.H9 P2 <^l;^ :^4^ ^(D.CoU^CUr Copy 1 ' <^ ^.^y^^^^yu^iyi^^a^tyt-xi/L M l)i$toilcal Jiddrm Delivered by Ron* 3* Simpson Jlfrica, JIt the Uttveilitid of tDe Standing Stone monument. fiuntinddon Borougb Centennial Celebration Exercises. An Historical Address DELIVERED BY Hon. J. SIMPSON AFRICA, AT THE UNVEILING OF THE Standing Stone Monument. Celebration Exercises HUNTINGDON BOROUGH CENTENNIAL, September 8, 9 and 10, 1896. J O.BLAIR CO., HUNTINGDON, PA 4 side of the Susquehanna the location of an Indian tribe named "Onojutta-Haga," is shown. '^ Onojutta" is compounded from ''Onia, a stone," and '■^Kaniota, erect or upright," meaning "an upright or stand- ing-stone ; " '^'Haga a suffix, denoting people or nation," hence Onojutta-Has,a, the people or nation of the standing- stone. In the "Iroquois Book of Rites," ^' Onenyute'' is given as meaning "the protruding stone." From this ancient designation '■'■ Onojutta,'" passing through numberless changes, has come down to us the sweet-sounding name ^ 'Juniata,^' dear to every one dwelling on its waters. Beginning with the original, a few of the varied forms of the word are presented : Iroquois, 1655, 0-no-jut-ta. French, On-ne-yo-te. French Map, Chen-e-gai-de. Delaware, Yuch-ni-a-da. N. Y. Records, 1726, Sogh-nei-ja-die. Taylor's Map, - 1728, Che-ni-a-ty. Letort & Davenport, 1731, Cho-ni-a-ta. Colonial Records IV, 1742, Ju-ni-a-ta. Governor Thomas, 1743, Ju-ni-a-da. Colonial Records IV, 1743, Ju-ni-a-ta. Thomas McKee, 1743, Chi-ni ot-ta. Conrad Weiser, 1743, Chi-ni-ot-te. Rev. David Brainard, 1745, Ju-ne-au-ta. Conrad Weiser, 1747; Jo-ni-a-dy. " " 1748, Sch-ho-ay-a-dy. While the spelling of the word has been varied largely by the nationality of the writers, in every form a resemblance in sound to the original or the accepted pronunciation is observable. By long usage the name assumed the form Ju-ni-a-ta. It is spelled in that way in most of the old land warrants, surveys, patents and deeds. At the date of the earliest provincial records, the terri- tory of the valley was in possession of the Iroquois, or, as the league was then called by the English, the "Five-Nations," O +-» <^ a U a o pq so ON CO n3 a ON CO O M ^^ SI § 3 O '^ a ^ (3 C W 2 5 g WW ^ Tj Tj II W CO ^ li vJD •a ^ S o tg a ^1 ^ 6 5 "P 2 ^ § r. t— I 5j s « c .-a 5 and after the admission of the Tuscaroras, the "Six Nations." The Delawares or Lenni Lenapes as they designated them- selves, were the original possessors of the soil but were sub- dued by their ancient enemies, the Iroquois, after the Dutch in New York had supplied the latter with fire-arms. The Delawares continued to reside in Eastern and Central Penn- sylvania by sufferance and not by right. It was Indians of that tribe that greeted the early explorers of the valley. Rev. John Heckewelder, a recognized authority on any subject relating to the Indians of Pennsylvania, says that the name of this locality in the Delaware language is ^^Achsin- nink,'" which signifies "Standing Stone." Thus we learn that the Iroquois ^^ Onojutta''' and its transformation, Juniata, the Delaware "Achsinnink,'' and the English "Standing- Stone, ' ' mean one and the same thing. After the acquisition of the province by William Penn, but before the extinguish- ment of the Indians title to the lands of the valley, travel along its pathways was chiefly confined to Indian traders and special proprietary agents sent with messages to the natives. Neither class contributed much to the geographical knowl- edge of the day. The traders, bent upon profitable barter, wasted no time in keeping journals of their trips for the edifi- cation of future generations. There was a manifest disposition to ignore the euphoni- ous Indian names of streams, mountains and localities, and to substitute English equivalents. In this way many desig- nations that ought to have been perpetuated have been lost. Besides those already named a few others have survived. Among these Aughwick, (corrupted from Achweek,) Tusca- rora, Kishacoquillas, Allaquippa, Cocolamus, and Mattawanna, remain as reminders of the red man's occupation of the valley. The earliest mention of the stone in any official docu- ment was by Conrad Weiser* in his journal of a trip made *Born November and, 1696, in Wurtemburg. Came with liis parents to America ; landing June 17th, 1710, and settled at Newberg. Living with and among the Indians, he became acquainted with their language. He was etn- ployed from early manhood as a farmer and teacher. In 1729 he followed his father and other German families to Tulpehocken, now in Berks County, which continued to be his place of residence until his death, July 13th, 1760. He was often called on by the Proprietary government in conferences and treaties with the"hatives, and his presence. and services on such occasions were sought for by both parties. 6 in 1748 by direction of the Provincial government to treat with the Indians on the Ohio. Under date of August i8th, this entry appears: "Had a great rain in the afternoon; came within two miles of the Standing-Stone, 24 miles."* John Harris, founder of Harrisburg, in an account of the distance taken in 1753 to various points on the road to Logs- town, after passing "Jack Armstrong's Narrows, so called from his being there murdered," reports ten miles "to the Standing-Stone, about 14 feet high, 6 inch square."** At this date the title to all the lands of the province westward of the Susquehanna and the Kittochtinny Moun- tain remained in the Indians and no part of it was open to appropriation by settlers or purchasers, but Hugh Craw- ford,*** as the records show, claimed to have made an im- provement here in 1753 or 1754. He probably obtained per- mission from the natives to settle and possibly to establish a trading-post, so as to have a sort of preemption to entitle him to take out a warrant of survey when the lands should be subject to appropriation. From the time of his occupancy until after he had sold his right, the tract of land is designated in the records as "Crawford's place" as well as the "Stand- ing-Stone tract." The Land Office warrant for the land including the site of the Industrial Reformatory, granted March 17, 1755, describes it as being situated "a little higher than the Standing Stone, but on the opposite side on the river Juniata, on both sides of the Traders' road." On Scull's map of Pennsylvania, published January ist, 1759, the stone is indicated by a symbol accompanied by the name "Standing Stone," but it is on the wrong side of the creek, an error easily committed by a draftsman un- familiar with the locality delineated. The map has near the river and above the mouth of the creek, a representation of a house with the legend "Crawford's" annexed thereto. *Col. Records V, p. 348. **Pa. Archives II, p. 133. ♦**He was an Indian trader but entered the Provincial tnilitary service when the Indian troubles began in 1755. In 1756 he was a lieutenant in Captain James Patterson's company. March nth, 1759, he was commissioned ensign, ist bat- talion, Penna. Regft., John Armstrong, Colonel commanding. 