USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > Lykens > Lykens-Williams Valley history - directory and pictorial review. Embracing the entire Lykens and Williams Valley, in the effort to preserve the past and perpetuate the present. > Part 2
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LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY HISTORY
material fastened around the waist with a belt and reaching nearly to the feet. Their hair they dressed in a thick, lieavy plait, which fell down upon the neck; and they sometimes orna- mented their heads with bands of wampum or with a small cap.
The men went bareheaded, with their hair fantastically trim- med each according to his own fancy. One warrior would have it shaved on one side of the head and long on the other. Another might be seen with his scalp completely bare, except a strip two or three inches in width running from the forehead over to the nape of the neck. This was kept short, and so thoroughly stiffened with paint and bear's-grease as to stand up straight, after the fashion of a cock's comb or the crest of a warrior's helmet. The legs were covered with leggins of dressed deer skin, and the lower part of the body was protected by the breech-cloth, usually called by the early settlers Indian-breeches. Moccasins, that is, light shoes of soft-dressed leather, were common to both sexes, and, like other portions of the attire, were many times tastefully ornamented with embroidery of wampum. The men often dispensed with their leggins, especially in sum- mer; while in winter they protected themselves against the bleak air by adding to their garments a mantle of skins. The male children ran about until they were ten or twelve years old in a state of nature; the girls were provided with an apron, although of very economical dimensions.
As to their houses and furniture, their food and its prepar- ation, amusements, courtships and marriage, we shall not refer. There are certain peculiarities characteristic of the Indian which are interesting to dwell upon, but these must be left to another occasion. A few remarks, however, upon their moral life may explain their future conduct towards the white settlers. The Indian of to-day, however, is a fair type of those savages who lived in our locality two centuries ago. We dislike to picture vice in all its horrid details, and to much that is inherent in the savage nature of the aborigine we shall refrain from refer- ring.
Although marriage was not always recognized among their rites, unfaithfulness was looked upon as a crime, and even death was frequently inflicted for this offense by the irate husband.
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Licentiousness was common, and the man who looked upon the waywardness of his wife, visiting her with blows and wounds, may have been the most debauehed creature in the tribe. No female ever ventured alone, for bestiality was the besetting sin of the race. Uneleanness was in all their manners. Impatient of bodily labor, and indisposed to thought, they naturally turned for pleasure to those coarse gratifications of the senses which were within reach. They were indolent when not strongly in- cited to exertion; they were gluttonous when supplied with an abundance of food, and they became intemperate as soon as the means of intemperance were placed within their reach. They were revengeful by nature; custom had made vengeance with them a matter of duty and honor. They had little idea of truth; they were natural-born liars, and as a result were the meanest of robbers. As for nmurder and arson they had no com- punctions of conscience; there were no refined feelings in their nature. Selfish in the extreme, they never realized what was ennobling.
HOW THE EARLY SETTLERS LIVED.
Little we know, in this day of comfort and luxury, how our ancestors fared. Although the elder settlers had some sheep, yet their inerease was slow, owing to the depredations of wolves and other animals. It was therefore, a work of time to secure a crop of wool. Deerskin was a substitute for men and boys, and all generally wore leather breeches; and occasionally women and girls were compelled to resort to the use of the same mate- rial.
The women did the spinning and generally wove all the cloth for the family, the men being engaged in clearing and cultivating the soil, or with their trusty rifle went in search of deer or other game for food. Our early settlers, Scotch-Irish as well as German, had large families, and it required the con- tinned labor of the wife and mother to provide them with any- thing like comfortable clothing. The men were not insensible to this devotedness on the part of their wives, but assisted in whatever was necessary, even in the cookery and the cases were
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few where they could not do all the work of the house. The patient endurance, however, of the women we commend to the ladies of the present. That endurance did not arise from a slavish servility or insensibility to their rights and comforts, but justly appreciating their situation, they nobly encountered the difficulties which could not be avoided.
Possessing all the affections of the wife, the tenderness of the mother, and the sympathies of the women, their tears flowed freely for other's griefs, whilst they bore their own with a for- titude which none but a woman could exercise.
