EDWARD EMILIUS LE CLERC.

A Historical Poem on Wyoming Which This Young Mexican Hero Wrote Over 40 Years Ago and Read at a Dickinson College Commencement.

The RECORD has been handed an old clipping of a poem delivered at the commencement exercises of Dickinson College, July 19, 1838, by Edward Emilius Le Clerc. There is nothing about the clipping to show date or name of paper but we learn from Pearce's Annals of Luzerne that it was published in the Wilkes-Barre Advocate, July 28, 1841.

Edward E. Le Clerc was the eldest son of Joseph P. Le Clerc, whose family residence was at the northeast corner of Union and Franklin Street. After graduating from Dickinson College he studied law with his brother-in-law, Jonathan J. Slocum. Soon after his admission to the bar, war was declared against Mexico, and in a short time thereafter two regiments of volunteers were called for as Pennsylvania's quota for the conquest of our Sister Republic. The WilkesBarre company under Capt. Dana at once offered its service and was accepted. Le Clerc was anxious to join the army under Gen. Scott, and being offered the position of lieutenant in a company being enlisted in Columbia County, entered the service and participated in nearly every engagement from the taking of Vera Cruz to the final assault on Chapultapec at the National Capital. He returned with the soldiers when the war was over, but broken in health, and possessing but a delicate constitution, did not long survive the many hardships he had endured while in the service. He possessed the true poetic genius and had he lived to maturer years might have shone more brightly in the galaxy of the true poets of Wyoming Valley.

As none save our older citizens ever saw the poem in print we take pleasure in reproducing it:

For resting on the western mountain's tops,
As in a sea of gold, the setting sun
Reclined, in soft and mellow sadness, grieving
As 'twere to bid adieu, and leave that vale,
Which he so much did love to smile upon.
And there reposed the lakes, forth shadowing
Like silvered mirrors or like burnished gold,
The hills in whose embrace they lay. Beyond
Receding to the East the lofty woods
And rocks sublime, the masonry of God,
Tinged by the bright beams of declining day,
Bore sportive semblance to the moonlit tower,
Or battlement by time and storm decayed.
So wondrous fair was then the beauty of
The spot, that language, yea, conception fails
Its loveliness to paint. It seemed the home
The mountain home, of some bright fairy elves-
The sporting place, at the dead noon of night
For their wild pranks of glee.
But there was too
A stream for beauty framed, in silver robed,
Which ever and anon, while washing out
The mountain's craggy sides that reared their
heads

Pine crowned, far above, and in their arms
Circled that beauteous spot, like to a kind
And careful mother, who will permit not
Even sunimer's spicy breeze, to blow too rude
Upon the placid forehead of her sleeping babe.
Then rushing onward to the mighty sea,
The mouldering relics of that noble race
Unearthed, who once unfettered, proud and free,
Roamed through that vale, its lord.

But soon the scene was changed,
For o'er that beauteous spot the demon form
Of war did rush, and o'er that land devoted
The sable pinions of his wrath he spread
Shrouding in night the day star of their hopes,
And brooding deeds of death.

On ran the hours
And from a little fort, a hardy band
Passed out to battle, in numbers, few but firm,
Determined either to make free the loved
Homes of their hearts, or perish in their gore.
On, on, they marched in silence and in doubt,
For they knew not the red men of the woods,
Nor e'en their crafty wiles, when leagued with
those

Fierce demons clad in human form, who recked
Not what they did, but in the life blood of
Their friends their guilty hands imbrued, un-
moved

By conscience or by love.

But as they slow And cautiously, passed up the mountain's gorge, Which seemed for scenes of horror formed and

blood,

The fatal whoop was heard, and in a moment
Down fell, like rain in April shower, each man's
Companion. No single form was seen, no sound
Was heard, save bounding, that unearthly yell,
From distant crag to crag, which echoing back
It more terrific made, its own discordant
Melody, and ere it died away, there came,
Another, longer, louder, bolder, more
Heart-rending sound, and with it flitted by
The seared and blighted vision of that band,
A thousand shadowy forms, and on they came
The deadly simoon of the desert like.-

That little force withstood the dreadful shock Like brave men long and well, till when by strength,

And not by valor, overcome, they fled
Into the plain, and there surrounded by
Their treacherous foes, a scene of woe ensued

Such that ne'er mortal man or heart conceived,

So full, so overflowing full was made
The measure of their misery. It seemed
As if the Almighty in his fearful wrath
For some great crime had wreaked his vengeance
there.

