University of Virginia Library

III. PART III.

EARLY SETTLEMENT OF NORTH-WESTERN
VIRGINIA.

1754-1793.

CHAPTER I.

FIRST SETTLEMENT ON THE MONONGAHELA.

In North-western Virginia, the earliest attempts at settlement
were made on the Monongahela and its tributaries.
Early in the spring of 1754, David Tygart and a man named
Files, established themselves and families on the east branch
of that river; Tygart in the beautiful and highly productive
valley which still bears his name, and Files at the mouth of
a creek, where Beverly, the county-seat of Randolph, has
since been located. These were the first settlements in Virginia
west of Laurel Ridge, and the family of Files became
the first of that long and terrible list of unfortunate victims
to savage ferocity with which the early annals of the west
are stained. The pioneers soon felt convinced that their removal
had been premature. Their provisions were about to
fail, and not having been able to raise any, they wisely determined
to retrace their steps as speedily as possible. But,
alas! before the family of Files could be got off, the savages
discovered them, and every member, except the oldest son,
massacred. Tygart with his family escaped, and returned to
their friends, east of the mountains.

Two years previous to these occurrences, Christopher Gist,
agent of the Ohio Company, settled on a tract of land in
Fayette county, Pa., now well known as Mount Braddock.
His was the first actual settlement west of the mountains on
any of the tributaries of the upper Ohio. Being well known
as an active and efficient backwoodsman, his presence in the
west induced several other families to come out and settle
around him. During the following year several adventurers
visited that part of Pennsylvania, (supposed at the time to be
in Virginia). Of these were Wendell Brown, his two sons,
and Frederick Waltzer, who settled near where Brownsville
now stands. Others visited different points on the Monongahela,
above the mouth of Redstone, (Brownsville).

Among this number were Dr. Thomas Eckarly and his two
brothers. They were Pennsylvanians, and belonged to that
peculiar order called Dunkers.[1] In the wild and solitary
regions of the West, these followers of the founder of
Euphrate, hoped to find seclusion from the world, and the undisturbed
opportunity of carrying out the principles of their
faith. After exploring the country for some distance, they
finally settled on Cheat river, at the place now known as
Dunker bottom. Here they lived in peace and plenty for
some years (not, however, as a recent writer says, in "eating
an abundance of meat, as delicious as the refined palate of a
modern epicure could well wish," because, all animal food was
expressly forbidden by their creed, except on special occasions).
At length the despoiler came, and the single-hearted
recluse fell before his ruthless hand.[2]

In the year 1758, a settlement was effected near the mouth
of Decker's Creek, by Thomas Decker and others.

In the spring of 1759, a party of Mingoes and
Delawares made a descent upon the inhabitants, and cut them
off.[4]

Although adventurers continued to penetrate the country
lying between the Monongahela river and Laurel ridge, no
regular emigration took place, nor were any permanent settlements
effected until 1768. During this year a number of
persons made improvements on Buchanan, an important
tributary to Tygart valley river; other settlements were
effected on the Monongahela. Tradition acquaints us with
some circumstances attending the earlier settlements in this
part of Virginia. In 1761, four men, (Childers,

Linsey and two brothers, by the name of Pringle,)
deserted from Fort Pitt. Ascending the Monongahela, eight
or ten miles above Brownsville, the party made a short stay,
then crossed to the Youghiogheny, where they wintered.

In one of their hunting rambles, Samuel Pringle came on
a path which he supposed would lead to the inhabited parts of
Virginia. On his return, he mentioned the discovery and his
supposition, to his comrades, and they resolved on tracing it.
This they accordingly did, and it conducted them to Loony's
creek, then the most remote western settlement. While among
the inhabitants on Loony's creek, they were recognized, and
some of the party apprehended as deserters. John and
Samuel Pringle succeeded in making an escape to their camp
in the glades, where they remained till some time in the year
1764.

During this year, and while in the employ of John Simpson,
(a trapper, who had come there in quest of furs,) they
determined on removing farther west. Simpson was induced
to this by the prospect of enjoying the woods free from the
intrusion of other hunters (the glades having begun to be a
common hunting ground for the inhabitants of the south
branch;) while a regard for their personal safety caused the
Pringles to avoid a situation in which they might be exposed
to the observation of other men.

In journeying through the wilderness, and after having
crossed Cheat river, at the Horse-shoe, a quarrel arose between

Simpson and one of the Pringles; and notwithstanding
that peace and harmony were so necessary to their mutual
safety and comfort, yet each so far indulged the angry
passions which had been excited as at length to produce a
separation.

Simpson crossed over the Valley river, near the mouth of
Pleasant creek, and passing on to the head of another water
course, gave to it the name of Simpson's creek. Thence he
went westward, and fell over on a stream which he called Elk:
at the mouth of this he erected a camp, and continued to
reside for more than twelve months. During this time he
neither saw the Pringles nor any human being; and at the
expiration of it went to the south branch, where he disposed
of his furs and skins and then returned to, and continued
at, his encampment, at the mouth of Elk, until permanent
settlements were made in its vicinity.

The Pringles kept up the Valley river till they observed a
large right hand fork, (now Buchanan,) which they ascended
some miles; and at the mouth of a small branch, (afterwards
called Turkey run,) they took up their abode in the cavity of
a large sycamore tree. The stump of this is still (1831) to
be seen, and is an object of no little veneration with the immediate
descendants of the first settlers.

The situation of these men, during a residence here of
several years, although rendered somewhat necessary by their
previous conduct, could not have been very enviable. Deserters
from the army, a constant fear of discovery filled them
with apprehension. In the vicinity of a savage foe, the
tomahawk and scalping knife were ever present to their
imaginations. Remote from civilized man, their solitude was
hourly interrupted by the frightful shrieks of the panther, or
the hideous howlings of the wolf. And though the herds of
buffalo, elk and deer which sported around, enabled them
easily to supply their larder, yet the want of salt, of bread,
and of every species of vegetable, must have abated their
relish for the otherwise delicious loin of the one and haunch
of the others. The low state of their little magazine, too,
while it limited their hunting, caused them, from a fear of
discovery, to shrink at the idea of being driven to the settlements
for a supply of ammunition. And not until they were
actually reduced to two loads of powder, could they be induced
to venture again into the vicinity of their fellow-men.
In the latter part of the year 1767 John left his brother, and

intending to make for a trading post on the Shenandoah,
appointed the period of his return.

Samuel Pringle, in the absence of John, suffered a good
deal. The stock of provisions left him became entirely exhausted—one
of his loads of powder was expended in a fruitless
attempt to shoot a buck—his brother had already delayed
his return several days longer than was intended, and the
other was apprehensive that he had been recognized, taken to
Fort Pitt, and would probably never get back. With his
remaining load of powder, however, he was fortunate enough
to kill a fine buffalo; and John soon after returned with the
news of peace, both with the Indians and French. The two
brothers agreed to leave their retirement.

