USA > Pennsylvania > The Historical journal : a quarterly record of local history and genealogy devoted principally to Northwestern Pennsylvania > Part 16
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ANDREW STRAUB, a German millwright, was the first settler on the site of Milton in 1792. He put up a small log mill, one and a half stories high. It had but one run of stones, but it was a great convenience for the surrounding settlers. He afterwards built a small saw mill, which caused his settlement to be called - Mill Town." This was afterwards shortened to Milton. In those days the man who built a mill was regarded as one of the most import- ant in the settlement, and he always had visitors. Straub came from Lancaster County. His family followed him in 1793. He died August 2, 1806. aged 59 years. From his settlement grew the beautiful and flourishing Milton of to-day.
ACCORDING to Mr. Gernerd's Now and Then. published at Muncy in 1872, the first grist mill within what is now the territory of Lycoming County was erected by John Alward in 1772. It stood on the site of the brick mill now owned by the heirs of Jacob Cook, about one mile from the Borough of Muncy. Henry Shoemaker purchased the mill before the Indian war of 1779. He removed the gearings for safety, and when the savages came they only had the satisfaction of burning the log building. This was 115 years ago. About the same time Ludwig Derr erected his mill at Lewisburg.
THE Catawissa Railroad, between Danville and Milton, was completed in 1857, and on Sunday, September 24th, the first engine passed over the track between the two towns. In 1871 the road was extended to Williamsport.
Present Court House of Lycoming County.
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THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL.
A MONTHLY RECORD.
"Out of monuments. names, wordes, proverbs, traditions, private records, and evi- dences, fragments of stories, passages of bookes, and the like, we doe save and recover somewhat from the deluge of time." -- BACON.
Vol. 1. OCTOBER, 1887. No. 6.
JOURNAL OF SAMUEL MACLAY, 1790. -
ANNOTATED BY JOHN F. MEGINNESS.
SUNDAY, June 13th .- After Breakfast Began to Bake Bread in Expectation that Mr. Adlum and his party would return Early in the day from their Excursion to the Alegina; waited in that Ex- pectation until 12 o'clock, then as the Branch had rose in conse- quence of the Rain. it was determined that I should take the ad- vantage of the rising of the water and Proceed to Explore and survey the other Branch of Sinemahoning and run a line from the canoe place on the west Branch to connect with Little Toby's Creek, and not wait longer for Mr. Adlum's return. The hand(s) alloted for this Expedition were Thomas Semor, Gersham Hicks and Matthew Gray. I then got ten day's Provisions for four hands put on Board the Canoes, and went my self on board, with Semor, Hicks and Gray on Board of our long canoe which was to he left at the forks. We proceeded down the creck when upon enquiry I found the hands had forgot to bring salt with them; I then ordered Mathew Gray to Run Back to camp for some salt, and Hicks to wait for him and told Hicks that we would let our canoe float until they would overtake us. We floated on until we came five miles, then we waited until the knats and musketoes grew too Troublesom; I then told Semor that we would Get on board and proceed down the creek to the camp where we had lodged as we went up, and kindle a fire and then wait for Hicks & Gray.
We set off, came to our old camp, Kindled fire, provided fire-
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wood and prepared for the night, but still no word from Hicks & Gray. A thousand conjectures presented themselves. At length Hicks* came before it grew quite dark ; he had waited for Gray's return until he thought he had time to have come back, and as he did not come within the time that he allowed him he came without him. This accident Triffling as it may seem, was really imberas- ing. I knew not what to do, nor could I do anything. It was night in a country where there were no roads. I had however some hope that Gray when he came back to where he had left Hicks and the canoe, and saw that they were Gone, would Hurey along in order to overtake the canoe, and that if he was unable to reach my fire that night, he would be with us early in the morning. In that Expectation I went to Sleep. .
MONDAY, June 14th .- Early, I ordered Hicks to put some choco- late on to boyl in order to have Breakfast ready should Gray have come in, according to my expectation; waited for some time, then took breakfast; still no account of Gray, the creek falling, the favorable opportunity for which I had waited steeling away, and I by this accident toatally prevented from prosecuting my intended journey. I then sent off Semor and Hicks in the light canoe in order to see what was become of Gray ; as I write I hear the canoe poles Returning. They are returned and have brought in Gray, so now we are preparing to proceed to the forks. We arrived there about 12 o'clock ; Immediately got ready and began to survey the west branch t of the Sinemahoning and got a little way above
* Hicks was an early settler on .Bennett's Branch, near the mouth of Hicks' Run, which was named after him. He was half Indian.
