USA > Ohio > Historical collections of Ohio, containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc., relating to its general and local history : with descriptions of its counties, principal towns, and villages > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
The following are the names of some of the most noted of the early settlers: Thos. Hinkson, Aaron Burr and Jesse Hughes, the first associate judges ; Nathan Linton, the first land surveyor ; Abraham Ellis and Thomas Hardin, who had been soldiers of the revolution ; Joseph Doan, James Mills and Henry Babb, who served as commissioners ; Morgan Mendican, who erected the first mill in the county, on Todd's Fork; and Capt. James Spencer, who was distinguished in various conflicts with the Indians.
The first house for divine worship was erected by Friends, at Center, in 1806. The first court was held in a barn, belonging to Judge Hughes, and for a number of years subsequent, in a small house belonging to John M'Gregor.
There are some of the ancient works so common throughout the west on Todd's Fork, near Springfield meeting house. The " De- serted Camp," situated about three miles northeast of Wilmington, is a point of notoriety with the surveyors of land. It was so called from the circumstance, that a body of Kentuckians, on their way to attack the Indian towns on the Little Miami, encamping over night lost one of their number, who deserted to the enemy, and giving warning of their approach, frustrated the object of the expe- dition.
Wilmington, the county seat, is in the township of Union, on Todd's Fork, 72 miles sw. from Columbus. It is regularly laid out on undulating ground, and contains 5 houses for divine worship, 1 newspaper printing office, 1 high school, 19 mercantile stores, and a population estimated at 1500. The engraving represents one of the principal streets of the village, as it appears from the store of Jo- seph Hale ; the building with a spire is the court house, a structure of considerable elegance. Wilmington was laid out in 1810, prin- cipally settled by emigrants from North Carolina, and named from Wilmington in that state. The first log house was built by Wm. Hobsin, and Warren Sabin's was the first tavern. The first church, a small brick edifice, was erected by the Baptists. In 1812, the
102
CLINTON COUNTY.
first court was held. The earliest settlers were Warren Sabin, Samuel T, Londen, Wm. Hobsin, Larkin Reynolds, John Swane, Jas. Montgomery, John M'Gregor, sen., and Isaiah Morris. This
HIRT & HOCE
M. BAKER TAILOR
View in Wilmington.
last named gentleman, a native of Pennsylvania, descended the "Ohio river with his uncle, in a flat-bottomed boat, in the spring of 1803, and landed first at Columbia, where his uncle opened a store, from a small stock of goods he had brought. After remaining at that place about three months, he removed his goods to Lebanon, and not long after died, leaving his nephew, then a lad of seventeen years of . age, without any means of support. He however made friends, and eventually moved to Wilmington, where, on the 8th of July, 1811, he opened the first store in the town, in company with Wm. Ferguson. He was obliged, in moving from Lebanon, to make his way through the forest, cutting a wagon road part of the distance : the town having been laid out in the woods, it was with great diffi- culty that he could get through to the little one story frame house, erected in the midst of trees, logs and brush, on which he then set- tled and has since resided. Mr. Morris was the first postmaster in the town, the first representative from the county, to the legislature, and has since held various public offices .*
WILLIAM SMALLY was born in western Pennsylvania, in 1764. At the age of six years ho was stolen by the Indians, carried into the interior of Ohio, and remained with them until twenty years of age. While with them, he witnessed the burning of several white prisoners. On one occasion, he saw an infant snatched from its mother's arms and thrown into the flames. In 1784, he left the Indians, rejoined his parents near Pittsburg, and a few years after, moved with them to the vicinity of Cincinnati. He was in Harmar's cam- paign, and at St. Clair's defeat, in the last of which, he discharged his rifle thirty five times, twenty one of which, it is said, took effect. He likewise accompanied Wayne's army.
* From the communication of Wm. H. Spencer, to whose researches we are mainly in- debted for the historical and biographical materials embraced under the head of Clinton county.
103
CLINTON COUNTY.
Being on one occasion sent forward with others, on some mission to the Indians, they were fired upon on their approach to the camp, and his two companions killed. He evaded the danger by springing behind a tree, and calling to one of the chiefs, whom he knew, telling him that he had deserted the whites, and had come to join them. This not only saved his ife, but caused him to be treated with great kindness. He, however, took an early oppor- tunity, escaped to the army, and at the battle of the Fallen Timbers, showed his usual cool courage.
