USA > Pennsylvania > The Historical journal : a quarterly record of local history and genealogy devoted principally to Northwestern Pennsylvania > Part 23
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Northumberland an organized society, among whom he remained for some days, embracing the Sabbath, preaching repeatedly, both in Northumberland and Sunbury. He is somewhat at home in the former place, being comfortably entertained at Mrs. Taggart's; in the latter he has but limited access to the people, because of the predominance of the German element. This circumstance explains the arrival, some months later, of Benjamin Abbott-a name hold- ing an imperishable connection with the work on the North Branch of the Susquehanna. He was familiar with the German and Eng- lish languages, in both of which he was a master in Israel.
" In the heroic days of Methodism the footsteps of the itinerant responded to the sound of the woodsman's ax. Minute men in Christ's army, they were ever ready, at a moment's warning, to preach, to pray, or to die. The work of Owen, the blacksmith, obtained the sanction of the Church, and he became her accredited instrument to explore and develop the field. He was supported or followed by Nathaniel Mills, Mr. Colbert, James Painter and Benjamin Abbott. The work crystalized-classes were formed, appointments established. The revival in 1805 is the ripe fruit of this gospel seed-sowing. At this date Joseph Fry came into view, connected with Northumberland County. Of commanding mien. and great compass of voice, and endowed with a persuasive and pathetic eloquence, his labors were owned of God wherever he appeared. A year later (1806) Alfred Griffith is by his side-ven- erated names in the Baltimore Conference. Griffith, the then youthful evangelist, became, the aged patriarch who only a few years ago was gathered to his fathers.
" The limits of this sketch will not permit us even to enter upon, much less explore, the field which thus opens. The sacred life-tide, which at first kept along the river bottom, soon extended to its tributaries, and, as the country opened more generally, spread through all the settlements. The erection of churches proceeded with growing frequency. Among the first were those at Berwick, at Melich's, on Fishing Creek, and at Mifflin, at Gearhart's. The country was at length covered by the net-work of the itinerant system, and to a second and third generation has descended the responsibility of inculcating that spiritual holiness once proclaimed by heroic and consecrated pioneers.
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"The result is before the world. In this older portion of the district, extending to large pastorates lying at some distance from the river, we have a present membership of perhaps 6,000 souls. We have also sixty churches. We may justly say our position is impregnable-if we are true to ourselves and to our God-and that in what God has accomplished there is abundant reason for grateful adoration ; but who dare affirm that our present position, whether as to numbers or experience, expresses the highest possible result of our religious system-of that pure and spiritual faith which we have inherited from those who were among the best living exponents? This grand possibility is yet to be witnessed. It is conditioned on a personal faith that grasps the full divine effi- cacy of Christ's death, and rejoices in complete and absolute de- rotion to His service."
In connection with the above, and as a contrast of the present condition of the Methodist Church and that of a century past, the following letter is probably one of the most striking. It was writ- ten February 24th, 1781, from Oxford Township, Chester County, by Richard Smith, to President Joseph Reed, of Philadelphia :
DEAR SIR :- Having not the least acquaintance with Mr. Reed, I hope the sending of this letter may be no offence; I'm at present uneasy, understanding, that a gentleman in Lancaster County known by the name of Joseph Miller Esqr. intends to get Mr. Reed to break or take my commission which I have the honor to hold (viz. that of Magistrate) for no other reason than a Methodist preacher at my house one evening, and two other times I went to hear them, mean- ing no harm. But Squire Miller allows the Methodists to be torify'd. Hav- ing heard that such people as the Methodists preached in the city of Philadelphia without any opposition, and being well informed by a Rev. clergyman, that they had done a great deal of good among many wicked people, and having recourse to our bill of Rights tolerating a liberty of conscience as was always heretofore ob- tained in said state of Pennsylvania I referred Squire Miller to the bill of Rights, though he says it was Benj Franklin and two or three other Deists that obtained that liberty, in spite of said Miller and some others of the convention, I told the squire it was a liberty I thought proceeded from a christian love; by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye love one another. Squire Miller has sent all the Methodist preachers he can catch to Lancaster goal; whether or not them people deserved such treatment God only knows. It is reported by the society that squire Miller adhers to (called seceeders) that the Methodists has been re- cruiting men for the British service if that is really so, I shall not justify any people of that stamp, for my own part, besides many others, thought them able preachers; and seen not the least sign of recruiting men for the British service, only recruiting volunteers for the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, was their
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devouted study, and care to my view. Dear Sir, I shall conclude with the words of the great apostle Paul 25, C. Acts, 16, v. To whom I answered it is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die; before that he which is accused have the accuser face to face. Self praise is no commendation, but as for whigism I am now what I ever was since this present contest commenced, I have marched out before and since the Law obliged; and on every call I either went or sent, I make no doubt sir, but it may be told you that I'm toryfy'd, but it is very likely them or theirs that utter such news if any such be laid to my charge-lived in Philadelphia that campaign and not a man belonging to his company at Trenton the day of the cannonade where I myself was present and in said company a man killed and the hand shot off one other man, this is the solid truth can be proven by many people.
