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 57

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 57
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 57

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JOURNAL OF GENERAL RICHARD BUTLER.

General Butler started on his mission to treat with the Indians at Miami in the fall of 1785. He left Fort Pitt on the 26th of September, and among his companions were Gen. Samuel H. Parsons, one of the Commissioners, and Colonel James Monroe, then a member of Congress, and afterwards President of the United States. He arrived at Fort McIntosh, at the mouth of Beaver, where Colonel Harmar then commanded, and where a detachment of troops was furnished to accompany the Com- missioners. The party set off in boats from Fort McIn- tosh on the 30th of September, and General Butler kept a diary of the events of the expedition, from which it will be seen that a portion of his duties was to warn off the settlers that were lo- cated on the west bank of the Ohio river. In his journal of the 30th, he speaks of meeting the United States Surveyors at the Pennsylvania State line, who were then just making a beginning for the survey of the first seven ranges of land within the Northwest Territory. He then says: "We left the surveyors to come up with the troops and stores whom we overtook just above the mouth of Yellow creek in a very good harbor, about 8 o'clock at night. Maj. P. and Capt. M. accompanied us this far, they came down to see the country, and appear to be active and sensible men. Col. Monroe and myself advised friendship, unanimity and perseverance. We supped and spent the evening gaily, and went to rest about twelve o'clock.

"'October 1st.

"The weather has a little the appearance of rain, which would be of great use, the river being very low. I fortunately recom- mended the employing of one Mr. Huling, who I find to be a very useful, active, and ingenious man, he goes ahead with a small canoe to search out the channel, which we find very crooked. The above mentioned gentlemen left us this morning and returned to their camp at the line. The boats were detained changing and loading, and did not arrive till eight o'clock, at which time the drum beat and the whole got under way. Passed Yellow Creek and found several improvements on both sides of the river, put in at one Jesse Penniman's on the north side, five miles below Yellow Creek, warned him off, called on one Pry, who I warned off also ; this appears to be a shrewd, sensi- ble man. He assured me he would go off, that he would go to

Kentucky, having been disappointed in a place he had formerly purchased, it being taken from him by a law suit. I told him as well as the others, that Congress was determined to put all the people off the lands, and that none would be allowed to settle but the legal purchasers, and that these and these only would be protected; that troops would be down next week, who have orders to destroy every house and improvement on the north side of the river, and that garrisons will be placed at Muskingum and other places, and that if any person or persons attempted to oppose the Government, they may depend on being treated with the greatest rigor. He seemed not well pleased though he promised submission.

" At this Pry's house we met one Wm, McCullum, from the Illinois ; he says he passed Gen. Clark at the falls. His ac- counts are of no use, being stupid, inconsistent, and unintelli- gible. Passed by several islands ; find the river very difficult to get down; the channel from Yellow Creek is chiefly on the south side. . Went on well to Middle Island, between which and the middle shore is the channel, close inshore. We got aground, as did six boats; passed on to the Mingo towns, where we fonnd a number of people, among whom one Ross seems to be the principal man on the north side of that place. I conversed with him, and warned him and the others away. He said he- and his neighbors were misrepresented to Congress; that he was going to Congress to inform them that himself and neigh- bors were determined to be obedient to their ordinances, and we had made it a point to assure them that Congress had no respect to persons, that the lands would be surveyed and sold to poor and rich, and that there would, or could be, no more of prefer- ence given to one more than another, which seemed to give satisfaction.

"Passed on to near Cross Creek, eight miles below the Min- go towns. A heavy shower of hail and gusts of rain came on, which continued till after night, which embarrassed us very much. Found that Capt. O'Hara had 15,000 lbs. of flour on the bank ready to embark. Strove a long time to get to shore, but the water was so low we could not. Captain O'Hara went out, and with mueh diffienlty, in the dark, got to the house of one Cox, and, after much trouble, he got two horses for Col. Monroe and myself. I thought best to get Col. M. to take quar- ters in the house, and I staid in the boat. It rained in the night hard. Our troops and fleet came within fonr miles before the rain began ; stopped to cover the goods, which got one shower before the covering commenced, and which, I fear, has done some damage.

CROSS CREEK, Sunday, Oct. 2d.

"Capt. O'Hara had a fine cow killed for the troops, who ar- rived at 9 o'clock ; had the men served with provisions, who were set to cooking, while some loaded flour and corn for the use of the troops and cattle, and all was got ready and started at one o'clock. The people of this country appear to be mnch imposed upon by a religious sect called Methodist, and are be- come great fanatics. They say they have paid taxes which were too heavy.

" Called at the settlement of Chas. Norris, whose house has been pulled down, and he has rebuilt it. At this place found one Walter Kean, who seems but a middling character, and rather of the dissentious cast. Warned all these off, and re- quested they would inform their neighbors, which they promised to do. Col. Monroe spoke to them also, which had weight, as I informed them of his character.

"Called at the settlement of one Capt. Hoglan, whom we also warned off; his house had also been torn down and rebuilt. We informed him of the impropriety of his conduct, which he acknowledged, and seemed very submissive, and promised to remove and to warn his neighbors off also. Come on very well to Wheeling where we staid all night. This is a fine settlement, and belongs to one Zane ; an Island which is opposite the mouth of Wheeling Creek, containing about 400 acres of most excel- lent land, and is a situation not only of great profit, but real beauty. He says he sells to amount of £300 per annum of the produce of his farm for cash, exclusive of the other advantages by traffie. He is an intelligent man, but seems either timid through real doubt or affects it through design.

" Monday, Oct. 3d.

"The troops encamped about four miles above last night, and did not arrive till this morning. Capt. O'Hara had people set to work to lay a deck in a large flat to take in some fine cattle which he had ready at this place. Made a general inspection of the goods, which I found in very bad order, being quite wet ; had them dried as much as the weather, which was showery,

"At Wheeling Isaac Zane was added to the party, who served in the capacity of a hunter to supply the officers and meu with game for food. His wonderful success in killing buttaloes and other animals is frequently mentioned in Gen. Butler's journal.

157

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

would admit of. The boat was not ready till dark, therefore could not take in the eattle this evening.

Tuesday, Oct. 4th.

"The troops began very early to load the cattle ; had in twenty-one by eight o'clock; found the boat bad; the fleet sailed and went four miles when the eattle boat had liked to sink ; put in and had the boat caulked and four of the bullocks with six casks of flour taken out, and the flour stowed in other boats, and the cattle left to come down in another.

" I directed one Corporal and three soldiers to stay at Zane's till Capt. O'Hara would send a good boat from Fort M'Intosh, which is ready with other cattle. I wrote to Col. Harmar for three other men to join these as an escort to the Miama, and to give Maj. Dougherty orders to pull down every house on his way to Muskingum that is on the north side of the Ohio. I also wrote Gen. Harmar that I had sailed, &c., vide the public letters of this date ; I also wrote to Mrs. B. After lightening the cattle boat so much, she sailed and seemed to keep on very well.

" The country here is really charming ; large bottoms of fine land, and rich hills. This country, if well managed, will sell certainly well, and sink a great part of the public debt, and give the purchaser a very valuable and happy exchange for his public securities. Capt. O'Hara left us at one o'clock, and re- turned to Fort Pitt to send us more supplies. We find several fine families on their way to the Kentucky country. One is a Col. Wood, from Virginia ; another one, Capt, Smart, front Jersey, with several others.

" We got Col. Monroe's horses on board one of these boats, there being no room in the cattle boat, We went on very well to Grave Creek, when the whole fleet arrived at half-past five o'clock, and encamped just below its month on a fine beach. Went to see the grave, which is an extraordinary pile of human bones covered with earth. It is about sixty feet perpendicular high, and about one hundred and eighty feet in diameter, base ; a conical figure, with large trees on its sides and top, where is one three feet in diameter. Supposing the annual growth one- tenth of an inch, is one hundred and eighty years old ; how long its sides were naked, may be supposed fifty years, as these kind of mounds of earth do not produce trees so soon as the land which is on a level with the country around. There are two small forts which, with the grave, form a triangle. Near one of these forts are three large holes, which appear to me to have been places of deposit for provisions. About one-fourth of a mile from these, forming an angle of about twenty-five degrees, is a large fort, which the owner of the land has began to plow np, where they find pieces of earthen bottles, arrow points, and stone tomahawks, all marks of savage antiquity. Opposite Grave Creek is a fine large bottom of excellent land. A num- ber of the inhabitants from Fish Creek and that part of the country had collected at the houses of Isaac Williams and Tom- linson, in consequence of the murder of Doolan and his two children, "

THE SQUATTERS COMPELLED TO OBEY THE GOVERNMENT.

Although these squatters along the west bank of the Ohio banded together to resist the United States troops, and were aetnally organized and equipped with guns and munitions of war, they were finally forced to yield to the execution of the laws. A compromise was effected, whereby they were given time, before leaving, to prepare temporary habitations on the Virginia side. They abandoned their settlements for a time, but many of these adventurous pioneers, who were thus driven back across the Ohio, eventually returned and secured legal rights to these lands by purchase from the government, The descendants of many of them now people the hills and valleys of eastern Ohio.

NAMES OF THE SETTLERS IN 1785.

The names of the first settlers, whose cabins were in 1785 scattered throughout the territory now embraced in the counties of Mahoning, Columbiana, Jefferson, Stark, Carroll, Harrison, Belmont, Guernsey, and Monroe, were as follows :

Thomas Tilton, John Nixon, Henry Cassill, John Nowles, John Tilton, John Fitzpatrick, Daniel Monser, Zephenia Dann, John McDonald, Henry Froggs, Wiland Hoagland, Michael Rawlings, Thomos Dawson, William Shiff, Solomon Delong, Charles Ward, Frederick Lamb, John Rigdon, George Atchin- son, Hanes Piley, Walter Cain, Jacob Light, James Weleams,

Jessie Edgerton, Nathaniel Parremore, Jesse Parremore, Jacob Clark, John Custer, James Noyes, Thomas McDonald, John Casstleman, James Clark, Adam House (his x mark), Thomas Johnson, Hanamet Davis, William Wallace, Joseph Reburn. Jonathan Mapins, William Mann, William Kerr, Daniel Duff, Joseph Ross, James Watson, Abertious Bailey, Charles Cham- bers, Robert Hill, James Paul, William McNees, Archibald Harbson, William Bailey, Jonas Amspoker, Nicholas Decker, John Platt, Benjamin Reed, Joseph Godard, Henry Conrod, William Carpenter, John Godard, George Reno, John Buchan- an, Daniel Mathews.

SURVEY OF THE PUBLIC LANDS-THE FIRST SEVEN RANGES-INCI-

DENTS OF THE SURVEY-JOURNALS OF MAJOR ERKURIES BEATTY, PAYMASTER OF THE WESTERN ARMY, AND JOHN MATHEWS, ONE OF THE SURVEYORS-INDIAN TROUBLES, ETC.

The first survey of the publie lands north-west of the Ohio river was the seven ranges of Congress lands, and was done pur- suant to an act of Congress of May 20, 1785. This traet of the seven ranges is bounded by a line of forty-two miles in length. running due west from the point where the western boundary line of Pennsylvania crosses the Ohio River ; thence due south to the Ohio river, at the south-east corner of Marietta town- ship, in Washington county ; thenee up said river to the place of beginning. The present counties of Jefferson, Columbiana, Carroll, Tuscarawas, Harrison, Guernsey, Belmont, Nobie, -Monroe, and Washington are, in whole or in part, within the seven ranges. The ranges were to be numbered progressively from east to west, and the townships from south to north.

On the 27th of May, 1785, Congress elected surveyors for the publie lands, and chose one from each State, as follows: Na- thaniel Adams, for New Hampshire ; Rufus Putnam, Massachu- setts ; Caleb Harris, Rhode Island; Wm. Morris, New York ; Adam Hoops, Pennsylvania ; James Simpson, Maryland; Alex- ander Parker, Virginia ; Absalom Tatum, North Carolina ; Win, Tate, South Carolina; and on the 18th of July, Isaac Sherman, for Connecticut. These were to be placed under the direction of Thomas Hutchins, who had been appointed geographer of the United States. General Putnam could not attend at the time, and Gen. Benjamin Tupper, was appointed in his place until he could assume the duty. Nathaniel Adams and Caleb Harris having resigned, Winthrop Sargent and Ebenezer Sprout were appointed in their places. Sargent was afterwards Secre- tary of the North west Territory.

In July, 1786, the surveyors, under the direction of Hutchins, the geographer, assembled at Pittsburgh.

