USA > Ohio > Allen County > History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part One > Part 2
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516
Jacobs, Thomas K.
138
Jacobs, Thomas K
401
Jamieson, John Q.
824
Jauman, Benjamin L
513
John, Abia
791
John Griffith
119
Johns, Elias H
455
Johnston, Charles W
727
PAGE
Light, Samuel
369
Lippineott, James M
479
Jolley, Cassius M.
743
Llewellyn, A. A
858
Lones, F.
628
Long, Minor
549
Long, Thomas C.
532
Longeoy, Dr. J. M
777
Longsworth, Ira R.
670
Lory, Daniel
493
Losee, C. E.
871
Lowery, Hon. James E
672
Ludwig, Isaac
827
Lugibihl. Adam D ... 660
1
MeBeth, William
A
666
MeCauley, George
382
MeCauley, S. E.
870
McClain, W. L
790
MeClure, Samuel
63
MeComb, William, Jr.
47I
MeCoy, Alexander Hamilton. 359
MeCullough, George M.
741
MeHenry, Dr. William
84
MeKerren, Daniel
602
Mclaughlin, T. A. 434
Mc Pheron, Jonathan M
705
Mackenzie, Eugene C.
648
Mackenzie, Hon. James
343
Mackenzie, W. H.
649
Maire, Edward J
487
Maire, Frank L
508
Maltbie, Rev. Harrison
360
Manges, Hon. John W.
507
Manning, Rev. Alfred Ed- ward 258
Marshall, Charles C.
155
Marshall, Jolın R.
570
Marshall, Joseph R
765
Martin, John
706.
Mason, M. D.
754
Mason, Zalmon R.
766
Land, Rev. Paul Henry.
260
Matthews, B. F.
700
Landis, Wallace
870
Mattingly, William H.
595
Lamison, Charles Nelson
218
Maus, James L
796
May, John
802
May, J. M
215
Mcily, John
88
Mell, Peter T.
390
Mctcalf, Benjamin F
216
Metheany, George H.
350
Metheany, Richard
88
Meyers, M
438.
Jones, Dr. Arthur L.
824
Jones, Isaac
470
Jones, Josiah
399
Jones, John D
499
Jones, John R
870
Jones, Llewelyn
399
Jones, Dr. Richard E
523
Jones, Thomas
756
Jones, William
513
Jones & Williams.
498
Kanawl, George D 492
Kay, Howard L
746
Keil, Phillip
474
Keith, John
423
Kelley, James C
433
Kennedy, Raymond R
391
Kerr, George S.
611
Kesler, Mrs. Catherine
637
Kilgore, Joseph W
409
Kimball, W. S.
681
Kindell, C. E.
435
Knisely, Dr. A. F.
456
Kiplinger, Abraham P.
655
Kiplinger, Clifford
451
Kiplinger, Daniel E.
852
Kissel, Jacob
792
· Klay, A. B
433
Klein, George
752
Klinger, William
395
Knittle, George W
684
Koeh, Louis
864
Krauss, S. K ..
644
Kreiling, Lewis
734
Kruse, Charles
465
Kruse, Henry
814
Lackey, Adam C.
4.38
Lathrop, C.
640
Laudick, Dr. Louis F
553
Lause, Casper
778
Mehaffey, Hon. Robert
581
Leech, Charles M
.512
Leech, Frank M
512
Leech & Leech
512
Lehman, Christian
612
Leilich, H. L.
677
Lemasters. Rev. Philip
410
PAGE
Johnston, Rev. Thomas Pow- ell 252
12
INDEX
PAGE
Miller, Hon. Azariah D.
539
Miller, Dr. Charles C. 674
Miller, Charles 629
Miller, D. W. 859
Miller, Henry
673
Miler, Rev. I. J
686
Miller, L. B. 844
Mills, Squire
II4
Mills, Walter S.
698
Mitchell, John Porter
75
Mitchell, Thornton T
387
Mohler, William F
702
Moore, H.
566
Moore, Col. Israel T
527
Morris, John B
376
Morris, J. R.
478
Morrison, J. H. M. 535
Moser. Jacob.
