History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 3

Author: Aaron R. Van Cleaf
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 923

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in the Ohio Valley. Immense burial-grounds in Missouri and Arkansas, disclosed through the wearing action of the rivers, support the statement that there must have been a long and extended conflict over the possession of the val- leys of the Ohio and Mississippi, that resulted in the more warlike race of Indians finally dis- possessing their more civilized predecessors.

The period in the world's history when the Mound Builders were supreme in this sec- tion is almost wholly a matter of conjecture. If their supposed migration to the southwest- ward has any connection with the advent of the Aztecs in Mexico, they must have flourished here in the early centuries of the Christian era, for the Aztecs appear to have overrun Mexico in the seventh century, A. D. As further proof that a great space of time has elapsed since the ancient race of Mound Builders inhabited this country, it may be mentioned that none of their works stand upon the latest terraces or river bottoms. The age of the trees found upon their embankments leads to the same con- clusion.

It is regarded as an established fact that the Ohio Valley in the time of the Mound Builders supported a very large population. Caleb Altwater, in an article published in the Archaeologia Americana, in 1819, says: "The State of Ohio was probably once much more thickly settled than it now is, when it contains a population of about seven hundred thousand inhabitants." Certain favored localities, along

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the valleys of the Ohio and its tributaries, were densely populated, and especially is this true of the locality of Circleville. In Squier and Davis' "Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley," the statement is made "that the sites selected for settlements, towns and cities by the invading Europeans are often those which were the especial favorites of the Mound Build- ers and the seats of their heaviest population." The towns of Marietta, Newark, Chillicothe, Circleville, Portsmouth and Cincinnati, in Ohio; Frankfort, in Kentucky; and St. Louis (the "Mound City"), in Missouri, are examples. "The centers of population are now where they were at the period when the mysterious race of the mounds flourished."

The ancient works of the Mound Builders are distributed over a wide extent of country, almost wholly confined to the valleys of the rivers and large streams-from the Allegha- nies to the far Northwest and from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.

It is stated, in Squier and Davis' "Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley," that "the number of tumuli in the State of Ohio may be safely estimated at ten thousand, and the number of enclosures at from one thousand to fifteen hundred." The mounds in this State vary from a few feet in height to 68 feet, the height of the great mound at Miamisburg, whose curcumference is 852 feet. The en- closures formed by lines of embankment gen- erally have an area of from one to 50 acres, though there are instances where the enclosures contain from 100 to 200 acres and even more. The mounds or tumuli of Ohio and elsewhere, which were usually constructed of earth, though sometimes of stone or of earth and stone, are commonly divided by students of antiquities into several classes, namely : : Se- pulchral, sacrificial, temple, memorial and mounds of observation. There are also the mounds in the form of animals, of which there are a number of notable instances in this State. Sepulchral mounds are the most common of all the forms; they invariably contain a skele- ton and in some instances more than one. The sacrificial mounds are usually found to contain altars of stone. or burnt clay, upon which are

found various remains that show the action of fire. In these mounds are found rude utensils -stone implements and pottery-ornaments and weapons. Sometimes copper axes, chisels and ornaments are discovered. The mounds of observation usually crowned elevated positions overlooking the valleys in which the enclosures were situated. It is thought that they were used as signal posts. The late Col. W. Mar- shall Anderson, of Circleville, demonstrated by actual survey that the observation mounds in the Scioto Valley formed a regular chain or system, and that, by means of fires upon them, signals could be sent up or down the country, to give warning of the approach of an enemy or to convey other intelligence.

