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977.101 As3h 1634251
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOCY COLLECTION
L
GEN
1 ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 02399 2552
Gc 977.101 As3h Hill, George William History of Ashland County, Ohio
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/historyofashland00hill
1809.
HISTORY
OF 2)
ASHLAND COUNTY,
OHIO,
WITH
ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
BY
GEORGE WILLIAM HILL, M. D.
PUBLISHED BY
WILLIAMS BROS.
1830
F 89205,4
1634251
HURON CO.
LORAIN CO.
HURON CO.
RUSSIES
TROY SULLIVAN
RAGGLES
TPOY
SULLIVAN
MEDINA CO.
PERRYSBURG+
SAVANNAH
ICLEAR GBERK!
ORANGE
JACKSON
Vermilion Luis
POLK
ORANGE
0
LAFAYETTE
CO.
CO.
ASHLAND
MILISE MONTGOMERY
PERRY
EPOMEVILLE
JEROMETOWN
FESVILLE
JNTTAN TOWN
MIFFLIN
WAYNE
F.
D
GMAP OF5
NEKAY P :0.
GREEN
ASHLAND GO A
OLD GREEN
TOWN
L
PERRYSWILE-
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LOUDONVILLE
1
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R
PHANOVER
HOLMES
ROWSBURG
MOHICANVILLE
: OHIO. Scale '4 inch to Whomite.
N
TO THE PEOPLE OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO,
WHOSE DEEDS ILLUSTRATE DEVOTION TO INDUSTRY, LITERATURE AND RELIGION, THE PERPETUATION OF AMERICAN FREEDOM, FURE GOVERNMENT,
EQUALITY OF TAXATION, FREEDOM OF OPINION AND AN ENLIGHTENED PRESS,
THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THEIR FELLOW CITIZEN,
GEO. W. HILL.
ASHLAND, O., April 10, 1876.
CONTENTS.
HISTORICAL,
GENERAL HISTORY.
PAGE.
CHAPTER.
PACE.
. XXI. - The Wer of 18ra
53
I .- Pre-historie History
9
XXII .- Occurrences during the War
55
II .- The Stone Era
IO
XXIII .- The Settlers take Refuge in Block-houses 58
III .- Ashland City -- Earthworks, the extent and prob- able origin 12
XXV .-- Victory brings joy
63
IV .-- The Eries, or the Cat Nation
17
XXVI .- Organization of Wayne and Richland Counties
55
V. - The Wyandots
19
XXVII .- After the War of 18:2
68
VI. -- The Ottawas
20
XXVIII-Township Organization XXIX. - Early Grist-mills
23
VI!I .- The Mingo villages of the Mohican
24
XXX. - - The Villages and Tours of Ashland County 76
79
XI .- Crawford's Expedition 31
XXXIII -- The Pioneers of the year 1825
94
XII .-- The legend of Helltown .
34
XXXIV .-- The erection of Asiland County
99
XUI .-- Indian Trail .. .
35
XXXV .- The Militia and Soldiers of 1812
· ICO
XIV .-- India : Customs
36
XXXVI .- Ashland County in the War of 1861-5 . .
102
XV .-- Indian Characteristics
38
XXXVII. - Newspapers, Benevolent Societies and Panks
114
XVI .-- Indian Navigation and Theology
XXXVIII. - Statistics . 116
XVII .-- Treaties and Surveys
+5
XXXIX .- Medicine and Law
XVIII .-- The Survey -- Al, adventure
4.5
XI ..- The County Officers from 1846 to 1890 122
XIX .- The erection of Fuirheld County
49
XII .-- A list of the Justices of the Peace
124
XX. - Pioneer History
50
BIOGRAPHICAL.
PAGE.
P -. GE.
Armstrong, Captain .
I30
Coulters, The
:45
Armstrong, Dr. Harrison
170
Chandler, Joseph
148
Armstrong, Dr. David
171
Carter, Daniel, sr.
