USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > The history of Erie County, Pennsylvania > Part 24
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
The abrupt height of the ridge, its narrow base, the deep bed of the stream, with the beauty of the surrounding scenery, compose the extraordinary landscape.
Half a mile distant is another pyramidal ridge covered with grass, not so high or peculiar, called the " Nose." Here there are forks in the creek, and the whole is wild and picturesque.
This description is miserably unjust, but none could be fully adequate-in the worn out words, "it must be seen to be truly appreciated."
As to the flora of this region, we cannot do better than to quote a few words of Professor L. G. Olmstead : "We consider the county and immediate vicinity of Erie by far the best botanizing district with which we are acquainted throughout a large district of country. We have upon the peninsula a very great variety of plants, many of which are not found on the main land, but are common only to West- ern prairies. The marshes, ponds, bogs, etc. afford a great variety of marsh and aquatic plants.
"Among the plants that some of our best florists would travel many miles to see, are the Saracenia purpurea; several varieties of Potamogeton, which are aquatic; Batschia canescens, Enchococinea, found on the Western prairies ; Hydopeltis purpurea, and several species of Utricularia."
The sweet-brier, which has been much admired and par- ticularly adorns the green banks of the lake in the western part of the town, is not, like the wild rose, indigenous, the first plant having been brought from Carlisle, by General Kelso.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XIX.
Miscellaneous Items, among which are: A Tradition-General Wayne- An Anecdote-Price of Provisions-Wm. W. Reed, Esq .- First National Celebration-Churches-The Garrison-A Relic-Saturday Afternoon -Game-Mrs. P.'s Reminiscences-H. Russel's Journal-An early Set- tler in Fairview-La Fayette's Visit in Erie-Cholera-Perry Monu- ment-An Informal Meeting-Speculation-Fires-Sad Accidents -- Ex-President Adams-Patriot War-Old Court-house Bell-Pioneers -Perry-Lieutenant Yarnall-Survivors of the Battle of Lake Erie- Perry Monument at Cleveland-Inventions-Moravian Lands-Omis- sions.
A Tradition .- The Eries were alarmed when they heard of the confederation of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas residing in Central New York, and regarded them as natural enemies. To satisfy themselves, they sent a message to the Senecas, who resided nearest to them, inviting them to select one hundred of their most active, athletic men to play a game of ball against the same number selected from the Eries, for a wager worthy of the occasion and nation.
The message was received in the most respectful manner, but the challenge declined. The next year the offer was renewed and again declined. At the third offer, the young Iroquois could be no longer restrained, the wise councils which had hitherto prevailed were set aside, and the chal- lenge accepted. After the selection, the party being the flower of the tribe, a most solemn charge was given them to acquit themselves as the worthy representatives of a great and powerful people, anxious to cultivate peace and friend- ship with neighboring tribes. The party then took up the line of march for Tu-shu-way, (Buffalo,) sent a messenger to notify the Eries of their approach, and the next day made a grand entrée. They brought no weapon. . The bat was a hickory stick, about five feet long, bent over at the
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end, and thong netting wove into a bow. Their wager, which was matched by the Eries, consisted of piles of ele- gant wampum, costly jewels, silver bands, and beautifully ornamented moccasins. The game began, and though con- tested with desperation and great skill by the Eries, the Iroquois bore off the prize in triumph. The Iroquois hav- ing accomplished the object of their visit were about to re- turn, when the Eries proposed a foot race between ten of their number, at "Kanswans" or Eighteen-mile Creek. The victor in the race was to dispatch his adversary with a tomahawk and bear off his scalp as a trophy. This the Iro- quois accepted, secretly intending to waive the bloody part of the proposition should their tribe be victors. The Eries were again vanquished, but the Iroquois declined to execute their victim. At this the chief of the Eries came forward, and, quick as thought, himself dispatched the vanquished warrior, who was dragged out of the way and another champion placed in his stead. This was three times re- peated, and the Iroquois seeing the great excitement that prevailed, made a signal to depart, and, gathering up their trophies, proceeded homeward.
