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I^DIAISr EVE
^ND HER,
DESCENDANTS
DANIEL EARNEST.
See pasres 85, 91. 96.
^
INDIAN EVE
AND HER
DESCENDANTS.
AN INDIAN STORY
OF
BEDFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA,
BY
Mrs. Emma A. M. Replogle.
•^v:^r^>2"t^^^
HUNTINGDON', PA.:
J. L. RUPERT, BOOK AND JOB PRINTER.
1911.
THE AUTHOR.
INTRODUCTION.
TN September 1901, when my step-father, Daniel
-*- Earnest of near Imlertown, Bedford County, Pa.,
died, I wrote a sketch of his life for both Bedford papers
referring to the following story which I promised to
write later. Since then a number of friends have been
looking for it. Mr. Scott Dibert, of Johnstown, sug-
gested that I put this story in more permanent form
than I had intended, saying ''I will take twenty copies
at once. ' '
This was in the fall of 1905. Mr. W. E. Nevitt, of
Tyrone, (a great nephew of my step-father) and I,
were talking over this ancestral subject on the train
coming down from Everett to Huntingdon. Mr. Dibert
was so interested as he sat opposite us that he came
and got acquainted, and then and there the thought
was born to do what has been done since, I saw at
once the possibility of making an intensely interesting
story, but I felt my inability to do it especially in a
literary way; besides, I did not have much time to my-
self, or a quiet place in which to write at that time.
Mr. Dibert was interested in the story because it
came down from his father's ancestral home, Dutch
Corner. He said he wanted to drive down there some
time. He was anxious to connect his line with this
one. I found this connection a few months ago and
wrote him. His sister replied saying, ''Brother is too
sick to hear the letter read; my brother Frank came in
from Sante Fe this summer and died here in June, and
2 INDIAN EVE.
my father's youngest brother, Abram Charles, from
California died here in July. We had planned to go to
Dutch Corner in the early summer." Her brother
Scott died soon after I received this letter.
I had heard my step-father tell the story over and
over again from the time I was a child eight years old
when I went with my mother in the Earnest home in
1859. He had this all direct from his father Jacob Earn-
est, who died about 1830 near Mt. Dallas and his mother
Susannah Defibaugh Earnest, who died in February,
1866, at the age of one hundred and one years, in Milli-
gans Cove.
Before I wrote I wanted to get data also from the
other descendants of the hero of this story and from
the neighborhood where it has been told to succeeding
generations. It has been very interesting to find how
well these accounts harmonize in almost every detail.
I had the pleasure of spending several days with
Mrs. Henry Sill, grand-daughter of George Earnest, at
the home of her daughter, Mrs. Todd, near Wolfsburg,
in the fall of 1906, and of visiting several times since at
the Wm. Phillips home, where I got data for the most
of this work. My step-father, Mrs. Sill and Mrs.
Phillips are the three people w^ho made it possible to
get in a connected way what I give. A few others had
it but in disconnected facts. Daniel Earnest, I have
found, was the only one who had the story connected.
Mrs. Sill, Mrs. Phillips and the Greensburg Earnests
knew much of it; but these two women were the only
ones who made it possible to connect the descendants
and give the early history of the community.
Thus we find that some of the most interesting un-
recorded history lives in the hearts of old people — they
INTRODUCTION. 3
pass away and it is lost. Such was almost the fate of
this story. Daniel Earnest and Mrs. Sill have passed
over since I began this; Mrs. Phillips lingers yet on
this side with the storehouse of her memory filled with
rich things of the past. If I could have been with her
longer or oftener I could have gotten more interesting
incidents. I spent a day and a night at her home re-
cently, and I was impressed with the manner in which
she studied a little as if clearing the mists of the past
away and then her face lighting up recalled what we
wanted. I thought of Margaret Chandler's words:
"Away and away to memory's land,
And seize the past with a daring hand. "
Besides these three people I acknowledge the
generous help of a number of friends. I have tried not
to omit any in the following list:
W. E, Nevict, Tyrone, Pa.
M. B. Kettering, Greensburg, Pa.
Scott Dibert, Johnstown, Pa.
Adam Earnest. Bedford, Pa. R. D. 1.
J. Howard Phillips, Somerset, Pa.
Miss Sarah Kauffman, Bedford, Pa. R. D. 1.
William Dibert, Bedford, Pa. R. D. i.
Miss Alice Dibert, Bedford, Pa. R. D. 1.
Mrs. Dr. S. P. Earnest, Delmont, Pa.
Miss Florence Dibert, Johnstown, Pa.
Jacob Earnest Nevitt, Michigan City, Ind.
Mrs. Sarah Reip, St. Clairsville, Pa.
Mrs. John May, Bedford, Pa.
Mrs. D. W. Lee, Bedford, Pa.
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. Kauffman, Woodbury, Pa.
Mrs. Sarah Fetter, Bedford, Pa. R. D. 1.
4 INDIAN EVE.
Rev. Zinn for translation of German record.
Miss Ottilie K, Grauer, Teacher of German in Juniata
College.
Mr. and Mrs. D. F. Dibert, Kittanning Point, Pa.
Miss Agnes Arnold, Kittanning Point, Pa.
Dr. Geo. W. Dibert, Bedford, Pa. R. D. 1.
Fulton Lyon, Post master at Greensburg, Pa.
I have been fortunate in having such friends as
Prof. D. Emmert and Dr. C. C. Ellis criticise the
manuscript and give me very helpful suggestions for
this work; fortunate also to have Miss Nellie Dibert
Kerr, of Bedford, who knows so many in the genealogy
do most of the type-writing. I thank these friends
for their invaluable help.
In writing this "Story" the following Historical
Works have been consulted, to the authors of which I
would acknowledge my indebtedness :
REFERENCES.
History of the Juniata Valley, by Jones (1855).
Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania, (1895).
History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties, by
Waterman, Watkins & Co.
History of Bedford Co., by E. Howard Blackburn, 1906.
THE AUTHOR.
January 30th, 1911.
Huntingdon, Pa.
Chapter I.
EARLY SETTLERS.
FROM old records and a few good old people we learn
that some very early settlers lived in what is now
Bedford township, Bedford county, Pa. It seems they
were not ousted nor their primitive buildings burned
by order of the proprietary governors.
Long before Ray settled at Raystown in 1750 or
'51 the old historic house at Mr. Wm. Phillip's home
had been built and was doubtless used as a fort. Mr.
Blackburn in his late History of Bedford County says,
"Who knows but that this may have been the fort called
'Wingawn' which is named among the early forts of
Bedford County, but which our learned historians have
never been able to locate. " So it may have been that
those people of long ago fled to this old fort before
there was a "Fort-at-Raystown" or a "Fort Bedford."
The lips are all silent that might have told the
story, and what we know that is real history about the
people fleeing from the Indians, all clusters around old
Fort Bedford. There have been many thrilling stories
told by our ancestors. The settlers living to the east
of Fort Bedford had a very dangerous road through the
narrows. When the alarm went out that the Indians
were coming, the people fled in great haste and when
they came near the narrows, they got close together
and all rode in a solid block as fast as their horses
could go. My grandmother Arnold, used to tell how
they came from about Rainsburg.
6 INDIAN EVE.
The settlers had all fled to the fort once after an
Indian alarm. When all seemed quiet a lot of men and
a few women went out to their homes to do some work.
At her grandfather's home — the old Smith home near
Rainsburg — they tried to finish weaving a piece they
had in the loom, the men keeping guard. One girl
wove so hard she spit blood and was never so well
afterwards. They heard of some settlers being shot at
near the narrows at Ft. Bedford and they all went back
to the fort as fast as they could go. There was a
colored woman, named Willis, a servant or slave at the
Smith home. When they got near the narrows she
cried and said ' ' She would be left behind and shot. ' '
She was riding a big clumsy horse that did not keep up
with the others. As she was a very good faithful
servant, one of the men gave her a little racer she
wanted, and they all rode through safely but were
shot at by the Indians. The people in the fort were
uneasy about them and came out to meet them with
music and beating a drum.
There was another colored woman named Chloe —
quite a historic character at Rainsburg — I used to have
associated with this story. My Aunt Agnes Arnold
says it was Willis. Chloe was a great cook and cake
baker. She was called to help at big dinners, weddings
etc. She liked to tease women who had plenty but
were close, telling them that certain recipes required
more than they really did. She helped to cook dinner
for General Washington and his guard when they
stopped at Coulters fort near Centreville in Cumber-
land Valley on their way from Cumberland, Md. , to Ft.
Bedford. She was afterwards cook at the Bedford
Springs.
EARLY SETTLERS. 7
The geographical situation of Bedford, with its
numerous springs and streams, made it a great place
for the Indians before the invasion of the white man.
Mr. William Philips says: "My father used to tell how
long ago a party of Indians stopped at Bedford and had
a great w^ailing over their dead."
Mrs. Philips tells many interesting and thrilling
incidents of the earliest settlers in Bedford township.
She says that for some time there were only three
houses in all the country just north of Bedford — the old
house at their home, and a primitive house at Brida-
hams, and another in the Dibert corner. These very
early settlers had come from Virginia. They called
these lands "the Highlands."
The first family of Diberts who settled in the Di-
bert corner were massacred by the Indians at this
place. The first names of the parents are not known.
Mrs. Philips says they were the parents of her grand-
father, Frederick Dibert. The Indians murdered the
parents and some of the children, and burned their
house. They took three children along — Fred and a
brother and sister. Fred was about seven years old.
They made him walk over the bodies of his parents.
He saw his mother was still alive. The family had
just baked bread and churned butter. The Indians
made the children carry the bread and butter and a lot
of bedding along with them. The bones of these
burned bodies were buried near where the Dibert
school house now stands.
The family had a horse with a bell on to give alarm
when the Indians were around. The Indians wanted
the bell and cut the horse's head off to get it. Then
they rang this bell near the settlers' houses in order
8 INDIAN EVE.
to get them to come out. They took a number of horses
along with them.
These children got back to Philadelphia at different
times being rescued by soldiers. An Indian woman
whose son had died kept Fred, clinging to him when
the soldiers tried to rescue him. He was gone seven
years.
Frederick Dibert had a brother named Charles.
They married sisters. Frederick married Madaline
Steel, and Charles married Mary Steel. Mrs. Philips
has two pretty little crocks given her by these women,
her grandmother and great aunt. Also a very old sugar
bowl which came down to her mother. She says John
Dibert, sr., was also a brother of her grandfather
Frederick. See John Dibert — Mary Earnest's line.
The descendants of Frederick and Madaline Steel
Dibert:
1. Jacob. Married Elizabeth Earnest. See George
Earnest's line.
2. Michael. Married Susan Earnest. See Henry
Earnest's line.
3. Frederick. Married Susan Croyle. Took up
land at Claysburg. Moved back to Dibert corner.
Buried where the massacred Diberts were buried.
1. Jacob married Saran Wysong. This is the Jacob
Dibert who dreamed of the lost children of the Alle-
ghanies and told his dream to his brother-in-law, Mr.
Wysong.
1. Isaac. 2. Henry. 3. Joseph.
2. Hettie. Married Samuel Wysong.
3. Rebecca. Married Jacob Strayer.
4. Adam. Married Elizabeth Koontz.
EARLY SETTLERS. 9
1. Michael. Married Catharine Imler, daugh-
ter of Isaac Imler.
1. Edward. 3. Laura.
2. Shanon. 4. Emma.
2. John died in Army.
3. Adam. Married Sophia Armstrong.
1. Blanche. 2. Jennie. 3. Hattie.
4. Scott Dibert. Married Maude Amick lives
in Pittsburg.
5. Julia. Married Daniel Koontz,
1. Laura, dead.
2. Fred. Married Catharine Dibert daughter
of Geo. Dibert. See Geo. Earnest's line.
4. Christ. Married Catharine Earnest. See Geo.
Earnest's line.
5. Elizabeth. Married Samuel Earnest. See George
Earnest's line.
6. Eve. Married John Miller, moved west.
7. Mary. Married Jacob Walter. These are the
parents of Mrs. William Philips who has been my con-
stant helper.
1. Samuel Walter. 3. Jacob Walter twin
2. Daniel '' 4. Mary Ann "
5. Ann Margaret
Samuel Walter. Married Mary Reighard.
1. Levanda. 4. Annie.
2. Elizabeth. 5. Charlotte.
3. Caroline. 6. Nettie.
Daniel Walter. Married Mary Ann Sill, daughter
Abram Sill.
1. Frank. 2. Sarah Jane, died young.
Jacob Walter. Married Susan Sill, daughter Daniel
Sill.
10
INDIAN
EVE.
1.
2.
4.
5.
Mary.
Lloyd.
UrUla.
Job.
5. Ellen.
6. Malinda,
7. Laura.
8. Etta.
Mary Ann Walter. Married Frederick Zimmers.
1. Watson, dead several years.
2. Emma. 3. Bruce.
Margaret Walter. Married W. W. Phillips.
1. Albert. 4. Hattie, dead.
2. Jacob Howard. 5. Warren.
3. Luther M. 6. Marguirite-
Charles and Mary Steel Dibert's descendants.
1. Eve. Married to Thomas Wertz of Milligan's
Cove.
Children :
1. Joseph, lived about Everett Had a family.
2. Charles. Married Sarah Foster, large fam-
ily, Pontiac, 111.
3. Eliza. Married Daniel Earnest. See Jac.
Earnest's line.
4. Jane. Married Frederick Stuby. See Jac.
Earnest's line.
Eve was marred a second time to Daniel May of
Sulphur Springs where she was mistress of the first
boarding house at that place.
2. Mrs. Bridaham. One of her daughters married
a Gubernauter.
3. Mary. Married Jacob Ripley who had a distil-
lery at the Hughes home. She was buried at Messiah
cemetery.
1. Rebecca. Married George Earnest son of
Johannas Earnest 2. See George Earnest line.
Rebecca married second time Jos. Barnhart.
EARLY SETTLERS. 11
1. Elizabeth, married to Joseph Stickler.
2. Polly was married to Mr. Alstadt.
Had one son, John.
4. Hettie. Married Mr. Heinsling. Lived at St.
Clairsville. Lizzie.
5. Jacob. Married first time to Hettie Sill. One
daughter, Mary who went west. Married the second
time to Miss Cook.
6. Thomas. Married a Miss Rock lived part of his
life in Snake Spring Valley on the old Studebaker place
then owned by the Hartleys.
1. Andrew. Never married.
2. William. Proprietor of Washington hotel at
Bedford. Moved to Reading.
1. Samuel. 2. Henry.
3. Jacob. Married Eliza Ritchie.
4. Henry. Married Fannie Amstong.
5. Charles.
6. Thomas. Married Sally Shuss. Lived near
Clearville.
7. John; Married Sarah Rollins, lived near
Clearville.
1. Dan. 2. Thomas. 3. Mrs. Steel.
8. Dr. George W. Married Miss Cobbler. Died
at Imlertown in 1909.
1. Mrs. Joshua Kerr.
Nellie sec. at Juniata College.
2. Dr. C. Dibert of Buffalo Mills.
3. David of Imlertown, Pa.
9. David. Married a Miss Diehl. Lived in
Friend's Cove.
10. Eliza. Married a Koontz.
12 INDIAN EVE.
7. Elizabeth. I think there was an Elizabeth in
this family though not mentioned by those who gave
me the others. She used to visit her sister Eve, and at
my step-father's home in Milligan's Cove, when his first
wife, Eliza Wertz, lived. She was her aunt. I have
an old "fa-sol-la" note book from our old home, yellow
with age. On the fly leaf is written, "Alizabeth
Dibert, A. D., 1828, daughter of Charles Dibert."
Eve Dibert Wertz May was perhaps the oldest in
this family (I have not given these names according
to age exactly but as Mrs. Philips thought they came.)
She was a fremarkable woman. While she was Mrs.
Thomas Wertz and living in the north end of Milligan's
Cove she rode horse back over the old "packers path"
by "Kinton's Knob" and carried her real "golden-
edged" butter and eggs to Bedford scores of times.
