USA > Ohio > Contributions to the early history of the North-west, including the Moravian missions in Ohio > Part 6
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PROGRESS OF NEW GNADENHUTTEN. 141
very great crop, so that no one lacked for any thing.
PROGRESS OF NEW GNADENHUTTEN.
The industry of the Christian Indians had now rendered this place a very pleasant and regular town. The houses were all well built, as if they intended to live and die in them; the country, formerly a wilderness, was now cultivated to that extent that it afforded a suf- ficient maintenance for them. The rest now enjoyed was particularly sweet after such ter- rible scenes of trouble and distress. But to- ward the end of the year 1784 it appeared that they would also be obliged to quit this place. The Chippewas complained of their set- tling on their lands, and said they only ex- pected them to remain till peace was restored; and threatened to murder some of them in order to force the others to depart. The new Gov- ernor of Detroit, Major Ancrom, also sent them word not to clear any more land, as nothing
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTH-WEST.
was yet settled as to the bounds of the terri- tory_ or government. The missionaries, there- fore, concluded it most prudent to make prepa- ration for returning to the south side of Lake Erie-they being now on the north side, in Canada-and to settle on the River Walhonding, or at their old stations.
TRANSACTIONS OF 1785.
In the course of this year the spiritual con- cerns of the Indian congregation were very fa- vorable; so that they were filled with joy and consolation after so many outward troubles.
RAVAGES OF THE WOLVES.
During the Winter the wolves were very troublesome, traversing the country in packs, and tore a Chippewa Indian man and his wife to pieces near the settlement. One of the In- dian brethren was chased by them for several miles on the ice, but having skates on his feet escaped. The missionaries also lost all their
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PROCEEDINGS AT NEW GNADENHUTTEN. 143
horses by their eating a certain juicy plant, which proved a deadly poison.
PROCEEDINGS AT NEW GNADENHUTTEN.
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Although they had begun to make prepara- tion for moving, yet from the unsettled state of the savages they concluded it best to stay this season, and raise one more crop on the Huron. In May the missionaries, Jungman and Sense- man, returned with their families to Bethlehem by the way of the lakes and the Mohawk River, and left the mission under the care of brothers Zeisberger, Heckewelder, and Edwards.
In July brother Edwards went to Fort Pitt, where he learned that Congress had reserved lands at their old settlements on the Tuscarawas for the use of the mission, and had directed the Surveyor-General to measure them off as much land as he might think they needed. This, how- ever, was not accomplished till after the close of the Indian war in 1795, when they received four thousand acres at each of their old settlements,
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making twelve thousand acres. This news gave great joy to the congregation. One thing after another delayed their return; and now the Delawares and Shawnees, being at war with the Americans, declared they would prevent their going back by force.
THE CHIPPEWAS ORDER THEM AWAY.
Early in the year 1786 the missionaries re- ceived another message from the Chippewa chief on whose territories they were living, stating his determination that they should re- main there no longer; and, besides this, a band of murderers and robbers of the Chippewa tribe rendered the whole neighborhood very unsafe. The missionaries therefore concluded, notwith- standing the threats of the savages in the vicinity of the Tuscarawas, to remove there, and take possession of their old settlements, and if they could not accomplish it this Spring, to settle in the first convenient place they could find. The new commander of Detroit, Major
DEPARTURE FROM NEW GNADENHUTTEN. 145
Ancrom, approved this plan, and offered them vessels and provisions to carry them to the mouth of Cuyahoga River, whence the com- munication is easy to the heads of the Tus- carawas. He also assisted them in selling their improvements for a small sum of money ; so that their labor was not entirely lost. accepted this kind offer thankfully, and as a gracious interference of the Lord in their be- half.
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DEPARTURE FROM NEW GNADENHUTTEN.
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The 20th of April they met for the last time in the chapel to offer up prayer and praise to God for all his favors and mercies received at that place. Embarking with their effects in twenty-two canoes, they proceeded to Detroit, where they were kindly entertained for several days-all the inhabitants having a high opinion of the fair-dealing and upright conduct of the Indian brethren. For although they had run largely in debt during the season of famine,
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTH-WEST.
yet by their industry and economy they were enabled to discharge the whole. One poor man with a large family of small children fell short, and the missionaries were about to assist him in the payment, when his wife, who was walk- ing in the field, happened to find a guinea, which she supposed was a piece of brass; but, when told its value, they took it to the trader, paid their debt, and had a few shillings left.
