USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc > Part 3
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Tenth Street Methodist Episcopal Church ... 570 The African Methodist Episcopal Church .... 571 The First Baptist Church ... 571
First German Baptist Church. 573
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran aud Re- formed Church ...
573 St. Paul's German Evangelical Church ........ 574 Salem Church of the Evangelical Association 575 The English Evangelical Lutheran Church .. 576 The German Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church 579 Anschai Chesed Reform Congregation 579 United Brethren Church 580 The First Universalist Church 580 St. Patrick's Catholic Pro-Cathedral 581
St. Mary's Catholic Church. 583
St. Joseph's Catholic Church 584
St. John's Catholic Church ... 585
St. Andrew's Catholic Church. 585
CHAPTER V .- EDUCATION AND SOCIETIES .. 586-600
Erie Academy 591 Erie Female Seminary .. 592 Catholic Schools. 592
Secret and Other Societies 594
CHAPTER VI .- PRIVATE CORPORATIONS, CEM-
ETERIES AND CHARITABLE INSTITU-
Erie Gas Company 600 Telegraph, Telephone and Express Compa- nies ... 601 The Erie City Passenger Railway Company 601
Banks 601
Insurance Companies 603
Cemeteries .. 604
Charitable Institutions .. 606
CHAPTER VII .- LEADING MANUFACTURING IN-
TERESTS .. 613-649 Board of Trade and Business Statistics .. 649-651
PART IV.
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.
CHAPTER I .- MILL CREEK TOWNSHIP. 655-666
Lands ..
G55
Reservations 656
Creeks and Bridges 656
Public Highways 659
Schools. 659
Villages and Post Offices 660
Other Prominent Points. 661
Religious Societies. 662
Mills 663
Early Settlers. 663
Public Men. 664 Miscellaneous 665
CHAPTER II .- WATERFORD TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF WATERFORD. 666-684 Lands of the Township 666 Tax List in 1813. 609
Streams and Lakes 670
Roads, Bridges and Mills 670
School History 671
Waterford Station.
672
BOROUGH OF WATERFORD 672
The French Fort ....... 673 Pontiac's Conspiracy 673
Beginning of the Town 673
First Settlers. 674
Early Events 675
The Lytles.
675 The Boating Trade. 676 Societies, etc .. 676
Incorporation 679
The Academy. 680
The Cemetery 680
Religious Societies. 681
State and County Officers. 682
Postmasters
683
Newspapers .. 683
Manufactories. 683
Religious Societies. 671 Miscellaneous .. 684
Anti-Slavery
499
Oldest Men and Women .. 499
Thanksgiving Day 500
ix
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER III. - UNION TOWNSHIP AND
BOROUGH OF UNION CITY .. 684-695
The South Branch and its Tributaries. 685
Bridges and Mills 685 Political. 743
Churches and Graveyards. 686 Religious Societies. 744
Early Settlers. 686
Political. 689
BOROUGH OF UNION CITY 690
The Founder.
Growth of the Town 690
Societies.
691
Manufactories.
692
Church Organizations .. 693
Newspapers 694
Miscellaneous 695
CHAPTER 1V .- LE BOEUF TOWNSHIP AND
BOROUGH OF MILL VILLAGE. 696-703
Early Settlers .. 696
Streama and Mills 699
Valleys and Ridges. 699
Holland Land Company .. 700
Common Roads ..
700
Churches 701
Schools. 701
Public Men 702
702 Villages.
BOROUGH OF MILL VILLAGE. 702
CHAPTER V. - VENANGO TOWNSHIP AND
BOROUGH OF WATTSNURG ... 704-715
704
Taxables in 1800. 705
Political 705
War of 1812.
705
Streams, Lake and Bridges ....
706
Public Roads ...