+ Better known to-day as Bennett's Branch, which falls into the Sinnemahoning at Driftwood. There the two streams uniting form what is properly known as the Sinnemahoning River, which unites with the West Branch of the Susque- hanna at Keating, twelve miles below. Bennett's Branch was formerly called the "Second Fork." The Driftwood branch is called the main stream, because it has several large tributaries, viz .: The Portage, West Creek, North Creek, &c. It was on these streams where the Commissioners spent so much time surveying. Bennett's Branch was named after John Bennett, who went there from what is now Lycoming County about 1785. Erasmus Morey, of Benezett, now in his 92d year, says that Bennett's main cabin was near the mouth of Trout Run, at Bene- zett. When he ( Morey) located there in 1814 the corn hills, cultivated by Ben- nett, were still visible. He was quite a farmer for that time and yoked his cows to do the plowing. He also had another cabin near the mouth of the branch, a short distance above the present borough of Driftwood.
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Boyd's whetstone Quarrey * before night having surveyed the creek 6 miles and 23 perches. Encamped for the night.
. TUESDAY, June 15th .- Began my survey early in the morning and continued with all Possable Diligence until about 5 o'clock, when we arrived at old Mr Bennet's cabbin, three quarters of a mile above the forks: we then took up our camp for the night.
WEDNESDAY, June 16th .- Spent the morning until Breakfast in Transcribing the notes of the two preceeding days, and as soon as I had finished them began my survey of the Branch. We this day had great difficulty in getting our canoc taken up as the water was verrey low above the first fork of the Branch. I was often obliged to wait for Semor and the canoe, and send the chain carriers to assist him, which lost me so much time that I was only able to get about 6 miles up the Branch when we incamped. The difficulty of the Business are fast increasing & our Provisions fast decreasing, and I find myself much fatigued.
THURSDAY, June 17th .- The morning cloudy and some rain, though not enough to raise the water for us. We must however proceed as there is no saving provision in the woods, and though there is some appearance of game in the country, yet we have got nothing. We set (off ) and continued our survey by corse and dis- tance up to the second forks; further than that we could not take our canoe. We were then obliged with our canoe to leave the most part of our Baggage; I left two of my Blankets, shoes and stockings. Took one blanket on .my back which with the instru- ment made my load. The men who had to carry their own baggage and the provision could not measure, encumbered as they were. I was therefore obliged to quit it, and carried the instrument in my hand; took the courses of the creek and estimated the distance. In this manner I proceeded up the creek about a.
* Hon. John Brooks, of Sinnemahoning, who has resided there for nearly 70 years, says that the Whetstone quarry was at the Moccasin Falls, about two miles above the mouth of the Sinnemahoning, and ten miles below Driftwood. Whet- stones are found there in the cliffs on the north side of the Sinnemahoning. The quarry is no longer worked. Erasmus Morey says that at an early day there was a place on Bennett's Branch called "Whetstone Narrows," below Hicks' Run, where whetstones and grindstones were made. He says that Boyd built the first saw mill on Bennett's Branch in the summer of 1816.
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mile and a half making in the whole 4 miles since we left our canoe, when Semor who had got a little distance ahead Shot at a Doe Elk. We came up to where he had left his load and made a halt ; in the mean time we heard the Doe calling her fawn. Hicks then went over the creek to look for the Doe & after he was gone some time Semor shot a second time; Hicks in that instant started the fawn ; it Run back to the creek and came within shot: I shot and killed it on the spot. Semor came back and said he had wounded the Doe, and him and Hicks went after it with the Dog; the dog in a short time drove another fawn into the creek just by where I stod. My gun was emty; Indeed I wished the fawn to Escape, But the dog caught it and him and Matthew Gray had a frolick with it Indeed. Semor and Hicks returned but found not the Doe. I then ordered a fire and the Kettle to be put on and Determined to stay and feast for the night.
FRIDAY, June 18th .- The mountains smoky and the appearance of rain. We however set off after an Early Breakfast, and trav- eled on until about one o'clock when we were stoped by a shower; after it left off Raining Proceeded on, until near sundown when we stopt and began to make a camp, as there was the appearance of a Gust. We had not got our camp finished when the rain be- gan; there was just a moderate shower, though from the appear- ance as the shower came up I had expected a very heavy shower.
SATURDAY, June 19th .- As the Bushes were wet with Rain we staid at our camp untill after we had got Breakfast and then set off and walked the Branch about 23 miles where the Branch forks. We took up the north fork, and travelled up nearly south about half a mile and came to the Big Elk lick,* there were two Doe elks in the lick at one of which my gun missed fire at the distance of 50 yards. We then took up a point of the mountain along what we supposed to be an Elk path but soon found new and old Indian
* The lick mentioned here evidently was not the "great lick" on the Portage Creek. There was a large lick and several smaller ones in the Trout Run region. There was a lick near the mouth of Trout Run, and in after years Stephen Wins- low manufactured salt there. Salt was also manufactured at Driftwood from 1810 to 1819. A well 65 feet deep was sunk and the salt water pumped up. John Jordan was one of the early settlers there in 1806. The party operating the salt works was known as the Lycoming Salt Company. Judge Burnside was one of the owners, and a man named Webb was president.
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marks along it. As soon as I reached the top of the hill, I took ont the instrument and took the corse to the uper forks of the Creek of which I had a tolarable Distinct view, and found that we were nearly N. W. from the forks and about 43 or five miles Distant.
Hicks and Semor then set the compass to strike Toby's creek and agreed in the corse; the corse the set was N. 14 W., But as the Indian path was newly marked, and, as we supposed by the Indians whose marks we had seen at several places along Sinema- honing, and as we expected that they had come from Toby's Creek it was thought advisable to follow the path. It took nearly a north- east Corse; we followed it about three miles. I then concluded that it went to the heads of the other Branch of Sinemahoning ; we then took the woods and set off at N. 14 W., but soon found that it was impossible to keep a corse between brush of every De- scription, fallen timber and Rocks. We were obliged to pick our way more antions for our own safety than keeping our course. We traveled on keeping our corse as well as we could for about 4 miles, when we crossed a small branch or rather run that falls into Toby's creek; we had not gone far this corse which was nearly west before we crossed Shearer's north line. We (had ) verrey bad walking but kept at it with Diligence until about 5 o'clock, when we reached Toby's at the little Elk lick about three miles below where Shearers north line stricks Toby's creek. I found the corse of Toby's where I was along it to be about S. W. which corse it keeps for about 3 miles further and then turns nearly north, which corse it keeps untill it falls into Big* Toby's creek, and appears to be adapted for inland navigation.
SUNDAY, June 20th .- Left our Camp on Little Toby's creek after we had Breakfasted, and set off in a south east direction, which direction we followed as near as circumstances would permit but were by Brush and fallen Timber obliged to turn Considerable more to the East, and came to the Indian path about a mile N. E. of the Big Elk Lick on the Sinemahoning. The Ground Between the Sinemahoning and Little Toby's Creek is a Barren mountain; in some places covered with a poor stunted Grouth of Pitch pine, but the far greater part of the mountain has some years ago been
* Near the present borough of Ridgway, the capital of Elk County.
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covered with small chestnut timber, which has been killed with fire and is now fallen, and the underwood is grown up among (it) so thick that in many places it fairly hid the logs, which makes walking both Dangerous and Difficult.
The distance between the Elk lick or the head of the upermost North East Branch of Sinemahoning, and Little Toby's Creek Dos not Exceed Seven miles in a N. W. Direction, and the Country will admit of a Good road; the only difficulty, or at least the great one, will be making the Road up the South Side of the moun- tain; and in case a road should Ever be attempted in that part the Best and Easiest place is the end of the Ridge or spur, below the lick. When I returned to the waters of Sinemahoning, though I had not travelled a great Distance, yet I felt fatigued. and En- camped.
MONDAY, June 21st .- We were obliged to spend part of this morning in Baking some bread. While this was doing I walked about 12 miles to a Elk lick : I much wished to kill one as our fresh meat was done, but I saw none. I returned, and as soon as the Baking was compleated, we started. We then had only one day's allowance of Bread, no more flour: and were 50 miles at least, the way we had to go, from our General camp. These cir- cumstances induced me to make as much haste as possible. I walked all Day, though in much pain with my Rheumatick com- plaints, and got to within three miles of where we had left our canoe as we went up; there I incamped for the night, much Fa- tigued.
