USA > Pennsylvania > Armstrong County > Apollo > History of Apollo, Pennsylvania. The year of a hundred years 1816-1916 > Part 4
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When Gen. McIntosh took charge of this western division and arrived in Ft. Pitt, August, 1778, there were but two fixed stations besides Pitt. These were Fort Hand and Ft. Randolph at Wheeling. In the same month of his arrival Capt. Miller of the 8th Pennsylvania, with nine men had taken some grain to Ft. Hand and were surprised by Indians. The Captain and seven men were killed. Col. Brodhead succeeded McIntosh. He reported the presence of hostile Indians near the fort in April, 1779, and that one was killed. On April 26, a band of hostiles appeared so suddenly that two men who were plowing were compelled to abandon their teams, one of oxen and one of horses.
Angered at the escape of the men the Indians killed the oxen and horses, as well as all the cattle they saw. The fort was gar- risoned at that time by only 17 men under Capt. Samuel Moorhead. Sergeant Philip McGraw was in the sentry box at the time of the attack and was wounded. Sergeant McCauley took his place and he was wounded. McGraw lived only a few days. The attack began at one o'clock and lasted until noon of the 27th. There were women in the fort who assisted the men by moulding bullets, using pewter spoons and dishes when the lead ran out.
During the night the marauders set fire to the Mckibben house and burned it. When the sentry of the fort would call the hours as was the custom, some whites with the Indians would mimic his tones and cry "Is all well now?" One of the soldiers in the fort volun- teered to go to Ft. Pitt for assistance, as it appeared there were at
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RESIDENCE OF JOHN B. KERNS ON THE SITE OF FORT HAND. (Picture by T. J. Henry.)
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
least one hundred of the enemy. He was let out of the gate in the darkness and succeeded in reaching his destination. Forty men were immediately dispatched to the assistance of the beleaguered fortress. They did not arrive until afternoon and the Indians had left. The name of this hero has not been recorded. The fort was used part of the time at least up till 1791. It was purchased by Francis Kerns, grandfather of the present occupant of the premises. The family has a number of relics found on the place. A pair of rudely made spectacles were found on the site of the Mckibben house. Mrs. John Kerns found a stone tomahawk in the garden in 1915.
CAPTAIN SHARP'S DISASTROUS JOURNEY.
The main points of this description are taken from Smith's His- tory of Armstrong County. The story is somewhat abridged, but is so well told and the authenticity is such that it is deemed best not to vary much from the original narrative. Many persons have lo- cated this disaster wrongly. Besides the investigation by Robert Walter Smith, the writer was told by Harvey Bigham, an old school- teacher of this vicinity, that the tragedy occurred at Gravel Bar. Readings in various histories confirm this. The little run on this side of 'Squire Ray France's residence is the "Two Mile Run" men- tioned in the description. One of the descendants of Capt. Sharp verified this to Mr. Smith. Capt. Andrew Sharp was an officer in the Revolution under Washington. He, with his wife and infant, settled upon a tract of land upon which is now the town of Shelocta, in 1784. After living about ten years on this farm he decided to move to Kentucky, where better schooling for his children could be had. In the spring of 1794 he moved with his family, where he either built or purchased a flatboat, in which he and his wife and six children; a Mr. Connor, wife and five children; a Mr. Taylor, wife and one child, and Messrs. McCoy and Connor, single men, twenty in all, with baggage and household effects, embarked on the proposed voyage down the Kiskiminetas, Allegheny and Ohio Rivers to Kentucky. Low water in Black Lick retarded their progress, but when they reached the Conemaugh they glided down it and the Kis- kiminetas without accident until a point two miles below the Falls of the Kiskiminetas, at the mouth of Two Mile Run, below the present site of Apollo. Gapt. Sharp tied the boat and went back after a canoe which had become detached coming over the falls. When he returned the children were gathering berries, the women were preparing supper and the men who led the horses had arrived. A man came along and reported that Indians were near. The women and children were placed on the boat and the men had just about decided to take all the party to the house of David Hall for safety when seven Indians, who were concealed nearby fired upon the men while they were tying the horses. Captain Sharp's right eyebrow
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
was shot off. It is said that Taylor mounted a horse and rode off leaving his wife and child to the protection of the others. Capt. Sharp ran to the boat and was cutting it loose when he was shot in the left side. While cutting the other end loose he was shot in the right side. Nothing daunted, he shoved the boat off and calling to his wife to bring his gun, he shot and killed one of the Indians.
