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 43

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 43

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

around to the door, which, on examination, he found slightly ajar, and, pressing upon it, found some obstruction behind it. He at once sus- pected the family had been murdered ; and, on placing his hand upon the floor, found it wet with blood. There was no longer any doubt. Hastening back to Phillip and Lambright, who were concealed a short distance from the cabin, he stated his discoveries and convictions.

Phillip became frantic with grief and excite- ment, and desired to rush into the cabin to learn the whole truth. In this he was prevented by the others, who feared that the Indians were yet concealed in the cabin, awaiting his return. Persuading Phillip to accompany them, they hastened back to the cabin of Mr. Copus, and, taking the latter's family, they all proceeded as rapidly as possible to Mr. Lambright's. This family was added to their numbers, and they pushed on to the cabin of Frederick Zimmer, Jr., Phillip's brother, and he and his family joined the fugitives. They hastened along an Indian trail, near where the village of Lucas now stands, and stopped at the cabin of David Hill, where they remained until the next morning, when, accompanied by the family of Hill, all proceeded to the block-house at Beam's mill. This fort was then occupied by a company of soldiers under Capt. Martin. A party of these soldiers, accompanied by Mr. Copus, Phillip and Frederick Zimmer, Hill and Lambright, all well armed. proceeded by the most direct route through the forest, to the cabins of Martin Ruff- ner and Richard Hughes. They found the cabin of Ruffner had not been disturbed, the boy Franghiser having slept there alone the night before ; and the cabin of Hughes was also undisturbed. Ruffner had, a short time prior to this, upon the surrender of Hull, sent his wife and child to Licking County, to a Mr. Lair, or Laird, an unele, who lived about one and a half miles from Utica. At Ruffner's cabin, they were joined by Franghiser, Michael Ruffner and Mr. Hughes, and all hastened down

* One account makes the number two, another three, another four, and still another, five.

F.F.

PHOTO . ENS CO.W.

Ino Y. Gessner

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

the trail to the Zimmer cabin. Entering it, they found the old gentleman, the old lady and Catharine, all dead upon the floor, and dread- fully mangled. The gallant Ruffner was lying dead in the yard. There was every evidence that he had made a desperate struggle for his life and that of the Zimmers. His gun was bent nearly double, and several of his fingers had been cut off by blows from a tomahawk. The struggle had finally ended by his being shot twice through the body. The details of this butchery could never be certainly known, as the prominent actors were all killed ; all had also been scalped. It appeared that the table had been set with refreshments for the savages, and most of the food remained. Whether any of the Indians were killed, is not known ; they would have taken their dead away with them, and destroyed all evidences, if such a catas- trophe had happened to them. It is supposed that eight or ten Indians were engaged in this tragedy.

There is a tradition among the early settlers, that an Indian by the name of Kanotchy was taken prisoner some years afterward, and re- lated the story of this massacre. It appears from this statement that the Indians entered the cabin and seated themselves very sullenly, while the terrified Kate was setting refresh- ments for them, as was usual. The heroic Dutchman was the only guard of consequence, as Mr. Zimmer was too old to make much re- sistance. The Indians made the attack very suddenly. Ruffner, not having time to fire, clubbed his rifle, broke the stock in pieces and bent the barrel double in the terrible fight. The odds were too much for him, and he soon went down before superior numbers. As soon as he was out of the way, they killed and scalped the old people. At the commencement of the affray, Kate fainted and fell to the floor, and, until aroused from this state of syncope, was unaware of the murder of her parents. When she came to her senses, she looked about

upon a scene of blood and horror, and burst into a paroxysm of weeping. She begged the savages to spare her life, but all to no purpose. They first ascertained from her where her father's money was concealed, and then buried the tomahawk in her brain. While she was in a senseless condition, a consultation had been held over her, to decide whether they should kill her or take her prisoner. It was decided that her life should be taken, but still they hesi- tated, as no one wished to do the deed. At length it was decided that the one who should perform the deed, should be considered as pos- sessing the greatest heart, whereupon this same Phillip Kanotchy stepped forward, exclaiming. ·· Me kill white squaw, me got big heart." When Kate saw the tomahawk descending, she raised a beautiful white arm to ward off the blow, which, falling upon the arm, nearly severed it in twain ; a second blow did the work-one quiver, and the lovely life went out.

She was engaged to be married to Mr. Henry Smith, who was at that time in the East. attend- ing to some business ; they were to be married upon his return.

