Information from the SESQUICENTENNIAL EDITION of 150 Years of service of The Washington Reporter of Washington, Pa. August 15, 1958. The First Settler at CATFISH CAMP , village was named Catfish Camp after Delaware Indian whom the first white settlers found camped with a few followers at a large stream on the site of the present city. His name was TIGOOQUA, the meaning which in all probability it was "Catfish" He is referred to as a chief, a leader of the Delores. The name was probably applied by the whites for some reason connected with the finny known as catfish. The whites evidently gave it this name because of the Indian Chief , they had dubbed with that name lived on it's headwaters. It is hard to realize that Washington was ever anything else but a few scattered log cabins and some Indian wigwams clustered around a spring at what is now the corner of South Main and Maiden streets. THE FIRST SETTLER AT CATFISH CAMP The question is often asked "who was the first settler at what is now Washington?" There is no doubt the he was WILLIAM HUSTON. The date of his settlement is not known, but he was here on April 29, 1774, for on that night GEORGE ROGERS CLARK, CAPTAIN MICHAEL CRESAP and several other Fountiersmen on their way from Wheeling to Redstone Old Fort (modern Brownsville) stopped at the cabin of WILLIAM HUSTON. This cabin was located at a strong spring in the rear of the present Fifth Ward school in East Maiden Street. The statement made by General Clark that HUSTON was the only white resident is proof that he was the first white settler. The original records in the Recorder's office show that a tract of land of 4391/2 acres, called "HUSTON'S PLEASURE," was surveyed and conveyed to WILLIAM HUSTON on December 1, 1785, but unfortunately these old warrants seldom give the date of actual settlement. WILLIAM HUSTON was here in 1774 was proven by George Rogers Clark, who on June 17, 1798 wrote an account of the events that led to Dunmore's War of 1774, one of which was the massacre of Chief Logan's people by a party of whites led by DANIEL GREATHOUSE Young George Rogers Clark, who later conquered the Northwest during the Revolution, was on his way down the Ohio with a party bound for Kentucky when they heard that an Indian war was about to break out. It is interesting to note at this point that the first white child born in Washington when it was called Catfish Camp was ANN HUSTON, a daughter of WILLIAM HUSTON, ( this is what I am seeking for the other children of William Huston) the first settler. She married: JOHN BOLLEN, a shoemaker, and lived in South Main Street, below Maiden, until 1811, when they moved to Amwell Township. Mrs. P.H. YORKE of Lemoyne Avenue is a lineal decendent. LATER HISTORY OF HUSTON'S LAND More interesting history of Old Washington town centers around the HUSTON land. Later, probably some time in the 1790's (the date is not certain) WILLIAM HUSTON erected the central portion of what is now Cowieson Funeral Home at 395 East Maiden Street. It was standing in 1801, for on January 20, 1801, William Huston conveyed it to his son, HAMILTON HUSTON. WILLIAM HUSTON, the first settler of Washington died there in the late in 1802, or in January of 1803, for his will was probated January 24, 1803 Thanks to all of you in advance, Our children are living messages we send to a time and place we will never see. Lori :) in Arizona formally from Washington, Pa. CHUCKLE: Car trouble when the engine won't start and payments won't stop. ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour