USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 82
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" Brady returned to and posted his men, and in the deepest silence all awaited the break of day. When it appeared, the Indians arose and stood around their fires ; exulting, doubtless, in the scalps they had taken, the plunder they had acquired, and the injury they had inflicted on their enemies. Precarious joy-short-lived triumph ! The avenger of blood was beside them ! At a signal given, seven rifles cracked, and five Indians were dead ere they fell. Brady's well known war cry was heard, his party was among them, and their guns (mostly empty) were all secured. The remaining Indians instantly fled and disappeared. One was pursued by the trace of his blood, which he seems to have ! succeeded in stanching. The pet Indian then imitated the cry of a young wolf, which was answered by the wounded man, and the pursuit again renewed. A second time the wolf-cry was given and answered, and the pursuit continued into a windfall. Here he must have espied his pursuers, for he answered no more Brady found his remains there three weeks afterwards, being led to the place by ravens that were prey- ing on the carcass. The horse was unfettered, the plunder gathered, and the party commenced their return to Pittsburg, most of them de- scending in the Indian canoes. Three days after their return, the first detachment came in. They reported that they had followed the In- dians closely, but that the latter had got into their canoes and made their escape."
[ NO. XXXIV. ]
BEAVER COUNTY.
BEAVER county was erected March 12, 1800. It was formed out of parts of Allegheny and Washington, and bounded : "Beginning at the mouth of Big Sewickly creek, on the Ohio river; thence up the said creek to the west line of Alexander's district depreciation lands ; thence northerly along the said line, and continuing the same course to the north line of the first donation district to the western boundary of the State ;
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BEAVER COUNTY.
thence southerly along the said boundary across the Ohio river, at a point in the said boundary, from which a line to be run at a right angle easterly will strike White's mill on Raccoon creek, and from such point along the said easterly line to the said mill, leaving the said mill in the county of Beaver; thence on a straight line to the mouth of Big Se- wickly creek, the place of begining.'
Jonathan Coulter, Joseph Hemphill and Denny McLure, were ap- pointed commissioners to erect public buildings. Beaver Town was named in the act, as the county seat.
Beaver county is bounded on the north by Mercer county, on the east by Butler, on the south-east by Allegheny, on the south by Washing- ton, and on the west by the State of Virginia and Ohio. Length 34 miles, breadth 19, area 649 square miles : containing 413,440 acres .- The population in 1800, was 5,776 : in 1810, 12,168 : in 1820, 15,340; in 1830, 24,206; in 1840, 29,368.
The following table presents at one view the population of each town- ship, according to the census of 1810, '20, '30 and '40:
TOWNSHIPS-BOROUGHS.
POPULATION.
1810.
1820.
1830.
1840.
Beaver,
North Beaver,
932
1,206
1,892
2,293
Little Beaver,
1,379
1,144
1,825
1,254
South Beaver,
1,351
800
829
1,024
Ohio,
1,128
1,075
1,122
1,273
Brighton,
738
901
902
Chippeway,
443
580
610
Raccoon,
871
Greene,
1,245
1,194
1,709
1,500
Beaver borough,
426
605
914
551
Bridgewater,
386
565
Darlington,
981
New Brighton,
878
1,367
1,902
1,740
Rochester,
548
Shenango,
679
1,098
1,907
1,435
Slippery Rock,
1,323
1,774
2,475
2,992
Hanover,
1,090
1,147
2,359
1,662
Hopewell,
1,035
1,492
1,603
Big Beaver,
707
742
1,243
1,339
Moon,
1,035
826
1,360
748
Phillipsburg,
338
Freedom,
384
Economy,
1,220
1,283
Total, 12,168 15,340 24,206 29,368 The male adult population was variously employed. In mining 19; agriculture 5,262; commerce 120; manufactures and trades, 1,540;
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is e
634
Fallstown,
220
New Sewickly,
1,224
North Sewickly,
445
APPENDIX -- NO. XXXIV.
navigation of canals, &c., eighty; in the learned professions, 112.
Beaver county belongs to the secondary geological formation. Valu- able and extensive beds of bituminous coal, with strata of limestone, occur in almost every part of the county. Near Greensburg is a bed of cannel (oal, about eight feet thick, resting upon three feet of ordinary bituminous coal. This cannel coal is light, compact, ignites with great facility, and burns with a strong flame. Iron ore of various kinds has been found in many parts ; and sulphur and alum in various states of combination.
