The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-11-25
From the Northumbrian.


tell of the difficulties and dangers encoun.
tered in the carly settlement of the country
bordering on the West Branch of the Sus-
quehanna, by the hardy pioneers who ven
tured into the wilderness. These brave
men have passed from among us, never to
renrn-and we fear without leaving re-
cord Of the many trials thev had to under
90 in rescuing this delightful country from
the hands of the savages. Whatever relates
to that period must, be interesting TO the
majority of our readers, and we have pre-
pared the following from an authentic
source.
In the wear 1872 Mungo Reed resided
on ShamOkin Island, near the junction of
the two branches, Thomas Grant and Col.
Hunter resided on the farms now in the
possession of their heirs: aud Robert Muir
dock near by MIR. Grant. These gentlemen
may be considered as among the FIRST set
tiers of Northumberland county. The
principal pioneers from that period down
to 1910. were Capt. John Kelly, Capt.
John Lowden, the father of the late Beth
uel Vincent, and connexions, Capt w. Pat
terson, Capt. John Brady, Ludwig Derr,
Reuben Haines, Samuel and Joseph Wal
lis, Robert Martin, William and Samuel
Maclay, William Hutchison, Cornelious
Atkinson, Moses Kirk, John and Robert
Eson-and Capt Gray, Robert Fruit,
Walter Clark William Clark, WilliAm Will
son and Robert Clark were also among the
early settlers. The names Of other early
settlers are not now recollecteG. The prin-
cipal dependence of the settlers ct this Pc
riOd was the meat of the deer, Of which
there was an abundance.-Iu l772 there
was but one house where Sunbury now
stands, one at Old Fort Augusta, one on the
Grant Farms one on ShamOkin Island, one
in Northumberland, and hut four or five
between that place and Milton, where there
was one. Between Milton and Muncy
Hills there were six families, and not more
than eight or ten on the Susquehanna above.
At this time the only mill near the Susque-
hanna was Ludwig Derr's near where Lew
isburg now stands. Some time after were
built, Widow Smiths mill on Whiie Deer,
Hamright's on Chillisquaque, a mill near
CattawIssa on the North Branch, and Free
lands on Warrior Run, few miles above
Milton.
In the year 1873, IA and rs the coun-
try was settled very rapidly, and began to
present a cheerful appearance, but in the
years 10 and II check was put TO its
rapid settlement by signs of approaching
troubles with the Indians, who had ever
considered it az their own property, and
were now desirous of regsining what the
white man had taken from them. The Six
Nations had roamed for ages free as air
through this beautiful valley, and excited
by the British and tories they appeared ca
ger TO shed the blood Of those who had
ventured this far from the busy hum Of the
more thickly settled portion Of the country
into that valley which they looked upon as
sacred to themselves. Among them was
John and Roland Mnnteur. chiefs of the
Seneca tribe--from whom Monteur's Ridge
took Its name-men of fine proportions
and possessed Of the savage character of the
Ahorgine, inveterate enemies OF the whites,
whom no kind treatment could persuade
to be friendly. They acted cons spicuous
part in the Indian depredations which fol.
lowed, and were at the taking of For, Free.
land in 1879.
At this time, (l777) on the West Branch
+ there were four forts, to wit; Fort Horn
five miles above where Jersey Shore now
stands, Fort Ants, opposite Jersey Shore
in which there was one dismounted cannon
the only one belonging to any of the forts
Fort Muncy, now Muncy Farm; and Free
lands Fort, on Warrior Run, four mile.
from the river, and about 10 from the juno
ton ofthe North and West branches of thu
Susquehanna. These were all stockade fort.
and not capable of opposing much resis
lance TO an enemy.
The first Indian depredations on III,
West Branch were committed by the 81,
Nations in the summer of l777, wher
Levi Jones &-Saitsman were killed at tht
mouth of Kettle Greek, about 20 or 81
miles above Northumberland on the ex
treme frontier. Early in the spring of II
7s the families of Brown, Benjamin anc
Cook were all either killed or taken priso
ners, four miles from the mouth Of LOYAL
sock Creek In the same year--ThompsoI
and Shoefelt were killed on the waters O
? the Loyslsock. On the same day two mil
tia men; and the wife and child Of Pete
/ Smith, and the wife and child of William
, King were killed by the same party of In
: dians, on the road, near the same place
2 as they were tavelling with a wagon. Th
| neYt daV after tho last ,nan,ionoJ ,,.-.o,