Book COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT "Sn-graTei "by- J - C . B-ELttce , MT.T: '-^ v PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPING OTT & 0. 1862. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., In the Office of the Clerlv of the District Cowrt of the United States in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. i-l0Lfuib VI ISIS 4. Ol'/.ViiryVttrd.tlir.r Onnhont.s hiiilt III hV3 J Bliuklwiise ISIS. MAP OF ("OrXTY PKXXSYLVAXIA PEEFACE. If in every State we had those who were unpi'ejudiced and truth-loving to examine and test the supposed history of their respective localities, and to record the testimony of the aged "before they go hence and be no more," truth would be vindicated, much that is interesting rescued from oblivion, and a correct and minute history of our country secured. For the encouragement of those attempting this duty, Sallust says: "Among the different ways of employing one's abilities, that of writing history is of eminent use; but I shall say nothing of its excellence, because many have already shown it, and lest I should be charged with vanity for extolling what I am myself engaged in." Grateful acknowledgments are due to the many friends who have contributed to the History of Erie County by the use of their libraries; by the loan of valuable unedited manuscripts, and by their pertinent suggestions. Of these are Dr. U. Parsons, of Providence, Rhode Island ; Madams William A. Brown, Chas. Pollock, J. C. Reid, J. H. Bliss, H. Russel, J. Dickson, and Miss I. Williams; General C. M. Reed, Captain W. W. Dobbins, William Nicholson, G. J. Ball, J. Sill, J B. Johnson, B. B. Vincent, J. C. Spen- cer, T. G. Colt, A. H. Caughey, and G. W. Starr, Esqs.; Rev. Wm. M. Blackburn, and Rev. I. St. John, of Erie; (iii) IV PREFACE. Rev. S. M. Eaton, Franklin; Mr. I. Eaton, Fairview; Miss H. R. Cutler and Mr. Barnett, Girard ; Miss Sarah Yincent and Mrs. McGill, Waterford ; Rev. A. H. Carrier and Wm. E. Marvin, Esq., Northeast; and Mrs. M. Courtright, New York. The Editors of the county a;re entitled to many thanks for their files, and for favorable mention of the work. CATALOGUE OF SOME OP THE WORKS WHICH HAVE BEEN CONSULTED. American State Papers ; American Archives ; Frond's His- tory of Pennsylvania; Colonial History of New York; Docu- mentary History of New York ; Peimsylvania Colonial Records ; Pennsylvania Archives ; Western Annals ; History of Western Pennsylvania ; Thatcher's Lives of the Indians ; Naval Monu- ment ; Hennepin's Discoveries in America ; Historical Collec- tions of Pennsylvania; Shea's Discovery of the Mississippi; Shea's Jesuit Missions ; Annals of America, by Dr. Holmes ; Schoolcraft's Indian Tribes ; Conspiracy of Pontiac ; Niles's Register ; Burgess's Account of Perry's Yictory ; McKenzie's Life of Perry; Dawson's American Battles; Dr. Parson's Dis- course ; Calvert's Oration ; Battle of Lake Erie Monumental Association ; Bancroft's United States ; Irving's Life of Wash- ington; Stone's Life of Brandt; Elements of History, by J. E. Worcester ; Historical Account of Erie County, by Dr. W. M. Wood ; Dwight's Travels ; Goodrich's History of the United States ; Smith's Laws of Pennsylvania ; Howe's Historical Col- lections of the West ; State Geologist's Report ; Poor's History of Railroads ; Files of the Mirror, Erie ; Erie Gazette ; Erie Ob- server ; Girard Republican ; Encyclopedia Americana ; Alle- gheny Magazine ; Pennsylvania Gazetteer, by Thos. F. Gordon ; Pennsylvania State Book, by Burrows ; Old Fort Le Bceuf, by a Waterfordian ; Inauguration of the Perry Statue, Cleveland. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. An Account of the Eries — Traditions concerning them — Their Destruction — Symbols found on Kelly's or Cunningham's Island — Indian Remains 9 CHAPTER II. La Salle — The Griffin — Eelics — Governor Shirley's Proposition — Bradilock's Advice — Governor Delancy's Plan — Estimating Presqu'ile — Hudson's Bay Company ; 19 CHAPTER III. The English and French Claims — Construction of Forts Presqu'- ile (Erie) and Le Bceuf (Waterford) — Washington's Visit — ■ Condition of these Forts in 1756, '57, "58, and '59 — Their Desertion after the taking of Fort Niagara — Tradition in Erie — Major Rogers takes Possession f>r the English in 1760 25 CHAPTER lY. Pontiac — Destruction of Forts Presqu'ile and Le Poeuf, as de- scribed by Bancroft, Parkraan, and Harvey — Colonel Brad- street at Presqu'ile, in 1764 — Colonel Bouquet's Treaty — A Detachment of British Soldiers and Indians embark at Chau- tauqua Lake— Hannastown burnt — Mr. Adams's Suggestion... 46 CHAPTER Y. Penn's Charter — Boundaries of Pennsylvania — Mason and Dixon's Line — Review of said Line by Colonel Graham — Western Boundary of Pennsylvania fixed in 1786 — Boundary between New York and Pennsjdvania coniirmed by Act of Assembly in 1789— Purchase of Triangle, 1791 — Anecdote of Mr. William Miles 54 CHAPTER YI. Arrangements for the Settlement of the Triangle — Pennsylvania Population Company — Act to lay out a Town at Presqu'ile; (V) VI CONTENTS, afterward repealed — Block-house at Le Boeuf — Indian Mur- ders — Governor Mifflin to the President — -Attorney-General Bradford's Opinion — Ransom's Deposition — Letters of Cap- tain Denny — Andrew EUicot and General Chapin — Joseph Brandt — Cornplanter — A Present of Land — Treaty of Peace at Canandaigua 61 CHAPTER YIL An Act to lay out the Towns of Erie, Waterford, Franklin, and Warren — To protract the Enlistment of Troops at Le Bceuf — Deposition of Tho. Rees, Esq. — Actual Settlers — Memorial to the Population Company — Deacon Chamberlain's Story — Cap- tain Martin Strong to Wm. Nicholson, Esq. — Louis Philippe at Mr. Rees's— Murder of Rutledge and Son — Mr. Augustus Porter's Visit — Mr. Judah Colt's MSS. Autobiography — Num- ber of White Settlers on the Lakes west of Genesee River — General Wayne's Death at Presqu'ile, 1796 77 CHAPTER VIII. Erie County from 1785 — Organization in 1803 — Its Geography, etc. — Original Townships — Changes — Extent of Townsliips and Population — Population decennially from 1800 — Census Items— Vote of 1808 and 18(i0 — Receipts and Expenditures do — Extract from Auditor-General's Report — Post-oflfices in 1830, 1856, 1860 — List of Judges — Members of Congress — State Senate — Representatives — Prothonotaries — Registers and Recorders — Sheriffs — Coroners — First Section incorpor- ated — Court-houses — Act for Public Landing — Borough Char- ter altered in 1833 — Canal Basin — Peninsula — Poor-house — Several Acts — Government of Erie changed to that of a City — Present Population and Business — List of Burgesses and Mayors — Collectors of Customs — Postmasters in Erie 93 CHAPTER IX. First Road — Population Company Roads — Erie and Waterford Turnpike — Salt Trade — General O'Hara's Contract — Road to , Buffalo —First Coaches— Erie Canal — Railroads — Erie or Wattsburg Railroad— Sunbury and Erie — Erie and Northeast — Frankliu Canal Company — Pittsburg and Erie Railroad — Plank-roads HI CHAPTER X. Shipping — The Washington, the First Vessel built on the South Shore of the Lake — Hudson's Bay Company — British Govern- ment Vessels — American Government Vessels — The Salina — Valuable Cargoes — Walk-in the-Water — First Lighthouse — William Penn — First Steamer at Chicago — Cholera — Tonnage and Number of Vessels in 1810-20-31-36-47-60— Lake Dis- asters — Commerce of Port of Presqu'ile — Vessels and Ton- nage registered at Presqu'ile in 1860 — United States Steamer Michigan- Revenue Cutters 129 CONTENTS. VU CHAPTER XI. Banks — Gas Company — -Insurance — Fire Companies — Volunteer Military — Agriculture — Mutual Aid — Cemeteries — Moral, Be- nevolent, and Literary Societies 139 CHAPTER XII. Newspapers — Common Schools — Academies — Normal School — - Sabbath School — First Protestant Missionaries West of Utica — Moravians in Venango County, 1767 — First Religious Serv- ice in Erie County — First Church Edifice — A Religious Expe- rience — Presbytery of Erie — Revs. Patterson and Eaton — Extract from P>ev. A. H. Carrier's Historical Sermon— Rev. R. Reid — Churches of different Denominations in Erie — Re- vivals 156 CHAPTER XIII. Waterford — Edinboro — Northeast — Wattsburg — Girard — Union Mills — Albion — Cherry Hill — Wellsburg — Cranesville — Lock- port — Pageville — Lexington — Fairview — Manchester — Mc- Kean Corners — Wesleyville — West Springfield — Springfield — Beaverdam — Concord Station 189 CHAPTER XIY. Biographical Sketches of Colonel Seth Reed — Rufus Seth Reed — Judah Colt— Dr. U. Parsons— Dr. John C. Wallace— Rev. Rob- ert Reid— Thos. Wilson — P. S. V. Hamot— Captain D. Dob- bins— T. H. Sill— G. Sanford— Judge J. Galbraith 208 CHAPTER XY. War declared — Commodore Perry — Captain Dobbins's Corre- spondence — Commodore Chauncey, Mr. Henry Eckford, and Noah Brown — Difficulties in fitting out the Fleet — General Mead — Captain Perry at Fort George — Five Vessels brought from Buffalo — Provincial Marine Corps — Difficulties in pro- curing men — Letters to Commodore Chauncey and the Secre- tary of the Navy — A Providence recognized in the War — Getting the Vessels over the bar — Commodore Barclay at Port Dover — Seven of the Vessels make a Cruise — Officers and Men from Lake Ontario — August 12th, Perry sails for Sandusky — Interview with General Harrison — They proceed to Maiden — Kentucky Militia — Sickness — Letters from the Secretary — Ohio dispatched to Erie — Strength of the British Force — The American Force — Americans look in at Maiden — Corrected In- structions for the Battle.... 235 CHAPTER XVI. British Vessels appear — Commodore Perry remodels his Line, and other Preparations — A brief Description of the Battle of VIU CONTENTS. September 10th by Dr. Parsons — The Vessels return to Erie with the Wounded and Prisoners — Captain Perry promoted — His Reception at Erie — A Remark of McKenzie — President Madison — Congress — Prizes 264 CHAPTER XVII. Block-bouses built in 1813-14 — State of Society — -Buffalo burned — Alarms at Erie — Captain Sinclair arrives — Bird, Rankin, and Davis executed — Disposition made of Government Vessels — List of Commanding Oflicers at Erie from 1813 to 1825 — Topography of Presqu'ile Bay and the Peninsula — Misery Bay — General Bernard and Major Totten's Survey — Appro- priations made by the State and the United States — Changes since 1813 — Rise and fall of Water in Lake Erie — A singular Phenomenon — Lake Survey 273 CHAPTER XYIII. Geology from Professor Rogers — Character of the Soil — Calca- reous Marl — Bog Ore — Petroleum — Mineral Waters — -Descrip- tion of the Sink-hole by Mr. R. Andrews — The Devil's Back- bone and Nose — Botanizing 284 CHAPTER XIX. Miscellaneous Items, among which are: A Tradition — General Wayne — An Anecdote — Price of Provisions — Wm. W. Reed, Esq. — First National Celebration — Churches — The Garrison — A Relic — Saturday Afternoon — Game — Mi's. P.'s Reminis- cences — H. Russel's Journal — An Early Settler in Fairview^ La Fayetle's Visit in Erie — Cholera — Perry Monument — An Informal Meeting — Speculation — Fires — Sad Accidents — Ex- President Adams — Patriot War — Old Court-house Bell — Pion- eers — Perry — Lieutenant Yarnall — Survivors of the Battle of Lake Erie — ^Perry Monument at Cleveland — Inventions — Mo- ravian Lands — Omissions — Bankers and Exchange Brokers... 300 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. CHAPTER I. An Account of the Ei'ies — Traditions concerning Them — Their Destruc- tion — Symbols found on Kelly's or Cunningham's Island — Indian Remains. " A noble race! but tliey are gone, With their old forests wide and deep, And we have built our homes upon Fields where their generations sleep." — Bryant. At the beginning of the seventeenth century the fierce and powerful Indian tribe calM Erigas, Eries, Erie-honows, Mad Spirits or Cat tribe, occupied the southern borders of the lake now bearing their name. The same tribe was known to the French as the Neutral nation or Chats, and to the Dutch as Shaonons or Satanas. Champlain, in his first map, made no mention of them, locating other tribes in their ter- ritory ; subsequently he heard of them when in the Huron country. The territory they occupied, according to Charle- roix, was the celebrated valley of the Niagara River. On its northern margin they were found spreading both east and west on the shores of Lake Erie and Ontario, but not to any great distance. Shea describes the localities of the tribes thus : " The Wyandots, traders of the West, lay in their densely-peopled villages, well fortified by ditch and palisade, on a small peninsula in Lake Huron ; southwest lay their allies, the Tionontates, whose luxuriant fields of tobacco won for them and their fertile hills the name of Petuns ; and south and east of these, stretching beyond the Niagara and its marvelous cataract, lay the many clans of the 2 (9) 10 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. Atiwandaronk, friends to the Huron and Algonquin, friends, too, to the Iroquois, and called by the French the Neutral nation ; east of these, in 'New York, stretching from the Genesee to the moutji. of the Mohawk, lay the five clans of the Hohnnonchiendi, whose name remains in the natural features of 'New York, and who are now known collectively by the French name Iroquois ; west of these, on the southern shore of Lake Erie, lay the far-famed archers, the Fries or Cat tribe, who have melted away like a dream; on the Sus- quehanna were the Andastes or Conastagues, friends of the Huron and Swede, few but brave." The Fries at this time numbered 28 villages, and 12 large towns or forts; these contained 12,000 souls, 4000 of whom were fighting men. In 1653, Le Moyne, an adopted Indian and priest, took his departure from Quebec, and landing at Oswego pro- ceeded to the town of Onondaga. Here he was received with pomp, and after offering the authorities presents from the French governor, he commended to them peace and the faith of which he was the minister. Captive Hurons, of whom there were no less than a thousand in their midst, had prepared the way for the missionary by their instructions, causing the adults and children to desire baptism at his hands. Among others, a chief setting out against the Fries, on the eve of his departure begged for baptism. The pru- dent missionary counseled him to defer the rite to a future time, when he would visit them again. 'Ah, brother !" ex- claimed the chief, " if I have the faith can I not be a Chris- tian to-day ? Art thou master of death, to prevent its striking me without thy order ? Will the shafts of the foe be blunted for me ? Must I, at every step in battle, dread hell rather than death ? Unless thou baptize me I shall not dare to meet the blows. Baptize me, for I will obey thee, and give thee my word to live and die a Christian." Such entreaties could not be resisted, and Le Moyne being per- suaded of the chieftain's fitness, baptized him by the name of John Baptist, and the next day each set out on his dif- HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 11 ferent career. The baptized warrior was successfal. In- spired by his zeal, the braves, when surrounded by the Eries, invoked the God of the Christian, and vowed to embrace the faith if victory were granted. The tide of battle was changed, and the thousand braves of Onondaga drove an Erie force, which quadrupled theirs, from a strong post and won the day. Thus does even a corrupt Christianity in- spire its possessors, and thus may paganism ever fall before the gospel.* A semi-educated Tuscarora, David Cusic, published a .pamphlet of Indian traditions, in Western New York, in 1825. This writing, though crude, ill digested, and gener- ally obscure, throws much light on the history of the Eries. In 1626, among the first efforts made by New France to civilize the Indians, the Eries were visited; and the peculi- arity for which they are most celebrated was first brought into notice, that of neutrality among fierce and powerful tribes. Hence they are called by the French the Neutral nation. They were under the government of a queen, called Ya- gowanea, or as called by the French and Senecas, Gegosasa. According to Cusic, she was a second Zenobia. The settle- ment of Canada by the French produced a division in the great Iroquois family — the Wyandots adhering to the Gallic side, and the Five Nations to the Dutch and English. In this feud of the Iroquois, the Algonquins or Adirondacks, who were at war with them formerly, were glad to make allies of the French and Wyandots. Between these the Eries occupied a geographical position on the banks of the Niagara, and had already become closely allied to the Wy- andots and Five Nations. Neutrality was their only salva- * The name of Le Moyne is again found as a leader when Schenec- tady, in 1690, was destroyed, and the most inhuman cruelties were perpetrated by a party of Canadian French Indians, being one of the three parties fitted out by Count Frontenac to distress the British Colonies. 12 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. tion — they were in a delicate position, and great wisdom was indispensable to its preservation. Gegosasa was called the mother of nations, and her wampum and peace-pipe were held sacred. Protected by the sanctity of Gegosasa's char- acter and office as keeper of the symbolic house of peace, she received messengers and ambassadors from the Five Nations, Wyandots, Mississaques, and others. Her author- ity extended much farther than her territory, but one incon- siderate act brought destruction to her nation after long and bloody wars. Two Canandalgua warriors (Senecas) were announced at her lodge, and began to smoke the pipe of peace, when a deputation from the Mississaques was also announced. The object of their visit was soon made known, and their request, which was to demand vengeance for the murder of their chief's son, was immediately granted. In- telligence of this violation of neutrality on the part of Gego- sasa spread in every direction. The queen dispatched mes- sengers to explain her position to Ragnatha, (Buffalo,) where the principal commander of the Eries resided. She even undertook herself to execute the commission; but a meddling woman also stepped off quietly, taking a canoe along the shore of Lake Ontario, and communicated the death of the Canandaigua chief. Spies were sent by the Senecas to ascertain the truth of the rumors, who, without exciting sus- picion, learned the facts from some boys found hunting squir- rels, and an army was raised in hot haste. As a decoy, a man was dressed in bear-skin and directed to sit in the path, and when pursued to lead the way into ambush. The plan succeeded, and the Eries were brought into the midst of crouching Senecas, who sounded the war-hoop most terrific- ally, but themselves, after a severe contest, were forced to flee. Afterward they rallied and fought with great desper- ation, and the Eries were compelled to yield, leaving 600 slain warriors on the battle-field. In this first war of the Eries, which occurred in 1634, they proved themselves no despicable enemy. In 1653 they HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 13 again engaged iu war with the Iroquois. In this contest "Greek met Greek," and the event, otherwise doubtful, was decided by a pestilence which prevailed and swept off greater numbers even than the club and arrow. After their defeat, according to Seneca tradition, they fled down the Ohio, and the once sacred peace-lodge of Yagowanea was demolished. They were compelled to leave the land where Niagara pours its echoes and animates to heroic deeds. The Iroquois they found the worst of conquerors — inordi- nate pride, thirst of blood and dominion were the main- spring of their warfare, and their victories were stained with every excess of passion. When their vengeance was glutted by the sacrifice of a sufficient number of captives, they adopted the survivors as members of their confederate tribes, separating wives from husbands and children from parents, and distributing them among different villages, in order that old ties and associations might be more completely broken. This policy, as Schoolcraft informs us, was desig- nated among them by a name which signified "flesh cut into pieces and scattered among the tribes." Jefferson says of them : " They fled to distant regions of the West and South, and wherever they fled they were followed by the undying hatred of the Iroquois. In accordance with the threat of the Onondagas, their council fire was put out, and their name and lineage as a tribe lost. " When the Jesuits visited the Onondagas, a Neuter was the first adult baptized. They were living then among them as helots, and bore their chains impatiently. They panted for freedom, their numbers giving them confidence. At one time they formed a plot to cut off their oppressors, but when aid was refused them by the French missionaries to whom they applied, they ceased to hope for deliverance. In 1674 the Eries are mentioned as constituting a part of the Chris- tian village just then formed at La Prairie. The various nations have long since fused into one, losing all distinctive trace of origin, and no clue of names can ena- 9* 14 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. ble US to distinguish the Neutral element in the present Iro- quois race. In the history of tlie Jesuit missions we find several of that order penetrated the country of the Eries or Neuters from the year 1626 to the year 1640. Among them are the names of Father Joseph De la Roche, D'Allyon, Braboeuf, Noue, Chaumount, and Sayard. They were re- ceived with coldness and distrust, in spite of which they remained some months preaching in ten of their villages and endeavoring to enter and obtain a knowledge of the country. The efforts of De la Roche (who at first was quite a favor- ite) to find the mouth of the Niagara, excited their jealousy, and after they had robbed and beaten him severely, he was forced to depart. The missionaries described the country as being finer than Canada, and producing an abundance of tobacco and grain. Braboeuf and Chaumount, by the aid of a charitable and intel- ligent native woman, compared the Huron and Neuter dia- lects. The result is lost, but Chaumount, in his manuscript, makes the Neuters, Hurons, and Iroquois use parts of the same language. They dressed in the most primitive style. In their manners they resembled the Hurons, but did not, like them, engage in commerce. Braboeuf foresaw that the French must have a post among them in order to extend commerce and Christianity, but their jealousy prevented his taking out his astrolabe to find the latitude of the Niagara River, and he had to content himself with roughly estimating it at 42 degrees. The mis- sionary Sayard suffered at the stake, and the cognizance of the Jesuits was from that time withdrawn from the Eries. When the valley was finally opened it was in possession of the Senecas, and a tradition was rife corresponding with that of Cusic, that the Eries had been expelled in a bloody war and exterminated. And these traditions extend down almost to our own day. David Eddy, a resident of Hamburg, near Buffalo, and who settled there in 1804, relates that in early times there was HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 15 an Indian living upon the reservation who probably was 115 years of age. He was a Christian, and had been a peace-maker through life, and related to Mr. Eddy the fol- lowing : That a nation called the Eries once inhabited all that region — that they were a powerful, warlike people, dreaded and feared by all other tribes, but were finally warred upon and their country conquered by the Senecas. Fortifications and mounds in Western New York indicate a race more skillful and persevering than the Senecas or the Ifidians known to the first white travelers. In many cases the mounds have trees growing upon them, the circles of which date them back a period of 300 years. Symbols of this extinct race have been found on Cunningham's or Kelly's Island, near Sandusky, Ohio. This island is about three miles long and two broad, and in consequence of the fine air, and its facilities for fishing and bathing, is a favorite summer resort. It is now, also, highly cultivated, and noted for producing an abundance of the finest grapes. The island is described as having a horizontal limestone basis like the main land, and rises fifteen feet above the water level. Where the rock is exposed, it appears to have been polished by diluvial or glacial action. The Indian remains discov- ered there consist of pictographic characters on the rocks, and earth-work embankments. A drawing of these was made upon strong paper in 1851, and transmitted to Mr. George Johnston, of Sault St. Marie, a gentleman well versed in Indian languages, and by him was submitted to the examination of Shingowank, or Little Pine. The result of his inquiries was, that the island was the stronghold of the Eries during their fierce and unsuc- cessful contest with the Iroquois. On the south side of the island there is a crest-shaped and irregular earth-work, which has the general appearance of an embankment or cir- cumvaliation intended to inclose and defend a village. The embankment is 1246 feet around the crest-shaped part, and about 400 feet on the rock brink of the island. Another 16 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. embankment on the western side is 614 feet front and 1243 feet around. Within these have been found stone axes, pipes, perforations, bone fish-hooks, fragments of pottery, arrow-heads, net-sinkers, and fragments of human bones. The arrow-heads were found in a fissure of the rock in large quantities, were evidently new, and had been concealed in this kind of rude armory ; with them was found the largest species of axe figured, which had been apparently used. Five small mounds or burrows were also found on the south- ern and western parts of the island. On the north shore, on a bay, there is a brief pictographic inscription on a boul- der, which has been reversed by the force of the waters in a tempest. The interest of this, however, is inferior to that excited by a sculptured rock 32 feet by 21, lying on the south shore of the island, about 200 feet from the west angle of the inclos- ure. The surface is smoothly polished, as well as the deeply- cut inscription, apparently by glacial attrition. According to Schoolcraft "it is the most extensive, and well-sculptured, and well-preserved inscription of the kind ever found in America." Its leading symbols are readily interpreted, and tell a thrilling story, in which the European acts a part. There are many subordinate figures which require study. In some, the atmosphere and lake action have de- stroyed the connection, and others are of an anomalous char- acter. The whole inscription is manifestly connected with the occupation of the basin of the lake by the Eries, the coming of the Wyandots, and of the final flight of the people which have left their name upon the lake. There is an attempt to denote the position of T;ake Erie ; pictures of two brothers surveying a scene of carnage — a pipe reversed, which indi- cates that they are despairing and agonized. They are wild forest Indians, being drawn without hats. The date of these inscriptions is placed at 1625. The Eries were known to be in "the plenitude of their power and barbaric boast of strength and influence" at the HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. IT period of the first discoveries of the French in the begin- ning of the seventeenth century. From the French they learned the use of fire-arms, and the Iroquois from the Dutch about the same time. About five miles south of Franklin, Yenango County, or nine by the river, on the left bank of the Allegheny, is a large rock covered with symbols or hieroglyphics, known by the present inhabitants as the "Indian God." Among the figures may be distinguished a turtle, a snake, an eye, an arrow, a sun, etc., symbols which undoubtedly record the exploits and illustrious actions of departed and forgotten nations. They have never been examined, that we are aware of, by any one capable of deciphering them. Many Indian graves are in the vicinity. The only traces of an Indian village in Erie County are near Waterford, where there is a burying-ground, plum orchard, and other evidences of the Indians having chosen the bills around Lake Le Boeuf, and the beautifal creeks which flow into and from it, for their homes and hunting- grounds. The Six I^ations were found in this region by the first white travelers, (in fact, it was purchased from them,) and yet comparatively few Indian remains are dis- covered. On the ridge a mile south and east of Erie, in making excavations, perhaps twenty years ago, a great number of human bones were found and graves opened, so that Mr. Colt, the owner of the land, considered it almost desecration to disturb them, and ordered the workmen to desist, feeling that it would be more appropriate to place a monument there. An Indian mound was opened near the mouth of Walnut Creek, (in which vicinity many relics are found,) and some fragments of decomposed human skeletons were all that could be discovered. Two miles west of this mound is an embank- ment covered with the ordinary forest growth, which is known as the Old Indian Fort. A small stream near by is called Fort Run. 18 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. There are also remains of an Indian fort between Grirard and Springfield. From a grave in this vicinity, some years ago, a thigh-bone was exhumed which measured four inches longer than that of a man with which it was compared, who was six feet and two inches in height. About a mile south of Girard arrow-heads, pipes, pestles for poundiug corn, etc., have been found. Near Mr. Gould's, in Springfield, four or five years since, more than fifty arrows, axes, etc. were found in one collection, just below the surface in the public road. An ancient double fortification, inclosing about two acres, upon the Pomeroy farm, a mile or two northwest of Cranes- ville, has been pretty much farmed over. On the top of the bank, in 1830, oak trees four or five feet in diameter were growing. Skinuing-stones, arrow-heads, an enormous skele- ton, and many other relics were found within the fort. A bed of coals a foot and a half below the surface appeared to be the remains of the fire of the occupants. About one hundred yards above, on the opposite bank of the creek, was another fort, similar in appearance, and con- taining about the same quantity of ground. They are sup- posed to have been the encampments of two opposing armies. In Scouler's woods, east of Erie, is an Indian burying- ground. Mr. Zimmerman described a very large skeleton which was found there ; with it were two copper bowls per- forated at the edges and laced together with a buckskin thong, which fell to dust soon after being exposed to the air. The bowls, which would contain about a pint each, were found filled with beads. A year or two since, on the farm of Judge Sterrett, four or five miles east of Erie, several skeletons were found in a sitting posture, facing the east, with drinking vessels near them. The same posture has been observed in other In- dian graves in this vicinity. We are not aware that any antiquarian has particularly examined these relics, or whether they resemble in their general features those of New York and Ohio, which are said to give evidence of a race more HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 19 skillfal and persevering than the Iroquois. There is a tra- dition, as we have seen, that the Eries 200 years ago pos- sessed our soil; and still another, that the Massassagues had their hunting-grounds and lighted their council fires near the head v?aters of the Allegheny. It is difficult to realize that our fair lands v^ere so recently under the domin- ion of the hideous, painted savages, and that but little more than two generations have passed since heathenish rites and ceremonies prevailed, and the bow and arrow gave place to the peaceful arts of civilized life. CHAPTER II. La Salle — The Griffin — Eelics — Governor Shirley's Proposition — Brad- dock's Advice — Governor Delancy's Plan — Estimating Presqu'ile — Hudson's Bay Company. Among the adventurers who sought fame and fortune in the American wilderness, stood conspicuously Robert Cava- lier, Sieur de la Salle, a young man of eminence and learn- ing. He had received from Louis XIV. the rank of noble- man, a large domain, and an exclusive trading privilege with the Five Nations, but his ambition was far from being satis- fied with these. To extend the bounds of New France and to open commerce with Europe seemed to be his great object, and to this end he proposed a plan which was carried out many years after, — that of establishing military posts on the waters of the Mississippi. August 1th, 1619, he launched the first wooden vessel that ever floated upon Lake Erie and called it " The Griffin," in allusion to the arms of Count Frontenac, Governor-Gen- eral of Canada, and who had honored La Salle with his friendship.* The Griffin was of sixty tons burden, and built * There have been a diversity of opinions as to the locality of the Griffin ship-yard. Schoolcraft says near Buffalo ; General Cass, at 20 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. at Cayuga Creek, six miles above the falls, on the American side. The Iroquois had gone to war beyond the lake while the Griffin was building; the few that remained manifested their dissatisfaction, and one, affecting to be drunk, attempted to kill a blacksmith. They were advised that some Senecas intended setting fire to the vessel while on the stocks, but a very strict watch was kept constantly. The Senecas refused to sell them Indian-corn, and they had many fears of a fail- ure of provisions, but Sunday exhortations kept up the cour- age of the workmen. Two savages of the Wolf tribe were engaged to hunt the roebuck, and other species of deer, for their use. The workmen were stimulated by the impression that the enterprise had sole reference to the glory of God, and the welfare of the Christian colonies. When the vessel was launched, it was blessed according to the Church of Rome. It was a moving fort, causing the savages to tremble wherever it was known. The Griffin passed the violent rapids of Lake Erie almost by miracle, the pilot himself having fears. They spread all sail, the wind being stormy, and in the most difficult places the sailors threw out lines which were drawn by ten or twelve men on the shore. After hav- ing chanted Te Deum, they fired all their cannon or arbesques in the presence of the Iroquois warriors and the captives they had brought from Tin-ton-ha, or people of the prairie. It was freighted with provisions, merchandise, and seven small cannon, and had on board thirty-two passengers, being mostly fur traders and priests. In twenty days this perilous voyage was accomplished, and the pioneer vessel cast anchor in Green Bay. On the passage they encountered a severe Erie ; Bancroft, at the mouth of Tonawanta Creek ; Sparks, on the Canadian side of the Niagara. Those who have carefully examined the subject, and have had the best opportunity for judging, are firm in the belief that the keel was laid at the mouth of Cayuga Creek, on the American side of the Niagara, about six miles above the Great Falls. In the vicinity, it has long been known by the name of the "Old Ship-yard." HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 21 storm. Among other tarryings, they gathered fruits, and made wine of the wild grapes of Michigan, discussed the question of planting a colony at Detroit, and established a trading-house at Mackinaw. At Green Bay the vessel was loaded with the finest furs, and again set sail for Niagara, but was never afterward heard from with certainty. Hen- nepin says: "It came to anchor at the mouth of the Lake Illinois, where it was seen by some savages, who told us that they advised our men to sail along the coast, and not toward the middle of the lake, because of the sands that make the lake dangerous when there are high winds. Our pilot, as I said before, was dissatisfied, and would steer as he pleased, without hearing to the advice of the savages, who, generally speaking, have more sense than the Europeans think at first. But the ship was hardly a league from the coast when it was tossed up by a violent storm in such a manner that our men were never heard from since ; and it is supposed that the ship struck upon a sand, and was there buried. This was a great loss, for the ship and cargo cost 60,000 livres. The rigging, anchors, and goods were brought by canoes from Quebec and Fort Froutinac, which is such a vast charge that the carriage of every hundredweight cost 11 livres." Another author says the Griffin was lost a few days after leaving the Bay of Fetid. This and other misfortunes completely dis- heartened the daring traveler, as evinced by the name " Cre- vecoeur," which he gave his fort built the same winter. After seven years of wanderings and adverse fortune, La Salle was basely robbed and murdered by one of his own men, and left without sepulture on the prairie, to be devoured by the wild beasts. Parkman says of La Salle : " Ten years of his early life had passed in connection with the Jesuits, and his strong mind had hardened to iron under the discipline of that re- lentless school. To a sound judgment and penetrating sagacity, he joined a boundless enterprise and an adamant- 3 22 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. ine constancy of purpose. But his nature was stern and austere — lie was prone to rule by fear rather than love — he took counsel of no man, and chilled ail who approached him by his cold reserve." There was a tradition among the Jesuits that the Griffin was driven ashore in a gale, the crew murdered, and the vessel plundered. Judging from relics found at different times, this may have occurred near Buffalo. In the Buffalo Commei^cial Advertiser of January 26th, 1848, a communi- cation appears from James W. Peters, of East Evans, Erie County: "Some thirty-five or forty years ago, on the Inger- spU farm, in Hamburg, below the Eighteen-mile Creek, and on a high bank in the woods, was found by Mr. Ingersoll a large quantity of wrought-iron, supposed to be 100 or 800 weight. It was evidently taken off a vessel, was of superior quality, much eaten by rust, and sunken deep in the soil. A large tree had fallen across it which was rotted and mixed with the earth. There were trees growing over the iron from six to twelve inches in diameter, which had to be grubbed up before all the iron could be reached. About twenty-seven years since, a man by the name of Walker, after a heavy blow on the lake, found on the beach, near where the irons vi'ere found, a cannon, and immediately under it a second one. I was there not forty-eight hours after they were found ; they were much defaced by age and rust, and filled up with sand. I cleared off enough from one to lay a number of letters bare. The words were French, and so declared at the time. The horns or trunnions were knocked off." The venerable D. Eddy, of Hamburg, says: "In 1805 there was found upon the lake shore, where a large body of sand and gravel had been removed during a violent gale, a beautiful anchor. It was taken to Bufialo and Black Rock, and excited a good deal of curiosity ; but no one could de- termine to what vessel it belonged." A record of the loss of a vessel at a later period than that of La Salle would in HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 23 all probability have been preserved, and we may reasonably conclude that the iron, cannons, and anchor were those of the Griffin. In the Maryland Gazette, August 23d, 1159, we find the following: "By a letter from Niagara, of the 21st ult., we learn that by the assistance and influence of Sir William Johnson there were upwards of eleven hundred Indians .convened there, who by their good behavior have justly gained the esteem of the whole army ; that Sir William being informed that the enemy had buried a quantity of goods on an island about twenty miles from the post, sent a number of Indians to search for them, who found to the value of eight thousand pounds, and were in hopes of find- ing more ; and that a French vessel, entirely laden with beaver, had foundered on the lake, where her crew, consisting of forty-one men, were all lost." This vessel, lost eighty years after the Griffin, we have no account of elsewhere. The relics found at Hamburg were but forty- six years after this time — not a sufficient period to cause the appearance those relics presented, the anchor deeply imbedded in sand and gravel, the timber growth, etc. About 1150, Governor Shirley, of Massachusetts, in writ- ing to Secretary Robinson, proposed the plan of building one or two vessels on each of the lakes — Erie and Ontario — with which, and a few small, fortified places of shelter upon the Ohio, he expected to curb the French, who were at this time the frequent occasion of difficulties and murders. Two years after. General Braddock named Presqu'ile as a suit- able place to build vessels for securing the navigation of Lake Erie, which, he says, "together with those designed for Lake Ontario, would make the English masters of the great lakes and the Ohio country, until the French can get a force upon those lakes, which it seems very difficult if not impos- sible for them to do when our vessels are cruising upon them." General Braddock also requested that a magazine of pro- visions in the back of Pennsylvania be established, from 24 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. whence to supply himself by a road throngh the mountains to the waters of the Ohio — "the road to extend to Venango and Niagara, which would be of infinite use in subsisting the troops, as that region abounds more with provisions than any other colony in North America." The estimation in which Presqu'ile was held one hun- dred years ago will be seen in a letter dated August Yth, 1755, from Lieutenant-Governor De Laney to Secretary Robinson: "The third method of distressing the French is by way of Oswego ; to go thither we pass, as I observed before, through the country of our Indian friends — by water it is a much less expensive carriage than by land — from Os- wego we may go westward by water through Lake Ontario to Niagara. If we become masters of this pass, the French cannot go to reinforce or victual their garrisons at Presqu'- ile, Beeve River, or on the Ohio but with great difficulty and expense, and by a tedious, long passage. From the fort at Niagara there is a land carriage of about three leagues to the waters above the falls ; thence we go to Lake Erie, and so to the Fort Presqu'ile ; and if we take that, the French can carry no supplies of provisions, nor send men to the head of Beeve River, (Le Boeuf,) or to the Fort Du Quesne on the Ohio, and of course those forts will be aban- doned. The same batteaux which carry the train, provisions, etc., for the army to Oswego may carry them to Niagara, and being transported above the Falls, the same may carry them to Presqu'ile, the fort on the south side of Lake Erie, so that it will be practicable to bring the expense of such an expedition into a moderate compass — far less than the expense of wagons, horses, etc., which are necessary in an expedition by land from Virginia to Ohio ; besides that, proceeding from Virginia to Fort Du Quesne, if it be taken, it is only cutting off a toe, but taking Presqu'ile you lop off a limb from the French and greatly disable them." Relating to the commerce of Lake Erie, we find that as early as 1669 the Hudson's Bay Company was incorporated, HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 26 and transported its goods, provisions, and peltries in bat- teaux for many years after. In 1189 the British had vessels on Lake Erie for the trans- portation of his Majesty's troops and effects. The subject of commerce and shipping on Lake Erie is continued in Chapter XI. CHAPTER TIL The Englisli and French Claims — Construction of Forts Presqii'ile (Erie) and Le Boeuf (Waterford) — Washington's Visit — Condition of these Forts in 1756, '57, '58, and '59 — Their Desertion after the taking of Fort Niagara — Tradition in Erie — Major Rogers takes Possession for the English in 1760. The treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, of 1148, which closed the war in Europe, left the boundaries of the French and Eng- lish possessions in America undefined. In the opinion of the French, the discovery of the mouth of the St. Lawrence and of the Mississippi entitled their sovereign to the terri- tory watered by those streams. The abstract of Sieur de Champlain, 1612, claims for them the possession of all the countries from Florida to Cape Breton prior to any other Christian nation. Afterward this was renewed by Sieur de la Salle, with thirty Frenchmen, among whom were Mons. Jolliet, priest and superior of the seminary at Mon- treal, and Father Marquette, who made a tour of Lake Erie and took possession of the circumjacent lands. Celeron de Bienville, with a company of three hundred men, was sent out by the Governor of Canada in 1149, to make peace among the tribes, and to renew the French possession of the country. He dispensed presents to the Indians, reminded them of their former friendships, and warned them not to trade with the English. He also nailed leaden plates to the trees, and buried them in the earth at the confluence of the Ohio and its tributaries. One of these plates was found a 3* 26 HISTORY -OF ERIE COUNTY. few years since at the junction of the Great Kanhawa and Ohio, dated January 18th; another at Muslvingum the 16th of August; and a third at Yenango, (Franklin.) The fol- lowing is a literal translation of the one last named : " In the year 1749, in the reign of Louis XV., King of France, we, Celeron, commandant of a detachment by Monsieur the Marquis of Galissoniere, commander-in-chief of New France, to establish tranquillity in certain villages of these cantons, have buried this plate at the confluence of Toradakoin, this 29th of July, near the River Ohio, otherwise beautiful river, as a monument of renewal of possession which we have taken of the said river, inasmuch as the preceding kings of France have enjoyed this possession and maintained it by their arms and by treaties, especially by those of Ryswick, Utrecht, and Aix-la-Chapelle." The Indians regarded these plates with suspicion, and said, "they mean to steal our country from us;" and these suspicions were not groundless, for in a few years the French unceremoniously possessed themselves of their best tracts for trading-houses and fortifications- June 30th, 1*749, a letter was received by express from General Clinton, purporting that two New England men, on their return from Canada, where they had been to solicit the release of some prisoners, reported that they saw an array of 1000 French ready to go on some expedition, and they were informed it was to prevent any settlements being made by the English on Belle Riviere ; whereupon it was determ- ined to dispatch a messenger to Mr. George Croghan, with a request that he would go immediately to Allegheny, and on his arrival send away a trader, or some person he could confide in, to the lakes or to the eastward, to discover whether any French were coming in those parts, and if any, in what number, and what appearance they made, that the Indians might be apprised and put upon their guard. January, 1750. — The Governor informed the council that three several letters, of an extraordinary nature, in French, HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 21 signed " Celeron," were delivered to him by the French traders who came from Allegheny, informing him that this Captain Celeron was a French officer, and had the command of three hundred French and some Indians sent this summer to Ohio and the Wabash from Canada, to reprove the In- dians for their friendship to the English, and for suffering the English to trade with them. The Governor sent one of the letters to the proprietaries in London, and another to the Governor of New York, that the same might be laid before the ministry. A letter from George Croghan, dated Logstown, in Ohio, December 16th, IISO, contains the intelligence that he ar- rived the 15th, and was told by Indians that they saw Jean Coeur one hundred and fifty miles up the river, where he intended building a fort. The Indians he had seen were of opinion that the English should have a fort or forts on this river to secure the trade. They expected a war with the French the next spring. February 6th. — In a letter of Governor Clinton, dated Fort George, January 29th, 1150, is the following: '"I send you a copy of an inscription on a leaden plate stolen from Jean Coeur, in the Senecas' country, as he was going to the Ohio." The claim of England to this region was founded on a grant of King James the First, dated 1606, and confirmed in 1620, to divers of his subjects, of all the countries be- tween north latitude 48° and 34°, and westward from the Atlantic Ocean to the South Sea — not a right only to the sea-coast, but to all the inland country from sea to sea. England had, also, through commissioners from Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, purchased western lands from the Six Nations. This treaty was held at Lancaster in 1144, between two hundred and fifty-two Indians, with Conrad Weiser as friend and interpreter, and the Governor of Penn- sylvania, with Colonel Thomas Lee and Colonel William Beverly, of Virginia. The commissioners of Maryland paid 28 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. for their purchase £220 in goods; Virginia, £220 in gold and the same amount in goods, with promises that more should be paid as settlements increased. The chief subse- quently disputed the sale of any lands west of the Warrior's Road, which was at the foot of the Allegheny ridge. In reality the Indians were intoxicated through the whole con- ference, and it was only through much ingenuity and persua- sion that they were induced to sign a deed confirming the Lancaster treaty in its full extent, which was effected at Logstown, seventeen miles below Pittsburg, in 1T52. The year before, in 1151, it was rumored that the French were aware of the difficulties they would have to encounter in maintaining their position in New France, and were tak- ing measures to meet them. Captain Lindsay wrote Colonel Johnson, to whom all such affairs were referred, "that Bunt and Black Prince's son with their fighters had come in, and that the French had built two forts, one at Niagara carrying place, and the other on the Ohio River by Joncaire ; that they had heard a bird sing that a great many Indians from his castle, and others from the Five Nations, were gone to Swegage;" in fine, that the English would lose all the In- dians if they did not bestir themselves. Early in 1753 the French sent out a detachment from Montreal to erect other fortifications, to make good their claim by force of arms if they met with opposition, and to oblige all English subjects to evacuate. Oswego they were instructed not to molest in consideration of Cape Breton — any other post the English had settled near or claimed was to be reduced if not quitted immediately. A narrative of this expedition from Montreal, and the building of Forts Presqu'ile and Le Boeuf, is to be found in the following deposition of Stephen Coffin, which was made to Colonel Johnson, of New York, January 10th, 1154. Coffin was a New Englander who had been taken prisoner by the French and Indians of Canada, at Menis, in 1741. He had served them in different capacities until 1*752, when, being detected HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 29 in efforts to escape to his own country, he was conBned in jail in Quebec ; on his release he applied to Governor Da Quesne to be sent with the forces to Ohio, which was refused. In his own words — "The deponent then applied to Mayor Ramsey for liberty to go with the army to Ohio, who told him he would ask the Lieut, de Ruoy, who agreed to it; upon which he was equipped as a soldier and sent with a detach- ment of three hundred men to Montreal under the command of Mons. Babeer, who set off immediately with said command by land and ice for Lake Erie. They in their way stopped to refresh themselves a couple of days at Cadaraqui Fort, also at Taranto on the north side of Lake Ontario, then at Niagara Fort fifteen days from thence. " They set off by water, being April, and arrived at Cha- dakoin, (Chataqua,) on Lake Erie, where they were ordered to fell timber and prepare it for building a fort there, ac- cording to the Governor's instructions ; but Mr. Morang com- ing up with five hundred men and twenty Indians, put a stop to the erecting a fort at that place, by reason of his not liking the situation, and the River Chadakoin being too shallow to carry out any craft with provisions, etc. to Belle Riviere.* The deponent says there arose a warm debate between Mes- sieurs Babeer and Morang thereon, the first insisting on building a fort there, agreeable to instructions, otherwise, on Morang giving him an instrument in writing to satisfy the Governor on that point, which Morang did, and then ordered Mons. Mercie, who was both commissary and en- * Lieutenant Holland of the English fort at Oswego observed Mo- rain or Morang with his fleet pass that point on the fourteenth of May, and dispatched letters immediately to Colonel Johnson and Governor Clinton. He stated to the latter that there were "thirty odd French canoes," and that common report in Canada made the French army to consist of 6000 men and 500 Indians of the Coyhna- wagas, Scenondidies, Onogonguas, Oroondoks, and Chenundies tribes, who would not engage to go to war with the English, but would hunt at so much per month for the army. 30 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. gineer, to go along said lake and look for a situation ; which he found, and returned in three days, it being fifteen leagues to the southwest of Chadakoin. They were then ordered to repair thither ; when they arrived, there were about twenty Indians fishing in the lake, who immediately quit on seeing the French. They fell to work and built a square fort of chestnut logs, squared and lapped over each other to the height of fifteen feet. It is about one hundred and twenty feet square, a log-house in each square, a gate to the south- ward, another to the northward, not one port-hole cut in any part of it. When finished, they called it Fort Presqu'ile. The Indians who came from Canada with them returned very much out of temper, owing, it was said among the army, to Morang's dogged behavior and ill usage of them; but they (the Indians) said at Oswego it was owing to the French misleading them, by telling them falsehoods, which they said they now found out, and left them. As soon as the fort was finished, they marched southward, cutting a wagon road through a fine level country twenty-one miles to the river — (leaving Captain Derpontency with one hundred men to gar- rison the Fort Presqu'ile.) They fell to work cutting tim- ber boards, etc. for another fort, while Mr. Morang ordered Mons. Bite with fifty men to a place called by the Indians Ganagarahare, on the banks of Belle Kiviere, where the River Aux Boeufs empties into it. In the mean time, Mo- rang had ninety large boats made to carry down the bag- gage, provisions, etc. to said place. Mons, Bite, on coming to said Indian place, was asked what he wanted or intended. He upon answering, said, 'it was their father, the Grovernor of Canada's intention to build a trading house for them and all their brethren's conveniency;' he was told by the Indians that the lands were theirs, and that they would not have them build upon it. The said Bite reported to Morang the situation was good, but the water in the River Aux Boeufs too low at that time to carry any craft with provisions, etc. "A few days after, the deponent says that about one hun- HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 31 (; fed Indians, called by the French the Loos, came to the Fort La Riviere Aux Bceufs to see what the French were doing; that Morang treated them very kindly, and then asked them to carry down some stone, etc. to the Belle Riviere, on horse- back, for payment, which he immediately advanced them on their undertaking to do it. They set off with full loads, but never delivered them to the French, which incensed them very much, being not only a loss, but a great disappointment. Morang, a man of very peevish, choleric disposition, meet- ing with those and other crosses, and finding the season of the year too far advanced to build the third fort, called all his officers together, and told them that, as he had engaged and firmly promised the Governor to finish these forts that sea- son, and not being able to fulfill the same, he was both afraid and ashamed to return to Canada, being sensible he had now forfeited the Governor's favor forever. Wherefore, rather than live in disgrace, he begged they would take him (as he then sat in a carriage made for him, being very sick some- times,) and seat him in the middle of the fort, and then set fire to it and let him perish in the fiames, which was rejected by the officers, who had not the least regard for him, as he had behaved very ill to them all in general. The deponent further saith, that about eight days before he left the Fort Presqu'ile, Chevalier Le Crake arrived express from Canada in a birch canoe worked by ten men, with orders (as the de- ponent afterward heard) from the Governor Le Cain (Du- quesne) to Morang to make all the preparation possible against the spring of the year to build them two forts at Chadakoin, one of them by Lake Erie, the other at the end of the carrying place at Lake Chadakoin, which carrying place is fifteen miles from one lake to the other. The said Chevalier brought for M. Morang a cross of St. Louis, which the rest of the ofiicers would not allow him to take until the Governor was acquainted with his conduct and be- havior. The Chevalier returned immediately to Canada. "After which, the deponent saith, when the Fort La Riviere 32 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. Aux Boeufs was finished, (which is built of wood stockaded triangularwise, and has two log-honses on the inside,) M. Morang ordered all the party to return to Canada for the winter season, except three hundred men, which he kept to garrison both forts and prepare materials against the spring for the building of other forts. He also sent Jean Coeur, an officer and interpreter, to stay the winter among the Indians on the Ohio, in order to prevail with them not only to allow the building forts over there, but also to persuade them, if possible, to join the French interests against the English, The deponent further says that on the 28th of October last, he set off for Canada under the command of Captain De- man, who had the command of twenty-two batteaux with twenty men in each batteau, the remainder being seven hundred ; and sixty men followed in a few days. The 30th arrived at Chadakoin where they stayed four days, during which time M. Peon, with two hundred men, cut a wagon road over the carrying place from Lake Erie to Lake Chadakoin, being fifteen miles, viewed the situation, which proved to their liking, and so set off November the third for Niagara, where we arrived the sixth. It is a very poor, rotten, old wooden fort with twenty-five men in it. They talk of re- building it next summer. We left fifty men there to build batteaux for the army against the spring, also a storehouse for provisions, stores, etc. Stayed here two days, then set off for Canada. All hands, being fatigued with rowing all night, ordered to put ashore to breakfast within a mile of Oswego garrison ; at which time the deponent saith that he, with a Frenchman, slipped off and got to the fort, where they were concealed until the enemy passed. From thence he came here. The deponent further saith, that beside the three hun- dred men with which he went up first under the command of M. Babeer, and the five hundred Morang brought up after- ward, there came at different times, with stores, etc., one hundred men, which made in all fifteen hundred men, three hundred of which remained to garrison the two forts, fifty HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 33 at Niagara ; the rest all returned to Canada, and talked of going up again this winter, so as to be there the beginning of April. They had two six-pounders and seven four- pounders, which they intended to have planted in the fort at Ganagarahhare, (Franklin,) which was to have been called the Governor's Fort ; but as that was not built, they left the guns in the Fort La Riviere Aux Boeufs, where Morang • commands. Further the deponent saith not." The Indians of New York and the Allegheny country, as we have seen, were allied to Great Britain. A depu- tation of seven French Indians had been sent to Onondaga, the headquarters of the Six Nations, to conciliate them and to prepare the way for this expedition from Canada. Although many of the Indians favored the French, yet the deputation were informed promptly that they would not be allowed to settle upon their lands. Andrew Montour, an Indian interpreter who was present at the conference, having some commission from the Governor of Tirginia, on his return conveyed the intelligence to him, and also to Gov- ernor Hamilton, of Pennsylvania. The latter addressed the Colonial Assembly on the subject, urging the necessity of protection for the friendly Indians, and suggesting the discomfort of having French forts within the limits of the province, together with the probability of the Indians deserting them for a power willing to afford them protec- tion. The same year (1*149) Celeron, in the name of Louis, took possession of the Ohio valley, an association was formed by twelve Virginians, among whom were found the names of r^^'^jGtecuig.e and Augusttfs'Washington, called the Ohio Com- pany, which petitioned the king for a grant of land beyond the mountains. Their object was not so much to cultivate the soil or promote settlement, as to monopolize the Indian trade, to purchase and export furs, to sell goods, and erect trading houses and stores. Government readily assented to the project, as it promised quiet and prompt possession of 4 34 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.' the Ohio valley, in opposition to the advances of the French, and granted them 500,000 acres of land west of the Alle- gheuies. Of this land, two-fifths was to be selected immedi- ately, the whole was to be free from quit rent ten years, one hundred families were to settle upon it, and a garrison was to be maintained at the expense of the company as a defense against the Indians. Christopher Gist was sent out to explore and report to the corporation, and in lt52 he, with eleven other fami- lies, made the first settlement west of the mountains. This was upon land presumed to belong to the company, and is now called Mount Braddock, being in Fayette County. The news of the encroachments of the French having ob- tained, and the Ohio Company feeling aggrieved, applied for aid to Governor Dinwiddle, who claimed the country as a part of Virginia, and was also interested as a stockholder of the company. In General Washington, then but a youth, Governor Dinwiddle saw one fitted to lead in this difficult expedition. On the 30th of October, 1153, accompanied by Gist, the pioneer, Van Braem, a retired soldier, who had a knowledge of French, and John Davison, Indian interpreter, he set out for the wilderness. The instructions given Washington were to communicate at Logstown with the friendly Indians, and to request of them an escort to the headquarters of the French, to deliver his letter and credentials to the commander, and demand of him an answer in the name of the British sovereign, and an escort to protect him on his return. He was to acquaint himself with the strength of the French forces, the number of their forts, and their object in advancing to those parts, and also to make such other observations as his opportuni- ties would allow. The Indians were not well satisfied as to the rights of either the French or English. An old Delaware sachem ex- claimed, "The French claim all the lands on one side of the HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 35 Ohio, and the Engh'sh on the other side; now where does the Indian's land lie?" "Poor savages! between their father the French, and their brothers the English, they were in a fair way of being lovingly shared out of the whole coun- try." Three of the sachems, Tanacharison, or Half- King, from his being subject to another tribe, Jeskakake, and White Thunder, accompanied Major Washington from Logstown, as they had been directed by Governor Dinwiddle, as well as for the purpose of returning to the French commander the wai^ belts they had received from them. This implied that they wished to dissolve all friendly relations with their gov- ernment. These Ohio tribes had been offended at the en- croachments of the French, and had a short time previously sent deputations to the commander at Lake Erie, to remon- strate. Half- King, as chief of the Western tribes, had made his complaints in person, and been answered with contempt. "The Indians," said the commander, "are hke flies and mos- quitoes, and the numbers of the French as the sands of the sea-shore. Here is your wampum, I fling it at you." As no reconciliation had been ofl'ered for this offense, aid was readily granted by them to the English in their mission. From Washington's journal we get the following particu- lars : On their arrival at Yenango* (Franklin) they found the French colors hoisted at a house from which they had * "The original drawing of Fort Venango by the French engineers is still in existence, being in the possession of William Reynolds, Esq., Meadville. In the vicinity of the fort several choice species of grapes are still growing, a line of them extending from its center to the base of the hill. They have been bearing so long that the minds of men 'runneth not to the contrary.' No doubt the original shoots were brought from 'La Belle France.'" The draft, it is said, was made in 1758 or 1759, and exhibited the stockade on the embankment, the bastions and gates of the fort, to- gether with the very strong block-house in the center, which had no less than sixteen chimneys. Below the southeast corner of the fort stood a saw-mill, erected on the little stream that passes it. The draft has no notes or explanations annexed. 36 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. driven John Frasier, an English subject. There they inquired for the residence of the commander. Three officers were present, and one Captain Jean Coeur informed tliem that he had the command of the Ohio, but advised them to apply for an answer at the near fort, where there was a general officer. He then invited them to sup with them, and treated the com- pany with the greatest complaisance. At the same time they dosed themselves plentifully with wine, and soon forgot the restraint which at first appeared in their conversation. In this half-intoxicated state they confessed that their deg^ign was to take possession of the Ohio, although the English could command for that service two men to their one. Still their motions were slow and dilatory. They maintained that the right of the French was undoubted from La Salle's dis- covery sixty years before, and that their object now was to prevent the settlement of the English upon the river or its waters, notwithstanding several families they had heard were moving out for that purpose. Fifteen hundred men had been engaged in the expedition west of Lake Ontario, but upon the death of the general, which had occurred but a short time before, all were recalled excepting six or seven hundred, who now garrisoned four forts, being one hundred and fifty men to a fort. The first of the forts was on French Creek, (Waterford,) near a small lake, about sixty miles from Venango north-northwest ; the next on Lake Erie, (Presqu'ile,) where the greater part of their stores were kept, about fifteen miles from the other; from this, one hundred and twenty miles to the carrying place, at the Falls of Niagara, (probably Schlosser,) is a small fort, where they lodge their goods in bringing them from Mon- treal, from whence all their stores are brought ; the next fort lay about twenty miles farther, on Lake Ontario, (Fort Niagara.) The second day at Franklin it rained excessively, and the party were prevented from prosecuting their journey. In the mean time. Captain Jean Coeur sent for Half-King, and HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. , SI professed great joy at seeing him and his companions, and affected much concern that they had not made free to bring them in before. To this Washington replied that he had heard him say a great deal in dispraise of Indians generally. His real motive was to keep them from Jean Coeur, he being an interpreter and a person of great influence among the Indians, and having used all possible means to draw them over to the French interests. When the Indians came in, the intriguer expressed the greatest pleasure at seeing them, was surprised that they could be so near without coming to see him, and after making them trifling presents, urged upon them intoxicating drinks until they were unfitted for business. The third day Washington's party were equally unsuccessful in their efforts to keep the Indians apart from Jean Coeur, or to prosecute their journey. On the fourth day they set out, but not without an escort planned to annoy them, in Monsieur La Force and three Indians. Finally, after four days of travel through mire and swamps, with the most un- propitious weather, they succeeded in reaching Le Boeuf. Washington immediately presented himself, and offered his commission and letters to the commanding officer, but was requested to retain both until Mons. Reparti should arrive, who was the commander at the next fort, and who was expected every hour. The commander at Le Boeuf, Legardeur de St. Pierre, was an elderly gentleman with the air of a soldier, and a knight of the military order of St. Louis. He had been in command but a week at Le Boeuf, having been sent over on the death of the late general. In a few hours Captain Reparti arrived from Presqu'ile, the letter was again offered, and after a satisfactory transla- tion a council of war was held, which gave Major Wash- ington and his men an opportunity of taking the dimensions of the fort and making other observations. According to their estimate, the fort had one hundred men, exclusive of a large number of officers, fifty birch canoes and seventy pine ones, and many in an unfinished state. 4* 38 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. The instructions he had received from Governor Din- widdie allowed him to remain but seven days for an ansv^^er; and as the horses were daily becoming weaker, and the snow fast increasing, they were sent back to Yenango, and still further to Shannopin's town, provided the river was open and in a navigable condition. In the mean time Commis- sary La Force was full of flatteries and fair promises to the Sachems, still hoping to retain them as friends. From day to day the party were detained at Yenango, — sometimes by the power of liquor, the promise of presents, and various other pretexts, and the acceptance of the wampum had been thus far successfully evaded. To the question of Major Washington, "by what author- ity several English subjects had been made prisoners ?" Captain Reparti replied, "that they had orders to make prisoners of any who attempted to trade upon those waters." The two who had been taken, and of whom they inquired par- ticularly, John Trotter and James McClochlan, they were informed had been sent to Canada, but were now returned home. They confessed, too, that a boy had been carried past by the Indians, who had besides two or three white men's scalps. On the 15th, the commandant ordered a plentiful store of liquors and provisions to be put on board the canoes, and appeared extremely complaisant, while he was really study- ing to annoy them, and to keep the Indians until after their departure. Washington, in his journal, remarks : "I cannot say that ever in my life I suffered so much anxiety as I did in this affair. I saw that every stratagem which the most fruitful brain could invent was practiced to win the Half-King to their interests, and that leaving him there was giving them the opportunity they aimed at. I went to the Half- King and pressed him in the strongest terms. He told me that the commandant would not discharge him until the morning. I then went to the commandant, and desired him to do their HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 39 business, and complained of ill treatment ; for keeping tbem, as they were part of my company, was detaining me. This he promised not to do, but to forward my journey as much as possible. He protested that he did not keep them, but was ignorant of the cause of their stay ; though I soon found it out : he promised them a present of guns, etc., if they would wait until morning." Their journey to Franklin was tedious and very fatiguing. At one place the ice had lodged so their canoes could not pass, and they were obliged to carry them a quarter of a mile. One of the chiefs, White Thunder, became disabled, and they were compelled to leave him with Half-King, who promised that no fine speeches or scheming of Jean Coeur should win him back to the French. In this he was sincere, as his conduct afterward proved. As their horses were now weak and feeble, and there was no proba- bility of the journey being accomplished in reasonable time, Washington gave them, with the baggage, in charge of Mr. Yan Braem, his faithful companion, tied himself up in his watch-coat, with a pack on his back containing his papers, some provisions, and his gun, and, with Mr. Gist fitted out in the same manner, took the shortest route across the country for Shannopin's town. On the day following, they fell in with a party of French Indians, who laid in wait for them at a place called Murder- ing town, now in Butler County. One of the party fired upon them ; but, by constant travel, they escaped their company, and arrived within two miles of Shannopin's town, where trials in another form awaited them. They were obliged to construct a raft, in order to cross the river; and when this was accomplished, by the use of but one poor hatchet, and they were launched, by some accident Washington was precipi- tated into the river and narrowly escaped being drowned. Besides this, the cold was so intense that Mr. Gist had his fingers and toes frozen. At Mr. Frasier's, (Turtle Creek,) they met twenty warriors going southward to battle, and at the Monongahela, seventeen horses, loaded with materials 40 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. and stores for a fort at the forks of the Ohio, and a few- families going out to settle. On the 16th of February, Washington arrived at Williamsburg, and waited upon Governor Dinwiddle with the letter he had brought from the French commandant, and offered him a narrative of the most remarkable occurrences of his journey. The reply of Chevalier de St. Pierre was found to be courteous and well guarded. " He should transmit," he said, " the letter of Governor Dinwiddle to his general, the Marquis Du Quesne, to whom it better belongs than to me to set forth the evidence and reality of the rights of the king ray master upon the lands situated along the Ohio, and to contest the pretensions of the king of Great Britain thereto. His answer shall be a law to me. * * * As to the sum- mons to retire you send me, I do not think myself obliged to obey it. Whatever may be your instructions, I am here by virtue of the orders of my general, and I entreat you, sir, not to doubt one moment but that I am determined to eon- form myself to them with all the exactness and resolution which can be expected from the best officer. * * * j made it my particular care to receive Mr. Washington with a distinction suitable to your dignity, as well as his own quality and merit. I flatter myself that he will do me this justice before you, sir, and that he will signify to you, in the manner I do myself, the profound respect with which I am, sir, etc." Governor Dinwiddle and his council understood this eva- sive answer as a ruse to gain time, in order that they might in the spring descend the Ohio and take military possession of the whole country. This expedition may be considered the foundation of Washington's fortunes. " From that moment he was the rising hope of the country. His tact with the Indians and crafty whites, his endurance of cold and fatigue, his pru- dence, firmness, and self-devotion, all were indications of the future man." HISTORY or ERIE COU>iTY. 41 Relating to the French forts, April, 1*751, we have the following : " Colonel Johnson, British Indian agent, residing at Tribeshill, 'New York, received intelligence through sav- ages, that a strong detachment were ascending the St. Law- rence and entering Lake Ontario, and supposing it concerned the Mohawk country, he assembled his militia and marched to Palatine, where another company of eleven or twelve hundred men joined him, sent out by the commandant at Oswego. He intrenched himself and remained in camp fifteen days, when he received intelligence that the French detachment had passed by to reinforce Belle Biviere. " A year before, in 1*156, a prisoner among the Indians, who had made his escape, gave the following particulars : " Buffa- loes Fort, or Le Boeuf, is garrisoned with one hundred and fifty men and a few straggling Indians. Presqu'ile is built of square logs filled up with earth ; the barracks are within the fort, and garrisoned with one hundred and fifty men, sup- ported chiefly from a French settlement begun near it. The settlement consists, as the prisoner was informed, of about one hundred families." [This French settlement is not spoken of by any other person. M. Chauvignerie, as will be seen, states that there were no settlements or improve- ments near the forts Presqu'ile or Le Boeuf] " The Indian families about the settlement are pretty numerous ; they have a priest and schoolmaster, and some grist-mills and stills in the settlement." In 115T, M. Chauvignerie, Jr., aged seventeen, a French prisoner, testified before a justice of the peace to this effect : " His father was a lieutenant of marines and commandant of Fort Machault, built lately at Yenango." [On the author- ity of an old map at Quebec, Fort Machault was the oppo- site side of the river from Fort Yenango.] "At the fort they have fifty regulars and forty laborers, and soon expect a reinforcement from Montreal, and they drop almost daily some of the detachments, as they pass from Montreal to Fort du Quesne. Fort Le Breuf is commanded by my 42 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. uncle, Monsieur de Verge, an ensign of foot. There is no cap- tain or other officer there, above an ensign ; and the reason of this is, that the commandants of those forts purchase a commission for it, and have the benefit of transporting the provisions and other necessaries. The provisions are chiefly sent from Niagara to Presqu'ile, and so from thence down the Ohio to Fort du Quesne. Sometimes, however, they are brought in large quantities from southward of Fort du Quesne. There are from eight hundred to nine hundred, and sometimes one thousand men between Forts Presqu'ile and Le Boeuf. One hundred and fifty of these are regulars, and the rest Canadian laborers, who work at the forts and build boats. There are no settlements or improvements near the forts. The French plant corn about them for the In- dians, whose wives and children come to the fort for it, and get furnished also with clothes at the king's expense. Traders reside in the forts, that purchase of them peltries. Several houses are outside of the forts, but people do not care to occupy them, for fear of being scalped. One of their batteaux usually carries sixty bags of flour and three or four men. When unloaded, they will carry twelve men." Frederick Post's journal, dated Pittsburg, November, 1158, says: "Just as the council broke up, an Indian ar- rived from Fort Presqu'ile, and gave the following descrip- tion of the three upper forts. Presqu'ile has been a strong stockaded fort, but is so much out of repair that a strong man might pull up any log out of the earth. There are two ofiBcers and thirty-five men in garrison there, and not above ten Indians, which they keep constantly hunting, for the support of the garrison. The fort in Le Bceuf River is much in the same condition, with an officer and thirty men, and a few hunting Indians, who said they would leave them in a few days. The fort at Venango is the smallest, and has but one officer and twenty-five men, and, like the two upper forts, they are much distressed for want of pro- visions." HISTORY or ERIE COUNTY. 