USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 2
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Meals, Samuel G
11. :57
72 72 Marshall, Kennedy
74
Marshall, Jolm D ...
75
Cunningham, A. M.
Christie, I. J. L
82
Campbell, Ilon. A. L.
380 Cowden, Dr. John.
83
Cowden, Dr. William R
Marshall, Hon. Santel
MeClymonds, James M
Metz, Andrew.
20.
Muntz, Henry.
Mer 'andless, William
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Met'ullough, family of.
Duffy, JJuho
McCoy, Hon. Hiram (
Duffy, l'eter
Facing 160 Duncan, Samuel
232
Nixon, Simeon.
Neyman, Dr. . A. M.
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Denny, James M.
Dennison, Dr. B. E.
Dougal, David.
169
171 176
Clark, J. B.
MeNees, John C ..
Mitchell, E. B ....
74 74 Martin, William D 74 Martincourt, John ..
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McPherrin, Rev. John.
172
Logan, Joseph
272
Le Fevre, Isaar
71
Kirkpatrick, Henry
453
Kemiedy, T. W.
201
Lane, James T.
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Lyon, Edwin
67
Alwine, Francis 995
Bredin, Judge John. 50
Levis, L. J
74
Lnsk, W. H. .
Linn, Dr. George
Linn, Dr. H. P
Lake, Dr. K. N
80
Iaisk, Dr. Loring.
80
Lusk, Pr. Joseph S.
Lnsk, Der. Amos ..
Brown, Mrs. Mary,
Brewster, Amasa.
Lowrie, Walter ..
Marshall, Thomas M
Bredin, Dr. Stephen
McJunkin, David J
191 Mitchell, Alexander
239 309 979
Facing 152 Christie, C. 8
Kyle, D. J ..
Kelly, JJohn K.
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Graham, Joseph 11.
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171
Graham, 1 atrick ......
Graham, Norman
Hamer, G. D.
lluover, Pr. Niclora
Hartenstein, luni
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Greer, Hon JJohn M
Gaily, R.
Concher, H. IL ..
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filmore, lohn
Gihaare, Samuel 1.
Gilmure, Alfred ..
Graham, Walter L.
Graham, Hugh
Waldron, Hon. W. S., residence of.
CONTENTS.
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CONTENTS.
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Purviance, JJohnimmer
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Piersol, S. H ...
Shaner, Daniel ....
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Pollock, B. J.
71 Seaton, William .1 ..... ....
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Pillow, George C.
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Timblin, William.
T'illow, Dr.
Patterson, Dr. R. 1
165
Thompson, William G.
Purvis, Sammeli
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2277
Porter, Joseph ...
Beiber, Fordinaml
Thompson, Oliver D.
75
Robinson, Thomas
Thompson, William (
Bobstuck, .1. J.
Riddle, William H. H
Roth, John M
Walker, David O ..
71
Richardson, Dir. N. M.
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Walker, Clarence
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Renfrew, David .1
Hu-++IL, R. M
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Watt, Josiah ( ..
271
Smith, George W.
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Sullivan, Charles (
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Sullivan, Peter O.
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Weir, Jinlge A D.
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Sullivan, John Q.
70
Watson, Thomas.
279
Sullivan, Moses
Sentt, R. I.
Snyder, Harvey
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Young, Simon P'.
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Shaner, E. R ..
75
Young. Rev. Loval
178
Zimmerman, Dr. G. M
79
Stein, Dr. Charles
79
Zvigler, llon. Jacob.
175
Stoops, William
182
Timblin, Henry D
Purviance, L. P
Timmory, JJoseph P'
Thompson, B. J.
71
Thompson, John H.
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Turner, Joseph.
172
Vanderlin, J. (
51
Reed, J. W.
White, George R
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Reed, G. W
Williams, A. G
White, Hev. William
177
sullivan, Charles .1
Welsh, Alexander
Waldron, W. S.
282
Welsh, George ..
Williams, Rev. Samuel ..
Young, Watson J
Snyder, Samuel B
Sullivan, John.
PAGE.
103
Stevenson, Robert D. ...
307
Purviance, P'rank >
71 Thompson, JJames,
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Thompson, Col. John M
73
73
Clara Cornelius 707 E. Peace th. Buiter, Pa.
HISTORY
OF
BUTLER COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY AND DESCRIPTIVE
Plan and Scope of the Work-Description of the Region Represented in the Work-Miscellaneous Matters-Geography and Topography -Drainage-Soils-Minerals.
