USA > Ohio > History of Ohio; from the glacial period to the present time > Part 5
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AN OLD HOME.
Courtesy of Ohio Archeological and Historical Society.
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PIONEER LIFE IN OHIO.
squirrels were killed in a combined or circular hunt.
The work of clearing the forests was slow and tedious. Vast quantities of the most valu- able timber was burned as the most convenient manner of disposing of it. Farm machinery was unknown. Metal plows were unheard of and wooden ones were very scarce. Grubbing hoes and mattocks were almost the only farm implements in use. The grain was harvested by the sickle and threshed with the flail or tramped out by horses or cattle. Large branches of trees dragged over the ground were substitutes for harrows and drags. In a remarkably short time the little "clearings" around the cabins were en- larged into broad and fertile fields capable of supporting a dense population.
Indian outbreaks and massacres were of fre- quent occurrence. It was no unusual thing for a settler to be captured and carried away by the Indians while attending his crops or clearing the forests. Illustrative of these atrocities is the capture and escape of Doctor John Knight, the details of which are as follows:
After the burning of Colonel Crawford, his brother-in-law, Knight, was painted black, and the next morning put in charge of an Indian named Tutelu, a rough looking fellow, to be taken to Wakatomika for execution. Early in
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the morning they started for the town which the Indian said was less than forty miles away. Tu- telu was on a horse and drove Knight before him. The latter pretended to be ignorant of the fate awaiting him, although Simon Girty, the famous renegade, had told him that he was to be burned at the stake. Affecting as cheerful a countenance as possible, Knight asked the sav- age if they were not to live together in one wig- wam as brothers when they should reach the town. Tutelu seemed well pleased and an- swered "yes." He then asked Knight if he could make a wigwam, and was answered in the affima- tive. Tutelu then seemed more friendly. They traveled, as near as Knight could judge, the first day about twenty-five miles. Knight was then informed that they would reach Wakatomika the next day a little before noon.
In the evening a fire was built and after Knight was securely bound they lay down to sleep. Knight frequently tried to untie him- self, but the Indian was very watchful and scarcely closed his eyes, so that he did not suc- ceed. At daybreak they got up and Tutelu un- tied him and began to mend the fire. As the mosquitoes were very troublesome, Knight asked permission to build another fire behind the Indian. His request being granted, Knight took the end of a dogwood stick about eighteen
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inches long, and with a shorter one got a coal of fire and stepped behind the Indian. The stick was too short for the purpose he had in view, but it was perhaps his last and only chance. He quickly struck the Indian over the head with all his force and nearly succeeded in killing him. He was so badly stunned that he fell forward with both hands in the fire. How- ever, he soon recovered from this position, and sprang to his feet and ran howling into the woods. Knight seized the Indian's gun, but in trying to shoot quickly, he put forth too much strength, and broke the lock. After chasing the Indian about in the woods Knight returned to the fire and made hurried arrangements for his homeward flight. He took the Indian's blan- ket, gun, powder-horn, bullet-bag, and a pair of new moccasins, and started in a direction a little north of east.
About half an hour before sunset he came to Sandusky Plains where he lay down in a thicket until after dark. He then continued his journey through what is now Marion, Morrow, Richland and Ashland counties and on the evening of the twentieth day after his escape came to the mouth of Beaver creek at the Ohio and was then among friends. During this entire journey he sub- sisted on wild fruits and small game which were abundant in the forests.
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Another source of danger to the pioneer, was the fierce wild animals which roamed through the forests. Frequently while hunting, men would be attacked by bears or panthers, and were fortunate to escape unharmed, or even with their lives. The following experience was related by Captain John Minter, an early settler at Ran- dor. In his younger days, Captain Minter was a noted hunter, and he became famous from a terrible bear fight in which he came very nearly losing his life.
While hunting alone one day he found a very large bear, and shot it. The bear fell, and after reloading his gun, Minter went forward, suppos- ing the bear to be dead. He touched the bear's nose with the muzzle of his gun, and to his sur- prise, it instantly reared upon its hind legs ready to seize him. Minter fired again but inflicted only a flesh wound which only increased the bear's fury. As it sprang forward to grasp him, he struck it over the head with his gun which was mashed to pieces. Too late then for escape, he drew his hunting knife and made a plunge for its heart. The bear, with one stroke of its paw, sent the knife whirling in the air, and en- folding its weaponless owner in his powerful arms, both fell to the ground.