43 On the ITth of March, 1759, Thomas Bull, an Indian employed as a spy at the Lakes, arrived at Pittsburg. At Presqu'ile, he stated that the garrison consisted of two officers, two merchants, a clerk, priest, and one hundred and three soldiers. The commandant's name was Burinol, with whom Thomas was formerly acquainted, and who did not suspect him. He treated him with great openness, and told him thirty towns had engaged to join the French and come to war. He saw fifteen hundred billets ready prepared for their equipment. He likewise understood that they were just ready to set out, and were stopped by belts and speeches sent among them by the English, but would decide when a body of over-lake Indians would arrive at Kaskaskie. Bur- niol described a conversation he had had with the Mingoes ; that he had told them he was sorry one-half of them had broken away to the English. They replied that they had buried the tomahawk with the French ; that they would do the same with the English ; and wished that both would fight as they had done over the great waters, without disturbing their country; that they wished to live in peace with both, and that the English should return home. Burniol replied, that he would go home as soon as the English would move off. Thomas Bull described Fort Presqu'ile "as square, with four bastions. They have no platform raised yet ; so they are useless, excepting in each bastion there is a place for a sen- tinel. There are no guns upon the walks, but four four- pounders in one of the bastions, not mounted on carriages. The wall is only of single logs, with no bank within, a ditch without. There are two gates, of equal size, being about ten feet wide : one fronts the lake, about three hundred yards distant, the other the road to Le Bceuf. The magazine is a stone house covered with shingles, and not sunk in the ground, standing in the right bastion, next the lake, going from Presqu'ile to Le Bceuf. The other hoases are of square logs. They have in store a considerable quantity of Indian goods, and but little flour. Twelve batteaux they were 44 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. daily expecting from Niagara, with provisions. IS'o French were expected from Niagara, but about five hundred from a fort on the north side of the lake, in the Waweailunes coun- try, which is built of cedar stockades. The French were to come with the Indians before mentioned. There were four batteaux at Presqu'ile, and no works carrying on, but one small house in the fort. Some of the works are on the decay, and some appear to have been lately built." The officers made Thomas a present of a pair of stockings, and he went on to Le Boeuf, telling them that he was going to Wyoming to see his father. Le Boeuf he describes " as of the same plan with Presqu'ile, but very small ; the logs mostly rotten. Plat- forms are erected in the bastion, and loopholes properly cut ; one gun is mounted on a bastion and looks down the river. It has only one gate, and that faces the side opposite the creek. The magazine is on the right of the gate, going in, partly sunk in the ground, and above are some casks of powder, to serve the Indians. Here are two officers, a storekeeper, clerk, priest, and one hundred and fifty soldiers, and, as at Presqu'ile, the men are not em- ployed. They have twenty-four batteaux, and a larger stock of provisions than at Presqu'ile. One Le Sambrow is the commandant. The Ohio is clear of ice at Venango, and French Creek at Le Boeuf The road from Venango to Le Boeuf is well trodden ; and from thence to Presqu'de is one-half day's journey, being very low and swampy, and bridged most of the way." A few months after this time, twelve hundred regular troops were collected from Presqu'ile, Detroit, and Venango, for the defense of Fort Niagara, which had been besieged by the English under General Prideaux. Four days before the conquest, the general was killed by the bursting of a cannon, and the command devolved on Sir William Johnson, who carried out the plan with judgment and vigor, and the enemy were completely routed. The utmost confusion pre- HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 45 vailed at Forts Yenango, Presqu'ile, and Le Boeuf after the victory, particularly as Sir William sent letters by some of the Indians to the commander at Presqu'ile, notifying him that the other posts must be given up in a few days. August 13th, we find that the French at Presqu'ile had sent away all their stores, and were waiting for the French at Yenango and Le Bceuf to join them, when they would all set out in batteaux for Detroit; that in an Indian path leading to Presqu'ile from a Delaware town, a Frenchman- and some Indians had been met, with the word that the French had left Yenango six days before. About the same time, three Indians arrived at Fort du Quesne from Yenango, who reported that the Indians over the lake were much displeased with the Six Nations, as they had been the means of a number of their people being killed at Niagara ; that the French had burned their forts at Ye- nango, Le Bceuf, and Presqu'ile, and gone over the lakes. At Yenango, before leaving, they had made large presents to the Indians of laced coats, hats, etc., and had told them, with true French bravado, that they were obliged to run away at this time, but would certainly be in possession of the river before the next spring. They were obliged to burn everything and destroy their batteaux, as the water was so low they could not get up the creek with them. The report was probably unfounded, of the burning of the forts, unless they were very soon rebuilt, of which we have no account. A tradition has prevailed in Erie, that at this time treas- ures were buried, either on the site of the fort or on the line of the old French road. From the above account, we learn that their hasty departure was made by water, and the proba- bility is that the company returned before winter. Spanish silver coins were found twenty years ago, to the value of sixty dollars, while plowing the old site for the purpose of making brick ; but, from appearances, they had been secreted there within the present century. The wells have been re-exca- vated time and again, but with no extraordinary results. 5 46 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. Pottery of a singular kind has been found, and knives, bul- lets, and human bones confirm the statements of history. In 1760, Major Rodgers was sent out by government to take formal possession for the English of the forts upon the lake, though it was not until 1763 that a definite treaty of peace was signed and ratified at Paris. CHAPTER IV. Pontiac — Destruction of Forts Presqu'ile and Le Boeuf, as described by Bancroft, Parkman, and Harvey — Colonel Bradstreet at Presqu'ile, in 1764 — Colonel Bouquet's Treaty — A Detachment of British Soldiers and Indians embark at Chautauqua Lake — Ilannastown burnt — Mr. Adams's Suggestion. At Detroit Major Rodgers first met with the Ottawa chief Pontiac, who had the largest empire and the greatest authority of any chief that had yet appeared on our conti- nent. The chief treated him with distant ceremony, and intimated that, though the French had been conquered by the English, he had not ; but, at the close of the interview, they smoked the pipe of peace, and afterward he rendered the English good service in protecting their stores when passing through savage tribes. How he became inimical to the English is not certainly known. He may have feared their power, and also felt with sadness the absence of French courtesy. Prejudice arose, too, from the ill behavior and offensive conduct of Irish and other convicts, who had been transported for their crimes, and been bought and employed in carrying goods up among the Indians. " When the French first arrived," said a Chippewa chief, "they came and kissed us; they called us children, and we found them fathers. We lived like children with them in the same lodge." * * * "If the English did us no harm, they also HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 4T manifested no interest in our affairs. They gave us no mis- sionaries, made us no presents ; they even would not con- sent to trade; and further, they were unjust to our friends, the French." Mr. Henry, an English traveler, who passed through Canada and the Indian territories, about 1760, was com- pelled to disguise himself as a Canadian. At one time, when surrounded by Indians, he was coolly addressed by a chief in something like this strain : " The English are brave men, and not afraid of death, since they dare to come thus fearlessly among their enemies. You know that the French king is our father. You are his enemy ; and how, then, can you have the boldness to venture among us his children ? You know that his friends are our friends." They delighted to extol the power of the French, and to compare the king to an old man asleep, who would shortly arouse himself and execute vengeance upon his enemies. They also charged upon the English that, when fighting for them, their young men had been slain, and that the spirits of the slain had not been satisfied. This, according to their custom, could only be effected in one of two ways, — by pouring out the blood of the nation by which they fell, or by covering the bodies of the dead, and allaying the resentment of the relations by presents. The English had never offered them presents or treaty, and they must therefore be considered still at war with them. But their hearts seemed to soften toward Mr. Henry, who came among them unarmed, and they even of- fered him a pipe, as a token of their friendship. When PoQtiac had formed his plan for restoring to his people their homes and hunting-grounds, and " had mused until the fire burned," he determined to call around him his own tribe, the Ottawas, and disclose to them his determina- tion to banish forever the proud, unconciliating Englishman. He appealed with eloquence and art to their fears, ambition, patriotism, and cupidity, — the love and gratitude they owed to the French, and their hatred of the English. He next 48 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. convened a grand council of the neighboring tribes at the Kiver Aux Ecores, and invited them to action, by assuming that the Great Spirit had recently made a revelation to a Delaware Indian as to the conduct he wished his red children to pursue. He had directed them to abstain from ardent spirits, and to cast from them the manufactures of the white man — to resume their bows and arrows, and skins of animals for clothing. "Why," said the Great Spirit indignantly to the Delaware, "do you suffer these dogs in red clothing to enter your country and take the land I gave you ? Drive them from it, and when you are in distress I will help you." A plan of campaign was concerted on the spot, and belts and speeches sent to secure the co-operation of the Indians along the whole line of the frontier. The Ottawas, Chip- pewas, and Pottawatamies were the most active of the tribes ; the Miamies, Sac and Foxes, Monononomies, Wy- andots, Mississagues, Shawnees, Pennsylvania and Ohio Delawares, and the Six Nations, participated, and all the British posts, from Niagara to Green Bay and the Potomac, were comprehended in the attack. So well arranged iind executed were their plans, that nine out of eleven of the forts were captured. Bancroft, in his history of the United States, gives the following account of the destruction of Port Presqu'ile : " The fort at Presqu'ile, now Erie, was the point of com- munication between Pittsburg and Niagara and Detroit. It was in itself one of the most tenable, and had a garrison of four and twenty men, and could most easily be relieved. On the 22d of June, after a two days' defense, the commander, out of his senses with terror, capitulated, giving up the sole chance of saving his men from the scalping-knife. He him- self, with a few others, were carried in triumph by the Indians to Detroit." A more detailed account is found in the " Conspiracy of Pontiac," by Parkman. He says : " There had been hot fighting before Presqu'ile was taken. Could courage have HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 49 saved it, it never would have fallen. The fort stood near the present site of Erie, on the southern shore of the lalve vphich bears the same name. At one of its angles w^as a large block-house, a species of structure much used in the petty forest warfare of the day. It was two stories in height, and solidly built of massive timber; the diameter of the upper story exceeding that of the lower by several feet, so that, through the openings in the projecting floor of the former, the defenders could shoot down upon the heads of an enemy assailing the outer wall below. The roof being covered with shingles, might easily be set on fire ; but, to guard against this, there was an opening, through which the garrison, partially protected by a covering of plank, might pour down the water upon the flames. This block-house stood upon a projecting point of land, between the lake and a small brook which entered it nearly at right angles. And now the defenders could see the Indians throwing up earth and stones behind one of the breastworks ; their implacable foes were laboring to undermine the block-house, a sure and insidious expedient, against which there was no defense. There was little leisure to reflect on this new peril, for an- other, more imminent and horrible, soon threatened them. The barrels of water, always kept in the block-house, were nearly emptied in extinguishing the frequent fires ; and though there was a well in the parade-ground, yet to ap- proach it would be certain death. The only resource was to dig one in the block-house itself. The floor was torn up, and while some of the men fired their heated muskets from the loopholes to keep the enemy in check, the rest labored with desperate energy at this toilsome and cheerless task. Before it was half completed, the cry of fire was again raised, and, at the imminent risk of life, they tore off the blazing shingles and averted the danger. By this time it was evening. The little garrison had fought from earliest daybreak without a moment's rest. Nor did darkness bring relief, for the Indian guns flashed all night long from the 5* 50 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. intrencbments. They seemed determined to wear out the ob- stinate defenders by fatigue. While some slept, others in their turn continued the assault, and morning brought fresh dan- gers. The block-house was fired several times through the day, but they kept up their forlorn and desperate defense. The house of the commanding officer sank into glowing em- bers. The fire on both sides did not cease till midnight, at which hour a voice was heard in French, calling out that fur- ther defense was useless, since preparations were made to burn above and below at once. Christie demanded if any one spoke English ; upon which a man in Indian dress came forward. He had been made a prisoner in the French war, and was now fighting against his own countrymen. He said, if they yielded, they would be saved alive ; if not, they would be burned, Christie resolved to hold out as long as a shadow of hope remained, and while some of the garrison slept, the rest watched. They told them to wait until morn- ing. They assented, and suspended their fire. When morn- ing came, they sent out two persons, on pretense of treating, but in reality to learn the truth of the preparations to burn the block-house, whose sides were pierced with bullets and scorched with fire. In spite of the capitulations, they were surrounded and seized, and, having been detained for some time in the neighborhood, were sent as prisoners to Detroit, where Ensign Christie soon after made his escape, and gained the fort in safety." Mr. H. L. Harvey, formerly editor of the Erie Observer, a gentleman of research and integrity, in a lecture delivered in Erie, introduced the following account of the same event, differing, as will be seen, from both the above-named ac- credited historians. He says : " The troops retired to their quarters to procure their morning repast ; some had already finished, and were sauntering about the fortress or upon the shore of the lake. All were joyous in holiday attire, and dreaming of naught but the pleasure of the occasion. A knock was heard at the gate, and three Indians were an- HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 51 nonnced in hunting garb, desii'ing an interview with the commander. Their tale was soon told. They said they belonged to a hunting party, who had started for Niagara with a lot of furs ; that their canoes were bad, and they would prefer disposing of them here, if they could do so to advantage, and return, rather than go farther ; that their party were encamped by a small stream west of the fort about a mile, where they had landed the previous night, and where they wished the commander to go and examine their peltries, as it was difficult to bring them, and they wished to embark where they were, if they did not trade. The com- mander, accompanied by a clerk, left the fort with the In- dians, charging his lieutenant that none should leave the fort, and none be admitted, until his return. Well would it probably have been had this order been obeyed. After the lapse of sufficient time for the captain to visit the encampment of the Indians and return, a party of the latter, variously estimated — probably one hundred and fifty — ad- vanced toward the fort, bearing upon their backs what appeared to be large packs of furs, which they informed the lieutenant the captain had purchased and ordered to be deposited in the fort. The stratagem succeeded ; when the party were all within the fort, it was the work of an instant to throw off their packs and the short cloaks which covered their weapons, the whole being fastened by one loop and button at the neck. Resistance at this time was useless, and the work of death was as rapid as savage strength and weapons could make it. Tlie shortened rifles, which had been sawed off for the purpose of concealing them under their cloaks and in the packs of furs, were at once discharged, and the tomahawk and knife completed their work. The history of savage warfare presents not a scene of more heartless and blood-thirsty vengeance than was ex- hibited on this occasion. The few who were taken prisoners in the fort were doomed to the various tortures devised by savage ingenuity, and all but two, who awoke to celebrate 52 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. that day, had passed to the eternal world. Of these, one was a soldier who had gone into the woods near the fort, and on his return observing a party of Indians dragging away some prisoners, escaped, and immediately proceeded to Niagara ; the other was a soldier's wife, who had taken shelter in a small stone house, at the mouth of the creek, used as a wash-house. Here she remained unobserved until near night of the fatal day, when she was made their pris- oner, but was ultimately ransomed and restored to civilized life. She was afterward married, and settled in Canada, where she was living at the commencement of the present century. Captain D. Dobbins, of the revenue service, has frequently talked with the woman, who was redeemed by a Mr. Douglass, living opposite Black E-ock, in Canada. From what she witnessed, and heard from the Indians during her captivity, as well as from information derived from other sources, this statement is made." About the same time the fort at Le Boeuf was furiously attacked by a large body of Indians, and the block-house fired at night. While the enemy believed them consumed, the ensign and his seven remaining men effected their escape, by means of a secret underground passage, having its outlet in the direction of the swamp adjoining Le BcBuf Lake. Tradition says that only one of these reached a civilized settlement. At Venango, a party of Senecas gained en- trance by stratagem, and massacred the garrison, after having tortured Lieutenant Gordon, the commander, for several nights over a slow fire. Afterward they fired and consumed the fort. It was not the stockaded garrison alone, at this trying period, that suffered from the fury of the savages. Through the whole West the tomahawk and scalping-knife made fear- ful havoc. More than one hundred traders were struck down in the woods — the husbandman in the field and the child in the cradle shared the same unhappy fate. Emigrants were compelled to leave their homes and planted fields, and by HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 63 toilsome journeys seek protection and shelter in distant set- tlements. Nearly five hundred families from the frontiers of Maryland and Virginia fled thus to Winchester, being desti- tute of every comfort. The regions of New York were happily exempted from similar outrages, through the in- fluence of Sir William Johnson. On the 12th of August, 1764, Colonel Bradstreet and his • array landed at Presqu'ile, and there met a band of Shaw- nees and Delawares, who feigned to have come to treat for peace. Colonel Bradstreet was deceived by them, (although his ofiicers were not,) and marched to Detroit to relieve that garrison. He found Pontiac gone, but made peace with the Northwestern Indians, in which they pledged themselves to give up their prisoners ; to relinquish their title to the English posts and the territory around for the distance of a cannon shot ; to give up all the murderers of white men, to be tried by English law ; and to acknowledge the sovereignty of the English government. Soon he discovered, as the war still raged, that he had been duped. He received orders to attack their towns ; but, mortified and exasperated, his troops destitute of provisions and every way dissatisfied, he broke up his camp and returned to Niagara. Colonel Bo- quet afterward met the same deceptive Shawnees, Dela- wares, and Senecas, and succeeded in bringing them to terms ; so that in twelve days they brought in two hundred and six prisoners, and promised all that could be found, — leaving six hostages as security. The next year one hun- dred more prisoners were brought in, between whom and the Indians, in many cases, a strong attachment had sprung up, they accompanying the captives, with presents, even to the villages. The region west of the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers, prior to the year 1795, was only known as the Indian country. On the Canada side of Lake Erie there were a few white settlements. On the American side Cherry Yalley, New York, was the most western settlement, and Pittsburg the nearest settlement on the south. 54 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. In the year 1782, a detachment, consisting of three hun- dred British soldiers and five hundred Indians, was sent from Canada to Fort Pitt. They had embarlied in canoes at Chautanque Lake, when information, through their spies, caused their project to be abandoned. Parties of Indians harassed the settlements on the borders, and under Guyasu- tha, a Seneca chief, attacked and burned the seat of justice for Westmoreland County, Hannastown, and murdered several of the inhabitants. In 1785, Mr. Adams, Minister at London, writes to Lord Carmarthan, English Secretary of State: "Although a period of three years has elapsed since the signature of the preliminary treaty, and more than two years since the defin- itive treaty, the posts of Oswegatchy, Oswego, Niagara, Presqu'ile, Sandusky, Detroit, Mackinaw, with others not necessary particularly to enumerate, and a considerable ter- ritory around each of them, all within the incontestible limits of the United States, are still held by British garrisons to the loss and injury of the United States," etc. As we do not hear from any other source of the rebuilding of the fort at Presqu'ile or of a garrison there, the pi'obability is that Mr. Adams only had reference to Presqu'ile as an important location. CHAPTER Y. Penn's Charter — Boundaries of Pennsylvania — Mason and Dixon's Line — Review of said Line by Colonel Graham — Western Boundary of Penn- sylvania fixed in 1786 — Boundary between New York and Pennsyl- vania confirmed by Act of Assembly in 1789 — Purchase of Triangle, 1791— Anecdote of Mr. William Miles. In the charter of Charles II. to William Penn, 1681, the first section describes the boundary of his grant as "east by Delaware River from 12 miles distance northward of New- castle town, unto the three-and-fortieth degree of north lati- HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 55 tnde, if the said river doth extend so far northward ; but if the said river doth not extend so far northward, then by the said river so far as it doth extend ; and from the head of the said river the eastern bounds are to be determined by a meridian line, to be drawn from the head of said river unto the said 43d degree. The said land to extend westward 5 degrees in longitude, to be computed from the said eastern bounds ; and the said lands to be bounded on the north by the beginning of the three-and-fortieth degree of north latitude, and on the south by a circle drawn at 12 miles distance from New Castle northward and westward unto the beginning of the fortieth degree of north latitude, and then by a straight line westward to the limits of longitude above mentioned." Explicit as this description appears, Maryland and Virginia disputed for many years, each claiming to itself the whole space or extent of the land south of the fortieth degree of latitude. The controversy was at length settled in 1732, chiefly in favor of Maryland, which rendered the real extent of Penn- sylvania one hundred and fifiy-five miles instead of two hun- dred and eight, and the square miles forty-one thousand, exclusive of the Triangle. Lord Baltimore had, in 1683, petitioned King Charles II. that no fresh grants of land in the territories of Penn- sylvania might pass in favor of William Penn until the said lord was heard in his pretension of right thereto. This petition was referred to the committee of trade and plantation, which, after many attendances and divers hearings of both parties, made their report to King James II., who in 1685 determined the affair between them, by ordering a division of the tract of land between Dela- ware and Chesapeake Bays, from the latitude of Cape Hen- lopen to the south boundary of Pennsylvania, in two equal parts, of which the side of Delaware was assigned to the king and Pennsylvania, and the Chesapeake side to Balti- more. In 1732, commissioners were appointed both from Pennsylvania and Maryland for the actual running, marking, 56 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. and laying out the boundary lines between both the province and territories of Pennsylvania and Maryland, according to articles of agreement concluded between Charles, Lord Bal- timore, the proprietary of Maryland, and John, Thomas, and Richard Penn, proprietaries of Pennsylvania. The bounda- ries between Pennsylvania and Baltimore were as follows : That a due east and west line shall be drawn from the ocean, beginning at Cape Henlopen, which lies south of Cape Cor- nelius, upon the eastern side of the peninsula, and thence to the western side of the peninsula, which lies upon Chesa- peake Bay, and as far westward as the exact middle of that part of the peninsula where the said line is run. That from the western end of the said east and west line in the middle of the peninsula, a straight line shall run northward up the said peninsula till it touch the western part of the peri- phery or arc of a circle, drawn twelve English statute miles distant from New Castle, westward toward Maryland, so as to make a tangent thereto, and there the said straight line shall end. That from the western end of the last-mentioned straight line drawn northward, a line shall be continued due north, as far as to that parallel of latitude which is fifteen English statute miles due south of the most southern part of Philadelphia, and from the north end of the last-men- tioned north and south line, a line shall be run due west, across the Susquehanna River to the western boundary of Pennsylvania. Notwithstanding this agreement, the per- formance was long delayed by disputes of the parties about the mode of doing it, said to have been occasioned mostly by the proprietary of Maryland, in consequence of which the inhabitants on the Pennsylvania side, near where the boundary line ought long before to have been ascertained and marked out, were sometimes exposed to unreasonable de- mands from Maryland claims. It was not finally executed until the year 1762, when these families or proprietaries agreed to employ two ingenious English mathematicians, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, after their return from HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 51 the Cape of Good Hope, where they had been to observe the transit of Yenus, in the year 1*761, finally to settle and mark out the same, which was accordingly performed by them.* At the end of every fifth mile they placed a stone graven with the arms of the Penns on one side, and of the Balti- more family on the other, marking the intermediate miles with smaller stones having " P" on one side and " M " on the other. The stones with the arras were all sent from Eng- land. This was done on the parallel of latitude as far as Sideling Hill ; but here all wheel transportation ceasing, in 1*766 the further marking of the lines was the vista of eight yards wide, with piles of stones on the crests of all the mountain ranges, built some eight feet high, as far as the summit of the Allegheny, beyond which the line was marked by posts, around which stones and earth were thrown the better to preserve them. Of these stones, the one which marked the northeast corner of Maryland became in the course of time undermined by a brook, and was removed and used in a farm-house chimney. After this occurrence the Legislatures of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia appointed a joint commission for a new survey, and ap- pointed Colonel Graham of the TJnited States Topograph- ical Engineers to superintend the work, and review the line of Mason.and Dixon as far as might be judged necessary. Though their work was corroborated in the main, better * After they had surveyed the distance of 23 miles, 18 chains, and 21 links from the place of beginning, and were at the bottom of a valley on Dunkard's Creek, a branch of the Monongahela, an In- dian path crossed their route, and their aboriginal escort informed them that it -was "the will of the Sioux nation that the surveys cease;" and they terminated accordingly, leaving 36 miles, 6 chains, and 50 links as the exact distance remaining to be run west to the southwest angle of Pennsylvania. 6 58 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. instruments and a more accurate knowledge of the art enabled their successors to detect some errors. By their corrections Maryland gained about two acres, and a gentle- man who had served as a member of the Delaware Legis- lature found his residence located full half a mile within the State of Pennsylvania. Thus was established and perfected the line, "having no breadth or thickness, but length only," which threatens to make "enemies of nations which had else, like kindred drops, been mingled into one." It is said the survey of Mason and Dixon cost the Penn family nearly $100,000; and that an arc of the meridian measured by them at that time is cited in works of astron- omy, having been one of the measurements by which the figure of the earth was ascertained. Of these two mathe- maticians, to whom political disputes have given a notoriety as lasting as the history of our country, Dixon, it is said, was born in a coal mine, and returned to his own coun- try, Durham, where he died in 1711. Ten years later Mason died in Pennsylvania. It was not until 1186, after many difficulties between the States of Pennsylvania and Virginia, that the western boundary of the former was surveyed by extending Mason and Dixon's line five degrees west from the Delaware River, and a meridian drawn from the western extremity to the northern limit. In 1185 commissioners w^ere appointed, on the part of Pennsylvania and New York, to ascertain the northern boundary of the former from the River Delaware westward to the northwest corner. The commissioners first appointed were David Rittenhouse on the part of Pennsylvania, and Samuel Holland, on the part of New York. They pro- ceeded to act in pursuance of that appointment, and in De- cember, 1186, ascertained and fixed the beginning of the forty-third degree of north latitude, erected suitable monu- ments there at and near the River Delaware, but were pre- vented by the inclemency of the weather from proceeding HISTORY or ERIE COUNTY. 59 further ia the survey. The next year Andrew Ellicot was appointed a commissioner for the above purpose, on the part of Pennsylvania, and James Clinton and Simeon Dewit on the part of New York. In 1787 they completed the run- ning and mai'king of this northern boundary 259 miles and 88 perches from its commencement at the Delaware River, to its termination in Lake Erie, five or six miles east of the Ohio State line, and marked the whole distance throughout by mile-stones, each one indicating the number of miles from the Delaware River. In addition to these stones there are also mile-trees marked in the same manner. In 1789 an Act of Assembly confirmed the acts of the commissioners, and established the line run by them as the boundary be- tween New York and Pennsylvania. The Indians being recognized as owners of the soil, the whole was purchased from them by different treaties : one at Fort Stanwix, now Rome, extinguished their title to the lands of Western Pennsylvania and New York, excepting the Triangle or Presqu'ile lands, which were accidentally left out of Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Virginia, and were supposed at different times to belong to each. General Irvine discovered, while surveying the donation lands, that Pennsylvania had but a few miles of lake coast, and not any harbor, and in consequence of his repre- sentations, the State of Pennsylvania made propositions for its purchase to Phelps and Gorham, the reputed owners, in the year 1788. At their request the United States government sent out the Surveyor-General, Andrew Ellicot, for the pur- pose of running and establishing lines. Mr. Frederick Saxton, on behalf of Phelps and Gorham, accompanied Mr. Ellicot. As the line was to commence at the west end of Lake Ontario, there was some hesitation whether the western extremity of Burlington Bay or the peninsula separating the bay from the lake was intended. It was finally fixed at the peninsula, and by first running south, and then offsetting around the east end of Lake Erie, the line was found to pass twenty 60 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. miles east of Presqu'ile. This line, as it was found to com- ply with the New York charter, being twenty miles west of the most westerly bend of the Niagara River, became the western boundary of the State of New York between Lake Erie and the old north line of Pennsylvania, and the east line of the tract known as the Presqu'ile Triangle, which was afterward purchased by Pennsylvania of the United States. The Massachusetts charter, in 1785, comprehended the same release that New York had given, and that of Connecticut which retained a reservation of one hundred and twenty miles lying west of Pennsylvania's western boundary. On the 6th of June, 1788, the board of treasury was induced to make a contract for the sale of this tract described as bounded " on the east by New York, on the south by Pennsylvania, and on the north and west by Lake Erie." On the fourth of September, it was resolved by Congress "that the United States do relinquish and transfer to Pennsylvania all their right, title, and claim to the government and jurisdiction of said land forever, and it is declared and made known that the laws and public acts of Pennsylvania shall extend over every part of said tract, as if the said tract had originally been within the charter bounds of said State." By an act of the 2d of October, 1788, the sum of £1200 was appro- priated to purchase the Indian title to the tract, in fulfill- ment of the contract to sell it to Pennsylvania. At the treaty of Port Harmer, on the 9th of January, 1789, Cornplanter and other chiefs of the Six Nations signed a deed, in consideration of the sum of £1200, ceding the Presqu'ile lands of the United States to be vested in the State of Pennsylvania, and on the 13th of April, 1791, the Governor was authorized to complete the purchase from the United States, which, according to a communication from him to the Legislature, was accomplished in March, 1792; and the consideration — amounting to $151,640 25 — paid in continental certificates of various descriptions. A draft annexed to the deed of the Triangle shows it to contain two HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 61 hundred and two thousand one hundred and eighty-seven acres. An amusing anecdote, relating to the period of these sur- veys, is mentioned in "Pennsylvania Historical Collections :" " When Mr. William Miles set off with a corps of surveyors for laying out the donation lands, the baggage, instruments, etc. were placed in two canoes. Fifteen miles above Pitts- burg, at the last white man's cabin on the river, the party stopped to refresh themselves, leaving the canoes in the care of the Indians. On returning to the river, all was gone, — canoes and Indians had all disappeared. Mr. Miles asked if any one had a map of the river. One was fortunately found, and by it they discovered the river had a great bend just where they were. Their compass was gone, but, by means of Indian signs, mosses on trees, etc., they found their way out above the bend, secreted themselves in the bushes, and waited for the canoes to come up, which hap- pened very soon. When the old chief found he had been detected, he coolly feigned ignorance and innocence, and, stepping out of the canoe with a smile, greeted the surveyors with 'How do?' 'How do?'" CHAPTER YI. Arrangements for the Settlement of the Triangle — Pennsylvania Popula- tion Company — Act to lay out a Town at Presqu'ile; afterward re- pealed— Block-house at Le Boeuf — Indian Murders — Governor Mifflin to the President — Attorney-General Bradford's Opinion — Ransom's Deposition — Letters of Captain Denny — Andrew Ellicot and General Chapin — Joseph Brandt — Corni^lanter — A Present of Land — Treaty of Peace at Canandaigua. Pennsylvania formed and adopted her Constitution September 2d, 1790. The State had adopted the Consti- tution of the United States and become a member of the 6* G2 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. Union December 12tli, ItST. In 1790, a committee, com- posed of Timothy Matlack, Samuel McClay, and John Adlura, Esqs., was appointed by Governor Mifflin to exam- ine the western rivers of the State ; to proceed up the western branch to Cinnamahoniug, and thence to any creelc that might discharge itself into the Allegheny nearest the mouth of French Creek, and thence examine French Creek up to Le Boeuf, and the portage to Presqu'ile. They were also to examine and explore any nearer and more convenient communication which might be effected, by land or water, with Lake Erie, and to return down the Allegheny and exam- ine the same from the mouth of French Creek to the Kiskimin- etas. * * As a result of this examination, in 1791, even before the completion of the purchase of the huge cantle, or Trian- gle, an act passed the Legislature of Pennsylvania to open and improve navigable waters and roads, and included an expenditure of £100 for French Creek from its mouth on the Allegheny up to the road leading therefrom to Presqu'ile. In 1793, on the 8th of March, the Pennsylvania Popula- tion Company was formed for purposes set forth in their articles. The managers were John Nicholson, John Field, Theophilus Casenove, and Aaron Burr, Esqs. The follow- ing provisional plan of settlement was agreed upon : — "Whereas the said company have purchased considerable bodies of land in Pennsylvania, on the waters of Beaver Creek and Lake Erie ; and whereas there is some prospect of a speedy termination of the Indian war, and the company are desirous of encouraging the settlement of these lands, as well for their own interests as for the following considera- tions, viz. : — " 1st. For promoting the interests of the State, by increas- ing the population thereof "2d. For establishing a barrier along the extremity, so that all the other unsettled parts of Pennsylvania, being within the same, may be settled with greater rapidity, etc. "3d. To encourage the industrious inhabitants, who may IIISTOUY OF ERIE COUNTY. 63 encounter the difficulties always attending first settlements, by liberal grants of land. "Under the influence of these motives, the society afore- said, by their president and managers, offer as follows, viz. : " 1st. To the first ten families who may settle on their lands on the waters of Beaver Creek, one hundred and fifty acres each. "2d. To the first twenty families on the waters of French Creek, one hundred and fifty acres each. " 3d. To the first twenty familes on Lake Erie territory, one hundred and fifty acres each. " 4th. To the next twenty families (after the first ten) who shall so settle on the waters of Beaver Creek, one hundred acres each. " 5th. To the next forty families (after the first twenty) who shall so settle on the waters of French Creek, one hun- dred acres each. " 6th. To the next forty families (after the first twenty) who shall so settle on the lands of the company in the Lake Erie territory, one hundred acres each. " 7th. That such settlement be made on such parts of the lands of the company as settlers may choose. The parties respectively so settling shall have their several deeds for the land after two years' residence thereon, and having also cleared at least ten acres thereof, and erected a comfortable dwelling-house; in case they, or any of them, should be driven off by the Indians, no part of the aforesaid two years shall be deemed to run during the time they shall be so ex- pelled; and in case of their leaving the lands before they receive their deeds, no title shall vest in them, their heirs and assignees, unless they procure the residence of their as- signs in like manner as required of themselves, and in case of death, their successors to reside in like manner. " 8th. That the company will sell thirty thousand acres of land to actual settlers, not exceeding three hundred acres each, and those only at one dollar, paid at the choice of the 64 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. purchaser, payable one-third in two years without interest, and one-third the next year, with one year's interest, and the residuary third in the succeeding year, with two year's interest. " 9th. That the surveys be made under the direction of the company, the expense of the surveys to be paid by the grantee or purchaser. " By order of the Board. "J. W. NICHOLSON." A month after the formation of this company, an act passed the Legislature for laying out a town at Presqu'ile, " in order to facilitate and promote the progress of settle- ment within the commonwealth, and to afford additional security to the frontiers thereof." Governor Mifflin transmitted to the President of the United States a copy of this act, apprehending the diffi- culties which soon manifested themselves. Prior to this he had sent to Captain Denny a commission, appointing him captain of the Allegheny company, and instructing him to engage four sergeants, four corporals, one drummer and fifer, two buglers, and sixty-five rank and file, or privates, and to stipulate with the men to remain longer than the appointed eight months, should the state of the war require it. Early in the month of May, Messrs. Irvine, EUicot, and Gallatin were to engage in laying out the town, with Captain Denny's company to protect and defend them. For the same object, a post had been established at Le Bceuf, two miles below the site of the old fort, and all per- sons employed by government were particularly cautioned against giving offence to the English or British garrisons in that quarter. A letter from General Wilkins, at Fort Franklin, to Clement Biddle, quartermaster-general of Penn- sylvania, informs us of his arrival, with forty of Captain Denny's men and thirty volunteers from the county of Alle- gheny, and that the news was not favorable toward an HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. G5 establishment at Presqu'ile. Those most conversant with the Indians were of the opinion that they were irritated by the British, and meditated an opposition to the government, and that the question of peace or war depended upon a council then convened at Buffalo Creek. To this council Cornplanter, and other Indians on the Allegheny River, had been invited ; and as the English had summoned it, the prospect was not favorable for peace. He also adds that it is his intention to proceed to Cassawago, and should a serious opposition seem to be meditated by the Indians, he would proceed no farther with the stores, until reinforced by more men and enabled to establish himself at Le Boeuf. He also mentions the very low water as a serious impedi- ment. In a letter addressed to A. J. Dallas, he says : " The English are fixed in their opposition to the opening of the road to Presqu'ile, and are determined to send a number of English and Indians to cut them off. The chief Cornplanter communicated the same thing to the command- ing officer at Franklin. To heighten the excitement, a friendly Indian was murdered by a dissolute man, named Robertson. The Indians were very much incensed that the murderer was not given up to them, and fears were enter- tained that some innocent person would be made to suffer in his place. 'The English,' said they, 'always promise to punish crimes, but have never done it.' The father of Robertson sent for John Nicholson to endeavor to appease the Indians, which he effected by calling a council, and offer- ing one hundred dollars, to replace in an Indian way, the man that was dead." May 24th, Governor Mifflin applied to the President to order one thousand militia from the western brigades, for the purpose of supporting the commissioners, who were authorized to lay out the town. The brigade inspectors of Westmoreland, Washington, Allegheny, and Fayette accordingly made a draft for that number, to co-operate with Captain Denny's detachment, under the command of 66 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. General Wilkins. The citizens of northwestern Penn- sylvania urged on improvements, and the President, fear- ful of giving offense to the Indians, advised to a tempo- rary cessation. Governor Mifflin, in writing to the Secre- tary of War, says : " Some old grievances, alleged to have been suffered from the Union, the inflammatory speech of Lord Dorchester, the constant machinations of British agents, and the corruption of the British tribes, had, in truth, previously excited that hostile disposition, which you seem to consider the effect of the measures pursued by Penn- sylvania for establishing a town at Presqu'ile. * * * * I desire to be clearly understood, that, on my part, no assent is given to any proposition that shall bring in doubt or controversy the rights of the States. * * * At the same time I am anxious to promote the views of the general government, and to avoid increasing the dissatisfaction of the Six Nations, or in any manner extending the sphere of In- dian hostilities." The bounty offered to settlers by the Population Company was limited to those who should ac- tually inhabit and reside in the town before the first of Jan- uary, 1T94 ; the time was consequently extended to May 1st, 1*795, by an act of the Legislature. Captain Denny also had orders to proceed no farther with his detachment than Le Bceuf, where, under the direction of Brigadier-General Wilkins, two small block-houses had been erected for the protection of the commissioners. Attorney-General Bradford having been written to by the Secretary of War as to the constitutionality of rais- ing four companies of troops " for the port of Philadel- phia and the defense of the frontiers," replied as follows : " There is nothing in the Constitution, I apprehend, which prohibits the several States from keeping troops in time of war. If peace shall be made with the Indians, and the United States be engaged in no other war, these troops cannot be constitutionally kept up in Pennsylvania, although the war should continue to rage in Europe." HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 6T Some particulars of interest relating to the Indian diffi- culties in this region will be found in the following deposi- tion and letters : — Deposition of D. Ransom. Allegheny County, ss. " Personally appeared before me, John Gibson, one of the Associate Judges of the above county, Daniel Ransom, who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that he, this deponent, hath for some time past traded at Fort Franklin with the Senecas and other Indians, and that a chief of the Senecas, named Tiawoncas, or Broken Twig, came there and informed him the time would soon be bad, and advised him to move off his family and effects. On this he, this deponent, asked him how he knew the time would soon be bad. The Indians then informed him that the British and Indians had sent a belt of wampum to him, inviting him to council at Buffalo Creek ; that he had declined going, and that the messengers then informed him of the intended plans of the Indians; they said that the Cornplanter had been bought by the British, and had joined them ; that he (the Cornplanter) intended soon to come to Fort Franklin, on pretense of holding a council respecting the Indian who was killed by Robertson ; that then the British and Indians were to land at Presqu'ile, and there form a junction with Cornplanter on French Creek, and were then to clear it, by killing all the people and taking all the posts on it ; that he was so much affected as to shed tears, and said, 'What shall I do ? I have been at war against the Western Indians, in company with Captain Jeffers, and killed and scalped one of them. If I now go back to the Indians, after having discovered this, they will kill me.' lie also informed this deponent that a number of cannon had been purchased by the British, and collected at Jurisadagoe, the town where Cornplanter lives, for the purpose of conveying the Indians down the river. 68 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. "He, this deponent, further saith, that the Standing Stone, a chief of the Onondagoes, also informed him, at Fort Frank- lin, that he thought the4imes would soon be bad, and pressed him very much to leave Fort Franklin, and assisted him in packing up his goods, etc.; that from what he had heard and seen, from other Indians, he has every reason to believe the above account to be true ; that seven white men came down the Allegheny, a few days ago, to Fort Franklin, who informed him, they saw the above-mentioned cannon at Jurisadagoe; and the Indians appeared very surly, and had not planted any corn on the river, at their towns. "Sworn and subscribed at Pittsburg, this 11th June, 1794." A letter from Captain Denny, dated Fort Franklin, June 14th, IT 94, says :— "Sir: — I have the honor of acknowledging your two letters, dated the 9th and 11th inst. After receiving the first, we concluded it would be best to proceed upon our march. We arrived here the day before yesterday, all well. The account of Ransom's people being killed was too true, but by what nation of Indians is doubtful. Mr. Ellicot and Mr. Wilkins have written, and sent two runners from Corn- planter, and they have requested me to wait the return of the express. When they arrive you shall be informed of the success of the message. I am suspicious the old fellow will not show himself. The fact is, that the Indians about here, from twenty downward, have been exceedingly inso- lent, treated the officers, the fort, and every person about it, with the utmost contempt ; but since our arrival they have altered their tune. So says Lieutenant Polhemus and Dr, McCray. We have written to Le Boeuf and given the officers there a caution. The day after to-morrow the runner is to be back. Van Horn and Bales, the two men who brought your last letter, saw one Indian on the plain, about twenty miles this side of Pittsburg, and the trace of si.x or seven." HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 69 A second letter, dated June 16th, says: — " Yours, inclosing a copy of Polhemus, came yesterday. The Cornplanter's nephew arrived from the town about the same time. He delivered a long speech from his uncle to Lieutenant Polhemus. Upon summing up the whole, we have not a shadow of doubt but that a plan was formed to destroy all the posts and settlements in this quarter. It was all done upon the strength of the prospect of a war between the British and . That subsiding, the other, I am in hopes, has also done so. There is no doubt but the English will urge them to join the Western Indians, and have done everything possible, and perhaps a few may ; but I rather think that, unless we have a war with them, we'll have none with the Six Nations generally. The Cornplanter has gone to another council at Buffalo ; he set out at the same time the nephew started for this place, and will return in about ten days. He says he is very sorry for the mischief done lately, and is extremely concerned at the account given of their going to take up the hatchet. Says they were bad men that reported it ; that it's a lie ; and insists upon knowing whom the information came from, as it is evident that a stroke was meditated, but now perhaps dropped. Every apology which he can possibly make won't be sufficient to clear him of the imputation of a traitor. Some of the nation say the English have bought O'Beil. We shall spend two days to come in helping Mr. Polhemus to put his garri- son in some state of defense ; for should anything happen it, we should fare the worse above." ANDREW ELLICOT TO GOVERNOR MIFFLIN. "June 29th, Fort Le Bcetjf. "Dear Sir: — In my last letter to you from Pittsburg I mentioned that you might expect to hear from me, both from Fort Franklin and Le Boeuf ; but from a variety of circum- stances no opportunity occurred of writing at first. On my arrival there, the place appeared to be in so defenseless a 1 to HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. situation that, with the concurrence of Captain Denny and the olScer commanding at the fort, we remained there some time, and employed the troops in rendering it more tenable. It may now be considered as defensible, provided the, number of men is increased. The garrison at present consists of twenty-five men, one-half of whom are unfit for duty, and it is my opinion that double that number would not be more than sufficient, considering the importance of the safety of the settlement on French Creek. At Fort Franklin, General Wilkins and myself wrote to Coruplanter to attend there, that we might have an opportunity of explaining to him the nature of our business, and of obviating any difficulties that might arise in our proceedings. However, he did not come as we expected, having gone some days before to a council of the Six Nations at Buffalo. With this letter you will re- ceive a copy of their message, presented by General Chapin and Mr. Johnson to Captain Denny and myself, with our reply to the same. I leave to yourself to consider the pro- priety of a British agent attending a considerable number of Indians, with a superintendent of Indian affairs of the Uni- ted States to order the people of Pennsylvania to remove from those lands which have been ceded to them by treaty, by the King of Great Britain, and since that time regularly purchased from the Six Nations, and punctually paid for. After repairing Fort Franklin, we proceeded to this place, and are now beginning to strengthen the works here, so as to render it a safe deposit for military and other stores ; and in doing which, agreeable to instructions, economy shall be strictly attended to. The line described by the Indians on the map will take from the State of Pennsylvania the Cas- sawago settlement, (Meadville,) being part of the purchase of 1784, and the whole of the purchase of 1788. But with respect to this claim they can be serious only so far as encouraged by the British agents and the countenance shown them by the late interference of the United States. The objection made by Mr. Brandt to General Chapin, HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, 71 that the establishment at Presqu'ile would cut off the cora- municatioti between the Six Nations and the Western hos- tile Indians, and thereby diminish their joint strength, is the strongest argument that can be urged in favor of that establishment. General Chapin and myself are of the opinion that all differences between the State of Pennsylva- nia and the Six Nations might be accommodated by treaty, •which treaty ought not to be held in the -neighborhood of any British post, the United States, and this State at pres- ent, and that Presqu'ile is the most eligible place for such a treaty. General Chapin, I presume, has communicated his sentiments to General Knox on this subject. Standing Stone, a chief resident at Conyat, has informed us, since we arrived at this place, that the late mischief on the Allegheny River and "Venango path was done by a party of eight war- riors from Huron River, which falls into Lake Erie about twenty-six miles above Cuyhoga. One of his brothers saw them on their way to commit these depredations. Those In- dians are only to be chastised by way of the lakes, but it is neither the interest of the British, Brandt, nor the other agents to have them punished — it is the interest of the Uni- ted States ; and yet the United States, by directing a sus- pension of the business at Presqu'ile, have taken effectual measures for the security of this nest of murderers, whose cruelties have for some years past been severely felt by the citizens of this State. You must recollect that I always had my doubts respecting the fulfillment of the contract for opening the navigation of French Creek, and a road from Le Bceuf to Presqu'ile, and agreeable to my expectations, have hitherto not been able to discover anything done in that business. For the further security of the frontiers of this State, it would be necessary to erect two block-houses on the Venango path, between Fort Pitt and Venango, and a third between Venango and this place. At present, Meade's set- tlement appears to me the most proper situation. " 1 am, with great respect, your real friend, "ANDREW ELLICOT." Tia HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. GENERAL CIIAPIN'S LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR. "Fort Le Bceuf, June 26th, 1794. "I left Caiiandaigua on the thirteenth of this month, in order to attend a council at Buffalo Creek. I waited more than a week after ray first notification for my son to return, that I might have an answer from you ; but the chief grow- ing impatient, kept constantly sending runners, and I was obliged to set out at last, to my great disappointment, with- out having received any information from you. On my ar- rival I found the minds of the Indians much agitated with regard to the movements made by the State of Pennsylva- nia. On the eighteenth I met the Indians in general coun- cil, the proceedings of which you see here inclosed. At this council I was requested to go to Presqu'ile, (as you will see by their speech,) to desire those people to move off who had made encroachments on their lands. I found that no excuse could answer, and was finally obliged to comply with their request. On the nineteenth I left Buffalo Creek, accom- panied by a delegation from the Six Nations, consisting of sixteen chiefs and warriors. I arrived at Presqu'ile on the twenty-fourth, but finding no person there, proceeded to Le Boeuf, where I found Mr. Elh'cot and Captain Denny. After informing those gentlemen of the business I came upon, I gave them a copy of the speech which had been delivered me at Buffalo Creek, The answer which they made I send you, inclosed with the other speeches. Although the minds of the Six Nations are much disturbed at the injuries which they say they have sustained, they are still opposed to war, and wish, if possible, to live in peace with the United States. They are much opposed to the establishing of garrisons in this quarter, as they think it will involve them in war with the hostile Indians. They are likewise displeased with hav- ing their lands surveyed, which they say were not legally purchased. In this critical situation, would it not be best to have commissioners appointed to treat with the Six Nations, HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 73 that all difficulties may be settled which subsist between them and the United States, especially those that regard the State of Pennsylvania? And it is the wish of the Six Nations that this treaty should be held at their council lire at Buffalo Creek. I shall return by Buffalo Creek," etc. etc. A rumor prevailed that a large body of Indians, assisted by the British, had been seen crossing the lake, and others de- scending the Allegheny; that their object was to take Fort Franklin, destroy the settlement at Cassawago, and make an establishment at Presqu'ile. Captain Denny removed to Yenango with his men, and ordered the brigades to be ready to be called out should the reports appear well founded. Three men on their way to Pittsburg, of the names of Wallace, Power, and Yan Tickler, were overpowered by the Indians. A party sent out by Lieutenant Polhemus found them shot, scalped, and tomahawked. Joseph Brandt, in a letter to the British authorities, dated July 19th, 1794, says : " In regard to the Presqu'ile busi- ness, should we not get an answer at the time limited, it is our business to push those fellows, and therefore it is my in- tention to form my camp at Point Appineau, (a few miles above Fort Erie ;) and I would esteem it a favor if his Ex- cellency the Lieutenant-Governor would lend me four or five batteaux. Should it so turn out, and should those fellows not go off, and O'Beil (Cornplanter) continue in the same opin- ion, an expedition against those Yankees must of consequence take place. His Excellency has been so good as to furnish us with an hundredweight of powder, and ball in proportion, which is now at Fort Erie ; but in the event of an attack upon Le Boeuf people, I could wish, if consistent, that his Excellency would order a like quantity in addition to be at Fort Erie, in order to be in readiness ; likewise I would hope for a little assistance in provisions." At Buffalo Creek, June eighteenth, at a council of the Six Nations, General Chapin was addressed by O'Beil or 74 HTSTOEY OF ERIE COUiNTY. Cornplanter, in substance as follows : "That they depended upon the Americans to do all in their power to assist them; they wished Colonel Johnson, British agent, (who slyly prompted them,) and General Chapin to remove back over the line, which they had laid out. This line began at O'Beil's town, and in a direct line crossed French Creek, just below Meade's, and on the head of the Cuyahoga; from thence to the Muskingum, and down the Ohio and to its mouth, and up the Mississippi ; leaving a small square for a trading house at the mouth of the rivers, and one where Clarksville now stands. If this removal was attend- ed to immediately, they should consider them friends; if not, they must be considered enemies." Mr. Ellicot and Captain Denny desired an interval of an hour to prepare an answer; at the expiration of which they replied as follows : "By the peace of 1182 the King of Great Britain ceded all the lands of Pennsylvania which they claim, but from regard to justice they desired to fairly purchase it from the Six Na- tions — the real owners of the soil. The purchase north of the north boundary of Pennsylvania, west of the Conawango River, Lake Chatauqua, and the path leading from thence to Lake Erie, and south of said lake, was made of your chiefs at Fort Harmer, (by Generals Butler and Gibson,) and the money and goods punctually paid them. They had also sold those lands to such people as chose to settle and work them, and it was their duty to protect them from depreda- tions. Their military preparations were intended as a de- fense from hostile Western Indians, not supposing they needed any from the Six Nations, whom they considered their friends and allies. They could not consistently with their duty remove from the lands they had purchased, unless directed to do so by the great council of the people, to whom they would immediately send their message. They had been ordered by the great council of Pennsylvania to their present post, and they could not move from thence until orders came for that purpose." HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 15 At another conference, held at the same place, the Indians maintained that "they had decided upon their boundaries, and wished for nothing but justice, (forgetting their former contract;) they wanted room for their children ; it would be hard for them not to have a country to live in when they were gone. Congress and their commissioners had often deceived them, and if these difficulties were not removed, the conse- quences would be bad. A number of their warriors were missing, and they supposed they had been killed by the Americans. Big Tree was one of the number, and a nephew of theirs, (a Delaware;) and it had been customary to make satisfaction, (to pay a sum of money,) which had not been done. If a garrison were established at Presqu'ile, the Southern Indians might do injury, and the Six Nations be blamed for it." General Chapin replied that he was bound to look to the interests of both the Indians and the United States, and would accede to their wish, which was to accom- pany ten of their warriors and two chiefs to Presqu'ile, and to send their message immediately to the President. They made the journey to Presqu'ile by water, and finding no one there, (from fear of the Indians,) they proceeded on foot to Le Boeuf, where they made known their business, which was to see the surveyors and forbid their running lines. They were informed that they had shortly before left the country by way of the river, and assurances were given them that the whole matter should be laid before the Presi- dent. On their return to Buffalo Creek another council was held, when Cornplanter again insisted that their former re- quest should be granted; they were determined the line should remain. Captain Brandt, a Seneca, the year before, at a council, claimed the same line, the Muskingum. Where lands were actually settled and improved they were to be circumscribed by a line drawn around them, and no claim admitted beyond such line. He added: "They must not suspect that any other nation corrupted their minds ; the only thing that corrupted their minds was not to grant their T6 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. request. There was but one word said that they liked at Le Boeuf, that was the gift of some land to O'Beil ; and to complete his wishes, he desired they would give all the Six Nations land." This refers to Mr. Ellicot, relating the particulars con- cerning the treaty at Fort Harmer, and informing the Indians that the State of Pennsylvania had made these grants of laud to Captain O'Beil. This present to Corn- planter was at the suggestion of General Richard Butler, who had been witness to his usefulness in all the treaties since 1184. [He mentions that it would be good policy to secure the chief's attachment ; and that his ideas of civiliza- tion would make the present grateful — that it could be made in such a manner as not to excite the jealousy of his own people, and wishes for the quiet and interest of the State, as well as the merit of the man, had prompted him in the liberty he was assuming.] General Chapin replied to Brandt that he hoped the In- dians would "sit easy on their seats until they heard General Washington's voice," and that he would forward their speech to him immediately. In reply to this, the President appointed a conference at Canandaigua in October, for the purpose of establishing a firm and permanent friendship with the Six Nations, and appointed Timothy Pickering sole agent for this purpose. Corn planter was charged by his people at their council "with having been bribed in the sale of Presqu'ile, and that he and little Billy received $2000 at Fort Harmer, and a like sum at Philadelphia ;" but these and all other difficulties were amicably settled. A large tract of land west of the Phelps and Gorham purchase in New York was reserved to them, with $14,500 in goods; and fifty-nine sachems signed a treaty of perpetual peace and friendship with the United States. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. t7 CHAPTER VII. An Act to lay out the Towns of Erie, "VVaterforcl, Franklin, anil Warren — To protract the Enlistment of Troops at Le Boeuf — Deposition of Tho. Rees, Esq. — Actual Settlers — Memorial to the Population Company — Deacon Chamberlain's Story — Captain Martin Strong to Wm. Nichol- son, Esq. — Louis Philippe at Mr. Rees's— Murder of Rutledge and Son — Mr. Augustus Porter's Visit — Mr. Judah Colt's MS. Autobiography — Number of White Settlers on the Lakes west of Genesee River — General Wayne's Death at Presqu'ile, 1796. All difficulties being removed, April ISth, 1795, an act passed the Legislature to lay out a town at Presqu'ile; at the mouth of French Creek; at the mouth of Conewango Creek ; and at Le Boeuf — being the towns of Erie, Franklin, Warren, and Waterford. Two commissioners were appointed by the Governor to survey at Presqu'ile sixteen hundred acres for town lots, and thirty-four hundred adjoining for out lots, (the three sections of about a mile each, only one-half of which is now occu- pied,) to be laid out into town lots and out lots ; the streets not less than sixty feet in width, nor more than one hundred ; no town lots to contain more than one-third of an acre ; no out lot more than five acres; and the reservation for public uses not to exceed in the whole twenty acres. After the commissioners had returned the surveys into the office of the Secretary, the Governor was to offer at auction one-third of the town lots and one-third of the out lots, upon the follow- ing conditions : that within two years one house be built at least sixteen feet square, with at least one stone or brick chimney. Patents were not to be issued till the same was performed, and all payments to be forfeited to the Common- wealth in case of failure. (This condition was afterward repealed.) Exclusive of the survey of in lots and out lots. 78 HISTORY 01-' ERIE COUNTY. sixty acres were reserved on the southern side of the harbor of Presqu'ile for the accommodation of the United States, in the erection of necessary forts, magazines, dock-yards, etc.; thirty acres to be on the bank, and the remainder below, comprehending the point at the entrance of the harbor; and upon the peninsula thirty acres at the entrance of the har- bor, and one other lot of one hundred acres. The situation and forms of these lots were to be fixed by the commissioners and an engineer employed by the United States. Andrew Ellicot had previously surveyed and laid out Waterford, and an act was now passed to survey these five hundred acres for out lots, to reserve for public uses not more than ten acres, and to give actual settlers the right of pre-emption. At this time, also, provision was made to protract the en- listment of troops at Le Boeuf, not to exceed one hundred and thirty for the term of eight months. These were to protect and assist the commissioners, surveyors, etc.; and if occurrences should take place which, in the opinion of the Governor, should make a greater force requisite than the aforesaid, or Indian hostilities continue, and a defense be requisite for the western frontier, a complete company of expert riflemen might be raised. Thomas Rees, Esq., for more than half a century a citi- zen of Erie County, made a deposition in 1806, which contains much information in a concise form. It is as follows: "Thomas Rees, of Harbor Creek Township, in Erie County, farmer, being sworn according to law, doth depose and say, as follows : I was appointed Deputy Sur- veyor of District No. 1, north and west of the Rivers Ohio, Allegheny, and Connewango Creek, now Ei'ie County, in May, 1792, and opened an office in Northumberland County, which was the adjoining. The reason of this was, all ac- counts from the country north and west of the Rivers Ohio, Allegheny, and Connewango Creek, represented it as danger- ous to go into that country. In the latter part of said year I received 390 warrants, the property of the Penn. Popula- HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 19 tion Company, for land situated in the Triangle, and entered them the same year in my book of entries. In 1793 I made an attempt to go ; went to the mouth of Buffalo Creek to inquire of the Indians there whether they would permit me to go into my district to make surveys. They refused, and added that if I went into the country I would be killed. At the same time I received information from different quarters which prevented me from going that year. In 1794 I went into district No. 1, now Erie County, and made surveys on the 390 warrants mentioned above, in the Triangle, except one or two for which no lands could be found. Among the surveys made on the warrants above mentioned, was that on the warrant in the name of John McCullough. Before I had completed I was fre- quently alarmed by hearing of the Indians killing persons on the Allegheny River, in consequence of which, as soon as the surveys were completed, I removed from the country and went to Franklin, where I was informed that there were a number of Indians belonging to the Six Nations going to Le Boeuf, to order the troops off that ground. I immedi- ately returned to Le Boeuf. The Indians had left that place one day before I arrived there. I was told by Major Denny, then commanding at that place, that the Indians had brought General Chapin, the Indian agent, with them to Le Bo3uf ; that they were very much displeased, and told him not to build a garrison at Presqu'ile. " There were no improvements made, nor any persons living on any tract of land within my district during the year 1794. In the year 1795, I went into the country and took a num- ber of men with me. We kept in a body, as there appeared to be great danger, and continued so for that season. There was no work done of any consequence, nor was any person, to my knowledge, residing on any tract within my district. In the course of the summer the commissioners came on to lay out the town of Erie, with a company of men to guard them. There were two persons killed within one mile of 80 HISTORY or ERIE COUNTY. Presqu'ile, and others in different parts of the country; such were the fears that though some did occasionally venture out to view the lands, many would not. We all laid under the protection of the troops. "I sold, as agent of the Pennsylvania Population Com- pany, during that season, 79,700 acres of land, of which 7150 acres were a gratuity. The above quantity of land was applied for and sold to two hundred persons. That fall we left the country. In the spring of 1796 a considera- ble number of people came out into the country, and num- bers went to the farms that they had purchased from the Population Company. The settlements during this year were very small. " The latter part of this year, the opposition commenced against the Population Company on the waters of Elk and Couneaut Creeks, by an association under the title of , which impeded considerably the progress of the settle- ments under the Population Company. In the latter part of the month of May or the beginning of June, 1797, a second association made its appearance in opposition to the title of the Population Company on the waters of French Creek, near the New York State line, under the title of ; and another on the northeast corner of the Tri- angle ; and were active in their opposition to the claims of the Population Company, and to the exertions of its agents for the improvement and settlement of the country. * * They took great pains to impress upon the minds of persons who came into the country with the intention of settling in it, that the Population Company had no title to the lands which they claimed, and induced all over whom they could gain any influence to settle and claim in opposition to the Population Company." Compromises were afterward effected with many of the actual settlers, and their course was not unjustifiable until after the decisions of the courts. To show the ground taken by them I have inserted the following article: "Memorial HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 81 of to the Pennsylvania Population Company, March 4th, IV 99. Agreeable to the encouragement held out to settlers in the western part of the County of Allegheny, I moved in the year 1195 within sixteen miles of Presqu'ile, on Lake Erie. I entered into an article of agreement with a number of persons in Northumberland County, previous to my moving to Presqu'ile ; the purport of the article was .that I was to go and purchase or improve lands in that county, and that they were to share equal with me in all purchases or improvements that I should make. " One very great encouragement to my going there was that the Pennsylvania Population Company published in different parts of Pennsylvania, offering, as an encouragement to the first settlers that would go, one hundred and fifty acres of land, valued at one dollar per acre, to each of the first set- tlers, with the remainder to make up a tract of four hundred acres; which remaining part was to be bought. And in order to give greater encouragement to settlers, the State of Pennsylvania offered, in a law passed in the year 1192, land at seven pounds ten shillings per one hundred acres, and ten years to pay it. Under these prospects I moved to that county, being one of the first settlers. The law then exist- ing provided that an office would be opened in each district, which was not the case when I moved there ; but I went and applied to Thomas Rees, who was agent for the Pennsyl- vania Population Company, and district surveyor, as I had the land improved. Before my applying to Rees, I men- tioned if the land belonged to the company I would comply with their terms, and if the land belonged to the State of Pennsylvania I would comply with the terms the State held out to settlers. Finding no surveys made I believed the land belonged to the State, and improved upon it with these intentions, as being the proper person who should hold it by virtue of my improvements. I applied to Mr. Rees, dis- trict surveyor, and he entered my name in a book kept for that purpose as a claimant for so much land, and gave me a 82 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. certificate for those lands, and had them surveyed, and I paid him iive dollars for each tract, for surveying. " After I had lived two years peaceably upon the land, with- out meeting with any opposition whatever, the agent for the company came out and requested of me to know how I wished or intended to hold the land. I answered, that I intended holding it upon the same principles that I made my applications in 1195. He then asked me for the privi- lege of building a vessel and storehouse upon my tract of land. I told him that there were more persons concerned in this land than myself, and if I granted any privilege of that kind, he must consider that I did not intend him to hold any right of any kind to the tract of land by making these improvements; and upon these conditions I granted him liberty to build the vessel and storehouse. Afterward in my absence he took possession of a mill-seat upon the same tract, and engaged the millwright I had verbally engaged to build a mill upon the same seat, and gave them possession. On my return, finding he had abused those privileges I had granted him, I went and discharged the millwrights and ship carpenters." Deacon Hinds Chamberlain, of Le Roy, Xew York, in com- pany with Jesse Beach and Reuben Heath, journeyed to Presqu'ile in 1195. Deacon Chamberlain describes the tour as follows : " We saw one white man, named Poudery, at Tona- wanta village. At the mouth of Buffalo Creek there was but one white man, named Winne, an Indian trader. His building stood just as you descend from the high ground (near where the Mansion House stands, corner of Main and Exchange Streets.) He had rum, whisky, Indian knives, trinkets, etc. His house was full of Indians, and they looked at us with a good deal of curiosity. We had but a poor night's rest — the Indians were in and out all night getting liquor. The next day we went up the beach of the lake to the mouth of Cattaraugus Creek, where we encamped; a wolf came down near our camp, and deer were quite abund- HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, 83 ant. In the morning went up to the Indian village ; found 'Black Joe's' house, but he was absent. He had, however, seen our tracks upon the beach of the lake, and hurried home to see what white people were traversing the wilder- ness. The Indians stared at us ; Joe gave us a room where we should not be annoyed by Indian curiosity, and we stayed with him over night. All he had to spare us in the way of food was some dried venison ; he had liquor, Indian goods, and bought furs. Joe treated us with so much civility that we remained until near noon. There were at least one hundred Indians and squaws gathered to see us. Among the rest there were sitting in Joe's house, an old squaw and a young, delicate-looking white girl dressed like a squaw. I endeavored to find out something about her history, but could not. She seemed inclined not to be noticed, and had apparently lost the use of our language. With an Indian guide provided by Joe we started upon the Indian trail for Presqu'ile. " Wayne was then fighting the Indians, and our guide often pointed to the West, saying, 'bad Indians there.' Between Cattaraugus and Erie I shot a black snake, a racer, with a white ring around his neck. He was in a tree twelve feet from the ground, his body wound around it, and measured seven feet and three inches. "At Presqu'ile (Erie) we found neither whites nor In- dians — all was solitary. There were some old French brick buildings, (why did they make bricks, surrounded as they were by stone and timber?) wells, block-houses, etc. going to decay, and eight or ten acres of cleared land. On the pen- insula there was an old brick house forty or fifty feet square. The peninsula was covered with cranberries. "After staying there one night we went over to Le Bffiuf, about sixteen miles distant, pursuing an old French road. Trees had grown up in it, but the track was distinct. Near Le Boeuf we came upon a company of men who were cutting out the road to Presqu'ile — a part of them were soldiers and 84 IITSTORY OP ERIE COUNTY, a part Pennsylvanians. At Le Boeuf there was a garrison of soldiers — about one hundred. There were several white families there, and a store of goods. Myself and compan- ions were in pursuit of land. By a law of Pennsylvania, such as built a log-house and cleared a few acres acquired a presumptive right — the right to purchase at five dollars per hundred acres. We each of us made a location near Presqu'- ile. On our return to Presqu'ile from Le Boeuf, we found there Colonel Seth Reed and his family. They had just arrived. We stopped and helped him build some huts; set up crotches, laid poles across, and covered them with the bark of the cucumber-tree. At first the Colonel had no floors; afterward he indulged in the luxury of floors made by lay- ing down strips of bark. James Baggs and Giles Sisson came on with Colonel Reed, I remained for a considerable time in his employ. It was not long before eight or ten other families came in.