THE OLD HOME WEEK BOOK
History of the Village of Prospect, PA

Transcribed and Donated by Robert A. Stumpf

Chapter XIX

Blackbirds and Wild Pigeons

The abundance of bird life in this vicinity in former times was astonishing and a true statement of that abundance at the present time is almost incredible. Wild turkeys at one time abounded but that was long ago. Quail were plentiful in all the old fence-rows and stubble fields, pheasants in the woods everywhere and the smaller song-birds very numerous. Sparrows are unknown, except the song-sparrow which was called the "chippy". The half-domestic robin, the blue-bird, prophet of the Spring; the brilliant orioles; the melodious cat-bird; the scarlet tanager; the noisy jay; the busy wood-pecker, eight or nine species of him; the tiny wren; the shy nuthatch; the fly catcher family, crested, blue-gray, red-eyed, spotted, yellow throated, white eyed, peewit and swallow-tailed; the yellow bird; the cabbage bird, looking like a canary; the lark; the chick-a-dee; the thrushes, brown and of the woods; barn-swallows and cliff-swallows; the warblers, blue-winged, golden-winged, blue-eyed; the flicker or yellow-hammer; the insistant whip-poor-will; the mournful dove; and the great family of hawks, owls and crows that preyed on them and their young, all were here. But the most numerous when they were here at all were the blackbirds and wild pigeons.

Of the blackbirds there were two species; the swamp and the crow blackbird; the former nested and reared their young in the tall wild-grass clumps growing in marshy places; the female was a rusty-brown color and considerably smaller than the male, who was dressed in shining black with brilliant scarlet feathers in his wings.

The crow-blackbird was regarded as a thief to whom no mercy should be shown. They were much larger than the swamp blackbird -- almost twelve inches long -- appearing black at a distance but on closer inspection disclosing a plumage of rich, glossy steel-blue, violet and green, the female of a sooty brown and much smaller than the male. In March they came from the South in scattered flocks, followed the ploughman in the furrows and destroyed an immense number of worms, grubs, bugs and other vermin, built their nests on one tree in some choice localities. From there they came forth and followed the farmer dropping corn and stole what they could. As soon as the tender green shoot appeared above the ground they came on joyful wing with screams of delight to pull up and devour the germinated seed. Then the boys got in their work with the old musket and shot-gun. A regular part of the season's work for many boys was to "watch the blackbirds off the corn."

It is stated that in the early times of New England each free-holder was required to kill a certain number of these birds yearly, a fine being imposed on all who did not destroy and exhibit the requisite number.

When the corn ears were in the milky state the grackles and red-wings attacked them voraciously. The bird families were then grown and all preparing for their migration. They fed themselves fat on the farmer's corn from then until November. And the numbers of them were almost inconceivable. They collected in flocks which darkened the air when they arose from the fields with a noise like thunder. They descended on corn-shocks and, if unmolested for a short time, left nothing on whole fields but cobs and ragged husks. When they lighted on a leafless tree it looked black as if hung with mourning, and their screaming and complaining resembled the sound of a cataract rising and falling with a musical cadence as the sound fell on the ear with the fluctuations of the breeze.

But while the blackbirds were numerous their numbers were far exceeded by the vast multitudes of wild-pigeons which at certain times visited this locality. The wild-pigeon (Columba migratoria) is a bird of smaller and more slender form than the domestic pigeon. There is but one order of the genus Columba, but it is numerous in species dispersed all over the world. Darwin says that all these species, with all their variations, such as the tumblers, fan-tails, pouters and others among domesticated pigeons are evolved from one type and all in a natural state revert to that type, which is the rock-pigeon, a bird very similar to the wild pigeon of North America, only smaller.

The American wild-pigeon which is also called the passenger pigeon, is the most remarkable of this whole order of birds. The head, throat and upper parts of the body are ash colored; the sides of the neck are of a glossy purple, the fore part of the neck and breast wine-colored, and there is a crimson ring around the eyes. The legs are generally red; three toes before, entirely divided and one behind; jointed at the heel. The second quill feather in the wing is the longest. A reward of one thousand dollars has been offered for a nest with the eggs or young of wild-pigeons breeding anywhere in the United States. They have disappeared more completely than the buffalo from their former haunts. Not one is known to be in existence. How, then, can those who never saw them realize that they existed or believe the statements regarding their numbers?

In former times they visited our locality and colonized in the Muddycreek Swamp, in such immense flocks that it was not possible to even estimate their numbers. One of the favorite "April fool" jokes of the little boys of Prospect was to point skyward and say, "Look at the wild pigeons," whe none were in sight. Well does the writer remember how he was fooled by an urchin who could not pronounce the words plainly but squeaked, "Oh, 'Ook up at d'ove i piddies!" "A-piy foo!"

