USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Local sketches and legends pertaining to Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania > Part 4
USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Local sketches and legends pertaining to Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania > Part 4
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On a cold night in the latter part of December, Derrick Kroons sat by his fire-side. On an ample hearth a comfortable fire of dry hickory wood was sending forth broad flashes of light as it went crack- ling and blazing up the chimney. A high-backed set- tle was standing midway the room fronting the fire, on which were sitting two of his intimate friends, Yorick VanKlinken, of Holland, in Northampton township, and his neighbor, John Scraggins. Teddy O'Rourke, an Irish schoolmaster, who was now here in his weekly boarding round, sat near by on a chair. Near the centre of the room the good woman of the household was busily engaged in spinning, while two girls were knitting by a heavy table, at which several
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boys were making rude pictures on a slate. This constituted the group, if we will not omit Fritz, a stout German boy recently bought for his passage, who was dozing on a bench by the wall. The furniture of the room was simple; a high corner cupboard, through its glass doors displayed china and earthenware, sev- eral tiers of pewter plates glistened from a dresser, and overhead on a rack reposed a long rifle and a shot- gun, while from nails in the joists were suspended by way of ornament, several little stuffed birds of red, yellow and blue ribbon, with sundry shot-pouches, powder-horns, red peppers and ears of Indian corn carefully culled for seed. By the aforesaid dresser stood a huge pitcher filled with cider, just drawn from the cellar, with a large dish heaped with deep red and yellow apples, both the product of his farm ; near by stood several empty bowls only waiting to be used. Our three men, with the host, were smoking their pipes and engaged in conversation.
After the party had discussed several topics, the conversation turned at length on the silver mine. John Scraggins, who was a descendant of one of the oldest families in the neighborhood, related several traditions respecting it, derived from the Indians and early settlers. He had full faith in its existence some- where in the vicinity, and that Dr. Larry must have dis- covered it. He then went on to tell how on one First day at Horsham Meeting, as he with others were seated around on benches with their heads inclined and their minds absorbed on things spiritual, An-
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thony came in and seated himself near the centre of the room, and with one leg on the other, began to meditate, and as he was thus sitting the eyes of some of the congregation instinctively, as it were, got riv- ited on the silver shoe buckles, which changed their thoughts to worldly matters. Now if these shoe buckles could effect even some of the aforesaid Friends in their silent worship, what might be ex- pected from them when under less resisting influ- ences ?
Yorick VanKlinken believed that the divining rod would be sufficient to establish to a certainty the ex- istence of the silver mine, and recommended by mu- tual co-operation that a thorough examination be made of all probable localities. He deeply regretted the death of his highly respected friend, and thought had he lived would have certainly divulged the dis- covery for their general benefit. Teddy O'Rourke, who had actually examined a map in the old country, related from a recollection of the same, how the exist- ence of silver here could be easily accounted for on geographical principles. That as it had already been found in the greatest abundance in the Sierra Madre mountains of New Spain, it must follow that the same vein extended into the Alleghenies as one of its branch- es, and from thence to the Blue Ridge, to Edge Hill and so on at last into Huckleberry Hill, where its ramifications might possibly terminate.
Now Teddy's idea was certainly original if not in- genious and was not without some influence from his
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reputation as a scholar ; and that, too, from the old country. It may be well enough to relate how he came in his present position as instructor of youth. The old log school house which stood off nearly a mile, before he came in possession, was empty for the want of a teacher a whole year and a half, when a for- tunate occurrence at once reinstated him on its vacant throne. Near the close of the autumn, as several men were returning from a wood chopping, they observed a man appearing almost lifeless, lying by the roadside. They approached and shook him rather violently, which he answered by several groans and indistinct numbers. They were satisfied that the man was high- ly intoxicated, as he had a jug by his side, and pro- ceeded to set him upright against a tree; and in sev- eral hours returned and aroused him from his stupor. He was taken to a house near by, and stated on re- covering himself that he was a school teacher by pro- fession, and was seeking a situation. Owing to his habits and his own confession, these were regarded as sufficient recommendations ; for it was considered in those times that he who could possibly earn himself a living at any other pursuit would not willingly thus offer to be a teacher.