I am thy assured Friend,
CHESTER COUNTY, OXFORD TOWNSHIP, Feby 24, 1781.
R. SMITH.
FORT HUFF-ITS HISTORY.
BY J. H. MCMINN.
H ISTORY and tradition unite in giving a prominent place to a pioneer cabin in this valley, known as "Fort Huff." It has been variously located, on the edge of the plateau a little south of Dodge & Company's planing mill, on the flat east of Dodge's saw mills, on the east side of Lycoming Creek, as it now runs, and on the plateau near what is now Fourth and Stevens streets, New- berry, all of which are only approximately correct.
It is not remarkable that the exact spot cannot readily be iden- tified, on account of the change in the topography of the whole vicinity. The creek now flows in a channel far away from the bed of fifty years ago, and the old course has become a marsh or completely obliterated by being filled up. The old thickets of laurel, willow, birch, buttonwood; walnut, elm and other woods that once forbade the approach of man or beast, have been cleared off, the swamps have been drained and fertile fields now greet the eye where once was an impenetrable jungle. The removal of bushes and roots has given the current an easy means of scouring away the alluvial banks until the once narrow, tortuous Lacomik now resembles a river in the dimensions, of its channel.
The further investigation has been pushed, the more certain it appears that "Fort Huff" was the fruit of a grim sense of humor that prevailed at an early day, and instead of being a stockade in-
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closure, a fortified dwelling or any other refuge in time of danger, it appears to have been merely the unpretentious cabin of an ad- venturous squatter, whose mischievous disposition caused a deal of trouble amongst his neighbors.
After visiting all the alleged sites, carefully studying the sur- roundings and conversing with responsible citizens personally acquainted with many of the chief actors in the scene, the follow- ing consecutive account has been made up of bits of information gleaned from many sources and woven together with the best authenticated thread of narrative:
The name Huff was not uncommon in the early history of this valley, a family of that name having settled near Milton at a very early day, from which the hero of this tale probably descended.
" When Hawkins Boone, an early surveyor, first visited the Bald Eagle Valley, be found that a man named Huff had cut logs with which to build a cabin near the present site of Milesburg.
"Edmund Huff, as carly as 1768, settled and improved a spot near the mouth of Antes Creek, Nippenose bottom."*
Edmund Huff settled one mile above the mouth of Lycoming Creek in 1774 and made improvements.
It is possible that these are one and the same individual, and that he left the valley at the time of the " Big Runaway," in 1778, and returned with the other settlers soon after peace was declared by the last treaty at Fort Stanwix, October 23d, 1784, when the last purchase was made and the boundary line established.
When Edmund Huff came up he built a common round-log cabin, one story high, with a loft, located about a quarter of a mile from the river, and a less distance from the west shore of the creek, as it flowed at that time, on the creek bottom-land close against the base of the plateau, which protected them from the cold wind; the exact spot being now east of Dodge & Company's lumber yard, and a few rods north of their edging burner.
When they were boys, Mr. Valentine King, now living in New- berry, and Mr. Charles King, of Williamsport, hauled away the stone that had been used in the foundation for a house, which their father told them was the last of "Fort Huff."
* See History of the West Branch Valley, page 159.
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The Huff family was looked upon with suspicion and uneasiness by their neighbors, on account of their " having no visible means of support," and a stealthy conduct generally, but no definite ground for accusation occurred until an event transpired which suddenly closed their career and made them famous in history.
