USA > Ohio > Highland County > A history of the early settlement of Highland County, Ohio > Part 17
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At this the Indian drew his scalping- knife and made a thrust at his antag- the chief if the Indians had commenced onist, who, seeing his danger, and war, to which he replied, "No, no! the throwing up his feet to ward it off, re- Indians and the white men are now all
ceived the blade of the knife in his one, all brothers." Wolfethen asked if thigh. In the scuffle the handle broke he had heard that the Indians had off and left the entire blade in the killed Capt. Herrod. The chief mani- wound. Wolfe at the same time made fested much; surprise, and replied that a blow at the Indian with his knife, le had not heard it, and seemed to which entered his breast bone. Just donbt its correctness. Wolfe assured at this critical juncture, Ferguson ran him of its truth. The Indian replied, to Wolfe's assistance. The Indian "Maybe whisky, too much drink was then seized Wolfe's fallen gun and the cause of the quarrel." Wolfe told struck Ferguson a most fearful blow him that Herrod had no quarrel with on the head and brought him to the the Indians, and it was not known by earth, laying bare his skull from the whom he was killed or for what cause. crown to the ear. Here the sanguinary The chief replied, maybe some bad conflict ended; and so rapid had been white man killed Captain Herrod. The the work of bloodshed and death that conversation then ended, and the party all was accomplished in less time than made preparation to resume their jour- it has taken us to relate it. ney. The chief again shook hands When the deadly strife was over the with them all in the same friendly foes of Waw-wil-a-way were all lying manner as at meeting and they parted. at his feet and had he been able to have After the chief had proceeded on his followed up his blows he would have way a few steps, Wolfe raised his rifle left none living behind him, for they and, taking deliberate aim at the In- were completely in his power. But his dian's back, fired. The ball passed strength failed him rapidly from loss through his body but he did not fall, of blood, and his sight became dim. though he seemed conscious that it He cast one glance on his fallen foes, must soon cause his death; nor did he it may have been of forgiveness, then submit to die as most men would have turning, walked a short distance out done under such circumstances.
into the grass in all the dignity of na- The great Caesar, when stabbed by ture's true nobleman, sunk upon his his friend in the Senate Chamber of face amid the wild prairie flowers, Imperial Rome, gathered his robes where his heart, which had ever been about him that he might fall with dig- impelled by the most magnanimous nity; not so, however, with the Shaw- emotions and true friendship for the nee Chief in the midst of the hereditary white man, at once and forever was still. hunting grounds of his tribe. He During the entire encounter, he never turned upon his dastardly assailants, uttered a word. Silently he enacted determined to sell his life as dearly as his part in the fearful drama,-he his dying condition would admit. fought his last battle with a heroism Raising his unerring rifle, he leveled it worthy the glory of his ancestors and upon Wolfe, whom he knew to be the the instincts of a true man. The con- black hearted coward who had shot duet of Wolfe and his companions was him by the smoke of his gun, but the cowardly and mean beyond anything scoundrel jumped behind his horse. known in the history of the West, and Williams' horse becoming frightened deserves the execration of the whole world. It was a deliberate murder. perpetrated under circumstances of the
and plunging about left his body partly unprotected, and the chief shot him through the body and he fell dead blackest treachery. They first attempt- in the path. The Indian then clubbed ed to disarm their victim by throwing his gun and in a state of desperation ruslied upon Wolfe, and with one blow prostrated him to the earth. Recover-
the priming out of his gun, and then parting with him under the mask of friendship. Had Wolfe and his com- ing, and being strong and active, he panions supposed him'an accessory to the death of Ilerrod, he would have gone with them to Old Town or Chilli-
closed with the Indian and made an effort to seize him by the long tuft of hair on the top of his head. He had a cothe and surrendered himself for in- shawl tied around his head in the man- vestigation,
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
Williams was found dead of his did not retreat to the nearest fort at wounds and his body was carried to the the falls of Paint as many others had house of Nathaniel Pope, with whom done, in Smith's old mill, then the he had recently been engaged as a property of Massie. Some of the chiefs went to Pope's, who sent off for some of workhand on his farmn. Wolfe was carried home in a wagon and the knife his Quaker neighbors who still remain- blade extracted by a surgeon. Fergu- son's wound was also dressed, but they both suffered much. The body of the chief was found where he fell, and taken by some of his tribe to a place of interment.
