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 70
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
1
1
478
TRUMBULL COUNTY.
to adopt all its practices, even to the eating of snakes ; and during almost any day while on the lake shore, he killed and swung over his shoulders and around his body from two to six or eight large rattlesnakes, and at night a part were dressed, cooked and eaten by the party with a good relish, probably increased by the circumstance of their being fresh, while all our other meat was salt.
Twinsburg, a pleasant village, 17 miles northerly from Akron, on the Cleveland road, contains 4 churches and about 40 dwellings. The literary institute situated here, under the charge of the Rev. Samuel Bissell, is a flourishing institution, having about 150 pupils. There are other small villages in the county, some of which are thriving places. Among them are Clinton, Tallmadge Centre, Mog- adore, Richfield, Ellis Corners and Monroe Falls.
TRUMBULL.
TRUMBULL, named from two successive governors of Connecticut, was formed in 1800, and comprised within its original limits the whole of the Connecticut Western Reserve. This is a well cultiva- ted and wealthy county. The surface is mostly level, and the soil loamy or sandy. In the northern part is excellent coal. The prin- cipal products are wheat, corn, oats, grass, wool, butter, cheese and potatoes. Mahoning has recently been formed from it and Columbi- biana. The following is a list of its townships in 1840, (excepting those now forming a part of Mahoning,) with their population at that time.
Bazetta,
1035
Gustavus,
1195
Mecca,
684
Bloomfield,
554
Hartford,
1121
Mesopotamia,
832
Braceville,
880
Howland,
1035
Newton,
1456
Bristol,
802
Hubbard,
1242
Southington,
857
Brookfield,
1301
Johnston,
889
Vernon,
788
Champion,
541
Kinsman,
954
Vienna,
969
Farmington, 1162
Liberty,
1225
Warren,
1996
Fowler,
931 647
Lordstown,
1167
Wethersfield,
1447
Greene,
The population of these townships, including the whole of the present Trumbull county, in 1840, was 25,700, or 43 inhabitants to the square mile. The population of Trumbull in 1820, was 15,546; in 1830, 26,200, and in 1840, 38,070.
Previous to the settlement of this county, and indeed before the survey of the eastern part of the Western Reserve in 1796, salt was manufactured by the whites, at what is frequently spoken of as the " old salt works," which were situated, we are informed, in what is now the township of Wethersfield, on or near the Mahoning. They were known to the whites as early as 1755, and are indicated on Evans' map published that year. Augustus Porter, Esq., who had charge of the first surveying party of the Reserve, thus alludes to these works in the Barr Mss., in connection with the history of his survey.
-
479
TRUMBULL COUNTY
These works were said to have been established and occupied by Gen. Parsons, of Con- necticut, by permission of the governor of that state. At this place we found a small piece of open ground, say 2 or 3 acres, and a plank vat of 16 or 18 feet square, and 4 or 5 feet deep, set in the ground, which was full of water, and kettles for boiling salt; the number we could not ascertain, but the vat seemed to be full of them. An Indian and a squaw were boiling water for salt, but from appearances, with poor success.
Amzi Atwater, Esq., now of Portage county, who was one of the first surveying party of the Reserve, in a communication to us, says:
It was understood that Gen. Parsons had some kind of a grant from the state of Con- necticut, and came on there and commenced making salt, and was drowned on his return at Beaver Falls. On the first map made of the Reserve by Mr. Seth Pease, in 1798, a tract was marked off and designated as "the salt spring tract." I have understood that the heirs of Gen. Parsons advanced some claims to that tract, but I believe without success. At an early part of the settlement, considerable exertions were made by Reuben Harmon, Esq., to establish salt works at that place, but the water was too weak to make it profitable.
Public Square, Warren.
Warren, the county seat, is on the Mahoning river and Ohio and Penn. canal, 161 miles NE. of Columbus and 77 from Pittsburgh. It is a well-built and very pleasant town, through which beautifully winds the Mahoning. In the centre is a handsome public square, on which stands the court house. In June, 1846, this village was visited by a destructive fire, which destroyed a large number of buildings facing one side of the public square, since built up with beautiful stores. Warren was laid out in 1801, by Ephraim Quinby, Esq., and named from Moses Warren, of Lyme. The town plat is one mile square, with streets crossing at right angles. Warren contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist and 1 Disciple's church, about 20 mercantile stores, 3 newspaper printing offices, 2 flour mills, 1 bank, 1 woollen factory and a variety of mechanical establishments ; in 1840, its population was 1066; it is now estimated at 1600.
