History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 77

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Ohio > Crawford County > History of Crawford County and Ohio > Part 77

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boys in the cabin chewing "dog-leaf" tobacco and loafing. The girls were courted and wooed by the young pioneers for miles around, and the young men who finally bore off the prizes were the envy of their set. The marriage of Lucy Ridgely to John Bear, the first wedding in the township, occurred during the summer of 1822. It was announced that a dance was to take place the night of the wedding, and all the neighborhood were invited to be pres- ent. This was an occasion not to be missed, and about thirty persons, old and young. as- sembled, and all was merriment and gayety. Plays, such as "blind man's buff," and "hurly- burly," were played amidst great laughter. Sets were formed upon the floor, and the "French four" and "Scotch reel" were exe- cuted with a gusto that would perplex the genius of a modern dancing-master. The young men came down on the " double shuffle " and cut the "pigeon wing" in a fashion that elicited exclamations of delight from the older men present. Some of these at- tempted the same exploit, but ingloriously failed, and were in disgrace the remainder of the evening. This marriage is remembered by several of the old settlers yet living, who were present and participated in the dance, and ate of the venison and turkey served at the wedding supper.

In 1818 and 1819, large temporary camps of Wyandot Indians were located near the present site of Leesville, Jefferson Township. For some reason unknown to the writer, Mr. Ferguson was known by the Indians as " Gov- ernor Ferguson." If any dissension arose between the natives and the white settlers, "Governor " Ferguson was called upon to arbitrate the claims of each. No serious dis- turbance is remembered to have occurred. A few years later, two brothers, Phillip and William Beatty, unmarried, came to the town- ship. A number of years before their coming,

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their parents had been cruelly murdered in the forests of Pennsylvania by a war-party of Indians, who attacked their cabin in the night. The absence of the two boys alone saved them from the same fate. The hearts of the two orphans were full of hatred for the red man, and, shortly after their arrival, they determined to wreak their vengeance on the Wyandots. One dark night, they stole cau- tiously to the Indian camp, and, standing just without the fire-light, selected their vic- tims, and fired simultaneously. No harm was done, but the braves seized their arms and darted into the forest in pursuit. The boys succeeded in eluding them, and in reaching their cabin in safety. The next day, the In- dians, with loud complaints, went to Governor Ferguson, and demanded that the guilty ones be punished. Ferguson said it should be done, if the Indians could establish the iden- tity of the persons committing the outrage; but this they were unable to do, and the mat- ter was dropped. The natives were often thievish, apparently not possessing any knowl- edge of the rights of property; yet they always seemed penitent, and willing to make restitution for any wrong committed. If they borrowed the settler's gun, which was often done, it was promptly returned, in good condition, according to agreement. One day Samuel Knisely heard a great commotion among his swine, which were squealing and taking on at a great rate. Thinking that pos- sibly a bear might be after them, he seized his rifle and ran out to ascertain the cause. He discovered three or four Indian dogs, hold- ing a large hog, which was bleeding profusely and almost dead. He raised his rifle to shoot one of the dogs; but at that instant their owner appeared, in the person of a tall Indian, who leaped in front of the uplifted rifle, and throwing up his hands exclaimed: "No shoot, no shoot! Me pay, me pay." He cast

his rifle and tomahawk upon the ground, offer- ing them in payment for the damage done. Mr. Knisely refused to take the rifle, but kept the tomahawk, which remained in his possession for many years.

In the year 1819, James Gwell came into the township. He built a small log hut, or " hen-coop," and began clearing and improv- ing his farm. In the following year, Mr. Elder and Mr. Shull arrived and built their cabins, moving their families into them the same year. These men were industrious farm- ers, and made good citizens; a few of their descendants are yet living in the county. Mr. Shull owned a saw-mill on Sandusky River, in about 1830. It was run by water-power, and the water was collected by a large "brush" dam, which was washed out a few years later. The old mill-race is yet to be seen. In 1821, Samuel Knisely moved his family to the "Spring farm," which he had selected and partially purchased, in 1819. This man was one of the most skillful and successful hunters ever in the township. He acquired his knowl- edge of wood-craft and of the chase from his father, who was one of the most successful hunters in Northern Ohio in early years. The father lived in Tuscarawas County, and the family tradition is, that he made it his practice to kill 100 deer every winter, a custom he fol- lowed for many years. He was also a success- ful bear hunter, killing many of those animals, His son Samuel, the pioneer of Sandusky, was scarcely less noted, but the larger species of game had disappeared before his arrival. An occasional bear or panther was found, and the woods were full of deer, raccoon and wolves. He owned a large dog named "Lyon," that was trained to hunt the different varieties of game. One evening, his son John, a lad of fourteen, went after the cows, taking the dog with him. He had not gone far before the dog started rapidly in pursuit of some animal,