The Eries knew no mode of securing peace but by the extermination of their enemies; it being no part of their character to cultivate and strengthen friendship. They knew to contend with them collectively would be useless. Immediately they organized a powerful party of warriors- hoping to be an equal match to their powerful neighbors by surprising the Senecas, who resided on Seneca Lake. But a woman residing among them who had a stronger interest in the Iroquois, secretly gave them warning, and five thousand warriors were organized and marched out to meet them. The two parties met at Honeoye, where a bloody and desperate battle was fought. The Eries were driven seven times across the stream and as often regained their ground. But a few of the vanquished Eries escaped to convey the news of their terrible overthrow, and these
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were pursued, and all that fell into the enemies' hands put to death. For weeks the pursuit was continned, and it was five months before the victorious party of the five nations returned with their trophies, having subdued their last and most pow- erful enemies. Tradition adds that the descendants of the Eries returned from beyond the Mississippi and attacked the Senecas, then settled in the seat of their fathers, Tu-shu- way; and that a great battle was fought, and the Eries slain to a man, near the site of the (Cattaragus) Indian Mission-house.
General Wayne .- The following newspaper article, by Rev. L. G. Olmstead, is copied partly for the purpose of adding a word of explanation in reference to the disinter- . ment of General Wayne, at Erie, in 1809 :-
"On arriving at Erie, he (Colonel Isaac Wayne) em- ployed ' Old Dr. Wallace,' so called to distinguish him from the present Dr. Wallace, to take up his father's remains, pack the boxes in as small a space as possible, and lash them on to the hinder part of his sulky. Dr. Wallace took up the remains and found them in a perfect state of preservation, except one foot. The body had been buried in full uniform, and the boot on the decayed foot was also decayed, while the other boot remained sound, and a man by the name of Duncan had a mate to it and wore them out. Duncan's foot, like the general's, was very large. Dr. Wallace cut and boiled the flesh off the bones, packed them in a box, lashed them to the carriage, and they were brought and deposited beside the rest of his family in the above-named church-yard.
"I visited General Wayne's old residence in the summer of 1857, and found everything much as he had left it. The house is an elegant, old two-story mansion, now occupied by his grandson. The parlors and sitting-rooms are as they were. There are portraits and engravings of men of the Revolution, hanging on the walls, as on the 3d of April, 1792, when he was appointed to the command of the West-
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ern army. Around the house and over the farm, while the fences and buildings are in a good condition, yet they as- sured me it is about as he left it. Everything appeared as though it had belonged to a gentleman of the old school, a race now said to be extinct. The premises looked, and I felt, as though the old hero, whose very name was once a terror to the murderous red man, might be expected back in an hour or so, and a dreamy impression seemed to steal over me that if I waited a little I should see him. I should have liked much to have questioned him about Three Rivers, and Brandywine, and Germantown, and Monmouth, and Stony Point, and Yorktown, and the Indians, and how the city appeared when she was only a year old. And I seemed to hold my breath and listen as many an old Indian had done, for his footsteps and his fearful oaths ; yet he did not come, and I passed on some three miles to his final resting- place."
G. Sanford, who came to Erie in 1810, and was well acquainted with Dr. J. C. Wallace, heard him more than once allude to this circumstance. Mr. Sanford's impres- sion is that Colonel Wayne put up at Buehler's hotel, and did not visit the grave of his father, but sent for Dr. Wal- lace and made known the object of his visit, requesting him to superintend the removal and place the remains in a suitable condition for the journey. Dr. Wallace was a skillful surgeon of the army and a man of the first standing, and Colonel Wayne could not have selected a more suitable person to carry out his design. Both must have supposed the body, thirteen years after death, to have returned to cor- ruption. That Dr. Wallace pursued the wisest course the nature of the case would admit of, none who knew him would for a moment doubt. As a military man he was accustomed to obey orders, but it was with his operations as with other surgeons, not always an agreeable subject to dis- cuss minutely.
An Anecdote .- The details of the first year's residence of
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a wealthy citizen of the county who settled near Waterford, presents a model of patience and industry worthy of study and imitation. On landing, one of the few settlers offered him employment in going to the woods to split puncheons, for which he was to have fifty cents a day. This occupation consists in splitting fair chestnut logs two or three times and smoothing them with an axe, to be used as a substitute for boards in making a floor. After a week of hard work at the puncheons, (with hoeing potatoes before breakfast added,) reckoning day came, and he found he was charged seventy- five cents per day for board ! Legal redress was not to be thought of, as there was no law this side of Pittsburg, which was then almost as difficult of access as Pike's Peak. He tied up his effects in his yellow cotton handkerchief, and was abont starting, when his employer called out, "Where did you split the puncheons ?" (He had been called "the green Yankee.") "You call me green, and I am; but not green enough to tell you that !" was the spirited reply.