The boat whirled round and round while descending the river, the Indians firing whenever the unprotected side was toward them. Baggage had been piled up on one side for breastworks. They fol- lowed the boat twelve miles down the river, commanding the occu- pants to disembark. Mrs. Connor and her eldest son wished to land. The young man called to the Indians to come on the boat, that all the men were wounded. Sharp ordered the young man to desist or he would shoot him. Just then the young man was shot and fell at Mrs. Sharp's feet. McCoy was killed, Mr. Connor, Sr., was severely wounded. Capt. Sharp became so exhausted from loss of blood that his wife was compelled to manage the boat all night. None of the women or children were injured.
At daybreak they were within nine miles of Pittsburgh. They signaled to some men on shore who came to their assistance. One of the men preceded the party to the city and secured a physician to attend them. Captain Sharp died July 8, 1794, forty days after he was wounded. Mrs. Sharp became repossessed of her farm on Crooked Creek and returned. She lived fifteen years after the death of her husband. The Indians were supposed to belong to the Six Nations.
The following letter regarding this is quaint:
Greensburg, June 5, 1794.
Chas. Campbell to Gov. Mifflin.
Sir,-I Received your Letter of the 24th of May in Regards of stopping of the draught for the Support of Presqu'Isle Station whitch seemeth mutch to alarm the froonteers of our country, as it discovers to the Indians that we are not able to Maintain that Post. The thirtieth of may the Indians fired on A canoe in the Allegany River between the Mouth of the Kiscumenitus River and the Cattan- ian: Killed one man and wounded Two. The evening of the same day, they fired on A Boat that Left my Place to go to Keaintucky, about Two Miles Below the falls of the Kiscumenitus, Killed three Persons and wounded one, whitch was all the men that was in the Boat. The Boat Drifted Down the River till about Twelve Miles above Pittsburgh with the wounded man and the women and Chil- dren, when they were seen By some Persons who went to their as- sistance and Took the Boat to Pgh.
I am your Obedient Humble Serv't
CHAS. CAMPBELL.
Wm. Jack also wrote Gov. Mifflin relating the same affairs say- ing Capt. Sharp's boat was attacked on the Kiskiminetas River near Chambers' Station.
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO. LEGENDARY.
The late Wm. Trout, a local historian of note, was of the opinion that Warren was an Indian chief. His story is that White Mattock, Warren and Shelocta were all Indians who had taken out patents for land after the manner of the white man. White Mattock had taken up the site of Leechburg. Credit to this is given in Smith's History of Armstrong Co. Warren was said to have owned all the bottom lands a part of which constitutes the Allison farm.
Shelocta was the holder of the land upon which the town of She -- locta is built. White Mattock had a son , Warren and Shelocta had daughters. There it is, that everlasting triangle of trouble, two of one sex and one of another. White Mattock's son had made love to . the pretty daughter of Warren and his affection was returned. The young brave, however, met Shelocta's daughter. She too was a comely maiden and the son of White Mattock, after the manner of the whites again, paid court to her. Warren's daughter persuaded the vacillating lover to take a stroll along the hills of the Kiskiminetas to talk it over. They wandered on until they reached a cliff of great height near Leechburg's site. The young warrior was obstinate to the maiden's pleading, suddenly she felt all her red blood boil and she turned with a fierceness unexpected and shoved him over the declivity. As he fell he grasped her girdle and together they went over "Lovers' Leap."
Mr. Trout was of the opinion that the grave dug up by workmen in East Vandergrift was the grave of Warren, he being buried on that side of the river to hide it from desecration by the whites.
It is told elsewhere that a grave of unusual construction was found by workmen while excavating a cellar for Mr. Hunger. A flat stone constituted the bottom of this rude vault. A row of stones formed a wall around this. The body of the Indian had been placed in this along with his flintlock gun and some beads and shells. Over the now eyeless skull was a mirror. Another large stone covered this last resting place of some important savage. This grave was discovered Oct. 14, 1908.
Our local Poet and Historian, Linus Townsend gives another version of how this site became "Warren's Sleeping Ground." Brief- ly stated, it is as follows: In 1772, ten years before the destruction of Hannastown, Isaac Townsend and James Warren settled in the Kis- kiminetas Valley. The former up near Salina and the latter at this place. James Warren built a cabin on what is now the Jackson home and was rearing his little family in the manner of all frontiersmen.