In 1797, he settled on Todd's Fork in this county, and resided there for a number of years, depending principally upon hunting for a subsistence. His personal appearance was good, but his address resembled that of a savage. A little anecdote illustrates his determined character. He purchased land on which he resided from a lawyer of Cincinnati, who re- fused to make him a deed. Smally armed himself, called upon him and demanded a bond for his land, with the threat that if not furnished in three days, he would take his scalp. This positive language soon brought the lawyer to a sense of his dangerous situation, and before the expiration of the time, he gave Smally the desired paper. Mr. Smally passed the latter part of his life in poverty. In 1836, he emigrated to Illinois, where he died in 1840.
COL. THOMAS HINKSON Was born in 1772, in Westmoreland county, Pa. His father had em- igrated from Ireland in early life, had become an excellent woodsman, and visited Kentucky at a very early period. He established a station near the junction of Hinkson and Stoner, which form the south fork of Licking river. Here the subject of this notice was raised, until the age of eighteen years, when in the autumn of 1790, as a volunteer in the Ken- tucky militia, he accompanied the expedition of Gen. Harmar. He was in the battle near the Miami villages, under Col. Hardin's command in front of the town, and witnessed the total overthrow and massacre of the detachment of Maj. Wyllis. In this battle he received a slight wound in the left arm, and narrowly escaped with his life. He was afterwards in the disastrous defeat of Gen. St. Clair, but amidst the general slaughter, escaped unhurt. Hitherto he had served as a private, but was subsequently selected as a lieutenant in the mounted volunteers from Kentucky, who formed a part of the forces of Gen. Wayne against the same Indians in 1794. He was in the battle near the Rapids of the Maumee, but never pretended that he had done any thing worthy of distinction on that memorable day. During these several campaigns, however, he had formed the acquaintance of most of the leading men of Kentucky, and others of the N. W. Territory, which was highly advantageous to him in after life. Shortly after Wayne's battle, he returned to Kentucky, married and settled on a farm inherited from his father, situated in Harrison county, where he lived until the spring of 1806, when he emigrated to Ohio, and in 1807, settled on a farm about eight miles east of Wilmington, but then in the county of Highland. He was soon afterwards elected a justice of the peace for the latter county, and captain of the mili- tia company to which he belonged, in which several capacities he served until the erection of Clinton county, in 1810, when, without his knowledge, he was elected by the legislature one of the associate judges for the new county. He made no pretentions to legal know- ledge, nor will the writer claim anything for him in this respect, further than good common sense, which generally prevents a man from making a very foolish decision.
After this appointment, he remained quietly at home in the occupations common to far- mers, until the declaration of war in 1812, nor did he manifest any disposition for actual service, until after Hull's surrender. That event cast a gloom over the west. All of Mich- igan, Northern Ohio, Indiana and Illinois were exposed to savage depredations. Some troops had been hastily assembled at Urbana and other points, to repel invasion. Captain Hinkson was then in the prime of life, possessing a robust and manly frame seldom equalled, even among pioneers. He was a man of few words, and they to the purpose intended. He briefly explained to his family that he believed the time had come to serve his country. He immediately set out for head-quarters, and tendered his services to Gov. Meigs, then at Urbana. The president having previously made a requisition on the gov- ernor of Ohio, for two companies of rangers, to scour the country between the settlements and the enemy, Capt. H. was appointed to command one of those companies, with liberty to choose his own followers. This was soon done, and a company presented to the gov- ernor ready for duty. By this time the Indians had actual possession of the exposed ter- ritory, and it was the duty of these companies to hold them in check, and keep the army advised of their numbers and position. In performing this duty, many incidents might be related in the life of Capt. Hinkson, but one or two must suffice. Having at one time ven- tured to the Miami of the Lake, to ascertain the condition of the enemy, they found them encamped near the foot of the rapids of that river, with a select company of rangers, com- manded by Capt. Clark, from Canada, numbering in all from three to five hundred, and
3
104
CLINTON COUNTY.
