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•■<., 
 
 EARLY TIMES ON THE SUSQUEHANNA 
 
 /- 
 
Mbs. George A. Perkins, at 30 Years of Age. 
 
 Portrait by S. A. Mount, N. A. 
 
Early Times on 
 the Susquehanna 
 
 BY 
 
 Mrs. George A. Perkins 
 
 Fair river, though thus silently you flow, 
 
 On thy green banks once woke the wail of woe. 
 
 Lewers. 
 
 1906 
 
 The Herald Compaxy of Binghamton 
 
 Printers 
 
<\ 
 
 LIBRARY of CONGRF.SS 
 Two Conies Received 
 
 AUG 15 1906 
 
 Copynetii Litiy 
 CLASS /f<^ XXc, No. 
 
 Copyright, 1870, 
 
 BY 
 
 Mrs. George A, Perkins 
 
 Copyright, 1906, 
 
 BY 
 
 Mrs. Sarah Perkins Elmer 
 
 SECO]^X.> .EDITION 
 
 The Herald Company of Binghamton 
 Printers 
 
PREFACE 
 
 Frequent inquiries are made for copies of " Early 
 Times on the Susquehanna," which is an induce- 
 ment to issue another edition, as the first was long 
 since exhausted. Year after year interest in- 
 creases in the past history of our lovely valley, 
 and it is most important to foster with care every 
 item of correct information. 
 
 The little volume written by Mrs. George A, 
 Perkins (my mother), containing so much which, 
 except for her, would have been lost, is sacredly 
 preserved. 
 
 The more recent developments of our section of 
 country have not been touched upon, but are left 
 to the pen of the future historian. The hope is 
 cherished that those who have wished for the 
 perusal of these pages will welcome the new edi- 
 tion as cordially as the first was received by the 
 dear friends of a former generation. 
 
 Sakah Perkins Elmer. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Author's Introduction ...... ix 
 
 Sketch of the Life of Mrs. George A. Perkins . xiii 
 
 I. Indians ....... 1 
 
 II. Moravian Missions — Wyalusing . . .13 
 
 III. Connecticut Title . . . . .18 
 
 IV. Queen Esther . . . . . .33 
 
 V. Sullivan's Expedition in 1779 . . .36 
 
 VI. Matthias Hollenback . » . .42 
 
 VII. New Sheshequin . . . . .47 
 
 VIII. Old Sheshequin . . . . .56 
 
 IX. John Shepard . . . . . .58 
 
 X. Claverack ....... 71 
 
 XI. The Collins Murder . . . . .75 
 
 XII, Indian Treaty at Tioga Point . . .79 
 
 XIII. French Town, or Asylum . . . .91 
 
 XIV. Athens Township . . . . .95 
 XV. Boundaries . . . . . ■ . 105 
 
 XVI. Distinguished Characters . . . .108 
 
 XVII. Early Inhabitants . . . . .119, 
 
 XVIII. Milltown 138 
 
 XIX. Postoffice and Stages . . . .154 
 
 XX. Shad Fishery ...... 157 
 
 XXI. Troy and Adjacent Towns . . .159 
 
 XXII. Factoryville and Waverly . . .167 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 PAGE 
 
 XXIII. Remarkable Events . . . . 
 
 . 173 
 
 XXIV. Improvements .... 
 
 . 175 
 
 XXV. The Deer Hunt of 1818 . 
 
 . 181 
 
 XXVI. Soldiers 
 
 . 186 
 
 XXVI I. Floods 
 
 . 195 
 
 XXVIII. The Church 
 
 . 200 
 
 XXIX. Mrs. Clement Paine . 
 
 . 210 
 
 Appendix No. I . . ... 
 
 . 255 
 
 Appendix No. II .... . 
 
 . 264 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 Mrs. George A. Perkins . 
 
 Frontispiece 
 
 George A. Perkins .... 
 
 . 
 
 XX 
 
 Memoria^l Tablet .... 
 
 Facing page 
 
 1 
 
 Fort Sullivan ..... 
 
 
 
 36 
 
 Judge Obadiah Gore . . 
 
 
 
 49 
 
 John Shepard ..... 
 
 
 
 58 
 
 Map of Athens Township and Tioga Point 
 
 
 
 95 
 
 Map of Tioga Point 
 
 
 
 99 
 
 Map ...... 
 
 
 
 107 
 
 Colonel John Franklin 
 
 
 
 126 
 
 General Henry Welles 
 
 
 
 130 
 
 View on the Susquehanna at Athens 
 
 
 
 209 
 
 Map ...... 
 
 
 
 254 
 
 Zeisberger Preaching to the Indians 
 
 
 
 264 
 
AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION 
 
 A MEETING of the early settlers of this region was 
 held at Athens, Pa., in the Presbyterian church, 
 on the 22d of February, 1854. 
 
 The venerable Major Flower, a Kevolutionary 
 soldier, and long known as an efficient surveyor, 
 was called to the chair, sustained by Hon. Dr. 
 Barstow of Nichols, and Hon. H. Williston of 
 Athens, as Vice-Presidents. 
 
 Many ancient men, and a large number of the 
 descendants of the first settlers were present, and 
 were highly entertained by addresses from Dr. 
 Barstow, Judge Williston, Hon. Thomas Maxwell 
 of Elmira, Judge Avery of Owego, Judge Mc- 
 Dowell of Chemung, and others. There were rep- 
 resentatives from Owego, Elmira, and the neigh- 
 boring towns, some of whom gave historical 
 sketches of their respective districts. 
 
 Dr. Barstow opened the meeting, stating the 
 object for which they had assembled, and called 
 attention to the importance of collecting facts and 
 incideijts connected with the early settlement of 
 the country. He thought it highly proper that we 
 should know the history of the first settlement of 
 our country. 
 
 Hon. C. P. Avery, who was called upon, com- 
 menced his remarks by exhibiting the original In- 
 dian title or conveyance of a tract of land, made 
 
X AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION 
 
 by the Indians to Amos Draper, the first white set- 
 tler at Owego. This tract was three miles in 
 width, and six in length, including the site of the 
 present village of Owego. It is written in the Iro- 
 quois language, said to be far the most beautiful 
 of any Indian language, but now extinct. Judge 
 Avery had procured a translation, through a 
 learned Seneca Chief,* which he read. It had 
 been recently found among some old papers in the 
 garret of one of the descendants of Mr. Draper. 
 
 It was passed through the assembly, exciting 
 great interest, and was looked upon as a rare and 
 valuable curiosity. He proceeded to give a graphic 
 history of Owego and the neighboring towns, — 
 Nichols, Barton, Berkshire, Candor, and Spencer, 
 — from their early settlement by the white people, 
 and the names of the Pioneers who first settled 
 these places. 
 
 Hon. Thomas Maxwell confined his remarks 
 principally to Tioga Point, and cherished a warm 
 regard for the village of his birth, and the scenes 
 of his early childhood, and while life and health 
 were spared, would be ready to contribute to the 
 preservation of the history of the first settlement 
 of our beautiful valley. 
 
 Judge Williston made a striking comparison be- 
 tween the state of the country fifty years ago when 
 he was passing down from Broome County to Brad- 
 ford, along the valley. Then the improvements 
 were comparatively new. There were two skele- 
 tons of churches, and two or three school-houses. 
 Now the entire distance is covered with villages, 
 churches, academies, school-houses, and highly cul- 
 
 * Mr. E. S. Parker. 
 
AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION xi 
 
 tivated farms. Judge Williston always showed 
 himself the friend of the early Connecticut settler, 
 and referred to the Trenton Decree, and the diflft- 
 culty of procuring title to the lands, as greatly re- 
 tarding the settlement of the country. 
 
 Judge McDowell thought we should visit and 
 converse with the few that yet remain of the early 
 settlers, and gather all the historical facts about 
 early times that could be obtained. He hoped a 
 minute and accurate history would soon be 
 written. 
 
 Such meetings of the early settlers have doubt- 
 less had a salutary influence among the descend- 
 ants of the early Pioneers, perpetuating and ce- 
 menting the bond of union which originated with 
 their fathers in the days of their privations and 
 hardships, when their sympathies were mutual. 
 The first of these gatherings was held at Elmira in 
 1853, the second at Athens, 1854, and the third at 
 Owego, 1855. It was affecting to observe how 
 rapidly these aged veterans passed away from one 
 of the " Old Settlers' meetings," to another. The 
 deaths of many familiar friends were reported 
 from year to year, and the number has continued 
 to diminish rapidly, until it is difficult to find one, 
 whose faculties of mind and body are not too much 
 impaired to be able to communicate intelligently. 
 Hence the embarrassment of furnishing a com- 
 plete history. 
 
 At the close of the meeting first mentioned, 
 Judge Avery urged it as the duty of some resident 
 to write the history of this place and vicinity. 
 Fifteen years have passed, and no such looked-for 
 
xii AUTHOR'S INTRODUCTION 
 
 record has appeared. Having some facilities from 
 my late father's papers, in my possession, I pro- 
 pose for the benefit of my children and others who 
 may feel an interest in the subject to make such 
 statements as these documents, together with in- 
 formation received from my ancestors, and from 
 authors whom I have consulted, and my own per- 
 sonal knowledge, may enable me to do. 
 
 I would also gratefully acknowledge the kind- 
 ness of friends who have aided me in the work. 
 
 It is natural for the intelligent to wish to learn 
 all they can about the history of their ancestors, 
 and the place of their own nativity; and if this 
 sketch can afford any gratification to the living, or 
 be useful to those who may come after, the object 
 will be accomplished. 
 
A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 MRS. GEORGE A. PERKINS 
 
 It has been well said that the lives of those only 
 should be written who have contributed to the 
 well-being of mankind; who have by precept and 
 example endeavored to elevate, and influence for 
 good, any coming within their reach. Surely 
 those who have led lives of devotion to others are 
 well worthy of commemoration. Few, if any, have 
 lived in as small a degree for personal glory, or 
 for self-adulation, as did she whose memory it is 
 now our happiness to recall. 
 
 Anna Shepard, daughter of John Shepard, was 
 bom in Athens township, November 11, 1799. Her 
 father, who had removed from Plainfleld, Conn., 
 in 1784, had at this period attained to circum- 
 stances of prosperity and comfort; and her in- 
 fancy was bright and joyous, until she was five 
 years of age, when the greatest calamity that can 
 befall a young family suddenly overwhelmed them. 
 
 The mother of this unsuspecting circle was 
 thrown from a carriage and the following day 
 breathed her last, with the words upon her lips, 
 " I am going to the world of Spirits," With pro- 
 found grief did the stricken husband, and father 
 of the terrified group of seven little children, ex- 
 claim, " Was ever sorrow like unto my sorrow." 
 
 This melancholy event doubtless left a deep 
 
xiv A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 and lasting impression upon the child whose 
 course we trace to-day. She was represented as 
 unusually considerate and thoughtful. Very early 
 her affections were placed upon the treasures of 
 heaven, where her most precious earthly friend 
 had gone, and with the steadfastness of purpose 
 which distinguished her through her career, she 
 early consecrated her life to the service of God. 
 She gave to Him the first fruits, and He granted 
 her an abundant harvest. 
 
 We find in the earliest records of this Church 
 on the 8th day of July, 1812, when she was 
 twelve years of age, the name of Anna Shepard 
 with twenty-one others, her father among the num- 
 ber. " The members first constituting a Congre- 
 gational Church, having individually subscribed 
 their names to the articles of faith." She was at 
 this time baptized. This step was not taken with 
 the thoughtlessness of a child, as we may judge 
 by a letter, dated September 12, 1812, written by 
 the new and loving mother who had come the year 
 previous to gladden this home which had been for 
 six long years motherless. She speaks " particu- 
 larly of our little Anna Shepard, it is all we can 
 ask of a child or any one else to give himself to 
 the Sovereign of the universe unfeigned, which I 
 have no doubt is the case with her. She is to me a 
 charming child and I promise myself great satis- 
 faction with her if our lives are spared." 
 
 Not long after this a friend and relative. Miss 
 Julia Prentice, visited the family, and being much 
 pleased with this interesting little girl, wished her 
 to be called for her. Without formality, therefore, 
 
MRS. GEORGE A. PERKINS xv 
 
 Julia was prefixed to her name, which subse- 
 quently was usually written Julia Anna. 
 
 Mr. Sheparcl was extremely anxious for the edu- 
 cation of his family, and in their early years 
 established a school near his residence where they 
 were carefully trained and instructed. In 1814, 
 however, an exceptionally fine teacher was en- 
 gaged in the person of Mr. Sylvanus Guernsey, 
 " a liberally educated young man from Harris- 
 burg," and the first school was opened in the 
 Athens Academy. Mr, Shepard was one of the 
 patrons, and his daughter Anna, who was then 
 fourteen years of age, was among the first of those 
 who availed themselves of the superior advantages 
 of this historical institution of learning. An old 
 school friend, an aged clergyman, remarked not 
 many years since that she w^as always acknowl- 
 edged among her companions even at an early age 
 to be intellectual and a conscientious student. 
 After two or three years of diligent work, and 
 hearing of Miss Pierce's celebrated school at 
 Litchfield, Conn., the leading institution of that 
 date for young ladies, she became exceedingly 
 anxious to avail herself of that opportunity to 
 obtain a broader and more thorough education; 
 consequently in a letter of November 26, 1817, to 
 Miss Pierce, her father makes application for her, 
 and speaks of the desire his daughter has for an 
 education, and adds, " I have thought proper to 
 place her under your tuition, deeming it all im- 
 portant to give my children such advantages." 
 She evidently prepared for the long journey 
 hastily, for a letter from a friend of her father's. 
 
xvi A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 Mr. Jesse Gilbert, of New Haven, written the Jan- 
 uary following, says, " Julia Anna and I arrived 
 at Litchfield yesterday afternoon in good health 
 and found all things agreeable. Left her in fine 
 spirits. She boards with a Mrs. Bull, where Mrs. 
 Beecher, mother of Dr. Lyman Beecher, and Esther 
 Beeeher, his sister, and my particular friend, live; 
 who have agreed to send me a line if she should 
 be sick, in which case I shall write you, and pay 
 every attention as if she were my own daughter." 
 This must have been very comforting indeed to a 
 father whose child was as far distant in point of 
 time, compared with now, as if beyond the seas. 
 
 She was left in good hands. The various mem- 
 bers of this celebrated family, who were most at- 
 tentive and kind during her stay in Litchfield, were 
 always by her borne in grateful and pleasant re- 
 membrance. Dr. Lyman Beecher, the leading 
 clergyman of the town, was then at the zenith of 
 his popularity and power, and the members of his 
 family who subsequently became so distinguished 
 were interesting young people, her congenial com- 
 panions. 
 
 The school was all that it was represented to 
 be, yet with these many advantages we may read- 
 ily imagine a touch of homesickness when we read 
 in a letter from the young school girl so far from 
 home to a dear friend, " Were I not as pleasantly 
 situated as heart can wish, with the best of friends 
 and associates, and my mind engaged and inter- 
 ested with my literary pursuits, I should be in- 
 clined to think I was forgotten. I will hasten to 
 tell you something of Litchfield. It only wants 
 
MRS. GEORGE A. PERKINS xvii 
 
 the Tioga and Susquehanna rivers to make it the 
 most delightful place I have ever seen. The so- 
 ciety far exceeds the local situation with all its 
 beauty, and there are schools where every science 
 may be studied, charitable institutions for the dis- 
 semination of knowledge are established, and 
 every one appears to be engaged in the instruc- 
 tion of the indigent. We have this summer a very 
 interesting school; there are about a hundred 
 pupils." 
 
 A letter to her parents dated July 25, 1818, 
 shows what unusual attainments she had made in 
 her spiritual and intellectual life for a girl of her 
 years. She wrote, " I am now in my dear little 
 chamber, where I spend the most of my time in 
 studying and knitting. It is indeed a pleasant 
 place, a little out of the bustle of the village, where 
 we have a beautiful prospect, and a fine society of 
 little girls. I am peculiarly privileged, I acknowl- 
 edge, but I feel the want of a warm heart to whom 
 to express my gratitude to the bountiful ' Giver of 
 every good and perfect gift.' 
 
 " My faithful monitor. Miss Perry, has left, and 
 I have no one in the family upon whom I can de- 
 pend to reprove me when I err. My conscience 
 I hope is not so seared but that it resists the striv- 
 ings of the wicked one. How diligently employed 
 is the enemy, and how varied his artifices to de- 
 ceive the souls of men. 
 
 " I must hasten to tell you that a few days since 
 I saw a Christian die. It was Mrs. Beecher, mother 
 of the minister. She met death as a welcomed 
 guest, like the calm summer sun her spirit gently 
 
xviii A SKETCH AF THE LIFE OF 
 
 retired to sliine in another world. The house was 
 filled with silent tears, but they were not tears of 
 grief. How desirable to live the life of the right- 
 eous, that we may die his death. Another affect- 
 ing and interesting death was that of Mr. Holmes, 
 a young man about the age of twenty-two. He 
 was preparing for the ministry, studying at An- 
 dover. He was taken ill there and obliged to re- 
 turn to his home at Litchfield. I never saw a 
 more affecting scene than was exhibited on the 
 Sabbath when he was buried. Mr. Beecher's text 
 was, ' For me to live is Christ, but to die is gain.' 
 He showed why it is better to die than to live. 
 ' First, because there is rest after death if we reach 
 Heaven ; secondly, there is no sin in Heaven ; 
 thirdly, the society is better, being made up of 
 angels and spirits of the just.' He spoke in the 
 most energetic and interesting manner to the 
 young people. The congregation was generally 
 melted to tears. Mr. Holmes was greatly beloved 
 and lamented by all. The procession was very sol- 
 emn. Four young men of his particular friends, 
 dressed in mourning, and eight young ladies, 
 dressed in white, followed the bier, and as 
 nearly as could be estimated six hundred were 
 in the procession." In this letter she sends mes- 
 sages to various friends, and says, " tell Flora 
 [a colored servant] not to be weary in well doing, 
 for in due time she shall reap if she faint not : let 
 our services be what they may or if we are ever so 
 apparently useless, we can sometimes do much. 
 Don't you remember ' The Lion and the Mouse '? 
 Our school is very interesting, all united like sis- 
 
MRS. GEORGE A. PERKINS xix 
 
 ters. To-day we have received religious instruc- 
 tion from Miss Pierce. With how much tender- 
 ness and affection did she address us. I can never 
 extol her too highly; many will undoubtedly arise 
 up and call her blessed. When shall we all be a 
 flame of love, of love to our Father? How strange 
 it is that we should so grovel in the dust. You 
 cannot think how much I should love to see you, 
 but I enjoy my studies too well to leave them if it 
 is possible for me to stay. 
 
 "One question (in class) Mr. Brace could not 
 answer was, What is the physical cause of blush- 
 ing? Our subject for composition this week is. 
 What is the disposition, is it innate or acquired? 
 This exceeds my faculties for reasoning. It is more 
 than I can answer." 
 
 A few years previous to this there had been a 
 great uprising in New England in regard to the 
 subject of missions. The saintly Samuel J. Mills 
 had prepared for college at the Litchfield Acad- 
 emy, and had gone to Williams, where he and his 
 few friends had made memorable the locality of 
 the hay-stack, and their influence had extended 
 over the land, and later was destined to be felt 
 over the known world. Judson, Hall, Nott, 
 Newell, and Rice had, February 12, 1812, under 
 the auspices of the American Board, sailed for 
 Calcutta to carry the gospel tidings. This ex- 
 ample was followed by five others who sailed for 
 Ceylon the following October; two embarked 
 for Bombay in the fall of 1817, and four sailed for 
 Ceylon soon after. The destitute and ignorant of 
 our own country were not neglected; the mission 
 
XX A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 among the Cherokees of Georgia and Alabama was 
 instituted by the Board about 1816. It received 
 the patronage of our Government, was personally 
 visited by President Monroe, who made appropria- 
 tions for its assistance and expressed an enthusi- 
 astic interest in the enterprise. A number of the 
 natives were brought North to be educated, and 
 were placed in the Foreign Mission school at Corn- 
 wall, Conn., a very short distance from Litchfield. 
 Eepresentatives of various nations were received 
 for training and education, to return to their own 
 lands as missionaries. Perhaps the most interest- 
 ing of these students was Henry Obookiah, a native 
 of the Sandwich Islands, and a distant relative 
 of the king. He had fled from his own country in 
 a time of insurrection, found his way to our 
 shores and his subsequent career elicited profound 
 interest. His conversion and life following were 
 most remarkable, and his death, which occurred 
 in Cornwall February 17, 1818, was that of a tri- 
 umphant Christian. On the occasion of his fu- 
 neral Dr. Lyman Beecher preached one of his most 
 powerful sermons from the text, " The Lord reign- 
 eth, let the earth rejoice, let the multitudes of the 
 isles be glad thereof," etc. Throngs attended the 
 funeral, among others, the young student at the 
 Litchfield seminary. With her tender years, her 
 intellectual and spiritual attainments, and broad 
 ideas, it is not strange that a lasting impression 
 was made upon her mind, and that an interest in 
 missions was awakened which lasted through life. 
 She always valued her little volume, " The Life of 
 Henry Obookiah," and on the flyleaf is written in 
 
MRS. GEORGE A. PERKINS xxi 
 
 a dainty hand, " Subscribed for it before it was 
 published in Litchfield, Conn., 1818." In a letter 
 to a friend she again writes, " Five young men of 
 the Cherokee tribe have just arrived here from the 
 South, and to-day are going to the mission school 
 at Cornwall. We now begin to see the effects of 
 our contributions. The heathen are made ac- 
 quainted with the true God, savages becoming 
 civilized, and agreeable to the prophecies, the 
 wilderness budding and blossoming as the rose. 
 What can be more pleasant than to see natives 
 come out of the wilderness, and rank with the 
 civilized world. It is owing to the dread darkness 
 of mind and a savage education, that we do not 
 see rising among them kings and priests unto 
 God. 
 
 "Well may we prize the calmer skies we claim, 
 and well may pity when we look at them." She 
 speaks of the fact that the school girls were going 
 to make a bed-quilt for the mission at Cornwall, 
 although the Indians could not yet be persuaded 
 to sleep on beds. The letter closes, " Late at night ; 
 I must bid you adieu." 
 
 Her superior privileges for an education are 
 frequently alluded to with happiness and grati- 
 tude. The scientific branches, such as Chemistry, 
 Philosophy and Astronomy, were her especial de- 
 light. Her standing as a scholar was of such a 
 character that when she had been there but six 
 months, and was only eighteen years of age. Miss 
 Pierce offered her a situation to teach in the 
 school. Miss Catherine Beecher had been the as- 
 sistant, but Miss Pierce remarked, " Miss Shepard, 
 
xxii A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 as Miss Beecher is about to leave, I would like you 
 to take lier place." This she did with great credit. 
 Later an opportunity presented for her to go to 
 Georgia as a teacher, " where ample funds were 
 provided," but this was like going out of the 
 world, and we may easily believe that her friends 
 objected to one of her youth being so far sepa- 
 rated from home. 
 
 However, not long after that a situation was 
 offered her as preceptress in the Academy of 
 Ithaca, N. Y., and this position was accepted. The 
 duties were in accordance with her tastes. Here 
 she endeavored to arouse an interest in the sub- 
 ject of missions, which had become very dear to 
 her heart during her residence in New England. 
 
 Among her papers is still found a receipt for six 
 dollars, sent by her, from certain young ladies of 
 Ithaca, and signed by the distinguished Jeremiah 
 Evarts, for many years Secretary and Treasurer 
 of the American Board. The social atmosphere at 
 Ithaca at that time must have been charming, and 
 there it was her happy lot to meet the one who 
 was to be " A dearer one still, and a nearer one 
 yet than all others." There were those who had 
 sought her hand, and sung her praises, but in 
 George A. Perkins, a young man of good birth and 
 education, who had recently come from New Eng- 
 land, were all the desires of her heart realized. He 
 had made a specialty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, 
 and learning of a desirable situation at Athens, 
 and that within a radius of fifteen miles there was 
 no one answering to his profession, he was readily 
 induced to locate in this place, which was in those 
 
Geoege a. Perkins at 31 Years of Age 
 
 Portrait by S. A. Mount, N. A. 
 
MRS. GEORGE A. PERKINS xxiii 
 
 days a town of considerable importance. Hence 
 in March, 1823, he removed to Athens and estab- 
 lished himself in business. We read in the old 
 record of this church dated April 14, 1823, 
 " Voted, that George A. Perkins be admitted as a 
 member by letter," dated April 7, and at the same 
 meeting, he and two others were appointed a com- 
 mittee to transcribe the church records, and at the 
 next meeting, April 16, John Shepard resigned 
 as clerk, and George A. Perkins was appointed to 
 fill his place. The church had recently been 
 changed from Congregational to Presbyterian, and 
 April 28 he was chosen ruling Elder, being but 
 twenty-four years of age, was very soon ordained, 
 and May 1, 1823, he was married by the Rev. 
 James Williamson to Julia Anna Shepard, at the 
 home of her father, situated on the banks of the 
 Susquehanna, the last house Mr, Shepard built, 
 and where he resided twenty years, " the old 
 place" on the Howell tract. 
 
 Events of importance had crowded in quick suc- 
 cession. It was not pleaded, " I am engaged in busi- 
 ness," or " I have married a wife " and " therefore I 
 cannot come," but religious duties went hand in 
 hand with the affairs of life, which are usually 
 so absorbing and interesting during the happy 
 days of youth. We can hardly appreciate the joy 
 to those who were endeavoring to sustain the 
 struggling church, to welcome a young man of 
 such culture, piety, zeal, and efficiency. These 
 offices as Elder and Clerk of the Session, were as- 
 sumed at an early age, and faithfully sustained 
 for an almost unparalleled period of time. 
 
xxiv A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 And the bride of 1823, did her religious and in- 
 tellectual attainments, her enthusiasm in the work 
 of carrying out the Saviour's last command, dimin- 
 ish in her new and happy relation? Far from it! 
 With sympathy and encouragement they were fos- 
 tered and intensified, and the cause of missions 
 was not left without a witness, watching in ear- 
 nest expectation. 
 
 We of to-day when this work is more popular; 
 when intelligent Christian women are giving their 
 attention to the subject to so great an extent ; when 
 those not interested are the peculiar ones; and 
 much money and time formerly wasted, are being 
 <!onsecrated ; can hardly appreciate what it was 
 for her in her early married life to endeavor to 
 arouse an interest in a subject which had received 
 so little attention in this part of the country. Yet 
 in all the years that followed, with family cares 
 and increasing responsibilities, a little society was 
 sustained with a few faithful co-laborers. The 
 altar fires were kept burning, and the hand of 
 faith reached out and grasped the promises of the 
 '" King of Nations." 
 
 " Let us gently glide adown the stream of time." 
 
 We find after the reunion of the two branches of 
 the Presbyterian Church in 1871 a season of de- 
 velopment and prosperity; the smiles of Heaven 
 •seemed to bless this union. Many were aroused to 
 more diligent service, and the power of the women 
 who had faithfully " kept silence " began to be 
 felt. This was a joyous day to those who had la- 
 
MRS. GEORGE A. PERKINS xxv 
 
 bored in prayerful hope for so many years, and 
 with the new societies forming throughout the land^ 
 this little church was among the first to arise and 
 send forth a ray of brightness to lighten the world. 
 
 Mrs. Perkins was made the President of the new 
 organization in 1871, and retained the position for 
 about five years, when she laid her mantle upon 
 younger shoulders, feeling confident that the work 
 would be faithfully carried forward. 
 
 Her advancing years were passed in quiet, com- 
 fort and peace. From time to time, articles of 
 value which dropped from her pen found their 
 way into leading magazines and papers. And 
 when seventy years of age she published the little 
 historical volume, " Early Times on the Susque- 
 hanna," which was mostly kindly received. She 
 was led to this work, in part, by the remembrance 
 of the " Old Settlers' Meeting " which was held at 
 the Presbyterian Church of Athens, February 20, 
 1854, when many distinguished men were present^ 
 among them a number of descendants of the early 
 inhabitants. It was then strongly urged that 
 facts of history relating to the settlement of this 
 valley should be collected and preserved. Fifteen 
 years passed, with no response to this important 
 suggestion; and having in her possession papers 
 and correspondence belonging to her father, as a 
 basis, she began and completed this work, which 
 is of so great value, and which will be of incal- 
 culable service to the future historian. 
 
 All through life, with a strong inclination to- 
 ward religious subjects, Mrs. Perkins was of 
 a singularly peaceful and happy temperament, 
 
xxvi A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 witli a relish for pleasantry, and an appreciation 
 of all that was bright and beautiful. Music had 
 for her especial charms, and she was endowed 
 with an unusually sweet voice, which was well 
 preserved until late in life. 
 
 Ever truly hospitable, and gracious in the so- 
 ciety of congenial friends, hers was a broader, a 
 heaven-born love and sympathy, which knew no 
 limitations, but embraced all the world, and went 
 beyond the confines of temporal existence into 
 that of life eternal. (Of her family of eight chil- 
 dren, Lucy, Isaac, Kebecca, Edward, and John 
 have been called to their eternal home. Anna, 
 George, and Sarah are still in the active walks of 
 life.) 
 
 The domestic life of Mr. and Mrs. Perkins was 
 one of exceptional congeniality and happiness. It 
 was passed in " The unity of Sprit, in the bond of 
 peace." Much time was spent in reading and the 
 study of favorite topics, historical and scientific, 
 and in general intelligence they were alert and 
 thoroughly abreast with the times. 
 
 Their Golden Wedding was celebrated May 1, 
 1873, and they survived until 1884, examples of 
 patient waiting, and a benediction to the world. 
 
 To give in detail an account of their lives, for 
 so many years passed in usefulness and Christian 
 activity in this valley, would be an impossibility. 
 They were refined, quiet, and unostentatious, but 
 as the strongest forces of nature are invisible, so 
 the power of the influence of these lives God alone 
 can estimate. 
 
 Their record is in Heaven. But that of Earth 
 
MRS. GEORGE A. PERKINS xxvii 
 
 is written " He served the Church of Christ as 
 Elder sixty-one years, and she was a faithful mem- 
 ber seventy-two years." They had early in life 
 chosen that Wisdom, whose " ways are ways of 
 pleasantness," and all whose " paths are peace." 
 And, as when the sun is setting, and his golden 
 rays gild the horizon with brilliancy and beauty, 
 giving promise of a still brighter day; so, as the 
 shadows of life began to draw gently around them, 
 they who had been made beautiful by the reflec- 
 tion of His image, almost hand in hand were 
 ushered into His presence, where is " fullness of 
 joy," and at whose " right hand there are plea- 
 sures for evermore." 
 
 S. P. E. 
 
 Missionary Society Anniversary, 
 Athens, November 28, 1896. 
 
EARLY TIMES 
 
 I 
 
 INDIANS * 
 
 Large and powerful tribes of Indians inhabited 
 the territories of New York, New Jersey, and 
 Pennsylvania less than a hundred years ago. The 
 Delawares, or Lenni Lenape, whose subdivisions 
 were numerous, some of them known as the Turtle, 
 the Turkey, and the Wolf tribes, had been the most 
 powerful, until the Five Nations formed a league 
 to subjugate and make them vassals. This they 
 did most effectually early in the 18th century, and 
 ever after treated them as subjects. 
 
 The five confederate nations were the Mohawks, 
 Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas. His- 
 torians speak of the Tuscaroras as having been 
 driven from North Carolina and adopted by the 
 confederates at a later period, constituting, with 
 them, the Six Nations, and called by the French, 
 Iroquois, and by the English Mingoes. 
 
 The Monsey or Wolf tribe, a part of the Dela- 
 wares, was powerful and warlike, and occupied 
 both branches of the Susquehanna. The Shamo- 
 kins, Shawnees and Nanticokes, also were power- 
 ful, but these were all subject to the great confed- 
 eracy, the Six Nations, and nothing could exceed 
 the severity with which they treated those who 
 
 * See Appendix No. 2 on this subject. 
 
g EARLY TIMES 
 
 dared to transgress their code; to take the liberty 
 to sell land, or to attempt to rise above their deg- 
 radation. It was jealousy of the growing popu- 
 larity of Tedeuseung, the Delaware chief, among 
 the white people, that instigated that barbarous 
 act of a party of warriors from the Six Nations 
 when they visited Wyoming upon a pretense of 
 friendship, but one night set fire to the house of 
 the chief, together with which he was burned to 
 ashes. He was a man of ability, and his death 
 was greatly lamented. The Delawares had no 
 name or place except such as was granted them by 
 their merciless conquerors. They cowered before 
 their powerful foe. In this subdued state perhaps 
 they were the better prepared to receive the gospel, 
 when it was proclaimed to them. They called them- 
 selves the original people, and their language was 
 the Algonquin. 
 
 Count Zinzendorf, Zeisberger, and others among 
 the Moravians, labored among them at a very early 
 date. David and John Brainard, New England 
 missionaries, were received among the Delawares 
 of New Jersey, as friends of the red man, and it 
 is astonishing to note the access these men had to 
 the hearts of these degraded people, some of them 
 only able to address them through an interpreter. 
 
 In many cases powerful revivals of religion were 
 known among them, and many of the converts 
 became consistent Christians, and continued stead- 
 fast through life. 
 
 After the Six Nations had subjugated the Dela- 
 wares, or, as they expressed it, "clothed them in 
 petticoats," they soon commenced their emigration 
 
INDIANS 3 
 
 down the beautiful valley to their newly acquired 
 territories. Tioga Point was doubtless the rally- 
 ing place for many a stately Indian, clothed in his 
 blanket or skins, attended by his squaw and pa- 
 pooses, migrating south in his Indian canoe, to 
 take possession of his conquered domain, and en- 
 joy the pleasures and benefits of his incompara- 
 ble hunting and fishing ground. 
 
 The Delawares received them with kindness; 
 they dared not do otherwise, and their good Chris- 
 tian teachers, who had great influence with them, 
 taught them to bear their trials patiently, and to 
 recommend religion to their enemies by their lives 
 and conversation. This was not without is effect. 
 We read that many among the confederates em- 
 braced the Christian religion. 
 
 Mr. Maginnes speaks of Shikelimy, a chief of the 
 Cayuga tribe, who was stationed at Shamokin ( Sun- 
 bury ) , to rule over the Indians. He was an excellent 
 man, possessed of many noble qualities of mind, 
 that would do honor to many a white man laying 
 claims to greater refinement and intelligence. He 
 was possessed of great dignity, sobriety, and pru- 
 dence, and was particularly noted for his kindness 
 to the whites and missionaries. He was a most 
 intimate and valued friend of Conrad Weiser, 
 agent for the government, and interpreter, Avho 
 entertained great respect for him. On several im- 
 portant occasions he attended the sittings of the 
 Provincial Council at Philadelphia, and performed 
 m.a.nj embassies between the government of Penn- 
 sylvania and the Six Nations. He was the first 
 magistrate and head Chief of all the Iroquois In- 
 
4 EARLY TIMES 
 
 dians living on the banks of the Susquehanna, and 
 as far as Onondaga. He had several sons, one of 
 whom was " Logan, the Mingo Chief." 
 
 He became a convert to Christianity, and in his 
 last illness w^as attended by David Zeisberger, and 
 in his presence died a peaceful and happy death, 
 with full assurance of eternal life through the 
 merits of Jesus Christ. 
 
 Governor Hamilton, of Pennsylvania, sent to 
 condole with his family after his death, and pres- 
 ents were given them, in order to wipe away their 
 tears. The presents were matchcoats, shirts and a 
 string of wampum. 
 
 The Indians of our country have ever been 
 looked upon w^ith interest by every lover of his- 
 tory. They have justly been charged with savage 
 cruelties, such as make the blood chill, when 
 called to mind. But Avhen we look upon them as 
 natives of the soil, and we the invaders; when we 
 consider how all nations are affected by intrusion 
 and oppression, and what excesses of barbarity the 
 most civilized nations have allowed and practiced; 
 we might do well to extend charity to the less 
 cultivated and refined, who have not had the ad- 
 vantages with which we have been favored. 
 
 Those who have felt an interest in them, and 
 studied their character, and those who have spent 
 months and years among them, instructing them 
 in civilization and Christianity, are not backward 
 in ascribing to them the characteristics of human- 
 ity, common to the fallen race of Adam, and it has 
 been proved, in very many instances, where their 
 minds have been instructed and their hearts re- 
 
INDIANS 5 
 
 newecl by Divine grave, that they have been among 
 the most humane, sensible and reliable of men. 
 
 The white man who indulges in deeds of cruelty 
 acts contrary to the laws of civilized society; not 
 so with the Indian in his savage state; he is con- 
 sistent with his principles, and conducts himself 
 accordingly. 
 
 After the labors of the Brainards and Tennents 
 had closed in New Jersey, and the Moravian In- 
 dians had removed West, no one was found to 
 guide them. Some of them had received instruc- 
 tion at the school for Indian youth, at Lebanon, 
 Conn., under the care of the Eev. Mr. Wheelock, 
 founder of Dartmouth College. But they were 
 not competent to direct the minds of the people, 
 and they suffered much from ignorance and neg- 
 lect. Cruel men took the advantage of them, act- 
 ing upon the principle that the " Indian had no 
 rights which white men were bound to respect." 
 In 1802 many of them resolved to go to the 
 Oneidas, on Oneida Lake, who had invited them to 
 " eat of their dish," saying it was large enough for 
 both. The united tribes remained there until 1824, 
 when the encroachments of the whites induced 
 them to purchase a tract of land on Pox Elver, 
 near Green Bay. 
 
 The few that remained in New Jersey applied 
 by memorial to the Legislature of the State, for 
 compensation for their claim, through Bartholo- 
 mew Calvin, an educated Chief, 76 years old. He 
 had been in Princeton College, until the Revolu- 
 tionary war cut off the funds of the society by 
 which he Avas supported. He afterward taught 
 
6 EARLY TIMES 
 
 school when he had as many white as Indian 
 pupils. 
 
 In his petition to the Legislature he says, " My 
 brethren, I am old, and weak, and poor, and there- 
 fore a fit representative of my people. You are 
 young, and strong, and rich, and therefore a fit 
 representative of your people. But let me beg you 
 for a moment to lay aside the recollection of your 
 strength, and our weakness, that your minds may 
 be prepared to examine with candor the subject 
 of our claim." Then stating their claim, he says, 
 " We consider the State Legislature the proper pur- 
 chaser, and trust that you will be induced to give 
 us what you deem a proper compensation. In be- 
 half of the Red brethren — Bartholomew Calvin." 
 
 The Legislature granted him two thousand dol- 
 lars on his petition. He returned his thanks to 
 both Houses, in the name of " a wasted yet grate- 
 ful people." 
 
 Some now living may remember the final depar- 
 ture of the Delaware Indians for their new home 
 among the Oneidas; their scanty furniture, their 
 rude relics, the aged, the sick, and the little ones, 
 which were packed in wagons while the healthy 
 marched on foot, and some were playing on the 
 violin to cheer up the desponding. They became 
 amalgamated with the Oneidas, and were soon 
 mingling with the white inhabitants, selling their 
 split brooms and baskets. 
 
 In 1830 the Oneidas sold much of their land to 
 the State; many remaining still on their reserva- 
 tion; yet in 1832 most of these tribes migrated to 
 Green Bay. They have since gone still farther 
 
INDIANS 7 
 
 west. Mr. Marsh, the missionary, says : " I have 
 met with several of the children: of David Brain- 
 ard's people, and obtained of one of them the 
 conch shell with which Brainard used to call the 
 people together for public worship, in New Jer- 
 sey. Some of them pray in their families, dress 
 well, and behave well." " What did your grand- 
 mother say about David Brainard? " Mr. M. in- 
 quired of one of them. She said, " He was a young 
 man — a lovely man, he was a staff to walk with. 
 He went from house to house, to talk about re- 
 ligion — that was his way." 
 
 Skanadoah, an Oneida Chief, and a convert to the 
 Christian religion, died in 1815, aged about 113 
 years. He had been a pupil of Mr. Kirkland, the 
 missionary who labored about forty years for the 
 benefit of the Oneidas. Mr. Kirkland donated the 
 land for Hamilton College, and it is said that 
 through him and Dr. Wheelock, both Hamilton 
 and Dartmouth Colleges arose indirectly as the 
 result of Indian missions. Mr. K. lived at Oneida 
 Castle, with his family. He died at Clinton in 
 1808, aged 66 years. Skanadoah was buried at 
 his particular request by the side of the mission- 
 ary, to whom he had been much attached. A 
 monument was erected to him, by the corporation 
 of Hamilton College, within the College burying 
 ground. 
 
 He is represented by a poet as saying at his 
 death : 
 
 "Lo! my war shout is ended, my bow is unstrung. 
 And Warriors ! I rise to tbe hills of my rest, 
 I meet not your feasts, and I meet not your song, 
 ! ■ There's a home for the Chief in the isles of the blest." 
 
8 EARLY TIMES 
 
 The Six Nations had great power in the terri- 
 tory of Pennsylvania, until they sold to the white 
 people. The fishing and hunting grounds, in 
 these wilds, were unequaled. The shad, the bass 
 and the trout, the bear, the stately elk, and herds 
 of deer gave them business, food, and clothing, and 
 with their variety of corn dishes, their fare was 
 good and wholesome. Their councils were numer- 
 ous, where they repeated their legends, and handed 
 down the traditions of former ages, to be again 
 repeated to those who should come after them. At 
 these councils their women were not only allowed 
 to be present, but their opinions were consulted in 
 war debates; and, strange to say of heathen, their 
 women often acted as mediators, and when they 
 advised to lay down the hatchet, their arguments 
 often prevailed. 
 
 But labor was principally confined to the 
 women, and it was deemed disgraceful for a man 
 to work. Even as late as 1831, a missionary among 
 the Senecas at Cattaraugus states that a man 
 might hunt and fish and play ball and fight, and 
 maintain his respectability, but he could not even 
 bring his game into the settlement. Suppose he 
 had been out into the Pennsylvania forests, and 
 killed a deer, he might bring it all the way on his 
 shoulders, till he came within a mile of the set- 
 tlement ; but " etiquette " required him to leave it 
 there, and go home, and say to the women, " In 
 such a place you will find some venison which I 
 have brought you," and they must go out and lug it 
 into camp. 
 
 The Oneidas and Senecas were set to guard the 
 
INDIANS 9 
 
 subjugated tribes along the branches of the Sus- 
 quehanna. They separated the Nantieokes, plac- 
 ing a portion of them north, near Owego, and 
 some of them down the valley below Wilkesbarre. 
 The Delawares were scattered, to weaken their 
 power, and the other tribes placed here and there, 
 at the discretion of their lordly conquerors. The 
 Mousey or Wolf tribe were very warlike, and were 
 likewise separated, some placed on the West 
 Branch, near Mousey, others below Tioga Point, 
 where they had a village called Wilawane, or 
 Monseytown. They removed west in Pennsyl- 
 vania to Venango. Queen Esther's village was aft- 
 erwards built upon the same ground along the 
 ridge. 
 
 Among the Six Nations there were many dis- 
 tinguished men. Some noted for their talents, 
 and others for their cruelty. Shickeleny has been 
 spoken of as a man of noble mind and a Chris- 
 tian; Brant, a Mohawk chief, possessed superior 
 talents, had received some education, and was a 
 *^ British officer in epaulets ; " * Canassitigo, an 
 Onondaga chief, so cruel and sarcastic towards 
 the Delawares, (an account of which may be 
 found in Miner's History of Wyoming) ; the good 
 and talented Skanadoah, of the Oneidas; and 
 Cornplanter, a Seneca chief, and friend of the 
 white man, who was well known in his prime by 
 the whites and Indians on the West and North 
 
 * Colonel Parker, the well-known Seneca Indian gentleman, on 
 General Grant's staff during the late war, states that Brant was 
 the translator of the gospel into Iroquois. Colonel Stone cor- 
 roborates his statement in his life of Brant. 
 
10 EARLY TIMES 
 
 branches of the Susquehanna, and did much to 
 conciliate in cases of difflculty. In later life he 
 lived on a small reservation in Pennsylvania, 
 about four miles below the State line, on the Alle- 
 gany river. He died a little more than thirty years 
 ago. A neat and tasteful monument was erected 
 over his grave, in 1866, at the expense of the state 
 of Pennsylvania. He was supposed to be about 
 107 years of age. Missionaries who have long la- 
 bored in that reservation speak well of his family. 
 He has two sons and a daughter still living, and 
 numerous grandchildren. Red Jacket, another 
 Seneca chief, was perhaps better known in New 
 York and Northern Pennsylvania than any 
 other chief. He visited Tioga Point many times, 
 and figured largely at the treaty in 1790. His 
 powers of eloquence were said to be very great. 
 Some now living here remember him. He lived on 
 the reservation near Buffalo, and died in about 
 1830. Many others, whose names will appear in 
 the account of the treaty, were noted and influ- 
 ential men. 
 
 It is well understood that the valley we now 
 occupy was once inhabited by these Indian tribes, 
 principally Senecas, Cayugas, and Oneidas, their 
 headquarters being at Onondaga. This valley was 
 the grand thoroughfare from that place to Wy- 
 oming, and still further south. 
 
 These rivers and mountains, these plains and 
 valleys, islands and grottoes were as familiar to 
 them as they are to us. They owned the soil, and 
 tilled it with their rude implements. Their Indian 
 corn grew where much of ours now grows. They 
 
INDIANS 11 
 
 here took from these rivers the fish, the " delicious 
 shad," which we once enjoyed, but from which we 
 are now cut off by our improvements. They sailed 
 on these waters, in their native canoes. With their 
 bow and arrow they caught the bounding deer of 
 the forest, his flesh was their food, and his skin 
 their clothing. Their council fires were kindled on 
 the banks of the Susquehanna; they smoked the 
 pipe of peace under these lofty elms; they bathed 
 in these rivers ; their lovers walked on these banks, 
 and made their plans for future life. They knew 
 of no superiors, and were subject to no dictation 
 but their great council at Onondaga. 
 
 They engaged in the old French war against the 
 English, and were powerful foes. But they had 
 been invaders upon the Delawares, and now a 
 stronger nation was crowding them out of their 
 possessions. Purchases of lands were made of 
 them by the white people, at very low prices, at 
 various times, which weakened their power, and 
 soured their minds, and when the Kevolutionary 
 w^ar was in progress, the most of the tribes were 
 readily engaged on the British side, against the 
 colonies; the Oneidas for the most part being our 
 faithful friends throughout the conflict. It is 
 wonderful that the colonists should ever have at- 
 tained their independence, with the British on 
 their front, the Indians on their rear, and the 
 tories in their midst; the interposition of Divine 
 Providence was manifest, and His agency was 
 gratefully acknowledged by the Commander-in- 
 Chief. 
 
 It was about this time of their power and pride 
 
12 EARLY TIMES 
 
 that the Indians were instigated by the British to 
 engage with them in their murderous expedition 
 into Wyoming Valley, to deprive the inhabitants 
 of their fathers, brothers, and possessions, and put 
 the distressed families to flight. But vengeance 
 pursued them, and in a short time they were driven* 
 into close and uncomfortable quarters, in their 
 own possessions, or compelled to find uncertain 
 homes among their British friends in Canada.* 
 
 * These accounts of the Indians are gathered principally from 
 the several histories of Wyoming, the lives of John and David 
 Brainard, and the Moravian papers. 
 
II 
 
 MORAVIAN MISSIONS — WYALUSING 
 
 The first account we have of the labors of the 
 Moravian Brethren among the Indians of Pennsyl- 
 vania is from their own history. They commenced 
 their missions in 1740; one in the State of New 
 York, the other in Connecticut, twenty miles dis- 
 tant, under the care of Eev. Martin Mack, and 
 were very successful in instructing them in the 
 Christian religion. But they were so persecuted 
 by the white people, that after four years the 
 " Brethren " thought best to remove them, forty 
 in number, to Bethlehem for protection, where 
 they built huts for themselves, and called their 
 settlement Friedenshuetten, or Tents of Peace. 
 Their numbers increased so much that in a few 
 months the Brethren bought a tract of land for 
 them, near the Mahony creek and the Lehigh 
 river. 
 
 Their missionary and others laid out the town, 
 which they called Gnadenheutten, or Tents of 
 Grace. They soon numbered five hundred In- 
 dians. 
 
 The war between the French and English com- 
 menced in 1755. The Christian Indians were 
 friends to the British, while the savages were en- 
 gaged for the French. 
 
 The French Indians threatened the Christian 
 Indians, and were a constant terror to them. At 
 last they attacked the mission house on the Ma- 
 is 
 
14 EARLY TIMES 
 
 hony one evening, and eleven of the inhabitants 
 were murdered. Application was made to Gov- 
 ernor Denny for protection. They were removed 
 to the barracks in Philadelphia, where fifty-five of 
 them died. They were buried in what is now 
 Washington Square. 
 
 After the close of the French war, in 1764, the 
 troubles being nearly at an end, the Brethren in 
 Bethlehem considered in what manner to provide 
 a settlement for these poor Indians, principally 
 Delawares, where they might enjoy more safety. 
 
 It could not be expected they would remain long 
 unmolested, in the neighborhood of the merciless 
 whites, and they were therefore advised to settle 
 in the Indian country, on the banks of the Susque- 
 hanna. Application was made to the Governor, 
 who gave them permission, and supplied them lib- 
 erally with necessaries " until their new planted 
 corn should ripen." Schmidt and Zeisberger were 
 appointed to accompany them. On the 20th of 
 March the Moravian Indian congregation com- 
 menced their journey across the mountains and 
 swamps, direct to Wyoming; from thence to 
 Machiwilusing, where they arrived on the 9th of 
 May, after a painful pilgrimage of five weeks. 
 
 Machiwilusing was the Indian name for Wya- 
 lusing creek, and has given name to the town. It 
 empties into the Susquehanna, a little below 
 French Town, on the opposite side of the river. 
 Near the mouth of that creek, these Moravians 
 made their missionary establishment in 1765. 
 They called it after their old station Friedenshuet- 
 ten or Tents of Peace. It was a village of forty 
 
MORAVIAN MISSIONS— WYALUSING 15 
 
 houses, built of wood, after the European manner, 
 and thirteen Indian huts. In the middle of the 
 street, which was eighty feet broad, they built a 
 large and neat chapel. The adjoining ground was 
 laid out in gardens, and between the town and the 
 river, about 250 acres were divided into regular 
 plantations, for Indian corn. The burying ground 
 was situated some distance back of the buildings. 
 The mission grounds were about two miles below 
 the present village of Wyalusing. 
 
 They were happy and greatly blessed, and pros- 
 pered, at their new station, and were often visited 
 by people of the Six Nations, many of whom be- 
 lieved the word which they heard, and embraced 
 their religion, and were baptised. The natives 
 heard of them at a great distance, and great num- 
 bers were added to them. 
 
 Zeisberger was extensively known among the 
 Indians. He understood the Delaware and Iro- 
 quois languages, and often attended the great 
 councils at Onondaga, where he was treated with 
 great respect. They gave him not only liberty to 
 settle at Friedenshuetten, but additional liberties 
 beyond Tioga.* 
 
 Among other places visited by the missionaries 
 of Machiwilusing, was a town about thirty miles 
 up the river called She Shequanunck (Old She- 
 shequin) in which a great awakening took place 
 among the Indians, occasioned by the accounts 
 from Friedenshuetten, brought by those who vis- 
 ited them. At the request of the natives, the mis- 
 
 * We have no account of the Moravians having gone farther 
 North than old Sheshequin. 
 
16 EARLY TIMES 
 
 sionary Rothe \Yent to reside among them. His 
 testimony of Jesus went to their hearts, the audi- 
 ence being frequently melted into tears. One of 
 them remarked, " I would not have wept if my 
 enemies had cut the flesh from my bones. That I 
 now weep is of God, who has softened the hardness 
 of my heart." For some time it appeared as if the 
 whole town would turn to the Lord and be con- 
 verted. 
 
 The mission at Machiwilusing continued to 
 prosper greatly until the whites increased on each 
 side of them, and introduced rum. The diflflculties 
 also among the Pennsylvania and New England 
 people were a hindrance to them, and the Iroquois 
 were prevailed upon to sell all their lands East of 
 the Ohio to the white people, and great was the 
 sacrifice to give up their beautiful settlement on 
 the Susquehanna. These peaceable, quiet. Chris- 
 tian Moravian Indians felt compelled to leave 
 their " Tents of Peace " where they had lived seven 
 years, and take up their march again westward, 
 by the way of Sunbury, through forest and 
 marshes, over rivers and mountains, till they ar- 
 rived on the banks of the Ohio, where they met 
 brethren under Heckwalder, the Moravian mis- 
 sionary, who guided them to their settlement. 
 These poor creatures (two hundred and forty in 
 number), were seven weeks on their sad journey. 
 
 A Congregational church was formed in Wya- 
 lusing in 1794, and was connected with the Luzerne 
 Association. Rev. M. M. York preached alter- 
 nately at Wyalusing and Wysox, for many years. 
 The Association once met at the latter place, in 
 the spring of , when Mrs. York, the mother of 
 
MORAVIAN MISSIONS— WYALUSING 17 
 
 tlie clergyman, more than seventy years of age, 
 residing at Wyalusing, rode across swollen streams 
 and over dangerous passes, to be present at this 
 assembly. Great surprise was expressed at her 
 courage and heroism, when she replied, " I have 
 been praying forty years for the upbuilding of 
 Zion, and don't you think I would come to see it? " 
 
 Major Taylor's family were identified with the 
 church there, and a son of his was a clergyman. 
 His daughter was suddenly restored to the use of 
 her limbs, in answer to prayer, as was supposed, 
 after having been unable to walk for several 
 years. 
 
 A settlement was made by the w^hite people, soon 
 after the close of the Revolutionary war, which 
 they called Wyalusing, from Mackhiwilusing, the 
 Indian name of the Creek. 
 
 It is a beautiful settlement, about two miles 
 above the site of the old Moravian Settlement, and 
 contained a population of nearly five hundred 
 inhabitants. 
 
 The late C. F. Welles, Esq., removed from To- 
 wanda to Wyalusing in 1822. He had been the 
 Prothonotary, and Register and Recorder of Brad- 
 ford county, from the times its name was changed 
 from that of Ontario, March 24, 1812, until 1818, 
 when he was succeeded by Geo. Scott and E, 
 Mason. He married a daughter of Judge Hollen- 
 back, and was a prominent and talented man. He 
 died in 1866.* 
 
 * Justus Lewis, Esq., who resides near Wyalusing, and is 
 about 82 years of age, has a better knowledge, it is said, of 
 our frontier history, than any other man now living, and could 
 no doubt gi-^e valuable information to any one who might wish 
 to prepare a more extended work. 
 
Ill 
 
 CONNECTICUT TITLE 
 
 To take a glance of the two states of Connecticut 
 and Pennsylvania, as they now are, it might seem 
 absurd that Connecticut could ever have claimed 
 a tract of land over one hundred and twenty miles 
 in length, and sixty in breadth, in the heart of this 
 well proportioned state. 
 
 The Colony of Connecticut claimed jurisdiction 
 by virtue of a charter from Charles 2d, dated April 
 23, 1662, granting Connecticut that part of his 
 dominions in America, beginning at Narragansett 
 Bay, from the 41st to the 42d degree of latitude, 
 in width, and extending west on the same parallels 
 of latitude, so far as England then owned the 
 granting power, or, as some say, to the Pacific 
 Ocean, supposing the Continent to be very narrow. 
 The claims of the Dutch leading down to JSTew York 
 Bay, were, of course, excepted, as her charter was 
 the oldest. 
 
 The proprietaries of Pennsylvania, on the 
 ground of a charter granted to Wm. Penn, in 1681, 
 by the same sovereign, claimed all that tract of 
 land in America, bounded on the east by the Dela- 
 ware river, from the 40th to the 42d degree of north 
 latitude, and to extend west through five degrees 
 of longitude. Within these bounds was included 
 Wyoming, " which," says Colonel Stone, " has been 
 
 18 
 
CONNECTICUT TITLE 19 
 
 the theatre of more historical action, and is in- 
 vested with more historical interest than any 
 other inland district of the United States, of equal 
 extent." 
 
 The difficulties arising out of these opposing 
 claims, between Connecticut and Pennsylvania, 
 were serious and protracted. It was inexcusable 
 that a monarch, assigning portions of territory to 
 his subjects, should leave so much ground for con- 
 troversy, by granting titles that conflicted with 
 each other to so great an extent. 
 
 It was this that caused the trouble between the 
 two states and the numerous claimants, and re- 
 sulted in civil and disastrous wars. 
 
 Pennsylvania purchased of the Indians the right 
 of soil in the province, but did not receive their 
 deed until the treaty at Fort Stanwix, in 1768. 
 
