History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 35

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1014

USA > Ohio > Medina County > History of Medina county and Ohio > Part 35

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easily spanned anywhere in one hundred feet. The old covered bridges of the earlier days still continue to be favorites with the people, though of late iron bridges have been intro- duced to some extent.

Agricultural societies grew up very naturally in this community. They were a prominent fea- ture of the farming communities of Connecti- cut, and, some years before any regularly organ- ized effort was put forth to this end, the people, anxious to transfer the customs and traditions of their early home to this laud, spontaneously came together to show their stock and compare their respective merits. On June 3, 1833, the County Commissioners directed the Auditor to call a meeting of the farmers of the county, for the purpose of forming an Agricultural Society. For some reason, there was no adequate result from this effort A great many of the farmers had early become interested in horses and cat- tle, and for some years, on a certain day, they met at the public square, where an impromptu organization of committees was had, who passed their judgment upon the respective merits of the animals present, without regard to entries. This eustom gradually grew in importance nntil the farmers' wives bronght the results of their handiwork, and the whole farming community joined in a sort of " harvest home " holiday. An important feature of these gath- erings was the array of yoked oxen, and it was not uucommon to see, at these times, twenty or thirty yoke in "a string." This practice was continued after the regular organization of a society, and premiums were offered to the township that should send the longest " string" of yoked cattle. In 1845, a permanent organizatiou was formed, and, in spite of a vigorous opposition on the part of the minority, leased, rather than bought, seven aeres of Mr. Bronson, just east of the foundry. The contract was for ten years at $70 per year, dur- ing which time a large building which served as floral, domestic, art and meelianical halls,

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was built. At thic expiration of the lease, the Society found itself in debt to the extent of $100. A spirited meeting of the society at the Court House canvassed the subject, and the old-time minority carried considerable weight with their "I-told-you-so " argument. Mr. W. H. Witter, a prominent advocate of the pur- chasing policy, was made President, and a di- rector from each township, who should solicit the farmers from their respective localities to take stock at $5 per share, the funds to be de- voted to the purchase of grounds for holding the fair. This bid fair to fail, when, later, a meeting of the directors revealed that but little or no stock had becu subscribed. Mr. Witter was appointed as a soliciting committee, and in a few months' time succeeded in raising $1,200 in this way. Eighteen acres were at onee pur- chased of the Selkirk estate, and fitted up for the use of the society. The building of the Cleveland, Tuscarawas Valley & Wheeling Railroad, cut off an acre and a half of their grounds, and, in 1877, A. I. Root, desiring a place to put his growing business, made over- tures to the society, and bought their land at $100 per acre. The society at once secured 21 aeres of land, a little southwest, paying the same priee per acre. The society has had a vigorous growth, and is in prosperous circum- stanees. A large frame building combines the accommodations, sometimes divided among several halls. Accommodations for stoek, in the way of sheds, stalls and pens, are abundant, and an eating-hall provides means for the refreshment of the society's guests and mem- bers. The track is a half-mile circle, which was eoustructed at a cost of $1,000, and is com- manded by a comfortably arranged grand stand.

One of the most unique premiums offered by this society was a small flag, made of cotton cloth thirty-three by fifty -six inches, painted with the usual number of stripes and stars, cm- blazoned with a device consisting of a jolly- looking human face with thumb on nose, which,

as interpreted, meant, "Take me if you can." This was offered to the county which would bring in the largest delegation to the county fair of 1878, and was awarded to the Summit County delegation.

The origin and historic value of this flag is connected with one of the greatest sleighrides ever known in Medina, and one to which the older people of the county revert with unusual satisfaction. In 1856, there was an unprece- dented amount of sleighiug, and sometime in February of that year, the people of Solon Township, Cuyahoga County, got up a sleigh- ing party consisting of seven four-horse teams, and among other decorations carrying the flag in question. The people of Twinsburg, Summit County, through which the Solon party passed, made up their minds to go to Solon and take the flag. They harnessed up fourteen four- horse teams, went to Solon, and brought the flag home. Royalton, Cuyahoga County, then rallied thirty-eight four-horse teams, and took back the flag ; and thus, like the knight-errants of old, it traveled from one township to an- other, with an increased number of four-horse teams each time. It soon became a county matter-Cuyahoga, Medina and Summit Coun- ties were to try their strength, and the county mustering the largest number of four-horse teams was to bear away the flag. On the 14th of March, the parties met at West Richfield, with all the teams they could muster. Medina County had 140 four-horse sleighs, Cuyahoga had 151 four-horse teams, and Summit, 171, a total of 462 four-horse sleighs-each sleigh containing an average of fourteen persons- 1,848 horses, 6,468 persons, besides a large number of one and two horse sleighs.