7 This map also shows the location of Shaver^ s settlement at the mouth of Shaver's Creek, and Torrence' s between the Juniata and Little Juniata, near Alexandria. We are informed by long cherished tradition, that the natives regarded the stone with superstitious veneration, and believed that its destruction or removal would be a precursor of the dispersion of the tribe. On one occasion when the warriors of the Stone were away on a hunting expedition, the Tuscaroras,* who then dwelt in the valley yet bearing their name, came up the river, captured and carried away the stone. The warriors, on their return, learning of their loss, proceeded to Tuscarora, and after a severe engagement with the invaders, recaptured the Stone, brought it home, and with the pomp and ceremony with which they invested all their great performances, re- erected it in its original place. This monumental pillar, around which so much history and tradition clings, was doubtless inscribed with hieroglyphics, intended to perpetuate a record of the history and achieve- ments of the tribe. But of the many explorers, Proprietary agents, and traders, who passed by on their travels along the well-beaten path to and from "the forks of Ohio," only two have left any account of it, Weiser and Harris. The former only notes its existence and the latter its dimensions. When William Penn divided his Province into the three counties of Chester, Philadelphia and Bucks, this valley be- came a part of Chester. It came under the jurisdiction of Lancaster on its formation, May loth, 1729, and formed a part of Cumberland on its erection, January 27th, 1750. At a treaty made at Albany, in the summer of 1754, ne- gotiations on the part of the Proprietary government, for the purchase of the Indian title to lands north-west of the Sus- quehanna and the Kittochtinny Mountains, was followed^by a deed executed on the 6th day of July, by the chiefs of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondago, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora nations, forming the confederacy then known as the "Six *A tribe of Indians who came from the South about 1712 and allied them- selves with the "Five Nations," who, after this alliance were called the "Six Nations" by the English. The French designation is "Iroquois." Nations," to Thomas and Richard Penn, proprietaries of the province of Pennsylvania, for the paltry consideration of four hundred pounds, lawful money of New York, (amount- ing to one thousand dollars of our present money,) convey- ing their title to "all the lands lying within the said prov- ince of Pennsylvania, bounded and limited as follows, namely : Beginning at the Kittochtinny or Blue Hills, on the west branch of the Susquehanna River, and thence by the said River a mile above the mouth of a certain Creek called Kayarondinhagh ; thence north-west and by west as far as the said province of Pennsylvania extends, to its western lines or boundaries ; thence along said western line to the south line or boundary of said province ; thence by the said south line or boundary to the south side of said Kittochtinny Hills ; thence by the south side of said Hills to the place of beginning." Soon after the execution of this deed, the Indians of the valley of the Juniata, in good faith, passed beyond the Alleglianies. Some were Delawares and some Shawanese. With their exodus, the original Oncjutta, Achsimiink or Standing Stone disappeared. Hugh Crawford succeeded in the occupancy of the lands at the "Stone," including the clearings long cultivated by the natives in corn, potatoes, etc., on the plateau now covered by the older settled parts of the borough and the meadows skirting Standing-Stone Creek. To keep alive recollections of the past, a second pillar was erected on the site of the original. All subsequent descri|>tions of the monumental column have reference to the second stone. The boundaries given in the deed of 1754, included more than half the area of the Province. Early in 1755 the Land Office began granting warrants for the survey of lands, and many "improvers," availing thea:selves of the liberal terms offered by the Proprietaries, flocked to this new terri- tory, and settled upon choice spots of land in the valley of the Juniata and elsewhere in the purchase. When the Indi- ans came to realize the immensity of the domain covered by the deed, they said they had been deceived and proclaimed 9 their dissatisfaction. At a conference held at Aughwick, in September, 1754, they gave notice that they did not under- stand the points of the compass, and would not consent to a confirmation of the sweeping boundaries of the deed. Little attention was paid to their protests, and the Delawares, now seated on the waters of the Ohio, lent a willing ear to the persuasions of the French to join them in their warfare against the English, now their common enemy. In this alliance they were joined by the Shawanese. The first marked result was the defeat of General Brad dock, near the Monongahela, July 9th, 1755. O^ receipt of news of this disaster, the few inhabitants in the upper part of the valley fled to the older settlements for safety. The Provincial government, aroused to the necessity of protecting the people of the central part of the province from the death-dealing tomahawk and scalp- ing knife of the infuriated natives, built a cordon of forts stretching across the country from near the Delaware Water Gap to the Maryland line. One of these, called Fort Shir- ley, was built by George Croghan near his residence on the site of the borough of Shirleysburg. These did not prevent the forays of the Indians. Col. John Armstrong's successful expedition to the Indian town of Kittanning, in September, 1756, had the effect of staying the raids, but substantial peace was not ac- complished until the army of Gen'l Forbes, in 1758, occu- pied the site of the French Fort