706
Mills, Factories and Schools. 709
Churches
710
The Middlebrook Church-Graveyards 710
Villages
711
Recollections of a Native of the Township .. 711 BOROUGH OF WATTSBURG. 712
Incorporation ... 713
Religious 713
Societies, etc .. 713
Rusinesa Features. 714
Public Men ..
714
Schools and Newspapers 714
CHAPTER VI. - HARBOR CREEK TOWNSHIP
715-723
General Description 715
Creeks and Gullies. 716
Milla .....
719
Roads, etc .. 719
Wesley ville 720
Harbor Creek and Moorheadville. 720
Religious Societies. 721
County Officers. 722
School History.
722
Miscellaneous. 723
CHAPTER VII .- NORTH EAST TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF NORTH EAST 723-739
Early Settlers
724
First Things. 725 Lands 790
Railroads and Common Roads 725 Streams and Mills. 790
The Creeks.
726
Manufacturing Establishments 726
The Grape Culture. 729
Villages.
729
Cemeteries.
731
BOROUGH OF NORTH EAST
732
Religious Societies ... 733
Public Schools and College. 734
Hotels, Banks, etc ... 735
Newspapers ..
736
State and County Officers. 736
CHAPTER VIII .- FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP AND
BOROUGH OF FAIRVIEW 739-749 General Description 740
Lands and Streams. 741
Bridges and Mills ... ......... ..... 742
Schools
742
Common Roads, Railroads and Canals. 743
Manchester and Swanville. 744
Other Matters. 745
BOROUGH OF FAIRVIEW. 746
690 Early Incidents 746
Other Churches 749
Miscellaneous .. 749
CHAPTER IX .- SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP ... 750-760 Lands, etc ... 750
Early Settlers 751
Incidents of the Pioneers .. 752
Streams, Mills and Factories 752
Burial Places
753
Public Men. 754
Academies and Schools 754 Railroads, Common Roads and Hotels. 755
Churches ...
756
Villages. 759
CHAPTER X. - CONNEAUT TOWNSHIP AND
BOROUGH OF ALBION 760-769 The First Settlers. 760
Creeks and Bridges .. 761 Land, Litigation and Pre-Historic Remains. 762 Rairoads, Canals and Common Roads. 763
Schools, Mills and Burial Places. 764
Villages 764
Miscellaneous ..
765
BOROUGH OF ALRION.
765
Churches. 766 Business, Schools and Societies. 766
Factories, Newspapers, etc. 769
CHAPTER XI .- ELK CREEK TOWNSHIP. 770-775
General Description. 770 Roads and Streams 771
Churches.
772
Schools
772
Wellsburg
772
Cranesville
774
Pageville
774
CHAPTER XII. - MCKEAN TOWNSHIP AND
BOROUGH OF MIDDLEBORO ... .. 775-782 Streams and Lands. 775
Mills and Schools .. 776 Churches, Cemeteries and Roads. 779
Villages
780
Early Settlers.
760
Public Officers 781
BOROUGH OF MIDDLEBORO. 781
CHAPTER XIII .- GREENFIELD TOWNSHIF .. 782-786 Beginning the Settlement. 783 Other Matters. 784
Streams and Mills. 784
Village and Churches. 785
Schools ..
786
Roads, etc.
786
CHAPTER XIV .- GREENE TOWNSHIP 789-793
First Settlers .. .789
Roads aud Railroad 790
Hamlets and Churches 791
Public Men
792
CHAPTER XV .- WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF EDINBORO. 793-802 First Settlers. 793
Roads ... 794
Streams, Lake and Lands. 795
Villages and Churches. 795
Schools
796
Factories and Mills. 799
General Description .. 800
Churches. 800
Secret Societies, Newspapers and Post Offices 801 State and County Officers 802
The Normal School.
802
Schools. 731 792 730 Schools ..... Rev. Cyrus Dickson ...
Miscellaneous 736 BOROUGH OF EDINBORO 800
PAGE.