THE TRAVELERS LEAVE DETROIT.
On the 28th of April they embarked on board two trading vessels, owned by the North- West Company, called the Beaver and Makina. Owing to contrary winds they were a long time on the voyage, being driven back once or twice when within sight of their destination. For two or three weeks they lay on the shore, encamped on an island; and when out in the open lake among the waves, the Indians were made so sick by the rolling of the vessels that they could not stand.
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TROUBLES OF THE JOURNEY. 147
TROUBLES OF THE JOURNEY.
The 28th of May, four weeks from the time of their departure-the voyage being often performed in forty-eight hours-a vessel came from Detroit to inquire after the cause of the long absence of the schooners, and to recall the Beaver. The Makina then agreed to carry their baggage, and let the congregation get on by land from Sandusky Bay.
After a long and very wearisome journey by the shores of the lake-some in light bark- canoes, hastily built-they reached the mouth of the Cuyahoga the 8th of June. Here they built more canoes, and continued their voyage up that river till the 18th of that month, when they reached an old deserted town of the Ot- 'tawas, about one hundred and forty miles dis- tant from Fort Pitt. This was the first spot that they had found suitable for a settlement, being a continuous forest from the mouth of the river up to this place.
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTH-WEST.
SETTLEMENT OF PILGERRAH.
They first encamped on the east side of the river, where was an elevated plain, built huts, and cleared some ground for planting; and, although so late in the season, concluded to put in some Indian corn and spend the Summer. This place they called Pilgerrah, or "Pilgrim's Rest." Here they again regulated their daily worship, reestablished the statutes of the con- gregation, and God blessed their labors. Au- gust 13th they partook of the Lord's Supper, which to them was the most important and blessed of all festivals.
REMARKS.
Never since the days of the wanderings of . the children of Israel in the wilderness has. there been a people whose situation, in many respects, was so nearly assimilated to that of the wanderers under the charge of Moses and Aaron. Beset with enemies on their right hand
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PROCEEDINGS AT PILGERRAH."
and on their left, persecuted by their own rela- tives, suffering by famine and privations of every kind, they yet remained firm in the cause they had espoused, and never rebelled, like that favored people, against the laws of their Master. Whenever they had a chance for rest, like the Israelites at their stations, there they set up the tabernacle, and worshiped God in simplicity and in truth. Their Canaan was the pleasant country on the Tuscarawas, from which they had been expelled, and to which they looked forward as their place of rest from their tiresome journeys; where they had enjoyed much spiritual blessedness, and hoped to lay their weary bodies when they finally departed for that heavenly Canaan, the great end of all their toils, and the resting- place from all earthly sorrows.
PROCEEDINGS AT PILGERRAH.
Being near the great carrying-place or route from the heads of the Muskingum River to
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTH-WEST.
the lakes, they were enabled to procure from traders many necessary articles. Congress also about this time ordered a quantity of corn and blankets to be given them from Fort M'Intosh. In hunting they were very successful, especially in killing deer, bears, and moose-deer. Their Moravian brethren at Bethlehem also sent them many articles of clothing, etc., by way of Fort Pitt, which reached them in August, to their great relief and comfort.
DEPARTURE OF MR. HECKEWELDER.
In October, 1786, brother Heckewelder took an affecting leave of the congregation he had served so many years, and returned with his family to Bethlehem, attended by the best wishes and prayers of the people, by whom he was greatly loved.
SICKNESS OF THE MISSIONARIES.
Brother Zeisberger and wife, with brother Edwards, were now left alone in charge of the
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TRANSACTIONS OF 1787.
mission. They had just recovered from a severe illness, which is the first time any notice is taken of sickness among the missionaries for sixteen years-proving the country to have been remarkably healthy-although exposed to great fatigues and privations. This disease was doubtless taken during their voyage and jour- ney on the shores of Lake Erie, which have always been noted for their malarious atmos- phere from its first discovery to this day, espe- cially in the Summer and Autumn.
