USA > Ohio > Biographical and historical memoirs of the early pioneer settlers of Ohio, with narratives of incidents and occurrences in 1775 > Part 25
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After about two years spent amongst the Hollanders, who were friends of the young republic, at the close of the war he returned to America in a merchant-ship. He now gave his attention to the practice of medicine, and commenced business in Gilmanton, N. H., where he remained two years.
The Ohio Company was formed in 1787, and feeling a strong desire to visit the enchanting region along the shores of the Ohio, so admirably described by the writers and travelers of that day, he purchased a share of their lands, and concluded to leave the home of his forefathers, and come out to Marietta in company with a family from New- buryport. The emigrants arrived at the mouth of the Mus- kingum early in the summer of 1788. The settlement at that time had but few persons in it; the country was covered with a thick forest, and there was more employment for able-bodied men in clearing lands and building log-cabins, than for physicians.
In the following year several young men from Boston, who had become enamored with the country from the glow- ing descriptions of its fertility and beauty, came out to the city of Marietta. They built a long, low log-cabin, in which they kept bachelors' hall, on the corner where the Bank of Marietta now stands, and commenced clearing some land.
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It was a new business to those who had been brought up in a city, and when the novelty of the change had subsided, they began to think of the comfortable homes they had left, and to sigh for a return. The breaking out of the Indian war, put a stop to any further progress of the settlement for the present, and leaving all their improvements, returned to Boston. Not so with Dr. True; he had come out with the intention of spending his life in the west, and nothing but imperious necessity could turn him from his purpose. His steady habits and good character gained for him the favor of the influential men, and in the beginning of the war he was appointed a surgeon's-mate to the Ohio Company's troops, at a salary of twenty-two dollars a month, which was a welcome and timely aid in this season of privation.
During this distressing, and often perplexing period, he was many times exposed to the attack of the Indians, as he passed up and down the Ohio in his visits to Belpre, and still lower on the river, to minister to the sick and wounded in the garrisons. During the continuance of the small-pox, and then again in the sickness of the scarlet fever, numer- ous trips were made in a canoe, accompanied, generally, by two men. The most hazardous of these, was one made to Flinn's station, or Belville, as it was afterward called, thirty miles below Marietta, the second year of the war, to visit Mrs. Sherwood, who was attacked by the Indians and severely wounded, at the same time her husband was taken prisoner.
Late in the spring of the year 1792, Stephen Sherwood, an inmate of the garrison, went out very early one morn- ing to feed his hogs, in a pen a few rods above the station on the bank of the river. His wife, a fearless, bold woman, who had always lived on the frontiers, about fifty years old, went out at the same time to milk a cow, standing in the path near the corner of the upper block-house, about twenty yards from the gate. After throwing the corn into the pen,
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he stepped into the thicket by the side of the road to cut a stick for an ox-goad, intending to plow that day amongst the young corn. While engaged in this employment, eight or ten Indians, who were lying in the bushes, sprang upon him and overpowered him, making him a prisoner. Two of them remained with him, while the others hurried down to the garrison, and seeing the old lady milking the cow, two of them seized upon her, intending to make a prisoner of her also; but she resisted their efforts so stoutly, and screamed so loud to the men in the garrison for help, that they abandoned that plan. One of them knocked her down with a blow of his tomahawk, while the other proceeded to take off her scalp. In the meantime, Peter Anderson and Joel Dewey had just risen from their beds, and were putting their rifles in order for a hunt. Anderson's gun was lying across his knees, with the lock in his hand, having just fin- ished oiling it, when, hearing the screams of Mrs. Sherwood, and readily guessing the cause, he clapped on the lock without fastening the screws, and sprang up the stairway to a port-hole in the block-house. As he was about to fire at the Indians, the lock dropped on to the floor, greatly to his vexation. At this instant, Joel Dewey, whose rifle was in better order, sprang to his side, and taking aim at the In- dian who was in the act of scalping his victim, shot him through the elbow of the very arm that wielded the scalping- knife, before he could complete the operation. Fearing the effects of other shots, the two Indians retreated. Before they had time to rally and repeat the attempt, Anderson and Dewey ran out, and seizing the old lady by the shoul- ders and feet, brought her into the block-house, amidst a volley of rifle shots from the other Indians. It was a foggy morning, and they both escaped injury, although the bullets were left sticking in the logs on each side of the doorway. Mrs. Sherwood remained for a long time without sense, or
