Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume II, Part 29

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio
Number of Pages: 916

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THE GREAT HINCKLEY HONT, DEC. 24, 1818.

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MEDINA COUNTY.

wolf. The dogs, at a given signal, were re- leased and soon created great commotion within the circle. The frightened deer made constant attempts to break through the cordon of men and boys, but most of them were shot upon nearing the circle. The officers constantly cautioned the men not to fire, ex- cept toward the centre. Finally, after the fire had slackened materially and upon a given signal, the most experienced hunters, pre- viously selected, advanced toward the centre with orders to kill all the bears and wolves, if they could without endangering each other or those in the lines. They soon succeeded in killing most of those animals within the circle. Then, upon signal, the hunters climbed trees in order to make plunging shots and not endanger those in the circular line, who were ordered to advance upon the centre without firing, except after an animal had succeeded in passing through the line. A stream, now frozen over and with high banks, was soon reached by a portion of the line. An excel- lent hiding-place was afforded by this stream, and bears, wolves, deer and turkeys were found under the edge of its banks. As plunging shots could be safely fired here, a lively rattle of musketry took place, and most of the game there hidden was killed. The bunters in the central trees were now kept busy, and many with muskets and ammuni- tion joined them as the line doubled and trebled in ranks by concentration. Finally, late in the afternoon the slaughter ceased, as the game was all killed. Most of the turkeys saved them- selves by dint of their wings, but several were killed ; one was killed by a farmer with a long- handled hay-fork, as it flew low over his head. Several deer were killed with bayonets, pikes, hay-forks, etc., while jumping over the heads of those forming the circle.

Orders were then given to each line to re- turn and bring all the game into the centre. The boys and old men had kept the teams well up to the lines, and these were brought into requisition where necessary. The first work in order was the gathering and scalping of the wolves, for their scalps had a fixed cash value (a $15 bounty, according to le- gend), and a trustworthy man was started with these (with horse and sled), to purchase sundry supplies. He returned before dark, and found over 400 men awaiting his coming. Over fifty of the men and most of the boys had returned home to do the chores. The game had all been collected at the centre and counted. A large bear had been dressed and prepared for a barbecue, and was being roasted when the man returned with the supplies. Said supplies were quickly set upon one head while the other head was as quickly knocked in with an ax. Tin cups were brought into requisition with surprising rapidity. Soon the fat was dripping copiously from the roasting bear, and one of the lively men, rendered extra frisky perhaps by the chéering nature of the supplies just partaken

of, cut off a large chunk of the fat and run a muck through the crowd, oiling scores of faces in a hasty attempt to oil hair and whis- kers. Bears' oil was known to be specially beneficial for both hair and whiskers, and several others who had already tested its effi- cacy for a few minutes also sliced off Inmips of the fat and showed a willingness to let all share in the benefits of the high-toned un- guent. Within a very brief space of time every person in the crowd knew how it was himself, and every face glistened in the glare of the fires now blazing around the camp, for it had by this time become a full-fledged camp for the night. Those who came pre- pared to stay all night had ample supplies of cakes, bread, salt, etc., and, with an ample supply of bear and venison meat, enjoyed a rare gaine feast as well as a night of hilarity seldom experienced, even during the lifetime of the average frontiersman. All accounts agree that, among that entire party, not one became intoxicated, but the old survivors (and there are several still living) say it was because of the honest whisky made in those days.

A beautiful Christmas morning dawned upon the jolly campers, who were soon vis- ited by numerous parties from surrounding settlements, and some even from twenty or more miles away, who had come to see the game and to spend a jolly Christmas, make acquaintances among neighboring settlers, and have a rare time generally. And they scored a decided success.

A committee was appointed to make an equitable division of the game, which they did among the four parties forming the four lines that surrounded the township the pre- vious morning. The few deer which were killed outside the township lines, while the parties were coming to their respective lines in the early morning, were not brought in, but were taken on the return home by those who killed them. An accurate enumeration of the game collected at the centre resulted as follows : seventeen wolves, twenty-one bears, 300 deer. The few turkeys killed were not taken into account, they being taken home by parties returning the first night. A few foxes and coons were killed, but were not taken into account. When a part of the line reached the frozen stream where the large accumulation of game was hiding, a load of buckshot fired from a musket at a glancing angle happened to be in range of a man at a considerable distance away, and he received a buckshot in the shoulder and another in the leg, both flesh wounds, pain- ful but not dangerous. There was no other casualty whatever.