Early Settlers.
x
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER XVI .- CONCORD TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF ELGIN. 803-806 Public Schools. 834 County Officera. 803 Lands, Villages, etc. 834
Early Settlers.
803
General Description.
804
Streams
804
Railroads, Common Roads, etc. 805 Schoola and Churches 805
Miscellaneous .... 806
BOROUGH OF ELGIN
806
CHAPTER XVII .- CITY OF CORRY .809-823
How the City Started. 809 Mills and Churches ..
Rapid Growth ..
810
Borough and City
810
The City in General. 811
Oil Works .... 812
Other Leading Industriea 813
General Business Featurea. 814 Hotels and Factories 845
City Government 814 Square, Monuments, etc. 846 846
School Building .. 815 Public Men ..
Newspapers. 816
Secret Societies 816
Gas, Gas Wells and Public Halls, 820
Religious Societies 820
823
Miscellaneous
CHAPTER XVIII .- WAYNE TOWNSHIP. 824-832
Lande and their Value .... ... 824 The Streama. 825 Village of Beaver Dam 825 Carter Hill and Hare Creek. 829 Schools, Mills, etc .. 829
The State Fish Hatchery. 830
The Pioneers. 830 Prominent Men 831
The Greeleys.
831
CHAPTER XIX .- AMITY TOWNSHIP. .832-835 Streams and Bridges. 832
Miscellaneous ..
860
PART V.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-ERIE AND CORRY.
City of Erie (alphabetically arranged) 863-975 City of Erie (not alphabetically arranged-Hon. S. M. Brainerd) 976
977-1006
PART VI.
TOWNSHIP BIOGRAPHIES.
Amity Township ... 3
Concord Township.
11
Conneaut Township.
16
Elk Creek Township
29 Springfield Township. 152 Fairview Township. 37
Summit Township. 164
Franklin Township. 45 Union Township. 168
Girard Township.
Greene Township. 70
. Washington Township. 203 Greenfield Township 75 · Waterford Township 216 Harbor Creek Township. 80
- Wayne Township .. 233
- Le Bœuf Township.
98
Mckean Township ... 102
Mill Creek Township 116
North East Township .. 134
835
Early Settlers ...
CHAPTER XX .- GIRARD TOWNSHIP AND BOR- OUGHS OF GIRARD AND LOCKPORT ...... 835-851 Early Settlers. 836
Lands and Roada .. 839
Railroads and Canal. 839
Streams, etc. 840 840
Mouth of Elk Creek
841
Schools and Mounds.
842
Miles Grove.
842
Weat Girard. 843
844
BOROUGH OF GIRARD
Churches, Schools. etc. 844
Newspapers and Banks. Miscellaneous 850
BOROUGH OF LOCKPORT. 850
CHAPTER XXI .- FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP ..... 851-854 First Settlements. 852 General Description 852
Mills and Schools. 853
Churches and Graveyards. 853
Village and Quarry 854
CHAPTER XXII .- SUMMIT TOWNSHIP. .855-860
The Pioneers 855 Railroads and Common Roads. 855 Streams and Valleya. 856 Religious Societies. 856
School History. 859
Mills, Quarry, Etc .. 860
849
PAGE.
Mills and Roads 833
City of Corry.
53 Venango Townahip 183
xi
CONTENTS.
PORTRAITS.
PAGE.
Bennett, J. H., Venango Township. 887
Bowman, Ralph, Elk Creek Township. 607
Bowman, Jane, Elk Creek Township ... 608 McKee, Thomas, Mill Creek Township 268 Metcalf, Prescott, Erie .. 507 Bowman, Lucretia, Elk Creek Township 518
Boyd, Charles C., Waterford Township. 727
Brightman, William, Wayne Township. 848 Brown, Samuel M., Mill Creek Township. 668
Burton, John, Mill Creek Township
468
Carroll, William, Union Township. 238
Casey, James, Erie .. 597
Chambers, James, Harbor Creek Township. 187
Chapin, Pliny, Venango Township
708
Cochran, Robert, Erie ...
