OB A FEW «er mon gam RS a Ag Xe » a MAKING THALS S OF O00 biseong THe Story. of the Coabiy Told from its Earliest Day : / Down to the Present.—A Brief History Compiled from the Only Reliable Sources of Refer- ence—A Century Passed in Review. The history of the region comprised within the present limits of Centre County is necessarily interwoven with that of the several counties of which it originally formed a part, viz., Miflin, Northumberland, Lycoming and Hunt- ingdon, from which it was taken in 1800 ; and a historical sketch of the coun- ty, however brief, should begin with, or prior to, the time when the first permanent settlers located upon its soil. This takes us back more than an hun- dred. years—to a period when wild animals and wild men seemed to vie with each: other in their hostility to the white intruder, their commen foe. ~~ That the territory under consideration was once a favorite hunting ground of the Indians there is no doubt whatever. Though there are many evidences, * traditionary and otherwise, that they roamed in vast numbers over the mouunt~ ains, and through the valleys, there are very few monumental remains now ex- isting to indicate their former presence. Occasionally a mound of earth; sup- posed to have been thrown up by them, has heen discovered ; but such relics. I are exceedingly rare, and of douhtful origin, moone being fully prepared to- say ; when, by whom, and for what particular purpose they were built, the ‘general supposition, however. is, that they marked the site of some important event, or the burial place of a dead chieftain. i should be borne in ‘mind that the Indians had no fondness for physical labor, as sach.- : Though they ‘would endure the hardships and privations of a nd des late region, they were never known to injure their constitutions might be termed actnal labor. Hunting, fishing and fighting, con- b d the routine of their aily duties. while the work fell to the lot of the m plaining squaiw. stitutionally averse to manual labor, they would toil and sweat to rear lofty Ipilesive ) to commemorate their own skill and greatness, as architects, or to immortalize ¢ ie nante and fame of a departed hero. The principal ‘‘monu- ments’. ral db the Indians to mark the resting place of the dead, were eith- un of earth or piles of stone thrown loosely together—j ust such str figtiires as it is reasonable to suppose would have heen made by decrepit old men or over-worked women. Hence the scarcity, or even the total absence, of such remains in certain localities, is no proof whatever that the Indians had no$, at some time, lived and moved and held high zarnival there. Then again it should be remembered that in constructing their habitatiors the surface of the ground was scarcely disturbed. A certain spot may have been occupied by wigwams for generations ; but a few years after their removal not a vestige would remain to mark the place. Furthermore, it was often the case, except in especial instances, that the remains of their dead were taken for interment a considerable distance from their favorite haunts. The pioneers of Centre county, like those of other localities, encountered many hardships and endured many privations. Economy, in some cases the most rigid, had to be practiced ; privileges, now so common in every day life in the country, were then unthought of ; luxuries, such as now are enjoyed by the masses, were out of the question. In fact, the resources of the parents were often severely taxed to provide food and clothing for their children. It has been said, that the matrons of the Bald Eagle Valley, in early times, employed themselves during the winter in spinning flax and tow, and weaving it into cloth for summer use, while. in the summer, they spent their time in manufact- -mring woolen fabrics for winter wear. Frontier life is about the same the world over. ‘‘First settlers,” those who prepare the way—Ilay the foundation fora more advanced civilization— always have to endure toil, undergo trials and submit to perplexing inccn- veniences from which their more favored successors would scornfully shrink ; hut, as has often been remarked. they are more social. and “neighborly,” nore obliging to each other, than are the people of densely populated regions. Their interests and destinies are hlended ‘together and intermingled. They _pass through the same hardships, encounter the same dangers, and share together 5 the same privileges and enjoyments. Indeed, they help to bear. each other burdens, and mutually participate in the various pleastires of their humble Sh lives. They weep together and console each other in hours of affliction: and rejoice in unison under the henign influences of a smiling ‘Providence. Thus’ it was with the early inhabitants of Centre and adjoining counti were by no means monotonous, as may be supposed ; and there is no _daenbt whatever that, notwithstanding their unfavorable surroundings, they, as a general thing, took ‘‘solid comfort.’” Their work was toilsome, aud their food exceedingly plain, but wholesonte, as their ‘vigorous ‘constitutions attested. Their amusements were essentially limited, and consisted of hunting and fish- ing (which, by the way, were important means of obtaining. subsistence). and occasionally a social gathering, or dancing frolic, when a party suffici ntly large to form a set could be gotten together. It happened sometimes on such oceca- sions, that, owing to the inability of the “ladies” to be present, the dance was