The enclosures are variously regarded as defensive works or as sacred enclosures. Vary- ing opinions have been expressed as to the significance of the earthworks at Circleville, which consisted of a circle and a square, some holding to the idea that they were built as sacred enclosures, and others claiming that they were built for defensive purposes. The late Caleb Atwater, for many years one of the most prominent citizens of Circleville, with a national reputation as an historian, made a careful examination of the enclosures at Cir- cleville and pronounced them to be works of defense. His description of the ancient works at Circleville was published in "Western An- tiquities" in 1833. Referring to what he terms the "forts" at Circleville, he says :

"These are situated not far from the junc- tion of Hargus Creek with the latter river (Scioto), which is on the east side of the river, and south side of the.creek. By referring to the plate, the reader will be better enabled to understand the description which follows:

"There are two forts, one being an exact circle, the other an exact square. The former is surrounded by two walls, with a deep ditch between them. The latter is encompassed by one wall, without any ditch. The former was sixty-nine rods in diameter, measuring from outside to outside of the circular outer wall; the latter is exactly fifty-five rods square, meas- uring the same way. The walls of the circu- lar fort were at least twenty feet in height,

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HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY

measuring from the bottom of the ditch, before the town of Circleville was built. The inner wall was of clay, taken up probably in the northern part of the fort, where was a low place, and is still considerably lower than any other part of the work. The outside wall was taken from the ditch which is between these walls, and is alluvial, consisting of pebbles worn smooth in water, and sand, to a very con-

only one into the circular fort. Before each of these openings was a mound of earth, perhaps four feet high, forty feet perhaps in diameter at the base, and twenty or upwards at the sum- mit. These mounds, for two rods or more, are exactly in front of the gateways, and were in- tended for the defense of these openings.

"As this work was a perfect square, so the gateways and their watch-towers were equi-

Scale, 20 rods

ANCIENT FORTIFICATIONS AT CIRCLEVILLE.

REFERENCES: A, a round fort; B, a square fort; C, a large mound; D, a mound with a semi-circular pavement; E, a large mound; d, a deep ditch; m, m, mounds of earth; w, w, two parallel walls of earth.

siderable depth, more than fifty feet at least. The outside of the walls is about five or six feet in height now; on the inside, the ditch is, at present, generally not more than fifteen feet. They are disappearing before us daily, and will soon be gone. The walls of the square fort are, at this time, where left standing, about ten feet in height. There were eight gateways, or openings, leading into the square fort, and

distant from each other. These mounds were in a perfectly straight line, and exactly parallel with the wall. These small mounds were at m, m, m, m, m, m, m. The black line at d, repre- sents the ditch, and w, w, represent the two circular walls.

"D (the reader is referred to the plate, ) shows the site of a once very remarkable an- cient mound of earth, with a semi-circular

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pavement on its eastern side, nearly fronting, as the plate represents, the only gateway lead- ing into this fort. This mound is entirely re- moved; but the outline of the semi-circular pavement may still be seen in many places, not- withstanding the dilapidations of time, and those occasioned by the hand of man. This mound, the pavement, the walk from the east to its elevated summit, the contents of the mound, etc., will be described under the head of mounds.

"The earth in these walls was as nearly perpendicular as it could be made to lie. This fort had originally but one gateway leading into it on its eastern side, and that was de- fended by a mound of earth, several feet in height, at m, i. Near the center of this work was a mound, with a semi-circular pavement on its eastern side, some. of the remains of which may still be seen by an intelligent ob- server. The mound at m, i, has been entirely removed, so as to make the street level, from where it once stood.

B is a square fort adjoining the circular one, as represented by the plate, the area of which has been stated already. The wall which surrounds this work is generally, now, about ten feet in height, where it has not been manu- factured into brick. There are seven gateways leading into this fort, besides the one that com- municates with the square fortifications; that is, one at each angle, and another in the wall, just half way between the angular ones. Be- fore each of these gateways was a mound of earth of four or five feet in height, intended for the defense of these openings.

"The extreme care of the authors of these works to protect and defend every part of the circle is nowhere visible about this square fort. The former is defended by two high walls; the latter, by one. The former has a deep ditch encircling it; this has none. The former could be entered at one place only; this at eight, and those about twenty feet broad. The present town of Circleville covers all the round, and the western half of the square, fort. These fortifications, where the town stands, will en- tirely disappear in a few years; and I have used the only means within my power to per-

petuate their memory, by the annexed drawing and this brief description.