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signs of life, from the stunning effects of the blow, which gashed her head in the most shocking manner, while the settling of the effused blood about her eyes, gave her a deadly aspect. After a considerable period, signs of re- turning sensibility appeared, and Joshua Dewey, the brother of Joel, offered his services to go to Marietta for surgical aid. It may seem to us to have been a dangerous offer, but the old borderers knew there was far less danger immedi- ately after an attack of the Indians than at any other time, as they always left immediately, the vicinity of their depre- dations, for fear of a pursuit or an attack on themselves. This journey was performed in a light canoe, with no companion but his trusty rifle, which he pushed to Marietta, a distance of thirty miles, the same day before nightfall, and returned by midnight with Dr. True, whose benevolent feel- ings and kind heart were ever ready to the calls of the dis- tressed. By his judicious treatment, she was finally restored to health, and lived many years with her husband, who effected his escape from captivity in a short time.
In after life he was celebrated for his sympathy for the sick, having himself suffered much from disease. So tender was he to the prejudices of his patients, that he seldom pre- scribed without first consulting their opinion as to the medi- cine to be taken, and if they had any particular objection to the article which he thought proper, it was changed to suit their taste, unless it was really necessary in managing the disease, that the objectionable remedy should be taken. His attitude by the bedside of the sick was peculiar and striking. Leaning a little forward in the chair, with his long slender legs crossed over each other, his compassionate but single eye intently fixed on the patient, having lost the ' use of the other from a long and painful disease of the optic nerve, with one hand on the pulse and the other dili- gently employed in switching about a long cue, for he kept
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up the good old fashion of wearing the hair carefully dressed with a black ribbon. It was a habit he had insensibly fallen into when his mind was engaged on any subject of deep thought, and no doubt aided in fixing his attention. The result of his calm, deliberate judgment, was generally very correct, and his treatment of disease remarkably successful, which was, doubtless, in part, owing to its simplicity. It is a lamentable fact that many die from the effects of too many and often improper remedies, as well as from disease itself.
After the close of the war, he built a small dwelling-house and office at the Point, and turned his attention, when not occupied with his profession, to the clearing and cultivation of a small farm, about a mile above the town. He still re- mained a bachelor, boarding for several years in the family of Mr. Moulton, with whom he emigrated to Ohio. He subsequently boarded with Mrs. Mills, the widow of Capt. William Mills, a very amiable and excellent woman, whom he finally married in the autumn of 1806.
In the year 1799, he became united to the Congregational church in Marietta, the earliest religious society in Ohio. Of this church he was for many years a deacon, fulfilling the duties of that sacred office with great fidelity and propriety.
His charity for the poor, and especially the sick poor, was unbounded, and only limited by his scanty means, often be- stowing on them, in addition to his own services, the larger portion of the avails of his attendance on richer patients. It was many years after the close of the war before bridges were built and roads opened between the settlements, and during this period he was the principal physician in Marietta and for the country round. His rides often extended to twenty or thirty miles by bridle paths or old Indian trails, marked out by blazes on the trees. The people were many of them poor and just beginning life in a new country-had
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but little to spare for the services of the physician. With him, however, it made no difference whether the patient was poor or rich; he was always ready, when his health per- mitted, to attend to the calls, and to divide his last dollar with those who were in want. A practical proof of his equanimity of temper, generosity and forgiving disposition, even to those who had done him an injury, was related by the transgressor himself.