The noted scout, Bob Hanna, from Westmoreland Co. came one day to see Warren and found to his horror, that Warren, his wife and six children were slain and scalped by the Indians. The little cabin had been burned. He notified Isaac Townsend and they with "Corny" Hildebrand burried the unfortunate family in a grave where they were slain.
History will not sustain this legend. "Corny" Hildebrand was born.
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
1786. He died in 1849 aged 62 years and 9 months. Had he been even a small boy at the time specified the tragedy would have occured near the year 1800. Besides this discrepancy of age, history states that this was "Warren's Sleeping Place" before 1732. In the Archives of Pennsylvania it is listed as such in 1768.
CARNAHAN'S BLOCKHOUSE.
Notwithstanding this fort was situated nearer to Salina, it is fit- ting to mention it because of the linking of the lives of the refugees there with the citizens of Apollo. In early days there was a chain of places of protection in this region, Ft. Ligonier, Carnahan's Block- house, Ft. Hand, Ft. Crawford (at Parnassus) and Ft. Pitt. In Aug- ust 1777, six or seven men were reaping oats about six miles from Carnahan's. One of the men had wounded a deer and while search- ing for it in the woods near by, discovered Indians in warpaint. With- out giving any sign of having seen them, he returned to the reapers and they all went to John Mckibben's house near where Ft. Hand was built the ensuing winter. They sent messengers to Carnahan's to warn them of the presence of hostile Indians. The next day the sav- ages plundered several houses, among them, James Chambers' log cabin. The people at Carnahan's seeing nothing of the enemy sent Robert Taylor and David Carnahan to Mckibben's to learn something about the alarm. On their return they had nearly reached the block- house when they saw several Indians stealthily approaching. Making a dash they succeeded in reaching the fort a few minutes ahead of their pursuers. Only a few men were in the fort and there were fourteen of the attacking party. John Carnahan opened the door and stepped out to get a better shot at the enemy and was himself shot and killed. The door was hastily barred and the defenders were able to keep the Indians at some distance. James Jackson, a boy of thir- teen moulded slugs for the men.
Jimmie, as he was called, was gathering firewood. Some of the children shouted "Indians" and ran for the fort. As he had been fooled before, he did not look around but proceeded leisurely with his load. Suddenly his mother appeared and screamed "Run, Jimmie, run!" Looking back he saw the savages rushing toward him. He did run then and just as he passed into the door, a tomahawk buried its blade in the door cheek. Whether his father, John Jackson, was in the blockhouse at this time is not stated.
John Jackson and his wife, Agnes, were settlers north of the Kiskiminetas prior to the Declaration of Independence. Their young- est child, Nancy, was born on the first of July, 1776. As far as can be learned, Mrs. John Jackson was the first white woman to live on this side of the river and Nancy was the first white child born in this valley. She was married in 1798 to Wm. Hill. Her grandson is R. B. McKee, of Freeport. David Hall was married to a Jackson. It was
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INDIAN ROCK. (Picture by T. J. Henry.)
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
at Hall's house where Captain Sharp and his company intended to take refuge when the Indians attacked them at Gravel Bar.
James Jackson was the grandfather of S. M. Jackson and came from Ireland when James was only six or seven years old. The Jacksons first settled in Chester County, and later in Hannastown. From thence they came to this neighborhood and were the first settlers north of the Kiskiminetas. Evidently they were com- pelled to return to Hannastown for a time for they were at that place when it was destroyed. Nancy Jackson Coleman who is a grand- daughter of Jas. Jackson says that during the attack on the block- house, something got wrong with Mr. Carnahan's gun and he pulled the rifle from under the dead body of his son and successfully defend- ed the fort almost alone as most of the men who had been in the fort were out scouting.
Carnahan's Blockhouse is of further interest because Col. Archi- bald Lochry's company rendezvoused there July 24, 1781, prior to their vain attempt to join Clark's ill fated expedition against Detroit. Lochry had 100 Westmorelanders. They were to join Genl. Clark at Wheeling. When they arrived Clark had left with instructions for them to follow. In doing this they were surprised and all killed or captured. Jos. Brant and George Girty were in command of the Indians, Mohawks, Iroquois and Shawnees. A Shawnee sank his tomahawk in Col. Lochry's brain after he was captured. Forty West- morelanders were slain. A number were never heard from. About 20 after many adventures finally returned. Among those who never re- turned was Wm. Thompson, who has a great many descendants in this community, one daughter marrying James Jackson, another Wm. Mc- Kinstry.