On the authority of Audubon the noted ornothologist it is stated that the most important facts connected with the habits of these birds relate to their extraordinary associations and migrations. No other species known to naturalists was so conspicous by reason of habit and numbers. Their migrations were not controlled by the change of seasons or the breeding instinct which governs the movements of other species. The wild-pigeons migrated only when forced to do so in order to procure the food necessary for them. Consequently there was no fixed season for their movements. When they had a sufficient supply of food they remained in one district for several years. How long they were in the Island district of Muddycreek is not recorded; but it was for more years than one or two. But one season long ago, when the mast was exhausted they suddenly disappeared and never came back. Their long, wide flocks passing to some distant feeding-ground to the south was one of the sights that the Prospect boys of the passing generation will never forget. Southward in the early morning the "tom" flight, the males, went and back in the forenoon to their mates in the roosting-place in the north; then the females made their flight and returned after feeding and again in the afternoon these excursions were repeated; and so they went and came day after day as long as they remained. They flew high. The best gun in the village could not reach them. At times small flocks were surprised by hunters on the buckwheat fields or foraging in the woods after chestnuts and small acorns. But the slaughter among them by night in their roosts was outrageous. People came with wagons and on horse-back, with gun and long poles and shot and knocked them down by hundreds and thousands. To give some idea of their numbers and the havoc of their slaughter the following account by Audubon is here inserted.

"To one of these general nightly rendezvous, not far from the banks of the Green River in Kentucky, I paid repeated visits. It was pitched in a portion of the forest where the trees were of great magnitude of growth, but with little underwood. I rode through it lengthwise upward of forty miles, and crossed it in different parts, ascertaining its average width to be more than three miles. My first view of it was about a fortnight subsequent to the period when they had chosen this spot, and I arrived there nearly two hours before the setting of the sun. Few pigeons were to be seen, but a great number of persons, with horses and wagons, guns and ammunition, had already established different camps on the borders. Two farmers from the vicinity of Russelville,didtant more than one hundred miles, had driven upwards of three hundred hogs to be fattened on pigeon meat, and here and there the people, employed in picking and salting what had already been procured, were sitting in the centre of large piles of these birds, all proving to me that the number resorting there at night must be immense. The dung of the birds was several inches deep, covering the whole extent of the roosting-place like a bed of snow. Many trees two feet in diameter, I observed were broken at no great distance from the ground, and the branches of many of the largest and tallest so much so, that the desolations already exhibited, equaled that performed by a furious tornado. As the time elapsed, I saw each of the anxious persons about to prepare for action; some with sulphur in iron pots, others with torches of pine knots, many with long poles, and the rest with guns, double and treble charged. The sun was lost to our view and not a pigeon had yet arrived; but all of a sudden, I heard a general cry of 'Here they come!' The noise which they made, though distant, reminded me of a hard gale at sea, passing through the rigging of a close-reefed vessel. As the birds arrived, and passed over me, I felt a current of air that surprised me. Thousands were soon knocked down by the polemen. The current of birds, however, kept increasing. The fires were lighted, and a most magnificent as well as wonderful and terrifying sight was before me. The pigeons, coming in by millions, alighted everywhere, one on the top of another, until masses of them, resembling hanging swarms of bees as large as hogsheads, were formed in every tree in all directions. These heavy clusters were seen to give way as the supporting braches, breaking down with a crash, came to the ground, killing hundreds of those which obstructed their fall, forcing down other equally large and heavy groups and renderng the whole a scene of uproar and distressing confusion. I found it quite usless to speak, or even to shout to those persons nearest me. The reports of the different guns were seldom heard, and I knew of their going off only by seeing the owners reload them.

No person dared venture within the line of devastation, and the hogs had been penned up in due time, the picking of the dead and wounded sufferers being left for the next morning's operation. Still the pigeons were constantly coming, and it was past midnight before I perceived a decrease in the number of those that arrived. The uproar continued, however, the whole night; and as I was anxious to know to what distance the sound reached, I sent off a man, who, by his habits in the woods, was able to tell me, two hours afterward, that at three miles he heard it distinctly. Towards the approach of day the noise rather subsided; but long ere the objects were all distinguishable the pigeons began to move off in a direction quite different from that in which they had arrived the day before, and at sunrise none that were able to fly remained. The howling of the wolves now reached our ears, and the foxes, the lynxes, the cougars, bears, raccoons, opossums and polecats, were seen sneakng off the spot, while the eagles and hawks of different species, supported by a horde of buzzards and carrion crows came o supplant them, and reap the benefit of this night of destruction.

It was then that I, and all those present,began our entry amongst the dead and wounded sufferers. They were picked up in great numbers, until each had as many as could possibly be disposed of; and afterward the hogs and dogs were let loose to feed on the remainder.

Persons unacquainted with these birds must naturally conclude that such dreadful havoc must soon put an end to the species; but this is very far from being the case for, by long observation I have satisfied myself that, as they not infrequently quadruple their number yearly, always at least, double it, nothing but the gradual diminution of the forests can accomplish their decrease. In 1805 I have seen schooners loaded in bulk with pigeons caught up the Hudson River, coming into the wharf at New York, and those birds sold for a cent a piece. I knew a man in Pennsylvania who caught and killed in a clapnet, upwards of five hundred dozens in a day, sweeping sometimes twenty dozens or more at one haul.

I have also seen negroes at the United States' slatworks of Shawnee Town, wearied with killing pigeons for weeks at a time as they alighted to drink water from the leading-pipes; and yet in 1826, in Louisiana, I saw congregated flocks of these birds as numerous as ever I had seen them before during a residence of nearly thirty years in the United States."

