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 58

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 58
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 58

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).

*Hamtramck was the commandant of the garrison at Fort Steuben.

""Indian Cross creek," "Indian Wheeling creek," etc., was then the method of designating . the streams on the west side of the Ohio From those of the same on the east side.

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

bouse's, where a number of settlers had gathered in. They bad rye whiskey in plenty, and, the husking being finished. they sang, danced, told stories, quarreled, and all who could walk went home about 10 o'clock in the night. Three, who were too drunk, remained over night. hugging the whisky bottle, and arguing religion. Sunday, November 12, others came in and assisted in drinking up the whisky. November 22, General Tupper, the acting commissioner in General Putnam's absence, left for the east. November 23, Colonel Sprout and a Mr. Simp-

. son left for the east, and the surveying party disbanded for the winter, Mathews remaining at Greathouse's, where the snow was two and a half feet deep on the 5th of December. 1786. We will again quote from the journal :

" Saturday, January 27th, 1787. Captain Hutchins, the Uni- ted States geographer, left here for New York.

" February 3d. This evening I received a letter from Major Hamtramck, requesting me to come and take charge of the commissary department at Fort Steuben, which is three miles above the month of Indian Cross creek, on the West side of the Ohio.

Sunday, 4th. I went to Fort Stenben, in company with Mr. Ludlow, one of the surveyors, and engaged to be ready to take charge of the stores on Wednesday next.

" Fort Steuben, Thursday. 8th. This morning Mr. Peters de- livered the stores in his charge to me. I am now entering on business with which I am unacquainted, but hope that nse will make it familiar to me. I have to issue provisions to about one hundred men. "

"On the 10th of April, Mathews writes: Captain Martin and Mr. Indlow left this place for the woods, to continue and complete the survey of the ranges.

" 17th. Mr. Smith left this place for the woods.

" 21st, Mr. Simpson lett here for the woods." Mr. Simpson was the surveyor for Pennsylvania.

"May 8th. This day three of the surveyors and their assist- ants or parties arrived from the woods, viz .: Captain Martin, Mr. Simpson, and Mr. Undlow ; they arrived at Wheeling the 5th inst. Their coming in was in consequence of information from Esq. Zane, that the Indians had killed three persons at Fishing Creek, and taken three more prisoners on the 25th day of April. Mr. Smith is yet in the woods, and nothing has been heard from him since he left this place, as he did not come up with Mr. Ludlow on the seventh range as was expected ; but, by comparing circumstances, I apprehend no misfortune has befallen him.

" Thursday, 10th. Mr. Smith and party returned from the woods, and all is well.

" 12th. We have intelligence this day, that the Indians had murdered a family on the night of the 11th, about 15 miles be- low this place. On my way to Esq. McMahan's, I saw several persons from Wheeling, who informed me that there was one man and two children killed, and two children taken prisoners, and the woman badly wounded.

" Wednesday, 23d. I was ordered by Major Hamtramck to engage a number of pack horses to go into the woods with the surveyors and escorts, to carry the provisions. Went np Buf- falo creek about ten miles, in search of horses. There are sev- eral mills on the creek, and the best farms I have seen in this country.

" 24th. Rode to the court house in Ohio county. There is a town laid out here, and about twenty of the lots occupied.

" 25th. Abont 2 P. M., arrived in the fort, not having very good success in procuring horses, but a prospect of completing what I want. A part of the troops stationed at Steuben had left here during my absence, being ordered to Muskingum, and the remainder immediately to follow. Their further destination is not known. Major Hamtramck informs me that the stores in my charge will be moved to Wheeling, and I am to go with them. This place will probably be the rendezvous of the sur- veyors and their escorts this summer.

"30. A party of the troops left this post for Muskingum, and I have made arrangements to go to Wheeling in the morning.

31st. At ten o'clock A. M., left Fort Steuben, with a canoe deeply laden, and no one on board but myself. At two o'clock, was obliged to lie by on account of the wind. At fonr it abated and I got as far as the mouth of Short creek. Here I found Mr. Wheaton and Mr. McFarlane, and was indneed to stay all night.

"June Ist. We embarked and arrived at Wheeling at nine A. M. Landed the provisions and proposed pitching my tent near Esq. Zane's store.

"Saturday, 2d. The surveyors all arrived on the other side of the Ohio, and pitched their tents near the mouth of Indian

Wheeling creek, where they are waiting for their escorts to ar- rive from Muskingum, or Fort Harmar.