MRS. JANE STEWART.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

which soon took to a tree. The boy ran for- ward, and found that the dog had treed a large wildcat, which was crouched upon a limb about thirty feet above the ground. He began clubbing it, and soon the animal sprang to the ground, but was instantly seized by the dog. But the cat, though pinned to the earth, began doing fearful execution with its hind claws on the dog's breast. To prevent this, the boy ran forward and seized the cat by the hind legs, and in a few minutes it was stran- gled to death by the dog. He returned home driving the cows, whistling along, with the cat on his shoulder, as though nothing had happened. At another time, when Mr. Knisely was sick, the dog ran a deer into the river near the house. It was a large buck, and had turned at bay. Mrs. Knisely ran out with the rifle, and, taking aim at the deer, fired, but missed it. She reloaded, and fired the second time, shooting it through the head, killing it instantly. She was unable to re- move the body from the water, though she tried for some time. At last Conrad Walters, hap- pening along, assisted her in pulling it on to the bank. These are but common incidents in the lives of pioneer wives and children. Mr. Knisely was a successful bee-hunter, and always seemed to know just where to go to find an abundance of wild honey. This was collected and packed in kegs, furnished by some of the settlers, and taken to Sandusky City, or later, to Mansfield. Trees were often found containing twenty or thirty gallons. Settlers often experienced great difficulty in paying their taxes; but, where they could obtain wild honey, or the skins of wild animals, an abun- dant revenue for that purpose was easily ob- tained. One day Mr. Knisely cut down a bee-tree, and, as it fell, a porcupine ran out from a hole in the trunk. It was instantly seized by the dog and killed: but the dog's head was filled with quills, and swelled up to

twice its normal size. About twelve gallons of fine honey were taken from the tree.

In August, 1821, John B. French erected a hewed-log cabin on Section 23, into which he moved his family. Mr. French had been en- gaged in the mercantile business in Virginia; but, finding that his health was failing, he determined to come to the wilderness of Ohio for a home. He purchased a tract of land just north of the Sandusky River, and began recruiting his health by engaging in pioneer pursuits. But, at that time, the climate of Ohio was very damp, and did not agree with him, and his condition was not altered by his removal from Virginia. The country was covered with bogs, marshes and swamps, which were a fruitful source of various fevers and diseases. His health slowly failed, and he died in 1830, his death being one of the first in the township. He was finely educated, and was naturally a man of great sociability and intelligence. He was probably the first Justice of the Peace in the township, and was also one of the first three Associate Judges in the county. He had an excellent judgment, and, notwithstanding his poor health, had great force of character. Although he did not pretend to keep a real tavern, yet his cabin became quite a resort for travelers, who often traveled out of their way to reach it. His wife, strong and clear minded. is yet liv- ing in West Liberty. The Wyandot Indians had temporary camps on the French farm, and often came to the cabin to beg, or out of curi- osity, or, perhaps, to cultivate a spirit of so ciability. Often, when Mrs. French was alone in the cabin busily engaged with her house- hold duties, she would look up to encounter the keen eyes of an Indian hunter watching her through the little window, or else she would suddenly become aware of their pres- ence in the cabin, where they came without warning or invitation. They would seat them-

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selves before the fire without a word, take out their pipes, and fill them with pinched-up tobacco leaves from a little pouch hid myste- riously about their persons. The pipe, after being lighted, was handed to Mrs. French, who, to express her good-will and friendliness toward the Indians, would coolly take a few puffs and hand it back, maintaining the same imperturbable silence. Her husband had a sword, a relie of the war of 1812, hanging on the cabin wall. The Indians often took it down and brandished it furiously in the air at some imaginary foe. Mrs. French's nerves were equal to the emergency, she viewing the war- like actions without a tremor. One day she was engaged in boiling sugar-water, in a large iron kettle hanging over the fire. The In- dians sat watching her, occasionally stepping up to see how the boiling progressed. When the sirup had been "stirred off" and had cooled, and the sugar had settled from it, she gave each a small portion to eat. One old brave, named "Dave Hill," ate his in silence, and Mrs. French asked him if it was not good. He looked at her a few moments without utter- ing a word, and then, drawing himself up to his full height, while a look of supreme dis- gust swept over his tawny features, he haugh- tily said: "Ugh! French's squaw no make sugar like Indian's squaw." It is uncertain whether this was intended as a compliment to Mrs. French, or whether Mrs. David Hill was a superior sugar-maker. Among the Indians that stopped at the cabin was a tall, wiry fel- low, named Blacksnake, who was looked upon with distrust by some of the settlers. He often became quite loud, especially after he had taken whisky, and would then proudly boast of his former exploits. He had in his posses- sion quito a large number of scalps, which, he boasted, had been taken from the heads of white men by himself. He said he had ninety-nine, and must have another to make

