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 74
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
a
e
d
A
D
L. Miami River
5
Fort Ancient.
about three feet, and which run nearly parallel, about one-fourth of a mile, and then form an irregular semicircle round a small mound. Near the southwest end of the fortification are three circular roads, A, between thirty and forty poles in length, cut out of the preci- pice between the wall and the river. The wall is made of earth.
Many conjectures have been made as to the design of the authors in erecting a work with no less than 58 gateways. Several of these openings have evidently been' occasioned by the water, which had been collected on the inside until it overflowed the walls and wore itself a passage. In several other places the walls might never have been completed.
The three parallel roads, A, dug, at a great expense of labor, into the rocks and rocky soil adjacent, and parallel to the Little Miami river, appear to have been designed for per- sons to stand on, who wished to annoy those who were passing up and down the river
505
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
The Indians, as I have been informed, made this use of these roads in their wars with each other and with the whites. Whether these works all belong to the same era and the same people, I cannot say, though the general opinion is that they do. On the whole, I have ventured to class them among "Ancient Fortifications," to which they appear to have higher claims than almost any other, for reasons too apparent to require a recital.
The two parallel lines, B, are two roads very similar to modern turnpikes, and are made to suit the nature of the soil and make of the ground. If the roads were for foot races, the mounds were the goals from whence the pedestrians started, or around which they ran. The area which these parallel walls enclose, smoothed by art, might have been the place. where games were celebrated. We cannot say that these works were designed for such purposes ; but we can say, that similar works were thus used among the early inhabitants of Greece and Rome.
Harveysburg, so named from George Harvey, who laid it out about 30 years since, is a flourishing town, 13 miles NE. of Lebanon, and contains 2 Friends' meeting-houses, 1 United Brethren and 1 Metho- dist church, 1 classical academy, 5 dry goods stores, and about 500 inhabitants. Springboro', 9 N. of Lebanon, has 1 Friends' meeting- house and 1 Universalist church, 4 stores, 2 grist mills, and about 90 dwellings. Palmyra, 8 sw. of Lebanon, on the Cincinnati turnpike, has 1 Methodist and 1 Universalist church, 4 stores, and about 70 dwellings. Deerfield, Roachester, Butlersville, Morrow, Ridgeville and Yankeetown, are villages, the largest of which may contain 350 inhabitants.
WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON was formed July 27th, 1788, by proclamation of Gov. St. Clair, being the first county formed within the limits of Ohio. Its original boundaries were as follows: "Beginning on the bank of the Ohio river, where the western boundary line of Pennsylvania crosses it, and running with that line to Lake Erie; thence along the southern shore of said lake to the mouth of Cuyahoga river : thence up the said river to the portage between it and the Tuscarawas branch of the Muskingum ; thence down that branch to the forks, at the crossing place above Fort Laurens ; thence with a line to be drawn westerly to the portage, on that branch of the Big Miami, on which the fort stood that was taken by the French in 1752, until it meets the road from the lower Shawnese town to Sandusky ; thence south to the Scioto river, and thence with that river to the mouth, and thence up the Ohio river to the place of beginning." The sur- face is generally hilly and broken, excepting the broad strips of allu- vial land on the Ohio and Muskingum. In the middle and western part are extensive tracts of fertile land. The uplands near the large streams are commonly broken, but well adapted to pasturage. The principal products are corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, dairy pro- ducts, fruit and wool. The following is a list of its townships in 1840, with their population.
64
506
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Adams,
791
Independence, 335
Roxbury,
1225
Aurelius,
886
Jolly,
582
Salem,
881
Barlow,
880
Ludlow, 539
Union,
888
Belpre,
1296
Lawrence, 571
Warren,
931
Decatur,
439
Liberty,
515
Waterford,
1166
Fearington, 1019
Marietta,
2689
Watertown,
1128
Grandview, 514
Newport,
1678
Wesley, 991
The population of Washington in 1820, was 10,425; in 1830, 11,731, and in 1840, 20,694, or 31 inhabitants to a square mile.
This county was the first settled in Ohio, and under the auspices of the New England Ohio company. Its early settlers were from New England, the descendants of whom constitute the larger share of its present population.
Fort Harmar.