The flesh of these pigeons in their prime is of wild and somewhat gamey flavor, but when properly cooked, exceedingly palatable and nourishing. It is of dark reddish color with a blue tinge. Many a savory pot-pie and pigeon fricassee the writer can remember with gusto as he looks back to his boyhood days, when the flights darkened the light of the sun as they flew over Prospect and flew away into oblivion, like a dream or a vision, never to return.

THE OLD HOME WEEK BOOK
History of the Village of Prospect, PA

Transcribed and Donated by Robert A. Stumpf

Chapter XX

The Indians

It is generally supposed that the Indians of America are dying out and that, in course of time, like the wild-pigeon, and the buffalo, they will have entirely disappeared . Contrary to the popular opinion, however, they are not dying out but actually increasing in numbers, as the figures of the census and reports of Indian Commissioners show. Exclusive of Alaska, the Indian population of the United States, in round numbers, was: in 1890, 243,000; in 1900, 270,00, and in 1910, 305,000. Commissioner Jones, in an earlier report, states as his belief, that they were then as numerous as in the days of Columbus.

The total expenditure by the Government on account of the Indian service from March 4th, 1789 up to and including July 30th, 1900, has been $368,358,217. The expenditures for the fiscal year ending July 30, 1900, amounted to $10,175,167. Of this sum $3,330,000 was devoted to the cause of Indian education.

Under the head of obstacles to self-support the report deprecates the ration system, annuity payments, and the leasing of allotments. Of the Indians in the United States, 43,270 receive a daily ration. There is now in the treasury to the credit of the Indian tribes, $33,317,955, drawing interest at the rate of 4 and 5 per cent. The Commissioner advocates dividing the fund and making the Indians go to work.

There were 250 schools for Indians conducted by the Government and an enrollment of 1,412 pupils more than in the previous year. There were 50,000 Indians in the Territory for whom a plea for schools was presented.

This report directly controverts the received idea that, because of constant communication with the whites, the extinction of the Indian is only a matter of time. It says it can be stated with a great degree of confidence that the Indian population of the United States has been very little diminished since the days of Columbus, Coronado, Ponce de Leon, Raleigh, Captain John Smith and other early explorers. More than a third of the Indians, or 117,000, reside in Oklahoma. There were 5,470 living in the state of New York, chiefly descendents of the old Iroquois, or Six Nations, following the same pursuits as their neighbors, dressing the same and, except in complexion and facial features, differing from the whites in no essential particular. The gain they were making in numbers is far less surprising than their advance in industry, intelligence and adaption to their changed condition in life. Two Indian farmers are located in Pennsylvania. An Indian family, by name Mahaw, was living in Brady Township, not from from West Liberty, in Butler County, within the last generation, when the last member passed away.

Our particular spot on the face of the earth here, in Prospect, has lingering around it the history of the vanished Red Man who hunted over its meadows and went whooping down its trails in war-paint and feathers. That history is lost in oblivion. Only the semblance of fact can be given to the conjectures of fancy regarding it. The arrow-heads, spear-points, skinning-stones and other relics of savage warfare and the chase, which we have often picked up and which still are to be found on the fields adjoining; and the vestiges of their paths, alone attest the actual occupation by its former owners. Romance and tradition have full scope, for little that is trustworthy survives as a basis for actual knowledge.

Yet who would not like to know what tribes owned the ground on which our native village stands? Who was the chief at such and such a time? What was the character and disposition of the aborigines when the white men first met them here? Where were their villages? What was the course of the paths which led to them?

These are some of the problems we have tried to solve. They may seem unfathomable and at the present stage of our investigation they are not clear in many details; but there is some general information of an authentic character and much more that is highly probable, which goes far to answering what, at first blush, seemed to be unanswerable questions.

As to the tribes which owned and controlled this territory, we can answer positively that the Six Nations, or Iroquois, as the French called them, having their seat in the Mohawk valley, were the owners by right of conquest, and exercised over lord-ship by the force of arms.

The Seneca tribe of the Six Nations, strong keepers of the western door of "The Long House," was probably the one to whose jurisdiction this territory was committed. And this brings us to the consideration of certain facts recorded in history which throw light on the name and identity of the Indian Chief who governed here just previous to the coming of the white settlers.

June 10th, 1764, George Washington wrote to Gov. Dinwiddie of Virginia, "Queen Aliquippa desired that her son, who was really a great warrior, might be taken into Council, as she was declining and unfit for business; and that he shoud have an English name given him. I therefore called the Indians together, by the advice of Half King, presented one of the medals and desired him to wear it in remembrance of his great father, the king of England; and called him by the name of Colonel Fairfax, which he was told signified 'The First in Council.' This gave him great pleasure.** His son's name is variously given as Canachquasy, Cashuwayo, Kanuksusy, Ahknoyis, Kooshoweyha, Cashiowayha and Cashanyon. He first appears in the colonial history of Pennsylvania as Canachquasy, the leader of a band of ten young Mingo warriors, whom he conducted from Kuskuskies (the chief town of the Iroquois on the Beaver), to Philadelphia, in 1747. In his speech to the Pennsylvania Council on that occasion, he stated that he and his companions were 'of the Six Nations." He spent the winter of 1747-48 with Nanticoke Indians, at the mouth of the Juniata; in November, 1753, his name appears as one of the Mohawk chiefs, now entrusted with the conduct of public affairs among the Six Nations."

