A HI STORI CAL ACCOUNT

THE POCONO REGI ON "

PENNSYLVANI A

By HENRY PLEASANTS

' f he Histor o Old S t David s Chur h r Au hor o T . c Radno t y f . . l E The H istory of The Old Eagle S choo . tc.

I LL US TRA TED

IPE HLJUDEI Jfli LA WI NSTON WMPANY THE JOHN C . 19 13

I .

the rapture of the summer

Has set the pulse athrill, ’ And dreams are long of the veery s song

‘ Tis then the listening spirit

r Hea s quiet waters flow. And turns its feet from the breathless street To the shores of Pocono .

n at At Poco o, Pocono, ’ a a r The b ls m s b eath is sweet. The pines are calling down the wind To hasten tardy feet ;

The birches drip their gold ’ And a o er r the e gle keeps, the fo est deeps, f d His vigil. as o ol .

11.

are When the woods full of shadows. And firefly lanterns shine ; ’ When the sun s last gleam greets the far beam ’ O er the starlit zenith line ' Tis then the happy voices

Are a d fr c lling to an o,

r As the owers hail the sunset trail,

On the lake at Pocono . I 5 ] The P o c o n o R e g i o n

At Pocono. at Pocono. ’ r The balsam s b eath is sweet. The pines are calling down the wind To hasten tardy feet ; The hemlocks breathe their secrets The birches drip their gold ;

- t e And camp fires claim, with ongu s of l d. Their votaries. as of o

111.

When the heart has lost its quiet

Mid the tumult of the throng, And burdens press in the anxious stress Of the endless strife with wrong ' Tis then through the restless spirit

r The healing memo ies flow,

in r a Of the silent psalm, the vespe c lm ,

Of the grove at Pocono .

At Pocono. at Pocono. ' The balsam s breath is sweet. The pines are calling down the wind To hasten tardy feet : The hemlocks breathe their secrets The b it ches drip their gold

in n And the hermit thrush. the eve ing

d. ls chanting, as of ol

Agnes L. Tierney.

I6 ] PREFATORY.

OTWITHSTANDING the early settlements in North

N r r ar n a and r n an of the St oudsbu g, C bo d le othe poi ts , m y contiguous mountain tracts were covered with the mag nificent r r n a r f Wr p imeval fo est u til fte the close o the Civil a . For a decade or more after that period they were the scene of m the al ost incredible hardships and activities of lumber camps. and these were so generally conducted with extravagance and wastefulness that in their wake appeared miles of waste and barren

r territo y. swept from time to time by awful fires and followed by yet

r n o more ter ible sce es f desolation.

r Within the last two decades, howeve (mainly since the begin ning of the twentieth century), that part of this section of the “ " n n state k own as the Poco o Plateau in Monroe County, in con

i r a sequence of ts accessibility, of the pu ity of its atmosphere nd

r l fo d r pe haps above al r the peace an rest it offers , has become att ae tive not only to invalids, convalescents and refugees from social

n and busi ess cares, but to students of Nature and other exalted “ ” o r subjects as well as t aspi an ts aft er the simple life . It presents indeed many of the climatic conditions and some of the rugged scenery which characterize the celebrated Engadine

n n Valley in the Swiss Canto of the Grisons. whose principal tow .

r r in r St . Mo itz, has figu ed attractively so many sto ies .

r n of It is unde these circumstances that, at the insta ce the

r f Historical Committee of the Pocono Lake Preserve, this b ie o historical account f the territory has been prepared . Although but one member of this committee is named as the r r r esponsible autho of the history. the assistance of the othe mem

r d t d n r be s, an of heir friends, has been freely given an has bee ve y essential .

o r r With n att e npt to enume ate all of these generous assistants. [ 7 ] The P o c o n o R e g i o n

w ho have contributed so much to whatev er is of value in this on publicati . a peculiar obligation is acknowledged

To Charles P. Keith. Esq whose manuscript notes of ' Chronicles of Pennsylvania. most kindly placed at the author s

disposal. were of great value, and whose severe criticisms were of

scarcely less value.

r . To Hen y S Cattell. Esq . . whose valuable monograph on The " Pocono Plateau has greatly aided in the preparation of this

more comprehensive review .

r . n w n in To F ancis R Baco . hose historical map accompa y g

the history is of very unique value .

am . m s n To S uel H Tho as. Esq William F. Wickersham. Wat o

. M . W Dewees and Egbert S . Cary. whose aid in revising SS has

a e r n s v d many blunde s. and w hose frank suggestions of modificatio

have been of greatly needed help.

f r Dr. . To William R . Fisher, George W . Sha er. William A Shafe .

. r l . Esq . Isaac Stauffe . Frank P. Blakes ee, William Daub, Rev

nr r and He y Sang ee. Jerome Scott. Henry Snyder. John Wrick.

t . . ll r n r r. r n ar a a n of E E Hooke , J . f om whom e ly the ccou ts ece t

conditions w ere obtained. I n addition to the aid of all these friends is also gratefully acknowledged the special contributions and assistance of Joseph

Elkin R eb um to . a a n, Agnes L Tierney, Jane Alison Page, Thom s

Esq . . and William Nelson L. West. Esq . ,

I 8 ] HISTORY.

“ ” e u a en s ream e w n mo n a ns the e i na I q iv l t A t b t ee u t i , is d s g

“ " Indian deeds Endless Mountains ) and about nine m iles north

seems first to hav e b een

’ en applied to the stream running into McMichael s Creek, and th

“ “ the same nam e Pocopoco (corrupted from Pochkapochka stream betw een has been applied to the creek emptying into the — “ ld iigh from the northeast in Carbon County 1 1» know n as Big

I n order as far as practicable to confine the subject of this w ill be here considered in any detail as has mainly developed hannock ; although even this will require a consideration at some length of the early history of the entire section of Northeast ern

Monroe County as distinctly as any part of Pennsylvan ia fur

Before the mountains w ere brought forth or ever God had formed

the ear h and the wor e en from e er as in to e er as in . t ld. v v l t g v l t g

P r w is in his e rt on the terminal rofesso Henry Carv ill . r po

I 9 ] The P o c o n o R e g i o n

“ The glacial geology of this region is probably of as great interest as that of any other portion of the world ; and the course of the great terminal

moraine win in across mo n ains and a e s is as com e e a roof of d g u t v ll y , pl t p " the former e is a co - x tence of ntinental ice sheet as can anywhere b e found .

r r he r r So g eat an autho ity as t late Pete Lesley, in his eport

s n C a State Geologist, u hesitatingly asserts that the Wind ap, by which access to Monroe County is gained from the south through “ the ne r n a Blue Mountains , is o of the st angest and most i explic ble ' features of the earth s surface . It is unique in its shape

n - a d in its situation and that Bake oven Knob, between the Water G “ G . ap and the Wind Gap, is as mysterious as the Wind ap All the difficulties en countered at the Wind Gap meet us "2 in e here an exaggerat d form .

e r nr n r Alfr d Mathews, in his histo y of Mo oe Cou ty, fo cibly refers to the fact that

The roc s of onroe m s e er be of rofo nd in eres for ere k M u t v p u t t, h Nature has stamped in indelible lines the record of her prehistoric opera tions and here the God of Nature before He gave the decalogue to Moses th fl inscribed upon these tables of stone e at of His Will .

While the limits of this historical account warrant only the

r f r r an b ie est reference to this sublime featu e of the sub"ect, an impo t t prelude to any later details is the knowledge that over the gray

f d r red a cli fs marking the highest Pocono peaks, an ove the sh le formation evident on that great Pocono Plateau which covers nearly

s on the whole northern half of the county, were irnpo ed in early ae s of world history those geological form ations which figure so largely in the history of the neighboring coal fields .

r a All these gigantic layers of ea th crust , to depth of to “ l5 000 r of r n n r , feet, after passing through the pe iod w i kli g (whe e

r by mountains and valleys succeeded primeval meadows). we e gradually scraped off and swept into the valleys of the ocean by the wear of the elements during the ages since the region nourished the

r f n an a na f fauna and flora of the tropics, and whe eo o ly occ sio l ossil 3 fragment now suggests the history .

— ‘ eo S X X V G 6 -63 no . ur . Z e G l , LII LI , t ‘ eo Sur G 6 - 8 - 89 G l . . . P r e h i s t o r i c Co n d i t i o n s

r n r Evidences of the terminal moraine, o edge of the great o th glacier which for indefinite ages covered this whole section of

or nd at North America, are very distinct through the territ y, a

an an Water Gap, Wind Gap and Pocono Knob (once probably isl d in the great glacial sea) suggest many profoundly interesting 4 geological studies .

Of the form ation of these Gaps, Professor Lewis says

T ere w as no ca as ro e no con sion no flood rs in its w a h t t ph , vul , bu t g y

h w of co n ess e er since ro . w on s ow ro t e or a es th ugh All as d e l ly th ugh k u tl g , v

the o w en the a e s w ere ai ow n mi ions of ears a o the a peri d h co l b d l d d ll y g . g p The rim r ca se of the forma has been gradually deepened. p a y u ( ‘ ' tion of these gaps in the mountains) w as (is) a crack (in the primeval rock at a oin whic crack has een wi ene and ee ene the same s ow th t p t), h b d d d p d by l ome causes which have removed all the coal beds from this region . S

fee of s ra a inc in the coa e s once la on to of is re ion and a e t t t , lud g l b d , y p th g h v all been gradually eroded and w ashed into the sea by the w ear of the ele has men s. of o so enormo s a n i one t The pow er erosi n is u . th t u t l grasped it by his ow n observation in the field it is beyond belief; a gap is a

sma ma ter r com are e mo n ains it has remo e ll t fo it to form p d with th u t v d,

and the a e s i in o mo s The ro ec of the v ll y t has transformed t untain . p ph y “ ' great Isaiah that every mountain and hill shall b e made low w as literally " fu e o lfill d l ng before the time of Adam .

n r n Amongst other prehistoric conditions in this sectio , p ofou dly

r r e n r of imp essive, are those valleys w hich have been bu i d hu d eds

r one of feet in depth with the drift of the glacier. Ove these “ " buried valleys now flows the Delaware River above the Water G r ap . Here the original rock bottom of Marcellus shale is f om

500 00 r a rr to 7 feet below the present river b ed. P ob bly Che y

W r f Valley, south of alpack Ridge, also holds several hund ed eet of drift irnposed on the Clinton red shale which w as its original and 5 na r u tu al s rface in the aeons of the past . The long hummocky ridges of stratified sand and gravel known " as s n Kam e , which appear in many places through the cou ty

n a at n d in n r e ot bly Hu gry Hill on the Sullivan Road, an the lo g idg s

" T s no is a remar a e o e as seen rom the east and sou h and ossesses a e u ar hi k b k bl b"ct f t . p p c li geological in terest because it stood as a sm all islan d in the edge of t he great ice sheet ; the termina l " mora n e en r - G 6 - 7 n it s at a Sur . . s es ou tw o ir eo . s of it s e . i ci cli g id , b t th d h ight G l 5 eo C 6 - 52— . Sur 60 . G l . l l I l The Po c o n o R e g i o n w est of Blakeslcth - tell the locations of sub -glacial streams which long before the dawn of human history drained the melting ice

r - i F e d along p o glac al water courses . ar travel d scratched an polished

r r boulders f om the No th, and stones worn into curious anvil shapes by exposure to water currents through almost endless ages ; and unstratificd deposits of irnpure clay mixed with round and sharp “ 6 n n as stones k ow Till, hint of other stories in prehistoric periods . All are authentic records of conditions in the almost incon

iv b l — ce a y remote Past, about the dawn of Time perhaps when “ ar w as n w The e th without form and void, and dark ess as upon the ” face of the deep .

k l l . Elsewhere appear mysterious ett eho es, i . e , elongated and

r - symmet ical basin like depressions of variable depth, made in the

r f r d i t as created by the glacier. These are often filled with wate

having no kn own inlet or outlet and are indicated by natural lakes.

r n ld most p omi ent among which are Echo Lake, in Srnithfie town

n o n ship ; Mi eola Lake, in Chestnut Hill township ; Lake P po oming,

7 Bi n on n n [ g Po d] Po d Ridge and Deep Lake on Pocono K ob . ’ Hartman s Cave in the ridge separating Cherry Valley from ’ the a M l v lleys of the Pocono and cMichae s creeks, some three miles

s r r r outh of Stroudsbu g, is anothe profoundly interesting prehisto ic

an r l dma k of that section . This cave occupies the axis of an anti clinal fold of Upper Silurian limestone and opens in the face of a

f r e - of r in cli f fo m d by a cross section the ridge . F om this place u l Aug st, 879, many bones of extinct animals, including those of

r r the pecca y, caribou and bison, were obtained. togethe with some distinct evidences of the existence of man at an indefinitely early 8 r of pe iod his history . An appreciative visitor could hardly enter this sectionfcf i Pennsylvania without irnpress ons of aw e, and some realization that “ r here, as to the Patriarch at Ho eb, should come the warning: The " place whereon thou standest is holy ground .

0 eo Sur Z 18 - 35- 80 G l . . . 7 - Geo] . Sur G 6 37 . on on in un hannock townshi ori ina e rom t he cho n u . L g P d T k p g t d f ki g p

- - e or na s ream eo Sur . Z 30 77. G 6 38 . of th igi l t by drift . G l . 0 10 - 04 Mathern 34 1 7 . I 12 l A b o r i g i n a l Co n d i t i o n s

The Indian tribes w ho dwelt in the Pennsylvania forests ’ at the time of William Penn s arrival in the province called them “ ” “ ” selves the Lenni Lenape or Original People ; notwithstanding an r ra n a n m e r an e obscu e t ditio mo g the , that th i c stors, ages back,

— — civilized nation p robably the Mound Builders the ev idenw s of whose sett lements are scattered over several states including l nn Pe sylvan ia. ’ One of these prehistoric mounds is referred to in Chapman s History of Wyoming as located on the level plain on north side ' of n rn Toby s Creek in Kingston tow ship, Luze e County, Pa. , about l50 feet from the bank of the creek and a half a mile from

r n its confluence with the Susquehanna Rive . This mou d. as

r described by a visitor in l8 l7, w as of oval fo m, about 337 feet long and 272 feet in shortest diameter. On the southwest side 2 appears to have been a gateway about l feet wide, open ing

rs towards the great eddy of the river. When the fi t settlers came to Wyoming this whole section w as covered with a native forest of yellow pine and oak and the trees growing within the mound

in other r of are said to hav e b een as large as any pa ts the v alley. One large oak which w as cut down w as ascertained to be 700

n r r n years old . The Indians had no traditio s ega di g the mounds, z r r nor any knowledge of the purpose for which they we e const ucted . Another of these myst erious elliptical mounds or fortifications ' is referred to in Miner s letters on Wyoming as existing on the ' er fla in - arr r r n n as acob s a n upp ts Wilkes B e, fo me ly k ow J Pl i s,

a o 80 r ards h a w a ne . b ut rods from the rive , tow w ich gate y ope d

r r in 8l4 and i n Pe sonal examination by Mr. Mine l by test mo y of old residents indicated that this mound w as similar in size and construe at a u tion to the one mentioned by Mr. Chapman . He st es th t h ge trees were grow ing out of the embankm en t when the whites cleared of the r r was an n an the flats for settlem ent. On the bank ive I di

‘ 1 Jenk . 27 : l . MeMas. 210. ’ a 9- I O Ch p . The P o c o n o R e g i o n burying-ground of unusual interest as indicating careful burial

These Lenape Indian s (generally known as the Delaw ares) spoke the dialects of common Algonquin language and were .the n n h separated i to three main divisio s , of whic the tribes of the “ ” r f Unami (people down the rive ) with totem o the Turtle, and “ ’ of the Unalachtigo (tide-water people) with the totem of the

n an and nn or Turkey, dwelt betwee the Atl tic the Kittati y Blue “ ” Mountains extending as far south as the Potomac, while the Minsi

n an of (people of the sto y l ds) with the totem the Wolf, the most n e n active and w arlike of the whole natio , occupi d the mou tainous region between the Kittatinny Mountains and the sources of the " " r n r Susquehanna and Delaware ivers, kindli g their council fi es at the Minisink flats above the Delaware Water Gap .

