were compelled to open a path from east to west, through what is now Clearfield, Jefferson, Clarion, Venango, and Craw- ford Counties. From Franklin the trail went up French Creek to where Meadville now is. This path is now called in history Meade's trail. This trail passed through what is now West Reynoldsville, Port Barnett, and Brookville, in Jefferson County. It entered Clarion County where the pike does and crossed the Clarion River at Clugh's Riffle.
These men, with their goods packed on four horses, passed through where Brookville now is in 1788, and settled in and around what is now Meadville. then Allegheny County. Meade's trail commenced at the mouth of Ander- son's Creek, near Curwinsville, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and over this trail until 1802 all transportation had to be carried into or through this wilderness on pack-saddles by pack-horses. A pack-horse load was from two to three hundred pounds. In 1802-03 the first wagon-road, or the old Milesburg and Waterford State Road, was opened for travel. The Meade settlers in Crawford County in 1788 comprised the pioneer permanent settle- ment in Northwestern Pennsylvania.
Soon after David Meade and his neighbors reached their new home the
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great chief of the Six Nations, accompanied by a number of his tribe, made these pioneers a social visit. This chief was Cornplanter, and he was then chief over our Indians who belonged to this confederation. In one of these friendly visits Meade discovered that five white men who had been captured when boys were reared by the Indians and were then living under Corn- planter : that these boys had all attained manhood and three of them had married Indian women. The five white men were Lashley Malone, of Bald Eagle Valley, Pennsylvania : Peter Krause, of Monongahela; Elijah Mat- thews, of Ohio: Nicholas Rosencrants and Nicholas Tanewood, of Mohawk Valley, New York State.
In 1789 Darius Meade, father of David and John, Robert F. Randolph, and Frederick Baum passed over this "trail" on their way to what is now Meadville. Many of the pioneers who travelled over this trail to the north- west were captured and murdered by the Indians in the raids of 1791-92 and 1793. In 1791 Darius Meade was captured by two Indians while ploughing in a field. His captors were Captain Bull, a Delaware chief, and Conewyando, a Seneca chief. Meade in an effort to escape got possession of Bull's knife and killed Bull with it, and after a fierce struggle with Conewyando was killed, but Conewyando died in a few days from the wounds Meade gave him. Two of our soldiers buried Meade and Bull side by side where they fell.
" Indian trails were 'bee lines' over hill and dale, from point to point. Here and there were open spots on the summits, where runners signalled their coming by fires when on urgent business, and were promptly met at stated places by fresh men."
The ancient Indian path from Fort Venango to Fort Le Bœuf, was on the eastern side of French Creek, not far from the present lower road to Meadville, where it crossed and stretched over the island opposite the town, and continued on the western side a number of miles, and again crossed the creek. Major George Washington followed this path in 1753, on his journey to visit the French commander at Le Bœuf.
After the French had departed, this region remained a cheerless solitude for many years. In 1788 the cheerful sound of the pioneer's axe broke upon the solemn stillness of the forests of Cussewago. David Meade and his brother John, two brothers of the Randolph family, Stophel Seiverling, James Miller, and Cornelius Van Horn came out from Northumberland County, by the way of Bald Eagle and the old Chinklacamoose path to the mouth of French Creek, and thence up the creek until they discovered the beautiful flat where Mead- ville now stands. Several of these gentlemen had held lands in Wyoming Valley, under the Pennsylvania title, from which they had been driven by Connecticut claimants. Knowing well the quality of land and the value of a good title, they were cautious and judicious in their selections, as the fine estates now in possession of their families will show. Subsequent events, however, threatened to shake the foundation of their titles, and cast them out
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upon the wilderness for a new selection. The vexed questions, and numerous delays and lawsuits growing out of the land law of 1792, had a dispiriting influence upon the early settlers of Crawford County, until settled by the decision of the great Holland Land Company case, and others of a similar nature. Besides the gentlemen above mentioned, several others 'came a few- years later, among whom were Mr. Heidekoper, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Lord, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Reynolds, on Oil Creek, and others.