"At a meeting of the Council in Philadelphia, August 15, 1755, Gov. Morris publicly thanked him, as one of the seven Indian chiefs who fought under Gen. Braddock. At a meeting of the Council one week later, the governor addressed Kanuksusy, son of old Aliquippa, who was then living near Ray's Town, and desired him to hearken for he was going to give him an English name. 'In token of our affection for your parents, and in expectation of your being a useful man in these perilous times, I do, in the most solemn manner, adopt you, by the name of New Castle; and order you to be called hereafter by that name; which I have given you, because in 1701, I am informed, that your parents presented you to the late Mr. William Penn at New Castle, (Delaware). Captain New Castle died in Philadelphia of the small-pox, November, 1756, after more thn a year's arduous and perilous duty as a messenger and spy for the governor among the hostile tribes of the Upper Susquehanna."***

It was after this man that the Indian village at the junction of the Shenango and Neshannock, no doubt, was called by the whites, New Castle's Town.

My interest in the Indian trails about here was especially arousd by the fact that my great-grandfather, with his band, traveled over them in crossing Butler count in 1771. But the effort to locate the route has not lead to anything quite definite. Something must still be left to conjecture. From the journal of the Missionary we know that they forded the Ohio (as the Allegheny was then called) at the mouth of the Cowanshannock, or near it; in an hour's march cane to an Indian village (probably Limestone Run), where they found te Indians friendly. They then crossed a very steep but not long hill and camped by a spring several miles from the village. That was on the first of August.

On the 2nd they advanced fifteen miles, pitched camp bu a Mahoning (a salt-lick), where two deer and a wild turkey were brought in.

On the 3rd their advance was though briers and thorns, over hill and through swamps, were met by the Missionary Heckewelder, with supplies, and about seven miles further came to a wonderful salt-spring flowing from the sand in the middle of a sweet-water stream. Here a hunter who had his wife with him presented them two deer. They camped by another salt lick where another deer was shot.

On the 4th they came within sight of the lights of Langundoutenunk, camped there, and on the 5th, at eleven o'clock entered the village.

Here, then, we have the point of departure -- The Allegheny River near Kittanning, and the point of destination -- New Castle. The distance by a direct line is 45 miles; the time consumed in making the journey four days and a half, or exactly ten miles a day. They were about 200 persons in number -- the others having gone by water -- with 70 head of cattle and a greater number of horses. Now, the query is, what was their route? This may seem to many a fruitles search; but the sentiment involved in it is not ignoble. It is not necessary to stop to discuss or defend it.

The Indians, though not dying out in America have nevertheless passed away from our part of it. They have gone from us but they have left the memory of their occupation of the land behind them in the musical and appropriate names which linger still on every mountain, lake and stream. And they have left their trails, the vestiges of which have not yet been entirely obliterated; and nothing is more interesting or rich in historical suggestion, than to follow up these traces of the vanished race and make the old days return when the forest was peopled and the intricate pathways alive with dark-skinned travellers, hunters and warriors.

But these pathways in the nature of things are difficult to locate because they were never more than mere threads upon the soil. A few characteritics, however, mark their course in general, which the Indian observed in choosing it, just as a white man with as much experience in wood-ranging, would observe. The Indian mounted the hills on the long ascending ridges and travelled on the high ground when he could. These routes were the driest. From them the water was most quickly shed in rainy seasons. The hill tops were swept free from snow in winter by the wind, and were less encumbered by brush and leaves and therefore less exposed to forest fires and, being best fitted for lookout stations, were less liable to conceal an ambushed foe. These trails were the natural result of the tread of many moccasined feet to and from their hunting-grounds, from village to village and from water to water.They avoided the low land because of inundations during rainy seasons and followed the general trend of the water-courses along the ridges of the adjoining high lands. Three points combined to locate a trail:seclusion, dryness, directness.

The trails were merely foot paths, less than a foot and a half wide, for the Indians marched like animals, single file, passing around obstructions, avoiding swamps, always under the trees. The streams had paths on either bank where practicable, just as fishermen make them along the banks of the creeks now -- liable to be washed away or changed by every freshet. Their villages often changed locations and then the connecting paths changed. These paths were sometimes worn to the depth of two feet, of course depending on the nature of the soil and the amount of travel. On rocky places the trail was often indistinguishable to any but a practiced eye.

Many of the long and more important Indian Paths developed into the historic highways of their white successors. The three great railways from the East to the West follow the general course of the great Indian trails: The New York Central, the Iroquois Path, up the Hudson and Mohawk valleys, to the Great Lakes; The Pennsylvania Central, from Philadelphia up the Susquehanna and Juniata, through the Kittanning Gorge of the Allegheny Mountains, and down to the Forks of the Ohio; and the Baltimore and Ohio from the Potomac up Will's Creek on Nemacolin's Path to the same point.

The indian Paths were followed by the Traders, then by explorers, and military expeditions, later by the wagons of the settlers, and finally by the railroads, because they were the most direct and practicable and sometimes, the only possible routes -- as through the mountains at Kittanning point, called so because the path through it led to the Indian town Kittanning.

