ISAAC J. DEEDS is a worthy descendant of a well-known pioneer family. He is a son of Isaac Deeds and a grandson of Andrew Deeds. Andrew Deeds was born January 1, 1760, in eastern Pennsylvania, and came to Washington county, settling on the Dutch fork of Buffalo creek, in Donegal township, about two and three-quarters miles north of Coon Island. He was of German descent, and among the first pioneers of this county. Andrew Deeds was married to Mary Miller, who was born June 20, 1760, in eastern Pennsylvania, a daughter of Jacob Miller, coming with her parents to Donegal township, this county. Her father, Jacob Miller, was of German birth, and, immigrating with his wife to America, was among the early settlers on Dutch fork of Buffalo creek. Jacob Miller and a neighbor, John Hupp, were both killed on Easter Sunday, 1782. They started together to visit a friend, not knowing that a party of Indians had raided in, as was their custom in the springtime and autumn. Miller and Hupp had nearly arrived at their friend's house, when suddenly they were met by the savage redskins in the path that led through the lonely and uncultivated forest, and, mid the yells and savage shrieks of the painted Indians, they were killed and scalped. Soon the news came to the few settlers that the Indians were making a raid among them, and they all left their homes and made a speedy effort to seek safety in the Miller blockhouse. Soon the few settlers who had succeeded in gaining the blockhouse were surrounded by a party of about seventy Shawanese Indians, and almost without any ammunition, and totally without provisions to eat. The wives of Miller and Hupp were among those who escaped to the fort, and they there prepared ammunition to keep off the Indians. At this moment the latter, leaping from their concealment, appeared in every direction around the blockhouse, and a hot and continuous firing commenced. The female band, in despair and anguish, were forced to the conclusion that the blockhouse would now soon be taken by storm, or envelop them in its flames; and, with no hope of a successful resistance, were about to give up. In this crisis of terrible emergency, but with the consoling language of hope, and with courage sufficiently unfaltering for the dire emergency, Providence panoplied those female heroines with daring courage. And then, nerving their arms and steeling their hearts to the severe duties of the moment, they, snatching up their rifles, fired at the approaching savages, and then ran from porthole to porthole, protruding the muzzles in different directions to convey the idea of a great force in the house, at each presentation causing the savages to cower behind trees or other objects for protection. This executed strategy of these pioneer heroines without doubt saved the few inmates from an immediate and horrible death. The Indians, evident ly filled with chagrin and disappointment, skulked about the blockhouse till nightfall, and then a few of them left during the night, bearing away with them the scalps of Miller and Hupp. The loss of these two men to the neighborhood was severely felt at a time when men were so much needed; but all hearts in that blockhouse were overflowing with thankfulness and gratitude to a kind and merciful Preserver for vouchsafing to them His aid and protection when their great and terror-filling peril was impending, and saving them from the ruthless hands of the merciless and bloodthirsty savages.
With sad and anxious hearts the wives of Miller and Hupp lived in hopes that their loving husbands would soon arrive in safety at the blockhouse, not knowing then that they were massacred by the savage Indians; so the lifeless bodies of Miller and Hupp remained for several days where they had been left by the Indians. By and by some friends and a few settlers, concluding it was safe to leave the fort, with cautious steps and armed with a few guns, set out in search of Miller and Hupp, whose bodies they found less than one-half mile north of the fort, on a ridge in a small path that led through the dense forest. (The field is now owned by Clint Miller). They brought the lifeless bodies to the Miller blockhouse, and prepared them for burial. They were interred in one grave, few yards from the block-house, and placed side by side, each body being wrapped in sheet, without any coffin, and some rude puncheons were placed around them in their grave. There was no time for the mourners to prepare a box or coffin for their departed friends, as they did not know how soon the Indians might surround them, and kill or take them all prisoners. And in that ancient and lonely graveyard today are lying, clustered around the graves of these two pioneers, the remains of Jacob Klow, Jacob Miller, Jr., Fredrick Miller, Ann Hupp and her daughter Margaret Titus, and other friends. Fredrick and Capt. Jacob were sons of the unfortunate Jacob Miller, Sr. Fredrick died on March 27, 1814, aged forty-three years, and Capt. Jacob Miller died August 20, 1830, aged sixty-eight years. The graveyard where those heroes are buried is situated a few yards from Clint Miller's residence, in a ravine near the waters of Little Buffalo creek. This is one illustrative incident of pioneer life.
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Deeds had the following family of children: Adam, Jacob, John, Isaac, Catherine and Mary. After his marriage Mr. Deeds located on a farm adjoining the "Old Miller blockhouse tract of land." He passed the remainder of his life on the farm, dying December 5, 1831, and was followed by his wife October 15, 1842. He was an industrious man, and accumulated a considerable property.
Isaac Deeds, the youngest son of Andrew Deeds, was born August 12, 1800, on the farm in Donegal township, passing his younger days in assisting his father, and attending the subscription schools. He remained at home until after the death of his father, an'l took care of his mother. On November 15, 1832, he was united in marriage with Sarah Rodgers, who was born September 8,1809, daughter of Francis and Elizabeth (Hupp) Rodgers, the latter being the daughter of John Hupp. They had two childien, Belle and Isnac j. Mr. Deeds passed the first years of married life on his father's farm, devoting his time to agriculture, and dealing extensively in stock. He afterward purchased and moved upon the "Abe Miller" tract of land, adjoining the old Deeds farm. Mr. Deeds was a very successful, sagacious business man, and eventually became one of the largest landholders in Donegal township. Politically, he was originally a Whig, afterward becoming a Republican. He died September 26, 1886, having been preceded by his wife May 12, 1842. Their two children, Isaac J. and Belle, are living on the home farm. Isaac J. is an active member of the Republican party.
Text taken from page 529 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed August 1997 by Jean Suplick Matuson of Plano, TX as part of the Beers Project.
Published August 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]