Many years after he saw the decayed puncheons on the spot where he left them, near the site of the court-house.
The settler then walked six or eight miles to the location of a farmer, and, finding no warrant upon the tract adjoining him, he secured it, and immediately put in a crop of potatoes. These, when the size of birds' eggs, he used for food, for he had no other. In November the potatoes were gone, and after having scooped out a log for a canoe, he floated down the river, seeking employment. At Pittsburg no engage- ment offering, he put himself up at auction, at the market, proclaiming from a horse-block, that he "could do any work that any other man could do," and a Dutchman gave him a bid of three dollars a month and board. (This time he was careful to mention the board.) Here he remained three months, and was offered for the future three dollars and fifty cents per month, but he paid out his nine dollars for a bar- rel of flour and poled himself up to Waterford; from this
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he carried his flour, thirty pounds at a time, to his farm three miles distant.
Price of Provisions, etc .- Among Esquire Rees's papers we find a bill dated 1792, "for services in viewing the county, $193 43." Another, "To Indians for hunting, $50."
Other accounts, dated 1797, show provisions at the follow- ing prices : Potatoes, 12 shillings per bushel; corn, 16 shil- lings; oats, 12 shillings; wheat, 20 shillings per bushel ; pork, $30 per barrel; sugar, 33 cents; loaf sugar, 87 cents per pound, etc.
In 1813-14 provisions commanded a still higher price ; corn $4, and oats $3 per bushel.
The first white man born in the "Triangle" was William W. Reed, son of John C. Reed, and grandson of Colonel S. Reed, in Erie, February 20th, 1797. He became a mer- chant in Ashtabula, Ohio, but had resided in Erie a few years previous to his decease, September 9th, 1851.
The First Celebration of our National Independence recorded, was the 4th of July, 1797, near Colt's Station. Mr. Colt says: "Tuesday being the twenty-second anniver- sary of the Independence of America, at the expense of the Pennsylvania Population Company we gave an entertain- ment to about seventy-five people, settlers of the said com- pany. A bower was erected under two large maple-trees, and when the hearts of the people were cheered with good fare, sundry toasts were drank suitable to the occasion. After I had withdrawn, one Jas. Crawford offered the fol- lowing: 'May Judah Colt, agent of the Population Com- pany, drive the intruders before him as Samson did the Philistines ! Three cheers !' and the woods rang with a roar of laughter for some time."
First Court .- When the circuit court met for the first time in the county, several of the citizens rode out to escort Judge Yates into town, but were disappointed in not meet- ing him. The court met in a room rented by the commis- sioners, on French Street, between Second and Third Streets.
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
As the first day was election day, business was postponed, and in the afternoon, in honor of the judge and strangers, a large sailing-party of ladies and gentlemen went over to the peninsula.
Churches .- Previous to 1811 there was seldom church to attend, but the few who could do so conveniently would ride to Fairview or Northeast, where were church organizations and settled pastors at an earlier day. Among the itinerants at a later day was Rev. Mr. Judd, who periodically, for sev- eral years, held meetings in Colonel Forster's vacant room, on the corner of French and Fifth Streets. He was esteemed a man of zeal and strong faith, but somewhat eccentric; hav- ing been connected with the Presbyterian, Baptist, and Meth- odist churches, he was now free from all ecclesiastical rule. In the selection of elders, with him piety was of no account -influence was the indispensable qualification. Hence, his men in Erie were Captain Deacon, the commanding officer, Purser Carr, and Mr. Reed the wealthiest citizen. On one occasion, after reading the hymn, no one appeared "to raise the tune," and he remarked that he wished "Captain Deb. was there, and she could do it," meaning his wife. He then asked if there was not some lady who would undertake it, when one kindly volunteered, and in due time all went on in a becoming and reverential manner.
