History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the original boundaries) ; its past and present, containing a condensed comprehensive history of Ohio, including an outline history of the Northwest, a complete history of Richland county miscellaneous matter, map of the county, biographies and histories of the most prominent families, &c., &c., Part 35

Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 968

USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio : (including the original boundaries) ; its past and present, containing a condensed comprehensive history of Ohio, including an outline history of the Northwest, a complete history of Richland county miscellaneous matter, map of the county, biographies and histories of the most prominent families, &c., &c. > Part 35

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of their race that were then making their way westward, driving the lone Indian slowly toward the setting sun.

Leaving Big Spring, the army went north- ward * to a fine spring, five miles farther on, in what is now Springfield Township, a place now known as Spring Mills, where, on the evening of June 1, the army halted and encamped for the night.

"The army had now reached, as was sup- posed, the head of streams flowing north into Lake Erie. This, however, was an error; these, in reality, flow into the Mohican. A short distance traveled on the 2d of June brought the cavalcade to other small streams, having a northern trend, which were, in fact, affluents of the Sandusky. The army crossed into what is now Crawford County at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, and about an hour after reached the Sandusky* River, at a point immediately east of what is now the village of Leesville, at the month of a small creek called Allen's Run, when a halt was called and the volunteers took a half-hour's rest on the banks of the stream for which they had been for some time very anxiously looking."

The army was now about three miles west of the present city of Crestline. The next day it came to the Plains, now embraced in Crawford, Marion and Wyandot Counties. Of its subse- quent marches but little need be said here. As has been stated in the State history, the cam- paign ended in defeat and disaster, the army being attacked two days afterward and defeated. at what is known as "Battle Island," a grove of timber in Crane Township, Wyandot County, and, after two days' fighting, the Americans were driven away in a sadly demoralized condition.

Crawford was lost when the retreat began, and was seen by the main body no more, as it

* The Sandusky River rises in " Palmer's Spring," in Spring- field Township. Several small streams, commonly known as its heads, flow into it before it reaches Crawford County. The word "Sandusky " is of Indian origin. It was pronounced by them " San-door-tee," or "Sa-undustee," meaning " clear, cold water," or "at the cold water."

* Recollections of William Smith.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

hurriedly retreated over the route by which it came. He was captured, in company with Dr. Knight, Lieut. Ashley and Capt. Biggs, as they were endeavoring to escape, about a half-mile south of the site of the former camp at Lees- ville. The band of Delaware Indians were under command of a chief named Wingenund, to whose eamp Crawford and the Doctor were taken, where they found several other prisoners, stragglers like themselves.

Capt. Pipe was among the warriors, and was the chief instigator in the cruel death of Craw- ford, which ended the ill-fated expedition, Dr. Knight making his eseape and saving himself from a horrible death.

It should be stated, to the credit of Capt. Pipe and other Indians, that, had Williamson been captured, Crawford would doubtless have been spared. As it was, he was put to the most cruel death they could devise, at the Del- aware village of Capt. Pipe, situated a short distance northeast of the present town of Crawfordsville. Almost all other prisoners were horribly tortured in one form and another, but none so fearfully as the "Big Captain," as the Indians called Crawford, on whom all the hate of their passions was expended.

The failure of the expedition excited the fears of the borderers, none of whom cared to venture far into the Indian country. A few venturesome spirits made the attempt along the Ohio River, but the danger was too great, and, moreover, the validity of claims not well established. Not till 1788, when the "Ordi- nance of 1787" had secured freeholders in their rights in the "Territory northwest of the Ohio," was a permanent settlement made in the State.

Another captive among the Indians before the settlement by the whites was Christian Fast, Sr., afterward one of the earliest settlers in Orange Township. He often narrated the incidents of his capture and captivity, which

Mr. Knapp preserves in his " History of Ashland County." Mr. Knapp says:

"When a boy of sixteen, Mr. Fast was capt- ured by the Delaware Indians near the Falls of the Ohio. He had enlisted in Fayette County, Penn., in a company of 200 men, organ- ized for the purpose of chastising the In- dians; for depredations committed upon the frontier settlements. Such expeditions were of frequent occurrence in those times. This force descended the Ohio in boats, and, some distance above the falls, became separated into two parties, young Fast being among those in the rear. The advance party had driven posts in the river, upon the top of which they placed written directions, addressed to those who were following them, indicating the point where they would find the anchorage of the party, who would be in waiting for them. These written directions, it was supposed, fell into the hands of the Indians. who had whites among them competent to read, and who thus became in- formed of the movements of their foes. Before the latter could form a junction of their forces, the rear party, a short distance above the falls, was attacked by parties of Indians on both sides of the river, while the men in the boats were making toward the shore to cook a heifer they had killed. The largest boat in the fleet. in which was Mr. Fast, had landed, and the others were making preparations to do so when the attack commenced. The smaller boats im- mediately put up stream, but the larger one was hard aground and could not get off. Of the one hundred, all but about thirty were killed. Young Fast jumped into the water, receiving, at the same instant, a flesh-wound in the hip, and swam to the opposite shore, where he was met by three Indians, who demanded that he should surrender, assuring him of friendly treatment. He declined their request and again plunged into the current, the three Indians firing at him as he swam, one of the balls grazing his cheek, momentarily stunning him.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

Reaching the middle of the stream, he took observations to determine the course of safety, and concluded to strike the shore several rods below where the large boat was grounded; but, on approaching the shore, he again encountered the bullets of the Indians, and again made for the middle of the river. Some distance below, he discovered a horse-boat belonging to his party, and at once resolved to reach and board it. Just as he had succeeded in getting aboard. the Captain received a wound in the arm, and waved his hand to the Indians in token of sur- render. The boat was immediately boarded by the Indians, and the whites taken prisoners.

" An old Indian took charge of Fast, by whom he was taken to Upper Sandusky. The prison- ers were divested of their clothing, and, as their march led through a rank growth of nettle- weeds, it was indescribably painful. Fast. becoming maddened with pain, at length refused to go forward, and. baring his head to his captor, demanded that he would tomahawk him, and thus put an end to his sufferings. The Indian took compassion on him and restored his clothing. During the remainder of the journey, he was treated with marked kindness. At Upper Sandusky, he was adopted into a dis- tinguished family of the tribe. He visited the lamented Col. Crawford after the failure of the expedition and during his imprisonment, and was within hearing of his cries during the horrid cruelties he suffered at the stake.

" About eighteen months after Fast's capture, an expedition left Upper Sandusky for the pur- pose of attacking the white settlements and fortifications at Wheeling. Connected with this expedition was the notorious James Girty. Fast, who now possessed the full confidence of the Indians, was also of the party. The expedition reached its destination, and had besieged the fort at Wheeling three days and two nights. On the third night Fast determined upon an attempt to effect his escape. Approaching his adopted brother at a late hour of the night, he awoke

him, complaining of thirst, and urged his brother to accompany him to a place where they could procure a drink of water. The Indian pleaded weariness, and urged his brother to go alone, insisting that no harm would befall him. Thereupon, Fast, taking his camp-kettle, steered directly for his father's house in Fayette County, Penn., about thirty miles distant. The night being excessively dark, he made slow progress, and at daylight was yet within hearing of the guns of the besiegers and besieged. As soon as daylight appeared, he pushed forward, and soon discovered. by a fresh trail, that about thirty In- dians were in advance of him, making for the white settlements in Washington County, Penn. On reaching the spur of a ridge, he discovered that the trails separated, and that the Indians had formed two parties, each pursuing parallel lines through the valleys. He hoped, by vigor- ously pursuing the middle and straighter course, to get in advance of the Indians, and in this effort he was successful. Before night he reached the margin of the settlement in Washington County, the Indians being but a short distance in his rear. A few rods in advance of him and advancing on his own trail, he discovered a white man. with a couple of bridles on his arm, evidently in search of horses. Placing himself behind a tree. Fast waited until the white man was within a few feet of him, when he suddenly placed himself in his path, and gave a hurried explanation of his name, object, and the imme- diate danger that threatened the white settle- ment. The man was paralyzed with fear; he could not believe that the savage-looking man before him, with his painted face, his ears and nose filled with brooches, his hair (all except a tuft in front, which was passed through a silver tube) nearly plucked from his skull, was any- thing else than a veritable Indian. Mechanic- ally, however, the man obeyed his directions, and each, seizing and mounting horses. which were near at hand, made for the settlements with all practicable speed. They gave the alarm to

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

all the families in the neighborhood, and suc- ceeded in securing all in the fort except one boy, who was killed at the instant he reached the gate, which was thrown open for his in- gress.

