USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Historical Sketches and Eary Reminiscences of Hamilton County, Ohio > Part 3
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One of these parties, headed by John Dunlap, made a settlement, during the spring of 1790, on the Great Miami river, in what is now Colerain township, west of the present town of Dunlap. He
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there laid out a town which he named Colerain, in honor of his native place in Ireland.
Captain Jacob White, who was from Pennsyl- vania, with a few families, among whom were David Flinn, Andrew Goble, Andrew and Moses Pryor, and Lewis Winans, made a settlement during the same year on the south-east bank of Millcreek, at what was then known as the third crossing, north of the present village of Carthage, and near the aque- duct; Abraham Covalt's, Clemens', and Gerard and Martin's stations, all on the Little Miami, the two former at Round Bottom, near the present town of Milford, and the latter about two miles from the mouth of that river; and also Campbell's station, on the east bank of the Big Miami, opposite the present village of Miamitown, were all estab- lished during the same or following year, Covalt's perhaps in the latter part of 1789.
These were the centers around which were formed the Miami settlements, and were established at a very unpropitious time for securing peace with the Indians, who, for more than twenty years, had witnessed a steady influx of pale faces into Kentucky, a region of country which, prior to John Finley's first excursion, in 1767, was known and traversed alone by the Red Man, and had been held as neutral ground between the northern and southern tribes, who came there to battle or to hunt, but, by common
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consent, never to reside; a country, too, that had been made historic by many sanguinary conflicts, and consecrated with the blood of so many braves, that it was given the name of Kentucky, signifying " the dark and bloody ground."
John Finley and his party were from North Caro- lina, accustomed to frontier life, and knew the Indian character well, and as their journey was transitory, a mere hunting and trading excursion, they were re- ceived and treated kindly by the savages, with whom they had free and peaceful intercourse. But when, two years later, the same Finley, in company with Daniel Boone, John Stewart, James Monay, Joseph Holden, and William Cool, came with preparations for a more permanent settlement, the jealousy of the Indian was excited. He awaited his time, however, and for several months did not appear to these "hunters of Kentucky," but covertly watched their movements, until the little band, being lulled into feelings of security, separated, the better to explore and examine the country. It was then that the wily savage sought his opportunity, and, while Boone and Stewart were rambling alone near the Kentucky river, sprang upon and made them prisoners.
This occurred on the 22d day of December, 1769, and though a few days subsequent they made their escape, the event was the harbinger of war, the hostile beginning, which continued, with few inter-
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missions, until peace was secured by General Wayne, at Greenville, more than twenty-five years afterwards.
Many treaties were held with the Indians during that period of time, where not only stipulations of peace were agreed upon, but the title to large tracts of land were ceded by them.
Long prior to the coming of Boone into Kentucky, treaties were made, and, so far as agreements were of value, many of the Indian tribes had transferred to the crown of England and to the Colonies the greater portion of the country west of Virginia and Pennsylvania.
As far back as September, 1726, a treaty was held with the Iroquois, at Albany, New York, when they ceded all their claim to the territory west of Lake Erie, and sixty miles in width along the south shore of Lakes Ontario and Erie, from the Oswego river to the Cuyahoga; and at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1744, the same nations yielded their claim to the lands "that are, or hereafter may be, within the Colony of Virginia."
At Logstown, on the Ohio river, about twenty miles below Pittsburg, in 1752, the Iroquois, and other western tribes, confirmed the treaty of Lan- caster, and agreed to settle south of the Ohio.
In 1768, at Fort Stanwix, in Oneida county, New York (now the village of Rome), the Iroquois and other tribes ceded to the English crown all their
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right south of the Ohio river and west of Pennsyl- vania.
On the 5th of October, 1770, at Lochaber, in South Carolina, the Shawnees ceded their claim to the territory south of the Ohio.