"5th. Rode into the country, up Wheeling creek and between that and Short creek, in search of pack horses and saddles.

"6th. The troops arrived from Muskingum.

"Friday, 8th. The surveyors all left the Ohio about sundown. and encamped two miles up the creek, fully supplied with pack horses, &c., excepting the lack of one man and horse, which I shall forward in the morning.

"9th. Went in the morning with the man and horse to the surveyor's camp, and about twelve o'clock they all got under march for their respective ranges.

"23d. The troops from Fort McIntosh passed this place on their way down the river. The Indians have lately done mis- chief about ten miles above Wheeling; they have also been seen near here; and from many cirenmstances I fear the summer will be a troublesome one."

On the 30th of July, Mathews was at Wheeling, and says on the 9th of that month he went to Pittsburgh, from whence he returned to McMahan's and spent eight or ten days with the sur- veyors, who, it seems, a part of them at least, had returned from the woods. While at Wheeling he notes in his journal : "The Indians have been seen in this quarter lately, and have stolen several horses. . About ten days past, the signs of a party were discovered near Short creck, and were followed by a party of our people, who came up with them four miles below Wheeling -- killed one and wounded two more ofthe Indians, who were eleven in number. Our party consisted of only eight men. The In- dians were attacked unexpectedly in their camp, and fled with precipitation, leaving their blankets and moccasins behind then. It is supposed they were Chippewas." On the 31st he returned to MeMahan's.

"August 4th. About 1 o'clock, P. M .. the people living on the bank of the river against this place were alarmed by the scream- ing of a person begging for life, and the report of two guns. A party of men armed themselves immediately and crossed the river where they found one man killed and scalped at the lower end of "Mingo Bottom." The Indians were pursued. but could not be overtaken. The party consisted of only two Indians, who were seen by some people engaged in fishing at the mouth of Cross creek.

"5th. Mr. McMahan, with a party of volunteers, abont twen- ty in number, crossed the Ohio river, intending to come up with the Indians who killed the man. They are determined to range the Muskingum country, where they hope to fall in with some party of Indians, or come to their trail and follow them into their settlements.

6th. At 9 o'clock, A. M., embarked on board of a boat, for Muskingum, in company with Captain Mills, Lieutenant Spear and Doctor Scott. Twelve o'clock, stopped one mile above Short creek, on the north-west side of the river. At this place are about ten families collected and are determined to stand it out against all opposition, cither from the Indians or the troops .* After a drink of good punch, proceeded on one way. At six ar- rived at Wheeling and tarried all night. Here we were inform- ed that five Indians were seen last evening between this place and Ohio Court Honse.

"7th. Left Wheeling at 6 o'clock. At 9 o'clock, the mouth of Grave creek, twelve miles below. At 12 o'clock, Captina creek on the west side of Ohio. At sundown, cloudy and rainy. Stopped one mile below the mouth of Fishing creek. The rain makes our lodging uncomfortable-four of us sleeping under a narrow awning in the stern of the boat.

On the 2d of September, Mathews again says :

"At sundown, arrived within six miles of Wheeling, and put up at a Mr. McMahan's$ who was here making preparations to move his family down from Wheeling, where they had been for a long time, on account of danger from the Indians.

"Monday 3d. Started at 2 A. M., and arrived at. Wheeling before sunrise. Took breakfast at Esq. Zane's, at 9 o'clock. Lett Wheeling soon after : river still rising. At 12 o'clock reached Woodfort, four miles above. The river is so rapid that it is very diffienlt to make progress with the boat. Under these circumstances, I left the water and walked as far as Esa. Mc- Mahan's, reaching there abont sunset. Here I learned that Messrs. Simpson and Ludlow had left this place the week before for their homes. Messrs, Wheaton and Smith were to leave in a few days.

From this time to the 20th of the month he remained at Esq. McMahan's. A small party then proposed to cross the Ohio,

"These are the squatters spoken of elsewhere, which were forbidden to settle by Congress. and the troops were ordered to remove them.

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

and go out into the woods for a few days to dig ginseng. In those early times when the plant was plenty, it was a source of profit to the frontier inhabitants, who had few articles to give in exchange for money, or the more valuable articles of merchan- dise brought out by the trades. It proved to be rather a haz- ardous trip, as the Indians were hostile, and killed all the white men they could, especially if found on their hunting grounds. The journal proceeds :

"A little before sunset the Squire and myself crossed the Ohio, and went about two miles and tarried all night at a house which was lett by the inhabitants.