Duquesne and erected Fort Pitt, followed by a conference at Easton, on the 23rd day of October of that year, when a deed was executed by the Indi- ans to the Proprietaries, in which the purchase of 1754 was limited to the territory now included in the counties of Bed- ford, Fulton, Blair, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, and parts of Franklin, Snyder, Union, Centre and Somerset. But a feeling of insecurity restrained a resumption of the set- tlements of the valley, until about 1762, except in a few in- stances where the pioneers took the risk of a repetition of the raids of the Indians. Hugh Crawford, as we have already seen, joined the troops raised for the defense of the Province and probably lO never returned to his Standing Stone home, for by a deed executed at Fort Pitt, June ist, 1760, for the consideration of one hundred pounds, he conveyed it to George Croghan, by description as follows : "A certain tract of land of four hundred acres on the north side of the Frankstown branch of Juniata,* known by the name of the Standing Stone, including my improve- ments thereon, from the mouth of the Standing Stone Creek to the crossing** up the Creek, and to the upperward point of the small island."*** A number of warrants were located and improvements made in the upper part of the valley in 1762 and 1763, but Pontiac's War begun in 1763, again restrained immigration until after Col. Boquet's successful expedition to the Ohio country in 1764. From this date until after the breaking out of the war of the Revolution, the inhabitants were unmo- lested in the pursuit of their peaceful avocations. The march of events has brought us to the time when Rev. William Smith, D. D., appears as a conspicuous actor in incidents occurring in this region. He was born near Aber- deen, Scotland, September 7th, 1727 ; graduated at the Uni- versity in that city, in March, 1747; arrived in America, May ist, 1 75 1. Through Benjamin Franklin, he was invited to take charge of the Academy in Philadelphia. He went to England in 1753, and in December of that year was ordain- ed successively Deacon and Priest of the Established Church. He returned to Philadelphia in May, 1754, and on the 24th of that month was installed as provost of the College and Academy of that city, and professor of Natural Philosophy. He was a man of learning and ability, and occupied a con- spicuous place in matters of Church, State and Science. His death occurred in his adopted city, May 14th, 1803. By some circumstance, his attention was directed to the beauties and possibilities of the upper part of the valley of the Juniata, and he gratified his desire to be the possessor of ♦At this date and for a number of years afterward the desipiation "Juniata River" was, in general, only applied to the stream below the forks of the Franks- town and Rayalown branches, two and a half miles S. E. o{ Huntingdon. ♦♦Where the Traders' road crossed, above Eighth Street. ***Cypress Island, extending up the river from near Eighth Street. REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. FIRST PROVOST OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. BORN SEPT. 7, 1727; DIED MAY 14, 1803. FOUNDER OF THE TOWN OF HUNTINGDON, PENN'A. some of its lands as rapidly as his improving finances per- mitted. On the 5th of June, 1762, Samuel Nivins, then residing somewhere in the County, of Cumberland, took out a warrant "for three hundred acres of land on the south side of the Frankstown branch of the Juniata, opposite to the mouth of Standing Stone Creek." Doctor Smith became the owner of this warrant by deed from Nivins, dated December 14th, 1762. During the year 1765, he purchased a number of warrants for lands in various parts of the county, and on the 19th of September, of the same year, by deed from Robert Levers, of Philadelphia, he became the owner of the Indus- trial Reformatory tract. But it was not until the next year that he succeeded to the ownership of the coveted "The Standing Stone" tract. On the 25th of March, 1766, George Croghan, for the consideration of three hundred pounds, (equal to eight hundred dollars, Federal money,) conveyed to Smith his unlocated warrant of Dec. loth, 1764. On the 6th of May following, Dr. Smith caused a survey to be made by Samuel Finley, an assistant of William Maclay, then one of the Deputy Surveyors for the county of Cumberland, of "the Standing Stone place and Crawford's," which contain- ed 1558^ acres. This was a much greater area than could be covered by the Croghan warrant but, by warrants subse- quently obtained, Doctor Smith became the owner of the whole. On the 6th of September following, an official sur- vey was made on the Croghan warrant, extending along the river from the Stone Quarry below "Charleston," to the upper point of Cypress Island, a distance exceeding two miles. That survey was returned to the Land Office. In the return by the Deputy Surveyor, as well as in the patent after- ward granted to Doctor Smith, the land is designated as "The Standing Stone" tract. During the following year, 1767, Dr. Smith caused a town plot to be laid out on the Standing Stone tract, divided into forty-five lots. This plan was bounded on the North by the street now called Washington ; on the East by the old borough line, adjoining the West side of the meadow lot now owned by J. C. Blair, and the lot owned by the Hunt- ingdon Gas Company ; on the South by the Traders' road or Alleghany Street ; and West by the Street now known as Fourth. A copy of the plan, for some time in the posses- sion of your speaker, was long since lost. The deeds for lots executed by Dr. Smith prior to the formation of Bedford County, recite that a plan is on record at Carlisle, but it appears that no plot was recorded there. The oldest title found, is a conveyance by Dr. Smith to Samuel Anderson, dated Sept. 7th, 1768, for lot No. 12, part of which is now owned and occupied by John W. Mattern. It recites that "William Smith hath laid out a certain Town, called , at Standing Stone, on Juniata, in the County of Cumberland, and divided the same into streets and lots regularly named and numbered," etc. The town does not appear to have been named until two or three years later, when it was christened Huntingdon, as a compliment to Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, England, who, when Dr. Smith was in that country soliciting funds to aid his institu- tion of learning, (now the University of Pennsylvania,) lib- erally