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 58
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397
PAULDING COUNTY.
have each about 700 acres. On Middle Bass is one family, and on South Bass two or three. This cluster is about 8 miles Nw. of Kelly's Island, which, with that, are within the legal jurisdiction of this county.
Point-au-Pele-so called from lying off a locality of that name in Canada-is the largest island in the lake, being about 8 miles in length. It was on the ice near this island, that " the patriots"-so called, under Capt. Bradley, of Sandusky City, had the skirmish with the British cavalry a few years since, and repulsed them. The three Sisters-East, Middle and West Sister-are uninhabited. The last is the largest, and has not over 50 or 60 acres. Middle island has about the same area, and the Hen and Chickens are quite small.
PAULDING.
PAULDING Was formed from old Indian territory, April 1st, 1820. It was named from John Paulding, a native of Peekskill, N. Y., and one of the three militia men who captured Major Andre, in the war of the revolution : he died in 1818. The surface is level, and the county covered by the Black Swamp. The principal crops are corn, wheat and oats. The following is a list of the townships in 1840, with their population.
Auglaize, 298 181 Carroll, 345
Brown,
Crain, 211
The population of Paulding, in 1840, was 1035, or about 2 inhab- itants to a square mile.
Charloe, the county seat, is on the Auglaize river and Miami Ex- tension canal, 137 miles Nw. of Columbus, and 12 south of Defiance. It was laid out about the year 1840, and contains a few families only. Ockenoxy's town stood on the site of Charloe-so called from a chief who resided there, and who was reputed an obstinate, cruel man. The village, later, was called Charloe, from an Ottawa chief, distinguished for his eloquence and sprightliness in debate.
Five miles north, at the junction of the Wabash and Erie and Miami Extension canals, is a small village, called Junction. Eleven miles west from the junction, on the Wabash and Erie canal, is Antwerp, also a small town.
PERRY.
PERRY was formed March 1st, 1817, from Washington, Muskingum and Fairfield, and named from Commodore Oliver H. Perry. The surface is mostly rolling, and in the south hilly, the soil is clayey, and in the middle and northern part fertile. Much excellent tobacco is
398
PERRY COUNTY.
raised in the southern part, and wheat in the centre and north. The principal productions are wheat, corn, oats, hay, tobacco, beef cattle, pork and wool. The following is a list of the townships in 1840, with their population.
Bearfield, 1455 Jackson, 1700
Reading, 3936
Clayton, 1602 Madison, 1167
Salt Lick, 1243
Harrison, 1034
Monday Creek, 986
Thorn, 2006
Hopewell, 1544
Monroe, 999
The population of Perry, in 1820, was 8429, in 1830, 14,063, and in 1840, 19,340 ; or 48 inhabitants to a square mile.
This county was first settled by Pennsylvania Germans, about the years 1802 and 1803. Of the early settlers the names of the follow- ing are recollected : John Hammond, David Pugh, Robt. M'Clung, Isaac Brown, John and Anthony Clayton, Isaac Reynolds, Daniel Shearer, Peter Overmyer, Adam Binckley, Wm. and Jacob Dusen- bury, John Poorman, John Finck, Daniel Parkinson and John Lash- ley. The first church erected in the county was at New Reading : it was a Lutheran church, of which the Rev. Mr. Foster was the pastor : shortly after, a Baptist church was built about three miles east of Somerset.
The road through this county was, "from 1800 to 1815, the great thoroughfare between Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and the eastern states, or until steamboat navigation created a new era in the history of travellers-a perpetual stream of emigrants rolled westward along its course, giving constant occupation to hundreds of tavern keepers, seated at short distances along its borders, and consuming all the spare grain raised by the inhabitants for many miles north and south of its line. Groups of merchants on horseback, with led horses, laden with Spanish dollars, travelled by easy stages every spring and autumn along its route, congregated in parties of ten or twenty in- dividuals, for mutual protection, and armed with dirks, pocket pistols, and pistols in holsters, as robberies sometimes took place in the more wilderness parts of the road. The goods, when purchased, were wagoned to Pittsburgh, and sent in large flat boats, or keel boats, to their destination below, while the merchant returned on horseback to his home, occupying eight or ten weeks in the whole tour."
Somerset, the county seat, is 43 miles easterly from Columbus, on the Macadamized road leading from Zanesville to Lancaster, from each of which it is 18 miles, or midway, which circumstance gave it, when originally laid out, the name of Middletown.
