Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-08-25
THE FIRST WHITE CHILD.
How He Eloped With n Lancaster County Girl
100 Years Ago.

How He Eloped With n Lancaster County Girl
100 Years Ago.
Tho Pittsburg Dispatch publishes an inter-
esting history OF tho first white child born
west OF the Allegheny mountains under
British dominion. The father of this child
was Jonathan Plumer, who erected log
cabin at point about one hundred yards
east of the old Ewalt house, Pittsburg, which
stands on Forty-fifth street, a short distance
below Butler.
1t was in this cabin, on the 5th of Decem-
Der, 1862, that George Plumer was bern. He
was, so he always asserted in mis- later years,
the first white child born west of the Alle-
gheny mountains under British dominion,
and in this claim he is backed by state
ment to the same effect I'm Nites' Register, an
old-time weekly newspaper OF Philadelphia,
and by another. in the "IIistory Of Newburg,
Mass"
The dwellers in this frontier home were
frequently annoyed by Indians, and on more
than one occasion were compelled to flee to
the fort for their lives. When George Plumer
was small boy he saw two Indians come to
the cabin, ono of whom threw the fresh
scalp of an infant i'm his mothers face. With
coolness and courage born of constant
exposure TO danger, Mrs. Plumer did
not change color, but set before her un-
pleasant visitors some meat, bread and honey
After eating until satisfied, they withdrew,
giving the war-whoop. On another occasion
a canoe load Of Indians thrice turned back to
massacre the occupants of the cabin, but
were dssuaded by the chief known as White
Eyes, who reminded them that no Indian
ever stopped at Mr.. Plumcr's abode hungry
that was not fed, or in his distress that was
not relieved.
Tho circumstances attending the marriage
of George Plumer romantic as could
be desired, even in the case OF " the first
white child born west of the Allegheny
mountains under British dominion" The
object Of his affections was a young lady
ma nd sh xAa a
youngest daughter of Colonel Alexander
Lowry, prominent, wealthy and influential
Indian trader of Donegal, Lancaster county,
Pa She was visiting her sister Mary, who,
with her husband, John Hay, lived on a
| farm short distance above Six Mile Ferry,
| given them by Colonel Lowry. "Miss
| Lowry" says the "History of Westmore-
land county" "first met with George
| Plumer at the store of MIR. Elliott in Pitts
burgl who introduced him TO her, as he had a
| friendly regard for the young 'buckskin.'
An attachment sprang up between them,
which resulted in an engagement OF mar
riage. But the course of true love ran nc
| more smoothly then than now. Mr.. and
| Mrs. Hay were both very much opposed tc
| the match, for the reason, it Is said, thai
| Plumer was poor. TO Miss Margarets mind,
| however, poverty was not sufficient objec-
tion, and she was so determined on union
| with her lover that Mr.. and Mrs. Hay were
| at last compelled TO guard her day and night
/ to prevent her FROM clipping with him.
This state OF affairs continued three or four
nights. One foggy morning, however, at the
end of this time, Mrs. Hay, who had been
| sentinel during the night, was 80 exhausted
and sleepy that she fell an easy victim to
| Margarets specious arguments in favor ol
her going to bed and taking rest. Mrs. Hay
was soon wrapped in the deep slumber
which naturally visits those who have to sit
| up at night with love-stricken young
| ladies'. This was Margarets opportli-
| nifty, and she grasped it. She had pre-,
viously removed her clothing, little by little
| to tho spring house, and now she hsstened
| thither and changed her dress. Her lover
| was in waiting with horses in a clump OF
| trees near by, and she was soon mounted by
his side. But all was not yet safe At this
| critical stage of the proceedings the friendly
| fog, which had hitherto yelled their actions,
| lifted, and Mr.. Hay, who had some time bo-
| fore gone out into the fields to get his horses,
| spied the runaways and entered into lusty
| pursuit Love and good start proved more
| than a match for him, however, and he was
compelled to give up the chase. The run
aways succeeded in putting their heads into
the matrimonial moose without encountering
| any further difficulties. The date of their
marriage was August 3, 1854.
Mr., Plumer was elected successfully to the
| state Legislature and to Congress, and from
him the present influential Plumer family in
the western part OF the state derive theii
anceStry,