responded to his appeal. She was the second daughter of Washington Shirley, second Earl of Ferrars, and was born August 24th, 1707 ; married, June 3, 1728, Theophilus Hast- ings, ninth Earl of Huntingdon, and resided with him at Donington Park, in Leicestershire. Brought up in the es- tablished Church, through the influence of her sister-in-law, Lady Margaret Hastings, she identified herself with the "Methodists." John and Charles Wesley often visited her. The loss of two sons in 1743, made her cling more closely to the consolations of religion. She became acquainted with George Whitefield before his voyage to America, in 1744, and on his return in 1 748, appointed him her chaplain. Failing to reconcile the Wesleys and Whitefield, she sided with the latter. She spent most of her time and large sums of money in the propagation of religion. Her death occurred at her London house, June 17, 1791. When, a quarter century ago, the Borough Council changed the names of the streets running at right angles from the river, 13 to numerals, a storm of opposition was raised by a very few citizens who protested against the innovation as promotive of confusion in tracing titles. The fathers only followed the example set by the proprietor of the town. In deeds for lots in the First Ward, executed July 19th, 1771, the street now known as Penn is designated Second, and Second street is designated Smith. These, in subsequent conveyances are called respectively, Hill and St. Clair until the former became Penn, under an Ordinance of April 4th, 1873. At October sessions, 1767, of the Court of Cumberland County, the upper part of the valley was divided into sev- eral townships. One of these, Barre, (now written Barree,) included the Standing Stone. In the assessment of that township for 1768, John Brady is taxed with two horses and two cows ; in 1769 with a house and lot, two horses and two cows ; Samuel Brady with a house and lot, one horse and one cow ; and John Carnahan with a house and lot, two horses and one cow. In 1770 the names of the Bradys do not appear, but Carnahan is taxed for the same property as in 1769. In 1 77 1 all three are omitted, but the names of George Reynolds and Rev. Cornelius Sullivan appear on the list. All these, at the dates named, were residents at the "Stone," and there were doubtless others among the "single freemen." This John Brady, afterward known as Captain John Brady, was born in Delaware in 1733, and moved to the Cumberland valley about 1750, where he married Mary Quigley, and where their oldest son, Samuel, was born in 1756. He was in Col. Armstrong's expedition to Kittanning. Sometime between 1760 and 1762 he moved to Woodcock valley, north of McConnellstown, and, except when driven oflfby the Indians, continued to reside there until about 1767, when he and a Samuel Brady (supposed to be a brother) removed to the Standing-Stone. He had meantime, August ist, 1766, sold his Woodcock valley land to Dr. Smith. On the 19th July, 1763, he was commissioned as a Captain in the second battalion of the Pennsylvania regiment. While residing here his wife, in 1768, presented him. with twin babies, a boy and a girl, who were named respectively Hugh 14 and Jennie. The next year the family moved to the west branch of the Susquehanna where the father was killed by the Indians, April nth, 1779. Hugh entered the regular army March 7th 1792, as ensign, and served under General Wayne; was made Lieutenant in 1794; Captain in 1799; Colonel in 1812 ; brevetted Brigadier General in 1822 ; and May 30th, 1848, Major General for long and faithful services. He was in the battles of Chippewa, Lundy's Lane and Niag- ara. He died at Detroit, April 15th, 185 1. On the divis- ion of Henderson township, April 25th, 1846, the Court performed a most gracious act in naming the Eastern end Brady, in honor of this distinguished soldier. The act of assembly passed March 9th, 1771, creating the County of Bedford, took from Cumberland all of its ter- ritory westward of the Eastern boundaries of Fulton and Huntingdon Counties. A part of the legal machinery of the new county was set in motion at a Court held at Bedford on the i6th day of April following. At January sessions, 1772, a petition was presented praying the appointment of viewers to lay out a road from the Standing-Stone to Bloody Run, but it was not until the summer of 1774 that the project was consummated. The route began at the end of Standing- Stone Creek ridge, and ran "thence north thirty-four de- grees west eighty six perches to Standing-Stone Creek; and thence up said Creek, north fifteen degrees east nineteen perches; and thence north sixty-four degrees west across the said creek and along the principal street, called Alleghany street, in the town of Huntingdon, ninety-two perches to the centre of the said town; and thence the same course continued and along the same street, in all two hundred and seventy-two perches to the point of the island above the Standing Stone," thence across the river via. Smithfield, McConnellstown, and Woodcock valley to Bloody Run, now Everett. This route was confirmed as a public road and ordered to be opened, and is the oldest public road laid out by legal authority in the county. The proprietor early abandoned the plan to allow the land between the Traders' road or Alleghany street and the CO I bo s G 15 river to remain open, and he laid it out into lots. It will be observed, on referring to the plan now on record, that the numbering of the lots begins with No. i, on which the Elec- tric Light Works are erected, and runs up the northern side of Alleghany street to Fourth ; down the northern side of Fenn to Second ; then from No. i northward on the eastern side of Second to and including No. 45, at Washington St.; jumps to 46 at the S. E. corner of Alleghany and Fourth, and proceeds eastward to and including No. 63, at the end of the plot. In a second enlargement of the town, extend- ing westward and northward, the next consecutive number is 64, on the N. W. corner of Alleghany and Fourth, and the numbering runs thence westward, etc. The centre of the town mentioned in the road report, refers to the intersection of Alleghany and Third streets, the latter being then the middle or central street, where the pro- prietor intended that a market should be established, for which purpose he donated a lot on each side of Third street extending from Alleghany to the river, and to afford room for a market square, 23 feet was taken