"After the beleaguered fort was relieved by the retirement of the Indians, he sought his father's house; but was so completely metamorphosed by his Indian costume that his parents could not, for a considerable length of time, recognize him. At length his mother, recalling some peculiar spots near the pupils of his eyes, gave a scrutinizing look, and at once identified her son. She sprang forward to embrace him, and would have fainted in his arms, but he repulsed her, exclaiming that his person, as was the case with all the Indians, was covered with vermin. He retired from the house, committed his In- dian clothes to the fire he had made, purified his body as best he could, and then clothed himself in garments furnished by his father.

"On the very day of his arrival in Orange Township. in 1815, he met with Tom Lyons, a chief, and one of his original captors, and a party of Indians by whom he was recognized. The Indians, who had not suspected that he had deserted, but who believed that he had been drowned in the river, evinced much joy at the discovery of their lost "brother," and ever afterward offered numerous tokens of their friendship."

Following Crawford's campaign, and the cap- tivity of Mr. Fast, the next member of the white race was the renegade Thomas Green, who came to the site of Greentown in 1783, and estab- lished that village. He was a Tory from the bloody Wyoming Valley. There he had been associated with the cruel Mohawks in the wan- ton murder of his countrymen, and, to escape

their vengeance, fled with Billy Montour, Gello- way, Armstrong, Thomas Lyons and others, to the wilds of Ohio, and founded a town among the Delawares, which, in honor of this renegade, they called Greentown. The village became well known in Northern Ohio annals, and is fully noticed elsewhere.

The rapid encroachment of the white race on the domain of the red men, and the arrogant manner of many of the borderers, coupled with British gold, stirred up the tribes of Ohio to an endeavor to exterminate the on-coming flood of emigrants. The savages persisted in their bar- barous mode of warfare, and the expeditions of Harmar, St. Clair and Wayne were the result. The former two proved disastrous to the whites. and ended in the route and almost total ruin of the armies. Their defeat caused wide-spread alarm, and effectually checked emigration to all parts of the territory. Washington selected the best man at his command, Anthony Wayne (" Mad Anthony "), and sent him to command the Western army, and subdue the savages. His campaign ended in 1794. and the peace of Green- ville, in 1795, secured comparative freedom. on all the frontiers.

Emigration began again to pour in. The survey of the public lands, practically stopped, like all other advances of the whites, was now resumed, and gradually extended north westerly. The surveyors were kept in advance of the set- tlements wherever it could be done, and land offices established for the sale of land. At the date of the survey here, Richland had not a single pioneer in its limits. Indeed, no white men, save hunters. are known to have been over her hills and vales between the date of the cam- paign of Crawford and the beginning of the survey.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXII. THE SURVEYORS.

ORDINANCE FOR THE SURVEY OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY-RANGES-TOWNSHIPS-JAMES HEDGES, MAXFIELD AND WILLIAM LUDLOW AND JONATHAN COX-DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SURVEYORS' FIELD NOTES, ETC.

How canst thou walk these fields and woods? Who measured them for thy feet ?

T THE advance of settlements into the North_ west Territory forced Congress at an early day to prepare for the survey of the lands. In May, 1785, that body passed an ordinance pre- scribing the mode of such a survey. In 1787, the Territory was accepted by the General Gov- ernment, and Gen. St. Clair was appointed Governor in October, and soon after came to Marietta, to perform the functions of his office.

The ordinance prescribing the mode of the survey of the lands northwest of the Ohio River, stipulated that a corps of surveyors- one from each State-should be appointed by Congress, and placed under Thomas Hutch- ins, Geographer of the United States. This corps of engineers was to divide the Territory into townships, each six miles square, by run- ning lines due north and south, and crossing these by other lines running due east and west, the squares thus formed to constitute the town- ships. This was to be the rule over the entire Territory as far as practicable. It will be ob- served, however, that it was not followed in many parts of Ohio, the Western Reserve being surveyed into townships five miles square.

