Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 4

Author: McKelvey, A. T., 1844- ed
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490

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"Boggs subsequently escaped, having run the gauntlet, and these details of my father's death he repeated to me and my brothers, as related to him by his captor."

THE TRAGEDY NEAR KIRKWOOD'S BLOCK-HOUSE.

About 1795 Lieut. Duncan McArthur and a posse of men, numbering in all a dozen, were stationed at the block-house on the lands of Robert Kirkwood. One morning they noticed a young Indian dodging along not far from the fort among the trees. He had been sent by a body of Indians, who had ambushed about three miles below, on the

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banks of the Ohio River, to decoy the sol- diers from their fort.

As soon as he was discovered, Lieutenant McArthur and his men started out to catch him. They followed him as he ran down the river about three miles to where the In- dians had secreted themselves, when 15 of the redskins fired into their number, kill- ing six of them instantly.

So unexpected was the attack that the re- maining six, completely bewildered and frightened, turned and retreated, McArthur behind. As he turned his head to take in

the situation his foot caught in a grape vine and he was sent sprawling on his face just as the Indians fired a volley of bullets after him and the limbs and leaves dropped all around him.

He regained his feet and started at full speed, following the course of his men. Ile was closely pursued by the savages, but be- ing very swift of foot, the latter soon gave up the chase, and the remnant of the party gained the block-house in safety. Lieutenant McArthur was afterwards made governor of Ohio.

CHAPTER II.

INDIAN TRAGEDIES AND LIFE OF THE EARLY PIONEERS.

THE INDIAN SUMMER -- ANECDOTES OF LEWIS WETZEL-"HUNTING THE COWS"-"THE GOBBLER INDIAN" -- THE EARLY SETTLERS -GATHERING THE PIONEER'S CROPS THE PIONEER'S DRESS-DISEASES AND REMEDIES OF THE PIONEERS-BUSINESS METHODS LAW AND MORALITY -- AMUSEMENTS AND GAMES-THE MECHANIC ARTS-SUPER- STITIONS OF THE PIONEER AGE-CHANGES IN THE WEATHER-THE HORRORS OF SLAVERY.

THE INDIAN SUMMER.

As connected with the history of the In dian wars of the Western Country, it may not be amiss to give an explanation of the term "Indian Summer." This expression, like many others, notwithstanding its original import, has continued in general use, while its meaning has been forgotten

A backwoodsman seldom hears this ex- pression without feeling a chill of horror, be- cause it brings to his mind with painful recol- lection its original application. The reader must here be reminded that during the long continued Indian wars sustained by the first settlers of the Western Country, they en- joyed no peace excepting in the winter sea- son, when, owing to the severity of the weather, the Indians were unable to make their excursions into the settlements. The onset of winter was therefore hailed as a jubilee by the early inhabitants of the con- try, who throughout the spring and the early part of the fall had been cooped up in their little uncomfortable forts and subjected to all the distresses of the Indian war.

At the approach of winter, therefore, all the farmers, excepting the owner of the fort, removed to their cabins on their farms with

the joyful feelings of a tenant of a prison on recovering his release from confinement. All was bustle and hilarity in preparing for win- ter by gathering in the corn, digging pota- toes, fattening hogs and repairing the cab- ins.

To our forefathers the gloomy months of winter were more pleasant than the zephyrs of spring and the flowers of May. It, how- ever, sometimes happened that after the ap- parent onset of winter the weather became warm; the smoky time commenced and lasted for a considerable number of days.

This was the Indian summer, because it afforded the Indians another opportunity of visiting the settlements with their destruc- tive warfare.

The melting of the snow saddened every countenance and the genial warmth of the sun chilled every heart with horror. The apprehension of another visit from the In- dians and of being driven back to the de- tested fort was painful in the highest degree, and the distressing apprehension was fre- quently realized. Toward the latter part of February we commonly had a fine spell of open warm weather, during which the snow melted away.