* "On our return we again stayed at Buffalo over night with Winne. There was at the time a great gathering of hunting parties of Indians there. Winne took from them all their knives and tomahawks, and then selling them liquor, they had a great carousal." Captain Martin Strong, in a letter to William Nicholson, Esq., dated Waterford, January 8, 1855, says: "I came to Presqu'ile the last of July, 1195. A few days previous to this, a company of United States troops had commenced felling the timber on Grarrison Hill, for the purpose of ei-ect- ing a stockade garrison; also a corps of engineers had arrived, headed by General Ellicot, escorted by a company of Pennsylvania militia commanded by Captain John Grubb, to lay out the town of Erie. "We all were in some degree under martial law, the two Butleges having been shot a few days before (as was reported by the Indians) near the site of the present railroad depot, * This is double tlie number given in the article by Captain Strong, ■whose testimony from the circumstances ought to have the preference. HISTORY or ERIE COUNTY. 85 Thomas Rees, Esq., and Colonel Seth Reed and family (the only family in the Triangle) were living in tents and booths of bark, with plenty of good refreshment for all itinerants that chose to call, many of whom were drawn here from mo- tives of curiosity and speculation . Most of the land along the lake was sold this summer at one dollar per acre, subject to actual settlement. We were then in Allegheny County. * * * Le Boeuf had a small stockade garrison of forty men, located on the site of the old French fort ; a few remains of the old entrenchment were then visible. In 1195 there were but four families residing in what is now Erie County. These were of the names of Reed, Talmage, Miles, and Baird. The first mill built in the Triangle was at the mouth of Wal- nut Creek; there were two others built about the same time in what is now Erie County: one by William Miles, on the north branch of French Creek, now Union ; the other by William Culbertson, at the inlet of Conneauttee Lake, near Edinboro. "Half a century ago the winters were more regular, and snows deeper than in late years, and I think are become more favorable for vegetation." When Mr. Rees was living in his tent on the bank of the lake, "with plenty of good refreshment for all itinerants that chose to call," he was honored with a royal visitor. Louis Philippe, his younger brother, and an attendant spent a day or two with him, to refresh and rest themselves in their travels. After expressing themselves delighted with the lake scenery, they proceeded on their journey, Mr. Rees pro- viding them with an Indian guide to Canandaigua. The brother, who was delicate and engrossed much of the care of the others, was suspected of being the Dauphin, but it proved otherwise. The two persons spoken of by Esquire Rees and Captain Strong, "as having been killed by the Indians, as was reported," were a father and son, who were rather prominent actual settlers. The site of the City Mills, near the " Lake 8* 86 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. Shore Depot," was for a long time known as "Rutlege's grave," and the terror of the ignorant and superstitious. The elder Rutledge was dead when found, the son scalped and also shot, but still alive, and placed against a tree. He was attended by Dr. Kennedy, a skillful physician of Mead- ville, but survived only a short time. A rumor was current at the time that these murders were committed by white men in disguise ; but no evidence admissible in a court of justice was adduced. Several suits brought by the Population Company against the actual settlers turned upon this point, namely, that the company had been prevented from settling their lands by the enemies of the United States, the purchasers considering it unsafe to bring their families out, or even themselves to be away from the protection of the fort. The murders were certainly fortunate, financially, for the Population Company, as under the most favorable cir- cumstances they could not have brought out fifty thousand families in the two years allotted them. Had it not been for these depredations, the company must have forfeited their lands. The respectability of the managers would not allow us for a moment to entertain such thoughts ; and when we consider the strong inducements the actual settlers had for ferreting out the iniquity, their whole property in many cases being at stake, we must conclude that the murderers were what they appeared to be — Indians. In the " Holland Purchase" we find an account of a visit of Augustus Porter, of Niagara Falls, made to Presqu'- ile with Judah Colt, in 1195. He says: "At that time, all that part of the State lying west of Phelps and Gorhara's purchase was occupied by Indians, their title not yet be- ing extinguished. There was of course no road leading from Buffalo eastward except an Indian trail, and no settle- ment whatever on that trail. We traveled on horseback from Canawagas (Avon) to Buffalo, and were two days in performing the journey. At Buffalo there lived a man of HISTORY 01" ERIE COUNTY. 87 the name of Johnstone, the British Indian interpreter, also a Dutchman and his family by the name of Middaugh, and an Indian trader by the name of Winne. "From Buffalo we proceeded to Chippewa, Upper Canada, where we found Captain William Lee with a small row-boat, about to start for Presqu'ile, and waiting only for assistance to row the boat. Mr. Colt, Mr. Joshua Fairbanks, now of Lewiston, and myself joined him. Two days of hard rowing brought us to that place, where we found surveyors engaged in laying out the village now called Erie. Also a military company under the command of General Irvine, ordered there by the Governor of the State to protect the surveyors against the Indians. Colonel Seth Reed (father of Rufus S. Reed) was there with his family, living in a marquee, having just arrived. A Mr. Rees was also there, acting as agent for the Population Company. We returned in the same boat to Chippewa, and from thence on horseback by way of Queenston, on the Indian trail through Tonawanda Indian village to Canandaigua. "During this expedition from Buffalo to Erie, a very remarkable circumstance presented itself, the like of which I had never before seen, nor have I since witnessed. Before starting from Buffalo we had been detained there two days by a heavy fall of rain, accompanied by a strong northeast gale. When off Cattaragus Creek on our upward passage, about one or two miles from land, we discovered, some dis- tance ahead, a white strip on the surface of the lake, extend- ing out from the shore as far as we could see. On approach- ing this white strip, we found it to be some five or six rods wide, its whole surface covered with fish of all the varieties common to the lake, lying on their sides as if dead. On touching them, however, they would dart below the surface, but immediately rise again to their former position. We commenced taking them by hand, making our selection of the best; and finding them perfectly sound, we took in a good number. On reaching Erie we had some of them 88 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. cooked, and found them excellent. The position of these fishes on their sides in the water placed their mouths partly above and partly below the surface, so that they seemed to be inhaling both water and air; for at such effort at inhal- ing, bubbles would rise and float on the water. It was these bubbles that caused the white appearance on the lake's sur- face. I have supposed that these fish had, from some cause growing out of the extraordinary agitation of the lake by the gale from the eastward, and the sudden reflux of water from west to east after it had subsided, been thrown together in this way, and from some unknown natural cause had lost the power of regulating their specific gravity, which it is said they do by means of an air bladder furnished them by nature. I leave others, however, to explain this phenomenon." Mr. Judah Colt, in a manuscript autobiography, says: "In August, 1*795, Augustus Porter and myself set out from Canandaigua for Presqu'ile, for the purpose of purchasing lands — went on horseback to Niagara, where we left our horses and took passage with Captain Wm. Lee in a small shallop to Presqu'ile. On our arrival there we found a num- ber of men encamped in that quarter. The United States troops were erecting a fort. General William Irvine and Andrew Ellicot, State Commissioners, were laying out the town of Erie, and had in their service about one hundred militia troops. We purchased and took certificates of four hundred acres of land each — made but a short stay, and returned the way we came. The season was extremely dry and warm. We suffered much from heat, drought, and mus- quitoes. Shortly after my return I was taken sick with bilious fever, which reduced me very low." The next March, Mr. Colt being in Philadelphia, made an offer to the Population Company of one dollar per acre for thirty thousand acres of land off the east end of the Triangle ; they declined selling in so large a body, but contracted with him to be their agent at a salary of fifteen hundred dollars per year, and all expenses paid HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 89 by them. Powers of attorney and letters were made out, maps of the country were furnished, and money advanced to purchase provisions, hire laborers, etc. In the month of April he set out for the Geneseo country; at 'New York laid in stores of provisions, sundry kinds of goods, farm- ing and cooking utensils such as are generally wanted in a new country. They were shipped to Albany, thence across the portage in wagons, from thence in batteaux up the Mohawk Kiver and through the lakes to Presqu'ile. On their arrival at Oswego, they were stopped by the British garrison there, and only an empty boat allowed to pass to Niagara and obtain of Governor Simcoe permission to proceed with their loading. Shortly after this they were informed of the treaty being ratified by Congress, which w^as made by Mr. Jay with the British Government, and which had been for some time under consideration. Mr. Colt says : " I arrived myself at the town of Erie on the twenty-second of June, and my boats with the provisions the first of July following, and shortly after proceeded to business. I erected my tent or marquee near the old French garrison, and continued to reside there through the summer. There was a captain's command stationed at this village, in a garrison laid out and builded in the summer of 1795. In August rode down to Pittsburg, and attended a vendue for the sale of parts of the Erie Reserve ; visited the agent who had the superintendence of a portion of the company's lands on the waters of the Beaver ; found the country new, with but few inhabitants; roads bad, and accommodations poor; encamped at night, and tied my horse hand and foot. The journey was very fatiguing, owing to the dry and warm sea- son. Returned to Erie in safety, and in September went on horseback, principally alone, through the wilderness to Can- andaigua. After making a short visit to my family, returned to Erie, where I continued the business of my agency until the first of November. During the season met with consid- erable opposition from adverse settlers. After arranging 90 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. the affairs of the company for the winter, and leaving the agency in the care of Elisha and Enoch Marvin, we set out again for Philadelphia (by way of Canandaigua) on the fourth of November, and after about two weeks of hard labor, and running much danger of losing ourselves, we arrived with our boat at the mouth of Genesee River," etc. It is said all the white inhabitants west of this river, on the lakes, were those in the garrison of Niagara; two fami- lies at Lewiston ; a British Indian interpreter, two Indian traders and one family at Buffalo ; a few settlers and a garri- son at Presqu'ile ; a party of New England surveyors with two families at Conneaut, Ohio; one family at Cleveland; a French trader at Sandusky, and the settlement at Detroit. The first settlers in Erie County were mostly, as in the case of the Reeds, Colts, Strongs, Judsons, etc., from moral, thrifty, intelligent New England ; or, like the Mileses, Vin- cents, Kings, Hamiltons, etc., perhaps a more numerous class, of the illustrious, historic race of Scotch-Irish — "memorable for their devotion to liberty and religion, and ever ready to die upon the battle-field in the defense of the one, or to burn at the stake as a testimony for the other." The following touching story, which we have condensed, is found in the Ghardon Gazette. Those who emigrate from New England to Ohio in these days, (about 1830,) when thirty-five steamboats plow the waters of Lake Erie, and hundreds of white sails are spread to the breeze, and pride themselves on their enterprise and self-denial, would do well to consider a case of real endurance and privation which occurred on the Reserve in 1796. Between Utica and the French settlement on the River Raisin, there were not half a dozen white families, when we except a few scattering infant settlements in Western New York, and the military post at Presqu'ile. Mr. K., the father of one of these families at Conneaut, had important business with the Connecticut Land Company, and was compelled to make the journey before winter. His family HISTOKY or ERIE COUNTY. 91 had subsisted on provisions brought from New York, with fish and game, and it was supposed a sufficiency was in store until his return. The oldest male member of the family, a boy of fifteen, having been placed in charge, he took his departure. On his return to Buffalo the winter had fully set in, the snow being two and a half feet deep. His absence had already been prolonged — the family might be in a starving condition, and there seemed to be no alter- native but to venture into the wilderness. Having loaded his horse with such necessaries as could be procured for his family, he pursued his course on foot, following the beach of the lake. At an Indian settlement on the Cattaragus he employed a guide, Seneca Billy, as the projecting blufFs pre- vented his following longer the shore. After camping out several nights on the snow, he reached Presqu'ile and dis- missed his guide. Here he purchased a bag of corn, pay- ing for it three dollars per bushel, and set out for home on the ice. At a fire spring near the mouth of Elk Creek, the horse broke through, and was so injured as to be of no fur- ther use, and taking his corn upon his back he reached home the same day. But it was only to consummate his grief, for the family were nearly in a famishing condition. An infant being deprived of its natural nourishment by the low diet of the mother, slowly expired of starvation. The Connecticut Company having a small store of provisions for the surveyors at Cleveland, Mr. K. made a journey there on foot, and re- turned with a barrel of salt beef. This, with the assistance of the man who related the story, he conveyed home on a hand-sled. A circumstance worthy of note occurred in Erie, Decem- ber 15th, 1796, which was the death of General Anthony Wayne at the garrison. For six years the Indians north- west of the Ohio, consisting of the Delaware, Shawnee, Miami, and other tribes had greatly annoyed the United States, being instigated by Great Britain. A peace was finally negotiated by our Minister, Mr. Jay, and Lord Green- 92 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. ville, and signed at Greenville in 1795. As the English were dispirited by the brilliant achievements of General Wayne, and the Indians had lost confidence in them, and withdrawn their assistance, the terms of the treaty were advantageous to the United States, and the peace estab- lished proved permanent. General Wayne, on his return home, was everywhere welcomed as the savior of his country ; at Philadelphia all business was suspended, the streets fes- tooned with evergreens and flowers, and all classes partici- pated in the general joy. The next year, (1796,) General Wayne received an appointment from Government to conclude a treaty with the Northwestern Indians, and having accomplished this ardu- ous task, embarked at Detroit, in the sloop Detroit, for the purpose of returning to his home in Chester County. Soon after leaving port he was violently attacked by his old mal- ady, the gout, and the usual remedy, brandy, through an oversight of the steward, not being at hand, he became very much prostrated, and in this condition was landed at Erie. As there was no resident physician of any repute. Dr. J. C. Wallace, a skillful surgeon of the army, then at Pittsburg, was sent for with the greatest dispatch, but on arriving at Franklin, met a messenger with the news of his death. When General Wayne was brought into the garrison, he expressed a wish to be placed in the northwest block-house, the attics of the block-houses being comfortably fitted up and occupied by the families connected with the garrison. Captain Russel Bissell probably had command at the time, and it is said the illustrious sufferer met with every possible kindness. A fit death-bed and silent resting-place for a brave officer and patriot was the old military post of Presqu'ile and its picturesque bay. He named the spot for his grave at the foot of the flagstaff. "A. W." on a single stone was placed at the head, and a neat railing inclosed it. The remains were removed in 1809 by a son, Colonel HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 93 Isaac Wayne, of Chester County, and deposited in Radnor churchyard, (St. David's Episcopal Church,) which is four- teen miles west of Philadelphia. Dr. J. C. Wallace super- intended the disinterment of the body, which was found in a remarkable state of preservation. On a monument erected by the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati is found the following: "Major Anthony Wayne was born at Waynesboro, in Chester County, Penn- sylvania, in 1745. After a life of honor and usefulness, he died in December, 1796, at Erie, Pennsylvania, then a mili- tary post on Lake Erie, Commander-in-chief of the Array of the United States. His military achievements are con- secrated in the history of his countrymen. His remains are here deposited." CHAPTER YIII. Erie County from 1785 — Organization in 1803 — Its Geography, etc. — Original Townships — Changes — Extent of Townships and Population — Population decennially from 1800 — Census Items — Vote of 1808 and 1860 — Receipts and Expenditures do. — -Extract from Auditor-General's Report— Post-offices in 1830, 1856, 1860— List of Judges— Members of Congress — State Senate — Representatives — Prothonotary — Register and Recorder — Sheriffs — Coroners — First Section incorporated — Court- houses — Act for Public Landing — Borough Charter altered in 1833 — ■ Canal Basin — Peninsula — Poor-house — Several Acts- — Government changed to that of a City — Present Population and Business — List of Burgesses and Mayors — Collectors of Customs — Postmasters in Erie. We find Erie County, or rather that part south of the "Triangle," included in Westmoreland County by act of April 8th, 1785. It reads as follows: "That all the land within the late purchase from the Indians, not heretofore assigned to any other particular county, shall be taken and deemed, and they are hereby declared, to be within the limits of the Counties of Northumberland and Westmoreland, and that from the Kittanning up the Allegheny, to the mouth of 9 94 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. Conewango Creek, and from thence up said creek to the northern line of this State, shall be the line between North- umberland and Westmoreland Counties in the aforesaid late purchase." September 24th, 1*788, we find the northwestern part of the State, being parts of Westmoreland and Washington Counties, constituting the new County of "Allegheny," with Pittsburg for the seat of justice. March 12th, 1800, Erie County was erected into a separate county, and Erie designated as the place of holding courts of justice. At the same time, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Warren, and Erie were constituted temporarily one county, with all county privileges, called Crawford, Meadville being the seat of justice. April 2d, 1803, Erie County was organized for all judi- cial purposes ; this took place at the house of George Buehler, on the corner of Third and French Streets. [This M'CONKEY HOUSE IN 1S61. house is still standing, though in ruins, and has been known for many years as the "McConkey House." In 1813 it was HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 95 Duncan's and Perry's headquarters ; next the house was kept by Thomas Rees, Jr., and lastly by James McConkey.] Judge Jesse Moore held the first court. Erie County is 36 miles in length and 20 in breadth, with an area of 120 square miles, or 460,800 acres; its central latitude is 42° north, and longitude 3° west. Its principal streams are Four Mile, Six Mile, Twelve Mile, Sixteen and Twenty Mile Creeks ; west it has Walnut Creek, Trout Run, Elk, Raccoon, and Crooked Creeks. Mill Creek empties into the lake within the city limits. French and Le Bceuf Creeks empty into the Allegheny River. Conneaut Creek flows through the southwestern part, and also, for a short distance, Conneauttee. These streams afford abundant water power for manufac- turing purposes; and while the valleys and rivers are some- times wild and picture-like, as at Elk, Walnut, and 20 mile Creeks, the broken and unproductive acres in Erie County are few indeed. It has three small beautiful lakes : Conneauttee, in Wash- ington township ; Le Bffiuf, in Waterford ; and Pleasant, in Yenango township. The dividing ridge which crosses from southwest to north- east (particularly described elsewhere) marks a striking dis- tinction in the county on each side. The bank of the lake at Erie and in the vicinity is about sixty feet in height, and the surface rises gently from ten to twelve miles back, which is the summit of the level between the waters of the lake and the Allegheny River. The southern portion produces excellent grass, but is not fertile in grain ; the northern slop- ing to the lake is well adapted to wheat. One hundred bushels of corn, 30 bushels of wheat, 35 bushels of rye, 60 bushels of barley, 50 bushels of rape, and 500 bushels of potatoes have been raised to the acre. The original townships were sixteen in number, namely: Mill Creek, Harbor Creek, IS'ortheast, Greenfield, Yenango, Brokenstraw, Union, Le Boeuf, Waterford, Conneauttee, 96 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. McKean, Beaverdam, Elk Creek, Conneaut, Springfield, and Fairview. Brokenstraw, in 1820, was changed to Wayne and Concord. Amity was taken from Union in 1826. Girard was set off from Springfield and Fairview in 1832, and received its name from Stephen Girard, who had large tracts of land adjoining. Washington was changed from Cou- neautteein 1834; Greene from Beaverdam in 1840; Franklin was formed of parts of McKean, Washington, Fairview, and Elk Creek in 1844 ; and Summit, of Greene and McKean in 1854. The present number of townships is twenty-one. O to OCOCOO O •^-+C>r-(COOCOCCOiCOOO--Ct-TiH I-H r^ Cj — H OO -3 Oi CI diCOi-H-^Oi-H-fOlCDcOtMiOaiCO'M COOCOOO'-COt-CO D< o CO -H CCCOOrOCCCiCl^t^,-Ht-'.-l-#r-.-4^-+< OOCiOOiXOT^y^ t- Oi ooioi.^i--oa;aioroaiOi— loo-^o i---jco^c0'*c-Tfia5:.':-*r-('X)oo uo i-^o;o coco ^ ira 1- CD CD -f 00 00 CO i- CC 1- :0 O t-, rH OO :- O O ^ -Tj^ CO I-H (N tf o S i-( I-H ,-1 T-1 ^ OI rH O rH > \ 1 2 II c ;- C S- 1 = c > 1 1 'c c 3 .5 — terford B' ■tlieast ard ttsljurg nboro lion imMMMmMi.miMUiMmma HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 97 III 1800 the population of Erie County was 1468 ; in 1810, 3758; in 1820, 8553; in 1830, 17,041; in 1840, 31,344; in 1850, 38,742 ; and in 1860, 49,697. From 1840 to 1850 the increase in Erie was nearly 100 per cent., equal to that of Harrisburg and Norristown, (comparing it with those cities,) and greater than Lancaster. In 1850 the cash value of farms was $4,782,858, and of farming implements and machinery'', $294,726. The number of horses, 7014; of milch cows, 16,575; of sheep, 66,705; of swine, 15,417 ; and the value of live stock, $1,070,519. The quantity of wheat raised in 1850 was 147,825 bushels; of rye, 10,203; of Indian-corn, 433,692; of oats, 433,765; of tobacco, 8000 pounds; of wool, 179,103; of peas and beans, 3141 bushels; of potatoes, 171,855; of sweet pota- toes, 170 bushels; of barley, 42,352; of hay, 69,422 tons; clover seed, 1720 bushels; grass, 1253; hops, 1200; flax, 3729 ; flax seed, 860 ; buckwheat, 27,272 ; orchard pro- ducts, 17,327 ; 129 gallons of wine were made, 252,843 pounds of butter, 754,452 of cheese, 333,748 pounds of maple sugar, 1875 gallons of molasses, 23,239 of beeswax and honey. The value of home manufactures was estimated at $28,581. In 1860, the farms in the county numbered 4474; manu- facturing establishments, 383; dwellings, 9759. The amount of property subject to tax, fixed by revenue commissioners in March, 1860, was $4,475,857. In 1808, the full vote of the county for Governor was 589; 345 for Simon Snyder, and 244 for James Ross, Fed- eralist. Erie and Mill Creek polled 156 votes, and next in the order they are mentioned came Waterford, McKean, Springfield, and Fairview. In 1860, the vote for Governor was 8082 — for Andrew G. Curtin, Republican, 5613; for Henry D. Foster, Dem- ocrat, 2469. One month after, the whole vote for President was 8798 — 6160 for Lincoln, 2531 fusion, 90 for Bell, and 17 for Douglas. 9* 98 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, In the report of tlie Auditor-General of Pennsylvania for the year 1860, ending November 30th, are the following items relating to Erie County : — Tax on real and personal estate $11,006 91 Tavern licenses 815 00 Retailers' licenses 2,090 02 Crokers' licenses 228 00 Theater, circus, etc., licenses 76 00 Distillery and brewery licenses 254 28 Billiard room, bowling saloon, etc., licenses... 105 00 Eating-house, beer-house, and rest, licenses.., 671 00 Patent medicine license 67 00 Pamphlet laws 19 00 Militia tax 10 61 Millers' tax 65 10 Tax on writs, wills, deeds, etc 513 30 Tax on foreign insurance agencies 200 00 Common schools 3,514 44 Abatement of the State tax 586 84 Value of real and personal estate 4,475,857 00 Assessment of tax 11,501 42 Population 49,697 00 Taxables 11,835 00 In 1808 the receipts of the county were $9890 31|; of this, $4055 84| was in the treasury, 31st December, 1807. The county expenses amounted to $2163 15. The same year $1178 47| was expended in building and materials for the court-house, and $20 20 appropriated to clear French Creek. In 1860 the receipts of the county were $58,178 51, and the expenditures $50,592 91. Post-offices and Postmasters in Erie County in 1830. Beaverdam Samuel Smith. Elk Creek Joseph Wells. Erie James Hughes. Fairview W. W. Warner. Gray's Settlement Amos Graves, Jr. Greenfield Elijah J. Woodruff, Harbor Creek Daniel Goodwin. Lexington David Sawdy, HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 99 Northeast Jas. Smedley. Nortliville Orrin Wyllys. Phillipsville James Phillips. Springfield X Roads J. P. Woodworth. Union Mills AVilliam Miles. Waterford Joseph Derrickson. AVattsburg Levi Wilcox. Wesleyville Almond Fuller. Fost-offices in Erie County, July 1, 1856, and the revenue in 1855, showing the business importance of every town. The figures at the right hand show the net revenue of the office to the Department ; left hand column the compensation of the postmaster. POST-OFFICES. POSTMASTERS. COMP'N. rev'e. $164 57 8 38 18 79 26 10 4 00 159"40 42 02 2000 00 li 5 11 10 32 345 04 11 93 78 01 9 29 73 58 86 .38 33 27 318 48 50 51 113 95 153 "2 13 Ot 11 09 51 89 94 81 372 14 167 59 £5 SO 22 21 82 36 82 63 $1 65 4" 51 9 87 12 64 2 50 go'ei 26 81 2 59 63 23 5 26 267 00 7 5S 36 19 3 96 41 86 32 06 8 47 244 46 21 56 39 22 75 22 7 16 3 21 27 05 S9 48 234 21 71 93 23 65 9 66 23 83 59 OS Belle Valley Joseph Vance, (estab. in 1^56.).. David White Carter Hill Cheriy Hill Cook Elk Creek Diniel M.Wood Erie, (0. H.) B. F. Sloan Wm. P. Barbie Le Bceuf Titus D. Chillis Platea Timothy S. Cowles Sterrettania Elias Brecht Robert McCrea, 4th, .„ Swan Station Waterford Henry Colt W. B. Williams Henry Hill Wesleyville West Springfield Gilbert Hurd In 1861 one other office was added, that of Oak Grove. The distributing office at Erie was discontinued after January 1st, 1838; afterward restored, and again discon- tinued in 1858. 100 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. In order to defray expenses in 1860, the boxes were rented at two dollars per annum. Courts and Judicial Districts. — Erie being a part of Crawford, for all county purposes, from 1800 to 1803, it belonged to the fifth judicial district. By the judiciary act of February 24th, 1806, Butler, Mercer, Venango, Crawford, and Erie composed the sixth judicial district. In 1818 Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Yenango, and "Warren composed the sixth. In 1830 Erie, Yenango, Mercer, and Crawford were the sixth ; and afterward Erie, Crawford, and Warren became the sixth. Jasper Yates held a circuit court in Erie on the 15th of October, 1806; Judge Breckenridge one in October, 1807. In 1839 Crawford, Erie, and Yenango had a district court, which was in 18 41 extended also to Mercer County. Judge James Thompson presided. The court expired by limitation in five years. David Derrickson was elected an additional president judge, with the same associates, in 1856. A session of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court was held in Erie in 1854. Judges present: Lewis, (President,) Woodward, Lowrie, and Knox. President Judges of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions. — Judge Addison, 1800; Jesse Moore, 1803; Henry Shippen, 1825; N. B. Eldred, 1839; Gaylord Church, 1849; John Galbraith, elected in 1851. Judge Galbraith died in 1860, and Rasselas Brown was appointed by Gov. Packer to fill the vacancy until the next election. S. P. Johnson was elected in 1860. Associate Judges. — Myron Hutchinson, John Brawley. In 1851 James Miles and J. M. Sterrett were elected; and in 1856, Samuel Hutchins and John Grier. Erie is annexed to the western district of the Supreme Court. In 1810 Erie, Beaver, Merce;*, Crawford, Warren, and HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 101 Venango constituted a congressional district. In 1820 Beaver was apportioned to another district. In 1830 Erie County, with Crawford, Mercer, Warren, and Yenango formed the Eighteenth Congressional District. In 1843 Erie, Warren, McKean, Potter, Jefferson, and Clarion were constituted the Twenty-third Congressional District. It was styled the "Grerrymander," from Elbridge Gerry, as it was supposed to have been thus divided for po- litical purposes. The Whigs, notwithstanding, elected their candidate, C. M. Reed, by a majority of forty the same year. In 1852 Erie, Crawford, and Warren became the Twenty- fifth Congressional District. 3Iembers of Congress. — William Hoge ; Samuel Smith ; Robert Moore ; Thomas Wilson ; Abner Lacock ; P. Ear- relly, 1820 ; P. Farrelly, 1822, died, and T. H. Sill was elected to fill his unexpired term of one year ; Stephen Bar- low, 1824; T. II. Sill, 1828; John Banks, 1830; John Galbraith, 1832-34; A. Plumer, 1836; John Galbraith, 1838 ; A. Plumer, 1840 ; Charles M. Reed, 1842 ; J. W. Farrelly, 1848; James Thompson, 1845; C. B. Curtis; John Dick, 1852-54-5G; Elijah Babbitt, 1858-60. In 1801 the State apportionment included twenty-five Sen- ators, and Crawford, Yenango, Mercer, Warren, and Erie (forming one county under the name of Crawford, for all county purposes) elected one member, the returns being made at the court-house in Meadville. Eighth of March, 1815, the State had thirty-one Senators, and Mercer, Erie, Warren, Yenango and Crawford still had but one. In 1830 Erie, Crawford, and Mercer constituted the Twenty-third Senatorial District. In 1843 Erie and Craw- ford became the Twenty-Seventh, and entitled to one member. An apportionment in 1856 gave the State thirty- three Senators, Erie and Crawford being still entitled to but one. In 1836 Erie and Crawford became the Twenty-first District. It is at present the Twentieth District. 102 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. Memhers of State Senate William Mc Arthur, 1801 ; William Bell ; Wilson Smith, 1809; Joseph Shannon, 1813; Henry Hurst, 1817. In 1820 the Twentieth Senatorial District was composed of Erie, Crawford, and Warren. Jacob Herrington, 1821- 22-23; John Leach, 1825 to 1827; Thomas Cunningham, 1829 to 1836; J. M. Sterret, 1837 to 1839; J. W. Far- relly, 1842 ; Elijah Babbitt, 1844 ; James D. Dunlap, 1845 ; J. B. Johnson, 1846; J. H. Walker, 1849-51; James Skinner, 1852-54; Darwin A. Finney, to 1860. House of Representatives. — In 1800 Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Mercer, Crawford, Erie, Warren, and Yenango jointly elected two Representatives. The House of Representatives in 1801 consisted of eighty- six members, the Counties of Crawford, Yenango, Erie, Warren, and Mercer being entitled to one member. In 1815 it had ninety-seven members, and the representa- tion from Erie, Crawford, Yenango, Warren, and Mercer was increased to three. In 1843 Erie and Crawford were entitled to two members in the House. In 1856 Erie became entitled to two members. Bepresentatives. — Alexander Buchanan, 1801; John Lytle, Jr., 1802; Wilson Smith, 1805; John Phillips and James Herrington, 1808 ; John Phillips and Roger Alden, 1809; John Phillips and Patrick Farrelly, 1811; James Weston and James Burchfield, 1813; Jacob Herrington, James Weston, and Ralph Marlin, 1815; S. Hays, R. Mar- lin, and J. Herrington, 1816; S. Hays, Thomas Wilson, and R. Marlin, 1817 ; J. Herrington, James Cochran, and J. Hackney, 1818 ; W. Smith, James Cochran, and William Connelly, 1819. From the district composed of Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Yenango, and Warren — Wilson Smith, William McConnelly, Jacob Herrington, 1820 ; David Brown, James Cochran, George Moore, 1821 ; James Weston, 1822 ; T. H. Sill, HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 103 from Erie and Warren, 1823 ; General John Phillips, 1824 Stephen Woolverton, 1825-27 ; George Moore, 1828-29 John Riddel, 1831; J. H. Walker, 1832-35; E. Babbitt J. K. Miller, 1836 ; Charles M. Reed, David Sawdy, 1837 William M. Watts, Samuel Hutchins, 1838; S. Skinner, J D. Dunlap, 1840; Stephen Skinner, L. Robinson, 1842 J. D. Dunlap, David A. Gould, 1843; J. D. Dunlap Mark Baldwin, 1844; J. B. Johnson, L. Robinson, 1845 William Sanborn, D. A. Gould, 1846 ; G. J. Ball, William Sanborn, 1847 ; G. J. Ball, T. Ryraan, 1848; J. C. Reid, L. Hart, 1849; J. C. Reid, A. W. Blaine, 1851; C. W. Kelso, A. W. Blaine, 1851 ; C. W. Kelso, H. A. Hill, 1852 ; W. Warner, G. J. Ball, 1853 ; G. J. Ball, James Thompson, 1854; G. J. Ball, M. Whallon, 1855; J. W. Campbell, W. Laird, 1858; J. Gunnison, H. Teller, 1859; H. Teller, G. J. Ball, 1860. Previous to 1840, the offices of prothonotary, register, and recorder were united, and the incumbent appointed by the Governor. The first appointment was of Callender Irvine, 1808; James E. Herron, 1808; John Kelso; Thomas Wilson, 1820, who died in 1824, and was succeeded by E. J. Kelso ; William Kelley, 1836; James C. Marshall, 1839; Wilson King, 1842 and 1845 ; James Skinner, 1848 ; Samuel Per- ley, 1851 ; Alfred King, 1854 ; James Skinner, 1857 and 1860. In 1839 E. D. Gunnison was appointed first register and recorder, and held the office until after the fall election. WilliamKelley was elected 1839 and 1841 ; Thos. Moorhead, Jr., 1845; R. J. Sibley, 1849; D. McAllaster, 1851 and 1854; William P. Trimble, 1857 ; Samuel Rea, Jr., 1860. Sheriffs. — Samuel Smith, 1804; Jacob Carmack, 1809; Jacob Spang, 1812 ; David Wallace, 1813 ; James Weston,* * James E. Ilerron received the same number of votes; the Gov- ernor being a Democrat, it was decided in favor of J. Weston. 104 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 1815 ; John C. Wallace, 1818; Stephen Woolverton, 1821 ; Thomas Laird, 1824 ; Stephen Woolverton ; A. Thayer, 1826; A. W. Brewster; William Fleming; Thomas Me- haffy, 1835; A. Scott,* 1838; E. M. W. Blaine; William E. McNair; M. W. Caughey, 1846; Peter E. Burton, 1849; Thomas Vincent, 1852; J. Killpatrick, 1855; John W. McLane, 1858. Coroners. — Abraham Smith, October 26th, 1803 ; John Milroy, November 14th, 1806 ; John Gray, November llth, 180Y; John C. Wallace, November 8th, 1809; John Mc- Cord, December 21st, 1813; John Morris, April 23d, 1816; Benjamin Kussell, January 8th, 1822 ; Rufus S. Reed, Feb- ruary 8th, 1825 ; William Fleming, 1827 ; David Wallace, 1830; David McNair, 1833; Samuel Keefer, 1886; J. K. Caldwell, 1839 ; H. Bates, 1841 ; Thomas Dillon, 1845 ; S. L. Forster, 1848; S. Dunn, 1851; D. Burton, 1854; T. Dillon, 1857; R. Gaggin, 1860. In July, 1805, the first section of the town of Erie was erected into a borough, and the May following the first borough officers were chosen. In 1807 the sum of $2000 was granted by the State to the commissioners, to expend in erecting buildings for county purposes. This court-house was destroyed by fire in 1824, with all the records. Another was immediately erected upon the same foundation, and after the same plan, which was not superseded until 1853. This second building served not only for courts and county purposes for thirty years, but for all lectures and public meetings of the citizens. Almost every church originated and held its meetings there, until otherwise provided. The famous railroad convocations were * During Mr. Scott's term of office the sentence of the law was car- ried out in the execution of Henry Francisco, whose death warrant was issued December 12th, 1^37. This is the only instance of capital punishment in the history of Erie County, though others have doubtless been guilty of the crime of murder. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 105 the last held there, and at that time it had become decidedly a gloomy and oat-of-date edifice COCRT-HOUSt: BUILT I>' 18l!4. In 1852 the corner-stone of the present commodious and imposing structure was laid. Judge John Vincent, who was present at the ceremony, and had filled the office of associate judge since 1805, remarked that he himself had selected and purchased the ground for the county commissioners forty- eight years before. The ground plan of the building is sixtj^-one feet by one hundred and thirty-two, and the height from the ground to the top of the vane one hundred and twenty-eight feet. It is of the Roman- Corinthian order, and was designed by Thomas H. Walter. The whole cost of the building was between $64,000 and $65,000. March 20th, 1811, an act passed the legislature "that the beach of the lake from the upper corner of the garrison tract, and for twenty perches back from the water's edge, down th« lake to the out-lots, and from thence down the same, including all the land between the out-lots and the 10 106 HISTORY or ERIE COUNTY. water's edge to the tract of land No. 38, shall be and remain a public lauding for the use of the inhabitants and others." In 1833 the inhabitants of the borough petitioned for an alteration in the law incorporating the borough, "stating that on a fair experiment they have found the existing laws insufficient to promote conveniency and good order and pub- lic utility." This resulted in the alteration of the whole charter, excepting a part of the tenth section. In 1833 a fine was imposed, of five hundred dollars or imprisonment not exceeding six months, for cutting timber on the peninsula, or setting fire to the shrubbery. R. S. Reed was appointed superintendent for five years. In 1833 the third section, belonging to the common- wealth, of in and out lots was granted to the borough of Erie to construct a canal basin in the Bay of Presqu'ile op- posite the borough of Erie ; provided that one hundred acres of the said land be reserved for the use of a county poor-house, to be selected by three persons appointed by the county commissioners. The question of having a poor-house was put to vote soon after, and carried by a small majority. Suitable buildings were soon after erected. The number of inmates during the year 1860 was 107 ; the number of deaths, 4 ; 4 were bound out, and 44 discharged. The receipts and cash in the treasury, $10,315 94. Expenditures, which include some old debts and expenses for a new building, $7629 14. A requisition of $8000 annually has been made on the county for several years past, for the support of the institution. In 1834 the bounds of the borough were extended north- wardly 1300 feet into the Bay of Presqu'ile. In 1835 a resolution passed to proceed against any who might erect any tenement on the peninsula or upon any part of the work erected to deepen the entrance to the harbor, or to place wood or other materials upon the public works or any sand-bar. Also, in 1835, Erie was authorized to borrow $50,000 to HISTORY OF j:urE COUNTV. lOT supply the borougli wiili water. This contemplated improve- ment was never carried oat. In 1841 Erie was supplied with water by wooden pipes communicating with a spring a mile or two distant, the ex- penses being paid by the consumers. In 1838 a sale of one row of water lots in the second section was authorized, to pay the expense of grading and improving the streets and grounds of the second section. In 1841 an act passed the legislature to prevent the pick- ing or gathering of cranberries on the peninsula, between July and October, with a fine of not less than ten dollars or more than twenty-five against every person so offending.* In 1843 an act passed the legislature repealing the Nich- olson Court of Pleas, which had been instituted in 1840. Without affording time for investigation, this court threatened to sell many of the farms in Erie County, as well as in other parts of the State, and dispossess those who had resided upon them for more than forty years. John Nicholson, President of the Population Company, was also State Treasurer and a defaulter; hence, a lien was supposed to rest on the lands once held by him. In the central part of the State the plea was more plausible; most of the lands in Erie County hav- ing been purchased after John Nicholson was divested of all interest in them. In 1851 the government of the borough of Erie was '^ Tlie first day of October has been from tliat time denominated "cranberry d^iy," and in the popuLir sense has become an "institu- tion." Whole families cross, the night before, kindle a fire, and are in readiness by the earliest dawn to proceed to the marshes where the cranberry abounds. The uninitiated may search and wander the day long and scarcely find a handful, while many a thrifty family has been provided with comforts for the winter, or even their dwellings respectably furnished by this day's profits. The number of boats being limited, toward evening an undue eagerness sometimes results in the swamping of boats and other accidents, which are often aggra- vated by intemperance. 108 ' HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. changed to that of a city, and divided into the East and West Wards. It now has four, bounded as follows : First Ward — East of State, and north of Eighth Streets ; Second Ward — East of State, and south of Eighth Streets ; Third Ward — West of State, and south of Eighth Streets ; Fourth Ward — West of State, and north of Eighth Streets. Erie, in 1860, had 11,113 inhabitants within Its city limits of about four square miles; thirteen churches, (particularly described in Chapter XII.;) two fine public school-houses; a flourishing academy, and several excellent select schools. There are no incorporated banks in the county at present, but six private banking-houses. For manufactures in iron there are two founderies, and the Eagle Furnace of Atchison & Henry, just without the city limits. The "Erie City Iron Works" of Liddell & Marsh employs 90 men, and manufac- tures steam engines, freight and passenger cars, drilling tools and pipe for oil-wells, agricultural implements, mill gearing, farm bells, etc. They have also a planing-mill and mould- ing-room in connection with the furnace. The "Old Fur- nace" of 13arr & Johnson employs 60 men, and manufactures stoves, farming implements, and mill, building, and machinery castings. There are four grist-mills in the city : Fairmount Mills, Crouch & Brother, has three runs of stone; Erie City, C. McSparren, four runs of stone; Canal Mill, Wm. Kelley, three runs of stone ; and Reed's Mill, Mrs. R. S. Reed, two runs of stone. Near the city are Elliot's Mill, J. Elliot, three runs of stone ; Hopedale Mill, H. Gingrich, two runs of stone ; six flour and feed stores, one wholesale. There are three planing-mills, two machine shops, two sash, etc., two stone potteries, and several petroleum oil refineries in different stages of progress. A piano-forte manufactory of Wm. Willing sometimes employs twenty men ; the instruments are of a fine tone, and in demand. The pump manufactory of L. W. Olds supplies the home market, and sends a large number West. Besides this there HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 109 is one brass foundery, five breweries, one gun sliop, five watch shops, live saddle and harness shops, three for liats and caps, three coffinmakers, five cabinet and furniture stores, two soap and candles, four tin shops, four drug stores, two book, five hardware, eight millinery, one shirt manuftictory, four dentists, three confectionery, two carriage manufactories and several small wagon shops, four daguerreian artists, four commission merchants on the dock, eleven dry goods stores, wholesale and retail, eight shoe stores, five of clothing, five wholesale groceries, twenty-one retail groceries, and ten dealers in bituminous coal. The first borough election was held May 5th, 1806, and resulted as follows: John C. Wallace, Burgess ; Judah Colt, Rnfus S. Reed, George Beuhler, Robert Hays, George Schantz, Town Council; Robert Irwin, High Constable. At the first meeting James E. Herron was appointed Town Clerk; Thomas Forster, Wm. Wallace, James Baird, Street Commissioners; Wm. Bell, Treasurer. Burgesses — Thomas Wilson, 1801; George Beuhler, 1808 and 1809; John C. Wallace, 1810 and 1811; Samuel Hays, 1812; Judah Colt, 1813; George Moore, 1814 and 1815; Thos. H. Sill. 1816 and 1817; George Moore, 1818 and 1819; Judah Colt, 1820 and 1821; John Morris, 1822, 1823, and 1824; John C. Wallace, 1825, 1826, and 1827; Tabor Beebe, 1828; Thos. H. Sill, 1829; Wm. Johns, 1830; Geo. A. Elliot, 1831; Thos. Forster, chosen 1832, Tabor Beebe acted instead; Thos. H. Sill, 1833; J. M. Sterrett, 1835; J. B. Laughead, 1836 and 1837 ; James L. White, March, 1838; Wm. Kelley, 1839; Myron Goodwin, 1840; Rufus S. Reed, 1841; Thomas Stewart, 1842; Thomas H. Sill, 1843 and 1844; Charles W. Kelso, 1845; Wm. Kelley, 1846 and 1847 ; Chas. W. Kelso, 1848 ; A. W. Brewster, 1849 ; B. B. Vincent, 1850; Thomas G. Colt, 1851, from May acting Mayor; M. Whallon, April, 1852; A. King, March, 1853 and 1854; W. Laird, 1855 and 1856; Jas. Hoskinson, 1857; W. Laird, 1858; S. Smith, 1859 and 1860. 10* 110 HI -TORY OF ERIE COUNTY. The first city officers were elected May 15th, 1851. Mayor— T. G. Colt. High Constable — A. C. Landon. Select Council — East Ward : A. W. Brewster, F. Sevin, Clark McSparren. West Ward: S. M. Carpenter, John Zimraerly, Wm. M. Gallagher. Common Council — East Ward: P. Metcalf, L. L. Mo- meyer, 0. D. Spafford, J. D. Duulap, A. A. Craig, Josiah Kellogg. Westward: James Skinner, Wilson King, Thos. Dillon, S. W. Keefer, D. G. Landon, Adam Atchison. Collectors of the Customs for the Port of Presqu'ile — Thomas Forster, 1801 ; Edwin J. Kelso, 1836; Charles W. Kelso, 1845 ; William M. Gallagher, 1849 ; Murray Whallon ; James Lytle, 1853 ; John Brawley, 1857 ; Murray Whallon ; Charles M. Tibbals, 1859. District of Presqu'ile embraces the whole coast line of the State of Pennsylvania on Lake Erie; it contains about forty miles of shore, and has three shipping points — Erie, the port of entry. Northeast, and Elk Creek, the business of the two latter being principally the shipment of staves and lumber. Postmasters in Erie — John Hay; John Gray, 1809; Robert Knox, 1811 — resigned after having filled the office to general acceptance seventeen years; James Hughes, 1828; Robert Cochran, 1833; Smith Jackson, 1840; An- drew Scott, 1842; Robert Cochran, 1845; T. H. Sill, 1849; B. F. Sloan, 1853; Jos. M. Sterrett, 1861. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. Ill CHAPTER IX. First Road — Population Company Roads — Erie and Waterford Turnpike — Salt Trade — General O'Hara's Contract — Road to Buffalo — First Coaches — Erie Canal — Railroads — Erie or Wattsburg Railroad — Sun- bury and Erie — Erie and Northeast — Franklin Canal Company — Pitts- burg and Erie Railroad — Plank-roads. The opening of the first road in Erie County, as we have seen in Chapter III., was by the French, in 1753, from Erie to Waterford. This is still a good road, and in use for seven miles in a southerly direction from Erie ; it is then scarcely traceable, but soon after is merged into the Erie and Waterford plank-road, the site of the "new Shun-pike." In 1795, when the first settlers came to the Triangle, the traveled road was in pretty much the same location, as they allude to trees growing up in its path.* The Pennsylvania Population Company made many of the roads. T. Rees, Esq., their agent, opened one in Har- bor Creek in 1797, and Mr. Colt, who succeeded him, says: "June 3d, 1797, set a number of men at opening roads lead- ing to the intended station, nine and a half miles south of the mouth of Sixteen-mile Creek." ,^ There was a road to Walnut Creek, Eorster's mill being the first erected in the county ; to Conneautte Lake, where Alexander Powers was located; to Conneaut Creek, Colonel * The first intention seemed to have been to make a militai'y I'oad, to level the hills and elevate the valleys; and cavities where the roots had been grubbed out, could be discerned for about half the distance from Erie. Hence it has been called the grubbed road, not as is usually supposed from the families of the name of Grubb on its line. Cannon balls, accoutrements, harness, and other implements were found along; this route as late as 1825. 112 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. Punning McNair's station ; and to the head-waters of Beaver Creek, where Mr. Jabez Colt was assistant agent.- August, 1801. — Mr. Colt says: "General Paine called to obtain a subscription in money for the purpose of opening a road from the east end of the Triangle to Buffalo Creek, and presented a letter from Kirtland, agent of the Connecticut Land Company, on the subject." Mr. C. waived the matter until he should write to his principals, and after dinner General P. was furnished with provisions to carry him through the woods to Buffalo. The latter part of October the road was completed from Buffalo, eigh- teen miles, at the expense of the Connecticut Company. In 1805 the first election was held at Waterford for offi- cers of the Erie and Waterford Turnpike Company. Colonel Thomas Forster was chosen President, and Henry Baldwin, John Vincent, Ralph Marlin, James E. Ilerron, John C. Wallace, Wm. Miles, James Brotherton, and Joseph Hack- ney, Managers; Judah Colt, Treasurer. This road was completed in 1^09, and was a desirable improvement. Its location was less direct, and on higher ground than the French road, for the purpose of accommo- dating the farmers who were large shareholders. The Waterford Turnpike was a particularly useful im- provement, as all the salt for Pittsburg, and even down to the Falls of the Ohio, (Louisville,) passed from Erie to Water- ford. Besides this, manufactures of iron and glass, whisky and flour from the Monongahela, and bacon from Kentucky came up the Allegheny to Waterford, and from thence to Erie, which was then the depot for the lake country. The road was from two to five miles wide, diversified with stumps, logs, log-heaps, and very deep mud-holes. With such hin- derances by the way, and from four to si.x oxen to guide, it was not unusual for a load of salt or provisions to be four days crossing the portage of fifteen miles. Often a part of the burden had to be abandoned. An instance is handed HISTORY OF ERIE OOL'NTY. 113 down of a barrel of whisky being rolled at least half the distance by one of our most persevering and wealthy citizens. At the risk of losing "the thread of the discourse," a few remarks will be introduced on the subject of the salt trade. Vessels leaving Buffalo for the West, from 1805 to 1810, were freighted principally with salt. In 1808, 6000 barrels were registered at the custom-house at Erie, and it is said 18,000 were at another season. It was the currency of the county. In Mr. H. Kussel's journal we find, "January, 1808, exchanged a pair of oxen for eight barrels of salt." In the Erie Mirror, dated January, 1809, is a well- written letter, signed "An Old Salt-hauler." It had been ques- tioned whether the salt trade was beneficial to the county : that perhaps it interfered with the cultivation of farms. In reply, he says the farmers were obliged to haul salt to pro- cure the comforts if not necessaries of life, such as sugar, tea, coffee, wearing apparel, etc., as salt seemed to be the cur- rent specie during the existence of the embargo. Indeed, it was the only commodity they had for market or exchange, and in proportion to the increase of the traffic the farmers of the county progressed in the improvement of the soil. Freightage from Buffalo to Erie was 87^ cents per barrel, and 12|centsfor storage ; 12,000 barrels, in 1809, had been landed, according to the collector's books, which would amount to $12,000. The price of hauling from Erie to Waterford had been hitherto $1 50, amounting, on the same quantity, to $18,000. One dollar more was paid to convey it by water to Pittsburg. These several items made an aggregate profit to the inhabitants of the county of $42,000. The newly- finished turnpike diminished the profit of the hauler from $1 50 to 50 cents ; but it facilitated the carriage proportion- ably, as a team on the road could transport thirty-two bar- rels in the same time, and with greater ease than it formerly had done six ; so that it was still more lucrative, provided there was sufficient salt to employ the usual number of teams. Salt was ordinarily from four to six months on the 114 IIISTOLIY OP KUIE COUNTY. road from Salina to Pittsburg, and of one huadred barrels leaving the Springs seventy-five were required to pay the charges. Boats were built at Waterford expressly to float it down the river, and their construction was such as to pre- vent their return. This did not, however, add to the ex- pense, as families removing still farther down were glad to purchase them. The opening of the salt wells on the Kanawha and Kis- kaminitas, about 1813, by affording a supply to that region, after a time materially affected transportation here. In Pennsylvania Historical Collections we find the fol- lowing : " General James O'Hara at am early day entered into a contract to supply Oswego with provisions, which he sup- posed could be furnished cheaper than from the settlements on the Mohawk. He had obtained correct information in relation to the manufacture of salt at Salina, and had in his contract an eye to supplying the Western country with salt. " This was a project few would have undertaken, and fewer still carried out. The means of transportation had to be created : boats and teams must be constructed to get the salt from the works to Oswego, a vessel built to land it below the falls, wagons to carry it to Schlosser, and boats provided to carry it to Black Rock ; there another vessel was required to convey it to Erie. The road to the head of French Creek had to be improved, and the salt carried across the portage in wagons; and lastly, boats built to float it to Pittsburg. "Mr. O'Hara packed his flour and provisions in barrels suitable for salt, and these were reserved in his contracts. Two vessels were built — one on Lake Erie, and another on Lake Ontario. The plan succeeded : salt could be sold of a fair quality at four dollars per bushel — half the price ob- tained by packing over the mountains. The vocation of packers was gone. Soon after, Onondaga salt was sold at twelve dollars per barrel of five bushels." A duty of four cents per bushel was paid the State of N"ew HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 115 York, and it was forbidden by law to sell at the works for more than sixty cents per bushel. The journey to Buffalo by land was much dreaded even to the completion of the railroad ; previous to 1815 or 1820 it was absolutely dangerous. Travelers finding the land road through Cattaragus woods almost impassable for wagons, would be induced, if the weather was not very boisterous, to pass around the point of rock projecting into the lake. Many fatal instances are recorded of persons unacquainted with the country being overwhelmed by the waves. The nature of the soil through the woods would scarcely admit of a good road, and a journey once made was scarcely forgotten, for passengers felt that then and there, they escaped narrowly with their lives. In "December, 1829, the road from Buffalo to Fredonia (in some places having been turnpiked late in the season) was so bad that two yoke of oxen were attached to the stage to draw it through, and all the male passengers worked their passage. The mail was three hours — more than a mile an hour — coming from Buffalo." The following advertisement is found in the Erie Gazelle for September 15th, 1820:— " Proposals will be received at the General Post-office for carrying the mail on the following route, until the fourteenth day of October next : " From Buffalo, by Hamburg, Hanover, Fredonia, Port- land, Westfield, Ripley, and northeast to Erie, Pennsylvania, once a week, ninety miles, " Leave Buffalo every Saturday noon, and arrive at Erie the next Monday by six o'clock in the afternoon. Leave Erie every Tuesday at six a.m., and arrive at Buffalo the next Thursday by noon." This was nothing new, though the mail to Pittsburg and by Philadelphia was more sure for the East. This, too, came in but once a week. The day this was due, people were seen standing in the street looking for " McGill," who, at first, with 116 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. his mail came on horseback ; afterward, the increased weight required a horse for the mail alone, which he led by his side. On one occasion the eager expectants looked and looked in vain ; a bear had crossed the carrier's path, and the frightened mail horse fled to the woods, where, after a search of two or three days, he was found. In the Erie Gazette for December, 1820, we find the fol- lowing, being something new : that a stage for the convey- ance of passengers as well as the mail would run regularly once a week from Erie to Buffalo and back, after the first of January. It would leave Erie every Tuesday, and arrive at Buffalo on Thursday ; leave Buffalo on Saturday, and arrive at Erie on Monday. The proprietors (Messrs. Bird and Deming) did not expect to make money in the business; the convenience of the public seemed to require the experiment to be made, and if it met with support was to be continued and enlarged. January 8th, 1824, we find a stage had commenced run- ning twice a week between Erie and Cleveland. Arrange- ments were also making for carrying the mail twice a week. February 10th, 1825, the mail-coach commenced running through in a day from tiiis place to Buffalo. This may be said to terminate the ancient history of highways and con- veyances in Erie County. In the Erie Gazette, July, 1826, is an article intended to arouse Pennsylvanians to the importance of a canal, and it is well adapted to our purpose. It speaks of the wondrous improvement in this region in the previous thirty years. " Then the site of the village was a wilderness, and the path of the Indian the only guide for the daring traveler. Now it has upwards of a thousand inhabitants, and roads leading to Buffalo, Cleveland, and Pittsburg, three great points of intercourse equal to any in the Western part of the Union. From these three places we have twenty-seven arrivals of stages every week, all of which remain here over night. From Buffalo there are fourteen arrivals, from Cleveland HISTORY OP EUIE COUNTY. 117 ten, and from Pittsburg three. Three years ago we had three arrivals : once a weeli from Cleveland, in a one-horse wagon ; once a week from Buffalo, in a two-horse Avagon ; and once from Pittsburg, in a hack. Now there is not a vehicle enters our village for the conveyance of travelers but post-coaches, wiih teams equal if not superior to any in Pennsylvania. ** In addition to this, three steamboats for the conveyance of passengers enter and leave our harbor every week, and in a few days there will be five. There are also from two to ten schooners which enter and clear our harbor each week. What an important point this would be to Pennsylvania, if she would do her duty ! This unexampled increase of travel and business owes its existence entirely to the New York canal. * * * Pennsylvania is waiting for experience. She will soon have more of it than she wants in contrasting Philadelphia with New York." There was much delay in prosecuting the Erie extension of the Pennsylvania Canal, for the want of decision as to the route ; one of the first efforts at settling the question was the appointment, in 1823, of Thomas Forster, of Erie, Jas. Herrington, of Crawford, and William Marks, Jr., of Alleglieny, commissioners to explore the different routes, and report to the Governor. In 1825 a survey was made by Major Douglass, of the army.* In 18.35 an appropriation of $200,000 was made, * The latter part of October, 1825, while the surveyors of the canal route were engaged in sounding the lake off the mouth of Elk Creek, a melancholy accident occurred. The boat, having in it four persons, was much dashed by a fresh breeze, and began to fill. Mr. Cranch, a son of Judge Cranch, of the District of Columbia, being an expert swimmer, for the purpose of lightening the boat deliberately plunged into the lake, having first Avith care placed an elegant gold watch, which he highly valued, between his teeth, to prevent its being injured by the water. He had reached a few perches from the shore when he suddenly sunk. He was immediately taken out, but could not be resuscitated. 11 118 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. and a loan of $150,000 authorized should the appropriation be expended before another could be had. In 1837 the Governor borrowed $200,000, at an interest of four and a half per cent., authorized by the resolution of 1835. In 1838 two appropriations were made: January ninth, one of $100,000, and April fourteenth, one of $300,000. July 4th, 1838, the breaking of ground for the canal was united with the celebration of American independence. A procession was formed under the direction of Captain Dobbins, consisting of the orator of the day, (J. H. Walker,) the clergy and commit- tee of arrangements, forty or fifty of the earliest settlers with plows, wheelbarrows, spades, shovels, etc., and a large con- course of citizens. The breaking of ground was by one of the pioneers, Captain M. Strong, who had resided in Erie County since 1Y95, and who detailed some very interesting facts and reminiscences. In 1838 the route from Conneaut Lake was not deter- mined, the commissioners insisting that the legislature decide. Shortly after the western one was chosen. The Erie Canal Company was incorporated in 1843, and accomplished the work which united the Ohio and the lakes, and which had been talked of a quarter of a century. The State had expended upon it upwards of $4,000,000, and but $211,000 was required to complete the one hundred and thirty-six miles, which was the shortest connection that could be made between the Ohio and the lake, and which opened to the market immense fields of coal of a superior quality. The stockholders elected for managers of the company R. S. Reed, {President,) T. G. Colt, William M. Watts, B. B. Yincent, J. A. Tracy, Erie ; M. B. Lowry, Craw- ford ; Jas. M. Power, Mercer; C. M. Reed, Treasurer; and William Kelley, Secretary. December 5th, 1844, the first boats came through to Erie. First the R. S. Reed, Captain Drum, laden with Mercer County coal ; next the packet boat Queen of the West HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 119 Captain Armstrong, her deck and spacious apartments liter- ally crowded with a dense mass of human beings, each de- sirous of being numbered among the first pioneers by the canal to the lake. When the Queen entered the harbor, the deep-mouthed cannon gave out its thunder tones, and a shout, long, loud, and hearty, went up from the multitudes. To W. Milnor Roberts, chief engineer, special thanks were due for the early completion of the work after its abandonment by the State. The Wayne Greys paraded the streets during the day, and a ball at the Reed House concluded the celebra- tion. In December, 1840, two tons of stone coal were brought from Evansburg, Crawford County, a distance of forty miles, partly by canal, and sold at five and a half dollars per ton, at which price it was thought cheaper fuel than wood at one dollar per cord. The amount of coal received at Erie by canal is as follows : — n 1845 15,000 tons. 1846 27,000 " 1847 51,000 " 1848 70,000 " 1849 79,613 " 1850 57,741 " 1851 72,943 " 1852 76,650 " In 1853 123,031 tons. " 1854 95,611 " " 1855 141,184 " " 1856 112,811 " " 1857 126,159 " " 1858 99,924 " " 1859 128,856 " " 1860 129,807 " The officers of the Canal Company, 1860, are C. M. Reed, President; J. C. Marshall, A. Scott, P. Metcalf, D. Mc- Allister, J. A. Tracy, J. Hearn, Directors; T). McAllister, Treasurer; A. H. Caughey, Secretary; William W. Reed, Superintendent. Tolls for 1858 $52,968 38 " " 1859 68,574 65 " " 1860 104,336 12 Water rents 975 32 Total receipts for 1860 $105,311 41 120 HISTORY OF EblE COUNTY. Expenditures for repairs and supervision $45,783 70 Building a new aqueduct over Walnut Creek 17,039 60 Salaries of secretary, treasurer, superintendent, and collectors 6,370 50 Incidental expenses, including legal services, printing, rent, etc 1,185 38 Expenditures for 1860 $70,379 18 By a resolution of the directors, $25,000 was appropri- ated to the payment of three per cent, interest on the bonds and interest certificates of the company for the year ending January 1st, 1861. Bxilroads. — In 1831 a railroad convention met at Fre- donia, for the purpose of making arrangements for the con- struction of a railroad from Buffalo to the State line of Pennsylvania. Erie sent C. M. Reed, P. S. Y. Hamot, and T. H. Sill, a delegation having been invited. The president of the convention was Thomas B. Campbell ; secretaries, Oliver Lee and Jas. Mullet. It was understood that their road should be met on the part of Pennsylvania. In 1835 a railroad from Philadelphia to Erie was first talked of ; it was to be laid out by way of Harrisburg, West Branch, Clarion River, and Franklin, and it was thought to possess the great advantage of not requiring one inclined plane. A Macadamized road was petitioned for about this time, to connect Erie with the National road. In 1836 books were opened, and the capital stock sub- scribed of the Erie Railroad Company. This was to con- nect with the Cassadga Road, a branch of the New York and Erie, thirty-five miles in length, extending from the mouth of the Creek, three miles from Jamestown, to the State line, three miles from Wattsburg. The Erie Railroad would have been twenty-three miles in length, but the New York and Erie was not completed for many years, and con- sequently by that means there could be no connection with HISTORY OF EPaE COUNTY. 121 New York. The Erie and Northeast seemed to meet the views better of all parties. In 1837 the Sunbury and Erie Railroad bill passed, which was to ferm the last link in the chain of improvements between Lake Erie and Philadelphia. From Harrisburg to Philadelphia was completed ; from Harrisburg to Sunbury was incorporated. At Erie and Warren the event was the cause of rejoicings, and a new era seemed to dawn on Pennsyl- vania. The stock necessary to secure the charter was taken by the ITnited States Bank. During the years 1838 and 1839 a corps of engineers, under Edward Miller, explored the country between the points mentioned in the charter. The whole distance from Sunbury to Erie is 270 miles ; from Erie to Warren, 66 miles ; Warren to Lock Haven, 186 miles; Lock Haven to Williamsport, 28 miles; Williams- port to Sunbury, 40 miles. This road is ninety miles less, in distance to the sea-board, than the New York and Erie, and the local trade of the road it is supposed will maintain it. An unsuccessful effort was made in 1852 to have the road terminate at Cleveland. In 1854 the City of Philadelphia subscribed $1,000,000, and shortly after doubled the subscription. The City of Erie subscribed $300,000 and 150 acres in water lots, and Erie County $200,000. The State of Pennsylvania conveyed her canals to the company for $3,500,000 of Sunbury and Erie Railroad bonds. December, 1854, the completion of the road to Williams- port was celebrated by about five hundred citizens of Phila- delphia, including the president of the road, Hon. James Cooper, the directors, city councils, etc. The party arrived at Erie via Elmira and Niagara, and were hospitably enter- tained by the citizens. At a ball and supper given them at the Reed House, Hon. James Thompson presided. The rails used upon this road are from the Montour and Rough and Ready Mills at Danville, Pennsylvania, and the 11* 122 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. Lackawanna Mill at Scranton. Lock Haven is the site of the company's workshops. The company in 1859 had just one-half of the road (135 miles) ironed: 81 miles being on the eastern, and 54 on the western division. More than half the work on the remain- ing 135 miles was finished, and 68 miles actually graded and ready for the superstructure. Liddell & Marsh, of the Erie City Iron Works, constructed twenty-five or thirty cars for the western division. A celebration, numerously attended, was held at Warren, December, 1859, on the opening of the road to that place. The earnings of the road have equaled nearly $3000 weekly, or six per cent, on the cost of construction. The discovery of oil in Northwestern Pennsylvania has added materially to the receipts of the Sunbury and Erie RoHd, which has been a very great convenience in getting the commodity to market. Receipts of oil at the Erie station for — 1859. November 21 barrels. December 304 " 1860. January 63 February 115 March 414 April 980 May ..1159 June 772 July 1432 barrels. August 2341 September 2227 October 2775 November 8069 December 6431 1861. January 15,092 February 9421 March 4383 April 5521 A bill supplementary to the act incorporating the Sun- bury and Erie Railroad Company was passed in the spring of 1861. The first section changes the name of the com- pany to the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad Company. The second section authorizes the company to issue five thousand bonds, not exceeding in amount the aggregate sum of one million pounds sterling or five millions United States currency. The bonds are to draw six per cent, interest HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 123 per annum, payable semi-annually, the principal to be paid in twenty years. Tlie bonds are not subject to taxa- tion, and as security for the payment of principal and inter- est the company is authorized to execute in trust a mortgage of the whole line of its railroad, finished and unfinished, from Sunbury to the harbor of Erie, and its appurtenances, including all locomotives and cars which may at anytime be placed thereon, together with all its real estate, rights, and privileges. The mortgage to be delivered to trustees therein named, and recorded in the several counties in which the property may be situated, and shall remain the first mort- gage on all the property therein described until fully satis- fied, excepting the road extending from Sunbury to Williams- port, on which a mortgage of one million dollars now exists. The third section authorizes the company to issue forty .bonds for $100,000 each, payable in forty years from the date thereof, bearing six per cent, interest from and after 1st of January, 1872. A second mortgage on the road to be executed to secure the payment of said bonds, which bonds and mortgage the company are to deliver to the com- missioners of the sinking fund, to be retained as collateral security for payment of the five per cent, bonds for $3,500,000 now in the sinking fund. The Treasurer of the Common- wealth shall cancel and surrender all the bonds belonging to the company and deposited in his office for safe keeping, under the provisions of the act for the sale of the State canals. Section fourth extends the time for the payment of the $3,500,000, now in the sinking fund, till the maturity of the $4,000,000, which when paid will be in full satisfaction of the said $3,500,000 bonds: provided that the whole amount of principal and interest so to be paid by the company shall not be less than the debt now owing by the company to the State with the stipulated interest thereon till the time of payment. When this and other railroads in progress are completed, 124 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. it is expected that Erie will assume her true importance, so that the census of 18*70 will find it a flourishing, noisy, and ambitious city, rivaling in size and trade the two large cities of Cleveland and Buffalo, which have hitherto overshad- owed it. "Pennsylvania is blest in having three border outlets through ports on the three great water ways — the Atlantic Ocean, the Ohio River, and the great lakes. Philadelphia, Pittsburg, and Erie City are the portals of the Common- wealth, all other ways of ingress and egress being only as windows in the stately edifice. The public men of an ear- lier generation purchased and annexed the Triangle which made Erie City a harbor in Pennsylvania, and yet, down to this day, there is no direct communication between that lake port which was acquired, and the sea port where the State was cradled, although a route to the lakes was one of the. objects of the acquisition." [The Sunbury and Erie was in- corporated for this purpose, and in 1846, in the incorpora- tion of the Pennsylvania Central, a branch was authorized deflecting to Erie.] "Here we have the proof that in the minds of men devoted to the consideration of commercial subjects, and to carrying lines, the thought was ever pres- ent, that the three custom-house cities should have direct and unclogged railroad facilities, uniting each with the other, and opening from the interior of the State to its border^ cities a cheap and convenient transit." In its unfinished \ condition the Sunbury and Erie Railroad is a double failure, ; for it fails to pay interest on the bonds held by the State, and fails to meet public expectations inasmuch as it is not all open for traffic . The Erie and Northeast Railroad Company was incor- porated April 12th, 1842, with a capital of $5,000,000. March 11th, 1846, the capital stock was reduced to $600,000. Books for subscription were opened October 19th, 1846, atid sufficient stock subscribed to secure the charter. Letters- patent on the charter were granted 16th December, 1846. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 125 The first election was held January 22d, 1847, and resulted in the choice of C. M. Reed, President; William Kelley, Henry Cadwell, Smith Jackson, A. W. Brewster, M. Court- right, James Williams, Directors; and G. Sanford, Treas- urer. In the spring of 1849 the road was surveyed under the direction of M. Courtright; 26th July, 1849, contracts were made for the construction of the road. By an agreement entered into, 27th of April, 1850, with the Dunkirk and State Line Railroad, the Erie and North- east agreed to lay a six-foot track, that the cars of the IS'ew York and Erie might run directly to Erie, and this city be virtually the terminus of that road. Previously the Dun- kirk and State Line Road had adopted the Erie and North- east to do their business on the same, and by this arrange- ment expected to have an advantage over their great rival, the New York Central. This led to a warm controversy between the two compa- nies, and a parallel road was contemplated, which was the Sheridan Road, with a six-foot track, to connect with the Erie and Northeast via Westfield and Fredonia, and stock sufficient to secure the charter was taken. Finally, a com- promise was effected by which it was intended that neither company should have the advantage, and a gauge foreign to both was adopted, viz., the four foot ten inches, being the gauge of the road constructing from Erie west to Cleveland. The Erie and Northeast being laid according to agree- ment, a six-foot track compelled two changes of all freight and travel within nineteen miles, viz., at Erie and at the State Line. The first cars came in on this road January 10th, 1852. The Franklin Canal Company had constructed a railroad to the Ohio State line, and a connection through to Cleveland was effected in November of the same year. The formal opening of this road was Novemher 23d, 1852, when the cars left Erie at nine a.m. for Ashtabula, and returned at 126 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. three o'clock, with their numbers greatly increased. A party of three hundred partook of a sumptuous dinner at Brown's. Speeches were made by Judge Galbraith, Alfred Kelly, William S. Lane, and M. B. Lowry, and a change in the gauge law, which law compelled a break at Erie, was denounced. The Franklin Canal Company was incorporated on the 27th of April, 1844, for the purpose of reconstructing and repairing the Franklin Division of the Pennsylvania Canal from the aqueduct on French Creek to the mouth of that creek, it having decayed and become dilapidated. On the 9th of April, 1849, a supplement was passed, authorizing the company to construct a railroad instead of repairing the canal, the graded line or towing path of the canal to be the bed of the road, and giving the company the privilege of increasing its stock to $500,000, and extending northward to the lake and south to Pittsburg. In the building of this road, Judge John Galbraith was the influential manager. A few months after the completion of this road, the Penn- sylvania gauge law was repealed, and a contract was entered into November llth, 1853, between the Buffalo and State Line and Erie and Northeast Companies, by which the latter agreed to alter their track to one of four foot ten, thereby making a continuous gauge from Buffalo to Cleveland. The first attempt of the Erie and Northeast Company to change their gauge occasioned the contentions of 1853 and 1854, better known as the " Railroad war." The particulars of this severe but bloodless struggle can doubtless be more profitably discussed at a future period. The citizens of Erie felt highly aggrieved, and not less so the railroad company and the traveling community. The loss financially to each of these parties was immense. In the fierce and prolonged excitement men grew prematurely old, and the tax on temper and nerves to all concerned was not of small account. In the course of time the courts and laws settled the exciting question ; the two breaks between HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 12t Buffalo and Cleveland have disappeared, and the city, once distracted by civil discord, is again peaceful and prosperous. An act of the legislature, passed in January, 1854, an- nulled the charter of the Franklin Canal Company, always considei'ed doubtful, and invested the Governor with plenary power to make such a disposition of the road as in his judg- ment would best promote the interests of the State and the great objects to be attained. The same winter Governor Bigler visited Erie in person, and was received with the greatest enthusiasm, being met at the depot by the military and firemen with torchlights, and a large concourse of citizens. In June, 1854, the Franklin Canal Company was dis- posed of to the Cleveland, Painesville, and Ashtabula Rail- road Company. In 1855 an act passed the legislature repealing the char- ter of the Erie and Northeast Road, on the ground that it did not come to the borough, as stipulated in the act of in- corporation. Hon. J. Cassey held it for the State, and afterward our late Governor, Wm. F. Packer. April 22d, 1856, it was reincorporated by the directors subscribing $400,000 to the Pittsburg and Erie Road. The earnings of the Cleveland and Erie Railroad for 1860 amounted to $1,063,405 23; operating expenses, $429,758 49. The road has paid during the year, as divi- dends, five per cent, in cash January 1st, 18G0; five per cent, in scrip January 1st, 1860; and five per cent, in cash July 1st, 1860. Number of through passengers on the road 162,172 Number of way passengers....... 