I n addition to these tribes of their ow n nation, the Lenapes — had given hospitable shelter to some of the Shawnee Indians a

n r ari restless horde, from the South, whose la guage bo e a simil ty — to the Algonquin and had perm itted them to settle at the conflu

s n ence of the Delaware and Lehigh rivers, near the site of the pre e t

s e a nn n town of Nazareth, where they e tablish d bout the begi i g of “ ” n r r a Pecho uealin n the eighteenth ce tu y thei village c lled q , u til proving troublesome to their hospitable neighbors they were induced to remove to the flats of the Susquehanna Valley below “ "— - few s a r r of Mi oes r Wilkes Barre . A c tte ed ho des the ng bette " “ "— known as the Six Nations, or Iroquois also wandered from place to place amongst the Len apes and m ay be said to form part of the aboriginal population of the Province . Each of these prin cipal tribes sustained a position of semi “ vassalage to the great Indian Confederacy known as the Fi ve " n of ra r or n (afterward Six) Nations, co sisting the seve l t ibes natio s

a n a n of the Onondagas , the Cayug s, the O eid s, the Se ecas , the

l 12 rn n r Mohawks, and finally (about 7 ), the Southe I dians f om

North Carolina and Virginia known as the Tuscaroras . These Indians were called collectively by the Lenapes Min

26—27 Miner . d 42 Hanna 92 an 1 . [ I4 ]

The P o c o n o R e g i o n

’ r n re en a n of h n Mr. Buck s inte esti g p s t tio t is subject i dicates that ' William Penn s treatmen t of the Indians w as prompted less by

c an good morals or high prin iples th by policy, and because of the precedent established by the Dutch and the Swedes in their prior ' settlem ents . The wording of Penn s charter seems to have been carefully guarded to prevent the assummion on his part of any obligation to extinguish the Indian titles ; notwithstanding that his “ ” expressed desire to civilize the natives w as made a part of the

r r of r consideration for the oyal g ant the territo y . Nor w as the policy always so strenuously enforced but that occasional warrants were issued for land in advance of its purchase 6 from the Indians . ' Various constructions m ay fairly be given to Penn s letter to

n e : his commissio ers dat d September 30 , l68l wherein he says “ r ff n n n an and r s Be tende of o e di g the I di s, hea ken , my honest spie , if you can hear that anybody inveigles the Indians not to sell or " 7 ff d r to stand o an aise the value upon you . ' Probably the truest estimate of Penn s peace policy with the Indians is obtained by considering that he neither originated the

or r d n r w as policy n first int o uced it i to p actical use, but that he the first w ho gave it such prominence in the establishment of the

r as n n r r P ovince to i stil i to it a eal dynamic fo ce . A forcible illustration of similar conditions in modern times is ' - furnished in Mr. Roosevelt s identification with anti trust legisla

n or n an f r nor tio , f otwithst ding the act that he neithe originated it ,

on did he originally enforce it, yet he so aroused the public mind the subject at a peculiar psychological period in the history of the

n - nation , as to practically rege erate the anti trust policy of the ' n r r l and government, and u de P esident Taft s administration of aw reason it became a distinct moral question to be reckoned with by ll a parties . ’ r r na Neve theless, with whatever satisfaction Penn s o igi l

n an m r r ar f r n I di policy ay fai ly be eg ded, there is little room o ho est

’ 0 u 27- 1- 3 Du on eau rs 192 and ewis c 3 8 . See a so Art . et al 3 is . Soc. emo B k l by P c . H t M i L “ i ina a Or g l L nd Titles. 7 an les 36 Haz . Ann 529 L d Tit : . [ I6 ] The Wa lki n g P u r c h as e doubt that in the final consummation in l737 of the treaties with the Delaware Indians (long after the government of Pennsylvania ' had ceased to be a "uaker theocracy) William Penn s unholy son “ " Thomas perpet rated in the celebrated Walking Purchase a vil

ar a n he b g i with t Chiefs of the Six Nations . By such malign husbandry were freely sown those seeds of

red re by and white coadjutors for many years, finally matu d n nd a d bore their legitimate fruit in the French and Indian wars. a in the Wyoming Massacre: and whose foul growths were uproot ed only by a crowning act of infam y in the expulsion of the Indians

I t is in the ominous shadow of these disgraceful pages of Penn s

Notw ithstanding the fact that the history of the acquisition from the Indians of that part of Pennsylvania which includes Mon d roe County is w ell preserved in the historical archives, an that the ' “ subject is treated in much detail in Buck s Indian Walk ; and an

en s m 4 r en . excell t u mary given by Watson W. Dewees in F i ds Bul ' “ 124 and a r , m at least one excellen t story of that period "u ke subject amongst many persons reasonably well informed on the to history of the state as to demand more than a mere allusion it. although the follow ing outline with reference to the original authori l ties is al that this historical account could warrant . ’ William Penn s first acquisition of land from the Indians for “ " his holy experiment w as near the Falls of the Delaware River

‘ of the ofier b a Chris For atrocities in sav age warfare , most readers are preparedz b ut toknow y - tian oation af a otmt for the a enem es w i h the ca sess a rov al of such hi ) h y scalps cf lndi n i , t p pp d

“ '' u l Buck and of the pract ice of skinning dcad lndians for b oot legs b yAmerican soldiers (S l . b e rmfamihu with the rew rd Em. 8) m y u u de sm a d the m n m phink ated reade s whom y o ' h cent r l See Governor f the awful torttn es ot li o o U . troo s in the twentiet u pin pris ners by . S p y

’ - s o . 74 75 . Taft test smony b efose the Senate l brhppme C mmittee. pp 2 [ 17 ] The P o c o n o R e g i o n

' and Unaheri ckkitton (now Baker s) Creek and the Nesharniny

re v . C ek abo e Morrisville, New Jersey It is dated July IS, l682, and w as procured at a treaty with the Indian s held by William ' r Markham , Deputy Governo , several months before Penn s actual arrival in the Province .

r l According to John F. Watson, autho of Annals of Phi adel

en phia, this purchase w as limited in ext t

“ As far up the river from the mouth of the Neshaminah as a man

walk in a day and a half.

This walk (on the same authority) w as actually executed by

Penn with several Indian Chiefs at a later date, and in a leisurely ll ° manner covering some thirty miles, a parties being w ell satisfied.

e Another deed (unrecord d) dated June 23, l683, purports to give William Penn title to

“ All our lands lying betwixt Pammapecka and Neshemineh creeks and all along upon Neshemineh Creek and backw ard of the same and to run two ' days "ourney with a horse up into the country as the river doth

Yet another deed (unrecorded and the ev idence of whose

n existence is suspiciously obscure) is me tioned by Watson, dated

20 686 f n t - ra August or 28, l , or land, adjoi ing the h at named t ct and extending (according to an unattested copy from Pmprietary

Westw ard to Neshaminy Creek from w hich line the said tract or tracts hereby granted doth extend itself as far into the woods as a man can go in a

da and a a f o n e on the w es er si e the cree ca e Nesharnin y h l , b u d d t ly d by k ll d y

or the mos w es er ranch ereof as far as the sai ranch o e en and t t ly b th . d b d th xt d ' from thence by a line to the utmost extent of the one and a half day s "our ney; and from thence by a line to the aforesaid river Delaw are and from

thence dow n the several courses of the said ri ver.

686 w as e n an This deed of August, 1 , declar d by the I di s a 1 1 r . forgery, and the weight of evidence seems to suppo t this view

' ’ “ ° 6 Haz 209 Re ar n en n s i e to ila e h a an s see ew s Or na es . . g di g P t tl Ph d lp i l d L i igi l Titl ,

Scot s . 11 , I I I , I V and V.

1° 2 m h 110 a es 3 S it ; L nd Titl 7 . 11 74- 5 Buck . [ 18 1 The Wa lki n g P u r c h as e

Many other deeds are also claimed to have been executed for l ands in this vicinity of similarly indefinite description. followed by

r r e 8 a elease and confirmato y de d dated September I 7, 171 , referring to prior deeds and conveying:

All the lands situated betw een the two rivers Delaware and Suaque " ree to the m s on s s a L hanna from Duck C k ountain thi ide of Lech y ( ehigh).

eed n e r r By this last d the undefi d limits of p io deeds, west ' " ar a rn t a r and as far n w, d two d ys jou ey wi h ho se, i to the woods

a ar r r as a man can go in a day and a h lf, e clea ly rest icted to the “ "12 Lehigh Hills . Numerous complaints made by the Indians to the Proprietary Gov em m ent that the whites settled and occupied land not included i r le n i n n an n p ior purchases, d to a cou cil w th su dry I di Chiefs held

4 n 1 28 r rn r in Philadelphia, June a d 5, 7 , whe eat Gove or Go don, with

e and r r r d Jam s Logan, Isaac Norris othe councillo s were p esent, an “ ” the Lechay (Lehigh) Hills seems to have been agreed upon as the “ r l r r r utmost no thwest boundary of a l p io pu chasers .

n This distinct understanding is also evide ced by a letter, claimed to have been written by James Logan to Thomas Watson,

a . 20 ”27 and r n at n l 59 r n d ted November , , p i ted Lo don, 7 , whe ei he mak es objection to warrants for Minisink lands

three or four miles above Durham amongst the hills some distance from the river that it is not pur

c ased of the n ians w ich is so ma eria a one a wit o heir re io s h I d . h t l th t h ut t p v u

e em en to ar wi it er reasona it canno b e s r e e ngag t p t th v y bly, t u v y d

r r Yet notwithstanding the t eaty ag eement of l728 , clashes and disputes being frequen t between the Indians and settlers upon

f r of the a the border lands near the o ks Delaware, visit from Chiefs l 36 of the Six Nations in October, 7 (whether on invitation or not

ff r t n an r n seems doubtful), o e ed too temp i g Oppo tu ity to secure

” - "3 3 Col. Rcc. 321 2. 2 8m . :

“ - 2 Sm . “3 15 : Buck 39. [ 19 1 The P o c o n o R e g i o n

in the treatyof l728 soas to include

“ All the lands on both sides of the riv er Susquehanna from the mouth thereof as far northward or up the said riv er as thst ridge of hills called “ ' ' ‘ s wes war to the se the l yoninhasachta or Endless Mountain . t d tting of the sun and eastward to the farthest springs of the w aters running into the “ said river"

Title to this territory seems to have been obtained by tw o

n deeds from the Chiefs of the Ono dagas, Senecas, Cayuga .

Oneidas, Tuscaroras. and on behalf of the Mohawks, dated respec o 25 tiv ely October I I and 25, l736 ; and n August th of the follow h el ing year (1737) Thomas Penn induced t e D aware Indians, under pret ence of executing a confirmatory deed, to extend the western and northern lines of the original purchases by a descrip “ l o t tion closely following the a leged deed f Augus , 1686, back into " the woods as far as a man can go in one day and a half. This confirmatory deed vaguely referred to the deed of August “ r n 28, 1686, as one of several dee ds executed mo e tha fifty years " ago, and entirely ignored the confirmatory and restrictive deed of e 8 n S ptember I7, l7l , and the treaty of Ju e, The territory thus described with such sinist er ambiguity was ‘ n ff - n n r n r withi a month walked o , by well k ow sp i te s (Edw ard

Marshall, James Yeates and Solomon Jennings) especially engaged

d e r a by Thomas Penn, on a carefully planned an mark d oute so th t it should include land already occupied by the vendees of the

Proprietaries against the protests of the Indians . ” The exact starting point of this momentous walk is dif ’ h n in eult now to fix, but it w as near the Friends Meeti g House

r n . n on n m W ightstown , Bucks Cou ty At this poi t Mo day, Septe b e i un en r I9, l737, the walk began at the ris ng of the s , th ce it ext ended along the Durham road northwestwardly to a point near

r w r Gallows Hill . Thence the walkers dive ged a little west a dly

n i to an old Indian path passing near Durham, and pausing only

“2 81 l ” m . “ — l . H S See schadule deeds 8 Col. Rec. 259 6 l . uck 70 4 Co . Rec 7 of B : . . [ 20 ] The Wa lki n g P u r c h a s e

r fifteen minutes to dine, they p oceeded through this forest on a

r r course about N . N . W c ossing Saucon C eek and the Lehigh River (then known as the west bran ch of the Delaware) below ’ n n a for Bethlehem, u til about six o clock they e c mped the night H o u n ear the Indian town ocky ndocq a. From this point on the

r 20th a a n r m orning of Septembe they g i p oceeded N . W . beyond

n a n r u the Blue Mou t i s th o gh the Lehigh Water Gap , crossing the

n n on a ri ver near Mauch Chu k ; the ce , bout five miles , until at ' t w o o clock in the afternoon they reached a point marked by five

r i n chestnut trees on the no th s de of Poco o Mountain .

n n n of From this poi t, marki g the exte t the walk of some seventy “ ” r r miles into the woods, the Delawa e Rive w as reached by a survey

o n an r requiring four days, n a li e subst tially at ight angles to the

d n line traveled by the walkers, an ending at a poi t near the mouth of

Lackawaxen Creek . “ The northwest boundary (says Watson) w as afterw ards run " o n r on the Pocono, and to the mouth f Lackawaxe C eek, and to the

n river at the short bend, and dow the courses of the Delaware, b y "1 8 r r a measurement then made, mo e than one hund ed miles . '

r. n a r r rr a n I n M Buck s mo ogr ph al eady efe ed to , very stro g array of evidence is presented to show that these confirmatory deeds of 1736 and 1737 were obtained by Thomas Penn as part of a cun ningly devised scheme to secure land expressly excluded by the confirmatory and restrictive deed of September 17, 17 18, and by the treaty of June 4 and 5 , 1728 ; that it w as consummated by forging the deed of August 28, 1686 ; by a deliberate deception of the Indians as to their rights under the prior deeds and treaty ; and by the gross est disregard of well-known inten tion in estimating the distance to he traveled in the original walk and in the subsequent line to reach the Delaware River.

nn a r The route of the walk, it now appears from the Pe p pe s, was determined and blazed with the utmost secrecy by Thomas 19 Penn some two years before the deed w as executed .