 In 1754 the Connecticut Susquehanna Company, 
 formed at Hartford, purchased of the Six Nations, 
 at Albany, the land on the Susquehanna river, be- 
 ginning at the 41st degree of North latitude, ten 
 miles east of the river; and from thence, with a 
 northerly line, following the river ten miles east of 
 the same, to the forty-second degree of North lat- 
 itude; and extending two degrees West longitude; 
 from thence south to the 41st degree; thence east 
 to the first mentioned boundary. 
 
 For this the Company paid the Indians the sum 
 of two thousand pounds, current money, and the i 
 deed was signed by eighteen Sachems.* 
 
 A gradual emigration was in progress from Con- 
 necticut many years, though interrupted consid- 
 * See Miner's history. 
 
20 EARLY TIMES 
 
 erably by the French war; but in 1769 two hun- 
 dred families, from the eastern part of the State, 
 formed a colony and began to remove to the south 
 part of the valley, with ministers, and implements 
 of husbandry, and teachers for their children. 
 After many wearisome days in the wilderness, they 
 descended the mountain and took possession of 
 that garden of nature, which had been honorably 
 purchased of the natives. 
 
 Here, in their delightful Wyomin;?;, these noble 
 Christian colonists expected to find a prosperous 
 and peaceful home. But scarcely had they taken 
 possession, when their claim was contested by the 
 Pennsylvanians, whose charter also covered the 
 charming valley; and a terrible conflict ensued. 
 The contention was long and sharp; many lives 
 were lost, and the sufferings of the colony were 
 great. At three different times they were driven 
 from their possessions by the Pennsylvanians; but 
 they returned with increased numbers, sup- 
 ported by Connecticut, and established themselves 
 strongly. They called their territory the County 
 of Westmoreland, and for nine years sent repre- 
 sentatives to the Legislature of Connecticut. They 
 were a happy people among themselves, had civil 
 and religious privileges, and all the enjoj'uients 
 of refined social life. Their Puritan habits have 
 blessed succeeding generations. Many clergymen, 
 statesmen, teachers, missionaries, and other emi- 
 nent Christian men and women have sprung from 
 this stock. 
 
 Chief-Justice Tilghman states that " the unfor- 
 tunate controversy between Connecticut and Penn- 
 
CONNECTICUT TITLE 21 
 
 sylvania was attended with riot, disorder and 
 bloodshed, which continued until the commence- 
 ment of the Revolutionary war, when the Congress 
 of the United States, fearing the consequences 
 which might result from a dispute of so serious a 
 nature between two powerful States, recommended 
 that all acts of force should be abstained from, 
 and each person should remain in possession of 
 the land occupied by him, until a proper season 
 should come for determining the matter on princi- 
 ples of justice. This recommendation was com- 
 plied with. The Connecticut settlers were the 
 most numerous, and held possession during the 
 war, in the course of which they suffered great 
 hardships, and lost many lives ; being on a remote 
 frontier, much exposed to the attacks of the Brit- 
 ish and Indians." * 
 
 While the struggle with Great Britain was in 
 progress, in which Wyoming took an active part, 
 there was comparative quiet between the Connecti- 
 cut and Pennsylvania claimants; but scarcely was 
 our independence acknowledged, when the conten- 
 tion about lands revived. It was found necessary 
 that a subject of so much weight should be de- 
 cided by a court established by Congress of Com- 
 missioners from the two contending states. They 
 
 * The fiery trials through which they passed, at the time of 
 the invasion by the Tories and Indians, in 1778, cannot be better 
 described than in the petition of Samuel Gore, for a pension, 
 in his advanced age. He was a brother of Judge Gore, and 
 kindly presented me with a copy of his petition, w^ritten with 
 his own hand, near the close of his life. He had often visited 
 us, and entertained us with his account of the Revolutionary 
 w^ar, and the battle of Wyoming. 
 
22 EARLY TIMES 
 
 met at Trenton, N. J., in the month of December, 
 1782. The parties proceeded with their pleas, and 
 after manj^ days the court decided that the right 
 of jurisdiction belonged to Pennsylvania, and that 
 the judicial power of Connecticut over Wyoming 
 should cease. In this the Commissioners from 
 each state acquiesced. It is supposed there was 
 this understanding between the two states, from 
 a conviction of its policy. 
 
 Mr. Miner says, " There is no doubt that the de- 
 cision of Trenton was made on grounds of policy, 
 and not of right. It was not designed, however, 
 to affect the private right of soil. Immediately 
 after this decree, Connecticut withdrew its juris- 
 diction, and the county of Westmoreland ceased to 
 exist. 
 
 " The claims of Connecticut, west of Pennsyl- 
 vania, were all ceded to Congress, excepting the 
 Western Reserve, or New Connecticut, and she 
 received the United States letters patent for that 
 tract. 
 
 " The Pennsylvanians continued to treat the 
 Connecticut settlers with severity, which induced 
 the Assembly to pass an act, to restore to them 
 the possessions from which they had been forcibly 
 removed. On the 28th of March, 1787, an act was 
 passed called the Confirming Act, ratifjdng the 
 title of lands in their possession, prior to the de- 
 cree of Trenton." 
 
 This law was not satisfactory to either party, 
 and was repealed April 1st, 1790. On the 4th of 
 April, 1799, an act was passed called the Com- 
 promising Act, " offering compensation to the 
 
CONNECTICUT TITLE 23 
 
 Pennsylvania settlers, within the seventeen town- 
 ships of Luzerne. The object of this act was to of- 
 fer a reasonable compensation in money to such 
 Pennsylvania claimants as were willing to release 
 their rights, in order that the Commonwealth, hav- 
 ing thus regained the title, might confirm the 
 estates of the Connecticut settlers, at a moderate 
 price, fixed by Commissioners, who were author- 
 ized to give certificates to Connecticut claimants 
 for no other land than such as may have been re- 
 leased by the Pennsylvania claimants. This title 
 was confirmed by paying for first-class lands two 
 dollars per acre; second-class, one dollar and 
 twenty cents; third-class, fifty cents; fourth-class, 
 eight and one-quarter cents. 
 
 To induce the Pennsylvania claimants to re- 
 lease, the Commissioners were authorized to class- 
 ify the land, giving certificates to them; first-class 
 lands to be paid for at the rate of five dollars per 
 acre, etc. 
 
 On the 6th of April, 1802, a supplement was 
 passed to the act of 1799, which gave to the Com- 
 missioners authority to certify to Connecticut 
 claimants the title to their lands, whether released 
 by the Pennsylvania claimant or not; forbidding 
 recovery of the lands by the Pennsylvania claim- 
 ant, and giving him a right of action against the 
 Commonwealth for the value of his land. 
 
 By the act of 1807, all Pennsylvania claimants 
 were admitted who had acquired title prior to the 
 first confirming law, of March, 1787, and Connecti- 
 cut claimants were not required to show that the 
 lands were occupied before the decree of Trenton. 
 
M EARLY TIMES 
 
 In the case of Mrs. Mathewson in the contest with 
 J. F. Satterlee, Mrs, M. had taken out a warrant 
 in 1812, and claimed an improvement back to 1785, 
 under Connecticut title, (she having no certificate 
 from the Commissioners,) and therefore had no 
 title recognized by the laws of Pennsylvania to the 
 date of her warrant (1812). Mr. Satterlee had 
 purchased an old Pennsylvania title, going back 
 to 1769, and had taken a lease of Mrs. Mathewson, 
 after which an act of Assembly was passed, which 
 allowed Mrs. M. to hold him as tenant. The same 
 principles, when applied, will explain other cases 
 also.* 
 
 the petition of samuel gore^ esq. 
 
 "January, 1832. 
 
 ^^ To the Honorable the Senate and House of Rep- 
 resentatives of the United States, in Congress 
 assembled, at the City of Washington: 
 
 " The petition and memorial of Samuel Gore, of 
 Sheshequin Township, Bradford County, Pennsyl- 
 vania, humbly showeth : 
 
 " That your petitioner's request is of a singular 
 nature, differing from the common case of those 
 who served in the War of the Revolution ; was not 
 engaged for any limited time; that he resided at 
 Wyoming Settlement at the commencement of the 
 late Revolutionary War; that in the year 1777, in 
 the month of May, he was enrolled in the militia 
 
 * The above statements have been furnished by a legal gen- 
 tleman for this work. 
 
CONNECTICUT TITLE 25 
 
 of Captain Aholiab Buck's company, and took the 
 oath of allegiance, to be true and faithful to the 
 cause then at issue; that in December, the same 
 year, he was draughted on a tour of duty up the 
 river, as far as Wysox and Towanda; the com- 
 mand he was attached to took twenty-eight pris- 
 oners, men that had served under General Bur- 
 goyne, the preceding campaign; that in the year 
 1778 the Settlement was in almost continual 
 alarm, the fore part of the season ; and what added 
 mostly to our fears was, that three companies of 
 soldiers had been enlisted in the Settlement, and 
 had joined the main army of Washington. 
 
 " The militia that was left was on duty the prin- 
 cipal part of the time, in fortifying, scouting, and 
 learning the military discipline, till the month of 
 July, when the settlement was invaded by the Brit- 
 ish and Indians, under the command of Colonel 
 John Butler and Brandt, the Indian Chief. 
 
 " Your petitioner was in the memorable battle 
 and massacre of Wyoming, and narrowly escaped 
 the fate of five brethren, the officers, and principal 
 part of the Company to which he belonged. 
 
 " In addition to his misfortune, in running 
 across a bay or morass, the Indians in close pur- 
 suit, every step over the knee in mud and mire, by 
 over exertion, caused a breach in his body, which 
 has been a painful and troublesome disorder ever 
 since. • 
 
 " It is unnecessary to describe the entire de- 
 struction of the settlement, by the enemy, the dis- 
 persions and hardships of the fugitives. Old men, 
 women, and children, fleeing through the wilder- 
 
26 EARLY TIMES 
 
 ness, carrying with them scarcely enough to sup- 
 port nature by the way. 
 
 " The place was retaken in August or Septem- 
 ber following, by Colonel Zebulon Butler and Cap- 
 tain Simon Spalding, and a garrison replaced 
 there. Your petioner returned soon after, and 
 served as a volunteer, during the years of 1779, 
 1780, and 1781, and was subject to be called on, in 
 ever}^ case of emergency. 
 
 " The expedition of General Sullivan to the 
 Gennesse country, did not prevent wholly, the dep- 
 redations of the enemy, being frequently harassed 
 by small parties. In the year 1782 Captain Spald- 
 ing's company was called to join the main army, 
 at headquarters, and a company of invalids was 
 stationed at the post, commanded by a Captain 
 Mitchel, soldiers that were not calculated for the 
 woods, scouting, etc. Colonel Dennison gave or- 
 ders to have the militia organized and classed, 
 which took place. 
 
 " John Franklin was chosen Captain. Your pe- 
 titioner was appointed a Sergeant, and had the 
 command of a class, which was ordered to be ready 
 at the shortest notice, to scout the woods, and to 
 follow any party of the enemy that should be sent 
 on their murderous excursions. That he performed 
 four tours of scouting that season, of about eight 
 days each. 
 
 " Your petitioner never drew any pay, clothing 
 or rations, during the contest for Independence, 
 but ammunition, he was supplied with from the 
 continental store. 
 
 " Had the charge of the family at the time, ( his 
 
CONNECTICUT TITLE 27 
 
 father being dead) ; had to support himself as well 
 as he could, by laboring between spells, and fre- 
 quently ploughing with his musket slung at his 
 back. 
 
 " Being informed by the newspapers that a bill 
 has passed the House of Eepresentatives, by a 
 large majority, to compensate all those that were 
 enlisted in the service of their country from three 
 months to six, and nine; to compensate according 
 to the time of their engagement, let their circum- 
 stances be what they may. Encouraged by the lib- 
 erality and generosity of our National legislators, 
 I take the liberty to request of your Honorable 
 Body, to take my case into consideration; and if 
 you, in your wisdom and justice, should think that 
 your petitioner is entitled to any remuneration, to 
 do what you may think right and just; and your 
 petitioner will ever pray." 
 
 A letter addressed to Philander Stephens, Esq., 
 a Member of Congress, was folded within the pe- 
 tion, which I also copy: 
 
 " Sheshequin, April 3, 1832. 
 
 " Philander Stephens, Esq. — Dear Sir: I have 
 been waiting with considerable anxiety, for some 
 time, expecting to hear from you, as I think you 
 promised to write to me. I would take it as a 
 favor, if you would inform me what is the pros- 
 pect of the bill for the general compensation of old 
 soldiers and volunteers of the Revolution ; whether 
 it is like to pass the Senate, the present session; 
 also whether you have presented my petition, and 
 
28 EARLY TIMES 
 
 if any encouragement therefrom. Some cheering 
 information on this subject would revive my spirits, 
 which have been almost exhausted during the 
 severity of the past winter — the hardest I have ex- 
 perienced since the return of Sullivan's expedition 
 to the Indian country, in the year 1779. 
 
 " On reflecting back in these trying times, I 
 would state some particulars respecting our fam- 
 ily, at the commencement of the Revolution. My 
 father had seven sons, all zealously engaged in 
 the cause of liberty. Himself an acting magis- 
 trate, and a committee of safety, watching the dis- 
 affected and encouraging the loyal part of the 
 community. 
 
 / " Three of his sons, and two sons-in-law, fell in 
 the Wyoming massacre. Himself died the winter 
 following. One son served during the war, the 
 others served in the Continental army for shorter 
 periods. 
 
 " Let any person at this time of general pros- 
 perity of our country, reflect back on the troubles, 
 trials and suffering of a conquered country by a 
 savage enemy. Men scalped and mangled in the 
 most savage manner. Some dead bodies floating 
 \ down the river in sight of the garrison. Women 
 collecting together in groups, screaming and 
 wringing their hands, in the greatest agony; some 
 swooning and deprived of their senses. Property 
 of every description plundered and destroyed, 
 buildings burned, the surviving inhabitants dis- 
 persed, and driven through the wilderness, to seek 
 subsistence wherever they could find it. This, sir, 
 is a faint description of Wyoming destruction in 
 
CONNECTICUT TITLE 29 
 
 1778. The savages continued their depredations 
 in a greater or less degree, until 1782. 
 
 " Lest I intrude on your patience, will conclude. 
 " I am, with respect, your humble servant, 
 
 " Samuel Gore." 
 
 The venerable man received his pension and was 
 much comforted by it during his surviving years. 
 He died in 1836. The petition and letter are copied 
 verbatim. 
 
 While the battle was raging, and the women and 
 children were in the fort for protection, Mrs. Gore, 
 the anxious mother, Avas watching at the door of 
 the fort, to hear the first report that should arrive ; 
 she was told by one who approached her that 
 three of her sons, Asa, Silas, and George, were 
 slain; and that John Murphy and Timothy Pierce, 
 her two sons-in-law, were lying by them all scalped, 
 tomahawked, and mangled corpses! Who can con- 
 ceive the agony of this mother as she exclaimed, 
 " Have I one son left? " She died many years ago, 
 and a monument has recently been set over her 
 grave, together with that of her son,* Obadiah 
 Gore, and his wife, by their grandchildren and 
 great-grandchildren. 
 
 The next day after the battle, when the fort was 
 pillaged, all the feather-beds that could be found, 
 the labor of many a careful mother and daughter, 
 were carried out near the bank of the river, and 
 there opened for the merriment of the savages, and 
 the feathers scattered to the winds. 
 
 They went to Mr. Gore's house, built a fire in 
 
 * Obadiah and Asa married sisters — Avery. 
 
30 EARLY TIMES 
 
 the hall, and stood by it until it was enveloped in 
 flames, and the distressed family dared not whis- 
 per an objection. The feathers of the " Wyoming 
 Bed " were gathered up by the children of the fam- 
 ily, placed in the first case they could find, and se- 
 creted while the Indians were sacking the fort. 
 
 There was great wailing as one after another 
 came in, bringing appalling reports from the bat- 
 tle-field, while the savages were entertaining them- 
 selves by a general confiagration of the buildings 
 in the settlement, and the despairing inhabitants 
 were fleeing. 
 
 In their terror, dismay, and haste, the family 
 procured a horse, threw this bed across it, and 
 started for the Delaware, seventy miles through 
 the wilderness, called the " Shades of Death." The 
 old people and the little ones rode alternately, and 
 thus they pressed on their way, in hushed silence. 
 One of the children hurt her unprotected feet, and 
 cried aloud. From terrible necessity, the heavy- 
 hearted mother said, " Stop crying, child, the In- 
 dians will be after us." The little girl was quiet, 
 and trudged • along without complaining. There 
 were scenes of suffering among the fugitives all 
 the way, such as cannot be described. Hunger, 
 sickness, and death were common. 
 
 An infant child of Mrs. Fish died on the way. 
 The mother could not bury it in the wilderness lest 
 the wolves might devour it. She therefore carried 
 it in her arms twenty miles to a German settle- 
 ment, where it was buried. 
 
 An aged lady of 85, who has just died, said she 
 was born in Mr. Stroud's barn, on the way to Dela- 
 
CONNECTICUT TITLE 31 
 
 ware, just after the massacre, and there were many 
 such cases. 
 
 The Wyoming Bed was ever an object of great 
 interest to the children, and often, while making 
 it, and turning it over, we imagined an Indian in- 
 side of it, and springing to the floor, would make 
 rapid flight, with more than fancied terror. 
 
 The bed has been preserved, and is still among 
 our treasures. Little Francis Slocum, Ave years 
 old, was taken from her mother's side, carried into 
 perpetual captivity, and never heard from until 
 she became so accustomed to Indian life that she 
 preferred it to that of returning to live with her 
 friends, who heard from her, and went to her after 
 a separation of near sixty years, and endeavored 
 to persuade her to return to her friends at Wyo- 
 ming. But no arguments could prevail with her to 
 go home with them. She preferred to be the In- 
 dian Queen of the Miamees. The language seemed 
 to be: 
 
 " Let me stay at my home in the beautiful West, 
 Where I played when a child : in my age let me rest, 
 Where the bright prairies bloom, and the wild waters play. 
 In the home of my heart, dearest friend, let me stay." 
 
 Her own account of her captivity was, " After 
 the Indians took me to the woods, ' Tack Horse ' 
 dressed my hair in Indian fashion, and painted 
 my face; he then dressed me up, and put on me 
 beautiful wampum beads, and make me look very 
 fine. They were very kind to me." Thus she was 
 diverted, and as they were passing up the river, 
 in the canoe, to Tioga, where they took their cap- 
 
32 EARLY TIMES 
 
 tives, this little one was allowed to amuse herself 
 by paddling in the water, and when on land to 
 practice with her little bow and arrow, for enter- 
 tainment. In 1789 Mrs. Slocum made a journey 
 to Tioga Point, hoping to find her child among 
 some prisoners who were to be surrendered — but 
 she found her not. 
 
 Frances died in 1847, and had a Christian burial, 
 at the " Deaf Man's Village," near Fort Wayne, 
 Indiana. This touching account is given at length 
 in Mr. Pike's history of Wyoming. 
 
IV 
 
 QUEEN ESTHER 
 
 The history of Queen Esther is one of remarkable 
 interest. She led the Indians into the fort at the 
 time it was surrendered; and presided at the fatal 
 ring, of which Mrs. Durkee, an aged aunt, gives 
 the following account : " Fifteen or sixteen of our 
 men, who had been taken prisoners by the In- 
 dians, were assembled to receive their death-blow, 
 by the hand of Queen Esther, a large, middle-aged 
 Seneca squaw, who had such honors assigned her. 
 
 " In this case, it was thought to be revenge for 
 the death of her son, who was killed by the 
 whites. 
 
 " Some of the prisoners made their escape from 
 the ring; others attempted it, but were unsuccess- 
 ful. Among these was George Gore, who had 
 broken through the ring and ran for the river, but 
 was overtaken by an Indian, who, with his knife 
 and tomahawk, cut him to pieces. He was an ac- 
 tive and handsome young man. His hat was picked 
 up and taken to his friends at the fort." 
 
 The remaining twelve or more were murdered 
 with the tomahawk, by the hand of this savage 
 Queen, on the " Bloody Eock," which may still 
 be seen. 
 
 Queen Esther's residence was near Tioga Point. 
 Her village was of considerable size, two or three 
 
 33 
 
34 EARLY TIMES 
 
 miles below the present village of Athens, on the 
 west side of the river, and within the township. 
 It is said it contained abont seventy houses, of 
 rude form. 
 
 An expedition to Tioga was planned by Colonel 
 Hartley, in September, after the battle, to destroy 
 Indian towns and break up their hiding places. 
 
 With a small array of soldiers, they marched 
 on their hazardous way toward Sheshequnnunck, 
 where they took fifteen prisoners, killed and 
 scalped a chief, and the rest fled. They made val- 
 uable discoveries, and moved rapidly towards 
 Tioga Point. 
 
 Captain Spalding, afterw^ards known among us 
 as General Spalding, of Sheshequin, had command 
 of the 2d division. They were told that young 
 Butler, a Tory, with his Royal Greens, had just 
 fled from Tioga with 300 men, toward Chemung, 
 14 miles off, where they were fortifying, and were 
 1,000 strong. Colonel Hartley was not prepared 
 to meet them, and after burning Tioga, Queen 
 Esther's town, and palace, and all the Indian set- 
 tlements in his way, crossing the " Sheshequin 
 Path," he returned to Sunbury, where a vote of 
 thanks was passed for Colonel Hartley and his 
 brave men. 
 
 Captain Spalding is spoken of as having been 
 efficient in that enterprise. They accomplished 
 much, and brought speedy retribution upon Queen 
 Esther and her associates, for the untold misery 
 they had inflicted upon Wyoming three months 
 before. 
 
 Though savage in time of war. Queen Esther was 
 
QUEEN ESTHER 35 
 
 represented as quiet and trustful in time of peace. 
 After the war closed she was often passing from 
 Tioga to Onondaga, unprotected. One time while 
 Mrs. Durkee was residing in Scipio, N. Y., she 
 came to her house in the evening, on her way to 
 Onondaga, with a sister, who was much intoxi- 
 cated, carrying a papoose upon her back, and in- 
 quired in broken English if they could stay there 
 through the night and sleep on the kitchen floor; 
 Mrs. D. being well acquainted with her, she was 
 permitted to stay until morning, and then went on 
 her way. It has excited some wonder how this 
 Indian Queen came by her Jewish name. If, as 
 some suppose, the Indians have descended from the 
 lost tribes of Israel, it might thus be accounted for, 
 or what is more probable, she might have derived 
 it from the Moravian Missionaries, who had many 
 stations among them, and whose names they often 
 adopted. She married Tom Hill, an Indian as for- 
 bidding as herself, and after she left Tioga she 
 went to Onondaga to reside. 
 
 Some writers have identified Catharine Monteur 
 with Queen Esther, of Bloody Rock notoriety; 
 others say this is improbable, and that the gen- 
 eral supposition concerning Catharine is that she 
 was the daughter of an early French Governor of 
 Canada, taken captive when a child, afterwards 
 becoming the wife of a Seneca Chief, and was a 
 lady of comparative refinement. Her residence 
 was at Seneca Lake. The Indian village called 
 Catharine's town, named for her, was destroyed 
 by Sullivan's army. She subsequently lived at 
 Niagara. 
 
V 
 
 Sullivan's expedition in 1779 
 
 The horrors perpetrated by the Tories and In- 
 dians at Wyoming aroused great indignation in 
 the American people, and Congress determined to 
 send a military force into their country that would 
 prevent further hostilities from them. General 
 Sullivan was placed in command, with three thou- 
 sand five hundred men. His orders from the Com- 
 mander-in-Chief of the American army were to 
 move from Wyoming, up the valley, to Tioga 
 Point, there to be reinforced by General James 
 Clinton, with near two thousand men. Washing- 
 ton gave orders, contrary to his usual custom, to 
 treat the Indians with great severity, as the surest 
 means to bring them to terms of peace. 
 
 They were several days before arriving at their 
 place of destination, with an array of boats and 
 packhorses sufficient for their accommodation. 
 After crossing the river from Sheshequin to Queen 
 Esther's flats, they arrived near where her palace 
 stood, which was destroyed by Colonel Hartley's 
 detachment the September previous. August 12th 
 they moved across the Tioga river near the point 
 of land where the Tioga and Susquehanna rivers 
 meet. Marching up through what is now called 
 the Welles farm, they encamped on the narrowest 
 spot of the peninsula, near the bridge, about 190 
 
 36 
 

 fe 
 
 fa 
 
SULLIVAN'S EXPEDITION IN 1779 37 
 
 yards across, and erected a temporary fort, which 
 they called Fort Sullivan, for the garrison of 250 
 men, who were to remain there during the cam- 
 paign. The fort was in the form of a diamond, 
 extending from one rise of ground to the other, 
 north and south, and from one river to the other, 
 east and west, guard houses being at each point.* 
 Many persons now living remember its location. 
 Bullets have been found in quantities, and several 
 cannon balls, one of which was found as late as 
 1830, within the bounds of the fort, and is among 
 our curiosities. Indian pestles, stone hatchets and 
 arrow points have frequently been found, which 
 denote where the savages have lived. 
 
 They waited several days for General Clinton 
 and his army, then at Otsego Lake, from whence 
 they descended the Susquehanna river, with 200 
 boats, by means of an artificial freshet, caused by 
 throwing a dam across the outlet of the lake, and 
 raising the water. When the dam was removed, 
 it afforded them water sufficient to transport 
 down the river their ordnance, stores and troops. 
 
 They arrived at Tioga Point August 22d, and 
 joined the army of Sullivan, under a salute of 
 guns, with shouts and great rejoicing. The two 
 armies united amounted to more than 5,000 
 men. 
 
 It is interesting to look back ninety years, and 
 notice what was passing here at that time. Chief 
 Justice Marshall states that the whole army of 
 Washington amounted to about 16,000 men. Be- 
 
 * These pages were written within the bounds of Fort Sul- 
 livan. 
 
38 EARLY TIMES 
 
 hold nearly one-third of them, marshaled on this 
 point of land, between the rivers, preparing to 
 move upon the savage foe, protected by a fort, 
 where a vast quantity of provisions were stored 
 for a large army. Behold nearly 2,000 packhorses 
 grazing hereabouts, across the river, and 400 
 barges lying at our shores. Scouts were being sent 
 out over these hills and up these rivers to ascer- 
 tain the strength of the enemy. Listen to the 
 firing of the Eevolutionary muskets, and the 
 formidable artillery echoing from mountain to 
 mountain, to intimidate the enemy lurking about 
 the hills, and hiding in the thicket of the pine 
 plains above. Behold the martial array of the 
 army, the music of the fife and drum, and the 
 " Forward March " of the commander of the West- 
 ern army. Their scouts had discovered an Indian 
 village up the Tioga about fourteen miles, and the 
 *army were in haste to reduce it. They proceeded 
 up the river cautiously, for they knew they were 
 moving upon a powerful foe, led by the detested 
 John Butler and Johnson, Tories, and Brandt, the 
 wily Indian Chief. 
 
 Colonel Hartley remarks that " Chemung was 
 the receptacle of all villainous Indians and Tories 
 from the different tribes and States." Their en- 
 gagement at Chemung was successful. They 
 routed the enemy, destroyed their village, cut down 
 their fruit trees, corn and vegetables, which, by 
 the assistance of their Tory friends, they had in 
 abundance, and laid everything waste. It was 
 supposed that very many of the Indians were 
 slain, and many of them drowned in the river. The 
 
SULLIVAN'S EXPEDITION IN 1779 39 
 
 first engagement was at Chemung, another at 
 Baldwin, then at the Narrows, where the enemy 
 met with a great defeat. Captain Spalding and 
 Colonel Franklin were in the thickest of the fight, 
 and were both wounded. The army returned to 
 Tioga to report victory. About thirty men fell in 
 the battle. Colonel Hubley took those who w^ere 
 killed in his regiment, six in number, placed them 
 on horses and brought them to this place for inter- 
 ment; and on the Saturday following, the bodies 
 of those brave veterans w^ere interred, with mili- 
 tary honors. Parson Eogers,* Chaplain, delivered 
 a discourse on the occasion, probably the first 
 Christian burial ever attended at Tioga Point. 
 What a mournful procession must that have been, 
 bearing those gallant dead to their place of burial. 
 Where the precise spot is, who can tell? We are 
 reminded that we are too late with our history to 
 have many scenes of interest recorded, and they 
 must necessarily be omitted. A generation ago, 
 there were many officers and soldiers living among 
 us who would gladly have entertained a listener 
 with their thrilling accounts. Peace to the ashes 
 of those men ! let them rest unknown and undis- 
 turbed. 
 
 After some days of preparation, at Fort Sulli- 
 van, the army took up their line of march, to pur- 
 sue the enemy further into the Indian country. 
 
 From Tioga Point they moved to the upper end 
 of " Tioga Flats," near the first Narrows and Span- 
 ish Hill, where they encamped for the night. The 
 
 * Rev. William Rogers, D. D., born 1751, died lS24, chaplain 
 Hand's brigade — Sullivan's expedition. 
 
40 EARLY TIMES 
 
 next morning they found a fording place for the 
 artillery, pack horses and cattle, to cross the 
 Chemung river. As the very narrow path on the 
 north side of the river made it impracticable for 
 them to pass, they crossed to the south side of the 
 river, and after marching about a mile and a half, 
 crossed again, and formed a junction with the 
 Brigades of Generals Poor and Clinton, who had 
 taken their route with much difficulty over the 
 mountain on the north side of the river. Colonel 
 Hubley says in his journal : " The prospect from 
 the summit of this mountain is most beautiful. 
 We had a view of the country at least twenty miles 
 around. The fine, extensive plains, interspersed 
 with streams of water, made the prospect pleasing 
 and elegant." 
 
 They pursued the course they had taken before, 
 as far as Newtown (now Elmira), when they 
 turned toward the Grenesee country, burning the 
 Indian villages, destroying vast quantities of corn, 
 and laying the country desolate. 
 
 They returned by the way of Seneca Lake and 
 " Catharine town," the residence of Catharine 
 Monteur. They killed many of their worn out 
 horses at what is called Horseheads, and arrived 
 at Newtown. Thence they returned to Tioga 
 Point, their place of rendezvous. There they were 
 joyfully saluted by the garrison, had a sumptuous 
 repast prepared by Colonel Shreive, enlivened by 
 the music of the fife and drum. They had driven 
 off the Indians, released many captives, and " Sul- 
 livan had strictly executed the severe but necessary 
 orders he had received, to render the country unin- 
 
SULLIVAN'S EXPEDITION IN 1779 41 
 
 habitable, and had compelled the hostile Indians 
 to remove to a greater distance." 
 
 That Tioga Point was a place of importance in 
 those days, is obvious. Here were the headquar- 
 ters of this great army. Here they concentrated 
 their forces. Here were their fort and supplies, 
 and here they sent back their sick to recruit, and 
 their dead for burial. Here they returned after 
 their success in the Indian country, and here again 
 they dispersed and sailed joyfully down the Sus- 
 quehanna to Wyoming, and from thence reported 
 at headquarters (Easton), "a successful expedi- 
 tion against the Indians." 
 
 One of the Oneida Indians was a faithful guide 
 in this expedition. He was taken prisoner, how- 
 ever, and cruelly put to death. 
 
 The time employed in this work of devastation 
 was less than two months, and the number of men 
 slain, and lost by sickness, amounted to only 
 about forty. 
 
VI 
 
 MATTHIAS HOLLENBACK 
 
 Mr. Miner supposes Mr. Holjenback to be a native 
 of Virginia. But Mr. Peck, of later day, on the 
 authority of Mr. H.'s family, records his birth at 
 Jonestown, Lancaster county. Pa. 
 
 Mr. H. came to Wyoming at an early period 
 of its settlement by Connecticut people, identi- 
 fied himself with its interests, and was valiant 
 for the defense of the settlers, whose cause he con- 
 sidered just. But after the decision of the Court 
 of Trenton, he yielded to it, and was always a faith- 
 ful subject of the laws of Pennsylvania. He was 
 well known among the brave and generous, in those 
 days that tried men's souls; a man of the common 
 height, but stout, remarkably active, enterprising 
 and successful in business, and possessing strong 
 powers of mind. 
 
 At the close of the Eevolutionary war in 1783^ 
 Mr. Hollenback was employed by the government 
 to supply the Indians, according to treaty, with 
 articles they might need, such as brooches, beads^ 
 blankets, and whiskey, and made his first estab- 
 lishment quite into the Indian country, at New- 
 town, a little below Elmira. John Shepard, my 
 father, was his clerk in 1784. It was there an In- 
 dian who became offended with Mr. Hollenback^ 
 made an attempt upon his life. He came into the 
 
 42 
 
MATTHIAS HOLLENBACK 43^ 
 
 store quite intoxicated, witli his long knife con- 
 cealed under his blanket, while Hollenback was 
 writing at his desk. He drew near to him, and 
 when preparing to make a plunge, young Shepard;^ 
 who had been watching him, saw his knife, and 
 suspecting his design, and having an ax helve in 
 his hand, came up behind him, and struck the In- 
 dian a heavy blow on his arm, when the knife 
 dropped and the assassin made his escape. ] 
 
 Before the country was much settled by white 
 people, Mr. Hollenback established stores in many 
 places along the Susquehanna Kiver. He came 
 to Tioga Point in 1783. He first occupied a small 
 temporary building, connected with the house of 
 Mr. Alexander, on a cross street from the Chemung 
 to the Susquehanna Elver, on the east side of the 
 main street, just above the Chemung bridge, oppo- 
 site the ferry, and near where Mr, Samuel Hep- 
 burne's store Avas, on the Susquehanna River. The 
 ]3ine trees were growing quite down into the village, 
 but where these stores stood was cleared ground and 
 meadow. Being near the site of Fort Sullivan, it 
 is supposed that the ground having been more oc- 
 cupied, the low brush had not sprung up. The 
 fort is said to have been built of earth and pine 
 brush. 
 
 Mr. Hollenback built his store on the corner of 
 the lot adjoining the public square,* about the time 
 the town was laid out, in 1786. Very many re- 
 member this large, two-story building of hewn logs, 
 in later days clapboarded, to give it a more modern 
 appearance. It was a house and store together. 
 The store was a long room, on the south side. On 
 
 * Now the property of Mr. C. Hunsicker. 
 
44 EARLY TIMES 
 
 the north were a parlor, sitting-room and kitchen. 
 The upper rooms were pleasant and airy, and all 
 the rooms had corner fire-places, built of stone. 
 This building might furnish material for a history 
 by itself. No pen has recorded the number of 
 births, deaths, and marriages that have taken place 
 in that one tenement. Some of the elite of our 
 country have dwelt there. Congressmen, judges, 
 lawyers, teachers, merchants, farmers, and mechan- 
 ics have helped successively to make up the in- 
 mates of this antiquated dwelling. 
 
 It was here Mr. Hollenback opened his " new 
 store," with its variety and attractions; dry goods 
 and groceries for the whites, and beads, brooches, 
 and blankets for the Indians, and rum for both. 
 Mr. Daniel McDowell was clerk. 
 
 The country was greatly accommodated by these 
 early merchants. Many choice and useful articles 
 were brought up the river from Philadelphia, in 
 boats, for " Hollenback's store," and so great was 
 the importance of this establishment that letters 
 to individuals were addressed to " Hollenback's 
 store," and the town itself was known more by that 
 name than any other. 
 
 The Indians did not all flee before Sullivan's 
 army. Many that were feeble or peaceable were 
 allowed to remain. It is related that at Catharine, 
 the army found an aged Indian woman, alone and 
 destitute. They built her a cabin, provided wood 
 and provisions for her, and found her there when 
 they returned. 
 
 After the treaty of peace with Great Britain, 
 many of the natives came back to their hunting 
 
MATTHIAS HOLLENBACK 45 
 
 and fishing ground. It was hard to leave the lands 
 they had inherited from their fathers. In a little 
 time they became insolent and troublesome; and 
 when stimulated by strong drink they were dan- 
 gerous neighbors. At one time when Mr. H. was 
 in his store, an Indian threw a brand of fire 
 through a broken window on a barrel of gunpow- 
 der. With instant thought, young Shepard, who 
 was now clerk at this place, seized the brand, picked 
 off the coals, and brushed off the flashing powder, 
 scattered on the head of the barrel, and thus saved 
 them all from sudden destruction. 
 
 Judge Hollenback has often been heard to say: 
 " That brave John Shepard has twice saved my 
 life." They were friends in after life, and always 
 seemed happy to meet and recount early times and 
 adventures. 
 
 Judge Hollenback was not long stationary at 
 one place. It was enough to employ his time, to go 
 from one trading post to another, and leave his 
 business with efficient clerks. But he continued 
 to make improvements at Tioga Point. He dug a 
 well near his large " house and store " which still 
 supplies water, " sparkling and bright." He 
 planted apple trees, some of which now stand, and 
 bear finiit, and are ornaments on that beautiful 
 lot. May the trees and the w ell long remain ! He 
 built a tenant house of logs on the same lot near 
 the south line, which has accommodated many a 
 family. Some have lived in good style in these 
 buildings, with neatly papered rooms, carpeted 
 floors, and handsome drapery. He also built a 
 storehouse on the bank of the Chemung river, 
 
46 EARLY TIMES 
 
 "^^liich accommodated the merchants generally. 
 From there was heard the boat horn, sounding 
 long and loud, more than half a century ago, an- 
 nouncing the arrival of new goods, which produced 
 greater sensation among the inhabitants than the 
 arrival of cars at the depot at later date. The old 
 storehouse at length became useless, was under- 
 mined by water, and finally was set on fire, and 
 vanished from our sight. The tenant house began 
 to decay, and was torn down, and in 1849 the " Hol- 
 lenback house and store " was deliberately torn 
 down, and the cellar filled up, being about 63 years 
 since it was built. 
 
 John Jacob Astor once proposed a partnership 
 in the fur trade with Mr. Hollenback, but having 
 sufficient business to engage him on the Susque- 
 hanna, Mr. H. declined. 
 
 After many years they met, and Mr. Astor in- 
 timated to Mr. Hollenback that he would take care 
 of his son, if he would send him to him, to which 
 he replied, " I thank you, sir ; he can take care of 
 himself." Which proved true in the prosperous 
 life of George M. Hollenback. 
 
 In 1793, at the time of the revolution in France, 
 Colonel Hollenback was employed by the Governor 
 of Pennsylvania, the agent of Louis XVI., to pro- 
 vide a place of retreat for the royal family of 
 France, at some secluded spot on the Susquehanna. 
 He purchased a tract of land in Luzerne, now Brad- 
 ford county, which they called Asylum, to which 
 place a large number of French families fled for 
 protection, and where several of their descendants 
 .still remain. 
 
VII 
 
 NEW SHESHEQUIN 
 
 At the time of Sullivan's march up the valley of 
 Wyoming, as the army passed through Sheshequin 
 valley, Captain Simon Spalding, who commanded 
 a company, was much pleased with the appearance 
 and location of the place, and resolved to make 
 that his future residence. Captain Spalding was 
 a native of Plainfleld, Conn. He was born in 1741, 
 married Ruth Shepard, and removed to Wyoming 
 at an early period of its settlement, and died at 
 Sheshequin, in 1814. He was a large man, of fine 
 personal appearance. He was a captain in the 
 Eevolutionary war, and was constituted General 
 in the militia after he removed to Sheshequin. He 
 with his family, and several of his neighbors, re- 
 moved from Wyoming to Sheshequin, in May, 1783. 
 This beautiful valley was at that time covered with 
 Indian grass, five or six feet high, to which these 
 pioneers set fire, which ran through the valley 
 about four miles. General Spalding, with his 
 numerous sons and daughters, sons-in-law and 
 daughters-in-law, occupied the upper part of the 
 valley. The sons were John and Chester. John 
 married Wealthy Gore, daughter of Obadiah Gore, 
 Esq. Chester married Sarah Tyler, sister of 
 Francis Tyler, of Athens. 
 
 The daughters were: Mrs. Joseph Kinney, Mrs. 
 
 47 
 
48 EARLY TIMES 
 
 Moses Park, Mrs. William Spalding, mother of 
 the late Robert Spalding, and Mrs. Briggs, well 
 known among us, and Mrs. Kingsbury, wife of 
 Colonel Joseph Kingsbury, known as a prominent 
 surveyor and agent. 
 
 These all had large and uncommonly fine look- 
 ing families. 
 
 Other families were added to the number: Mr. 
 Fuller, Mr. Hoyt, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Snyder, and 
 Mr. Shaw, father of the surviving son, now over 
 ninety-four years of age. 
 
 These families all had pleasant farms allotted 
 them, extending from the river back to the moun- 
 tain. They first bought of the Susquehanna Com- 
 pany, under Connecticut title, in which state they 
 enjoyed peace, quietness, and prosperity, and were 
 able also to meet the Pennsylvania claim, hard as 
 they might have felt it to be, when it was pre- 
 sented. 
 
 They found in this beautiful valley a variety of 
 nuts and wild fruit, plums and cranberries. In a 
 few short years, their presses began to burst forth 
 with new cider, and their barns with plenty. Their 
 butter and cheese, their pork and beans, Indian 
 bread and honey, were not surpassed in their own 
 native Connecticut. 
 
 John Spalding, oldest son of General Spalding, 
 was appointed Colonel of Militia, and was well 
 situated on a fine farm of his own, and one pre- 
 sented to his wife by her father, joining his. Colo- 
 nel Spalding had an erect and stately figure, was 
 lively in his manner, and proud of his wife and of 
 his children, fourteen in number. Visitors were 
 
Judge Olsediapi Goke 
 
NEW SHESHEQUIN 49 
 
 sometimes amused, when inquiry was made how 
 many children they had. One of them would say, 
 " Harry, Billy, Noah, Dyer, Simon, Sally, Ulysses, 
 Wealthy, George, John, Charley, Zebulon, Avery, 
 and Mary." They all grew up to be fine, stately 
 sons and daughters ; but the mother outlived all 
 but two, Mrs. General Welles and Mr. Zebulon B. 
 Spalding, who reside with us. 
 
 Joseph Kinney, Esq., from Killingly, Conn., one 
 of the sons-in-law, was a man of intelligence and 
 reading. Some of his descendants have partaken 
 of his spirit, and have been noted for their literary 
 turn. There have been among them professional 
 men, editors, and statesmen. 
 
 Mrs. Julia Scott, deceased, daughter of the late 
 George Kinney, Esq., of Sheshequin, wrote much, 
 and published a volume of poems, which showed 
 a refined taste and cultivated mind, and her name 
 has found a place in a volume of American poets. 
 She died at Towanda, in 1842. 
 
 Obadiah Gore was born in Norwich, Conn., 1744, 
 and came to Wyoming with the early settlers. He 
 was the eldest son of Obadiah Gore, Esq., who had 
 seven sons engaged in the Eevolutionary war, a 
 fact of which Colonel Stone speaks in his history 
 of Wyoming as " The most remarkable in the his- 
 tory of man. That a father and six * sons, including 
 tw^o sons-in-law, should be engaged in the same 
 battle field, is rarely, if ever known. Five corpses 
 of a single family sleeping upon the cold bed of 
 death together the self-same night! What a price 
 did that family pay for liberty ! " Obadiah Gore 
 came to Sheshequin in 1783, about the time Cap- 
 
 * Colonel Stone says six, the number was seven. 
 
50 EARLY TIMES 
 
 tain Spalding removed there, and settled in the 
 lower part of the valley. Obadiah was an officer 
 in Washington's army, and served through the 
 war.* While Westmoreland sent representatives 
 to Hartford, Mr. Gore was sent as assemblyman, 
 and was prominent in public proceedings. He was 
 a man of fine appearance, and dignity of character, 
 and pleasing in his address. He submitted to the 
 decree of Trenton, but was oh the committee re- 
 monstrating against the repeal of the Confirming 
 act, and after removing to Sheshequin, was ap- 
 pointed Associate Judge for the Court of Luzerne 
 county, and served for many years. He was a man 
 of much taste, and cultivated a great variety of 
 fruit. He also planted the mulberry tree and 
 raised silkworms to some extent. He was at one 
 time a merchant, and opened a store of goods in 
 his house on the hill, where he always lived, at the 
 same time carrying on farming quite extensively. 
 There was much in his beautiful situation to com- 
 fort his family and attract his friends. 
 
 Obadiah Gore had five children and fifty-two 
 grandchildren. He died March 22, 1821, aged 77 
 years. 
 
 Avery Gore, his son, married Lucy, daughter of 
 Silas Gore, who fell in the massacre of Wyoming. 
 Mrs. Gore was a rare woman. Her domestic man- 
 agement of a very large family, part of the time 
 consisting of four generations and numerous de- 
 
 • * Obadiah Gore was engaged as an officer in General Sul- 
 livan's army. He kept a connected journal of the entire cam- 
 paign, which has been read by some of his grandchildren, and 
 which, it is to be regretted, has been lost. 
 
NEW SHESHEQUIN 51 
 
 pendents, was a marvel to all who knew her posi- 
 tion, more than fifty years ago. " Rising while it 
 was yet dark and giving meat to her household," 
 she would apportion to her domestics the labors of 
 the day, the spinning, weaving, and the dairy, at- 
 tending to the butter and the cheese, for which she 
 was noted, and the many supernumeraries, attend- 
 ing upon all. These duties done systematically, 
 day after day and year after year, with a quick 
 step and a cheerful face; the impression was, 
 " Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou 
 excellest them all." 
 
 She lived in the same house where she was mar- 
 ried until the time of her death. She presided at 
 her own table more than sixty years. When we 
 last called upon her, her sun was declining, and 
 she soon after died, in March, 1867, over 92 years 
 of age. The eldest sister, Mrs. Wilkinson, who 
 died some years ago, was also over 90 years old. 
 
 Lucy, quite a little girl, was in Forty Fort at the 
 time of the battle of Wyoming, with her mother 
 and two other children. Her father, Silas Gore, 
 and two of his brothers, were killed. Their names 
 may now be seen on the monument, near the fatal 
 spot. The children of the family remembered when 
 the Indians took possession of the Fort, and many 
 of their antics impressed their childish minds. 
 They placed the ladies' caps and bonnets upon 
 their own heads, put their side-saddles upon their 
 own ponies and mounted them, riding in ladies' 
 style, much to the merriment of all but the poor 
 sufferers. They remembered how the fugitives 
 waded through the Indian meal and corn and 
 
52 EARLY TIMES 
 
 feathers knee deep when they were exiled from the 
 Fort. Mrs. Gore, with a stricken heart, made her 
 way with her three children to a boat, which took 
 her to a place of safety. 
 
 Samuel Gore came to Sheshequin with his 
 brother, Obadiah, and owned a farm adjoining his, 
 which was, at one time, considered very valuable; 
 but some parts of it, as well as other farms in She- 
 shequin, have suffered greatly from the floods and 
 back-water from Towanda dam. 
 
 Mr. Gore was Justice of the Peace, and had the 
 business of the neighborhood at that time. Among 
 the numerous marriages he was called to perform, 
 was that of old Mrs. Northrop, about 90, and old 
 Mr. Howder, a few years younger, in about the 
 year 1830. They lived above the Narrows in 
 Athens, and both took their staves in hand and 
 walked down to Squire Gore's, five or six miles,. for 
 the performance of the ceremony. Mr. Gore was 
 fond of pleasantry, and told them it was necessary 
 to have some witnesses for the occasion. He there- 
 fore sent to some of the neighbors, whom he in- 
 vited to attend the wedding. 
 
 After the marriage, this unique bride and groom 
 took their staves in hand again and started home- 
 ward. It is said that Mrs. Howder lived to be over 
 a hundred years old. 
 
 About 1790, Mr. Gore was once coming home 
 from Owego, where he had been to make some pur- 
 chases, with his knapsack upon his back. He 
 found the Indians quite numerous and hostile at 
 Tioga Point, and the river very high, and could 
 not cross it that night. For safety, he climbed a 
 
NEW SHESHEQUIN 53 
 
 tree opposite the island, and secured himself by a 
 strap, where he stayed through the night. Early 
 the next morning he went to the ferry with all pos- 
 sible stillness, where the ferryman took him across 
 the river and he went on his way in safety. A 
 part of Samuel Gore's history has been previously 
 noticed, in order to give his petition to Congress, 
 containing a particular account of the Wyoming 
 massacre, and attending circumstances. We have 
 thought it unnecessary to give any other history 
 of that memorable event. 
 
 It was inserted in that part of our record, in or- 
 der to give those statements in their proper chron- 
 ological order. 
 
 Moses Park, of Stonington, Connecticut, who 
 married a daughter of General Spalding, was a 
 Baptist minister, and preached to a small Baptist 
 church in Sheshequin, of w^hich Joseph Kinney 
 was Deacon. They, with many others, afterward 
 embraced Universalism. 
 
 His son, Chester Park, is a licensed local Meth- 
 odist preacher. His ministrations over these hills 
 and among these valleys have been acceptable and 
 very useful. 
 
 Mr. Jabez Fish and family came from Wilkes- 
 barre at a later period and settled at Sheshequin. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Fish had been members of the Rev. 
 Ard. Hoyt's church, of Wilkesbarre, who afterward 
 went on a mission to the Cherokee nation, at Mis- 
 sion Ridge, Georgia. They united with the Congre- 
 gational Church at Athens in 1812. Mr. Fish died in 
 a few years after, and Mrs. Fish lived long to honor 
 her profession. She was much interested in the 
 
54 EARLY TIMES 
 
 missionary cause. Her granddaughter, Mrs. Tracy, 
 has recently gone on a mission to Turkey. 
 
 Breakneck, the lower part of Sheshequin, was 
 known by that name at the time Sullivan's army 
 passed through the narrows. Col. Hubley states 
 in his journal : " So high and so narrow^ was the 
 path at Breakneck Hill, a single false step must 
 inevitably carry one to the bottom, the distance of 
 180 feet perpendicular ; " and yet, an army of more 
 than 3,000 men with their long train of packhorses, 
 marched through this dangerous pass in safety. 
 They then " entered the charming valley of She- 
 shequin, made a halt at a most beautiful run, and 
 took a bit of dinner." 
 
 It has been said that a squaw fell from the preci- 
 pice years ago and broke her neck, and it is gen- 
 erally supposed this circumstance gave name to 
 the place, and a face was painted on the rocks, by 
 a rough artist, commemorating the event, which, 
 perhaps, is still visible. 
 
 Obadiah. Gore, son of Avery Gore, has a short 
 and ancient record of a title, of much interest, a 
 duplicate of which is as follows: 
 
 INDIAN TITLE 
 
 " Nicolas Tatemy, an Indian Chief, bought of 
 the State or Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in 
 1783, a tract of land, 180^ acres, in the center of 
 Sheshequin, and sold it to John Brotsman, a gen- 
 tleman of Philadelphia. This farm was bought 
 of Mr. B. by Obadiah Gore, grandfather of the 
 present occupant, who gave it to his grandson for 
 his name. The draft of land was called Indelela- 
 
NEW SHESHEQUIN 55 
 
 mookong, situated on the East Branch of the Sus- 
 quehanna river, opposite an Indian settlement 
 called Sheshequinung, lying in Northumberland 
 Co., Pa. Eeturned to Surveyor's office for John 
 Lukens." 
 
 It is pleasant to visit the valley of Sheshequin, 
 where so many of our fathers and grandfathers 
 have lived and died; where cluster so many pleas- 
 ant associations, and where we have spent so many 
 of our youthful days. We remember while there 
 seeing the total eclipse of 1806, when the chickens 
 went to roost, the cows went lowing home, and the 
 teacher and scholars ran home in dismay. 
 
 We remember the old barn, which has just fal- 
 len under the weight of more than four score years, 
 and the additional pressure of a heavy snow, the 
 first frame building in Bradford, then a part of 
 Luzerne Co., built in 1786; and also the house of 
 our grandfather, built a little later, and now un- 
 dergoing extensive repairs. We felt like saying 
 " Woodman, spare that tree," when we heard it 
 was to pass through a revolution; but have been 
 gratified to find some parts of it remaining un- 
 changed, and we can there see the old tall clock, 
 and the spy-glass which Lieutenant Gore carried 
 in the army of the Revolution, and which children 
 and children's children have been permitted to look 
 through, as a special favor. There have been many 
 living in Sheshequin remarkable for their longev- 
 ity. We could name numbers who have lived more 
 than four score years, and several over ninety. 
 
VIII 
 
 OLD SHESHEQUIN 
 
 The west side of the river, known as Ulster, was 
 called by the Indians Sheshequinung, and was a 
 place of great importance among them. It was 
 earlier known and settled by them than the oppo- 
 site side of the river, now called Sheshequin. It 
 was the termination of the great Sheshequin war 
 path from the West Branch, by Lycoming Creek, 
 thence to Beaver Dam, thence down Sugar Creek 
 to Sheshequin flats. 
 
 The Moravians state that the Chief Echgohund 
 resided here. It was a Monsey town, inhabited 
 by that ferocious tribe whose emblem was a wolf. 
 Queen Esther's village was composed of a part of 
 this tribe, and they partook of the same spirit. 
 
 After the Indians were driven off, the early white 
 settlers called it Old Sheshequin, and those on the 
 opposite side called their settlement New Sheshe- 
 quin. They were settled about the same time, prin- 
 cipally by Wyoming people, whose sympathies were 
 strong and lasting. 
 
 When the township was surveyed by the Sus- 
 quehanna Company, they included the two settle- 
 ments and called the township Ulster, which 
 remained so many years ; but in 1820 the township 
 was divided, the west side was called Ulster, and 
 the east side Sheshequin. So that on the west side 
 
 56 
 
OLD SHESHEQUIN 57 
 
 of the river, the original Sheshequinung, has alto- 
 gether lost its ancient Indian name. 
 
 Among the early white settlers were Captain 
 Simons, Mr. Holcomb, Mr. Tracy, Captain Clark, 
 Captain Cash, Captain Kice, and afterwards Mr. 
 Overton, an Englishman, who purchased of Tracy, 
 and was the father of the Overton family now 
 among us. Mrs. Overton, who came to this coun- 
 try some years after her husband, was a lady of 
 polished manners, and very beautiful. 
 
 This was quite a social community, and they 
 lived in much peace and quietness. A Baptist 
 Church was formed here, at an early period, and 
 the sacraments were administered alternately on 
 the east and west sides of the river. 
 
 Captain Cash and his wife, Mrs. Overton and 
 Mrs. Rice died nearly at the same time, of a fever 
 that prevailed throughout the country in 1812. 
 Anna Cash, the eldest daughter of Captain Cash, 
 was left with the entire care of her father's large 
 family, and did herself much honor by her faith- 
 ful attention to them, until they were otherwise 
 provided for. She afterwards married Colonel 
 Lockwood, who was known here many years. She 
 brought up a large family of her own, and died at 
 her old home in 1865. 
 
IX 
 
 JOHN SHEPARD 
 
 In his journal, written at Tioga Point, and dated 
 1784, Mr. Shepard says : " I was born in Plain- 
 field, Connecticut, April ITth, 1765. Went to 
 school in the Academy there, taught by Nathan 
 Daboll " — the arithmetician and astronomer. 
 
 His uncle. Captain Simon Spalding, came from 
 Wyoming to Connecticut, after the close of the 
 Kevolutionary war, to purchase cattle. He says: 
 " I went home with him, and was then eighteen 
 years old. We had a long and tedious journey — 
 were fifteen days before we arrived at Wyoming 
 with the cattle. I continued there two weeks, then 
 went up the river with my uncle, and remained 
 with him at Sheshequin until December 18th, 1784. 
 From thence I engaged as clerk for Weiss & Hol- 
 lenback, in the Indian country, at Newtown, now 
 Elmira. It was more than twenty miles from any 
 white inhabitants. 
 
 " I continued there until April, then bought 158 
 pounds (about |500 worth) of goods of Weiss 
 & Hollenback, to carry farther into the Indian 
 country. Went first to a place called Tioga 
 Point to obtain packhorses. The streams were 
 high, so that many times I waded up to my waist, 
 and my man Brown was thrown from his horse, 
 and carried down stream several rods by the swift 
 water. We went back to the store, packed up my 
 
 58 
 
John Shepard 
 
JOHN SHEPARD 59 
 
 goods, and started with them the 23d of April, 
 1785. I came to a place called Catharine Town. 
 There I continued two days among the Indians, 
 and sold part of my load. I arrived at Canoga on 
 Cayuga lake, the 29th of April." ( Canoga is nearly 
 opposite Aurora, and noted as the birthplace of 
 Eed Jacket.) 
 
 "The 6th of May I sent my man back to Weiss 
 •& Hollenback's store with skins and furs to ex- 
 change for more goods. During his absence I lived 
 nine days without seeing any person except sav- 
 ages. I amused myself by walking about, but 
 dared not go out of sight of my cabin, for fear of 
 having my goods stolen, 
 
 " May 15th, Messrs. Leonard and Dean came by 
 way of Seneca river and lake, with a boat load of 
 goods from Albany, and in two days more six boat 
 loads came. I sold to them sundry articles, bought 
 of them gum, flour, brooches, blankets, &c. I w^ent 
 to Newtow^n the first day of June. The night I 
 arrived there the Indians had a drunken frolic, 
 and fell upon us, and we were obliged to make our 
 escape. 
 
