Pioneer Life: Thirty Years A Hunter by Philip Tome

Ever wonder what The Keystone State looked like before it was truly settled? Well, before the canals were built, the towns took shape, the mines were established, and the highways dissected it – things looked very different. This is the true wildnerness that Philip Tome invites us to explore in his autobiographical work, Pioneer Life: Thirty Years A Hunter. Prepare to see PA through his detailed writings as we can’t even imagine it – totally untamed, extremely wild, and viciously dangerous.

A quick admin note that should be mentioned before we get into the thick of it. The version of this book that I ordered on Amazon.com is of the historical reproduction variety. That is to say it was printed in PA’s former beach front property (Delaware), by no named entity, the same month I ordered it. That makes it a bare-bones publishing that doesn’t have a lot of attention to presentation value. This means a serious lack of editing. There are obvious, and sometimes confusing, spelling errors, odd spacing choices, random punctuation, and issues with structure. While this may drive someone with OCD up a wall, most of us will be able to ignore and/or find amusement in these foibles. I wish I could give some page numbers for examples but I can’t – there are none. But trust me, it will not detract from Tome’s conveyance of his extreme hunting experiences.

With that out of the way, here’s a sampling of Tome’s encounter with a bear to whet your appetite: “He raised himself on his hind feet, uttered a savage growl and rushed furiously towards me. I ran to the logs, caught up my axe and sprang upon a pair of timber wheels, which were eleven feet high. Before springing upon the wheels I looked around and saw him close at my heels. I raised my axe, intending to plunge it into his brain; but in the excitement missed my aim and the struck his feet which caused him to give another cry of pain.”

Stories like these are recounted throughout the book as Tome (1782-1855) covers his life as a professional hunter. Born near Harrisburg, he travelled further north and west with his family as a boy into the depths of the PA wilds. This was a time when wolves, panthers, and elk were common sightings and the environment was in its intended state. Interactions with native tribes, for good or for ill, were part of the lifestyle of a pioneer in the Commonwealth at the time. While at times his stories may seem fantastic to our modern sensibilities, it’s important to try and understand the context of life at this time while also taking his stories like any other hunter’s – with allowance for a little embellishment.

Part of the backdrop of his life story is the understanding that, as a professional hunter during this era, there were no regulations, seasons, bag limits, or restrictions on sale of wild game. While that may seem like a fantasy for many of us, the body counts that Tome and his fellow hunters racked up are staggering. When considering that this is one man in an isolated part of the state, it becomes clear how several of our native species were wiped out over a relatively short period of history. There was no malice or wastefulness in what he was doing, “I never wantonly killed an animal when I could gain nothing by its destruction.” But this style of hunting ultimately was not sustainable. Additionally, his account of the abundance of a native species like the American Eel highlights how the progress of man can significantly impact entire ecosystems. That being said – prepare to be amazed at some of the stats he records for posterity!

One of the recurring hunts in the book are excursions to capture a live bull elk, “The lords of the forest.” Tome’s father accomplished this feat when he was younger and so he knew it could be done. As he progresses as a master hunter, many doubt the story and even place hefty wagers on whether or not he can manage such an endeavor. It took quality dogs, hired hands, lots of miles, tons of time, and the grit to see the job done. Capturing the elk is only the first part of the process – how do you transport such a beast? And never mind milking one or putting it to work – which, as you guessed it, Tome will write about. Some of these attempts were more successful than others but they all turn out to be thrilling tales.

Along with packing lists, descriptions of the landscape, and other wise guidance, Tome offers his philosophy on hunting. “With a true hunter, it is not the destruction of life which affords the pleasure of the chase; it is the excitement attendant upon the very uncertainty of it which induces men even to leave luxurious homes and expose themselves to the hardships and perils of the wilderness. Even when, after a weary chase, the game is brought down, he cannot, after the first thrill of triumph, look without a pang of remorse upon the form which was so beautifully adapted to its situation. But with us, who made our homes in the wilderness, there was a stronger motive than love of excitement for seeking out and destroying the denizens of the forest. We did it in obedience to the primal law of nature: for the subsistence or defense of ourselves and those whom we were bound by ties of nature to support and defend.”

With ventures in the counties of Dauphin, Cumberland, Northumberland, Warren, Potter, Lycoming, and others; the author knew the Pennsylvania countryside intimately. You will no doubt recognize some of the towns and waterways that he travelled as he did his part to tame the woodlands. He describes fellow pioneers that made an impression on him during the course of his life. Self-made men who similarly embodied the American spirit in their quest to make their own way in the rugged environment. One of the most outstanding examples proves to be Tome’s personal friend, the famed Seneca war chief, Cornplanter. Besides the various interactions and conversations they had in their life, Tome records a beautiful speech by Cornplanter to his one-time enemy and long-time friend, George Washington. His eloquent words capture many deep and relevant ideas for that period of history as well as ours today.

Pioneer Life: Thirty Years A Hunter is an enlightening read about professional hunting during the formative years of our state. The book is filled with entertaining anecdotes, astute observations, and sage advice. Ever wonder what essential gear you’ll need to counter-attack a bear who’s been chasing you? What combination of dog breeds makes the best hunting dogs? How to protect yourself from freezing rain by making a hasty shelter out of a recently taken elk hide? Philip Tome answers them all in grand fashion. So read his stories of adventure and be inspired by a Pennsylvania long since passed but in which the spirit and traditions of its hunters live on today.