USA > Pennsylvania > Crawford County > Pioneer sketches : scenes and incidents of former days > Part 3
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but, during his service in the Revolutionary army, a man named John Dorrance, a Connecticut claimant and an ancestor of Colonel J. F. Dorrance of this city, took pos- session of the land. There was much trouble and litigation about the title, which was finally decided in favor of Van Horn, and is reported in 2d Dallas, 304. The State, how- ever, fearing a rebellion of the Connecticut settlers against the State authorities, in case the decree of the Court against Dorrance and the other settlers should be enforced, had the land involved in dispute appraised, and many years after- wards paid the actual owners a small stipend for their title.
AN EXPLORING PARTY.
Having voluntarily given up a large estate in New Jersey, and being driven from his rightful heritage in the Wyoming Valley, Van Horn, in the Spring of 1788, decided to explore the valley of French Creek, or, as it was then called by the French and Indians, Vonango River, referred to by General (then Colonel) Washington, in his report to Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia.
He joined a company, with David, John and Joseph Mead, John Watson, Thomas Martin, Thomas Grant, James F. Randolph, and Christopher Snyder, at Sunbury, and on the 12th day of May, 1788, after a tedious journey through the wilderness, encamped under a large wild cherry tree, near where the east end of where the Mercer Street iron bridge stands.
ARRIVAL AND SETTLEMENT.
The only reliable date of the arrival of the earliest set- tlers, is that given by Van Horn in his narrative, written about 1835, twelve or thirteen years before his death, and
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now in the possession of the Historical Society of Philadel- phia at Philadelphia.
After some time spent in exploring, they erected a tem- porary abode on the spot where Meadville now stands.
CAPTURED BY INDIANS.
On the 5th day of May, 1791, while engaged in mark- ing out corn ground in company with two men, named Gregg and Ray, near where the passenger station of the N. Y., P. & O. R. R. now stands, Van Horn was attacked by the Indians and taken prisoner. His companions had, at the time of the capture, gone to dinner, and were to bring his to the field. When these companions returned to the field they were attacked by the same Indians, and Gregg was killed and scalped, and Ray taken prisoner. The sub- ject of this article was conducted to the outlet of Conneaut Lake, and there tied to a small tree, and the old chief who had him in charge crawled into the bushes and went to sleep while waiting for his comrades, with Ray in charge, to come up. While the chief was asleep, his prisoner man- aged to loosen the thongs that bound him to the tree, and. ran with his arms tied behind him through the wilderness, to the point on the west side of French Creek, opposite the spot which he and his companions had eamped on May 12th, 1788. At this point what has always seemcd to me to be almost an unaccountable incident took place. The escaped prisoner had some time previously planted some apple seeds near the place referred to, and at the time of the escape the young trees were to be seen above the ground; weeds had sprung up among them and died the year pre- vious, and there was danger if fire should eatch in the weeds that the apple trees would be destroyed. After all
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that had happened that day-taken prisoner, taken to Con- neaut Lake, escaped, and with his arms pinioned at the elbows, behind-Van Horn seeing the danger to his young trees, stopped in his flight and began to pull the weeds from among the trees. While engaged in that operation was seen by John Fredebaugh who, from the opposite side of the creek, took him for an Indian skulking in the bushes and was about to shoot when a recognition took place. Van Horn then waded the creek and found a young officer and some men at the block house, who were en route from Fort LeBœuf to Fort Franklin.
THE SETTLEMENT ABANDONED.
The settlement was abandoned for the time being. It is not known whether any white man visited the settlement of Meadville again that year except Van Horn who, in com- pany with an Indian named McGee, came back and got 10 or 12 bushels of grain and towed it in a canoe down the creek to Fort Franklin.
After this Van Horn visited his mother in New Jersey and in the autumn returned to the settlement. He is sup- posed to be the first white man who passed a winter in or near Meadville.
When Van Horn returned in the fall, after his capture and escape, he learned the fate of his companions Ray and Gregg. Gregg had been shot with his own gun, and Ray had been captured and taken to Sandusky, where he met a trader who was an acquaintance and who exchanged liquor with the Indians for him. Ray made his way back to Pitts- burg, where he found his wife.
