Union County History Annals of the Buffalo Valley by John Blair Lynn Pages 369 thru 404 Contributed for use in USGenWeb by Tony Rebuck USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is Encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitter PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to state and county table of contents. 1808. THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH ORGANIZED - POLITICAL AFFAIRS - SIMON SNYDER ELECTED GOVERNOR - DEATH OF JOHN BRADY, (SHERIFF,) AND NOTICES OF HIS FAMILY. MEMBER of Congress, George Smith. Members of Assembly, elected in October, John Murray, Leonard Rupert, Frederick Evans, and Andrew Albright. Clerk of the Middle District of the Supreme Court, John L. Finney. County Commissioner elect, Andrew McClenachan. Amos Ellmaker, Deputy Attorney General for Dauphin and Northumberland. By the act of 21st March, Northumberland county was entitled to four members of the House, and, with Luzerne, to two members of the Senate. January 23, the congressional caucus nominated James Madison for President and George Clinton for Vice. Under date March 16, the Argus notices a meeting of the Republican members of the Legislature, which declared unanimously for Simon Snyder, for Governor. The Federalists, it says, favor James Ross. The Quids, John Spayd. Democratic Presidential electors: William Wilson, Robert Giffen, Jacob Hostetter. 29th March, Adam Wilt commissioned justice. May 15, Reverend John Dietrich Adams, of the Reformed Church, called to the Middle Creek, Beaver Dam, &c., churches. He accepted, and seems to have served until 1812, when he was excommunicated. Tradition says love for strong drink was his ruin. Postmaster at Mifflinburg, Thomas Youngman. During this year and the next, the Reverend Jacob Diffenbach, of the Reformed Church, lived in 370 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1808. Mifflinburg, preached there, and at times in Brush valley and Selins- grove. He married a Miss Lydia Hughes, of Selinsgrove, subsequently removed to Espytown, and died there in 1825. One of his children, Samuel Dieffenbach, resides near Selinsgrove, Snyder county. 30th September, George Clark commissioned justice, White Deer. James McClellan. Esquire, taught school at Chamberlin's mill. Additional Residents in East Buffalo. - Baldy, Benjamin; Beard, Christian, blacksmith; Brewer, John; Bossler, John; Christ, Adam, junior; Christ, Henry Dentler, John; Deratt, Daniel, both on Mathias Macpherson's place; George, John; Heiser, Frederick; Jackson, Robert, (colored;) Kitchen, John; Kline, Jacob; McCurdy, Daniel, at James Dale's; Searfoss, George; Shields, William Snook, Martin, (Jenkins;) Smook, Peter, (Jenkins;) Snyder, Daniel, blacksmith; Taylor, Robert. Lewisburg - Billman, Henry; Clark, George; Friedly, John; Guy, Thomas; Horning, Conrad; Kremer, George, store in Chamberlin's building; Martin, John, carpenter; Myers, Peter; Rees, Daniel, inn-keeper; Sergeant, John, nailor; Sitgreaves, Charles, saddler; Stillwell, Joseph, school-teacher; Stroub, Michael, weaver; Wagner, Henry. New Berlin - Estrich, Christian, merchant; Feather, Jacob, hatter: Frantz, William; Fought, George; Lehman, Thomas, school-teacher; McCullough, William; Maurer, Adam; Pontius, Henry, junior, carpenter Smith, Peter, gunsmith; Springer, Henry, chairmaker Winter, Daniel, inn-keeper. White Deer - Awl, Samuel and John, junior; Ferris, Joseph, on William Clingan's place; Heckle, George; Heckle, Simon; Huntingdon, Abraham; Kline, Charles, on Ranck's place; Thomas, Arthur, miller. West Buffalo - Charles, John; Elert, Widow; Elder, John Geddes, Samuel Jodon, James; Komp, Adam; Kline, Jacob; Miller, Peter; Shaup, Henry. Mifflinburg - Clark, Widow Sarah; Cronmiller, Martin, blacksmith Grove, Andrew, blacksmith; Hofferd, John, taxed with grist and saw-mill, late Christopher Johnson's, on Rapid run, after whose death it passed into the bands of John Reish; Lane, William, hatter; Yearick, Henry. 1808.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 371 Enumeration of the Taxable Inhabitants of the different Townships of Buffalo Valley - Buffalo East, four hundred and forty-seven, and one slave; Buffalo West, three hundred and seventy-four; White Deer, two hundred and five, and one slave; Washington, eighty-one, and one slave. First Baptist Church. The first regular Baptist church in what is now Union county, was raised under the labors of Thomas Smiley, in Washington (now Gregg) township, and was recognized by sister churches October 23, 1808. Elder Smiley remained its pastor until his death, in 1832. He was succeeded by George Spratt, M. D., 1833-1834; his son, George M. Spratt, D. D., 1835-1839; William S. Hall, 1840-1843; John Edminster, 1843-1847; William T. Bunker, 1849-1853; Professor Robert Lowry, 1854; George Frear, D. D., 1855; Joshua Kelly, 1857-1858; W. R. McNeal, 1859; Samuel W. Ziegler, 1860; J. Green Miles, 1861-1865; George W. Snyder, 1867; and J. Green Miles since 1869. - O. N. Worden. Political. Northumberland and Luzerne composed the senatorial district. Centre, Lycoming and Northumberland composed the congressional district. General Daniel Montgomery declined a re-election. At the Democratic- Republican convention, held at Sunbury, on the 28th of June, the delegates from Buffalo were Samuel Maclay and General C. Baldy; West Buffalo, John Wilson and Thomas Youngman; Penn's, Frederick Evans and Philip Moore; White Deer, Andrew McClenachan and William Chamberlin. The nominating convention was held at Derrstown, on the 20th of August. Thirty-seven delegates from twenty townships. General Robert Giffen was elected president; Matthew Huston, secretary. Simon Snyder was unanimously nominated for Governor; George Smith, of Lycoming, for Congress; Nathan Palmer, of Luzerne, for State Senator; John Murray, Andrew Albright, Leonard Rupert, and Frederick Evans, for Assembly. The Federal leaders of that day were General William Wilson, 372 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1808. Charles Hall, Esquire, Captain Christian Brobst, William Mears, Samuel Miles, Esquire, John Buyers, &C The canvass for Governor this year was exceedingly bitter. Among other stories, was that the Honor- able Samuel Maclay had expressed himself in favor of James Ross for Governor, at William McAllister's, in Juniata county, when he and the Honorable Daniel Montgomery were on their return from Congress; that Simon Snyder had said in the presence of one George Church, who made affidavit to that effect, that no poor man ought to have the right of voting at an election; that he had voted for a bill to fine Mennonists and Quakers $10 for not attending militia trainings; that he intended, or favored, dividing the property of the rich among the poor. The Snyder men were accused of suing the Rossites for debts. Jared Irwin, the sheriff, certifies that Simon Snyder has not issued an execution for twelve months; Judge Cooper, that Simon Snyder did not behave improperly in handing a paper to the judge, &c. James Ross was declared to be a man of mercenary and avaricious disposition; accused of blasphemy and mockery of religion; said to be "the candidate of the nabobs and lawyers; that while member of the United States Senate, he advocated the wresting of New Orleans from the Spaniards by force, instead of acquiring it by treaty. During the reign of terror, (Adams' administration,) his violence for its measures secured him the Federal patronage." All manner of tricks were resorted to. Andrew Albright and Robert Smith were nominated by the Federal meeting, at Milton, for Assembly, although known to be Democrats, in favor of Jefferson and his embargo. Both came out in the Argus, disclaiming the nomination. As early as this year, Andrew C. Huston, with John Frick and others, issue an address, as representatives of the young men of North- umberland county, in favor of Simon Snyder. Judge Thomas Cooper, in a communication, vindicates the private character of Simon Snyder, although he did not feel at liberty to vote for either Simon Snyder or James Ross. 1808.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 373 OCTOBER ELECTION. SNYDER. ROSS. SPAYD. Buffalo 311 68 West Buffalo 300 70 8 Berlin 209 10 1 Swineford's 166 8 Milton 467 127 Selinsgrove 237 28 Mifflinburg 49 32 6 Beaver 138 3 9 Snyder's majority in the county, over both, was 2,927. Colonel John Bull was the Federal candidate against Colonel George Smith, for Congress. Colonel John Kelly, against Nathan Palmer, for Senate. For Assembly, the Federal candidates were Sol Markley, Robert Barber, Esquire, Abraham Miller, and Thomas Wallace. Henry Musser was elected commissioner, over Theodore Kiehl and James Smith. For presidential electors on the Democratic - Republican and Whig side - for the party recognize all three names - were William Montgomery and Robert Giffen. The Federalists are called the Tories. John Boyd was the Federal candidate for elector. Vote, 2,793 to 221. Marriages. March 22, John Freedly with Elizabeth Lehman, by H. Spyker, in presence of Daniel Nyhart, her brother-in-law, &c. May 4, Peter Myers to Sophia Nixon, by same, in the presence of her step-father, James Marriner, and her mother, Peter Spyker, George Graham, Thomas Poak, Margaret Graham, Betsy Smith, Lydia Pross, &c. May 17, by the same, Henry Zerbe with Susanna Heckel. Witnesses: Adam Wertz, Peter Leonard, John Snyder, &c. July 5, Peter Brown with Catherine Kantz, in presence of her brother, Peter Kantz, brother-in-law, John Hartman. March 24, by Reverend T. Hood, William Nesbit, of Chillisquaque, to Nancy Musser, of East Buffalo. November 29, George Freedly with Catherine Frantz, by H. Spyker, Esquire, in presence of Andrew Billmyer and wife, George Billmyer and wife, John Frantz, Jacob Frantz, Peggy Librunen, &c. 374 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1808. Deaths. Samuel Dunning and James McCorley, White Deer. Neal Madden, father of the late James Madden, Esquire, West Buffalo. 