The biographies of several of these pioneers have been preserved, and furnish an excellent history of the county. The following is abridged from Rev. Timothy Alden's Allegheny Magasine, published at Meadville in 1816: " The Hon. David Meade, the first settler of the pleasant village which bears his name, was born at Hudson, New York. His father, Darius Meade (also an early settler in this county), when David became of age, removed to the Wyoming country, where they both had purchased lands under the Pennsylvania title. In consequence of the adverse claims, and the superior force of the Connecticut claimants, they were obliged to abandon their lands. and settled near Northumberland. David Meade became a citizen of Sunbury, where he kept an inn for a number of years. After various discouraging struggles with fortune, with the Indians, and the Wyoming boys, Mr. Meade resolved to leave that region, seek a new home, and commence a new career on the lands west of the Allegheny River. In 1788 he visited this section of the country, then a wilderness, in company with his brother John and several others. In 1789 he removed his family. Some time afterwards he obtained a remuneration from the State in lands, for those of which he had been dispossessed at Wyoming.
" After several years of incessant toil and hardship, his prospects began to brighten; but they were soon overcast with a gloomy cloud. Another Indian war menaced the infant settlements of the West. Many fled : those who remained were exposed to constant perils and privations. Mr. Meade, having an important interest here, continued on his plantation, re- solved to brave every danger, and bear every privation while the war should exist. The war was at length happily terminated by General Wayne, in 1795. For several months in 1791, when the Indians were daily expected to attempt the extermination of the people on French Creek, Mr. Meade with his family resided at Franklin, that he might have it in his power to repair to the garrison in that place as a last resort. During this period his father was taken, by two Indians, from a field where he was at work, and carried to the vicinity of Conneaut Lake. Some days afterwards he was found. together with one of the Indians, both dead, and bearing such marks of violence as showed they had had a contest; and it was deemed probable that the other Indian had been wounded in the encounter, from the circumstance of his companion having been left unburied.
" Mr. Meade held the office of justice of the peace both at Wyoming and
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here. In 1800 he became one of the associate judges for Crawford County. He was also a major-general in the militia. He was a man of uncommon bodily strength, standing six feet three, and large in proportion-in deport- ment sedate and grave, but affable, easy of access, and without ostentation. His vigorous mind was ever actively engaged upon public or private business. His first wife was Agnes Wilson, of Northumberland County; his second, Janet Finney, daughter of Robert Finney, Esq. His mansion was noted for hospitality, and in his later years the morning and evening sacrifice arose from his family altar. He died on the 23d of August, 1816, in the sixty-fifth year of his age."
The following is from the Crawford Messenger, of July, 1830:
" Died at his farm, near Meadville, on the 16th inst., Robert F. Randolph, in the eighty-ninth year of his age. The deceased was born in Woodbridge Township, Essex County, New Jersey. He married when young, and in 1771 removed to Northampton County, Pennsylvania, where he resided two years; from whence he removed to Northumberland County, then on the frontier of this State, there being hardly a white inhabitant above the spot where Northumberland now stands. There he resided until the year 1776, when hostilities commenced upon the inhabitants of the county, and they were driven from their homes by the savages. He with his family fled to Bucks County, but returned to his residence the same year. He then joined the regiment commanded by Colonel William Cook, and was with it in the memorable battle of Germantown. Shortly after his return from the army, the county of Northumberland, by one desolating sweep, was cut off, and its inhabitants driven out by the cruel and unrelenting hand of the savages. Finding no prospect of peace or safety for his family, he returned to his native State, where they would be at least secure from the terrors of the scalping-knife. He then re-entered the army of the United States, in which capacity he served until the close of the war.
" When peace was restored he returned, in 1783, to Northumberland County, and settled on Shamokin Creek, where he continued to reside until 1789, when he with his family emigrated to this county, at that time one en- tire wilderness; and on the 6th of July, the same year, arrived on French Creek, near where the village of Meadville now stands, and settled on the farm upon which, till his death, he has ever since resided. When he made his selection and took possession, there were none to dispute his right but the tawny sons of the forest, from whose pitiless hands he had much to fear. But that spirit of enterprise, with an honest view of procuring a permanent home for himself and family, which had induced him to the wilderness and cheered his pathless way into it, continued to support him under every priva- tion, difficulty, and danger incident to the settlement of a new country. His zeal in the cause of freedom was unwavering. Of this fact, the following will serve as an illustration : In one of the alarms occasioned by the approach
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of the enemy to the town of Erie, during the late war, like the patriarch of old, he mustered a strong band of his own household, consisting of his four sons and two or three grandsons, put himself at their head, and thus armed and equipped marched to meet the expected foe."
