History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 9

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

USA > Ohio > Ashland County > History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 9

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

" You have won your desires of the Great Spirit, " said the stranger. "You have wrestled manfully. 'To-morrow will be the seventh day of your fasting. Your father will give you food to strengthen you, and it is the last day of trial, you will prevail. I know this, and now tell you what you must do to benefit your family and your tribe. "To- morrow," he repeated, " I shall meet you and wrestle with you for the last time; and, as soon as you have prevailed against me, you will strip off my garments and throw me down, clean the earth of roots and weeds, make it soft, and bury me in the spot. When you have donc this, leave my body in the earth and do not disturb it, but come occasionally to visit the place to see whether ! have come to hfe, and be careful never to let the grass or weeds grow on my grave. Once a month cover ine with fresh earth. If you follow my instructions you will accomplish your object of doing good to your fellow creatures by teaching them the knowledge I now teach you " He then shook him by the hand and disappeared.

In the morning the youth's father came with some refreshments, say- ing, "My son, you have fasted long enough. If the Great Spirit will favor you, he will do it now. It is seven days sin & you have taken food, and you must not sacrifice your life. "The Master of lite does not require that." "My father," replied the youth, "wait till the shad goes down. I have a particular reason for extending my fast to that hour." "Very well," said the old man, "} shall wait till the hour arrives, and you feel inclined to cat."

At the usual hour of the day the sky visitor returned, and the trial of strength was renewed. Although the youth had not availed himself of his father's offer of food, he felt that new strength had been given to him, and that exertion had renewed his strength and fortified his cent. age. He grasped his angelic antagonist with supernatural strength, threw him down, took from him his beautiful garments and plume, and finding him dead, immediately buried bim on the spot, taking all the precautions he had been told of, and being very confident at the same time, that his friend would come to life. He then returned to his father's lodge and partook sparingly of the meal that had been pre- pared for him. But he never for a moment forgot the grave of kis friend. He carefully visited it throughout the spring, and weeded out the grass, and kept the ground in a soft and pliant state. Very soon he saw the tops of the green plumes coming through the ground ; and the more careful he was to obey his instructions in keeping the ground in order, the faster they grew. He was, however, careful to conceal the exploit from his father. Days and weeks had passed in this way. The summer was now drawing towards a close, when one day, after a long absence in hunting, Wunzh invited his father to follow him to the. quiet and lonesome spot of his former fast. The lodge had been re- moved, and the weeds kept from growing on the circle where it stood, but in its place stood a tall and graceful plant, with bright-colored silken -hair, surmounted with nodding plumes and stately leaves, and golden clusters on each side. "It is my friend," shouted the lad; "it is the friend of all mankind. It is Mondawmin. We need no longer rely on hunting alone; for, as long as this gift is cherished and taken care of, the ground itself will give us a living. " He then pulled an ear. "See, my father, said he, "this is what I fasted for. The Great Spirit has listened to my voice and sent us something new ; and henceforth our people will not alone depend upon the chase or upon the waters."

He then communicated to his father the instructions given him by the stranger. He told him that the broad husks must be torn away as he had pulled off the garments in his wrestling ; and having done this, directed him how the car must be held before the fire till the outer skin beeame brown, while all the milk was retained in the grain. The whole family united in a feast on the newly-grown ears, expressing gratitude to the Merciful Spirit who gave it. So corn came into the world, and has ever since been preserved.

CHAPTER AV.

INDIAN CHARACTERISTICS

Indian Endurance. --- Bear Hunting. - Indian Courtship and Marriage .-- Matrimonial Fideliy .- Wampum. - Indian Doctors.