In a grave-yard on the river's bank lie the remains of the Hon. Zephaniah Swift, author of Swift's Digest, and once chief justice of the State of Connecticut. He died here September 27th, 1823, at the age of 64 years, while on a visit to a son and daughter.
We annex some facts connected with the settlement of this place and vicinity, from the narrative of Cornelius Feather, in the Mss. of the Ashtabula Historical Society.
480
TRUMBULL COUNTY.
The plat of Warren in September, 1800, contained but two log cabins, one of which was occupied by Capt. Ephraim Quinby, who was proprietor of the town and afterwards judge of the court. He built his cabin in 1799. The other was occupied by Wm. Fen- ton, who built his in 1798. On the 27th of this month, Cornelius Feather and Davison Fenton arrived from Washington county, Pa. At this time, Quinby's cabin consisted of three apartments, a kitchen, bed-room and jail, although but one prisoner was ever con- fined in it, viz: Perger Shehigh, for threatening the life of Judge Young, of Youngstown.
The whole settlements of whites within and about the settlement of Warren, consisted of 16 settlers, viz : Henry and John Lane, Benj. Davison, Esq., Meshach Case, Capt. John Adgate, Capt. John Leavitt, William Crooks and Phineas Leffingwell, Henry Lane, jr., Charles Daily, Edward Jones, George Loveless and Wm. Tucker, who had been a spy five years under Capt. Brady.
At this time, rattlesnakes abounded in some places. And there was one adventure with them worth recording, which took place in Braceville township.
A Mr. Oviatt was informed that a considerable number of huge rattlesnakes were scat- tered over a certain tract of wilderness. The old man asked whether there was a ledge of rocks in the vicinity, which way the declivity inclined, and if any spring issued out of the ledge. Being answered in the affirmative, the old man rejoined, " we will go about the last of May and have some sport." Accordingly they proceeded through the woods well armed with cudgels. Arrived at the battle-ground, they cautiously ascended the hill, step by step, in a solid column. Suddenly the enemy gave the alarm, and the men found them- selves completely surrounded by hosts of rattlesnakes of enormous size, and a huge squadron of black snakes. No time was lost. At the signal of the rattling of the snakes, the ac- tion commenced, and hot and furious was the fight. In short, the snakes beat a retreat up the hill, our men cudgelling with all their might. When arrived at the top of the ledge, they found the ground and rocks in places almost covered with snakes retreating into their dens. Afterwards the slain were collected into heaps, and found to amount 486, a good portion of which were larger than a man's leg below the calf, and over 5 feet in length.
The news of this den of venomous serpents being spread, it was agreed that the narra- tor and two more young men in Warren, and three in Braceville, should make war upon it, until the snakes should be principally destroyed, which was actually accomplished.
One circumstance I should relate in regard to snake-hunting. Having procured an in- strunient like a very long chisel, with a handle, 8 or 9 feet long, I proceeded to the ledge alone, placed myself on the body of a butternut tree, lying slanting over a broad crevice in the rocks, 7 or 8 feet deep, the bottoni of which was literally covered with the yellow and black serpents. I held my weapon poised in my right hand, ready to give the deadly blow, my left hold of a small branch to keep my balance, when both my feet slipped, and I came within a hairs' breadth of plunging headlong into the den. Nothing but the small limb saved me from a most terrible death, as I could not have gotten out, had there been no snakes, the rocks on all sides being nearly perpendicular. It was a merciful and provi- dential escape.
In August, 1800, a serious affair occurred with the Indians, which spread a gloom over the peaceful prospects of the new and scat- tered settlements of the whites, the history of which we derive from the above-mentioned source.
Joseph M'Mahon, who lived near the Indian settlement at the Salt Springs, and whose family had suffered considerable abuse at different times from the Indians in his absence, was at work with one Richard Story, on an old Indian. plantation, near Warren. On Friday of this week, during his absence, the Indians coming down the creek to have a drunken frolic, called in at M'Mahon's and abused the family, and finally Capt. George, their chief, struck one of the children a severe blow with the tomahawk, and the Indians threatened to kill the whole family. Mrs. M'Mahon, although terribly alarmed, was un- able to get word to her husband before noon the next day.
M'Mahon and Story at first resolved to go immediately to the Indian camp and kill the whole tribe, but on a little reflection, they desisted from this rash purpose, and con- cluded to go to Warren, and consult with Capt. Ephraim Quinby, as he was a mild, judi- cious man.
