History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 19

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728

USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 19
USA > Ohio > Belmont County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 19

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24th, 25th, and 26th. Stayed at the mouth of Scioto, waiting for the Sharanese and French traders, who arrived here on the evening of the 26th, in consequence of the message I sent them from Hochocken, or Bottle creek.

*These are the streams now called Cross ereck-one in Brooke county, W. Va., and the other in Jefferson county, Ohio, empyting into the river at Mingo Junction, below Steu- benville.

+This is evidently intended for Grave creek. #Now the Three Brothers.

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO.

27th. The Indians requested me to stay this day, which I could not refuse.

28th. We set off; passing down the Ohio, the country on both sides the river level ; the banks continue high. This day we came sixty miles ; passed no islands. The river being wider and deeper, we drove all night.

29th. We came to the Little Miami river, having pro- ceeded sixty miles last night.

30th. We passed the Great Miami river, about thirty miles from the little river of that name, and in the evening arrived at the place where the Elephants' bones are found, where we encamped, intending to take a view of the place next morning. This day we came about seventy miles. The country on both sides level, and richi bottoms well watered.

31st. Early in the morning we went to the great Lick, where those bones are only found, about four miles from the river, on the southeast side. On our way we passed through a fine timbered clear wood ; we came into a large road which the buffaloes have beaten, spacious enough for two wagons to go abreast, and leading straight into the Lick. It appears that there are vast quantities of these bones lying five or six feet under ground, which we discovered in the bank at the edge of the Lick.

We found here two tusks about six feet long ; we carried one, with some other bones, to our boats, and set off. This day we proceeded down the river about eighty miles, through a country much the same as already described, since we passed the Scioto. In this day's journey we passed the mouth of the river Kentucky, or Holsten's river.

June 1st. We arrived within a mile of the Falls of Ohio, where we encamped, after coming about fifty miles this day.

2d. Early in the morning we embarked, and passed the falls. The river being very low we were obliged to lighten our boats, and pass on the north side of a little island, which lays in the middle of the river. In general, what is called the falls here, is no more than rapids; and in the least fresh, a batteau of any size may come and go on each side without any risk. Thisday we proceeded sixty miles, in the course of which we passed Pidgeon river. The country pretty high on each side of the river Ohio.

3d. In the forepart of this day's course, we passed high lands; about midday we came to a fine, flat, and level country, called by the Indians the Low Lands; no hills to be seen. We came about eighty miles this day, and encamped.

4th. We came to a place called the Five Islands; these islands are very long, and succeed one another in a chain ; the country still flat and level, the soil exceedingly rich, and well watered. The high lands are at least fifty miles from the banks of the Ohio. In this day's course we passed about ninety miles, the current being very strong.

5th. Having passed the Five Islands, we came to a place called the Owl River. Came about forty miles this day. The country the same as yesterday.

6th. We arrived at the mouth of Ouabache,* where we found a breast-work erected, supposed to have been done by the Indians. The mouth of the river is about two hundred yards wide, and in its course runs through one of the finest countries in the world, the lands being exceedingly rich, and well wat- ered; here hemp might be raised in immense quantities. All the bottoms, and almost the whole country abounds with great plenty of the white and red mulberry tree. These trees are to be found in great plenty, in all places between the mouth of Scioto and the Ouabache; the soil of the latter affords this tree in plenty as far as Ouicatonon, and some few on the Miami river. Several large fine islands lie in the Ohio, opposite the mouth of the Ouabache, the banks of which are high, and con- sequently free from inundations; hence we proceeded down the river about six miles to encamp, as I judged some Indians were sent to way-lay us, and came to a place called the Old Shaw- anese Village, some of that nation having formerly lived there. In this day's proceedings we came about seventy-six miles. The general course of the river, from Scioto to this place is south-west.

7th. We stayed here, and despatched two Indians to the Illinois by land, with letters to Lord Frazer, an English officer, who had been sent there from Fort Pitt, and Monsieur St. Ange, the French commanding officer at Fort Chartres, and some speeches to the Indians there, letting them know of my arrival here; that peace was made between us and the Six Nations, Del- awares, and Shawanese, and of my having a number of deputies of those nations along with me, to conclude matters with them also on my arrival there. This day one of my men went into the woods and lost himself.