17th May, Adam Christ, aged sixty-six. Left widow, Elizabeth. Children: Henry, Elizabeth, Eve, married to John Snook. Elizabeth Earne, Buffalo. (Her daughter married Jacob Moore.) Children: John, Anna M., Balisa, and Susanna. Joseph Ultz, of West Buffalo. John Aurand, junior, East Buffalo. James Boveard, East Buffalo, soldier of the Revolution. Enlisted, 1776, as private in Captain David Kilgore's company, eighth Penn- sylvania, and served three years. His family as follows: Children Hannah, Robert, Alexander, Mary, married to Robert McBride, Jane, to Doctor James Charleton, _______, to John Steans. Daniel Metzgar, hotel-keeper at Lewisburg. His widow, Eve, afterwards married to Colonel Christopher Baldy. Saturday, 30th January, Mrs. Annie McBeth, of White Deer, formerly of Cumberland county, buried at Buffalo Cross-Roads. Her ancestors fled from Scotland on account of religious persecution. They were of the first settlers at Brandywine, in Chester county. She was twice married, first to John Fleming, and afterwards to Andrew McBeth; had four children by her first, and five by her last husband. One of her sons fell at Long Island. - Argus. 27th July, Susanna Baldy, consort of General C. Baldy, aged fifty two. A faithful observance of all the relative duties of wife, mother, and friend, marked the conduct of this truly excellent woman - Argus, 3d August December 10, at Milton, John Brady, inn-keeper, and former sheriff of Northumberland county, aged forty-eight. He is buried in the cemetery at Lewisburg. His wife, Jane, survived him twenty years. and is buried in the same grave. A mural monument, covered with a heavy marble slab, marks their grave and that of Mary Brady, widow of Captain John Brady. John Brady's children were: Lieutenant Samuel Brady, born 22d February, 1793. At the commencement of the war of 1812, he served as a volunteer, under Governor Edwards, in a campaign 1808.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 375 against the Indians. They had one battle, defeating the Indians. Shortly afterwards, he received a commission as ensign in the twenty- second United States regiment, commanded by his uncle, General Hugh Brady, and served in the unfortunate campaign under General Wilkinson. In the summer of 1814 he was attached to General Brown's army, on the Niagara frontier. He was in the bloody battle of Lundy's Lane; a second lieutenant in the sortie from Fort Erie. He was the only platoon officer of his regiment that was not either killed or wounded in the former battle, and Major Arrowsmith was the only field-officer of General Scott's brigade that was left on horseback. See his letter to Captain B. Vincent, under date of 1814. After peace was proclaimed, Lieutenant Brady entered into an arrangement with Captain John Culbertson, a brother officer, to go on a trading expedition to the Rocky Mountains, supposing that, upon the reduction of the army, he would not be retained in the service. He was retained, however; but thinking he could not, in honor, break his engagement with the captain, he resigned. The Government declined to accept his resignation, and sent him an unlimited furlough. His health, however, failed him, and he was advised to winter in the South. He went to New Orleans, accompanied by his friend, Lieutenant Colonel Trimble, of Ohio, and died there on the 17th of February, 1816, not quite twenty-three years of age. He was six feet five, and a remarkably fine looking man. His disease was hurried on by exposure in the Niagara campaigns, when he should have been in the hospital, instead of the field. In the Sunbury Times of that year, there is an eloquent obituary, by his friend, Colonel Trimble, in which he says: "In Lieutenant Brady's death, the country has lost an intelligent and gallant officer, and myself a firm and distinterested friend." William Perry Brady, his brother, was born 16th February, 1795. He worked for a while at his trade - cabinet making - in Aaronsburg. In 1813 he entered the army as private. His regiment was at Erie when Perry was fitting out his fleet. The commodore, not having a sufficient number of regular marines, called for volunteers. William was the first who volunteered. Before Perry sailed, Colonel Hugh Brady came to Erie, and through his influence, Perry appointed him a purser's steward. He was attached to one of the small vessels, and was in the battle of the 10th of September. His 376 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1808. vessel had to be abandoned, and he was the last man to leave his gun. His shirt sleeves were shot away. He took great pride in the old shirt, and often showed it to his friends in after years. After the battle, and the return of the fleet to Erie, William and two of his Centre county friends, waited on the commodore. He granted them their discharges, and advised them to return home and settle in civil life, remarking that they had already rendered important service to their country. William took his advice, returned to Aaronsburg, and in a short time married Rachel Mussina, of that place. In 1846, he was elected assistant sergeant-at-arms of the Pennsylvania Senate, which place he retained until his death, at Harrisburg, on the 4th of April, 1864. Every one having business in Harrisburg in the last twenty years, will recollect the genial companionship of William P. Brady. He survived all his children, except one son, who died about one year after his father. Jasper Ewing Brady, Esquire, the fourth son, was born March 4, He first learned the trade of hatter, and, after traveling from place to place for two or three years, he settled in Franklin county, Pennsylvania. He there abandoned his trade, and taught school several years, meanwhile studying law. He was admitted at Chambersburg in 1826 or 1827, and there commenced practice. In 1843 he was elected to the Assembly, and re-elected in 1844. During the first session, although he represented an anti-improvement county, he offered an amendment to the bill to reduce the State tax providing for the assessment of a three-mill tax, which redeemed the credit of the State. He was treasurer of Franklin county for three years. In 1846 he was elected to Congress, beating Honorable Samuel Hepburn some eight hundred votes. He was, however, defeated in 1848, by Honorable James X. McLanahan. The Whig loss in the Carlisle district was some two hundred votes. Mr. Brady was beaten only one hundred and sixty- seven votes. In September, 1849, he removed to Pittsburgh, and practiced law very successfully until 1861, when he was appointed to a responsible position in the paymasters' department at Washington. He was removed in July, 1869, by General Rawlings, then Secretary of War. He then resumed the practice of law at Washington, where he died. John Brady, the third, died several years ago. James, the young- 1808.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 377 est, died in Franklin county, in 1829. He was a man of fine intel- lect, and was thought to be the most talented of the family. Of the daughters of Sheriff John Brady, Mary married William Piatt, uncle of Judge Piatt, of Brady township, Lycoming county; Hannah married Judge Piatt; Charlotte married H. C. Piatt; Jane married Roland Stoughton; her descendants, Mrs. Lyndall's children, still live in Lewisburg; Nancy married George B. Eckert, of Lewisburg. I am indebted to O. N. Worden, late of the Lewisburg Chronicle, for the following narrative he took down at the time. He says: In June, 1857, I took the following notes of a conversation I had with Mrs. Mary Brady Piatt, aged seventy-two, born in 1785: "My father was a brother of Sam Brady, the Indian fighter. I saw him once. He was then on a visit to my father's, at Sunbury. I went with them over to Northumberland. On the way over, my father asked Sam if he could jump as well as ever? He said he could not, but coming to a high fence in a few minutes, he sprung clear over it, with but little effort. 'I never could do that,' said my father. 'You could, if obliged to,' said Sam. Sam killed three Indians after peace was declared, and a reward of $300 was offered for his apprehension. Shortly after, he was sitting with a tavern-keeper, in West Virginia, when two strangers, Virginians, rode up, alighted, and asked for horse feed and dinner. They laid their pistols upon a table, near which sat Sam, rolling his rifle upon his knees. In the course of conversation with the land- lord, they found out that he knew Brady, and that he lived in that region, and was very popular. They told the landlord that they had come to arrest him, and if he gave them assistance, they would share the reward with him. The landlord said they could never take him, nor could any one take him alive. They declared they could. 'I am Sam Brady,' said the man at the table. They were startled. They looked at him for a minute, and, estimating his power, waived the attempt. After dinner, they went to the table to get their pistols. Brady said they could not have those pistols, nor could the landlord's entreaty or their threats prevail. 'Go back to your homes, and tell them Sam Brady took your pistols,' was all the answer he made. He afterwards gave their pistols to his sons. "After awhile he delivered himself up for trial at Pittsburgh. He 378 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1809. was defended by James Ross. Brady laid the scalps on the bar. 