The point of beginning the survey was at the Ohio River, at a place due north from the west- ern termination of the southern boundary of Pennsylvania. From this point lines were run north and west, extending through the Terri- tory. The townships, whole or fractional, were to be numbered from south to north, from a certain base line. What that line is in the sur-

vey of Richland County, Mr. John Newman, the present Surveyor, says he cannot determine. It is some irregular line, as the numbers of the townships differ very materially. The ranges were numbered progressively westward. Had the same base line been used for all ranges, the townships would have all had the same number in corresponding ranges, as they pro- gressed from east to west.

After the county was surveyed into townships, these were to be divided into thirty-six sections, of 160 aeres each, each township having 640 acres. Since the survey was first made, the sections have been divided into quarters, eighths and sometimes sixteenths.

The first range of townships in Richland, as originally created, was range numbered six- teen. This included the townships of Hanover, Green, Vermillion. Montgomery and Orange. These were numbered 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23. The next range, 17, included-following the numbers, as the townships were then not named -Nos. 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25. Range 18 in- cludes Nos. 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23; Range 19 contains also the same numbered townships. The three ranges, 16, 18 and 19, were evi- dently numbered from the same base, as their numbers are all the same. Range 20 includes Townships Nos. 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.

The county was surveyed in 1807, by James Hedges, Jonathan Cox aud Maxfield Ludlow. Gen. Hedges was a citizen of Virginia, and was a Deputy United States Surveyor under Mr. Hutchins. He was born in Ohio County, Virginia, in a family of eleven children-nine brothers and two sisters. His parents were

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

from Eastern Virginia. He came to Ohio about 1800, and settled in Belmont County, but in a short time returned to Virginia and studied surveying, then an excellent employ- ment for young men. He received an appoint- ment as Deputy Surveyor, and, returning to Ohio, entered on active field work. The labor was very arduous, not to say dangerous. and required not only bodily strength, but nerve and discretion. Gen. Hedges assisted in the survey of this county. as will be observed from the description of the survey, and while here entered three quarters of land now covered partly by the city of Mansfield. He was the prime mover in locating the city. After the location of the village destined to be the county seat, he returned to Belmont County, where he was elected Sheriff. When the war of 1812 broke out. he received the appointment of Cap- tain of cavalry in the regular army. and served with distinction during the war, under the immediate command of Gen. Harrison. Soon after the close of the war, he resigned his com- mission and returned to Mansfield to look after his interests here, and those of the town iden- tical with his own, and remained here in the active pursuits of life until his death. October 4, 1854. For many years he was Register of the Virginia Military Lands. then a very im- portant office. He also served a term in the Ohio Legislature. He was always a prominent man in the State military operations, and became a Major General of militia.

" Gen. Hedges was, in all respects," says one who knew him well, " a man of mark. In per- son, he was over six feet high, and well propor- tioned ; a man of iron frame and nerve. He was also a man of extreme modesty. and strong attachment to his friends. He was an open-handed, generous-hearted man, and was universally popular among the people. He was continued in office under all administrations, and was one of the foremost men among the pioneers of Ohio."

The survey began at the southeast corner of the county-Range 16 and Township 19. The plat of the survey is now in the Surveyor's office, and from it the annexed facts are gleaned :

The first township (19) in this range was sur- veyed by James Hedges, in March, 1807. In his field-notes he gives the quality and quan- tity of timber he found, the character of the soil, the surface of the country, the water-courses, the springs and whatever else interested him as he passed over the land. This township, afterward named Hanover, is noted as having on the east boundary much burnt woods. On the fifth mile, going south. the surveyors came to the old Indian boundary line, "perhaps," says Dr. Hill, "the north line of the Gelloway Reservation, in Knox County. The line runs southwest across the township, passing out nearly in the middle of Section 31." Between Sections 1 and 2, Armstrong's Creek, running southwest, was crossed. It was so named from Capt. Thomas Armstrong, an old Indian chief, who resided at Greentown, eight miles above. The Indian trail running north, and to the Gelloway settlement on the Waldhoning, is mentioned. The land of Hanover is noted as rough and poor, covered with stunted timber, much burnt on the northeast part of the town- ship. Green Township was also surveyed by Gen. Hedges, in April, 1807. "In running the south and east boundary, Gen. Hedges seems to have been much embarrassed," says Dr. Hill, "over the variations in his compass. In order to test the accuracy of the survey, the lines were resurveyed. He could not determine the cause of the variation." Magnetic ores may have existed in the earth on the line and influenced the needle. On the south line of this township, the timber was much burnt ; un- derbrush was plenty. On the west boundary, Mohican John's Creek was crossed, and on the fourth mile to Muddy Fork of Mohican John's Creek, they crossed the stream and came to the Indian village of Greentown, which

