Baltimore commercial journal, and Lyford's price-current. [volume] (Baltimore, Md) 1840-1849, 1848-07-08
From the Letoisbtrg (Penn.) Journal.
pD,nrOpn rnuNTV


sketch Of her county of Bradford? There is
not, indeed, the tragic interest connected with the
history OF Bradford, that belongs TO Luzeruc, and
some Of the other counties of Pcnnsy vana, yet ITS
early "reminiscences not devoid OF interest Pro-
baby there is county in the State, or indeed the
Union. but that has circumstances in It's history
that uld excite interest were they but recorded.
Campbell has rendered the valley Of Wyoming al
classic ground and recently It's annals have been
transferred to the page of history, by one who has
passed the most Of his days, from early youth far up
wards c's waning, within the precincts OF the val
ley.-Hon. ChdricS Miner.
There were tories scattered along the SuSquchan-
ma, during the of the Revolution, but the first
permanent settlement made III Bradford was III rs,
bv cmigrants from Wyoming, and mostly by those
who had passed through the horrors of savage nva-
sion and civil strife, which had swept over that i'll
faed valley and there had learned endurance. This
settlement was made in what is now the township OF
Athens, then known as ''rioga Point" and the ada
cent valley OF ShcShcquin Col. John Franklin, who
is styled, in 'AiincrS History, the "licro of Wy
oming," was of this band of cmigrants He re-
sided upon farm the eastern side Of the Susque-
hanna, opposite where the village OF Athens now
stands, where he died years since at an adj
vanced age. The prominent part that he took IN
the strife between the 'Pcnncmitcs' and the "N an
KEGS" at Wyoming, led TO his imprisonment Tor
years in Philadelphia under the charge OF high trca
son. Where this settlement made, what is now
Bradford, and the adjoining counties including Lu-
zcrnc, belonged TO the town of w estmorcland,
township that embraced nearly if not quite as great
an of territory the State of Connecticut, OF
which it was appcndagc.
Bradford is one of the northern tier Of counties in
Pennsy vanla, and is bounded the east by SuSque
hanna aud on the west by Tioga counties. The Sus.
uuehanna enters it at the New York line and takes
southerlv, aud nearly a central course through the
,ountv. The Tioga or Chcmung untes with it about
ur miles and half below the New Y ork line.
rioga rises in the mountains west of Bradford and
after taking its through IOga county, II bends
around through the State of New York, receiving
its way the Cowancsoue the Canisteo and the Con-
a., I'll Sn=n
hanna receives as tributaries on the east the Wysox
and the Wyalusing and on the West the Sugar and
Towanda creeks The Towanda and the Lvcoming
have their sources very near each other in Canton
the south. west township of the county. The Lvcom-
ing winds away through its wild and rapid course to
the West Branch-thc Towanda makes its way to
the North Branch to the Susquchanna, and untes
with the borough of Towanda. There is much see
merry along this stream which is wildly beautiful
There are lodges of rocks along lis banks which
would strike person accustomed only to the praries
of the West with awe and wonder.
Athens is much the oldest village in the county,
although it is not a place of near the population or
business of Towanda The location of the village,
and the scenery of the whole valley is very beaut-
full. This valley, which looks when in its quiet
summer beauty, if the angel Of peace had ever
folded its wings over it, was the rendezvous Of the
army sent under the command Of Gen. Sullivan into
the heart Of the Indian country, during the
of l77g 10 Cndeavor TO ensure safety to our frontier
Sullivan, with part of the army destined TO this
expedition was detached by the way Of the Della
ware to Wyoming, whence he assembled the river to
Tioga Point. Here he arrived on the llth August
and cucamped, awaiting a reinforcement which
rived on the 22d under the command of Gen. Clinton.
Sullivan now numbered nearly five thousand men
quite formidable army for the object TO which it
was destined. A fort was erected in what is now
the Southern part of the village Of Athens, which
was garrisoned for the protection of stores for the
army on its return, and was designed also as a rem
devious to send those who were wounded or who
sickened by the way. On the 30th of September,
a., apd tI,n A Of 0rt0.
Der took its departure down the Susquchanna 10
WYOMING and thence 10 Easton. Before the army
left TIoga, the Susouchanna became so low as to
render the boats useless which had conveyed the ar
an Thor orJ nc i ys i,r hnn, IN