A death struggle then ensued between the combatants. The bear tried to squeeze his vic-
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tim to death while the man was constantly chok- ing the bear. The woods were open and clear of underbrush, and in their struggles they rolled in every direction.
Several times he thought the severity of the hugs would kill him; but by choking the bear he would compel it to release its hold to knock away his hands, when he would again recover his breath and get a better position. After con- tinuing the struggle in this manner for several hours, they rolled back near where his knife lay. Inspired by the sight of his weapon, he suc- ceeded, after many ineffectual efforts, in rolling the bear to the knife. After recovering his knife, he began to stab the bear which was soon bleed- ing profusely. Gathering all his strength in one last effort, Mr. Minter succeeded in piercing the bear's heart, but it relaxed its hold only when life had fled.
Mr. Minter then attempted to rise, but was too much exhausted to stand. Not a particle of clothing was left on him, and his arms, legs and back were fearfully lacerated by the bear's claws. After resting a while, he began crawling towards his home, which he reached shortly after dark. The next morning his friends went out to the battleground to secure the bear, and reported the surface of the ground torn up over at least a half acre. After several weeks of suffering Mr.
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Minter recovered, but carried to his grave the marks of his awful conflict.
The monotony of pioneer life was often broken by the howl of the wolf and the scream of the catamount, and many a weary traveler was stimulated by these ominous sounds.
One night a young man, Harry Johnson, was - "sparking" his neighbor's daughter, and had started home at a late hour, accompanied by his favorite dog. The occasional "yelp" of a wolf caused him to hasten along as rapidly as pos- sible with hopes of reaching home before the wolves attacked him. The "yelps" of the thick- ening pack grew louder and fiercer, and soon their dark forms could be seen gliding through the forests by the roadside. Growing bolder with increased numbers, they at last sprang from the brush into the road, eager for blood. The dog seized the leader by the throat and was soon engaged in a life or death struggle. Johnson shot into the pack, and then "clubbing" his gun, made a fierce charge on the wolves. His dog being wounded and almost exhausted could ren- der him little assistance, and for a time the contest seemed doubtful. The wolves fought fiercely ; but the young man laid about him with such heavy blows that soon the wolves one by one begun to skulk away, leaving him a much depleted victor.
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With the remnant of his gun on his shoulder and his bleeding dog under his arm, he at length reached home. This warning to the courageous young man was of no avail, for the next Satur- day night found him again at his neighbor's fire- side and ready, if need be, to fight wolves on his ยท way home.
Chapter VIII
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EARLY SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES
T HE pioneers, having in early life enjoyed a much higher civilization, were not sat- isfied to have their children grow up in ignorance and superstition. Accordingly, teach- ers and ministers were employed, and in due time, ignorance and superstition were put to flight. The first schools, however, were neither public nor free. The teacher was paid by the parents of the children he instructed. The price paid ranged from one to three dollars each, according to the age of the pupil and the length of the term. Spelling and the three R's, "Read- ing, 'riting and 'rithmetic," were the only sub- jects taught.
Proficiency in spelling, while no slight accom- plishment to-day, was at that time considered the highest exponent of wisdom. Little attention was then paid to the meaning or use of words, and if a pupil could spell a word correctly, that fact alone was sufficient.
In 1821 a law was passed authorizing taxa- tion for the support of schools. This law, how- ever, was only permissive, and not until 1825 was any law passed requiring taxation for school
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purposes, and for the selection of qualified in- structors. The schools, though constantly im- proving, were not on a sound basis until 1838, when a law was passed providing for a uniform system of schools, a state and county superin- tendent and township inspectors. Other laws were passed in following years, producing, as a result, our present efficient schools.
After the passage of the law of 1838, the con- struction of school houses was commenced in every community, and the buildings then erected would be a marvel to the school children of the present day.