under the command of the celebrated Tecumseh. The ground on the hill was for miles covered with a thick undergrowth, which enabled Capt. Hinkson and company to ap- proach nearly within gun-shot of the enemy, without being seen. It was late in the af- ternoon, and while waiting for the approach of night, to enable them to withdraw more successfully, the company was secretly drawn up near the brink of the hill, and directed in whispers to merely take aim at the enemy. This was rather a hazardous display of humor, but as many of his men had never been in battle, Capt. H. told the writer it was merely to try their nerves. While engaged in this sport, they discovered Capt. Clark in the adjacent cornfield below, in hot pursuit after a flock of wild turkeys, which were running toward the place of concealment. Here was a crisis. He must be slain in cold blood, or made a prisoner. The latter alternative was adopted. The company was disposed so as to flank the captain and his turkeys. They were alarmed and flew into the tree tops, and while the captain' was gazing up for his prey, Capt. Hinkson approached and politely requested him to ground arms, upon pain of instant death, in case he gave the least alarm. He at first indicated signs of resistance, but soon found " discretion the better part of valor," and surrendered himself a prisoner of war. Being at least one hundred miles from the army, in sight, or such a force, Capt. Hinkson and company were in a very delicate condition. No time was to be lost. A retreat was commenced in the most secret manner, in a south- erly direction, at right angles from the river. By travelling all night they eluded pursuit, and brought their prize safely to camp.
Shortly afterwards, Gen. Tupper's brigade arrived near the rapids and encamped for the night, during which, Capt. H. and company acted as piquet guard, and in the morning a few were selected to accompany him on a secret reconnaisance down the river. Un- luckily they were met at the summit of a hill, by a detachment of the same kind from the enemy. Shots were exchanged, and the alarm now fairly given to' both parties. This brought on the skirmish which ensued between that brigade and the Indians. While fight- ing in the Indian mode, near Wm. Venard, Esq., (one of Capt. Hinkson's men, who had been severely wounded,) Capt. H. saw a dusky figure suddenly rise from the grass. He had a rifle never before known to miss fire. They both presented their pieces, which simultaneously snapped without effect. In preparing for a second trial, it is supposed the Indian was a little ahead of the captain, when a shot from Daniel Workman, (another ranger,) sent the Indian to his long home.
After this skirmish, the Indians withdrew to Frenchtown, and block houses were hastily thrown up near the spot where Fort Meigs was afterwards erected, and where the Ohio troops were encamped, when the fatal disaster befel Gen. Winchester, at Raisin, Jan. 22d, 1813. The news was carried by express, and the main body retreated, leaving Capt. H. and company to perform the sorrowful duty of picking up some poor stragglers from that bloody defeat, and burning the block houses and provisions within twenty four hours, which was done before it was known that the enemy had retired to Malden. The Ohio brigade, and others from Pennsylvania and Virginia, soon rallied again, and formed a junction at the rapids, where they commenced building the fort, so renowned for withstanding two sieges in the spring and summer of 1813. During its erection, Capt. Hinkson was at- tacked with a peculiar fever, then raging in the army, from which he did not recover fit for duty, until late in the spring. With a shattered constitution he returned to his home, and was immediately elected colonel of the 3d regiment of the 2d brigade and Ist division Ohio militia, which was then a post of honor, requiring much patience and discretion, in a region rather backward in supporting the war.
The reader will, in this narrative, see nothing beyond a simple memorial of facts, which is all that the unassuming character requires. He was a plain, gentlemanly individual, of a very mild and even temper ; a good husband and kind father, but rather indifferent to his own interest in money matters, by which he became seriously involved, lost his property and removed to Indiana in 1821, where he died in 1824, aged 52 years.
Clarksville, 9 miles sw. of Wilmington, Martinsville, 9 s., Port William, 9 N, New Vienna, 11 SE. and Burlington, 11 Nw., are all considerable villages, each having more or less stores and churches ; and the last, which is said to be the largest, having a population, es- timated at about 300. Sabina, Sligo, Blanchester, Cuba, Lewisville, Westboro', Centerville and Morrisville, are small places.
COLUMBIANA COUNTY.
COLUMBIANA.
COLUMI LANA was formed from Jefferson and Washington, March 25th, 1803. Kilbourn, in his Gazetteer, says : "Columbiana is a fancy name, taken from the names Columbus and Anna. An anecdote is told pending its adoption in the legislature, that a member jocularly moved that the name Maria should be added thereto, so as to have it read Columbiana-maria." The southern part is generally broken and hilly, and the northern level or undulating. This is an excel- lent agricultural tract : it is well watered, abounds in fine mineral coal, iron ore, lime and free stone. The water lime stone of this county, is of the best quality. Salt water abounds on Yellow and Beaver creeks, which also afford a great amount of water power. This is the greatest wool-growing county in Ohio, and is exceeded by but three or four in the Union. The principal products are wool, wheat, corn, oats and potatoes. About one third of the popu- lation are of German origin, and there are many of Irish extraction. The following is a list of its townships, in 1840, with their population.
