History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 8

Author: Hill, George William, b. 1823; Williams Bros
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: [Cleveland] Williams
Number of Pages: 896

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The legend connected with the settlement of the vil- lage is very interesting, and is based upon the recollec- tions of an old pioneer of Mohican township, Mr. Ben- jamin Tyler, of Tylerstown, Ohio .* In the spring of 1782, when Colonel William Crawford invaded the In- dian settlements of Upper Sandusky, he passed up the old Indian trail through White Eyes plains, in Tuscaraw- as county, and across the counties of Wayne, Holmes, Ashland, Richland and Crawford. As he approached the banks of the Mohican, he was closely watched by the Indians who beleagured his path. At that time, an In. dian village by the name of "Helltown," existed near the south line of what is now Green township, on the

banks of the Clear fork of the Mohican. Its inhabitants having learned the fate of the poor Moravians, their rel- atives, on the banks of the Tuscarawas, some months prior to the new invasion, fled to Upper Sandusky for safety. This village was the home of Thomas Lyon, Billy Montour, Thomas Jelloway, Billy Dowdy, Thomas Armstrong-chief -- and other leading Delawares: and the occasional residence of the noted Captain Pipe, who aided in the execution of the unfortunate Colonel Wil- liam Crawford.

The village probably derived its name from a Pennsyl- vania captive, who spoke the German language, "Hell," in that vernacular, signifying clear, light or transparent. It was, therefore, the village of the clear stream.

Tradition, as derived from the noted Thomas Lyon, in a conversation with Judge Peter Kinney, fixes the location of Greentown the year following Colonel Craw- ford's expedition, "Helltown" being abandoned as a vil- lage site. Thomas Armstrong, the ruling chief, with the original inhabitants of the village on the Clear fork, con- stituted, with a few Mingoes and Mohawks, the propri- etors of the new village. It was situated on a bluff or tongve of land extending to the north banks of the Black fork or "Armstrong's creek," and pretty nearly surrounded by alder marshes east, south, north and west, and was a strong position. The village site covered from three to four acres. The huts numbered perhaps from one hundred and fifty to two hundred, and were con- structed of poles, and covered with bark, and were irreg- ularly placed on the knoll, and surrounded a very hand- some play-ground, at the west side of which was a coun. cil house and a cemetery in a grove.

From 1783 to 1795 this village was a point on the route from Upper Sandusky to Fort Pitt, and many trembling captives passed through it on their way to Detroit or other points in the Indian country. Many captives on their return east mention "Greentown" and " Mohican Johnstown," places to which they were con- ducted during their captivity.

Having, for a long time, been curious to learn why the village should have been named "Greentown," the author accidentally ascertained that Mr. Benjamin Tyler and his ancestors had information concerning the fall of Wyoming that was, as yet, unwritten. We called upon him for the information desired. He stated that his parents had resided at an early day in the Mohawk val- ley, where he was born. Mr. Tyler came into Mollican township in 1814, and is now eighty-four years of age. In [So4 his father, Benjamin Tyler, sr., resided in Cayuga county, New York, and was visited by one Thomas Green, whom he had formerly known in New England, in company with two Delaware Indians from Ohio, who asked and obtained leave to stay all night. Mr. Tyler, having been acquainted in his boyhood in Connecticut with Mr. Green, desired to learn, during the conversations of the evening, where he had been for the twenty-five years prior to that time. Mr. Tyler had known thai Green was regarded as a tory, and had sym. pathized with the British and Indans in the destruction of the beautiful valley of Wyoming, and had fled to the

"Died in 1876.

-> INDIAN + VILLAGE& OF & GREENTOWN $ 1812->

HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

territory west of the Ohio river and made his home among the Ddawares. In response to the inquiry, Green gave. Mr. Tyler, in the presence of his sons, the late Major Tyler and Benjamin, a full recital of his advent- ures, among other things stating that he had founded a village on the waters of Mohican, which the Indians in honor of himself called "Greentown;" and that he possessed a great deal of influence over his Indian brethren. In a few days Green and his companions re- turned to the wilds of the Black fork, and were never again seen by Mr. Tyler.

Mr. Benjamin Tyler thinks Green subsequently died among the Greentown Indians, and now rests in the old Indian cemetery.

Mr. Tyler is regarded as a truthful man, and the fact that Billy Montour, Thomas Jelloway, and Thomas Lyons were at the destruction of Wyoming, gives weight to the legend as detailed by him. We are of opinion his statement is reliable. We may conclude then that the founding of Greentown took place in the year 1783. and that it was so named in honor of Thomas Green, a Connecticut tory who joined the Indians.

