USA > Ohio > A history of the state of Ohio, natural and civil > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
The whip-poor-will visits us not very early in the spring. The king bird comes as soon as he thinks the bees, hovering about the flowers, are numerous enough to feed himself and his young ones. This HEAD OF A DEPARTMENT, lives only on the most industrious classes of insects.
After a long storm from the southwest, many birds of diffe- rent species are often seen here, of a most beautiful plumage, which disappear again after a week's fair weather. We do not even know their names. The pewee comes early and retires early. Gulls, or stormy petrels are often seen along the Ohio river, before a southwestern storm. A few years since, paroquetts, in large flocks lived in the woods, along the Ohio river, from Miller's bottom downwards, and along the Scioto river, upwards from its mouth, to where Columbus now stands. They are still in the woods along the bottoms below
95
BIRDS, RESIDENT AND MIGRATING.
Chillicothe near the river, where there is the proper food for them to eat, and birds enough for them to torment by their sqalling noise. We have the cat-bird of two species, snipes, and the real ortolan.
We have four species of THRUSH, but the brown one deserves our special notice for his singing, and his imitative powers. He delighted once to live along the Scioto river, among the great variety of feathered songsters, that then dwelt along the banks of the Scioto. As we have often, more than twenty years since, while travelling in the then woods along the banks of the Scioto, stopped awhile to hear him sing, and see him act his several comedies and tragedies ; it seems no more than right to give our readers some idea of his several per- formances on such occasions. This Shakspeare among birds, seats himself on some tree, where the greatest variety of all sorts of birds dwell, and makes it his business to mock and disappoint them. Hence, his common name of mocking- bird. Having seated himself in a proper place, he listens in profound silence to the songs of the several sorts of birds around him. In the vernal season he makes the love call of a female of some near neighbor, with heart-stirring melody, until the males come in flocks to caress their loved mate, when lo! no such lovely bird is there. They find instead of the lovely fair one, a homely brown thrush. Having succeed- ed in imposing on one species, he proceeds to play off similar " tricks upon other travellers." He continues his play, until he is satisfied with his own mischief and his neighbors' disap- pointments.
When the other birds have young ones, he watches their nests, until the parents have left them in quest of food, when, seating himself near their domiciles, he imitates the scream of the hawk or some other bird of prey. If the parents heed this scream and come home, very well, but if not heeded by them, he proceeds to imitate the voice of the young ones in the utmost distress and agony. He utters their shrill cry and their dying groan, when the affrighted and afflicted pa- rents come flying in the utmost haste and trepidation to re-
96
HISTORY OF OHIO.
lieve their suffering, dying young ones, but behold! no one is near them, but the innocent, the plain, the honest and candid MR. THRUSH, who retires as if laughing in his sleeve, at the trick which he has played off upon the parents.
In the evening, after the birds have reared their young ones, and when all join to raise their several hymns of praise, the thrush seats himself in this woodland orchestra, and begins by singing in succession, the notes and songs of all the birds around him, beating all of them, using their own notes, and singing their own songs.
Having thus, as he supposes, carried off the prize in this musical contest, he prepares for his finale, by taking his seat on the topmost end of the highest bough of the loftiest tree, standing on the highest ground in all the grove, and then he commences to sing his own clear notes, and his own most delightful song. At times, his wings are expanded, his neck is extended, every feather on his whole body, quivers with bis exertion of every limb, and his whole soul is exerted to its utmost power, to produce the most perfect melody that was ever heard in the woods of Ohio. He continues his delightful music, until after all the other birds are silent and still, so that his own song is the only one, then heard in all the grove, far and wide, all around him, for a long time.
Thus we see, that he can act a principal part in the beggar's opera, or in the comedy of errors. He can play Falstaff in the Merry Wives of Windsor, the Ghost in Hamlet, or, Mac- beth in tragedy, and well deserves to be called WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE among the birds, not of Stratford upon the Avon, but of CHILLICOTHE upon the Scioto.
MEDICAL TOPOGRAPHY, DISEASES, CLIMATE, TORNADOES AND THE WINTERS IN THIS STATE.
In the Autumn of 1806, a fever of the remittent type, made its appearance, extending from the Ohio river, on the south, to Lake Erie on the north.