88,199 Total tonnage of freight carried over the road 254,594 tons. Merchandise carried over the road 68,815 Lumber " " " 5,096 Iron " " " 2,004 Livestock " " " 74,712 Flour " " " 198,802 128 llISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. The Pittsburg and Erie Railroad Company was incorpo- rated in 1850. C. M. Reed, President; M. Courtright, William Kelley, Jas. Williams, A. W. Brewster, C. Mc- Sparren, Jas. C. Marshall, John A. Tracy, P. Metcalf, J. McClure, B. B. Yincent, Smith Jackson, Directors; and David McAUaster, Secretary. This road was made to JamestowB, sixty miles, in 1859, and its final completion is soon expected. Erie City Railroad Company was ehartered in 1853, to extend from the harbor at Presqu'ile to a point on the New York and Pennsylvania State line m Northeast, Greenfield, or Yenango townships. This, as a communication with New York, will have an advantage oier the Dunkirk Road of twenty miles. The first officers were M. Courtright, President; C. M. Reed, J. H. Walker, Jas. Skinner, P. Arbuckle, M. W. Caughey, J. C. Spencer, J. W. Hart, J. McClure, William M. Arbuckle, J. A. Tracy, William C. Curry, and P. Met- calf, Directors; J. C. Spencer, Secretary and Treasurer. The road between Little Yalley and Jamestown was put under contract in 1852. The Erie and Waterford Plank-road was completed 1851 ; Irvin Camp, President. The Erie and Wattsburg the same year; J. H. Williams, President. The Erie and Edinboro Plank-road was completed December, 1852 ; John Galbraith, President. The plank-roads have all been a benefit to the country and to the towns through which they pass. The one connecting with Wattsburg has wrought a great change in the aspect of the county. It was estimated in the summer of 1859 that one hundred cords of hemlock wood were brought in daily, besides large quantities of hemlock bark, which was shipped for the West. HISTORY OF EllIE COUNTY 129 CHAPTER X. Shipijing — The Washington, the Pirst Vessel built on the South Shore of the Lake — Hudson's Bay Company — British Government Vessels — American Government Vessels — The Salina — Valuable Cargoes — Walk- in-the-water — First Lighthouse — William Penn — First Steamer at Chicago — ^Cholera — Tonnage and Number of Vessels in 1810-20-31- 36—47-60 — Lake Disasters — Commerce of Port of Presqu'ile — Vessels and Tonnage registered at Presqu'ile in 1860 — United States Steamer Michigan — Revenue Cutters. Captain William Lee's vessel, (name not known,) pro- pelled by sails and oars, was the only one on the south side of Lake Erie in 1*795. Captain Lee had no crew, and made trips only when he could have "passengers enough able and willing to man his boat." He resided at Chippewa, and it was in his boat Colonel S. Reed, family, and goods came up in the spring of 1795. Mr. Colt's journal says : " May 30th, 1798, Mrs. Colt and myself took passage at Fort Erie in sloop Weasle, Dennaw, master. Set sail about two o'clock p.m. The wind con- tinuing from the east, we were under way until about twelve at night, and lest we should run past the harbor of Presqu'- ile, the vessel was hove to, and lay in that situation until six o'clock in the morning of Thursday. "31st. — We found ourselves off Chataqua Creek, about twenty miles from our desired haven ; at evening arrived in the harbor of Presqu'ile. We were much sea-sick during the passage." In September, 1798, Eliphalet Beebe launched a sloop of thirty-six tons at the mouth of Four-mile Ci'eek, (east of Erie,) called the sloop Washington. This was probably the first vessel built on the south side of the lake. It was built for the use of the Population Company, was sold in Novem- ber, 1801, to Joshua Fairbanks of Queenston, for land and 12 130 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, salt, taken across the portage from Chippewa to Qiieenston, and lost on its first trip on Lake Ontario. In 1799 Captain William Lee built the Good Intent, thirty tons, R. S. Heed part owner, at the mouth of Mill Creek. Lost at Port Abino in 1806, with all on board. In 1800 Eliphalet Beebe built the Harlequin, which was lost her first season, with all on board. In 1805 Thos. Wilson built a schooner at Erie, called the Mary, of one hundred tons; in 1808 one-half was sold to James Rough and George Buehler, and the remainder to Porter, Barton & Co. It was sailed by Captain Rough until the war, when it was purchased by the United States. The Erie Packet, a sloop of twenty tons, was built by Captain William Lee, at Fort Erie, in 1196, for the Presqu'ile trade — Presqu'ile being the principal settlement at that time. In 1803 the Niagara, of thirty tons, was built by the United States government, and bought by Porter, Barton & Co. Her name was changed to the Nancy ; sailed by Captain R. O'Neil. In 1802-3 Porter, Barton & Co., contractors for the army, built at Black Rock the sloop Contractor, of sixty- four tons. Sill, Thompson & Co., at the same place, built the Catharine. These were both purchased by government in 1812; the name of the former was changed to the Trippe, and the latter, to the Somers. In 1808 Major Carter built a schooner at Cleveland (which was the first built there) of forty-five tons, called the Zephyr. She was sailed by Captain Cummings. We have alluded, in Chapter II., to the Hudson's Bay Company and British vessels on Lake Erie in 1189. The Speedwell is heard of at Maiden in 1192, and in 1196 they had in commission two armed vessels — the Ottawa, com- manded by Captain Cowan, and the Chippewa, by Captain Grant, each of about ninety tons. In 1804 they built the brig Camden, of one hundred tons and six guns; in 1806, the brig Hunter; and in 1801, the HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, 131 armed sloop Hope, which was lost near St. Joseph's, on Lake Huron. In 1809 the Queen Charlotte was built, and in 1810 the armed schooner Lady Prevost. These vessels did not belong to the royal navy, but to what was called the provincial marine service ; or, as a London newspaper stated the matter, (and which was true before 1812,) after Commodore Perry's victory: "It may serve to diminish our vexation at the occurrence to learn that the Jiotilla in ques. tion was not any branch of the British navy, but was solely manned, equipped, and managed by the public exertions of certain Canadians, who had formed themselves into a kind of Lake Fencibles. It was not the royal navy, but a local force — a kind of mercantile military." A fictitious conso- lation, truly! Commodore Barclay, Captain Finnis, etc., were not distinguished from "mercantile military," in the editor's mind. As to the vessels of the American government, at the time General Wayne took possession of Detroit, in 1*796, the quartermaster purchased from a merchant the sloop De- troit, of fifty tons, for the use of the government. It was the same vessel that conveyed General Wayne to Erie previous to his decease. She was wrecked the next fall, near Erie. The Wilkinson, of sixty-seven tons, is heard of in 1801. In 1802 the government built two vessels at Detroit — the brig Adams, of one hundred tons, sailed by Captain Bree- voort, and the schooner Tracy, of fifty-three tons — the lat- ter was wrecked about 1809, on the reef off Fort Erie. The Adams continued in commission until the war of 1812, and was taken by the British at the surrender of General Hull, and called the Detroit. She was one of the vessels cut out from Fort Erie, by Captain Elliot, on the night of the 8th of October, 1812. The British had in the merchant service, at an early day, the sloop Nancy, thirty-eight tons; the schooner Nancy, ninety-four tons ; the Charlotte, eighty tons ; the Caledonia, a brig of eighty-five tons; the sloop Hunter, of forty tons; and schooner Thames, of eighty tons. 132 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. In 1809 Mr. E,. S. Reed and Captain Dobbins purchased a sehooner called the Charlotte, of ninety tons, from Alex. Mcintosh, of Moy, Canada. Her name was changed to Salina, and Captain D. sailed her until 1812. Being at Mackinaw at its capture, this vessel was also taken by the British, and its Captain, crew, and Messrs. R. S. and Wm. W. Reed made prisoners. She was converted into a cartel, and sent down, in company with the Mary, with provisions to De- troit. At Detroit General Hull took her from Captain Dob- bins, and she was included in the general surrender by him to the British. Here Captain D. left her and returned to Erie. While the Detroit and other vessels were building, the British made use of the Salina to transport provisions and stores from different parts of the lake. At last she was frozen up in the ice near Maiden, in December, 1812, and being abandoned, drifted down the lake, inclosed in ice ; was discovered opposite Erie, and, after having property taken from her by the citizens to the amount of about $2000, was set on fire. In 1811 the Salina had a remarkable cargo for value,* which consisted of $120,000 worth of furs, at the Mackinaw valuation — at Montreal their worth would be doubled. The agent of the Northwest Company, to whom the furs belonged, was on board, and the furs were stowed upon deck as well as below. The schooner Mariner, Captain Blake, August, 1825, landed a cargo at Buffalo still more valuable — that of furs belonging to the American Fur Company worth $267,000. Usually the finer furs were conveyed to Montreal by an inland route. From Mackinaw they were taken to the mouth of Canadian River, which communicated by portage with Grand * A modei'ii costly cargo: "May 21st, 1861. The steamer Illinois arrived at Detroit, yesterday, from Lake Superior, with a cargo second in value only to that brought by the Mineral Rock, which arrived the day previous. The Illinois cargo was composed entirely of copper, and was valued at $101,452 80." HISTORY or ERIE COUNTY. 133 River, and thence down to the St. Lawrence in bark canoes. The skins and coarser portions were taken in vessels to Fort Erie, and by boats to Chippewa; across the portage to Queenston, and by vessels to Kingston ; thence down the St. Lawrence in boats. May 28th, 1818, the first steamboat on Lake Erie was launched at Black Rock. This was the Walk-in-the-water, of three hundred tons, and commanded by Captain Job Fish. She was not able to ascend the rapids with her engine, but was drawn up by ten yoke of oxen. She was built by Noah Brown, of New York, for Gilbert and J. B. Stewart, of Albany, and was visited as a curiosity by the whole country. In the Detroit Go^zette we find an account of her first pas- sage to that city. "The Walk-in-the-water left Buffalo at one and a half p.m. and arrived at Dunkirk thirty-five min- utes past six on the same day. On the following morning she arrived at Erie — Captain Fish having reduced her steam in order not to pass that place, where he took in a supply of wood." [The boat was visited by all the inhabitants during the day, and had the misfortune to get aground for a short time in the bay, a little west of French Street.] "At half-past seven p.m. she left Erie, and arrived at Cleveland at eleven o'clock, Tuesday; at twenty minutes past six p.m. sailed, and reached Sandusky Bay at one o'clock on Wednesday; lay at anchor during the night, and then proceeded to Venice for wood ; left Venice at three p.m., and arrived at the mouth of Detroit River, where she anchored during the night. " The whole time of this first voyage from Buffalo to De- troit occupied forty-four hours and ten minutes — the wind ahead during the whole passage. Not the slightest accident happened during the voyage, and her machinery worked admirably. "Nothing could exceed the surprise of the 'sons of the forest' ou seeing the Walk-in-the-water move majestically and rapidly against wind and current, without sails or oars. Above Maiden they lined the shores and expressed their 12* 134 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. astonishment by repeated shouts of 'Taiyoh nichee!' [An exclamation of surprise.] "A report had been circulated among them that a 'big canoe' would soon come from the 'noisy waters,' which, by order of the 'great father' of the ' Chemo Komods,' (Long Knives or Yankees,) would be drawn through the lakes and rivers by a sturgeon. Of the truth of the report they were perfectly satisfied." The cabins of the Walk-in-the-water were fitted up in a neat, convenient, and elegant style ; and a trip to Buffalo was considered not only tolerable, but truly pleasant. Friday she made an excursion to Lake St. Clair, with a party of ladies and gentlemen, and returned to Buffalo in time to be again at Detroit the following week. Tradition has it that Captain Fish was not particularly pleased with the lake, and returned in a short time to his former command on the Hudson — the Firefly, running be- tween Poughkeepsie and New York ; that the pilot Davis being a thorough and accomplished seaman, (which Captain r. did not profess to be,) amused himself by exciting his fears and magnifying the dangers of lake navigation. The pilot had the command previous to the appointment of Captain Jedediah Rodgers. The 1st of November, 1821, the Walk-in-the-water stranded on the beach at Buffalo, having a full and valuable cargo, at a loss to her owners of $10,000 or $12,000. Her en- gine was placed in the Superior, which was built by a chartered company, and had an exclusive privilege in the navigable waters of New York. This privilege was aban- doned after a decision of the Supreme Court of the U. States. The first lighthouse on the great lakes was built at Erie in 1818. By an act passed April 2d, 1811, "the occupancy and use of certain lands near Presqu'ile, not less than two or more than four acres, are ceded to the United States, for the purpose of erecting a lighthouse." The Presqu'ile light was rebuilt in 185T. The present structure cost the govern- HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 135 ment $9000, being supplied with lenses of a French patent, to magnify the light, which alone cost $4400. Its height is one hundred and thirty feet above the surface of the lake, and it is considered a superior light. Though a new build- ing, it is full of breaks from the foundation, in consequence of a serious oversight on the part of the builder or archi- tect, and will probably soon need to be replaced. The first steamboat launched at Erie was the William Fenn, of two hundred tons, May 18th, 1826. She was ninety-five feet keel, twenty-five feet beam, and eight feet hold ; being the sixth steamboat on the lake, and was built by the Erie and Chataqua Steamboat Company. The company was incor- porated the 10th of April, 1826, with Walter Smith, E. L. Tinker, Charles Townsend, K S. Reed, F. S. Y. Hamot, Josiah Kellogg, John F. Wight, Daniel Dobbins, and Feter Christie, Managers. A supplement in 1831 provided that the principal offices should be held by citizens of Fennsyl- vania. In 1832 the company paid a dividend of ten dollars on each share of the stock. In 1832 the first steamboat visited Chicago. There were few traces of civilization after passing the Straits of Mack- inaw — not a single village, town, or city being in the whole distance. Four steamers — the Henry Clay, Superior, Shel- don Thompson, and William Fenn — were chartered by the United States government for the purpose of transporting troops, provisions, etc. to Chicago during the Black Hawk war, but owing to the fearful ravages macle by the breaking out of the Asiatic cholera among the troops and crews on board, two of these boats were compelled to abandon their voyage, proceeding no farther than Fort Gratiot. On the Henry Clay nothing like discipline could be maintained. As soon as the steamer came to the dock, each man sprang on shore, hoping to escape from a scene so terrifying and appall- ing. Some fled to the woods, some to the fields, while others lay down in the streets, and under the covert of the river bank, where most of them died unwept and alone. 136 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. On the Sheldon Thompson, commanded by Captain A. Walker, with General Scott aboard, eighty- eight deaths oc- curred by the pestilence. Not one officer of the army nor any officer of the boat was attacked with such violence as to result in death, though nearly one-fourth of the crew fell a prey to the disease while on the passage from Detroit to Buffalo. In 1810, on Lake Erie, there were 8 or 9 vessels, averag- ing 60 tons. In 1820, 30 vessels of 50 tons each, and 1 small steamboat. In the summer of 1831 there were 100 ves- sels averaging 70 tons each, and 11 steamboats, with an aggre- gate capacity of 2260 tons. In 1836 there were owned on Lake Erie, 45 steamboats, with 9119 tons, and 217 ships, brigs, and schooners, of 16,645 tons; this year many from Lake Ontario found employment on Lake Erie, and still there was a demand for more. In 1847 there were 67 steamers, 26 propellers, 3 barks, 64 brigs, and 340 schooners. The marine register for 1860, including Lake Ontario, numbers : — Craft. No. Tonnage. Value. Steamers 138 69,150 $2,720,200 Propellers 197 61.550 2,478,300 Barks 58 28,417 544,200 Brigs 90 25,047 428,200 Schooners and Sloops 974 198,661 4,489,300 Total 1457 377,825 $10,655,200 The loss of property on the lakes, by disasters, in 1860 amounted to $1,020,100, being an increase of $135,915 over the year previous. The loss of life in 1860 was 578, being an increase of 473 over 1859. At the port of Presqu'ile the importations for 1851, con- sisting principally of assorted merchandise, flour, fish, and manufactures of iron, amounted to Imports coastwise $1,979,913 *' foreign 3,455 Total importation $1,983,368 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 137 The exports consist of wool, lumber, wood, bark, glass, stoves, bar-iron, coal, and merchandise received by canal, with a small quantity of grain, the whole amounting to the following aggregate : — Exports coastwise $2,207,582 " foreign 15,415 Total exportation $2,222,997 The entire commerce of the port amounts to a total value of $4,206,483. The licensed and enrolled tonnage amounts to 1882 tons. TONNAGE OF SHIPPING OWNED AT THE PORT OF PRESQU'ILE IN THE SPRING OF 1860. CLASS OF VESSELS. STEAMBOATS. John B. White (tug) , Queen City S.C.Brooks Kej'stone State , Total Steamboat Tonnage SAIL VESSELS. Sch. Post Boy Sch. Silas Wright (scow) Sch. North Carolina Sch. Susquehanna Sch. Huntress Sch. L. D. Coman Sch. Mary M.Scott Sch. Mary Morton Sch. Hut^on 1 1 39 79 906 62 62 1354 09 2362 55 9.5 24 70 02 141 71 270 86| S.W 88 178 62' .Sfil 02 246 48 136 08 1850 91 CLASS OF VESSELS. Brought up , Sch. Arrow Bark American Republic. , Sch. Armada Brig Paragon Sch. M. Comtright Sch. Illinois Sch. St. James Sch. St. Paul Sch. Pacific *Sch. W. A.Adair Sch.E. C. Williams Sch. Columbia Sch. St. Andrew Sch. W. M. Arbuckle fSch. Washington Irving., Sch. M. G. (scow) Sch. Citizen Total Tonnage sail vessels 5656 Total Tonnage 8018 1S50 281 459 235 212 389 110 286 303 186 81 156 1P5 444 170 111 60 149 November Tth, 1843, the United States steamer Michigan, of five hundred and thirty-eight tons, was launched ; her ton- * Schooner W. A. Ad'iir sprang a leak on Lake Erie, ran ashore at Dunkirk, and was a total loss. Her cargo was coal. f The Washington Irving, Captain Vannatta, left Erie for Buffalo, July 7th, and it is supposed foundered, as she was never again heard from. She had seven persons on board, and was heavily laden with coal, iron, oil, etc. 138 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. nage and force being regulated by treaty with England. She was finished and accepted by government, 15th of August, 1844; built entirely of iron, excepting the spar deck, which is of three-and-a-half inch pine plank; draws eight feet when ready for a cruise. She is pierced for twelve guns, (32- pounders,) which, with two 68-pounder Paixhan guns on pivots, upon the quarterdeck and forecastle, makes her broadside equal to that of a vessel mounting sixteen guns. Her engines, two inclined low-pressure ones, of the col- lective power of one hundred and seventy horses, were de- signed by Charles M. Copeland, United States engineer, and are very similar to those of the Harriet Lane. The con- tractors were Messrs. Stackhouse and Tomlinson, of Pitts- burg, and the naval constructor Samuel T. Hart. Her first officers were: Commander, William Inman; First Lieuten- ant, Jas. McKinstry; Second Lieutenant, Jas. McDougal; Purser, William A. Bloodgood; Chief Engineer, Andrew Hibbard. In 1860 the Michigan was supplied with two new boilers of the Martin vertical-tubular description, and her machinery thoroughly repaired under the supervision of chief engineer Zeller. A commission was appointed by the Secretary of the Navy to test, upon a large scale, the advantage or disad- vantage of using steam expansively. This was in conse- quence of experiments having been made upon a single horse engine by Mr. Isherwood, and resulted in the decision that no economy followed the use of expanded steam. A petition was sent to Honorable Secretary Toucey, requesting the government to have the experiment tested upon a larger scale. With commendable alacrity a board was appointed composed of B. F. Isherwood, Theo. Zeller, Robert H. Long, and Allen C. Stimer, chief engineers in the naval corps, and Captain Joseph Lanman, executive officer of the steamer Michigan. The steamer Michigan, being in winter quarters at Erie, was placed at their disposal. HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 139 Erie lias always been the station for the revenue cutters. In March, 1833, one was launched of sixty-two tons; the Collector gave it the name of Lewis McLane, but the Sec- retary changed it to Erie. The Benjamin Rush was launched September, 1828, of thirty-five tons, being intended for the Upper Lakes. Six revenue cutters were built in 185t, being one for each of the lakes; the Jeremiah Black, of Lake Erie, is com- manded by Captain Ottinger. CHAPTER XL Banks — Gas Company — Insurance — Fire Companies — Volunteer Military — Agriculture — Mutual Aid — Cemeteries — Moral, Benevolent, and Lit- erary Societies. Banks. — The act incorporating the Erie Bank passed in 1829. The first officers were R. S. Reed, President ; P. S. V. Hamot, Cashier; J. A. Tracy, C. M. Reed, Samuel Brown, William Fleming, Thomas Moorhead, Jr., E. D. Gunnison, and D. Gillespie, Directors. The capital stock was not to exceed $200,000, and it commenced business with $50,000. In their statement made to the Legislature in 1830, the capital of the bank amounted to $20,020; notes in circulation, $33,055 ; specie, $9393 18. The Brie Bank suspended specie payment in May, 1848, bnt the bill-holders met with no loss, if we except a small discount on the notes. A statement was made by C. McSparren, the cashier, in 1854, under oath, "that there are not to exceed $57,000 of the bills of the Erie Bank outstanding, and probably consid- erably less, as the bills are redeemed at its counter, and at the office of C. M. Roed, in Buffalo ; and further, that General Reed holds himself individually responsible for the redemption of all outstanding issues of the bank." 140 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. The United States Bank established a branch at Erie in 1831, to be discontinued in 1850. The first oificers were T. H. Sill, President; Josiah Kellogg, C. M. Reed, Wm. Kelley, G. A. Elliot, Samuel Hays, William Fleming, J. Gr. Williams, H. J. Huidekoper, Directors; Peter Benson, Cashier. When the parent institution at Philadelphia failed, in 1840, William C. Curry was appointed to settle the affairs of the branch in Erie. The fine building erected for its use, at a very great expense, was purchased by government in 1849 for $29,000. The banking-house, which is faced with marble, and has steps of the same material, is occupied by the custom-house and post-office. The Cashier's house was afterward sold for The Erie City Bank was incorporated in 1853, with a capital of $200,000. The first officers were Smith Jackson, President; C. M. Tibbals, W. A. Brown, D. S. Clark, C. Seigel, John Brawley, Jas. Webster, J. H. Eullerton, Ira Sherwin, M.D., J. D. Clark, Charles Brandes, J. C. Beebe, Directors; J. P. Sherwin, Cashier; Brua Cameron, Book- keeper ; S. E. Neiler, Teller. Suspended, 1851. Bank of Commerce (Erie City Bank revived) commenced business in April, 1858. Directors — B. Grant, President; G. J. Ball, Cashier; C. B. Wright, Vice-President; W. R Rindernicht, Jas. Hoskinson, B. F. Sloan, Chas. Metcalf, A. W. Blaine, G. F. King, J. W. Douglass; A. W. Guild, Teller. Suspended December, 1860. The Erie Gas Company was chartered March 5th, 1852, with a capital of $60,000. This was to be divided into twelve hundred shares of $50 each. The Board of Direct- ors have the privilege of increasing the capital from time to time, as they may deem necessary, to $100,000. The company purchased ten lots for $10,000, and ex- pended $50,000 on buildings; the gas-holder is forty-five feet in diameter and eighteen feet deep, and capable of hold- ing thirty thousand cubic feet. Pipe the length of three HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 141 and a half miles was laid in the streets; when it was first used, August 22d, 1853, it was lighted by thirty-one con- sumers; at the end of the year, by one hundred and fifty, comprising six hundred burners. Mr. Merideth superintended the construction of the works, and Mr. P. Metcalf, who was the heaviest stockholder, con- tributed materially to the success of the enterprise. Insurance. — In 1839 the County Mutual Insurance Com- pany was incorporated, (the business to be transacted at Erie,) with the following names, and those of any other per- sons that might hereafter associate with them in the manner afterward prescribed : John A. Tracy, William Kelley, Peter Pierce, J, W. Hitchcock, James Williams, Smith Jackson, Samuel Low, Conrad Brown, Jr., B. B. Yincent, Bester Town, Jabez Wight, David G. Webber, and Stephen Skinner. The Parmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Harbor Creek was incorporated 1857, with the following ofiieers: John Dodge, President; Peter E. Burton, Yice-President ; Henry Gingrich, Treasurer ; Robert Henry, Secretary ; John Dodge, J. Y. Moorhead, John W. McLane, Calvin Leet, Gr. H. Wagoner, Jesse Saltsman, Robert Sewall, G. J. Ball, Thomas McKee, S. M. Brown, Henry Gingrich, Martin Warfel, and P. E. Burton, Directors. Fire. — Active Fire Company, formed 22d February, 1826. R. S. Reed, Chief Engineer; E. D. Gunnison, Secretary; John Riddel, Treasurer. Red Jacket, No. 1, was formed in 183Y. Perry and Eagle Fire Companies formed in 1839. Mechanics' Fire Company, No. 3, E. B. S. Landon, Sec- retary, formed in 1844. Yulcan, 1848. PhcBuix Hook and Ladder Company, 1852. The Parade Street Fire Company was organized in Feb- ruary, 1861, in Cloughsburg. The councils entrusted to them the engine Pennsylvania. Officers of the Fire Department in 1859 — William Mur- 13 142 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. ray, Chief Engineer; A. E. Yale, First Assistant; Robert T. Shank, Second Assistant; Richard Dudley, President; John Constable, Jr., Yice-President ; E. D. Hulbert, Sec- retary ; C A. Bennet, Water Commissioner. Military Companies. — The first military company formed in Erie was the "Erie Light Infantry," in 1806; the names of the ofiBcers and privates were as follows : — Officers — -Captain, Thomas Foi"ster; Lieutenant, Thomas Rees ; Ensign, Thomas Stewart ; Sergeant, Thomas Wil- kins ; Second Sergeant, John Hay ; Fifer, Rufus Clough ; Drummer, J. Glazier. Privates — Archibald McSparren, Simeon Dunn, Adam Arbuckle, George Kelley, John Sloan, William Murray, Jonas Duncan, John Woodside, William Duncan, George Slough, John Eakens, George Russel, (died in 1813,) John Lapsley, Peter Grawosz, Jacob Carmack, William Hender- son, Robert Irwin, Ebenezer Dwinnel, John Bell, Robert McDonnel, Samuel Hays, Thomas Laird, Thomas Hughes, Robert Brown, John Morris, George Buehler, William Lat- timore, James Herron, Stephen Woolverton, Francis Scott, Thomas Yance. This company tendered its services to the President, in the war of 1812, and was accepted. The brigade rendez- voused at the Flats, near Waterford, and chose Adamson Tannehill, of Pittsburg, Brigadier-General. At Buffalo, where they were ordered. Captain Forster was made Brigade Inspector, and Jas. E. Herron chosen Captain. This brigade of Pennsylvania volunteers was at Buffalo during the winter of 1812-13, being the year before Buffalo was burnt. Many of the volunteers deserted — sometimes by whole companies. This was not true in a single instance with the Erie Light Infantry. In 1808 the Presqu'ile Rangers were in existence. Wm. Moore, Orderly Sergeant. Erie Greens were organized in 1821. The Washington Artillery, in 1824. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 143 Erie Guards, in 1825. Thomas Forster, Jr., Captain. An Artillery company, in 1831. C. G. Howell, Captain. Cavalry, 1836. F. Strong, Orderly Sergeant. About 1841 two spirited German companies were formed : German Guards, Captain Dutlinger, and the Washington Guards, Captain Erhart. In 1842 the Wayne Greys were organized. John W. McLane, Captain ; William Curran, Orderly Sergeant. In June, 1846, the Wayne Greys held a meeting, Lieu- tenant John Graham in the chair, and in consideration of a proclamation of the Governor relative to the war with Mexico, requesting all citizens, especially those having in their possession public arms, to hold themselves in readi- ness to respond to the call of the Executive of the Union at a moment's warning, resolved to have themselves in readiness for any order from the Governor of the State for their services, and also to appoint a committee of four to procure an armorer, to put all the arms and accoutrements of the company in complete order immediately. Franklin Pierce Rifle Company was organized in 1858. The Wayne Guards in 1859; John W. McLane, Captain. The Fairview Guards in 1858; T. Beckman, Captain. Girard Guai'ds, 1860; commanded by D. W. Hutchinson. Erie Perry Artillery Company, Gustavus Jarecki, Captain, organized in 1859. An agreeable incident in the history of the Wayne Guards occurred in Cleveland at the dedication of the Perry Monu- ment, September 10th, 1860. After the historical address by the Hon. Geo. Bancroft, the Wayne Guards were drawn up in front of the stand, and, in behalf of the company, Captain McLane presented Mr. Bancroft with a beautiful cane. The presentation was made with a few remarks in very good taste. Captain McLane said the cane was made of wood from Commodore Perry's flag-ship, the Lawrence. The Wayne Guards, he said, were proud to honor the hero, 144 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. and the historian whose graceful pen preserved untarnished the luster of the heroic deeds of 1813. Mr. Bancroft accepted the gift in a few felicitous remarks. He was happy to receive the memento from the Guards, and particularly as they bore the name of one ever to be revered, brave in battle, correct and kind in private life. He should keep the cane while he lived, and bequeath it to his son with an injunction to cherish it, and remember that it came to him with the benediction of the Guards. It would com- fort the few years of old age yet left to him. The whole transaction passed otf very pleasantly, and at the close of Mr. Bancroft's remarks he was greeted by cheers, which were repeated for the Wayne Guards. The gold head of the cane was the work of Mr. T. M. Aus- tin, of Erie, and cost one hundred dollars, and was beauti- fully wrought. On one side was engraved, " September 10th, 1813. We have met the enemy and they are ours." On the other, "Wayne Guards of Erie to Honorable George Bancroft, at the inauguration of the Perry Statue, Septem- ber 10th, 1860. 'Perry's fleet was built at, sailed from, and returned to Erie.' American patriotism embalms the memo- ries of its heroes." In November, the Guards had the pleasure of receiving from Mr. Bancroft eight volumes of his History of the United States, superbly bound in Turkey morocco and gilt, accompanied by the following note : — "New York, October, 1860. "Captain John McLane, and the Wayne Guards of Erie: — " Dear Sirs : — The very great pleasure and enduring satis- faction which I derived from my friendly interview with you at Cleveland, excites in me a strong desire to secure a per- manent place in your memory. For that purpose, I beg your acceptance of the volumes which accompany this note. Accept, also, I entreat you, very sincere assurances of grate- ful and affectionate regard from "Your friend, "George Bancroft." HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 145 AgriciiUiire, etc. — In 1820 a Mechanical Association was formed, S. Ball, Secretary, the object of which was to im- prove the condition of mechanics. In 1822 an Agricultural and Mechanical Society was organized, which held one or two fairs or exhibitions. The first officers were Judah Colt, President. Charles J. Reed, Treasurer. G. Sanford, Secretary. John Yincent, Water- ford ; R. S. Reed, Erie ; William Miles, Union ; Martin Strong, McKean ; Benjamin Russel, Mill Creek ; Elisha Marvin, Greenfield; Moses Barnet, Fairview; John McCord, Northeast ; Simeon Leet, Harbor Creek ; and Mathias Brin- dle, Springfield, Directors. The members contributed one dollar each, and the county fifty dollars; seventy-eight dollars were paid out in pre- miums, which were awarded for farming commodities and domestic manufactures. The highest premium was eight dollars, which was oifered for the best two acres of wheat. In the words of the Gazette, "the exhibition of stock was large, and we can safely say was not surpassed in quality at any exhibition in the State. But few articles of domestic manufacture were offered, but these were worthy of notice." The Mill Creek and Erie Agricultural and Manufacturing Association was formed in April, 1842, Robert Cochran, Secretary. The Agricultural Society, still in existence, was next formed, in 1848, John Brawley, President; J. C. Spencer, Treasurer; and J. D, Dunlap, Secretary, The first fair was held at the market-house, and one hundred and fifty dollars offered in premiums. These were increased every year. A flag was offered to the town entitled to the largest number of premiums, which was found to be Harbor Creek. Next, an agricultural library was offered on the same con- ditions, and Harbor Creek again claimed the prize, but gen- erously donated the books to the County Society, In 1860 this society was merged into a joint stock associ- ation, chartered by the Court of Common Pleas, styled the 13* 146 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. Erie County Agricultural Society for the promotion of agriculture, manufactures, fine and useful arts, with five thousand dollars capital, to be afterward increased as the society should determine. The capital stock to be repre- sented by shares of ten dollars each. The first stock to be invested in the purchase and improvement of thirty acres of ground. The land purchased was in East Mill Creek, being a part of the farm of Mr. Ebersole. A building designed to be a wing of the main building was completed in 1860. When the first fair was held, three hundred and fifty-five dollars was awarded in premiums. Honorable Jas. Miles, in 1855, made an offer of two hun- dred acres of land, situated in Girard township, to the State Agricultural Society, provided that organization locate an agricultural college on said land. To this was added an offer to sell land adjoining at a reasonable rate if required. The High School was located in Centre County, and in 1858 the Agricultural Society of the county voted one thou- sand dollars to its support. The Union Agricultural Society of Girard adopted its constitution July 15th, 1856, and at its first fair in Septem- ber offered one hundred and seventy dollars in premiums. This society was intended as an auxiliary and not a rival of the Erie County Society, and was instituted in view of the distance of the western and southwestern townships from Erie. At the sixth annual meeting the following officers were chosen: P. Osborne, President; William Cross, J. W. Blair, J. Robertson, W. W. Eaton, William Holliday, C. Bowman, A. Prances, S. Washburn, C. Leet, A. Nicholson, Vice-Presidents; H. Ball, Treasurer; J. McClure, Record- ing Secretary; H. Hart, Corresponding Secretary. The Wattsburg Agricultural Society was formed in 1856. Masons.' — Wayne Lodge, No. 112, was instituted in 1813. G. Sanford, Master; T. Rees and Dr. J. C. Wallace, War- dens; R. S. Reed, Treasurer. Presqu'ile Lodge was organized in 1852. H. Pelton,W. M. HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 141 Dr. William F. Owen, of Spring, in February, 1861, was appointed D. D. G. H. P. for the Counties of Erie and Crawford. Presqu'ile Lodge, (Odd Fellows,) No. lOY. In 1859, the officers were William Mallory, N. G.; John Graham, Y, G.; John Sweeney, Recording Secretary; G. A. Bennet, Financial Secretary; John Abell, Treasurer. Philallelia Lodge, No. 299. Otis N. Gray, K G.; A. T. Thomas, Y. G.; A. M. Tarbell, Secretary; A. M. Guild, Treasurer. Officers of the German Beneficial Society, in 1859, were A. T. Fiesler, President ; F. Fiesler, Yice-President ; Michael Koch, First Secretary; and F. M. Wagner, Treasurer. Erie Temple of Honor, No. 5, a Temperance Associa- tion, was instituted in 1854, Wm. A. Galbraith, Esq., be- ing the first W. C. T. It was reorganized in 1859 as No. 9. The present officers are A. H. Caughey, D. G. W. T.; James Lytle, W. C. T.; E. P. Bennett, W. Y. T. and W. R.; John Fairburn, W. F. R. A Lodge of the Good Temp- lars, which had been in prosperous operation for two or three years, was merged into the Temple of Honor at its reorganization in 1859. Exodus Lodge, No. 343, I. 0. of G. T.; Edgar Olin, Deg. Mast.; in existence at Girard in 1855. Constellation Lodge, No. 210, I. 0. of G. T., at Spring- field. In 1846 the Society of Odd Fellows, still in existence, was organized in Waterford ; were also at one time a Temple of Honor, Sons of Temperance, and Good Templars. Northeast Odd Fellows' Lodge, No. 412, established in 1850. Number of members, 92; of P. G., 11. Albion Lodge, No. 3t6, I. 0. 0. F., probably about the same time. The St. George's Benevolent Society of Erie has- for its object chai'ity to its sick members. Officers in ]861 — Jacob Boty, President; J. Singer, Yice-President; M. Knoll, First 148 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. Secretary; P. Roctienwald, Second Secretary; P. Schotten, Treasurer. Cemeteries. — On the 6th of July, 1801, a number of per- sons collected at Greenfield to cut and clear off about an acre of ground for a burying-place. These were Enoch Marvin, Joseph Shadack and family, Henry and Dyer Loomis, Samuel, Hezekiah, and Philo Barker, Wm. Scott, Israel Wanever, James Heaton, Stephen Hazelton, Joseph Webster, Thomas Prentice, Dagget, and one or two others. In 1805 the lots on Eighth Street, known as the old bury- ing-ground, were set apart for that purpose. The Trustees of the U. Presbyterian congregation, a few years since, paid the purchase money due the State for them, and after re- moving the bodies to the new city cemetery, disposed of the ground to purchasers. At an early day we observe an Obituary Association, P. S. Y. Hamot, Secretary, in exist- ence, which probably managed its affairs. Previous to 1805 all interments were made on the bank of the lake, east of the town, where also were buried many of the soldiei's of 1812. About 1826 the Presbyterian Society purchased four lots on Seventh and Myrtle Streets, for burial purposes. After the Erie Cemetery was opened in 1851, the graves were removed from this, and, by an act, the trustees of the First Presbyterian Church disposed of the property. The Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, and Lutherans also had separate grounds. The Erie Cemetery was incorporated in 1850, and is hand- somely situated south of the city. It embraces seventy acres beautifully planned and ornamented with trees, shrubs, and flowers, and also contains at this time many fine monuments. The first Corporators were C. M. Reed, William Himrod, G. A. Elliot, William Kelley, A. W. Brewster, J. Galbraith, and E. Babbitt. G. A. Elliot was chosen President; J. C. Spencer, Treasurer; and Wm. A. Brown, Secretary. Mr. HISTORY or ERIE COUNTY. 149 Brewster, who was in perfect health at the time he was made corporator, was the first person interred there, having died of small- pox. In the iracQediate vicinity the German Roman Catholics consecrated a cemetery in 1853, and likewise St. Paul's Ger- man Evangelical Congregation in 1859. The Northeast Cemetery was incorporated April 15th, 1852. The following managers were elected May 8th: John Brawley, John Schouller, Jas. Smedley, Calvin Spaf- ford, John Greer, William Griffith, A. W. Blaine. Twelve and a half acres of ground were purchased of the heirs of P. S. Y. Haraot, to which five acres were added that had been occupied as a burying-ground for nearly fifty years. It is handsomely designed. In Girard application has been made by several citizens for an act of incorporation to establish a cemetery at or near that borough. The application was granted March 14th, 1861. Moral and Benevolent. — A Moral Society was organized at Waterford, December, 1815. The object, as expressed in the preamble, being to aid each other, and strengthen the hands of the magistrates in the suppression of vice and im- morality, by every prudent, and, if necessary, by every legal method, hoping to meet the approbation of God, and the assistance of good men of every political sentiment and religious denomination. Officers — Rev. John Mathews, Chairman ; Dr. William Bacon, Secretary ; Amos Judson, Treasurer; George W. Reed and Henry Woodworth, Cor- responding Committee; John Boyd, Esq., John Way, Esq., Archibald Watson, elder, and Captain Martin Strong, Stand- ing Committee. The County Bible Society was organized in 1824, and has, without intermission, fulfilled its duties to the present time. The first officers were Rev. Johnston Eaton, President; Rev. R. Reid, Yice-President; E. D. Gunnison, Treasurer; G. Selden, Secretary; Managers, William Gould, Robert 150 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. Porter, John McCord, Colonel Jos. Selden, Judali Colt, Robert McClelland, General John Phillips, Rev. Oliver Alfred, Rev. R. C. Hatton, James Flowers, Philip Bristol, and Gr. Sanford. At the thirty-seventh annual meeting, in 1861, Rev. G. A. Lyon, D.D., was chosen President; S. S. Spencer, Secretary; and J. C. Selden, Treasurer. The amount of receipts for the past year, $750 18; disburse- ments for the same period, $514 13; balance in treasury, $522 28 ; value of Bibles and Testaments purchased during the year, $134 60; amount sold and donated, $120 43; amount in value at Depository, $289 48. In 1828 a Colonization Society was organized in Erie, but was sustained but a few years. Rev. Robert Reid, President ; G. A. Elliot, Secretary ; Rev. D. McKinney, Josiah Kellogg, R. 0. Hulbert, and G. Selden were a com- mittee to solicit signatures. This scheme of beneficence has been almost ignored among us until very recently some liberal contributions have been made to the Pennsylvania. Coloniza- tion Society. In the spring of 1860, Alex. Simms, wife, and eight children, with eight other colored persons from Erie County, left for Africa under the auspices of this society. In 1836 a Colonization Society was formed at Northeast. Henry Frey, President; John Brawley, Yice- President; J. D. Dunlap, Secretary; and Clark Putnam, Treasurer. The same year a County Anti-Slavery Society was formed. Colonel Jas. Moorhead, President, and William Gray, Secretary; and also one at Northeast, Truman Tuttle, President; Jas. Duncan, Vice President; Dr. E. Smedley, Secretary; and R. L. Loomis, Treasurer. About the same time an anti-abolition meeting was called at Springfield, H. G. Davis in the chair, and Daniel G. Webber, Secretary. The meeting in its resolutions highly approved of the Colonization Society, but not of a crusade against the South. About 1824 a Female Tract Society was formed in Erie, which was useful for many years. Mrs. J. Colt, Directress ; Mrs. G. Sanford, Treasurer ; Miss E. Wight, Secretary. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 151 At Wattsburg a Tract Society v/as formed in 1828, Rev. A. McCreary, President; Jas. Nelson, Secretary; and William K. Black, Treasurer. A Society was formed in Erie, in 1844, for abolishing capital punishment. In 1845 a committee, composed of Irvin Camp, W, H. Knowlton, Smith Jackson, Oliver Spaf- ford, and William A. Galbraith, gave notice that they would meet a committee who might be appointed to discuss the question, "Ought capital punishment to be abolished in Pennsylvania ?" The question was discussed at the court- house, and excited general interest; John Galbraith and Irvin Camp in the affirmative, Elijah Babbit and J. H. Walker, negative, and Jas. C. Marshall, Moderator. A Lady's Benevolent Society was formed in 1843, which for many years possessed the confidence of the public, and relieved much suffering. In 1845 a Sabbath Convention was called that resulted in the organization of a Sabbath Association, which for several years held meetings, and attempted to promote the better observance of the Sabbath by travelers, on the canal, lakes, etc. The Erie City Tract Society, which represents five evan- gelical denominations, and has for its object Tract distri- bution and aid to the poor, is still in active operation. It was formed in 1854, with the following officers: D. S. Clark, President; W. F. Liddel and J. D. Dunlap, Vice- Presidents; Rev. Jos. Pressley, M. R. Barr, Jas. Metcalf, C. Doll, and M. B. Cook, Managers. Among so many efforts to repress vice, we are sorry to record one attempt to promote immorality. In 1840 a petition was sent to the legislature from the county, signed by forty persons, asking that the Sabbath might be abol- ished, to legalize blasphemy, and extend the privilege of giving testimony in court to all persons, whether believers or not. Temperance Societies were formed in Erie and Wattsburg 152 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, in 1829, and in Wayne in 1832, which year the County So- ciety had seven hundred and forty-two members. Judah Colt, President; R. McClelland, Yiee-President; R. 0. Hulbert, Secretary; Gr. Selden, Treasurer; G. Sanford, Hugh Wilson, William Gray, John Cook, Chauncey Graves, Benjamin Whitley, Ira Phelps, Jas. Sraedley, Samuel Beedy, Jas. Nelson, and Rev. Edson Hart, Managers. In 1840 they had a Temperance Society in most of the townships. In 1842 the jailer complained (as his apart- ments were vacant) that the temperance people had com- bined to injure the business of the House. In 1851 a Division of Sons of Temperance was formed, which continued in operation for several years. In 1852 a Harp and Shamrock Temperance Society was formed. J. W. Duggen, President. One hundred ladies of the first standing in Erie and in . Wattsburg petitioned for a prohibitory liquor law in 1853. The same year, in Erie, Cadets of Temperance appeared, being a society of youths between twelve and eighteen years of age, with rules similar to those of the Sons of Temper- ance; they were also to abstain from tobacco, profane lan- guage, etc. The Carson League, formed in 1854, was an efficient aid to temperance. The "Young Men's Christian Association" was formed in September, 1860. A, McD. Lyon, President; S. E. Blackall, Secretary ; A. H. Caughey, Corresponding Secre- tary; C. E. Gunnison, Treasurer; James Metcalf, Libra- rian. It numbers now about fifty members. Besides the usual religious work of such a Society, a course of first-class literary and scientific lectures was sustained during the win- ter of 1860-61. A general reading-room was opened in May, 1861, for the free use of the young men of the city, a subscription of $1*75 having been raised for the purpose of establishing the enterprise on a substantial basis. The library of the Irving Literary Institute, consisting of about HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 153 seven hundred volumes, has also been obtained, and is now in keeping of the Association for the use of its members. In 1828 quite a respectable contribution was made to the Greeks from Erie and vicinity, and several meetings held. We regret that the particulars were not published. In 1841, for the relief of Ireland, $150 from officers and seamen of United States steamer Michigan, $50 from the revenue cutter, and $79 from the other ship hands at the port were acknowledged. Gen. C. M. Reed gave notice that he would store and transport to Buffalo, free of charge, all grain intended for this object. A meeting was also called in Waterford, and about $2000 in provisions were shipped from the port of Erie. In February, 1861, $1000 were collected in Erie for the Kansas sufferers. For this benevolent object, Waterford subscribed $155 ; Girard, $100; Springfield township, $500; Belle Yalley, $15 ; probably in all $2500 from Erie County. Among the German Roman Catholics is a School Society, the object of which is to give educational advantages to poor children. John Gensheimer, President ; C. Englehard, Yice- President ; F. Schlaudecker, Secretary ; F. Peiffer, Trea- surer. Literary. — In 1806 thirty of the citizens of Erie formed themselves into a Library Company, Judah Colt being Presi- dent; Thos. Forster, Jas. Baird, John C. Wallace, and William Wallace, Directors ; and Thos. Forster, Librarian. The company at first expended $200 for standard works, and the institution was well sustained for several years. In 1821 an efi'ort was made to revive it, but without success. The books are now loaned to the Irving Literary Institute. In 1826 there was a Franklin Literary Association; T. Moorhead, Jr., Librarian. In 1833 the Conneauttee Library Company (Edinboro) was incorporated. In the winter of 1835, a Lyceum held its meetings first at the Erie academy and afterward at the court-house, inter- 14 154 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. esting the inhabitants by the debates and literary exercises of the members. The Apprentices' Literary Society origin- ated about 1839, with fifty members and a library of one hundred and ten volumes, and soon after had a course of lectures. In 1841 an Adelphic Literary Society existed ; A. King, Corresponding Secretary. The Irving Literary Institute has a nucleus for an excellent library, but is in- active at present. It was organized, 1843, by the union of the Apprentices' and the Adelphic Societies. In 1859 a Young Men's Literary Association was formed at Girard, and about the same time a Literary Union at Waterford, which sustained courses of lectures. At West Mill Creek an Association called Custos Morum (Guardian of Morality) was formed April, 1860, with twenty- five members; Jackson McCreary, President. The object of the society was to procure a library, and for intellectual culture. A Youths' Literary Society at ISTortheast has existed since 1858. A County Medical Society was formed in 1829. Dr. Wil- liam Johns, President ; Dr. A. Thayer, Vice-President ; Dr. F. M. Miller, Recording and Corresponding Secretary; Dr. A. Beebe, Treasurer; Dr. J. Smedley, Dr. J.Yosburg, and Dr. A. N. Molton, Censors. In 1836 the Presqu'ile Hospital was incorporated, the act to continue in force for the term of twenty years. It was expected a Medical College and a Medical Society would form a part of the establishment, with a Lunatic Asylum and an Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb. In consequence of the depression in business affairs soon after, the project was abandoned. A County Geological Society was formed in 1843. G. Sanford, President; J. D. Dunlap, Vice-President; L. G. Olmstead, Corresponding Secretary ; William C. Kelso, Recording Secretary ; and J. C. Spencer, Treasurer ; Wm. Fuller, Keeper of the Cabinet and Library; Jacob Vosburg, HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 155 Peter Pierce, Galen Foster, J. B. Johnson, and Richard Sill, Members of the Executive Committee. The objects of the society were commendable, and it is to be regretted that it had an existence of but a year or two. As stated in the constitution, the society were to thoroughly survey the county in order to develop its mineral wealth and resources ; for the advancement of geology and the col- lateral branches of natural science, and the promotion of intercourse between those who cultivated them. The citizens assembled in town meeting at the court- house, B. B. Yincent in the Chair, and Carson Graham, Secretary, and resolved that the public square be planted with trees. E. Babbitt, W. C. Lester, C. McSparren, and S. Jackson were appointed a committee to co-operate with the town authorities in carrying out the resolution. This was in 1846. A Reading Room Association was formed in 1850, B. B. Yincent, President, but, for want of adequate support, was discontinued in a few months. In 1852 a City Hall Association was incorporated, for the purpose of erecting a building for the accommodation of the city authorities, as well as for lectures, benevolent societies, a reading room, etc., which purpose is not yet effected, A Sacred Music Society was formed in 1858. John Gal- braith. President ; Thos. Stewart, Sr., Yice-President ; H. Catlin, Secretary ; and J. L. Lints, Treasurer. In 1852 the Erie County Education Society, for the ad- vancement of education, was in existence; C. W. Kelso, President, and J. W. Wetmore, Secretary. In 1855 the Girard Lyceum was formed ; Harmon D. Hunt, Secretary. The Arion Musical Society was organized in 1860, in Erie. 156 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. CHAPTER XII. Newspapers — Common Schools— Academies — Normal School — Sabbath School — Pirst Protestant Missionaries "West of Utica — -Moravians in Venango County, 1767 — First Keligious Service in Erie County — First Church Edifice — A Religious Experience — Presbytery of Erie — Revs. Patterson and Eaton — Extract from Rev. A. H. Carrier's Historical Sermon — Rev. R. Reid — Churches of different Denominations in Erie — Ptevivals. Newspapers. — The first newspaper, "The Mirror," is dated May 21st, 1808, George Wyeth, printer. In size it was ten inches by sixteen ; terms, two dollars semi-annually in advance. It advocated the Federal Constitutional Re- publican party, whose candidates at that time were James Ross, for Governor, Alexander W. Foster, Congress, and John W. Hunter and William Wallace, for Assembly. The Mirror was discontinued after a two years' existence. In 1813 R. J. Curtis established the "Northern Sentinel," (the size of a sheet of foolscap,) and in 1815 made arrange- ments for removing his establishment to Detroit. For want of encouragement he failed to accomplish his purpose, and in 1816 recommenced business in Erie, having changed the name of his paper to the " Genius of the Lakes." The name of John Morris was added as publisher. The "terms, two dollars and fifty cents by post rider — if neglected to the end of the year, three dollars." The "Erie Patriot" was issued in 1818 by Zeba Willis, and continued one year. It was then removed to Cleveland, and made the basis of the " Cleveland Herald," Mr. Howe being associated in its publication. In 1819 Mr. Curtis enlarged his paper and called it the "Phoenix and Erie Reflector." This was soon removed to Mayville, New York, and discontinued in April, 1820. Mr. Curtis, in speaking of his editorial experience in HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTy. 151 Erie, says: "For two or three years daring the war I had a very good support, but afterward it was poor indeed. The most of my subscribers paid in produce. For six months I taught school and printed my paper at the same time, with the assistance only of an apprentice and my sister." We might suppose a newspaper published in Erie during the war would contain interesting information ; but it was not the case, as government prohibited the publication of facts which might have been suggestive to the enemy. In January, 1820, the "Erie Gazette" was first published by its present senior editor, Jos. M. Sterrett. In 1822 Jas. Buchanan was editor for six months. In 1825 J. Hoge Waugh, for a short time ; and in 1836 John Shaner was asso- ciated in its publication. In 1842 J. P. Cochran and Gr. W. Riblet took charge. I. B. Gara became associated with Mr. Sterrett in 1846. In politics it has been Anti-Masonic, Whig, and Republican. The "Erie Observer," always a Democratic paper, was first issued in 1830, T. B. Barnum, editor. H. L, Harvey being editor in 1836, issued a specimen daily paper, to be con- tinued, provided there was sufficient encouragement. la 1848 a paper was issued tri-weekly for several months. Thos. Laird, H. Beebe, J. M. Keuster, and S. W. Randall were successively editors. In 1840 it passed into the hands of Durlin & Sloan. Mr. Durlin withdrew from the firm ia 1855 and removed to Wisconsin. The paper passed into the hands of Mr. Andrew Hopkins, January 1st, 1861. The "Erie Chronicle," a conservative Whig paper, was issued by S. Perley in 1840. In 1855 the editor removed to Girard, and revived the " Girard Republican," which is still in existence. The "Girard Free Press" was first issued in 1845, being neutral in politics, S. D. Cai"penter, editor. November 7th, 1854, T. C. Wheeler and Wra. S. Finch purchased the interest of L. F. Andrews in the "Girard Express," and 14* 158 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. commenced the publication of the "Girard Republican." The conservative character of the paper was indicated by the motto, "Independent on all subjects, rabid on none." As we have mentioned, Mr. Perley took charge of the paper in 1855. In 1846 J. P. Cochran commenced the publication of the " Commercial Advertiser," which was Whig in politics. After his death it passed, in 1852, into the hands of A. H. Caughey, who continued its publication for a year and a half and then sold it to J. B. Johnson, who gave it the name of the "Constitution." In 1855 the press was de- stroyed by a mob growing out of the railroad excitement. The " Constitution" was continued by R. L. White, and for a few months was issued daily — being the first and only experiment of the kind. The "Daily Bulletin," as it was called, suspended issue in 1858. The large number of weeklies issued in Erie probably accounts for the want of success in daily or tri-weekly papers. "The Herald," a monthly temperance paper in quarto form, was published at the office of the " Commercial Adver- tiser" during the year 1852. In 1853 the "True American" appeared, Compton & Moore, editors. From the first this paper has given tem- perance and anti-slavery a large share of attention. In 1855 this and the "Erie Chronicle" merged into one; James Perley and Henry Catlin, publishers. The "Unsere Welt," (Our World,") a German paper, was first published by Carl Benson, in 1851. Two years ago its name was changed to "Frei Presse." It advocated Fremont and Lincoln for Presidents. In 1852 the "Zushauer" (Spectator) appeared; Mr. Scheufflen, editor. In 1855 C. Moeser took charge, and in 1861, Ernst Sturzneckle. This paper was at fii'st Whig in politics, but is now Independent. Both the German papers are under Protestant influence. In 1859 the "Express" appeared, with E. C. Goodrich HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 159 editor; this was soon merged into the "True American," now edited by H. Catlin. The "Waterford Museum," Mr. Lewis, editor, changed its name to the "Enquirer" in 1851, Amos Judson, pub- lisher and editor ; in 1858 it suspended issue for a few months on account of the ruinous rates at which it was afforded ; recommenced with Judson and Lynn, editors; afterward alone by C. R. H. Lynn. The " N'ortheast Guard" was published for a few months in 1855. Two newspapers were issued in Edinboro in 1855: the " Gem" expired in 1856, and the "Museum" was removed to Waterford the same year. The "Edinboro Express" appeared in 1859, at fifty cents per year; Henry Lick, editor; "independent on all occasions, neutral in nothing." Issued the last number 29th December, 1860, the materials having been sold to Mr. Clute, who was expecting to pub- lish a paper at Three Rivers, Michigan. In 1851 the "Waterford Dispatch" was issued at Water- ford; Jos. S. M. Young, editor. In 1856. the paper was removed to Erie and called the "Erie City Dispatch." It is independent on all subjects, and is said to have a larger circulation than any other paper in Northwestern Pennsyl- vania. In 1855 we hear of the "Native American," a monthly at Edinboro. Schools. — April 2d, 1831, a law passed the Legislature of Pennsylvania introducing our present system of education for all. At that time it was shown that out of 400,000 children in the State more than 250,000 capable of instruc- tion were not within a school the previous year. This was not because no effort had been made in that direction. In 1809 an act was passed to provide for the education of the poor, and in 1824 an act that it was hoped would prove effectual, but which was repealed in 1826. In 1834 an act was passed designating the Secretary of the Commonwealth as Superintendent, and, including other 160 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. valuable provisions, stating that $546,563 had accumulated under the act of 1831. Next came the act of 1836, "to consolidate and amend the several acts," to settle the mode of taxation, and the application of the whole for school purposes. The fund accumulated since 1831 was set apart, and a fund from the State treasury pledged for school purposes, and the system became a settled fact as a part of the policy of the State. In 1854 the election for County Superintendents was pro- vided for in each county. In 1848-49 the provisions of the law were extended over non-accepting districts, as it had been previously optional. In 1849 an act to provide for the training of teachers for the common schools of the State was passed, and the State was divided into twelve normal school districts : Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Crawford, and Erie were made the twelfth district. Wm. H. Armstrong, of Wattsburg, was elected to the office of Superintendent of Common Schools in Erie County, with a salary of $800, and was re-elected in 1857. In 1860 L. Savage, of Springfield, was elected his successor. According to the seventh census report, Erie County had, in 1850, T academies, with 13 teachers, 315 pupils, and an annual income of $335Y. Public schools, 293, with 308 teachers and 9928 pupils, and an income from taxes, etc., of $22,120. In 185*1 the number of school-houses in the county was 2Y6; 34 were well adapted to the pui'pose, 120 capa- ble of being improved, and 102 to be rejected. Erie had 3 graded schools, and Northeast 1. According to the eighth census report, (which we have only in part,) Waterford Borough has 2 schools; Northeast Borough, 1 ; Girard Borough, 1, and 1 academy ; Watts- burg Borough, 1 ; IJnion, 2 ; Wesleyville, 1 ; Girard Town- ship, 16; Springfield Township, 15, and 1 academy; Frank- lin Township, 10; Fairview Township, 11, and about 500 pupils; Summit Township, 8, and 160 pupils; McKean HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 161 Township, 11 schools, 511 pupils; Le Bceuf, 11 schools, 258 pupils; Washington Township, 14 schools, 642 pu- pils; Greenfield Township, 8 schools, 342 pupils; Amity- Township, 8 schools, 424 pupils; Venango Township, 10 schools, 488 pupils; Wayne Township, 12 schools, 504 pupils; Union Township, 12 schools, 152 pupils; Concord Township, 9 schools, 41T pupils ; Harbor Creek Township, IT schools; Greene Township 8 schools, 450 pupils; North- east Township, 16 schools, 1083 pupils; Waterford Town- ship, 15 schools, 450 pupils. The State Superintendent of Schools reports, for the year ending June 4th, 1860, as follows : Erie County — Whole number of schools 288 Number yet required 6 Average number of months taught 6-8 Number of male teachers 157 Number of female teachers 232 Scholars learning German 167 Average attendance of scholars 8,195 Cost of teaching each scholar per month $0 51 Tax levied for school and building purposes..$42,053 25 State appropriation 3,922 70 Received from collectors 35,747 95 Cost of instruction 35,696 44 Puel and contingencies 4,040 25 Cost of school-houses 14,824 76 In Erie a fine school-house for the East Ward was com- pleted in 1859, at a cost of $20,000. In this building there are ten teachers and about five hundred scholars. German, algebra, geometry, chemistry, and philosophy are attended to among the higher branches. The West Ward has, besides the principal school, a branch in the upper part of the city which is considered and num- bered as such. In this ward there are eight teachers and about five hundred and thirty pupils ; a library belongs to the school of three hundred and fifty volumes. There is a school for boys attached to the German Roman 162 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, Catholic church, which is divided into two departments, English and German, and has at present over one hundred scholars. A school for girls has been conducted for the last few years by the Sisters of St. Benedict, which in 1861 com- pleted their new convent in connection with the church. It has three school-rooms, well arranged and provided with maps, globes, etc., and four teachers, two being English and two German. The name of the Prioress is Sister Scholas- tica Burkhard. The ordinary English branches are taught, with Christian doctrine, sacred history, drawing, instru- mental music, embroidery, etc. In August, 1804, the lot in Erie, No. 1318, where the East Ward school-house now stands, was purchased from the State for the use of Presqu'ile Academy, in the name of Jas. Baird. The only stockholders known were Daniel Dobbins, Thos. Stewart, and Samuel Hays. A school com- mittee was in existence in 1805 — probably the same that erected the small log building many of the present genera- tion remember, and which has been three times superseded. In 1811 Waterford Academy was incorporated. The Trustees appointed by the legislature were John Vincent, John Boyd, John Lytle, Aaron Hirarod, Charles Martin, Henry Colt, and Amos Judson.* It was endowed with five hundred acres of land near the village, and fifteen in-lots ; in 1816 eight other in-lots were added. By an act of February 24th, 1820, the trustees were au- thorized to sell five hundred acres at a price not less than ten dollars per acre, and required to vest the proceeds in some productive fund, the interest to be applied for the com- pensation of the teachers. * Mr. Judson held the office of Treasurer from the beginning to December 31st, 1858. He died in Waterford, November, 1860, aged eighty-seven, having resided there since 1795. Of him it was said Avith truth "that he lived a blameless life, and was honest, industri- ous, liberal, and devoted to objects of public utility." HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, 163 The trustees erected their building in 1822, and in 1826 it was occupied as a school. John Wood 1826. IrvinCamp 1832. William Boy den 1832. E. W. Starr 1833. R. W. Orr 1833. John Livingston 1834. E. R. Geary 1835. James Park 1836. J. W. Miller 1837. Irvin Camp 1838. William Benson, Jr 1838. F. A. Hall 1839. L. S. Morgan 1840. Charles Woodruff 1841. R. T. Stewart 1842. List of Pkincipals. R. R. Nichols 1843. Peter Wright 1844. A. 0. Rockwell 1844. Jas. C. Reed 1845. A. Davidson 1846. A. Davidson 1847. W. R. Marsh 1818. J. H. Reed 1849. C. J. Hutchins 1850. A. H. Caughey 1851, J. R McCaskey 1852, S. S. Sears 1853, J. R. Merriman 1854-1857, .J. P. Gould 1857. J. A. Austin 1857-1861. The present officers are John Wood, President ; William Benson, Secretary ; William Judson, Treasurer; C.C.Boyd, David Boyd, Miles Barnet, J. L. Cook, and J. M, White, Trustees, The permanent fund is $5170 18 ; the common fund is $18U 66. Erie Academy was incorporated in 181 T, with Rev. Rob- ert Reid, R. S. Reed, Robert Brown, Thos. Forster, Thos. Wilson, J. C. Wallace, Judah Colt, T. H, Sill, and G. San- ford, Trustees, Mr. Sanford is the only survivor. In 1799, at the sale of reserved tracts adjoining Erie, Franklin, Waterford, and Warren, five hundred acres were set apart for the use of schools and academies. To this fund fifteen town lots and two thousand dollars were after- ward added — the latter to be collected by the trustees from debts due the State for lands in this vicinity. In 1821 other lots in town were added. From 1819 to 1827 Erie Academy was conducted as an English high school by the following principals : Rev, Rob- ert Reid, John Kelley, A. W, Brewster, George Stone, E, 164 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. D. Gunnison from May, 1824, to October, 1825; for the next two years by A. S. Paitei'son and John Wood. In November, 1827, it became a classical school, conducted by the following as principals : — A. E. Foster, A.M November, 182T. Richard Gailey, A.B April, 1836. James Park, A.M July, 1836. G. R. Huntington, A.M April, 1838. James Park, A.M August, 1838. Lewis Bradley, A.M March, 1841. John Limber, A.M February, 1842. Reid T. Stewart, A.B September, 1843. Jas. C. Reid, A.B October, 1845. R. S. Lockwood December, 184T. J. H. Black, A.B September, 1848. J. A. Hastings, A.B October, 1851. Fayette Durlin, A.B December, 1851. C. L. Porter, A.B October, 1853. W. B. Carpenter December, 1854. W. C. Bissel August, 1855. G. W. Gunnison, A.M April, 1856. L. G. Olmstead, A.M September, 1858. E. W. Gale, A.M September, 1860. This Academy has had a fine library, and chemical and philosophical apparatus, and a telescope seven feet in length, magnifying six hundred times. The number of pupils in attendance during the sessions of 1859-60 was two hundred and thirty-nine, of whom one hundred and fifteen were males and one hundred and twenty- four females. A Teachers' Department has been connected with it, in which a thorough preparation for the profession can be obtained. In 1838 the Erie Female Seminary was incorporated; Robert Reid, G. A. Lyon, T. H. Sill, G. Selden, C. M. Reed, Geo. Kellogg, A. W. Brewster, Wm. Kelley, and HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 165 James Williams, Trustees. For a few years the State ap- propriated three hundred dollars annually to the support of the institution. Miss E. D. Field, Rev. Wra. Fuller and lady, and Madame Sosnowski successively were teachers. Springfield Academy, at Springfield Cross Roads or East Springfield, is reputed to be one of the best institutions in Northwestern Pennsylvania. B. J. Hawkins was the first principal. Scholars, if desirous, could be fitted for the second year in college. The officers in 1858 were L. W. Savage, Principal; William Holliday, Thos. Webster, Dr. G. Ellis, J. Day, J. Teller, William Warner. West Springfield Academy was founded in 1853. The Trustees were Z. Thomas, S. Devereux, N. Gould, D. Mer- shom, S. Rea, Sr., G. Ferguson, J. Eagley, P. Brindle, G. Hurd. W. H. Heller was principal in 185T. In 1855 eighty-four males and eighty-one females were in attendance. The second year of the institution John A. Austin, with three assistants, had charge. Jas. H. Colt, of Waterford, held the office in 1858, and C. C. Sheffield in 1859. In this institution pupils have the privileges of a full college course at a moderate expense. In December, 1859, the building was destroyed by fire, with the furniture, books, etc. Efforts are now making to rebuild it. Girard Academy was erected by a few enterprising citi- zens acquainted with the wants of the community. The building is of brick, finely arranged, and surrounded by spacious grounds. A students' boarding-house, with rooms partially furnished, has been provided. The school opened with one hundred and fifty scholars ; Mr. Pillsbury was the first principal, and N. J. McConnel succeeded, and in 185T John A. Austin. In 1858 A. C. Walshe had charge, who was succeeded by Mr. Couse in 1859. There are at present three teachers and about one hundred scholars. The present Trustees are James Miles, Homer Hart, Henry McConnel, L. S. Jones, George Porter, L. Hart, G. H. Cutler, P. Os- born, and James Webster. 15 166 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. The Northeast High School, under the management of P. H. Stewert as principal, two female assistants, and Pro- fessor Heimburger, teacher of languages and music, at pres- ent offers rare inducements for those desirous of securing a thorough and finished education. Edinboro has the most expensive school buildings in the county. Ten acres of land eligibly situated have been pur- chased, and commodious buildings erected at the cost of $25,000, contributed by citizens of the county. There are four buildings — assembly hall, academy hall, and two boai'd- ing-houses. The assembly hall is sixty-six feet by forty-four, and two stories in height, and is occupied by the model or public school, now numbering one hundred and twenty pupils. The upper story is devoted to the purposes of a lecture hall, and will accommodate a large audience. Academy hall is forty by fifty feet, and two stories in height. The upper story of academy hall has seven recitation rooms, and a library valued at one hundred dollars. The two boarding halls are three stories in height, and have accommodations for three hundred students, the dormitories being partially furnished. The Trustees of the Academy, in 185T, when the first frame was erected, were P. Burlinghame, E. W. Gerrish, F. C. Yunk, Lewis Yorse, C. Reeder, J. W. Campbell, and K Clute. The Boai'd of Trustees of the Edinboro Normal School applied, on the 3d of December, 1860, to the Superintendent of Common Schools, for inspection and recognition, under the " act to provide for the training of teachers for the com- mon schools of the State." Hon. Joseph Ritner, of Cum- berland County ; J. R. McClintock, Allegheny ; H. L. Dif- fenbach, Clinton; J. Turney, Westmoreland, were appointed Inspectors, and the several County Superintendents com- posing the Twelfth Normal School District were duly noti- fied to attend for the inspection and examination of the school, on the 23d of January, 1861. After a careful HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. IGT inspection of its arrangements and facilities for instruction, tlie school was found to have fully complied with the pro- visions of the act, and was officially recognized as the State Normal School of the Twelfth District, composed of the Counties of Erie, Yenango, Mercer, and Lawrence, by the name of the Northwestern Normal School ; is to enjoy all the privileges and immunities, and be subject to all the lia- bilities and restrictions contained in the act and its supple- ments. The institution is under the guidance and control of Professor Thompson, and had reason to expect an ap- propriation of $10,000 from the State, and its scholars from the various sections of the district to which it belongs. The Legislature, however, appropriated to the institution but $5000. The first Sabbath School in the county was established in 181*7, at Moorheadville, in a log school-house, which was removed in 185Y. Rev. Mr. Morton, now of Corning, New York, and Colonel Jas. Moorhead were the founders. As Erie has now a dozen Sunday Schools and more than one thousand scholars, it is interesting to note the small be- ginnings of this excellent institution. Mrs. J. Colt, who had returned from a visit in New England where these schools were being introduced, suggested the subject in Erie. Mrs. R. S. Reed and Mi's. Carr were the first teachers, and the few girls constituting the school met alternately at the house of Mrs. Colt and Mrs. Reed. The brothers of the girls soon asked to be admitted. Fears were entertained that boys would be difficult to manage, but this was obviated, and the school rapidly increased in numbers. Colonel Fors- ter tendered for its use a vacant room on his premises, which was accepted. In order to systematize the matter and place it on a more permanent basis, a call was made on the citi- zens to assemble at the court-house, March 25, 1821, for the purpose of forming a Sunday School and Moral Society. The following gentlemen were appointed a committee to draft a constitution, to be submitted to an adjourned meeting, 168 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. viz.: R S. Reed, T. H. Sill, and G. A. Elliot. The com- mittee reported as follows : — " Whereas, the united testimony of all Christians confirms the importance of instructing the rising generation in the principles of religion, as they are contained in the Holy Scriptures ; and as the most happy consequences have re- sulted from the Sunday Schools established in Great Britain and America, and wishing to see one of these excellent establishments brought into * operation among ourselves, therefore, we whose names are annexed to this paper do cheerfully unite and pro-mis?i.to adopt, as the basis of our union, the following articles," etc. The substance of the articles was as follows :— ') That a committee of three p'ersons be appointed to provide proper teachers and suitable books ; that the school be opened and closed with prayer or teading a portion of Scriptures, and singing, if convenient. Though the teachers and man- agers are expected to render their services gratuitously, yet a small fund for the purchase of books, to be awarded by the committee to meritorious scholars, will be required. Chil- dren and adults are to be freely admitted without regard to denomination, sect or party, and parents and guardians requested to visit the school, and to exert themselves for its prosperity. Then follow the names of thirty citizens, with their contributions for the purchase of books, amounting to twenty-eight dollars and fifty cents. From the first report it appears that the school com- menced in May, with sixty-four scholars ; that during the term of six months the average attendance was eighty-one, and the number of teachers eighteen. The scholars had committed to memory and recited 16,525 verses of Scripture, 9453 answers in the catechism, 1625 verses of hymns, and the Lord's Prayer and Ten Command- ments by every scholar able to read. They reported also that among the scholars were twenty-one persons of color, whose attendance and recitations had been good. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 169 The utmost harmony and good will had prevailed, and the efforts of all had been to promote the welfare of the school. The next six months (for the school for many years had an intermission through the winter) the number of scholars diminished, and the managers urged its importance with renewed vigor — and it would seem successfully, for the institution has continued and prospered to this time. One of the most interested and useful citizens in the cause, for thirty years, was Mr. George Selden. Hoi'ace Greeley, who was in the printing-office of the Erie Gazette, attended this school near its commencement, and was in the class of Mr. Jos. Chase. Asa E. Foster, long principal of Erie Academy, and after- ward of a High School, has each Sabbath, for twenty-five years, been engaged in the Christian and self-denying work of giving instruction and distributing tracts to the criminals in the county jail. To show what a wilderness was New York, and not less Pennsylvania, as well as to speak of the first Protestant missionaries in this region, we make the following extract : " The Rev. Gideon Hav/ley, with Deacon Woodbridge, in 1753 (the year Fort Presqu'ile w^as built by the French) made a journey to Oquago, which is upon the Susquehanna, fourteen miles from the village of Binghamton ; it is a beau- tiful valley, from three to four miles in length, and was the ancient dwelling-place of a tribe of Indians for a long series ■ of y;ears. >. ,-'Mr. Hawley had been solemnly set apart as an evangelist '" '-tdmopg the Western Indians; at Stockbridge he had a school attended by many Indians who wintered there. May twenty- second, he set out with Mr. and Mrs. Ashley, (the latter being an Indian interpreter,) and Deacon Woodbridge, upon the errand of planting Christianity one hundred miles be- yond any settlement of Christian people. Colonel Johnson, Indian agent, who resided near Utica, favored their mission, and kindly met them in person. But they were not always 15* 110 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. SO favored. A drunken Indian, named Pallas, who was act- ing as guide, fired at Mr. Hawley when the party were in a boat, on pretense of aiming at a duck. Mr. H. providentially moved his head just at the moment and was saved. The missionaries showed the Indians their credentials, and among other things preached temperance to them, at which they appeared to be religiously moved, and even converted, and disclaimed the ill-behaved Pallas as a foreigner." In 1767 we hear of the Moravian missionary. Rev. David Zeisberger, an unarmed man, of short stature, remarkably plain in his dress, and humble and peaceable in his demeanor, preaching to the Senecas at the mouth of the Tionesta, in Venango County. He built a block-house, planted corn, and gathered around him several huts of believing Indians. The surrounding tribes were said not to be equaled for wickedness and thirst for blood. Soon he retired from this hamlet called Goshgoshunk, fifteen miles farther up the river to the present site of Hickorytown. Here he built a dwell- ing and chapel, and suspended the first church-going bell in Northwestern Pennsylvania. In consequence of broils with the Cherokees, the station was removed to Butler County. In 1770 the Christian colony again removed, setting out in sixteen canoes for the mouth of Beaver Creek, and estab- lishing a station in the center of Beaver County, called Friedenstadt, or Town of Peace. Sunday, the 2d of July, 1797, we have an account of probably the first religious service held in what is now Erie County. Mr. Judah Colt, in his manuscript "Life," says, "About thirty persons assembled at Colt's station, who gave decent and becoming attendance while a sermon was read from Dr. Blair's collection, 'on the importance of order in conduct:' 1st Corinthians, chapter xiv., 4th verse. 