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MORE INDIAN TROUBLES.
In October, 1793, Samuel Lord arrived at the settle- ment from Franklin, and warned all to fly for their lives as there was danger threatening again from the Indians. This warning caused most of the settlers to remove.
General Wilkins wrote Van Horn from Pittsburg to engage a sargeant's command, which he did. They con- tinued in the service until the last day of December, when they were disbanded.
Cornelius Van Horn was a lieutenant in the Revolu- tionary army. He held a command as captain under Anthony Wayne and was the acting sheriff in this section when this portion of Pennsylvania was Allegheny county. He was married to Sarah Dunn in the year 1797 and they had born to them six children, viz .: Jane, who married George Anderson; James; Priseilla. who married T. J. Fox; Alden, the celebrated lawyer; Cornelius, Har- riet and Thomas; the last named of whom is the only sur- vivor and is residing on the homestead farm patented by his father in the year 1800 under the name of Southamp- ton. He died July 26th, 1846, in his 97th year. Much more might be written of this sturdy Pioneer, but for fear of becoming tiresome I will close .-- Notes, C. Van Horn.
CHAPTER VIII.
EARLY SETTLERS.
1
N HIS pioneer sketches of Meadville and Crawford County, the Hon. John Dick says:
In 1794 his father, William Dick, re- moved with his family to Meadville. His family, four in number, viz .: his wife and two sons, George and himself, who was between four and five months old when they arrived in Meadville.
At that period there were no means of transportation but by the Allegheny River or by pack horses. His father chose the former and embarked with his family and goods on board a keel boat bound for Franklin, at the junction of the French Creek with the Allegheny River. This journey occupied three weeks to Franklin. Franklin was then a military post established by the Government to pro- tect its settlers. The fort was under the command of Lieu- tenant Polhemus and Ensign Rosencrantz. Several mem- bers of this command became residents of Meadville, amongst whom were John Wentworth, Luke Hill, Sar- geant Muzzy, Samuel Lord and Martin Kicenceder, names now familiar to many of the old citizens.
Mrs. Dick followed on pack horses, with her infant son on her lap, along the Indian path, from Franklin to Meadville, which in many places was overhung with bushes that nearly swept her from her seat. On arriving at Meadville General Mead invited them to his house until some provision should be made for them.
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GENERAL MEAD'S STOCKADE HOUSE.
There was a stockade erceted about his premises as a protection from the attacks of the Indians, who were very numerous and troublesome. The stockade was built by planting timbers close together and was about fifteen feet high. The only residents at the time of Mr. Diek's arrival at Meadville were General David Mead, James Dickson, Thomas Ray, David Bulyer, William Jones, Robert F. Randolph, James Finey and Cornelius Van Horn.
In 1796 Mr. Diek built a two-story house on the cor- ner of Water Street and an alley and removed his family there the same fall. In 1797 he built a house for General Mead, which now is standing at the head of Water Street, (Dr. Ellis' residence,) being the oldest house in the city.
March 12, 1800, the Legislature passed a law to organ- ize Crawford County. A building erected by Mr. Dick was finished up for a Court House, and the first Court held by David Mead and John Kelso, Associate Judges, in July, 1800, and by Judge Addison in 1801, Judge Kelso and Judge Bell being the Associates.
In 1803 Mr. Dick built a Court House and Jail on the west side of the Diamond, which was occupied many years as such.
THE EARLY BAR.
At the early period of judicial business of this County there were many of the first talents of the Bar in regular attendance on the Courts :- Hon. Henry Baldwin, State Supreme Judge; Hon. Wm. Wilkins, John Woods, Thomas Collins, Steel Sample, James Ross, Parker Campbell and George Armstrong, all men of more than ordinary ability,
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and some not surpassed in their day. Of the resident law- yers were several who were at the head of the profession :- Alexander W. Foster, Patrick Farrelly, Samuel R. Foster, John W. Hunter and others.
The first Prothonotary was Dr. Thomas R. Kennedy; Wm. Moore Register and Recorder, and Alex. Stewart the first Sheriff.
The successful campaign of General Wayne the same year against the Indians, and his treaty with them rendered more secure the settlers, and emigration increased.