17 Buck 1 15 . 13 Da - 2 1 4. 6 Haz 210 ; y 505 10 ; 4 Friends Bul. rs 55- 3- 117- 18 Buck 7 . The P o c o n o R e g i o n

Against this whole proceeding the Indians displayed sullen nd e r h 2 a bitt r animosity, claiming, in acco d with t e treaty of 17 8, that the w alk should have ext ended no farther than the Blue nearest point ; thus preserving to them their most valued hunting r n n r e of h g ou ds ea th forks t e Delaware . From these they man i ea e no f t d intention of removing, but a determination to resist any encroa h n c me ts thereon by the white set tlers . To meet this dangerous situation the Provincial Council of

n n Pennsylva ia cunningly invited the Chiefs of the Six Natio s, including Canassatego and Shick-Calamy to a conference at Phila

2 m n of delphia in July, 174 , with Sassonan , Nutirnus and a y the

e r a D laware and Forks Indians . Here the visito s seem to h ve been banqueted to their fullest satisfaction as a wise preliminary 20 or to the nefarious scheme in view . Sundry deeds documents were then exhibited to the Chiefs of the Six Nations in proof of satisfaction paid the Delawares for land taken ; whereupon Canas s t o r a eg , the Chief of the Six Nations, turning to the rep esen tatives of ar r in irn eriou ann r and the Delaw e Indians p esent, the most p s m e in r r a diction alm ost classic in its bitterness, ordered the t ibe fo th with to vacate the en tire territory then occupied by them

— Cousins Let this belt of w ampum serve to chastise you. ' w u Our You don t know w hat ground you stand on nor hat yo are doing. ’ brother Onas (the I ndian nam e given to William Penn and afterw ards to

his re s er s and n and h s in en ions to re presentatives) case i v y "u t plai , i t t p

ser e frien s i n th o er an o r ca se is b ad o r ear far from v d h p ; o e th h d , y u u , y u h t being upright and you are maliciously bent to break the chain

en s i w ou e a e seen wi our e es a ee of fri d h p ith r brother Onas. Wh v th y d d signed by nine of your ancestors above fifty years ago for this very land and a release signed not many years since by some of yourselves and chiefs

no i n how cam e ou to a e on ou to se an at w l vi g . But y t k up y ll l d

all" We con ere ou w e ma e w omen of ou ou now ou are women qu d y , d y , y k y ,

r th and can no more sell land than women . No is it fit you should have e

ow f s u w it Did ou e er e p er o selling land since yo ould abuse . y v t ll us that you had sold this land" Did w e ever receive any part" This is acting in the dark and very different from the conduct our Six Nations

” - Harv ey 199; Buck 1 15 120 [ 22 1

The P o c o n o R e g i o n of the controversy is all that can warrantably be incorporated

1 in April, 662, an association known as the Colony of Connec " ticut, having acquired title to the territory included under the original Connecticut charter of obtain ed from Charles I I

a d r renew l an confirmation thereof, dated April 23, 1662, fo

All that part of our dominions in New England in America bounden

on the Eas arra anset i er commonl ca e arr ans Ba t by N g t R v , y ll d N ag ett y, w here the said River fallet h into the Sea: and on the North by the Line of the assac se s an a ion and on the o the and in Lon i M hu tt Pl t t , S uth by Sea g tude as the Massachusetts Colony from East to West; that is to say from the "it sai arr B o th r d N aganset t ay n e East to the South Sea on the West pa t.

The South Sea mentioned in this description undoubtedly r n e efers to Long Isla d Sound, but as that water extends northw st "

dl . . w ar y, the S W com er of the colony w as not specially "3 fin . r de ed The o iginal Plymouth charter, however, included " th err r r e t ito y f om sea to sea, meaning at that time from the "4 an P Atl tic to the acific with the provision, however, that the land so granted w as not then actually possessed or inhabited " 5 an r r an r n r r n by y othe Ch isti P i ce o State . Under this p ovisio the u r D tch title, which included the present State of New Yo k, w as r fr n n p otected om i trusion . By the subsequent agreeme t n the betwee Duke of York, who had succeeded to the Dutch title in r an New Yo k, d the Connecticut authorities, in May 1684, the boundaries between those two states were fixed so as to establish the southernmost boundary of Connecticut at latitude 41 degrees north, but the extent of the state westwardly of the established

n ar o r bou d ies f New York and New Jersey w as unrest icted ,

r although clea ly overlapping the boundaries of Pennsylvania. I n this interference the Connecticut title had the advantage of n r r fo some twe ty years p io ity, and an express authority r the

1 I 8 Pa. r . 2d ser 132 A ch .

- ner 65 6 18 Pa. r . 2d sex 135 Mi , A ch . a 43 Ch p . .

a 40 . Ch p . ‘ ha 39. C p . [ 24 1

The Co n n e c t i c u t Co n t r o v e r sy

re- m n p e ptio of land within the chart er limits, while in the Charter of nn r of re- n w as n nf r n Pe this ight p emptio o ly i e e tially given . No eflort seems to have been made during nearly a century aft er the grant of the Connecticut charter to exercise its rights on lands lying west of New York State or to adjust the claims of the respective colonies of Pennsylvania and Connecticut so clearly in conflict .

I 1 5 r n the year 7 3, howeve , the Susquehanna Company w as f r a n of nn r f r o med , m i ly Co ecticut settle s, o the purposes of pur chasing the Susquehanna lands from the Indians and of ultimately establishing a new colony there . That the plans of this organization were of far more than local interest and contemplated the creation of a new Province is appar ent from the following item of news appearing in the London

a f M gazine o 1753, viz . :

“ — M - E 2 1 A E A O T UT 7 3. RIC C NN C IC July , 75

Several hundred people of this colony have agreed to purchase a

ar e rac of and of the Six a ions of n ian s of the s e anna l g t t l N t I d Su qu h , a o 300 ea es to the w es w ar in wi in the o n s of t b ut l gu t d, ly g th b u d heir er to l n it E c in ha it wi b e in a shor chart , sett e upo . xpe t g t t ll t time a "6 is o rn d tinct g ve ment.

Commission ers were sent out by the company to explore the

r n ran fr C territory, and this action evoked a emo st ce om ov em or 7 C v e or of Hamilton , of Pennsylvania, to o m Wolcott, Connecticut,

1 5 n a n arr r whose reply of March 13, 7 4, co t i ed the emb assing assu “ ance that he w as informed that the territory to be explored is ' ’ I o M r . f n ur cert ainly within r. Penn s g ant so I do t suppose "8 r w a people had any purpose to quar el ith Pennsylvani ns .

rr n n Notw ithstanding this diplomatic co espo de ce, however, the agents of the Susquehanna Company concluded a purchase a n on 11 17 of lands from eighteen Sacherns of the Six N tio s July , 54, including Wyoming Valley and the country westward toheadwaters

a n r a Cov em or rr of the Allegheny River. Ag i st this pu ch se, Mo is,

° I 8 Arch. 2d ser 2. 7 — 2 Arch. 4t h ser . , 253 60 .

”8 r . 2d ser . 166 . A ch , The P o c o n o R e g i o n

9 of Pennsylvania. earnestly protest ed, and seems to have secured some assurance from the Indians that they would make no sales 1 ° of land save to the Pennsylvania Proprietaries .

an a c Me time the Susquehanna Company, h ving se ured the assent of the State of Connecticut to the formation of a new colony within the limits of their purchase and a recommendation of the

an comp y to the favorable consideration of the King, at once began 1 1 arrangements for settlement .

r o r n and n an r The outb eak f the F e ch I di wa s with England, ’ d ectu ll n rru an especially Braddock s defeat, eff a y i te pted, however, any eflorts tow ards colonization so far west, and these preliminary 1 2 r efforts by that company were tempora ily abandoned, although

a some progress in this direction w as m de in 1757, by another coloni

z ation company from Connecticut, known as The Delaware Com

pany, at Coshutunk , on the Delaware River, which in 1760 included d w some thirty houses, with block house, and grist an sa mills .

n i On the suspensio of hostil ties with the Indians, these coloni z ation eflorts were resumed by the Susquehanna Company in the

i us 62 w o ndr r n Wyoming Valley, and n Aug t , 17 , icme t hu ed pe so s arrived there as the first settlers under the authority of that com

r r far a an a a n pany . The summe w as, howeve , so dv ced th t, h vi g prepared a few acres for grain and erected s ome cabins and log

d d in r houses at Mill Creek , they conceale their tools an Novembe 1 3 returned to Connecticut . I n the spri ng of 1763 the Susquehanna Company returned to ir fa their settlement at Wyoming bringing w ith them the milies,

new ran and b an cattle and provisions , besides some emig ts, eg

extending their improvements on the west side of the river. These movements seem to have excited the suspicions of the

a n n Indians resident in that vicinity, who, though ck owledgi g the

h d an authority of the Six Nations, who a deeded the l d to the

f a w as a Susquehanna Company, yet evidently elt th t something lso

2 s 37 Arch . 4th er 3 . to a 62 n 68- 90 Ch p . ; Mi er .

11 - 62 3. Chap . 1’ a 63. Ch p . a 65 Ch p . . [ 26 ] The Co n n e c t i c u t Co n t r o v e r sy

f w as n due to them for this land . This eeling greatly i creased in

r r of Ted scu l consequence of the mu de yu ng, the o d Delaware a n w ho a chief, by a lawless band from the Six N tio s , l id the crime to

n r a the new colonists. and w as evide tly the di ect c use of a treacher

6 n new ous attack, in October 17 3, upo the colonists by a party of

r re n rs n Indians who mu de d some twe ty pe o s, took several prisoners,

r and r th r l n s i drove off thei cattle, fi ed ei dwe li g , leav ng the remain ing settlers no alternative but precipitate flight back to their New

or at a ar England homes , to settlements the Del w e River.

s n of Against these ettleme ts the Susquehanna Company,

n a Governor Hamilton , of Pennsylva i , issued numerous proclama

a r r tions , and aft er the mass c e of the settle s dispatched a detach

f r men t o militia to Wyoming to dispe se the Indian s . This w as m under command of Colonel Ja es Boyd, w ho w as also specially “ commissioned to treat with the Connecticut authorities to put a 14 l r r d ran stOp to al diso de s an establish t quillity in the Colony,

irn t t r but these measures led to no por an esult . Meantime the treaty of Paris in 1763 having established peace between England and France, the British ministry instructed their Colonial and Provincial Cov em m ents to endeavor to establish friendly intercourse with the Indians and permanent boundary

r r lines defining ter ito y acquired from them . To this end w as arranged a general treaty with the Indians

at r an n ar a a . Y. in Fo t St wix, e Oneid L ke, N , October, 1768, and the Pennsylvania Proprietaries availed themselves of the Oppor tunity then offered to secure a deed from a number of chiefs of the

Six Nations dated November 5 , 1768, for all lands not prev iously

r r ar n n r n sold to the P op iet ies lyi g withi the P ovi ce of Pennsylvania, including all the land previously bought by the Susquehanna Com Pany I n order to forestall further settlements in this territory by

r Connecticut colonists, one hundred ac es of the land thus acquired by the Permsylv ania Proprietaries about Wyoming w as immediately a ar d le sed to Ch les Stewart, John Jennings an Amos Ogden for seven

u - - ha . n 3 Arch. "aser 5 1 200 218 . C p ; . 127 ] The P o c o n o R e g i o n

e n a years. with th u derstanding th t they would improve it, trade all m with Indians and hold it against ene ies. On the remainder of the land w as promptly located the man ors of Stoke and Sunbury 15 a r on the e st and west side of the river espectively . So keen w as the rivalry between the respective claimants of this territory that the Lessees of the Pennsylvania Proprietaries with

ra r a en r r arr in n in annar 1769 seve l othe dv tu e s ived Wyomi g J y, , and an advance guard of forty men from the Susquehanna Company r h o ru 8 6 eac ed the same place n Feb ary , 17 9, only to find the Penn sylvania claimants in possession of the improvements abandoned

r in d s by the Connecticut efugees 1763, an secured in theblockhou e

o il r at the mouth f M l C eek . After a survey of the situation the Connecticut claimants decided to invest the Pennsylvania garrison. and cut off their supplies .

r a few of nn Afte days siege, the Pe sylvania party suggested a parley, in the execution of which they so completely outwitted their Yan kee opponents as to secure possession of several persons 1 6 n a d convey them in MM ph to Easton to answer a charge of riot . These contests between the Pennsylvania and Connecticut “ claimants for the coveted territory are known as the Pennamite " nd r r a Yan kee wars, and we e p otracted w ith varying result but

a e r for ar m tchl ss fu y some fifteen ye s . It is impossible to give a brief and satisfactory summary of

e r r r no r these xt ao din ary conflicts . They we e me e local and tem

r r r I po a y iots . n fury and bloodshed and in their long duration rather do they suggest the historic conflicts between Scottish clans or r r bo der wa fare . The outcome of these contests w as undoubtedly more momen tous in its bearing on the subsequent history of Pennsylvania and of n n the U ited States than w as the appreciated. Had the aims of onn d C ecticut settlers been fully attaine , Pennsylvania would have

an lost most of her coal fields , d oil and gas fields ; and the United

1‘ ha - . 72 5 9 Col R . 554 ner C p ; . ec ; Mi 97 . 1 ‘ ner 108 a 76 Mi ; Ch p . . I 28 l

The P o c o n o R e g i o n

" m ' And rif e termed a dispute concerning property . the she f s poss sa tt from Northampton County w as wholly inadequate to cope with

the extraordinary situation .

r n r in annar 1774 e i a r of Con Du i g this pe iod, J y , , the L g sl tu e

necticut erected the territory within the charter limits, from the Delaware to a line fifteen miles west of the Susquehanna into the “ town of Westmorelan attaching it to the county of Lit chfield

- an r which included the districts or townships of Wilkes Barre, H ove ,

or r Plymouth, Kingston, Pittston, Exeter and Cafouse P ovi

Organ ization and governm ent under the laws and usages of

r r r a eflected Connecticut, were, as fa as easonably p actic ble, although an appeal for protection to the State of Connecticut 2 1 sca ns to have evoked an evasive reply .