During the past fifty years the writer has read sufficient hunting literature to form sev- eral large volumes, and doubts whether there has ever been recorded so successful a hunt in America, or one so well planned and man- aged.

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MEDINA COUNTY.

MODE OF CLEARING OFF THE VIRGIN FORESTS.

When the hardy sons of New England reached the Western Reserve they were confronted by dense forests of gigantic timber, of which the land had to be cleared before it could be cultivated. The first work after locating the farm was to clear away a few trees and build a cabin. Once established therein, the herculeau task of clearing the forest commenced. Although inured to hard work, but few of these settlers had had much experience in clearing off virgin forests, and trees were cut one at a time, the brush and limbs piled into huge heaps, trunks ent into logging lengths, and the land thus cleared sown with grain. It sometimes took a single man from three to four weeks to chop down a single acre of hard-wooded forest.

Soon after the grain had been harvested and during a dry spell the brush and log heaps were fired. The brush heaps were soon consumed, but the log heaps required weeks of laborious attendance unless the weather remained dry. The logs required constant rolling together and re-piling, which was heavy and dirty work.

The second year some attempt was made to plow between the stumps and break off such roots as were sufficiently rotted. These were piled, and when dried were burned. The second crops were generally corn, with sufficient potatoes for family use.

After fifteen or twenty acres had been cleared as described, a different plan was gen- erally adopted, namely, that of "slashing." This was a more rapid and cheaper plan, but required an expert to manage it successfully.

Slashing Described .- The slasher carefully studied his field of operations to ascertain which side the prevailing winds would strike with the greatest force. He then examined the trees, especially their tops, to learn whether they were bushy or not. Depending now upon his judgment as to the width of the strip which he can surely embrace in his "windrow," he commences on the leeward side of the tract, chopping the trees perhaps half, one-third, or one-fourth off at the stump, the amount of chip or "kerf" taken out depending upon the inclination of the tree. Continuing backward toward the windward side of the tract, he thus cuts notches of greater or less depth in all the trees over a tract of about thirty feet in width, deepening the notches as he approaches the windward side of the tract. These notches are cut so that in falling the trees will incline toward the middle of the strip.

If, upon finishing the notching of the en- tire strip, the wind is favorable, the last large tree selected for a "starter" is felled against its next neighbor in line, which in turn falls against its neighbor, and so on un- til a terrific crashing is inaugurated which commands the instant attention of every liv- ing thing in sight or hearing. The inde- scribable crashing may continue for some minutes, if the tract is a long one. The noise is appalling, and only equalled by that of a terrific cyclone sweeping through an immense forest. When all is still, a marvel- lous change has come over the scene. Where

a few minutes before stood a wide expanse of virgin forest, a mighty swath has been cut as though some giant reaper had been mowing the forest as a farmer does his grain. Rising several feet above the earth, there ap- pears a prodigious abatis, which would arrest the onset of the mightiest army. In this manner the slashing progresses, strip by strip, until the entire tract lays in windrows. The brief time required to slash a given tract seems incredible to those who are not familiar with this branch of forest pioneer work. Two slashers, accustomed to working together, will fell more than double the area of forest that either one can alone. Good workmen will average about one acre per day, if the timber is heavy-and the heavier the better. Two workmen can in company slash twenty acres in nine days.

It was rarely that an expert slasher could be induced to undertake less than ten acres ; certainly not without a materially increased price, because it would be impossible to slash five acres in half the time required to slash ten acres.

Slashings are usually allowed to lay two or three years, when, during a dry spell of weather and with a favorable wind, they are fired. If the tract is a large one, several men and boys commence firing simultane- ously. After the fire has done its work, the remaining trunks of trees are cut into logging lengths. This is sometimes done with the axe, and sometimes they are " niggered " off.

Niggering consists in laying large poles or small logs crosswise on top of the large logs, and kindling a fire at the junction. Although the fire soon burns off the pole or upper log, it also eats rapidly into the under log. When the upper one is nearly off, it is slipped along a foot or more, and the process is repeated. By "sawing" the upper piece in the burned kerf of the lower one, the charred portions are rubbed off, and the fire takes hold with renewed activity, rapidly cutting off the lower log. One experienced man can attend to quite a large area, and nigger off faster than the best chopper could do the same work with an axe.