1634251

CHAPTER XIII. INDIAN TRAILS.

Ancient Indian Trails in Ashland County, from the period of the expe- ditions of Major Rogers and Colonel Crav ford.

AN examination of the maps and trails of the territory of Ohio throws much light on the expeditions of the In- dians against the border settlements in Pennsylvania and Virginia. A knowledge of those trails enabled the early settlers to trace the flight of the Indians to their villages on the Muskingum, and at Sandusky, after committing depredations upen the persons and property of the pion- eers. It was along these trails or paths that in subse- quent years many of the first settlers in Ohio traveled to locate lands, and finally reached their new homes, in the absence of roads through the forests.

It is a subject of remark that the Indian trails, as well as those of the buffalo, have furnished the best location for canals and railroads, not only in Ohio, but west of the Mississippi, where those trails have been followed through the mountain gorges, and along the streams and rivers until the Pacific has been reached. Fremont and Carson, and in faet all the earlier emigrants to the Pacific slope, were well aware of the superior engineering quali- ties of the Indian and the buffalo, and did not hesitate to follow the paths marked out by them.

In formier numbers we have alluded to certain expedi- tions, and paths of adventure through and across this county. It will, therefore, be interesting to notice the carly indian trails amid the forests and along the streams flowing through this county, and this, because along these trails many of the pioneers reached their future homes:

The first great trail was from fort DuQuesne to San- dusky. It commenced opposite the present site of Pitts- burgh and ran a little north of west to the mouth of Big Beaver, twenty-five miles; from thence to the junction of Sandy and Tuscarawas creeks at the south line of Stark county, ninety-one miles; from thence to the east line of Paint township in Wayne county, thence a little northwest through cast Union township, along the south side of where Wooster now is, and crossed Killbuck three or four rods north of the bridge of the Ashland road, and continued along south of Little Kill- buck, crossing the Muddy fork of Mohican near the present site of Reedsburgh thence to Mohican Johns- town, where it crossed the Jerome fork of Mohican, fifty miles; * thence probably by the route of Rogers to Junandot or Wyandot Town, (Castalia) in the county, forty-six miles; thence to Fort Sandusky, on Sandusky bay, four miles; thence to Fremont on Sandusky river, twenty-four miles ;--- the entire distance from Fort bu- Quesne being two hundred and forty miles by said trail. i We are inclined to the opinion that this was a much traveled trail for perhaps a century before the forests of Ohio had been penetrated and taken possession of by the European.

It is also quite certain that from Mohican Johnstown this trail branched off a little south of east passing through Plain township by the "Long Meadow," or perhaps a little south, by Mohican John's Lake in Clinton town- ship, in Wayne county, thence across Killbuck some twelve miles south of Wooster, where Rogers crossed that stream, and where we feel quite certain that Colonel Craw- ford also crossed, and encamped a short distance north of what is now known as Odel's lake, then known as Mohican John's Lake, on his expedition to the Moravian settlement on Sandusky creek, in Crawford county.

From Mohican Johnstown there was also a trail, running southwest, to the Delaware village of Greentown, by or near the former site of Goudy's old mill, to the Quaker springs, in Vermillion township; thence, con- tinuing southwest, over Honey creek, to the west part of Green township, to a point about three miles west of Perrysville. This trail was, subsequently, known as the old Portage road, ; and was traveled by many of the pioneers to their new homes in Green township. The trail continued thence, in the direction of the present site of Lucas, to near Mansfield.

From Mohican Johnstown there was also another trail, running up the east side of the Jerome fork, much traveled by the Menegans, in their hunting excursions on the Black river; and, in the north part of this county, to the junction of the Catotaway, in the eastern part

* We are indebted to Hon. H. Byers, of Wooster, for the course of the trail through Wayne county. Having access to the papers of Joseph 11. Larwill, now deceased, he findsa map, which was made at the land! office at Cincinnati at a very early day for Mr. Larwill's own use, and is no doubt positively acenr.de, as it was made from the field notes of the surveyors of whom he was one.

+ See Tayler's History of Ohio, page 103.

: The late judge Peter Kinney helped survey and open this path from New Inbon, Wooster, Jerome's place, Greentown, Frederick. town, and Clinton, Knox county. Ohso, as early as 1910. They followed the Trail

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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

of Montgomery township, where it crossed, and passed near the residence of Moses Latta and Burkholder's mill, and thence up the creek, past the old Gierhart farm. Here resided a proud old Indian hunter, named Catotawa, after whom the stream was undoubtedly named. Some of the pioneers of Montgomery remem- ber him well.

