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Gc 977.1 R361 1634257
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GC
7 ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02405 6324
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/incidentsofpione00rice
INCIDENTS OF PIONEER LIFE
IN
THE EARLY SETTLEMENT
OF THE
CONNECTICUT WESTERN RESERVE
BY
HARVEY RICE.
A
CLEVELAND: L'ONB. ANDREWS & CO. PUBLISHERS. 1881.
.
F 892 . 742
26/
1634257
١٢٤٠١
أصبح
:
·F 892 . 742
Copyright, 1880. By HARVEY RICE.
FAIRBANKS & CO. CLEVELAND, PRINTERS.
64-450 ill - IV
.
PREFATORY NOTE.
No attempt has been made in the following pages to write a history of the Connecticut Western Reserve, nor to sketch special notices of leading families and prominent individuals, who were identified with its early settlement.
The principal aim of the writer has been to portray such remarkable incidents in the experiences of the original pioneers of the Western Reserve as he has been able to gather from sources which seemed worthy of credence.
CLEVELAND, December 20th, 1880.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Western Reserve-Diplomacy of Gov. Winthrop-Charter from Charles II to the New Haven Colony -- Its surrender demanded by James II-Hidden in a hollow oak-Re- produced and Incorporated in the Constitution of Con- necticut.
CHAPTER II.
The Eries-Ship Griffin-French and English trade and strife -- Pontiac at Detroit-His stratagem discovered-Cannibal Feast-Major Campbell seized and assassinated, and re- mains mutilated-Col. Rodgers succeeds him.
CHAPTER III.
Gen. Bradstreet's expedition-Destroys Indian Villages-Protects Detroit-Is censured-Retires in disgust with his troops -- Suffers shipwreck near the mouth of Rocky River-Relics found-Dr. Kirtland.
vi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
Boyhood of Brady and Girty-Subsequent Life-Brady captured by the Indians-Condemned to be burned-Escapes- Hotly pursued-Marvelous Leap -- Brady's Lake -- Rejoins his friends.
CHAPTER V.
Origin of Moravian Missions-Early Efforts-Driven from Huron River- Station at Tinker's Creek-Compelled to leave -- Attempt to stop at Black River-Ordered to depart -- Find refuge in Canada.
CHAPTER VI.
Surveyors arrive at Conneaut, July 4th, 1796-Celebrate the day -- Stowe's Castle-Indian Council-Reply of Gen. Moses Cleaveland -- Pipe of Peace-Mutual Gifts -- The surveys allowed.
CHAPTER VII.
Gen. Cleaveland with a detachment of surveyors leaves Conneaut -Discovers a river -- Names it "Chagrin"-Arrives at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, July 22-Selects a spot for a city -- His Staff names it Cleaveland-First Settlers- Pease's Hotel-First live stock -- Indian Sports-The Bear -- Spafford's Map-Price of Lots-Lorenzo Carter-James Kingsbury's Trip and Experiences -- Commerce-Indian Assassinated-Dog Feast-Bicknell's sad fate.
vii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII.
· Additional Settlers at Cleveland-First Dry Goods Store -- First white child born -- First Funeral-First Wedding -- First Grist Mill-First Missionary-First Distillery-First Pub- lic Ball-First School.
CHAPTER IX.
First Election Precinct -- First Postmaster-Cleveland made a. Port of Entry-First Collector of Revenues-Style of Early Courtship-First ship built-Militia Drill -- First Court-Execution of Omic, the Indian --- Death of Lorenzo Carter.
CHAPTER X.
Gen. Hull's Surrender -- Alarm at Cleveland -- Stockade known as "Fort Huntington"-Coffins of Dead Soldiers- Uncle Abram, his Cornfield, Bucket of Powder and Grave- Uncle Jabez, the Jolly Man-Uncle Gaius, the Joker- Young Dudley, the Scapegrace -- Cleveland Incorporated -Its Village Government-First Newspaper-First Steam- boat on Lake Erie-Firing the Last Gun.
