USA > Connecticut > Incidents of pioneer life in the early settlement of the Connecticut Western Reserve > Part 15
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quart of whisky from Hillman, with a view to have a jollification. Hillman happened to have 'several gallons still unsold, which remained in his canoe, and which he promptly offered to donate to his early friend, or as much of it as he desired. But Young replied that it was his com- pany, and that he desired to furnish the treat at his own expense, and at the same time inquired of Hillman the price at which he sold whisky to the Indians. In reply, Hillman disclosed, to some extent, the profits of his commercial inter- course with' the Indians, by informing his friend that he had been selling whisky to the natives, at a dollar a quart, and received deerskins in payment at a dollar a piece, and doeskins at fifty cents, when Young, having no money with him, instantly seized the deerskin which he had spread on the ground for a bed, and gave it to Hillman, in payment for a quart of whisky. This settled the matter of privilege, and the entire party passed the evening in social merri- ment, until a late hour, enlivened with frequent potations of the stimulating beverage. Instead of a quart, however, Hillman shared the expense of the treat by supplying the jug with thrice that quantity, which was drained by the party to the "last drop." The sun was approaching the meridian when the convivialists awoke, the next morning. They felt that they had shared the
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"dreams of sleepy hollow," without taking any definite note of the "flight of time." They all agreed to keep the "secret," but some how or other, the "bird" escaped. The truth was, that Young, who was a " devout man," had sold bis deerskin, and was, therefore, unable to "take up his bed and walk."
The story of that night's convivialty soon reached the ears of his friends throughout the white settlement, who delighted to speak of the occurrence and indulge in a hearty laugh at Young's expense, both in his presence and out of it, whenever attention was called to the sub- ject. It was regarded as a "joke too good to keep," yet Young and Hillman ever remained the best of friends, and were honored by all who knew them. They were prominent among the worthy fathers who laid the foundations, broad and deep, of our Western Reserve civilization and present prosperity.
The following is a second version of the account given in a preceding chapter, of the attack made by McMahon and Story, on the Indians, at Salt Springs, in 1800. Both versions seem to be sub- stantiated by authorities equally credible, yet the second may be accepted as essentially correct, though including some additional facts. The probability is, that a number of other reckless white men accompanied McMahon and Story in
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this unprovoked encounter with the Indians, and that some half dozen, instead of two only, of the Indians, were killed by the assailants. At any rate, the Indians regarded the attack as a flagrant wrong, and resolved to take vengeance on the white men by massacring the entire population, both at Warren and Youngstown. This created universal alarm in both settlements. The citizens held a consultation with a view to take immediate steps to pacify the Indians, if possible, and thus avert the threatened massacre.
The result was that the citizens selected Col. Hillman, who for eight years had held commer- cial intercourse with the Indians, and could speak their language, to visit thein, and make an effort to bring about a reconciliation. Though, feeling doubtful of success, and of his personal safety, the Colonel accepted the mission, and proceeded at once to execute it, in connection with his confidential friend, Randall. They took no arms with them, but bore a white flag, indi- cating that they sought a friendly interview. They traveled on horseback, and the next morn- ing, at sunrise, discovered a band of Indians asleep in camp, seventeen in number, with guns and powder-horns resting on forked sticks near them and ready for any emergency. A squaw dis- covered their approach, and gave the alarm. The seventeen warriors sprang to their feet and
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seized their guns, but seeing Col. Hillman and Randall, whom they readily recognized, riding into their camp, unarmed, all suspicions of harm and treachery were removed, and dropping their guns, received their visitors with civility.
The principal chief, Onondaga George, who was well acquainted with Col. Hillman, exhibited a high degree of excitement, and commenced con- versation at once on the subject of the recent murders. Hillman insisted that the citizens of the settlements should not be assailed and made to suffer for the wrongs committed by the per- petrators of the murders, and that he would see that the murderers, whoever they might be, should be arrested and tried for their crimes, and if found guilty, hanged. He then suggested that McMahon was the leader of the party who made the attack, and that steps had already been taken by the whites to secure his arrest, with any others who could be identified as participators in the bloody affair.
The Chief seemed to acquiesce in this view of the matter as just, but said nothing could be done without the concurrence of his ally, a chieftain known as "Capt. Peters," who at this time was on his way from Deerfield, with an armed band of braves, and would arrive during that day. In a few hours, Capt. Peters arrived with his braves, "prepared for war." The moment this stern old
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Chief saw Hillman, he "scowled " in contempt and with a look of defiance. Hillman made an effort by kind and conciliatory words to pacify him, but without success,
At this crisis, the two Chiefs stepped aside and held an excited interview, speaking in the Seneca language, which they supposed Hillman did not understand ; yet he happened to be familiar with , that tongue, and comprehended all they said. Chief George labored to convince Peters that an amicable adjustment of their grievances should be made as proposed by Hillman, but Peters insisted that Hillman and Randall should be killed on the spot.
