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sylvania lived much in dread of Indian incursions into their settlements, and those of Father Gallitzin's colony were perhaps more fearful than others by reason of the closer proximity of the "Cornplanter" Indians on Oil Creek; but this tribe was neutral. A representative of the government about the beginning of the war visited them to ascertain their attitude and endeavor to promote their friendship. Their chief, "Cornplanter," whose Indian name I do not now recall, showed him 150 muskets belonging to the tribe, but assured him of their friendship. There was a reason for this.
"Cornplanter" was a half-breed, a natural son of one John O'Bayle, an Albany trader with the Indians. During Pontiac and Guyasothe's war in 1763, "Cornplanter," who was then leagued with Pontiac, captured his father and standing before him thus addressed his captive: "You are my father. I am your son. If now you choose to live with me, I will take care of you; but if you choose to return to your white children, you may do so."
The father chose to return to civilization and was allowed to return to his home.
Some local historians of the past, accustomed to "drawing the long bow," have handed down to us thrilling accounts of the dangers which beset the pioneer settlers by reason of the hostility of the Indians, but while it is a fact that Indians often visited the neighborhood, there is no authentic record to prove that, since 1781, they ever committed any act of hostility. In that year it appears that some Tories and Indians made an incursion into the Juniata valley and killed some people near Sugar Creek. The surviving inhabitants besought Capt. Albright, who, with a company of soldiers was stationed at Holliday's fort to protect the frontier and to look for lead to make bullets for Washington's army, to give pursuit to the retiring hostiles, but he refusing, one Beatty and another man - Coleman by name, if I mistake not, followed them along the Kittanning Trail to near Canoe Place (Cherry Tree) without finding them, but while encamped for the night some place above the present town of Chest Springs, on the morning following, two men named Moses Hicks and one Gresham went out early to endeavor to shoot a deer, or some other wild game for breakfast, when they were surprised by Indians and carried to Detroit where they were kept prisoners until the close of the war.
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