ed at home, and they and the chiefs held a council under a spreading ehn, which yet stands by a spring on the farm where he then resided. The Indians seemed not disposed to resort to actual hostilities, but at the same time they The death of this great and good In- dian chief added fuel to the excitement which had preceded it. The Indians in the neighborhood fled in one direc- tion and the whites another. Neither party knew what to do. All was dis- may and confusion. In this dreadful exhibited a decided inclination to take advantage of the general alarm and the weak and unprotected condition of the whites in their vicinity. So they pro- posed to make a divide of property and thenceforth hold Pope and his friends exempt from hostilities in case war state of suspense and alarm, Gen. Mc- should break out in reality. The In- dians wanted half their provisions and
Arthur and a large number of men mounted their horses and went to the salt, and all the blankets that could be heart of the Indian country, near Fort found. The young men were to go and help take the surviving murderers of their chief. The idea of parting with her blankets could not be endured by Mrs. Pope, so she flatly refused and the treaty was on the point of being broken off. One of the Indians then picked up Greenville, where they found a numer- ous body of Indians, among whom was the far-famed Tecumseh, or Shooting Star, as the name signifies. With these Indians a council was held. Gen. Mc- Arthur related all that had happened connected with the death of Herrod her youngest son, now Gen. J. W. Pope, and the Shawnee Chief. The Indians declared they had no knowledge of these transactions and reiterated their pur- pose to stand firm by the treaty made eight years before at that place. After some further deliberation between the parties, Tecumseh agreed to accompany them to Chillicothe, which he did. Af- ter their arrival a day was fixed on
then a lad of some ten or twelve years of age, and standing him up against a tree, went through the motions of tom- ahawking and scalping to show her what would be the consequence to the whole family of a persistence in her re- fusal. She not assenting promptly, he then stepped off fifteen or twenty fret and commenced throwing his toma- which he addressed the people. He hawk and sticking it in the tree a few spoke through an interpreter, and his inches above the boy's head, the sur- prepossessing appearance and native rounding Indians langhing loudly the eloquence made a powerful impression while. This Mrs. P. could not endure, on the vast concourse of people assem- 'so the treaty was ratified at once, and bled to hear him. This visit and speech the Indians went off, taking with them William Pope and some others of the young men to hunt Wolfe, the mur- derer.
allayed all alarm, and the people re- turned again to their quiet homes and peaceful avocations.
The panic was so great among the settlers about Old Town that they sent a petition to Gov. Tiffin requesting him to send a company of militiamen to guard them while they planted corn. About the 24th of May the company was ordered up. They stayed about a week guarding the farmers, and had a fine frolic during the time.
According to the Indian law the nearest of kin to the murdered man has a right to kill the murderer when- ever and wherever he can find him. Wolfe knowing this fled as soon as he was able and escaped to Kentucky, at the same time employing an agent to intercede for him. A negotiation was finally entered into with the sons of the deceased chief, by which the agent of Wolfe agreed to furnish each of them a : horse, a new saddle and bridle, and a new rifle, on which they agreed to bury
In the course of a few days after the murder of the chief, the Indians col- lected to the number of three or four hundred in the forks of Lees Creek in this county. The white settlers in that the tomahawk and make peace with vicinity were very few at that time, him forever. Nathaniel Pope being the only one near The ceremonies were hand at all the encampment, he and his family Town in presence of a large concourse were of course very much alarmed, but of Indians and whites. A hollow
A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
square was formed, in which were advanced and took Wolfe by the hand, Wolfe, the horses, &e., and the two then saluting him as a brother, they sons of the dead chief, who, in relin- lighted the calunnet and smoked with quishing their claim to the life of the him. The assembly then dispersed, all murderer, raised their hands towards on the most friendly terms. The two heaven, invoking the Great Spirit, de- young Indians returned to their camp elaring to him alone they transferred at the mouth of Hardins Creek, and sat the blood and life of Wolfe, forfeited down peacefully by the side of old to them by the murder of their father. Allen Crawford and his sons who were The scene was full of the most impres- also encamped there on a hunt. So sive solemnity, and many were moved ended the last Indian alarm in South- to tears. In token of forgiveness, they ern Ohio.
CHAPTER XIX.