the even hundred. He soon afterward left the neighborhood, going west, and very likely kept his word. The settlers often received invitations to attend some of the peace dances of the Indians, or to participate in some of their great feasts. These invitations were usually accepted, not only to retain the good- will of the Indians, but because they afforded no little sport and excitement. Shooting . matches would be announced, but, notwith- standing the superior vision of the red men, the white hunters generally bore off the prizes. These usually consisted of a nicely- dressed deer, wolf, fox or bearskin. Some of the Indians were great runners-one, named Eagle Feather, outstripping his companions, or any of the white settlers. The frontier was not without its excitement in the way of shows, several of which pushed out into the wilder- ness with commendable enterprise. In 1829, a large menagerie eneamped for the night elose to French's cabin. There were several lions, an elephant, two or three camels, besides a multitude of small animals, including baboons and apes, otherwise known as the ancestors of the human race. Before the arrival of the show, as it was passing through the woods a few miles north, the lion began to roar very loudly. A man named Bailey, chopping in the woods out of sight of the wagons, heard the ominous sound, and became terribly fright- ened. He started on the run for a neighbor's cabin, distant about half a mile, and. coming up to it, he told the owner "the devil was coming; he had heard it roar." The neigh- bor laughed at him, but, thinking there might be some wild animal in the woods, took his rifle, and went with the frightened man. When they saw the caravan, the fears of Mr. Bailey were dispersed, greatly to his relief.

In 1823, Jacob Dull, Jacob Ambrose, and Benjamin and William Bowers came to the township. The last two named were brothers,

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

and, soon after their arrival, erected a large, hewed-log, two-storied cabin on Lost Creek, not far from its mouth, designing it for a saw and grist mill combined. This mill, in time, became the most extensive ever in the town- ship. The creek had considerable fall where the mill was located, and first-class water- power, though limited in extent, was secured in the usual way by means of a race. The nearest mills of any note, prior to this, were eight or ten miles away. There was one near Broken Sword (now the village of Annapolis, or Sulphur Springs), and one or two in the adjoining townships, but all could not be sup- plied from these mills, though they were run day and night, during the sawing season. The home demand for lumber was greater than the mills could supply, so that, even after the erection of the Bowers Mill, many settlers were obliged to go to distant mills, or do without lumber. The Bowers Mill, though its capacity was limited, did a fair business, sawing all the better varieties of wood on shares. Excellent black walnut timber, that to-day would command almost fabulous prices in the Eastern States, was sawed and burned with a prodigality that appears reckless, when viewed from the present. Entire houses were built of the finest black walnut timber to be found in the forest, and rails by the thou sands were split from the same wood. The grist-mill was a rather weak concern, and was probably designed for no other purpose than to furnish ground corn and rye for a distillery that was afterward erected as an addition to the saw and grist mills. It could grind corn and wheat after a fashion, and was patron- ized whenever it obviated the necessity of going to mill through bottomless roads dur- ing the wet seasons. However, if a settler had a large grist to be ground, he usually deferred going until the roads were in good condition, when he took his grain to a distant and better

