There have been many historical figures that have been associated with the history of the Pocono Mountains. There have been American Presidents, Founding Fathers, Statesmen, and many famous personalities that have played a part in the development of the region.

PoconoHistory.com is not only committed to promoting the history of the Pocono Mountains, but also to preserve important documents of history. PoconoHistory.com has been procuring a collection of historical documents for preservation that include documents signed by:

William Penn - The Father & Founder of Pennsylvania
James Wilson - Signer of the Declaration of Independence & the Constitution of the U.S.
Robert Morris - Financier of the American Revolution & Washington's best friend
Thomas Mifflin - Brigadier General under Washington & 1st Governor of PA
General Lyman Lemnitzer - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under JFK
Governor Gifford Pinchot - PA Governor and 1st Head of the U.S. Forest Service
Zane Grey - Famous western writer that lived in Lackawaxen

The William Penn document is an American National Treasure. It is a Land Grant for property near the Historic District in Philadelphia where William Penn first set foot ashore on Dock Street and the Delaware River. The document is on vellum and considered Extremely Fine and signed on "13 April 1684" and signed by "William Penn" Proprietary and Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania. The Land Grant is truly an Original American Treasure.

There are a number of James Wilson documents of distinction. One document is an Obligation Bond that James Wilson signs to Ebenezer Bowman of Wilkes Barre. Like Robert Morris, James Wilson invests heavily in land speculation and loses vast amounts of money. The document is signed on June 14, 1794 and is considered to be in Very Good condition.

Another James Wilson document is where he represents a client as their attorney who was referred to Wilson by General Mifflin, who later became the 1st Governor of Pennsylvania. This document is considered to be in Very Good condition and was signed on 7th of February 1782.

James Wilson was the owner of many investment properties, including the Wallenpaupack Manor, a 12,150 acre parcel of land in Pike and Wayne Counties that he purchased in 1793. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States in 1787 and was appointed by George Washington to serve on the first Supreme Court as a Justice of the United States

The Robert Morris document is One Share in the North American Land Company signed by James Marshall, Secretary and Robert Morris, President. The company owned 6 million acres of land that eventually defaulted and caused great financial hardship for Morris that drove him into bankruptcy. It was unfortunate because Morris was known for a number of significant accomplishments and was a great American Statesman and a Founding Father of the United States. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States in 1787, the Articles of Confederation, and most importantly, was known as the financier of the American Revolution. He was the founder of the Bank of North America, an institution that brought stability to the colonial economy. At one time Robert Morris had owned a large parcel of land in Carbon County in what is now Hickory Run State Park that he had purchased in 1794. The document was signed on the 20th day of February 1795 and is considered to be in Fine condition.

Morris stated "I am not one of those politicians that run testy when my own plans are not adopted. I think it is the duty of a good citizen to follow when he cannot lead."

The Thomas Mifflin document is a Land Grant to James Wilson for 1,000 acres of property by the Allegheny River and the Conawango Creek. Thomas Mifflin signed this document as Governor of Pennsylvania on the 3rd day of February 1794. An interesting side note is that the document also mentions Daniel Brodhead as the Surveyor-General of Pennsylvania.

Thomas Mifflin distinguished himself by being appointed by George Washington to be the first Quartermaster General of the Continental Army. He was also the first Governor of Pennsylvania and a signer of the Constitution of the United States in 1787.

The General Lyman Lemnitzer document is a personal autographed letter he signed as the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO from 1963 to 1969. In the personally written letter he writes about being a member of the St. John's Lutheran Church in Honesdale, Pennsylvania where he was born and raised. The document was signed in Paris, France on January 10, 1967 and is in Fine condition. General Lemnitzer was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President John F. Kennedy.

There are a number of Gifford Pinchot documents. All the documents regard his work as a conservationist. The first was a letter written from Washington, D.C. while he was Chief of the U.S. Forest Service dated April 13, 1909. The second was written from his Milford home on May 12, 1916, and the third was written from Milford between his terms as Governor of Pennsylvania on October 18, 1928. All the documents are Fine.

Gifford Pinchot is best known for being appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt to the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service and later as a two time Governor of Pennsylvania.

There is a personally signed photo of Zane Grey as well as an autographed letter he wrote to his son, Romer while he was at the Hotel McAlpin on Broadway and 34th Street in New York City. The letter is dated January 9, 1923 and is in Fine condition.

Zane Grey lived on the Delaware River in Lackawaxen by the Roebling Bridge. He has authored many books, had a popular television show and is best known as the "father of the western novel." One hundred four movies have been made from his novels.

For more information on these and other Historical Documents contact PoconooHistory.com