In 1774, that great genious and bold adventurer, Richard Henderson, with seven other North Caro- lina gentlemen, organized the much celebrated "Transylvania Company," and in March of the following year he met in council with the chiefs of the Cherokees, attended by twelve hundred warriors, at Wataga, on the south-eastern branch of the Holston river, where, on behalf of the com- pany, and for ten wagon loads of goods, including fire arms and spirituous liquors, he purchased a large tract of land, of more than one hundred miles square, lying west of Virginia and south of the Ohio river.
In 1785, at Fort McIntosh, the Wyandots, Dela- wares, Chippeways, and Ottawas, ceded all claims "east and south of the Cayahaga, the portage path and the Tuscarawas to Fort Laurens; thence to Laramies' Fort (north-west part of Shelby county, Ohio); thence along the portage path to St. Mary's river, and down it to the Omee or Maumee river and the Lake shore to the Cayahaga."
January 31, 1786, at Fort Finney, near the mouth of the Great Miami, the Shawnees agreed
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to leave the Scioto Valley, and were allotted a tract on the headwaters of the Miami and the Wabash, west of the Wyandots, Chippeways, and Delawares.
February 9, 1789, at Fort Harmar, at the mouth of the Muskingum, the Iroquois, Chippeways, Dela- wares, Wyandots, Ottawas, Potawatamies, and Sauks confirmed the treaty of Fort Stanwix.
Thus it would seem, that at the time of the com- mencement of the white settlements along the north bank of the Ohio, the Indian titles to the territory were well-nigh extinguished, yet it was claimed, that these treaties, however binding they might be upon the chiefs and others engaged in them, were held too remote from the great body of warriors to be well considered or understood by them, and that a ques- tion of such great importance as the ceding of vast tracts of territory should have been presented to the different nations and tribes interested, in grand coun- cil, for their consideration, or at least submitted to them for approval. But however this may be, or from whatever excuse or pretense, it is certain that these treaties were held in light regard by the great mass of the north-western Indians. The obligations of the treaty of Fort Harmar were scarcely known throughout the country when Indian hostilities were renewed, and the war continued for more than six years.
The great animosity existing between the Indians
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and the settlers in Kentucky caused the former to be jealous of the settlements established upon the north bank of the Ohio. This feeling was further aggra- vated when the whites pushed their stations back into the interior, which plainly told of the quick destruction of their favorite hunting grounds.
It is no wonder that the white man and the Indian could not harmonize and live together amicably. The policy of the two races was as opposite as the poles. The object of the one being to convert the wilderness into thriving towns and fruitful fields, and of the other to keep the country in its primeval condition as hunting grounds. With these opposing objects it is not surprising that treaty obligations were heed- lessly broken.
There may have been a desire on the part of the Indian to keep the peace, but in the felling of the forest he saw only desecration and waste, and his own destiny clearly and distinctly portrayed. What were treaty stipulations to him if he were deprived of his country, his home, and the means of subsistence. However sacred these obligations may appear to a civilized world, they were to the untu- tored savage but a feather weight in the scale where on the opposite beam hung the land of his fathers and the home of his children. To him it was a question of self-preservation, and, unmindful of his agreements, he went forth to strike the invader of
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his home, and, if possible, drive him from the land.
In the wars that followed the Indians received encouragement and support from the officers of the British army, then stationed in Canada, and oc- cupying a small fort at the foot of the Maumee rapids, which was built and garrisoned in direct violation of the treaty obligations between England and the United States. These officers furnished the Indians with arms and ammunition, and gave them the benefit of their counsel and advice. With this encouragement and support it was not long until (with very few exceptions) the entire north- western tribes were arrayed in hostility against the American settlements.
Depredations were commenced by the stealing of horses and cattle from the settlers, which soon became of frequent occurrence. Then defenseless individuals fell a prey to the tomahawk, and others were borne into captivity. Among the first that were killed may be named John Filson, one of Judge Symmes' surveyors, and one of the original proprie- tors of Cincinnati; Holman and Wells, also sur- veyors; a soldier named Runyan, from New Jersey, at South Bend, where a number of the same party were wounded; John Hilliars, also of North Bend; Andrew Vaneman and James Lafferty, near Fort Washington; Obadiah and John Seward, of Colum-
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bia; a number of others were killed or captured during the fall and winter of 1789-90.
