Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume I, Part 152

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio
Number of Pages: 1006

USA > Ohio > Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume I > Part 152

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a disposition to be troublesome. He was admitted by the other Indians who spoke of him to be a warrior of the first order-fertile in expedients, and bold to carry his plans into execution. Davis always spoke of him as being kind and humane to him.

The Indians left the Ohio and pushed across the country in the direction of Sandusky ; and as they were encumbered with several wounded and a good deal of baggage, with- out road or path, they travelled very slow, not more than ten or twelve miles a day. As many of the prisoners, taken by the Indians, were burned with slow fires, or otherwise tortured to death, Davis brooded over his captivity in sullen silence, and determined to effect his escape the first opportunity that would offer, that would not look like madness to embrace. At all events, he determined to effect his escape or die fighting.

The Indians moved on till they came to Salt creek, in what is now Jackson county, O., and there camped for the night. Their manner of securing their prisoners for the night was as follows : They took a strong tug made from the raw hide of the buffalo or elk. This tug they tied tight around the prisoner's waist. Each end of the tng was fastened around an Indian's waist. Thus, with the same tug fastened to two Indians, he could not turn to the one side or the other with- out drawing an Indian with him. In this uncomfortable manner the prisoner had to lie on his back till the Indians thought proper to rise. If the Indians discovered the prisoner making the least stir they would quiet him with a few blows. In this painful situation the prisoners must lie till light in the morn- ing, when they would be unconfined. As the company of Indians was numerons, the prisoners were unconfined in daylight, but were told that instant death would be the consequence of any movement to leave the line of march, upon any occasion whatever, unless accompanied by an Indian.

One morning, just before day began to ap- pear, as Davis lay in his uncomfortable situa- tion, he hunched one of the Indians to whom he was fastened, and requested to be untied. The Indian raised up his head and looked round, and found it was still dark, and no Indians up about the fires. He gave Davis a severe dig with his fist and bid him lic still. Davis's mind was now in a state of desperation. Fire and faggot, sleeping or awake, were cou- stantly floating before his mind's eye. This torturing suspense would chill his soul with horror. After some time a number of Indians rose up and made their fires. It was growing light, but not light enough to draw a bcad. Davis again jogged one of the Indians to whom he was fastened, and said the tug hurt his middle, and again requested the Indian to untie him. The Indian raised up his head and looked round, and saw it was getting light, and a number of Indians about the fires ; he untied him. Davis rose to his feet, and was determined, as soon as he could look around and see the most probable direction of making his escape, to make the attempt, at

955

JACKSON COUNTY.

all hazards. He "serewed his courage to the sticking point." It was a most desperate undertaking. Should he fail to effect his escape, death, instant, cruel death, was his certain doom.

As he rose up to his feet, with this deter- mined intention, his heart fluttered with tremors-his sight grew din at the thought of the perilous plunge he was abont to make. He rose up to his feet-stood a minute be- tween the two Indians to whom he had been fastened, and took a quick glance at the Indians who were standing around him. In the evening the Indians had eut two forks, which were stuck into the ground ; a pole was laid across these forks, and all their rifles were leaned against the pole. If he made his start back from the Indian camp, the rifles of the Indians, who were standing round the fires, and who, he knew, would pursue him, would be before them; and as they started after him they would have nothing to do but pick up a rifle as they ran. On the contrary, if he made his plunge through the midst of them, they would have to run back for their guns, and by that time, as it was only twilight in the morning. he could be so far from them that their aum would be very uncertain. All this passed through his mind in a moment. As he determined to make his dash through the midst of the Indians who were standing around the fires, he prepared his mind and body for the dreadful attempt.

