History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 102

Author: H. Z. Williams & Brothers
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 559

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HISTORY OF OHIO.

It is said, not a settlement in the entire west could present so moral and upright a view as that of Granville township; and nowhere could so perfect and orderly a set of people be found. Surely, the fact is argument enough in favor of the religion of Jesus.

The narrative of Mr. Little also states that, when Granville was first settled, it was supposed that Wor- thington would be the capital of Ohio, between which and Zanesville, Granville would make a great half-way town. At this time, wild animals, snakes and Indians abounded, and many are the marvelous stories preserved regarding the destruction of the animals and reptiles- the Indians being bound by their treaty to remain peace -. ful. Space forbids their repetition here. Suffice it to say that, as the whites increased, the Indians, animals and snakes disappeared, until now one is as much a curi- osity as the other.

The remaining settlement in the southwestern parts of Ohio, made immediately after the treaty-fall of 1795 or year of 1796-was in what is now Madison county, about a mile north of where the village of Amity now stands, on the banks of Big Darby. This stream re- ceived its name from the Indians, from a Wyandot chief, named Darby, who for a long time resided upon it, near the Union county line. In the fall of 1795, Benjamin Springer came from Kentucky and selected some land on the banks of Big Darby, cleared the ground, built a cabin, and returned for his family. The next spring, he brought them out, and began his life here. The same summer he was joined by William Lapin, Joshua and James Ewing, and one or two others.

When Springer came, he found a white man named Jonathan Alder, who for fifteen years had been a captive among the Indians, and who could not speak a word of English, living with an Indian woman on the banks of Big Darby. He had been exchanged at Wayne's treaty, and, neglecting to profit by the treaty, was still living in the Indian style. When the whites became numerous about him, his desire to find his relatives, and adopt the ways of the whites, led him to discard his squaw-giving her an unusual allowance-learn the English language, engage in agricultural pursuits, and become again civ- ilized. Fortunately, he could remember enough of the names of some of his parents' neighbors, so that the identity of his relatives and friends was easily established, and Alder became a most useful citizen. He was very influential with the Indians, and induced many of them to remain neutral during the war of 1812. It is stated that in 1800, Mr. Ewing brought four sheep into the community. They were strange animals to the Indians. One day, when an Indian hunter and his dog were pass- ing, the latter caught a sheep, and was shot by Mr. Ew- ing. The Indian would have shot Ewing in retaliation, had not Alder, who was fortunately present, with much difficulty prevailed upon him to refrain.

While the southern and southwestern parts of the State were filling with settlers, assured of safety by Wayne's victories, the northern and eastern parts became likewise the theater of activities. Ever since the French had ex- plored the southern shores of the lake, and English

traders had carried goods thither, it was expected one day to be a valuable part of the west. It will be remem- bered that Connecticut had ceded a large tract of land to the General Government, and as soon as the cession was confirmed, and land titles became assured, settlers flocked thither. Even before that time, hardy adventur- ers had explored some of the country, and pronounced it a "goodly land," ready for the hand of enterprise.

The first settlement in the Western Reserve, and, in- deed, in the northern part of the State, was made at the mouth of Conneaut* creek, in Ashtabula county, on the fourth of July, 1796. That day the first surveying party landed at the mouth of this creek, and, on its eastern bank, near the lake shore, in tin cups, pledged-as they drank the limpid waters of the lake-their country's wel- fare, with ordnance accompaniment of two or three fowling-pieces, discharging the required national salute.

The whole party, on this occasion, numbered fifty-two persons, of whom two were females (Mrs. Stiles and Mrs. Gunn), and a child, and all deserve a lasting place in the history of the State.