The Chiefs then concluded their private inter- view, and united with the entire band of warriors in consultation. - Randall began to tremble with alarm, and proposed to Hillman that they should mount their horses and escape. But Hillman would not consent, because he knew from the fact that the Indians had stacked their guns, that there was no immediate danger, and directed Randall to take a nearer station and watch their actions, telling him that if he saw any one of them painting himself "black," it meant "death." In that event, he was directed to seize instantly at least two of their guns, so that they could sell their lives as dearly as possible. But no definite action appeared to be taken, and the conclave became silent.
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Hillman then approached and beckoned Capt. Peters aside, and in a low tone of voice, unheard by the conclave, offered him a liberal "bribe " in money with other valuable gifts, if he would go on a business errand for him to the storehouse at the mouth of the Cuyahoga river, and give up the expedition against the settlements. The bribe was accepted, and the warriors disbanded. Col. Hillman with his friend Randall, returned to the settlement at Youngstown. The "glad tidings" of the result, came like sunshine in a dark hour, and abated the "alarm" which had been so in- tensely felt by the white population. Yet fears, as to what might happen, still existed. All felt that no time should be lost in bringing McMahon and Story to a speedy trial. But before the day set, Story made his escape from jail. No others had been arrested, though it was believed that several other persons were involved in the unfor- tunate affair.
When the day of trial arrived McMahon was brought in chains before the court, held at Youngstown by Judges Return J. Meigs and Benjamin Ives. The Indian chief, Capt. Peters, was invited to sit on the bench with them. Gil- man, Backus and Tod, attorneys, were assigned by the court to prosecute the case in behalf of the people. Semple, Edwards and Tappan were assigned as counsel to defend the accused. The
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prisoner, McMahon, was arraigned, and by ad- vice of his counsel plead "not guilty" to the charge contained in the indictment. The jury was called and sworn, and after a preliminary statement, made by one of the prosecuting attor- neys, the witnesses were called and solemly sworn. They were numerous, and composed of both white men and Indians. The testimony was fully heard. One of the defendant's witnesses swore that he saw McMahon "retreat" a few steps, as if to avoid a fight, when he suddenly turned and shot his antagonist. This fact made an impression on the minds of the jury favorable to the accused. Capt. Peters noticed the appar- ent effect of this testimony, and at once exclaimed -- "ngh" -- with a characteristic shrug of the shoulders. Here the testimony closed. Able arguments were made by the attorneys on both sides. The court charged the jury, who then retired, and after consultation, returned a verdict of "not guilty," believing the shot was fired in self-defense, and hence McMahon was acquit- ted, though believed by his fellow-citizens gener- ally to be guilty.
The chief, Capt. Peters, admitted that the trial was fair and impartial, and expressed himself satisfied with the result, and so advised his tribe. From this time forward, the white settlements maintained peaceful relations with the Indians
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resident in their vicinity, with the exception of occasional difficulties of a minor character.
History presents the Western Reserve as it now appears, in two aspects-its pioneer life, and its modern life. Its pioneer life has be- queathed to us many valuable lessons of wisdom. These lessons are golden fruits-not such as were grown in the garden of the Hesperides-but such as have grown from a wilderness, subdued by the patient toil's and hardships of brave men, and resolute women, who were, for the most part, emi- grants from New England, where they had been educated, in the days of their youth, in the precepts of the Bible, and in the Puritanic doctrines of the "Old Assembly's Catechism." They left the land of their birth to improve their condition. What little wealth they possessed, consisted mainly in pluck and enterprise. They came to conquer a wilderness, and they con- quered it. They sought a "land of promise," and realized it.
The secret of their success may be traced to the moral principles, which characterized their edu- cation. Hence, they practiced economy, and led a frugal life, commensurate with their limited means. They built log cabins in which to dwell ; log school-houses in which to educate their chil- dren; and log churches in which to worship God. They had faith, not only in God, but in
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themselves. They regarded each other as a common brotherhood, and helped each other "in time of need." They looked ahead, and went ahead. Ever mindful of their responsibilities to both God and man, they have left to their posterity a rich inheritance, rich in lands, and rich in lessons of wisdom. But now --
" With all their virtues, plain and stern, The good old times have sped, And now the wisdom which we learn, Turns giddy every head ; And yet 'tis wrong, I ween, to spurn Our old ancestral dead !
They earned by toil whate'er they had, Since Heaven ordained it so ; Nor with the fashions went they mad, Nor cramped they waist or toe ; Nor like the lily, pale and sad, Looked every belle and beau.