 " I went to Canoga again, June 18th, and sent 
 William to Tioga Point. After his return, I was 
 taken sick with fever and ague, which continued 
 until October. I started for Tioga Point, and at 
 Newtown met two men from Niagara, who told me 
 that the Indians had killed and taken a number of 
 white people, and there was much alarm. 
 
 " That night I came back to Tioga Point. Wil- 
 liam stayed with me until the 4th of January, 1786. 
 
 " The State line was run this year by Kitten- 
 
60 EARLY TIMES 
 
 house and others. I engaged with Hollenback again 
 as clerk at Tioga Point, and continued with him 
 through 1787." 
 
 It would seem that the Indians had become quite 
 numerous and troublesome about this time. Many 
 of them had returned with strong attachments to 
 their native soil. Some felt that they had not been 
 fairly dealt with, and many were influenced by the 
 love of strong drink, with which they could here- 
 be supplied, and here was their incomparable hunt- 
 ing and fishing ground. 
 
 With these attractions, many of the natives were 
 returning, which created serious apprehensions 
 among the white people. 
 
 Two intoxicated Indians were at one time in a 
 quarrel. One ran into Hollenback's store, the other 
 pursued him with his rifle and shot him dead, then 
 made his escape — the blood streaming in every 
 direction about the store. Mr. Shepard witnessed 
 this terrible scene. They seldom offered him any 
 violence. He was quite a favorite with them. 
 They admired his bravery, sometimes calling him 
 " Yankoo Bravoo," and he often went by the name 
 of " Conidehecut " among them. He in turn ad- 
 mired some of their characteristics, and often ex- 
 pressed much regard for them. 
 
 While the natives remained, there was much 
 trade with them in the article of furs. They found 
 " plenty bear, plenty deer " on the mountains and 
 plains. The dense pines within the hills and rivers 
 formed a cool retreat for them, from the sultry sun 
 in summer, and protection from the cold blasts of 
 winter. Deer skins were abundant, and from sev- 
 
JOHN SHEPARD 61 
 
 eral bills among Mr. Shepard's old papers, it ap- 
 pears that other animals abounded. One bill of 
 sale mentions 24 bear skins, 31 martin and mink 
 skins, 5 fishers, 2 otters, 1 wild cat, 44 raccoons. 
 
 The journal continues : " January, 1788, bought 
 Prince Bryant's mills, and an adjoining lot of 
 Nathaniel Shaw called the mill lot, on which were 
 a saw mill, grist mill, and two dwelling houses." 
 These lots were the first land purchase made by 
 Mr. Shepard. They were bought under Connecti- 
 cut title. Subsequently the Pennsylvania title was 
 demanded and met. This purchase embraced the 
 land on both sides of Cayuta or Shepard's Creek, 
 from the State line down to Morley's mill, includ- 
 ing Milltown. It was in the deed called a gore of 
 land, containing 600 acres, for which he paid 600 
 pounds in New York currency, |2.50 per acre. 
 
 In this purchase, the grist mill was an important 
 acquisition, being the only one within 50 miles. It 
 was run both night and day. Loads of grain were 
 brought to it from distances of twenty, thirty and 
 fifty miles, in boats, canoes, carts, and sleighs. 
 
 Mr. Shepard was once returning from New York 
 in a buggy, and was overtaken by a heavy snow 
 storm, 150 miles from home, which made it neces- 
 sary for him to exchange his vehicle for a sleigh. 
 More difference was required than Mr. S. was pre- 
 pared to advance, but said he, " I will give you my 
 note." The landlord hesitated, as he was an entire 
 stranger. When Mr. S. said, " Have you ever 
 heard of ' Shepard's Mill '? " " O, yes." " I am the 
 man," said Mr. S. "Well," said the landlord, 
 " Take the sleigh and give me your note." 
 
62 EARLY TIMES 
 
 Among Mr. Shepard's papers is a statement of 
 the " Boundaries of a lease dated March, 1787, 
 from the Chiefs of the Senecas and Cayugas, to 
 Benjamin Birdsall, Simon Spalding, John Shep- 
 ard, Matthias Hollenback, Obadiah Gore, Elijah 
 Bush, and many others, beginning at the Narrows, 
 five miles above Newtown, on the Tioga; thence 
 east to Awaga Creek ; thence down the Awaga to the 
 Susquehanna river; thence down said river until 
 it strikes the Pennsylvania line; then on said line 
 until it strikes the 79 mile stone; from thence, a 
 northerly course to the place of beginning." But 
 little is known respecting this lease, except the 
 above description. The Indians lost their lands, 
 and it is supposed that the " Lease Company " did 
 not receive much emolument from them. 
 
 June 3d, 1790, Mr. Shepard married Anna, 
 daughter of Judge Gore, of Sheshequin, and set- 
 tled on a farm at Milltown, which he bought of 
 John Jenkins under Connecticut title, for the sum 
 of one hundred pounds, Pennsylvania money; con- 
 taining about three hundred and forty acres on 
 the opposite side of the creek from the mills. He 
 lived on this farm more than twenty years. Six 
 of his children were born there. His wife and eld- 
 est son died there. Near the close of the last cen- 
 tury he made large purchases of land, and at one 
 time owned on the State line, from the Tioga to 
 the Susquehanna river. 
 
 In 1796, he says, " Purchased of T. Thomas, of 
 Westchester County, 1,000 acres of land in the 
 State of New York, beginning 52 rods east of 59 
 mile stone." The consideration for the same was 
 
JOHN SHEPARD 63 
 
 two thousand pounds lawful money of the United 
 States. This purchase embraced the whole of 
 Waverly, Factoryville, and several farms back on 
 the hill. 
 
 Some years after this purchase, Mr. Shepard in- 
 terceded with General Thomas to set off a portion 
 of his large patent, extending to Buckville, for 
 church purposes, which he consented to do. But 
 the object was deferred, and the General becoming 
 weary of his vast possessions, having no children, 
 left all to his wife. 
 
 Mr. Shepard built a house for his brother-in-law, 
 Josiah Pierce, near Chemung river, on the hill. 
 This was a house of entertainment for travelers, 
 and accommodated the long train of judges, law- 
 yers, and witnesses on horseback that passed back 
 and forth during the sessions of Court held al- 
 ternately at Owego and Newtown, shire towns for 
 old Tioga County. 
 
 Mr. Pierce had a son Chester, 18 years old, who 
 was riding a spirited horse through the pines, to- 
 wards Milltown. When about half way, a boy 
 frightened the horse, and young Pierce was thrown 
 from the saddle. One of his feet caught in the stir- 
 rup, and he was dragged on the ground, and so 
 injured that he very soon died. 
 
 He was the first one interred in the Milltown 
 burying ground. The Pierce place was afterwards 
 owned by Isaac Shepard, son of John Shepard, 
 whose extensive grounds are now in the possession 
 of his sons C. H, and W. W. Shepard. The house 
 Was burned in 1853. 
 
 The journal adds, " December, 1798, my grists 
 
64 EARLY TIMES 
 
 mill was burned, and with hard labor saved the 
 saw-mill. Rebuilt the grist mill, and with the as- 
 sistance of friends had the mill in operation in 
 about six weeks." Such was the spirit of the peo- 
 ple at this period. 
 
 During this suspension of the mill, the long canoe 
 was dispatched with grain for Hollenback's mills 
 at Wilkesbarre, 80 miles distant, and the horse 
 mill of Mr. Alexander was in operation day and 
 night, to supply the inbahitants with bread. 
 
 1799. The Compromising law was passed by the 
 Legislature of Pennsylvania. This was followed 
 by law suits about the improvements on lands that 
 had been occupied by Connecticut claimants. 
 
 Colonel Pickering suggested the Compromising 
 law, and was the principal agent in securing its 
 enactment, although he was decidedly in favor of 
 Pennsylvania. In his " Concise Narrative " he ad- 
 mits, " That it is not surprising that Connecticut 
 should claim that part of Pennsylvania which was 
 comprehended in a charter, twenty years older 
 than Mr. Penn's, and that all things considered, 
 the Pennsylvania Legislature should be disposed 
 to view the subject in dispute in the most favorable 
 light for the unfortunate settlers." 
 
 By the terms of this law, " Commissioners ap- 
 pointed by the State were to re-survey lots claimed 
 by the Connecticut settlers, a certificate was to be 
 issued to the State, on presenting which to the land 
 office, and paying the small compensation fixed, 
 he should receive a patent." * 
 
 It was a time of prosperity with Mr. Shepard 
 about the beginning of this century. His grist- 
 * Miner's History. 
 
JOHN SHEPARD 65 
 
 mill, saw-mill, fulling-mill, oil-mill, and distillery 
 afforded him quite a revenue, although attended 
 with great expense. His zeal in land purchases 
 was almost unbounded. Whenever he heard of 
 land to be disposed of, he would secure it if pos- 
 sible. But taxes, and Pennsylvania claims, be- 
 gan to be so onerous that it checked his ardor, and 
 as he grew older, he felt that in being so desirous 
 for the world he was only pursuing a phantom that 
 had no substance. The providences of God, too, 
 were preparing him to look at life in its true 
 light. 
 
 In 1804 his diary says, " Began to build my large 
 house in Milltown this season, and made prepara- 
 tions to build my new mill near the river." 
 
 1805. " At this time I began to see there was a 
 God that governs the world. This year He brought 
 heavy aflSictions upon me, to which I was not re- 
 signed, but hope I may realize in His own time it 
 is for good." 
 
 February 7th, " My first born son Prentice was 
 taken from me by death, with a very short illness. 
 A fall while skating produced dropsy on the brain, 
 and he died in about six weeks. He was a fine 
 looking youth, 15 years old, large of his age, and 
 the pride of his father." 
 
 August. " My uncle, Doct. Amos Prentice, next 
 door, was taken from us by death, with a very 
 short illness." Dr. P. was a much esteemed friend, 
 whose society he prized, and on whom he depended 
 as family physician, and instructor for his chil- 
 dren. 
 
 September 7th. " The wife of my youth was 
 
66 EARLY TIMES 
 
 taken from me by death, by a fall from a car- 
 riage. She remained unconscious until the next 
 day." A short time before her death, which oc- 
 curred 30 hours after receiving her injury, she re- 
 vived and looking around upon her husband and 
 six children, was only able to say, " I am going to 
 the world of spirits." 
 
 " Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by, behold 
 and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow 
 which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath 
 afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger." 
 
 1806. In the fall of this year Wm. Prentice, son 
 of Dr. Prentice, a lawyer on whom Mr. Shepard 
 depended to assist him in business, died of fever. 
 With all these afflictions upon him at once, he made 
 arrangements for his family, and still pursued his 
 business, sorely bereaved as he had been. He fin- 
 ished his mill toward the river, and his large house 
 at Milltown. 
 
 He purchased his first Pennsylvania title of the 
 Howell Company, with Philip Cranse, 500 acres on 
 the west side of the river, on the State line. This 
 tract included the farms of Cranse, Dr. Wood- 
 worth, Robb, Fordham, and Wheelock. 
 
 1809. " Sold my old mill to Samuel Naglee of 
 Philadelphia." 
 
 June. " Sent to Stonington, Connecticut, for 
 my sister Grant, a widow, to keep house for me." 
 (She brought two daughters with her, afterwards 
 Mrs. Stephens and Mrs. Howard. ) 
 
 1807. Thomas Shields presented his claim as 
 Pennsylvania landholder against the farm Mr. 
 Shepard had bought of Jenkins, under Connecticut 
 
JOHN SHEPARD 67 
 
 title, and where he had lived with his family many 
 years, adjoining the Howell and Pickering tract, 
 containing 384 acres, for which he paid Mr. Shields 
 the sum of |1590 in different installments. In 
 those days we heard much about paying for land 
 twice. 
 
 1808, " Josiah Crocker came from Lee, Massa- 
 chusetts, with a large family of Puritanic stamp. 
 He was the first person who held regular religious 
 meetings on the Sabbath, in Athens, and taught 
 the Assembly's catechism." 
 
 1807. " Built saw-mill and fulling-mill with Jo- 
 seph Crocker." This was the mill at Factoryville, 
 which Mr. A. Brooks afterwards bought and en- 
 larged for a woolen manufactory, and was burned 
 in 1853. 
 
 1809. Mr. Shepard received his first commis- 
 sion as Justice of the Peace from Governor Simon 
 Snyder, to officiate in the township of Athens and 
 Ulster, County of Lycoming. In 1812 the County 
 of Bradford was created out of Lycoming County, 
 embracing the northern townships, including Ath- 
 ens, and he received another Commission constitut- 
 ing him a Justice of the Peace in Athens, Brad- 
 ford County. 
 
 May 18th, 1811, Mr. Shepard married his second 
 wife on Long Island, a Miss Hawkins, of Stony 
 Brook, a lady of remarkable culture and refine- 
 ment, and very companionable with the children 
 she had adopted. 
 
 She had five children, two sons and three daugh- 
 ters. She died January 18th, 1844. 
 
 1813. The journal continues, " Sold my house 
 
68 EARLY TIMES 
 
 in Milltown to Benjamin Jacobs, with 90 acres of 
 land." 
 
 1814, " Made a contract for Pickering tract of 
 614 acres. In June removed my family on this 
 tract." (Harris place.) 
 
 Mr. Shepard made great improvements on this 
 farm. He hired four " Green Mountain Boys," 
 who had come to seek a place in the new country, 
 for the purpose of clearing off the dense yellow 
 pine timber. The trees readily fell before these 
 active woodmen. It was quite a source of amuse- 
 ment to the youngsters to stand in the door, or look 
 out of the windows, and see the falling and hear 
 the crashing of the trees as they tumbled to the 
 ground, and then the rolling of the logs together, 
 preparatory to burning. It was interesting at 
 the time of the burning of the fallows, to see the 
 curling smoke and ascending flames, and we can 
 now easily credit the theory since advanced that 
 " artificial rains can be produced by combustion." 
 Without understanding the theory, we noticed the 
 fact, when we were children, and always looked 
 for a shower in hot weather, soon after the burn- 
 ing of a fallow. 
 
 1814. This year there was heavy snow and a 
 hard winter. The wolves were driven down from 
 the mountains in search of food, and many sheep 
 were devoured by them. They could be heard 
 howling at all times of night. The inhabitants 
 were much in fear of them, and were afraid to pass 
 from Milltown to Athens, even in the day time. 
 There was no traveling after dark, so great was 
 the fear and danger. "^ The sheep were often called 
 
JOHN SHEPARD 69 
 
 into the door-yard, and lights were kept burning 
 for their protection. Bears and panthers were 
 sometimes seen between the rivers. Bounties were 
 offered for killing these animals, and those that 
 were not killed retired to the mountains. 
 
 1817. " Removed my family from Pickering 
 tract to Campbell farm on Howell tract. Built a 
 house, barn, shed, &c." This was the last of my 
 father's earthly homes. Here he lived 20 years. 
 This we now call " the old place." He still pos- 
 sessed much activity of spirit, and was engaged 
 in disposing of the lands he had accumulated, upon 
 which the taxes and state claims had become quite 
 burdensome. He managed to retain a comfortable 
 portion for his family, and gave much for benevo- 
 lent objects, often paying a large share of the min- 
 ister's salary, and always extended an open hand 
 to the poor, not unfrequently presenting a deed of 
 five acres of land to families that were needy. 
 Even at this late period of life, his alert mind 
 would often suggest improvements and advantages 
 for others. About the year 1820 an article written 
 by a traveler, in the distant regions of California, 
 came to his notice and greatly interested him. The 
 writer described the climate as delightful, and the 
 soil as incomparably rich, and abounding in ores. 
 " Gold was frequently seen glittering in the earth 
 of which the rough wigwams of the Indians were 
 built, they, at that time, not comprehending its 
 value." After this, Mr. Shepard was often heard 
 to say, " If I were a young man I would go to C8i\i- 
 fornia." He did not go to California, but in 1849 
 two grandsons, and a little later, two sons and three 
 
70 EARLY TIMES 
 
 other grandsons, went to that attractive country. 
 Isaac Shepard, one of the grandsons, in conse- 
 quence of failing health, attempted to return home, 
 but died on the " Pacific side," and was buried in 
 the sea. 
 
 December 31, 1832. " Gave my sons Isaac and 
 Job a deed for the mill at Factoryville, each half 
 the mill and utensils." 
 
 This is about the close of Mr. Shepard's memo- 
 randa. He began to grow feeble and the infirmi- 
 ties of age were pressing upon him. He arranged 
 his worldly affairs as far as was possible; after 
 which he devoted much of his time to religious 
 exercises, private and public. He was often heard 
 to pray for a blessing upon his children, and chil- 
 dren's children, to the latest generation. He was a 
 constant attendant upon the house of prayer. The 
 Bible, with Scott's Comments, became almost his 
 entire reading for the last few years of his life. 
 On the day of his death he rode to the village on 
 horseback, returned home at evening, attended fam- 
 ily worship, sang a hymn as was his custom, and 
 retired to rest. About an hour after Mrs. S. en- 
 tered the room. She spoke to him, but he answered 
 not. His spirit had taken its flight. 
 
 " Oh, death, where is thy sting. Oh, grave where 
 is thy victory," was a fitting inscription for his 
 tomb. He died May 15th, 1837, aged 73 years. 
 
X 
 
 CLAVERACK 
 
 On the 22d day of August, 1800, Colonel Benjamin 
 Dorrance, of Kingston, Pa., and John Shepard, of 
 Athens, entered into an arrangement by which they 
 became mutual partners in a large purchase of land 
 of the Susquehanna Company, conveyed to them 
 by former claimants. 
 
 This tract, lying south of Ulster, had been sur- 
 veyed* by John Jenkins at an early period, for the 
 Susquehanna Company, and was called the town- 
 ship of Claverack (one of the seventeen townships). 
 It was situated on both sides of the Susquehanna, 
 and embraced what is now called Wysox and 
 Towanda. 
 
 At this period the Connecticut title to land was 
 held in very light estimation, and considered only 
 of a nominal value; still it was of some impor- 
 tance, as the state government was disposed to treat 
 Connecticut settlers with consideration, and grant 
 them easier terms in the purchase of lands, in con- 
 sequence of the great losses they had suffered. 
 
 On Mr. Shepard's record of expenses on this prop- 
 erty, called " mammoth farm," the first date is 
 1801. Then follows a long catalogue of various 
 expenditures. Among others, in 1807 is a receipt 
 of George Haines, of |15, for " Surveying the un- 
 divided moiety of twelve thousand three hundred 
 
 Tl 
 
72 EARLY TIMES 
 
 acres," and another in 1808 of |36, " for obtaining 
 a patent from the State." A copy of the State 
 survey, sent to him by the Surveyor-General in 
 1816, is neatly and elegantly executed. It shows 
 much deference to the Susquehanna Company, 
 finding their allotments, and is bounded by the 
 same limits. 
 
 The whole amounted to thirteen thousand and 
 six acres, and deducting 826 acres re-leased to 
 owners under Pennsylvania titles, left 12,180 acres. 
 
 This mammoth farm added not a little to Mr. 
 Shepard's cares and labors. It cost him many 
 wearisome days and nights, traveling back and 
 forth from his home, and was often attended with 
 perplexities. 
 
 The late Col. J. M. Piolette, Esq., acted as attor- 
 ney for Col. Dorrance many years. Messrs. Pio- 
 lette and Shepard were often engaged together in 
 business relating to this land, in selling and giv- 
 ing deeds of release to those who would obtain a 
 patent for themselves. The business was brought 
 to a close about 1830. Numerous settlers located 
 in Claverack, early in the beginning of the cen- 
 tury, more on the east than on the west side of the 
 river. In Wysox, the names of Pierce, Morgan, 
 Coolbaugh, Ridgway, York, Warner, and Price, 
 appear among the early settlers, and the mills of 
 Squire Myres, the elder, gave employment to many, 
 while Hollenback's store, near Breakneck road, in 
 the long log building, gave life to the place. 
 
 Meansville, or Towanda, on the opposite side of 
 the river, was a solitary street for some years after 
 the opening of the new century, and apparently a 
 
CLAVERACK 73 
 
 place of not much promise. Some of the early set- 
 tlers were Means, Mix, Fox, Bingham, Tracy, Pat- 
 ten, and Hale. A public house, a store, and Mrs. 
 Gregory's school made attractions, and brought 
 many to the place. The school became quite cele- 
 brated, and children were sent from some distance 
 to receive the benefit of Mrs. G.'s instruction and 
 discipline, which was thought severe, but proved 
 beneficial. 
 
 Mr. Gregory purchased of Shepard and Dor- 
 rance, under the Connecticut title, two valuable 
 lots, Nos. 57 and 58, containing 177 acres, in the 
 north part of Towanda, but was not able to secure 
 a patent from the State. He therefore sold his 
 improvement, and the lots were assigned to Mr. 
 Shepard, who sold them in 1818 for about 60 cents 
 per acre. 
 
 After the division of the lots in the township of 
 Claverack, between the parties, in 1826 Mr. Dor- 
 rance leased the most of his lands, and thereby 
 made himself wealthy. Mr. Shepard, more desirous 
 to bring matters to a close, sold as opportunities 
 presented, and often at a great sacrifice. He spent 
 a great part of his life in hard labor, visiting the 
 settlers on the mountains and elsewhere, selling, 
 re-leasing, and collecting what he could; and be- 
 coming weary by care and age, he settled up his 
 interest in the " mammoth farm " hastily, and 
 much to his disadvantage. The discovery of the 
 Barclay coal mines, near Towanda, in the early 
 part of the century, and the Bradford county seat 
 being established there in 1812, have rendered To- 
 wanda a place of importance, containing now more 
 
74 EARLY TIMES 
 
 than 3,000 inhabitants, with the prospect of still 
 more rapid growth.* 
 
 * A gentleman who has lived at Gowanda, a town on the 
 borders of the Cattaraugus Reservation, in western New York, 
 has remarked that Gowanda, meaning a totvn among the hills 
 lyy the water side, is doubtless the same name as Towanda 
 with us, which is situated in a similar manner. 
 
 The ancestors of the Indians on the Reservation having once 
 resided on the Susquehanna river, we may suppose they trans- 
 ferred many of their ancient names. 
 
 Recent excavations confirm the impression that Towanda was 
 a town of 'importance among the Aborigines, and it is probable 
 that the meaning of this name also, is a town among the hills 
 fey the water side. 
 
XI 
 
 THE COLLINS MURDER 
 
 As Major Abram Snell, who was then 85 years old, 
 was passing one day, I said to him, " I have been 
 wishing to see you, and talk about early times. 
 You were among the first settlers here, I believe." 
 " Bless you, yes," said he ; " my father came here 
 when there was but one house in the place, and 
 there were but few white people about. I was the 
 first white child born in the township of Athens." 
 " Do you remember anything about the murder 
 of an Indian, and the excitement it occasioned? " 
 " Bless you, yes. There w^as a white man living 
 here by the name of Collins, who had accumulated 
 considerable property. He was a steady man, but 
 was taken with the fever and ague, and was ad- 
 vised to take whiskey for a remedy. He became 
 intemperate. There was an Indian living with 
 him, as a servant. In one of Collins' drunken 
 spells he met him at the corner of the old Hollen- 
 back house, and, in a fit of anger, killed him with 
 an ax. His body was secreted in the cellar, and 
 the few white inhabitants were in terror, through 
 fear of savage revenge. The Indians collected in 
 great numbers. The white people sent for Colonel 
 Franklin, General Spalding, and Judge Gore. They 
 concluded it was best to send messengers to a 
 Chief, then at Newtown, and lay the whole subject 
 
 75 
 
76 EARLY TIMES 
 
 before him. He called a council of war, and many 
 Indians, Squaws, and Pappooses, came with him^ 
 dressed in gay colors, with goose and raven feath- 
 ers, and their faces painted on one side, denoting 
 that they were for peace or war, according to cir- 
 cumstances. They demanded the body of Collins, 
 to torture and burn him, as their only terms of 
 reconciliation. But he had made his escape. The 
 white people proposed to give up all his property 
 to them, and it was not until much more was 
 pledged to them that they would come to any 
 terms. Money and goods, to a large amount, were 
 brought forward, and the white inhabitants were 
 saved from the threatening storm of savage 
 barbarity." 
 
 Mr. C. Stephens' account of the murder of the 
 Indian by Collins confirms the statements of Mr. 
 Snell. He thinks it took place about two years 
 previous to the treaty with the Indians. He says 
 at the time of the great excitement about the mur- 
 der, the rage of the natives knew no bounds. They 
 collected in great numbers, and demanded the body 
 of Collins, but he had made his escape down the 
 river in a canoe, while his friends diverted the 
 attention of the natives by engaging with them in 
 forming a ring, of some extent, to search for 
 Collins. 
 
 There were then but few white inhabitants, ten 
 Indians to one white man. The inhabitants were 
 in the greatest consternation and terror; nothing 
 could exceed their distress, expecting every man, 
 woman, and child would be massacred. The wife 
 of Collins gave up her husband's horses and wagon 
 
THE COLLINS MURDER 77 
 
 to tliem, and many others gave them presents of 
 various kinds, and they became pacified. The In- 
 dians took the body of the murdered man, and 
 buried him according to their customary forms, in 
 the back part of the old burying grounds at Athens. 
 We have no date of the time when the Collins mur- 
 der took place, except that of Mr. Stephens. It 
 was doubtless one of the murders alluded to by 
 Colonel Stone in his account of the treaty. Mr. 
 Stephens says : " I did not attend the treaty, being 
 very young at the time, but remember seeing the 
 Indians pass by my father's, by scores and hun- 
 dreds, toward the Point. They assembled near the 
 bank of the Susquehanna River, a little below the 
 bridge, in the rear of Dr. Hopkins' house and the 
 Stone Church, on a low plot of ground, which has 
 since been nearly washed away. On their return 
 to Newtown about forty of the men camped for a 
 few days on my father's premises, near Spanish 
 Hill, three miles north of Athens. Red Jacket was 
 with them. One day two of the Indians became 
 engaged in a quarrel, and a fight ensued. A third 
 sprang for the crank of a grindstone to assist one 
 of them who became involved in the contest. The 
 Chief, hearing the noise, and seeing the tumult, ran 
 to a dinner pot, rubbed his hands on the outside 
 of it, and blackened his face. My mother said to 
 him, ' Why do you do that? ' He laughed and 
 replied, ' You'll see,' and ran directly, without 
 speaking a word, to the fight. The moment they 
 saw him all was quiet — there was no more fighting. 
 Red Jacket, after he came in the house, told my 
 mother that his face painted black denoted peace, 
 
78 EAKLY TIMES 
 
 which they all understood. If he had painted it 
 red, it would be a signal to fight."* 
 
 Mr. Stephens recollects that those of the family 
 who attended the treaty entertained the younger 
 ones at home with a description of the war dance, 
 the music of which was performed by a squaw. 
 The instrument was a barrel, with a deer skin 
 stretched across it, on which she kept time with 
 the drum sticks, and a sort of humming sound 
 with her voice, while the others performed the 
 antics. 
 
 Captain John Snell, 84 years old, has a distinct 
 recollection of the treaty; was seven years old at 
 the time, and witnessed much of it. He was en- 
 thusiastic when he spoke of it; said the Indians 
 and Squaws made a brilliant appearance with their 
 feathers, brooches, and blankets, and a variety of 
 silver ornaments. He would go now fifty miles to 
 see such a parade. He states that the Indians had 
 a row of wigwams, on the west side of the Tioga 
 River, near where the Irish shanties now are, just 
 above his father's, and were often troublesome 
 neighbors. Many who came to attend the treaty 
 passed his father's door. It was a treaty of peace, 
 and representatives from the Six Nations came 
 from Niagara to Onondaga, together with all that 
 had been scattered by Sullivan's army. Colonel 
 Pickering was foremost on the part of the whites. 
 
 * Many years after this visit from the natives, significant 
 marks and characters, made by the Indians at that time, weve 
 to be seen on the trees near Mr. Stephens' house. 
 
XII 
 
 INDIAN TREATY AT TIOGA POINT 
 
 The glowing description of the treaty with the In- 
 dians at Tioga Point by Colonel Stone in his his- 
 tory of Red Jacket has been kindly furnished by 
 Hon. G. W. Kinney, and is appropriate in this 
 stage of our history: 
 
 In the year 1790 the Indian relations in the 
 United States were in a most unhappy condition. 
 A savage war, fierce and bloody, was raging upon 
 the frontier settlements of Pennsylvania and Vir- 
 ginia; and the strong Confederated Indian nations, 
 inhabiting the country of the great lakes, were, to 
 the regions beyond the Mississippi, acting under 
 the advice of the oflflcers of the British Indian de- 
 partment, and encouraged in various ways by the 
 government of Canada, were gathering to the con- 
 test with a determination that the Ohio River 
 should form the ultimate boundary between the 
 United States and the Indian Country. All the 
 sympathies of the Senecas, who had never been 
 quite satisfied with the provisions of the treaty of 
 Fort Stanwix, were with their brethren of the 
 West, as also were not a few of their warriors, al- 
 though Cornplanter, their principal chief, re- 
 mained unshaken in his friendship for the United 
 States. Still the popular feeling among his nation 
 was rather hostile, threatening in fact open and 
 
 79 
 
80 EARLY TIMES 
 
 general hostilities. Just at this crisis the Senecas 
 found fresh cause of exasperation in the murder of 
 two of their people by some of the white border 
 men of Pennsylvania. The effects of this outrage 
 had well nigh provoked an immediate outbreak. 
 But the government of the United States lost not a 
 moment in disavowing the act, and in the adoption 
 of measures to bring the murderers to punishment, 
 by the offer of a large reward for their apprehen- 
 sion. A conference of the Six Nations was also 
 invited at Tioga Point, at which Colonel Timothy 
 Pickering, who then resided at Wyoming, was com- 
 missioned to attend on the part of the United 
 States. The council fire was kindled on the 16th 
 of November, and kept burning until the 23d. 
 Among the nations present, either collectively or 
 by representation, were the Senecas, Oneidas, 
 Onondagas, Cayugas, a small party of Chippewas, 
 and also several of the Stockbridge Indians, among 
 whom was their veteran Captain and faithful 
 friend of the United States, Hendrick Apamaut. 
 The Indians were in a high state of excitement 
 when they arrived, in regard to the outrage, for 
 which consideration they had been convoked, and 
 which was deeply felt. The chiefs who took the 
 most active part in the proceedings of the Council 
 were Red Jacket, Farmer's Brother, Little Billy, 
 Hendrick and Fish-Carrier, a very old and dis- 
 tinguished warrior of the Cayugas. Old Hendrick 
 made a very eloquent and pathetic address to the 
 Commissioner, in the shape of an appeal in behalf 
 of his people, reminding him of their strong and 
 uniform attachment to the United States during 
 
INDIAN TREATY AT TIOGA POINT 81 
 
 the war of the Revolution; of the hardships they 
 underwent, and the losses they had sustained dur- 
 ing that war, and complaining bitterly of the neg- 
 lect with which they had been treated since the 
 peace, in consequence, as he supposed, of the small 
 number to which they had been reduced. In re- 
 ferring to their services in the field, he used these 
 expressions : " We fought by your side, our blood 
 was mingled with yours — and the bones of our 
 warriors still remain on the field of battle, as so 
 many mementoes of our attachment to the United 
 States." * 
 
 Cornplanter was not present at this Council. 
 
 Red Jacket was present, and was the principal 
 speaker. 
 
 " A monarch tall, fearless, sinewy and strong. 
 With an eye of dark beauty and of thoughtful brow, 
 To whom the forest tribes had bent for years 
 The subject knee. Whose eloquence reached the heart, 
 With the rare virtue in his speeches, 
 The secret of their mastery. They were short. 
 With motions graceful as a bird in air. 
 A pipe in peace — a tomahawk in war." 
 
 The efforts of Red Jacket on this occasion pro- 
 duced a deep effect upon this people. Still, by a 
 wise and well adapted speech, Colonel Pickering 
 succeeded in allaying the excitement of the Indians, 
 dried their tears, and wiped out the blood that had 
 been shed. 
 
 The tribe and nation to which Red Jacket be- 
 longed were powerful allies of the British during 
 
 * The Stockbridge Indians suffered very severely in the battle 
 of White Plains. 
 
82 EARLY TIMES 
 
 the war of the Revolution, and were among our 
 bitterest foes. 
 
 An English officer once presented him with a 
 red coat or jacket; after that was worn out he 
 was presented with another. Hence his name. 
 
 No sooner had the important business relating 
 to the outrages been disposed of, than Red Jacket 
 introduced the subject of their lands, and the pur- 
 chase by Phelps and Gorham. In a set speech to 
 Colonel Pickering he inveighed against the pro- 
 cedure, and declared that the Indians had been 
 defrauded. It was not, he said, a sale which they 
 had contemplated, or which they had stipulated 
 to make to those gentlemen, but only a lease; and 
 the consideration, he declared, was to have been 
 ten thousand dollars, together with an annual rent 
 of one thousand dollars, instead of five thousand 
 dollars, and a rent of five hundred, which only had 
 been paid to them. He declared that after the 
 bargain was concluded in Council at Buffalo 
 Creek, the Rev. Mr. Kirkland, Colonel John But- 
 ler, and Capt. Brant were designated by the In- 
 dians to draw up the papers. The Indians sup- 
 posed all to have been done correctly until the year 
 following, when they went to Canandaigua to re- 
 ceive their pay, expecting to receive ten thousand 
 dollars. They were told that five thousand only 
 was their due. " When we took the money and 
 shared it, we found we had but about a dollar 
 apiece." " Mr. Street," said the Chief, " you very 
 well know that all our lands came to was but the 
 price of the few hogsheads of tobacco. Gentlemen 
 who stand by (addressing the gentlemen in attend- 
 
INDIAN TREATY AT TIOGA POINT 83 
 
 ance with Colonel Pickering) do not think hard 
 of what has been said? At the time of the treaty, 
 twenty brooches could not buy half a loaf of bread. 
 So when we returned home, there was not a single 
 spot of silver about us. Mr. Phelps did not pur- 
 chase, but he leased the land. We opened our ears, 
 and understood the land was leased. This hap- 
 pened to us, from our not knowing papers." 
 
 This speech of Red Jacket or Sa-go-ye-wat-ha 
 (keeper awake), is the earliest of his forensic ef- 
 forts of which there is any written memorial. It 
 is thought that great injustice was done him by his 
 interpreter. But a gentleman * who w^as familiar 
 with the language, and who was present at the 
 treaty, asserts that Red Jacket, during the sittings 
 of the Council, spoke with extraordinary eloquence 
 and power. Much depends upon the interpreter in 
 the preservation of Indian eloquence. If he be a 
 dull prosaic man, without genius himself, and in- 
 capable of appreciating the glowing thoughts, the 
 burning words and the brilliant metaphors of his 
 principal, the most eloquent and stirring passages 
 — evidently such from the kindling effects upon 
 those understanding the language — will fall from 
 the lips of the interpreter as insipid as it is possi- 
 ble to render language by the process of dilution. 
 
 Hence, from the acknowledged genius of Red 
 Jacket, and the known powers of his eloquence 
 upon his auditors, this speech to Colonel Pickering 
 is to be received rather as a poor paraphrase by a 
 bad interpreter, than as the speech of the orator 
 
 * Thomas Morris, Esq., who has favored the author with the 
 written recollections of that Council. 
 
84 EARLY TIMES 
 
 himself. The following is the best passage it con- 
 tains. After recapitulating his own statement of 
 the negotiation with Phelps and Gorham, and as- 
 serting the anxiety of his people to appeal to Con- 
 gress for a redress of their grievances in this trans- 
 action, the orator proceeded : 
 
 " Now, brothers, the Thirteen States, you must 
 open your ears. You know what has happened re- 
 specting our lands. You told us, from this time 
 the chain of friendship should be brightened. Now, 
 brothers, we have begun to brighten the chain, and 
 we will follow the footsteps of our forefathers. We 
 will take those steps that we may sit easy, and 
 choose when, and how large our seats should be. 
 The reason we send this message is, that the Presi- 
 dent, who is over all the thirteen States, may make 
 our seats easy. We do it that the chain of friend- 
 ship may be brightened with the Thirteen States, 
 as well as with the British, that we may pass from 
 one to the other unmolested. We wish to be under 
 the protection of the Thirteen States, as well as 
 of the British." 
 
 During the progress of the negotiation with Col. 
 Pickering, at this Council, an episode was intro- 
 duced of which some account may be excused in 
 this place as an illustration of Indian character 
 and manners. It was this year, 1790, that Robert 
 Morris, of Philadelphia, purchased from the State 
 of Massachusetts the preemption right to that por- 
 tion of her territory that had not been purchased 
 by Phelps and Gorham, in western New York. For 
 the general management of his concerns, and the 
 negotiations he knew he should be obliged to hold 
 
INDIAN TREATY AT TIOGA POINT 85 
 
 witli the Indians, his son Thomas had taken up his 
 residence at Canandaigua, and was cultivating an 
 acquaintance with the Indians. In this he was suc- 
 cessful, and soon became popular among them. He 
 was in attendance with Colonel Pickering at Tioga 
 Point, where the Indians determined to adopt him 
 into the Seneca nation, and Red Jacket bestowed 
 upon him the name he himself had borne previous 
 to his elevation to the dignity of Sachem, " Ote- 
 tiani," " Always Ready." 
 
 The ceremony of conferring upon young Morris 
 his new name occurred during a religious observ- 
 ance, when the w^hole sixteen hundred Indians pres- 
 ent at the treaty united in an offering to the moon, 
 then being at her full. The ceremonies were per- 
 formed in the evening. It was a clear night, and 
 the moon shone with uncommon brilliancy. The 
 host of Indians, and their Neophyte, were all 
 seated upon the ground in an extended circle, on 
 one side of wliich a large fire was kept burning. 
 The aged Cayuga Chieftain, Fish-Carrier, who was 
 held in exalted veneration for his wisdom, and who 
 had been distinguished for his bravery, from his 
 youth up, officiated as the high-priest of the occa- 
 sion — making a long speech to the luminary, occa- 
 sionally throwing tobacco into the fire as incense. 
 
 On the conclusion of the address, the whole as- 
 sembly prostrated themselves upon the bosom of 
 their parent Earth, and a grunting sound of ap- 
 probation was uttered from mouth to mouth 
 around the entire circle. At a short distance from 
 the fire a post had been planted in the earth, in- 
 tended to represent the stake of torture, to which 
 
86 EARLY TIMES 
 
 captives are bound for execution. After the cere- 
 monies in favor of Madame Luna had been ended, 
 they commenced a war dance around the post, and 
 the spectacle must have been as picturesque as it 
 v^as animating and wild. The young braves en- 
 gaged in the dance were naked except the breech- 
 cloth about their loins. They were painted fright- 
 fully, their backs being chalked white, with irregu- 
 lar streaks of red, denoting the streaming of blood. 
 Frequently would they cease from dancing while 
 one of their number ran to the fire, snatching thence 
 a blazing stick placed there for that purpose, 
 which he would thrust at the post, as though in- 
 flicting torture upon a person. 
 
 In the course of the dance they sang their songs, 
 and made the forest ring with their wild screams 
 and shouts, as they boasted of their deeds of war, 
 and told the number of scalps they had respec- 
 tively taken, or which had been taken by their 
 nation. Those engaged in the dance, as did others 
 also, partook freely of unmixed rum, and by conse- 
 quence of the natural excitement of the occasion, 
 and the artificial excitement of the liquor, the festi- 
 val had well nigh turned out a tragedy. It happened 
 that among the dancers was an Oneida warrior, 
 who in striking the post boasted of the number of 
 scalps taken by his nation during the war of the 
 Revolution. Now the Oneidas, it will be recol- 
 lected, had sustained the cause of the Colonies in 
 that contest, while the rest of the Iroquois Confed- 
 eracy had espoused that of the Crown. The boast- 
 ing of the Oneida warrior, therefore, was like strik- 
 ing a spark into a keg of gunpowder. The ire of 
 
INDIAN TREATY AT TIOGA POINT 87 
 
 the Senecas was kindled in an instant, and they in 
 turn boasted of the number of scalps taken by 
 them from the Oneidas in that contest. They more- 
 over taunted the Oneidas as cowards. Quick as 
 lightning, the hands of the latter were upon their 
 weapons, and in turn the knives and tomahawks 
 of the Senecas began to glitter in the moonbeams 
 as they were hastily drawn forth. For an instant 
 it was a scene of anxious and almost breathless 
 suspense, a death struggle seeming inevitable, 
 when the storm w^as hushed by the interposition 
 of Fish-Carrier, who rushed forward, and striking 
 the post with violence, exclaimed : " You are all 
 a parcel of boys; when you have all attained my 
 age, and performed the warlike deeds that I have 
 performed, you may boast what you have done; 
 not till then ! " 
 
 Saying which, he threw down the post, put an 
 end to the dance, and caused the assembly to re- 
 tire.* 
 
 This scene in its reality must have been one of 
 absorbing and peculiar interest. An assembly of 
 nearly two thousand inhabitants of the forest, gro- 
 tesquely dressed in skins, with shining ornaments 
 of silver, and their coarse raven hair falling over 
 their shoulders, and playing wildly in the wind as 
 it swept past, sighing mournfully among the giant 
 branches of the trees above — such a group gathered 
 in a broad circle, in the opening of the wildreness, 
 
 * Manuscript recollections of Thomas Morris. Mr. Morris 
 was known among the Indians by the name conferred upon him 
 on this occasion. For many years after his marriage, his wife 
 was called by them " Otetiani Squaw," and his children, 
 " Otetiani pappooses." 
 
88 EARLY TIMES 
 
 the starry canopy of heaven glittering above them, 
 the moon casting her silver mantle around their 
 dusky forms, and a large fire blazing in the midst 
 of them, before which they were working their 
 spells and performing their savage rites — must 
 have presented a spectacle of long and vivid re- 
 membrance. 
 
 There is a difllculty in finding a record of this 
 treaty in the Office of Indian Affairs at Washing- 
 ton. There is said to be no paper on file having 
 reference to such a treaty. But on examination 
 of the printed volumes of " American Archives," 
 allusion is made to it by Colonel Pickering, who 
 states that he had sent his report to General 
 Washington. It is said it was never ratified by 
 the Senate. 
 
 The treaty seems to have been left in an unfin- 
 ished state. The terms of the negotiation are not 
 expressed, and the form of the adoption of Mr. 
 Morris by the Seneca nation is not stated. 
 
 But, whatever might have been the intention of 
 the treaty, it decided for the Indian that the land 
 of his fathers was no longer his, and we must sup- 
 pose that with much heaviness of heart he turned 
 from his delightful hunting and fishing ground, on 
 the Susquehanna and Tioga rivers, towards the set- 
 ting sun. 
 
 " And lo ! that withered race 
 Were turned from their own home away, 
 And to their fathers' sepulchers returned no more.** 
 
 Very few Indians were ever seen here after this 
 event. Many white people who were born here 
 
INDIAN TREATY AT TIOGA POINT 89 
 
 near tlie close of the last century never saw a 
 native. 
 
 " Ended is their ancient reign, 
 Their day of savage pride." 
 
 But they have left us their mementoes: 
 
 " Their name is on our waters, we may not wash it out." 
 
 There were a few aged and infirm ones who lin- 
 gered until their recovery or means were provided 
 for their removal. 
 
 A white man had wounded an Indian. The in- 
 habitants did everything in their power for him. 
 He lived in a cabin that stood on the lot where Mr. 
 C. Stephens now lives. Mrs. Mathewson went with 
 her husband to see the wounded man, and took 
 things to him for his comfort. The day was very 
 hot. An Indian was sitting outside the door in the 
 burning sun, his uncovered head shaved, except 
 the scalping tufts. She spoke to him as she passed 
 and said, " It is very hot." " Yes," he said, " it 
 is as if the Great Spirit is going to burn the 
 world up." * 
 
 The Senecas and Tuscaroras have reservations 
 
 * In 1866, a traveler passing through Evansville, Indiana, 
 met with an old Indian who said to him, after some preliminary 
 conversation, " Me Seneca, born at Tioga, where waters Tioga 
 and Susquehanna meet. Plenty deer, plenty bear dare. Me 
 six winter when Injun was driv out der home. Me see near 
 100 winter. Me not member much. Me be like old bald moun- 
 tain, nothing on top," putting his hand to his head, implying 
 that his faculties were gone. In reply to the question where 
 he lived, he said, " anywhere," then said on " Seneca Reserva- 
 tion." 
 
90 EARLY TIMES 
 
 in Western New York, one of 20 miles in length 
 and two or three in width near Buffalo, another 
 farther south near the Pennsylvania line, on the 
 Allegany, forty miles in extent. They are called 
 Upper and Lower Cattaraugus. The most of these 
 Indians have become civilized, and many of them 
 have good farms, well cultivated. They have a 
 government of their own, with a President at the 
 head, and have churches and schools, where they 
 are well instructed. In their churches they have 
 native preachers, and the best of singing. 
 
 There is another reservation still nearer Buffalo, 
 at Tonawanda. One also at Oneida on the Mo- 
 hawk, and another for the Onondagas south of 
 Syracuse, where they have made similar improve- 
 ments. There are some Cayugas living with the 
 Senecas. 
 
 Missionaries have been laboring among these In- 
 dians with great success very many years. Mr. 
 Wright, who is still living, has been forty years 
 among them. He is now at Cattaraugus. Mr. 
 Bliss has been laboring among them about twenty 
 years. 
 
 Cornplanter was favorable to the introduction of 
 Christianity among his people. Eed Jacket never 
 was until near the close of his life. 
 
XIII 
 
 FRENCH TOWN, OR ASYLUM 
 
 At the time of the Revolution in France, in 1790-98, 
 and during the reign of terror, when the hand of 
 man was raised against his fellow man, there was 
 no safety for life or property. The King himself 
 fled to another part of his dominion, and many of 
 his subjects escaped to other countries for shelter 
 from the terrific storm that was upon them. 
 
 Hundreds came to our country and sojourned in 
 various parts of it. A large number formed a col- 
 ony and were directed to the Susquehanna river 
 within the bounds of Pennsylvania. 
 
 They crossed over to the west side of the river, 
 and founded a large town which they called Asy- 
 lum, in the county of Luzerne, named from one of 
 the French ambassadors in 1786. The town was 
 laid out in regular order, and designed to accom- 
 modate a large number. Houses were principally 
 built of hewn logs, and some of them were very 
 large. It is said that Louis Philippe, at that time 
 Duke of Orleans, was here for a time incognito. 
 It is well understood that he traveled about in 
 New Jersey and New York State, and was some- 
 time at Canandaigua, and from thence came to 
 Tioga Point, where he remained a little time, and 
 then passed down the Susquehanna river to the 
 French Town. Arrangements were in progress to 
 
 91 
 
92 EARLY TIMES 
 
 have the King and Queen make their escape from 
 France and hide themselves in this Asylum. Cer- 
 tain it is that a house was built far back in the 
 woods, and called the Queen's house. But in Janu- 
 ary (21st), 1793, Louis XVI. was beheaded, and 
 the next year Marie Antoinette suffered the same 
 fate. It is said by some that their son, the 
 Dauphin, died under the cruel treatment of a Ja- 
 cobin. Others suppose he was secreted many 
 years, after which he was brought to this country 
 and was engaged in after life as a missionary to 
 the Indians. 
 
 The early settlers at Asylum suffered many pri- 
 vations, and to add to their trouble, their servants 
 whom they brought with them deserted them, which 
 left them very helpless, as they were unable to do 
 their own cooking, and were not accustomed even 
 to dress themselves. 
 
 The original French settlers nearly all left. After 
 the change in the French Government many of 
 them returned to France; others were scattered 
 through our country, and a few remained in Asy- 
 lum, some of whose descendants are among our 
 most wealthy and respectable citizens. 
 
 Bartholomew La Porte was one of the number of 
 the exiles who remained. His son. Judge La Porte, 
 was born at Asylum, 1798, where he resided the 
 most of his life, cultivating one of the most exten- 
 sive and valuable farms in the country. He filled 
 many public places of honor and trust. He was 
 chosen to represent this district in the Legislature 
 in 1827— served five years in that capacity, being 
 elected Speaker the last session of his service. He 
 
FRENCH TOWN, OR ASYLUM 93 
 
 was elected to Congress in 1832, and re-elected in 
 1834. In 1840 he was commissioned as Associate 
 Judge of this county, which place he occupied un- 
 til May, 1845, when he was appointed Surveyor- 
 General by Governor Shank — an office which he 
 held six years. He died suddenly in Philadelphia, 
 August 22d, 1862. 
 
 General Durell was a prominent man among the 
 exiles. A part of the township of Asylum bears 
 his name. 
 
 A French Admiral, one of the exiles, settled at 
 " Dushore," which was named for him. He re- 
 turned to France after Buonaparte recalled the 
 exiles, and acted as Admiral in the battle of the 
 Nile, where he fell. 
 
 The names of La Porte, Homet, Le Fevre, Pre- 
 vost, De Autrement are said to be about the only 
 original names left. The descendants of the French 
 exiles are numerous, and some of them are living 
 with us. 
 
 Early in the present century many other French 
 families came to this country and settled near Asy- 
 lum. Mr. J, M. Piolette settled at Wysox, and 
 purchased a farm now owned by his sons, who 
 have added to it, and are extensive and practical 
 farmers. 
 
 Mr. Delpeuch, Mr. Peuch, and others, settled 
 near Towanda. Mr. Peironnet and several other 
 French people came to Silver Lake soon after the 
 book of Dr. Rose was published, setting forth the 
 beauties of the country, and in common with many 
 others suffered from the imposition that was prac- 
 ticed upon them. 
 
94 EARLY TIMES 
 
 Mr. Wright states that there has been a great 
 change among the Indians who remain on their 
 reservations in Western New York since 1831. 
 Then labor was performed by the women, and it 
 was thought disgraceful for a man to work. 
 Now all this is reversed. The disgrace rests upon 
 the man who refuses to labor. The people have be- 
 come essentially agricultural in their habits and 
 modes of life, and many of them are quite respec- 
 table farmers. Some of them have become com- 
 paratively rich by farming, and many of them have 
 become temperate. On the Cattaraugus Reserva- 
 tion they have a Division of the Sons of Temper- 
 ance of more than a hundred members, and are 
 earnest and spirited in keeping up their meetings. 
 Education was once scouted by the most of them: 
 now it is desired by nearly all, and the New York 
 State district school system is extended over them, 
 and of the ten schools in operation on that reserva- 
 tion, seven are taught by well qualified Indian 
 teachers. 
 
 The old Mission Church has about 120 Indian 
 members, and the Baptist and Methodist churches 
 nearly as many more. But there are some who 
 still cling with more or less tenacity to their old 
 pagan customs. 
 
XIV 
 
 ATHENS TOWNSHIP 
 
 Athens, situated near tlie northern boundary of 
 Pennsylvania, is within the limits of the territory 
 purchased from the Indians by the Susquehanna 
 Company and by the State of Pennsylvania. 
 
 Mr. Miner says that, " Wyoming in its more 
 limited signification, is the name given to a valley 
 on the Susquehanna river, about twenty miles in 
 length, and from three to four miles in width, but 
 in its more enlarged sense it was used to designate 
 that part of the valley embraced within the 42d de- 
 gree of north latitude. 
 
 " The valley, to the State line, has been called 
 Wyoming by the Connecticut settlers, but it is now 
 more generally called the Susquehanna valley. 
 
 " The seventeen townships, namely Huntington, 
 Salem, Plymouth, Kingston, Newport, Hanover, 
 Wilkesbarre, Pittston, Providence, Exeter, Bed- 
 ford, Northumberland, Tunkhannock, Braintrim, 
 Springfield, Claverack, and Ulster, were occupied 
 by Connecticut claimants before the decision 
 of the Court of Trenton, and were, with the addi- 
 tion of Athens, confirmed to those claimants by the 
 compromising law of April 4th, 1799, and its sev- 
 eral supplements." 
 
 The northern boundary of Ulster was at first 
 left indefinite, supposing that the contemplated 
 
 95 
 
96 EARLY TIMES 
 
 State line would form the boundary, and that 
 would be the most northerly township claimed by 
 the Susquehanna Company. It was therefore called 
 the 17th township, and was expected to extend a 
 little distance above the " mile hill," where it was 
 supposed the State line would run. But after the 
 survey in the winter of 1786, it was found there 
 was an interval of two or three miles between that 
 line and the temporary or supposed line of the 
 northern boundary of Ulster. Therefore, when the 
 township of Athens was surveyed the May follow- 
 ing, the northern boundary of Ulster was removed 
 to its present limit, a little below where the two 
 rivers meet, thus giving room for another large and 
 beautiful township; which was called Athens by 
 the Susquehanna Company, and added to the other 
 towns. They were then called the " Eighteen 
 Townships " and were acknowledged by the State, 
 
 Hence, until 1786 Tioga Point was supposed to 
 be in the township of Ulster, and letters for this 
 place were often addressed to Ulster Post Office 
 many years after. 
 
 In a copy of a letter from Mr. Shepard to 
 Mr. LeEoy, written in 1831, he states that, " the 
 old township of Athens was laid out by John 
 Jenkins, when the Susquehanna claim was un- 
 der the jurisdiction of Connecticut, in 1777, and 
 re-surveyed by said Jenkins in 1786." This is the 
 only record we have of this first survey. 
 
 The creek near the northern boundary of Athens, 
 now called Shepard's Creek, was called by the na- 
 tives Cayuta Creek. It has its rise in a little lake 
 by that name in Spencer, and runs in a southerly 
 
ATHENS TOWNSHIP 97 
 
 direction about 20 miles, emptying into the Sus- 
 quehanna a mile below the State line. 
 
 Several valuable mill sites are on this stream. 
 Morley's mill, bought by Mr. Shepard of Bryant in 
 1788. Wheelock's mill, built originally by Mr. 
 Shepard in 1806. Brooks' factory, built by Shep- 
 ard and Crocker in 1809, and Walker's mill, built 
 in 1806. 
 
 The township of Athens was surveyed by John 
 Jenkins in May and June, 1786. He was the prin- 
 cipal Surveyor for the Susquehanna Company, 
 and a prominent man among the Connecticut 
 settlers. 
 
 His field books says, " Began May 7th, 1786, first 
 to take the course of Tioga Creek, at the mouth, 
 and run up to a bend in the creek, to a flat piece 
 of land with buttonwood timber, to the north line 
 of the town.* The next day. May 8th, began to 
 take the course of the Great Eiver, from the Point 
 up to the lower end of the Cove; then to the lower 
 end of an Island (now Williston's Island) ; then 
 to the mouth of a creek six rods wide (Shepard's 
 Creek) ; then to a small creek where a cove makes 
 up to the shore. 
 
 " The distance from Tioga river to Susquehanna 
 
 * This river was called by Mr. Jenkins Tioga River or Tioga 
 Creek. Some years after a horn of large dimensions was found 
 by a Mr. Baker near the Upper Narrows, said to have measured 
 nine feet in length. The Indians also had pieces of a very 
 large horn, which they said their ancestors had found in the 
 river, and they, therefore, gave it the name of Chemung, which 
 signifies Big Horn. The lower part of the river is more gen- 
 erally called Chemung, while the upper part, near the Cowan- 
 sky, is called Tioga. 
 
98 EARLY TIMES 
 
 river, 3f miles, Monday, June 14th, 1786, sur- 
 veyed township ; beginning on the Tioga north, and 
 running 5^ miles south ; thence E. five miles ; thence 
 N. five and a half miles to the northern boundary; 
 then on the State line five miles west." 
 
 The course of the roads through the town were 
 laid out much as they are now — those on the rivers 
 following the Indian paths. The course of the road 
 through the Point ran near the center of the town, 
 to a gate. Below the gate was a street, and lots 
 laid out of about ten acres each. 
 
 The map from which these statements are taken 
 is interesting to the antiquarian, and is in posses- 
 sion of Mr. Z. F. Walker. It was copied by Major 
 Flower many years ago from a field book signed 
 " John Jenkins." 
 
 On the margin of the map is a long list of names 
 of men who were living at the time of the survey, 
 and stood ready to " draw " their lots. None but 
 the most aged among us can recognize more than 
 half a dozen names with which they are familiar. 
 Mr. C. Stephens, now 84 years of age, recollects 
 nearly all of them. 
 
 Athens toAvnship was re-surveyed by the State 
 the same year, recognizing the boundaries of the 
 Susquehanna Company. 
 
 That part of the tow^nship on the west side of 
 Tioga river was laid out in farms of one hundred 
 acres each. 
 
 The most familiar names of the early purchasers, 
 beginning at the south line of the town, are Daniel 
 McDowell, Nathan Denison, Matthias Hollenback, 
 John Franklin, Wright Loomis, Daniel Satterlee, 
 
ATHENS TOWNSHIP 99 
 
 Nathan Gary (who sold to Dr. Stephen Hopkins), 
 C. Hubbard (sold to Elisha Satterlee and Jacob 
 Snell ) . Mr. Murray and Mr. Spalding purchased 
 south of Dr. Hopkins. 
 
