Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/453

 C H A P l'E R X V III V 'A I X E Y T O W N S H IP It is th o u ^ t that the first settler into the vicinity o f what is now known as Valley town­ ship w as Philip Maus, the founder of the fam ­ ily whose members fo r many generations have been such factors throughout this (lortion of the State. H e purchased a plat o f land located on Mahoning creek in M ay, 1769. which was the earliest date that it was possible to obtain a clear title to land that had been purchased from the Indians, and which included a great area in this section. A t the close of the war of the Revolution, Philip Maus, together with his son and two carpenters, made pu n s to visit his purchase. The Httle party first appeared in the settlement at the mouth o f (he Mahon­ ing, which had ju st been founded by Daniel and William Montgomery, and from there Mr. Maus proceeded to the site o f his new home. With Ihc aid o f his s<m and the carpenters the pioneer built the first log cabin in V’allcy town­ ship. It was located on the right bank of the stream. H e proposed to clear aw ay a small tract o f woods near his humble home, but prowling Indians prevented an immediate con­ summation o f that plan and the tools whkh he had provided fo r that purpose were, to­ gether with other personal possessions, finally buried, in order to prcscr'c them from the savage foe. Philip Maus has left recollections, which he intrusted to his friend John Frazer to write. From these memoirs is gathered what is probably the most reliable account of the kilting o f Robert Curry, as follow s: "T w o years previously," in M ay. 1780, Robert Curry and his w ife, traveling on horse­ back from Nortbumberland, 011 the way to their little farm on (he Mahoning, when about mi(iway between (be two places, were attacked by savages. He was kilted and scalped and his skull broken to fragments with their tomahawks. She w as taken prisoner. H er hair was long and jet black, which they greatly admired. They told her she was a "much irctty squaw.” and that they would not hurt icr. They traveled until night, when they en­ camped. They then tied her hands and feet wilh hickory bark. Soon they were in a pro­

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found sleep, when she cut the bark from her wrists and ankles. She had concealed a pair o f scissors about her person which, fortu­ nately fo r her, escaped their vigilant search when she was first made captive. S h e fled from their camp as fast as possible, but they soon missed her and, lighting torches, pursued her in all directions. She concealed herself in the top o f a fallen tree. They passed over the trunk of the tree and, as they aid so, cried ou t: "Com e on, squaw, wc sec you. Come out, pretty squaw, wc see y o u!” A fte r some time spent in fruitless search (hey abandoned it, broke up (heir camp before daylight, and pursued their journey. She then returned to the remains o f her murdered husband, and gathering up the pieces o f his skull in her apron took them to her house, which she reached the next day. The agony and deep distress of this poor woman may be con­ ceived, but the pen utterly fails to describe them. A f r a ^ e n t o f a letter from M rs. Maus. dated "Northumberland, 1783,” is so fu ll of interest that a portion o f it is reproduced: " Y o u r brother Geotge likes this place %-ery well. When you come, do not fait to bring 100 White Chapel needles and two or three ounces o f thread suitable for sewing calico and homespun linen. G ive my love to your grandpa and grandma, and tell her I wish her to come with you and see u s; wc will arrange fo r her journey to Lebanon and back. You will sec Rev. Stoy's (lalacc. T ell her the Feninton’s house up Race street is nothing to compare to it and Dr. Stoy lives only seventy-five miles from us. * • • Tell the girls that Su sy and the young gprls here take a canoe and go into the river fishing here by them selves; the river is as clear as a spring and not h alf a yard deep. T his is a most beautiful and picturesque place. W e have the wild deer not h alf a mile from us, skipping about (he hills where the boys go to fetch the cows. "Y o u r loving mother, “ Frances M aus."

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