Beaver,
1973
Hanover,
2963
Springfield, 1994
Butler,
1711
Knox,
2111
St. Clair, 1739
Center, 3472
Liverpool, 1096
Unity, 1984
Elkrun, 873
Madison,
1472
Washington,
814
Fairfield, 2108
Middletown, 1601
Wayne,
1086
Franklin, 893
Perry,
1630
West, 1915
Goshen, 1397
Salem,
1903
Yellow Creek, 2686
Greene, 3212
Smith,
2029
The population of Columbiana, in 1820, was 22,033; in 1830, 35,508, and, in 1840, 40,394, which was greater than any other counties in Ohio, excepting Hamilton and Richland. The number of inhabitants to a square mile, was then 46. In 1846, the county was reduced by the formation of Mahoning, to which the townships of Beaver, Goshen, Greene, Smith and Springfield now belong.
This county was settled just before the commencement of the present century. In 1797, a few families moved across the Ohio and settled in its limits. One of them, named Carpenter, made a settlement near West Point. Shortly after, Captain Whiteyes, a noted Indian chief, stopped at the dwelling of Carpenter. Being intoxicated, he got into some difficulty with a son of Mr. C., a lad of about 17 years of age, and threatened to kill him. The young man upon this turned and ran, pursued by the Indian, with uplifted tomahawk, ready to bury it in his brains. Finding that the latter was fast gaining upon him, the young man turned and shot him, and shortly afterwards he expired. As this was in time of peace, Car- penter was apprehended and tried at Steubenville, under the terri- torial laws, the courts being then held by justices of the peace. He was cleared, it appearing that he acted in self-defence. The death of Whiteyes created great excitement, and fears were entertained that it would provoke hostilities from the Indians. Great exertions
14
106
COLUMBIANA COUNTY,
were made to reconcile them, and several presents were given to the friends of the late chief. The wife of Whiteyes received from three gentlemen, the sum of $300; one of these donors was the late Bezaleel Wells, of Steubenville. This was the last Indian blood shed by white men in this part of Ohio.
Adam Poe, who, with his brother Andrew, had the noted fight with the Indians, once resided in this county, in Wayne township, on the west fork of Little Beaver. The son of Andrew-Deacon Adam Poe-is now living in the vicinity of Ravenna, Portage county, and has the tomahawk with which the Indian struck his father. The locality where the struggle occurred, he informs us, was nearly opposite the mouth of Little Yellow creek. We annex the particulars of this affair, from " Doddridge's Notes," substituting, however, the name of Andrew for Adam, and vice versa, as they should be placed.
In the summer of 1782, a party of seven Wyandots, made an incursion into a settlement, some distance below Fort Pitt, and several miles from the Ohio river. Here, finding an old man alone, in a cabin, they killed him, packed up what plunder they could find, and commenced their retreat. Among their party was a celebrated Wyandot chief, who, in addition to his fame as a warrior and counsellor, was, as to his size and strength, a real giant.
The news of the visit of the Indians soon spread through the neighborhood, and a party of eight good riflemen was collected, in a few hours, for the purpose of pursuing the In- dians. In this party were two brothers of the names of Adam and Andrew Poe. They were botlı famous for courage, size and activity.
This little party commenced the pursuit of the Indians, with a determination, if pos- sible, not to suffer them to escape, as they usually did on such occasions, by making a speedy flight to the river, crossing it, and then dividing into small parties, to meet at a dis- tant point, in a given time. .
