USA > Ohio > Historical collections of Ohio in three volumes ; an encyclopedia of the state : with notes of a tour over it in 1886 contrasting the Ohio of 1846 with 1886-90, Vol. III > Part 34
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A STRANGE SUPERSTITION.
The family of Philip Salladay came from Switzerland, bought and settled on a lot in the French Grant soon after the opening of the country for settlement. Hereditary con- sumption developed itself in the family some- time after their location in Scioto county. The head of the family and the oldest son had died of it and others began to manifest symptons, when an attempt was made to ar- rest the progress of the disease by a process which has been practised in numerous in- stances, but without success. They resolved to disinter one of the victims, take his en- trails and burn them in a fire prepared for the purpose, in the presence of the surviving members of the family. This was accordingly done in the winter of 1816-17, in the presence of a large concourse of spectators who lived in the surrounding neighborhood, and by Major Amos Wheeler, of Wheelersburg. Samnel Salladay was the one they disinterred and offered up as a sacrifice, to stop if possi- ble the further spread of the disease. But like other superstitious notions with regard to enring diseases it proved of no avail. The other members of the family continued to die off until the last one was gone except George.
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A NOVEL FOOT RACE.
Thomas Gilruth had a son James, the most athletic young man in all that section of country. Running, jumping, hopping, wrestling and even fighting when necessary, he generally eame off the winner. He was bragging about his running one day in the presence of his father and said he could ont- run any man about there. The old man listened for some time and at last said, "Jimmie, I can outrun you."
"Oh no, father. You are too old for that."
" Well," said the old man. "I'll tell you what I'll do. We'll both strip off every- thing but our shirts, and take each of us a good switch, and you may start first and I will follow you. If you can keep out of my reach, it is well. If not, I'll whip you all the way through. Then coming back, I will take the lead and you may whip me as much as you like."
'Agreed," said Jimmie, "we'll try that race.'
They were to run a hundred yards and James started ahead. The old man kept so close to his heels that he gave him a severe flogging before they got through. Then it came the old man's turn to take the lead. He started off, but Jimmie never got near enongh to give him one stroke with his switch. The young man came out crest- fallen, and never wanted to hear of a foot- race after that.
HABITS OF KEEL-BOATMEN.
Claudius Cadot just after the war of 1812, went on the river to follow keel-boating to raise money to buy land. At that time keel-boating was about the only oeeupation at which money could be earned, and the wages were very low even there. Cadot hired himself to the celebrated Mike Fink, at fifty cents per day. The boats belonged to John Finch, one of a company that ran keel- boats from Pittsburg to different points in the West. Cadot soon learned the art of keel-boating. It was the usual practice of boatmen at that time to get on a spree at each town, but Cadot did not choose to spend his money in that way, and soon saved a con- siderable sum. He asked Capt. Fink to put this money in his trunk for safe-keeping. Fink consented to do this, but insisted that Cadot should carry the key as he had the most money. Fink was a noted character in his day (see Belmont county), he placed great confidence in Cadot and at the end of his first year's service paid him at the rate of 62} eents per day, although the bargain only called for 50 cents per day.
HOW KEEL-BOATS WERE MANNED.
The hull of a keel-boat was much like that of a modern canal boat, but lighter and gen- erally smaller. The larger keel boats were manned by about twenty hands. It was the enstom to make a trip from Pittsburg to New Orleans each year. They went down "under oars" and with a half dozen or so pairs worked by stout men they made good speed.
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SCIOTO COUNTY.
They took down flour, pork, beef, beans, etc., and brought up cotton, hemp, tobacco, etc., to Pittsburg. Many of these boats were manned by Canadians who seemed much to fancy their mode of life. As the boats went up they were pushed by poles on the shore side, while oars were worked on the outside. The average progress up stream was twelve miles per day -- they lay up at night-but often when the wind was fair they would sail fifty miles.
It was the custom with the Canadians to sing hoosier. songs and their yell was heard many miles. They also, since they were inuch exposed to the weather, made free use of liquors, the effect of which was plainly vis- ible in their ruddy, full face, Much boating was also done from Charleston, Va., to Nash- ville and St. Louis.
THE DUEL OF GOVERNOR ROBERT LUCAS.
A number of horses had been stolen by Indians, and the settlers formed themselves into a military company to pursue the thieves, and if possible recover their stolen property. Robert Ineas was elected captain of the company. They overtook the Indians, but not until after traveling a long distance from the settlements and Lucas concluded that it would not be safe to attack them. Many of the company were indignant at this extreme caution, and Major Munn applied the epithet of "coward " to Lucas ; where- upon the latter challenged Munn to fight a duel. The challenged was accepted, broad- swords chosen as weapons and the next morning the appointed time.