Mr. Cornelius Van Horn has been named as one of the early pioneers. He was still ( 1843) enjoying a quiet old age, on the farm, near Meadville, earned and cleared by the toils and exposures of his youth. The following story of his adventures was derived by the compiler of this work, in conver- sation with a member of Mr. Van Horn's family :
" Mr. Cornelius Van Horn had been a settler in Wyoming Valley under the Pennsylvania title, and relinquished his possessions there under the com- promise, receiving compensation from the State. In 1788 he was persuaded by David Meade (who had also been a Pennamite) to make one of a party of nine to come out and settle in Crawford County. They took the route from Bald Eagle, in Centre County, over the Allegheny Mountains, nearly on the route of the present turnpike, struck the mouth of French Creek, and thence followed it up until they discovered the beautiful flat upon which Meadville is now seated. They here selected their lands, and entered upon their labors. Until 1791 nothing of special importance occurred, except that one day, as he was returning from Pittsburg with pack-horses, he was overtaken by an Indian near a lonely swamp; but he proved to be friendly. His name was McKee; and from this friendly interview and exchange of provisions, cour- tesies, etc., commenced an acquaintance, which was afterwards probably the means of saving Van Horn's life.
" In the month of May, 1791, Mr. Van Horn, Thomas Ray, and Mr. Gregg were ploughing on the island opposite the town. Gregg and Ray had gone in to fetch the dinner, when Van Horn, who continued ploughing, ob- served his horses take fright, and turning suddenly he saw a tall Indian about to strike him with his tomahawk, and another just behind. As quick as thought he seized the descending arm, and grappled with the Indian, hugging him after the manner of a bear. While in this close embrace, the other Indian attempted to shoot Van Horn; but the latter, who was no novice in frontier tactics, kept turning round the Indian in his arms so as to present him as a shield against the bullet, and thus gained time enough to parley for his life. No fine-spun diplomacy was practised in this treaty: a few words of broken Indian on one side, and broken English on the other, resulted in a capitula- tion, by which he was to be taken prisoner, together with his horses. He was pinioned and taken to the top of the hill above the college, where they met the old chief and a fourth Indian. After some parley, the chief mounted one of the horses and the prisoner the other, and pursued their way towards Conneaut Lake; while the three other Indians returned to the island for further adventures. Gregg and Ray had just returned to their work, and were deliberating over the meaning of the tracks in the field, when they
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descried the three Indians. Gregg took to his heels, Ray calling to him to stand his ground like a man ; but he was pursued, killed, and scalped. Ray was taken prisoner.
" The old chief had tied Van Horn by a thong to a tree, in a sitting posture, with his arms behind him; but the thong working a little loose, the chief pulled it obliquely up the tree to tighten it, and laid himself down in the bushes to sleep. Van Horn, by raising himself, loosened the thong enough to allow him to get a small knife out of his cuff,-he had previously, to conciliate his good-will and allay suspicion, presented the chief with his jack-knife, powder flints, tobacco, etc.,-and cut himself loose from the tree,
Pioneer farm
but could not unpinion his arms. He made his way back to the settlement, where he found an officer from Fort Franklin, who ordered the whole colony to repair for safety to that place, lest there might be a larger force of Indians in the vicinity than had yet appeared. Van Horn pleaded hard for permission to remain, and learn the fate of Ray and Gregg; and as the officer's horse had been lost, he was allowed to remain if he could get another to remain with him. A friendly Indian, by the name of Gilloway, agreed to remain ; and for some other reason it was thought necessary (this was to catch the horse ) that another friendly Indian, McKee, should remain also. They found the horse, and. taking some bear-skins, furs, etc., in the canoe, embarked for
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Franklin. Gilloway, as he was the least of the two, volunteered to ride the horse, while the others went in the canoe; but he rode the horse a little too far, and in the wrong direction, not being heard of again until he was seen at Sandusky. Van Horn afterwards had reason to think that Gilloway had remained behind to murder him, but that his plan had been frustrated by the determination of McKee to stay also; and he then stole the horse.
