USA > Connecticut > Incidents of pioneer life in the early settlement of the Connecticut Western Reserve > Part 12
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limits of Erie and Huron counties, save a frac- tion which has been assigned to Ottawa. These lands are now generally occupied by an enter- prising population, and prove to be as rich and fertile as any in the State.
The French, in 1755, established a trading post at the mouth of Huron river, and also at various other points in the adjacent regions of the country, with a view to secure the Indian trade. The English intervened, and difficulties arose, which became so threatening that the English govern- ment, in 1764, sent Gen. Bradstreet into this west- ern wilderness, with an army of three thousand men to enforce what was claimed to be " English rights." In the meantime, the Indians had been induced to espouse the cause of the French.
The English general, with all the " pomp and circumstance of war," entered the western wilds, by way of Niagara Falls, and when he had reached Sandusky, commenced hostilities by burning the villages and cornfields of the diaffected Indians, and then proceeded on his line of march to Detroit, which Pontiac, the great Indian chief, with his confederate forces, had encompassed and threatened to destroy, and which was at that time in the possession of an English garrison, too weak, in point of numbers and supplies, to defend itself. Detroit, at this early day, was lit- tle else than a military fort. The general, on
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arriving there, soon dispersed the dusky besieg- ers, and then, having strengthened the garrison, retired with the remainder of his troops, after having finally succeeded in concluding a treaty of peace and friendship with the chiefs of the hostile tribes.
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The Moravian Missionaries had established a mission as early as 1790, on Huron River, which they called New Salem. The earliest settlement on the "fire-lands," was made in 1808, by Col. Jared Ward, Almon Ruggles and Jabez Wright, who, with their families, emigrated from Connecticut. In the course of the next year or two, they were followed by a goodly. number of families, who located at different points within the limits of the same tract. The pioneers of this early day began life in this region, as well as in other parts of the Reserve, by building for themselves log cabins, living on wild game, and clothing themselves, often from necessity, in garments manufactured from deer and bear skins. Any fashion one chose to adopt was recognized as the fashion. All lived in fraternal harmony and sympathy. In short, they were friends indeed, and in need. They suffered, endured and struggled. They were heroes in the "battle of life." Yet many of them fell in the conflict, overcome by diseases incident to a new country, or by adversities which could neither be controlled nor avoided.
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Among the many sad experiences which oc- curred in Erie county, was the following : An enterprising young man with a family had selected for a home a beautiful spot, near Huron river, and at a point far distant from any white settlement. Here he erected a log cabin, cleared a few acres of land, and let in the genial sunlight, to cheer the threshold of his new forest home. This he had accomplished during the first sum- mer after his arrival. In the fall he was taken sick and died, leaving a wife and two young children in a destitute condition, and far away from any white friend or neighbor. Stricken with sorrow too deep for utterance, the devoted wife was compelled to perform the last sad rites for her departed husband, and to trust to such provisions as Divine wisdom might see fit to make for her relief.
After a few weeks had elapsed, it so happened that a hunter, passing that way, discovered the lone cabin, and rapped at the door for admit- tance. A feeble voice bade him enter. On open- ing the door, he there beheld a pale, emaciated woman, sitting by a smouldering fire, holding a sick babe in her arms. He addressed her kindly, and expressed his regret at finding her in so sad and helpless a condition. She could only reply by yielding to tears, which she could not restrain; but after a
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few moments, so far recovered herself as to point to her oldest child, prostrate with fever, on the bed in a corner of the gloomy cabin, and then to her babe dying in her arms. And then, after a painful panse, she said : "Here I am left alone with my dying children, in a state of destitution. My dear husband, after a lingering illness, died but a short time ago. I was compelled to commit his 'dust to dust' with my own hands, as best I could. There he lies, at rest, beneath the little hillock you see near our cabin door. Oh, that I could return to the dear home of my childhood, with my children, and receive the tender cares of my good mother."
Overcome by this scene of distress, the sturdy hunter wept, then brushed away his tears, uttered a few kind words of sympathy and assurance, and then, with flying steps, proceeded to the nearest white settlement, which was many miles distant, and after a few days, returned with aid and supplies to the lone cabin, and thus relieved the distressed inmates, who were kindly and prop- erly cared for by the white settlers until restored to health, when they were provided with the nec- essary means of transportation, and restored to their friends in Connecticut.