719
Mosier, E. W.
841
Motter, Isaac S.
685
Moulton, Col. B. M.
805
Mowen. Edward S.
637
Mowen, J. W.
610
Mowen, O. L. 638
Mowery, Samuel 704
Musser, Daniel
86
Napier, William 558
Neely, Scott
784
Neeley, Harry
796
Neuenschwander, Peter M .. 519
Newson, George L.
424
Nichols, Mathiah H
215
O'Brien, John 810
O'Day, Daniel J
387
Oen, F. W
863
Olson, Frederick
0.
689
Osborn, Calvin
556
Owen, Francis
355
Owen, M. D.
649
Page, L. W 744
Palmer, J. B. 517
Park, James A
500
Parks, S. G.
604
Parmenter, William L.
703
Patrick, Guy,
842
Patterson, John E.
566
Rowlands. J. W
660
Rudy, W. E.
580
Rumbaugh, Scott T
710
Rupe, Rev. Clarence Mulford 257
Rusher, Frank P.
372
Rusler, Hon, William
759
Russell, W. L. . .. 421
PAGE
Sager, Dr. Newton.
234, 694
Saint, Levi
107
Sanford, Dr. Samuel
233
Scherger, Constantine
567
Schnabel, John W.
728
Schultheis Brothers
462
Scott, Walter
680
Scott, William
84
Sealts Co., The J. M.
570
Secrest, J. H.
753
Selfridge, Oliver Boston
350
Siddall, Lucius J. R
5.36
Simons, Adam
799
Simpson, J.
865
Sims, Rev. George H.
261
Smith, Frank C.
SI5
Smith, O. W.
4II
Smith, William H.
665
Snider. Solomon D
5.53
Snook, Fred
733
Snow, Fred C.
395
Snyder, Ambrose
363
Spyker, Joel
832
Spyker, Samuel
831
Stadler, Dr. Charles E
635
Staley, Jacob
451
Stallkamp, Francis H
351
Stallkamp, Theodore J.
35I
Stamets, John P.
704
Standish, Walter H.
356
States. Joseph A.
497
Steiner, Adam
680
Steiner. Dr. David W.
663
Stephens. William H.
593
Stueber, Dr. Lou's J
445
Stneber, Dr. Frederick G.
4So
Sullivan. J. E.
68
Sutton, Richard 1
396
Swanson, Rev. Isaac J., B. A .. B. 262
Swinehart. Almon E.
638
Pence, Dr. James C.
391
Pennell, Frank
393
PAGE
Pennell, T. C. 392
Penny, Warren E 643
Pfeifer, Adam V.
622
Pierson, William T
802
Pierson, Joseph E
389
Pillars, Isaiah S.
217
Piper, Jacob
40I
Plate, Robert J
373
Post, Charles C.
431
Post, Isaac B
464
Post, Samuel
569
Potter, Emery D.
215
Powell, William W.
659
Settlage, H. C ..
424
Price, Hon. James L.
352
Severns, John B.
578
Prophet, Col. Hinchman
S
819
Shanahan, John W
462
Pugh, Charles
601
Shenk, Alexander
555
Ramseyer, Otto F.
774
Rankins, George H
364
Reed. Salem
539
Reed, Silas
508
Reichenbach. Ulysses
693
Reilly, William
422
Reis, Carl C.
843
Reynolds, William A
412
Richardson, Henry C.
755
Richardson, Joseph H.
79
Richie, Hon. John E.
429
Richie, Walter B.
353
Ricketts, M. C.
744
Ridenhour, Jacob C.
679
Ridenour, Samuel O.
441
Riley, J. C.
429
Robb. Hon. Theodore D 469
Robb, Thomas M
216
Roberts. Francis M
554
Roberts. Thomas
454
Robinson, Jere
846
Robinson, W. F
865
Roby, John W
403
Rogers. L. H.
580
Rogers, Wilbert L
4II
Romey, Hon. Henry L
466
Stevens, John
458
Ross, Joseph C.
586
Stolzenbach, C. F.
541
Rothe, John W.