off the southern end of lots Nos. 10 and 11. Samuel Anderson has teen mentioned as an early pur- chaser of a lot. Among other purchasers before the close of the year 1776, were Michael Cryder, 1771 and 1773; Jacob Hall and Hermina Hall, 1773; Benjamin Elliott, 1776. Ludwig Sells was recommended at October Sessions, 1774, for Hcense to keep a public house, and was therefore, a resi-. dent and doubtless a lot owner. Michael Cryder was recom- mended for license in 1773 and 1774, and was probably the first inn-keeper at Huntingdon. The next interesting account of the second stone, is in the journal of Rev. Philip Vicars Fithian, a graduate of the College of New Jersey, of the class of 1772 ; licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Philadelphia, Nov. 6th, 1774. He left his home at Greenwich, N. J., May 9th, 1775, and made a tour through Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, visiting the Presbyterian families en route and preaching at numerous places. Passing out of the west end x6 of Kischacoquillas Valley, Aug. 21st, he reached Hunting- don that evening, and mentions having met here. Squire Hall, a storekeeper, and a young Mr. Cluggage, from Shirley. The next morning, (22nd) he visited the Warm Springs and entered into a minute description of them and the surround- ings. On his return he and Mr. Cluggage rode to Fort Shirley, where, the next day he wrote : " Wednesday, August 23rd — I had almost forgotten to tell the person who shall read these papers a couple of hundred of years hence, that there is now standing in a garden at Huntingdon, a tall column or pillar nearly square, which has given to the town and valley the name of Standing Stone Valley. The column is seven feet above the ground." David McMurtrie, who came here about 1776 or 1777,* described the stone as being about eight feet high and bear- ing the name of John Lukens, then Surveyor General, with the date 1768; Charles Lukens, his assistant; and Thomas Smith, brother of the founder of the town, at one time Deputy Surveyor for the county of Bedford, and afterward a judge of the Supreme Court. A part of it is said to be built into the wall of the house now owned and occupied by Hon. John M. Bailey, at the N. E. corner of Penn and Third streets. The part of the stone containing the names men- tioned fell many years ago, into the possession of Edward C. Summers. It is now on exhibition among the antiquities. Jones, in his "Juniata Valley," 1856, said: "The Standing Stone — that is, the original stone — was, according to John Harris, fourteen feet high and six inches square. It stood on the right bank of Stone Creek near its mouth, and in such a position as to enable persons to see it at a con- siderable distance, either from up or down the river." The location thus given was materially different from that in the concurrent statements made by old residents, whose recol- lections extended back beyond the beginning of the present century. They fixed its site on the southern side of Alleghany street, nearly opposite the Pennsylvania R. R. warehouse. The accuracy of their recollections is fully attested by the ♦Day's Historical Collections of Pennsylvania, 1843, page 370. 17 old records. Doctor Smith, by deed dated May 7th, 1792, conveyed to his daughter Rebecca, four lots including "the Ancient Standing Stone lot." Samuel Blodget, Junior, and Rebecca his wife (formerly Rebecca Smith) by deed dated March 28th, 1797, conveyed to Richard Smith one of these lots No. 59, and described it as being known by the "title of the Ancient Stone Lot." Richard Smith conveyed to David R. Porter, May 14th, 1823, who conveyed to George Thomas, October 27th, 1852. This last mentioned deed also described the lot as being "known by the title of Ancient Standing Stone Lot." These deeds fix beyond all question tTie location of the histojic pillar. When buildings were about to be erected in the vicinity, it was removed and placed in front of the Court House* that then stood in Third street south of Penn. There it was subjected to the 'van- dalism that finally resulted in its destruction as a historical monument. A Fort, called Standing Stone Fort, was erected here, but at a date that cannot now be fixed. One writer says it included an area of ten acres. This is, unquestionably, an exaggeration. Jones says it was built in 1762, and rebuilt on the breaking out of the revolution.** David McMurtrie*** said it was built during the Revolu- tionary War and stood in the south-eastern part of the town. The tradition of old residents fixed its location in the vicinity of Penn and Second streets. It was constructed of stock- ades and was provided with barracks, block-houses and magazines. The lower story of a blacksmith shop that stood at No. 205 Penn street until about 1854, was constructed from hewn oak logs from one of the magazines of the fort. They bore evidence of the care and skill of the builders. The corners had "dove-tail" notches and when successive layers of logs were put up, they fitted close together leaving no crack between. A map of the country west of the Hud- son river, and south of the St. Lawrence river and Lakes Ontario and Erie, extending to Maryland and Virginia, con- *Jacob Miller's statement, written for speaker in 1861. ♦♦Jones' Juniata Valley, page 186. »**Day's Historical Collections of Penn'a. (1843) P- 37o- structed by Capt. Pouchot, who was in the French military service, and transmitted by him to Marshal de Belle Isle in a letter dated at Montreal, 14th April, 1758,* locates Philadelphie, Lancastre, Easton, Franckstown, Rays Town, de la Susquehanna, Juneata R. , Belle R. , F. Comberland, F. Sianden Stone, F. du Quesne, Laudon, Liteton, Loyalhanoti, etc. This map recognizes Fort Standing-Stone as a defensive post at a date earlier than any given in English records. The French, however, were more careful to preserve records of explorations than their rival English neighbors. The gathering storm between the American Colonies and the parent government that ripened into the Revolution, restrained the inflow of immigration to the fertile river bot- toms and valleys of the upper Juniata. The English sought alliance with the Indians and encouraged them to fall upon the defenceless settlements, murder the inhabitants, destroy their crops and burn their habitaiions. The greatest period of terror was during the British occupation of Philadelphia, 1777-1778. Many families from the adjacent valleys sought the protection of Fort