USA > Pennsylvania > The Historical journal : a quarterly record of local history and genealogy devoted principally to Northwestern Pennsylvania > Part 17
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TUESDAY, July 6th .- Took our Breakfast and set off and came to Tuis-In-Guis-an-Gothtaw + about 10 o'clock. We soon found .
* Attention is called to the fact that the Fourth of July, 1790, came on Sunday. The Republic was then just fourteen years old, but it seems that the Commission- ers did not "celebrate."
+ Supposed to be the Indian town of Tiozinosongochto, as laid down on the His- torical Map of Pennsylvania. It was in what is now Potter County, near the Me- Kean line.
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that the Doctor who had reached the town before us had been do- ing us Ill offices with the people of the town. They looked re- markable sour, and insisted on our stoping until they could send for their cheif the Cornplanter who lived about 7 miles below, at a place called Jen Oh Show Dego .* We said that we could go on and call on the Cornplanter, where he lived. They said no; it was not manly to call about Busness at a Cabbin in the woods, and said that they had a hold of the stern of our canoe; plainly intimating that the(y) could and would make us stay.
We thought it best to be as accomading as we could, and told them to send for the Cornplanter and we would stay untill the afternoon. About noon their cheif came and told us that he had sent for the Cornplanter; that he expected him soon, but that we must not think the time Long. His advise had no effect for we did think the day a verrey Long one. Night came at last but no Cornplanter.
WEDNESDAY, July 7th .- The Cornplanter came about 8 o'clock and appeared to be friendly disposed; said he would look for a place where we might meet and speak to each other. We met, Told our Busness, and delivered the Cornplanter his letter which was read, and Interpretated to the Indians by one Matthews. They then all appeared in good humor; and the Cornplanter in a speech told us he was glad to see us, and gave us a welcom to any- thing we could catch in their country. Then we were addressed by an Oritor in behalf of the wemon. They told us that they were Glad to see us, that they hoped we were well, that we had come a long road, that they had heard the good news we had brought, that they thought that as the severest part of the labour of living fell to their Lot, they had a right to Speak and to be heard, and again thanked us for our Good News, that they hoped that as soon as the Good Road we had spoke of was made, they would be able to purchase what things they wanted on Better terms.
True their Trade at this time was much worse than formerly owing to the Scarcity of Game, but that if a good Road was made it would still be worth while for Traders to come among them and that they hoped a Good Corespondence would still be cultivated between them and us untill we should become one people.
*Given on the Historical Map of Pennsylvania as Jeane Sedago.
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Their speech was answered verrey Properly by Col'l Matlack ; as soon as that was Ended though it rained we Got on Board of our Canoes and pushed Down the River, and took up our camp oposite Capt'n Jno. Obeal's Town * and had the honor of his Company at supper.
THURSDAY, July 8th .- The morning rainy; after Breakfast it . cleared, it cleared and Mr Adlum went up to the State line to sur- vey the river & to assist me in making a Survey for the Cornplanter. This Busness kept us Imployed until about 4 o'clock; as we were Both wet when we came to camp we concluded to stay where we were for the night.
*This was the residence of Cornplanter, a distinguished Seneca Chief. His Indian name was Gy-ant-wa-chia, but among the English he was known as Abeel, O'Beal and O'Bail. The latter is correct according to the testimony of Mary Jemison. In the Indian language his town was called Tenachshegonchtongee, or the burnt house. When Colonel Proctor visited it, in 1791, he found the town pleas- antly situated on the north side of the river and containing twenty-eight tolerably good houses or cabins. Cornplanter's father was a white man named O'Bail, and according to Stone, in his Life of Brant (Vol. II., p. 121), he was in the habit of traveling back and forth from Albany through the Seneca country, to Niagara, as a trader. Becoming enamored of a pretty squaw among the Senecas, in process of time the Cornplanter became one of the living evidences of his affection. When he grew to manhood and became a leader in his tribe he was not ignorant of his origin. Stone says that he sent a party of warriors to capture his father and bring him before him. On his arrival he informed the old man that he knew that he was his father, but he should not be harmed. If he chose to remain with him and adopt the manners and customs of his tribe, he would take care of him ; if not, he would be allowed to depart in peace. The old man departed. Corn- planter figured prominently in the Indian wars. He was a contemporary of Washington and was at Braddock's defeat. He was one of the negotiators and signers to the treaties of Fort Stanwix and Fort Harmar. Once won over from the French, he maintained his allegiance to the English faithfully during the In- dian war from 1790 to 1794, rendering valuable assistance to the general govern- ment and in the protection of the western frontiers of Pennsylvania. For these services, among other rewards, he received from Pennsylvania permission to select 1,500 acres of land from unappropriated territory for himself and his posterity. He chose for his own occupancy a tract of 640 acres on the Allegheny River, 14 miles above Warren. Here he located about 1790 and lived there until his death in 1836, at the age of one hundred or upwards, and here his descendants still live to the number of about seventy-five. In 1966 the Legislature authorized the erection of a monument to his memory, which was done under the direction of Samuel P. Johnson, Esq., of Warren, at a cost of $550. Three of his children were present at the dedication, the last of whom died in 1874, at the age of about 100 years .- History of Pennsylvania, Egle, p. 1135.