 Lots were laid out much the same on the east 
 side of the Susquehanna, and the names of Bene- 
 dict Satterlee, John Franklin, Elisha Satterlee, 
 Elisha Matthewson, Slocum, Baldwin, and Jenk- 
 ins are also among the familiar names. Robert 
 Spalding owned the farm now in possession of John 
 Thompson. 
 
 The building lots in the village above the gate 
 were laid out w^ith much regularity. 
 
 It is seldom we meet with a more delightful loca- 
 tion for a village than this. The first settlers evi- 
 dently thought so, and laid it out in anticipation 
 of its becoming a large town. 
 
 Two beautiful rivers, the Tioga and Susque- 
 hanna, perpetually flow on each side of a valuable 
 point of land, between converging ranges of moun- 
 tains, and after mingling their waters, roll down 
 the extended valley together. The dwellers of this 
 Yallej may say : 
 
 " There is not in tlie wide world a valley more sweet 
 Than this vale in whose bosona the bright waters meet." 
 
 The valley through its entire length has ever 
 been considered a beautiful portion of country, and 
 the historic interest is unparalleled. It was here 
 that the refugees from Wj^oming found a compara- 
 tive resting place. 
 
 Many families, bound together by kindred ties. 
 
100 EARLY TIMES 
 
 early associations, and the most severe sufferings, 
 located in the upper part of the valley, and within 
 the embrace of the Tioga and Susquehanna rivers, 
 which formed as it were protection for these exiles, 
 who were principally Connecticut people, and were 
 thus united by a common sympathy. 
 
 The protracted civil wars among the early set- 
 tlers, the Indian massacre of Wyoming, and the 
 military movements over these hills and through 
 this valley, the soil of which has been made sacred 
 by the blood of our ancestors, will continue to fur- 
 nish themes for the poet, the artist and historian. 
 A lady on board a steamboat on Seneca Lake, who 
 heard the other passengers expressing their admi- 
 ration of the delightful scenery, remarked : " It is 
 nothing to be compared with the scenery on the 
 Susquehanna river." She had just come from Wy- 
 oming, and testified to what she had seen. 
 
 A gentleman once visiting a clerical friend here 
 was so charmed with the scenery as he entered the 
 village that he exclaimed on meeting him : " Why, 
 I should think you might preach in poetry here ! " 
 
 The views from some of the neighboring hills are 
 beautiful, and are always attractive to the artist. 
 Prospect Hill, overlooking Gen. Welles' farm, has 
 often been a place of resort for the youthful and 
 vigorous. 
 
 Spanish Hill, in the northwest part of the town, 
 is among the ancient curiosities of the country. It 
 stands completely isolated near the east bank of 
 the Chemung, the State line crossing near its north- 
 ern point, leaving the principal portion of the hill 
 within the bounds of Athens township. It is about 
 
ATHENS TOWNSHIP 101 
 
 a mile in circumference. It is about 200 feet high, 
 easy of access, and from its summit is a charming 
 view of a beautiful landscape many miles in extent. 
 It is surrounded by mountains, near the base of 
 which flow the Tioga and Susquehanna. Remains 
 of ancient fortifications around the summit of the 
 hill have been seen by many of the present genera- 
 tion. Specimens of Spanish coin, it is said, have 
 been found there. These two facts have given rise 
 to various conjectures. One has given it the name, 
 the other the character of having once been a war- 
 like place of defense. But when and by whom 
 must ever remain a mystery.* 
 
 Some of the early settlers who were on the 
 ground before the natives left the country have 
 been heard to say that the Indians called it Span- 
 ish Hill, implying that the Spaniards had been 
 there, and the name has been perpetuated. They 
 seldom went on the hill, from some superstitious 
 fear or dread. 
 
 They had a tradition that a Cayuga Chief once 
 went to the top of the hill and the Manitou or 
 Great Spirit took him by the hair of the head and 
 whirled him away to regions unknown. It was 
 supposed that he was murdered by the Buc- 
 caneers. 
 
 It is, however, a good theme for legends, and 
 several writers skilled in legendary lore have en- 
 
 * Judge Avery, whose opinion is entitled to much weight, 
 maintains that this, and similar mounds in New York State, 
 that have on their summits the appearance of fortifications, are 
 of Iroquois construction, for a defense against the Susquehan- 
 nocks, their formidable foe, whom they finally exterminated. 
 
102 EARLY TIMES 
 
 tertained us with their conjectures. Mr. N. P. 
 Willis with his bride visited this hill many years 
 ago, and also gave his musings to the public. 
 
 It has also been said that when the Spanish Buc- 
 caneers were driven out of Florida, they were never 
 heard from after they left Chesapeake Bay. There 
 is, also, an Indian tradition related by Mr. Alpheus 
 Harris, whose farm covered Spanish Hill, that 
 these Spanish refugees were met by the Indians 
 near this eminence, and driven to the top of the 
 hill, where they defended themselves for days and 
 months by throwing up breastworks, enclosing 
 many acres, but finally perished by starvation. 
 Many now living remember the beautiful flat lawn 
 of several acres on the top of the hill, and an en- 
 closure of earth 7 or 8 feet high, which has within 
 a quarter of a century been leveled by the plow 
 and harrow. 
 
 Other legends carry the romance still farther, 
 and affirm that the Spanish invaders were rescued 
 from death by the sacrifice of a Spanish daughter, 
 " the precious price of Spanish ransom," to a Ca- 
 yuga Chieftain, who kindly guided them to " the 
 prairies of the distant West." 
 
 It is well understood that there was an Indian 
 burying ground on the west side of the hill, and 
 some remains are still visible. 
 
 Professed fortune tellers have walked about this 
 eminence with their incantations, as if to gather in- 
 spiration from it. One affirmed that the fabled 
 treasures of Captain Kidd were buried there, and 
 it is reported that some credulous men have during 
 the night dug for them, with the usual success. 
 
ATHENS TOWNSHIP 103 
 
 The prospect from this hill is delightful — not 
 wild or sublime, but picturesque and beautiful. 
 
 The native forest trees in this region were in 
 great variety. Those covering the pine plains were 
 a singular brotherhood, the old dry trees, killed 
 by the worm in 1796, so tall that they were often 
 used by sentinels in war time to ascertain the posi- 
 tion of the enemy, and the smaller ones so dense 
 that it was difficult for the deer with his antlers to 
 escape in the chase. In these pines herded much 
 game which had been the living of the red man, and 
 was subsequently the sport and sustenance of the 
 white man. 
 
 There is in our possession an ancient map of 
 Tioga Point, by whom drawn it is not known. The 
 survey was made in 1785, with only the rivers and 
 temporary State line for boundaries.* 
 
 On this map are laid down the warrants of Jo- 
 siah Lockhart, Nicholas Kiester, Arthur Erwin, 
 Joseph Erwin, Timothy Pickering, Samuel Hodg- 
 son, Duncan Ingraham, and Tench Cox, with the 
 date of their warrants and surveys, and number of 
 acres allotted them. These were the first State 
 claimants on Tioga Point. Lockhart sold to Car- 
 roll, Erwin to Mr. Duffee, Pickering to John Shep- 
 ard, in 1813. The borough of Athens was incor- 
 porated March 29th, 1831. David Paine, Esq., was 
 elected first Burgess. 
 
 The first newspaper published in Athens was the 
 
 * Many travelers visited our country after the Revolution. 
 One, Mr. Isaac Weld, arrived at " a small town called Tyoga 
 Point or Lochartzburg," on the Susquehanna ; this was about 
 the year 1796. 
 
104 EARLY TIMES 
 
 "Athens Scribe," by O. N. Worden, in 1841, '42, 
 and '43. The "Athenian" was edited by C. T. 
 Huston in 1854. The " Athens Gazette " by M. M. 
 Pomeroy in 1855-'56 (now proprietor of the "La 
 Crosse Democrat"). "Athens Republican." "Ath- 
 ens Democrat," published in 1867. "Weekly 
 News," 1868. 
 
BOUNDARIES 
 
 In 1786 Andrew Elliott, on the part of Pennsyl- 
 vania, and James Clinton and Simeon Dewit, on 
 the part of the State of New York, were appointed 
 Commissioners to ascertain, run out and mark the 
 boundary line between the two States, beginning 
 at the point ascertained and fixed by Eittenhouse 
 and Holland, the former Commissioners, on a small 
 island in a branch of the Delaware river. This duty 
 these Commissioners performed in the year 1786 
 and 1787, by running a line due west from the point 
 before mentioned to the shore of Lake Erie, a dis- 
 tance of 259 miles 88 perches. 
 
 In 1784 a large tract of land was purchased 
 by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania of the In- 
 dians at Fort Stanwix. 
 
 The land office was opened for the sale of these 
 lands on the first day of May, 1785. The law re- 
 quired that all applications filed within ten days 
 after the sale should have priority of location. 
 
 When No. 1 was drawn from one wheel, the name 
 of the applicant, Josiah Lockhart, of Lancaster, 
 with the number of acres applied for, was drawn 
 from another wheel. His warrant was therefore 
 number one, and entitled him to the first choice 
 of locating his warrant. 
 
 105 
 
106 EARLY TIMES 
 
 He located his warrant on tlie point of land ex- 
 tending from the confluence of the Susquehanna 
 and Tioga Elvers to a line a little above the Mile 
 Hill, from river to river, containing 1038 acres 94 
 perches, called Ta-ya-o-gah by the natives, mean- 
 ing " at the forks," (|i? " meeting of the waters, 
 known as Tioga Point," by the white man ; the gate- 
 way or entrance into the State of Pennsylvania for 
 the red man. According to statements of the Sur- 
 veyor-General, Mr. Lockhart's land must have cost 
 him 26 cents per acre. 
 
 This tract was purchased of Lockhart for two 
 dollars and fifty cents per acre, early in this cen- 
 tury, by Mr. Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, near 
 Baltimore, one of the signers of the Declaration of 
 Independence, and one of the latest survivors of 
 that distinguished body, being ninety-five years of 
 age when he died. 
 
 Mr. Caton, a son-in-law of Mr. Carroll, came 
 into possession of this tract. He settled with the 
 Connecticut claimants, in most cases to their satis- 
 faction, while with others he had some litigation. 
 
 Mr. James Pumpelly, of Owego, surve^^ed this 
 tract for Mr. Carroll in 1802, and gave it as his 
 opinion that the pine plains were worthless for 
 cultivation, and others entertained the same opin- 
 ion. But fertilizers and tillage have developed the 
 qualities of the soil, and many parts of these pine 
 plains are now sold for more than a hundred dol- 
 lars an acre, and some think this a low estimate. 
 Tar and charcoal were formerly manufactured 
 from these pines in considerable quantities. 
 
 The territory which comes within our notice has 
 
BOUNDARIES lOT 
 
 been included successively in the counties of 
 Berks and Northumberland. 
 
 On the 25th of September, 1786, Luzerne County 
 was formed out of a part of Northumberland, the 
 northern boundary of which was the State line. 
 The county received its name from Count Luzerne, 
 minister from France to our newly formed gov- 
 ernment. 
 
 On the 13th of April, 1725, Lycoming County 
 was established out of Northumberland, bounded 
 north by State line, and east partly by Luzerne. 
 
 On the 21st of February", 1810, Ontario County 
 was erected out of parts of Luzerne and Lycoming. 
 Its northeastern corner was the 40th mile stone 
 on the State line, and its northwestern corner the 
 80th mile stone. 
 
 On the 24th of March, 1812, the name of Ontario 
 was changed to Bradford, in honor of Mr. Brad- 
 ford, who came from England in 1762, and who was 
 the first printer in Philadelphia, which county was 
 then organized for judicial purposes, and with Sus- 
 quehanna, Tioga, and Wayne constituted the 11th 
 Judicial District. 
 
XVI 
 
 DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS 
 
 Many in this town still remember Col. John Frank- 
 lin, a tall patriarchal looking man, bent with years 
 and the cares and labors of early life, of a de- 
 pressed though expressive countenance; his face 
 pitted with small pox, rather negligent of his per- 
 sonal appearance, though always the gentleman, 
 and always commanding the respect and attention 
 of those who knew him. He frequently wore a long 
 blue cloak, and on public occasions a three cornered 
 hat and small clothes, and always carried a little 
 cane, used particularly on funeral occasions, to 
 preserve order in the procession, of which he was 
 marshal in those days. Sometimes he visited the 
 schools, giving a word of advice, and always pre- 
 siding at the town meetings. 
 
 Connecticut claims, says Mr. Miner, was the ob- 
 ject he had pursued with zeal and delight for more 
 than thirty years; yet he would recommend obedi- 
 ence to the laws of the land, although he had found 
 himself disappointed and beaten. 
 
 He was called the " Hero of Wyoming," and was 
 prominent in the early history of this valley. After 
 after having labored many years in vain to estab- 
 lish a cause which he considered just, he finally 
 settled in this most northerly town in his loved 
 valley of Wyoming, in 1788, and here lived many 
 years on the east side of the Susquehanna, in a 
 
 108 
 
DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS 109 
 
 retired and quiet way, and died March 1st, 1834, 
 at the advanced age of 82 years. 
 
 Col. Franklin's farm was sold to Major Zephon 
 Flower, and the avails divided between his chil- 
 dren. It now belongs to his grandson, Z. F. 
 Walker. 
 
 The only complete record we have of the early 
 life of Col. Franklin is to be found in Mr. Miner's 
 book. In preparing his history if he could have 
 had the use of his manuscripts at the commence- 
 ment of his work, it would have saved him a year's 
 labor. 
 
 He states that John Franklin was a native of 
 Litchfield County, Conn. He was that boy who 
 was called to an account, by his austere father, for 
 gazing about at the place of worship in time of 
 divine service, counting the rafters, etc., instead of 
 attending to the sermon. " Father," said he, " can 
 you repeat the sermon? " " Sermon, no. I had as 
 much as I could do to watch your inattention." 
 " If I will tell you all the minister said you won't 
 whip me? " " No, John, no, but that is impos- 
 sible." Young Franklin named the text and went 
 through every head of the discourse, with surpris- 
 ing accuracy. " Now, father," said he, " I can 
 tell you exactly how many beams and rafters there 
 are." 
 
 The touching account of his tenderness and care 
 of his three little ones, after the death of his wife, 
 at the time of Wyoming trials, is almost unparal- 
 leled. Having no person to take care of them, he 
 determined to place them in charge of his kind 
 friends in Canaan, Conn. Harnessing a horse to a 
 
110 EARLY TIMES 
 
 little cart, he placed in it the three children, tied 
 a cow by the horns, to follow, and drove on, hav- 
 ing a cup, in which, as occasion required, he 
 milked and fed the babe. Thus he traveled the 
 rough way, more than two hundred miles, in safety, 
 exhibiting all the patience and tenderness of 
 a mother. 
 
 He had three children, Kezia, William, and 
 Amos. Kezia married Dr. Beebe, a physician of 
 some eminence. They lived and died at Geneva 
 some years since. Mrs. Beebe was an interesting 
 lady, and frequently visited this place while her 
 father was living, and after his death took her 
 father's valuable papers and portrait home with 
 her. From his first removal to Wyoming, John 
 Franklin was devoted to the cause of Connecticut 
 claimants. Ever active, and ever zealous for their 
 rights, he was prominent in their public assemblies, 
 and wielded great influence. 
 
 This made him a mark for his adversaries. He 
 felt confident of the justice and final success of his 
 party, and was unremitting in his efforts in its 
 behalf. He strongly disapproved of the decision of 
 the Pennsylvania Legislature when they erected 
 the county of Luzerne, and proposed him for a 
 representative. He spurned the nomination, and 
 set about founding an Independent State Gov- 
 ernment. 
 
 So determined was he to maintain his purpose 
 that Col. Pickering, who had now become strongly 
 interested for Pennsylvania, foreseeing his plans, 
 obtained a writ to arrest him on charge of high 
 treason, October, 1787. He was suddenly seized. 
 
DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS 111 
 
 and with much difficulty was mounted on a horse 
 by four men; and while Col. Pickering held a pis- 
 tol to his breast, his servant tied his legs under the 
 horse; one taking his bridle, another following be- 
 hind, and one riding each side, they were soon out 
 of the reach of his friends. Thus subdued by six 
 men, he was hurried with painful speed to the jail 
 at Philadelphia. 
 
 All Wyoming was in commotion on hearing of 
 the abduction of Franklin, and the part Col. Pick- 
 ering had taken. 
 
 Immediate measures were adopted by the parti- 
 sans of the Yankee leaders to seize Col. Pickering 
 and carry him off as a hostage for the safety of 
 Franklin. Under the lead of Swift and Satterlee, 
 the " Tioga Boys " or " Wild Yankees " surrounded 
 his house, but did not find him there. He had gone 
 to Philadelphia to inform the executive council of 
 the state of things at Wyoming, and remained there 
 until January. 
 
 On the 11th of June following, while asleep in 
 his bed, he was aroused by a violent opening of 
 his door. The intruders were men, twelve or four- 
 teen in number, painted black and armed, come 
 to execute the long threatened attack. 
 
 After dressing, they pinioned him, tying his arms 
 together and led him off through Wilkesbarre in 
 perfect silence, and proceeded up the river to Pitts- 
 ton. They then said, " If you will write a line to 
 the executive committee and intercede for Frank- 
 lin, we will release you." 
 
 He refused, and they went on to Lackawanna. 
 They traveled thirty miles before they stopped to 
 
112 EARLY TIMES 
 
 eat. They then learned that the militia were in pur- 
 suit of them. This hastened their speed. They 
 retired to the woods and remained there a week, 
 and frequently inquired of the Colonel if he wished 
 to be set at liberty, and if he would intercede for 
 Franklin. 
 
 They also compelled him to wear a chain because 
 Franklin was in irons in Philadelphia. He car- 
 ried it ten days, and when they relieved him they 
 inquired again if he would intercede for Franklin. 
 He replied, " I will answer no question until I am 
 set at liberty." He finally agreed to write a peti- 
 tion for " The Boys," praying for their pardon. 
 
 They arrived at Tunkhannock and told the Col- 
 onel he was at liberty, at the same time renewing 
 their request that he would intercede for Franklin. 
 This he peremptorily refused to do. Col. Picker- 
 ing returned to his family, having been absent 
 about a month. He had not suffered in health, 
 having had plenty of wintergreen tea, coffee made 
 of scorched Indian meal, and plenty of venison, and 
 some bread. Col. Pickering was quite an epicure. 
 It is said that after this, during Washington's ad- 
 ministration, when negotiating a treaty with the 
 Indians, a vast table being surrounded by Com- 
 missioners, Contractors, and Indian braves, the 
 conversation turned upon the characteristic desig- 
 nation of the Chiefs. One was that of the Eagle; 
 another of the Tortoise, etc. An old warrior seeing 
 Col. Pickering disposing of his eleventh cup of 
 coffee, exclaimed, " He Wolf Tribe." This incident 
 doubtless occurred at Tioga Point, at the great 
 treaty in 1790. After serving his country in the 
 
DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS 113 
 
 capacities of Postmaster General and Secretary 
 of State, he removed to Massachusetts, his native 
 State, which he afterwards represented in the 
 United States Senate. He died 1829, aged 84 
 years. Not a man in the nation stood higher. 
 
 Col. Franklin remained a prisoner in Philadel- 
 phia Jail many months. His health began to fail, 
 and the iron will and iron frame of this Hero of 
 Wyoming began to give away. He petitioned the 
 Supreme Court that he might be liberated on find- 
 ing bail. The lion being tamed, the purpose of a 
 new and independent government being aban- 
 doned, Colonel Franklin was liberated. 
 
 His second wife was a Mrs. Bidlack, whose hus- 
 band had fallen in battle. 
 
 Her daughter, Sarah, married Mr. Samuel Oven- 
 shire, the father of the Ovenshire family among 
 us. Col. Franklin and his wife were both buried 
 on the farm he owned, opposite our village. 
 
 He was a representative in the Pennsylvania 
 Legislature from Luzerne, and afterwards from Ly- 
 coming; was also High Sheriff for Luzerne Co. 
 He had in his possession several large books — 
 records of the Susquehanna Co., which, it is to be 
 regretted, have been scattered. 
 
 The following leaf from the portfolio of an 
 artist * may be of interest in connection with the 
 above sketch of Col. Franklin: 
 
 " Pennsylvania, generally, is attractive to an 
 artist. My object in visiting the State was to study 
 nature in her secret haunts. And no place in this 
 fair creation offers more allurements than are to 
 be found on the banks of the Susquehanna River. ^ 
 
 * The late S. A. Mount, N. A. 
 
114 EARLY TIMES 
 
 " In Athens, a northern town of Pennsylvania, I 
 formed an acquaintance with the family of an old 
 Eevolutionary veteran, Col. Franklin, who had 
 signalized himself in the Revolutionary wars, and 
 had prepared for publication a history of the event- 
 ful struggle, so far as related to the vicinity of 
 Wyoming. He was then suffering from paralysis, 
 accompanied with frequent turns of mental aberra- 
 tion. His family were under the apprehension that 
 he was fast passing away, and being desirous to pre- 
 serve some memento of him, solicited me to attempt 
 his portrait. I was told that I must expect to ob- 
 tain it with much difficulty and patience, owing to 
 the melancholy prostration of his mental and 
 physical powers. I repaired to the Colonel's house, 
 professionally equipped with everything necessary 
 for the accomplishment of my design. I was cor- 
 dially received and conducted to the door of his 
 apartment, and here commenced one of the most 
 extraordinary scenes I ever experienced. I heard 
 frequent cries of ' Murder ! ' On entering the room 
 the most prominent object that appeared was the 
 hoary headed veteran stretched upon his couch, 
 with both his hands elevated, and his eyes keenly 
 fixed upon me. At his feet sat an old companion 
 in arms, named Moore (his nurse), who only could 
 control the Colonel. I advanced coolly as possible 
 to the middle of the room and placed my easel upon 
 the floor, when the invalid again commenced his cries 
 of ' Murder ! murder ! Moore, Moore ! ' Upon which 
 the following dialogue commenced : ' Hallo, Colo- 
 nel, what's the matter? ' ' Don't that fellow mean 
 to kill me? ' ' No, no, Colonel, he won't touch 
 
DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS 115 
 
 you.' ' You lie, he means to murder me.' ' I tell 
 you he don't, Colonel.' ' Who is he, Moore, a doc- 
 tor? ' To humor his vagaries Moore told him I 
 was. ' Come this way, doctor, I want to speak to 
 you,' ' Moore, don't let him kill me.' ' Nonsense, 
 nonsense. Colonel.' ' Doctor, am I dying? ' ' No, 
 no. Colonel, let me feel your pulse,' I added. ' Have 
 you been sent here to kill me, doctor? ' ' No, Col- 
 onel, I have come to paint your portrait.' ' Then 
 do you mean to kill me, doctor? ' ' Confound your 
 nonsense, you old coward,' interrupted Moore, 
 ' what do you suppose he wants to kill you for, he 
 has come to paint your portrait.' ' Don't murder 
 me, doctor, don't murder me.' Moore took hold of 
 the Colonel's throat, affecting to choke him, while 
 the Colonel with his long arms, pounded Moore's 
 head, at the same time exclaiming, ' Moore is kill- 
 ing me, Moore is killing me ; take him off, doctor ! ' 
 I was about interfering in favor of the Colonel, 
 when Moore turned partly round and whispered 
 to me to be silent, and he would soon quiet the old 
 man, which to my surprise he accomplished in a 
 few moments. The Colonel became exhausted from 
 this struggle and conceived himself dying. At his 
 request the family were called in to receive his 
 farewell blessing. He was bolstered up and began a 
 pathetic harangue to his family. The indifference 
 manifested by all present somewhat surprised me 
 at first, but I was soon led to account for it, when 
 the Colonel suddenly starting up in bed, exclaimed 
 vehemently, ' Moore, Moore, I'm hungry, I'm hun- 
 gry ! Where is the doctor? ' This abrupt termina- 
 tion gave a rather ludicrous effect to the whole 
 
116 EARLY TIMES 
 
 scene, and the family, seeing no immediate danger, 
 withdrew, and I approached the Colonel. ' Doc- 
 tor,' asked he, ' are you a tory? ' ' I am not, Colo- 
 nel.' ' What are you then? ' ' I am an artist, 
 and with your permission will paint your portrait.' 
 ' Do you hate a tory, doctor? ' ' I do, Colonel.' 
 ' That's right, that's right. Moore, you and the 
 doctor help me up.' We threw a cloak over him 
 and seated him by a small table near the window. 
 Food was brought to him and Moore ministered to 
 his wants. 
 
 " It would require the pencil of a Hogarth, or 
 the pen of a Shakespeare to depict adequately the 
 effect which this scene wrought upon me. In si- 
 lence I regarded the two old veterans, recounting in 
 their second childhood the recollections of the 
 past. 
 
 " ' Boasting aloticl of scars they proudly wore, 
 And grieved to think their day of battle o'er.' 
 
 " Thinking I should have no better opportunity 
 of effecting the object of my visit, I proposed mak- 
 ing a sketch of the Colonel, to which he readily 
 assented, seeming pleased at the idea. The table 
 was removed. 
 
 ".I arranged my light, and fixing my easel, com- 
 menced my labors. My subject remained quiet half 
 an hour, when he suddenly threw himself back in 
 his chair, parted the bosom of his shirt and dis- 
 played to my gaze a deep wound in his breast. ' Do 
 you see that?' he exclaimed, his countenance beam- 
 ing with enthusiasm. ' I do. Colonel.' ' I re- 
 ceived that wound fighting for your liberty, my 
 
DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS 117 
 
 boy ! I want you to paint that in my picture. Yes, 
 doctor/ he continued, ' I got it in the glorious 
 cause of my country — the country I love with my 
 heart and soul ! ' and the old man, unable to re- 
 strain himself through weakness, burst into tears. 
 I was affected, so was Moore, who said, ' All he 
 tells you is true, sir.' In a few moments the Colo- 
 nel resumed his former position, and I continued 
 my task. It was not long before another incident 
 occurred. I observed his countenance grew fiercer 
 and firmer in its expression, until with his mouth 
 partly open, his eyes glared upon me with the look 
 of a demon. Cautiously hitching his chair nearer 
 where I sat, he suddenly gave a kick and my easel 
 and canvas lay prostrate on the floor. 
 
 " Alarmed at this sudden demonstration of hos- 
 tility, I started back, and in so doing raised my 
 maul-stick. The Colonel regarded this movement 
 on my part as a declaration of war, and threw him- 
 self in an attitude of defense, exclaiming, ' Come 
 on, you infernal traitors, you have been trying long 
 enough to murder me. Stand by me, Moore.' 
 ^ Pardon me. Colonel.' ' I'll never pardon you, you 
 are an infernal coward, isn't he, Moore? ' ' No, he 
 is not,' said Moore, ' and if you don't behave your- 
 self he'll whip you as you deserve.' ' You lie, 
 Moore, I can flog you and the doctor both.' Then 
 a pugilistic encounter began between the two old 
 soldiers. My picture was not injured, but I re- 
 moved to a respectful distance. 
 
 " The knowledge I had already gained of the 
 Colonel's face enabled me to finish the portrait to 
 the satisfaction of his friends; a sketch of which is 
 
118 EARLY TIMES 
 
 now in my portfolio, which reminds me of the 
 noble form of the worthy old officer and his com- 
 panion Moore. A late visit to the romantic valley 
 informed me that both of my old friends ' lay like 
 warriors taking their rest,' on the beautiful banks 
 of the Susquehanna." 
 
 Colonel John Jenkins was a native of Windham 
 County, Conn.; born 1751 and died in 1829. He 
 w^as known extensively through the valley to the 
 State line, and far into the Genesee country. Hav- 
 ing been engaged foremost in the surveys of the 
 Susquehanna Company, he was probabl^^ better 
 acquainted with the country and the inhabitants 
 than any other man. Everybody knew Colonel 
 Jenkins. During the Revolutionary war he was 
 captured and taken with others to the British lines. 
 This afforded him an opportunity to gain much 
 knowledge in relation to the Indian settlements, 
 and enabled him to give valuable information to 
 General Washington, w^hen planning the expedi- 
 tion under Sullivan. Colonel Jenkins was chief 
 guide for General Sullivan throughout the cam- 
 paign. He was a very decided man. He declared he 
 would never yield to the demands of Pennsylvania, 
 and he kept his resolution. He never was con- 
 quered, but went down to his grave protesting 
 against Pennsylvania usurpation. 
 
 Mr. C. Stephens remembers him well; thinks 
 Colonel Jenkins surveyed all of the seventeen town- 
 ships, and Athens in addition, before 1786, while 
 the Indians were yet on the ground; that they 
 were afraid of him, and he was not afraid of 
 anything. 
 
XVII 
 
 EARLY INHABITANTS 
 
 Tioga Point was a place of great note among the 
 Indians. It had been the rallying point for their 
 warriors, and the rendezvous for their traders. 
 Cornplanter, Big Tree, Red Jacket, and many of 
 their noble braves have visited here, and met in 
 council together. 
 
 It was at Tioga Point that the great gathering 
 of warriors from Niagara, Onondaga, and through- 
 out the lake country took place, preparatory to 
 their murderous expedition down the Susque- 
 hanna, where, " like the wolf on the fold," they 
 surprised the unsuspecting and unprotected in- 
 habitants of Wyoming. 
 
 During their wars with the whites of Pennsyl- 
 vania many poor, heartbroken captives, children of 
 tender years, men, and women, have been urged 
 on their way to this place. 
 
 It would seem from several accounts that this 
 was the place of rendezvous for the captives taken 
 in the wars of Pennsylvania. After an unsuccess- 
 ful battle a man was looking out for a much loved 
 friend ; he was informed that " he was wounded or 
 dead or had gone to Tioga." (Taken captive.) 
 
 Soon after the treaty with the Indians, and their 
 removal, further apprehensions from them being 
 at an end, many families of intelligence and means 
 
 119 
 
120 EARLY TIMES 
 
 came to reside at Tioga Point, and established 
 themselves in business. 
 
 About the period of 1788 the township of Athens 
 or Tiogatown, as it was then called, began to be 
 settled rapidly. Many families came from the 
 lower part of the valley, principally Connecticut 
 people, who had been sufferers together in their 
 various struggles. The heads of these families — 
 Swift, Stephens, Tyler, Mathewson, and many 
 others — had bought under the Connecticut title for 
 a small price, and placed their families upon their 
 possessions, where they lived undisturbed many 
 years. But Pennsylvania landholders were nu- 
 merous, whose claims covered those of the Con- 
 necticut settlers, and they were obliged to pay for 
 their lands the second time, according to their 
 estimated value, which, however, was small. 
 
 The country throughout this entire Point, from 
 Cayuga Creek to the confluence of the rivers, was 
 covered with pines, with the exception of a few 
 buttonwoods and elms which grew on the banks 
 of the rivers. The soil at that time was poor and 
 unproductive, and with all these obstacles it was 
 sometimes difficult to obtain a livelihood, and the 
 bickerings and strifes about titles were constant 
 sources of contention. Assault and battery were 
 not unfrequent. Murder was many times threat- 
 ended and several times committed. Mr. Erwin, 
 the father of James and Arthur, was sitting in his 
 log house, near where the present McDuffee house 
 stands, when he was fired upon through the win- 
 dow and killed. Ira Stephens, the father of numer- 
 ous children, was killed by the heavy blow of a 
 
EARLY INHABITANTS 121 
 
 cudgel while absent from home. Joseph Tyler, the 
 father of Francis Tyler, was assaulted when at 
 work in his field and struck to the ground, and 
 then beaten till he was supposed to be dead. He 
 was afterward thrown over the fence among bushes 
 to be concealed, but he revived and was restored. 
 
 His skull was so injured that he never fully re- 
 covered his faculties. The family was broken up 
 and scattered. 
 
 Daniel McDuffee came from Ireland to Philadel- 
 phia; from thence to Athens in 1788, where he 
 bought extensively of Mr. Erwin. Mr. McDuffee 
 was a tall and sprightly man, and played well on 
 the flute. " Come up to my house," said he to a 
 young gentleman, who was also a musician, " and 
 I will show you a raal flute." He had been a noted 
 weaver in Ireland, and showed his skill in that line 
 in weaving a piece of linen for a young lady of 
 this neighborhood, which he offered to do on con- 
 dition that she would spin the yarn. The offer was 
 accepted, and the result was an uncommonly fine 
 piece of cloth, some of which can be seen at this 
 day. 
 
 David, Clement, and Enoch Paine, brothers, came 
 from Portland, Maine, in 1794 and '5, and settled 
 at Athens. Ancient documents show that David 
 Paine was employed as Clerk of the Susquehanna 
 Company in 1795. He was early a merchant and 
 inn keeper, and in 1808 was appointed Justice of 
 the Peace, and for many years was Postmaster at 
 Athens. He married Miss Phebe Lindsley, sister 
 of Mrs. Dr. Hopkins. Both were accomplished and 
 excellent ladies. 
 
122 EARLY TIMES 
 
 After Mrs. Fame's death he married a cultivated 
 lady from Portland, who survives him. Mr. Paine 
 purchased several lots south of the Academy, 
 where he passed the closing days of his life. His 
 brother Enoch died there also, many years ago. 
 The house occupied by his brother Clement was 
 built by David Paine in 1803, and Mr. Dan. Elwell 
 was architect. The old hotel was built by Mr. 
 James Erwin near the close of the last century. 
 
 Dr. Stephen Hopkins came from Morristown, N. 
 J., about the same year with Mr. Paine. He is 
 said to have built the first frame house on Tioga 
 Point. The north wing of the Backus house alone 
 remains of it. In 1802 he built his large house, 
 still standing near the Stone Church, which he oc- 
 cupied many years. This was in its prime a showy 
 house, and a place of great resort. Besides his pro- 
 fession as a physician, he did a large business as a 
 merchant and inn keeper, as this was a general 
 thoroughfare. Such establishments were in great 
 demand, and being a profitable and popular busi- 
 ness, many engaged in it. It was said that his table 
 was not excelled by any in the western country. 
 
 The Doctor owned the farm across the Chemung 
 River, south of the bridge, which he cultivated. 
 The high land is still called " Doctor's Hill." 
 
 His practice, too, was extensive. Many will re- 
 member his peculiar management of fevers — that 
 of prescribing hemlock sweats and rye mush. His 
 theory was that it removed the fever without de- 
 bilitating the system. Mrs. Hopkins was a refined 
 and Christian lady. They had four daughters and 
 one son. Two of the daughters were educated at 
 
EARLY INHABITANTS 123 
 
 Litchfield, Conn., and married W. and E. Her- 
 rick, brothers. One married the late Doctor Hus- 
 ton, a resident of this place for many years; and 
 the youngest married the late Eev. J. Williamson. 
 The son married a daughter of John Shepard, Esq. 
 The Doctor died suddenly, March 24th, 1841. 
 
 Joseph Spalding came from Plainfleld, Conn., in 
 about 1796, and settled on the west side of the 
 Chemung River with his family. His son, John 
 Spalding, has been known among us many years, 
 and his descendants are numerous. 
 
 The Murray and Tozer families came about the 
 same time. Colonel Julius Tozer was from New 
 London, his wife from Colchester, Conn. Mr. Tozer 
 and three of his sons were volunteers in the war of 
 1812. He had a large family, and many of his 
 descendants reside in this town. 
 
 Jonathan Harris, from Newburg, bought a tract 
 of land south of Shepard's Creek, near Susque- 
 hanna River, under Connecticut title. Here he 
 lived many years, but in 1800 a writ of ejectment 
 was brought against him from a Pennsylvania com- 
 pany of landholders, which required him to seek a 
 home elsewhere. He was allowed to remain there 
 several years. A part of the farm, where his son 
 Alpheus lived, on the Chemung River, bordering 
 on the State line, was bought for him by a son at 
 Newburg, where he spent the remainder of his 
 days. The farm is now owned by William W. 
 Shepard. The older inhabitants still remember 
 Mr. Harris as a shrewd, eccentric man. The ques- 
 tion was once put to him as to the best occupation 
 or calling for a young man. He replied that loan- 
 
124 EARLY TIMES 
 
 ing money was the best business lie knew of, but 
 difficult to establish. 
 
 Major Zephon Flower came to Sheshequin in 
 1788, where he remained until early in this century, 
 when he removed to Athens. He learned survey- 
 ing of Colonel Kingsbury, and followed that as his 
 profession. He bought the farm once owned by 
 Colonel Franklin, where himself and wife were 
 buried. Near them lies Louisa, a maiden daugh- 
 ter, who has often been seen in our streets, with a 
 basket of nuts on her arm, distributing to the chil- 
 dren, and giving a word of good advice. When 
 she last called on us, we inquired what she could 
 remember about the famine here in the last cen- 
 tury. " It was bad enough," said she, " and a time 
 of great distress among the inhabitants." She said 
 they had a way of cooking up everything that could 
 be eaten. They lived much upon pursley and ber- 
 ries. When the grain was not more than half filled 
 out, they cut much of it, and dried it in their large 
 iron kettle over a slow fire, then put it on the 
 Ibacks of the boys and sent it up to Mr. Shepard's 
 mill to be ground. Sometimes they pounded it, 
 and no one ever ate better shortcake than they 
 had at such times. 
 
 Mr. Stephens' account confirms hers, and fur- 
 thermore says that people began to be in a state of 
 starvation, and showed it in their emaciated looks, 
 feeble walk, and lack of energy. Boat loads of 
 flour were brought up the river to speculate upon. 
 At one time a boat was boarded, and flour de- 
 manded at a reasonable price. They had been of- 
 fered sometimes as many silver dollars for a barrel 
 
EARLY INHABITANTS 125 
 
 as they could place on a barrel head. Parents 
 often referred to those times when their children 
 complained of their food. It is thought, however, 
 that none died of hunger. The famine was owing 
 to the fact that a greater number of settlers came 
 into the country than could be supplied with pro- 
 visions, and fewer boat loads were brought up from 
 lower Wyoming, on account of a scarcity there. 
 
 The families of Minier, Morley, Griflln, Green, 
 Lane, and Watkins arrived early in the present 
 century. 
 
 Joshua R. Giddings was born in the town of 
 Athens. His family were temporary residents on 
 the farm of Mr. D. Loomis (Queen Esther's Flats), 
 where Joshua was born. They removed to Ohio 
 when he was an infant. He became a man of repu- 
 tation, and for many years was a prominent mem- 
 ber of Congress. He was distinguished for his 
 anti-slavery principles, which were then far in ad- 
 vance of the times. He visited the place where he 
 was born a short time before his death. 
 
 After the opening of the new century many val- 
 uable inhabitants came in, which added much to 
 the growth and improvement of the place. 
 
 Mr. Stephen Tuthill came here in 1800, and 
 established himself as a merchant in the Hollen- 
 back store, and occupied the house. Mr. Tuthill 
 was a social, intelligent business man. Mrs. Tut- 
 hill was a sensible, noble, and Godly woman. " Her 
 price was far above rubies." After some years 
 they removed to Elmira, w^here they spent the re- 
 mainder of their days. They accumulated wealth, 
 with which they were liberal and benevolent. 
 
126 EARLY TIMES 
 
 Mr. John Miller, a merchant from Newtown, 
 built the house now occupied by Mr. Stephens, 
 which was at that time occupied as a dwelling 
 and store. 
 
 Mr. John Saltmarsh came from Fairfield County, 
 Conn., in 1801. He was a graduate of Yale Col- 
 lege, and was an intelligent, religious, and useful 
 man. He built the house which is still known as 
 the Saltmarsh House. He often opened it for re- 
 ligious services when visited by missionaries or 
 Methodist preachers, before there was any place 
 of worship there. He received the appointment of 
 justice of the peace soon after coming here, and 
 kept a public house, which was always in good 
 repute. Mrs. Saltmarsh was a perfect specimen of 
 a noble New England woman. Mr. Saltmarsh died 
 November 9th, 1815. His death was a great loss 
 to the community, and an irreparable loss to his 
 family. Mrs. Saltmarsh died July 4th, 1847. They 
 had two sons and one daughter. The sons were 
 engaged extensively many years in transporting 
 mails at the South. Lorenzo Dow, a man remark- 
 able for his eccentricities, visited this place in 
 about 1810. He stopped at Squire Saltmarsh's and 
 preached there. His preaching was said to be pe- 
 culiar and very impressive. 
 
 The decision of the Court of Trenton in 1782, 
 giving the jurisdiction of the contested lands to 
 Pennsylvania, did not deter the Connecticut set- 
 tlers from occupying and settling their lands 
 within the seventeen townships. 
 
 This right was understood, from the Confirming 
 act, and other acts of leniency from the State, and 
 
Col. John Franklin 
 
EARLY INHABITANTS 127 
 
 it was difficult for the Connecticut settlers to fol- 
 low up all the complicated laws and changes that 
 the State might make, which were adverse to what 
 they considered their just claims. Hence, they 
 were ever ready to contend for their rights, and 
 all through the close of the last century, and even 
 after the Compromising act was passed, there w^as 
 constant litigation between Connecticut and Penn- 
 sylvania claimants about land titles and im- 
 provements. 
 
 Mr. Alpheus Harris bought of S. Swift a valu- 
 able farm of four hundred acres, including Span- 
 ish Hill, to the State line, under Connecticut title, 
 about the close of the last century. Mr. Harris 
 was a sensible and Godly man. It is said he was 
 the first man that maintained family worship in 
 the township of Athens. He lived on this farm 
 with his family, pleasantly situated, many years, 
 not doubting the validity of his title. In 1810 a 
 suit of ejectment was brought against him by Jesse 
 L. Keene, of Philadelphia, who had obtained a 
 State claim. Mr. Keene surveyed the farm and 
 gained the suit. It devolved upon Mr. Harris to 
 pay the cost, but Mr. Keene offered to pay it, and 
 allowed Mr. Harris to remain on the farm. 
 
 Mr, Keene afterward sold it to Pitney Snyder, 
 son-in-law to Mr. Harris, by whose family it is 
 still owned. There were many cases similar to 
 this. Mr. Harris was engaged with others in the 
 surveying of the State line, 1786. 
 
 Some favor was shown to Connecticut settlers 
 by applying to the Legislature, although they had 
 not followed the exact letter of the law, and no 
 
128 EARLY TIMES 
 
 doubt, in some instances, political power decided 
 for or against them. 
 
 Mr. Elista Mathewson, father of the family well 
 known in Athens, was one of the first purchasers 
 under Connecticut title. He had bought of the 
 Susquehanna Company a number of lots on the 
 flats below the village, passing through the best 
 part of what is now known as the Welles farm, 
 and where the stone house now stands; also a lot 
 in the village, on which he built a large frame 
 house, painted red, in 1795. There Mr. Mathewson 
 died, and his family lived in the house for a long 
 time. The " Mansion House," built on the site of 
 the old red house, is in possession of Mr. Elisha 
 Mathewson, son of the early purchaser. 
 
 Mrs. Mathewson being left a widow with a large 
 family, was not willing to yield her claim to her 
 home in the village, or that of her farm on the 
 flats. The representatives of Mr. Carroll, holding 
 a Pennsylvania title, had brought a suit of eject- 
 ment in Circuit Court against Mrs. Mathewson, in 
 1807, in which she failed to make any defense,, 
 feeling secure under the Connecticut title. Judg- 
 ment was rendered against her by default, and the 
 Marshal proceeded to put Mr. Carroll in posses- 
 sion, by his representatives, but was repelled by 
 the family and friends of Mrs. Mathewson, who 
 had barricaded the house, and prepared hot water, 
 guns and ammunition, to quite an amount, for 
 defense. 
 
 The Marshal thought best to defer the object for 
 a time, and Mrs. , Mathewson remained in posses- 
 sion ever after. Mr. Henry Welles afterwards took 
 
EARLY INHABITANTS 129 
 
 possession of the farm on the Point, which he had 
 purchased of Mr. Carroll, and removed his family 
 there in 1823. He built the stone house, barns, 
 etc., and bought out the settlers generally on the 
 farm, excepting Mrs. Mathewson. Her son Con- 
 stant, having become of age, acted as agent for the 
 family, and pursued his object most assiduously. 
 He repaired to Harrisburg in 1823, and in 1824 
 laid his case before the House of Representatives, 
 and met with friends who favored his object. In 
 1827 and 1828 he was chosen Representative and 
 after unremitting perseverance on his part, the 
 Legislature appointed Commissioners to appraise 
 the land in controversy, and paid Mrs. Mathewson, 
 from the public treasury, the sum of ten thou- 
 sand dollars. 
 
 George Welles, Esq., came from Glastonbury, 
 Conn., to Tioga Point in the year 1799. He was 
 a graduate of Yale College, and it was said of 
 Mm that " his talents were ten." Soon after com- 
 ing here he was appointed justice of the peace, 
 and was engaged as a land agent for Mr. Carroll 
 of Carrollton. 
 
 He purchased many acres on the west side of the 
 village, and built the house where Mr. Harris now 
 lives, and died there in 1813. He was the father 
 of the Welles family, residents of Athens, as also 
 that of Wyalusing. He had three sons and two 
 daughters, all of whom partook of the intelligence 
 and refinement of their noble father and mother. 
 
 Henry, his oldest son, was attractive and popu- 
 lar. He early became acquainted at Baltimore 
 with Messrs. Carroll and Caton, who were much in- 
 
130 EARLY TIMES 
 
 terested in him, and through them he obtained the 
 Welles farm. This engaging young man was once 
 coming from Owego on horseback, and as he ap- 
 proached Pike Creek he found a gentleman and 
 lady, strangers, also on horseback, who were in a 
 quandary about what they should do. The creek 
 had overflowed its banks, and it was not possible 
 to ford it. As Mr. Welles drew near they thank- 
 fully availed themselves of his offer to guide them 
 through a rough way to a bridge where they could 
 cross. They were greatly accommodated, and as 
 they all possessed uncommon conversational 
 powers, we must suppose they had a social time. 
 They were soon acquainted; Mr. Welles, Dr. Pat- 
 rick and his sister, a beautiful and accomplished 
 young lady, in intellect scarcely inferior to the gen- 
 tlemen accompanying her. Doubtless they had an 
 intellectual feast as they pursued their journey 
 down the Susquehanna to Tioga Point, where Mr. 
 Welles resided; and by this time an attachment 
 was formed between Mr. Welles and Miss Patrick 
 which they had not been anticipating. The doctor 
 and his sister tarried over night to rest, and then 
 went on their way to Kingston, 80 miles down the 
 river, where they resided, with the intimation from 
 Mr. Welles that business might make it necessary 
 for him to visit Kingston shortly. He went, and 
 in a few weeks the lady became his bride. 
 
 They immediately started for his home on horse- 
 back. They arrived late in the evening of the next 
 day at the ferry, a little below the village, and 
 found it was not safe to cross the river with horses 
 at night, as the water w^s high. 
 
Gen. Henby Welles 
 
EARLY INHABITANTS 131 
 
 There was no alternative but to remain at the 
 ferry house, or cross in a small boat and walk 
 home from the river. They did this, and were soon 
 received in the embraces of waiting friends. Sel- 
 dom has a bride met with so cordial a welcome. 
 Her reputation was known, as a superior girl and 
 a devoted Christian. The few religious ladies felt 
 strengthened by such an acquisition to their so- 
 ciety. But owing to the dampness of the earth and 
 of the evening air on the night of her arrival she re- 
 ceived a chill, from which she did not recover. Her 
 lungs became affected, a cough ensued, and not- 
 withstanding all the efforts of kind friends and 
 physicians, in twenty-one days after their mar- 
 riage she died, 1809, the early bride of Henry 
 Welles. 
 
 After recovering somewhat from the shock of 
 this affliction the business of life again engaged his 
 attention. Perplexities about land titles had al- 
 ready arisen,* but having the State claim, he felt 
 sanguine that his cause was just and would be 
 paramount to any other ; yet he was much annoyed 
 by the early Connecticut claimants, particularly 
 the Mathewson claim. After much litigation rela- 
 tive to it, the State, after many years, satisfied the 
 Mathewson demand, as before mentioned, and left 
 Mr. Welles unembarrassed, in possession of his 
 princely farm. In 1812 he married again, a daugh- 
 ter of Colonel John Spalding, of Sheshequin. 
 
 Mr. H. Welles was first a representative from 
 Lycoming County, and after Bradford County was 
 organized, he was sent two years to Harrisburg as 
 representative, and four years as Senator, between 
 
132 EARLY TIMES 
 
 the years 1812 and 1818, from the county of Brad- 
 ford. Through his influence the Academy Bill was 
 passed in 1813. He became a favorite of Governor 
 Snyder, who appointed him one of his aides, with 
 the rank of general; hence his title. He wrote to 
 his brother of his appointment, who informed Mrs. 
 Welles that a general would be there to dine. She 
 exerted herself to prepare a table appropriate to 
 her unknown guest, and when the time arrived was 
 gratified to find that the general was none other 
 than her husband. He died suddenly, on his farm, 
 December 1833, aged 53 years, leaving his farm to 
 his sons. 
 
 General Welles was seldom equaled in intellec- 
 tual and conversational powers, and was much 
 admired in society. In his later days he was more 
 inclined to religious reading, and whatever may 
 have been his former views, he expressed his con- 
 viction of the excellence of the Christian religion, 
 and his approbation of the benevolent societies of 
 the day. His business capacities were remarkable, 
 and under his personal supervision his grounds 
 brought forth bountifully, and his barns were 
 filled with plenty. 
 
 Mr. C. Stephens, the oldest man living among 
 us, was three years of age when his father's family 
 removed from Wyoming to this place, in 1788, two 
 years before the treaty with the Indians. 
 
 His recollection of olden times is remarkable, 
 and he has given us much information about past 
 events. 
 
 Francis Tyler was an enterprising lad, who, find- 
 ing he must depend upon his own exertions, was 
 
EARLY INHABITANTS 133 
 
 industrious and frugal, and engaged in whatever 
 object of pursuit presented itself, and after a few 
 years surprised his friends by purchasing one of 
 the most valuable farms in the country. With his 
 continued industry and good management, together 
 with the ordinary rise of property, he became a 
 wealthy citizen, and has now arrived at an age of 
 more than four score years. 
 
 Dr. Thomas Huston came to Athens in 1812, 
 married a daughter of Dr. Hopkins, and took his 
 practice as physician. In 1824 he removed with 
 his family to the west branch of the Susquehanna, 
 and after several years returned to his practice in 
 Athens, where he passed the remainder of his life. 
 He died in June, 1866. 
 
 A bachelor, whose name is not recorded, bought 
 of the Susquehanna Company the lot of land below 
 the Mile Hill, containing twenty acres. He had 
 been suffering from hypochondria, and being in 
 destitute circumstances he offered to sell to Mr. 
 Elisha Satterlee his lot of land for a French crown 
 and a bandana handkerchief. The bargain was 
 made, and Mr. Satterlee went home and informed 
 his wife, who objected to the purchase, lamenting 
 that they should have any additional taxes to pay. 
 This lot of land was recently purchased of Judge 
 Herrick by the Railroad Company for two hun- 
 dred and fifty dollars per acre. 
 
 Edward Herrick, Esq., w^as married in 1813 to 
 Miss C. Hopkins, daughter of Dr. Hopkins. They 
 made their bridal tour on horseback through the 
 wilds of Pennsylvania, over rough roads, swollen 
 streams, and through an unsettled country, to the 
 
134 EARLY TIMES 
 
 interior of Ohio. It required many days to accom- 
 plish the journey. He remained there about three 
 years, when he returned in a carriage, with his 
 wife and little son and a faithful negro man for 
 driver. This was Peter Carlisle, whose numerous 
 descendants are now living in the township of 
 Smithfield. 
 
 Mr. Herrick was admitted to the bar in Ohio, 
 practiced law in Bradford County several years, 
 and was in 1818 appointed Presiding Judge over 
 the 11th Judicial District, consisting of Susque- 
 hanna, Bradford, and Tioga, to which were added 
 Potter and McKean Counties. He is still living, 
 at the advanced age of 82 years. 
 
 Michael R. Tharp, an agent for the Pennsylvania 
 landholders, bought a beautiful lot on the bank of 
 the Susquehanna, where he erected a dwelling. In 
 a few years his house was sold to Judge Herrick, 
 who has occupied it about half a century. 
 
 Hon. Horace Williston was a native of Suffield, 
 Conn., and the youngest brother of the late Seth 
 Williston, D. D. He studied law with Hon. Vin- 
 cent Matthews, of Elmira, and entered upon the 
 practice of his profession at Binghamton, N. Y. 
 He came to reside at Athens in 1819. He was emi- 
 nent in his profession, and had extensive practice 
 throughout Northern Pennsylvania. As a lawyer 
 he was distinguished for his strict integrity and 
 love of justice. For several years he was Presid- 
 ing Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial District. 
 Though talented and popular in his profession, his 
 surviving friends love to contemplate his Christian 
 character, in the family circle — in the weekly meet- 
 
EARLY INHABITANTS 135 
 
 ing for prayer — at the monthly concert, and in his 
 fidelity as ruling elder in the Church. Young men, 
 just entering upon the practice of the law, have 
 often been referred to Mr. Williston as an example 
 in the profession that would be safe for them to 
 follow. He died August 14th, 1855, saying : " I 
 want to lie down in the grave and rest until the 
 resurrection morn." 
 
 These eminent men — Judge Herrick, Judge Wil- 
 liston and Judge Elwell — were all . residents of 
 Athens; and Judge Elwell, who is now presiding 
 over the Twenty-sixth Judicial District, is a native 
 of this town. 
 
 Hon. Thomas Maxwell was born at Tioga Point, 
 in the Hollenback house, 1790. His family removed 
 to Newtown early in the beginning of this century. 
 As he grew up to manhood he was brought into 
 notice by his talents and industry. He was at one 
 time County Clerk for the old County of Tioga, 
 N. Y., and was for many years Postmaster of the 
 village of Elmira. At the age of about thirty he 
 was elected a member of the House of Eepresenta- 
 tives from the Congressional District where he 
 lived, and his services were satisfactory. 
 
 The circumstances of his death were very pain- 
 ful. Passing to his office after dinner, by way of 
 the railroad bridge, he was run over by a freight 
 train and survived but a short time. The Elmira 
 paper remarked : " The community has met with 
 a loss in the death of this gentleman, not easily 
 supplied. He has resided from his youth to the 
 period of his death in this City, having witnessed 
 its growth from a small village to a large and flour- 
 
136 EARLY TIMES 
 
 isliing town, tlie center of a widely extended trade, 
 and the terminus of railroads and canals, for whose 
 completion he was a faithful and influential la- 
 borer." He was present at the " Old Settlers' 
 Meeting " held at Athens in 1854, and contributed 
 much to the interest and instruction of the assem- 
 bly. He died in 1863. 
 
 Newtown was called by that name when Sulli- 
 van's army passed through the country, which 
 name was retained until by act of Legislature, in 
 1808, it was changed to Elmira. The village was 
 incorporated in 1815. It has been a place of much 
 business importance. The Elmira Female College, 
 which was incorporated and opened in 1855, now 
 ranks among the first collegiate institutions of the 
 State. Elmira is now a beautiful city, containing 
 20,000 inhabitants. 
 
 Owego is charmingly situated on the Susque- 
 hanna Elver, near the creek from which it derives 
 its name. The Owego Creek, meaning " Swift 
 Water," was an important boundary with the In- 
 dians when they disposed of their lands lying on 
 either side of it. 
 
 Mr. Draper purchased of the Indians a half 
 townshij) east of the creek, embracing the site where 
 Owego now stands. The Indian name has been 
 retained with slight variation. The early settlers 
 spelled and called it Ah-wah-gah, which Judge 
 Avery considers more correct. 
 
 Owego and Elmira were half shire towns for 
 Tioga County until a Court House w^as built at 
 Spencer in 1812, where they held their courts for 
 this extensive county. The Court House was de- 
 
EARLY INHABITANTS 137 
 
 stroyed by fire in 1821, and in 1836 the county 
 was divided into Tioga and Chemung, Owego and 
 Elmira being the county seats. 
 
 The medicinal springs at Spencer are much cele- 
 brated, and quite a place of resort for invalids. 
 
 The country below the village of Owego on the 
 Susquehanna, and below Elmira on the Tioga, 
 down to the State line, is interspersed with many 
 small villages, while schools and churches, which 
 always indicate improvement, have become numer- 
 ous. A half century ago school houses were gen- 
 erally built of logs, and barns and private houses 
 were used for churches. Many in the surrounding 
 country will remember the crowds on foot and 
 horseback which might be seen passing on their 
 way up to the large barn of Samuel Ellis, in Ellis- 
 town, or to the log dwelling of Mr. Hanna (who 
 lived to be over one hundred years old). The 
 influence that spread from these early religious 
 meetings was salutary and extensive, and the spirit 
 of them is felt by many now living. 
 