TUESDAY, June 22d .- Our supper the Preceeding Day had finished our Bread; we had two Squares of Chocolate left, and a remnant of sugar, Some Bacon ; but neither Bread nor flour. We set off & came to our canoe: found her & everything we had left safe. Semor, one of the hands I had with me, had a little Indian meal which he had left along with our tent and other things. Upon this meal we got to work, made some Dumplings and Boiled them in our Chocolate. and made with the addition of a slice of Bacon, a very hearty Breakfast. Put our things on board; Hicks and I started to go before to an Elk liek,* in hops of Getting some meat,
* At the mouth of Trout Run, where the town of Benezett is now located.
3
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and left Tho's Semor and Matthew Gray to Bring the Canoe with the Baggage. Hicks and I were again unsucksessful, we saw none. My feet were by this time so sore that walking was verrey painful. I was obliged to go on Board the Canoe, though the water was so low that the men were obliged to Drag the Canoe one third of the way. We arrived at Bennet's Cabbin about the middle of the afternoon. There was then great appearance of rain, and in our situation, the raising of the water only a few inches would have been of vast consequence and as we had still a little of the Indian meal, I concluded to stay there that night, & Bake the meal and Boil a part of the Gammon which we had, concluding that if a rain should come as there was great appearance of it, we would gain time rather than Loos, as, by having our provision all cooked we would have nothing to delay us the next day.
WEDNESDAY, June 23d .- Set off from Bennet's Cabbin Early in the morning, and got down to the forks about the middle of the afternoon. At the point I left six small whetstones and a large piece of the same kind of stone for James McLaughlin to carry with for me to Buffaloe. As the water in the North Branch was verrey low, we Left our Tent in order to lighten our canoe, and without any delay we proceeded up the North Branch putting Hicks and Gray aboard of the canoe, and Semor and I walked. We got about four miles up the Branch and encamped a little be- fore sun set.
THURSDAY, June 24th .- Started in the morning and reached our uper camp about 3 o'clock. About half an hour after I got there, Mr. Adlum arrived from our camp on the Ohia,* a Branch or rather the head of the Alegina river, and brought us an account that James MeLaughlin had finished two canoes there for us and was on his way returning; but had the misfortune to cut his foot with the adze.
FRIDAY, June 25th .- It rained in the night and in the morning it continued to rain. James McLaughlin and Reynolds came to Camp about 10 o'clock. and Began immediately to prepair to re- turn home. By them I wrote a line to Mrs Maclay and James MeLaughlin promised to send the Letter by a safe hand to Mrs
* Either on Portage or Potato Creek, near where the town of Port Allegany now stands.
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Maclay; he likewise promised to take with him a large piece of whetstone from the forks which I left there and one small Elk horn and a piece of a large one. We took some pains to put Jim- mey in good humor before he left us, but he seemed to part with us rather in Dudgen. I likewise left 6 small whetstones, which I brought from Boyd's Quarrey.
SATURDAY, June 26th .- Mr. Adlum with two hands set out after Breakfast to survey the Road between our Camp on the North Branch of Sinemahoning and the new camp on the Alegina .* After he started Colonel Matlack and myself took a walk up the Branch. as far as a mile above the second forks that were above our camp. At the first fork t the Left hand Branch coms from the south, and the other from the N. W., and the water nearly equal in both. At the second forks the Left hand branch comes partly from the west, and the other from the N. W. or rather more to the north : the Left hand Branch here has near Twist as much water as the Right. Up the right are two Elk licks. A heavy rain wet us to the skin be- fore we returned.
SUNDAY, June 27th .- Spent a verrey disagreeable night: had a most voilent Tooth ach which continued all Day to be verrey. Troublesome.
MONDAY, June 28th .- Had another distressing night. Face much swelled in the morning, and yet the pain in iny tooth con- tinues.
TUESDAY, June 29th .-- Suffered much last night with a head ach. My face continues swelled; I'm altogether unwell. We expect our pack horses to return this day by 12 o'clock.
WEDNESDAY, June 30th .- Felt something Better. Got all our Baggage Packed up and Loaded & at 10 o'clock set off; and that, and Got onwards about 9 mile. Passed the Large salt lick # and encamped for the night.