Logging- Bees .- After settlements were well established it was the custom to hold "log- ging-bees" in most neighborhoods. These were occasions for rare fun. A keg of whiskey was usually the leading factor in these "bees."

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MEDINA COUNTY.

The women of the household prepared large baskets of fried cakes and old-time ginger- bread, such as none but Yankee women knew how to make. All the men, boys and ox- teams of the neighborhood were assembled in the logging-field, and divided into "teams." A logging-team consisted of a yoke of oxen, their driver, two "lever men," and two boys to handle the chain and assist with levers. A first-class logging-bee had two captains, who chose sides, the field was divided and a choice settled by flipping a penny. The cap- tain winning the choice gave the word, and the work commenced in earnest. The cap- tains selected the points for the log heaps, preferably where several logs could be piled without hauling. The teamster sought the nearest log, and as he turned his team to the proper end, one of the chain-boys carried the end of the chain to the end of the log, where the other boy seized it three or four feet from the end, and the two drew it under the log, which had already been raised sufficiently for the purpose by the two lever men. The chain was quickly "hitched," and the team as quickly started for the pile. The lever men had properly placed the "skids" before leaving the pile, and by the time the boys had the chain unfastened the lever men had the log rolling to its position on the pile. The large logs were systematically laid at the bottom, the captains keeping a sharp eye out for every possible advantage.

Jollities .- By the time the whiskey had passed around two or three times, the char- coal blacking began, especially upon the faces of all. Not a white spot was permitted to remain on man or boy. Even the white spots on the oxen were carefully backened. It was a part of the program to test the capacity of each side for making a noise. All was bluster and commotion. Even the sluggish oxen entered into the spirit of the occasion and frequently snapped strong chains when their log chanced to strike a root or other obstruc- tion. There were generally among the lever men a few of the strolling, rough element of frontiersmen, who scented every logging-bee in their region. They filled themselves with whiskey and sometimes a fight was the result, but on the Reserve there was generally a constable or justice, or both, present at the gatherings, and fighting was promptly su- pressed. The "bee" usually wound up with such recreation as wrestling, jumping and rifle-shooting. The quantity of logs piled

at these bees would appear incredible to any one who had never witnessed the opera- tions.

Potash establishments were generally located in most of the considerable settlements, and as soon as the log-heaps were burned, the ashes were gathered and leached and the lye boiled down to crude potash, thus creating a staple article of commerce.

Clearing off Stumps .- After all the fatigu- ing work heretofore described, the ground was not in proper condition for the plough. Stumps had to be cleared out and this took ·years. The smaller ones from time to time were pulled out and burned, but the large, deep- rooted ones were allowed to decay or burned during a dry spell and the roots ploughed out when sufficiently decayed. After the year 1900 but few persons will be left on the Re- serve who can form an adequate conception of the years of toil required to clear the forests from that vast fertile area.

Some years elapsed before crops of grass could be secured. Little progress was made in " dairying," now such an important in- dustry on the Western Reserve. The plan essentially as described by Mr. Pelton had to suffice for the pioneer stock. Mr. Pelton was one of the early settlers in Litchfield, Medina county, and once told me how he managed his cattle. He got a better start with cattle than most of the neighboring settlers, as he drove from the East several head of young cattle with two or three milch cows for immediate use. The first year they lived almost entirely in the woods, but such trees as bore tender shoots relished by the cattle were almost daily felled for.them to feed upon. The straw from the first crop of grain was carefully stacked by the cabin and surrounded by an open fence which would permit the cattle to get their heads between the poles and barely reach the straw. A little brine was now sprinkled upon the straw and the cattle allowed to get a good taste of it. In the meantime fresh trees were felled at the edge of the clearing, and the dogs were let loose and the cattle driven to the newly felled trees. One by one they would steal back to the straw stack, to be again dogged back to their browse. The pole fence was from time to time moved closer to the stack to enable the cattle to steal the straw. These operations were repeated while the straw lasted, "and the cattle kept fat." With the possible exception of the last clause this was literally true.

GETTING MAILS AND SUPPLIES FOR THE PIONEERS.