Then, as Mrs. Daniel May, she conducted the board-
ing house at Sulphur Springs — the big long old log
house — so old nobody knows who built it. Who that
was ever there does not remember the old long porch
white as sand could make it, and the white washed
walls inside and oustide; the yard swept as clean as a
floor, and the beautiful garden with its old fashioned
"posey bed," not a weed to be seen, and walks swept
also as clean as the house; and inside the old chairs,
and kitchen floor as white as boards could be made,
and above the old kitchen table, along a whole side of
the wall, hung over clean papers, was the good old
fashioned tin-ware that shone like mirrors.
Bright carpet made with her own hands covered
most of the other floors. Then in the bed rooms, were
piles of quilts and coverlets of her own labor and linen
made also by her own hands, bleached snowy white.
EARLY SETTLERS.
13
The dining room capped the climax for the city
hoarder.
The old log house stands yet like a leaning tower.
For years after its occupants had passed away old
Spring boarders would come up from the later boarding
houses and walk all around it-
EVE DIBERT WERTZ MAY.
DIED IN JUNE 1875 IN HER 83d YEAR.
Miss Florence Dibert of Johnstown, sister of Scott,
says, "My brother Frank had at one time a pretty good
line of our family many generations back. . • . ■ .During
the Huguenot struggle de Bere (Diberts) escaped (with
life only) into Holland. Some of them remained and
married the Dutch maidens and changed the spelling
of the name to Dybird and later to Dibert. Some of
these de Bere(0 went into Austria then the German
14 INDIAN EVE.
province. I have heard of the first coming to this
country but now I can not find the record. I know one
brother went far into Kentuckey. Bedford Co., seems
to have been the Dibert Settlement far back in the
eighteenth century. As I remember the Diberts came
from Amsterdam to America having been in Holland
more than three years. I believe that Charles was the
first Dibert mentioned in Bedford Co., though it is
thought two brothers settled there and one went
south."
Had these Dibert brothers, Frank and Scott lived I
would have much more on this genealogy, as they were
both interested. While I was in Michigan I had a
letter from Frank encouraging me to go on with this
work. He held a prominent position in the Santa Fe
R. R. Co., and was also engaged in Charity work. The
following was his line of work printed on his envelope:
New Mexico Society for the Friendless
general office and temporary home
405 hickox avenue.
santa fe, - - - new mexico.
our departments:
PREVENTION OF CRIME.
REFORM IN CRIMINAL LAW.
JAIL AND PRISON EVANGELISM.
EMPLOYMENT FINDING AND AFTER'CARE.
THE TEMPORARY HOME.
Chapter II.
THE HOME OF THE EARNEST FAMILY,
A BOUT the time of the Revolutionary war, out
^^-^ north from old Fort Bedford, along Dunning's
Creek, among the frontier settlers was a family by the
name of Earnest. They lived up the stream a short
ditance from where Nelson's mill was afterwards built.
The father's name was Henry, the mother's name, Eve.
Their children were George, Mary, Jacob. Johannas,
Henry and Mike. Mrs. Phillips thinks the mother was
a Dibert but she is not sure.
They were clearing land and making rails for
fences, and had built a good cabin house. In 1906
old Mr. Jacob Griffith, near Cessna, told me he re-
membered the house very well. He said, "I could
point to the stones of the chimney yet. My aunt lived
in the old house 'till it had sunk so she could hardly get
in and out the door. It is the farm where Dick Griffith
lives now."
George, the oldest son, was born April 3, 1762. No
record has been found of the other children so far.
Just recently I received a splendid record of Henry's
family from Greensburg, Pa. He was born March 28,
1772. Jacob w^as born about 1766. So Mary was by all
accounts next to George. I have tried to find her age
among the Diberts but failed. I have been giving
George the oldest son ; Mrs. Sill thought there was one
called Johannas but was not sure. As I was about'clos-
ing I found this line. He may have been the oldest of
the family.
Chapter III.
THE INDIAN MASSACRE AT THIS HOME.
VERY early one autumn morning several men had
come to the Earnest home to help make rails.
While sitting around the chimney fire, they head a noise
like owls hooting. One of them said, "We will not
make many rails for it is going to rain soon — the owls
are hooting. " It was the war whoop of the Indians
they heard, and in a moment they were upon them. One
or two of the men were killed at once. Mr. Earnest
reached for his gun above the door but was shot. The
men were all scalped.
George, must have been in bed yet, as he sprang
up and tried to jump out of a window and go around to
the opposite window and reach in to get his gun ; he
was shot at, fell from the window as if dead, and made
his escape in his shirt.
In this time the mother had gone to the loft where
Mary and Jacob were perhaps asleep yet. She was
about to hide them in tow, but fearing the Indians
would burn the house she let them out at the roof.
Mary — they called her Molly — ran as fast as she could
down through a meadow and made her escape. Jacob
slid down off the roof and hid in smart weed. He said,
he could see the whites of their eyes glaring as they
were hunting for them. Nothing has ever been said as
to how Johannas escaped.
The family had a loom and did their weaving.
While the Indians were cutting a coverlet out to take
along, and parleying about it, the mother pushed her
THE INDIAN MASSACRE AT THIS HOME. 17
husband's scalp, and at least one of the others behind
a chest. Looking all around after missing the scalps
and talking, they thought this was some token and got
ready to leave at once.
What a scene at day break on that fatal morning!
Here beside the stream they had built their cabin
home, and while the father cleared the forest and
raised grain for food and flax for clothing, the mother
spun, and wove, and sewed, and cooked by the hearth,
and took care of the garden besides assisting her hus-
band, in the fields. In a few hours these ties were all
broken. The mother stepping over the blood drops of
her husband— almost stepping over their scalped bodies,
must flee from her home with the savages in great
haste, leaving all that was precious behind her, except
her little boy Henry and two year old baby Mike.
Pressing her baby boy to her bosom with one arm and
leading Henry by her side, she went not knowing
whither, nor the fate of the other children. By her
presence of mind in hiding the scalps she was saved
the awful sight of seeing her husband's scalp dangling
from an Indian's belt on the long journey.
Mrs. George Kauff'man, now deceased, formerly of
Woodbury, Pa., (her husband yet living is a descend-
ant) told me the Indians got one scalp and split it to
show that they had killed more.
Mr. Kauff man says, ' ' the father held the door and
asked his wife or some one to hand him an axe (which
they had likely just been whetting) but did not get it
in time, and as the Indians burst in, he leaped out over
them and made his escape." This may have been one
of the other men but not the father, for he was killed.
He tells also of this man running down through the field
18 INDIAN EVE.
or meadow and the Indians with their dogs after him.
He tripped and fell in a deep gutter, the dogs leaped
over, lost the track and he was saved. This may have
been Johannas.
Mr. Jacob Griffith said, "It was thought the In-
dians had been watching around the day before, from
the way the grass and weeds were tramped, and their
tracks in hollow sycamore trees near by, along Dunnings
Creek."
Chapter IV.
THE JOURNEY.
TT is said the whites pursued the Indians as they
^ generally did. and were near them, but they hid
their captives in hollow trees and made them hold their
hands over their children's mouths if they would cry.
Some say the mother could hear the pursuers but she
could not make a noise for the Indians were hid near.
Their route was no doubt through "Indian Path
Valley," now called "Moses Valley" on through Blair
County, and then through the gorge at Kittanning
Point, the old Indian trail. This trail was where the
reservoirs are now, where her descendants look over
daily. They may have stopped long enough to drink at
the spring of good water just beyond the toe of the
"horse shoe."
From the account of Mrs. Earnest's experiences
and the training of her boy Henry in Indian ways, it
would seem that they did not go to Fort Detroit as
directly as they did some other times. There is no ac-
count of her running the gauntlet at the first camp as
Mrs. Elder had to do, a woman I shall speak of later.
In their hasty flight, the first day, of course Mrs.
Earnest got very tired and gave out carrying her baby
boy. Then the Indians wanted to carry him but he
was afraid of them and would cry. Then they would
get mad and pick him up with both feet and let on to
her that they were going to slap him around a tree.
She would cry and they would throw him down at her
feet and of course she had to carry him again. Sarah
20 INDIAN EVE.
Fetters says, ''They hated the fair boy and liked the
dark one. ' '
While in camp they worked for the Indians and
did not have such a hard life, but following them over
the mountains, through forests, marshes and streams
was very hard. Once when going over a river in bark
canoes, she prayed that they would all be drowned but
the Lord did not answer her prayer. Sometimes they
did not have anything to eat but deer tallow, and they
gave her a small portion for herself and watched to see
if she would give any to the boys. At other times they
had plenty of meat but it was often spoiled. She
sometimes slipped some in her apron and threw it away
when they did not see her.
Henry soon learned to ride. Mrs. Geo. Kauffman
says, "they had him carry some cooking utensils. He
got so tired carrying a frying pan, he let it it slide in a
stream and told them it slipped in,"
Finally they came to Ft. Detroit and were to be
sold to the British. Mrs. Earnest said to the officer,
"If I can't take both my boys along, I will stay with
the Indians." They had Henry dressed in an Indian
suit and he could shoot with bow and arrow and liked
it. The officer said, "Just come" and winked at her,
then gave the Indians a glass of whiskey with a silver
coin in it, and while they were looking at this, the
officers grabbed the boy and handed him in to the
mother.
Chapter V.
LIFE AT THE FORT.
THE Indians were not allowed to come near the fort
before sunrise nor after sunset. They wanted Henry
back. They called him Hanu. Every morning for a
long time they came and called "Hanu!" "Hanu!" The
mother had to watch or he would have gone out and
gone with them.
Henry liked to shoot and hunt and ride better than
to be closed up in the fort. Finally they got tired com-
ing and came and demanded his Indian suit and bow
and arrow, and said, "he was now a free boy."
Mrs. Earnest worked to pay her ransom while at
the fort, like many other women who were sold there.
Mi-s. Kauffman said "she would get a dollar for
scrubbing a room for an officer." She was a very in-
dustrious woman and earned more than her daily allow-
ance and saved some money. Besides the work, she
made clothes for her boys, perhaps from cast off suits
of officers, and, her own clothing. Her great grand-
daughter Sarah Kauffman of Imlertown, Bedford County
has a large piece, part of a back breadth of one of her
dresses yet. She gave me the patch from which this
cut is made. The colors are darkish red, several shades,
and light, — very good, heavy calico once, better than
we get now. Mrs. Earnest bought this dress at Fort
Detroit and brought it with her. This goods as a relic
was handed down from daughter to daughter— from
Eve to her daughter Mary, who escaped through the
roof, from her to her daughter, Rachel Dibert Kauff-
22
INDIAN EVE.
man, and from her to Sarah. It is about 123 years old.
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PATCH OF INDIAN EVE S DRESS BOUGHT AT FORT DETROIT, MICH.
As Mrs. Elder who was captured on the branch
must have been in the fort at Detroit as a companion
of Mrs. Earnest, I give her history from Jones' History
of Juniata Valley in full. I was impressed when I read
that Mrs. Elder was captured while visiting the sick.
LIFE AT THE FORT. 23
I have known one family of her descendants all my life
— George Elder's of Buffalo Mills, Pa. I think he was a
grandson of this Mrs. Elder. I have known of Mrs.
George Elder (Peggy Cessna) walking miles and visit-
ing the sick and carrying things to the poor, and of
her children doing similar deeds of kindness.
My aunt Agnes says, ' ' Mrs. Elder heard her child-
ren coming singing through the woods to meet her just
when she was captured. She told the Indians to hurry
off for she heard the whites coming and thus saved her
children from being killed, or captured with her."
Mrs. Elder was gone two years. The family have
in their possession a Bible printed in 1748, presented
to her by a British subject for her bravery when she
was exchanged, also other relics. She was born in
1741.
I quote also from "Jones" about her husband,
which does not agree with the sketches of the Elders
in later histories, giving it that Mrs. Elder and her
husband settled in Cumberland Valley Township in
1781.
"The first murder committed in Woodcock Valley
during the Revolutionary struggle occurrred at Coffey
Run near the present residence of Mr. Entriken. The
victim was a man named Elder, the husband of the
woman mentioned in a preceding chapter as having
been carried a captive to Detroit by the Indians. He
was on his way home with Richard Shirley, when he
was shot and scalped. This was in 1778."
"The country between the mouth of the Raystown
Branch of the Juniata and what is called the Crossings
was thinly settled prior to the Revolution. The land,
and general appearance of things, did not strike
24 INDIAN EVE.
settlers very favorably; hence it may be assumed that
it was only taken up about 1772, when the new-comers
from the eastern counties had already taken up the
choice tracts lying continious to the river.
The first depredation committed on the Branch,
near its mouth, by the savages, occurred in May, 1780.
A band of roving Indians were known to be in the
country, as several robberies had occurred in Hartslog
Valley, at houses belonging to men who with their
families were forted either at Lytle's or at Huntingdon.
A scout had ranged the entire frontier in search of
these depredators, but could not find them. They were
seen in Woodcock Valley, and information immediatley
conveyed to the commander at the fort in Huntingdon.
A scout was sent to Woodcock Valley, but got upon the
wrong trail, as the Indians had crossed the Terrace
Mountain, where, it appears, they divided into two
parties. One of them went to the house of one
Sanders, on the Branch ; and just as the family were
seating themselves at the table to eat dinner, five of the
savages bounded in, and killed Sanders, his wife, and
three children. An Englishman and his wife, whose
names are not recollected, were in the house at the
time, both of whom begged for their lives, declared
they were loyal to the king, and would accom.pany
them. The Indians agreed to take them along as
prisoners, notwithstanding at that period scalps com-
manded nearly as high a price as prisoners. The
Englishman and his wife were taken to Montreal.
The day following the above massacre, the other
party of savages, who it appears had taken the country
nearer the Juniata to range through, made their ap-
pearance at the house of a Mrs. Skelly, who was sick in
LIFE AT THE FORT. 25
bed at the time, and her nearest neighbor, Mrs. Elder,
being there on a visit. It was a beautiful May-day
Sabbath afternoon, when Mrs. Elder prepared to go
home, and Felix Skelly, the son, agreed to accompany
her part of the way. They had gone probably a hund-
red rods through a meadow, when Mrs. Elder noticed a
savage, partly concealed behind some elder-bushes.
She stopped suddenly, and told Felix, who had got a
little in advance, to return, as there were Indians
about. Skelly said he thought not, and advised her to
come on, or it would be night before he could return.
Mrs. Elder stood still, however, and soon saw the figure
of the Indian so plainly as not to be mistaken, when she
screamed to Felix to run, and, when in the act of turn-
ing around, a savage sprang from behind an elder-bush
into the path, and seized her by the hair. Another
seized Skelly, and in a moment the shout of victory
went up, and three or more Indians came from their
places of concealment. Finding themselves captives,
and unable to remedy matters, they submitted with a
good grace.
Fortunately for them, the warrior who had com-
mand of the party could speak a little English, and was
a little more humane than the generality of savages of
the day. He gave Mrs. Elder positive assurance that
no harm should befall her. He would not, however,
give the same assurance to Skelly. They took up their
line of march over the Terrace Mountain, crossed over
to the base of the Allegheny, avoiding as much as pos-
sible the white settlements, and crossed the mountain
by the Kittanning Path.
Skelly, although but seventeen years of age, was
an athletic fellow, well built, and weighed in the
26 INDIAN EVE.
neighborhood of one hundred and eighty pounds. The
Indians, noticing his apparent strength, and in order
probably to tire him, so that he would make no effort
to escape, loaded him down with the plunder they had
taken in Hartslog Valley. In addition to this, they
found on the Allegheny Mountains some excellent wood
for making bows and arrows, a quantity of which they
cut and bound together, and compelled Skelly to carry.
Mrs. Elder was obliged to carry a long-handled frying
pan, which had been brought all the way from Ger-
many by a Dunkard family, and had, in all probability,
done service to three or four generations. Of course,
Mrs. Elder, burdened with this alone, made no com-
plaint.