" The surface of the country is generally rolling rather than hilly, with steep and precipitous ascents from the valleys of the principal water courses. The alluvial soil of the bottom lands is highly fertile, and most of the upland is adapted to the production of grain and for the grazing of cattle and sheep. Agriculture is in a flourishing condition, and considerable attention has been paid to the cultivation of the mul- berry and silk, and vine for grapes. Considering the limited extent of this county, and the comparative recent date of its settlement, Beaver county deserves favorable mention for the rapidity of its improvement, and for the variety of its productions of agriculture and manufacturing industry.
The following, compiled from the last census, affords the reader some idea of the products and wealth of this county :
Mineral, Agricultural, Horticultural, Commercial, &c., Statistics of Beaver County, of 1840.
Furnaces 4, produced 260 tons of cast iron, capital $30,000.
Live stock : 8,395 horses, 21,028 neat cattle, 74,176 sheep, 33,355 swine; value of poultry of all kinds, $12,104.
Cereal grains, &c .: Wheat 326,663, barley 6,376, oats 515,985, rye 53,141, buckwheat 75,336, corn 233,735. Pounds of wool 198,842, hops 1,278, wax 627. Bushels of potatoes 203,127 ; hay 19,550 tons; sugar manufactured 35,718; products of the dairy $12,157 ; products of the orchard $9,573; gallons of wine made 3,270; value of home- made goods $36,301.
Commerce, &c .: 86 stores, capital $196,370; lumber-yards 3, capi- tal $2,570. Value of lumber produced $5,578. Value of machinery manufactured $9,245. Fulling mills 8, woollen manufactories 8; value of manufactured goods $164,950; 157 persons employed, capital $154,- 400. Cotton manufactories 2. with 2,800 spindles ; value of manufac- tured articles $40,000 ; 65 persons employed ; capital $50,000. Hats, caps and bonnets manufactured to the value of $11,000. . Tanneries 30, tanned 6,003 sides of sole, and 7,285 of upper leather; employed 57 hands ; capital $29,605 ; all other manufactories of leather 64; value of manufactured articles $34,430; capital $14,515. Distilleries 13, pro- duced 73,360 gallons ; 4 breweries produced 79,000 gallons. Value of carriages $15,500 ; 28 men employed ; capital $8,140. Flouring mills 12, grist mills 60, saw mills 73, oil mills 3. . Value of boats built $53,- 275. Value of furniture manufactured $12,450. Houses built of brick 19, wooden 53. Total capital invested in manufactures $724,958.
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BEAVER COUNTY.
The aggregate amount of property taxable in 1845, was $4,073,824, whereof $3,696,566 was real estate.
The Ohio river flows through the southern part of the county, which it enters 14 miles below Pittsburg, and pursues a northern course for about 12 miles, where receiving Big Beaver creek, it turns south-west, and crosses the county by that course 15 miles, receiving the Big Se- wickly and Raccoon creeks. Mahoning and Shenango unite and form the Beaver river, which flows southward nearly through the middle of the county, and empties into the Ohio near the town of Beaver. On Beaver river, within five miles from its junction with the Ohio, is a suc- cession of falls and rapids, having an aggregate descent of 69 feet, and affording an immense water power for manufacturing and mechanical purposes. Besides these rivers, there are many important creeks in this county-Hickory, Little, Brush, Mill, Big and Little Travis, Raccoon, Slippery Rock, Conuquenessing ; and several rivers or rivulets. The streams collectively, afford an incalculable amount of water power-the larger ones facilities of water communications-especially the Ohio- with the east and west, &c.
" The Beaver division of the Pennsylvania canal extends through this county, from the mouth of Beaver river to Newcastle, in Mercer county, where it connects with the Erie extension, forming, on the com- pletion of the latter work, a direct communication from the Ohio river to lake Erie. The Mahoning, or Pennsylvania and Ohio canal, con- nects the Beaver division of the Pennsylvania works with the Ohio canal at Akron ; and the Sandy and Beaver canal connects the same works by way of Little Beaver and Sandy rivers, forming a junction with the Ohio canal at Bolivar."
BEAVER, the county town, was laid out more than fifty years ago .- "By the act of Sept. 28, 1791. Thomas Mifflin, the Governor of the State at that time, was instructed to be caused to be surveyed 200 acres of land in town lots, near the mouth of Beaver creek, on or near the ground where the Old French town stood, and also 1,000 acres ad- joining, on the upper side thereof, as nearly square as might be, in out- lots, not less than five nor more than ten acres each. By the same act, 500 acres were granted for an academy. Daniel Leet surveyed the town plot." In 1800 it was made the seat of justice, and incorporated March 29, 1802. Population in 1840, 551. Its public buildings are a court house and county offices of brick, a stone jail, a bank, an academy and several churches. Its situation is pleasant, being on an elevated plane near the junction of Beaver river with the Ohio, surrounded by picturesque and beautiful scenery.
