History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 99

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

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During the fall and winter, the settlement was daily increased by emigrants, so much so, that the greatest difficulty was experienced in finding them lodging. Dur- ing the coldest part of the winter, when ice covered the river, and prevented navigation, a delay in arrivals was experienced, only to be broken as soon as the river opened to the beams of a spring sun. While locked in the winter's embrace, the colonists amused themselves in various ways, dancing being one of the most prom- inent. At Christmas, a grand ball was held, at which there were fifteen ladies, "whose grace," says a narrator, "equalled any in the east." Though isolated in the wil- derness, they knew a brilliant prospect lay before them, and lived on in a joyous hope for the future.

Soon after their arrival, the settlers began the erection of a stockade fort (Campus Martius), which occupied their time until the winter of 1791. During the interval, fortunately, no hostilities from the Indians were expe- rienced, though they were abundant, and were frequent visitors to the settlement.

From a communication in the American Pioneer, by Dr. S. P. Hildreth, the following description of Campus Martius is derived. As it will apply, in a measure, to many early structures for defence in the west, it is given entire :

"The fort was made in the form of a regular parallelogram, the sides of each being one hundred and eighty feet. At each corner was erected a strong block-house, surmounted by a tower and sentry-box.

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These houses were twenty feet square below and twenty-four feet square above, and projected six feet beyond the walls of the fort. The inter- mediate walls were made up of dwelling-houses, made of wood, whose ends were whip-sawed into timber four inches thick, and of the requi- site width and length. These were laid up similar to the structure of log houses, with the ends nicely dove-tailed together. The whole was two stories high, and covered with shingle roofs. Convenient chimneys were erected of bricks, for cooking, and warming the rooms. A num- ber of the dwellings were built and owned by individuals who had fam- ilies. In the west and south fronts were strong gateways; and over the one in the center of the front looking to the Muskingum river was a belfry. The chamber beneath was occupied by Winthrop Sargeant, as an office, he being secretary to the governor, and performing the duties of the office during St. Clair's absence. This room projected over the gateway, like a block-house, and was intended for the protection of the gate beneath, in time of an assault. At the outer corner of each block- house was erected a bastion, standing on four stout timbers. The floor of the bastion was a little above the lower story of the block-house. They were square, and built up to the height of a man's head, so that, when he looked over, he stepped on a narrow platform or "banquet" running around the sides of the bulwark. Port-holes were made for musketry as well as for artillery, a single piece of which was mounted in the sontheast and northwest bastions. In these the sentries were regularly posted every night, as more convenient than the towers; a door leading into them from the upper story of the block-houses. The lower room of the southwest block-house was occupied as a guard- house.

"Running from corner to corner of the block-houses was a row of palisades, sloping outward and resting on stout rails. Twenty feet in advance of these, was a row of very strong and large pickets, set upright in the earth. Gateways through these admitted the inmates of the garrison. A few feet beyond the row of outer palisades was placed a row of abatis, made from the tops and branches of trees, sharpened and pointing outward, so that it would have been very difficult for an enemy to have penetrated within their outworks. The dwelling-houses occupied a space from fifteen to thirty feet each, and were sufficient for the accommodation of forty or fifty families, and did actually contain from two hundred to three hundred persons during the Indian war.

"Before the Indians commenced hostilities, the block-houses were occupied as follows: The southwest one, by the family of Governor St. Clair; the northeast one as an office for the directors of the company. The area within the walls was one hundred and forty-four feet square, and afforded a fine parade ground. In the center, was a well eighty feet in depth, for the supply of water to the inhabitants, in case of a siege. A large sundial stood for many years in the square, placed on a handsome post, and gave note of the march of time.

"After the war commenced, a regular military corps was organized, and a guard constantly kept night and day. The whole establishment formed a very strong work, and reflected great credit on the head that planned it. It was in a manner impregnable to the attacks of Indians, and none but a regular army with cannon could have reduced it. The Indians possessed no such an armament.

