USA > Pennsylvania > Cambria County > History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 5
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24. Tunnelhill, taken from Gallitzin township by a decree of the court dated December 5, 1876; recorded in docket 6, page 359. The name was derived from the two railroad tunnels there, but of which at present there are. three.
25. Westmont, taken from Upper Yoder township by a decree of the court dated June 13, 1892; recorded in docket 10. page 258.
26. Wilmore, taken from Summerhill township by an act of assembly approved February 10, 1859, and published among
45
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
the laws of 1860, page 802. It was named for Bernard and John Wilmore, the founders. See plan of town laid out by William Hudson, June 4, 1831, in deed book, vol. 7, at page 12; also, vol. 12 at page 698.
Woodvale, taken from Taylor township by a decree of the district court held in Jolistown, dated July 4, 1870; recorded in docket 1, page 68. It consolidated with the city of Johns- town, December 18, 1889, and is now the Eleventh ward. The name was derived from Murray's grove, a picnic ground lo- cated there until after the Civil war.
CHAPTER IV.
INDIAN TRIBES IN THE CONEMAUGH VALLEY-FIRST WHITE VISITORS.
Johnstown seems to have been in the path of travel be- tween the East and the West at a very early period, and has held this advantage to the present day. It was the site of an Indian village. occupied principally by the Shawonese and Del- aware tribes, both of whom were vigorous and deceitful, and the territory between Bedford and Loyalhanna, including our own vicinity, was the scene of much inhuman conduct by marauding Indians.
The first inhabitants of the vicinity were a tribe of Shaw- onese Indians, of whom Okewelah was the chief. and some Dela- ware and Asswikale red men, who continued to reside here until 1755. As to their character and nativity we give such informa- tion as is obtainable at this day as to who they were, where they came from. what they did. and when they took their de- parture.
It will be observed that frequently a name is spelled dif- ferently in the same article-for instance, "Okowela" and "Okowelah;" but we have quoted as it was written by the men who recorded the interesting history of our town and State, which we reproduce.
The best authorities practically agree that the original grand division of the North American Indians inhabiting what is at present the Southern tier of Pennsylvania counties, from the Ohio to the Delaware. called themselves the Lenni Lenape, or the original people. These were sub-divided into three prin- cipal parts-the Turtle. the Turkey, and the Wolf Tribes. and these tribes were again sub-divided into numerous classes, among them the Delawares, who were closely associated with the Shawonese; and these two classes far outnumbered all the others.
In addition to the Lenapes there was, until 1712. another grand division called the "Five Nations." consisting of the Onondagas, the Cayugas, the Oneidas, the Senecas. and the Mohawks. In that year the Tuscaroras were expelled from their native place-North Carolina and Virginia-came North,
47
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY."
and were taken care of and made a part of that grand division, the members of which thereafter called themselves the "Six Nations." The Lenapes, however, called them Mingoes, and the French designated them as the Iroquois Tribe. The Six Nations principally inhabited the northern portion of Penn- sylvania and the present territory of New York, especially the region about the lakes, although, as we have noted, many of them lived among the Delawares and the Shawonese.
There were estimated to be forty-two distinct and sep- arate tribes of Indians in the Northern portion of North America, and thirteen in the Southern part. Along the south- ern line of Pennsylvania, in a direct course between Pittsburg and Philadelphia, most of the Indians were Shawonese and Delawares, although there were representatives of most every other tribe known.
The Colonial Records, the Pennsylvania Archives, and "Day's Historical Collections of Pennsylvania" agree that the Shawonese Tribe were treacherous and ferocious, while there is a difference of opinion as to the Delawares being so classified. Some think they were as brutal and deceptive as any of the others. Anyhow as these two tribes occupied the present site of Johnstown in their day and generation, it is important to know something about them.
The Delawares were natives of Pennsylvania, and, while they were guilty of many acts of cruelty toward the whites, yet it was probably a matter of self-defense, as their property had been taken from them; by purchase, some of it, it may be true. But unprincipled white men entered their reservations and committed all kinds of crimes, which provoked them to acts of violence. By some they were said to be cowards. The best authority to controvert this objectionable view of the Dela- wares is the contradiction of it by William Henry Harrison, the ninth President of the Union and the hero of Tippecanoe. He says: "They (the Delawares) are rarely cowards, but still more rarely are they deficient in sagacity or discernment to de- tect any attempts to impose upon them. I sincerely wish I could unite with the worthy German (Mr. Heckewelder) in re- moving this stigma upon the Delawares. A long and intimate knowledge of them in peace and in war, as enemies and friends, has left upon my mind the most favorable impressions of their character for bravery, generosity, and fidelity to their engage- ments."