Martin Ruffner and the Zimmers were buried on a little knoll near the cabin, in one grave, where the remains still lie. The farm is now owned by a Mr. Culler. After performing the last sad ceremonies over the remains of the murdered pioneers, they returned to the block- house at Beam's, and Michael Ruffner, his mother, and Hughes and family returned to Fairfield County, where they remained.

The settlers were thoroughly aroused by the tragedy, and all fled to the block-house for safety.

When Mr. James Copus and family had remained about five days at the block-house. they became tired of staying, and, hearing nothing of the Indians, determined to return. Having always enjoyed their respect and confi- dence, and having always been their firmest friend, he felt that they could harbor no ill will

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toward him or his family. Capt. Martin pro -. tested against his return, saying that in the present excited state of affairs he would be . running great risk. As Mr. Copus insisted on going, nine soldiers were detailed to accompany him. Mr. Copus had seven chiklren, mostly small. They all arrived safely at the cabin. and found everything as they had left it. In the evening. Mr. Copus invited the soldiers to sleep in the cabin. but, the weather being yet warm, they preferred to take quarters in the barn, which stood four or five rods north of the cabin. on the trail,* that they might have a bet- ter opportunity to indulge in frolic and fun, and be less crowded and under less restraint. Before retiring, Mr. Copus cautioned them against surprise by any Indians that might be lurking about. During the afternoon, Sarah, a little daughter of Mr. Copus. aged twelve, still living (November, 1879), went into the corn-field a few rods sonth of the cabin, and. while there, saw an Indian in the edge of the woods skulk behind a brush-heap, but. unfortunately, did not relate the circumstance to her father. This child, now Mrs. Sarah Vail, aged seventy-nine, says the reason why she did not tell her father of her discovery is that he was a very strict man in regard to truth, and, fearing she might have been deceived, did not wish to incur his displeasure by creating a false alarm.

That night the dogs kept up a constant bark- ing, and Mr. Copus had many unpleasant dreams -sleeping but little. He was evidently im- pressed that danger was lurking near. Before daylight. he invited the soldiers into the cabin, telling them he feared some great disaster was about to overtake himself and family. He again laid down to rest, and, when daylight began to appear. the soldiers insisted on going to the spring, about three rods away, to wash. This spring is one of the finest of the many fine springs in Mifflin. It gushes from the base of a

hill several hundred feet high, in a large, glittering current of pure soft water. Mr. Copus again cau- tioned the soldiers of impending danger, telling them that Indians were certainly in the neighbor- hood or his dogs would not have made such a noise, and urged them to take their guns with them to the spring. They promised to do so, but. on passing out, leaned them against the cabin and went on to the spring. Fatal mistake! The Indians, who had been lurking about the cabin all night, were watching for just such an oppor- tunity as this. Swiftly, silently, stealthily, as a cat creeps upon its prey, they closed in upon the doomed cabin, and, before the soldiers were aware of their presence, were between them and their guns ; then came the horrid war-whoop as a score or more of painted warriors rushed upon them with tomahawk and scalping-knife. It seems that only seven of the soldiers went to the spring to wash, the other two-George Luntz and another whose name is not given- were not probably just ready to wash, and were in the cabin when the attack was made. Of the seven at the spring, three were instantly killed. Three more, whose names were George Shipley. John Tredrick and a Mr. Warnock, finding retreat to the cabin impossible, fled to the woods. These were pursued by the Indians, and two of them tomahawked ; the third. Mr. Warnock, being fleet on foot might have escaped. but could not ontrun a bullet. They fired at him many times while running, one of the balls finally passing through his bowels. The Indians were not aware they had shot him, and gave up the chase. He only went a short distance, however, when, growing weak from loss of blood. he sat down by a tree, stuffed his handkerchief in the wound and died.

The only soldier who regained the cabin was Mr. George Dye, who broke through the mass of savages, and sprang through the cabin door just as it was opened by Mr. Copus. He, how- ever, received a ball through his thigh as he entered. As soon as the attack commenced.

* A barn occupies the same spot still, and the trail is now a well-traveled road.

