Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-23
Rev. j. M. McElroy to the Brother
hood Of Andrew and Philip
HISTORY OF THE M'ELRoY ANCESTRY
Dealt With Life Among the Indian. In
the State of Pennsylvanin During
and After the Year 1777-
Abbie Byrnm's CAPTURE
From Tuesdays Daily.

- VII = ASeudy ISIiiJ. 50 "a. 3I ~
The regular monthly meeting OF the
Brotherhood of Andrew and Phillip,
the mems society of the First Presbyte-
rian church, was held at the home OF
Mr.. and Mrs. c. e. Boude, 421 East
Fourth street, last evening. Owing to
the inclemency of the weather there
was not very large number in atten-
dance, but those who. We're present had
the pleasure of listening to most in-
teresting story of pioneer days in
( Pennsylvania, by Rev. j. M. McElroy,
D. d., in which he related the thrill
ling capture of Abbie Byrum, Mrs. Nc
Elroy's grandmother and other mem
bers of the family by the Seneca In
dams. The discourse was quite lengthy
and dealt with the priyations and hard
ships which were endured by pioneers
in those days, and the data fol-. the
story was taken from a book compiled
by Rev. McElroy after years of labor.
After the lecture refreshments We're
served by Mrs. Boude, and the evening
was made most enjoyable for those
present.
Rev. nIcElroy,s Address.
The following is the story related by
Mr.. McElroy last evening:
Among the pioneer settlers of vest
ern Pennsylvania there were two IA
miles from New Jersey Edward By
rum and benjamin Coe. They were
brothers-in-law and came from Norris
town; the date of their coming. the
autumn of 1777. Their journey of more
Than 400 miles was long and dam
3 gerous one; through valleys, across
unabridged streams, over hills and at
5 length across the Allegheny noun
I tains. Women, children and. effects
1 transported on horseback along dim
( bride paths. They had to be on their
guard day and night against. wild
beasts, against rowing and hostile In
dams who made, travelling most im-
practicable. Their journey ended in
Westmoreland county, twenty miles
from Fit. Pitt, and ten miles from the
field of Braddock's defeat by the Indi-
ans some years earlier. They settled
on Lyons run near where the village
of Murraysville was afterwards locat-
ed. They had little conception of the
mineral wealth and the teeming popu-
lation and the advancing enterprise
that would some day be found in that
region. The hills were full of coal
that would by and by be discovered
and brought into Use The locomotive
dstyeteunfnvented and IFS voice would
not be heard among these hills for sew
enty-five years, and the natural gas
snugly stored quarter of mile be-
low those hill tops would stay there
. full century before coming forth
with lighb and warmth for the upper
world. Among those hills they drove
their stakes, built their cabins, cleared
their lands and sowed and planted, and
were beginning to feel somewhat at
home
In the spring of 1779 there were in
dications that the Indians were about.
The scattered settlers went out to find
and confront them. Word came back
shortly for women and children to
betake themselves to the block house,
which was some three miles distant,
nears.what is now Manoar station, on
the Pennsylvania railroad, Mrs. By
rum had young babe only two or
three days old, and was in no condi-
ton to travel. She told the older chill
dren to go, while she would trust to
Providence and wait her husbands re-
F turn. They could not leave her, but
got the horse and helped mother to
mount, wrapped quilt around moth
erjand babe, and the Oldest girl led
the horse, and thus they made their
way to the fort. The men also few in
: : 49,. 81