USA > Ohio > Biographical and historical memoirs of the early pioneer settlers of Ohio, with narratives of incidents and occurrences in 1775 > Part 30
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As soon as he was able to travel, he joined the Ohio Com- pany adventurers, then in the opening of their enterprise to occupy the great west, and redeem it from the wilderness. He attached himself, in 1789, to the settlement of Waterford, and, with them, drew a donation lot of one hundred acres.
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WILLIAM GRAY.
He was a brave and active pioneer; exposing himself to danger on every occasion, and doing all he could for the benefit of the inhabitants. During the winter months, he taught school; and on the Sabbath officiated as chaplain, reading the sermons of some able divine, and conducting the public devotions, which were regularly kept up during the period of the war, as well as subsequently.
As a man, he was much respected by the pioneers, and the garrison built for their protection, was called Fort Tyler. He never married, but continued a bachelor to the end of his days. His habits were rather studious and sedentary; except when danger threatened the inhabitants from an In- dian attack, when he was alert and active. In his latter years he became rather intemperate, probably hoping to drown his melancholy reflections in the inebriating bowl. His name is still fondly cherished by the descendants of his pioneer companions.
CAPT. WILLIAM GRAY.
CAPT. WILLIAM GRAY was born in Lynn, Mass., on the 26th of March, 1761.
Being of a warm, active temperament, and the struggle for independence occupying the thoughts and conversa- tion of all around him, he became early inspired with the determination of doing all in his power to aid the cause of his country, and entered the service of the United States, as a private soldier, at the age of seventeen years, or in the year 1778, and served to the close of the war. At the
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attack on Stony Point, he had been promoted, for his good conduct, to a lieutenant, and was among the first who scaled the walls of that fortress.
At the close of the war he returned to his home, and married Miss Mary Diamond, of Salem. His uncle, the rich merchant, William Gray, for whom he was named, lived at that time in Salem, and from a humble situation in life, being bred a shoemaker, rose to be one of the richest mer- chants in Boston. He treated his nephew with great kind- ness ; and for many years, even after he moved to Ohio, annually sent him a sum of money, sufficient to aid very materially in the support of his family. Soon after his mar- riage he resided in Danvers, where his two oldest children were born.
In the autumn of 1787 he joined the Ohio Company, and had the charge of one of the wagons that transported the first band of pioneers on to the waters of the Ohio. On this wagon was written, in large letters, "For Ohio." His family was left in Danvers, and did not come out until 1790, in company with Maj. Ezra Putnam, from the same place. He joined the settlement at Waterford, and when the war of 1791 broke out, was chosen commander of the garrison erected for its defense, called Fort Tyler. By his good con- duct and prudence, this fortress was preserved unharmed, although several times in great jeopardy. The situation was a very exposed one, on the extreme frontier. On the head waters of the Muskingum, which washed its founda- tions, were seated numerous tribes and villages of the hos tile Indians, who, at almost any season of the year, could embark their whole force in canoes, and in forty-eight hours land at the garrison. Their approach might have thus been made in the most secret manner, without even the knowledge of the rangers, who constantly scoured the coun- try, watching for signs of the Indians. But an overruling
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Providence diverted their attention to other quarters, and they passed the four years of war with but little loss of life, but much of property. Soon after the peace, and men could till the earth in safety, he bought a farm near the present town of Beverly, and lived there, highly respected, until the time of his death, in July, 1812.
He was the father of ten children, nearly all of whom married, and their descendants are living in this county.
COL. WILLIAM STACEY.
COL. STACEY was a native of Massachusetts, and a propri- etor in the Ohio Company. He came early to the North- west Territory, and settled in Washington county.
In the forepart of his life he lived on the sea-coast, proba- bly Salem, and was engaged in sea-faring business. Find- ing himself surrounded by a rapidly increasing family, he removed to New Salem, in the county of Hampshire, Mass., and entered on the life of a farmer. He was much re- spected by his fellow townsmen, and was promoted in the military service. In Barber's Historical Sketches of Mas- sachusetts, is the following notice of Col. Stacey, copied from the Barre Gazette.