In the autumn of 1785, a detachment of United States troops, un- der the command of Maj. John Doughty, commenced the erection, and the next year completed Fort Harmar, on the right bank of the Muskingum, at its junction with the Ohio. It was named in honor of Col. Josiah Harmar, to whose regiment Maj. Doughty was at- tached. It was the first military post erected by Americans within the limits of Ohio, excepting Fort Laurens, built in 1778. (See p. 485.) The outlines of the fort formed a regular pentagon, embracing within the area about three-quarters of an acre. Its walls were formed of large horizontal timbers, and the bastions of large upright timbers, of about 14 feet in height, fastened to each other by strips of timber tree-nailed into each picket. In its rear, Maj. Doughty laid out fine gardens. It continued to be occupied by United States troops until September, 1790, when they were ordered to Cincin- nati. A company under Capt. Haskell continued to make the fort their head-quarters during the Indian war, sending out occasionally small detachments to assist the colonists at Marietta, Belpre and
507
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Waterford, in guarding their garrisons against the Indians. The barracks and houses not needed for the accommodation of the troops, were occupied by the inhabitants living at Marietta, on the opposite side of the Muskingum.
In the autumn of 1787, the directors of the Ohio company organi- zed in New England, preparatory to a settlement. Upon the 23d of November, they made arrangements for a party of 47 men to set forward under the superintendence of Gen. Rufus Putnam ; and not long after, in the course of the winter, they started on their toilsome journey. Some of these, as well as most of those who followed them to the colony, had served in the war of the revolution, either as officers or soldiers, being men who had spent the prime of their lives in the struggle for liberty.
" During the winter of 1787-8, these men were pressing on over the Alleghanies by the old Indian path which had been opened into Braddock's road, and which has since been followed by the national turnpike from Cumberland westward. Through the dreary winter days they trudged on, and by April were all gathered on the Yohio- gany, where boats had been built, and started for the Muskingum. On the 7th of April they landed at the spot chosen, and became the founders of Ohio, unless we regard as such the Moravian missiona- ries.
" As St. Clair, who had been appointed governor the preceding October, had not yet arrived, it became necessary to erect a tem- porary government for their internal security ; for which purpose a set of laws was passed, and published by being nailed to a tree in the village, and Return Jonathan Meigs was appointed to admin- ister them. It is a strong evidence of the good habits of the people of the colony, that during three months, but one difference occurred, and that was compromised. Indeed, a better set of men altogether, could scarce have been selected for the purpose, than Putnam's little band. Washington might well say, 'no colony in America was ever settled under such favorable auspices as that which was first commenced at the Muskingum. Information, property and strength, will be its characteristics. I know many of the settlers personally, and there never were men better calculated to promote the welfare of such a community.'
" On the 2d of July, a meeting of the directors and agents was held on the banks of the Muskingum, for the purpose of naming the new-born city and its public squares. As the settlement had been merely 'The Muskingum,' the name Marietta was now formally given to it, in honor of Marie Antoniette.
" On the 4th of July, an oration was delivered by James M. Var- num, who, with S. H. Parsons and John Armstrong, had been ap- pointed to the judicial bench of the territory, on the 16th of October, 1787. Five days later, the governor arrived and the colony began to assume form. The ordinance of 1787, provided two district grades of government for the northwest territory, under the first of which the whole power was in the hands of the governor and three judges
n e
0,
508
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
and this form was at once organized upon the governor's arrival. The first law, which was 'for regulating and establishing the mili- tia,' was published upon the 25th of July ; and the next day, ap- peared the governor's proclamation, erecting all the country that had been ceded by the Indians east of the Scioto river into the county of Washington.
" From that time forward, notwithstanding the doubt yet exist- ing as to the Indians, all at Marietta went on prosperously and pleasantly. On the 2d of September, the first court was held, with becoming ceremonies,"* which was the first civil court ever con- vened in the territory northwest of the Ohio.
" The procession was formed at the Point, (where most of the settlers resided,) in the following order :- 1st, The high sheriff, with his drawn sword ; 2d, the citizens ; 3d, the officers of the garrison at Fort Harmar ; 4th, the members of the bar ; 5th, the supreme judges ; 6th, the governor and clergyman ; 7th, the newly appointed judges of the court of common pleas, Generals Rufus Putnam and Benj. Tupper.