453
Roush. Franklin
473
Roush, Dr. William
753
Pears, Hon. Howard W
822
Peltier, James
75
Peltier, W. C ...
587
Tague, Otto G.
656
Sherrick, S. S.
864
Shindoller, Reuben
619
Sieber, Frank
437
13
INDEX
PAGE
Tapscott, Joseplı 639
Taylor, R. M. 560
Terwilleger, Dr. Thompson
R 869
Thomas, B. F.
725
Thomas, Evan L
486
Thomas, Harry
454
Thomas, Morgan
472
Thomas, Dr. Thomas R
417
Thomson, Rev. Robert James, D. D. 255
Thrift, Dr. Robert W. 233
Tompkins, W. H. 788
Trevor, Baxter
446
Trust, Tharman
643
Van Guten, Henry 587
Van Note, Dr. W. B. 624
Vetter, Jean
457
Vicary, G. S.
465
Vortkamp, H. F.
849
Wahmhoff, J. H.
373
Wallace, E. D.
602
Walter, J. H.
607
PAGE
Walther, Leonard 636
Walther, Philip 665
Ward, John
79
Wilson, William 791
Wiltsee, Rev. Thaddeus L 256
Wohlgemuth, Bert
616
Wood, Christopher 116
Wood, F. E. 698
Woolevy, W. H. 748
Wooley, Joseph
741
Wright, Samuel W
372
Wykoff, Garrett
407
Yant, Noah B 611
Yoakam, William W
800
Yost, Edwin J.
734
Young, Alfred J.
752
Young, Rev. Ervin E.
260
1
Zeits, F. W. 595
Zetlitz, E. N.
569
Zimmerly, Peter
617
Zinsmayer, Rev. Dominic
699
Williams, Cary C.
499
PAGE
Williams, Henry D. V. 77
Willower, H. B. 370
Watt, Robert
534
Watt, W.
443
Weadock, Dr. E. G. 450
Weadock, J. J.
620
Webb, Elmer D.
756
Weger, Augustus E.
497
Weixelbaum, Adolph
621
Welch, Dr. Jacob R.
426
Wells, Clair B
618
Welty, Benjamin
416
Wemmer, Henry G.
499
Wemmer, William J
486
Westbay, Charles W.
810
Wetherill, Dr. Ira R.
450
Wheeler, S. S.
409
Whirrett, D. A 837
White, A.
672
White, Reuben.
773
Williams, B. F.
493
Zurfluh, Abraham
504
Illustrations
PAGE
Agerter, Frederick.
646
Allen County Children's Home.
122
Allen County Infirmary. 122
Allen County's Three Court Houses
223
Apple Tree, over 100 years old.
61
Arnold, Mr. and Mrs. Solomon H., and Family. .
716
Ashton, Francis.
490
Augsburger, John
730
Backwoodsman, A.
20
Battle of the Fallen Timber 28
Battles of the Maumee, Plan illustrating the. 30
Baxter, Samuel A., M. D. 334
Binkley, Mr. and Mrs. Solomon, and Family
584
Bliss, C. C., M. D
546
Bloom, Walter P.
750
Boegel, Carl W. E. 696
Bower, Alonzo Smith. 572
Brown, Absalom. 82
Brown, Mrs. Absalom
82
Brown, Maria Mitchell
82
Campbell, William Archibald.
510
Carnes, Ira P. 614
Carnes, John.
366
Churches-
Baptist, Old, Lima 246
Catholic, St. John the Baptist, Landeck (interior) .. 268
Catholic, St. John the Evangelist, Delphos .. 122
Catholic, St. Rose, Lima
246
Lutheran, St. Paul's, Lima.
268
Methodist Episcopal, Spencerville. 157
Methodist Episcopal, Trinity, Lima.
246
Presbyterian, Market Street, Lima.
246
Clark, Gen. George Rogers.
42
Colleges-
Central Mennonite, Bluffton 268
Lima, Lima.
268
Collins, Samuel.
342
Colucci, Frank.
782
Company C., Scenes in Camp Lifc, Spanish-Ameri- can War-
At Mess, Knoxville. 322
PAGE
Company C in Ponchos.