" The news of the battle of Lexington flew through New England like wild-fire. The swift horseman with his red flag proclaimed it in every village, and made the stirring call upon the patriots to move forward in defense of the rights so ruthlessly invaded, and now sealed with the martyrs' blood. Putnam, it will be recollected, left his plow in the 26
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furrow, and led his gallant band to Cambridge. Such instances of promptness and devotion were not rare. We love the following instance of the display of fervid patri- otism, from an eye witness, one of those valued relics of the band of "76, whom now a grateful nation delights to honor.
When the intelligence reached New Salem, in this state, the people were hastily assembled on the village green by the notes of alarm. Every man came with his gun and other preparations for a short march. The militia of the town were then divided into two companies, one of which was commanded by a Capt. G -. This company was paraded before much consultation had been held on the proper steps to be taken in the emergency, and while determination was expressed on almost every countenance, the men stood silently leaning on their muskets, awaiting the movement of the spirit in the officers. The captain was supposed to be tinctured with Toryism, and his present indecision and backwardness were ample proofs, if not of his attachment to royalty, at least of his unfitness to lead a patriot band. Some murmurs began to be heard, when the first lieuten- ant, William Stacey, stepped out of the line, took off his hat, and addressed them. He was of stout heart, but of few words. Pulling his commission from his pocket, he said, 'Fellow soldiers, I don't know exactly how it is with the rest of you, but for one, I will no longer serve a king that murders my own countrymen ;' and tearing the paper in a hundred pieces, he trod them under his feet. Sober as were the people by habit and natural disposition, they could not refrain from a loud huzza, as he stepped back into the ranks. Capt. G- still faltered, and made a feeble en- deavor to restore order, but they heeded him as little as the wind. The company was summarily disbanded, and a re-organization took place on the spot. The gallant Stacey
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was unanimously chosen captain, and with a prouder com- mission than was ever borne on parchment, he led a small but resolute band to Cambridge. He continued in service during the war, reaching, before its close, the rank of lieu- tenant-colonel, under the command of Putnam."
In 1778, Capt. Stacey had risen by his merits to the rank of a lieutenant-colonel, not in Col. Putnam's regiment, but in Col. Ichabod Alden's, of the Massachusetts line.
The first of July, that year, the Indians and Tories sacked and destroyed the settlement of Wyoming, on the Susque- hanna river. They now threatened, and had partly de- populated, the settlement of Cherry valley, which lies on the head waters of the eastern branch of that stream, fifty- two miles northwest of Albany, in the present county of Otsego, but then Tryon county, N. Y. It was a beautiful val- ley, noted for its fertility and picturesque scenery, being first settled as early as 1739, but greatly harassed by the Tories, who formed nearly half of the inhabitants of that county, and were friends to the crown, to which they were partly induced from the popularity and high standing of Sir Guy Johnson, who lived in the northern part of the county, and probably from respect to the governor of the state while under the king, for whom it was named Late in the sum- mer of 1778, Col. Alden's regiment was ordered up to Cherry valley, for the protection of the inhabitants. A stockaded garrison had been previously built around their little church, and the regiment of about two hundred men took possession of it. Being rather straitened for quarters, several of the officers lodged at the houses of the adjacent inhabitants. Alden and Stacey, with a small guard of sol- diers, quartered in the house of a Mr. Wells, not more than a quarter of a mile from the garrison. On the 6th of No- vember, Col. Alden received a letter from Fort Schuyler, now in Oneida county, distant about forty miles northwest, near
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the head of the Mohawk, saying that an Oneida Indian, whose tribe was friendly to the United States, had told them that the Indians and Tories, under a son of Col. Butler, were assembling on the Tioga river, a northerly branch of the Susquehanna, which passes through the country of the Seneca Indians, for the purpose of attacking the fort and settlement of Cherry valley. Butler had been a prisoner with the Americans, and confined in Albany jail, a short time before, but had escaped, and was now seeking revenge. Being notified of this intended attack, he sent out scouting parties to watch their approach, although he did not actually apprehend any danger, even after this timely warning. The inhabitants, better aware of their peril, made application to the commander to be admitted within the fort, but as it was only large enough for his own men, he declined, saying it would be time enough when they were certain of the ap- proach of the enemy. Being unacquainted with Indian warfare, he did not take shelter within the fort himself. The scout, which was sent down that branch of the river which waters the valley, having kindled a fire, were surprised in their camp and taken prisoners, so that they could not give the alarm of the advance of the Indians as he had expected. From these prisoners, Butler and Brant learned the condition of the settlement and the houses where the officers slept, being themselves familiar and acquainted in the valley before the war.