The next day they began the erection of a large log building on the sandy beach on the east side of the stream. When done, it was named "Stow Castle," after one of the party. It was the dwelling, store-house, and general habitation of all the pioneers. The party made this their headquarters part of the summer, and continued busily engaged in the survey of the Reserve. James Kingsbury, afterward judge, arrived soon after the party began work, and, with his family, was the first to remain here during the winter following, the rest returning to the east or going southward. Through the winter Mr. Kingsbury's family suffered greatly for provisions, so much so that during the absence of the head of the fam- ily in New York for provisions, one child, born in his absence, died, and the mother, reduced by her sufferings and solitude, was only saved by the timely arrival of the husband with a sack of flour he had carried many weary miles on his back. He remained here but a short time, removing to Cleveland, which was laid out that same fall. In the spring of 1798, Alexander Harper, William McFarland, and Ezra Gregory, with their fami- lies, started from Harpersfield, Delaware county, New York, and arrived the last of June at their new homes in the far west. The whole population on the Reserve then amounted to less than one hundred and fifty persons. These were at Cleveland, Youngstown, and Mentor. During the summer three families came to Burton, and Judge Hudson settied at Hudson. All these pioneers suffered severely for food, and from the fever induced by chills. It took several years to become acclimated. Sometimes the entire neighborhood would be down, and only one or two, who could wait on the rest "between chills," were able to do anything. Time and courage overcame, finally.

It was not until 1798, that a permanent settlement was made at the mouth of Conneaut creek. Those who came there in 1796, went on with their surveys, part re-

* Conneaut, in the Seneca language, means " many fish."

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HISTORY OF OHIO. .

maining in Cleveland, laid out that summer. Judge Kingsbury could not remain at Conneaut, and went nearer the settlements made about the Cuyahoga. In the spring of 1798, Thomas Montgomery and Aaron Wright settled here, and remained. Up the stream they found some thirty Indian cabins, or huts, in a good state of preservation, which they occupied until they could erect their own. Soon after, they were joined by others, and, in a year or two, the settlement was permanent and prosperous.

The site of the present town of Austinburgh, in Ash- tabula county, was settled in the year 1799, by two fami- lies from Connecticut, who were induced to come thither, by Judge Austin. The judge preceded them a short time, driving, in company with a hired man, some cattle about one hundred and fifty miles through the woods, following an old Indian trail, while the rest of the party came in a boat across the lake. When they arrived, there were a few families at Harpersburgh, and one or two families at Windsor, twenty miles southwest ; also a few families at Elk creek, forty miles north- east, and at Vernon, the same distance southeast. All

these were in a destitute condition for provisions. In 1800 another family moved from Norfolk, Connecticut. In the spring of 1801, several families came from the same place. Part came by land, and part by water. During that season, wheat was carried to an old mill on Elk creek, forty miles away, and in some instances, half was given for carrying it to mill, and returning it in flour.

Wednesday, October 21, 1801, a church of sixteen members was constituted in Austinburgh. This was the first church on the Reserve, and was founded by Rev. Joseph Badger, the first missionary there. It is a fact worthy of note, that in 1802 Mr. Badger moved his family from Buffalo to this town, in the first wagon that ever came from that place to the Reserve. In 1803, noted revivals occurred in this part of the west, attended by the peculiar bodily phenomenon known as the "shakes" or "jerks."

The surveying party which landed at the mouth of Conneaut . creek, July 4, 1796, soon completed their labors in this part of the Reserve, and extended them westward. By the first of September, they had explored the lake coast as far west as the outlet of the Cuyahoga * river, then considered by all an important western place, and one destined to be a great commercial mart. Time has verified the prophecies, as now the city of Cleveland covers the site.

As early as 1755, the mouth of the Cuyahoga river was laid down on the maps; and the French had a sta- tion here. It was also considered an important post during the war of the Revolution, and later, of 1812. The British, who, after the Revolution, refused to abandon the lake country west of the Cuyahoga, occupied its shores until 1790. Their traders had a house in

Ohio City, north of the Detroit road, on the point of the hill near the river, when the surveyors arrived in 1796. Washington, Jefferson, and all statesmen of that day, regarded the outlet of the Cuyahoga as an important place, and hence the early attempt of the surveyors to reach and lay out a town here.

The corps of surveyors arrived early in September, 1796, and at once proceeded to lay out a town. It was named Cleveland, * in honor of General Moses Cleaveland, the Land company's agent, and for years a very promin- ent man in Connecticut, where he lived and died. By the eighteenth of October, the surveyors had completed the survey, and left the place, leaving only Job V. Stiles and family, and Edward Paine, who were the only per- sons that passed the succeeding winter in this place. Their residence was a log cabin that stood on a spot of ground long afterward occupied by the Commercial bank. Their nearest neighbors were at Conneaut, where Judge Kingsbury lived ; at Fort McIntosh, on the south or east, at the mouth of Big Beaver, and at the mouth of the river Raisin, on the west.

