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 36
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The following is a list of the most important villages in the county with their distance and direction from Cadiz, and population in 1840 Harrisville, 9 southeast, 262; New Jefferson, 11 northeast, 155 : New Rumley, 11 north, 136; Deersville, 12 west, 202; Freeport, 17 south of west, 255; Moorfield, 12 southwest, 210; Athens, 6 south, 319. At this last, is Franklin college, a respectable institution, founded in 1825, which has at present 65 students and a library of near 2,000 volumes. Quite a number of students have graduated there, and its situation, in regard to retirement, economy and health, is auspicious to its success. At present, Rev. Alex. D. Clark is pre-
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HENRY COUNTY.
sident, Rev. Andrew M. Black, prof. of languages, and Rev. Joseph Gorden, prof. of mathematics .*
HENRY.
HENRY was formed, April 1st, 1820, from old Indian territory, and named from Patrick Henry, the celebrated Virginian orator in the revolutionary era. This county is well supplied with running streams, and the soil naturally rich and productive. The principal products are Indian corn, oats, potatoes and maple sugar. The fol- lowing is a list of its townships in 1840, with their population.
Adams,
188 Fredonia,
105
Richfield,
83
Damascus, 489
Napoleon,
609
Richland,
542
Flatrock, 476
The population of Henry, in 1840, was 2,492, or 5 inhabitants to a square mile.
A greater part of this county is covered by the famous " Black Swamp." This tract reaches over an extent of country of one hun- dred and twenty miles in length, with an average breadth of forty miles, about equalling in area the state of Connecticut. It is at pre- sent thinly settled, and has a population of about 50,000 ; but, proba- bly, in less than a century, when it shall be cleared and drained, it will be the garden of Ohio, and support half a million of people. The surface is generally high and level, and "sustains a dense growth of forest-trees, among which beech, ash, elm, and oak, cotton wood and poplar, most abound. The branches and foliage of this magnificent forest are almost impenetrable to the rays of the sun, and its gloomy silence remained unbroken until disturbed by the restless emigrants of the west." It is an interesting country to travel through. The perfect uniformity of the soil, the level surface of the ground, alike retaining and alike absorbing water, has given to the forest a ho- mogeneous character : the trees are all generally of the same height, so that when viewed at a distance through the haze, the forest ap- pears like an immense blue wall, stretched across the horizon. It is yet the abode of wild animals : flocks of deer are occasionally seen bounding through its labyrinths, flowers and flowering shrubs bloom in its midst, and beautiful birds make it vocal with melody.
Throughout the swamp, a mile or two apart, are slight ridges of limestone, from 40 rods to a mile wide, running usually in a westerly direction, and covered with black walnut, butternut, red elm and maple. The top soil of the swamp is about a foot thick, and com. posed of a black, decayed vegetable matter, extremely fertile. Be- neath this, and extending several feet, is a rich yellow clay, having large quantities of the fertilizing substances of lime and silex. Lower
* The facts embodied under the head of Harrison county, were mainly derived from the communication of a gentleman residing in Cadiz.
246
HENRY COUNTY.
still is a stratum of black clay of great depth. The water of the swamp is unpleasant to the taste, from containing a large quantity of sulphur : it is, however, healthy and peculiarly beneficial to persons of a costive habit, or having diseases of the blood. The soil is ex- cellent for grain and almost all productions : garden vegetables and fruit thrive wonderfully. We were shown an orchard of apple trees, some of which had attained the height of 20 feet, and measured at their base 20 inches, which, when first planted, five years since, were mere twigs, but a few feet in height, and no larger than one's finger.
The notorious Simon Girty once resided 5 miles above Napoleon, at a place still called " Girty's Point." His cabin was on the bank of the Maumee, a few rods west of the residence of Mr. Elijah Gunn. All traces of his habitation have been obliterated by culture, and a fine farm now surrounds the spot.
