Miller's Blockhouse Traditional Cache
Keystone: As the owner has not responded to my prior note, I am archiving this cache page.
Regards,
Keystone
Geocaching.com Community Volunteer Reviewer
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Miller's Blockhouse
Along the Dutch Fork of Buffalo Creek, near Miller's Run is a small family cemetery. In this cemetery are buried the remains of courageous pioneer families who settled here in the late 1700's.
Christopher Miller came to Donegal Township in the early 1780's from east of the Allegheny mountains to stake a Tomahawk claim of 400 acres near the headwaters of Buck Run. He set about the task of building a new cabin home and clearing his land.
Raids by Indian warriors were frequent in the area, so Mr. Miller and his few neighbors joined in the construction of a a block house to afford themselves a place of refuge from those who would do them harm.
Easter morning in 1782 the peaceful solitude was broken by the sound of rifle fire and war hoops of Shawanese indians to the northeast of the blockhouse. Jacob Miller Sr. and John Hupp Sr. had headed off into those same woods just a short time before in search of a colt gone missing.
The blockhouse, now occupied by several women, children, and an elderly gentleman, Mr. Ault, soon came under attack by an estimated seventy Shawanese. Panic and confusion overwhelmed the residents, who felt helpless and hopless amongst the relentless assault.
A heroine arose from among them, a strong spirited woman named Ann Hupp, who brought encouragement and hope to the residents. Ann, the wife of John Hupp Sr., whom she now feared dead, sprang forth rifle in hand to defend the blockhouse. She held back the attackers, by running porthole to porthole firing upon the Shawanese, creating the impression of a stronger force. Relief finally came when Jacob Rowe, Jacob Miller Jr., and Philip Hupp returned from neighboring Rice's Fort three miles down Buffalo Creek. After the arrival of the men, the Shawanese gunfire grew less and less as the hours passed, and eventually ended.
The Shawanese withdrew during the night. The following day the men ventured into the woods where the bodies of Jacob Miller Sr. and John Hupp Sr. were recovered and later buried near the blockhouse.
In the cemetery today lie the remains of John Hupp, Sr., Jacob Miller Sr., his wife Mary Miller, their sons Capt. John Jacob Miller Jr., Capt. Frederick Miller, the heroine Ann Rowe Hupp May, her daughter Margaret Titus, and Jacob Rowe among other early settlers.
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