USA > Ohio > Ashland County > History of Ashland County, Ohio > Part 13
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"Society in those days had been worked up to a fearful spirit of revenge. Men had suffered under Indian outrages until their natures became fierce and drove out that high sense of human love taught by the Savior, and they went forth, guns in their hands, to hunt and shoot Indians as though they were wolves or bears."
THE ZEIMER MASSACRE
At the northern limit of Blackfork settlement in the year 1812 there lived a Pennsylvania German named Martin Ruffner. The Ruffner cabin stood about a mile northwest of Mifflin and about a half mile west of Staman sawmill on the Ruffner run. Ruffner had in his employ a German boy who is known by the historical sobriquet of "Billy Bunting."
The Zeimer cabin was further down the valley and nearer the old Indian village of Greentown. The cabin stood on an elevation near a fine spring of pure water and a clear babbling stream. All was forest then except the clear- ings in which the cabins stood. The Zeimer family at that time consisted of Frederick Zeimer and wife, their son Philip and their daughter Kate.
A few days after the burning of Greentown, a party of Indians was seen by Billy Bunting sitting on a log between the Ruffner and Zeimer cabins. They inquired if Ruffner and Philip were at home. Billy told them that Ruffner was at home and that Philip was at his home. The Indians started toward the Zeimer cabin, and Billy hastened to inform Ruffner what had transpired. Ruffner took his rifle and deployed around the Indians, reaching the Zeimer cabin in advance of the savages. A consultation was held. Philip suggested that he had better go and inform the settlers further down the valley and secure their assistance. Ruffner first objected to this, thinking that if Philip remained and they were attacked they could kill the savages themselves. Finally, it was agreed that Philip should go and inform James Copus, John Lambright and
TIMES - GAZETTE. DAILYAWEEKLY. JOB . PRINTING
NORTH ORANGE STREET, ASHLAND
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other settlers of the approach of the Indians and ask them to return with him. As the settlers lived several miles apart, it took Philip some time to make the trip. As the Indians were afraid of Ruffner, it was not thought they would attack the family while he was there.
Soon after Philip had left the house the Indians arrived, and seemed sur- prised at finding Ruffner there. The Indians had frequently been at Zeimer's, especially Kanotche, who had tried to shoot Philip the day before, claiming he was shooting at a bear. The savages seemed sullen, evincing that their call was not a friendly one. For some time a desultory conversation was held at intervals, but finally the actors to the impending tragedy sat and eyed each other in silence, conflicting emotions, no doubt, passing through the mind of each. Ruffner, the valiant German, sat like a Trojan soldier between the help- less family and their savage foes. They seemed to suspect the cause of Philip's absence, and would cast glances at each other and then at Ruffner, who had his eyes riveted upon them, watching them closely.
Finally, when suspense could be bourne no longer, the Indians sprang to their feet with a yell of demoniacal fury, and made a rush at the brave Ruffner, who shot his foremost assailant dead, and clubbing his rifle, felled another pros- trate to the floor. As he struck at the third, he accidently hit the stock of his rifle against a joist, and the Indians, taking advantage of the mishap, fired upon him, two shots taking effect, either of which would of itself have been fatal. They dragged the body of the dying man into the yard, and inhumanly removed his scalp ere he expired.
At the beginning of the assault Kate fainted. When she regained con- sciousness she realized that Ruffner had been killed, and, seeing them assault her aged parents, she again fell in a swoon, unconsciousness kindly veiling from her sight the horrible spectacle. I, too, would fain turn a page rather than further prolong this story of blood, but history is remorseless and must be written whether its narration brings smiles or tears.
When Kate recovered and realized the awful butchery that had been com- mitted, her grief gave vent in heart piercing shrieks and lamentations whose intensity should have reached the calloused hearts of even those inhuman savages. But instead she was ordered by her relentless foes to give them her father's money and the valuables of the family, and as she complied with their demand, her bethrothal ring was rudely taken from her finger. But they did not then spare her life, for Kanotche, raising his tomahawk, buried it in her brains, and she fell upon the hearth, mingling her life's blood with that of her parents.
The account of this tragedy was given some time later by Kanotche himself while he was confined as a prisoner in the jail at New Philadelphia.