388
Colegrove, Isaac, Corry. 398
Cook, J. L., Waterford Township. 827 Reeder, Moses, Washington Township. Custard, Robert, North East Township 927 Russell, N. W., Erie .... 377
Dobbins, Daniel, Erie. 79
Downing, J. F., Erie 657
Sanford, G., Erie ........
Sedgwick, John, Waterford Township. 367
Ebersole, Joseph, Harbor Creek Township 307 Ebersole, Joseph J., Harbor Creek Township ..... 697 Ellicott, Andrew, Erie ..
Sill, Thomas H., Erie 257
Sill, James, Erie .. 818
.Frontispiece Elliott, Thomas, Harbor Creek Township. ..... Smith, Samuel, Wayne Township 407 318 Farrar, F. F., Erie ... 897 Stafford, Henry C., Erie .. 938
Foot, Jabez B., Venango Township. 358 Staples, F. E., Erie.
Foote, David E., Venango Township .. 578 Sterrett, A. J., Erie .. 738
Galbraith, John, Erie .. 227
Hammond, Paul, Concord Township. 427
Hamot, P. S. V., Erie. 134
Hartleh, Mathias, Erie .. 768 Hasbrouck, William, Concord Township. 637 Haynes, J. H., North East Township 218
Henry, Robert H., Harbor Creek Township. 788
Kennedy, D. C., Wayne Township ..
438
Kincaid, John, Wayne Township ... 777
Koch, Moses, Erie ...
757
Loop, D. D., North East Township. 347 Weschler, Jacob, Erie .. 837
Lowry, N. D., Harbor Creek Township .. 558
Wheeler, Silas, Corry.
178
Marshall, James C., Erie .. 497
587 Wilson, David, Union Township.
677 Marvin, Elihu, Erie. 327 Woodruff, S. E., Erie
MISCELLANEOUS.
Errata.
12
Map of Erie County
13-14
Map Showing Various Purchases From the Indians ..
113
Diagram Showing Proportionate Annual Production of Anthracite Coal Since 1820. 118
Table Showing Amount of Anthracite Coal Produced in Each Region Since 1820 119
PAGE.
McCreary, D. B., Erie .. 747
Moore, M. M., Harbor Creek Township 918 Nash, Norman, North East Township .. 338 Nicholson, Isabel, Mill Creek Township. 867 Orton, J. R., Conneaut Township. 688 Ottinger, Douglass, Erie .. 537 Putnam, William, Union Township. 878 Rea, Samusl, Springfield Township. 277 Rea, Johnston, Girard Township .. 447 45
Reed, Seth, Erle ...
Reed, Rufus S., Erie 157
Reed, Charles M., Erie. 297
288
Salshury, A. P., Conneaut Township 527 167
Duncombe, Eli, Amity Township 488 Eagley, John, Sr., Springfield Township .. 857 Selden, George, Erie ... 247 Short, Alfred North, East Township. 567
Sterrett, Joseph M., Erie. 148 Stinson, William S., Harbor Creek Township 907 Stranahan, P.G., Union Township. 648 Strong, Martin, Erie
Thayer, Alvin, Erie. 797 207 Taylor, Isaac R., Washington Township. 547 Tracy, John A., Erie. 417
Hecker, A. W., Corry ..... 628 Henderson, Joseph, Erie. 807
198 Tracy, John F., Erie .. 617 Vincent, John, Erie
Vincent, B. B., Erie.
457
Vincent, Strong, Erie
717 Weed, William B., Greene Township 477
947
ERRATA.
Page 214-For "after the last war," read "before the last war."
Page 263-Mccullough's mills were built in 1802.
Page 272-The steamboat Walk-in-the-Water was wrecked in 1821.
Page 272-The steamboat Missouri was bought, not built, by Gen. Reed in 1840.