Simon Girty was from Pennsylvania, to which his father had emigrated from Ireland. The old man was beastly intemperate, and nothing ranked higher in his estimation than a jug of whiskey " Grog was his song, and grog would he have." His sottishness turned his wife's affection. Ready for seduction, she yielded her heart to a neighboring rustic, who, to remove all obstacles to their wishes, knocked Girty on the head and bore off the trophy of his prowess. Four sons of this interesting couple were left, Thomas, Simon, George and Jaines. The three latter were taken prisoners, in Braddock's war, by the Indians. George was adopted by the Delawares, became a ferocious savage, and died in a drunken fit. James was adopted by the Shawnees, and became as depraved as his other brothers. It is said, he often visited Kentucky, at the time of its first settlement, and in- flicted most barbarous tortures upon all captive women who came within his reach. Traders, who were acquainted with him, say, so furious was he, that he would not have turned on his heel to save a prisoner from the flames. To this monster are to be attributed many of the cruelties charged upon his brother Simon ; yet he was caressed by Proctor and Elliott. Simon was adopted by the Senecas, and became an expert hunter. In Kentucky and Ohio, he sustained the character of an unrelenting barbarian. Sixty years ago, with his name was associated every thing cruel and fiend-like. To the women and children, in particular, nothing was more terrifying than the name of Simon Girty. At that time, it was believed by many that he had fled from justice and sought refuge among the Indians, determined to do his countrymen all the harm in his power. This impression was an erroneous one. Being adopted by the Indians, he joined them in their wars, and conformed to their usages. This was the education he had received, and their foes were his. Although trained in all his pursuits as an Indian, it is said to be a fact susceptible of proof, that, through his impor- tunities, many prisoners were saved from death. His influence was great, and when he chose to be merciful, it was generally in his power to protect the imploring captive. His reputation was that of an honest man, and he fulfilled his engagements to the last cent. It is said, he once sold his horse rather than to incur the odium of violating his promise. He was intemperate, and when intoxicated, ferocious and abusive alike of friends and foes. Although much disabled the last ten years of his life, by rheumatism, he rode to his hunting grounds in pursuit of game. Suffering the most excruciating pains, he often boasted of his warlike spirit. It was his constant wish, one that was gratified, that he might die in battle. He was at Proctor's defeat, and was cut to pieces by Col. Johnson's mounted men.
The above we derive from Campbell's sketches. We have, in addition, some anecdotes and facts, which throw doubt over the character of Simon Girty, as there given.
In September, 1777, Girty led the attack on Fort Henry, on the site of Wheeling, during which he appeared at the window of a cabin, with a white flag, and demanded the surrender of the fort in the name of his Britannic majesty. He read the proclamation of Gov. Hamilton, and promised the protection of the crown if they would
247
HENRY COUNTY.
lay down their arms and swear allegiance to the king. He warned them to submit peaceably, and admitted his inability to restrain his warriors, when excited in the strife of battle. Col. Shepherd, the commandant, promptly replied, that they would never surrender to him, and that he could only obtain possession of the fort when there remained no longer an American soldier to defend it. Girty re- newed his proposition, but it was abruptly ended by a shot from a thoughtless youth, and Girty retired and opened the siege, which proved unsuccessful. Baker's station, in that vicinity, was also at- tacked, not far from this time, by Girty and his band, but without success.
In August, 1782, a powerful body of Indians, led by Girty, appear- ed before Bryan 's station, in Kentucky, about five miles from Lex- ington. The Kentuckians made such a gallant resistance, that the Indians became disheartened, and were about abandoning the siege ; upon this, Girty thinking he might frighten the garrison into a sur- render, mounted a stump, within speaking distance, and commenced a parley. He told them who he was, that he looked hourly for rein- forcements with cannon, and that they had better surrender at once ; if they did so, no one should be hurt ; otherwise, he feared they would all fall victims. The garrison were intimidated ; but one young man, named Reynolds, seeing the effect of this harangue, and believ- ing his story, as it was, to be false, of his own accord, answered him in this wise : "You need not be so particular to tell us your name ; we know your name and you too. I've had a villainous untrust- worthy cur dog this long while, named Simon Girty, in compliment to you ; he's so like you-just as ugly and just as wicked. As to the cannon, let them come on ; the country's roused, and the scalps of your red cut-throats, and your own too, will be drying on our cabins in twenty-four hours ; and if, by chance, you or your allies do get into the fort, we've a big store of rods laid in, on purpose to scourge you out again." This method of Reynolds was effectual ; the In- dians withdrew, and were pursued a few days after, the defenders of the fort being reinforced, to the Blue licks, where the Indians lay in ambush, and defeated the Kentuckians with great slaughter. Girty was also at St. Clair's defeat and led the attack on Colerain.