The principal motive which led to the murder of the Zeimers was that of robbery, as they were regarded as quite wealthy and were known to possess considerable money.
When Philip returned with his party, nature had already thrown her sable mantle of night over the valley. Except for the occasional hooting of an owl there was almost death-like stillness. No breath of wind stirred the leaves of the forest, and the stars shown with a pale, flickering light.
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As the party neared the cabin no light was seen and all was quiet and still within. After a consultation, Mr. Copus advanced alone to the rear of the house and tried to peer through its four-light window, but nothing could be seen in the darkness within. He then cautiously crept upon his hands and knees around to the front of the building, and finding the door ajar, endeavored to push it further open, but found something against it like a body, on the inside. He then placed his hands through the opening of the door and found that the floor was covered with blood.
Returning to the party, he thought it best not to tell Philip what he had discovered, fearing that the Indians might still be in the house waiting the son's return. Enjoining silence he led them quietly away, and when at a safe distance, told them he feared the family had been taken prisoners, and that they had better go to the blockhouse for assistance.
Philip's anxiety for the safety of the family made him want to rush reck- lessly inside the house to learn their fate, but his friends restrained him and the weary, groping walk through the darkness to the blockhouse was commenced. A halt was made at a Mr. Hill's, where the town of Lucas now stands, and upon the break of day they proceeded to the Beam blockhouse on the Rocky Fork, where the first settlement in the county was made, and there got a detachment of troops and some settlers, who accompanied them back to the Zeimer cabin, where they found the dead and mutilated body of the brave Ruffner in the yard, and those of the family inside the house.
The grief of Philip was so great that many of the strong men present were moved to tears by witnessing his sorrow. Father, mother and sister all gone, and he left alone ! Would that he had shared their fate with them, was his wish. Kind friends tried to console him, while others dug graves and per- formed the last office that the living can do for the dead. They then returned to the blockhouse.
Philip gave his service to his country during the remainder of the war. Several years later he sold the farm to a Mr. Culler, whose descendants own it today, and upon the site of the ill-fated cabin a monument now stands, erected to the memory of the Zeimer family and Martin Ruffner who fell in their defense.
The Indians who committed these crimes were stragglers from the Green- town tribe, who returned for rapine and murder. Of the five who constituted the party, Ruffner killed two, whose bodies were carried away, as was the custom among the Indians, and the three survivors were afterward captured about five miles below New Phliadelphia, on what is now called Fern Island, a picnic resort on the C., L. & W. railway, near the Royal Clay works. The exciting and sen- sational events which followed their capture will be given later on.
Kate Zeimer was described by the writer's father, who lived a few miles further down the valley and often saw her, as being a beautiful girl, a brunette, rather stout in build, and of a cheerful disposition. She was engaged to be married to a man who lived near her former home in the east.
The month of September is regarded by many as being the most charming of the year. The hazy halo of the atmosphere with its languorous warmth are conducive to day dreaming. And there were days of dreaming, no doubt, for the beautiful Kate whose betrothed lover was soon to come to claim her as his
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bride. Days of roaming in the leafy forest or rowing upon the crystal lake; days of watching the crimson sunset shining redly through the darkness of the branches and glittering away as golden threads to a paradise too sweet to name; days when love seemed to fill the air and make music sweet in the rustle of the leaves; days when Kate wondered vaguely whether she was not dreaming happy dreams, dreams too enhancing to last, and they were for instead of bridal robe, the winding sheet was soon to be her habiliment.
The news of the murder of the Zeimer family caused the settlers to go to the blockhouse for safety, and nearly every cabin was left tenantless, and the country was filled with alarm, and not without cause, for other deeds of blood were soon to follow.
PURSUIT AND CAPTURE.
"They knew no dread of danger, When rose the Indian's yell; Right gallantly they struggled, Right gallantly they fell."
The massacre at the Zeimer cabin aroused the feelings of the people, not only in Richland, but in other counties, almost to frenzy and companies were organized at Wooster, New Philadelphia and other places to protect the settlers.
Captain Mullen commanded the Wooster company and Alex McConnel the one at New Philadelphia.
Of the five Indians who committed the Zeimer-Ruffner murders, two had been killed by the heroic Ruffner in his defence of the Zeimer family ere he himself fell in the murderous assault of the savages. Some weeks later the three surviving Indians of that murderous gang, after having been seen lurking near Odell's lake, were captured at Fern Island, five miles down the Tuscarawas river from New Philadelphia.