The Indian trails in the vicinity of Prospect were first, the Venango Path, described by my honored collaborator in an early chapter, which passed through the site of the present village running north and south, parallel with the Franklin Road. The east and west path from Kittanning to Kuskuskies, or New Castle, is laid out on Mr. Hanna's map "The Wilderness Trail," following the general course of the Connoquenessing River." He says, in a letter to Mr. McCullough, bearing the date December 6,1911, "I was not able to locate it with exactness. Frederic Post "Moravian explorer" followed the Connoquenessing most of the way in going from Kittanning to the Beaver Valley in 1758, and on my map I have given the trail the same general course." The Christian Indians in their migration evidently did not follow that route or the stream would certainly hve been mentioned in the journal of their leader, which is in the possssion of the writer. In Heckewelder's map of N.E. Ohio 1796, he lays out a trail from the Beaver River just below the junction of the Shenango and Neshannock, running a little north of east, directly across Butler county to the Allegheny River and beyond and notes it as "Old Path from Beaver Creek to the West Branch of Susquehanna" that would be the path the Christian Indians travelled on their journey to Langundoutenunk. Wherever it crossed the Venango Path there would be a meeting of the ways. Somewhere near that point Heckewelder met the weary Pilgrims with food and succor. It may have been here right in Prospect, though the village was not yet born. That makes the spot for me a doubly hallowed ground.

This east and west trail probably developed into the main road from Kittanning to Butler and from Butler to New Castle, just as other Indians paths became the highways of the white men. In the absence of other evidence to the contrary it is not illogical to arrive at that conclusion. Another path from Cowanshannock or Kittanning diverged from the east and west trail, probably near Butler, and passed through Center Township, in the general course of the Mercer Road, striking the Venango Path at the Stone House.

The principal Indian town in the county was Murdering Town located at or near Amberson's Bridge on the Connoquenessing. A village is said to have stood at one time on the Andrew White farm at the spring where the old school house was, in the woods west of the Franklin Road, and another at the foot of Muddy Creek Hill, which they called "Bald Hill", and another by a big spring near Allen's, where Judge Lawfer had a store and tavern afterward. My authority for these latter statements is David Shannon, previously quoted.

** See "The Wilderness Trail," Vol. I, pp. 79-80

THE OLD HOME WEEK BOOK
History of the Village of Prospect, PA

Transcribed and Donated by Robert A. Stumpf

Chapter XXI

Biographical

"Pittsburgh, Pa., Oct. 26, 1911

Rev. D. Luther Roth, D.D.,

City

Dear Friend, Greeting:-

I was glad to learn from you that the proposed history of Prospect is about to materialize, and by your pen. I know of no one better qualified to execute the work.

Complying with your request I forward you data of my father's family. Use such parts of it as are proper in your judgment in the scope of the booklet.

Robert Dodds, 1804-1890, my father, came from Ireland to America, with his father John Dodds, in 1818. In 1828 he married Miss Letitia Rowan, and in the same year located on a farm to be made, in the counties of Allegheny and Butler, where the town Valencia now is. His children, that grew to man's estate were, Eliza E., deceased, John, Beaver Falls, Pa., Letitia M., Pittsburg, Pa., J. Renwick, Wahoo, Nebraska, Melissa, La Hunta, Colorado, Bithiah, Cleveland, Ohio, Josiah R., Franklin, Pa., and Joseph S., Pittsburg, Pa.

We are more than ordinarily long-lived. The ages of the seven surviving children averag 73 years, and aggregate 511.

The family had local musical distinction,John A., a notable violinist, J.Renwick a noted tenor singer, and the girls all were chief singers in their circle.

Soldiers.

John A. and Josiah R. in the Civil War.

Postmasters.

Josiah R.,Franklin,Pa.

Missionaries.

Letitia, wife of Rev. Robert J. Dodds, D.D., in1856 went to the Syrian mission and was there until the death of her husband in 1870 when she returned to America. Archibald J.,her eldest child, was a medical missionary in the same field, was lost at sea returning from the home land, from furlough to the mission. Her sons Revs. Robert J. and Calvin A., were missionaries in the same field until failing health of their families necessitated their home coming. Her step-daughter, Mary E. Dodds, also was in the mission field, first a lady missionary and later the wife of David Metheny, M.D., who also was a missionary. Mrs. Metheny now resides at Beaver Falls, Pa.

Lzina, eldest daughter of John A., and wife of J.M. Balph, M.D., of Mt. Chestnut, Pa., was in the mission field, Syria, with her husband where she died. Willa Ann, also a daughter of John A., was a lady missionary in the same field until failing health compelled her return to her father's home, where she died.

I notified Attorney W.H. Dodds, Oliver Building, City, to furnish you the data of his branch of the Dodd's, which he will take pleasure in doing personally or through some one else.

Cornplanter Indian

I made the acquaintance of an old gentleman in this city, who in early days was a drover. He drove cattle East and West over the mountains, and North and South from Pittsburgh to Erie, by way of Franklin and Prospect. The Stone House tavern was one of the places that he stopped at.

He said the Indian was a raftsman, came down the river on a raft, and paid his way back by coach to Franklin. He drank liquor, which made him disagreeable to other passengers. The company put up at the Stone House, and they had the Indian decoyed from the hotel, and while away the stage went on and left him. He was much angered when he learned that he had been fooled, and continued to drink, until the keeper of the hotel broke a chair over his back and drove him from the place. Smaring under the double wrong of being left behind, when his way was paid farther, and made drunk and abused by the tavern keeper, he went to the Wiggin's home and murdered the mother and children.