322
Hospital Tent, Chickamauga.
322
Kitchen, Chickamauga. 322
Lieut. John M. Bingham 322
Old Mill near Middlebrook Camp, Knoxville. . 322
Council House, Shawnee.
61
Court Crier of the early days, a.
18
Crites, Cryus D.
834
Crites, Hon. S. D.
460
Croghan, Col. George.
31
Custard, Jonathan.
448
Custard, Mrs. Sarah T.
448
Democratic Ox Roast, The-
"And we did"
106
"That Kentucky colonel was a beaut"
100
The Ideal Parade.
103
The Kentucky Colonel.
99
The Literal Parade.
104
Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Ry. Depot.
290
Dobbins, J. W
668
Dunn, D. C ..
502
East, Mr. and Mrs. Monroe M., and Family.
812
Edwards, Thomas J.
794
Federal Building and Postoffice, Lima.
290
First Electric Car in Lima.
200
Fort Amanda.
61
Fort Amanda, Relics of. 70
Fort Defiance Plan of.
27
Fort Washington.
48
French. Samuel Davison.
378
Gazette Building, Lima.
290
Goble, Ebenezer B ..
482
Grand Stand, Lima Driving Park.
200
Grubb, John B., Thomas, Rolla G., and Myrland
D., Hillyard.
856
Hall, George, D. D. S.
476
Handel, Mr. and Mrs. Theodorc A.
738
Ilarmar, Gen. Josiah.
42
16
INDEX
PAGE
Harpster, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel, and Family. 840
Harrison, Gen. William Henry 42
Hefner, Mrs. Christina H. 708
Hefner, Harison. 708
Hefner, Jacob
626
Hill, Robert.
564
Hiner, S. B., M. D. 348
Hitcheock, Salathiel A., M. D. 530
Hoeffel, Rev. Aloysius I.
414
Jackson, Pres. Andrew, and Black Hawk. 22
Jones, Josiah.
398
Jones, Hon. Richard E., M. D. 522
Kenton, Simon.
48
Kiplinger, Mr. and Mrs. Abram P., and Family .. 654
Laudick, Louis F., M. D. 552
Leilich, H. L.
676
Lima Club, The. 306
Lima Hospital, The.
306
Lima House, The.
150
Lima Locomotive & Machine Company, The, Plant of. 200
Lima Public Square Views ----
East Side, showing 23 oil derricks. 178
Northeast Corner, showing North Main
street. 150
Southwest corner (1850) 80
Lima Residences-
Baxter, Dr. Samuel A .. 102
Brice Homestead, The. 122
Dunn, D. C .. 102
Miller, Charles
C.
102
Russell, W. L.
102
Lima Views-
View from the Wapakoneta Road (1846) 76
View of Main Street in 1887. 138
Bird's-eye view, looking north from the Court House 150
Longcoy, J. M., M. D.
776
Ludwig, Isaac.
826
Ludwig, Mrs. Sophronia J.
826
McClure, Moses.
82
Mccullough Lake, Mccullough Park, Lima 150
Maltbie, Rev. Harrison. 358 Masonic Temple, Lima. 290 Miller, Hon. Azariah D. 538
Miller, Charles C., Ph. D. 16
Mitchell, Thornton T.
386
Moulton, Col. B. M ..
804
Oen, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. 862
Oil Industry Views-
An Oil Fire.
178
PAGE
Buckeye Pipe Line Building. ... 306
Longitudinal section of an oil-well. 174
Pumping an oil-well. 178
Shooting an oil-well. 178
Solar Oil Refinery.
178
Tank of burning crude petroleum. 170
Old Northwest, The (map) 33
Olson, Frederick O. 688
Opera House Block, Lima. 274
Pht's Cabin.
61
Prophet, Col. Hinchman S.
818
Pugh, Charles
600
Relics of Fort Amanda and Pioneer Days. 70
Richie, Hon. John E ..
428
Ridenour, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel O., and Family. 440
Robb, Hon. Theodore D.
468
Rusler, Hon. William
758
Russell, W. L.