'There they are; I killed them.' A great many women attended this trial, or rather men in women's clothes, ready to rescue him, if convicted; but there was no occasion for their intervention." Mrs. Piatt, like her brother, the late William Perry Brady, remained a Federalist to the last. She said when Washington was burned, through the inefficiency of a granny President, her blood boiled, and she longed to go that she might shoot at least one British invader. 1809. OFFICIALS - RESIDENTS - ROAN'S JOURNAL - ELECTION RETURN - MARRIAGES AND DEATHS GOVERNOR, Simon Snyder. Surveyor General, Andrew Porter, appointed April 4, vice Samuel Cochran. Deputy Attorney General, E. G. Bradford, appointed January 19. Prothonotary, &c., Hugh Bellas, commissioned January 3. Register and Recorder, John Frick, commissioned January 3. Sheriff, Daniel Lebo, commissioned October 24. Coroner Joseph Lorentz, re-commissioned October 24. County Commissioner elect, Henry Masser. Justices commissioned: Penn's, Joseph Fuhrer, February 28; Mahantango, Michael Rathfon and Philip Burchart, the same day. Postmaster at Lewisburg, William Hayes. James Moore, senior, built the bridge at the mouth of Buffalo creek. Tobias Lehman's property divided. His children were Henry, Barbara, married to George Baily, Elizabeth, married to John Freedly, Margaret Spidler, Catherine, married to Daniel Nyhart, 1809.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 379 Mary, married to John Brown, Freedly took the mills and four acres; John Brown, one hundred and thirty-two acres one hundred and one perches; and Nyhart the tract next Derr's, fifty-five acres one hundred and twenty-six perches. Reverend John G. Heim became pastor of the Lutherans, at Dreisbach's church, where he remained until 1831. East Buffalo Additional Residents - Aurand, Abraham; Badger, Joseph, tailor; Boveard, Robert; Brown, Peter, stiller; Clinger, Adam; Gross, Mathias; Hauck, Andrew; Herbst, Henry; Jarman, Jacob; Johnston, John, colored; Knittle, Adam, shoe-maker; Shamp, Jesse; Sheckler, Martin, miller; Thompson, Samuel; Thompson, Moses; Updyke, Isaac; Wise, Henry, shoe-maker; Zeluff, David. Lewisburg - Baldwin, Doctor Ethan; Espy, John; Nyhart, Daniel; Smith, Robert. White Deer - Bellas, James; Davis, John, school-teacher; Landis, Jacob, shoe-maker; Smith, William Walker; Sypher, Jacob. West Buffalo - Anthony, Henry; Bergstresser, John; Bruner, John; Caldwell, William; Hayes, John; Keeply, John; Koons, Peter; Linn, Isaac; Yerger, John. Mifflinburg - Auple, Conrad; Haslet, John; Larabee, Widow; Manly, John; Millhouse, Nicholas; Smelker, Godfrey, tavern; Staple, Conrad; Wolf, Andrew; Young, Christian. Roan's Journal. 14th January. Scholars at Mr. Hood's had a public exhibition of their speaking abilities. Elder Brown, Honorable George Kremer, and others attended. Sunday 29th. Mr. Hood's text, John xiv: 6 v. Thirty-six sleds and sleighs at meeting. February 9. Roan, Sally, Becky, and Bob Clark, and John Eaker came and staid all night. Sunday, 12th. Saw a woman putting a hippen to her child during church. Read twenty-two chapters, verse about, to-night. 15th. Maclays and their connections spent the day at Clingan's. 16th. George and Davy Reznor went to Easton, with grain, in sleds. They returned on the 22d. 27th. Billy Clark, Uncle Giddy, Wilson's, &c., at Aunt Dale's, in all seventeen, for supper. Had two turkeys. 380 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1809. March 1. The young folks at Roan McClure's. Turkey for supper, and plenty of cider and apples. 3d. Debate at Mr. Hood's school-house. Question: "Is a lawyer a promoter of justice?" 12th, Sunday. No singing at meeting, as people cannot agree about the psalms and music. 13th. Black Grace free to-day, and left us. Seven Methodists dined at Clingan's to-day. 15th. Met Doctor Baldwin at Lewisburg to-day. He is a Democrat, full of ostentation. 18th. Mr. McClure's family, Richard Fruit and wife, Judge Wilson and wife, came to my school to-day to hear the boys speak. Wednesday, 22d. John Linn died last night. 23d. Went to John Linn's funeral. Stopped at Baldy's, and wrote a piece on his death for both papers at Northumberland. April 8. Saw a clergyman, a Congressman, six esquires, and a constable at Billy Poak's to-day. River very high. Congressman Smith bought a silk shawl at Kremer's for Betsey Smith. 18th. Planted the locusts at Clingan's; got them down at Billy Clark's. Eight ministers here, Mr. Wilson of Bellefonte, Mr. Bard, &c. 19th. Planted some Lombardys. Presbytery in session. 22d. At Northumberland; called at Seidel's, Jones', Taggart's, Priestly's, Welker's, Irwin's, Huston's, and Bonham's. Spent the evening at Reverend Isaac Grier's. He is a very friendly man. I heard Isaiah Linn was buried to-day. May 7th. Clingan came home from Lancaster. He had news of General Bright's trial, Snyder's ignorance, foreign decrees revoked. He brought the girls fashionable ear-rings. Tommy got fifty shad, at Hoffman's, sent down from Lawson's. 11th. Went to the review at Voneida's, [near Samuel Maclay's.] Five hundred and fifty men in line, and a great many spectators. Any number of studs. 13th. A good foot-way made over the creek, at my instigation. Got the slabs in Derrstown. Doctor Beyer and Dan Rees each gave a bottle of whisky. 17th. Jimmy Thompson building a barn on the Hafer place, for Clingan. 20th. Josiah Cander called, with proposals for an astronomical wheel. I called at Esquire Clark's, Captain Gray's; then went to Derrstown, at Rees', Hayes', Poak's, Black's, and Stillwell's. Saw crazy John Maclay at Metzgar's. I and Sam Awl went to look after him. Called at Baldy's, then at Captain Robinson's for shirting, and at Anderson's for lasts. 25th. John Cochran, [surveyor general,] wife, and two sons at Clingan's, 1809] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 381 with Mrs. Thompson. 29th. Violent storm last night; blew down trees, and took the roof off several barns and houses. 3d June. Went to Centre county, for balm of Gilead for Roan Clark, who is sick. Fed at Wilt's, [Narrows.] Aaronsburg, at three. Left with Evans Miles, and came to George Wood's. Had psalm singing, the old way, and prayer. He is a very religious man. 4th. Called at Kern's. Stopped at Benner's, (old fort.) Then to Ludwig Reily's, on Hasting's place, where I got some leaves and branches. Stopped at Barber's tavern, and back to Eaker's - twentyfour miles - a good Sabbath-day's journey. 5th. Left Aaronsburg with John Forster. At eleven fed at Wilt's, and at Youngman's at five. Stopped at Baldy's, with Holmes and Kimmell. 7th. Raising at Hafer's; sixty-eight feet by thirty wide, forty-two rounds high. There were seventy people there. Finished before night, and then had a sumptuous entertainment. 12th. Called to see General Baldy and lady, (married last night to Eve Metzgar.) 13th. Long John Maclay called. He is from Genessee. 20th. Anne Roan Laird here to-night, getting a dress for her name. 23d. William Patterson here from Lewistown. A social man and great talker. 28th. Called at Lawyer Hall's, with Billmyer. Dined at Lebo's, with Lawshe. Snyder lost his suit with Voneida. Judge Yeates called to-night. Asked me how I could live honest, and be single. July 1. Called at Grier's, Shannon's, and Irwin's. Sent a snuff- box to Mrs. Robert Lyon. Had business at Priestly's with Rees and Bonham. Met John Hayes at Jones'. 6th. Flavel bit by a snake. Indigo extracted the poison. 13th. Jacob Zerbe married to Miss Ferris. Mr. Hood called on the way home, and craddled all afternoon. He is very jocose, and good company. 22d. Went to Giddy Smith's, and read a play; then crossed the creek to Hudson's. [Cameron's place now.] 30th. Ensign Seeley and others, from Sunbury, at meeting to-day. Clingan came home by Derrstown, to attend christening of Graham's children. 31st. I am forty-nine years old to-day. August 1. Clingan had six hundred dozen on the Hafer place, one thousand at home, and not a quart of whisky drank in all haying and harvesting. 2d. James Dougal commenced at the Latin school. 3d. Fishing with Mr. Hood. 8th. Mrs. Nevius had a young son. 9th. Mr. Potter's son came to the Latin school at Mr. Hood's. 382 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1809. [W. W. Potter, Esquire.] 14th. Mr. Hood gave us Caul Kail pet, II Peter, i: 5, 6, 7. Commenced to rain as the sermon closed, and we were kept there two hours. 15th. Stahl had his barn burned with lightning, yesterday. Two horses killed. 16th. At Derrstown. Went with Cremer to Methodist meeting. Hamer squeezing Nancy McDonald behind the stove. Returned and slept with Kremer. 23d. Jamy Wilson hauled the stuff for the fence at my schoolhouse, and Cherry put it up. Sent Joseph Wallis for another bottle of whisky for him. 27th. Tommy and sister, James McClellan, Ruth Thompson, and others, went to church. At the river, men rode over and the women were ferried at Milton. Met a great company, and went on to Warrior Run. Mr. Bryson preached in the forenoon. Two hundred and thirty-seven communicants. Mr. Hood gave us C. K. p., II Peter, i: 5,6, and 7. Mr. Nesbit asked my advice about marrying. 30th. Referees sitting at Sunbury, on suit Snyder and Drum. Sat up until midnight, talking with Esquire Maus. 31st. Rode out to see John Cooke. Drank cider royal at Shriner's. Dined at Reverend Grier's. Gave Eliza a copy of an enigma. Carried widow Allison on behind me part of the way home. Took a drink at Lawshe's. September 2. Rode with McEwen to Alexander Griffey's, on electioneering business. Went over the Muncy hills with Umbrella Hayes, whom I met at Shannon's. Stopped at Frederick's, in Pennsboro'. Met with Mrs. Pott's son-in-law, Fiester, and carried him home with me on the horse, three miles. 