Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 20

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 930

USA > Pennsylvania > Indiana County > Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I > Part 20

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

That the rattlesnake has the power of giv- ing out a very offensive vapor I know by ex- perience, having often smelt it on warm sunny days, especially after a shower of rain, when plowing in the field. This often happened when I did not see any snake; but it always excited a painful apprehension that I should speedily meet with one. A person once ac- customed to the odor of a serpent can never mistake it for anything else.

I have heard it said, although I cannot vouch for the truth of it, that a snake, when in the act of charming, appears, by the alter- nate expansion and depression of its sides, to he engaged in the act of blowing with all its might.

I think it in every way probable that in every instance of fascination the position of the snake is to the windward of the victim of its charm. But why should this intoxicat- ing odor draw its victim to the source whence it issues ? Here I must plead ignorance, to be sure; but does anything more happen to the bird or beast in this case than happens to man in consequence of the use of those intoxicating gases, or fluids, furnished by the art of chem- istry ?

A person affected by the exhilarating gas clings to the jar and sucks the pipe after he has inhaled its whole contents; and is not the madness occasioned by inhaling this gas equal to that which takes place in the bird or squir- rel when under the influence of the charm of the serpent? The victims of this serpentine fascination scream and run, or flutter about awhile, and then resign themselves to their fate. In like manner the person who inhales the gas is instantly deprived of reason, be- comes frantic, and acts the madman; but should he continue to inhale this gas, even for a short time, death would be the conse-

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

repetition of the intoxicating draught until, settler at night knew not where to set his foot in spite of every consideration of honor, duty without danger of being assailed by the fangs and interest, the indulgence ends in slow but inevitable suicide. of a serpent. Even his cabin was not secure from the invasion of snakes. In the daytime, if in the woods, he knew not in what bunch of weeds or grass he might provoke a rattlesnake by the tread of his foot, or from behind what tree or log he might be met by the bullet or tomahawk of an Indian.

The reader has perhaps never seen one of the poisonous reptiles which so much annoyed his forefathers; but in gratitude he ought to reflect on the appaling dangers attendant on the settlement of his native country. The first

CHAPTER XI INDIGENOUS FRUITS OF THE COUNTY

After having described the western wilder- made a fine appearance through the woods, ness, an account of its native fruits cannot be in the month of April. The berries were ripe improper. To the botanist and agriculturist in June. They are sweet, with a very slight mixture of acidity, and a very agreeable flavor. The service trees grew abundantly along the small watercourses, and more thinly over the hills at a distance from them. A few of these trees still remain, but their fruit is mostly devoured by the great number of small birds which have accompanied the population of the country. The time for gathering the service berries, as well as other fruits, was Sunday, and in large companies, under the protection of warriors in arms. In doing this a great number of the trees were cut down, so that our crop of them was lessened every year. This fruit may be considered as lost to the country, for although the trees might be cultivated in gardens, the berries would all be devoured by the small birds be- fore they would be fully ripe. this history cannot fail of being acceptable. To the former it will serve to show the great improvement which cultivation has made upon the indigenous fruits of the forest. To the latter it will point out what plants may yet be cultivated with success, although hitherto neglected. For instance, should he inquire whether this country is calculated by nature for the cultivation of the vine, he has only to ask whether the country in its original state produced the fruit of the vine. Those early settlers who profited by the indication with regard to the cultivation of the apple tree, furnished by the growth of the crab apple in the country, derived great advantage from their correct philosophy, in the high price of their fruit, while those who neglected this indication, and delayed planting their trees until they witnessed the growth of fruit on the

Blackberries grew in abundance in those trees of their neighbors, were left several years places where, shortly before the settlement

in the rear in this respect.

shall follow the order which they ripened from spring until winter, our manner of gathering them, with some remarks on the present state of those of them which still remain in the country.

of the country, the timber had been blown In giving the history of our native fruits I down by hurricanes. These places we called the "fallen timber." When ripe, which was in the time of harvest, the children and young people resorted to the fallen timber in large companies, under a guard, for the purpose of gathering the berries, of which tarts were often made for the harvest table. The fallen timber, owing to a new growth of trees, no longer produces those berries, but enough of them are to be had along the fences on most

The first fruit which ripened in the country was the wild strawberry. It grew on poor land, on which there was no timber. There were many such places of small extent, on the points of hills along the creeks. They were of our farm. denominated "bald knobs." The fruit was Wild raspberries of an agreeable flavor were small, and much sourer than the cultivated found in many places, but not plentifully any- strawberry. It was not abundant in any where. place.