This was denominated "Powwowing

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Days," from the supposition that the In- dians were then holding their war councils, for planning off their spring campaigns into the settlements. Sad experience taught us that in this conjecture we were not often mistaken. A man of the name of John Car -. penter was taken early in the month of March in the neighborhood of Wheeling. There had been several warm days, but the night preceding there was a heavy fall of snow. His two horses which he took with him nearly perished in swimming the river into what is now Belmont County. The In- dians as well as himself suffered greatly be- fore they reached the Moravian towns. In the morning after the first day's journey the Indians sent out Carpenter to bring in the horses, which had been turned out in the evening after being hobbled. The horses had fallen into the trail by which they came and were making their way homeward. When he overtook the horses and had taken off their fetters, he had to make a most awful decision. He had a chance, and barely a chance, to make his escape, with a certainty of death should he fail. On the other hand. a horrible prospect of being tortured to death by fire presented itself, as he was the first prisoner taken that spring, and the gen- eral custom of the Indians was to burn the first prisoner every spring. After spending a few minutes in making his decision, he re- solved on attempting an escape, and effected it, bringing both his horses with him. The capture of Mr. Carpenter and the murder of two families contributed materially to the Moravian campaign and the murder of that unfortunate people.

ANECDOTES OF LEWIS WETZEL.

On the farm of J. B. McMechen, two miles east of St. Clairsville, on the National Road, better known in the early days as the "Zane Trail," there is a celebrated spring known as the "Indian Spring," where in 1782, a short time before the siege of Fort Henry, occurred one of the most stirring

events in our history. In the interval after Crawford's defeat and before the attack on Fort Henry in September of this year, oc- curred an incident of local interest, which shows the dexterity and skill of the famous Indian scout, Louis Wetzel. Thomas Mills who lived on Wheeling Creek, had accom- panied Crawford on his campaign, and on his return had left his horse on the west side of the Ohio River near the spot where St Clairsville now stands, and distant 12 miles from Wheeling. One day, securing the ser- vices of Wetzel, Mills and his companion left Fort Henry to get his horse and bring the animal home. When within a mile or two of St. Clairsville they were met by a band num bering 40 or 50 Indians, who were roaming around in search of stragglers on the return from the army of Crawford. The Indians and white men discovered each other about the same time. Wetzel fired first and killed one of the savages, which shot was promptly re turned by one of the Indians. The Indian's fire had wounded Mills in the foot, which prevented him from eluding the savages. who soon succeeded in overtaking and kill- ing him. Four of the Indians then dropped their guns and pursued after Wetzel, who at first succeeded in keeping a respectable dis- tance between him and his pursuers, and loaded his rifle as he ran.

But after running some distance one of the Indians rapidly gained upon him unti! he approached within a few steps of Wetzel, who wheeled around, shot him down and ran on loading as he ran. After running some distance farther a second In- (lian came so close to him that, as he turned to fire, the Indian clinched the muzzle of the gun and he and the Indian had quite a tus- sle for the possession of it. IIe, however, succeeded in killing the savage. The pursuit was continued by the two remaining In dians, who now exhibited signs of caution. for when Wetzel would wheel to fire on them they would seek cover behind trees. After running some distance Wetzel thought he would practice a little piece of strategy,

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

and so made for a small piece of compara- tively open ground. The Indians were not far behind him, and as he was passing over this he suddenly wheeled and stopped with a view of shooting the foremost one, who as promptly jumped behind a small tree, which failed to cover his body. Wetzel shot and wounded him in the thigh, which put a stop to further pursuit on his part.

The last of the Indians then gave a little yell and exclaimed, "No catch dat man- gun always loaded!" and gave up the chase.

Of this noted hunter it may be said that while his home was on Big Wheeling Creek east of Wheeling, the most of his exploits took place on the Ohio side of the river and in what is now Belmont County. Lewis Wetzel was a son of John Wetzel, a German emigrant, and his education, like that of all the frontiersmen, was that of the hunter and Indian fighter. Attaining manhood, he was courageous, manly, yet cunning as an In- dian in warfare.

In' stature he was tall, with jet black hair, broad shoulders and deep chest; though his face was slightly pock-marked, his counten- ance was pleasing.

Of this noted hunter a writer in the his- tory of Belmont and Jefferson Counties says: "In early youth Lewis Wetzel acquired the habit of loading his gun while at full run, which gave him a great advantage as an In- dian fighter, and was of immense conse- quence in the next important event of his life. This incident in his career occurred when he was but 16 years old, and was a most remakable event, an exploit rarely equaled for courage and daring in any age. Some time during the summer of 1780 a party of Indians had crossed the Ohio and stolen several horses from settlers on Wheel- ing Creek and were making their way back through Belmont County.