The sueecss of his daring enterprise de- pended on the swiftness of his heels. Ile knew his bottom was good. A large, active Indian was standing between Davis and the fire. He drew baek his fist and struck that Indian with all his force, and dropped him into the fire ; and with the agility of a buek, he sprang over his body, and took to the woods with all the speed that was in his power. The Indians pursued, yelling and screaming like demons ; but as Davis anticipated, not a gun was fired at him. Several Indians pursued him for some dis- tance, and for some time it was a doubtful race. The foremost Indian was so close to him. that he sometimes fancied that he felt his eluteh. However, at length Davis began to gain ground npon his pursners-the break- ing and rustling of brush was still farther and farther off. He took up a long, sloping ridge ; when he reached the top, he, for the first time, looked back, and, to his infinite pleasure, saw no person in pursuit.

He now slackened his pace, and went a mile or two farther, when he began to find his feet gashed and bruised by the sharp stones over which he had ran, without pick- ing his way, in his rapid flight. He now stopped, pulled off his waistcoat, tore it into pieces, and wrapped them around his feet instead of moccasons. He now pushed his

way for the Ohio. He crossed the Scioto river, not far from where Piketon, in Pike county, now stands. He then marched over the rugged hills of Sunfish, Camp creek, Seioto Brush creek and Turkey creek, and struck the Ohio river eight or ten miles below the mouth of Seioto. It was about the first of January. Ile was nearly three days and two nights without food, fire, or covering, exposed to the winter stornis. Hardy as he undoubtedly was, these exposures and privations were almost too severe for human nature to sustain. But as Davis was an unwavering believer in that All-seeing eye, whose providence prepares means to guard and protect those who put their trust in him, his confidence and courage never for- sook him for a moment during this trying and fatiguing march.

When he arrived at the Ohio he began to look about for some dry logs to make a kind of raft on which to float down the stream. Before he began to make his raft he looked up the Ohio, and to his infinite gratification he saw a Kentucky boat come floating down the stream. He now thonght his deliverance sure. Our fondest hopes are frequently blasted in disappointment. As soon as the boat floated opposite to him he called to the people in the boat-told them of his lament- able captivity and fortunate escape. The boatmen heard his tale of distress with sus- picion. Many boats ahont this time had been decoyed to shore by similar tales of woe, and as soon as landed their inmates eruelly mas- sacred. The boatmen heard his story, but refused to land. They said they had heard too much about such prisoners and escapes to be deceived in his ease. As the Ohio was low he kept pace with the boat as it slowly glided along.

The more pitiably he described nis forlorn situation the more determined were the boat crew not to land for him. He at length requested them to row the boat a little nearer the shore and he would swim to them To this proposition the boatmen consented. They commenced rowing the boat towards the shore, when Davis plunged into the freezing water and swam for the boat. The boatmen seeing him swimming towards them, their suspicion gave way, and they rowed the boat with all their force to meet him. He was at length lifted into the boat almost exhausted. (Our old boatmen, though they had rough exteriors. had Samaritan hearts.) The boatmen were not to blame for their suspicion. They now administered to his relief and comfort everything that was in their power. That night, or the next morning, he was landed at Massie's station (Manchester), among his former friends and associates, where he soon recovered his usual health and activity.

JACKSON IN 1846 .- Jackson, the county-seat, was laid out in 1817, and is seventy-three miles southeast of Columbus, and twenty-eight from Chillicothe. It contains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist Episcopal, and 1 Protestant Methodist church, 6 or 8 stores, 1 newspaper printing office, and, in 1840, had

956

JACKSON COUNTY.

297 inhabitants ; since which the town has rapidly improved, and is now judged to contain a population of 500. In this vicinity are several valuable mineral springs, and also remains of ancient fortifications; and in this county, about ten years since, was found the remains of a mastodon, described in the public prints of the time .- Old Edition.

JACKSON, county-seat of Jackson, is seventy-five miles south of Columbus, on the Portsmouth branch of the C. W. & B. Railroad ; on the O. S., and on the D. & I. Railroads. The surrounding country is rich in iron ore, and a superior quality of coal for smelting purposes is found in unlimited quantities.