At the aforesaid circle much was said respecting the silver mine, for all appeared to be satisfied as to its ex- istence; therefore its locality was pretty thoroughly canvassed. Derrick Kroons said but little, for he was a man of action rather than words. This was a marked trait in his character and had distinguished him
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through life. But this night's conversation offered him much for reflection. On a later occasion while going to market, mounted on his favorite horse and leading another, both pretty well loaded with flax, pork, poultry and butter, carefully stowed in wallets and panniers, he overtook his neighbor, Phineas Car- wood, bound on a similar errand. As they journeyed together, to beguile the tediousness of the way, a long conversation ensued, wherein Phineas said, " Ah, if we could but find the silver mine then there would be no further necessity for us to toil and struggle for so many years as we have, in wet and dry and heat and cold, for the maintenance of ourselves and families. Then we could hold up our heads, have our fine country seats and coaches, like the Hamiltons, Allens, Norrises and Logans." Here Derrick received addi- tional food for reflection.
Another circumstance transpired which worked considerably on his feelings. John Scraggins had a new flax hole built in a bank by the roadside, where a day laborer, by the name of Giles Wendell, was break- ing flax. The smoke from the fire within briskly arose and curled most gracefully in the clear blue sky, and at once arrested the attention of Derrick, who proceeded to the place with a view of getting a similar operation performed for himself. When he came there, in looking at the flax as it lay spread out for drying, he observed a small stone carefully placed at one side, which from its shining particles arrested his attention. Giles informed him that in coming to his work that
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morning, on Huckleberry Hill, by the light sprinkling of snow he had tracked a rabbit to a heap of stones, and while endeavoring to capture him, this stone, which he had brought along as seeming to contain some kind of mineral. Derrick made some inquiries as to the locality, but beyond this ventured no remarks.
We have heretofore forgot to mention Derrick's es- pecial weakness. This was an excessive longing for riches; he was also endowed with more than ordinary secretive powers. His habits were also selfish, in which respect he greatly differed from his friend, Yorick VanKlinken. Derrick's mind became more and more absorbed on the silver mine. Through the months of January, February, and beginning of March, he was especially active in prosecuting the search, and forming most sanguine plans for the future. Little . did his neighbors and friends, nay even his wife, the partner of his bed, imagine what was going on, either mentally or practically. Great riches he was bent _ upon, which he desired for himself alone.
Whoever has wandered over Huckleberry Hill, must have observed on its north side, beginning near its summit, a deep ravine, which extends nearly to the Pennypack at its base. Whether it was occasioned in the first place by any mining or quarrying operations is unknown, but is certainly very observable there. Perhaps as the soil is composed of a very coarse gravel interspersed with small stones, the action of the rains and frosts have been sufficient to have oc- casioned it in the course of centuries. The place,
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LEGEND OF HUCKLEBERRY HILL.
even to this day from its situation is quite retired, and persons are still living in the neighborhood who are not in the least aware of its existence. A stranger will not know it till he is quite near, from its being so- hidden in trees and bushes. The sides of the ravine are much covered with moss and other evergreen creeping plants, while the bottom serves as a ditch to conduct the waters to the creek below.
Unknown to any living soul, it was in this ravine, near the summit of the hill that Derrick, by having either had two dreams in succession or some other hocus-pocus, fixed upon as the place to find the long hidden and mysterious silver mine. From his house to this spot was little over half a mile, the whole dis- tance nearly being through the ancient woods. One fine morning about the break of day in the latter end of March, as Fritz was engaged at threshing with the flail, he observed his master with a shovel and a grubbing hoe on his shoulder proceed around the barn, strike across the meadow, and was soon lost in the forest. He was thus gone two days, always re- turning, however, regularly to his meals. But on the second night was missing, both at his table and bed. Breakfast found him still absent. . What could now be the matter? His family and his neighbors had missed him. The like had never happened before, to absent himself thus, leave no directions for work, or set no time for his return. Murders and suicides in these primitive times were rare occurrences, and the In- dians and the most ferocious of wild animals had dis-
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appeared for several years. Great concern, however, was manifested, and it was determined at once to in- stitute a vigorous search. Several members of his family, including Fritz and two or three neighbors, set out with a view of seeking or knowing his where- abouts. Of all these, Fritz, with all his stupidity, was alone successful.
