History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 33

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1060

USA > Ohio > Stark County > History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio > Part 33

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"On the occasion of this encounter, the party left the place of rendezvous for a scout, in April. 1793. It consisted of six men, five of whom were James Downing, Sr .. John Cup- Dy. Isaac Miller. George Faulk and Thomas Dillon. They crossed the Ohio River at the mouth of Yellow Creek, followed up the north branch of that stream to near its source, then directed their course west to the head-waters of Sandy. After reconnoitering this section of the country for miles around without dis- covering any signs of Indians, they conchided there were none about. Up to this time, they had not discharged a gun for fear of being detected. The rations they had brought with them were nearly exhausted. and they con- eluded to kill some game for subsistence. Downing shot a deer, and another of the party a turkey. This was the morning of the fourth day out. between Little Sandy and Indian Run. As they had not yet taken breakfast, they concluded to prepare the meal. Miller was kindling a fire; Faulk was preparing the turkey for roasting: Downing was in the act of bending down a sapling. upon which he intended to hang his deer, that he might the more easily skin it: and Cuppy was sitting at the root of a tree, with his gun on his lap, examining the lock. A party of Indians, num- bering eighteen or twenty, as was afterward ascertained. of the Delaware and Wyandot tribes, heard the firing, and thereby detected the locality of the scouts. They divided their force into two parties, with the view of ap- proaching them from different points, and from the direction the scouts would be most likely to take in attempting to escape. One party of the Indians circled around and advanced from the northeast, the other from the south-

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east. While Cuppy was engaged with his gun, he happened to look up. when he saw at a distance an Indian peering through the under- brush. Instantly he sprang to his feet and gave the alarm. As soon as the Indian saw he was discovered. he turned and ran, and as he did so, Cuppy fired at him. but without effect. Miller and Faulk snatched up their guns and gave chase. The ground was sparsely timbered, and, as the two men continued the pursuit, Miller being in advance, Faulk called to him to halt. as he knew that just as soon as the Indian reached a more heavily timbered place, he would stop behind a tree and shoot Miller as he approached. Thereupon Miller turned about. and he and Faulk started back for the place they had left. Meanwhile, the other party of Indians, coming from the other direction. made their appearance in great num- bers. Downing said to Cuppy and Dillon: . Let us stand together and defend ourselves to the last." Dillon hastily replied: . Each one for himself,' and, suiting his action to the sentiment, broke and ran. Downing and Cuppy kept together, and moved along the higher ground toward the forks of Sandy. As the Indians pressed upon them, they would turn, raise their guns as though they intended to shoot, whereupon the Indians would jump about with the view of diverting their aim. By degrees they became bolder, and advanced closer. when Downing shot the nearest, which had the effect to keep the others at a greater distance. Soon after. Downing and Cuppy caught up with Dillon, who seemed much ex- hansted, and was staggering as though about to fall. Dillon begged for God's sake that they would help him, and, as Downing turned and saw his face. he was found to be choking on account of his neck-tie. Dillon, in his haste in trying to loosen it to improve his wind, pulled the wrong end and made it tighter instead. Downing cut the neckerchief with his knife, thereby relieving the panting Dillon. who immediately took a fresh start and was soon out of sight. Downing and Cuppy were both past middle age, and some- what fleshy. They were nearly exhausted, and knew they could not hold out much longer. Downing at last said to Cuppy: . I can't go any farther: I'll stand and fight under this

thorn-bush if I die'-and stand he did. Cappy at the same time got behind a tree, and both anxiously awaited the appearance of the savages, determined to make the best resist ance they could. They had not long to wait, for soon the Indians were seen approaching. Downing reserved his fire until the foremost Indian came within close range, then, taking deliberate aim, fired and brought him down, The others returned a volley, which out the bushes around the two men, but failed to strike either. Miller and Faulk. hearing the firing, hastened in the direction whence it came, and, ere they were aware, were among the Indians. Miller observed a large one with a silver half-moon on his breast in the act of loading his gun, and, just as the scout was drawing a bead on him, he gave a yell and sprang behind a tree. Miller soon discovered that the Indians had so surrounded him that it was impossible to protect himself behind a tree, whereupon he determined upon flight as the only means of preserving his scalp. Quick as thought he sprang from the upper bank. and ran across the bottom toward the north branch of the stream. The Indians left Downing and Cuppy, and all united in the pursuit after Miller. At one time, they were so near him that he recognized a tall warrior known among the whites as Tom Jilleway. After Miller crossed Little Sandy and came out in an open plain, he thought. as he after- ward expressed it. . Now, legs, for it,' and ran with all his might for about a mile and a half northwest. until he reached the highland, or ridge, when he stopped to look back and listen. He could neither see nor hear anything of the Indians. After resting awhile. he conclu- ded to return to the place where they were first surprised, in the hope of meeting the bal- ance of the company. Not finding them there, and the day being far advanced, he decided to make for the rendezvous of the company, on the east bank of the Ohio River. He con- tinned to track as long as he could see, and passed the night on a ridge bordering Yellow Creek. He made a bed of chestnut leaves under a fallen tree that lay up from the ground. and slept soundly, amidst the howling of wolves and the screaming of wildcats. Next day. he crossed the Ohio at the mouth of Yel-