Munn was promptly on the ground, but Lucas failed to appear, sending instead a note asking if the difficulty could not be set- tled in an amicable manner. Munn read the note and smiled. saying, "Certainly, it is his quarrel, and if he is satisfied, so am I."
A REFRACTORY BRIGADIER.
Robert Lucas came to Ohio with his father in 1802. He was of mature age, and well qualified both by ability and education to take an active part in all matters pertaining to the organization of a new county and State. In 1803 he was the first county sur- veyor of Scioto county. He was especially efficient in organizing the militia, and was the first brigadier-general in the country.
In 1810 a girl of the neighborhood laid a child to his charge and called upon him to pay damages. This he declined to do, and a process was procured to take him to jail. When the sheriff attempted to serve the process he resisted and would not be taken. Therenpon, rather than endanger his life. the sheriff resigned, and his duties devolved upon the coroner, Maj. Munn, whom Incas had previously challenged to fight a duel. Maj. Munn failed to arrest Lucas, and he also resigned. Then Lucas threatened to kill the clerk who had issued the writ, and he resigned. Upon this a call was made for
county officers who could and would enforce the laws and arrest him. A young school teacher, John R. Turner, of Alexandria, came forward and said he would issue a writ if made clerk. Elijah Glover said, " Make me sheriff, and by G-d I'll take Gen. Lucas to jail, or any other man." They were ap- pointed, the writ was issued, and when Glover showed the writ to Lueas, he quietly submit- ted and went to jail. But Squire Brown, father-in-law of Lucas, interfered to prevent the arrest, when Nathan Glover, a brother of the sheriff, picked him up and threw him into a clump of jimson weed, and told him to lie there and keep quiet or he might get into trouble. He lay there and kept quiet.
THE SYCAMORE OF FIFTEEN HORSEMEN.
The rich land which afterward produced such prolific crops of corn as to give to the valley of the lower Scioto the sobriquet of Egypt, were rank with vegetation when the early settlers came into the valley. The trees were, many of them, of enormous size, par- tienlarly the sycamores-although such spe- cies as the poplar, oak, cottonwood, black walt and others, also attained large pro- portions. (See Ross County, the Chillicothe Ehn.) The most remarkable tree, however, and probably the largest tree ever known in Ohio, is that mentioned in the Ohio Gazeteer, and described in the " Cincinnati Almanac' of 1810.
On the slopes of Mount Atna stood, in the last century, a tree known as the " Chest- nut of a Hundred Horses," from the state- ment that 100 mounted horsemen had rested at once beneath its branches. Therefore, this suggests that we shall call the Scioto valley sycamore "The Sycamore of Fifteen Horsemen," because that number could stand within its trunk. It stood on the farm of Abram Millar, in what is now Valley township. It was a forked, hollow sycamore, measuring twenty-one feet in diameter at its base and forty-two feet in circumference at the height of five feet. The opening of the cavity was ten feet in width at the bottom, was nine and one-half feet high, and had an inside diam- eter of fourteen feet. The fork was about eight feet from the ground. The tree was the wonder and admiration of the surround- ing neighborhood, and parties were often made up to visit it. In June, 1808, a party of thirteen persons advanced on horseback into the cavity of the tree, and it is stated that there was ample room for two more.
William Headley, of Frederick county, Va., reported an account of this episode, ho having been one of the party, and in the fol- lowing November Maj. William Reynolds, of Zanesville, inspected the tree and cansed to be published the facts here given.
Mr. Samuel Keyes reports that this tree stood until the farm on which it was located was turned into a stock farm by Mr. Thomas Dugan. 'Ile turned some blooded bulls into the field where the tree was, and they got to fighting within the cavity of the tree with
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SCIOTO COUNTY.
245
the result that the vanquished was driven to the wall and gored to death-not being able to retreat and fight another day, as in an open field. The consequence of this was that Mr. Dugan ordered the tree ent down. The stump remained for several years ; but some hogs having been turned into the field, and cholera breaking out among them, it was concluded that so many hogs of all sizes,
ages, and sexes, piled together in- one old stump, must have caused the disease. There- fore orders were given and the stump was re- moved, thus destroying the last vestige of what was a true " monarch of the forest."
DANIEL J. RYAN was born in Cincinnati, January 1, 1855. Ilis father was an Irish laborer in a foundry, and died a few years after his removal to Portsmouth, while Daniel was a small child. Under the careful guid- ance of his mother, Daniel received a good common-school education, graduating with credit from the high-school class of 1875.