The entire education of her children devolved on the moth- er, and notwithstanding the difficulties to be encountered, she did not allow them to grow up with out instructions, but amidst all her numerous cares taught them to read and instructed them in the principles of Christianity. Noble matrons! Your achievements have come down to us through a hundred years for our admiration and example.
HISTORY OF THE LYKENS-WILLIAMS VALLEY.
The Wiconisco or Lykens valley includes that section of the upper end of Dauphin County that is watered by the Wic- onisco Creek and it's branches, save where local names have been given to certain portions.
The early history of the Lykens-Williams valley is one of interest, inasmuch as the individual for whom the entire valley now takes it's name was among the very first settlers. In the fall of the year 1755 a certain Mr. Andrew Lycans settled on a tract of about two hundred acres, situated on the northerly side of the Whiconescong Creek, near the present site of Loyalton, a few yards north of the bridge that crosses the Wiconisco Creek. Until the Spring of the year 1756 these pioneers were not disturbed in their homes, however following Braddock's defeat in that year, everywhere along the frontier the savages began their work of devastation and death. Their implacable cruelty was stimulated by the French promising a reward for scalps and being put into possession of their lands. On the morning of the 7th of March 1756, Andrew Lycans and
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John Rewalt went out early to fodder their cattle, when two guns were fired on them. Neither being harmed they ran into
the house and prepared themselves for defense in case of an attack. The Indians then got under cover of a hog-house near
A View in the Country Leading from Millersburg
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the dwelling house, when John Lycans a son of Andrew, John Rewalt and Ludwig Shott, crept out of the house in order to
get a shot at them, but were fired upon by the savages and all wounded, the latter (Shott) in the abdomen. At this time Andrew Lycans saw one of the Indians over the hog-house, and
Old Water House, Used to Pump Water into the Wiconisco Canal
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also two white men getting out of the same and running at a little distance from it. Upon this Lycans and his party attempt- ed to eseape, but were pursued by about sixteen Indians. John
A
Scene of Mt. Patrick, looking from end of Valley
Lycans and Rewalt being badly injured and not being able to do anything, with a negro who was with them, made off, leaving
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Andrew Lycans, Shott and a boy to engage with the Indians. The savages pursued them so closely, that one of them coming up to the boy was going to strike his tomahawk into him, when
1
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Andrew Lycans turned and shot him dead, while Shott killed two more and wounded several others in addition. At last being exhausted and wounded, they sat down on a log to rest
A Study in Reflection-Mt. Patrick looking from the end of the valley -
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themselves ; but the Indians were somewhat cantions, and stood some distance from them, and consequently returned to look after their own wounded. Lycans and all his party managed
-
---
to get over into Hanover Township where they were properly cared for. Here Andrew Lycans died, leaving a wife and six children. It is not known when Lycans' family with the other
Berry's Mountain just below Millersburg
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settlers returned to their homes in the Wiconisco valley, but not until all danger was over, and although on a number of occasions they were obliged to leave all and flee before the ma- rauding savages, yet the one alluded to, was the only occasion
Mahantango. Mf
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1
1
where they so narrowly escaped with their lives. Mrs. Jane Lyeans in February 1765, had a patent issued to her for the land on which her husband had located. The Lycans Cabin
The Base of Mahantongo, above Millersburg
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stood until about the year 1863, on the McClure farm, now own- ed by Josiah Hoover. Ludwig Shott died about 1790, and left a large family : some of his deseendents remain in the valley.
Andrew Lycans has given his name to the beautiful valley of the Wiconiseo, owing perchance to the terrible encounter with the Indians as narrated. The orthography has been ehang- ed within the last sixty some years, but the reason therefor has not been learned. Whether Lykens or Lycans, it is trusted that no attempt be ever made to deprive the first pioneer of the name which has been appropriately given to it.
In the year 1771, Henry Schoffstall built a house for Joel Ferree of Laneaster County. This house was located at Oak- Dale Forge. At this time there were few settlers in the valley. Among them however where-Schott, Benjamin Buffington, John N. Hoffman and Philip Umholtz. Farther up (East) the Williams valley lived Conrad Updegraff, Daniel Williams, Martin Blum and a Daniel Hain.