In 1807, John Finck erected the first log-cabin in the vicinity of the place. Having purchased a half section of land, he laid out, in 1810, the eastern part of the town : the western part was laid out by Jacob Miller. They became the first settlers : the first died about 11, and the last about 20 years since. The present name, Somerset, was derived from Somerset, Penn., from which place and vicinity most of the early settlers came. The board of directors of the Lutheran seminary at Columbus have voted to remove it to this place. The town contains 1 Lutheran, 2 Catholic and 1 Methodist
399
PERRY COUNTY.
church ; 1 iron foundery, 1 tobacco warehouse, 3 newspaper print- ing offices, 16 mercantile stores, and about 1400 inhabitants. A very Large proportion of the population of the county are Catholics. They
A.ARNDT SADDLE AND HARNESS MAKER
SCOTT
M. F.SCOTT
View in Somerset.
have in the town a nunnery, to which is attached St. Mary's semi- r ary, a school for young females. It is well conducted, and many ) rotestant families send their daughters here to be educated. The ( atholics are also about building a college for the reception of all d sposed to patronize it.
About two miles south of Somerset are the buildings shown in the annexed view. The elegant building in the centre is St. Joseph's church, recently erected ; on the right is seen the convent building ;
Convent of Dominican Friars, g.c.
the structure partly shown beyond St. Joseph's church, is the oldest Catholic church in the state. The history, of which we give an ex-
400
PERRY COUNTY.
tract from an article in the United States Catholic Magazine for January, 1847, entitled "the Catholic Church in Ohio."
The first chapel, of which we have any authentic record, that was ever consecrated to Almighty God within our borders, was St. Joseph's, in Perry county, which was solemnly blessed on the 6th of December, 1818, by Rev. Edward Fenwick and his nephew, Rev. N. D. Young, of the order of St. Dominic, both natives of Maryland, and deriving their juris- diction from the venerable Dr. Flaget, who was then the only bishop between the Alle- ghenies and the Mississippi. This chapel was first built of logs, to which an addition of stone was subsequently made, so that it was, for a considerable time, " partly logs and partly stone." When the congregation, which consisted of only ten families when the chapel was first opened, had increased in number, the logs disappeared, and a new addition, or, to speak more correctly, a separate church of brick marked the progress of improvement, and afforded new facilities for the accommodation of the faithful. An humble convent, whose reverend inmates, one American, N. D. Young, one Irishman, Thomas Martin, and one Belgian, Vincent de Rymacher, cheerfully shared in all the hardships and privations inci- dent to the new colony, was erected near the church, and, from its peaceful precincts, the saving truths of faith were conveyed, and its divine sacraments administered to many a weary emigrant who had almost despaired of enjoying those blessings in the solitude which he had selected for his home. The benedictions of the poor, and the refreshing dews of heaven, descended on the spiritual seed thus sown. It increased and multiplied the hundred fold. New congregations were formed in Somerset, Lancaster, Zanesville, St. Barnabas, Morgan county, Rehoboth and St. Patrick's, seven miles from St. Joseph's, and in Sapp's settle- ment, and various other stations still more distant, was the white habit of St. Dominic hailed by the lonely Catholic as the harbinger of glad tidings, and the symbol of the joy, the purity, and the triumphs which attest the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the fulfilment of the promises made by her divine founder to the church.
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At this place, a number of young men are being educated for the priesthood of the Dominican order. A large library is connected with the institution, which affords facilities to the students in be- coming acquainted with church history and literature. Among them are the writings of many of the fathers and rare books, some of which were printed before the discovery of America.
In this county are many ancient mounds, of various dimensions, and four or five miles in a Nw. direction from Somerset, is an ancient stone fort. Although irregular in shape, it approaches a triangle. Near the center is a stone mound, about 12 feet high, and in the wall a smaller one. The fort encloses about forty acres. Just south of it is a square work, containing about half an acre.
Thornville, 9 miles N. of Somerset, near the reservoir of the feeder of the Ohio canal, is a thriving town, containing 2 churches, several forwarding houses, 3 stores, and about 500 inhabitants.
" This portion of country was settled about 1810; land was then so cheap in the neigh- borhood that one Beesacker purchased 20 acres for an old black mare ; luckily, in laying out the country, two important roads intersected his purchase. He immediately had it sur- veyed into town lots: naming it New Lebanon, an embryo town sprung into existence. This took place about 1815. It was afterwards changed to Thornville, from being in the township of Thorn."
