USA > Ohio > Highland County > A history of the early settlement of Highland County, Ohio > Part 19
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In the spring of 1803 Job Haigh moved tions of the country. Sugar making was into the settlement on Brush Creek, near another time of frolic mingled witlı where the town of Belfast now stands, utility.
and made an improvement. In the
The settlement in the vicinity of
course of a year afterwards there was Sinking Springs received some acces- preaching occasionally at his house, the sions in 1804, but none the previous first in that settlement. The preacher year. Jacob and Philip Roads, Peter was a Mr. Leamons, a Baptist. There Stults, Jacob Stults from Virginia, and Michael Sniyley, from Pennsylvania,
had been no attempt to get up a school and none was made for three or four came that year .. George Gall, a Rev- years after. About the fall of 1806 the olutionary soldier, came from Virginia settlers concluded to try to raise a school. and settled in the neighborhood during Accordingly they built a little cabin for 1801. Gall was born in Berks coun- the purpose in an out of the way place ty, Pennsylvania, June 28th, 1766, and in the woods close to a spring. Their was called into service from Rockbridge school teacher was a Mr. Benjamin county, Virginia. He was drafted into Massey. Prior to this any one who the militia, but was not called into ser- wanted to school his sons sent them to vice till the 10th of January, 1781, under West Union for two or three months Col. Boyer, and marched against the during the winter, where they had es- British through the Dismal Swamp. After this campaign, which seems not to have resulted in anything very definite or brilliant, he was discharged. On the
tablished a small spelling, reading and writing school. As for the girls, they did without education, except what they
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
In the spring of 1802 George W.
2nd day of the following September, he was again drafted and marched immedi- Barrere and family emigrated from Ken- ately to Yorktown, and was present at tucky and settled at Anderson's Prairie the surrender of the British army at that in the present county of Clinton. Ile place. He then marched as a guard for remained there till the next fall, when the prisoners to the general military de- he moved to New Market and opened a pot at Winchester, Virginia, after which tavern on the post road through that he was discharged, the war being over. town of log cabins in a house he pur-
In 1804 Samuel Shomaker Built a water chased of John Eversole. It was a hew- mill two miles west of Sinking Springs, ed log house with cabin roof and only on the East Fork of Brush Creek. The one room. Mr. Barrere soon after add- first water mill, or indeed mill of any ed another room and fixed a kind of description erected in that settlement, room up stairs, or, more properly speak- having been built the previous year by ing, up the ladder in the loft. This the Countrymans on the same water, house stood on the corner opposite two and one-half miles northwest of the Wishart's old stand, and soon became the most popular hotel in the place. spring.
CHAPTER XXI.
CAPTAIN JAMES TRIMBLE'S SECOND VISIT TO HIGHLAND-REV. EDWARD CHANEY AND HIS MISSIONARY WORK AMONG THE INDIANS "SPLITTING BAILS" ON THE PRESENT SITE OF HILLSBORO- STRUGGLES AND PRIVA- TIONS OF THE EVANS AND HILL FAMILIES TO EFFECT A PERMANENT SETTLEMENT ON CLEAR CREEK-CYRUS BLOUNT, GEORGE NICHOLS. JOSEPH KNOX, GEORGE HORSON, MATTHEW KILGORE, WM. KILLBOURN, SAMUEL LITTLER AND JOSEPH W. SPARGUR MOVE INTO THE COUNTY.