Now, when a boy, I heard lots of talk about the Indian that slew the W. family, but I never heard mention of the part whiskey had in it. The Indian was executed and this stopped his ravages on society, but whiskey thus far has escaped arrest and continues its deadly work.

If you think brief mention of this episode proper to the history, insert it.

Hoping that what I have written will give you the desired data, and wishing you success in the work, I remain,

Truly your friend,

J.S. Dodds"

Prospect, Pa., Oct. 21, 1911

"Mr. D.L. Roth,

Dear Sri:-

Your card recieved yesterday and am glad you are taking this matter up as we are all anxious to have the book published. I will now give you the facts in regard to our family from the first settlement to the present time.

First settlement in Prospect Borough then Muddy CreekTownship was made by Andrew McGowan, who with his wife (nee Craner) came from Westmoreland county in 1796 and built a cabin in the woods about two rods south east of where J.A. McGowan his grandson now lives. He purchased from the State for sixty-six dollars to be paid in lawful money in twenty-two annual payments or three dollars per annum (for a dollar in those days looked as large as a wagon wheel) for all that tract of land all of which is in Prospect borough and on which a large part of the town is built -- lying south of the Butler and New Castle road bounded as follows: North, by Butler and New Castle roads; south by public lane and west by lands of Samuel Harvey and Watson Forrester containing 376 acres with allowance. The highest price ever paid for land in Prospect Boro is from this tract when the I.O.O.F. paid A. Bowers $350.00 for a lot 40 by 120 feet. To Andrew McGowan and wife were born the following children: George, James, Dorcas, Sinthia, Catherine, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Polly, Nancy. Andrew McGowan died in 1835 leaving his farm to his son James and daughters Dorcas, Sinthia and Polly. Fifty acres alone remains in the family and one house and lot. The fourth generation is now living on the farm which is a very rare thing to find in any community. On this tract of land four houses have been built by the McGowans. One near where C.P. Johnson now lives. One by Harry Johnson's and two on the east side of the road.

James McGowan,his son, was first married to ElizabethThompson. To this union were born eight children all of which are dead. He next married Sarah S. Scott. To this union were born the following children. Lafayette who lives in New Castle, Edith Alexander who lives in Slippery Rock and J.A. McGowan who lives in Prospect and owns fifty acres of the land settled by his grandfather. Lafayette is married to Miss Sadie Garwig and have no children. Edith was married to Wm. Alexander now dead for ten years. To them were born three children, James, Grace and William.

James married Eliza A. Peffer of Lancaster township. To this union are born four children. Helen Ransy now residing in Oklahoma, Rita and Clinton at home. One boy died in infancy.

When Andrew McGowan settled this tract of land in 1796 it was a howling wilderness. Bears would come to the setlement and carry off the pigs and lambs. Black squirrels were so plenty they would have to guard their corn by dog and gun. Deer to provide meat for the family could be shot a few rods from the house and the woods abounded in all kinds of wild game, nuts and berries.

But over one hundred years has made a mighty change. The forest, bear, deer and game has long since been gone and have given place to a village, green fields and young orchards. What the next one hundred years will bring forth we can only guess at. I think this will cover the ground of our family history. I would like to have the cuts of our family in the book if the cost will not be beyond my reach. That is of my family and of my mother who lives with me and who is in her ninetieth year, being the oldest resident by about six years. I am ready to aid you in any way I can to get this book out. Wishing you success, I remain,

Yours Respectfully,

J.A. McGowan"

Butler, Pa., Oct. 25, 1911

Rev. D. Luther Roth, D.D.

Pittsburgh, Pa.

My dear friend:-

Enclosed please find a sketch of my family history on both sides. The bare mention of the facts concerning lineage is autobigraphy enough -- don't you think? But, to begin:-

(1)

Matthew and John McCullough were cousins and stonemasons, and came to this country together from Moneyheigh, near Belfast, County Down, Ireland, in 1798. They "wrought" at their trade at Newville, Cumberland County, Pa., for a few years after landing on our shores, and then came "across the mountains" and settled at Prospect, Butler County, Pa., in 1804.

They married sisters who were daughters of William Hunter and Mary (Wilson) Hunter. William Hunter bought a tract of 425 acres of land in the woods, where the village of Prospect is located, and running from the north east corner of the Diamond on the east, to the farm now owned by William Ralston.

(2)

The 425 acres covered the present farms of George and John McCullough -- formerly the John McCulloug Heirs, the Henry Shaffer Heirs, and the Jacob Henshaw Heirs -- running to the Pittsburgh and Franklin road on the west. This tract Mr. Hunter called the "Armagh tract," and it is so named in the deed of 1804. William Hunter died in 1811, and is buried on the John Shaffer farm, -- his widow, surviving him for many years, died at the home of her son-in-law -- Matthew McCullough, Sr., at the remarkable age of 104 years and was laid to rest by the side of her husband.

The oldest sons of Mattew McCullough, Sr., __ James and William -- inherited 100 acres of the Hunter estate which they ran off into town plots in 1825 and which formed the north east section of the plot of the village of Prospect.