3d. Went to Shoemaker's mills. Called on Robert Robb. He is eighty two; his wife, seventy. Went to Williamsport. Fed at Mrs. Moore's, then to Jaysburg, to Mrs. Dunlap's. Called to see John Davis and wife. She is a great Baptist. 4th. Went to James Stewart's, from that to Esquire Salmon's; then to Larry's creek, at John Thomas'; to Sherer's, at Jersey Shore. Called to see Lawshe, and then to Morrison's, at Pine creek. 5th. Drank tea at Boyd Smith's. Great ball at Wilson's. Judge Cooper and Mrs. deGruchy led off the dance. Doctor Baldwin and wife there. 21st. The Governor's carriage in Derrstown, with Fred Evans. They brought citizen Kremer home in great pomp. 30th. Called on D. Smith, Esquire. He promised to attend to my business, but got into company, and soon got past business. 1809.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 383 October 19. The Governor's son, Prince John of the Isle of Que, commenced school with me. 29th. Colonel Chamberlin's wife had a young son, his twenty-third. He is above seventy-three years, I believe. November 3. Clerked at Mrs. Hutchinson's vendue all day. Continued over until to-morrow. Went to bed with the cryer and Derrickson. Four ladies and a child slept in a bed in the same room. 7th. D. Reasoner married to Miss Hamil. 16th. Clerked at Lawshe's vendue. Spent a high old night. Four from Milton, three from Northumberland, and the sheriff full of mischief, not drunk. Markley cried the sale. 21st. Sunbury court. Peter Smith's wife fined one dollar for flogging Miss Adams. Esquire Youngman one cent for whipping Doctor Smith. 23d. At Shaffer's for breakfast this morning. Billy Covert and two other shoe-makers working at Clingan's. [By the custom of that day, shoe-makers and tailors went to the houses of their employers.] The shoe-makers made thirteen pairs shoes, at 4s. 6d. per pair. 30th. At Dale's. Met Colonel S. Dale on his way to the Assembly. [He was a son of Samuel Dale, deceased, and represented Mercer and Venango.] 2d December. Went with Roan Clark and James Forster's son, John, to Billy Forster's. Met Captain John Wilson there. Had eleven sorts of diet for supper. 5th. Got my shoes mended at Mr. Espy's, in Derrstown. A dose of salts at Doctor Beyers'. 10th. Mr. Hood's text, Ecclesiastes, xi: 19-20. 13th. I gave one Meloner a certificate that he was taken prisoner with me on shipboard. 17th. At Derrstown, heard Kremer tell of arresting Langs for passing counterfeit money at four taverns and two stores. 18th. Eight strangers at supper. 19th. George, Tommy Scott, and Allison went to Colond Kelly's. A quilting party there. Plenty of rye there. Mr. Allison, a spark of Betsey Kelly's. 25th. Christmas - very quiet. Met some Penn's valley folks, Billy Clark, and gentry, going to George's to spend the evening. 27th. Walter Clark called, and took George along to a kicking frolic". [Old settlers well know what that means.] 28th. Party at Mr. Hood's. McClures, Howards, &c., there. Two turkeys and twelve sorts of diet. 30th. At Milton. Called at D. Smith's, McKisson's, Donaldson's, McCann's, Calhoun's, on Hannah Rees. Dined at Doctor Dougal's, with Sam Hood. 31st. General Baldy's wife has a young son. 384 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1809. Marriages. January 4, Henry Grove with Hannah Leisenring, of Lewisburg, (by Henry Spyker, Esquire,) in presence of his three brothers, John, Samuel, and Frank, two sisters, Betsey and Sarah, &c. January 8, by same, Philip Frederick with Christena Brown, in presence of John Brown and wife, T. Sheckler and wife, Peter Brown and wife, Abraham Brown, George Frederick. April 11, by A. McLanachan, Esquire, John Vandyke to Miss Margaret Adams, both of White Deer. April 13, by same, John Ranck to Miss Nancy Luther. June 11, by Henry Spyker, Esquire, General Christopher Baldy with Eve Metzgar. June 28, by Henry Spyker, Esquire, Joseph Bower with Susanna Machamer. July 25, by Henry Spyker, Esquire, Lawrence Martin with Polly Juge. August 31, Robert Montgomery with Nancy Knox, in presence of her father, George Knox, her brother, James, and sister, Bell, (by Henry Spyker, Esquire.) On Tuesday, the 12th October, by the Reverend Mr. Deffenbaugh, Mr. John Sierer, aged sixty-five, to the amiable Miss Louisa McMillan, aged nineteen, both of Buffalo; and on Thursday, the 21st ultimo, by Esquire Hamilton, Mr. George Knox, of Derrstown, to Miss Jane McIlroy, near Pine Creek. Deaths. Tuesday, 21st March, in the fifty-seventh year of his age, John Linn, of White Deer township, of pleurisy, on the tenth day of his sickness. He was buried at Buffalo Cross-Roads, on the Thursday following. The funeral was attended by a large concourse of people. He was an inhabitant of this county upwards of thirty-six years, and twenty-one years an elder of Buffalo church, and principal clerk, conducting the music. He came into the Valley in 1772, and endured the hardships incident to the early settlement of the country, frequently sleeping on his cabin floor, with a bag of grain for a pillow, and his rifle by his side. During the year 1779, while off 1809.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 385 on a tour of service, his cabin was spoiled by the Indians. He was married by his brother, Reverend Doctor William Linn, to Ann Fleming, of Middleton township, near Carlisle. She was of the Fleming family, of Chester county. Her ancestor, William Fleming, came over before 1714, and settled in Caln township, in Chester county. From there, his descendants moved up to Cumberland and Northumberland counties. John Linn's children were: Susan, married to William Thompson, (son of Captain James,) in 1804, and shortly after removed to Venango county; Ann, married to Andrew McBeth, a son of John McBeth, of Aaronsburg, died at Greencastle, Indiana, October 1873, aged eighty-six; William Linn, who moved to Miami county, Ohio, died there, October 26, 1834. John Linn, married to Mary F., daughter of Colonel William Chamberlin. He resides at Mount Vernon, Ohio. Margaret Linn, married to Joseph McCalmont, of Venango county, died February 7, 1873. The late James F. Linn, Esquire, of Lewisburg, who died October 8, 1869, aged sixty-seven, and Jemima Linn, who died April 17, 1873. Doctor William Kent Lathy, of Northumberland, July 28. August 10, Mathew Huston, editor of Argus, aged fifty-one years. He was an officer in the Revolution, participated in the battles of White Plains, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, and Germantown. Afterwards representative of the county of Philadelphia, and was six times elected clerk of the House. Father of the late Mrs. Hannah Taggert, of Northumberland, and of Andrew C. Huston, Esquire. Albright Swineford died. His children were: Catherine Cummings, (wife of John, senior, and mother of John J.,) George, Michael, Peter, and Jacob.Adam Ranck, of White Deer. Children: Rachel, John, Daniel, Noah, Mary, and Adam. junior. Conrad Reedy, of Buffalo. Children: John and Jacob. John Beatty. October 22, Colonel John Clarke, aged seventy-three. He is buried in the Lewis grave-yard. His children were: Jane, wife of David Watson, (mother of John C., William, and David Watson;) Joseph Clarke, who had two children, William and Grace. October 6, Mary Hutchinson, of White Deer township, aged sixty- seven, thirty-six years a resident of the Valley. Children: Sarah, 386 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY [1810. wife of James Cornelius; Mrs. Elizabeth Criswell, (mother of James, of Lewisburg.) John Swineford. Children: John, Mary, married to Jacob Foltz; Margaret, with George Snyder; Susanna, with Jacob Fryer; Elizabeth, with John Smith; Catherine, with John Aurand; Jacob, and Albright. 1810. COUNTERFEITERS ARRESTED - LANGS' SUICIDE - DANIEL DOUDLE - ROAN'S JOURNAL - NOTICE OF NATHAN EVANS. SENATOR, James Laird. Representatives, John Murray, Jared Irwin, Leonard Rupert, Frederick Evans, elected in October. Treasurer, David Taggert. Commissioner elect, Joseph Gaston. Commissioners' Clerk, Nathan Patton. Postmaster at Mifflinburg, Thomas Youngman. Henry Yearick commissioned Justice of the Peace, June 4. Passing counterfeit money seems a very prevalent offense. Doctor Thomas Barrett, of Danville, convicted. George Langs and Jared Langs also. Barrett made his escape from jail at Sunbury. Sheriff Lebo was complained of for his negligence with prisoners. At April term (20th) George Langs received his sentence. He bowed to the court, and retired. The next morning his daughter called on him. He asked her to withdraw a little while, and about one hour afterwards he was found hanging on an iron bed, near the door of his room. He was convicted of passing a counterfeit $20 note upon John Sargent, of Lewisburg. Additional Residents East Buffalo - Bird, John and William; Brewer, Matthew; Brewer, Thomas; Clements, Michael; Gross, Jacob, carpenter; Hahn, Andrew ; Kreisher, Henry; Lilly, Peter; Slear, Charles; Zellers, George. 1809.