The next season, the surveying party came again to Cleveland, which they made their headquarters. Early in the spring, Judge Kingsbury came over from Conne- aut, bringing with him Elijah Gunn, who had a short time before joined him. Soon after, Major Lorenzo Carter and Ezekiel Hawley came with their families. These are about all who are known to have settled in this place that summer. The next year, 1798, Rodol- phus Edwards and Nathaniel Doane and their families settled in Cleveland. Mr. Doane had been ninety-two days on his journey from Chatham, Connecticut. In the latter part of the summer and fall, nearly every per- son in the settlement was down with the bilious fever or with the ague. Mr. Doane's family consisted of nine persons, of whom Seth, a lad of sixteen years of age, was the only one able to care for them. Such was the severity of the fever, that any one having only the ague was deemed quite fortunate. Much suffering for proper food and medicines followed. The only way the Doane family was supplied for two months or more, was through the exertions of this boy, who went daily, after having had one attack of the chills, to Judge Kingsbury's in Newburgh-five miles away, where the judge then lived -got a peck of corn, mashed it in a hand-mill, waited until a second attack of the chills passed over, and then returned. At one time, for several days, he was too ill to make the trip, during which turnips comprised the chief article of diet. Fortunately, Major Carter, having only the ague, was enabled with his trusty rifle and dogs to procure an abundance of venison and other wild game. His family, being somewhat acclimated, suffered less than many others. Their situation can hardly now be realized. "Destitute of a physician, and with few medi- cines, necessity taught them to use such means as nature had placed within their reach. They substituted pills from the extract of the bitternut bark for calomel, and dogwood and cherry bark for quinine."

*Cuyahoga, in the Indian language, signifies "crooked."-Howe's Collections.

"The Indians called the river 'Cuyahoghan-uk,' 'Lake River.' It is, emphatically, a Lake river. It rises in lakes, and empties into a lake."-Atwater's History of Ohio.

* Formerly spelled Cleaveland.

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HISTORY OF OHIO.

In November, four men, who had so far recovered as to have ague attacks no oftener than once in two or three days, started in the only boat for Walnut creek, Pennsylvania, to obtain a winter's supply of flour. When below Euclid creek, a storm drove them ashore, broke their boat, and compelled their return. During the win- ter and summer following, the settlers had no flour, except that ground in hand and coffee mills, which was, however, considered very good. Not all had even that. During the summer, the Connecticut Land company opened the first road on the Reserve, which commenced about ten miles south of the lake shore, on the Pennsyl- vania State line, and extended to Cleveland. In January, 1799, Mr. Doane moved to Doane's Corners, leaving only Major Carter's family in Cleveland, all the rest leaving as soon as they were well enough. For fifteen months, the major and his family were the only white persons left on the town site. During the spring, Wheeler W. Williams and Major Wyatt built the first grist-mill on the Reserve, on the site of Newburgh. It was looked upon as a very valuable accession to the neighborhood. Prior to this, each family had its own hand-mill in one of the corners of the cabin. The old mill is thus described by a pioneer :

"The stones were of the common grindstone grit, about four inches thick and twenty in diameter. The runner, or upper, was turned by hand, by a pole set in the top of it, near the outer edge. The upper end of the pole was inserted into a hole in a board fastened above to the joists, immediately over the hole in the verge of the runner. One person fed the corn into the eye-a hole in the center of the runner- while another turned. It was very hard work to grind, and the opera- tors alternately exchanged places."

In 1800, several settlers came to the town, and a more active life was the result. From this time, Cleveland began to progress. The fourth of July, 1801, the first ball in town was held at Major Carter's log cabin, on the hillside. John and Benjamin Wood, and R. H. Blinn, were managers; and Major Samuel Jones, musician and master of ceremonies. The company numbered about thirty, very evenly divided, for that day, between the sexes. "Notwithstanding the dancers had a rough puncheon floor, and no better beverage to enliven their spirits, than sweetened whiskey, yet it is doubtful if the anniversary of American independence was ever celebrated in Cleveland by a more joyful and harmonious company than those who danced the scamper-down, double-shuffle, western-swing and half-moon, that day, in Major Carter's cabin."