149
Andrews, James
203
Chandler, Robert F.
150
Andrews, Alanson
205
Carter, Daniel, jr.
159
Andrews, Lorin, L.L. D.
208
Chif, Dr. Joseph
167
Armentrout, Alishamn
237
Clark, D :. P. I.
170
Alberson, James
254
Clark, Dr. Bela B.
170
Andrews, Mrs. Sarah H.
263
Clark, Dr. W. R. S.
170
Alberson, W. T. .
265
Cmne, Dr. Isaac L.
171
Beall, General Reason
1.42
Chase, Hon. James E.
173
Bird, Sparks
1544
Charles John
Bail y. Abel
154
Copus, Wesley
177
Bryte, David
154
Coffin, Frederick W.
177
Bryte. John
155
Carver, Aidrich
179
Burns, Hugh
156
Cluster, Norman
ISo
Beach, Danisi
Cl.uk, Nathanke!
ISI
Boweries, George W.
180
Curry, George W.
133
Bull, Hon. George W.
Culler, Michael .
20;
Beer, Rev. Thomas
Chamberlain, Jesse
214
Brothers, Henry
22:
223
Bishop, John
250
Berry. Col. John
2.49
Carr, John, sr.
231
Berry, Jacob
Clara, James
230
Burgan, Laban
Crouse, Jacob
234
Beer. Wilham
25;
23.7
Beer, Richard
254
238
Beer, Capuin Robert
2.
Brianaker, Petr
257
Bitrns, Pote:
Bechtel, joseph
. Campbell, James
Beer. Ilon. Thomas
350
Dowde. Billy
: 33
Boh Family
Deming Dr. Will ... .
XXIV .- Military Expeditions 61
71
VIL. -- The Mohegans
22
IX .- Major Rogers en the soil of Ashland County X .- The Aloraviana
27
XXXI .-- Education and Institutions of Learning
28
XXXII. -- Religious Societies and Churches
83
-
4
Bushnell, Sterling G., sr,
İÇI
Chapman, John
2C7 221
Cole, Thomas, s. Cory, john .
=49 250
Church, Henry Chall, Jacob
5
PAGE.
Inidson, Dr.
169
Moody, Rev. Samuel 216
171
Mercers, The 2.6
Daugherty, Hon. John
175
Markel, Solomon 225
151
-
McCombs. John H. 2.10
219
Mansfield Martin Fienty
24+
2:2
Myers, Michael .
2.46
255
Norr, Michoel 20:
Thatkey, Tbom .. o
255
McClain, John 25:
522
E dle, William and Thomas
1:5
Newman, Andrew
166
1. bott. Potrick
182
Nowali, Robert
173
Emmason, Rov. R. D.
215
Nelson, Robert
202
Marron, William A. G.
217
Nelson, John S
213
Past. Christian, st. .
133
Oliver, Lewis
Bottles, George and Elizabeth
I38
Oesterlen, Dr. Custavus
169
Findley, Alex intier
113
Oliver, Allen
133
Ford! ! las
16.4
Osborn, Judge Willam
263
Fuller. Di, Ephraim P.
167
Offineer, James A.
323
Fulkerson, Major R. P.
172
Friest. James Loadon
161
Paallin. Z. T.
176 100
Frazee, William C.
227
Pipe, Captoin
193
.Fast, William
250
Portes, John
212
Fiske, Hemy
251
Parker, Rev. Joseph: Seeley
215
Fast, Jacob
Parmely, Sylvanus
233
Greentre, John
150
Peck, Homer
235
Gates, Isaac .
159
Rice, Ebenezer
Greenlee, Williams
162
Roorback, Jacob
Gliss, Dr. Sainnel
177
Richards, Saonei
13€
Grabb, Jacob H.
173
Robertson Sunucl
182
Grinold, James
180
Reed, Asa S.
Gallup, Josiah
Robinson. Rev. John, D D.