8th. At day-break we were attacked by a party of Indians, consisting of eighty warriors of the Kieapoos and Musquattimes, who killed two of my men and three Indians, wounded myself and all the rest of my party, except two white men and one In- dian; then made myself and all the white men prisoners, plun- dering us of everything we had. A deputy of the Shawanese who was shot through the thigh, having concealed himself in the woods for a few minutes after he was wounded-not know- ing but they were southern Indians, who were always at war with the northward Indians-after discovering what nation they were, came up to them and made a very bold speech, tell- ing them that the whole northward Indians would join in taking revenge for the insult and murder of their people; this alarmed those savages very much, who began exeusing them- selves, saying their fathers the French, had spirited them up, telling them the Indians were coming with a body of southern Indians to take their country from them, and enslave them; that it was this that induced them to commit this outrage. After dividing the plunder (they left a great part of the heav- iest effects behind, not being able to carry them), they set off with us to their village of Ouattonon, in a great hurry, being in dread of pursuit from a large party of Indians which they suspected were coming after me. Our course was through a thick woody country, crossing a great many swamps, morasses, and beaver ponds. We traveled this day about forty-two miles.

9th. An hour before day we set out on our march; passed through thiek woods, some high lands, and small savannahs, badly watered. Traveled this day about thirty miles.

10th. We set out very early in the morning, and marched through a very high country, extremely well timbered, for three hours; then came to a branch of the Ouabache, which we crossed. The remainder of this day we traveled through fine rich bottoms, overgrown with reeds, which make the best pas- ture in the world, the young reeds being preferable to sheaf oats. Here is great plenty of wild game of all kinds. Came this day about twenty-eight or thirty miles.

11th. At day-break we set off, making our way through a thin wood land, interspersed with savannahs. I suffered ex- tremely by reason of the excessive heat of the weather, and scarcity of water; the little springs and runs being dried up. Traveled this day about thirty miles.

12th. We passed through some large savannahs and clear woods; in the afternoon we came to the Ouabache; then marched along it through a prodigiously rich bottom, overgrown with weeds and wild hemps; all this bottom is well watered, and an exceeding fine hunting ground. Came this day about thirty miles.

'13th. About an hour before day we set out; traveled through such bottoms as yesterday, and through some large meadows, where no trees, for several miles together, are to be seen. Buf- faloes, deer, and bears are here in great plenty. We traveled about twenty-six miles this day.

14th. The country we traveled through this day, appears the same we described yesterday, excepting this afternoon's journey through wood land, to cut off a bend of the river. Came about twenty-seven miles this day.

15th. We set out very early, and about one o'clock came to the Ouabache, within six or seven miles of Port Vincent. On my arrival there I found a village of about eighty or ninety French families settled on the east side of this river, being one of the finest situations that can be found. The country is level and clear, and the soil very rich, producing wheat and tobacco. I think the latter preferable to that of Maryland or Virginia. The French inhabitants hereabouts are an idle, lazy people, a parcel of renegades from Canada, and are much worse than the Indians. They took a secret pleasure at our misfortunes, and the moment we arrived they came to the Indians, exchanging trifles for their valuable plunder. As the savages took from me a considerable quantity of gold and silver in specie, the French traders extorted ten half johannes from them for one pound of vermilion. Here is likewise an Indian village of the Pyanke- shaws, who were much displeased with the party that took me, telling them that "our and your chiefs are gone to make peace, and you have begun a war, for whichi our women and children will have reason to cry." From this post the Indians permitted me to write to the Commander, at Fort Chartres, but would not suffer me to write to anybody else, (this I apprehend was a pre- caution of the French, lest their villainy should be perceived too soon,) although the Indians had given me permission to write to Sir William Johnson and Fort Pitt on our march, be- fore we arrived at this place. But immediately after our arri- val they had a private council with the French, in which the Indians urged (as they afterwards informed me,) that as the

*Wabash.