Its symptoms were chills in the forenoon, between ten and
97
DISEASES, ETC.
eleven o'clock, which were succeded by violent fever, afterwards in an hour and a half. The fever continued to rage till about six o'clock, in the evening. During the exacerbation, great pain or oppression was felt in the brain, liver, spleen or stomach, and frequently, in all these organs. The sweating stage took place about midnight. By daylight, there was a respite, but not a total exemption from the urgency of these symptoms.
This was the common course of the disease, but there were occasionally found, distinct intermittents and a few cases of continued fever. The first cases mentioned afforded no oppor- tunity for interposing tonicks. In the second order, every common man as well as the physician was acquainted with the proper, and certain remedy; and the third form of the epidem- ic, was most safely left to the healing power of nature.
Such however, was the malignancy of our autumnal diseases, that from the best information we can procure, the Hockhock- ing country, (now called Lancaster,) in a circle of five miles, around Lancaster, the one fifth of the inhabitants died, in that. year! From information given us by many in the same circle around Chillicothe, one sixth part of the inhabitants were swept off by death.
As a sequel to this epidemic, a most annoying and incorrigi- ble affection of the skin took place; nor have there been want- ing cases of the same description in any year since the above mentioned. The emigrants from the Atlantic states could not be persuaded, that it was not the same disease which in their country, is denominated itch. But in this opinion they are certainly mistaken, inasmuch as it resists all the remedies which are successfully employed in that disease.
MILK SICKNESS.
Its most prominent symptoms were first, a sense of uncom- moń lassitude, and a listlessness, and aversion to muscular mo- tion. A slight pain about the ancles, which seemed gradually to ascend to the calves of the legs, and in a few hours more, a
13 I
98
HISTORY OF OHIO.
dull pain, which soon terminated in a spasm, or a cramp of the stomach. This was quickly followed by violent efforts to vom- it, which continued for four, five, six or seven days; or until death closed the scene. If the patient recovered it was only to receive at no very distant period, another shock, equally terri- fic and appalling. The geographical range of this fell disease, was confined mostly to the barrens.
The diagnosticks between this disease, and the Cholera Morbus, was the obstinate constipation of the bowels from first to last. Many treatises have been written concerning the dis- ease, but as yet, our knowledge of either its causes or cure is imperfect. Where the cattle are kept from wild grass, this dis- ease is never found. It is now no longer known, only in his- tory, we believe.
The description of Autumnal diseases, as just given, has been without variation; except in the violence of the symptoms in any of the succeeding years, until 1823.
In 1813 and 14, the disease, which prevailed as an awful epidemic, in these two years, was not peculiar to the Western country. We mean the disease named in some sections of the United States-" pneumonia typhoides"-or " typhus pleurisy ;" in other sections, pneumonia " biliosa"-but in this country called, the " cold plague."
Heavy and long continued rains, commenced about the four- teenth of November 1822, and continued almost daily, until the first day of the ensuing June.
It was computed by some persons, that the country lying be- tween the Scioto and Miami rivers, had the twentieth part of its surface covered, during the months, of March, April and May, with water. A fever commenced its ravages, and con- tinued its course, during the months of June, July, August, September, and during the early part of October. It was of the remittent and continued type, affecting more or less, many, perhaps, nineteen twentieths of the people. No intermission was noticed in the course of twenty-four hours, nor was the low country of the Scioto and Miami, the only location of this form of fever. In north latitude between 39º and 40°, this dis-
99
DISEASES, ETC.
ease was found, over a great extent of country, without ex- cepting the Alleghany ridge, itself. Previous to this year, pulmonary consumption was rarely seen, and epilepsy was a rare disease in Ohio. These diseases are now as common as in the Atlantic states. Dyspepsia has become a very common disease, and doubtless, has been a sequel, to long continued in- termitting and remitting fevers, by exhausting the powers of the liver.
In 1824 there were very few cases of intermittent or remittent fever, nor has there since been a general epidemic. In 1827, it was known, that while the river country was healthful, the small streams had the inhabitants of their banks, affected with dysentery.