n Town meetings were established and Selectme , Justices of the Peace and other officers were chosen and substantial records kept of the conduct of public aflairs; and in accordance with New

n n a n E gland custom, the establishment of athletic sports o the occ sio 22 o f these town meetings w as provided for. The outbreak of the Revolution seems to have suspended the more active operations of this border warfare and enabled the little town of Westmoreland with a papulation of some to attest

ha . 84 C p . ” ner 153 ha . 11 1 Mi ; C p . 31 — a . 99 03 n 34 150 1 er 1 . Ch p . : Mi “ as - Col. un e had 1 11 1 1 . the th m r 5 on our a s a er Chap . 3 On 29 of Dece be (177 ) ly f d y ft Pl k tt

ret re w ereo erea er w e find the w o e se em en o e er in ow n m ee n . w as in m or i d , [ h fh ft ] h l ttl t t g th t ti g It i p anc e e ua t o t h Wit t en em ot o our axo o The r ur an sm of the m es a ow n t q l e g e f S n ancest rs. igid P it i ti ll i g few Wen e the am usem en s the ow n mee n w as a m a er o of us ness and re rea on . m t t . t ti g tt b th b i c ti h , mos a e i rew t he b ar ro ed the u e w res e s an n a e t o a e the r an on each t thl t c th , ll b ll t . tl d . t di g f c f c ight h d ' ' o er s o ar the e o of ea o er s e ow t he a w t he ee and ex er r and w i th c ll . l ft h ld ch th lb . pl y ith f t p t t ip t tch afi ording a fine opportun ity t o disp lay activity and skill : or the parties took each other around the a se z n t he w a s an t he o er an s n er o ed and en am e the ess n ea and s en b ck . i i gby i t b d . th h d i t l ck , th c l t ci tific b ut m ore ar uous s o e w as for t w o t o ru e t he resu e en n rea on s ren t . r m d t ggl , lt d p di g g tly t g h A thi d d s an at a few ro s s an e and rus n in se z e ea o er and w res e rou and um e o ers t d d di t c , hi g i ch th tl gh t bl ; th a a n ran oo ra es es e a the a s w e som e of the rs in a w ou run and um the g i f t c . p ci lly l d , hil fi t ctivity ld " p W s r n . am er is o w a sor of o r e t he old m en w ou ause a w ne t o b e t i g illi Hibb d , it t ld ith t b ld p id by , ldc t i s re e so a he ou ass un er us ou h n his a r en s e n a a rod or t w o t tch d high th t c ld p d it "t t c i g h i . th t ppi g b ck he oul ea e a eer so so a r as s ar e to ou the ear and ear w case at a c d l p lik d . light . i y c c ly t ch th cl it ith n 7 bound . (Mi er 1 8 130 l The Co n n e c t i c u t Co n t r o v e r sy

23 ri not n its pat otism, o ly by resolutions, but by mustering one

d ru f hundred an sixty rec its or service in the American Army .

r ff r f Neve theless, these di erences we e by no means orgotten . A sett lement of the Susquehanna Company on the west branch of the r a en in iver h ving be plundered September, 1775 , by a body of rt r an l a r No humbe l d mi iti , a memo ial w as sent the following November from the Connecticut settlers to the Continental Congress asking that measures might be taken to preserve peace and tran

u in n d a e n q illity their settleme ts . This evoke r solutio by Congress “ that the Assemblies of the said Colonies be requested to take the

most speedy and effectual steps to prevent such hostilities . It “ w as followed in December by another resolution urging that the contending parties cease all hostilities and avoid every appearance "24 of r fo ce until the dispute can be legally decided . These resolutions produced little eflect on the Government " "

nn . As if f n of Pe sylvania to defy them, a Posse o some seve ffi hun dred m en under William Plunkett, who combined the o ce of

r 17 magistrate with that of colonel of militia, w as in Decembe 75 dispatched with the sheriff under authority from Governor John " Penn to restore peace and good order in the country . This

f r r an ormidable body, howeve , met with so vigorous a esist ce that — the enterprise the last ever undertaken by the Provincial Govern — ment of Pennsylvania w as abandoned and the expedition returned

about January, Meantime eflorts seem to hav e been made by the respective Governments of Pennsylvania and Connecticut to adjust their diflerences through Commissioners appointed by the State of

r Connecticut, whose negotiations sca n to have been conducted di ect with Governor Penn ; but though the diplomatic correspondence "“ on this subject w as voluminous it w as utterly abortive The transfer of authority in 1776 from the Proprietaries and " Royal Governors to the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsyl

“ Miner 165 .

“ e - Min r 168 172.

” - s 5 9 Cha . 1 15 3 rch 4 aa 1 p ; A th . ’‘ 1 10 Chap . . [ 31 ] The P o c o n o R e g i o n

"27 vania led to the first decisive step tow ards an adjustment of the d ifi culties. An application from this pow er to the Continental Congress requesting that body to appoint a tribunal to determ ine ma t r in u e the t e disp te, result d in the appointment of a Board of

of each state.

“ " This Trenton decision is celebrated mainly for its terseness. containing the following words :

“ We are unanimously of opinion that tha State of Connecticut has

no right to the Lands in Controversy. “ We are also unanimously of opinion that the Jurisdiction and Pre eruption of all the Territory lying within the Charter of Pennsylvania and now claimed by the State of Connecticut do of Right belong to the ”8 s State of Penn ylvania.

Reasons for the decision were carefully avoided, but an un written agreement of parties that the actual settlers should not

r e a t r be disturbed in the enjoyment of thei prop rty, f e some delay, seems to have been eventually recognized and mainly fulfilled . But even the Indian massacre of the settlers at Wyoming “ " in the summer of 1778 and the Trenton decision in 1782 were for a long time utterly futile to heal the an imosities engendered in the years of this unique strife .

a w I n March , 1784, after a severe winter, a sudden th w as fol lowed by a terrible freshet which swept the entire section around a n re Wyoming, almost obliterating every settl ent and the sto s of food which the thrifty farmers had accumulated ; but the piteous wail for help that went up from the devastated region to the Penn

r sylvania Assem bly fell on brutally irresponsive ca s. I n place of

r a and t r n to a a b ead , the Assem bly sent the militi , de e mi ed m ke

final effort to rid the state of Yankee settlers . The atrocities and brutality to which these poor snflerers were

a rs n and a subjected from the militia, first under Justice P tte o l ter

” 2 Z Jenk . 3 . 9 Miner 308 ; 18 Pa. Arch 2d ser 629 The Co n n e c t i c u t Co n t r o v e r sy

un and men der General Armstrong, is almost inconceivable, these w ere apparently supported by the Assembly of the state. But the in n domitable spirits of the Connecticut settlers arose to the occasio . Un der command of John Frana they rallied heroically in defense of w hat w as left of their homes and the calamities of border warfare w n rn d era en o ere renewed with i creased bitte ess, an sev l bloody c un

e 2 1 84 ters occurred including on at Locust Ridge, August , 7 , where one man w as killed and two or three wounded . “ n n r i n Meantime, howev er, the Cou cil of Ce so s, wh ch u der the Constitution of 1776 w as to meet every seventh year and see

ha h d d r d t t the laws were enforced , a convened an p oceede to make some inquiries regarding conditions at Wyoming. As a result of these investigations a serious clash occurred between the Council

Of r d n r Censo s an the state authorities . At this ju ctu e the people of Pennsylvania seemed to awaken suddenly to a realization of the “ d o r r un true situation . Armstrong an Ptitt ers n we e p ono ced brutes and were under the pressure Of popular indignation speedily ’ ’29 recalled . Evidently to carry out the unwritten part of the Trenton

r decision, a compromise act w as unde this popular rev ulsion Of 28 feeling passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature. March , whereby, through a commission appointed by the legislature, some i seventeen townships were to be given to the Connect cut claimants, who in turn were to surrender any claim to other lands and all parties were to acknowledge the supremacy Of Pennsylvania law w and government . At the same time the ne county of Luzerne “1 w as created, which included the Wyoming settlements .

l r r of r n As in al simila situations, howeve , the tide popula feeli g

r e soon ebbed. Much Opposition developed against this comp omis act f 1 8 d e d as rr n o 7 7, an much bittern ss an many cl hes occu ed betwee

ct 1 8 the rival parties . Finally by act Of April 1, the a Of 7 7 w as repealed; but the settlement of the territory w as then practi

” - 6 - I McMast . 210 1 : a lso. 139 45 .

18 Arch. 2d ser . . 660 .

n - Miner 395 407 . a 18 Arch . 2d ser . , 682. [ 33 1 The P o c o n o R e g i o n

l a ca ly ccomplished and on April 4, a final compromise act w as passed compensating the Pa rnsylv ania claimants for their losses by reason Of the confirmation of the title of the Connecticu t “ d - claimants an re establishing the latter titles . While the main field of these Operations was in Wyoming

Valley, the territory covered by the Connecticut claimants clearly

included the land of the Pocono Preserve, and one Of the bloody

un er of P mi e 1 84 enco t s the enna t Wars took place on August 2, 7 , 35 n at Locust Ridge, he ce the subject is fairly considered a part of

Pocono history . The proximity of the site Of the Wyoming Massacre ; and the fact that the path Of the refugees from that awful scene toward

a on la r not of E st y ve y close to, if actually crossing, the land the Preserve; and that General John Sullivan advancing to check the savage victors cut the path through the wilderness known as Sullivan also warrants the following brief though digressive review Of facts connected with a most disgraceful page

r Of English histo y . w ithstand At the instance of the British General Cage, and not

r x a ing the p otest Of Burke, Fo , Chatham and other English st tes

18 Arch . 2d ser. 7 15 .

u he 16 . For the in orma on of the er w ho ma w ish more carefufl to cons er t Chap . 5 f ti read y y id su ec of hese ri a c aims th o ow in memoran um of authori ies is su mitt e su emen al b"t t v l l e f ll g d t b d. ppl t t o those cited in the t ext :

e W ro 18 O Pa . 2d ser Th omin Con ers V L . Arch . y g t v y, , ' W - 2 4 Dr i iam th s 18 . 2d 125 1 . Smi a er rch ser. . ll p p . A

c s e . 9 1783 2 Da . aws 9Luot a 18 Pa. rch. 2d ser. 634. A t S pt , , ll L , ; A - c s e . 15 1784 2 a . aw s 226 note and 92 not e. A t S pt . . D ll L ,

Acts Se t . 22 1785 12 S a s at ar e 107 p . . t t . L g .

c s Dec . 24 8 2 2 Dec "86 12 a s. at ar e 3511 I 7 5 a . 9 c s . 30 . A t . . D ll ; A t . . St t L g March c s arc 28 1787 18 Pa. rc . 660 on rmin Law 2 a 92 Acts A t M h . , A h (C fi g ) ; D ll . .

P rc . 675 sus ension act . a. A h ( p )

c s r l 1 1790 18 Pa. rch. 682 Re ea of Confirmin Law and Dissentient ereto: 2 A t Ap i , . A , p l g th

- Dali. 766 ; See also 92 note .

c s r 1 1 1795 18 Pa. Arch. 708 n rus on Law . A t Ap il . , , I t i

r l a. 7 15 om romise Act . Ac ts Ap i P Arch . (C p ) - w 1802 18 Pa . 778. o Main a n erritorial h s . cts arch 15 18 . rch T Ri A M , . A ( t i T g t )

Van orn vs. orrance U. . . . 2 a . 304. H D , S C C D ll

Carkhufl vs. Anderson (3 Bin .

n 49— Mi er 3 355 .

- Miner 265 274. [ 34] The Co n n e c t i c u t Co n t r o v e r sy

m e - n n , the co operatio of various Indian tribes w as deliberately

sou and in the of n r W ght obtained early part the Revolutio a y ar,

w th r r i the express app oval of Parliament, against the ebellious 37 colonists . Am ongst the various tribes thus included were several hundred

S n en eca I ndians, led (probably, though it seems ope to some doubt) b ru f ran . a y the c el Mohawk Chie , Joseph B dt These s vages, with a Col few hundred British Rangers commanded by . John Butler,

a n r n t king advantage of the u p otected situatio of Wyoming, most

of - whose able bodied citizens were then in service under Washington, d 1 escended the Tioga and Susquehanna rivers in June, 778, and w ith little resistance captured two of the line of frontier forts at

n Z n r r To meet these e emies, Col . ebulo Butle muste ed some

r n en th ee hu dred m . The battle that followed on July 1, 1778, lasted less than an hour; the Americans falling in to an ambush and

- n . losi g more than two thirds their number The remainder, with

the r in women and children of the town , then took shelte the forts,

and r r n n d the following day, unde the promise of p otectio , surre dere d to the British officer, Col . Butler, who prove utterly unable to

c n r n a and n r r o t ol his I dian llies, early eve y Ame ican capable of bearing

’ ‘7 To Suflolk s dd ense in ar amen ovem er 1777 for usin all t he means t a God and P li t , N b , , g h t ” a ure had ut n o Bn tish han s b the em lo m en of the ndians for fl ushin mer ca Cha ham N t p i t d y p y t I g A i , t “ re We f ied Lords I cannot re reis m in i na on . are ca e u on as mem ers o pl . My , p y d g ti ll d p b I know not what

i eas that or s ma entertain of God and a ure b ut now that such a omina e rin i es are d L d y N t , I k b bl p c pl o Wha "to a ri u e the sacre sanct on of God and a ure abhorrent to religi n and humanity . t tt b t d i N t ’ to the massacres of the n ian s sca in kn e to the canni a sava e tortur n m ur er n m a in I d lp g if , b l g i g. d i g. t g ’ and ea in —itera eatin m or s—the man ed ctims of his ar arous a es"Suc horn b le t g l lly g, y L d gl vi b b b ttl h

notions shock ev er ros ect of re i ion i ne or na ura and ev er enerous ee in of uman . y p p l g , d vi t l. y g f l g h ity And m Lords the shock ev er sentimen of honor the ahock me as a ov er of honorable w ar and . y , y y t , y l ” a det ester of mur erous ar arit d b b y . This appeal to the House of h rdt of the English Parliament at the close of the eighteenth cen

ur w as su orte on w en -four v otes a ains n n -sev en for the Crow n and for con nue t y. pp d by ly t ty g t i ty ti d n an w ar are I di f "(Sull . Exp. But readers w ho find satisfaction in this terrible arraignment of English barbarity in the eigh t eenth cen ur w oul do w el to consi er it in connec ion wi h the arrai ent of Un ed S a es t y, d l d t t m it t t

roo s for heir rea men of the i ino risoners in the tw entieth cen r ma e . er t p t t t t F lip p tu y, d by Mr H bert W a elsh at aneui Bos on March 23 1903. F l H ll. t . . [ 35 1 The P o c o n o R e g i o n

enr . a in his no r h on H y S C ttell mo g ap The Pocono Plateau, “ ' u in ar el r u an n an e n q ot g l g y f om S lliv s I di Exp ditio . says, page 33

“ After the capitulation every house and fort in the valley was burned to the ground and the despairing women and children as they fled from the scene of es ruc ion l ed ese asses om d t t , fi l th p . S e escaped by the arriors a down the Lehi h far the W p th g , but by greater number by

the mi or en ra a o th o a s ddle c t l p th ver e Pocon Pl teau . Thi w as e wi n re s of he ess u i som es fill d th hu d d lpl f git ves, e timate the number at two o san mos l women and chi ren man san n th u d , t y ld ; y k u der the toma

aw o ers ie of e ci emen a i e n er and e sure h k. th d d x t t, f t gu , hu g xpo . Many w ris e in th ere lost and pe h d e woods, while hundreds were never seen or "88 r i a e t heard of after their p ecip t t fligh .