At length the party reached an Indian town on the
Allegheny River, where it was determined that a halt
should take place in order to recruit. One of the
Indians was sent forth to apprise the town of their
coming; and on their entering the town they found a
large number of savages drawn up in two lines about
six feet apart, all armed with clubs or paddles. Skelly
was relieved of his load and informed that the perform-
ance would open by his being compelled to run the
gauntlet. Skelly, like a man without money at one
o'clock who has a note to meet in bank before three,
felt the importance and value of time ; so, walking
leisurely between the lines, he bounded off at a speed
that would have done credit to a greyhound, and reach-
ed the far end without receiving more than one or two
light blows. He was then exempt, as no prisoner was
compelled to undergo the same punishment twice.
The Indians, disappointed by the fleetness of
Skelly, expected to more than make up for it by pum-
LIFE AT THE FORT. 27
melling Mrs. Elder; but in this they reckoned without
their host. The word was given for her to start, but
the warrior who had captured her demurred, and not
from disinterested motives either, as will presently
appear. His objections were overruled, and it was
plainly intimated that she must conform to the custom.
Seeing no method of avoiding it, Mrs. Elder, armed
with the long-handled pan, walked between the lines
with a determined look. The first savage stooped to
strike her, and in doing so his scant dress exposed his
person, which Mrs. Elder saw, and anticipated his in-
tention by dealing him a blow on the exposed part
which sent him sprawling upon all fours. The chiefs
who were looking on laughed immoderately, and the
next four or five, intimidated by her heroism, did not
attempt to raise their clubs. Another of them, deter-
mined to have a little fun, raised his club; but no
sooner had he it fairly poised than she struck him upon
the head with the frying pan in such a manner as in
all likelihood made him see more stars than ever lit the
"welkin dome." The Indians considered her an
Amazon, and she passed through the lines wihout fur-
ther molestation; but, as she afterward said, she "did
it in a hurry. ' '
The squaws, as soon as she was released, com-
menced pelting her with sand, pulling her hair, and
offering her other indignities, which she would not put
up with, and again had recourse to her formidable
weapon — the long-handled pan. Lustily she plied it,
right and left, until the squaws were right glad to get
out of her reach.
In a day or two the line of march for Detroit was
resumed, and for many weary days they plodded on
28 INDIAN EVE.
their way. After the first day's journey, the warrior
who had captured Mrs. Elder commenced making love
to her. Her comely person had smitten him; her
courage had absolutely fascintated him, and he com-
menced wooing her in the most gentle manner. She
had good sense enough to appear to lend a willing ear
to his plaintive outpourings, and even went so far as to
intimate that she would become his squaw on their
arrival at Detroit. This music was of that kind which
in reality had "charms to soothe the savage," and mat-
ters progressed finely.
One night they encamped at a small Indian village
on the bank of a stream in Ohio. Near the town was
an old deserted mill, in the upper story of which Skelly
and the rest of the male prisoners were placed and the
door bolted. That evening the Indians had a grand
dance and a drunken revel, which lasted until after
midnight. When the revel ended, Skelly said to his
comrades in captivity that he meant to escape if pos-
sible. He argued that if taken in the attempt he
could only be killed, and he thought a cruel death by
the savages would be his fate, at all events, at the end
of the journey. They all commenced searching for
some means of egress, but none offered, save a window.
The sash was removed, when, on looking out into the
clear moonlight, to their horror they discovered that
they were immediately over a large body of water,
which formed the mill dam, the distance to it being not
less than sixty feet. They all started back but Skelly.
He, it appears, had set his heart upon a determined
effort to escape, and he stood for a while gazing upon
the water beneath him. Every thing was quiet; not a
breath of air stirring. The sheet of water lay like a
LIFE AT THE FORT. 29
large mirror, reflecting the pale rays of the moon. In
a minute Skelly formed the desperate determination of
jumping out of the mill-window.
"Boys," whispered he, "I am going to jump. The
chances are against me; I may be killed by the fall,
recaptured by the savages and killed, or starve before
I reach a human habitation ; but then I may escape, and,
if I do, I will see my poor mother, if she is still alive,
in less than ten days. With me, it is freedom from
this captivity now, or death." So saying, he sprang
from the window-sill, and before the affrighted
prisoners had time to shrink, they heard the heavy
plunge of Skelley into the mill-dam. They hastened to
the window, and in an instant saw him emerge from
the water unharmed, shake himself like a spaniel, and
disappear in the shadow of some tall trees. The wary
savage sentinels, a few minutes after the plunge, came
down to ascertain the noise, but Skelly had already
escaped. They looked up at the window, concluded
that the prisoners had amused themselves by throwing
something out, and returned to their posts.
The sufferings of Skelly were probably among the
most extraordinary ever endured by any mortal man.
He supposed that he must have walked at least forty
miles before he stopped to rest. He was in a dense
forest, and without food. The morning was hazy, and
the sun did not make its appearance until about ten
o'clock, when, to his dismay, he found he was bearing
nearly due south, which would lead him right into the
heart of a hostile savage country. After resting a short
time, he again started on his way, shaping his course by
the sun northeast, avoiding all places which bore any re-
30 INDIAN EVE.
semblance to an Indian trail. That night was one that
he vividly remembered the balance of his life. As
soon as it was dark, the cowardly wolves that kept out
of sight during the day commenced howling, and soon
got upon his track. The fearful proximity of the
ravenous beasts, and he without even so much as a
knife to defend himself, drove him almost to dispair,
when he discovered a sort of a cave formed by a pro-
jecting rock. This evidently was a wolf's den. The
hole was quite small, but he forced his body through
it, and closed the aperture by rolling a heavy stone
against it. Soon the wolves came, and the hungry
pack, like a grand chorus of demons, kept up their
infernal noise all night. To add to the horrors of his
situation, he began to feel the pangs of both hunger
and thirst. With the break of day came relief, for his
cowardly assailants fled at dawn. He ventured out of
the den, and soon resolved to keep on the lowlands.
After digging up some roots, which he ate, and re-
freshing himself at a rivulet, he traveled on until after
nightfall, when he came upon the very edge of a preci-
pice, took a step, and fell among five Indians sitting
around the embers of a fire. Uninjured by the fall, he
sprang to his feet, bounded off in the darkness before
the Indians could recover from their surprise, and made
good his escape.
In this way he travelled on, enduring the most ex-
cruciating pains from hunger and fatigue, until the
fourth day, when he struck the Allegheny River in
sight of Fort Pitt; at which place he recruited for a
week, and then returned home by way of Bedford, in
company with a body of troops marching east.
LIFE AT THE FORT. 31
His return created unusual gladness and great re-
joicing, for his immediate friends mourned him as
one dead.
Mrs. Elder gave a very interesting narrative on
her return, although she did not share in the sufferings
of Skelly. She was taken to Detroit, where she lived
in the British garrison in the capacity of a cook. From
there she was taken to Montreal and exchanged, and
reached home by way of Philadelphia.
Felix Skelly afterward moved to the neighborhood
of Wilmore, in Cambria County, where he lived a long
time, and died full of years and honor."
While gathering data for this story, I spent the
winter of 1907 in Michigan at the home of my sister,
near Grand Rapids. I saw much in their papers about
the Michigan Historical Society, and especially about
Detroit.. I wrote to one of their members about the
old fort. I received the following:
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Detroit, Mich., March 2d, 1907.
Dear Mrs. Replogle:
Your inquiry about old Fort Lemoult, afterward
named by the Americans Fort Shelby has come into my
hands. This old fort was demolished more than 60
years ago. The city post-office now stands on its site.
In excavating for the foundation of the post-office the
base of the old flag staff was dug up and preserved,
with a suitable inscription; it is now in the city mu-
seum.
There is no book devoted to a history of the fort,
but there are accounts of it in various histories of the
32 INDIAN EVE.
city and in the volumes of the Pioneer Collection.
Shortly after the English took possession of Detroit in
1760 they abandoned the old French fort on the river
front and built the new one back on the hill beyond the
little creek, Savoyard. This fort the British continued
to occupy until they surrendered it to the United States
in 1796. During the Revolution the British forces at
Detroit led the Indians to harrase the white settle-
ments in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia and many
prisoners were captured by them and taken to Detroit.
Quite a number of these prisoners continued to live at
Detroit or vicinity after their release. Some visited
their old homes and then came back again bringing
their families, whose descendants are still living in
southeastern Michigan. I have not seen a picture of
old Fort Lemoult or Shelby and doubt very much
whether there is any such in existence.
Very Respectfully yours,
Henry M. Utley, City Librarian.
Chapter VI.
THE JOURNEY HOME.
IV^INE years after Mrs. Earnest and her boys were
-^^ taken from their home near Ft. Bedford, they were
released at Fort Detroit, and started back to find the
old place.
As stated before she had saved some money. She
bought a pony and rode back. One's imagination must
supply material for this chapter for lack of facts. How
different the home-coming from the going! Going in
terror under threat of the tomahawk, weary and hun-
gry and longing for her Father above to end it all;
coming back with fond anticipation of meeting at least
some of her children again ! And more than all she
could ride a pony instead of walk and carry her baby
on her back. Talk about heroes! Here was one.
Some of the greatest heroes have been uncrowned
mothers.
Henry had grown to be a big strong boy, up in his
teens, and likely walked the best part of the way back,
while baby Mike was about eleven years old, and doubt-
less, rode the pony often, while his mother walked.
It must have been summer time when they came,
for the marshy forests and streams would have been
almost impassible in the winter. At the present time
we can hardly realize what such a journey then was
through the primitive forests. The most of the country
around the lakes was covered with water part of the
year. I saw forests in southern Michigan in April,
1907 covered with water, some places several feet deep.
34 INDIAN EVE.
No one knows if she had ever heard whether her
other children had been killed by the Indians or not.
She may have heard, as there were others in the fort
from near Bedford County, at the same time, taken
there later than she was, but no one knows. While
they came back joyful and happy to be free, they had
many hardships, stopping to rest and sleep often no
doubt, where the wild beasts were near them. They
may have come with other parties or they may have
come alone. Not by the Indian trail that they went,
but over the Allegheny Mountains, by the Forbes Road
they came, and on down to the old town, which had
grown larger — a few miles more — imagine that meet-
ing!
It is said by some that she came to the home of her
son and told them who she was, and they told her he
was at the barn. She went out there where they met
and found each other.
Chapter VIL
LIVING IN THE HOMELAND AGAIN.
IT is not known whether the children after that
awful morning, when they came out from their hiding-
places and found each other, had lived on together in
their home or not. Adam Earnest says the children
fled to the Fort. It was a day never to be forgotten by
them, and they told this story over and over again to
their children and grandchildren, and thsy told it over
and over again to their posterity.
The neighbors were not very near in thosD early
days, but they came and buried the body and scalp of
the father and the other men in a field near by.
Mother and the little boys gone and dread of the In-
dians again, it would have been great bravery for them
to live on in this old home.
When Mrs. Earnest found her children again, her
son George had been married to a daughter of Conrad
Samuels, named Elizabeth.
After her coming back she was always called
"Indian Eve." Sometime after her return, she mar-
ried George's wife's father—Conrad Samuels. He
owned a lot of land and lived in what was then one of
the best houses in the country. Mr. Howard Black-
burn in his late history of Bedford County gives a good
description of this old house, which I quote in full.
Speaking of the oldest settlers of Bedford town-
ship, Mr. Blackburn says, "On the farm of Mr. Wm.
Phillips, near the village of Cessna, in the northern
part of this township, is located what is, in all proba-
36 INDIAN EVE.
bility, the oldest house in the county. The building-
is a one and a half story log structure, about twenty
eight by forty feet in size. It has a small stone walled
cellar at the southeast corner, and a large outside stone
chimney on the west end. In its construction the
building is not much unlike others of its kind, though
the notching and saddling on the corners are deeper
and more neatly executed than usual. Just when the
building was erected is not now known. Some of the
old residents of the community remember having got-
ten information from an old Mrs. Earnest, who died
many years ago at a very advanced age, concerning the
history of the house in its earlier days, and from this
source we learn that it must have been built nearly two
hundred years ago. This theory is supported also by
two dates carved upon stones in the cellar wall, the one
of which is "1710" and the other "1736." It is pre-
sumed that the former is the date of original construc-
tion, and the latter that of one of the changes or im-
provements subsequently made. There are well mark-
ed evidences of such improvements in the way of en-
larged windows, changing of a door-way to a window,
the removal of an inside chimney, and other similar
improvements, all of which have been done many years
ago. Besides the quaintness of the building in its ap-
pearance, and the evidences of its great age, the feat-
ure wich makes it especially interesting is the tradition
that it was at one time used as a fort to protect the
settlers from Indians' assaults. There are evidences
still to be found that a stockade at one time surrounded
or partially surrounded the building, and there are
evidences also that a stockade protected a pathway
from the building to a spring a few rods distance on
LIVING IN THE HOMELAND AGAIN. 37
the south side. Who knows but what this may have
been the fort called 'Wingawn' which is named among
the early forts of Bedford County, but which our
learned historians have never been able to locate,"
"It is said that a family by name of Earnest was
captured at one time near Alum Bank (now on the
Rininger farm) and Mr. Earnest killed by the Indians.
The mother and two sons, after being held in captivity
for some time, in some way procured their release, and
returned to this community, the mother riding a pony
furnished her by the Indians. Mrs. Earnest married a
man by the name of Samuels, who dying, left this
house, together with some surrounding land, to his
widow\ as her share of his estate. It afterwards passed
through the ownership of the Earnests and possibly
others down to Jacob Walter, whose son-in-law, Mr.
William Phillips, is its present owner. Mr. Phillips is
a progressive farmar, has new buildings and many
other improvements on the premises, but takes con-
siderable pride in preserving .his old historic land mark
unchanged as far as possible from its appearance of
ages past. ' '
This picture was given me by Mr. Phillips and is
the same as the one Mr. Blackburn has in his history.
This is Mr. and Mrs. Phillips on the old porch. They
use it to live in during the summer as it is cool, pleasant
and roomy. There are four parts in it down stairs,
two rooms on the east side and a kitchen, and room on
the west, and a good room upstairs. The stairway in
the corner of the kitchen shows a more primitive way
of going up. Beneath this is a cellar-way of stone
steps of excellent masonry, easy to ascend. They are
not used now. There is a good entrance from the out-
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LIVING IN THE HOMELAND AGAIN. 39
side at the east. Many of these changes — partitions
etc., were made by Jacob Walter, Mrs. Phillips' father.
Mrs. Phillips showed me a place in the cellar near the
inside stairway where there was a low stone wall
around for a milk trough. Here she said the people
said " 'Indian Eve' kept her milk and made such good
butter."
From incidents given by direct descendants of
those who lived in this old historic house, we must
come to the conclusion that it was used for a fort very
early as I have stated in a previous chapter.
Mrs. Sill said, "When my grandfather, George
Earnest, lived here, in the house at the foot of the hill,
just below the old one, one time they all went to the
fort at Bedford but one man. He said, 'he wasn't
afraid,' When they came back he was killed."
Mrs. Sarah Fetters says, "My grandmother was a
daughter of Conrad Samuel and they lived in this old
house. When she was a baby less than a year old, the
Indians came upon them suddenly. They could not get
in to get the baby, as it was upstairs asleep; they
mounted their horses and escaped to Fort Bedford.
They were in great suspense and could not sleep. The
next morning a lot of men came out in great fear and
found the baby upstairs asleep unharmed."
Mr. Blackburn in speaking of the early churches in
Bedford County refers to the Messiah Lutheran Church
in Bedford Township as one of the early organizations.
He says, "its date is about 1790. A log building,
thirty by fifty feet, was erected soon after this time,
which was replaced in 1838 by a stone structure 38 by
52 feet in size, which in 1867 gave place to a still
larger frame building 40 by 60 feet in size."
40
INDIAN EVE.