TO rescue from a fast engulfing oblivion the events which have occurred in this county during a pe- riod of wellnigh a hundred years; to preserve and to do honor to the memory of those who first dwelt with- in its boundaries; and to present an historical view of the institutions and industries of borough and hamlet and township-is the object we have had in view in the preparation of this work. It has been onr endeavor to gather and glean the facts thoroughly, to present them simply and plainly.
As the table of contents indicates, the history con- sists practically of two departments. The first six- teen chapters contain the general history of the coun- ty. and, incidentally, some fragments of the history of Western Pennsylvania. In the thirty-four suc. ceeding and supplementary chapters (upon the bor- ough of Butler and the townships), those minor de- tails of history are preserved which could not well be given place in the chapters upon a broader class of subjects. In these will be found carefully made rec- ords of the early settlement, accounts of churches and schools, and much of incident illustrative of the men and manners of the early times.
Returning to the general history, we will remark that, within its first score or so of pages, the effort is frequently made, not only to chronicle facts, but to show their relation as causes and effects in the great chain of events by which a portion of the wilderness was reclaimed and added to the mighty realm of civilization. In the first few chapters of this de- partment, a chronological order of arrangement is
maintained. as nearly as may be. while in the later ones the topical form is resorted to as much simpler, as well as more practical and appropriate.
In Chapter 2. following this brief introduction to the work and description of the country, is given nearly all that is known of the history of this immediate re- gion prior to the year 1796. Certain topics, however, are reserved for treatment in the succeeding chapter on land title and survey, in which the peculiar conditions under which Northwestern Pennsylvania was thrown open to settlement are quite fully explained. Under the title, "Advent of the White Man as a Settler," is given a brief history of the settlement of the coun- ty, with remarks upon the evil and retarding effect upon it of the contested land title and the narrative of an event which worked an important change. Many of the trials of pioneer life are dwelt upon in the chapter next following, and the building of the log cabin, the dress, customs and occupations of the first settlers, are minntely described. A chapter on the public improvements in the county -- from the days when the " mnd road " was the only means of com. munication down to and including the era of railroad development-is next given. A separate chapter is devoted to the civil history of the county, and ont- lines its organization, the establishment of its courts, and the division and subdivision of townships, in- einding, also, a valuable reference list of county offi- cers, and the Representatives of the county in the State and Federal Governments. The bar, the press and the medical professions have each a place in the volume, and a roster is given of the Butler County soldiers in the war of 1812. The county, in the dark days of the rebellion. responded to the call for troops in a manner of which her people may ever be proud. The soldiers' record is given the large space which
10
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
its importance demands, and occupies two voluminons chapters. The history of the oil development is traeed from the beginning to the present, with as much minuteness as is possible in a work not devoted exclusively to the subject. In eonelusion, the general history presents brief chapters upon the more import- ant county societies, and upon population. produc. tions, etc.
Butler County* is bounded upon the north by Venango, on the cast by Armstrong, on the south by Allegheny and on the west by Beaver, Lawrence and Mereer. Its northern line measures fifteen miles. one hundred and fifty-two perches: the eastern line. thirty-three miles; the southern, twenty-three miles and ninety eight perches: and the western (and north- western), thirty-seven miles and ninety eight perches. It contains an area of 785 square miles. or about 502 .- 100 aeres of land.
The chief and central figure in the topography of Butler County is the great dividing ridge between the waters of the Allegheny on the cast, and the tributaries of the Beaver on the west. This crest of the great water-shed sweeps through the eastern part of the county in a general direction nearly north. It enters the county in Middlesex Township. runs north- east through Clinton and Jefferson Townships to Dilks' Station, on the Butler Branch Railroad, and thence northward in an ahnost straight line to Mid- dletown. in Coneord Township. From the latter point, it extends northward to North Washington and Annisville, and rounding in a semi-eirele the head - waters of Slippery Rock Creek. passes elose to Farm- ington, and thence northward to the county line. along which it runs in a westerly direction, and. sweeping again to the north. runs off along the line between Mercer and Venango Counties. Two promi- nent ridges coming in from the west meet the great " divide " near Middletown. The most northern of these is that which lies between Muddy Creek and Slippery Rock. and runs nearly due east from the Lawrence County line through Worth, Brady and Clay Townships. The more southern of these ridges is that which separates the waters of Muddy Creek and the Connoquenessing. It passes close to Portersville and Prospect, and runs nearly northeast through Center and Coneord Townships to its junetion with the great divide. The height of these dividing ridges reaches about fifteen hundred feet, and they are ap- proximately six hundred feet above the Allegheny River at Parker.
The center of the drainage system of the northern part of the county may be said to be Middletown.