The second visit of Capt. James Trim- Ottoe Boy, (meaning of that tribe) and ble to the present county of Highland go long with Dickson-make him pris- was made in company with his son Allen, in 1801. They crossed the Ohio
oner fight much white man,-make friends now." Trimble asked the In- River at Limestone, and traveled north dian some questions about Dickson and over a kind of open trace, dignified by the party that captured him, and was the title of road, to New Market. On much surprised to find that Captain the route that far, but two solitary John was actually one of the party, and cabins greeted their eyes. They spent more surprised that, after a lapse of near the first night with 'Squire Oliver Ross. thirty years he should recognize in the man, the mere boy he made prisoner in Augusta county, Virginia. It is but an- other evidence of the unerring instinct They arrived at Capt. William Hill's on Clear Creek the next day. The next morning a rather amusing and interest- ing incident occurred to Capt. Trimble. and wonderful memory of the Indian. He started out to look for the lines of Captain John told Trimble much about Threshley's survey on Clear Creek, with the country, who had thought of mak - his friend, Capt. Hill, as guide. Near ing his settlement on the Scioto bottoms their course through the woods they as he, like all early settlers, was delight- discovered an Indian encampment, ed with the promise of those rich lands. The Indian said "good land-raise heep which being remarked by Trimble, Hill asked him if he would like to be intro- corn, but sick too much (afterrising np duced to Captain John. He assented he went through a regular paroxysm of and they rode up to the camp. The In- fever and ague, by way of impressing dian was sitting down mending his moe- the idea). Indian come up here to hunt casin. He rose to receive the party ro- spectfully and was introduced by Hill. and get well -leave squaw to hoe corn and shake with the ague." This graph- "Captain John, this is Captain Trimble ie sketch of the peculiar local advantages from Kentucky." The Indian said of Scioto lands, determined Capt. Trim- nothing, but eyed Trimble keenly a ble, perhaps, in favor of Highland, and moment and exclaimed in the peculiar accordingly he settled all the prelimin- gutterul of the tribe, though intelligible aries and returned to Kentucky. He enough-"Me know him very well- me did not, however, find it convenient to
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A HISTORY OF HIGHILAND COUNTY, OHIO.
make another visit until 1803 or '04, making many of the early improvements when he came out and built a cabin on of this county. There were no roads on his land and made some other slight im- Clear Creek in those days, except the provements. Captain Trimble did not, trail of the Indian. All the "hands" for however, live to enjoy the luxuries of miles around were required to raise a his new home in Ohio. He returned to cabin. Mr. J. Chaney speaks of having Kentucky intending to move over his seen Capt. James Trimble at one of these family the following fall, but was fated gatherings. He describes him as a tall, never to leave the beautiful land of slender man, of fine appearance, and of Kentucky. He died in the autumn of 1804 of disease contracted by exposure and fatigue.
Rev. Edward Chaney, with his family, emigrated from Bedford county, Penn- sylvania, and settled on the Hockhock- ing River, within the present State of Ohio, in 1797. Three or four years after- wards he removed to the present county of Highland and settled on Clear Creek, above the Evans settlement. The land built. on which he settled he had previously purchased. Mr. Chaney built a log cabin, such as was common in those days, and cleared out a corn patch. White neighbors were not numerous or very close together, but this void in so- ciety was more than supplied, as far as Mr. Chaney and his family were con- cerned, by the presence of a large body of Wyandott Indians in the immediate vicinity, They were, however, compar- atively harmless, though by no means the most agreeable companions for a preacher of the gospel. But Mr. Chancy, in the true spirit of a Christian minister, soon induced them to come to his cabin to listen to him preach. They came fre- quently in large numbers. When their number was too large and the weather suitable he collected them around him
most pleasant and gentlemanly address. Mr. J. Chaney says he made the first hundred rails ever made on the ground where the town of Hillsborough now stands. These rails were made near the present corner of Main and West streets. He also built the first stable ever put up in the place. This stable was built of sinall poles or saplings and stood near where the Ellicott House was afterwards
Salmon Templin, who was also one of the party who went with Gen. Massie from Manchester in the spring of 1796 to make the settlement at Chillicothe, came up into what is now Highland county and Penn township, about the same time that his brothers, Robert and Tary, came to the Rocky Fork, (1801). He remained a permanent citizen of that vicinity up to the day of his death.
In the fall of 1801 Joel Brown left Cul- pepper county, Virginia, for the State of Ohio, and arrived at his land on the Rocky Fork, in the present county of Highland, in good season for making all the needful preparations for passing the winter. He erected his cabin on the face of the hill north of the creek, near where he afterwards established his per- manent residence. Mr. Brown was the
in the adjacent grove. The Indians did pioneer settler on that portion of the not understand much of what he said creek, none having gone higher up than them that it was addressed to them on es. He was a member of the Society of
but they understood sufficient to satisfy where the West Union road now cross- Friends, and during his long life was rising in the most respectful and orderly behalf of the Great Spirit, and they gave the utmost attention, keeping profound highly esteemed by his neighbors. He silence until the sermon closed, then early planted an orchard and cultivated good apples, of which he made cider, manner, and, without uttering a word, perhaps the first of that wholesome bey- walked off in single file to their encamp-
erage made in the county. Mr. Brown ment in the beyond. The Indians ap- has been dead many years and his quaint peared much pleased with Mr. Chaney looking, but pleasantly situated home- and his family and the exchanges of stead, has long since passed out of the civilities were of almost daily occurrence hands of the family and fallen into -the white children visiting the en- ruins.
