USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 2
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.761
Snoke, George
638
Scholl, H. M. .558
Snyder, Hon. B. F
769
Schopp, James R
.516
Snyder, Louis
456
Schultz, William A
.296
Snyder, Raymond R.
.588
Scofield, Elnathan
.802
Soliday, Michael C.
.502
Scott, Dr. Hervey
316, 365
Spangler, Thomas M. .698
.595
Seifert, B. F. .623
Sperry, Dr. P. P.
146
Seitz, Enoch Berry .361
Stafford, Jacob A.
.405
Sexauer, Hon. C. H. 459
Shaeffer, Chas. F. 297
Stalter, David
299
Shaeffer, Frank A. 614
Stanberry, Hon. Henry
286,290
Shaffer, Isaac D .. 646
St. Clair, Gen.
36, 57
Shaffer, William H. 449
Steinman, Geo. W.
295
Shallenberger, Jonas .295
Stemen, I. N ..
.613
Shaw, Edson Lee 289
Stemen, William W
.601
Shaw, Virgil E.
.296
Steward, Charles
621
Shell, Brooks E.
.484
Steward, Lewis W.
.621
Sherburn, William F. .622
Stewart, J. W. .531
Stincheomb, James W. 292
Sherman, Hon. John. .424
422
Stout, N. F .479
Strayer, Dr. Frank P. .752
Striekler, C. M. .300
Shreyer, George
.578
Strickler, Harry E. .544
749
Shuman, Joseph D. 466
Struckman, John 802
.658
Shupe, Nelson
664
Stuart, Zebulon
800
Shupe, Samuel 659
Stukey, Dr. Franklin P
513
Silbaugh, Dr. John J. .535
Swan, John B., V. S.
.661
Silbaugh, Leroy
.300
Sweyer, John
128
Silliman, Judge .291
Sites, David
298
Sites, Emanuel
.700
Sites, George W
700
Sites, Joseph S.
298
Sitterley, William E. 699
Tallmadge, Darius 787
Tallmadge, Theo. Wood .788
Slough, Tallman
297
Smallwood, John 498
Smith, A. M. 714
Taylor, George W 465
Taylor, J. 698
Smith, Benjamin
291
Taylor, J. Frank .698
Smith, Charles M. 681
Taylor, Jesse Jr. .673
Smith, Frank W 648
Taylor, Milton F. .673
Smith, Henry C. 478 Taylor, Dr. Walter B .715
St. Mary's Catholic Church .325
Sherman, Gen. W. T.
Sherrick, Franklin P
499
Showalter, Henry W
521
Shreyer, Jacob
578
Strode, George H.
Shupe, Milton .645
Stuart, W. B.
Sweyer, Samuel
128
Swisher, Cary A.
545
Swope, Felix .709
Swope, S. B. 709
Slaughter, Robert F. 115, 291
Tarhe, Chief 69,88
Taylor, Dr. Frank G. 715
Smith, Alexander M. 712
Sparks, Dr. Edward P
Sears, Capt. John. .406
Staker, George .807
Sherman, Charles Robert. 290, 421
INDEX
xvii
Tecumseh, Chief 58
Wetzler, Edward 414
Teele, Edward D. 296
Wetzler, Thomas 414
Thomas, Allen 656
Whiley, Charles B .301
Thompson, William K. 760
White, Alexander
Tidd, Daniel B.
789
.567
Tobin, James A.
.300
White, William 489
Trimmer, Grandville M
749
Whitman, Henry C. .291
True, John W.
557
White, Thomas U.
291
Turner, Hon. A. F 596
Whittus, Dr. John W.
.146
Turner, George E.
. 647
Wickoff, William M. 790
Turner, P. D.
589
Wilbert, Jacob .511
724
Tuthill, John C.
115
Williams, Dr. John 333, 336
Winegardner, Amos J. 781
Winegardner, Jefferson J .526
Vogt, Rev. John.
166
Van Trump, Col.
292
Vorys, Arthur I.
295
Wooster, George P.
556
Wright, John M.
287,295
Wagner, Charles M. .628
Wright, Silas H.
,295
Wagenhals, Dr. P. M.
.313
Wagner, John Jacob.
.172
Wagner, Prof. J. J.
157
Wyman, Washington
744
Walter, Prof. William
.608
Warner, William S. .813
Yeager, John .555
Watson, William H.
.472
Yencer, Joseph
.579
Wayne, Gen. Anthony.