When this log church was built Mrs. Phillips says,
"Indian Eve cooked for the men who built it. She
hung a red handkerchief on a pole when the meals
were ready, as it was in sight of this old house where
she lived."
While Mr. Blackburn was writing the above the
congregation was considering whether they should
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LIVING IN THE HOMELAND AGAIN. 41
repair the frame church or build a new one. The same
year I think they built a fine brick building, this being
the fourth church by this large old cemetery.
I shall never forget one morning in the autumn of
1906, when I stood in the sunlight on the porch of „this
historic old house. Just a few feet to the east is Mr.
Phillips' modern house with large lawn — a very pleas-
ant country home. I had spent the night with them.
Mrs. Phillips' sister — Mrs. Zimmers — was to be buried
that morning. The former had just told me that they
had all been reared and married in this old house, and
she had always lived on this place. I went over into
the old house and walked all through it and came out
and stood on the porch. Just then the bell at the new
Messiah church, just in view over on a pretty slope^
tolled about 87 times, telling the age of Mrs. Zimmers.
I stood long in silent meditation. It seemed like a
sacred place. Here they came in and out in their child-
hood, here were their glad wedding days, and Mrs.
Phillips, the last one left to tell the story. Then I
looked at the old shrubbery, some of it planted no
doubt by Indian Eve, but the house with its stockades
was old when these were planted. If its old walls
could speak, what a history!
Mrs. Sill and Mrs. Phillips were cousins, their
mothers being Dibert sisters. Mrs. Sill's mother dying
when she was young requested Mrs. Phillip's mother,
Mrs. Walter, to take her and raise her. So they grew
up together in this old house and were married here.
Geo. Earnest's widow lived to be quite old and she
told the Indian story again and again to these girls.
Mrs. Sill said, "once when I was a little girl, I went
down to Grannie Earnest's house as a 'belsnickle' to
42
INDIAN EVE.
scare her. She went by the name of 'Grannie Earnest.'
I peeped in and saw her reading in their large old Ger-
man family Bible. I could not do it."
Indian Eve lived quite a while after her return.
She lived sometime after her husband and was left
with plenty as he willed her 50 acres of land with the
old house.
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LIVING IN THE HOMELAND AGAIN. 43
In the beautiful old cemetery at Messiah Church
she is buried. She was laid to rest beside the little log
church she helped to build. No marble slab marks her
resting place, but a large snowball bush at a gray
headstone blooms every spring and tells the story of
her life. Just a few weeks ago we scratched away the
leaves and read "E. S. 1815," on the old stone.
Her son, George, is buried by her side with date on
tomb stone. Born April 3, 1762, died March 28, 1817,
aged 55 years. Beside his grave is his wife's, Elizabeth
Earnest. Born April 25, 1764, died Nov. 8, 1847, aged
83 years..
All around her lie many of her descendants.
There has been talk of erecting a monument to her
memory. Some of the descendants have told me they
would help if it is started. Surely such a brave and
noble woman ought to be remembered. However, if
this is not done the large snowball bush will if it lives
bloom on as Mrs. Phillips says, "So beautifully every
year." The memory of her brave and noble life is
more than marble.
I have learned just recently that Mrs. Sarah Fetters
has her trunk as a relic — one of the little old hide
covered trunks. Her husband John Fetters was a great
grandson.
The Samuel husband is not buried here but in an
old grave yard in a field on the farm without tomb
stone where doubtless one of his other wives was
buried. He had been married twice before. His
second wife was called Else. She was of Irish de-
scent. Ludwick Samuels likely a brother of Conrad
owned the land south of this farm, now the Zimmers'
farm.
44 INDIAN EVE.
After "Indian Eve" died there was a man lived in
the old house by the name of Broadhead — a noted early
settler. He was a weaver — had a terrible high temper,
he would get so angry at the tangled yarn. He had
lived in this community when the settlers were at Fort
Bedford frequently. He had a large dog that would
stay out at the home and come to the Fort when ever
the Indians came.
On the morning of the massacre a few miles from
this spot it looked as if about all was over for this
mother, but what a posterity is hers! What a family
tree it would make ! There are not many families
in this part of Bedford Township who are not in
some way connected with her descendants and many
are found all over most of the western states.
Starting down the line with each child who escaped
there is a lot of interesting history.
Chapter VIIL
GEORGE EARNEST.
Henry Earnest lived nine miles north of Ft, Bed-
ford. Killed by Indians about the autumn of 1777.
His wife Eve Earnest captured at same time.
Children :
1. George. 4. Johannas.
2. Mary. 5. Henry.
3. Jacob. 6. Mike.
George Earnest.
Just when I had commenced on this line, and had
almost given up hope of getting dates from the old
German Bible which Mrs. Sill and Mrs. Phillips spoke
of so often, and which was in possession of Mrs. Reip
near St. Clairsville, a grand-daughter of George, Mr,
W. E. Nevitt of Tyrone, who has helped so much to get
data, went to see the Reip folks and got the record.
He found it in such old German script that he could not
make much of it out. After much effort he got Rev.
Zinn, who was visiting there, to translate a part of it.
He tried to get it photographed but could not. Then
he found that they would let him bring the record
along as the leaves were loose. It was a treat to us to
get it.
Mr. Nevitt was very much interested in the Bible.
It is well bound with brass clasps — Martin Luther's
translation of the Laitn to the German, according to
the Augsburg Confession, A. D, 1530, making it 380
years old, and the records back to 1717 — almost 200
years.
46 INDIAN EVE.
The old book is more a Samuel Bible than an Earn-
est Bible, as will be seen, but it has the Earnest record.
The Samuel record:
Conrad Samuel was born in the year 1717, April 20,
(Written in German.)
Elizabeth Samuel was born April the 5th 1764.
Mary Samuel was born September the 22nd 1769.
(Written in English by a good scribe, and with ink
not faded a bit in these 140 years. )
Elizabeth Samuel married George Earnest.
Mrs. Phillips says Mary Samuel married a Reighard.
A page or more might be filled with bits from old
hymns in this record, but I could not get any one to
take time to translate them as they are not written
well like most of the record.
There is one whole page in the old Bible, in beau-
tiful German script, artistic work, which Mr. Nevitt
would like to have had photographed for the book but
it was large and part of it too yellow with age.
Translated it reads thus:
He who has his Jesus
As long as this world troubles him
If he does not leave Jesus
From the strength of his life
Let him see in Jesus here
The open gates of heaven.
Whoever has Jesus
In all the burdens of pain
And who can lay all his burdens
Only upon his Jesus,
Jesus will make them easy
And he will have rest.
GEORGE EARNEST. 47
Whoever turns his mind
Only towards his Jesus
And lets the wings of faith
Carry him over all mountains
He will enter upon the path of heaven
With his Jesus.
He who hears the I'ps of Jesus
And honors His decrees
Who has taken Jesus wounds
Upon his own soul,
His heart — soul — mind — will be filled
With the blood of Jesus.
A. D. 1780.
On another fly leaf: Conrad Samuel, 2£. i2s.
George Adam Ernst
Anno 1801
Holy Deo Gloria, (some of this written in Old Eng-
lish with black ink that has burned part of the letters.)
Also, in Latin: The peace of God be with us during our
life.
Written by a good hand but pale ink :
Elizabeth Samuel Her Holy Bible Got of her father
Conrad Samuel in the year of our Lord God 1775.
Also: In the year 1753, came into this country,
(written in German, perhaps the landing of the Samuel
family.)
Record of children of George Adam and Elizabeth
Samuel Ernst as it is found in the old German Bible.
1786 14 April born a son Johannas
1788 16 May " daughter Molly
1790 29 December " " Elizabeth
1793 12 June " " Catharine
1794 29 " " "Eve Catharine
INDIAN
EVE.
< <
(<
Elizabeth
>>
son
Samuel
J y
daughter
Beckie
> »
7 >
Natrina
48
1797 15 March
1800 20 January
1802 11 August
1806 6 March
1. 1809 10 January born Daniel
2. 1811 11 " " Polly
3. 1812 7 February " Elizabeth
4. 1814 15 December in the morning between 2 and
3 o'clock Sally was born, and was baptized Nov. 2,
1818. The witnesses of baptism were the parents
of the child.
5. 1817 19 March in the night between 11 and 12
o'clock George was born and was baptized Nov. 2,
1818. Parents themselves were the witnesses.
This strange old record is written by fine German
scribes, especially the last group. These proper names
are in Old English written by the same hand.
The group above all but the two last names are all
written by another hand not quite so good. This was
all no doubt written by their different ministers at the
old Messiah Church. It looks as if there were two sets
of children but there were not, as Geo. Earnest died in
1817 and his wife Elizabeth in 1847, and they were not
grandchildren.
A strange thing about it is there were three Eliza-
beths and two Catharines, and Molly and Polly are con-
sidered the same.
Elizabeth was a favorite name all through the con-
nection, and I suppose when one Elizabeth died they
named another by the same name. This was common
long ago.
A number of these children must have died young
GEORGE EARNEST. 49
as Mrs. Sill gave me the record of her grandfather with
only six children.
I remember of a fine old German marriage certifi-
cate at our old home — DanieljEarnest, married to Dolly
Shull. I think this was the Daniel.
Another strange thing about the record is that
there are no dates, except one, of marriages or deaths.
We find the father, George, died Mar. 28, 1817, just
when his youngest son, George was 9 days old. But
this does not agree with the witnesses at baptism.
"Grannie Earnest" as she was called, widow of
George Earnest lived to be quite old, dying 30 years
after her husband at her old home where she had al-
ways lived just at the foot of the hill from the old
house. This old German Bible she had received from
her father in 1775, she had been reading all this time —
72 years. A good record. Mrs. Phillips says, "She
was going across the road to the spring house one day
and slipped on a board and broke her leg. She had to
lie in bed two years — never walked again. Old Dr.
Watson of Bedford was her physician, Sarah Reighard,
her grand-daughter, took care of her and old Johannas
Earnest's wife came and stayed with her often for com-
pany." This Mrs. Earnest, wife of Johannas 1st, was
her sister-in-law. I shall speak farther on of another
sister-in-law, Jacob Earnest's widow, called "Grannie
Earnest" also.
1. Johannas Earnest, 2nd, oldest son of George and
Elizabeth Samuel Earnest. Born April 14,
1786. Married Catharine Fetter, (sister of
Michael, who was father of John.)
1. Margaret Earnest, married Mr. Whitaker. Had
familv. Moved west.
MRS. DANIEL C. DIBERT.
GEORGE EARNEST. 51
2. Mary Earnest, mamed William Carl.
1. Maria, married Daniel C. Dibert, a great
grand son of "Indian Eve." See
Mary Earnest Dibert line.
2. Hester, married Abram Snavely.
1. Alice. 2. Minnie. 3. Daniel.
3. Jacob, married Annie Koontz.
3. Michael Earnest, called California Mike. Spent
20 years in California, came back and lived
at Wolfsburg, Bedford Co., Pa. Dead.
Married Hettic Ling, (sister of Simon Ling
of Bedford.)
1. Maria, married Phillip Beegle, of Pleasant
Valley.
2. Anna, married Geo. Blackburn, dead.
3. Mary, married Frank Gilchrist, live in
Cleveland, Ohio.
4. Catharine, married Shunk Defibauirh.
5. Alexander married Emma Koontz. Widow
lives in Bedford. He was killed.
4. George Earnest, married Rebecca Ripley. See
Charles Dibert's line.
1. David, married Anna Cessna. Called con-
stable Dave.
1. Elmer. 2. Charles. 3. Ross.
4. Josie, married Joe Barley.
5. May, married Wilson Adams.
6. Tenie, married Clay Mulon.
7. Cora.
2. Joseph married Kate Wolford of Buffalo
Mills. Live in Ohio.
1. William. 4. Jacob.
2. Lizzie. 5. Jesse.
52 INDIAN EVE.
3. Frank. All dead.
Frank and Jacob were sailors on Lake
Erie. The ship sank and they were
drowned.
3, Mary Ann, married Adam Earnest, grand
son of Johannas 1st, son of Henry.
See Johannas Earnest's line. Johannas
1st.
4. Jacob, died in Bedford of small pox. Buried
at Messiah cemetery.
5. Henry Earnest, married
Thomas, married Susan Zimmers. See Johan-
nas Earnest's line. Johannas 1st.
Live in Altoona.
6. Eliza Earnest, married John Lingafelter, At-
torney-at-Law Bedford. An invalid for
years.
1. Mary. 2. Almira.
2. Mollie Earnest must have died young. Born May
16, 1788.
3. Elizabeth Earnest, born Dec. 29, 1790. Married
Jacob Dibert, son of Frederick and Madaline
Steel Dibert.
1. George, married 1st Mollie Croyle.
1. Jacob, married Miss Weisel.
2. Catharine, married Fred Koontz. See Fred-
erick Dibert line.
3. Mary, married Samuel Mock.
Married 2nd time Margaret Imler.
1. Israel, dead.
2. Joseph.
3. Margaret, dead.
Married 3rd time Mary Ann Koontz.
GEORGE EARNEST. 53
1. Chas. married Ella Long.
Mary, married Howard Dively son of Ida
Dibert. See Mary Earnest's line.
2. Lavanas, married Miss Pensyl.
3. John, married Annie Harclerode .
2. Hettie, married Jacob Fetter, son of Jac. Sr.,
called constable Jac. See Mary Earnest's
line.
3. Elizabeth, married John Wakefoose. Died re-
cently near Everett nearly 100 years of age.
4. Catharine, married John Fetter, brother of Con.
Jac. See Mary Earnest's line.
5. Julinana, married John Ling, brother of Simon
Ling, son of Dan Ling.
After Elizabeth died, Jacob Dibert married Mary
Croyle, widow of Henry Croyle, daughter of Jno.
Dibert, Sr. See Mary Earnest's line.
1. Jackson Dibert. married Mary Ann Imler, sister
of John. Dead.
4. Catharine Earnest, born June 12, 1793. Married
Christopher Dibert, a son of Frederick and
Madaline Steele Dibert.
1. Andrew W. Dibert died at Imlertown a few
years ago. Married Elizabeth Ritchey.
1. William W. Dibert, contractor and builder
at Imlertown. Pa. Married Jennie C.
Triplett.
2. Catharine, married Phillip Smith. Live in
Kansas.
3. Christ, married Rebecca Imler.
4. Sarah, married Shannon Dibert.
5. Annie.
6. Grant, married Sadie Yount.
54
INDIAN EVE.
2. Jonathan, married Mary Jane Croyle.
1. Frank, married Ella Snider.
2. Margaret, married Dave Shunk.
3. Malinda, married Henry Reighard. See
Mary Earnest line.
4. Carrie, married Humphrey Dively.
3. Mary, married Abram Hartzle. Live in Tenn.
4. Rebecca is dead.
5. Elizabeth is not married.
6. Eve is dead.
7. Henry, married Mary Ling, daughter of John
Ling. Dead.
MRS. EVA CATHARINE EARNEST FETTER.
GEORGE EARNEST. 55
8. Susan is dead.
9. Catharine is dead.
Mr. William W. Dibert, of Imlertown, who has
helped so much, gave me the records of this family
and his grand-father's brother, Jacob Dibert.
5. Eva Catharine Earnest, born June 29, 1794. Called
Eve. Married Michael Fetter.
1. Dan, married Katy Croyle.
2. Elizabeth, married Zimmers.
3. John, married Sarah Fetters.
6. Elizabeth, born Mar. 15, 1797. Perhaps died young.
7. Samuel Earnest, born Jan. 20, 1800. died in 1877.
Married first, Elizabeth Dibert, born in 1801,
died in 1833, daughter of Frederick and Mada-
line Steele Dibert.
1. Catharine Earnest, married young, first to Geo.
Fetter. No children. Married second to
Will Earnest. Son of Michael Earnest.
1. Harry in Kansas.
2. Sarah Earnest, married Isaac Reighard.
3. Isaac Earnest, married Catharine Wonder.
4. Maria Earnest, married Henry Sill.
1. Sarah, married John Phillips.
1. Charlie married Josephine Reiswick.
1. Dorothy, a great, great, great, great,
grand-daughter of "Indian
Eve."