420
St. Clair, Gen. Arthur
42
School Buildings --
East, Ruins of Old, Lima. 274
High, Lima. ..
268
St. Rose Parochial, Lima 274
Spencerville.
122
West, Old, Lima
274
Simons, Mr. and Mrs. Adam
798
Stadler, Charles E., M. D. 634
Steiner, David W., M. D. 662
Stephens, William H.
592
Subduers of the Wilderness
54
Tecumseh, Death of.
48
Terwilleger, Thompson R., M. D.
868
Thomas, B. F.
724
Thomson, Rev. Robert James, D. D.
254
Vortkamp, H. F.
848
Walter, Mr. and Mrs. J. H.
606
Wayne, Gen. Anthony.
42
Western Country in
the
Revolution,
The,
(map)
2.4
White, Mrs. Ann Eliza, Mrs. Laura Edgecomb, Mrs. Ida Edella Fetter, Mrs. Eva Wingate, Edrow Wingate, Mrs. Sarah Alice Witherill, Mrs. Mrytle Simmons and Hobart Sin-
771 White, Reuben, Mrs. Rebecca M. White, Mrs. Sarah Alice Witherill, Mrs. Mrytle Simmons and Hobart Simmons. 770
Wykoff. Garrett.
406
Y. M. C. A. Building, Lima
306
History
history of Allen County
L
CHAPTER
THE OLD NORTHWEST
Allen County and the Ordinance of 1787-Five New States-Marvelous Growth of the Old Northwest-Greatness of Ohio-First Colony in the Wilderness-Ohio's First County and First Court-Gen. George Rogers Clark-The Struggle in Kentucky --- Clark's Expedition-Fall of Kaskaskia and Vincennes-Ownership of the New Territory-Lands Taken From the Indians-Black Hawk-His Wrongs-The Black Hawk War-The Wilderness Subdued.
Allen County, Ohio, formed a part of the Old Northwest. By the celebrated Ordinance of 1787 the territory "northwest of the river Ohio" was to be divided into not less than three nor more than five sections or States. By the same law it was provided that "when- ever any of the said States shall have sixty thousand free inhabitants therein, such State shall be admitted, by its delegates, into the Congress of the United States, on equal foot- ing with the original States, in all respects whatever; and shall be at liberty to form a permanent constitution and State govern- ment." ( Article V, Ordinance of 1787.)
Acting under, this provision of our organ- ic law, Ohio became a State, February 19, 1803. and Allen County, as a part of Ohio, en- tered upon her history-making career, though the county had not yet been organized. There were five States carved out of the Old 1
Northwest-Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, making a total area of 250,- 000 square miles. At the time of the passage of the Ordinance of 1787 it is probable there were not more than 60,000 "free inhabitants" in the entire five States. Today there are more than 16 millions. In this section-the Old Northwest-we find now the largest lakes, joined by silvery rivers and canals, the richest mine deposits, and the most fertile soil in North America, if not in the world. Here are the longest rivers-and upon their banks sit in pride and majesty the noble cities from whose factories and mills come the clothing and food that help to feed and to protect the hungry millions of earth. The citizenship of this sec- tion is among the most enlightened and pro- gressive, Ohio alone having furnished six Presidents of the United States, one Vice- President, three Presidents of the Senate, one
.
18
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
Speaker of the House, two chief justices, five associate justices and 22 cabinet officers. In addition, there is a long list of distinguished senators, inventors, authors and scholars; like- wise
In army and navy our quota is full And you can on our fighting rely.
For many years after the coming of the white men, the American Indians-the orig- inal owners of the soil-made life a burden for these white men who were often forced to bare their breasts upon "upland glade or glen" to the tomahawk, the poisoned arrow and the fagot. The soil was redeemed for the white men by the veterans of three wars. It was red- dened by the blood of the Indian, the French, the English and the American. It was con- secrated by the death of many a noble son.