'Let all things be done decently and in order.' The selection of the subject, 'Order,' was suggested by circumstances. Imme- diately preceding, we find : " This season was one of much business, and, owing to the opposition of adverse settlers. HISTORY or ERIE COUNTY. I'll one of much trouble and perplexity. We were compelled to keep from forty to eighty or one hundred men in the service of the company to defend the settlers and property. More than once mobs of men, from twenty to thirty, would assem- ble for the purpose of destroying houses, and other mischief, some of whom I had indicted, and bills were found against them by the grand jury of the then Allegheny County, the courts being held in the borough of Pittsburg." Some of the earliest settlers in the county, who were lo- cated at Northeast, were Presbyterians from Ireland, and brought their Bibles with them. Among these was a ruling elder, named "William Dundass, and others of the names of Lowry and Campbell. They held their meetings in private dwellings, and in fine weather in the open air. An occa- sional missionary was sent out by the Ohio and Redstone Presbyteries, but this was of rare occurrence until after 1800. The first church edifice erected in Erie County was at Middlebrook, near Lowville, two miles from Wattsburg, in 1801. It was built of logs and is still standing, though not occupied as a church.* To show the customs of the times with regard to religious services, as well as to give an interesting event in the life of one of the most enterprising as well as excellent of the citi- zens of Erie County, we make the following extract : — "In 1801, in the course of the summer and fall, we were visited by a number of clergymen who were sent out by the Ohio and Redstone Presbyteries, who preached in a number of places, and took much pains to collect and establish churches, and to convene the scattering inhabitants for religious service. Among those who came among us was the Rev. McCurdy, who appeared a very zealous man and well calculated to be useful as a traveling minister. On the * Mr. Colt's Journal, 1801. "Rev. Mr. Wood, from Washington County, intended precaching at the Middlebrook churcLi, but getting lost by taking the wrong path, could not find the meeting-house, and returned to Colt's station after a fatiguing day's ride." 11.2 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. Sabbath of the twenty-seventh of September, (the first time the Sacrament was administered in the county,) it was ap- pointed and agreed upon to have the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper administered in the township of Greenfield, on a plantation then occupied by William Dundass, and a congregation of three hundred assembled. The day was pleasant, I accompanied Mrs. Colt to the place of meeting; on our way the conversation turned upon religious subjects, MIDDLEBROOK CHUKCH, ERECTED IN 1801. and my consort had come to the determination to offer her- self as a communicant, and to become a member of the church — her mind appeared much occupied meditating upon the subject. While conversing with her I became more thoughtful than usual, and shortly after arriving at the place of meeting, I became more and more impressed with the evil nature of sin, and of the importance of leading a sober, orderly, and religious life, and it was not long after service that I found myself much distressed in mind, and my body considerably agitated. Although I felt a load of guilt upon me, I resolved to come forward and make a request to be- HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 173 come a member of the church, provided I could be admitted at that late period. Accordingly, at the interval between those who sat down at the first table and those who were preparing to come to the second, I came forward and kneeled at the feet of the minister and elders, and explained to them as well as I could the situation I was in, and what I had a desire to do. After asking me a few questions, and after hav- ing a short conference among themselves, I was invited to rise, being overwhelmed with grief. A token of admittance was given to me by one of the elders — I arose and took my seat at the table. So it was that me and my beloved consort were permitted both to partake of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper on the same day, and I hope and trust it will be a day of grateful remembrance while we live, and of un- ceasing praise beyond the grave. "The ministers present were Revs. McCurdy, Satterfield, Wick and Boyd, from the Ohio and Redstone Presbyteries. After service we were invited to go home with Mr. McCord, and on Monday, being the last day of the feast, people were again assembled and a sermon preached — it appeared a good day to me. Toward evening, service being ended, they re- turned to their respective homes, this being a new epoch to my life as it was a beginning of years." From another source we find that this service was held at Northeast, and that about forty persons sat down at the tables. The Presbytery of Erie was organized April 13th, 1802. The enabling act was passed by the Synod of Virginia, (under whose jurisdiction the territory then was,) at their meeting at Winchester, Yirginia, October 2d, 1801. The first meeting was held at Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, on the day above mentioned. Erie Presbytery then embraced that portion of Pennsylvania west and northwest of the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, vsdth a portion of the Western Reserve. It now embraces Erie, Crawford, and parts of Mercer, Venango, and Warren 1T4 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. Counties. From it, has been constituted Beaver, Allegheny, Allegheny City, and part of JS^ew Lisbon Presbyteries. The New School Presbytery of Erie held its first meeting at Meadville, Pennsylvania, in June, 1838. It is proper to state, that at the time of the division of the General Assem- bly in 1838, the New School had the majority in the Old Presbytery. At the meeting in June following, the Old School members withdrew, taking the officers and all the old records, as directed by the General Assembly. The New School Presbytery now embraces Erie County, with a part of Crawford. September 1st, 1803, Rev. Robert Patterson, of Ohio Presbytery, was ordained pastor of the church of Upper and Lower (jreenfield for two-thirds of his time, and imme- diately after arrangements were made by which he was to preach occasionally in Erie. The names of those who signed the call from Upper Greenfield were Thomas Robert- son, Judah Colt, Timothy Tuttle, and Seth Loomis; the salary for two-thirds of his time, was two hundred dollars. The ordination took place at Mr. John McCord's bark house. Rev. Mr. Badger preaching the sermon, and Rev. Mr. Tate giving the right hand of fellowship. The Rev. Mr. Stockton was also present, and the people, as was the custom, were favored with preaching for several days. In 1806 Mr. Patterson petitioned the Presbytery of Erie and desired leave to resign his charge. The reasons offered were that his salary was insufficient, and "impediments in the way of realizing any land as his own by purchase embar- rassed and disturbed his mind, so that he had neither leisure nor due composure to engage in that reading, meditation, and study which were necessary to a faithful and profitable discharge of ministerial duties." With regard to the citi- zens, he says, "in their intercourse I have found them respectful, obliging, and friendly; and though the dispen- sation of the Gospel and its ordinances have not been attended by any remarkable success, yet we are not without HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 175 some encouragement and dawnings of hope." Writing from Pittsburg, where he established himself in 180*7, in reference to his successor in the county, Rev. J. Eaton, he says : " I would be rejoiced to be informed that the prospect of their religious horizon is becoming brighter than it has ever yet been, for to me it appears very nearly a land 'sitting in the region and shadow of death.'" Rev. Mr. Patterson died in 1832, near Pittsburg, where he had resided many years. The Rev. Johnston Eaton preached a few Sabbaths at the mouth of Walnut Creek, (Manchester,) in 1805. In 1801 he returned, and was ordained in 1808 as pastor of the churches of Fairview and Springfield. The services were held in the barn of William Sturgeon, in what is now the village of Fairview. The first preaching by Mr. Eaton was at Swan's tavern, east side of the mouth of Walnut Creek. This building was removed but a few years ago, when it was said to be the first house erected in the county. In a year or two the congregation erected a log meeting- house opposite the dwelling of R. L. Perkins, where still are the remains of the burying-ground by which it was sur- rounded. Directly in front of the church was an Indian mound about six feet in height and fifteen in diameter, cov- ered with grass, on which the hardy pioneers reclined at the noon recess. The house of worship soon became too strait, and it was enlarged by the removal of two sides, and even then, on fine days the services were conducted in the open air. The first elders were Andrew Caughey, G-eorge Reed, and William Arbuckle. Of the twenty-five original members at Fairview, but five survive ; their names are Jane Caughey, Agnes McCreary, Elizabeth Eaton, Jane Sturgeon, and William Arbuckle. The Rev. Mr. Eaton was appointed chaplain to the army at Erie during the war of 1812-13, the most of his people being called to the defense of their country. After this he It 6 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. l^reaclied a part of his time in the Dunn settlement and in Northeast. From the organization of the Presbyterian church in Erie, in 1815, he labored there a portion of the time until 1822. Mr. Eaton sustained the pastoral relation at Fairview until his death in 1847, a period of nearly forty years. He was a student of Rev. John McMillan, and a faithful servant, enduring hardships and encountering diifi- culties with indomitable resolution, and with ardent devo- tion to the Master. At Erie there was no preaching for several years except- ing from an itinerant or missionary occasionally. The inhabitants attended church at Northeast or Fairview, par- ticularly on sacramental occasions. In 1807 the Rev. John Lindsay was employed by the General Assembly of the Pres- byterian church for two or (if he preferred it) three months to preach in the new settlements in the Holland purchase, and to go as far as the town of Erie. We need offer no apology for quoting largely from a his- torical sermon of Rev. A. H. Carrier, preached at North- east, February, 1861, on the occasion of the occupancy of their old meeting-house for the last time. " The church at Northeast was organized, under the name of the church of Lower Greenfield, in the year 1801. The spot upon which those assembled, who formed it, was a place in the woods nearly in the rear of Amos Gould's residence. The services of the occasion were held in the open air, and they continued to be thus held until the log church was built. The minister who organized the church was the Rev. Elisha McCurdy. In Dr. Sprague's 'Annals of the Ameri- can Pulpit,' an interesting and detailed account is given of the labors of this servant of Christ in Western Pennsylvania. He was a native of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. At twenty-nine he began preparation for the ministry, and pursued his studies seven years, mostly at Cannonsburgh. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Ohio, in Washing- ton County, Pennsylvania, in 1799. For some time after HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. ITt his licensure he was engaged in missionary labor in the region bordering on Lake Erie. He had an important agency in connection with the great revival in Western Pennsylvania, which commenced about 1801-02. It must have been while laboring in connection with that revival that he organized the church of Lower Greenfield, as it was called. Mr. McCurdy's last days were spent at Allegheny. He died in the triumphs of the Gospel on the 22d of July, 1845, in the eighty-third year of his age. Though the founder of the church at Northeast, it does not appear that he labored either as its pastor or stated supply. The church at its organization consisted of twenty-five members, of whom none, so far as I am aware, are surviving, with the single exception of the aged Mrs. Moorhead, in Harbor Creek. The church did not enjoy the services of religion each Sabbath, but through many years of its existence divided with other churches the labors of such ministers as could be obtained. "In 1802 Rev. Robert Patterson accepted a call to take the pastoral charge of the Presbyterian churches of Erie and Upper and Lower Greenfield. In 1803 he was ordained and installed pastor of Upper and Lower Greenfield. He continued their stated pastor four years and a half, when he applied to the Presbytery for a dismission, and was accord- ingly dismissed. The church here consisted then of about forty members. After this there was a long interval, during which the church did not enjoy the stated ministrations of any minister. In 1812 a Rev. Mr. McPherrin was employed for six months, and then, after another long interval, bringing us down to 1815-16, we find that the Rev. Mr. Eaton was engaged to preach either one-fourth or one-third part of his time at Northeast, " Rev. Mr, Tate often labored at Northeast about these years, during seasons of religious interest, and at four days meetings, held, as usual in those times, in connection with communion seasons. Rev. Mr. Eaton's residence was at 16 ITS HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. Fairview, and his parish was somewhat extensive, consist- ing as it did of the place of his residence, together with Erie and the township of Northeast. There are several of the church and congregation who distinctly remember Mr. Eaton as their minister. In his day worship was held in a log church on Cemetery Hill. When this house (the log one) was built, I have not been able to ascertain, but prob- ably not long after the organization of the church. Thither from all the country round the people resorted, coming, not as now, over the best of roads and in comfortable carriages, but through the mire of swamps, and over stumps, tread- ing their way upon horseback or slowly moving in a cart drawn by oxen. The elder female members of the church have told me of frequently taking a child in their arms, and, upon horseback, riding eight, ten, or a dozen miles over not the best of roads to attend preaching. Sometimes the log church would be too contracted to hold all who came ; then they would adjourn to the open air, and under the shelter of the trees would worship God. Thus the grove which adorns our attractive cemetery has often been made to resound with praise, to hear the voice of prayer, and to ring with the mes- sage of peace — the glad tidings of a Saviour. "In 1818 it appears that Rev. Mr. Camp, a missionary, was employed statedly, one month, in which time a revival commenced which resulted in an addition to the church of about twenty members. " The old log church now began to be too strait for its occu- pants, and perhaps it was argued by some of the younger members of the society that it was not 'up with the times.' This would seem, however, to have hardly been a valid argu- ment, judging from the picture which one of our older mem- bers gives me of the appearance of the present village and surrounding country in those days. The few scattered houses along the main street were built substantially of logs; and interposed between them were wide tracts of girdled trees, which gave to the place the aspect of a harbor HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 179 filled with masts. The worthy people, however, with com- mendable zeal for the cause of religion, determined that they would have for the house of God something better than their own. We are not in possession of any records stating pre- cisely what steps were first taken, what debates were had upon the subject, what arguments were used in favor of the project, and what objections were urged against it ; but I have heard it intimated that, with that tenacity of habit which generally characterizes elderly people, much was said by the more aged members against changing the location of the house. They had become accustomed to climb the hill where the sanctuary stood, the grave-yard was there, their religious associations clustered around that spot, and they were unwill- ing that those associations should be disturbed. But the log village prevailed. Its inhabitants considered themselves centrally located, and succeeded in securing the new struc- ture as an ornament for their street. The work undertaken was no slight enterprise. The record of the mode by which it was built proves under what difficulties it was prosecuted. Money was an article which played but a small part in the erection of the house which we desert to-day. The mem- bers of the congregation seemed to say in effect, by their conti"ibutions, what Peter said to the lame man at the Beau- tiful Gate of the temple : ' Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee.' The list of items constituting payments is a perfect curiosity, very significant of the con- dition of the times, and indicative likewise of much zeal that an excellent house of worship should be built. As scarcely any could furnish money, there was given what was equally serviceable — lumber of all kinds, and such labor as was needed. But besides this, unlimited amounts of grain and flour, and every merchantable article, were furnished as equivalents for the amount of subscription or for the price of the pews and slips. Some items credited are calculated to excite a smile, such, for instance, as 'bread and apple pies,' which were appropriated to the object in a way not 180 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. precisely explained. Our notions of propriety, too, are somewhat startled, unless we understand how the temper- ance question stood in those days, by finding a more peculiar item credited. In one instance a barrel of whisky, price eleven dollars, is set down as part payment for the price of a pew ! Where it went to, and what was done with it does not appear. Our fathers unquestionably apprehended no difliculty in the way of such a barter. We may be thankful that the interval of years since then has created a more en- lightened conscience in regard to the use of spirituous drinks. " Through much labor and sacrifice the walls were at last inclosed and the house covered, and then, while the seats were yet not built, the people turned into the new house for worship. Doubtless it seemed, notwithstanding its then unplastered walls, a luxurious place to those who had occu- pied the old log-house. All who had a hand in building it, or who were interested in worshiping in it, considered them- selves exceedingly fortunate in possessing so imposing a structure. We who sit and shiver here these winter Sab- baths may do well to let our imaginations run back to those days when stoves for churches were not thought of, and when the congregation, within unplastered walls, managed as they could to keep comfortable. Not that it would be desirable to bring back those times, when any method of warming a church was considered a desecration of it, but it may be wholesome to remember what experiences have pre- ceded ours. Some, even of the middle-aged members, have told me that they remember to have seen the minister preach- ing, winter Sabbaths, with hands well fortified against the cold in thick, woolen mittens. "The work continued on the church, to a greater or less extent, for several years. The galleries were finally erected and the interior completed. At that day the building was considered, by the surrounding people, an architectural won- der. People, I am told, came long distances in order to see it. Doubtless it excited more remark, and was regarded HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 181 with higher interest than is the ease with our beautiful new edifice. And indeed it was, for that time, a most creditable structure — in greater contrast with the dwellings of the peo- ple, and indicative, therefore, it is possible, of more zeal for the outward prosperity of Zion than the building which now so eminently graces our village. Owing to the gradual manner in which it was constructed, this house was never formally dedicated. The congregation were anxious to occupy it while, as yet, they were unable to finish it ; and when finished, it had been already dedicated by their long- continued acts of worship, and, as we may hope, by the con- version therein of many a soul. "After the erection of the church, the first minister who appears upon the records was a Mr. Ely, a licensed minister of the Buffalo Presbytery, who was employed one-half his time for six months. This was in 1823. The church was commenced about 1818, and finished in 1822. In 1824 Rev. Giles Doolittle was invited, by regular calls, to take the pastoral charge of the congregation in Northeast and Ripley, New York. On the 15th April, 1825, he was ordained by the Presbytery of Erie, and installed by them pastor of the united congregations above named. "The number of church members when he took charge amounted to sixty-eight. The only elders, two in number, at that time were John McCord and Thomas Robinson. The oldest surviving members of the church are Edmund Orton, Dr. James Smedley, and Harmon Ensign, who united at about the same time, having come from the same town in Connecticut; and among the females, Mrs. Robinson, who united about 1803, Mrs. Hall, and Mrs. Baldwin. Their connection with the church dates back to the times of the old log meeting-house. Of those who joined during the same periods, some, however, are still surviving, but are connected now with the church at Harbor Creek. "Mr. Doolittle continued his labors with this church from 1825 to 14th September, 1832. He died at Hudson, Ohio, 16* 182 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. at which place he was laboring as pastor. In 1832 the church was divided. Fifty-eight members, living in Harbor Creek and vicinity, were constituted a church, leaving a membership here of one hundred and five. "November 15th, 1833, Rev. W. A, Adair was ordained and installed over the congregations of Northeast and Har- bor Creek. It was during the years of prevailing religious interest — a period of revivals — that Mr. Adair was con- nected with this church, and during his ministry, in connec- tion particularly with the labors of Rev. Samuel G. Orton, large accessions were made to the church. In 1836 the membership amounted to one hundred and eighty-three, and in April, 1838, to two hundred and fifteen — a larger number than are now in communion with us. In June, 1838, Rev. Nathaniel West commenced labors with this church. His pastoral relation with it ceased 17th July, 1841. January, 1842, Rev. Miles Doolittle began to preach to the Presby- terian congregation of Northeast, and continued their pastor until some time in 1844. November of that year, Rev. Samuel Montgomery became their stated minister, followed by Rev. Mr. Paine in 1848, who was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Cochrane in 1850. August, 1852, Mr. Cochrane gave place to Rev. D. D. Gregory. During the continuance of Mr. Gregory with this people, a lot was purchased and a parsonage built thereon. March, 1859, the present minister took charge of the congregation. February, 1859, a meet- ing was called, and a committee appointed to take into con- sideration the purchase of a lot for a new church. " The committee reported the twenty-eighth, were empow- ered to purchase March seventh, and March twelfth resolved to build. The result of that resolution is the beautiful structure which adorns our village." In 1811 the Rev. Robert Reid, a minister of the Asso- ciate Reformed denomination, organized a church in Erie, which was incorporated as the " First Church of Erie." The congregation met in the school-house until 1816, when they HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 183 erected a comfortable building near their present site. The frame is now occupied by the new furnace as a store, it hav- ing been removed to State Street. The first elders of the church were Archibald McSparren, Thos. Hughes, Alex. Robinson, and Jas. Barr. The Associate Reformed denomination, in 1841, erected a large and substantial church, and in 1845 called their pres- ent pastor, Rev. Jos. Pressly. In 1816 the Rev. Charles Colson, a Lutheran minister from Germany, who had settled in Meadville, organized four churches in this vicinity, expecting to have the oversight of them. One was at Meadville, another ten miles above, on French Creek, a third at Conneaut, and a fourth at Erie. He took a severe cold, returning to Meadville, from the effects of which he died the same year. In 1824 the First Presbyterian Church of Erie erected a large and substantial building on the site at present occupied by their new edifice. The trustees were Judah Colt, P. S. Y. Hamot, G. Sanford, R. McClelland, B. Russel, J. Evans, R. Brown, S. Hays, T. Laird, G. Selden, J. Kellogg. At the ceremony of laying the corner-stone. Rev. Timothy Al- den offered prayer, and Rev. Johnston Eaton made a few pertinent remarks. Rev. David McKinney, now of Pitts- burg, was ordained and installed April 13th, 1825. Rev. George A. Lyon, the present pastor, was installed Septem- ber 9th, 1829. In June, 1859, the corner-stone of their rich and elaborate structure was laid on the site of the former building. Rev. Dr. Chester, of Buffalo, Rev. C. J. Hutchins, and Rev. D. C. Wright took part in the exercises. Its cost, exclusive of the ground, is estimated at twenty-five thousand dollars, and it is capable of seating nine hundred persons. The organ of this church cost two thousand dollars. March Itth, 1827, a meeting was held at Mr. Hamot's for the purpose of organizing an Episcopal church. Colonel Thomas Forster was called to the chair, and P. S. V. Hamot 184 HISTORF OP ERIE COUNTY. appointed Secretary. George Miles, G. A. Elliot, Taber Beebe, C. M. Reed, Thos. Forster, Jr., D. C. Barrett, Wm. Kelley, G. Knapp, and J. A. Tracy were elected Vestry- men. Rev. Charles Smith accepted the office of rector, but resigned December eighth. He was succeeded by Rev. B. Hutchins, and afterward by Rev. John W. James. Rev. Bennet Glover was next appointed, July llth, 1828, and held the office until his death in 1838. St. Paul's Church was erected in 1831. The First Baptist Church was organized in 1831. July 31st, 1832, at a meeting held at the court-house. Rev. Wm. H. Newman was called to the chair, and 0. N. Sage ap- pointed Secretary. The following gentlemen were nomi- nated trustees : E. D. Gunnison, Abijah Frost, O. 'N. Sage, William Kelly, James Lytle, Warren Foot, (did not serve,) Adonijah Fuller, George Moore, and D. J. Lloyd. The first pastor was Rev. William Newman, and they erected their building in 1833. In 1838 the Methodist Episcopal denomination erected a frame building on Seventh Street. In 1860 they dedi- cated their new house of worship on the corner of Sassafras and Seventh. This is one of the finest churches in the city. The house and ground cost seventeen thousand dollars. Trustees, J. Hanson, J. S. Sterrett, T. Willis, John Burton, William Sanborn, A. A. Craig, J. W. Ayers, A. Yale, N. Murphy. In 1858 the same denomination completed a house of worship a short distance south of the town, at the cost of four thousand dollars, called the Simpson Church. Messrs. E. Goodrich, Heman Jaynes, and Captain Thos. Wilkins were liberal contributors. In 1841 the Lutherans built a church. Rev. Mr. Hart- man, pastor. In 1844 the Universalists organized a church, and in 1845 erected their building. First pastor, Rev. Henry Gififord. Trustees, Henry Cadwell, R. Huston, and Porter Warren. S. H. Kelsey, Collector. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 185 The first Roman Catholic church erected in Erie was a small frame building on German Street, in 1839. The corner-stone of St. Patrick's, on Fourth Street, was laid in 1850, and about 1858 a dwelling for the bishop and a school- house were erected on the premises. In 1854 the diocese of Erie was created, and the Rev, Joshua Young made bishop. In 1854 St. Mary's, a German Catholic church, was com- menced, and completed in 1858. This is probably the largest, as it is the most expensive church in the city, its cost having amounted to $28,000. It has two spires 135 feet in height, and is furnished with three bells, one weigh- ing 1991 pounds, another 1085 pounds, and the third 708 pounds. The bells cost $1400, and are remarkable for their clearness of tone ; they were consecrated by the Right Rev. J. Young, April 15th, I860. The church has an organ which cost $1200, the Society of St. Cecilia engaging them- selves in the choir. The Benedictine Fathers have had charge of the congregation since July, 1859, Rev. F. Celestine Engelbrecht, pastor. Two societies for the propagation of the faith are con- nected with St. Mary's — St. Aloysia's for young men, and the Society of the Blessed Yirgin for young ladies — each of which has a library. The Methodist Germans many years ago erected a com- fortable house of worship near the depot. About 1850 the German Presbyterians erected a brick church on Peach Street. In 1854 an Old School Presbyterian church was organized by Rev. William Willson, and immediately after the congrega- tion erected Park Church at a cost of $17,000. First Trus- tees, G. Sanford, Jos. Arbuckle, J. C. Spencer, William C. Curry, I. W. Hart, J. Moore, D. W. Fitch. Treasurer and Secretary, D. W. Fitch. In 1856 Rev. W. M. Blackburn was installed pastor. The first attempt of the General Assem- bly (0. S.) to establish a church in Erie was in 1842, when 186 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. Rev. J. H. Townley was sent as a missionary. In 1853 the Presbytery of Erie made appointments for preaching for several months, having previously named a committee to establish a church when Providence should direct. In 1841 the Wesleyan Methodist Society (colored) erected their building on Third Street, in Jerusalem, the western part of the town. The founders were H. E. Waters, John Clifford, Amos Burgess, Luman Harris, and William Mes- sick. The African Episcopal Methodists (also colored) formed a society and erected a building soon after. The Protestant Episcopal church, Rev. Mr. Abercrombie, held services for a few months in 1858, in the Wesleyan church, when it was not otherwise occupied, and organized a Sunday School there. At the same time the Rev. Mr. Bowman, of the same church, held services at the depot. The first instance of Christian worship after the manner of the Protestant Episcopal church, at Girard, was in June, 1858, in the Methodist Episcopal church, a large audience being in attendance. Rev. John Bowman officiated. Girard Township has five churches — one Protestant Methodist, three Episcopal Methodist, and one Roman Catholic. Springfield Township has six churches — two Episcopal Methodist, one New School Presbyterian, one Universalist, one Christian, and one Calvinistic Baptist. Eranklin Township has no church edifice. Fairview Township has seven church organizations — one Methodist Episcopal, one German Methodist, one Old School Presbyterian, two New School Presbyterian, though but one house of worship, and two German churches, the denomina- tions not known. In this statement is included the churches of Manchester and Fairview or Sturgeonville. Summit Township has two churches — one Methodist Epis- copal that will accommodate three hundred persons, valued at $850; and one U. Presbyterian, seating four hundred, and valued at $800. HISTORY OF EUIE COUNTY. 18T McKean Township has one Methodist Episcopal church, seating five hundred, and valued, at $1500; and a Roman Catholic, seating five hundred, which cost $1300. Le BcBuf Township has one Methodist Episcopal church, seating three hundred, and valued at $1000; and a second one, seating five hundred, and valued at $1500, Washington Township has one Christian Communion church, accommodating three hundred, valued at $1200. Concord Township has one Methodist Episcopal church with two hundred sittings, valued at $1000. Harbor Creek Township has four churches. Greene Township has two Methodist Episcopal, and one Presbyterian church. Northeast Township has three churches — one Presbyte- rian, valued at $1000, seating three hundred ; one Methodist Episcopal, valued at $3000, seating three hundred and fifty; and one Baptist, valued at $3400, that will accommodate four hundred. Greenfield Township has one Methodist Episcopal church. Waterford Township has six churches — one Roman Catho- lic, seating three hundred persons, valued at $3000; one Lutheran, seating one hundred and fifty, valued at one Presbyterian, seating two hundred, valued at one Methodist Episcopal, seating two hundred and twenty, valued at $400; another of the same denomination, seating three hundred, valued at $500; one Baptist, seating three hundred, valued at $450. Amity Township has one Methodist Episcopal church, valued at $800, and which will accommodate two hundred persons. Yenango Township has one Methodist Episcopal church, besides the churches in Wattsburg, Wayne Township has two churches — a Methodist Epis- copal, valued at $1000, which will accommodate three hun- dred, and a Presbyterian one valued at $800, seating two hundred and fifty persons. 188 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. Union Township lias three churches — one Methodist Epis- copal, valued at $1000, with three hundred sittings; one Presbyterian, valued at $1500, with three hundred sittings; and a Roman Catholic, valued at $800, with two hundred sittings. The census statistics (which include those of the churches) of Mill Creek, Elk Creek, Conneaut, and the West Ward of Erie have not yet been published or filed in the Prothono- tary's office, nor have they been aggregated, excepting in population. Erie has been favored with revivals of religion at several periods. In 1831 Rev. Mr. Stone held a series of meetings, and more than thirty persons united with the Presbyterian church. In 1834 Rev. Mr. Orton, a zealous evangelist, held a pro- tracted meeting, and about one hundred persons connected themselves with the different churches. In 1842 the Rev. Mr. Clark preached for several days in the Presbyterian church — sixty-five persons united with the church at that time. Again, in 1858, more than two hun- dred persons united with the different evangelical churches in Erie. Rev. 0. Parker, an evangelist, labored successfully in the Presbyterian churches of Girard and Edinboro in 1860. At the latter place there were many converts in the Normal school. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 189 CHAPTER XTII. Waterford — Edinboro — Northeast — "Wattsburg — Girard — Union Mills — Albion — Cherry Hill — Wellsbiirg — Cranesville — Lookport — Pageville — Lexington — Fairview — Manchester — McKean Corners — Wesley ville — West Springfield — Springfield — Beaverdam — Concord Station. Waterford, beautifully situated at old Fort Le Boeuf,* the history of which has been given in a former chapter, is distant fourteen miles southeast of Erie. In the act for laying out the towns of Erie, Franklin, Warren, and Waterford, is to be found the following : "Whereas, Andrew Ellicot lately surveyed and laid out a town, within the tract heretofore reserved for the public use at Le Boeuf, near the head of the navigation of French Creek, and the draft and plan of the said town being com- municated by the Governor to the General Assembly, was by them approved : therefore, be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the said draft and plan of the town so sur- veyed and laid out by the said Andrew Ellicot, * * * being first I'ecorded in the office of the Secretary of the Common- wealth, and the original thereof deposited in the ofBce of the Surveyor-General, shall be, and the same is hereby, in all * Old Fort Le Boeuf being inland, was not ranked or fortified as a first-class station; yet, its being situated on the " head waters" of the Allegheny River, and at the nearest point of water communica- tion between Lake Erie and the river, it was considered of much importance as a trading fort. It afforded protection to traders, hunters, and to many adventurers who passed between Canada and Fort Duquesne and the French possession farther south. The port- age between Presqu'ile and Le Boeuf being only a little more than four leagues, the necessary goods, munitions of war, implements of agriculture, etc., were conveyed over land from the lake, and at Fort Le Boeuf embarked upon radeaux or rafts, to be transported to forts to the south and west along the river. IT 190 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. respects, accepted, ratified, confirmed, and established, as fully and efi'ectually as if it had been made by virtue of a law previously authorizing a town to be surveyed and laid out at Le Boeuf ; * * * and the commissioners hereinbefore directed to be appointed shall also survey five hundred acres of land, adjoining the said last-mentioned town, for out-lots: and the same shall be divided in such manner, and with such streets, lanes, and alleys as the said commissioners shall di- rect, but no out-lot shall contain more than five acres, nor shall the reservation for public uses exceed in the whole ten acres; and the said last-mentioned town shall be called 'Waterford,' and all the streets, lanes, and alleys thereof, and of the out-lots thereto adjoining, shall be and forever remain common highways." And in section thirteenth, "that it shall be lawful for the Governor, with the consent of the individuals, respectively, to protract the enlistments of such part of the detachment of State troops, or such part as may be in garrison at Fort Le Boeuf, or to enlist as many men as he shall deem neces- sary, not exceeding one hundred and thirty, to protect and assist the commissioners, surveyors, and other attendants intrusted with the execution of the several objects of this act: provided always, nevertheless, that as soon as a fort shall be established at Presqu'ile, and the United States shall have furnished adequate garrisons for the same, and for Fort Le Boeuf, the Governor shall discharge the said de- tachment of State troops, except the party thereof employed in protecting and assisting the commissioners, surveyors, and other attendants as aforesaid, which shall be continued until the objects of this act are accomplished, and no longer." And section fifteenth, "that in order to defray the ex- penses of making the survey at Fort Le Boeuf, and the vari- ous surveys and sales herein directed, and to maintain the garrison at Fort Le Boeuf, there shall be, and hereby is, ap- propriated the sum of seventeen thousand dollars, to be paid by the Treasurer on the warrants of the Governor." HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 191 When Judge Yincent* settled in Waterford in HOT, he says : " There were no remains of the old French fort excepting the traces on the ground, and these traces were very distinct and visible." Fifteen years after, a cel- lar and a deep well were the only visible remains. Can- non, bullets, etc. have been found occasionally below the surface, and fragments of human skeletons pervade the soil. From the first settlement to the present time men have, at •intervals, been searching for treasures on the sites of Le Boeuf and Presqu'ile, with all the helps afforded by the magnet and mineral-rod. At Le Boeuf, two years ago, a man, digging under the direction of the " Spirits," discovered below the surface a stone wall laid up with mortar, which would probably have a radius of one hundred feet. Within this was the foundation of a blacksmith's forge, or indica- tions of one — as burnt stone, cinders, pieces of iron of all shapes, and of no conceivable use, guns, gun-locks, bayonets, and parts of many implements of war. Judge Vincent says further, on the same ground, in 1*797, stood a stockade fort built by Major Denny in 1194; it was commanded by an officer of the army. Lieutenant Marten, with twelve or fifteen soldiers. The same year (11 9*7) a new fort was built, which is still occupied by a * Judge John Vincent was born in Newark Townsliip, Essex County, New Jersey, February 4th, 1772. The family were origin- ally from France, where his great-grandfather was born, in 1676. Several of the brothers were residing at West Branch, Pennsylvania, and in Fort Freeland when captured by the Indians. - Judge Vincent was appointed Associate Judge in 1805. He dis- charged the duties of the ofBce for more than thirty-four years, being absent but twice from the sittings of the court. When he removed to Waterford in 1797, he found in the vicinity Wm. Miles, Captain Pollock, Captain Martin Strong, and Amos Judson ; and a strong friendship was engendered by common dangers and priva- tions, and which was interrupted only by death. Judge Vincent was industrious, energetic, and persevering, and lived to enjoy the benefits his industry had accumulated. He died in February, 1860, 192 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. family, though very much dilapidated, and some parts appa- rently ready to fall. This block-house was at one time a storehouse ; in 1813, (after the battle of Lake Erie,) a body of prisoners and wounded men were there quartered; it was next connected with other buildings, the whole being weatherboarded, and a respectable hotel constituted. The main street of the borough running from north to south passes in front of the "Block-house Hotel," and over the same ground which was occupied by the French and first American forts. The whole is now the property of A. M. Judson, Esq. In the neighborhood of the depot, two miles northeast of the block-house, spikes, bullets, cannon balls, etc. have been found. In another part of the town, a quarter of a mile from the fort, a hillock is called "Washington's Mound," from the fact (as tradition has it) that Washington, when on his mission in 1153, spent a night there. One of the first appropriations for the northwestern part of the State, in 1791, was £400 for the improvement of French Creek, (besides £400 for the road from Le Boeuf to Presqu'ile;) and in 1807 we find five hundred dollars were to be set apart from the sale of town and out lots of the Commonwealth, adjoining Erie, for clearing and improv- ing the navigation of Le Bceuf and French Creeks from Waterford to the south line of the county. Here it may not be out of place to give a short descrip- tion of French Creek. It was formerly called Yenango Creek, or rather, In-nan-ga-eh, and is a beautiful, transpa- rent, and rapid stream. For many miles from its confluence with the Allegheny it is less than one hundred feet in width. At some seasons its waters are navigable to Waterford for boats carrying twenty tons, yet for a few weeks of summer it cannot usually be navigated by any craft larger than a canoe. Washington, in his journal, calls Le Boeuf Creek the Western Fork, which is correct; but besides this there are HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 193 three others, and these are now particularly so designated. In addition to many small streams, in all directions, proceed- ing northerly from the mouth of French Creek, its most noted contributory waters, all of which have mill privileges and furnished with saw-mills and grist-mills, are Big Sugar Creek, Deer Creek, Little Sugar Creek, the outlet of Con- neaut, Cassewago, Woodcock, the outlet of Conneauttee, Muddy Creek, and Le Boeuf Creek, on which Waterford stands, three or four miles above its union with French Creek. In the articles on roads and the salt trade Waterford is conspicuous. Salt on its arrival from Erie was deposited in storehouses at the landing to await a freshet. There were four of these large storehouses, being the property of Judge Smith, Judge Yincent, Captain Tracy, and Thomas King. Messrs. Tracy and King did not build until 1815 or 1816. The last load of salt carried down the river to Pittsburg was by Judge Smith, in 1819, the boat containing four hun- dred barrels. In the days of the salt trade Waterford contained no churches, and the people assembled in the storehouses to hear the word of God. On one occasion when Mr. Mathews was preaching, the freshet reached the point that made it necessary, or at least desirable, to start the boats. The barrels were rolled out and the boats filled in the midst of the service, and the divine prayed for "the success of the boats that were obliged to start on the Lord's day." The keel boats gave employment to many who seemed to form a peculiar and vigorous class by themselves. An "up- the-river boatman" was quite a different specimen of the genus homo from all others. "He could drink, swear, smoke, and fight in a manner that would quite astonish his degenerate great-grandchildren of these days. The race is nearly extinct." It was the custom to give the men who went with the boats every tenth barrel for their pay. There was a Dutch- 194 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. man, by the name of Jacob Kitelinger, (as it was pro- nounced,) who said to Judge Smith, on one of his trips, "Judge, you are an old friend of mine, and, I believe, a good friend. Prove it, by giving me every tivelfth barrel. I think I deserve it." The Judge thought about it, and finally, for friendship's sake, agreed to do it. Kitelinger was delighted; and when they reached Pittsburg, worked industriously, setting aside for himself every twelfth barrel. But when he found that the others received ten barrels for every hundred and he only eight, the poor fellow was in despair. The Judge, however, was a man of honor, and gave him his due, but Jacob could never understand it. Keel-boat fare has been pronounced, even by some epi- cures, the very sweetest, owing, undoubtedly, to the fresh air and a good appetite. A mass composed of flour and water was well kneaded on the top of a barrel — the large loaf then placed on a board before the fire, and when well browned, the lower side placed in the same position. Some slices of bacon were then roasted on the points of sticks, to complete the variety. Their drink was usually chocolate, with the bacon held over while roasting — some drops of the fat im- parting a richness and flavor to the beverage. To impel by poles against the current, (as they were obliged to do on their return,) was a most laborious employ- ment — keelmen not unfrequently, at that day, had the side flayed and raw as a poor draught-horse long galled by the harness. ^^ No more going ahead, backward,''' was the ex- pressive toast of an old boatman, at the Meadville canal celebration ; and well did his class appreciate the improve- ment. On April 8th, 1833, the town of Waterford was erected into a borough, being bounded and limited as follows : be- ginning at a white ash at' the northwest corner of the Water- ford reserve, adjoining lands of J. Yincent, Esq., on the north and west; thence east 216 perches along the north side of Circuit Street, adjoining lands of J. Vincent, Esq., HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 195 and the heirs of A. Himrod, to a post at the northwest cor- ner of Gr. W. Reed's land ; thence south along the reserve line 159 perches, to a post at the southeast corner of said Reed's land; thence east 69 perches along the southern boundaries of the same and the reserve line to a post; thence south 26 degrees, east 125 perches, along the eastern bound- . aries of out-lots numbers 30, 23, 22, 94, and 1, to a post ad- joining land of Amos Judson on the south ; thence south 64 degrees, vrest along the line dividing the out-lots and reserve tracts, 261 perches, to a post at the southwest cor- ner of out-lot number 12; thence north 26 degrees, west 40 perches, along the western boundary of said out-lot to a post on the so^th side of Water Street; thence south 64 degrees, west 126 perches along the south side of Water Street, to a post on the west side of Circuit Street; and thence north 422 perches along the west side of Circuit Street to the place of beginning. The first borough officers were elected in 1834. Amos Judson, Burgess; John Boyd, Henry Colt, William Benson, John Tracy, Isaac M. White, Wilson King, Town Council ; Charles C. Boyd, High Constable ; B. B. Yincent, Town Clerk and Treasurer; Samuel Hutchins and Daniel Vincent, Overseers of the Poor. Waterford has a plank-road connecting it with Erie and Meadville, and the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad, which as yet has appeared to be of no advantage to the town. It has four churches, of the United Presbyterian, New School Presbyterian, Protestant Episcopal, and Methodist Episcopal denominations. The Presbyterian church was organized in 1810, Rev. John Mathews being the first pas- tor, and William Bracken, John Lytic, and Archibald Wat- son the first trustees. In 1832 the Presbyterians united with the Protestant Episcopal denomination in erecting a church, which now belongs to the latter exclusively. In 1835 they erected their present house of worship. 196 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. The Associate Reformed churcli (United Presbyterian) was organized in 1816, Rev. Robert Reid being tlie first pastor. This is much the largest congregation in Water- ford, and, lilie the same denomination in Erie, composed almost entirely of Irish Protestants. The founders were William Smith, Robert Kincaid, and William Cai'son. A year or two since they enlarged and improved their building. The Methodist Society was organized as early as 1814, but did not erect a house of worship until 1854. Rev. Mr. Paddock, first pastor. A Protestant Episcopal church was organized in 1827, and they erected their building, as mentioned above, in 1832. Rev. Bennet Glover was their first clergyman. Dr. M. B. Bradley, Timothy Judson, Amos Judson, Martin Strong, John Yincent, James Pollock, and John Tracy were the first officers. Waterford Academy is the oldest institution of the kind in the county, as we have mentioned. Waterford has eight factories and one banking establish- ment. The borough officers are William Judson, Burgess ; David Boyd, William C. Smith, Sam. C. Stamford, J. L. Cook, J. L. McKay, Owen McGill, Town Council; J. M. White, Town Clerk and Treasurer. Edinboro, in Washington Township, is twenty miles south of Erie, and but two miles from Crawford County. It was incorporated April 3d, 1840, and is the most enterprising interior town in the county. Mr. Culbertson built a mill here about 1800, being one of the first mills erected in the county. Families of the name of Hamilton and Reeder were also among the first settlers. It was formerly called Conneauttee or Little Conneaut, an Anglicized aboriginal word. Eight miles in a southwesterly direction from Meadville is a beautiful lake three or four miles in length and one in breadth, called Conneaut, or as the Senecas pronounce it. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 19T Kon-ne-yaut, "the snow place." The Indians of the neigh- borhood had observed the snow to remain some time on the frozen lake after its disappearance elsewhere. Here are church organizations of the Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, and Old and New School Presbyterian denomin- ations. The Old School Presbyterians, under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Jas. Dickey, erected their building in 1855, at a cost of $2000. It has sittings for five hundred and fifty persons. The Methodist Episcopal church will accommo- date two hundred and fifty persons, and cost $500. The New School Presbyterian church cost $3000, and will accom- modate five hundred. The Baptists are yet without a house of worship. In 1833 the Conneauttee Library Company was incorpo- rated. Edinboro has the most expensive school buildings in the county, and the citizens have exhibited a commendable spirit of liberality and enterprise in their efforts connected with the establishment of the Normal school of the twelfth district in their midst. About $25,000 has been raised by them in subscriptions and expended in buildings and im- provements, and the success of the school promises to com- pensate for the investment, and add to the population and prosperity of the town. The Normal school has at present four teachers and about eighty pupils. There is also one common school with two teachers and one hundred and thirty-six pupils. M. Saley was elected burgess in 1861, A plank-road connects Edinboro with Erie and Meadville. For manufactures there are two cooper shops, two for the manufacture of sashes and blinds, one of shovel-handles, three of cabinetware, a tannery, grist-mill, saw-mill, and tin shop. The water power of Conneauttee Lake, obtained by the damming of the outlet, is one of unsurpassed excellence, and many factories working wood and lumber are found 193 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, along the stream below. This lake is noted for its double white pond lilies, which are exquisitely beautiful, and pecu- liar, we believe, to the American continent ; springing from the bottom of the lake, they expand their flowers when they reach the surface and sunshine. Northeast was formerly called Gibsonville, and later Burgettstown, and is seventeen miles east of Erie, on the Buffalo and State Line Railroad. This vicinity has been long settled, and is highly cultivated and populous. The inhabitants are mostly Eastern people, while in other parts of the county the Scotch-Irish element predominates.* Northeast has three churches, one public school, and a flourishing high school, at present under the management of P. II. Stewart, with three assistants. Rev. Mr. Carrier's very interesting history of the Presbyterian church in this place is found under the general head. The Methodist Episcopal church was formed at an early day. The Bap- tists dedicated a neat and commodious house of worship February 1st, 1860. Eor many years this people had main- tained public worship two miles east of the borough; in July, 1858, a church was organized denominated "The First Baptist Church of Northeast." Officers— E. C. Heath, A. Partridge, Deacons; E. C. Heath, A. Partridge, S. Malick, Trustees; and H. Partridge, Clerk. An account of Northeast Cemetery is found elsewhere. For manufactures it has four shoe shops, two tin and two wagon establishments, one plow manufactory, a cabinet shop, ashery, etc. It has also one banking office. At Freeport, two miles distant, the Franklin Paper-Mill, owned by J. S. Johnson, is in excellent order, with every modern improve- ment. In 1860 they manufactured 4000 reams of wrapping * The first brick building erected in the county was the residence of Mr. Silliman in 1809 or 1810, which is still firm and good. It is said the contractor was to have so much a thousand for all the brick he put in, and in accordance with a law of human nature, he used an enormous quantity, which in the end has proved good economy. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 199 paper, 2000 of writing paper, and 2000 of printing. In 1838 a paper-mill on the same site, the property of Mr. \V. S. Hall, was consumed by fire, at a loss of $15,000. In 1860 the borough officers were Philetus Glass, Bur- gess; J. M. Conrad, Richard Bran, John Greer, Rufus Loomis, Levi Jones, and Harley Selkregg, Town Council. Wattsburg, Yenango Township, is seventeen miles east of southeast from Erie, at the Forks of French Creek. Provisions and stores from Pittsburg were landed here for Colt's Station and Northeast from their first settlement. There was also a landing at Bissel's mill, seven miles above Wattsburg, on French Creek, where at first provisions were landed for Colt's Station, being but two miles distant. In l*l9t Mr. William Miles built "the upper storehouse," in which was deposited a few dry goods for the convenience of the settlers, and to exchange for furs, besides being a depot for provisions. Mr. David Watts, (of the company known at an early day as Watts, Scott & Co.,) from whom the town was named, owned a tract of 1400 acres in the vicinity. In 1196 Adam Reed and a Mr. Tracy, with their families, settled up the stream, a little above Wattsburg. Messrs. Reed and Tracy built a small grist-mill on the east branch of French Creek at an early day. In April, 1833, Wattsburg was erected into a borough, with the following boundaries: beginning at French Creek where the old State line crosses the same, being the south boundary of Yenango Township ; thence east along said line 180 perches; thence north 180 perches; thence west 180 perches (more or less) to French Creek; thence south- wardly by the windings of said creek to the place of begin- ning. Wattsburg had, in 1840, one hundred and thirty-one in- habitants, and in 1860, three hundred and thirty-seven. It has three churches, a select school, and a common school with two teachers and one hundred and two scholars, which 200 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, has a new building in progress. The Presbyterian church was organized at an early day — the church being of the New School branch dedicated a house of worship in 1854. It is valued at $1500, and will seat three hundred persons. The Baptist and Methodist Episcopal denominations have also churches; the Methodists completed a new one the past year at an expense of $4000, which will seat four hundred. The Baptist will accommodate two hundred, and cost $1200. For manufactures it has two sash, door and blind facto- ries, two boot and shoe shops, one tannery, one harness, one of cabinetware, one ashery, etc. This borough and the vicinity has been greatly benefited by the building of the Erie and Wattsburg plank-road. In 1836 a bill for a railroad called the "Erie and Wattsburg Railroad, " (a connection being intended with the New York and Erie,) became a law, but for want of means the road was never built. Wattsburg has a fine water-power, and extensive flat and bottom lands up both branches of the creek, and on the main stream. The forests are of pine, cherry, and other valuable timber. The soil is productive, the water clear and wholesome, and the climate salubrious. L. S. Chapin was elected Burgess of the borough, in 1861, and Lyman Ptobinson, Justice of the Peace. GiRARD was named from Stephen Girard, who, at the time the village was laid out, had a large tract of land in Conneaut Township adjoining. In 1814 the site of this pleasant borough was a part of the farm of John Taylor, and his residence was the only building.* It is fifteen miles south of west from Erie, and ten miles from the Ohio State line, and overlooks some of the finest scenery in the country. The valley of Elk Creek, * The names of some of the earliest inhabitants in this vicinity were Miles Taggart, Joseph Wells, James Laughlin, James Silver- thorn, and Willard Badger. HISTORY OF EKIE COUNTY. 201 winding toward the east, lias precipitous banks — the stream having worn its bed in some places to the depth of two hun- dred feet. The rocky formation here is a soft, friable slate, in which are many fossil shells, and which appears solid, but on exposure soon crumbles to clay. On the creek there are several mills, and the water power is suflBcieut for an indefi- nite number. Around is a rich agricultural country, dotted with pleasant farm-houses and well-cultivated fields, and owned by a people who are excelled by none in all the qualities of good citizenship. The borough was incorporated in 1846. The first oSicers were Mason Kellogg, Burgess; John McClure, Jr., Lef- feret Hart, H. McConnell, and George H. Cutler, Town Council; L. S. Jones, Clerk. It contains four churches and a fine academy capable of accommodating two hundred pupils — this is particularly described elsewhere. Of the churches, the Methodist was organized at a very early day; the Presbyterians were organized in 1830, and after the division of the General Assembly in 1837, the New School branch retained the building. Three of the elders, Messrs. Bristol, Porter, and Blair, remained with the Old School, and for some years the possession of the church property was disputed by the two parties. The Old School, for some time, had preaching in the Methodist Episcopal church, and in 1852 erected a building. The Universalist church was organized in 1853, and erected soon after their house of worship. A Roman Catholic church (Irish) was conse- crated in 1856. This is outside of the borough limits. The Erie Canal crosses the principal street on its west end, thus increasing its business without marring its appear- ance. The depot of the Lake Shore Railroad and the Pitts- burg and Erie Railroad is about two miles north of Girard ; from this place to Erie both roads occupy the same track. For manufactures Girard has two carriage shops, a steam planing-mill, and the requisite stores and shops for the popu- lation of the town and vicinity. 18 202 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. The buildings and grounds of the citizens are quite taste- ful ; the streets and walks are delightfully shaded by elms, maples, and locusts ; the society is cultivated, and altogether Girard is quite a desirable place of residence. "West Girard has about twenty dwellings, Methodist, Epis- copal, and Baptist churches, three machine shops, a mill, etc. Union Mills, or Miles's Mills, the third town in popula- tion, having 801 inhabitants, is situated twenty miles south- east of Erie on the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad. Mr. "William Miles, from whom the place derived its name, was a soldier in the revolutionary army, and at the capture of Fort Freeland, on the West Branch, was taken prisoner and carried to Canada, where he remained until the peace. He then returned to Northumberland County, and in IT 85, with Mr. David Watts, was appointed (by Governor Miflflin, we believe,) to survey the tenth Donation Tract.* In June, 1795, he returned and settled on the flats of French Creek, in what is now Concord Township, Erie County. Ac- companying him were his wife and children, and Mr. Wm. Cook with his family. The manner in which Mr. Miles's children were conveyed from Franklin, Yenango County, is worthy of especial notice. A sack was provided, partly open at the side, but closed at the end. The sack was thrown across the horse and a child placed in each side. Mrs. Miles carried her youngest child before her on the * Their pi'OTisions, being procured in Harrisburg, were packed on horses and conveyed to a point near Wattsburg. An incident is re- lated of the Indian steward: "The duties of Messrs. Miles and Watts being very severe, they liired an Indian, who was to act in the capacity of general cook, furnish meat, etc. 'Mr. Indian,' as is natural to the race, in time became remarkably lazy in his endeavors to procure meat, giving, as his excuse, the scarcity of it in the wilder- ness; but the trick was carried too far, and Messrs. Miles and Watts becoming cognizant that he was deceiving them, cut short his allow- ance of food, which brought 'the native of the forest' to a strict sense of his duty, which he never neglected afterward." HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 203 horse. Mrs. M. and Mrs. Cook, her sister, were, next to Mrs. Reed, the first white women in the county. Mr. Miles resided in Concord about five years, removing in 1800 to Union, where he erected the same year a saw and grist mill, and a frame dwelling-house, which, from its being an unusual improvement, Mr. Judah Colt recorded its di- mensions, being twenty by seventy feet, and a story and a half in height. The nearest station was in distance eight miles. All provisions, in 1195, were transported by means of pack-horses, from Pittsburg to Concord ; shortly after they were brought up the Allegheny, and thence by its tributaries to Union Mills. In 1*796 Mr. Miles commenced clearing land where Watts- burg now stands, and built, in addition to his dwelling- house, a store for provisions, and where also a few dry goods were kept to exchange for furs. Wattsburg was laid out by him some thirty years after. Mr. M. died in Girard Township, in March, 1846, aged eighty-seven years. "As a pioneer he was hardy, intelligent, and sagacious. Endowed by nature with a mind of uncommon vigor, his talents were early called into action by the settlers, who, for a series of years, gathered around him as the guardian of their interests." In the year 1196 families named Hurd, McCrea, Wilson, and Findley settled in the neighborhood of Union Mills. Three years ago Union Mills had but 293 inhabitants; its real and personal property was then valued at $98,217; it is now estimated at $261,380, which is a greater propor- tional increase than any other town in the county, and may be attributed to the facilities afforded by the railroad, and the transhipment of oil. For religious privileges it has a Presbyterian church, (New School,) one Methodist Episcopal church, and one Roman Catholic church. It has two schools. The Penn Rock Oil Refining Company, Mr. Parsons, manager, procured ground and erected a building, in which 204 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, ^ it is estimated i5fty barrels will be refined daily. Clark, Andrews & Co. have established recently a factory for the manufacture of oil and flour barrels, firkins, etc. In this establishment they expect to manufacture eighty to one hun- dred oil barrels per day, and twice that number of flour bar- rels. The whole cost of machinery and buildings will be $4000. The town has three oil refineries, one steam shingle factory, one for fork and shovel handles, one for wagons and sleighs, one sash, door, and planing mill, one of tin and sheet iron ware, one boot and shoe shop, and one cabinet shop. Union Township abounds in oak, white wood, cherry, second growth of ash, pine, and hemlock timber. Albion, Conneaut Township, became a borough in 1860, and elected ofiBcers in March. In 1861 Perry Kidder was elected burgess. It is an active, thriving town, and num- bered, in 1860, 443 inhabitants; has a Methodist Epis- copal church, and an academy with two teachers, and about seventy-five pupils in attendance. North & Denis manufacture at this place shovels, forks, hoes, hammers, etc., on quite an extensive scale. The power is steam; the articles are made of steel, manufactured at a branch of the firm in Central New York, whence they are forwarded to this point, where handles are aflixed to them for the Western trade, while for the Eastern trade handles are forwarded to that branch of the concern. The articles are all finished in the best style and defy competition. The number annually manufactured is counted by the hundred thousand. This enterprise has been long enough prosecuted to ac- quire stability and permanence, and the management evinces a skill and discretion that augurs well both for the propri- etors and the communities in which they are operating. A horse-rake factory in the same vicinity is on quite an exten- sive scale. It has also a machine shop and oar factory. The Erie Canal and Pittsburg and Erie Railroad pass through the place. HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. " 205 Cherry Hill, in the same township, has about 100 in- habitants, a church, one store and several shops. It has but lately come into existence, but has good prospects, and am- bition in abundance. Wellsburg is a pleasant little place on the east branch of Conneaut Creek, in Elk Creek Township. It has 310 inhabitants, one Free Baptist church, one Methodist Epis- copal church, and a Universalist church, erected in 1855, It has the largest tannery in the county, twelve shops of dif- ferent kinds, and, perhaps, a dozen sawmills in the village and vicinity. The inhabitants are peaceful, temperate, and industrious. Quite an unusual excitement prevailed within a few months, on the cleaning of a salt well which had been opened forty years since. An oil well 300 feet deep, three times violently ejected gas, etc., giving indications of oil. The occurrence brought to the locality many strangers and speculators. Cranesville is a village very pleasantly located in Elk Creek Township. The first settlement was made here, in 1796 or '97, by Elihu Crane, Senior, a veteran of the revolu- tion. It has about thirty dwellings, a tavern and a few stores and shops, one school, and a Methodist Episcopal church, midway between the village and Wellsburg. It is twenty- four miles from Erie and on the canal. LocKPORT, in Girard Township, is twenty-one miles from Erie, on the canal, and so named from having twelve locks in the vicinity. It was settled and laid out at the time the Extension Canal was being built. It has a Methodist Epis- copal church, a Baptist church, and two public schools, averaging sixty scholars each. An extensive oar factory was built here by Messrs. Page, being 180 feet in length, 60 feet wide, and four stories high; but it is closed at present. It has several stores and shops, a printing-office, windmill, small furnace, warehouse, etc., with a population of about 200. Pageville is seven miles from Lockport, and has about 18* 206 ' HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 100 inhabitants, mostly employed manufacturing oars. Its post-office is Platea. This village was built up principally by the enterprise of Mr. E. Page, near the edge of a large, dense forest of heavy ash and oak timber, which he has manufactured largely into oars and sent to all parts of Europe as well as the United States. At Lexington, (a few miles south of Girard,) the Penn- sylvania Population Company had a station, about IT 97, Col. Dunning McNair being the acting agent. Fairview, or Sturgeonville, is about twelve miles from Erie, being near the Lake Shore Railroad and Pennsylvania Canal; it has three churches, five stores, one carriage fac- tory, one woolen factory, one brewery, and several other shops. The inhabitants are mostly German, and are honest, diligent, and happy. It has 423 inhabitants. In 1814 there was but one dwelling where this village stands, which was owned and occupied by Mr. Wm. Sturgeon. A contest between the Old and New School Presbyterian churches arose in Fairview shortly after the division of the General Assembly. Mr. Wm. Sturgeon died previous to 183T, and bequeathed to the Presbyterian church of Fair- view, after the decease of his widow, about fifty acres of land and twenty town lots for church purposes. A bury- ing-ground and school-house upon the premises were to re- main undisturbed. Six months after the decease of the widow, the church was to be organized, and a house of worship erected in one year. If these conditions were not complied with, the property was to be a donation to the Presbyterian Board of Publication. Both branches of the church erected buildings within the stated time. The Court of Common Pleas decided in favor of the Old School, and the Supreme Court confirmed the decision. In 1860 the New School removed their building. Manchester, at the mouth of Walnut Creek, has some fine scenery and a few pleasant residences. There are two paper-mills here. The Keystone Mills, R. L. Perkins, pro- HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 20 Y prietor, manufactures printing, colored and Manilla papers, and employs six men and four girls. Adelpbic Mills, J. C. Perkins, proprietor, manufactures Manilla and wrapping paper, and employs four men and one girl. McKean Corners is on the old State line. It has a Methodist church and parsonage, twenty or thirty dwell- ings, etc. Wesleyville has 164 inhabitants, a Methodist church, several shops and stores, and one grist-mill. West Springfield has a Methodist Episcopal church and a Universalist church, an academy and boarding hall, described elsewhere. The Lake Shore Railroad passes near. Springfield also has an academy and a Presbyterian church. Beaverdam, in Wayne Township, has a Methodist Epis- copal church, a Presbyterian church, and several shops and stores. At Concord Station, on the Philadelphia and Erie Rail- road, the grist-mill known as Hall's lately passed into the hands of Norton & Miller, and has been repaired and re- modeled to equal any in the county. Mr. Bedient erected a large turning and planing mill, and the carding machine of Mr. Reynold's has given place to a large woolen factory. Mr. Barry, late of Chataqua County, recently erected a large hotel; and an oil refinery, with a capital of $2500, is in pro- gress, being directed by Mr. Ensign Baker, an experienced chemist from Fredonia, New York. 208 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. CHAPTER XIV. Biographies of Col. Seth Reed — Rufus S. Reed— Judah Colt— Dr. U. Par- sons— Dr. J. C. Wallace— Rev. Robert Reid— Thos. Wilson— P. S. V. Hamot— Captain D. Dobbins— T. H. Sill— G. Sanford— Judge J. Gal- braith. Colonel Seth E,eed was a native of Rhode Island, but at an early day removed to Usbridge, Mass. By profession he was a physician, and served in the revolutionary arroy at Bunker Hill with the rank of colonel. About 1790 he removed to Ontario County, New York, where he came in possession, probably by purchase from the Indians, of a very valuable tract of land eighteen miles in extent, known as the "Reed and Ryckman location." This he disposed of, and in 1795 removed with his family to Erie. In Historical Collections of Pennsylvania we find : "Mr. William Connelly, now of Franklin, came out to Erie in the spring of 1795 with his cousin, Thomas Rees. They saw Colonel Reed land — the first white settler* — who came in a bark boat with a quantity of groceries, liquors, and Indian goods. He erected a log cabin, soon after made it a double one, and called it PresquHle Hotel, where he entertained traders and travelers on the lake shore." In the "Holland Purchase" we find an extract from Deacon Hinds Chamber- lain's journal, being an account of a journey to Waterford in 1795. "On our return from Le Boeuf to Presqu'ile we found there Colonel Seth Reed and his family. They had just arrived. James Baggs and Giles Sisson came on with Colonel Reed. I remained for a considerable time in his employ." * Mr. William Miles settled on the flats of French Creek, at a point where two or more roads cross, a little northwest of the place where the Stranahans now live, in Concord Township, in the month of June, 1795. ■^Sravcity J.C.B-oOT*-^' "" //^/^:-^>^-t-^^ y, X&^'^-i^l— ' HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 209 Colonel Reed's wife and sons, Manning and John Charles, came with him ; Rufus Seth a few months after, and George with the daughters, Mrs. T. Rees and Mrs. J. Fairbanks, the following year. Colonel Reed died March 19th, 1191, aged fifty-three years. Mrs. Reed died December 8, 1821, at the age of seventy-three, having lived to see great changes, and to tell those who came after of the trials and hardships of life in the wilderness. Rufus Seth Reed was the third son of Colonel Seth Reed, and born at Uxbridge, Massachusetts, October 11th, IT 15. In 1198 he was married to Dolly Oaks, daughter of Jonathan Oaks, Esq., of Palmyra, and who died the same year. In 1801 he was married to Agnes Irwin. Rufus S. Reed was long regarded the father of the town, his residence here being coeval with its settlement. Fi'ora the first efforts to dispel the gloom of the surrounding forest to the hour of his death he was a master-spirit, conspicuous for his enterprise, perseverance, excellent judgment and penetration, remarkable business talent and success. As a man, Mr. Reed was kind hearted, entirely free from ostentation, easy of approach, and took delight in a generous action. "Early seeing the advantageous position of the lake country as a theater of enterprise, he was one of the first to lead off and plant the germs of a commerce that under his eye attained a growth which equaled that of one- third of the Union. Possessed of a vigorous constitution, with an active mind and body, he earnestly engaged in ex- tensive business undertakings which spread over a wide dis- trict of country, and amply repaid him for his enterprise and labor, as evinced by the immense estate he was in pos- session of at his death." To his various commercial, bank- ing, and mercantile employments he added that of farmer, and applied himself with a zest and with his usual success to agriculture. After a protracted illness, his mind retaining its accus- 210 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. tomed clearness to the last, he expired on the 1st of June, 1846, aged seventy years. Mrs. Reed and his only son and child, Greneral C. M. Reed, still survive. JuDAH Colt vs^as born at Tjyrae, Connecticut, July 1st, 1161. As his history is identified with that of the Western counti-y, a brief sketch and some extracts from his journal will be given. Until the age of twenty-three he assisted his father on the farm, and the last three winters taught school in the neigh- boring towns. He then resolved to see something of the world, and took passage in the sloop Betsy for North Carolina. As they were driven off the shore by adverse winds, they landed at the Island of Bermuda, disposed of their perishing cargo, and repaired the vessel. They then made the harbor of Ocracock, North Carolina, and Mr. Colt visited the larger towns and taught school in the vicinity until spring, when he returned home after an absence of over six months. As was the custom, the prayers of the church at home had been offered for his safe return. In the autumn he made a tour to Vermont, taught school in Williamstown, Massachusetts, in the winter, and next en- gaged himself as a clerk in the dry goods store of Mr. Thos. Shelden, of Lansingburg, New York. When he returned to the parental roof, after an absence of eighteen months, his father made him proposals "such as a kind parent would do," but having seen a better country for obtaining an estate by labor, he excused himself from accepting his offer, and returned to Lansingburg to enter the employ of Mr. Nathaniel Gorham, a respectable mer- chant. Mr. C.'s father dying, he returned and settled his estate, spending the winter there. Finally, after several other tours in 1*789, he, with thirteen persons, with their goods, farming utensils, etc., set out for the Genesee country. At German Plats their wagon broke, and they proceeded from thence on horseback, each traveler carrying his own baggage. Through the scattering Dutch settlements the ac- HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 211 commodations were poor. At Fort Schuyler (TJtica) they crossed the Mohawk where there were but one or two small log houses ; ten miles west they put up at Mr. Blackman's ; from thence proceeded through the Oneida castle, following a bridle path, and at night encamped on the Canasaraga Flats. Here Mr. Colt's horse failed to keep up with the company, and Mr. E. Curtis agreed to move with him, as his horse could travel. Two days after leaving Utlca they reached Onondaga River, and put up at Major Danforth's, near the Salt Spring, which was the only white family they found after leaving Blackman's. (One man resided in Oneida castle named Alburt or Talbut.) At Cayuga Lake a family of the name of Richardson resided, who ferried them and their horses over in two canoes lashed together ; tea days from Utica they arrived at Geneva, and put up at Gilbert R. Boney's, Mr. C.'s horse having failed after crossing the outlet of Seneca Lake. After remaining a day or two in Geneva he walked to Canandaigua and took shelter in a cabin occupied by General Israel Chapin, being much fatigued. Provisions were brought in boats from Albany and Schenectady, and there was a great scarcity of the necessaries of life. Mr. Colt contracted with 0. Phelps, Esq., to survey a township situated on the Genesee River, known as No. 11, Honeoye Township. The 1st of July, 1789, he purchased a town lot (forty acres) of 0. Phelps, cleared the timber, and afterward erected a dwelling in which Ije resided for many years. He sowed wheat upon three acres of his lot the same fall, which was the first sown in that part of the country. N". Gorham and others sowed large fields the same season. [Mr. Colt's yielded twenty bushels to the acre.] In August a treaty was held for the purchase of the Indian lands, attended by the chief Red Jacket and 1700 Indians, including women and children. The payment was made them in cash and merchandise. Rations of bread, meat, and occasionally rum were served out, and they came and 212 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. went hungry. One hundred head of cattle were killed for them, but of flour there was a scarcity — one barrel made into bread sold for one hundred dollars in silver plate, of which various kinds of Indian ornaments were made. Many horses died distempei'ed during the treaty, and the Indians fed on them freely, and also on the blood and enti'ails of all the beef slaughtered. While the treaty continued but little else was attended to, and although no serious accident hap- pened between the whites and Indians, there were several narrow escapes in consequence of the Indians making too free use of spirits, and the misconduct of the white people, who were often the aggressors. The winter following, Mr. C. spent in Connecticut, his health having become impaired by frequent attacks of fever and ague. In September, IT 90, he received the appoint- ment, from Governor Clinton, of sheriff of Ontario County; and on the third of the same month a court of quarter and general sessions of the peace was held at the dwelling- house of 0. Phelps ; Oliver Phelps, Esq., presided as judge, and Jas. Parker and Israel Chapin as assistant justices. In January, 1792, Mr. Colt was married to Elizabeth Marvin, of Lyme, Connecticut. During the winter of 1794, he continued in Canandaigua for the first time. The inhab- itants were under serious apprehensions of an invasion by the Indians, in the spring, if measures were not taken by the general government to quiet them. Early in the spring, news was brought to I. Chapin, Esq., (Geneva,) Superin- tendent of Indian affairs, that Captain Brant had assembled with his warriors at Buffalo Creek, and was proceeding to Presqu'ile, Pennsylvania, to prevent the survey of the Tri- angle. To prevent serious consequences, Mr. Chapin re- paired to Buffalo Creek, Mr. S. Colt accompanying him as secretary, and Horatio Jones as interpreter. The Indians were assembled, and after consultation, a part of the young men were dismissed, and a few of the chiefs took passage by water, with the superintendent, secretary, and interpre- HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 213 ter to Presqu'ile. From this they went on foot to Le Boeuf, where was stationed a small command of State troops under Captain Ebenezer Denny, On the Indians making their errand known, viz., to see the surveyors and to forbid them running lines, etc., they were informed that they shortly before left the country and had gone down the river. The Indians agreed to return home on assurances being given that the matter should be laid before the President of the United States. It was agreed to hold a treaty with them the ensuing fall. Timothy Pickering, Esq., was appointed for that purpose, and met them at Canandaigua, in the month of October, when all matters of difference were amicably settled. In August, IV 95, Mr. Colt, accompanied by Mr. Augustus Porier, visited Presqu'ile for the purpose of purchasing land; and February, 1Y96, Mr. C. made a journey to Phila- delphia to confirm the purchase of his lands as well as to make an ofFer to the Population Company of one dollar per acre for a tract of 30,000 acres in the eastern part of the Triangle. The company declined to sell in so large a body, but appointed Mr. Colt their agent, at a salary of $1500 per year, besides expenses for traveling, board, etc. In 1198 the salary was increased to $2500, a clerk furnished, and all reasonable traveling expenses paid. May, U93, Mr. C. brought his family to Greenfield, where they resided until their removal to Erie in 1802. The history of Erie County, during its first thirty years in business and society affairs, is closely interwoven with that of its two most promi- nent citizens, Judah Colt and R. S. Reed. In October, 1825, Mr. C. was elected first elder of the First Presby- terian Church, and was distinguished for his piety and benevolence, as well as esteemed and respected in all the various relations of life. The evening of October 11th, 1832, without the least premonition, Mr. Colt suddenly expired, when seated with his family by the cheerful fireside. Mrs. Colt died March 13th, 19 214 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 1834, aged sixty-six years; they left no children, two sons and a daughter having died in infancy. Usher Parsons, M.D., formerly of the United States Navy, — the last surviving commissioned officer of Perry's squadron, — was a native of York County, Maine. When war was declared with Great Britain in 1812, he was a sur- geon's mate on board of the John Adams. The officers and crew volunteered for the lake service and joined Perry at Erie in June, 1813. Dr. Parsons was attached to the flag-ship Lawrence, and, owing to the illness of the two other medical officers of the squadron, was the only acting surgeon on the bloody and eventful tenth. Respecting his valuable services on that trying occasion, the commodore made most honorable mention in a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Navy.