"A party of the whites were soon gathered and en route to recapture the horses and punish the savages. In the pursuit, the party passed the farm of the elder Wetzel, who was then absent. Lewis was engaged in cul-

tivating a crop of corn. They urged him to join their party, but he had been forbidden by his father to leave home, but the adven- ture was too great a temptation for the spirit of young Wetzel and he was easily persuaded to join them. He accordingly took from the plow a favorite horse of his father and started along in pursuit. They had not pro- ceeded far until they came upon the enemy, who were carelessly loitering about their camp, apparently off their guard. The stolen horses were spanicled and grazing at a short distance. The Indians were easily surprised and fled, leaving the horses, which were re- covered. The party of settlers, having ac- complished their purpose, prepared to return, but their horses were jaded and hungry and they agreed that they should be turned out to grass, and three of their number left to bring them, after they had refreshed for a short time.

"They had not proceeded many miles un- til they were overtaken by three of their number they had left behind to bring their horses, who informed them that soon after their departure they were surprised by the savages, leaving them no alternative in sav- ing their lives but to abandon everything and escape by flight.

"A parley was called and the hasty de- termination was soon formed to continue their way homeward and leave their horses with the Indians.

"To this determination Wetzel earnestly remonstrated. He protested he would never return alive to his father without the favorite horse-swore he preferred the mare without his scalp to his scalp without the mare, and urged the company to return and retake the horses. In this he was overruled. He then swore he would go alone; that the mare he must and would have, when two others who had been active in . persuading him to go agreed to accompany him. The three left their companions and soon reached the camp and found the Indians engaged at their meals, with the horses safely secured at a safe distance. The plan of attack was soon

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agreed upon. They were to advance in single file, Wetzel in front until they passed two trees, behind which his companions were to ambush. When he reached the third it was a signal for attack. Wetzel reached his tree and discovered that the Indians had also treed; but in looking around for his companions he found they had retreated at the top of their speed.

"His condition was really critical; to come out in an open field was almost certain death. His only hope was in strategy. He therefore placed his hat on the end of his ramrod and gently pushed it partly from be- hind the tree. This was no sooner done than all the Indians fired at it.

"The hat was literally riddled, and Wetzel still secure behind the tree, quick, but cau- tiously, dropped the hat to the ground. At this the Indians, believing they had killed their adversary, all sprung from their am- bush and rushed towards him. Wetzel, tak- ing advantage of the enemy, whose guns were empty, left his tree and firing on the foremost, brought him to the ground, and then with the fleetness of the wind ran from the scene, followed by the survivors. Wetzel loaded as he ran and, wheeling quickly, fired into the breast of the foremost savage, again ran, loaded and fired on the last of the In- dians just as he was in the act of hurling his tomahawk at the head of Wetzel. His fire was successful, and all three were dead on the plain. Wetzel secured the evidence of his victory, obtained the horses and over- took his companions before they had stopped for the night. The news of this daring ad- venture soon made him the man of the fron- tier."

"HUNTING THE COWS."

7 It was during the summer of 1782 that two boys belonging to Wheeling were sent out for the purpose of driving back some stray cows which had wandered away. They concluded that they had swam the river and crossed to the Ohio side, so jumping into a

canoe they paddled across, and commenced their search for them. While so engaged, they were surprised by three Indians, who were watching them, and by them taken prisoners. Cranmer says: "At once the In- dians set out on their journey, compelling each of the boys to carry a large bag, of which they had several in their possession

