VOL. II.

гOM QUICK, THE INDIAN KILLER.

An Outlaw who is Sald to Have Revenged His Father's Death, Even in Times of Peace, Until He had Butchered 99 Redskins.

[B. M. Stocker in Honesdale Independent.] Probably most of the readers of the Independent have heard more or less of Tom Quick, the Indian killer, but the sketch of his life which appeared a number of years ago is now a rare book and since his exploits have recently been dramatized by a Port Jervis lawyer and a new interest has been awakened in this celebrated character of pioneer days, a short sketch of his life as found in the traditions of the people and the work of Quinlan above referred to may be of interest.

About the year 1733, a Hollander, named Thomas Quick, came to the colony of New York, and not long afterwards located on the Delaware, on what afterwards became known as Upper Smithfield, near where Milford now stands. He appears to have been the pioneer settler on the Pennsylvania side, cleared land, erected a log cabin and barns, raised wheat and maize. In 1734 Thomas Quick, the Indian killer, was born.

He was the pet of the household and the Indians who roamed over that region then and frequently visited Quick's place, admired the stout, healthy iad, and often made him presents of plumes and feathers and other articles.

As the Indians were their neighbors he grew up among them and learned their language, and was taught by them how to hunt wild animals after the manner of the Indians. He thus grew to like the savage life of a hunter, trapper and fisherman, and could not be induced to follow regularly the occupations of civilization. He had two brothers and two sisters who attended a Dutch school which had been established in the neighborhood, but Thomas had become so much of an Indian in his habits that he gave but little attention to study and learned but little.

Thomas Quick, Sen., prospered in his undertaking and erected a grist and saw mill on a small stream entering the Delaware near Milford, probably the Vandemark.

While Tom's brothers were poring over the Dutch alphabet, he was shooting, trap

No. 3.

ping, wrestling and jumping with the young Indian braves. He roamed with them over all the country in the vicinity of his father's cabin and became familiar with the beautiful Minisink Valley with its high abutment of cliffs on the Pennsylvania side and receding hills on New Jersey side as it extends from Port Jervis to the Water Gap. The romantic water falls and rocky glens all were known to him as hunting and fishing grounds. This knowledge afterwards served his purposes in waylaying and murdering Indians.

The Lenni Lenape or Delaware Indians began to view with alarm the steady encroachments of the whites into their favorite hunting grounds, their ancient council seat on the Delaware. During the French and Indian war the Six Nations and other tribes had been induced by French emissaries, to take up arms against the English. The Quick family had been friendly with the Indians but they were the first to encroach upon them and the prospect of plundering an opulent man like Quick overcame any feelings of gratitude that might linger in the savage breast. When hostilities commenced, the Quicks became uneasy. Their alarm increased as the Indians grew less sociable, and finally withdrew from the Delaware River. Each party distrusted the other, and the Indians feeling they had been wronged, determined to drive the whites from their land. Quiet reigned until the Quicks beeame careless and one day as the father orossed the Delaware to grind a grist, accompanied by Tom and his brother-in-law, all unarmed, as they were rounding a point near the river they were fired upon by ambushed Indians. The old man fell mortally wounded. The young men who were unhurt endeavored to drag him after them across the river for it was frozen. As the savages approached the young men were constrained after much urging to abandon their father who exclaimed as he was dying, "Run for your lives!" The Indians fired on them as they fled taking the heel of young Tom's boot off which threw him upon the ice, and the Indians exultingly shouted, "There lies Tom Quick!" But he was soon up and out of danger. The Indians did not follow across the Delaware and Tom and his brother-inlaw crept back near enough to hear the scalp whoop of the savages. Young