Summit County, of course, took the flag. The Medina delegation, on their return home, immediately ealled a meeting to make arrange- ments for another trial. It came off on the 18th, at Akron. The procession was fitted out with devices, banners, bands of music, etc., and

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entered Akron about noon, amid the firing of cannon, the ringing of bells, and the shouts of the people, who extended to them a inost hearty welcome. The teams were counted, and Me- diua rolled up 182 four-horse teams, besides one four-mule team, hitched up with ropes, which was thrown out by the committee, be- eause not horses. The teams filed through the city, and the result was telegraphed from one to the other with shouts of vietory-the eiti- zens of Akron joining heartily in the samc- until the whole eity was in one deafening roar.

President Pierce of Hudson College presented the flag to the county of Medina, with some ap- propriate remarks, which were responded to by Charles E. Bostwiek, Chief Marshal of the Me- dina delegation ; after which, two songs werc sung, composed for the occasion. After re- freshments, the Medina delegation returned home with the flag, the happiest company, doubtless, that were ever brought together.

Another fair association exists in the county known as the "District Agricultural Society of Wayne and Medina Counties, Ohio." This grew out of a desire to aid in building up the village of Seville, where the fairs are held, and

some little dissatisfaction with the county asso- ciation. A meeting of the citizens of Seville and vicinity was called for the 5th of June, 1860. There was a good attendance, a general expression of opinion was had, and committees appointed to forward the project. On the 11th of the same month, another meeting was held, and subsequently an association was formed with the following officers : S. G. Foote, Presi- dent ; D. D. Dowd, Vice President ; J. A. Bell, Secretary; Cornelius Welsh, Treasurer ; Charles Eddy, O. S. Owen, John Coolman, Jacob Knuff, Joseph MeGlennen, J. C. Johnson and J. T. MeDowell, Directors. Twelve aeres just north of Seville was leased of L. A. Parker, fenced, necessary buildings erected, a one-third-of-a- mile track laid out and graded, and the first exhibition held on the 11th, 12th and 13th of October, 1860. The enterprise proved highly successful for several years iu suceession ; the grounds were enlarged, more commodious buildings were erected, and a good half- mile track eonstrueted. The fair is still liberally patronized, and bids fair to be one of the insti- tutions of the county for years to come.

CHAPTER II.

PRE-HISTORIC RACES -- REMAINS OF MOUND BUILDERS-INDIAN DOMINATION-COMING OF THE WHITES-ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY -- CIVIL DIVISIONS AND CENSUS-PUBLIC BUILDINGS-POLITICAL.

T THE earliest history of Medina County, in common with that of the State, is veiled in mystery, and what share it had in the pre- historie times can be only guessed. It is the opinion of antiquarians that three distinet races had inhabited North America prior to the coming of the present inhabitants. Of these, the builders of those magnificent cities the ruins of which strew for miles the plains of Central America, were the first. " The mind is

startled," says an eminent writer on this sub- ject, " at the remoteness of their antiquity, when we consider the vast sweep of time necessary to erect such colossal structures of solid ma- soury, and afterward convert them into the present utter wreck. Comparing their com- plete desolation with the ruins of Baalbec, Palmyra, Thebes aud Memphis, they must have been old when the latter were being built." Of this raee, no trace has been found within the

