History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 93

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

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secure claim. It was a question whether the old French grants were good or not, especially since the change in government, and the eminnet prospect of still another change. To aid in some way, in settling these claims, Virginia sent a commission to the west to sit as a court and determine the proprietorship of these claims. This court, though of as doubtful authority as the claims themselves, went to work in Kentucky and along the Ohio river in 1779, and, in the course of one year, granted over three thousand certificates. These were considered as good authority for a definite title, and were so regarded in after purchases. Under them, many pioneers, like Daniel Boone, lost their lands, as all were required to hold some kind of a patent, while others, who possessed no more principle than "land sharks " of to-day, acquired large tracts of land by holding a patent the court was bound to accept. Of all the colonies, Virginia seemed to have the best title to the Northwest, save a few parcels, such as the Connecticut or Western Reserve, and some similar tracts held by New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. When the territory of the Northwest was ceded to the general Government, this was recognized, and that country was counted as a Virginia county.

The Spanish government, holding the region west of the Mississippi, and a portion east toward its outlet, became an important but secret ally of the Americans. When the French revolt was suppressed by O'Reilly, and the Spanish assumed the government of Louisiana, both Upper and Lower, there was a large tract of country, known as Florida (East and West), claimed by England, and duly regarded as a part of her dominion. The boundaries had been settled when the French first occupied Lower Louisiana. The Spaniards adopted the patriarchal form of rule, as much as was consistent with their interests, and allowed the French full relig- ious and civil liberty, save that all tribunals were after the Spanish fashion, and governed by Spanish rules. The Spaniards, long jealous of England's growing power, secretly sent the governors of Louisiana word to aid the Americans in their struggle for freedom. Though they controlled the Mississippi river, they al- lowed an American officer (Captain Willing) to descend the river in January, 1778, with a party of fifty men, and ravage the British shore from Manchez bayou to Natehez.

On the eighth of May, 1779, Spain declared war against Great Britain; and, on the eighth of July, the people of Louisiana were allowed to take a part in the war. Accordingly, Galvez collected a force of one thou- sand four hundred men, and, on the seventh of Septem- ber, took Fort Manchac. By the twenty-first of Septem- ber, he had taken Baton Rouge and Natchez. Eight vessels were captured by the Spaniards on the Missis- sippi and on the lakes. In 1780 Mobile fell; in March, 1781, Pensacola, the chief British post in West Florida, succumbed after a long siege, and, on the ninth of May, all west Florida was surrendered to Spain.

This war, or the war on the Atlantic coast, did not immediately effect upper Louisiana. Great Britain,

however, attempted to capture St. Louis. Though the commander was strongly suspected of being bribed by the English, yet the place stood the siege from the com- bined force of Indians and Canadians, and the assailants were dispersed. This was done during the summer of 1780, and in the autumn, a company of Spanish and French residents, under La Balme, went on an expedi- tion against Detroit. They marched as far north as the British trading-post Ke-ki-ong-a, at the head of the Maumee river, but being surprised in the night, and the commander slain, the expedition was defeated, having done but little.

Spain may have had personal interests in aiding the Americans. She was now in control of the Mississippi river, the natural outlet of the northwest, and, in 1780, began the troubles relative to the navigation of that stream. The claims of Spain were considered very un- just by the Continental Congress, and, while deliberating over the question, Virginia, who was jealously alive to . her western interests, and who yet held jurisdiction over Kentucky, sent through Jefferson, the governor, General George Rogers Clarke, to erect a fort below the mouth of the Ohio. This proceeding was rather unwarranta- ble, especially as the fort was built in the country of the Chickasaws, who had thus far been true friends to the Americans, and who looked upon the fort as an innova- tion on their territory. It was completed and occupied but a short time, Clarke being recalled.

Virginia, in 1780, did a very important thing; namely, established an institution for higher education. The Old Dominion confiscated the lands of "Robert Mc- Kenzie, Henry Collins and Alexander McKee, Britons, eight thousand acres," and invested the proceeds of the sale in a public seminary. Transylvania university now lives, a monument to that spirit.