Tom was frantic with rage and grief and Bwore that he would never make peace with the Indians 88 long 88 one remained upon the banks of the Delaware. From this time forth the demon of unrelenting savage hatred entered Tom's heart and he became more like the savages he pursued than like a civilized man. He did not enter the army but took the Indians by stealth at all times whether in time of war or peace, and regarded neither age nor sex in his vindictive warfare. It does not appear that he signalized himself in any way during the French and Indian war; but after peace was deolared and the hatchet buried he commenced ed operations. Such of the former inhabitants as were living returned to their homes on the Neversink and Delaware. The Indians also began to revisit their old haunts, supposing they would be well received, but the remembrance of the scalping knife and incendiary fires still rankled in the breasts of many of the old settlers, yet they were generally careful to avoid all cause of offense. Among the Indians who returned was 8 drunken vagabond named Maskwink or Modeline, who had assisted in murdering Tom's father. About two years after Tom met Maskwink at Decker's tavern on the Neversink. Muskwink had been drinking and became very bold and talkative, claiming Tom's acquaintance and desiring him to drink with him. Tom refused, bestowed a contemptuous epithet upon the Indian, which caused the snake-like eyes of the latter to glitter with rage. A conversation of an irritating character commenced, during which Muskwink gave 8 detailed account of the murder of Thomas Quick, Sen., asserting that he scalped him with his own bands, at the same time mimicking the grimaces of the dying man, and to corroborate his assertion, exhibited the sleeve buttons worn by his victim at the time. This brutal reoital aroused the devil of hatred in Tom's heart. He seized a French musket that hung in the bar room and ascertaining that it was loaded, pointed the muzzle at Muskwink's breast and ordered him to leave the room. He arose slowly and sullenly and retreated into the street pursued by Tom until they arrived on the main road about one mile from Carpenter's Point, where Tom raised his musket and exclaimed, "Indian dog, you'll kill no more white men!" at the same time firing a load of musket shot into the Indian's back, between the shoulders. Maskwink jumped into the air and fell upon his face dead. Tom took the buttons which had been his father's from the Indian and drew his body behind the roots of an upturned tree. After this Tom returned to Decker's

man

His next exploit was the murdering of an Indian family, consisting of a man, his wife and three children who were in a canoe on the Delaware near Butler's Rift. The Indian seemed to be unarmed and not apprehensive of danger. They were on the side of the stream next to Tom and the children seemed to be very happy as they proceeded leisurely along. Quick concealed himself in the long reed grass which grew on the shore ard as the Indian approached nearer he recognized him as one who had visited his father's house and who had committed several outrages on the frontier. When within a gunshot Tom rose up and in the Indian tongue ordered them ashore. The Indian turned pale but dared not disobey. Tom then inquired where they were going, to which the Indian made reply. He then told them that they had reached their journey's end. The Indian answered "that it was peace time, the hatchet was buried." But Tom replied that there could be no peace betweeen the red skins and him. He then shot the and tomahawked the equaw and children. Tom said the two eldest squawked like young crows. He had proceeded thus far without compunctions of conscience or feeling that he was committing a most horrible massacre. But as he raised the tomahawk to strike the youngest, the babe-for it was nothing more-looked up wonderingly into his face and smiled. The innocence and unconsciousness of danger beaming from its sunny, childish eyes caused him to relent. His arm fell powerless by his side. He could not strike. But suddenly the fact thrust itself pon him that the child would 8000 become 8 full grown Indian and without further reflection he dashed out its brains. He sank the bodies in the river and destroyed the canoe, and did not tell of this occurrence until years aftewards. When asked why he killed the children, he would reply "Nits make lice." There are many wonderful stories told of him, which have been preserved by tradition and which are firmly believed by the oldest members of the Quick family and other families who reside the vicinity of his old home in

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Westfall township, Pike county, near Rosetown where he now lies buried. Among the improbable stories is one in which it is alleged that seven Indians caught him splitting rails and told him he must go along with them. Tom just wanted them to assist him split open the log and they put their fingers in the crack to help pull it apart when Tom knocked out the wedge and as their fingers were all fast he proceeded to knook the IndianS' brains out at leisure. The back with seven skins is more like Tom. Не hunted with an Indian in a most friendly manner, and divided with him at the end of the hunt, giving him the seven deer skins, while he kept the venison. The Indian threw the skins across his back, Tom fell behind and shot the Indian and took the skins as well as the meat, saying that he had shot a back with seven skins. He was hurting with another Indian and pushed him off of the high rooks. Tradition says that on his death bed he claimed to have killed ninety-nine Indians and that he begged to have them bring an old Indian who lived near in order that he might kill him before he died, so as to make an even hundred. After participating in the murder of Canope at Handsome Eddy he had no more Indian adventures. His last adventure was with the panthers. He and his dogs killed two old and two young ones in one day. His headquarters in the summer were generally at the house of Showers near Mongaup Island or at a hat near Hagen's Pond, where he hunted and trapped. He never married and was outlawed by the government, it being an understood thing that no Indian who killed him would be held socountable by the whites.