" They marched up a path that had been cut and cleared through the forest to Campus Martius Hall, (stockade,) where the whole counter-marched, and the judges, (Putnam and Tupper,) took their seats. The clergyman, Rev. Dr. Cutler, then invoked the divine blessing. The sheriff, Col. Ebenezer Sproat, (one of nature's nobles,) proclaimed with his solemn ' O yes,' that a court is opened for the administration of even-handed justice to the poor and the rich, to the guilty and the innocent, without respect of persons ; none to be punished without a trial by their peers, and then in pursuance of the laws and evidence in the case.' Although this scene was exhibited thus early in the settlement of the state, few ever equalled it in the dignity and exalted character of its principal participators. Many of them belong to the history of our country, in the darkest as well as most splendid pe- riods of the revolutionary war. To witness this spectacle, a large body of Indians was collected, from the most powerful tribes then occupying the almost entire west. They had assembled for the purpose of making a treaty. Whether any of them entered the hall of justice, or what were their impressions, we are not told."t
" The progress of the settlement, [says a letter from the Musk- ingum,] is sufficiently rapid for the first year. We are continually erecting houses, but arrivals are faster than we can possibly pro- vide convenient covering. Our first ball was opened about the mid- dle of December, at which were fifteen ladies, as well accomplished in the manners of polite circles as any I have ever seen in the old states. I mention this to show the progress of society in this new world ; where, I believe, we shall vie with, if not excel, the old states, in every accomplishment necessary to render life agreeable and happy."
Soon after the landing, preparations were made to build the stock- aded fort, Campus Martius, to which allusion has already been made ; and although it was begun in the course of that year, it was not entirely completed with palisades and outworks, or bastions, until the winter of 1791.
The walls formed a regular parallelogram, the sides of which were 180 feet each. At each corner was erected a strong block-house, surmounted by a tower and sentry box. These houses were 20 feet square below and 24 feet above, and projected 6 feet beyond the curtains, or main walls of the fort. The intermediate curtains were built up with dwelling houses, made of wood, whip-sawed into timbers four inches thick, and of the requisite width and length. These were laid up similar to the structure of log houses, with the ends nicely dove-tailed or fitted together so as to make a neat finish. The whole were two
# Annals of the West.
t Dr. S. P. Hildreth, in the American Pioneer.
509
stories high, and covered with good shingle roofs. Convenient chimneys were erected of bricks, for cooking and warming the rooms. A number of the dwelling houses were built and owned by private individuals, who had families. In the west and south fronts were
d h
e e e
S d e
S
Campus Martius in 1791.
strong gateways; and over that, in the centre of the front looking to the Muskingum river, was a belfry. The chamber underneath was occupied by the Hon. Winthrop Sar- gent, as an office, he being secretary to the governor of the N. W. Territory, General St. Clair, and performing the duties of governor in his absence. This room projected over the gateway, like a block-house, and was intended for the protection of the gate beneath in time of an assault. At the outer corner of each block-house was erected a bastion, stand- ing on four stout timbers. The floor of the bastion was a little above the lower story of the block-house. They were square, and built up with thick planks to the height of a man's head, so that when he looked over he stepped on a narrow platform, or " banquet," running round the sides of the bulwark. Port-holes were made for musketry, as well as for artillery, a single piece of which was mounted in the southwest and northeast bastions. In these the sentries were regularly posted every night, as more convenient of access than the towers ; a door leading into them from the upper story of the block-houses. The lower room of the southwest block-house was occupied for a guard-house. Running from corner to corner of the block-houses was a row of palisades, sloping outwards, and resting on stout rails. Twenty feet in advance of these was a row of very strong and large pickets, set upright in the earth. Gateways through these admitted the inmates of the garrison. A few feet beyond the outer palisades was placed a row of abattis, made from the tops and branches of trees, sharpened and pointing outwards, so that it would have been very difficult for an enemy to have penetrated even within their outworks. The dwelling houses occu- pied a space from 15 to 30 feet each, and were sufficient for the accommodation of forty or fifty families, and did actually contain from 200 to 300 persons, men, women and chil- dren, during the Indian war.
Before the Indians commenced hostilities, the block-houses were occupied as follows :- the southwest one by the family of Gov. St. Clair ; the northwest one for public worship and holding of courts. The southeast block-house was occupied by private families ; and the northeast as an office for the accommodation of the directors of the company. The area within the walls was 144 feet square, and afforded a fine parade-ground. In the centre was a well, 80 feet in depth, for the supply of water to the inhabitants in case of a siege. A large sun-dial stood for many years in the square, placed on a handsome post, and gave note of the march of time. It is still preserved as a relic of the old garrison.