Grat am, Francis
206
Robison, John
221
Gibson, Jacob
243
Ramsey, William
Grahan Franc.s
250
Piddle, Michael, or
Harvuot. Joseph
160
Raistons, The
.
Hiffner, Jacob, sr.
Rawr ey. Joha
Hildreth, Dr. Joseph
Huff, Peter
177
Haskell, Nathaniel
Stoa, Dr. Andrew j.
Huffman, Abraham
197
-Slocami, Dr. W.illard
HamiBor, William
2:6
Sutherland, Thomas Smith
Heibest. Jacob
2 1%
Sturtevant, Bradford
$79 174
Heltnan, William G.
380
18r
Hill, Dr. George W.
between 125 and 127
137
Ilgor, W.tham W.
Slurum, Elias
102
Ingmand, Luke
.
2.52
Sin th, Thomas
Ingmand, Judge Edmund
Sheets, Josepn
204
Jeron, Baptiste
127
Sultzer, Frederick
204
Jonenk :, Splemon
210
Jennings, Jacob O.
.
2!I
Jones, Judge John D.
380
220
Kinnaman. Dr. Jacob, B.
171
Swinekad, jo !!
222
Kirgore, james
235
Said:, Janes W.
217
Luther, Dr. feel
157
Stull. Isaac
2.17 240
i Ninght, John
175
Spreng! Lonis Jefferson
-53
Lotta, William
2:2
Smith. John
Lanta, Moses .
213
Smith, Mr. Samuel
Luther, Hulbert
22.2
Stente, Feter
Link, Adam
220
Stelle:, Henry
202
feidligh, Samu .
381
Spett, Thomas, jr.
Mason, Andrew
Sinlbs, joseph D.
33 [
Mason, Mrs. Elizabeth
.
157
Thomas, Boxter
150
Wirray. Patrick
Tilton, John
155
Markby, Juseph
199
Taylor, William
:55
Micol Vechel
190
201
'T. yitt. Willary, and Sons
212
Thomas, Wich. el
Nekait, Thomas
202
! Eric, Colonel George W.
Mason, Martin, sr.
21; Lei: Solom.m
Slocum, General Willard 30;
McChry, Dr. Oliver . McCutchin, Joseph
172
.
Thanshille, The
10
Hughes, Rev. William
220
Facket, Harvey
Senith, Henty Sprott, Tuomas
.
245
129 230
Springes. John Strickland, Joseph Sheets, Joseph
Lyons; Thomas . Lucas, jacob
104
Summers. Daniel
1
4
---
!
1 1
i
5 i
!
.
22. 224 327 2.6
161 168
Scott, Jobn Shopbis, Jacob
'53
.
Frees. Jacob
213
Pong, James
:
. .
:
:
3
-----
---
1
1
1
i :
1
Det.lap. Thomas
Paky, Joha
=57
McConnell, John
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
157
.
.
CONTENTS.
1
C.
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Van Aman, Charles S.
181
Winhigler, Richard . 20%
Van Nest, John .
21.4
Wallack, El W.
227
Van Nordstrand, Peter, sr.
225
Whitmore, Judge Daniel W.
2.11
Vantilburg, Daniel, sr.
246
Welch, Epl raim
246
Vance, Solomon
248
Willson, Charles
254
Williams, Abram
123
Westhefter, William 259
Walker, Captain Alanson
171
Young, Jacob
235
Weston, Roswell
180
TOWNSHIP SKETCHES.
FAGE.
YAGE.
Green
273
Jackson
3.38
Lake .
284
Orange
Hanover
291
Milton
348
Yermillion
299
Sullivan
353
Cicarcreek
310
Mohican .
336
Mifflin
315
Montgomery
35.4
Perry
323
Ruggles
379
Troy
336
ILLUSTRATIONS.
FAGL.
PAGE.
"Appleseed Johnny," portrait
facing 184
Smith, J. W., portrait
facing 247
Brubaker, J., portrait !
facing 364
Sprott, Tho.aas, portrait
facing 381
Culler Michael, portrait
between 202, 203
Thomas, Joslab and wife, portraits, with biography
facing 176
Culler, Barbara, portrait
between 202, 203
Urie, G. W., portrait. with biography
facing 189
Culler, John P., portrait
between 20%, 207
Welch, Jane, residence and portraits
facing 2-3
Culier, Samuel, portrait
between 206, 20;
Priest stockade, 18:2
facing 55
Carter, David, portrait, with biography
. tacing 149
The attack on the Copus cabin by Indians, morning of
Donley, Jobn and wife, portrait
facing 254
September 15 1812
facing :6
Fluke Family, portraits
between 250, zor
Blockhouse .it Jeromeville, 13:2
facing to
HPI, Dr. George W., portrait (steel), with biography between 126, 127
The Zimmer cabir, 1812
facing 55
McCombs, J. H., portrait, with biography
facing 230
Indian village of Greentown, 18:2
facing 24
Markel. I. F., portrait, with biography
facing 325
-
.
----
----------
--
1
1
PREFACE.
There seems to be a general desire among the people of this county to investigate and become conversant with its local history. To this end I have attempted to rescue from oblivion memorials of unpublished facts, reminiscences, personal adventures and traditions, and particularly the memory of the primitive days of our fa- thers, their frontier life, privations and struggles in the forests of the valleys of Mohican.
In the preparation of this volume I have encountered many embarrassments. The thoughtless destruction of township pioneer records, the conflicting statements of the living, and the tendency to embellish, on the part of many, made it exceedingly difficult to reconcile dates and narrations. Determined to arrive at the truth, and at the same time let the follies of the dead sleep, I have discarded, as far as possible, all doubtful statements.
The temptation to exaggerate, round up and adorn personal adventure and family history, is such that the Larger part of the world, if we are to judge from an heroic standpoint, descended directly from the gods. The love of parents and ancestry is a laudable trait; and if all the children of the pioneers demonstrate their ven- eration for the past by transmitting unstained histories to their descendants, a great and noble work will have been ar hieved-worthy of all admiration and imitation.
The major part of this volume is derived from pioneer and border history, public documents, private records and living witnesses, who still linger among us. The task of compiling their narrations has been difficult and protracted. I have aimed to obtain the truth in all things, without prevarication or bias; and am happy to have met and interviewed so many aged gentleroen and their wives, before they have taken their final departure, to dwell no more amongst us.
In the biographical department I have been assisted by the friends of the partics-by family records, and the traditions of their associates. This department is rich in personal adventure, border experiences and captivi- Les. Many thrilling incidents are preserved, that in a few years " would have slept the sleep that knows no waking." These adventures have never been published, and I believe it a work of merit to present them to the public that they may be treasured in our libraries.
As most of the streams of this county have derived their names from the tribes once dwelling upon their banks, I take especial pride in giving very fuil sketches of the leading chiefs and hunters of the Mohegans, Dela- wares and Mingoes, as well as some, account of the Eries, Wyandots and Ottawas, who preceded them in the occupancy of these beautiful valleys from one to two hundred years. Their names will be familiar to the carly settlers.
Let us preserve these memories while we may. Era long the last of the pioneers will be garnered by the relentless reaper. Even now they are departing almost weekly, and soon the village bell will have tolled the knell of the last tottering frontiersman. The red man that met and welcomed him to these fertile valleys, has long since gone to the great hunting-ground, or now roanis, old and feeble, towards the setting sun. While meditating upon these changes, I somethines feel like ex- claiming with Omar, the Tent Maker:
The worldly hope men set their hearts upon. Turns ashes-or it prospers; and anon Like snow upon the desert's duisty face Lighting a little hour or two, was gone.
Think, in this hattet'd caravansera Whose portals are alternate night and day. How sulman after sultan with his pomp Abode his destined hour, and weat his way.
' They say the Ton and the Lizard keep The courts where Jamsted glofied and drank deep: And Bahram, that grant hunter- the Wild Ass Stamps o'er his head, bat cannot break his sleep !
I sometimes think that never blows so red The koso, as wherr some buried Clesar bled; That every Hyacinth the Garden wears Dropt in its lar from some once lovely hend!
And this reviving berh, whose tender green Hodges the river-lip on which we lean: Ab! lean upon it lightly, for who knows From what vuce lovely lip it springs unseen !
Ah! my beloved ! fill the cup that clears To-day of past regret and future fears ! To-morrowe ? Why, to-morrow I may be Myself with yesterday's seven thousand years!
Grateful acknowledgments are due to the many friends why have funni. bed ir formation concerning the early settlement of this county. Of these are Alexander and Miss Rosella Rice, of Green; John Greerlee, of Lake; Majer Ben. Tyler, of Mohican; Joseph Chandler,
.
3
PUBLISHERS' NOTICE.
of Perry; Jacob Fast, of Jackson; William Fast, of Orange; Colonel George W. Urie, Daniel Carter, jr., Andrew Mason, Isaac Stull, and Rev. John Robinson, D. D., of Montgomery; Thomas Bushnell, W. W. Scott and W. O. Porter, of Vermillion; Lewis Oliver and Rev. William Hughes, of Green ; Colonel John W. Bull and Dr. A. J. Scott, of Loudonville ; Daniel Hoover, Wesley Copus, and Mrs. Sarah Vail, of Mifflin; John Nelson, Hugh Burns, and Mrs. Thomas Smith, of Milton; John Bryte, Hugh Elliott, and Miss Huffman, of Clearcreek; Daniel Beach and James Grinald, of Ruggles; Charles Vanoonam and Henry Summers, of Troy; James Dunlap, Hamilton Porter, and Mrs. Parmely Mann, of Sullivan.
----
I am also indebted to General L. V. Pierce, of Akron; Colonel Charles Whittlesey, of Cleveland; Hon. Andrew H. Byers, of Wooster; Isaac Smucker, of Newark; Col- onel George C. Johnson, of Piqua; General R. Brinker- hoff and Dr. William Bushnell, of Mansfield; Dr. James
P. Henderson, of Newville; General Leslie Combs, of Kentucky; Hon. William Walker, of Kansas; Mr. Har- baugh, former, and H. H. Robinson, present, State li- brarian, for valuable aid and encouragement.
In preparing the historical narration, I consulted Bancroft's History of the United States; Western Annals, by James H. Perkins; Henry Howe's Virginia; Sher- man Day's Pennsylvania; Schoolcraft's Indian Tribes; Conspiracy of Pontiac; Stone's Life of Brandt; Hecke- welder's Indian Missions; Colden's Five Nations; Loshiel's Missions; Finley's Missions; Taylor's History of Ohio, Brown's History of the War of 1812; Mc- Afee's History of the War of 1812; Bosman's Maryland; Price's Fort Wayne, and numerous other volumes, deemed authentic.
With these statements and acknowledgments, this volume is respectfully submitted to the public.
May, 1876. G. W. H.
PUBLISHERS' NOTICE.
WE are enabled to place this volume in the hands of its readers much sooner than was anticipated at the time when we concluded to undertake its publication. The people of Ashland county have seemed averse to pictorial representations of themselves or their homes in this history of their county, and as we have con- sequently had very little engraving to do for the book, we have been able to do it quickly.
Although we have published, we think, every line of manuscript which the author has furnished us, the voluine does not embrace as many printed pages as the author and publisher at the outset estimated the nar- rative would make. However, the history as given, is complete, and embraces a detailed and thorough rec- ord of the events comprising the history of Ashland county. The publishers have never issued a volume so rich in biographical history. The author has seem- ingly omitted no citizen or pioneer settler of the
county in his treatment of this department of the work.