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO.

French had engaged them in so bad an affair, which was likely to bring a war on their nation, they now expected a proof of their promise and assistance. Then delivered the French a scalp and part of the plunder, and wanted to deliver some pres- ents to the Pyankeshaws, but they refused to accept of any, and declared they would not be concerned in the affair. This last information I got from the Pyankeshaws, as I had been well acquainted with them several years before this time.

Port Vincent is a place of great consequence for trade, being a fine hunting country all along the Ouabache, and too far for the Indians, which reside hereabouts, to go cither to the Illi- nois or elsewhere to fetch their necessaries.

16th. We were obliged to stay here to get some little ap- parel made up for us, and to buy some horses for our journey to Ouicatonon, promising payment at Detroit, for we could not procure horses from the French for hire; though we were great- ly fatigued, and our spirits much exhausted in our late march, they would lend us no assistance.

17th. At midday we sct out; traveling the first five miles through a fine thick wood. We travelcd eighteen miles this day, and encamped in a large, beautiful, well watered meadow.

18th and 19th. We traveled through a prodigious large meadow, called the Pyankeshaw's Hunting Ground; here is no wood to be seen, and the country appears like an ocean; the ground is exceedingly rich, and partly overgrown with wild hemp; the land, well watered, and full of buffalos, deer, bears, and all kinds of wild game.

20th and 21st. We passed through some very large meadows, part of which belong to the Pyankeshaws on Vermilion river; the country and soil much the same as that we traveled over for these three days past; wild hemp grows here in abundance ; the game very plenty; at any time, in half an hour we could kill as much as we wanted.

22d. We passed through part of the same meadow as men- tioned yesterday; then came to a high woodland, and arrived at Vermilion river, so called from a fine red earth found here by the Indians, with which they paint themselves. About half mile from the place where we crossed this river, there is a village of Pyankeshaws, distinguished by the addition of the name of the river. We then traveled about three hours, through a clear high woody country, but a deep and rich soil; then came to a meadow, where we encamped.

23d. Early in the morning we set out through a fine meadow, then some clear woods: in the afternoon came into a very large bottom on the Ouabache, within six miles of Ouicatanon ; here I met several chiefs of the Kicapoos and Musquattimes, who spoke to their young men who had taken us, and reprimanded them severely for what they had done to me, after which they returned with us to their village, and delivered us to all their chicfs.

The distance from Port Vincent to Ouicatanon is two hun- dred and ten miles. This place is situated on the Ouabache. About fourteen French families are living in the fort, which stands on the north side of the river.

The Kicapoos and Musquattimes, whose warriors had taken us, live nigh the fort, on the same side of the, river, where they have two villages; and the Ouicatonons have a village on the south side of the river. At our arrival at this post, several of the Waw- cottonans (or Ouicatonons), with whom I had been formerly ac- quainted, came to visit me, and seemed greatly concerned at what had happened. They went immediately to the Kicapoos and Musquattimes, and charged them to take the greatest carc of us, till their chiefs should arrive from the Illinois, where they were gone to meet me some time ago, and who were entirely ignorant of this affair, and said the French had spirited up this party to go and strike us.

The French have a very great influence over these Indians, and never fail in telling them many lies to the prejudice of his majesty's interest, by making the English nation odius and hateful to them. I had the greatest difficulty in removing these prejudices. As these Indians are a weak, foolish, and credulous people, they are casily imposed on by a designing people, who have led them hitherto as they pleased. The French told them that as the southern Indians had for two years past made war on them, it must have been at the instiga- tion of the English, who are a bad people. However, I have been fortunate enough to remove their prejudice, and, in a great measure, their suspicions against the English. The country hereabouts is exceedingly pleasant, being open and clear for many miles; the soil very rich and well watered ; all plants have a quick vegetation, and the elimate very temperate throughout the winter. The post has always been a very eon- siderable trading place. The great plenty of furs takeu in this

country, induced the French to establish this post, which was the first on the Ouabache, and by a very advantageous trade they have been richly recompensed for their labor.