2. Elmira, married Mr. Frank Todd. Live
in Bedford, Pa. Had three child-
ren. All dead.
3. Henrv died when four vears old.
MRS. MARIA EARNEST SILL.
GEORGE EARNEST. 57
On one of the leaves of the record in the old Bible,
is a square marked off with pen, which I find contains
the record of part of Samuel Earnest's family. I wrote
it just as it is, with line below.
Was Born Catherena Earnest April 25th, 1822.
Was Born Jane Earnest May 25, 1824.
Was married Samuel Earnest to
Alizabeth Dibert, June 12th, 1821.
Sarah Earnest was born the 26th of
March 1828.
Adam Earnest was born the 27th of June, 1836.
It seems strange that the first wife's children are
not all here. Adam is the oldest son of the second
wife. These are all faded except the two last and the
figures in Jane's record. With her record is the sub-
traction of dates. Thus 1842
1824
18
One would infer from this that she died at that age.
7. Samuel*Earnest,'married second time to Judith Imler.
1. Adam, born June 27, 1836.
2._William. living in Friends Cove. Aged 66 years.
3. Mary, married Adams. Living in Friends
Cove. Aged 59 years.
4. Lavanda, marred Feight. Died in Friends
Cove. Aged 55 years.
5. Frank, living in Friends Cove. Aged 53 years.
8. Beckie Earnest, born Aug. 11 1802, married Michael
Speece.
1. George, dead. Widow lives in Osterburg. Had
six children.
58
INDIAN EVE.
2. Elizabeth, married Michael Sill. Went West.
Had six sons, all married, live in Illinois and
California.
3. Catharine, married Jas. Defibaugh. Lived at St.
Clarsville. Six children, all married.
4. Mary, called Polly. Married Mr. Colebaugh.
Sick in bed for several years. Six children,
all married.
5. Eve, never married, lives with Mrs. John Fet-
ters.
6. Peggy, never married.
7. Maria, died young.
8. Sarah, married Mr. Reip. Live near St. Clairs-
ville. Two childrer.
MRS. SARAH SPEECE REIP.
GEORGE EARNEST. 59
9. Tillie, married David Stambaugh. Seven child-
ren.
9. Natrina Earnest, born Mar. 6, 1806. No further
record of her.
10. Daniel Earnest, born Jan. 10, 1809. No further
record of him.
11. Polly Earnest, born Jan. 11, 1811. No further
record of her.
12. Elizabeth Earnest, born Feb. 7, 1812. Likely died
young.
13. Sally Earnest, born December 15, 1814. No record.
14. George Earnest, Jr., born March 19, 1817. No
record.
I had Miss Grauer, teacher of Language, look over
the old German record again, and she found below the
artistic writing, these initials, in Latin: N. P. N.
Chapter IX.
MARY EARNEST.
Mary Earnest, only daughter of Henry and Eve
Earnest.
When I commenced to gather data for this story, I
could not find out what became of Mary after she ran
through the meadow. Later, I found her in the biog-
raphy of Dan C. Dibert, in a Bedford Co. History. I
quote this biography.
She is buried on the Dibert farm but has no grave-
stone.
(Biography in History of Bedford Co. )
Daniel C. Dibert, a well-known farmer and one of
the older residents of Bedford township, Bedford
County, Pennsylvania, is a self-made man; that is, one
who has achieved success in life by his own industry,
thrift and steadfastness of purpose. A native of this
township, born Aug. 3d, 1820, son of John and Barbara
Dibert; he is of German ancestry.
The first title to land now owned by him was held
by his paternal grandfather, John Dibert, Sr., whose
first wife was Ene Ickes, the second being Mary Ear-
nest. The children of John, Sr., and Ene Dibert were:
David; Ene, wife of Peter Fetter; Elizabeth, wife of
Valentine Rinehart; Barbara, wife of Valentine Fickes;
and Susannah, wife of Samuel Roudabush. The child-
ren of John, Sr., and Mary Dibert were: John, born
probably in 1789, father of Daniel C, Margaret, born
October 4th, 1788, married Jacob Fetter, and died Sept.
9th, 1869; Catharine, born April 27th, 1792, married
MARY EARNEST. 61
John Croyle, and died May 15th, 1842; Mary, born Aug,
20th, 1794, married , first, Henry Croyle, second, Jacob
Dibert, third, Abram Sill, and died July 3d, 1865;
Rachel, born Aug. 10th, 1798, married Henry Kauff-
man, died Jan. 27th, 1885.
Henry Earnest, Mrs. Mary Dibert's father, was
killed by the Indians in Bedford Twp. Her mother
and two brothers were taken captive and carried away,
but after a number of years they made their escape and
returned to Bedford.
John Dibert, second, was a pioneer settler of this
part of Bedford County and here married Barbara
Croyle. He died in 1830, while yet in the prime of
manhood. Uf his children, two survive, namely:
Daniel C. the special subject of this biography; and
Mrs. Barbara Zimmers, born in 1826, now the widow
of the late Samuel Zimmers, of Bedford township. One
son, John Dibert, third, born in 1818, died while young;
and David, born in 1822, died in Missouri, Dec. 3, 1898.
Daniel C. Dibert was deprived of a father's care
and guidance when a little fellow of eight years.
From that time until of age he lived in Bedford town-
ship in the family of Michael Fetter, under whose in-
stuction he obtained a pactical knowledge ofj farming,
to which he has devoted the large part of his time.
His facilites for acquiring an education were meager
as compared with those of the present day, but he
made the most of such as were afforded by subscrip-
tion schools.
After working as a farm hand several years he in-
herited the homestead estate, on which he and his wife
have spent the greater part of their married life.
In April. 1852, Mr. Dibert married Maria Carrell,
62 INDIAN EVE.
who was born and bred in Bedford township. They
were blest with nine children, of whom seven are
living, namely: Loyd C. and Wayne C. both of Cali-
fornia; David F. of Manasses, Va. ; Alice M. at home;
Ida v., wife of Albert Dively; Emma M., at home; and
Daniel 0. of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Two daugh-
ters are dead: Minnie E. and Caroline. Mr. and Mrs.
Dibert are members of the Lutheran Chuch.
Descendants of John Dibert.
John Dibert married first, Ene Ickes (some give this
as Eve.)
1. David Dibert married Elizabeth Fickes. Her
father had held a commission under George
the III.
1. John Dibert married Rachel Blauch.
1. David Dibert married Lydia Connelly
Griffith.
1. Scott Dibert. Lived in Johnstown.
Died a few months ago.
2. Frank. Lived at Santa Fe, N. M.
Died recently.
3. Florence. Living in Johnstown.
2. Abram Charles Dibert. Lived in Cali-
fornia. Came East and died not
long ago.
2. Ene Dibert (Mrs. Sill gave this name Eve) mar-
ried to Peter Fetter, went west.
3. Elizabeth Dibert married Valentine Rinehart.
Lived at the John W. Imler farm. No
chldren.
4. Barbara Dibert, married Valentine Fickes.
5. Susannah Dibert, married Samuel Roundabush.
MARY EARNEST. 63
John Dibert's second wife, Mary Earnest.
1. Margaret Dibert, born Oct. 4, 1788, married
Jacob Fetter. Died Sept. 9, 1869.
1. John, married Catharine Dibert daughter of
Jac. Dibert.
2. Jacob, married Hettie Dibert daughter of
Jac. Dibert. See George Earnest's line-
1. Mary, married Adam Imler.
2. Elizabeth, married John May, Bedford.
3. Margaret, married John Diehl.
3. Margaret, married Ephraim Koontz.
1. Jane, married Aaron Cobbler.
2. Rosan, married Jacob Yount.
3. Mary, married Thomas Imler.
4. Margaret, married Mr. Wilson, dead.
2. John Dibert. born about 1789, married Barbara
Croyle. Died in 1830.
1. Daniel C. Dibert, born Aug. 3, 1820, married
Maria Carrell, April 1852. Great,
great grand-daughter of "Indian Eve"
in Geoge Earnest's line.
1. Lloyd C. Dibert of San Francisco, Cali-
fornia.
2. Wayne C. Dibert of San Francisco, Cali-
fornia.
3. David F. Dibert, lives at Kittanning
Point, Pa. Married Sarah Eliza-
beth Earnest, youngest daughter of
Daniel Earnest, son of Jacob Ear-
nest. See Jacob Earnest's line.
4. Daniel 0. Dibert, Colorado Springs,
Colorado.
5. Alice M. Dibert at home.
DANIEL C. DIBERT.
DAVID F. DIBERT.
66 INDIAN EVE.
6. Ida V. Dibert, married to Albert Dively.
Howard, married Mary Dibert. See Geo.
Earnest's line.
1. Paul. 2. Goldie.
Seventh generation in Mary Earnest's line. Eighth
and seventh in George Earnest's line.
7. Emma, married to Roy Imler.
8. Minnie E. Dibert, dead.
9. Caroline Dibert, dead.
2. Barbara Dibert born 1826, died about 1905.
Married Samuel Zimmers.
1. Samuel. 2. Amanda.
3. John, born in 1818, died while young.
4. David Dibert, barn in 1822, died Dec. 3,
1898. Lived in Missouri.
3. Catharine Dibert born Apr. 27th, 1792, died May
15, 1842. Married John Croyle.
4. Mary Dibert, born Aug. 20, 1794, died July 3,
1865. Married first Henry Croyle. Sec-
ond Jacob Dibert, brother of Christ. Third
Abram Sill, a brother to Henry Sill's father.
1. Sam. 2. Catharine, married Dan Fetter.
3. Mary. 4. Margaret.
5. Rachael Dibert born Aug, 10, 1798, died Jan. 27,
1898. Married Henry Kauffman.
1. John Kauffman, married Mary Riddle, went
west.
1. David. 4. William.
2. John. 5. Mary Ellen.
3. Samuel. 6. Mattie.
7. Naomi.
2. George Kauffman, married to Leah Imler.
1. Frank, living in^Dunkirk, N. Y.
MRS. RACHAEL DIBERT KAUFFMAN.
68 INDIAN EVE.
2. Jennie, married to H. W. Clouse, Roar-
ing Spring, Pa.
3. Jacob Kauffman, married Esther Weiant,
lived near Imler Valley.
1. Calvin. 6. Sherman.
2. Cyrus. 7. George.
3. Birdine. 8. Jennie.
4. David. 9. Sarah.
5. Shanon. 10. Effie.
11. Rebecca.
4. Henry Kauffman, married Elizabeth Snav-
ely, sister of Fred. Lived near St.
Clairsville.
1. Frank. 3. Albert.
2. Calvin. 4. Harry.
5. Mary.
5. David Kauffman, married Annie Naugle.
1. George. 4. Harry.
2. Charlie. 5. Ella.
3. Fred. 6. Jesse.
6. Mary Kauffman, married Samuel Oster.
Lived near St Clairsville.
1. George. 2. Frank. 3. Emma.
7. Margaretta, married Absolam Reighard.
1. Edward. 3. Georgiana.
2. Henry. 4. Nellie.
8. Sarah A. Kauffman, never married, living
at the old home at Imlertown, Pa.
I am indebted to her for the Kauffman genealogy.
JACOB EARNEST.
Chapter X.
Jacob Earnest, son of Henry and Eve Earnest, born
about 1766, died about 1830 at the brick house just
above Mt. Dallas; married Susannah Defibaugh, daugh-
ter of Casper Defibaugh, who lived below Bedford at
the Fisher farm.
1. Eve. 1. William.
2. Elizabeth. 2. Edward.
3. Sally, 3. Jacob.
4. Susan. 4.
5. Katy. 5.
6. Rosa. 6. Daniel.
There were six sons and six daughters in this
family. Five of the boys died young, as they were all
dead before Daniel was born. I have not given all of
them according to their ages. Daniel was the youngest
son and Rosa the youngest daughter, and next to him
in age. Eve and Elizabeth I think were the oldest
girls.
Daniel Earnest said "their parents had a Bible
with family record. Books were very scarce those
days . Some one borrowed the Bible and returned it
with record lost or torn."
1. Eve Earnest, married Thomas Nevitt.
The Nevitt record I have from a grandson, Mr. W.
E. Nevitt of Tyrone. Also a letter from his uncle
Jacob Earnest Nevitt of Michigan City, Ind., the only
member of the family living.
70
INDIAN EVE.
THOMAS NEVITT, SR.
Descendants of Thomas and Eve Earnest Nevitt:
1. William Nevitt. (died 1909.) Lived near Swanton,
Ohio.
1. George Nevitt.
JACOB EARNEST.
71
2. Joseph Nevitt. Married a Miss Rakestraw,
at Kankakee, 111. Had two daughters.
Lived
JOSEPH NEVIT.
3. John Nevitt. Never married.
4. Jacob Nevitt. Married Sallie Sheely of near Ever-
ett, P?. Live at Michigan City, Ind.
1. Cromwell Nevitt. Living at Puget Sound.
2. Lydia.
JACOB EARNEST NEVITT.
WILLIAM E. NEVITT.
THOMAS J. NEVITT.
JAMES M. NEVITT.
WILLIAM NEVITT.
\MLLIAM E. NEVITT.
GUY OSCAR NEVITT.
LILLIAN MAE NEVITT GINTER, AND SON, WENDELL MAXWELL.
SEVENTH GENERATION IN "INDIAN EVE's" POSTERITY AND
FIFTH, IN THE NEVITT LINE.
JACOB EARNEST. 77
5. Susan Nevitt. Married first, Philip Weaverling.
1. Philip.
Married second to Jacob Wagner. She died at To-
peka, Kansas, about 1896.
6. Thomas J. Nevitt. Born Nov. 1. 1832. Died Aug.
29, 1902, at Everett, Pa. Married to Plooney
Jane Otis.
1. John Franklin. Died in 1864.
2. William E. Nevitt. Married Mary E. Conner.
Lives at Tyrone, Pa.
1. Guy Oscar Nevitt.
2. Lillian Mae. Married to John S. Ginter.
1. Wendell Maxwell.
3. Infant daughter died.
7. James M. Nevitt. Born Sept. 4, 1841. Died Sept.
9, 1908 at Rays Hill, Pa. Married Martha Sams.
1. Porter G. 3. George W.
2. Daniel M. 4. Mary.
5. Hayes.
8. Margaret Elizabeth Nevitt. Born Aug. 11, 1842.
Died Dec. 31, 1887 at Everett, Pa., while at-
tending a watch meeting service. Married
David Wright.
1. Mollie. 3. Sallie.
2. Clara. 4. Annie.
5. Gertie.
Mr,. Thomas Nevitt, Sr., was quite a historic char-
acter about Everett and Mt. Dallas in the early days.
Mr. William Barndollar of Everett said once, "In his
younger days he was as fine a looking man as you
would see among five hundred. He was at one time
Katy Hartley's coachman and manager."
My stepfather used to tell how he taught his wife
MARGARET ELIZABETH NEVITT WRIGHT.
JACOB EARNEST. 79
to make corn pone like they^made it Jn the south. He
said "they didn't know how to make corn bread in the
north."
His son John Nevitt was with a corps of U. S.
Government engineers who plotted the state of Ne-
braska.
When Thomas, Jr., went to Omaha there were only
two houses besides the usual mud houses. As the town
grew he followed house painting awhile — later engaged
in his occupation coach and wagon-making, his brother
Jacob joining him about this time.
Joseph Nevitt was a soldier during the war, and
James, also, the latter a member of Co. C. , 133 Reg.
Penna. Vol.
Lake Front, Michigan City, Ind., Sept. 29, 1910.
My Dear Cousin :
Your letter reached father the other day * * * *
Pa's father was born in the District of Columbia,
in what is now the City of Washington. He was
seventy two when he died in 1871. He went to Bed-
ford County, Pa., when a young man. Carried mail
on horseback during the War of 1812 and 1813. Car-
ried from Bedford east, but I do not know where to.