County Officers .- Auditor, George J. Reiniger ; Clerk, T. J. Williams; Com- missioners, Stephen M. Tripp, David D. Edwards, John E. Jones ; Coroner, J. F. Morgan ; Infirmary Directors, Joseph Hale, Jr., J. H. Harshbarger, Patrick H. Garrett; Probate Judge, Jesse W. Laird; Prosecuting Attorney, Ambrose Leuch ; Recorder, James J. Bennett ; Sheriff, Isaac C. Long; Surveyor, Evan C. Jones ; Treasurer, Lot Davies.

City Officers .- T. A. Jones, Mayor; J. S. Johnson, Clerk; W. J. Jones, Treasurer ; Jared Martin, Marshal ; Henry Shuter, Street Commissioner; David Griffith, Weighmaster.

Newspapers .- Jackson Herald, Democratic, Johnson & Hinkle, publishers; Jackson Journal, Republican, Gerken & Tripp, publishers.

Churches .- 1 Methodist Episcopal, 1 Colored Methodist Episcopal, 1 Baptist, 1 Colored Baptist, 1 Catholic, 1 German Lutheran, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Welsh Presbyterian.

Manufactures and Employees .- Tropic Iron Co., pig-iron, 30 hands; May Brothers, cigars, 3; Ruf Leather Co., oak harness-leather, 14; Peters & Hunt- singer, flour, meal, and feed, 2; Jolin Dauber, furniture, etc., 4; Franklin Mill Co., flour, etc., 6; Globe Iron Co., pig-iron, 30; Jackson Electric Light Co., electric light, 3; Star Furnace Co., pig-iron, 30; Jackson Mill and Lumber Co., doors, sash, etc., 8 ; Buckeye Mill and Lumber Co., doors, sash, etc., 8 ; Franklin Mill Co., blankets, flannels, etc., 17 .- State Reports, 1888.

Banks .- First National, T. S. Matthews, president, D. Armstrong, cashier ; Iron, Isaac Brown, president, T. P. Sutherland, cashier.

Population in 1880, 3,021. School census, 1888, 1,476; J. E. Kinnison, school superintendent. Census, 1890, 4,275. Capital invested in industrial estab- lishments, $47,700; value of annual product, $57,500 .- Ohio Labor Statistics, 1887.

TRAVELLING NOTES.

On my original tour I visited every county in the State but Jackson and three of the Black Swamp counties, viz., Ottawa, Paulding, and Williams, where there was little or no history and mostly all a wilderness, with few inhabitants other than wild animals. When near the close of that tour, the last of February, 1847, I ar- rived at Chillicothe, I designed to ride over to Jackson Court-House, as they then called it ; but the roads were breakiug up with the oncoming of spring, and "Old Pomp " had acquired such a habit of stumbling to his knees, that I felt to attempt the journey over the rough road then intervening between the places would be at too serious a peril to life and limb. Since that day Jackson has been a desire for my eyes, and now, on a March day, 1886, I breathe more free, for I have reached Jackson.

When this county was formed Gen. Jackson was in the height of his military glory, and so it was named in his honor. And thus the name is a key to the date of its formation, as it is with other counties around, as Perry, Lawrence, etc.

Jackson is one of the best of sites for a village. It lies upon the summit or backbone of a gentle rolling ridge, about fifty fect above Salt creek. The streets are of great width. Main street, the principal one, on which are the county build- ings and most of the business places, crowns the ridge. From it the land falls

957

JACKSON COUNTY.

away gently in all directions, until the scene is closed by a circumference of low hills a mile or two away. Thus a free circulation of air, perfect drainage, health, and free prospects are supplied to its inhabitants. No gas nor water-works are established here with bills to send out, and no tall, ambitious structures to require a laborious getting up-stairs. At night several furnaces send up from the out- skirts their lurid light. The basis for these smelting establishments is "the excellent Jackson block coal," or " the shaft coal."

The town has a large proportion of Welsh people, who are given to mining. The whole country, north and east of Jackson, teems with veins of coal, while iron is found everywhere in vast quantities.

