C H A n ' E R XVI C A T A W IS S A
B O R O U G H — C A T A W IS S A
Catawissa township was fom tcd from A u gusta in 178 5, and unginally included all o f u e a w r, Conynghani, Franklin, Locust, Main, Miltim, Mayuerr)- o f Montour county, and part o f Union township in Schuylkill county. It w as reduced in sice by the lortnation of Roaringcreek township in 1832, Franklin in 1843, and Main in 18 .^ . It is Ihe oldest sub division of the county and contains the oldest settlements. Authorities differ as to the meaning of the Indian name “ Catawese.’' Redmond Conyngham, after whom the township o f that name w as called, stated that the Piscatawese had a settlement here. Stew art Pierce stated that the Shawanese Iiad a town here in 1697. The word “ Catawese” occurs in several of the Indian dialects, and means "pure water.” The greater part of the eastern portion of the township is occupied by the majestic Catawissa mountain, the brow of which overshadows the town. In the summer many parties are made up to visit this eminence, from all parts of the county. It w as a favorite resort of the Indians. Within a short distance of the sum mit is a fine, cver-fiowing spring. Beside this stood fo r many years an immense gum tree. the only one for miles around, which w as lookcil upon with reverence by the saVages. T lie tree was overturned by a high wind some years ago and has rotted aw ay, but younger descendants of the forest monarch are springing up to take its place. . . The first European to visit Catawissa w as Jam es LeT ort, a Frcnrii trader, who bore messages o f amity to the Delaware chieftains and the celebrated Madame Montour m t y f . j r c . r"frie V d T h /
T O W N S H IP
time the chief of the village w as the famous l.ai>ackpitton, a Delaware. Soon after this date the place seems to have been abandoned by the savages as a place o f residence. T h e first settlers in the Catawissa valley were a number o f Knglish Q uakers, from Maiden-creek and E xeter in Berks county, whocamc by of the valley of the “ North Bnanch.' T ncy arrived between 1774 and 1778. B efore their arrival a number o f per sons had obtained patents from the Penns, among them being w illiam Collins, William Hughes, Jam es Watson. Jo h n Lore, John M ears, Isaiah W illits and John Lloyd. Other settlers arrived at different periods, most of them following the trails over the Broad, Blue, [.ocust and Little mountains on horseback. T he first house in the vicinity o f Catawissa w as built by Moses Roberts in 1774. Among those who reached Catawissa in 1782 were Michael Geiger. Joseph M cIntyre, Jo h n F u rry. Tliomas Wilkinson. George H untim gcr and Conrad Wampholc. Soon after their a r rival a partv o f Indians came and occupied the old site of their town. T heir fishing operations were interfered with by Wilkinson, who w as made to swim the river to escape their arrows. H e tried to explain lo his friends that he w as only gauging the depth of the water, and thus earned the nickname o f “ Tom Gauger.” In the same year a party o f Indians made a raid settlement, scalping and killing John F u rry, his w ife and two daughters. T hree sons_ John, Jo n as and I^iwrcncc, were absent gristmill at .Sunbury and thus cscajwd. ,5,.^
V r S
Canada, where he luid devclopcsl into
trader no mention is made of the place until 1754. when Conrad W ciscr. the noted M o ra v ian missionary to the Indians, writes from Shamokin. mentioning in the letter the Indian village o f “ Oskohary.” which was identical with the Catawissa of the present. A t that
? 1 7 there by the French had ended...................... . T h is w as the era of the great retreat, durmff which most of the selllera of the valley fled from their homes m fear o f Indian raids. T h e Q uakers, owing to their confidence m the In-
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by Goo<?