Page 274-The U. S. revenue cutter Benjamin Rush was built in 1828.
Page 293-The block-house referred to as having been built in 1795 stood on Garrison Hill.
Page 324-William Wallace located in Erie in 1798.
Page 332 -- The name of the first court crier was Daniel Nangle, instead of David Langley.
Page 341-William Hoge was a resident of Washington County.
Page 401-The Democratic vote for Congress in Warren County in 1878 was 821, instead of 1821. Page 425-For Sylveras E. Webster, County Surveyor, read Cyrenus E. Webster.
Page 429-For David Langley, Court Crier, read Daniel Nangle.
Page 433-The first passenger train came into Erie January 9, 1852.
Page 463-The Observer office was the first to introduce a power press, not steam power.
Page 495-For Isaac Miller read Israel Miller.
Page 499-For Daniel Stancliff read Lemuel Stancliff.
Page 500-For Benjamin Colton read Benjamin Collom.
Page 500-John Teel, second, died April 21, 1872.
Page 656-For Benjamin Russell read N. W. and G. J. Russell.
Page 664-For Tract 47 read Tract 247.
Page 664-For Mr. Martin Stough read Mra. Martin Stough.
Page 675-George W. Reed settled in Waterford in 1810.
Page 679, also 139-The park in Waterford Borough is about a mile from Waterford Station on the P. & E, road, making the distance by rail from Erie about twenty miles.
Page 680-For James Judson read Amos Judson.
Page 732-Rev. Cyrus Dickson completed his college course in 1837.
Page 741-For John M. Kratz read Joseph M. Kratz.
.
MAP OF
COUNTY ;
1
NORTHVILLE
NORTHEAST
MpOM.LAWYERTH
EAST
PENN.
HARBORGALCK
IRVINES PESCAVE
HARBOR GREEKE
GREENFIELD
K
SIXMILECREEK
GREENFIELD !!
C
1.
ST-BONIFACE
HAUVETTED EASAGREENEPO.
GREENE
SMMIT
VE
NAANGO
GOODAD RO.
PHILLIPSVILLE
LOWVILLE
WEST, GREENCP.O.
ESTEPACETANIA
WATTSMURG
MIDDLEBO
LINE
TILLTOWNS CASEELEASANT PO,
SPRING CURSO
WATERFORD
APRINAFIERDAL
LOCKPORT
BRANCHVILLI
DE HATCHHOLLOW
JUVAPO
SAMCLAN 1
FRANKLIN
BEAVER DAM
WAYNE P.O.
MORAVIAN
Sherrifle MELKCRIAKPO
Ration
ONNE AUTI
LUNAY'S LANEPO
ANCOR
D
JALATAN
ELK CREEK
EDINBORO
MILLVILLAGE
MEN'S ANCAS
TRACY POI
TRACY STATION
PO.
.
..
LAVÓNIAPO.
.E.A.FAIR VIEW
FAIR VIEW
WHEELOCK P.O.
WATERFORD
FRANKLINCORNERS
GRANT
CHERRYHILL P.O.
DE BOEUF
UNION
ELGIN
WASHINTON
CARTERHILL P.D.
TiSWANVILLE
ـو
PRESQUE ISLE DA
ERIE
1
HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY - CORNELIS JACOBSON MEY, 1624-25-WILLIAM VAN HULST, 1625- 26-PETER MINUIT, 1626-33-DAVID PETERSEN DE VRIES, 1632-33-WOUTER VAN TWILLER, 1633-38.