MORGAN VAN METER LOCATES ON THE EAST FORK, OPENS A HOTEL, LAYS OUT A TOWN, AND INDULGES IN BRIGHT DREAMS OF FUTURE PROSPER- ITY-JONATHAN BERRYMAN APPOINTED POST-MASTER AT NEW MARKET -AARON WATSON STARTS A HOTEL, AND JOHN AND WILLIAM CAMPTON ESTABLISH A TANNERY IN THE SAME PLACE -- HOW THE MATERIALS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER WERE PROCURED - MARRIAGE OF MICHAEL STROUP AND POLLY WALKER, WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE WEDDING CEREMONY-DAVID ROSS SETTLES IN WHAT IS NOW UNION TOWNSHIP -- DAVID REECE, A CARPENTER, IS CORDIALLY WELCOMED AND CONTRIBUTES GREATLY TO THE COMFORT AND CONVENIENCES OF THE EARLY SETTLERS OF THE COUNTY-JOSEPH EAKINS LOCATES NEAR NEW MARKET.
Early in the spring of 1803 Morgan number deserted to the enemy and VanMeter left Kentucky for Ohio. He gave warning of their approach, which had a wife and considerable family, frustrated the object of the expedition, and being a backwoodsman, from long and they found it necessary.for their habit as a hunter and Indian fighter, own safety to turn back. They named he made his location on the head waters of the East Fork of the Little Miami, about fifteen miles north of New Market, then an extreme out-post settlement. Ilis nearest neighbors were the Evans on Clear Creek, the
their camp the "Deserted Camp," and it has ever since been a place of notor- iety among land surveyors. On this expedition he marked the peculiar merits of the surrounding country and when he pulled up stakes in Kentucky, Mckibbens and Miller a few miles and set his face northward, he follow- down the creek, and Adams on Turtle ed the trace froın Limestone on Creek. This selection not only gave through New Market to the banks of him an opportunity of locating his the East Fork. Here he built his little warrant on the choice of many miles cabin, cleared ont his corn patch and square of land, but secured to him fine made himself a home, depending en- hunting grounds in his ownimmediate tirely on the products of the chase for vicinity, which in those days was es- subsistence during the summer. Some teemed an object of first importance.
corn was had at a high price in the ad-
VanMeter had often been over the joining settlements but he gave him- ground while it yet remained in the self very little trouble abont bread, possession of its original and native substituting "jerk" for it as a general proprietors, the Wyandotts, and was thing. This jerk is deer meat dried by therefore familiar with the favorite the fire until it is entirely divested of points. Several years before he was all moisture. It will keep for a long one of a party of Kentuckians on their
time and is not a bad substitute for way to attack the Indian towns on the bread in case of extreme necessity. Little Miami, who encamped over Dry turkey breast was also used in night a few miles north of where he those days for the same purpose. chose his new home. One of their
The point selected by VanMeter
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
was, for the time, rather a good one. pulously to the very letter of the law Kenton's trace, or the old Mad River regulating the department. Aaron road, as it afterwards became, was then Watson having moved into New Mar- the main thoroughfare north, and, as ket from Kentucky and opened a small emigration increased very rapidly in tavern, and neither the business nor that direction from Kentucky, his the town coming up to the expectations house, being almost the only one be- of Wishart, he sold out in the summer tween. New Market and Springfield, of 1803 and moved off. This year John was soon known far and near as a Campton, from Kentucky, established stopping place for the weary and lone- a tanyard in New Market, the first in ly "mover." A trace was cut out from the present county of Highland. A Chillicothe to the settlement at Leba- few months afterwards his brother non, which place was laid out in the William came and engaged with him fall of. 1803, which crossed the Mad in the yard. Tanning in those days, River road at VanMeter's improve- though doubtless quite as necessary for ment and added considerably to the the convenience of the people as is that humber of persons claiming his hospi- art now, was carried on under many diffi- tulity, as well as the importance of his culties. Hides were scarce and dear. location. He found it necessary dur- Bark they had to gather themselves in ing the fall to build another cabin and the woods as best suited their conveni- finally to open a tavern in regular ence, and the present indispensable re- form. VanMeter was well adapted to quisite to leather finishing, fish oil, the times and the vocation of a log cabin landlord. He managed to keep a supply of whisky, venison and corn- bread or hominy, and could tell good could hardly be 'procured at any cost. As a consequence leather was very costly. But pioneer tanners as well as hatters and others, were not at a loss yarns and play the fiddle forthe amuse- for expedients. They fell back upon ment of his guests. He thus continued the natural resources of the country to do business and prospered for