In the time of the pioneers, the Western Re- serve was regarded in the Eastern States, as the "Far West"-a land lying outside the limits of
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civilization. It was understood to be the region to which few but rogues and thieves emigrated, actuated by no other motive than a desire to escape the "clutches of the law." This was true, to some extent, of the earliest emigrants ; but the tide of emigration, as it swelled in vol- ume, soon carried respectability with it.
The pioneers who resided within a circle of ten or twelve miles, often visited each other in a social way, and without ceremony. On one of these social occasions the "lady of the cabin," having no other cooking utensil than an old bake-kettle, proceeded at once and cooked for her guests a substantial feast, which embraced the "luxuries of the season." Her bake-kettle was everything to her, and with it she cooked everything. On this occasion she tried lard in it, fried cakes, baked bread, stewed venison, brought water from the spring, made tea, and gracefully poured the tea from its iron lips at table, laughingly remarking that she felt proud of her imported "China tea-pot.".
This was one of the many instances among the early pioneers where necessity proved to be the "mother of invention." As may well be sup- posed, the festivities, after the feast, were con- tinued until a late hour. They consisted mainly in singing, dancing, blind-man's-buff, and kiss- ing the bride. These exercises were enjoyed with a rustic relish which is indescribable.
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The good house-wives of the pioneers, though often widely domiciled from each other, de- lighted in exchanging social visits, and for this desirable purpose, were ever ready to encounter difficulties, however formidable they might seem. As an illustration of this, it so happened that the first two white families who settled in the region of Vermillion, selected homes and built their cabins on the opposite sides of the river, and at points nearly three miles distant from the river. The two families had accidently heard of their relative locations. The lady on the west side, became exceedingly anxious to visit the lady on the east side, and accordingly sent her a message that on a certain day she would pay her a visit, which meant in those days a visit of all day, and not merely a "call."
On the day appointed the west side lady, hav- ing reached the river, found it so swollen by the recent rains as to render it unsafe for her to attempt crossing the stream. In the moment of her despair the husband of the east side lady arrived with his ox team on the opposite bank, ready to receive the west side lady, and convey her to his cabin. He saw at once the dilemma, and resolving to overcome it, detached his oxen from the cart, leaped astride one of them, and compelled them to swim to the opposite shore. They bore him over in safety. He then per-
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suaded the waiting lady to take a seat on the back of the other ox, when he gallantly re- crossed the "dark river" without accident. She then accepted a seat in the ox-cart, and was con- veyed some three miles or more to the cabin of her polite conductor, where the two house-wives of the wilderness met for the first time, and doubtless enjoyed one of the richest and rarest gossipy visits imaginable, though their "gossip" related to themselves and their families.
There are times, and this was one of them, when a woman must relieve her mind, and can only do it to a woman.
"While the tones ring on, with naught to show,
From whence they come or whither they go !"
And yet it is questionable, whether the confi- dential talk of the men is not quite as trivial as the gossip of the women. Both are doubtless equally enjoyable, if not important, and seem to grow out of the natural impulses of the distinc- tive character of the sexes. If there were no "mysteries," the world would lose its charms. If mankind and womankind, were equally wise, there would doubtless be less "small talk " about family matters.
The Indians resident within the present limits of Erie county and in its vicinity, became gener- ally hostile in the war of 1812, to the Americans,
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from inducements offered them by the agents of the British government, and consequently they attacked and murdered American settlers where- ever they could find them. In fact, they massa- cred men, women and children, without mercy, and without distinction. The more scalps they could obtain, the more bounties they received from the British authorities. Yet, in a few in- stances, there was manifested in the savage breast a "touch of nature," which makes all men akin to each other. 1
Two young American lads, one pleasant morn- ing in the fall of 1812, left the block-house, where they were safely lodged, and feeling en- tirely unapprehensive of danger, proceeded a mile or more into the forest for the purpose of securing the honey from a "bee-tree," which they had previously discovered. While engaged in cutting the tree down, they were surprised by two Indians, who killed one of the lads by the name of Seymour, on the spot. One of the In- dians recognized the other lad, as he was about to strike the fatal blow, as a member of an American family in which he had been received and treated with great kindness, and especially by the lad whose life he was about to take. This Indian, yielding to an "impulse of nature," stayed his hand, and expressed his gratitude for the kind treatment he had received at the hands
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of the family, not only by sparing the lad's life, but by aiding him in gathering the honey and in carrying it home to his mother.