An anecdote is related which shows the class of people our ministers had to deal with, even long after this. On one occasion the parson thought proper to exclude from the communion one of his members who had been guilty of in- temperance, by the name of Folwell. In consequence of this a near connection came to thrash the parson. After the matter had been discussed, and the irritated avenger (who, for the preacher's eye, had not been able to execute his threat) being somewhat restored to reason, he exclaimed, "Faith, sir, and when ye come till heaven ye'll find the Folwells theer!" With this ultimatum of his rage he de- parted
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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
At an early day the garrison seemed to be the general resort for citizens and strangers, an officer of the army hav- ing command until about 1806. At the time General Wayne's remains were removed, in 1809, and previously, Captain D. Dobbins was residing in the large building, in the center of the ground, erected for the commanding officer ; one of the gates was down and the works were going to de- cay. General Wayne, when he was landed in an almost dying state, chose to be tenanted in the upper part of the east block-house. It seems the attics of the three were fitted up as dwellings. We have mentioned elsewhere that these block-houses were on the east side of the creek, and built in 1795 for the protection of the State commissioners, General William Irvine and Andrew Ellicot, who were lay- ing out the town. Captain John Grubb brought on a mi- litia force at the time .* The names of the officers who commanded at different times were Captain Russel Bissel, in 1797; Captain Cornelius Lyman, until 1801; Captain McCall, and General Callender Irvine. Captain Lyman is described as a perfect gentleman, notwithstanding which he was court-martialed in Erie, in 1798, for a want of hospi- tality, (in what particular instance is not recorded,) but was honorably acquitted. In 1801, (Mr. Colt notes,) "Colonel Hamtramck arrived from Pittsburg, on his way to Detroit. On entering the garrison a salute from the fort, of sixteen guns, was fired, and also one from the United States armed vessel Wilkeson, in the harbor; at the same time a large brig from Fort Erie, of two hundred tons, came in." In April, 1802, a ball was given at the garrison, which, Mr. Colt remarks, "was a very agreeable affair."
A Relic .- In 1804 or 1805 an iron cannon, a three- pounder, was found by General Kelso, near the Cascade,
* Captain Grubb was a worthy citizen. He received the appoint- ment of associate judge about 1813, and resided on his farm in Mill Creek until his death in June, 1845.
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partly imbedded in sand. The probability is that it be- longed to the French. At the time of their occupation, and previously, there was a road on the sand beach, and in transporting stores this might have been for some reason abandoned. General K. or his heirs disposed of it many years ago to a citizen of Black River, Ohio.
In a number of the newspaper Mirror, of 1808, we find that the sum of forty-two dollars was paid William David- son for clearing the public square.
It has been remarked of Mill Creek, that in 1810 it con- tained four times the quantity of water that it does at pres- ent, and about Third Street there was quite a pretty cascade. The gradual diminution of streams has been remarked in all new countries. It is supposed to be the result of increased evaporation occasioned by the removal of trees, and also by the plowed ground, which absorbs large quantities of water.
Saturday Afternoon .- An early custom prevailed in Erie that must have been highly unpopular with some-that of calling out every man on Saturday afternoon to dig out stumps in the streets. This was before 1810.
There was an ordinance also compelling citizens to dig three stumps from the highways of the town as a punish- ment for every bacchanal revel they engaged in. This ordinance was repealed at an informal meeting held in front of the Reed House, in June, 1846, the principal object being in congratulation of the public benefit received by the adorn- ment of the public square with trees, and when it received the appellation of Perry Square.
As to game, the early settlers found an abundance of deer, rabbits, foxes, squirrels, opossums, etc. As late as 1804, Mr. H. Russel enters in his journal: "January Ist-Cloudy morning; clears off; hunt bears, wolves, panthers, wild cats, etc." Panthers are not often spoken of in Erie County. In Buffalo we hear of one being shot, in 1827, one mile and a half from the present court-house.
In 1808 are to be found, among county expenditures, $80
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paid for wolf-scalps. The bounty was probably $10 per head-afterward, for many years, it was $12. The few scalps presented for bounty at that early day indicate the sparseness of the population and their want of leisure for such pursuits. In 1813 Mr. Russel lost four sheep by wolves. In 1828 sheep could not be kept at Colt's Station on account of their frequent visits : $72 74 were paid by the county for scalps in 1834, $85 90 in 1836.