Major Erkuries Beatty, father of the Rev. Charles C. Beatty, D. D., of Steubenville, who was paymaster of the western army, came to the Ohio country in 1786 and 1787 in the discharge of his official duties, and kept a diary ot his tours and transactions. from which we extract several references he made to the pro- gress of the survey, and the troops who were protecting the sur- veyors from the attacks of the Indians,

JOURNAL OF MAJOR ERKURIES BEATTY,

In July, 1786, Major Beatty was ascending the river to Pitts- burgh. He says :

"July 21 .- River rose 9 or 10 foot last night, water strong ; was obliged to tow our boat np one or two ripples. Stopped op- posite the mouth of Little Beaver to see Capt. Hutchins and the Surveyor who is here encamped intending soon to cross the river and begin the survey of the Continental Land; 6 or 7 miles below McIntosh met two boats with the baggage of three companies that left MeIntosh this morning for to encamp at Mingo Bottom. Arrived at Melstosh 5 o'clock where was only Capt Ferguson's Company. There is three Islands between Big and Little Beaver and several more between that and Yel- low Creek and below the latter,"

On the 31st of July, Major Beatty set ont from Pittsburgh to descend the river. We find in his diary the following :

"August 2 .- Started early, stopped opposite the mouth of bit- tle Beaver and breakfasted with the surveyor, who is waiting for troops. Arrived at Mingo Bottom 3 o'clock, where Capt. Hamtramcks', MeCurdy's and Mercer's companies encamped and had just been mastered and inspected by Maj. North. Showers of rain to-day. The troops encamped on the bank of the river opposite the lower end of a small Island,

Hutchins had acted as military engineer to Colonel Boquet.

158

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

"August 3-Waiting for Maj. North who is going with me to Muskingum-about 2 o'clock two detachments from Capt. Mer- cer's company, one commanded by Lt. Kersy, the other by Ens. Rigart, marched to distroy some improvements on the river ten or fifteen miles up Short creeek; orders were issued for the other to march carly to-morrow morning to join the surveyors, and as soon as the detachments return Capt. Mercer joins them likewise. Major North and myself set off about 5 o'clock, went three miles to Cox's fort where we staid all night."

Major Beatty reached the mouth of the Muskingum, and pro- ceeded down the river to Kentucky. In September he started to return to Pittsburgh. We continue to extract from his diary :

"September 11-Arrived at Muskingum between 1 and 2 o'clock where we found every person happy to see us -and I never had a more agreeable tour than this I experienced in company with Maj. North-found that Col. Harmar has de- tached Capt. Heart's company to join Maj. Hamtramck with the surveyors and that they have been a good deal surprised here by an Indian coming in and saying that the Indians were all collected in the Shawanese towns and intended a descent on this place .* The Colonel, to prevent a surprise has ordered the two companies to parade every morning at reveille beating and remain one hour under arms in occupying the fort. * *

"September 21-Halted at Wheeling, where we found the peo- ple from below all assembled being much surprised by some In- dians appearing among them a few days ago at their settlements --- building a fort here to defend themselves. Many rumors of a great number of Indians expected to attack them. Lay about ten miles above Wheeling all night.

"September 22-Stopped at a small Block-house to-day on the Indian shore which Maj. Hamtramck had built for the security of his provisions while he was out protecting the continental surveyors .; Saw here Capt. Mills the Commissary, and Mr. Hoops, a surveyor, who told us that they expected the troops and all the surveyors in, on account of an alarm they had re- ceived from the Indian towns. Arrived to-night within abont three miles of Yellow creck."

JOURNAL OF JOHN MATHEWS, ONE OF THE SURVEYORS-INCI- DENTS OF THE SURVEY-INDIAN TROUBLES, ETC.

Mr. John Mathews, a nephew of General Putnam, came on from Massachusetts to assist in the survey under the directions of General Tupper. We present herewith a number of extracts from a journal which he kept, showing the progress of, and diffi- eulties attending the survey, and points of interest to this . locality.

JOURNAL OF JOHIN MATHEWS.

"Saturday, 29th July, 1786. Arrived at Pittsburgh abont three o'clock P. M. Found the Surveyors had gone down the Ohio to Little Beaver creek. Received directions from General Tupper, by Colonel Sherman, to go down the river.

"Monday, 31st. Arrived at the camp, on the cast bank of the Ohio, this morning; where the surveyors were waiting for the troops, from Mingo, ¿ which are to escort them in the survey. "Saturday, August 5th. The troops arrived from Mingo, crossed the river and encamped on the other side."

Mathews began the survey of the second range of townships on the 16th, under the superintendence of Captain Adam Hoops, the surveyor of Pennsylvania. He camped that night five miles from the river, on the east and west line. In his journal he gives daily the progress made, and an accurate description of the land passed over.

