Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-10-25
4fiisfel!
From the Genias .f the " est
II { RGiG WOMEN OF THE EARLY
WESTERN SETTLEnEATS.
by S P HILDRErH

The intrepidity and courage of the
worthy females who accompanied the ear
iy pioneers, and shared with them the
/ dangers and hardships of making settle
ments in the western wilderness. is but
little known or appreciated by the inhab-
itants of the present day The women
OF those days were animated with the
same Zeal aud courage that inspired the
men, aud we are nearly as much indebted
20 them for the fair fields and broad pos
sessions we now hold in the fertile valleys
OF the West, as to the brave men them
selves, who first volunteered 70 cut down
tree aud plant a hill of corn on the banks
of the Ohio.
Among the first adventures who settled
on the river in the vicinity of Wheeling.
was a family by the name of Tomlnson
Joseph and S amuel were then in the prime
of life, when, in the year l77i, they com
menced clearing Grave Creek The cab
IN of Joseph was built on the elevated
second bottom, about two hundred yards
from the great mound which stood on his
possessions A large spring of clear cold
water burst out at the foot Of the slope
forty or fifty yards from the house, and
ran along the first bottom few rods dis
charging its current into Little Grave
Greek Subsequently, several families
joined them, and by the time the Indian
war broke out in Iva, they were able to
build and man a stout block house. sur
rounded by palisades, which they defend
ed In such a manner as to maintain their
post during that season Of war and blood
shed. Peace was made with the savages
by Gov. Dunmore, in the fall of that
year.
Mr. Tomlinson's clearing was now so
large that he thought he could support
awte. \ young woman named Elizabeth
Hartness, whose mother lived about fifteen
miles from nagerStown, in Mary land had
made conquest of bis heart some years
before, while seeking protection within
the walls of Swearingen's fort, with her
widowed mother and sisters, from an in
road OF the Indians. Joseph was at the
time employed as a ranger, for the settle
ment around the fort aud thus became
acquainted with Elizabeth when quite a
small girl She was now eighteen years
old. He made Il journey across the noun
talns IN january, i775. aud they were
married within the walls Of the fort
Mounted on horses. they commenced
their journey to her new home the last of
January, and reached his little log cabin
on the 5th of February fter the plan
ting Of his coruiield IN the spring. they
again mounted their horses aud made an
other journey Co the vicinity of Hagers-
town for the purpose of bringing out her
mother aud her Oldest sister. Molly Hart
ness The old lady was a native of Ire
land. and came to America when a child
Her family name was Scott. Her other
two daughters were married. and an only
son bad been killed by the Indians the
year before while out on trading eXpe
djtion among the savages on the waters
of Big Hooking. 50 that her mother aud
Molly were quite alone. Elizabeth was
the youngest child Of her parent, now in
her sixty-secoad year
Pack horses were procured. and as much
of their household goods as they could
bring in this way were packed over the
mountains. by roads which at this day
would be called impossible Where there
is a will there is way" aud many things
then accomplished by the pioneers, would
now be thought actually impossible. The
old lady was Very small woman, but an
imated with re-olute adventurous spir-
it. and she bore the journey without com
planning
They reached their wilderness home in
June, die year the war of the Revolution
commonccd Here they lived with con
staut watchfulness. on account of the In
diars. until August. l777. when their dep
relations became very troublesome, and
word was brought by the rangers and ira
ders that large body of Indians were
on their way to destroy the settlements
at Grave Greek and Wheeling. 4 couu-
ell of the inhabitants was called. when 1t
was decided to abandon the settlement
and retire with their families, some to
Wheeling Fort and others to the station
on Nouongahela near Redstoue Old Fort.
Packing up their household goods, with
their only child. they placed them Oh
horse back, and driving their cattle before
them, bid sad farewell to their pleasant
home They left seventeen acres of corn,
all in the roasting ear. a quantity of fax.
some of it dressed ready for spinning, with
their hogs and fowls, to the merciless pow
er of their enemies.
The females of that day were cclebra
ted for their skill in spinning and weaving.
all their apparel being fabricated with
their own hands, from materials grown on
their own lands Tax and hemp afforded
a large portion of the raw articles; some
had few sheep, but they were scarce
In a few hours after their departure
the fort and dwelling houses were burnt
TO ashes and their corn fields and hogs
DESTROYED As they passed through Wheel