USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of Buffalo Valley, Pennsylvania, 1755-1855 > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
[1780.
and made a motion to her sister to run. She then sank it into the old man's head. The old man yelled fearfully, and the girls ran. By this time the Indians were on their return, and heard the old man yell. They pursued the girls and fired on Catherine, just as she was springing over a fallen tree. The ball entered below the right shoulder-blade and came out at her side. She had the scars until her dying day, as large as a half dollar. She rolled herself under the tree, and the Indians passed over her, in pursuit of the sister. Elizabeth, being active, reached Beatty's harvest field. The men ran to their rifles and pursued the Indians. When they came pretty near Catherine, one of the men, supposing an Indian in am- bush, was about firing, when she pulled off her apron and waved it. They found her much weakened from loss of blood, but she soon recovered. Philip Pontius, still living, told me that the Indians were going to Beatty's, and George Rote, who was a lame man, but great on a halloo, frightened them back, by hallooing to an imagin- ary company to surround the black rebels. Klinesmith's widow drew a pension as late as 1819, at New Berlin. " Elizabeth married John Boal, moved to French creek, near Meadville first, and, in 1843, was still living in Ohio or Indiana, her husband, being one of those restless spirits, who fancy that the land is over-crowded, when the population exceeds one to every ten square miles, and she, from her courage and energy, being an excellent second to a man always ex- posed to the perils of frontier life."-Manuscript of G. H. Snyder.
Katy, as she was called, first married Daniel Campbell, a revolu- tionary soldier, and had, by him, two children, John, who died near Mifflinburg, and Ann, who married Robert Barber. They removed West, and are now both dead. Katy married next Robert Chambers, by whom she had one child, the first wife of John A. Vanvalzah, deceased. Notwithstanding her wound, she survived two husbands. My informant, William M. Vanvalzah, tells me that when a boy, many a night he heard her and old Captain Thompson talk over the events of their early life. Klinesmith's land, in Lewis township, was valued in 1810, Robert Chambers taking one portion, and Baltzer Klinesmith, junior, the other. Baltzer, junior, sold his land, some thirty years since. to Christian Mensch, and moved to a lot owned by his wife, near Hartleton, where he died, and is buried in the Laurelton grave-yard. His wife was a daughter of Melchior
191 .
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1780 ]
Smith, their children, David, Samuel, John Melchior, daughters Mary Ann and Margaret, who married Messrs. Stover, in Centre county. Catherine married - Miller. Martin Trester, a few years after, found a rifle near the spring, supposed to belong to the old Indian.
Traditions of the Valley have always connected the following incident with the pursuit of the murderers of Klinesmith; and the date mentioned in the note below probably confirms that belief :
Van Campen, in his narrative, see Meginness, page 277, says that " in the summer of 17811, a man was taken prisoner, in Buffalo Valley, and made his escape. He reported there were about three hundred Indians on the Sinnemahoning. I was then a lieutenant in Captain Robinson's company. Colonel Hunter selected a com- pany of five to reconnoitre, Captain Campbell, Peter and Michael Grove, Lieutenant Cramer, and myself. We took with us three days' provision, and went up the West Branch, with much caution and care. We reached the Sinnemahoning, but found no tracks. A little below it we discovered a smoke, and that there was a large party of them.
" As soon as it was dark we new primed our rifles, sharpened our flints, and examined our tomahawk handles ; and, all being ready, we waited with great impatience until they all lay down. The night was warm, and as we advanced upon them in the utmost silence, rifle in one hand, tomahawk in the other, we found some of them rolled in their blankets, a rod or two from the fire. Having got among them, we first handled our tomahawks. They arose like a dark cloud. We now fired on them and raised the war-yell. They took to fight in the utmost confusion. We remained masters of the ground and of all their plunder. It was a party of twenty-five or thirty, which had been down as low as Penn's creek, and had killed and scalped two or three families. We found several scalps of different ages, and a large quantity of domestic cloth, which we took to Northum- berland, and distributed among the distressed who had escaped the tomahawk."
1 Van Campen made a mistake in the year, no doubt, and his description would lead one to believe more than two Indians were killed. Grove speaks only of two, and the following item, in the State Treasurer's account, September 30, 1780, indi- cates that Grove was correct : Cash paid Robert Martin, for Jacob Creamer, Peter Grove, William Campbell, and Michael Grove, for two Indian scalps, £1,875. The same account September 29, ten head of cattle for the Commissioners of Purchases, £10,400, shows the immense depreciation of currency at this time.
192
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1780.