On the south side of the Ouabache runs a high bank, in which are several very fine coal mines, and behind this bank is a very large meadow, clear for several miles. It is surprising what false information we have had respecting this country : some mention thesc spacious and beautiful meadows as large and barren savannahs. I apprehend it has been the artifice of the French to keep us ignorant of the country. These meadows bear very fine wild grass, and wild hemp ten or twelve fect high, which, if properly manufactured would prove as good, and answer all the purposes of the hemp we cultivate.

July 25th. We set out from this place (after settling all matters happily with the natives) for the Miamis, and traveled the whole way through a fine, rich bottom, overgrown with wild hemp, alongside the Ouabache, till we came to Eel river, where we arrived the 27th. About six miles up this river is a small village of the Twightwee, situated on a very delightful spot of ground on the bank of the river. The Eel river heads near St. Joseph's, and runs nearly parallel to the Miamis, and at some few miles distance from it, through a fine, pleasant country, and after a course of about one hundred and eighty miles empties itself into the Ouabache.

28th, 29th, 30th and 31st. We traveled still alongside the Eel river passing through fine, clear woods and some good meadows, though not so large as those we passed some days be- fore. The country is more overgrown with woods, the soil is sufficiently rich, and well watered with springs.

August 1st. We arrived at the carrying place between the river Miamis and the Ouabache, which is about nine miles long in dry seasons, but not above half that length in freshes. The head of the Ouabache, is about forty miles from this place, and after a course of about seven hundred and sixty miles from the head spring, through one of the finest countries in the world, it empties itself into the Ohio. The navigation from hence to Ouicatanon, is very difficult in low water, on account of many rapids and rifts; but in freshes, which generally happen in the spring and fall, batteaux or canoes will pass without difficulty, from here to Ouicatanon in three days, which is about two hun- dred and forty miles, and by land two hundred and ten miles. From Ouicatanon to Port Vincent, and thence to the Ohio, bat- teaux and canoes may go at any season of the year. Through- out the whole course of the Ouabache the banks are pretty high, and in the river arc a great many islands. Many shrubs and trees are found here unknown to us.

Within a mile of the Twightwee village I was met by the chiefs of that nation, who received us very kindly. The most part of these Indians knew me, and conducted me to their vil- lage, where they immediately hoisted an English flag that I had formerly given then at Fort Pitt. The next day they held a council, after which they gave me up all the English prison- crs they had, then made several specches, in all which they expressed the great pleasure it gave them to see the unhappy differences which embroiled the several nations in a war with their brethren, the English, were now so near a happy conclu- sion, and that peace was established in their country.

The Twightwee village is situated on both sides of a river called St. Joseph's. This river, where it falls into the Miami river, about a quarter of a mile from this place, is one hundred yards wide, on the east side of which stands a stockade fort, somewhat ruinous.

The Indian village consists of about forty or fifty cabins, be- sides nine or ten French houses, a runaway colony from Detroit, during the late Indian war; they were concerned in it, and being afraid of punishment came to this post, where ever since they have spirited up the Indians against the English. All the French residing here are a lazy, indolent people, fond of breeding mischief and spiriting up the Indians against the English, and should by no means be suffered to remain here. The country is pleasant, the soil rich and well watered. After several conferences with these Indians and their delivering me up all the English prisoners they had,-

On the 6th of August we set out for Detroit, down the Miami river in a canoe. This river heads about ten miles from hence. The river is not navigable till you come to the place where the river St. Joseph joins it, and makes a considerable large stream, nevertheless we found a great deal of difficulty in getting our canoe over shoals, as the waters at this season were very low. The banks of the river are high, and the country overgrown with lofty timber of various kinds; the land is level and the woods clear. About ninety miles from the Miamis or Twight- wee we came to where a large river, that heads in a large lick,

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES, OHIO.