Standing-Stone. On the 20th Feb- ruary, 1779, a memorial of inhabitants of the upper part of the valley was presented to the Assembly, representing that they were in a perilous situation on account of the Indians ; that numbers were suffering for want of bread ; and praying assistance and asking that Major Robert Cluggage** should be continued as commander. Among the signers, residents of Standing-Stone were : Ludwig Sell, Jacob Hall, Abraham Hains, Francis Cluggage, Benjamin Elliott, Archibald Fletch- er and Jacob Laird. John Fee, George Jackson, Michael Cryder, Roger McLean, John Weston, Nicholas Grafi'is, Peter Grafius, John Canan, and others whose names are ap- pended, lived within a radius of a few miles from the fort. Some families fled to the settlements below the mountains and remained there until it was thought safe to return. By the close of the year, dread of the Indians abated and grad- *Penn'a Archives, Second Series, VI. p. 409. **Cluggage lived in Black Log valley near Black Log Gap. In the summer of 1775, he marched his Company to Boston and there joined the American army, then under the command of Gen '1 Washington. J c 19 ually the people returned to their deserted homes and farms. The assessment of Himtingdon township for 1782, shows the names of twenty-five taxables of the town, to wit : James Armstrong. Nathaniel Garard, Anthony Sell, Henry Ashbaugh, Jacob Ginoe, Ludwick Sell, John Ashbaugh, Abraham Haines, Solomon Sell, Adam Bardmesser, Jacob Hall, John Shaver, (Widow)Breckenridge, Mrs. Hall, . Conrad Swank, Charles Brotherline, John Patton, Willi am Watson, Peter Devit, George Reynolds, William Wilson, Archibald Fletcher, Jacob Rowler, James Williams, Isaac Worrel. These taxables were assessed with thirty-four lots and twenty-three houses It is probable that a few of the persons named, although owners of houses and lots, did not reside in the town. Following the close of the war of the Revolution, the annual increase in the population of town and country was more rapid, and in a few years the people of Huntingdon began to think it ought to be a county-town. In 1787, pe- titions to the Assembly, praying the passage of a law setting off the northern part of Bedford into a new county, were numerously signed and a bill was introduced for that purpose. It met with spirited opposition and was as warmly advocated by its friends, and it became a law September 20th. The act gave the name Huntingdon to the new county and the town was fixed therein as the seat of justice. As has already been noted, the market-place was fixed " at the intersection of Alleghany and Third streets. Expect- ing the new county to be formed, Dr. Smith desired the Court House to be erected in Third street and preferred that the market-house should be placed further west. Accordingly an agreement was entered into August 22, 1787, by the owners of twelve lots of ground on both sides of Penn street, east and West of Fifth, by which they covenanted to set off fifteen feet of the front of their lots, to be "left open forever for the enlarging of the street in front of the said lots." At a meeting of these lot owners, held August 27th, 1788, it 20 was agreed that a market-house should be erected on the east side of Fifth street of the dimensions of twenty by one hundred and twenty-five feet; also, that the two lots former- ly intended for a market-place, one on each side of Third between Alleghany street and the river, should be sold at public sale, and ;^45 of the proceeds should be applied toward erecting the market-house and the remainder toward erecting a public school. A market house was erected and remained in use until 1847, when it was torn down by authority of the Burgesses and Town Council. The legal machinery for the new county was put in mo- tion without delay. Officers were appointed and commis- sioned and Courts held. The house of Ludwig Sell, named in the act of Assembly as the place where the Courts should be held until a Court House should be built, was on lot No. 7 on the northern side of Alleghany street between Second and Third. August 25th, 1791, Dr. Smith conveyed to the trustees of the public buildings, lot No. 41 on the eastern side of Second street, in trust for building a prison thereon and for a prison yard. On this lot a jail was built. The lot was afterward purchased by the turnpike company and Penn street opened over it. August 22nd, 1794, Dr. Smith con- veyed to the trustees a site for a Court House in the centre of Third street between Penn and Alleghany, and for that purpose the street was widened to 104 feet. The building, forty-four by thirty feet, was to front Penn street but set back thirty feet therefrom. It was erected as planned and . was used for public purposes until 1842. On the assessment of the town, made in 1788, the names of eighty one taxables appear, who were rated with 54 houses, 155 lots, 4 negroes, (slaves), four stills and one brewery. CHURCHES — The Presbyterian Congregation is the oldest religious society of the town. July 6th, 1789, a sub- scription was made "for one-half of Rev'd John Johnston's* *He was born in or near the city of Belfast, Ireb.ud, in 1750 ; came to Penn- sylvania in 1784 or 1785; received by the Presbytery of Philadelphia from the Presbytery of Belfast, as an ordained minister ; received by the Presbytery of Carlisle, May 26th, 1787, and installed pastor of Hart's Log and Shaver's Creek ; pastorial relation with Shaver's Creek dissolved Oct. 7th, 1789. He married Miss Jane Macbeth, about 1788. 