The widow of Wm. Thompson married Nathaniel McBrier (Mc- Bryar), grandfather of Dr. Wm. McBryar.
LOCAL TALES.
Mention of Jas. Jackson's pioneer life has already been made. Besides him Wm. Kerr was .one of the early settlers in Kiskiminetas Twp. Wm. Kerr's log house was on the same site as the present res- idence of W. F. Whitlinger on the State Road. At one time Mrs. Kerr was obliged to hide from the Indians while her husband was away. At the time that Captain Sharp and his crew were attacked by the savages at Gravel Bar, the Jacksons and the Kerrs went to Carnahan's blockhouse. Mrs. Kerr rode horseback carrying a three- day old baby. Three cousins of Mrs. Kerr visited them. These had been captured by Indians and traded from tribe to tribe. They did not like to talk about their experience. They had all been compelled to run the gauntlet. The brother and one sister succeeded the first time in eluding the most of the blows. The other sister was not so lucky and was forced to run a second time to save her life. Another brother who had not been captured, vowed he would kill an Indian to
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get even for the abduction of his kin. Peace was declared before he had an opportunity to get revenge.
There is a little ravine leading up from T. C. Kerr's residence toward the Jackson farm. At that time it was thickly wooded. There was a deer lick at the head of this ravine. This vengeful cousin was hunting up this hollow when he espied an Indian up on a mulberry tree. He did not regard the peace but fired and the redskin dropped. The deed done he became panicky and fled to his uncle's. When later he ventured to the place he saw no trace of the savage and supposed he was only wounded. The Kerrs frequently fed strolling groups of Indians after peace was made. Once just after eating, one of them went away for a short distance and returned with a supply of lead. Such instances caused some to believe the Indians knew of hidden mines. The occurences of this kind were common throughout the country. It was the custom of the savages to hide their supplies in convenient places. This they did with lead, flint and darts. Thus it is that there is scarcely a valley in the state but that has its tale of a hidden mine.
THE NAME WARREN.
History is fact, not romance, and however much we may desire to cherish the legend about Warren and the Indian Chieftain whose dust lies in a secret grave, or Warren the interpreter, beloved by red and white, or the unfortunate settler who with his family was slain by the savages on this site, history must be written as made. This site has been variously called Warren's Sleeping Groves, Warren's Sleeping Ground and Warren's Sleeping Place. Austin applied for it under the latter name. Francis Silver applied for it April 7, 1769, designating it "Warren's Sleeping Groves."
In order to understand just how the name originated, it must be remembered the Indians and traders did not wander aimlesly through the forests, but there were trails with stopping places as well known as the stations on our railroads. At first they were foot trails, later they were widened for horses. Traders in those days were licensed and had certain places where they met the Indians and trappers to barter for pelts. Some of these traders had special places where they slept. Sometimes the sleeping place was a teepee of saplings and bark, sometimes an abandoned cabin, at others even a hollow log or a dug out. There were many of these places all through this region. After the settlement of the country and the abandonment of trails there was nothing to keep up the name and it was forgotten. The fact that a town was built on this site is the only reason for the per- petuation of the name. At the time the white settlements were on the east of the Susquehanna River, John Harris established a trading post and a ferry at the site of Harrisburg. The Indians objected to his locating on their side but as he treated them well, the protests
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
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ceased. He has handed down a list of stations or points on the trail which is the most interesting to the people of Apollo. The trail spok- en of is that which led over the Allegheny Mts. from Harris' Ferry to the Forks of the river (Pittsburgh) and the stations on this side of the mountains will be sufficient. The distances given are from Al- legheny Hills to Clearfield 6 miles. To John Hart's Sleeping Place (near Carrolltown) 12 miles. To Shawnese Cabins, (near Cherry Tree), 24 miles. To Shaver's Sleeping Place (at forks of Two Lick Creek) 12 miles, To 18 mile Run, 12 miles, to Round Hole or Ten Mile Lick (Spring Church) 6 miles, to Kiscomenetas Town on the creek which empties into the Allegheny, 10 miles. To Chartiers Landing, 8 miles, from thence along the Allegheny to Pittsburgh. C. A. Hanna in "Wilderness Trail" says: "The trail (Allegheny Path) crossed the Kiskiminetas Creek at the mouth of Carnahan's (Shan- er's) Run and also perhaps one mile below Apollo at the outlet lock. Apollo was formerly Warren. The fact that the name was permitted to be changed shows a lamentable lack of taste on the part of the in- habitants. Edward Warren was an Indian trader at Allegheny before 1732. He was in the employ of Peter Allen, a trader on the Ohio. Warren had his sleeping place here just before he crossed the river on his way to "The Forks." He did not die here but went East in 1732 and there gave evidence of the building of forts by the French. It will be remembered that the English were just awakening to the pur- pose of the French in Western Pennsylvania. A thorough investiga- tion was made concerning their trespassing in 1733.
