USA > Connecticut > Incidents of pioneer life in the early settlement of the Connecticut Western Reserve > Part 11
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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.
AFTER the close of the war of 1812, the several settlements in the county of Medina increased in population with great rapidity. Amid all the embarrassments and dangers attending the occu- pation of a new country, the white men soon became "masters of the situation." Though no longer annoyed with threatened attacks from hostile Indians, they were continually subjected to the depredations of wild beasts of the forests, especially bears and sundry other carniverous animals, which were in the habit, under cover of night, of seizing and devouring their pigs, poul- try, calves, and even hogs and young cattle. This kind of annoyance was generally felt by all
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the settlers and endured until "forbearance ceased to be a virtue."
With a view to remedy this prevalent evil the inhabitants of Hinckley, in connection with the settlers of the adjoining townships resolved, in the winter of 1815-some say in 1818-to exter- minate at a blow, the bears, wolves and other depredating animals of the forest, by which they had been so grievously annoyed. In order to effect this, systematically, they agreed to proceed with Hinckley township first, by getting up a grand circular hunt and distributing their forces so as to enclose the area of the entire township, and then moving towards a common center, drive the obnoxious denizens of the forest within a narrow compass, where they could be seen and shot, or otherwise slaughtered.
The day was appointed, proclamation to all the men and boys of the "region round about" made, and when the day arrived, a large number of hunters appeared and distributed themselves on the outskirts of the township, armed with guns, clubs, pitchforks and other deadly weap- ons, including tin-horns ; and at a given signal, commenced their grand march toward a common center, shouting, blowing their horns and beating the bushes with clubs, and as they neared the center they drove the terror-stricken animals of the forest, consisting of hundred of bears, wolves, deer,
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turkeys and other game, within a narrow circle, when the attack commenced. The scene that fol- lowed " beggars description." The bears growled, the wolves howled, the turkeys gobbled, and the deer bounded in lofty leaps, hither and thither, to find some opening in the human wall or circle by which they were surrounded, for escape, but all in vain. On every side, guns were fired, bullets flew, bears assailed the dogs, wolves skulked, turkeys took "like riches" to their wings and flew away, rabbits died of fright, and foxes hid in their holes ; and thus the battle raged until the "going down of the sun," when it was found that the battle-field was strewn with the dead and dying denizens of the forest, who had been slain in the unequal contest. The number of the slain, consisting mostly of bears, wolves and deer, it is said, amounted, in the aggregate, to seven hun- dred.
The victors were, of course, delighted with their success, gathered the spoils, and encamped on the battle-ground for the night, and spent the most of it in feasting and merriment. This is but one of the many general hunts of the kind which characterized these early times. The at- tendant incidents were often not less surprising than comical, and not only furnished the partici- pants with topics of unceasing interest and of "infinite jest," but have been enlarged from gen-
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eration to generation, until they have become "marvels" in the traditions of the times.
When Medina county was organized in 1818, it became a "vexed question " among the set- tlers, whether it should receive the name of "Medina," celebrated as the "burial-place" of Mahomet, or "Mecca," equally celebrated as his "birth-place." A few of the settlers were pro- fessors of the Christian religion, and for that reason, objected to the adoption of either of those names. They said they did not wish to perpetuate, in their midst, the memories of. Mo- hammedanism. This led to a spirited discus- sion, in which the question of bigotry was in- volved. Fearing that "words might come to blows," it was finally agreed to adopt the name of Medina, and give it to both the county and the county seat, as an evidence that all parties to the controversy preferred to honor the "burial- place" rather than the "birth-place" of the great Arab prophet.
The county seat was surveyed into town lots soon after the county was organized. Numbers of the lots were immediately purchased and oc- cnpied by actual settlers. A goodly number of families had previously settled in different parts of the county. Zenas Hamilton, an emigrant from Danbury, Conn., was the first man who, with his family, located in Medina township.