Bridgewater is situated about half a mile above the junction of the Ohio and Beaver rivers, on the west side of the Beaver river, being con- nected with Rochester, on the east side of the Beaver, by a handsome and substantial bridge. It is regularly laid out upon a level flat, and contains a number of fine buildings, manufactories, commission houses, hotels, &c. It is the usual landing place of the Pittsburg steamboats, and the termination of the stage and packet routes for Cleaveland.
Fallstown, at the foot of the falls of Beaver, deriving its name thence, is famous for its manufactures-woollens, cottons, paper, linseed oil,
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APPENDIX -- NO. XXXIV.
wire, scythes, window sash, ploughs, baskets, carpets, lasts, cording machines, steam engines ; for its flouring mills, saw mills, and other industrial operations, in which water power may be employed to advan- tage. Abundance of coal is found contiguous to the town.
New Brighton, a handsome village, is on the opposite side of the river, and connected with Fallstown by a handsome permanent bridge. Water power is also great here ; and various manufactories and mills are in operation here. Though this place sprung into existence since 1830, it contains a population of 1,000, several churches, a female semi- nary of advanced standing, and a kindred institution to promote the dif- fusion of knowledge. In 1793, a military block house stood here, with a garrison, commanded by Major Tooney.
Mr. Hutchinson, in his Historical Account of Colonel Boquet's Ex- pedition against the Indians in the year 1764, notices this region of country. He says : "Friday, October 5th, 1764 .- In this day's march the army passed through Logstown, situated seventeen and a half miles, fifty-seven perches, by the path, from Fort Pitt. This place was noted before the last war, for the great trade carried on there by the English and French ; but its inhabitants, the Shawanese and Delawares, aban- doned it in 1750. The lower town extended about sixty perches over a rich bottom, to the foot of a low, steep ridge, on the summit of which, near the declivity, stood the upper town, commanding a most agreeahle prospect over the lower, and quite across the Ohio, which is about five hundred yards wide here, and by its majestic and easy current, adds much to the beauty of the place. Proceeding beyond Logstown, through a fine country, interspersed with hills and rich valleys, watered by many rivulets, and covered with stately timber, they came to camp No. 4, on a level piece of ground, with a thicket in the rear, a small preci- pice round the front, with a run of water at the foot, and good food for cattle. This day's march was nine and a half miles, and fifty-three perches.
"Saturday, October 6th, at about three miles distance from this camp they came again to the Ohio, pursuing its course half a mile farther, and then turning off, over a steep ridge, they crossed Big Beaver creek, which is twenty perches wide, the ford stony, and pretty deep. It runs through a rich vale, with a pretty strong current, its banks high, the up- land adjoining it very good, the timber tall and young. About a mile below its confluence with the Ohio, stood formerly a large town, on a steep bank, built by the Frenchi, of square logs, with stone chimneys, for some of the Shawanese, Delaware and Mingo tribes, who abandoned it in the year 1758, when the French deserted Fort Duquesne. Near the fording of Beaver creek, also stood about seven houses, which were deserted and destroyed by the Indians, after their defeat at Bushy run, when they forsook all their remaining settlements in this part of the country."
Brighton, on the west side of Beaver river, four miles above its mouth, is a flourishing place, commanding unlimited water power from the river, with a fall of about twenty feet. Here is a flourishing mill, capable of manufacturing two hundred barrels of flour per day ; an ex- tensive cotton factory, a large paper mill, an extensive tannery, a num-
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BEAVER COUNTY.
ber of mechanical establishments, and a neat and commodious meeting house and school room accommodates a population of about 300.
Sharon, a flourishing village on the west side of the Beaver, about a mile from the Ohio, having an iron foundry, an extensive establishment for the manufacture of tubs and buckets, and two keel and canal boat yards. There is a church here. Population 300.
Freedom, laid out in 1832, by Phillips & Graham, is a brisk place, on the Ohio, about one mile above the mouth of Beaver. It has several manufactories ; one for steam engines and boilers, and a boat yard for the building of steam boats. Population about 400.
Rochester, (formerly Bolesville,) is directly opposite Bridgewater .- The location is healthy and elevated, presenting a fine view of the sur- rounding villages and rivers. A considerable forwarding business is done here. Population about 360.