It might be profitable, to our citizens, to mark out the wide difference between, what is, by common people called dysen- tery,-and the true dysentery or flux. These diseases of dys- entery and diarrhoea, are confounded with each other, as being one and the same, whereas they are as opposite, in their na- ture, and in their appropriate remedies, as any two diseases, that affect the human body. The first, consisting of a continu- ed stricture and constipation of the bowels, from first to last, and requiring evacuants for their remedy, while the last con- sists in a relaxation of the intestinal fibres, and requires astrin- gents for its cure. Much mischief has occured from a want of discrimination in these diseases. We find accordingly that upon the approach of cold weather, a congestion and disten- tion of the liver or spleen, take place, and frequently, a painful affection of the joints, which is called rheumatism, arising from the use of astringents in dysentery or flux.
We have only further to add, that since the year of 1827, the health of our state, has been unparalleled by that of any other state in the Union, scarcely a case of fever to be seen among the residents of Ohio.
From 1827 to 1837, south of the summit level, between lake Erie and the Ohio river, fevers have been very rare. The Asi- atic cholera was in Cincinnati, Chillicothe, Columbus, and sev- eral other towns in two summers, while that desolating scourge
100
HISTORY OF OHIO.
prevailed in the United States. We have enjoyed a degree of health unparalleled in the whole Union during the last teu years. Our autumns almost without a cloud in view, have been truly delightful. We see the rosy cheek, the cheerful counte- nance, the quick, light, elastic step, and hear the sound of in- dustry in all its life and vigor, in all our growing and prosper- ous towns. We no longer have a sickly season, every year, as all new countries have, but in their stead, health, happi- ness and prosperity prevail. From all we hear, see, and know, of our country and its climate, we have reason to believe, and do believe, that Ohio will be one of the healthiest regions in the world. The forests are cleared off, to a great degree, over a large portion of our territory, and the grass and weeds, in the woods, have been ate down by the cattle. The whole surface of our soil, even in the woods, has become dry, com- pared with what it was twenty years since. The whole at- mosphere is drier than formerly, and the fogs and mists which once rose from the earth every morning, and fell down upon it again in the evening in the form of a heavy dew, are no lon- ger seen, felt, or known among us. Those who wish to find these things, must travel beyond us to the west. Our roads, twenty years since, were mostly shaded by a dense forest, and the mud was abundant in them, even in August. Those for- ests, are mostly destroyed, and our roads, are dry eight months in the year. Within a few short years, Ohio will pre- sent the aspect of an old settled country, traversed by canals and roads, thronged with travelers and animated by a dense population. Our winters have very little snow, and what we have soon disappears before the rays of the sun. While the people of New York and all the eastern states, even Philadel- phia, are suffering from deep snows, and intense cold, it is not uncommon with us to have warm weather, freezing a little in the night, and thawing during the day, opened by a white frost in the morning.
Thus our winter proceeds, until early in March, when the farmer plows his fields, and sows his oats and other spring grains.
101
CURRENTS OF AIR.
CURRENTS OF AIR.
The current which prevails most in all that part of the state lying south of the summit level between Lake Erie and the Ohio river, comes from the Mexican Gulph. This current fol- lows the Mississippi upwards, and the Ohio river and its tribu- taries, to their sources, where it comes in contact with a cur- rent of air descending the lakes, from lake Superior and the Frozen Ocean. These two currents having united their for- ces, pass down lakes Erie and Ontario, and through the St. Lawrence to the sea. Where these two currents meet, va- ries from forty miles south, to as many miles north of the sum- mit level, between the waters of the Mississippi and those of the St. Lawrence. At the town of Delaware we have often seen both these currents, bearing along the clouds. Some- times one current was uppermost, sometimes the other, as ei- ther set of clouds happened to be the most loaded with mois- ture. When those two currents of air impinge on each other, meeting at an oblique angle they both move with a very great force. A tornado, is the necessary result. Such an one touched Urbana, and rising, swept across Licking and Knox counties, a few miles below Kenyon college; then rushing along eastwardly, touching New Lisbon in Columbiana county, it passed onward, occasionally touching the earth, until it rose over the Alleghanies, and we heard of its ravages no farther in the United States. Across Licking and Knox counties its width was scarcely one mile, but where it moved, it prostrated every forest tree, or stripped it of its limbs and left it stand- ing as a monument of its inexorable wrath. This tornado hap- pened on the 18th of May, 1825.
