Chapter II: Preface

The design, object, and aim of the following pages can be summed up without any circumlocution. Some ten or twelve years ago, a large volume of "Historical Collections of Pennsylvania" was published by Sherman Day, which gave a brief history, among others, of the counties composing the Valley of the Juniata. This work was followed by a compilation, by I. D. Rupp, Esq., entitled "A History of Northumberland, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Centre, Union, Clinton, Juniata, and Columbia counties." The last, as far as our valley was concerned, was almost a reprint of the first, with some few additions gleaned from the Colonial Records and the Archives of the State. Both these works were most liberally subscribed for; in fact, the compilation of the counties had upwards of a _thousand_ subscribers in Huntingdon county (Blair not then formed) alone! The inducements held out, in order to gain such an extensive list, were, that the works would be graphic histories of the _early_ settlement of this country. In this they signally failed. True, here and there they gave an account of some early occurrence; but they were exceedingly brief, lacked detail, and in many instances were found grossly inaccurate. Of course, they gave universal dissatisfaction, because the subscribers looked for a faithful record of the stirring events which occurred when this portion of the land of Penn was "the dark and bloody ground." The descendants of many who figured in the trials incident to the settlement of the valley are still living. The fireside recitals of these events made them "as familiar as household words" among those who are now fast passing away; but they search _all_ histories in vain to find a faithful account of more than a moiety of the struggles, trials, and personal adventures of the pioneers, as well as the many cold-blooded Indian massacres and depredations which spread desolation through the land, and laid waste the homes and firesides of so many who located in what was then a wilderness. Let me not be understood as attempting to deny the merits of the works of which I have spoken. As _modern_ histories, giving accounts, or rather descriptions, of the country as it was at the time they were issued, they were faithful records. Indeed, I will do Mr. Rupp the justice to say that I consider his compilation all it professes to be, according to his preface, in which he says: "A full and minute history of these counties can only be expected after a greater accumulation of historical facts is extant for that purpose."

The facts necessary to give a minute history of the early settlement of the Juniata have been accessible, although it must be admitted that those who could give them from reliable personal recollections have nearly all passed into "the valley and the shadow of death."

Some ten or twelve years ago, Judge M'Cune, Judge Adams, Michael Maguire, and Edward Bell, Esq., met at the mansion of the latter gentleman, in Antes township, Blair county, by invitation. These were all old settlers, whose memories dated back to the struggle of the infant colonies for freedom; and most vividly did they recollect the Indian butcheries when brave Old England paid a stipulated price for rebel scalps. The reunion of these veterans was an epoch in their lives, for they had been children together, had travelled the same rugged path, and, with stalwart frames, sinewy arms, and willing hearts, had earned for themselves names, reputation, and earthly competence. Well may we conjecture that, in fighting the battle of life over again in story, some interesting incidents were related. During this reunion, a history of the early settlement of the upper end of the valley was written, and the manuscript transmitted to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, in the expectation that it would be published in some of their works. This, however, never was done; and when application was made to the society for a return of the manuscript, it was either lost or mislaid.

Since then, one by one, these old patriots have passed from time to eternity, and the woods and valleys that knew them for three-quarters of a century shall know them no more. With them would, in all probability, have been buried many important facts, had not the author of these pages called upon the last survivor, Michael Maguire, in October last, and taken down, at length, all his early recollections. The time was most opportune, for he was even then upon his deathbed. The sands of a long life were evidently ebbing fast, and he knew it, for he gave it as his solemn conviction that the proposed recital of the past was the last he should ever make to mortal man. Although enfeebled by age, and his body wasting away, his intellect was vigorous and unclouded, and his memory fresh as it was fourscore years ago. Indeed, I soon found that he had the most retentive memory of any man I ever knew, because, in narrating incidents, he gave days, dates, and names, with such ease as almost to stagger belief. Of course, to him I am mainly indebted for the material of that part of the History treating of the upper end of the valley, especially the occurrences between 1776 and 1782. Mr. M. died on the 17th inst.

From a manuscript memoir of E. Bell, Esq., I have also been enabled to glean some useful information. He commenced it a short time before his death, and it is to be deeply regretted that a violent attack of rheumatism in the hand compelled him to abandon the work after writing some six or eight pages.

I am also indebted to a number of persons for information that has been of value to me, whose names will be mentioned in another place in the work.

If this volume fails to meet the expectations of those kind friends who have interested themselves in my behalf, it will not be for lack of zeal or perseverance on my part. I am free to confess that the language of the book is not clothed in that attractive garb which makes books popular in the age we live in; but then it must be remembered that I am not, worthy reader, submitting to your judgment a romance, but a History, based upon immutable and undying TRUTHS.

U. J. JONES.

HOLLIDAYSBURG, _Nov._ 1855.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

CHAPTER I.

The Aborigines of the Valley--Their Habits and Customs 17

CHAPTER II.

History of the Early Settlers 39

CHAPTER III.

Juniata Island--An Indian Paradise--Rev. David Brainerd--The Early Settlers, Hulings, Watts, and Baskins--Indian Battles--Remarkable Escape of Mrs. Hulings 56

CHAPTER IV.

