Catherine Smith was a settler on White Deer Creek. Left a widow with many children and no means of support, she borrowed money in 1776 and built two mills. Her son enlisted during the Indian War and never returned. In 1779 invading Indians burned her mills, she fled with her children. When she returned, she rebuilt. What finally defeated her? Not war, fire, invasion, taxes or death of her husband and son...but the Company of Claypole & Morris, claiming a prior right to the land. Years of litigation she could not afford; she walked to Philadelphia and back 13 times. With no funds left for a continued fight, they took her land. Her grave site was leveled by a plow and later her bones were damaged by digging. It was the opinion of many that a gross injustice was done to her by those that administered the law.