CHAPTER XI.
The Cleveland Bar in 1828-Riding the Circuit-Practical Jokes on each Other-Wood and Willey in the Legislature and on the Bench-Growth of Cleveland-Machinations of Land Proprietors on both Sides of the River-Incorpora- tion of Cleveland as a City, and Brooklyn as Ohio City- The " Bridge War" and how it terminated.
viii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XII.
Warren and its First Settlers-Capt. Quimby and his Log Cabin -The "Old Man of the Woods"-Salt Springs, and Price of Salt-Depredation of Wild Animals-Slaughter of the Snakes -- The first Dry Goods Store-A. Periodical Boat on the Mahoning-First 4th of July Celebration at Warren.
CHAPTER XIII.
The Whisky Debauch at Salt Springs-Two Indian Chiefs Killed by White Men-Consequent Alarm among the Settlers- Arrest of McMahon for Murder -- Indians Reconciled -- Burial of their Dead-First Territorial Court held at Warren, between two Corn Cribs-Trials of Daniel Sbehy and Lorenzo Carter-First Post Route -- Simon Perkins, Postmaster.
CHAPTER XIV.
Rev. Joseph Badger, Mission and Career-Exemplary Character of first Settlers at Warren-Ashtabula County-Jefferson, the County Seat-Its Founder and its Emineut Men -- Conneaut, originally an Indian Town-Two White Captives made to Run the Gauntlet-Ancient Burial Ground-The "Chip" and its Record.
CHAPTER XV.
Harpersfield and its first Settlers-Threatened Famine-Two Heroic Young Men -- One Breaks Through the Ice -- Deacon Hudson-Church at Austinburg -- Its Wonderful Revival -Auties of its Converts-Infallibility of Judge Austin- His Decision as to Church Membership.
ix
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVI.
Woodmen of Geneva-Morse's Slough-Bread Cast on the Waters -Comic Sequel-A Hunter Attacked by Wolves -- Attempt of two Women to shoot a Bear-The Deer-hunter of Conneaut drifted in a Canoe across the Lake-Ilis Expe- rience and safe Return.
CHAPTER XVII.
Chardon-Burton -- First Settlers-Their Trials and Hardships- Acting as their own Doctors and Mechanics-The Hurri- cane-John Miner and his Children -- Early Judicial Pro- ceedings in Geauga County-Judge Pease pronounces Sentence on Robert Meeker.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Ravenna-Its Founder, Benj. Tappan-His Experiences-His Reply when asked for a Church Subscription-Lewis Day's arrival at Deerfield -- Want of Supplies-First White Child - Matrimonial Engagement - Messenger sent to Warren for a Justice of the Peace to "Tie the Knot."
CHAPTER XIX.
Arrival of the Young Magistrate and his Legal Adviser from Warren-Performance of the Nuptial Ceremonies-Mer- riment of the Festivities-Characteristics of the "Two Calvins"-Horse Trade with the Indians-Trouble which grew out of it-Mohawk shoots Daniel Driver-Flight of the Indians-Nicksaw and Mohawk overtaken and killed -Trial of their Associates and acquittal.
X
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XX.
Characteristics of Huron County-Founder of Norwalk-Its first House --- Church "Horn "-Two Trappers Murdered by Indians-The Murderers arrested, tried and sentenced to be Hanged -- Break Jail and Escape ---- Re-arrested and Hanged -- Their Religious Belief.
CHAPTER XXI.
Harrisville and its Founder-Explorers from Wooster and their Experiences-The cold Winter-The ancient Pathway of Indian Travel-Their Huuts and methods of Transporta- tion-Differences of Races-Indian Theology.
CHAPTER XXII.