One of the men who often related incidents of the Hinckley Hunt was quite fond of relating the experiences of the early settlers of that part of Medina county where he first settled. The settlement was about thirty miles from Cleveland, which was the nearest post-office, as well as the nearest point where supplies of any kind could be obtained. The men of the settlement took turns in going to Cleveland regularly each week for mails, medicines and such light supplies as were indispensable. An air-line route had been established by surveyors and trees well blazed marked the track.

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MEDINA COUNTY.

The trips were made on foot. A large haversack was used for carrying the mail and supplies. This, with a rifle, comprised the outfit of the weekly messenger. Upon one occasion, when this informant took his turn, he had the then solitary Cleveland gunsmith change the old-fashioned percussion "pill" lock to the then new "cap " loek, as un- serupnlous dealers were in the habit of mix- ing mustard or turnip-seed with the little perenssion pills, which they so nearly re- sembled that it was impossible to detect the cheat. The result was that much game was lost and much vexation caused by mis-fires. Upon the trip in question, when the messenger was about half-way to Cleve- land, he discovered that he was being gradu- ally surrounded by a very large drove of wild hogs, immense numbers of which then roamed through the forests of that region.

Discovering a large fallen tree ahead which had turned up by the roots, he hastened to and climbed upon the same, perching upon the high roots some fifteen feet above the ground. He was not a moment too soon, for the hogs had elosed around him and some of the old boars, with their tusks protruding

from their villanous jaws and the froth dripping from their mouths, attempted to climb up the roots upon which he was perched. He lost no time upon firing upon them when- ever he could fire his riffe, which he had to snap eight or ten times for cach discharge, because of the preponderance of seeds among his percussion pills.

However, he killed a dangerous boar at each discharge. As eachone fell, with a slight squcal of distress, the others would go and smell the blood, actually placing their ugly snouts to the bullet-hole. They at once began to utter a peculiarly ominous grunt and one by one withdrew from the scene and the messenger hastened forward, reaching Cleve- land at a late hour. Early next morning he had the lock of his rifle altered, provided himself with proper ammunition, and with his mail and other supplies (medicines, etc.), started on his return trip, hoping to have a little more experience with the wild hogs. He reached the scene of the previous day's episode and counted the result of the same, finding sixteen dead boars, but no live ones about, nor did he see any except a few at a distance.

THE GREAT COMPETING SLEIGH-RIDES OF THE WINTER OF 1855 AND 1856 OF SUMMIT, CUYAHOGA AND MEDINA COUNTIES.

The following completes the series of articles by Mr. Peirce, from details largely supplied by Hon. Thomas Palmer, of Lafayette, this county. The event at the time created interest, not only the leading newspapers in our country giving full accounts, but those of Europe. The London Times, among them, it is said, chronieled it as one of the novelties in the line of amusement the Western Yankees had originated.

During the winter of 1855 and 1856 there were about one hundred days of almost con- tinnous sleighing throughout Northern Ohio. In February the people of Solon township, Cuyahoga county, organized a sleigh ride consisting of seven four-horse teams, and drove to Akron, Summit county. It seems that there had already been several smaller parties there from Medina and several other counties, and it was understood that the Solon party intended to eclipse any previous party, for among other decorations used by them was a small cotton flag (33 x 55 inches) painted with the regulation number of stars and stripes, and containing in addition a profile with thumb to the nose and fingers ex- tended.

This was interpreted by the people of the townships through which the party passed as a banter and invitation to take the flag if they could muster a larger party ; indeed, an Akron paper published an evidently author- ized challenge to that effect. The people of the township of Twinsburg, through which the Solon party drove, concluded that they could easily capture the flag, and upon trial mustered fourteen four-horse teams and went to Solon. The flag was gracefully surrendered

to them and was carried to Twinsburg. The people of Royalton, Cuyahoga county, con- cluded that the flag must come back to their county. They rallied thirty-eight four-horse teams and appeared at Twinsburg. when the flag was duly surrendered tothem. The matter now became a county affair ; Cuyahoga, Sum- mit and Medina entering into the competition.