William King lived in a pioneer cabin that stood on what is now the northwest corner of Arch Street and the canal, Jaysburg. One night he was awakened by the violent squealing of his pigs; whereupon he hastily arose and went out, only to find that they were moving rapidly away. He followed them until quite near the Huff cabin, when he was fallen upon and severely beaten. With great difficulty he made his way back home, and on the fol- lowing day he informed some of his neighbors of the occurrence, when they readily tracked the intruders through the light fall of snow to the Huff premises, and as a test opened their pig-pen, when King's pigs rushed out and made for home as fast as possible. The house was closed and no signs of life were to be found, so a war- rant was issued for the arrest of the occupants, but when the officer undertook to serve it he found the place barricaded and everything in a threatening attitude. This phase of the proceeding excited the interest as well as the determination of the whole neighbor- hood, and the sheriff was summoned, who organized a posse and broke down the door and carried the men away to jail, after which a search was made and the loft was found to be a general store- house of articles that had been missed throughout the settlement. There were log chains, cow chains, halters, cow bells, sickles, harness, hoes, bridles, broad-axes, bags, chopping axes, adzes, draw- knives and many other articles which had been stolen and covered up with bran.
This development so incensed the people that they forthwith removed the women, set the furniture outside and burned the place to get rid of it, holding a grand jubilee meanwhile. And thus occurred the storming, sacking and burning of " Fort Huff," the capture of the garrison and consequent joy over the successful, though bloodless campaign. The weather was cold and the women and children had nowhere to go, so Mr. King, being their nearest neighbor, took them in and kept them until the following spring, when it was agreed to release " Old Huff " on condition that he
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would take his family and leave the country, which he is said to have done.
In John Slone's ledger, dated Newberry, 1795, is to be seen the following account:
EDMUND HUFF. DR. s. d.
Febry. 2d, 1801, 20 8 gills whiskey
3. 9.
11th, " By cash recd. in full. .3. 9.
It would be interesting to know exactly who this thirsty Edmund Huff happened to be; but one thing is certain, he paid for his whisky, a fact that does not stand to the credit of very many of his fellow citizens of much higher pretensions.
In explanation of the reputed sites of "Fort Huff," it may be said that the twelve-acre field on the edge of the plateau, now oc- cupied by the Dodge Mill's lumber yard. was always facetiously known as the " Fort Huff Field," from its close proximity to that celebrated spot.
The bottom field, lying east of the creek, or the Sutton Farm, (now owned by Hon. R. J. C. Walker), has been called the " Fort Huff Field," and consequently the site of "Fort Huff," through a misapprehension of the true history. The locating of " Fort Huff" near Fourth and Stevens streets doubtless arose from confusing this mythical tale with the extremely dim account preserved of a genuine stockade inclosure that was almost completed at this point, when a massacre of settlers took place near by, and the "Big Runaway" followed soon after, leaving all the improvements to destruction by the merciless savages who made their last successful descent upon the settlers, and held uninterrupted possession for six years afterward.
THE first deed recorded at Sunbury was on June 8th, 1772, in deed book A, page 1, William Lee to S. Young and William Grif- fin, for 300 acres of land on Penn's Creek. It was acknowledged before Esquire Hunter, at Fort Augusta.
THE first store in the borough of Williamsport is supposed to have been opened by William Wilson in 1801. It occupied the site of the present postoffice.
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CURIOUS OLD PAPERS.
As C. M. Clement, Esq., of Sunbury, was recently searching in the Prothonotary's office for the commissions of the first judges of Northumberland County, he came across a bundle of papers of apparently great age. On investigation it proved to be a package containing $194 in Continental money which had been assigned by Stephen Fiddler, an insolvent debtor confined in the Sunbury jail during the year 1787. The following is the text of the documents:
"Return of the property of Stephen Fiddler, an insolvent debtor, contained in the goal at Sunbury, to wit: A debt due by George Ulrich, sixteen shillings and ten and a half pence."