By the advice of Quinby, all the persons capable of bearing arms were mustered on Sunday morning, consisting of 14 men and 2 boys, under the command of Lieut. John Lane, who proceeded towards the Indian camp, determined to make war or peace as circumstan- ces dictated.
481
TRUMBULL COUNTY.
When within half a mile of the camp, Quinby proposed a halt, and as he was well ac- quainted with most of the Indians, they having dealt frequently at his tavern, it was re- solved that he should proceed alone to the camp, and inquire into the cause of their out- rageous conduct, and ascertain whether they were for peace or war. Quinby started alone, leaving the rest behind, and giving direction to Lane that if he did not return in half an hour, he might expect that the savages had killed him, and that he should then march his company and engage in battle. Quinby not returning at the appointed time, they marched rapidly to the camp. On emerging from the woods they discovered Quinby in close conversation with Capt. George. He informed his party that they had threatened to kill M'Mahon and his family, and Story and his family, for it seems the latter had inflicted chastisement on the Indians for stealing his liquor, particularly on one ugly-looking, ill- tempered fellow, named Spotted John, from having his face spotted all over with hair moles. Capt. George had also declared, if the whites had come down the Indians were ready to fight them.
The whites marched directly up to the camp, M'Mahon first and Story next to him. The chief, Capt. George, snatched his tomahawk which was sticking in a tree, and flour- ishing it in the air, walked up to M'Mahon, saying, " if you kill me, I will lie here-if I kill you, you shall lie there !" and then ordered his men to prime and tree ! Instantly as the tomahawk was about to give the deadly blow, M'Mahon sprang back, raised his gun already cocked, pulled the trigger, and Capt. George fell dead. Story took for his mark the ugly savage, Spotted John, who was at that moment placing his family behind a tree, and shot him dead, the same ball passing through his squaw's neck, and the shoulders of his oldest pappoos, a girl of about thirteen.
Hereupon the Indians fled with horrid yells ; the whites hotly pursued for some distance, firing as fast as possible, yet without effect, while the women and children screamed and screeched piteously. The party then gave up the pursuit, returned and buried the dead Indians, and proceeded to Warren to consult for their safety.
It being ascertained that the Indians had taken the route to Sandusky, on Monday morning James Hillman was sent through the wilderness to overtake and treat with them. He came up with them on Wednesday, and cautiously advanced, they being at first suspi- cious of him. But making known his mission, he offered them first $100, then $200, and so on, to $500, if they would treat with him on just terms, return to their homes and bury the hatchet. But to all his overtures they answered, " No! No! No! we will go to San- dusky and hold a council with the chiefs there." Hillman replied, "you will hold a council there, light the war torch, rally all the warriors throughout the forests, and with savage bar- barity, come and attempt a general massacre of all your friends, the whites, throughout the N. W. Territory." They rejoined, " that they would lay the case before the council, and within fourteen days, four or five of their number should return with instructions, on what terms peace could be restored."*
Hillman returned, and all the white settlers from Youngstown and the surrounding set- tlements, garrisoned at Quinby's house in Warren, constructed port-holes through the logs and kept guard night and day.
On the fourth or fifth day after the people garrisoned, a circumstance struck them with terror. John Lane went out into the woods a little distance, one cloudy day, and missing his way gave some alarm. In the evening, a man's voice known to be his, was heard sev- eral times, and in the same direction twelve or fourteen successive reports of a gun. It was judged that the Indians had returned, caught Lane, confined him and compelled him to halloo, with threats of death if he did not, under the hope of enticing the whites into an ambush, and massacreing them.
In the morning, as these noises continued, Wm. Crooks, a resolute man, went out cau- tiously to the spot whence they proceeded, and found that Lane had dislocated his ancle in making a misstep, and could not get into the fort without assistance.
The little party continued to keep guard until the fourteenth day, when exactly accord- ing to contract, four or five Indians returned with proposals of peace, which were, that M'Mahon and Story should be taken to Sandusky, tried by Indian laws, and if guilty, punished by them. This they were told could not be done, as M'Mahon was already a prisoner under the laws of the whites, in the jail at Pittsburgh, and Story had fled out of the country.
M'Mahon was brought to Youngstown and tried with prudence, General St. Clair chief judge. The only testimony that could be received of all those present at the tragedy
* For a more full and perfectly reliable statement of Hillman's agency in this affair, see his memoir, p. 338.