Early on the morning of the 11th of November, an army of five hundred Indians and two hundred Tories entered the settlement undiscovered, and began the attack on the scat- tered dwellings near the fort. Before they reached Wells', the house where he quartered, a man on horseback gave notice of their approach. He was still persuaded there was only a small body of Indians, but on their coming in sight he directly ran for the fort, closely pursued by an Indian,
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who after calling on him to surrender, which he refused, snapping his pistol at him, he threw his tomahawk, striking him on the head and felling him to the ground. The Indian then scalped him, "and thus he was the first to suffer from his criminal neglect."* Before Col. Stacey could leave the house, it was surrounded by the Indians, and he was taken prisoner with a few of the guard, while all the women and children were killed. It was a damp, rainy morning, and the powder of the out-door guards was wet, so that their arms were useless, which was one reason of there being so little resistance. After a feeble attack on the fort, they de- parted with their scalps and prisoners, killing about forty of the inhabitants. Joseph Brant, who commanded the Indians, saved the lives of a number of families, making them pris- oners, while Butler and the Tories under his command, spared very few that fell into their hands.
The Indians, in their return to their own country on the Genesee river, passed down the Cherry valley branch of the Susquehanna to its junction with the Tioga fork, and up that stream over to the Seneca lake, and onward to an In- dian town that stood near the present beautiful village of Geneva, distant more than two hundred miles, by the route they traveled, from Cherry valley. Here the revengeful ยท savages who had taken Col. Stacey prisoner, after holding a council, decided on burning him at the stake. It has for ages been the practice of the Indians in their attacks, to take some prisoners for this purpose, that the young Indians and squaws may share in their revenge on their enemies. Being devoted to this dreadful death, he was tied to the stake, the fire kindled, and he thought his last hour was come. Seeing the noble-minded Brant in the throng, and having probably heard that he was a Freemason, he made
*Annals of Tryon county.
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the well known sign of the fraternity, which was instantly recognized by the quick eye of the Indian. His influence was almost unlimited amongst the northern tribes of New York, and he persuaded them to release their victim, thus adding one more to the number of lives saved by his humanity.
Soon after this he was adopted into an Indian family. At the time of the invasion of the country of the Senecas in 1779, by Gen. Sullivan, when their villages, orchards, and crops of corn, were totally destroyed, many of them retreated to Fort Niagara, then in the hands of the British. Amongst others, Col. Stacey was taken there by the family to which he was attached. While here, Mr. Campbell, the author of the history of Tryon county, from whom some of these events are copied, says, "Lieut. Col. Stacey, who had been taken prisoner at Cherry valley, was also at the fort. Molly Brant, the sister of Joseph, and former mistress of Sir Wil- liam Johnson, had, from some cause, a deadly hostility to him. She resorted to the Indian method of dreaming. She told Col. Butler that she dreamed she had the Yankee's head, and that she and the Indians were kicking it about the fort. Col. Butler ordered a small keg of rum to be painted and given to her. This, for a short time, appeased her, but she dreamed a second time that she had the Yankee's head, with his hat on, and she and the Indians kicked it about the fort for a foot ball. Col. Butler ordered another keg of rum to be given to her, and then told her, decidedly, that Col. Stacey should not be given up to the Indians. Apart from this circumstance, I know nothing disreputable to Molly Brant. On the contrary, she appears to have had just views of her duties. She was careful of the education of her children, and some of them were respectably married.
