History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 23

Author: Craft, David, 1832-1908; L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 812

USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 23

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"This planter occupies an estate of five hundred acres, only thirty of which are yet cleared. He wishes to dispose of his plan- tation, which he holds from the State of Connecticut; the price he demands is five thousand three hundred and ninety dollars ; that is to any, about ten and three-fourths dollars per acre. Aoother land-holder [probably Mr. Isaac Cash], at whose house we stopped to procure directions about the road, intimated to us a similar design, as he mis- took us for jobbers. Ilis plantation consisted of three hundred acres, sixty of which were cleared, with a corn- and u saw-mill, which he estimated at one thousand three hundred dollars. He asked for the whole estate two thousand six hundred dollars, which is tantamount to eight and one-half dollars per aere. The state of agriculture bere is no better than in other parts of Pennsylvania, and even worse than in many of them, all the plantations being in that infant atate where the soil yields rich erops without cultivation. The settlers, too, are doubtful whether their rights to their possessions will be confirmed, hive much businesa on their hands, and are in general little able to advance money for the improvement of their lands, so that they give themselves hardly the trouble to plough up the ground. For this purpose they make use of oxen, the medium price of a yoke of which is seventy dollars. Wheat commonly sells for one dollar a bushel, rye for four shillings, and oats from two shillings sixpence to three shil- lings. There are two schools in the neighboring country, which are both kept by women, who teach needle-work and reading. To learn to read, therefore, is the only instruction which boys can obtain here. These achoola are maintained solely by a fee of five shillings a quar- ter paid by each scholar. They are evidently insufficient, but they are schools, and these are very rare yet in Pennsylvania.

" No place has hitherto been set apart for religious worship. Those who desire to perform this assemble in private families, and engage a preacher for a yearly salary, which, however, is very small. Fam- ilies of Methodiats constitute the principal part of the inhabitants.

"On the other side of the river stands New Shesbequin, a small, neat town, containing about twelve houses, which are either built of rough logs or boarda. It is located on a very pleasant plain. The justice of the peace, surgeon, and the pastor of the neighboring country reside in this place. It contains shops; in short, all those things which are found only in principal towns.

" The road from Old Sheshequin to Tioga, which had been repre- sented to us as a very bad one, proved, on the contrary, very good. Here the farm-houses lie closer to each other. Near Tioga the river of the same name discharges itself into the Susquehanna. The site of the town, or rather the eight or ten houses which are ao called, ia about two miles distant from the confluence of the two rivers. . . . The price of land in the neighborhood of the town is eight dol- lars per acre, when, out of three hundred acres, the proportion of filly or sixty are cleared of wood. The town shares are sixteen yards in breadth and fifty in depth, and cost twenty dollars. The price of wheat is seven shillings sixpence per bushel ; rye sells for aix shil- linga, and oats from three to four (Pennsylvania currency). Some venison excepted, which at times comes to market, no fresh meat has been seen at Tioga since last autumn. The merchanta of the place carry on an inconsiderable trade in hemp, which they get from the upper parts of the river, and send to Philadelphia by Middletown. We were informed that the shops at Asylum prove very hurtful to the trade of Tioga,-a complaint which gave our fellow-traveler, who keeps a shop at Asylum, no small satisfaction. Last year there were three inns in Tioga, but at this time there was but one ; we found it crowded with travelers from the Jerseys, Pennsylvania, and New York, who intend to settle on the lakes. After a scanty supper, we were all obliged to take up with two beds ; more were not to be bad on any

terms. The sheets, which had already served three or four travelera. were, according to the landlady's account, very clean ; and so indeed they are called in all the American inns, when they are in fact totally unfit for use. Yet, on the other hand, we enjoyed the special favor of being permitted to lie down in boots, as those of our party really did who, like myself, preferred taking their repose on the ground wrapped up in a blanket. . . Near the confines of Pennsylvania a moun- tain rises from the banks of the river Tioga in the shape of a sugar- loaf, upon which are scen the remains of some intrenchment; these the inhabitants call the Spanish ramparts, but I rather judge them to have been thrown up against the Indiana in the times of M. de Nouville. One perpendicular breastwork is yet remaining, which, though covered over with grass and bushes, plainly indicates that a parapet and a ditch have been constructed here."