three and for years the tanners, not only of or four years. About this time he on- Now Market, but other parts of the gaged a surveyor and proceeded to country in Southern Ohio, bought in all further develop his original plan when the coon, 'possum, bear and other oils he first selected the location. He laid obtained by the Ininters from the native off a town on the beautiful bank of the animals of the woods. This opened up creek and named it Morgantown. The quite a trade, and was not only a source lots sold for a time pretty rapidly, as of profit to many, but of convenience many believed the point a good one, to all in those dus when money was there being no town then in existence almost out of the question. They were to interfere with its prosperity. The thus, by ordinary industry and care, en- place improved considerably in the abled to supply their necessary wants way of log cabins and small clearings. in the way of leather. This species of It was then in Ross county, and the oils was used pretty generally in this supposition of many was that it stood region up as Inte as 1820, though tan- a fair chance to become the seat of a ners did not like to acknowledge the new county at no distant day. When fact, for the reason that they were en- Highland county was organized, Mor- abled to keep the price of leather up on pretence of the high price of fish oil, little or none of which they in fact
gantown was within its boundaries but other civil divisions of the surplus ter- ritory being soon after made, the as- used. They, when wild animals be- piring town on the East Fork was came rather scarce, and milch cows plenty, bought all the unsalted butter found in the wrong location. It, how- ever, still continued to improve slowly, they could get and used it as a subiti- but finally it stopped, then commenced tute for oil. Tanning, in this way, declining and finally went down and soon became a most lucrative business died out entirely. The very name is and yards became quite common. now almost forgotten by the old set- Some two years after Campton estab- tlers, and not half of their children lished his yard in New Market, he sold ever heard of it, and nearly every trace out to his brother William and moved of the town has disappeared.
away.
After Wishart threw up in disgust his commission of Postmaster of New Market, Jonathan Berryman was ap- pointed as his successor, and entered In March, 1503, Michael Stroup and Miss Polly Walker were married in New Market. Miss W. was then very Handsome, sprightly, blackeyed upon the discharge of his duties as girl of eighteen, had emigrated from such, which he continued to perform Fleming county, Kentucky, with her for about twenty years, adhering seru- mother and stepfather, Mr. Joseph
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
Myers, to the falls of Paint four years hold by the right hand-and as good before, and to New Market in the looking and as virtuous a young woman spring of 1801.
as iver the Virgin Mary was-to be yer Some of the characteristics of a mar- lawfully wedded wife ? Do you promise riage at this carly period of our county's that you will forsake all others, (now by history will doubtless be interesting. the Lord Mike, you must quit running It can not be referred to as a specimen, after the other girls and cleave to her for weddings in those days were no, alone, will ye Mike ?)" "Yes-yes, (said more all alike than they are at the the groom) oh, by G-d, yes!" "Well, Miss Polly, will you take Mike, whom you hold by the right hand to be your lawfully wedded husband, (he is worthy, for he is as sprightly a young man as
present. There was, however, a mark- ed difference in the way this important service was disposed of, from the gen- eral custom of this enlightened day. Mr. and Mrs. Stroup reared fourteen iver wore a pair of buckskin brokins,) children, all of whom attained maturi- you promise to forsake all others, (but ty and married, except one. bride's dress on the occasion was a very fine light figured calico dress, which cost one dollar per yard, though most The what the deil's the use to make a woman promise that, when we know they won't keep their promise, but I think you are an exception,) you will cleave to him til
of those who could get it bought white it please the Lord to separate you by muslin worth two dollars a yard; often, death, will you Polly ? I'know you will
though, they wore common home-spun. She wore a nice plain . cap on her head, white silk gloves, a plain white collar and shoes and stockings. The groom was dressed in brown dress coat and
-yes-then I pronounce you man and wife-no more two but one. The Lord bless you. Now go home and raise your children for the Lord. The Lord bless you, ha, ha, ha; take your seats now, pants, white marseilles vest, white ha,-the Lord bless you." This couple socks and low quartered shoes and have played well their parts in life and white kid gloves. Mostly, however, have doubtless received as much of tell- the grooms of that day were nothing poral blessings as could be reasonably asked. like so welldressed. Most people, even then, tried to have one decent suit.