There were four of the Grove brothers, Wendell, Adam, who lived where George Wolfe now lives, in Mortonsville, Michael, who lived on the back road to Mifflinburg, and Peter. Peter disappears very early from our Valley. The only notices I can find of him are the mixture of truth and fiction, in the Appendix to Meginness' History. Michael lived within the recollection of many of my readers. He died in Nippenose, south of Jersey Shore, in September, 1827, aged seventy, and was brought home, and buried in the Dreisbach grave- yard. Meginness says he was attended by Doctor Davidson in his last illness, and gave a vivid account of the engagement above spoken of. Before they commenced the attack, an old Indian annoyed them very much. He was troubled with a severe cough, and frequently rose up, and looked carefully around, seeming to anticipate danger. At length the old man fell asleep, and they commenced creeping up, intending to use their tomahawks first. One of them, unexpectedly, crawled over an Indian, who lay some distance from the rest, and the old man rose up at this moment. Michael, with a powerful blow with his hatchet, clove the old man's skull, and, striking it into the back of another, could not withdraw it, when the Indian drew him over the bank into the creek, where, however, he succeeded in kill- ing him. Some of the Indians got on to the other side of the creek, and commenced firing, and they had to retire. They waded down the creek, taking to the hills, and, thence over to the Bald Eagle ridge. John Beeber describes Michael as having an eye like a hawk, and being able to travel at night, even in his old age, nearly as well as in day time. He told Beeber that Joseph Groninger, of White Deer, was along, and going up, they stopped at James Ellis', uncle of Wil- liam Cox Ellis, and took their dinner with their rifles on their knees.
Michael left three children, John, Sarah, married to Samuel Lutz, and ___ - to Jacob Smith. To the two girls he gave farms in Nippenose, and he was there visiting when he died. His son John is now dead. He left a son, Michael, and daughter, Esther. Mich- ael also died on the old farm, where his grandfather lived. Esther married Enoch Kauffman. Michael's son, Peter, still lives in West Buffalo, and other descendants are in the same township.
Adam lived on the Nesbit property, which he sold to Thomas Nesbit, in 1822. His son, Samuel, married a sister of the late Joseph Glass, and is the father of Simon, Joseph, William, Mrs. Jacob Parks,
193
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1781.]
and Wesley, (who was starved to death in one of the rebel prisons. ) Samuel moved West, where his family has become wealthy, and in- fluential at the bar and other pursuits.
In July, George Row, of Penn's township, was wounded in the breast, at Fought's mill, (near Mifflinburg,) and died in eight hours. He left a widow, Mary M., who drew a pension for many years afterward.
The original Barber's mill, on Penn's creek, was built this year by Adam Smith. It was long known as David Smith's mill. The latter sold to Barber and Heise, who built the present structure.
8th September, General Potter marched a body of one hundred and seventy men to Fort Swartz, and then went up to Colonel Kelly, who lay at the mouth of White Deer creek. Fort Swartz was most likely Peter Swartz's, who lived on the farm now owned by Honor- able George F. Miller. Day's Historical Collections says this fort was a mile above Milton; but as General Potter says nothing of crossing the river, it was no doubt the block-house at Peter Swartz's.
24th September, Henry McCracken, private in Captain William Clark's company, killed. He left a widow, Mary, and five children.
1781.
NARRATIVE OF CAPTAIN JAMES THOMPSON-CAPTAIN CAMPLETON KILLED-
LETTER FROM GENERAL POTTER-STORY OF THE EMERICK FAMILY-ROLL OF PETER GROVE'S AND MCGRADY'S COMPANIES-CHRISTIAN HETRICK AND DAVID STORM KILLED.
M EMBER of Council, General James Potter. Assembly, William Maclay, William Montgomery, and Colonel William Cooke. Presiding Justice, Frederick Antes. Sheriff, James Crawford. Treasurer, William Gray. County Commissioners, William Antes, James Espy, and Daniel Montgomery. 13
194
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[1781.
On the 11th of April, David Kennedy was appointed Secretary of the Land Office, Colonel Francis Johnston, Receiver General, and John Lukens, Surveyor General.
Buffalo : Constable, Henry Gilman ; Supervisors, Abel Rees and John Reighard ; Overseers, Michael Hessler and John Clark.
Ioth March, Saturday, at ten, A. M., Black Ann, for larceny from Eleanor Green, was whipped at the public whipping-post, in Sun- bury-twenty lashes on her bare back, well laid on.
March 31, Peter Grove, of Buffalo, commissioned lieutenant of the rangers ; Samuel Quinn, ensign. In 1788, the latter was deputy surveyor, and Quinn's run, in Clinton county, was called from his camping there during that year.
