History of Dunkard Township, Greene County, Pa.

(From: History of Greene County, Pennsylvania By: Samuel P. Bates. Nelson, Ruchforth & Co., Chicago. 1888. )

 

THE valley of Dunkard Creek, embracing the townships of Dunkard, Monongahela and Perry, was the earliest occupied of any part of Greene County, and was the scene of some of the most exciting events in its history. As early as 1754 Wendell Brown and his two sons and Frederick Waltzer took up their abode in this neighborhood. At about the same time David Tygart and one Files goat a foothold in Tygart's Valley; but the Files family having fallen a prey to Indian savagery, Files himself and the Tygarts left the country.

 

At about this time Dr. Thomas Eckerlin and two brothers made a lodgment' near the mouth of Drunkard Creek, which took its name from the designation of the religion they professed. Whether from a desire to insure themselves greater safety, or a wish to obtain better lands, they removed to what have been known as the Dunkard Bottoms, on Cheat River, West Virginia. They are reported to have applied to the chiefs of the Six Nations in May, 1771, at Logstown; for permission to settle on the Youghiogheny, but were refused.

 

Their supply of ammunition, and other necessaries, having become exhausted, Dr. Eckerlin, with a stock of rich furs, went to Winchester to barter them for the articles which they most needed. On his way back he stopped over night at Fort Pleasant, where he was detained on suspicion of being a spy in collusion with the savages. Asserting his innocence so strongly, he was permitted to go under guard to his home, on condition that he would return with them if his assertions should prove untrue.

 

To his grief and amazement, on arriving at his. home he found his cabin hurried, and his two brothers inhumanly murdered and scalped. His truthfulness was acknowledged by his captors, and, touched with pity, they assisted at the burial. Thous ended, in sadness, the first attempt at permanent settlement in this valley. In the year 1760 Conrad Sycks emigrated from Germany, and in process of time made his way to what is now Monongahela Township, Greene County, and built a cabin on Rocky Run, some two miles from the mouth of Dunkard Creek, on land now owned by Mathew Green and Daniel Sycks. Here he took to wife Miss Bonnet, a niece of the famous Indian fighter, Lewis Wetzel, and were blessed with a family of ten children, among them Henry and Christina. When Henry had grown to man's estate, Enoch Enix lived a mile north of the Syckses. A half mile westward was Leonard Garrison. Lane Robinson lived to the south of Dunkard Creek, and the Selsors, at Selsor Fort.

 

Swearengen's Fort across the Monongahela was the only real stronghold in the neighborhood. Rumors of hostile savages in the vicinity induced Garrison to move his family to a place of security; but as the Syckses were to remain, Garrison engaged Christina Sycks, then a maiden of ten, to milk his cows. One evening she was reluctant to go to her task, manifesting a presentiment of impending evil; but at the prompting of her mother, bravely went. While driving the cows homeward through the sugar grove she was suddenly overtaken by two stalwart savages, the one hideous in black paint, the other red.

 

The one in black hurled his tomahawk at the innocent girl with deadly aim; but something in the countenance of the maiden touched the heart of the other, and at the opportune instant he dashed the weapon aside, only cutting her tresses, and seizing her in his arms bore her away into captivity. Not returning, the household was disturbed, and when darkness began to deepen and still she did not come, grasping his rifle the father started for the cabin of Enix for assistance; but the latter seemed unwilling to go until morning. The father, now with distracted mind, started alone, when the neighbor relented, and mounting his horse, joined in the search. As they approached the cabin of Sycks two shots were fired by the lurking foe, and Enix tumbled from his horse mortally wounded.

 

Aroused by the shots, the son, Henry, and a companion, George Selsor, who were in the cabin, were eager to rush out, but were held back by the mother, and the father returning, on the following morning the entire family set out for the strong fort across the Monongahela In their consternation a sleeping infant was forgotten; but the boys turning back soon brought off the treasure. Again these boys returned to reconnoitre and warn' the settlers. At Robinson's the wife with an infant was prevailed on to escape to the fort, which she did, and was saved. But Robinson could not be persuaded to abandon his home.

 

At Fort Selsor, where a number of the settlers had gathered, it was determined to leave all and escape across the river to Fort Swearingen. On the way the dogs became terribly excited, and soon started an Indian from his covert, who dashed away; but tripping, fell. The dogs were upon him, but could not be induced to grapple him