Fern Island is now a famous picnic resort and is reached by steam and electric cars both from New Philadelphia and Urichsville.
The Tuscarawas is, perhaps, the most poem-inspiring river in the state. It courses through one of Ohio's most fertile valleys with an ease and grandeur that is both restful and inspiring. As rays of light shine upon its dark waters they reflect emerald tints as though the bottom was paved with precious stones.
But the Indians had not sought that locality for its romantic beauty, nor because the waters of the Tuscarawas were wont to dazzle one with their diamond-like gleams, but for the protection the dense forests of that secluded isle would give them. The mark of Cain was upon them and the avenging Nemesis was following their trail. In that forest-embowered isle stood armies of ferns with nodding plumes and crimson falchions and among these the tired savages lay down to sleep.
Captain McConnel, hearing that Indians were upon the Island, marched his company over the "Plains" and when the destination was reached he left his men on the bank and swam his horse across the eastern branch of the river
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and, surprising the redskins, took them prisoners. On reaching the company with his prisoners, some of the men suggested that the Indians should be put to death. "Not until they have a trial according to law," said the captain. The prisoners were then marched up past the old site of Shoenbrun, to New Phila- delphia and there incarcerated in jail.
When the news of this capture reached Wooster the excitement there became intense and Captain Mullen marched his company to New Philadelphia to take summary vengeance upon the captives.
Henry Laffer, then sheriff of Tuscarawas county, called upon the citizens to turn out and protect the prisoners, which they refused to do. John C. Wright, an attorney from Steubenville, was in town, and volunteered his services to the sheriff. Mr. Wright was afterwards the judge of the court of that cir- cuit. Captain McConnel, Sheriff Laffer and Mr. Wright pleaded with the at- tacking party for the lives of the Indians and declared if the prisoners were molested it would be after they had walked over their dead bodies.
The . attack was finally abandoned and the company returned to Wooster. While in jail there, Kanotche made a confession to the sheriff, detailing the Zeimer-Ruffner murder, and the part he took in the same, admitting that he had killed Kate and that the principal motive for the crime was robbery. The other prisoners did not confess and Kanotche refused to either implicate or exonerate them.
The Indians were kept in jail until Governor Meigs arrived in New Phila- delphia, when they were turned over to the military authorities and were con- ducted by Lieutenant Shane of the regular army to the western part of the state, where, under the terms of a cartel, they, as prisoners of war, were released, the charge of murder not being placed against them.
While enroute, Lieutenant Shane, with his troops and prisoners, stopped over night at Newark, where an attempt was made by two recruits to buy drugs to poison the Indians, which shows the deep-seated feeling then existing against them on account of the atrocities and murders they had committed.
Returning again to the Blackfork settlement, to the locality where James Copus lived, on the east side of the stream, about midway between Mifflin and the old Indian village of Greentown, we are upon the memorable grounds where the sanguinary conflict took place between a large party of attacking Indians and Mr. Copus and a " corporal's guard" of soldiers. As we look about the place the various scenes of that bloody battle come up from the history of the past like a panoramic view before us. But few can walk indifferent and unmoved over fields of bloodshed and strife and the lapse of time only serves to enhance the memories of other years. And these are heightened by the thought that the relatives of many of our neighbors and friends shared in those conflicts.
Of the old-time families and their descendants of that historic neighborhood, the names of the following are recalled: Solomon Vail, William Kuntz, G. H. Mowry, A. Bowen, Samuel Wilson, Mr. Syler, Manuel Charles, George Bittinger, Philip Culler, Sebastian Culler, Mrs. Martha King, Harrison Hoover, W. Milligan, John Simpson, Simon Whitemyer, Mrs. Barrick, Curt Greenewald, William Lattimer, Mr. Giffen, Mrs. Harland and A. Milligan, the latter owning and residing on the Copus place.
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The name Zeimer was pronouunced by the Pennsylvania German settlers something like Zemer, and McGaw, in his romance, changed it to Seymour. The government deed was to Philip Zeimer and when the land was transferred to Mr. Culler, the deed was signed by Philip Zeimer and Elizabeth Zeimer, his wife.