In his old age he was regarded as a hero by the pioneer hunters and trappers. He died at James Rosencrantz's in 1795 or 1796 and was buried on his farm. During his last illness be never expressed regret that he had killed so many Indians, bat was sorry that he had not killed more. He carried his favorite rifle until the stook where it rested on his shoulder was worn through so that the ramrod was visible at the place.

The time has long since passed when such a revengful murderer can be exalted to the rank of a hero, yet the Indian slayer, weather beaten, with worn-out accoutrements and togs in keeping presented a picturesque and Rip Van Winkle-like appearance that would have formed no bad subject for an artist's pencil. It would be difficult to find a parallel to the life of Tom Quick, waging a relentless warfare against a savage foe, outlawed by his own government, still continuing to murder his victims, until his name became a terror to his foes, and at last dying

unrepentent and unsatisfied of revenge, his name being handed down to posterity by contemporary frontiersmen as that of a hero.

First Issue of the Herald.

Philip Myers, Esq., has shown the RECORD a copy of the initial number of the New York Herald, bearing date of May 6, 1835. It was found in the papers of his father, the late Thomas Myers, who died at Williamsport, Dec. 3. The paper was about one-fourth the size of the DAILY RECORD and sold for one cent. It had four columns of advertising which at the short rate of one day realized about $20. The first page is devoted to an original story and a few literary and fashion notes. On page 2 is the prospectus and the news from Europe by yesterday's steamer, as also some matter of an editorial character. The publishers, James Gordon Bennett & Co., boldly hope to attain a circulation of 20 or 30 thousand a day, and it will be its policy "to care nothing for any election or any candidate, from President down to a constable." There are only two local items, one taken from the Commercial Advertiser about a steamboat explosion on the Hudson, the other a four line brevity about the races which began yesterday. The editor pays his compliments to his contemporaries by wondering what are the motives of Providence, "inscrutable to mortal kin, which dispose Him in His inânite wisdom, to drop down blockheads here and there to edit newspapers, like weeds in a garden, ere the rose has put forth its bud, or the hyacynth opened its blossom to the morning." It is also hinted that "ignorance, insipidity and inanity reign triumphant" in the Sun and other small New York papers.

A Native of Wilkes-Barre Dead. Mrs. Mary Ann Horn died May 12 at Port Clinton, Schuylkill County, in the 78th year of her age.

Mary Ann Yarington was born at WilkesBarre, in the year 1812. She came to Mauch Chunk when quite young, at which place she was married to Hugh S. Jackson, whose widow she became in 1834. On the 8th of November, 1835. she and her three children, Jane, Elizabeth and Abiel Hugh, were baptized at Mauch Chunk, by Rev. Mr. Rogers, being the first persons baptized in the parish of St. Mark's Church, and on the following day November 9th, 1835, was confirmed with several others, by the Rt. Rev. H. U. Onderdonk, assistant bishop of the diocese. In 1844 she was again married to John Horn, representative of Schuylkill County, in the State Legislature 1852 and 53, and lived at Mauch Chunk and vicinity & number of years, after which she removed to Port Clinton, where she lived until her death.-Mauch Chunk Gazette.

MAKING LOCAL HISTORY. Quarterly Meeting of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society - Early Doctors, Jesse Fell's Discovery and the Old Academy.

At the quarterly meeting of the Historical Society May 11th., Sheldon Reynolds was chosen temporary chairman.

The accumulated correspondence was read and Henry Phillips Jr., was appointed to represent the society at the 800th anniversary of the University of Bologne.

Mr. Hollenback proposed the name of Albert Lewis for membership.

On motion of George B. Kulp. Hon. Caleb E. Wright was requested to prepare a paper on the Plymouth Academy.

It was ordered that the society co-operate with the American Philosophical Society in perfecting a language for learned and commercial purposes.

It was ordered that the society accept the invitation to co-operate with the New York Academy of Anthropology.

Tuthill R. Hillard, Dr. L. H. Taylor and Hezekiah Parsons were elected to membership.

Rev. Mr. Hayden reported on the matter of increasing the list of life members and stated that out of 153 members the committe, consisting of Mr. Hayden and Sheldon Reynolds, had secured 32 life memberships, making the entire number 87.

