The Van Valkenburgs and Stropes, the second permanent settlers in Bradford County, were of Holland descent. In 1773 they emigrated from Catskill on the Hudson and located first at Indian Meadows in Wyalusing where they remained until early in 1776 when, having purchased a right in the Susquehanna Company, they came to Wysox and located on the west side of Wysox creek near its mouth. These settlers consisted of Isaac VanValkenburg, his wife (Jennette Clement), brother, Herman VanValkenburg (a bachelor), three daughters, Eva (unmarried), Mrs. Sebastian Strope and Mrs. John Strope, their husbands and children. Here in the wilderness these hardy Dutch lived, struggled and prospered until 1778 when on the 20th of May they were surprised by a band of Indians who, after burning their house and driving off their cattle, carried all into captivity with the exception of Sebastian Strope who had started for Wyoming.

While the destruction of their articles were going on, old Mr. VanValkenburg had taken possession of his Bible, a large, heavily bound book, and holding to it with great care, an Indian snatched it from his arms and flung it into the fire. The old man at once sprung forward and pulled it from the flames, carried it with him through all his journeying, and it is now preserved, bearing the marks of the fire, as an heir-loom in the family. The men were separated and sent to various parts of Canada. The women and children were kept for some time about Tioga Point, Niagara and Montreal. After nearly three years arrangements were made for their exchange, which was effected near White Hall, N. Y. Here they were met by Sebastian Strope and the whole family except John Strope who was not included in the cartel, were re-united and returned to their old home on the Hudson. In 1784, Sebastian Strope and his son returned to Wysox, rebuilt their house, planted corn and potatoes, and in the Fall the rest of the family gathered on the old spot to begin life anew. Here Mr. and Mrs. Isaac VanValkenburg died a few years after their return. Herman VanValkenburg is believed to have died in Wysox before the captivity of the family.

Sebastian Strope, who had married Lydia VanValkenburg, joined the patriot army in defense of the common interest, was engaged at the battle of Wyoming and escaped from the fearful massacre by hiding in a patch of thistles which had grown up in an old stack-yard. He was a fearful and silent spectator of the butchery of Lieutenant Shoemaker by the Tory Windecker after he had promised his unfortunate victim quarter. Mr. Strope died in Wysox, June 4, 1805, aged 70 years. His neighbors bore testimony to his worth and integrity as a man and citizen. Mrs. Strope was killed by a fall from a wagon about 1814. The children of Sebastian and Lydia Strope were:

Henry married Catharine, daughter of Rudolph Fox. Henry died in Ohio and Catharine died in Wysox. Their children were Lydia (Mrs. George Scott), Catharine (Mrs. Robert Hewitt), Jane (Mrs. Jared Leavenworth), Dollie (Mrs. Ebenezer Stevens), Mary A. (Mrs. William Hart), Henry (married Fanny Keeler);

John, in 1801, married Eleanor, daughter of Rudolph Fox, and removed to Ohio;

Isaac married Lucy White--children, Deborah, Isaac, John and Miner--having lost his wife, he sold his farm in Wysox and died in 1861 at an advanced age with his son, Miner, in Wisconsin;

Mary married Henry Tuttle of Wysox;

Jane married first Jeremiah White, and second Mr. Whittaker of Owego, N. Y.;

Elizabeth married first Mr. Vanhorn, second William F. Dininger, and removed West;

Hannah was drowned with her sister-in-law, Mrs. Isaac Strope, while going down the river in a canoe.

John Strope, who married a daughter of Isaac VanValkenburg and whose wife and children had been taken with him in captivity, at the close of the war was released, then he returned to Wysox. He was known as "Big John" Strope, a man of large frame and indomitable will, and suffered the persecutions of his tormentors like a martyr. When he returned, his person showed scars and callosities made by the tortures he had endured. In 1790, Mr. Strope's family consisted of himself, wife, one son and three daughters. The son, Isaac, married Abigail ----, settled in Rome Township and had children, Henry, William, Alfred, Isaac, Samuel, Elisha, Rachel (Mrs. Nathaniel Bennett), Deborah (Mrs. Michael Russell), Polly (Mrs. Enos Bennett), Margaret (Mrs. John Parks) and Millie (Mrs. Godfrey Eiklor). Of Isaac's three sisters, we have no further record.