On the other or northern side of the summit level, before mentioned, there was such a tornadoe in the year 1788, and it passed the Maumee river, about five miles below the head of the rapids, and moved eastwardly quite across the now state of Ohio, occasionally touching the earth and prostrating the forest wherever it descended to the ground.
Another effect, resulting from the impinging of these two
I*
102
HISTORY OF OHIO.
currents of air, is the cooling of the waters held in suspension by either of them, and the consequent descent of the water in the form of rain, snow, hail, or dew. There is more rain on the summit level, than there is either north or south of it; more frost and snow.
The southern current of air is always warmer than the north- western one, and those who live where these currents alter- nately prevail, sometimes changing several times in a day, feel all the inconveniences resulting from such frequent chan- ges of temperature. This difference is from three to twenty, or even more degrees of Fahrenheit. Where these changes occur in very warm weather, the effect on the human system is very sensibly felt. Our westwardly wind, in the lower part of the state, is generally a dry one, and a gentle current of air.
The effect produced by this wind from the Mexican Gulph, 13 very sensibly felt by us in winter. It is the principal cause why our winters in Ohio, are much warmer than they are east of the mountains. In the winter of 1827-8 we had the south- western current of air all winter. It came loaded with water, which fell in torrents, during that winter, and on the eighth of January, there was the greatest freshet which we had had for years before. And on the Scioto, we had no ice that winter, more than three-eighths of an inch in thickness.
During all that winter, while the rain was falling in tor- rents, i : Ohio, there was no rain and but little snow on the Upper Misssissippi, in the Wisconsin country, and in all the region west of lake Michigan. In the following spring and summer, there was no rise in the streams of that region, worth naming. The whole winter there, was fair, almost without a cloud, and it was excessively cold, more so than common in that coldest of all countries in the world, for its latitude. So much for the difference of climate, between Ohio and Wis- consin Territory.
.....
103
OUR WINTERS.
OUR WINTERS.
We have been at considerable pains to get as accurate in- formation as possible, as to our winters, before we came into the state ; and our own recollection is relied on, for a pe- riod of twenty-five winters past. We proceed to state our information, as well as our recollections, as to the wintery since 1785.
1785 mild. 1799 severe.
1813 cold .*
1826 mild.
1786 mild.
1800 severe.
1814 mild.
1827 mild.
1787 mild.
1801 mild. 1815 mild. 1828 mild.
1788 mild.
1802 mild.
1816 mild. 1829 mild.
1789 mild.
1803 mild.
1817 mild.
1830 cold.
1790 mild.
1804 mild.
1818 mild.
1831 cold.
1791 severe,
1805 mild.
1819 mild.
1832 mild.
1792 severe,
1806 mild.
1820 mild. 1833 mild.
1793 mild.
1807 mild.
1821 mild.
1834 mild.
1794 mild.
1808 severe.
1822 mild.
1835 mild.
1795 mild.
1809 severe.
1823 mild.
1836 mild.
1796 severe.
1810 mild.
1824 mild.
1837 mild.
1797 severe. 1811 mild.
1825 mild.
1838 mild.
1798 severe. 1812 mild.
The winter of 1791-2 was severe, and Governor Sargeant computed the snow that fell in the month of January, at twen- ty-four inches! On the 23d of January 1792, the thermometer sunk seven degrees below zero. The winter of 1796-7 is considered the severest one ever known in this state. On the morning of the 8th of January, 1797, the thermometer sunk eighteen degrees below zero. During that winter, the ther- mometer sunk below zero seven other mornings. The winters of 1791 and 1792, were quite cold, but not severe, like 1796 and 1797. During these last mentioned years, the Ohio was frozen over, four weeks, and frost occurred so late as the twenty-fourth day of May.
In the spring of 1834, we had a frost all over Ohio, Ken- tucky and Indiana, as late as the sixteenth day of May, which
* Snow twenty-four inches deep at Fort Wayne.
104
HISTORY OF OHIO.
killed the leaves on the trees, the wheat, &c., in Kentucky, along the Ohio river. It destroyed all the fruit, far and wide, and extending its ravages beyond the mountains, to Pennsylva. nia, New Jersey and New York. There was ice at Louisville, Kentucky, an inch in thickness, two mornings in succession.
November is often one of the most pleasant months in the year, and such weather often extends nearly through De- cember. February is frequently a pleasant month. The quantity of snow that falls in the southern parts of Ohio, is quite inconsiderable, never enough for any good sleighing. Hoar frost is often seen on a pleasant winter's morning.