Mr. Hayden said he had learned that it would be possible to obtain the Hollenback papers and account books for the sooiety and upon motion it was ordered that request be made for them. They are of great value, as they go back to the early settlement of Wyoming Valley.

Contributors to the library-G. M. Reynolds, California Hist. Soc., New Haven Colony Soo., Amberst College, Hon. John Blair Linn, G. M. Lewis, C. J. Hoadley, R. G. Huling, Rhode Island Hist. Soc, Long Island Hist. Soc., Anthropological Soc. of Washington, Buffalo Hist. Soc., Col. C. Dorrance, E. M. Barton, Record Commissioners of Boston, J. A. Soranton, Minnesota Hist. Soo, C. W. Darling, Wm. O'Reilly, Dr. W. H. Egle, American Geographical Soc., Canadian Institute.

Contributors to the cabinet - Indian relics found on farm of Ross Sarver, in Fairmount Twp., and others presented by James Crockett, found on his farm in Ross Twp.; minerals from Colorado, presented by Maynard Bixby.

The secretary read an interesting letter on the old Wilkes-Barre Academy, sent by Samuel H. Lynch.

F. C. Johnson, of the RECORD, read a paper on the "Pioneer Physicians of Wyoming Valley." It was the paper-somewhat am

plified-which he prepared in January of last for year the Luzerne County Medical Society. Much of the contained matter has never been published. The paper, if it could be called such, considering that it was only a presentation of extracts, began with a comparison of the territory of old Westmoreland, extending from Nescopeck to the New York line, and its limited number of physicians with the present day when in Luzerne County there is a physician for every 700 inhabitants, or one for each square mile of territory. Reference was made to what was undoubtedly the first visit of & doctor to Wyoming, when in 1755, Dr. Otto, of Bethlehem, was sent for to attend Christian Frederick Post, a Moravian missionary to the Indians who had been wounded. Reference was also made to such of the diseases of early times, chiefly fevers, as were noteworthy enough to find mention by the historians of Wyoming Valley.

Dr. Joseph Sprague was the first to praotice medicine in what is now Wyoming Valley. He came from Connecticut in 1770 or 1771. He was driven out by the Pennamites in 1784 and died the same year in Connecticut. His widow, "Granny" Sprague subsequently became a famous midwife in Wyoming Valley.

Dr. William Hooker Smith, located in Wilkes-Barre as early as 1772. He accompanied the Sullivan Expedition in 1779 as surgeon. He held high rank as a physician and surgeon. He invested largely in lands and was one of the earliest to recognize the value of coal. He was the ancestor of Isaao S. Osterhout, founder of the Osterhout Free Library, and of Geo. R. Bedford, Esq.

Dr. Lemuel Gustin was associated with Dr. Wm. Hooker Smith and married the latter's daughter. He was born in Connecticut in 1749 and was in the Revolutionary Army. He and Dr. Smith were in the battle of Wyoming, and Dr. Gustin was one of the signers of the artioles of capitulation. He and his infant daughter escaped down the river soon after the battle. He going to Carlisle where he became eminent and successful.

Dr. John Calkins, of New London, Conn., visited the valley in 1773 and inducements were offered him to locate here. Whether he did or not is uncertain. He did, however, locate at Cochecton on the Delaware. If he did not locate in Wyoming Valley, he certainly visited here frequently, though it may have been to look after his property. He was here as late as 1789.

Dr. Joseph Davis, born at New Haven, Conn., in 1782, moved into the Valley in 1773. He practiced in Wilkes-Barre till 1813 when he moved up to Spring Brook, where he died in 1830. His daughter mar

ried Ebenezer Slocum, brother of the "Lost Sister."

Dr. Nathaniel Giddings, born in Norwich, Conn., in 1766, located in Wyoming Valley in 1789. He died in Pittston in 1851. The widow of Eleazer Blackman was his daughter. She died in 1886.

Davis Dimook, born in Connecticut in 1776, came with his father to Wilkes-Barre in 1790. While engaged in farming and distilling he became converted, and was ordained to the Baptist ministry. He combined preaching with doctoring and died at Montrose in 1858.