In its immediate vicinity are the head-waters of Ship- pery Rock. Muddy Creek, Bear Creek, Buffalo Creek, and Kearns' Branch of the Connoquenessing. While the northern part of the county is principally drained by Muddy Creek and Slippery Rock, the Connoque- nessing takes nearly all of the waters of the southern part. It is formed by the confluence of several branches near Butler Borough. flows a generally southwest direction (though making many bold sweeps to the north and south). and nearly all of its princi- pal tributaries -Thorn. Glade. Breakneck and Brush Creeks enter it from the south. The exception is Little Connoquenessing. which flows in from the northeast. a little above Harmony. after running a general parallel course.
The principal affluents of the Allegheny which receive the whole or any parts of their waters from Butler County are Bear Creek. in the northeastern part: Buffalo, in the eastern and southeastern; and Bull Creek. in the southern. Probably nine-tenths of the drainage of the county is westward into the Beaver.
There is comparatively little of valley land in Butler County. A broad and beautiful valley has, however, been earved out by the Connoquenessing in the vicinity of Harmony and Zelienople. The soil is there derived from the lower coal measures, and is very rich and strong. This region is truly the gar- don spot of the eounty, and as fair to the eye of the husbandman as to him who admires it for beauty alone. Well-defined terraces exist here, and do not appear elsewhere in the county, to our knowledge. They occur at twenty, sixty. and one hundred and ten feet above the stream; but can only be traced for a short distance along the valley.
Some fine bottom lands appear along Slippery Rock from Annandale westward. and the valley of Muddy Creek presents some similar bottoms, extend. ing from Clay Township westward to the Lawrence County line.
Nearly all of the arable soils in the county are de- rived from what the geologists eall the barren meas. ure rocks. The streams out down into the lower coals, but the hillsides are generally so steep and rough that they cannot vell be cultivated.
Prof. I. C. White, author of the geological report upon the district including southern Butler County,* says upon this subject: "It will be seen that the farmers have very little in their favor with which to begin, and hence the use of fertilizers is necessary to secure a paying erop. * *
* The lower barren measures from which nearly all of the soils of the district are derived contain very little limestone, and
*We may hete remirk thet the county, and also its principal town, were named after Maj Gen Richard Butler, who fell at St. Clair's defeat, in what is now Western Ohio, November 4, 1791. A statute of Gen. Butler appears upon the court house.
Volume " Q" Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania, including Beaver, North Allegheny and South Butter. From this and the volume including the report on the northern part of the county, by H. Martyn Chance, many of the facts contained in this chapter are taken.
11
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
hence the small amount of calcareous matter origi- nally in the soil has nearly all been used up by the annual extraction of the crops, so that the land is lit erally famishing for lime."
Prof. Chance, in his contribution to the Second Geological Survey (Vol. 5), divides the soils of the northern part of the county into four classes, and says that a fifth might be added by considering the soil affected by the outerop of the ferriferous limestone as a separate kind "Along the Slippery Rock," says he, " in Slippery Rock, Worth, Brady, Cherry, Mer- cer and Marion Townships, much of the land is very greatly improved by the presence of this rock, but it is so thin-rarely exceeding fifteen feet .- that we are hardly justified in asserting that there is any charac- teristic, limestone soil in the county." His four classes of soils are-first, the soil of the bottom lands, found on Muddy Creek and Slippery Rock and their branches, "sometimes being a loose, sandy loam, form- ing excellent meadow land, but occasionally a hard. stiff, clayey earth, very difficult to cultivate;" second, the high lands of the barren measures. "formed from the disintegration of clayey and sandy shale and sand- stone," varying from a rather thin, loose soil, to a very hard, tough clay, much of it making quite good arming land, well adapted to grazing, but needing a liberal application of lime; third, the high land in southern Brady, Clay, Concord and Fairview Town- ships, formed by the outerop of the Mahoning and Freeport sandstones, very poor and but little cutli- vated; fourth, the soil formed from the disintegration of the shales and sandstones of the lower productive coal measures, varying much in quality, as the coal measure rocks vary in lithological character.
It is not deemed necessary to enter upon a de- seription of the geology of Butler County in this work. There are books in existence written by masters in the science, and devoted exclusively to the subject, and they are within the easy reach of all. Sections of the rocks are given in another chapter, under the heading of "Oil Well Records," and the production of petroleum is fully described, and followed from the beginning down to the present time
The earth and rocks hold vast riches in this re- gion, and the work of developing these riches has been scarcely begun. Early in the history of the county, the iron ore in the western and northern parts of the county was extensively smelted, and with profit to almost a dozen furnaces, but more recently the fur- naces were found to be unable to compete with other and larger ones in various parts of the country, sup- plied with a superior ore and having better facilities for transportation.