mill. As has been said, the Bowers brothers built an addition to the mill, designing it for a distillery, in which they placed a large copper still. They did not succeed in manu- facturing more whisky than was required for home consumption. About this time, a man named Weaver was found dead in Lost Creek. He had no marks of violence about his person, and some thought he had imbibed too freely, and, in trying to cross the stream on a log, had fallen into the water, and, because of his help- less condition, could not get out. Others declared there had been foul play, and one of the neighbors, with whom Weaver had had some trouble, was pointed out as the guilty one. It is likely that the former cause was the correct one. A sort of saloon was kept in connection with the distillery, and became a resort for convivial spirits. This was the only distillery ever in the township. The mills and distillery ran for about ten years, and were then removed. The old race and a few scattered ruins may yet be seen on the site of the old mill. It was near this mill that quite an exciting adventure occurred in about 1838. The neighbors had assembled to erect a school- house, and had completed the work shortly after dark. William Wert had been present, and, while he was passing through the woods on his way home, his dogs treed some large animal and began barking furiously. Wert hurried forward to see what was the matter. The animal was up a small tree, and Wert, believing it to be a catamount, cut the tree down with his ax. But the animal, though stunnel by the fall, scattered the dogs in a hurry, stretching one of them lifeless on the ground with a blow of its paw, and ran up another tree. This was also cut down, with the same result. Wert's blood was then up, and, determining to kill it at all hazards, he cut the third tree down, which, in falling, pinned the animal to the ground like a vice.

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The night was as dark as pitch, so that the settler could not see what kind of an animal it was, and was, therefore, unable to shoot it. The only remaining dog dared not go near it. The animal could be heard moaning and struggling to get up, and Wert, realizing for the first time its situation, started resolutely forward to dispatch it with his ax. When within a few feet of it, he saw its head faintly outlined against the ground, and, watching his opportunity, he struck it with all his strength on the head, killing it instantly. He struck a light, and saw with astonishment that he had killed a panther of the largest size. Its hoad was filled with the quills of a porcupine, upon which it had feasted a few days previ- ously. His family at home were no little frightened when he came staggering into the cabin with the huge animal on his back. It was evidently a straggler, and but for the fortunate circumstance of its being pinned to the ground by the tree, would have escaped. It had killed one of the dogs, and badly wounded another. The neighbors flocked in the next morning to view the panther, and to tell stories of hair-breadth escapes of their own in the past.

In 1825, James Tarns, Capt. Joseph Smith, Nelson Tustason, William Matthews and Will- iam Hanley came in, and erected their cabins in different parts of the township. The last three located in the northern part, near the celebrated "Bear Marsh," which was named by the Indians before the advent of the white settlers. These men became prom- inent citizens in the township. Tarns entered a quarter-section on the western tier of sections, upon which he built a hewed-log cabin. He was a blacksmith, the first in the township, and, in 1826, built a small log shop a few rods from his cabin. He carried on his trade to a limited extent for many years. Smith had been a commissioned officer in the war of

1812, and, after coming to the township, was elected Captain of the muster company, raised in this and adjoining neighborhoods. He was a graduate of one of the Eastern colleges, and, like many others with failing health, had come to the forests of Ohio to find what vir- tue there was in the rugged life of a pioneer. A few years after his arrival, he died of con- sumption. Tustason was well to do, and be- came an extensive land-holder, finally owning several sections near the central part. He purchased a portion of his land of Benjamin Johns, a speculator, who had entered consid- erable land in the township, in 1814. Johns did not live on his land, however, but sold it to the different settlers who located in this division of the county. Matthews and Han- ley deserve special mention, as being the first settlers in the northern part. No settlers are known to have come in 1827, to this divis- ion of the county. In 1828, quite a number came in, among whom were Charles Burns, John Ruth, Peter Long, Isaac Beck, Joseph and William Cox, Dewey, Cove and others. Within the next five or six years, almost or quite all the land in the township was taken up. During this period there came in John McIntire, Isaac Hilburn, Isaac Davis, Isaac Henry, Abel Dewalt, John Ramsey, James and William Dickson, Lewis and Peter Rutan, Benjamin Lobe, John Kaler, John Luke and others. In 1835, there were as many as thirty or forty settlers in the township. Industries and improvements began to multiply; markets became better and nearer; excellent flour and meal could be obtained within a few miles; Bucyrus and Mansfield were the principal trading-points; money became plenty, and the settlers attained a degree of prosperity unknown to them before. Ruth erected a rude shingle factory, in about 1836, riving them out by hand, and doing the sawing with a large whip saw, run by two men. Blocks of