" Van Horn and McKee determined to return from Franklin; and, by way of getting an early start, to lodge in a deserted cabin, a mile or two this side of Franklin. The commanding officer urged in vain the danger of a surprise and attack from savages. Van Horn and his comrade thought them- selves competent to the defence of their position. In the night, however, the officers and soldiers of the garrison determined to make good their surmises, and have a little fun, by raising a whoop, and surrounding the cabin where Van Horn lay. The latter, hearing the noise, was on the alert; and while the soldiers were listening at the door, they heard Van Horn make arrangements with his comrade that he should stand by to haul them into the cabin, while he cut them down at the door with an axe. This was a kind of sport for which the party was not prepared, and they withdrew, laughing at the frustra- tion of their own scheme. Van Horn soon after went to Jersey to attend to his Wyoming business, and then returned. Some few parties of Indians skulked about until after Wayne's treaty, when they all disappeared.
" When the three Indians with Ray had arrived at Conneaut Lake, and waked up the old chief, and found his prisoner gone, they told Ray that it was fortunate for him, as they could have taken only one prisoner away with them. They took him to Sandusky, where he recognized an English trader, who bought him off for a keg of whiskey. He returned by the lake to Olean, and thence down the Allegheny. On passing Franklin he inquired of those on shore for his ' Sally,' and being told she was in Pittsburg, pursued his way down there, where he found her.
" James Dixon, another old settler, better known as Scotch Jemmy, was surprised by a number of Indians in the woods, and shot at several times. He turned his face toward them, levelled his rifle, and dared the rascals to come out of the woods like men, and give him fair play. 'Noo coom on wi' your wee axe,' said Jemmy. With his rifle thus presented, he continued to walk backward until out of reach of their fire; and reached the old block- house, that stood where the blacksmith's shop is, near Bennett's tavern. This occurred about 1793 or 1794."
In a number of the Messenger, published in September, 1828, the editor, T. Atkinson, Esq., says,-
" In two months more, twenty-five years will have elapsed since we ar- rived in this village with our printing establishment, being the first, and for several subsequent years, the only one northwest of the Allegheny River. How short the period, yet how fruitful of interesting events! Our village at
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that time consisted of a few scattered tenements, or what might properly be termed huts. It is now surpassed by few, if any, in Western Pennsylvania for its numerous, commodious, and, in many instances, beautiful dwelling- houses, churches, academy, court-house, with a splendid edifice for a college ; all affording pleasing evidence of the enterprise, the taste, and the liberality of its inhabitants. Then we were without roads, nothing but Indian-paths by which to wind our way from one point to another. Now turnpikes and ca- pacious roads converge to it from every quarter. Then the mail passed be- tween Pittsburg and Erie once in two weeks; now eighteen stages arrive and depart weekly. Then we had not unfrequently to pack our paper on horse- back upward of two hundred miles; on one hundred and thirty miles of this distance there were but three or four houses; now, however, thanks to an enterprising citizen of the village, it can be had as conveniently as could be desired. Our country is marching onward."
Meadville, 1843
Meadville was named after General David Meade. Twenty-three years after the organization of Crawford County the county-seat remained a village, but on March 29, 1823, it was incorporated as a borough.
Its growth is as follows: In 1800, one hundred and twenty-five people ; in 1810, three hundred people; in 1820, six hundred and sixty-six people; in 1830, eleven hundred and four people; in 1840, thirteen hundred and nineteen people.
The pioneer burgess was Thomas Atkinson, in 1823.
The pioneer post-office was established in 1801, with Frederick Hay- maker, postmaster.
The pioneer cemetery was an acre of ground on what is now Park Avenue. It was a Presbyterian graveyard.
Day says, in 1840,-
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" The churches are a Presbyterian, Cumberland Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist, and Unitarian. There is also an academy, several paper- mills, an oil-mill, an edge-tool manufactory, and quite a number of other mills, driven by the ample water-power in the vicinity.
" On the northern border of the town Colonel Magaw, the inventor of straw paper, had formerly a commodious mill for its manufacture. He had previously conducted a rag-paper establishment. On examining some straw which had been placed at the bottom of a barrel of leached ashes, he observed that it looked soft, and thought it might make paper. Perceiving its tough- ness and adhesive quality, he chewed some of it, rubbed it on a board, and placed it in the sun to dry. He succeeded in making paper on a small scale, obtained a patent-right, and erected his straw paper mill. It is said an edition of the New Testament was printed upon it, costing only five cents per copy."
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