· May 3, fast day, by order of Congress.
June 26, William Gray, Esquire, appointed paymaster of the militia.
Penn's Township Residents, &c. : Anderson, William, tan-yard ; Arnold, Casper ; Arnold, Widow; Campbell, Clary, (tenant on Charles Gemberling's place,) he was from Bald Eagle settlement ; Cripps, John ; Dillman, Andrew; Espert, Widow ; Graybill, John, non-juror ; Gast, Christian; Grow, Godfrey; Gillen, William ; Hafflich, Jacob; Heiner, Frederick ; Hauser, John ; Hessler, Wil liam; Hassinger, Frederick; Jordan, Benjamin; Jost, Widow; Kester, Peter ; Kerk, Michael; Kinney, Jacob; Kohler, Andrew ; Lepley, Jacob; Miller, Adam; Miller, Simon ; Maddox, Richard ; Merkel, Peter; Meraby, Edward ; Pickard, John ; Potter, James, two slaves; Repass, Jacob; Showers, Michael, tenant of Jacob Stees ; Stephen, Adam; Shaw, William; Shetterly, John ; Witmer, Peter ; Woods, Joseph.
In Buffalo : Antes, Philip; Baker, John ; Bickle, Widow; Blair, Samuel ; Boatman, Claudius ; Coon, John ; Dean, David; Fergu- son, James ; Green, Joseph, two grist and one saw-mill; Holman, Eli; Houghton, John, tenant of Samuel Maclay ; Keen, Jacob, tenant of John Anrand; Knipper, Paul; Klinesmith, Widow; Laughlin, Widow; McAdam, William; McDonald, Widow; Reem, Nicholas; Rezner, John; Templeton, Widow; Trester, William ; Vandyke, John ; Watson, James, saw-mill, at Seebold's now.
White Deer-Single men : Ammon, Philip; Caldwell, James ; Clendenning, John ; Collins, Daniel ; Crawford, Robert ; Gamble,
195
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1781.]
Charles ;. Gibson, James ; Hamel, Charles; Hayes, David ; Hood, Moses ; Huston, Samuel ; McCartney, Robert ; Mckinney, James ; Mclaughlin, John; Montgomery, Samuel; Murray, William; Poak, John ; 'Tannehill, John.
The ejectment for White Deer mills property was resumed. The suit is brought by Vannost, and has this distorted title : " 'Timothy Macabees, lessee of James Claypoole, vs. Judias Iscariot, with notice to Catherine Smith, widow in possession." To November term we have the commencement of a series of suits between Ludwig Derr and Christian Van Gundy, which, after many years, ended in the pecuniary ruin of the latter. It was brought to November term, lessee of Christian Van Gundy vs. Thomas Troublesome, lessee of Ludwig Derr, with notice to Christian Hettrick, tenant in possession· It astonishes a lawyer of the present how our predecessors managed to keep cases so long in court. Van Gundy's application had not the shadow of chance against Derr's title; yet the contest went on for years, until Van Gundy's money gave out. This suit was for the present site of Lewisburg.
Captain James Thompson's Narrative.
In the manuscript journal of the late James F. Linn, Esquire, under date ,of June 14, 1832, is the following entry : "Old Captain James Thompson was with us last night. He told us a good part of his adventures when with the Indians. He appeared not to wish to tell the story. I got it out of him, only in answers to questions." The narrative was entered in my father's journal. 1 have supple- mented by the article of Elizabeth Gundaker, now Dale, niece of Captain Thompson, in the Lancaster Intelligencer, 1842.
" In March, 1781, I was going from this town (Lewisburg) up to my home, on Spruce run, preparatory to following my wife and family down to Penn's creek, whither, I had taken them for safety. On the road, between John Linn's old place and Colonel Kelly's, I was captured by four Indians. When we came to the hollow, which is now cleared by Thomas Iddings, they discovered a fresh track in the mud, and one of them hallooed ' squaw.' Two of them set off on a run, the remaining two staid with me, one walking before and the other behind. I soon heard the scream of a woman,
196
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[1781.