48
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
The Shawonese were originally from the South, where the Cherokees mostly inhabited, but, being a ferocious and treach- erous band, full of selfishness and self aggrandizement, they were driven out of that country and came to Pennsylvania. Bancroft says they arrived here in 1698, and other good au- thority makes it twenty years earlier. However, they came, and were taken care of by the Delawares, but they soon caused trouble with their new-made friends, and by them were driven from the eastern part of Pennsylvania to the headwaters of the Susquehanna, of which the west branch has its source in Cambria County.
Sherman Day notes the fact that in 1732, when the number of fighting Indians in Pennsylvania was about seven hundred, one-half of them were Shawonese. Ever restless and quarrel- some themselves, and being encroached upon by the white man, they retired from one hunting ground to another until they joined the French at Pittsburg, in 1755, and finally drifted to the West.
As early as 1742 the French, who then occupied the Ohio Valley, induced a large number of Shawonese to go with them. There is no doubt that the Shawonese Tribe occupied the site of the City of Johnstown in 1731, when Okowelah was their Chief, but it seems as if they were among those who joined the French. In 1758 it is said that Christian Frederick Post, a missionary, passed through the place, and reported it a deserted Indian village, with briars and underbrush growing thereon, but we doubt the correctness of this, as we believe it was an- other town farther north to which he referred, although the village was probably abandoned at that period.
These red men of the forest were chiefs of tribes belong- ing to the Shawonese nation. Okowelah was the first chief of that tribe who has a local history connected with the Cone- maugh, and while he was here it seems that he favored the French in their combat at arms with the English.
The Shawonese were treacherous to the Delawares, as well as to Provincial authorities, who made repeated treaties with them, to which they almost always proved false. They were usually aiding the French, but, Indian like, they would some- times deceive them and help the English.
By reason of their unfaithfulness and the violations of their many treaties, the reputation of the Delawares and the Shawonese for fidelity was at a low ebb with other tribes of
49
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Indians, particularly the Six Nations, as well as the white man. This is shown in the story of a conference held in Pittsburg in January, 1759, between the Six Nations, Delawares, and Shawonese. The chiefs were Cannewaungh, Sagowinnie, Aw- inne Onas, Sonoyeyough, Onistogah, Tecanashategh, Occon- denagh, Acquialinguish, Canigatt, and Snake's Son, interpreter for the Shawonese. Jo Hickman acted as such for the Eng- lish. Before the conference the chiefs of the Six Nations called on Captain Ward and with apparent frankness informed him that they intended to express their minds and opinions freely, but that they were to be kept private from the Delawares and Shawonese, and proceeded thus:
"Brother, the Delawares and Shawonese are not yet to be depended upon. They may tell whatever they know to the French."
Another one said :
"Brothers, to-morrow I will talk of this before the Dela- wares and Shawonese; you are not to mind what is said there, for it is outside of my lips, but what is now said be attentive to, for it comes from my heart." Then he gave five strings of wampum.
The character of the Delawares and Shawonese is thus described by Colonel Henry Boquet, at a conference with the Oneidas, Onondagas, and other Indians at Fort Pitt, October 3, 1764:
"Brothers, the Delawares, Wyandots, and Shawonese are a false people, and they deceive you as they have always done; if they are sincere why don't their Chiefs come to speak to me. They have, in time of peace, killed our traders in their towns; they stole all their goods, they have attacked this fort, and when I came up last year they attacked me in the woods and killed some of our people."
It has been generally understood that the earliest authen- tic information we have had of the white man being here, was the trip of Conrad Weiser, an Indian interpreter, in 1748. This is erroneous, as Jonah Davenport and James LeTort, both Indian traders, were here in 1731, and to get a fair knowledge of the situation as it appeared to them, and as they stated it to the provincial authorities at the time, we give the statement of Davenport, as he made it; and for the same purpose the re- ports, opinions, and facts as set forth by others at the time are given in full, which afford conclusive evidence that Johnstown
Vol. 1-4
50
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
has a history directly connected with the aborigines of North America.