TRANSACTIONS OF 1787.
In the year 1787 the mission received some notice from Congress, and an offer of five hundred bushels of corn as soon as they re- turned to their old towns on the Tuscarawas. But fresh disturbances breaking out among the several tribes, they were prevented from going there at present. Lieutenant-Colonel Harmar sent them word from the mouth of the Mus- kingum that they might now receive their five
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTH-WEST.
hundred bushels of corn and one hundred blank- ets at Fort M'Intosh if they would go there for them. General Butler also wrote to brother Zeisberger that they had better remain at Pil- gerrah for the present. The Delaware Indians at this time insisted on their removing to Pett- quotting, on what is now called the Huron River, in the present State of Ohio. The con- gregation were anxious to return to the Tus- carawas, but the United States advised them to remain where they were; while the savages, on the contrary, would not suffer them to do so, but said they should go to some other place. Accustomed to venture their lives in the service of the Lord, the missionaries were unconcerned as to their own safety; and if that alone had been the point in question, they would not have hesitated a moment to return to the Tus- carawas; but they durst not bring the con- gregation under their care into so dangerous & situation. They therefore proposed to the In- dians to give up all thought of returning for
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REMOVAL FROM PILGERRAH.
the present; but at the same time leave the Cuyahoga, and seek some spot between that river and the Huron, where they might find a peaceable and quiet retreat. This was agreed to by all, and some Indian brethren set out the beginning of April, 1787, to seek a place for a new settlement, and found one much to their mind. In the mean while the Indian congrega- tion of Pilgerrah celebrated Lent and Easter in a blessed manner. The public reading of the Passion of our Lord was attended with a remarkable impression on the hearts of all present. The congregation could not suffi- ciently express their desire to hear more of it, and it appeared as if they now heard this great and glorious Word for the first time.
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REMOVAL FROM PILGERRAH.
On the 19th of April the Christian Indians closed their residence here, by offering up solemn prayer and praise in their chapels, which they had used but a short time, and
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTH-WEST.
thanked the Lord for the blessings they had received at this place. They then departed in two bands; one by water, with brother Ed- wards, and one by land, led by brother Zeis- berger. Those by water had to pass over a considerable part of Lake Erie.
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GREAT STORM.
Before they left the Cuyahoga a dreadful storm arose, the wind blowing from the lake. The waves beat with such violence against the rocks that the earth seemed to tremble with the shock. The pilgrims thanked God that they were yet in the mouth of the river and not upon the lake.
FINE FISH.
Being in want of provisions, they passed the time in fishing, and one night pierced above three hundred large fish with their spears by torch-light. They were of a fine flavor, and resembled pikes in form, weighing from three
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MORE TRIALS AND DISAPPOINTMENTS. 155
to four pounds each. A part of these they roasted and ate, and dried the rest over brush- wood fires for food on the voyage.
On the 24th of the month the party by land reached the place of destination, and the party by water the day following. It appeared like a fruitful orchard-numbers of wild apple and plum trees growing here and there. They had never settled on so fertile a spot. The camp was formed about a league from the lake, which in these parts abounded with fish. Wild pota- toes, an article of food much esteemed by the Indians, grew here plentifully. The brethren rejoiced at the thought of establishing a settle- ment in so pleasant a country, especially as it was not frequented by those savages who had heretofore proved such troublesome neighbors.
MORE TRIALS AND DISAPPOINTMENTS.
Their joy was of short duration. On the 27th of the month a Delaware captain arrived in the camp, and informed them they should
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not remain in this place, but live with them at Sandusky; adding that it was a matter posi- tively determined, and they need not deliberate upon it. He added, as usual, the most solemn declarations of protection and safety, and also said that their habitation would not be near any heathen town, but at least ten miles from the nearest. To this command the congrega- tion reluctantly consented, after representing to the captain the malice, treachery, and deceit of the Delaware chiefs, which they had expe- rienced for six or seven years.
REMOVAL TO PETTQUOTTING.