"The garrison stood on the verge of that beautiful plain overlooking the Muskingum, on which are seated those celebrated remains of antiq- uity, erected probably for a similar purpose-the defence of the in- habitants. The ground descends into shallow ravines on the north and south sides; on the west is an abrupt descent to the river bottoms or alluvium, and the east passed out to a level plain. On this, the ground was cleared of trees beyond the reach of rifle shots, so as to afford no shelter to a hidden foe. Extensive fields of corn were grown in the midst of the standing girdled trees beyond, in after years. The front wall of palisades was about one hundred and fifty yards from the Muskingum river. The appearance of the fort from without was im- posing, at a little distance resembling the military castles of the feudal ages. Between the outer palisades and the river were laid out neat gardens for the use of Governor St. Clair and his secretary, with the officers of the company.

"Opposite the fort, on the shore of the river, was built a substantial timber wharf, at which was moored a fine cedar barge for twelve rowers, built by Captain Jonathan Devol, for General Putnam; a number of pirogues, and the light canoes of the country; and last, not least, the Mayflower, or 'Adventure Galley,' in which the first detachments of colonists were transported from the shores of the 'Yohiogany' to the banks of the Muskingum. In these, especially the canoes, during the war, most of the communications were carried on between the settle- ments of the company and the more remote towns above on the Ohio river. Traveling by land was very hazardous to any but the rangers or

spies. There were no roads, nor bridges across the creeks, and, for many years after the war had ceased, the traveling was nearly all done by canoes on the river."

Thus the first settlement of Ohio provided for its safety and comfort, and provided also for that of emi- grants who came to share the toils of the wilderness.

The next spring, the influx of emigration was so great that other settlements were determined, and hence arose the colonies of Belpre, Waterford and Duck creek, where they began to clear land, sow and plant crops, and build houses and stockades. At Belpre (French. for "beautiful meadow"), were built three stockades, the up- per, lower and middle, the last of which was called "Farmers' Castle," and stood on the banks of the Ohio, nearly opposite an island, afterward famous in western history as Blannerhasset's island, the scene of Burr's con- spiracy. Among the persons settling at the upper stockade, were Captains Dana and Stone, Colonel Bent, William Browning, Judge Foster, John Rowse, Israel Stone, and a Mr. Keppel. At the Farmers' Castle were Colonels Cushing and Fisher, Major Haskell, Aaron Waldo Putnam, Mr. Sparhawk, and, it is believed, George and Israel Putnam, jr. At the lower were Major Goodale, Colonel Rice, Esquire Pierce, Judge Israel Loring, Deacon Miles, Major Bradford and Mr. Good- enow. In the summer of 1789, Colonel Ichabod Nye and some others, built a block-house at Newberry, below Belpre. Colonel Nye sold his lot there to Aaron W. Clough, who, with Stephen Guthrie, Joseph Leavins, Joel Oakes, Eleazer Curtis, Mr. Denham J. Littleton and Mr. Brown, were located at that place.

"Every exertion possible," says Dr. Hildreth, who has preserved the above names and incidents, "for men in these circumstances, was made to secure food for future difficulties. Colonel Oliver, Major Hatfield White and John Dodge, of the Waterford settlement, began mills on Wolf creek, about three miles from the fort, and got them running; and these, the first mills in Ohio, were never destroyed during the subsequent Indian war, though the proprietors removed their families to the fort at Marietta. Colonel E. Sproat and Enoch Shepherd began mills on Duck creek, three miles from Marietta, from the completion of which they were driven by the Indian war. Thomas Stanley began mills farther up, near the Duck creek settlement. These were likewise unfinished. The Ohio company built a large horse mill near Campus Martius, and soon after a floating mill.

The autumn before the settlements at Belpre, Duck creek and Waterford were made, a colony was planted near the mouth of the little Miami river, on a tract of ten thousand acres, purchased from Symmes by Major Benjamin Stiles. In the preceding pages may be found a history of Symmes' purchase. This colony may be counted the second settlement in the State. Soon after the colony at Marietta was founded, steps were taken to occupy separate portions of Judge Symmes' purchase, between the Miami rivers. Three parties were formed for this purpose, but, owing to various delays, chiefly in getting the present colony steadfast and safe from future encroachments by the savages, they did not get started

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till late in the fall. The first of these parties, consisting of fifteen or twenty men, led by Major Stiles, landed at the mouth of the Little Miami, in November, 1788, and, constructing a log fort, began to lay out a village, called by them Columbia. It soon grew into prominence, and, before winter had thoroughly set in, they were well pre- pared for a frontier life. In the party were Colonels Spencer and Brown, Major Gano and Kibbey, Judges Goforth and Foster, Rev. John Smith, Francis Dunlavy, Captain Flinn, Jacob White, John Riley, and Mr. Hub- bell.