There by the son was slain, him whom he owed
His being; he who long had dwelt secure,
Circled in sweet and social intercourse

By friendship's golden chain, fell by that self Same friend, and thus they fought and fell, till left

Was scarcely one to tell the dreadful tale
Of cruelty and death

But one there was escaped,
Who having fled, upon the river's bank
Concealed himself: The enemy pursued,
And one outstripped his fellows far, when like
Those blood-hounds, which in ancient times

would track

The steps of man, so sought the monster even For human life, and pressing on a briery hedge He paused-and he who lay there a foot-fall Hearing, on the stranger looked. He looked again

More closely. "Twas his brother!

Springing from out his hiding place, and pros

trate

Falling at his brother's feet, he bade him
Spare him, to save him from the torturing foe,
E'en from the Indian. Their earlier happier
hours

Recalled to mind those halcyon days of soul, When they from pleasure's gurgling founts did sip

Life's sparkling nectar. But 'twas all in vain,
For he who can his country or his home
Desert to espouse another foreign cause

For safety or ambition's sake, must needs

Lose all the kindlier feelings of his soul.

Thus was it now, for turning round, he said-
"I know thee not-wretch, die as thou hast lived,
A rebel to thy king." And lifting up
His heavy battle ax, it dashed upon
His unoffending brother's head, who fell,
Breathed but a prayer, then struggled, groaned,

and died.

-Oh, if there is one crime above the rest
That the Recording Angel in his book
Marks with a blacker, more eternal seal -
If there's a sin o'er which kind mercy sheds
More bitter tears, 'tis that of fratricide.
Oh horrible-it is most horrible

To see those who have lived and loved togetherReceived their infant thoughts and strength from out

The same maternal breast, and those who owned The same dear bond of kindred and of love, Turn to be enemies, and if the God

Of Heaven will more enduring, damning fires Call down on any one of his offenders, "Twill be on him who slays his brother. But now "Twas night, and shooting up into the gloom Were streams of flame, and bright sparks flew around,

Like stars from heaven falling. For there was

now

The savage conqueror, who having glutted
Full his black heart with human gore, now
sought

To devastate that lovely vale. And on
They came, silent and terrible, silent

As if they were the shadowy forms of those
Inhabiting death's charnel house; terrible
As is the voice of God, when mighty thunders
Roar in their avenging ire. Still on

They came, and desolation marked their path-
Nor age, nor sex was spared, nor e'en the haunts
Of men, but there a universal storm
Of fire, blasted each verdant field; consumed
Each resting place, and e'en the temples of
The living God destroyed; and thus they swept
Along, till all that vale was rendered such
A miserable, heart rending scene, that when
The morning sun rose up, in clouds he veiled
His face, with all the trappings of deep woe
He clothed himself; for storms and darkness
round

Him hung, mourning as parents would for some
Young lovely child, or friend for friend, at this
Loved vale's destruction.-

Years have

Passed on, and yet no monumental stone
Endless and aged, rearing its lofty front
To heaven, and blazoning forth to all the earth
The mighty object of its rise, now marks

The spot where sleep that chosen band, though

not

Unhonored and unwept, still to the world Unknown. But there a simple grassy mound Of earth, wherein the dust-formed relics lay Of that true-hearted few, is now the sole Remembrancer of Fair Wyoming's Dead.

Relics of Frances Slocum.
[Chicago Times.]

A number of very curious Indian relics have just been unearthed in Wabash County, Ind. They have been in possession of members of the Miami tribe of Indians, to whom alone their existence was known. Amoug them is the cross worn by Frances Slocum, the famous female captive, who, with a very few other whites, escaped alive in the Wyoming massacre. The Cross is eleven and one-half inches long and seven inches wide, and is of solid silver. It has been in the Maimi tribe for more than a century. A medal presented to the Wyandotte tribe by George Washington and afterward presented by the Wyandotte chieftain to William Peconda, a Miami, has also been discovered. This medal, also of silver, is oblong in form, measuring seven by five inches. On one side occurs the words: "George Washington, President," and a medallion representing an Indian holding the pipe of peace to a colonist, while a tomahawk is carlessly thrown aside. In the back ground is seen a pioneer at the plow. On the reverse is seen the coat of arms of the United States. An offer of $500 has been refused for this medal. Another medal, circular in form and two and one-half inches in diameter is also held by a Miami. A pipe and a tomahawk,with the words "Peace and Friendship. A. Jackson, President, 1829," are shown on one side, while two hands clasped ornament the reverse, The relics are regarded with great veneration by the Indians and unfeigned curiosity by the whites, and nothing can induce the red men to part with their treasures.