21 ministerial labours to be performed at the town of Hunting- don." He accepted the call April 13th, 1790, and served the congregation until June 13th, 1823, when he resigned. His death occurred on the i6th of the following December. Mr. Johnston, soon after the acceptance of the call, moved to Huntingdon and resided until his death at the south-east corner of Penn and Second streets. The Huntingdon Pres- bytery, formed from the Presbytery of Carlisle, was organ- ized on the 2nd Tuesday of April, 1795, and on May i6th, 181 1, the Northumberland Presbytery was created from a part of its territory. Judge Joseph Adams stated old citizens informed him, that the first church built here was by the Roman Catholics. It stood on the lots at the N. W. corner of Third and Penn streets, and was constructed of logs. Doctor Smith conveyed these lots, Nos. 27 and 28, to Rev'd John Carr^)l, D. D., December loth, 1788, hence it is more than probable that Judge Adams' tradition is correct. There appears to have been preaching here by ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church as early as 1788, but a society was not formed until 1797. Among the early inhabitants of the town and vicinity were many persons of German extraction, and they were doubtless visited by Lutheran and Reformed ministers. Both churches had organizations before the beginning of the present century, but their records, if preserved, have not been accessible. On the 14th November, 1795, Dr. Smith conveyed a lot of ground for church purposes to trustees for each religious denomination then represented in the population. The trustees named in the deeds were as follows : For the Presbyterian Church — Rev. John Johnston, An- drew Henderson, John Patton, Matthew Simpson and James Nesbit. For the German Calvinist {Reformed') Church — Peter Swoope and Peter Stevens. For the German Lutheran Church — Henry Miller and George Faulkner. For the Protestant Episcopal Church — Benjamin Elliott, Richard Smith, John Cadwallader and Thomas Whittaker. THE FIRST MILL— Doctor Smith intended to build a mill on Standing-Stone Creek. The tract including the land on both sides of Standing-Stone Avenue is called in the patent "Millbank," and in the original leases for the meadows he reserved the right to construct a mill race. Subsequent in- vestigations caused him to select the site now occupied by Fisher & Millers' Flouring Mill. In a deed for the proper- ty executed by the Doctor to his son Charles, August 23rd, 1790, it is recited that the construction of a mill, mill-race and dam was begun and partly completed. In 1792, the artisans of the town were : Blacksmiths, 4 ; Hatters, 2 ; Shoemakers, 4 ; Stocking-weavers, i ; Cabinet- makers, 2 ; Saddlers, 2 ; Silversmiths, i; Tailors, 3 ; Wheel- wrights, 2. INCORPORATION.— Evidently as a preparation Jor the incorporation of the- town as a borough, Doctor Smith caused a map or plan of the town to be drawn and the same was recorded on the 14th day of November, 1795. A re- markable blunder was committed by some person, in making the record show the "Market Place" at Fifth and Washing- ton, instead of Fifth and Penn streets. During the next session of the General Assembly an act of incorporation was passed, March 29th, 1796, as has been mentioned. The boundaries given therein are the same as those described on the recorded plan, and begin at a stone corner at the river 200 feet east of Second street and run thence N. 24° E. 109. 7 perches to a stone; thence N. 66° W., through the Cemetery and along the southern side of Oneida street, 157 perches to a stone at the western line of Seventh street; thence S. 24° W., including Seventh street, no perches or thereabouts to the river; thence down the same to the place of beginning. At an election held on the first Monday of April following, Benjamin Elliott was chosen Chief Burgess. While Judge Elliott and his associate fathers were busy- ing themselves in completing the corporate organization of the infant borough, Jonathan Priestley, assessor, with John X bH G u 'f^\ 23 Patton and John Williams, assistants, was enrolling the in- habitants of the township of Huntingdon, and listing their property subject to taxation. From their return made in the spring ot 1796, the following schedule of names and occupa- tions of citizens of the borough was made, to which is added the- street and number of their residences where the same could be obtained. An appended asterisk (*) indicates that the person named has decendants now living here. HOUSE-HOLDERS. *Africa, Michael, brick maker and dyer, 321, 323 Alleghany. Armitage, John, mechanic. Blair, John, 617, 619 Penn. Cadwallader, John, lawyer, 30.5. 307 Alleghany. Chambers, Arthur, surveyor, N. E. cor. Penn & Second, 2 lots. Colestock, Christian, shoemaker, 313, 315 Alleghany. Cutlip, Jonathan, nailer. Davis, John, hatter, 424, 426 Alleghany. Dean, Alexander, tavern keeper-and shop-keeper, S. E. corner of Alleghany and Second. Deardurff, Abraham, nailer, 6 '4, 606 Penn. *Dorland, John, tailor, N. E. corner Penn and Fifth. Drury, James, tailor. Drury, Stephen, silversmith, W. lot of Court House grounds. Eckelberger, Valentine, blacksmith, 313, 315 Alleghany. *Elliott, Benjamin, shopkeeper, N. W. cor. Alleghany & Second. *Elliott, James, tanner, Penn above Sixth. Eshelman, (w^idow^.) Evans, Ellis, joiner, carpenter or cabinet maker) 617, 619 Mifflin. Evans, Mark. *Fockler, George. Fulton, James, mason. Funk, Michael, weaver, 209, 211 Penn. George, John, joiner, 409, 411 Alleghany. *Glazier, Daniel, tavern-keeper, N. side Alleghany , above Second. *Gwin, Patrick. Harden, James, shoemaker. Harr, Everard, shopkeeper, 421, 423 Penn. *Haynes, Abraham, N. side Alleghany, above Second. Henderson, Andrew, prothonotary, 325, 327 Allegheny. *Hoffman, Peter, potter, 517, 519 Alleghany. Householder, Adam. *Householder, George, blacksmith, 304, 306 Alleghany. Howe, Abraham, chairmaker, 401-407 Mifflin. 24 *Johnston, Rev. John, Presbyterian Pastor, S. E. corner Penn and Second. Ker, Thomas, .539, .531 Penn. Ker, William, shopkeeper. Kimberling, Henry, tailor. *Kurtz, Frederick, joiner, 329-335 Mifflin. Law, Mark, N. side of Mifflin, above Sixth. Levels, John, shoemaker, Penn. Lig-ht, John. Linkswiler, — , wagonmaker, N. side Alleghany, above Fourth. Litzinger, Simon, mason. Lutz, Andrew, w^eaver. McClane, William, shoemaker. McConnell, Alexander, shopkeeper, S.W. cor. Penn -and Fourth. McConnell, William, tavern-keeper, 431, 433 Alleghany. *McMurtrie,;David, Fourth below Penn. *McMurtrie, James. McNutt, John, shopkeeper. 605, 607 Penn. Marshall, John, tavern-keeper. Martin, George, mason, 317, 319 Mifflin. Metz, Lewis, saddler, S. side of Alleghany, above Third. Miers, Joseph, joiner, 539, 531, Alleghany. Miers. Michael, 605, 607 Mifflin. Moyers, John, 313. 315 Alleghany. Miller, Christley. tanner. *Miller, Henry, shopkeeper, 409, 411 Penn. Miller, William, tailor, ih7 Alleghany. Nesbit. James, physician, 608-614 Penn. Newman, Peter, skindresser, S. side Alleghany, above Fourth. *Patton, John. Patton. Joseph, tanner. Potter, Simon, tavern keeper, 334, 326 Alleghany. Priestley Jonathan. Reynolds. George. 313, 314 Alleghany. Rothrock Frederick, saddler, 313, 315 Penn. *Saxton, James, shoemaker, 434, 426 Penn. Sells, John, Hatter, 413, 41 i Mifflin. Sells, Ludwig. Sells, Samuel. *Simpson, John, blacksmith, N. W. cor, Penn and Second. 