While Clarke was building Fort Jefferson, a force of British and Indians, under command of Captain Bryd, came down from Canada and attacked the Kentucky settlements, getting into the country before any one was aware. The winter before had been one of unusual se- verity, and game was exceedingly scarce, hence the army was not prepared to conduct a campaign. After the capture of Ruddle's Station, at the south fork of the Licking, Bryd abandoned any further attempts to reduce the settlements, except capturing Martin's Station, and returned to Detroit.

This expedition gave an additional motive for the chastisement of the Indians ; and Clarke, on his return from Fort Jefferson, went on an expedition against the Miami Indians. He destroyed their towns at Loramic's store, near the present city of Sidney, Ohio, and at Piqua, humbling the natives. While on the way, a part of the army remained on the north bank of the Ohio, and erected two block-houses on the present site of Cin- cinnati.

The exploits of Clarke and his men so effectually chastised the Indians, that, for a time, the west was safe. During this period of quiet, the measures which led to the cession of western lands to the general government, began to assume a definite form. All the colonies claim-

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ing western lands were willing to cede them to the gov- ernment, save Virginia, which colony wanted a large scope of southern country southeast of the Ohio, as far as South Carolina. All recognized the justice of all western lands becoming public property, and thereby aiding in extinguishing the debts caused by the war of the Revolution, now about to close. As Virginia held a somewhat different view, the cession was not made until 1783.

The subject, however, could not be allowed to rest. The war of the Revolution was now drawing to a close; victory on the part of the colonies was apparent, and the western lands must be a part of the public domain. Subsequent events brought about the desired cession, though several events transpired before the plan of ces- sion was consummated.

Before the close of 1780, the legislature of Virginia passed an act, establishing the "town of Louisville," and confiscated the lands of John Connelly, who was one of its original proprietors, and who distinguished him- self in the commencement of Lord Dunmore's war, and who was now a Tory, and doing all he could against the patriot cause. The proceeds of the sale of his lands were divided between Virginia and the county of Jeffer- son. Kentucky, the next year, was divided into three counties, Jefferson, Lincoln and Fayette. Courts were appointed in each, and the entry and location of lands given into their hands. Settlers, in spite of Indian troubles and British intrigue, were pouring over the mountains, particularly so during the years 1780 and 1781. The expeditions of Clarke against the Miami Indians; Boone's captivity, and escape from them; their defeat when attacking Boonesborough, and other places- all combined to weaken their power, and teach them to respect a nation whose progress they could not stay.

The pioneers of the west, obliged to depend on them- selves, owing to the struggle of the colonies for freedom, grew up a hardy, self-reliant race, with all the vices and virtues of a border life, and with habits, manners and customs necessary to their peculiar situation, and suited to their peculiar taste. A resume of their experiences and daily lives would be quite interesting, did the limits of this history admit it here. In the part relating di- rectly to this county, the reader will find such lives given; here, only the important events can be noticed.

The last event of consequence occurring in the west before the close of the Revolution, is one that might well have been omitted. Had such been the case, a great stain would have been spared the character of western pioneers. Reference is made to the massacre of the Moravian Christian Indians.

These Indians were of the Delaware nation chiefly, though other western tribes were visited and many con- verts made. The first converts were made in New York and Connecticut, where, after a good start had been made, and a prospect of many souls being saved, they incurred the enmity of the whites, who, becoming alarmed at their success, persecuted them to such an extent that they were driven out of New York into Pennsylvania, where, in 1744, four years after their ar-