Gooseberries of a small size, and very full The service trees were the first in bloom in of thorns, but of an agreeable taste, grew in the spring. Their beautiful little flowers some places in the woods. The amount of them

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

was but small. Whatever may be the reason, domestic apple tree, but not so large. The this fruit does not succeed well when trans- tree itself is smaller, of a slower growth than planted into gardens, where they flower the orchard tree, and the wood of a much abundantly, but shed the berries before they firmer texture. It blossoms a little later than become ripe.

Wortleberries were never abundant in this section of the country, but they were so in many places in the mountains.

Wild plums were abundant in rich land. They were of various colors and sizes, and many of them of an excellent flavor. The wild plums of late years have, like our damson plums, fallen off prematurely. The beetle bug, or curculio, an insect unknown to the country at its first settlement, but now numerous everywhere, perforates the green fruit for the deposition of its egg. This occasions a flow of juice of the fruit, so that it becomes gummy and falls off.

An indifferent kind of fruit, called buck- berries, used to grow on small shrubs on poor ridges. This fruit has nearly vanished from the settled parts of the country.

Our fall fruits were winter and fall grapes ; the former grew in the bottom land. They were sour, of little value, and seldom used. The fall grapes grew on high grounds, par- ticularly in the fallen timber land. Of these grapes we had several varieties, and some of them large and of excellent flavor. We still have the wild grapes, but not in such abun- dance as formerly. In process of time they will disappear from the country.

Black haws grew on large bushes along the moist bottoms of small watercourses. They grew in large clusters, and ripened with the first frosts in the fall. Children were very fond of them. Red haws grew on white thorn bushes. They were of various kinds. The sugar haws, which are small, grow in large clusters, and when ripe and free from worm, and semi-transparent, were most esteemed. The berries when ripe are large, and make a fine appearance, and being almost free from worms the children are very fond of eating them.

Wild cherries were abundant in many places. To most people they are very agree- able fruit. They are now becoming scarce.

Pawpaws were plenty along the great water- courses and on the rich hills. Some people are fond of eating them. Scarcely any beast will touch them; even the omnivorous hog never eats them. It is said that raccoons are fond of them. They are still plenty in many places.

our orchards, and when in bloom makes a noble appearance, and fills the surrounding air with a delicious fragrance. The crab appears to be a tree of great longevity. Sour as the crab apples were, the children were fond of eating them, especially when in the winter season they could find them under the leaves, where, defended by the frost, they acquired a fine golden color, a fragrant smell, and lost much of their sourness. One or more of these in- digenous apple trees ought to be planted in every orchard, in honor of their native tenancy of our forests, as well as for the convenience of our ladies, who are very fond of them for preserves, but are sometimes unable to pro- cure them.

Of hickory nuts we had a great variety ; some of the larger shellbark nuts, with the exception of the thickness of their shells, were little inferior to the English walnut. Of white walnuts, we generally had a great abundance ; of black walnuts, many varieties as to size and amount of kernel. Hazel and chestnuts were plenty in many places.

Thus a munificent providence had furnished this region of the earth with the greater num- ber of fruits which are to be found in the old world; but owing to the want of cultivation, they were inferior in size and flavor to the same kinds of fruit in Europe.

It may not amiss to notice in this place the changes which have taken place in the growth and bearing of some of our fruit trees since the settlement of the country.