At, or near, the former residence of the late Mr. Samuel Burns there was another path, or trail, which ran past the residence of Mr. Newell, continuing up the creek, to the former residence of Daniel Carter, sr., a few hundred yards north of the bridge on the Harrisburgh road; thence, up the stream, to the present residence of Mr. David Sloan; thence to Mr. Leo Wertman's; thence to near the old Cunninghamn residence; and from thence to the Vermillion lake, and down the Vermillion river, in the direction of the Huron, into Richland county. This trail does not seem to have been traveled as much as that of the Catotaway.

There was also a trail passing down the east side of the Black fork from some point above Mifflin, to Green- town, where it met the trail from the direction of Lucas. From Greentown, as we are informed by colonel John Coulter, Mr. Alexander Rice and Mrs. Otho Simmons, who were among the earliest settlers in Green township, a trail passed down by the north side of the present site of Loudonville, nearly on the line of the Pittsburgh rail- road, continuing down the valley through the lands of the Priests, in Holmes county, towards the Lake fork of the Mohican .*

Another trail kept down the south side of the Black fork from Greentown to the Walhonding proper, and then to the forks of the Muskingum; and probably was the path of the Moravians when they were enroute to their new home on Sandusky creek. These trails at the arrival of the early settlers were well marked, and were traveled by hunting parties from Upper Sandusky; and were evidently their great highways to the Muskingum, as well as Tullihas, Gnadenhutten, Shoenb:un, and Fort DuQuesne, and the Indian village on Kiilbuck, called Beaver.

Like the buffalo, the Indians always march single file ; and their regular trails soon became so worn and distinct that they could easily be followed from point to point. When Rodgers passed over this country in 1761, he found the Indians in possession of horses, coirs and hogs and it is tolerably certain that the Wyandots and More- ¿ans sometimes traveled with horses, and this circum- stance also added to the distinctness of their trails. We are inclined to think that the elk and the buffalo had nearly disappeared from this region when Rodgers passed through to Pittsburgh, as they are rarely mentioned at that period.

* Another trail passed by the north shore of Odell's luke, thence a little northwest till it reached Priest's prairie, thener in a northwest direction north of the gap, passing near the residence of Waring Wolf, thence across the north part of the hands of Hunter, Thomas Maguire, and near tarey's corners, thence north of George Guthrie's. thence to Mr. Boughman's old farm, thence to and up the Rocky fork It was by this trai! that Colonel Crawford marched to Sandu .ky in 1732.

CHAPTER XIV.

INDIAN CUSTOMS.

Manners, Customs, and Religion of Northern Ohio Indians. -- Their Wigwams and Tents. - Making Sugar. -- Planting Corn.

BEFORE entering upon the pioneer history of the county, we deem it appropriate to discuss, at some length, the customs, habits, social relations and religion of the Indians of northern Ohio. The red men of this part of the State displayed many traits worthy of admi- ration by the civilized races. When we consider that for ages the Indian tribes in this region had lived in igno- rance of the laws and customs of the enlightened races of mankind, we are amazed at the purity of their morals, their comparative freedom from the vices of the white race, and their lofty conceptions of a Supreme Being, and of an existence after their departure, by death, from the hunting-grounds and forests of earth. The Indian of Ohio was proud, high-toned and chivalrous in a re- markable degree. The territories he inhabited, the streams along which he roamed, and the shores of the great lakes, were regarded as his property, given him by the Great Spirit as an inheritance for himself and his children forever. When he beheld the white race seiz- ing and occupying his lands without adequate compensa- tion, it is not a matter of surprise that be promptly re- sented such encroachments with all the means within his possession. Our fathers, for like reasons, repelled Brit- ish authority in 1776, and demanded self-government and independence. We offered no terms to the Indian, but submission or death.

WIGWAMS AND TENTS.

For a description of the wigwams and tents of the northern Ohio Indians, we return to the narrative of James Smith. * The winter cabin was generally about fifteen or twenty feet long, and constructed of small logs laid upon each other, posts being driven into the ground at each end to keep them together, the posts being tied at the top with bark, and by this means the wall was raised about four feet high; and in the same marner, another wall was raised opposite, about twelve feet dis- tant; they then drove forks into the ground in the n:id- dle of each end, and laid a strong pole from end to end on them, and from the walls to the pole they set up small poles for rafters, and on these tied small poles for laths, and covered them with lynn bark, which was peeled in wide strips, and carried off the rain, and kept the hut quite dry. The bark was raised by the tomahawk near the top of the tree in strips five or six inches broad, and sometimes a piece would be thirty or forty feet in length. This was cut in suitable lengths to cover a cabin. . \t the ends of the walls split timber was set, so that the sides and ends were enclosed by timber, excepting a door at each end, over which a bear skin was suspended. At the top an open place was left for the escape of smoke. Bark was laid down as a floor, and bear skins spread for beds From one end of the hut to the other, in the winter season, in the center, the squaws made fires of

. Frost and Drake's History of Indian Wars and Captivities with . U'sited Stites.

HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

dry, split wood. The holes between the logs were care- fully closed with moss, gathered from old logs. This species of cabin was mostly used by the Wyandots, Del- wieares, Miagoes, and Mohegans, and is described by Smith and other captives, as being very comfortable during the severest winters. The Offercas had a very useful and artistically constructed tent, which was made of flags plaited and stitched together in such manner as to turn rain or wind. Each mat was fifteen feet long, and about four feet wide. In order to erect this kind of tent, a nuniber of long straight poles were driven into the ground so as to form a circle, the upper ends ap- proaching together, so as to be tied. The mats were then spread on these poles, beginning at the bottom and extending up, leaving a small hole at the top to answer the place of a chimney. A fire of dry, split wood was made in the center, and bark and skins spread for beds, on which the Indians slept in a crooked posture, around the firc. For a door they lifted one end of the mat, and crept in, letting it fall down behind them. These tents were warm and dry, and generally quite free from smoke. Their fuel was generally split and prepared in the fall by the squaws, and kept under inverted birch canoes, where it was dry and free from rain. When the Ottawas tray- eled from one part of the forest to another, they took down their tents, and put them in large rolls, being very light; and they were removed by the squaws. This tent resembled those now in use in our armies on the plains, in many respects; and was superior to the far-famed Sib- ley tent. In the construction of tents, therefore, the children of the forest have evinced wonderful skill, tak- ing into account the materials out of which they were made.

MAKING SUGAR,

About the first of March the Indians commenced to tap sugar trees and make sugar. The sap was generally boiled in large brass or copper Lettles which they pur_ · chased from the French or English in exchange for val- uable furs. The manner of securing the water was very ingenious and successful. As elm bark will strip or run in the winter season, squaws cut down elm trees, and with a crooked stick, broad and sharp at the end, peeled the bark in wide strips, and made vessels in a curious manner that held two or three gallons cach. Of these they made one or two hundred; and then cut a sloping notch in the sugar tree and stuck a tomahawk at the end of the notch and drove in a long chip or spile to carry the water to the bark vessel. They generally selected the larger trees for tapping, as the water was deemed stronger and produced the most sugar. They also made bark vessels for carrying water, which held about four gallons each. Having generally two or three, and some- times six or seven, large kettles, they boiled the water very rapidly. When sap was produced faster than they could boil it away, they prepared vessels of bark that held about one hundred gallons each for the remaining water. Thus, they made sugar rapidh, and were always busy during the season. This sugar was generally mixed with bears' oil or fat until the fat was nearly as sweet as the sugar ; and into this the Indians dipped their roasted

venison. Sugar was sometimes kept in skins, but more frequently in bark vessels prepared for that purpose by the squaws. Bears' fat, when mixed with sugar. was put in vessels made of deer skins, which were pulled over the neck without ripping. The hair was then removed, and the skin gathered into small plaits round the neck and drawn together like a purse ; and in the center a pin was put, below which a string was tied ; and when the skin was wet it was blown up like a bladder, and let remain so until it was dry, when it appeared nearly in the form of a sugar loaf. One of these vessels would hold four or five gallons. In such vessels they carried bears' oil also.

PLANTING CORN.

When the season for planting corn arrived, the Indian women busied themselves in clearing a spot of rich soil for that purpose. Having prepared the ground with their rude hoes, they planted and cultivated it, and kept down the weeds with wonderful industry, until it had ma- tured sufficiently for use. Their cornfields were mostly in the vicinity of the villages, and in favorable seasons yielded plentifully. The squaws took charge of the cut- ture of corn exclusively. When Smith was among the Wyandots, the squaws requested hiin one day to take a hoe and help them. He did so, and says:

The squaws applauded me as a good hand at the bosiness, but when I returned to the town, the old men, hearing of what I had done, chided me, and said I was adopted in the place of a great man, and must not hoe corn like a squaw. They never had occasion to reprove me again, as I never was extremely fond of work.

It was the task of the Indian women to cultivate corn, pound and prepare the hominy, cut and carry wood, and, in fact, do all the drudgery, while the men pursued and captured the game, defended the wigwams and went to war. After the corn had ripened, it was parched, put in a rude wooden mortar, or on a flat stone, and pounded into a sort of meal, which was mixed with sugar, and sometimes a little bears' fat, and put in skin and bark vessels for future use; and is said to have been a palata- ble and nourishing food.