rival in the New World, they began new missions. In 1748, the New York and Connecticut Indians followed their teachers, and were among the founders of Fried- enshutten, "Tents of Peace," a hamlet near Bethlehem, where their teachers were stationed. Other hamlets grew around them, until in the interior of the colony, existed an Indian community, free from all savage vices, and growing up in Christian virtues. As their strength grew, lawless whites again began to oppress them. They could not understand the war of 1754, and were, indeed, in a truly embarrassing position. The savages could form no conception of any cause for neutrality, save a secret sympathy with the English: and if they could not take up the hatchet, they were in the way, and must be removed. Failing to do this, their red brothers became hostile. The whites were but little better. The old suspicions which drove them from New York were aroused. They were secret Papists, in league with the French, who furnished them with arms and intelligence; they were interfering with the liquor traffic; they were enemies to the government; and the Indian and the white man combined against them. They were obliged to move from place to place; were at one time protected nearly a year, near Philadelphia, from lawless whites, and finally were compelled to go far enough west to be out of the way of French and English arms, or the Iroquois or Cherokee hatchets. They came finally to the Muskingum, where they made a settlement called Schon- brun, "beautiful clear spring," in what is now Tuscara- was county. Other settlements gathered, from time to time, as the years went on, till in 1772 large numbers of them were within the borders of the State.

Until the war of independence broke out, they were allowed to peacefully pursue their way. When that came, they were between Fort Pitt and Detroit, one of which contained British, the other Americans. Again they could not understand the struggle, and could not take up the hatchet. This brought on them the enmity of both belligerent parties, and that of their own forest companions, who could not see wherein their natures could change. Among the most hostile persons were the white renegades McKee, Girty and Elliott. On their instigation, several of them were slain, and by their ad- vice they were obliged to leave their fields and homes, where they had many comforts, and where they had erected good chapels in which to worship. It was just before one of these forced removals that Mary, daughter of the missionary Heckewelder, was born. She is sup- posed to be the first white female born north of the Ohio river. Her birth occurred April 16, 1781. It is but proper to say here, that it is an open question, and one that will probably never be decided, i. e. : Who was the first white child born in Ohio? In all probability, the child was born during the captivity of its mother, as history plainly shows that when white women were re- leased from the Indians, some of them carried children born while among the natives.

When the Moravians were forced to leave their settle- ments on the Muskingum, and taken to Sandusky, they left growing fields of corn, ' to which they were obliged

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to return, to gather food. This aroused the whites, only wanting some pretext whereby they might attack them, and a party, headed by Colonel David Williamson, deter- mined to exterminate them. The Moravians, hearing of their approach, fled, but too late to warn other settle- ments, and Gnadenhutten, Salem and one or two smaller settlements, were surprised and taken. Under deceitful promises, the Indians gave up all their arms, showed the whites their treasures, and went unknowingly to a terrible death. When apprised of their fate, determined on by a majority of the rangers, they begged only time to pre- pare. They were led two by two, the men into one, the women and children into another "slaughter-house," as it was termed, and all but two lads were wantonly slain. An more infamous and bloody deed never darkened the pages of feudal times ; a deed that, in after years, called aloud for vengeance, and in some measure received it. Some of Williamson's men wrung their hands at the cruel fate, and endeavored, by all the means in their power, to prevent it; but all to no purpose. The blood of the rangers was up, and they would not spare "man, woman or child, of all that peaceful band."

Having completed their horrible work, (March 8, 1782), Williamson and his men returned to Pittsburgh. Everywhere, the Indians lamented the untimely death of their kindred, their savage relatives determining on their revenge; the Christian ones could only be resigned and weep.

Williamson's success, for such it was viewed by many, excited the borders to another invasion, and a second army was raised, this time to go to the Sandusky town, and annihilate the Wyandots. Colonel William Craw- ford was elected leader; he accepted reluctantly; on the way, the army was met by hordes of savages on the fifth of June, and totally routed. They were away north, in what is now Wyandot county, and were obliged to flee for their lives. The blood of the murdered Moravians called for revenge. The Indians desired it; were they not relatives of the fallen Christians? Crawford and many of his men fell into their hands; all suffered un- heard-of tortures, that of Crawford being as cruel as In- dian cruelty could devise. He was pounded, pierced, cut with knives, and burned, all of which occupied nearly a night, and finally lay down insensible on a bed of coals and died. The savage captors, in de- moniacal glee, danced around him, and upbraided him for the cruel murder of their relatives, giving him this only consolation, that had they captured Williamson, he might go free, but he must answer for Williamson's brutality.