The Oak Dale Forge was built about the year 1828 by James Buchanan. Mr. Buchanan came from Harrisburg. He subsequently removed to Baltimore, where he died. He kept a store at the forge and also the Post Office, which latter was established about 1830, the mail being carried by pack- horse. Previous to that time the Post Office was at Millers- burg, each neighbor taking his turn to bring the mail from there weekly.
From 1795 to 1800 there were only three houses built be- tween the Forge and Lykens. The old Bohner farm, Seebolt and one on the old Solomon Schoffstall property.
The first election held in the Valley or in Lykens Town- ship, was probably in Gratz, about the year 1815. Hoffman's Church was the first place for religious worship.
The importance of the Lykens-Williams Valley may be dated from the year 1825, when coal was discovered. From that year to the present time the valley took very rapid and pro- gressive strides. The south portion of the Valley is named after a Mr. Williams who built and conducted a grist-mill, near Williamstown, which is also named after him. This Valley,
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hardly a mile in width, extends east from its junction with Lykens Valley ten miles, with the Short Mountain on the North
1
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from Millersburg, Pa
Mt. Patrick
Mt. Patrick, from Millersburg
and Berry's Mountain on the south, to a point where it coalesces with Clark's Valley, the two headed off by Broad mountain be- yond Tower City.
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Coal mining is the Chief Industry of the valley, and de- pending almost wholly upon the mines are, Tower-city, Sheri- dan, Williamstown, Dayton, Wiconisco, and Lykens. Loyalton, while partly dependent, is a farming eenter. Elizabethville depends upon local commercial Industries and farming while Millersburg is the terminus of the coal industry maintains large machine Industries, Rail Road, ete., It must also be borne in mind however, that aside from the coal mining Industry, there are also a number of real progressive manufacturing eon- eerns in each town of the valley, which support a like number of citizens. It is estimated that about eighty percent of the residents of the entire valley are property owners. In the year 1800 this valley was practically a dense forest with a few seattered settlers, to-day 1922 as per the 1920 eensus the popula- tion of the valley is estimated at 17,000.
Early Families of the Valley
Among the early families of the valley we find the following names as very early and prominent :-
Benjamin Buffington
Andrew Reigle
Dr. Robert Auchmuty Hartman Riekert
Mathias Freek
.John F. Bowman
John B. Hoffman
Jacob Hoover
Benjaman Bretz Abraham Jury
Philip Runk
Rev. Charles E. Muench
Adam Cooper
Simon Shallada
Daniel Etzweiler
John Peter Williard
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LOVE ROCK.
The Indian Traditional story of Love Rock herewith pub- lished is gathered and gleaned from very authentic sources. It appears that this story was published some many years ago in the old Lykens Register. Efforts to obtain the real authorship were utterly fruitless, to obtain a copy of the same seemed equally difficult.
Fortunately, Mr. Edward L. Rowe, of Lykens, who as- sisted in this search was successful in finding an age worn copy of the very story. The task then to recopy it seemed impossible, due to the condition of the paper and faded composition. How- ever, he finally deciphered and revived the old legend, and con- tributed it to this publication. The Author very grateful, feels certain that the reader will appreciate his interesting contribu- tion.
The story is herewith printed with due respects and sin- cere courtesy to the unknown Author, and to Mr. Rowe my highest type of appreciation.
(THE AUTHOR).
LOVE ROCK
A Legend of a Romantic spot on Berry's Mountain.
There is a little town nestled in a narrow teeming valley, between two bold mountains up sixteen miles above the Broad Susquehanna river, not outside the county which boasts the capital of our State, whose people are kind, courteous and hospitable. The stranger visiting there may find some venerable and trembling loquacious inhabitants to recount to him a legend connected with an attractive spot high up above the village, among thiek brush and mossy boulders. Something in this fashion the patriarch will tell you: Long years ago, be- fore the opening of the revolution, in which my great grand-
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father fought valiantly and died with his sixty-eight comrades in the mistaken battle of Monmouth-heaven rest his soul !- a party of sturdy young Englishmen left their homes in the old world to find, as they hoped, adventure and wealth in the new. They landed at New York. They stayed there but a fortnight, and then impatient to explore and revel in the ex- ploits of the marvelous and boundless uninhabited country offered to venturesome spirits, agreed to separate, to meet again one year hence.
