"The Ligonier Echo" issue of 2 December 1891, p. 1:

OLD-TIME RECOLLECTIONS.

Old-time Singing Schools-Gallantry of the Young Men-Rev. A.B. Clark-Campmeetings of the Valley, etc., etc.

No. XX.

Mr. Editor:-In turning attention to the singing schools, the first I remember of was taught by John Willson, from the lower congregation. He was a good teacher, commanded good order in the schools and had a strong, melodious voice. He also led the church music. Early in life he moved to Summit county, Ohio, where three brothers also settled. He taught at Ligonier, Hermitage (the noted St. Clair celled room), Pollock school-house and other places down the valley. The next teacher was Dr. Jonson Miller, and I think his brother also, who taught in the same places above mentioned. They were fine, well accomplished singers, Jacob being the best at bass. The doctor's voice was cultivated but not of enough volume for bass singing. The leading bass singers of Ligonier were Jacob Miller, Paul Hugus (clerk in Col. Mendell's store), Jacob Divelbiss, Michael Keffer, Robert Kirkwood and I think Wash. George. There were always good order in these schools, but not so good in some of the schools taught by Mr. John Austraw, but he and his family were great singers, and it was said he never had a hoarse cold to interfere with his singing every night in the week during the winter. All these men taught the square-topped notes and mostly used the Wakefield music book, but near the last of my years at home a Wm. Moore, from near New Alexandria, came to the valley with the new system of round notes and new style of training in music. He had it fully displayed on a large canvas which he hung at one end of the room, pointed with cane to the characters and thus for a time trained the entire school without the aid of books. Dr. Miller attended and seemed to fully understood the system, but had never taught it and had many questions to ask which Mr. Moore could readily answer. This was a very large and spirited school, as well as some others he taught down the valley. All the better class of people attended.

At this school, perhaps more than any other, the noble young men displayed a great deal of gallantry in seeing the ladies safely to their homes, as did they from Pollock's schoolhouse. Many of the boys would come there from town, see their girls come and then return, being a trip of eight or nine miles. Of the gallantry of Ligonier, which was quite universal, I must mention an occurrence that took place as the crowd was leaving on a certain occasion. The young gents, accompanied with their fair ladies, were about departing when one young man, a gallant Lochinvar from town, attempted to capture a country gent's lady by taking hold of the other arm of the fair damsel. A scene of "knight errantry" was prevented by some of the other young men who were in favor of fair play. Trouble was thus saved and also alarm to the young ladies. It was not your scribe, however, who attempted to make the above mentioned capture. I mostly had the pleasure of the company of the daughter of the 'Squire of town.

In connection with music I must say that Rev. Swan was incapable of singing. He would sing in tones high and low without the semblance of keeping time, and yet he seemed to sing in the enjoyment of the spirit of the hymn, and yet his style of singing did not confuse the other singers. He would read two lines at a time and then they would be sung. Mrs. Swan, a fine singer, generally led for the singing of the family worship at home.

This was the proper system of musical science, but required much more close study and practice, and was not continued long enough to visibly improve church music, unless it was in the upper congregation, where Rev. A.B. Clark said he thought he never found such fine church music "where all the people sang" so correctly and that he was carried so high in musical inspiration that he could hardly settle down to calm preaching. There was a schoolmaster named Jonson or Thompson, if I remember correctly, in that end of the valley who was a scienced music teacher and trained them all to be good singers.

Rev. A.B. Clark was the first minister to settle in the upper division of Rev. Swan's charge and was an excellent man for the place. He built a large brick house and for several years conducted a female seminary. He was not a stout man and retired to Altoona church, where he would not be exposed in riding six or seven miles in cold weather to the upper church. He died of consumption early in life. These congregations flourished well under his ministry.

I will now write of the first campmeeting of the valley, held up in that woods of large timber, saplings and brushy grubs well cleared off for a proper distance around, and camps and seating arrangements were placed all around, with ministers' tents inside to accommodate the immense audiences that gathered. I do not remember how long it was in operation and do not remember if I was there more than one Sabbath, but I attended on week days. The day I was there three or four sermons were preached by Revs. J.C. Callahan, Peter McGowen, & Rev. McKinny and another, and after night services singing and prayermeeting would be kept up very late in the tents. These sermons were very strong gospel sermons-no mention of the distinctive doctrine in one of those that I remember and no doubt would have noticed, as only a short time before I had joined the Presbyterian church and was much interested in pure gospel preaching. I once heard a Rev. Poe or Core, I am not sure which. He is now presiding elder, I think. He said it was his doctrine or sentiment that it was high time for the different denominations to quit taking one another by the throats on doctrines and fight the devil alone and they would all find plenty to do in that way. The same man, once here on Memorial Day, said: "All soldiers should be christians, that the devil should not get them, and they should see well to it and keep him well out of reach. The soldier who left home and everything dear to save his country should make sure of heaven."