Early Newspapers in Wilkes-Barre. An article in the RECORD made up from the Wilkes-Barre Gleaner of 1811 elicited an interesting letter from Judge Chapman. of Montrose, published in the Independent Republican and copied into the RECORD. Wm. P. Miner, Esq., of Wilkes-Barre, then addressed the following letter to the Independent, which the RECORD takes pleasure in reproducing:

FRIEND TAYLOR: Please say to our friend "C," who comments in the Independent Republican, of July 26, on "Notes from an Old Newspaper," that Asher Miner established the Luzerne County Federalist on the first Monday in January, 1801. In Number XLIV., of the October following, the word "County" was omitted, and in April 26, 1802, it was announced that "this paper will be hereafter published by A. & C. Miner."

May 1, 1804, the partnership was dissolved and Asher Miner removed to Doylestown, where he published The Correspondent for twenty years. The Bucks County Intelligencer retains at the head of its columns, "Established by Asher Miner in 1804."

The Federalist succeeded the Wilkes-Barre Gazette, owned by Thomas Wright, and published by his second son, Josiah, who announced, Dec. 8, 1800, "that several of his subscribers had been deceived by false reports that the Gazette was no longer to be continued, but that it was to be given up in favor of the Federalist." "It has been suggested that some zealous Federalist must have fabricated and propagated the malicious falsehood."

The difficulty between the Wrights and the Miners must have been amicably settled, as Asher Miner married Mary, the only daughter of Thomas Wright, the proprietor, and Charles married Letitia, only daughter of Josiah, publisher of the Gazette, and remained sole proprietor of the Federalist until Friday, May 12, 1809, when it passed into the charge of Sidney Tracy and Steuben Butler. Mr. Miner wrote:

"The talents, integrity and application of the young gentlemen who succeed me, are a pledge to the public that the paper will be improved under their superintendence.'

Mr. Tracy retired Sept. 2, 1810, Mr. Butler retaining sole control for a few weeks.

Dec. 28, 1810, a prospectus was published for a newspaper to be called The Gleaner and Luzerne Advertiser, which was published by Miner & Butler. Sidney and Steuben had been apprentices in the Federalist office, and their names were household words in the family of Mr. Miner. Between the master and the boys there had been confidence and respect, reciprocal and sincere, which lasted through life.

Jan. 29, 1813, Mr. Butler retired, and Mr. Miner continued the publication until June

14, 1816, when "C's" uncle, Isaac A. Chapman, became proprietor. On retiring, Mr. Miner thus wrote to the patrons of the Gleaner:

"The beginning of the week I disposed of the Gleaner. On Saturday I leave Wilkes-Barre for Philadelphia to aid Mr. Stiles (with whom I have formed a partnership) in the management of the True American. My successor, Mr. Chapman, is too well known to need recommendation. He is intelligent, studious, assiduous to please, well versed in the general politics of the county, and minutely acquainted with the local interests of Luzerne and neighboring counties. With sentiments of affection and respect, I am, and shall ever continue bound to you till my heart is as cold as the clods of the valley.

CHARLES MINER.

June 6, 1817, Patrick Hepburn joined Mr. Chapman, and Sept. 25th became sole proprietor.

Mr. Miner, not satisfied with life in the city, left the True American, and declining an offer from Mr. Bronson, of an interest in the United States Gazette, purchased the establishment of the Chester and Delaware Federalist, at West Chester, twenty miles west from Philadelphia, and founded the Village Record, which he conducted successfully alone until 1825. June 29th the following notice appeared:

"The public is respectfully informed that a partnership has been entered into between Asher Miner and Charles Miner, and what the Village Record will, from the beginning of July, be published by the firm. Asher Miner is well known to the public, having edited and published the Doylestown Correspondent for 20 years.'

Charles returned to Wyoming in 1832. Asher followed on disposal of the paper in 1834, when it was sold to Henry S. Evans, Esq., who had graduated, after apprenticeship and employment in the Record office, which secured him such entire confidence that he was invited to purchase and left to earn the money and make payments at his convenience. A confidence well placed, since the Village Record is still published and prospering under the management of the sons of Mr. Evans.

Wilkes-Barre, Aug. 5, 1886.

Death of L. W. Stewart. [Daily Record, August 20.]

M.

About 5:30 pm., August 19, Lee W. Stewart died at his residence in Shickshinny, aged about 65 years. He was a son of Lazarus Stewart, a great-grandson of Lazarus Stewart, a native of Scotland who came to this country and settled in Lancaster county in 1729. Capt. Lazarus Stewart, Lee's grand-father, lived on the flats just below Wilkes-Barre in a block house and was killed at the head of his company in the Wyoming massacre. Lee Stewart lived in WilkesBarre up to within about 20 years ago when he moved down to Shickshinny. He subse

quently went on a farm just below Mocanaqua. When in Wilkes-Barre he followed the occupation of a wagonmaker. In late years he has devoted much of his land and time to the raising of strawberries in which he was very successful and made considerable money. He leaves a wife and two children, a son, Walter, about 30 years, and a daughter who is married and lives in Chicago. He was a member of Lodge 61, F. & A. M. The funeral will take place Sunday. The train will leave Mocanaqua 11:01 am. and the remains will be taken off at Butzbach's landing, the interment to be made in Hanover cemetery.

How Ira Tripp was Made Colonel. A Providence correspondent of the Scranton Republican, (presumably Dr. Hollister,) gives the following pleasant reminiscence in the issue of Aug. 29:

Just forty years ago Ira Tripp was made colonel. At this time Lewis S. Watres, a large lumber dealer and a justice of the peace, lived in the sunny nook on the Lackawanna, known as Mount Vernon then, but now called Winton, a popular and thrifty citizen, a genial fellow full of hospitality and fun, and a Whig in politics. For many years he slashed into the forest on the mountain and sawed the pine logs into lumber which he sold to an Ellandville company of New York for $8 and $10 per thousand, now worth $60. The sawmill and a single house beside his own made up the place.

In the spring of that year Mr. Watres received from Harrisburg a commission as colonel for Ira Tripp. At this time the only colonel living in the upper end of Luzerne was Colonel Darte of Carbondale. The commission was sent to Watres as he was the only prominent man in Blakely township, and besides this it was at his suggestion that the title was given. Esquire Watres drove down the valley to Tripp to deliver the document, in company with the writer in the spring of 1846. We found Ira in the field ploughing in his shirt sleeves. When the object of our visit was made known to him he was greatly surprised. He stopped his team, invited us into his house and regaled us with whisky, cake and cigars and this ended the matter. No newspapers were printed in the county between Wikes-Barre and Carbondale, consequently the affair was known but by few.

A handsome memorial volume has been published at Harrisburg, bearing this title: THE BOWMAN FAMILY. A Historical and Memorial Volume. By Rev. Dr. S. L. Bowman and Rev. J. B. Young. Harrisburg 1885: Publishing Department M. E. Book Room.

It is privately printed for distribution within the Bowman family and comprises 258 pages.

MARRIAGES.

BENEDICT-WILLIAMS.-In Pittston, Sept. 2, by Rev. D. C. Olmstead, Thomas Benedict and Miss Anna L. Williams, both of Pittston. CHEMBERLIN-ADAMS. - In Binghamton, Aug. 31, by Rev. R. G. Quennell, J. E. Chemberlin, of Pittston, and Miss Jennie Adams, of Binghamton, N. Y.

HEMMERSLEY-ECKROTE-In Camden, N. J.. Sept. 5, John Hemmersley and Miss Dora Eckrote, both of Conyngham.

KLECKNER-STILES.-In Bloomsburg, Sept. 2, George Kleckner, of Nanticoke, and Miss Emma Stiles, of Bloomsburg.

ROAT-TYRRELL-In Kingston, Sept. 8, by Rev. A. Griffin, E. C. Roat and Miss Jennie Tyrrell both of Kingston.

STROUSE-ORR.-In Phillipsburg, N. J., Aug, 26, William Orr and Miss Ella Strouse, both of Sandy Run.

THOMAS-ELLIS-In Wilkes-Barre, Sept. 3, by Alderman Wesley Johnson, Daniel Thomas and Miss Jane Ellis both of Kingston.

TRUMBOWER-RICHART-In West Pittston, Sept. 8, by Rev. D. Stroud, Charles Trumbower and Miss Jessie Richart both of West Pittston.

DEATHS.

COLE.-In Shickshiny, Aug. 29, Samuel Cole, aged 84 years.

DUFFY.-In Pittston, Aug. 31, Patrick Duffy, aged 61 years.

GILLESPIE-In Port Griffith, Patrick Gillespie, aged 48 years.

Sept. 6,

HARVEY.-In Bear Creek, Amanda Laning, wife of William J. Harvey.

LLEWELLYN.-In Pittston, Sept. 3, John R. Llewellyn, aged 46 years.

MCDOWALL.-In Pittston, Sept. 2, John McDowall, aged 19 years.

McCoy.-At Drifton, Aug. 23, Daniel McCoy, aged about 70 years.

MORAN.-At Freeland, Sept. 1, Thomas, son of John Moran, aged 11 years.

OWENS.-In Hamtown, Sept. 6, Hannorah, wife of James Owens aged 53 years. PATTERSON.-At Jeddo, Aug. 26, John W. Patterson, aged 20 years.