Several times of late, had Fritz observed the direc- tion his master had taken, concluded to shape his course accordingly. It was a little while after break- fast on the morning of the second day, that he journeyed forth, peering in all directions as he pro- ceeded. At length for the first time in his life he found himself on the summit of Huckleberry Hill, and after a search of several hours, he observed on the prostrate trunk of a tree a garment of some kind. On proceeding hither he recognized it as his master's coat, and a short distance onward at the brink of the ravine, he discovered to his great astonishment his master's head and extended hand, surrounded by a circular heap of newly thrown-out dirt. He was so weak that he could scarcely speak, and informed Fritz that he was fast. By his orders Fritz went earnestly to work and first secured the shovel, by which means he at length extricated him, certainly a more free if not a happier man. Having no curiosity, Fritz therefore asked no questions. Derrick now put on his coat, as he felt rather stiff and cold, and sat for a bit on the prostrate trunk of a tree ruminating over the occur- rence.
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As he sat there with his head inclined and dejected in spirits, there were several surrounding objects worthy attention. The weather for the time of year was exceedingly mild, over which the frogs in thous- ands below appeared by their noisy demonstrations greatly to rejoice. Overhead from a branch a blue- bird was warbling his sweetest notes, and scattered over the meadows were myriads of red-winged black- birds and robins searching for food. The swelling buds of the sassafras, spicebush and dogwood, too, gave
early symptoms of the vernal season. Far towards the north could be seen the bold rounded summit of Buckingham mountain, and nearer for many miles the hills of the Neshaminy. The village of Crooked Bil- let, though two miles off, appeared to lay almost at one's feet. This and much more might have engaged Derrick's attention had he been in an observing mood.
Derrick rose up weary and sad, somewhat bruised and aching in every joint, accompanied by Fritz, and wended his way homewards. On arriving there his family were greatly rejoiced, and at his request a meal was soon prepared and as quickly despatched. He. then went to bed where he was confined for some time, to reflect at his leisure on the vanity of human wishes. It is said from the effects of this, his first at- tempt at silver mining, he never recovered. When the news went abroad of Derrick's safe arrival home and his mishap, innumerable conjectures were formed on the matter, though for his part he would have little or nothing to say about it.
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Somehow or other the country here by the Penne- pack and Huckleberry Hill appears to have been a haunted or spell-bound region from the most remote period. There was Bartle Kusters, for instance. When the affair reached his ears he accounted for it at once that there was an ancient, vindictive spirit who had control over all minerals and hidden treasures in this section. This he was satisfied was Wessapoak, the same chief, with some others, of whom William Penn in June, 1683, had purchased the land hereabouts. Wessapoak, therefore, not having been fully satisfied, subsequently regretted the transfer, and had uttered a malediction that no good should ever come to any white man who desired to procure riches thereon till he or his spirit had been appeased. Bartle then re- lated from experience how he on one occasion, in company with several others, one fine autumn night went raccoon hunting, the pursuit of which at length 1 brought them to the foot of the ravine near the Pen- nepack. Seeing something shining, like a mass of solid silver, in a clump of briers and bushes, not imag- ining the least harm, he seized it, when, quick as thought, all in a streak of fire, there appeared behind him a stalwart Indian chief brandishing in one hand a tomahawk and with the other beckoning for the treas- ure. To his surprise his companions could not be seen, and he therefore believed his only safety to be in flight. But the spirit gained on him, when the thought of what was in his hand occurred, which he instantly dropped, and by the next turn, as he looked
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LEGEND OF HUCKLEBERRY HILL.
around, the spirit had vanished. This, with a number of other circumstances, corroborated the folly and danger attending any endeavors to secure the rich treasures of Huckleberry Hill.