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This occurred in 1813. His nearest neighbor, at that time, resided at a distance of nine or ten miles from him. The first County Court was held in a barn, which then stood nearly a half mile north of the present Conrt House.
In connection with the administration of jus- tice, the Gospel was preached by Rev. Rodger Searle, an Episcopalian, who was the first clergy- man employed at Medina, and by whose influ- ence the first church edifice was erected. The early settlers, however, previous to his employ- ment, had been accustomed to assemble and hold lay services on the Sabbath at private dwellings in rotation. The pioneers of the vicinity con- veyed their families to church in those days in carts, or on sleds, drawn by ox teams, taking with them an axe, a hand-saw, and an auger, to repair their vehicles in case of accident, and also a gun to shoot wild game that might appear along the route.
The celebration of the first wedding at Medina, occurred in March, 1818. The wedding was gen- erally attended by the inhabitants of the town and its vicinity, and the festivities prolonged to a late hour in the night. It happened that it was a dark night, and when the guests were ready to disperse, they found that it was impossible to trace their way home without the aid of lights. They met the dilemma by procuring dry bark
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from trees near by, and binding it in small bundles, lighted 'one end, and thus furnished themselves with the necessary illumination, and by this means succeeded in returning to their respective cabins, without serious embarrass- ment. They all felt that they had had a "good time," and were amply repaid for the inconven- iences to which they had been subjected.
In those primitive days the number of inhabit- ants was few, and widely scattered in reference to location; yet they regarded themselves as akin to each other, and as occupying the same level of social equality. They felt a deep in- terest in each other's welfare, and cheerfully contributed, when they could, to relieve each other's wants. They borrowed and lent, and shared each other's stores until they could re- plenish. For years they were obliged to travel twenty miles or more to mill to get their bread- stuffs ground. Often the roads or trails, especi- ally in winter, were almost impassable. It often required from three to four days to go and return from mill with an ox team. They per- severed amid difficulties, however formidable, and thus succeeded in illustrating the fact that "fortune favors the brave." Yet in their career they often suffered for the want of the neces- saries of life, not only for sufficient food, but for comfortable clothing, The clothing which they
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brought with them was soon worn out, and the supply exhausted. They made the rags of one garment serve to patch another, and when these failed, resorted to patches cut from deerskin, and thus clad in garments of as "many colors" as Joseph's coat, attended social parties and church, feeling that economy as well as charity should begin at home. Often the entire suit was made of buckskin; yet no one had the impoliteness to criticise the "style of dress" in which his friends appeared. The people of those days were not controlled by the "tyranny of fashion."
In due time, however, when the country had become more generally settled and improved, the state of society underwent material changes; and with abundance of products from the soil, came a desire to indulge in Juxuries and in styles of dress copied from the Eastern 'fashions. Of course these indulgences were soon followed with social distinctions, rivalries and jealousies, not to say dissensions. People then began to speak of each other as rich, or poor, as moving in the highest social circles, or as belonging to the commonalty.
Though many had acquired comparative wealth, consisting of redundant supplies of wheat, beef and pork, yet they found it extremely diffi- cult to convert their products into cash at any price, and were compelled to exchange their pro-
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ducts for such goods as they most needed, with the local merchants, who were better able to transport surplus products to an eastern market. Yet most of the merchants could only sell their goods for cash, and if they paid cash for farm products, it was merely a nominal sum, compared with their real value. Ten bushels of wheat would not sell in cash for a enough to pay the cost of a pound of tea. Wheat was often sold as low as twelve and a half cents a bushel. Other farm products were equally cheap.
A pioneer farmer, from Granger, came to Medina with an ox-cart loaded with corn, a dis- tance of eight miles, and was glad to exchange it for three yards of cheap satinet to make for himself a pair of pantaloons. It was thought the " good time had come" when wheat could be sold for twenty-five cents a bushel. It was not until the Erie canal was opened, that a market for their surplus products was afforded them. From that time forward, prosperity followed, and the entire country rapidly grew in population and in wealth. Log-cabins disappeared, and commo- dious frame dwellings took their places. Towns sprang into existence, with shops, schools and churches. Farm products found a ready cash . sale, and at remunerative prices. The rising generation began to " put on airs," and to make still more critical distinctions in regard to social
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positions. The oldest people, the fathers and mothers of the land, still adhered to their primi- tive habits, styles of dress and love of social equality. Such is human nature.