ROBERTSON-In Hooney Brook, Sept. 6, Mrs. Ann Robertson, aged 77 years.

SHALES.-In Wilkes-Barre, Sept. 5, Nathan, son of Lewis S. Shales, aged 8 years and 7 months.

SHIVELY.-In Scranton, Sept. 4, Sylvester Shively, formerly of Wilkes-Barre, aged 51

VOL. I.

The Family of Capt. Lazarus Stewart. [Contributed by Dr. W. H. Egle, Harrisburg.] In the RECORD's notice of the death of Lee W. Stewart, of Shickshinny, it is stated that "he was a son of Lazarus Stewart, a great grandson of Lazarus Stewart, native of Scotland, who came to this country and settled in Lancaster County in 1729," and also that "Capt. Lazarus Stewart was Lee's grandfather." I naturally turned to my notes of that family and also to Mr. Plumb's very valuable History of Hanover Township. As I hope to complete a genealogical record of this family for a second volume of Pennsylvania Genealogies, and in the hope of obtaining additional information, I beg leave to present the following contributions:

LAZARUS STEWART, the first emigrant, came with his family from the north of Ireland to America, in 1729. The same year he settled on a tract of land "situate on Swahatawro Creek," in afterwards Hanover Township, Lancaster Co. With the aid of two Redemptioners, whose passages were paid by him, he built within that and the two years following a house and barn, cleared twenty odd acres of arable land and planted an orchard. He died about 1744. His farm was a long time in dispute, owing to the fact that the warrant never having been issued, his son Lazarus took out a warrant for the same land. After the death of the first Lazarus' wife, a suit was brought by William Stewart, eldest son of John Stewart, for the recovery of his share in his grandfather's estate. A distribution was made in 1785, and it is from this that we have the foundation for the record here given. Mr. Plumb states that the first Lazarus Stewart had children, Robert and Alexander, Capt. Lazarus Stewart being the son of the former. According to my authority, which is the original records in the settlement of the estate, his children were as follows:

i. John; m. Frances

ii. Margaret; m. James Stewart.

iii. Margerg;m.John Young, and left issue iv. Lazarus; who m. and left issue; nothing further known of him; probably removed to Western Pennsylvania, as a Lazarus Stewart was a sheriff of Allegheny County about the close of last century.

v. Peter; prior to 1760 removed to North Carolina.

No. 2.

vi. James; removed with his brother to North Carolina.

vii. David; m. and removed to North Carolina.

John Stewart, eldest son of Lazarus Stewart, d. April 8, 1777, in Hanover Township, Lancaster Co., aged about 65 years. His wife, Frances d. November 16, 1790. Their children were as follows:

i. William; m. Mary

ii. Lazarus; m. Dorcas Hopkins.
iii. George; m. Rebecca Fleming.
iv. James; m. Margaret

v. John; m. Margaret Stewart.
vi. Mary; m. George Espy.
vii. Jane; m.

Armstrong.

Mr. Plumb gives the 2d, 3d and 6th as children of Alexander Stewart.

Margaret Stewart, eldest daughter of Lazarus Stewart, senior, married James Stewart, of Hanover, a cousin or second cousin. Their children were:

i. Charles; b. about 1732; m. and left issue. ii. Lazarus; b. about 1734; the "Paxtang Ranger," Capt. Lazarus Stewart; m. Martha Espy.

iii. James; b. about 1737; m. Priscilla Espy; and had one son, Lazarus. Priscilla Espy Stewart, when a widow, married Capt. Andrew Lee. From Lazarus, the son of James, comes Lee W.Stewart, lately deceased.

Capt. Lazarus Stewart, (son of Margaret Stewart and James Stewart,) who fell in that doleful massacre of July 3, 1778, m. Martha Espy. Of their children, the information which follows was received from Hon. Stewart Pearce, author of the "Annals of Luzerne County," a year prior to his death, Oct. 13, 1882. He writes:

"Enclosed I send you all I know about Capt. Stewart's descendants. Respecting himself see "Annals of Luzerne." The date

of his death in that book is wrong. He was born in 1733, and married Martha Espy, whose father lived in Lancaster, now Dauphin County. I do not know the date of his children's birth or death.

"Their son JAMES STEWART married Hannah Jameson, whose children were Martha, married Abram Tolles: Frances, married Benjamin A. Bidlack; Abigail, married Abraham Thomas; Caroline, married Rev. Morgan Sherman; Lazarus and Mary, who both died single. My father, Rev. Marmaduke Pearce, married James Stewart's widow