Peach trees were planted at an early period. For some time a crop of peaches once in three or four years was as much as was expected. After some time these trees became so far naturalized to the climate as to bear almost every year. The same observation applies, although in a less degree, to the apple trees which were first planted in the country. Their fruit was frequently wholly killed by the frost. This has not happened for many years past. The pear and heart cherry trees, although they blossomed abundantly, bore but little fruit for many years; but in process of time they afforded abundant crops. Such was the effect of their becoming naturalized to our climate.

The peach and pear trees did very well until the year 1806, when a long succession of

The crab apple was very abundant along the smaller watercourses. The foilage of the rainy seasons commenced, during which the tree which bears this fruit is like that of the trees overgrew themselves, and the falls being

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

warm and rainy they continued their growth heretofore witnessed its growth. The cotton until the onset of winter. Their branches plant and coffee tree, in all probability, will were then full of sap, and as water occupies take the same course. a greater space when frozen than when fluid, the freezing of the water they contained burst the texture of their wood, and rendered it unfit for the transmission of sap the next season. This fact leads to the conclusion that those soft-wooded fruit trees ought to be planted in the highest situations, and poorest land, where they will have the slowest possible growth. The few dry seasons we have had latterly have, in some measure, restored the peach trees. If such seasons should continue for any length of time, the peaches and pears will again become plenty.

If annual plants, as well as trees, possess the faculty of becoming naturalized to soils and climates remote from those in which they are indigenous, what great advantages may we not reasonably anticipate for the future prosperity of our country, from this import- ant law of the vegetable world ? If, by a slow progress from south to north, the period of the growth of a plant may be shortened to tliree fourths, or even less than that, of the time of its growth in the south, the sugar cane, already transplanted from the islands of the West Indies to the shores of the Mississippi, may slowly travel up that river and its branches to latitudes far north of any region which has

The conclusions of philosophy, with regard to the future, are prophetic, when correctly drawn from the unerring test of experience. In the prospect here presented of the practic- ability of naturalizing the plants of the south to the temperate latitudes far north of their native region, it is only saying that what has happened to one plant may under similar treatment happen to another. For example. How widely different is the large squaw corn, in its size and the period of its growth, from the Mandan corn? The latter ripens under the fortieth degree of north latitude; and yet the squaw and Mandan corn are not even different species, but only varieties of the same plant. The squaw corn might travel slowly to the north, and ultimately dwindle down into Mandan corn; while the Mandan corn, by being transplanted to the south, in- creases in size and lengthens the period of its growth.

These observations have been made to show that the independence of our country may be vastly augumented by a proper attention to the laws of nature with regard to the vege- table world, so that we may hereafter cultivate within our own country the precious fruits even of the tropical regions.

· CHAPTER XII

FORMATION OF THE COUNTY

Indiana, a western county, was created by Act of Assembly of 1803 out of parts of West- moreland and Lycoming counties. That part south of the Purchase Line was taken from Westmoreland county and that north of Pur- chase Line was taken from Lycoming county. The Act in substance is as follows :

"That those parts of the counties of West- moreland and Lycoming included within the following boundaries, viz .: Beginning at the corner of Armstrong county on the Kiskim- inetas river, thence np said river to the Cone- maugh river, thence to the line of Somerset county (now Cambria county), thence a straight line to the Canoe place (now Cherry- tree), on the west bank of the Susquehanna river; thence a north course along Potter's of the moneys raised for the use of the said district line twelve miles; thence a due west course to Armstrong county line ; thence along

said line to place of beginning; the same is hereby erected into a separate county to be henceforth called Indiana county, and the place for holding the courts of justice in and for said county shall be fixed by the legisla- ture at any place at a distance not greater than four miles from the center of said county, and the governor is hereby empowered and re- quired to appoint three commissioners, any two of whom shall run, ascertain, and plainly mark so much of the boundary lines of Indiana county as is hereafter described, before the first day of October next. The commissioners shall receive as a full compensation for their services therein the sum of two dollars for every mile so run and marked, to be paid out county of Indiana."