Yet more graphically does Sherman Day, in his sketch of Ln ’ “ ' zerne County, quoting Miner s Hazleton s Travellers, picture the scene

I n a w ee or ten a s it w as seen a the ar ic es of ca i a ion k d y , th t t l p tul t

florded no sec ri and the remainin wi ow s and or ans a eso a e a u ty ; g d ph , d l t

an wi h scarce ro isions for a da oo eir sad i rima e o er b d . t ly p v y, t k up th p lg g v ‘ t he rear wi erness of the ocono o n ains and the isma a es of d y ld P M u t , d l Sh d ’ Death . “ What a picture for the pencil"Every pathw ay through the wilderness

sm Th m ro e wi h women and a c i ren old men and o s. e a e en th ng d t ll h ld . b y bl

er w a in th er s i o h d f of middle life w ere eith a y e gen al erv ce r a allen. There w ere few who w ere not in the engagem ent ; so that in one drove of fugitives

s i o o re e sons ere was o one m em consi t ng f ne hund d p r th nly an with th . “ Let the painter stand on some eminence commanding a view at once

mo n ain Let him ain the ron c im the of the valley and the u t . p t th g l bing

ei s rr in on e wit error es air and sorrow . Ta e a sin e h ght ; hu y g , fill d h t , d p k gl

ro : the affri h e mo er w ose s an has fa en an in ant on her g up g t d th , h hu b d ll ; f

som a hi the an an a ed aren s ow c im in the r e w a . bo ; c ld by h d ; g p t, l ly l b g ugg d y Behind her hunger presses them sorely ; in the rustling of every leaf they hear “ ' the approaching savage ; the Shades of Death before them ; the valley

l in flames e in em heir co a es eir arns eir ar es s all al b h d th ; t tt g , th b , th h v t , swept in this flood of min ; their star of hape quenched in this blood-shower ” of savage vengeance"

It will be of interest and is not an un warrantable digression also to record the fact that, encouraged by their success at Wyom

‘3 - Ex . 1 18 note. Sull . p ‘9 Day 441 . [ 36 1

The P o c o n o R e g i o n

n character, a writer is fully justified in utilizing such informatio as may be obtainable by reasonable deduction and inferences .

Such a modus operandi, openly avowed, cannot mislead ; and it is from the source thus opened that a connection is deducible between the Pocono region and one of the most glorious and elevating

a e ri r a e e to and p g s of Ame can histo y, lbeit seldom r ferr d little — appreciated the Moravian Missions to the North American I n

The following facts regarding these Moravian Missions are clearly and definitely established : That from their settlement in Bethlehem at least tw o Moravian — — Bishops Camm erhoff and De Wattev ille and many ordained clergymen traversed the wilderness on foot to visit the various

Indian tribes along the Susquehanna. That a settlement of Indian converts w as established near the “ t confluence of Mahony Creek and Lehigh, known as Gnadenhu ” t 2 en (Huts of Mercy), which in 175 numbered 500 souls .

That in 1742, Count Zinzendorf made a missionary journey from Bethlehem across the Blue Mountains to the Indian village “ ” of Memolagomekah (Rich land among the barren) at the foot of the mountains about five miles from Gnadenhutten and twenty d miles from Bethlehem; to Tulpehocken ; to Wyoming, an through

M r the villages of inissing and Sopnato Chekomeko, nea the Connec 1 ti n cut li e. That John Heckw elder during his long service as missionary (1740 to 1808) w as constantly visiting the Indian villages of Wech

ue n n Fri enhu en q tank (beyond the Blue Mou tai s) , ed tt (Tents of

Peace) or Wyalusing; and Shesequan on the Susquehanna, and other villages nearer Bethlehem and Wyoming, where settlements o f the Christian Indians were established . Hence in view of these established conditions of missionary enterprise within a few miles of the Pocono region, and notw ith standing no scrap of direct assurance exists indicating services held by any of these saintly m en in the Pocono Mountains. it is confi

1 Se e a s f M rav v o 1 a e 194 e c e r n o o . s . Soc l t . tc . T . Hi t . . p g , , [ 38 1 Mo r a v i an M i s s i o n s to the I n d i an s

the message of the Gospel must also have been heard by the

l fi e d, but with the unique feature that the objects of missionary

n e terprise were the treacherous, malevolent foes of the mission ' aries white associates.

No race sa s arkman re erri to the or h Am ( y P , f ng N t erican Indians) “ perhaps ever offered greater difi culties to those laboring for its improve m “e v r traits h him v e e ent. e y t at raise abo the servil races are hostile to the kind and degree of civ iliz ation w hich those races so

easi a ain. His intrac a e s iri of in e en ence and the ri e whi ly tt t bl p t d p d , p d ch for i s hrm to b e an imi ator rein orce too s ron e b d t . f but t gly that savag l ” ethargy of mind from w hich it is so hard to rouse him.

The Red P of that time w as no subject of debate ; but

— colonists outside of Philadelphia as were the recognized dangers of the forest . As a result of this condition the villages of Christian Indians were generally under more or less suspicion from both d white and red men, an they became an object upon which fell

o t r the vengeance f both a ev ery outb eak between the races .

e n e Of th u s lfish devotion of these missionaries to their work,

r r ro f r or howeve , the e is no om o doubt question . It w as a field of

r labor almost wholly shunned by every othe sect in the Province, although it is gratifying to know that Heckew elder in his account of missions of the United Brethren accords to the "uakers fullest credit for their humane and generous treatment of the Christian Indians in their homes and later as refugees ; and that John Wool man at a later date in his relation to the Indians is referred to as " " o a n r The Evangel f Friends. It is equally sure that David Br i e d,

r n n of the P esbyterian Church, established an India Missio at “ ” “ ” Sakhuaw atung and at Clistow ache, villages near the Water 2 n e Gap, where he labored for the evangelizatio of th race .

‘ Matthew s 1093. The P o c o n o R e g i o n

On t i h s subject Mr. Keith in the preliminary remarks to his ’ ” manuscript chapter on Unitas Fratrum says :

Down to the arrival of the Moravians practically nothing had been achieved in Pennsylvania in the w ay of converting the Indians to Chris iani The t ty. Jesuits or other Roman Catholic missionaries of Canada had a iz e s er b pt d ev al of the Conestogas in early times. A Sw edish minister had a em e the con ersion of some c iefs fo n himse ne al to tt pt d v h , but u d lf u qu answeri eir ome ers had th ng th ob"ections. S "uak preached to e savages a ar l pp ent y without their being in the least moved . The efforts of the Church of England in this direction had been confined to the Province of New Yor k. “ ’ David Brainerd entered the field within a few years after Zinzendorf s

isi reachin at an n ian i e e ow the a er Ga as ear as Ma v t, p g I d v llag b l W t p ly y. 1744 soon o in the n m er of his earers a i in oses on a . d ubl g u b h , b pt z g M F d Ta am o 1 t y n July 2 , 1745, and dying in

But with these exceptions such missionary work, until under taken by the Moravians, w as almost universally avoided by the

i e r var ous sects stablished among the settlers, w ho rega ded it with suspicion and contempt, second only to that with which the Indians

e — — e themselv s with some few exceptions r garded it . The following brief account of these Moravian Missions appears ’ “ ” in n ri Mi er s Lett ers on Wyoming, and is here transc bed as inde pendent testimony from an unprejudiced source

The ora ians w ho had es a is e emsel es at e h ehem w ere M v , t bl h d th v B t l , ei er indefatigable in their labor of love to Christianize the Indians. N th ’ ' e e s of s e ers of e en a e fores s th h at ummer, winter s storms, th dang th t ngl d t , nor the toil in ascending precipitous mountains could check the holy th or ten ma e emse es mas ers of enthusiasm of e missionaries. Eight d th lv t

the n ian an a es heir in re ia ec s a e mi h b e n er I d l gu g , with t k d d d l t , th t th y g t u d Two o s h and De Watteville ra erse the stood . Bish p , Cammer off , t v d

w il erness on oo isi e the ario s ri es and se tlemen s a on the d f t, v t d v u t b t t l g ann th io r and e or in to re en ance the Susqueh a, preaching e Sav u xh t g p t ;

former sacrificing his life by exposure to the behests of duty. Though suffering many privations the zeal of the missionaries did not cool ; neither did their faith w aver nor their efforts relax ; their souls

ccess crow ne eir effor s sev seemed to glow with a divine ardor. Su d th t ;

eral n re lndians recei e the ri e of a ism . Nor w as it a mere hu d d , v d t b pt

forma ro ession on ar for eir i es w ere w o c an e and l p f their p t , th l v h lly h g d ,

e mo r h s e a e heir con c w i e heir th ral p ecepts of t e Go pel r gul t d t du t, h l t [ 40 1

Mo r a v i an M i s s i o n s t o the I n d i an s

ear s i a n m er h t y elded assent to its doctrine . At Wyalusing u b of Christian Indians had united together without a teacher for purposes of w or hi and i R d eir s er ev . a i Z eis r er re e an ecame h p, th th D v d b e g pair d b t as r Un r p to . der his wise direction the settlement soon assumed a ve y

easin as ec . Or er in s r and nea ness w e es ishe : an s pl g p t d , du t y t er tabl d l d w f ere c eare and fence . rain cat e orses r and e er sor o l d d G , tl h . poult y , v y t stock w ere introduced and schools w ere opened for the education of " n I dian children .

r n The wo k itself w as perilous to a degree past comprehensio , ’ and r i o r n fo c bly suggestive f St . Paul s summary of his pe ils give to 3 t he r n an r Co i thi Chu ch . ’ The following authentic story from Miner s letters regarding attempt by the Indians to assassinate Zinzendorf when on a

nar rn f r i su missio y jou ey to the Shawanese, near Wyoming, o c bly g ’ gests the sacred story of the great missionary Apostle s experiences at Melita

The Shawanese appeared to b e alarmed on the arrival of the

s ran ers who i che eir s on th s f er a i e elow t g , p t d th tent e bank o the riv l ttl b

the town and a co nci of the c iefs a assem e the ec are ur , u l h h ving bl d , d l d p

ose of Zin en orf w as e i era e To ese n e ere p z d d l b tely consider d . th u l tt d children of the wilderness it appeared altogether improbable that a stranger should have braved the dangers of a boisterous ocean three thousand miles broad for the sole purpose of instructing the. in the

means of o ainin a iness a er ea and a too wi o re irin bt g h pp ft d th, th t , , th ut qu g any compensation for his trouble and expense ; and as they had observed the an ie of the w i e eo le to r hase an of the n ians he x ty h t p p pu c l d I d , t y naturally concluded that the real ob"ect of Zinzendorf w as either to procure from hem the an s at r o use to search for i en t l d Wyoming fo his wn , h dd

reas res or to m e the r wi a ew r con es . t u , exa in count y th vi to futu e qu t It was accor i reso e to ina d to d es d ngly lv d assass te him , an o it privately, l t

the now ed e of the ransac ion s o ro e a w wi the En is k l g t t h uld p duc ar th gl h . who w ere set i e tl ng th country below the mountains. “ Zin en orf was a one in his en sea e n a n e of dr w ee s z d l t t, t d upo bu dl y d , w ic m se s ins h h co po d his b ed, and engaged in writing when the a sass

a roache to e ec e eir oo mmission w as ni and the pp d x ut th bl dy co . It ght, cool air of September had rendered a small fire necessary to his comfort

and con enience A cur ain forme of a an e and n on ins w as v , t d bl k t hu g up p

the on ar to e en h s ly gu d th trance of i tent.

- II Cor. 27 [ 41 ] The P o c o n o R e g i o n

" The heat of his fire had aroused a large rattlesnake w hich lay in the w ee s not far rom it and the re i e to en o it more eflectuall craw e d , f ; pt l , "y y, l d his s n e s one e s . slow ly into the tent and pas ed over of l g , u di cover d With

ou and ie the en le m rm r the ri at th t , all was still qu t, except g t u u of ver e

t his mom the n i e rapids about a mile below . A t ent I d ans softly approach d oor s and s i h rehrov the r con em la e the d of hi tent. . l g tly ing cu tain, t p t d

the enera e man too ee en a e in the su ec of his ou s to v bl , d ply g g d b"t th ght

notice either their approach or the m ake w hich lay extended before him. At a sight like this even the heart of the savages shrunk from the idea of m d i e s o e s rned to co mitting so horrid an act, an qu tting th p t th y ha tily retu the town and inform ed their companions that the Great Spirit protected the w hi e man for e had fo n him wi no oor a an e and had t , th y u d th d but bl k t. seen a large rattlesnake craw l over his legs without attempting to in"ure ”

him .

It must be appreciated, too, that the service in such mission work offered. from any but the highest viewpoint, such wholly

a or e r r inadequate return, no possible politic l eccl siastical p efe

— n ment, not even reasonable assurance of support only an occasio al rescue from heathenism of a savage soul whose permanent advance ment seemed to necessitate its loss of nationality and its identifica

r tion with the whites as their distinct inferio .

r an Even the glamour of omance, which too sadly often is

r s n incentive to attract unworthy ecruit to the mi istry, w as almost wholly eliminated from a field of labor among such despised and

r repulsive subjects . No w as the interest and sympathy of these Moravian missionaries in their converts confined to the period of

e r e their prosperity . At th outb eak of hostiliti s with the Delawares

r s t in 1756, when the f ontier settlement of Christian Indians a

and r Gnadenhutten, Wyalusing, other places, we e the scenes of the most cruel massacres, the fidelity and devotion of these mis sionaries on behalf of their converts suggest the impressive scenes 4 of Christian history in the time of Nero. ’ Macaulay s beautiful tribute to the devoted service of the Jesuits could properly be adopted and amflified in describing the service of the Moravian missionaries to the North American Indians ; save that the latter had but a single purpose, unbiased by politics

‘ - 1 Jank 45 1 486 ; 4 Arch. (1st ser .) 498 . [ 42 1

The P o c o n o R e g i o n

a n d would h ve been as great a missionary order as the Francisca , an would have been relatively greater in the non -Papal Christendom 7 than the latter in Papal ; yet in view of the relegation by the

ra Mo vian Church of all im portant decisions, and especially in the

n ar selectio of missionaries, to the casting of the lot, it is cle that ’ n w h an nari ot it st ding their great leader s influence, these missio es were under no such temporal or ecclesiastical control or guid ance in their actions as has marked the great proselitiz ing enter ’ ri in an at p ses the world s history . A general belief in Divine guid ce,

a a le st of ecclesiastical authorities, is acknowledged by practic lly — all Christian denominations indeed without such belief the line to between religion and philosophy would be hard to draw . But “ ” n the devout Moravian of the eighteenth century, open visio as n i dubitable as w as restored to Israel with Samuel the prophet, w s an n men a a esse tial part of their exalted faith, and these holy c ’ “ cepted literally Solomon s assurance : The lot is cast into the ” la p ; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord . “ ” The persons whom the lot cast assigned to missionary work were therefore inspired by no such devotion to the im perious

r r o ders of their church as were the noble order of the Jesuits . Befo e them arose no vision of a religious empire such as w as avowed by

f n r r r n r not n ra n the ou de of Islam . Ce tainly thei actio s we e co st i ed

n by the altruistic philosophies of Shintoism and its kindred teachi gs, of r the very existence of which they were wholly igno ant . They professed to be sirnply the human bearers of the message

r r a an f om thei Divine Master, to whom alone they owed any llegi ce,

- yet with whom they unhesitatingly claimed to be co laborers . But “ ‘ d r they hadheard the Spirit and the Bride say, come an the eby had they received the Divine commission to proclai m the same in v itation w ithout limit by danger or policy ; and they had responded

as on a a completely as St . Paul to the Divine call given him the D m s cus road . These observ ations on the devotion of the Moravian Mission aries to their work amongst the Indians are not exaggerated ; and yet, with but little qualification, they are also applicable to those