Their wilderness habitation was not left without some regret.
Every object around had become more or less endeared to
them. The tree, in whose hollow they had been so frequently
sheltered from storm and tempest, was regarded with so great
a reverence that they resolved, so soon as they could prevail
on a few others to accompany them, again to return to this
asylum of their exile.

In a population such as then composed the chief part of
the south branch settlement, this was no difficult matter. All
of them were used to the frontier manner of living; the most
of them had gone thither to acquire land; many had failed
entirely in this object, while others were obliged to occupy
poor and broken situations off the river; the fertile bottoms
having been previously located. Add to this the passion of
hunting, (which was a ruling one with many,) with the comparative
scarcity of game in their neighborhood, and it need
not excite surprise that the proposition of the Pringles to
form a settlement, in such a country as they represented that
on Buchanan to be, was eagerly embraced by many.

In the fall of the ensuing year, (1768,) Samuel Pringle,
and several others who wished first to examine for themselves,
visited the country which had been so long occupied by the
Pringles alone. Being pleased with it, they repaired thither,
with a few others, in the following spring, with the view of
cultivating as much corn as would serve their families the first
year after emigrating. Having examined the country, some
of them proceeded to improve the spots of their choice. John
Jackson, (who was accompanied by his sons, George and
Edward,) settled at the mouth of Turkey run, where his
daughter, Mrs. Davis, now (1831) lives—John Hacker,

higher up on Buchanan river, where Bush's fort was afterwards
established—Alexander and Thomas Sleeth, near to
Jackson's, on what is now known as the Forenash plantation.
The others of the party, (William Hacker, Thomas and Jesse
Hughes, John and William Radcliff and John Brown,) appear
to have employed their time exclusively in hunting, neither
of them making any improvement of land for his own benefit.
Yet were they of very considerable service to the new settlement.
Those who had commenced clearing land, were supplied
by them with abundance of meat, while in their hunting
excursions through the country a better knowledge of it was
obtained than could have been acquired had they been engaged
in making improvements.

In one of these expeditions, they discovered and gave name
to Stone-coal creek, which, flowing westwardly, induced the
supposition that it discharged itself directly into the Ohio.
Descending this creek, to ascertain the fact, they came to its
confluence with a river, which they then called, and which has
since been known as the West Fork. After having gone some
distance down the river, they returned by a different route to
the settlement, better pleased with the land on it and some of
its tributaries than with that on Buchanan.

Soon after this, other emigrants arrived under the guidance
of Samuel Pringle. Among them were John and Benjamin
Cutright, who settled on Buchanan, where John Cutright,
the younger, now lives, and Henry Rule, who improved just
above the mouth of Fink's run. Before the arrival of Samuel
Pringle, John Hacker had begun to improve the spot which
Pringle had chosen for himself. To prevent any unpleasant
result, Hacker agreed that if Pringle would clear as much
land on a creek which had been recently discovered by the
hunters, as he had on Buchanan, they could then exchange
places. Complying with this condition, Pringle took possession
of the farm on Buchanan, and Hacker of the land improved
by Pringle on the creek, which was hence called
Hacker's creek. John and William Radcliff then settled on
this stream. These comprise all the improvements which
were made on the upper branches of the Monongahela in the
years 1769 and 1770.

At the close of the working season of 1769, some of these
adventurers went to their families on the south branch; and
when they returned to gather their crops in the fall, found
them entirely destroyed. In their absence the buffaloes, no

longer awed by the presence of man, had trespassed on their
enclosures, and eaten their corn to the ground—this delayed
the removal of their families till the winter of 1770.[6]

In 1770, emigrants began to reach the Monongahela and
Ohio rivers in considerable number. During this year, Capt.
Cresap erected a cabin at the mouth of Nemocalling[7] creek,
(now Dunlap's,) which at that time was the initial point of
the great trail over the Alleghanies, a route pursued by Braddock,
and afterwards with but few changes, and those for
the worse, adopted for the Cumberland or National road.3
This point continued for many years the principal place of
embarkation for the whole western and southern country.

The Horse-shoe bottom on Cheat river was settled about
this time by Capt. Parsons, while other portions of that very
productive region were located by a number of enterprising
men, among whom we may mention Cuningham, Fink, Goff,
Minear, Butler, &c. &c.

The spirit of emigration seemed now effectually aroused,
and as the fertility of the soil, salubrity of the climate, and
apparently inexhaustible supply of game became more generally
known to those east of the mountains, the rush of emigrants
up to the breaking out of the Indian war, in 1774,
was very great. They spread over the fine alluvion of the
upper Monongahela; along West Fork, Elk, and Simpson's
creek. Of those who settled about this time in the neighborhood
of Clarksburg, we find the names of Nutter, Cotrial,
Beard, Patton, Davisson, etc.

CHAPTER II.

FIRST SETTLEMENTS AT AND NEAR WHEELING.

A new impulse to Western emigration seemed given with
the commencemeut of the seventh decade of the eighteenth
century.

A spirit of inquiry and enterprise was awakened in many
parts of the East, and men of indomitable courage and great
energy of character pushed out into the illimitable wilderness,
to explore the country and find themselves homes in the outspread
bosom of the great west.

It was in this year that the Zanes first settled at the mouth
of Wheeling creek, and the elder Tomlinson broke the silence
of the wilds at Grave creek by the shrill echo of his never-failing
rifle.

The number, however, of those who ventured to the Ohio
were few, indeed. It was considered extremely unsafe for
the self-protecting hunter, but would have been deemed madness
to expose a family to so much hazard. Along the upper
branches of the Monongahela settlements were made at several
points. Of those who thus early struck for a home in the
beautiful and highly fertile vallies of Western Virginia, were
James Booth and John Thomas. They settled on what is
now known as Booth's creek.

Previous, however, to the actual settlement of the country,
above the forks of the Monongahela, some few families (in
1767) had establishsd themselves in the vicinity of Fort Redstone,
now Brownsville, Pennsylvania. At the head of these
were Abraham Tegard, James Crawford, John Province and
John Harden. The latter of these gentlemen afterwards removed
to Kentucky, and became distinguished in the early

history of that State, as well for the many excellencies of his
private and public life, as for the untimely and perfidious
manner of his death.

In the succeeding year Jacob Vanmeter, John Swan, Thomas
Hughes and some others, settled on the west side of the Monongahela,
near the mouth of Muddy creek, where Carmichaeltown
now stands.