The fourth son of Matthew and Jane (Hunter) McCullough -- Matthew McCullough, Jr., married the only daughter -- and only child of Andrew Spear White and Angelina (Ford) White. To this union were born two children -- Andrew White McCullough and Marion Ford McCullough.

Marion Ford McCullough enlisted in Compant "D", 11th Regiment Penna. Reserves,for three years -- in April 1861, (the next week after te "firing" on Fort Sumpter) and was killed after his time was out -- on the fifth of May, 1864.

Andrew White cCullough married Mary Bredin, -- the third daughter of Edward M. Bredin, Esq., and Adelia (Purviance) Bredin. To this union were born two daughters and a son, Marion McCullough, Kelt McCullough and Harry Ford McCullugh.

Kelt McCullough was married to K.C.T. Schneider -- son of Rev. Mr. Schneider, deceased ,of Berea, Ohio.

Mrs. Schneider died in 1909, -- Harry Ford McCullough died in 1907.

Now my dear friend, this covers the facts of lineage in my case.

I might have stated (but it is not material) that my mother and I were born on my grandfather's farm -- south of Prspect -- now owned by Mr.Kelley, and that the farm was settled by an Indian spy -- James Jeffries, -- who was a scout with Simon Girty, Samuel Brady and James Amberson.

Very Sincerely yours,

A.W. McCullough"

"Euclid, Pa., R.F.D. 45,

January 15, 1908

Mr. F.P. Critchlow,

Dear Friend:-

The following is a copy of a letter written by my uncle Samuel Allen of Grove City in answer to my request for information regarding the early days of Prospect and the buiding of the Allendell Mill.

'Of the residents of the town at this time 1853-54, Dr. Brower deserves mention. He spent much time at your father's store. Was good comany of good habits, but not a success financially. His practice did not draw heavily on pills. Have seen him get a phial of medicine from your father as he drove off to make calls. He also edited the "Prospect Record." He was a political candidate and had this commend. --

'Although physician he can point to the stone-quarry where he was a day laborer.'

Think he did not get the office then

Mr. Kirk and a Mr. Dodds kept store. It was said that John would bite a nail in two to make honest weight; 'Squire Piper was a tailor and at times took a week spree. James White had a shoe shop. Tom Forrester and James Wilson were often in store. Tom was counted a hard and James a slow drinker. Whiskey was Prospect's curse.

Mr. James Wilson our neighbor married a Miss Forrester near Prospect. She had use of but one arm. They settled on the farm south of town on Franklin road. There was a Walling family near town and a Joe Edmundson a jolly bachelor farmer-- a good fellow -- near Whitestown. A Mr. White kept hotel in Whitestown. 'Squire Fletcher lived as we turned down to the mill. The fiirst move on the mill began in Prospect; timber put on the ground then moved to the seat bought of Wm.Martin -- this I saw. James and Samuel McElhaney (brothers), Wm. McDonald and a Mr. McCullough did the stone work. I assisted the masons all the time. We had a good merry time. The brothers lived in Prospect (Sam was single). McDonald near town on Franklin road. Mr. Wm. Pillow done the carpenter work while I was there. The Prospect site was a mistake -- no water or coal. Robert Allen built a grist mill on his farm at Muddy Creek near your home. It proved a failure and loss. He also built a large brick building in town, (the Hunter Hotel) had Hotel and Store, ran a line of hacks from Pittsburgh to Franklin, had a tannery near town run by one Douglass -- A Mr. Findley was the U.P. preacher in town.

Submitted Respectfully

Mrs. Marion Allen McCandless

"The history of the C.P. Church is one of the important links in the chain of title to the old town of Prospect, and one that all who have had anything to do with may well be proud of. No person now living has any knowledge of the beginning, and what scraps of history came to the writer are gathered from the stone tablet that was placed in the front gavel of the church, bearing the inscription, Cumberland Presbyterian, Built A.D. 1850. This with the facts gathered from letters, sernons and funeral addresses and items that have been related are the only authentic accounts available. If there were any records kept by the fathers of their doings they are not at hand. The account given in the Butler County History of Butler County is not complete nor accurate.

The fact of the Church building already having been erected in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty allows us to infer that there must have been an organization prior to that time. In the funeral address delivered by Rev. J.M.Gallagher on the death of his friend the Rev. Joseph A. Bowman the first pastor, who died at Sandy Lake, Pa., December 18, 1889 he said that Rev. Bowman had been licensed by the Union Presbytery to preach in the year one thousand [eight hundred] forty-four. The historian says Rev. J.S. Bowman was pastor from 1850 until 1863, when he was elected to the Chaplaincy of the ______regiment. After peace was declared he was pastor for one year or more when he was called to another field of labor.

A well authenticated fact of history confirms the writer's opinion that the first Cumberland Presbyterian sermon preached here was in the year 1845 by that prince of preachers the Rev. A.M. Bryson who was followed by Rev. J.M.Gallagher. He succeeded in gathering around hm such men as Dr. D.H. Brower, James Hays, Capt. John Shearer, Thos. Critchlow and scores of others whose names cannot be recalled. To guess at them and leave out a lot of others would be worse than not to mention them. Their names are known and their noble deeds and sacrificing services have been recorded by the recording angel.

Allow me space to record a tribute to the oratory and the deep far reaching sermons of the pastors, and the eloquence of the clerk Dr. Brower who lined out the hymns as no other living man could. Why don't you remember how the students of the select school used to go there every other Sabbath to enjoy the eloquent sermons and hear the reading of the hymns. Such preaching was rarely heard outside the city churches, and not often were they surpassed in the most fashionable city churches.

Writer Unknown

Prospect, Pa., Feb. 7, 108.

Mr. A.W. McCullough,

Dear Friend:-

In your letter of January 27 you ask me among other things to give you a list of the soldiers who enlisted during the war of the rebellion who were members or adherents of Dr. Wm. Findley's congregtion. I will begin with the Doddses as they were the most numerous.

• Thomas B. Dodds, shot atVicksburg.

• Hamilton Dodds, shot at Vicksburg.

• James Dodds, died at Fairfax Seminary, Va.

• Jasper Dodds, died in prison at Richmond, Va.

• Shannon Dodds died in service of fever.

• James Dodds, died in service of fever.

• Joseph B. Dodds, died of disease contracted in the army.

• Rev. Ezra Dodds, died since the war.

• EbenezerDodds, died since the war.

• Harvey Dodds, died since the war.

Still living

• Rev. David Dodds

• John S. Dodds

• Wm. B. Dodds

• James O. Dodds

• Josiah Dodds

• Cowden Dodds

• Chalmers Dodds

• Other who enlisted

• Capt. Henry Pillow, 137 Regiment

• J.H. Shannon, Orderly 134 Regiment, Company G

• Andrew Shannon, Enlisted in Ohio

• Luther Kirk, enlisted in Iowa

• Andrew M. Elkins, 134 Regiment, Company C

• John S. Dick

• H.H. Dick, 134 Regiment, Company C

• Enos McDonald, Sergeant 134 Regiment, Co. C

Of these Luther Kirk was killed at Vicksburg and Andrew M. Elkins was shot at Chancellorsville and died in the hospital. Of these Capt. Pillow and Andrew Shannon have died since the war. J.H. Shannon, John Dick and H.H. Dick and Enos McDonald are still living. In addtion to these John Stevenson was killed in the war and N.C. Stevenson is still living.

In answer to your question, I was a school teacher for over fifty years. I commenced writing this on February 7, and have waited two weeks for information I have not yet received.

Your friend,

Enos McDonald

Prospect,Pa., March 10, 1908

Mr. A.. McCullough,

Dear Friend:-

You ask in your letter if Mrs. Marshall had not two sons in the army. She had three, James, George and Douthett. Their remains all lie in the Prospect U.P. Cemetery. The A.A. Frazer I spoke of is a connection of the Stevenson's -- a half-brother of Wm. Stoops. He emigrated to Southern Ohio, enlisted there, and served in Gen. Thomas's army. He now lives in Waldo, Kansas, in his 87th year. Capt. A.B. White and Capt. Fisher, I think, both belong to the list. Allen McCall is sure that Jack McCullough gets a soldier's pension. R.E. McBride is the author of quite an interesting little book entitled, "In the Ranks From the Wilderness to Appomattox," in which he speaks of your brother's death as an eye witness. He has been a minister in the M.E. church for perhaps forty years. His address is Everest, Kansas.

For information about the James B.Matthew boys I refer you to Miss Olive Matthews, West End, Butler. I am not positive about John Campbell being in the army. I know David was. I tink John S. Dodds knows. I suppose you have the names of Liet. J.S. Kennedy and his brother Newton on your list. If I can get you any more information, ask for it.

E. McDonald

Jamestown, N.Y., April 19, 1912.

Dear Luther:-

In connection with the sinking of the Titanic I recalled that I read somewhere an account of Sable Island. I turned to "Acadie" and found your interesting chapter which I read again. I did not end the reading with one chapter. I had to tear myself away fom the story so well told.

Yesterday I found a brief paragraph in the Young Lutheran, which I have copied and enclosed. It is rather pleasant reading. I wish that you would make a footote of the paragraph at the eginning of the chapter Ihave written. Future generations will forget me if I lack a monument.

This volume will be your monument at Prospct as "Acadie" is in Nova Scotia.

You ask. How many copies? That depends. A.W. M.'C. goes down as a benefactor. There has been no income for him, only spare thanks. The next generation will appreciate Andy's work. You are his best imitator and will receive glory in the generations to come. I think 300 copies will disappear like snow in summer. The publication will be a great benefit to the community.

As ever yours,

G.W. Critchlow

The editor of the Young Lutheran, under the caption, "Two Pittsburgh Pastors", wrote:--

"A writer in the Thielensian lives again among the "boys." He recalls the names of two who had the honor to graduate from Thiel College.

'Rev. G.W.Critchlow, Pittsburgh, Pa., was for a time assistant tutor at Thiel, but after finishing his theological course, he devoted himself to the active duties of the pastorate. Rev. Critchlow's life has been an unusually fine balancing between men and books. Combining the two in an admirable degree, he has acquired an accuracy of scholarship and a knowledge of practical life, without which scholarship is often worse than usless. Like lightning unchained, its power is destructive; tamed and applied,it is constructive.'

The Young Lutheran knew these "boys" when they slept in the same bed at Thiel more than a score of years ago. They were promising lads, and have fulfilled their promises."