Philip Zeimer married a Pickaway county woman soon after the close of the war, and the deed for the land in Richland (now Ashland) county, was executed May 1, 1815, before Thomas Mace, a justice of the peace in Pickaway county.
Captain James Cunningham, who had charge of the troops at the burial of the Zeimers, dispatched couriers in all directions to inform the settlers of what had occurred and to advise them to go to the blockhouses for protection. Captain Cunningham took in situations intuitively and was prompt and intrepid in action. He was the son of an Irishman who served in the Revolutionary war and helped to consecrate the battle field of Brandywine with his blood.
While our German citizens are no less brave and might more tenaciously hold a fort or endure a siege, the Irish have that dash and daring which wins applause and their bravery is equaled only by their chivalry. Moore, the great Irish poet, paid a deserved tribute to the honor of Erin's sons in his ballad, which is as immortal as it is beautiful :
"Rich and rare were the gems she wore, And a bright gold ring on her wand she bore ; But oh ! her beauty was far beyond Her sparkling gems, or snow-white wand.
'Lady, dost thou not fear to stray, So lone and lovely through this bleak way ? Are Erin's sons so good or so cold, As not to be tempted by woman or gold ?'
'Sir Knight, I feel not the least alarm,
No son of Erin will offer me harm ; For, though they love woman and golden store, Sir Knight, they love honor and virtue more !' On she went, and her maiden smile In safety lighted her 'round the isle; And blest forever is she who relied Upon Erin's honor and Erin's pride."
All the settlers of the Blackfork, James Copus and family included, had taken refuge in the blockhouses. But Mr. Copus soon became restless of con- finement in the Beam blockhouse and wanted to return home. He believed the Indians were all gone, but if any were lurking around, he felt confident they would do them no harm as he was their friend. When he stated that he in- tended to return to his cabin Captain Martin, the commandant at the blockhouse, protested against him taking such a step and told him he would endanger the lives of himself and family by doing so. Mr. Copus was a man of decided opinions and on the morning of the fourth day after the Zeimer murder, started with his wife and seven children to their forest home, a detail of nine soldiers going with them. Captain Martin, who was going out with a scouting party,
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promised to call and spend the night there. Finding no trace of the Indians and reconnoitering farther than they had intended to go, they did not get to the Copus home until noon the next day, too late to avert the fate that had fallen upon that household.
When the Copus party had arrived at the cabin they found things undis- turbed, with the stock grazing in the fields. The soldiers indulged in athletic sports during the day and, seeing no signs of Indians, felt no uneasiness for the safety of the family. However, Sarah, the twelve year old daughter of Mr. Copus, going into the field for potatoes for dinner, saw some Indians lurking there. This she did not tell, knowing her father did not believe they were near and, being a very strict man, would punish her for trying to raise an alarm.
As evening drew near, the sun gave a strange, weird aspect to the sky that seemed ominous of ill. Its rays melted into a transparent sheen that stretched over both hill and valley, casting a foreboding aspect upon the earth, which was remembered and commented upon in after years by those who witnessed the phenomenon.
Mr. Copus became apprehensive of danger and insisted upon the soldiers sleeping within the cabin, but, the night being warm, they preferred the barn, a few rods distant, but promised to come to the cabin at the morning's dawn.
As the night advanced, Mr. Copus' fears increased and the intervening hours were weary, sleepless, restless ones, and he told his family of his forebod- ings of dangers. Except the barking of the dogs, silence reigned without, but the death angel hovered over the valley.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND WORK OF "JOHNNY APPLESEED."
Upon the occasion of the unveiling of the monument erected to the memory of Johnny Appleseed, in the Sherman-Heineman park at Mansfield, Ohio, Novem- ber 9, 1900, A. J. Baughman, secretary of the Richland County Historical Society, and the author of this work, gave an address on the work, life and death of John Chapman, commonly called "Johnny Appleseed."
A. J. BAUGHMAN'S ADDRESS.
John Chapman was born at Springfield, Massachusetts, in the year 1775. Of his early life but little is known, as he was reticent about himself, but his half-sister who came west at a later period stated that Johnny had, when a boy shown a fondness for natural scenery and often wandered from home in quest of plants and flowers and that he liked to listen to the birds singing and to gaze at the stars. Chapman's passion for planting apple seeds and cultivating nurseries caused him to be called "Appleseed John,?' which was finally changed to "Johnny Appleseed," and by that name he was called and known everywhere.