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limits of this country, and whether Ohio ever shook under the step of their marching, or its wilds ever echoed to their cries, is still an open question. "The second race," continues the same writer, "as determined by the character of their civilization, were the Mound-Builders, the remains of whose works constitute the most interesting class of antiquities found within the limits of the United States. Like the ruins of Central America, they antedate the most ancient records ; tradition can furnish no account of them, and their character cau only be partially gleaned from the internal evidences which they themselves afford. They consist of the remains of what were, apparently, villages, altars, tem- ples, idols, cemeteries, monuments, camps, for- tifications, etc. The farthest relic of this kind, discovered in a northeastern direction, was near Black River, on the south side of Lake Ontario. Thence they extend in a southwestern direction by way of the Ohio, the Mississippi, Mexican Gulf, Texas, New Mexico and Yucatan, into South America." Some of the most interesting and extensive of these works are found in Ohio. At the mouth of the Muskingum, ou Licking River, near Newark, at Circleville on the Seioto, and on Paint Creek, near Chillicothe, are found some of the most elaborate of these mounds, stored with some of the most important relics ever discovercd. But, with all the discoveries and investigations made thus far, but little progress has been made toward a knowledge of their ori- gin, civilization or destiny. They existed here, and built the works over which the archaeologists spend their efforts in vain, but what was the nature of their stay here, or the character of their civilization, is as far from comprehension as ever. Col. Whittlesey, writing of this race, says : " There is no evidence that they had alphabetical characters, picture writing or hie- roglyphics, though they must have had some mode of recording events. Neither is there any proof that they used domestic animals for tilling the soil, or for the purpose of erecting

the imposing earthworks they have left. A very coarse cloth of hemp, flax or nettles, has been found on their burial hearths, and around skeletons not consumed by fire." The more important of these mounds are found in the southern part of the State, and it is conjectured that the remains found in the northern part may have been built by portions of the race not contemporary with the builders of the southern structures. The difference in the ex- tent and importance of these northern structures seems to indicate a people far less in numbers as well as industry, and whose principal occu- pation was to war among themselves or against their neighbors. Along the watershed in this State, which lies along the southern line of Wyandot and Crawford Counties, extending irregularly east and west, there is a space where but few of these ancient earthworks appear. It is conjectured, therefore, that this space was the " debatable ground " of the warlike tribes of the Mound Builders, and that the works that are found on either side of this line were the outposts of opposing forces. Whatever the truth may be in regard to these fanciful theo- ries, the fact that Medina County was the scene of the busy activities of this strange peo- ple, is beyond question. The traces of their occupation are abundant in all sections of the county, importaut earthworks appearing in the townships of Granger, Medina, Montville, Guil- ford and Harrisville, for a description of which we are indebted to the State Geological Report.

In Guilford, an ancient fort, now quite oblit- erated, once stood on land one mile north and one-half mile east of Seville. In Granger, a similar earthwork stood on land one-half inile east of Grangersburg, the remains of which are but an indistinct remnant of the original fortification. It once consisted of a circular trench with embankment, and was, perhaps, ten rods across, the northern extremity being now cut off by the public road. A perpetual spring fed a small strcam which flowed along

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the base of the wall. On Mr. John Archer's land, in Montville, known as the Philip King farm, two miles southeast of Medina village, is found a well-defined mound, which has never been developed. It is nearly midway between Rocky River and Champion Brook, and per- haps fifty rods above their junction. The mound is now some ten feet high and seventy feet in diameter, though centuries of wash- ing and years of plowing have extended its borders and rounded its outlines. The soil of the mound is different from that of the "bot- tom land" on which it is built. The nearest ridge or bank is about thirty rods distant. Flint arrow-heads abound on the surface about the mound. Near the village of Weymouth, in Medina Township, is the most important forti- fication in the county. It is located just south of the business houses of the village, and is one of the best preserved and most interesting of its kind which can be seen in this regiou. Like other such evidences of the old power and importance of the race known as Mound Build- ers, this fortification is popularly called an In- dian fort. The oldest Indian traditions, how- cver, know nothing of the building of these mounds, and the growth of trees upon them places the date of their erection from six to ten centuries ago. The fort is an entrenched pro- jection of land, which has abrupt, bluff ontlines, excepting at its rear connection with the main- land. The river having made an abrupt turn back upon itself, there was formed a peninsular- like projection of land, having shale bluffs over fifty fect high. The defense of this point was easy after trenches had been cut across the neck. Three such trenches are now plainly discernible, and they bear on the surface evi- dence of the former greatness of the work. The trenches are 210 feet long, the width of the point of land ; the inner trench is 360 feet back from the end of the point ; the middle trench is 41 feet from the inner one ; and the outer trench is 49 feet from the middle one, or 450