The grand circular Hunt-Its wonderful Results -- The name " Medina " a vexed Question -- Zenas Hamilton its first Settler-County Court held in a Barn-Rev. Rodger Searle- the first employed Clergyman-First Wedding-Styles of Dress-Low Prices of Farm Produce-Social Distinctions.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Lorain County-Lake Shore Ridges -- Geology of the Northwest- ern Lakes-Heman Ely-Name of Elyria-Falls of Black River-Rock's and Caves-Girls caught Bathing-Stone Relics and Inscriptions-River Valley -- Rev. John J. Shop- hard, the Founder of Oberlin College.
xi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Whence Erie and Sandusky derived their Names-Gen. Brad- street relieves Detroit-Moravian Mission at Huron River -First ,Settlers of the Fire-lands-Distressed Family- Social Visits-How a Lady crossed a River to make a Call -Boys captured at a Bee-tree-Castalia.
CHAPTER XXV.
Why called "Summit "-David Hudson and his career-Akron so named by Olcott-Its first settlers -- Minor Spicer and the Indian hunter-Akron Flour Mills and " brand "- Cuyahoga Falls-Swapping horses-Stowe and a party of surveyors luxuriate on Rattlesnakes.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Early settlement at Mentor-Judge Walworth and Gen. Paine -Painesville-Old Seneca the Indian Chief-Hon. Sam- uel Huntington and his Great Expectations-Judge Wal- worth attacked by wolves -- First house built in Lake County-Bones and relics-Little Mountain.
CHAPTER XXVII.
Little things-Joe Smith-Discovery and translation of the Golden Plates or Book of Mormon-Novel written by Solomon Spaulding-How Rev. Sidney Rigdon obtained the manuscript-Scheme of . Smith and Rigdon-Latter Day Saints-Temple at Kirtland-Removal to Nauvoo -- Flight into the Western Wilderness-Salt Lake City- The prophet.
xii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Ottawa, its Productions and Islands-Battle of Lake Erie -- Burial of the dead at Put-in-Bay-Ashland a piece of patchwork-Daniel Carter its first settler-David Burns a grand juror-Early settlement at Jeromeville-Capt. Pipe, the Indian Chief --- Fate of his daughter and her lover.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Mahoning, why so named-Abounds in Coal, Iron and Salt Springs -- John Young-Canfield and Youngstown-En- terprising population-Murder of Kribs and of two other men-Terrible fight with Indian marauders on the river banks of Yellow Creek.
CHAPTER XXX.
Smoke descried-Unexpected meeting of old friends-A social jollification-The joke too good to keep -- Another ver- sion of the McMahon conflict with the Indians-The Pioneer life and Modern life of the Western Reserve.
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INDIDENTS OF PIONEER LIFE.
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CHAPTER J.
-
Western Reserve-Diplomacy of Gov. Winthrop -- Charter from Charles II to the New Haven Colony -- Its surrender de- manded by James II -- Hidden in a hollow Oak-Repro- duced and Incorporated in the Constitution of Connecticut.
THERE are many incidents connected with the early settlement of the Connecticut Western Reserve, which possess an interest scarcely less seductive than the fascinations of romance. In fact they constitute what may be regarded as the romance of pioneer life, though founded in truth.
There is something truly sublime in the valor- ous spirit of the times, which led to the transforma- tion of a remote wilderness into a land of beauty, wealth and social refinement. The early pioneers who contributed so largely to accomplish this result, exhibited in the midst of embarrassments, a degree of courage and perseverance, which not only challenges our admiration, but is worthy of the heroic ages.
The northern part of Ohio, known as the Western Reserve, embraces a territory contain- ing nearly three and a half millions of acres. It
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INCIDENTS OF
is so-called, because it was "reserved" as the rightful share of the State of Connecticut in the final adjustment of colonial land claims made by Congress between the states soon after the close of the revolution. It seems somewhat surprising however, that the little State of Connecticut should have succeeded in obtaining so large a share of the "spoils." But the fact shows that Connecticut, even in the age of her youth, was shrewd at a bargain -- a peculiar trait of character which has "grown with her growth, and
strengthened with her strength." The truth is, she always did love land and liberty, and has always thought she could not have too much of either.