As corn (zca) was indigenous to this continent, and never seen in Europe until about the year 1495, it may be interesting to recite the Indian legend concerning its origin and ase." The legend runs thus:

In times past, a poor Indian was living, with his wife and children in a beautiful part of the country. He was not only poor, but inexpert in procuring food for his family, and his children were all too young to give him assistance. Although poor, he was a man of kud and con- tented disposition. He was always thankful to the Great Spuit for everything he received. The same disposition was Inherited by lis el.t- est son, who had now arrived at the proper age to undertake the cure- mony of the Ke-ig-nish im-o-win, or fast, to see what kind of a spirit would be his guide and guardian through life. Wunch, for this was his name, had been an obedient boy from his infancy, and was of a pensive, thoughtful, and wild disposition, so that he was beloved by the whole family. As soon as the first indications of spring appeared. they built him the customary inthe bulge, at a retired spot, some des-

"Indian Tales and Legends, by Henry K. Schoolcraft, volle t. page 122. Of course, tins to a myth, but I. nevertheless everis. I interesting, a od evinces some of the mental characteristics of the in. dian. The boundaries between truth and fictions ste but well's de finea among the aborigines of the continent. All their knowledge is mine up of the mist recollections of tradition, stad reads more like a tury tode than reality.

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HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

tance from their own, where he would not be disturbed during this solemn rite. In the meantime he prepared himself, and immediately went into it and commenced his fast. The first few days he amused himself in the mornings, by walking in the woods, and over the moun- tains. examining the early plants and flowers, and. in this way, pre- pired himself to enjoy his sleep; and, at the same time, stored his mind wtih pleas int ideas for his dreams. While he rambled through the woods, he felt a strong desire to know how the plants, herbs, and berries grew without aid from any man; and why it was, that some species were good to eat, and others possessed medicinal or poisonous jaices. He recalled these thoughts to mind, after he became too lan- guid to walk about, and had confined himself strictly to the lodge; he wished he could dream of something that would prove a benefit to his father and family, and to all others. "True!" he thought, "the Great Spirit made all things, and it is to him that we owe our lives. But could he not make it easier for us to get our food. than by hunting an- imals and taking fish? I must try to find out this in my visions."

On the third day he became weak and faint, and kept his bed. He fancied, while thus lying, that he saw a handsome young man coming down from the sky, and advancing toward him. lle was richly and gaily dressed, having on a great many garments, of green and yellow colors, but differing in their deeper or lighter shades. He had a plume of waving feathers on his head, and all his motions were graceful.

"I am sent to you, my friend," said the celestial visitor, "by that Great Spirit who made all things in the sky and on the e irth. He has scen and knows your motives in fasting. He sees that it is from a kind and benevolent wish to do good to your people and to procure a bene- fit for them, and that you do not seek for strength in war or the praise 'of warriors. I am sent to instruct you and show you how you can do your kindred good." He then told the young man to arise and pre- pare to wrestle with him, and it was only by this means that he could hope to succeed in his wishes. Wunzh knew he was weak from fast- ng, but he felt his eourage rising in his heart, and immediately got up, "determined to die rather than fail. He commenced the trial, and, · after a protracted effort, was almost exhausted, when the beautiful stranger said: "My friend, it is enough for once; I will come again to try you;" and, smiling on him, he ascended in the air in the same di- rection from which he came. The next day the celestial visitor re-ap- peared at the same hour and renewed the trial. Wunzh felt that his strength was even less than the day before, but the courage of his mind seemed to increase in proportion as his body became weaker. Seeing this, the stranger again spoke to him in the sam. words he used be- fore, adding, "To-morrow will be your last trial. Be strong, my friend, for this is the only way you can overcome me and obtain the boon you seek. On the third day he again appeared at the same time and renewed the struggle. The poor youth was very faint in body, but grew stronger in mind at every contest, and was determined to prevail or perish in the attempt. He exerted his utmost powers, and after the contest had been continued the usual thne, the stranger ceased his efforts and declared himself conquered. For the first time he entered the lodge, and sitting down beside the youth, he began to deliver his instructions to him, telling him in what manner he should proceed to take advantage of his victory.

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History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 8

Author: Hill, George William, b. 1823; Williams Bros Publication date: 1880 Publisher: [Cleveland] Williams Number of Pages: 896

Author: Hill, George William, b. 1823; Williams Bros
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: [Cleveland] Williams
Number of Pages: 896