"Where the wall of the square fort has been manufactured into brick, the workmen found some ashes, calcined stone, sticks and a little vegetable mould; all of which must have been taken up from the surface of the sur- rounding plain. As the square fort is a perfect square, so the gateways or openings are at equal distances from each other, and on a right line parallel with the wall. The walls of this work vary a few degrees from north and south, east and west; but not more than the needle varies, and not a few surveyors have, from this circumstance, been impressed with the belief, that the authors of these works were acquainted with astronomy. What surprised me, on meas- uring these forts, was the exact manner in which they had laid down their circle and square; so that after every effort, by the most careful survey, to detect some error in their measurement, we found that it was impossible, and that the measurement was much more cor- rect, than it would have been in all probability, had the present inhabitants undertaken to con- struct such a work. Let those consider this circumstance, who affect to believe these an- tiquities . were raised by the ancestors of the present race of Indians. Having learned some- thing of astronomy, what nation, living as our Indians do, in the open air, with the heavenly bodies in full view, could have forgotten such knowledge?

"Some hasty travelers, who have spent an hour or two here, have concluded that the 'forts' at Circleville were not raised for mili- tary, but for religious purposes, because there were two extraordinary tumuli here. A gen- tleman in one of our Atlantic cities, who has never crossed the Alleghanies, has written to me, that he is fully convinced that they were raised for religious purposes. Men thus situ- ated, and with no correct means of judging, will hardly be convinced by anything I can say. Nor do I address myself to them, directly or indirectly; for it has long been my maxim, that it is worse than vain to spend one's time in endeavoring to reason men out of opinions for which they never had any reasons.

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HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY

"The round fort was picketed in, if we are to judge from the appearance of the ground on and about the walls. Half way up the outside of the inner wall, is a place distinctly to be seen, where a row of pickets once stood, and where it was placed when this work of defense was originally erected. Finally, this work, about its wall and ditch, eight years since, pre- sented as much of a defensive aspect as forts which were occupied in our wars with the French, in 1755, such as Oswego, Fort Stan- wix and others. These works have been ex- amined by the first military men now living in the United States, and they have uniformly declared their opinion to be that they were military works of defense.

"The works have been noticed, but the mounds remain to be described. Of these there were several, which the ruthless hand of man is destroying. Near the center of the round fort (a drawing of which is given in this work) was a tumulus of earth, about ten feet in height, and several rods in diameter at its base. On its eastern side, and extending six rods from it, was a semi-circular pavement, composed of pebbles, such as are now found in the bed of the Scioto River, front whence they appear to have been brought.

"The summit of this tumulus was nearly thirty feet in diameter, and there was a raised way to it leading from the east, like a modern turnpike. The summit was level. The outline of the semi-circular pavement and the walk is still discernible. The earth composing this mound was entirely removed several years since. The writer, being present at its removal, carefully examined the contents. It contained, "I. Two human skeletons, lying on what had been the original surface of the earth.

"2. A great quantity of arrow heads, some of which were so large as to induce a belief that they had been used for spear heads.

"3. The handle either of a small sword or a large knife, made of an elk's horn; around the end where the blade had been inserted, was a ferule of silver, which, though black, was not much injured by time. Though the handle showed the hole where the blade had been in-

serted, yet no iron was found, but an oxide remained of similar shape and size.

"4. Charcoal and wood ashes, on which these articles lay, which were surrounded by several bricks very well burnt. The skeleton appeared to have been burned in a large and very hot fire, which had almost consumed the bones of the deceased. This skeleton . was deposited a little to the south of the center of the tumulus; and, about twenty feet to the north of it, was another, with which were

"5. A large mirror, about three feet in length, one foot and a half in breadth, and one inch and a half in thickness. This mirror was of isinglass (mica membranacea), and on it, "6. A plate of iron, which had become oxide; but before it was disturbed by the spade, resembled a plate of cast iron. The mirror answered the purpose very well for which it was intended. This skeleton had also been burned like the former, and lay on charcoal and a considerable quantity of wood ashes. A part of the mirror is in my possession, as well as a piece of a brick, taken from the spot at the time.