The competing delegation met at Richfield, Summit county (which township adjoins both Cuyahoga and Medina counties), on the 14th day of March. Medina had 144 four-horse teams, Cuyahoga had 151, and Summit, 171 ; in all 466 four-horse teams and sleighs, each containing an average of fourteen persons. total, 6,524, and 1,864 horses. In addition to these there were a large number of single sleighs with their loads, which did not enter into the count. In each party were a number of brass bands, for in those days nearly every township in that part of the Reserve had a brass band. Of course, Summit captured the flag and took it to Akron. As the competi- tion had been mostly between Cuyahoga and Summit counties, the Medina delegation upon their return trip decided that the correct thing would be to have the flag removed into Medina county, and four days later (March

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18, 1856,) they appeared at Akron about noon with 182 four-horse teams, and one team of four mules.

They carried a great number of banners and devices, and were accompanied by numer- ous brass bands. They were received by the citizens of Akron with extravagant demon- strations, including the ringing of bells, firing of cannon and uproarious cheers. Word was passed back fromthe head of the line to the fast load, which commenced cheering, and the cheers came swelling back up the line, and were taken up by the rapidly congregating citizens until the town was in one deafening

roar of human voices. The flag was pre- sented to the delegation by President Peirce, of Hudson College, with appropriate remarks, which were responded to by Charles E. Bost- wick, chief marshal of the delegation. Two songs, composed expressly for the occasion, were then sung, after which refreshments were served, and the delegation returned to Medina county with the flag, probably the largest and most joyous party of the kind ever assembled. No accident occurred. and, like the Hinckley Hunt, no one got drunk.

BIOGRAPHY.

BURKE AARON HINSDALE, educator, was born in Wadsworth, this county, March 31, 1837. He was a pupil of James A. Garfield, in Hiram College, and from 1870 to 1882 was its president, and then four years Superintendent of the Public Schools of Cleveland. He is the author of various books, religions, his- torical, educational, and edited the "Life and Works of James A. Garfield," of whom he was a strong personal friend and admirer.

RUSSELL A. ALGER-Soldier.

EDITH M. THOMAS-Poetess.

General RUSSELL A. ALGER, ex-Governor of Michigan and ex-Commander- in-Chief of the Grand . Army of the Republic, and the Republican party of Mich- igan's favorite candidate in 1888 for the Presidency, is a native of this county, and here he passed his early years. The family graveyard is at West Richfield, a short distance east of the Hinckley line in Summit county, where rest the remains of his parents and oldest sister. A beautiful monument stands there, erected to their memory by the illustrious son and brother.

WILLIAM T. COGGESHALL, journalist, at one period resided in Wadsworth, where, in 1851, his daughter Jessie was born. He was born in Lewistown, Pa., and in 1841, then 17 years old, came to Ohio and connected himself with the Cin-

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cinnati Gazette, published The Genius of the West in 1854-1856, and was State Librarian in 1856-1862. In the beginning of the war he was appointed aid to Governor Dennison, with the rank of colonel. In 1865 he took charge of the Ohio State Journal, at Columbus. In 1866 he was appointed United States Min- ister to Ecuador, hoping that his declining health, brought on by exprosure when on secret service in the war time, might be restored by the pure air of Quito ; but he died the next year. He wrote much for magazines, published various books -the one, perhaps, of most lasting value, was " Poets and Poetry of the West," Columbus, 1860. He was a man of cheerful temperament, companionable and loving.

EDITH M. THOMAS, poetess, was born in Chatham, August 12, 1854, daughter of a successful and talented teacher. She was educated at Geneva, Ohio, Normal Institute, where, until recently, many years of her life have been passed. Now New York city is her home. She has contributed largely to the "Century," and other first-class magazines, and has published, in book form, " A New Year's Masque and Other Poems " (Boston, 1855) ; "The Round Year " (1866), and " Lyrics and Sonnets " (1887). She is deemed by many of the Eastern crities as, in that higher class of poetry, the subjective, with few peers. Her poems touch the finer chords as from the song of a spirit unseen, and grow into fuller appre- ciation by familiarity. R. H. Stoddard calls her "an American Keats," and as " possessing the greatest gift any poet can have-quality." These specimens illus- trate her power :

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Historical collections of Ohio in two volumes, an encyclopedia of the state, Volume II, Part 29

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio Number of Pages: 916

Author: Howe, Henry, 1816-1893
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Cincinnati : Published by the state of Ohio
Number of Pages: 916