The war did not cease here. The Indians, now aroused, carried their attack as far south as into Ken- tucky, killing Captain Estill, a brave man, and some of his companions. The British, too, were active in aiding them, and the fourteenth of August a large force of them, under Girty, gathered silently about Bryant's Station. They were obliged to retreat. The Kentuckians pur- sued them, but were repulsed with considerable loss.

The attack on Bryant's Station aroused the people of Kentucky to strike a blow that would be felt. General

Clarke was put at the head of an army of one thousand and fifty men, and the Miami country was a second time destroyed. Clarke even went as far north as the British trading-post at the head of the Miami, where he cap- tured a great amount of property, and destroyed the post. Other outposts also fell, the invading army suffering but little, and by its decisive action practically closing the In- dian wars in the west. Pennsylvania suffered some, losing Hannahstown and one or two small settlements. Williamson's and Crawford's campaigns aroused the fury of the Indians that took time and much blood and war to subdue. The Revolution was, however, drawing to a close. American arms were victorious, and a new nation was now coming into existence, that would change the whole current of western matters, and make of the North- west a land of liberty, equality and union. That nation was now on the stage.

CHAPTER VI.

AMERICAN OCCUPATION-ORGANIZATION OF COUNTIES.

THE occupation of the west by the American, really dates from the campaign of General Clarke in 1778, when he captured the British posts in the Illinois coun- try, and Vincennes on the Wabash. Had he been prop- erly supported, he would have reduced Detroit, then in easy reach, and poorly defended. As it was, however, that post remained in charge of the British till after the close of the war of the Revolution. They also held other lake posts; but these were included in the terms of peace, and came into the possession of the Ameri- cans. They were abandoned by the British as soon as the different commanders received notice from their chiefs, and British rule and English occupation ceased in that part of the New World.

The war virtually closed by the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, October 19, 1781. The struggle was prolonged, however, by the British, in the vain hope that they could retrieve the disaster, but it was only a useless waste of men and money. America would not be subdued. "If we are to be taxed, we will be represented," said they, "else we will be a free govern- ment, and regulate our own taxes." In the end, they were free.

Provisional articles of peace between the United States and Great Britain were signed in Paris on the thirtieth of November, 1782. This was followed by an armistice negotiated at Versailles on the twentieth of January, 1783 ; and finally, a definite treaty of peace was con- cluded at Paris on the third of the next September, and ratified by Congress on the fourth of January, 1784. By the second article of the definite treaty of 1783, the boundaries of the United States were fixed. A glance at the map of that day shows. the boundary to have been as follows : Beginning at Passamaquoddy bay, on the

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coast of Maine, the line ran north a little above the forty- fifth parallel of latitude, when it diverged southwesterly, irregularly, until it reached that parallel, when it followed it until it reached the St. Lawrence river. It followed that river to Lake Ontario, down its center; up the Niagara river; through Lake Erie, up the Detroit river and through Lakes Huron and Superior, to the northwest extremity of the latter. Then it pursued another irregu- lar western course to the Lake of the Woods, when it turned southward to the Mississippi river. The commis- sioners insisted that should be the western boundary, as the lakes were the northern. It followed the Mississippi south until the mouth of Red river was reached, when, turning east, it followed almost a direct line to the At- lantic coast, touching the coast a little north of the outlet of St. John's river.

From this outline it will be readily seen what bound- ary the United States possessed-not one-half of its present domain.