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FRIDAY, July 9th .- Set off after Breakfast, and proceeded down River to the mouth of the Kinjua* where we parted with Mr Adlumn; he proceeded up the Kinjua with two of the hand(s), ac- companied with an Indian called Tim I Tugmetton. We proceeded Down the River to the mouth of the Cannowangot and Got up the same about 2 miles, where we incamped for the night.
SATURDAY, July 10th .- In the morning Proceeded up the Con- nowango about 2 miles further where we Left one of our canoes & all our Baggage that we could spare in the care of Sam'l Gibbons, takin with us only Provisions for 10 Days, and set off for the Jadockque Lake,# having one Mathews with us to act as an Inter- pretor, as we expected to met with several Indians. We kept with Deligence at the poles & Paddles all Day, and Got 17 miles as we computed.
SUNDAY, July 11th .- We started in the morning and kept steadyly at work all day, and made as we computed 17 miles further up the Cannowango. In these 2 days Traveling, with our canoes, we had not more than 10 miles of strong watter, the Rest of the River being lik a mill Pond, and in the General so deep that we could not find the Bottom with our setting poles. For the shape of the River see paper numbred 2.
MONDAY. July 12th .- Set of (f) in the morning, and found it Extreamly Difficult to get up the creek; the water was verrey Low . and Divided with a great number of small Islands, and the channels stoped up with Drift wood and timber that had fallen cross the creek. In some places we cleared a passage; in others we were obliged to Slide our canoe on Scates. We had about five miles of this kind of water; at length we entered the Jadockque Lake §
*The Kinzua, which empties into the Allegheny River twelve miles above Warren.
The Conewango Creek, which falls into the Allegheny at Warren, is the outlet of Chautauqua Lake.
# Chautauqua Lake, in the State of New York, now such a popular place of resort.
¿ The lake is located in Chautauqua County, New York, about eight miles south of the eastern end of Lake Erie. It is a little over sixteen miles long, is 1,291 feet above tide water and 726 feet higher than Lake Erie. Its outlet issues from the southeastern end and enters Conewango Creek, which empties into the Allegheny River at Warren. Chautauqua, which is spelled "Shatakoin," "Jad-
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which for about 2 miles widned Gradually. The Shores Remark- ably muddy and covered with Splater Docks. From thence the lake opens at wonst. and has a verrey Pleasing appearance. We got about 4 miles up and encamped.
TUESDAY, July 13th .- Set off after Breakfast; the morning per- fectly calm and the whole face of the Lake as far as the Eye could see, as smooth as Glass; the country beyond the Lake Rose Grad- ually, and was covered entirely with oak, now in Bloom. This with the Lake formed as Pleasing a Prospect as I ever Saw. We stude up the Lake to what we supposed was the head of it; when we had reached the part we took for its western point. we found it only a narrow point of Land that shote into the Lake, and found that we still had the Greater part of the Lake before us. We made all the speed, we possably could and at one o'clock we got within a mile of the head of the Lake. We there went on shore and cooke(d) a pike we had shote that was three feet three inches Long, for our Dinner. After Dinner went round the head of the Lake and down the west side a Little Distance, where Colonel Matlack and I went on Shore in search of the Road to Lake Erie; we found it in a little time, and returned to our Canoe. Went a. little further Down the Lake and encamped.