It is very doubtful whether mankind will ever reach the standpoint of a common brotherhood. If they could do this, and treat each other as brothers, it would convert the earth into a para- dise. But so long as human nature continues to be what it now is, and ever has been, the predic- tion of the philanthropist in regard to this desi- rable fraternity of the human family, will still remain but a "barren ideal." The truth is, cul- tivate the wheat-field as you will, you will still find more or less "tares " in it at the harvest. This seems to be a law of nature. If it were not, it would annihilate all distinction between "good and evil," and remove the necessity for further Christian effort in suppressing vice and promo- ting virtue. It is this necessity of moral effort, however, which gives to man the graces of a true manhood. Hence evil must be done that good may come. Though this may seem a strange doctrine, it involves the principle on which both moral philosophy and Christianity are founded. It is a "Divine mystery."
CHAPTER XXIII.
Lorain County -- Lake Shore Ridges-Geology of the Northwest- ern Lakes -- Heman Ely-Name of Elyria-Falls of Black River-Rocks and Caves -- Girls caught Bathing-Stone Relics and Inscriptions-River Valley-Rev. John J. Shep- hard, the Founder of Oberlin College.
As the Western Reserve increased in popula- tion, the large land proprietors endeavored to in- crease the value of their lands by securing from the Legislature the erection of new counties, and then, by adroit management, procuring the county seats to be established on their own lands. In this way the proprietors continued to realize not only speculative wealth, but an envia- ble reputation as founders of towns and cities.
It was by influences of this character, that the county of Lorain came to be erected in 1822. Its territory was taken from the adjoining counties of Huron, Cuyahoga and Medina. It was not organized until the ensuing year 1823. It is in- debted far its name to the French province,
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Loraine. The county is bounded on the north by Lake Erie, and its soil is generally rich and fertile. That part of it extending along the Lake shore presents physical peculiarities, which are prob- lems, awaiting, in the minds of inquisitive ob- servers, a satisfactory solution. These peculiari- ties consist of three distinct "ridges" of land, running parallel with the margin of the Lake, and with each other, and at a distance from each other of a half mile or more. They mark suc- cessive elevations of table lands or plains, and seem to have marked, at different periods, the boundaries of the Lake.
The excavations which have been made, con- firm this theory by disclosing the fact that the "ridges" are composed, at great depths, of worn pebbles, shells, and occasional trunks of old trees, and other evidences of the action of water. Whether the waters of the Lake have receded at distinct periods, or the entire coast been elevated, still remains a question among geologists. At any rate, these "ridges" are the records of a physical power, whose empire can neither be restricted nor limited. The geological formation of the great chain of our Northwestern Lakes involves a mystery which modern science has not, as yet, fully revealed. The chain has many different links in it, some longer and some shorter; some of which are composed partly of
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iron, copper and silver, while others are merely "ropes of sand." Nature has a method of her own in all she does, whether it relates to her work of construction, destruction, or reconstruc- tion.
The first settler who located in the township of Elyria was Heman Ely. He, with his family, emigrated from West Springfield, Mass., in 1817. He was the proprietor of the township, and took a deep interest in its future. Both he and his wife, after mature deliberation, concluded to give the township the baptismal name of "Elyria." They regarded it as their own child, and shared in giving it a name composed of parts of their own. His surname being Ely, and her Christian name Maria, they united his name with the last three letters of her name-Ely and ria-and thus composed the name "Elyria." When the county seat was established in 1823, it received the name of Elyria a's a compliment to its worthy pater- nity.