In justification of the change of name, the citizens had little to do with it. That they have a proper appreciation of history is in- stanced by their naming the principal avenue for Warren and an- other for Col. Armstrong.
BURIAL OF WARREN
This was written in 1881 by Robert A. Henry who was under the impression that Warren was an Indian interpreter.
Glorious Autumn's golden tint
Upon the forest trees is placed,
For Nature ne'er doth Autumn stint
Of beauty's power: Power to win the heart at sight
Where e'er that golden tint is traced
In gloomiest hour.
Limpid the river flows along
Bathing the banks by willows lined,
Murmuring sounds as sweet as song Of maid at eve.
What now disturbs the music tone
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FE
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO. Of waves that down the channel wind, Who here can grieve ?
Louder and louder comes a wail, Louder and louder, yet more clear, Oh list, hear it ye cannot fail, A wail of woe. It is the Indian funeral drum Mingling with human sounds we hear- Why is it so ?
Splendid the sun shines on the scene Upon a mixed and wondrous throng That moves in forest chrome and green In solemn mood. Come they to lay a chieftain low Who lately led his tribe along- Some man of blood ?
No, no, yet wonder not they mourn, A peaceful man has passed away, A soul by trials overworn Has passed from earth. And warrior tribes are mourning now As 'neath the sod they place his clay, They knew his worth.
And here the Mohawk warrior walks, The dark Cayuga by his side, And haughty Delaware proudly stalks, All, all at peace. The Shawnee and Oneida braves All decked in beaded pomp and pride, Now strife must cease.
The wiry Frenchman here we see Keenly alert with cunning glance, The English, Scotch and Irish free, All here today. All mourning that à good man's gone And in the burial train advance To hide his clay.
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OLD OUTLET LOCK HOUSE. (Picture by T. J. Henry.)
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THE HISTORY OF APOLLO.
Why should they grieve so much for him? Ah they all knew his influence well And e'en the warriors' eyes grew dim When Warren died. The red man knew he'd lost a friend And felt his savage bosom swell But not with pride.
Ever that spot should sacred be Where they have laid his form to rest And cherished e'er by memory That spot renowned, Where low they laid the peaceful man Ne'er more by wars to be distressed, "His Sleeping Ground."
INDIAN ARROWHEADS
Frequent mention of the finding of Indian implements and pot- tery has been made. The pottery was simple in construction, being baked. In some cases a row of indentations or a line was drawn. around. A few of the pots had lugs upon the side. The skinning stones, celts and tomahawks were made by a process of rubbing and chipping. The flinthead or dart is the most puzzling. Many descrip- tions of how they have been made have been published. Few of these agree. They are not made of genuine flint as this is not found in America. Most of the specimens found here are of jasper, quartzite or obsidian. The material for these was brought from the South or West. In Redbank Twp. in this county there is said to be a vein which had been worked by the Indians and that an arrowhead factory was near by. Most writers agree that the flakes of material used in the making of these points were obtained by building fires on the original rock and then throwing water on the heated surface. This would produce the spalls. These are then taken and by a systematic boring motion with a sharp instrument or by the striking of a chisel- like tool the scales are successively thrown off until the dart or spear- head is shaped. The boring tool had either a point of ivory or the tooth of an animal. The chisel was of some hard substance as agate. These shaped heads were fastened in the split ends of arrow shafts or spears by wrapping with rawhide or tendons. These shrink tight when dry. Some say the Indians further secured them by glue made from boiled antlers. Gordon Hulings, a former citizen of Apollo, told the writer that an old Indian told his grandfather that the flintheads were made as follows,-The spalls were procured by fire as noted above. Two small spalls were then fastened into either end of a flex- ible green sprout. By bending this a pair of crude tongs were made. With these another spall was placed in a fire until heated. This was
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