USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > History of Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania. With illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories > Part 12
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From its central position, nenr the confluence of the two branches of the Susquehanna, Shamokin was a place of great note among the Indians, and was the headquarters of distinguished chiefs who presided over the Six Nations. It was also the Council Ground of all those Indians who resided between this place and the Potomae; also of those up the Juniata, up the west brauch to its headwaters, and north and east to the headwaters of the north branch and the Delaware.
It was here that the dignitaries of many tribes, with their feathers and their paint, their wampum and their war-gear, met to join the wisdom of their councils; to make their and decrees of war, or to send up cumulative vapors from the enlumet of penee.
When Shamokin-now Sunbury-first became known to the white settlers, it was presided over by Shickelemy, a Cayuga chief, and father of the greatly wronged Logan, who afterwards figured so prominently in the Indian history of Pennsylvania. Alumoppees, one of the chiefs of the Delawares, also lived here. He was the keeper of the publie treasure of the Six Nations, and would occasionally get intoxiented, and spend the bends and wampum for rum, and finally became a defaulter to the Indian government.
The earliest available record that relates to this Indian town, dates back to 1728. Gov. Gordon lays down certain instructions to Smith and Petty, who were about to make a journey to Shamokin. In this letter of instructions, the Governor particularly requests them to call upon his Indian friends, Alumoppees, Opekassel, Shackalawlin and Shickelemy, and give them his particular regards,
At this time, Sunbury wns somewhat scattered, but, in the main, covered the ground now occupied by Market Square, and the blocks lying north of it, between the railroad and river. There were then upwards of fifty wig- wams and houses in the town and its vicinity, with about three hundred in- habitants, averaging about six inmates to each wigwan.
Sunbury was also a point from which their war-paths radiated, or to which their highways centred. One main path went up the river by the mouth of Warrior Run to Muney, and thence into Sullivan and the Towanda region. Another passed up the ravine in Blue Hill, a few rods below the end of the Northumberland bridge, thence up Turtle Creek into Buffalo Valley, and on to Kittanning and the west. There was also a main path down the river, about on the line of Fourth street, by the grave-yard, crossing Shamokin Creek near the little white house, and ascending the hill southward, about on the line of the present path in that locality. This went to the Harris Land- ing, now Harrisburg, with branches to the Juniata, Cumberland and Lan- caster regions. Another path went up the ravine at Bacher's brewery, around Bake-oven Hill, and thence in the direction of Shamokin Creek to the Wyo- ming Valley, and to the headwaters of the Schuylkill.
In 1729, Shickelemy, the great and good chief, who resided at Sunbury, lost one of his sons, and Gov. Gordon wrote a letter of condolence, sending a shroud in which to bury him.
In 1730, John Hartt and John Fisher were living in Sunbury as traders, and Hartt was shot while burning a ring for deer.
In 1744, Shickelemy lost another of his sons, called Unhappy Jake, who was killed in a war then going on between the Six Nations and the Catawbas. Six other Indians of the Six Nations from here, were also killed at the same time. Shickelemy took the death of his son, as Weiser says, "very hard," and the Governor sent him up some small presents to "wipe off the old man's tears and comfort his heart."
In the Spring of 1744, the first aggravated case of murder occurred on the Juniata, when John Armstrong, an Indian trader, and his two servants, James Smith and Woodworth Arnold, were inhumanly and barbarously mur- dered by an Indian of the Delaware tribe, named Musemcelin. . The atrocity of this murder was so aggravating, that a Provincial Council was held to take the matter into consideration, and it was finally resolved that Conrad Weiser should be sent to Shamokin to make demands, in the name of the Governor, for those concerned in the affair. Mr. Weiser arrived at Shamokin on the second day of May, 1744, and delivered the Governor's message to Alumnoppees, the Delaware chief, and the rest of the Delaware Indians, in presence of Shickelemy and a few more of. the Six Nations. Alumoppecs replied that it was true that the evil spirit had influenced some of his trihe to commit the murder, and that he was very sorry it had occurred ; they had taken the murderer and delivered him to the friends of the deceased, to he dealt with according to the nature of the deed. After the conclusion of the address by Alumnoppees, Shickelemy arose and entered into a full account of the unhappy affair, which is very long and interesting. When the conference with the Indians was ended, a feast was prepared, to which the Governor's messengers were-invited. Mr. Weiser states that there were about one hun- dred persons present, to whom, after they had in great silence devoured a fat bear, the eldest of the chiefs ninde a speech.