He married Eve Earnest. She lived near Snake
Springs. Her father was a blacksmith and had a shop
on the Hartley farm, and when a young man, he used
to go into the river some where near the Hartley home,
and cut lead out of the bed of the river., and made
bullets out of it. William Hartley wanted him to tell
where it was but he never did. Your^ father hunted
for the lead vein many times.^ Father's mother was
some^forty_ years old when she died. She was buried
80 INDIAN EVE.
at the old stone church yard in Everett. It was Bloody
Run then. They lived at Friends Cove a number of
years and father was born there. They also lived at
Hartley's. When his mother died they were living on
one of the old Tates farms just west of the Everett
furnace. Uncle John went west before mother died.
He had a claim about forty miles northwest of Omaha.
He sold it for five hundred dollars. Father saw him in
Omaha just after that. Then he took a boat south and
spoke of going to Ohio. That was the last anyone ever
heard of him. When your father and pa first went
west they thought of going to California but changed
their minds when they got to Omaha. Father's grand-
mother Earnest was born in Germany. Came to this
country when five years old. His grandfather and
grandmother Nevitt were born and raised in Scotland.
Have no pictures of uncle John, Joseph, or aunt Susan.
Father is pretty well considering his age. He was
seventy eight last March. He hopes he has been able
to give the lady some information. His father never
said very much about his people.
From your uncle and cousin,
Jacob Earnest Nevitt.
Lida Henry Nevitt Cady.
To Wm. E. Nevitt and wife of Tyrone, Pa.
I find in the record of taxables in 1772 ' ' Casper
Defibaugh, living near Bedford, owned 150 acres of
land, 15 improved, horses 2, cows 1." This was not
long after he came from Germany, by what Jacob
Nevitt says.
LIDA NEVITT CADY AND HER FATHER, JACOB EARNEST NEVITT.
82 INDIAN EVE.
2. Elizabeth Earnest — always called Betsy, married
first to a German, Mr. Stuby.
1. Conrad Stuby, a soldier, 138 Reg. Pa. Vol.,
married Katy May.
1. Dan. Live on Pacific Coast.
2. Mary Ellen, Washington state.
3. John.
2. Jacob Stuby, married a Miss College. Lived in
Hopewell Twp., Bedford Co., Pa. Child-
ren, don't know the names.
3. Frederick Stuby, married Jane Wertz, daughter
of Thomas and Eve Dibert Wertz. See
Eve Dibert Wertz line.
1. Henry Heckerman. 3. Maggie.
2. Charles. 4. Minerva.
4. Mary Stuby, a cripple from spinal trouble.
Elizabeth's second husband— Mr. Edenbaugh.
1. Daniel.
3. Sally Earnest, married Steven Clarke of Bedford.
1. Eliza, married Mr. Reis. Lived in Pittsburg.
2. Rachael.
3. Lydia, lived in New Orleans before the war.
4. Mary, lived with friends in St. Louis.
All the girls dead.
5. John, lived with some one near Everett till he
was grown. Perhaps living in the west.
4. Susan Earnest, married a Mr. Wickersham of West
Chester. No children living.
5. Katy, died in infancy.
6. Rosa, married Thomas Border of Clear Ridge, moved
to Athens Co., 0.
1. Abbie. 2. Conrad. 3. Jacob.
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OSCAR EARNEST AND WIFE.
JACOB EARNEST.
85
12. Daniel, born July 4, 1818, died in Sept. 1901, mar-
ried first to Eliza Wertz, daughter of Thomas
and Eve Dibert Wertz.
1. William, a soldier in war 138 Reg. Pa. Vol.
Lives in Chicago. Married Kate Suters.
She died when seme of her children were
quite young.
IVA, DAUGHTER OF OSCAR EARNEST, SIXTH GENERATION IN
JACOB earnest's LINE.
ALFRED PHILLIPS AND WIFE, JENNIE EARNEST PHILLIPS.
DANIEL PHILLIPS.
88 INDIAN EVE.
1. Harvey, lives at Pearl City, 111.
2. Dillie, lives in Freeport, 111.
3. Oscar, lives in Pearl City, 111.
4. George, soldier in Spanish American war.
Dead.
5. Roll, lives in Pearl City, 111.
6. Alge, lives in Pearl City, 111.
7. Daisy in Iowa.
2. Emily Jane, married Alfred Phillips. Live at
Red Cloud, Neb.
1. Daniel. 2. Edna, student McPherson Col-
lege, Kan.
EDNA PHILLIPS.
3. Rosa, married Richard May. Live in Hayes
Centre, Neb.
1. Flora, married Mr. John Snee, a ranchman.
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EDWARD. SARAH ELIZABETH. HARRY. .
DANIEL EARNEST. MRS. ELEANOR ARNOLD EARNEST.
EARNEST REPLOGLE, A GRAND CHILD.
EUGENE NOBLE AND WIFE, BELLE EARNEST NOBLE.
FAYE ADELE.
JACOB EARNEST.
93
IVA NOBLE, WITH HER PONY ON A NEBRASKA RANCH.
2. Blair, married Sophie Fomoff.
1. Elvina Evaline.
2. Ada Eleanor.
3. Irene Rosanna.
3. Earl, a student at Ann Arbor, Mich.
4. Mina, at home.
Daniel Earnest, married second time to Eleanor
Miller, widow of Jacob Miller of Buffalo Mills,
Pa., and daughter of Peter and Hannah Ar-
nold.
1. Hannah Belle Earnest, died in 1894, married
Eugene Noble of Maywood, Neb. He was
killed in a saw mill in 1902.
1. Faye Adele. Teaching in Mich.
2. Iva, living with her cousin Mrs. Flora Snee
in Neb.
2. Susanna Rebecca Earnest, married Nathaniel
Replogle. She died in 1887 and he in 1891.
PROF. N. S. RFPLOGLE AND WIFE, SUE EARNEST REPLOGLE-
FRANKLIN EARNEST.
96 INDIAN EVE.
1. Chester Earnest Replogle. Juniata Acad-
emy, 1910. Teaching in Morrison's
Cove.
3. Sarah Elizabeth Earnest, married D. [F. Dibert,
son of Dan. C. Dibert. See Mary Earnest's
line.
4. Peter Franklin Earnest, married Mrs. Verna
McDonald of Altoona, Pa. Pa. R. R. Officer,
living at Huntingdon.
5. Daniel Henry Earnest, married Bertha King,
Livp in Altoona.
1. Alma. 2. Walter. 3. Elizabeth Eleanor.
6. Edward Oscar Earnest, married Myrtle Diehl.
Live in Eldorado, Pa.
1. Iva. 2. Paul.
BIOGRAPHY OF DANIEL EARNEST.
In the little romantic valley of Milligans Cove,
my memory loves to linger. Like Acadia, "This is the
forest primeval. ' ' Here, in the very heart of nature,
are the famous white Sulphur Springs — all hallowed
ground, "the scenes of my child-hood," where we
loved, "the orchard, the meadow, the deep-tangled
wild- wood," with its vines, mosses and flowers; the
tall pines, the sparkling mountain streams and brooks.
Here, around the old home fireside, we listened to
the stories of long ago, told by my stepfather, or his
mother, then about one hundred years old. He told
us that, once, when he was a boy plowing in a field
near Mt. Dallas, a mother bear came by with some
cubs. He caught one, took it home to his mother and
had it for a pet till it grew up. It became quite saucy.
JACOB EARNEST. 97
and very troublesome, and after quite an experience
with it, he sold it.
He told us also, stories of the old wagoners hauling
great loads from Baltimore and Philadelphia over the
Alleghenies to Wheeling and Cincinnati. He was quite
young to be on the road, but large and strong. He was
called "Will Nycum's big boy." He hauled for Mr.
Nycum, who lived at "the foot of Dry Ridge," now
the town of Manns Choice. People just called it "the
foot," where there were about three houses, and
two of these old taverns, where wagoners and other
travelers got plenty to drink before they started up
this abrupt ascent towards the mountain. Dry Ridge
is quite a plateau, being as high at some points as the
Allegheny mountains. At the "foot of Dry Ridge,"
just above where Buffalo Run flows into the Raystown
Branch of the Juniata, the hills are almost perpendic-
ular, some places. What was called "the drovers road"
afterwards, went up "Harmon's Bottom," winding
around the hills.
Often in winter, lots of places on the ridge and
mountain w^ere glittering cakes of ice, over which they
had to pass with heavy loads. He said the back part
of the wagon some times was nearly around to the
front. One time on his way to Cincinnati with a six
horse team, one of the horses died on the way. He
sent word back with a returning wagoner, for some
one to meet him with a horse. A man was sent with a
horse, but, he was drunk and made him more trouble
than help. (I do not know if this was while he was
hauling for Wm. Nycum or Hartleys. He wagoned for
Hartleys at the age of 16 years, at $10 a month.)
But the story most interesting to us was the thrill-
98 INDIAN EVE.
ing Indian story he told so often, while we listened
spellbound — the capture of his grandmother and her
two little boys by the Indians, and the killing and
scalping of his grandfather and the narrow escape of
the other members of the family.
Long after we had all gone out from the old home
(his home was at this time near the scene of the
massacre) when I was back once, I said to him /'tell
me the old Indian story again. " His eye lit up as in
days gone by; it hung yet a clear picture on mem-
orys gallery. I could detect a little failing, only like
the least tinge on a leaf. In two months I came again
and he hardly knew my voice.
He always began the story this way: "When daddy
was a boy about ten years old his parents lived out near
Nelson's Mill, and early one morning the Indians came
upon them very suddenly in their home. Two men
had come to make rails. ''Hoot, Hoot" they heard
and thought it was owls, and one said they would not
make rails long, as the hooting of the owls was a sign
of rain. But it was the cry of the Indians and in a few
moments they were bursting in at the door."
As I have said several times, I had heard the story
so often when a child, but I noted it all down with pen-
cil as he told it, with a feeling of sadness — knowing
I was likely hearing it for the last time. I said to him,
"and what became of Mollie?" "Oh I don't know"
he said, "you see that was so long ago, and we lived
away from here." He did not know that his youngest
daughter Sarah had married one of Mollie's descend-
ants. Thus, there are scores of people who know they are
descendants of "Indian Eve," but they don't know in
which line they have come down — abouf two generations
JACOB EARNEST. . 99
are a blank to them. It is amusing to hear some people
talk about it. An old man said "Ah you can see that
had Indian blood in him." I laughed, for he
looked more like an Indian than the other man.
Daniel Earnest's father, Jacob, by all accounts,
lived most of his life along the old turnpike, between
Bedford and Everett, then Bloody Run. Daniel always
spoke of him living in the old brick house near Mt.
Dallas, dying there, when he was about 12 years old, in
1830. He had a blacksmith shop there.
Mr. Jacob Nevitt writes about him going to a lead
vein in the river and getting lead. Daniel often spoke
of this. The people tried to watch him, but he would
go early in the morning and when he came back his
clothes were wet from wading in the river. They said
it was pure lead. Some folks gave him whiskey in his
shop, thnking he would get drunk, and then tell where
it was. He understood them, and said, "I'll never tell
you," and with him died the secret.
Jacob had taken up a piece of vacant land near
William Hartleys. Several years after his death
Daniel had a house built on it for his mother, where
they lived when he caught the little bear. During the
intervening years they lived near Abram Ritchey's
woolen factory, now Valley Mill. He always loved to
talk of his boyhood days at this old place. In a few
years, he got tired of their little home, as it was not
enough for him. Often, when speaking of certain
young people not caring or providing for their parents,
he would say, "I kept my mother from the time I was
14 years old."
After he was married the first time, he farmed for
Hartleys, Nycums and Lutzs. He was only a year at
100 . INDIAN EVE.
Nycums when Katy Hartly drove up to the "Foot" to
see him, and get him to come and farm for her. He
said "I knew where I was going and went." Mr. John
Lutz told me, he was farming for his father the year
of the pmnpkin flood — 1847. The water was so high
they had to get out of their house at the woolen factory
and go in with Earnests in the tenant house.
After his first wife's father, Thomas Wertz, died,
he moved to Milligans Cove, and farmed for his mother-
in-law. He bought the farm some time after this.
Daniel Earnest's biography would be incomplete
without being associated with his mother's— Susannah
Defibaugh Earnest, as they always lived together from
the time he was born until she died, from 1818 to
1866. She was a wonderful woman. My earliest reco-
lection of her, was putting her two little grand daugh-
ters in their trundle bed, tucking them in with their
night caps on, and hearing them say their evening
prayers, "Now I lay me." Their mother having died
they were under her special care. She would want us
to be very quiet when it thundered. I can see her yet,
sitting so reverently, and we, all around her with
hardly a whisper, during a thunder storm. "Hush!"
she would say. By we, I mean her two grand daugh-
ters and my sister and I. We grew up as real sisters
and have always been so. When my stepsisters burned
themselves they always ran quick to "Grannie" to blow
over the burn and say Dutch words. I didn't have very
much faith in it. I think I went to her once.
"Grannie," we called her, used to tell how, "when
she was a girl, at her father's home — down along the
river, the Indians used to come near them, and look at
them, while they did their washing and scouring at the
JACOB EARNEST. 101
river bank." I suppose they scoured pewter plates and
milk lids, etc. I remember of a great large pewter
plate and a smaller one in the old home. She told
also, how "the children walked up to Bedford to church
in the summer bare footed, and the town boys would
spit on their feet." Those early days, the children,
especially in the country, didn't have very fine shoes.
Mr. Simon Snider of New Enterprise says "I re-
member her quite well. She was the doctor in all
Snake Spring Valley. When any body was sick they
sent for ' Grannie Earnest. ' " He relates several in-
cidents of her life.
She could sew without glasses when she was about
97 or 98 years old. Her grand daughter, Mrs. Eliza
Reis from Pittsburg, visited her and gave her a cambric
handkerchief to hem which she wanted as a relic, also,
took a lock of her hair to get braided, which was not
clear white yet.
Eliza Reis' sister, Mary Clarke visited her about
1861. She was a lovely girl — had lived at St. Louis
with friends, where she had been burned so terribly by
gas, that she was disfigured. Just before she left, we
children went with her to Summer Ridge and gathered
huckleberries, which she took along. We broke off
the bushes and carried to her and she picked them off.
She was not strong enough to get around. She had
her brother John along; she was taking him along to
the West. They rode horse back "^to the Sulphur
Springs. She had never been on a horse before. Some
one led the horse at first till she got started.
"Grannie" sewed 'till she was almost 100 years old.
She hemmed and felled with such short stiches- beau-
tiful work. : Every summer day she sat in the kitchen
102 INDIAN EVE.
door way with her work, mostly mending. She would
not sew on Ascension day for any thing till she got a
little bit childish, then she said "Dan and all the rest
worked, and I will work too."
She got very childish the last year she lived, 1865
and 1866, dying in February 1866, 101 years old, as nearly
as her son could tell. She did not know any of the
family towards the last. We cared for her like a child.
She was the first person I saw die. I always had a
childish curiosity to know how people died. Our
parents with the younger children, started early
one morning in a sled on a visit to my grand-
father Arnold's, in Cumberland Valley, leaving their
grist, as they called it then, at Wolfsburg Mill, till
they returned. "Grannie" was asleep when they
started. She never had been sick a day that we re-
membered. She did not get up as usual, and was
drowsy. We saw there was something wrong and
called in a neighbor that evening. The next morning
dear old Mrs. Cook said, "children you are just scared
about 'Grannie,' she will get better soon," but we
knew her too well. I fed her coffee soup, which she
ate as usual; the death rattle was in her throat,
but I didn't know it. I went to the kitchen then, as
she seemed to be resting. In about an hour I heard
her, ran in, calling the other children, who were near,
but she breathed her last before they got in. I often
think of that moment; I, a child of fifteen years alone
with that centenarian and the Angel of Death. Away
over in Germany one hundred and one years before
that, the Angel of birth had come to a home, and they
christened a little girl Susannah Defibaugh.