 Several young men among the Tozer and Ellis 
 families, together with a son of Judge Coryell and 
 some others, became preachers of the gospel, and 
 have spent long lives of usefulness. Some years 
 after, K. Elwell and T. Wilcox, of Milltown, were 
 licensed as preachers of the gospel. 
 
XVIII 
 
 MILLTOWN 
 
 Late in the last century a street was laid out in 
 the north part of Athens, on the ridge, extending 
 up to the State line, and a settlement made which 
 was called Milltown. The lots were large, and 
 houses were built for a physician, a clothier, a 
 tanner and shoemaker, blacksmith, carpenter, and 
 deer skin leather dresser, which with the mills, 
 store and public house, made it quite a business 
 place. 
 
 The burying ground was laid out as it now is, 
 and a large log school house erected upon it, which 
 from its first opening was an institution of impor- 
 tance. Dr. Prentice, an educated and useful man, 
 was the first teacher employed there. He removed 
 his family from New London, Conn., to Pennsyl- 
 vania in 1797. A house was built for him on the 
 hill, near the creek, and a drug store connected 
 with it; a part of the original building still 
 remains. 
 
 He was one of the sufferers in New London at 
 the time that city was burned by Arnold the trai- 
 tor, in 1781, and continued there some years in 
 the practice of his profession. He was an uncle 
 of John Shepard, and much beloved by him. There 
 was no place of resort that afforded so much pleas- 
 ure as the house of Dr. Prentice, across the way, 
 where visitors were entertained with books, inter- 
 
 138 
 
MJLLTOWN 139 
 
 esting stories and ancient curiosities. Among the 
 latter were the bed curtains, painted by Mrs. Pren- 
 tice herself, on pure Irish linen. On the head cur- 
 tain sat the King and Queen, crowned with regal 
 dignity, with fruits and flowers surrounding them. 
 On the side curtains were lesser dignitaries, with 
 vines and grapes and flowers. On the valance was 
 a vine extending the entire length, with clusters 
 of grapes, ripe plums and pears. The work was 
 neat and elegant, and the design ingenious. But 
 what was more than all, their crowning value was 
 that they were much scorched and damaged at the 
 time New London was burned by Arnold the traitor 
 during the Revolution. 
 
 These were brought out only on extraordinary 
 occasions to entertain visitors and particular 
 friends. An elegant toilet cover, also stitched with 
 the needle by this ingenious woman, and the an- 
 tique silver cup and elegant china punch bowls, 
 were among the curiosities exhibited, saved from 
 the wreck of Arnold's depredations. Some of them 
 are yet to be seen in the possession of children's 
 children. 
 
 Mrs. Prentice was the daughter of the Rev. Mr. 
 Owen, of Groton, a friend and contemporary of 
 President Edwards. 
 
 Dr. Prentice practiced medicine in this country 
 several years. He died suddenly, in August, 1805, 
 much beloved and lamented. 
 
 His son, William, who was well educated, came 
 into this country in 1798. He had been admitted 
 to the bar in New London, and practiced law in 
 Lycoming County, at Williamsport. A little more 
 
140 EARLY TIMES 
 
 than a year after his father's death, on his return 
 from court, he was taken sick with fever at his 
 boarding house (Squire Saltmarsh's), went to his 
 home at Milltown, and died in a few days, in the 
 fall of 1806. He was a young man of good talents 
 and fine personal appearance. He wore his hair 
 braided, hanging on his shoulders, according to 
 the custom of the times. In his death the high 
 hopes of his family and friends were suddenly 
 blasted. 
 
 Dr. Prentice's eldest son was a physician, and 
 settled at Sag Harbor, on Long Island. 
 
 Another son was a tanner, and had an estab- 
 lishment a little above his father's, opposite the 
 residence of Mr. O. B. Spring. He went west with 
 his family many years ago. 
 
 One of the daughters married Dan. Elwell, of 
 Westchester County, N. Y., a carpenter, who lived 
 many years at Milltown. They, outlived the most 
 of their children. Some still living hold high posi- 
 tions. The surviving daughter, who had the care 
 of her father many years, is living at Vanettenville, 
 where he died, April 19th, 1868, at the age of 94 
 years. Mrs. Elwell died many years ago. 
 
 Dr. Prentice's second daughter married John 
 Spalding. He was first Sheriff of Bradford 
 Countj^, and lived at Athens, opposite the village, 
 until his death. 
 
 The third daughter married J. F. Satterlee, who 
 was a merchant at Milltown, and afterward at 
 Tioga Point, where Mrs. Satterlee died. 
 
 Mrs. Prentice was a lady of intelligence and of 
 a cheerful temperament. When living alone, after 
 
MILLTOWN 141 
 
 her husband's death and children's marriages, she 
 would often, notwithstanding her advanced age 
 and bereavements, entertain her company by dress- 
 ing herself in her rich damask, with long bodice 
 waist and sleeves tight to the elbow, with wide lace 
 ruffles and a long trail to her skirt, thrown over her 
 arm, as was the style of her early days. 
 
 Dr. Spring succeeded Dr. Prentice as physician 
 at Milltown. He also taught school a long time in 
 connection with his practice. 
 
 The first school house was on the north side of 
 the road, on the burying ground lot, near the pres- 
 ent entrance. There the youth of that day were 
 taught the rudiments of education, and many were 
 graduated there. The school was sometimes vis- 
 ited by New England missionaries, who gave the 
 pupils excellent instruction, and presented them 
 with good books. 
 
 The school had been taught by Dr. Prentice^ 
 Amos Franklin, brother of Colonel Franklin, Dr. 
 Satterlee, and several New England men of edu- 
 cation and refinement. 
 
 But this seat of learning passed away suddenly. 
 One morning early we were terrified by seeing it 
 in flames, and the cumbrous logs one after another 
 fell to the ground. Some business men from Phila- 
 delphia were once at Mr. Shepard's, when his 
 young son, Isaac, was called upon to do the writ- 
 ing. " Where was your son educated? " inquired 
 one of the gentlemen, when he saw his penmanship. 
 Mr. Shepard pointed to the log school house and 
 said " it was there my son was educated." 
 
 Captain Thomas Wilcox came from Tyringham, 
 
142 EARLY TIMES 
 
 Mass., near the beginning of this century, and set- 
 tled at Milltown. He was a blacksmith by trade, 
 and commenced life with small means. He pur- 
 chased a valuable tract of land of Mrs. Shepard, 
 for which he succeeded in paying by close appli- 
 cation to his trade, and by transporting goods 
 across the country from Catskill, bringing supplies 
 of dyestuffs, machinery, and various articles for 
 the mills. Mrs. Wilcox was a humble and devoted 
 Christian. 
 
 Francis Snechenberger was a German, who came 
 from Philadelphia in 1799. He bought a lot of 
 land in Milltown, containing about three acres. 
 Mr. Snechenberger was a deer skin leather dresser. 
 Loads of deer skins were taken to him, and there 
 dressed and manufactured into mittens, moccasins 
 and breeches, until a load was made out, which 
 he peddled about the country, bringing home 
 money and necessaries for his family. The day 
 he was 70 years old he was drowned by falling 
 into his spring. 
 
 His wife was an Irish woman, who sometimes 
 entertained us with her adventures. In early life 
 she left her home in Ireland, which did not suit 
 her ambitious mind, and worked for her passage 
 across the ocean. When she arrived at Philadel- 
 phia she went first to the house where Major 
 Andre was imprisoned a little previous to his exe- 
 cution. She understood the circumstances of his 
 case, and her sympathies for him were greatly 
 moved. She was afterwards directed to the house 
 of Dr. Willson, and Katie became the nurse of the 
 infant James P. Willson, subsequently the Rev. J. 
 
KILLTOWN 143 
 
 P. Willson, D. D., pastor of the First Presbyterian 
 Church on Independence Square, Philadelphia, 
 and predecessor of Kev. Albert Barnes. 
 
 According to her own story, she received much 
 kindness and many favors from the good mother, 
 " Madame Willson," yet sore offense did she give 
 this honored lady, when on arriving at womanhood 
 she yielded her consent to become the wife of 
 Francis Snechenberger, a German, who fell in her 
 way. When Katie timidly revealed the case to her 
 mistress, the Madame, with much feeling, ex- 
 claimed, " Hang the men." She was loath to give 
 up her faithful nurse and kind handmaid. Katie 
 had been a great reader, and brought with her to 
 this country a mind stored with royal lore. Kings 
 and Queens, Princes and Dukes, with their retinues 
 and historical peculiarities, were as familiar to her 
 as her books and family intimates. 
 
 She had access to some medical works at Dr. 
 Willson's, by which she acquired much knowledge 
 of medicine. After her marriage she came to this 
 place, and conceived the idea of becoming a female 
 physician and nurse. She soon acquired celebrity 
 and had an extensive practice. Some of her garden 
 herbs still yield abundantly by the wayside. She 
 had one daughter, who married William, son of 
 Philip Cranse. 
 
 Another remarkable character was Mrs. Mead, 
 said to have been a hundred years old when she 
 died. She was a native of Dutchess County, and 
 married a man much inferior to herself. 
 
 During the Eevolutionary war the British came 
 suddenly upon them and were about to take away 
 
144 EARLY TIMES 
 
 her husband as prisoner. She af&rmed that her 
 husband was an idiot, and would be of no possible 
 use to them, and must remain under her care. The 
 argument prevailed, and she was ever after the sole 
 director of their domestic affairs, which under the 
 management of this energetic woman afforded 
 them a comfortable living. Her family made one 
 of the first openings on the surrounding mountains, 
 on a sightly spot back of Waverly, which is still 
 called " Mead's hill." * 
 
 Josiah Crocker removed from Lee, Mass., to Mill- 
 town in 1808, and engaged with Mr. Shepard in 
 building a fulling mill and saw mill across the 
 State line, on the Thomas tract. Carding machines 
 were added afterwards. 
 
 Mr. Crocker had a large family of sons and two 
 daughters, well trained after New England cus- 
 toms. The first object with him was to have the 
 school house rebuilt. It is said that this good man 
 when he went into the w^oods with his line and 
 plummet knelt down by the first timber that was 
 felled, and prayed that the house they were about 
 to build might be one for the honor and glory of 
 God and the good of the people. A snug school 
 house was soon erected on the opposite side of the 
 road from the old one, where the higher branches 
 as well as rudiments were taught, and foundations 
 laid for future development. Some distinguished 
 men, both in Church and State, have received their 
 education there. It also served as a church, and 
 the then young and talented, now the aged and ven- 
 erable. Dr. Wisner, of Ithaca, first preached there 
 and at the academy at " The Point " alternately, 
 * Site of Waverly Water Works. 
 
MILLTOWN 145 
 
 on the Sabbath, in 1812-15, but after serving two 
 generations the house was demolished. The dis- 
 trict having become reduced by the removal of 
 families toward the Susquehanna Elver, another 
 school house was built, near Wheelock's factory, 
 which has superseded the old one of cherished mem- 
 ory. Mr. Crocker built a small house for himself 
 on the ridge, near Factoryville, opposite the mill 
 where he and his numerous boys were engaged in 
 carding wool, dressing cloth and sawing lumber. 
 The morning and evening sacrifices were daily of- 
 fered there, and it was pleasant to see on the Sab- 
 bath this long train of neatly clad and well in- 
 structed children following their parents to the 
 place of worship. They removed west in 1818. 
 
 The earliest record we have of the burying of the 
 dead in this place is that of the soldiers of General 
 Sullivan who fell in the battles with the tories and 
 Indians at Chemung in 1779. 
 
 It is said that thirty of them were killed, but it 
 is not known that more than six were brought to 
 Tioga for interment. The presumption is there 
 were more. 
 
 Mr. C. Stephens, whose family came here as 
 early as 1788, says that the dead, both whites and 
 Indians, were buried along the ridge, where the 
 burying ground was laid out by the Connecticut 
 settlers, and afterwards given to the town by Mr. 
 Caton, the Pennsylvania claimant and proprietor. 
 It is not known that Mr. Caton ever gave a formal 
 deed. The lot was fenced and man^^ were buried 
 there before the close of the eighteenth century. 
 
 It was at first enclosed by a splint rail fence. 
 
146 EARLY TIMES 
 
 A brisk northwester once caused such vibration 
 of the splinters as to produce a doleful moaning 
 which some thought resembled the voice of an old 
 Indian woman, who had recently been buried there, 
 and her superstitious enemies verily thought she 
 was coming again to take vengeance upon them. 
 Some persons of courage ventured to investigate 
 the mystery, and reported to the troubled ones — 
 much to their relief. This was one of the legends 
 of early days. As we enter this hallowed place, 
 solemn and thrilling remembrances steal over us. 
 Here are gathered the friends of early days, with 
 whom we have " taken sweet counsel and walked 
 to the house of God in company." Families in 
 their narrow house here rest peacefully with only 
 the cold marble and the dull earth to mark their 
 possession. Men of business have here laid them 
 down to rest, wearied of the turmoil of life, the 
 fruitless greed of gain, and the ambition which 
 rules, but never satisfies. Pastor and people, in a 
 " Congregation which ne'er breaks up," are here 
 assembled — faithful fathers and tender mothers, 
 blooming daughters and noble sons, until the earth 
 is moistened by tears and hallowed by sacred affec- 
 tion. Little children, too, are here, the music of 
 their voices hushed; little feet tire, little hearts 
 grieve no more, for " He who gathers the lambs 
 with His arm and carries them in His bosom, has 
 safely garnered them into His upper fold." 
 
 " There are treasures, deep hid in this mouldering earth, 
 Precious gems laid tenderly down." 
 
 " Who is that coffin for? " said a young man as 
 
MILLTOWN 147 
 
 he entered a cabinet shop in this place. He was 
 in the flush of youth and health, and gave prom- 
 ise of many years of life and labor. " It is for 
 you," was the careless and jocose reply. " I am 
 not ready for it yet," rejoined the youth. He was 
 much nearer death, the cofifln and the grave, than 
 he then thought. In a few days he was seized 
 with a violent fever, which in a short time ter- 
 minated his career, and he was buried in the same 
 coflfln over which those thoughtless remarks were 
 made so recently. 
 
 " Walk solemn on the silent shore 
 Of that vast ocean we must sail so soon." 
 
 A new cemetery has been recently opened on the 
 Plains, which will be made both ornamental and 
 attractive, but the old burying ground should be 
 carefully guarded and sacredly venerated, as the 
 resting place of those who have served their gen- 
 eration faithfully and left to us so goodly a 
 heritage. 
 
 The Milltown burying ground, in the north part 
 of the town, was given to the public by John Shep- 
 ard, Esq., in the last century. 
 
 He has been buried there many years, with nu- 
 merous descendants and friends around him. The 
 ground has been neatly enclosed by Mr. O. B. 
 Spring, and ornamented with trees, giving addi- 
 tional beauty to the surrounding neighborhood. 
 
 From the first settlement of Athens, by the Con- 
 necticut people, their attention was given to the 
 education of their children. As early as the sur- 
 vey of the township, in 1786, we find on a map of 
 
148 EARLY TIMES 
 
 that date public lands appropriated for that object. 
 This lot of several acres was situated north of the 
 Susquehanna Bridge road, the river on the east, 
 and the road leading to Milltown on the west. It 
 was thickly covered with pines on the north. Soon 
 after the settlement of the town the first school 
 house in the township was built on this land, near 
 the location of the present district school house. 
 
 It was a small building of logs, suited to the 
 wants and circumstances of the inhabitants at that 
 time. The first school was taught by Benedict Sat- 
 terlee. He was a Connecticut man, of good edu- 
 cation and standing. As the country became 
 settled, and a larger house was in demand, another 
 school house was built on an improved plan, of 
 hewn logs, on the street leading to Milltown. This 
 school was taught by Daniel and Elias Satterlee, 
 brothers of Benedict. Elias Satterlee afterward 
 studied medicine and removed to Elmira. Mr. 
 Samuel Satterlee was also a man of education, 
 and taught at Athens, and was at one time a mem- 
 ber of the Legislature. 
 
 This was the only literary institution for many 
 years. It is said to have been a very good school. 
 This school house was burned early in the century. 
 A school was afterward opened in the large log 
 building formerly occupied by Mr. Alexander, on 
 the cross street, north from Chemung bridge, and 
 extending through the Paine lot, to the Susque- 
 hanna river.* 
 
 * No remains of this once important street are left. On it 
 there have been two stores, a dwelling house, school room, and 
 place for religious meetings, and near by a distillery, altogether 
 making it quite a prominent street. 
 
MILLTOWN 149 
 
 This was taught by a Mr. Thompson. The room 
 was sometimes used for religious meetings, until 
 the academy was in progress. 
 
 The old academy records, commencing with the 
 date, Tioga, Fel:)ruary 11th, 1797, have furnished 
 the following account of its first commencement, 
 written by Mr. Daniel Alexander, one of the ear- 
 liest residents : 
 
 " Whereas, it is the earnest wish of many of the 
 inhabitants of this town that a public building 
 should be erected for the accommodation of an 
 Academy, or seminary of learning for the accom- 
 modation of youth, and also be occasionally occu- 
 pied as a place of public worship, or other public 
 purposes ; and whereas the erection of such a build- 
 ing on Tioga Point, and making other public im- 
 provements, would not only be of great use and con- 
 venience to the inhabitants, but would also have a 
 tendency to enhance the value of land and other 
 property, the subscribers to this agreement do 
 therefore mutually covenant and agree to form 
 themselves into an association for the purpose 
 aforesaid, to be subject to the following regula- 
 tions." 
 
 Then follows a series of resolutions, common 
 upon the organization of such associations, four- 
 teen in number. 
 
 The 12th resolution is, " the building contem- 
 plated shall be erected on one of the public lots in 
 the township of Athens, on Tioga Point, and the 
 construction thereof shall be as follows: It shall 
 be forty-two feet in length, twenty-four in width, 
 and two stories high. The second story shall be 
 
150 EARLY TIMES 
 
 formed into one entire hall, to be arched and fin- 
 ished in a handsome manner." 
 
 Committee reported that they had decided upon 
 a building lot. It was built by subscription, and 
 divided into shares of thirty dollars each. The 
 names of the subscribers were Noah Murray, Sen., 
 Chester Bingham, Joseph Spalding, Levi Thayer, 
 David Alexander, Nathan Thayer, John Shepard, 
 David Paine, Joseph Hitchcock, Elisha Mathew- 
 son, Ira Stephens, Elisha Satterlee, Samuel Camp- 
 bell, John Spalding, Nathan Buel, Clement Paine, 
 Julius Tozer, Jonathan Harris, Joseph Far- 
 lane, Daniel Satterlee, Simon Spalding, Thomas 
 Overton, John Jenkins, George Welles, John 
 Franklin, Warton Reid, Stephen Hopkins. 
 
 March 2d, 1797. At a meeting of the stockhold- 
 ers of Athens Academy, held agreeable to notifica- 
 tion at the house of Captain Elisha Mathewson, 
 on Thursday, March 2d, 1797, voted that Noah 
 Murray, Esq., be chairman, that Clement Paine 
 be secretary of this society. Voted, that Major 
 Elisha Satterlee, Messrs. John Spalding and John 
 Shepard, be trustees of this society. The name 
 decided upon was that of the Athens Academical 
 Society. 
 
 March 3d, 1798. Resolved, That this society will 
 petition the Legislature for an act of incorpora- 
 tion, and also the grant of a lottery. Resolved, 
 That the society will petition the Susquehanna 
 Company, at their next meeting, for a grant of 
 land, to be appropriated as a fund, for the said 
 seminary of learning. 
 
 The frame was raised and enclosed, but the work 
 
MJLLTOWN 151 
 
 dragged heavily. After raising the frame and mak- 
 ing some progress, their funds were exhausted, and 
 the building remained unfinished for a length of 
 time, and was used, so tradition says, by merchants 
 and others for storing surplus property or goods, 
 and that it actually became a depository for hay, 
 flax, skins, and the like articles. This kind of 
 testimony, though not reliable, would seem in the 
 present case to be corroborated by a petition on 
 record in the archives of said institution, from the 
 " proprietors " to the trustees, requesting them " to 
 prevent any person whatever from putting hay, 
 flax, or any other thing whatever in said 
 building." 
 
 The fact that it remained for some length of time 
 in a neglected condition gave occasion to apply to 
 it the language of a traveling poet : 
 
 " Their only school house quite in ruin lies, 
 While pompous taverns all around them rise." 
 
 It must be confessed there was too much justice 
 in the criticism in regard to the school house, but 
 it may be averred the writer took quite a poetic 
 liberty with the taverns. 
 
 May, 1808, they passed a resolution, and "au- 
 thorized the trustees to advertise the academy for 
 sale, to be sold on credit of twelve months, the 
 purchaser giving judgment bonds with approved 
 security." 
 
 July 20th, 1808, they " agreed that the vote of 
 May last, for selling said building, be rescinded 
 and of no effect." 
 
 In 1809 " Clement Paine was requested to re- 
 
152 EARLY TIMES 
 
 pair tlie buiUliug, aud put the same iu a good state 
 of preservation, with a bah\iice of one hundred and 
 forty doHars due hiui, whieli lie hehl as a lien on 
 said building until paid." 
 
 The upper room of the aeademy was occupied by 
 the Masonic society, and was under their control. 
 
 1813. In consetpience of a petition of several 
 meud)ers of the Athens Academical Society, pre- 
 sented to the Assembly of the Couuuonwealth of 
 Pennsylvania, by Henry Welles, Esq., a member 
 thereof from Athens, an act was passed giving the 
 trustees of the academy full control of everything 
 appertaining to it as an institution of learning, and 
 a grant of |2,000 to the trustees of said academy, 
 which should by them be invested in some safe and 
 productive stock, the interest of Avhich they should 
 apply to the purposes of the institution. The acad- 
 emy to school four poor children, not exceeding 
 two years each, gratis; provided there is appli- 
 cation made for them. The act passed 27th Feb- 
 ruary, 1813. 
 
 June 20th, 1813, Henry Welles was chosen trus- 
 tee, to supply the vacancy caused by the death of 
 George AVelles, his father. 
 
 AN ORDER FROM THE TRUSTEES ON STATE TREASURER 
 
 "July 10th, 1813. We have deputed Henry 
 Welles, Esq., or order to receive the money from the 
 State and his receipt shall be an adequate voucher. 
 John Franklin, Julius Tozer, Abuer ^Murray, 
 Stephen Hopkins, David Paine, John Saltnmrsh, 
 John Shepard, Clement Paine." 
 
 1814. Mr. Heurv Welles recommended aud en- 
 
MJLLTOWN 158 
 
 gaged a young gentleman at Ilarrisburg for 
 teacher, with a salary of five hundred dollars — Mr. 
 Sylvanus Guernsey. Notice of school was adver- 
 tised in the Wilkesharre Gleaner and Towanda 
 papers. 
 
 On Monday, the 25th of April, 1814, Mr. Guern- 
 sey commenced the first school taught in the acad- 
 emy. Left March Gth, 1815. 
 
 In 1820 the trustees "voted that the funds ap- 
 propriated by the State, amounting to |2,000, 
 should be applied to aid the company for the erec- 
 tion of a bridge over tlie Tioga river." 
 
 March 5th, 1842, the academy was consumed by 
 fire, together with quite a valuable library, philo- 
 sophical apparatus and cabinet of curiosities. 
 
 In 1843 the academy was rebuilt, under the 
 superintendence of H. W. Patrick, Esq., at a cost 
 of |2,000. 
 
 In 1829 the bridge stock was sold to Judge 
 Herrick. 
 
 NAMES OF PRECEPTORS AT DIFFERENT PERIODS. 
 
 Mr. Guernney 1814 Mr. Baldwin 1839-40 
 
 Mr. Welles 181.5 J. Marvin 1840-41 
 
 Nathaniel P. Talmadge. .181.5 Mr. Merchant 1842 
 
 Mr. Bush 1815 L. M. Pert 1845 
 
 Mr. Wellington 1816-17 h\ Ilendrick 1847 
 
 Mr. Kee. 1818-19 Rev. C. Thurston 1849 
 
 L. Butler 1822-2.3 E. I. Ford 1851 
 
 Rev. J. Williamson 1824 .1. G. French 18.52 
 
 L. S. Ellsworth 1825 A. Dunning 1852 
 
 G. A. Mix 1825 .1. G and Wm. French . . . 1855 
 
 E. Marsh 1828 J. S. Hopkins 18.56 
 
 Ezra Stiles 1820-.30-31 F. Bixhy 18.59-60-61 
 
 Dr. Win. McDougal 18.33 J. M. Ely 1862-6.3-64-65 
 
 D. M. Bennet 1835 A. M. Loutrell 1866-67 
 
 Bennet and Patrick 1836 C. Mullock 1868-69 
 
 A. Williams 1837 
 
XIX 
 
 POSTOFFIOE AND STAGES 
 
 Previous to the opening of the new century, let- 
 ters were conveyed by private individuals, and 
 packages of letters were sent by the boats. It was 
 sometimes attended with considerable labor to 
 open and distribute these packages, which was 
 always done at Hollenback's store. The mail was 
 looked for as often as a boat arrived, and distrib- 
 uted with as much order as circumstances would 
 permit. 
 
 No postofSce had been established at Athens un- 
 til the summer of 1800, when Mr. William Prentice, 
 son of Dr. Prentice, late of New London, received 
 the appointment of postmaster. His office was in 
 Hollenback's store. He was a young man of much 
 promise, and his services in public life were held 
 in high estimation. He acquitted himself honorably 
 for a little more than five years, when he died sud- 
 denly of fever. From this time there seems to have 
 been no appointment made for two years. Col. 
 Samuel Satterlee officiated pro tem, when Mr. 
 David Paine was appointed postmaster in 1808, 
 and served until 1818, when he was re-appointed, 
 and continued postmaster until April, 1824, when 
 he resigned in favor of D. A. Saltmarsh. Ebenezer 
 Backus, appointed April 3d, 1827; Lemuel Ells- 
 worth, 1831; John Judson, 1840; O. D. Satterlee, 
 1841; C. S. Park, 1844; C. H. Herrick, 1845; N. C. 
 
 154 
 
POSTOFFICE AND STAGES 155 
 
 Harris, 1848; W. Olmsted, 1853; C. H. Herrick, 
 1856 ; Wm. Fritcher, 1861 ; S. B. Hoyt, incumbent, 
 1864. 
 
 Ebenezer Backus, Esq., was engaged for the gov- 
 ernment as traveling agent in the postoffice depart- 
 ment, and resided at Athens with his family many 
 years. He married Miss Lindsley, a sister of Mrs. 
 Dr. Hopkins. Soon after he came to Athens he 
 bought what is now called the Backus house,* of 
 Jeremiah Decker, built in 1816. The north wing, 
 as it now is, was a part of the first frame house in 
 this place, built by Dr. Hopkins, near the close 
 of the last century. It was in this wing of the 
 house that the Congregational church was formed 
 in 1812. Mr. Backus had a large family of sons, 
 and three daughters, two of whom married mer- 
 chants of this place, Mr. Tompkins, who afterwards 
 removed to Binghamton, and Mr. Ellsworth, who 
 removed to Chicago. Mr. Backus was very genial 
 in his temperament, and this characteristic was 
 hereditary in the family. 
 
 An early settler states that his first recollection 
 of a mail carrier is of one Bart. Seely. For several 
 years he made his appearance once a week on 
 horseback, with a small mail bag. Then came Coon- 
 rod Teter, who commenced carrying the mail in 
 1811 with a one horse wagon. He soon became the 
 owner of two horses and a covered vehicle, and 
 transported the mail several years from Wilkes- 
 barre to Painted Post and back, once a week. After 
 that he became the owner of a covered Jersey car- 
 
 * The Backus house was bought in 1901 by Hon. E. H. 
 Perkins, who removed the house and included the land in his 
 fine lawn. 
 
156 EARLY TIMES 
 
 riage, drawn by four horses, which ran between 
 Wilkesbarre and Athens. 
 
 In 1814 Samuel Ovenshire commenced a line 
 from Athens to Chenango Point, with a one horse 
 wagon, which he ran for about three years. 
 
 In 1816 Conrad Teter went with his improved 
 carriage and four horses to Owego, and started a 
 line once a week from Owego to Newburg. It re- 
 quired two weeks to perform the trip. At the same 
 time his brother-in-law, Horton, carried the mail 
 for him, from Wilkesbarre to Athens. From thence 
 to Painted Post it was carried by the Saltmarsh 
 l)rothers. 
 
 In 1817 Justin Forbes commenced carrying the 
 mail from Wilkesbarre to Athens, and continued 
 four years. About this time Stephen B. Leonard 
 ran a stage with the mail from Owego to Painted 
 Post, by the way of Athens. 
 
 In 1820 the route from Wilkesbarre was extended 
 to Ithaca. Mr. Forbes retained his interest in the 
 route to Wilkesbarre, and the Saltmarsh brothers 
 ran a light two horse wagon from Athens to Ithaca. 
 
 In 1824 Forbes and Saltmarsh resumed the con- 
 tract to Ithaca, until they went South to engage 
 more extensively in carrying the mails. 
 
 In 1825 John Magee, of Bath, started a line with 
 coaches twice a w^eek from Owego to Bath. He 
 was succeeded by his brother, and he by Cooley 
 and Maxwell. 
 
 In 1849 the mails w^ere first carried west by the 
 Erie railroad, and stages no longer run north and 
 south since the opening of the Southern railroad in 
 1867. 
 
XX 
 
 SHAD FISHERY 
 
 Within the purchase of the Howel tract by Mr. 
 Shepard and Mr. Cranse, in 1806, there was a beau- 
 tiful island in the Susquehanna Kiver, well calcu- 
 lated for a fishery, and one was established by 
 them forthwith. 
 
 Mr. Cranse had the superintendence of it, and 
 in the spring of the year his family were much 
 occupied with making preparations for fishing. 
 Shad came up the river immediately after it was 
 clear of ice. They were of the finest quality, and 
 in great abundance. They were caught on the 
 point of the island, nearly opposite Mr. Cranse's 
 door, and afforded entertainment to the many spec- 
 tators that gathered there to see the process of 
 fishing, as well as profit to the fishermen. First, a 
 net of two or three hundred yards long and thirty- 
 three meshes wide, made of strong linen twine, with 
 weights on one side and buoys on the other, was 
 taken into a large canoe. The canoe was then 
 pushed up the river half a mile, leaving another 
 canoe on the shore holding one end of the seine, 
 while the first pushed across the Susquehanna, the 
 men letting off the seine as they crossed to the 
 opposite shore; when both moved silently down the 
 river, pressing the unwary fish backward until they 
 came to the island on either side, where was a gen- 
 eral onset, the men jumping into the water, draw- 
 ing up the seine, the fish floundering as they were 
 
 157 
 
158 EARLY TIMES 
 
 thrown upon the point of the island by hundreds, 
 and sometimes more than a thousand at a haul, 
 while many by bounding over the net or breaking 
 through it would make a joyful escape. 
 
 Then came the process of dressing and dividing 
 them among such as were entitled to their share, 
 and often have the poor felt rich and the rich glad, 
 as they carried home their several portions, with 
 the prospect of having fresh shad for supper, and 
 a supply for days to come. At one time the shad 
 were so abundant that the fishermen agreed not to 
 sell for less than three dollars a hundred, but a 
 purchaser coming on the ground, a man who had 
 a quantity for sale told him he could not sell them 
 for less than three dollars, but he would give him 
 a gross hundred — one hundred and twenty-five. 
 
 These shad came up the river in shoals, and the 
 fishermen understood when they were approach- 
 ing. Many barrels were packed in salt and sent 
 to market. 
 
 This luxury had been the blessing of the red man 
 from time immemorial, and of the white man for 
 many years, until the dams in lower Pennsylvania 
 were built, for the accommodation of the canals. 
 The Susquehanna River shad were said to be equal 
 to those of the Hudson and Connecticut. There 
 were other fisheries of some importance near this 
 place — one on the Chemung River, which some- 
 times yielded a bountiful supply. Boys of former 
 years, as well as of later days, will always remem- 
 ber their fishing parties, and the enthusiasm with 
 which they have engaged in them both day and 
 nisrht. 
 
XXI 
 
 TROY AND ADJACENT TOWNS 
 
 Sugar Creek, a stream emptying into the Susque- 
 hanna at Towanda, formerly gave name to the 
 region of country lying along its banks. 
 
 The Indian name, according to Mr. Maxwell 
 (who was interested in Indian history), was 
 " Oscoluwa." Conrad Weiser, a noted Indian in- 
 terpreter, when on an embassy from the govern- 
 ment to the Six Nations at Onondaga, in 1739, 
 found the Indians living at the headwaters of this 
 stream destitute of food, and subsisting chiefly on 
 the products of the maple tree, which they freely 
 shared with him. 
 
 The banks of Lycoming and Sugar Creeks, ap- 
 proaching each other, were a thoroughfare for the 
 Indians from the West to the north branches of 
 the Susquehanna River, and after the natives were 
 removed, the white people, following their track, 
 found a promising and inviting country on these 
 streams, and located farms, and established mills 
 at a very early period. 
 
 Great quantities of maple sugar were made in 
 this region, and also in Springfield and Smithfield, 
 which, with the immense yield of native black- 
 berries and other wild fruit, afforded luxuries 
 which the early inhabitants of the more cultivated 
 parts of the country did not enjoy. 
 
 159 
 
160 EARLY TIMES 
 
 But large and thriving villages are now spring- 
 ing up on the banks of these streams, and churches, 
 schools and valuable machinery are indications of 
 substantial improvement. 
 
 Troy, pleasantly situated on Sugar Creek, about 
 twenty miles from its mouth, is a very flourishing 
 village, containing many handsome buildings, and 
 is a place of considerable thrift and importance. 
 Among the first settlers were Smead, Eundel and 
 Case. 
 
 Joseph Powel opened the first store in Troy, and 
 an Englishman by the name of Philips kejjt the 
 first tavern. The names of Ballard, Pomeroy and 
 Long, are of later date. 
 
 A Baptist Church was erected here more than 
 fifty years ago. This church has been well sus- 
 tained, and is now the largest religious society in 
 the place. Their Pastor, now 78 years of age, Elder 
 Sheardown, is said to be a man of talent, and his 
 labors have been much blessed during the long 
 period of his ministry. 
 
 An institution of learning lately erected in Troy 
 is an ornament to the place, and will do much to- 
 ward promoting intelligence and refinement. 
 
 Numerous villages are springing up on the line 
 of the Northern Central Railroad, between Elmira 
 and Williamsport, which opens uj) the beauties 
 of the country, and illustrates the truth of the 
 stanza : 
 
 " Where nothing dwelt but beasts of prey, 
 Or men as fierce and wild as they, 
 He bids the opprest and poor repair, 
 And builds them towns and cities there." 
 
TROY AND ADJACENT TOWNS 161 
 
 Smithfleld was an unbroken wilderness until 
 about 1795, when the first permanent settlement is 
 said to have been made by Reuben Mitchel. 
 
 In 1801 Samuel Kellogg, Nathan Fellows and 
 Solomon Morse, of Poultney, Vermont, came to 
 this uncultivated region and bought lands of the 
 State for one dollar an acre, and settled with their 
 families. 
 
 They were organized into a Congregational 
 church before leaving Vermont. They had a little 
 money, with which they purchased some supplies, 
 which they brought with them, and when their re- 
 sources failed, they were obliged to leave their fam- 
 ilies and go to a neighboring town, where provi- 
 sions could be obtained. 
 
 Squire Kellogg, when 80 years old, related some 
 incidents of his new country life. At one time he 
 went away to work for bread, leaving as he thought 
 a sufiflcient supply until he should return. He 
 toiled hard about three weeks, earned twenty or 
 thirty bushels of grain, and took it to Shepard's 
 mills to be ground, then hired a team to carry it a 
 part of the way home, where it was left on the river 
 road in safe keeping until he could return for it. 
 It was becoming dark, and he started for home on 
 foot, through the dense forest, five or six miles. 
 He arrived home about twelve o'clock at night, and 
 found that his family had eaten their last morsel. 
 Expecting her husband with a supply that night, 
 the mother had borrowed a half a pint of Indian 
 meal to make porridge. The children went supper- 
 less to bed; the mother awaiting anxiously the 
 sound of her husband's footsteps, and remember- 
 
162 EARLY TIMES 
 
 ing her promise to the children, that when their 
 father returned they should be fed. What was her 
 dismay when he arrived to find he had brought 
 no supplies, and the weary father retraced his foot- 
 steps over this dreary way at midnight to provide 
 food for his perishing family. Through the woods 
 and snow, amid the howling of wild beasts, he went 
 and came alone. He arrived home about daylight. 
 The mother was watching and waiting, ready to 
 prepare nourishment for the family, of which they 
 partook with cheerful gratitude and a hearty 
 relish. 
 
 The little church planted in Smithfleld was like 
 an " apple tree among the trees of the woods," 
 which continued to grow and bear fruit. Rev. 
 Seth Williston was one of the first missionaries 
 among them. 
 
 About 1805 Nehemiah Tracy and family moved 
 into the place, and gave much strength to the little 
 church and community. There was soon a change 
 in the appearance of the country. Stately trees 
 bowed before these active woodmen, and in the 
 openings here and there might be seen cheerful 
 faces, domestic comforts, and abundance of wild 
 fruit, together with any quantity of maple sugar, 
 made by their own hands; and more than all, the 
 family altar was erected in every humble dwelling. 
 In 1812 they began to build a house of worship, 
 which cost about three hundred dollars, and was 
 accomplished by much effort. The lumber was 
 drawn from the mills on the river, over a very 
 rough road, and it was said that Nehemiah Tracy 
 sold his last cow to buy nails and glass for the 
 
TROY AND ADJACENT TOWNS 163 
 
 building. The house stood near the site of the pres- 
 ent church. Rev. John Bascom was their first 
 pastor; he married the sister of Mrs. Clement 
 Paine. Mr. Bascom died in Lansing, N. Y., where 
 he was preaching, many years ago. His son, John 
 Bascom, is a professor in Williams College. Mrs. 
 Bascom is now living at Ludlowville, N. Y., and is 
 more than 80 years of age. Rev. William Franklin 
 preached in Smithfield five or six years, and died 
 there. Rev. C. C. Corss has been their pastor many 
 years. 
 
 The articles for the Congregational church of 
 Smithfield were drawn up by the Rev. Lemuel 
 Haines, a distinguished colored preacher, at the 
 time of its formation in Poultney, before the mem- 
 bers emigrated to this country. This certificate 
 reads thus : 
 
 " Samuel Kellogg, Esq., Solomon Morse, and 
 Nathan Fellows, having manifested a desire to be 
 dismissed from the particular watch and care of 
 this church, and to unite in a distinct church, be- 
 ing about to remove to Smithfield, Pennsylvania, 
 County of Luzerne (Bradford). The church ac- 
 cordingly voting their dismission; they took upon 
 them the solemn covenant of the Church, chose 
 Mr. Kellogg their moderator and clerk, and were 
 commended to God by prayer. 
 
 " The subscribers being present and assisting 
 them in the solemn transaction. 
 
 " Elijah Norton, 
 " Lemuel Haines, 
 
 " Ministers of the Gospel. 
 
 " Poultney, Vt., February 11, 1801." 
 
164 EARLY TIMES 
 
 Mr. Haines was pastor of the principal Congre- 
 gational church in Poultney, and afterward in Rut- 
 land, Vt., over which he presided many years, 
 much respected and beloved for his good sense and 
 Godliness. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Sprague, of Albany, in his " Lives of 
 eminent New England Divines," speaks thus of 
 Mr. Haines: 
 
 " Rev. Lemuel Haines was a minister of color, 
 and the most eminent negro preacher ever known 
 in this country. He was the pastor of intelligent 
 churches. In spite of all he had to contend with, 
 he became a man of mark, respected for his piety, 
 talents and usefulness, and was admired for his 
 keen and ready wit." 
 
 A physician of loose principles in a contiguous 
 town was about to remove to a distant part of the 
 country. As he passed through Rutland, where 
 Mr. Haines lived, they met. Mr. Haines said to 
 him, " Doctor, I am owing you a small debt and 
 want to pay you." The doctor said to him, " Mr. 
 Haines, you have been a faithful preacher, and re- 
 ceived but little support, I give you the debt," but 
 continued, " you must pray for me and make a good 
 man of me." Mr. Haines quickly replied, " Why, 
 Doctor, I think it would be easier to pay the debt." 
 
 Springfield, south of Smithfield, was named by 
 settlers from Springfield, Mass. It was formerly 
 called Murraysfield, for Noah Murray, whose de- 
 scendants live in this region. He purchased a 
 large tract of land adjoining Smithfield, and gave 
 name to the town, and died there about 1812. 
 
 Ridgeway lies on the northern boundary of the 
 
TROY AND ADJACENT TOWNS 165 
 
 State, directly west of Athens, and is about the 
 same size. Much of the land was originally cov- 
 ered with pine timber, which has been converted 
 into lumber, and sold at very small prices. There 
 is now in the township a very respectable Irish 
 settlement. Thirty or forty years ago some of the 
 Irish laborers on the Erie canal were induced to 
 buy lands in that place. Many of them went there 
 and commenced clearing the woods. They were 
 very prudent and industrious, and by dint of hard 
 labor and severe economy, some of them have be- 
 come quite extensive land owners. 
 
 Litchfield township was surveyed about 1795. 
 John Pierce, father of Jack Pierce, who was deaf 
 and dumb, and well known hereabouts, gave the 
 name to Litchfield, after the town of the same name 
 in Connecticut. Thomus Park was the first set- 
 tler, in 1795. Samuel Park was the first child born 
 in the town. 
 
 J. D. Leray de Chaumont, a Frenchman, was a 
 Pennsylvania landholder, and owned a great part 
 of Litchfield, and a considerable part of Athens, 
 east of the Susquehanna. Colonel Kingsbury, who 
 was his agent, was extensively known among the 
 early settlers, and sold to the people in Athens 
 their back lands at State prices — about three dol- 
 lars per acre. 
 
 Eleazer and Solomon Merrill came to Litchfield 
 from a county of the same name in Connecticut, 
 in 1803. They came for the purpose of locating 
 bounty land due their father, Eleazer Merrill, who 
 was a soldier in the War of the Revolution. They 
 settled on an elevated spot in Litchfield, near the 
 
166 EARLY TIMES 
 
 Susquehanna River, made an opening in the for- 
 est, built a log cabin near a spring of choice water, 
 and after a season of hard labor preparatory to 
 bringing their families, they returned to Connecti- 
 cut. It was a long and wearisome journey in those 
 days, but they braved it through, and returned to 
 their place of destination in Pennsylvania. They 
 all ascended the mountain, the aged father and 
 mother, sons and wives, and numerous children, 
 and entered the humble dwelling that had been 
 provided for them. Soon they branched out into 
 other homes. 
 
 Being provident, they brought with them sundry 
 comforts, a variety of seeds for planting, even 
 flower seeds, which literally made the wilderness 
 to blossom as the rose ; and a little money for neces- 
 saries, to serve them until their corn began to grow. 
 They found the wild deer in abundance, and a va- 
 riety of game and berries, affording them food and 
 luxuries. The location has proved to be favorable 
 to the families. Some of them are now said to be 
 wealthy. 
 
 Fifty years have made a great change in Litch- 
 field. It is now settled by many prosperous far- 
 mers and valuable inhabitants, with good schools 
 and churches. Lands which were then sold for 
 three dollars are now worth twenty-five dollars per 
 acre, perhaps more. 
 
XXII 
 
 FACTOEYVILLE AND WAVERLY 
 
 Factoryville, in the town of Barton,* received 
 its name from the mills that were erected there in 
 the early part of the century. First a fulling mill, 
 carding machines, and saw mill, by Messrs. Shep- 
 ard and Crocker in 1809 ; then a factory by Messrs. 
 Isaac and Job Shepard, afterwards bought and en- 
 larged by Mr. A. Brooks. This was consumed by 
 fire in 1853. A tannery is now in operation on the 
 same ground. Another tannery just across the 
 State line was established by Jerry Adams about 
 fifty years ago, and is now owned by John A. 
 Perkins. 
 
 A survey of Factoryville was made in 1819, by 
 Major Flower, from the State line to George 
 Walker's. The Ithaca turnpike was made in 1821, 
 and the Owego and Chemung road opened about 
 the same time. 
 
 A postoffice was established in 1812, first at the 
 
 * The town of Barton was taken from Tioga, March, 1824, 
 extending on the State line from the Susquehanna to the Tioga 
 River. The names of the pioneers near the Susquehanna River 
 were Ellis, Mills. Saunders and Hanna. The latter lived to be 
 over one hundred years of age. The early settlers on Shepard's 
 Creek were Hedges, Barnes, Newel, Lyon, Bingham and Eng- 
 lish. Blackberries and maple sugar were abundant, and fur- 
 nished partial sustenance to the inhabitants. These early set- 
 tlers were principally from New England, and were among the 
 most industrious and reliable people. The Ithaca turnpike, 
 made in 1821, was a great advantage to them. 
 
 167 
 
168 EARLY TIMES 
 
 factory, and afterward removed to Mr. I. Shepard's 
 store, on the Owego and Chemung road. 
 
 The district was divided into large lots of land 
 by John Shepard, Esq., and sold, reserving a num- 
 ber of acres for the mill lot, to Thomas Willcox, 
 Moses and Elisha Larnard. These lots were again 
 divided into vill-age lots, which were sold, and neat 
 and comfortable dwellings erected, and it is now a 
 pleasant and thriving village. 
 
 Mr. John Barker was a gentleman of intelli- 
 gence and refinement, cheerful and agreeable. His 
 society was much sought, and he was beloved and 
 respected by all. He came from Durham, N. Y., 
 in 1830, to settle the estate of his nephew, young 
 Hotchkiss, a merchant who had established him- 
 self at Factoryville a short time before, and died 
 suddenly of a fever. 
 
 Mr. Barker continued the business and became 
 a citizen. He married a sister of Mrs. Isaac Shep- 
 ard, and they were pleasantly situated in Factory- 
 ville, when death removed the daughter, husband 
 and son, in a few successive years. Mr. Barker 
 died in New York City, 1855. 
 
 John Hotchkiss, a younger brother of the early 
 merchant, was a clerk for Mr. Barker many years. 
 Industrious and enterprising, he went to Califor- 
 nia, was successful in business, came home and was 
 married, returned again, and died of yellow fever 
 on his passage back to California, in 1853. 
 
 Mrs. Larnard, who resided many years at Fac- 
 toryville, is a lady in whom refinement of manners, 
 good sense and devoted piety are happily com- 
 bined, and is still living at an advanced age. 
 
FACTORYVILLE AND WAVERLY 169 
 
 The first Presbyterian Church of Factoryville 
 was formed in the spring of 1847, eighteen of its 
 members receiving letters from the Church of 
 Athens. The Methodist and Baptist Churches were 
 formed there a little previously. The Episcopal 
 Church was formed and house built about 1853. 
 These churches are now all located in Waverly. 
 
 Waverly is also in the town of Barton. In 1796 
 Mr. John Shepard purchased of General Thomas, 
 of Westchester County, N. Y., one thousand acres 
 of land at five dollars per acre, extending along the 
 State line from Shepard's Creek at Factoryville, 
 near the 59th mile stone, to 60th mile stone ; thence 
 across the north end of Spanish Hill to the Che- 
 mung River, and from the Narrows across the 
 mountain beyond Shepard's Creek; thence down 
 to the State line again, embracing Waverly, Fac- 
 toryville, and many fine localities back of these vil- 
 lages, as has been already stated. 
 
 This tract was an entire wilderness at this time, 
 except the flats and a few openings near them 
 where the red man had tilled his corn a few years 
 previously, and it had made a charming home for 
 the wild deer and many other inoffensive animals, 
 which herded and grazed, and roamed through the 
 forest, and drank from the waters of the rivers and 
 the pure springs from the mountain. The venom- 
 ous rattlesnake was sometimes seen in numbers, 
 but these reptiles, like the savages, have disap- 
 peared before the improvements of the white man. 
 
 In 1819 Deacon Ephraim Strong bought one hun- 
 dred and fifty-three and one-half acres of land on 
 this tract, just across the State line, one hundred 
 
170 EARLY TIMES 
 
 rods in width, about an equal distance between 
 Sliepard's Creek and Chemung River, and extend- 
 ing back to the mountain. 
 
 Here Mr. Strong, with his numerous sons, made 
 an opening in the pines, of several acres; planted 
 corn and potatoes, sowed buckwheat, built a snug 
 frame house, dug a well, and set out an orchard. 
 Some of the trees are still standing on the lot now 
 occupied hj Mr. Fuller. 
 
 Here this godly, intelligent, and well educated 
 household, the father a graduate of Yale College, 
 and the mother a superior woman, lived several 
 years. It was a privilege to call on this family 
 and learn how to live and enjoy the comforts of a 
 retired life, and look into their well read library, 
 and hear this priest of his own family in the soli- 
 tude of the forest offer the morning and evening 
 sacrifice. Scott's Commentary was Mrs. Strong's 
 principal reading, and in her obituary, many years 
 after, it was said that she had read this work 
 through seven times. The family removed to Hud- 
 son, Ohio, where many of them have died. 
 
 About 1825 Mr. Shepard paid Mr. Strong for 
 his improvements and sold the land to General 
 Welles. Shortly after November 1st, 1835, Mr. 
 John Spalding, of Athens, bought the farm. 
 
 One of the " old fields " adjoining this farm on 
 the west extended from the locality where Mr. 
 Waldo's drug store now is to the spot near where 
 the depot stands, north of the State line, and is the 
 ground on which the west part of Waverly is built. 
 The other field was on the Pennsylvania side, where 
 South Waverly stands. The old road from Mill- 
 
FACTORYVILLE AND WAVERLY 171 
 
 town to Chemung formerly passed between the old 
 fields. There is a tradition that the old fields were 
 cultivated by the Aborigines, and they were some- 
 times called the "Indian Fields." These fields 
 were very familiar to the early settlers, and their 
 animals were often pastured there from some 
 distance. 
 
 The public road * was opened from Barton to 
 Chemung through these lands and the lands of 
 Isaac and Job Shepard, and a gradual improve- 
 ment made. In 1846 Mr. E. Brigham built a hotel 
 where the Methodist Church now is, which he called 
 the Waverly House. The street running south 
 from there was opened soon after, which was called 
 Waverly street. 
 
 A few buildings had been erected in anticipation 
 of a future village, and a Presbyterian Church was 
 built in 1848. The lot was given to the congrega- 
 tion by Mr. Owen Spalding. 
 
 The Erie Railway now being constructed and 
 fast approaching, the village began to grow rap- 
 idly, and many dwellings and stores were in prog- 
 ress, and in the fall of 1849 the railway reached 
 this point. A depot was built, and soon the sound 
 of the engine whistle and the rattling of cars an- 
 nounced their arrival at the newly made village, 
 animating and cheering the expectant inhabitants. 
 
 The village was incorporated in 1854, and re- 
 
 * The road originally did not run straight across, as Chemung 
 street indicates, but from Barton to Factoryville, the tannery 
 neighborhood — thence toward Chemung, forming an angle. Mr. 
 Isaac Shepard, when a young man, rode horseback to Washing- 
 ton to have a postoffice located there — and received the appoint- 
 ment as postmaster February 12, 1823. 
 
172 EARLY TIMES 
 
 ceived the name of Waverly. A few votes more 
 would have given it the name of Loder. Since 
 that time Waverly has had a very rapid growth. 
 The business of the place has constantly increased, 
 and now its busy streets, its churches, banks, print- 
 ing offices and other mechanical establishments, its 
 stores, and an institute of learning of high stand- 
 ing, all give unmistakable evidence of thrift and 
 prosperity. 
 
 The early purchaser of this valuable tract of 
 land once said, " It would not be surprising if at 
 some future time you should see the spires of ten 
 or a dozen churches between these rivers," and 
 five or six are seen already in Waverly alone ; and 
 in a little more than twenty years a village of 
 more than 3,000 inhabitants has sprung up on this 
 ground. 
 
 Spanish Hill lies a little west of Waverly. It is 
 disrobed of much of its foliage, and divested of its 
 crowning beauty — the ancient and mysterious for- 
 tifications on its summit. It lies principally in 
 Athens, and has been described there. 
 
 The Postofflce was established in Waverly in 
 1849; the first great fire in March, 1855; Waverly 
 Bank chartered 1855; Waverly Institute built 
 1857; First National Bank chartered 1863. 
 
XXIII 
 
 REMARKABLE EVENTS 
 
 After the destruction, by a ' storm, of the large 
 yellow pine trees of the last century, and the new 
 trees had sprung up and were clothed with verdure, 
 the locusts appeared in 1800 and devoured every 
 green thing before them. At first a worm that 
 worked itself out of the earth in vast numbers ap- 
 peared. The ground was alive with them. A shell 
 next formed, which after a little time opened on 
 the back and the locust came out with wings and 
 legs, resembling the grasshopper, but much larger. 
 They soon flew to the trees and bushes in multi- 
 tudes, and devoured the foliage. They passed off 
 the same season, but came again in 1814, which 
 many now living very well remember. The sing- 
 ing of the locusts in the pine plains above the vil- 
 lage of Athens made it diflftcult to hear conversation 
 by the way. They nearly all left the same season. 
 American locusts are said to resemble those of the 
 eastern hemisphere, but are not so large. 
 
 The total eclipse of 1806 is remembered by many 
 now living as a grand and sublime scene, a recur- 
 rence of which is not expected in this longitude dur- 
 ing the present generation. The late eclipse of 
 August 7th, 1869, approached nearer to it than any 
 other we have witnessed, and a few degrees west of 
 us the sun's disk was entirely obscured. 
 
 A grand celestial phenomenon, a meteoric 
 
 173 
 
174 EARLY TIMES 
 
 shower, was exhibited in the heavens on Thursday 
 morning, the 13th of November, 1833, between the 
 hours of two and five o'clock, and was witnessed 
 by many people in this part of the country, and 
 in this village, as well as through the country gen- 
 erally. Those who were fortunate enough to be 
 up at that hour in the morning spoke of it as bril- 
 liant beyond description. It is a phenomenon that 
 is fully substantiated by astronomers as occurring 
 periodically, though not always visible to the same 
 extent, in the same place. Some suppose there is 
 a region in the space through which the earth 
 passes in its orbit, where such meteoric scenes con- 
 tinually prevail, and more or less may be seen 
 every year in November, about the 12th or 13th. 
 The newspapers throughout the land contained 
 notices of it under the caption, " Remarkable Phe- 
 nomenon," " Extraordinary Phenomenon," " Fall- 
 ing Stars." One writer remarked, " The shooting 
 stars were harmless, and as a general thing van- 
 ished before they reached the earth." 
 
 Another remarkable scene was witnessed in 1838, 
 an annular eclipse of the sun, as predicted by 
 astronomers, when a most beautiful luminous ring 
 was seen in the heavens while the moon appeared 
 on the center of the sun's disk. 
 
 These unusual events strike us with wonder, 
 while the ordinary exhibitions of the heavenly 
 bodies make but little impression. 
 
 " The glorious Architect, 
 This, His universal temple, hung 
 With lustres, with innumerable lights — 
 Let not man withhold his homage." 
 
XXIV 
 
 IMPROVEMENTS 
 
 When our fathers first came to Tioga Point there 
 were no roads for the white man. An Indian trail, 
 following the river banks, was the only opening 
 through the thick pines. These paths, with the 
 river itself, had afforded the only facilities for trav- 
 eling. They were used only by footmen, the river 
 was navigated by means of the " light canoe." 
 With a little improvement these Indian roads were 
 used by the white people for many years. When 
 the first survey of this town was made a road was 
 laid out nearly in its present course from Athens 
 to Milltown. The most direct route for the traveler, 
 or the mail from Owego to Newtown, was by the 
 way of Tioga Point, until about 1821, when a road 
 was opened from the Susquehanna, via Factory- 
 ville, to the Chemung river, thereby leaving Tioga 
 Point out of the accustomed route of travel, con- 
 siderably to its disadvantage. A private road had 
 been opened from Milltown through the thick pines 
 to Chemung, which was also much used by trav- 
 elers, and afterwards became a public road. The 
 circuit from Tioga Point to Milltown, thence across 
 to the Chemung, and down the river to the village 
 again, affords a very pleasant ride. A few gay 
 young men of former times once tried it on a Sun- 
 
 175 
 
176 EARLY TIMES 
 
 day in a lumber sleigh filled witli straw. They 
 scattered the straw as they rode along in their 
 merriment, and thus the route obtained the name 
 of " the straw line," by which it has been called 
 ever since. It is said that complaint was entered 
 against them, and they suffered the penalty for the 
 violation of law. 
 
