Stories of Wolves Attacking Pennsylvania Settlers
Magazine Articles Reveal Interesting Stories of Early Settlers
There is an abundant wealth of information for genealogists tracing families in America. The data is mainly found in county records such as old wills and estates, marriages, tax digests, deeds, etc. Historical events in history books should also be researched, especially the origins of religious settlers from foreign countries. History is where the heartbeat of the family history is discovered. Remember to research magazines published during the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. The following fascinating account is taken from stories published in 1905 by The Magazine of History.
Dallas, Pennsylvania, was settled in 1797 and was incorporated as a borough in 1879 from all of the land in Dallas Township.
Some of the difficulties that the first settlers to this region included were addressed by the late W. P. Ryman, Esq., of Wilkes-Barré, Pennsylvania, before the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, as follows:
“The difficulties of settling the Dallas township were great. It was comparatively easy to cut a path or road along the banks of Toby’s Creek and find a way even to its source, but to settle there alone, many miles from any clearing, and meet the wolves, bears, and other wild animals, which were terrible realities in those early days, saying nothing of the still pending dread of the prowling Indian, was a solemn undertaking.”
“When I was a small boy, I heard Mr. Charles Harris, then an old man, tell some of his early recollections, which ran back to the time of the battle and massacre of Wyoming. He told us of the Indians who once came into the house where he and his mother were alone and demanded food. There being nothing better, they roasted a pumpkin before the fire scraped it off and ate it as fast as it became soft with cooking. He also told us about his father’s first settling on the westerly side of Kingston Mountain at what is still known as the “Harris Settlement,” about two miles north of Trucksville. He said his father worked all day, fell trees, and built a cabin. Night came on before the cabin could be enclosed. “
“With the darkness came a pack of wolves, and to protect his family, Mr. Harris built a fire and sat up all night to keep it burning. The wolves were dazed and would not come near a fire, and when daylight came, they disappeared. To pass one night under such circumstances required bravery, but staying, building a house, clearing a farm, and raising a family with such terrors constantly menacing exhibited courage that commands our highest esteem.”
About Wolf Sanctuary of PA - Home to the Wolves of Speedwell
“Among those who came in the first decade were Joseph Worthington and wife — the latter a daughter of Jonathan Buckley. They came from Connecticut in 1806 and settled near Harvey’s Lake. His first house was built of logs and stood on the hill about a quarter of a mile from the eastern inlet to Harvey’s Lake. When he first moved into that country, there was no road from Huntsville to Harvey’s Lake except for a bridle path. Mr. Worthington cut through and built a house when his nearest neighbor was miles away, and there were no clearings in sight. Wolves were then very numerous and bold at night, and the only way Mr. Worthington could protect his family from their assaults was for all to climb the ladder to the second floor and pull the ladder up after them. Mr. Worthington used to say that his life during those early days was most lonely and disheartening.”
Buckwheat, a summer grain quick to mature, was raised extensively in Dallas, thus the expression “Buckwheat-Dallas.” In ninety days from the day the crop is sown, it can be grown, matured, gathered, ground, and served on the table as food or, as it was so often remarked, just in time to meet a three-month note in the bank.
Another practical benefit of raising this grain was that, in gathering it, a large quantity shook off and was scattered over the fields. This afforded a most attractive pigeon food, and during the fall and spring seasons, and often during much of the winter, pigeons would flock in countless numbers all over that country. They came in such quantities that it would be difficult to exaggerate their numbers.
“When I was a boy, I used to see flocks that extended as far as the eye could reach, from end to end, and these long strings or waves of birds would pass over so closely following each other that sometimes two or three flocks could be seen at once, and some days they were almost constantly flying over, and the noise of their wings was not unlike the sound of a high wind blowing through a pine wood. They cast shadows as they passed over, almost like a heavy cloud. Often, they flew so low as to be easily reached with an ordinary shotgun. However, the skilled way of capturing them in large numbers was with a net. William or Daddy Emmons was a famous pigeon trapper and fisherman. He used decoy pigeons. They were blind pigeons tied to the ground at some desired spot, and when they heard the noise of large flocks flying overhead, they would flap their wings as if to fly away. Attracted by this, the flock would settle near the decoys, where plenty of buckwheat was always found. When a sufficient number had settled and collected on the right spot, Mr. Emmons, concealed in a bush or bough house nearby, would quickly spring his net over them and fasten them within. After properly securing the net, the work of killing them began. It was done instantly by crushing their heads between the thumb and fingers. Hundreds were often caught and killed in this way at one spring of the net. Pigeons were so numerous that some hunters cut off and saved the breast only and threw the rest away.”
Another story was told of Joseph Hoover, who came to the local town store one day to get a gallon of molasses, carrying a jug. As it happened that day, the son, Isaac, who usually waited on him, was otherwise engaged, and the father, Jacob, went down the cellar to draw the molasses. After leaving, Jacob called up from the cellar that the jug did not hold a gallon. “Call Isaac,” replied Hoover, “and let him try; he has always been able to get a gallon in that jug!”
Source: Early Days in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (1805–1845) published in The Magazine of History with notes and queries, Vol. II, №4, October 1905.
Genealogy Tips:
Magazine articles were published during the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. These may be found online at gutenberg.org. After opening the article, simply type Ctrl + F to search for your surname.
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Available Historical articles and books by Jeannette Holland Austin
Hero Implants (Revolutionary War Soldiers). Stories and accounts from pension records.
Compendium of Irish Genealogy includes biographical sketches.
Two new genealogy books by Jeannette Holland Austin are for sale.
Hero Implants. Stories from soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War, taken from pension records.
Compendium of Irish Genealogy includes a collection of biographies from old, unpublished records.