Dr. Mason Crary located in Wilkes-Barre in 1804; Born in Stonington, Conn., in 1779. Studied medicine in Albany. Married Desire Beach, daughter of Nathan Beach in 1809. In 1824 he sold his practice to Dr. Lathan Jones and removed to Columbia County, where he died in 1855.

Of the doctors who practiced before 1800, or at least whose names are mentioned in the books or records are these:

1777, Dr. Shadrack Darbee of Westmoreland.

1777, Dr. Samuel Cooke, Hanover. 1778, Dr. John McMillan, Exeter. 1784, Dr. John Minor, wounded at Locust Hill.

1785, Dr. Matthew Covell, Wilkes-Barre, father of Dr. Edward Covell.

1798, Dr. Oliver Bigalow, Kingston. 1799, Franklin Crissey, Hanover. Among those practicing from 1800 to 1825 were:

1800, Dr. Samuel Jameson, Harover, uncle of Stewart Pearce. Born 1777, died 1848.

1800, Dr. Charles E. Gaylord, father of James Henderson Gaylord, of Plymouth. 18-, Dr. Samuel Baldwin, Wilkes-Barre and Forty Fort.

1807, Dr. Ethel B. Bacon, Kingston.

1810, Dr. Geo. W. Trott, grandfather of Judge Stanley Woodward. Probably came about 1805. Died in 1815. His wife was Lydia Chapman,sister of Isaac A. Chapman, the historian.

1810, Dr. Eleazer Parker, Kingston. 1812, Dr. Montross.

1812, Dr. John Smith, Wyoming.

1818, Dr. Joseph Van Sick, a defaulting county treasurer.

1815, Dr. Moreland, Plymouth. 1815, Dr. Seth C. Whitney, Kingston, who married a daughter of Lieut. Col. Geo. Dorrance.

1816, Dr. Ebenezer Chamberlain, Ply. mouth.

1816, Dr. A. B. Wilson, father of Dr. Charles H. Wilson, late of Plymouth.

1817, Dr. Edward Covell, father of Miss Eliza dovell and grandfather of S.R. Catlin.

1820, Dr. Charles J. Christel, father of the late Mrs. A. C. Laning.

1820, Dr. Isaac Pickering, married Judge Jesse Fell's daughter Nancy. Died in Michigan.

1824, Dr. Lathan Jones, Wilkes-Barre father of the late James Jones, of the Wyoming Bank, and grandfather of Lathan W. Jones, late cashier of the same bank. 1825, Dr. Thomas W. Miner. 1825, Dr. Virgil Diboll, Wyoming. 1825, Dr. Atkins, Kingston.

A vote of thanks was passed and request made that the paper be extended so as to complete a century of medicine, and then presented to the Publication Committee.

Mr. Kulp took exceptions to a reference to Jesse Fell and his connection with the discovery of the availability of anthracite coal for domestic purposes. Mr. Kulp thought it too late a day to give Jesse Fell credit for this discovery as there was documentary evidence in the society's library that Fell had been anticipated several years. Mr. Kulp thought he probably got his idea of a grate from persons who had seen grates burning anthracite coal in Philadelphia.

Dr. Johnson replied that the fact of prior discovery was well known, but that it was Judge Fell's discovery which led to the general use of coal, rather than the previous discoveries.

Sheldon Reynolds said this was only partially true, as Mr. Cist, who was afterwards associated with Charles Miner, in pioneer coal mining, had been in correspondence with Oliver Evans, whose letter of 1803, describing a coal grate, was to Mr. Cist.

J. W. Hollenback said he had heard his grandfather tell of mining coal near WilkesBarre and shipping it in arks down the rives to Carlisle, where it was used by the Government during the Revolutionary War

Wesley Johnson stated that he remembered distinctly the spot where the coal was mined and it was just above Mill Creek where the L. V. RR. makes its turn.

Mr. Hollenback said that was the place.

Accident to Mrs. Hartman.

News comes from Shickshinny of a serious accident to Mrs. M. L. T. Hartman, a well known lady, the oldest teacher in this county and a local historian of note. Mrs. Hartman was riding from her home to visit her daughter in Muhlenburg. When near Muhlenburg, her horse became unmanageable, and Mrs. Hartman was thrown out of the buggy. Her collar bone was broken and she was otherwise injured. She was taken to the home of her daughter, where she now lies, in a fair way to recovery.