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 387 Lewisburg - Bower, Joseph; Gordon, John B., dyer; Hutchinson, Alexander; McClure, Matthew; Pross, John. November 10, McQuhae and Hepburn opened a new store. New Berlin - Kessler, William; Shout, John; Sproul, James, merchant. While Deer - Caldwell, Daniel; Dieffenbach, Adam; Eyer, Daniel; Guyer, John; Haas, Peter; Huff, Thomas; McKisson, James, single; Reed, Robert. West Buffalo - Beidelman, Valentine; Bilman, Dewalt; Braucher, Christian; Deal, John, carpenter; Wright, John. Mifflinburg - Montelius, John. John Bergstresser bought Henry Snyder's mill on Rapid run. The latter probably died this year. Daniel Doudle. Daniel Doudle was an acquaintance of Governor Snyder in his boyhood, and in maturer years he would sometimes pay the Governor a visit, at Selinsgrove, and thus formed acquaintance with George Kremer. After George moved to Derrstown, and established himself in business and a bachelor's hall there, Daniel extended his visits thither, and became so much pleased that he resolved to forsake York altogether, and remain with George. Accordingly, he sent for his money, a considerable stock of dollars, and took up his abode in Derrstown. He and George agreed very well, for George humored him in all his whims, but he quarreled sadly with old Peggy Miller, the housekeeper. Sometimes he would come in a towering passion to George, with "Now, George, I can't live with the old devil any longer. Just send me off to Selinsgrove, to Simon, and he will send me to York." "Well, well," said George, "Roan (Clark) or John shall take you and your money in the cart to Selinsgrove as soon as you like." "Do you think," Daniel would reply, "I would trust myself with the damned rascals? They would murder me for my money before we got half way to Selinsgrove." Then an argument would commence on the honesty of Roan and John, which generally lasted until Daniel, in his rage against these two, had forgotten his wrath toward old Peggy. At length, Daniel fell into the hands of an old Methodist woman, who, by her exhortations, made considerable impression on him. After spending an evening at Mother 388 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1810. Grove's, Daniel came home with a face so solemn and important that the whole family noticed it, and, knowing where he had been, the clerks followed him on his retreat to bed, and peeped and listened at his door. Daniel locked his door, looked carefully around, undressed, (taking off his hat the last of all, as was his custom,) kneeled by the bedside, and commenced thus: "O, Lord God;" then ensued a long pause. Up rose Daniel, exclaiming "It is too damned cold to pray here!" and jumped into bed. Whether Daniel made another effort to pray is uncertain. He once acted godfather for one of his friend's children. The clergyman asked the name of the child. Daniel, understanding him to ask his name, promptly replied: "Daniel Doudle, to be sure. Don't you know me any more?" Daniel, at this time eighty years of age, usually dressed himself once a day in state, in a blue silk-velvet coat, white vest, ruffled shirt, brown silk-velvet small-clothes, and turned-up shoes, and paraded himself down to the river bank and back, to exhibit himself to the ladies. He lived to be one hundred and one or one hundred and two years of age, dying in August, 1828, at Mr. Kremer's, near Middleburg, where his bones rest with those of his friends, Frederick Evans and George Kremer. Certainly three more singular men were never so intimately associated in life and rest so close together in the solemn silence of death. Among other characters of this date, were Billy Nicholas, a car- penter of White Deer, and old Mr. Mook, the revolutionary soldier. Saturday was the usual day to assemble in Lewisburg, and getting pretty drunk, old Mook asserted he could "hex a bullet" at an hundred yards. Mook held a silver bullet in his hand and began powwowing. Billy shot from the porch of Metzgar's tavern, knocked the bullet out of Mook's finger, skinning the latter considerably, thus disabusing Mook's mind of the idea that he could "hex." Roan's Journal. January 23. T. Clingan had a water-smeller, to find where he should put the well on his place. Grand ball at Baldy's. Poaks and a number from Milton there. 24th. Rees' vendue at Derrstown. April 8. T. Clingan, Wilson Smith, and I went to Daniel Smith's 1810.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 389 funeral; eighteen chairs and carriages; one hundred and twenty on horseback. 14th. Planted two Lombardys at the school-house. Met Mr. Coryell at Poak's. He brought his family from Williamsport in a canoe. 17th. Review day. Seven hundred on parade at Derrstown. June 2. Hoffman sold his place to one Boal. 3d. At Chillisquaque grave-yard. Saw Dan Smith's grave. 4th. I dreamed Dan Smith came to life, and exhorted us to "remember our Creator in the days of our youth." Hail storm broke a great quantity of glass at Derrstown. 5th. George Clark left for the State of Ohio. 11th. John Clark died. 12th. Fair at Sunbury. 18th. General Baldy's flitting in town. Moving to Cayuga lake. 22d. Fast day. Clerked at the election of elders. 23d. Mr. Grier ordained four elders. July 3. Rode with Adam Smith to Centre county. Stopped at Wilt's and fed at Miles', at Aaronsburg. 4th. Met Esquire Woods, Barbers, and a great company at Gregg's. 5th. At Mrs. Van Horn's, a very fashionable old lady. Dined at James Potter's, with Doctor Dobbins. 6th. Saw the grave Nuby was stolen from. 27th. Fair at Derrstown. 29th. Buffalo creek higher than it has been for twenty years. Mr. Hood could not attend church. Hudson's surrounded. August 2d. Esquires Hall, Evans, Albright, and Maclay at an audit, in Derrstown. 9th. Black Judy came to wash. 24th. Met John Hayes and his brother, Patrick, at Esquire Gray's. 31st. Thirty bills for bastardy before the grand jury. September 6th. Robert Boveard married to Hugh Wilson's daughter, the amiable Miss Peggy. October 4th. Mr. Priestly got Clingan's carriage to carry his family to Philadelphia, on their way to England. 9th. Clerked at the election, at Derrstown. One hundred and forty-eight votes polled. George Smith candidate for Congress; no opposition. James Laird vs. McKinney for Senate; Laird elected. Candidates for Assembly, John Murray, Fred Evans, Jarad Irwin, Leonard Rupert, D. Montgomery, and Samuel Maclay. Commissioners, George Holstein and Flavel Roan. 13th. I have seven hundred and eighty-six majority for commissioner. 14th. Hugh McLaughlin's wife buried. 16th. Battalion at Derrstown. Sergeant and James Patterson had a box. Great dinner at Billmyer's. 390 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1810. November 11th. Esquire Harding here, on his way from Luzerne county to Kentucky. His horse got lame; they killed a cat and put it to his foot. December 3d. Doctor Dougal dissected black Tom, and made an anatomy of him. 18th. Went to Esquire Gray's to see Samuel Hutchinson married to Jenny Wallace. Groom did not come. I went up to Hoffman's to see what was the matter. He could not cross for ice. Came down in a sleigh to Nesbit's, and crossed there. Marriages. March 13, Moses Bower with Catherine Moyer, daughter of Philip, In presence of her brother, Peter, John Fulmer and wife. March 15, Joel Ranck with Sarah Long, daughter of Joseph, in presence of his father, John Ranck. May 27, George Bower with Polly Smith, daughter of Michael, deceased. August 26, Sunday, Anthony Selin, of Selinsgrove, to Miss Catherine Yoner, of Sunbury. Same day, Conrad Weiser to Elizabeth Snyder, both of Penn township. October 7. Philip Stahl with Susanna Spotz. October 9, William Highland with Mary Gann, widow of Christian. November 11, Michael Meyer with Sarah Kelley. December 13, by Reverend T. Hood, Washington Dunn, of Lycoming county, to Miss Betsy Musser, of White Deer. December 18, by Reverend Mr. Patterson, Samuel Hutchinson, of Derry, to Mrs. Jenny Wallace, daughter of Captain William Gray, White Deer. Deaths. April 6, at his seat, at Milton, aged forty-five, Daniel Smith, Esquire, attorney-at-law. Left a widow, Cassandra. Children: Samuel, Jasper, and Grace. He was buried at Chillisquaque graveyard. July 7, Alexander Hunter, former treasurer of the county. Joseph J. Wallis, deputy surveyor. Peter Getz, East Buffalo. July 4, John Weirick. Children: William, Sarah, and John. October 15;. Albright Swineford, born February 16, 1728. Henry Myers, West Buffalo. Children: Henry, Daniel, Valentine, William, John, Elizabeth, wife of Royer, Mary, and Eve Maria. Joseph Ultz, West Buffalo. November __, Thomas Forster, of West Buffalo. Left 1811.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 391 widow, Jane. Children: John, William, Thomas, Mary, and Elizabeth Jane. Nathan Evans died this year, and his widow removed to Bucks county with his family. He was an active christian, and he and his wife were Baptists. He was in the habit of preaching at Baptist meetings, although not a clergyman. His granddaughter, Mrs. Professor C. S. James, of Lewisburg, has in her possession many abstracts of his sermons, preached in the Valley. 