But the great ordinance did more than to provide for the admission of States-it had strong provisions in regard to slavery and ed- ucation. "There shall be neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude in said territory, other- wise than in the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted." No such expression had yet been seen in any document ; and this is all the more wonderful and noble, when we recall the fact that, at that time, all the original States had slaves. From this can be traced the liberty-loving sen- timent ever afterward found in the people of the Northwest. But this is not all. The great document resounded throughout the wilder- ness, as with a Titan's voice, the cause of re- ligion and education : "Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good gov- ernment and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." The 16th sec- tion of every township of 36 sections was set aside for the maintenance of common schools in each of these five States. This generous grant on the part of the general government gave to these five States five million acres. From the sale of this land the schools have realized more than 20 million dollars. The spirit of this section of the ordinance spread
to all the Western States and they now have magnificent school funds. The ordinance also gave to each State one township entire for the maintenance of a university. In Ohio this township is located in Athens County, and thus grand old Ohio University, at Athens, orig- inated, and is, in part, sustained to-day. It is the oldest university west of the Alleghany Mountains. Thus was the fund for education in Allen County begun, and it has been gen- erously increased by liberal donations from the State and from private funds.
FIRST COLONY IN THE WILDERNESS.
In 1787 Rev. Manasseh Cutler led a band of intrepid pioneers into the wilderness, and they formed the first colony or settlement in what is now Ohio, at Marietta. They named their camp "Marietta," after the beautiful French Queen, Marie Antoinette. Before the first year had passed. Marietta had 132 men and 15 families. The first Fourth of July, 1788, was right royally celebrated in this new home of liberty. On the 15th of that month,
COURT
"OYEZ! OYEZ!" A court crier of the early days. Courtesy of the American Book Co.
the first Governor of the Northwest Territory, Gen. Arthur St. Clair, arrived and took charge of affairs. He was well received by the people,
19
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
and most heartily supported by them. Gover- nor St. Clair soon began the work of organiza- tion and he laid out Ohio's first county ( 1788), which embraced about all of the eastern half of Ohio, and which he named Washington County. A sheriff, judges and other officers were appointed, and on Campus Martius. the first court in Ohio was opened in the block house. This was a great event, for on that day law and order began in the wilderness. The beginnings of great things are always of deep interest, and this interest grows with each decade. This beginning of established law was thus announced from the door of the log cabin court house, on Campus Martius. in the fall of 1788, by the newly appointed sheriff in these words :- "Oyez! Oyez! A court is now open for the administration of even-handed justice, to the poor and to the rich, to the guilty and to the innocent, with- out respect of persons; none to be punished without trial by their peers, and then in pur- suance of the laws and evidence in the case." From this first county of Ohio, the number has grown to 88, and courts of justice are estab- lished in each county.
GEN. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.
The history of the Old Northwest cannot be told without relating the great work of George Rogers Clark. It would really be the play of "Hamlet" with Hamlet omitted. He was born in Virginia in 1752, and was a bro- ther of Capt. William Clark, whose great jour- ney of 8,000 miles into the Oregon country, 1804-06, in company with Capt. Meriwether Lewis, a grateful nation is this year ( 1905) commemorating by a World's Fair at Port- land, Oregon. George Rogers Clark was made a brigadier general in 1781, but is gen- erally known in history, especially during the campaign in the Old Northwest, as Colonel Clark. He was only 20 years old when he plunged into the unbroken wilderness of Ohio, as a soldier and surveyor of Lord Dunmore's expedition. He was as fine a rifleman as ever entered a forest, and he was skilled in all the knowledge of woodcraft. As a soldier he was
brave and manly ; as a commander he was sa- gacious, patient and fearless. The Indians respected and feared him alike, and gave him and his men the title of "The Long Knives."