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

low Creek and reached the place of rendezvous, where he found Downing, Cuppy and Dillon safe and unhurt, save that Downing's face was much swollen, and his eyes bloodshot from over-exertion. In the evening of the next day. Faulk made his appearance, and reported that, when the Indians started after Miller, he hid himself in the brush. When they were out of sight, he crossed over a branch of Sandy (since called Indian Run, from this fight) and seereted himself on a hill, where he could over- look the plains south without being discovered. He could see the Indians in camp, and, from their performances, was satisfied, from a knowl- edge of their ceremonies, that two of their number had been killed. In talking over the matter, the company were of the unanimous opinion that they had the best of the fight, and had made a very lucky escape."

The above sketch was written a number of years ago, and was then published in the county papers. It has passed the ordeal of public eritieism without serious injury, and is given in full as written. In conversing with various parties throughout the county, the writer has found some objections to many of the cireum- stances connected with the movements of the hostile parties, as narrated by the writer. It is stated by descendants of Mr. Downing that the site of the battle was farther south than as stated in the sketch. Others have suggested that some of the circumstances deseribed are overdrawn, and that too much speculation was employed in the narration of minor details. In all histories, the writers, after becoming thoroughly familiar with the prominent events, and as many details as possible, are compelled to conjecture, from evidences known to be cor- reet, many facts which they record. This is done by all historians, and curious mistakes often vecur under the pen of the most careful writer. The high social standing of Dr. Slusser, his thorough knowledge of pioneer events, his reputation as a writer, and his emi- nent, recognized integrity, place his writings far above insignificant innuendoes and criti- cisms.

The following sketch was written a number of years ago, by Col. E. Ball, of Canton, and published, as given, in one of the county pa- pers:

"A gentleman, whose name is not remem- bered, had been to Canton on business, and stopped on his way home (to Lake Township) at what was known as Everhart's Mill (in Plain Township), and there reported, in the presence of a number of farmers and their sons, that a band of Indians was passing through the settlements south of Canton, lay- ing waste the country and spreading death and destruction as they went. He reported that they had just laid Rowland's Mill in ashes, and were about to lay siege to the village of Canton, and that it was their purpose to visit Cleveland and all intermediate settlements, and drive the palefaces out of the country. The settlers of Lake, Green and Plain Town- ships became terribly frightened. Neighbor was sent to sound the alarm to neighbor, and thus the sad intelligence spread with aston- ishing rapidity, until it reached the ears of hundreds. Men flew to their cabins, where each family held a council of war. Every latch-string was pulled in, the store of am- munition was examined, and, if bullets were lacking, new ones were cast. Axes, pitchforks. scythes and sickles were immediately hunted up and brought into the house, not only to prevent their being used in the hands of the expected savages, but for the purpose of being used as defensive weapons in the hands of the family. Many families carried their most valuable articles to the woods, and covered them with leaves and old rubbish, while others buried them in the ground. Many of those residing within a few miles of Greentown met at Squire Diekerhoof's, where they placed the wives and children in the garret of the cabin, while the men formed themselves into a company. Everybody armed, and all awaited the arrival of the savages. One man became so mueh alarmed that he loaded his family in a two-horse wagon, and, leaving his house and such goods as he could not carry, left the country. He did not stop until he found him- self east of the Allegheny Mountains, where he had come from a short time before, and where he remained for the space of two years, when he returned, never to hear an end to the jeerings of his neighbors for this singular manifestation of backwoods bravery. My own father left his cabin, which was situated in

HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

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the woods abont a mile and a half west of toes, pumpkins, melons, corn-meal, flour and other provisions. Sometimes, when they found the whites unwilling to give, they resorted to artitice. They would watch the cabin until the husband and father were absent, when they would quietly present themselves, enter with- out invitation, seat themselves, and ask for whisky, or whatever was wanted. If the set tler's wife hesitated or demurred, a few hostile looks and gestures were sufficient to kindle into life her most lavish generosity. If whisky was given, the wife knew that she must immediately get rid of her tawny guests, or, when the liquor had gained control, she might suffer many indignities, and perhaps serions injury or death. "The northwest quarter of Section 20, in Green Township, formerly be- longing to Stark County, but now to Summit, on land purchased by Cornelius Johnson of the United States in ISI3, appeared to have been a favorite hunting-ground, or battle- ground, of the Indians, as arrow-heads. hatchets, skinning knives and other imple- ments have been found there in great abun dance. From the numerous flint chips found on that quarter of the section, it seems to have been a place for manufacturing their stone hatchets and arrow-heads. Where they ob- tained such large quantities of flint is unknown. The spot seems to have been selected on ac- count of its being light-timbered, clear from underbrush, and elevated a little above the surrounding lands. Scattered over this ole. vated plateau were found piles of stones, vary- ing in size from two toright inches in diame- ter, and arranged in heaps of from four by six feet to a little larger or smaller. Tradition assigns to them the honor of holding the ashes of some warrior or chief, but, as no bones or human remains have ever been found in them. they are thought by some people to have been Greentown, and, with his wife and children, walked to the residence of my grandfather. a distance of several miles. Such was the con- sternation in the neighborhood that tinally a few young men volunteered to act as a seout- ing party. Accordingly, they mounted the best horses they could find, and, with their trusty rifles, moved down toward Canton. That vil lage, consisting of about half a dozen houses, was found to be unharmed. Here the whole affair was found to be a complete fabrication. The boys returned and spread the glad tidings. and thus ended the last . Indian war' in Stark County." Whether this Indian alarm of- curred during the war of 1812 is not stated. During and prior to this war, the Indians were to be found in large numbers at the old Dela- ware capital, and in many temporary encamp- ments throughout the county. They were peaceable, though it was well known that they might arise in fury at any moment. It was a common thing to hear them boast of their ex- ploits on the border -of how many white men they had killed, or how many had suffered death by torture at their hands. Some of them proudly displayed dry tongues or scalps. stating that such had been taken from white captives. It is related that. on one occasion, when one of the Indians had displayed a string of dried human tongues, and had boasted of having killed the white men, he was followed by Mr. Harter, of Plain Township, and after that the Indian was never seen again. Mr. Harter is said to have stated significantly. afterward, "He will never show those scalps again." Mr. Bechtel had a similar experience with another, who is also said to have started, about that time, on a prolonged trip to the happy Imting grounds. Occasionally, troubles arose between them and the whites, mainly owing to the rascality of the latter. The In- sacrificial altars. or momunents, erected to per- dians were notorious beggars, surpassing the tramp in artifice and expedioney. They were very fond of sweet milk, and one of them could envelop a gallon of that delicions liquid with apparent ease. Cows were frequently found dry upon being driven home, but no one seemed to know what became of the milk. The Indians would secure wild honey, or veni- son, or furs, which would be traded for pota-

petnate the memory of some great events." The above is quoted from the writings of Jo- siah Q. Kern. Henry Bechtel, of Jackson Township, says that on one occasion a settler who was sawing logs in the woods was ap- proached by an Indian, who, after viewing the operation with great interest for a time, left, and. some time afterward, when the settler was absent, the Indian returned, accompanied by

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

two others, and, after pointing to the nicely sawed logs, took his ramrod and drew it back and forth at right angles across the log, to illustrate the manner in which the sawing had been performed. The ease and simplicity of the process were beyond the comprehension of the red men of the woods.

During the war of 1812, the settlers in the county were apprehensive that the Indians might turn against them, in which case a dreadful time of blood and death might be expected. At one time. news was received that 800 warriors had congregated in the bend of the river at Navarre, and were making prep- arations to attack the settlers. The news came from a reliable source, and was credited, and immediate preparations were made to re- ceive them in a fitting manner. A company of militia at Canton, commanded by Col. Sloane, and another in Sandy Township, com- manded by Capt. Downing, were hastily as- sembled to resist the expected attack. The few cabins then in Canton were barricaded. and rendered as strong as possible by levers and bars. Pickets were sent out a half-mile or more from the village, and all movements of the people were made subservient to the orders of the military commanders. All the settlers living on the outskirts of the settle- ment hurried to Canton, armed with pitch- forks, sickles, clubs, scythes, axes, etc .. pre- pared to sell their lives at a high premium (if the figure may be indulged in). Philip De- walt's tavern became a sort of headquarters for the excited populace. Drums were improvised from old pails, and martial music soon fired the blood of the citizens to fever heat. No one slept that eventful night. All were watch- ful, and properly so. Indeed, the settlers did exactly right, for, if the report had been true, their promptness would have disconcerted the savages, to say the least. Some laughable in- cidents are related. John Shorb, during a portion of the night, was assigned picket duty on the advance line. While on his beat, on the alert for any suspicious sound, he was suddenly startled by the snapping of a twig. as if some person had incautiously stepped upon it. Mr. Shorb instantly cocked his rifle. and demanded, in stentorian tones, "Halt! who goes there?" A painful and ominous