"September 21st. At 8 o'clock, four men joined us and we set off by Williamson's trail, a little before simiset. We en- camped half a mile beyond the "Big Lick," on the head waters of Short Creek, in the ninth township of the fourth range."

They reached the ridge dividing the waters of Short Creek and the Tuscarawas, and dug ginseng four days. He says: "It grew here in great abundance. Men accustomed to the work, conld dig from forty to sixty pounds a day."

"September 28th. Collected our horses and prepared to start for the river. At 1 o'clock, completed their loading. At sun- set encamped within about sixteen miles of the Ohio.

"29th. Arrived at the river about 3 o'clock, P. M. We were much surprised to hear that three men had been killed and one taken prisoner by the Indians, about ten miles up Cross creek, who were out after ginseng on Sunday last. Two of the party made their escape. They had also killed a family the week fol- lowing, up Wheeling creek, and done considerable other damage. While we were out, we were very careless and came on their trail, but very fortunately they did not fall in with us. I feel very happy that I have reached my old quarters, and will give them liberty to take my scalp if they catch me after ginseng again this year.

"October 12th. This evening McMahan returned from over the river, where he had been with a party of men in pursuit of some Indians, who yesterday morning killed an old man near Fort Stenben. He did not discover them, but by the signs thought them to be seven or eight in number.

"November 30th. A part of this month I have been on the west side of the Ohio, with Mr. Simpson and Colonel Martin, as- sisting them in the survey of the lands they bought at the public sales in New York. Last evening I returned from Pittsburgh, where I have been to settle my accounts with Britt & Co., which I have accomplished. While there, I saw Colonel Meigs, of Connecticut, who has lately come on to this country. He be- longs to the Ohio company, and informs me that the surveyors, workmen, &c., will be on this winter. I was gratified to learn that, by the resolve of the company, I had been appointed one of the surveyors."

FIRST LAND SALES.

The public lands embraced within the limits of the first seven ranges were first offered for sale by the government at New York in 1787, and the sales were afterwards continned in Phila- delphia and Pittsburgh. A land office was established in Steu- benville in 1801, and David Hoge was stationed at this place as register.

INDIAN WARS IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY-DEFEAT OF HARMAR

AND ST. CLAIR-GENERAL WAYNE'S VICTORY.

As the troubles with the savages existed until after their sub- jugation by General Wayne and his treaty with them in 1795, and as no permanent settlement could be maintained in security from their depredations within the limits of Ohio, until after that time, we will present a synopsis of the Indian campaigns during the territorial administration.

Notwithstanding the efforts made by Congress to acquire peaceable possession of the territory within the limits of Ohio after the treaties with the Indians to obtain a relinquishment of their title, we have seen the difficulties that were encountered in the survey of the first seven ranges. The first lands sold by Congress was to the "Ohio Company," formed in Boston in 1786, which purchased nine hundred and sixty-four thousand two hundred and eighty-five acres, located on the Ohio and Musk- ingum rivers.

The boundaries of the purchase were, namely: "From the seventh range of townships, extending along the Ohio river south-westerly, to the place where the west line of the seven- teenth range of townships would intersect that river; thence

northerly so far that a line drawn dne east to the western boundary of said seventh range of townships would, with the other lines, inelnde one and a half million acres of land, besides the reserves."

By the terms of this purchase the first legal settlement was effected in Ohio, and it was nearly two years later before legal settlements were made in either Belmont or Jefferson counties. General Ruffus Putnam, at the head of his pioneers, arrived at the mouth of the Muskingum on the 7th of April, 1788, and founded Marietta. They were met with apparently open hands by the Indians, and Captain Pipe, with one hundred Wyandots and Delawares welcomed them to their new home. But the antecedents of this chief up on the Tuscarawas, where he op- posed the missionaries, and harrangued the warriors during the revolution, to drive every white man over the Ohio, were suffi- cient to mistrust his friendship, as he had practiced the same duplicity on former occasions in the upper valley.

The settlers, while they shook hands with the warriors, shook their own heads, as soon as Pipe departed up the trail, and in- stead of trusting to his words, they went first to work to build- ing defenses, stockades, &c.