61
482
TRUMBULL COUNTY.
was a boy who took no part in the affair, who stood close by Capt. George when he said, " If you kill me, I'll lie here ; if I kill you, you will lie there." A young married woman who had been a prisoner among the Indians, was brought to testify as she understood the language. She affirmed that the words signified, that if M'Mahon should kill Captain George, the Indians should not seek restitution ; nor should the whites if M'Mahon were killed. In regard to the death of Spotted John, the Indians finally claimed nothing, as he was an ugly fellow, belonging to no tribe whatever.
The Indians again took up their old abode, re-buried the bodies of their slain down the river two or three miles, drove down a stake at the head of each grave, hung a new pair of buckskin breeches on each stake, saying and expecting that "at the end of thirty days they would rise, go to the North Sea, and hunt and kill the white bear." An old pious Indian said, " No! they will not rise at the end of thirty days. When God comes at the last day, and calls all the world to rise and come to judgment, then they will rise."
The Indians nightly carried good supplies of cooked venison to the graves, which were evidently devoured. A white settler's old slut, with a litter of six or eight pups, nightly visited the savory meats, as they throve most wonderfully during the thirty days.
The Hon. Joshua R. Giddings in a note to the above, says :
M'Mahon served afterwards in the war of 1812, and in the northwestern army under Gen. Harrison. In the battle with the Indians on the Peninsula, north of Sandusky bay, on the 29th of September of that year, he was wounded in the side. After his recovery, he was discharged in November and started for home. He left Camp Avery, in Huron county, and took the path to the old Portage. Being alone and happening to meet a party of Indians, he fell a victim to their hostility.
The Rev. Joseph Badger, the first missionary on the Reserve, re- sided for eight years at Gustavus, in this county. He was born at Wilbraham, Mass., in 1757. He served as a soldier in the revolu- tionary war, graduated at Yale College in 1785, in 1787 was or- dained as minister over a church in Blandford, Mass., where he re- mained for 14 years.
In 1800, such an opportunity for usefulness offered as he had long wished for. The mis- sionary societies of the eastern states, had for many years been desirous of sending mis- sionaries to the Indians which then dwelt in the northern portion of Ohio.
At their instance, Mr. Badger made a visit to this country during that year, and was so well satisfied with the opportunity of usefulness, which his residence among the Wyandots and other tribes would afford, that he returned after his family, and since that time his labors have been principally divided between the Western Reserve, and the country bor- dering on the Sandusky and Maumee rivers. Among his papers, the writer finds certifi- cates of his appointment to the several missionary stations on the Reserve and at Lower Sandusky, as also commissions of the post-master's appointment, for the several places where he has from time to time resided. Mr. B's labors among the scattered inhabitants on the Reserve, and the Indians, were arduous and interesting. Many incidents common to frontier life are recorded in his journals. His duties as a missionary were all faithfully discharged, and he saw this portion of the west grow up under his own eye and teaching.
In 1812, he was appointed chaplain to the army by Gov. Meigs. He was at Fort Meigs during the seige of 1813-and through the war was attached to Gen. Harrison's com- mand. He removed from Trumbull county in 1835, to Plain township, Wood county.
Mr. Badger was a man of energy, perseverance and fine intellectual endowments. His naturally strong and brilliant mind retained all its power, until within the last three years of his life. He was a faithful and devoted christain. He ardently loved his fellow men- his God he loved supremely. Few men have ever lived, who have given such an un- equivocal proof of christian meekness and submission-few whose labors have more highly adorned the great and responsible profession of the ministry. Full of years, and of honors, and possessing the paternal affection of a people, who have been long accustomed to re- gard him as a father, he has at length gone to his final account .* He died in 1846, aged 89.
Newton Falls is 9 miles westerly from Warren, on the Ohio and Pennsylvania canal, in the forks of the east and west branches of tthe Mahoning, which unite just below the village. This flourishing
* From the Perrysburg Miami.
483
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.
town has sprung into existence within the last 12 years ; it was laid out by Thomas D. Webb, Esq., and Dr. H. A. Dubois. The water power is good ; it is an important point of shipment on the canal, and its inhabitants are enterprising. It contains 1 Congregational, 1 Methodist, 1 Baptist and 1 Disciples church, 5 mercantile stores, 3 forwarding houses, 1 woollen factory, 1 paper mill, and about 900 inhabitants.
Niles, on the Mahoning river and on the canal, 5 miles southerly from Warren, contains 3 churches, 3 stores, 1 blast furnace, rolling mill and nail factory, 1 forge and grist mill, and about 300 inhabi- tants. There is some water power here. In the vicinity are large quantities of excellent iron ore and coal. In Braceville township is a Fourierite association, said to be in a properous condition.
TUSCARAWAS.