Snow has been known to fall two feet deep at Fort Wayne, while rain only, fell in the southern parts of Ohio. All the snows which we do have, in the Scioto valley, below Big Wal- nut creek, generally follow, a rain, and melt as they fall. The southwest wind brings the rain, which being turned aside by the northern current of air, the latter lets fall its light load of snow upon us.
Northeastern and eastern winds are scarcely ever known here. From their rage, the Alleghanies interpose a barrier which effectually defends us from all their violence and fury. While all the Atlantic cities feel the direful effects of those storms which sweep across the Atlantic, from Europe, we in this valley of the Mississippi, feel not even one gentle puff of air from the east. This whole valley, on such occasions, smiles in peace. When we have often crossed the Allegha- nies east and west, we saw little difference in summer in the forwardness of the crops, in the same latitude; but in winter, we always found more snow on, and east of the mountains, than west of them. And near the eastern base of the moun -. tains they have occasionally, cold currents of air from the Al- leghanies sent down to cool the courtiers and courtezans, who visit Washington city every winter, which we neither need nor wish to have, in Ohio.
As to humidity, our atmosphere has undergone a wonderful change for the better within the last ten years.
We have mentioned two several tornadoes which have oc-
105
CURRENTS OF AIR.
curred in Ohio, within the last fifty-two years, to which we add one, that occurred from the west and southwest winds coming in contact with each other. On the 28th of May, 1807 the wind blew down the Ohio river with violence, in the morning. One current of air bore its clouds, to the north, an- other current was carrying its clouds to the east The dif- ferent currents prevailed at different altitudes. The western current traversed the southern one at right angles. Before noon, both currents had united their volume and were moving towards the east, or up the Ohio river. Soon after this, the west wind was at the surface of the earth. Before two o'clock P. M. a narrow whirlwind, or tornado, swept over the eas- tern part of Cincinnati, demolished a few, old, ruinous houses, threw down some old tops of chimneys, and finally prostrated several fruit trees, in the vicinity of the town. Similar phe- nomena were observed over the western country, north and south of Cincinnati, for a distance of one hundred miles. These whirlwinds moved along in narrow veins, in the direc- tion of the Alleghanies until they were stopped in their course. These two currents of air, the southwest and west- ern, produce tornadoes as low down as Tennessee and Upper Alabama. And we have had three such, it appears, within fifty two years. Two were produced by the northwestern and southwestern currents of air, coming in contact, and one was produced by the western and southwestern currents. The whole three were just about equal to one northeastwardly storm along the Atlantic coast, such as prevail there every year. But, inasmuch as the storms do not, and will not visit us oftener than once in eighteen years, on an average, the au- thors of geographies in the eastern states visit us with them, on paper, and represent our peaceful valley, as peculiarly sub- ject to tornadoes! With what truth, the world may judge from our statement of facts, which is beyond the reach of all contradiction.
As to our warm weather, we have about two months more of it in Ohio, than the people of western New York, Vermont
14
106
HISTORY OF OHIO.
and New Hampshire have in any one year. Our house build- ers work out, on an average, nine months in the year, and then work indoors, the other months; or they travel south, and there spend the winter, at their business, where the weather is warmer and their wages higher.
Immediately on the shore of lake Erie, the weather in win- ter, is about three degrees colder than it is twenty miles south of the ridge, where the lake rivers rise. And it is about ten degrees colder at Cleveland than at Cincinnati, in winter. Traveling from the lake southwardly, a very sensible differ- ence is experienced on reaching the Scioto valley. So in the heat of summer, in traveling to the lake, a coolness, highly invigorating is felt by the traveler from our valley. Hence, a tour to the lake, is advisable in summer, for those who suf- ferfrom the heat of the south.
Whether our atmosphere will continue to become more and more dry, as our forests disappear before us, we cannot posi- tively say, though we can see no reason why it should not be the case. All the effects which the cultivation of the whole valley of the Mississippi, will produce on our climate, cannot be certainly foreseen, but we believe, that our seasons will be- come warmer and drier. They will be more healthful in the states west of us, warmer, drier and more equable in temper- ature, and possibly, the soil will be less productive, in this state, than at present.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.