87,55
Young, David
.634
Weaver, Hon. James M. .580
.118
Young, H. W
672
Weiser, Calvin W 628
,
Weiser, G. R. .626
Zane, Ebenezer 84, 102
Weist, E. O. .147
Zerbe, Rev. H. K. .166
Welker, J. H. 533
Zink, George H. .799
Welsh, George I .333, 362
Zollinger, John L. .717
Wetzler, Charles 414 Zollinger, William E. .733
.365
Work, Harry D.
.495
Wright, Spencer J.
.284
Wright, Thomas W. .602
Young, H. E. .581
Webster, Daniel
Wise, William T. .292
Wiseman, C. M. L.
Valentine, Prof. Clytus E. .763
Wildermuth, Milton D
Tussing, John V .570
White, John W 289
CHARLES C. MILLER
History of Fairfield County
CHAPTER I
THE OLD NORTHWEST
The Value of History-Character of the Men and Women who Have Made History in this Section-Obligations of the Author-Fairfield County a Part of the Old Northwest-The Famous Ordinance of 1787-State of Ohio Created-Organisation of Fairfield County- The Five States of the Old Northwest-Their Sise, Importance and Population-Their Wealth and Resources-Character of the Citizenship-Ohio's Prominent Place in the Political History of the Country-The Indians-The Ordinance of 1787 Forbids Slavery and Provides for the Support of Education-School Sections-The State Universities- First Colony in the Wilderness-Settlement of Marietta-Gen. St. Clair Appointed First Governor of Northwest Territory-Ohio's First County Organised-Ohio's First Court Opened-Establishment of Law and Order-Gen. George Rogers Clark; his Famous Campaign and Invaluable Services to the Country-Captures British Forts and Saves the Northwest Territory to the United States-Rewarded by Ingratitude-His Death- Conflicting Claims Between the States to Ownership of Northwest Territory-Their Final Settlement-Unfair Treatment of the Indians-Black Hawk-His Wrongs-His Inter- view with President Jackson-Disappearance of the Indians-The Wilderness Subdued- Character of the Pioneer Settlers-The Hardships Endured and Results Accomplished- The Pioneer's Most Enduring Monument.
Of all the departments of learning, none bring greater value to the human mind, and to human action, than history.
Clio, the muse of history, with hier open roll, proclaims to all the world the record of what man has done-and that constitutes his- tory. From those records we judge the past and guide our future. To be well read in his- tory is a valuable attainment for any one, for all the world loves the story of man. We teach the virtues and commend the rugged strength of the pioneer; we admire the bra- very and hardih od of the settlers of the grim old forests, and we are amazed at the rapidity with which those forests are transformed into
fields of golden grain and gardens of roses; and still greater is the wonder when we look upon the smoking chimneys and whirling spindles of our great manufacturing centers, builded by the hand of man upon the plains and in the valleys. To those plains and val- leys came the best blood of many nations from across the sea to hew out homes and to rear a race more intellectual and more enterprising than their forefathers. From these homes thus founded all over the great Northwest, and especially here in Fairfield county, came heroic men and virtuous women whose influ- ence helped to build the nation.
The prevailing influence in man's original
8
19
20
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
nature has long been a subject of controversy among psychologists and scientists-whether that influence is due to heredity or environ- ment, or to both. The lives of the inhabitants of this great county furnish undoubted exam- ples of each of these influences-for such was the blood of the settlers and their descendants that no matter what their environment, great men and women were produced.
While climate and soil and sun aided in the development of these people, there are some of Fairfield's sons so great that, like Luther and Mohammed and Napoleon, they cannot be explained as a product of the times. They belong to the great souls-the "hero" class of Emerson and Carlyle.
History should be written in such a crisp, flowing narrative style as to gracefully trans- late historic facts into the romance of a na- tion, and the historian who would gain an au- dience must thus write-and with ease, facil- ity and skill. It shall be the aim of the author of these pages to so present the facts as he finds them as to be both interesting and useful.
Fairfield County, Ohio, formed a part of the Old Northwest. By the celebrated Ordi- nance of 1787 the territory "northwest of the river Ohio" was to be divided into not less than three nor more than five sections. or states. By the same law it was provided that "whenever any of the said states shall have sixty thousand free inhabitants therein, such state shall be admitted, by its delegates, into the Congress of the United States, on equal footing with the original states, in all respects whatever; and shall be at liberty to form a permanent constitution and state govern- ment." (Article V, Ordinance of 1787.)
Acting under this provision of our organic law, Ohio became a state, by act of Congress, February 19, 1803, and Fairfield County, as part of Ohio, entered upon her history-making
career, although the county had been organ- ized in 1800, by proclamation of Territorial Governor, General Arthur St. Clair.