 Modes of traveling and conveyance were very 
 different in former times from the present. Canals, 
 railroads, steamboats, and even stage coaches, 
 were unknown at the beginning of this century. 
 It was common to see the footman traveling with 
 his knapsack on his back. Riding on horseback 
 was the common mode of conveyance from place to 
 place, and even of making long journeys. Some- 
 times a gentleman and lady, or a father and mother 
 with two children, might be seen pursuing their 
 way in this style.* Another very safe method of 
 traveling was by means of oxen attached to a cart 
 or sled, and often whole families were conveyed 
 in this way to a social gathering, or to the place 
 of worship. Long trains of emigrants thus pur- 
 sued their way to Allegheny or Ohio. As the coun- 
 try improved a chaise or gig was occasionally seen, 
 and in due time, wagons, stages, and coaches were 
 introduced. 
 
 Parties to a hymeneal engagement might some- 
 times be seen wending their way on horseback to 
 the house of the minister or magistrate. My father 
 
 * It is related that " a bridal party from Catharinestown, on 
 Seneca lake, visited Tioga Point, in 1793, on horseback, to find 
 the nearest justice authorized to perform the ceremony." The 
 magistrate was probably Noah Murray, Esq., father of the late 
 Noah Murray, well known in Athens. 
 
IMPROVEMENTS 177 
 
 being a magistrate, wedding ceremonies were often 
 performed at his house. The parties generally came 
 without attendants, and frequently both riding one 
 horse. One cold and blustering December day, 
 when the doors were closed and the family gath- 
 ered around a large fire, a sprightly young man 
 with his espoused helpmeet alighted at the door 
 and inquired for Squire Shepard. The object was 
 soon disclosed to the Squire, and readily under- 
 stood by the family, when every other engagement 
 yielded to the occasion in hand. The nuptials were 
 soon solemnized, and the groom and bride were 
 ready for their departure. A white dress and thin 
 shawl were the only protection of the lady from 
 the inclemency of the weather, and as she stood 
 upon the horseblock awaiting the movements of 
 her spouse, with the wind whistling through her 
 garments, she exclaimed, " Why, Philander, I shall 
 freeze." " Oh, no," said he in blandest tones, " that 
 would not be consistent," and soon they rode rap- 
 idly away with colors flying. Squire Shepard 
 never required a fee for performing a marriage 
 ceremony. Moreover it was his practice to present 
 the bride with a Bible, desiring her to make it the 
 guide of her life. 
 
 Athens, or Tioga Point, was formerly noted for 
 the number of its distilleries, there having been at 
 one time not less than six or seven in operation at 
 once. The first one of the last century was built 
 of logs on the back part of the lot where we now 
 live. The well for the distillery, and now in use, 
 was dug by Daniel Moore, a Hessian, who remained 
 in the country after the close of the Revolutionary 
 
178 EARLY TIMES 
 
 war. The well was in a dilapidated condition, 
 and remains of the pump that had been used were 
 still in it when we came into possession of the lot. 
 The distillery was carried on for many years by 
 Daniel Alexander, and was then a lucrative busi- 
 ness and considered reputable. The degraded 
 whites and Indians who still remained in the coun- 
 try w^ere there supplied with whiskey. Another in 
 the north part of the village succeeded this, on an 
 improved plan, having a windmill connected with 
 it for grinding the grain. There was another at 
 Milltown, and another still at Chemung Narrows. 
 As these began to run down, three or four more 
 were started on the west side of the Chemung river, 
 and two on the east side of the Susquehanna river, 
 all in this town, and were in full operation many 
 years, when the temperance movement seemed to 
 affect them unfavorably, and they tottered and 
 fell. The whiskey now used at Athens is altogether 
 supplied from other places, none being manufac- 
 tured in the place or vicinity. 
 
 The effect of the failure of these distilleries has 
 been a decided improvement in the cause of tem- 
 perance, and we may expect that when foreign 
 supplies cease temperance will triumph. 
 
 A most striking instance of the effects of intem- 
 perance was the case of Moses Roberts, a graduate 
 of Yale College, He came to this country about 
 the close of the last century, and bought a farm 
 in Athens, became an inebriate, and sank step by 
 step to a stupid sot. He married an imbecile 
 woman, became demented himself, his farm was 
 sold, his children bound out, and for many years 
 
IMPROVEMENTS 179 
 
 he made splint brooms for a living. He died near 
 a distillery, and was buried as a town pauper in 
 1824. 
 
 The Pennsylvania canal was surveyed through 
 this part of the State by Mr. Randall, Chief Engi- 
 neer, about the year 1830, and went into operation 
 in 1854. Much of the lumber and other property 
 that was formerly run on the river, now finds a 
 surer and safer conveyance by the canal. Large 
 quantities of coal from our mining regions are 
 transported by the canal to market in the northern 
 part of the State, and in the State of New York. 
 
 The Pennsylvania and New York railroad was 
 surveyed in the summer of 1866. The first train 
 entered the village from Towanda, November 26th, 
 1867. Regular trips on the road, from New York, 
 were conimenced September 20th, 1869, thus facili- 
 tating travel along the river, and affording to the 
 passenger a marked contrast to the previous mode, 
 over a very hilly and winding road. We can now 
 sit by our fireside and hear the whistle and rattle 
 of the Erie trains, and can see trains on the North 
 Pennsylvania railroad, many times in a day, as 
 they pass along with whistle and echo. These 
 with the foundry and tannery, make a combina- 
 tion of sounds evincing substantial and cheering 
 improvement. 
 
 A bridge over the Chemung river was built in 
 1820, and rebuilt in 1836. Another, and much 
 longer and more expensive one over the Susque- 
 hanna, was built in the year 1841. A bridge over 
 the Chemung, at " Tozer's," was built about the 
 same time. 
 
180 EARLY TIMES 
 
 These bridges take the place of the ferries of for- 
 mer times, which were often difficult and some- 
 times dangerous to pass. 
 
 In 1844 it was announced in the public prints 
 that Professor Morse had discovered a plan, by 
 the aid of electricity, to send messages from place 
 to place, with a speed exceeding anything before 
 known. He applied to Congress for aid to make 
 trial of his invention, on a line between Baltimore 
 and Washington city, which was granted him. It 
 was soon put in operaton. Now the novelty is 
 passed, and we with other towns can readily avail 
 ourselves of telegraphic facilities. 
 
XXV 
 
 THE DEER HUNT OF 1818 
 
 " Up men ! arouse for the chase ! 
 The wild buck is quitting his lair, 
 The hills are gilded with light, 
 And there's health in the balmy air." 
 
 When the New York and Pennsylvania boys en- 
 gaged in a grand deer hunt in this beautiful valley, 
 in the fall of 1818, it was a gala day, such as they 
 seldom enjoyed. The necessary plans and arrange- 
 ments had all been matured. Fires had been lighted 
 on the North Mountains the previous night, and 
 the hounds sent out early to drive the deer down to 
 the plains. Marshals for the day had been chosen 
 to lead their respective bands. The appointed day 
 anxiously looked for arrived, when about two hun- 
 dred men, armed with guns and rifles, sallied forth 
 from their homes in the early morning to engage in 
 the exciting sport. A circle of men, several miles 
 in extent, was to be formed on the broad plains 
 between the Susquehanna and Chemung rivers, ex- 
 tending beyond the hills on the north, and to the 
 southern limit of the pine woods towards the south. 
 They were to move in uniform time and regular 
 order, toward one common center, driving before 
 them the deer that traversed the plains and hills, 
 and were thus surrounded by the hunters, or 
 hemmed in by the rivers. Many have doubtless 
 been the joyous and frolicsome days of the sons of 
 
 181 
 
182 EARLY TIMES 
 
 the forest, when with their simple bow and arrow 
 they sallied forth in numbers, and traversed the 
 same ground for the same object. The Indian and 
 his game have long since passed away from these 
 scenes, before the resistless march of civilization, 
 and they must now be sought toward the " set- 
 ting sun." 
 
 But to the hunt. The marshals of the day, at 
 the head of their respective commands, and clothed 
 with due authority for the occasion, mounted their 
 steeds and rode forth at early dawn, each having 
 under command about one hundred men. Mr. Elias 
 Mathewson, leading the Pennsylvanians, posted 
 his men along the borders of the pine forest be- 
 low the Mile Hill, extending his line from river 
 to river, about two miles above the junction of the 
 two streams. 
 
 The line of the New York men was stretched 
 from the Chemung river, near Buckville, across 
 the hills to Shepard's creek, on the north, all being 
 at their posts, and in due order and readiness. At 
 the appointed time the march commenced. Highly 
 excited, the men on both sides pressed forward, 
 eager for the game, watching every hillock and 
 glen, and scouring every thicket that might serve 
 as a hiding place for the deer. Often a lusty buck 
 was started from his retreat. Here and there 
 through the forest the timid doe and fawn might 
 be seen darting away from their pursuers, who, still 
 urging them forward from every quarter, were 
 driving and pressing them toward the place of ren- 
 dezvous, a point not far from the center of the pres- 
 ent village of Waverly. Occasionally an animal 
 
THE DEER HUNT OF 1818 183 
 
 more fortunate than the rest would break through 
 the ring, and make his escape, but this only added 
 to the excitement and eagerness of the hunters. 
 The men were not to shoot any of the game until 
 orders were given. But now the lines close in as 
 they approach the rendezvous from every side. 
 Quite a number of deer are discovered to be within 
 the ring — excitement is at its height, and orders 
 are given to fire. The woods ring with the report 
 of the musket and the crack of the rifle. Many a 
 noble buck is brought down. Some of them stand 
 at bay for a while, but all in vain ; while the cring- 
 ing doe and helpless fawn become an easy prey 
 to the pitiless foe, who give no quarter at such a 
 time. As they approached the center of the ring 
 (said to be near where the Waverly foundry now 
 stands), the excitement increased to rashness and 
 recklessness. In their great anxiety to secure the 
 whole of the game, the hunters shot in every 
 direction. 
 
 " In the heat of excitement men do not stop to 
 consider," and suddenly it was announced that a 
 man was wounded. This arrested the attention of 
 all for a time, such an interlude not having been 
 in the programme. The marshal ordered a cessa- 
 tion of firing, and the eager inquiry " who is it? " 
 went round the circle. The unfortunate hunter 
 thought himself desperately, if not fatally, wounded, 
 and the woods resounded with his piteous cries. 
 Great was the consternation, and deep the sym- 
 pathy among his friends and neighbors. The sur- 
 geon examined the wound with great caution, and 
 not a little of anxiety. As he removed the garments, 
 
184 EARLi^ TIMES 
 
 anxious friends were relieved upon ascertaining 
 that it was not a serious wound; indeed it proved 
 to be rather a slight one, from which the man soon 
 recovered. " Big Decker " also narrowly escaped 
 being shot, a ball having struck a tree ^where he 
 was standing, about six inches over his head. His 
 ire being a little aroused, he asked to borrow a 
 gun, having none of his own, to return the fire. 
 But better counsels prevailed, and all was calm 
 again. The business of the day had not yet come 
 to an end. There were about thirty slaughtered 
 animals to be cared for still, skinned, dressed and 
 divided among the men, that each might have his 
 share of the spoils and results of the day. This 
 was the drudgery of the hour, but skilled hands ap- 
 plied themselves to the work with a will, and it was 
 soon accomplished. Distribution was then made 
 of a part, the remainder sold at vendue, and the 
 men dispersed to their several homes, glad to rest, 
 and with the coming of the night all was quiet and 
 still. 
 
 Such were among the sports and recreations of 
 the dwellers in this valley half a century ago. 
 Those who remain among us still, delight to re- 
 count the feats of skill and daring performed by 
 them in their youth and early manhood in the va- 
 rious methods of hunting the deer, both by day 
 and by night. Some of their encounters with the 
 deer were not without considerable peril, though 
 for the most part, hunting was regarded only as 
 a pastime. 
 
 At an early day, and for some time subsequent 
 to the first settlement of the country, the deer were 
 
THE DEER HUNT OF 1818 185 
 
 quite numerous. Often might they be seen bound- 
 ing along their path, or turning to gaze at the 
 passing traveler. We have seen a little solitary 
 fawn pursued by the dogs almost to our very door, 
 and have often watched them grazing on the fields 
 of green wheat not far from our home, and could 
 scarcely begrudge them their delicious repast. 
 Hunting the deer was quite a business with a cer- 
 tain class, and their skins were among the articles 
 of trade with the merchant. Venison was a very 
 important article of sustenance, and when corned 
 or jerked could be kept any length of time. The 
 game from the forests and the fish from the rivers 
 afforded the aborigines almost indispensable means 
 of subsistence. 
 
XXVI 
 
 SOLDIERS 
 
 At the time of the Declaration of Independence, 
 in 1776, the soil of Athens had scarcely been trod 
 by the white man. Traders had occasionally passed 
 through the valley, and it is said that a partial 
 survey of the township was made as early as 1777, 
 by John Jenkins, the noted and fearless surveyor 
 of the Susquehanna Company. But soon after that 
 time the tories assembled here and at Chemung 
 in great numbers, and planned their fiendish de- 
 signs against Wyoming. 
 
 Several companies had been raised for the Con- 
 tinental service from the lower part of the valley 
 much to the disadvantage of the inhabitants, leav- 
 ing them unprotected from British and savage 
 ferocity combined, which overwhelmed them in 
 1778. 
 
 Many of the old soldiers, after the close of the 
 war, removed from Wyoming up the river, and 
 quite a number located in and about this place, 
 then called Tioga Point. We remember some of 
 the aged veterans, and should like to record the 
 names of them all if they could be obtained. Sev- 
 eral soldiers and some prominent officers settled 
 at Sheshequin. Many of them lie in our burying 
 places. Colonel Franklin and Major Flower were 
 buried on their farms across the river. 
 
 186 
 
SOLDIERS 187 
 
 It was a custom with the merchants of the place 
 to collect from the government the pensions of these 
 aged soldiers, making advances to them in goods, 
 provisions, etc., and when they assembled annually 
 for a settlement, and to greet each other, to give 
 them an entertainment at the hotel. On such occa- 
 sions they sometimes assembled at the place of pub- 
 lic worship to hear an appropriate discourse. There 
 was an agreement between two of these veterans, 
 Archy Temple and Solomon Talliday, that when 
 the first died the survivor should fire a volley over 
 his grave, which was fulfilled to the letter. 
 
 Military customs were kept up by our people 
 from the earliest settlement. Regular seasons for 
 drilling were observed, and at the time appointed 
 for general training the various companies col- 
 lected on parade, with martial music to enliven the 
 scene. "A light horse company," so-called, with 
 uniform of blue and red, with flowing sashes and 
 nodding plumes, made a specially fine appearance 
 on their noble steeds. When called upon, in 1812, 
 to resist British aggression again, they were some- 
 what prepared for the conflict. Several volunteer 
 companies went from this region to the Canada 
 lines, the seat of war. 
 
 Captain Julius Tozer, with three of his sons, 
 Julius, Samuel, and Guy, were among the number ; 
 together with Elishama Tozer, Daniel Satterlee, 
 John Brown, William Drown, Samuel Baldwin, 
 several of the name of Wilson, four named Ellis, 
 and several from neighboring towns; all attached 
 to the regiment of Colonel Dobbins. The effect 
 of this war was not felt so much in this part of 
 
188 EARLY TIMES 
 
 the country as in many other places, except by the 
 soldiers themselves, and its influence upon prices, 
 which were marvelously high. When it was an- 
 nounced in the newspapers, in December, 1815, 
 that peace had been proclaimed, and confirmed by 
 the arrival of Coonrod Teter, the driver and pro- 
 prietor of the weekly stage, with his white flag 
 flying, it was a time of great rejoicing, and Athens 
 was brightly illuminated at night, and the merry 
 sleigh bells were sounding in the street till a late 
 hour of that cold December night. 
 
 The nation was less prepared for war in 1861. 
 There had been a long period of uninterrupted 
 peace. The militia system was in bad repute gen- 
 erally. In this place, and in many parts of our 
 country, it had been treated with ridicule and con- 
 tempt. It had come to be considered so incompat- 
 ible with the genius of our civil institutions that 
 militia drills and parades were no longer wit- 
 nessed. The feeling of security was such that mili- 
 tary matters were very unpopular, and all atten- 
 tion to them considered an unnecessary expense of 
 time and money. The present generation had not 
 heard the sound of war or battle. We were at peace 
 among ourselves and with other nations, and when 
 the attack was made upon Fort Sumter, in April, 
 1861, and the proclamation of the President was 
 issued, calling for 75,000 men, to hasten to Wash- 
 ington, for the defense of the Capital and the gov- 
 ernment, we were but poorly prepared to meet the 
 emergency. Men of peaceable and quiet habits of 
 life, aroused by the necessities of the case, began to 
 ask what they could do for their country, and boys, 
 
SOLDIERS 189 
 
 too, whose inquiring minds liad led them to ex- 
 amine military books, were inspired with a martial 
 spirit, and offered themselves willingly in response 
 to the call. They left their peaceful homes and 
 joined the army, where they found themselves sub- 
 jected to many discomforts and deprivations, but 
 they were not forgotten by friends who remained 
 at home. From the commencement of the war, 
 many supplies were sent from time to time by the 
 ladies of Athens to their sons and brothers, of 
 which no a'ccount was kept. But on the 30th of 
 May, 1864, the ladies met at the basement of the 
 Episcopal church for the purpose of forming a 
 society to aid the Christian Commission. After 
 the election of officers, it was resolved to divide the 
 town into districts, and appoint a committee of six- 
 teen to solicit contributions monthly to the Ladies^ 
 Aid Society, auxiliary to the American Christian 
 Commission, for the relief and benefit of the sol- 
 diers. The society went into successful operation, 
 and the object was faithfully followed up until 
 the close of the war. The money raised that year 
 by this society amounted to |638, besides thirty- 
 three boxes sent by the society and individuals. The 
 bounty money for soldiers raised by taxation in the 
 borough of Athens amounted to |15,100, and be- 
 sides these sums, other contributions were made 
 by the people for the benefit of the soldiers; thus 
 showing their sympathy for the cause of their com- 
 mon country. 
 
 The firing on Fort Sumter and the President's 
 proclamation calling to arms were in April. The 
 first company was raised at Athens in May, and 
 
190 EARLY TIMES 
 
 reported at Harrisburg, commanded by Captain 
 William Bradbury, Company F, Sixth Regiment 
 Pennsylvania Reserves. The following is a list of 
 the men belonging to Captain Bradbury's com- 
 pany : Captain, Wm. Bradbury ; 1st Lieutenant, L. 
 D. Forrest; 2d Lieutenant, W. A. Meeker. Ser- 
 geants — 1st, William S. Briggs; 2d, Horace W. 
 Perkins ; 3d, G. F. Kinney ; 4th, Myron Low ; * 5th, 
 Marshall O. Hicks. Corporals — 1st, O. D. Lyons; 
 2d, George Perkins Rogers ; f 3d, George L. Gard- 
 ner; 4th, Silas J. Fritcher; 5th, Samuel S. Baker; 
 6th, Jeremiah French ; 7th, John W. Schouten ; 8th, 
 William Langford.f Privates — Orlando Benson,t 
 Patrick Burk,$ Jason F. Bloodgood, William 
 Boughton, Eben Brown, Edward Brigham, En- 
 bulus Brigham, Thomas Barney,^ Charles E. 
 Brown, Franklin M. Cole, Samuel W. Cole, John 
 P. Coleman, F. D. Campbell, Nathaniel Campbell, 
 W. M. Chapman, Stejphen Crayon, William Crayon, 
 James Cooper, Benjamin M. Clark, Aaron Daily, 
 James E. Demarest, Elijah DeCroff, Cornelius 
 Driscoll, Dennis Drummy, Malcolm H. Droyce,t 
 Walter Farnsworth, Charley F. Fuller, John F. 
 Flinn,t Orison Forest, Lorin W. Forest, William 
 Foran, Joseph French, S. G. French, Bennett 
 French, Truman E. French, Owen Finlan, Alfred 
 H. Forest, James R. Fox, Gordon Wellington,* 
 Julius M. Hughes, 1 1 Michael Heavener, Sevellan 
 Hicks, James E. Hall, Isaac Jones, Richard King, 
 Horace Keeler, John Keyser, Orrin D. S. Kinney, 
 C. S. Kinney, Fleming T. Lent, William Murray, 
 
 * Killed at Antietam. • t Killed at Fredericksburg. 
 
 t Promoted to Sergeant. 1 1 Killed at Bull Run. 
 
SOLDIERS 191 
 
 Jolm Munn, Tilden Munn, C. B. McNannon, 
 Charles Merritt, Michael Moughan, Alfred D. C. 
 Miller, D. T. McKean, William Nolte, Vincent 
 Odell, A. J. Oret, John C. Pierce, Jacob E. Phelps, 
 George M. Page, Isaac A. Rice, Murray M. Rogers, 
 Mason E. Rogers,* Francis M. Sherman, George 
 W. Spalding, John M. Schrymer, James Struble, 
 Horace Struble, Aaron Stone, Daniel Smith, Wil- 
 liam Tanner, Perry C. Taylor, William N. Wald- 
 ron, D. C. Wright, Francis E. Wheaton,* James H. 
 Wilson, William Walker, Hezekiah Wallace. Mu- 
 sicians — Dighton Phelps, William H. Lawrence, 
 Harry Smith, 
 
 Company H, 57th Regiment Pennsylvania Vol- 
 unteers, commanded by Captain John Griffin, was 
 the second company raised at Athens. This was 
 in the fall of 1861. The following is a list of officers 
 and men at its muster November 25th, 1861 : 
 
 Captain, John Griffin; 1st Lieutenant, Daniel 
 Miner; 2d Lieutenant, Richard Sinsabaugh; 1st 
 Sergeant, Joseph Brady; Musician, S. Gibson 
 Shaw; Wagoner, Samuel Marshall. Privates — 
 Mortimer Anthony, Joseph Armstrong, Henry 
 Armstrong, John Burnside, James Brady, James 
 Childs, Joseph Clark, Charles Chandler, John M. 
 Chandler, Joseph Clark, George Conrad, Willard 
 Conrad, William Conrad, Francis Conrad, William 
 Drake, Ward Eastabrooks, Lyman Forest, Henry 
 Forbes, Almon Gillett, D. Webster Gore, Samuel 
 W. Gore, Eli F. Hudson, Abram Miller, Milo Mil- 
 ler, Solomon Miller, Amos Miller, Orrin O. Mer- 
 rill, Charles W. Murray, John E. Moore, John 
 O'Conner, Henry Owens, John C. Parkes, Elmer 
 * Killed at Antietam. 
 
192 EARLY TIMES 
 
 Phelps, Alvin R. Phalon, William Phinney, Han- 
 ford Robinson, Alpheus Sinsabaugh, Victor Ste- 
 phens, Orange Shores, Bemer Smith, William 
 Smith, Emery Stickles, Joseph Tripp, Harrison 
 Van Vechten, Levi Anson, Lafayette Anson, Daniel 
 Keeler, William Strickland, Russel Sisson, Ed- 
 ward S. Perkins, Henry Williams, Charles Wil- 
 liams, Oscar Shores, Robert Edmiston, Erastus 
 Green, Hugh Farley, L. Orville Snell, Ezra Spald- 
 ing, Thomas Dunglass, Allen Chandler, Harrison 
 S. Munn, O. D. Roberts, John H. Rowe, Nathan 
 Gordon, William Wright, John M. Rolfe, Adelbert 
 Hart, Patrick Doherty, Pison Ellis, Merrill Mc- 
 Allister, Harrison C. Perkins, John M. Chamber- 
 lain, Thomas M. Guemsay, Joseph B. Evans, John 
 Griffin, James A. Shores, George M. Burns, Samuel 
 Laton, M. D. Mills, George W. Perkins,* Lewis F. 
 Roe, Franklin Shaw, James Wheaton, William 
 Crans, William Decker, James L. Murty, Charles 
 W. Hepburn. 
 
 The third company, commanded by Captain J. 
 B. Reeve, was raised in connection with an effort 
 made at Springfield, in this county, to raise a com- 
 pany. The volunteers of both places were con- 
 solidated and formed one company in August, 
 1862, Company E, 141st Regiment Pennsylvania 
 Volunteers. 
 
 The following is a list of the men belonging to 
 Captain Reeve's company: Captain, Joseph B. 
 Reeve ; 1st Lieutenant, J. F. Clark ; 2d Lieutenant, 
 G. C. Page; Sergeants — Stephen Evans, Tracy S. 
 Knapp, Mason Long, William S. Wright, William 
 Garner. Corporals — Orlando E. Loomis, James 
 
 * Promoted to Colonel. 
 
SOLDIERS 193 
 
 W. Clark, Alonzo D. Beach, Charles M. Neal,* 
 William R. Campbell, C. T. Hull, R. Clafflin.f 
 Musicians — W. H. Powers, B. Munn. Privates — 
 H. D. Kinney, Calvin Alexander, James M. Beach, 
 E. W. Baker, Eli R. Booth, Lyman Dunn, Daniel 
 Daines, Melvin Douglass, Aaron Eddy, George 
 Frederick, Wm. Frederick, Abram Frederick, John 
 Frederick, Michael Finney, Truman Galusha, 
 Thomas N. Gilmore, Franklin Granger, Isaac Gil- 
 let, John Henry, George Huff, John Huff, Andrew 
 Huff, Lorenzo D. Hill, Matthew Howie, Daniel 
 Hiney, Horace Howe, Russel Hadlock, James H. 
 Harris, George Johnson, E. M. Jackson, John M. 
 Jackson, Charles A. Knapp,* Jas. Lawrence, Alex- 
 ander Lane, 2d, Isaac C. Lane, William E. Loring, 
 E. P. Lenox, George W. Lord, John Mustart, John 
 Miller, Alanson Miller, Elias H. Merithew, Wil- 
 liam Miller, James K. Martin, Robert McKinney, 
 Franklin Nickerson, Riley Pruyne, Martin B. 
 Phelps, W. D. Powers, Charles H. Packard, George 
 Powers, Edward Price, Levi B. Rogers, George 
 Rogers, Adson B. Stone, William Smith, Orrin D. 
 Snyder, John P. Snyder, John Sanster, Charles 
 G. Sawyer, Charles Tibbetts, Evarts Wandall, 
 W. W. Wilson, Dealmond Watkins, Albert Wat- 
 kins. 
 
 Many other volunteers went from this place and 
 enlisted in the State of New York and other places. 
 Among the number were Henry W. and Augustus 
 S. Perkins, brothers, both of whom joined the 50th 
 New York Engineer Regiment as Lieutenants. 
 Both were promoted to Captaincies. The former 
 was soon appointed aide to General Butterfield, 
 * Killed at Chacellorsville. f Killed at Gettysburg. 
 
194 EARLY TIMES 
 
 with additional rank, and served with high credit 
 for capacity and bravery to the close of the war, 
 and was honorably discharged with the rank of 
 Brigadier-General. Augustus was killed at the 
 battle of Fredericksburg, in December, 1862, 
 deeply lamented by his companions in arms and by 
 all who knew him. 
 
XXVII 
 
 FLOODS 
 SUSQUEHANNA AND CHEMUNG RIVERS 
 
 These beautiful streams, one on each side of Ath- 
 ens village, usually flow very quietly by, adding 
 much to the beauty of the landscapes, viewed from 
 the neighboring hilltops. There is in them a suc- 
 cession of rapids and pools, but no dead water, and 
 no unhealthy marshes along the shores. A writer 
 remarks : " That if there be a more beautiful river 
 on the continent we have not seen it. Prom its 
 source in Otsego Lake, to its union with the Chesa- 
 peake, every mile of the Susquehanna is beauti- 
 ful. Other rivers have their points of loveliness 
 or of grandeur. The Susquehanna has every form 
 of beauty and sublimity." A missionary lady in 
 Oriental Turkey, formerly of this place, writes to 
 an invalid friend, living on the banks of this river : 
 " I should love to sit with you at your window, to 
 hear the voice of the Susquehanna once more. I 
 love that river greatly." The acknowledged health- 
 fulness of this part of the country is attributed in 
 part, at least, to the constant and regular flow of 
 these pure streams. 
 
 But these rivers, though so universally admired 
 by strangers, as well as by those who dwell upon 
 their banks, do not always present the same attrac- 
 tive appearance. There are other features at times 
 
 195 
 
196 EARLY TIMES 
 
 that are quite the reverse. The melting of the 
 snows and the warm spring rains always swell the 
 streams, sometimes causing a general overflow of 
 the banks, often sweeping away the fences and 
 carrying off trees, the growth of ages, the islands 
 and low grounds being almost literally covered 
 with drift wood. At such times, not only trees 
 and fences, but lumber, and parts of bridges, and 
 of buildings, may be seen floating over the surface, 
 in indiscriminate confusion. 
 
 ICE FRESHET 
 
 In the spring of 1784 the inhabitants all through 
 the valley suffered greatly from the sudden break- 
 ing up of the ice in the rivers. It had been an in- 
 tensely cold season, with great quantities of snow. 
 There came an interval of a few days of uncom- 
 monly warm weather, which melted the snow in a 
 measure. This was succeeded by severe cold 
 weather, making vast quantities of ice. Warm 
 weather returned again and the waters began to 
 flow. The dams of ice that were formed obstructed 
 the waters, and they sought other than the wonted 
 channels, sometimes overwhelming retired farms, 
 and fllling the dwellings with water, followed by 
 the crash of the moving bodies of ice hurried on by 
 the raging waters, destroying everything before it. 
 The suffering of the inhabitants, in the lower part 
 of the valley, from this freshet, was very great. 
 
 PUMPKIN FLOOD 
 
 In the fall of 1786, when the crops of corn and 
 pumpkins were still on the ground, continuous 
 
FLOODS 197 
 
 rains produced a freshet which has seldom been 
 equaled. The crops were swept away, and the 
 bosom of the river was covered with floating pump- 
 kins. The loss was severely felt, and many cattle 
 died the succeeding winter for want of sustenance. 
 Old people for many years past have spoken of 
 these freshets, the latter being distinguished as the 
 " pumpkin flood." 
 
 THE GREAT FLOOD 
 
 But a still greater and more destructive flood, 
 and such as was literally beyond the memory of 
 the " oldest inhabitant," occurred in the month of 
 March, 1865. There was a much heavier body of 
 snow on the ground than usual. The weather be- 
 came suddenly warm. The snow was in a state of 
 fusion, when a warm rain fell, and the w^hole came 
 rushing down the hillsides, filling the creeks, and 
 altogether pouring an unprecedented quantity of 
 water into the rivers, suddenly swelling them, not 
 only bank full, but to overflowing; and almost cov- 
 ering the valley from mountain to mountain, and 
 intercepting communication with either side of the 
 rivers. The village seemed to be almost sinking in 
 the flood. The water found its way into nearly 
 every cellar, and many of them were filled. The 
 foundations of several dwellings were undermined, 
 and fell. On the flats valuable animals were 
 brought into the houses to prevent their being car- 
 ried down the stream, and many sheep were 
 drowned. One store in the village took flre in con- 
 sequence of the water coming in contact with lime 
 in the cellar. The upper part of the village was 
 
198 EARLY TIMES 
 
 almost entirely inundated. Many left their houses 
 for shelter elsewhere, and many boats were in 
 requisition, to go from one locality to another. 
 The waters of the Chemung and Susquehanna met 
 just below the mile hill, also near the Presbyterian 
 Church, and at the foot of the hill, in the lower 
 part of the village, near the residence of the late 
 Judge Williston, thus making several islands of 
 this village. A view from Spanish Hill, said a 
 spectator, made the whole appear like a great lake 
 dotted with numerous islands. The water was ris- 
 ing for several days, but attained its greatest height 
 on Thursday night, the 16th of March. The citi- 
 zens were sitting up watching the movement of the 
 water. It continued to rise until eleven o'clock. 
 It then ceased, when, with thankful hearts, relieved 
 of anxiety, the people retired to their beds. The 
 next morning the water w^as found to have fallen 
 several feet, and many were going about viewing 
 the devastation that had been made. 
 
 Great losses have sometimes been sustained by 
 lumbermen on these rivers, by unexpected freshets. 
 Often have their hopes been blasted by the sudden 
 loss of property, the product of many a day of 
 care and toil, and in some instances all that a man 
 possessed has been swept away in a few short 
 hours. But the business of lumbering has often 
 been pleasant and profitable. Most families who 
 have resided here long can call to mind the excit- 
 ing times of rafting, when pork and beans and 
 bread by the quantity, with ham and eggs, and 
 sundry other luxuries, were in requisition as an 
 outfit for the arks and rafts about to fioat " down 
 
FLOODS 199 
 
 the river." But all this labor was repaid when it 
 was announced that they had found a good market, 
 and that the adventurers were likely to meet the 
 reward of their labors. 
 
 It has been remarked as a peculiarity of the Sus- 
 quehanna, or Crooked river, that nearly all along 
 its course it is receiving tributaries almost as large 
 as itself. It may be added that notwithstanding 
 the much dreaded inundations of spring, with all 
 their disastrous effects, the most of the season the 
 Susquehanna rolls along in majestic calmness, and 
 in midsummer is so low that it is forded in many 
 places. 
 
 Some attempts have been made to navigate the 
 river by steam. Two neat little steamboats, the 
 Codorus and the Susquehanna, were launched 
 upon its waters in 1826, and made several trips 
 up and down, much to the gratification of the in- 
 habitants dwelling upon its banks, and the time 
 was anticipated when a regular line of boats might 
 ply upon the river, transporting both freight and 
 passengers. But the want of sufficient water in 
 the low stage of the river soon proved it to be im- 
 practicable, and after the disastrous explosion of 
 the boiler of the Codorus, and the loss of several 
 valuable lives thereby, the enterprise was aban- 
 doned. 
 
XXVIII 
 
 THE CHURCH 
 
 Less than a hundred years ago, the region of coun- 
 try which we inhabit was heathen ground. The 
 Indians, driven away by Sullivan's army in 1X79, 
 were, according to David Brainard and others, 
 " gross idolaters." At Shamokin they had an idol 
 that Brainard styled " horrible." Before his con- 
 version Shickelemy, a noted chief, wore an idola- 
 trous image around his neck. At Queen Esther's 
 plantation, an of&cer of Sullivan's army states that 
 " in what they supposed to be the chapel, was found 
 an idol which might well be worshipped without 
 violating the second commandment, on account of 
 its likeness to anything either in Heaven or earth." 
 At the treaty at Tioga Point, in 1790, while the 
 ceremony of adopting Thomas Morris into the 
 Seneca Nation was in progress, which was in a re- 
 ligious ceremony, the whole sixteen hundred In- 
 dians present united in an offering to the moon, 
 then being at her full. Fish-Carrier, an aged and 
 noted Chief, officiated as High Priest of the occa- 
 sion, making a long speech to the luminary, occa- 
 sionally throwing tobacco into the fire as incense.* 
 
 * Red Jacket was prominent at this assembly, and no doubt 
 partook of the idolatrous ceremony. He was a pagan, very 
 hostile to Christianity, and gave orders that when he died he 
 should be buried after the Indian custom, and refused to allow 
 missionaries to make an establishment on the Seneca Reserva- 
 
 200 
 
THE CHURCH 201 
 
 The first account we have of any Christian wor- 
 ship in this place was at the burial of those officers 
 and soldiers in Sullivan's army who fell in the 
 battle of Chemung, and were brought back to Tioga 
 Point for burial. The Rev. Mr. Rogers, Chaplain, 
 preached a funeral sermon on the occasion. 
 
 After the Indians were removed the country was 
 rapidly settled by white people from Wyoming and 
 lower Pennsylvania. The Connecticut settlers were 
 of Puritan descent, and were frequently visited by 
 missionaries from New England missionary so- 
 cieties. 
 
 tion, in Western New York, about 1824. Rev. Asher Wright, 
 the missionary who has labored among the Senecas many years, 
 says : " Red Jaclcet was a very intemperate man, and much 
 under the influence of infidel white men, and till near the 
 close of his life was opposed to the Christian religion. A few 
 months before he died he visited an old friend in Genesee 
 county, who had formerly sympathized with him. He was 
 greatly astonished at the change apparent in this friend, who 
 had been converted, and had given up whiskey and was now 
 living happily with his family. Red Jacket watched narrowly 
 everything he saw in this old friend, and on his return he said 
 to his traveling companion : " There must be something better 
 in this Gospel than I ever gave it credit for if it makes changes 
 like this in men's characters. I should do well to receive it 
 myself. It must be true and good. I am going to try it." He 
 continued to talk of it after reaching home, and was in a very 
 serious and tender frame of mind till attacked with his last 
 sickness. This friend thought that in heart he believed in 
 Jesus Christ, but he had no opportunity to make profession of 
 his faith ; though he said to his wife, whom he had once greatly 
 abused on account of her Christian faith, " persevere in your 
 religion. It is the right way." This, so far as is known, was 
 his last utterance upon the subject. 
 
 Red Jacket died January, 1831, aged 81 years, and was buried 
 in a Christian manner, which fact would seem to corroborate 
 the reported change in his views. 
 
202 EARLY TIMES 
 
 Methodist preachers also were early on the 
 ground, classes formed and local preachers ap- 
 pointed. 
 
 It was but a little more than thirty years after 
 the heathen left the country that a church was 
 formed at Athens. One had been formed at Wya- 
 lusing as early as 1794, one at Wysox near the close 
 of the century, one established in Smithfield at its 
 first settlement about 1801. 
 
 In the fall of 1811 Eev. William Wisner, from 
 Newtown, visited Athens. He was a native of War- 
 wick, Orange county, N. Y., and came to Newtown 
 in 1800. He studied law with Hon. Vincent 
 Mathews, and had practiced at the bar a few years. 
 After he made a profession of religion, his atten- 
 tion was turned to the ministry, and soon after he 
 was licensed to preach. He came to this place, sup- 
 posing that the novelty of hearing a lawyer preach 
 might bring the people out to hear him. His sub- 
 ject was " The total depravity of the human heart, 
 the remedy which God had provided for fallen man, 
 and the certainty of the eternal perdition of those 
 who do not avail themselves of that provision." 
 The congregation was large and attentive, so much 
 so that he made an appointment for the next Sab- 
 bath, when there were evident tokens of the Divine 
 presence. People came many miles to hear him, 
 and the upper part of the Academy was crowded. 
 A general revival of religion followed. The next 
 summer, on the 8th day of July, 1812, the " First 
 Congregational Church" was formed, with about 
 thirty members, and was connected with the " Lu- 
 zerne Association." Rev. Ard Hoyt, afterward 
 
THE CHURCH 20S 
 
 missionary to the Clierokees at " Mission Ridge," 
 Georgia, presided. While in session, and during 
 the examination of candidates, a middle aged 
 woman from Litchfield township entered the room 
 quietly, and with her usual promptness went di- 
 rectly to the moderator and presented him with a 
 paper. He read it with emotion. It was the cer- 
 tificate that signified the good and regular stand- 
 ing of the aged father and mother, the eldest son's 
 wife, and their daughter Eebecca, in the church 
 where they had lived in Connecticut. Father Hoyt 
 then inquired where they had lived. She replied 
 with a smile, " In the woods three or four miles 
 distant; have lived there about two years." After 
 inquiring if any one present was acquainted with 
 them, and being assured that they were a worthy 
 family, Father Hoyt turned to his brethren in the 
 ministry and said, " Here, brethren, the Lord has 
 had a church in the wilderness, and nobody has 
 known it." The church was organized and this 
 family was added to it. They were constant at- 
 tendants at church ; and from their mountain home 
 they might uniformly be seen on the early Sabbath 
 morning in a cart drawn by oxen wending their 
 way down to the landing on the Susquehanna, 
 where they entered their canoe, the aged grand- 
 mother, her son and his wife, and sister, and sev- 
 eral children, neatly clad in homespun, and fioated 
 down the river to the place of worship. After the 
 two services the canoe was entered again, and the 
 boys with their setting poles pushed back to the 
 landing. The old gentleman, blind and feeble, sel- 
 dom, if ever, came down from the mountain. It 
 
204 EARLY TIMES 
 
 was liis Pisgah, from which b;^ faith he could view 
 the promised land. 
 
 Rev. William Wisner was the first pastor of this 
 church, and remained with it three years, receiving 
 aid from the New Hampshire and Connecticut Mis- 
 sionary Societies. He preached alternately at the 
 old red school iiouse at Milltown and the Academy 
 at the Point. His instructions were such as to 
 make an impression, and he has been greatly 
 blessed in his labors. Mr. Wisner was eminently 
 a fireside preacher. He went from house to house, 
 calling the family together and conversing with 
 each member. The children shared largely in his 
 attentions, and many a youthful heart was brought 
 to a spiritual knowledge of the Saviour through 
 his instrumentality. On extraordinary occasions 
 he wrote his sermons, otherwise he preached off- 
 hand. The three years passed quickly, and it was 
 necessary for him to remove to another field of 
 labor. February 27th, 1816, Mr. Wisner sent in his 
 resignation in the following words : 
 
 " Dearly Beloved in the Lord. After striving in 
 vain to retain the endearing relation which has sub- 
 sisted between us, I do now, with the approbation 
 of the Association and your consent, commit you 
 to the love of God, and resign my charge over 
 you." * 
 
 After the pastoral relation between the Rev. Mr. 
 
 * Mr. Wisner built a house and planted fruit trees on the lot 
 now occupied by General Williston. Several of the stately trees 
 are still bearing fruit. He was then a little more than thirty 
 years of age. He is now near ninety, and is living at Ithaca. 
 He writes to a friend, " My life with all its trials has been one 
 of great enjoyment, and I am happy in the decline of life, as 
 
THE CHURCH 205 
 
 Wisner and the church of Athens was dissolved, 
 the Rev. John Bascom was chosen moderator, and 
 Deacon Josiah Crocker, clerk. Mr. Bascom 
 preached one-half of his time in Smithfield, em- 
 ployed and paid by the people of that place. The 
 remainder of his time was spent in missionary 
 labors, chiefly at Spencer, N. Y., receiving aid from 
 the New England Missionary Associations. The 
 Rev. M. York, Rev. John Smith, Rev. Simeon R. 
 Jones, and others, and Mr. Bascom, preached at 
 Athens at different times, and occasional additions 
 were made to the church. 
 
 In 1818 and '19, a valuable accession was made 
 of several intelligent Christian families from Sil- 
 ver Lake,* in Susquehanna County. They had 
 been induced by the very flattering accounts of the 
 country to sell their property in New England, 
 leave their homes and invest their funds in the new 
 region. It proved a very unfortunate movement 
 for them, and they came to Athens in reduced cir- 
 cumstances. The men engaged as tenants to the 
 farmers around, and by persevering industry and 
 frugality, with the aid of the little money they 
 brought with them, were carried through the sea- 
 sons of scarcity which followed.f 
 
 I was in its morning or noon. God has not forsaken me in my 
 old age." Mr. Wisner has often visited here, and alwaj's fre- 
 quents the old burying-ground, where he finds so many of his 
 former congregation. 
 
 * Those who came from Silver Lake were the Warner, Mor- 
 gan, Wheelock, Muzzy and Calkins families, many of whose 
 descendants are among our leading citizens. 
 
 t During these seasons the crops were very short. The peo- 
 ple could not wait to go to mill with their wheat, or pay toll at 
 the mifls, but pounded out their grain at their homes, and baked 
 
206 EARLY TIMES 
 
 But notwithstanding these trying circumstances, 
 that fell with peculiar weight upon these new- 
 comers, the church prospered. It was the practice 
 of the church for many years to meet together once 
 a month, and to bring their children with them to 
 pray for the prosperity of Zion, The Lord heark- 
 ened and heard. From 1820 to 1824 there was 
 almost a continual revival of religion. The work 
 of divine grace was manifest in the church, and in 
 the hearts of many others. 
 
 At this time the Rev. James Williamson came to 
 Athens. His labors were greatly blessed. There 
 probably was never a time when so happy and 
 prosperous a state of things existed in the church 
 as at this period. 
 
 In April, 1823, the Congregational Church of 
 Athens adopted the Presbyterian form of govern- 
 ment by a majority vote, to be in connection with 
 Susquehanna Presbytery, originally the Luzerne 
 Association. William B. Swain and George A. 
 Perkins were chosen Ruling Elders. 
 
 October, 1825, Rev. Isaac W. Piatt was chosen 
 Moderator of the church, and ministered here five 
 years. Many of the church members were not satis- 
 fied with the Presbyterian form of government, 
 and at the suggestion of Mr. Piatt the church 
 adopted the plan of Union, recommended by the 
 General Assembly of the Presbyterian church and 
 the General Association of Connecticut in 1801. A 
 standing committee of five persons were chosen by 
 
 it in tliis crude state. Money was sometimes deposited at the 
 mill to purchase grain, but none could be procured except what 
 was received as toll for grinding. Many sacrifices wei;e made 
 Tby families to supply themselves with food. 
 
THE CHURCH 207 
 
 the church to act upon this plan, which was gen- 
 erally satisfactory. During the pastorate of Rev. 
 Mr. Piatt, in 1826, the first church edifice was 
 erected here. In 1833 Rev. William C. Wisner, son 
 of the former pastor, was called to this church, and 
 remained here more than a year. 
 
 Rev. William Adams succeeded him in 1835. 
 He was a man of fine talents and had become quite 
 popular. 
 
 About this time a student from Princeton deliv- 
 ered a lecture here upon the subject of Slavery, 
 which created such excitement as to make it pru- 
 dent for the young man to leave town at the earliest 
 opportunity. 
 
 The next Sabbath Mr. Adams preached a ser- 
 mon against " Popular Violence," which resulted 
 in his removal from this place. 
 
 Rev. C. C. Corss became pastor of the church in 
 April, 1837. The General Assembly of the Presby- 
 terian Church met in Philadelphia, and the follow- 
 ing May passed the " Exscinding Act," by which 
 four Synods, 500 ministers, and about 60,000 
 communicants were declared to have no connec- 
 tion with the Presbyterian Church, thereby repu- 
 diating the plan of Union, upon which ground the 
 church of Athens then stood. A committee was 
 sent from the Susquehanna Presbytery to notify 
 the church members that they were no longer in 
 connection with that body, and to organize a church 
 which should be strictly Presbyterian and in con- 
 nection with them. The Presbytery was in sym- 
 pathy with the proceedings of the late General 
 Assembly. 
 
208 EARLY TIMES 
 
 A portion of the church preferred to remain as 
 they were, while others chose to be connected with 
 the Susquehanna Presbytery, thus dividing a small 
 church. This necessarily involved the question of 
 church property, which was finally setled by each 
 body consenting to use the house alternately, thus 
 causing much that was painful, if not reproachful, 
 to the cause of religion. 
 
 Mr. Corss preached for the Old School, and Rev. 
 C. Thurston for the New School, Rev. Nathaniel 
 Elmer succeeding Mr. T. This state of things ex- 
 isted about twenty years, from 1838 to '58, many 
 hoping for a reunion of the General Assemblies, 
 which might also unite the churches. 
 
 At length during a powerful revival of religion 
 which occurred about this time, a compromise was 
 effected, both branches consenting to unite and 
 transfer their ecclesiastical relations to the Re- 
 formed Dutch Church. 
 
 They remained in this connection until after the 
 reunion of the two General Assemblies, when the 
 church again became Presbyterian. 
 
 Rev. Augustus Todd, Rev. P. Berry, and Rev. 
 John Shaw were pastors under this administration. 
 Within that time the old church was burned in 
 1861, and a new brick church was erected in 1862. 
 
 It is not known that a Methodist class was formed 
 in the village of Athens, until 1832. Mr. Shippy, 
 a class-leader, lived here, in the early part of the 
 century, and was in the habit of meeting for prayer, 
 with any who might wish to assemble, of whatever 
 name, but it is believed he was connected with the 
 class on the west side of the river, in what was 
 
THE CHURCH 209 
 
 tlien called " Christian Street," on account of the 
 number of Methodists who lived there. Mr. Abra- 
 ham Minier was their leader for many years. The 
 street had previously been called Holland, on ac- 
 count of several Dutch families having early set- 
 tled there. The first Methodist house of worship 
 in the village of Athens was built in 1844. Dedi- 
 cation sermon preached by Rev. J. Dodge. The 
 church was burned in 1851, at the time of the great 
 fire, when a number of stores, a long row of build- 
 ings, and a small Episcopal church on the bank 
 of the river were consumed. 
 
 The Methodist church was rebuilt of brick in 
 1852. 
 
 The Episcopal stone church was built in 1861. 
 
 The churches in the upper part of the village 
 were built some years previous. 
 
XXIX 
 
 MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 
 
 Mrs. p. was a resident of Athens many years, and 
 was extensively known in the early part of the cen- 
 tury. We have added some account of this excel- 
 lent woman, with extracts from her diary, which 
 it is thought desirable to insert here as connected 
 with the early history of Athens. She was the 
 daughter of Theodore Woodbridge, brother of the 
 distinguished William Woodbridge, and was born 
 in Glastonbury, Connecticut, September 13th, 
 1784. The family were educated and intelligent. 
 She finished her education at Hartford in the year 
 1800, just before her father removed with his fam- 
 ily, together with twenty other families, to Salem 
 in Northern Pennsylvania, 90 miles southeast of 
 Athens, which was then a wilderness. 
 
 They bought land under the Connecticut title, 
 which was superseded by Pennsylvania claims, but 
 notwithstanding these difficulties they became a 
 prosperous community, one seldom equaled in any 
 new country. 
 
 Here Miss Woodbridge commenced a diary which 
 afforded her much comfort in her retired situation. 
 The style and sentiments of her journal would do 
 honor to any of our female writers. Her early 
 reading was principally confined to religious 
 authors of a former period, where she found much 
 
 210 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 211 
 
 to improve lier understanding and comfort lier 
 heart. Occasionally she visited Wilkesbarre, where 
 she met congenial society, and works of more mod- 
 ern authors. These tended much to her improve- 
 ment, and although of a very timid and retiring 
 disposition, she could converse and write with un- 
 common elegance and facility. 
 
 In her solitary and retired life she found some 
 valuable Christian society among the people who 
 had removed with them from Connecticut. 
 
 After the death of her mother the care and re- 
 sponsibility of the family devolved upon her. 
 Though but seventeen years old she entered upon 
 her duties with fidelity and industry, by which her 
 father, two brothers, and a sister were made com- 
 fortable and their home cheerful. 
 
 Sometimes in this wilderness the snow was so 
 deep that the roads were impassable, and they saw 
 no faces but those of their own family for many 
 days. While the dreary storm continued, her diary 
 says, " I am by no means discontented, for I have 
 long since been taught that happiness, if anywhere 
 to be found, is in one's own breast, that our own 
 domestic scenes, and our own fireside are prefer- 
 able to any other. How miserable must that per- 
 son be who never finds enjoyment at home." 
 
 " March 6th, 1804. The storm and cold have 
 abated, and the spring has returned with all its 
 beauties. I find much happiness in our family. 
 What in this life is there to be compared to do- 
 mestic felicity? I do not know of a person in the 
 world with whom I would exchange situations." 
 In this peaceful retirement Miss W. often ex- 
 
212 EARLY TIMES 
 
 presses herself as " happily situated," not exposed 
 to the many temptations of more polite and fash- 
 ionable society. Sometimes she speaks of the cares 
 and responsibilities of the family, sometimes of 
 going into the woods with her brother to make 
 sugar. Sometimes her hand held the distaff, which 
 resulted in a long piece of cloth for family use, and 
 often reading books sent to her by friends, or en- 
 tertaining missionaries from New England who 
 visited the settlement. Mr. Seth Williston was one 
 of these missionaries, and she regarded him as the 
 instrument of her conversion. 
 
 " My good father was overjoyed at the change in 
 my feelings. It has been his highest hope for his 
 children that they might all be brought into the 
 fold of Christ. When the family were assembled 
 for worship it seemed like a little heaven below. 
 Retirement was sweet, and prayer a most delight- 
 ful exercise. 
 
 " There is a work for us to do, and this work is 
 exactly calculated to subdue pride, and remove all 
 self-confidence. It brings us to a state of humility 
 from a sense of our own insufficiency to do any 
 good thing, and that we are forever undone except 
 God appear for us. When thus prepared God 
 shows the way of salvation through Christ, par- 
 dons our sins and gives us faith in Him." 
 
 The time came for changes in this retired and 
 peaceful family. Her father married again, and in 
 her diary she writes, " The next year I was united 
 to the man I loved." 
 
 Clement Paine was engaged in merchandise at 
 Athens, and purchased his goods in Philadelphia. 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 213 
 
 He frequently passed through Wilkesbarre, where 
 he became acquainted with Miss Woodbridge. He 
 afterwards visited her father's house in Salem, and 
 in 1806 she came with him to Athens as his bride. 
 
 Mrs. Paine found some choice society in her new 
 home. Mrs. Tuttle and Mrs. Hopkins, of whom 
 she often speaks as having taken sweet counsel 
 together, were ladies of piety, refinement, and 
 pleasing manners. They often met for social 
 prayer at their own private rooms, and after a little 
 time met at the house (a log-cabin) of a Methodist 
 family to worship on the Sabbath. Here they 
 found the Saviour present time after time, until 
 their hearts became so overflowing that their faith 
 required a larger place. They asked the privilege 
 of meeting in a ball-room on the Sabbath, and in- 
 vited their husbands to read the sermons, and the 
 Methodist brother to pray. The congregation sang, 
 and they soon collected quite an assembly. Then 
 the Lord directed the Eev. Seth Williston and other 
 missionaries to preach to them occasionally, and 
 afterward a church was formed, and numbers 
 added to it. One of these mothers in Israel, Mrs. 
 Tuttle, lived at Elmira until 1856, when she died. 
 A strong friendship existed between these estimable 
 ladies, which was interrupted by death only to be 
 perpetuated in eternity. 
 
 Mrs. Paine had other Christian friends whom she 
 valued highly. In her diary she speaks of her 
 " venerable and much esteemed friend, Mrs. Salt- 
 marsh, the mother of John Saltmarsh, Esq. She 
 is a treasure we must soon lose, as she has passed 
 her threescore years and ten. It was with deep 
 
214 EARLY TIMES 
 
 regret that I beheld the decay of her mental powers 
 once so strong, and still less weak than most in 
 the prime of life. How beautiful does that old age 
 appear which is crowned with the wisdom and 
 piety of early days though bowed by infirmity. 
 Such a one is this aged mother in Israel." 
 
 Learning the destitution of the Bible about the 
 country, Mrs. Paine corresponded with Robert 
 Ralston, Esq., of Philadelphia, well-known in Bible 
 Society operations, and from him received boxes of 
 Bibles at different times, which with the tracts she 
 procured at her own expense, she commenced a 
 system of Bible and Tract distribution. Long be- 
 fore the American Bible and Tract Societies came 
 into existence, making her way across the rivers 
 and up the mountains on horseback she distributed 
 to every destitute family within her reach. She 
 also employed others to extend the distribution still 
 farther. She was thus in fact the first colporteur 
 in this region. 
 
 Nor was this the only way she aimed to be use- 
 ful. Holding the pen of a ready writer she found 
 access to many others. Her kind and faithful 
 warnings to the thoughtless, and her encourage- 
 ment to the desponding through the medium of her 
 littles notes are fresh in the memory of many. By 
 these and many other methods of usefulness she 
 exerted an influence for good among all classes 
 of society. 
 
 The early part of Mrs. Paine's life was tranquil 
 and happy, and she speaks of finding much domes- 
 tic enjoyment in her new home. She says, " We 
 have all we can wish of riches. We are amply fur- 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 215 
 
 nished with everything we need; we have few 
 intruders on our fireside enjoyments; my little 
 Edward every day has stronger claims on my affec- 
 tions, and my husband each day is dearer to my 
 heart." 
 
 But her pathway became more rugged as she ad- 
 vanced in life, and increasing cares and responsi- 
 bilities weighed heavily upon her. Her diary 
 about this time was addressed principally to her 
 children, whom she hoped might be benefited by 
 it in after life. With earnestness does she warn 
 them against the many snares which Satan will set 
 for their youthful feet, and presses it upon them to 
 follow in the footsteps of their godly ancestors, 
 w^hose prayers are worth vastly more to them than 
 a large estate. Another object she had in view in 
 writing was her own personal benefit and gratifi- 
 cation. She loved to call herself to an account, and 
 " talk with her past hours, and ask them what re- 
 port they bore to heaven, and how they might have 
 borne more welcome news." 
 
 March 16th, 1810. She says in her diary: — 
 " Have been very happy in hearing that Esq. Salt- 
 marsh, one of our most respectable inhabitants, 
 has publicly declared his intention of making re- 
 ligion his greatest object of pursuit, and has com- 
 menced praying in his family;" and she takes oc- 
 casion from this example to impress it upon her 
 children to make religion the ultimate purpose of 
 their lives. She warns them against embracing 
 any system that does not exalt God, and humble 
 the sinner, and urges them to see that their views 
 are consistent with the standard of truth by which 
 
216 EARLY TIMES 
 
 so many good men have been directed and made 
 happy. " Again, let me entreat you to study the 
 Scriptures with child-like simplicity, and let no 
 persuasions or arguments prevail on you to disbe- 
 lieve the truth. If you cast that away you are 
 like a ship without a pilot or compass on the wide 
 and dangerous ocean. Be constant in your devo- 
 tions, at least morning and evening pray for your- 
 selves, for your friends, and for the world. If this 
 is a painful task, pray to God until he makes it a 
 delightful privilege, until he makes you a Chris- 
 tian. Begin a holy life in early days. It is the 
 morning of life and the dew of youth which are 
 particularly acceptable to God. It is then that the 
 passions are most easily subdued. Bad habits and 
 principles are not so stubborn as in later years. 
 