TN the early colonization upon the American continent, two motives were principally operative. One was the desire of amassing sudden wealth without great labor, which tempted adventurous spirits to go in search of gold, to trade valueless trinkets to the simple natives for rich furs and skins, and even to seek, amidst the wilds of a tropical forest, for the fountain whose healing waters could restore to man perpetual youth. The other was the cherished purpose of escaping the unjust restrictions of Government, and the hated ban of society against the worship of the Supreme Being according to the honest dictates of conscience, which incited the humble devotees of Christianity to forego the comforts of home, in the midst of the best civilization of the age, and make for themselves a habitation on the shores of a new world, where they might erect altars and do homage to their God in such habiliments as they preferred, and utter praises in such note as seemed to them good. This pur- pose was also incited by a certain romantic temper, common to the race, es- pecially noticeable in youth, that invites to some uninhabited spot, and Ras- selas and Robinson Crusoe-like to begin life anew.
William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, had felt the heavy hand of persecution for religious opinion's sake. As a gentleman commoner at Ox- ford, he had been fined, and finally expelled from that venerable seat of learn- ing for non-comformity to the established worship. At home, he was whipped and turned out of doors by a father who thought to reclaim the son to the more certain path of advancement at a licentious court. He was sent to prison by the Mayor of Cork. For seven months he languished in the tower of Lon- don, and, finally, to complete his disgrace, he was cast into Newgate with com- mon felons. Upon the accession of James II, to the throne of England, over fourteen hundred persons of the Quaker faith were immured in prisons for a conscientious adherence to their religious convictions. To escape this harassing persecution, and find peace and quietude from this sore proscription, was the moving cause which led Penn and his followers to emigrate to America.
Of all those who have been founders of States in near or distant ages, none have manifested so sincere and disinterested a spirit, nor have been so fair ex- emplars of the golden rule, and of the Redeemer's sermon on the mount, as William Penn. In his preface to the frame of government of his colony, he says: " The end of government is first to terrify evil-doers; secondly, to cher- ish those who do well, which gives government a life beyond corruption, and
{
16
HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
makes it as durable in the world, as good men shall be. So that government seems to be a part of religion itself, a thing sacred in its institution and end. For, if it does not directly remove the cause, it crushes the effects of evil, and is an emanation of the same Divine power, that is both author and object of pure religion, the difference lying here, that the one is more free and mental, the other more corporal and compulsive in its operations; but that is only to evil-doers, government itself being otherwise as capable of kindness, goodness and charity, as a more private society. They weakly err, who think there is no other use of government than correction, which is the coarsest part of it. Daily experience tells us, that the care and regulation of many other affairs more soft, and daily necessary, make up much the greatest part of government. Governments, like clocks, go from the motion men give them, and as govern- ments are made and moved by men, so by them are they ruined, too. Where- fore, governments rather depend upon men, than men upon governments. Let men be good, and the government cannot be bad. If it be ill, they will cure it. But if men be bad, let the government be never so good, they will endeavor
to warp and spoil to their turn. * * * That, therefore, which makes a good constitution, must keep it, men of wisdom and virtue, qualities, that because they descend not with worldly inheritances, must be carefully propagated by a vir- tuons education of youth, for which, after ages will owe more to the care and prudence of founders and the successive magistracy, than to their parents for *
their private patrimonies. * * We have, therefore, with reverence to God, and good conscience to men, to the best of our skill, contrived and composed the Frame and Laws of this government, viz .: To support power in reverence with the people, and to secure the people from the abuse of power, that they may be free by their just obedience, and the magistrates honorable for their just administration. For liberty without obedience is confusion, and obedi- ence without liberty is slavery."
Though born amidst the seductive arts of the great city, Penn's tastes were rural. He hated the manners of the corrupt court, and delighted in the homely labors and innocent employments of the farm. "The country," he said, "is the philosopher's garden and library, in which he reads and contemplates the power, wisdom and goodness of God. It is his food as well as study, and gives him life as well as learning." And to his wife he said upon taking leave of her in their parting interview: "Let my children be husbandmen, and house- wives. It is industrious, healthy, honest, and of good report. This leads to consider the works of God, and diverts the mind from being taken up with vain arts and inventions of a luxurious world. Of cities and towns of concourse, beware. The world is apt to stick close to those who have lived and got wealth there. A country life and estate I love best for my children."