Up in the north-west, Brant had, in 1786, organized the tribes into a western confederation. He was the wiliest chief of his time, and headed the Six Nations, forming as he did the design of erecting the Ohio territory and the other North-west Territory into an Indian barrier between the American and British possessions. In this programme he was promised aid by the British. It was a pleasing idea to the chiefs and warriors of all the tribes, and afforded consolation to the British cabinet for the loss of their colonies.

And, right here, it may be observed that had not Marietta been settled when it was, in the manner it was, this British plan of hemming in the Americans east of the Ohio river would nn- doubtedly have succeeded, and thus postponed for a generation, at least, the creation of new States in the West.

No sooner had Pipe and his warriors made their reconnaissance at the mouth of the Muskingum, in 1788, than they retired from the valley, as they had done years before from the Tuscarawas, to plan and foment raids, and war upon the settlers. Under pre- tense of negotiating a treaty of peace, they assembled at Dun- can's falls on the Muskingum, to meet General St. Clair, then Governor of the Territory, but instead of making a treaty, their "bad Indians," purposely bronght along, fell upon the white sen- tries, killing two and wounding others. This postponed the treaty-as was intended by those in the secret-several months, meanwhile the Indians prowled around Marietta and along up the west side of the Ohio frequently killing the whites and driv- ing off those that would attempt to settle,

In January 1789, another attempt was made by treaty to quiet the savages, and dissipate their ideas of expelling the whites from Ohio. As soon as signed, the pioneers at Marietta gave the chiefs a great feast (but had nothing for the common warriors), and all went home up their trails, while the settlers went to sur- veying and clearing land, under the act of Congress. This treaty was made at Fort Harmer, opposite Marietta, between the set- tlers and the Wyandots, Delewares, Chippewas, Ottawas, Mi- amis, Pottowatamies, Senecas, &c., Jannary 12, 1789. Early the following summer John Mathews, who had been one of the sur- veyors of the first seven ranges, and who was the surveyor of the Ohio company, and his party, were attacked on the Virginia side of the Ohio, and seven of his men shot and scalped. The same summer not less than twenty men were killed and scalped on both sides of the Ohio, some of these depredations being com- mitted within the present limits of Belmont and Jefferson coun- ties, Ohio. In 1790, the Indians attacked a number of boats on the river owned by emigrants, and killed or carried off those on board. The raiding parties always had a white man as a decoy, who hailed the boats in a friendly manner as they descended the river, thus enticing them near shore, for the purpose of murder- ing the inmates. These decoys were renegades, like Girty, Mc- Kee, and Elliott, who had fled the colonies and were under the British flag.

Governor St. Clair and Colonel Harmer had adopted the most pacific policy towards the Indians, and exhausted every means to conciliate them and gain their friendship, to no purpose, At length severe measures toward them became absolutely ne- cessary, and Governor St. Clair unwisely sent a message to the British Governor, Hamilton, at Detroit, informing him that Colonel Harmer would go out with a force to chastise the mur- dering Indians on Sandusky and Maumee, and hoped Hamilton would not be offended, as there was no intention to annoy the British post at Detroit or elsewhere. Hamilton, although Gover-

"This was not Esq. MeMalar's.

BALTIMORE & OHIO RAIL ROAD. GREAT SHORT LINE BETWEEN THE EAST AND WEST.

VIEW OF THE BALTIMORE & OHIO OA

HIOFDAD BRIDGE AT BELLAIRE , OHIO.

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

nor of Detroit, was a low, perfidious character, and accordingly showed St. Clair's letter to the chiefs, who applied for and re- ceived from him, powder, ball, arms, and whisky, with which to carry on their murders, down on the Ohio and Muskingum, as well as fight Colonel Harmar.

Colonel Harmar marched an army of over one thousand men into the Indian strongholds of the north- west-the Indians re- tiring before them. After destroying some towns, he was in- tercepted by the enraged savages. on his return, and doubled up, driven back and so utterly routed that there was but little left of his army when he got back to the Ohio. Harmar was dis- graced, hundreds of good men ent to pieces, and the border laid open more than ever to Indian depredations.