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
FIRST RELIGIOUS SERVICE-MORAVIAN MISSION.
The first religious service in Sunbury, other than that which the Indians gave to the Great Spirit, was held by Moravian missionaries. Loskiel, in his history of Moravian missions, states that on the 28th of September, 1742, Count Zinzendorf, accompanied by Conrad Weiser, Martin Mack and his wife, and two Indians named Joshua and David, after a long and tedious journey through the wilderness, arrived at the town of Shamokin-now Sunbury. The chief Shickelemy, stepped ont and gave them a hearty wel- come. Zinzendorf immediately announced himself as a messenger of the living God, come to preach unto them grace and salvation, Shickelemy replied that he was happy to receive and entertain an ambassador from the Great Spirit, and would afford bim all the assistance in his power. As a proof of his integrity, it is stated that on one occasion, when these pioas missionaries were about going to prayers, the Indians making a terrible noise with drums and singing, the Count sent word to Shickelemy, wbo im- mediately ordered silence.
The Indians, at that time, lived upon wild meat, fish, corn and vegetables, and as the curious crowd which gathered around these missionaries were surveying them, one of their number stepped forward and presented the Count with a fine watermelon. The Count was so mueb pleased with this net of friendship that he took his fur eap from his head and presented it to the Iodiau in return.
Rev. David Brainerd visited Shamokin in 1745, for the first time. He endured much suffering, being in delicate health. He was kindly received and entertained in true Indian style, but had little satisfaction on account of the heathenish dance that occurred in the hut where he was obliged to lodge. Rev. Brainerd bad started to come here the preceding year, hut while passing from Easton, through what he terms "the vast howling wilder- ness," his horse broke his legs in the rocks and he was compelled to kill it and return, He says, in 1746, that there were three languages spoken by the Indiaas in Sunbury ; that they were very immoral, and many of them ad- dicted to intemperance.
In this same year, says Loskiel, Mack and wife again visited Shamokin, where they staid two months. During this time they not only suffered much illness and troubles of various kinds, but frequently were eye-witnesses to the most diabolical abomination, praetieed by the savages more in this place than any other. Several times they were in danger of being murdered by drunken Indians, yet their fervent desire to gain souls for Christ, inspired them with such consolation that, according to Mack's own statement, their hard fare in an Indian cottage, afforded them more real pleasure than all the luxuries of the most sumptuous palace could have done. They spent a part of their time in assisting the Indiaas to cultivate their eorn. In 1748, Shamokin was visited by Bisbop Camerhoff and the pious Zeisberger, who emine for the purpose of establishing a Moravian mission. The Moravian mission was kept open till Braddock's defeat, 1755, when the alarming aspect of affairs-caused the brethren to abandon it and fly to Bethlehem. What success they had among the Indians is nowhere positivaly stated, hut it is presumed that they succeeded in accomplishing considerable good.
THE FIRST HOUSE.
The first house constructed on the English plan, that was erected withio the limits of what is now Sunbury, was built in September, 1744, by Conrad AVeiser, for the Indian chief Shickelemy. In a letter to James Logan, dated September 29th, 1744, Mr. Weiser says:
"Sir. The day before yesterday I enme back from Shamokin, where I have been with eight young men of my country people, whom Shickelemy hired to make a locke bouse for-him, and ] went with them to direct them, We finished the house in seventeen days; it is forty-nine and one-half feet long, aud seventeen and one-balf feet wide, and covered with singels."
This structure was doubtless budt of rough logs notched together, and the shingles with which it was covered, were probably heavy split boards, and at the present day would perbaps be ealled clapboards.
For what purpose such a building was designed by Shickelemy is not stated, further than it was a " locke house," from which it may be inferred that be intended to incarcerate therein some of his refractory subjects.
During the building of this house, the fever was very bad among the Indians, and five or six died. Alumoppees, the Delaware king, and Indian treasurer, was also very siek, hut recovered.
The second house was built after the English eustom, in the year 1747, by John Hagen and Joseph Powell, of the Moravian mission. The structure was used as a residence by Martin Maek and wife, by whom the first settle- ment at Shamokin-now Sunbury-was made.