whereupon, the one behind me gave me a punch in the back with the butt of his gun, and said 'waugh'-run. We all started off on a run, and when we got to the top of the hill, I saw the father of the girl fall, and the Indians seize her. She had lost a shoe in the race. She was Mary Young, the daughter of Mathew Young, who lived on Spruce run. William Hayes now owns the place ; he bought it as James Black's property, a few years ago, (now, 1877, Gabriel Huntingdon's.) We crossed the White Deer mountains, north of the Valley, and camped the second night on Lycoming creek. They tied me, with my arms behind me, to two grubs. I managed to get the cords off, after they got to sleep ; two of them laid on one side of the fire, near me, and two on the other, with the girl. I tried to get one of the tomahawks, but they were lying upon them. I then got a stone, they had been using to pound corn with, got on my knees near one of them, and prepared to give him a mortal stroke. I intended striking him on the temple, but he had a blanket wrapped around his head, and I struck too high. The Indian gave a yell and awoke the rest. I started to run, but the cord stretched between the two grubs, caught me about the middle, and in trying to get around it, one of the Indians caught me by the coat collar, and in the struggle, tore it clear down to the middle. He drew his tomahawk to strike me, but stopped, and addressed the wounded one in their language. Drew it the second and third time, when I was sure I would get it; but I had made up my mind, to try to catch it, and wrest it from him. They then got a gourd, put shot in it, and tied it to my waist. This was my death warrant. I could have readily escaped myself, but I was anxious to rescue Mary. After that, they tied me so tight, I lossed all feeling in my arms and hands. Before we got to Towanda, one of the Indians shot a turkey, took out the entrails, and roasted them on a stick, and gave them to us. It was very delicious, as we had but a few grains of corn a day to eat. One of them shot a dipper-duck, and skinning it, after making an opening at the belly, slipped it over the hurt man's head for a night-cap.
" When we got to Towanda, the Indians became careless, supposing there was no danger of my running away. They made me gather wood for the fire, and as I returned each time I slipped a few grains of corn out of the kettle, and every load I wandered further from
197
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1781.]
camp. At last, seeing no one looking my way, I started with twenty- two grains of corn for a provision for a journey of nearly two hun- dred miles. I could have escaped before, but I could not bear the idea of leaving the girl with them. Her hardships were fearful. Often her clothes were frozen solid after wading the creeks. We had encamped that night at the foot of a hill by a stream of water. She urged me to leave her, and finally I followed her advice. I carried two loads, I think, still going further up the hill. I took a different direction from home at first. I stepped upon a rotten stick, which made a noise, and then, mistaking the sound of two trees rubbed together by the wind, for the Indians, I ran with all my might, and reached a pond, in which I buried myself up to the head. Finding the Indians did not come that way, I proceeded, keeping upon the tops of the mountains. One night I spent in a hollow tree. At another time I came very near getting into an Indian encampment before I was aware of it. I saw the Indians pass between me and the fire. At another time, coming upon a camp, the Indians hallooed. I felt certain I was discovered, but squatted down among the bushes, and when they began to cut wood I made off. At one place I found two walnuts, at another the bone of a deer, which I cracked, and sucked the marrow. This, with the corn, was all the provision I had, and, in crossing Lycoming creek, I nearly drowned front excessive weakness. I struck the West Branch a few rods above where we crossed going up, and found one of the canoes lying on the bank, as the river had fallen. I was so weak I could not lift it in, but,. by means of a handspike and some rollers, I managed to get it in. After I got it in, I discovered the other canoe sunk, which I ladled out, and lashed to the other. When I got opposite Watsontown, I was so weak I could only lay in the bottom of the canoe, and wave my hands. Fortunately I was here noticed, and the people came to my relief. They considerately fed me with sweet milk only, until I got stronger, but it was some time before I could tell them about my adventures."
Mary Young they carried with them to their town. They set her to hoeing corn. An old negro, who was also a prisoner, told her to dig up the beans planted with the corn, and they would sell her to the English. She did as she was advised, and they thought her too stupid to learn to work, and sold her. She said two of the Indians
198
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[1781.
pursued Captain Thompson part of two days. The wounded Indian left them shortly after they got out. She supposed he died, as he was very much hurt. Mary was sent to Montreal, and sold. Her purchaser's name was Young, and, on tracing the relationship, they found they were cousins. She remained there until after the war, and then returned to her friends in Buffalo Valley. Tradition says her health was very much undermined, and she died soon after. She was still living in 1787, when her father died ; but I can trace her no further. But for the entry in my father's journal, her history would have been as evanescent as her foot-prints, which revealed her pres- ence to the Indians.