7 K e h b e. cit. it , [ 44 1 Mo r av i an Mi s s i o n s t o the I n d i an s

nob l n r e same comm n e bands who, u de th a d and guidance, are now bearing the same glad tidings over the barren wastes of Labrador and Greenland to the inhabitants of the ice-bound North ; through dark est Africa and am ongst the degraded cannibals of the torrid zon e into the mysterious and many peopled Orient ; amongst o d i n the n r l den s f vice an corrupt o to mo g el ndians, Negroes and

e x an and har and ru e neer o th M ic s , to the d gg d pio s f e West . Yet withal must it be recognized that only those whose souls are fired with holy z eal to spread the Gospel message can fully sym pathiz e with or appreciate the measure of devotion of the truly

r n consecrated missiona y . O ly such persons are privileged with a ” vision of the Angel of the Apocalypse : having the everlasting Gospel to preach to every nation and kindred and ” d ’ d . An t ir an aim r af r i S . tongue people he the e te , l ke t Paul s, is ” m not n n the that they ay be disobedie t u to heavenly vision. But to them that vision becomes reality in the light of knowledge

s r n in a n n that that Go pel, p i ted lmost every k ow language and dia lect has been already carried into almost every habitable part of ” the world ; and the loud voice of that angelic summoner com d ” manding Fear God an give glory to Him , is then heard only

a n n n of as a paean of triumph, ag i st which o e the specious arguments

n r r n against missionary e te p ise, though ho estly and plausibly pre

sented by many good people, could possibly be effective. This page of Pocono history would be wholly incomplete did it fail to record a further connection of the region with missionary

of r in f . enterprise the p esent time, the act that Dr Helen Virginia d r n o Blakeslee, a native an eside t of the village f Blakeslee, and a

r 1900 r the a g aduate in f om Atlantic School of Osteop thy, aft er some

r r in h r n years of p actical wo k er p ofession, e tered the missionary

n r the Afr an n an d in 9 service u de ic I l d Mission, an September, 1 11,

r n for ri left the Pocono egio to sail Kijaba, B tish East Africa, where she is now engaged in work as a medical missionary amongst the

Kyknan tribe in Matici, Africa.

r r n i As Dr. Blakeslee is ve y favo ably k own n many missionary

ri of circles, the Histo cal Committee the Pocono Lake Preserve has felt impelled to arrange for the devotion of the net proceeds which 145 ] The P o c o n o R e g i o n

ri may arise from the sale of this histo cal account in pamphlet form, augmented by whatever voluntary contributions may be offered ’ n a towards the support and developme t of Dr. Bl keslee s missionary

ri n r of work amongst the abo gi al t ibes British East Africa. ” It is a solemn and recognized truth that the blood of martyrs is the seed of the chur and in the light of history it is equally obvious that the homes of true and valiant missionaries are nurseries from which their most valuable successors are recruited for mission

r ary wo k . While it is irnpossible to show even remotely any connection between the lives of the Moravian Missionaries to the NorthAmer

nd ne r ican Indians , a the o who, f om the Pocono region, has followed

r r n thei example into fo eig fields, it will be peculiarly gratifying to the pious sentiment at Pocono to know that one has been called

r hence to undertake such missiona y work.

P en Local C nd ti ns res t o i o .

rr r The te ito y, the vicissitudes of whose early history have

en r r en be thus b iefly p es ted, may fairly be considered a part of the “ ri n n or o gi al cou ty of Bucks, , as Penn referred to it, Bucking ham a i 1 , est blished n the year 682, with a northern boundary “ or a of the Blue Kitt tinny Mountains, or as far as the land may ” r r be pu chased f om the Indians . Out of this vast and largely unexplored territory w as established 1 on ar 11 1 52 y n M ch , 7 the count of Northampton, then includi g the rr r now te ito y comprised within the counties of Wayne, Pike,

nr i and s r r Mo oe, Leh gh Carbon . Out of this territory w a fu the

a o r 2 est blished n Ma ch 1, the county of Wayne, from which in rn w ar tu as sep ated by Act of March 26, Pike County, and

r re n r o f om the maini g po tion f Northampton County, together with

ar of had a r p ts what l eady been twice separated to make Pike County, by political manipulations which recall the geological wrenchings

1 V. S a at ar e 140 . t t . l g , 3 4 e . 240 D ll . ‘ 20 6 Sm . 190 . P. 5 . [461 P r e s e n t L oc a l Co n d i t i o n s

e r w in of th te ritory in prehistoric times, as April 1, estab e lish d the county of Monroe . From this territory w as again 5 re e on r 1 1 n r w st d Ma ch 3, 843 as a co t ibution to the new county of

n so of a n Carbo , much the origin l tow ship of Tobyhanna as lay between Tobyhanna Creek and the Lehigh River and then known “ ” as Penn Forest township . 1 Sherman Day, visiting in 843, briefly describes Monroe ” o n as n r n n C u ty ge e ally mou tai ous, the greater portion of it being ” r occupied by the lofty and desolate anges of the Pokono. ’ Alfred Mathews more detailed description of 1886 notes four substantially parallel ranges traversing the greater part of the

county, northeast and southeast, viz

1 n . The Pocono or Broad Mou tain (also here known as the Pocono Plateau) ext ending from the northern boundary of the

rn county some twelve miles to its southe escarpment, and main taining an altitude of to feet, including the townships of

and n n and Coolbaugh, Tobyhanna Tu kha nock, northern portions of Jackson and Barrett in Monroe County as well as portions of

I r s rn Lackawanna and Wayne counties . ts no thwe te escarpment “ is known as the Moosic or Wyoming Mountain . ’ k r n r e r an 2. r or Wal c th n Godf ey s pa Ledge, isi g f om olli g pl e, which extends some seven miles southward of the southern escarp ment of the Pocono Plateau .

3. The Blue or Kittatinny Mountains , mainly the southern

r r n the n Ga d bo de of the cou ty, and through which Wi d p an the Delaware Water Gap constitute passes to the Pocono region from

e e n not as a as a th south, th former being as disti ct, if f mous , th t of Therrnopylae between Northern and Southern Greece ; and con “ stituting one of the strangest and most inexplicable features of the ’ ”7 earth s surface. n in t 4. The Weir Ridge, mainly in Ross Tow ship, the sou h

n tn western end of the county though extending i to Ches ut Hill,

Eldred, and Polk.

430 P. L. .

85 . P. L. — Mor is . So rans. 262 Cool. Sur. 6 8 . See c. I . H t T G 7 o . Sur. Z XI I Ge l L. 47 l The P o c o n o R e g i o n

Whether that part of Monroe Count y situated on the Delaware “ ” t fla s above the Water Gap and known as Meenesink, w as settled i by Hollanders, coming in over the m ne road from 115p (now

n Kingsto ) on the Hudson , before the Pennsylvania settlements, as 8 suggested by some writers, is an interesting historical academic, b ut too remotely connected with the subject of this history to

r warrant mo e than this passing allusion . The magnificent primeval forest continued practically unbroken in this section of the Pocono Mountains save by a few roads and small settlements until aft er the period of the Civil War .

a r n But cco di g to traditions of the neighborhood, Pocono Lake “ ’ t n H w -m b Village ( he called ooser s Mills, because of a sa ill esta lished r r e the e by Cha l s Hooser, one of the early pioneers who lived in a lo n n t g cabi ear the site of Laurel I nn) , w as a hamle represented ” ” a nu r o lo l d by mbe f g houses as ear y as 1848, an the Sullivan Road ” constructed partly on the site of the North and South Turnpike

r n t - f om Easto o Wilkes Barre, had been an accessible highway across the mountains since its location in 1779 by General John Sullivan in his expedition against the Indians aft er the massacre at Wyoming. This road crossed the Tobyhanna about the site of the Pocono ’ r r n P ese ve boat landi g, at a point known as Sullivan s bridge . An ” ” elevation near Naomi Pines is said to have been the point where ’ Sullivan s army encamped and whence they forced their path n r e ar a o thw stw dly towards Wyoming. The hill and the sw mp ’ accessible thereto were designated respectively Hungry Hill and “ ’ ” Hell s Kitchen , and these names were conspicuously marked on

r e n an e t e s the st ding near the spot . On of these inscriptions , sawed

a t r r out f e the t ee had blown down, is now in possession of one of 9 i a the h storic l societies of Pennsylvania. ’ Many of the details of Sullivan s great march are graphically ’ ”

n in Mr. . ei 1 9 give M R . H lig s serial story, With Sullivan in 77 ,

r n for T e S uds w itte h tro burg Times in 1907, and subsequently pub li h d in s e f d r. pamphlet orm an widely distributed , and in M Henry

‘ Da 474 Matthews 9- 23 l 26 y ; ; Cat el ; 3 Jenks. ‘ Ma thew s 1244 t . l48 1 P r e s e n t Loc al Co n d i t i o n s

’

. Cat C t ell s Pocono Plateau, from which many details of the

allies of the Bri ted b W n to tish. I t was entrus y General ashingto ” Gene ral John Stdlivm who w as directed to errter the lndian

anoth r e t e from the east dow n that river, and the third from the w s

1 ° and l Van t hen overrun the whole Iroquois Country . Co . Philip

det M te ailed to build the road. Starting ay 14th they comple d it by

On n ul r ro s on Ju e 8, 1779, General S livan eviewed his t op the Lehigh River near Easton and having in general orders com

(w ho w ere then encamped at Locust Ridge) for their unparalleled ” 12 on exertions in clearing and repairing the road to Wyoming, ’ 1 1 —u r Jun e 8, 779, they began the march p Bushkill Creek to Helle s ’ ell n Ga to Brinker s a r farm (H erstow n) , through Wi d p Mills (S ylo s ’ to l in the r n r near burg) , Lam ed s og tavern (the last house f o tie

[Rum Bridge] and Chowder Camp (Hungry Hill), crossing the Tobyhanna near the present boat landing at the head of Pocono “ r r a a ha Lake, ove Locust Ridge through the G e t Swamp (c lled s des “ ” r of rice: Fatigue Camp (now Burned Plain o Barren Hill), “ ” n and making their last camp at Bullock farm. some seve miles

n 23 from Wyoming, where they arrived the ext day, June ,

i' 39—40 Sull . 340 atte . . Exp ; C ll 11 - 293 . Catt-ell 40 ; Sull . Exp . 343 ” Su Ex . 343. ll . p

Ex . 344. Sull . p 4 The Po c o n o R e g i o n

r Between that date and the end of July, the emaining troops ’ k ar a one . . n having arrived, the entire my, bout o cloc P M o July

n and e an f r 31, 1779, broke camp at Wyomi g b g its orward ma ch " a R r on through the Wyoming Valley and up the Tiog ive , the cam ’ ” n m n r in r paign of destruction of the e e y s cou t y New Yo k State.

n w m n n cess nd f r The campaign thus begu as e i e tly suc ful, a a te

r a single battle at Newtown (Elmira), New Yo k, the power of the

cru e . n t n n r r r Indians w as practically sh d Washi g o by ge e al o de ,

f re and Congress by special resolution, ully cognized the value of ’ h n o General Sullivan s carnpaign, which as bee aptly c mpared with ’ “ ” W 1 4 Sherrnan s March to the Sea during the Civil ar. Of the public roads through the Pocono section of Monroe

n t n of County, the oldest is probably a ex e sion the old road from ’ r r n t Fo ks of Delaware (Ea ston) to Helle s (Wi d Cap) : this ex ension, located about 1735, passed through what is now Saylorsburg and ’ ’ o H Lev er s Mills (n w Stroudsburg) to yndshaw s (now Bushkill).

a n r e r d n n r d M i St e t, Stroudsbu g, an Washi gto St eet an North Cortland St reet in East Stroudsburg (formerly Dansbury) are on 1 5 o r the site f this oad.

r r r r n F om this b anch oad, spu s diverged at Saylorsburg, a d led ’ ’ “ ” Brink er ow d n Hoeth or Shu now to s (n Sciota), an the ce to s pps ( ’ b r r Gil e t s), and from Ross Common weste ly through Gnadenhutten ’ in r r r Smith s Valley . F om Shupps another oad w as ea ly located ” ” through Effort to Wyoming, an d w as known as the New road to distinguish it from the Sullivan road to Wyoming . This w as practically the site of the Easton and Wilkes-Barre turnpike built 1806—0 w 7. The old and ne roads united some three miles west of

r Stoddartsville . Yet another early road led from Saylorsbu g to ’ — Lam ed s now Tannersville . The North and South turnpike w as located about 1816 from

“ 14 I n s e e i ion the arm had b um ed or n an a es es ro e us e s thi xp d t y f ty I di vill g , d t y d b h l of orn esi es ousan s of ru rees and rea uan i es of eans and ota oes . m c , b d th d f it t , g t q t ti b p t It ight b e sa t o b e i eral rue of s a a t he an w as as the ar en of en e ore em id l t ly t thi rm y th t l d g d Ed b f th , ”— and eh n em a eso a e erness u . Ex . 378 . b i d th d l t wild . S ll p — ans ur an e roa ead—fa er of t he ur e or enera 1789 t o I ND oca ed some At D b y , D i lB dh th S v y G l l t 600 acres in 1737 by one of the oldest w arrants nort h of the Blue Moun tains; the w arrant in Septem ’ b er 1733 to ud e W am en for 250 a res at ossar s in ami on ow nshi e n the o es . , , J g illi All c B d H lt T p b i g ld t [ 50 ]

The P o c o n o R e g i o n

r at r n Through this forest oamed will, dee a d bear, besides

e and panthers, catarnounts, wildcats, wolv s foxes in abundance , and other smaller residents of all great Pennsylvania forests ; while

eagles, wild turkeys, pigeons, hawks, great owls and other represen

tiv n e in n r ta es of feathered nobility est d the gia t t ees, and the Toby

No wise resident of that section would then go into w int erquarters without first stocking his larder with plenty of

It is roughly estimated that as late as 1865 some two millions of acres of original forest w as standing b etween White Haven and

the a r i r d n t ar Del wa e R ve an betwee S odd tsville and Scranton .

I n r s ef r n i e this great timber egion, a b o e i d cat d, no very ext ensive

r n n f r lumbering ope atio w as begu until a te the Civil War. A considerable business w as however done during this unde " " v el oped period in shingling on these unseated lands . This shady

occupation, close kin to poaching, consisted in stealing a suit

a r ble and attractive tree f om the most accessible part of the forest, ” ” ” from which a skilled axeman with a suitable crow could rive

some five hundred to eight hundred shingles in a day. Mem ories

are yet treasured of one Manuel Van Horn, to whose prowess in this

s hi er r bu iness one thousand s ngles p day we e accredited . ” Nearly all the wood roads through the forests of early days ” r r s we e Shingle Roads, through which t ee suitable for the purpose

were dragged out to available spots for riving.

During this pioneer period the Methodists, with characteristic 16 n r ur e e gy and devotion, established a little ch ch at Stoddartsville.

