In the fall of 1755 a certain Mr. Andrew Lycans settled on a tract of about 200 acres situated on the northerly side of the Whiconescong Creek, neat the present site of Loyalton, a few yards north of the bridge that crosses the Wiconisco Creek.
Until the spring of 1756 these pioneers were not disturbed in their homes, however following Braddock's defeat in that year, everywhere along the frontier the savages began their work of devastation and death. Their implacable cruelty was stimulated by the French promising a reward for scalps and being put into possession of their lands.
On the morning of the 7th of March 1756, Andrew Lycans and John Rewalt went out early to fodder their cattle, when two guns were fired on them. Neither being harmed, they ran into the house and prepared themselves for defense in case of an attack. The Indians then got under cover of a hog house near the dwelling house, then John Lycans, a son of Andrew, John Rewalt and Ludwig Shott, crept out of the house in order to get a shot at them, but were fired upon by the savages and all were wounded, the latter (Shott) in the abdomen. At this time Andrew Lycans saw one of the Indians over at the hog house, and also two white men getting out of the same and running at a little distance from it. Upon this, Lycans and his party attempted to escape, but were pursued by about 16 Indians. John Lycans and Rewalt, being badly injured and not being able to do anything, with a Negro who was with them, made off, leaving Andrew Lycans, Shott, and a boy to engage with the Indians. The savages pursued them so closely that one of them coming up to the boy was going to strike his tomahawk into him, when Andrew Lycans turned and shot him dead, while Shott killed two more and wounded several others in addition. At last being exhausted and wounded, they sat down on a log to rest themselves; but the Indians were somewhat cautious, and stood some distance from them and consequently returned to look after their own wounded. Lycans and all his party managed to get over to Hanover Township where they were properly cared for. Here, Andrew Lycans died, leaving a wife and six children.
It is not known when the Lycans family with the other settlers returned to their homes in the Wiconisco Valley, but it was not until all danger was over, and although on a number of occasions they were obliged to leave all and flee before the marauding savages, yet the one alluded to, was the only occasion where they so narrowly escaped with their lives. Mrs. James Lycans in February 1765, had a patent issued to her for the land on which her husband had located. The Lycans cabin stood until about the year 1863 on the McClure farm, now owned by Josiah Hoover. Ludwig Shott died about 1790, and left a large family; with some of his descendents remaining in the valley.
Andrew Lycans has given his name to the beautiful valley of the Wiconisco, owing perchance to the terrible encounter with the Indians as narrated. The orthography has been changed with the last some years, but the reason therefore has not been learned. Whether Lykens or Lycans it is trusted that no attempt be ever made to deprive the first pioneer of the name, which has been appropriately given to it.
Until the spring of 1756 these pioneers were not disturbed in their homes, however following Braddock's defeat in that year, everywhere along the frontier the savages began their work of devastation and death. Their implacable cruelty was stimulated by the French promising a reward for scalps and being put into possession of their lands.
On the morning of the 7th of March 1756, Andrew Lycans and John Rewalt went out early to fodder their cattle, when two guns were fired on them. Neither being harmed, they ran into the house and prepared themselves for defense in case of an attack. The Indians then got under cover of a hog house near the dwelling house, then John Lycans, a son of Andrew, John Rewalt and Ludwig Shott, crept out of the house in order to get a shot at them, but were fired upon by the savages and all were wounded, the latter (Shott) in the abdomen. At this time Andrew Lycans saw one of the Indians over at the hog house, and also two white men getting out of the same and running at a little distance from it. Upon this, Lycans and his party attempted to escape, but were pursued by about 16 Indians. John Lycans and Rewalt, being badly injured and not being able to do anything, with a Negro who was with them, made off, leaving Andrew Lycans, Shott, and a boy to engage with the Indians. The savages pursued them so closely that one of them coming up to the boy was going to strike his tomahawk into him, when Andrew Lycans turned and shot him dead, while Shott killed two more and wounded several others in addition. At last being exhausted and wounded, they sat down on a log to rest themselves; but the Indians were somewhat cautious, and stood some distance from them and consequently returned to look after their own wounded. Lycans and all his party managed to get over to Hanover Township where they were properly cared for. Here, Andrew Lycans died, leaving a wife and six children.
It is not known when the Lycans family with the other settlers returned to their homes in the Wiconisco Valley, but it was not until all danger was over, and although on a number of occasions they were obliged to leave all and flee before the marauding savages, yet the one alluded to, was the only occasion where they so narrowly escaped with their lives. Mrs. James Lycans in February 1765, had a patent issued to her for the land on which her husband had located. The Lycans cabin stood until about the year 1863 on the McClure farm, now owned by Josiah Hoover. Ludwig Shott died about 1790, and left a large family; with some of his descendents remaining in the valley.
Andrew Lycans has given his name to the beautiful valley of the Wiconisco, owing perchance to the terrible encounter with the Indians as narrated. The orthography has been changed with the last some years, but the reason therefore has not been learned. Whether Lykens or Lycans it is trusted that no attempt be ever made to deprive the first pioneer of the name, which has been appropriately given to it.