He studied law in the office of Hon. James W. Bannon, and in February, 1877, was ad- mitted to the bar. In the same year he was elected city solicitor of Portsmouth. * In 1883 he was elected to the Legislature, and re- elected in 1885. At the National Convention of Republican Clubs, held in New York, De- cember, 1887, Mr. Ryan was chosen tempo- rary chairman. In 1888 he was elected Secretary of State, and re-elected in 1890. Mr. Ryan's public life has been devoted to the best interests of the people of Ohio, re- gardless of party advantage. He has been a hard student and is thoroughly informed on every public question requiring official action. ITe has been a leader in many important reforms. At the request of both capitalists and laborers he published an interesting vol- ume on strikes and their remedies, entitled, "Arbitration between Capital and Labor." Ile is also the author of a concise and excel- lent "History of Ohio."
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MOSSENO. 6 Y.
DANIEL J. RYAN.
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BUCKHORN COTTAGE. (A Retreat of One of the Literati.)
In 1855, just before the war, under the magic of money, a curious structure arose on the hills near the lines of Adams and Scioto counties. It was in a beau- tiful country, some little way back of Buena Vista. The cottage was of peeled white poplar logs, resin-varnished and mortar-daubed ; it was therefore peculiar,
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246
SCIOTO COUNTY.
It was seventy-four feet long by twenty-two feet broad ; in two parts, on the plan of the ordinary double cabin, with a seventeen-foot-wide floored and roofed space between them. A stone kitchen in the rear is out of the view. The chimneys were also of stone. Vines were placed to climb over it, which they accomplished in profusion ; the summer breezes fluttered their leaves and the antumnal frosts put on them a blush.
In the Buckhorn lived for a term of years its owner and architect, Hon. Wil- liam J. Flagg, and wife-a daughter of the late Nicholas Longworth, of Cinein- nati-with occasional guests to share the romance of their solitude. On writing to him as an old friend and schoolmate, how he came to build it, and what he did when there, he gave this characteristic reply:
"In 1852 I bought a fifty-acre tract of hill land near Buena Vista, on the Ohio, through which the line runs that divides Adams and Scioto counties-bought it because I sup- posed there was valuable stone in it. This purchase led, step by step, to the acquisition of something over 9,000 acres adjacent. I cleared off woods and planted orchards and vineyards to the extent of more than 100 acres ; opened a quarry, built a tramway, until my operations culminated in a log house on a hill top, a mile east of the county line and a half mile from the river, where, in different broken periods of time from '56 till '68, we spent about five years. It was mighty like being out of the world, but none the worse for that.
"In that hermitage we managed to lodge as comfortably as in a palace, and feed better than at Delmonico's. Our society, too, was
excellent. William Shakespeare was a fre- quent visitor ; Francis of Verulam was another ; he was a nobleman, you know-a baron-so were others; Viscount Montes- quieu, for instance, and Sir Charles Grandi- son. To prove how agreeable these made themselves, I will mention that the two packs of cards I provided myself with to pass away the time, were never cut or shuffled but for two games in the whole five years.
"Buckhorn, as we called the place, after the form of the hill and its branching spurs, was indeed an ideal retreat. I have never found a climate equal to it. But even souls at rest in Buddha's DEVEGHAN, after a cer- tain stay there, feel a desire to live again, and so did we, and we returned to earth. Two years later the cabin went up in flames. I am glad it did. No insurance."
Thackeray, when he was travelling in our country, secturing upon the Georges, in his sing-song sort of a way, one day took his huge body up into the Mercan- tile Library, in Cincinnati, and said to the librarian, Mr. Stephenson : " Now- adays, everybody is an anthor; everybody writes books." Mr. Flagg is not an exception. He is a literary gentleman and author of varied books, as "A Good Investment," "Three Seasons in European Vineyards " " Wall Street and the Woods," etc. This last is a novel description of the wild hill country in the regions back of Buckhorn, while the characters are mainly drawn from the very primitive inhabitants who dwell there-made so because of the inaccessibility of their homes, little or no intercourse being had with the outer world, not even in the way of books and newspapers ; while, from the slender area of land for tillage, and the want of other industrial occupation, there is abundant leisure for medita- tion and the practice of a wisdom and morality peculiarly their own.
SCIOTOVILLE is four miles above Portsmouth, on the Ohio river, at the mouth of the Little Scioto river, and on the C. W. & B., S. V. and O. & N. W. Rail- roads.
