John Dull, a hunter and trapper, was born in 1753 and was one of the earliest pioneers in this township. He came from Eastern Pennsylvania when a young man, and took up a considerable tract of land in the northeastern portion of Milford. In his hunting exploits, he would often camp on the mountain, and remain there alone for weeks. On one occasion he and his dog Tiger–“Tige” for short–treed a panther. Dull fired and wounded the beast, which immediately sprang from the tree and attacked him. As was his custom, he carried a butcher-knife and a hatchet. He grasped the hatchet and struck at the panther, and the hatchet came off the handle, leaving the latter in his hand. The savage beast rushed furiously upon Mr. Dull, and tore his hunting-shirt from his body. Tige came bravely to his master’s aid, and attacked the panther in the rear. This movement dirverted the panther’s attention, and Dull found an opportunity to use his knife with good effect. After a long and terrible contest, the panther was killed. Mr. Dull was terribly scratched and bitten, and Tige was so nearly used up that he had to be carried home.
(Source: History of Bedford, Somerset & Fulton Counties, PA; 1884)
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