A century and a quarter has since passed away and the farm of Derrick Kroons is in stranger hands, but in that interval when the good people around heard of any one too selfishly bent on acquiring wealth, the conical top of Huckleberry Hill would be pointed at as a warning beacon that in being too intent on riches a person might be digging his grave. True, one or two of our aged people still cherish the tradition of the shoe buckles, while others holding farms for sale speak in the utmost confidence of the future discovery of silver thereon from the undoubted testimonies of the past. Even at this day scarcely a stranger goes on the hill or along the ravine but will bring away a stone or two with him to examine at his leisure the rich, shining treasure found therein. From its long- continued potency this appears to me indeed a spell- bound region, for have not even I done this again and again, and have not the same self-shining particles of mica filled my imagination with future riches and sil- very dreams?
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The Old School-house near Pipersville.
On the west side of the road leading to Easton, and about half a mile above Pipersville, stood a stone school-house, probably in dimensions not exceeding sixteen feet square. In its appearance and situation it was a true representation of the olden time, built im- mediately on the roadside bank with a space large enough in front to answer the purposes of a wood-pile. About two hundred yards northwards, crossing the road, flows Deep run where a long and steep hill commences and continues nearly all the way to Pipersville, which was the dread of teamsters, and up which many a horse has toiled in the past century and a half to convey a load of produce to the Phila- delphia market ; but only so much the more in winter's snow drifts, or when deep and miry from the effects of spring thaws and rains.
The location was quite retired, but one house in sight and that was by the roadside on the hill-top. However, its surroundings were attractive. Up to the building and for some distance around it was an ex- tensive woods, chiefly composed of shellbark hick- ories, from which the wayfarer would frequently hear the lively barking of the chickaree, or on the fences
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THE OLD SCHOOL-HOUSE.
witness the bounding and playful gambols of the gray squirrel, whilst the more cautious ground-hackee at the entrance of his retreat would stop to pause and have his stare ere he disappeared. Deep run, after a course of six or seven miles, and propelling two grist mills, only a quarter of a mile away merged itself into the larger volume of the Tohickon. The country around is romantic, whilst immediately along the stream is a soft velvety margin of green meadow land, luxuriant with fragrant vernal grass.
The Durham road was extended in 1732 from the line of Wrightstown township to the Tohickon about a mile above, and mention is made at said time of its crossing here Deep run, which we thus perceive had already been so named. In 1746 this road was con- tinued to the Durham Furnace, and nine years later to the mouth of the Lehigh at Easton. Col. George Piper, an officer of the Revolution, kept the inn near this for some time, being denoted on Reading How- ell's township map of Pennsylvania in 1792 as " Piper's." About thirteen years later Col. Piper, with the assistance of William Meyers, Abraham High, Frederick Keeler and others in the vicinity. had the school-house erected for affording additional facilities to what they had heretofore enjoyed in the way of ed- ucational advantages for their children. In its day and for its neighborhood it was no doubt considered a great affair.
About 1735 to 1760 I presume this section was chiefly settled. Many of the early immigrants were
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German Mennonites, whose descendants are still the principal landholders. Among their present names may be mentioned Landis, High, Meyers, Keeler, Krout, Swope and Stover; a plain, honest, frugal and industrious people who eschew public office, the own- ers of large barns and fat horses, and greatly given to aiding each other; for Germans not so much given to education only so far as is essential for ordinary business purposes, and but little beyond. This un- pretending school-house was consequently built by an unpretending people for unpretending purposes, which is expressing our views thereon in a few words.