The pursuit was continued the greater part of the night after the Indians had done the mischief. In the morning, the party found themselves on the trail of the Indians, which led to the river. When arrived within a little distance of the river, Andrew Poe, fearing an ambuscade, left the party, who followed directly on the trail, to creep along the brink of the river bank, under cover of the weeds and bushes, to fall on the rear of the Indians, should he find them in ambuscade. He had not gone far, before he saw the Indian rafts at the water's edge. Not seeing any Indians, he stepped softly down the bank, with his rifle cocked. When about half way down, he discovered the large Wyandot chief and a small Indian, within a few steps of him. They were standing with their guns cocked, and look- ing in the direction of our party, who, by this time, had gone some distance lower down the bottom. Poe took aim at the large chief, but his rifle missed fire. The Indians, hear- ing the snap of the gun-lock, instantly turned round and discovered Poe, who being too near them to retreat, dropped his gun and instantly sprang from the bank upon them, and seizing the large Indian by the cloths on his breast, and at the same time embracing the neck of the small one, threw them both down on the ground, himself being upmost. The Indian soon extricated himself, ran to the raft, got his tomahawk, and attempted to dispatch Poe, the large Indian holding him fast in his arms with all his might, the better to enable his fellow to effect his purpose. Poe, however, so well watched the motions of the Indian, that when in the act of aiming his blow at his head, by a vigorous and well-directed kick with one of his feet, he staggered the savage, and knocked the tomahawk out of his hand. This failure, on the part of the small Indian, was reproved, by an exclamation of contempt, from the large one.
In a moment, the Indian caught up his tomahawk again, approached more cautiously, brandishing his tomahawk, and making a number of feigned blows, in defiance and de- rision. Poe, however, still on his guard, averted the real blow from his head, by throwing up his arm and receiving it on his wrist, in which he was severely wounded ; but not so as to lose entirely the use of his hand.
In this perilous moment, Poe, by a violent effort, broke loose from the Indian, snatched up one of the Iudian's guns, and shot the small Indian through the breast, as he ran up the third time to tomahawk him.
107
COLUMBIANA COUNTY.
The large Indian was now on his feet, and grasping Poe by a shoulder and leg, threw him down on the bank. Poe instantly disengaged himself and got on his feet. The In- dian then seized him again, and a new struggle ensued, which, owing to the slippery state of the bank, ended in the fall of both combatants into the water.
In this situation, it was the object of each to drown the other. Their efforts to effect their purpose were continued for some time with alternate success, sometimes one being under the water, and sometimes the other. Poe at length seized the tuft of hair on the. scalp of the Indian, with which he held his head under the water, until he supposed him drowned.
Relaxing his hold too soon, Poe instantly found his gigantic antagonist on his feet again, and ready for another combat. In this, they were carried into the water beyond their depth. In this situation, they were compelled to loose their hold on each other, and swim for mutual safety. Both sought the shore to seize a gun, and end the contest with bullets. The Indian, being the best swimmer, reached the land first. Poe seeing this, immediately turned back into the water to escape, if possible, being shot, by diving. Fortunately, the Indian caught up the rifle with which Poe had killed the other warrior.
At this juncture, Adam Poe, missing his brother from the party, and supposing, from the report of the gun which he shot, that he was either killed or engaged in conflict with the Indians, hastened to the spot. On seeing him, Andrew called out to him to " kill the big Indian on shore." But Adam's gun, like that of the Indian's, was empty. The contest was now between the white man and the Indian, who should load and fire first. Very for- tunately for Poe, the Indian, in loading, drew the ramrod from the thimbles of the stock of the gun with so much violence, that it slipped out of his hand and fell a little distance from him ; he quickly caught it up, and rammed down his bullet. This little delay gave Poe the advantage. He shot the Indian as he was raising his gun, to take aim at him.
As soon as Adam had shot the Indian, he jumped into the river to assist his wounded brother to shore ; but Andrew, thinking more of the honor of carrying the big Indian home, as a trophy of victory, than of his own safety, urged Adam to go back, and pre- vent the struggling savage from rolling himself into the river, and escaping. Adam's solicitude for the life of his brother, prevented him from complying with this request.
In the mean time, the Indian, jealous of the honor of his scalp, even in the agonies of death, succeeded in reaching the river and getting into the current, so that his body was never obtained,
An unfortunate occurrence took place during this conflict. Just as Adam arrived at the top of the bank, for the relief of his brother, one of the party, who had followed close behind him, seeing Andrew in the river, and mistaking him for a wounded Indian, shot at him and wounded him in the shoulder. He, however, recovered from his wounds.
During the contest between Andrew Poe and the Indians, the party had overtaken the remaining six of them. A desperate conflict ensued, in which five of the Indians were killed. Our loss was three men killed, and Adam Poe severely wounded.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.