THE HISTORY OF SMITHTON, PENNSYLVANIA FROM 1800 TO 1950
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This historic building stood on Second Street not far from the eastern limits of the borough. It served as a dwelling from the day the first settlers arrived until sometime between 1936 and 1940, when it was torn down. As originally constructed, it was made of sound logs, with holes to shoot through all along the wall. There was only one door, and it was in two parts, upper and lower, like a barn door. Settlers flocked to the new County. In 1774 George Washington owned land in this vicinity, near Jacobs Creek. Mr. Crawford writes to tell Mr. Washington of same slaves who have run away, and of the sale of several others. The money he received for two of them, 45 pounds, was to be applied to building Washington’s Mill at Perryopolis. In February 1778, 194 5/8 acres were patented to Jacob Smith of Buck’s County for 33 pounds, one shilling and three pence. This land is now in the possession of the heirs of F. M. and J. U. Williams. On January 1, 1781, Thomas Shields, a goldsmith, and Hannah, his wife, purchased Christopher Hay’s holdings here. In 1794, Shields sold the property to Richard Backhouse. Mr. Backhouse died soon after his purchase of the Shields holdings, and Mr. Shields caused to be sold at Sheriff’s sale in an effort to get the money due him. Failing to get a satisfactory bid in Westmoreland County, he obtained an order of court to transfer the sale to Philadelphia. It was bought by John Smith, who paid 3272 pounds for 3000 acres. There is no record that John Smith ever saw the land he had bought. Came the winter of 1779-1800. John Adams was serving the 1st of his term as second president of the United States. A surging tide of humanity rushed over the Alleghenies, to spread through the wooded hills and valleys of Western Pennsylvania. It was during this winter and spring that John Smith sent his son, Joseph, to look after his large estate on the Youghiogheny. Joseph Smith was not alone on his journey over the mountains. Accompanying him were his wife, Mary, and their young child, and what must have been his wife’s entire immediate family. These included her parents, Henry Rhodes and his wife, Catherine, and a large number of grown offsprings - four sons, John, Henry, Michael and Peter - and four daughters of Henry Rhodes, the brothers and sisters of Mary Smith, were married at the time of their coming and were accompanied by their wives and husbands, and probably a few youngsters. The baby that Joseph and Mary Smith brought with them was ill on the trip and several stops had to be made on its account, some of the other members of the party chafed at the delay. They were afraid of an Indian raid and impatient to be on the way. The child’s mother overheard one of say, “I wish that baby would either get well or die!” Her wrath made the possibility of an Indian raid pale into insignificance.
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