She used to say to my mother, "I had twelve child-
JACOB EARNEST. 103
ren, six boys and six girls. My boys all died before
they grew up but Dan. He never saw any of his
brothers."
Her daughter Betsy saw a great deal of trouble.
She had married a German, named Stuby. They lived
in Somerset Co. He got money every now and then
from Germany. One day he went to the town of
Somerset to get his money as usual, expecting to be
home till evening. They waited on him for supper;
she went out and called and called for him. He never
returned. They always thought he had drawn his
money and had been murdered. She came back with
her children and lived awhile with her mother and
Daniel. She married again, a man named Edenbaugh.
They lived out from Bedford, I think in the old stone
house near Bee Millers. He was working at a lime
kiln; got his foot fast in some way, some one poured a
bucket of water around his leg. He met a terrible
death. Again she came home to her mother — with one
child, Daniel Edenbaugh. After the Stuby children
were grown they each got some money from Germany
— I think over $2,000 in all. Daniel Earnest used to
say "I always had a large family to keep."
Without a father's care or help, supporting his
mother and others of the family from boyhood, thrown
in company with rough wagoners — a whole bar-room
full some times at the old taverns, where they slept on
the floor around the big fire places and told stories or
cracked their whips and drank and cursed and swore^
with such an environment Daniel rose above it all-
sober, honest, industrous, pure and upright; despising
low and mean acts— one of God's noblemen — a Christ-
ian.
104 INDIAN EVE.
The only habit he formed that he regretted was
chewing tobacco. He said "the men he worked with
gave it to him to chew when a boy. He battled with
this habit nearly all his life. At last he conquered it.
He was always a great peace maker in the com-
munities in which he lived. I remember of an inci-
dent during the war, at his old home in Milligan's
Cove. An old gentleman was visiting his brother, a
near neighbor of ours. They differed in politics. The
north was jubilant over the fall of Vicksburg and the
conquest at Gettysburg on July 4th 1863. This was too
much for the one brother. The other one started home
in his buggy. It was nearly night and a great thunder
storm coming up— the Mullin gap would have been
midnight darkness,. My step father went out and
stopped him, talked with him and plead wih him not to
part with his old brother in such a way. He did not
go on. I do not remember if he went back to his
brothers or stayed all night at our home. I think
though, Daniel went back with him ""and they became
reconciled.
Daniel Earnest lived to a gold age, dying in Sep-
tember 1901 at the age of 83 years. He and my mother
are buried in the beautiful cemetery at Messiah church.
Chapter XL
JOHANNAS EARNEST.
Johannas Earnest, son of Henry and Eve Earnest.
Raised his family in the large old log house over
on the hill from the old sawmill, atlmlertown.
Adam Earnest says, "he married a wife far
away from here. I feel sure he is buried in a
little old grave yard near Pleasant Valley;
there is no grave stone but my father always
helped to clean it up and made me help— as
they were relatives. I am sure they lie there."
1. Adam Earnest, married Hettie Holderbaum. He
died May 20., 1872, aged 84 years. Hettie
died Sept. 27, 1880, aged 82 years.
1. Betsey Earnest, married Johnathan Bowser.
1. Emma, married Emery Dicken.
2. Mary, married Newton Drenning.
3. Jacob, married Amanda Milburn.
4. Aaron, married Lizzie Ridenour.
5. David, married Maggie Little.
6. Isaac, marreid Susan Croyle.
2. Michael Earnest, married Beckie Zimmers.
1. Sarah, married George Mosey.
1. Ella, married, lives in Pittsbug.
2. Philip, married Marietta Wisegarver.
1. Ella, married Emanuel Hemning.
3. Beckie. Dead.
4. Hettie. Dead.
5. Eliza. Dead.
3. Hetty Earnest died June 15th, 1903, aged 73
106 INDIAN EVE.
years, 6 months and 18 days, married
David Snavely, died March 16th, 1910,
aged 80 years, 9 months and 23 days.
1. John, married Barbara Feight.
1. Charles, married Myrtle Swartz.
1. Charles Von.
2. Gilbert, married Catharine Johns.
1. John. 2. Catharine.
3. Gertrude.
4. Pearle.
5. Percy, married Phoebe Weaverling.
1. Richard.
6. Mary.
2. Frank, married Catharine Misner.
3. Dubbs, married Emma Zimmers.
4. Lizzie, died July 12, 1905,'aged 44 years,
married Joseph Reighard.
1. J. Roy. 2. Frank.
5. Mary, married Geo. F. Zimmers.
1. Harry, married Nell Hershberger.
One child.
6. Ida, married Bruce Zimmers.
1. Fred. 2. David. 3. Mary.
4. Mary Anne Earnest lives in Bedford.
5. Susan Earnest, married Jacob Zimmers,
both dead.
1. David E., married Annie Imler, daugh-
ter of Isaac Imler.
1. Ella.
2. Calvin, married Stella Hudson.
1. Edna. 2. Lourene.
3. Sarah, married William Claycomb.
1. Elmer. 2. Erie. 3. Catharine.
JOHANNAS EARNEST. 107
4. Alvin.
4. Minnie.
2-.- Susan, married Thomas Earnest, live in
Altoona. See Geo. Earnest's line.
1. Gertrude, married Geo. Hargreaves.
2. Alma.
3. Sarah, married James Sill of Kansas.
She died Sept. 1910.
1. Herbert. 2. Oliver. 3. Hattie.
6. John Earnest. Dead.
7. Beckie Earnest, never married. Dead.
8. Adam Earnest, 78 years old. Lives in
Pleasant Valley, near Bedford. Married
Mary Ann Earnest, daughter of Geo.
Earnest. See George Earnest's line.
1. George Earnest, married Christie Hyde,
daughter of Jno. Hyde.
1. Stella. 2. Gladys. 3.' Millie.
4. George Raymond. 5. Margaret.
2. William Earnest, married Nora Mechly.
1. Catharine. 2. Marie.
3. Malinda Earnest, married Gregory
White.
4. Elmira Earnest, married Lee Diehl, son
of Michael Diehl.
1. Charles Lester. Dead.
5. Rosa, married George Allison.
Eve Earnest, married Henry Claar.
1. Susan Claar, married Stickler.
1. Samuel Stickler, married Polly Imler.
1. Mary, married Atwell.
2. Sadie, married Wm. Bridaham.
3. Eve, married Charles Atwell.
108 INDIAN EVE.
4. Mike. 5. Isaac.
2. Mary Ann Stickler, married William
Earnest. Same Earnest line
Johannas 1st.
Daughter, married Levi Imler.
3. Beckie Stickler, married Jacob Shunk.
1. Ella, married Albert Hughes.
2. David, married Margaret Dibert.
See George Earnest's line.
3. Henry, married Hemming.
4. Sarah Stickler, married Daniel Price.
5. Joseph Stickler, married Lizzie Barnhart.
1. George, married Emma Struckman.
2. Annie, dead.
3. William, married Maggie Imler.
4. David, 5. Calvin. 6. Jacob.
2. Rachael Claar, married Zachariah Koontz.
1. Maria Koontz, married George Yount.
2. Hettie Koontz, married Frank Beegle.
3. Mamie Koontz at home.
4 Adam Koontz, married Mary Eversole.
3. Sarah Claar, married Nicholas Russell.
1. Peter.
4. Betsy Claar, married Adam Koontz.
1. Annie, married Michael Koontz.
5. Beckie Claar, ^married Lewis Ling. Moved
to Tenn. Died there.
1. Sarah. 2. Anna. 3. Frank.
6. Henry Claar, married Rebecca Helsel.
1. William. 2. Mary. 3. Joanna. '4. Net-
tie. 5. Laura. 6. Blanche, twin sisters.
7. Calvin. Six children dead.
7. Rosan Claar, married George Riddle. No-
JOHANNAS EARNEST. 109
children. Went west. He died there. She
came back several years ago and died here
aged 80 years.
8. Hettie Claar, married Thomas Amick.
1. Blanche, married Frank. Herkins. Live
in West Huntingdon.
2. Elmer, married Lizzie Lybarger.
3. Samuel, married Mary Cole.
4. Beckie.
5. Maggie, married Harrv Bagly.
6. Mike, married Lila Smith.
John Earnest, died Sept. 15, 1870 aged 73 years,
9 months and 13 days. Buried at the Al-
bright church. Married Mary Stiffler,
died at the age of 54 years, 4 months and
12 days.
1. John Earnest. A very religious man. At-
tended the Albright church.
2. Maria Earnest, married John Croyle.
1. Thomas. 2. Michael.
3. Emma, married Joseph Smith.
4. Mary, married Adam Bamer.
3. Mary Earnest, married David Hite. No
children. Lived in old log house for
a long time, built a new house at head
of dam, never finished it, went west.
4. Michael Earnest, married Hannah Friend.
1. William. Lived in Morrison's Cove.
2. Mary.
5. Henry Earnest, married Caroline Hoover.
Moved west.
6. Samuel Earnest. Lived at a place called
"TheSwites."
110 INDIAN EVE.
7. William Earnest, married Mary Ann Stick-
ler, a daughter married Levi Imler.
4. Michael Earnest, died April 27, 1852, aged 52
years, 7 months and 17 days.
1. William, married Catharine Fetter, daugh-
ter of Samuel Earnest. See George
Earnest line.
1. Harry, married Miss Stoudenour.
5. Rachael Earnest, married 1st Samuel Claar, 2nd
Riley.
1. Susan, aged 79 years, married WilliamMurry.
1. Mary. 2. Chas. 3. William.
2. Mary, dead. Married William Fletcher.
1. John.
2. Eliza, married William Easter.
1. Laura, married William Imler.
1. Harry. 2. Thomas. 3. Mary.
3. Ella, married Dan Mock.
1. Percy. 2. Frank. 3. Elsie.
. Virgil. 5. Dorothy.
4. Susie.
5.' Thomas, married Miss Miller.
1. Grace.
3. William, married Sophia Jones. Dead.
1. Lottie.
2. Samuel, dead. Married Bridget OShea.
1. Edith. 2. Helena. 3. James.
3. Ella, dead. Married Hershberger.
4. Ida, dead. Married Bonner.
5. William.
4. Emma, aged 68 years, married Adam Leon-
ard.
1. Jerome, married Savanah Rice.
JOHANNAS EARNEST. Ill
1. George, married Basil Bee Miller.
2. William. 3. Virginia. 4. Agnes,
twin sisters. 5. Walter. 6. Edgar.
2. Ella, dead.
3. Ambrose, married Emma Dugan.
1. Lida. 2. Mary. 3. Adam.
4. Thelma, dead.
4. James, married Jane Rice.
1. Earl. 2. Annie. 3. Charles.
4. Mary. 5. Theora.
5. John, married Maggie Lehman.
1. Anastasia, dead. 2. Bernadetta.
3. Paul. 4. Mary. 5. Regis.
6. Mary, married Henry Straub.
1. Adam. 2. Francis. 3. Alice.
4. Magdaline. 5. Faye. 6. Emma.
7. Emma, married F. J. Deckerhoof.
1. Madalin, dead. 2. Kathlyn.
8. Sylvester, married Lizzie Fachtman.
1. Dorothy. 2. Bruce. 3. Hubert.
9. Anthony, married 1st Loretto Gifhn.
1. Francis, dead.
2nd wife Ahce O'Neal.
1. Marie. 2. Catharine, twins.
3. Regis. 4. Joseph.
Ruth aged 65 years, married Richard Price.
6.
1.
William
. 2. Mary.
3.
Cleveland.
4.
Walter.
5. Oscar. <
5. George.
10,
. Lucy.
11,
. Alice.
12
. David.
Henry
Earnest,
died Jan.
25,
1881,
aged
75
years, 8 i
months and
10
days.
Married
112 INDIAN EVE.
Maria Corboy, died June 22, 1851, aged 35
years, 2 months and 29 days,
i. Eliza Earnest, married Michael Zimmers.
1. Michael. 2. Frank. 3. Harvy.
4. Natie, married Charles Reighard.
5. Lizzie, married Henry Shafer.
6. Gertie, married Harry Smith.
2. Susan Earnest, married Joseph Kegg. No
children.
3. William Earnest, married Angelina Wolf.
Live on Pigeon Hills. Had family.
4. Joseph Earnest of Bedford, married Mary
Ellen Amick.
1. George. 2. Calvin.
3. Daisy, married Arthur Huzzard.
5. James Earnest, dead.
7. Frederick Earnest, married Elizabeth Sill, sister
of Henry Sill.
1. Jacob, went west 40 years ago. Back 2
years ago, took picture of old house,
at Phillips' home, said he was a de-
scendant of "Indian Eve."
2. Daniel, went west.
In the second chapter I said that "Johannas may
have been the oldest in the family."
Before last November I had nothing on this line.
Mrs. Henry Sill told me before she died that she
thought there was one son Johannas. I knew there
were a lot of Earnests that likely were his descendants
but I could not find any one who could go back far
enough. I had about given up finding him when Mrs.
Phillips said, "Write to Adam Earnest of Pleasant
Valley." I did so, and he replied. "My father was
JOHANNAS EARNEST. 113
Adam Earnest, and his father was Johannas Earnest
who escaped from the Indians when they killed his
father, Henry Earnest, and captured his mother, Eve
Earnest and two boys. ' ' Adam Earnest was the only
one I found who knew that Henry was the name of the
father who was killed by the Indians. I had found
this in a history of Bedford Co. While gathering data
all winter on this line — some of it after the other chap-
ters were off the press, I find that Johannas was the
oldest of the family. Mrs. Phillips seemed to have the
idea that he was old, as she thought he might have
been a brother to Henry, who was killed. Adam Ear-
nest soon set this right, and, I am so thankful, as the
genealogy would have been very incomplete without
this line. I am also indebted to Mrs. Ida Suavely Zim-
mers and John Leonard of Bedford, Pa. R. F. D., and
Mrs. Frank. Herkins and Mrs. Hettie Flake of Hunt-
ingdon, Pa., who have so generously assisted.
I tried to get photographs in this line but failed.
If I had found them sooner, I think I could have gotten
some.
Chapter XIL
HENRY EARNEST.
Daniel Earnest always said, "Henry went to Greens-
burg, and Mike went west. " By the records, Henry had
been married, and, had lived quite awhile in Dutch Cor-
ner, near Bedford, before he went to Greensburg, as his
oldest daughter Susan, married Michael Dibert there.
After quite an effort, by correspondence with the post-
master, Mr. Lyon, at Greensburg, I found Henry's
descendants a few months ago. I give tne letters with
record.
Greensburg, Pa., Oct. 29, 1910.
Mrs. Replogle,
Dear Madam :
I received your letter and have been trying"
to collect what I could for you. Your first letter I gave
to Charles Earnest and he sent it to his home in Del-
mont, where Peter and Jacob, two sons of Henry
Earnest lived, and I have waited for the return of the
letter and any information they could give, but they
have so far failed to return the letter or any infor-
mation. Also, there was an old gentleman, who told
me that there was an old history that mentioned Henry
Earnest and family, in several places, and he would get
it for me, but he has so far failed to do so. I tried ta
get John M. Hawk to see Charles Earnest, the mail
carrier in Greensburg, who represents the Delmont
HENRY EARNEST. 115
people, and appoint a meeting and we would see what
we could do. But I could not get them together.
Yours respectfully,
M. B. Kettering,
Greensburg, Pa.
R. D. No. 4, Box 100.
P. S. I could not get a photograph anywhere.
M. B. K.
Henry Earnest and wife, Margaret, settled within
one mile of Greensburg, the County seat of Westmore-
land Co. Pa. He had a large tract of land at first, but
sold all but 114 acres that was left at his death, and
was divided between the heirs, and there is only two
pieces of the land held by any of the relations, the old
homestead part is held by a great grandson, Edward H.
Kemp, and the other is held by my father, Adam
Kettering. Henry Earnest and my father, Adam Ket-
tering paid, a visit to Bedford Co. in 1847 or along
there some where. They went in a one horse sleigh
instead of a carriage, and when they returned home
my father had to walk a good many places where the
snow had left.