Manufactures and Employees .- 'Scioto Fire-brick Co., fire-brick, 33 hands ; Scioto Lumber Co., doors, sash, etc., 15; J. P. Kimball, flooring and siding, 8; Scioto Star Fire-brick Co., fire-brick, 61 ; Big Sandy Lumber Co., lumber, 12 .- State Report, 1888.
Population, about 1,200. Capital invested in industrial establishments, $50,000. Value of annual product, $100,000 .- Ohio Labor Statistics, 1888.
LUCASVILLE is on the Scioto river and S. V. Railroad, ten miles north of Portsmouth. It has one Methodist church, one newspaper-the Transcript-In- dependent, C. A. Hoover, editor and publisher. Population, about 350.
BUENA VISTA is on the Ohio river, eighteen miles below Portsmouth. Popu- lation, 1880, 324. School census, 1888, 150.
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SCIOTO COUNTY.
GALENA P. O. Rarden, is eighteen miles northwest of Portsmouth, on the O. & N. W. Railroad. School census, 1888, 183. 1
WHEELERSBURG is on the Ohio river and S. V. Railroad, nine miles above Portsmouth. School census, 1888, 231 ; G. W. Fry, superintendent.
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SENECA.
SENECA COUNTY was formed from old Indian Territory, April 1, 1820, organ- ized April 1, 1824, and named from the tribe who had a reservation within its limits. The surface is level, and the streams run in deep channels. The county is well watered, has considerable water-power, and the soil is mostly a rich loam. It was settled principally from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New York, and by some few Germans. The principal farm products are wheat, corn, grass, oats, potatoes and pork. Area, about 540 square miles. In 1887 the acres cultivated were 219,543; in pasture, 26,352; woodland, 58,716 ; lying waste, 1,447 ; pro- duced in wheat, 969,701 bushels; rye, 9,777; buckwheat, 400; oats, 834,806 ; barley, 10,407 ; corn, 1,240,246 ; meadow hay, 24,699 tons ; clover hay, 8,369 ; flax, 12,900 lbs. fibre ; potatoes, 87,584 bushels; butter, 686,237 lbs .; cheese, 5,800 ; sorghum, 3603 gallons ; maple syrup, 10,489; honey, 3,848 lbs. ; eggs, 553,716 dozen ; grapes, 6,746 lbs. ; wine, 226 gallons ; sweet potatoes, 99 bushels ; apples, 21,815 bushels ; peaches, 2,735 ; pears, 1,746 ; wool, 287,003 lbs. ; milch cows owned, 8,737. Ohio Mining Statistics, 1888 .- Limestone, 21,155 tons burned for lime; 27,500 cubic feet of dimension stone ; 13,226 cubic yards of building stone ; 35,076 cubic yards of ballast or macadam. School census, 1888, 11,718 ; teachers, 361. Miles of railroad track, 172.
TOWNSHIPS AND CENSUS.
1840.
1880.
TOWNSHIPS AND CENSUS.
1840.
1880.
Adams,
1,250
1,624
London,
763
4,315
Big Spring,
926
2,048
Pleasant,
97-4
1,317
Bloom,
1,168
2,162
Reed,
1,214
1,527
Clinton,
2.197
9,581
Scipio,
1,556
1,836
Eden,
1,472
1,598
Seneca,
1,393
1,519
Hopewell,
913
1,631
Thompson,
1,411
1,901
Jackson,
596
1,399
Venice,
1,222
2,231
Liberty,
1,084
2,157
Population of Seneca in 1830,.5,157; 1840, 18,139 ; 1860, 30,868; 1880, 36,947 ; of whom 26,945 were born in Ohio; 3,154, Pennsylvania; 905, New York ; 350, Virginia; 214, Indiana ; 27, Kentucky ; 2,402, German Empire; 339, Ireland ; 159, France ; 141, England and Wales ; 131, British America ; 11, Scotland, and 6, Sweden and Norway. Census, 1890, 40,869.
Fort Seneca, a military post built in the war of 1812, was nine miles north of the site of Tiffin. It was a stockade with a ditch, and occupied several acres on a plain, on the bank of the Sandusky. Some vestiges of the work yet [1846] re- main. It was only a few miles above Fort Stephenson, and was occupied by Harrison's troops at the time of the attack on the latter. While here, and just prior to Perry's victory, Gen. Harrison narrowly escaped being murdered by an Indian, the particulars of which we derive from his memoirs.
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SENECA COUNTY.
PERIL OF GENERAL HARRISON.