silence answered his words, and for a moment nothing could be heard but the rapid beating of his heart, and the soft sighing of the night wind through the dark forest. Suddenly the same noise was repeated, and again Mr. Shorb commanded a halt. Squatting upon the ground, he could see some dark object coming nearly toward him, and, raising his rifle, he took deliberate aim and fired. A heavy fall announced the success of the shot, and Mr. Shorb, after loading his rifle. stepped cau- tiously forward to view his fallen foe. He | reached the spot, and, peering forward, saw the bloody corpse of a-cow. He afterward said, "That's what the cow got for not an- swering." He never boasted very much. how- ever, of this exploit. When the morning dawned, the two companies moved forward to discover what had become of the Indians. The site of Navarre was reached, but no blood- thirsty savages were seen, and, after proceed- ing some farther and not finding an enemy, the companies returned to Canton. The vigi- lance and alarm did not subside immediately. but everything, including the militia com- panies, was kept in readiness to resist a possi- ble attack. Extra precautions were taken when the news was received that the British were landing from Lake Erie, with the inten- tion of attacking the settlements in Eastern Ohio. All apprehensions of danger from this source were removed by the appearance of a few of Hull's half-starved, half-clothed, paroled soldiers, who were the ones that had landed at the lake. The Indians continued in the county, and in all Eastern Ohio, until after the war. It is said that, just before the battle of Tippecanoe, the Indians were seen to be unusually active. War dances were fre- quently held, and the battle cries and scalp halloos could be heard above the boisterous confusion in the Indian village. The Indians would flourish their tomahawks and scalping- knives, and the settlers wondered if another outbreak was brewing. At last the news of the battle of Tippecanoe was received. and after that, the commotion in the Indian vil- lages ceased, save an occasional war dance, in- dulged in in memory of olden times, and to prevent the time-honored customs of the tribe from dying out. The settlers were often pres-

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ent during the tribular ceremonies, and occa- sionally they took part in the dance. When it came to taking food or soup prepared on these occasions, the settlers, one and all, desired to be counted ont. Wrestling matches were formed. and the " whites " and " reds" were ar- rayed against each other. Sometimes one sue- creded, sometimes another. Shooting matches

were formed, yet. notwithstanding the superior vision of the Indians, the white hunters usually secured the prizes. The greater portion of the Indians left immediately after the close of the war, though straggling bands remained and could be seen as late as 1825, or even later. The tale of the red man will soon he told as a romance of the past.

CHAPTER III .*

POST AND HECKLWELDER S MISSION - EARLY SETTLEMENT BY THE WHITES - EARLY PUBLIC BUILDINGS-COURT HOUSE AND JAIL-DIVISION OF THE COUNTY-POOR HOUSE AND CHILDREN'S HOME.

STARK COUNTY can proudly boast of le- ing the site of the earliest white settlement 2 in the State of Ohio. In about the year 1740. large numbers of Moravians had established themselves in a beautiful section of country at Bethlehem. Penn. Here they quietly wor- shiped God and increased in numbers, and at last instituted an association, the object of which was the establishment of missions among the Indians, that these wild people might learn more of Jesus Christ, and their children be taught to read and write. Great in- fluences were brought to hear by the Moravians. to induce grave and capable men to dare the dangers which would possibly result from con- stant communication with the Indians. This course, calculated, as it was, to bring to the frent the courage. intellect and religious man- hood of the Moravians. resulted in the creation of a vast system of pioneer missions, whose holy achievements have become embalmed for- ever in the history of this country. Under the influence and protection of the system. the sturdy ministers of this sect penetrated unmo- lested far into the wilderness. where no white foot had before pressed, and where the wild forms of nature were as yet untouched by the fashioning hand of man. Ilmes with the savages were not always secured without a struggle, as is evinced by the historical fact that many failed to secure the longed and prayed for results some efforts, indeed. re- sulting in bloodshed, others in brief and un- *Contributed by W. A Goodspeed.

happy periods of continuance, while a few were hopefully successful through a long. bright period of years. One of the chief de- signs of the Moravians was the creation of a friendly feeling between themselves and the Indians, that a basis might be formed by means of which the former might induce the latter to refrain from bloody wars upon the white pioneer settlements. This design was effectively accomplished in some instances: iu others. it utterly failed.