"The Examination of Jonah Davenport, Indian Trader, Taken Before His Hon. the Lieut. Gov. of Pensa (Patrick Gor- don) :
"This Exam't says that he is lately come from Allegeney, where there are now Indian Settlements consisting of about three hundred Delawares. two hundred and sixty Shawanese, one hundred Asswekalaes, and some Mingoes. That last Spring was four years. as he remembers, a French Gentleman in ap- pearance, with five or six Attendants, came down the River to a Settlement of the Delaware Indians on the Ohio River, which the Delawares call Kithanning, with an Intention as this Exam't believes to enquire into the Numbers of English Trad- ers in those parts, and to sound the minds of the Indians; That the said French Gentleman spoke the Shawanese Language, with whom this Exam't has conversed, but that few of the Shawanese being then there nothing of moment passed; That in the Spring of the year 1730 the said Gentleman returned with about five Attendants and had some discourse with the Shawanese, which this Exam't afterwards learnt from some of those Indians was touching the English and French Inter- est and endeavoring to perswade them to unite themselves to the French, and at his going away took with him ten or twelve Shawanese to Montreal, as 'tis said, some of whom at their Return told this Examinant that they had been well received and civilly treated by the French Governor, and that they in- tended to goe and live among the French; That last Spring the same Person returned with the same number of Attendants, one of whom was called his Brother, who being a Gunsmith wrought for the Indians during his Stay amongst them; That the French made a considerable Present to the Shawanese in Powder. Lead. and some woolen Goods, which they returned by another large Present; That several Conferences were held between them, the Result of which, as this Exam't has been in- formed, was that ve Shawanese should remove themselves amongst the French, which this Examinant verily believes they soon intended to doe; That the said French Gentleman again took with him at going away, fifteen or sixteen of the said Shawanese who were not returned when this Exam't left Al- legeney. This Exam't likewise says that in his Dealing with the Mingoes, now called the Six Nations, he has frequently heard some of these people mention the extraordinary civility of the French to them, and that attempts were made to induce them to break off from the English interest.
"JONAH DAVENPORT.
"Philadelphia, Oct. 29, 1731."
51
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
It is indorsed as follows :
"Cap't. Sup. Sacramentum.
"Predict : JONAH DAVENPORT; Coram : P. GORDON."
The statement of Jonah Davenport was also accompanied by another account of this trip by James LeTort, an Indian trader, taken before Lieutenant-Governor Gordon, to the same effect. In it he says: "This examinant says that he is lately come from Allegeney, where there are several settlements of Delawares, Shawanese, Asswikalus, and Mingoe Indians to the number of four or five hundred (Indians.)" Attached to these reports is the following tabular account of these Indians on the Conemaugh in that year:
NUMBER OF INDIANS, 1731.
Dist .- Connumah-Delawares; 60 men.
50 Kythenning River-Delawares mostly.
Miles.
Fam. Men.
Connumach-Delawares 20
60
1 Captain Hill, a Alymaepy ;
Kykenhammo, Delaware;
50 Kithenning River-mostly Delawares
16 Senangelstown-Delawares 16
60 Lequeepees-Mingoes mostly and some Delaw 4
Settled families, but a great resort of those people. 200 Okowela.
On Connumach Creek there are three Shawanese towns 45 Asswikales 50 Families, lately from S. Caro- lina to Ptowmack, and from thence thither, making 100 men; Aqueloma, their Chief.
Ohesson, upon Choniata, dist. ) from Sasqueh 60 miles.
Shawanese 20
60 Kissikahquelas.
Assunepachlaupon Choniata. )
dist. about 100 Miles by (
Delawares 12. 36
water, and 50 by land from
Ohesson.
Achequeloma. Chief of the Asswikales, true to the English.
Okowelah, a Shawanese Chief, suspected to be a favourer of ye French interest.
We have quoted this report as it was made by these In- dian interpreters and traders, because of its signification in locating the Indians at Johnstown and elsewhere on the Cone- maugh river-the tribes, their number, and their chiefs. In the twenty-six volumes of the Pennsylvania Archives and of the Colonial Records there is no other statement relating to any portion of the Province so distinctly and specifically made, all of which should make the people of Johnstown grateful to Jonah Davenport and James LeTort.
James LeTort was a trustworthy person. A fort known as Fort LeTort was erected and named for him on the site where Carlisle, Cumberland county, is now located.
This statement recorded three Shawonese towns on the
50 150 { Sypous, a Mingoe.
50 Senangel.
52
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
Conemangh river, and the one called "Connumah," was lo- cated where Johnstown now stands.
One of the other "three Shawonese towns" was probably at Kiskiminetas, below Saltsburg, as it is well known there was an Indian village there. At that time (1731) the Conemaugh river was known as such until it reached the La Belle, or the Allegheny river.