Let me give you the colored preacher's sentiments on election. He had become converted and was preaching among his brethren. His former master said to him, "Sam, I hear that you have become a preacher and that you believe in election." "Well, yes, sah. I believe that truth is clearly revealed in the Word of God." "I suppose you think you are of the elected," rejoined the master. "Well, sah, I's prepared to say I give all diligence to make my calling and election sure, dat am true." "But you don't suppose I am among the elected?" "Well, massa, I's not sure about dat. Dis I know, I neber hear ob an election where dere was no candidate."

A NEIGHBOR.

(TO BE CONTINUED.)

"The Ligonier Echo" issue of 9 December 1891, p. 1:

OLD-TIME RECOLLECTIONS.

First Settlers of the Valley-Westmoreland Liberty Organized-The Pollock Family Prominent Among the Early Settlers.

No. XXI.

Mr. Editor:-In taking up [unclear] histories of the valley it would seem proper to mention those first settling there as near as can be ascertained.

The Westmoreland County History states that as early as 1758, when General Forbes' army opened up the first State road through the State to Pittsburg, some settlers came west and remained, and for some time up into the sixties many came into the county, but none are mentioned as settling in the valley, until James Pollock came out with Indian traders some time preceding 1767 and marked with his hatchet a tract of land for his future home. This was the common system of that day in laying claim to land, as no land office was established until April 3, 1769, and Westmoreland county was not organized until February 26, 1773. This county embraced all lands west of Laurel Hill. The first court met in Hannah Town on April 6, 1773, and continued there until the town was burned by the Indians in 1782.

History states that James Pollock with five brothers came from north of Ireland, whither they had emigrated from Scotland a few years previous to their coming to America. One brother made his permanent home in Cumberland county, of whom ex-Gov. Pollock was the sole representative. Two settled in Erie county. One returned to Ireland and James to Ligonier Valley. After marking out his farm of about 400 acres, he returned to Cumberland county and married Mary Herron, sister of Mrs. Robert Knox, who lived adjoining the hermitage tract and only one farm between them and likely settled there near the same time on 400 acres. History is sparing in giving information of valley settlers. Jas. Pollock was prominent in church and state; was an elder in the Presbyterian church, but changed to the Seceder church. He brought with him a commission as justice of the peace, which office he held until old age. He and his wife were endowed with strong intellects and were noted for intelligence and piety. He was elected to the State Legislature, attended the opening, but returned to his farm and attended to the business there which he much preferred. His family consisted of three sons and four daughters. Two daughters were married into the Knox family and moved to Ohio in early times. One became the wife of John McCoy, down the valley, and the other of Wm. Little, of Laughlinstown.

Judge Thomas, Elder John and David, the one murdered on the Allegheny mountains in mistake for Col. Ramsey. Thomas was likely the oldest, as he had a family of five children when the murdered brother was brought home and John was not married until two or three years after in his 24^th year. They were both men of high order of mental powers. Both perhaps all their years above majority were church elders, the former Presbyterian and the latter Seceder, and very exemplary men and filled well their stations in life and had very interesting families, the former eleven children by two wives, and latter seven by one wife. The Judge Thomas was long associate judge of Westmoreland county, and it was said could charge the grand jury on Monday if the learned judge of the law was tardy in coming to court. He was long a justice of the peace in the valley. His oldest son was a minister and settled in Eastern Virginia on farm and slaves inherited by his wife and lived to a good old age. His second son, Joseph H., was advancing in classical education; went to Maryland to teach and also married a rich wife with farm and slaves and died at the age of 75, about ten years younger than the brother. A third son, James, was also advancing in education and went to Kentucky to teach school with his cousin James, a son of John P., and both died of Kentucky fever. The sons all rated as men of high mental ability. The younger son moved to Madison, Indiana, and may yet be living. John P. never accepted office unless school director. He was a home man and first-class farmer and prospered well. Two of his sons were not highly educated. The oldest went to Cleveland and did well in business and became wealthy, but a change took place and he and his son took up dentistry and succeeded well. The younger son inherited the old homestead and was perhaps equal to his father in managing a model farm. The third son studied for the ministry and became an able D.D. in the U.P. church and died a few years ago. The second son was pursuing a course of education for the ministry and died in Kentucky as has been mentioned. I would yet say Judge P. was a very popular man in the region and gave way to accepting office, thus differing from his brother John. In 1812 was the Federal candidate for congress against the noted James Findley, the Democrat, and although on the unpopular side of politics came within 137 votes of being elected.

His first wife was of the Hendricks family, also very early settlers of the valley, by whom he had four daughters and one son. The second was the wife of Rev. Joseph Henderson, Indiana county, one of the eminent pioneer ministers of Western Pennsylvania, by whom he had three sons and three daughters. The first family was vigorous and stout and long lived; the second was affected with lung weakness and some died early. The oldest daughter married Rev. Hill's second son and lived in Ohio; the second to Mr. Mathews, who lived a long time in Blairsville and then moved west; the third to Mr. Chapman, near Blairsville, and [unclear] moved west; the fourth to Jos. Moorhead of Ligonier.

A NEIGHBOR.

(TO BE CONTINUED.)

"The Ligonier Echo" issue of 16 December 1891, p. 1:

OLD-TIME RECOLLECTIONS.