"From the weight of the bags the boys concluded that they must be filled with gold. Urged as they were to their utmost speed, one of them when he could do so unper- ceived would break off twigs from the branches of trees, to mark the direction in which they had traveled. When night came on, the Indians selected a camping place, and prepared to retire, before doing which, how- ever, they tied the hands of the boys, as well as their feet, with strips of bark. They were then compelled to lie down between two of the Indians, while the third Indian seated himself upon a fallen log in front to keep watch. Deering, the elder of the two boys, who was about 15 years of age, managed to disengage his hands from the thongs which bound them, and slyly drew a knife from the belt of one of the sleeping Indians, with which he succeeded in loosing his feet. Overcome with fatigue, the third Indian had braced his back against the trunk of a friend- ly tree, with his legs astraddle of the log upon which he sat. Whispering to his com- panion to lie perfectly quiet, Deering sun- dered the thongs which bound him. With great caution so as not to disturb the sleep- ing Indians, they quietly arose, and the elder of the two took the loaded rifle of one of their captors, placing it upon a log for a rest in a line with the head of one of the sleeping savages, and gave it in charge of the younger brother, and instructed him not to fire, until he gave the signal.

"He himself took a tomahawk, and steal- ing on the sleeping Indian who had been placed on watch instantly buried his toma- hawk in his brains, and then rushed to the Indians lying on the ground, at the same time giving the signal to his companion to fire

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

and struck deep into the skull of his sleeping victim. The Indian at which the younger of the two boys had fired, sprang to his feet howling with rage and pain. The boys not stopping to ascertain the result at once took to their heels and, following the trail over which they had passed the preceding day, late in the afternoon of the day following reached the fort in safety, to the surprise of their friends who had given them up as lost A hunter who was present, and heard the recital given by the boys, who stated in the course of their narration that they believed the bags contained gold, was shortly after- ward missing.

"This individual, whose conduct in the past justified the belief (which was general among the settlers), was looked upon as dishonest. The scouting party set out, and found the bodies of two Indians who had been toma. hawked, just as the boys had stated, but no signs of the bags were visible. On their re-

turn to the fort they found the suspected hunter still absent, which confirmed the com- mon belief that he had anticipated the visits of the scouts, and secured the bags of gold; for afterwards he became one of the wealth- iest settlers in all the section of country in which he resided."

THE GOBBLER INDIAN.

The gobbler Indian incident is so familiar to the youth of the past generation that its repetition scarcely seems necessary today But for the benefit of future generations we give Joshua Davis' account of it, as related to R. H. Tannyhill 50 years ago: "Well in January, 1783, on the twelfth day, or old Christmas which was always punctually kept at the fort, we had two large turkeys roasted and a lot of twelfth-day cake baked. Twelfth- day cake is made of unleavened dough slightly sweetened with spice, cloves and cinnamon bark worked in it and then baked in a Dutch oven. It was baked a day or two before and eaten cold. When we were killing the turkeys, Wetzel had the feet of

one cut off up where the feathers come on and the wings at the first joint, before it was scalded.

"These he put away in his hunting bag very carefully. Now for several winters in turkey time, we had been plagued by an In- dian, who could call so much like a turkey that no one could tell the difference. He would secrete himself, and when our men would be creeping along expecting every minute to shoot a turkey he would shoot them. His operations were carried on usual- ly on the ridges north or south of Wheeling Creek in Belmont County. The next morn- ing, an hour or two before day, Wetzel got up, took his riffle down, flung his hunting bag over his shoulder, and took with him the turkey's feet. The rest I will tell you as he told me.

"'I crossed over the river, went up the north side of Wheeling Creek about a mile, then made to the top of the ridge.

"'It was now good daylight. I went as carefully as I could down to where the snow was still on and made some tracks along its edge with my turkey feet. I then came on down the ridge within a hundred yards of the place where I intended to hide myself. And wherever there was snow on that line I made turkey tracks, but kept clear of the snow with my own feet. When I got within about 20 steps of my place to hide, I made tracks as near as I could like a turkey does when it is about to fly to roost. I then fixed the wings and flapped them in the snow. I then went up the point of the ridge to my hiding place and took my drumsticks and began to call like a turkey. In a little while my call was answered, and presently a large Indian came in sight, leaning down, and go- ing to and fro, as if hunting a trail. I kept on calling; he answered. After a little, he came to my line of turkey tracks, and ex- amined them closely looked up into the trees and began making long, cautious steps. I still called; he answered, and came on to- wards me. I now examined my priming and rubbed the flint with a piece of punk to be

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sure of my shot. By this time he had got to the little raise, then looked about in the trees, then down at the tracks again. He kept moving, so I was afraid to shoot. He now lifted his gun in his left hand and turned it sideways, and struck it with his right.