In the same year, the place which had been occupied for a
while by Thomas Decker and his unfortunate associates, near
where Morgantown now stands, was settled by a party of
emigrants; one of whom was David Morgan, who became so
conspicuous for personal prowess, and for the daring yet deliberate
courage displayed by him during the subsequent
hostilities with the Indians.[8]

It was in June, 1770, that Joseph Tomlinson, from near
Fort Cumberland, first visited the flats of Grave creek.[9] He
was accompanied by his brother Samuel. Delighted with the
beauty, extent and fertility of the bottom, he determined to
fix here his abode. Building a cabin, he remained during the
summer and fall, and then returned east of the mountains to
remove with his family in the following spring. Increased
apprehensions of Indian troubles induced him to

delay the final removal until the spring of 1773.

About the same time that Mr. Tomlinson first visited Grave
creek, came Ebenezer Zane to Wheeling.[11] Soon after, he

was followed by his brothers, Andrew and Jonathan, with
several others, from the south branch of Potomac.

In 1772 came Bonnett, Wetzel, Messer, Silas Zane, and
many other hardy pioneers from the same region; men whose
means and influence contributed greatly towards breaking the
power of the savage and subduing the country to the wants
of civilized life.

The emigrants crossed from Redstone by way of Cat-fish,
(Washington,) and Scotch ridge, to the head of little Wheeling
valley, thence down over the same path, afterwards taken
for the National road. When within a few hundred yards
of the forks of Wheeling, an incident occurred, trivial in its
character, but important in its results. Wetzel was riding in
advance of his company, when suddenly the girth of his
saddle broke, and he was compelled to get off to repair it.
Meantime Silas Zane passed on, and soon came to the forks,
and greatly admiring the locality, commenced "tomahawking"
his "right."[12] The land thus secured, (one thousand
acres,) is now one of the most valuable and highly improved
farms in Western Virginia.[13] At this point the company
separated, Wetzel, Bonnett and others, going up[14] big Wheeling,

while Zane, with one or two others, went down.[15] Other
emigrants soon followed, and the fine lands along Wheeling,
Buffalo and Short creeks, were not long unclaimed by actual
settlers.

Some of the earliest occupants of the fine creek and river
bottoms above Wheeling, were George Leffler, Benjamin Biggs,
Joshua Baker, Zachariah Sprigg, Andrew Swearengen, David
Shepherd, the McCollogh's, Mitchells, Van Metres, Millers,
Kellers, &c. &c. &c.

During this year (1772) many emigrants also pushed into
the fine regions along the upper Monongahela. The spirit of
adventure seemed aroused, and many of the sturdy settlers
from the south branch found their way into the fertile vallies
of Western Virginia.

It was in this year, says Withers, that the comparatively
beautiful region lying on the east fork of the Monongahela,
between the Alleghany mountains, on its south-eastern, and
the Laurel hill, or as it is there called the Rich mountain, on
its north-western side, and which had received the denomination
of Tygart's valley, again attracted the attention of emigrants.—In
the course of this year, the greater part of the
valley was located, by persons said to have been enticed
thither by the description given of it, by some hunters from
Greenbriar who had previously explored it. Game, though a
principal was not however their sole object. They possessed
themselves at once of nearly all the level land lying between
these mountains—a plain of 25 or 30 miles in length and
varying from three-fourths to two miles in width, and of almost
unsurpassed fertility. Of those who were first to occupy
that section of country, we find the names of Hadden,
Connely, Whiteman, Warwick, Nelson, Stalnaker, Riffle and
Westfall: the latter of these found and interred the bones of
Files' family, which had lain, bleaching in the sun, since the
murder of these unfortunate settlers, by the Indians, in 1754.

Cheat river too, on which no attempt at settlement had

been made, but by the unfortunate Eckarly's became an
object of attention.

In this year (1772) settlements were made on Simpson's
creek, West-fork river, and Elk creek. Those who made
the former were John Power, James Anderson and Jonas
Webb.

On Elk, and in the vicinity of Clarksburg, there settled
Thomas Nutter, near to the Forge-mills; Samuel Cottrial,
on the east side of the creek and nearly opposite to Clarksburg;
Sotha Hickman, on the west side of the same creek,
and above Cottrial; Samuel Beard at the mouth of Nanny's
run; Andrew Cottrial above Beard, and at the farm now owned
by John W. Patten; Daniel Davison, where Clarksburg is
now situated; and Obadiah Davison and John Nutter on the
West-fork; the former near to the old salt works, and the
latter at the place now owned by Adam Hickman, Jr.

There was likewise at this time, a considerable accession to
the settlements on Buchanan and Hacker's creeks. So great
was the increase of population in this latter neigborhood, that
the crops of the preceding season did not afford more than
one-third of the breadstuff, which would be ordinarily consumed
in the same time, by an equal number of persons.
Such indeed was the state of suffering among the inhabitants,
consequent on this scarcity, that 1773 is traditionally known
as the starving year.

These were the principal settlements made in North-Western
Virginia, previous to 1774. No sooner, however, was it
known that such outposts had been established on the confines
of civilization, than hundreds eagerly pressed forward, impatient
to join their more adventurous brethren, and all anxious
to secure themselves homes in the expanseless domain
stretched out before them. The same spirit actuated those
hardy pioneers which has since so distinguished their descendants.
That spirit, which spurning all restraints, subduing all
to their will, breaking over every obstacle, has planted down
the standard of liberty—that standard which their fathers
first raised in the valley of the Ohio, in 1774—on the shores
of the distant Pacific. It was the true spirit of the old Anglo-Saxon,—bending

purposes to his will; it is now the
proud impulse of every American heart, and will go on to
subdue other people, and conquer other territories, until the
whole of the "boundless continent" of North America is
ours.

The men who settled North-Western Virginia, knew, when
they commenced it, that 'twas to "do or die." A fierce, implacable,
and deadly foe met them on every hand. To succeed,
required caution, energy, courage and hope. These,
severally and unitedly, they exercised, and by them conquered
the savage and reclaimed the land.

Many of the first settlers along the Ohio, differed somewhat
from those who improved farther back.

They were the same restless, energetic and enterprising
people, united together by the same bonds of fraternal union,
but looking for support through different channels.

The fine facilities afforded by the Ohio for transporting
their surplus produce to market[16] rendered them more ambitious,
and more anxious of promoting their pecuniary interests,
than their brethern in the interior.

Others, again, looking forward to the time when the Indians
would be divested of the country north-west of the Ohio
river, and it should be open to location in the same manner as
its south-eastern shores were, selected this as a situation, from
which they might more readily obtain possession of the fertile
land, with which its ample plains were known to abound. In
anticipation of this period, there were some who embraced
every opportunity, afforded by intervals of peace with the
Indians, to explore that country and select in it what they
deemed its most valuable parts. Around these they would
generally mark trees, or otherwise define boundaries by which
they could be afterwards identified. The cession by Virginia

to the United States, of the north-western territory, and
the manner in which its lands were subsequently brought into
market, prevented the realization of those flattering, and apparently
well founded expectations.