All these were men of energy and enterprise, and, with their comrades, were more numerous than either of the other parties who commenced their settlements be- low them on the Ohio. This village was also, at first, more flourishing; and, for two or three years, contained more inhabitants than any other in the Miami purchase.

The second Miami party was formed at Limestone, under Matthias Denham and Robert Patterson, and con- sisted of twelve or fifteen persons. They landed on the north bank of the Ohio, opposite the mouth of the Lick- ing river, the twenty-fourth of December, 1788. They intended to establish a station and lay out a town on a plan prepared at Limestone. Some statements affirm that the town was to be called "L-os-anti-ville," by a ro- mantic school-teacher named Filson. However, be this as it may, Mr. Filson was, unfortunately for himself, not long after, slain by the Indians, and, with him probably, the name disappeared. He was to have one-third inter- est in the proposed city, which, when his death occurred, was transferred to Israel Ludlow, and a new plan of a city adopted. Israel Ludlow surveyed the proposed town, whose lots were principally donated to settlers up- on certain conditions as to settlement and improvement, and the embryo city named Cincinnati. Governor St. Clair very likely had something to do with the naming of the village, and, by some, it is asserted that he changed the name from Losantiville to Cincinnati, when he created the county of Hamilton the ensuing winter. The original purchase of the city's site was made by Mr. Denham. It included about eight hundred acres, for which he paid five shillings per acre in Continental cer- tificates, then worth in specie about five shillings per pound, gross weight. Evidently, the original site was a good investment, could Mr. Denham have lived long enough to see its present condition.

The third party of settlers for the Miami purchase were under the care of Judge Symmes, himself. They left Limestone January 29, 1789, and were much delayed on their downward journey by the ice in the river. They reached the "Bend," as it was then known, early in Feb- ruary. The judge had intended to found a city here, which, in time, would be the rival of the Atlantic cities. As each of the three settlements aspired to the same position, no little rivalry soon manifested itself. The judge named his proposed city North Bend, from the fact that it was the most northern bend in the Ohio be- low the mouth of the Great Kanawha. These three settlements antedated, a few months, those made near Marietta, already described. They arose so soon after,

partly from the extreme desire of Judge Symmes to set- tle his purchase, and induce emigration here instead of on the Ohio company's purchase. The judge labored earnestly for this purpose and to further secure him in his title to the land he had acquired, all of which he had so far heen unable to retain, owing to his inability to meet his payments.

All these emigrants came down the river in the flat- boats of the day, rude affairs, sometimes called "arks," and then the only safe mode of travel in the west.

Judge Symmes found he must provide for the safety of the settlers on his purchase, and, after earnestly solic- iting General Harmar, commander of the western posts, succeeded in obtaining a detachment of forty-eight men, under Captain Kearsey, to protect the improvements just commencing on the Miami. This detachment reached Limestone in December, 1788. Part was at once sent forward to guard Major Stiles and his pioneers. Judge Symmes and his party started in January, and, about February 2d reached Columbia, where the captain ex- pected to find a fort erected for his use and shelter. The flood on the river, however, defeated his purpose, and, as he was unprepared to erect another, he deter- mined to go on down to the garrison at the falls at Louis- ville. Judge Symmes was strenuously opposed to his conduct, as it left the colonies unguarded, but, all to no purpose; the captain and his command went on to Louis- ville early in March, and left the judge and his settle- ment to protect themselves. Judge Symmes immediately sent a strong letter to Major Willis, commanding at the falls, complaining of the conduct of Captain Kearsey, representing the exposed situation of the Miami settle- ments, stating the indications of hostility manifested by the Indians, and requesting a guard to be sent to the Bend. This request was at once granted, and Ensign Luce, with seventeen or eighteen soldiers, sent. They were at the settlement but a short time, when they were attacked by Indians, and one of their number killed, and four or five wounded. They repulsed the savages and saved the settlers.

