On Hundred Years Ago The First Settlers of Robinson Township.--Indian Massacres.--A Most Interesting and Hitherto Unpublished Account of Early Days Hereabouts. (Written for the Outlook by a lady who has access to the records.) A wise teacher gave this advice to his pupils: When studying history, always begin from your own doorstep, and study outwards in a circle. This sage bit of advice suggests the inquiry, how much do we know in regard to the early settlement of our own township? How many of us can trace its primitive history back to its earliest existence? Donning my thinking cap, and being somewhat of an antiquarian, I found I was in possession of some of the doorstep history which perhaps may be of interest to some of your readers. As far as I can ascertain, the first white persons who made a permanent settlement within its borders were a Mr. BIGGER and family, who came from the northern part of Ireland, and located on the land now owned by his grandson, Mathew BIGGER, near Robinson Church, in the year 1774. Here, unaided except from helf given by a faithful wife, he succeeded in erecting a log cabin, clearing two acres of land which he planted in corn and potatoes. For six months he was not awar that he had a neighbor nearer than Fort Pitt, although there were at that time a few families living on Miller's Run. Salt and other necessary articles being exhausted, Mr. BIGGER was obliged to leave his wife and child alone in this boundless forest,with no protection save the all seeing eye of the Almighty Father, during his absence. Then supplies could not be obtained west of the Alleghenies, therefore six weeks elapsed before he could return with the much needed supplies. The next year they were joined by the BAILEY Brothers and their families, also from the northern part of Ireland, who located nearby. Their descendents still occupy the land. As far as I can ascertain, these two families formed the nucleus for the first settlement in Robinson township. The Indians, who heretofore had been peacefully inclined, after the capture of Fort Duquesne by the English, were incited by the French to deeds of crulty against the English settlers. While William BAILEY (one of the brothers of whom mention has already been made), with two brothers, SHEARER by name, and a Mr. MCNEILY, were reaping wheat on the farm now owned by Mark KESLO, they ere attacked by a band of Indians. The SHEARER brothers were both killed. MCNEILY ran up the run, and was killed near the line between the REED farm and that of Jas. DONALDSON. William BAILEY ran down the run to Robert GEARY's farm, being favored with much length of limb, would have escaped, had the! bank not given away while jumping the run precipitating him backwards into the run when he was captured. The Indians started across the country to the Ohio river wit their prisoners. Word was immediately sent to Fort Pitt, and a rescuing party was sent down the river on the opposite side, where they lay in ambush, to capture them when they landed. But the sharp eyes of the Indians penetrated their hiding place, and they immediately turned their canoe and made for the opposite shore. The soldiers opened fire upon them, killing many of them. The Indian who had Mr. BAILEY in his bark canoe being shot, he upset it, oping to drown him as his hands were tied behind his back and a rope around his neck which was made fast to the canoe. Fortunately as it went over his hands became unloosed, and being a good swimmer he struck out for his friends, but could make but little headway with the canoe fast to his neck. The Indians on reaching the shore made him a target for their ar! rows. Two soldiers swam out and rescued him from his perilous conditi on in an almost exhausted condition. He was taken to Fort Pitt and was soon back in his old home. The SHEARER brothers were buried north of BEELER's fort, in what is now Candor cemetery. BEELER's Fort took its name from the farm on which it stood. The farm is now owned by the WORK Brothers. During the Indian troubles the BIGGER family took refuge in a fort on Miller's Run. While in this fort Mr. BIGGER's mother died, and was brought for burial to the same place the SHEARERs were laid, this locality being selected by Mr. BIGGER as the place where he supposed the church of the future would be locate. In Candor cemetery, you may find this grave protected by a stone slab in a good state of preservation, bearing the date, May 20th, 1780. Two years afterward, or in 1782, Raccoon Presbyterian Church was organized. A log church was built near the site of the old fort. Seven acres of ground surrounding it including the cemetery wer purchased for 9 pounds specie. This was t! he only church within the township until 1888 at which time Robinson U. P. Church was organized. The first pastor, Rev. Joseph PATTERSON was installed Nov. 11th, 1789. In the southeastern part of the township, not far distand from the town of McDonald was an Indian trading post; also a fort. Both on the Edward MCDONALD farm. In this fort the early settlers in that locality would take refuge when danger threatened. The only families of which I have any knowledge, whose ancestors found protection within its walls,is that of the ROBBs, who are well represented at the present time in the same locality. Nearly 120 years ago, at early dawn, their stalwart forms might have been seen issuing from this their city of refuge, and wending their way with rapid strides up Robbs's Run, not to post themselves as to the projunction of the last new oil well, but with bated breath and anxious eye they pressed forward not knowing but what their wary foes might have consigned their ... cabins to ashes, and laid waste to emerging corn and potatoes, the ...