Fort Piper was an American Revolution Era settler's fort in the Yellow Creek Valley in Bedford County, Pennsylvania.[1] The fort was built under the direction of John Piper (1729–1816), who was a member of the Pennsylvania militia.[2]
Background
editIn around 1771 Colonel John Piper settled in the Yellow Creek Valley where upon the south end of Black Oak Ridge, he constructed a log fort for the protection of himself and the local settlers. He came to the area as Lieutenant Colonel of the county during the Revolutionary War and was active in the protection of the local settlements from hostile Indian attacks. A period of time after the construction of the wooden fort, Colonel Piper constructed a two story stone dwelling and it is said that settlers fled there for refuge during hostilities. This became known as Fort Piper and still stands of this present day in remarkable condition.
Location and construction
editThe site of this fort is in Pennsylvania's Hopewell Township six miles northwest of Everett and in the center of Yellow Creek Valley.
References
edit- ^ Lois Mulkearn; Edwin V. Pugh (15 June 1954). A Traveler's Guide to Historic Western Pennsylvania. University of Pittsburgh Pre. pp. 146–. ISBN 978-0-8229-7531-1.
- ^ "John Piper". Senate Historical Biographies. Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
- Report of the Commission to Locate the Site of the Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, Clarence M. Busch, State Printer of Pennsylvania, 1896.
- “The Frontier Forts in the Cumberland and Juniata Valleys,” Jay Gilfillan Weiser, pp. 490–491.
- Bedford County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/~bedford/)