WEDNESDAY, July 14th .- In the morning Colonel Matlack, my- self and two hands Got Redy with two days Provision, and set off on the old French Road to Lake Erie. We were able to travel the Road without difficulty. In many places the Cart Ruts were verrey plain. We walke(d) on in high Spirits untill Between Ten and Eleven o'clock when we were met by a Verrey heavy Rain, which lasted until near one o'clock. We at first took the best
achque," "Cahdocin," "Chauddauk-wa" and " Jah-dah-quah," by the early French writers, is said to mean "a place where a child was swept away by the waves," "where a fish was taken out," "the foggy place, &c." La Salle is supposed to have been the first white man to visit the lake, in August, 1669. Celoron fol- lowed, with a body of troops and Indians, in July, 1749. He explored the lake, and then descended through Conewango Creek to the Allegheny, where he buried. a leaden plate signifying that he had taken possession of the country in the name of the King of France. When the French established a line of forts across the country to Pittsburg, Chautauqua Lake was one of their important points. They built a road connecting it with Lake Erie, over which they transported their troops, provisions and munitions of war.
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shelter we could find, but soon found that we must be wet and thought that we might as well be wet walking as standin(g); and so traveled on and came to the Lake just as the first shower was over, as wet as water could make us. We eat our Dinners & Just as we had done, a second shower came up with just as much wind as set the Lake in motion; the swell rose to about 3 ft high and foamed on the shore. We then prepared to survey the Road Back to Ja- tocque Lake and set off wet as we were and surveyed 23 miles and took up our Quarters in an old Indian Cabbin.
THURSDAY, July 15th .-- We started early as our clothes were still wet notwithstanding all the pains we could take. We had this day as much rain as was sufficient to keep the Bushes wet; we how. ever made all possible haste, and Got Back to our camp a half after 10 o'clock, verry wet and sufficiently tired. We found the Distance between the lakes to be Nine Miles and a Quarter, along the old Road. a nearer way might be found but perhaps the ground might be much worse. Lake Erie is a fresh water sea; from its shore you can see the Horision and water meet.
FRIDAY, July 16th .- Set out after Breakfast on our return, and had the Lake in fine order, the wind and waves subsiding. We made all the Speed we could and reached the out Let of the Lake about the middle of the afternoon. We continued to push towards our camping place on the Alegina until night.
SATURDAY, July 17th .- Set off early and continued to make the Best way with our canoe, all hands working and Reached the camp where we had left Gibbons just before Dark. From the mouth of Cannowango to Lake Erie, we compute it to be Eighty miles to go by water; the greater part of this Distance is through a verry Rich Soil. . From the head of the Jatocque Lake along the old French Road is nine miles & a Quarter.
SUNDAY, July 18th .- Passed Down the Creek. In the morning met Mr Adlum and his party ; he had returned from his Trip the Evening before. and was then making a survey. We passed on and agreed to wait for him at the lower end of an Indian Town called Brokenstraw,* which had been distroyed in the last war by
* The Brokenstraw Creek enters the Allegheny River about five miles below the town of Warren. An Indian town called Buckaloon, or Brokenstraw, once stood near the mouth of the creek, which was destroyed by a detachment under
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General Broadhead. Before we had quite reached the place of our destination we were obliged to put on shore. A verrey heavy rain was comming on, we had just time to Pitch our markee before the heavy rain came, and as our markee was Pitched and not much short of the Place where we were to wait for Adlum we concluded to wait there.
MONDAY, July 19th .- We proceeded down the Alegina; the river had a considerable fall, and the men worked hard, we went as we computed at the Rate of 4 miles & one half in the hour. We kept close to our canoe all day and came something better than thirty miles.
. TUESDAY, July 20th .- We continued our Route Down the River and arrived at Fort Frankland * about 4 o'clock, and were kindly Recd by the commanding officer, Lieut. Jeffres, who seemed to be Desirous of oblidging us. On our way, about 4 miles above French (Creek ), I killed a Catfish that weighed 103 Ib with Mr Adlum's Jacob Staff. We this day came by our Computation 20 miles; the whole distance from the mouth of Cannowango to French creek. supposed to be about 60 miles.
Colonel Broadhead, from Pittsburg, in 1781. It required a siege of some days to drive out the Indians, who retreated to the high hills in the rear of the village. Colonel Daniel Broadhead is supposed to have been born at Albany about 1725. His father migrated to Pennsylvania in 1738 and settled at a place he called (after his own name) Dansbury, now East Stroudsburg, in Monroe County. Young Broadhead endured many privations during the Indian wars. In 1771 he settled in Reading and was soon afterwards appointed Deputy Surveyor under John Lukens. In 1776 be was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the Rifle Regi- ment and bore a conspicuous part in the Revolution. In the reorganization of the ariny in 1781 he was made Colonel of the First Regiment, and subsequently rose to the rank of a Brigadier. He afterwards served in the General Assembly, and in 1789 was appointed Surveyor General of the State, and held the office for eleven years. General Broadhead died at Milford, Pike County, November 15, 1809 .- See Pennsylvania Archives, New Series, Vol. X., p. 645.