By September, of 1791, General St. Clair had reorganized another army of twenty-three hundred troops, and started from Cincinnati on Harmar's trial, to inflict punishment on the sav- ages. The war department was inefficient, and its commissariat corrupt-the one failing to send St. Clair supplies, and the other stealing or changing what was sent, so that this courageous old general had not only the savages around, but want of good ammunition and provisions in his midst. In this dilemma he ordered a retreat, when the Indians, to the number of two thons- and warriors, beset him, in what is now Darke county, on the 23d of October, 1791. Three hundred of his militia deserted, adding panic to his cup of calamities. Still he stood his ground until the 4th of November, when a large body of Delawares, Shawanese, and Wyandots drove in his ontposts pell-mell ou to the main army. He rallied, but the savages being reinforced, pushed his troops into the center of the camp. In vain were efforts made to restore order and rally again. The Indians rushed upon his left line, killed or wounded one-half his artillery officers, captured the guns, slashed and cut hundreds to pieces, and so stampeded the militia that they could not be checked until they ran to Fort Jefferson-twenty seven miles from the battle-field. The General displayed commendable bravery in the fight, having four horses shot under him, and several bullet holes in his clothes. The battle lasted three hours, and thirteen hundred men were killed and wounded.

In 1793, Wayne, in his campaign, camped on St. Clair's battle- field, but his soldiers could not lay down to sleep on account of bones strewing the ground. It is stated that they picked up six hundred skulls, and buried them on the battle-ground, which is now marked by a small village, twenty-three miles north of Greenville, the county seat of Darke county.

A hue and cry was raised against St. Clair for this defeat over the whole country, and people demanded that he be shot by order of court-martial. President Washington refused to listen to the public clamor, and refused even a court of inquiry ; knowing well that the blame rested more on the War Depart- ment than on St. Clair. He remained Governor, but was su- perseded by General Wilkinson as general, and after the war shut himself up on his farm at Ligonier, Pennsylvania, where he died, in disgrace, although innocent of crime or cowardice.

After the defeat of General St. Clair, the Delawares, Shaw- anese, and other warriors came down from the "black forest" of the north-west, yelling the war-whoop along the Mohican, over to, and past the ruins on the Tuscarawas ; down the Muskingum, Scioto, and Miama, and over into Kentucky and Virginia. They were plumed with Buffalo horns fastened on the head, and cos- tumed with bear skin breach-clouts, while scalps of the slaugh- tered soldiers dangled from their heels, as they urged their horses onward, looking like so many red demons let loose from the infernal regions. They were jubilant over the recent vic- tories, and re-echoed the old epithet, "No white men shall ever plant corn in Ohio."

THE LAST STRUGGLE TO DRIVE THE WHITES FROM OHIO-WAYNE'S VICTORY

In the spring and summer of 1792, every effort was made by the government that could be conceived, to get the Indian tribes together and conclude a peace. At the instigation of British emmissaries they refused to meet, unless assured in advance that the Ohio should be the boundary in future treaties. This would have struck Marietta, the Muskingum, Tuscarawas, and all the Ohio valleys from the map of civilization, and lost to the Ohio Company a million acres bought from Congress at five shillings per acre.

Putnam and the Marietta pioneers were therefore deeply n- terested in the colony. Heckeweller could not survive, if his mission ruins on the Tuscarawas were to be so soon turned over to the wild successors of the mound builders. Yet, strange as the fact was, there were distinguished men in the east willing

21-B. & J. Cos.

to make the Ohio the boundary line. They feared the depopu- lation of the old, and the building up of new states in the west, to take from them the balance of political power.

At length, in September, 1792, General Putnam and John Heckewelder appeared on the Wabash ; met the Potawatomies, Wachtenaws, Kickapoos, and smaller tribes, and concluded a treaty. This was the first giving way of the Indian barrier. That winter the Shawanese, Six Nations, Wyandots. and Dela- wares agreed to hold a grand council on the Maumee, which took place in early summer of 1793. The government sent its agents to the mouth of Detroit River to be ready to treat. The Indian council, finding that they could not obtain the Ohio as a bound- ary line, refused to treat on any other line, broke up, and all the nations prepared for war again. At this council the treaties of Fort McIntosh and Harmar were repudiated as fraudulent. and the gifts proffered by the government were spurned by the Indians with contempt. Their fiat had gone forth : " No white man shall plant corn in Ohio."

After contemplating the probable loss, not only of their lives. but of their million acres, the prayers for help of the pioneer women, and the groans of their anguished husbands, were heard over the Blue Ridge, and above the Alleghenies, and far up into the New England mountains; then a burst of indignation arose, and " Mad Anthony " was ordered from the cast to the rescue of the pioneers. He came crushing through the forests like a behemoth.

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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 58

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