It was Mr. Ely who laid out the village plat into towu lots. It was here that he erected his cabin on his arrival in the country, in 1817. He led the "way into the wilderness," and selected this spot as destined to become a large town, for the reason that he saw in the water power, created by the falls of Black River, physical inducements for founding a town or commercial
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city. In this he was not mistaken. Elyria is fortunate both in its name and in its location. Situated as it is on a peninsula, formed by the two branches of the river, it commands fine views of natural scenery, and from its growth in wealth and population, has now become one of the most beautiful towns of the Western Re- serve.
Near the junction of the branches of the river, there are two falls of water, which have a per- pendicular descent of nearly forty feet. The scenery at this point is especially grand, wild and picturesque. On the west branch the rocks crop out and project at a lofty elevation, and overhang the gulf or valley below, some thirty feet or more. Underneath these projecting rocks there is a spacious semi-circular cavern, with a broad entrance. The depth of this cavern is about seventy-five feet, with a roof, or ceiling of solid rock, from five to nine feet in height. The floor is also solid rock, and nearly level. From appearances, the cavern was once the favorite re- sort of the Indians. The interior is not only spacious, but cool and refreshing in summer. It
is for this reason that social parties at that sea- son often visit the cavern, where they enjoy a variety of rustic festivities, and amuse themselves by listening to a return of their own merry voices, as they are repeated by the invisible
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spirits hidden away in the cavern's mysterious recesses .
Tradition says that in the days of the pioneers a half dozen damsels, while bathing in the crys- tal waters of the river, at a retired spot near the cavern, were suddenly surprised by the approach of two young men, who were innocently hunting "ducks" along the river valley. The panic- stricken damsels fled, with breathless speed, to the cavern for shelter, leaving their robes behind them, suspended on the branches of the accom- modating saplings. The young hunters felt hardly less embarrassed than the damsels, and " took counsel together" as to what they should do to relieve the "pressure " of circumstances.
It was soon agreed that they would gather the suspended robes from the trees and deliver them at the entrance of the cavern, where the nude proprietors could readily get them. When they had tied the robes in a bundle, there arose a del- icate question as to which of the two should de- liver it, and at the same time do it in such a way as not to "shock the modesty" of the fair fugi- tives a second time. In order to effect this, one of them agreed to execute the task blindfold, but stumbling on the way at every step, he par- tially lifted the blind over one eye so that he could discover his direction, and when he arrived at the cavern, instantly threw his precious bur-
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den into its entrance, turned on his heel, and gallantly fled, without daring to cast even a "glance " behind him, though he doubtless con- curred with the blind poet, Milton, in thinking that beanty, "when unadorned, is still adorned the most." In a moment the coy "nymphs of the cave " recognized the character of the bundle, seized it, made hasty toilets, and with flying steps returned to their respective homes. From that day to the present, this retired bathing spot in the river, has ceased to be regarded with favor by the ladies.
So late as the year 1838, there was discovered in this county, on the farm of Alfred Lamb, in Brighton township, a stone image or idol of col- umnar shape, several feet in length, covered with a coat of dense moss, and partially buried in the soil where it had evidently lain for many years. From appearance, it had originally occupied an upright posture. Near it was found a hewn stone, eight inches in diameter and two inches in thickness. The head or apex of the columnnar stone appeared to have been decorated with a pair of horns, which had been broken off. On the face of the column or image was inscribed, in letters still legible, the following record : "Louis Vagard, La France, 1533." Near this, another stone was found, on the face of which was sketched, in a rude manner, the distinct outline of a small ship or vessel, under full sail.
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These relics would seem to indicate that a French vessel had been lost on the Lake, or had coasted along its shore, in 1533, and that its cap- tain or some one of its subordinate officers or crew had died on board or been drowned. It would seem still more probable, however, that a party from the vessel had landed at the entrance of Black river, and proceeded inland for the pur- pose of hunting game or making explorations, and that this "Louis Vagard" was one of the party, who lost his life by accident, or was killed in a contest with the Indians. His companions, doubtless, erected the stone monument, and en- graved on its face his name, with the date of the year in which the unfortunate event occurred, as a tribute to his memory, and as a landmark by which his kindred might at some future time find the resting place of his remains.