The school houses were very similar to the dwelling houses and were built of hewn logs. The buildings were about eighteen feet wide and twenty-four feet long. The roofs were made with clapboards, and the spaces between the logs were filled with mud. The floor was frequently earth, but later, split logs with the flat sides up were used. The seats were also made from split logs which were supported by four small posts, two at each end. Rude desks were provided for the larger pupils only. A huge fireplace, in which wood was burned, was built in one end. No furniture or apparatus of any kind was to be found in the school rooms, and even crayon and blackboards were unknown.
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Text-books were few. Murray's reader, Dill- worth's or Webster's speller, Pike's arithmetic and the Columbian Orator were the usual outfit of the teacher, and each pupil usually had one or more of the above mentioned books. The teacher "boarded 'round" with the pupils, and in addition to board he received a very small salary.
The preacher of pioneer times preceded the teacher, and at first held religious meetings in private dwellings. Later, when schools had- been established, the little school house at the crossroads also served as a meeting house. Here many sensational revivals were held and many ludicrous sermons preached by unlearned minis- ters. These ministers were indeed sturdy, hon- est, God-fearing men, and it would be a mar- velous child in those days, who would not fear God, and yet more marvelous was he who could love Him, so terrible were the pen-pictures drawn of the Creator.
There was little or no Church organization in those days; itinerant preachers roamed through the wilderness on horseback, preach- ing anywhere they could get an audience. His circuit was sometimes so large that he could only reach the same place twice each year. Camp meetings were held and attended by every.
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one. Churches were built later and well organ- ized religious denominations were soon estab- lished.
Little record was ever made of the first churches, and not until the time of Rev. Samuel Clawson have we many accurate accounts of the churches. An incident of one of Rev. Clawson's revivals- shows both the influence of the ser- mons preached and the nature of the hearers.
"Having warned the sinners to flee from the wrath to come, a young man," says Rev. Claw- son, "was on fire and took an exceedingly lofty flight, after which he had to pause to recover his breath. During this pause a wicked wretch crowed like a rooster, causing a laugh in the con- gregation." Rev. Clawson, who was always ready for such an emergency, saw the young man when he crowed, and fixing his eyes upon him, said: "I was not aware that there was any of that breed of fowls present. I can scarcely imagine what has brought that foolish thing here. The house of God is no place for such fowls. The country has, at great expense, built a coop for such fowls, and I wonder that the people let the thing run at large." Then putting on such a look and speaking in such tones as made the wretch quail before him, he said : "Young man, I suppose you think you have done something smart and laughable, but
THE FIRST METHODIST MEETING-HOUSE IN OHIO. Courtesy of Ohio Archaological and Historical Society.
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I would not do what you have done for the world. You have insulted the great God to His face in His house and in the midst of His wor- ship, and it would not be wonderful to me if He would transform your wicked mouth into a chicken's bill, and rivet it fast to the staff of His fury, and thrash the mountains with you. Crow again if you dare, and it may be that a red-hot thunderbolt, hurled by the hand of omnipo- tence, may scathe your wretched soul." It is al- most needless to remark that the crowing ceased.
Pioneer church music consisted of poorly translated psalms and badly constructed hymns. The latter were gradually introduced for public worship, and often pictured the torments re- served for the wicked in no uncertain language. Although the joys of heaven received little no- tice, the eternal terrors of the guilty soul were foretold in vigorous words. The following hymn was published and sung in Boston more than a century since, and was a favorite through- out the entire country :
Then might you hear them rend and tear, The air with their outcries; . The hideous noise of their sad voice, Ascendeth to the skies.
. They wring their hands, their caitiff hands, And gnash their teeth with terror; They cry, they roar, for anguish sore. And gnaw their tongues for horror.
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But get away, without delay, Christ pities not your cry ; Depart to hell; there may you yell, And war eternally.
Less wrathful and more amusing was fugue- singing. Many are the church walls that echoed to the melodious voices of both matrons and maids in singing such inspiring hymns as,
"Oh! for a man; Oh! for a man; Oh! for a mansion in the skies,"
and the roofs must have nearly burst open when the men with their high tenors and deep basses would reply :
Bring down sal; bring down sal; Bring down salvation from on high.
The present generation can scarcely imagine doctrinal beliefs that could make possible the acceptance of such lines and their use in relig- ious services. And one feels ready to endorse heartily the words of Hawthorne: "Let us thank God for having given us such ancestors; and let each succeeding generation thank Him not less fervently for being one step farther from them in the march of progress."