NOTHING is more astonishing in the Indian character than their powers of endurance. They have been known to travel one thousand miles through the track- less forests, over mountains, wide spreading prairies and across numberless streams and rivers, on the most men- gre supply of food, sleeping upon the ground at night, with nothing to protect them but a blanket wrapped around their bodies, and a small fire at their feet. With a belt or girdle drawn around their bodies, a little sack or pouch of parched corn swung by their side, with rifle and ammunition, they pushed boldly along, and thus accomplished the most surprising journeys in an in- credibly short period. That the reader may be able to judge the accuracy of this statement, and fully compre- lend Indian endurance as compared with a mest striking example of fleetness among the white race, we will allow James Smith to relate an adventure with hi, Indian brother Tontileaugo, while a captive in 1756 among the Mohegans, Ollawas and Wyandot of noritein Ohio. At that time the part of the tribe to which he was at-

ஜி

HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

Un Ind, was encamped on the Canesadooharie or Black Evet, not a great ways from the present site of Elyria, in Lorain county. Food was excessively scarce in that Irgion, and Tontileaugo proposed to Smith to take a hat on the head branches of that stream where they inter- ikk; with the Mohican and other branches of the Musk- mgundl. Smith expressed a willingness to accompany him, knowing that he was an expert hunter. Having jutt up some sugar and bears' oil, and a little dried venison, they ascended the east branch of the Canesadooharie or Black river, about thirty-five miles and encamped. This was about the close of the winter months. They succeed- ed remarkably well in procuring game. While engaged w hunting, they discovered a stray horse, mare and colt that had been running in the woods all winter, and were 1) very good order. There was plenty of grass in that region all winter under the snow, and horses accustomed to feeding in the woods could work it out. These animals had become very timid and wild in consequence of net meeting with Indians or white people. Ton- tileango poposed to run them down. We will now permit Smith to relate, in his peculiar style, the balance of the enterprise. He says:

"T'ontileaugo one night eoneluded that we must run them down. I told him I thought we could not accomplish it. He said he had run Sown tears, buffaloes and elks; and in the great plains, with only a -mall snow on the ground, he had run down a deer; and he thought that in one whole day he could tire or run down any four-footed animal eurpt a wolf. I told him that though a deer was the swiftest animal to Jun a short distance, yet it would tire sooner than a horse. He said he . all it all events try the experiment. He had heard the Wyandots sortint 1 could mean well, and -now he would see whether I could or 2. I told lum I never had run all day, and, of course, was not ac- ."-wik ! to that way of running. I never had run with the Wyandots 8 . !! ho, sin or right miles at a time. He said that was nothing, wot raftp. catch these horses or n. all day. In the morning early w heft wany. and about sunrise we started after them, stripped naked is opting brech cours and moccasins. About ten o'clock I lost sight 4 1. 41 1- mileango and the horses, and did not see them again until nom trendock in the afternoon. As the horses run all day in almost there of four miles square, at length they passed where I was, and I fi in clave atter them. As I then had a long rest, I endeavored to Arep .the tl of Tontileaugo, and after some time I could hear him after me colling chako. ehako-anaugh, which signifi .. s, pull away, or do jout last. We pursued on, and, about an hour before sundown, we despured of eatching the horses, and returned to camp, where we had !- fi our clothes. I reminded Tontileaugo of what I had told him; he replied he did not know what horses could do. They are wonderful trung to run; but withal we have made them very tire i. Tontiienngo then concluded he would do as the Indians did with wild horses when wat at war; which is, to shoot them through the neck under the manc, und dove the home, which will cause them to fall and lie until they can I der them, and then they recover again. This he attempted to do; Imt, a the nare wis very wild, he could not get sufficiently near to shot her in the proper place; however, he shot, the ball passed to low, and killed her. As the horse and colt stayed at this place, we caught the horse, and took him and the colt with us to eamp.'

We incline to the opinion that this remarkable race took place within the present limits of Sullivan township, in this county, and the west part of Homer township, in Medina county, on the east branch of Black river. If the reader will take a rule, and measure by townships, from a point a mile or two above Elyria, on Black river, thirty-tonr or thirty five miles, in a southwesterny direc- tion, he will strike that branch in Sullivan and Homer townships. Concluding that the locality is accurately ascertained, we will have to yield to Sullivan township

the honor of the first horse-race within the limits of Ash- land county.

BEAR HUNTING.