She began life by helping herself, and still continues the practice. Yet she abounds in good works, but has a policy of her own, and gener- ally acts from motives of policy. As an evidence of her beneficence, she gave at an early day to such of her citizens as had lost their property by "fire and sword" in the revolution, five hundred thousand acres of her Western Reserve lands, since known as the "fire lands." This was a generous act, and a practical recognition of the " Golden Rule."
In acquiring title to her Western Reserve lands from the English crown in 1662, she resorted to a diplomacy not less artful than successful. She
.
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PIONEER LIFE.
was then known as the colony of New Haven, and had sympathized with Cromwell, in his efforts to establish a Protectorate on the ruins of the English monarchy.
In attempting to achieve power, Cromwell bad sanctioned the execution of Charles I, and sought to exterminate Charles II, on the battle- field, who adroitly evaded pursuit by springing into the branches of an oak, and hiding himself within its dense foliage. In a few years after- ward, the death of Cromwell, in connection with the speedy downfall of the Protectorate, resulted in restoring Charles II to the throne, who hated the memory of Cromwell with a hatred so intense that he ordered his dead body to be disinterred, hanged and buried under the gallows.
The colonists, though fearing their sympathies with Cromwell had prejudiced the King against them, did not despair of obtaining from his Majesty a grant of more land and liberty. They therefore proceeded at once to acknowledge their allegiance to Charles II. They then prepared the draft of such a charter as they desired, and dele- gated their shrewdest diplomatist, Gov. Winthrop, to visit England, present it to the King, and re- quest his approval and royal signature.
The Governor accepted the mission, proceeded to England, obtained an informal interview with the King, and. by way of introducing the subject
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INCIDENTS OF
of his mission, exhibited a rich, massive gold finger-ring which the King's father, Charles I, had bestowed, in his lifetime, on the father of Gov. Winthrop, as a mark of honor, for valuable political services. This unexpected exhibition of the ring touched the heart of Charles, and moved him to tears, when Winthrop, availing himself of the golden moment, presented the charter and requested the royal approval and signature, which were readily and graciously accorded. The Gov- ernor then returned to New Haven, bearing the charter with a feeling of gratified pride, which was enthusiastically reciprocated by the colonists.
By the liberal terms of the charter the colonists acquired not only enlarged political rights and liberty, but all the territory lying between the same parallels of latitude with the domain of the colony, and extending westward from the Atlan- tic to the Pacific Ocean. Neither party had any just conception at that time, of the vast quantity of land embraced in the grant. Its sweeping boundaries, however, were afterwards reduced by conflicting claims to the comparatively narrow limits of what is now known as the " Western Reserve."
When Charles II was succeeded by James II, the new monarch attempted to adopt a restric- tive policy in reference to the New Haven
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PIONEER LIFE.
Colonists ; and, as a preliminary step, appointed Andross to the governorship of New England, and directed him not only to assume authority over the New Haven Colony, but to demand a surren- der of its charter which had been so graciously granted by his royal predecessor.
Gov. Andross, fearing opposition, marched on Hartford, where the Colonial Assembly was in session, with a military force of seventy men, and demanded with an imperious air, the surrender of the charter, which was promptly produced and laid on the table. The moment this was done, the Assembly commenced an animated debate on the question of its surrender. The discussion continued until nightfall, when lights were sent for and brought. But when the lights appeared, the charter had disappeared. Its sudden abstrac- tion was a mystery, and produced a sensation. Not a soul could be found who could explain the matter, and thereupon amid confusion the Assem- bly adjourned.
In due time, however, after all danger of losing the charter had passed, a man known as Capt. Wardsworth, a patriotic Colonist, disclosed the fact that while the Assembly was sitting in dark- ness, awaiting the lights, he seized the charter, sprang out of the open window, and concealed it in the hollow trunk of a sturdy old oak which
20
INCIDENTS OF
stood but a little distance from the Legislative Hall in which the Assembly was convened.