There were also, in every settlement, individuals who had
been drawn to them solely by their love of hunting, and an
attachment to the wild, unshackled scenes of a wilderness life.
These were, perhaps, totally regardless of all the inconveniencies
resulting from their new situation; except that of being
occasionally pent up in forts; and thus debarred the enjoyment
of their favorite pastimes.

Although hunting was not the object of most of the old settlers,
yet it was for a good part of the year, the chief employment
of their time. And of all those who thus made their
abode in the dense forest, and tempted aggression from the
neighboring Indians, none were so well qualified to resist this
aggression, and to retaliate upon its authors, as those who
were mostly engaged in this pursuit. Of all their avocations,
this "mimickry of war" best fitted them to thwart the savages
in their purpose, and to mitigate the horrors of their peculiar
mode of warfare. Those arts which enabled them, unperceived,
to approach the watchful deer in his lair, enabled them
likewise to circumvent the Indian in his ambush; and if not
always punish, yet frequently defeat him in his object. Add
to this the perfect knowledge which they acquired of the
woods, and the ease and certainty with which they consequently,
when occasion required, could make their way to any
point of the settlements and apprize the inhabitants of approaching
danger; and it will be readily admitted that the
more expert and successful the huntsman, the more skilful
and effective the warrior.

But various as may have been their objects in emigrating,
no sooner had they come together, than there existed in each
settlement, a perfect unison of feeling. Similitude of situation
and community of danger, operating as a magic charm,
stifled in their birth those little bickerings, which are so apt
to disturb the quiet of society. Ambition of preferment and
the pride of place, too often hindrances to social intercourse,
were unknown among them. Equality of condition rendered
them strangers, alike to the baneful distinctions created by
wealth and other adventitious circumstances. A sense of
mutual dependence for their common security linked them in

amity; and conducting their several purposes in harmonious
concert, together they toiled and together suffered.

In their intercourse with others they were kind, beneficent
and disinterested; extending to all the most generous hospitality
which their circumstances could afford. That selfishness,
which prompts to liberality for the sake of remuneration,
and proffers the civilities of life with an eye to individual interest,
was unknown to them. They were kind for kindness
sake; and sought no other recompense, than the never failing
concomitant of good deeds—the reward of an approving conscience.

Such were the pioneers of the West; and the greater part of
mankind might now derive advantage from the contemplation
of "their humble virtues, hospitable homes and spirits patient,
noble, proud and free—their self-respect, grafted on innocent
thoughts; their days of health and nights of sleep—their
toils, by danger dignified, yet guiltless—their hopes of cheerful
old age and a quiet grave, with cross and garland over its
green turf, and their grandchildren's love for epitaph."

The above picture, couched in such truthful, simple, but
eloquent language, we have thought not inappropriate, or unmerited.
It represents the sturdy pioneer in his true character;
and could only be drawn by one who was an eye-witness
to the scenes he so aptly, tersely and touchingly describes.

Although a dark cloud hung upon the horizon, and fear
trembled upon the heart of the pioneer as he looked tenderly,
devotedly and affectionately at his little household,—scarcely
knowing at what moment the shaft of the destroyer might fall
upon him, yet all was joy and happiness within. Content
smiled upon his humble home. Sunshine was all around him,
on the earth, in the sky, and beaming from the faces of little
innocents who looked into his own, smilingly, touchingly,
affectionately.

Such was the Western Pioneer. How many are there not
in the haunts of civilized life, who would gladly exchange
their condition for that of the rude frontierman?

At the time of the formation of these settlements, all was
comparative peace with the Indians. But the restless and

reckless character of some who had come out, not for the
purpose of opening up the country, but to depredate upon
the Indians, soon made it manifest that the reign of peace
would be short, as the Indians had threatened retaliation,
unless the wrongs which they daily received should cease.

Many little stockade forts had sprung up at different points
on the Ohio and elsewhere, previous to 1774, which seemed
to inspire confidence, and induce settlers to come on.

Up to the spring of 1774, the tide of emigration flowed
very steadily into this part of Virginia. But the

atrocious murders committed near the mouth of
Yellow creek, and at Captina, stirred the Indians up to
vengeance, and for a long time checked the advancing footsteps
of civilization.

The great object with all who emigrated hither was land.
It could then be obtained literally, "for taking up." Erecting
a cabin and raising a crop, entitled any one to a settler's
right of four hundred acres, with a pre-emption claim to one
thousand more, to be secured by a land-office warrant. These
certainly were great inducements, and the lands thus obtained
became princely fortunes to the descendants of the primitive
settler.

Most of the early settlers in this part of North-western
Virginia were from the upper counties of Virginia and Maryland.
Many of them were men who had seen service, and
been inured to the hardships of frontier life. They brought
with them but little, as their removal had to be effected entirely
on horseback. They were generally persons of staid
habits and sterling worth; possessed of great energy of
character and incorruptible patriotism.

As a description of the habits, customs, mode of living,
&c., of the primitive settler may not be uninteresting to their
descendants as well as the general reader, we will give from
Dr. Doddridge's unpretending little volume a short account
of some of these interesting features of pioneer life. The
writer having been an eye-witness as well as an actor in most

of the scenes he so aptly and graphically portrays, we doubt
not he has drawn a faithful picture, and one which every old
pioneer will be able to recognize. Only one who had been an
eye-witness to such scenes, or derived them directly from the
pioneer fathers, could properly describe them.

HOME OF THE PIONEER.

CHAPTER III.

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

A correct and detailed view of the origin of societies,
and their progress from one condition or point of wealth,
science and civilization, to another is interesting, even when received
through the dusky medium of history, often times but
poorly and partially written. But when this retrospect of
things past and gone is drawn from the recollections of experience,
the impression which it makes on the heart must be
of the most vivid and lasting kind.

The following history of the state of society, manners and
customs of our forefathers has been drawn from the latter
source; and is given to the world with the knowledge that
many of my cotemporaries are still living, who, as well as
myself, have witnessed all the scenes and events herein described,
and whose memories will speedily detect and expose
any errors it may contain.

The municipal as well as ecclesiastical institutions of society,
whether good or bad, in consequence of their continued
use, give a corresponding cast to the public character of the
society, whose conduct they direct, the more so, because, in
the lapse of time, the observance of them becomes a matter
of conscience.