The Canesadooharie or Black river had been famous among the aborigines of northern Ohio, for the number and largeness of its bears, for more than half a century prior to the arrival of the pioneers. Some of the pio- neers, yet surviving, of this county, visited the sources of Black river in search of bruin nearly fifty years ago, and relate many stirring adventures in search of him. It may not be known to the reader, that it was the habit of those animals, in the early part of winter, to select holes in large trees, or make a lair or nest in the alder- bush jungles, where they remained three or four months without cating or drinking! This may appear incredible, but it is declared to be a well-known fact among expe- rienced pioneer hunters. In ascending large trees, to reach the holes, the bark was scratched or torn by these animals in climbing, and the hunter had but little diffi- culty in ascertaining where they had lodged for the win- ter. The Indian hunters had observed all these signs, and rarely failed to rouse the bear from his comfortable home. Tontileaugo and Smith resorted to the following piece of strategy, which was the common mode of half a century after he left the Black river region. They felled a sapling or small tree against or near the hole; and it was the business of Smith to climb up and drive out the bear, while Tontileaugo stood ready with his gun and bow. They once found a bear about forty fect up in an elm. Tontileaugo got a long pole and some dry decayed wood, which he tied in banches with bark, and climbed the tree, carrying with him the decayed wood, pole and fire. He then placed his rotton wood on the end of the pole, and setting it on fire, thrust it into the hole. He soon heard the bear snuff, and then descended rapidly to the ground, seized his gun, and waited until it came ont; but it was then too late to sec the sights of his gun, and setting it down by a tree, he instantly bent his bow, took an arrow, and shot the bear behind the shoulder, and it soon fell to the ground. Occasionally they resorted to the expedient of cutting down large trees with their tomahawks, to secure their game.

The attack of those animals within the jungles was more dangerous, but it was rare that they escaped the unerring aim of the indian hunter. At the season of the year when these animals ascended large trees to their holes, the bark was scratched or torn by the bear in climbing, and the hunter had but little difficulty in ascer- taining where his game had lodged for the winter. Those animals were generally very fat, and were prized very highly by the Indians for their oil and fiesh, the mode of preparing which has heretofore been described. The skin was carefully stretched. cleansed and dried, and was used as a bed, and frequently as clothing in the winter by the Indians. Having securedl a quantity of flesh and a number of skins, Tontileaugo constructed a canoe of Im bark, and having placed bis rieat and skins therein. embarked for the falls near the present site of flytin. where he arrived in safety in one day, being thirty tour or thirty five miles; while Smith, mounted on his cap-

----

: 1

HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

tured horse, with a bear-skin saddle and bark stirrups, proceeded by land to the falls, where his Wyandot and Ottawa friends were encamped. The Wyandots, Otta- was and Mingoes were generally quite successful in hunt ing bruin, and were well versed in his mode of seeking and securing winter quarters. They relished his flesh, and feasted upon his oil or fat; and a morsel of venison dipped in sweetened oil was regarded as a dainty dish by friend or stranger.

INDIAN MARRIAGES.

The Indian mode of courtship differed considerably from that of the European or white race. The chief or head of the family generally regulated the marriage rela- · tion, presenting the daughter to his choice of the young braves or hunters. When the daughter was allowed to select her own husband, it was not uncommon for her to press her suit with a young man, though the first address may have been by another young man. This was some- what akin to the leap-year liberty of the white race, in which it is allowable for the young ladies to invite young gentlemen to call upon them, go pleasure trips or accom- pany them to suppers and refreshments, the young ladies footing the bills. Among the Wyandots and Delawares advances of that sort were not deemed immodest or im- proper; in fact, the young braves rather regarded such calls as a delicate piece of flattery, and encouraged their lady loves to continue their suit. The marriage relation seems to have been an agreement or contract between the parties to live with, and adhere to each other as long as domestie unity and fidelity prevailed between man and wife. As a general thing the Wonders and Dela- wares kept their marriage vows with much faithfulness. The Ottawas were not regarded as being entirely free from immodesty; and very often, by their words and ac- tions, put young men to the blush. The Ottawa men seem to have possessed more modesty than the women; yet many of the young squaws appeared really modest; genuine it must have been-for they had but little re- straint by the laws of education and example. The Wy- andots and Delawares prided themselves upon their virtue, hospitality and bravery; and we know of no well authenticated case where their female captives were in- sulted or misused. They always evinced the utmost modesty toward their unfortunate female captives. Among these tribes domestic infidelity was severely reprimanded and punished. Respect for parents and for age, fraternal affection, self-derial, and endurance under fatigue or suffering, were uniformly inculcated. These qualities have been applauded and acknowledged in their wigwams, in the mazes of the wilderness, and around the council fire.