feet from the end of the point. The trenches run east and west, the point of land being a south- ward projection. Even now, after many centuries of change, the average depth of the trenches is three feet, while in some places it is five to six feet, the embankment projecting above the gen- eral level of the land about two feet, making the bottoms of the trenches below the tops of the embankments five feet, and in places seven feet. Early settlers of the township thought this high point of land, this old fortification, a superior place for a burying-ground, and it was used for this purpose for some years ; a few of the brown- stone slabs still stand as reminders of the pio- neer whites who dispossessed the red mau of this territory which had once supported the semi-civilized Mound Builders. To get at this cemetery, a road was cut through the center of the three embankments. The Clinton Line Railroad, which was never built, was to have passed just in the rear of the other trench, and some excavation was done toward cutting a roadway across the point. Fortunately, that work was not carried far before it was aban- doned, leaving this old relie of a departed race but little defaced.

In Harrisville, just south of the public green in Lodi, is located a mound of considerable importance. Upon this mound Judge Harris erected a dwelling about 1830, and made some valuable discoveries in the course of liis opera- tions. The elevation of the mound above the general level of the land upon which it stands is twelve fcet. The outlines are yet quite dis- tinct, though the grading of the yard has some- what changed the original appearance. When the first settlers came, the mound was covered with large trees, among them several black walnuts which were over two feet in diameter. The longest measurement of the mound is 160 feet this is from north to south. The east- and-west measurement is 135 feet. Upon this large mound, were formerly two knolls 40 feet apart. Each was about two feet high and ten

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across, with a distinct ditch around it. One knoll was upon the east side, the other on the west, the house restiug upon the edge of both knolls.

In digging the cellar of the house, nine hu- man skeletons were found, and, like such speei- mens from other ancient mounds of the country, they showed that the Mouud Builders were men of large stature. The skeletons were not found lying in such a manner as would indieate any arrangement of the bodies on the part of the entombers. Iu describing the tomb, Mr. Al- bert Harris said : " It looked as if the bodies had been dumped into a ditch. Some of them were buried deeper than others, the lower one being about seven feet below the surface. When the skeletous were found, Mr. Harris was twenty years of age, yet he states that he could put one of the skulls over his head, and let it rest upon his shoulders, while wearing a fur eap at the same time. The large size of all the bones was remarked, aud the teeth were described as " double all the way round." They were kept for a time, and then again buried by Judge Har- ris. At the center of the mouud, and some nine feet below the surface, was found a small monu- ment of cobble-stones. The stoues, or bowlders, composing this were regularly arranged in round layers, the monument being topped off with a single stone. There were about two bushels in measure of these small bowlders, and mixed with them was a quantity of char- coal. The cobble-stones, charcoal and skele- tons were the only things notieed at the time of digging the cellar, in 1830. Many years later, in 1869, as digging was being done to lay stone steps at the front of the house (the north side), two other and smaller skeletons were found only three feet below the surface. The interment of these two bodies was proba- bly much more recent than that of those found deeper down, and a different race of men may have put them there. Doubtless there are other skeletons in the mound at present, as the

digging referred to was done solely for the pur- pose mentioned, and not for the sake of learn- ing auything concerning these relics, and no eare was taken to fully investigate this very in- teresting matter. Mr. Harris thinks that the ground in front of the house, if dug over would afford many valuable relics. This mound may possibly go back in history to the time when the Harrisville swamp was a lake, and the region about good hunting territory. Great quanti- ties of flint arrow-heads aud stone axes have been found about the marshes. There are large numbers of these stone relics to be found in other parts of the county, but they have long ago lost their attraction save for the few to whom they speak a "various language." Among the relics of this class to be found here are many of the Indian tribes, who, if the more moderu theories are to be accepted, are a far more ancient people. But, whether we consider the red Indian the original possessor of this land, or the natural suecessor of the Mound Builders, his early history is equally obscure. The Indians were found in full possession of the whole country so far as the earliest white explorers could determine, but the character of their customs and habits of life, and the uncer- tainty of their vague traditions, have left but little material for the use of the historian. The earliest pioneers found this State inhabited by Iroquois, Delawares, Shawanoes, Miamis, Wy- andots and Ottawas. " These natious were all subject to the warlike Iroquois or Five Na- tions, and occupied their respective lands sub- jeet to the pleasure of their conquerors. The first of these tribes occupied that part of the State east of the Cuyahoga River, and a line drawn irregularly south from the source of that river to the Ohio. The Wyandots and Ottawas oceupied a strip of country forty miles, lying along the south and west shores of Lake Erie, west of the Cuyahoga River. The rest of the State was divided in latitudinal sectious, occu- pied by the Delawares, Shawauoes and Miamis,