In the beginning of May they were joined . by Michael Jung and John Weygand from Bethlehem, and soon after left a country so pleasing in every respect with much sorrow. Their course lay along the shores of the lake, partly by water and part by land, to Pettquot- ting, where they encamped about a mile from the lake. Here they found the fallacy of the
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CONVERSION OF A NOTED SAVAGE.
statement of the Delaware chiefs, for their resi- dence was not above two miles from the towns of the savages. They finally, with the consent of the chiefs, fixed on a spot near the mouth of the river, and went there in their canoes the 11th of May, and before night a small village of bark huts was erected. They made their plantations on the west bank of the river, but erected their dwelling-houses on the east side, which was higher land. This place they called "New Salem." Here they celebrated Ascen- sion Day and Whitsuntide, meeting in the open air, and on the 6th of June finished and con- secrated their new chapel, which was larger and better built than the one at Pilgerrah. June 9th the whole congregation attended a love- feast, for which flour had been sent from Beth- lehem.
CONVERSION OF A NOTED SAVAGE.
Among the savages who in 1787 became concerned for the salvation of their souls was
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTH-WEST.
a noted profligate, who in 1781 threatened the . lives of the missionaries, and had often lain in ambush to kill them, but without success. IIe was traveling and came without design to Pil- gerrah, where he heard the Gospel with great attention, and ardently expressed his desire to be delivered from the service of sin. He would not leave the congregation; but, giving up his intended journey, staid with the believing In- dians, and, turning with his whole heart to the Lord, was baptized at New Salem some months after.
MISSION HISTORY SINCE 1787.
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The history of Loskiel closes at the middle of the year 1787, at which time their prospects of usefulness were very flattering. In a few years after this the war commenced generally among the Indian tribes against the United States, and was not closed till the year 1795. Some years after this the Moravian Indians and missionaries returned to their towns on the
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MISSION HISTORY SINCE 1787.
Tuscarawas, where Congress had already sur- veyed for them three tracts of four thousand, acres each; namely, one at Schoenbrunn, one - at Gnadenhutten, and one at Salem. These tracts, I believe, still belong to the Moravian Missionary Society, and are leased for a term of years, the rents of which go into the funds of the Society for the support of the Gospel among the Indians of North America. Mr.
Heckewelder rejoined the mission after their return, and I find was living at Salem and Gnadenhutten, as late as the year 1805, from a meteorological record kept at that place, and published in Barton's Medical Journal. Soon after which, from the rapid increase of white settlers all around them on the United States military lands, and the traders urging upon and supplying them with whisky, their con-, dition became very distressing and troublesome. Finding that little permanent good could be expected for the poor Indians while living among the unchristian whites, they finally
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTH-WEST.
removed to the frontiers, and settled on the River Raisin.
David Zeisberger died at Schoenbrunn, No- vember 7, 1808, aged eighty-seven years, seven months, and six days. He was born in Moravia, April 11, 1721.
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STORY OF "SILVER HEELS." 161
CHAPTER VIII.
CONTINUATION OF BORDER HISTORY.
STORY OF "SILVER HEELS."
FOR many years after the first settlement of Ohio, the article of marine salt was one of primary importance in the catalogue of im- portations, as being absolutely necessary in the domestic economy of civilized man. The sav- age never having been accustomed to its use, can live and enjoy very good health without it-never laying by any great stores of meat, but letting each day provide for itself. If he needed a supply for a journey or the short interval of Summer, when hunting was poor, it was easily preserved by the process of "jerk- . ing," or drying over a slow fire, a mode often resorted to by the early borderers themselves. Not so with the white man; salt was to him
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162 EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTH-WEST.
an article of absolute necessity, and he was obliged to transport it across the Alleghany ranges of mountains, on packhorses, for many years after the first settlement of the country, at an expense of six or eight dollars a bushel, even as late as the year 1800. The immense fountains of brine that now are known to exist deep in the rocky beds below, and furnish an endless source of wealth to the country, were then not dreamed of; and it was supposed the West would always be dependent on the At- lantic coast for salt, and deeply deplored as a serious drawback on the value of this beautiful region. Although many springs of saline water were known to exist in various places, yet they were of so poor and weak a quality as to re- quire from four to six hundred gallons of the water to make a bushel of salt; and when made contained so much foreign matter as to be a very inferior article. But as it could be used in place of foreign salt, and saved the border- ers money, at that day not very plenty, it was
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STORY OF "SILVER HEELS.