New Lexington, 9 miles s. of Somerset, contains 4 stores, 3 churches, and about 300 inhabitants. Rehoboth, 7 miles SE. of Som- erset, has 2 churches, 3 stores, 2 tobacco warehouses, and about 300 people. New Reading, Crossinville, Oakfield and Straitsville are also small places, the first of which, by the census of 1840, had 193 inhabitants.
.
& HOLDEN
ENTERATENGEL
SCENE ON THE AUGLAIZE :- A HOME IN THE WILDERNESS.
10 re 93
.
3
401
PICKAWAY COUNTY.
PICKAWAY.
PICKAWAY was formed Jan. 12th, 1810, from Ross, Fairfield and Franklin : the name is a mis-spelling of Piqua, the name of a tribe of the Shawanoese, for the significatien of which see page 362. The name was immediately derived from the plains in the county. The surface is level, and the soil generally very fertile and productive in grain. In many places the eye will take in at a single glance 500 acres of corn at one view. The country has the four varieties of woodland, barren, plain and prairie. The barrens were originally covered with shrub oak, and were at first supposed to be valueless, but proved to be excellent for grass and oats. The original settlers were mainly from Pennsylvania and Virginia. The principal pro- ductions are corn, wheat, oats, grass, pork, wool and neat cattle. The following is a list of the townships in 1840, with their population.
Circleville, 2973 Madison, 851 Scioto, 920
Darby, 1052
Muhlenburgh, 653
Walnut, 1798
Deer Creek, 1376
Harrison, 1149
Monroe, 1352 Washington, 1194
Pickaway, 1574 Wayne, 779
Jackson, 993 Salt Creek, 1815
The population of Pickaway in 1820, was 18,143, in 1830, 15,935, and in 1840, 20,169; or 40 inhabitants to the square mile.
Much of the land on the west side of the Scioto is farmed by tenants, who receive either a certain proportion of the profits, or pay stated rents. The farther removed the ownership of land from those who cultivate it, the worse is it for the development of the resources of a country. Slavery is worse than the tenant system, and actual ownership the best of all. Hence it is that the Virginia military dis- trict, much of which is held in large tracts by wealthy men, with tenants under them, does not thrive as well as some other parts of the state having a poorer soil, but cultivated by those who both hold the plow and own the land.
Within the county, on the west side of the river, is a territory of about 290 square miles, containing a population of 8,376, averaging a fraction less than 30 to the square mile ; while the territory on the east side of the river, within the county, embracing only 209 square miles, sustains a population of 11,349-averaging almost 55 to the square mile. This dis- parity in the density of population of the territory on the east and west sides of the river, arises principally from four causes : Ist, the large surveys in which the land on the west side of the river was originally located. This prevented persons of small means from seeking farms there ; 2d, the difficulty of finding the real owner of these surveys, who generally resided in some of the southern Atlantic states, or Kentucky, and who frequently had no agent here to sub-divide, show, or sell the lands; 3d, the frequent interference of different entries and surveys there with each other, which rendered the titles insecure. Though only a small portion of the lands were subject to this last difficulty, yet many persons were there- by deterred from purchasing and settling upon them; 4th, the greater disposition in the inhabitants there to engross large tracts of land, instead of purchasing smaller tracts, and expending more upon their improvements. This last continues to be the great obstacle in the way of increase of population now on those lands.
To an observing traveller, passing directly through the county from east to west, the con- trast is very striking. While on the one side he finds the lands well improved, with fields of moderate size, well fenced, with a good barn and neat dwelling house to each adjacent farm ; on the other, he finds occasionally baronial mansions, " like angel's visits, few and
5]
402
PICKAWAY COUNTY.
