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 8
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Arca about 480 square miles. In 1887 the acres cultivated were 144,968; in pasture, 80,135; woodland, 32,053; lying waste, 6,436 ; produced in wheat, 765,883 bushels ; rye, 2,146; buckwheat, 600; oats, 64,584; barley, 11,671 ; corn, 2,088,965 ; broom corn, 21,500 lbs. brush; meadow hay, 11,355 tons ; clover hay, 4,865 ; flax, 585 bushels seed ; potatoes, 37,483; butter, 416,059 lbs. ; sorghum, 611 gallons ; maple syrup, 2,326 ; honey, 4,155 lbs .; eggs, 526, 839 dozen ; grapes, 9,750 lbs .; wine, 60 gallons; sweet potatoes, 790 bushels ; apples, 6,797 ; peaches, 767; pears, 276; wool, 53,577 lbs .; milch cows owned, 5,465. School census, 1888, 9,024; teachers, 209. Miles of railroad track, 62.
TOWNSHIPS AND CENSUS.
1840.
1880.
TOWNSHIPS AND CENSUS.
1840.
1880.
Circleville,
2,973
6,541
Perry,
1,794
Darby,
1,052
1,500
Pickaway,
1,574
1,514
Deer Creek,
1,376
1,636
Salt Creek,
1,815
1,858
Harrison,
1,149
1,461
Scioto,
920
2,310
Jackson,
993
1,339
Walnut,
1,798
1,591
Madison,
851
896
Washington,
1,194
1,145
Monroe,
1,352
:1,880
Wayne,
779
811
Muhlenburg,
653
· 1,139
.
£
PTOUTES
60
PICKAWAY COUNTY.
Population of Pickaway in 1820 was 18,143; 1830, 15,935; 1840, 20,169 ; 1860, 23,469 ; 1880, 27,415, of whom 24,013 were born in Ohio ; 861, Virginia ; 604, Pennsylvania; 155, New York ; 102, Indiana ; 88, Kentucky ; 471, German Empire; 283, Ireland; 89, England and Wales; 22, France; 20, British America ; and 14, Scotland. Census, 1890, 26,959.
In my first edition of 1847, I stated: " 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 further removed the ownership of land from 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 district, 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." Then I quoted from a writer of the time, as follows :
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 thirty 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 fifty-five to the square mile. This disparity 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 on 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 fre- quent interference of different entries and surveys there with each other, which rendered the titles insecure. Though only a small por- tion of the lands were subject to this last difficulty, yet many persons were thereby deterred from purchasing and settling upon them ; 4th, the greater disposition in the in- habitants there to engross large tracts of land, instead of purchasing smaller traets, and ex- pending 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 contrast 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 occasion- ally baronial mansions, "like angel's visits, few and 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 cultivation 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 in- habitants. 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 improve- ments 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 pur- suits of agriculture so desirable. These are the blessings designed by a bountiful Benefactor to compensate for the toils, ex- posures and hardships incident to the pur- suit of farming. Without these comforts it would be the barren drudgery of the toil- worn slave.
THE PICKAWAY PLAINS.
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 plain and the lesser or lower one. The soil was very black when first cultivated ; the result of vegetable decomposition through a long succession 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
£
dcol
T
Darby Plains
High Lands
Old Chillicothe
VER.
R 1
Plain
Scippo
G
Grenadier
Squaws T.
D
CT
F
MAP OF THE ANCIENT SHAWANOESE TOWNS, ON THE PICKAWAY PLAINS.
[Explanations .- A. Ancient works, on which Circleville now stands.
B. Logan's cabin at Old Chillicothe, now Westfall, four miles below Circle- ville : from this place a trail led through Grenadier Squaw town, and from thence np the Congo valley, and crossed to the opposite side of the creek, about 13 miles from its month.
C. Black mountain, a short distance west of the old Barr mansion.
D. Council house, a short distance northeast of the residence 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 of Geo. Wolf. The Logan elm is about a mile north of the site of the camp of Lewis on Congo creek.
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.]
61 -62
1
..
Carnstalks T.
Creek
Cump Charlotte
SCIOT
Pickaway
63
PICKAWAY COUNTY.
about a mile west of them. Their form is elliptical, 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 aere 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 carly settlers in the vicinity procured 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 up to a height of twelve or fifteen feet, weakened their natural fertility. Originally, the plains were adorned with a great variety of beautiful flowers.