The growth of the town, from this period on, remained prosperous. The usual visits of the Indians were made, ending in their drunken carousals and fights. Deer and other wild animals furnished abundant meat. The set- tlement was constantly augmented by new arrivals, so that, by 1814, Cleveland was incorporated as a town, and, in 1836, as a city. Its harbor is one of the best on the lakes, and hence the merchandise of the lakes has always been attracted thither. Like Cincinnati and Chillicothe, it became the nucleus of settlements in this part of the State, and now is the largest city in northern Ohio.

One of the earliest settlements in the Western Re- serve, and by some claimed as the first therein, was

made on the site of Youngstown, Mahoning county, by a Mr. Young-afterwards a judge -- in the summer of 1796. During this summer, before the settlements at Cuyahoga and Conneaut were made, Mr. Young and Mr. Wilcott, proprietors of a township of land in north- eastern Ohio, came to their possessions and began the survey of their land. Just when they came is not known. They were found here by Colonel James Hillman, then a trader in the employ of Duncan & Wilson, of Pitts- burgh, "who had been forwarding goods across the coun- try by pack-saddle horses since 1786, to the mouth of the Cuyahoga, thence to be shipped on the schooner Mackinaw to Detroit. Colonel Hillman generally had charge of all these caravans, consisting sometimes of ninety horses and ten men. They commonly crossed the Big Beaver four miles below the mouth of the Che- nango, thence up the left bank of the Mahoning -- called by the Indians "Mahoni" or " Mahonick," signifying the "lick" or "at the lick"-crossing it about three miles below the site of Youngstown, thence by way of the Salt springs, over the sites of Milton and Ravenna, crossing the Cuyahoga at the mouth of Breakneck, and again at the mouth of Tinker's creek, thence down the river to its mouth, where they had a log hut in which to store their goods. This hut was there when the surveyors came, but at the time unoccupied. At the mouth of Tinker's creek were a few log huts built by. Moravian missionaries. These were used only one year, as the Indians had gone to the Tuscarawas river. These and three or four cabins at the Salt springs were the only buildings erected by the whites prior to 1796, in north- eastern Ohio. Those at the Salt springs were built at an early day, for the accommodation of whites who came from western Pennsylvania to make salt. The tenants were dispossessed in 1785, by General Harmar. A short time after, one or two white men were killed by the In- dians here. In 1788, Colonel Hillman settled at Beaver- town, where Duncan & Wilson had a store for the pur- pose of trading with the Indians. He went back to Pittsburgh soon after, however, owing to the Indian war, and remained there until its close, continuing in his busi- ness whenever opportunity offered. In 1796, when re- turning from one of his trading expeditions alone in his canoe, down the Mahoning river, he discovered a smoke on the bank, near the present town of Youngstown, and on going to the spot, found Mr. Young and Mr. Wolcott, as before mentioned. A part of Colonel Hillman's cargo consisted of whiskey, a gallon or so of which he still had. The price of "fire-water" then was one dollar per quart, in the currency of the country, a deer-skin being legal tender for one dollar, and a doe-skin for fifty cents. Mr. Young proposed purchasing a quart, and having a frolic on its contents during the evening, and insisting on pay- ing Hillman his customary price. Hillman urged that, inasmuch as they were strangers in the country, civility required him to furnish the means for the entertain- ment. Young, however, insisted, and taking the deer- skin he used for his bed-the only one he had-paid for his quart of whiskey, and an evening's frolic was the result.

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HISTORY OF OHIO.

"Hillman remained a few days, when they accompanied him to Beavertown to celebrate the fourth, and then all returned, and Hillman erected a cabin on the site of Youngstown. It is not certain that they remained here at this time, and hence the priority of actual settlement is generally conceded to Conneaut and Cleveland. The next year, in the fall, a Mr. Brown and one other person came to the banks of the Mahoning and made a permanent settlement. The same season Uriah Holmes and Titus Hayes came to the same locality, and before winter quite a settlement was to be seen here. It proceeded quite prosperously until the wanton murder of two Indians oc- curred, which, for a time, greatly excited the whites, lest the Indians should retaliate. Through the efforts of Colo- nel Hillman, who had great influence with the natives, they agreed to let the murderers stand a trial. They were acquitted upon some technicality. The trial, how- ever, pacified the Indians, and no trouble came from the unwarranted and unfortunate circumstance, and no check in the emigration or prosperity of the colony oc- curred."*