Dr. Knight, in his narrative of his captivity and burning of Col. Crawford, (see Wyandot co.,) speaks of the cruelty of Simon Girty to the colonel and himself. Col. John Johnston corroborates the account of Dr. Knight. In a communication before us he says. " He was notorious for his cruelty to the whites, who fell into the hands of the Indians. His cruelty to the unfortunate Col. Crawford, is well known to myself, and although I did not witness the tragedy, I can vouch for the facts of the case, having had them from eye wit- nesses. When that brave and unfortunate commander was suffering at the stake by a slow fire, in order to lengthen his misery to the longest possible time, he besought Girty to have him shot, to end his torments, when the monster mocked him by firing powder without ball at him. Crawford and Girty had been intimately acquainted in the
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HENRY COUNTY.
early settlement of Pennsylvania; I knew a brother of the latter at Pittsburg, in 1793.
When Simon Kenton was taken prisoner, his life was saved through the interposition of Girty. (See a sketch of Kenton in Lo- gan county.)
Mr. Daniel M. Workman, now living in Logan county, gave us orally the following respecting the last years of Girty. In 1813, said he, I went to Malden and put up at a hotel kept by a Frenchman. I noticed in the bar-room, a grey headed and blind old man. The landlady, who was his daughter, a woman of about thirty years of age, inquired of me, ". Do you know who that is ?" pointing to the old man .. On my replying, " No !" she re- joined, it is Simon Girty ! He had then been blind about four years. In 1815, I returned to Malden and ascertained that Girty had died a short time previous. Simon Kenton in- formed me that Girty left the whites, because he was not promoted to the command of a company or a battallion. I was also so informed by my father-in-law, who was taken prisoner by the Indians. Girty was a man of extraordinary strength, power of endurance, courage and sagacity. He was in height about 5 feet 10 inches and strongly made.
Oliver M. Spencer, who was taken prisoner by the Indians while a youth, in 1792, in his narrative of his captivity makes some men- tion of the Girtys. While at Defiance, the old Indian priestess, Cooh-coo-cheeh, with whom he lived, took him to a Shawnee village, a short distance below, on a visit. There he saw the celebrated chief, Blue Jacket, and Simon Girty, of whom he speaks as follows :
One of the visitors of Blue Jacket, (the Snake,) was a plain, grave chief of sage appear- ance ; the other, Simon Girty, whether it was from prejudice, associating with his look the fact, that he was a renegado, the murderer of his own countrymen, racking his diabolic invention to inflict new and more excruciating tortures, or not, his dark shaggy hair, his low forehead, his brows contracted, and meeting above his short flat nose ; his grey sunken eyes, averting the ingenious gaze ; his lips thin and compressed, and the dark and sinister expression of his countenance, to me, seemed the very picture of a villain. He wore the Indian costume, but without any ornament ; and his silk handkerchief, while it supplied the place of a hat, hid an unsightly wound in his forehead. On each side, in his belt, was stuck a silver-mounted pistol, and at his left, hung a short broad dirk, serving occasionally the uses of a knife. He made of me many inquiries ; some about my family, and the par- ticulars of my captivity ; but more of the strength of the different garrisons ; the number of American troops at Fort Washington, and whether the president intended soon to send another army against the Indians.
He spoke of the wrongs he had received at the hands of his countrymen, and with fiendish exultation of the revenge he had taken. He boasted of his exploits, of the number of his victories, and of his personal prowess ; then raising his handkerchief, and exhibiting the deep wound in his forehead, (which I was afterwards told was inflicted by the tomahawk of the celebrated Indian chief, Brandt, in a drunken frolic,) said it was a sabre cut, which he received in battle at St. Clair's defeat ; adding with an oath, that he had " sent the d-d Yankee officer" that gave it, " to h-1." He ended by telling me that I would never see home ; but if I should turn out to be a good hunter and a brave warrior, I might one day be a chief." His presence and conversation having rendered my situation painful, I was not a little relieved when, a few hours after, ending our visit, we returned to our quiet lodge on the bank of the Maumee.
Just before Spencer was liberated from captivity, he had an in- terview with Joseph Girty, and not a very pleasant one either, judg- ing from his narration of it.