The following autumn George Parkin- The wedding took place at 2 o'clock p. son and Miss Rebecca Ross were married m. The party was small and the cere-
in New Market. It will be remembered mony was performed by 'Squire Oliver in this connection that Miss Ross was Ross. Ross was decidedly a character, the first white woman known to have and the ceremony as administered offi- ever been within the boundaries of the cially by him, is sufficient evidence, not present county of Highland, as she came only of his bold peculiarities, but of the as camp keeper some six years before for free and easy manners of the time. her father and the company of survey- We give it to the reader just in the ors under Henry Massie.
language in which it was furnished to'
During the summer of 1803 David us by an old pioneer, who vouches for Ross emigrated from Kentucky and set- the correctness of it. It is a graphic tled the farm in the present township of description, the most so we have ever Union, in Highland county, on which seen of a marriage ceremony, and we Isaac French lived and died. Ross and trust that will furnish sufficient apolo- his wife raised the cabin in which they gy for the novelties it contains. Oli- lived. At this time the country for
ver Ross (otherwise called Governor many miles around was an unbroken wilderness, inhabited only by Indians and wild beasts. His nearest neighbors were Morgan VanMeter and the Mckib- Ross,) a Justice of the Peace, who held his office by appointment of the Terri- torial Governor, was the honored indi- vidual named by the parties to solemn- bens on the East Fork of the Miami. ize the marriage contract. On the day The nearest mill was on the Little appointed the parties, with their friends, Miami, with only a "blind trace" appeared before his honor. "Well, (said through the woods. Mrs. Ross, during the 'Squire in his peculiar Irish style,) the absence of her husband at mill, we have met to-day til join til gither in would leave the house and stay in the woods until he came back, for fear of the holy matrimony Michael Stroup and Polly Walker-as respectable a couple Indians. He, however, had a brave as iver the Lord brought till gither. pioneer heart, cleared his little field, Now, I do hope that not one of you will planted and raised corn for meal and hominy-hunted the bear, deer and tur- ha oney objiction to their gettin' mar- ried. I think there will be no objiction. key, and enjoyed his isolated condition Join your right hands. Well, Mr. quite well. In the course of a year or Mike, will you take Miss Polly, whom you so, he had the satisfaction of seeing the
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A HISTORY OF HIGHILAND COUNTY, OHIO.
surrounding country gradually filling up holes bored through the side pieces, with settlers, and as he took his accus- through which buffalo tugs are passed tomed rounds with his rifle, new marks to fasten it to the horse, and this is the of the advance of civilization were mani- whole of this simple but useful article. fest-the deadening, the clearing, and A pack well adjusted on one of these the smoke of the rude cabin appeared. saddles can hardly, by any possibility, The humanizing effect of social life again lose off. If it is bulky, it is lashed on was felt by the hitherto lonely couple, with tugs. These saddles are admirably adapted to the distribution of weight. and their joyous hearts spoke in their cheerful countenances, as they extended Sometimes one man would condnet a the hand of welcome and hospitality to large number of pack horses, they being little or no trouble after they become somewhat accustomed to the service. They all follow their leader in single file their new neighbors. These early pio- neers were the very soul of kindness and hospitality, free from the gross sel- fishiness which is but too characteristic and exercise the utmost caution to avoid of more wealthy and refined communi- ties.
striking their pack against any object that may be near the path.
David Reece emigrated from Grayson In the autumn of 1803 Joseph Eakins county, Virginia, to what is now. High- arrived with his family at New Market. land, in 1802. He was then a youth of He was an Irishman and left that coun- fifteen, and had some knowledge of the carpenter trade, which he subsequently followed and perfected to a fair extent. By his industry and skill in his trade, he
try for a home in the United States in August, 1801. Immediately on his arri- val in America, he set out for Pittsburg, where he remained about a year, but much assisted in adding to the comfort feeling anxious to share the advantages of the first settlers, by building better so bounteously promised by the famne of homes for them, as the improved state the rich lands of the new State of Ohio, of the country demanded a change of the he packed up and started down the character of the dwellings of the people. river to Manchester. He only remained
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