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The friendly Indians of the Delaware, Shawanese and Seneca tribes had been in- vited to join him. A number had accepted the invitation, and had reached Seneca before the arrival of the Kentucky troops. All the chiefs, and no doubt the greater part of the warriors were favorable to the American cause ; but before their departure from their towns, a wretch had insinuated himself among them, with the intention of assassinat- ing the commanding general. He belonged to the Shawanese tribe, and bore the name of Blue Jacket ; but was not the celebrated Blue Jacket who signed the treaty of Green- ville with Gen. Wayne. He had formerly resided at the town of Wapakoneta; he had, . however, been absent for a considerable time and had returned but a few days before the warriors of that town set out to join the American army. He informed the chief's that he had been hunting on the Wabash, and at his request, he was suffered to join the party which were about to march to Sencea. Upon their arrival at M'Arthur's block- house, they halted and encamped for the pur- pose of receiving provisions from the deputy Indian agent, Col. M'Pherson, who resided there. Before their arrival at that place, Blue Jacket had communicated to a friend (a Shawanese warrior), his intention to kill the American general, and requested his as- sistance ; this his friend declined and endeav- ored to dissuade him from attempting it, as- suring him that it could not be done without the certain sacrifice of his own life, as he had been at the American camp and knew that there was always a guard round the general's quarters, who were on duty day and night. Blue Jacket replied, that he was determined to exeente his intention at any risk, that he would kill the general if he was sure that his guard's would ent him in pieces not bigger than his thumb nail.
No people on earth are more faithful in keeping secrets than the Indians, but each warrior has a friend from whom he will con- ceal nothing ; luckily for Gen. Harrison, the friend of the confidant of Blue Jacket was a young Delaware chief named Beaver, who was also bound to the general by the ties of friendship. He was the son of a Delaware war chief of the same name, who had with others been put to death by his own tribe. on the charge of practicing sorcery. Gen. Har- rison had been upon terms of friendship with the father, and had patronized his orphan boy, at that time ten or twelve years of age. He had now arrived at manhood and was considered among the most promising war- riors of his tribe: to this young chief the friend of Blue Jacket revealed the fatal se- eret. The Beaver was placed by this com- munication in an embarrassing situation, for should he disclose what he had heard. he be- trayed his friend, than which nothing could be more repugnant to the feelings and prin- ciples of an Indian warrior. Should he not
disclose it, consequences equally or even more to be deprecated were likely to ensue- the assassination of a friend, the friend of his father, whose life he was bound to defend, or whose death to revenge by the same prin- ciple of fidelity and honor which forbade the disclosure.
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While he was yet hesitating, Blue Jacket came up to the Delaware camp somewhat in- toxicated, vociferating vengeance upon Col. M'Pherson, who had just turned him out of his house, and whom he declared he would put to death for the insult he had received. The sight of the traitor aroused the indigna- tion and resentment of the Beaver to the highest pitch. He seized his tomahawk, and advancing toward the culprit, " You must be a great warrior, " said he; "you will not only kill this white man for serving you as you de- serve, but you will also murder our father, the American chief, and bring disgrace and mischief npon us all; but you shall do neither, I will serve you as I would a mad dog." A furious blow from the tomahawk of the Beaver stretched the unfortunate Blue Jacket at his feet, and a second terminated his existence ; "There," said he to some Shawanese who were present, "take him to the camp of his tribe, and tell them who has done the deed."
The Shawanese were far from resenting it ; they applauded the conduet of the Bea- ver, and rejoiced at their happy escape from the ignominy which the accomplishment of Blue Jacket's design would have brought upon them. At the great treaty which was held at Greenville in 1815 Gen. Cass, one of the commissioners, related the whole of the transaction to the assembled chiefs, and after thanking the Beaver, in the name of the United States, for having saved the life of their general. he caused a handsome present to be made him out of the goods which he had sent for the purpose of the treaty. It is impossible to say what was the motive of Blue Jacket to attempt the life of Gen. Har- rison : 'he was not one of the Tippecanoe Shawanese, and therefore could have no personal resentment against the general. There is little doubt that he came from Mal- den when he arrived at Wapakoneta, and that he came for the express purpose of at- tempting the life of the general ; but whether he was instigated to it by any other person or persons, or had conceived the idea himself, has never been ascertained. Upon the arri- val of the chief's at Seneca, the principal war chief of the Shawanese requested permission to sleep at the door of the general's marquee, and this he did every night until the em- barkation of the troops. This man, who had fought with great, bravery on our side in the several sorties from Fort Meigs, was called Capt. Tommy ; he was a great favorite of the officers, particularly the general and Commodore Perry, the latter of whom was accustomed to call him the general's Mame- luke.
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