The site of Symmes City, for such he designed it should ultimately be called, was above the reach of water, and sufficiently level to admit of a convenient settle- ment. The city laid out by Symmes was truly mag- nificent on paper, and promised in the future to fulfil his most ardent hopes. The plat included the village, and extended across the peninsula between the Ohio and Miami rivers. Each settler on this plat was promised a lot if he would improve it, and in conformity to the stip- ulation, Judge Symmes soon found a large number of persons applying for residence. As the number of these adventurers increased, in consequence of this provision and the protection of the military, the judge was induced to lay out another village six or seven miles up the river, which he called South Bend, where he disposed of some donation lots, but the project failing, the village site was deserted, and converted into a farm.

During all the time these various events were trans- piring, but little trouble was experienced with the Indians. They were not yet disposed to evince hostile

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feelings. This would have been their time, but, not realizing the true intent of the whites until it was too late to conquer them, they allowed them to become pre- pared to withstand a warfare, and in the end were obliged to suffer their hunting-grounds to be taken from them, and made the homes of a race destined to entirely supersede them in the New World.

By the means sketched in the foregoing pages, were the three settlements on the Miami made. By the time those adjacent to Marietta were well established, these were firmly fixed, each one striving to become the rival city all felt sure was to rise. For a time it was a matter of doubt which of the rivals, Columbia, North Bend or Cincinnati, would eventually become the chief seat of bus- iness. In the beginning, Columbia, the eldest of the three, took the lead, both in number of its inhabitants and the convenience and appearance of its dwellings. For a time it was a flourishing place, and many believed it would become the great business town of the Miami country. That apparent fact, however, lasted but a short time. The garrison was moved to Cincinnati, Fort Washington built there, and in spite of all that Major Stiles, or Judge Symmes could do, that place became the metropolis. Fort Washington, the most extensive garrison in the west, was built by Major Doughty, in the summer of 1789, and from that time the growth and future greatness of Cincinnati were assured.

The first house in the city was built on Front street, east of and near Main street. It was simply a strong log cabin, and was erected of the forest trees cleared away from the ground on which it stood. The lower part of the town was covered with sycamore and maple trees, and the upper with beech and oak. Through this dense forest the streets were laid out, and their corners marked on the trees.

The settlements on the Miami had become sufficiently numerous to warrant a separate county, and, in January, 1790, Governor St. Clair and his secretary arrived in Cincinnati, and organized the county of Hamilton, so named in honor of the illustrious statesman by that name. It included all the country north of the Ohio, between the Miamis, as far as a line running "due east from the Standing Stone forks" of Big Miami to its in- tersection with the little Miami. The erection of the new county, and the appointment of Cincinnati to be the seat of justice, gave the town a fresh impulse, and aided greatly in its growth.

Through the summer, but little interruption in the growth of the settlements occurred. The Indians had permitted the erection of defensive works in their midst, and could not now destroy them. They were also en- gaged in traffic with the whites, and, though they evinced signs of discontent at their settlement and occupation of the country, yet did not openly attack them. The truth was, they saw plainly the whites were always prepared, and no opportunity was given them to plunder and destroy. The Indian would not attack unless success was almost sure. An opportunity, unfortunately, came, and with it the horrors of an Indian war.

In the autumn of 1790, a company of thirty-six men

went from Marietta to a place on the Muskingum known as the Big Bottom. Here they built a block-house, on the east bank of the river, four miles above the mouth of Meigs creek. They were chiefly young, single men, but little acquainted with Indian warfare or military rules. The savages had given signs that an attack on the settle- ment was meditated, and several of the knowing ones at the strongholds strenuously opposed any new settlements that fall, advising their postponement until the next spring, when the question of peace or war would proba- bly be settled. Even General Putnam and the directors of the Ohio company advised the postponement of the settlement until the next spring.