. The girls were taught to spin and weave, The boys to hold the plough ;
"Twas then thought wise, and, I believe, As wise it might be now,
If people would their scheming leave, And live by sweat of brow."
The modern life of the Western Reserve is indebted to its pioneer life for its success, and for its leading traits of character. Yet this modern life has some "peculiar traits" of its own. It has wealth, and indulges in luxuries. It resides in palaces, and assumes the airs of mobility. It
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has many social virtues, and some social vices. It is proud of its many sons and daughters, and they are proud of their parentage. It has a high order of intelligence, and maintains a high order of popular education. It moves in the first circles, and creates the first circles. It aims high, and seldom fails to achieve its aim. It reveres great men, and rears great men. It is a power in church and State, and makes its influ- once felt in church and State. It recognizes its past and its present, but has no prophet, who can predict its "future."
It is a trait of human character, as commenda- ble perhaps as it is universal, which induces a reverence for the past, especially for its heroic men and noble women, and their achievements. This tendency to clothe the past with the garb of sanc- tity enriches the field of human thought, and awakens reminiscences which constitute the "golden link" that binds the hearts and lives of those who have borne the " heat and burden of the day" in the by-gone years, when the "battle of life" was but and unremitting struggle for the mastery of a wilderness and its elevation to a realm of human happiness and social refinement. It is these cherished reminiscences, shared by the early settlers and surviving pioneers of the Western Reserve, which are recognized as the ties of a tried friendship and the cement of a common brotherhood. Hence it is that they enjoy annual
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festive assemblages, and crown such occasions with a "feast of reason and a flow of soul." We, who are of them, feel proud of our fraternal relationship.
" Still pilgrims in a favored land, Who long have lingered on the way, How blest to meet and grasp the hand, And crown with joy onr festive day.
And tell of years whose scenes return, Like shadows on our pathway cast, And catch, from living lips that burn, The fleeting memories of the past.
And while we trace from whence we sprung, And early friendships fain renew, Still let us dream that we are young, And, though a dream, believe it true.
Nor days forget when first we heard Life's battle-ery, and sought the field; When lofty aims our bosoms stirred, And faith had armed us with her shield.
'Twas courage, then, with youthful zeal, That led us onward, flushed with pride; "Tis years, now ripe, that make us feel How swiftly glides life's ebbing tide!
Yet while we here prolong our stay, We'll keep our pledge of love and truth; And when we pass the darkened way, Ascend and sbare immortal youth."
Philosophers say that every thing " moves in a circle." This may be doubted ; but the fact that every thing " moves" cannot be questioned. The pioneer life of the Reserve was born to con- quer, and it won the victory. In duetime, the same may be said of its modern life. The one has run
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its career and left but few survivors. The other has but commenced its career, and still looks to the future for the achievement of its high aims. The one relied on its pluck, muscle, and heroism for its success : the other relies on its brains, its inventions, and its material wealth for its triumphs. Both have their merits and demerits, their virtues and their vices. The early settlers, especially the few survivors of the primitive times, still entertain and cherish the belief that the "olden times," both morally and socially, were purer, better and more enjoyable than these "modern times." Hence they all unite with "one accord" in the sentiment of the song ---
" Give me the good old days again ! When hearts were true and manners plain; When boys were boys till fully grown, And baby belles were never known; When doctor's bills were light and few, And lawyers had not much to do; When honest toil was wel! repaid, And theft had not become a trade.
" Give me the good old days again ! When cider was not called champagne; When round the fire, in wintry weather Dry jokes and nuts were cracked together; When girls their lovers battled for, With seeds from juicy apple's core: While mam and dad looked on with glee, Well pleased their merriment to see.
" Give me the good old days again ! When only healthy meat was slain; When flour was pure and milk was sweet, And sausages were fit to eat;
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When children early went to bed, Aud ate no sugar on their bread; When lard was not turned into butter, And tradesmen only truth could utter.
" Give us the good old days again ! When women were not proud and vain; When fashion did not sense outrun, And tailers had no need to dun; When wealthy parents were not fools, And common sense was taught at schools; When hearts were warm, and friends were true, And Satan had not much to do."
Though a prophet may have " no honor in his own country," yet it may be safe to predict that the modern life of the Western Reserve, grand and noble as it is, has an "unborn future" that is destined to excel our brightest anticipations, in all that pertains to wealth, population and intelli- gence. Comparatively it is still in its infancy; yet it has the capacity of a giant. Its elements of strength are still unknown to itself, and only need development. It has a soil capable of sus- taining a population equal in numbers to its number of acres -- three and a half millions. In view of its schools, its churches, its Christian civ- ilization, all of the highest order, and still advanc- ing in the facilities they afford, it becomes as impossible as it is audacious for any one, however wise he may be, to affix a limit to the ultimate moral power and material aggrandisement of the WESTERM RESERVE.
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