The annexed map is reduced from one 20} inches by 17}, made from the sur- vey of P. N. White, for Felix Renick, of Ross. The country represented is about seven miles square. Of all places in the West, this pre-eminently deserves the name of "elassic 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 truee, 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 extrordinary interest is the fact that to these 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 aggres- sions 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 enormons cruelties us they often practised on many of their help- less 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 on a view of the premises. For picturesqueness, fertility of soil, and other concomitants to make it desir- able for human habitation, it is not surpassed by any other locality in the Western country, or perhaps in the world. The towns were well supplied with good spring water ; some of the adjacent bottom-lands were susceptible of being 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 of the prairie immediately in its vicin-
ity, 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 on 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 ascend- ing, all the inhabitants of the other towns who could not be present, might, in a great measure, enjoy the seene by sight and imagi- nation. The burning-ground at Old Chilli- cothe was somewhat similar, being in full view of the burning-ground at Squaw- town, 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, possessed of a superior intelleet.
Slover's Escape .- From accounts most to be relied on, it was to Grenadier Squawtown
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64
PICKAWAY COUNTY.
that Slover, who was taken prisoner at Craw- ford'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 circumstances 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 differ- ent towns he passed through, beaten with clubs, etc. On his arrival here he had a similar punishment 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 anticipated enjoyinents of the natives collected from the neighboring towns to wit- ness 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 com- mence the torture, it seemed that the Great Spirit looked down, and said : "No! this horrid deed shall not be done !" Timedi- ately 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 dumbfounded-somewhat fear- ing that the Great Spirit was not pleased with what they were about to do. But had they been ever so much inclined, there was not time left that evening to carry out their usual savage observances. Slover was there- fore 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 neek, 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 interfere 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 talk- ing to Slover-using all their ingenuity to tantalize him, asking "how would he like to eat fire," etc. At length one of them lay down and soon fell asleep. The other con- tinued smoking and talking to 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 sleeping under a tree. To avoid dis- covery he deviated from a straight track and rapidly hurried to the upper plain, where, as he had expected, he found a number of Indian horses grazing. Day was then fairly breaking. He untied the cord from the other arm. which by this time was very much swelled. Selecting, as he thought, the best horse he could see, he made a bridle of the cord, mounted him, and rode off at full speed. About ten o'clock the horse gave out. Slover then had to travel on foot with all possible speed ; and between mosquitos, nettles, brush, briars, thorns, etc., by the time he got home he had more the appear- ance of a mass of raw flesh than an ani- mated being.
DUNMORE'S EXPEDITION.
The history of the expedition of Lord Dunmore against these towns on the Scioto, in 1774, we derive from the discourse upon this subject delivered by Chas. Whittlesey, Esq., before the Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, at Columbus, in 1840.
In August, 1774, Lord Dunmore collected a force of 3,000 men, destined for the destruc- tion of their towns on the Scioto, situated within the present limits of Pickaway county. One half of the corps was raised in Bote- tourt, Fincastle, and the adjoining eomties, by Col. Andrew Lewis, and of these 1,100 were in rendezvous at the levels of Green Briar on the 5th of September. It advanced in two divisions; the left wing, commanded by
Lewis, struck the great Kenhawa and fol- " lowed that stream to the Ohio. The right wing, attended by Dunmore in person, passed the mountains at the Potomac gap, and came to the Ohio somewhere above Wheeling. About the 6th of October a talk was had with the chief's of the Six Nations and the Dela- wares, some of whom had been to the Shawanese towns on a mission of peace. They reported unfavorably.
PICKAWAY COUNTY.
65
Battle of Point Pleasant .- The plan of the campaign was to form a junction before reaching the Indian villages, and Lewis ac- cordingly halted at the mouth of the Ken- hawa on the 6th of October for communica- tion and orders from the commander-in- chiof. While there he encamped on the ground now occupied by the village of Point Pleasant, without entrenchmeuts or other defences. On the morning of the 10th of October he was attacked by 1,000 chosen warriors of the Western Confederacy, who had abandoned their towns on the Pickaway plains to meet the Virginia troops, and gave them battle before the two corps could be united. The Virginia riflemen occupied a triangular point of land, between the right bank of the Kenhawa and the left bank of the Ohio, accessible only by the rear. The assault was therefore in this quarter. With- in an hour after the scouts had reported the presence of the Indians a general en- gagement took place, extending from one bank of one river to the other, half a mile from the point.
Colonel Audrew Lewis, who seems to have been possessed of military talent, acted with steadiness and decision in this emergency. He arrayed his forces promptly and advanced to meet the enemy, with force equal to his own. Col. Charles Lewis, with 300 men, form- ing the right of the line, met the Indians at sunrise and sustained the first attack. Here he was mortally wounded in the onset, and his troops, receiving ahnost the entire weight. of the charge, were broken and gave way. Col. Fleming with a portion of the com- mand had advanced along the shore of the Ohio, and in a few moments fell in with the right of the Indian line, which rested on the river.