In the package was Continental money to the amount of $194. There was a $40 bill signed by B. Roberts, issued September 28, 1778, a $60 bill of the same date, and a $30 bill of 1776. There was also " a groat," a Colonial bill amounting to four pence. Then followed an assignment of the money for the benefit of his credit- ors, witnessed by Simon Snyder, afterwards Governor of the State. With these papers was the following petition :
"To the Worshipful Justices of the Court of Common Pleas to be held for the County of Northumberland, the fourth Tuesday in February 1787.
"The petition of Stephen Fiddler, of Buffalo township. Humbly Showith that all your petitioners property have been lately sold by the Sheriff and Constable for debt, and now myself confined in the goal of the county and I have nothing to support myself in the cold goal and nothing to support my family at home, and I can pay no debt in goal or have no real or personal property, and my creditors will allow me no time, and finding it out of my power to pay the demand against me, my distress, and the distress of my family, obliges me to apply to the Hon'ble Court for the benefit of the insolvent act. Your petitioner pray your worship to do me justice in my distress. And your petitioner will ever pray."
Then followed the signature, "Stephanus Fiddler." This is in- dorsed, " Prisoner discharged, February term, 1787."
These curious old documents illustrate the method of doing bus- iness over one hundred years ago in Northumberland County. Many other old papers of equally as curious import are to be found in the archives of that county.
THE first lawyers to open offices in Williamsport were Robert MeClure and Charles Huston. They came in 1796.
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A HUNDRED YEARS .* BY "EDITH MAY"-MISS ANNA DRINKER.
[ The writer is a great-granddaughter of Henry Drinker (the elder), founder of the Drinker estate of 500,000 acres in Susquehanna and neighboring counties, and to whom reference is made in the poem.]
Pine, hemlock, beech stout arms embraced, Close-fronted, as to meet a foe, Spread, right and left, a billowy waste, 'Tis just one hundred years ago.
Come but the winter winds to smite With steely edge their columned pride ;
No harvest marks the summer's flight, No dropping seed the gay springtide.
How gay-with bird life all awake! How still as a cathedral nave!
You hear the beast that sceks the lake, His lapping tongue that strikes the wave.
Oh virgin shade and virgin soil, Oh cloistered beauty kept for God,
Hearken! the heavy foot of toil Is on thy consecrated sod.
And man the spoiler, man the lord, And man the priest unveils thy charms,
'Tis spoken, the creative word- Give fruitful breasts and clasping arms.
The forest falls, the sunshine lifts Its banners: from the rugged hills Strong hands compel reluctant gifts, And smiling wealth the valley fills.
I know the land, I know its reach Of waving hill-tops, to the blue Of distant mountains stretching back, And pine and darksome hemlock too.
I know its sunsets' purple flame, Its changeful moods, its breezes free; I know ! " Who shall divorce proclaim," Sweet Nature, "betwixt thee and me?"
[ And one whose blood is in my heart, One who "a hundred years" is dead,
* Read at the centennial of Susquehanna County, which was celebrated at Hallstead, October 10th, 11th and 12th, 1887. Ozias Strong was the first settler.
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Who in those rude times had his part, Gives me, to-day, my daily bread.
Who cared for the unborn, who planned A future for the unknown heir. The wide primeval forest scanned And saw a wealthy future there.]
Bloom, pleasant nooks where I have lain, The noonday sunshine brooding still, And felt God come, in golden rain, To wed the mead, the vale, the hill !
Toss, tree tops, in the mid-day heat ; Thwart, dancing winds, the sunbeams warm ; Laugh, waves I've trod with naked feet, Hills I have climbed through calm and storm.
Yet, where the wheat springs, comes the tare, Naught perfect here, naught wholly clean; For "fair is foul, and foul is fair," And earth hangs heaven and hell between.
Lord of the harvest, watch this field, Curse Thou the tare, bless Thou the grain; Bid it a tenfold measure yield When comes "a hundred years" again !
CONVALESCENT RETREAT, Delaware Co., Pa., August, 1887.
THE following copy of a letter dated Williamsport, April 25th, 1828, which may be found on the 287th page of the 1st volume of Hazard's Register. will show the reader the difference between then and now in the transportation business:
For a few days past a great number of arks, laden with wheat, flour, iron, whisky, &c., passed this place, destined for the Philadelphia market, should the Union Canal be provided with boats, &c., sufficient for their immediate accommo- dation. The river is at present in fine arking order, and no doubt every exertion will be made by our merchants and farmers to transmit all their surplus grain and other produce by the present opportunity.
