township of Huntington. It lies on the river, and two creeks force their way through the
mountains to the river, and make the gaps for the farmers to follow in building their roads to
the trading and shipping point, Shickshinny. The first settlements, outside of what is now
Shickshinny borough, was made in the northwest of River mountain, in 1790, by Peter
Gregory and George Fink. These men had married each other's sisters, and had come from
the valley of the Delaware. Where they located was a rich and beautiful valley, on the east
branch of Shickshinny creek, The creek at this point furnished good mill power, and was
soon utilized, as the first sawmills in the township were built on the claims of Gregory and
Fink. Soon after the coming of these men, two other brothers-in-law, Stephen Arnold and
Moses Derby, settled where is now Muhlenburg. They opened their farms, and soon other
friends heard of this excellent place for farmers, and the stream began that has given the
county some of its best farming communities. Commencing in 1793 was the heavy
immigration to this and on to Huntington valley, by the people mostly from Connecticut. The
early settlers came mostly on sleds, and at the season of the year when they could cross the
many streams on the ice, following the old Indian paths and after the "blazed" roads. In
1797 Stephen Roberts settled about midway between the above named settlements, and
shortly Marvins, Culvers and Shaws were making pleasant homes in the wilderness. About
the same time the families of James Van Scoter (now called Benscoter) and his sons,
Anthony and John, also three then unmarried sons, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, were added
to the Dutch settlement; all left numerous descendants. About the same time also the
Bellas, Davenport, Hans, Muchler, Huff and Cragle families were added.In 1799 William
Moore, an Irishman from Maryland, with a large family, settled at the place known as
Mooretown. His descendants still own the farm. A grand daughter, Mrs. John Harned,
remained there. The Huffman, Harned, Post, Bonham, Wolfe, Johnson and Santee families
came soon after 1800, and nearly all homes then formed are still retained in the families of
descendants. December 24, 1801, Shadrach Austin, a son of the first occupant of
Shickshinny, married Mary Gregory , daughter of Peter Gregory, Sr., and bought the
present Austin homestead, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a teacher and a
leader among his neighbors, and during a long, active life "Uncle Shadrach" was almost
universally spoken of as an examplar worthy of imitation. He was born July 12, 1770, and
died December 26, 1850.