In 1731 Okowelah was the Shawonese chief; Ackequel- oma, chief of the Asswikales; and Captain Hill-a-Alymaepy, of the Delawares. It seems there were on the Conemaugh river twenty families belonging to the Delawares, with sixty men; forty-five families of the Shawonese, having two hundred braves, and fifty families belonging to the Asswikales, with one hundred men, making in all one hundred and fifteen fami- lies and three hundred and sixty men. If the ratio be the same as is now estimated, there should have been nearly six hundred Indians located along the Conemaugh.
The information in reference to the Asswikales is very meager, as they were not numerous in this section of the coun- try. From the note accompanying the statement, they had but recently come from South Carolina, and were probably a branch of the Cherokees or some other Southern tribe.
We cannot locate "Ohesson upon the Choniata," but be- lieve it is near Lewistown; nor "Assunepachlaupon," which is evidently a typographical error by making it one word, as it should be "upon the Juniata."
The first account of white men trading with the Indians west of the Allegheny mountains and being in the Province of Pennsylvania is about 1728. The statements made by Dav- enport and LeTort in 1731 came very near to that date. Al- though there were one or two other trails between these points, yet it seems they were not of sufficient importance to the offi- cials of the Province, nor to those who traveled them to make a note of the same. A slight exception must be made, how- ever, in the case of the route through the northern part of Cambria county, which was taken by Governor James Hamil- ton and William and Richard Peters, secretaries, on the 16th of April, 1752. This route turned to the north at the Clear Fields, on the top of the mountain, and passed through Cherry- tree and the Beaver Dams, near Hastings, toward Kittanning. It was as follows, quoting verbatim from another ancient re- port :
53
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
"From Philadelphia to George Croghan's (100) 100
"From George Croghan's to Auchquick, Three Springs 60
"To furthermost Crossing Juniata 20
"To Frank's Town 20
"To the Clear Fields 18
"To the Head of Susquehanna, Chelisguagua Creek 25
"To the Two Licks 25
"To the Round Holes 25 17
"To the River Ohio or Allegheny
"To the Logs Town (250) 30
"To the Rusks-Kusks 30
"To Tuskerawas 60
"To Muskinong 40
"To ye Three Licks 30
"To Hockockon 50
"To the Lower Shawenese Town (2701%) 60
"To the first Pict Town on a Branch of Ohio 180
800""
The above account is taken from the report of Hugh Craw- ford and Andrew Montour, the 16th of April, 1752.
Twightwees appears to have been on the Ohio river, about four hundred and sixty miles below Pittsburg, and was so named because the English called the Miami tribe of Indians "Twight- wees."
At a meeting of the Provincial Council, held in Phila- delphia on March 21, 1757, Lord Loudon was present and de- sired information in regard to frontier roads throughout the Province. Among others the following appears :
"There are two usual Paths from the Ohio to Pennsylvania, One through Ray's Town, distant from Shippensburgh sixty- five miles, and the other thro' Frank's Town, situate at about thirty miles north of Ray's Town. A new Road was opened and cleared thro' Ray's Town over the Allegheny Hills for the use of General Braddock, and is now a good one; thro' Frank's Town Col. (Jack) Armstrong marched to the Kittannin, and it is said to be a very bad Road, abounding with Morasses and broken Hills difficult of Passage. By one or the other of these two Roads the Parties of Indians have hitherto entered the Province, their Rendezvous having usually been either at Ray's . Town or Frank's Town."
In 1754 John Harris, the founder of Harrisburg, made a schedule of the two roads between his ferry and the Allegheny river. As it is the best proof, we give it in full as he made it:
5
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
From my Ferry to Geo. Croghan's 5 miles.
To the Kittitany Mounts
9
To Geo. Cowen's House 6
To Andrew Montour's 5
To the Tuscororaw Hill 9
3
To Tuscaroraw 14
To the Cove Spring
10
To the Shadow of Death 8
To the Black Log 3
Now the Road forks toward Ray's Town & Frank's Town, we continue Ray's Town Road to Allegheney.
To the sidling Hill Gap.
8
To Juniata Hill
S
To Juniata Creek at ye Crossing
8
To Ray's Town | Bedford ]
4
To the Shawana Cabbins
8
To Edmond's Swamp
S
To Stoney Creek
To Kickeney Paulin's House (Indian)
6
To the clear Fields
7
To the other side of the Laurel Hill.
5
To Loyal Haning [Ligonier ] 6
8
To the Chestnut Ridge
8
To the partings of the roads 'Thence one road leads to Shanoppin's Town, the other to Kiss-
4
comenettes, old town.
To the Big Lick
3
To the Beaver Dams
6
To James/Dunning's Sleeping place 8
To Cock Eye's Cabin 8
To the 4 Mile Run 11
To Shanoppin's Town, on Allegheny River [six miles above the Ohio]. . 4
To the Logs Town, down the river [fourteen miles below Pittsburg] 16
Old Roads 246 miles. Now beginning at the Black Log, Frank's Town Road.
To Aughwhick 6 miles.
To Jack Armstrong's Narrows, so called from his being there murdered 8
To the Standing Stone (about 14 ft. high 6 inch square) [Huntingdon]. 10 At each of these last places we cross Juniata. 66 To the next and last Crossing at Juniata 8
To Water Street (branch of Juniata) 10
To the big Lick 10
To Frank's (Stephen's) Town [three miles below Hollidaysburg] 5
64
To the Beaver Damms 10
To Allegheny Hill 4
To the Clear Fields 6
To John Hartt's Sleep'g Place 12
To the Head of Susquehannah 12
To the Shawana Cabbins 12
To P. Shaver's Sleeping Place, at two large licks. 12
To the 18-mile Run 12 66
To the 10-mile Lick 6
To Kiskemenette's Town on the Creek, runs into Allegheny Riv'r, 6 mil down (almost as large as Schuylkill) 10
To the Chartiere's Landing on Allegh'y 8
60
To the Kittanning Town up the River 18
To Venango, higher up the Allegh'y 70
Down the River from Chartiere's Land'g to Pine Creek. 14
66
4 6 To the Logs Town 17
Logs Town lies due West from Harris's Ferry.
Note .- John Harris told me that he verily believed that Logs Town was
8
To the Snake's Spring
6
66
To Allegheney Hill
66
6
To the Big Bottom .
To the 3 Springs 10
66
To Thos. Mitchell's Sleep'g place.
66
55
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
distant from his House due West an hundred miles less than the within acco't mentions; the road he went having so many great crooks. JOSEPH SHIPPEN, JR.
It will be observed that the road forked at the "Black Log," about forty-six miles beyond Raystown, which is now Bedford. The southerly branch seems to reach the top of the Allegheny mountains at "Edmonds' Swamp," six miles from the "Stony Creek"-which is believed to be near Stoyestown, as there was a blockhouse, or barracks, named Fort Stony Creek at that place-and then six miles to "Kickenny Paulin's House" (Indian), which is on the Quemahoning creek, Somerset county, as is well known.
Clear Fields and Edmonds' Swamp are located in Shade Township, Somerset county. The Clear Fields are on what is known as the John Hamer place, near the top of the mountains, between Walker's Mill, on the Lambertsville Road, and Bucks- town. Edmonds' Swamp is drained by Oven Run, which empties into the Stonycreek river a short distance above Forbes' Cross- ing. It is on the Jesse Sliek farm, lying between the Forbes Road and the Stovestown Pike. The farm known as the William Buchanan place is but a few miles northwest of Buckstown and lies to the south of the Clear Fields and Edmonds' Swamp. It is about eighteen miles from Johnstown to the Swamp, and about twenty-one to the Clear Fields. The Indian tradition as to the bare spot known as the Clear Fields is that many years ago a storm swept over the mountains and at this place the whirlwind centered, tearing up all the trees by their roots, and for some nnaccountable reason trees would never grow thereafter on that soil, nothing but short, serubby underbrush existing thereon. The Swamp is close to the old fort known as Stonycreek, a few miles from Stoyestown.
Mr. Weiser was a colonel in His Majesty's troops, as well as an Indian Commissioner and interpreter, and a friend of Thomas and Richard Penn, representing them as their attorney in fact, in the Indian treaty at Easton on October 23, 1758. Mr. Weiser died in 1761, leaving but one son-Samuel-to survive. He was a man of great intelligence, diplomacy, and courage, and had the entire confidence of the Indians. His character can be best given by the following letter :
Mr. Richard Peters.
"SIR: If the Governor won't meet the Indians this evening only to shake hands with them, and signify his Satisfaction to see them in town, and leave Business to other day when they are
56
HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.
recovered from their fatigue, I will say that he does not act the part of a well-wisher to his Majesty's people & interest at this Critical time. You may let him know, so here is my hand to my saying so. I am, sir, a loyal subject, and a well-wisher to my Country. CONRAD WEISER.
"Philadelphia, July the 6th [1758], at half an hour after five."
It seems that Weiser had arranged a meeting between the Indians and the provincial officers, but that Governor William Denny was inclined to postpone it to another time, in con- sequence of which this letter was written to Mr. Peters, the secretary.
On his trip to the Ohio in 1748, he made the following notes in his journal.
Ang. Miles.
18. From the Black Log to within two miles of the Stand- ing Run 24
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