After the war commenced, a regular military corps was organized, and a guard con- stantly kept night and day. The whole establishment formed a very strong work, and re- flected great credit on the head that planned it. It was in a manner impregnable to the attacks of Indians, and none but a regular army with cannon could have reduced it. It is true, that the heights across the Muskingum commanded and looked down upon the de- ences of the fort; but there was no enemy in a condition to take possession of this ad- vantage.
1
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
1.
t e
510
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
The garrison stood on the verge of that beautiful plain overlooking the Muskingum, on which are seated those celebrated remains of antiquity ; and erected probably for a similar purpose, the defence of the inhabitants. The ground descends into shallow ravines on the north and south sides ; on the west is an abrupt descent to the river bottoms, or alluvions ; and the east passed out on to the level plain. On this the ground was cleared of trees be- yond the reach of rifle shots, so as to afford no shelter to a hidden foe. Extensive fields of corn were growing in the midst of the standing girdled trees beyond. The front wall of the garrison was about 150 yards from the Muskingum river. The appearance of the fort from without was grand and imposing ; at a little distance reseinbling one of the mili- tary palaces or castles of the feudal ages. Between the outer palisades and the river were laid out neat gardens for the use of Gov. St. Clair and his secretary, with the officers of the company.
Opposite the fort, on the shore of the river, was built a substantial timber wharf, at which was moored a fine cedar barge for twelve rowers, built by Capt. Jonathan Devoll, for Gen. Putnam ; a number of pirogues, and the light canoes of the country ; and last, not least, " the May-Flower," or " Adventure Galley," in which the first detachment of colonists were transported from the shores of the Yohiogany to the banks of the Muskingum. In these, especially the canoes, during the war, most of the communications were carried on between the settlements of the company and the more remote towns above on the Ohio river. Travelling by land was very hazardous to any but the rangers, or spies. There were no roads nor bridges across the creeks, and for many years after the war had ceased, the travelling was nearly all done by canoes on the rivers .*
The names of the early settlers who came the first season to Ma- rietta, as far as recollected, were as follows :
Of the agents, were Gen. Putnam, Winthrop Sargeant, secretary of the territory, Judges Parsons and Varnum of the settlers, Capt. Dana, Capt. Jonathan Devol, Joseph Barker, Col. Battelle, Major Tyler, Dr. True, Capt. William Gray, Capt. Lunt, the Bridges, Ebenezer and Thomas Cory, Andrew M'Clure, Wm. Mason, Thomas Lord, Wm. Gridley, Gilbert Devol, Moody, Russels, Deavens, Oakes, Wright, Clough, Green, Shipman, Dor- rance, the Maxons, Wells, &c. The first boat of families arrived on the 19th of August, in the same season, consisting of Gen. Tuppers, Col. Ichabod Nye, Col. Cushings, Major Coburn's, and Major Goodale's.
In the spring of 1789, settlements were pushed out to Belpre, Waterford, and Duck Creek, where they began to clear and plant the land, build houses and stockades. Among the first settlers at Waterford, were Benjamin Convers, Gilbert Devol, sen., Phineas Co- burn, Wm. Gray, Col. Robert Oliver, Major Hatfield White, Andrew Story, Samuel Cush- ing, John Dodge, Allen and Gideon Devol, George, William, and David Wilson, Joshua Sprague, with his sons William and Jonathan, Capt. D. Davis, Phineas Coburn, Andrew Webster, Eben Ayres, Dr. Farley, David Brown, A. Kelly, James and Daniel Convers.
At Belpre, (the French for " beautiful meadow") were three stockades, the upper, lower, and middle ; the last of which was called " farmer's castle," which stood on the banks of the Ohio, nearly, if not quite, opposite the beautiful island, since known as " Blannerhassets," the scene of " Burr's conspiracy." Among the persons at the upper, were Capt. Dana, Capt. Stone, Col. Bent, Wm. Browning, Judge Foster, John Rowse, Mr. Keppel, Israel Stone. At farmer's castle, were Col. Cushing, Major Haskel, Aaron Waldo Putnam, Col. Fisher, Mr. Sparhawk, and it is believed George and Israel Putnam, jr. At the lower, were Major Goodale, Col. Rice, Esq. Pierce, Judge Israel Loring, Deacon Miles, Major Bradford, and Mr. Goodenow. In the summer of 1789, Col. Ichabod Nye and some others built a block-house at Newberry, below Belprie. Mr. Nye sold his lot there to Aaron N. Clough, who, with Stephen Guthrie, Jos. Leavins, Joel Oakes, Eleazer Curtis, Mr. Denliam, J. Littleton, and a Mr. Brown, were located at that place during the subsequent Indian war.