The effect of the first shock was to stagger the left wing as it had done the right, and its commander, also, was severely wounded at an early stage of the conflict ; but his men succeeded in reaching a piece of timber land and maintained their position until the re- serve under Col. Field reached the ground. It will be seen by examining Lewis's plau of the engagement and the ground on which it was fought, that an advance on his part and a retreat of his opponent necessarily weak- ened their line by constantly increasing its length, if it extended from river to river, and would eventually force him to break it or leave his flanks unprotected. Those ac- quainted with Indian tactics inform us that it is the great point of his generalship to pre- serve his flanks and over-reach those of his enemy. They continued, therefore, contrary to their usual practice, to dispute the ground with the pertinacity of veterans along the whole line, retreating slowly from tree to tree, till one o'clock, P. M., when they reached a strong position. Here both parties rested, within rifle-range of each other, and con- tinned a desultory fire along a front of a mile und a quarter, mitil after sunset.
The desperate nature of this fight may be inferred from the deep-seated animosity of
both parties towards each other, the high courage which both possessed and the con- sequences which hung upon the issue. The Virginians lost one-half their commissioned officers and fifty-two men killed. Of the Indiaus, twenty-one were left on the field, and the loss in killed and wounded is stated at 233. During the night the Indians re- treated and were not pursued.
Having failed in this contest with the troops while they were still divided in two parties, they changed their plan and determined at once to save their towns from destruction by offers of peace.
Soon after the battle was over a reinforce- ment of 300 Fineastle troops, and also an ex- press from Lord Dummore arrived, with an order directing this division to advance towards the Shawanese villages without delay. Not- withstanding the order was given in ignorance of the engagement, and commanded them to enter the enemy's country unsupported, Col. Lewis and his men were glad to comply with it and thus complete the overthrow of the allied Indians.
'The Virginians, made eager with success, and maddened by the loss of so many brave 'officers, dashed across the Ohio in pursuit of more victims, leaving a garrison at Point Pleasant. Our next information of them is, that a march of eighty miles through an un- trodden wilderness has been performed, and on the 24th of October they are encamped on the banks of the Congo creek, in Pickaway township, Pickaway county, within striking distance of the Indian towns. Their principal village was occupied by Shawnees, and stood upon the ground where the village of Westfall is now situated, on the west bank of the Scioto and on the Ohio canal, near the south line of the same county. This was the head- quarters of the confederate tribes, and was called Chillicothe ; and because there were other towns, either at that time or soon after. of the same name, it was known as Old Chillicothe. One of them was located at the present village of Frankfort, in Ross county, on the north fork of Paint creek and others on the waters of the Great Miami. In the meantime Lord Dunmore and his men had descended the Ohio to the mouth of the Great Hockhocking, established a depot and erected some defences called Fort Gower. From this point he probably started the ex- press directed to Lewis, at the mouth of Kenhawa, about fifty miles below, and im- mediately commenced his march up the Hockhocking into the Indian country. For the next that is known of him he is in the vicinity of Camp Charlotte, on the left bank of Sippo creek, about seven miles southeast of Cireleville, where he arrived before Lewis reached the station on Congo, as above stated. Camp Charlotte was situated bout four and one-half miles northeast of Camp Lewis, on the farm now [1840] owned by Thos. J. Win- ship, Esq., and was consequently farther from the Chillicothe villages than the position oc- cupied by the left wing. There has been much diversity of opinion and statement ro-
5
E
66
PICKAWAY COUNTY.
specting the location of the true Old Chilli- eothe town, and also in regard to the positions of Camp Charlotte and Camp Lewis. The associations connected with those places have given them an interest which will never decline.
This is probably a sufficient exeuse for presenting here, in detail, the evidence upon which the positions of these several points are established.
It was at the Chillicothe towns that Logan delivered his famous speech. It. was not made in council, for he refused to attend at Camp Charlotte where the talk was held, and Dunmore sent a trader, by the name of John Gibson, to inquire the cause of his absence. The Indians, as before intimated, had made proposi- tions to the governor for peace, and probably before he was aware of the result of the action at Kenhawa. When Gibson arrived at the village Logan came to him, and by his (Logan's) request they went into an adjoining wood and sat down. Here, after shedding abundance of tears, the honored chief told his pathetic story. Gibson repeated it to the officers, who caused it to be published in the Virginia Gazette of that year. Mr. Jefferson was charged with making improvements and alterations when he published it in his notes on Virginia ; but from the concurrent testimony of Gibson, Lord Dunmore, and several others, it appears to be as close a representation of the original as could be obtained under the circumstances. The only versions of the speech that I have seen are here contrasted, in order to show that the substance and sentiments correspond, and that it must be the production of Logan. or of John Gibson, the only white man who heard the original.
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