Chapter IX
1
OHIO IN THE WAR OF 1812
W HILE the people of Ohio were engaged in a war against wild animals and the Indians, the United States declared war against England. This declaration was made in the summer of 1812, and was occasioned by the English insisting upon the right to search our vessels on the high seas, and to press into their navy any sailors whom they decided to be British subjects. The English also denied us the right to trade with other foreign nations. Although the people of Ohio were not directly effected by either, "free trade," or "sailors' rights," they felt the insult and welcomed the war.
An invasion of Canada was planned, and ac- cordingly, General Hull, of Revolutionary fame, marched with his army from Urbana, Ohio, to Detroit. Upon his arrival at Detroit, he found that his supplies of both ammunition and pro- visions were cut off by General Brock and his army of Canadians and Indians. Hull deemed it best to surrender, and did so, leaving Ohio and the entire West open to invasion. This surren- der by General Hull was, at that time, consid-
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ered an act of cowardice and he was sentenced to be shot, but later received pardon. Time has shown that the excited populace, eager for war, were wrong in their condemnation of their gen- eral, and he has since shown that he was com- pletely justified in doing as he did.
After the surrender of General Hull, the state militia was called out, and with the Ken- tucky troops under command of General Harri- son, marched north to recapture Detroit. The expedition, however, proved a failure, and a part of his army was massacred by the Indians.
In February, 1813, General Harrison began the construction of Fort Meigs on the Maumee river in Wood county. From this position he hoped to again invade Canada, but he was at- tacked himself by a combined force of British and Canadians, under command of General Proctor, and the Indians under command of Tecumseh.
Proctor planted batteries on the hills above the fort, while the Indians climbed trees and poured down an incessant fire upon the besieged army. The British commander then summoned the fort to surrender, but Harrison refused, in- suring General Proctor that if he got the fort it would be in a manner to do him more honor than any surrender could possibly do.
General Harrison then ordered Colonel Dud-
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ley, with eight hundred Kentucky militia, to cross the river, capture the batteries, spike the cannon, and return with all possible haste. The first part of the order was quickly executed and soon every cannon was spiked, but being elated with their success, they pursued the frightened enemy into the woods where they were suddenly caught in an Indian ambuscade. A desperate hand to hand encounter followed in which the militia was defeated and captured. After the surrender, when all resistance had ceased, the Indians began to massacre with the most savage delight. Tecumseh sternly forbade it, and buried his tomahawk in the head of one of his chiefs who refused obedience. This action put an end to the massacre, but of the eight hun- dred men, only one hundred and fifty escaped.
General Proctor, seeing no prospect of tak- ing the fort, and finding the Indians fast desert- ing him, raised the siege at the close of the four- teenth day. Later, a second attempt was made to capture Fort Meigs, but failing again, their attention was directed to Fort Sandusky, the present site of Fremont. Fort Sandusky was defended by a weakened garrison under com- mand of Major Croghan, a youth of some twenty- one summers.
On the 1st of August, 1813, the British ap- proached the fort by water, and landed their
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troops, with a five and one-half inch howitzer, a mile below the fort. The fort was then sum- moned to surrender, but Major Croghan replied that they would either maintain the fort or bury themselves in its ruins. Again he was entreated to surrender in order to prevent the horrors of another Indian massacre. The reply was sent back that in case the fort should be taken, there would be none left to massacre, as it would not be given up while a man was left able to resist.
Late in the evening the enemy opened fire. from their six-pounders in the gunboats and from their howitzer on shore. Major Croghan replied with his six-pounder, occasionally chang- ing its position in order to induce a belief that he had a number of cannon. As the enemy con- centrated their fire on the northwestern angle of the fort, it was concluded that the works would be stormed from that quarter. Accord- ingly, during the darkness, the six-pounder was removed to a blockhouse from which it would rake that angle. The piece was loaded with a half charge of powder and a double charge of slugs and grape shot.