WAMPUM.

Wampum is an Iroquois word, meaning a muscle; and a number of these muscles, strung together, is called a string of wampum; which, when a fathom long, was a belt of wampum; but the worl string is commonly used, whether it be long or short. These belts were esteemed very valuable by the Ohio Indians, and were very ditti- cult to make; for, not having the proper tools, or'

instruments, the Indians spent much time in finishing them. When the Europeans commenced trading with the Indians, and ascertained the value attached to wam- puin, they soon contrived to cut the shells, and perforate the pieces, and then make strings of wampum, both neat and elegant. These they bartered with the Indians for their furs, peltry, and venison, and found the traffic quite profitable. The muscles were mostly found on the coast of Virginia and Maryland, and were valued according to their colors, which were brown, violet, and white. They were first sawed into square pieces, about a quarter of an inch in length, and an eighth in thick- ness, then ground round, or oval, upon a common grindstone. The hole was bored lengthwise, through each, large enough to admit a wire, or whip-cord, or any cord, to string them like beads; when they were ready for traffic. Four such strings, joined in breadth, fas- tened together with fine thread, made a belt of wampuin ; being about three or four inches wide, and three feet long, containing, perhaps, four, eight, or twelve, fathoms. This was determined, by the importance of the subject which the belts were intended to explain, or confirm, or by the dignity of the person to whom they were deliv- ered. Everything of moment transacted at solemn councils, either between the Indians themselves, or with Europeans, was ratified, and made valid, by strings and belts of wampum. Black or brown wampum meant war or warning; red, with a hatchet in the middle, meant, also, to undertake war; and white meant peace. None but the war-beit showed any red color By these belts, they also remembered the exact words of their treaties. This was a sort of Indian pnemonics; and. forty years afterward. the 'very words of a treaty could be repeated by the chiefs making it. *

INDIAN PHYSICIANS.

No part of Indian history is more interesting than their mode of treating diseases. In fact, they evinced a wonderful degree of skill in combating the distempers that assailed their race. In this respect they were, gen- erally, quite as successful as the majority of the physi- cians of the white race. The favorite remedy for nearly all disorders, among the Delawares, Wyandots, Ottawas, Melegens, and Mingoes, was the sweat-house. For this purpose, in every town, or near it, they built, of stakes or boards, covered with sods, a sweat-house; or dug a hole in the side of a hill; or drove down four stakes, and covered them with blankets or skins. Large flat, or round stores were heated red-hot, and placed in the center of the sweat-house; when the patient crept, naked, into the structure. Water was poured upon the hot stone, and. the sweat-house being closed, the patient was soon thrown into a profuse swent ; and, as soon as he found himss'? : 06 hot, he crept out, and plunged into cold water. where he remained one or two minutes. and again re ::..... to the oven, or sweat-house. This process was reserved about three times, when the patient smoked his gis wat composure, and, in most cases, the cure was con

· George sich in his "American Missions, 'p 2.

HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO.

They used herbs extensively in their rude practice. Old men, too feeble to hunt, became medicine men, and healed diseases to procure a comfortable living. One made the study of herbs a specialty, another examined and tested the virtues of every species of bark. They generally made a profound secret of their knowledge. The administration of their remedies was always accom- panied by mysterious ceremonies, to operate upon the superstitious mind of the patient, and to make the effect appear supernatural.

They had remarkable success in healing wounds, old sores and ulcers. In fractures and dislocations of bones their surgery was as ingenious as original. If an Indian tlislocated his foot or knee when hunting alone, he crept to a small tree, and tying one end of a strap to it, he fastened the other to the dislocated limb, and lying on his back, continued to pull until it was reduced.