We believe a book so valuable, so replete with his- toric lore, prepared with so much skill, labor and pains- taking, and withal so complete and authentic a rec- ord, will be most acceptable to the people of Ashland county. The author has executed his task faithfully and well, and if his important work be not fully ap- preciated now by his fellow-citizens of Ashland county, he can rest assured that the memory thereof will be gratefully treasured in the hearts of a generation yet unborn.
As publishers, we have endeavored to consummate our part of the undertaking conscientiously, and trust this verdict will be accorded us by those who are to be our judges.
WILLIAMS BROTHERS, Publishers.
CLEVELAND, Ono, September 21, 1885.
1
HISTORY
OF
ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO, --
CHAPTER I. PRE-HISTORIC HISTORY.
A Definition of History .- Speculative and Proper .- Some Conjectures Upon the Pre- Historic Races of Northern Ohio .- Their Strongholds. --. Their Numbers .- Their Contact with other Warlike People.
HisTORY is defined to be a narration of past and present events in relation to peoples, nations and empires. It is of two classes -- speculative and proper. By speculative history is meant such theories as are derived from de- duction or inference. For instance, there was what is denominated the "Stone age or period," in the history of the human race. We infer this from the fragments of their rude arts found in almost every country on the plobe. We have no means of learning from whence that people came, how long they existed, and under what circumstances they disappeared, and by whom they wore succeeded.
Amain, by deduction, we may trace the occupation and trin,y : of extinct rares by their monuments, their mili- tury defences, and their systems of internal improve- Bichits.
The historian is largely dependent upon this species of conjecture for an outline of the pre-historic periods of this country. The monuments found in South America, in Mexico, and along the valleys of the Mississippi, the Ohio, and other rivers of the United States, throw much light upon the character and occupations of the early race, that inhabited those regions.
In North America, the Mound Builders, so called, seem to have had possession of a number of very strong positions, from which their settlements radiated in all directions. The most prominent establishment of that rare was undoubtedly in the vaileys of Mexico, from which they gradually diffused themselves over Texas, New Mexico, and the valleys of the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Red river, the Ohio, the Muskingum, and their tribu- taries, as well as the Susquehanna, the Potomac, the Chesapeake bay and the Hudson, forming, at all strong points, vast settlements and cities defended by earthworks.
In Mexico, Central and South America, the Mound Builders must have shown a wonderful degree of pro- fw iency in the arts of civilization. Great cities, contain- ing. perhaps, hundreds of thousands of people, existed : and when the Spanish conquered that region over three hundred years ago, the population of those countries was
quite dense; and the ancient sites of their cities are sti !! to be seen. Their monuments, military defences, and temples erected to the "Sun;" and their culture of the soil, and researches in the finer metals, evince the fact, that they were as a people, immense in numbers, as well far advanced in the arts of civilized life.
A distinguished and reliable Spanish historian, who ac- companied the expedition of Cortez, named Bernard de Sahagua, says at that time a tradition existed among the natives of Florida, that a foreign colony had arrived on their shores more than two thousand years before, and proceeded across the Gulf of Mexico and landed in Yucatan, where they founded cities, now in ruins, the greatest of which had been destroyed over a thousand years before the arrival of the Spanish expedition. When the Spanish subdued Mexico, Montezuma re-asserted that tradition by assuring Cortez, the Spanish genera!, that the ancestors of the Mexican race came from the rising sun.
That the ancestors of the Mound Builders were of Asiatic origin, scarcely admits of a doubt. Ir Yucatan, the remains of civilization are Egyptian and Assyrian in character, and seem to have been erected prior to the arrival of the Incas and the Aztecs of the line of the Montezumas. The principal deity of Peru was said to have been called Chon, the same in name as the deity of the ancient Phoenicians, who was called Baal-Chon, or Saturn. Query : Were the Mound Builders the act- ual descendants of the ancient Phoenicians, or was the similarity in the names of their deities accidental?