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

- 7

Mr. Copus sprang from his bed. seized his gun and rushed to the door. Just as he opened it, George Dye sprang through, and a volley of rifle balls came with him. One of these balls gave Mr. Copus a mortal wound, passing through his breast. Mr. Copus had raised his rifle, and, just as he was wounded, fired at an Indian but a few feet away. who fell. The ball that caused Mr. Copus' death passed through the strap that supported his powder-horn. This horn is yet in possession of the family ; it is a large, hand- some one. and a rare relic. Mr. Copus fell and was conveyed to his bed, where he breathed his last in about an hour, while encouraging the soldiers to fight the enemy, and, if possible, save his family. On the east of the cabin extended a range of hills several hundred feet high, covered with timber and huge rocks, which furnished an excellent cover for the enemy. and gave them a position from which they could fire down upon the cabin ; they were not long in seeking this cover, and, from their seenre hiding- places, poured down upon the cabin a perfect storm of leaden hail. The door and roof were soon riddled with bullets. The soldiers tore up the puncheons of the floor, and placed them against the door to prevent the balls from penetrating to the interior of the cabin. Naney Copus, a little girl, was wounded in the knee by a ball that passed through the door. One of the soldiers. George Launtz, had his arm broken by a ball while up-stairs remov- ing the chinking, in order to get a " crack " at an Indian. He soon caught sight of an Indian peering from behind a medium-sized oak that stood on the side of the hill about a hundred yards away. and, taking deliberate aim, shot the savage, who bounded into the air and rolled to the foot of the hill into the trail.

The firing became incessant on both sides ; wherever the soldiers could make or find a place to fire through they returned the Indian fire with precision and effect. One savage fell mor- tally wounded directly in front of the cabin,

early in the engagement, whether from the ball from the rifle of Mr. Copus is not known. During the battle he was endeavoring to crawl toward the trail, and. although moaning and evidently dying, he attempted several times to elevate his rifle in order to discharge it upon the cabin, but his strength failed him. A soldier. seeing him attempting to shoot, sent a friendly bullet to ease him of his earthly cares and anxieties. He was shot through the head.

The battle lasted from daybreak until about 9 or 10 o'clock, when the savages. finding they could accomplish nothing more, raised the retreating yell, gathered up their dead and wounded (one account says nine in number) and left ; first firing upon a flock of sheep. which. during that eventful morning. had huddled together upon the brow of the hill. looking clown in strange bewilderment upon this scene of bloodshed. The poor affrighted animals tumbled down the hill, one after another, until they lay in a heap at the bottom.

As soon as the Indians disappeared. one of the soldiers crawled out through the roof of the cabin, and made all possible haste to the block- house at Beam's for assistance. The day before. Capt. Martin had agreed to call at the Copus cabin the same evening with a number of sol- diers and remain all night. But he and his soldiers, having been scouting all day and finding no signs of Indians, concluded that all apprehensions of danger were frivolous. there- fore neglected to appear as agreed. He encamped above, on the Black Fork, and, on the morning of the disaster, moved leisurely down the trail from the direction of Ruffner's, reaching the scene of the fight too late to aid in the fear- ful struggle. On approaching the cabin, he and his soldiers were awe-stricken on beholding the work of death around them. They attended at once to the wounded, and the grief-stricken family of Mr. Copus, who were weeping over the murdered husband and father. Search was made for the Indians. but. from the trail through

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the weeds that grew luxuriantly around the base of the hill, it was found that they had retreated around the southern brow of the bluff, gone up a ravine about a quarter of a mile away, and fled in the direction of Quaker Springs, in Vermillion Township, and hence pursuit was abandoned.

Mr. Copus and the murdered soldiers were buried by the command in one grave, at the foot of an apple-tree, a few yards south of the cabin, where their bones yet repose. Capt. Martin then took the family and wounded, and began his march to the block-house. Proceed- ing up the valley about half a mile, they halted for the night, placing pickets about the camp to prevent surprise. In all, there were about one hundred persons in this camp that night. The wounded were carried on poles, over which linen sheets had been sewed, making a sort of stretcher. The next morning the little army passed up the trail, near the deserted cabin of Martin Ruffner ; crossing the Black Fork about where the State road is now located ; that being the route by which Martin had advanced. The whole party reached the block-house in safety that evening. About six weeks after this, Henry Copus and five or six soldiers returned to the cabin, and, on their way, found Mr. War- nock leaning against a tree, as before stated, dead. They buried him near by. The two dead Indians, the one in the front yard and the one at the foot of the hill below the oak, were still there, and were, doubtless, afterward devoured by wolves.

Thus ends the last tragedy of the Greentown Indians. Their reasons for killing the Zimmer family have been noticed. Their reasons for killing Mr. Copus probably were that he had been instrumental in getting them removed ; that is, fearing bloodshed, he had used his influ- ence to get them away peaceably, on promise that their property should be protected. Find- ing their village destroyed, they entertained bitter and revengeful feelings toward Mr. Copus.