The vast deposits of coal, however, are the most valuable of Butler Connty's mineral deposits, and are
an almost inexhaustible source of wealth. There is not a township in the county where coal does not oc cur, and in all of them it is mined at least for home consumption, and has been during a period extending almost as far back as the first settlement of the coun- try. Of late years, it has been extensively mined for commercial purposes in the northern part of the county, and that industry will be found elsewhere described in this volume. *
CHAPTER II.
THIE REGION PRIOR TO 1796.
The Indians-Their Trails-The Great Path through the Western Part of the County from " The Forks" of the Ohio to Venango-Early Time White Men in Butler County-Journey of George Washing- ton and Christopher Gist-Fired at by an Indian on Breakneck- Christian Frederick Post's Mention of the Connognenessing-In- dian Depredations-Battles on the Allegheny-Capt. Brady-ITIs Adventures on Slippery Rock Creek-Captivity and Esrape of Massy Harbison.
GLANCE at the map of Western Pennsylvania will immediately suggest to the thoughtful reader the fact, and the reason for the fact, that the region now known as Butler County was not the thea- ter of any of those great actions of an early day which aided in shaping the destiny of the Great West, and, indeed, of the entire national domain.
The chief villages and strongholds of the Indian tribes who dwelt in Western Pennsylvania in the eighteenth century were upon the larger water-courses. and, when European adventurers came into the country. they followed these same natural highways of the wilderness. Travel by any other means was slow, difficult and dangerous. It thus resulted in this region. as in all others settled before the era of railroads, that the earliest homes of the white men and the scenes of their operations, whether of mili- tary or other nature, were upon the streams which were navigable by the canoe, pirogue, or similar light craft of the Indian, explorer, trapper, trader, soldier or emigrant
It will be seen, by reference to the map, that the Allegheny upon the east, and Beaver Creek and the Ohio upon the west and south, inclose Butler County in an irregular oval. In the interior of this almost entirely stream-surrounded expanse of country are only small tributaries of the rivers, which were not navigable even for the small boats of pioneer com- merco.
Hence, during the period of French occupation of the Ohio, during the long contest of the English for dominion, and during the Revolutionary war, when stirring events of far-reaching effect, were occurring at the site of Pittsburgh, when forts were built on
*See chapters upon the northwestern townships.
12
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
Beaver Creek and the Allegheny, and later, when the banks of these streams were settled by the hardy frontiersmen, the region between the streams was an unbroken wilderness, which the foot of the white man seldom trod.
It was the wild retreat of the Indians, who fell upon the ontposts of civilization to the eastward and southward.
Originally, or at as early a time as we have knowl- edge of the country, the Delawares held possession of Western Pennsylvania, and, indeed, of the lands which form the whole State. In the last quarter of the eighteenth century, various tribes were represented in the western part of the State. Among them-their relative numbers being as in the order named-wore Delawares, Shawanese, Senecas and Muncies. They had large towns upon the Allegheny, the Ohio and Beaver Creek, which were maintained for long pe- riods, and smaller villages, less permanently occu- pied, on the tributaries of these streams, several of them located within the present limits of Butler County.
Although the streams afforded the principal means of communication for the Indians (and for the few whites who ventured into the wilderness in the last century ), there were numerous trails crossing the coun- try. The great " Kittanning path, " which led west- ward from Philadelphia to the Indian town of Kit- tanning on the Allegheny, was continued through what is now Butler County, passed the site of the seat of justice, and thence probably led to Beaver Creek or the Ohio, or merged with other trails which extended to those streams. There is traditionary evi- dence that an Indian path, well defined when the county was settled, extended from the site of Butler in an almost straight line to Pittsburgh. In Buffalo Township, a trail has been identified which ran in a north and south direction. It probably extended northward a considerable distance, and again ap- proached the Allegheny River near the northeastern angle of the county, cutting off the big eastern bend of the river.
There were other trails, however, compared with which those we have alluded to were mere by-paths.
The lands which now form the western part of Butler County were traversed by two Indian trails, of which very distinet traces remained when the first set- tlers came into the county in 1796, and which, indeed, can be identified in some localities at the present day. The more important of these was the trail from the forks of the Ohio (the site of Pittsburgh) to Venan- go, an old Indian town at the mouth of French Creek, on the Allegheny River, where is now the town of Franklin. The old Pittsburgh and Franklin road, as originally laid out, closely followed the ancient path
of the red men. Entering the present limits of the county on the south line of Cranberry Township, the trail extended almost directly northward.