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

straight-grained timber, about two feet long, were sawed, and the shingles, about an inch in diameter, were split from these. The work was slow and tiresome, and, after a few years, was discontinued. Better shingles could be obtained for less money at the saw-mills on Sandusky River. Isaac Beck owned a "one- horse" saw and grist mill on the river, in about 1835. He followed the occupation for about four years. Isaac Darling dressed skins for a short time, about 1828. John Lobe opened a public house in 1834. He followed this calling for nearly twenty years, and made considerable money from it. John McIntire was a weaver, and had a large loom in one end of his cabin. He carried on the occupation when not otherwise engaged upon his farm. John Kaler was a cobbler, who traveled from house to house during the win- ter, mending shoes. He carried a small box, in which were leather, and all the necessary tools for his trade. Hilburn was a prominent citizen in the northern part. When he reached the township, he was in poor circumstances, but immediately began mauling rails, and was soon prosperous. One year his taxes became due, and he found himself unable to pay them. He would maul rails in the woods all day, and, when night came, would go coon-hunting with torches in the woods. One dark night, while thus engaged, assisted by his son Rob- ert, a lad thirteen or fourteen years old, he was suddenly attacked by a pack of hungry wolves. He quickly placed the boy in the hollow of a large tree, and, standing in front of him, waved his fire-brand to frighten away the wolves. They came dangerously close, snapping and snarling, but were afraid of the fire, and soon went scurrying off into the for- est. Coon-skins brought 25 cents each, and, when well dressed, as high as $1. This money was used in paying taxes. Industri- ous and skillful hunters could make good

wages, especially in the winter. They could penetrate the neighboring bogs and marshes, and catch large numbers of mink, foxes, coons, etc., whose furs, at that time, were valued very highly in the Eastern States. Between 1830 and 1840, large fur companies were established in various fur-bearing regions in the United States and Canada, and fur hoods, cloaks, tippets, etc., were highly prized by the fashionable world. Thus, a valuable source of revenue was opened to the pioneer. and the result was that a vigorous crusade against all fur-bearing animals was begun and carried on so extensively that, in a short time, the forests became deserted by these animals, which were shot or trapped or driven to some remote re- gion not yet penetrated by the pioneer. But the result was advantageous to the settler, and, strange as it may seem, the fashionable world of that period deserves the credit and honor, if such they be.

In the year 1827, a United Presbyterian Church society was organized in the central part of the township. A few years previously itinerant preachers had begun to visit the neighborhood, calling a number of the settlers together and preaching to them in the cabin of one of the settlers. These visits brought the desired result, and the preachers were called upon to organize numerous religious societies. The Presbyterian society became so strong that, in 1830, a rude church was built. It was constructed almost wholly of clap- boards, which were split out by Patrick Mc- Intire, one of the early carpenters. Adam Stone, also a carpenter, prepared the mold- ings, door and window casings, etc. Elder Cratty visited and labored with the society for many years, and was one of the men to organize it. It became the strongest church in the township, although it was not the first religious society established. A Sunday school was organized at the time of the erec-

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tion of the church, and, from the start, had a large membership. The great value of these societies to the citizens cannot be estimated in figures. They strengthened a sentiment of sociability and charity, that bore an abundant fruit of pure lives and morals in after years. In about 1850, a new church was built to take the place of the "clapboard" church, which was removed, and is now used as a barn by William Stone. As early as 1822, a Method- ist Episcopal society was organized in John B. French's cabin. John O. Blowers was one of the earliest preachers. An 'Englishman named Martin, a resident of Holmes Town- ship, often took charge of the meetings. Re- vivals were held in the cabins of French, Knisely, Henry and others. Great earnest- ness and enthusiasm were manifested by the members, and every family in the neighbor- hood was invited to come into the "ark of safety." In about the year 1840, the Luth- erans organized a society and built a church on Lost Creek. The society is in a prosper- ous condition. The religious world had long looked upon the dusky savage as a deserving subject for Christian enlightenment, and, with commendable enthusiasm and energy, had early sent missionaries into the wilderness to teach them the way of eternal life. But the zeal of religious people and the earnest efforts of Christian teachers have been baffled by the natural perversity of the red race. They are to-day as crafty, cunning and revengeful as when the English landed at Jamestown. Like the Chinese, they have steadily resisted the advances of a higher type of civilization. But Christian teachers have been persistent, and exceptional cases are found where the aborigines have yielded to religious influences. Early missionaries visited the Wyandot In- dians in Sandusky Township. A young lady named Melinda Hunt, filled with religious enthusiasm, established herself on the San-

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History of Crawford County and Ohio, Part 77

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Perrin, William Henry, [from old catalog] comp; Battle, J. H., [from old catalog] comp; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852- [from old catalog] comp; Baskin & Battey, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1034