Sometimes the Moravians sent their mis sionaries to the Indian villages; but the most noteworthy missions known in history were es - tablished by men who immured themselves amid the dangers of the wilderness frem choice, and quite often in opposition to the wishes of the Directors of the Moravian Association. The early settlement in Stark County referred to alove has been recorded in detail by many writers, all of whom seem capable of throwing some new light on the subject. One thing is certain: The results accomplished by the set- tlement have been greatly overdrawn. Rev. Christian Frederick Post, a regularly ordained minister of the United Brethren Church, of his own choice, and independent of the Mora- vian Association at Bethlehem, Penn., came to Stark County some time during the year 1761. and erected a log cabin, after which he imme diately returned to Pennsylvania. to seek an associate who could teach the Indian children to read and write, while he preached to the adults. How long Mr. Post remained in Stark

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County at the time the cabin was built is wekler left Bethlehem, Penn., early in March, probably not known: yet it could not have 1762, and, after a harassing journey of thirty- three days, through spring floods and snows, reached the log cabin in Stark County. They passed through Fort Pitt. and were warmly welcomed there by Col. Bouquet and Capt. Hutchins, then on duty at that point. It is said that two missionaries entered their log cabin singing a hymn. Immediately after their arrival, and early in April, Post and Heckewelder began clearing a small piece of ground for a garden, but were ordered to de- sist by the Indians, who were jealous of such acts without authority. A council was held, which resulted in Capt. Pipe's stepping off a small piece of land for the missionaries' gar- den. Here Post and Heckewelder remained until about August, at which time Post was required by the Governor of Pennsylvania to bring the principal Delaware Chiefs to the treaty that was to be held at Lancaster, Penn. Post did as required, and Heckewelder was left alone at the mission. Here he remained until October, when, fearing a border war, he returned to Pennsylvania, and neither he nor Post afterward returned to their mission. It appears, then, that Post remained at the mis- sion about four months, and Heckewelder about six months. But little in respect to the object of the formation of the mission could possibly have been accomplished in that brief space of time. Post's mission receives its greatest credit from the fact that it opened the way to important missions which suc- ceeded it. It was was the beginning of a se- ries of missions on the Tuscarawas that did a great deal to prevent the Delawares, at least, from engaging in the bloody border wars. Loskiel has this to say of the Post mission, in his " History of the Missions of the United Brethren among the Indians of North Amer- ica:" been longer than abont a month, and might have been but two weeks, as nothing of conse- quence was accomplished save the erection of the cabin. The cabin was located on the north bank of the Tnsearawas River. on Sec- tion 25. Bethlehem Township, and within a short distance of the confinence of the river and Sandy Creek. In early years, the stones which had probably formed the chimney, and a quantity of rubbish, marked the spot, although at present scarcely a trace of the old cabin is left remaining. The important point for the reader to note is, that, while Mr. Post's design was to establish a mission among the Indians, the plan was abandoned before that result was accomplished. It was an nnsuc- cessful attempt to found a mission, as no mis- sion was really founded, save an imperfect one, and that but for a few months. Almost directly south of Mr. Post's cabin, distant about two-thirds of a mile, was the Delaware . village, Tuscaroratown, which comprised forty wigwams, and coukl place on the war path IS0 warriors. On the opposite side of the river from Post's mission, and a few rods farther down. but above Tuscaroratown, was a rude cabin occupied by a white trader named Thomas Calhoun, a moral and religious man. Below the village, a few wigwams were scattered for a distance of several miles, while above it, and distant about seven miles, was another Indian village, the size of which is not known. These were the surroundings. Mr. Post. upon his return to Pennsylvania. was not long in dis- covering a suitable associate in the person of John Heckewelder, who, of his own choice, and independent of the association, signified his willingness to accompany Post into the wilderness to teach the Indian children. Hecke- welder was but nineteen years old, and, for the purpose of accompanying Post, was re- "On the Ohio River, where, since the last war. some of the Ohio Indians lived who had been baptized by the Brethren, nothing could be clone up to this time. However, Brother Fred- erick Post lived, though of his own choice, about one hundred English miles west of Pitts- burgh, at Tuscaroratown, with a view to com- mence a mission among the Indians. The Brethren wished the blessings of the Almighty leased from an apprenticeship to a cedar cooper. Other accounts than the one above followed state that Heckewelder joined Post with and under the consent of the Association. This is probably true, for Heckewelder states as much in his memoirs, which were afterward published in Germany. According to the ac count given in these memoirs, Post and Hecke-

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 33

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1060

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1060