Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-03-02
THE ORIGIN OF LOCAL NAMES.

The following interesting letter
which we clip from the Williamspor
Gazette and Bulletin, in regard TO th,
origin of local names, is from the per
of Ex-Governor William +. Packer
and will be found highly entertaining
as well as full of information. The
Governor says:
GENTLEMEN:-A correspondent Of
the last Clinton Democrat, III referring
to the origin of local names in Clinton
county, states that "Bald Eagle creek
took its name from the large number
Of eagles Of that species that were
formerly found along its entire course,
attracted thither probably by the
large number Of fish and wild ducks
that inhabited its waters. The noun.
tain along that stream has long been
known by the same name"
The writer of this article having
been born on the banks Of the Bald
Eagle, more than sixty years ago and
spent his boyhood there, is able to
give the true origin Of the names Of
that stream, the valley through which
il runs, and the mountain which forms
their southern border
Previous TO tho treaty Of Fort
Stanwix, by which the title to the
Indian lands on the south and west
side of the West Branch of the Sus.
quehanna was extingushed, embra.
cling Bald Eagle valley, celebrated
Indian warrior Of one of the tribes of
the Six Nations, named ''Bald Eagle
bad his wigwam and his homo on the
banks OF the stream of that name.
near where Milesburg now stands, in
Centre county, in the midst of an
Indian village which was called the
"Bald Eagles Nest" He was noted
chieftain, known over the whole coun
try wherever the tribes of tho Six
Nations made their appearance, and
took an active and bloody part in the
Indian warfare against the white set.
tiers along the West Branch during
our revolutionary struggle. Bold /
and fearless as the noble bird whose
name lie assumed, he, with his band
Of savage followers, swooped down
upon the dcfenseless inhabitants and |
spared neither age nor sex. lie led |
the party of savages, in l77S, that
murdered James Brady, son Of Capt.
John Brady, the younger brother of
the brave Sam Brady, OF the Rangers.
in harvest field, along with his fcl
low laborers, short distance below
the present site of the city of vii.
Transport. Wounded with spear,
tomahawked and scalped, Young
Brady still liN,d long enough to
describe the horrible scene with great
lie said the Indians
were Of the Seneca tribe, and led by
Bald Eagle. "Yengoance not loud
but deep" says the historian, "was
breathcd against the Bald Eagle. but
he laughed It TO scorn, till the fatal
lay at Brady's Bend, on the ALE.
yheny." Hazard in his Reqistsr oil
Pennsylvania, Vol TX, page 237, gives
.he following account of the death of
he celebrated chief, Bald Eagle -
Several years after the death Of
lanes Brady, large party of Seneca
Indians were marching along the
river, on their way 10
Bald Eagles Nest" Capt. Sam
Brady recognized the Bald Eagle That
lay, and fred at him When the
,attlc was over he searched for the
,ody aud found it. The ball had
pierced his heart, aud the blood of
.he young captain at Loyalsock was
aially avenged by the hands Of his
Jroiheronthe banks Of the picturesque
Allegheny"
"Tho Bald Eagles Nest" was n
yelLknown locality both to the white
md red men more than one hundred
years ago The land on which the
indian village stood, as stated before,
vas near the present site Of the -four.
shing borough Of Milcsburg, at the
orks Of the Bald Eagle, aud near land
Iilerward owned by Col. Holt, one of
he first settlers in the valley. SO
veil known was it, that in warrant
ssued by the Land Department of /
'ennsylvania, dated the Sd of April.
7G9, and surveyed the same year, for
! tract Of land now owned by the i
Iuthor of this communication, the I
and is returned as "throe hundred ,
cres on the north side of Bald Eagle
jreek about five miles below the
Bald Eagles Nest 1t was the bird ,
which gave the name to the Indian !
hicf, the Indian chief gave the name I
o the river the mountain and the 4
alley.
sherman Day, in his Historical +
Collections Of Pennsylvania. referring \
Q Bald Eagle Valley, says; nAbout h
hat time, (l76S or as some say, a
car or two previous Andrew Boags.
.ther Of the late distinguished J6dee r
'oggs, erected his cabin on the lefi d
ank of Bald Eagle creek, directly n
pposite TO an old Indian village, on 3
np fats naar rrhnro Mtln.l..m.. L. -.