This observation applies with full force to that influence of
our early land laws which allowed four hundred acres, and no
more, to a settlement right. Many of our first settlers seemed
to regard this amount of the surface of the earth as the allotment
of Divine Providence for one family, and believed that
any attempt to get more would be sinfnl. Most of them,
therefore, contented themselves with that amount; although
they might have evaded the law, which allowed but one settlement
right to any one individual, by taking out the title
papers in the names of others, to be afterwards transferred

to them as if by purchase. Some few, indeed, pursued this
practice; but it was held in detestation.

Owing to the equal distribution of real property directed
by our land laws, and the sterling integrity of our forefathers,
in their observance of them, we have no districts of "sold
land," as it is called, that is, large tracts of lands in the
hands of individuals or companies, who neither sell nor improve
them, as is the case in Lower Canada and the northwestern
part of Pennsylvania. These unsettled tracks make
huge blanks in the population of the country where they exist.

The division lines between those whose lands adjoined, were
generally made in an amicable manner, before any survey of
them was made by the parties concerned. In doing this, they
were guided mainly by the tops of ridges and water courses,
but particularly the former. Hence, the greater number of
farms in the western parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia bear
a striking resemblance to an amphitheatre. The buildings
occupy a low situation, and the tops of the surrounding hills
are the boundaries of the tract to which the family mansion
belongs.

Our forefathers were fond of farms of this description, because,
as they said, they are attended with this convenience,
"that every thing comes to the house down hill." In the
hilly parts of the State of Ohio, the land having been laid
off in an arbitrary manner, by straight parallel lines, without
regard to hill or dale, the farms present a different aspect
from those on the east side of the river. There the buildings as
frequently occupy the tops of the hills as any other situation.

Our people had become so accustomed to the mode of
"getting land for taking it up," that for a long time it was
generally believed that the land on the west side of the Ohio
would ultimately be disposed of in that way. Hence, almost
the whole tract of country between the Ohio and Muskingum
was parcelled out in tomahawk improvements; but these were
not satisfied with a single four hundred acre tract. Many of
them owned a great number of tracts of the best land, and
thus, in imagination, were as "wealthy as a South Sea dream."
Some of these land jobbers did not content themselves with
marking trees, at the usual height, with the initials of their
names, but climbed up the large beech trees, and cut the letters
in their bark from twenty to forty feet from the ground.
To enable them to identify those trees at a future period, they
made marks on other trees around as references.

The settlement of a new country, in the immediate neighborhood
of an old one, is not attended with much difficulty,
because supplies can be readily obtained from the latter; but
the settlement of a country very remote from any cultivated
region is quite a different thing, because at the outset, food,
raiment, and the implements of husbandry are only obtained
in small supplies, and with great difficulty. The task of
making new establishments in a remote wilderness, in a time
of profound peace, is sufficiently difficult; but when, in addition
to all the unavoidable hardships attendant on this business,
those resulting from an extensive and furious warfare
with savages are superadded; toil, privations and sufferings
are then carried to the full extent of the capacity of men to
endure them.

Such was the wretched condition of our forefathers in
making their settlements here. To all their difficulties and
privations the Indian war was a weighty addition. This
destructive warfare they were compelled to sustain almost
single-handed, because the Revolutionary contest gave full
employment for the military strength and resources on the
east side of the mountains.

The following history of the poverty, labors, sufferings,
manners and customs of our forefathers, will appear like a
collection of "tales of olden times," without any garnish of
language to spoil the original portraits, by giving them shades
of coloring which they did not possess.

I shall follow the order of things as they occurred during
the period of time embraced in these narratives, beginning
with those rude accommodations with which our first adventurers
into this country furnished themselves at the commencement
of their establishments. It will be a homely narrative,
yet valuable on the ground of its being real history.

In this chapter it is my design to give a brief account of
the household furniture and articles of diet which were used
by the first inhabitants of our country. A description of
their cabins and half-faced camps, and their manner of building
them, will be found elsewhere.

The furniture for the table, for several years after the settlement
of this country, consisted of a few pewter dishes,
plates and spoons; but mostly of wooden bowls, trenchers
and noggins. If these last were scarce, gourds and hard-shelled
squashes made up the deficiency.

The iron pots, knives and forks were brought from the East,
with the salt and iron, on pack-horses.

These articles of furniture corresponded very well with the
articles of diet. "Hog and hommy" were proverbial for
the dish of which they were the component parts. Jonny-cake
and pone were, at the outset of the settlements of the
country, the only forms of bread in use for breakfast and
dinner. At supper, milk and mush was the standard dish.
When milk was not plenty, which was often the case, owing
to the scarcity of cattle, or the want of proper pasture for
them, the substantial dish of hominy had to supply the place
of them; much was frequently eaten with sweetened water,
molasses, bear's oil, or the gravy of fried meat.

In our whole display of furniture, the delft, china and
silver were unknown. It did not then, as now, require contributions
from the four quarters of the globe to furnish the
breakfast table, viz: the silver from Mexico; the coffee from
the West Indies; the tea from China; and the delft and porcelain
from Europe or Asia. Yet our homely fare, and unsightly
cabins and furniture produced a hardy race, who planted the
first footsteps of civilization in the immense regions of the
West. Inured to hardships, bravery and labor, from their
early youth, they sustained with manly fortitude the fatigue
of the chase, the campaign and scout, and with strong arms
"turned the wilderness into fruitful fields," and have left to
their descendants the rich inheritance of an immense empire
blessed with peace, and wealth, and prosperity.

The introduction of delft ware was considered by many of
the backwoods' people as a culpable innovation. It was too
easily broken, and the plates of that ware dulled their scalping
and clasp-knives; tea ware was too small for men—they
might do for women and children. Tea and coffee were only
slops, which, in the adage of the day, "did not stick by the
ribs." The idea then prevalent was, that they were only designed
for people of quality, who did not labor, or for the
sick. A genuine backwoodsman would have thought himself
disgraced by showing a fondness for such "slops." Indeed,
many of them have, to this day, very little respect for them.

But passing from the furniture, diet, &c., of our forefathers,
we now come to speak of their dress, which will be
found singular and interesting enough to many of the present
day and generation. Some of our fashionables would scarcely

be able to recognize in the picture, so faithfully and graphically
drawn by our venerable historian, the persons of their
grandsires and dames.

On the frontier, and particularly among those who were
much in the habit of hunting, and going on scouts and campaigns,
the dress of the men was partly Indian and partly
that of civilized nations.