There is not enough of wheat, oats and hay raised in this county for home consumption. Cattle, horses and sheep are raised largely. It is fair for grass and excellent for fruit, and for the production of a healthy, strong people. In this vicinity were the old Scioto Salt Works, and near here once lived a very val- uable man to Ohio, a sketch of whom follows :

William Williams Mather, LL. D., was born May 4, 1804, in Brooklyn, Conn., a descendant from the family of Cotton and Increase Mather. At an early age he showed great aptitude for chemical analysis and the study of mineralogy. When he entered West Point Academy, in June, 1823, he was already proficient in chemical analysis, and soon went to the head of his classes in chemistry and mineralogy.

On graduating, he remained in the United States service about eight years. In 1829 he was detailed as acting professor of chemistry and mineralogy at West Point. In August, 1836, he resigned from the army to take part in the geological survey of New York, and in 1837 came to Ohio to superintend the first geological survey of this State. After the suspension of the Ohio survey he purchased a tract of several hundred acres, including the Pigeon Roost, north of the court-house in Jackson county, on which he built a house, cleared a farm, and became a citizen of Ohio. Professor Mather was large and dignified in person and an indefatigable worker. He held professorships in the Wesleyan Univer- sity, at Middletown, Conn. ; Marietta Col- lege and the Ohio University, at Athens, of

which be was vice-president from 1850 to 1854, during which time he was also chemist and secretary of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture. He died February 26, 1859, of paralysis of the heart while rising from his bed. His first wife, Emily M. Baker, died in November, 1850. In August, 1851, he married Mrs. Mary Curtis, of Columbus, Ohio.

A West Point classmate, Col. Charles Whittlesey, has given the following synopsis of his character :

" Not possessing the genius which dazzles, he had an intellect which continually im- proved by exercise, achieving valnable results by patient and conscientious industry. . · Not indifferent to fame, he never sought it by doubtful or devious courses. His object was to enhance his reputation, but faithfully to do the work before him. . . . In his extensive knowledge of the physical world, in all his scientific investigations, he found nothing to foster the barren spirit of scepticism or a cold and cheerless infidelity. . .. The deep recesses of the earth which he explored taught him lessons of the infinite wisdom, force and goodness of the Deity."

WELLSTON is eighty-five miles southeast of Columbus, 126 miles east of Cin- cinnati, and ten miles northeast of Jackson, on the Portsmouth branch of the C. W. & B. Railroad, at the terminus of the O. S. Railroad, and on the D. Ft. W. & C. Railroad. Located in the centre of large and valuable fields of iron ore, coal and limestone, practically inexhaustible, it is more than likely to become a great manufacturing and mining centre.

Newspapers : Argus, Republican, W. E. Bundy, editor ; Ohio Mining Journal, Hon. Andrew Roy and W. E. Bundy, editors ; Central Free Will Baptist, reli- gious, Rev. T. E. Peden, editor. Churches : one Methodist Episcopal, one C'ath- olie, one Presbyterian, one United Brethren, one Baptist, one Welsh. Bank : First National, H. S. Willard, president, J. H. Sellers, Jr., cashier. City Officers : Mayor, Adam Scott; Clerk, J. M. Baker ; Marshal, J. B. Hutchison ; Treasurer, George W. Andrews; Solicitor, Thomas Moore; Street Commissioner, Henry Hadker.

Manufactures and Employees .- Hahn, Kruskamp & Murphy, flour, etc., 7 hands, A. B. Leach, doors, sash, etc., 10; Wellston Argus, printing, etc., 4;

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JACKSON COUNTY.

Milton Furnace, pig-iron, 32; Wellston Foundry and Machine Works, foundry and machine work, 45 .- State Report, 1888. Population in 1880, 952. School census, 1888, 1,395 ; T. S. Hogan, school superintendent. Capital invested in industrial establishments, $318,000. Value of annual product, $485,000 .- Ohio Labor Statistics, 1887. U. S. census, 1890, 4,694.

MINERAL WEALTH.