It can still be detected on the lands of Christian Gehring and Israel Cookson, in Cranberry, and it is probable that, after passing northward into what is now Jackson Township, it bore slightly eastward, fol- lowing a small run to Breakneck Creek, which it must have crossed very near Evansburg. From this point it extended northward through Forward and Conno quenessing. Franklin, Brady and Slippery Rock, and so onward to Venango. It is highly probable that it crossed the lands upon which the village of Prospect has been built, and it was doubtless at that locality that the trail from Logstown* intersected it. This latter trail is supposed to have traversed the sites of Zelienoplet and Harmony.
Another Indian trail crossed the lands now em- braced in Cranberry, from the northwest to the south -* east, running in a line approximately parallel to Brush Creek. This connected "the forks." or the site of Pittsburgh, with the Indian village of Kosh- kosh-kung .* David Garvin, a settler of 1796, is au- thority for the statement that for many years this an- cient pathway could be distinguished upon the farm now owned by J. Dambach.
In the year 1753, more than two-score years before there were any white men. resident in Butler County, no less a personage than George Washing- ton traveled on foot through the wilderness along the trails between " the forks" and Venango, and between Logstown. on the Ohio, and the site of Pros- peet.
At the time of which we write, the eneroachments of the French on what was regarded as English ter- ritory-the Ohio Valley -created much agitation in the colonies, and especially in Virginia. The pur- pose of the French to establish a military cordon around the English settlements, and thus prevent their extension beyond the mountains, was elearly seen, and it was feared that this purpose was but the first of a series of measures planned to bring the whole of North America under the dominion of France. The region now known as Western Pennsylvania was then supposed to be within the limits of Virginia, and the colonial ruler, Gov. Dinwiddie regarded it as his
+ Logstown is variously located by different writers. It was an Indian Shawanese) town upon the Ohio near where is now the village of Economy. It is said by some to have been upon the left or southwest bink, but nearly all of the old authorities place it upon the right or northeastern bank. Altbach, in his " Western Annals," says it was "seventeen miles below the site of Pitts- burgh," Imt the distance was hardly so great.
10.1 the land owned by Dr. Amos Lusk, of Zelienople, and within a fow rous of his residence, is a slight depression, extending in a general southwest to northeast direction, which has every appearance of having been a munch tray- eled trail or path. Along its line have been picked up a large number of flint arrow heads, objects which we may remark are very seldom found elsewhere in the vicinity. Within a short distance from the trail, is an an nun nally strong and cold spring of water.
1Kosh-kosh-kung was on Beaver Creek, seven miles south of the site of New Castle, Lawrence County, about where Newport now stands.
13
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
duty, in conformity with instructions from the crown, to watch the movements of the French, and make preparations for supporting the British claims. He resolved to send ont a messenger to make observations, and to demand of the chief French officers, an expla- nation of their designs. For this important, arduous and perilous undertaking, Maj. Washington, then only in his twenty-second year, was selected. " His knowledge of the Indians, his practical acquaintance with the modes of living and traveling in the woods, acquired in his surveying expeditions, and the marked traits of character which he had already displayed," says his biographer, Sparks, "were doubtless the qualities that recommended him for the delieate mis- sion." Gov. Dinwiddie gave the yeung man a letter of instructions, dated " at the city of Williamsburg, the seat of my Government, this 30th day of October. in the twenty-seventh year of the reign of His Majesty, George the Second, King of Great Britain, etc., ete., Annoque Domini, 1753," and Washington set out upon his journey the same day. He employed a French in- terpreter, and, upon the 14th of November, arrived at Will's Creek, where he engaged Christopher Gist, * one of the most noted pioneers and woodsmen who appeared upon the stage during the troublous times from 1750 to 1783, and also four others, the latter as servitors. The excessive rains and vast quantities of snow prevented the little company from reaching Mr. Frazier's, at the mouth of Turtle Creek, until Novem- ber 22. From there they went to " the forks." and Washington spent some time in viewing the rivers and the land between, which he thought " extremely well situated for a fort." as it had the absolute com mand of both rivers. From the site of Pittsburgh. Washington and his companions went down the Ohio to Logstown. arriving there on the twenty-fifth day after leaving Williamsburg. Upon the 25th of No. vember. Tannaeharison, or the Half King.i came to town, and Washington learned from him many facts concerning the French and the route he must pursue to meet their commandant. After several days had been spent among the Indians at Logstown, Washing- ton and his attendants, accompanied by the Half King and several other Indians, started, upon the 30th of November, for Venango, where they arrived
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