In 1789-90 General Mead built the first saw mill, and in the Fall of 1790 he built the first small grist mill near his saw mill. Both were operated by water from Mill Run, there being sufficient water to run both mills the greater part of the year.
Soon after, others built saw mills. Roger Alden built a grist mill in 1801 at Seagertown; Archibald Humes built one on Gravel Run, James Dickson built one on Woodcock, and Alexander Power built one on Conneaut Creek, near Conneautville. Thus the settlers were saved much labor and expense in procuring food for their families.
THE PRIVATIONS OF SETTLERS.
For many years after their removal to Meadville, Mr. Dick says they suffered many privations for want of the actual necessaries of life. For the first year all of their supplies were brought from Pittsburg on pack-horses. Late in the Fall of 1795 his father started with four horses to pack a supply of flour from Pittsburg, for his family during the winter. He expected to be absent about eight or ten days, but did not return for nearly six weeks, in conse-
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quence of the fall of snow about four feet deep. There were no roads opened, and consequently no travel to break the roads. His mother and the children subsisted principally upon frozen potatoes, venison and bear meat until their father's return. The few neighbors were no better off than they, but a disposition to divide with and assist each other was strongly manifested by all.
During the summer large bodies of Indians were en- camped in and about the village, hunting and fishing. French Creek abounded at that time with fine fish and eels and deer and turkeys were often killed within the lines of the village.
THE INDIANS.
The Indians in general were peaceable, except when under the influence of whisky, which was furnished them by traders. On one occasion Wmn. Dick went down to where a large number were camped and purchased a dressed deer skin. When returning he met an Indian who charged him with stealing the skin, and attempted to take it from him, but he being a stout and resolute man, did not feel disposed to yield to his demands. He felled him to the ground and picked up an ox gad and belabored him right soundly. He was soon after surrounded by a large number of Indians who were determined to have revenge. One of them approached from behind with a large knife, but a bystander called to Mr. Dick, to warn him of his danger, when he wheeled around, caught the fellow in the aet of striking him, threw him down, seized the knife, and, in drawing it from him. cut the savage's hand nearly through. Finding himself surrounded and in danger of his life, he made his way to General Mead's house. In a short time the building was surrounded by Indians, demanding the
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surrender of Mr. Diek. Owing to the firmness of General Mead and a few others who remained with him during the night, further hostilities were prevented. After an explan- ation of the matter the mass of the Indians were satisfied that he deserved what he got.
Among the prominent Indians was a celebrated chief, whose name in English was Half Town, another Logan, Cheat and Twenty Canoes. Others when translated were Laughing Thief, Stinking Fish and Surly Bear.
On one occasion Half Town (with hissquaw) called and asked for something to cat. Mrs. Diek set before them some cold meat, bread, butter and milk. After having satisfied their hunger they left with many expressions of thanks; shaking hands, he remarked: "Good squaw, very good." About three months after, near Christmas, their old friend, Half Town, made his appearance with one of the largest and fattest wild turkeys ever seen, completely dressed, and pro- sented it to Mr -. Dick. She asked him how much was to pay and Half Town seemed quite indignant and said: "Good squaw, you much good squaw; you keep him, " and turned and walked away. He was not to be outdone in acts of kindness. As the country became settled and the game scarce, they retired to other hunting grounds.
G
AN INDIAN JOKE.
CHAPTER IX.
AN INDIAN JOKE.
OL. JOSEPH HACKNEY was about the first in Meadville to trade with the Indians and had provided such articles as were usu- ally required by them. He kept his little supply in a small frame building on the corner where John McFarland's store now stands. Among the prominent articles of trade with the Indians were beaver, otter and muskrat skins. At that period there were large quantities of beaver taken in the streams and marshes of this county. Colonel Hackney had traveled among the Indians and acquired a pretty good knowledge of their language and many of the natives were quite familiar with him.
