Luke Swetland's Captivity and Rescue from the Indians: An Early Settler of the Wyoming Valley and a Soldier of the American Revolution by Edward Merrifield

Luke Swetland's Captivity and Rescue from the Indians: An Early Settler of the Wyoming Valley and aby Anonymous

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July 10, 2003: I am a direct descendant of Luke Swetland. I have read Luke's original narrative from a worn and tattered original print my father has had passed down to him. My father has been quite involved with accumulating family history and developing the family tree. I wanted to share with readers a little beyond the book. With that, Luke not only returned to the Wyoming Valley after his ordeals but was quite involved in establishing the Meeting House and various other key parts of the town and it's government at that time. Luke's original home, with additions by his children and grandchildren, still stands and is open to the pubilc for tours. The house itself, tells the tales of history from its original beginnings of the pioneer days of Luke, up to the early 1900's. The Meeting House I mentioned, still stands just down the street from his home. Both are remarkable time capsules that you can step into and be transported back to early-America days. Both structures are located in Forty Fort, PA. Many of the descendants of Luke stayed near the Wyoming Valley area, even over the course of the past several hundred years. Maybe it is the security of knowing that this is where your roots are. Maybe it is the love of family and the land around that still holds strong from Luke himself. Whatever the reason, I believe we all still carry a piece of Luke and his values in our hearts. This book, is a fantastic story of not only his trials and tribulations with the Indians (Native Americans)but a factual historical account of the life and times of settlers to the Pennsylvania frontier at the time. I, and friends whom I've told accounts of Luke's life, are always amazed at the ability and perseverance of Luke even into his later years. There was nothing Luke was not able to achieve when he placed his mind to it. There are many great books by other or of other early American settlers. Each has it's own account of the struggles of those day's. I respect each book and account individulally. However, this book holds a dear spot in my heart and after you read it I believe it will be in your heart as well. There is something we all can learn from Luke and his way of life, love, and liberty.