Judge Pollock and Other Early Settlers-Indian Troubles and Establishment of Peace-Fast Riding.

No. XXII.

Mr. Editor:-I have stated Westmoreland county was formed in 1773 from Bedford county and embraced all Western Pennsylvania from top of Laurel Hill and from which territory is now formed sixteen counties. It is stated in history that Westmoreland county is the eleventh in age of the State and the fifth of the southern tiers of counties in Pennsylvania.

In mentioning Judge Pollock's popularity in being so nearly elected to congress over the celebrated Findly who had been in congress from 1791 to 1815, I named James but meant William; but James was also a celebrated man of the county at one time of Greensburg and was elected to the Legislature in 1832-3 and afterwards Secretary of State under Governor Wolf, his father, Wm. Findly, being Governor of Pennsylvania in the term from 1817 and then U.S. Senator from 1821. It seems also that this James was prosecuting attorney at the trial and conviction of the lamented Joseph Evans for the murder of a man when the canal was being made near Bolivar in 1830 and who said every man who swore against him would come to a violent death in a short time, which proved to be a correct prediction.

I would yet add of Judge Pollock that he was a very upright and correct man and withal strictly religious and of more than ordinary mental ability; was an elder of the church under Revs. Hill and Swan and an able man in prayer in the church societies; attended communions in upper church ten miles from his home; did not leave his religion at home when he went to court at Greensburg, but commanded an audience at every very long table at the hotel to ask a blessing to every meal in a few well and distinctly pronounced words, but not lengthy, so that any impatient hungry person would be "detained before the Lord," Judges White and Lobinger setting at each side of head of table. They were church members, but not praying men in public at that time, but Judge Lobinger from German Reform church, became a member of the Baptist church and became a praying man in public and devotedly religious. He was not as thrifty a farmer as his brother John and this was owing likely to his accepting office from his fellow citizens. I never learned that he went around making political speeches through the country, but would have been quite capable if he had practiced in things of that kind.

He did not leave the Presbyterian church when the Watt's psalms and hymns were introduced, as his father and brother John and many others did early in this century. I have mentioned his first family by the Hendricks wife and of the Henderson family. They were not as vigorous as the first. The oldest son and youngest, I think, lived to a good old age, but the oldest daughter died young and the second married Rev. A.B. Clark's brother and died young, leaving one daughter, and the youngest daughter married a clergyman and may be living yet.

There were great troubles and many alarms from the Indians in his youth that he no doubt remembered well, but I never heard him speak of them. He was not a talkative man nor as much so as his brother. He must have been ten or twelve years older than his brother, as history states their parents by incursion of the Indians were driven from the valley to the Mt. Pleasant fort for safety and where John was born October 8, 1783, being seven months younger than my father.

History states that the whole country west of Laurel Hill from 1782 to 1784 was so harassed by Indians that the settlers took refuge in the forts and that they did not plant any crops owing to the defeats of Gen. Crawford in 1782 and Gen. Herman in 1784, and also Gen. St. Clair in 1791-worst of all. The Indians were rendered very bold and daring in all invasions of the settlements in Western Pennsylvania. There was constant dread and alarms if not fully desecrations committed, and not until Mad Anthony Wayne was sent out soon after St. Clair's defeat were they finally conquered and brought to terms of a fair and honorable treaty after many years of labor.

My only aunt now living and eighty-six years of age told me she remembers of her people at home telling of a particular time of an alarm by a man with his gun and a flag flying, riding through the settlements and shouting at the top of his voice that "Injins were coming" and for all to flee to the forts, and that her mother with her babe (my mother) on her lap and one child behind her on a horse, and her father with her oldest brother on another horse, making for Fort Palmer in full flight, about two miles distant, and a limb of a tree pulled her mother's bonnet off, but she never stopped for it but pressed on at full speed. Then the men in the settlement armed themselves and went out after the Indians, but did not find any. My mother used to tell us she could remember when a small girl and years after this of Indian alarms, and when the cattle, horses and all stock would run to the house, showing great alarm, which was looked upon as full indication of their prowling around. This flight to Palmer's Fort must have been in 1788, as she was born in November, 1787.

After terms of peace were established through the instrumentality of General Wayne in 1795 there was no more trouble and the western part of Pennsylvania filled up with a very substantial class of people, mostly Scotch, Irish and German, and the country prospered well in every branch of industry and farming.

[Several unclear words] John Pollock [several unclear words] farming he was perhaps the first of the country to introduce the fine quality of Merino sheep; also his son Thomas continued it with a farm on top of Laurel Hill. He procured the Hickory breed of horses on his farm that for speed and safe and easy traveling was the best I ever met with and not excelled by Morgans nor the Lug Eclipse, both of which I have used. I remember once of seeing him on his way home from a trip to Stubenville, Ohio, from which place he left at 6 a.m. and would about that time p.m. arrive at home, being a distance of ninety miles, and from 7 1/2 to 8 miles per hour, and walked the animal all the way. Rather a greater ride than that of Col. Ramsey from Chambersburg in 24 hours, a distance of 112 to 115 miles, but over six mountains.

A NEIGHBOR.

(TO BE CONTINUED.)