* Fort Franklin was located near the mouth of French Creek. Old Fort Ve- nango, as it was called by the English, was erected here in 1754 by the French. It was called by them Fort Machauit, after a celebrated French financier and politician. When the French abandoned the place in 1759 they blew up the fort and burned their stores. Fort Franklin was built in 1787 by a detachment of 87 United States troops. from Pittsburg, under the command of Captain Hart. 1 garrison of 100 men was kept there until 1796. The town of Franklin, which was laid out by General William Irvine and Andrew Ellicott, under the act of 1795, is now a thrifty and pretty little city of nearly 6,000 inhabitants.
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WEDNESDAY, July 21st .- Breakfasted with the commanding offi- cer in the Garrison, and as we were out of Bread, and as several of the men had their feet sore with scalding, we concluded to stay at the fort this day and Get some Bread Baked, and let the meu Rest one day. We dined and supped with the commanding officer who was exceedingly obliging and attentive. .
THURSDAY, July 22d .- We this morning paid off and discharged an old Indian Cheiff and a white Shavage, which we had taken into pay at the Valley in the mountain, and are preparing to start for Lebueff .* Left the Fort at 2 o'clock in company with the other commissioners, mounted and equiped in such a manner as Beggars all Description: the appointments of the Vicar of Wake- field's family Going to Church would not bear comparrison. Our intention was to go to Mr Mead's at Cassonaggo that night; as we had previously started our Canoes and all hands, with orders to make the best of their way to that place. We rode ou at the ut- most speed our cattle could make, in the manner they and us were appointed, untill after dark. hoping every moment to come to some house, when to our Great disapointment we Lost the path, and had no resorce but to take up our Quarters and go to sleep. Before morning a heavy rain came on; we had no camp and were obliged to take it as it came. When the morning came our horses were gone and we were obliged not only to take up our Beds. but our horse Furniture, and walk. We found it five miles to Mr Mead's.
FRIDAY, July 23d .- Came to Mr Meads, Got our Breakfast and took a walk to see Mr Mead's plantationt and Improvements. The
* Fort LeBoeuf was located at what is now Waterford, on French Creek, in Erie County. In the early French Archives the stream was called Riviere aux Boeufs; in the Pennsylvania Archives it is simply translated into English as the "Beef River," or the "Buffalo River," because buffaloes were found there by the early explorers. It was also called the Venango by the English, a name corrupted from the Seneca term, In-un-gah, from which the word Weningo, and later Ve- nango, doubtless sprang. The present name, French Creek, appears to have been given the stream by George Washington during his visit to the French there in 1753, by direction of Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia.
t David Mead was the first settler where the town of Meadville now stands. He was a native of Hudson, N. Y. His father, Darius Mead, when his con be- came of age, removed to Wyoming, where they both had purchased lands under the Pennsylvania title. Owing to the Connecticut troubles they abandoned their lands and settled near Northumberland. David Mead afterwards became a citizen
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soil all along this creek Remarkably Rich; the Low Ground in particular in appearance the Richest I ever saw. We had sent off our men with the canoe and Baggage before us from Fort Frank- land, and were in expectation that they would have joined this evening but are Disapointed.
SATURDAY, July 24th .- The men and canoe arrived. We im- mediately set of; Col'l Matlack and myself with four hands in the canoe & Mr Adlum with Neal St Clair and John Ria* whom we had taken into pay at Cassawaggo, by land; and appointed to met at Leboueff. We made the best way we could hut were much interrupted with the Ripples and Sholes. . About 1 o'clock we were stopped with a shower of rain; we made by our calculation about 8 miles this day and encamped.