 '' October 28th^ 1811. Last evening saw an ac- 
 count in the magazine of four young men of hand- 
 some talents and acquirements who had devoted 
 their lives to the purpose of carrying the glad news 
 of salvation to the heathen. I also saw an account 
 of a Mrs. Norris, who had bequeathed |30,000 for 
 the same object. A fear was also expressed that 
 the Missionary funds would not be adequate to the 
 numerous expenses. I was lamenting deeply with 
 Laura that we had nothing to bestow. After many 
 fruitless plans and regrets, the idea occurred that 
 although Providence had not opened a door for us 
 in this way, yet we have an opportunity perhaps 
 of more usefulness than if we had more money at 
 command. There are many children and youth in 
 every village who need religious instruction. Miss 
 Hannah More, by her personal exertions, civilized 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 217 
 
 and moralized a village which previously was ex- 
 tremely vicious and depraved. If we have not, like 
 her, the influence, talents, and education requisite 
 for the establishment of Sunday Schools, yet all 
 of us have qualifications sufficient to enable us to 
 instruct in the simple truths of the gospel. It is 
 also the happy privilege of every Christian mother 
 to educate a little church for God. Another way in 
 which we may be useful is by prayer." 
 
 Mrs. Paine established a Sabbath School in this 
 place in 1818. She often met with the children on 
 the Fourth of July, and furnished them with an en- 
 tertainment, prepared by herself. 
 
 Under date of November 4th, 1811, she writes : — 
 " It is a little more than a week since I heard the 
 distressing news of my dear father's death! How 
 trifling and little has the world and all its concerns 
 since appeared. It has seemed as if I were but a 
 step from eternity. For a few hours my grief was 
 without any alleviation, until the sweet thought 
 that I should spend a long eternity with him, if 
 like him I lived, darted into my heart. This is as 
 a reviving balsam to my wounded spirit, nor have 
 I since felt my grief so severe. Another great 
 source of consolation is, that this event was the ap- 
 pointment of Divine Wisdom. And, shall I repine? 
 Is it not time that this faithful servant should rest 
 from his labors? His life has been a long and 
 laborious one. Sweet indeed must be his rest. 
 Methinks I see him happy beyond expression, and 
 with his usual tranquil and cheerful countenance, 
 for that bespoke him a saint. I have often thought 
 that his countenance, like Moses', proved that he 
 
218 EARLY TIMES 
 
 conversed much witli God, His devotions were 
 frequent and fervent. I have heard him relate 
 frequent instances of the efficacy of prayer. He 
 told me one day that he had been earnestly pray- 
 ing for me, and that God had given him assurance 
 that in his own time he would bring me ' out of 
 nature's darkness into His marvelous light.' This 
 was great encouragement to me, as were his pious 
 instructions. He had a deep sense of the depravity 
 of the heart, and frequently admired the wonderful 
 condescension of God in hearing and answering the 
 imperfect petitions of mortals. 
 
 " His charity was bounded only by necessity. On 
 his only visit to me he saw a widowed mother 
 with her fatherless family. I learned accidentally 
 some months after his departure that he presented 
 them with |20. A donation of |30 I also heard of 
 his giving to another family in similar circum- 
 stances. I am persuaded that many such sums 
 have been secretly given by him, and thus he laid 
 up for himself treasures in heaven which he is now 
 enjoying. His conversation was such as adorned 
 the character of a Christian and a gentleman, and 
 such as pleased and instructed all who heard him. 
 There was an uncommon union of dignity and 
 modesty in his deportment. The vicious feared 
 and the virtuous loved him. It was his practice to 
 do his duty in trying circumstances, and leave the 
 event to God, — 
 
 " ' All the dull cares and tumults of this world, 
 Like harmless thunders, breaking at his feet, 
 Excite his pity, not impair his peace.' 
 
 " He had not a college education, as had his three 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 219 
 
 older brothers, who were clergymen, yet few have 
 a better informed mind, or as much taste, judg- 
 ment, and sentiment. He became a Christian at 
 the age of twenty-one; then he relinquished the 
 company and amusement of his gay companions, 
 because they appeared so trifling and insipid com- 
 pared with the enjoyments he found in religion. 
 Soon after, he entered the Eevolutionary War, 
 where he remained during its continuance, and 
 distinguished himself by his piety and bravery. 
 There he obtained the commission of major. At 
 the age of thirty-three he married my mother, the 
 daughter of a rich and respectable merchant. I 
 was their eldest child ; two sons and two daughters 
 composed our family. By his industry he procured 
 a competency of the good things of this life, but 
 our eternal welfare lay nearest his heart. This led 
 him to seek a residence in retirement, after giving 
 his children a good education in Connecticut. 
 Three years after our removal to Salem, my mother 
 died. During this sore affliction, a kind neighbor 
 endeavored to console me by saying I ought to be 
 thankful that I had one of the best of parents left. 
 His character, which I have ever esteemed as the 
 most virtuous and valuable that I ever knew, since 
 his death shines with increasing luster. Do you, 
 my children, inquire why he was so justly vener- 
 ated by all who knew him? I answer, it was piety 
 toward God. It was the approbation of his God 
 which he sought in every action of his life. I wrote 
 to my dear father about two weeks since, and wrote 
 just such a letter as I could wish, had I known it 
 to be my last. Oh, that he had answered it. One 
 
S20 EARLY TIMES 
 
 request I am glad that- 1 made ; it was that he would 
 pray his God to give me grace to bring up my chil- 
 dren in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 
 
 " A Congregational Church of eight members had 
 l3een formed in our peaceful and retired settlement 
 in Salem, but the year after my removal to Athens 
 God was pleased to pour out his spirit on that 
 place. My youngest brother was from home. My 
 father sent for him that he too might be a subject 
 of the happy work. He saw all his children pro- 
 fessors of religion, and every family became a pray- 
 ing family, and, in some instances, four, five, and 
 six in a family became hopeful converts. About 
 forty united with the church. He saw their tem- 
 poral concerns prosperous, schools established, and 
 the ordinances of religion enjoyed in the place, 
 which in the year 1800 was a howling wilderness. 
 God was pleased thus to smile on his endeavors to 
 lye useful. What more had he to do in this world? 
 — his work was done, and God took him home. He 
 died suddenly of typhus fever. 
 
 " When my sister and myself last parted from 
 my father, he enjoined it upon us to pray with and 
 for each other. I trust we frequently prayed for 
 each other, but a sinful timidity kept us from social 
 prayer. The injunction came home to us with dou- 
 ble force after his death. We have since each day 
 regularly prayed by turns with the children under 
 my care. I esteem it a great privilege, and it has 
 rendered my sister doubly dear. 
 
 "Sab., January 27, 1812. Yesterday I was very 
 liappily surprised at the arrival of Rev. Mr. Wis- 
 ner, formerly a lawyer of considerable eminence, 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 221 
 
 but a change of heart induced him to change his 
 profession. He preached two of the most excellent 
 sermons to-day, to a crowded audience, that I have 
 heard since I have been in Athens. I wonder how 
 any one could remain in unbelief. Sinners must 
 have had their eyes sealed and their hearts hard- 
 ened indeed to resist the truth. After enduring a 
 long famine of the word of God, it was a precious 
 feast of good things to my soul which I this day 
 enjoyed. He preached in the old Academy, and his 
 text in the a. m. was — ' What went ye out for to 
 •see? ' in the p. m. — ' Let us alone, that we may serve 
 the Egyptians.' He showed the wickedness of the 
 Israelites, and the goodness of God, who would not 
 let them alone, and also who they are at the pres- 
 ent time that desire God to let them alone. 
 
 " I called last evening on one of our neighbors, 
 who is supposed to lie at the point of death, Mr. 
 John Miller, a merchant of this place, about thirty 
 years of age. He leaves a young and interesting 
 wife. I tried to call his attention to the importance 
 of being prepared for death, but his chief anxiety 
 was to know how his widow should be provided 
 for. He died this a. m. and his death was an- 
 nounced to the congregation. 
 
 '^^ Sab., Feb. 10th. In what language can I thank 
 my Heavenly Father for all his favors? He seems 
 about giving his children in this place their heart's 
 desire — in his ordinances and the preaching of the 
 gospel. The Eev. Mr. Williston, Mr. Parker, and 
 Mr. Jones have frequently preached to us, but 
 they obtained few hearers, and Mr. Wisner came to 
 us with little expectation of doing good. He had, 
 
222 EARLY TIMES 
 
 however, a very numerous audience, who were 
 strictly attentive while he preached the undis- 
 guised truth. The second Sabbath he preached in 
 Milltown to a very crow^ded assembly, and in this 
 village in the evening. Last Monday I visited at 
 Mr. Crocker's in Milltown, and attended a prayer- 
 meeting. It was with much difSiculty I obtained 
 this privilege, yet I found it a happy season to my 
 soul. When I arrived at Mr. C.'s I learned he w^as 
 absent on the business of obtaining a subscription 
 for hiring Mr. Wisner to preach to us a year. How 
 joyfully did we hear the glad tidings that he was 
 likely to succeed, and that the famine of the word 
 we have endured was to be followed by ' a feast 
 of fat things.' How glad was I to hear that several 
 were awakened to a sense of the importance of pre- 
 paring for an awful eternity, and to see at the 
 prayer-meeting some children, bathed in tears, ear- 
 nestly appearing to inquire ' What must we do to 
 be saved.' The little number of Christians are 
 earnestly engaged in praying for the outpouring of 
 the spirit, and for the preached gospel. 
 
 "Mr. Wisner returned from Newtown on Wed- 
 nesday. He proposed a conference which was at- 
 tended at our house, and I can truly say it was the 
 happiest one I ever attended. He has made our 
 house his home when in the village, as did the 
 former ministers, and I am thankful for the privi- 
 lege of entertaining them, and of enjoying the bene- 
 fit of their conversation and prayers. They ear- 
 nestly pray for my family. Oh, that their prayers 
 might not be in vain. 
 
 " Mr. W. says his way has been wonderfully 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 223 
 
 hedged up whenever he has thought of leaving this 
 people. When he came he had no idea of spending 
 more than one Sabbath, but the attention the peo- 
 ple manifested, induced him to make an appoint- 
 ment for the next Sabbath, and for the same reason 
 he came the third Sabbath. He had with much 
 pleasure contemplated a journey to Ontario, where 
 they were very desirous to have him take the pas- 
 toral charge of the church. They had made a regu- 
 lar ' call,' and sent to him, but the bearer lost it 
 on the road, and before it could be renewed he had 
 a pressing invitation from us, and a subscription 
 raised for his support. Last week he remained 
 with us attending conferences, and visiting fami- 
 lies, as he found himself too unwell to leave. From 
 these circumstances and the spirit of prayer that 
 prevails, I am led to think the thing is of God." 
 
 After an interruption of three years she resumes 
 her journal. 
 
 " Tues., Jan. lOthy 1815. Eeceived a call this 
 morning from Mrs. B — , a temporary resident. 
 She spoke of the uncommon sorrows which had 
 fallen to her lot. I could not condole with her, 
 for I really could not think from what source her 
 troubles came, as she is a boarder perfectly at ease, 
 has an affectionate husband, and an only son, — a 
 most promising character. I studied much what 
 to say by way of commiseration, but my attempts 
 were awkward. This p. m., another Mrs. B — ■ 
 <?alled. She too spoke of her griefs as if they could 
 not be a secret to any one, yet apparently her situa- 
 tion is pleasant, having a good husband, and an 
 •agreeable, affectionate family of children, more 
 
2M EARLY TIMES 
 
 than commonly engaging. Next Mrs. H — called. 
 She had not only her own sorrows, but those of her 
 two daughters to bear; all of whom are richly sup- 
 plied with all this world can give. I thought of my 
 own woes, but had I alluded to them I suppose they 
 would not have been better understood by others 
 than theirs are by me — so I spoke not of them. 
 
 ^'^ Thurs., Jan. 12th. Eeceived a visit from Mrs. 
 Shepard, Mrs. Hopkins, and Mrs. Backus. These 
 friends I esteem highly. With the former I have 
 not been intimately acquainted, although a sister 
 in the church, as she has not long been a resident 
 here ; she is a woman of a superior mind and pleas- 
 ing manners. 
 
 '' Fri., Feb. 2Uh. Visited Mrs. this p. m. T 
 
 saw in her family the picture of those who enjoy 
 all the pleasures the present moment can impart, 
 regardless of the future. If all that they now 
 enjoy could be continued, they must have more 
 than the common share allotted to mortals. But 
 their prospects appear to me very gloomy, nothing 
 for a sick day, or old age, and soon they may be 
 deprived of their present very comfortable abode 
 and business. 
 
 " Thurs. Apr. 20th. To-day we have followed 
 Brother Enoch Paine to his long home. After a 
 life of activity, of health, of usefulness, death has 
 laid him in the dust. 
 
 ''Sab., May 7th. With all my little ones I at- 
 tended meeting. Mr. Wisner preached from the 
 text — ' Follow peace with all men.' His sermon 
 in the p. m. was from the remainder of the text — 
 ' And holiness, without which no man can see the 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 225 
 
 Lord.' Oil, who could hear what he said, about the 
 consequences of not having holiness, and go away 
 una wakened ! 
 
 " Wed., May 10th. Purchased the ' Life of Rev. 
 David Brainerd,' written by President Edwards. 
 If one wishes to know the difference between him 
 who serveth God and him who serveth him not, 
 let him compare the life of Brainerd with that of 
 the thoughtless and profane. 
 
 ^' Thurs. Eve., May 18th. Have long had a great 
 desire to read Shakespeare; I flattered myself with 
 the idea of improving my style — therefore sent for 
 the first volume from the village library. I found 
 it was forbidden fruit to me, whatever it might be 
 to others, for the pleasing fiction occupied all my 
 attention, and prevented my search for beauties of 
 style. To my surprise, I found many indelicacies, 
 which I did not expect in so celebrated an author, 
 therefore I shall probably remain ignorant of the 
 beauties of Shakespeare. Oh, that his genius had 
 been better employed! then might those who seek 
 to know Jesus, and him crucified, have known and 
 admired his writings too. 
 
 ^^ Sah., May 28th. While making arrangements 
 to wait on God in his house, I received an urgent 
 invitation to visit a sick woman. It was two miles 
 distant, and very difficult for me to go, yet T 
 thought it my duty — therefore sent the four older 
 children to meeting three miles distant, took my 
 little one and went to see the sick woman. The 
 family have hardly the necessaries of life, while w^e 
 have so many of those refinements which sweeten 
 our enjoyment. On our return we called at a house 
 
226 EARLY TIMES 
 
 where lives an old man alone. It was old Dr. 
 Dart, lie was talking philosophy, and acting it; 
 for with an invited friend he was eating some 
 roasted potatoes on the head of a barrel. He apol- 
 ogized with a very cheerful countenance, said they 
 were eating a very humble meal, but it was the 
 best he had in the house. Poverty, where there is 
 anything like refinement of manners and mind, 
 does not appear half so disagreeable, as when there 
 is nothing but vulgarity and ignorance. 
 
 " Thurs., June 1st. The road is filled with trav- 
 elers going to a camp-meeting about ten miles 
 above us. Some women passed yesterday who had 
 walked thirty miles to attend. 
 
 ^'^ Sah.^ June 4:th. Crowds are still going and re- 
 turning from camp-meeting. Our family have all 
 attended Mr. Wisner's meeting, and have been 
 richly fed with sweet, divine truths. 
 
 '^'^ Sah., June 11th. Attended meeting at Mill- 
 town. The children walked. I never love them so 
 well as when I see them thus presenting themselves 
 before God. 
 
 '^^ Thurs., June 15th. Saw dear brother Bascom, 
 my sister's husband, who brought me the ' Life of 
 Winter ' and the ' Life of Dr. Hopkins.' 
 
 ^^ Fri., June l^th. Have heard that Deacon 
 Crocker, who is the chief pillar of our church, is 
 under the necessity of removing from us, being out 
 of employment. This will be a great frown of 
 Providence if it takes place, next to the removal 
 of our minister, which I fear will soon follow if 
 God does not appear for us. 
 
 ^' Sab., June 18th. Attended a reading meeting, 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 227 
 
 Mr. Wisner being absent, and I enjoyed more than 
 a common Sabbath's blessing in hearing the good 
 Mr. Morse pray. Since meeting, have been much 
 entertained with the life of Winter. 
 
 " Sah., July 16th. What a day of rejoicing has 
 this been to our minister and his church ! A de- 
 gree of that joy which is felt by angels over one 
 repenting sinner has been ours. We rejoice over 
 four who have been admitted to our church. How 
 strong my hopes that this awakening will not end 
 here, that my dear children will also be the sub- 
 jects of this work. jNIrs. W. called to tell me that 
 her son C. W. is under deep convictions. That he 
 spent a sleepless night, he wept much and was in 
 great distress. Should C. become a Christian, what 
 a plant of renown he might be in the vineyard of 
 the Lord! 
 
 "^ Sat., Sept. IQth. This evening attended prayer- 
 meeting. It was delightful to worship God with 
 the little number of his people after a day of fa- 
 tigue and care. I thought how much more delight- 
 ful it would be to worship him eternally and with- 
 out any mixture of sin. The eternal Sabbath of 
 rest. How delightful and harmonious the sound. 
 
 '^^ Sab., Sept. 17th. Have not attended meeting 
 to-day on account of the indisposition of my chil- 
 dren. When duty obliges me to remain at home I 
 often enjoy myself, and find a Sabbath day's 
 blessing. 
 
 ^'^ Tues., Sept. Vdth. Some remarks having been 
 made derogatory to the character of another, gave 
 occasion to our dear minister to say, ' No matter 
 liow true a report is, if we circulate it with a view 
 
228 EARLY TIMES 
 
 of lessening the reputation of the object, it is 
 slander/ 
 
 " Wed., Sept. 20th. The ' Luzerne Congrega- 
 tional Association ' is sitting here. I pray that God 
 may grant them wisdom in all their deliberations. 
 
 " Fri., Sept. 22d. Have felt idle because I have 
 not engaged in any of my undertakings. My father 
 used to say that he had rather be driven with busi- 
 ness than have little or nothing to do, and I have 
 often felt the truth of this remark. 
 
 '"^ Sah., Oct., 1st. This morning I awoke anxious 
 to attend meeting. If I could not ride, resolved 
 to walk. As is often the case when I determine to 
 surmount every diflftculty, Providence provided for 
 me and I rode. I was very much edified by the 
 sermons, and did not repent my attendance, al- 
 though three miles from home and five children 
 with me. With James before me and Seth behind 
 on one horse I arrived safely. Sometimes I scarcely 
 know what duty is. I wish to attend the worship 
 of God with my children. If I cannot take them, 
 it is my duty to stay with them, as they are too 
 young to leave, and the difficulty of taking them 
 is great. We ought to show more zeal for the wor- 
 ship of God than Christians generally do, yet to 
 do what appears like saying, ' Come, see my zeal 
 for the Lord,' does not glorify him. 
 
 ^'^ Tues., Oct. M. A girl who attends dancing- 
 school, walks three miles, and crosses the river, and 
 either has to burden some family w^ith her com- 
 pany, or return home after ten o'clock at night, last 
 evening gave me a share of the inconvenience aris- 
 ing from it. Without any acquaintance or invi- 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 229 
 
 tation she called and took tea, lodged, and break- 
 fasted, thanked me for her entertainment and de- 
 parted. I pitied the poor girl much for her 
 folly, gave her my opinion, intending to spare her 
 feelings yet be plain. Another case, similar to this, 
 occurred this evening. It is humiliating to wit- 
 ness the folly of mankind. Read a chapter this 
 evening to a child eleven years of age, who said 
 she had never heard a chapter read before, nor had 
 they a Bible in their house. 
 
 '' Fri., Oct. 6th. This p. m. Mr. Wisner visited 
 us. While engaged in conversation, a carriage 
 drove to the door in which were two strangers. It 
 proved to be Mr. Paine's eldest brother. Dr. James 
 Paine, and his daughter Charlotte. I had never 
 seen him before, and was never more happy in re- 
 ceiving one of my own brothers. His prayers and 
 his conversation are a luxury, and prove him a 
 dear follower of my own dear Saviour. 
 
 "Sab., Oct. 16th. Attended meeting at Mill- 
 town. Mr. Wisner made some remarks, which I ap- 
 plied directly to myself, and felt very much hum- 
 bled for my stupidity. Prayers were offered by 
 the deacons, during the intermission, at Mr. W.'s 
 request. 
 
 "Sat., Oct. 21st. Attended prayer-meeting, five 
 only were collected. Mr. Wisner prayed for the 
 outpouring of the Spirit, as if he had the assistance 
 of the Holy Spirit, or as if Christ had met with uSo 
 
 "Sat., Nov. 1th. This evening went to prayer- 
 meeting. Saw brilliant lights throughout the vil- 
 lage. A humble light shone at the academy where 
 we met for prayer. I felt happy in the idea of 
 
230 EARLY TIMES 
 
 meeting dear brothers and sisters. / met them, 
 their number was three besides the minister, and 
 what was worse they were just retiring. I had 
 been detained and was too late. I felt ashamed 
 indeed that I should not encourage the heart of 
 our minister by a zeal for the worship of God, and 
 more that I should cheat my own soul of heavenly 
 food. 
 
 '' Tues., Nov. 7th. Mr. and Mrs. Wisner made 
 us a farewell visit. We, as a church, deserve the 
 frowns of Providence, and we experience them in 
 the removal of Mr. Wisner, and in the indiffer- 
 ence or opposition of our friends and relatives. 
 Mr. Wisner intends preaching here still, but we 
 have reason to fear that his dismission will be the 
 next step. 
 
 ^' Wed., Nov. Sth. This morning Esq. Saltmarsh 
 was suddenly removed into the eternal world. He 
 was a useful inhabitant and a friend of Jehovah. 
 Oh ! that my work of life was done and well done. 
 How sweet would be the sleep of death! 
 
 ''Sat., Nov. 11th. Attended the funeral of Esq. 
 Saltmarsh, where was a large collection of people. 
 Heard while at the funeral that Dr. Satterlee, of 
 Elmira, had mortally wounded himself with a gun 
 that went off accidentally. 
 
 " Tues., Nov. llth. Have heard the joyful news 
 that Mr. Wisner has concluded to remain with us 
 until spring. 
 
 '' Sat., Nov. ISth. To-morrow is our communion 
 day. Had the satisfaction of preparing the sacra- 
 mental bread. Had sweet reflections while thus 
 engaged, and could say — What am I, and what is 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 231 
 
 my Father's house, that I should do this for the 
 King of kings, my Lord and my God. 
 
 " Hob., Nov. l^tJi. Our dear minister was ill, 
 and unable to do more than administer sacrament. 
 The affection of this church for Mr. Wisner is very 
 great. Not one of its members would exchange 
 him for any other minister, yet appearances are 
 very dark in regard to his continuance here. The 
 prejudices of the congregation are very great, but 
 not greater than have been against every mission- 
 ary who has been among us. 
 
 '' Thurs., Nov. SOth. This has been our day of 
 public thanksgiving. I did not attend meeting, as 
 the weather has been unpleasant, and the meeting 
 was at Milltown. Our Heavenly Benefactor has 
 done much to gratify our taste as well as to supply 
 our necessities. We partake of the great variety 
 which God has given us richly to enjoy, and al- 
 though endowed with reason, and capable of all 
 the feelings of gratitude and devotion, yet we 
 rarel^^ exercise them. 
 
 '^ Fri., Dec. 1st. Received a visit from Mrs. 
 Welles and Mrs. Hollenback, friends and relatives 
 of my early days. Friends and attachments formed 
 at that period are peculiarly dear, particularly 
 when strengthened by a long series of favors, and 
 a continued confidence. 
 
 " 8at., Dec. 2d. Brother Bascom called to-day. 
 He is authorized by the trustees of the academy to 
 apply to the Theological Seminary at Andover for 
 one who is qualified to teach our academy, and 
 preach to us, as we have reason to fear that our 
 dear pastor will not long continue with us. I find 
 
232 EARLY TIMES 
 
 much access to God in prayer when pleading that 
 a door may be opened for his stay with us. 
 
 " Sah., Dec. M. Mr. Wisner preached this a. m. 
 His text was, ' And Jehosaphat said, Is there not 
 yet a prophet of the Lord, that we may inquire of 
 him? And he said. There is a man whose name is 
 Micaiah, but I hate him, for he doth not prophesy 
 good concerning me, but evil.' Mr. Wisner used 
 arguments which his adversaries could not gain- 
 say or resist. On our return from meeting we 
 called to see an aged lady, Mrs. Prentice, who has 
 probably but a short time to live. 
 
 "'^ Wed., Dec. Qth. Last evening X was called to 
 sit up with Mrs. Prentice, who was not expected to 
 survive the night. 
 
 " Fri., Dec. 8th. Mrs. Prentice was buried to- 
 day. She was a woman of good sense and educa- 
 tion. She was the daughter of the Rev. Mr. Owen, 
 of Groton, Connecticut. Although more than 
 eighty years of age her faculties were not impaired, 
 and there was still much sprightliness of mind 
 and ga^'Cty of manners apparent. She paid much 
 attention to her dress, and a stranger would not 
 have supposed her more than seventy. 
 
 ''Sat., Dec. 30th. Mr. Paine invited Mr. Cook 
 and his brother this evening to supper, they being 
 left alone in their house. Their connection was 
 very singular. Two brothers married the mother 
 and the daughter, and the youngest brother mar- 
 ried the mother. 
 
 '' Sah., Dec. Slst. Am very much entertained 
 with Miss More's ' Christian Morals.' She has 
 driven me from some favorite but false notions. 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 233 
 
 Few writers have ever probed my heart so deeply, 
 and exposed its evils so much to my own view, nor 
 has any author ever excited a more humbling sense 
 of my attainments, and of my imperfections. I 
 hope God in his goodness to this sinful world will 
 spare the life, and preserve the mental powers of 
 one so useful. 
 
 " Sat., Jan. Qth, 1816. Attended prayer-meeting 
 this evening. Found no one there but Mr. Rich- 
 ards, nor were any other there but myself and 
 children. Mr. R. sung and prayed, and while I 
 enjoyed the blessing lamented that the ways of 
 Zion should thus mourn. 
 
 " Sah., Jan. 7th. Rose this morning with a de- 
 sire to attend meeting. Although the weather was 
 disagreeable, I made ready with my children to 
 walk to Milltown. Just as we were on the point of 
 setting out, with some doubts whether we should 
 not suffer from the cold, Mr. R. came in and said 
 he had liberty to take me and the children to meet- 
 ing in Mrs. Welles' cutter. I could not but think 
 this a kind interposition of Providence, as we must 
 otherwise have suffered, for we had not gone far 
 when it began to snow, and has continued through 
 the day. I did not expect preaching, but just as 
 meeting began Mr. Parker came in and preached, 
 much to our comfort. 
 
 ^^ Wed., Jan. 10th. Had an invitation to an en- 
 tertainment this evening. Made several excuses, 
 but none would answer, so with a heavy heart I 
 went. My surprise and pleasure were great on 
 finding the party composed of Mr. and Mrs. Wis- 
 ner with their father, and Mr. Guernsey, the pre- 
 
234 EARLY TIMES 
 
 ceptor of the academy. We enjoyed ourselves in 
 rational conversation, but these pleasures will be 
 short, as Mr. Wisner's connection with this church 
 is soon to be dissolved, and we shall be as sheep 
 without a shepherd. 
 
 '^' Sat., Jan. ISth. Attended prayer-meeting this 
 evening. But two persons besides my own family 
 were present. Mr. Wisner prayed with much fer- 
 vency for the church in this place. 
 
 ^^ Sah.y Jan. 14:th. Our dear minister has this 
 p. M. bid a long farewell to Athens — not expecting 
 to preach here again, nor is it thought advisable 
 to have reading meetings at present. 
 
 '^ Sat., Jan. 20th. Our dear minister has this 
 day removed from us to Ithaca. He bade us an 
 affectionate farewell. When he had gone I wept 
 for myself, and for my children. 
 
 " Tliurs., Feb., 1st. Took a ride with my chil- 
 dren to Smithfleld, to visit my sister. We were all 
 pleased, and loved our little cousin ' Harriet 
 Newel,' Laura's first-born. I felt an affection for 
 it, much like what I felt for my own. 
 
 "^ Wed., Feh. 7th. Rev. Mr. Smith arrived, and 
 is to preach a short time for us. His society is 
 very instructive, and amply rewards us for what- 
 ever trouble or expense we incur for his entertain- 
 ment. 
 
 ^^ Sah., Feb. 11th. Have been much strength- 
 ened in my wishes and hopes of being faithful to 
 my children by two discourses which I have this 
 day heard from Mr. Smith, on these words — ' Train 
 up a child in the way it should go, and when he 
 is old he will not depart from it.' He agrees with 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 235 
 
 Mr. Williston, and many other divines, in suppos- 
 ing that God has made a covenant with believers 
 and their seed — that if believers are faithful to 
 their children, he will convert every one of them. 
 
 " Tlfiurs., Feb. 29th. The ' Luzerne Association ^ 
 meet this week for the purpose of dismissing Mr. 
 Wisner. This is a stroke which will leave our 
 church low. This associaton is a body of emi- 
 nently pious divines. A number of them, after 
 their conversion, left lucrative employments, and 
 devoted themselves to the less profitable business 
 of the ministry. Some have had a public educa- 
 tion, and the advantages of the ' Andover Theologi- 
 cal Seminary.' 
 
 " Mon., March 4:th. Had an opportunity of as- 
 sisting by charity a soldier who had been wounded. 
 His leg had been broken in three places, a ball 
 had remained three weeks in the other knee, one 
 eje lost, one ear cut in pieces, and a sabre wound in 
 the side, in which were taken fourteen stitches. 
 His countenance was very good, and it was gratify- 
 ing to assist him. If it was done with a right 
 motive, it was a pleasant way of laying up treas- 
 ure in Heaven. 
 
 '' Sat., Feb. 15th, 1817. The cold is very intense. 
 Mr. Smith says it is the most severe winter we have 
 had for forty-eight years. There are many suf- 
 ferers on account of it. The extreme distress it 
 brings is such as I have never known. Yesterday 
 the cold was really terrifying. The streams being 
 frozen, a famine almost prevails, and I am under 
 serious apprehension that some will actually per- 
 ish from want. We have baked our last bread, but 
 
236 EARLY TIMES 
 
 it is not for myself that I fear. It is for those who 
 have no bread, nor any other comfort, and many 
 such there are around us. 
 
 ''Wed., Feb. l^th. Yesterday Mrs. Eeddington 
 became the mother of three sons at a birth. 
 
 "Wed., Feh. 26th. Mrs. Gregory watched with 
 Mrs. R.'s last babe the night on which it died. Not 
 one has been spared. 
 
 " Sab., March 2d. Cold, famine, and pestilence 
 seem every day to increase, and threaten desola- 
 tion. The oldest person of our acquaintance re- 
 members no such time. A mother thinly clad came 
 three miles through the storm, to beg a trifle for 
 her children to eat. I have partially relieved three 
 families to-day. The one best provided for had 
 nothing save some frozen potatoes and milk — a 
 family of nine children. 
 
 " Wed., March 5th. The very great and extreme 
 severity of the weather has abated. It has been 
 remarked by elderly people that such a severe 
 winter has not been known since the year 1780." 
 
 The drought and severity of the weather, of 
 which Mrs. Paine speaks, were felt extensively 
 through the country. The summer of 1816 was 
 very cold. Snow fell for more than two hours 
 on the 3d of June, and vegetation was cut off to an 
 alarming extent. 
 
 The drought and scarcity prevailed also through 
 1817, 1818, and the effects were felt greatly through 
 the winter of 1819. Many families suffered for 
 want of food, and many cattle starved to death. 
 They were frequently found leaning against the 
 fence through weakness, and were often found dead 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 237 
 
 in the fields. The oldest people then living knew 
 of no such time of cold, and famine, and general 
 calamity. 
 
 Wells were dry and water scarce. The spots on 
 the sun also added terror to suffering among the 
 illiterate. It was a wonder how the poor sub- 
 sisted, for the rich had barely the necessaries of 
 life, and provisions could scarcely be obtained at 
 any price. Some nearly perished from cold and 
 want. One family had nothing but damaged tur- 
 nips. Cold and famine, during the severity of 
 February, 1817, seemed every day to increase, and 
 were sometimes terrific. 
 
 Abisha Price was greatly straitened for food 
 for his family, and started out with his gun almost 
 in despair, when he saw a fawn, and was upon 
 the point of firing at it, but discovered that a wolf 
 was approaching behind him. He turned and 
 killed the wolf, then pursued the deer, killed and 
 dressed it, and took it home to his family with a 
 joyful heart. He went to Esq. Saltmarsh, made 
 oath that he had killed the wolf, and obtained a 
 certificate for which he received of the county treas- 
 urer twelve dollars bounty. But for the success 
 of this day, he said he could not have supplied 
 his family through the season with the necessaries 
 of life. 
 
 '^ March 8th, 1817. We have just heard the 
 mournful intelligence that a little son of Mr. Park 
 was drowned under the ice in the Susquehanna 
 Eiver." 
 
 Not long after a little grandson of Major Flower 
 was returning home, driving a horse before a 
 
228 ^ EARLY TIMES 
 
 sleigh. They were all found drowned the next 
 morning under the ice, where they had lain through 
 the night. 
 
 JOURNEY TO BRAINERD 
 
 About 1818 the cause of Indian Missions engaged 
 the attention of many in this part of the country, 
 and several persons offered themselves to the Amer- 
 ican Board of Missions, to be sent as missionaries 
 to the Indians, and were accepted. Rev. Ord. Hoyt, 
 of Wilkesbarre, was appointed to the superintend- 
 'ence of the mission among the Cherokees. Soon 
 after a location was made at Brainerd, on Mission 
 Ridge, about ten miles up the Chickamauga Creek, 
 and a few miles from Lookout Mountain. 
 
 Here these devoted missionaries gathered a mis- 
 -sion family, of more than a hundred natives, un- 
 der their care, with schools, agricultural instruc- 
 tions, and many religious privileges. The " Mission 
 House," was built by the president. Mrs. Paine, 
 possessing much of a missionary spirit, being ac- 
 quainted with some of the missionaries, and hav- 
 ing a high estimation of the advantages to be en- 
 joyed there, proposed to her husband, who was in 
 poor health, to remove South, in the neighborhood 
 of the mission, where his health might be improved, 
 and their children might receive the benefit of the 
 establishment. The plan was matured to their 
 mutual satisfaction, and after due arrangements, 
 the family, consisting of the mother, four sons, and 
 a servant girl, with a faithful man to take charge 
 of them, commenced their journey, November, 
 1820. Mr. Paine attended them as far as Fred- 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 239 
 
 erick, Maryland, where they expected to meet some 
 missionaries who were destined for Brainerd. 
 Mrs. Paine's journal says, " While waiting there, 
 Mr. Paine accompanied us to Washington. We 
 heard the President's Message, and felt grateful 
 for the interest taken in the poor natives. The 
 address cannot fail to raise him in the estimation 
 of the benevolent. After returning to Frederick, 
 and not meeting with the missionaries, it was 
 thought best for us to proceed. Mr. Paine was 
 obliged to return to Athens, that he might settle 
 some secular affairs, intending immediately to pros- 
 ecute his journey to Brainerd on horseback. 
 
 " While at Frederick we became acquainted with 
 the Rev. Mr. Davidson, and heard him preach. One 
 evening the conversation turned on Dr. Boudinot's 
 ' Star in the West.' Mr. Davidson said he had a 
 friend who had greatly ridiculed the idea, yet 
 wished to read the book, which he did without 
 sleeping, ^nd before half finishing it became a con- 
 vert to its doctrines." 
 
 It was a favorite theme with Mrs. Paine that 
 the natives of our country were the lost tribes of 
 Israel. 
 
 " We passed through Winchester, and Harper's 
 Ferry, which Gen. Jones supposes a greater curi- 
 osity than the Natural Bridge, appearing to be 
 built in a large cleft of the rock through which the 
 river passes. We saw the Natural Bridge also, so 
 often described by others. From a projecting rock 
 on the north side of it we had a view of this most 
 fearful abyss, the bottom and each side of which 
 are composed of limestone rock, so regularly 
 
240 EARLY TIMES 
 
 wrought as to lead some to the absurd conclusion 
 that the whole is a work of art, not of nature. I 
 shudder at her temerity, who we were told ascended 
 and turned three times round on a stump, so near 
 the verge of this awful precipice that I dared 
 not go within its reach. A gentleman described 
 the Otter Peaks, a large pile of rocks on Blue 
 Ridge. A rock weighing many tons was balanced 
 on the top of another ; the surface of this rock was 
 a space only large enough for two to stand upon, 
 yet he saw a young lady ascend this place and 
 dance there. Is there not a high degree of infidel- 
 ity in thus trifling with death? We were willing 
 to believe her the same foolish girl who performed 
 at the Natural Bridge. We were much pleased 
 with the hospitable treatment we received at the 
 Bridge Tavern. The blacks at the house were 
 treated with much kindness, and I was agreeably 
 surprised in seeing one of them reading her Bible. 
 I asked her where she had learned, sh^ said, ' At 
 the Sabbath-school,' but added plaintively, 'We 
 cannot have them any more.' I heard this lamen- 
 tation from many a poor African. 
 
 " As we approached Knoxville, we met with 
 much kindness from several families, some of 
 whom felt much interest in our object. These 
 formed a perfect contrast to the conduct of one 
 family where we spent the Sabbath. The landlord 
 was a weak intemperate creature, and his wife, of 
 course, had the command. They were in good cir- 
 cumstances, but ignorant and profane. The fam- 
 ily of blacks were numerous, and had nearly ob- 
 tained the ascendency. The house was not large, 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 241 
 
 we were obliged to occupy the bar-room. We felt 
 ourselves on more than heathen ground. While 
 the children of the family and the negroes formed 
 a common group in playing ball and swearing, I 
 collected my children around me and we alternately 
 read aloud in our Bibles. I suppose our bigotry, 
 as they would term it, was a subject of ridicule 
 in the early part of the day, but after a time one 
 and another came in to hear a story read, until a 
 small audience of blacks and whites were collected 
 around us. I felt much rejoiced in being able to 
 command their attention, and selected the most 
 entertaining and instructive accounts, and read 
 chapters which described the doom of the wicked. 
 Mrs. W. (the landlady) sighed often, I suppose at 
 the small prospect of comfort in her husband or 
 children which she had in this world or the next. 
 " When leaving the well-cultivated and fruitful 
 soil of Pennsylvania for the fertile regions of the 
 South, we were greatly disappointed in finding a 
 country comparatively barren. Yet we could not 
 but ascribe this and almost every evil to slavery, 
 that bane of happiness and of almost every good 
 principle. There was to me a gloom overspreading 
 each field and prospect, similar to what one might 
 see in passing through a country desolated by the 
 ravages of war; only this we might believe transi- 
 tory, the former permanent. It seemed that the 
 ground was doubly cursed for their sake, nor was 
 the curse less discernible on the minds and man- 
 ners of the oppressors. Idleness, that source of 
 vice, was a predominant feature. One said to me, 
 ^ If you were to live here you would like our coun- 
 
242 EARLY TIMES 
 
 try better than any you ever saw, and slaves save 
 so much drudgery.' True, but this drudgery is gen- 
 erally left undone! The remark was often made 
 that the slaves did not half support themselves. 
 I believe that an income of five hundred dollars 
 at the North might support a family more com- 
 fortably than fifteen hundred dollars the owner 
 of twenty slaves. 
 
 " We found the poor slaves very grateful for the 
 least instruction. I asked myself if the perishing 
 souls of these blacks were not also valuable, and 
 if these wretched abodes were not Mission Ground, 
 such I was resolved to consider them; here to be- 
 gin my labors, and to lose no opportunity of tell- 
 ing them that they had souls most precious, to 
 be saved by faith in the Redeemer. 
 
 "At one place we saw four small children, the 
 eldest eight years old, and their mother was dead. 
 These had lately been purchased of their master 
 for one thousand dollars. 
 
 " We saw an encampment of nearly one hundred 
 negroes waiting to bury one of their companions, 
 now in the agonies of death from the effect of 
 poison administered by one of his comrades with 
 whom he had a quarrel. The overseer said his 
 master would not have taken two thousand dollars 
 for him. We visited the dying man's tent; his 
 wife and children surrounded his bed in much af- 
 fliction. I asked his wife if she thought him pre- 
 pared for death. ' O yes, madam, through the 
 merits of our Lord and Saviour, I trust he is.' She 
 seemed to speak this with the heart and under- 
 standing. A poor decrepit gray-headed negro stood 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE MS 
 
 by. I asked him if he was prepared to die. He re- 
 plied, ' O no, I don't think I am.' This poor 
 creature without hope of a happy future, did not 
 look as if he could survive the fatigue of a journey 
 to Alabama, whither the overseer said he was tak- 
 ing the crew for trade. One who made a good ap- 
 pearance asked me to walk into her dw^elling. This 
 was the first which did not seem like an abode of 
 wretchedness. It was neat and fancifully fitted 
 up with curtains and good beds. She said she had 
 been owned by many masters, and that all her 
 children were sold. ' At first it almost broke my 
 heart,' said she, ' but I am case hardened.' I in- 
 quired if there were any Christians on the planta- 
 tions. She told me of one who was very good, 
 whom his master and mistress and all loved. Soon 
 after, I saw the gray-headed negro almost bent 
 double with age and infirmity, but his countenance 
 was expressive of a benevolent heart, and peace 
 of conscience. I said to him, ' They tell me you are 
 a very good Christian.' ' O no, mistress,' he re- 
 plied, ' we read there is none good but God.' I 
 found this poor slave an intelligent humble fol- 
 lower of Christ. It was most delightful to see 
 their sufferings thus ameliorated. 
 
 " Instances were not unfrequent of mothers be- 
 ing sent from Virginia to Alabama, leaving a fam- 
 ily of little children at home, and in these cases 
 they were inconsolable. These bands were gen- 
 erally chained through fear of opposition. In 
 some of them mulattoes might be seen, said to 
 have been sold by their own fathers! 
 
 " It must not be supposed that all alike were 
 
244 EARLY TIMES 
 
 wretched; we saw many whose slaves were treated 
 well, were well fed and clothed, yet they cost their 
 owners far more than they could earn. 
 
 " A runaway slave had been taken up on the plan- 
 tation of Widow A. Young Atkins came in and 
 said, ' Well, we put the fellow to torture, and he 
 has confessed who his master is. He is a likely 
 young fellow,' said he, ' and we could not think of 
 putting him in jail, as there was one there already 
 who had been taken up for a runaway, and 
 placed there until his master should come, but his 
 feet were frozen, as he had no fire or blanket.' 
 I expressed my horror, regretting that we had 
 passed the jail fifteen miles, and could not leave 
 him one, Mrs. Atkins said this was nothing, that 
 three years ago a black fellow was condemned to 
 be hanged for stealing a horse which he rode only 
 three miles, that he was put in jail at Wythe, 
 where he lay during the winter without fire or 
 blanket, and when taken in the spring to the gal- 
 lows, the blood and water dropped from his legs 
 and feet, which had been frozen to his knees; and 
 his toes dropped off! Fain would I have disbe- 
 lieved this dreadful story, w^hich was confirmed by 
 two or three of the family. 
 
 " One more account shall close this catalogue of 
 woes. Our landlord in one place related the fol- 
 lowing : — 
 
 " A black fellow on the allowance of only one 
 peck of corn a week had been able to split one 
 hundred rails each day. His master came to him 
 and said, ' I have laid a bet that you can to-morrow 
 split two hundred and twenty rails, cannot you 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 245 
 
 gain it? ' He said, ' I do not know, master, but 
 will try.' He rose early and by great exertion ac- 
 complished it. His master instead of rewarding 
 him with approbation, sa^^s, ' I know now you can, 
 and you shall accomplish this every day.' He tried 
 but was not able to finish the task, and was severely 
 beaten. On the third day he fell short still farther, 
 and was again beaten, with his short allowance of 
 food, and repeated chastisements. At length he was 
 not able to finish one hundred. His master in a 
 rage approached to beat him, when the negro seized 
 him by the throat and strangled him to death, for 
 which, adds our landlord, ' I saw him hung.' I 
 heard many slaveholders lament that a black had 
 ever come from Africa. They know not what can 
 be done with them. 
 
 " We had not ceased to travel any day since leav- 
 ing Frederick, excepting on the Sabbath, and until 
 within thirty-two miles of Brainerd. Here the 
 rain had rendered the creeks impassable, and we 
 were compelled to wait three days. Our host and 
 hostess were amiable and very kind, but with their 
 poor management indoors and out, they could 
 neither make us or themselves comfortable, though 
 living on a farm which in New England could 
 have supported a family in good style. Their 
 house was without an outer door, or one pane of 
 glass, and unfurnished with shovel, tongs, and- 
 irons, or tea-kettle, with very few chairs, and little 
 table furniture. 
 
 " We learned here many things about the mis- 
 sionaries. Our host said they were doubtless the 
 best people that ever came into their country. We 
 
246 EARLY TIMES 
 
 were now on Cherokee lands, tlie appearance of 
 which was very pleasant, there being no under- 
 brush in the woods, and the traveler could pro- 
 ceed without interruption. 
 
 " We took leave of our hospitable friends as soon 
 as we could proceed with safety. But we found 
 the creeks much swollen and ourselves in peril 
 several times. I clasped my children in my arms, 
 but could not have saved them had we overset, as 
 the horses could hardly stand in the swift current. 
 Can we ever forget the good hand of our God 
 which carried us through! We spent a comfort- 
 able night in a little hut near the creek, and the 
 next night we trusted would bring us to our place 
 of destination. 
 
 " We crossed the Tennessee through much dan- 
 ger in a boat which was said to be old and doubt- 
 ful. The river had not been so high in many years. 
 My fears were wholly allayed by a deep impression 
 of these words, 'It is I, he not afraid.' After this 
 I enjoyed the sublime scene. We passed the last 
 habitation between us and the mission, but near 
 sunset we found ourselves in a dark forest, the 
 rain falling in torrents to which we were wholly 
 exposed, and the evil was greatly increased when 
 we arrived at a high hill, which with much fatigue 
 and dif&culty we ascended. To our great joy at 
 length we saw a light glimmering on the left. We 
 had arrived at the consecrated spot. All appeared 
 happy, the doors of each cabin near the mission 
 were open, in each of which was a blazing fire, 
 around which the Cherokee boys were playing mer- 
 rily. We passed by these cabins and entered the 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE Ml 
 
 mission house, where we were received with much 
 cordiality and surprise by the family. We were 
 introduced to a room where was a long table, 
 around which several well-dressed Cherokee girls 
 were sitting at work, each with her work-basket 
 before her. A good supper was quickly prepared, 
 and we were most agreeably surprised in finding 
 some luxuries to which we thought we had bid 
 adieu. After this happy interview we retired to 
 bed. We were led to a chamber neatly furnished, 
 where we found a good fire. All these things ex- 
 ceeded my expectations. I felt sentiments of grati- 
 tude to the dear missionaries, and was truly 
 thankful to this great Giver of all. 
 
 " I shudder at the recollection of all our dan- 
 gers, the more on account of the children, and I 
 love these young soldiers for their patience and 
 perseverance. 
 
 " Having one female attendant and four sons, I 
 used sometimes to think of Christiana in Bunyan's 
 * Pilgrim's Progress.' Our sleep was very sweet 
 this night. The early bell called upon us to rise, 
 and the bell for prayers summoned us to the din- 
 ing-room, and here I had the satisfaction of seeing 
 the mission family, the precious property of the 
 Christian public and of the American Board. More 
 than ninety interesting Cherokee children were 
 assembled for prayers. A portion of Scripture was 
 read, we heard those children of the forest sing the 
 praises of our God, and bowed with them the knee 
 to Jehovah. The children of the school we ever 
 found most affectionate and interesting; the na- 
 tives have minds superior to slavery, nor can any 
 
248 EARLY TIMES 
 
 tyrant subject them, yet they own many slaves 
 whom they treat with kindness. We found the 
 minds of the children most susceptible of improve- 
 ment. Religious instruction did not seem like a 
 tale twice told. Their books were their delight, 
 and they seemed to realize their advantages as 
 something new, and which might not always be 
 enjoyed, 
 
 " Charles Hicks is well-known as a Christian 
 and as chief of the nation. He had two sons and 
 a daughter in the school. The latter was an inter- 
 esting, superior girl ; her form was elegant, and she 
 possessed much genuine wit, which afforded us all 
 much entertainment. I had the satisfaction of see- 
 ing her improve in her temper, which was at first 
 quite ungovernable, and with the utmost joy I saw 
 this dear girl enter an apartment where I was sit- 
 ting one evening without a light, and kneel down 
 and pray with much earnestness. 
 
 " Little Harriet Newel I loved much; she was an 
 interesting sweet child, but easily offended, which 
 she manifested by pouting. I gave her a cake 
 which being broken displeased her. She turned 
 away without accepting it, haughty and straight 
 as an arrow, but reflecting turned with a charming 
 smile, received her cake, and said, ' Mrs. Paine, I 
 will give you my basket,' — her only treasure. 
 
 " Wit, beauty, and genius are not unusual 
 among these children of the forest. 
 
 " Delilah Fields I had reason to think was a 
 Christian. I had brought some presents from the 
 school of Miss G. at Athens for the school here. I 
 requested Delilah to write them a letter. One 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 249 
 
 evening she came into my room and said she would 
 write. I gave her pen and paper, but she said 
 ^ she did not know what to write.' I dictated the 
 first sentence, and turned to my own engagement. 
 In about half an hour she brought me her letter 
 finished. Very few children would have written 
 as well, for she was not twelve years old. It could 
 hardly be believed that a child of her age who had 
 been at school but two years could write this. It 
 was published in the Religious Intelligencer, and 
 I have since seen it in the Missionary Herald. 
 
 " John Newton was supposed to be a Christian. 
 He was only twelve years old. He was not only 
 loved but respected. There was a degree of dignity 
 in his manners which I rarely if ever saw in a 
 youth of his age. In the coldest morning when 
 called to prayers, while many of the children were 
 trying to secure themselves a good seat, or wrap- 
 ping themselves warmly in their blankets, without 
 a choice of seat or a blanket, John Newton, regard- 
 less of the cold, with his eyes fixed on the reader, 
 paid the closest attention to what was. read and to 
 prayers. He was brother to Harriet Newel. 
 Neither of them had any mixture of white blood. 
 I have often admired their bravery, and their in- 
 difference to their food, nor did it afflict them to 
 lose a meal. Excellent fish were plenty, and the 
 boys were fond of fishing. There were formerly 
 no grist-mills in the nation. Thej are in the habit 
 of hulling corn and making conahenna. This is 
 made by pounding the corn, wetting it with lye, 
 then boiling it several hours until it becomes about 
 the consistency of gruel. We could hardly have 
 
250 EARLY TIMES 
 
 supported the table without this dish. We also 
 had meat, corn bread, and wheat bread, and some- 
 times a pudding. Our toil was very great, there 
 being but three sisters able to do any part of the 
 mission labor. After my children became inured 
 to the fare of the mission table, they were healthy 
 and contented. They were greatly amused by fre- 
 quent excursions about the grounds, and much 
 pleased with the hospitality of the Cherokees. 
 
 " Marriage is quite customary in their nation, 
 but formerly was but little known. A gentleman 
 from Georgia four years ago passed through the 
 nation, and again last year. He says their im- 
 provement as a nation is astonishing. Many of 
 them live in good style. The women spin and the 
 men cultivate the lands. The first class of the men 
 wore fine broadcloth and appear like gentlemen. 
 Ross was a chief, kept a store and post-office. 
 Their connections were numerous and respectable, 
 and lived in brick houses." 
 
 Mrs. Paine received some intimation from her 
 husband that the state of his health was such he 
 would not be able to endure the journey as had 
 been proposed. She writes, " Mr. Paine began his 
 journey to Brainerd, but was unable to prosecute 
 it, which rendered our return necessary. A man 
 was sent commissioned and prepared to remove 
 myself and children again to Pennsylvania. There 
 was no doubt in the minds of our pious friends at 
 Athens, there was no doubt in the minds of the 
 missionaries, nor could there be any in my own 
 mind as to the duty of returning. We left the mis- 
 sion, April 3, 1821, with feelings of the deepest re- 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 251 
 
 gret, which could only be soothed by the prospect 
 of meeting a husband and a father. The mission- 
 aries and the children affectionately assembled in 
 the piazza, where a prayer was made and a parting 
 hymn sung. We took leave of the children in- 
 dividually, some of whom wept aloud. 
 
 " Mr. Paine expected if his health admitted to 
 meet us in Virginia. Our expedition was greater 
 than we had anticipated, and it was not until we 
 arrived in Pennsylvania, on the first of May, that 
 we saw him pensively riding down a long hill, and 
 fording a river, without observing us, until one of 
 the children grasping his hand says, ' Pa, we are 
 all here.' Merciful Father, how great was thy 
 mercy and goodness which enabled us to say, ' We 
 are all here.' " 
 
 Mrs. Paine's life was that of a uniformly de- 
 voted Christian, always watching for opportunities 
 for usefulness. Even after her hand was palsied 
 in her last sickness, she commenced a note to a 
 friend, which she could not finish, recommending 
 an object for the benefit of youth, that would be 
 elevating and instructive. But the map of the 
 Celestial city was ever before her, and when the 
 messenger called for her to go thither, she was not 
 surprised. She calmly said, " I have done with the 
 world, I have nothing more to do. To look back, 
 all is darkness, but," pointing upward, " yonder, 
 yonder up there, all is bright, beautiful, beautiful. 
 There is the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." 
 
 Death is welcome to those who have nothing to 
 do but to die. She closed her mortal existence, 
 Oct. 6, 1834, in full faith in the Resurrection. 
 
252 EARLY TIMES 
 
 " Christ the first fruits, afterward they that are 
 Christ's at his coming." A beautiful poem she 
 wrote on this subject, some years before her death, 
 may be appropriate to insert. 
 
 THE RESURRECTION OF A GOD. 
 
 Twice had the sun in darkness left the world, 
 And twice had night her sable robes unfurled, 
 And anxious nature in susijeuse yet stood, 
 Death held his scepter o'er the Son of God ! 
 
 The hours in solemn silence passed away, 
 The guards were waiting the approach of day, 
 The midnight moon gleamed on the extended spears. 
 Their helmets still reflected back to stars. 
 
 At length the day-star blushed around the east. 
 And cast her beauteous beams on distant west ; 
 Sweet morn once more dispelled the gloom of night. 
 The azure sky again was dressed in light. 
 
 When, lo ! convulsions shake th^ solid ground, 
 Spreading confusion and dismay around ! 
 A glorious angel swift descends from heaven. 
 The guards fell backward, from his presence driven! 
 
 His face divine beams with immortal glow, 
 His form celestial, garments white as snow ; 
 The seal was broke ; the stone was rolled away, 
 Angelic guards the wondrous work survey. 
 
 The seal of death was broke, the work was done. 
 The angel sat upon the ponderous stone ; 
 Death from the sepulcher shrunk back to hell, 
 The awful news of ruin there to tell ! 
 
 But who is this, arising now, comes forth 
 In robes of blood and garments dyed in death? 
 In awful majesty, lo ! see him come 
 Divine and lovely from the yielding tomb. 
 
MRS. CLEMENT PAINE 25^ 
 
 O Zion ! 'tis your king — ye Christians tell, 
 
 This is your God, who broke the powers of hell ; 
 
 For you, the wine-press he hath trod alone, 
 
 For you, the vengeance of his God hath known! 
 
 And now behold the resurrection morn. 
 Angels behold the first of nature born! 
 He rises conqueror from the cruel grave, 
 He comes, O guilty man ! with power to save. 
 
 Ne'er did the world behold the rising sun. 
 
 In glory thus victorious return ; 
 
 The morning stars with joy together sang, 
 
 The echoing sound o'er heaven's wide concave rang. 
 
 The God of mercy from his throne looked down 
 Well pleased that through the atonement of his Son, 
 He could be just and on redemption's plan. 
 Save guilty, — ruined — yet still favorite man ! 
 
 Soon shall the deserts blossom and rejoice. 
 Soon will the nations raise their tuneful voice ; 
 From distant heathen lands — from shore to shore, 
 The Babe of Bethlehem sing — the triune God adore. 
 Athens, August 7, 1829. A. P. 
 
 NOTE OR CONCLUSION. 
 