THE FIRST BLACKSMITH.
As Shamokin (Sunbury) was an important point for the Indians, and used as a depot, or tarrying-place, for their war parties against the Catawbas of the south, they were very anxious to have a blacksmith to save them the trouble of loug journeys to Tulpchocken or Philadelphia, to get their imple- ments of war repaired. On appliention to the Provincial Government, their request was granted on condition that he should remain with them no louger than they proved friendly to the English. As all was peace and harmony among the two nations at that time, of course they assented to the proposi- tion, aud a gentleman named Anthony Schmidt, from the mission at Bethle- hem, had the honor of being the first representative of Vulcan at Shamokin. This was about the year 1746. Shortly after this,-probably the next year, -John Hagen and Joseph Powell, of Bethlehem, Pa., came to Shamokin and erected a smithy. Hagen died soon after his arrival.
Shamokin was considered a dangerous place of residence for a European, the air being unwholesome, not to mention the extravagance in drinking and its dangerous eonquences.
AN EARLY BLACKSMITH.
As early as 1790, Panl Baldy, a Revolutionary soldier, opened a shop on the site of the present Presbyterian church. It was built partly of hewn and partly of unhewn logs.
FIRST CHURCH EDIFICE.
The first church edifice was erected in 1792, and was a log structure. It stood on the site of the present Lutheran church. The second church, also of logs, was built a year or two later, hy the Presbyterian and Reformed denominations combined, and occupied the site of the present Reformed church edifice. The
FIRST ENGLISH PREACHER
in Sunbury was Rev. Mr. Morrison, of the Presbyterian persuasion. He used to officiate in this second log church.
FIRST GRIST-MILL.
The first grist-mill was built by Mnelay as early as 1785. It was eon- strueted of logs, and for a long time was the only one in this section of the country. In 1820, there was a log house and grist-mill on the Haas farm, east of town.
THE FIRST DRUGGIST.
The first druggist was Dr. Solomon Markley, who came from Dauphin County and commenced that business as early as 1795. He died about 1814, and his wife continued the business until 1821. The building occupied was situated on Market street, near where the office of Wm. I. Greenough now stands.
In 1774, in the month of September, it was very siekly in Sunbury. The old chief Shickelemy, his wife, and many other Indians, had the "fever and ago," as they expressed it, very much, and Alumoppees, the old defaulting treasurer, who wasted the beads and the wampum, actually shook himself to death ! One of the Moravian missionaries, probably one of the Mack family, died here in the same year. In July, Conrad Weiser gave Shickelemy aud his sons, all the wheat meal they could bring from Tulpehoeken on their horses, amounting to nine bushels, which was probably the largest eargo of breadstuffs ever brought into Sunbury up to that date.
A REMINISCENCE.
In one of his letters, dated at Tulpehoeken, October 15th, 1747, Conrad Weiser thus writes to Richard Peters, Secretary of the Province of Pean- sylvania :
"I must at the conclusion of this, recommend Shickelemy as a proper ob- jeet of elinrity. He is extremely poor-in his sickness the horses have eaten his eorn ; his elotbes he gave to the Indian doctors to eure him and his family-but all in vain. He has nobody to hunt for him; and I cannot see how the poor old man ean live. He has been a true servant to the govern- ment, and may perhaps still be, if he lives to do well again. As the winter is coming on, I think it would not be umiss to send a few blankets or mateh- coats, and a little powder and lead. If the government would be pleased to do it, and you could send it soon, I would send my sous with it ta Shamokin before the cold weather comes."
In the early part of November, 1747, the following goods were brought for Shickelemy :
Five strowd match-eoats at seven pounds; one-fourth eask of gun-powder, two pounds, fifteen shillings ; one-half eut har of lead, one pound; fifteen
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
yards of blue half thicks, two pounds, seven shillings, aud six pence ; one dozen best bnek-hefted knives, nine shillings ; four Duffel match-coats, three ponnds; amounting to sixteen pounds, eleven shillings, and six pence.
DEATH OF SHICKELEMY.