The development of Wellston and surroundings, showing, as it does, the vast stores of undeveloped mineral wealth in Southern Ohio, only awaiting the master mind to make it productive, requires that something more than a brief description should be given of a town which, in little more than a decade, developed from a farm to a place of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

In 1869 the discovery of inexhaustible beds of coal of a superior quality attracted the attention of capitalists to this region, and in November, 1873, the town of Wellston (named in honor of its founder, Harvey Wells) was laid out on a farm purchased of Hon. H. S. Bundy. The new town was well planned, no street being less than seventy-four feet and some of them more than 100 feet in width. February 2, 1874, contracts were made for the construction of the first iron furnace, double blast, for the Wellston Coal and Iron Company. Other furnaces followed, and notwithstanding the panic and hard times prevalent through- out the country, the young town-grew and prospered, railroads were projected and built, and new enterprises were entered into. In February, 1876, the village was incorporated ; in 1880 the United States Census Reports gave it a population of 952, but in 1887 a conservative estimate placed its population at 5,000, or more, and its sure, rapid and steady growth is destined to make it a large mining and manufacturing centre. In 1885 an important experiment in co-operation was started here by Mr. Harvey Wells, viz., The Wellston Steel and Nail Company. It is the only concern of its kind in the country ; its prospects are bright, and its progress as a factor in solving the all-important labor problem will be watched with interest.

We make some quotations as to the resources of this region from an article by Hon. Andrew Roy, which was published in the Wellston Argus, April 30, 1887: " No mineral region in Ohio or in the United States can bear comparison with Wellston and its surroundings, whether we consider the extent and quality of the mineral treasures or the unparalleled development of the coal and iron industries. There are twelve shafts for mining coal in active operation within a radius of two miles of the town, besides four blast furnaces and one rolling or steel and nail mill. These industries give direct employment to 2,000 men. The capacity of the mines is equal to half a million tons annually, while the capacity of the blast furnaces is fully 300,000 tons of pig-iron.

" The quality of the coal has become so fully established in market that there is no longer cavil or dispute in regard to its rank. It stands at the head of the bituminous coals of the United States.

" The quality of the limestone ore of this region need hardly be alluded to now, after forty years of successful effort. The Wellston coal does not more surely surpass all other coals in Southern Ohio, than that the limestone iron ore sur- passes all other ores.

" The Hanging Rock iron is known all over the United States for its superior quality and its adaptability for the finest purposes of trade-for the manufacture of car-wheels, ordnance, and other castings which require to be made out of un- usually tough and strong iron.

" The supply of siderate iron ore is practically inexhaustible in Jackson county."

OAK HILL is ten miles southeast of Jackson, on the C. W. & B. Railroad. Population in 1880, 646. School census, 1888, 283.

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JACKSON COUNTY.

COALTON, five miles north of Jackson, at the point where the O. S. & T. and C. & St. L. Railroads meet, is a great mining centre; another is GLEN ROY, a few miles east of it.

JEFFERSON.

JEFFERSON COUNTY, named from President Jefferson, was the fifth county es- tablished in Ohio. It was created by proclamation of Governor St. Clair, July 29, 1797 ; its original limits included the country west of Pennsylvania and Ohio; and east and north of a line from the mouth of the Cuyahoga ; southwardly to the Muskingum, and east to the Ohio. Within those boundaries are Cleveland, Canton, Steubenville, Warren, and many other large towns and populous counties. The surface is hilly and the soil fertile. It is one of the greatest manufacturing counties in the State, and abounds in excellent coal. Area about 440 square miles. In 1887 the acres cultivated were 76,976 ; in pasture, 86,680; woodland, 39,543 ; lying waste, 3,474 ; produced in wheat, 219,812 bushels; rye, 1,320 ; buckwheat, 168; oats, 309,089 ; barley, 2,511 ; corn, 517,398 ; broom-corn, 3,800 lbs. brush ; meadow hay, 36,157 tons ; clover hay, 4,201 ; flaxseed, 39 bushels ; potatoes, 74,- 795; bntter, 472,913 lbs .; chcese, 600; sorghum, 1,740 gallons; maple syrup, 5,146 ; honey, 4,938 lbs .; eggs, 443,652 dozen ; grapes, 9,820 lbs .; wine, 540 gallons ; sweet potatoes, 10 bushels ; apples, 29,121 ; peaches, 785 ; pears, 1,644; wool, 566,680 lbs .; milch cows owned, 5,284. School census, 1888, 11,905; teachers, 250. Miles of railroad track, 83. Coal mined, 243,178 tons, employ- ing 347 miners and 80 ontside employees ; fire-clay, 144,090 tons .- Ohio Mining Statistics, 1888.