Col. Stacey remained a prisoner over four years, and was then exchanged. He returned to his home in New Salem,
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and in 1789 moved with his family, consisting of his wife, five sons, and a son-in-law, with their families, to the Ohio, and settled in Marietta. Two of his sons, John and Phile- mon, joined the settlement in Big Bottom, formed in the fall of 1790. The 2d of January, following, the block-house was taken by surprise, and fourteen of the inmates were killed; amongst the slain was his son John, while Philemon, a lad of sixteen years, was taken prisoner, and died in cap- tivity. Col. Stacey feeling anxious for the safety of the new settlement, and the welfare of his sons, visited the post the day before the attack; and although the Indians pretended to be friendly, well knowing their wiles from former expe- rience, gave the young men strict orders to keep a regular guard, and strongly bar the door of the house at sunset, and not open it again until sunrise, even although it was the depth of winter. They neglected his advice, and per- ished. During the war he lived in a small block-house, at the Point in Marietta, on the bank of the Ohio, and is figured in the drawing of that place, in the preceding vol- ume. He had the charge of overseeing the construction of these works in January, 1791. His remaining sons and son- in-law settled in this county, and left a numerous posterity, who still reside here. His youngest son, Gideon, settled in New Orleans, and established a ferry across Lake Pontchar- train, and was there lost.
After the death of his first wife, Col. Stacey married Mrs. Sheffield, a widow lady from Rhode Island, and owned four shares of land in the Ohio Company. She was the mother of the wife of Maj. Zeigler, Mr. Charles Green, and Isaac Pierce, Esq., a woman of highly cultivated mind, lady-like manners, and agreeable person.
He died in Marietta, in the year 1804, and was a man greatly esteemed for his many excellent qualities.
THE FIRST SETTLEMENT OF ATHENS COUNTY. WITH BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF SOME OF THE EARLY SETTLERS.
BY EPHRAIM CUTTER, ESQ.
THE Indian war, which was brought to a close by the treaty of Greenville, in August, 1795, had caused an almost entire stop to the wave of population, which, by the settle- ment of Marietta and Cincinnati, had begun to swell and move. It was not until 1797 and 1798, that the symptoms of what has astonished the whole civilized world, began again to appear in the west. In those years, that kind of boats to which the pioneers gave the cognomen of broad- horns, were seen continually floating down the Ohio. Many of these contained the families of persons of strong, adven- turous minds, and hardy frames, but generally of little or no property. They of course sought for opportunities to locate themselves on lands that they could obtain on easy terms.
In the early part of 1797, Marietta was crowded with this kind of population, seeking for some place to make a home. It is well known that in the purchase of the Ohio Company's lands, they made it a condition that two town- ships of land should be conveyed which were to be forever for the use and benefit of a university. These lands were in the trust of the directors of the Ohio Company, and were thus to remain until they should resign that trust to the future Legislature. Gen. Putnam, who was the superin- tendent of the surveys of the land of the Ohio Company, had these two townships surveyed into sections in 1796.
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The trustees were convinced that it would be good policy to early make these lands productive, and thus provide a fund to commence an institution, which they foresaw would soon be much needed, and if established, promised most import- ant results. They believed that the public interest would be served by encouraging substantial men to occupy these lands, make improvements, and wait until a more perma- nent title could be made to them by an act of Legislature, which, it was expected, would soon (as was the case,) be acquired as the second step provided for by the ordinance of 1789, providing for the government of the territory north- west of the river Ohio.
These lands, with a large surrounding region, were one of the most favorite portions of the hunting ground which the Indians had surrendered in their several treaties; and the treaty of 1795 seemed to close the last fond hope of ever after enjoying them. Yet the hunters living about Sandusky, and on the different branches of the Muskingum, continued not only to visit there, but until the winter before the last war with Great Britain commenced, they were in large parties during the hunting season, coursing through that extensive range of country, comprising the lands watered by the Raccoon, Monday, Sunday, and the heads of Federal creek. It was here they formerly found the buffalo, the elk, and the bear. The buffalo and elk were not extermi- nated until the year 1800. The bear continued in consid- erable abundance until their last great hunt in the winter of 1810-11. That winter was a favorable season for them to effect the object they seemed to have in view, which was to destroy the game, the weather being cold, with several falls of snow. The carcasses of many deer were found in the woods bordering the settlements in Washington and Athens counties, which appeared to be wantonly destroyed by the savages. A young buffalo, believed to be the last
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seen in this part of the country, was taken a few miles west of Athens, on a branch of Raccoon, in the spring of 1799, brought to the settlement, and reared by a domestic cow. The summer after it was two years old, it was taken by its owner over the mountains, and for a considerable time ex- hibited from place to place. At first it was easily managed, but at length became ungovernable, and gored its owner, who died of the wounds, and the animal was then killed.