Elliot ordered Joseph to take me over to James Girty's, where he said our breakfast would be provided. Girty's wife soon furnished us with some coffee, wheat bread, and stewed pork and venison, of which (it being so much better than the food to which I had been lately accustomed) I ate with great gout; but I had not more than half breakfasted, when Girty came in, and seating himself opposite me, said, " So, my young Yankee, you're about to start for home." I answered, " Yes, sir, I hope so." That, he said, would depend on my master, in whose kitchen he had no doubt I should first serve a few years' apprenticeship as a scullion. Then taking his knife, said, (while sharpening it on a whet-
249
HIGHLAND COUNTY.
stone,) " I see your ears are whole yet, but I'm d-n-y mistaken if you leave this without the Indian ear mark, that we may know you when we catch you again." I did not wait to prove whether he was in jest, or in downright earnest ; but leaving my breakfast half finished, I instantly sprang from the table, leaped out of the door, and in a few seconds took refuge in Mr. Ironside's house. On learning the cause of my flight, Elliot uttered a sar- donic laugh, deriding my unfounded childish fears, as he was pleased to term them ; but Ironside looked serious, shaking his head, as if he had no doubt that if I had remained, Girty would have executed his threat.
We finish this notice of the Girtys by a brief extract from the MSS. of Jonathan Alder, who knew Simon-showing that he was by no means wholly destitute of kind feelings.
I knew Simon Girty to purchase at his own expense, several boys who were prisoners, take them to the British and have them educated. He was certainly a friend to many prisoners.
Napoleon, the county seat, is on the Maumee river and Wabash and Erie canal, 17 miles below Defiance, 40 above Toledo and 154 NW. of Columbus. It is a small village containing about 300 inhab- itants. Florida, 8 miles above, on the canal, is also a small town.
HIGHLAND.
HIGHLAND Was formed in May, 1805, from Ross, Adams and Cler- mont, and so named because on the high land between the Scioto and Little Miami. The surface is part rolling and part level, and the soil various in its quality. As a whole, it is a wealthy and produc- tive county, and the wheat raised here being of a superior quality, commands the highest market price. The principal productions are wheat, Indian corn, oats, maple sugar, wool, swine and cattle. The following is a list of its townships, in 1840, with their population.
Brush Creek, 1502 Jackson, 2352
Paint, 2560
Clay,
783
Liberty,
3521
Salem, 1004
Concord, 1014
Madison, 1916
Union, 1089
Dodson, 795
New Market, 1302
White Oak, 887
Fairfield, 3544
The population of Highland in 1820, was 12,308 ; in 1830, 16,347; in 1840, 22,269, or 40 inhabitants to a square mile.
This county was first settled about the year 1801 ; the principal part of the early settlers were from Virginia and North Carolina, many of whom were Friends. The first settlement was made in the vicinity of New Market, by Oliver Ross, Robert Huston, Geo. W. Barrere and others. Among the settlers of the county, was Bernard Weyer, the discoverer of the noted cave in Virginia, known as " Weyers cave," who is yet living on the rocky fork of Paint creek. The celebrated pioneer and hunter, Simon Kenton, made a trace through this county, which passed through or near the site of Hillsboro': it is designated in various land titles as " Kenton's Trace." In the southeastern part of the county, near the village of Sinking Spring, is an eminence five hundred feet above Brush creek, which
32
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HIGHLAND COUNTY.
washes its base, called "Fort Hill ;" on its summit, is an ancient work of over half a mile in length; a full description and drawing of which, by Dr. John Locke, is in the Geological Reports of Ohio
Gorge in Rocky Fork of Paint Creek.
About 13 miles east of Hillsborough, near the county line and road to Chillicothe, the Rocky fork of Paint creek passes for about two miles, previous to its junction with the main stream, through a deep gorge, in some places more than a hundred feet in depth, and form- ing a series of wild picturesque views, one of which, at a place called "the narrows," is here represented. In the ravine are numer- ous caves, which are much visited. One or two of them have been explored for a distance of several hundred yards.
Hillsborough, the county seat, is on the dividing ridge between the Miami and Scioto, in a remarkably healthy situation, 62 miles south- easterly from Columbus, and 36 westerly from Chillicothe. It was laid out as the seat of justice in 1807, on land of Benjamin Ellicott, of Baltimore, the site being selected by David Hays, the commis- sioner appointed for that purpose. Prior to this, the seat of justice
251
HIGHLAND COUNTY.
was at New Market, although the greater part of the population of Highland, was north and east of Hillsborough. The original town plat comprised 200 acres, 100 of which Mr. Ellicott gave to the
View in Hillsborough.
county, and sold the remainder at $2 per acre. It contains I Pres- byterian, 1 Methodist and 1 Baptist church, 2 newspaper printing offices, 14 stores, and had in 1840, 868 inhabitants. It is a neat vil- lage, the tone of society elevated, and its inhabitants disposed to foster the literary institutions situated here.