As to the number of Indians engaged, nothing whatever is known. It was found on examina- tion of the neighborhood of the Copus cabin. that forty-five fires had been kindled, just south of the corn-field, near where Sarah had seen the Indian. These fires had been kindled in small holes, scooped out of the ground to prevent their being seen. Mrs. Vail thought the Indians had feasted on roasted corn the even- ing before the attack. Some writers upon this subject have inferred from the number of fires that there were forty-five Indians engaged in the attack. This reasoning is erroneous, as Indians have frequently been known to build fires for the purpose of deceiving their enemies ; and, on the other hand, half a dozen Indians might have used one fire.

Mrs. Copus and her family were removed to Guernsey County, Ohio, by Joseph Archer and George Carroll. They were hauled through the forest to Clinton, Newark, Zanesville and Cam- bridge, by a yoke of cattle, in an ordinary cart. The journey consumed many days, during which most of the family were compelled, on little food, to walk over a rough path, wade small streams, eneamp by the wayside, and al- ways in fear of being pursued and captured by the savages. They returned in 1815, and found their cabin as they had left it. A few of the Greentown Indians had also returned and re- erected their cabins, but peace had come by that time, and changed. somewhat, the savage nature of their Indian neighbors, with whom they ever after lived in peace and friendship.

There are yet a few mementos of that battle on the Black Fork remaining. A single log of the old cabin remains, and is doing duty in a smokehouse on the premises. The oak, behind which the Indian was shot, still stands on the hillside, its top partly dead. A neat frame house stands a few feet west of where the cabin stood, and is oc- cupied by Mr. John W. Vail. The spot is a lovely one. To the east, the steep, precipitous

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

hill rises abruptly, and is yet covered with tim- ber and great rocks. It is several hundred feet high, and from its base still gush the waters of the beautiful spring, just as they did on that fatal morning when its waters were dyed with human blood. Half a mile south, on the Black Fork, lives Mrs. Sarah Vail, in a cabin alone, which she has occupied fifty-five years. She and her sister, Amy Whetmore, now living in Seneca County, are the only surviving members of the Copus family, and were witnesses of the battle. Mrs. Vail was eighty years old Jan- nary 1, 1880. Her mind is still clear and strong, and she has a vivid recollection of that fearful tragedy.

After the war, the Indians came straggling back, to occupy their old hunting-grounds,

although but few of them had any fixed resi- dence.

One day, two of them-young men-by the name of Seneca John and Quilipetoxe, came to Mansfield, became intoxicated and quarreled with some white men at William's tavern, be- fore mentioned, which stood on the present site of the North American.

They left about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and, shortly after, were followed by the white men, who vowed vengeance. They overtook them a mile east of town, shot them down, and buried them at the foot of a large maple at the edge of a swamp, thrusting their bodies down deep into the mud. The skeletons are probably there yet. The place is known as " Spook Hol- low."

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HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXIX.

WAR OF 1812.

WAR PREPARATIONS IN THE STATE-CONDITION OF THE FRONTIER-JIULL'S SURRENDER-DISPOSITION OF TROOPS -ERECTION OF BLOCK-HOUSES-SKETCH OF GEN. BEALL'S LIFE-ORGANIZATION OF HIS ARMY-SCARCITY OF SUPPLIES-BEALL'S MARCH-CAMP COUNCIL-MEETING AMONG THE TROOPS-GEN. HARRISON ARRIVES -HIS SPEECH -GEN. BEALL'S DIFFICULTY WITH GEN. WADSWORTH-ARRESTED, COURT-MARTIALED AND ACQUITTED - HIS BRIGADE DISBANDED -THE EXPEDITION OF GEN. CROOKS AND COL. ANDERSON -THE STATEMENT OF JOHN F. RICE REGARDING THE BATTLE ON LAKE ERIE AND DEATH OF TECUMSEH.

"THE difficulties which led to the war of block-houses were in existence on this extreme frontier line, where they were most needed. It was not until the surrender of Hull. August 16, 1812, that the pioneers began the erection of 1812 need not be repeated here. Early in the spring of that year. it was evident to Pres- dent Madison and the whole country that a war must ensue, and. more than two months before : block-houses. Hitherto, the people had confi- the declaration of war, the great State of Ohio

dence in this army, feeling it would stand was preparing for it. The command of Gen. between them and their savage enemies, and

Hull rendezvoused at Dayton in April, and, while on their march northward, war was declared on the 18th of June. The army was at the time passing through the Auglaize region.