The hunting shirt was universally worn. This was a kind
of loose frock, reaching half-way down the thighs, with large
sleeves, open before, and so wide as to lap over a foot or more
when belted. The cape was large, and sometimes fringed
with a ravelled piece of cloth, of a different color from that
of the hunting shirt itself. The bosom of this dress served
as a wallet to hold bread, cakes, jerk, tow for wiping the barrel
of the rifle, or any other necessary for the hunter or
warrior. The belt, which was always tied behind, answered
several purposes, besides that of holding the dress together.
In cold weather, the mittens, and sometimes the bullet-bag
occupied the front part of it. To the right side was suspended
the tomahawk, and to the left the scalping-knife, in its leathern
sheath. The hunting shirt was generally made of linsey,
sometimes of coarse linen, and a few of dressed deer-skins.
These last were very cold and uncomfortable, in wet weather.
The shirt and jacket were of the common fashion. A pair
of drawers, or breeches and leggins were the dress of the
thighs and legs, a pair of moccasins answered for their feet
much better than shoes. These were made of dressed deerskin.
They were mostly of a single piece, with a gathering
seam along the top of the foot, and another from the bottom
of the heel, without gathers, as high or a little higher than
the ankle joint. Flaps were left on each side, to reach
some distance up the legs. These were nicely adapted to the
ankles and lower part of the leg by thongs of deer-skin, so
that no dust, gravel, or snow could get within the moccasin.

In cold weather the moccasins were well stuffed with deers'
hair or dry leaves, so as to keep the feet comfortably warm;
but in wet weather it was usually said, that wearing them was
"a decent way of going barefooted;" and such was the fact,
owing to the spongy texture of the leather of which they
were made.

Owing to this defective covering of the feet more than to
any other circumstance, the greater number of our hunters

and warriors were afflicted with rheumatism in their limbs.
Of this disease they were all apprehensive in cold or wet weather,
and therefore always slept with their feet to the fire, to prevent
or cure it as well as they could. This practice unquestionably
had a very salutary effect, and prevented many of
them from becoming confirmed cripples in early life.

In the latter years of the Indian war, our young men became
more enamored with the Indian dress. The drawers
were laid aside and the leggins made longer, so as to reach
the upper part of the thigh. The Indian breech-cloth was
adopted. This was a piece of linen or cloth nearly a yard
long, and eight or nine inches broad. This passed under the
belt, before and behind, leaving the ends for flaps hanging
before and behind over the belt. These flaps were sometimes
ornamented with some coarse kind of embroidery work. To
the same belt which secured the breech-cloth, strings, which
supported the long leggins, were attached. When this belt,
as was often the case, passed over the hunting shirt, the
upper part of the thighs and part of the hips were naked.[18]

The young warrior, instead of being abashed by this nudity,
was proud of his Indian dress. In some few instances
I have seen them go into places of public worship in this dress.
Their appearance, however, did not add much to the devotion
of the young ladies.[19]

The linsey coats and bed-gowns, which were the universal
dress of our women in early times, would make a strange figure
at this day.

The writer would say to the ladies of the present day, your
ancestors knew nothing of the ruffles, leghorns, curls, combs,
rings, and other jewels with which their fair daughters now
decorate themselves. Such things were not then to be had.

Many of the younger part of them were pretty well grown
before they ever saw the inside of a store-room, or even
knew there was such a thing, unless by hearsay, and, indeed,
scarcely that.

Instead of the toilet, they had to handle the distaff or
shuttle, the sickle or weeding-hoe, contented if they could
obtain their linsey clothing, and cover their heads with a
sun-bonnet made of six or seven hundred linen.

Truly, this is a contrast to the condition and appearance of
some of their fair descendants, who, with their $500 shawls
and $50 handkerchiefs, would appear oddly enough by the
side of their grand-dams of 1776.

The Fort.—My reader will understand, by this term, not
only a place of defence, but the residence of a small number
of families belonging to the same neighborhood. As the Indian
mode of warfare was an indiscriminate slaughter of all
ages and both sexes, it was as requisite to provide for the
safety of the women and children as for that of the men.

The fort consisted of cabins, blockhouses and stockades.
A range of cabins commonly formed one side at least of the
fort. Divisions, or partitions of logs, separated the cabins
from each other. The walls on the outside were ten or twelve
feet high, the slope of the roof being turned wholly inward.
Very few of these cabins had puncheon floors, the greater
part were earthen.

The blockhouses were built at the angles of the fort. They
projected about two feet beyond the outer walls of the cabins
and stockades. Their upper stories were about eighteen
inches every way larger in dimension than the under one,
leaving an opening at the commencement of the second story,
to prevent the enemy from making a lodgment under their
walls. In some forts, instead of blockhouses the angles of
the fort were furnished with bastions. A large folding gate,
made of thick slabs, nearest the spring, closed the fort. The
stockades, bastions, cabins and blockhouse walls were furnished
with port-holes at proper heights and distances. The
whole of the outside was made completely bullet proof.

It may be truly said that necessity is the mother of invention,
for the whole of this work was made without the aid of
a single nail or spike of iron; and for this reason,—such things
were not to be had.

In some places, less exposed, a single blockhouse, with a
cabin or two, constituted the whole fort.

Such places of refuge may appear very trifling to those
who have been in the habit of seeing the formidable military
garrisons of Europe and America; but they answered the
purpose, as the Indians had no artillery. They seldom attacked
and scarcely ever took one of them.

The families belonging to these forts were so attached to
their own cabins on their farms, that they seldom moved into
their fort in the spring until compelled by some alarm, as they
called it; that is, when it was announced by some murder
that the Indians were in the settlement.

[Dr. Doddridge, in the above, is not sufficiently clear in
his distinction between the several places of defence to which
people resorted on the frontier in times of Indian trouble.

The reader of this work would find himself very much confused
by the several references which are made to forts, blockhouses
and stations, for the varied use of the terms would
imply different structures. The description of Dr. D. does
not imply this difference, and we shall therefore now supply
the omission.

Briefly, we will then state, that a fort was generally a stockade
enclosure, embracing cabins, &c., for the accommodation
of several families. Blockhouses often formed two or more of
its corners.

A station was a parallelogram of cabins, united by palisades,
so as to present a continued wall on the outer side, the
cabin doors opening into a common square, on the inner side.

A blockhouse was a square double-storied structure, the
upper story projecting over the lower about two feet, which
space was left so that the inmates could shoot from above
upon an enemy attempting to climb the walls. But one door
opened into these rude and peculiar structures, and that was
always very strong, so as to defy entrance by any ordinary
means of assault.

The men generally remained above; and many are the tales
of border war wherein a few determined spirits successfully
withstood the combined attacks of hundreds of Indians.

A blockhouse was considered the most safe for a small
number. Those within felt themselves as secure against the
ordinary assaults of their native enemy, as though they had
been in the famous fortress of the Mediterranean.]

Hunting.—This was an important part of the employment
of the early settlers of this country. For some years the
woods supplied them with the greater amount of their subsistence,
and with regard to some families at certain times,
the whole of it; for it was no uncommon thing for families to
live several months without a mouthful of bread. It frequently
happened that there was no breakfast until it was obtained
from the woods. Fur constituted the people's money. They
had nothing else to give in exchange for rifles, salt, and iron,
on the other side of the mountains.