The Act provides that the said commission-

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ers shall also ascertain and particularly de- sessed for the current year by the commis- scribe the center of said county and make a sioners of Westmoreland and Lycoming report to the trustees hereinafter named to counties shall be for the use of the county in make proposals for the conveyance of lands which such sum is assessed.

for county uses, and the commissioners shall The commissioners appointed to establish be allowed a reasonable compensation for the place for holding the courts of justice in their services. The commissioners' first order the county of Indiana performed their duties

book shows that on November 10, 1803, an order was issued to Thomas Allison, Michael Campbell and Joseph McCartney for $230.40 for running the boundary line and ascertain- ing the center of said county. The Act pro- inhabitants of the said county of Indiana an enumeration of the taxable inhabitants of the county shall be made and it shall be other- wise directed by law, the said county shall be annexed to the county of Westmoreland and the authority of the judges thereof shall extend over the county of Indiana. and reported the same to the Legislature of the State which in General Assembly met, appointed Charles Campbell, Randall Laugh- lin and John Wilson trustees for the county of Indiana, and authorized them to survey vides that for the present convenience of the 250 acres of land, agreeable to a description given of the situation and boundary thereof in the grant and obligation of Alexander Craig for George Clymer, made by him to the present Legislature for the use of the county of Indiana; and the trustees were authorized to lay out a convenient lot or lots not exceeding four acres, whereon the public William Jack. James Parr and John Pome- roy of Westmoreland county were appointed as trustees for the county of Indiana with full authority to receive proposals which shall or may be accepted of under the same trusts and for the sole use and benefits of the said county. As soon as it shall appear by an enumeration of the taxable inhabitants within the county of Indiana, the county according to the ratio which shall then be established for apportioning the representation among the several counties of this Commonwealth shall be entitled to a separate representation, hold the courts of justice at such place as may be fixed by the Legislature and choose their county officers in like manner as the other counties may or can do. buildings for the county of Indiana should be erected ; and the residue of the said 250 acres was to be laid out in town lots and out lots in such manner and with such streets, not more than one hundred nor less than seventy feet wide, and lanes and alleys for the public use, as the trustees shall direct. The town lots were not to contain more than two thirds of an acre and the out lots not more than three acres. The streets, lanes and alleys were to be and remain highways forever. The town lots and out lots were to be sold by the trustees by public auction at such time as they might judge most advantageous to the county. The trustees were to advertise the sale of lots three times, at least, in one or more of the newspapers of Pittsburg, Wash- ington, Greensburg, Lancaster and Philadel- phia, two months before the day appointed for such sale, and before the advertisements were published the trustees were to submit a map or draft of the town and out lots to the secretary of the Commonwealth to he de- posited in his office, and with the money aris- ing from the sale of the lots the trustees were to proceed to erect a courthouse, jail and necessary public buildings for the use of the county. The trustees were then required to receive a deed or deeds of conveyance in fee simple from Alexander Craig for George Clymer and have the deed or deeds recorded in the office for recording deeds in the county of Westmoreland, and when trustees had so done they were to make and grant sufficient

It is further enacted that the commission- ers of the county of Westmoreland shall have power and are authorized to assess and levy county rates for county uses and purposes in the county of Indiana, and the treasurer of Westmoreland shall open an account for Indiana county from which such rates and levies shall be raised and collected, and shall pay out of the moneys raised all the expenses of assessing, levying and collecting the same therein, together with the expenses. of run- ning the boundary lines of Indiana county, and the expenses of ignoramus bills and other costs of prosecution chargeable to the county which shall be exhibited against persons re- siding within the county and also all rewards for wolf scalps and animals of prey destroyed in said county, for which a reward is or shall be given by law. and the remainder shall be deeds in fee simple for the lots sold.