Among the many pleasant villages which now exist in Erie county, there are none, perhaps, which excel in point of beauty the village of Castalia. It derives its name from an ancient Grecian fount, and is located about five miles from Sandusky, on the head-waters of Coal Creek, which originates in a broad and beautiful spring, two hundred feet in diameter and Exty feet deep, known as the "Castalian Spring." This spring rises from a level prairie. Its waters are pure, cold, and clear as a crystal. The smallest pebble can be seen in its depths. In the sunlight it reflects, like a n irror, the hues of surrounding objects. Nature sees her face re- flected in it, and seems to admire her own bewitching charms, damsel-like, with an air of gratified pride. It is said that the waters of this spring are composed of constituents that petrify every vegetable substance which comes in con- tact with their influence, such as grass stems, twigs of shrubs, mosses, and other like produc- tions.
There is a very interesting cave situated about two miles north of Castalia, a secret work-shop of Nature, in which she has displayed inany beautiful specimens of her artistic work, in the
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shape of stalactites and stalagmites, glittering like a casket of gems. It was a singular incident which led to the discovery of this cave. A dog in chase of a rabbit followed its track into this cave, and was so long gone in its recesses as to alarm his master, who was watching at its nar- row opening for his return, when, after whistling and calling loudly for a long time, his faithful dog re-appeared, bearing the rabbit in his mouth. On further exploration it was ascertained that the cave had seven distinct entrances, though of narrow dimensions, and that its interior branched into several spacious apartments. There are evidences that it was known to the aborigines, and was doubtless occupied by them as a hiding place, and perhaps as a hall for the worship of the "Great Spirit."
CHAPTER, XXV.
Why called "Summit " -- David Hudson and his career-Akron so named by Olcott-Its first settlers-Minor Spicer and the ludian hunter-Akron Flour Mills and "brand " --- Cuyahoga Falls-Swapping horses -- Stowe and a party of surveyors luxuriate on Rattlesnakes.
THE territory included within the present limits of Summit county, has an early record of much in- terest. Summit is a piece of patchwork, clipped from the skirts of Portage, Medina and Stark counties. This was done by the legislative wis- dom of the State, March 3, 1846. It was called "Summit," because it embraces within its limit the highest land known in the State, above the line of the Ohio canal. It was originally called the " Portage," because it referred to the line of elevated lands over which passed the old In- dian trail, connecting the navigable waters of the Cuyahoga river with the Tuscarawas. This old trail was the highway over which the Indians and early white traders transported their luggage
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and goods on pack-horses, as has been heretofore remarked, and was about eight miles in length. It was regarded as the ancient boundary line be- tween the Six Nations, occupying the territory cast of the Cuyahoga, and the several tribes located west of that river.
The first settler in Summit, David Hudson, arrived with his family at Hudson, in 1800. He had, during the previous year, explored the country, in company with Benjamin Tappan, a young lawyer, who settled at Ravenna. They both emigrated from Connecticut. The town of Hudson took its name from David Hudson, its founder. He, with his family, and several other emigrants from the land of Puritanism, came into the country by way of the Lake, in an open boat, and were subjected to many perils and and hairbreadth escapes. The boat was heavily ladened, and while entering the month of the Cuyahoga river, struck a sand-bar, and nearly filled with water, when, as luck would have it, a mountain wave came rolling shoreward, lifted the boat from the sand-bar, and floated her safely into the quiet waters of the river.