campment in perfect confidence and se-
When the Evans settlement was made curity. On these visits they were on Clear Creek, it was the pioneer obliged to eat something at every wig- neighborhood north of New Market. It wam or give offense. Mr. Chaney was was commenced in the spring of 1799 the first Methodist preacher in that by Hugh Evans and his sons and sons- region. He belonged to the local minis- try and lived many years in this vicini- ty in the faithful discharge of his duties as a citizen and a religious teacher.
in-law. They built cabins, cleared ground and raised a small patch of corn. The next fall Samuel Evans and William Hill went back to Kentucky and brought
Jesse Chaney, son of the Rev. Edward, out their families. That same fall Rich- was then a young man and assisted in ard Evans came over to his land and
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A HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
built a cabin, but made no other im- charged him with the theft, which he provements, and the next spring moved did not deny, and seemed entirely un- out his family. During the first year concerned about it. In hopes to scare that Samuel Evans and Hill built on him, she told him the next time he stolo the creek the Indians were the only her corn she would have him sent to jail. At this he raised his gun and said, "Me shoot." She became alarmed now neighbors they had. They were quite numerous and very sociable. The new settlers raised a great crop of water- herself and was glad to get rid of him.
melons on the rich bottoms the first sum- mer, and when they ripened gave them freely to the Indian neighbors, who were delighted with them. They called them "pumpkins," never before having seen watermelons. They did not fence in Noah Evans says their nearest neigh- bors were at New Market, except the Indians, and the Evans up the creek. The Indians came in in gangs hunting and sugar making. The first intimation they would have of a company of them their corn patch the first years, there being in the vicinity would be the sound of the bells on their horses.
being nothing to fence against, except the deer and turkeys. The surrounding After while some of them would make their appearance through the woods, one at a time, and probably an hour
woods was covered with wild rye, and afforded abundant and excellent pasture for horses and cattle; so all these farm- would elapse before all would come up. ers had to do with their horses when Sometimes the party would consist of they were not using them was to put only fifteen or twenty, while others bells on them and turn them loose in would number from fifty to a hundred the woods to keep them fine and fat. men, women, children, horses and dogs. The Indians continued for four or five The men and the squaws both rode in the years by far the most frequent visitors same position. A rather singular mode of the Clear Creek inhabitants. At one of transporting their children, or time, some months after Samuel Evans pappooses as they called them, was ob- moved his family out and whilst he was servable. They never used wagons or away from home, a company of upwards of thirty Indians went to his house and any kind of vehicle to carry their bur- den from place to place. Ponies were asked for something to cat. Mrs. Evans their sole dependence and they managed to adapt them to all circumstances. Large leather sacks, somewhat on the plan of saddle-bags, were used for stow - ing away the pappooses on the backs of the ponies. They were thrown across the pony's back and a couple of little boys or girls of near the same weight put one in each end with their heads out whims. The plates, knives and forks, at the opening near the back of the
went to work and prepared the best in the house for them. She sat the table in the customary way, but the oldl chief when he saw it, made signs to her, in- timating that it would not do them and that she must set it on the floor of the cabin. She was alone and therefore very much disposed to humor their and provision were accordingly all moved onto the floor and the thirty odd Indians all took their seats around in a circle, flat down on the puncheons, and commenced, but they paid no kind of attention to the plates and.knives and forks placed for their use. They were hungry, and waiving all ceremony took hold with their fingers and made quick work with the abundant repast. - When all were done they expressed in their best manner their thanks to Mrs. Evans and went peacefully away.
