To understand the life of the early pioneers of the Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys, historians rely upon diaries, letters, and word of mouth. An 1886 History of Mifflin County includes a letter from a resident of Lewistown. Even with spelling errors, readers should be able to understand the contents.

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The following letter, in the possession of C. H. Henderson, was written by Charles Hardy, in 1791, to friends in England, and provides a look at Lewistown and the surroundings, a part of it is here quoted. Charles Hardy purchased lot 17.

"Dear Mam: I take this oportunity of a Quainting you of my present hilth and well fair for which I have reason to prais the Lord and Likewise the defrent seaings of life that I have Goone through Since I come to this Country. I wrought the first 9 months through the summer and winter, and in March I Went out to the Back Country, 160 miles from Philadelphia, whear thaar is a new place a Bilding by the name of Lewes Town, Mifflin County, and as this County is but new laid out, all county business is sattled and courts helde in this place, and on the 22th of October I purtched a Lott and Hous, not finished, which cost me 60 pound, and 20 pounds mor will finish it which will Rent for 15 pounds per year. And 19th of January I purtched an improvement which is vacant Lands, on which is a Dwelling hous and Barn, Stable, right Good Spring and 14 ackres of Cleared Land, and I have returned Back to Philadelpia to take a Deed out of the Land Ofes for 150 ackres of saad Lands, the improvement I pay 35 pounds, and the warent at Land Ofes is 2 pound 10 shillings per hundred, and 1 pound 10 shillings the Sirvey and Clarkes fees, 1 pound 10 shillings all per hundred, which, in all, will cost me betwext 40 and 50 pounds. This is the best part of the country that I have Ever seen for industrius people of  Every Trade. Carpenters and Masons 7shillings 6 dollars per day, and Labrers 5s. per day, and everything is plentiful, the best of Wheat 4s. pir bushel, Rye 3s. this currency, Inden (Indian) corn and buckwheat in proportion. Beef, Mutton and Bacon at 3d. per pound. This is a fearful Country for wild creatures, Such as Dears, Bars, Wolves and Panters, the Deers meat yousd (used) for Beef or venison, and Bears meat, Good Bacon. Fishes and Folls (fowls)in Great plenty. This is a fine Country for Roots and Vegtales. I shall send you a small account of them Coowcumbers, Water Mellens, Squashes and Pomp-cans, with a variety of Beanes, such as you have none in England, with many others too tedis (tedious) to Name. All rises from the Ground With out much troble and comes to Great pirfection."

Continuing the letter, he regrets the loss of the privilege of attending worship with the Methodists, "with whom I have many times being Feelingly and Sensible Blessed, both in public and privet converse," and says, "in which I am in sum measure deprived of, as hear is no Methodes in this part, nor no other sort of worship but Prespeterns (Presbyterians), and it is 5 miles to thear meeting.* this causes me to reflect on my Own Self for leaving the parts Whear I had the happiness of asembling amongst a people that I beleave truly worships God. It causes many reasoning in my own mind when I think of the blessings in yeares past I received in publick and in privet convarse, but many times I feel that the Lord preaches to my sowl in privet when I poor out my Speerit before him, but I shall endeaver to prevail with the preachers to come to Lewistown."

The erection of public buildings and the fact that the town was made the county seat attracted many people.

*The Presbyterian Meetinghouse he referenced was evidently the one then standing in Granville Township.