TOWNSHIPS AND CENSUS.

1840.

1880.

TOWNSHIPS AND CENSUS.

1840.

1880.

Brush Creek,

757

623

Saline,

963

1,480

Cross Creek,

1,702

1,711

Smithfield,

2,095

1,887

Island Creek,

1,867

2,029

Springfield,

1,077

817

Knox,

1,529

2,011

Steubenville,

5,203

13,150

Mount Pleasant,

1,676

1,582

Warren,

1,945

1,923

Ross,

927

741

Wayne,

1,746

1,751

Salem,

2,044

1,907

Wells,

1,492

1,406

Population in Jefferson in 1820 was 18,531; in 1830, 22,489 ; 1840, 25,031 ; 1860, 26,115 ; 1880, 33,018, of whom 24,761 were born in Ohio ; 2,578 in Penn- sylvania ; 930 in Virginia ; 158 in New York ; 61 in Kentucky; 40 in Indiana ; 1,179 in Ireland ; 739 in England and Wales; 592 in German Empire; 188 in Scotland ; 60 in British America ; 9 in France, and 29 in Sweden and Norway. Censns, 1890, 39,415.

EARLY HISTORY.

The old Mingo town, three miles below Steubenville, now (1846) the site of the farms of Jeremiah H. Hallock, Esq., and Mr. Daniel Potter, was a place of note prior to the settlement of the country. It was the point where the troops of Colonel Williamson rendezvoused in the infamous Moravian campaign, and those of Colonel Crawford, in his unfortunate expedition against the Sandusky Indians. It was also at one time the residence of Logan, the celebrated Mingo chief, whose form was striking and manly and whose magnanimity and eloquence have seldom

960

JEFFERSON COUNTY.

been equalled. He was a son of the Caynga chief Skikellimus, who dwelt at Shamokin, Pa., in 1742, and was converted to Christianity under the preaching of the Moravian missionaries. Skikellimus highly esteemed James Logan, the secretary of the province, named his son from him, and probably had him bap- tized by the missionaries.

In early life, Logan for a while dwelt in Pennsylvania, and in Day's Historical Collections of that State is a view in Mifflin county of Logan's Spring, which which will long remain a memorial of this distinguished chief. The letter below gives an incident which occnrred there that speaks in praise of Logan. It was written by the Hon. R. P. Maclay, a member of the State Senate, and son of the gentleman alluded to in the anecdote, and published in the Pittsburg Daily Amer- ican :

SENATE CHAMBER, March 21, 1842. To GEORGE DARSIE, EsQ., of the Senate of Pennsylvania :

DEAR SIR-Allow me to correct a few inaccuracies as to place and names, in the anecdote of Logan, the celebrated Mingo chief, as published in the Pittsburg Daily American of March 17, 1842, to which you called my attention. The person surprised at the spring, now called the Big Spring, and about six (four) miles west of Logan's Spring, was William Brown-the first actual settler in Kishacoquillas valley, and one of the associate judges in Mifflin county, from its organization till his death, at the age of ninety-one or two- and not Samuel Maclay, as stated by Dr. Hildreth. I will give you the anecdote as I heard it related by Judge Brown himself, while on a visit to my brother, who then owned and occupied the Big Spring farm, four miles west of Reedville :

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Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume I, Part 152

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio Number of Pages: 1006

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio
Number of Pages: 1006