In 1775, at the close of Dunmore's War, Clark went to Kentucky, where he assisted Daniel Boone to fight Indians, and to build a new commonwealth in the wilderness. On his return to his old home in Virginia, he learned that the War for Liberty had actually begun between the Colonies and England-the mo- ther country. One year later we again find him in Kentucky, aiding the settlers on the borders in many ways. He is chosen by them to command the rude militia of this country, and it proved a wise choice. Every settlement was in constant danger of attack by the blood- thirsty Indians, and Clark knew full well how to resist them. But Virginia was claiming ownership of this country of Kentucky-"the dark and bloody ground"-and the hardy set- tlers thought they should have some protection from Virginia. At last two delegates, Clark being one, were chosen to go to Virginia and see the Governor and ask for the aid so justly due them. These determined delegates ob- tained an interview with the Governor of Vir- ginia-then the noted Patrick Henry-and very forcefully showed him their needs and the ne- cessity of immediate action. They petitioned for the formation of their, country into an in- dependent county, and that they might be al- lowed to assist the Colonies in their struggle against the tyranny of England. They also asked for 500 pounds of gunpowder and a supply of rifles. The Governor was at first inclined to refuse these requests on the ground that Virginia had all she could manage in the defense of the Colonies. But Colonel Clark told him plainly that a country that was not worth defending was not worth claiming. The delegates obtained their desired arms and am- munition, and when the Legislature next met the County of Kentucky was formed, with al- most the identical boundaries as now mark the State of Kentucky.
General Hamilton, the British command- er at Detroit, had set a price upon every settler's scalp in the Ohio Valley, and in
20
HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY
the spring of 1777 the Indians had been so incited to cruelty and bloodshed by the promise of pay on the part of the British, that they made constant raids on the settlements across the Ohio. Hiding in the dense forest, they boldly attacked the unprotected and helpless pioneer while at work in his field, burned his cabin, destroyed his cattle and his crops and carried his wife and children into hellish captivity. Not a single life was safe, for there was always a hidden dusky foe on every hand. Unless re- lief could be obtained soon, all the whites in the valley would be destroyed. Relief came- and under the guiding hand of the brave young Clark. He conceived the plan of not only protecting the settlements, but of saving the great Northwest. But to carry out his plans he must have more men, and he therefore hur- ried back to Virginia, and laid his plans fully before Governor Patrick Henry. He was duly commissioned to raise seven companies of 40 men each among the settlers west of the Alle- ghany Mountains. As, an incentive each sol- dier was promised 300 acres of land, to be se- lected from the richest valleys of the conquered territory. Thus originated the Virginia Mil- itary Reservation, between the Scioto and Miami rivers in Ohio, and the Reservation, now in the State of Indiana, for Clark and his soldiers.
In May. 1778, he started on the famous ex- pedition from Redstone Old Fort-Brownsville. Pennsylvania-with only about 150 men. But the band increased in size as it marched on to old Fort Pitt, where it embarked upon the Ohio. When Colonel Clark left the Governor of Virginia, he was entrusted with two specific commands. One was to protect the settlers in Kentucky, and the other-not yet to be made public-authorized him to attack Kaskaskia, a British post on the Kaskaskia River, one mile east of the Mississippi. Governor Henry also gave him $1,200, and an order on the com- mandant at Fort Pitt for all the powder he might need. From this fort the little band of men, without uniforms, fresh from the cabin. the forest and the mountain, began their per- ilous journey to conquer what has proved to
be as rich a country as can be found upon the globe. A motley crowd they were! Clad only in the garb of the hunter, and armed with the clumsy flint-lock rifle, the tomahawk and the long knife. But each man felt that he had a mission to perform, and under the leadership of the "Hannibal of the West," he knew not defeat. At the falls of the Ohio, the army of backwoodsmen halted and camped on "Corn Island," opposite the present site of Louisville. Here the settlers, who had accompanied the ex- pedition, decided to remain, and build their homes. Colonel Clark drilled his soldiers here, then boldly informed them of his secret com- mission from Governor Henry to attack the British post at Kaskaskia. Cheers from the sol- diers followed the announcement. Clark wise-
A BACKWOODSMAN.
A type of the men known to the Indians as "Long Knives." Courtesy of the American Book Co.
ly decides to make the journey by land, and therefore hides his little flotilla near the mouth of the Tennessee and begins his journey through the tangled forest. This journey was filled with dangers and difficulties, but, on the night of July 4. 1778, he surprises the gar- rison and captures the fort and the town. By a masterful management he brought all the inhabitants to take the oath of allegiance to the United States-and that without shedding blood. The British colors were lowered, and
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