The young men were impatient and restless, and de- clared themselves able to protect their fort against any number of assailants. They might have easily done so, had they taken the necessary precautions; but, after they had erected a rude block-house of unchinked logs, they began to pass the time in various pursuits; setting no guard, and taking no precautionary measures, they left themselves an easy prey to any hostile savages that might choose to come and attack them.

About twenty rods from the block-house, and a little back from the bank of the river, two men, Francis and Isaac Choate, members of the company, had erected a cabin, and commenced clearing lots. Thomas Shaw, a hired laborer, and James Patten, another of the asso- ciates, lived with them. About the same distance below the block-house was an old "Tomahawk Improvement " and a small cabin, which two men, Asa and Eleazar Bullard, had fitted up and occupied. The Indian war- path, from Sandusky to the mouth of the Muskingum, passed along the opposite shore of the river. Dr. Hil- dreth says:

The Indians, who, during the summer had been hunting and loiter- ing about the Wolf Creek and Plainfield settlements, holding frequent and friendly intercourse with the settlers, selling them venison and bear's meat in exchange for green corn and vegetables, had withdrawn and gone up the river, early in the autumn, to their towns, preparatory to going into winter quarters. They very seldom entered on any war- like expeditions during the cold weather. But they had watched the gradual encroachment of the whites, and planned an expedition against them. They saw them in fancied security in their cabins, and thought their capture an easy task. It is said they were not aware of the Big Bottom settlement until they came in sight of it, on the opposite shore of the river, in the afternoon. From a high hill opposite the garrison, they had a view of all that part of the bottom, and could see how the men were occupied and what was doing about the block-house. It was not protected with palisades or pickets, and none of the men were aware or prepared for an attack. Having laid their plans, about twi- light they crossed the river above the garrison, on the ice, and divided their men into two parties -- the larger one to attack the block-house, the smaller one to capture the cabins. As the Indians cautiously approached the cabin they found the inmates at supper. Part entered, addressed the whites in a friendly manner, but soon manifesting their designs, made them all prisoners, tieing them with leather thongs they found in the cabin.

At the block-house the attack was far different. A stout Mohawk suddenly burst open the door, the first intimation the inmates had of the presence of the foe, and while he he held it open his comrades shot down those that were within. Rushing in, the deadly toma- hawk completed the onslaught. In the assault, one of the savages was struck by the wife of Isaac Woods, with an axe, but only slightly injured. The heroic woman was

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immediately slain. All the men but two were slain be- fore they had time to secure their arms, thereby paying for their failure to properly secure themselves with their lives. The two excepted were John Stacy and his brother Philip, a lad, sixteen years of age. John escaped to the roof, where he was shot by the Indians, while begging for his life. The firing at the block-house alarmed the Bullards in their cabin, and hastily barring the door, and securing their arms and ammunition, they fled to the woods, and escaped. After the slaughter was over, the Indians began to collect the plunder, and in doing so, discovered the lad Philip Stacy. They were about to dispatch him, but his entreaties softened the heart of one of the chiefs, who took him as a captive with the intention of adopting him into his family. The savages then piled the dead bodies on the floor, covered them with other portions of it not needed for that purpose, and set fire to the whole. The building, being made of green logs, did not burn, the flames consuming only the floors and roof, leaving the walls standing.

There were twelve persons killed in this attack, all of whom were in the prime of life, and valuable aid to the settlements. They were well provided with arms, and had they taken the necessary precautions, always pressed upon them when visited by the older ones from Marietta, they need not have suffered so terrible a fate.

The Indians, exultant over their horrible victory, went on to Wolf's mills, but here they found the people pre- pared, and, after reconnoitering the place, made their re- treat, at early dawn, to the great relief of the inhabit- ants. Their number was never definitely known.

The news reached Marietta and its adjacent settle- ments soon after the massacre occurred, and struck terror and dismay into the hearts of all. Many had brothers and sons in the ill-fated party, and mourned their loss. Neither did they know what place would fall next. The Indian hostilities had begun, and they could only hope for peace when the savages were effectually conquered.

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History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 99

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

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