The year Chapman came to Ohio has been variously stated, but to say it was one hundred years ago would not be far from the mark. An uncle of the late Rosella Rice lived in Jefferson county when Chapman made his first advent in Ohio and one day saw a queer looking craft coming down the Ohio river above Steubenville. It consisted of two canoes lashed together, and its crew was one
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man-an angular, oddly dressed person-and when he landed he said his name was Chapman, and that his cargo consisted of sacks of apple seeds and that he intended to plant nurseries.
Chapman's first nursery was planted nine miles below Steubenville, up a narrow valley, from the Ohio river, at Brilliant, formerly called Lagrange, opposite Wellsburg, West Virginia. After planting a number of nurseries along the river front, he extended his work into the interior of the state-into Richland county-where he made his home for many years. He was enterpris- ing in his way and planted nurseries in a number of counties, which required him to travel hundreds of miles to visit and cultivate them yearly, as was his custom. His usual price for a tree was a "fip penny-bit," but if the settler hadn't money, Johnny would either give him credit or take old clothes for pay. He generally located his nurseries along streams, planted his seeds, surrounded the patch with a brush fence, and when the pioneers came, Johnny had young fruit trees ready for them. He extended his operations to the Maumee country and finally into Indiana, where the last years of his life were spent. He revisited Richland county the last time in 1843, and called at my father's, but as I was only five years old at the time I do not remember him.
My parents, (in about 1827-35), planted two orchards with trees they bought of Johnny, and he often called at their house, as he was a frequent caller at the homes of the settlers. My mother's father, Captain James Cunningham, settled in Richland county in 1808, and was acquainted with Johnny for many years, and I often heard him tell, in his Irish-witty way, many amusing anec- dotes and incidents of Johnny's life and of his peculiar and eccentric ways.
Chapman was fairly educated, well read and was polite and attentive in manner and was chaste in conversation. His face was pleasant in expression, and he was kind and generous in disposition. His nature was a deeply religious one, and his life was blameless among his fellow men. He regarded comfort more than style and thought it wrong to spend money for clothing to make a fine appearance. He usually wore a broad-brimmed hat. He went barefooted, not only in the summer, but often in cold weather, and a coffee sack, with neck and armholes cut in it, was worn as a coat. He was about five feet nine inches in height, rather spare in build but was large boned and sinewy. His eyes were blue, but darkened with animation.
For a number of years Johnny lived in a little cabin near Perrysville (then in Richland county), but later he made his home in Mansfield with his half- sister, a Mrs. Broome, who lived on the Leesville road (now West Fourth street) near the present residence of R. G. Hancock. The parents of George C. Wise then lived near what is now the corner of West Fourth street and Penn avenue and the Broome and Wise families were friends and neighbors. George C. Wise Hiram R. Smith, Mrs. J. H. Cook and others remember "Johnny Appleseed" quite well. Mrs. Cook was, perhaps, better acquainted with "Johnny" than any other living person today, for the Wiler House was often his stopping place. The homes of Judge Parker, Mr. Newman and others were ever open to receive "Johnny" as a guest.
But the man who best understood this peculiar character was the late Dr. William Bushnell, father of our respected fellow townsman, the Hon. M. B.
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Bushnell, the donor of this beautiful commemorative monument, and by whose kindness and liberality we are here today. With Dr. Bushnell's scholastic at- tainments and intuitive knowledge of character he was enabled to know and appreciate Chapman's learning and the noble traits of his head and heart.
When upon his journeys Chapman usually camped out. He never killed anything, not even for the purpose of obtaining food. He carried a kit of cooking utensils with him, among which was a mush pan, which he sometimes wore as a hat. When he called at a house, his custom was to lie upon the floor with his kit for a pillow and after conversing with the family a short time, would then read from a Swendenborgian book or tract, and proceed to explain and extol the religious views he so zealously believed, and whose teachings he so faithfully carried out in his everyday life and conversation. His mission was one of peace and good will and he never carried a weapon, not even for self defense. The Indians regarded him as a great "Medicine Man," and his life seemed to be a charmed one, as neither savage man nor wild beast would harm him.
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