As soon as an effective settlement had been established at Youngstown, others were made in the surrounding country. One of these was begun by William Fenton in 1798, on the site of the present town of Warren, in Trumbull county. He remained here alone one year, when he was joined by Captain Ephraim Quinby. By the last of September, the next year, the colony had in- creased to sixteen, and from that date on continued pros- perously. Once or twice they stood in fear of the Indians, as the result of quarrels induced by whiskey. Sa- gacious persons generally saved any serious outbreak and pacified the natives. Mr. Badger, the first missionary on the Reserve, came to the settlement here and on the Ma- honing, as soon as each was made, and by his earnest labors, succeeded in forming churches and schools at an early day. He was one of the most efficient men on the Reserve, and throughout his long and busy life, was well known and greatly respected. He died in 1846, aged eighty-nine years.

The settlements given were about all that are made before the close of 1797. In following the narrative of these settlements, attention is paid to the chronological order, as far as this can be donc. Like those settlements already made, many which are given as occuring in the next year, 1798, were actually begun earlier, but were only temporary preparations, and were not considered as made until the next year.

Turning again to the southern portion of Ohio, the Scioto, Muskingum and Miami valleys come prominently into notice. Throughout the entire eastern States they were still attracting attention, and an increased emigra- tion, busily occupying their verdant fields was the result. All about Chillicothe was now well settled, and, up to the banks of that stream, prospectors were selecting sites for their future homes.

In 1797, Robert Armstrong, George Skidmore, Lucas Sullivant, William Domigan, James Marshall, John Dill,

Jacob Grubb, Jacob Overdier, Arthur O'Hara, John Brickell, Colonel Culbertson, the Deardorfs, McElvains, Sells, and others, came to what is now Franklin county, and in August, Mr. Sullivant and some others laid out the town of Franklinton, on the west bank of the Scioto, opposite the site of Columbus. The country about this locality had long been the residence of the Wyandots, who had a large town on the city's site, and cultivated extensive fields of corn on the river bottoms. The lo- cality had been visited by the whites as early as 1780, in some of their expeditions, and the fertility of the land noticed. As soon as peace was assured, the whites came and began a settlement, as has been noted. Soon after Franklinton was established, a Mr. Springer and his son- in-law, Osborn, settled on the Big Darby, and, in the summer of 1798, a scattering settlement was made on Alum creek. About the same time settlers came to the mouth of the Gahannah, and along other water-courses. Franklinton was the point to which emigrants came, and from which they always made their permanent location. For several years there was no mill, nor any such com- modity, nearer than Chillicothe. A hand-mill was con- structed in Franklinton, which was commonly used, unless the settlers made a trip to Chillicothe in a canoe. Next, a horse-mill was tried; but not till 1805, when Colonel Kilbourne built a mill at Worthington, settled in 1803, could any efficient grinding be done. In 1789, a small store was opened in Franklinton, by James Scott, but, for seven or eight years, Chillicothe was the nearest post office. Often, when the neighbors wanted mail, one of their number was furnished money to pay the postage on any letters that might be waiting, and sent for the mail. At first, as in all new localities, a great deal of sickness, fever and ague, prevailed. As the people be- came acclimated this, however, disappeared.

The township of Sharon, in this county, has a history similar to that of Granville township in Licking county. It was settled by a "Scioto company," formed in Granby, Connecticut, in the winter of 1801-02, consisting at first of eight associates. They drew up articles of associ- ation, among which was one limiting their number to forty, each of whom must be unanimously chosen by bal- lot, a single negative being sufficient to prevent an election. Colonel James Kilbourne was sent out the succeeding spring to explore the country and select and purchase a township for settlement. He returned in the fall without making any purchase, through fear that the State constitution, then about to be formed, would toler- ate slavery, in which case the project would have been abandoned. While on this visit, Colonel Kilbourne compiled from a variety of sources the first map made of Ohio. Although much of it was conjectured, and hence inaccurate, it was very valuable, being correct as far as the State was then known.

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History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 102

Author: H. Z. Williams & Brothers Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages: 559

Author: H. Z. Williams & Brothers
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 559