SUNDAY, July 25th .- Set of (f) and made way as fast as Possable but were much Delayed and the men much fatigued by the Shoales and Ripples, where the men were obliged to Drag the canoe. By 12 o'clock we had got 10 miles as we computed when we stopped to Dine. I had felt for the two preceeding day(s) a soreness cross my kidneys, and while at Dinner I was stooping for a bit of meat of Sunbury, where he kept an inn for several years. After various discouraging struggles with fortune and the Indians, he left Sunbury to seek a home west of the Allegheny River. In 17SS he visited this section of the country, then a wilder- ness, with his brother John and several others. In 1789 he moved his family out. After years of toil and privation his prospects began to brighten, when another Indian war was threatened. Many fled, but Mr. Mead, having important inter- ests at stake, remained. The Indian troubles were happily terminated by General Wayne in 1795. For several months in 1791, when the Indians were daily ex- pected to attempt the extermination of the settlers on French Creek, Mr. Mead, with his family, resided at Franklin, so that they might be able to seek refuge in the fort in case of danger. During this time his father, who had followed him to his western home, was taken by two Indians from a field, where he was at work, and carried to the vicinity of Conneaut Lake, where he was afterwards found dead. One of his captors also laid dead near him, showing that there had been a severe struggle. In 1799 Mr. Mead became one of the associate judges for Crawford County. He was also a Major General in the militia. In size he stood six feet three, and was large in proportion. Of a vigorous mind, he was always actively engaged upon public or private business. Ilis first wife was Agnes Wilson, of Northumberland County; his second, Janet Finney, daughter of Robert Finney, Esq. The Mead mansion was noted for the hospitality of its occupants. He died August 23, 1816; in the 65th year of his age .- Alden's Magazine, Meadville, 1816. * Properly; Rea.
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I was taken with so sharp a pain that I had almost fallen. After Dinner was over we all got on Board; I laid on my Belley as the casiest position the crowded situation of the canoe would afford. After some time I wished to change my Position but was unable and was oblidged to Remain so untill the canoe stopped at night to encamp. After the tent was pitched and the fire kindled, the men assisted me, and with difficulty I got to the fire.
MONDAY, July 26th .- Unable to assist myself any way, can only move my hands and arms. The men put me on board the Canoe and proceeded up the creek. At 12 o'clock we arrived at the mouth of the Leboeuff Branch and found the water in (it) so low, that the men were obliged to open a channel with the paddles to get fairly into the Branch. We proceeded only a little way further until we met with another bar where the men were obliged to open a passage with the paddles. As Mr Adlum had arrived at the mouth of the Branch at 3 o'clock this morning and left a note informing us that we would find him encamped at the old Fort, about 3 miles above the mouth of the Branch, Colonel Matlack and Mathew Gray who was sick went on shore and took the Indian path; I was obliged to stay in the canoe being unable either to Rise or stand.
The men made all the way they could but were obstructed to such a degree by Shoale water and Driftwood, that when it was time to encamp we were not more than a mile from the mouth of the Branch. I Directed them to go on shore and encamp. As soon as they had got a fire made they carried me to it, and made a seat on which with difficulty I sat for some time. I then sent off "Hicks to the uper camp to inform them that the canoe could not come up that night. He was on the way met by Neal St Clair and Jno Ria and returned. By St Clair & Ria I sent them some pro- vision to their camp, as they were out. After sitting a while and taking some chocolate I felt something Better.
( CONCLUDED NEXT MONTH.)
JOHN HENRY SIMLER. it is claimed, built the first house in Phil- ipsburg, Centre County, 90 years ago.
THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL.
Two Dollars per Annum, in Advance. Single Numbers, Twenty Cents.
A monthly publication, devoted entirely to the preservation of scraps of local history in Northwestern Pennsylvania, with reference occasionally to statistics, finance and manufactures.
Address all letters and communications relating to literary matters, subscrip- tion or advertising to
JOHN F. MEGINNESS, Editor and Publisher, WILLIAMSPORT, PA.
WILLIAMSPORT, OCTOBER, 1887.
IN referring to the opening of the Catawissa Railroad, between Danville and Milton, last month, an error crept into the date. An esteemed friend writes: "The road was completed to Milton in the fall, or early winter, ( perhaps September, as you have it ), of 1854. The opening excursion trip, from Philadelphia to Elmira, took place as far as Williamsport, I think, on New Year's Day, or at all events in January, 1855. Many persons will certainly re- member the great illumination and jubilation on that severely cold January night, when I for the first time in the old Court House listened to Daniel Dougherty, who was then known as the · silver- tongued orator.' On the desk in front of me, as I write, I see my letter of appointment-signed by Horatio King, First Assistant Postmaster General under Pierce's administration-as special agent, and on the 1st of April, 1855, I went over the route with the first United States mail that ever passed over the Catawissa Railroad." The citation of the "dates by our correspondent, and the incidents connected therewith, pretty clearly settle the time of the completion and opening of the railroad between the points named.
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