1811. HARTLEY TOWNSHIP ERECTED - PRESBYTERY OF NORTHUMBERLAND FORMED - IMPEACHMENT OF JUDGE COOPER - REVEREND YOST HENRY FRIES - DEATH OF HONORABLE SAMUEL MACLAY, AND NOTICE OF HIS FAMILY. MEMBER of Congress, George Smith. Senator, James Laird. Members elected in October, Samuel Bond, Jared Irwin, Andrew McClenachan, and Frederick Evans. President Judge, Seth Chapman, commissioned July 11. Register and Recorder, John L. Finney, commissioned April 3. County Commissioner elect, Flavel Roan. April sessions, Robert Barber, John Wilson, and Peter Fisher reported favorably to the erection of a new township, to be called Hartley, by the following boundaries: Beginning on the line between West Buffalo and Washington townships; thence along the same to the four-mile tree, on Reuben Haines' road, on the line of Centre county; thence south along said line, across Penn's creek, to the top of Jack's mountain; thence along the summit, to a point south of where Adam Laughlin formerly lived; thence north across Penn's creek, and by a line of marked trees, to the beginning. By a resolution of the Synod of Philadelphia, May i6, the Presbytery of Northumberland was set off from that of Huntingdon by 392 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1811. the following line: Beginning at the mouth of Mahantango creek, a north-west course to the west branch of the Centre and Lycoming county lines, leaving eastward Reverends Asa Dunham, John Bryson, Isaac Grier, John B. Patterson, Thomas Hood, and their respective charges, and the vacant charges of Great Island, Pine Creek, and Lycoming. Additional Residents of West Buffalo - Aikey, Lewis; Beaucher, Jacob; Orwig, Jacob; Schnure, Christian; John Bergstresser, taxed with oil and fulling-mills. Mifflinburg - Clark, Roan, merchant; Wallis, Doctor Thomas. White Deer - Boal, John; Covert, Isaac, ferry at Caldwell's; Davis, Stephen, miller at Dan Caldwell's; DeHaven, Jacob, shoemaker, on Roan McClure's place; Heitzman, Jacob; Leiser, Jacob; Mervine, Samuel, brick maker; Sypher, Peter; William, Thomas. Additional Residents in East Buffalo - Albertson, John, Jenkins' place; Betz, John; Beaver, Peter; Brown, Abraham; Dieffenbach, John Hafer, Michael, at Hugh Wilson's; Hamilton, Francis Hentzleman, George; Highlands, William; Howard, George; Kreechbaum, Peter, junior; Kremer, Charles; Leiby, Jacob; Lytle, Samuel; McCrea, Robert, shoe-maker; McDonnel, John, weaver at Jenkins'; McFadden, John, tailor; Newman, Michael; Newman, John; Phillips, George; Shannon, Joseph; Shirtz, William, weaver; Smalley, Abraham. Lewisburg - Collins, Joseph, tailor; Donaldson, Robert; Evans & Kremer, store; Kemerer, Charles, tailor; Langs, Widow; McQuhae, William; Miller, Andrew; Wilson, William, store-keeper. New Berlin - Charleton, James; Dennis, Jacob, blacksmith; Dennis, John, junior, cordwainer; Hubler, Abraham, weaver; Yost, Casper. Improvements - Daniel Clarke, tan-yard in White Deer. Domestic Incidents. Uriah Silsby commenced singing schools in the Valley. January 16. An article appears in the Argus in favor of the division of the county. The distance the people have to travel, the expense of ferriage over the river, then an appeal to the pocket on account of the expense of ornamenting the town of Sunbury. Appropriation for a fire engine there. An appropriation that was 1811.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 393 urged for the building of fire-proof buildings for the records. This was the entering wedge of the erection of Union county. In the succeeding paper was a strong argument, founded on increase of the value of property in the new county. Nearer market for purchase. Facility of reaching the county seat. Saving of expense of court trials. From Diary of James McClellan, Esquire. April 9. Had my house and barn consumed by fire. Lost grain, meat, and everything but a little flour. Happened between ten and eleven, A. M. Received the same evening, of John Rangler, two loaves of bread, a shoulder, potatoes, cabbage, &c. James Thompson, a bag of corn and hay; Joshua Ewing, bag of corn, &c. Next day, of William Irwin, Esquire, bag corn, two bushels wheat, load of hay. Matthew Irwin, dry peaches, wheat, &c. William Clingan, wheat and rye, and other articles from John Frantz, Jacob Reedy, Jacob Dunkle, Martin Dreisbach, Jacob Hinely, John Stahl, John Kelly, William Dunkle, Samuel Templeton, Mrs. Linn, Samuel Sterret, John Baker, Jacob Baber, David Watson, Peter Dunkle, John Kaufman, Thomas Howard, Hugh Wilson, William Hayes, James Magee. Reverend Isaac Grier, Academy at North- umberland, the educational point. Latin and Greek languages taught for $24 per annum. The Impeachment of Judge Cooper. The first charge against him was fining persons and immuring then in prison for whispering in court. Cooper's reply was, one Hollister, a constable, was merely given in custody of the sheriff one hour, until the disposal of a case, and then fined $2. This was at Wilkesbarre, in 1807. Second charge. Imprisoning a respectable citizen for wearing a hat, in conformity with a religious habit. Cooper replies that he did not recollect the circumstances exactly, and presented the affidavit of Doctor James Dougal, who says he was present in court, and on account of the confusion and deafening noise there was formerly in court, he recollected the circumstances vividly. John Hanna was standing close to the bar, with his hat on. A young 394 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1811. looking man stood behind him, with his hat on also. Judge Cooper arose and said: I will thank you, Mr. Hanna, to tell that young man to take his hat off. The young man walked away. Judge Cooper waited a little while, and then said to Mr. Hanna: I will thank you to pull off your own. Hanna made no reply. The judge repeated the request. Hanna replied in a coarse, low voice, which I could not hear distinctly, but I thought he said, if you want it off, take it off yourself. The judge then said, this is not a worshiping assembly, nor a play-house, nor a dance-house. Is a court of justice entitled to less respect than any of these places? And then requested him again. On Hanna making the same reply, I believe, as above, the judge said: Sheriff, take this man to jail. The sheriff took Mr. Hanna by the hand and they both walked off. Judge Cooper then states that Hanna lived at Northumberland, and was an old neighbor. He had never heard or suspected that he had any scruples on the point; that he asked him when he came to fine him, whether he was a Quaker, and he said not; then whether he had any religious scruples on the subject, he said yes. I then said, if he had said so, that would have been sufficient to entitle him to keep his hat on.* Third charge. After sentencing a felon, calling him from prison, and pronouncing a second sentence, increasing the penalty. This referred to the case of young Gough, a horse-thief, convicted at Wilkesbarre. The court sentenced him to twelve months, he having plead guilty. The next morning, Judges Hollenbach and Fell informed Judge Cooper they had understood he was an old offender. I gave it as my opinion, says Judge Cooper, that during the sessions, the judgments were in the power of the court, and subject to revisal. He was re-sentenced to three years. Fourth charge. That he has decided important causes in which *It is not many years since the courts in Clearfield county were also hard to keep in hand. The folks stood around, as Judge G. W. Woodward said, like people in an auction-room. When the Honorable James Burnside held his first court there, the people crowded in among the lawyers, and in front of the bench. An indictment was brought against one Pennington. The judge called out: "Is Pennington in court?" A stalwart man standing in front of the crowd, said: "Jedge, you better call out the whole damn grist of the Penningtons." The judge put on a severe look, and commenced a lecture to the man for disturbing the court. After he proceeded awhile, the man said "Hush up, jedge. you are making a damned sight more disturbance than I did." 1811.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 395 he was interested. Judge Cooper's contradiction is too long for in- sertion. Fifth. Setting aside the verdict of the jury in an intemperate and passionate manner. In the case of Albright and Cowden, Judge Cooper and his associates, Wilson and Macpherson, agreed in opinion. Judge General Montgomery differed. Judge Cooper charged the jury, and General Montgomery also, and the jury went with the latter. The verdict was set aside by Judge Cooper. The latter denied intemperance of language. Sixth. Browbeating counsel and witnesses. Judge Cooper admits reprimanding members of the bar, for unprofessional conduct, in managing a cause; for making statements not supported; for persevering in objections, after the court had decided; for want of silence, and keeping order; but denied anything further contained in the charge. Seventh. That he appeared armed. Judge Cooper says he never carried arms but once, and then on the road from Northumberland to Williamsport, as he had been warned that he would be attacked. After calling the jury at Williamsport, Judge Cooper went off the bench, and made information against the party who had threatened him. The party, a professional gentleman in the neighborhood, of good character, came forward, and, finding himself mistaken, the complaint was dropped. Eighth charge. That he refused to hear persons in their own defense. This denied in toto. Ninth. That he had issued a proclamation against horse-racing, and then ordered a suppression of the proclamation. Judge Cooper says: This is true. Some of my friends, engaged in the said horse-race, applied to me, and stated that horses were expected from Philadelphia; that the county was generally notified, and that there would be a great assemblage of people; that the tavern-keepers had made expensive preparations, and that it was too late to put a stop to the meeting. They said if I insisted in my opposition to the race, they would submit to the law; but this should be the last race, and they would be individually responsible for keeping order, suppressing gambling, riot, &c. This was acceded to, and there has been no horse-racing since in Sunbury or in the county, that I know of. Tenth charge. Fining and imprisoning a constable for neglecting 396 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1811. to execute a process issued contrary to the Constitution and laws. This referred to the case of Conner, who so misused the warrant Judge Cooper had issued for arresting Jacob Langs, a counterfeiter, that the latter escaped. Judge William Montgomery, of Danville, although he frequently differed with Judge Cooper, came out in a strong affidavit, in which he said Judge Cooper was a good lawyer, earnest in preparing public business, prompt in his decisions, and dear of