At this period, finding all efforts to negociate a permanent peace in vain, the government, with a view of chastising the Indians for these depredations and murders, sent General Josiah Harmar, with a force of regulars and militia, amounting in all' to 1453, with instructions to lay waste the enemies' towns, and destroy his crops and stores. The failure of this expedition, with its sad details, are well-known matters of history. While, to some extent, General Harmar did destroy crops and stores and lay waste the country, his first flush of success was soon turned into disaster. Instead of concentrating against the enemy, he divided his forces, and gave them battle with detachments of his army, and was defeated in each engagement with heavy loss. He returned to Fort Washington with the remnant of his command, dismayed and clouded with unsuccess.
Although new settlements were being established at this time, and the older ones strengthened and made more secure, the Indians, flushed with their victory, became still more audacious, and many de- predations and murders were committed all over the country. Abraham Covalt and Joseph Hinkle were killed on the Little Miami river; Joseph Cutler, near Cincinnati ; James Cunningham, John Sloan, and Abner Hunt, near Dunlap's Station, on the Great
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Miami river; Benjamin Van Cleve, at Cincinnati; young William Fuller, captured on the Big Miami river, and many other murders and aggressions were committed soon after Harmar's expedition. Dun- lap's Station, too, was attacked with great daring and determination, and though the enemy was unsuccess- ful, it produced great alarm throughout the settle- ments.
It must not be supposed, however, that the Indians were the sole aggressors, and were alone guilty of such atrocities. There were many instances where the white man committed upon his red neighbor offences of equal enormity, with this difference, however, he never tortured, but dispatched his enemy at once, and he took no prisoners.
The Indians alleged that the white settlers were re- sponsible for the hostility between the races in the Miami country, having been the first aggressors, and to some extent the truth of this is confirmed by inves- tigation.
The Red Man has left no record of his complaints. The story of the wrongs committed upon his race have passed with him into the spirit land, except in the few instances where truth has forced its way into history. Had the Indian character been better un- derstood, and a policy of justice in accordance with his customs and laws, been adopted by the white set- tlers, recognizing his equal right to the soil, he possi-
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bly might have been redeemed and civilized. But unfortunately around each settlement were a number of daring but unscrupulous men, who, by their rash and wrongful acts, were continually inciting the Indians to deeds of violence.
When the settlement at Columbia was first estab- lished a band of twenty or thirty Indians under Black Fish, a Shawnee chieftain, came in and made overtures of friendship, and for several months they, with other bands from different tribes, lived upon peaceful terms with the settlers, making frequent and friendly visits. But sometime during the following winter a number of white men, said to have belonged in Kentucky, made a raid upon an Indian camp over near the Little Miami river, and stole away several horses. They were pursued, but crossed the river and got away safely with their booty. The Indians, greatly exasperated, came into Columbia and de- manded of Capt. Stites payment for their property. They also went to North Bend and made similar de- mands upon Judge Symmes.
It had been the custom among the Indians, when depredations were committed, to hold the tribe or na- tion to which the offenders belonged accountable, and require restitution of property and a surrender of the guilty parties.
It was in vain therefore that they were told that these men did not belong to North Bend or Colum-
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bia; that the whites around those stations had no control over them, and should not be held accounta- ble for their acts. The Indians were not fully con- vinced, and went away sullen and dissatisfied .*
Soon after this some horses were missed from Colum- bia, and a number of the settlers, supposing a band of Indians that had passed the evening before were the felons, started in pursuit. Lieutenant James Baily, Capt. James Flinn, and Luke Foster (after- wards Judge Foster, of Springfield township, and the father of Algernon,) were among the number. Following a trail about eighty miles they approached a camp, when Capt. Flinn went forward to reconnoiter. The Indians were on the alert, and Flinn was captured. He was treated with kindness and lenity, of which he took advantage and broke away from his captors a few hours after he was taken, but had to leave his rifle behind. He returned to his party, and joined with them in seizing five horses belonging to the Indians, then made a precipitate retreat to Columbia.