In burns and chilblains, they used a decoction of beech bark and leaves, as a speedy and successful cure. In bleeding, a small, sharp pointed flint was fastened to a wooden handle, and placed upon the vein, and struck until the blood gushed out. Their medicine men ex- tracted teeth very much as white surgeons do, with a sort of pincers. Rheumatism was treated by sweating and scarification. The bark of the white walnut, pul_ verized when green, was often applied to the painful part until an eruption was produced. This remedy was ex. tremely acrid, and produced a most pungent pain on the skin where it was applied. For a headache or a toothache, this bark was applied to the temples or the cheek. A strong decoction was also used in fresh. wounds, as a- styptic, and prevented swelling.

The bite of poisonous serpents was treated by the Indian doctors with wonderful success. They used the leaf of the rattlesnake root-polygala senega-as a most efficacious remedy. Indeed, they were so well convinced of the certainty of that antidote, that many Indians would suffer themselves to be bitten for a glass of whis- ky or brandy. A quantity of the leaves were chewed and immediately applied to the wound, and a small portion swallowed, producing intense thirst, which would relieve the effects of the bite. They also used the Vir ginia snake root-serpentine virginiaenses-as a poul. tice for wounds of that description. A decoction of the buds of the white-ash-fraxemus carolina- taken in- wardly, was believed to be a certain remedy for such wounds.

As tonics and stomachics, they used a decoction of the bark and root of the thorny ash-aralia spinosa-the dogwood-cornus florida- the wintergreen-pyola um. bellaa : while the native jalap- convolvular jalappa -- which grew in abundance, was used as a puigative. They had a knowledge of ginseng- panox quinque folt- wm -and it was regarded as a good tonic.

It is a subject of remark, that more than one hundred years before the whites discovered spring or fossil oil, now carbon oil, the Indians used it extensively as an ointment.

CHAPTER XVI.

INDIAN NAVIGATION AND THEOLOGY.

Indian Navigation .- Indian Theology and the Great Spirit .-. Te- caugbretanego, the Indian Philosopher .- His Remarkable Utter- ances Concerning the Great Spirit.

IN continuing a discussion of the customs, manners and religion of the Indians of northein Ohio, it will be interesting to notice their modes of navigation. The precise period of the invention of canoes is a matter of conjecture. Canoes seem to have been abundant as a means of transportation and travel on the shores of the northern lakes on the appearance of the earliest Jesuit missionaries, and other adventurers in search of new dis- coveries. These vessels, wherever seen, bore a striking resemblance as to form, material and use. It is proba -. ble they were invented at a very remote period in In- dian history, os a means of navigating the rivers and lakes of the north. The birch-bark canoe was a model of beauty and symmetry ; and so constructed, that it glided over the waves like a thing of life ; and journeys of sixty or seventy miles a day were often made down Lake Erie by a fleet of such vesseis, with light sails made of flags, stitched after the manner of their tents. Their largest canoes were about four feet wide, three feet deep, and thirty-five feet long ; and could carry heavy loads. They were ingeniously constructed over a wooden frame, by stitching the bark so as to prevent leak and danger of sinking. They were often orna- mented with rude paintings and colors, and a fleet of such vessels presented a strange spectacle. They were so light, that after a trip down the lake shore, they could be carried by four men many miles over the summit ridges, and again launched on the head-waters of the Ohio and Muskingum. When the Indians encamped any length of time they carried their canoes up the banks of the streams along which they hunted, and in- verting them, converted them into dwelling houses, and making fires before them cooked their provisions, while they stored their baggage and meat and slept beneath these little houses which turned the rain and kept them dry. On the smaller streams and rivers these vessels were paddled by two or four men, and moved along with surprising speed. I.t the fall of the year the In- dians buried their canoes, bottom up, on the banks of a stream, and uncovered them in the spring. when they were apparently uninjured by the frosts of winter, and ready for use again.

HOSPITALITY AND FIDELITY.

Smith relates that when encamped on the Conesadoo- harie or Black river, and Tontileaugo, his Indian brother, was out hunting, he was visited by a Wyandot, to whom he gave a shoulder of roasted venison that he had pre- pared for himself, which the Wyandot received gladly, telling him he was very hungry, and thanked him for his kindness. When Tontileaugo returned he related what he had done; he said it was very well, and added he supposed Smith had given him sugar and bears' oil to eat with it. Smith said he had not, as those articles were down in his canoe. Tontileango reprimanded him se-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Ashland County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 9

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