* Soon after (1814) he was com- missioned full surgeon and sailed with the squadron to Mackinaw, and was present at the disastrous attack on that fort by Colonel Croghan. Commodore Perry was soon after ordered to the com- mand of the frigate Java, and allowed the privilege of select- ing his officers, when Dr. Parsons was appointed surgeon. In 1818 he again sailed to the Mediterranean in the Guerriere, commanded by Commodore McDonough, and after one year obtained leave of absence and visited the hospitals and medical schools in France and England. On his return he had charge of the hospital in Charlestown, Mass., for a year or two; afterwai'd he was appointed to a professorship in Dartmouth College, which he resigned the * " Of Dr. Usher Parsons, surgeon's mate, I cannot say too much. In consequence of the sickness of Drs. Barton and Horsely, the duty of operating, dressing, and attending nearly a hundred wounded and as many siclv fell on him; and it must be gratifying to you, sir, to know that of the whole number only three have died. I can only say that in the event of my having another command, I should con- sider myself particularly fortunate in having him with me as a sur- geon.'' OtdnZ'i^ j£c ei^^J-cm^ HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 215 following year. Since then, Dr. P. has resided in Provi- dence, Rhode Island, excepting the winter of 1831, when he was Professor in Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. In 1822 he married the daughter of Abiel Holmes, D.D.,LL.D., of Cambridge, (author of Annals of Ame- rica,) who deceased in 1825, leaving one son, Dr. C. W. Parsons, of Providence. In 1852 Dr. Parsons was chosen first vice-president of the National Medical Association. He is the author of several medical books, and of the Life of Sir Wm. Pep- perell. Dr. P. combines not only eminence as a professional man and scholar, but all the virtues and graces of a Christian gentleman. The period he was stationed in Erie and the arduous duties which then devolved upon him, made a last- ing impression, and in its growth and prosperity, and the friends of those early and exciting times, he has ever mani- fested a warm interest. Dr. John Culbertson Wallace was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Febraary 14th, 1771. He was a good classical scholar, and graduated as Doctor of Medi- cine, at Philadelphia, under Rush and other celebrated medical men. In 1794 he accompanied General Wayne as surgeon in the Indian war; in 1796 was stationed at Fort Fayette, Pittsburg, and in 1801 went to Kentucky with General Wilkinson's command. The same year he was married to Miss Margaret Heron, daughter of Captain Jas. Heron, of the army, being a couple remarkable for personal grace and beauty. Dr. W. resigned his commis- sion as surgeon in the army, and after a residence of three years in Franklin, removed to Erie. Dr. Wallace commanded an Erie County regiment at the commencement of the war of 1812, and was called into ser- vice with his regiment in the alarm that arose on the burn- ing of Buffalo. Dr. Parsons, of the navy, was acting-sur- geon of Colonel Wallace's regiment for a short time. In 216 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. attending upon the wounded after the battle of Lake Erie, Dr. W. assisted Dr. Parsons at the hospital, (court-house,) daring the months of November, December, and January. Dr. Wallace was elected the first Burgess of Erie, in 1808, and also held the offices of Justice of the Peace, County Commissioner, and Coroner. Dr. Wallace was possessed of very considerable talents, being endowed by nature with unusual discernment, which he exercised as well on ordinary occasions as in his profession. He died December 8th, 1827, being but little past the meridian of life. E.EV. Robert Reid* was the son of James Reid and Elizabeth Craig. He was born at Reid's Hill, Hills- borough, near Belfast, Ireland, on the 5th of November, a.d. 1181. Owing to the troublous state of the times in their native country, his father, James Reid, and the three sons, Robert, Isaac, and James, then their sole family, the mother having died young, emigrated to this country in the fall of 1*798, during the political troubles then raging; in which, as most Protestants had done, he and his connections had taken sides with the government and Orangemen. This was not remarkable, as their ancestor. Captain John Reid, had emigrated to that country from England under William of Orange, and was under him at the famous battle of the Boyne over a hundred years before, and after the final suc- cess of that struggle, remained in the country where most of his descendants still are. James Reid settled in Philadelphia, and died there in 1821, and was buried in the then Spring Garden Cemetery. James Reid, the son, removed to Boston, but died young in Philadelphia, leaving an only daughter, Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Koch, the paleontologist, of St. Louis, well known and still pleasantly remembered by most of our older citizens of this county. Isaac Reid became a shipowner and trader to the Guianas and South America. He died in * Biography of Rev. Robert Reid, by a relative. ^^r J- C.ButHre.if'^- HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 2 It Philadelphia in 1854, leaving an only son now living, Dr. Neville Craig Reid, of Philadelphia; while Robert, the oldest and subject of this sketch, deeply imbned with the idea of religions duty, determined to devote himself to the service of the Gospel of Christ. He entered, as a student, the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, in 1801, and graduated with honor in 1805, being appointed imme- diately thereafter tutor in the chair of mathematics, which post he continued to fill during the following year. Then entering the Theological Seminary of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church, at that time located in the City of New York, he continued his clerical and profes- sional studies under the presidency of the celebrated Dr. John Mason. Having engaged in the necessary prepara- tions for the sacred calling with a zeal and perseverance characteristic of him through life, his studies were deep and thorough. Religion was in him not only practical piety, but a science as profound as the great Author of the universe, into the workings of whose miud we might by means of it obtain some faint glimpses; while his study of the original languages of the sacred writings continued and prosecuted there became one of the main pursuits of his life — one hour of every secular day when in his study being ever after devoted to the critical study and examination of the Scriptures in the original, as "containing the only rule of faith and practice," and as being the emanations and teachings of the Divine Spirit. Having completed the usual course and trials, he was licensed in 1809 under the authority of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, and for the next two years the field of his labors was in Virginia, Mary- land, and Pennsylvania; principally in and west of the mountains, fulfilling Presbyterial appointments. During his licentiate, he traveled over much wild and then thinly settled country, and preached in many neighbor- hoods, and sometimes a sermon for each day in the week. In the fall of 1811, in company with the Rev. Samuel 19* 218 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. Wier, (afterward his brother-in-law,) also a licentiate of the same Presbytery, under the authority of the Presbytery of Monongahela, he arrived at Erie, and in 1812 he was regularly ordained and installed as pastor of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church, then the only organized re- ligious association in Erie.* Some years after, another congregation of the same church was organized in Waterford, and for many years thereafter he continued to preach. During the war of 1812-13, he often officiated as chaplain to Perry's fleet here and to the army on shore, and in alarms, like most of our older citizens, was sometimes on duty in the ranks. He was married on the 11th of April, 1816, to Elizabeth, daughter of David Calhoun, Esq., of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, an elder of the Associate Reformed church. She died young, after having been to him and his people a true clergyman's wife for eleven years, and was long remem- bered affectionately, and still is by her few surviving friends, throughout the country of his ministrations. In November, 1828, he was again united in marriage with Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Rev. Matthew Lind, an eminent clergyman of the Associate Reformed church, and long pastor of the famous Paxton Church, near Harrisburg. She still survives him, residing now in Mansfield, Ohio, while the memory of her numerous kindnesses is still cherished among the members of the church, and many others. * "On Wednesday, the 21st day of October, 1812, Rev. Robert Reid was ordained pastor, the Rev. Messrs. David Kerr, Mungo Dick, and James McConaell were the members of the Presbytery who were present. On Wednesday, the 21st of April, 1813, the Rev. Mr. Galloway, of Mercer, and Mr. Junkin, ruling elder, assisting, Archibald McSparren, Thomas Hughes, and David Robinson were ordained, and Alexander Robinson was installed, ruling elders, and James Dumars ordained Deacon of the congregation." — Copied from the original records, pp. 83, 84, of the Associate Reformed church of Erie, Pennsylvania. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 219 In 1819 the Erie Academy was incorporated, and he was elected President of the Board of Trustees, the duties of which office he continued to perform for twenty-five years, to the close of his life. In him the cause of populai- education from the earliest times here, and during all that period, had a constant, efficient, and devoted friend ; and after the organ- ization of the Erie Academy, until a competent principal could be procured, he occupied the position of the first prin- cipal of the institution.* After a service of more than a third of a century in the ministry, he died on the 16th May, 1844, in the sixty-third year of his age. He left six chil- dren surviving him, who are still living. As a clergyman he was devoted to, and industrious in, the dissemination of the truths of the Gospel and of the doc- trines of Presbyterianism, and ardent in the defense and support of the Presbyterian form of church government, which he believed to lie deeply at the foundation of our Republican institutions ; and with his pen as well, he was ever ready to discuss and defend the doctrines of the branch of the church to which he belonged. His published works are : — 1. A Funeral Sermon on the Death of Lieutenant Brooks, U. S. K, published in 1813. 2. A Sermon, " The Reign of Truth and Righteousness about to commence," in 1824. 3. A Tract, " Observations on Dr. Watt's Preface to the Psalms of David," etc., in 1825. 4. " The Seven Last Plagues, being Dissertations on the * One of Rev. R. Reid's parishioners informed me that his custom was to visit every family of his congregation once in six weeks. Tliis, with memorizing all sermons, in accordance with the practice of the denomination, must have called for untiring industry. Two hundred and fifty dollars, and at the utmost never more than three hundred dollars, was the salary allowed for the support of the pastor and his family. L. G S. 220 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. Prophecies of the Book of Daniel, and on the Book of Revelations." 1 Vol.: 1828. 5. "Helps to Christian Devotion ;" consisting of critical translations of, and dissertations on, the first twenty-three Psalms. 1 Vol., in 1833. 6. Two "Tracts on Church Government," published in 1839 and '41. In all his works, and throughout a life engaged in the development and enforcing of Scripture truth, he was de- voted to the doctrines of the church as maintained in the " Westminster Confession of Faith," as held by that branch of the great Presbyterian family — the Associate Reformed, now the "United Presbyterian Church" of the United States — and to the exclusive use of the Psalms of Scripture in Divine worship. As a scholar, he was distinguished for a profound and critical knowledge of the original languages of the sacred writings and their cognates, and as a mathematician. To the study of the exact sciences much of his leisure was ap- propriated, and his occasional contributions to the scientific periodicals of the day are still evidences of his extra-clerical lucubrations. Thomas Wilson was born near Sunbury, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in 1772. His father, John Wilson, who was one of the earliest settlers of Northumberland County, died in 1774, and his sister Agnes soon after was married to General David Mead, the pioneer to the waters of French Creek, and the first settler of the pleasant town which bears his name. In 1782 a band of Indians entered the residence of Mrs. Wilson, being led by a chief who had frequently been fed there, and after emptying the ticks and filling them with the most valuable household goods, de- parted with the mother and Margaret, a little daughter, prisoners. Seeing one of Thomas's garments on the grass, the chief angrily demanded him also, but fortunately he could not be found. Before evening they sent the mother '^a:vei bv-J"X-B-ui*^' HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 221 back, but she feared to enter the house lest the Indians should return, and remained through the night in the stable. The child was redeemed three years after at Detroit, and afterward married a Mr. Barry, of Toronto. In 1802 Mr. Wilson was married at Water ford to Miss Mary Nay] or, who resided with her brother, Jas. Naylor, Esq. , being stationed thei'e as Issuing Commissary for many years. Mr. Wilson removed to Erie in 1805. He had, for many years, been in partnership with Mr. Oliver Ormsby, of Pittsburg, in contracts for supplying all the Western military posts from Niagara to New Orleans ; his last contract, which was at the time when Louisiana was ceded to the United States, proved unfor- tunate, and involved him beyond recovery. The year of his removal to Erie he built two vessels, one on Lake Erie, called the Mary, and the Fair American on Lake Ontario, being the best on those lakes ; afterward he built the Lark at Erie. Mr. W. was a man of remarkable business talent and en- terprise, and held various offices of trust in Erie with credit, being successively Justice of the Peace, County Treasurer, County Commissioner, member of the Legislature, and mem- ber of Congress, and at the time of his death, in 1824, he held the office of Prothonotary. Mrs. Wilson still survives. The eldest daughter, Jane L., who deceased in 1860, was an agreeable and interest- ing writer, and the author of several works published by religious societies. The titles of the principal ones are "Broken Cisterns," " Arthur Singleton," and " Ruth Elmer." P. S. y. Hamot was born in Paris, France, on the 28th November, 1*184. His father was a captain in the French army, and a royalist, and left France for Russia, where he resided during the "reign of terror." Returning to France after the establishment of the " Republic," he offered to pro- cure for his son a lieutenancy in the army; but such a posi- tion not being in accordance with his tastes, and his atten- tion having been turned to the new republic of the West, 222 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. he preferred to come to America and to try his fortune in a new and strange land. His father consenting, he came to Philadelphia, with the French consul, in 1802, as "I'horame de eonfiance," as expressed in his passport. The consul died soon after his arrival, leaving Mr. Hamot a friendless youth, and among a people in whose language he was little versed. His self-reliance, peculiarly a trait of his character, did not allow him to despond. A mercantile situation offering, he started for the West, as the clerk of a French house, in charge of a stock of merchandise. The vessel on the route was wrecked on Lake Ontario, but, with the goods recovered, he opened a store at Niagara, Canada, and from thence removed to Lewiston, and in 180.5 to Ei'ie. In 1810 he formed a partnership with Messrs. E. & D. Alvord, of Salina, who dealt largely in salt. This business connection continued many years. He was also engaged in general mercantile business on his own account, and was one of the first and most successful merchants of the place. Mr. Hamot held responsible and honorable offices under the government; being at one time Canal Commissioner, and at another Superintendent of Public Works at Erie. He was the first cashier of the Erie Bank and one of the principal stockholders. As a business man, he was fortu- nate, and noted for his activity and energy in the prosecu- tion of his plans, and for sound judgment. He engaged warmly in politics, his sympathies and feelings being with the democratic party; and his politeness and hearty hos- pitality won for him many attached friends. Mr. Hamot was twice married : to Adeline Woodruff, of Lewiston, New York, in 1818, who died in 1821 ; and to Elizabeth Col- trin, widow of Dr. Asa Coltrin, and daughter of George Keefer, of Thorold, Canada, in 1825. He died October nth, 1846. Captain Daniel Dobbins was born near Lewistown, in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, January 5th, 1116. He came to Erie with Esquire Rees's party of surveyors in 1195, HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 223 when all was a wilderness. In July, 1812, while lying with his vessel, the Salina, at Mackinaw, he was taken prisoner by the British, it being his first intimation that war had been declared. Having landed the night before on the north side of the island, they took possession of the fort and the ves- sels in the harbor. R. S. Reed and William Reed, of Erie, were on the Salina as passengers, but were dismissed on parole. Captain Dobbins was also allowed to return home. In Chapter XY. is found an account of Captain D.'s services in forwarding the construction of the squadron in 1813; and that through his discernment and perseverance Erie became the naval station. While in the navy as sailing-master he was also engaged in the merchant service. He had command of the Wash- ington in 1816, which the same year conveyed troops to Green Bay, and was the first vessel which had entered that harbor, it being a difficult task to navigate it. On this first visit, Washington Harbor was called for the vessel ; Boyer's Bluff, for Colonel Boyer, who was aboard ; Chambers's Island, for Colonel Chambers, aboard ; Green Island, for an officer of the name aboard ; and the Captain's own name, Dobbins, was given to a small group of islands. In 1826 Captain D. was ordered to sea in the vessel fitted out to bring home the remains of Commodore Perry, and resigned his commission. In 1827 he was engaged in con- structing piers at Ashtabula. In 1829 General Jackson appointed him to the command of the revenue cutter Rush, to which he was reappointed by President Polk in 1845, and he left active service in the revenue department in 1849. Captain Dobbins was possessed of sterling qualities, and being a close observer, recorded many interesting incidents connected with the navigation of the lakes and life on the frontier. He died at the age of eighty, February 29, 1856. Thomas Hale Sill. — Among the early residents of Erie, and belonging to that set of men who found it a fron- tier settlement in what was then the distant West, and of 224 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. '■ those who devoted their energies and talents to the build- ing up of the place, the development of its resources, and the welfare of its inhabitants, the name of Thomas H. Sill may well be mentioned. A daily familiarity with the city and harbor, their natural advantages and all the improvements which skill has devised and industry added, may indeed cause the present genera- tion to forget the unremitting and varied exertions, extend- ing through the past half century, by which those advant- ages, now regarded as a matter of course, were first developed and secured. Of the men who during this period thus actively exerted themselves, hardly a survivor remains ; and a History of Erie County would be incomplete were no mention made of them, Mr. Sill having in early life selected Erie as his home, and become identified with its people and interests, and having for nearly half a century participated in the vicissi- tudes, hopes, struggles, and triumphs always incident to a settlement through the various steps of its progress and development into a city, the very incidents or events of the life of such a citizen are inseparable from and part of its history. We give, therefore, from the EiHe Gazette next succeed- ing Mr. Sill's decease, the following biographical notice: — "This gentleman, who closed his earthly career at his residence on Sixth Street last Thursday evening, was the senior member of the Erie County bar as well as one of the best known and most esteemed citizens of northwestern Penn- sylvania. He had so long and conspicuously figured in the affairs of this section of the State, and particularly of our city and county, that his name had become a household word — and seldom was that name mentioned without deep- seated respect. Aside from his qualifications as a lawyer, which were of the first order, he possessed traits of character calculated to inspire universal regard and admiration. His deportment was unassuming yet dignified, his disposition HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 225 kind and accommodating, his general coarse of conduct based upon principles of acknowledged integrity. As a husband he was attentive and affectionate, as a father kind and indulgent, as a neighbor generous and sympathizing, as a citizen active, honest, and true. In short, in all the rela- tions of life, whether as a lawyer, legislator, friend or neigh- bor, he exhibited a commendable spirit of interest in the welfare alike of the county, State, and country, ever sus- taining his endeavors to promote and secure the same by a strong and well cultivated intellect and ready and effective eloquence. "Mr. Sill was born at Windsor, Connecticut, on the 11th of October, 1783. His father. Captain Richard L. Sill, served in the revolutionary war, and occupied an honor- able position in his day. Graduating at Brown University, in September, 1804, and his health failing him, he traveled in the Southern States and made a voyage to the West Indies — at intervals, as health permitted, studying law. Com- pleting his law studies with the Hon. Jacob Burnett, of Cincinnati, in 1809, he commenced practice in Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio. His health again failed, and after going back to Connecticut and returning to the West as far as Pittsburg, he was induced to locate at Erie, then a naval station, where he arrived in July, 1813, and remained until his death. From 1816 to 1818 he held the office of Deputy United States Marshal. In 1819 he was appointed Deputy Attorney-General for Warren County, and was present at .the opening of the first court — practicing from that time until a recent period in the several courts of Erie, Warren, and Crawford Counties. The confusion occasioned by the burning of the court-house, with the records, in 1823, in- duced a general movement in favor of sending him to Har- risburg in the capacity of a representative. In compliance therewith he relinquished his practice, and represented the district during the session of 1823-24. By dint of earnest effort he procured the passage of an act remedying the 20 226 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. losses and inconveniences resulting from the destruction of the county records, connected with an appropriation from the State to assist in rebuilding the court-house. He suc- ceeded Hon. Patrick Farrelly in Congress in 1826, and was re-elected in 1828 — being at that period the only anti-Jack- son member from Pennsylvania. He declined a re-election at that time. He was appointed President of the United States Branch Bank in 1837, and held the office to the close of the existence of that institution. At various times he was elected burgess of the then Borough of Erie, and for nearly thirty years filled the office of trustee of the Erie Academy ; ever exhibiting a deep interest in the educational aifairs of the city and county. He was elected in 1836 to the Con- vention to amend the Constitution of Pennsylvania — a body composed of the ablest and best men in the State — men like Forward, Sergeant, Meredith, Chauncey, Chandler, and E,ei- gert — and it is due to his- memory to say that in this body he acquired and maintained a position of commanding in- fluence. He was chosen Presidential Elector in 1848, and, in accordance with the expressed voice of the State as well as his own preference, voted for Taylor and Fillmore. Fee- ble health having, in a great measure, incapacitated him for the laborious practice of his profession, he was appointed postmaster of Erie by President Taylor, on the 16th of April, 1849. President Fillmore reappointed him, and he continued to serve until June, 1853. He died February Tth, 1856, ' full of years and full of honors.' "Mr. Sill was confessedly one of the Jirst members of his profession. He excelled particularly as an advocate, never failing, by his clear logic, smooth diction, strong sympathies and unvarying candor and courtesy, to produce a deep im- pression, and frequently carrying the jury with him against the instructions of the court and the aj^parent law of the case. In this respect he had few if any superiors, and was always considered a dangerous competitor in the prosecu- tion of important suits. Taking him all in all, he was a HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 221 great and good man, enjoying the confidence and respect of all classes of society, and dying without a known enemy. He leaves a family consisting of his esteemed consort, four sons and one daughter, and several grandsons and grand- daughters, with an ample though not large estate — the fruit of honorable eifort and persevering industry. "The estimate of the court and bar of the county is well reflected in the resolutions adopted the morning after his death. They evince the prevailing sentiment in all circles in which the distinguished deceased was known, and consti- tute a certificate of public and private worth such as few receive or deserve." On the day after his decease, the court having convened, Charles W. Kelso feelingly announced the death of Mr. Sill, and on behalf of the bar presented resolutions touching the event. Mr. Elliot, the senior member of the bar, moved their adoption, adding his own high estimate of the character of the deceased, with whom he had so long been contemporary. Messrs. Walker and Marshall and Judge Thompson suc- cessively followed with eulogies upon the deceased, evincive of their high admiration of his character. The President Judge (Hon. John Galbraith) responded in like terms, whereupon the court adjourned. The deep feeling and sympathetic attention of the vast audience dur- ing the entire ceremony attested how sincerely the deceased was respected by the people among whom he had so long resided and who had known him so well. The resolutions adopted will close this notice. "Whereas, We have just learned the death of the Hon. Thomas H. Sill, the oldest member of the bar in this judi- cial district, and it is due to the professional eminence and personal worth of the deceased that we, his professional associates, should bear our public testimony to his talents and many estimable traits of character; therefore, "Resolved, That we, the members of the court and bar of 228 HISTORY OF ERIS COUNTY. Erie County, have heard with sincere regret the death of one whom for many years we have regarded as the father of the profession in this county. "Resolved, That while we regret his death, we find in his history and character much that is worthy of our emulation, professionally and personally. With a mind of more than ordinary quickness and clearness, stored with varied and extensive professional and general knowledge, which com- mands the respect of all capable of appreciating unobtrusive intellect, he united a kindness of nature, a mild dignity of character, a rigid fidelity to truth and integrity, a tender re- spect for the feelings of all with whom he was associated, which secured for him the affectionate regard of all who knew him. "Besolved, That in whatever of the varied and honorable positions our much-revered friend and associate was placed, whether as a man in the sacred retirement of the domestic circle, as a public servant intrusted by the people with public duties, or as a practitioner of law, through a long, eminent, and successful course, we point to him as an example of the usefulness and honor which will ever attend the high-minded and honorable discharge of the duties of our profession. "Resolved, That we tender to the family of our deceased associate our most sincere sympathy in the loss they have sustained by the death of one whose traits of personal character were most endearing and best appreciated in the sacred privacy of the domestic circle. "Resolved, That we, the members of the court and bar of Erie County, will attend in a body the funeral of our deceased associate. " Resolved, That these resolutions be entered upon the minutes of the court, and that we will wear crape on our left arms for thirty days as a tribute of respect to the deceased. "Ordered by the court that a copy of these proceedings be furnished the family of the deceased." -Si^rarea V J CB-vittre?^- ^^^J^^4-4^UA The letter of Lieutenant Elliot was the only information Mr. Dobbins could get from that quarter; not being satis- fied with this he hastened to Black Rock, where he found Lieutenant Angus in command, and as he had not heard from Commodore Chauucey, or from any other quarter, of the building of gunboats at Erie, he expressed himself at a loss what course to pursue. Captain Dobbins, however, employed Ebenezer Crosby as master carpenter, which Lieu- 244 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. tenant Angus sanctioned, and returned to Erie determined to urge forward the work with such house-carpenters as he could procure.* * Extract of a letter from Captain Dobbins to the Secretary of the Navy. "Erie, Pa., December 12th, 1812. "Sir:— "I have expected workmen, or orders to employ them, but have received none, owing, in all probability, to the Commodore (Chaun- cey) not coming on (to Black Rock) as was expected. I have, how- ever, gone on with the work, and at this time have two of the boats on the stocks, and will engage to have them all ready by the time the ice is out of the lake if required. " Their dimensions are 50 feet keel, 17 feet beam, and 5 feet hold, and I think will be fast sailers. If it is desired that I should pro- ceed with the work, please authorize me to draw upon the Depart- ment, as I have already expended a considerable sum over the $2000 already drawn, the vouchers of which expenditure I will forward by the next mail. I have found a merchant (R.. S. Eeed) in this place, who will advance money on drafts. I have negotiated those already received with him, and have continued to draw, as I feel satisfied the Department do not wish the work to stop. It appears the Commodore (Chauncey) has been so engaged on the lower lake as to have taken all his attention; but the ice will soon lock him, as it has the harbor at this place, which forms a complete barrier against the enemy this winter. I have not been able to make con- tracts for the construction, in accordance with the wish of the De- partment, as the people in this country are poor and would fail to comply. I have made individual contracts with each workman. The iron I procure at Pittsburg, which comes high, as the roads are bad and transportation expensive. "Please send me instructions at your earliest convenience. "I have the honor to be, very respectfully, etc., "Daniel Dobbins, Sailing-master U. S. JSf. "Hon. Paul Hamilton, Secretary of the Navy.''' It still being urged at the Department that Black Rock was a more suitable place for a naval station tlian Erie, Captain Dobbins ad- dressed a letter to the Secretary on the subject, dated December 19, 1812, from which tlie following is an extract: "In regard to the vessels cut down and lying in an unfinished state at Black Rock, HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 245 Early in January Commodore Chauncey and Mr. Henry Eckford, his principal carpenter, came on, and inspected and approved the work, and gave instructions to get out timber for two sloops of war. Mr. Xoah Brown, a master ship- wright from New York, came on early in March with twenty- live carpenters. In a letter from Mr. Dobbins to the Secretary of the Navy, dated March fourteenth, we find the following: "The keels of the two brigs are ready to lay ; the gunboats are ready for caulking. Although everything looks encourag- ing, yet I have my fears of the secret incendiary as well as the prowling spy of the enemy, and that in a moment our labor may be destroyed. I find I cannot raise any volun- teers to guard the vessels, but have made arrangements with the carpenters in the yard to stand guard until I hear from you. Mr. Brown joins me in my opinion in regard to the danger, and the course I intend to pursue to secure a guard for the vessels." This guard, with a well-armed volunteer company of sixty citizens, commanded by Colonel Thomas Forster, constituted, for some time, the only protection of the town and vessels. Captain Perry immediately on his arrival dispatched Mr. Dobbins to Buffalo for seamen and muskets, and, if possible, two 12-pounders. After a most perilous and fatiguing ex- pedition, Mr. D. returned with one 12-pouuder, (having left Bufi"alo with three,) four chests of arms, ammunition, etc. The difficulty of creating a squadron where most of the sup- plies must come from the seashore — the cordage, cannons, powder and balls — at an inclement season, through a half- settled country, with miserable roads, can scarcely be con- ceived. On the evening of the thirtieth of March, Sailing-master there can be but little confidence placed in their safety. The yard is within reach of the batteries of the enemy, and if finished, the ves- sels would be cut to pieces with their shot in passing up the rapids into the lake." 246 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. W. V. Taylor arrived from Sackett's Harbor with twenty offi- cers and men, and the next day Captain Perry left for Pitts- burg to procure necessary stores, and to hasten, if possible, the coming of the expected carpenters. He arrived there on the fourth of April, and made arrangements to procure from Philadelphia canvas for the sails of the squadron, and also passed two days in visiting the different shops of the mechanics employed in working for his vessels. Many of the articles they had never before manufactured, and in such cases minute directions were required. Captain A. K. WooUey rendered him great assistance in supplying neces- sary stores by loaning him four small guns and some muskets, and in superintending the casting of the shot. The carpen- ters, he found, had passed on to Erie, but their tools were yet to come, and the blockmakers were equally unfortunate. Having impressed upon the manufacturers the necessity of all being completed by the first of May, he departed on the seventh of April, and reached Erie on the tenth. In his absence he found the work had progressed rapidly. At Captain Perry's earnest request. General Mead had stationed five hundred militia at Erie, so that a defense could be set up in case the British attempted the destruction of the vessels. Two of the gunboats, the Porcupine and Tigress, were launched the fifteenth of April, and were soon equipped for service. The Scorpion had been lengthened twelve feet by Mr. Eckford's order, and was not launched until the first of May. These were built at the mouth of Lee's Run — afterward known as the "Navy Yard" — the government having rented the ground for a term of years and erected there a storehouse, hospital, and other buildings. The two brigs that were laid down shortly be- fore Commodore Perry's arrival were launched about the twenty-fourth of May. The Lawrence and Niagara were built and rigged precisely alike.* Their frames were of * The Lawrence was the better sailer. Commodore Sinclair, a year or two after the battle, suggested alterations in the Niagara which much improved it. HISTQRY OP ERIE COUNTY. 2i1 white and black oak, and the decks of pine. They were 110 feet in length, and 260 toiis burden ; were pierced for 20 guns, and carried 132 officers and men. These, with the pilot-boat schooner Ariel, were built at the Cascade, about one mile west of the town, where there was a good depth of water. On the twenty-third of May, Captain Perry suddenly took his departure for Lake Ontario, and was absent until the seventeenth of June. Captain Perry was promised the command of the seamen and marines that might land when an attack was made on Fort George, and accordingly when he heard that Commodore Chauncey expected to be at Niagara in a day or two, and the attack be made, joined him immediately. Captain Perry left Erie in a four-oared boat at evening, and after a journey full of discomforts and perils, rendered valuable service by superintending the em- barkation of the troops. Commodore Chauncey, in his official report, mentioned that " Captain Perry was present at every point where he could be useful, under showers of musketry, but fortunately escaped unhurt." The capture of Fort George led to the evacuation by the British of the whole Niagara frontier, and Captain Perry was enabled to return with five small vessels of the government which had been detained in Seajaguady Creek, back of Squaw Island, by the enemy's batteries on the Canada shore. One of the vessels, the Caledonia, 3 guns, 85 tons, Lieutenant Elliot had surprised and taken from the enemy; the Somers, 2 guns, 65 tons, formerly the Catharine ; the Trippe, 1 gun, 63 tons, formerly the Contractor; the Ohio, 1 gun, 62 tons; and the Amelia, formerly the General Wilkison, built at Detroit, 1802, 1 gun, 72 tons, had been pur- chased and fitted for service by Mr. Eckford.* On the twenty-eighth of May, the laborious work of dragging * The Amelia was condemned, on examination, immediately ;^fter the vessels reached Erie, and sunk in the harbor. 248 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. the five vessels against the current of the Niagara, which varied in strength from five to seven knots, commenced. To aid Captain Perry in the work, two hundred soldiers, under command of Captains Brevoort and Young, were loaned him by General Dearborn ; he had also a party of officers and fifty seamen, that remained with him until after the battle. At Black Rock navy stores were taken aboard; and after two weeks of incredible fatigue, the vessels passed the rapids. On the evening of the fourteenth, they set sail from Buffalo and reached Erie on the evening of the eigh- teenth without having been molested, though the enemy had a force in the vicinity six times that of the Americans. The British ship Queen Charlotte and schooner Lady Frevost lay at Long Point when the vessels passed up. When hovering afterward around Sturgeon Point, they discovered a boat passing up the Lake, which had left Buffalo Creek the pre- ceding evening loaded with valuable property. The vessels immediately gave chase and fired several guns, but the Yankee skipper was two wide awake for them, and ran into Cattaragus Creek and escaped. It is certain Captain Perry manifested as much his skill and address here, as his indefatigable perseverance in stemming the rapids. Previous to the war the English had upon the lakes what was termed a Provincial Marine ; the vessels had a slight armament, and were used to transport troops, Indian goods, and sometimes the property of individuals. This squad- ron was now commanded by Captain Finnis, of the Royal Navy, and consisted of the ship Queen Charlotte, 11 guns, between 200 and 300 tons; the schooner Lady Prevost, 13 guns, 96 tons; the brig Hunter, 10 guns, 73 tons; schooner Little Belt, 3 guns; and Chippeway, 1 gun. Several of these vessels, and those of the Americans, were in sight from the same point on the bank of the lake, and just as the last vessel entered the harbor the enemy ap- peared in the distance. They must have greatly under- rated the spirit as well as strength of their adversary, and HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 249 supposed they could be crushed without difficulty at any moment. A letter awaited Captain Perry, on his arrival at Erie, from the Secretary of the Navy, highly complimenting his conduct at Fort George, as well as his exertions at Erie. In reply to this, Captain Perry expressed diffidence as to his own capabilities, and "that no exertion should be want- ing on his part to promote the honor of the service." He informed the secretary "that one of the brigs was completely rigged and had her battery mounted, the other would be equally far advanced in a week; the sails of both vessels were nearly completed, and on the arrival of the shot and anchors from Pittsburg, which were confidently expected soon, all the vessels would be ready for service in one day after the reception of the crews." Lieutenant Brooks, of the marines, was engaged in recruiting, and had succeeded in enlisting thirty men at Erie and Pittsburg. In place of an increase of forces which Captain Perry so much needed, General Dearborn, in consequence of an order from the Secretary of War, recalled the two hundred soldiers which had been loaned from Fort George to assist in bringing up the vessels. Captain Brevoort, if it were agreeable to himself and Captain Perry, he consented might be retained, and, as he had navigated the lakes, he would be particu- larly useful. But five days after this reduction of forces, instructions came from the Secretary of the Navy, to co-operate with General Harrison in the Northwest for the recovery of Michigan. This presupposed that the squadron was pro- vided with officers and men, and ready for action, when, in reality. Commodore Chauncey had retained the crews at Sackett's Harbor. The plan of the commodore appeared to be to overpower the enemy on Lake Ontario, and then repeat the action in person on Lake Erie. He seemed to forget the disadvantage of keeping officers and men strangers to one another and their vessel, until they were to encounter 22 250 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. the enemy, and that but a handful of men, and these re- duced by sickness, were expected to equip the vessels. Captain Perry immediately wrote to Commodore Chaun- cey, expressing a very great desire to have .the officers and men that were to join him, especially a commander for the second brig. He had but seldom the satisfaction of a direct reply from the commodore, but it was rumored that three hundred and fifty men would soon be on the way, and ac- cordingly two boats were dispatched to Buffalo, on the eighteenth of July, in addition to the two that had con- veyed the Fort George men to their destination. The sail- ing-master that had charge of the boats was directed to proceed with the greatest caution on account of the enemy's squadron, which was daily in sight of Erie, and nearly block- aded the port. On their return they were advised to keep close in shore, and call at Chataqua and Twenty-mile Creek for instructions. On the nineteenth of July Captain Perry informed Cen- eral Harrison that he had but one hundred and fifty men fit for service, with fifty others on the sick list. On the same day he received a second order from the Secretary of the Navy, to co-operate with Harrison, under the belief that the squadron was manned, and also a letter from General Harrison, stating that the enemy would soon launch their new ship, the Detroit, and that they had just received a reinforcement of experienced officers and prime seamen. Perry could only reply to the secretary, "that the enemy were then oif the harbor, and the moment he had a suffi- cient number of men he would be able to sail, and trusted that the issue of the contest would be favorable." He then wrote to Commodore Chauncey as follows : — "Dear Sir: — " The enemy's fleet of six sail are now ofi" the bar of the harbor. What a golden opportunity if we had men ! Their object is no doubt either to blockade or attack us, or to HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 251 carry provisions and reinforcements to Maiden. Should it be to attack us, we are ready to meet them. I am con- stantly looking to the eastward; every mail and every traveler from that quarter is looked to -as the harbinger of the glad tidings of our men being on their way. I am fully aware how much your time must be occupied with the important concerns of the lake. Grive me men, sir, and I will acquire both for you and myself honor and glory on this lake, or perish in the attempt. Conceive my feelings ; an enemy within striking distance, my vessels ready, and not men enough to man them. Going out with those I now have is out of the question. You would not suffer it were you here. I again ask you to think of my situation ; the enemy in sight, the vessels under my command more than sufficient, and ready to make sail, and yet obliged to bite my fingers with vexation for want of men. I know, my dear sir, full well you will send me the crews for the vessels as soon as possible ; yet a day appears an age. I hope that the wind or some other cause will delay the enemy's return to Maiden until my men arrive, and I will have them.^^ A day or two after this, the enemy were becalmed off Erie, and Captain Perry pulled out to the bar with three gunboats to annoy them. A few shots were exchanged, and one of them struck the mizzen-mast of the Queen Char- lotte, when a breeze springing up, they stood off. On the twenty-third. Captain Perry received another com- munication from the secretary, urging the importance of immediately destroying the enemy's squadron. Again he replied, "that he was fully aware of the importance of the object — that his ships were ready but without crews." Had the men been sent directly from Philadelphia, in place of having to undergo what was familiarly called the "Sackett's Harbor examination," the object would have been better and more speedily effected. However, the same day that he 252 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. replied to the secretary, seventy men and officers arrived from Lake Ontario, and Perry wrote Commodore Chauncey ac- knowledging the receipt of his letter and the seventy men, and earnestly requesting a full supply of officers and men for his vessels. About this time a concentration of the enemy's troops took place at Long Point, directly opposite Erie, at the distance of forty miles, and fears were entertained lest an attack should be made upon Brie and the squadron destroyed before the arrival of the crews. Great consternation pre- vailed among the inhabitants of the village, many of them removing their families and goods back from the lake. Major-General Mead was called upon for a reinforcement of the militia, who made a show of defense by parading the high bank, when the enemy were in sight. The officers were all kept aboard, and boats rowed guard throughout the night. Captain Perry apprised the Secretary of the Navy and Commodore Chauncey of the fact, and also that he had no apprehension for the fleet even though the enemy should get possession of the town, which he did not expect. It proved afterward that an attack had been planned, but failed for the want of troops at the proper time. On the twenty-seventh of July, Captain Perry received a letter by express from General Holmes, by order of General Harrison, stating that the enemy had invested Fort Meigs a second time with a heavy force, and that the presence of the enemy's squadron off Erie was unfortunate, unless Cap- tain Perry could either elude or fight them. He urged in strong terms, for General Harrison, that Captain Perry's great object should be to co-operate with the army by sail- ing up Lake Erie, and concluded his letter with " assurances of the perfect conviction of the general, that on his part no exertion would be omitted to give the crisis an issue of pro- fit and glory to the arms of our country." Captain Perry immediately inclosed the letter of General Holmes to Com- modore Chauncey with the following, indicating his distress of mind in being so unnecessarily hampered : — history op erie county. 253 "Sir:— " I have tliis moment received by express the inclosed letter from General Harrison. If I had officers and men, and I have no doubt yon will send them, I could fight the enemy and proceed up the lake. Bnt having no one to command the Niagara, and only one commissioned lieu- tenant and tv/o acting lieutenants, whatever my wishes may be, going out is out of the question. The men that came by Mr. Charaplin are a motley set, blacks, — soldiers, and boys. I cannot think you saw them after they were selected. I am, however, pleased to see anything in the shape of a man." On the thirtieth of July he received from Lake Ontario an additional reinforcement of sixty officers and men, and soon after opened a rendezvous for landsmen, to serve four mouths or until after a decisive battle, at ten dollars a month. He had now three hundred officers and men to man two twenty-gun brigs (each brig carried one hundred and thirty- two men) and eight smaller vessels, and an aggregate of fifty-five guns. The men were in general of an inferior description, and more than one-fifth incapacitated for duty by disease incident to a change of climate. The able-bodied had been incessantly engaged in duties not relevant to their essential ones in a naval engagement, as gunners, boarders, pikemen, sail trimmers, etc. The disposition throughout the country to recognize a Providence in the war deserves attention. Dr. Parsons says: "On Sunday, the eighteenth of July, two respect- able missionaries, who were passing through Erie, were in- vited by the commodore on board one of the large ships, where as many officers and men as could be spared from all the vessels were assembled to hear prayers that were offered up for the success of the expedition. I shall never forget their fervent pleadings in our behalf, that we might subdue the hostile fleet, and thereby wrest from savage hands the tomahawk and scalping knife, that had been so cruelly 22* 254 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. wielded against the defenseless settlers on the frontiers, and that in the event of a victory, mercy and kindness might be shown to the vanquished." Several of the States appointed days of "thanksgiving, fasting, and prayers, that He in vrhose hands are the mighty, would in the hour of battle be their strength and deliver- ance." A resolution is recorded in the Pamphlet Laws of 1812, requesting the President of the United States to recommend a day of public humiliation. It reads as follows : — "It being a duty peculiarly incumbent in a time of public calamity and war, humbly and devoutly to acknowledge our dependence in Almighty God, and to implore his aid and protection; therefore, ^^ Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that a joint committee of both houses wait on the Presi- dent of the United States, and request that he recommend a day of public humiliation and prayer, to be observed by the people of the United States with religious solemnity, and the offering of fervent supplication to Almighty God for the safety and welfare of these States, his blessings upon their arms, and the speedy restoration of peace. " H. CLAY, Speaker of the H. R. " WM. H. CRAWFORD, President of the Senate pro. tern." The bay of Presqu'ile, as before mentioned, had a bar of light sand at its entrance, where the water, on an average eighteen feet in depth, varied from six to ten feet, and sometimes in a gale of wind was as low as five feet. Major Jas G. Totten, who surveyed the harbor in 1824, says: "In continuation of Presqu'ile, there is a sandbank under water, nearly a mile wide, which runs in a southeast direction to the shore of the main, a little eastward of the town of Erie, reducing the depth of the water in this part (the mouth of the basin) to about six feet on the average. HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 255 A narrow and winding channel runs through this bank, in which there is from five to nine feet water." On Sunday, the first of August, the large vessels arrived at the bar, and were visited by General Mead and staff in full dress, about noon, and received a national salute, fired by Lieutenant Holdup, in an excellent style. The firing drew people in from the country in great numbers, who lined the shore of the lake,* filled with astonishment, as they had never before seen a square-rigged vessel. In the evening all hands en- gaged in the work of lightening the vessels preparatory to crossing the bar. The draught of the brigs required that they should be lifted at least four feet, and Mr. Brown had planned to effect this by scows or camels. Captain Dob- bins, who was present and actively engaged, says : " There was less water in the channel by three feet than the vessels required, and after the guns and stores of the Lawrence had been taken ashore, (the guns being laid upon timbers on the sand-beach,) the two lighters or scows were placed on each side of her and large timbers put across the vessel and secured to the lighters. There were four holes in the bottom of the lighters, eight inches square, and plugs fitted to them, which reached above the tops of the lighters; these plugs were taken out and the lighters sunk. The timbers were then blocked upon the lighters, the plugs placed in the holes and the lighters pumped and bailed out, which raised the vessel to the height required to float her over. Before daylight on Tuesday, the vessel was afloat; by two o'clock, her armament was all on board, mounted, a salute fired, and ready for action. The same plan was the next day pursued with the Niagara, and by incessant labor, day and night, she was in twenty-four hours also ready for action. When the Niagara was on the bar with the lighters under her, the British squadron hove in sight, standing in for Erie. It fortunately happened that the wind caused the Lawrence to head in the same direction with the Niagara on the bar, and the weather being quite hazy, the 256 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. enemy must have supposed them both afloat. The head- most of the British vessels hove her main-top-sail to the mast, and lay by until the rest came up, and, after having exchanged signals, they hauled their wind and stood for Long Point. Here they put a courier ashore to proceed to Maiden, with orders to get the Detroit out as soon as possible." "The entire management pertaining to getting tlie vessels over the bar was of the most judicious kind, both in facilitat- ing the work and protecting the Lawrence and Niagara when aground. While the Lawrence was on the bar, the Niagara and smaller vessels were moored inside, with their broadsides toward the roadstead and within point-blank range of the enemy, should they attempt to approach near enough to destroy her. Besides this, three long 12-pounders were placed upon the bank about one hundred feet above the water, (where the lighthouse now stands,) protected by an earthen entrenchment; this was not more than three hun- dred yards from a line ranging directly over, and could have kept up a destructive fire upon the enemy before they could have reached the vessel." It has been said that Commodore Barclay lost the ascendency on Lake Erie, by attending a dinner given him and his officers at Port Dover, which is situated on Ey- erson's Creek, below Long Point. It appears there was a dinner given the officers there, about that time, and that Commodore Barclay replied to a complimentary toast in rather boastful and contemptuous terms when alluding to the "Yankee brigs hard and fast upon the bar." The com- pliment of a dinner was undoubtedly accepted by the British officers, but that the day of battle was deferred on that ac- count is scarcely worthy of belief. Captain Perry had looked forward with great anxiety to the passage of the bar. In a letter dated twenty-seventh of July, to the secretary, he says: "We are ready to sail the instant officers and men arrive ; and as the enemy appear determined to dispute the HISTORY OP ERIE- COUNTY. 25 Y passage of the bar with us, the question as to the command of Lake Erie will soon be decided." On the twenty- eighth of July another urgent appeal came from General Harrison. Captain Perry replied : "I am of opinion that in two days the naval superiority will be decided on Lake Erie. Should we be successful, I shall sail for the head of the lake immediately, to co-oper- ate with you, and I hope that our joint efforts will be pro- ductive of honor and advantage to our country. The squadron is not much more than half manned; but as I see no prospect of reinforcement, I have determined to commence my operations. * * * My anxiety to join you is very great, and had seamen been sent me in time, I should now in all probability have been at the head of the lake acting in conjunction with you." A call was made for volunteers, and a sufficient number offered to man the ves- sels for a cruise to Long Point, where the enemy were sup- posed to be. At three o'clock, on the morning of the sixth of August, the signal was made for the squadron to weigh anchor, and at four the vessels were all under sail. Prom daylight on the second to the fourth of August, Captain Perry, though in feeble health, had not closed his eyes, and not an officer or man of the squadron had enjoyed a mo- ment's rest, excepting such as could be snatched upon the deck. As they were in search of the enemy, the vessels were cleared for action, and there could consequently be little opportunity for repose. In twenty-four hours the squadron returned to Erie without having seen the enemy, and they afterward heard that they had sailed up the lake to Maiden. The list of vessels and commanders on this cruise were — the Lawrence, Captain Perry ; Niagara, Lieu- tenant D. Turner; Caledonia, Purser Magrath; schooner Ariel, Lieutenant J. Packett; Scorpion, Saihng-master S. Champlin; Tigress, Master's Mate A. McDonald; Porcu- pine, Midshipman Gr. Senat. The Ohio and Trippe were left behind for want of crews. 258 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. The evening of the eighth, it was Captain Perry's inten- tion to set sail for the head of the lake, but he was happily detained by the arrival of officers and men from Lake Ontario. Mr. Hambleton, who was purser of the Law- rence, and Captain Perry's confidential friend, has in his journal the following: "Went on shore and transacted a variety of business; paid off the volunteers, so that we have none but the four months' men who signed articles. Captain Perry has just received a letter from General Har- rison, informing him of the raising of the siege of Camp Meigs, and of the unsuccessful attack on the fort at San- dusky, commanded by Lieutenant Croghan. The prisoners taken there state that the new ship Detroit was launched at Maiden, on the seventeenth day of last month. Cap- tain Perry and I dined on shore. After dinner, being alone, we had a long conversation on the state of our affairs. He confessed that he was now much at a loss what to do. While he feels the danger of delay, he is not insensible to the danger of encountering an enemy without due preparation. His officers are few and inexperienced, and we are short of seamen. His repeated and urgent requests for men have been treated with the most mortify- ing neglect; he declines making another. While thus en- gaged, a midshipman, Mr. J. B. Montgomery, entered and handed him a letter. It was from Lieutenant Elliot on his way to join him, with several officers and eighty-nine seamen. He was electrified by this news, and as soon as we were alone, he declared he had not been so happy since his arrival." On the tenth, the party from Lake Ontario arrived at Erie, numbering one hundred and two souls, in- cluding two acting lieutenants, eight midshipmen, a mas- ter's mate, and a clerk. On the twelfth of August, Commodore Perry's squadron again set sail from Erie, with a few short of four hundred officers and men, for the headquarters of the Northwestern army, which were then at Seneca, on the banks of the San- HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 259 dusky. The order of sailing established by Perry's squad- ron was in a double column — the Lawrence, Porcupine, Caledonia, Ohio, and Ariel being on the right, and the Niagara, Trippe, Tigress, Somers, and Scorpion on the left. At first the Ariel and Scorpion, the best sailers of the small vessels, were placed opposite the enemy and near the com- modore ; in a situation to render support in any part of the line. Afterward the Scorpion was brought into the line, and the distance between the vessels was fixed at a half- cable's length, (three hundred and sixty feet.) Finally, there was an order of attack, in which each vessel had an antagonist assigned to it in the British squadron. Perry reserved to himself the privilege of fighting the largest of the enemy's ships, and, accordingly in his diagram, placed the Lawrence opposite the Detroit, and the Niagara oppo- site the Queen Charlotte. Provision was made in case the vessels should be separated in the night, to recognize each other by the following signal: Hoist one light and hail the vessel to windward; first answer "Jones," to which the leewardmost would reply "Madison." These with others were well conceived to promote concerted action and prevent surprise, and indicated judgment and forethought. On the sixteenth the squadron arrived off Cunningham's or Kelly's Island, and on the seventeenth the Scorpion, which was in advance of the squadron, reconnoitering the islands, in look- ing into Put-in-Bay discovered a small vessel of the enemy. This was the Ottawa, of twenty-five tons, that had pre- viously been captured at Maumee. She at once attempted to escape, but was closely pursued by the Scorpion, and would have been taken, but the Scorpion grounded in rounding a point off Middle Bass Island, and the little craft made good her escape to the Canada shore. The squadron being under way at the time, working up to the islands, had a full view of the chase. "The fleet on the seventeenth sailed to the mouth of San- dusky Bay, and on 'anchoring fired three guns, waited ten 260 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. minutes, and fired three more, which was the signal pre- viously agreed upon by letter between Captain Perry and General Harrison. Colonel Gaines the same evening came aboard the Lawrence with a number of officers and Indians, and reported General Harrison twenty-seven miles distant with an army of eight thousand militia, regulars, and Indians. Boats were sent to bring the general and his suite ; the party arrived late in the evening, and consisted of Generals Cass and McArthur, Colonel Gaines, Major Croghan, with his numerous staff and twenty-six chiefs of the Shawnee, Wyandot, and Delaware Indians. Among these were three highly influential ones, Crane, Blackhoof, and Captain Tommy; the Indians were brought that they might inform their friends among the British of the great force of the Americans. On the morning of the twentieth a salute was fired in honor of the general's visit. General Harrison not being ready to advance at this time. Captain Perry resolved immediately to pursue the enemy and offer battle. General Harrison and the commodore spent the day in reconnoitering, and concerted a plan for removing the army to this point when it should assemble, previous to invading Canada. On the twenty-first the general re- turned to his camp, and Captain Perry proceeded to Put- in-Bay and stood out for Maiden, where he discovered the British squadron within Bar Point. At Put-in-Bay Gen- eral Harrison had furnished Captain Perry with a rein- forcement of thirty-six volunteers, which, after deducting a few deaths, carried the total of his muster roll to four hun- dred and ninety souls. Of the reinforcement a small num- ber were river boatmen, and were mostly to serve as marines. Many of them were militia from Kentucky, and men who had volunteered from a love of adventure, having never seen a vessel until their arrival at Sandusky, and their astonishment and curiosity knew no bounds. They un- ceremoniously visited every part of the ship, from the mast- head to the bottom of the hold, and expressed themselves HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 261 in rapturous and entliusiastic terms. Dressed in the favor- ite Kentucky hunting-shirt of blue linsey-woolsey fringed, they themselves were a curiosity to most of the of&cers and men, some of whom had never before seen a backwoods- man. After being allowed to indulge their curiosity, Commodore Perry stated to them their duties, which they cheerfully undertook to perform. On their return from Maiden, a few days were profitably employed in teaching the ill-assorted crews their duty, and in training them in their various evolutions preparatory to battle. They had returned to Put-in-Bay, as the wind was not favorable to their entering Maiden; and they could here watch the enemy's movements. They had also much sickness aboard. Captain Perry had been attacked with bilious-remittent fever; but owing to his strength of constitution it had not assumed a malignant form. His surgeon, clerk, and brother were also seriously ill. Dr. U. Parsons, the assistant sur- geon, though himself out of health, was obliged to pre- scribe for the sick of the Lawrence as well as the small vessels. In the commodore's case strong remedial measures were successfully applied. " On the twenty-eighth of August Dr. Parsons himself became affected with the prevailing fever, and though unable to walk, with a humane self-devo- tion he continued at the bedside of the sick, to which he was carried; this was not only in the Lawrence, but the small vessels, being lifted on board of them in a chair, and the sick brought on deck for his prescription." By the first of September, Captain Perry was able again to be on deck ; in the mean time the British had rigged and equipped their new vessel, the Detroit, and he was compelled to abandon all hopes of meeting the enemy on an equal footing. Captain Perry received two letters at this time from the Secretary of the N"avy, one begging him to retain the com- mand on Lake Erie, (which he had resigned in consequence of some misunderstanding,) with many soothing and com- plimentary expressions; the other full of fault-finding and 23 262 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. bitterness, which was wholly unmerited. In Captain Perry's reply, he vindicated himself in a mild and respectful manner from all charges. On the sixth of September the Ohio, under command of Sailing-master Dobbins, Vv'as dispatched to Erie for stores and ammunition, (where she had been the twenty-second of August on the same errand,) and was enjoined to make every exertion to return with all practicable speed. Some citizens of Maiden, as well as the family of Captain Bre- voort, who resided in Detroit, informed Captain Perry as to the force of the enemy, and also that they were short of provisions and must engage our squadron to open the way to Long Point. Their force consisted of the new, strongly built ship Detroit, 19 guns, 298 tons; the Queen Charlotte, 17 guns, 260 tons; the Lady Prevost, 13 guns, 96 tons; the brig Hunter, 10 guns, 71 tons; sloop Little Belt, 3 guns, 60 ton's; schooner Chippewa, 1 gun, 35 tons, — mak- ing an aggregate of sixty-three guns, thirty-five of which were long. The squadron was commanded by Captain Robert Herriot Barclay, a skillful and experienced seaman, who had served with Nelson at Trafalgar; the second in command was Captain Pinnis, also a brave officer. The whole British force numbered thirty-two officers, and four hundred and seventy seamen ; in all five hundred and two. Of the American vessels, the Lawrence and Niagara were each 260 tons, v/ith 20 guns — Captain Perry commanded the Lawrence, and Captain Elliot the Niagara; the Cale- donia, 3 guns, 85 tons. Lieutenant Turner; the Ariel, 4 guns, Lieutenant Packet; the Scorpion, 2 guns, Sailing- master Champlin; the Soraers, 2 guns, 65 tons, Sailing- master Almy; the Trippe, 1 gun, Lieutenant Holdup, (Stevens ;) the Tigress, 1 gun. Lieutenant Conklin ; the Porcupine, 1 gun. Midshipman, Smith, — in all nine vessels, with fifty-four guns. The whole force of officers and men, four hundred and ninety; of these, one hundred and sixteen were on the sick list, seventy-eight being cases of bilious HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 263 fever. The Somers, Trippe, Tigress, and Porcupine were dull sailers. The officers of the squadron were mostly young men from Rhode Island, and the sailing-masters were fellow-townsmen of Captain Perry, taken from the mer- chant service. The superiority of the enemy in physical force must have brought to mind an admonition of Com- modore Chauncey to Commodore Perry, " never despise your enemy ;" yet he thoroughly understood himself, and felt armed in having a just cause. On the sixth Perry sailed for Maiden, and finding the British still at their moorings, returned to Put-in-Bay. He then signaled all the commanders to the Lawrence, and furnished them with corrected instructions for their govern- ment during the battle. The battle-flag, which had been privately prepared by Mr. Hambleton before leaving Erie, with the last words of the lamented Lawrence, " Don't give up the ship," in white letters on a blue ground, was pro- duced, and its hoisting at the main-royal mast of the Law- rence was to be the signal for action. Captain Perry stated to them his intention to bring the enemy from the first to close quarters, in order to get the benefit of his carronades. His last injunction to them was, in case of difficulty, to follow the advice of Lord Nelson : " If you lay your enemy close alongside, you cannot be out of your place." The men had now become familiar with their weapons, and every preparation seemed complete. The sickness continued, and on the eighth, the other medical officers ceased to perform duty, leaving Dr. Parsons, though but half recovered, in sole charge of the sick of the whole squadron. 264 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. CHAPTER XYI. British Vessels appear — Commodore Perry Remodels his Line, and other Preparations — A brief Description of the Battle of Tenth of September by Dr. Parsons — The Vessels return to Erie with the wounded Prisoners — Caj^tain Perry promoted — His Reception at Erie — A Remark of McKenzie — President Madison — Congress — Prizes. At sunrise of the tenth of September, from the mast-head of the Lawrence the British fleet was discovered on' the northwestern board, standing for Put-in-Bay. The fact was immediately reported by the officer of the deck, who ordered the signal made, "Enemy in sight," "Under way to get." Soon the whole squadron was moving out of the bay with a light southwest breeze. The wind was very unsteady, and at ten o'clock, having made little progress, Captain Perry addressed his sailing-master, Mr. Taylor, as to the time in his opinion it would require to weather the islands. Mr. Taylor's reply caused Captain Perry to order the master to run to leeward of the islands. Mr. T. replied, "they would then have to engage the enemy from the leeward." Captain Perry said, "to windward or leeward they shall fight to-day." The signal was made accordingly ; but before it could be executed they were relieved by the wind shifting to the southeast, which enabled them to engage the enemy to wind- ward, as they much preferred. The newly-painted British vessels, with their unfolding banners in the morning sun, made a very gallant appearance. Commodore Perry remodeled his line, as he found Com- modore Barclay had placed the Chippeway in the van ; second in the line, the Detroit; the Hunter third; Queen Charlotte fourth ; Lady Prevost fifth ; and Little Belt sixth. Captain Perry placed the Lawrence so as to encounter the Detroit, with the Scorpion ahead, and the Ariel on his HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 265 weather bow. The Caledonia came next, to encounter the Hunter; the Niagara next, to be opposite the Queen; the Somers, Porcupine, Tigress, and Trippe in the rear, to en- counter the Lady Prevost and Little Belt. It was now ten o'cloeli, and they were distant five or six miles from the enemy, with a light wind from the southeast, so that the advance was at the rate of three knots ; and Captain Perry having called the crew about him elevated the burgee, ex- claiming, "My brave lads, this flag contains the last words of Captain Lawrence ! Shall I hoist it ?" " Ay, ay, ay, sir !" resounded from every voice on the ship, and the flag was swayed to the main-royal masthead. As the flag unfurled and became visible to the other crews, hearty and enthusiastic cheers responded throughout the line. A lunch- eon was now served, and Perry carefully examined his bat- tery, gun by gun, to see that all was in order, exchanging a pleasant or encouraging word with all. Seeing some of the Constitution's, he said to them, "Well, boys, are you ready?" "All ready, your honor!" was the brief reply, with a general touch of the hat or handkerchief, which some had substituted. To another group, "But I need not say anything to you; you know how to beat those fellows." Again, with a smile of recognition, "Ah ! here are the ISTew- port boys ! They will do their duty, I warrant !" A silence of an hour and a half succeeded, during which the squadron was slowly nearing the enemy; this was spent in various ways, as the cares and consciences of the men about to engage in deadly combat might dictate. In the event of his death, Captain Perry gave Mr. Hambleton directions how to act with regard to his private affairs, and a leaded package to Dr. Parsons, with instructions from Government and letters from Mrs. Perry, to be thrown over- board. At length a bugle was heard to sound from the Detroit, a mile and a half distant, and loud cheers followed throughout the British squadron. Soon after, at a quarter before twelve, 23* 266 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. a single shot was fired from the enemy's flag-ship at the Lawrence, which did not take effect. Signal was now made for each vessel to engage her opponent as previously desig- nated. The dull sailers among the small vessels were a little out of their stations astern, so that our line overspread that of the enemy one thousand feet ; besides this, the inferior size of our vessels gave the enemy a greater superiority than even his nominal one. A brief description of the battle, by Dr. Parsons, an eye-witness of high character and intel- ligence, is as follows: "Perry made more sail, and coming within canister distance, opened a rapid and destructive fire upon the Detroit. The Caledonia, Lieutenant Turner, fol- lowed the Lawrence in gallant style, and the Ariel, Lieu- tenant Packet, and the Scorpion, Mr. Champlin, fought nobly and effectively, " The Niagara failing to grapple with the Queen, the latter vessel shot ahead to fire upon the Lawrence, and with the Detroit aimed their broadsides exclusively upon her, hoping and intending to sink her. At last they made her a com- plete wreck, but, fortunately, the Commodore escaped with- out injury, and stepping into a boat with his fighting flag thrown over his shoulder,* he pushed off for the Niagara, amid a shower of cannon and musket balls, and reached that vessel unscathed. He found her a fresh vessel, with only two, or, at most, three persons injured, and immediately sent her commander to hasten up the small vessels. Perry * In a letter dated Providence, June 28tli, 1861, Dr. Parsons says: "I yesterday visited the naval school, in Newport, on board the Con- stitution, and was delighted to see once more the identical flag, '■Don't give up the Ship,' which Perry hoisted on board the Lawrence on going into action, and took with him to the Niagara when he had fought his own ship to the last. The flag was immediately sent to Washington by Lieutenant Forest, and has ever since been pre- served — of late years in the naval school— and is exhibited only on particular occasions. The sight of it created such emotions and reminiscences of the past that I could not refrain from shedding tears over it." HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 26t boarded the l^iagara when she was abreast of the Lawrence, and further from her than the Detroit was on her right. The Lawrence now dropped astern and hauled down her flag. Perry turned the Niagara's course toward the enemy, and crossing the bows of the Lawrence, bore down, head foremost, to the enemy's line, determined to break through it and talie a raking position. The Detroit attempted to turn so as to keep her broadside to the Niagara and avoid being raked, but in doing this she fell against the Queen, and got entangled in her rigging, which left the enemy no alternative but to strike both ships. PeiTy now shot farther ahead, near the Lady Prevost, which, from being crippled in her rudder, had drifted out of her place to the leeward, and was pressing forward toward the head of the British line to support the two ships. One broadside from the Niagara silenced her battery. The Hunter next struck, and the two smaller vessels, in attempting to escape, were overhauled by the Scorpion, Mr. Champlin, and Trippe, Lieutenant Hold- up, and thus ended the action after three o'clock, "Let us now advert for a moment to the scenes exhibited in the flag-ship Lawrence, of which I can speak as an eye- witness. The wounded began to come down before she opened her battery, and for one, I felt impatient at the delay. In proper time, however, as it proved, the dogs of war were let loose from their leash, and it seemed as though heaven and earth were at loggerheads. For more than two hours little could be heard but the deafening thunder of our broad- sides, the crash of balls dashing through our timbers, and shrieks of the wounded. These were brought down faster than I could attend to them, further than to stay the bleed- ing or support a shattered limb with sphnts and pass them forward upon the berth deck. When the battle had raged ■ an hour and a half, I heard a call for me at the small sky- light, and stepping toward it I saw the Commodore, whose countenance was as calm and as placid as if in ordinary duty. 