Indian Towns along the Juniata--Lost Creek Valley discovered--Mexico first settled by Capt. James Patterson, in 1751--Indian Attack upon Settlers at the House of William White--Massacre of White--Capture of John Riddle--His Release from Captivity, etc. 68

CHAPTER V.

Early Settlers at Licking Creek--Relics of an Indian Battle--House of Robert Campbell attacked--James Campbell wounded and taken prisoner--Scout sent from Sherman's Creek--Encounter with Indians at Buffalo Creek--Five of the Scout killed, etc. 76

CHAPTER VI.

Tuscarora Valley--Its Early Settlement--Its Mounds and its Forts, Massacres, etc. 83

CHAPTER VII.

Fort Granville--Old Indian Town--Early Settlers--Captain Jacobs-- Assault and Capture of the Fort, etc. 91

CHAPTER VIII.

Organization of Mifflin County--Dispute with Huntingdon County about the Boundary Line--Riot at Lewistown, etc. 98

CHAPTER IX.

Kishicoquillas Valley--The Shawnee Chief Kishicokelas--The Mingo Chief Logan 110

CHAPTER X.

Colonel John Armstrong's Expedition against Kittaning--List of the Killed and Wounded--Delaware Chiefs, Captain Jacobs and Shingas, etc. 121

CHAPTER XI.

Old Indian Town--Indian Paths--Aughwick--Murder of John Armstrong and Party--Captain Jack, the Wild Hunter of the Juniata--George Crogan, etc. 133

CHAPTER XII.

Raystown Branch--Early Settlement of Raystown--General Forbes's Expedition--Colonels Washington and Boquet--Colonel Armstrong's Letter--Smith and his "Black Boys"--Bloody Run--Robbery--Indian Massacres--Revolutionary Lieutenants of Bedford County, etc. 161

CHAPTER XIII.

Raystown Branch, continued--Murder of Sanders and his Family-- Englishman and his Wife taken Prisoners--Felix Skelly and Mrs. Elder taken Captives--Their Return, etc. 175

CHAPTER XIV.

Standing Stone, ancient and modern--Murder of Felix Donnelly and his son Francis, etc. 183

CHAPTER XV.

Trials of the Early Settlers--Their Forts and other Means of Defence, etc. 193

CHAPTER XVI.

The Early Settlers--Old Hart, the Indian Trader 198

CHAPTER XVII.

The Continental Mills of the Valley 203

CHAPTER XVIII.

The Cove--Early Settlement by Dunkards--Indian Massacres and Captivities--Massacre of Ullery and Hammond--A Resistant Dunkard, etc. 207

CHAPTER XIX.

Tommy Coleman, the Indian-Fighter--Surprise of the Dunkard Murderers, etc. 218

CHAPTER XX.

Sinking Valley--The Lead Mines--Fort Roberdeau--Indian Murder and Heroic Conduct of a Woman--Encounter with a Savage--Massacre of Roller and Bebault, etc. 227

CHAPTER XXI.

Tories of the Valley--Their unfortunate Expedition to join the Indians at Kittaning--Captain John Weston, the Tory Leader--Captain Thomas Blair--Capture of the Brothers Hicks--Hanging a Tory--Narrow Escape of two of Weston's men, etc. 248

CHAPTER XXII.

The Tory Hare--Murder of Loudenslager--Abduction and Murder of Mrs. Eaton and Children--Treatment of Hare by the Settlers, etc. 259

CHAPTER XXIII.

Moses Donaldson--Capture and Murder of his Wife and two Children 266

CHAPTER XXIV.

Depredations at the Mouth of Spruce Creek--Murder of Levi Hicks-- Scalping of his Child 270

CHAPTER XXV.

Stone Valley--McCormick's Fort--Murder of Mrs. Houston and James McClees--A Dealer in Grain of the Olden Time 275

CHAPTER XXVI.

Tuckahoe--Murder of John Guilliford 280

CHAPTER XXVII.

Early Settlement of Scotch Valley--The Moore Family--Massacre of William Moore--Indian shot by a Boy, etc. 283

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Woodcock Valley--Massacre of Elder--The Breckenridge Family--Fight with, and Destruction of, Captain Phillips's Scout by the Indians-- Cruel Massacre of ten Men 289

CHAPTER XXIX.

Water Street--The Beatty Family--Captain Simonton--Massacre of the Dean Family--Captivity of John Simonton, etc. 301

CHAPTER XXX.

Hollidaysburg--The Holliday Family--Death of Lieutenant Holliday at the Battle of Brandywine--Massacre of a portion of William Holliday's Family--John Holliday, etc. 310

CHAPTER XXXI.

Old Indian Town of Frankstown--Indian Burial-Places--Massacre of the Bedford Scout, etc. 324

CHAPTER XXXII.

Shaver's Creek--Mysterious Death of old Shaver--Heroic Conduct of two Children--Abduction of Miss Ewing and Miss McCormick--Peter Crum, the last Victim of the Savages, etc. 337

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Warrior Ridge--Warrior's Mark--Job Chillaway, Shaney John, and Captain Logan, the last Red Men in the Juniata Valley 347

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Conclusion 355

APPENDIX.

The Valley as it is 359

EARLY SETTLEMENT OF THE JUNIATA VALLEY.