History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 10

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Ohio > Summit County > History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio > Part 10

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).

HISTORY OF OHIO.

i. e. Who was the first white child born in Ohio ? In all probability, the child was born during the captivity of its mother, as history plainly shows that when white women were released from the Indians, some of them carried children born while among the natives.

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

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

Williamson's success, for such it was viewed by many, excited the borderers to another invasion, and a second army was raised, this time to go to the Sandusky town, and annihilate the Wyandots. Col. William Crawford was elected leader ; he accepted reluctantly ; on the way, the army was met by hordes of savages on the 5th of

June, and totally routed. They were away north, in what is now Wyandot County, and were obliged to flee for their lives. The blood of the murdered Moravians called for revenge. The Indians de- sired it; were they not relatives of the fallen Christians ? Crawford and many of his men fell into their hands ;. all suffered unheard-of tortures, that of Crawford being as cruel as Indian cruelty could devise. He was pounded, pierced, cut with knives and burned, all of which occupied nearly three hours, and finally lay down insensible on a bed of coals, and died. The savage captors, in demoni- acal glee, danced around him, and upbraided him for the cruel murder of their relatives, giving him this only consolation, that had they captured Will- iamson, he might go free, but he must answer for Williamson's brutality.

The war did not cease here. The Indians, now aroused, carried their attack as far south as into Kentucky, killing Capt. Estill, a brave man, and some of his companions. The British, too, were active in aiding them, and the 14th of August a large force of them, under Girty, gathered silently about Bryant's Station. They were obliged to re- treat. The Kentuckians pursued them, but were repulsed with considerable loss.

The attack on Bryant's Station aroused the peo- ple of Kentucky to strike a blow that would be felt. Gen. Clarke was put at the head of an army of one thousand and fifty men, and the Miami country was a second time destroyed. Clarke even went as far north as the British trading-post at the head of the Miami, where he captured a great amount of property, and destroyed the post. Other outposts also fell, the invading army suffering but little, and, by its decisive action, practically closing the Indian wars in the West. Pennsylvania suf- fered some, losing Hannahstown and one or two

small settlements. Williamson's and Crawford's campaigns aroused the fury of the Indians that took time and much blood and war to subdue. The Revolution was, however, drawing to a close. Amer- ican arms were victorious, and a new nation was now coming into existence, who would change the whole current of Western matters, and make of the Northwest a land of liberty, equality and union. That nation was now on the stage.

HISTORY OF OHIO.

CHAPTER VI.

AMERICAN OCCUPATION-INDIAN CLAIMS-SURVEYS -EARLY LAND COMPANIES-COMPACT OF 1787-ORGANIZATION OF THE TERRITORY-EARLY AMERICAN SETTLE- MENTS IN THE OHIO VALLEY - FIRST TERRITORIAL OFFICERS-ORGANIZATION OF COUNTIES.

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

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

Provisional articles of peace between the United States and Great Britain were signed in Paris on the 30th of November, 1782. This was followed by an armistice negotiated at Versailles on the 20th of January, 1783; and finally, a definite treaty of peace was concluded at Paris on the 3d of the next September, and ratified by Congress on the 4th of January, 1784. By the second article of the defi- nite treaty of 1783, the boundaries of the United States were fixed. A glance at the map of that day shows the boundary to have been as follows: Beginning at Passamaquoddy Bay, on the coast of Maine, the line ran north a little above the forty- fifth parallel of latitude, when it diverged southwest- erly, irregularly, until it reached that parallel, when it followed it until it reached the St. Lawrence River. It followed that river to Lake Ontario, down its center ; up the Niagara River ; through Lake Erie,

up the Detroit River and through Lakes Huron and Superior, to the northwest extremity of the latter. Then it pursued another irregular western course to the Lake of the Woods, when it turned south- ward to the Mississippi River. The commissioners insisted that should be the western boundary, as the lakes were the northern. It followed the Mis- sissippi south until the mouth of Red River was reached, when, turning east, it followed almost a direct line to the Atlantic Coast, touching the coast a little north of the outlet of St. John's River.