Mansfield, a little hamlet in the wilderness, was at that time on the extreme frontier border. There were few, if any, settlers north or west of it. The line of the new settlements then extended through Canton, Stark County, and Wooster, Wayne County, to Greentown and Mansfield, the latter being the extreme out- post-located in the midst of savage tribes that had always been the friends and allies of .the British, and which, it was reason- able to believe, would again join the Brit- ish standard. Hence the uneasy feeling, the thrill of fear that ran through this region, when war was declared. Hitherto, for many years, the Indians had been peaceable and friendly, therefore the settlers had not thought it necessary to construct block-houses for clefense, and, at the time war was declared, no

the surrender came like a clap of thunder from a clear sky. Meanwhile. the militia of the State had been gathering in every direction ; the Governor. Return J. Meigs, and other offi- cers, were working hard to get the army into fighting trim and get forward supplies. Upon the news of Hull's surrender, all the militia in the State were moved forward to the frontier line. Col. Samuel Kratzer, stationed with his regiment at Mount Vernon, was ordered to move forward to Mansfield. A company of men from Coshocton, under Capt. Williams, had preceded him and erected a block-house on the public square : another block-house was erected at the same time on the square by Capt. Shaffer, of Fairfield County. These block- houses sprang up as if by magic all along the frontier line. One was erected on the Rocky Fork, three miles below Mansfield, at Beam's Mill ; another by Samuel Lewis on Clear Fork ; another by James Loudon Priest on Lake Fork. At the same time, or a little before, block- houses had been erected at Fredericktown and

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at Clinton, Knox County ; also at Bellville, and one (according to the recollection of Dr. Bush- nell) east of Lucas, on the Rocky Fork, near the eastern line of Monroe Township ; Thomas Coul- ter's cabin, near Perrysville, was converted into a block-house ; there was a block-house at Wooster, then a small village, and Capt. Mur- ray, of Gen. Beall's army, was sent to Jerome- ville, where he erected a block-house for the protection of the settlers along the Lake and Jerome Forks. Many families, not near enough to get into these block-houses, or preferring to remain nearer their homes, collected together and fortified the strongest of their cabins. There was a good deal of fear and confusion along the frontier, the settlers fearing that the Indian hordes of Tecumseh would soon be upon them. However, in a few days after the cowardly surrender of Hull, the frontier line was fairly protected. On the west end, at Upper Sandusky, was Gen. Harrison, awaiting supplies and re-enforcements ; at Mansfield was Col. Kratzer with several companies of militia and two good block-houses ; at Wooster, Gen. Beall was collecting an army, and between Wooster and Mansfield the different block-houses were rapidly garrisoned by the troops of Beall or Kratzer. The line was very quickly com- plete. though weak in places. Roads had been cut between these points so that any part of this line could be speedily re-enforced. This was the condition of things in September. 1812.

Early in September, Gen. Reasin Beall began raising a brigade for the protection of the frontier and the assistance of Gen. Harrison. As it is necessary to give pretty fully the par- ticulars of this expedition. a sketch of Gen. Beall's life may be appropriately inserted here.

Reasin Beall was born in Maryland. Decem- ber 3, 1769; removed with his parents, while yet young, to Washington County, Penn., where they made a permanent settlement. In 1790, Beall served in Gen. Harmar's campaign against

the Indians, as an officer in the Quartermaster's department, and was in the action under Col. Hardin, when that officer was defeated near Fort Wayne, by the Indians under Little Turtle. Beall then returned to his friends in Pennsylvania, and was not in the disastrous campaign of Gen. St. Clair ; but, when Wayne took command of the army, and led it to vic- tory over the Miami Indians, he accompanied him in the capacity of Ensign. In this cam- paign he became intimately acquainted with Captain. afterward General, Harrison, who was on Gen. Wayne's staff. In 1793. he re- signed his position in the army and returned to his friends in Pennsylvania, where he was married to Miss Rebecca Johnson. In 1801, he removed with his family, and settled, for a short time, in Steubenville ; removing, in the fall of 1803 to New Lisbon. in Columbiana County. He was here when the war of 1812 began. holding the position of Clerk of the Court. He had served long enough in the army to give his mind a military turn, and to render his services desirable by the Govern- ment. Soon after his removal to New Lisbon, he was made Colonel of militia. and. a few years afterward, was promoted to Brigadier General. which office he held at the breaking- out of the war. When the news of the sur- render of Hull reached him. Gen. Beall put him- self at the head of his command, and marched to the relief of the settlements in Richland and Wayne Counties. His command was made up of a regiment from Jefferson and Harrison Counties, a regiment from Columbiana. and a small draft from Stark, all of which rendez- voused at Canton, in Stark County. where Gen. Beall. being the senior officer, took com- mand. While collecting and drilling his troops at Canton, Gen. Beall sent forward a few squad- rons in detachments, to reconnoiter the country west, afford protection to the trembling settlers, and garrison the newly constructed block- houses, beginning his march with the main army

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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