Traveling further north into the Valley of Mexico, the temples and pyramids are more strikingly Egyptian and Assyrian. The great pyramid at Cholula was evidently a copy of those along the Nile, and dedicated to the same deity worshipped in the East. Can it be said, also, that the pyramidal system of both hemispheres is arri- dental, like the name of the deities worshipped in both? Or, have we here evidence that at some period in the history of the world, intercourse between the eastern and western continent ; must have been frequent ?
The next stronghold of the Mound Builders in thei- march northward, was opposite St. Louis, Missouri, where a group of pyramids was erected and which seems to have been the capital of a great empire, like the city of Mexico. From this point they slowly advanced up
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3 1833 02399 2552
10
HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
the Mississippi, the Ohio, the Muskingum, the Scioto and the Walvish, continuing their scttlements and con- structing mounds and immense earthworks for defence. In the valleys of the Scioto, the Muskingum and the Licking the most of these ancient intrenchments are found, within the limits of Ohio. West of Newark, in Licking county, are found two circular entrenchments of considerable extent. Half a mile west of that city is found the most curious, enclosing thirty acres of ground, and surrounded by another entrenchmient, which has been almost obliterated by plowing. Some three miles west of that point is another system of earthworks en- closing three times as much ground, in circular form, and having a number of gateways. These works must have been the seat of a large population; for their con- struction would require the united efforts of a great number of people for many years.
From that point their settlements seem to have radia- ted northward through Knox, into the river portions of Holmes, to Richland, up the Black fork to the south parts of Wayne and Ashland counties, and thence to the lake shore.
The migration of that strange people was undoubtedly resisted by another powerful race, composed of nomadic tribes having some sort of government; for the erection of the earthwork defences, found all along their course from Mexico northiward, conclusively show that they were met at every point by a warlike people, who had prior claims to the soil. This would furnish occasion for the erection of the earthworks as a place of retreat and safety from the incursions of an enemy, as well as a place to pay their devotions to their deities. The small mounds found in the neighborhood of these ex- tended entrenchments may have been used as so many signal sites to announce the approach of an enemy.
These grand central points must have held for a long series of years, and been cultivated by the inhabitants with great success; for the lands are composed of the richest soils, and by culture, yield large crops.
Many of the rude implements of warfare used by theit people have been found scattered all over northern Ohio; and are exhibited in the cabinets of the antiquarians and are really curious andingenious in workmanship. Evidence of the existence of a race somewhat advance 1 in the arts of military defence, anterior to the appearance of the Cau- casian, is found in almost every part of this county. Mounds and intrenchments at all the great valleys and commanding points are very numerous. The principal streams along which the earthworks are found are the Muddy, the Jerome, the Black and Clear forks of the Mohican.
CHAPTER H.
THE STONE ERA.
The Period of Stone Axes, Fleshers and Arrow Points, Etc. - By whom made .- Skill and Patience shown in their Manufacture. - Their use for Domestic as well as for Warlike Purposes. -- Others for Ornament only .- Implements Found in Ashland County .- By whom Con- structed and for what Purposes Used.
THE archaeologist is furnished a wide field in Ohio. Almost every county in the State abounds in evidence of the former presence of an extinct race. The ques- tion as to when the Mound Builders took possession of North America, how long they flourished, and under what circumstances they disappeared, is unsettled. It is equally uncertain whether the presence of that race con- stituted the "Stone Era," or, whether the race by whom the battle-axes, spear heads and flint darts were manu- factured, preceded or succeeded the Mound Builders. The presumption, however, is, that the rude implements of warfare, such as battle-axes and flint arrow-heads, were made by the Mound Builders, or a race that was cotemporary with them. This inference gains strength from the fact that the aforesaid implements are found in and about the mounds and earthworks throughout Ohio, and other States, and must have been abundant during that period. So numerous were these implements, that in almost every section of the State they continue to be plowed up by the farmers while preparing for their crops.
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