It will be remembered that at this period the controversy growing out of the Connectieut elaim was going on with great bitterness, and it is interesting to know the opinion of so acute an observer and impartial a judge of the posture and obligations of the parties as the duke. He says, " Nearly all the plantations which we have hitherto traversed in this district have been more or less recently formed by families who derive their titles from Connecticut. The right of property claimed by that State in regard to these lands has been declared to be unfounded; first, by arbitra- tors in Trenton, three or four years ago, and since that by the judges of assize, who hold their sittings in Philadelphia. The last sentence has excited general discontent in these parts ; and, in truth, should it be confirmed by the supreme court of justice, the natural consequence must be a general dispossessing of all the cultivators who have settled here by the rights of purchase or gift from the State of Connecticut, and who have spent several years on a soil on which they established themselves in a most legal form. Several of these settlers were, during the last war, driven from their possessions by the Indians, who destroyed all the buildings and burnt the woods as far as they were able on their re- treat. These are indeed sufficient reasons for discontent; and the State of Pennsylvania, satisfied with being reinstated in its right to these lands, will undoubtedly leave them in the possession of these families who, bona fide, obtained them either for money or by labor. If Pennsylvania had sold the same land the supreme court of judicature would doubtless award an indemnification in money. But in the United States, whose constitution is and must be founded on the rights of man, and modeled by justice, peaceful and industrious inhabitants will never be driven from their pos- sessions, or expelled from their homes."*

In 1793, Reading Howell published his map of Penn- sylvania. On that portion of it which covers the territory he has marked what were the most noted points about the year 1790 or '91. These are "Standing Stone;" "Singer's," on the Towanda, between Monroeton and the mouth of the creek ; " Melville," which is evidently a mistake for Means- ville, which is the present Towanda ; "Sheshequin Flats," at present Ulster ; "Gore's," at present Sheshequin; " Lock- hartsburg," at present Athens ; and " Letsom," on the Sugar creek, at Burlington, and "Shepard's," at the mouth of Shepard's creek. The country covering Orwell, Pike, Her- rick, Warren, and Windham, is marked as the " country abounding in the sugar-tree." On this map are also marked

# Travels of the Duke de la Rochefoucaalt. Translated by H. Newman. Second London edition, pp. 151-154.

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the Indian trails or paths. The Sheshequin is indicated as entering the southwestern angle of the county, and soon dividing, one branch passing down the Towanda to West Franklin, and taking nearly a direet course for the lower part of Ulster, the other branch taking an easterly course along the divide of the waters of the Towanda and Sugar Run, and the Loyal Sock takes a southeast direction to Tunkhannock.

In 1810, Mr. Howell published a new edition of his map, on which the streams are more accurately delineated, Loek- hartsburg has become "Tyoga town," the Melville has no name, the locality of " Assylum" is indicated, and the State roads and the Berwick and Elmira turnpike are noted.

In the month of October, 1804, Alexander Wilson, the celebrated ornithologist, with two companions, visited Niag- ara Falls. He wrote a rhyming deseription of his journey from Philadelphia, through Easton, Wyoming, up the Sus- quehanna and the Tioga, called the " Foresters," of which the following extracts describe that portion of the journey lying in this county :

" Night's shades at last descend,-the stars appear,- Dull harking dogs pracluim the village near ; Soon Wyalusing round us, we survey, And finished here the labors of the day. The inn was silent, not a mortal there, Before the fire each plants his crazy chair, When slow down-stairs a cautious step was heard, And Joh," the landlord, soberly appeared ; Begged our excuse, hewailed his luckless lot, Wife io the straw and everything forgot ; So finding honest Joh so hard hestead, We skinned our squirrels, supped, and went to hed.

" The morning dawned, again we took the road, Each musket shouldered o'er the lightened load, Through Wyalusing's plains we gayly pass, 'Midst matted fields of rank, luxuriant grass. Here Nature bounteous to excess has been, Yet loitering hunters scarce a living glean. Blest with a soil that s'en in winter gray Would all their toils a hundred-fuld repay, Few cultured fields of yellow grain appear, Rich, fenceless pastures rot unheeded here. Huge, from the vale, the towering walnuts grow, And wave o'er wretched huts that lie helow ;

. No blossoming orchards seent the opening May, No bleating floeks upon their pastures play. The wolves, say they, would soon our flocks destroy, And planting orchards is a poor employ. The hungry traveler dining on this plain May ask for fowls and wish for eggs in vain ; And while he dines upon a fliteh of bear, To wolves and foxes leave more geotle fare. Now down the hoary woods we scour along, Rousing the echoes with our jovial song, Through paths | where late the skulking Indian trod, Smeared with the infant's and the mother's blood, Their haunts no more ; far to the setting day, In western woods, their prowling parties stray, Where vast Superior laves his drifted shores, Or loud Niagara's thundering torrent roars. Gaul's exiled royalists,# a pensive train, Here raise the hut and clear the rough domain,

The way-worn pilgrim to their fires receive, Supply his wants, but at his tidings grieve; Afflieting news! forever oo the wing, A ruined country, and a murdered king! Peace to their lone retreats while sheltered here, May these deep shades to them be doubly dear; And Power's proud worshipers, wherever placed, Who saw such grandeur ruined and defaced, By deeds of virtue to themselves secure Those inhorn joys that, spite of kings, ondure, Though thrones and states from their foundations part, The precious balsam of a wounded heart.