TUSCARAWAS was formed from Muskingum, Feb. 15th, 1808. The name is that of an Indian tribe, and in one of their dialects, sig- nifies " open mouth." This is a fertile, well-cultivated county, partly level and partly rolling and hilly. Iron ore and coal abound. It was first permanently settled about the year 1803, by emigrants from western Virginia and Pennsylvania, many of whom were of German origin. The principal productions are wheat, oats, corn and potatoes. The following is a list of its townships in 1840, with their population.
Bucks,
1547
Mill,
1225
Union,
945
Clay,
864
Oxford,
826
Warren,
1173
Dover,
2247
Perry,
1381
Warwick,
864
Fairfield,
866
Rush,
1293
Washington,
978
Goshen,
1885
Salem,
1121
Wayne,
2142
Jefferson,
992
Sandy,
1445
York,
865
Lawrence, 1523
Sugar Creek, 1450
The population of Tuscarawas, in 1820, was 8328; in 1830, 14,298 ; and in 1840, 25,632, or 39 inhabitants to the square mile.
Several years previous to the settlement of Ohio, the Moravians had a missionary establishment in the present limits of this county, which was for a time broken up by the cruel massacre of ninety-six of the Indians at Gnadenhutten, March 8th, 1782. The history of the Moravian mission we annex in a communication from James Patrick, Esq., of New Philadelphia.
The first white inhabitants of Tuscarawas county, were the Moravian missionaries and their families. The Rev. Frederick Post and Rev. John Heckewelder had penetrated thus far into the wilderness previous to the commencement of the revolutionary war. Their first visits west of the Ohio date as early as the years 1761 and '62. Other missionary auxiliaries were sent out by that society, for the purpose of propagating the Christian reli- gion among the Indians. Among these was the Rev. David Zeisberger, a man whose devotion to the cause was attested by the hardships he endured and the dangers he encoun- tered.
Had the same pacific policy which governed the society of Friends in their first settle-
484
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.
ment of eastern Pennsylvania, been adopted by the white settlers of the west, the efforts of the Moravian missionaries in Ohio would have been more successful. But our western pioneers were not, either by profession or practice, friends of peace. They had an instinc- tive hatred to the aborigines, and were only deterred, by their inability, from exterminating the race. Perhaps the acts of cruelty practiced by certain Indian tribes on prisoners taken in previous contests with the whites, might have aided to produce this feeling on the part of the latter. Be that as it may, the effects of this deep-rooted prejudice greatly retarded the efforts of the missionaries.
They had three stations on the river Tuscarawas, or rather three Indian villages, viz. : Shoenbrun, Gnadenhutten and Salem. The site of the first is about two miles south of New Philadelphia ; seven miles farther south was Gnadenhutten, in the immediate vicinity of the present village of that name ; and about five miles below that was Salem, a short distance from the village of Port Washington. The first and last mentioned were on the west side of the Tuscarawas, now near the margin of the Ohio canal. Gnadenhutten is on the east side of the river. It was here that a massacre took place on the 8th of March, 1782, which, for cool barbarity, is perhaps unequalled in the history of the Indian wars.
The Moravian villages on the Tuscarawas were situated about mid-way between the white settlements near the Ohio, and some warlike tribes of Wyandots and Delawares on the Sandusky. These latter were chiefly in the service of England, or at least opposed to the colonists, with whom she was then at war. There was a British station at Detroit, and an American one at Fort Pitt, (Pittsburgh,) which were regarded as the nucleus of western operations by each of the contending parties. The Moravian villages of friendly Indians on the Tuscarawas were situated, as the saying is, between two fires. As Christian con- verts and friends of peace, both policy and inclination led them to adopt neutral grounds. With much difficulty they sustained this position, partially unmolested, until the autumn of 1781. In the month of August, in that year, an English officer named Elliott, from De- troit, attended by two Delaware chiefs, Pimoacan and Pipe, with three hundred warriors, visited Gnadenhutten. They urged the necessity of the speedy removal of the Christian Indians further west, as a measure of safety. Seeing the latter were not inclined to take their advice, they resorted to threats, and in some instances to violence. They at last succeeded in their object. The Christian Indians were forced to leave their crops of corn, potatoes and garden vegetables, and remove, with their unwelcome visitors, to the country bordering on the Sandusky. The missionaries were taken prisoners to Detroit. After suf- fering severely from hunger and cold during the winter, a portion of the Indians were per- mitted to return to their settlements on the Tuscarawas, for the purpose of gathering in the corn left on the stalk the preceding fall.
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.