pony. If in making up a load of pappooses they happened to have an odd number a dog of about the same weight was put in the other end with his head out, to balance the pappooses. This was not an unfrequent case. Looking over a party just at a point, or on a general but temporary halt, one could see the little heads sticking out all around and often a dog's head, all looking grave and sharp as almanne makers. They would camp by the creek and hunt and trap, or make sugar for some time- then away to some other place. Mr. Evans says he once saw a party of these Indians seated at are characteristically dignified, courteous and ceremonions. They have a great
Frequently they went to Samuel Evans to buy com, generally behaving very honorably in the matter. Ouce, bis father's table for dinner. Indians however, when Mr. E. was away from home several applied for some corn. Mrs. E. went into the pen to measure it. deal of self-respect, and asa consequence While there she observed one of the In- never fail, when the recipients of hospi- tality, to treat with great deference and respect both their host and his peculiar manners and custom .. In this instance dians on the outside stealing corn through a crack and putting it in his back. By the time she got through serving the others he had taken all he they set gravely at the table for some wanted and mounted his pony. She moments. They then took up the knife
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1 HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
and fork placed for each and looked at one branch of Whiteoak, that a child them curiously, then they looked in- was lost in the woods and requesting quiringly at each other some time with- help to hunt for it. All the settlers that out speaking a word. Finally, however, could possibly leave home turned out their appetites, overcome by the odor of and went to the place, each man taking the savory dishes before them, dispelled his rifle. When they arrived at the their native desire to appear as gentle- place they formned companies and each men and they simultaneously dropped company would stay and continue the the knives and forks which they had search several days at a time, then re- continued to hold, and laid hold of the turn home to see if all was well and do- meats with their fingers. These Indians ing well, then fix up and go back again were chiefly Shawnees and Wyandotts and were very friendly and hospitable
and renew the search. This was a re- markable case and finally drew out all in their way. If a white neighbor hap- the people who could go for ten or pened to be at their camp whilst they twelve miles around. The hunters got were eating, they would not only invite on the trail of the child and found signs him very cordially to partake, but would of it for about fourteen days after it was press him and seem half offended if he first missed. The excitement was ill- declined.
tense. Wild and ferocious beats inhab-
Among the many exciting and dis- ited the woods, the child was of course tressing occurrences, peculiar to a new and wilderness country, none was, per- haps, so appalling throughout the settle- ment as the announcement that a neigh-
unprovided with anything to eat, except the berries and nuts it had capacity and understanding to gather, as it wandered about, and utterly incapable of defend- bor's child had got lost in the woods. ing itself if attacked. The hunters fre- This was not an unfrequent occurrence. As a general thing the parents and older portion of the childern were necessarily engaged in the hard work indispensable in the early lays of the county, and as
quently came to the bed of grass and leaves where it had spent the previous night and they had reason to believe that it frequently heard the voices and calls . of its friends, yet was afraid to go it was, of necessity, incumbent on all the to them or answer. They supposed it members of the family, except the little had become so thoroughly frightened fellow in his sugar trough cradle, to con- and bewildered when it discovered that tribute something in the way of useful service to the common stock, the young- sters were employed in going errands to neighbors, frequently in remote settle- ments at busy times in the spring, sum-
it was lost that it became afraid of everything and everybody. The search. after some three weeks effort, was final- ly given up and the child was never found or heard of afterwards, and its fate remains unknown to this day.
. mer and fall, and always in hunting the cows and horses. Then in blackberry In the fall of 1803 Cyrus Blount came time they were sent to gather them. It from below Chillicothe on the Scioto to Clear Creek in the present county of Highland, and, having purchased land, built a cabin and made the necessary preparations to move up his family. Having done this he returned for his family, but took the fever and died soon
was also their business as well as pleas- ure to gather the hazel nuts, hickory nuts and walnuts, &c. So they were necessarily mnuch in the woods, which were then utterly destitute, not only of roads, but generally of traces, paths or even "blazes" on the trees, which was after. His widow and children came up the universal mode of marking courses the next spring and took up their resi- dence in the cabin. The farm thus set- tled is the same now owned by William through them. The consequence was that children, and even grown persons, frequently became "lost," and often had Barry. to remain out all night and sometimes George Nichols settled on the farm longer before they were able to reach a which Isaac Simpson afterward cabin or discover their course home. In owned in 1802. Joseph Knox came some instances though more serious con- with him from Virginia and lived in sequences followed and the lost were his family. Knox was a wheelwright never found. The announcement, and the first who carried on the busi- therefore, of a lost boy or girl always ness in the present county of Highland. created great consternation in the neigh- The business of wheelwright at that borhood and all who could possibly day was a most useful occupation, as leave home dropped everything and every cabin was considered incomplete turned out to help hunt.