conducted entirely by the men, who chose their partners from their own sex, and entered into the spirit of the affair with great zest and Manifestations of supreme enjoyment. ne SA Nature has been accused of partiality in ‘the distribution of her favors. She is charged with scattering them with. a lavish hand in some places, ‘and parsi- moniously withholding them in others. —Whether these charges are true or false, it is an indisputable fact that Centre county has received a full share of her richest bounties, and man has not been anmindfal of this right to employ his skill and energy in appropriating her favors to his own use The forest trees he has ir into. Tumber. The streams themselves he has. on- verted into public high he has made to serve foportant purposes. built railroads, and opelied public thoroughfares, leading 1 ee He has cleared and cultivated the soil, making it produce abunda reared fine buildings for religious and educational purposes. He has towns and villages on every hand. In fact, where the Réd Man once ‘roam in fearless freedom, and whooped in barbaric revelry, there has heen planted a progiessive and enduring civilization. tet ee THE FIRST SETTLERS. It is difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain when the first actual sett! ment was made in what is now Centre county. It is known, however, that it was previous to the Revolutionary war, for “in 1776.” according to Lit ‘‘Penn’s Valley was pretty numerously settled ;”’ and Sherman Day soy alluding to the Fort Stanwix Treaty in 1768, ‘‘about that time, or as a year or two previous, Andrew Boggs, father of the late distinguish Boggs, erected his cabin on the left bank of Bald Eagle Creek, opp old Indian village on the flats near where Milesburg is now situated. and Jonas Davis, Low Dutchmen, settled a few years after Mr, B further down the creek. There was a block-house at Davis’ plabe, a garrison wasstationed for a while in 1771.5 Not long aft fo William Lamb. ae dom €eK, al above the gap Th ie. io the valley. A Mr. Cul er have settled somewhere ein eyes upon lovely Penn's Va Tey,- " rt rd Therefore it is not to be supposed, that, being con- * from Potter's old fort. ing thie valley he descended Penn's Creek in a canoe 3 but se took up a large body of land, made a settlement there, and erected a stockade fort.” Other pre-revolutionary. settlers of the valley were John Livingston, Maurice Davis and John Hall. : In common with many others, General Potter was driven from his home + by the Indians at the opening of the Revolution. He entered the service of his couiitry, and was with Washington at Valley Forge, Brandywine, German- "town and in New Jersey. It is evident, from letters, orders and other papers now in possession of his descendants, that he had the entire confidence of his superior officer. One letter in particular, giving instructions and explicit di- rections in regard to the details of a certain important expedition to be con- ducted by General Potter, is in the bands of the family of Dr. Potter, of Belle- fonte, who was-a great-grandson of the General. os At the close of the war, General Potter returned to his Josseasions, in Penn’s Valley, and subsequently became deputy-surveyor for the Sixth dis- trict. He died in Franklin county, Pa., in the fall of 1789, from the effects of an injury received while assisting at some work upon his property. He had gone to Franklin county for the purpose of getting medical assistance, and soon died, at the residence of his daughter. General Philip Benner was one of the early and prominent citizens of the county. was a native of Chester county. When quite young he took up arms against the British, under General Wayne, who was a relative. After the war, he be- came a successful manufacturer of iron, at Coventry forge. in Chester county. About the year 1790, he purchased the property in: Centre county known as “Rock Furnace,”’ and soon after erected a forge, one of the firstin the county, to which he subsequently added another forge, a furnace and a rolling mill. - The rising importance of the West impressed him with the idea of opening com- munication with Pittsburg, asa market for his i iron and nails. He succeeded, and for many § years enjoyed, without competition, the trade in what he called ‘Juniata iron,” for the western country. He held the rank of Major- -General of militia, and was twice a Presidential elector. Andrew Gregg was another prominent citizen in the early days of Centre county. He was born at Carlisle, Pa., on June 10th, 1755. He received a classical education, and was engaged for some years as tutor in the University of Pennsylvania. In 1873 he commenced the business of store keeper in Mid- dletown, Dauphin county. Four years later he married a daughter of Gen. Potter, and in the following year moved to Peun’s Valley, where he settled down in the woods and commenced the business of farming, about two miles | He remained on his farm anti 1814, when he removed ee to Bellefonte for the purpose of educating his children, several of whom were still young. In 1790 he was elected a member of Congress, and re-elected sev- eral times, serving in all sixteen successive years, and during the session of 1806-7 was elected a member of the United States Senate. In 1820 he was call- ed to the position of Secretary of the Commonwealth by Gov. Hiester. ‘‘Asa public man, as well as in private life, he was remarkable fora sound and dis- criminating mind, agreeable and dignified manners, and unbending and un- yielding honesty.” Col. John Patton, who built the first furnace in the territory of Centre county, was a Major in Col. Samuel Miles’ regiment, appointed March 13th, 1776. He participated in the battle of Long Island, was appointed Major of a na In 1792 he located in Spring township, where he died in 1833. He EER — — F RE pest obo of hel rt this % section of the State. Two, at least, of the General’s sons occupied tions. 