In the month of April, 1749, occurred, at his residence in Sunbury, the death of the Cayuga chief, Shickelemy. He was truly an excellent, and good man, possessed of many noble qualities of mind, that would do honor to many white men, laying claims to refinement and intelligence. He was possessed of great dignity, sobriety, and prudence, and was particularly noted for his extreme kindness to the whites and missionaries. He was the most intimate and valued friend of Conrad Weiser, who entertained grent respect for him. On several important occasions, he attended the sittings of the Provincial Council, at Philadelphia, and performed embassies between the Government of Pennsylvania and the Six Nations. Conrad Weiser visi- ted him frednently at his house, in Shamokin, on business for the Govern- ment, and was in turn visited by him, at Tulpehocken. He had several sons, one of which was Logan, the Mingo chief, and another, named Taghenegh- dourus, who was the eldest, and who assumed the duties of chief after the death of his father.
In the decease of this Indian chief, the whites lost the best and truest friend they ever had among the tawny sons of the forest. Loskiel, wbo knew him well, thus speaks of him: " Being the first magistrate, and hend chief of all the Iroquois Indiaas living on the banks of the Susquehanna, as far as Onondaga, he thought it incumbent upon him to be very circumspect in his dealings with the white people. He mistrusted the brethren at first, but, upon discovering their sincerity, became their firm and real friend. Being much engaged in political affairs, he had learned the art of concealing his sentiments, and, therefore, never contradicted those who endeavored to prejudice his mind agniast the missionaries, though he always suspected their motives. In the last years of his life, he became less reserved, and received those brethren, who enme to Shamokin, into his house. He assisted them in building, and defended them against the insults of the drunken Indians; being himself never addicted to drinking, because, as he expressed it, he never wished to become a fool. He had built his house upon pillars, for safety, in which he always shut himself up when any drunken frolic was going on in the village. In this house, Bishop Johannas Von Watterville, and his company, visited and preached the Gospel to him. It was then that the Lord opened his heart; he listened with great attention; and, at last, with tears, respeetel the doctrine of a crucified Jesus, and received it in faith. During his visit in Bethlehem, a remarkable change took place in his heart, which he could not conceal. He found comfort, peace and joy, by faith in his Redeemer, and the brethren considered him a candidate for baptism; but hearing that he had heen already baptized by a Roman Catholic priest, in Canada, they only endeavored to impress his mind with a proper idea of his sacramental ordinance, upon which he destroyed a small idol that he wore about his neck. After his return to Shamokin, the grace of God bestowed upon him was truly manifested, and his behavior was remarkably peaceable and contented. In this state of mind be was token ill, was attended by Rev. David Zeisberger, and in his presence, fell happy asleep in the Lord, iu full assurance of obtaining eternal life, through the merits of Jesus Christ."
He was buried in the Indian burying-ground, above town, where his dust still sleeps, if it has not been washed away by the inroads of the river upon the bank. A slight transposition of the words of Longfellow seem to breathe the sadness of the good man's absence :
" Many moons and many winters Huve gone by sinee he departed, But the Master of Life had called lilmn To the realme of light and morning. On this shore stood Shickelemy, Turned and waved his hond at porting, Moved into the purple sunset, By the Blue Hill, up the West Branch ; And the Indiana gnaing after, Watched him foaling, rising, sinking, Bald, 'Farewell, Oh1 Shickclemy!' And the melancholy forest, Moved through all its depth of darkness, Whispering. 'Farewell, Shickelemyt' And the wuves upon tho pebbles, Rising, rippling on Cake's margin, Satd, 'Forewell, oh! Shickelemy!' Thus this Christian chief departed From the presence of his people, To the islands of the blessed, To the kingdoms of Ponemnh."
Upon the death of Shickelemy, Governor Hamilton sent Conrad Weiser to Shamokin to let the children and grand-children of the deceased chief know that the Governor of Pennsylvania and his council, eondoled with them for the death of their father, and to give them a small present in order to wipe off their tears, according to the custom of the Indians. The present consisted of six strowd match-coats and seven shirts with a string of wampum. Another string of wampum was also given to Tagheneghdoarus, Shickelemy's eldest son.
Shickelemy's death was the beginning of evil days. His son was made chief, but was unable to restrain his people.
In 1755, the French formed an alliance with the Indians, promising to re- cover and give them back their lands upon the Susquehanna. Large bodies of French and Indians had crossed the Allegheny mountains, for the purpose of murdering, scalping and burning. It was the intention of the French to overrun this portion of the country and erect fortifications at different points, making Shamokin their headquarters. This fact was reported to the Provincial Government, by Andrew Montour, with a recommendation, that a fort be immediately erected at Shamokin, for defence.