"The knife, or sword handle, was sent to Mr. Peal's museum, at Philadelphia.

"To the southwest of this tumulus, about forty rods from it, is another, more than sixty feet in height, which is shown on the plate rep- resenting these works. It stands on a large hill, which appears to be artificial. This must have been the common cemetery, as it contains an immense number of human skeletons, of all sizes and ages.

"The skeletons are laid horizontally, with their heads generally .towards the center, and the feet towards the outside of the tumulus. A considerable part of this work still stands uninjured, except by time. In it have been found, besides these skeletons, stone axes and knives, and several ornaments, with holes through them, by means of which, with a cord passing through these perforations, they could be worn by their owners.

"On the south side of this tumulus, and not far from it, was a semi-circular fosse, which, when I first saw it, was six feet deep. On opening it, was discovered at the bottom a

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RESIDENCE OF GEORGE P. TEEGARDIN Ashville.

RESIDENCE OF JAMES M. BORROR Scioto Township.

RESIDENCE OF N. T. RUGGLES Circleville.

RESIDENCE OF LEWIS C. HOOVER Ashville.

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great quantity of human bones, which, I am inclined to believe, were the remains of those who had been slain in some great and destruc- tive battle. First, because they belonged to persons who had attained their full size; where- as, in the mound adjoining, were found the skeletons of persons of all ages; and secondly, they were here in the utmost confusion, as if buried in a hurry. May we not conjecture, that they belonged to the people who resided in the town, and who were victorious in the en- gagement? Otherwise they would not have been thus honorably buried in the common cemetery.

"The articles discovered in this mound are of little value, though very numerous; some- thing being found near the head of almost every individual."

Additional facts are given by another writer, in an article written in 1834. He says : "On the southwest side of the circle stands a conical hill crowned with an artificial mound. Indeed, so much does the whole elevation re- semble the work of man, that many have mis- taken it for a large mound. A street has lately been opened across the little mound which crowned the hill, and in removing the earth many skeletons were found in good preserva- tion. A cranium of one of them was in my possession, and is a noble specimen of the race which once occupied these ancient walls. It has a high forehead and large and bold fea- tures, with all the phrenological marks of dar- ing and bravery. Poor fellow, he died over- whelmed by numbers; as the fracture of the right parietal bone by the battle-ax and five large stone arrows sticking in and about his bones, still bear silent, but sure, testimony. The elevated ground a little north of the town, across Hargus Creek, which washes the base of the plain of Circleville, appears to have been the common burying ground. Human bones in great quantities are found in digging away the gravel for repairing the streets and for constructing the banks of the canal, which runs near the base of the highlands. They were buried in the common earth without any at- tempt at tumuli, and occupy so large a space that only a dense population and a long period of time could have furnished such numbers."

CIRCLEVILLE-THE COUNTY SEAT.

As has been previously stated, the county of Pickaway was erected, by act of the General Assembly, on January 12, 1810; on the 19th of February, the same body passed a resolution appointing David Bradford, George Jackson and John Pollock as commissioners, "to fix on the most eligible spot for the seat of justice in the County of Pickaway."

In the Circleville Union-Herald of August 2, 1878, appeared an account of the various steps taken by the commissioners and their di- rector, Daniel Dreisbach. We have drawn largely upon the information therein contained and a portion of it we will quote in full.

"This duty was considered a very important one, and the gentlemen above mentioned were men of character and reputation in the State. They came into the county in the spring and made a thorough examination of all the places which had been mentioned, visiting Bloomfield and some points west of the river. The old Indian fortifications (so-called), with the mound and circle and square, were then intact. The embankments or walls of the forts stood up many feet above the ground and were as was the interior, covered with large trees and heavy undergrowth. These fortifications were selected for the county seat in preference to all other places, which had been pointed out. The gentlemen, in deciding, no doubt thought they were doing that which would serve to preserve the ancient monuments from demolition and ruin, and that, with a town located here, they would surround them. with an interest which would protect and care for them. As to the wisdom of their predictions, the total obliter- ation of every trace of the old forts gives sad witness. The commissioners reported their de- cision to the court, which, on July 25th, ap- pointed Daniel Dreisbach as director, with bonds in the sum of ten thousand dollars. His duties were to purchase the ground for the site of the new town, lay it out in town lots and dispose of the some .*

*Daniel Dreisbach held the office until his death, in 1850; one or two others were subsequently appointed by the court; the office finally became obsolete.