There were five states carved out of the Old Northwest-Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin-making a total area of 250,000 square miles. At the time of the passage of the Ordinance of 1787 it is probable that there were not more than 60,000 "free inhabitants" in the entire five states. Today there are more than seventeen millions. In this section-the Old Northwest-we find now the largest lakes, joined by silvery rivers and canals, the richest mine deposits, and the most fertile soil in North America, if not in the world. Here are the longest rivers-and upon their banks sit in pride and majesty, the noble cities from whose factories and mills come the clothing and food that help to feed and to protect the hungry millions of earth.
The citizenship of this section is among the most enlightened and progressive, Ohio alone having furnished seven Presidents of the United States, one Vice-President, three Presidents of the Senate, one Speaker of the House, two Chief Justices, five Associate Judges and 22 Cabinet Officers. In addition there is a long list of distinguished Senators, Representatives, inventors, authors and schol- ars; likewise,
"In army and navy our quota is full And you can on our fighting rely."
For many years after the coming of the white men, the American Indians-the orig- inal owners of the soil-made life a burden for these white men, who were often forced to bare their breasts upon "upland glade or glen" to the tomahawk, the poisoned arrow and the faggot. The soil was redeemed for the white men by the veterans of three wars. It was reddened by the blood of the Indian,
21
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
the French, the English and the American. It was consecrated by the death of many a noble son.
But the great Ordinance did more than to provide for the admission of states-it had strong provisions in regard to slavery and ed- ucation. "There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in said territory, other- wise than in the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly con- victed." No such expression had yet been seen in any document ; and this is all the more wonderful and noble, when we recall the fact that, at that time, all the original states had slaves. From this can be traced the liberty- loving sentiment ever afterward found in the people of the Northwest. But this is not all. The great document resounded throughout the wilderness, as with a Titan's voice, the cause of religion and education. "Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of man- kind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged."
The sixteenth section of every township of 36 sections was set aside for maintenance of common schools in each of these five States. This generous grant on the part of the gen- eral government gave to these five States five million acres. From the sale of this land the schools have realized more than twenty mil- lion dollars. The spirit of this section of the Ordinance spread to all the Western States and they now have magnificent school funds. The ordinance also gave to each State one township entire for the maintenance of a university. In Ohio this township is located in Athens county, and thus grand old Ohio University, at Athens originated and is, in part, sustained today. It is the oldest univer- sity west of the Allegheny Mountains. Thus was the fund for education in Fairfield
County begun, and it has been generously in- creased by liberal donations from the State and from private funds. In 1905 the entire United States expended $307,000,000 for ele- mentary and secondary schools alone.
FIRST COLONY IN TIIE WILDERNESS
In 1787 Rev. Manasseh Cutler led a band of 48 intrepid pioneers into the wilderness, and they formed the first colony or settle- ment in what is now Ohio, at Marietta, April 7, 1788. They named their camp "Marietta" after the beautiful French Queen, Marie An- toinette. Before the first year had passed Marietta had 132 men and 15 families. The first Fourth of July, 1788, was right royally celebrated in this new home of liberty. On the 15th of that month, the first Governor of the Northwest Territory, Gen. Arthur St. Clair, arrived and took charge of affairs. He was well received by the people and most heartily supported by them. Governor St. Clair soon began the work of organization and he laid out Ohio's first county (1788), which embraced about all of the eastern half of Ohio, and which he named Washington County. A sheriff, judges and other officers were appointed, and on Campus Martius, the first court in Ohio was opened in the block house.
This was a great event, for on that day law and order began in the wilderness. The be- ginnings of great things are always of great interest, and this interest grows with each decade. This beginning of established law was announced from the door of the log cabin court house, on Campus Martius, in the fall of 1788, by the newly appointed sheriff in these words: "Oyez! Oyez! A court is now opened for the administration of even-handed justice, to the poor and to the rich, to the guilty and to the innocent, without respect of
22
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
persons; none to be punished without trial by their peers, and then in pursuance of the laws and evidence in the case." From this first county of Ohio, the number has grown to 88, and courts of justice are established in each county.
GEN. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK
The history of the Old Northwest cannot be told without relating the great work of George Rogers Clark. It would really be the play of "Hamlet" with Hamlet omitted. He was born in Virginia in 1752, and was a brother of Capt. William Clark, whose great journey of 8,000 miles into the Oregon coun- try, 1804-06, in company with Capt. Meri- wether Lewis, a grateful nation in the year (1905) commemorated by a World's Fair at Portland, Oregon. George Rogers Clark was made a brigadier general in 1781, but is gen- erally known in history, especially during the campaign in the Old Northwest, as Colonel Clark. He was only 20 years old when he plunged into the unbroken wilderness of Ohio, as a soldier and surveyor of Lord Dunmore's expedition. He was as fine a rifleman as ever entered a forest, and he was skilled in all the knowledge of woodcraft. As a sol- y dier he was brave and manly; as a comman- der he was sagacious, patient and fearless. The Indians respected and feared him alike, and gave him and his men the name of "The Long Knives."