" All day up winding solitudes we passed, Steep hung o'er steep, as if at random cast, Through every opening towering groups were seon Piled to the clouds with horrid gulfs between. Thus (us the bard of old creation sings, 'Mongst other marvelous scenes and mighty things), When squabbliug angels raised in heaven a rout, And hills, uprooted, flew like hail about, Thus looked, in these tremendous days of yore, Their field of battle when the fight was o'er. Impending cliffs, with ruined woods o'ergrown, And mountains headlong over mountains thrown. One vast pre-eminent ascent we scaled, And high at last its level summit hailed ; There as we trod along, fatigued and slow, Through parting woods the clouds appeared helow, And lo ! at once hefore our ravished view A scene appeared, astonishing and new : Close on the brink of an abyss we stood, Concealed till now hy the impending wood, Below, at dreadful depth, the river lay, Shrunk to a brook, 'midst little fields of hay; From right to left, where'er the prospect led, The reddening forests like a carpet spread, Beyond, immense, to the horizon's close, Huge amphitheatres of mountains rose. Charmed with this spot, our knapsacks we resigned, And here, like gods, in airy regions dined. Like gods of old, the cordial cup we quaffed, Sung songs of liberty, and joked and laughed, Huzza'd aloud, then listened from oo high, If haply slumbering Echo might reply. A long, dead pause ensued,-at once the sound, In tenfold shouts, from distant hills rebound ; Not Polyphemus' self e'er louder roared, When burning goads his monstrous visage gored. Huzza ! huzza ! the echoing mountains cry ; Huzza ! huzza ! more distant hills reply ; And still more distant, till the faint huzza, In lessening shouts, successive died away. Surprised, astonished, heedless of our meal, We seized our muskets for a louder peal, Filled their dark howels with the glistening grain, And, facing, pointed to the extended seane; Theo at the word their fiery thunders poured, That through the wide expanse impetuous roared. Deep silence hung-the loud returning roar From hellowing mountains thunders o'er and o'er ; Peal after pcal successive hursts away, And rolls tremendous o'er the face of day ; From hill to hill the loud responses fly, And in the vast horizon, lessening, die .¿

¿ Wilson's Note .- This echo may he considered as one of the great- est curiosities of this part of the country. After more than a quarter of a minute had elapsed the sound was reverberated with astonishing increase at least ten successive times, each time more and more re- mote, till at last it seemed to proceed from an immense distance. The words were distinctly articulated, as if giants were calling to one an- other from mountain to mountain. When our guns were discharged at once the effect was still more astonishing, und I scarcely believe

* I am unable to find any JOB, who was an inn-keeper, in Wyalu- sing at this date. Possibly the name may be fictitious, although the character is real.

f Frenchtown mountain.

French settlement at Asylum.

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Thus from Olympus, o'er a prostrate world, The fabled Juve his bults imperiuns hurled ; Earth heard, and echoed hack the penls profound, And heaven's exalted regions shook aronnd. With deep relnetance, ne'er to be forgot, And many a lingering look, we left the spot, Since called Olympus,-worthier of the name Than that so blazoned by the trump of fame. Ye souls whom nature's glorions works delight, Who chance to pass o'er this stupendous height, Here turn aside; and if serene the day, This cliff sublime will all your toil repay ; Here regions wide your ravished cyc will meet ; JIills, rivers, forests, lying at your feet ; Ilere to Columbia make your muskets roar, While heaven's artillery thunders back encore.