The doctor was a lover of fine fruit, and had cultivated, with much care, some of the choicest varieties of apples and pears, in a small garden near his house. Amongst them was a tree of the richest kind of summer sweeting apples, to which the neighboring boys paid daily visits whenever the doctor was out of the way. James Glover, a partially blind, near-sighted man, well known to the inhabitants of Marietta, many years since, for his natural, ready, and keen wit, but then a stout boy of fourteen or fifteen years of age, hearing the other lads speak of the fine apples in the doc- tor's garden, concluded he would also try them; so, one night, a little after bedtime, he mounted the tree, and began filling his bosom and pockets with the fruit: making a rust- ling among the branches, the doctor happened to hear him, and coming out into the garden, peering up into the trees, he espied James, and hailed him. James was obliged to an- swer, and give his name. " Ah James is that you ; why you are on the wrong tree; that one is the summer sweeting. Come down, come down, my lad." This was indeed the fact, but in his hurry he had not yet made the discovery of his mistake. James came down very slowly, expecting rough treatment, and the kind language of the doctor only a ruse to get him within his reach. But he was very pleasantly disappointed. Instead of using harsh words, or beating the aggressor, as most men would have done, he took a long pole and beat off as many apples as he could carry, and
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dismissed him with the request, that when he wanted any more, to call on him, and he would assist him in getting them. James, however, never visited the tree again, and did all in his power to persuade the other boys to do so.
As the country became more thickly settled, the roads better, and the people more wealthy, other physicians came in, and divided with him the medical business, which he bore with- out murmuring or complaining, willing to see all prosperous and happy, even at his expense. For several of the last years of his life, he held the office of county treasurer, which afforded him a small remuneration without much toil, and enabled him to further extend his charities to benevo- lent societies, and other objects for the support of religion and morals, which came into use about thirty years ago, and of which he was a zealous promoter. Samuel J. Mills, the projector of foreign missions, and other benevolent so- cieties, spent two weeks at his house in 1812, when was formed the Washington County Bible Society, being the first in the valley of, the Ohio. His house was the home of all traveling preachers of the Congregational or Presbyterian order, who visited the town, or were engaged in promoting the spread of the gospel. He was the Gaius of Marietta; although, for its population, it numbered many men who were zealous and liberal in all good works.
In his domestic relations the doctor was very happy. His wife was a cheerful, humble, and sincere Christian, with a lively, benevolent temperament, ever ready to promote the happiness and comfort of her companion, and to aid him in all deeds of charity. By this union he had no issue; but the children of his wife were treated with all the love and kindness he could have bestowed on his own. In person Dr. True was tall, with simple, but not ungraceful manners ; his eyes grey and small, with full, projecting brows, nose large and aquiline; forehead rather low; face mild, and
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expressive of the benevolence of the mind and heart within. He was a man of whom no enemy could say hard things, and whom every one loved and respected.
He died, after a short illness, of the prevailing epidemic fever of 1823.
The memory of this good man is still cherished by the descendants of the pioneers, for his universal charity, sim- plicity of manners, and sincere, unaffected piety.
WILLIAM DANA.
THE progenitor of the Danas was a French Huguenot, who fled from the Catholic persecutions to England, at the period of the edict of Nantz. Near the middle of the sev- enteenth century, Richard Dana, the son of William Dana, who was the sheriff of Middlesex, under Queen Elizabeth, came to Boston, and settled in that vicinity. "He was the great grandfather of Capt. William Dana, the subject of this brief biography. From this man sprang all of that name in New England. He was born at Little Cambridge, now Brighton, Mass., in the year 1745. He had three older brothers, Jonathan, Samuel, and Benjamin, and two younger, Josiah and Ezra, with three sisters. The latter settled in Amherst, N. H., where he held the first rank in society. His son Samuel was a lawyer, and a member of Congress from that state, in the year 1813, and held many public stations in the Democratic ranks.