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

at that date contained fifty or sixty families. The village occupied rolling land, in Section 18. A number of well-used trails led in va- rious directions from the town. The survey- ors drove a section post in a corn field, which they mention as being well cultivated. The village and graveyard were estimated to con- tain five or six acres. The Indians offered no resistance to the survey. In fact, they hardly comprehended its significance. The land in this township, down the valley, is regarded as prime, other portions, poor. The varieties of white oak, burr oak, ash and other hard timber are noticed.

The next township in this range, No. 20 -Vermillion-was surveyed by Jonathan Cox, while Gen. Hedges was surveying Green. The southern boundary was run by Gen. Hedges, in October, 1806, soon after he received his com- mission and orders from the Surveyor General of the United States. Gen. Hedges experienced considerable difficulty in running this line, owing to the variations of his compass. He resurveyed it three times, and observed, "I am at a loss to know to what canse to attribute the increased length of the south boundary of this township." On the third survey, he says: "I find the chaining correct; I am now much per- plexed to know the cause of my westing or turning south. The variation must operate very partial, or my compass must have been un- luckily altered." "Te then resurveyed the west boundary, and, coming to the southwest corner, observes : "Here I experience troubles of a new kind. Having already spent two days and a half waiting on an Indian chief, who appeared hostile to our business, I also labored under the difficulty of a hand being absent thirteen days on a tour for provisions; in the mean time having lived eight days on parched corn. 1 now find my camp robbed of some necessary articles, and two hands that I left to keep the same, revolted and run away. These difficult- ies increased ; my range and town lines not be-

ing finished-expecting other surveyors after me to subdivide-all conspire to make me un- happy. No alternative remains but to proceed to Owl Creek, and get hands and provisions, this being the 20th day of October, 1806." This suspended operations on this township un- til the following April, when Jonathan Cox subdivided it into sections. The land is de- scribed as gently mountainous ; the timber of oak, hickory, ash, and other forest trees. On the eastern boundary several Indian trails were found, the majority leading to Greentown.

The range boundaries of Montgomery Town- ship, No. 22, were surveyed by Maxfield Ludlow, in October, 1806. In running the southern boundary of this township, seventeen chains west of the southeast corner, he crossed the famous trail leading from Sandusky to the fork of the Ohio. It is described in the notes of the survey as a well-worn trail or path. It was the well-known trail followed by Maj. Rogers and his rangers in 1761, on his return from establishing the station at Detroit. It was afterward followed by Gen. Beall in his expedition to Sandusky. The eastern boundary of this township is described as "low, wet and marshy, with bottoms subject to overflow." The timber was of the kind found in all parts of the county, the principal varieties already mentioned. The eastern part of the township is noted as good land; the middle and western parts as rolling and good. Jonathan Cox sur- veyed the township into sections in November, after Mr. Ludlow had completed the boundary survey.

The next township, No. 23-Orange-was surveyed by Maxfield Ludlow in October, 1806. He surveyed both the boundaries and the sectional lines. On the south boundary, about three miles west of the starting corner, they came to an Indian trail, bearing north- west and southeast. Its course was one leading into Mohican John's Town, and was surveyed in 1816, by Rev. James Huney, to Rowsburg

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

and on to Wooster, and opened as a road. It was the common highway for the pioneers of Orange and Clear Creek Townships, and adja- cent country, who for many years traded in Wooster.

"The evidences of Indian occupation in Orange Township," says Dr. Hill, "at the time of its occupation by the whites, were very numerous. The aborigines, it seems, were ac- enstomed to assemble annually in the spring, in large numbers, to make sugar and hunt. They were here as late as 1816, and were accustomed to get Mr. Peter Biddinger, a gunsmith, to repair their broken gun-locks."

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Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848- Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co. Number of Pages: 968

Author: Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Mansfield, O. : A. A. Graham & co.
Number of Pages: 968