In the fall of 1755 a certain Mr. Andrew Lycans settled on a tract of about 200 acres situated on the northerly side of the Whiconescong Creek, neat the present site of Loyalton, a few yards north of the bridge that crosses the Wiconisco Creek.
Until the spring of 1756 these pioneers were not disturbed in their homes, however following Braddock's defeat in that year, everywhere along the frontier the savages began their work of devastation and death. Their implacable cruelty was stimulated by the French promising a reward for scalps and being put into possession of their lands.
On the morning of the 7th of March 1756, Andrew Lycans and John Rewalt went out early to fodder their cattle, when two guns were fired on them. Neither being harmed, they ran into the house and prepared themselves for defense in case of an attack. The Indians then got under cover of a hog house near the dwelling house, then John Lycans, a son of Andrew, John Rewalt and Ludwig Shott, crept out of the house in order to get a shot at them, but were fired upon by the savages and all were wounded, the latter (Shott) in the abdomen. At this time Andrew Lycans saw one of the Indians over at the hog house, and also two white men getting out of the same and running at a little distance from it. Upon this, Lycans and his party attempted to escape, but were pursued by about 16 Indians. John Lycans and Rewalt, being badly injured and not being able to do anything, with a Negro who was with them, made off, leaving Andrew Lycans, Shott, and a boy to engage with the Indians. The savages pursued them so closely that one of them coming up to the boy was going to strike his tomahawk into him, when Andrew Lycans turned and shot him dead, while Shott killed two more and wounded several others in addition. At last being exhausted and wounded, they sat down on a log to rest themselves; but the Indians were somewhat cautious, and stood some distance from them and consequently returned to look after their own wounded. Lycans and all his party managed to get over to Hanover Township where they were properly cared for. Here, Andrew Lycans died, leaving a wife and six children.
It is not known when the Lycans family with the other settlers returned to their homes in the Wiconisco Valley, but it was not until all danger was over, and although on a number of occasions they were obliged to leave all and flee before the marauding savages, yet the one alluded to, was the only occasion where they so narrowly escaped with their lives. Mrs. James Lycans in February 1765, had a patent issued to her for the land on which her husband had located. The Lycans cabin stood until about the year 1863 on the McClure farm, now owned by Josiah Hoover. Ludwig Shott died about 1790, and left a large family; with some of his descendents remaining in the valley.
Andrew Lycans has given his name to the beautiful valley of the Wiconisco, owing perchance to the terrible encounter with the Indians as narrated. The orthography has been changed with the last some years, but the reason therefore has not been learned. Whether Lykens or Lycans it is trusted that no attempt be ever made to deprive the first pioneer of the name, which has been appropriately given to it.
Until the spring of 1756 these pioneers were not disturbed in their homes, however following Braddock's defeat in that year, everywhere along the frontier the savages began their work of devastation and death. Their implacable cruelty was stimulated by the French promising a reward for scalps and being put into possession of their lands.
On the morning of the 7th of March 1756, Andrew Lycans and John Rewalt went out early to fodder their cattle, when two guns were fired on them. Neither being harmed, they ran into the house and prepared themselves for defense in case of an attack. The Indians then got under cover of a hog house near the dwelling house, then John Lycans, a son of Andrew, John Rewalt and Ludwig Shott, crept out of the house in order to get a shot at them, but were fired upon by the savages and all were wounded, the latter (Shott) in the abdomen. At this time Andrew Lycans saw one of the Indians over at the hog house, and also two white men getting out of the same and running at a little distance from it. Upon this, Lycans and his party attempted to escape, but were pursued by about 16 Indians. John Lycans and Rewalt, being badly injured and not being able to do anything, with a Negro who was with them, made off, leaving Andrew Lycans, Shott, and a boy to engage with the Indians. The savages pursued them so closely that one of them coming up to the boy was going to strike his tomahawk into him, when Andrew Lycans turned and shot him dead, while Shott killed two more and wounded several others in addition. At last being exhausted and wounded, they sat down on a log to rest themselves; but the Indians were somewhat cautious, and stood some distance from them and consequently returned to look after their own wounded. Lycans and all his party managed to get over to Hanover Township where they were properly cared for. Here, Andrew Lycans died, leaving a wife and six children.
It is not known when the Lycans family with the other settlers returned to their homes in the Wiconisco Valley, but it was not until all danger was over, and although on a number of occasions they were obliged to leave all and flee before the marauding savages, yet the one alluded to, was the only occasion where they so narrowly escaped with their lives. Mrs. James Lycans in February 1765, had a patent issued to her for the land on which her husband had located. The Lycans cabin stood until about the year 1863 on the McClure farm, now owned by Josiah Hoover. Ludwig Shott died about 1790, and left a large family; with some of his descendents remaining in the valley.
Andrew Lycans has given his name to the beautiful valley of the Wiconisco, owing perchance to the terrible encounter with the Indians as narrated. The orthography has been changed with the last some years, but the reason therefore has not been learned. Whether Lykens or Lycans it is trusted that no attempt be ever made to deprive the first pioneer of the name, which has been appropriately given to it.
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