My earliest recollection of this old school-house commenced in 1833, while a pupil in the Doylestown Academy, sent by my parents in Springfield township up and down here in the Easton stage, and then after- wards, as I grew older, in my own conveyance for thirty-one years after that date whilst either on busi- ness or visiting relatives. As I thus passed it would always claim my attention from its lonely surround- ings and venerable appearance. It was not often dur- ing that period that I observed a school in session, but this may have been owing to it being generally in the summer season. I observed it becoming ruinous some time before 1850; the door was open, the sash gone, and decay at work. Many a tramp and traveler I have no doubt has slept or rested and partaken of his hum- ble fare within its walls. In its loft and cornices the flying squirrels have reared a numerous progeny and . taught them in their way the lessons of life, whilst pu-
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THE OLD SCHOOL-HOUSE.
pils below were conning lessons in books that may have been with the same object but for a different pur- pose and direction.
The last time I saw the old school-house was in May, 1864, when it looked more desolate than before, for now the door was gone and the roof and floor were hastening to the same end. Owing to a change of residence sixteen years elapsed before I came again in the vicinity, and through this long absence it had left my mind and become nearly forgotten. But what a change was I now to witness at the end of this inter- val ! Its materials had all been removed even to its very foundations and the woods so cut away that it was no casy matter for me now, with all my former knowl- edge, to fix upon its site. An entire stranger to that section of country now passing up or down the road of that long, steep and lonely hill would not have im- agined that here had once been a stone school-house that had served the neighborhood for such purposes for all of half a century, for so completely have all its former traces now disappeared.
It is probable that this sketch of the little old stone school-house would never have been written if it had not been associated with the memory of a distinguished man with whom I have had some personal acquaint- ance, and one of whose works became a favorite in my youth from the amount of useful scientific and histor- ical information it furnished me respecting my native ยท county and state. I allude to Charles B. Trego, a na- tive of Upper Makefield and the son of a respectable
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farmer residing there. When barely of age, through his studious habits, he formed the scheme of going to some one of the upper townships to teach school in the English branches, with the object of acquiring a knowledge of the German language, that he might thus become enabled the readier to read and speak it. To one of limited means, and to avoid expense, this plan was certainly well conceived. Through the in- . fluence of Colonel Piper, about the year 1815 he se- cured the use of the little stone school-house and taught therein all of two winters if not more. It was of course a day and pay school, for it was a consider- able time later that the present public school system became established. Though the school and the house were small, his expenses in this section of thrifty farm- ers were made equally light, and with whom delin- quency in payment was a stranger. Only the most ordinary branches were taught, and little beyond read- ing, writing, and the elementary principles of arithme- tic. This, however, enabled him the better to master his favorite branches, particularly the German, which language remained with him a life-long favorite through a more extended and intimate knowledge of its best authors in the original tongue.
He subsequently taught school at other places in the county until about 1821, when he removed to Philadelphia, continuing in the same pursuit, and pur- suing further studies in the German, after which he entered on that of the French, Spanish and Latin. At the age of forty he relinquished teaching and devoted
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THE OLD SCHOOL-HOUSE.
himself to the study of Geology and Botany. In 1835 he was elected to the Assembly, and two years later became an assistant under Prof. H. D. Rogers on the State Geological Survey, in which he continued until 1841, when he was again elected to the Assembly, and where he remained five years. Besides, he filled other honorable positions, in the City Council, Philosophical Society, and University of Pennsylvania. Almost to the close of his life he remained an industrious stu- dent. Though so long a resident of the city he loved the country, and was in the general practice of spend- ing his summers there, where he was much given to rambles afoot with a view of further improving him- self in the several departments of natural science. He died November 10, 1874, wanting only a few days of being eighty years of age. To his native county his attachment was exhibited in various ways. At his request he was buried in the ancient grave-yard at the Friends' meeting-house in Wrightstown.
The work I had reference to was "A Geography of Pennsylvania: containing an account of the History, Geographical Features, Soil, Climate, Geology, Bot- any, Zoology, etc., of the State, with a separate de- scription of each county." It was a duodecimo of 384 pages, published in Philadelphia in 1843, and in the way of instruction served a very useful purpose in its day. Respecting Mr. Trego I could say much more, but I have no desire now to enlarge further on his biography. Whenever my mind reverts to him I think of this little old school-house, for both in their
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