far between," with rarely a barn, and each field large enough for two or three good farms. Between these mansions he will find the old pioneer log dwellings, and the slovenly culti- vation of the first settlers. The prices of the same quality of land on the east side are generally about double those on the west side. A part of this difference in the artificial appearance and cultivation of the country upon the opposite sides of the river, results, no doubt, from the different origin of the inhabitants. Those on the east side originated mostly from Pennsylvania ; while those on the west side had their origin generally in the more northern slave states. Habits brought with the first emigrants cannot be changed at once, though time and the operation of our laws will gradually modify them. Already, in several neighborhoods west of the river, the plan of smaller farms and better improvements has commenced ; and a few years of prosperous industry will produce the neat farm cottage and the well-stored barn, with the productive fields of variegated crops and delicious fruits, which render the pursuits of agriculture so desirable. These are the blessings designed by a bountiful Benefactor to compensate for the toils, exposures and hardships incident to the pursuit of farming. Without these comforts, it would be the barren drudgery of the toil- worn slave .*
Three and a half miles south of Circleville are the celebrated Pickaway Plains, said to contain the richest body of land in Ohio. " They are divided into two parts, the greater or upper plains, and
Darby Plains
High Lands
B
Old Chillicothe
RIVER
Creek
Camp Charlotte
T
Pickaway
Grenadier Squaws. T.
AA
D
CT
Map of the Ancient Shawanoese Towns, on the Pickaway Plain.
[Explanations .- A. Ancient works, on which Circleville now stands. B. Logan's cabin at Old Chillicothe, now Westfall, four miles below Circleville : from this place a trail led through Grenadier Squaw town, and from thence up the Congo valley, and crossed to the opposite side of the creek, about 1} miles from its mouth. C. Black mountain, a short dis-
* Historical sketch of Pickaway county.
1
O
Plain
Cornstalks T.
Scippo
G
S
403
PICKAWAY COUNTY.
tance west of the old Barr mansion. D. Council house, a short distance NE. of the resi- dence of Wm. Renick, jr. The two parallel lines at this point represent the gauntlet through which prisoners were forced to run, and O. the stake at which they were burnt, which last is on a commanding elevation. F. The camp of Col. Lewis, just south of the residence ot Geo. Wolf. E. The point where Lord Dunmore met with and stopped the army of Lewis when on their way to attack the Indians : it is opposite the mansion of Major John Boggs. G. The residence of Judge Gills, near which is shown the position of Camp Charlotte.]
the lesser or lower one. The soil was very black when first culti- vated : the result of vegetable decomposition through a long succes- sion of ages. These plains are based on water-worn gravel and pebbles. The upper plain is at least 150 feet above the bed of the river, which passes about a mile west of them. Their form is ellip- tical, with the longest diameter from northeast to southwest, being about seven miles by three and a half or four miles. They were destitute of trees when first visited by the whites. The fertility was such as to produce one hundred bushels of corn, or fifty of wheat, to the acre, for many years, but they are now less productive." These plains have but few trees or shrubs within reach of the eye, except along the distant borders. The early settlers in the vicinity pro- cured all their fodder, a coarse, natural grass, from the plains, which grew several feet above a man's head. It was extremely difficult to break up, requiring the strongest teams. The cultivation of corn, which grew to the height of 12 or 15 feet, weakened their natural fer- tility. Originally, the plains were adorned with a great variety of beautiful flowers.
The annexed map is reduced from one 203 inches by 17}, made from the survey of P. N. White, for Felix Renick, of Ross. The country represented is about 7 miles square. Of all places in the west, this pre-eminently deserves the name of "classic ground." Here, in olden time, burned the council-fires of the red man ; here the affairs of the nation in general council were discussed, and the important questions of peace and war decided. On these plains the allied tribes marched forth and met General Lewis, and fought the sanguinary battle at Point Pleasant. Here it was that Logan made his memorable speech, and here, too, that the noted campaign of Dunmore was brought to a close by a treaty, or rather a truce, at Camp Charlotte.
From the "Remarks" appended to this map, by Mr. Renick, we extract the following.
Among the circumstances which invest this region with extraordinary interest, is the fact, that to those towns were brought so many of the truly unfortunate prisoners who were ab- ducted from the neighboring states. Here they were immolated on the altar of the red man's vengeance, and made to suffer, to the death, all the tortures savage ingenuity could invent, as a sort of expiation for the aggressions of their race. Strange does it seem that human beings, on whom nature had bestowed such riches of intellect, could be brought, by force of habit, not only to commit, but to delight in committing, such enormous cruelties as they often practised on many of their helpless victims-acts which had the direct effect of bringing down retaliation, in some form or other, on their own heads. But that they should contend to the last extremity for so delightful a spot, will not be wondered at by the most common observer en a view of the premises. For picturesqueness, fertility of soil, and every other concomitant to make it desirable for human habitation, it is not surpassed by any other locality in the western country, or perhaps in the world. The towns were well sup- plied with good spring water ; some of the adjacent bottom lands were susceptible of being
404
PICKAWAY COUNTY.
made to produce, as nature has left them, one hundred bushels of Indian corn to the acre, and all other grains and vegetables in proportion.