falls into the Miami river; this they call the Forks. The Ot- tawas claim this country, and hunt here, where game is very plenty. From hence we proceeded to the Ottawa village. This nation formerly lived at Detroit, but is now settled here on ac- count of the richness of the country, where game is always to be found in plenty. Here we were obliged to get out of our canoes and drag them eighteen miles, on account of the rifts which interrupt the navigation. At the end of these rifts we eame to a village of the Wyandotts, who received us very kindly ; and from thence we proceeded to the mouth of this river, where it falls into Lake Erie. From the Miamis to the lake is eom- puted one hundred and eighty miles, and from the entrance of the river into the lake to Detroit is sixty miles; that is, forty- two miles upon the lake and eighteen miles up the Detroit river to the garrison of that name. The land on the lake side is low and flat. We passed several large rivers and bays, and on the 16th of August, in the afternoon, we arrived at De- troit river. The country here is much higher than on the lake side; the river is about nine hundred yards wide, and the cur- rent runs very strong. There are several fine and large islands in this river, one of which is nine miles long; its banks high and the soil very good.

17th. In the morning we arrived at the fort, which is a large stockade, inclosing about eighty houses; it stands close on the north side of the river, on a high bank, commands a very pleas- ant prospect for nine miles above and nine miles below the fort ; the country is thickly settled with French, their plantations are generally laid out about three or four acres in breadth on the river and eighty acres in depth; the soil is good, producing plenty of grain. All the people here are generally poor wretches and consist of three or four hundred French families, a lazy, idle people, depending chiefly on the savages for their subsist- ence, though the land, with little labor, produces plenty of grain, they scarcely raise as much as will supply their wants, in imitation of the Indians, whose manners and customs they have entirely adopted, and cannot subsist without them. The men, women and children speak the Indian tongue perfeetly well. In the last Indian war the most part of the French were coneerned in it, (although the whole settlement had taken the oath of allegiance to his Britannic Majesty) they have, there- fore, great reason to be thankful to the English clemency in not bringing them to deserved punishment. Before the late Indian war there resided three nations of Indians at this place : the Putawatimes, whose village was on the west side of the river, about one mile below the fort; the Ottawas, on the east side, about three miles above the fort; and the Wyandotts, whose vil- lage lays on the east side, about two miles below the fort. The former two nations have removed to a considerable distance, and the latter still remain where they were, and are remarkable for their good sense and hospitality. They have a particular attachment to the Roman Catholic religion, the French, by their priests, having taken uncommon pains to instruct them.

During my stay here I held frequent conferences with the different nations of Indians assembled at this place, with whom I settled matters to their general satisfaction.

September 26th. Set out from Detroit for Niagara; passed Lake Erie along the north shore in a birch canoe, and arrived the 8th of October at Niagara. The navigation of the lake is dangerous for batteaux or canoes, by reason that the lake is very shallow for a considerable distance from the shore. The bank, for several miles, high and steep, and affords a harbor for a single batteau. The lands in general, between Detroit and Niagara, are high, and the soil good, with several fine rivers falling into the lake. The distance from Detroit to Niagara is computed at three hundred miles.

WASHINGTON'S TOUR TO THE OHIO IN 1770.

It will be seen by the suceeeding chapter that a spirit of em- igration to the Ohio valley began to be felt throughout many localities of the east soon after the quietude which followed the Indian treaties of 1765; that as early as 1769 the Zanes pene- trated to the banks of the river at the present site of Wheel- ing; and that during the following year actual settlements were made by them and others within the limits of the present Pan Handle of West Virginia. The glowing aceounts of the western country circulated throughout the east, made it a proni- ising field for enterprise and speculation. No less a person than George Washington made a visit to the Ohio in 1770, for the purpose of investigating the character of this region of the country, perhaps in the interest of other parties as well as himself. As it is our purpose to give all important documents bearing upon the history of this locality, we present in this connection the journal of his tour.

WASHINGTON'S JOURNAL OF HIS TOUR TO THE OHIO IN 1770.

Journal kept by George Washington, from October 5th, to December 1st, 1770, on a tour down the Ohio, for the purpose of viewing lands to be apportioned among the officers and old soldiers who had served in the French war.

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History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 19

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 728

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728