. Capt. Dana married Miss Mary Bancroft, the daughter of Esq. Bancroft, of Peperil, Mass. She had but one brother, 22
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who was a stanch patriot, and entered the service of his country at the battle of Bunker hill, where he discharged his musket sixteen times ; and when the ammunition was all expended, came off with the retreating troops. That summer he died with the small-pox. After Capt. Dana's marriage, he resided in Charleston; but just before the bat- tle of Lexington, sold his house and lot, and moved his family to the vicinity of Worcester, where he was living, on the Mount Farm, at the commencement of hostilities. This is quite a noted place, and now owned by the Roman Cath- olic College. Here he was chosen captain of a company . of artillery, and was stationed with his men a mile or two out of Charleston, at the time of the battle of Bunker hill. An express from Gen. Putnam, near its close, arrived, with orders to hasten on to the hill and reinforce the flagging provincials. He started at full speed, but met his countrymen on Charles- ton neck, on their retreat. He continued in the service for two or three years, attached to the command of Gen. Knox, who was at the head of the artillery corps. Having a tempting offer, about the year 1778, he sold his possession for continental money, in which he had the fullest confi- dence. Before he could again invest it, the paper per- ished on his hands, leaving him, like many others of that day, in poverty. Having no means of supporting his young and growing family but his pay in the service, which would not even support himself, he reluctantly resigned his com- mission, and moved his family to Amherst, N. H. Here he rented a small farm, which required all his efforts, with the aid of his extra work as a carpenter, to supply his family with food; provisions being both scarce and dear. A portion of the time of his living here, from 1779 to 1788, he was employed as a deputy-sheriff.
In the spring of the latter year he decided on removing his rapidly increasing family to the banks of the Ohio,
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where the soil was more fertile, and the climate less severe than that of New Hampshire. Hither several of his mil- itary associates had already gone. Leaving his wife and family at Amherst until he could visit Ohio, he, after a wearisome journey, arrived with his two oldest sons at Ma- rietta the last of June, and built a log-cabin on the corner of market-square, where the post-office building now stands. As it was too late in the season to plant a crop of corn, he cleared off a small piece of ground on the land occupied by the female seminary, for a brick-yard, and made and burnt a small kiln that summer, which were the first bricks made in the territory. These were in demand for chimneys, and aided him in supplying his present wants.
In 1789, he moved out his family and joined the Belpre associates, and drew a lot of land in that wide, beautiful bottom on the Ohio river, just above the head of Blenner- hassett's island. The first labor was chiefly devoted to clearing the land of the immense growth of forest trees which covered it, shutting out the rays of the sun, and in- closing it with fence. This left but little time for the erection of a comfortable cabin, and the winter was passed in a hut built like a large corn-crib, and so small that all the family could not be accommodated at night, and two of the oldest boys slept in a large covered road-wagon. The next year, or in 1790, he built a more comfortable house. That was the year of the famine, in which Capt. Dana's family suf- fered largely with the other settlers. During the Indian war, they lived in Farmers' castle. In a few years after its close, his land was cleared, a convenient frame-house built, orchards of fruit trees in bearing, and smiling plenty crowned his table, around which he could assemble eight sons and three daughters.
In person Capt. Dana was tall, and in his manhood sus- tained the post and bearing of a soldier. In disposition
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cheerful and social, and never happier than when surrounded by his old associates at the festive board.
He died in the year 1809, and has left a numerous train of descendants, who rank in vigor of mind, intelligence, civil and moral usefulness, with the first families in the community.
NATHANIEL CUSHING.
COL. NATHANIEL CUSHING Was a branch of the illustrious Cushing family of Boston, which is classed with the first citizens of the cradle of liberty.
He was born in Pembrook, Mass., on the 8th of April, 1753. But little has been preserved of his early life, by his relatives, except that he received a good common school education. At a suitable age he served an apprenticeship to the trade of a house-carpenter, a common occurrence among the New England yeomanry, who often added to the calling of a farmer that of some useful trade or handicraft, giving them vigorous health and strength of limbs, fitting them to wield effectively the implements of war, as well as the tools used in their daily occupations.
He married Miss Elizabeth Heath, in November, 1775, the year the struggle for independence commenced. The fruits of this union were twelve children, six sons and six daughters, several of whom are now living in Ohio, amongst the most respectable and wealthy of her citizens. Mrs. Cushing was an accomplished, well educated lady, of refined manners, and accustomed to the best society of that day.