without at least one spinning wheel,
Mr. Noah Evans says in the autumn and many of the settlers having packed of 1802 word was sent to the Clear Creek out were necessarily destitute in this settlement from below New Market, on important particular. The exclusive
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A. HISTORY OF HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.
trade was in the hands of Knox forsex- mound, on which afterwards stood the eral years, until old George Hobson dwelling of Caleb Chapman, four miles came out from North Carolina and northwest of New Market, and improv- erected a little shop near the mouth of ed the place as far as the necessities of Clear Creek. Hobson was a better the times required, which was simply workman than Knox and soon became to clear and fence a corn patch. On celebrated for many miles around as a this farm, which is among the best in "little wheel and reel" maker. They that portion of the county, hespent the have both been dead many years and remainder of his days. When he set- with them the class of domestic imple- tled there it was of course an unbroken ments they manufactured, so common
wilderness and neighbors scarce and in early days in the humble log cabin, game and wild animals abundant.
and so necessary to the comfort of its no less humble tenants. Who that was a child in Southern Ohio thirty-five or forty years ago, does not sometimes .run his mind back to the long autumn evenings in the dear old log cabin on the hill side and see again the picture
Joseph W. Spargur emigrated from Surry county, North Carolina, in the fall of 1804, and settled in the present county of Highland and on the farm known as the Odell place, southwest of the present town of New Petersburg. where he made the necessary improve-
which the glow of its ample fire in the ments for the temporary comfort of large fire place in one end reveals? The his family. Mr. Spargur was a mill- father busy in front mending shoes, wright by trade and followed his pro- the eldest boy pounding hominy, the fession when he could get employment. mother spinning on the hmmmmning little Game was plenty in that vicinity at
wheel, while Sally cards, and the young- er boys and girls cracking hickory nuts and building cob houses in the corner. And who of the sons and daughters of the pioneers does not recollect with swelling heart and moistened eyes that good old mother at whose feet, in com-
that period and Indians were more fre- quently seen than whites. They were passing about almost daily, either singly or in small parties, and, as Mrs. Spargur had known nothing of them except by the manifold stories among the whites of the old States, of their . pany with puss, he sunk down, tired savage and blood-thirsty nature and with the constant running of the day, relentless hatred of the whites, it was chasing out hogs from the field, watch- but to be expectedl that she would be ing gaps, chopping wood, climbing very fearful in the absence of her trees for nuts or grapes, riding to mill, husband. This settlement was made husking corn, &c., &c., and was soothed into dream-land by her sweet and plain- tive song mingled with the ceaseless half bass of the little old wheel?
too, only a short time after the alarm occasioned by the murder of Capt. Herrod and Wa-will-a-way. So that she was greatly terrified by their pres- ence. At night when Mr. Spargir happened to be detained away by his work, she barricaded the cabin in the best manner she could, and armed with
Matthew Kilgore moved into the present township of Madison and made some improvement on the farm kno wh as the Adam B. Wilson farm as early as 1802. William Killbourn settled on two loaded rifles, an axe, butcher knife the farm afterwards owned by Samnel and dog, she only felt sniciently se- Douglass about 1803. Seth Smith made cure to be able to sleep. Borter Sum- a settlement on the farm afterwards ner, Mr. Spargur's brother-in-law, came owned by W. P. Simmons' heirs, on out to help him move and went back to Walnut Creek, in 1803, and the Ellises Carolina the same fall. The next fall and Samuel Littler settled on Walnut he moved his family ont and settled Creek about 1501.
down in what is now Paint township
In the fall of 150! Thomas Colvin on the farm afterwards owned and oc- moved out from Kentucky and made a cupied by Daniel Miller. These settlers small improvement on the farm known have been dead some years. as, the old Shafer farm, abont a mile Combs came from Virginia and settled east of the present village of Danville. near the present town of New Peters- The following fall having bought other burg in 1501.
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