'Doctor,' said he, 'send me one of your men' — meaning 268 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. one of the six stationed with me to assist in moving the wounded. In five minutes the call was repeated and obeyed, and at the seventh call I told him he had all of my men. He asked if there were any sick or wounded who could pull a rope, when two or three crawled upon deck to lend a feeble hand in pulling at the last gun. "The hard fighting terminated about three o'clock. As the smoke cleared away the two fleets were found mingled together, the small vessels having come up to the others. The shattered Lawrence lying to the windward was once more able to hoist her flag, which was cheered by a few feeble voices on board, making a melancholy sound com- pared with the boisterous cheers that preceded the battle. " The proud, the painful duty of taking possession of the conquered ships was now performed. The Detroit was nearly dismantled, and the destruction and carnage had been dreadful. The Queen was in a condition little better — every commander and second in command, says Barclay, in his oflScial report, was either killed or wounded. The whole number killed in the British fleet was forty-one, and of wounded ninety-four. In the American fleet, twenty-seven killed and ninety-six wounded. Of the twenty-seven killed, twenty-two were on board the Lawrence ; of the ninety-six wounded, sixty-one were on board the same ship, making eighty-three killed and wounded out of one hundred and one reported fit for duty in the Lawrence on the morning of the battle. On board the Niagara were two killed and twenty- three wounded, making twenty-five ; and of these, twenty-two were killed or wounded after Perry took command of her. "About four o'clock a boat was discovered approaching the Lawrence. Soon the Commodore was recognized in her, who was returning to resume the command of his tat- tered ship, determined that the remnant of her crew should have the privilege of witnessing the formal surrender of the British oSicers. It was a time of conflicting emotions when he stepped upon the deck. The battle was won and he was HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 269 safe, but the deck was slippery with blood, and strewed with the bodies of twenty officers and men, some of whom sat at table with us at our last meal, and the ship resounded with the groans of the wounded. Those of us who were spared and able to walk met him at the gangway, to welcome him on board, but the salutation was a silent one on both sides — not a word could find utterance.* "And now the British officers arrived, one from each ves- sel, to tender their submission, and with it their swords. When they approached, picking their way among the wreck and carnage of the deck, with their hilts toward Perry, they tendered them to his acceptance. With a dignified and solemn air, and with a low tone of voice, he requested them to retain their side arms ; inquired with deep concern for Commodore Barclay and the wounded officers, tendering to them every comfort his ship afforded, and expressing his regret that he had not a spare medical officer to send them, that he only had one on duty for the fleet, and that one had his hands full. "Among the ninety-six wounded, there occurred three deaths : a result so favorable was attributable to the plenti- ful supply of fresh provision sent off" to us from the Ohio shore ; to fresh air — the wounded being ranged under an * In Dr. Parson's address at Cleveland, on the 10th September, 1860, is the following interesting item: " Perry walked aft, when his first remai'k was addressed to his intimate friend Hambleton, then lying wounded on the deck: 'The prayers of my wife,' said he, 'have prevailed in saving me.' Then, casting his eyes about, he inquired, 'where is my brother?' This brother was a young mid- shipman of thirteen years. He had, during the battle, acted as aid in running with orders to different parts of the ship — for you must know that in the din and uproar of battle, orders can hardly be heard at three feet distance. We made a general stir to look him up, not without fears that he had been knocked overboard; but he was soon found in his berth asleep, exhausted by the exercise and excitement of the day." 270 HISTORY or ERIE COUNTY. awning on the deck until we arrived at Erie, ten days after the action, and also to the devoted attention of Commodore Perry to every want. " Those who were killed in the battle were that evening committed to the deep, and over them was read the impres- sive Episcopal service. " On the following morning the two fleets sailed into Put- in-Bay, where the slain officers of both were buried in an appropriate and affecting manner. They consisted of three Americans — Lieutenant Brooks, and Midshipmen Laub and Clark; and three British officers — Captain Finnis, and Lieutenant Stokes, of the Queen, and Lieutenant Garland, of the Detroit. Equal respect was paid to the slain of both nations, and the crews of both fleets united in the ceremony. The procession of boats, with two bands of music ; the slow and regular motion of the oars, striking in exact time with the notes of the solemn dirge; the mourn- ful waving of flags and sound of minute-guns from the ships, presented a striking contrast to the scene exhibited two days before, when both the living and the dead, now forming in this solemn and fraternal train, were engaged in fierce and bloody strife, hurling at each other the thunder- bolts of war." On the eighth day after the action, the Lawrence, with the wounded on board, was dispatched to Erie, where they were cordially welcomed and most kindly cared for. Soon after the British prisoners arrived in the Detroit and Queen Charlotte, and after the wounded of their number had been carefully attended, they were removed to Pittsburg for greater security from desertion. Immediately after the battle. Captain Perry joined General Harrison as a volun- teer. The remainder of the vessels conveyed the army to Maiden ; here the enemy, under General Proctor, had made a hasty retreat, but were pursued and captured. Captain Perry was promoted to the rank of post-captain, and leave granted him, according to his request, to return HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 271 to his family ; he was to resume also the command of the ^Newport station until a suitable ship should be provided for him. As the British were checked in the Northwest, General Harrison received orders to repair with a part of his army to Fort George, and embarked with Captain Perry on the Ariel ; Commodore Barclay, who was on parole, and on his return homeward as far as Buffalo, made another of his company. On the morning of the twenty-second of October, the Ariel was descried by the citizens of Erie, and preparations were immediately set on foot for an appropriate and enthu- siastic reception of the hero, the magnitude of whose ser- vices they could better appreciate than others. Though Commodore Perry expected to land unobserved, a large concourse of citizens with joyful acclamations met him at the beach at the foot of French Street, and two field pieces fired a national salute. The party, consisting of Commo- dore Perry, Commodore Barclay, with his surgeon, and General Harrison, with Colonel Gaines, came on foot up the steep hill to Duncan's (which is still standing, though in ruins) on the corner of Third and Fi-ench Streets. In the evening the town was illuminated and a torch-light procession marched through the streets, bearing a trans- parency with the following devices : " Commodore Perry, 10th Sept. 1813;" on another, "Gen. Harrison, 5th of October, 1813 ;" on a third, " Free trade and sailors' rights ;" on a fourth, "Erie;" cannon in the mean time being discharged at intervals of three minutes. During the afternoon, the Niagara arrived ; and the next day the Ariel with its dis- tinguished party left for Buffalo, the command at Erie de- volving on Captain Elliot. Captain Perry's journey to the East was one succession of enthusiastic demonstrations, and the cities vied with one another in expressions of joy and gratitude for one who had restored tranquillity to the fron- tier, and whose modesty or bravery they knew not \shich 212 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. most to admire.* It has been said, "Nelson triumplied over Frenchmen and Spaniards ; Perry was called upon to meet the conquerors of these, led, moreover, by a veteran formed in the school of Nelson, and bearing upon his person the marks of Nelson's greatest victory. The battle of Trafal- gar was won by the whole British fleet over a part of that of the allies; the battle of Lake Erie was over the whole British squadron by only a part of ours." President Madison, in his message, calls it a victory never surpassed in luster, however much it may have been in mag- nitude. Congress passed a vote of thanks to be presented to Cap- tain Perry, and all the oflQcers and men of the squadron, for the decisive and glorious victory over a British squadron of superior force. The President of the United States also presented gold medals to Captain Perry and Captain Elliot, bearing an emblematical device of the action between the two squadrons; and a silver medal to each commis- sioned officer either of the army or navy service on board ; a sword to each of the sailing-masters and midshipmen ; and also a medal to the nearest male relative of Lieutenant John Brooks ; and a sword to the nearest male I'elative of Midship- men Henry Laub, John Clark, and Tho. Claxton, Jr., with the expression of the deep regret of Congress for the loss of these * An hour after the battle, Commodore Perry forwarded by ex- press two letters, one to General Harrison, the other to the Secre- tary of the Navy, as follows: — " U. S. Bkig Niagara, oif the Western Sister, ( " Head of Lake Erie, Sept. 10th, 1813. 4 p.m. / " Sir, — It has pleased the Almighty to give to the arms of the United States a signal victory over their enemies on this Lake. The British squadron, consisting of two ships, two biigs, one schooner, and one sloop, have this moment surrendered to the force under my command, after a sharp conflict. "I have the honor to be, sir, "Very respectfully, your obedient servant, "0. H. PERRY. "The Hon. William Jones, Secretary of the Navy." HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 273 gallant men. Three months pay, exclusive of the common allowance, was voted to all the petty officers, seamen, marines, and infantry, who supported the honor of the American flag under the orders of their gallant commander on that signal occasion. The British vessels were prized by a board of officers from Lake Ontario, assisted by naval constructor, Henry Eckford, and purchased for $255,000. Of this. Commo- dore Chauncey was entitled to one-twentieth of the whole, being |12,750 ; Captains Perry and Elliot, each drew $7140, As no portion of prize money could be awarded to Captain Perry for his general command, Congress made a special grant to him of $5000 ; $2295 was the portion of each commander of a gunboat, lieutenant, sailing-master, and captain of marines; $811 for a midshipman; $447 a petty officer; and $209 for each marine and sailor. CHAPTER XVII. Block-liouses built in 1813-14 — State of Society — Buffalo burned — Alarms at Erie — Captain Sinclair arrives — Bird and Rankin shot, and Davis liung — Peace — Disposition made of Government Vessels — List of Com- manding Officers at Erie from 1813 to 1825 — Topography of Presqu'ile Bay and the Peninsula — Misery Bay — General Bernard and Major Totten's Survey — Appropriations made by the State and United States — Changes made by Time and Art since 1813 — Rise and Fall of Water in Lake Erie — A Singular Phenomenon. For the better defense of Erie, in the winter of 1813 and 1814, a block-house was built on Garrison Hill, and another on the point of the peninsula. (The one on the shore was burned in 1853, an occurrence much regretted by the inhab- itants.) Ten vessels, with their complements of men, were stationed in the harbor, and a large body of militia quar- tered upon the town. The winter is remembered by the old inhabitants as one of unusual excitement and dissipation. 24 2T4 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. Like the idolatrous Israelites, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Yictory and prize money, leisure and lax discipline were found to promote anything but peace and good morals. Deaths by dueling, suicide, and mania-a-potu were not unfrequent. As an instance of the folly of the times, an officer of the name of B s pro- vided himself with blank challenges in order to be in read- iness, if insulted, to demand " the satisfaction of a gentle- man." Near the corner of Third and Sassafras Streets, a duel took place between Midshipman Senat, who com- manded the Porcupine during the action, and Acting-mas- ter McDonald, which resulted in the death of the former. The cause of the difficulty, it is said, resolved itself into the number of buttons worn by McDonald. A singular fact is related of McDonald. A few minutes after commit- ting the fatal deed, but before it was known, he addressed an acquaintance with some ordinary inquiry, but was not recognized by him excepting by his voice ; and scarcely by that, so unnatural and ghost-like was his countenance. It is almost superfluous to add, that the legal authorities took no notice of such infractions of the law. December 30, 1813, Captain Isaac Barnes, of the militia near Buffalo, communicated to the commander at Erie the alarming intelligence that the British had that morning landed three thousand regulars, militia, and Indians, at Black Rock, and forced Major-General Hall's company of militia to retreat to Buffalo, and afterward to surrender as prisoners of war. The village and large vessels at Black Rock had been consumed — the enemy had advanced eight or ten miles up Lake Erie destroying everything as they passed, and purposed burning the vessels at Erie. Full liberty was given the Indians to plunder in order to encour- age them in the nefarious business. Captain Barnes requested of Captain Elliot men, arms, and ammunition, the communi- cation being interrupted eastward by the Indians. Upon this Captain Elliot, January tenth, informed General Mead HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 2Y5 that the Indians were collecting a great number of sleighs and sleds, and as soon as the ice would admit, expected to make an attack on Erie — that the force of the British amounted to three thousand, and the one at Erie to but two thousand. Immediately the whole of the first brigade of General Mead's division was ordered into service, and pro- ceeded to Erie, which increased the force to four thou- sand. The boldness of the British at this time was owing to the removal of troops from Fort George, which left the frontier partially unprotected. False alarms were frequent in Erie during the winter as to the progress of the enemy, and more than once the whole village was astir at midnight packing goods and furniture for a hasty departure, assur- ances of safety and protection from the commanding officer having no effect. The parades of the militia at such times, in their begged, borrowed, or inherited uniforms, were occasions of special gratification to the young, and those fond of the ludicrous, the first brigade being mostly in the hands of substitutes. These were often of the lowest class, untaught and unteachable in manners and discipline. North and west of where the First Presbyterian Church now stands, the ground was covered with log huts erected for a regiment of regular troops, and was familiarly known as Stumptown ; most of the huts were afterward destroyed by fire — one of the largest, however, for many years served as a meeting-house. Among officers and men the all-absorb- ing topic was the share of honor or otherwise Captain Elliot was entitled to in the battle of the tenth of September. The sailors of the Lawrence and Magara were never ex- pected to meet peaceably. The following scene was often enacted : an "Elliot" champion would maintain that the wind was light and they could not get up; the "Lawrence man" would allude to " the main-top sail to the mast, and the jib brailed up," and immediately a trial of muscle would ensue, and blood flow unless prevented by the by-standers. In the spring Captain Elliot left for Lake Ontario, and Commodore 276 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. Sinclair came on to Erie in April. In the fall three men were executed for desertion — Bird and Rankin, marines, were shot, and Davis, a seaman, hung to the yard-arm of the Niagara. Bird belonged to a volunteer company from Belle- fonte. The company occupied a small block-house at the Cascade — being unaccustomed to military discipline they were impatient and restive under orders, and mutinied by shutting themselves up and refusing admission to others. Lieutenant Brooks, of the marines, being much in need of men before the battle, these men were told that their offense would be overlooked provided they would enlist with him. Bird being a man of some standing was made sergeant, and placed in charge of a storehouse at the mouth of Mill Creek, and deserted from thence. He was found guilty by a court-martial, the President approved the sentence, and as it was thought on the frontier such an offense could not be overlooked, it was carried out with all its horrors.* When the war in Europe ceased, that of the United States with Great Britain, as a branch, naturally fell to the ground, and a treaty of peace was concluded and signed at Ghent, December 24, 1814. The following disposition was made of the government vessels on Lake Erie : the Lawrence was repaired, and, after making a cruise to Lake Huron, was sunk in Misery Bay for her better preservation. Two years ago her stern was elevated and a portion secured for memorials. The Niagara lies under water near the Lawrence. The Caledonia was sold in 1815, called the General Wayne, and finally broken up at Erie. In 1814 the Ohio and Somers were cut out by the British at Fort Erie ; the Scorpion and Tigress were taken the same year on Lake Huron; the * The execution of Bird, and the other deserters^ at Erie, in 1814, constituted afterward the romance of the war among children and the lower classes. A ballad on the theme, of not less than twenty verses, in the "gory" style, rehearsed or rather screeched by a sery- ant-girl with a doleful countenance, used to make a decided impres- sion on a group of children. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 21*1 Little Belt and Trippe were destroyed when Buffalo was burned; the Ariel went ashore and was wrecked in Buffalo Bay, and the Porcupine was transferred to the revenue de- partment. The Detroit was sunk in Misery Bay, near the Lawrence, (sailors say she would float off, and in spite of their efforts would keep at a respectable distance.) She was, in 1835, raised, and rigged a bark, by Captain Miles, and navigated the lake some years; lastly, she was sent over Niagara Falls for a spectacle, and probably a speculation, too, on the part of the hotel-keepers. The Queen Charlotte was sunk in Misery Bay, and afterward fitted out for the lake trade; the Lady Prevost was sold to a Canada mer- chant, in 1815. In 1820 an order was received to reduce the naval station at this place to a master commandant, one lieutenant, one purser, one surgeon, one surgeon's mate, one captain's clerk, one boatswain, one gunner, one carpenter, one armorer, one purser's steward, five able seamen, five ordinary seamen. The naval station at Erie was not completely broken up until 1825, when the public property was disposed of by auction. The following is a list of the commanding officers from 1813: Captains O. H. Perry, Jesse D. Elliot, Arthur Sinclair, Daniel S. Dexter, (who died in 1818, leaving Lieutenant George Pearce the senior officer,) David Deacon, and George Budd. Here it may not be out of place to give something of the topography of Presqu'ile Bay, and the changes made by time and art since 1812. The extreme length of the bay is about five miles, and nearly two in breadth, with an area of from six to eight miles, and it is formed by a peninsula which extends in a northeasterly direction, being much in the form of a crab's claw. In some places the peninsula is three- fourths of a mile in width, and susceptible of cultivation, but a larger part is sand, and covered with a low growth of timber, the wild grape, and cranberry. The neck or west side in 1812 was two or three hundred feet in width; after- 24* 278 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. ward the action of the waves and increased height of the water submerged it for the distance of half a mile. By an appropriation of government a passage eight feet in depth was made through this neck, so that vessels detained in the harbor by head winds might depart, and a saving of distance to steamboats be made of from four to six miles. This channel is again filled with sand, which is wearing away on the northwest side. At the east end of the peninsula sand has been and is accumulating, and just within is Misery Bay, a convenient shelter for vessels in a storm. This name was given it by Lieutenant Holdup in 1814, from the com- fortless condition of the vessels at the time — the weather being gloomy, and the stock of falsely so-called good cheer exhausted. The depth of water in Presqu'ile Bay averages eighteen feet ; at the entrance, the bar or sand-bank under water has been removed, and the channel there is now about fourteen feet deep. Immediately after the war the opinion of Commodore Perry was asked by the Navy Department, on the subject of removing the bat', and his reply was favor- able to the project.* In 1824 General Bernard and Major Totten surveyed the harbor, and in their report we find the following interesting item : "The basin of Presqu'ile is situ- ated so far above the commencement of the falls into Lake Ontario, and in so wide a part of Lake Erie that the cur- rent produced by the escape of water at the falls is here insensible — the only current here observable being entirely owing to the easterly or westerly winds. These latter cur- rents have, however, sometimes considerable rapidity, and a curious fact appears in relation to the effect of these lake currents upon the waters of the basin, viz., that a strong current sets into the basin in direct opposition to the westerly winds when they blow hard, and conversely, a strong cur- * In 1822 the State appointed a committee composed of Thomas Forster, G. Sanford, and George Moore, to survey the Bay of Presqu'- ile; to ascertain the depth of water in the Bay, on the bar, and the anchoring Q;round outside of the bar. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 219 rent sets out of the basin in direct opposition to violent easterly winds : or, in other words, the current out of or into the basin, runs in a direct opposition both to the set of the lake's current and the direction of the winds, whether easterly or westerly. "It is important to account for this before proceeding fur- ther, and in doing so we refer to the sketch herewith, to make the matter more intelligible. We must first suppose the surface of the lake and of the basin to be of the same level, as will always be the case after a few days of calm weather, and represent the level by 0° 0' 00'' and 0'". An easterly wind then setting in drives a part of the water of the easterly half of the lake into the western, raising the surface at 0" and 0'", and lowering it at 0' ; as the surface descends at 0' the water in the basin must also descend by running out against the wind, there being no issue at the west end of the basin. "In like manner when a westerly wind heaps the water at 0' above the surface in the basin, it must rise in the basin by running in against the wind, there being no entrance at the west end. As the winds abate, the waters gradually take a level common to both lake and basin, but not the same as before ; for, the supply being nearly equable at all times, with westerly winds more is forced out of the lake over the falls, and with easterly winds less passes that way than when the surface is at a mean elevation. The basin has, therefore, higher to rise immediately after an easterly wind than it was depressed by it, and lower to fall after a westerly wind than it was elevated by that wind. But the return of the lake to its level is slow and gradual, the elevation and depression of the waters at its ends is sudden and violent, and amounts often to several feet. It is to this latter operation that we are to look for producing any considerable effect." They then proceed to recommend a plan carried out soon after, that of increasing the current by closing the whole mouth of the basin with the exception of a passage two hundred feet in 280 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, width. By means of sinking piles and removing the sand between them with a di'cdging machine, as well as by the frequent passage of vessels, the object has been effected. The different appropriations for the improvement of the harbor have been as follows : By the State, in 1822, $10,000 ; by the Ignited States, in 1824, $30,000; in 1828, $6223; in 1831, $1700; in 1832, $4500; in 1833, $6000; in 1834, $20,000; in 1835, $5000; in 1836, $15,000; in 1844, $40,000; in 1852, $30,000; for a steam dredge, $20,000. About 1813 there was a fine drive on the beach from State Street to the Cascade, where there is not now even a foot- path. Toward the middle of the day this was often over- flowed, giving rise to the opinion entertained by Commodore Perry and others that the lake was affected by tides. The same year the water was unusually high, not only in the lake, but in the Allegheny and French Creek, and it was remarked by those well qualified to judge, that without this fortunate circumstance, this extraordinary rise, the squadron could not have been built; as it would have been impossible to transport the ordnance and necessary equipments, such was the state of the roads leading from Pittsburg. In 1808 the water in Lake Erie was lower than it had ever before been known ; in 1838 it was four and a half feet above the water-mark of 1808. Some pine-trees, killed by the inundation, were found by their rings to be over one hun- dred years old ; and from this it was inferred that the water had not been at so great a height for a century. In 1858 it was observed at the Buffalo lighthouse, that for some years a gradual progressive rise of water had taken place, and the same year at Lake Ontario the water was higher than it had been for forty years. At Toledo the water gauged from two to six feet higher than in 1834. During the years 1815, 1816, and 181t, which were cold and wet seasons, the water was high; in 1818 it was higher still, but not equal to 1831-38. The summer of 1818 was very hot, and the evaporation reduced the height of the lake two feet, when HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 281 the fall was gradual for several seasons. From 1822 to 1828, it remained without change. Some have supposed that there exists a regular and period- ical rise and fall of the waters of the lake once in seven years ; but facts do not seem to favor this supposition. Previous to 1838 there had been six or seven uncommonly wet seasons with heavy falls of snow, and this fact, together with the subsidence of the waters after extremely warm and dry seasons, would seem plainly to indicate the cause. A singular phenomenon has sometimes been observed near the shore, which is, the sudden rise and fall of water in particular localities without any apparent cause. May 30th, 1823, a little after sunset, while the weather was fine and the lake calm, at the mouth of Otter and of Kettle Creek, being twenty miles apart in Canada, the water rose with astonishing rapidity and without the least warning: at the former place nine feet, and the latter seven. In both cases, after three swells, the lake seemed to have spent its force, and gradually subsided. The same effect was ob- served at the places along the shore; but the high steep banks did not admit of the same observation. Two other cases of this kind were witnessed and described by a revenue officer; one at Cunningham Creek, Ohio, in 1826, which, in the space of five minutes, overflowed a bank fifteen feet in height, doing much damage. The other, observed by him, was in 1830, at Grand River, Ohio, at three o'clock p.m. There was an unusual waving of the water and a tremendous sea. The revenue cutter Rush, lying at the wharf, let go her anchor, and the current was so strong she drifted with both anchors ahead, and would have been ashore but for the man placed at the helm. The piers were about five feet above the water, and from appear- ance a vessel drawing eight feet of water would have gone over them. At the mouth of Sixteen-mile Creek, Erie County, Mr. Thos. Crawford witnessed a similar instance about 1820. 282 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. Others have mentioned the same i5eriodical flux and re- flux on Lake Ontario, recurring at intervals of a few min- utes, and ascribed it " to springs at the bottom of the lake, and the shock of rivers discharging into it." A water-spout was witnessed at Cleveland, October, 1841. It was apparently the size of a large hay-stack, hollow and inverted. The wind had been blowing a strong current from the northeast, and suddenly changed to the west. A few years before, three water-spouts occurred at the same moment, twenty-five miles west of Cleveland ; ordinarily they may be said to be of rare occurrence on inland seas. A whirlwind visited Conneaut, September, 1839, and the effects were felt both on sea and land. The waters were lifted forty or fifty feet, a barn unroofed near the shore, and much other damage sustained. The Conneaut Reporter, 1859, has an article to this effect: "That the water of Lake Erie was never higher. Many acres of land that had borne crops were totally submerged, and Mr. J. Gilbert had had more than thirty acres of land destroyed by the encroachments of the water the last thirty years. The complaint was general along the lake shore, and many causes assigned : some believed it to be the back-water caused by the Black Rock Dam, on the Niagara River, and petitions were circulated, asking of the legislatures of Ohio and Pennsylvania the passage of a memorial to Congress for an appropriation to pay the expense of a survey of Niagara River, to determine the matter." A survey of the lakes is now (1861) progressing slowly but steadily. An appropriation of $125,000 has been granted for carrying on the work. The report drawn up by Captain Geo. G. Meade exhibits the following summary of the year's work : "A recapitula- tion of the operations in the office and the field exhibits the projection of twenty-nine manuscript sheets of hydrography, topography, and water levels ; the reduction of four charts HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 283 for engravings ; the drawing of one chart for the lighthouse board; the publication of two charts; the reduction and tabulation of 140 monthly sheets of meteorological observa- tions, together with numerous other computations, astro- nomical, and geotic; the survey of 303 miles of lake shore, covering 313 square miles of miuute topography and hy- drography; the execution of two triangulations, extend- ing over 2200 square miles; the sounding in deep water of 4300 miles of lines; the determination of the latitudes of three, and the longitudes of four points ; the observation of the magnetic elements at nine points ; and finally, the con- tinuation of the meteorological water-level observations over the whole lake region." The water-level and meteorological observations on Lakes Erie and Ontario, though in an imperfect state, sum up as follows : That the lakes are sensibly and rapidly affected by winds and storms, depressing the water from the side whence it blows, and raising it on the opposite side ; that, independent of wind fluctuations, a change of level arises from rains and draining of water-sheds and from discharges arising from evaporation and the flow through their out- lets ; that, as a general rule, these last fluctuations occur an- nually, the high stage being in summer, and the low in win- ter; that these annual fluctuations vary in degree from year to year, being the effect of various causes, and the extreme range as yet reported between the highest and lowest waters has amounted to five feet five inches. 284 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. CHAPTER XYIIL Geology, from Professor Rogers — Character of Soil — Calcareous Marl — Bog Ore — Petroleum — Mineral Waters — E. Andrews's Account of Sink- hole — The Devil's Back-bone and Nose — Botanizing. A SURVEY of tlie State was commenced by H. D. Rogers, State Geologist, in the year 1836, in consequence of an act of the legislature }3assed the same year. The law directed that an annual report be made by him to the legislature of the progress of the work, with the various areas occupied by the different geological formations represented on the State map, and on the completion of the work a full ac- count to be prepared of the Geology and Mineralogy of the State. On the organization of the survey, it was esti- mated that it would occupy at least ten years ; appropria- tions being withheld after the sixth year, Mr. Rogers for three years pursued his explorations, and prepared his final report at his own expense ; this was, however, afterward re- paid. In 1851 the legislature adopted and provided measures and means to revise the field-work, in consequence of the rapid development of the mining districts, and for the publica- tion of the reports, with the accompanying maps, etc. In 1858 the final report was published at an expense of $16,000, Mr. Rogers retaining the copy-right and presenting 1000 copies of the work to the State. In 1836 the sum of $6400 was appropriated to the work: $2000 for the salary of the principal ; $1200 for each of the assistants; $1000 for the chemist; and $1000 for incidental expenses, should they occur. In 1831 two other assistants were appointed, and $3600 added to the fature annual appropriation. In 1838 $6000 was appropriated, and in 1841 $10,200, for the purpose of completing the mineralogical and geological survey of the HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 285 State. Of this, $4000 was lost by the want of proper man- agement in its publication. It was required of the State geologist, from the first, to furnish specimens of all mineral products to the Secre- tary of the Commonwealth, and also of the minerals of each county to its respective commissioners; (those for the counties seemed to be waved.) In 1842 the legislature re- quired the preparation of three cabinets of all geological and mineral specimens for the use of the State, to be severally deposited at Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and Pitts- burg. We have been informed that Mr. Rogers also made a promise of a similar one for Erie, to Mr. J. D. Dunlap; but that it was not added to the list, lest some might con- sider it favoritism. Such a cabinet might awaken in our county an interest in geology, which would manifest itself in the more general pursuit of that engaging science, as well as in the more profitable management of farms, and the opening up of its resources and mineral wealth. According to Professor Rogers, the northwest corner of the State, embracing Erie County, a large part of Crawford, and the north half of Warren, which he makes his seventh district, a mean breadth of forty miles, is much the simplest of all the natural divisions of the geological surface of Pennsylvania, as to its variety of strata and their structural features. It includes but two paleozoic formations, namely, the ver- gent flags* and vergent shales, f These strata (the most ancient or lowest great division of the fossiliferous strata) retain very nearly the horizontal position in which they were originally deposited, sustaining but a trivial inclination * Vergent flags. — A ivither fine-grained gray sandstone in thin layers, parted by their alternating bands of shale. It abounds in marine vegetation. f Vergent shales. — A thick mass of gray, blue, and olive-colored shales and gray-brown sandstone. The sandstone predominates ia the upper part, where the shales contain many fossils. 25 286 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. toward the southeast, which extends to the coal strata and gives them their trough-like configuration. The surface descends rather rapidly from the water-shed to the lake by a succession of obscure, alternately gentle and steepish slopes. The declivation of the ground may be inferred from the difference in the elevation of its two margins : that of the water-shed, in which it begins, being nearly twelve hundred feet, and that of the lake, in which it ends, being only five hundred and sixty-five feet above the level of the sea. This tract is cut transversely by numerous sharp ravines and long tortuous valleys., (evidently carved by a tremendous rush of waters,) carrying its streams to the lake; and the borders of some of these afford many small, pleasing bits of scenery. But the characteristic, and altogether the most impressive pictures, are those of the lake itself. The first view which the traveler gets of this broad inland sea, as he passes the water-shed, especially when the surface of the lake, crisped into gentle waves by a light western breeze, reflects the deep blue of the upper sky, never fails to charm and surprise him. This inclined plane extends from Cattaragus County, New York, to Sandusky Bay, being a slope consisting rather of a succession of low terraces, themselves a little inclined. These terraces are made by the outcropping of the strata, and are parallel with the lake shore. The average inclina- tion of the surface is about thirty-three feet to a mile ; from eight or ten miles from the lake the downward sweep of the surface is much more rapid. This Lake Erie slope is bounded on the southeast border by an abrupt, low, broken wall or escarpment, which consti- tutes the verge of the bituminous coal region. Between the Clarion and Tionesta, and also extending across the river southwest toward Mercer and Beaver, it rises gradually toward the northwest. The rise of the Allegheny River, from Pittsburg to Frank- lin, does not exceed 155 feet, and the rise of French Creek, HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 28t from its mouth to Meadville, is about 130 feet. The high dividing ridge which separates the waters of the Allegheny tributaries from Lake Erie crosses the New York State line near Colt's Station, where it is about 1000 feet above the surface of the lake. It then passes in a straight line to Strong's on the turnpike, ten miles from Erie, where it is from 850 to 875 feet above the lake level. From Strong's south- westward it becomes less distinctly marked and much de- pressed, and is altogether lost previous to reaching Con- neaut Creek. The summit of the Erie Extension Canal is at Conneaat Lake, and is little more than 500 feet above Lake Erie. From this dividing ridge there are four tolerably well- marked terraces to, and parallel with, the lake. These ter- races are higher and better defined near the New York State line, and become much depressed on reaching Elk Creek and Fairview Townships, with the exception of the lower one, which extends into the State of Ohio. The streams which empty into the Lake frequently run within one of these ter- races for a considerable distance before they find an opening through which they can pass to a lower level — thus, Walnut^ Elk, and Conneaut Creeks head very far to the east of their respective final outlets. Between Cattaragus Creek and Sandusky Bay the whole lake coast displays only the upper or sandstone member of the flag formation, called in the New York Greological Sur- vey the portage sandstones. This group of strata crossing Erie County in a southwest direction, almost precisely par- allel with the bend of the lake coast, constitutes a belt ten or twelve miles in width, its upper limit pursuing the general water-shed of the district. All the rocks between this line and the margin of the coal field are referable to the vergent shales. The vergent flag or sandstone formation, in the type which the group wears upon Lake Erie, would not be recognized in its lithological composition by those who are only familiar 288 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. with it in the Appalachian valleys. In the eastern and cen- tral tracts of New York the whole formation is far more arenaceous, and the proportion of the sandstone layers to the shales,, or more purely argillaceous beds, is much greater, the upper or terminal subdivision of the mass especially con- taining, with a large amount of thin bedded or flaggy sand- stone, a considerable body of more massive strata. But advancing west the clayey element predominates, and in the belt of country bordering on Lake Erie but comparatively little true sandstone remains in the mass. The most arena- ceous portion of the formation is even here near the top, and where well exposed, as it is in several places about eight miles south of the lake, where it is occasionally quarried, it may be recognized by its marine vegetation, and especially by a vertical stem-like form or species of scolithus. The vergent shales also on Lake Erie are more argilla- ceous, and the two formations approximate so nearly in com- position, and even in their organic remains, that a separation is not practicable. The whole vergent mass between the lake and the coal rock is 1900 feet thick, about 800 or 900 feet representing the thickness of the lower formation, and 1000 or 1100 the overlying vergent shales. The quarries near the road be- tween Waterford and Erie, at an elevation of 800 feet above the lake, indicate nearly the highest portion of the inferior group. It would appear from the researches of Professor James Hall, that the total thickness of the vergent flag formation or portage group of New York, amounts, in the longitude of Chatauqua Creek, to nearly 1400 feet; we are therefore to infer that in the region of Lake Erie some 500 or 600 feet of the formation are covered by its waters. Ripple marks, so abundant in the vergent flags, are numer- ous in Erie and Crawford Counties. Concretions of various shapes abound in the more calcareous varieties of the finer- grained clay shales, particularly those of the lower or flag group. The commonest forms are spheroids, generally HISTORY or ERIE COUNTY. 289 much flattened, and often curiously lobed by the addition of fresh materials on one or more sides. When very calcareous, these are seamed with little veins of carbonate of lime, filling cracks in more central portions — they are, in other words, true septaria. Among the concretionary structures is one* which, from its singularity, and the doubts entertained by many in re- lation to its mode of origin, deserves a more special men- tion. It is the so-called " Cone-in-Cone" structure of the English geologist. In England it is met with occasionally in the finer shales and clay ironstones of the coal measures ; but in one vast series of formations it is nowhere seen but in this particular horizon, near the vergent flag forma- tion. It usually occurs in flat cakes of hardened calcareous shale imbedded in soft, mealy shale, the conical structure oc- cupying a thickness of one or two inches on one surface of the cake. Its position in the strata is near the lake shore, and per- haps the best localities for it in Erie County are at the mouth of Sixteen-mile Creek, and at the Cascade near Erie; but it is to be seen in a corresponding situation bordering on the lake at a great number of spots throughout the entire length of the formation, from Chatauqua Creek in New York, to Cleveland in Ohio, and Professor Hall speaks of it as abundant on the Genesee River. A minute inspection of the strata, as disclosed on the lake shore and in the ravines, shows the first two hundred feet to consist of blue and olive-colored soft, calcareous clay-shales, brown bituminous shale and slate, and their alternating layers of fine-grained gray calcareo-argillaceous sandstone. All these materials are in their beds, and in constant alternation, their dimensions being from one-fourth * This structure was first observed by Dr. Sam. L. Mitchell, a dis- tinguished geologist of New York, in 1827, and regarded by him with very great interest. His specimens were labeled "Argillaceous Schist of a peculiar conchoidal fracture." 25* 290 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. of an inch to twelve inches. The carbonaceous shales and slates are the thinnest. Some of the finer-grained shales extend with little change of thickness over very considera- ble areas, while other beds change their dimensions rapidly. The shales, but more especially the sandstones, are slightly calcareous. The level line of the shore enables us to detect, in the dip of the strata, a slight lateral or northeast and southwest undulation — but this feature is only local and inconspicuous. At the mouth of Elk Creek, and elsewhere, the strata exhibit even a very gentle dip toward the northwest; and when ex- amined, this feature is connected with a low anticlinal arch- ing of the rocks, the axis of elevation being near the bridge, half a mile above the outlet of the stream, not far from Girard. If it were practicable thus to refer all the inclina- tions of the strata to a succession of horizons absolutely level, we should discover a vast succession of very low but broad and obscure anticlinals, conforming in their northeast and southwest trend to the flexures of the Appalachian chain, and indicating the last expiring swells in the crust transmit- ted with abating intensity across the broad bituminous coal region, from the enormous billows which lifted the Appa- lachian chain. Organic remains are rare in the strata near the side of the lake, but one slender layer, about three inches in thick- ness, occurring on the shore near the village of JSTortheast, contains the little Avicula speciosa and Ungulina sub- orbicularia, the most abundant fossils of the formation. In other places the faces of the slabs of slate, especially when in contact with bituminous shale, are sometimes covered with fragments of plants, chiefly a delicate species of fucoid. Eight or ten miles back from the lake the terrace outcrops consist of thinly-laminated olive and brownish shales, alter- nating with flaggy layers of sandstone. These latter become gradually more abundant as we ascend in the series. The thickest arenaceous beds measure in some places twelve or HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 291 fifteen inches, and where a number of them occur together, with only thin partings of shale, the mass is quarried as a building material. A stratum of this kind appears about midway between Erie and Waterford, and has been quarried in an excavation known as Vincent's, about one mile west of the turnpike, the matei'ials from it being used in the locks of the Erie ex- tension of the Pennsylvania Canal. Kear Elk Creek, at Elisha Smith's, east of Grirard, and at Cranes' near Cranes' Mills, are the most extensive quarries of similar masses. It is seldom possible to trace a particular stratum of the sandstone for any considerable distance, for the beds soon thin off or deteriorate for economical uses, becoming too argillaceous. At an elevation of about 810 feet above the level of the lake there appear, in the vicinity of Waterford, two or three thin layers of calcareous sandstone, abounding in marine organic remains, chiefly bivalve shells. These strata, easily recognized by the profusion of their imbedded fossils, are to be seen at Whiteman's, and also at Wilcox's, near the village, as likewise along the streams at the head waters of Le Boeuf and Elk Creeks — one locality being near the house of Martin Strong. The species are characteristic of the vergent newer shales, the Chemung group of New York. Upon these fossiliferous beds rest several bands of sand- stone, the layei's being from six to twelve inches thick. These have been quarried for building-stone, but approach- ing Waterford they deteriorate. East of the village occurs a stratum of yellow sandstone, coarser than the beds of the formation generally, and differing from them in aspect. It has been quarried on the borders of French Creek, where a good building material was obtained. At Smith's quarry the bed was about four feet thick. Upon it rest, first, thin bands of pebbly rock, the pebbles having the size of large shot ; secondly, shale ; thirdly, two layers of hard silicious sandstone, sixteen inches thick, and above them slate and 292 HISTORY or erie county. flaggy sandstone. A similar section may be seen on the opposite side of the stream at A. Middleton's. In the Moravian quarry (near Waterford) the sandstone bed is not so thick. At Carrol's quarry it is from four to six feet in thickness, some thin layers of pebbly rock or coarse grit, and other sandstone resting over it, separated by only a few inches of shale. All these beds are embraced within a thickness of ten or twelve feet. A little petroleum is found in all of these quarries. We have already seen that many of the clay shales are highly bituminous. The greater part of the surface of the northwest district is thinly strewed with Northern drift, and the valleys of all the principal streams are deeply filled with it, presenting some very instructive features in the forms of many bold terraces into which the waters have brought it. Character of the Soil. — The cadent and vergent rocks, of which this northwest district consists, furnish by disinte- gration a soil in which clay is the predominating ingredient. It may be denominated a cold, clayey loam, better suited for grazing than for growing wheat. That derived from the inferior, more argillaceous strata nearer the lake, is in many belts a stiff clay, while that into which the sandy matter of the upper parts of the formation enters as an element is looser, and approximates to the character of a loam. A greater or less mixture of the materials of the Northern drift or transported gravel, with the proper soil of the region, modifies the quality of the latter, and gives to many locali- ties agricultural peculiarities which the subsequent rocks themselves could never impart. In nearly all the larger valleys the depth of the drift is such as to confer on them a soil abounding in gravel. Though this very heterogeneous covering contains pebbles and sand derived from the lime- stones which outcrop to the north and east of Lake Erie, mingled with the less fertile materials of the crystalline and silicious rocks yet farther north, and with the fragments of HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 293 the underlying shales, a soil exists usually well adapted to the culture of wheat and the finer kinds of grain. The soil derived from the cadent and vergent rocks alone is too generally deficient in calcareous matter to possess a high degree of fertility, and, unfortunately for the domestic agricultural resources of the district, not a single bed or formation of good limestone either within it or cheaply con- tiguous to it, contributes to the land the element which it chiefly needs. As, however, much good agricultural lime is procurable from the immediate coast of the lake toward its west end, there cannot be a doubt that ultimately com- merce, in her inexhaustible power to benefit, will be enlisted to convey the requisite quantity of this almost indispensable fertilizer not only to the coast of Erie County, but by the canals, to all the contiguous regions toward the southeast. Calcareous Marl. — In the Pymatuning and Conneaut swamps there are shallow but rather extensive deposits of a soft calcareous tufa and shell-marl, the possible value of which to the agriculture of the surrounding districts is not enough appreciated. This is in Crawford County. Thus far we have cited the State geologist. In Erie County, at Beaverdam, west of Union, thirty years ago, marl was burned for lime ; and at Walnut Creek, quite recently, lime of the best quality was manufactured. At the Sink-hole, in Waterford, we have reason to suppose the quantity of shell-marl inexhaustible.* Many cords of hard blue limestone were quarried in excavating the canal in Erie. The very superior quality of the wheat produced in the vicinity of the lake confirms Professor Rogers's state- ment, that lime exists in the sand and pebbles. It is some- * Professor Austin, of the Waterford Academy, put the marl to the test, and found it to be composed principally of lime; and adds, "the time will come when it will be extensively used as a fertilizer, and it can be burned so as to form lime — but the lime will not be as good as if obtained from some other source." 294 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. times too, observed in bricks, in their disruption when the lime slackens. For several years the blast furnace of Yincent, Himrod & Co. was stocked principally with Erie County bog ore.* It was brought from Laird's farm, Nicholson's, Elk Creek, etc., in the western part of the county. Near Cranesville there is a bed which is burned and used as a mineral paint. The ore yielded from fifteen to twenty, and sometimes even sixty per cent, of iron — some was found to be one-fifth lime- stone. At the time the furnace discontinued operations, the supply of ore was supposed to be exhausted. Coal in small quantities has been found, and also sulphate of alumina compounded with the sulphate of iron, from which the alum of commerce is derived. Salt springs have been discovered in various places, but probably not of sufficient strength to justify the erection of works for the manufacture of salt. Oil. — Boring for oil has been prosecuted in different parts, as yet not with any marked success. The well of C. McSpar- ren, in the southeastern part of the town, reached the depth of 200 feet, mostly through rock. An abundance of gas was found, but the work has ceased for the present. In Summit Township, Mr. C. Fronce bored a well on a branch of Le Boeuf Creek to the depth of 200 feet without finding oil in paying quantities. Afterward, near Strong's Mill, at a depth of 15*7, a vein which it was thought would yield ten barrels per day was found. P. Gr. Stranahan drilled 200 in Union; and on Sturgeon's farm, at Fairplains, 100 feet * As a proof of the quality of the metal, we find in the Erie Ga- zette, 1843: "An inspection of 1200 32-pound shot was made by the navy agent, at the Presqu'ile Foundery, from Erie County ore, and a contract was finished with Government for 300 8-inch shot and 7000 32-pounders, part of which were shipped for Buffalo and Sack- ett's Harbor." Many years ago considerable quantities were shipped at Massas- Baqu6 for a small furnace in Conueaut, Ohio. HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 295 tlirougli a stratum of coal four feet in thickness. Near the Springfield Depot, on the Cleveland and Erie Road, boring has been commenced. Nearly a dozen companies are now prosecuting the business in Conneaut Township, on the banks of Marsh Run. Oil was found in that region twenty years ago, and collected for medicinal purposes, and in quarrying stone the workmen found it in small pools among the rocks. An old salt well which had been opened forty years ago, in Wellsburg, having become filled with rubbish, was cleaned, and jets of oil were thrown at three different times. This is on the east branch of Conneaut Creek. A company with a cash capital of $1000 was formed in February, 1861, at Waterford, to drill in that neighborhood, and in Erie one hundred Germans formed an association with a capital of $10,000, and immediately commenced operations on Ninth Street. Several mineral springs have been discovered — a burning sulphur spring on the farm of Mr. Knox, south of the town, at one time claimed attention and excited much curiosity. Another burning spring is found on the Oilwilder farm, on Six-mile Creek. A mineral spring on the ground formerly owned by P. P. Glazier, on Eighth Street, was, in 1840, improved and fitted up with baths for the benefit of invalids. A specimen of the water was sent for analysis to Profes- sor Booth, of Philadelphia. His experiments on one gallon of 60,000 grains resulted as follows : — Chloride of potassium 20-56 " sodium 110-16 " magnesium 45-36 " calcium 8-88 " iron 2-88 Sulphate of lime 11-68 Total soluble matter 199-52 Carbonate of lime 19-12 " magnesia 0-96 " iron 1-44 Silica 0-48 Total insoluble 22-00 Professor Booth explains insoluble matter to mean "the residue, which will not redissolve in pure water after evap- 296 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. oration to dryness. The carbonates in the insoluble portion are held in solution in the spring water by a small quantity of carbonic acid which escapes during the evaporation." He adds : " It appears from the analysis that the spring water is of excellent quality and bears comparison with many European springs which have attained some celeb- rity." The springs have been successfully tried by invalids; but the premises are now out of repair, and the water not to be obtained in its purity arad strength. The unforeseen and repeated sinking of the Sunbury and Erie track, at Le Boeuf swamp, attracted much attention during the construction of that road, and elicited the follow- ing statement in substance from Mr. R. Andrews, one of the engineers. When the location was made, the surface, excepting in a few places, appeared firm and hard. Le Bffiuf swamp, in which the sinking occurred, is between two large mounds designated as the north and south mounds, as they lie in that course with the railroad. The level is about four feet higher than Le Boeuf Creek. The surface soil is mostly made up of vegetable mould, varying from three to seven feet in thickness, for the distance of 38,000 feet. The line of the railroad is perfectly straight through this swamp, and the height of the bank above it averages five feet. The grading of the railroad was begun in 1856, at both ends, and after making 100 feet of the bank near the south mound it first showed symptoms of settling, and went from bad to worse as the bank receded from the mound. At the north end better progress was made, and there were no indi- cations that any settling would take place. When the work on the road was stopped, in 1857, 1000 feet were made on the north end, and 175 on the south. In 1858 the work was resumed, but little progress was made until January, 1859, when the efficient and energetic contractors, Russel, Barnet & Co., took charge. Sound- ings were made under the direction of the engineer through the swamp, the length of which, by previous advancement, HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 29 T was reduced to 2600 feet. At the south mound no bottom could be found for a distance of 300 feet — an iron rod hav- ing been made thirty-five feet in length for the purpose. The soundings for the remaining 1300 feet averaged from 1 to 25 feet, striking a good gravel bottom. The penetration of the rod in most places through the crust was somewhat hard ; but when through, it passed readily to the gravel. There is every indication that at one time this was a large lake, and that it has become filled up by drift, logs, etc., which, by decay and vegetable matter decomposing, has formed the "crust" alluded to. For some time the two sides settled very materially, but particularly the one on the south, consuming an immense quantity of earth. The height of the bank (as ascertained from a formula, the amount of yards put in and the distance made being known) is 55 feet, thus making a fill of this height when the original section called for only 6 feet. Some idea may be formed of the amount of work required to complete the south end, from the following calculation based on actual measurement : "In the month of February 1500 yards were put in and only gained 30 feet. Had the swamp not settled, and with the original section, this amount of earth would have made something over three-fourths of a mile. The settling is very gradual, and when the bank once ceases to settle, it never varies afterward.* A portion made up to grade in 185Y has not settled an inch, thus guaranteeing a good and safe bank, though a costly one. " Large night forces were put on this work. — 200 men, 20 cars, and 18 horses worked day and night as faithfully as possible. It presented a lively appearance at night to see the fires and lanterns strung along the banks, and to hear the voices of the men, and the rumbling noise of the cars breaking the peaceful quietude." * Tliis treacliei'ous swamp occasioned difficulty after the cars com- menced running. 26 298 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. To those who had never before witnessed earth swallow earth, or suspected an old lake under cover, with its gravel bottom forty feet below, in their vicinity, it must have been a matter of very great surprise. Near Union a similar but smaller sink-hole was found; and at Hartstown, Crawford County, on the canal, one of twice the extent of the one at Waterford. Meadows in the West have broken through and sunk, while others have been so like a spring-floor that the weight of a cart was never hazarded upon them, but the harvest secured by long pitchforks. "All belong to a class of which there are myriads in the drift region of North America. The largest Superior, and others that scarcely hold a gallon, as to supply and position, are to be accounted for in exactly the same manner." The DeviVs Back-hone. — About three and a half miles southeast from the borough of Girard is a most remarkable place, which deserves a better name than " The Devil's Back- bone." The country is very romantic and extremely hilly, rising apparently to a very great height. Reaching the farm of Mr. Blair, one of the first settlers, the drive is along the edge of a fearful ravine, the road lying frightfully near, and but for the thick growth of trees on its border would be absolutely dangerous. Leaving the horses and carriage, a walk of a few moments opens to view a magnificent pros- pect. Beneath, appears a large hollow, the precipitous sides of which, as well as the bank beyond, are covered with magnificent forest trees. In the middle of this rises the "Back-bone," a ridge of sand and slate one hundred feet in height, with a base of but sixty feet. This is two hundred feet in length, one side being partly covered with trees, while the other is entirely bare. The top of the back, which is from one to twelve inches in width, is a narrow but rather dangerous walk, but affords a view truly grand. Elk Creek being around the point and on both sides, hav- ing worn its bed through the soil to a very great depth. HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 299 The abrupt heiglit of the ridge, its narrow base, the deep bed of the stream, with the beauty of the surrounding scenery, compose the extraordinary landscape. Half a mile distant is another pyramidal ridge covered with grass, not so high or peculiar, called the " Nose." Here there are forks in the creek, and the whole is wild and picturesque. This description is miserably unjust, but none could be fully adequate — in the worn out words, "it must be seen to be truly appreciated." As to the flora of this region, we cannot do better than to quote a few words of Professor L. G. Olmstead: "We consider the county and immediate vicinity of Erie by far the best botanizing district with which we are acquainted throughout a large district of country. We have upon the peninsula a very great variety of plants, many of which are not found on the main land, but are common only to West- ern prairies. The marshes, ponds, bogs, etc. afford a great variety of marsh and aquatic plants. "Among the plants that some of our best florists would travel many miles to see, are the Saracenia purpurea; several varieties of Potamogeton, which are aquatic ; Batschia canescens, Enchococinea, found on the Western prairies; Hydopeltis purpurea, and several species of Utricularia." The sweet-brier, which has been much admired and par- ticularly adorns the green banks of the lake in the western part of the town, is not, like the wild rose, indigenous, the first plant having been brought from Carlisle, by General Kelso. 300 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. CHAPTER XIX. Miscellaneous Items, among whicli are: A Tradition — General Wayne — An Anecdote — Price of Provisions — Wm. W. Reed, Esq. — First National Celebration — Churches — -The Garrison — A Relic — Saturday Afternoon — Game — Mrs. P.'s Reminiscences — H. Russel's Journal — An early Set- tler in Fairview^ — La Fayette's Visit in Erie — Cholera — Perry Monu- ment — An Informal Meeting — Speculation — Fires — Sad Accidents — Ex-President Adams — Patriot War — Old Court-house Bell — Pioneers — Perry — Lieutenant Yarnall — ^Survivors of the Battle of Lake Erie — Perry Monument at Cleveland — Inventions— Moravian Lands — Omis- sions. A Tradition. — The Eries were alarmed when they heard of the confederation of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas residing in Central New York, and regarded them as natural enemies. To satisfy themselves, they sent a message to the Senecas, who resided nearest to them, inviting them to select one hundred of their most active, athletic men to play a game of ball against the same number selected from the Eries, for a wager worthy of the occasion and nation. The message was received in the most respectful manner, but the challenge declined. The next year the offer was renewed and again declined. At the third offer, the young Iroquois could be no longer restrained, the wise councils which had hitherto prevailed were set aside, and the chal- lenge accepted. After the selection, the party being the flower of the tribe, a most solemn charge was given them to acquit themselves as the worthy representatives of a great and powerful people, anxious to cultivate peace and friend- ship with neighboring tribes. The party then took up the line of march for Tu-shu-way, (Buffalo,) sent a messenger to notify the Eries of their approach, and the next day made a grand entree. They brought no weapon. The bat was a hickory stick, about five feet long, bent over at the HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 301 end, and thong netting wove into a bow. Their wager, which was matched by the Eries, consisted of piles of ele- gant wampum, costly jewels, silver bands, and beautifully ornamented moccasins. The game began, and though con- tested with desperation and great skill by the Eries, the Iroquois bore off the prize in triumph. The Iroquois hav- ing accomplished the object of their visit were about to re- turn, when the Eries proposed a foot race between ten of their number, at "Kanswans" or Eighteen-mile Creek. The victor in the race was to dispatch his adversary with a tomahawk and bear off his scalp as a trophy. This the Iro- quois accepted, secretly intending to waive the bloody part of the proposition should their tribe be victors. The Eries were again vanquished, but the Iroquois declined to execute their victim. At this the chief of the Eries came forward, and, quick as thought, himself dispatched the vanquished warrior, who was dragged out of the way and another champion placed in his stead. This was three times re- peated, and the Iroquois seeing the great excitement that prevailed, made a signal to depart, and, gathering up their trophies, proceeded homeward. The Eries knew no mode of securing peace but by the extermination of their enemies; it being no part of their character to cultivate and strengthen friendship. They knew to contend with them collectively would be useless. Immediately they organized a powerful party of warriors — hoping to be an equal match to their powerful neighbors by surprising the Senecas, who resided on Seneca Lake. But a woman residing among them who had a stronger interest in the Iroquois, secretly gave them warning, and five thousand warriors were organized and marched out to meet them. The two parties met at Honeoye, where a bloody and desperate battle was fought. The Eries were driven seven times across the stream and as often regained their ground. But a few of the vanquished Eries escaped to convey the news of their terrible overthrow, and these 26* 302 HISTORY or ERIE COUNTY. were pursued, and all that fell into the enemies' hands put to death. For weeks the pursuit was continued, and it was five months before the victorious party of the five nations returned with their trophies, having subdued their last and most pow- erful enemies. Tradition adds that the descendants of the Eries returned from beyond the Mississippi and attacked the Senecas, then settled in the seat of their fathers, Tu-shu- way ; and that a great battle was fought, and the Eries slain to a man, near the site of the (Cattaragus) Indian Mission-house. General Wayne. — The following newspaper article, by E,ev. L. G. Olmstead, is copied partly for the purpose of adding a word of explanation in reference to the disinter- ment of General Wayne, at Erie, in 1809 : — "On arriving at Erie, he (Colonel Isaac Wayne) em- ployed 'Old Dr. Wallace,' so called to distinguish him from the present Dr. Wallace, to take up his father's remains, pack the boxes in as small a space as possible, and lash them on to the hinder part of his sulky. Dr. Wallace took up the remains and found them in a perfect state of preservation, except one foot. The body had been buried in full uniform, and the boot on the decayed foot was also decayed, while the other boot remained sound, and a man by the name of Duncan had a mate to it and wore them out. Duncan's foot, like the general's, was very large. Dr. Wallace cut and boiled the flesh off the bones, packed them in a box, lashed them to the carriage, and they were brought and deposited beside the rest of his family in the above-named church-yard. "I visited General Wayne's old residence in the summer of 185*1, and found everything much as he had left it. The house is an elegant, old two-story mansion, now occupied by his grandson. The parlors and sitting-rooms are as they were. There are portraits and engravings of men of the Revolution, hanging on the walls, as on the 3d of April, 1792, when he was appointed to the command of the West- HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 303 ern army. Around the house and over the farm, while the fences and buildings are in a good condition, yet they as- sured me it is about as he left it. Everything appeared as though it had belonged to a gentleman of the old school, a race now said to be extinct. The premises looked, and I felt, as though the old hero, whose very name was once a terror to the murderous red man, might be expected back in an hour or so, and a dreamy impression seemed to steal over me that if I waited a little I should see him. I should have liked much to have questioned him about Three Rivers, and Brandywine, and Germantown, and Monmouth, and Stony Point, and Yorktown, and the Indians, and how the city appeared when she was only a year old. And I seemed to hold my breath and listen as many an old Indian had done, for his footsteps and his fearful oaths ; yet he did not come, and I passed on some three miles to his final resting- place." G. Sanford, who came to Erie in 1810, and was well acquainted with Dr. J. C. Wallace, heard him more than once allude to this circumstance. Mr. Sanford's impres- sion is that Colonel Wayne put up at Buehler's hotel, and did not visit the grave of his father, but sent for Dr. Wal- lace and made known the object of his visit, requesting him to superintend the removal and place the remains in a suitable condition for the journey. Dr. Wallace was a skillful surgeon of the army and a man of the first standing, and Colonel Wayne could not have selected a more suitable person to carry out his design. Both must have supposed the body, thirteen years after death, to have returned to cor- ruption. That Dr. Wallace pursued the wisest course the nature of the case would admit of, none who knew him would for a moment doubt. As a military man he was accustomed to obey orders, but it was with his operations as with other surgeons, not always an agreeable subject to dis- cuss minutely. An Anecdote. — The details of the first year's residence of 304 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. a wealthy citizen of the county who settled near Waterford, presents a model of patience and industry worthy of study and imitation. On lauding, one of the few settlers offered him employment in going to the woods to split puncheons, for which he was to have fifty cents a day. This occupation consists in splitting fair chestnut logs two or three times and smoothing them with an axe, to be used as a substitute for boards in making a floor. After a week of hard work at the puncheons, (with hoeing potatoes before breakfast added,) reckoning day came, and he found he was charged seventy- five cents per day for board ! Legal redress was not to be thought of, as there was no law this side of Pittsburg, which was then almost as difficult of access as Pike's Peak. He tied up his effects in his yellow cotton handkerchief, and was about starting, when his employer called out, " Where did you split the puncheons?" (He had been called "the green Yankee.") "You call me green, and I am; but not green enough to tell you that !" was the spirited reply. Many years after he saw the decayed puncheons on the spot where he left them, near the site of the court-house. The settler then walked six or eight miles to the location of a farmer, and, finding no warrant upon the tract adjoining him, he secured it, and immediately put in a crop of potatoes. These, when the size of birds' eggs, he used for food, for he had no other. In November the potatoes were gone, and after having scooped out a log for a canoe, he floated down the river, seeking employment. At Pittsburg no engage- ment offering, he put himself up at auction, at the market, proclaiming from a horse-block, that he " could do any work that any other man could do," and a Dutchman gave him a bid of three dollars a month and board. (This time he was careful to mention the board.) Here he remained three months, and was offered for the future three dollars and fifty cents per month, but he paid out his nine dollars for a bar- rel of flour and poled himself up to Waterford ; from this HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 305 he carried his flour, thirty pounds at a time, to his farm three miles distant. Price of Provisions, etc. — Among Esquire Rees's papers we find a bill dated lt92, "for services in viewing the county, $193 43." Another, "To Indians for hunting, $50." Other accounts, dated 1791, show provisions at the follow- ing prices: Potatoes, 12 shillings per bushel; corn, 16 shil- lings; oats, 12 shillings; wheat, 20 shillings per bushel; pork, $30 per barrel; sugar, 83 cents; loaf sugar, 87 cents per pound, etc. In 1813-14 provisions commanded a still higher price; corn $4, and oats $3 per bushel. The first white man born in the " Triangle" was William W. Reed, son of John C. Reed, and grandson of Colonel S. Reed, in Erie, February 20th, 1797. He became a mer- chant in Ashtabula, Ohio, but had resided in Erie a few years previous to his decease, September 9th, 1851. The First Celebration of our National Independence recorded, was the 4th of July, 1797, near Colt's Station. Mr. Colt says: " Tuesday being the twenty-second anniver- sary of the Independence of America, at the expense of the Pennsylvania Population Company we gave an entertain- ment to about seventy-five people, settlers of the said com- pany. A bower was erected under two large maple-trees, and when the hearts of the people were cheered with good fare, sundry toasts were drank suitable to the occasion. After I had withdrawn, one Jas. Crawford offered the fol- lowing: 'May Judah Colt, agent of the Population Com- pany, drive the intruders before him as Samson did the Philistines ! Three cheers 1' and the woods rang with a roar of laughter for some time." First Court. — When the circuit court met for the first time in the county, several of the citizens rode out to escort Judge Yates into town, but were disappointed in not meet- ing him. The court met in a room rented by the commis- sioners, on French Street, between Second and Third Streets. 306 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. As the first day was election day, business was postponed, and in the afternoon, in honor of the judge and strangers, a large sailing-party of ladies and gentlemen went over to the peninsula. Churche a^—Pvevions to 1811 there was seldom church to attend, but the few who could do so conveniently would ride to Pairview or Northeast, where were church organizations and settled pastors at an earlier day. Among the itinerants at a later day was Rev. Mr. Judd, who periodically, for sev- eral years, held meetings in Colonel Forster's vacant room, on the corner of French and Fifth Streets. He was esteemed a man of zeal and strong faith, but somewhat eccentric ; hav- ing been connected with the Presbyterian, Baptist, and Meth- odist churches, he was now free from all ecclesiastical rule. In the selection of elders, with him piety was of no account — influence was the indispensable qualification. Hence, his men in Erie were Captain Deacon, the commanding officer, Purser Carr, and Mr. Reed the wealthiest citizen. On one occasion, after reading the hymn, no one appeared "to raise the tune," and he remarked that he wished " Captain Deb. was there, and she could do it," meaning his wife. He then asked if there was not some lady who would undertake it, when one kindly volunteered, and in due time all went on in a becoming and reverential manner. An anecdote is related which shows the class of people our ministers had to deal with, even long after this. On one occasion the parson thought proper to exclude from the communion one of his members who had been guilty of in- temperance, by the name of Folwell. In consequence of this a near connection came to thrash the parson. After the matter had been discussed, and the irritated avenger (who, for the preacher's eye, had not been able to execute his threat) being somewhat restored to reason, he exclaimed, "Faith, sir, and when ye come till heaven ye'll find the Polwells theerP^ With this ultimatum of his rage he de- parted HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 3.0 1 At an early day fhe garrison seemed to be the general resort for citizens and strangers, an officer of the army hav- ing command until about 1806. At the time General Wayne's remains were removed, in 1809, and previously, Captain D. Dobbins was residing in the large building, in the center of the ground, erected for the commanding officer ; one of the gates was down and the works were going to de- cay. General Wayne, when he was landed in an almost dying state, chose to be tenanted in the upper part of the east block-house. It seems the attics of the three were fitted up as dwellings. We have mentioned elsewhere that these block-houses were on the east side of the creek, and built in 1795 for the protection of the State commissioners, General William Irvine and Andrew Ellicot, who were lay- ing out the town. Captain John Grubb brought on a mi- litia force at the time.