The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-02-20


the squatters, but they were "deter-
mined to stand suit for the land. -
These were bounty lands granted to
Washington and other soldiers by Vir-
ginia for services during the French
and Indian War; these lands were
found to be in Pennsylvania and the
settlers disputed the Virginia titles.
Washington left instructions with his
agent, Thomas Smith, to bring suits
against the settlers, and finally they
were elected from the disputed farms.
Capt. David Lucket, commanding
the garrison at Fort Pitt, visited
Washington at Simpsons and advised
him not to make his intended visit to
the Great Kanawha river, because the
Indians were dissatisfied and had re-
Gently murdered whites, who were at
tempting to settle on the west side of
the Ohio. Therefore the General sent
his baggage back via Fl. Cumberland,
while he and his nephew returned by
Cheat river with view to make a
more minute inquiry into the Naviga-
ton of the Yohiogany Waters"
September 25 they crossed Cheat
at Andrew lees ferry, travelled up the
west side of the Briery Mountains,
crossed Sandy Creek, passing near
the Pine Swamp, now GAINESVILLE, w.
Va. At "the entrance of the Yohio-
gany glades l lodged this night, with
no other shelter or cover than my
cloak and was unlucky enough to
have a heavy shower of rain" This
bivouac was near Muddy Creek falls.
Next morning, following "McCullock' s
path, which owes it's origin to Buffa-
loes we started at the dawning
of day, and passing along a small
path much enclosed with weeds and
bushes we had an uncomfortable
travel to one Charles Friends, about
10 miles; where we could get nothing
for our horses, and only boiled corn
for ourselves" (Charles Friend, a pi-
oneer hunter, then lived at what was
later the Stephen Browning farm,
about two miles southwest of the
present Oakland, Md
Gen. Washington admired the
Youghiogheny Glades. Here he wrote:
part of these glades is the property
of Govr. Johnson of Maryland, who
has settled two or three families of
Palatines (Germans) upon them.
These glades have a pretty appear
ance, resembling cultivated Lands
and improved Meadows at a distance,
with woods here and there inter
spersed. Some of them are rich with
black and lively soil-others are of a
sitter and colder nature-all of them
feel, very early, the effect of frost
the growth of them, is a grass" Cat
tie are driven to them "to pasture in
the Spring and are recalled at Au-
tumn."
Washington obtained much infor-
nation from Friend, who is a great
Hunter, and we'll acquainted with all
the Waters, as well as hills, having
lived in that Country and followed no
other occupation for nine years" He
was enquiring particularly about the
possibility of constructing a canal to
connect the Potomac and Youghio-
gheny rivers, or of navigation on
those streams and connecting wagon
road. Mr.. Friend told him of the Sc
ries of falls of the Youghiogheny,
which make canal on that stream
impractical, but which we are now be-
ginning to use for hydro-electric
plants, one being built at Hoyes run
in 1925.
From Friends l passed by spring
distance 8 miles) called Archy's from
Man of that name-crossed the back
bone and descended into Ryans glade.
Thence by Thos. Logston's." (Archy's
spring is now the McClelland Friend
spring.
So our illustrious traveller crossed
the North Branch Of the Potomac and
continued his way across Virginia to
his home, which he reached "before
sundown," October 4th.
General Washington's entries in his
diary are usually very brief, but he
sums up the results of his journey
with long discussion of his pet prof.
ect, the union of the East and West
by water route from Chesapeake
bay to the Ohio, via the Potomac
"And tho | was disappointed in one
of the objects which induced me to
undertake this journey namely to ex-
anime into the situation quality and
advantages of the Land which | hold
upon the Ohio and Great Kanawha-
and to take measures for rescuing
them from the hands of Land Jobbers
and Speculators-wh | had been in
formed regardless of my legal and
equitable rights, patents, etc, had en-
closed them within other Surveys and
were offering them for Sale at Phila-
delphia and in Europe. | say notwith-
standing this disappointment l am
well pleased with my journey"
On this trip Washington made a
diligent search for Gen. Braddock' s
grave, wishing to mark the spot, but
he failed to find it. Long after Wards