""Twas now doll twilight; trudging on we keep Where giddy Breakneek nods above the steep, And down the darkening forest slowly steer Where woods, receding, show a dwelling near, A painted frame, tall barracks filled with bay, Clean whitewashed railings raised along the way ; Young poplars, mixed with weeping willows green, Rose o'er the gate, and fringed the walk within. An air of neatness, gracing all around, Bespoke that courtesy we so quickly found ; The aged judge,# in grave apparel dressed, To cushioned chairs invites each weary guest; O'er the rich carpet hids the table rise, With all the sweets that India's clime supplies, And supper served with elegance; the glass In soher circuit was allowed tu pass. The reverend sire, with sons and grandsons round, Ruddy as health, hy summer snns embrowned, Inquires our road and news with modest mich; Tells of the countries be himself has seen, His Indian battles, midnight amboscades, Wounds and captivity in forest glades; And with such winning, interesting store Of wildwood tales and literary lore, Begniled the evening and engaged each heart, That, though sleep summoned, we were loth to part; And e'en in bed reposed, the listening ear Seemed still the accents of the sage to bear.

The morning came ; ye gods! how quickly bies To weary folks the honr when they must rise ! Groping around, we fix our various load, And full equipt forth issued to the road. Inured to toil, the woods slide swiftly past, O'er many an opening farm our eyes we cast ; Here rich, flat meadows most luxuriant lie, Some gleaming orchards gladly we espy ; Full-loaded peach-trees, drooping, hung around, Their mellow fruit thick scattered u'er the ground. Six cents procured us a sufficient store, Our napkins crammed, and pockets running o'er ; Delicious fare,-nor did we prize them less Than Jews did manna in the wilderness. Still journeying on, the river's brink we keep, And pass the Narrows' high and dangerous steep, That to the clouds like towering Atlas soars, Whilo deep below the parted river ruars. Beyond its eastern stream, on level lands, There Athens (once Tioga) stands. Unlike that Athens known in days of old, Where learning found more worshipers than gold, Ilere waste, unfinished, their solo school-house lies, While pompous taverns all around it rise.

that a succession of broadsides from a train of seventy-fours, at like distances, in any other place, would have equaled it. The state of the atmosphere was very favorable, and the report roared along the clouds in one continuous peal.

Now to the left the ranging mountains bend, And level plains before us wide extend ; Where, rising lone, old Spanish Hill appears, The post of war in ancient, unknown years. Its steep and rounding sides with woods embrowned, Its level top with uld intrenchments crowned; Five hundred paees thrice we measured o'er, E'en all their circling boundaries we explore ; Now overgrown with woods alone it stands, And looks abroad o'er open, fertile lands. Here on the works we ruminating lay, Till sud len darkness muffled up the day ; The threat'ning storm soon drove us to the plain, And on we wandered through the hills again."

I have quoted at length from these journals of various travelers, because they give us a better view of the country at the time of their visits than can be obtained in any other way. It is the concurrent testimony of all parties that the first emigrants were very poor. They were destitute of farming implements and stock. For a number of years many a settler was accustomed to chop a small piece of wood, which, when it became dry, he set fire to, by which the underbrush and smaller limbs of the trees were burned up, and then with an axe he would plant his corn among the partially consumed trunks as they lay on the ground, where his only crop grew without further cultivation. For nearly ten years there were neither roads, stores, nor mills in the county.

The next ten years witnessed considerable improvements. Roads were opened through the principal settlements, mills were erected at various places, stores were opened, and dis- tilleries were built. The older settlers had begun to im- prove their houses, and in a few instances framed houses were built. Farms were placed under a better state of culti- vation. Trade was carried on with the lower settlements mainly by Durham boats and canoes. These were casily floated down the stream, but to bring them up they were pushed with the " setting-pole," which was slow, toilsome, expensive business. At first peltry and maple-sugar were the only articles of export. To these were added cattle, grain, whisky, and lumber. For a number of years maple- sugar and whisky were almost the sole currency of the country among the settlers, and not unfrequently the price agreed upon for a day's work, a bushel of grain, a yoke of cattle, or other commodity would be so much whisky or so many pounds of sugar. Money was hardly known. Owing to the difficulties of transportation, the prices of all exported articles were very low, while those of imports were corre- spondingly high.

The great uncertainty in regard to land-titles, which pre- vailed through all this period (from 1784 to 1804), served also to retard the settlement and improvement of the coun- try. The settler could hardly be expected to do much in improving his farm until he was certain he should reap the benefit of his labor, and felt somewhat certain that he would not be summarily driven from his possessions. Hence, as soon as this question was settled, we find the county rapidly increasing in wealth and population.

It may be of interest not only to know how these carly pioneers lived, but to know the price they received for their products, and also the cost of such articles as they were compelled to buy. I am indebted to Mr. Edward Welles

* Gore.

HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

for the list of prices recorded in the books of his grand- father's, Judge Hollenback, store at Athens in 1787-88. In the values given, £I equals $2.50, and fractional parts in the same ratio :

Baize, per yard, 28. 6d. Blaok Stroud, por yard, 128. Beef, Salt, per pound, 6d. Beans, per busbel, 88. Blankets, 128.@208. Bull, Yearling, £2. Butter, per pound, 18. Calico, French, per yard, 8%.

" White Sprig, per yard, 78. Cider, per quart, Is. Cloth, Superfine, 328. " Drab, 78. 6d. Corn, per bushel, 3s. 6d.@ 18. Corduroy, per yard, 108. Cotton Stripe, per yard, 88. Cow, £5.

Deer Skins, Dressed, 248. Drilling, per yard, 48. 6d.

Thread, per skein, 3d.

Tobacco, Plug, pr pound, 28. @ 38. Lenf, per pound, 18. 3d. Toddy, per bowl, Is. 3d.

Tumblers, Pint, each, 28.

Teacups and Saucers, pr s't, 48.6d. Venison, per pound, 1d.@3d. Whisky, per gallon, 108.

FURS AND PELTRY.

Bear Skins, 168.@208.

Beaver " 228.

Calf 58.

Elk

168.

Deer "

28. 6d.@78.

Fisher " 48.

Fox, Red, Skins, 78.@88.

Martin

48.

Mink

38.@48.

Muskrat 18.

Otter 108.@24a.

Panther " 88.

Raceoon = 38.@58.

Weasel

48.

Wild Cat

58. @88.

Wolf 66 68.

CHAPTER VI.

INDIAN TREATY AT ATHENS.

WHILE the Iroquois immediately desisted from open hos- tilities at the close of the Revolutionary war, yet the re- lations between them and the government of the United States were far from being satisfactory. Many of them sympathized with, and some aided, the western Indians in their warfare with the United States; much dissatisfaction was expressed about the Phelps and Gerham purchase in the State of New York ; British Indian agents in Canada, aided by the powerful influence of Joseph Brant, were encouraging them to acts of hostility ; so that, although no overt acts were committed, there was a constant feeling of distrust and uneasiness among the Six Nations. Matters were brought to a crisis by the murdering of two Seneca Indians on Pine creek, June 28, 1790, by the " Walker

boys." It was alleged by the Walkers,-three brothers, Henry, Joseph, and Benjamin,-and another man, named Samuel Doyle, that one of these Indians boasted that he had taken twenty-three scalps in the late war, and among them that of the Walkers' father, which so enraged the young men that they tomahawked the Indians forth with. The people of that neighborhood fled to the lower settle- ments, and sought aid from the government. A reward was offered for the murderers, who were apprehended, tried at the November term in Northumberland county, and ac- quitted.

A general Indian war now seemed imminent, and the Federal government took immediate measures to conciliate the tribes. Unfortunately, the papers relating to this treaty cannot be found at Washington, where diligent search has been made, and the account which is now given is derived from the Pickering papers, which are very full, except that they do not contain the text of the treaty.

A letter from General Washington, President of the United States, bearing date September 4, 1790, to Timothy Pickering, "authorized and required him to proceed to Painted Post, or some other convenient place, to meet in behalf of the United States the Indians, to assure them that the murders committed on Pine creek on some of their tribe were causes of displeasure to the United States." On account of the difficulty of transportation, owing to the low stage of water in the river, it was determined to hold the treaty at Athens. A trusty messenger was at once dis- patched to the Seneca nation, to which the murdered men belonged, inviting them to a council to be held at Tioga, Oct. 25, 1790, and containing assurances of good-will on the part of the United States, and a willingness to make reparation for the evil done them, and asking them to accept these assurances of the friendship of the general government.

Col. Pickering at once set about making preparations for the conference. To Judge Hollenback, who was largely engaged in the Indian trade, familiar with their habits and wants, personally acquainted with many of their leading men, and who had been present at the treaty at which the Phelps and Gorham purchase was effected, was committed the duty of purchasing and transporting the goods to be used for the customary presents to the Indians, and supplies for the whole company during their attendance. By an invoice found among the papers of Judge Hollenback, these goods amounted to more than sixty hundredweight, consisting of flour, rum, tobacco, pipes, kettles, hoes, wooden bowls, clothes, cotton goods, etc. There is no valuation given in this paper; but by the invoice of goods taken to Elmira, where a treaty was held the next year, and where about the same quantities were taken, the valuation amounts to more than £270, or $720.

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 23

Author: Craft, David, 1832-1908; L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia : L. H. Everts Number of Pages: 812

Author: Craft, David, 1832-1908; L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 812