The sight of an ark on the river at this day loaded with "wheat, flour, whisky or iron," would be a curiosity indeed. And yet it is only fifty-nine years since the farmers and manufacturers had no other means of getting their productions to market.
IN 1794 there were three stores in Sunbury. One was kept by William Dewart, grandfather of Hon. William L. Dewart.
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, DECEMBER, 1887.
PRESBYTERY OF NORTHUMBERLAND.
Rev. Joseph Stevens, D. D., pastor of the Jersey Shore Presby- terian Church for thirty-six years, has, after a year's labor, com- pleted a history of the Presbytery of Northumberland, which will be published in THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL, beginning with the January number. He brings the history down from the beginning to the present time, carefully noting the trials of the pioneer min- isters, the changes, the founding of new churches, and other matters relating to the church which occurred from time to time during a period of one hundred years. The work was necessarily slow and tedious, as it involved the examination of many old church records, the writing of many letters of inquiry, the sifting of reports of meetings and discussions, &c., but he has succeeded in preparing the first complete history of the Presbytery ever written. In the course of the work he gives brief biographical sketches of many of the early ministers who were identified with the foundation of the church in the West Branch Valley, which will prove an invalu- able contribution to the history of the Presbyterian Church in this section of the State, and be much sought after.
The Presbytery of Northumberland, as now constituted, consists of the counties of Clinton, Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Union, Cameron and Lycoming. Dr. Stevens is well known as a learned, careful and devout man, and it is a source of congratulation that the work of writing the history of this grand
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old Presbytery fell into such competent hands. In May next the centennial anniversary of Presbyterianism in this part of Pennsyl- vania will be appropriately celebrated in the churches, and it is timely to have the history prepared in anticipation of the event.
As the work is necessarily voluminous, it will run through four numbers of THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL, closing with the April number, which will be issued about the middle of March. Persons wishing the history in full are advised to subscribe at once. Back numbers of the monthly can still be supplied, and as the history will be completed in this volume-which ends with the April number-interested parties will see the importance of ordering it without delay. The price is only $2 per annum, and once out of print it will not be reproduced.
The volume will also contain the full biographical sketch of the distinguished Rev. John Bryson, who was pastor of the Warrior Run and Chillisquaque churches for about half a century, written by Rev. J. P. Hudson, and published in the May and June num- bers. In addition to this, subscribers will also get the quaint jour- nal of Samuel Maclay, while surveying the West Branch, Sinne- mahoning, Allegheny and other rivers in 1790, in company with Timothy Matlack and John Adlum, by order of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, which was completed in the November number. It is rare that such an opportunity is presented to possess so many valuable old documents relating to the early history of this part of the State for such a small sum of money.
REV. JOHN H. BRYSON is the pastor of a Presbyterian church at Huntsville, Alabama, and was the Moderator of the Assembly which met at Augusta, Georgia, in 1886. His father was the Rev. Henry Bryson, D. D., of Fayetteville, Tenn .. and he was a native of Laurens County, South Carolina. He died November 8th, 1876, in his 76th year. His father, William Bryson, and grandfather of Rev. John H. Bryson, emigrated from County Antrim, Ireland. It is probable that he was one of the brothers of the father of Rev. John Bryson, of Warrior Run Church, who came to this country and settled in the Cumberland Valley in 1748. Who can trace the genealogy of this family ?
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NEARING THE END OF A CENTURY.
JOHN ELSE, of Montoursville, celebrated the 90th anniversary of his birth on the 27th of October, 1887, by having his relatives and friends around him; and a band of music serenaded him in the evening. Mr. Else was born in Bucks County, on the Delaware, 23 miles above Philadelphia, October 27th, 1787. His father re- moved his family to Lycoming County in 1807 and settled on a tract of land, containing 200 acres, two miles above the mouth of Loyalsock Creek. John Else, having grown to manhood, purchased a tract of eight acres of his father in Montoursville, in 1831, on which he built a house, which is still standing. He has been a resident of the town from that time to the present, and although he has started in on the last decade of a century, he is in fair health, moves about the streets, loves to converse with his friends about early times and the marvelous changes that have taken place in three-quarters of a century.
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