Probably the last of the wild-cat species in the county was shot by Mr. Abram Knapp, at Lake Pleasant, in 1857.
A copy of the Erie Gazette, dated August, 1820, has the following advertisement :-
"A Hunting we will go !- A party of gentlemen intend going to the head of the peninsula, on Wednesday morning next, if fair-if not, the next fair morning-for the purpose of forming a line across it at the head and marching abreast down to the point, where boats will be stationed to follow game that may take to the water. A meeting will be held on Monday evening next at the court-house, for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements."
Foxes are still abundant. J. W. Silverthorn shot twenty in the neighborhood of Girard, in the winter of 1861, and many other sportsmen were quite successful in the same way.
Mrs. P.'s Reminiscences .- Mrs. P., who remembers Erie in 1803, says: The pickets were standing around parts of old Fort Presqu'ile at that time. A ruined, peculiar-look- ing house of stone and timber was also standing, and near by was a very deep well. Indian beads and other relics were found on the ground.
When the fleet was building, a small party returned from the peninsula very greatly excited, maintaining that they had seen three British spies, in red coats, and made oath to the fact before a magistrate. As fears were entertained of the destruction of the vessels while building, the militia were called out until the square was filled. The Burgess thought advisable, before proceeding further, to send over
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and make a strict search, which was accordingly done, and nothing found to justify the story unless it might be that three red oxen were there quietly feeding.
Soon after Buffalo was burned, an express came with the news that the British were eighteen miles west of Buffalo, on their way to destroy Erie and the fleet. Merchants removed their wares, and the greatest consternation pre- vailed. Families were called up at midnight, and, hastily packing their furniture and goods, fled from the lake, and many of them remained absent until spring. The most anxious fears were from the Indians, who had perpetrated such cruelties at Buffalo. Commodore Elliot was, through the whole, firm in the opinion that the town and fleet were sufficiently protected. The young people were very much amused, during such excitements, by the conduct of the militia, as well as by their uniforms, which were made up of every variety of borrowed and inherited garments and non- fits. Some went so far as to maintain that they protected the town after the manner of scarecrows, and that they were nuisances second only to the British themselves.
In the Journal of Mr. Hamlin Russel, of Mill Creek, is the following :-
"June, 1812 .- General Kelso ordered Captain Foot to call out his company of infantry for the defense of Erie. (Hamlin Russel volunteered.)
"6th .- On duty. This day the general dismissed our company ; so, for the present, myself and a number of my neighbors have volunteered to keep sentry at the head of the peninsula, three by rotation to stand a tour of twenty- four hours; my tour will commence on the eighth instant.
" August 25th .- Expresses were sent through the county to call out the militia-a number of vessels being seen, ap- prehensions were entertained that a descent would be made at this place. I went to town, as did all the country ; there heard the disagreeable information that General Hull had surrendered himself and army prisoners to the British, to-
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gether with the post of Detroit. The gencral voice pro- nounces Hull a traitor.
"May 15th, 1813 .- Go to town; a great alarm; 600 or 700 British and Indians land on the peninsula under cover of a thick fog, and go off again without being seen by any one.
"July 26th, P.M .- Our harbor closely blockaded by the British vessels; the militia of this county are ordered out en masse.
"December 31st .- Thus ends the year 1813, in which the war has been carried on in a manner becoming Democracy ; Wilkinson's army is defeated and driven out of Canada, and likely to starve this winter; Fort George is evacuated; the enemy have burned Lewistown and Schlosser, surprised and taken Fort Niagara without the loss of a man, and still retain possession of it. Hurrah for Democracy !
"January 1st, 1814 .- Go to town; there learn that Thursday last the British crossed at Black Rock, drove the militia before them to the village of Buffalo, and then drove them out of the village, which they reduced to ashes. Re- port says that the enemy, 3000 strong, are eight miles in advance of Buffalo, on the march for this place; the citi- zens of Erie are sending off their families and effects as fast as possible. Come home; make preparations to send off my wife and babes, should worst come to worst.
"Sunday 2d .--* * Find that it is not true that the enemy are advancing to this, but in all probability they will be here, or attempt to come, before spring, (on the ice;) ex- presses sent off in every direction to call in the militia.
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