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HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY

"The lands upon which the fortification stood belonged to Jacob Zeiger, Jacob Zeiger, Jr., and Samuel Watt, the circular fort being the property of the first named. He at that time resided in a log cabin which stood about where the canal now is, and just opposite the site of Ruggles' slaughter house, there being one of the best springs in the country at the foot of the rise upon which his cabin stood. He at this time had partly completed a new resi- dence a little east of his cabin. This new resi- dence is still standing, and is known as the Wil- liamson house, on the corner of Scioto and North High streets."

Dreisbach purchased, as the records show, three tracts and one or two fractions of acres. The first tract contained 10034 acres, 50 of which Zeiger donated, the other 50 being bought at $8 per acre. For the 34 acre the price was $20 per acre, with a further consid- eration, in payment for the improvements, con- sisting of the cabin, etc, to be decided upon by referees. The second tract, purchased of Val- entine Keffer, contained 71 acres, 78 poles, and was bought for $286. The third tract con- tained 29 acres and was bought for $116. The whole 200 acres cost but between $800 and $900.

Dreisbach proceeded at once to survey and lay out the town according to the directions and by the day appointed for the sale he had all complete. It is said that the first sale was a memorable event and celebrated with a grand barbecue. A large number of persons from the west side of the river joined in the manufacture of an immense cheese for the occasion, weigh- ing several hundred pounds, which was drawn to the barbecue on a large sled. A spirited competition for the honor of building the first house in the new town took place. Among others determined to build the first house was John Ludwig. He had his lumber all prepared before the sale day, the logs hewn and fitted ready for framing, and all loaded on wagons and ready to start into town, as soon as his purchase should be announced. Laborers were ready and stone for the foundation was in wait- ing with David Leist, as mason, prepared to lay them. By the time night fell, a number of tem-

porary habitations were ready for occupancy. On the first sale day, Dreisbach disposed of 29 lots, and on the next day II. The houses were rapidly pushed to completion and by winter about 40 families had taken up their residence in the new town. Dreisbach's first report to the county commissioners, in which he gives an account of his stewardship, reads as follows :

Daniel Dreisbach, director, made report of his proceedings, which was sanctioned by the court and ordered to be recorded verbatim, viz .: and that the plat returned of town be recorded in the recorder's office.

Proceeds of sales of lots in the town of Circle- ville, public and private sales, from the tenth to the twelfth of September, 1810.

To 29 lots sold, first day's sale. $2,276 50

To II lots sold, second day's sale. 611 00

To 17 lots sold, private sales .. 762 50

Sale of timber on streets and alleys. 44 50

Total amounts

$3,694 50

Valuation of Jacob Zeiger's improvement, ap- praised by Charles Bodkin and Aquilla Justice, duly sworn and both parties chosen :

The house appraised to $275 00

Six and three-fourths acres of cleared land, at $6 per acre. 40 00

Well of water and other improvements.

15 00

Total

$330 00

Which sum is to be paid to the said Jacob, on or before the first day of May next, 1811, or he, the said Jacob, will take the house back at the valuation and purchase the lot on which the house is erected.

D. DREISBACH.

SOME EARLY EVENTS.

It is said that Jacob Try, brother of George Try, killed a deer within the circular earth- work some two or three years before the town was located. There is some doubt as to what was the first brick house built in Circleville, but it is generally conceded that the Harsha house on East Main street, then a one-story building, was the first. It was long occupied by Harsha's marble works and is now occupied as the marble and granite works of E. F. Ander- son. The first child born in Circleville is be-

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History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 3

Author: Aaron R. Van Cleaf Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Number of Pages: 923

Author: Aaron R. Van Cleaf
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 923