Late in the evening of August 2d, when the smoke of the firing had completely enveloped the fort, the enemy made a desperate assault. When the assaulting column of 350 were discovered ad- vancing through the smoke, at a distance of
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twenty yards from the northwest angle, a heavy fire of musketry was opened upon them from the fort, throwing them into some confusion. Col- onel Short, who was leading the charge, rallied his men and with great bravery led them up to the brink of the ditch. After giving the order to cross the ditch, cut down the pickets, and give the Americans no quarter, Colonel Short sprang into the ditch followed by his soldiers. At that moment the masked port-hole in the blockhouse was opened, and the six-pounder, at a distance of thirty feet, poured down such a storm of shot and shell, that few of the assault- ing party made good their escape. The other attacking parties met with an equally destruc- tive musket fire, and soon the entire enemy made a precipituous retreat, leaving behind them, be- sides their dead and wounded, many arms and a quantity of ammunition. The loss to the garri- son was one killed and seven wounded, while the British loss was about 150 in killed and wounded. Colonel Short, a lieutenant and twenty-five privates lay dead in the ditch, and General Proctor with 500 regulars and 800 In- dians had again been completely defeated.
Little more than a month had elapsed after this repulse, when the British were again de- feated in a naval battle on Lake Erie. Another young gentleman, Commodore Perry, twenty-
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eight years of age, was in command. He had brought his sailors, ship carpenters and supplies four hundred miles through the unbroken for- ests, and had constructed his fleet from the for- ests on the lake shore in the remarkably brief time of six months.
Perry's fleet consisted of 2 ships, of 20 guns cach, the Lawrence and the Niagara, and 7 smaller vessels, one of 4 guns, one of 3, two of 2, and three of 1, making a total of 54 guns, all of short range. During the construction of his flotilla, the British fleet often approached and threatened their destruction, but were prevented by the shallow water in the harbor. Finally, the ships were completed and launched, the larger ones by the aid of scows, and Commodore Perry at once proceeded to the head of the lake where he anchored in Put-in-Bay, opposite to, and dis- tant 30 miles from Malden, where the British fleet lay protected by the fort.
The British fleet consisted of one ship of 19 guns, one of 17, one of 13, one of 10, one of 3, and one of 1, - amounting in all to 64 guns of long range. The fleet was in command of Com- modore Barclay who had left one arm at Trafal- gar where he fought under the illustrious Nelson.
On September 10th, at sunrise, the British fleet appeared off Put-in-Bay, distant about 10
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miles. Commodore Perry immediately got un- der way with a light breeze from the southwest. At 10 o'clock the wind changed to the south- east, and Perry, on board the Lawrence, hoisted his motto, "Don't give up the ship," which was received with repeated cheers by the crew. A line of battle was then formed, and the fleet bore up towards the enemy, who, at the same time, were preparing for battle. The lightness of the wind caused the hostile squadrons to approach each other very slowly, and prolong for two hours the solemn interval of suspense and anx- iety which precedes a battle. The order and regularity of naval discipline heightened the dreadful quiet of the occasion. No noise, and no bustle prevailed to distract the mind, except at intervals the shrill pipings of the boatswain's whistle, or a murmuring whisper among the men who stood around the guns, with lighted matches, closely watching the movements of the enemy, and occasionally stealing a glance at the countenances of their commanders. In this manner the hostile fleets gradually neared each other in awful silence.
At 15 minutes after eleven, a bugle was sounded on board the enemy's foremost ship, the Detroit. Loud cheers burst from all the enemy's crews and a tremendous fire was opened upon the Lawrence from the long range British
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guns. The Lawrence was obliged to sustain the fire for 40 minutes without returning a shot, owing to the short range of her guns.
Commodore Perry, without waiting for the other ships, kept on his course and at 12 o'clock opened fire from the Lawrence. The distance was still so great that his guns did little dam- age, while the sides of his own ship were con- tinually being pierced by the British guns. His men were fast falling, and the magazine was greatly endangered. Commodore Perry, realiz- ing the perilous position in which he stood, made all sail, and directed the others to follow, intending to close with the enemy. But the tre- mendous fire to which he was exposed soon cut away every brace and stay of the Lawrence, leav- ing her an unmanageable wreck. The utmost or- der and regularity still prevailed. As fast as the men at the guns were wounded they were carried below, and others took their places. The dead remained where they fell until the close of the action. At this juncture the enemy believed the battle already won.
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