".He then stood still and looked right to- wards me. I pulled on him. He threw up his hands, trembled, and fell backwards. He didn't get his turkey this time. We were no longer plagued with the gobbler Indian.'"

THE EARLY SETTLERS.

The deprivations of early settlers of Bel- mont County were inconceivable great. The farmers and citizens of today with their well filled larders, and overflowing granaries, have little conception of the wants and de- privations of their forefathers.

The first settlers in this mountainous, densely wooded, though rich soiled county, did not find it a paradise. The giant oak, walnut, beech, maple, poplar and ash trees of more than a century's growth, locked and intertwined with grape vines, could only be subdued and removed, so that the rich soil might be utilized, by earnest, persistent labor. There were some favoring circum- stances; the land was covered with the wild pea vine, and other forage plants, which proved beneficial to the pioneer, in furnish- ing forage for his stock. The soil also yielded liberal crops, while the large number of deer, wild turkeys and smaller game, furnished abundant meat for the family. The first ef- fort of the settler was to build a house. At most it was but a rude log cabin. The logs were unhewed, the cracks were stopped with stones, and plastered with mud. The floors were of puncheon, and sometimes of mother earth. The doors were of heavy timbers, and the windows were of greased paper, stretched over an opening in the logs. The pine knots and glowing logs, that burned in the great open fire-place, answered for both light and fuel at night. Upon a few pegs in the wall hung the scanty wardrobe

of the entire family, and some clapboard shelves, supported by pins in the logs, served the double purpose of cupboard and closet. The scanty furniture consisted of a split slab table, and some three-legged stools, a forked pole with one end fastened to a joist over- head, and the other sunk in the floor, and cross poles extending to cracks between the logs afforded the rude bed. Bunches of seeds and herbs, which the good wife had col- lected, as simple remedies for the ailments of the family, hung in festoons over the high mantel, and the trusty flintlock and powder horn were suspended from a pair of polished buck's horns. The tableware consisted of a few pewter dishes, with wooden bowls and trenchers, and if these were scarce, gourds and hard shelled squashes supplied the de- ficiency. The rude articles of furniture cor- responded with the plain but wholesome diet that made up the pioneer farmer's bill of fare; hog and hominy for breakfast was followed by mush and milk for supper; roasting ears, pumpkins, potatoes and beans from the little truck patch varied the diet in summer, and wild turkey, venison and bear's meat were the variations in winter. For years, corn bread, corn pone, and johnnycake, were the only form in which bread was made, and sometimes, when the supply of cornmeal was exhausted, pumpkin meal was used instead, or the children grated the new corn upon coarse tin graters to minister to their neces- sities. As water was a primary object, the location of the home was always near a spring of water or a flowing stream. Their imple- ments of labor were no less simple and rude. Before the days of the water mill, the hominy block and hand mill for crushing and grind- ing corn were rude attachments to every farmer's home-deerskin sieves took the place of bolting cloth in these primitive machines, and the whole were operated by the good wife and the children, who, in addition, wove and spin the flax and the wool that composed the warp woof of the substantial linseys with which the entire family were clothed. While the needs of the pioneer family were many,

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

they were more than counter-balanced by a natural ingenuity that developed in many of them a fertility of resources of which the modern farmer has little knowledge. He was a tanner, a shoemaker, a tailor, a car- penter, and a blacksmith, and to his neigh- bors who could not exercise the mechanic's art, he was willing to exchange his hand craft for their labor. The implements of labor em- ployed by the farmers of the upper Ohio Val ley a century ago were very simple and rude. Primitive plows with wooden mold-boards, and harrows with wooden teeth were em- ployed; and scythes (with straight handles) reaped the wheat and cut the grass, and the grain was threshed with a flail, or trodden by horses or cattle. With these crude in- struments of labor, and amid dangers, de- privations and discouragements, the charac- ter of which I have only hinted at, our fore- fathers began the herculean task of felling the primeval forests and opening up its fruit- ful valleys and fertile plains.

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Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 4

Author: McKelvey, A. T., 1844- ed Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1490

Author: McKelvey, A. T., 1844- ed
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490