The Black Mountain, represented on the map by C, (so called by the natives, but why so named tradition hath not informed us,) is a ridge somewhat in the shape of an inverted boat, elevated from 130 to 150 feet above the bottom prairie immediately in its vicinity, and commands from its summit a full view of the high plains and the country around it to a great extent. This facility the natives enjoyed, for they were in the practice yearly of burning over the country, which kept down the undergrowth, while the larger growth was so sparse as not materially to intercept the view. This elevated ridge answered the Indian some valuable purposes. No enemy could approach, in day time, who could not, from its summit, be descried at a great distance ; and by repairing thither, the red man could often have a choice of the game in view, and his sagacity seldom failed him in the endeavor to approach it with success. The burning-ground, in the suburbs of Grenadier Squawtown, represented in the map, was also situated on an elevated spot, which commands a full view of all the other towns within the drawing, so that when a victim was at the stake, and the flames ascending, all of the inhabitants of the other towns, who could not be present, might, in a great measure, enjoy the scene by sight and imagination. The burning-ground at Old Chillicothe was somewhat similar, being in full view of the burning-ground at Squawtown, the Black Mountain, and two or three other small towns in other parts of the plains.
The Grenadier squaw, whose name the above town bore, was a sister to Cornstalk. She was represented as being a woman of great muscular strength ; and, like her brother, pos- sessed of a superior intellect.
From accounts most to be relied on, it was to Grenadier Squawtown that Slover, who was taken prisoner at Crawford's defeat, in 1782, was brought to suffer a similar death to that which Crawford, his commander, had undergone a few days before, but from which,, through Providential aid, he was relieved and enabled to make his escape. The circum- stances of his escape have been previously published ; but as they seem to be inseparably connected with the history of this spot, I hope to be excused for repeating them here. After his capture, on his way thither, he had been very much abused at the different towns he passed through, beaten with clubs, &c. On his arrival here he had a similar punish- ment to undergo. A council was held over him, and he was doomed to die the death that Crawford had suffered. The day was appointed for the consummation of the horrid deed, and its morning dawned without any unpropitious appearances to mar the antici- pated enjoyments of the natives collected from the neighboring towns to witness the scene. At the appointed time, Slover was led forth, stripped naked, tied to the fatal stake, and the fire kindled around him. Just as his tormentors were about to commence the torture, it seemed that the Great Spirit looked down, and said, " No! this horrid deed shall not be done !" Immediately the heavens were overcast ; the forked lightnings in all directions flew ; in mighty peals the thunder rolled, and seemed to shake the earth to its centre ; the rain in copious torrents fell, and quenched the threatening flames before they had done the victim much injury-continuing to a late hour. The natives stood dumb-founded-somc- what fearing that the Great Spirit was not pleased with what they were about to do. But had they been never so much inclined, there was not time left that evening to carry out their usual savage observances. Slover was therefore taken from the stake, and conducted to an empty house, to an upper log of which he was fastened by a buffalo-tug tied around his neck, and his arms were pinioned behind him by a cord. Two warriors were set over him as a guard, to prevent his escape in the night. Here again Providence seemed to in- terfere in favor of Slover, by causing a restless sleep to come over his guard. Until a late hour the Indians sat up, smoking their pipes and talking to Slover-using all their ingenuity to tantalize him, asking " how he would like to eat fire," &c. At length one of them lay down, and soon fell asleep. The other continued smoking and talking with Slover some time. After midnight, a deep sleep came upon him. He also lay down, and soon thought of nothing save in dreams of the anticipated pleasure to be enjoyed in torturing their pris- oner next day. Slover then resolved to make an effort to get loose, and soon extricated one of his hands from the cords. He then tried to unloose the tug around his neck, but without effect. He had not long been thus engaged before one of the Indians got up and smoked his pipe. While he was thus engaged, Slover kept very still for fear of a discovery ; but the Indian being again overcome with sleep, again lay down. Slover then renewed his exertions, but for some time without effect, and he resigned himself to his fate. After resting awhile, however, he resolved to make another and a last effort. He put his hand again to the tug, and, as he related, he slipped it over his head without difficulty. He then got out of the house as quietly as possible, sprang over a fence into a cornfield. While passing through the field he came near running over a squaw and her children, who were
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