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procceding west of the Iroquois territory in the order named. In 1684 and 1726, the dom- inant nation ceded to the English all their claims west of Lake Erie, and sixty miles in width along the south shores of Lakes Erie and Ontario, from the Cuyahoga to the Oswego River. In 1774, the same nation ceded to the Americans all the conntry claimed by that tribe west of Pennsylvania, and on Jannary 21, in the following ycar, a treaty with the Wyan- dot, Delaware, Chippewa and Ottawa nations, the former subjects of the Iroquois, a new boundary was fixed. In the transactions with the English, the Iroquois lost their hold on the subject nations of Ohio, and the Delawares, upon whom had been heaped the greatest in- dignities by their savage conquerors, suddenly assnmed their former warlike prowess, and be- came the most powerful enemies of the whites. During the Revolutionary war as the allies of the British, and at the head of the Northwestern Confederacy of Indians to oppose the cessions made by the Iroquois, they became the terror of the whites, and defeated some of the best Generals of colonial times.

In the spring of 1794, an effort on the part of the State was made to retrieve the disasters in the Northwest, and Gen. Wayne, with about three thousand five hundred troops, assembled at Greenville, to subjugate the Delawares and their allies. In August of that year, the hostile forces encountered each other at the foot of the rapids in Maumee, when, after a short but deadly conflict, the Indians were completely de- feated. They were not conquered, however, and it was not until their whole country had been overrun, their cornfields destroyed, and forts erected in the very heart of their domain, that they would sue for peace. On August 3, 1795, a grand council was held at Greenville, with representatives of eleven of the most pow- erful tribes of the Northwest. In this council, by far the larger representation was from the tribe of the Delawares, numbering 381 braves.

The treaty concluded at Fort McIntosh fixed the line of boundary, beginning "at the month of the river Cuyahoga, and to extend up said river to the portage, between that and Tusca- rawas branch of the Muskingum, thence down that branch to the crossing-place above Fort Laurens, then westerly to the portage of the Big Miami, which runs into the Ohio, at the month of which branch the fort stood which was taken by the French, 1752; then along said portage to the Great Miami, or Omee River. and down the south side of the same to its mouth ; then along the south shore of Lake Erie to the mouth of Cuyahoga River, where it began." At Greenville, this bonndary line was confirmed, and extended westward from Lora- mie's to Fort Defiance, and thence sonthward to the mouth of the Kentucky River. This territory thus set off was given to the Delawares and Wy- andots. In 1805, the different tribes relinquished their claims on all lands west of the Cuyahoga, as far west as the western line of the Reserve, and south of the line, from Fort Lanrens to Lora- mie's Fort.

At the close of the treaty at Greenville, Buckongehelas, a Delaware chief, addressed Gen. Wayne as follows : "Father, your children all well understand the sense of the treaty which is now concluded. We experience daily proofs of your increasing kindness. I hope we may all have sense enough to enjoy our dawning happiness. Many of your people are yet among us. I trust they will be immediately restored. Last winter, our king came forward to yon with two, and, when he returned with your speech to us, we immediately prepared to come forward with the remainder, which we delivered at Fort Defiance. All who know me know me to be a man and a warrior, and I now declare that I will, for the future, be as steady and true a friend to the United States as I have, hereto- fore, been an active enemy." The promise of the warrior thns voluntarily given was faithfully maintained by the people. They resisted all

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History of Medina county and Ohio, Part 35

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1014

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Baskin & Battey. Chicago. pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1014