AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A PENNSYLVANIAN
the country at the time said he had inherited some of his characteristics from Indian ancestors, and only within the last few years I have discovered original contemporary evidence that one of the Lenni Lenape employed about the iron works at Coventry, in Chester County, in 1726, bore the name of “Indian John Hickman.” Whatever may have been the truth or want of truth of this story, the bit of romance detracted nothing from his influence. We were all proud of him and of the reputation he had won, and when we saw a reference to him in a journal published so far away as New York, or mayhap Boston, we felt a sense of reflected importance. More than once the thought came to me that if ever I could be of consequence enough to be sent to Congress the ambitions of life would be sated. At the next congressional election there were three candidates—a Lecompton Democrat; Hickman, the anti-Lecompton Democrat, and John M. Broomall, the regular Republican. Most of the Republicans supported Hickman and he was re-elected. The contest grew very bitter. On one occasion the Democrats of Tunnel Hill concluded to erect a pole on the south side of the creek, near the Eight Square school-house. It was regarded as a sort of invasion. The pole, of huge proportions, consisting of a heavy tree for a butt and a long sapling for a top, lay on the ground ready to be spliced and erected the next morning. Suspicious of trouble, a selected squad of those interested came to keep watch. The night turned out to be dark, cold and wet and the watchmen sought the shelter of the school-house, where, perhaps, they had something to provide for warmth and comfort. When morning dawned the top of the pole had disappeared entirely, and the butt was found bored through with auger holes. The top had been carried to the Schuylkill and thrown into the river. So far as I know no contemporary whisper hinted at those who indulged in this escapade, but among the participants were Richard Denithorne, Ashenfelter and myself.