Phillipsburg, directly opposite the mouth of Beaver, on the left bank of the Ohio, was formerly owned by Messrs. Phillips & Graham, who had connected with it an extensive steam boat yard. In 1832, they sold it to Count De Leon and his associates. Population between 300 and 400.
" Economy is a German settlement on the northeast bank of the Ohio, 18 miles below Pittsburg. The town contains about 100 houses, and is situated on a beautiful plain about 80 feet above the river. This town, together with a tract of land containing between 3,000 and 4,000 acres, is the property of the " Harmony Society," who, under the direction of George Rapp, emigrated from Germany about the year 1805, and first settled at Harmony in Butler county. From this place they removed to the banks of the Wabash, in the State of Indiana, where they cleared a large tract of land, built a town, and established various manufactories. Here they remained about ten years ; but finding the climate unhealthy they resolved to return to Pennsylvania, and in 1825 established them- selves in their present location, where by the exercise of their peculiar habits of enterprise, industry and economy, they soon succeeded in founding a flourishing and beautiful settlement.
" Their property is held in common as the general and indivisible stock of the society, and all persons who may unite with them and add their property to the common stock, are permitted, if they quit the com- munity, to withdraw the principal without interest. They have a wool- len manufactory, propelled by steam, in which from 70,000 to 80,000 pounds of wool are annually converted into broad cloth, satinet, flannel, and blankets of superior quality. Their cotton manufactory and grist mill are also driven by steam ; in the former about 300 bales of cotton are used in a year. Within the last few years their attention has been directed to the culture and production of silk, which in 1840 amounted to 2,389 pounds, being manufactured into silk goods of various de- scriptions.
"Most of the ordinary branches of mechanical industry are likewise carried on, as well for their own use and comfort as also for the accom- modation of their country neighbors of the adjoining settlements, with whom a considerable business is transacted by way of sale and exchange.
"In the lower story of a brick building, 120 by 60 feet, they have an
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APPENDIX-NO. XXXIV.
extensive museum of natural curiosities, a large number of paintings, and a fine collection of mineral specimens. The upper story of this building consists of one spacious room, in which the whole society on certain occasions dine together, as on the celebration of their yearly harvest home, the anniversary of their association, and other days of importance to them.
"They have a large brick church in which they meet for worship twice on Sunday, and on one evening during the week. Their leader delivers a discourse in the German language, which is generally spoken among them, although many of them understand and speak English. A large and commodious school house is erected for the education of their children : they have a physician of their own, and an apothecary shop for the supply of medicines. A large and well arranged hotel is kept under the direction of the society, in which travellers and visiters are accommodated ; and a post office is kept for the convenience of the settlement.
"'Their large flocks of domestic animals, horses, cattle, sheep and swine, are of good stock, and being well managed and carefully provided for, may be regarded as among the best in the western country.
" In their agricultural operations they are surpassed by few, if any : their fields, meadows, orchards, vineyards, nurseries of fruit trees and gardens, are among the best in the country, and form a pleasing subject of admiration to the many travellers who visit this interesting place.
" Each department or branch of business is under the direction of a foreman or superintendent, whose duty it is to see that every thing is properly performed according to the standing rules and regulations of the society, and to do justice and act impartially to all the members in the distribution of all the necessaries of life.
" This little community presents a pleasing and instructive example of the advantages derived from habits of industry, morality and strict adherence to sound religious principles. They show how much the sum of human misery may be lessened by dwelling in harmony, una- nimity and peace ; and how greatly the happiness of the human family may be promoted by the combined and benevolent action of both heart and hand."-Trego.
Darlington, (formerly Greersburg) a thriving village on Little Beaver Creek, nine miles north-west of Beaver, was incorporated March 28, 1820, and its name changed to Darlington by an act April 6, 1830. It contains about 70 dwellings, 1 academy and a church. Population in 1820, 240.
Frankfort, Hookstown, Georgetown, Petersburg, Mount Jackson, are also small villages in this county.
As early as 1748, Conrad Weiser, (see his Journal, p. 14,) had been in this county ; and Washingtor in 1753 (see Ap. p. 38).
First settlements made within this county were, as already stated, by Moravians, in the year 1770, immediately after leaving Lawunakhannek .*
George H. Loskiel, in his History of the Moravian Mission, has given a detailed account of this settlement, which is here inserted with- out abridgement :
* See p. 46, ante.
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BEAVER COUNTY.
" April 17th, 1770, the congregation of Lawunakhannek broke up, and set out in sixteen canoes, passing down the river Ohio by Pittsburg to the mouth of the Beaver Creek ; which they entered, and proceeded up to the falls, where they had to unload and transport their goods and canoes by land. One of these carrying places detained them two days. The frequentrepetition of this troublesome work caused them to be very thankful when they met Glikkikan with some horses from Kaskaskunk for their use.
" Thus after a tedious journey, during which they had however held their daily meetings as often as their situation would permit, refreshing their souls by the comfortable word of God, they at length arrived on the 3d of May in the country where they intended to build their new settlement. The spot appointed for them could not have been better chosen, and there was good land sufficient to supply an hundred fami- lies. 'They now informed Pakanke, the head chief in Kaskaskunk, and his council, of their arrival. During the formalities asual on such occa- sions, both Brother Zeisberger, and the Indian deputies, delivered seve- ral copious speeches, to give the inhabitants of Kaskaskunk, from the very beginning, a just idea of their new neighbors, and Pakanke bid them welcome in the same number of speeches. Captain Glikkikan could now no longer bear to live at Kaskaskunk, but desired leave to dwell with the brethren. The latter exhorted him well to consider, that in so doing he would exchange an honorable office, power and friends, for reproach, contempt and persecution. But his declarations were so firm and sincere, that it was impossible for them to refuse his request.
" The Indians were now diligently at work in their plantations, and dwelt in the mean time in bark huts. They also built a large hut for the meetings of the congregation, which were numerously attended by the people from Kaskaskunk. The settlement made by the brethren here, was called Languntoutenuenk, or Friedensstadt, the Town of Peace.
" June 12th, the first baptism was administered in this place, to the wife of the blind Chief Solomon, who had formerly opposed her husband with great violence, but afterwards became thoughtful, and anxious to obtain salvation. Glikkikan and others, who had never seen this trans- action, were struck with wonder and amazement, and the whole assembly was so powerfully pervaded by the sensation of the presence of God, that the Brethren Zeisberger and Senseman were overcome with joy, and filled with renewed courage, boldly to maintain their post, even under the most grievous oppressions, and gladly to venture their lives in endeavoring to lead souls to Christ.
" The Indians in the neighboring country were astonished or rather alarmed to see a people settle among them, so much differing in manners and customs from the heathen, and to hear a doctrine preached, of which they never before had any idea. In some this astonishment was soon changed into displeasure and animosity. Glikkikan's retiring from Kas- kaskunk to Friedenstadt, occasioned universal dissatisfaction. His friends spared no pains to prevent it by kind persuasions ; but finding them useless, they railed most bitterly against him, calling him a sor- cerer, by which they even endangered his life. The old Chief, Pa- keank, who had always employed him as his speaker, and looked upon
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APPENDIX-NO. XXXIV.
him as his right hand, altered his friendly behaviour towards the brethren, and denied his having invited them into the country, charging Glikkikan with it. He even attacked him publicly, and in great wrath said, ' And even you have gone over from this council to them. I sup- pose you intend to get a white skin ? But I tell you, not even one of your feet will turn white, much less your body. Was you not a brave and honored man, sitting next to me in council, when we spread the blanket and considered the belts of wampum lying before us ? Now you pretend to despise all this, and think to have found something bet- ter. Some time or other you will find yourself deceived.' Glikkikan replied briefly thus : ' It is very true, I have gone over to them, and with them I will live and die.' Though Colonel Croghan, an English officer, exhorted Pakanke not to oppose the brethren, but to suffer all those Indians, who wished to hear the Gospel, to go to them, adding, that they aimed at nothing, but the real welfare and interest of the In- dians ; and though Pakanke promised fair, yet he remained an enemy, and many were deterred from coming to Friedenstadt. About this time a very bad epidemical disease prevailed among the Delawares, which took off great numbers, and was ascribed by the heathen to the power of magic. Many of the Chiefs and counsellors at Gekelemukpechuenk and other places conceived a notion, that they could not remedy this evil in any other way than by unanimously resolving to receive and be- lieve the word of God. As it was soon known that Pakanke was averse to the cause, the Chief and council of Gekelemukpechuenk sent him a black belt of wampum of a fathom in length, with the following mes- sage : 'There is a contagion among us : many Indians die, and this evil has lasted some years : we shall all soon be destroyed, unless some help be procured. Convene a council upon this belt. Whoever does not receive this belt, shall be considered as an enemy and murderer of his people, and we shall know how to treat him according to his deserts.' This message being of mysterious import, Pakanke was left to guess its meaning. But he pretended not to understand, that it implied, that they should receive the Gospel as the only remedy.
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