Among the party were two brothers, Harold and William Wingans, whose affection for each other was beautiful and un- limited. They were twins but very unlike in form and differing much in nature.
William was tall, nobly formed, with light, clustering eurls, and bright hazel eyes that made his handsome face look hand- somer. He was frank and gentle, yet bold, with much impetu- osity. Harold was scarce of medium height, with dark hair and eyes, which were never quiet, a well developed form, that would easily grow into stoutness in the midst of ease and luxury. He had a daring disposition and strong passions, but with a will equally as strong. Thus they differed much, only they loved each other as brothers seldom love.
They never dreamed of being apart; So when it came to choosing companions for their travels they choose each other.
For six months they roamed almost everywhere, now living for weeks alone, then associated with other adventurers. They forgot their desire for wealth in the intoxication of hunting and trapping and in saving their locks from the knife of the treach- erous redskins.
At length they stumbled into Penn's domains, and were ravished with the placid Susquehanna and its glorious natural attractions. They were bold fellows, were these boys, not vet twenty-five, and when one fine Summer day they came suddenly upon a party of Indians encamped along the broad river at a point where a narrow creek emptied its then pure waters, cold
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and sparkling, from the big hills, into the placid stream, they placed themselves on an agreeable footing with the savages by their friendliness and prompt show of confidence. They learned in a short time that this company was a part of a rather large encampment sixteen miles up among the hills, and although there was at that period much discussion and acrimony between the whites and the aborigines, the brothers were treated very eivilly and even invited, in the indifferent fashion of the Indian, to accompany them to the place where they would "heap deer and bear kill." The invitation was accepted, and the next morning before the sun had gilded the mountain tops and glim- mered on the elear, shallow water of the Susquehanna, they be- gan their march up the little valley. Sixteen miles was not much of a distance to the red men and equally insignificant to the two Englishmen, and before noon they came upon the en- eampment, at the foot of one of those hills that in the locality in question range up into the Schuylkill region, leaving deep and close valleys between them. The brothers were struck with the appearance of the camping ground which resembled rather a permanent Indian town, in fact it was almost sueh, as the savages had been here for a month, and, so far as present indications tended, they might remain so much longer. There was bustle and confusion, noise, never musical and mostly dis- cordant, created by a general commotion among the dirty, nude youngsters and gaunt, devilish looking dogs, unintelligible sounds came from the tongues of termagrant squaws, merry tones of a few handsome and many unhandsome maidens, and the guttural utterances and grunts of the bold warriors as they stood or strode about, watching with ceaseless scrutiny onerous duties being performed by their drudging wives, added most emphatic and yet not unpleasant variety to the boisterous com- motion. Many of the tents were gaily decorated, and one ereeted in the center of the eneampment, was especially resplendent with gaudy and variegated eolors, and gaily streaming pieces of eloth, while the tent itself was rendered conspicously attraetive with bright designs painted upon it by the not unskilled brush
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of some dusky artist. The brothers stopped at the edge of the town and contemplated the animated scene. They had seen much of Indian life in their brief sojourn in the wilds of America, but they had not yet been spectators of a picture so singular and engaging as this. Harold asked a young son of the forest what it all meant; the ten-year old brave for answer bit him in the leg. He reached down to shake the young rascal, but William restrained him with a warning admonition not to arouse the anger of their dangerous hosts. They were, however, soon en- lightened by one of the party whom they had first met, who told them that that afternoon the chief's adopted daughter was to wed his son, a strong and valiant young brave, whose face and form were as handsome as an attendant of the Great Spirit, and whose war like deeds were as numerous as the trembling leaves on the swaying pines, such was the florid and expressive de- seription of the Indian.
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The Englishmen were conducted to a tent and a generous, if not delieate. collation of well cooked venison and delicious trout were set before them, to which they did palpable justice. "I should like to see this happy maiden." said William, as the two finished their meal. "I have noticed some rather hand- some young women here, and a chief's daughter may be pre- sumed to be superior to them all in her charms of form and dress. Suppose we try to catch a glimpse of her." Harold agreed with the precautionary advice that they should take heed not to be too curious. There seemed little curiosity on the part of the Indians as they strolled among them, and the English- men could not discover whether or not all whom they met had seen them before or had been told of their presence in the camp. The din among the natives, instead of diminishing, steadily increased. Every one was good natured, and Harold became so much affected with the levity of the occasion that he said he would not harm the youngster who had bit him further than to soundly spank him. It was a difficult matter for the brothers to get a glimpse of the interior of the pretty tent in which the princess was hidden, for it was warily guarded by several
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braves. They were lamenting in rather loud voice their disap- pointment, when they heard within the tent a woman's voice singing in excellent English, without a trace of foreign aecent. The impetuous Ilarold would have dashed into the tent had not his more considerate brother restrained him. They listened to the words and were more astonished. They were not those of a song, but in a low, musical voiee the men were being told that the maiden within was a white girl, captured by the red- skins, adopted by the chief, and now forced to marry his son. The sentinals could not understand English, and she sang the words to throw them off their guard.
What intentions the brothers had for relief of the girl were frustrated by the sudden appearance of the chief of the tribe accompanied by his son. The old brave was yet a fine speciman of manhood, which the strangers noticed as he walked up to each and extended his hand in friendly greeting. His son did the same, and for the present the brothers felt seeure.
When the two Indians had bade their guests welcome they walked towards the entrance of the tent, and as the son, follow- ing the old chief, was about to enter, Harold sprang forward with an assuring smile and attempted to follow him. But the warrior with a grunt, gently waved him back and disappeared within, "By jove !" exclaimed Harold in disappointment, "They don't want us in there, that's certain." But, he continued and his voice grew firmer, "we must rescue this girl, and before many hours. The ceremony takes place at evening, in truth, at the time it will be dark, what do you propose?" "The question is hard to answer," replied his brother : "but let us remove from here we may attract too much attention." The camp we have said was at the foot of a mountain, and but a short distance away there was a large drove of horses grazing on the banks of a beautiful stream (Rattling Creek). The brothers, appar- ently actuated by nothing but idle euriosity, reconnoitered the surroundings. No one but Harold observed his brother leave the camp and follow a very narrow and rocky path running almost perpendicularly towards the top of the mountain.
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A well defined road tempted Harold to follow it, and he was also soon lost to view. An hour passed before they met again at the edge of the camp. "Now your plan?" asked Har- old. "It is this," replied his brother; "as you see these Il- dians have fire-water, and will begin soon to get generally hil- arious. This will aid us much in escaping observation. But we had better not remain away so long." They returned within the camp, and ascertaining that no one was in the tent with the captive maiden, and no one around likely to under- stand what they said, the brothers drew as near to the tent as consistent with safety, and in a moderately loud tone William acquainted Harold with his scheme to rescue the girl. She heard everything that was said. William Wingens' prediction that the indulgence of the savages in the store rum would favor the desperate aet of the brothers was already becoming verified, but not with the swiftness they desired. It was now but two hours until nightfall, when the rude and singular marriage eere- mony of the Indians would take place. But the Englishmen determined that this particular wedding should not occur if they could prevent it. To accelerate matters, therefore ,the two joined with groups of the savages and began drinking with them with prodigious alacrity, remembering, however, to im- bibe about once to their companions dozen drams.
It was a strange and uncanny pieture indeed on which the sun cast his last rays, and upon which the shades of the night, rendered denser in the valley, fell. With the disappearance of the sun the uproar of jubilations and drunken revelry began to assume unwonted loudness. There was an ear-splitting mixture of howls from the men, women and children, dismally melan- eholy howls from the half-starved curs and excruciating howls from the primitive musical instruments, all in celebration of the nuptials of the son of the chief. Then ont from the gaudy tent slowly moved the maiden, her fair form elad in pretty In- dian costume. She advanced with a firm step and cheery smile to the young brave, and together they walked towards a mon- strous, roaring, crackling fire, which made the darkness darker where it's rays could not reach, and threw crooked and weird shadows up the gloomy mountain side. William Wingans had
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