At this date, there existed the original thirteen colo- nies: Virginia occupying all Kentucky and all the north- west, save about half of Michigan and Wisconsin, claimed by Massachusetts; and the upper part of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, and the lower part (a narrow strip) of Michigan, claimed by Connecticut. Georgia included all of Alabama and Mississippi. The Spaniards claimed all Florida and a narrow part of lower Georgia. All the country west of the Father of Waters belonged to Spain, to whom it had been secretly ceded when the family compact was made. That nation controlled the Missis- sippi, and gave no small uneasiness to the youug govern- ment. It was, however, happily settled finally, by the sale of Louisiana to the United States.

Pending the settlement of these questions and the formation of the Federal Union, the cession of the northwest by Virginia again came before Congress. That body found itself unable to fulfil its promises to its sol- diers regarding land, and again urged the Old Dominion to cede the territory to the General Government, for the good of all. Congress forbade settlers from occupying the western lands until a definite cession had been made and the titles to the lands in question made good. But speculation was stronger than law, and without waiting for the slow processes of the courts the adventurous set- lers were pouring into the country at a rapid rate, only retarded by the rifle and scalping knife of the savage-a temporary check. The policy of allowing any parties to obtain lands from the Indians was strongly discouraged by Washington. He advocated the idea that only the General Government could do that, and, in a letter to James Duane, in Congress, he strongly urged such a course, and pointed out the danger of a border war, un- less some such measure was stringently followed.

Under the circumstances, Congress pressed the claims of cession upon Virginia, and finally induced the Do- minion to modify the terms proposed two years before. On the twentieth of December, 1783, Virginia accepted the proposal of Congress, and authorized her delegates to make a deed to the United States of all her right in the territory northwest of the Ohio.

The Old Dominion stipulated in her deed of cession that the territory should be divided into States, to be ad- mitted into the Union as any other State, and to bear a proportionate share in the maintenance of that Union ; that Virginia should be re-imbursed for the expense in- curred in subduing the British posts in the territory; that the French and Canadian inhabitants should be pro- tected in their rights; that the grant to General George Rogers Clarke and his men, as well as all other similar grants, should be confirmed, and that the lands should be considered as the common property of the United States, the proceeds to be applied to the use of the whole country. Congress accepted these conditions, and the deed was made March 1, 1784. Thus the country came from under the dominion of Virginia, and became com- mon property.

A serious difficulty arose about this time, that threat- ened for awhile to involve England and America anew in war. Virginia and several other States refused to abide by that part of the treaty relating to the payment of debts, especially so when the British carried away quite a number of negroes claimed by the Americans. This refusal on the part of the Old Dominion and her abet- tors caused the English to retain her northwestern out- posts, Detroit, Mackinaw, etc. She held these till 1786, when the questions were finally settled, and then readily abandoned them.

The return of peace greatly augmented emigration to the west, especially to Kentucky. When the war closed the population of that county (the three counties having made one judicial district, and Danville designated as the seat of government) was estimated to be about twelve thousand. In one year, after the close of the war, it increased to thirty thousand, and steps for a State government were taken. Owing to the divided senti- ment among its citizens, its perplexing questions of land titles and proprietary rights, nine conventions were held before a definite course of action could be reached. This prolonged the time till 1792, when in December of that year, the election for persons to form a State consti- tution was held, and the vexed and complicated ques- tions settled. In 1783 the first wagons bearing mer- chandise came across the mountains. Their contents were received on flat-boats at Pittsburgh, and taken down the Ohio to Louisville, which that spring boasted of a store, opened by Daniel Broadhead. The next year James Wilkinson opened one at Lexington.

Pittsburgh was now the principal town in the west. It occupied the same position regarding the outposts that Omaha has done for several years to Nebraska. The town of Pittsburgh was laid out immediately after the war of 1764, by Colonel Campbell. It then con- sisted of four squares about the fort, and received its name from that citadel. The treaty with the Six Nations in 1768, conveyed to the proprietaries of Pennsylvania all the lands of the Allegheny below Kittanning, and all the country south of the Ohio, within the limits of Penn's charter. This deed of cession was recognized when the line between Pennsylvania and Virginia was fixed, and gave the post to the Keystone State. In accordance

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History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 93

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

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