Having thus given some account at the outset of the spirit and purposes of the founder, and the motive which drew him to these shores, it will be in place, before proceeding with the details of the acquisition of territory, and the coming of emigrants for the actual settlement under the name of Pennsyl- vania, to say something of the aborigines who were found in possession of the soil when first visited by Europeans, of the condition of the surface of the country, and of the previous attempts at settlements before the coming of Penn.
The surface of what is now known as Pennsylvania was, at the time of the coming of the white men, one vast forest of hemlock, and pine, and beech, and oak, unbroken, except by an occasional rocky barren upon the precipitous mountain side, or by a few patches of prairie, which had been reclaimed by annual burnings, and was used by the indolent and simple-minded natives for the culture of a little maize and a few vegetables. The soil, by the annual
17
HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
accumulations of leaves and abundant growths of forest vegetation, was luxu- rious, and the trees stood olose, and of gigantic size. The streams swarmed with fish, and the forest abounded with game. Where now are cities and hamlets filled with busy populations intent upon the accumulation of wealth, the mastery of knowledge, the pursuits of pleasure, the deer browsed and sipped at the water's edge, and the pheasant drummed his monotonous note. Where now is the glowing furnace from which day and night tongues of flame are bursting, and the busy water wheel sends the shuttle flashing through the loom, half-naked, dusky warriors fashioned their spears with rude implements of stone, and made themselves hooks out of the bones of animals for alluring the finny tribe. Where now are fertile fields, upon which the thrifty farmer turns his furrow, which his neighbor takes up and runs on until it reaches from one end of the broad State to the other, and where are flocks and herds, rejoicing in rich meadows, gladdened by abundant fountains, or reposing at the heated noontide beneath ample shade, not a blow had been struck against the giants of the forest, the soil rested in virgin purity, the streams glided on in majesty, unvexed by wheel and unchoked by device of man.
Where now the long train rushes on with the speed of the wind over plain and mead, across streams and under mountains, awakening the echoes of the hills the long day through, and at the midnight hour screaming out its shrill whistle in fiery defiance, the wild native, with a fox skin wrapped about his loins and a few feathers stuck in his hair, issuing from his rude hut, trot- ted on in his forest path, followed by his equaw with her infant peering forth" from the rough sling at her back, pointed his canoe, fashioned from the barks of the trees, across the deep river, knowing the progress of time only by the rising and setting sun, troubled by no meridians for its index, starting on his way when hie nap was ended, and stopping for rest when a spot was reached that pleased his fancy. Where now a swarthy population toils ceaselessly deep down in the bowels of the earth, shut out trom the light of day in cutting out the material that feeds the fires upon the forge, and gives genial warmth to the lovers as they chat merrily in the luxurious drawing room, not a mine had been opened, and the vast beds of the black diamond rested unsunned beneath the superincumbent mountains, where they had been fashioned by the Creator's hand. Rivers of oil seethed through the impatient and uneasy gases and vast pools and lakee of this pungent, parti-colored fluid, hidden away from the coveting eye of man, guarded well their own secrets. Not a derrick protruded its well-balanced form in the air. Not a drill, with its eager eating tooth de- scended into the flinty rock. No pipe line diverted the oily tide in a silent, ceaseless current to the ocean's brink. The cities of iron tanks, filled to burst-
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ing, had no place amidst the forest solitudes. Oil exchanges, with their vex- ing puts and calls, shorts and longs, bulls and bears, had not yet come to dis- turb tbe equanimity of the red man, as he smoked the pipe of peace at the council fire. Had he once seen the smoke and soot of the new Birmingham of the West, or enuffed the odors of an oil refinery, he would willingly have for- feited his goodly heritage by the forest stream or the deep flowing river, and sought for himself new hunting grounds in less favored regions.
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