1‘ The set tlem ent at Stoddartsv ille i s sand t o have had at one tim e promises of m uch greater

m or an e an w ere rea z e . ere ohn o ar m a e ar e ur ases of an in 1803 an d a er i p t c th li d H J St dd t d l g p ch l d , l t ons era e m ro em en s n u n a ar e s one floor n m a ar of w i is s i st an c id bl i p v t i cl di g l g t i g ill, p t h ch t ll ding . Whether this improvem en t w as in an ticipati on of the exten sion to this point of the slack w ater navi gation established by the Schuylkill Coal and Navigation Company and the Morris Canal Company a ou 1820 and w s o e at or en k ns; or w e er the extens on w as con em a e in v ew b t . hich t pp d P t J i h th i t p l t d i ’ of od ar s m ro em en s seems at s me to b e a e a a le ues on . Cer a n a chan e St d t i p v t . thi ti d b t b q ti t i ly g in t he plans of these corporations seems to have so divert ed the anticipated business from Stoddart s v ille that the mill w as abandoned and has stood for nearly a hun dred years a monument t o t he uncer tainty of business enterprises even am ongst intelligen t people . [ 52 ] P r e s e n t Lo c al Co n d i t i o n s

- of the few school houses. where preaching w as frequen tly held b y “ ” o of n e Father Stahl, the greater part whose life seems to have been spent in the saddle in the eflort to cover the territory assigned

ock th to him and visit his scatt ered fl living ere. tion at an early period in this section by the Germ an Reformed

Church and probably by other denom inations .

It is regrett able that no information exists save in memory, ing less than half a cent ury ago on the land now ow nedb y the Pocono L l ake Preserve. Of its dark. a most impenetrable glades, where i d s lence an shadow held unchallenged sway. Of those mountain

r fed n red of r s r n w r st eams, by hu d s c y tal sp i gs, he e trout splashed and r no m crowded each othe , with fear of olestation, save from an occasional wildcat, whose hunger tempted it to sneak to the edge t of the bank andtry i s luck in live body snatching, or from the claws of b e r r h of r the tte t ained fish awk. whom they were the natural p ey. Of those forest fastnesses regally carpet ed with velvety moss and

d r w banked with ferns, laurel an hododendron, hose luxuriant growt h w ould excite the envy and despair of the most fashionable

r of this place, fo here must have grown in profusion all the delec w table ild flow ers of the woods, and here the melody of the wild birds must have been ecstatic.

o r v r S me local histo y may, howe e , be legitimately inferred from the absence of trees in the v icinity of the dining camg and from the man y gravelike mounds and heaps now noticeable in that section of the Preserve, telling that this immediate territory w as visited in

of u the early part the last cent ry by a terrible tornado, which grasping that entire section in remorseless clutch prostrated the

” The ext ent of such windfalls in that part of the Pocono forest included within the limits of the Pocono Preserve is of course 153 1 The Po c o n o R e g i o n

f n r di ficult to fix with a y easonable certainty , b ut that they covered considerable territory is indicated by the many deciduous trees yet standing of such size and shape as to preclude the possibility

of r thei development in a dense forest . Much of the land too is ” ” described by old residents as having been good pasture land in

their youth . The picture thus suggested of such oases of vegeta

n in r fr f tio the fo est cannot however detract om its sub lirnity, or

n eve where sunshine hadsucceeded shadow, the silence of the fores t w as yet unbroken and the glory of its vastness w as undirnmed h i t ough perhaps less terrible n contemplation .

r r 1 n r in on P io to 865 , most of the lumberi g ope ations the Poc o region were limited to the cutting of such timber as could be hauled

r r away o carried down the larger streams during a f eshet, to some ’ of the many saw mills located on the Lehigh River and Brodhead s ” r and r n r o raf s a ar r C eek its b a ches , o n pony t to the Del w e, whe e they were lashed together and sent to Philadelphia. The better to enable the execution of such enterprises many of the creeks ” 1 7 r we e by special Acts of Assem bly declared public highways, ” ” and r r r along the banks of these highways and othe la ge c eeks, thousands of feet of fine timber are said to have been hopelessly

r st anded . Some considerable lumber w as also rafted down the Lehigh from mills located as far up as Clifton some few miles above Goulds 18 boro (now Thornhurst) where a tannery w as built about 57 . ” ” The lumber thus primitively shipped w as shot ov er the falls at Stoddartsville and rafted on to the head of the canal operated by

o t r ar and the Lehigh Coal and Navigation C mpany, a Po t J vis,

n nd v rr ana the ce boated to Easton and Philadelphia, a b the Mo is C l

Y r u r w as a so ran f rr to New o k . M ch of the hemlock lumbe l t s e ed from the Gouldsboro tannery by a plank road constructed from that

r nna nd rn place to Gouldsbo o Station on Delaware, Lackawa a Weste

Railroad and thence shipped north and south. I n 1867 the first large splash dam in the Pocono region w as built

1" ’ ’ ' r e s to e aw are ar 1 18 15 . . 62 . ohn r e s to eaz er r ce s ill. P ic Mill D l , M ch , , P L J P ic Mill El P i M ’

5. 1 e s t o ora an ur h near an a ens s arch 3 1832 ar h 30 1828 . c r M c , , P L. P ic Mill M vi Ch c C d i , M , ' ’ o as us s o mou h of ara se ran h of ro ea s ree ar h 24 1848 . . 224. Nich l B h Mill t t P di b c B dh d C k , M c , . P L 154 ] P r e s e n t Lo c al Co n d i t i o n s

liarly smooth condition of the red shale in the b ed and on the sides of the Tobyhanna at that point.

hanna r n om n a a ci n the Toby D ivi g C pa y, mutu l asso atio of operators,

w or ei n n r e rs na rv of Mr the k b ng do e u de th pe o l supe ision . Jerome

r r of r 1 Scott, who began ope ations in Septem be the yea 867, employ ing six or eight men some three months . The dam thus built had one t en-inch gate and backed the water about as far as the present

u e . re r a er n r n M ice ho s s About th e yea s l t , u de co tract with r.

u r in l Sam el Hays, the o ig al sp ash dam w as repaired. strengthened

and r en - and raised two feet furnished with fou t inch gates . The control of this water thus obtained sufi ced to clear the whole section of the magnificent forests and transfer millions of feet of

r n t lumbe to the boom the established a White Haven . These “ ” drives were systematically conducted by experienced men and

no with the most approved machinery then k wn . They followed

m of n r fr the primitive ethods floating logs dow stream du ing a eshet, 1 8 or raf i n r a a later of t ng them dow the ivers to some v ilable market .

r r The waste of lumbe in these ope ations, however, aside from “ the improvidence in cutting, is almost incredible. A wake of ” l t deso ation marked the path of each ex ensive lumber operation, and in this particular region it w as followed in the summer of 1874

a s a r r s fire rt n n r ar by mo t dis st ous fo e t , which, sta i g ea Stodd tsville, swept over some seventeen miles of territory within a few hours, spreading death and desolation over the entire region, although its progress w as checked by rain before it reached the present limits

r of the Pocono P eserve. Amongst those employed in driving on the Tobyhanna at that time are recognized the names of many pioneers of Northeastern

nn n n nr Pe sylvan ia, and some of their descendants, i cludi g He y

n a r S yder, Mandus Keiper, Samuel Bailey, Bob Deiter, Frank Sl the ,

Am n n Tom Payne, Daniel Mineham , H. M. Nagle. Flory e . Joh M .

l‘ - Good. I N Zl . The P o c o n o R e g i o n

t est r a o an LaRue alent n Dou y, Sylv e C d t, Juli , V i e Vasser, Clufi

r a o McLeod an Mc asse . Leod Th a irn V M lc lm , D iel , om s Welsh. J o as n a Welsh. Th m Redmo d. Ad m Mansfield. Peter Fox. Hiram

m of e en r e an So e th se m were t ain d Canadi rivermen, an d som e t no the w e of r d attrac ed. doubt, by high ag s fou an five dollars per r men o a day, we e f much cultivation and bility.

the c ne on anna r n he rr Of s e s the Tobyh du i g t se sti ing times, no f r r t race o eco d history exists, although with much effort some of

t r r d e d h r r ta e for n the ac o s we e iscover d an t ei memo ies x d i formation . “ ” m man r These me ories tell, however, of y fo est trees three to five

t r r an of feet in diame e , yielding th ee thous d feet lumber. Of the

nd r ar e a gates were opened at 3 A. M a the d ive st t d t 7 an d kept i up as long as the marks on the logs were d stinguishable . Of the

r h c effort to support such extreme labo by ot lun hes for the men,

r r r r as n r brought to them eve y th ee hou s by Bob Deite lu ch carrie , “ ” tea and ff n r an , h fire at r with co ee, but eve , y whiskey thoug the w e

r n r then sold at 25 cents pe quart . Of wages varyi g f om to for unskilled labor and to for bark peelers an dfrom

to per day for experienced drivers .

r A description of one driving scene, howeve , describes all in its

n r r has r r arran in a ro gen eral detail, a d the w ite the efo e felt w ted pp priating the graphic picture of a log drive contained in Stewart ’ “ ” Edward White s fine story The Riverman as characterizing the

n a scenes then occurring on the Tobyhanna, changing o ly n mes and occasionally the phraseology to suit the actual facts.

During the winter the logs had been hauled down ice roads ‘ ’ r an e in i of n to the Tobyhanna, where they we e b k d p les twe ty

b e and even thirty feet in height . The ed of th stream itself w as filled with them for a mile save in a narrow channel left down through the middle to allow for some flow of water; the banks were piled

r n at r n men . with them, side on, ready to oll dow the u gi g of the “ n r an its a First of all, the e tire c ew set itself, by me s of pe vies, 156 1

The P o c o n o R e g i o n

d n i s Cc . Shortz . Lewis 8: Co a d Dodge, Me g 8; , an of others, were

a . also pausing from their cold and d ngerous toil The Tobyhanna, refreshed aft er its long winter, bent its mighty back to the great annual burden laid upon it. “ By the end of the second day the logs actually in the bed of the b ig stream had been shaken loose and a large proportion of

n r them had begun floati g down the st eam from sight . It now became necessary to break down the rollways piled along the tops

r e r a n r a had r a of the banks . He e th b e ki g of the ollw ys e ched a stage more exciting both to onlooker and participant than the mere ’ opening of the creek s channel . Huge stacks of logs piled sidewise

n to the bank were teased and pried out. a d the upper tiers were apt

r nd as . to cascade down with a roar, a c ash a a spl h The man who

d r - r had done the prying ha to be ve y quick eyed , ve y cool , and very

r n r n of r r agile, to avoid being bu ied u de the to s lumbe that ushed down on him. “ a n o t am n r (It w s i ne of hese j s that Ma dus Keipe , one of

n le . the most active m e , lost his g ) ” m en as Only the most reliable , such the Canadians named,

n r r a r and Valentin e and Joh Vasse o Ad m Mansfield, we e permitted

f r r r at this initial breaking down . A te wa ds the c ew rolled in what

r logs emained . “ ’ e e t re d Julian LaRu s enormous str ng h, da evil spirit and nim

a r b leness of body made him invaluable t this dange ous work. Scott ,

in r a n . I too, often took a hand some of the mo e ticklish situ tio s n

a n of r n old days, before he had ttained the positio espo sibility that

an r raised the value of his time beyond m ual wo k, he had been one

r r n r r of the best men on the st eam at b eaki g bank ollways . Hi am ’ r a f an o n n n as Winte s, a slim, gr ce ul, h ds me boy of twe ty, k ow Roll ’ t n u ne and r w ay Hiram, also dis i g ished himself by the quick ss ce

m en an n n r tainty of his work . Oft en the st di g ea lost sight of him

r onf n r r a n r entirely in the sp ay, the c usio , the blu of the b e ki g ollways,

a er . r until it seemed certain he must h ve p ished Neve theless, he

r nd s n on a l always appeared at right o left , a ometimes eve og mid

ca n a fr e r stream, nonchalant, smiling, es pi g e si om the d st uctive

in r he r n power he had loosed . Once the st eam t logs a their 158 ] P r e s e n t Lo c al Co n d i t i o n s

m r appointed course, watched by the en who he ded them on their

tr fr the r w ay. And below, from the ibutaries om othe rollways, a never-ending procession of recruits joined this great brown army

n r on its w ay to the White Haven boom, u til fo miles and miles the

Tobyhanna w as almost a solid mass of logs . ” The men on the various beats now hadtheir hands full to keep

ne the logs running . The slightest check at any o point meant a

r w no w a of the un n n "am , fo there as y stopping e di g procession . The logs behind floated gen tly against the obstruction and came

. f r to rest . The brown mass thicken ed As a as the eye could reach

And n the surface of the water w as concealed . the , as the slow pressure developed from the three or four miles of logs forced against

rr n each other by the pushing of the cu e t, the breast of the "am began

n r s d n r k one to rise . The timbers upe ded , c o se , i te loc ed , slid over

r and r in r the other, mounted highe highe the fo midable game of

- o a r . jack straws , the loss f which spelled de th to the playe s ” a me n Immediately, and with feverish ctivity, the n earest at

on an hand attacked the work . Logs top they tumbled d rolled into

Men n r and the current below . be eath the b east tugged pried in ’ search of the key logs causing all the trouble . Others flattened out ’ ’ ’

n et a ra ar n nd . the wings, hopi g to g d w ou d the e s As the stop page of the drive indicated to the men up and down the stream that a h d f r a r at n fr "am a o med , they g the ed the sce e, those om above,

fr ra . over the logs, those om below up the Tobyhanna t il “ n Rarely, unless in case of u usual complications did it take more than a few hours at best to break the "am . ” The breast of it went out with a rush . More slowly the wings

n a a on r a for sucked in . Relucta tly the m ss flo ting the su f ce miles

For a n r rr r ar . up the st eam sti ed , silently moved fo w d few mi utes it w as necessary to watch carefully until the flow onward steadied

n h n r as ef r . itself, until the congestio ad spaced a d orde ed b o e Then

w r the men moved back to their posts ; the drive as esumed . “

r ow n . R r At night the c eek w as left to its devices ive men , with the touch of superstition inseparably connected with such ’ ’ afl i i a o run fr e at n . r airs, believe impl c tly th t l gs e ight Ce tainly, though it might be expected that each morning w ould reveal a b ig 159 1 The P o c o n o R e g i o n

su w as rar the ase. had a "am to break, ch ely c The logs usu lly

’ f r to b e started on by a ew minutes wo k . Probably this w as

because they ten ded to come to rest in the slow. still reaches of the

Tobyhanna through which, in daytime, they could be urged by the

” r n r Jams during a drive, contra y to ge eral belief, are of ve y

r r common occurrence . Throughout the lengt h of the drive the e we e

-u d f h probably three or four hang ps a ay. Each o these ad to be

r a n th r n r. broken. and in the b e ki g e e w as da ge The smallest

nes in r a n n r e misstep, the least slow s e di g the sig s of the b eak, th

of r nes in a on n or a in slightest lack p ompt s cting the hi t, of gility one o an r r e leaping from t othe of the always plunging timbe s, th faintest flicker from rigid attention to the antagonist crouching on

an n an a n n . the spring, would me i st t de th to the deli que t Thus it w as literally true that each one of these men w as called upon

r almost daily to wager his pe sonal skill against his ow n destruction .