partialities, and that he had, with manly firmness, opposed further and unnecessary litigation, and disposed of the charges as far as they referred to Judge Cooper's practice in Northumberland county. The committee to investigate the charges met on the 7th of March, (at Lancaster.) John B. Gibson, Samuel Dale, and Jared Irwin were of the committee. Mr. Duncan, of Carlisle, appeared for Judge Cooper; Mr. Greenough, for the petitioners. Jared Irwin complained to the committee that Daniel Levy, Esquire, was interfering outside in favor of Judge Cooper; whereupon, Mr. Duncan disclaimed having any connection with Mr. Levy, and added, that it was this young man's folly that caused Judge Cooper to be here. After an examination of Charles Hall, Esquire, Frederick Evans, and many other witnesses, the committee reported that the Judge's conduct had been arbitrary, unjust, and precipitate, and in favor of an address to the Governor for his removal. More than two thirds of the Legislature voted for his removal," says the Argus, of April 3. The witnesses called on his side were Doctor Dougal, Joseph Priestly, George Kremer, Colonel D. Montgomery, Charles Hegins, John Cowden, E. G. Bradford, &c. "Judge Cooper spoke four and a half hours, in a very eloquent and impressive manner." - Ibid. In the Argus of the 17th, the testimony of the witnesses is printed in full. Judge William Wilson (of Chillisquaque) says: "The court was very disorderly before Judge Cooper's time. I have seen Judge Rush leave the bench. It is now very orderly. Judge Cooper cannot see very well. John Dreisbach, of Mifflinburg, was one of the parties Judge Cooper fined for talking to a witness. Dreisbach said he was merely telling the witness that court had adjourned, as the man was hard of hearing. Esquire Youngman came forward to speak in my favor, and the judge told him he would fine him a dollar if he did not keep still." The courts in May were held by 1811.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 397 Judges Wilson, Montgomery, and Macpherson. A queer rule was adopted: "No bills on the return of a constable, unless at the request of the mother of the child, or the overseers of the poor, or by special direction of the court, should be returned." September 17, convention met at Derrstown, and made the following nominations: Simon Snyder for Governor; Jared Irwin, Frederick Evans, Samuel Bond, and Andrew McClenachan for members: Commissioner, Henry Vanderslice; Auditors, Hugh Wilson, (ridge,) Charles Gale, and Andrew Albright. The election returns gave Simon Snyder all the votes, except twelve, polled in Buffalo for Jacob Bumberger. Bond, Irwin, McClenachan, and F. Evans were elected to the Assembly, with Henry Vanderslice for county commissioner. Auditors as above. Argus, of November 13, says: "William Hayes, of Derrstown, raised five pumpkins on one vine, largest weighing one hundred and sixty pounds; least, fifty-four pounds." Roan's Journal. February 1. Judge Cooper a good deal annoyed about the petitions to remove him. 2d. Stopped at Irely's, (Winfield.) 4th. Scurrilous poetry circulating among the neighbors about last halloween night. [The family feuds in the Valley may be traced to this practice. It will be all understood by the old residents.] Entry of the 7th. James Dale and James McClure had a bout at Derrstown about halloween night stories. 14th. Mr. Barber married to Polly Vanvalzah. 19th. Thomas Proctor and Polly Musser married. March 5. At Jimmy Wilson's: three Moores, of Lycoming, two Van- valzahs, Bob Fruit and Nancy, two of the Nevius girls, and Polly Darragh, at the spinning. March 8. Tailor McFadden working at Clingan's. James McClellan had his house and barn burned. 13th. R. Mc_____ and Aaron C____ would have fought at Rees' tonight, but Long John Maclay prevented them. All about halloween night. 20th. Concert of the singing-school at Derrstown. Eat cakes and drank cider with a number of young ladies and gentlemen at Granny Phillips'. 29th. Firing of cannon and rejoicing at Northumberland, on account of the removal of Judge Cooper. April 5. Citizen Kremer has lost popularity by taking Judge Cooper's part. 398 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1811. May 18. Great horse-race at Derrstown. August 19. The new Judge, Chapman, took his seat. September 8. A blazing star, like a comet, appeared in the north for some time. 17th. Nominating convention met at Derrstown. McLanachan put on the legislative ticket, with Evans. 18th. Comet still visible, going around the north star like the pointers in the bear. 19th. Quilting at Mr. Laird's. Thirty ladies there. Hayes says Fred Evans is a Burrite. 29th. Graham had a child baptized Caroline. October 8. Election at Derrstown. Two hundred and forty-six votes polled. People pretty quiet. 15th. William McQuhae married to John Cowden's daughter. 22d. Review at Derrstown. Fiddles going all day at the tavern. 26th. John Musser, with Thomas, at Philadelphia. He had a horse stolen there. It takes two weeks to make the trip. November 9. Called at Giddy Smith's, to get signers to the petition for a new county. Giddy says there are too many Federalists on the petition. 11th. Esquire Vincent, Esquire Brown, and Mr. Iredell here on a road view. They are very jocose, sociable, and funny men. December 11. James Clark took Flavel home with him to a kicking frolic. 17. T. Woodside here, surveying Mr. Lyons' land sold to Frantz. Governor Snyder's message, of December 3, is worthy of remark, as containing an emphatic protest against slavery, and also a strong recommendation of the canal system. That noted divine, Yost Henry Fries, now enters the Valley, and his wide-spread influence takes its start. The Reformed congregations had become vacant, by the resignation of the Reverend Jacob Dieffenbach, in 1810, and Mr. Fries was induced to make a visit to Buffalo Valley from his congregation in York county. He was born in Westphalia, town of Gusterhain, 24th April, 1777. He landed in Baltimore, 20th August, 1803. From early childhood he had a strong inclination to the ministry, and, being poor, saw little hope of entering the ministry at home, where so many strict formalities were observed. He could not pay his passage, and was forced to become a "redemptioner;" that is, he was bound to serve out a certain length of time, generally three years, for the benefit of the man 1811.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 399 who paid his passage. When a ship arrived, farmers and others, needing laborers, would go to the port, and buy the time for which they were to serve from the captain. Mr. Fries had his certificate of church membership, and also a recommendation to a wealthy man named Hinckel, at Philadelphia. It seems he never presented the latter, as Doctor Harbaugh found it among his papers, long preserved after his death by a daughter, near Mifflinburg. Mr. Fries fell into the hands of a kind German farmer, in York county. He was honest, industrious, and trusty, and soon won the full confidence of his employer. He was fond of improving his mind in spare hours, and his desire to he a minister stirred him strongly. He spoke in small assemblies, when he got the opportunity. There was, however, nothing fanatical about him, yet he went so far once as to preach a sermon, in a school-house, on the words, "Much study is a weariness to the flesh," Ecclesiastes, xii: I. A singular text certainly to begin with. He commenced his preparatory studies with Reverend Daniel Wagner, in Frederick, Maryland, April 3, 1809, and, after being with him a year, was licensed at Harrisburg, and on the 20th of June, 1810, took charge of eight congregations in York county. In June, 1811, he came up on a visit to Buffalo Valley, and on the 22d preached in the Dreisbach church, on Acts, v: 31; on the 23d in Mifflinburg, Acts, xxvi: 28; in the afternoon of the same day, at New Berlin, on II Peter, i: 19, and in the evening again at Mifflinburg, on I Corinthians, xvi: 13. In October, 1811, he made a second visit to Buffalo Valley, from 17th to the 24th. He preached at Anspach's school-house, Dieffenbach's, White Deer school-house, Dreisbach church, Mifflinburg, New Berlin, Aaronsburg, and in Brush valley, and on the 28th was home again in his charge. A strong effort was now made by the churches in Buffalo Valley and neighborhood to secure his services. - Harbaugh. The first meeting of the Northumberland Presbytery was held in the Presbyterian church of Northumberland, on the first Tuesday of October. Reverend Asa Dunning opened it with a sermon from Ephesians, ii: 14. The members composing it were Reverends Dunham, Bryson, Grier, Patterson, and Hood, with Elders James Sheddan, James Hepburn, William Montgomery, and Thomas Howard. 400 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1811. Marriages. Evan Rice Evans was married, last Thursday evening, to Mrs. Forrest. She was a widow of five months. (Roan's Diary, 12th January.) September 8, Elijah Updike to Elizabeth Snook, daughter of Martin. Witnesses: John Brown, (miller,) Peter Snook, Sarah Smith. October 7, William Davis to Catherine Derr, daughter of George Derr. December 25, by Reverend Slater Clay, Samuel Hepburn, Esquire, to Miss Ann Clay, of Montgomery county. December 26, John Cochran, junior, with Anna M., daughter of Adam Grove. James Kelly, George Kremer, John and Sarah Montgomery, and Catharine Gordon. Deaths. George Holstein, of Penn's, father of George, of Lewisburg. Joseph Evans, Lewisburg. Evan Rice Evans, Esquire, in December. Henry Myer, of West Buffalo, left wife, Elizabeth. Children: Henry, Daniel, Valentine, William, John, Elizabeth, Margaret, Eve, and Maria. Daniel took his land at the appraisement, and in 1813 sold it to William Forster. William Douglass, West Buffalo. John, James, Elizabeth. George Cramer, (of now Union.) Children: Matthew, Howard, Chatam. Jacob Albright, Beaver. Children: Rachel, married to James Moore; Stephen, Peter, Jacob, Juliana, Catherine. February 23, Mrs. Mary Bull, wife of General John Bull, of Northumberland, in her eightieth year. She was buried in the Quaker grave-yard. Previous to the grave being closed, General Bull, although much reduced by sickness and old age, addressed the audience as follows: "The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord. May we, who are soon to follow her, be as well prepared as she was." At Sunbury, on Sunday, March 11, John Frick, Esquire, Register and Recorder, aged fifty-one. Left widow and eleven children. 