This has ever been regarded as an adroit feat. It had the effect to preserve, intact, what the Colonists most loved-the charter of their land and of their liberties. In fact, the Colonists revered this charter, and when Connecticut be- came a State, she adopted it as her Constitution.
The hollow oak in which the charter was hidden, acquired a wonderful fame from this in- cident, became a shrine of liberty, and was rever- ently visited by thousands of pilgrims. It stood erect until within a few years, unconscious of its own fame and the homage it received, when it was rudely assailed by a violent storm, and hero- icaly fell in battle with the elements. It was in- deed a "brave old oak," worthy the puritanic soil in which it grew. In years, while it was yet standing, the writer of these pages had the gratification of paying it a reverential visit, and of plucking from its diadem a leaf which he still preserves as a precious memento of its history.
The oak has come to be regarded as a patriotic emblem. In ancient times, it was revered as a "sacred tree." The Druids believed in its divine powers. History has proved that it possesses a saving power. It saved the life of Charles II, and preserved within its heart the true principles
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PIONEER LIFE.
of American freedom. It bequeathed to England her royal "hearts of oak," and to America her "tree of liberty."
"Though girt with forests and a mountain chain, Whose slopes and glens, and secret caverns dark, Had ever been the red man's wild domain, The Pilgrims clung to hope's expiring spark, And struggled with their foes, and set the mark Of empire there on Ocean's circling strand, And, like the chosen few who left the ark, Went forth to scatter blessings through the land,
And rear the ' tree of liberty ' with fostering hand."
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CHAPTER II.
The Eries-Ship Griffin-French and English Trade and Strife- Pontiac at Detroit-His Stratagem discovered-Cannibal Feast -- Major Campbell seized, assassinated, and his re- mains mutilated --- Col. Rodgers succeeds him.
THE Indians, prior to the organization of Con- necticut as a State, had occupied what is now called the Western Reserve for unknown cen- turies, and were in fact the rightful proprietors of the entire Western Wilderness. The tribe known as the "Eries" were a warlike race, who occupied the Southeastern borders of Lake Erie, and from whom the Lake takes its name. At an early period, they attacked the "Five Nations" of New York, suffered av indiscriminate slaughter, and, as a race, soon afterwards became extinct. Their principal record is that of the mounds which still exist in considerable numbers along the southerly shore-lands of the Lake. The Eries were succeeded by fragmentary tribes of other Indian races.
It is not certain at what date white men first
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PIONEER LIFE.
visited this region of country. But it is known that as early as 1679, LaSalle, a French adventu- rer, launched on the waters of Lake Erie a vessel of 60 tons burden, which he named the "Griffin." He built the vessel at a point near Buffalo, and coasted along the southerly shore with a view to the fur trade with the aborigines, and doubtless intended to continue his voyage to the Upper Lakes.
As the "Griffin" with her sails spread to the breeze approached the Lake coast of the Western Reserve, the natives were stricken with astonish- ment at the grotesqueness of the sudden appari- tion, and believed it to be a white-winged demon sent from the clouds by the Great Spirit to chas- tise, or devour them. As the vision seemed to them partly to walk and partly fly on the water, they feared it might do the same thing on land, and becoming greatly frightened, fled into the wilderness and hid themselves in its dark re- cesses, and thus failed to reap the advantages of a friendly commerce. The "Griffin" continued on her voyage up the Lake, and was soon after- ward lost in a storm. But, at a subsequent pe- riod, when the French had established trading posts at different points along the Lake coast, the Indians were not long in overcoming their native timidity, nor were they slow in comprehending the avaricious motives of the white traders. The
i
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INCIDENTS OF
lessons, thus learned, soon made them adepts in practicing the "tricks of trade," and often an overmatch in the metaphysical subtilies of logic.