Every exertion possible for men in these circumstances, was made to secure food and prepare for future difficulties. . Col. Oliver, Major Hatfield White, and John Dodge, of the Waterford settlement, began mills on Wolf Creek, about three miles from the fort, and got them running ; and these, the first mills in Ohio, were never destroyed during the subse- quent Indian war, though the proprietors removed their families to the fort at Marietta. Col. E. Sproat and Enoch Shephard, began mills on Duck Creek, three miles from Mari- etta, from the completion of which they were driven by the Indian war. Thomas Stanley began mills higher up, near the Duck Creek settlement ; these were likewise unfinished.
* The engravings of Fort Harmar and Campus Martius, together with the accompanying descriptions, are from the communications of Dr. S. P. Hildreth, in the Am. Pioneer.
511
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
The Ohio company built a large horse mill near Campus Martius, and soon after, a floating mill. *
During the Indian war, which soon succeeded the first settlements, the inhabitants suffered much for the necessaries of life. Although some of the settlers were killed, and others carried into captivity, yet the massacre at Big Bottom, (see p. 377,) was the most alarming event. The escape of the settlers from greater suffering from this source, was owing to the strong fortifications erected, and the admi- rable judgment and foresight they displayed in taking precautions against danger. Among the incidents connected with the troubles with the Indians, to which we have barely space to allude, was the taking prisoner at Waterford, of Daniel Convers, (then a lad of 16, now of Zanesville,) who was carried to Detroit, the murder of Warth while at work near Fort Harmar : the taking prisoner of Major Good- ale, of Belpre, who was, it is supposed, murdered ; the death of Capt. Rogers, who was out with Mr. Henderson, as a spy, and was killed near the Muskingum, about a mile from Marietta ; the death of a Mr. Waterman, near Waterford, and the narrow escape of Return J. Meigs, into Fort Harmar, by his fleetness of foot, while pursued by the enemy. On the other hand retaliation was in a measure inflicted upon the Indians, and among those most active in this duty was Ham- ilton Carr, a man eminently distinguished as an Indian hunter and spy. During the war a stockade was erected near the mouth of Olive Green Creek, above Waterford, which became the frontier garrison, and had in it about seven or eight men and boys able to bear arms. Just before Wayne's victory, Aug. 4th, 1794, they lost one man, a Mr. Abel Sherman, who went into the woods incautiously, and was killed by the Indians. A tomb-stone with a scalped head rudely carved upon it, marks the spot where he lies.
Among the inmates of this garrison was Geo. Ewing, esq., father of the Hon. Thomas Ewing. His fortune and history were similar to that of many of the revolutionary officers who emigrated to the west at that early day. He inherited a handsome patrimony and sold it, investing the proceeds in bonds and mortgages, and entered the continental army as a subaltern officer in 1775, he being then but little over 21 years of age. He continued to serve, with a few short intermissions, during the war. When the bonds fell due, they were paid in continental money, which, proving worthless, reduced him to poverty. In 1785, he migrated to the west, and remained on the Virginia side of the Ohio until 1792, when he crossed over and settled at Olive Green.
From the communication of one of the early settlers at Olive Green, we annex some facts respecting their privations and the dis- covery of a salt well.
The inhabitants had among them but few of what we consider the necessaries and con- veniences of life. Brittle wares, such as earthen and glass, were wholly unknown, and but little of the manufactories of steel and iron, both of which were exceedingly dear. Iron and salt were procured in exchange for ginseng and peltry, and carried on pack horses from Ft. Cumberland or Chambersburg. It was no uncommon thing for the garrison to be wholly without salt for months, subsisting upon fresh meat, milk and vegetables, and bread made of corn pounded in a mortar-they did not yet indulge in the luxury of the hand-mill.
There had been an opinon, founded upon the information of the Indians, that there were
* From the " Reminiscences of the First Settlement of Ohio," by Horace Nye, published in the Western Recorder.
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.