On the 6th of September he made arrangements to go out with General Tupper on the survey of the seventh range of town- ships. His party consisted of fifty men, thirty-six of whom were soldiers. On the 18th of September the party were at "Nine Shilling creek," in what is now Tuscarawas county. Here an express rider reached them from Beaver, announcing that the Shawanese bad taken up arms, were re-assembling at their old towns, and dancing the war dance, preparatory to moving on the surveyors, and lifting as well their scalps as those of all white men found west of the Ohio. Surveying was suspended, and

all retreated to Fort McIntosh. In a short time they descended the river to "Mingo Bottom," and prepared to resume their work. Mathews stopped with a William Greathouse, who lived opposite the Mingo Bottom. His journal proceeds :

"Wednesday, October 4th, This day I went to Esquire Mc- Mahan's, who lives about six miles below Greathouse, and found that the surveyors were principally collected there and deter- mined to continue part of the ranges, and were to be escorted by the whole of Major Hamtramck's detachment .* I concluded to go with Major Sargent to the fifth range.

"Wednesday, 11, Having made the necessary preparations for resuming the survey, we crossed the Ohio at ten A, M., one mile below the old Mingo town, and took the route of "Craw- ford's trail," which leaves the river at the upper end of "Mingo Bottom," and encamped at night about two miles from the Min- go town. Our party consisted of the surveyorand his assistant, with a captain and twenty-five men as an escort. The Mingo bottom contains some thousands of acres of very fine land. In- dian Cross creek; runs through it.

"12th. Decamped and proceeded still on the route of 'Craw- ford's trail,' in nearly a north-west course, At five P. M. en- camped ; having made, as nearly as we could judge, about six miles of westing. The trail keeps the dividing ridge, between Cross creek and the creek that falls into the Ohio above the 'Mingo Bottom.' The surface is uneven, but the ridge no where steep, and the greater portion of the soil as rich as the Ohio bot- toms.

"15th. Decamped at six A. M. and moved before the troops, as they were not ready, and Major Sargent is anxious to get to business. Atten A. M. we left 'the trail,' it tending too much to the south-west, and steered to the north-west and came on the boundary of the third range, one mile and three-quarters on the line of the third township. Encamped at night at the " south-east corner of the second township, fourth range, and found that the troops were ahead of us.

14th. Decamped at seven A. M. and proceeded to the west on the south boundary of the second township, fourth range. About 2 o'clock, P. M., overtook the troops at the south-west cor- ner of the second township, fourth range.

"Sunday, 15th. At sunrise Major Sargent and myself, with two men, left the party to find the west boundary of the fifth range, at a point eight miles south of the geographer's line. (It will be remembered that Mr. Hutchins was directed to run the east and west line through the range.) At 10 A. M. we struck the line seven and a half miles south of the geographer's. After striking the line, we followed it south to the second mile post on the second township, where we began work. Run one mile and returned to camp, which was pitched about eighty rods cast of the line."

The survey continued without any particular change until the 30th. On this day they lost their horses, the same having been stolen by a squad of. Indians, who had laid part of the previous night within eighty rods watching for scalps. The soldiers went to building a block-house, which they finished on the 31st . of October. From the 1st to the 7th of November, they were on what is now the south boundary of the seventh township of third range, in the United States military district. That day they struck Wheeling creek, in what is now Belmont county, and followed it to the Ohio, then crossed and took dinner at Colonel Zane's house. His journal of that day reads :

"Tuesday, November 7th. Discovered this morning that we were two miles west of the south-cast corner of the seventh township, and on McMahan's rivulet. From thence we traveled in a north course, and struck Indian Wheeling creek five miles below the camp ; which proves that we were misinformed as to the major's situation, When we struck the ercek we met with some soldiers, who informed us that Captain Hutchins was gone into Wheeling; upon which we proceeded immediately to the river, and crossed over to Esq. Zane's, where we found Captain Hutchins. After dinner, left Wheeling in his company, to go to Esq. McMahans, which is about sixteen miles above. Proceeded about half a mile and tarried all night."

Mathews and party went up the east bank of the river to Mc- Mahon's, and then to the house of William Greathouse, which they reached November 9th. November 10th they tarried and heard a sermon from a Methodist minister, located at that carly day on the bank of the Ohio, in Virginia. November 11th, Mathews went to a Virginia corn-husking, at Harman Great-

"Fort Harmar.

¡This was Fort Steuben, but was not then completed. Sec extract from Maj. Beatty's diary, February, 1787, given in the sketch of Fort Steuben.

"Mingo" was the common name used to designate the post called Fort Steuben, doubt- jess from the proximity. Frequently the garrison at Fort Steuben is spoken of as the "gar- rison at Mingo Bottom."

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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 57

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