-- occasionally resorted to by the first settlers ; and gangs of six or eight men assembled with their domestic kettles, and packhorses with provisions, camped out in the woods for a week at a time. These springs were generally dis- , covered by the hunters, and were often at re- mote points from the settlements. One of the most noted in this part of Ohio was on Salt Creek, near the present village of Chandlers- ville, in Muskingum county.
About the year 1798, shortly after the close of the Indian war, a party of men from the settlement on Olive-Green Creek, a large tribu- tary stream of the Muskingum, thirty miles from the saline, had assembled at this spot for the purpose of manufacturing a little salt for their own use. While occupied at this business, and cracking their rude jokes as the water. slowly evaporated from the boiling kettles, a noted old Indian warrior, well known to the borderers in early days by the name of "Silver Heels," who was hunting near the spring, called
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTH-WEST.
at their camp. During peace the intercourse of the Indians with the whites was free and unrestrained; nor was it uncommon for them to hunt in company with perfect confidence and good fellowship. At this period the old warrior lived on the Muskingum River, a few miles west of the saline, at a spot since well known to all boatmen by the name of "Silver Heels Ripple." As it was now peace he felt no fear, and having drank very freely of the whisky offered him by the whites, and which in those days formed one of the comforts, if not one of the necessaries of life, he began to boast of his exploits, saying he had taken the scalps of six- teen white men during the course of his battles. Among others he said he had taken one at the mouth of Olive-Green Creek, near the garrison at that place, during the late war. It was that " of an old man, and had two crowns, or spiral turns of the hair, on the top of the head. Of this he made two scalps, by carefully dividing it, and sold them to the British commander at
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STORY OF "SILVER HEELS."
Detroit for fifty dollars each. He further re- lated that the old man was gathering the fruit of the may-apple, and had the bosom of his hunting shirt full at the time. His gun, which he had set against a tree, while picking the fruit, he described as a musket, with iron bands or rings around it; but fearing pursuit, and it being useless to him, he had hidden it in a hollow log a few rods higher up the bank of the creek. The fact of the old man's death was familiar to all present, as the most of them were his companions in the garrison at the time, and were well acquainted with the cir- cumstances. It seems he was out near the garrison, just at evening, hunting his cow, con- trary to the advice and remonstrances of the other inmates, who were aware of Indians being in the vicinity, and stated the danger of thus exposing himself. But being a head- strong as well as a brave man, he disregarded their fears. He had been absent but a short time when the sharp crack of a rifle was heard.
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTH-WEST.
It was known at once for that of an Indian, as the gun of the old man was a musket, and its report easily distinguished from that of a rifle, especially by woodsmen. The garrison contained but three or four men, but several women and children. And as, it was nearly dark, and the force of the Indians unknown, no search was made for him till the following morning, when he was found dead and scalped, with his bosom filled with may-apples, which he was busily engaged in gathering for his children, at the time, as stated by Silver Heels. It so chanced that a son of the old man, now a robust forester, and whose name was Sher- man, was present listening to the Indian's nar- ration. To satisfy himself as to the truth of the story, and of his being the actual murderer of his father, he returned directly home, and making diligent search on the spot pointed out as the place where the gun was concealed, he found under some rotten wood where the tree had lain, the barrel, lock, and rings of his
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"LOGAN'S SPRING."
father's gun, then lying there about eight years, thus confirming the truth of the Indian's statement. A few days after this, the dead body of the old warrior was found in a by- path in the woods, pierced by a rifle bullet. , Thus ended the days of "Silver Heels ;" but his name will be remembered as long as the ripple shall remain in the bed of the Mus- kingum.
"LOGAN'S SPRING."
The following anecdote of Logan, the cele- brated Mingo chief, is so characteristic of his magnanimity and genuine love of the whites, that it is well worth preserving. When not goaded to madness by the cruelties of the Americans, and under that all-absorbing pas- sion, revenge, he was one of the most mild and kind-hearted of men. That particular in- jury being canceled, benevolence and kindly feelings, often predominant even in the savage heart, returned in full force, and all former
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168 EARLY HISTORY OF THE NORTH-WEST.
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