Soon after their return, the Indians came in with Flinn's rifle, and, protesting their innocence of the theft committed at Columbia, demanded their horses. After much talk with Capt. Stites, a com- promise was effected, their horses restored, and
* All manner of impositions had been practiced upon the Indians, such as charging them exhorbitant prices, and selling, them whisky that froze in the cask.
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when they left they did so with apparent satisfaction and good feeling. But, for some unknown cause, their friendly visits ceased, and soon afterwards they began to harrass the settlements by secret plunder and insidious murder.
CHAPTER V. .
In the spring of 1788, the territory was organized by the appointment of Gen. Arthur St. Clair as Gov- ernor, Winthrop Sargent as Secretary, and Samuel H. Parsons, James M. Varnum and John Cleves Symmes as Judges. All power, executive, legisla- tive, and judicial was centered in the Governor and Judges, a system which seemed "unfriendly to the liberties of the people," and yet by a judicious exer- cise of these powers, they succeeded in giving general satisfaction to the sparsely settled country. Their first legislative session was held at Marietta, in/ August, 1788. Among the laws passed were those providing for the organization of the militia, for the establishment of inferior courts, for the punishment of crimes, and for regulating marriages. The militia law required, that all male inhabitants, of sixteen years and upwards, should equip themselves with musket and bayonet, or rifle and cartridge box, with forty rounds of ammunition, etc., etc., and, thus
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equipped, should assemble at ten o'clock, A. M., on the first day of each week, at the place or places assigned for public worship, for inspection, military drill, and dicipline; and upon every Sabbath morning could be seen the rugged men of each settlement assembled at the station-house (that being the usual place of worship), where they went through the man- ual of arms and military drill; after which, with sentinels on duty, they repaired, in company with their wives and children, to the place set apart for religious worship; and, if the minister was present, patiently, and may we not say devoutly, gave ear to his moral and religious instruction. The services were simple, attended with few formalities, and were sometimes interrupted by alarms from the sentinels. The men sat with guns in hand, ready for any emergency. If the minister was not present, some one offered an exhortation or perhaps led in prayer, or if neither, then the hearts of these stern pioneers went up in silence to "Heaven's eternal King," in thanks for his protecting care during the past, and asking a continuance of His divine favor, by shield- ing them and their little ones from the perils of the coming week.
"Compared with this how poor religion's pride, In all the pomp of method and of art, When men display, to congregations wide, Devotion's every grace, except the heart."
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The government of the territory was intended to be only temporary, and was certainly but an im- perfect system. But the habits of the people were simple, and their wants correspondingly few. There was but little trade or commerce among them, con- sequently but little demand for law; and as common sufferings are far stronger links than common joys, their dangers and privations bound them closely in ties of friendship, and tended greatly to prevent disputes and dissensions. Their communities were of pure democracy, to which all were admitted without distinction, none excluded, except for moral taint or crimes committed. Disputes, when they did arise, were usually settled by arbitration.
Each community or neighborhood had its own standard of morality and good order, however, and adopted its own mode of punishment for offenses committed. When a person overstepped the bounds of propriety, or shocked the public morals, the people, without waiting the slow process of the law, brought the accused before an improvised court, where he was tried, and, if found guilty, punished in a manner which seemed best suited to the offense. Whipping, sousing in the waters of the Ohio or Millcreek, and banishment from the neighborhood, were favorite modes of punish- ment. In fact, whipping was one of the principal modes sanctioned by law. The thirteenth paragraph of the "Law for Punishment of Crimes," provided,
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That any person found guilty of stealing or pur- loining goods from any other person, shall restore to the owner the thing stolen, and pay to him the value thereof, or twofold the value if the property be not restored, and be fined in a sum not exceeding twofold the value of the goods stolen, or shall be whipped, not exceeding thirty-one stripes, at the discretion of the court; and in case such convict shall not have property to satisfy the sentence of the court, the sheriff, by direction, may " bind such person to labor for a term not exceeding seven years, to any suitable person who will discharge such sentence."