Henry Earnest was born March 28th, 1772, died
March 3th, 1857 aged 85 years'and two days. Margaret
Miller, his wife, was bom October 14th, 1766, died May
17th, 1851 aged 85 years, eight months and three days.
They had seven children : Susan married to Michael
Dibert; Elizabeth married to George Kettering; Eliza-
beth had children, their names are as follows: William,
Henry, Adam, Michael, Jacob, John, Margaret and
Daniel. Elizabeth was born April 10th, 1799, died
January 18th, 1894, aged 94 years 9 months and 8 days.
John married to Eliza Portzes; they had eight children.
116 INDIAN EVE.
namely: Sarah, Catharine, Eliza, Margaret, Henry,
Hannah, John and Jacob.
Jacob married Mary Shaffer; George died when
young; Catharine was married to George Hawk; they
had eight children namely: Samuel, Henry, John,
George, Amos, Margaret, Catharine and Daniel.
Peter was married to Sarah Shaffer. Jacob and
Peter were the two that lived at Delmont, and if the
friends send anything pertaining to the history, I will
forward it to you.
Of these three families living here, there is but
five grand children living; in Elizabeth Kettering's
family, there is Adam, who was 85 in September, and
Michael and Daniel; in John Earnest's family one, Mrs.
Eliza Thomas; in Catharine Hawk's family one, Mrs.
Margaret Price. My father says the Earnests were
captured by the Indians, nine miles above Bedford, and
on the trip to Detroit they were treated well, when the
Indians had plenty they had plenty. Mrs. Earnest car-
ried her child on her back the greater part of the way.
She worked in the harvest field and Henry kept the
crows and black birds off of the corn. When in cap-
tivity they were prisoners two years and nine montljs,
they were at Detroit when Hannistown was burnt.
You will have to excuse all blunders for this is a
new thing to me.
Yours,
M. B. Kettering.
Great grand son of Henry Earnest.
Mr. Kettering says "his father and Henry Earnest
came to Bedford Co. in a sleigh instead of a carriage."
I had written to him what Mrs. Phillips had told me
last summer. "Henry Earnest visited my parents
HENRY EARNEST. 117
about 51 or 52 years ago. His son-in-law, Michael
Dibert of Claysburg, was with him. They came to our
place on Saturday ; stayed over Sunday and visited the
Diberts and then stopped at our place on their way
back. They came in a buggy — one of the first buggies
around. If I remember rightly it was a carriage."
Henry may have made two visits, or only one as these
dates are not definite. Coming to Claysburg in a
sleigh and from there to Dutch Corner in a buggy or
carriage is easily understood.
Nov. 5, 1910.
I received your letter of Nov. 1st and was glad to
hear that my letter on the Henry Earnest family would
help you.
My father says "Henry was about nine years old
when taken prisoner and Mike was about two years old,
he says that he heard his grand-father say so.
I have asked a good many old people about Mike
and none of them knew any thing about him. My
father says he could not tell if he went west. It ap-
pears that the Earnest families did not communicate
together very much. Father says that he always
heard his grand-father and his mother say that they
were in captivity two years and nine months with the
British and the Indians and at the conclusion of peace
they were liberated.
The only thing he can tell is, that the mother had
to work in the field and that Henry had to keep the
crows and black birds off of the corn.
The fort was on the hill at Hannistown. The
property belongs to William Steel, of Hannistown, and
the Steel family had their dead buried in the cemetery
118 INDIAN EVE.
where the old settlers were buried and Wm, Steel has
erected a fine monument for his family.
I talked to an old gentleman some time ago who
asked me whether I had ever seen my great grand-
father, Henry Earnest, and he told me, he talked to him
many a time, and he said "he was a jolly, good man
and was always in a good humor." I tried to find him,
but he went away, and his friends say he will not be
back for some time.
There are several great grand children here, but I
could not^get them interested in trying to help me, so, I
had to do the best I could.
Respectfully yours,
M. B. Kettering,
Greensburg, Pa.
R. D. 4 Box 100.
About the only thing that the Bedford county de-
scendants and the Greensburg Earnests differ positively
about, is the time that Mrs. Eve Earnest and her boys
were in captivity.
Mrs. Phillips says "George Earnest was from 12 to
15 years old at the time of the Indian massacre and
was married when his mother returned." He was
born in April 1762 so, if he was 15 years old at the time
of the massacre this agrees exactly with the date I
have given it — 1777. George Earnest's oldest son,
Johannas 2nd was born in April 1786, the year that his
mother returned if she was taken captive in 1777 and
gone 9 years. Henry Earnest was born in March 1772.
This would make him only 5i years old when they were
captured. Mr. Kettering says he was 9 years old then.
If the massacre was later this would not agree with
George and Jacob Earnest's ages etc., but it would
HENRY EARNEST. 119
agree with Henry's age, and Mrs. Earnest and her boys
being gone only 2 years and 9 months, and liberated in
1883, at the time of the treaty of peace, at the close of
the Revolutionary war. But we can not decide the
time of their being released by the time of the Treaty
of Peace because the British held Fort Detroit until
1796, and some of the captives had been bought of
the Indians and had to work a certain number of
years for their ransom. The Bedford county folks all
say ' ' she was gone 9 years. ' ' She made the money
to buy her pony by what she earned above her
daily wages. " Mr. Utley librarian of the Public Li-
brary, Detroit, Michigan, says "It is quite probable
that there were cultivated fields near the fort and that
Mrs. Earnest may have worked in the harvest field,
and, that the boy may have driven the crows and black
birds from the corn fields." He also says, "I have
no knowledge of Hannistown. "
Mr, Kettering says, "It appears that the Earnest
families did not communicate together very much."
This is true, as George, Mollie and Johannas, all raised
their families in the old neighborhood, and Jacob's
family were raised near Everett, only a half days
journey away, yet they did not seem to know much of
each other. Those early days they did not write many
letters, as there were few post offices, money'was'scarce
and postage high.
Henry Earnest, son of Henry and Eve Earnest, was
born Mar. 28, 1772 died Mar. 30, 1857, aged
85 years and 2 days. Married Margaret Miller
born October 14, 1766 died May 17, 1851, aged
120 INDIAN EVE.
85 years, 8 months and 3 days.
1. Susan Earnest married Michael Dibert, lived at
Claysburg, Blair Co., Pa.
1. Jacob Dibert lived at Claysburg. Had a
store there. Died in 1906. Was killed
by an auto scaring his horses while
driving in a wagon.
2. Mary Ann Dibert married Burket.
Deceased. These descendants live at
Claysburg.
2. Elizabeth Earnest, born April 10, 1779, died Jan.
18, 1894. Aged 94 yrs. 9 mo. 8 days.
Married Geo. Kettering.
1. William, married Eliza Kintz.
1. Sarah E. 2. Mary M. 3. Margaret.
4. Frank. 5. Harriet. 6. George.
7. Henry. 8. Anna. 9. Kate.
10. William. 11. John.
2. Henry, married Anna Lowry.
1. Margaret. 2. Anna. 3. Rachel.
4. Martha. 5. Helen. 6. Benjamin.
7. Harry.
3. Adam, married Eliza Motz.
1. Michel B. 2. Catharine A. 3. George
W. 4. Emma E. 5. Margaret M. 6. John
F. 7. Edward T. 8. Henry H. 9. Lewis
0. 10. Herman P.
4. Michael.
5. Jacob.
6. John, married in the state of Oregon and I
do not know his wife's name, they had
two children.
1. Edward. 2. Emma.
JACOB EARNEST. SON OF HENRY EARNEST OF GREENSBURG.
122 INDIAN EVE.
7. Margaret, married W. G. Moore.
1. George. 2. Robert.
8. Daniel, married Sophia Zimmerman.
1. Harry.
3. John Earnest married Eliza Portzes.
1. Sarah. 2. Catharine.
3. Eliza Earnest, married Mr. Thomas.
1. Anna, married Thomas Evans.
2. Margaret, married Mr. Hensil.
3. Mary, married Mr. Watson.
4. Frank. 5. Catharine.
4. Margaret. 5, Henry. 6. Hannah.
7, John. 8. Jacob.
4. Jacob Earnest, born Jan. 2, 1805, died Mar. 6,
1884, aged 79 yrs. married Madaline Sha-
ffer, in 1827, lived at Delmont, Pa.
1. Mary Earnest living, aged 81 yrs. married
to Andrew Baker.
1. Edward. 2. John.
2. John Earnest, died about 7 years ago. Age
69 years.
1. William. 2. Mrs. Annie Simpson.
3. Mrs. Maude Simpson.
3. Sarah Earnest married Henry Ridenour.
1. Harry. 2. Clark. 3. Jennie. 4. Bertha.
5. Emma.
4. Lydia Earnest, married William Watters.
1. Israel. 2. Sylvester. 3. Jefferson.
4. Charles. 5. Harry. 6. Minerva.
7. Anna. 8. Bertha.
5. Jacob Earnest Jr. died over 30 ears ago.
1. Robert. 2. Alexander. 3. Elizabeth.
4. Mattie.
HENRY EARNEST. 123
6. Hettie Earnest, married Obediah Blose.
1. Jacob- 2. William. 3. Laura.
4. Harriet. 5. Emma.
7. Margaret Earnest, married James Wallace.
1. Mary. 2. John. 3. Robert. 4. Joseph.
8. Albert Earnest, born Jan. 6, 1848, died Mar.
21, 1884, aged 36 yrs.
1. Elizabeth Catharine, born Sep. 18, 1871,
married Dr. Simon P. Earnest.
1. Clarence R. Earnest, aged 17 years.
2. William Charles.
1. Welty Shrum. 2. Mary Kane.
P. S. Three children of Jacob Earnest died when young.
5 George Earnest, died when young.
6. Catharine Earnest, married George Hawk. She
died in 1854 and the husband in 1862.
1. Samuel, married Elizabeth Kiper.
1. Catharine. 2. Harriet. 3. Emma.
4. Elizabeth. 5. Sarah. 6. John.
2. Henry, married Rosannah Miller.
1. George. 2. Amos. 3. Ella. 4. Nancy.
5. Henry. 6. Francis. 7. Lewis.
8. Margaret.
3. John, married Elizabeth Keihl.
1. Anna. 2. Harriet. 3. Mamie.
4. Edward. 5. Margaret.
4. George died when a young man.
5. Amos, married Catharine Laughery.
1. Emma. 2. Grant. 3. Anna. 4. Alice.
5. Nora. 6. Walter. 7. James. 8. Abbie.
6. Margaret E., married Francis James Price.
1. Thomas, dead. 2. Edward dead.
3. Margaret E.
124 INDIAN EVE.
Mr. Price was in the Union Army and
fell at the battle of Gettysburg.
7. Daniel, married Anna Harkins.
1. Harry. 2. Alford. 3. Mary.
4. Margaret. 5. Arthur.
8. Catharine, married Augustus Allison.
1. William. 2. Charles. 3. Morrison.
4. Harvy. 5. Henry.
T.iPeter Earnest, born May 28, 1809, died Aug. 23,
1856, aged 47 years. Lived at Delmont,
Pa. Married Sarah Shaffer, sister of Jacob's
wife, Aug. 6, 1830.
1. Simon Peter Earnest, born Jan. 1834, died
Apr. 1880, aged 45 yrs.
1. Simon Peter, born Oct. 6, 1865 M. D.
D. D. S. Married Elizabeth Catha-
rine Earnest. See Jacob Earnest's
line. Jacob of Delmont, Pa.
2. Clarke Warden, born Dec. 4, 1871.
2. George Earnest, born Dec. 9, 1835.
1. Harry George Earnest.
3. Sarah Catharine Earnest, married William
McCutcheon, a Lieutenant in Civil
War. Died in service.
1. John, living in Wyoming.
4 William James Earnest, born Sept. 21, 1840.
1. Emma. 2. Adda.
5. Jacob Benjamin Earnest, born Mar. 17, 1844.
1. William. 2. Josiah. 3. Elizabeth.
6. Margaret Amanda Earnest, born June 11,
1846, died in 1888. Married Josiah Martz.
No children living.
HENRY EARNEST. 125
Mrs. Sarah C. McCutcheon is the only living child
of Peter Earnest's family, aged 72 years.
Simon, George, William and Jacob, fours sons of
Peter Earnest all enlisted in the Civil War, Two died
in service. The other two came home broken down in
health and died in the prime of life.
Mrs. Margaret E. Price, of Greensburg, Pa., grand
daughter of Henry Earnest says :
"I am a daughter of Catharine Earnest Hawk.
My grand father Earnest often told us how he and
his mother and brother were taken by the Indians, and
the thrilling experiences they had. He was sent out
to gather killdeer's eggs and some times he would be
so very tired he would lie down and fall asleep. Once
when he awoke a very large black snake was close to
his head. He said he was awfully scared and ran
away as fast as he could go.
He told how the Indians tried in every way to keep
him when they were exchanged — had him dressed In-
dian style— a bunch of feathers tied on his head and a
string of beads around his neck."
Mr. M. B. Kettering, of Greensburg, Pa., and Mrs.
Dr. S. P. Earnest of Delmont, Pa., have made it pos-
sible to give this geneology.
Mrs. Margaret E. Price of Greensburg, assisted
also. Through a misunderstanding and sickness John
Earnest's family are not as complete as the others. I
am sorry for this.
Chapter XIII.
MICHAEL EARNEST.
All that is known of Mike — the two year old baby-
boy who was carried to Fort Detroit on his mother's
back, is, that he went West.
Mr. Utley, Librarian at Detroit says "there are so
many Earnests in that city." I have thought that he
might have settled there.
Chapter XIV.
A CLOSING WORD.
In the beginning of this work, I intended to give
the descendants of the hero of the Story, down to about
the great, great grand children, running out a few to show
the number of generations. I thought that far, would
enable all to see where they belonged in the different
lines. To give a complete genealogy of all, down to the
youngest, was more than I cared to undertake. I have
had the experience of all who try to gather such data.
A few persons did not even reply ; others wrote but
hardly gave their names ; while many were so interest-
ed that they gave complete family records and photo-
graphs, and offered to help in any way they could.
"What good does it all do" says one. Is there no good
in knowing what kind of ancestors we have had? The
biography, of good brave and noble ancestors ought to
inspire us to do great things with our opportunities
and advantages. We do not half appreciate the bless-
ings which are ours, made possible only by the hard-
ships and trials of those who have blazed the way in
the past.
And now the work is done — my own part very im-
perfectly executed. It seemed, some times, like gather-
ing jewels from dear old people, as they stood on the
river's brink, looking across to the other shore. I com-
mit to it the descendants of this noble, brave and pa-
tient mother. With the labor, there has been pleasure
in harmonizing the data from the different lines. The
reader will notice the namesakes — Eve.
128 INDIAN EVE.
I have been wondering if there is not some leading
spirit in this large geneology, who will start a move-
ment to erect a suitable memorial to mark the grave of
this good woman. If not soon, it ought to be done in
1915 — the one hundredth anniversary of her death. A
marker there, has been a dream of Mrs. Wm. Phillips.
I hope she may live to realize its fulfillment.
OMISSIONS AND ERRORS.
On page eleven — Thomas Dibert married a Miss
Robb, not Rock. On same page there are two children
of this large family omitted, Isaac Dibert, and a sister
who died from eating wild cherries.
On page fifty-two — Henry Earnest should be David
Earnest, married Leah Reighard, daughter of Conrad
Reighard. Had several sons in the west.
On same page — same family —
7. Daniel Earnest, moved to 111. Died there. Adam
Earnest says "He married Dolly Shull. " So on page
forty-nine I got the wrong Daniel.
On page fifty-five — some of the copies say "Sarah
Fetters." It should read "Sarah Imler. "
On page one hundred and eleven — the names Lucy,
Alice and David, should go above Ruth instead of be-
low.
There are a few other errors.
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