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At the commencement of the war he was living in or near Boston, and offered his services in defense of the country. In July, 1775, while the Americans were investing the town under Gen. Washington, he was commissioned by Congress as a lieutenant in Capt. Trescott's company and Col. Brewer's regiment. In January, 1776, he was commis- sioned as first lieutenant in the same company, but in the sixth regiment of Massachusetts infantry, under Col. Whit- comb. In 1777 he was promoted to a captain, and in this capacity served the remainder of the war, being at its close made a major by brevet. He was engaged in many battles and skirmishes, and noted as one of the most brave and successful of the partizan officers. By his kindness to those under his command, and watchful care for the best interests of his men, he became a great favorite with the soldiers. As a disciplinarian he was very strict, and the men often remarked that they could always depend on his word; and whether it was to reward them for their good conduct, or to punish them for their faults, it was sure to be accomplished.
In 1780 Capt. Cushing was attached to Col. Rufus Put- nam's regiment of light infantry, while the main army was stationed on the North river, and the enemy held possession of New York. At this time there was a large district of country between the contending armies, called the neutral ground, that was nearly deserted by the inhabitants, and ravaged by both parties, especially by the Tories, who, from this and the adjacent country, supplied the British in New York with forage and fresh provisions. The Americans, to watch the incursions of the enemy, and keep the Tories from robbing the peacable inhabitants near the lines, kept strong outposts, or detachments of soldiers, on the borders between Kingsbridge and the White Plains. It was a dangerous po- sition for the troops; and none but the most active and vigilant of the partisan officers were ordered on this service.
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They were not only liable to sudden and night attacks, from the bands of Tories who were born and brought up here, and familiar with every road and by-path, but also exposed to a corps of light-horse, under the noted partisan officer, Col. Simcoe, who had cut off and destroyed several ad- vanced parties of American troops. To avoid the latter casualty, the order of the commanding general was, that they should not advance beyond a certain line into the neu- tral ground, but keep within their own defenses, lest they should be surprised by the light-horse, and cut to pieces.
Amongst others ordered on this hazardous service, was Capt. Cushing, with a detachment of men in addition to his own company. Soon after arriving and taking up his po- sition, information was brought by some of the Whig inhab- itants, that there was a considerable body of Tories posted at no great distance from him, on the road to New York. The opportunity thus offered, of distinguishing himself and the detachment under his orders, was too great to be re- sisted; beside, if successful, would be doing a service to the cause, and wipe away some of the disgrace attached to the defeat of other officers who had preceded him in this service. With the main body of his men, he early that night com- menced a rapid march across the country, by an unfre- quented road, and about midnight surprised and captured the whole party. Col. Simcoe, with his mounted rangers, was posted in that vicinity, and received early notice of the event, by some friend of the British, and acting with his usual promptness, immediately commenced a pursuit, with the expectation of cutting to pieces the detachment, and releasing the prisoners. Capt. Cushing, with all haste, posted off the captive Tories in advance, under a small guard; charging the officer to rush on toward the lines as rapidly as possible, while he followed more leisurely in the rear, with the main body of his troops. Expecting a pursuit from
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Simcoe, he marched in three ranks, and arranged the order of defense if they were attacked by the cavalry ; a kind of troops much more dreaded by the infantry than those of their own class. When about half way back, the clattering hoofs of the rangers' horses were heard in hot pursuit. As they ap- proached, he halted his detachment in the middle of the road, ready to receive the charge. It fortunately happened that he found, in the house with the captured Tories, a num- ber of long spears or lances, sufficient to arm the rear rank. When called to a halt, and face the enemy, it brought the spearmen in front. Standing in close array, shoulder to shoulder, with one end resting on the ground, they received their enraged enemies on their points, while the other two ranks poured upon them a deadly fire, leaving many of the horses without riders. This unexpected result threw them into disorder, and their leader directed a retreat. Cushing now renewed his march in the same order. Simcoe, enraged and chagrined at the failure of his charge, again ordered a fresh and more furious onset, but was received by his brave antagonist in the same cool and resolute manner, and met with a still more decided repulse, losing a number of his best men and horses. Not yet satisfied to let his enemies escape, he made a third unsuccessful attempt, and gave up the pursuit, leaving Capt. Cushing to retire at his leisure. ,
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