The English soon followed the French in estab- lishing commercial intercourse with the Indians along the entire coast line of the great chain of the Northwestern Lakes. This fact, in connection with other movements, aroused the suspicions of the Indians, and induced them to believe that the white race intended ultimately to exterminate the red race, and occupy the entire country. This state of feeling on the part of the Indians contributed largely to produce the outbreak of hostilities, in 1763, known as the " Pontiac war."
Pontiac was a bold and daring Chief, and pos- sessed of great tact and influence. He, in conspir- acy with other tribes occupying the region west of the Cuyahoga River, attacked several of the English trading posts and massacred their garri- sons. He even threatened to exterminate every Englishman who had intruded within the limits of his wild domains. He was, however, a true friend of the French, though an implacable enemy of the English. He was as deceitful as he was bold and brave. He made an attempt to misguide the commander of the English forces when marching on Detroit with a view to dislodge the French from the fort. But the English succeeded in expelling the French, and in detailing a small
25
PIONEER LIFE.
force in command of Major Gladwyn, to maintain possession and strengthen the fortifications.
Pontiac whose warriors were encamped in the vicinity of Detroit, conceived the idea of retaking the fort by stratagem. He contrived to send a message to Major Gladwyn that he and a select few of his warriors desired to hold a council with him at the fort, on the next day, with a desire to adjust difficulties and brighten the "chain of peace." The request was cheerfully granted. In the meantime, Pontiac had selected his favor- ite braves who were to accompany him, and directed them to saw off their rifles so as to con- ceal them under their blankets, and at a given sign during the session of the council to rise and massacre the entire garrison.
It so happened that on the evening previous to holding the council, an Indian woman, who had been employed by Major Gladwyn to make him a pair of elk skin moccasins, was admitted into the fort to return the moccasins with the remain- ing part of the skin, and receive her pay. The Major was so well pleased with the moccasins, that after paying for them, he requested the woman to retain the remnant of the skin and make him another pair. It was observed that she took the remaining part of the skin with ap- parent reluctance. When she reached the gate of the fort which opened on the river, she lin-
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INCIDENTS OF
gered, and seemed unwilling to proceed ; the guard inquired the reason, but received no satis- factory reply. He then reported her to the Major, who ordered her into his presence and de- manded to know why she lingered at the gate. She replied that she had been treated kindly, knew that he valued the elk skin, and therefore did not wish to take it away with her as she "could never return it." The commandant thought this a strange reason, and demanded an explanation. The Indian woman, after being as- sured of her personal safety, disclosed the nefa- rious plot which Pontiac had devised to be carried into execution the next day at the council. The woman was then dismissed from the fort, but the commandant, though discrediting the story, deemed it prudent to see that the garrison was "forewarned and forearmed."
The next day, May 9th, 1763, prompt to the hour appointed for holding the council, Pontiac appeared at the gate of the fort, accompanied by a band of his favorite warriors, and was admitted. They were all seated on the ground in a circle and in presence of commandant Gladwyn. Pontiac seemed surprised to see the men of the fort with arms in their hands, and inquired the cause. He was then assured that such was the customary practice. Pontiac with a manifest look of distrust then commenced the proceedings
27
PIONEER LIFE.
of the council by an impassioned harangue in which he professed a sincere friendship for the English ; but when he arrived at the point at which the ominous sign was to be given, he gave his warriors, to their astonishment, a sign denot- ing silence, and when he had concluded his har- angue, sat down with an air of cool indifference.
The commandant then approached the circle of Indian warriors, opened the folds of several. of their blankets, and thus exposed their short rifles as evidence of their treachery, when, turning to Pontiac, he accused him of insincerity and a mur- derous design, and then ordered him and his warriors to depart without the least delay, and be thankful that their lives had been spared them. The moment they saw the gate of the fort opened, they took to their heels and rushed out with all possible speed, and when at a safe distance, turned and fired on the fort, accompanying the act with an unearthly war-whoop.
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