They continued their voyage up the river, in a rain storm, to a convenient landing place, where they pitched their tents for the night. The rain fell in torrents during the night, and when they awoke, near daybreak, they found themselves in
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imminent danger of floating down "stream in their beds. It was only by a prompt effort that they succeeded in saving themselves from a watery grave. All were truly thankful for an escape which seemed a special Providence. Hudson remarked, that he felt his responsibility in attempting to settle his family in the wilder- ness, so far away from civilization, but believed he had been influenced by the "fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom." For some time he and his family, with one other individual, constituted the entire population of Hudson, numbering thirteen persons in all. The popula- tion soon increased.
With a view to secure the moral welfare of the town, Deacon Hudson established public wor- ship, and took the lead in providing a public school. These were the first institutions of the kind established at Hudson. All this has eventnated in giving to Hudson its present in- telligent population, its several churches and public schools, crowned with a college, known as the "Western Reserve College," and to which a Theological and Medical Department has been attached. To Deacon Hudson belongs the honor not only of' founding the town, but of sowing the moral grain of mustard seed, which has attained to a gigantic growth, bearing "golden fruit," and diffusing its benign influence throughout
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that entire region. It is quite impossible to esti- mate the grand moral results which often flow from small beginnings. The good Deacon died in 1836, aged 75 years. "Requiescat in pace."
Akron, the county seat of Summit, was sur- veyed into city lots in 1825, and received its name from a Greek word, signifying "height," or "elevation." Its site is located on the highest point of land intervening between Lake Erie and the' Ohio River. The town is indebted for its name to a lawyer of Medina, who has long since deceased, and who was a fine classical scholar, as well as an able jurist and counsellor. For many years he practiced law with success, but finally contracted habits inconsistent with "tem- perance in all things," and descended prema- turely to the grave-the wreck of a noble man- hood. His name was Olcott.
It was in the year 1811, that the first white men settled in the vicinity of Akron. They were three in number, Paul Williams, Amos and Minor Spicer. Theirs was the only white settle- ment, at that time, in that section. The Indians were then numerous throughout the surrounding country, and though professing to be friendly, often proved treacherous. Well knowing that but little faith could be placed in Indian profes- sions, the white settlers adopted every precaution possible to avoid surprise, and when they retired
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at night accustomed themselves to sleep with "one eye open." 1
One dark night, during the war of 1812, after Minor Spicer and his wife had retired to bed, Mr. Spicer was awakened from his slumbers by a lond and oft repeated rap at his cabin door. He instantly sprang to his feet, stepped to the door and demanded who was there, and what was wanting. To this demand he received a harsh, gutteral reply in the Indian language, which he 'did not comprehend. The "outsider", became imperious in demanding entrance, when Spicer cautiously opened the door, and found himself confronted by a big, stalwart Indian, mounted on a pony with two rifles and the two halves of a slain deer slung behind him. Spicer asked him what he wanted. and received a reply in Indian. Spicer then demanded he should speak in Eng- lish, or he would dismount him. The Indian then said, in broken English, that he wished to stop for the night at Spicer's cabin; a request which was reluctantly granted. The unwelcome guest dismounted. The rifles were placed in one corner of the cabin, the venison hung up in another, and the pony, for want of a barn, was stabled in a vacant pig sty. The Indian, finding himself in comfortable quarters, deliberately cut a few steaks from the venison, and desired Mrs. Spicer to cook them for him. This she cheerfully
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did, and seasoning the meat with pepper and salt, placed it before him. He drew up to the table, and after tasting the meat rose from his chair, smacking his lips with a scowl on his face, laid his tomahawk and scalping knife in the corner beside the rifles, and then prostrated him- self on the hearth before the fire, and soon appeared to have fallen asleep. Spicer and wife then retired for the night to their bed-room, which was on the same floor.
