The Albion News
Albion, Pa.
Thursday, May 27, 1971
Have You Noticed
by Chet Harrington
One of the first families to settle in Elk Creek Township were the Ryans.
The original settler was born near Harrisburg, Dauphin Co. in 1777.
In 1819 he purchased 150 acres in Fairview Township, 4 miles south of Fairview, on the flats of Elk Creek. Eventually the big hill became known as "Ryan Hill." We recall hearing men brag about going up that hill without shifting gears.
Mr. Ryan came to Erie County driving a yoke of cattle hitched to a wagon. Reaching the north bank of the creek, he found no place to cross with his outfit. So he un-yoked his cattle and led them down the creek bank. Then he lowered his goods down by rope. Being unable to get the wagon down the bank, he burned the wood off and lowered the irons down the precipice. Later on, as time permitted, he hewed new wood and rebuilt his wagon. James Ryan must have been a very skillful man as he built the first covered bridge over Elk Creek. We are told that it was between 75 and 100 feet in length. The hill was steep and long enough that children sliding down the hill would go the entire length of the bridge on the dry plank.
Like many of our ancestors, James was a veteran of the War of 1812. At the time Mr. Ryan came to this locality all kinds of game roamed the woods. Wolves, bear, deer and small game. Among his seven children was one son, John who became known as "Blanket Ryan." He needed his face covered to be able to carry on a conversation. The story is that his mother, before his birth, saw some Indians coming. She crawled into bed and covered her head. Medical people claim that those occurances are only old wives tales, but hard facts prove otherwise.
Albion, Pa.
Thursday, May 27, 1971
Have You Noticed
by Chet Harrington
One of the first families to settle in Elk Creek Township were the Ryans.
The original settler was born near Harrisburg, Dauphin Co. in 1777.
In 1819 he purchased 150 acres in Fairview Township, 4 miles south of Fairview, on the flats of Elk Creek. Eventually the big hill became known as "Ryan Hill." We recall hearing men brag about going up that hill without shifting gears.
Mr. Ryan came to Erie County driving a yoke of cattle hitched to a wagon. Reaching the north bank of the creek, he found no place to cross with his outfit. So he un-yoked his cattle and led them down the creek bank. Then he lowered his goods down by rope. Being unable to get the wagon down the bank, he burned the wood off and lowered the irons down the precipice. Later on, as time permitted, he hewed new wood and rebuilt his wagon. James Ryan must have been a very skillful man as he built the first covered bridge over Elk Creek. We are told that it was between 75 and 100 feet in length. The hill was steep and long enough that children sliding down the hill would go the entire length of the bridge on the dry plank.
Like many of our ancestors, James was a veteran of the War of 1812. At the time Mr. Ryan came to this locality all kinds of game roamed the woods. Wolves, bear, deer and small game. Among his seven children was one son, John who became known as "Blanket Ryan." He needed his face covered to be able to carry on a conversation. The story is that his mother, before his birth, saw some Indians coming. She crawled into bed and covered her head. Medical people claim that those occurances are only old wives tales, but hard facts prove otherwise.
The Albion News
Albion, Pa.
Thursday, May 27, 1971
Have You Noticed
by Chet Harrington
One of the first families to settle in Elk Creek Township were the Ryans.
The original settler was born near Harrisburg, Dauphin Co. in 1777.
In 1819 he purchased 150 acres in Fairview Township, 4 miles south of Fairview, on the flats of Elk Creek. Eventually the big hill became known as "Ryan Hill." We recall hearing men brag about going up that hill without shifting gears.
Mr. Ryan came to Erie County driving a yoke of cattle hitched to a wagon. Reaching the north bank of the creek, he found no place to cross with his outfit. So he un-yoked his cattle and led them down the creek bank. Then he lowered his goods down by rope. Being unable to get the wagon down the bank, he burned the wood off and lowered the irons down the precipice. Later on, as time permitted, he hewed new wood and rebuilt his wagon. James Ryan must have been a very skillful man as he built the first covered bridge over Elk Creek. We are told that it was between 75 and 100 feet in length. The hill was steep and long enough that children sliding down the hill would go the entire length of the bridge on the dry plank.
Like many of our ancestors, James was a veteran of the War of 1812. At the time Mr. Ryan came to this locality all kinds of game roamed the woods. Wolves, bear, deer and small game. Among his seven children was one son, John who became known as "Blanket Ryan." He needed his face covered to be able to carry on a conversation. The story is that his mother, before his birth, saw some Indians coming. She crawled into bed and covered her head. Medical people claim that those occurances are only old wives tales, but hard facts prove otherwise.
Albion, Pa.
Thursday, May 27, 1971
Have You Noticed
by Chet Harrington
One of the first families to settle in Elk Creek Township were the Ryans.
The original settler was born near Harrisburg, Dauphin Co. in 1777.
In 1819 he purchased 150 acres in Fairview Township, 4 miles south of Fairview, on the flats of Elk Creek. Eventually the big hill became known as "Ryan Hill." We recall hearing men brag about going up that hill without shifting gears.
Mr. Ryan came to Erie County driving a yoke of cattle hitched to a wagon. Reaching the north bank of the creek, he found no place to cross with his outfit. So he un-yoked his cattle and led them down the creek bank. Then he lowered his goods down by rope. Being unable to get the wagon down the bank, he burned the wood off and lowered the irons down the precipice. Later on, as time permitted, he hewed new wood and rebuilt his wagon. James Ryan must have been a very skillful man as he built the first covered bridge over Elk Creek. We are told that it was between 75 and 100 feet in length. The hill was steep and long enough that children sliding down the hill would go the entire length of the bridge on the dry plank.
Like many of our ancestors, James was a veteran of the War of 1812. At the time Mr. Ryan came to this locality all kinds of game roamed the woods. Wolves, bear, deer and small game. Among his seven children was one son, John who became known as "Blanket Ryan." He needed his face covered to be able to carry on a conversation. The story is that his mother, before his birth, saw some Indians coming. She crawled into bed and covered her head. Medical people claim that those occurances are only old wives tales, but hard facts prove otherwise.
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