On one occasion an Indian came into the store and said: "Brother, buy beaver skin ?" "Yes." "How much give ?" "Six shillings." "Well, take him." The Colonel threw the skin up through a hole in the floor into the loft. When the Indian went out he saw a rude ladder against the end of the house, where there was an opening in the loft. Placing it so that he could reach in he stole the beaver skin and an hour after he came back and said: "Brother, I have another beaver skin, how much ?" "Six shillings." After being paid he retired but soon after returned with another beaver skin. The Col- onel, never suspecting, asked him why he did not bring
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them all at once; "No; get one at a time." The Colonel paid the third time and soon the Indian appeared with an- other beaver skin. He began to suspect all was not right and examined the loft and found he had been buying the same skin over and over again. When he taxed the savage with his rascality he roared and laughed and thought it a first-class joke. And so did all the Colonel's acquaintances, for I have heard them twit him about it many years afterward.
CHAPTER X.
A DUEL.
NOTHER event of the early days of the city A as a matter of history, may with propriety be recorded. A duel was fought in 1804 between General Roger Alden and Alexan- der W. Foster. I am not fully informed as to the origin of the difficulty, but I believe a woman was at the bottom of it. They fought on a point of land on French Creek about two miles from the Court House on the Randolph Flats. At the first fire Alden fell, his antagonist's ball having shattered his thigh bone. He was brought home in a canoe by James F. Randolph and George MeGunnegle. Drs. Wallace of Erie and Kennedy of Meadville acted as surgeons on the occasion. Such an event in the village would necessarily produce a great deal of excitement, each of the belligerents having their personal friends, but by judicious forbearance all trouble soon sub- sided and the harmony of the citizens was not disturbed.
HOLLAND LAND COMPANY.
General Alden was at that time Agent for the Holland Land Company in Pennsylvania, Paul Bush, of Philadel- phia, being the general agent for the company in Penn- sylvania and New York. Large tracts of land were con- veyed to the company by the Government in payment for money furnished them to carry on the Revolutionary War. The settlement of these lands caused much trouble and liti- gation in the Courts for many years, which retarded in a
4
,
A DUEL.
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great measure the settlement of the country. General Alden soon after resigned the agency, and was succeeded by Ham Jan. Huidekoper, who some years later purchased the entire interest of the company in this State.
Mr. Huidekoper lived in this community much re- spected for his philanthropy and benevolence, and died much respected by his numerous friends and acquaintances.
General Alden served with distinction in the Revolu- tionary War, and was considered a brave and chivalrous officer. He was in possession at one period of some of the most valuable property in this vicinity. He became em- barrassed in his pecuniary affairs, caused by the revulsion in money matters after the War of 1812, and all of his valuable possessions were sold to satisfy his creditors. He lived some years afterwards in this place in very embarrassed circumstances, then received an appointment as military storekeeper at West Point, where he resided several years, and where he died between 80 and 90 years of age.
In 1793-4 William Gill took possession of and settled on a tract of land on French Creek. He built a cabin, and raised corn and potatoes during the summer. In the fall he went to Pittsburg, where his family was, intending to lay in supplies and return with his family, but owing to the winter setting in early, he deferred his return until the fol- lowing spring. When he arrived he found the cabin occu- pied by Jenny Finney, who claimed possession of the land, and stood in the door with rifle in hand and warned him to leave the premises, or if he attempted to dispossess her she would put a ball through him. Mr. Gill, believing discre- tion the better part of valor, abandoned the settlement and went further up the stream. Jenny Finney remained in possession long enough to perfect her claim, and soon after
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married General Mead, he being a widower at that time. Perhaps the General could not have selected a more suitable companion. She was well educated, possessed a strong mind, indomitable will and great energy of character. The tract of land settled by her family became the property of her daughter Maria, who was subsequently married to William Gill, the son of her adversary in the land claim. In the end, singularly enough, the descendants of the con- tending parties became joint owners of the property.
In 1800 the population of Meadville consisted of 25 or 30 families. Keel boats and canoes were employed in the transportation of articles by way of the Allegheny River and French Creek, the latter stream being navigable for boats of 10 or 12 tons as far as Waterford during the whole summer. In 1812 the keel boats were employed in trans- porting the necessary armament for the fleet in process of building at Erie. All the cannon balls and ammunition of every deseription, together with the cordage, anchors and spikes, were shipped to Pittsburg for Waterford, and from thence hauled by ox trains to Erie.