Gen. Putnam probably would not, at this time, have en- couraged the commencement of this settlement, had he not foreseen that these lands would soon be occupied, and that it was important, in order to establish a peacable and re- spectable settlement, to select, from the emigrants already at Marietta, men possessing firmness of character, courage, and sound discretion. He accordingly gave every facility in his power, relating to the surveys, &c., to Capt. Silas Bingham, Judge Alvin Bingham, John Wilkins, Esq., Capt. John Chandler, John Harris, Robert Lindsey, Jonathan Wat- kins, Moses Hewit, Isaac Barker, William Harper, Barak, Edmond and William Dorr, and Dr. Eliphaz Perkins. Some of these individuals, with their families, and some others, made their way up the Hockhocking, in pirogues, early in the spring of 1797; and were the first in felling the inter- minable forest, and to erect dwellings. Immediately after the settlement commenced, as was anticipated, large num- bers came to take possession of these lands, many of whom seemed disposed to practice the principle that, might makes right; this soon occasioned a state of things which required much courage and prudence to counteract. Alvin Bingham was commissioned a magistrate, and Silas was appointed a deputy-sheriff. The cases of taking forcible possession of the land and improvements had commenced, and it required no common share of prudence and firmness to keep the peace, and give an effectual check to these outrages. Add
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to these, a Canadian Frenchman, by the name of Menour, who had resided with the Indians, was in the habit of steal- ing horses from the savages, and bringing them into the set- tlement, on the college lands, where he had men ready to take them and convey them away to some settled region, and dispose of them. The Indians found no difficulty in tracing their horses to this point, but could follow them no further. They, of course with great justice, made their complaints. Menour had collected around him quite a num- ' ber who were well armed, and showed a determination to defend him. Judge Bingham issued a warrant for his ap- prehension, and intrusted it with Silas, who made an attempt to perform his duty, but found quite a party of des- perate characters in arms to protect him. He very adroitly retired; giving out the idea, that he should not venture to arrest him, unless he could obtain assistance from Marietta. Menour's house was a strong building for those times; the only access to the chamber was a small opening in the ga- ble-end. Menour and his wife, who used it for a lodging room, ascended a ladder, then drew it up after them, and closed the aperture. The lower part of the house was, at this time, occupied by a large party of desperate men, horse- thieves, and outlaws, who slept on their rifles, and were ready at any moment to do their leader's bidding. In the meantime, Bingham, with the utmost secrecy and dispatch, collected the well-disposed citizens of Athens and Ames, and proceeded that night to make the arrest. The night was very dark, and they approached and surrounded the house, without being discovered by its inmates. E. Cutler burst open the door, and the citizens rushed in upon the des- peradoes, and secured them before they were fairly awake. Robert Lindsey and Edmond Dorr broke into the opening that formed the entrance to the chamber, and captured Me- nour; who was taken to Marietta, where he was convicted
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of the offense, on the testimony of the Indians, and pun- ished; he, however, afterward went to Sandusky, and it was said, was there killed by an Indian.
Judge Bingham was not lax in punishing breaches of the peace. Some cases of forcible entry and detainer took place, which required a jury and two magistrates to decide them ; and at this time there were but two in this portion of the country, Judges Bingham and Cutler. These cases some- times showed a threatening aspect; a certain number of disorderly persons were always ready to attend such courts. At one of these trials the leaders of this class came forward, and threatened violence; the magistrates ordered them to leave the room; they retired; but expressed an intention to put a stop to such courts. The magistrates issued warrants, and ordered the sheriff to apprehend them immediately, and take them to Marietta. He was not slow in arresting them. It is not easy to conceive of men more frightened; the idea of being taken to Marietta, to be tried by a court that had established its character for firmness and strict justice, filled them with terror. Silas Bingham, (who, to great shrewdness and dispatch in business, united an unconquerable love of fun,) did nothing to allay their fears, but told them the bet- ter way would be to come into court, and, on their knees, ask forgiveness, and promise amendment. The prominent man of the offending party replied, that "it was too bad to be compelled to kneel down, and ask forgiveness of two Buckeye justices ;" but he would submit rather than be taken to Marietta. This anecdote was often repeated by the facetious Col. Sproat and Bingham, and might have aided in fixing the cognomen on the state.
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