The Hillsborough academy was founded in 1827; its first teacher was the Rev. J. M'D. Mathews. A charter was obtained shortly after, and the funds of the institution augmented by two valuable tracts, comprising 2000 acres, given by Maj. Adam Hoops and the late Hon. John Brown, of Kentucky. A handsome brick building has been purchased by its trustees, on a beautiful eminence near the town, which is devoted to the purposes of the institution. It has the nucleus for a fine library, and ere long will possess an excellent philosophical and chemical apparatus. It is now very flourishing, and has a large number of pupils; "the classical and mathematical courses are as thorough and extensive, as at any college in the west ;" instruction is also given in other branches usually taught in colleges. Especial attention is given to training young men as teachers. It is under the charge of Isaac Sarns, Esq. The Oakland female sem- inary, a chartered institution, was commenced in 1839, by the Rev. J. M'D. Mathews, who has still charge of it. It now has over 100 pupils, and is in excellent repute. Diplomas are conferred upon its graduates. The academy is beautifully located in the outskirts of the village, and is well furnished with maps, apparatus, &c., and has small library.
The HON. WILLIAM A. TRIMBLE was born in Woodford, Ky., April 4th, 1786. His her, Capt. James Trimble, had emigrated with his family from Augusta, Va., to Ken- tucky. In the year 1804, being deeply impressed with the evils of slavery, he was about to remove into Highland, when he was taken unwell and died. His son William grad- uated at Transylvania university, after which he returned to Ohio, spent some time in the office of his brother Allen, since Gov. Trimble, later studied law at Litchfield, Conn., and returned to Highland and commenced the practice of his profession.
At the breaking out of the war of 1812, he was chosen major in the Ohio volunteers,
252
HOCKING COUNTY.
was at Hull's surrender and was liberated on his patrole. Some time in the following winter he was regularly exchanged, and in March was commissioned major in the 26th regiment. In the defence of and sortie from Fort Erie, he acted with signal bravery, and received a severe wound, which was the prominent cause of his death, years after. He continued in the army until 1819, with the rank of brevet lieutenant colonel, at which time he was elected to the national senate, to succeed Mr. Morrow, whose time of ser- vice had expired. In December, 1819, he took his seat, and soon gave promise of much future usefulness. He progressed for two sessions of congress in advancing the public interest, and storing his mind with useful knowledge, when nature yielded to the recurring shocks of disease, and he died, Dec. 13th, 1821, aged 35 years.
Greenfield, in the northeast corner of the county, 19 miles from Hillsborough and 21 west of Chillicothe, on Paint creek, in a beautiful and highly cultivated country, is a flourishing town, containing 4 churches, a printing office, an academy, a large number of stores which do an extensive business, and a population nearly equal to the county seat. Large quantities of corn are raised in that section, on the bottom lands of the various streams. Near the town are ex- cellent limestone quarries, and one of a fine-grained sandstone.
The following is a list of towns in the county, with their distances and directions from Hillsborough and population, in 1840; Leesburgh, 11 north, 298; Lexington, 11 west of north, 151; Lynchburg, 10 west, 102 ; Marshall, 9 south of east, 126; New Market, 6 south, 212; Petersburg, 10 north of east, 278; Rainsborough, 10 east, 115, and Sinking Spring, 16 southeast, 223 ; Belfast, Buford, Danville, Monroe, Mourytown, Dodsonville, Allensburgh and New Boston, are small places.
-
HOCKING.
HOCKING was formed March 1st, 1818, from Ross, Athens and Fairfield. The land is generally hilly and broken, but along the streams, level and fertile. The principal products are Indian corn, wheat, tobacco and maple sugar. The following is a list of its townships in 1840, with their population.
Benton, 448
Jackson, 472
Starr, 622
Falls,
1625
Laurel,
836
Swan, 759
Good Hope, 469
Marion, 1370
Washington, 1124
Greene, 1189
Salt Creek, 821
The population of Hocking, in 1820, was 2080; in 1830, 4008, and in 1840, 9735, or 22 inhabitants to a square mile.
The name of this county is a contraction of that of the river Hockhocking, which flows through it. Hock-hock-ing, in the lan- guage of the Delaware Indians, signifies a bottle : the Shawnees have it, Wea-tha-kagh-qua sepe, i. e. bottle river. Jno. White, in the American Pioneer, says : "about six or seven miles northwest of Lancaster, there is a fall in the Hockhocking, of about twenty feet : above the fall, for a short distance, the creek is very narrow and straight, forming a neck, while at the falls it suddenly widens on
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