Within one year after the courts of law

applied to and for the use of the county of Indiana : and that all the county taxes as- and board of commissioners were established,

HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

the trustees were to surrender and convey to other public buildings for the safe keeping of the county commissioners all trusts vested in records and other public papers, on the public them, and the commissioners were empowered to perform the several duties which remained to be done as fully and effectively as the trustees could do. The trustees were to re- ceive $1.33 for each day employed in the per- formance of the duties of the aforesaid trust, together with all expenses necessarily in-

grounds appropriated for the purpose. The county commissioners were authorized to pro- cure a house in or near Indiana town, as con- venient as will admit at the least expense, in which the courts of the county shall be held until the courthouse can be erected. If no such building could be found, the commissioners curred for assistance in laying out lots, streets, were to have the power to erect temporary buildings for that purpose.

lanes and alleys. The same was to be paid by the treasurer of Westmoreland county out of the taxes levied on the county of Indiana. The trustees were required to file a draft of the survey in the office of the recorder of three for commissioners in Indiana county. deeds for Westmoreland county.

On March 10, 1806, an Act was passed to organize the provisional county of Indiana, and in substance was as follows:

"That after the first Monday in November next, the inhabitants were to enjoy all and singularly the jurisdiction, powers, rights, liberties and privileges within the same which the inhabitants of other counties in this State enjoyed by the constitution and laws of this Commonwealth."

All actions of trespass and ejectment for the trials of titles of land, actions of trespass, quare clausum fregit, for entry into any lands or tenements within the county of Indi- ana, which at the time of passing of this act or before the first Monday in November next, commenced in the court of Common Pleas or Circuit court of Westmoreland county, and which on the first Monday of November are still pending and undetermined, shall be transferred to the court of Common Pleas or Circuit court of Indiana county, there to be tried according to law in the same manner on the first Monday of November next.

The prothonotary of Westmoreland county was required to make out within thirty days a docket containing a statement of all such actions then pending and undetermined, in the said county of Westmoreland, and to de- liver to the prothonotary of Indiana county, who was to pay the prothonotary of West- moreland county for every action contained in said docket the usual fees allowed for sim- ilar services, which were to be reimbursed to him by the county of Indiana.

The sheriff, coroner and other public officers of Westmoreland county were to continue to exercise the duties of their respective offices within the county of Indiana as heretofore until the first Monday of November next.

The commissioners of Indiana county were authorized to erect a courthouse, prison and

The general election was to be held the second Tuesday of October next to choose two fit persons for sheriff, two for coroners, and This Act provided that Jefferson county should be annexed to Indiana county, and that the commissioners of Indiana county were to have control over Jefferson county.

Indiana county was first represented in the General Assembly of Pennsylvania by James McComb, who was assemblyman from 1803 to 1808, and James Brady, who was State senator from 1803 to 1815.

The first president judge of Indiana county was Hon. John Young, of Greensburg, who served from 1806 to 1836; the first associate judges were James Smith and Charles Camp- bell; the first prothonotary and clerk of the courts was James McLain, who served from 1806 to 1818; the first sheriff was Thomas McCartney, who served from 1806 to 1809. The first county commissioners were William Clarke, James Johnston and Alexander Mc- Lain; the first clerks to the commissioners were Alex. Johnston, for trustees of county, 1804, Paul Morrison, for trustees of county, 1805, James Riddle, for commissioners, 1806; and the first coroner was Samuel Young, who served from 1806 to 1809.

Indiana county is bounded on the north by Jefferson county, on the east by Clearfield and Cambria counties, on the south by West- moreland county, and on the west by Arm- strong county. It lies between 40° 23' and 40° 56' north latitude, and 1º 49' and 20° 14' west longitude from Washington city.

The Conemaugh river (called Kiskiminctas from its junction with Loyalhanna creek) flows along the entire southern boundary of the county from east to west. The west branch of the Susquehanna river touches the county on the northeast. Some of the spurs of the Allegheny mountains run into the county on the northeast. Laurel Hill is on the east. Chestnut Ridge enters on the south and runs in a northerly direction about half the length of the county. The dividing ridge or

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 20

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 930

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 930