 There are doubtless many interesting facts connected with 
 the history of Athens that have not come to the knowledge of 
 the writer. 
 
 It is not claimed that the record is all that could be desired ; 
 it is hoped, however, that it may aid in a future and more 
 complete history of the country in this vicinity, whenever 
 another hand shall undertake the task. 
 
 Note. — Chickamauga was a reservation of the Cherokee 
 nation, containing twelve thousand square miles, guaranteed to 
 them by the United States government ; two-thirds of which lay 
 in the northwest part of Georgia. Brainerd, the first mission- 
 ary establishment of the American Board among the Cherokees, 
 was made in 1817, on what has been since called Mission Ridge, 
 much noted in the late war, and within the bounds of the res- 
 ervation, with farmers, merchants, physcian, and teachers, to 
 
254 EARLY TIMES 
 
 instruct the natives, and introduce among them habits of in- 
 dustry and civilized life. 
 
 The mission was in successful operation until the laws of 
 Georgia were extended over them. Two of the missionaries 
 were imprisoned for refusing to take the oath of allegiance to 
 the State of Georgia. They were taken from their fields of 
 labor, by armed soldiers, and immured in the penitentiary for a 
 year and four months. 
 
 The lands of the Cherokees were surveyed and divided into 
 farms, and distributed by lottery among the inhabitants of the 
 State. The United States also took the 8,000,000 of acres of 
 land, paying them the sum of $500,000, and removed them 
 beyond the Mississippi. Such were the hardships they endured 
 when journeying to their new homes that one-fourth of them 
 died on the way. 
 
 They were removed across the Mississippi in 1827, '28, and 
 '29, numbering more than 20,000 when they left Georgia. Many 
 of the missionaries went with them. They are now called a 
 Christian nation. — Vermont Chronicle. 
 
 Note. — Near the close of the late war, a gentleman from 
 Chicago with two officers from Chattanooga, visited the old 
 Brainerd Mission Station on Mission Ridge, seven miles east of 
 Lookout Mountain. The mission-house and mill are still re- 
 maining. In a clump of trees near by is the old mission grave- 
 yard. The monument of Dr. Worcester, whose dust has been 
 removed to New England, is in a state of preservation, and the 
 inscription plain. He died while on a visit of kindness to the 
 Cherokee people. 
 
 Mr. Vail, who went as a missionary farmer in 1819, is the 
 only remaining representative of the mission, now living near 
 Chattanooga, and is an elder in the church at that place, the 
 church being composed, in part, of members from the original 
 Congregational Church at Brainerd. The gentlemen were 
 greatly interested in Mr. Vail.' — Missionary Herald, 1866. 
 
."^ ,<j :5 * ; - 
 
 =* ^ 
 
 -* C^J rO ^ 'o ■^^ /v 
 <\J gj rj (\) tsj ftj csj 
 
APPENDIX NO. I 
 
 In 1828 Colonel John Franklin, of Athens, Pennsylvania, pre- 
 pared a series of articles, which were published in the Toivanda 
 Republican. The number for February 14th of that year, con- 
 taining the account of the Battle of Wyoming, will no doubt be 
 read with interest, coming from that remarkable man. 
 
 As I was living in Huntington, upwards of 20 miles 
 from Wilkesbarre, from the 1st of June, 1777, to the 3d 
 day of July, 1778, and although I can state the facts, I 
 cannot name the dates of all those transactions. 
 
 The inhabitants in their respective districts erected forts 
 to resort to for defense in case of an invasion. Two forts 
 were erected in Exeter, one at Wintermoots, and the other 
 at Jenkins, at the Lackawanna ferry. Some time in June 
 two or three men were murdered up the river above the 
 forts in Exeter, by Indians or Tories. Application was 
 then made to the Board of War for Captain Spalding with 
 his company to be sent to Wyoming to defend the inhab- 
 itants; orders were given for that purpose. The company 
 was at that time with a Pennsylvania regiment at or near 
 Valley Forge, when the orders were received for them to 
 return to Wyoming. But probably from the influence 
 of Pennsylvania Tories, or others who were opposed to 
 the inhabitants holding the country under the jurisdic- 
 tion of Connecticut, or as was suspected from some evil 
 design, the company was not permitted to return immedi- 
 ately to Wyoming, but were kept with the regiment and 
 marched a different course for several days and were finally 
 discharged at Lancaster, from which place they marched 
 
 255 
 
256 APPENDIX NO. I 
 
 for Wyoming, and arrived at Shoop's Inn, in Northamp- 
 ton County, about 30 miles from Wyoming, on the even- 
 ning of the 3d of July, the day on which the massacre took 
 place. Had they not been thus detained, they would have 
 been at Wyoming at least six days before the battle was 
 fought. 
 
 Having satisfactory information that an army was on 
 their way to invade the settlements. Colonels Butler and 
 Denison, with six companies of militia, and Captain 
 Hewit's company, marched some distance up the river 
 the last day of June, with a design to meet the enemy and 
 attack them before they reached the settlements below, but 
 returned without discovering any except two Indians, who, 
 having their retreat cut off, attempted their escape by swim- 
 ming the river. Lieutenant Eoswell Franklin and another 
 person pursued them with a canoe, and dispatched them 
 with their setting poles in the river. It appeared that 
 the body of the enemy, to prevent being discovered, had 
 marched through the woods back of the mountains some 
 distance from the river settlements. It was well ascer- 
 tained that the Wintermoots and some others had driven 
 cattle over the mountains to feed the enemy when on the 
 way. Having ascertained that the enemy were not far 
 distant, the inhabitants resorted to their respective forts 
 with their women and children; those in the neighborhood 
 of Wintermoots resorted to that fort, where Daniel Inger- 
 soU, who resided in the neighborhood, took the command. 
 
 On the first day of July two of the Wintermoots left 
 their fort and went over the mountain on pretense of 
 making a discovery; they returned to the fort ven'- quietly 
 in the evening, and called for entrance. The gate was 
 opened when the villains led Colonel John Butler with his 
 army of Tories and Indians into the fort, and the few inno- 
 cent families who had resorted there for safety were made 
 prisoners. On the morning of the 2d July a detach- 
 
APPENDIX NO. I 25T 
 
 ment of the enemy marched to Jenkins' fort, where the few 
 families in that neighborhood had resorted for safety, not 
 being able to defend themselves, surrendered, and the 
 enemy took possession of the fort and made prisoners of 
 its inmates. 
 
 July 2d, at nine o'clock in the evening, I was at Hunt- 
 ington, a mile from home at a neighbor's, when I received 
 by an express the following letter : — 
 
 " Kingston, 2d of July, 1778. 
 " To Capt. John Franklin. — Sir, you are commanded 
 to appear forthwith, with your company, at the Forty fort, 
 in Kingston. Don't let your women and children detain 
 you, for I don't think there is any danger at present, for 
 the enemy have got possession of Wintermoots fort, and 
 I conclude they mean to attack us next. You will act as 
 you think prudent about ordering the women and children 
 to move to Salem; but you must not wait one moment to 
 assist them. 
 
 "Nathan Denison, Colonel." 
 
 " To Capt. Whittlesey, 
 
 " You are desired to forward the above with all possible 
 expedition; don't let anything detain this — press a horse 
 if needed. 
 
 "]!^athan Denison, Colonel" 
 
 My company lived scattering — a part in Huntington 
 and the remainder along the river from Shickshinne to 
 near Berwick — the greatest number however lived in Sa- 
 lem. The letter was copied and sent to my lieutenant, 
 Stoddard Bowen, at Salem, with directions to have him 
 meet me at Shickshinne early the next morning, with all 
 of the company that could be collected in that quarter; 
 notice was also given to every family in Huntington. Two 
 
258 APPENDIX NO. I 
 
 of the company from Huntington were at that time in 
 Shawney, and three at Shickshinne. 
 
 Early in the morning, July 3d, I took my family to a 
 neighbor's house, where I met with six men, all that could 
 leave Huntington with safety to the women and children. 
 We marched to Shickshinne. Lieutenant Bowen had been 
 there, and taken with him three men who were there, and 
 had been gone an hour ; he had left a sergeant to collect the 
 men in Salem and follow him. We had gone but a short 
 distance when we met an express (Benj. Harvey) with 
 a letter from Lieut. Col. George Dorrance, informing 
 me that "the Tories and Indians, about 600 in num- 
 ber were in possession of Wintermoots fort — that he ex- 
 pected they would attack Kingston next, and requested my 
 assistance, with my company, with all possible speed.^' 
 He had also written a few lines to a Captain Clingman, 
 who was then stationed at Fort Jenkins, near Fishing 
 €reek, with 90 men, requesting his assistance with his 
 company at Kingston. I also underwrote a few lines to 
 the same purport. 
 
 When we reached the garrison at Shawney, we had in- 
 formation direct from Kingston that Colonels Butler and 
 Denison with all their forces had left the fort and formed 
 a line at Abraham's Creek, a short distance from the fort, 
 and did not expect an attack from the enemy until the 
 next morning. Prom that information I left part of the 
 men I had with me to wait a short time for the arrival of 
 the residue of the company from Salem. I marched on 
 with four others, and when we came opposite to Wilkes- 
 barre we heard the firing, not heavy, but scattering. We 
 hastened on with all speed, and found on arriving at Kings- 
 ton fort that a battle had been fought, and Colonels Butler 
 and Denison with 15 or 20 others had in their retreat 
 gained the fort. Colonel Butler tarried there but a very 
 short time, when he crossed the river to Wilkesbarre. From 
 
APPENDIX NO. I 259 
 
 Colonel Denison and others I got the following particulars. 
 The enemy having possession of the two upper forts, 
 it was expected they would attack Kingston next. Five 
 companies of militia, to wit : three from the east side of the 
 river and two from the west, with Captain Hewit's com- 
 pany, were collected at Kingston fort. In consequence of 
 the enemy being in possession of the upper forts, no assist- 
 ance could be had from the inhabitants in that quarter. 
 The enemy had taken possession of all the water craft at 
 Jenkins' ferry so that the Lackawanna company com- 
 manded by Captain Jeremiah Blancher, had no way of 
 getting to Kingston unless by going down on the east side 
 of the river and crossing at the fort, and leaving their 
 families behind where they might have fallen an easy 
 prey to the enemy. 
 
 The precise number collected at Kingston fort was not 
 ascertained. I am, however, confident from my own knowl- 
 edge that the whole number, including Captain Hewit's 
 company, did not exceed 300 men. I knew every man that 
 was in the battle from Shawney; their whole number was 
 only 44; a small number from each company was left in 
 their respective forts to guard the women and children. 
 
 On the morning of July 3d Daniel Ingersoll, then a 
 prisoner in Wintermoots fort, was sent by Colonel John 
 Butler, commander of the enemy, with a flag to Kingston 
 iort, proposing to Colonels Butler and Denison that on con- 
 dition of surrendering without bloodshed, he would give 
 them good terms of capitulation; a surrender was refused 
 and the flag returned with information accordingly. 
 
 After the flag returned. Colonels Butler and Denison, 
 with all their forces, left the fort and formed a line at 
 Abraham's Creek, with a view of attacking the enemy be- 
 fore they reached the fort; that in case they were not able 
 to hold their ground they could retreat to the fort. Cap- 
 tain McCarragan, of the Hanover company, gave up the 
 
260 APPENDIX NO. I 
 
 command to Captain Lazarus Stewart, an old warrior, and 
 went with him. Lieutenant Lazarus Stewart, Jr., went 
 on as a volunteer in the same company. 
 
 Some short time after the middle of the day it was dis- 
 covered that the enemy were burning all the settlements 
 above, and collecting all the cattle within their reach; but 
 from appearance it was apprehended that they would not 
 risk an attack upon Kingston, but would burn, plunder, 
 and destroy all the upper settlements, and would probably 
 cross the river to Lackawanna, and take possession of that 
 fort, destroy the settlement, and probably massacre the 
 people or make them prisoners and return back with their 
 booty from whence they came. To prevent which it was 
 proposed by some of the officers to go and attack them on 
 their own ground, which was finally agreed to, though re- 
 luctantly by some. Colonel Denison informed me that he 
 said as much against it as he could say, without being 
 called a coward. It was his wish to wait for more strength 
 — for the arrival of my company, which he expected would 
 be on the following morning, and further for the arrival 
 of Captain Spalding's company, as Lieutenant Timothy 
 Pierce arrived with information that the company were 
 on the way, and would probably arrive on Sunday for their 
 assistance; but fearing that it would then be too late, that 
 the enemy would draw off with their booty before any 
 further assistance could be had, it was determined to at- 
 tack them. 
 
 Captains Durkee and Eansom, Lieutenants Eoss and 
 Welles, with a select party, marched forward as the ad- 
 vance, and formed the line of battle; Captain Hewit's 
 company on the right, and Captain Whittlesey's company 
 on the left. When they came in sight of the enemy, they 
 were in a body about Wintermoots fort; but they instantly 
 formed a line across the plain, covered with trees and brush 
 to a swamp on their right. Colonels Butler and Denison 
 
APPENDIX NO. I 261 
 
 with their small forces advanced to a line drawn for action, 
 to meet the enemy, who were at least double their number. 
 The battle now commenced, and the firing was heavy for 
 about 30 minutes; the left wing of the enemy was forced 
 back, and Captain Hewit's company and others on our 
 right wing had gained about 30 rods of ground, the enemy 
 breaking before them. Our left wing held their ground, 
 and victory over our enemies was considered sure, when 
 it was discovered that the Indians were advancing round 
 in the swamp to surround our left wing, when orders were 
 given to flank off to the left to prevent being surrounded; 
 but through mistake it was said that orders were given 
 to retreat off to the left, and some person (probably through 
 fear), cried out that Colonel Denison had given orders for 
 the left wing to retreat — they gave back, and the Indians 
 set up a hideous yell and advanced. Attempts were made 
 by the officers to prevent retreating, and to bring them up 
 to face the enemy and to stand their ground, but in vain; 
 the word " retreat," though not intended, proved fatal — a 
 general retreat taking place. The left wing first giving 
 way, when the right wing was advancing, their retreat 
 was cut off by the bend in the river below. The savage 
 Indians, and Tories of a more savage nature, rushed on 
 with their guns and tomahawks; the slaughter became 
 dreadful; the greatest number that escaped the slaughter 
 was by crossing the river; numbers were killed in the river 
 in attempting to cross, numbers surrendered on the promise 
 of good quarters — in one particular case about 30 got into 
 the river in company, where they were fired upon by the 
 Indians and Tories, and several were killed, when they pro- 
 posed to the survivors that if they would come to shore 
 and surrender themselves they should not be injured — 
 that their lives should be spared. Trusting to these prom- 
 ises, 15 in number returned back to the shore and sur- 
 rendered themselves prisoners; they were led off some 
 
262 APPENDIX NO. I 
 
 distance to the road, where they were set down in a ring 
 facing each other, with an Indian to the back of each one, 
 to hold them down, when the old sqnaw. Queen Esther, 
 followed round the ring to the right with a death maul, 
 with which she broke their skulls. Among these prisoners 
 was William Buck, a lad about 15 years old, a son of 
 Lieutenant Asahel Buck; he was not held, and seeing the 
 old squaw killing the prisoners, with her death maul, he 
 started and ran off crying; he was pursued by an Indian, 
 who took him and flattered him that as he was a white- 
 headed boy he should not be. hurt. But while he was lead- 
 ing him up to the ring, another Indian came behind him 
 and struck a tomahawk into his head and put an end to his 
 life. Lebeus Hammon, being a stout man, a large Indian 
 stood behind him with his hands on his shoulders to pre- 
 vent his rising. Seeing but one man on his left to receive 
 the fatal blow before his turn should come, he concluded 
 that he could but die, and that he might as well make an 
 attempt to save his life as to sit still and receive the fatal 
 blow from the death maul of the old Queen, gave a sudden 
 spring — arose from the ground and knocked the Indian 
 down that was holding him, ran into the woods, pursued 
 by two Indians, but turning one side from his course 
 under cover of a tree, and a bunch of brush, the Indians 
 ran by a short distance, when he changed his course 
 through the woods and escaped with his life. The other 
 fourteen were killed, stripped, and scalped, and left lying 
 in the ring with their feet towards each other. 
 
 I was informed by a man who escaped the slaughter, 
 that a man of the name of Calwell, in Captain "Whittlesey's 
 company on the left wing, was killed in the commence- 
 ment of the action, and that he was the only one of that 
 company that fell until they commenced their retreat. And 
 from the best account that could be had from those that 
 made their escape, and from examining the ground, the 
 
APPENDIX NO. I 263 
 
 greatest number that were slain had surrendered them- 
 selves prisoners on the promise of their lives being spared 
 and were afterwards inhumanly massacred. 
 
 LAND TEANSFERS 
 
 The following is a record of the transfer of certain lots of 
 land in the village of Athens. 
 
 Title— 1789— April 13th. 
 
 Solomon Bennett to Andreas Budd, the grantor for value 
 received gives up all his right and title to a certain lot of 
 land lying on Tioga Point, know as Number 6, containing 
 nine and three-quarters acres. 
 
 Title. 
 
 John Franklin to Andreas Budd, 30th March, 1793; 
 consideration, three pounds. 
 
 Eight of lot of land lying and being in Athens aforesaid, 
 and being in that part of said Athens called the town plot, 
 and being lot Number 40, the first division of lots in said 
 Athens. 
 
 Said lot bounded northerly, on a piece of land laid out 
 for public use; westwardly on a highway laid out through 
 the town plot; eastwardly on Susquehanna Eiver. Said 
 lot being 6 rods wide on a north and south line. 
 
 Title. 
 
 Andreas Budd to Elisha Mathewson, 17th June, 1795, 
 conveys both these lots for eighty pounds. 
 
APPENDIX NO. II. 
 
 THE INDIANS OF TIOGA POINT.* 
 
 Interest in the Indian races, their characteristics and 
 habits of life, is enhanced by the fact that their origin 
 and much of their history are veiled in obscurity. This, 
 however, proves an incentive to search more diligently, and 
 treasure more scrupulously every item of definite informa- 
 tion in regard to the nations who have gone before us. 
 
 The relics which the earth gives up afford but little 
 that is reliable to reward the antiquarian, hence specula- 
 tion and conjecture too often take the place of that cer- 
 tainty which may be reached among the nations where 
 there has been a written language, however meager and 
 difficult of interpretation. 
 
 Charlevoix, the French historian, in 1721 remarked, in 
 speaking of the Indians, "We seem to be just where we 
 were before this great and interesting question began to 
 be agitated." He adds, " To see one is to see all." 
 
 There does, indeed, appear to be a great similarity among 
 the Indian nations in regard to their rude implements, 
 their manner of warfare, their training to deeds of bravery 
 and valor, their hunting, games and amusements, in their 
 hospitality and kindness to friends, their unrelenting 
 cruelty to enemies, their indolence in peace, energy and 
 
 * Written for the Woman's National Science Club, Washing- 
 ton, D. C, January, 1898, by Sarah Perkins Elmer. As it bears 
 upon this locality, it is here introduced. 
 
 264 
 
APPENDIX NO. II 265 
 
 endurance in war. While these universal habits and char- 
 acteristics incline the white man to look upon an Indian 
 as an Indian only, with little to mark the individuality or 
 race, among themselves there were always wide and quickly 
 perceived differences. They were keen in discriminating 
 between the nations, tribes, and clans. An Andaste would 
 scent a Mohawk from afar, and the piercing eye of the 
 Iroquois was quick to discover his trembling vassal. 
 
 The dying embers on the hearthstone, an almost oblite- 
 rated sign or mark, or foot-prints on the fallen leaves, 
 were full of meaning which the Indian would recognize at 
 a glance, but would be beyond the discovery or interpreta- 
 tion of the white man. 
 
 Our special interest at this time is in the tribes who 
 formerly inhabited the section of country near the boundary 
 line of New York and Pennsylvania, and on the Susque- 
 hanna Eiver. There is nowhere to be found a spot more 
 replete with Indian association than is the little promon- 
 tory extending from New York for five miles into Pennsyl- 
 vania. The Susquehanna on the east, and the old Tioga, 
 now Chemung, Eiver on the west, where once was the 
 Indian town of Deahoga and where the white settlement 
 was subsequently called Tioga Point — but unfortunately 
 is laid down on the maps as "Athens," so named by an 
 ambitious traveler, who fancied a resemblance to the classic 
 city of the same name. 
 
 Who were the early inhabitants of this beautiful valley? 
 What races of people early loved its streams, its wooded 
 hills? These are questions of absorbing interest. 
 
 The eastern Indian tribes claimed to have come from 
 the west, that far back in an unknown period the Dela- 
 wares or Lenape and the Minquas or Andastes were com- 
 panions in their wanderings, and that the Delawares located 
 on the river which took the same name, and the Andastes 
 on the Susquehanna. 
 
266 APPENDIX NO. II 
 
 When this migration occurred there is no way of de- 
 termining. 
 
 According to a tradition as given by the Bureau of Indian 
 Ethnology "the Andastes, on the Susquehanna, prior to 
 1600, during a ten years' war, almost exterminated the 
 Mohawks/' In 1608 Captain Smith found them still con- 
 tending with one another, the Andastes or Susquehannocks 
 ruling over all the Algonquin tribes, and in 1647 they were 
 able to supply the Hurons with 1300 warriors in their 
 terrible conflicts with the Iroquois. — From the first the 
 ancient Andastes were knovsm as a race of desperate war- 
 riors. It is said of them that they, " When fighting never 
 fled, but stood like a wall as long as there was one re- 
 maining." — In 1652 a war broke out between these fierce 
 warriors and the Senecas which lasted twenty years. In- 
 deed, for three-quarters of a century they waged an almost 
 unceasing war with the Iroquois, by which the "whole 
 valley of the Susquehanna was stained with blood." One 
 of the Jesuit Fathers (as given by Parkman) exclaimed, 
 " May God preserve the Andastes ; none but they can curb 
 the pride of the Iroquois." Indeed, no other nation so 
 bravely defended themselves against this great confederacy. 
 
 The Delawares were conquered by the powerful Andastes 
 or Susquehannocks, who, in turn, were subdued as a nation 
 by the invincible Iroquois about 1674, and those not de- 
 stroyed remained a conquered nation on their own terri- 
 tory, the Susquehanna River, but in 1763, after nearly a 
 century of humiliation, the last of the once powerful Sus- 
 quehannocks or Conestogas, as they were also called, were 
 cruelly murdered at Lancaster, Pa., where they had taken 
 refuge. The Iroquois, in the meantime, had overcome and 
 reduced to a condition of vassalage all the surrounding 
 tribes, and had placed many of them on the Susquehanna 
 and in the vicinity of Deahoga, where the great head at 
 Onondaga could guard them well, and where in case of 
 
APPENDIX NO. II 26T 
 
 any lack of allegiance, the numerous warriors could by a 
 fleet of swift canoes suddenly sweep down upon them by 
 the rivers and speedily and effectually reduce them to 
 submission. 
 
 Numerous remnants of tribes were placed in proximity 
 to Deahoga, their convenient stronghold; the little villages 
 thickly settled the banks of the rivers. Their wigwams 
 were easily destroyed in the many wars, so we find at 
 various periods portions of many tribes located here, such 
 as Delawares, Shawnees, Nanticokes, Mohicans, and many 
 of the Cayugas, Senecas, and others of the Six Nations, 
 who considered this an important strategic point. Two or 
 three miles north and across the Tioga Eiver was, accord- 
 ing to Dr. Craft, a settlement of Tutelos, doubtless giving 
 the euphonious name Toodletown to the familiar vicinity. 
 
 The long house of the Iroquois extended from the Hud- 
 son Eiver to the western lakes. At the east door were the 
 Mohawks, at the west the Senecas, and after their con- 
 quests on the Susquehanna " Teaoga " was called the 
 south door of the Iroquois confederacy. 
 
 Here was stationed a Sachem who guarded this door 
 with vigilance, and no one could enter the territory with- 
 out his permission. It has been stated that a Cayuga was 
 this doorkeeper, but Mr. Lewis Morgan, who was adopted 
 into the Seneca nation, states in his " League of the Iro- 
 quois,'^ that, " while the Onondagas had charge of the 
 council brand and the wampum, and the Mohawks were 
 receivers of tribute from subjugated nations, the Senecas 
 were the hereditary doorkeepers of the long house, their 
 national designation being Ho-nan-ne-ho-ont, the door- 
 keeper." 
 
 The name of this Indian town at the south door varied 
 with the dialects of the numerous tribes represented there 
 at different periods. It was Diahogon — Diahoga — Dehoga 
 — Teahoga — Tehoga— Teaoga — Tohecon — Tioga, etc., etc.. 
 
268 APPENDIX NO. II 
 
 all conveying the same significance, the " opening," " gate," 
 or "meeting of the waters." And the hordes of savages 
 who have tramped through this narrow passage like the 
 neck of an hour-glass, from the great country above, into 
 the regions below, have been in number like the sands of 
 the sea. 
 
 The trails and war-paths running through the Iroquois 
 country all united at this place. The main paths follow- 
 ing the Susquehanna and Tioga rivers here connected with 
 the Minisink trail leading to the Delaware, and the great 
 war-paths running south and west. Mr. Morgan remarks, 
 " For centuries upon centuries, and by race after race, these 
 old and deeply worn trails had been trod by the red man," 
 also, " The convergence of so many trails upon this point 
 (Tioga) rendered it an important and well-known locality 
 among the Iroquois." 
 
 This great nation claimed all the territory belonging to 
 the conquered tribes, and nothing could be done without 
 the consent of the ruling powers at Onondaga. In 1737 
 Grovernor G-ooch, of Virginia, desired the province of Penn- 
 sylvania to mediate between the Six N'ations and the 
 southern Indians, Cherokees, Catawbas, etc. 
 
 Conrad Weiser, the famous interpreter, was sent with 
 the message from his home in Tulpehocken, Pa., to Onon- 
 daga, " 500 miles through a dense wilderness," he stopped 
 at " Tehaoga " and gives the following interesting account 
 of his entertainment there. This was written in the Ger- 
 man and translated — " Indians on the Susquehanna sus- 
 tained life by juice from sugar trees. We were ferried in 
 a canoe over the Susquehanna to 'Dia-agon/ there are 
 many Indians here, Sinicker (Senecas), Gainekers (Ca- 
 yugas), and Mohicanders (Mohegans). We went into 
 several huts to get food, but they had none for themselves. 
 Men off hunting. A Mohicander directed his old gray- 
 headed mother to prepare some soup of Indian corn. She 
 
APPENDIX NO. II 269 
 
 hung a large kettle of it over the fire, and a smaller one 
 of potash, and boiled both briskly. She then let the potash 
 settle and ponred the clear liquid into the kettle. It took 
 the place of meat or grease, making it slippery and pleas- 
 ant to eat. A large portion -was given to me and out of 
 hunger I ate a portion which was not bad. The filthy cook 
 and unclean vessel were more repulsive. I gave the old 
 gray-headed woman 24 needles and six shoestrings, and 
 begged for Indian bread. She immediately gave me five 
 small loaves of about a pound weight, of which Stoffel and 
 I ate two the same evening." 
 
 This was the first long journey of Conrad Weiser, but 
 his invaluable services frequently brought him on the same 
 route after. He was a firm friend of the Indians and often 
 mediated between them and the whites. 
 
 In July, 1743, Mr. Weiser was sent again to Onondaga 
 with a message from the Governor of Virginia, to arrange 
 a place of meeting with the Six Nations in the spring, to 
 form a treaty in regard to disputed lands. He was ac- 
 companied on this expedition by Mr. John Bartram, a 
 distinguished traveler and botanist, who made extensive 
 and interesting observations on the journey. As they ap- 
 proached this section of country he remarks, " Came to 
 the Cayuga branch near a hundreds yards wide, which we 
 crossed, then rode near a mile to the town house, bear- 
 ing north ; this town is called ' Tohicon,' and lies in a 
 rich neck, between the branch and main river. The Indians 
 welcomed us by beating their drums as soon as they saw 
 us over the branch, and continued beating after the Eng- 
 lish manner, as we rode to the house, and while we un- 
 saddled our horses, laid in our luggage and entered our- 
 selves. The house is about thirty-foot long and the finest 
 of any I saw among them. The Indians cut long grass 
 and laid it on the floor for us to sit or lie on. Several of 
 them came and sat down and smoked their pipes, one of 
 
S70 APPENDIX NO. II 
 
 •which "was six-foot long, the head of stone, the stem a 
 reed. After this they brought victuals in the usual manner. 
 The morning was very foggy." They then proceeded on 
 their journey to Onondaga. On their return they came 
 through Owagan (Owego), where a squaw treated them to 
 huckleberries and a large kettle of small hominy, boiled 
 in strong venison broth. " A noble entertainment." They 
 soon reached again the " Tohicon town on the Cayuga 
 branch." " The chief man of the town came to visit us in 
 a very friendly manner. Mr. Weiser, the interpreter, told 
 him of the success of the expedition to Onondaga, and he 
 was pleased with the prospect of peace, and added, when 
 he came home, having been absent, his people told him we 
 had passed through their town, but that we had not in- 
 formed them of our business. This furnished us with an 
 instance of the punctilio the Indians constantly treat trav- 
 elers with. The people, though earnestly desiring to know 
 our commission to Onondaga, would not take the liberty 
 to ask us." 
 
 In 1774 the Moravians of Pennsylvania desired to es- 
 tablish a mission at Wyoming. Even this step could not 
 be taken without obtaining formal permission from Onon- 
 daga; with this in view, the perilous expedition was under- 
 taken. Bishop Spangenberg, David Zeisberger, Schebosh 
 -(a Mohegan), Shikilling, the Iroquois-Cayuga Sachem 
 from Shamokin (Sunbury), with his son, probably either 
 Logan or Thacknectaris, Andrew, son of Madame Montour, 
 ivith interpreter Conrad Weiser, took the trail for Onon- 
 daga. On the way the Sachems adopted the envoys into 
 the Iroquois confederacy, the Bishop, into the Oneidas, 
 clan of the bear, and Zeisberger, who was named Ganous- 
 seracheri, into the Onondagas, clan of the turtle, the high- 
 est of the clans, thus making him a near kinsman to the 
 ■same clan in all the other tribes of the confederacy. The 
 'distinguished travelers stopped at Teahoga (Tioga Point), 
 
APPENDIX NO. II 271 
 
 finding "a beautiful tract of land where the Mohegans 
 had built a village." While the travelers were preparing to 
 pitch their tents, a deputation of head men came out and 
 saidj " Brothers, we rejoiced when we saw you approach- 
 ing ; our houses are swept ; our beds are prepared ; we have 
 hung the kettle over the fire; lodge with us." After being 
 refreshed by this hospitality, they renewed their tedious 
 journey, and upon reaching Onondaga, obtained permis- 
 sion to execute their plans in Wyoming. The adoption of 
 these men into the confederacy served them well in the 
 times of peril and hardship through which they subse- 
 quently passed. Zeisberger later on established a mission 
 at Onondaga; he was a celebrated Indian linguist and in 
 great ■ favor with the natives. When the children called 
 him " Assaroni " (white man), they would say, " ISTo I Gan- 
 ousserache is Aquanoschioni (an Iroquois)." In proof of 
 the confidence reposed in him by the confederacy it is stated 
 in his memoirs that at Onondaga he was entrusted with 
 the care of their entire archives, comprising many belts 
 and strings of wampum, written treaties, letters from 
 •colonial governors, and other documents, which were de- 
 posited in the log mission house. 
 
 But perilous times were upon the provinces. From time 
 to time the Six Nations had ceded large tracts of land in 
 Pennsylvania to the government or Proprietaries. As the 
 Indians said, " They buy a small piece of land of us, and 
 by stealing, they make it large." A great purchase was 
 made in 1754 from the Six Nations and a treaty held at 
 Albany, by which the hunting grounds on the west branch 
 of the Susquehanna and on the Juniata were taken from 
 them. The Delawares and Shawnees living on the east 
 branch of the Susquehanna in the neighborhood of Tehoga 
 especially felt the loss of the Juniata territory, it having 
 been given them by the Iroquois as their hunting ground. 
 Terrible hostilities followed, scalping parties were the con- 
 
272 APPENDIX NO. II 
 
 stant terror of the settlers, the borders were deluged in 
 blood. Governor Morris, of Pennsylvania, declared war 
 against the Delawares and Shawnees, and offered bounties 
 for scalps and prisoners, hoping by exterminating them to 
 end the devastations.- Sir William Johnson (Waruch- 
 yockon), using his boundless influence with the Iroquois, 
 induced them to compel the Delawares and Shawnees, their 
 vassals, living on the Susquehanna, to lay down the hatchet. 
 
 Governor Morris, on being informed of this, held a 
 council at Philadelphia, and sent a delegation of chiefs and 
 an interpreter to make terms of peace. They came up 
 the river and held a treaty at Tehoga, returning to Phila- 
 delphia and reporting to the council. 
 
 This was a favorite treaty ground; many villages were 
 near, and large numbers could convene at short notice, and 
 often the women and children also flocked together on these 
 occasions, making a grand gala day of it. The colonial 
 record says, "At a council held at Philadelphia, June 3, 
 1756, present Hon. Robert Hunter Morris, Lieut. Gov., and 
 others. Peaceful Indians, Newcastle, Jagrea, William 
 Lacquis, and interpreter Conrad Weiser." The Governor 
 informed the Indians that he had received their letter by 
 express from Bethlehem. 
 
 Jagrea made the opening speech, after the Governor had 
 formally received them. Then they desired the interpreter 
 who had taken it down in writing to read it and deliver 
 the strings (of wampimi) and belts at proper times. It 
 began, " We arrived at Wyoming after we slept four nights ; 
 found nobody there, so proceeded on till we came to ' Ti- 
 agon,' where we found a great number of Indians. We let 
 them know we were messengers from the Governor of 
 Pennsylvania to the Delaware Indians and others, on the 
 Susquehanna, and desired them to order a meeting of all 
 their people in that town and neighborhood (gave a 
 string)." The runners came back next day and reported 
 
APPENDIX NO. II 273 
 
 that they had met such and such chiefs, desiring them to 
 come to their town, " since they had come so far, they might 
 as well come a little farther," which the Pennsylvania 
 messengers refused, and said it was customary to transact 
 matters of importance and of a publick nature, in the most 
 public places, and they insisted, for that reason, that the 
 meeting should be at^ " Tiaogon." The answer came back 
 next midnight that the chiefs would come to Tiaogon. The 
 next day they arrived accordingly, and all the Indians 
 met in the afternoon, and Newcastle spoke. " We come 
 to you with a very important message from the Governor 
 and people of Pennsylvania: we may say from the King 
 of Great Britain." He told them how blind they were, as 
 if an evil spirit had thrown dust in their eyes. "We by 
 this string (of wampum) rub your eyes very hardly. The 
 evil spirit has stopped yoiir throat (string), their ears were 
 closed, this string would open your ears that you may 
 hear." Then Newcastle spoke in behalf of the Governor 
 and people of Pennsylvania, complaining of hostilities and 
 desiring terms of peace — strings interspersed. 
 
 Answer from Paxinosa, the Shawnees chief, speaker of 
 "the Delawares, because " Newcastle talks good Shawnee, 
 and Paxinosa talks good Delaware." Their addresses were 
 eloquent and ornate. Strings given, others spoke: Dela- 
 wares, Memksies, Mohicans, Shawnees. Terms of peace — 
 addressed to Brother, the Governor of Pennsylvania. — 
 Colonial records of Tiaogon or Diahoga. 
 
 The next spring Louis Montour and others came up to 
 Teahoga and invited the Delawares and Six Nations to 
 Philadelphia to ratify the treaty of peace to which they had 
 agreed. 
 
 There were among them deputies from the Mohawks, 
 sent by Sir William Johnson, and others of the Six Na- 
 tions. One of the Mohawks said, " When we come by Dea- 
 hoga we could not stay in such a hungry country as that 
 
274 APPENDIX NO. II 
 
 is noW;, they have nothing to eat but walnuts and wild 
 
 potatoes/' and added," we heard that Teedyuscung (King 
 
 V of the Delawares) would soon follow with a great number 
 
 /of Indians/' some from a true love of peace with their 
 
 / brethren, the English, and some for want of everything, 
 
 / especially victuals. 
 
 I War had brought its accustomed desolation to Tioga; 
 hunting was abandoned while the men were on the war- 
 path, and at times there was among the Indians of this 
 valley great privation, famine, and distress. 
 
 A little below the present village of Athens, and directly 
 opposite the point, was located Queen Esther's town. This 
 powerful Queen of the Senecas demands more than a pass- 
 ing notice. Greneral John S. Clark, the well-known anti- 
 quarian, claims that " Queen Esther was a granddaughter 
 of Madame Montour, who was among the famous char- 
 acters of our colonial history, whose father was French and 
 mother Indian; she was captured near Lake Michigan in 
 1694 or 5, when about ten years old, was taken to the upper 
 waters of the Susquehanna, and when of mature age 
 married Carandowonne, an Iroquois-Oneida chieftain; her 
 daughter Margaret was " a marvel in linguistic accomplish- 
 ments." About 1752 she returned to Montoursville, Pa., 
 where her rtiother had previously lived, and gave the place 
 its name. General Clark adds French Margaret had one 
 son and two daughters; one daughter, Esther, married the 
 Eang of the Monseys, and distinguished herself by her 
 fiendishness at Wyoming. The other daughter, Catherine, 
 was the somewhat famous queen at the head of Seneca 
 Lake, whose place was destroyed by Sullivan in 1779, 
 I known as Catherine's town. Queen Esther lived at old 
 ; Sheshequin (now Ulster) formerly, but about 1773 moved 
 up the river opposite Tioga, and built her famous, though 
 short-lived, town. Her castle is described as a long low 
 edifice, constructed with logs set in the ground at intervals 
 
APPENDIX NO. II 275 
 
 of ten feet, with horizontal hewn plank neatly set into 
 grooves in the posts. It was roofed or thatched and had 
 some sort of a porch or other ornament over the doorway. 
 This savage queen led the Indian troops at the time of the 
 massacre of Wyoming, and with her own hands toma- 
 hawked a large number of the prisoners near the fort. 
 Her so-called palace, with the entire Indian village, was 
 destroyed soon after this terrible event by Colonel Hartley; 
 he then crossed the river and reached Tioga. The Indians 
 fled before him ; he laid waste the old town and Tioga was 
 never rebuilt. 
 
 Only four months after the battle of Wyoming, when 
 ■'600 warriors went down the river from Tioga, was the 
 equally tragic massacre of Cherry Valley, which was de- 
 termined upon at a "great meeting of Tories and Indians 
 at Tioga." Butler, with his rangers, and Thayendanegea, 
 Captain Joseph Brant, with his Indians, accomplished the 
 devastation of that charming valley. The surviving pris- 
 oners, refined women, brave men, and helpless children, 
 after the massacre began their weary pilgrimage, among 
 them Mrs. Campbell, of historic fame, whose aged mother 
 was towahawked before her eyes, being unable to keep up 
 with the wretched procession. 
 
 Their route was the old trail where prisoners with their 
 cruel Indian captors had traveled ages before: down the 
 Susquehanna to Tioga, then up the Tioga and Genesee 
 Elvers to Niagara, the grand rendezvous of the Tories and 
 Indians, with no hope or expectation but to die in the 
 gauntlet which they were obliged to run for the amusement 
 of the savages at the different villages where they stopped, 
 by torture, or be subject to a fate but little better, to 
 be distributed and adopted among the Indian clans. Many 
 wretched prisoners wended their weary way to old Tioga. 
 It is well such hopelessness and despair cannot be recalled 
 or pictured. 
 
276 APPENDIX NO. II 
 
 " No pen or brush cati tell the tale, 
 The sorrows of this lovely vale." 
 
 The journals of the officers connected with the expedition 
 of General Sullivan, passing through this valley and up 
 into the Iroquois country in 1779, have thrown much light 
 on this favorite rendezvous of the Indians, as well as on 
 their habits and customs. 
 
 The army coming up from below, and having forded the 
 Susquehanna into Queen Esther's flats, marched a short 
 distance, then crossed the Tioga or Chemung Kiver, and 
 came into the old Indian town of Tioga, lying in the arms 
 of the rivers at " the gate." The town was de'serted, and 
 the soldiers pitched their tents on the banks of the two 
 rivers, near the point. Small parties of Indians annoyed 
 them by " creeping up through the high grass on the west 
 side.'' 
 
 They killed and scalped a man who was driving 
 some horses. Lieutenant Beatty's Journal says, " August 23 
 or 24, 1779: to-day we lay at Tioga; went to see an "old 
 Indian burying-ground which lay just by our camp. There 
 was about a hundred graves, some of which our men had 
 dug up. They buried their dead very curious, after this 
 manner : They dig a hole the length of the person they are 
 to bury, and about two feet deep ; they lay him on his back 
 in the grave, with an old blanket-coat around him, and lay 
 bark over the grave, even with the surface of the earth, so 
 as to prevent the earth from touching the body; then they 
 heap up the dirt on top of the grave in a round heap, which 
 is from four to six feet high, but the graves is very old 
 and a number of them, as this formerly was a very capital 
 town." 
 
 Major ISTorris wrote, " Our soldiers dug up several of 
 their graves and found a good many laughable relics, as 
 a pipe, tomahawk, beads, etc." This manner of burying 
 
APPENDIX NO. II 277 
 
 and of forming the large round mound is of great an- 
 tiquit}^ Fort Sullivan was located above the encampment, 
 and where the two rivers for about fifty-five rods run 
 within two hundred yards of each other, forming a narrow 
 neck of land, then stretching out below and coming to a 
 point nearly in the shape of a heart. The fort was built 
 on the lower part of this narrow neck, and in the form of 
 a diamond, the two obtuse angles resting, one on the bank 
 of the river Just below the present Chemung bridge, and 
 the other directly on the Susquehanna; the two acute 
 angles were about the middle of what is now Main street, 
 each point being within the two slight elevations plainly 
 visible, the north point only a few rods south of the academy 
 grounds. It was described as " a fine stokade, with block- 
 houses at each angle." Here was collected a force of five 
 thousand men, nearly one-third of the entire Continental 
 Army, consisting of Sullivan's division from Easton, 
 General Poor, with his ISTew Hampshire brigade, and 
 General James Clinton, who came with 208 boats from 
 Otsego Lake after having produced the great rise in the 
 lake by damming it up. When the obstruction was re- 
 moved he, with his fleet, floated down the Susquehanna to 
 Tioga, where they were received " with a salute of 13 
 cannon, and a tune on Col. Proctor's band of musick." 
 Sullivan's oflQcers refer also to an " old Indian carrying- 
 place'' near the fort, evidently where the rivers approach 
 each other the nearest. There they carried their boats 
 across from river to river to save going around the point. 
 This place was probably near where the academy and 
 Spaulding library are located. At the fort was left a garri- 
 son of 250 or more men, under Colonel Shreeve, and it 
 was the distributing point for the army while on its march 
 up into the Iroquois country. 
 
 The first engagement was in Chemung, a few miles 
 above, where there were " about forty houses built chiefly 
 
278 APPENDIX NO. II 
 
 with split and hewn timber, covered with bark and some 
 other rough materials, without chimneys or floors. There 
 were two larger houses, which from some extraordinary 
 rude decorations we took to be public buildings. There 
 was little furniture left in the houses, except bear skins, 
 some painted feathers, and knickknacks. In what we sup- 
 posed to be a chapel, was found, indeed, an idol, which 
 might well enough be worshipped without a breach of the 
 second commandment on account of its likeness to any- 
 thing either in Heaven or earth." 
 
 Another officer wrote of " seeing at several of the deserted 
 towns, two dogs hung up on poles twelve or fifteen feet 
 high, as sacrifice after a defeat, to appease the wrath of 
 their god. The skin of one to be converted into a jacket, 
 and the other into a tobacco pouch for the deity." 
 
 After an absence of only five weeks, when the army re- 
 turned to Port Sullivan at Tioga, they were received with 
 great rejoicing and a grand entertainment was given the 
 officers, closing with an Indian war dance, the young 
 Oneida Sachem who returned with them acting as master 
 of ceremonies. General Sullivan, in his report to Congress 
 after his expedition, dated at " Teaogo, Sept. 30, 1779," 
 wrote, "We have not left a single settlement or field of 
 corn in the country of the Five Nations, nor is there even 
 the appearance of an Indian on this side of ISTiagara." A 
 few Indians were killed and none brought back as prisoners 
 with the conquering hero. They had fled before the army 
 and taken refuge at Niagara. 
 
 The great Mohawk chief, Joseph Brant, or Thayendan- 
 egea, was not to be so easily driven from his old rendezvous 
 Tioga, his summer headquarters. The next spring eleven 
 of his warriors made a second attack on Minisink. As 
 the year previous, 1779, they returned with the prisoners 
 to Tioga, so this time their captives were five brave men, 
 who were brought to the same place, and while the chiefs 
 
APPENDIX NO. II 279 
 
 slept extricated themselves and seizing the tomahawks 
 from the belts of the sleeping warriors, quickly put ten of 
 them to death, the prisoners escaped. Brant soon after 
 arrived at Tioga from Harpersfield with a company of 
 weary and worn prisoners, so heavily laden with the booty 
 that they had nearly fallen by the way. Fortunately for 
 them, so sadly needing rest, the Mohawk chief was taken 
 with fever and ague, and stopped at Tioga till he should 
 recover. In this dilemma he made his own prescription: 
 he succeeded in capturing a rattlesnake, had it made into 
 soup, of which he partopk freely, and recovered. 
 
 About a year after Sullivan had reported to Congress 
 from Tioga, that there was " not even the appearance of 
 an Indian this side of Niagara," — behold! Brant and 
 Cornplanter (the great Seneca chief), with an army of 
 from eight to fifteen hundred Indians " chiefly collected 
 at Tioga." The excited warriors, bent on destruction, 
 followed the war-path up the Susquehanna and were met 
 by Sir John Johnson with his Tory troops. The united 
 forces plunged into the region above, invaded Schoharie, 
 and carried death and devastation through the Mohawk 
 valley, such as had not been known before, and had their 
 surfeit of vengeance, a desire for which had rankled in 
 their bosoms, and had been their one purpose, since the 
 destruction of their ancestral homes, by the expedition of 
 General Sullivan into the Iroquois country. 
 
 We have now a chapter associated with old Tioga, which 
 fills the reader with disgust and horror. It is given for 
 truth by " the Eememberancer, an impartial and authentic | 
 collection of facts published in London, 1782," and re- 1 
 produced by such writers as B. B. Thatcher and W. W. ^ 
 Campbell, faithful students of Indian life. Indeed, there 
 seems after the constant scenes of torture and death as 
 depicted in our Colonial records, no reason to doubt its 
 truth. 
 
280 APPENDIX NO. II 
 
 Extract of a letter from Captain Courish, of the 'New 
 England Militia, dated Albany, March 7, 1782 :— 
 
 " The peltry taken in the expedition, will, as you see, 
 amount to a good deal of money. — The possession of this 
 booty at first gave us pleasure, but we were struck with 
 horror, to find among the packages, eight large ones con- 
 taining scalps of our unhappy folks taken in the three last 
 years by the Seneca Indians from the inhabitants of the 
 frontiers of New York, ISTew Jersey, Penn., and Va., and 
 sent by them as a present to Col. Haldimand, Gov. of 
 Canada, in order to be by him transmitted to England. 
 They were accompanied by the following curious letter to 
 that gentleman: 
 
 " Dated Tioga, January 3, 1783. 
 *^j May it please your Excellency, — 
 
 I " At the request of the Seneca chiefs, I send herewith 
 to your Excellency under the care of James Bold, eight 
 packs of scalps cured, dried, hooped, and painted with all 
 the Indian triumphal marks, of which the following is 
 invoice and explanation. — 
 
 " No. 1. Containing forty-three scalps of Congress 
 soldiers, killed in different skirmishes; these are stretched 
 on black hoops, four-inch diameter; the inside of the 
 skin painted red, with a small black spot to note their 
 being killed with bullets. Also 62 of farmers, killed in 
 their houses; the hoops red; the skin painted brown and 
 marked with a hoe; a black circle all round to denote their 
 being surprised in the night; and a black hatchet in the 
 middle signifying their being killed with that weapon. 
 
 " No. 2. Containing 98 of farmers killed in their houses ; 
 hoops red; figure of a hoe to mark their profession; great 
 white circle and sun to show they were surprised in the 
 day time; a little red foot, to show they stood upon their 
 defense and died fighting for their wives and families. 
 
APPENDIX NO. II 281 
 
 " No. 3. Containing 97 of farmers; hoops green, to show 
 they were killed in their j&elds; a large white circle with a 
 little round mark on it for the sun, to show that it was in 
 the day time; black bullet mark on sun — hatchet on others. 
 
 " No. 4. Containing 102 of farmers mixed of the several 
 marks above; only 18 marked with a little yellow flame, to 
 denote their being of prisoners burnt alive, after being 
 scalped, their nails pulled out by the roots, and other 
 torments; one of these latter supposed to be of a rebel 
 clergyman, his band being fixed to the hoop of his scalp. 
 Most of the farmers appeared by the hair to have been 
 young or middle-aged men; their being but 67 very gray 
 heads among them all; which makes the service more 
 essential. 
 
 "No. 5,' Containing 88 scalps of women; hair long, 
 braided in the Indian fashion to show they were mothers; 
 hoops blue; skin yellow ground with little red tadpoles, to 
 represent by way of triumph, the tears of grief occasioned 
 to their relatives; a black scalping-knife or hatchet at the 
 bottom, to mark their being killed with those instruments ; 
 17 others hair very gray; black hoops; plain brown color, 
 no mark but the short club or cassetete, to show they were 
 knocked down dead, or had their brains beat out. 
 
 "No. 6. Containing 193 boys' scalps, of various ages; 
 small green hoops; whitish ground on the skin, with red 
 tears in the middle and black bullet marks, knife, hatchet, 
 or club, as their deaths happened. 
 
 "No. 7, 211 girls' scalps, big and little; small yellow 
 hoops; white ground; tears, hatchet, club, scalping-knife, 
 etc. 
 
 " No. 8. This package is a mixture of all the varieties 
 above mentioned, to the number of 122; with a box of 
 birch bark, containing 29 little infant scalps of various 
 sizes ; small white hoops ; white ground. — With these packs 
 the chiefs send to your Excellency the following speech, 
 
282 APPENDIX NO. II 
 
 delivered by Coneiogatchie in council, interpreted by the 
 elder Moore, the trader, and taken down by me in -writing : 
 
 " ' Father ! — We send yon herewith many scalps, that 
 you may see we are not idle friends — a blue belt. 
 
 " ' Father ! — We wish you to send these scalps over the 
 water to the Great King, that he may regard them and 
 be refreshed; and that he may see our faithfulness in de- 
 stroying his enemies, and be convinced that his presents 
 have not been made to ungrateful people — a blue and white 
 belt with little tassels. 
 
 " ' Father ! — Attend to what I am now going to say ; it 
 is a matter of much weight. The Great King's enemies 
 are many and they grow fast in number. They were form- 
 erly like young panthers; they could neither bite nor 
 scratch ; we could play with them safely, we feared nothing 
 they could do to us. — But now their bodies have become 
 big as the elk, and strong as the buffalo; they have also 
 got great and sharp claws. They have driven us out of 
 our country by taking part in your quarrel. We expect 
 the great King will give us another country, that our 
 children may live after us, and be his friends and children 
 as we are. Say this for us to the great King. To enforce 
 it we give this belt. A great white belt with blue tassels. 
 
 " ' Father ! — We have only to say further, that your 
 traders exact more than ever for their goods; and our 
 hunting is lessened by the war, so that we have fewer skins 
 to give for them. This ruins us. Think of some remedy. 
 We are poor and you have plenty of everything. We know 
 you will send us powder and guns, and knives, and 
 hatchets; but we also want shirts and blankets — a little 
 white belt.' 
 
 " I do not doubt but that your Excellency will think it 
 proper to give some further encouragement to these honest 
 people. The high prices they complain of, are the neces- 
 sary effect of the war. What ever presents may be sent 
 
APPENDIX NO. II 283 
 
 for them through my hands shall be distributed with pru- 
 dence and fidelity. I have the honor of being your Ex- 
 cellency's most obedient, and most humble servant. 
 
 "James Craufued." 
 
 However repulsive such an account may be, it is of inter- 
 est in the description of preparing and preserving the 
 scalps, and the indications of the various emblems by 
 which they were classified. It would appear that Tioga 
 Point, up to this date, 1782, was a British post, as this 
 great invoice of goods, certainly not of Continental manu- 
 facture, would indicate. Soon after this, 1784, the place 
 was occupied by the white settlers, and the present town 
 surveyed by John Jenkins in 1786. 
 
 The remarkable formation known as Spanish Hill, sit- 
 uated almost on the boundary line of New York and Penn- 
 sylvania, has excited a vast amount of interest and specula- 
 tion. Some suppose it to have been thrown up by the 
 early Spanish adventurers who entered the Chesapeake and 
 followed the course of the Susquehanna to Tioga, and that 
 they, or the early Susquehannocks, designed it as a defense 
 against the Iroquois on the north. The Due de la Eoche- 
 foucauld Liancourt, who traveled extensively in this coun- 
 try in 1795, makes the following interesting comments: 
 
 " Near the confines of Pennsylvania, a mountain rises 
 from the bank of the river Tioga, in the shape of a sugar 
 loaf, upon which are seen the remains of some entrench- 
 ments. These the inhabitants call the ' Spanish ram- 
 parts,' but I rather judge them to have been thrown up 
 against the Indians in the time of M. de ISTonville. One 
 perpendicular breastwork is yet remaining, which though 
 covered with grass and bushes, plainly indicates that a 
 parapet and a ditch have been constructed here." — Al- 
 though doubtless Spanish Hill has been a defense in time 
 of war, the modern geologist decides it to be a natural 
 
284 APPENDIX NO. II 
 
 formation of the glacial period, as others similar are found, 
 though perhaps none of so perfect a form. For many 
 years before the Indians departed from the valley, not one 
 was willing to ascend the hill, as it was said the one who 
 had last gone to the summit was never seen again, and was 
 supposed to have been spirited away. 
 
 Champlain sent out in 1615, to the great town of Caran- 
 touan containing more than eight hundred warriors, located 
 on and near Spanish Hill, to obtain a force to assist him 
 in an attack against the Onondagas. At remote periods 
 Indian settlements have been numerous in the vicinity, and 
 at a recent date remains of an Indian village were found 
 on the west side, with portions of an old stone fireplace, 
 charcoal beds, numerous arrow points, pieces of pottery, 
 fire-stones, and other relics — indicating that it was a very 
 ancient and closely inhabited locality. 
 
 Mr. Josiah Priest, in the American Antiquities, suggests 
 that Spanish Hill was an effort of Scandinavian defense 
 against the Indians, dating back to the tenth century, and 
 that these people were destroyed by the surrounding tribes 
 after a fierce struggle. 
 
 This spot has always been associated with Indian tradi- 
 tions and is of interest to the archeological student of the 
 present day. 
 
 The last treaty held at Tioga was between the Six 
 Nations and the United States Govermnent, represented 
 by Colonel Timothy Pickering. The council fire was kin- 
 dled JSTovember 16, 1790, and was kept burning seven days. 
 Sixteen hundred Indians, many of them noted chiefs, were 
 present. 
 
 Of this great historical event, a full account is given in 
 " Early Times." This striking and picturesque assembly 
 of men, women, and children was held on the Susque- 
 hanna, back of the present stone Episcopal church, on a 
 plot of ground now nearly washed away, and was the last 
 
APPENDIX NO. II 285 
 
 great gathering of Indians held at Tioga Point. Their 
 quest again was unsuccessful; the little flame of hope 
 ■which had heen rekindled in their breasts burned low ; the 
 last spark finally disappeared; and in despair they turned 
 away from the ancient home of their fathers and wandered 
 hopelessly toward the setting sun. 
 
 The few who remained after the treaty soon also dis- 
 appeared, and their many relics and burial places alone 
 were left to tell the story of the populous races who had 
 dwelt on the Susquehanna at Tioga Point. Numerous 
 Indian graves have been discovered from time to time; in 
 several instances they have been found one upon another, 
 indicating that more than one race had here deposited their 
 dead. Indeed the busy throngs of this thriving valley are 
 daily treading upon the ashes of countless nations, thought- 
 less of their happy homelife in the valley they loved, as 
 well as of their fierce and warlike deeds of past ages. 
 
 Could the spirit of an ancient Brave but leave the happy- 
 hunting ground to visit once more his well-loved home at 
 /" the meeting of the waters," he would not tarry long, for 
 / civilization has driven the game from the forests, and the 
 fish from the streams. The engine rushes down the course 
 of the war-path and through the many trails. 
 
 / 
 " The little cone-like cabins that clustered o'er the vale, j 
 
 Have disappeared as withered leaves before the autumn gale." 
 
 And nothing could the wanderer call his, save the beau- 
 tiful Susquehanna and the everlasting hills. 
 

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