In 1775, at the close of Dunmore's War, Clark went to Kentucky, where he assisted Daniel Boone to fight Indians and to build a new commonwealth in the wilderness. On his return to his old home in Virginia he learned that the War for Liberty had actually begun between the Colonies and England-the mother country. One year later we again find him in Kentucky, aiding the settlers on the
border in many ways. He is chosen by them to command the rude militia of this country, and it proved a wise choice. Every settle- ment was in constant danger of attack by the bloodthirsty Indians, and Clark knew full well how to resist them. But Virginia was claim- ing ownership of this country of Kentucky- "the dark and bloody ground"-and the hardy settlers thought they should have some protection from Virginia.
At last two delegates, Clark being one, were chosen to go to Virginia and see the Gover- nor-then the noted Patrick Henry-and very forcefully showed him their needs and the ne- cessity of immediate action. They petitioned for the formation of their country into an in- dependent county, and that they might be al- lowed to assist the Colonies in their struggle against the tyranny of England. They also asked for 500 pounds of gunpowder and a supply of rifles. The Governor was at first inclined to refuse these requests on the ground that Virginia had all she could manage in the defense of the Colonies. But Colonel Clark told him plainly that a country that was not worth defending was not worth claiming. The delegates obtained their desired arms and ammunition, and when the Legislature next met, the county of Kentucky was formed with almost the identical boundaries that now mark the State of Kentucky.
General Hamilton, the British commander at Detroit, had set a price upon every set- tler's scalp in the Ohio Valley, and in the spring of 1777 the Indians had been so in- cited to cruelty and bloodshed by the promise of pay on the part of the British, that they made constant raids upon the settlements across the Ohio. Hiding in the dense forest. they boldly attacked the unprotected and help- less pioneer while at work in his field, burned his cabin, destroyed his cattle and his crops
23
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
and carried his wife and children into hellish captivity. Not a single life was safe, for there was always a hidden dusky foe on every hand. Unless relief could be obtained soon, all the whites in the valley woud be destroyed Re- lief came-and under the guiding hand of the brave young Clark. He conceived the plan of not only protecting the settlements but of sav-
the Scioto and Miami rivers in Ohio, and the Reservation, now in the State of Indiana, for Clark and his soldiers.
In May, 1778, he started on the famous ex- pedition from Redstone Old Fort-Browns- ville, Pennsylvania-with only about 150 men. But the band increased in size as it marched on to old Fort Pitt, where it em-
Courtesy Macmillan ('o.
BRYANT'S STATION-DRAWN BY GEORGE ROGERS CLARKE
ing the great Northwest. But to carry out his plans he must have more men, and he there- fore hurried back to Virginia and laid his plans fully before Governor Patrick Henry. He was duly commissioned to raise seven companies of 40 men each among the settlers west of the Allegheny mountains. As an in- centive cach soldier was promised 300 acres of land, to be selected from the richest valleys of the conquered territory. Thus originated the Virginia Military Reservation, between
barked upon the Ohio. When Colonel Clark left the Governor of Virginia he was en- trusted with two specific commands. One was to protect the settlers in Kentucky, and the other-not yet to be made public-authorized him to attack Kaskaskia, a British post on the Kaskaskia river, one mile east of the Missis- sippi. Governor Henry also gave him $1,200 and an order on the commandant at Fort Pitt for all the powder he might need.
From this fort the little band of men, with-
,
24
HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
out uniforms, fresh from the cabin, the for- his backwoodsmen, and also that Kaskaskia est, and the mountain, began their perilous and Cahokia were in his possession, Hamil- ton hastened to Vincennes with a large body of British regulars and Indian allies. He found the fort in possession of just two men -Captain Helin and a soldier. The Captain places a cannon at the open gate and demands the honors of war if the fort is to be surren- dered. The request is granted and two men march out between rows of British soldiers and Indians. journey to conquer what has proved to be as rich a country as can be found upon the globe. A motley crowd they were! Clad only in the garb of the hunter, and armed with the clumsy flint-lock rifle, the tomahawk and the long knife. But each man felt that he had a mis- sion to perform, and under the leadership of the "Hannibal of the West," he knew not de- feat.