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That this law was not a dead letter upon the statute books, may be seen from the following copy of the old court records :
"At a Special Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, holden at Cincinnati, in and for the county of Hamilton, in the territory of the United States, north-west of the Ohio river, on the 21st day of August, 1792, the Grand Jury return a bill of indictment against Patrick Dorsey, for feloniously stealing and carrying away from the armorer's shop, at Fort Washington, in said county, on Saturday, the 18th day of Au- gust instant, one silver watch, of the value of fifteen dollars.
"The prisoner, Patrick Dorsey, pleads not guilty, and there- upon trial was had, and the jury say : 'We, the Jury, do find the prisoner guilty, as stated in the indictment.' Thereupon the Court sentence the aforesaid Patrick Dorsey to receive twenty- five stripes on his bare back, and also to pay to Peter Davis, from whom the watch aforesaid was stolen (the said watch being restored to said Peter again ), the sum of fifteen dollars, together with the costs of prosecution, herein taxed at eight dollars and twenty-five cents."
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The law regulating marriages in those early days allowed males of seventeen and females of fourteen to be joined in wedlock, on consent of their parents ; and of the ages of twenty-one and eighteen respec- tively, without such consent. Fifteen days' notice was required to be given at some meeting or public assembly of the people, called publishing the bans, or a license from the governor should be obtained. The latter was the usual course, and the following copy of one of these old licenses, with the certificate attached, will serve to indicate the simple and straightforward manner of conducting even matri- monial affairs in those pioneer days :
COPY.
" By his Excellency, Arthur St. Clair, Governor of the Ter- ritory of Ohio :
" Permission of marriage is given to Beracha Dunn and Mary German, and both of Hamilton; and the Honorable the Judges of the county aforesaid, the Justices of the Courts of Common Pleas, or any of them, or any other person authorized to solemnize marriages, are hereby empowered, upon applica- tion to them made by the parties aforesaid, to join them together as husband and wife.
" Given under my hand and seal, at Cincinnati, the 9th day of December, A. D. 1800. " (Signed) " ARTHUR ST. CLAIR."
On the back of this instrument the following simple indorsement appears :
"This is to certify that Beracha Dunn and Mary German were joined in marriage January 3rd, 1801, by me,
".(Signed) "PETER SMITH."
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This couple, Beracha and Mary Dunn, were the grand parents of Chas. S. Dunn, the present Mayor of Lockland. After their marriage they resided for a time in Cincinnati, where he worked at his trade as foreman for a Mr. Thorp, who was the first boot and shoemaker in the place. In 1810 they moved to Reading, where he carried on the business of tanning and also shoemaking until 1813, when he bought and moved upon the quarter section of land upon which the town of Lockland was afterwards laid out. There they resided until their decease, both well advanced in years, leaving a large family of children .*
In the autumn of 1791 the government sent a force of 2300 men, consisting of regulars and militia, under the command of Governor St. Clair, who was instructed to march against the Indian villages, in the Maumee country.
This expedition was unfortunate from its begin- ning, and could only have terminated in disaster. Soon after General St. Clair left his encampment, at Ludlow Station (now Cumminsville), which he did on the 17th day of September, discontent arose among the militia, and before he had reached
* The writer is indebted to one of the daughters of Beracha and Mary Dunn, now Mrs. Naomi B., wife of James F. Pendery, for the foregoing copy of the license and certificate of marriage, the original being in her possession, well preserved.
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the point where Fort Jefferson was built, desertions had become frequent. Finally, a whole company, consisting of sixty of the Kentucky militia, revolted and went off in a body. This created the necessity of a further reduction of the army by sending back a regiment to overhaul the deserters.
With his army, thus demoralized and depleted, Gen. St. Clair reached a point on the headwaters of the Wabash river, in what is now Mercer county, Ohio, and where Gen. Wayne afterwards built Fort Recovery. There, on the 4th day of November, 1791, he was attacked by the enemy, and suffered that signal defeat, the news of which produced such great consternation throughout the settlements in the territory, and also in Kentucky.
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