The Indian remained in apparent slumber for some time, when he raised himself to a sitting posture, and turning his head, looked steadily over his shoulder toward the bed-room, as if to assure himself that all the family were asleep, then rose to his feet, and stepped lightly across the floor to the corner, where the implements of death had been placed. At this moment the feelings of Spicer and wife, who had feigned sleep, yet had watched the movements of their guest, became intensely excited, especially as they saw they Indian halt in his approach to the corner, and again look around, evidently with a view to ascertain whether he had disturbed the household, and hearing no sound, he then seized his scalping-knife, and touched its edge with his finger. Spicer, at this juncture, believing that blood must flow, noiselessly took his own rifle in hand, which stood at his bedside, and leveled it
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at the Indian, ready to fire, when he discovered that the Indian had thrust his knife into the venison, and was cutting from it a large slice, which, when severed, he proceeded to lay on the live emhers in the fire place to broil. This reas- sured Spicer, that "all is well that ends well." He then replaced his rifle carefully at his bedside, without alarming the Indian, who, after broiling and devouring his huge slice of venison, read- justed himself on the hearth and there slept quietly until morning.
The truth was, the Indian, though famishing with hunger, did not relish the meat which Mrs. Spicer had cooked for him, because it tasted of salt and pepper ; and, therefore, he concluded to appease his appetite, after the family had retired, by cooking a repast to suit his taste, and at the same time avoid disturbing the family, as he ' feared Mrs. Spicer might feel mortified that her cookery had proved unacceptable. The occur- rence was certainly a rare instance of the delicate consideration of an Indian, for the sensibilities of a white woman, who had cheerfully endeavored to do him a kindness.
The Indian expressed his gratitude, on leaving in the morning, to the family for their kind hos- pitalities, and gave the reason which had led him to their cabin at so late an hour at night. He said that he and his aged father had been out on
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a deer hunt, the day previous, and had lost themselves at nightfall in the depths of the forest. His father was. overcome with the cold and fatigues of the day, and could travel no further. He then wrapt his father in the two blankets shared between them, and placed him in a comfortable bed of leaves, under the shelter of a fallen tree, and while thinking how to dispose of himself, saw a light in the distance, followed it, and thus became a guest at the cabin. He now remounted his pony, and retraced his steps into the dense forest, where he found his father, who had just awakened from a sound sleep, much refreshed, when they both proceeded on their way, express- ing their acknowledgments to the " Great Spirit," who had protected them.
The first grist mill built in Summit was erected in 1807, at a point about two miles east of Akron, on the Little Cuyahoga river, where the village of Middlebury is now located. The present flour mills of Akron may trace their ancestry to this primitive mill. Unlike the "mill of the gods," the present Akron mills grind fast, and produce the best quality of flour known to the market, and when converted into bread almost induces one to believe that man can live by "bread alone," though contrary to Scripture. The Akronians are an enterprising people, and have a growing city that cannot be thrown into the
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"shadow of a doubt"' as to its continuous growth and prosperity.
The beautiful village of Cuyahoga Falls is located on the Cuyahoga river, about four miles northeast of Akron. The natural scenery at this point is remarkable for its wild and picturesque appearance. Within a short distance from the village the river falls to the depth of some two hundred feet, while the walls of the channel rise to a corresponding perpendicular height. This wild locality, in primitive times, was a favorite resort of the aborigines. They called the falls "coppaciw," which in their language, signifies "shedding of tears." These Indians were shrewd at a bargain; and in trading with a white settler, who located in that vicinity, succeeded in cheat- ing him outrageously in the sale of a worthless pony. The white man, when he discovered the cheat, shed. tears. This exhibition of womanly weakness disgusted the Indians, who would rather die than cry, happen what would. The more the white man cried, the more the Indians laughed at him, calling him "Coppacaw," a nick- name by which he was ever afterward known.
The township of Stowe received its name from Joshua Stowe, a member of the surveying party, who landed at Conneaut on the 4th of July, 1796. In traversing the Lake Shore he acted as flagman in advance of the compass, and often encountered rattlesnakes in his path, which he
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delighted to kill. The party, though supplied with a plenty of salt provisions, desired fresh meat as a change of diet. They therefore tried the experiment of dressing and cooking certain parts of the rattlesnakes, which Stowe had killed, and found the taste and flavor excellent. They partook of the feast with a keen relish, and often repeated this luxurious indulgence. This fact may be relied on as a truthful "snake story." But now the day of rattlesnakes, like the "day of miracles," has passed. The only snakes that seem to infest modern times are "snakes in the boots." These the Prohibition party has not, as yet, been able to exterminate.
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