At the falls of the Ohio the army of back- woodsmen halted and camped on "Corn Is- land" opposite the present site of Louisville. Here the settlers who had accompanied the ex- pedition decided to remain and build their homes. Colonel Clark drilled his soldiers here, then boldly informed them of his secret commission from Governor Henry to attack the British post at Kaskaskia. Cheers from the soldiers followed the announcement. Clark wisely decides to make the journey by land, and therefore hides his little flotilla near the mouth of the Tennessee and begins his jour- ney through the tangled forest. This journey was filled with dangers and difficulties, but on the night of July 4, 1778, he surprises the gar- rison and captures the fort and the town. By a masterful management he brought all the inhabitants to take the oath of allegiance to the United States-and that without shedding blood. The British colors were lowered, and in their place the "Old Blue Flag" of Virginia was hoisted. Without fighting, the garrison of Cahokia, a few miles up the Mississippi, also surrendered. Then quickly followed the surrender of Vincennes, on the Wabash, 240 miles distant.
Vincennes at this time was deserted by most of the British, as the Governor-General, Hamilton, had returned to Detroit. But on learning of its capture by Colonel Clark and
Hamilton again takes command of the fort, but as it is now the dead of winter, decides to await the coming of spring before attack- ing Kaskaskia. But Clark is informed by his faithful Spanish friend, Colonel Vigo, who loaned Clark nearly $20,000 to aid in this campaign, that Hamilton had sent most of his men home for the winter, with the intention of recalling them early in the spring for an attack on Kaskaskia. Clark at once marches against Hamilton, a long and dangerous jour- ney. The streams were filled with floating ice, the meadows and valleys were full of water and the ground was swampy and irregular. Often the men had to wade four or five miles at a stretch, through water to their waists. Food became scarce and the men were falling from sickness. But fortunately for them they captured a canoe from some squaws, and in it they found a goodly quantity of buffalo meat, corn, tallow and kettles. This revived the weak and gave them all added courage to press on to the attack.
At last they camped on a small area of dry ground within sight of Vincennes. Hamilton was not aware of the approach of any enemy, and consequently felt secure in his stronghold. When night fell upon the camp, Colonel Clark led his men in a bold rush upon the town. The people of Vincennes were most heartily tired of British rule, and they welcomed the Amer-
GEN. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK
GEN. ANTHONY WAYNE
3
GEN. WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON
GEN. JOSIAH HARMAR
GEN. ARTHUR ST. CLAIR
27
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
icans. After some sharp fighting Hamilton agreed to meet Clark in a church and arrange terms. The valiant Clark would listen to no proposition from this "murderer of defense- less women and children" but unconditional surrender. The next day Hamilton's men, 79 in number, marched out and laid down their arms. The American colors were again hoisted over "Old Vincennes," and the fort was rebaptized with a new name, "Fort Pat- rick Henry." To the good name of George Rogers Clark also belongs the great work of the invasion of the rich country of the Shaw- nees, and the defeat of the Miamis. This suc- cessful campaign gave to Clark undisputed control of all the Illinois country and the rich valley of the Wabash. In fact he was the unquestioned master of the country from Pennsylvania to the "Father of Waters,",and from the Ohio to the Great Lakes.
By the treaty of Paris, 1783, at the close of the Revolutionary War, this great area, now consisting of five States, was transferred from Great Britain to the United States. To the hero of this expedition America owes an enduring monument. But we have not al- ways rewarded our great men in due measure. It is said that George Rogers Clark was al- lowed to pass his last years in poverty and neglect. His death came in 1818.
OWNERSHIP OF THE NEW TERRITORY
For a long time it was doubtful to what state this newly acquired region belonged. Virginia claimed nearly all of it-and cer- tainly her claim was a strong one. Massa- chusetts, New York and Connecticut each laid claim also to parts of this territory. But Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland abso- lutely refused to enter the Union unless all the other States gave up their claims to Con- gress. Their contention was this: Should
Virginia, or any other State, be given the whole or even a great part of this vast area, she would then have too much power. There- fore, all claims, they said, should be surren- dered by these States to Congress for the gen- eral good. This firm stand on the part of these three small States finally prevailed, and all claims, save certain reservations, were given up to the general government. It was many years, however, before the Indian tribes gave up their rich hunting grounds to the white men. We cannot find heart to censure then for this, for it was no small matter for the savage son of the forest to yield the land of his birth and the bones of his fathers to the encroachments of alien foes. The treat- ment given these original owners of the soil of God's broad footstool will ever bring the blush of shame to every honest American for these lands were taken from them by misrep- resentation, dishonesty and overwhelming force.
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