Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-05-12
@eatb of an OH Settler,
Obituary.

JOHN Fox, in the 71th year OF his age. ' 'l'
AS the family of the deceased was the s,..
that settled in this town, some account Of tb,;.
early experience may not be uninterestns to
the community: especially as the subject os
our first settlers is now receiving increasino ora
mcrited attention
RCDoLPH Fox, the father of the decooso5
came to this place and settled near the mor,,,
of the Towanda Creek, about the year l77O
The precise date cannot now be ascertained
He had no white neighbors nearer than Tioga
Point. An Indian village was situated miIo
or so distant up beautiful ravine througb
which small stream found its way into the
Towanda near its mouth.
The trials and priyations incident to tleset.
tling of new country were somewhat aggra.
waited by the proximity of the Indians. As Mr.
Fox, however purchased his land of them at
satisfactory price, they were disposed to be
friendly. But when the revolution broke ont
this feeling of the Indians began to change
This change was promoted, if not originated
by adventures from the North, who were en-.
ployed or encouraged by the British govern.
ment. 1t is supposed to have been some Of
the latter who took Mr. Fox prisoner and car
ried him to Quebec. This was in March, pro
badly 1777, as he was in search of his strayed
cattle For nine months his family were mig
norance of his fate At one time the Indians
who were now quite frequent visitors, and with,
al very troublesome, informed the family that
Mr. Fox was killed, because he was not good
Kings man. Mrs Fox was now compelledto
sccrete whatever the Indians might fancy in
order to keep it from their depredations espe
cially was this the case with provisions. In,
deed, so watchful were they of an opportunity
to plumber in this line, that the family We're
compelled to pass the whole day without food;
and at night partake of their refreshments in
the cellar.
| In December, at the commencement of ave.
ry cold night, call was heard from the oppo,
] site side Of the river, which Mrs. Fox instantly
recognised as the voice of her husband! But
how should he cross the river A boat Or
canoe was luxury which the Indians did no.
allow the family to keep. To force raft thru
the ice that was running, would be impossible
He was compelled to encamp for the nigh,
within call Of his family the most painful night
probably, to them all, that they suffered during
the whole separation In the morning, 50 in.
tense had been the cold, the ice was frozen
quite across the river, SO that he ventured over
on it, and reached his family in safety.
u But such was the temper Of their Indian
neighbors that they had no peace In the en-
suing spring they left their forest home to seek
a place OF safety. The family went by boa.
down the river-Mr. Fox and an assistant
went by land, with a number of horses and
cattle. The difficulties and dangers they en,
countered can scarcely be imagined 1t Vas
about the time of the massacre at Wyoming
That they escaped discovery, seems almost mi,
raculous The cries of the babe (Rudolph)
added to the danger, so that more than once
the mother took him up to throw him over.
board DESPERATE but apparently only means Of
escaping discovery, and the massacre Of the
whole family But the mothers feelings pre-.
dominated over every sense of danger. She
could not consult safety at such a sacrifice =
They succeeded in passing the Indians andcon-
tinued their fight to Sunbury-where JOIN,
the subject of this obituary, was born. OF the
nine horses with which they set out, they ar
rived with two, those upon which Mr.. Fox ana
his assistant rode.
After remaining a year or two in SunbufE
they returned as far as Wilkes-barre, whence
Mr.. Fox and four of his children proceeded 10
their old home on the Towanda. They found
the ashes of their buildings. Where they had
left their stacks of grain, there lay also bed
of ashes, from which they could stir up the re
mains of charred straw A bark covered cab
in was constructed and such other preparatlcl
made for bringing the family as circumstancs
permitted When ready to return for the r.
mainder of the family, the question arose, who /
will remain and take care of the house! 10 {
leave it unoccupied appeared the sure way 70 (
find it destroyed on their return The ony one .
| of the children that would consent was The +
| daughter Elizabeth, afterwards Mrs Means /
then thirteen years of age! A more heToH |
undertaking could scarcely be proposed
young maiden of thirteen years, on the Po
where their former dwelling had been lad
ashes by savage foe, surrounded by ueighooH
of the same character and blood, offers to /
the sole occupant of the premises for ten DAYS
the time supposed to be necessary for brls'
ing up the family. But it was cheerfully nF
dertaken, and trials unexpected and unprO'f
ed for except by Him who is the soveregndE !