2 lots. Simpson. Matthew, tavern-keeper, 417, 419 Penn. Simpson. Robert weaver, 501-507 Alleghany. *Shultz. Lawren> e. tavern-keeper, 330, 333 Alleghany. Smith, Adam, joiner. Smith, Philip, tailor, 308, 310 Penn. 25 steel, Samuel, tavern-keeper, 416, 418 Penn. *Steel, William, shopkeeper, 3n, 319 Penn. Stevens, Peter, tailor, .509, .511 Penn. *Sturtzman, Adam, S. side Alleghany, above Fourth. *Swoope, Peter, hatter, 335, 327 Penn. Sytes, Stophel. Tanner, Hugh, weaver, 309, 311 Penn. Travilla, Richard, chairmaker. Weidner. Jacob (?) Jackson House, Alleghany. *West brook, (widow) 410 Penn. *Whittaker. Thomas, tavern-keeper, S. W. corner Alleghany and Fourth. Will, Peter, cooper, 401, 407 Alleghany. Wright, John, shoemaker. SINGLE FREEMEN. Armitage, Benjamin, carpenter. Ballow, Daniel, cooper. *Brotherline, Charles, S side of Alleghany, E. of Second. Campbell, Robert, joiner. S. W. corner Fifth and Penn. Clark James, weaver. Eckelberger^ Stephen, wagonmaker. 301, 303 Washington. Fling, John. Foley, James, 401, 403 Penn. Gain or, John, tailor. Gillespie, Thoraas, distiller. *Graffius, Martin, tinner, 405. 407 Penn. Griffith, John, teacher, S. E. corner Alleghany and Fifth. Haynes, Jacob, nailer. Henderson, Jonathan, lawyer. Huston, William, weaver. McAvay, Dennis. McCaleb, John, joiner. McCaleb, William, tanner. McConnell, James, weaver. McConnell, John, shopkeeper. Morton, James, tailor. *Patton, Benjamin, joiner. Rothrock, Daniel, saddler. Rothrock Joseph, silversmith. Rudisell, Jonas, tanner. Simpson, Robert, joiner. Smith, Richard, lawyer. Stroupe, Anthony. Wilson, George, physician. 405, 407 Washington. The same names appear on the assessment for 1797. except .lonathan Cutlip, marked removed; (widow) Eshleman: Linkswiler, Lewis Metz, Adam Smith, and Dennis McAvajr, but with the addition of that of Alexander King, 339, 331 Mifflin. 26 The leading incidents have been briefly noted, and the names of the chief actors given, as they occurred in the his- tory of the upbuilding of this town from the days of Indian occupation, until the time when it set aside village ways and assumed the dignity of a borough. The century Avhich closed at the inauguration of the commemorative ceremonies of this week, is rich in stores of history. It would be both interesting and pleasant to delve into its records and tell of the marvellous improvements made in methods of transporta- tion and transmission of intelligence ; the wonders of the printing press ; the astonishing progress in every branch of education, science, art, manufactures and mechanics ; in- crease of population and wealth ; and advancement of methods contributing to the beautifying of the borough and the comfort and enjoyment of its people ; and to speak ot the many distinguished citizens who from time to time pro- moted our progress, but both the hour and place forbid. While this is a season o,f festivity, these exercises relate particularly to the Standing-Stone The Committee has per- formed its work patriotically and well, and our people should justly estimate and appreciate their nice discrimination in selecting, securing and erecting this massive shaft in simili- tude to ancient Onojutta. Their labors are completed. We bow with veneration to this latest counterpart of the ancient pillar of the misty past. This Standing-Stone must serve to keep alive with us who are here, and with those who succeed us, as long as time lasts, quickened recollections of the toils, dangers and privations suffered by our fathers in their labors to build homes here, on the bank of the peerless Juniata. THE BLUE JUNIATA. BY MRS. MARION DIX SULLIVAN. Who was bom in 1802, in Boscawen, N. H., near the beautiful Merrimac River. Her father was Col. Timothy Dix, and she was a sister of Gen. John A. Dix, of New York. She died in i860. Wild roved an Indian girl, Bright Alfarata, Where sweep the waters Of the Blue Juniata ; Swift as an antelope, Through the forest going. Loose were her jetty locks In wavy tresses flowing. Gay was the mountain song, Of bright Alfarata, Where sweep the waters Of the Blue Juniata, Strong and true my arrows are, In my painted quiver. Swift goes my light canoe, Adown the rapid river. Bold is my warrior, good. The love of Alfarata, Proud waves his snowy plume Along the Juniata ; Soft and low he speaks to me, And then his war-cry sounding. Rings his voice in thunder loud. From height to height resounding. So sang the Indian girl. Bright Alfarata, Where sweep the waters Of the Blue Juniata ; Fleeting years have borne away The voice of Alfarata, Still sweeps the river on. The Blue Juniata. A RESPONSE TO THE BLUE JUNIATA. By Rev. CYRUS CORT, D. D., 1865, while Pastor of the Reformed Church, Altoona, Pa. The Indian girl has ceased to rove Along the winding river ; The warrior Brave that won her love. Is gone, with bow and quiver. The valley rears another race, Where flows the Juniata ; Where maidens rove, with paler face Than that of Alfarata. [wail, Where pine trees moan her requiem And blue waves, too, are knelling. Through mountain gorge and fertile A louder note is swelling. [vale, A hundred years have rolled around, The Red man has departed, The hills give back a wilder sound Than warrior's whoop e'er started. With piercing neigh, the iron steed Now sweeps along the waters, [speed And bears with more than wild deer The white man's sons and daughters. The products, too, of every clime Are borne along the- river, Where roved theBrave in olden time. With nought but bow and quiver. And swifter than the arrow's flight, From trusty bow and quiver. The messages of love and light Now speed along the river. The engine and the telegraph [es. Have wrought some wondrous chang- Since rang the Indian maiden's laugh Among the mountain ranges. 'Tis grand to see what art hath done. The world is surely wiser ; [won What triumphs white man's skill hath With steam, the civilizer. But still, methinks, I'd rather hear The song of Alfarata, Had rather chase the fallow deer Along the Juniata. For fondly now my heart esteems This Indian song and story ; Yea, grander far old nature seems, Than art in all its glory. Roll on, thou classic Keystone stream. Thou peerless little river • Fulfill the poet's brightest dream, And be a joy forever. As generations come and go, Each one their part repeating. Thy waters keep their constant flow. Still down to ocean fleeting. And while thy blue waves seek the sea, Thou lovely Juniata, Surpassing sweet thy name shall be, For sake of Alfarata. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 365 123 fl^