1 before the public i in various other capacities. One of ‘them... became pi al, : and another, r., succeeded his father as deputy-survegor. The fol. lowing letter, oh to Him by Chief Justice McK zan, requesting the o>. | Pafugment, may be somewhat interesting to the reader: i Pixs VaLie, 10 Dece be 89, : THE HoNorabLE, THOMAS McKEAN, Esq: be ar Sir—Doubtless before you receive this you will have heard of the deat of 5 father. The district, in the new purchase for which he was surveyor, kim course become vacant. =I presume thar, from my knowledge of that cou F and experience in the surveying business, if I was appointed to succeed him in 8- trict, I could do business as much to the satisfaction of the publicas any 7 othe nosh, ave b probation and give Arde satisfac tion, sir, in this affair, will lay or. JAMES POTTER. The following from Sarveyor- General Brodhead to Thomas Mifflin, Presi- deut of the Supreme Executive Council of the State, shows that Mr. Potter's request was not in vain: SURVEYOR-GENERAL’S OFFICE, January 20, 1790. ++ Sir—Lhave appointed Mr. James Potter deputy-surveyor of District No. Six in the new purchase, become vacant by the death of his father, and submit his ap- pointment for the Spprobation | of the Supreme Executive Couneil. have the honor to be sir, your most obed’t serv’t, DANIEL BRODHEAD, S. G. In addition to the pioneers already mentioned; Col. Jobn Holt, a Revolu- tionary soldier, settled in Bald Eagle valley in 1782, near where Cartin’s iron works now stand. He was grandfather of J. H..and Wm. Holt, well known citizens of Centre county, and among the very first settlers, of the north-west- ern portion of the county. Hale's brother-in-las, Jolin Harbison, settled about the same tine near the site of Milesbarg. 1d E brothers-in-law, located near whe the village of oward is now! « So did Capt. John Askey, another sol ier of the Revolation : The first settlers of the county were, as a general tion and ability, some of them ranking as scholars; y extent, for the intelligence now displayed among it : tr en - THE INDIANS. Mauy instances have been related of cruel treatment received by 0 the early settlers of Bald Eagle and Penns Valleys at the hands of the Indians. Often they were surprised at night, their houses plundered, and their cattle and other live stock driven off. © Their lives were frequently endangered, and in many instances taken. Captivity, with its ‘most barbarous treatment. often fell to their lot. For many years after the county was settled, the inhabitants lived in al- most continual fear of their savage foes. At times the danger was so imminent that the people had to appeal to the great authorities for protection. The fol- lowing extracts from letters written in 1778 will give the reader an idea of the condition of affairs, and of the consternation that must have prevailed at the Their lives “| time. In a letter dated Lancaster, May 16th, 1778, and directed to the board La Hg the Fonor of being the 1 first man’ 18 biilding the fort, Soper Levi Tram and 1 myself Be til 1958, Hn the summer of 1757, 1 is s nearly taken prisoner 0 At about one-half mile distant from the Tort stood a large tree excellent plums, on an open piece of ground, near what i is nowcalled I ring. “Lieut. Samuel a viol a walle to this tree, y + While we were th 1 k r He died about the year 1805. RIG a BB Vlas aii } tagonist. ! of war at Yorktown, by the Vice President of the Supreme Executive Couneil, it ; is stated that it appears that several persons. have been killed by the Indians, in Penn's Valley, and the people on vant of, amiiunition. Col. Potter, in a EY, Nay gia and are determined to stand as ong as we but i we have not men sent to assist us we are ‘too few to make circumstances of this country are traly lamentable. I want for : ribe it to you. The people are very poor, and bread at such a "price; God knows what the consequences will be.’’ Again on the 25th uly he writes: “Yesterday, two men of Captain Finley’s company, Col. Brod ead’s regiment, went out from this place in the plains a little below my fields, and met a party of Indias, five in number, whom they engaged. One Coof the soldiers, Thomas Van Doran, was shot dead; ‘the other, Jacoh Shedacre. * ran-about four hundred yards, and was pursued by one of the Indians. They tacked each other with their knives, and one excellent soldier killed his’ an- His fate was hard, for another Indian came up and shot him. It is {that many years after the occurrence, ‘‘a rusted hunting knife was found ear | he scene of the encounter, ”’ E On the 8th of May, 1778, the Indians killed one man on the Bald. Eagle [en gut—Simon Yauth, a private of Captain Bell's company. He was ¢ Davis, who lived a short dis+ance below Andrew jandiford to feed his horse, Where he found ( wife and daughter, were killed and scalped, a missing. - Standiford was killed ors 1, three e miles west of Potter's Fort. e buried i in a corner of one may still be seen.”’—Linn. (Concluded on Page 4.)
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