Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1895-08-02
Record Of the First white Men
On the North and west Branch
Of the Nusquchanna.
BIZ WIN. MEYLERr.
[ooNrrNuEp FROM LAST WEEK. !

this tribe is identical with those
first known and mentioned by the
English as Susquehannocks. Their
villages extended along the river
from Tioga to Virginia, and mention
is made of them in our last paper as
disappearing as early as 1875. From
this time the Iroqui nation. although
not occupying the Susquehanna
country held it in subsection and ex-
acted tribute from the tribes they
permitted to occupy it. This nation
had strong and we'll organized
government with its headquarters at
Onandagua, It consisted of a league
of five tribes the representatives Of
whom formed the Grand Council,
which determined all great national
questions and appointed chieftons
to hold in subjection the provences
they had acquired. The Grand
Council consisted of so Sachams
proportioned as follows: Mohawks,
8; Onidas, 8; Onondagas, IA; Cay
ugas, 10; Senecas, 8. In 1712 another
patton known as the Tucaroras was
added to the confederation but had
no voice in the Grand Council after
which the confederacy was known as
the Six Nations. The above will
correct an error made in the last
paper as to the Iroquois forming
confederacy with 5 other nations.
The name being applied to the united
nations.
The Indians that were found near
the borders of our county with
pathway passing through it on the
arrival of the Moravean missionaries
were of the Delaware Nation, they
were first known as the occupants of
the country on the head waters of
Delaware and extending through
New Jersey and Eastern Pennsyl>
vania. They consisted of three
tribes, known to the English as the
Turtles, on the south; Tunk;es, in
centre, and Wolves on the north.
The latter tribe being identical with
those known MISS and generally
called by the English, Monseys.
These people had their villages at
different points along the West
Branch and also settled to a con-
siderable extent along the North
Branch.
In addition to the Delawares the
Iroquois allowed ether tribes to
occupy assigned sections of country
on the Susquehanna among whom
were Nanticokes and Shawanese.
In l744 or AS Rev. David Zeis-
berger, very distinguished Mora>
vean missionary. came to reside in
Pennsylvania. He had previously
lilled an important place as missions
ary to the Creek Indians in Georgia.
being man Of superior educational
advantages he took up the study of
Indian languages and prepared
books both in German and English
that greatly assisted others to sue
cessfully carry on tho Indian miss
sion work. He was first mentioned
in this vicinity as journeying up the
North Branch In company with
Conrad Wieser, Andrew Montour
and a Cayuga Sachene who held the
position as the Iroquois viceroy at
Shamokin, they in company with
others were on their way to Ononda-
qua, to intercede with the head
government to adopt peaceful meas
ures with the Catawabes and Shaw
anese and to obtain permission for
the settlement of christian Indians
at Wyoming. They passed Wyalus-
ing on the llth Of June, 1745. From
this date until the removal of the
christian Indians in 1772 Zeisburger
was constantly laboring for the good
Of the Indians on the North and
West Branches. The Moraven
brethern with their headquarters at
Bethlehem had established mission
stations at different points along
Lhe Susquehanna.
A Colony of christian Indians
who from persecution had been com.
pelled to abandon their homes in
Eastern New York, were found a
place. to settle by the brethren, at a
point above the water gap of the
Lehigh 18 miles above Bethlehem
and 40 miles southeast of Wyoming
formed here a fiourishing settlement
known as shuts OF Mercy" near this
place was Fort Allen on, the south-
west was established, at now, Sum-
L- MT ,,~uuta Thooo IN Nou.