The dam breast of this historic enterprise survived its usefulness until about 1894, when some hunters seeking temporary shelter in the crevices between its logs started a fire which not being fully

e a l r a extinguish d, ultim te y sp e d to some of the main supporting timbers and so weakened the structure that the greater part of it

n w as later swept dow the stream .

r About fifty ya ds west of the original dam breast, the Toby hanna Water Storage and Supply Company in 1899- 1900 erected

r m a new and enla ged da breast . This company w as incorporated 190 1 in February, with the original intention of supplying ice for

o an n o a nd the Pocono Ice C mp y, i c rporated bout the same time, a also of developing power for grinding wood for paper manufacture ;

r r r e r a n a but the latte pu poses we e a ly bandoned, a d plan substituted for developing the land about the lake for summ er resorts .

r e r I n furthe anc of this late object, a road w as built on the south 1905 r . o r r a side of the lake in by F ank P Meckes, c nt acto , and large sum expended in clearing the lake b ed of stumps and other ob struc P r es e n t Lo c a l Co n d i t i o n s

t io n a d La con t e n s . A naphtha lau ch c lle dy Po o was ins all d also on boardin h u or te n n as e L t he lake, and a large g o se ho l. k ow th ake t re th Hou se, w as about the same ime e cted at e head of the lake by p e rsons indirectly associated with the Storage and I ce Company .

— - — Before this period 1892 93 the Wilkes-Barre and Eastern Railroad was built from Wilkes-Barre to Stroudsburg; the first t r o n a 2 9 ain over which was run n Mo d y, November 7, 18 3. This r e ailroad is now leased to th New York, Susquehanna and Western

R . . who r ailroad (N . Y. S. 8: W. R R ) ope ate it .

From the owners of the new lake when re established, the

r p ioneers of The Pocono Lake Prese ve, including Joseph and Sarah

Elkin nr an re . r am ton, Isaac Sharpless, He y S g e, William F Wicke sh ,

of enterprise w as organized. a few these friends, in order to secure l territory yet more remote from conv en tional restraints, sett ed themselves in the summ er of 1904 near the present dam breast of 1905 1906 Pocono Lake . Returning in and they became so en amoured with the location that in 1907 tentative arrangements were made with the owners of the lake and surrounding tracts for

the purchase of the entire property, excepting the ice houses and

e r th right to harvest the ice crop, and in 1908 a limited partne

sh w s n -n n ip a organiz ed, with some twe ty i e members, to take title to

The plan of this organization w as the establishment of a com munity of orderly and educated persons for the en joyment of out of-door life in camps and cabins with the minimum of convention

a e lity . By subordinating as far as reasonably practicable th realiza tion of financial returns to the attainment of this fundamental

e d n , that end has been preserved with marked success as a dis

ti uish ur n w a ng ing feat e of the enterprise, in co trast ith its dis ppear ance as a feature avowedly characterizing in their inception so

an r ar n r m y othe simil e te prises . Practical difficulties having developed in conducting the enter

r as e n r n n p ise a limited partnership, th associatio w as eorga ized, u der 161 l The P o c o n o R e g i o n

art r Ma 2 1910 d ch e , y 6, , as a hunting and camping club, an has now

191 - r 3 . (Ap il , ) a membership of eighty fiv e persons Each of these members holds indiv idual title by lease for ninety-nine years (auto mati ll ca y renewable, and also devisable) to lots varying from two to

a r r r five c es whe eon are built shacks, cabins, or bungalows in acco d an wi h r r ce t the wishes of the member, and subject to gene al supe

r n r r r n viso y co trol of a board of directors . A ec eation g ou d with

nn te is courts and baseball field, dining M p and small clubhouse has been established for the general convenience and pleasure of members and many volun tary classes on various subjects furnish o ortu pp m ties for social gatherings and intercourse . The property thus secured seems especially adapted for the end o in view. It has a mean elevation of about feet ab ve tide

a r r in w te , and contains about acres on the Tobyhanna C eek

nn an n n in Tobyha a d Coolbaugh townships in Monroe Cou ty, i clud g all of rr n r wa a tee tracts of Samuel Howell, John Fish andJohn Sha p

s and r . les , parts of the warrants of Geo ge Bullock , Andrew H

r rr r Reede , Abel Gibbons, Joseph Mo is , Samuel Powell, Abel Mo gan ,

r n n r a and Pete Lyo s, John Donaldso , Josiah Dye , John Bl keslee

r r on w th d r r a n Geo ge Wagne , which as built e am b east, c e ti g the a of l ke herein before referred to, and which the deed purchase provides shall be maintained in perpetuity by the

r g antors .

900 the r r n The lake thus created covers some acres of P ese ve, a d has a perimeter of about eleven miles ; its length, following the

n r n r ra or of ce te li e, is about fou miles, with seve l coves bays, two

n which have a depth of about a mile . While the mai supply of the

fed r lake is from the Tobyhanna Creek, it is also by seve al sub ’ stanti l r Run Run a streams, including Wagne s , Wolfe Spring and

ri n Butz Run , besides numerous other sp gs . Below the dam breast the Tobyhanna Creek flows through the

n r r la d of the Preserve about two and a half miles furthe , whe e it is ’ also fed by two other substantial streams known as Davey s Run

d Ru an Deep n .

th r a The average elevation of e P eserve, as stated, is bout

r ra feet, and although it contains no p ominent peak, its topog phy [ 62 1 P r e s e n t Lo c a l Co n d i t i o n s

in c l u des several knobs and points of elevation, from which the sur rou n ding country is scefi to great advantage . " One of these elevations known as Red Ridge, on the south

s d n n i e of Pocono Lake, commands, looki g orthwardly, several fine

v e w a . i s of Locust Ridge, whose ltitude exceeds feet At the foot of this mountain is said to have been established the first settle

m n en t in the Pocono regio by the Eschenbach Moravians . This locality w as also the site of a considerable part of the military road opened by General John Sullivan in 1779; and a few years

t r . la er, of one of the Pennamite encounte s " m - r Pi ple Hill, near the Easton and Wilkes Barre Tu npike,

so me nine miles south of lo cust Ridge, and which enjoys the local

re n o n nn putatio , at least, f bei g the highest point in Pe sylvania, is also one of the conspicuous features of the northwestern scenery from the western s10 pe of Red Ridge on the southwest side of

Po on c o Lake . " n h Po d Ridge, about four miles sout of Blakeslee, is another

e p ak also discernible from this location, and on whose rugged

b r n east estles Lake Harm ony [Big Pond] , celebrated for its great

n r elevation a d the absence of any known inlet . It is p obably " another of the kettleholes alluded to in the earlier part of this

r hist o ical account.

an r r of r n r Me time and earlie , othe parts the Pocono egio we e pre-empted by other enterprises summarized in the follow ing 1 9 partial list :

1° Arnongst the early hot els in the Pocono region w as one located near the site of the presen t ” " Methocfist hur h at o ono en of fiv C c Mt. P c (th called Forks St ation because of the intersection e roa s a hal mile a ov e the resen s a ion - ot o owed—a ou l868—n earer the d f b p t t t ) . Fairview H el f ll b t “ " “ ”

st ation and a er The I nn at the or s. hese w ere o ow e The w w a er Hot e some . l t F k T f ll d by S ift t l,

mi es e ow a o n which w as the rs to cater es e a to summer uests. l b l th t p i t, fi t p ci lly g About this same tim e a syndicate bought some 400 acres m ainly on the south side of the railroad “ "

near . ocono s a on and or an z e om an Af er dis Mt P t ti g i d The Pocono Land lmprov em m t C p y . t posing of their holdrngs on the north side of the railroad they b uilt a commodious cottage called “ ” ’ The renton ar u w hi h e am e so o u ar as a resort for the mem ers ami ies hat an s T P k Cl b, c b c p p l b f l t pl ” " w ere orme to en ar e as a ot e to b e a ed The ren on ark ouse. ean me how e er f d l g it h l c ll T t P H M ti . v , anot her shin u es a ishe emse es near o ono K no w here he ere e a u hous fi g cl b t bl d th lv P c b . t y ct d cl b e “ ” called The Pocono Mountain House ; b ut fire having dest royed this building the original club “ " a o e the nam e o ono oun a n ouse for their new o e w hich w as o ene in une 1878 d pt d P c M t i H h t l , p d J , ,

and un er the ro rie orshi of . . oo er an d ose h o es and a er . . oo er r it e am d p p t p E E H k J p St k l t E E H k . J b c e one of the b est know n a most o ular resorts he re ion ra is o a nd p p in t g . On this t ct l c ted the famous “ " Sullivan Springs of very excep tion ally p ure aerated w ater w ith a p henomenal and unfailin g flow 163 1 The P oc o n o R e g i o n

The u l l B ck Hi l Falls Company (P. 0 . Buck Hi l Falls, Pa. ) (incorporated December 31 1900) w as established near Cresco a n st tio on the Delaw are, Lackaw anna and Western Railroad, in

arr wns i 1 1 r B ett To h p, Monroe County, early in 90 ; when we e acquired some one thousand acres at an elevation of about fifteen hundred feet. o Acc mmodations are now made for some thousand people. There are over one hundred cottages with all the attractions of a

first - r class summer esort . The special features of this place are agreeably presented in " l booklet and Key to Buck Hill Fal s, obtainable by any inquirer, and n l i c ude a swimming pool, golf course, bowling alleys, besides an excellent garage and ample stabling accommodations for boarding rse or m ho s furnishing the for riding anddriving. The Pocono Manor Association in 1902 purchased about eight hundred acres on the crest and slope of Little Pocono Mountain

r ove looking the Swiftwater and Paradise valleys, at an elevation of n r ea ly eighteen hundred feet.

A n The ssociation, having in view the establishme t of a summer resort to be conducted on lines congenial to the views held by the

of en r the Society Fri ds , and othe s wishing advantages of such an

nv r r e i onment, thus established Pocono Manor, unde the manage

n of c n n r r n r a me t the Asso iatio , and duly i co po ated u de the l ws of nns Pe ylvania.

An r w u f r attractive I nn , with mode n conveniences, as b ilt o

r use th n ar summe ; later, e Manor Cottage, which is ope all the ye ;

l ar h a so g age, golf links and a number of ot er attractions usually

n t fou d a such places . A cottage colony w as formed by a sale of lots conveniently

th n located to e I nn . The settlement thus established is of an u usu a r nd ar r r lly a tistic a exclusive ch acte , and its popularity has esulted in n th keepi g e place open during the entire year.

n n r Poco o Pi es Assembly w as originally incorporated Feb uary,

1 2 n 90 d r n . r , an its chart e amended i 1905 It o iginally co ducted

r n s n n 1909 a summe school u der state auspice , but si ce the s easo of th h n n d e summer school in its general scope as bee disco tinued , an 164 1

The P o c o n o R e g i o n

oun easan ouse . A. and . . Leec . M t Pl t H , W H M h

Clairmont, Mrs . C. H. Smith.

es ornish. Belmont, Jam C

ocono o n ain ouse E. E. ooker r. P M u t H , H , J

aw horn n erson . ennin s. H t e I n . Ry W J g

Wiscaa tt n s . . Loc woo se Bu galow . H M k d

Ont d . oo . woo E. R B th

E . M dow s d . . i h ea r e, H Sm t

n Gle Cariif.

Mount Airy House.

enr i o se E. . enr . H yv lle H u . R H y

s . Summit Hou e, Shoenduv

The o h a er o . Rud lp . W lt Rud lph

The Antlers.

d . r c a in I n . . an . rice. Sp u e C b , W J M D P

The most recent development in the region is the laying out of a large section near Pocono Summit in moderate sized lots by persons interested in some of the other enterprises . The erection of the new railroad station at this point adds to the kaleidoscopic changes the neighborhood has exhibited during the past twenty

fiv e ar and arn tor r e t c an e ma ye s, w s visi s of the p osp c ive h g s which y reasonably be expected during the next decade. 166 1 P r e s e n t Lo c a l Co n d i t i o n s

I n the consideration of these wonderful transformations of the in r Pocono region whereby, little mo e than fifty years, luxu riou s hostelries and commodious dwellings have succeeded the prim

e v al forest, should come to the thoughtful and reverent observer, pri vileged to enjoy the impressive silence which yet nightly t e

asserts itself in those mountains under the quiet starlight, not merely

an appreciation of the magnitude of such chan ges, but also a realiza t i on, there naturally connected with such thoughts, that all the — v arying record so briefly summarized m this sketch the evolution — of the country during prehistoric periods the advent of the M — " ound Builders the succession of the Original People, and — — aft er them the w hite settlers their struggles for supremacy the

fina r — ll l conquest of Nature in the p esent time a , must from the further end of Space and in the same light which discloses to the

r present generation many of the familiar stars, be obse v able as a scenic panorama in actual process of development"

om an e y, the dist ce of th stars, and the speed of light, such thoughts

are ar n famili ones, the exceptional conditions at Pocono le d them " ” selves like the spell of the Yukon to the quiet indulgence of such

‘ ’ exal consid ns s i i e ted eratio , so beautifully sugge ted n Miss T em y s e po m constituting the Foreword of this sketch, and with them must come a yet grander realization of the utter insignificance of all the transformations which history has recorded and is record

in of m n g, and which an can hav e any adequate conception , whe contrasted with those mighty changes wrought and being wrought ” by that Suprem e and Unchangeable Power in whose sight a

thousand years are but as yesterday when it is past, ” an i th d as a watch n e night .

THE END BIBLIOGRAPHY .

N referring to authorities in support of statements through

n out this historical account, the following abbreviatio s are

— ’ Haz Haz z ard s Register of Pennsylvania (16

’ — r Miner Miner s Histo y of Wyoming. — ’ — r n an a 1886. Buck W. J . Buck s Histo y of the I di W lk — ’ or . Chap. Chapman s Hist y of Wyoming

— an 1 Col . Ree Colonial Records of Pennsylv ia ( 6

— r Arch Pennsylvania Archives (six se ies , 96 — ’ Day Sherman Day s Historical Collection of Pennsylvania. — ’ 10 Sm . Smith s Laws of Pennsylvania (

— e r Geol . Sun Second G ological Su vey of Pennsylvania Z and G — t Land Titles Original Land Ti les, by Lawrence Lewis , Esq . — ’ Proud Proud s History of Pennsylvania (2 — ’ Mathews Mathew s History of Monroe County, Pa.

’ ’ — n Watson Watso s Annals of Philadelphia (Haz z ard s Edition, 3 — co n nn an a n a and ra . J ki s Pe sylv i , Colo i l Fede l Edited by

i . 3 Charles P . Ke th, Esq (

’ “ — r Keith Keith s MSS . Ch onicles of Penna. , Chaps. The ” " ”

r . Red Neighbors, Unitas F atrum — ’ " ” Hanna Hanna s Wilderness Trail (2 — " Cattell The Pocono Plateau, by H. S . Cattell . — ’ n d n . . Sull . Exp . Sullivan s I dian Expe itio (N . Y State publi cation).

’ - o of a o n Good . Goodrich s Hist ry W yne C u ty . 168 1 Bi b l i o gr a p h y

— - c Harvey History of Wilkes Barre and Wyoming. by Os ar — . ar J H vey 1909. ’ ’ ri n - Soci t of F e ds BuI. Bulletin of Friends Historical e y

— Mc M M . b . c ast . tor of eo l of nite States His y P p e U d . y J B Masters (6

169]