* At or near the Portage, as it was called, because the Indians carried their light canoes overland to the waters of the Allegheny.
t The village of Sinnemahoning is located here. When Col. Matlack and Mr. Maclay were here on the 26th of June, 1790, there were no white settlers in this section. It was a very wild place-in fact a "howling wilderness."
#The "Great Elk Lick," as it was called by the old hunters, was located here. It was probably the largest in the world, and was on what is now known as the
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THURSDAY, July 1st .-- Started early, and reached our camp on the Ohia about 3 o'clock; found none of our people at camp but Hicks. Mr. Adlum had set off in the morning to survey the River Down to the State line .* The remaining part of the day I spent in as- sisting in Launcing our canoes, and in writing to my son Billey.
FRIDAY, July 2d .- Loaded our canoes and proceeded down the Ohia; met with considerable difficulty in getting along over the shoales, the River Being too Low. About 12 o'clock met two Indians, one of which called himself Doctor Thomas. These In- dians, as they informed us, had been sent up from the Town by the Cheiff, to see if we were comming down, and when we would be there. We traveled together until night, and Encamped to- gether.
SATURDAY, July 3d .- Set off in the morning and had Tolerable water. Reached the State Line at 3 o'clock, where we found Mr. Adlum and his party. The Indians still continued with us; as we had Bread to Bake we concluded to stay there all night, and set off Early in the morning, and go to the town, the Doctor chusing to stay with us for the night, and his companion with him although
line of the Buffalo, New York and Philadelphia Railroad, near the station called Shippen. It was about ten miles north of Emporium. A short distance south is Sizerville, now attracting much attention on account of the medicinal properties of the water obtained there through a flowing well. The stream running south here is the Portage branch (of the Driftwood branch) of the Sinnemahoning, which empties into the Driftwood at Emporium. This salt or elk lick is mentioned in John Hanna's notes of the survey of the lands of the Holland Land Company, made by him in 1793. In his notes he speaks of beginning a block of surveys about 43 miles north of the " Big Elk Lick," on the line of survey made by Jolin Adlum. The lick was very large. The ground around it for at least three acres was literally cleared of brush by the stamping herds of elk and deer. Old hunters used to relate that they had seen as high as thirty elk in the lick at one time, and hundreds were killed there. What was afterwards known as the "Salt Works," or "Parker Salt Well," occupied its site. This section of the State, embracing Pot- ter, MeKean and Elk counties, and what is now Cameron County, was the last re- treat of the elk. As late as 1841 a herd of thirteen still existed in these forests, but they were slain one by one until the species became extinet.
*The Allegheny River, which has its source in Potter County, flows northward into the State of New York. It then makes a great bend to the left like a horse- shoe, and enters the State of Pennsylvania again, when it runs southwestwardly to the Ohio. When the Commissioners were there they regarded it as the Ohio proper.
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we had desired him to go to the Town, and inform their Cheiff, that we intended to be at the town in the morning.
SUNDAY, July 4th .*- Set off Early in the morning and made the best of our way to the Town. The Indians started a little Before us, and as their canoe was a Light one, they reached the Town a considerable time Before us. We got to the town at 9 o'clock, went down Below the town a little Distance; we kindled a fire and got our Breakfast. Several of the Indians came to our fire, but the principal man was out of town, and it seemed that we must wait for him. We waited until the afternoon, and were then given to understand that Con-ne-Shangon, their Cheif was Gon to Vanango, But a certain Captain John supplyd his place. He made us a speech in the afternoon to the following Effect: That him and all their men Returns thanks to almighty God for the oppertunity of Speaking to his Brothers, that as he now speaks he hopes that you will hear; that you are come to poor people. that are all suffering. Another thing he hopes; that he knew nothing of our coming until he Looked up and saw us come Down the water; he hopes that we will take pitty on their women and children and give them some- thing to prevent them from starving.
MONDAY, July 5th .- Set off in the morning, two Indians Gowin with us, viz: Capt John and 10 Days; and the doctor on hors Back. About the middle of the afternoon we came to an Indian Camp on shore where the(y) had whiskey, which they offred us; at this camp we saw a Duchman who in the war had been taken Prisoner and it seem(s) chused to continue with the Indians. We delayed but a short time at this camp; we put on and Left the Indians. After some time the Indians came up with us & the Doctor had got himself a little Drunk, just so much as to put him to show his hors- manship, and in attempting to ride up a steep Bank him and his horse tumbled together into the River. We took up our camp a little before sunset &c.
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