* The names of the officers who commanded at different times were Captain Russel Bissel, in 1797; Captain Cornelius Lyman, until 1801; Captain McCall, and General Callender Irvine. Captain Lyman is described as a perfect gentleman, notwithstanding which he was court-martialed in Erie, in 1798, for a want of hospi- tality, (in what particular instance is not recorded,) but was honorably acquitted. lu 1801, (Mr. Colt notes,) "Colonel Hamtramck arrived from Pittsburg, on his way to Detroit. On entering the garrison a salute from the fort, of sixteen guns, was fired, and also one from the United States armed vessel Wilkeson, in the harbor ; at the same time a large brig from Fort Erie, of two hundred tons, came in." In April, 1802, a ball was given at the garrison, which, Mr. Colt remarks, "was a very agreeable affair." A Relic. — In 1804 or 1805 an iron cannon, a three- pounder, was found by General Kelso, near the Cascade, * Captain Grubb was a worthy citizen. He received tlie appoint- ment of associate judge about 1813, and resided on his farm in Mill Creek until his death in June, 1845. 308 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. partly imbedded in sand. The probability is that it be- longed to the French. At the time of their occupation, and previously, there was a road on the sand beach, and in transporting stores this might have been for some reason abandoned. General K. or his heirs disposed of it many years ago to a citizen of Black River, Ohio. In a number of the newspaper Mirror, of 1808, we find that the sum of forty-two dollars was paid William David- son for clearing the public square. It has been remarked of Mill Creek, that in 1810 it con- tained four times the quantity of water that it does at pres- ent, and about Third Street there was quite a pretty cascade. The gradual diminution of streams has been remarked in all new countries. It is supposed to be the result of increased evaporation occasioned by the removal of trees, and also by the plowed ground, which absorbs large quantities of water. Saturday Afternoon. — An early custom prevailed in Erie that must have been highly unpopular with some — that of calling out every man on Saturday afternoon to dig out stumps in the streets. This was before 1810. There was an ordinance also compelling citizens to dig three stumps fr-om the highways of the town as a punish- ment for every bacchanal revel they engaged in. This ordinance was repealed at an informal meeting held in front of the Reed House, in June, 1 846, the principal object being in congratulation of the public benefit received by the adorn- ment of the public square with trees, and when it received the appellation of Perry Square. As to game, the early settlers found an abundance of deer, rabbits, foxes, squirrels, opossums, etc. As late as 1804, Mr. H. Russel enters in his journal: "January 1st — Cloudy morning ; clears off; hunt bears, wolves, panthers, wild cats, etc." Panthers are not often spoken of in Erie County. In Buffalo we hear of one being shot, in 1821, one mile and a half from the present court-house. In 1808 are to be found, among county expenditures, |80 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 309 paid for wolf-scalps. The bounty was probably $10 per head — afterward, for many years, it was $12. The few scalps presented for bounty at that early day indicate the sparseness of the population and their want of leisure for such pursuits. In 1813 Mr. Russel lost four sheep by wolves. In 1828 sheep could not be kept at Colt's Station on account of their frequent visits: J72 *74 were paid by the county for scalps in 1834, $85 90 in 1886. Probably the last of the wild-cat species in the county was shot by Mr. Abrara Knapp, at Lake Pleasant, in 1857. A copy of the Erie Gazette, dated August, 1820, has the following advertisement: — ^'A Hunting we will go ! — A party of gentlemen intend going to the head of the peninsula, on Wednesday morning next, if fair — if not, the next fair morning — for the purpose of forming a line across it at the head and marching abreast down to the point, where boats will be stationed to follow game that may take to the water. A meeting will be held on Monday evening next at the court-house, for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements." Foxes are still abundant. J. W. Silverthorn shot twenty in the neighborhood of Girard, in the winter of 1861, and many other sportsmen were quite successful in the same way. Mrs. P.'s Reminiscences. — Mrs. P., who remembers Erie in 1803, says: The pickets were standing around parts of old Fort Presqu'ile at that time. A ruined, peculiar-look- ing house of stone and timber was also standing, and near by was a very deep well. Indian beads and other relics were found on the ground. When the fleet was building, a small party returned from the peninsula very greatly excited, maintaining that they had seen three British spies, in red coats, and made oath to the fact before a magistrate. As fears were entertained of the destruction of the vessels while building, the militia were called out until the square was filled. The Burgess thought advisable, before proceeding further, to send over 2T 310 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. and make a strict search, which was accordingly done, and nothing found to justify the story unless it might be that three red oxen were there quietly feeding. Soon after Buffalo was burned, an express came with the news that the British were eighteen miles west of Buffalo, on their way to destroy Erie and the fleet. Merchants removed their wares, and the greatest consternation pre- vailed. Families were called up at midnight, and, hastily packing their furniture and goods, fled from the lake, and many of them remained absent until spring. The most anxious fears were from the Indians, who had perpetrated such cruelties at Buffalo. Commodore Elliot was, through the whole, firm in the opinion that the town and fleet were sufficiently protected. The young people were very much amused, during such excitements, by the conduct of the militia, as well as by their uniforms, which were made up of every variety of borrowed and inherited garments and non- fits. Some went so far as to maintain that they protected the town after the manner of scarecrows, and that they were nuisances second only to the British themselves. In the Journal of Mr. Hamlin Bussel, of Mill Creek, is the following : — "June, 1812. — General Kelso ordered Captain Foot to call out his company of infantry for the defense of Erie. (Hamlin Russel volunteered.) "6th. — On duty. This day the general dismissed our company; so, for the present, myself and a number of my neighbors have volunteered to keep sentry at the head of the peninsula, three by rotation to stand a tour of twenty- four hours ; my tour will commence on the eighth instant. "August 25th — Expresses were sent through the county to call out the militia — a number of vessels being seen, ap- prehensions were entertained that a descent would be made at this place. I went to town, as did all the country ; there heard the disagreeable information that General Hull had surrendered himself and army prisoners to the British, to- HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 311 gether with the post of Detroit. The general voice pro- nounces Hull a traitor. "May 15th, 1813. — Go to town; a great alarm; 600 or YOO British and Indians land on the peninsula under cover of a thick fog, and go off again without being seen by any one. "July 26th, P.M. — * * * * Our harbor closely blockaded by the British vessels; the militia of this county are ordered out en masse. "December 31st. — Thus ends the year 1813, in which the war has been carried on in a manner becoming Democracy; Wilkinson's army is defeated and driven out of Canada, and likely to starve this winter; Fort George is evacuated; the enemy have burned Lewistown and Schlosser, surprised and taken Fort Niagara without the loss of a man, and still retain possession of it. Hurrah for Democracy ! "January 1st, 1814. — Go to town; there learn that Thursday last the British crossed at Black Rock, drove the militia before them to the village of Buffalo, and then drove them out of the village, which they reduced to ashes. Re- port says that the enemy, 3000 strong, are eight miles in advance of Buffalo, on the march for this place ; the citi- zens of Erie are sending off their families and effects as fast as possible. Come home; make preparations to send off my wife and babes, should worst come to worst. "Sunday 2d.—* * * * Find that it is not true that the enemy are advancing to this, but in all probability they will be here, or attempt to come, before spring, (on the ice ;) ex- presses sent off in every direction to call in the militia. "3d. — Receive orders from Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. Wallace to appear immediately at Erie to perform the duties of my office in the regiment. "February Tth. — Receive my discharge from my tour, and come home, having been engaged thirty-four days, during .which I have been at home but seldom, and never but a few 312 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. hours at a time, and expect now to be ordered out again shortly. "May 18th, 1815.— Went to Martin Strong's,* to the battalion review; 200 or 300 bludgeoniers met; hawed and geed about under as brave officers as ever raised potatoes. Hurrah for the militia of Pennsylvania!" [At this early day militiamen practiced with broomsticks, handspikes, etc., the proper weapons often not being obtainable.] Reminiscences of an Early Settler in Fairview Toivn- ship are as follow: "In 1810 my father bought a four-hun- dred acre tract of land in Fairview, ten miles west of Erie and one mile and a half south of the ridge road, of Jacob Ebersole, for five dollars per acre, on which were two cabins of round logs so near to each other that it was considered but one dwelling, the space between the two being the hall. There was also what was considered a large barn in those days. About fifty acres were partially cleared, much dead- ened timber yet standing in the fields, and some peach and apple trees. The nearest neighbors were of the names of Yance, Jas. Moorhead, John Long, John Stewart, and Jacob Wise, all within the bounds of three miles, which was then considered near neighbors. Many of their descendants reside on the same lands, which have become quite valuable. "It was seldom in those days that two improved lots joined each other ; generally, they were divided or separated by at least a strip of woodland. The dwellings were rude log cabins which, in many instances, were taken from the forest and erected into a dwelling in the space of two days, by the assistance of the neighbors. Some would be engaged cutting down trees, while others would be hauling together, * Captain Martin Strong was one of the earliest inhabitants. In a letter from him, (see page 84,) we find that he came to this county the last of July, 1795, when there was but one family in the Triangle. Captain Strong was not only one of our most prominent citizens, but a sensible and excellent man. He died in 1858, in the eighty-eighth year of his age. HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 313 building, splitting clapboards for the roof or puncheons for the floor, and thus a tenement would be completed speedily, and with but few nails or boards. "Our crops were often injured by the depredations of bears, raccoons, deer, and wild turkeys, which were numerous. "Our house of worship was near the mouth of Walnut Creek — the Rev. Johnson Eaton, pastor." Memoranda of Mr. R. 5. — "August 26th, 1845.— Op- pressively hot and dry; the Beaverdam Run dry in many places, which was never known before by the oldest inhab- itants. [Beaverdam Run empties into Walnut Creek.] "January 5th, 1847. — A terrific storm of wind passed over Fairview, and leveled fences, roofs, sheds, etc., and a great many trees. " December 16th, 1850. — Steamboat May Flower beached above the mouth of Elk Creek. "December 31st, 1852. — A steamboat passed up the lake. January 10th, 1853, another passes up. March 21st, steam- boats commenced running; navigation open most of the winter." General La Fayette^s Visit to Erie. — On the 3d of June, 1825, General La Fayette, on his way from New Orleans to New York, honored Erie with a stay of a few hours. A committee proceeded to Waterford and there received the committee from Pittsburg, with the illustrious guest. General La Fayette, G. W. La Fayette, and M. La Yasseur. Judah Colt, Esq., of the Erie committee, in behalf of the citizens, gave him a cordial welcome to the county, to which the General made a suitable reply. After an early breakfast, the company, with a number of citizens from Waterford, proceeded to Erie. When within a mile of the borough they were received by a battalion of volunteers in full uni- form, and a procession formed under the direction of Gen- eral B. Wallace, Chief Marshal. The procession passed down State Street to the public square ; then down French to Third; across Third to the foot of State Street, where 2t* 314 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. the General and suite alighted, and were received by Cap- tain Budd, commanding officer of the naval station, Captain Maurice, of the engineers, and a number of other naval and military officers, and proceeded to the bank. The party being in full view of our beautiful harbor, a national salute was fired from the navy yard, after which the procession passed to the house of Mr. Dobbins, where accommodations had been provided and where he was welcomed in the name of the citizens by Dr. J. C. Wallace, Chief Burgess. Gen- eral La Fayette made a very appropriate reply, and was introduced to a great number of persons of every age, and then proceeded to the house of Judah Colt, where a large number of ladies were assembled, to whom he was severally presented. Having returned to his quarters he was escorted at half-past one to the bridge on Second Street, between French and State, where a dinner had been prepared and set by Mr. Dickson. The table extended the length of the bridge, one hundred and seventy feet, in full view of the lake, and was covered by an awning of the sails of the Brit- ish vessels taken by Commodore Perry, and handsomely orna- mented with flowers and evergreens. Among the toasts drank standing, with three cheers, was "General La Fay- ette — In youth a hero, in maturity a sage, in advanced life an example to the present and future generations." After which, General La Fayette arose and gave the following : "Erie — A name which has a great share in American glory: may this town ever enjoy a proportionate share in American prosperity and happiness." The General and suite were then escorted from the table to their quarters, and, after an affectionate farewell of the citizens, at three o'clock stepped into the carriage and was accompanied by a number of citizens to Portland, where the steamboat Superior was in readiness to receive and convey the party to Buffalo. la 182T the young men of Erie celebrated the tenth of September on board of the Queen Charlotte, in Misery Bay. The revenue cutter Dallas carried the company out with one HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 315 of the flags that was in the action floating from her mast. Between the hours of three and four o'clock a national salute was fired, being the hour the British surrendered. One of Commodore Perry's officers took dinner with them, and one of his seamen fired the cannon. Cholera. — During the prevalence of the Asiatic cholera throughout our country in 1832, a Mrs. Hunter was landed on the peninsula, in the last stages of the disease, and died thirteen hours after the attack. Her daughter who accom- panied her died in twenty-four hours. Great anxiety existed among all classes lest the contagion should prevail. A board of health was appointed, which made frequent reports to the public, and through their exhortations to rigid clean- liness, cheerfulness, and temperance in eating and drinking, no cases originated in the town. This case of Mrs. Hunter, who was an emigrant, was one of the first that originated in the country. It will be remembered as the season when the disease prevailed so fearfully and fatally in many of the lake towns, and on several of the steamboats. Perry Monunnent. — In November, 1835, a public meeting convened at the court-house, to take into consideration the propriety of erecting a monument to the memory of Com- modore Perry, Rufus S. Reed was chosen President ; George Moore and Giles Sanford, Vice-Presidents ; and William Kelley, Secretary, The meeting adopted several appropriate resolutions, and appointed eleven persons to collect funds, procure a site, etc., to fill vacancies in their own body, and to increase the number if necessary, and to attend to all business relating to the accomplishment of the object. The names of the executive committee were Colonel Thos, Forster, George Moore, R. S. Reed, P. S. V. Hamot, Giles Sanford, Thos. H. Sill, Wm. Kelley, Daniel Dobbins, Robert Brown, John H. Walker, and Samuel Hays. Buffalo made a move about the same time for the erection 316 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. of a Perry monument in that city, but the depression in the money market, probably with both, prevented further action. At an informoJ meeting of citizens, in front of the Reed House, (probably an imaginary one, as the chairman was the "oldest citizen," and the secretary the man with the "Shaker hat,") held June 2d, 1846, in congratulation of the public benefit received by the "recent adornment of the Diamond, the chairman christened the Park 'Perry Square,' and ex- pressed the hope that he might see a cenotaph reared on this spot worthy of the fame of Perry. Let us formally consecrate this ground to the memory of the gallant dead ; let it bear the name of Perry, and, by-and-by, a patriotic people shall rear in the midst of the rich foliage that sur- rounds us, an obelisk to perpetuate his fame, and on which shall be inscribed the enduring record of his achievements. The remarks of the venerable chairman were greeted with enthusiastic applause, amid frequent cries of 'We'll build the monument ourselves.' " Order having been restored, the following resolutions were introduced and unanimously adopted : — "Resolved, That the public ground in Erie, heretofore known as the Diamond, be and the same is hereby named Perry Square, by which appellation it shall be known and designated for all time to come. "Resolved, That a monument to commemorate the brilliant naval victory achieved September 10th, 1813, by Commodore Perry and his associates, on Lake Erie, be erected in this square; and for that purpose P. S. Y. Hamot, Esq., Com- modore S. Champlin, U. S. N., and Captain William W. Dobbins are appointed a committee, and are charged with the execution of the work, with power to appoint sub-com- mittees everywhere to collect funds for this patriotic project." In 1851 a petition was circulated asking Congress to ap- propriate $20,000 for a monument to Commodore Perry, to be placed in Erie Cemetery. Provided this was successful, a further appropriation was to be solicited from the State. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 311 We trust the cause is not abandoned in the minds of our people, and that the example of a neighboring city may be an additional incentive. Speculation. — In the general stagnation of business, and the speculating mania which prevailed throughout our country about 1836, the inhabitants of Erie unfortunately participa- ted. The immediate completion of the canal; the improve- ment of the harbor, which would make it second to none; a great diagonal railroad from the West Branch Canal to Erie, the route being perfectly practicable, and one hundred miles nearer the seaboard than any other, and without an inclined plane, being the Northumberland or Sunbury and Erie Road; all contributed to the brilliant prospects of Erie, and increased the nominal value of real estate mar- velously. In February, 1836, the sales exceeded $1,000,000, the purchasers being mostly Eastern capitalists and speculators. Extracts from Erie newspapers, in 1830 and 1836, exhibit the position of matters in a business point of view, "January 12th, 1830. — The spirit of speculation which has wrought such wonders upon the line of the Erie Canal has never visited this borough. No extensive business is done on fictitious capital. The soil is owned by its occupants, and no part of it is covered by foreign mortgages. No branch of business is overdone, if we except, perhaps, one or two of the professions. The growth of Erie has at no time exceeded that of the surrounding country. Its increase has been commensurate only with the increase of business. It has, consequently, never felt those reverses which always attend villages of mushroom growth. Many men with small capital have become independent, and some opulent. Erie possesses advantages which must forever secure to it im- portant and lucrative business. Its harbor is decidedly the safest and best on the lake. Our water privileges are equal to our pi'esent wants, and an increase may be expected from the construction of the Pennsylvania Canal, 318 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. " That Erie will be a successful rival of lier sister villages on the borders of the lake, we have not a shadow of doubt; but let not her growth be forced ; every doubtful or chimer- ical speculation should be discountenanced, and, above all, let not our village lots fall into the hands of those who cal- culate great speculations on their rise. This is the bane which is most to be dreaded in all our growing villages. We must construct a wharf out to Mr. C. M. Reed's pier, where there is deep water. " February 2Yth, 1836.— Erie Bank. We are informed that the entire stock of $200,000 has been subscribed, and, we believe, paid in. [News at the same time of probable passage of appropriation in Congress for improvement of harbor.] "February 2'7th, 1836. — The receipt of positive news of the final passage of the canal and (U. S.) bank bill at this place, on Monday evening, gave a new impetus to the rise of real estate. It advanced immediately about one hundred per cent., and has since continued rising at the rate of from ten to twenty per cent, a day. Sales have been made this week amounting to near half a million of dollars. The sales, too, are none of your sham sales got up for effect — they are bona fide, and liberal, almost invariably made by the pur- chasers, who are mostly men of heavy capital from the East — Bufi"alo, Rochester, and JSTew York — and persons able to sustain prices, so far as they buy for speculation, and to im- prove what they buy for use. There is no danger of retro- grade. The tide of prosperity has set in favor of Erie, and it must go ahead. The Fates cannot make it otherwise. Real estate will continue to rise, and we would sincerely recommend any friend of ours who wishes to purchase, to do so as soon as possible. "March 1st. — Real Estate. Sales increase in briskness, and prices still rising. The amount of sales on Saturday and yesterday (Monday) amounted to over $300,000. Good bargains are yet offered to any who have cash to invest HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 319 for first payments, and at prices which cannot fail of advanc- ing in as great a ratio as they have done for several weeks back. " It is estimated that the sales in our borough, last week, amounted to a million and a half of dollars. They are still going on and daily advancing in prices. "A company has bought land at the mouth of Twenty-mile Creek, to construct a harbor there. "A lot of ground sold in Erie, in February, for $10,000 — was sold in March, in Buffalo, to a company, for $50,000. "April 2d, 1836. — For the sake of our numerous corre- spondents, who look with distrust on all excitement in the grave business of laying out bona fide capital, we will briefly and generally reply that there is no sham nor get-up to the land transactions hereaway; and that neither collapse nor the ordinary fever and ague need be apprehended for this place; it has grown steadily and slowly into public favor, and its present towering prospects have a foundation in the nature of things not only permanent and enduring, but natural and everlasting. Look at the position of Erie on the map ; read the reports of the United States Engineers as to the harbor; above all, at this crisis, observe the en- lightened legislation of the Commonwealth in anticipating the demand for commercial facilities at this favored spot. "June 11th. — Twelve water lots of thirty-two feet front sold, notwithstanding the severe pressure in the money market, at an aggregate price of over $40,000." In consequence of the failure of the United States Bank, and delay in prosecuting projected improvements, prices gradually declined, and the depression was so great in a few years that property could scarcely be disposed of at the lowest rates. These fluctuations have been succeeded by times of more reliable and permanent valuation. Fiy^es. — January 22d, 1839, Erie suffered from a destruct- ive fire, in which the "Mansion House" and several frame buildings were consumed. Also the barn of Messrs. Hart 320 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. and Bird, stage proprietors, containing eleven horses and seven coaches. Loss estimated at $50,000. April 1st, 1851, the Eagle Hotel, and several other build- ings and stores, were consumed by fire. In 1851 a whole block was consumed on the west side of State Street and the public square. The buildings were prin- cipally wood, and much of the loss was covered by insurance. The printing-offices of the Dispatch and True American, and about twelve shops and stores, were destroyed. 8ad Accidents. — The summer of 1841 was overshadowed by gloom in consequence of two very melancholy accidents. The first was the loss by drowning, under aggravated cir- cumstances, of two children of Mr. Josiah King, of Pitts- burg, with their nurse. Mr. K. and his family, which con- sisted of his wife, three children, and mother-in-law, were anticipating a visit to Mr. K.'s pai'ents in Erie. On Satur- day night they arrived at the public works in the steamboat New England, Captain Oliver, from Cleveland. The cap- tain insisted that he could not enter the harbor in safety. Mr. .K. requested then to be taken on to Buffalo; but being assured that the yawl was as safe as the steamboat, Mr. K., after consulting his family, acceded to the captain's wishes. Three other passengers and three deck hands, with Mr. K. and family, were then committed to the small boat, which, through unaccountable negligence, had the plug removed. With the utmost exertions the boat succeeded in reaching the pier, but not without imminent peril to the whole, and the loss of two lovely children and their nurse. The dead bodies were not recovered until the third or fourth day. The 9th of August, 1841, is noted for a most appalling calamity on Lake Erie, scarcely equaled in the number of sufferers by any similar event. This was the burning of the steamboat Erie, Captain Titus, being thirty-three miles from Buffalo, on her way up the lake. It was estimated that two hundred and forty-nine persons were, by this accident, launched into eternity in a few brief moments ; twenty-six HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 321 of these were from Erie County, among whom were Lloyd Grilson, clerk, Leander Jolls, steward, six members of the brass band, wheelsman, deck hands, etc. The conduct of the wheelsman, Augustus Fuller, of Har- bor Creek, is far famed for its heroism. He was at the wheel when the alarm of fire was given ; immediately headed the boat for the shore, and continued at his post until the wheelhouse, wheel, and his own person were completely enveloped in flames. In the vicinity of the wreck, in the course of a week, between one hundred and twenty and one hundred and thirty of the dead bodies arose to the surface ; and mourning, burials, and funeral sermons sadly prevailed throughout the land. The Erie had a cargo worth $20,000; the immigrants had with them $180,000; the boat was valued at $75,000 ; mak- ing a loss of little less than $300,000. The Erie was built by a number of citizens of Erie, and launched in October, 1837. At the time she was lost General C. M. Reed was the largest shareholder. Her tonnage was between six and seven hundred. The coroner's jury certified that the destruction was acci- dental — that the fire was occasioned by the bursting of one or more demijohns of spirits of turpentine standing on the boiler deck — the boat having been newly painted, and the wind being high, the flames were driven through the entire boat with astonishing velocity. Ex-President Adams. — In 1843 the town was honored by a call from Ex-President J. Q. Adams. The steamboat General Wayne, on which he was a passenger, remained from seven to nine p.m. at the dock. The Wayne Greys and the three fire companies escorted him to the Reed House. Hon. T. H. Sill made him welcome in a short speech. The citizens in large numbers took him by the hand, and he was introduced severally to a number of the ladies, whom he addressed in a brief and appropriate manner. 28 322 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. As Mr. Adams held no office, it was an expression of genuine, disinterested respect to a great and good man. During the Patriot War (as the rebellion in Canada has been called) the arm-house in Erie was entered, and a quan- tity of muskets taken therefrom. They were discovered in BufTalo, and identified by Captain Homans, TJ. S. N., then residing in Erie, by a peculiar kind of side-arm used by the company. The steamer Governor Marcy was chartered by the United States Government, and Lieutenant Homans placed in command. The Old Court-house Bell, which could be heard at a greater distance than some of the larger bells that our city is favored with at present, belonged to the ship Detroit when taken, September 10th, 1813. Commodore Sinclair had it afterward on the Niagara for a ship bell. In 1821 this brig was dismantled, and the bell, with other goods, placed in the navy storehouse at Erie. In 1825, when the station was broken up and the property disposed of by auction, the bell was bought by the county commissioners, and placed upon the court-house. After the new court-house bell arrived in 1854, by a singular coincidence this old bell slipped from its hangings, and some mischievous persons purloined it. It was recovered after a few months, and bought for $105 by the city authorities. Among the Pioneers of Brie County we find the name of Jas. Tallmadge, who came in 1195, and died, in McKean Township, in 1855, aged eighty-two years. Mr. Jas. Blair, of Girard, also came to the county in 1195, and died in 1855, at the age of eighty-one. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church, and a man of rare worth, respected and beloved. Captain Jas. Pollock died at Waterford, in May, 1857, having lived in Erie County sixty years. He was one of the members of the Convention to amend the Constitution of Pennsylvania in 1836. Mr. Giles Badger died at Lexington, a few miles south of HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. S23 Girard, in 185T, aged eighty-nine years, having lived in Erie County sixty years. Upon the surrender of Hull he entered the army, and served under General Harrison. "He enjoyed the confidence and respect of his fellows, both as a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a citizen ; and in peace and Christian hope passed away." Mr. Stephen Oliver, a revolutionary soldier, died in McKean, in February, 1857, aged ninety-seven years. He was one of the survivors of the massacre of Wyoming, his name being inscribed upon the monument. He voted for General Washington and Colonel Fremont, and at every intervening Presidential election. He lived and died a Christian. Mr. Thomas Dunn died in McKean, in 1854, aged eighty- two years. He came to Erie in 1797, and settled upon the farm where he died. Mr. Burrell Tracy died in 1853, having removed to Erie County in 1797. Perry's Squadron was but seventy days in building. The timber was mostly taken from the third section. Captain Daniel Dobbins claims to have cut the first stick of timber with his own hands. At a dinner given to Commodore Perry, before leaving Erie on his momentous, mission, he expressed his determina- tion to return a conqueror or in his shroud. Commodore Pei'ry had a propensity for fine horses. The one he rode in Erie was a superior but not showy animal, which he had purchased at Cattaragus. Mr. Judah Colt bought him when Commodore Perry left, and he always went by the name of the " Commodore." He died in 1829 and was buried with due respect, with his shoes on, near the garrison ground. Peter H., a young gentleman of Meadville, came to Erie to volunteer with Commodore Perry, but when the decisive moment arrived and the squadron was to sail, altered his purpose and returned home. Wade, a law-student of the 324 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. same place, made this conduct the occasiou for a practical joke, and in a week's time Peter H. received a communica- tion through the post-office, which he opened with due for- mality. Inclosed was a letter, a bank bill, and a tract or little book about three inches by four, such as the pious mis- sionary, Mr. Osgood, distributed among the people. The letter purported to be from Commodore Perry, stating that they had met the enemy and conquered — had killed Tecum- seh and taken his private library, and the little book was his apportionment, and the note (a counterfeit of the broken Gloucester bank) his share of the prize money. Extract from a letter dated — "Marion, 0., November 13, 1860. * * "The last few years of his life (Lieutenant Yar- nall's, of Commodore Perry's flag-ship Lawrence,) were spent in Norton, a small town of Delaware County, where he earned a small pittance by prescribing a few botanical medi- cines to the people of that vicinity, and telling fortunes or predicting the future of those who would reward him for the same, and pretending to be gifted with second sight, by which he could tell the person calling upon him where to find property that had strayed away or been stolen from them. By these means he procured a livelihood for a num- ber of years, and won for himself the name of old Pluto. "He died about twenty years ago, and was buried with the honors of war. Many of the old veterans of the war gathered around the grave of the poor old man, when he was lowered to his last home, where 'he sleeps his last sleep,' and where 'no sound can awake him to glory again.' They shed tears over his grave as they remembered the time when they fought with him on the battle-fields of their country. "ISTo monument, not even a slab, marks the last resting- place of the old veteran. But his name is remembered by a people that know how to appreciate the liberty for which he fought. J. N. S." HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 325 The survivors of the battle of Lake Erie as far as known : Stephen Champlin, sailing-master and commander of the Scorpion ; now a post-captain, and residing in Buffalo. J. B. Montgomery, midshipman in the Niagara ; now a post-captain, and in command of the Pacific squadron. Hugh N. Page, midshipman in the Tigress; now a post- captain, and resides in Virginia. Thomas Brownell, sailing-master on board the Ariel, re- sides in Newport, and is lieutenant. Usher Parsons, acting surgeon of the flag ship, and of the squadron, resides in Providence, and is the last surviving commissioned officer of the squadron. Hosea Sargeant, a volunteer from General Harrison's army, was a gunner on the Lawrence ; lives in Boston. W. T. Taliaferro, a volunteer from Harrison's army, now resides, as a physician, in Cincinnati. Benjamin Talmon, gunner on the Caledonia. John Tucker, powder-boy of the Caledonia. Benjamin Fleming, a sailor on the Niagara, lives in Erie. Jonas Stone, carpenter on the Lawrence, resides near Milwaukie. Alexander McClaskey, a volunteer from Erie, resides in Illinois. Daniel Metzenburgh resides in Erie ; volunteered on board the Niagara ; is now about seventy years of age, and has his medal. J. Murray, a marine, resides in Girard. The following, who were mostly volunteers from Harrison's army, are believed to be still living, to wit : — Thomas H. Bradford, Nathan Holburt, John Norris, William Blair, James Artus, Rowland S. Parker, and James Lanman. Extract from the account of "The Inauguration of the Perry Statue, at Cleveland:" — "The cost of the Perry Monument was $8000, as agreed in the contract made with T. Jones & Sons. Nearly 326 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. of this sum was obtained by voluntary subscriptions, and the City Council, on the receipt of a communication from the Chairman of the Perry Monument Committee, stating the balance due to the contractors, September 25, 1860, passed the resolution offered by Mr. Ballard : — "Resolved, That the sum of Three Thousand and Eight Dollars be appropriated from the city treasury to T. Jones & Sons, in full of the balance due them on their contract for the erection of the Perry Monument, the same to be paid one-third in six months and one-third in twelve months. Adopted. Ayes, 18; nays, 1." "October 30, 1860, the following action was had in the City Council, on the receipt of a communication from Har- vey Rice, Chairman of the Perry Monument Committee, stating that he has received from 0. H. Perry, only surviv- ing son of Commodore Perry, a portrait in oil of the Com- modore, copied by Mr. Lawson, of Lowell, from the original painting by Stuart. In compliance with the request of Mr. Perry, he presented the portrait to the City of Cleve- land. In the note by Mr. Perry accompanying the portrait, he expresses his belief that ' so patriotic a people as the citi- zens of Cleveland will value the portrait of one they have been pleased to honor.' "Received and filed. "Resolutions of Mr. Clark: — " That the portrait of Commodore Perry, presented this evening to the City of Cleveland, in the name, and at the request of 0. H. Perry, Esq., his only surviving son, be ac- cepted ; and that the City Clerk be directed to cause the same to be handsomely framed and suspended in Council Hall. "That the thanks of the City Council be, and the same are hereby tendered to 0. H. Perry, Esq., for so valuable and acceptable a gift, and that the Mayor of the City be requested to communicate to him a certified copy of the foregoing resolutions. "Adopted." HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 321 Inventions. — October 4th, 1853, Ozias J. Davie and Thos. W. Stephens, of the City of Erie, obtained a patent for a punching and shearing machine. Improvements were after- ward made by them, and the machine exhibited at the Crys- tal Palace, where its operations attracted much attention. Munn & Co. make mention of it as one of the best inven- tions of the kind with which they are acquainted. Liddell, Kepler & Co., of Erie, are proprietors. A car-spring was afterward patented by Walter E. J. Liddel, which is considered a very great improvement. Captain Douglass Ottinger invented a life-boat whieh was exhibited at the Crystal Palace in 1853, and which is now in general use. From humane motives he refused to have it patented, but received, in 1858, a remuneration from Con- gress of $10,000. J. W. Wetmore, Esq., invented a band railroad chair; first patent, April 19, 1859; second patent, December 27, 1859. Sub- wedge railroad chair, which was first patented August 23, 1859, and a second, May 15, 1860. A legislative voting register, the object of which is to prevent the delay in taking the ayes and noes, was patented by him April 3d, 1860. The gravimotometer was patented February 16, 1858, the object of the apparatus being to test or measure the eifect of motion on attraction or gravi- tation. It is constructed by having horseshoe magnets attached vertically flatwise unto a wooden globe. Also letters-patent were granted June 16, 1861, for im- proved means of propelling vessels in shoal water. The model was submitted by Mr. Wetmore to a committee in 1858, which concluded their article as follows : — "On the whole, this method of propulsion seems to us to be practicable. In our opinion it is a valuable invention for the use proposed. The advantages consist principally of a great saving of power in the propulsion of boats and the extension of the use of steamboats to rivers where naviga- tion by paddle-wheel boats is now hardly practicable. The 328 HISTORF OF ERIE COUNTY. large appropriations expended or proposed for the improve- ment of the navigation of the various rivers of the country, and the difficulty and expense of such improvements, show the utility and necessity of successful efforts to overcome the impediment in these channels of commerce. This plan seems to us to meet the necessity, and to be the best im- provement yet devised for shoal water navigation. "Douglass Ottinger, Chas, M. Reed, "m. courtriqht, joshua follensbeb, "John A. Tracy, Wm. A. Gtalbraith, "P. Metcalf, a. H. Caughey, "A. Scott." In the Buffalo Daihj Republic of March 20th, 1861, we find an article on the " Suspended Purchase," an invention of Mr. Wm. H. Brown, of Erie. The editor remarks: " To us it seemed to be rather moi'e than a purchase, it was really a combination of purchases. Every part sustains such a delicate and positive relation to every other part, that it seems as if human ingenuity could go no further in the development of the idea which has lived in the brain of the inventor for over eight years. To perfect machinery by which massive bodies, or large quantities, should be lifted and transported to any given distance, or deposited at points difficult to reach, has been the great object of the inventor. That he has accomplished his undertaking, no one who has seen the performance of his model will undertake to ques- tion. * * * Yov quarrying purposes, bridge building, and unloading of vessels, the ' Suspended Purchase ' is in- valuable; in fact, it would require too much space to specify the purposes for which it may be successfully and economi- cally used. In the work of construction, especially, it will be found by engineers to meet a necessity which nothing but rude muscle and great mental labor have heretofore met. In the unloading of vessels Mr. Brown guarantees to dis- charge 150 tons of iron ore or coal per hour, with the num- ber of hands necessary to keep up with the operations of his machinery." HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 329 Also, in the New York Times, July 29ih, 1861, under the head "Improvised Army Bridges," after a statement by the editor of the difBculties of making passable, at short notice, the ordinary bridges of which the rebels have de- stroyed the superstructure, of rapidly transporting guns, stores, and horses over chasms which . cannot speedily be bridged, the time required to construct rafts, etc., he adds: "A recent apparatus, (Brown's Suspended Purchase,) which has been employed to some extent in carrying and deposit- ing the material of bridges, and in raising ore and coal from vessels and dumping it some hundreds of feet oflf — an appa- ratus indorsed by competent engineering authorities, seems to possess the features required in military purposes. * * * There is evidently the principle in this simple device for greatly aiding military operations by speedily repairing damaged bridges, improvising bridges, etc., and it is obvi- ous that something of this sort will be specially useful in this campaign." "The Society of the United Brethren for Propagating the Gospel among the Heathen," was incorporated by the Act of Assembly, 2Yth February, 1788. It is formed of members of the Episcopal church of the United Brethren or Unitas Fratrum — more generally known as the Moravian church, April 17th, 1791, an act was passed to grant this society 5000 acres of land and allowance; 2500 acres to be located "on the River Conneought near the northwestern corner of the State," and 2500 acres "on the heads of French Creek." The inducement thereto is stated in the act to be the fact that the United Brethren had sent and supported mission- aries and teachers among the Indians since 1740, and in fur- therance of which the aforesaid society was incorporated in 1788. The society asked for public aid because the missions had become both numerous and expensive, and hitherto had been maintained solely by the charitable contributions of the members of the Moravian church. The request was granted 29 330 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. on the ground that the Commonwealth was "disposed to encourage all pious and charitable institutions, and the prop- agation of the Grospel, and the erecting and supporting schools among the Indian nations of America being of the first importance to this and other of the United States, and by the blessing of God conducive to the peace and security of the inhabitants and settlers of our frontiers by turning the minds of the savages to the Christian religion, industry, and social life with the citizens of the United States." The patents are dated April 14th, 1195. The French Creek tract, called " Good Luck," contained 2875 acres and allowance. Thirty-four pounds, eleven shill- ings and nine pence was paid for the excess above the 2500 acres. The Conneaut tract, called "Hospitality," contained 219*7jo'i) acres and allowance, the payment being nineteen pounds, twenty-three shillings and ten pence for the excess. Both tracts were subdivided and leased on "Improvement Leases," by the late William Miles, Esq., who for many years was the society's efficient agent in the improvement of these lands. Mr. Miles's health failing, his son. Judge James Miles, succeeded him in the agency of the "Hospi- tality" tract, and John Wood, Esq., in the "Good Luck" tract. The lands were finally sold, in 1849, to I^. Blickensdefer, Esq. To the efficient care and superintendence of these gentle- men, particularly the Messrs. Miles, who were pioneers in the improvements, the society and the county are indebted for reclaiming from a wilderness a large portion of the best lands in Erie County — some 100 acres of "Good Luck" and 1200 of "Hospitality" having been brought into a good state of cultivation up to the year 1850. The terms of the leases were, in general, the use of the land by the tenant for a series of years, usually seven, in consideration of clearing and fencing a small portion annu- HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 331 ally. Subsequently leases included agreements to build houses and barns. The society were induced to sell principally from the con- sideration that the annual interest of the proceeds of sale would be a more effectual and available aid to their work than any system of farming by tenants. After its purchase by Mr. Blickensdefer it was again subdivided and resold to actual settlers, a few of the best tenants becoming purchasers. Both tracts are now well improved in suitable-sized farms, and will compare favorably with any lands in Erie County. In Chapter IX. mention of an act to open a road from near the Bald Eagle's Nest, in Mifflin County, to Le Boeuf, in the County of Allegheny, was omitted. This act passed 10th of April, 1199, and appropriated $5000 for the pur- pose. The following on the subject of railroads, from Poor's History, should be added : "In addition to the subscriptions made to the Philadelphia and Erie Road was $500,000 to the share capital by the Cleveland and Erie Railroad, at the time the Legislature of Pennsylvania confirmed the rights of this and the Erie and Northeast to the chartered privileges claimed by them. "T/ie Erie and Pittsburg Railroad was chartered as the successor of the Pittsburg and Erie Railroad, on the 15th of April, 1858. In addition to the $400,000 subscribed to this by the Erie and Northeast Road as one of the condi- tions by which it enjoys quiet right of way through the State, it has a floating debt of $250,000, (advances by the Buffalo and State Line Company,) and $30,000 from indi- vidual stockholders. "In 1851 an act was obtained from the Legislature of New York, authorizing the Buffalo and State Line Road to lease or purchase, by exchange of stock or lands, the Erie and Northeast Railroad. Under this act nearly all the share capital of the Erie and Northeast has been exchanged for that of the Buffalo and State Line Road. Bonds have also 332 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. been exchanged to the amount of $149,000. The funded debt of the Erie and Northeast Road is $100,000, in details as follows: First mortgage, seven per cent, coupon bonds $400,000, dated 1st June, 1857, and payable, principal 1st June, 1810, and interest semi-annually, 1st June and 1st December, at New York. Of these bonds $149,000 have been exchanged for bonds of the Buffalo and State Line Railroad as a part of its own line ; its earnings and expenses are embraced in those for that road. The same dividends have been paid by the two companies." At Junction, in Concord Township, where the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad intersects the Philadelphia and Erie, quite a cluster of buildings has ai'isen in the woods within the last three months. The Atlantic and Great Western connects with the New York and Erie at Little Yalley, in Cattaragus County, having the same gauge. A large quantity of petroleum passed over this road on the ninth of September, 1861; twenty-three car-loads were shipped at Junction for New York City. March 1st, 1181, the State of New York made a deed of cession to the United States of lands lying between the northern boundary of Pennsylvania and Lake Erie, or rather judged it expedient to limit and restrict the boundaries of this State. April 19th, 1185, the Commonwealth of Mas- sachusetts made a similar deed of cession. At the Assembly of Internal Commerce, in Philadelphia, September 15th, 1183, a resolution was carried to "examine the navigation of the Susquehanna to the source of the same, and ascertain, as near as conveniently may be, where the northern boundary of this State will fall, particularly whether any part of Lake Erie is within the State of Pennsylvania, taking particular notes of the nature and geography of the country as to the practicability of roads, water carriage, air, soil, natural productions, etc." September twentieth, William Maclay, James Wilkinson, and William Montgomery, Esqs., were duly elected to per- HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY. 333 form the duties prescribed in the resolution. These com- missioners arrived at Erie, October 8th, 1781, and determined by scientific observations that there was no lake harbor inside the State, and also that the land was of a fair quality. On motion of General Irvine, in Congress, February 25th, 1T88, the Geographer of the United States was directed to pro- ceed to run a line and ascertain the western limits of the States of New York and Massachusetts, conformable to their acts of cession. June 16th, 1788, Tho. Hutchins, Geographer of the United States of America, addressed Lord Dorchester, Governor- General of Canada, for permission to survey the most westerly bent or inclination of Lake Ontario, and to extend a meridian line from thence south to Lake Erie, etc. September 4th, 1788, by act of Congress the United States relinquished and transferred to the State of Pennsyl- vania "the land contained in the interval betwixt a meridian line run between Lake Erie and the State of Pennsylvania, and the boundaries of the States of New York and Massa- chusetts, at the rate of three-quarters of a dollar per acre," bearing interest, when the quantity should be ascertained by actual survey. An estimate of other expenditures that might be incurred in the purchase from the Six Nations, amounting to £950, is in details as follows : Yarious suita- ble articles, £375; provisions, £100; wagonage, boat hire, etc., £150; pay of commissioners, hire of interpreters, run- ners, etc., £250; presents to great men, £75. September 8th, 1788, P. Muhlenberg, Yice-President of the Board of Treasury, transmitted to Hon. Thos. Mifflin, Speaker of the General Assembly, an act of Congress passed the 4th of the same month, by which the United States relin- quished and transferred to the State of Pennsylvania all their right and title to the tract of land on Lake Erie. September 18th, 1788, the State of Pennsylvania in General Assembly heard the report of the committee and resolved to accept, on the part of the Commonwealth, the contract made with the 334 HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. Board of Treasury of the United States, and recommended- to the succeeding House of Assembly fully to pay and dis- charge the consideration moneys due, at three-fourths of a dollar per acre, as soon as it should be surveyed. Some estimated the number of acres (which proved to be 202,187) at 800,000, and others at 1,000,000. Provision was made immediately for the payment of £950 for contingent ex- penses. October 1st, 1788, General Richard Butler and General John Gibson were appointed by the Council of Philadelphia commissioners to negotiate and complete the purchase of the Lake Erie tract, and William Maclay and John Smilie to prepare and report to the board a draft of instructions to said commissioners. These instructions were in effect to make the purchase when they should find the Indians in a proper temper — at that time they were attending a conven- tion at Muskingum. The 9th of January, 1789, in open and public council, twenty-four chiefs and warriors representing the Senecas, Cayugas, Tuscaroras, Onondagas, and Oneidas, of the tribes of the Six Nations, for themselves, tribes, heirs, and succes-? sors, and Richard Butler and John Gibson, Esquires, com- missioners for and in behalf of the State of Pennsylvania (Onas) on the other part, made and concluded seven articles by which the Indians renounced their claims, and the title of the Presqu'ile lands vested in the State of Pennsylvania. March 24th, 1789, it was resolved by the General Assem- bly of Pennsylvania, that not exceeding 3000 acres be sur- veyed for the use of the Commonwealth at each of the fol- lowing points : Presqu'ile, Le Boeuf, at the mouth of Cone- wango, and at the fort of Venango. And also in the country of Lake Erie, 1500 acres for Captain O'Biel or Cornplanter, whose Indian name was Gyantwachia. Bankers and Exchange Brokers in the City and County of Erie, with amount of capital invested by each firm and individual respectively, as reported to the Auditor-General HISTORY OP ERIE COUNTY. 335 of Pennsylvania, agreeably to Act of Assembly passed A.D. 1861:— Capital, M. Sanford & Co., bankers, Erie City $50,000 W. C. Curry, broker and private banker, Erie City.. 100,000 Yincent, Bailey & Co., Erie City 25,000 Neiler & Warren, " " 5,000 Clark & Metcalf, " " 12,000 Benson & West, Waterford 500 INDEX. Abolishing capital punishments discussed, 151. Academies — Erie, 163,219; Wat- erford, 162; Springfield, 165; West Springfield, 165 ; Girard, 165. Adams, John ; alludes to the re- tention of the American forts, 54. Adams, J. Q., 321. Adelphic Literary Society, 154. Addison, Judge, 100. Allegheny River ; rise of from Pittsburg to Franldin, 286. Albion, 204 ; Albion Lodge, 147. Algonquin, 10, 11. Agricultural and mechanical so- cieties, 145 ; the State Agricul- tural Society from Hon. Jas. Miles, 146. Amity Township ; its churches, etc., 187. Andastes or Conastagues, 10. Anecdote of an early settler, 304; one of the war of 1812, 323. Anti-abolition meeting, 150. Appropriation to open and im- prove navigable waters and for roads, etc., 62; for a road from Bald Eagle's Nest, 331 ; to the Erie extension of the Pennsyl- vania Canal, 118; for the Sun- bury and Erie Ptailroad, 121 ; for a geological survey, 284. Arion Musical Society, 155. Arrangements to settle the Tri- angle, 62, 333. Assembly of internal commerce, 332. Associate Judges, a list of, 100. 30 Austin, J. A., 163, 165. Avicula speciosa, found near Northeast, 290. Babber's expedition, 29. Bancroft's opinion as to the lo- cality of the Griffin's ship-yard, 20; his account of the destruc- tion of Presqu'ile, 48 ; his his- torical address at Cleveland, 143. Banks, Hon. John, 101. Bankers and Exchange Brokers from the Auditor-General's ac- count, 334; the number in Erie, 108. Badger, Giles, 322. Bank of the United States, 139; Erie City Bank, 140; Bank of Commerce, 140; Babbitt, Elijah, 101, 102, 148, 155. Baptist church of Erie organized, 184. Ball, G. J., 103, 140, 141. Barclay, Com., 256, 271, 264, 131. Beaverdam; its churches, etc., 207. Beebe, Tabor, 109, 184. Bernard, Gen., and Major Totten's survey of Presqu'ile harbor, 278. Beuhler,George,130,142, 303, 109. Beverly, Colonel Wm., 27. Blaine, A. W., 103, 140. Blockhouses ; three built at Erie in 1795, 84; one on the same location, and on the point of the Peninsula in 1814, 273; one at the Cascade, 276. (337) 338 INDEX. Board of Treasury contract for the sale of the Triangle, 61, 333. Bounds of the borough enlarged, 106. Bite, Mods., at Ganagarahare, 30. Bienville, Celeron de, sent out by the GoTernor-General of Can- ada, 25. Bird, Rankin, and Davis executed for desertion, 276. Bible Society ; its organization and first oiEcers, 149. Blair, Jas., 322. Blickensdefer, N., 330, 331. Bradstreet, Col., makes a treaty at Presqu'ile, 53. Bradford, Attorney-General, 66. Brandt, Joseph, 71, 73, 75. Brawley, John, 100, 110, 140, 148, 149, 150. Braddock, Mount, 34. Breton, Cape, 25. Brewster, A. W., 104, 109, 110, 125, 128, 148, 163, 165. Breaking ground for the Erie Canal, 118. Brevoort, Captain, 249, 131, 248. Brown, Noah, 245, 255. Brown, Wm. H., 328. Brown, Wm. A., 148, 140. British vessels on the lake at an early day, 130. Buffalo Creek, treaties at, 74, 75. Burr, Aaron, 62. Butler County, 39. Butler, General Richard, 76, 334. Bull, Thomas, a spy at Presqu'ile, 43. Burinol, 43. Buildings, county, 104, 105. Camp Irvin, 128, 151, 163. Canal basin, an act to construct, 106. Cadets of Temperance, 152. Cadwell, H., 104, 125, 184. Carmarthan, Lord; his corre- spondence with John Adams, 54. Carrier, Rev. A. H.; an extract from his historical sermon, 176. Carson league, 152. Carrying the mail at an early day, 116. Capital punishment, the only in- stance of in Erie County, 104. Calcareous marl, 293. Cass, General Lewis ; his opinion of the locality of the Griffin ship-yard, 19, 260. Car Spring, 327. Cattaragus, Com. Perry at, 241. Cataraqui, Fort, 29. Cats or Chats, an account of the tribe, 9. Caughey, M. W., 128, 104. Caughey, A. H., 163, 328, 152, 147. Cayuga Creek, the Griffin built at, 20. Casenove, Theophilus, 62, Celeron de Bienville places medals along the Ohio, 25, 27. Cemeteries at Erie, 148 ; Girard, 149 ; at Northeast, 149. Cession of the Triangle, 60. Charlevoix, 9. Chadakoin Lake, 30. Champlin, Captain Stephen, 325. Chaumount, 14. Chauviquerie's testimony, 41. Champlain, Sieur de, 9, 25. Chapin, General, 71 ; letter to the Secretary of War, 72; addressed by O'Beil, 73. Chautauqua Lake, a detachment of Indians and English embark upon, 54. " Chronicle," Erie, 157. Christie, Ensign, commandant at Presqu'ile, 50. Cholera, 315. Cherry Hill, the village of, 205. Churches at an early day, 306. City Tract Society formed at Erie, 151. "City Dispatch," Erie, 159. City Hall Association, 155. Clark, D. S., 140. Clearing the public square, 308. Coal, 294 ; quantity received at Erie, 119. Colt, T. G., 101, 118, 110, 307. INDEX. 339 Colt, Judah, extracts from his manuscript, etc., 88, 89, 109, 203, 1.52, 112, 313, 328 ; a bio- graphical sketch of, 210. Courtright, M., 128, 125, 328. Compromises eifected with the actual settlers, 80. " Commercial Advertiser," Erie, 158. Conneautte Library Company,153. Cornplanter or O'Beil, 60, 65, 67, 68, 69, 73, 74, 76. Constellation Lodge, 147. Constitution of Pennsylvania formed and adopted, 61. CoiEn, Stephen, makes a depo- sition, 28. Cone-in-Cone, specimens of, 289. Conneaut, signification of name, 197. "Conneaut Reporter," an article from, 282. Concord Township, 202; Concerd station, 207; churches, 187. " Contractor" built at Black Rock, 130. Congress, list of members of, 101. Congressional districts, 101. Collectors of the Customs for the Port of Presqu'ile, 110. Colonization Societies, 150. Coroners, list of for county, 104. Clinton, General, 27, 26, 29. Cleveland, 90, 91. Cleveland and Erie Railroad, earn- ings of, 127. Courts and judicial districts, 100. Colson, Rev. Charles, organizes churches in Erie County, 183. Cranesville, 205, 294. Cranberry, an act concerning, 107. Croghan, George, 27. Crevecceur Fort built, 21. Custos Moram, 154. Cutler, G. R., 201, 165. Curtis, R. J., his editorial expe- rience, 156. Curry, Wm. C, 128, 185, 149. D'Allton, 14. Dallas, A. J., 65. Derrickson, Hon. David, 100. Denny, Captain Ebenezer, corre- spondence of, 64, 65, 68, 69, 74, 79. Dearborn, Fort, (Chicago,) 229. Detroit, a colony planted at, 21. De La Salle, 19, 25, 36; character of, by Parkman, 21, Devil's Back-bone, an account of, 298. Distributing office at Erie, 99. Disposition made of government vessels, 276. Dinwiddie, Governor, 35, 40. Dobbins, Captain Daniel, a his- torical sketch of, 222, 241, 245, 52, 118, 132, 255, 162, 262, 307; letter to Lieutenant. J. D. Elliot, 242 ; to Paul Hamilton, Secre- tary of the Navy, 244. Douglass, Major, 117. Dorchester, Lord, 66. Doolittle, Rev. Giles, 181. Du Quesne, Fort, 24, 45. Du Quesne, Governor, 29, 40. Dunkard's Creek, Mason and Dixon's line sui'veyed to, 57. Dunlap, J. D., 154, 285, 102, 103, 110, 145, 150. Duel, 274. Eaton, Rev. .Johnson, a short bio- graphical sketch of, 75, 149, 177, 178, 183, 313. Eckford, Henry, 245, 246, 247. Edinboro, a sketch of, 196; Edia- boro "Gem," 159; Museum, 159; Express, 159; Normal School, 166. Eddy, David, discovers relics of the Grifiin, 22. Education Society, (county,) 155. Ellicot, Andrew, commissioner to settle northern boundary of Pennsylvania, 59, 88 ; with General Irvine authorized to lay out Erie, 64, 189 ; to Gov- ernor Miijfiin, 69 ; attends a treaty at Buffalo Creek, 74. Elliot, Com. J. D., commanding at Erie, 274, 275; letter to Captain Dobbins, 242. 340 INDEX. Elliot, G. A., 109, 168, 140, 148, 150, 184, 227. Elk Creek, 117, 290, 291. England, claim of, 27. Erie, Lake, British vessels upon, 24; thirty Frenchmen made a .tour of, 25; height of water at different periods, 280; periodi- cal rise and fall of, not sus- tained, 281 ; singular pheno- menon, 281; Erie County, apart of Westmoreland, 93; of Al- legheny, 94 ; temporarily of Crawford, 94 ; Erie County or- ganized, 94; its extent, streams, lakes, soil, etc., 95; original townships, 95 ; population de- cennially, 97; census items, 97; vote of county, 97 ; taxes, re- ceipts, and expenditures, 98. Erie, an act to lay out, 77 ; borough erected, 104; law al- tered, 106; government changed to that of a city, 108; list of burgesses and mayors. 109. Erie and Waterford Turnpike Company, first election of offi- cers, 112. Erie Railroad Company, 120. Erie and Northeast Railroad, 124, 331. Erie City Railroad, 128; Erie and Pittsburg Railroad, 128; Erie and Waterford Plank road, 128 ; Erie and Wattsburg Plank Road, 128. Erie Canal incorporated, 118 ; first officers, 118; passage of the first boat, 118. Erigas, Eries, Erie-honons, an account of their location and numbers, 10; their wars and extermination, 11, 12, 13; tra- dition of them recorded by David Eddy; Cusic's account, 11; symbols of, 16 ; tradition, 300. Exodus Lodge, 147. "Express," Erie, 159. Fairview, its churches, 186; Fairview village, 206. Falls of Ohio, (Louisville,) 112. Fa,rrelly, Patrick, 101. Female Tract Society, 150, Female Seminary, (Erie,) 164. First settlers of Erie County, 90; first settled pastor, 174; first court, 305; "first church of Erie," being the United Pres- byterian, 182; First Presby- terian Church" of Erie, 183; first brick house erected in the county, 198. Field, John, 62. Finnis, Captain, 131. Fleming, Wm., 139, 104, 140. Fires, 319. Fire companies, 141. Forster, Colonel Thomas, 143, 315, 112, 109, 110, 153, 117, 183, 142. Foster, A. E., 169, 164. Franklin, Venango County, Indian symbols, 17; leaden plate found at, 26 ; an act to lay out, 77. Franklin, Fort, 68. Franklin Canal Company, 125 ; charter annulled, 127; disposed of, 127. Franklin Literary Society, Erie, 155. Franklin paper mill. Northeast, 198. Frazier, John, driven ofi" by the French, 36 ; is located at Tur- tle Creek, 39. French claims, 25, 36. French Creek, a description of, 192; an appropriation at an early day for, 192 ; rise from its mouth to Meadville, 287. "Free Press," Girard, 157. " Frei Presse," Eine, 158. Frontenac, Fort, 21. Frontenac, Count, 11, 19. Furs, valuable cargoes of, 132 ; their route to Montreal, 132. Game, 308. Garrison, 307. Galissoniere, Marquis of, 26. Gas Company, 140. "Gazette," Erie, 157. Gaines, Colonel, 260. INDEX. 341 Galbraith, Hon. John, 100, 101, 126, 128, 148, 151, 155 ; a his- torical sketch of, 229. Galbraith, Wm. A., 828. Geological survey of the State of Pennsylvania, 284 ; Geological Society, 154. German Methodists erect a build- ing, 185. German Evangelical, 185. George, battle of Fort, 249. German Beneficial Society, 147. Girard Township, its churches, 186 ; a sketch of the borough of. 200. Gist, Christopher, is sent out by the Ohio company, 34; accom- panies Washington, 34, 89. Gravimotometer, 827. Graham, Colonel, reviewed the Mason and Dixon line, 57. Griffin, a description of, 23, 20 ; probable relics found near Buf- falo, 22. Green Bay, 21. Green Township, its churches, 187. Greenfield Township, its churches, 187. Greeks, contributions to, 153. Grubb, John, 348, 84. Gunnison. E. D., 139, 164, 103, 184, 149, 141. Haekison, General Wm. H., urges the co-operation of Com- modore Perry, 257 ; concerts a plan with, 260; repairs to Fort George after the battle of Lake Erie, 271. Hambleton, Purser Samuel, 263, 265. Hamilton, Governor, 33. Hamot, P. S. v., a biographical sketch of, 221, 149, 315, 316, 120, 183. Harvey, H. L., researches of, 50, 157. "Harlequin," built at Erie by E. Beebe, 130. Harp and Shamrock Society, 152. Half King, or Tanacharison, 35. 30 Hays, S., 102, 109,140, 162. Harmer, Fort, Triangle purchased at treaty of, 60, 76. Hawley, Rev. Gideon, 169. Harbor Creek Township, its churches, 187. Hai^ts Town, a quicksand at, 298. Heron, Jas. E., 142, 112, 103. "Herald," a temperance paper, 158. Henry, Mr., an English traveler among the Indians, 47. Himrod, Aaron, 162. Himrod, Wm., 148. Hononchiendi, 10. Hurons, 14. Hutchinson, Hon. M., 100. Hudson's Bay Company incor- porated, 24. Huron, Lake, 9. Hunting, 309. Indian County, 53. Insurance companies, 141. Industrial Reform School, 231. Improvements in the mode of con- veyance, 116. Improvised army bridges, 329. Inauguration of the Perry statue at Cleveland, 825. Inventions, 326. Irvine, General Wm. , discovers that Pennsylvania has no harbor on the lake, 59, 307, 333. Irvine, General Callender, 103, 307. Jackson, Smith, 110, 140, 125, 128, 141, 151. Jail, religious instruction in, 169, Jean, Cceur, 27, 28, 32, 36, 37. Jeskakake, 35. Jesuit missionaries, 22, 13. Jefferson, 13. Jolliet, 25. Johnson, George, 15. Johns, Dr. Wm., 154. Johnson, Sir Wm., 28, 44, 41 ; his influence prevents outrages in New York, 53. Johnson, Colonel, 306. Johnson, J. B., 102, 155, 158. 342 INDEX. Judd, Rev., 306. Judson, Amos, 162, 195, 149. Junction, or Correy in Concord Township, 832. Kansas sufferers, 153. Kaskaskie, 43. Kelso, General, 807, 348. Kelso, C. W., 109, 110. Kellogg, J., 185, 140, 110, 183. Keel-boats, 194. Keystone Mills, 206. Kentucky militia, 260. Kelly, Wm., 103, 140, 108, 109, 118, 128, 148, 141, 185, 125, 184. King, Thomas, 198. King, Wilson, 195, 110. King, Alfred, 103, 154. La Force, 38. Laird, W., 109. La Prairie village founded, 13. Lancaster, treaty of, 27. Ladies' Benevolent Society, 151. La Belle Riviere, 26, 80. La Fayette tarries at Erie, 813. Le Boeuf Township, its churches, 187. Le Boeuf River, 24. Le Boeuf, Indian remains at, 17. Le Boeuf, Fort, built by the French, 30 ; visited by General Wash- ington, 85 ; described by spies afterward, 44, 78, 41, 42 ; fired and destroyed, 82 ; relics, 191 ; its rank, 189. Le Boeuf, Fort of, 1795, an act relating to, 190. Le Sambrow, 44. Le Moyne's mission, 10. Lee, Colonel Thomas, 27. Lee, Captain Wm., 129; built the "Good Intent," 130; "Erie Packet," 130. Lexington, 206. Lockport, village of, 205. Long Point, 252, 256, 257. Lindsay, Captain, 28. Life boat, the invention of Cap- tain Douglass Ottinger, 327. Lighthouse, the first on the great lakes, 134. Liddell, 108, 122, 827. Logstown, 27. Loos, 31. Lowry, M. B., 118, 126. Loss of property on the lake, 186. Lutheran church, Erie, 184. Lyceum, Erie, 153 ; Girard, 155. Lyon, G. A., 183, 150. Lytle, James, 110, 147. Mad spirits, 9. Machault, Fort, 41. Marshall, J. C, 128, 119, 103. "Mary," built by Thomas Wil- son, 130. Marquette, 25. Marlin, Ralph, 102, 112. Masonic Lodges, 147. Manchester, village of, 206. McAllaster, David, 103, 119, 128. McSparren, Clark, 108, 110, 128, 155, 139. Mackinaw, a trading-house first established at, 21. Mason and Dixon employed, 56. Maryland and Virginia dispute the boundary, 55 ; cost of sur- vey, 58 ; death of surveyors, 58. McLane, J. W., 104, 141, 143, 144. McClocklan, 38. McCord, John, 104, 173, 174, 181. McCurdy, Rev. Elisha, 173, 176, 177. McMillan, Rev. John, 176. McNair, Colonel Dunning, 112. McKinney, Rev. David, 183, 150. McKean Corners, 207; McKean Township, 187. Mead, General David, 74, 246, 241, 252, 255, 274. Meade, Captain George G., 282. Metcalf, Prescott, 141, 119, 125, 128, 328, 110. Memoranda of Mr. R. B., 818. Methodist Episcopal church erect- ed in Erie, 184. Mercie, Mons., 29. Medical Society, 154. Memorial of an actual settler, 81. Mingoes, 48. INDEX. 343 Mineral Springs, 259. Mississaques, 19, 12. "Michigan,'' U. S. steamer, 137; advantages or disadvantages of using steam expansively tested upon, 138. " Mirror," (newspaper,) 156. Miles, Wm., anecdote of, 61, 145, 208, 203, 112, 330. Miles, Judge Jas., 100, 146, 165, 330. Mifflin, Governor, appoints com- missioners to examine Western rivers, 62, 64, 65, 66. Military companies, 142. Middlebrook church, 171. Militia at Erie in 1813, 275. Misery bay, 278. Mineral waters, 295. Morang's expedition, 29. Montour, Andrew, 33. Moore, George, 184, 109. Moorhead, Jas., 150. Moravian lands, 229; mission, 170. Moravian quarry near Waterford, 292. Moral and Benevolent Society, 149. Mrs. P.'s Keminiscences, 309. Murdering town, 39. Naval station at Erie broken up, 277. National Independence, first cele- bration of, 305. •' Native American," Edinboro, 159. Neutral nation, 9. Newspapers, 156. Niagara, Fort, 9, 42. Nicholson, John, 62, 65, 107. Nicholson, Court of Pleas, 107. " Niagara," built by Porter, Bar- ton & Co., 130. "Northern Sentinel," (newspa- per,) 156. "Northeast Guard," (newspaper,) 159. Northeast, historical sketch of, 198. Northeast Township, its churches, 187. Northeast High School, 166. Normal school, 166, 188. "Obsekver," (Erie,) 157. O'Hara, General Jas., 114. Ohio company formed, 33. Ohio and Redstone Presbyteries, 171. Ohio River, 44. Odd Fellows, 147. Oil, or petroleum, receipt of at Erie, 122; oil found in Erie County, 294 ; refineries, 108, 203 ; quantities shipped at junction, 322. Old court house bell, 322. Oliver, Stephen, 323. Olin, Edgar, 147. Oildwilder, a burning spring at, 295. Ottinger, Captain Douglass, 327, 328, 139. Olmstead, Rev. L. G., on the flora, 299 ; visits General Wayne's old residence, 302, 154, 164. Ontario, Lake, 59, 36, 249, 258, 252, 253. Onondaga, a conference at, 33. Opposition commenced against the Population Company, 80. Orton, Rev. Samuel G., 188, 182. Oswego, 24. Paine, General, 112. Pageville, 205. Parkman, his account of the de- struction of Presqu'ile, 48. Patents on lands issued under conditions in Erie, 77. Patterson, Rev. R., first settled pastor, 174, 177. Park Presbyterian church organ- ized, 185. "Patriot," (newspaper,) 156. Parsons, Dr. U., a description of the battle of Lake Erie, by, 266, 265, 263, 261, 253, 269, 325. Penn, William, the charter of, 54. Pennsylvania, western boundary of settled, 58; northern, 58; be- came a member of the Union, 62. Peters, Jas. W., 22. )U INDEX. Perry, Commodore Oliver, 236 ; arrives at Erie, 241 ; leaves for Pittsburg, 246; for Lake Onta- rio to assist Commodore Chaun- cey, 247 ; his letters to Gen. Har- rison and Commodore Chaun- cey, 250; urged by the Secre- tary to the importance of destroying the enemy's squad- ron, 251 ; vrrites to the Secretary of the Navy and Commodore Chauncey of the concentration of troops at Long Point, 252; a letter by express from General Holmes ; letter to Commodore Chauncey, 253 ; is reinforced, 253 ; his squadron sails, 257, 258 ; Perry's order of sailing, 259; receives two letters from the Secretary of the Navy, 261 ; remodels his line, 264; is pro- moted, 270; enthusiastic demon- strations on his journey East, 271 ; receives the thanks of Con- gress, 272 ; a gold medal from the President of the United States, 272, 131, 315, 326,323. Perry square, 808, 316. Perry monument, 315. Perry statue, (Cleveland,) 325. Petuns, 9. Peon, Mons., 32. Peninsula, two acts concerning. 86, 106. Peace, treaty of concluded at Ghent, 276. Philippe, Louis, sojourns in Erie, 85. Phelps, Oliver, 211, 213. Phelps and Gorham, a proposition to purchase the Triangle made to, 59; a tract of land west of their reserve for the Indians, 76, 86. "Phoenix and Reflector," (news- paper,) 156. Philallelia Lodge, 147. Pittsburg and Erie Railroad, 128. Pittsburg, prisoners removed to, 270. Pickering, Timothy, establishes a permanent peace, 76, 213. Post, Frederick, extract from the journal of, 42. Poor's Historj'- of Railroads, ex- tract from, 331. Polhemus, Lieutenant, 73. Poor-house, 108. Pollock, Captain Jas., 322. Patriot war, 322. Postmasters, a list of in Erie, 110. Post-offices in the county in 1830 and 1861, 99. Pontiac, former conduct of, 46 ; plan for restoring the Indian homes and hunting grounds, 47. Porter, Augustus, describes a journey to Presqu'ile, 86, 213. Presqu'ile, Governor Delancy's opinion of, 24. Presqu'ile, Triangle jDurchased, 60, 333. Presqu'ile, Fort, built by the French, 29 ; described by spies, 43 ; stores sent away from, 45 ; tradition of buried treasures, 45, 309. Presqu'ile, district of, 110 ; port of, 136 ; tonnage of shipping owned at, 137 ; bar at, 284. Presqu'ile hospital, 154. Presqu'ile Lodge, (Odd Fellows,) 147 ; Masons, 146. Pressly, Rev. Jos., 151, 183. President Judges, 100. Prothonotary, and register, and recorder, list of, 103. Propelling vessels in shoal water, 327. Prideaux, General, besieges Fort Niagara, 44. Presbytery of Erie organized, 173. Prices of provisions at different periods, 305. Provincial marine, 248, 128. Providence, a disposition to re- cognize a, in the war of 1812, 253. Protestant Episcopal church of Erie organized, 183. Prize money, 273. Put-in-Bay, 263. Public square planted with trees, 155. INDEX. 345 Public landing secured, 105. Punching and shearing machine invented, 326. Railroad wai*, 126. Railroad Convention at Fredonia, 120. Ramsey, Mayor, 29. Ransom, deposition of, 67. Raquatha, (Buffalo,) 12. Reparti, 37, 38. Rees, Thos., Esq., makes a deposi- tion, 85, 142, 87, 78, 142. Reed, Colonel Seth, a biographi- cal sketch of, 208, 84, 87, 129. Reed, R. S., a biographical sketch of, 209, 109, 132, 130, 244, 213, 163, 168, 141, 315, 118. Reed, General C. M., 101, 140. 153, 210, 118, 119, 125, 128, 184, 321, 328, 148. Reed, Wm. M., 223, 132. Representatives, list of, 102. Receipts and expenditures from the canal, 120. "Republican," Girard, 157. Reading Room Association, 155. Reid, Rev. Robert, a historical sketch of, 216, 163, 164, 149, 182, 150. Reid, Jas. C, 103, 163, 164. Revivals of religion, 188. Revenue cutters, 139. Relics, 307. Reminiscences of an early settler in Fairview, 312. Ripple marks, 288 Rittenhouse, David, 58. Route of Erie Canal, 117. Robinson, secretary, a plan pro- posed to, 23. Robinson, Lyman, 103, 200. Robertson murders a friendly Indian, 65. Rogers, Professor H. D., 288. Roman Catholic church, the iirst erected in Erie, 185. Russel, H., extract from journal ' of, 310, 308. Russel, B., 104, 92. Rutledge and son murdered, 86. Ryswick, treaty of, 26. Sabbath Convention, 151 ; Sab- bath schools, 167 ; Sabbath ex- ercises, the first in the county, 170. Sacred Music Society, 155. Sacramental occasion, the iirst in the county, 172. Salt trade in Erie County, 294; some particulars of, 112, 113, 193. Sanford, G., a biographical sketch of, 229,. 163, 154, 303, 315,125, '^■150. Sandusky Bay, Perry's squadron arrives at, 259. Sayard, 14. Savage, L. W., 160, 165. Saxton, Frederick, surveys lines, 59. Sad accidents, 320. School Society, 153. Schlosser, Fort, 36. Seouler's woods, Indian graves at, 18. Scott, A., 104, 110, 119. Schoolcraft, H. R., 13, 16, 19, School law, 159. Schools, according to the seventh and eighth census, 160. School superintendent, 160. School-houses, 161 ; schools, Ro- man Catholic, 162. Septaria, 289. Selden, George, 149, 150, 164, 152, 183. Senecas, 12. Senators, list of, 101. Shirley, Governor, 23. Shaonons or Satanas, 9. Shea, 9. Shippen, Hon. H., 100. Siiannopin's town, 38. Shingowauk interprets symbols, 15. Sink-hole, 293. Sheriffs, list of, 103. Sill, T. H., a biographical sketch of, 224, 101, 102, 109, 120, 140, 163, 168, 164, 31.5, 321. Sioux ordered the surveys of Mason and Dixon to cease, 57. Sinclair, Com. A., 322. 346 INDEX. Skinner, Stephen, 141, 103. Smith, Wilson, 102, 193, 194. Soil, cliaracter of, 292. Speculation, 317. Spencer, J. C, 128, 148, 154, 185, 145. Skinner, James, 103, 110, 102, 128. Springfield, 207, 18; its churches, 186; West Springfield, 207, 165. Sterrett, Jos. M., 18, 100, 102, 109, 157, 110. Strong, Captain Martin, reminis- cences, 118, 84, 145, 312, 149. Stanwix, Fort, treaty to extin- guish Indian title to lands in northwestern Pennsylvania, 59. Sturgeonville, village of, 206. Sturgeon, Wm., 206. St. Mary's church erected, 185. St. Pierre, Legardeur de, 37, 40. Steamboat, the first on Lake Erie, 133; particulars of its first voy- age, 133; its fate, 134; the first steamboat launched at Erie, 135 ; the first that visited Chi- cago, 135; the number on Lake Erie at several periods, 136. Suspended purchase, 328. Sulphate of iron, 294; of alu- mina, 294. Survey of the lakes, 282. Survivors of the battle of Lake Erie, 325. Summit of Erie Extension Canal, 287. Summit Township, its churches, 186. Sunbury and Erie Kailroad Com- pany, 121 ; name changed, 122. Survey of lands in northwestern Pennsylvania, 334. Sweetbrier, 299. Tate, Rev., 177. Temple of Honor, 147. Temperance societies, 151, 152. Tiontates, 9. Tibbals, C. M., 104, 110. Thompson, Hon. Jas., 100, 121. Toradakoin, (French Creek,) 26. Topography of Presqu'ile Bay, 277. Troops to protect surveyors, 78. Tribe's Plill, 41. Triangle, sum of purchase, etc., 60, 333. Tracy, John A., 118, 119, 128, 139, 328, 141. Travel between Erie and Buffalo, 115. " True American," (newspaper,) 158. Trotter, John, 38. Tradition of Fries, 300. Tuscarora, 11. Utrecht, 26. "Unsere Welt," (newspaper,) 158. Universalist church in Erie or- ganized, 184. Union Township, itschurches, 188. Union Mills, a sketch of, 202. Ungulina suboi'bicularia, 290. United States Bank bill passed, 318. Van Buaam, 36. Venango, Fort, plan of, 35. Venango to Niagara, a road from, 24. Venango, Moravian mission in, 170; Indian remains, 17. Venango Township, its churches, 187. Vergent flags, 287, 285. Vergent shales, 288, 285. ^ Vincent, Judge John, 105, 112, 145, 193, 191, 162, 145. Vincent, B. B., 118, 128, 195, 141, 155, 109. Vosburg, Dr. Jacob, 154. Voting register, 327. Watekfobd, Indian remains at, 17. Waterford laid out, 77, 189; erected into a borough, and first officers, 194. Waterford turnpike, 112 ; plank- road, 128, 195; churches, 194; schools, 196 ; factories, 196 ; building stone near, 291. * Waterford Township, its churches. "Waterford Museum," (news- paper,) 159. INDEX. 34 T "Waterford Despatch," (news- paper,) 159. Water, to supply Erie with, 106. Water lots, an act to sell, 107. Waterspout, 282. Wattsburg, a sketch of, 199 ; plank-road, 128, 200. Wattsburg Tract Society, 151. Walnut Creek, 17. Walker, J. H., 315, 118, 128, 102, 103. Wayne, General Anthony, 131 ; death of, at Presqu'ile, 91 ; re- moval of remains, 92 ; other- wise referred to, 215, 307, 302. Wayne, Colonel Isaac, 93. Wayne Guards in Cleveland, 148. Wayne Township, its churches, 187. Washington, George and Augus- tus, 33. Washington's journal, 35, 39, 193; his visit to Le Boeuf, 35. "Washington" the first vessel built on the south shore of Lake Erie, 129. Washington Township, its churches, 187. Wallace, Dr. J. C, a biographical sketch, 215 ; otherwise referred to, in 104, 108, 112, 146, 153, 302, 303, 811, 314. Wallace, Wm., 109, 153, 156. War of 1812, 235. Warren, an act to lay out, 77. Warrior's Road, 28. Watts, Wm. M., 103, 118j Walter, Thos. H., 105. Wesleyan Methodists, 186. Wesleyville, 207. Wellsburg, 205. Western New York, Indian forti- fications in, 15. Weiser, Conrad, and Lancaster treaty, 27. Wetmore, J. W., 155; inventions of, 327. White inhabitants west of Gene- see Elver, 90. Wheat, 293, 95. Whallon, M., 109, 110. Williams, J. H., 128. Williams, Jas., 125, 141, 1G5. Wilson, Thomas, a biographical sketch of, 220, 101, 108, 109, 163, 103. Wilkins, General, substance of a letter from, 64 ; erects block- houses, 66. Wright, C. B., 140. Yarnall, Lieutenant, death of, 324. Yates, Judge Jasper, 100. THE END 6 ERRAT.* . Page 93, seyenth line, read, " Major-General Anthony Wayne," etc. Page 100, read, '■'■Associate Judges. — John Bell, John Kelso, John Cochran, Wilson Smith, John Vincent, John Grubb, Myron Hutchin- son," etc.