The fall and early part of the winter was the season for
hunting the deer, and the whole of the winter, including part
of the spring, for bears and fur skinned animals. It was a
customary saying, that fur is good during every month in the
name of which the letter R occurs.

As soon as the leaves were pretty well down, and the weather
became rainy, accompanied with light snows, these men,
after acting the part of husbandmen, so far as the state of
warfare permitted them to do so, soon began to feel that they
were hunters. They became uneasy at home. Every thing
about them became disagreeable. The house was too warm.
The feather bed too soft; and even the good wife was not
thought, for the time being, a proper companion. The mind
of the hunter was wholly occupied with the camp and chase.

Hunting was not a mere ramble in pursuit of game, in
which there was nothing of skill and calculation; on the contrary,
the hunter, before he set out in the morning, was informed
by the state of the weather in what situation he might
reasonably expect to meet with his game; whether on the
bottoms, sides, or tops of the hills. In stormy weather, the
deer always seek the most sheltered places, and the leeward
sides of the hills. In rainy weather, when there is not much
wind, they keep in the open woods, on the high ground.

In every situation it was requisite for the hunter to ascertain
the course of the wind, so as to get the leeward of the
game. This he effected by putting his finger in his mouth,
and holding it there until it became warm, then holding it
above his head, the side which first becomes cold shows which
way the wind blows.

As it was requisite, too, for the hunter to know the cardinal
points, he had only to observe the trees to ascertain them.
The bark of an aged tree is thicker and much rougher on the
north than on the south side. The same thing may be said of
the moss, it is much thicker and stronger on the north than
on the south sides of the trees.

The whole business of the hunter consisted of a succession
of intrigues. From morning till night he was on the alert to
gain the wind of his game, and approach them without being
discovered. If he succeeded in killing a deer, he skinned it,
and hung it up out of the reach of the wolves, and immediately
resumed the chase till the close of the evening, when he
bent his course towards his camp; when arrived there he
kindled up his fire, and together with his fellow hunter, cooked
his supper. The supper finished, the adventures of the day
furnished the tales for the evening. The spike buck, the two
and three pronged buck, the doe and barren doe, figured
through their anecdotes with great advantage.

The Wedding.—For a long time after the first settlement
of this country, the inhabitants in general married young.
There was no distinction of rank, and very little of fortune.
On these accounts, the first impression of love resulted in marriage;
and a family establishment cost but a little labor, and
nothing else.

A description of a wedding from the beginning to the end,
will serve to show the manners of our forefathers, and mark
the grade of civilization which has succeeded to their rude
state of society in the course of a few years.

In the first years of the settlement of the country, a wedding
engaged the attention of a whole neighborhood; and the
frolic was anticipated by old and young with eager expectation.
This is not to be wondered at, when it is told that a
wedding was almost the only gathering which was not accompanied
with the labor of reaping, log-rolling, building a cabin,
or planning some scout or campaign.

On the morning of the wedding-day, the groom and his
attendants assembled at the house of his father, for the purpose
of reaching the home of his bride by noon, which was
the usual time for celebrating the nuptials; and which for
certain reasons must take place before dinner.

Let the reader imagine an assemblage of people, without a
store, tailor, or mantuamaker within an hundred miles; and
an assemblage of horses, without a blacksmith or saddler
within an equal distance. The gentlemen dressed in shoe-packs,

moccasins, leather breeches, leggins, linsey hunting
shirts, and all home made. The ladies dressed in linsey petticoats
and linsey or linen bed gowns, coarse shoes, stockings,
handkerchiefs, and buckskin gloves, if any. If there were any
buckles, rings, buttons, or ruffles, they were the relics of olden
times; family pieces from parents or grand parents. The
horses were caparisoned with old saddles, old bridles or halters,
and pack-saddles, with a bag or blanket thrown over them: a
rope or string as often constituted the girth as a piece of
leather.

The march, in double-file, was often interrupted by the
narrowness and obstructions of our horse-paths, as they were
called, for we had no roads; and these difficulties were often
increased, sometimes by the good, and sometimes by the ill
will of neighbors, by falling trees, and tying grape vines across
the way. Sometimes an ambuscade was formed by the way
side, and an unexpected discharge of several guns took place,
so as to cover the wedding company with smoke. Let the
reader imagine the scene which followed this discharge; the
sudden spring of the horses, the shrieks of the girls, and the
chivalrous bustle of their partners to save them from falling.
Sometimes, in spite of all that could be done to prevent it,
some were thrown to the ground. If a wrist, elbow, or ankle
happened to be sprained, it was tied with a handkerchief, and
little more was thought or said about it.

The ceremony of the marriage preceded the dinner, which
was a substantial back-woods feast of beef, pork, fowls, and
sometimes venison and bear meat, roasted and boiled, with
plenty of potatoes, cabbage, and other vegetables. During
the dinner the greatest hilarity always prevailed; although
the table might be a large slab of timber, hewed out with a
broad axe, supported by four sticks set in auger holes; and
the furniture, some old pewter dishes, and plates; the rest,
wooden bowls and trenchers; a few pewter spoons, much battered
about the edges, were to be seen at some tables. The
rest were made of horns. If knives were scarce, the deficiency
was made up by the scalping knives which were carried in
sheaths suspended to the belt of the hunting shirt. Every
man carried one of them.

After dinner the dancing commenced, and generally lasted
till the next morning. The figures of the dances were three
and four handed reels, or square setts, and jigs. The commencement
was always a square four, which was followed by
what was called jiging it off; that is, two of the four would

single out for a jig, and were followed by the remaining
couple. The jigs were often accompanied with what was
called cutting out; that is, when either of the parties became
tired of the dance, on intimation the place was supplied by
some one of the company without any interruption to the
dance. In this way a dance was often continued till the
musician was heartily tired of his situation. Toward the latter
part of the night, if any of the company, through weariness,
attempted to conceal themselves, for the purpose of
sleeping, they were hunted up, paraded on the floor, and the
fiddler ordered to play "Hang out till to-morrow morning."