The Black River valley, extending from Elyria to the Lake, a distance of about eight miles, was a favorite region in primitive times, which was exclusively occupied by the aborigines. Here they dwelt in great numbers. The river fur- nished them with ample supplies of fish, and the hunting grounds in its valley and in its vicinity, afforded them an abundance of wild game. Here for unknown ages they flourished, worshiped the Great Spirit, engaged in warfare with hostile tribes, and enjoyed a happy and contented life,
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until civilization encroached upon their wild domains and compelled them to retire still further into the wilderness towards the setting sun.
"Thus race to race must ever yield And mental power assume the sway; Broad as the earth the ample field For those who trust in virtue's shield And Freedom's banner dare display !"
There is a divine power in the progress of American civilization, which marks its line of march with school-houses, churches and col- leges. This great fact is strikingly illustrated in the settlement of Lorain county.
Among the many projects of enterprising men, who sought the advancement of the county and the promotion of its moral and social welfare, was that of Rev. John J. Shepard. As if in- fluenced by "divine inspiration," he conceived the idea of establishing a collegiate institution for the purpose of affording the rising generation a higher order of literary and religious education, than could be obtained in the common district schools. Impelled by this "one idea," he mounted his horse on a pleasant morning in August, 1832, and rode alone into the wilderness in a southerly direction from Elyria, until he reached a tract of land beautifully located as a desirable site for a college, which he unhesita-
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tingly selected. The tract consisted of five bun- dred acres. He at once reported to the friends of his project the selection he had made, which was cheerfully approved.
Soon after this the dark old forest was cleared away, and the sunlight of heaven allowed to illuminate the spot. The college edifice was speedily erected and put into successful opera- tion. In other words, the "one idea" was realized. Rev. John J. Shepard will long be remembered as the founder of Oberlin-the "Cradle of Negro Freedom." He was the second "John" who came "crying in the wil- derness." He evidently did not "cry" in vain. The college has already achieved a "marvelous work" by its educational influences. It will doubtless fulfil the measure of its destiny, be it what it may. This may be accepted as a "truism.":
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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 & Bee-tree-Castalia.
FEW, if any, of the Western Reserve counties have a "name and fame" of more interest than that of Erie. The principal part of its territory was taken from Huron county, with the excep- tion of a small fraction taken from Sandusky, which was not originally included in the Reserve. The county was erected in 1838. Its name is derived from the name of an Indian tribe, known as the Eries. They originally occupied the lands along the southeastern shore of the Lake, to which their tribal name has been given. The word "Erie" signifies in the Indian. tongue "cat,"-or nation of "the cat," and was doubt- less applied to the tribe for the reason that wild
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cats, in primitive times, abounded in this region of the country.
The city of Sandusky, the county seat of Erie, is indebted for its name to the bay on which it is located. The bay, one of the broadest and finest that indents the coast of Lake Erie, derives its appellation from an old Indian Chief, who dwelt on its borders at an early day, and whose name was "Sowdowsky." This was a favorite spot of the aborigines. The bay furnished them with an abundance of fish. The adjacent marshes swarmed with ducks, geese, and other wild fowl. The neighboring forests afforded them ample hunting grounds, from which they sup- plied themselves with a plenty of deer, elk, bear and other favorite game.
There are many relics and traces of Indian life still remaining in and about the city, which re- mind one of the primitive days when the dusky children of nature occupied the entire region. At the time the white men made their first settle- ment here, about the year 1817, the town was known as "Ogontz Place," and was so called in honor of an aged Indian by that name, who, for many years previous to this date, had resided at this locality. He foresaw the "manifest destiny" of his race, and disappeared at the advent of civilization. What are called the "fire-lands " of the Reserve, are embraced within the present
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