Soon after, in the autumn of 1755, the inhabitants on Penn's Creek were attacked, many of them killed, and twenty-five taken prisoners. Their houses were burned and crops destroyed. This was the
FIRST INDIAN MASSACRE IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Forty-six of the settlers fled to Sunbury for protection, but the behavior of the Indians here was so suspicious, that they left on the following day, and were fired upon by Indians in ambush below Sunbury, having for more of their number killed.
Shortly after the massacre on Penn's Creek, the Moraviau mission at Shamokin was broken up, and the settlers fled to Bethlehem. This they were compelled to do in order to save their lives, as the Indians were very rude, and probably would have murdered them if they had remained much longer.
Stal later in the autumn, the Indians again appeared iu considerable numbers around the Shamokin region, and during the following month com- mitted several barbarous murders upon the remaining whites. No particu- lars, however, are preserved.
SHAMOKIN DESTROYED.
About this time the Indians abandoned the town of Shamokin, probably on account of fear of the English, who were expected there in a considerable force, to erect a fort and make preparation for the defence of the frontier. On the 3d of June, 1756, n scout, consisting of George Allen, Abe Lover- hill, James Crapton, John Gallaher, John Murrah, and Robert Eyer, were sent up the river to reconnoitre the enemy at Shamokin. They reported that they arrived there on Saturday night, and, not observing any enemy, went to the place where the town had been, but found all the houses con- sumed, and no trace of it left. They remained there till ten o'clock the next day, but observed no signs of Indians.
Thus was the ancient town of Shamokin destroyed by its own inhabitants. It seemed that they were anxious to obliterate all trace of their settlement at this point, when they found that the whites were encroaching so rapidly npon their lands. Like the Russians, they were determined to leave nothing behind that could be of any benefit to the enemy. Shamokin, in having been such an important point among them, from time immemorial, was left, no doubt, with regret; and the dusky warrior, as he turned into the forest, could not refrain from looking back at the spot he loved so well, that was to be abandoned forever. The flames of the burning wigwams lighted up the gloom of the surrounding wilderness; the little pappooses elnng closer to their mothers, and looked wistfully around. This closes the first aet in the drama.
ERECTION OF FORT AUGUSTA.
It being fully determined by the Provincial Government to erect a fort at Shamokin, instructions were issued to Col. Wm. Clapham, by Governor Mor- ris, in June, 1756, as follows:
"Herewith you will also receive two Plauns of Forts, the one a Pentagon, the other a Square with one Ravelin to Protect the Curtain where the gate is, with a ditch, covered way, und Glacis. But as it is impossible to give nny explicit directions, the Particular form of n fort, without viewing and Cou- sidering tho ground on which it is to stand, I must leave it to you to build it in such form as will best answer for its own Defence, the command of the
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
river and of the Country in its neighbourhood, and the Plans herewith will serve to shew the Proportion that the Different parts of the works should bear to Each other.
" As to the place upon which this fort is to be erected, that must he in a great measure left to your Judgment; hut it is necessary to inform you that it must be on the East side of the Susquehann, the Lands on the West at ye forks & between the brauches not being Purchased from the Indians, besides which it would be impossible to relieve and support a garrison on that side in the winter time. From all the Information I have been able to Collect, the Land on ye south side of the east branch, opposite the middle of the Island, is the highest of any of the low land thereabout, and the best place for a fort, as the Guns you have will form a Rampart of a moderate highth, commaud the main river; but as these Informations come from persons not acquainted with the nature of such things, I am fearfull they are not much to be depended on, and your own Judgment must therefore direct you.
"When you have completed the fort you will cause the ground to be eleard about it, so to a convenient distance and openings to be made to the river, and you will Erect such buildings within the fort and place them in such a manner as yon shall Judge best.
" Without the fort, at a convenient distance, under the command of the Guns, it will be necessary to build some log houses for Indians, that they may have places to Lodge in without being in the fort where numbers of them, however friendly, should not be admitted but in a formal manner, and the guard turned out, this will be esteemed a compliment by our friends, and if enemies should at any time be concleald under that name, it will give them proper notions of our vigilence and prevent them from attempting to surprise it.
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