1811.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 401 Honorable Samuel Maclay Died at his residence, in Buffalo Valley, October 5, 1811. He was born June 17, 1741, in Lurgan township, Franklin county. Of his early education I can learn nothing. His field-note books, as assistant deputy surveyor to William Maclay, in 1767 and 1768, are before me, and indicate a cultivated hand. He next appears in 1769, as assistant to his brother on the surveys of the officers' tract, in Buffalo Valley. He surveyed largely in what is now Mifflin county, and took up a good deal of land there. R. P. Maclay, his son, still living, related an anecdote which he had from the late Judge Brown, of Mifflin county, which is worth transcribing. He said: "I was wandering out in the Valley, in search of good locations. I was traveling, looking about on the rising ground for a bear, I had started, when I came suddenly upon the Big spring. [This spring is four miles west from Reedsville, in the rear of a blacksmith shop. Still called Logan's spring.] Being thirsty, I set my rifle against a bush, and rushing down the bank, laid down to drink. Upon putting my head down, I saw reflected in the water, on the opposite side, the shadow of a tall Indian. I sprang to my rifle, when the Indian gave a yell - whether for peace or war, I was not, just then, sufficiently master of my faculties to tell; but upon my seizing my rifle and facing him, he knocked up the pan of his gun, threw out the priming, and extended his open hand toward me in token of friendship. After putting down our guns, we again met at the spring and shook hands. This was Logan, the best specimen of humanity I ever met with, either white or red. He could speak a little English, and told me there was another white hunter a little way down the stream, and offered to guide me to his camp. There I first met Samuel Maclay. We remained together in the Valley for a week, looking for springs and selecting lands, and laid the foundation of a friendship which never has had the slightest interruption. "We visited Logan at the camp, at Logan's spring, and he and Mr. Maclay shot at a mark for a dollar a shot. Logan lost four or five rounds, and acknowledged himself beaten. When we were about to leave him, he went into his hut and brought out as many deer skins as he had lost dollars, and handed them to Mr. Maclay, who refused to take them, alleging that we had been his guests, and did 402 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1811. not come to rob him; that the shooting had been only a trial of skill, and the bet merely nominal. Logan drew himself up with great dignity, and said: 'Me bet to make you shoot your best; me gentleman, and me take your dollar if me beat.' So he was obliged to take the skins, or affront our friend, whose nice sense of honor would not permit him to receive a horn of powder in return, even." Mr. Maclay was lieutenant colonel of a battalion of associators, and as such, delegate with McLanachan, Geddes, and Brady, to the convention at Lancaster, July 4, 1776, which elected two brigadiers and organized the associators, the then militia of the State. In 1792, he was appointed one of the associate judges of the county, and resigned December 17, 1795. In October, 1794, he was a candidate for Congress, and carried the county by eleven hundred majority; vote only two thousand eight hundred and fifty. In Buffalo, he had four hundred and sixty-four, to fourteen for his opponent, John Andre Hanna. Served for the year 1795-96. On the 2d of December, 1801, Mr. Maclay was elected Speaker of thc Senate, and re-elected December 7, 1802. On the 14th, he was elected United States Senator, and, being Speaker, had to sign his own certificate. In January, 1803, he presided at the impeachment trial of Judge Addison, and continued acting as Speaker (against the protest of the opposition, however, after March 3) until March 16, when he resigned that position, and, on the 2d of September, his position as State Senator. He resigned his seat in the United States Senate on the 4th of January, 1809. Mr. Maclay was very popular in his manners, a good scholar, and efficient writer. He had an extensive library, containing many val- uable books. He was always of the people and for the people, plain and simple in his manner, disliking ostentation. On one occa- sion he brought a handsome coach home from Lancaster, and the family took it to Buffalo church the next Sabbath. Mr. Maclay noticed the impression, and that coach never left the carriage-house afterward; it rotted down where it was left that Sunday evening. He stopped once at thc late Hugh Wilson's about tea time. They had mush only, and Mrs. Wilson commenced getting something better, as she thought. "No," said he, "mush is good enough for 1811.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 4O3 a king's dinner." He was a large man, resembling Henry Clay very much, though much stouter in his latter years. Honorable Martin Dreisbach, who still recollects him well, says his return home was always indicated by the hogs being driven out of the fields, the repairing of the fences, and general activity over the whole place. He was a good mechanic also, and often amused himself working in the blacksmith shop. His servant, Titus, was a character. His hair was white as the snow; always dressed in a ruffled shirt. He walked with a long staff, and on public days he came out in a many-colored coat, looking like the king of Africa. He lectured the boys somewhat after this style: "Massa Dave a damn fool; he no shoot a pheasant, he no shoot a coo; cuss a damn fool; he go into the meadow and shoot a blackbo, (bird.) Mr. Maclay's wife was Elizabeth Plunket, an account of whose family appears ante year 1791. Their children were: 1. William Plunket Maclay, born in Buffalo Valley, 23d August, Married, in 1802, to Sally Brown, daughter of Judge William Brown, of Mifflin county, and was, therefore, brother-in-law to General James Potter, second, and John Norris, many years cashier of the old bank at Bellefonte. Mrs. Maclay died in 1810, leaving three sons, Doctor Samuel, of Milroy, William P., and Charles J., and in 1812, William P. married Jane Holmes, of Carlisle, who died in 1844, leaving four sons, Holmes, David, Robert P., and Joseph H. William P. Maclay died in Milroy, September 2, 1842. 2. Charles Maclay (John Binns' second in his duel with Sam Stewart) died, unmarried, while on a visit in Wayne county, New York, aged twenty-eight. 3. John Maclay, register and recorder of Union county, also prothonotary for two terms. Married to Annie Dale, daughter of Honorable Samuel Dale, and sister of the late James Dale, Esquire, of Buffalo township. In 1833, John moved to Vandalia, Illinois, and soon after died, leaving two sons and two daughters, Charles, William P., Elizabeth, (afterwards Mrs. Armstrong,) Anne, all since deceased. His eldest son, Samuel, died in Buffalo Valley. 4. Samuel Maclay, married first to Margaret and afterwards to Elizabeth, daughters of Reverend James Johnston, of Mifflin county. Samuel died February 17, 1836, leaving seven sons and three daugh- 404 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1811. ters, of whom only three are living, Robert P., in Louisiana, and Elizabeth and Jane, in Galesburg, Illinois. 5. David Maclay, married to Isabella, daughter of Galbraith Patterson, Esquire, died in 1818, leaving no issue. David was a ripe scholar, and would have made his mark in public life, if his health had not failed. His widow married Honorable A. L. Hayes, late and for many years associate law judge of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. 6. Robert Plunket Maclay, born in April, 1799. Senator from Union, in 1842. Still living in Kishacoquillas valley, Mifflin county. His wife was a Lashells, of Union county. Samuel Maclay's daughters were: 1. Eleanor, the eldest, married to her cousin, David Maclay, of Franklin county, Pennsylvania. Herself and children dead. 2. Hester, who accompained Charles to Wayne county, New York, and died there about the same time. 3. Jane E., married to Doctor Joseph Henderson, died without issue, January, 1848. Doctor Henderson was a captain in the war of 1812, and in Congress four years, during General Jackson's administration. He was a brother-in-law of Reverend James Linn, D. D., of Bellefonte, now deceased. Mr. Maclay is buried on the farm now owned by Joseph Green. The brick wall inclosing the grave is within sight from the turnpike, after passing the New Berlin road. It is immediately in front of his old stone mansion. How few now know that within it rest the remains of one of Pennsylvania's ablest statesmen. The disjecta membra of a fine monument, intended to be placed at the head of his grave, still lie in one corner of the inclosure, as they were unloaded forty years ago. [End of page 404.]