In the early settlement of the western part of the State many of the necessaries of life were shipped from the sea- board on pack horses across the mountains, and salt would at that time cost 50 cents a quart. About the year 1807 salt was produced in large quantities at Onondaga, New York, and sent to Erie by water, then sent over to Water- ford to be shipped to Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Louisville and other towns cn the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers. The boats used for transportation were called "arks," or "broad horns," being from 70 to 80 feet long and about 18 feet wide, and would carry about 200 barrels of salt. Twenty or thirty boats of this description would pass Meadville in
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a single day. This trade increased and continued for seve- ral years, and did not cease until 1819.
These facts are mentioned to show how important to the interest, not only of this section but a large extent of country beside, was the navigation of French Creek.
Much inconvenience and danger attended the inhabi- tants in that early period for want of bridges across the principal streams.
In April, 1809, a melancholy disaster occurred in which three persons lost their lives. Joseph Andrews, David Pat- ten and James Milligan were on a ferry-boat near where the old Kennedy bridge stands. There were several other per- sons on board, besides a yoke of cattle and three horses. The boat being overloaded went down about the middle of the stream, and the three above named, one horse and one ox were drowned.
The next year Dr. Thomas R. Kennedy built a bridge, it being the first ever built across the creek, and it is now standing, a monument of the doctor's enterprise.
There are other incidents of old Crawford, the land of our birth, that we might introduce, but other sketches and incidents are to be mentioned, and I must pass on to other fields.
CHAPTER XI.
THE ANCIENT MILITARY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
By A. B. Richmond.
War's whole art, each private soldier knows,
And with a General's love of conquests glows. - Addison.
T IS MEET in this, our Centennial Year, that the glory and power of the ancient military of Crawford County should not be forgotten. Fifty years ago, when I was a boy, the great day of the year-the day that, in my youthful opinion, was that for which all others were made, was "General Training Day." It was usually appointed the last of June, at which time it was supposed the farmers would have their corn hoed and could well afford to spend one day for their country's glory. At that time the military of the Commonwealth was divided into volunteers and militia. There were a number of uniformed volunteer companies in our county, but the great mass of the bone and sinew-male-were mustered under the militia law, and were compelled to practice the art of war two days in each year. This was for the purpose of educating the yeomanry in the science of military tactics, so that if called out to defend our country from the sudden invasion of a foreign foe, they might be termed veterans in the sei- ence of war.
Of course it was not expected to give the average farmer a West Point education in two days' time, yet it was expected that they could be taught to execute the complicated military manœuvers of "Right and Left Wheel," "Shoulder
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Arms," "Stand at Ease" and "Break Ranks" in a manner that would strike terror to an invading foe that might land from foreign ships into the back woods of Pennsylvania.
I have said that there were a number of uniformed companies in the volunteer regiment, and these were mar- shalled in battle array the day before the general militia "Training Day." The uniform usually varied according to the taste of the soldiers. Many of the companies, how- ever, presented their characteristic style and color to such an extent that a naturalist would have been able to deter- mine their genus, even if he failed to detect their species. He at least would know that they were uniformed volun- teers, no matter what doubts he might have as to the com- pany to which they belonged. Some of the companies were well and even handsomely uniformed. The Meadville Grays was the erack company of the regiment. Their uniform was white pants, gray coats with buff eross-belts, to which were suspended a cartridge box, a priming wire, and a small brush to clean the pans of the formidable flint lock muskets which were a terror to those who held them, while accidental death was the probable fate of those at whom they were aimed. But the crowning glory of the equipment was the hats. Words fail to convey to the present denizens of earth even a faint conception of their shape or gravity. Verily, they were "fearfully and wonderfully made." Bell crowned, in the widest sense of the term, of the size of an ordinary camp kettle, a rigid frame covered with shining black leather, on their front a metalic shield as large as those carried by the crusaders of old, and blazoned with the form of our national bird. This shield supported a lofty plume of scarlet wool. From the projecting caves of the crown were suspended festoons of white cotton cord curiously
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braided, and from these white tassels depended in tasteful profusion. A metal clasp passed from the sides of the crown under the chin. This was of sufficient size and strength to insure an artillery man on a battle-field that if he could only hit a hat the soldier would be decapitated.
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