About nine or ten o'clock, a deputation of the young ladies
stole off the bride, and put her to bed. In doing this, it frequently
happened that they had to ascend a ladder instead of
a pair of stairs, leading from the dining and ball room to the
loft, the floor of which was made of clapboards lying loose.
This ascent, one might think, would put the bride and her
attendants to the blush; but as the foot of the ladder was
commonly behind the door, which was purposely opened for
the occasion, and its rounds at the inner ends were well hung
with hunting shirts, dresses, and other articles of clothing,
the candles being on the opposite side of the house, the exit
of the bride was noticed but by few. This done, a deputation
of young men in like manner stole off the groom, and placed
him snugly by the side of his bride. The dance still continued;
and if seats happened to be scarce, which was often
the case, every young man, when not engaged in the dance,
was obliged to offer his lap as a seat for one of the girls; and
the offer was sure to be accepted. In the midst of this hilarity
the bride and groom were not forgotten. Pretty late in the
night, some one would remind the company that the new
couple must stand in need of some refreshment: black Betty,
which was the name of the bottle, was called for, and sent up
the ladder; but sometimes black Betty did not go alone, I
have many times seen as much bread, beef, pork and cabbage
sent along, as would afford a good meal for half a dozen
hungry men. The young couple were compelled to eat and
drink, more or less, of whatever was offered.

But to return. It often happened that some neighbors or
relations, not being asked to the wedding, took offence; and
the mode of revenge adopted by them on such occasions, was
that of cutting off the manes, foretops, and tails of the horses
of the wedding company.

On returning to the infare, the order of procession, and the

race for black Betty was the same as before. The feasting
and dancing often lasted several days, at the end of which the
whole company were so exhausted with loss of sleep, that
many days' rest were requisite to fit them to return to their
ordinary labors.

Should I be asked why I have presented this unpleasant
portrait of the rude manners of our forefathers, I, in turn,
would ask my reader, why are you pleased with the histories
of the blood and carnage of battles? Why are you delighted
with the fictions of poetry, the novel and romance? I have
related truth, and only truth, strange as it may seem. I have
depicted a state of society, and manners, which are fast vanishing
from the memory of man, with a view to give the youth
of our country a knowledge of the advantages of civilization,
and to give contentment to the aged, by preventing
them from saying, "that former times were better than the
present."

House Warming.—I will proceed to state the usual manner
of settling a young couple in the world.

A spot was selected on a piece of land belonging to one of
the parents, for their habitation. A day was appointed shortly
after the marriage, for commencing the work of building their
cabin.

The materials for the cabin were mostly prepared on the
first day and sometimes the foundation laid in the evening.
The second day was allotted for the raising.

The cabin being furnished, the ceremony of house warming
took place, before the young couple were permitted to move
into it.

The house warming was a dance of a whole night's continuance,
made up of the relations of the bride and groom,
and their neighbors. On the day following the young couple
took possession of their new premises.

We desire now to say a few words about the sports of the
pioneers. These were such as might be expected among a
people, who, owing to their circumstances, as well as education,
set an higher value on physical than mental endowments,
and on skill in hunting, and bravery in war, than any polite
accomplishment or the fine arts.

Many of the sports of the early settlers of this country,
were imitative of the exercises and stratagems of hunting and
war. Boys were taught the use of the bow and arrow at an
early age; but although they acquired considerable adroitness
in the use of them, so as to kill a bird or squirrel, yet it

appears to me that in the hands of the white people, the
bow and arrow could never be depended upon for warfare or
hunting, unless made and managed in a different manner from
any specimen which I have ever seen.

One important pastime of our boys, was that of imitating
the noise of every bird and beast in the woods. This faculty
was not merely a pastime; but a very necessary part of education,
on account of its utility under certain circumstances.
Imitating the gobbling and other sounds of the wild turkey,
often brought those keen-eyed and ever watchful tenants of
the forest, within the reach of the rifle. The bleating of the
fawn brought its dam to her death in the same way. The
hunter often collected a company of mopish owls to the trees
about his camp, and amused himself with their hoarse screaming.
His howl would raise and obtain responses from a pack
of wolves, so as to inform him of their whereabouts as well to
guard him against their depredation.

This imitative faculty was sometimes requisite as a measure
of precaution in war. The Indians, when scattered about in
a neighborhood, often collected together by imitating turkeys
by day and wolves or owls by night. In similar situations our
people did the same. I have often witnessed the consternation
of a whole neighborhood in consequence of the screeching
of owls. An early and correct use of this imitative faculty,
was considered as an indication that its possessor would
become in due time a good hunter and a valiant warrior.

Throwing the tomahawk was another boyish sport, in which
many acquired considerable skill. The tomahawk, with its
handle of a certain length, will make a given number of
turns within a certain distance; say in five steps, it will
strike with the edge, the handle downwards; at the distance
of seven and a half, it will strike with the edge, the handle
upwards; and so on. A little experience enabled the boy to
measure the distance with his eye, when walking through the
woods, and strike a tree with his tomahawk in any way he
chose.

The athletic sports of running, jumping, and wrestling,
were the pastimes of boys in common with men.

A well grown boy, at the age of twelve or thirteen years,
was furnished with a small rifle and shot pouch. He then
became a fort soldier, and had his port hole assigned him.
Hunting squirrels, turkeys and racoons soon made him expert
in the use of his gun.

Dramatic narrations, chiefly concerning Jack and the

Giant, furnished our young people with another source of
amusement during their leisure hours. Many of those tales
were lengthy, and embraced a considerable range of incident.
—Jack, always the hero of the story, after encountering
many difficulties, and performing many great achievements,
came off conqueror of the Giant.—Many of these stories were
tales of knight errantry, in which some captive virgin was
released from captivity and restored to her lover.

These dramatic narrations concerning Jack and the Giant,
bore a strong resemblance to the poems of Ossian, the story
of the Cyclops and Ulysses in the Odyssy of Homer, and
the tale of the Giant and Greatheart in the Pilgrim's Progress;
they were so arranged, as to the different incidents of
the narration, that they were easily committed to memory.
They certainly have been handed down from generation to
generation, from time immemorial.

Civilization has, indeed, banished the use of those ancient
tales of romantic heroism; but what then? it has substituted
in their place the novel and romance.

Singing was another but not very common amusement
among our first settlers. Their tunes were rude enough to be
sure. Robin Hood furnished a number of our songs; the
balance were mostly tragical. These last were denominated
"love songs about murder." As to cards, dice, backgammon
and other games of chance, we knew nothing about them.
These are amongst the blessed gifts of civilization.

We have drawn upon the abundant store of our earlier
laborer in this interesting field, more fully than was first intended.
As it is important, however, that the present generation
should know exactly how their progenitors lived in the days
that tried men's souls, and as the information given will constitute
an interesting feature in the pages of our work, we
therefore feel justified in extracting as freely as we have done.
It would be in vain for a writer of the present day to attempt
a description of the manners, customs, habits, &c., of the
early settlers. None but one who had lived among them,
shared with their wants and suffered with their privations,
could accurately describe the varied and peculiar life of the old
pioneer. We have every reason to believe that the account of
Dr. Doddridge is in the main correct, and cannot doubt it
will be highly interesting to most of our readers.