Captain Thompson removed his family to Chester county, where they remained until after the Indian troubles were all over. They then returned, and he purchased of the widow Dempsey the place now owned by Jacob Ziebach, on Spruce run, in Buffalo, and resided there until the year 1832, when he went to reside with his son-in-law, Boyd Smith, (son of Gideon Smith, who lived at the mouth of Little Buffalo,) near Jersey Shore, where he died, February 9, 1837, aged ninety-three years nine months and nine days. When ten years of age, he was with his father at Braddock's defeat. He was a remark- able man in old age, often walking from Jersey Shore down into Buf- alo Valley, a welcome guest in every house from Pine to Penn's creek. His son William married Susan Linn, in 1804, and removed to Sugar Creek, Venango county. Their son James died from an explosion, which took place in his store, in 1833. He was carrying out ashes in an empty keg, as he supposed, but which had several pounds of powder in it. Ann married John B. McCalmont, Esquire, nephew of old Judge McCalmont. She died in 1849. John Linn Thompson died in Venango, leaving a family. William resides in New Brighton, Beaver county.
In a letter to General Potter, Colonel Hunter states that Captain Thomas Kempling, as he writes it, and his eldest son, were killed by the Indians, at the mouth of Muncy creek, in March, 1781. In the petition of his widow, who writes her name Mary Campleton, presented to the Assembly, September 23, 1784, she says : " My husband and son, with others, went on a tour of duty up the West Branch, early in the spring of 1781, and lying one night at the mouth of Muncy creek, in the morning the savages came on theni,
199
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1781.]
when my unfortunate husband and son, with one William Campble, fell a sacrifice to all the cruelties and barbarities that savages could inflict, leaving your petitioner and six children. We were driven from house and home, and so reduced that I am unable to return to the place we had improved upon."
About this time, John Shively who lived on the place now owned by R. V. B. Lincoln, Esquire, was captured by the Indians, in the meadow, in the rear of Esquire Lincoln's house. He was never heard of afterwards. He left a widow and sons, Christian and Frederick, who owned the place until the year 1804. His widow married Philip Mann, who lived in the Valley up to 1805.
George Rote and his sister Rody, aged about twelve and fourteen, were taken at Mifflinburg, where their father, George Rote (or Rhodes) lived. They were separated and carried into the Corn- planter's country. When peace was proclaimed they were liberated, and met at a furnace, near Clarion, Pennsylvania, and came back together. Rody married James Ben, and they moved to Centre county. They were uncle and aunt to the late Captain John Rote, who never could hear of an Indian in latter times without getting into a passion. Jacob and Conrad Caderman were captured at the same time. The former told my informant that Limestone hill seemed full of Indians ; that he had a gun and fired into the ground, to indicate that they surrendered. He said he liked Indian life so well that he would have remained among them, but for his wife and children. Conrad played stupid, and did all the mischief he could. They soon got tired of him, and sold him to the English for a five gallon keg of whisky. They both returned and lived long in the Valley. James Ben lived on a place adjoining Philip Fish- burn, now in Spring Creek, Centre county. His wife died many years ago, and he subsequently married a widow Murphy.
In the life of Rev. John Dietrich Aurand, Harbaugh's "Fathers," mention is made of his return from the army early this year ; that his mother, Mrs. John Aurand, had died but a short time before his return, and amid the tenderest longings to see her son once more before her departure. A deep sadness took possession of the young soldier's spirit when he found his mother no more among the living. He often went to her grave to weep and pray. She was buried on a gentle knoll on the west side of the present road, and on the south
200
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[178].
side of Turtle creek, near the mouth of the stream, under an aged yellow pine, in the midst of a clump of white pines of smaller growth.
Tradition has it that a number of people were buried here before and during the Revolution. Bickle, who was killed at Henry Mertz's place, is said to have been buried here. In my earliest recollection it went by the name of the old Indian burying-ground. It is now, however, a cleared field, (1872,) and all marks of its former use probably obliterated.
SUNBERY, April 12, 1781.
SIR : I arrived at my house on Sunday last, and on Monday I came to this pleace, and since, I have maid a visite to difrent parts of the frunteers, who I find in great disstress, numbers of them flying for their lives. At this early season of the year, the enemy has maid five different strookes on our frunteers, since the 22d of March. On the sixth instant, they fered on an old man, his son, and daughter. The boy was shott ded, and the Indians imedatly maid a prisoner of the young woman. The old man had a stick in his hand, with which he nobley defended himself against one of the Indians, who had a tomhack and maid the fellow drope his wapon. Col. Kelly, with a few of his neighbours, was in a house at a little distance. On hearing the enemy guns go off, run to the pleace, and obleged the enemy to retreat, leving the young woman there prisner, and our brave old Irishman, and his stick behind them, and all there blankets. They out run Col. Kelly and his party, and got off as usile.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.