From this outline, it will be readily seen what boundary the United States possessed. Not one- half of its present domain.

At this date, there existed the original thirteen colonies : Virginia occupying all Kentucky and all the Northwest, save about half of Michigan and Wisconsin, claimed by Massachusetts; and the upper part of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and the lower part (a narrow strip) of Michigan, claimed by Con- necticut. Georgia included all of Alabama and Mississippi. The Spaniards claimed all Florida and a narrow part of lower Georgia. All the coun- try west of the Father of Waters belonged to Spain, to whom it had been secretly ceded when the fam- ily compact was made. That nation controlled the Mississippi, and gave no small uneasiness to the young government. It was, however, happily set- tled finally, by the sale of Louisana to the United States.

Pending the settlement of these questions and the formation of the Federal Union, the cession of the Northwest by Virginia again came before Congress. That body found itself unable to fulfill its promises to its soldiers regarding land, and again urged the Old Dominion to cede the Terri- tory to the General Government, for the good of all. Congress forbade settlers from occupying the Western lands till a definite cession had been made, and the title to the lands in question made good. But speculation was stronger than law, and without waiting for the slow processes of courts,

HISTORY OF OHIO.

the adventurous settlers were pouring into the country at a rapid rate, only retarded by the rifle and scalping-knife of the savage-a temporary check. The policy of allowing any parties to obtain land from the Indians was strongly discouraged by Washington. He advocated the idea that only the General Government could do that, and, in a letter to James Duane, in Congress, he strongly urged such a course, and pointed out the danger of a border war, unless some such measure was stringently followed.

Under the circumstances, Congress pressed the claims of cession upon Virginia, and finally in- duced the Dominion to modify the terms proposed two years before. On the 20th of December, 1783, Virginia accepted the proposal of Congress, and authorized her delegates to make a deed to the United States of all her right in the territory northwest of the Ohio.

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

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

The return of peace greatly augmented emigra- tion to the West, especially to Kentucky. When the war closed, the population of that county (the three counties having been made one judicial dis- trict, and Danville designated as the seat of gov-

ernment) was estimated to be about twelve thousand. In one year, after the close of the war, it increased to 30,000, and steps for a State government were taken. Owing to the divided sentiment among its citizens, its perplexing questions of land titles and proprietary rights, nine conventions were held before a definite course of action could be reached. This prolonged the time till 1792, when, in De- cember of that year, the election for persons to form a State constitution was held, and the vexed and complicated questions settled. In 1783, the first wagons bearing merchandise came across the mountains. Their contents were received on flat- boats at Pittsburgh, and taken down the Ohio to Louisville, which that spring boasted of a store, opened by Daniel Broadhead. The next year, James Wilkinson opened one at Lexington.

Pittsburgh was now the principal town in the West. It occupied the same position regarding the outposts that Omaha has done for several years to Nebraska. The town of Pittsburgh was laid out immediately after the war of 1764, by Col. Campbell. It then consisted of four squares about the fort, and received its name from that citadel. The treaty with the Six Nations in 1768, con- veyed to the proprietaries of Pennsylvania all the lands of the Alleghany below Kittanning, and all the country south of the Ohio, within the limits of Penn's charter. This deed of cession was recog- nized when the line between Pennsylvania and Virginia was fixed, and gave the post to the Key- stone State. In accordance with this deed, the manor of Pittsburgh was withdrawn from market in 1769, and was held as the property of the Penn family. When Washington visited it in 1770, it seems to have declined in consequence of the afore-mentioned act. He mentions it as a "town of about twenty log houses, on the Monongahela, about three hundred yards from the fort." The Penn's remained true to the King, and hence all their land that had not been surveyed and returned to the land office, was confiscated by the common- wealth. Pittsburgh, having been surveyed, was still left to them. In the spring of 1784, Tench Francis, the agent of the Penns, was induced to lay out the manor into lots and offer them for sale. Though, for many years, the place was rather un- promising, it eventually became the chief town in that part of the West, a position it yet holds. In 1786, John Scull and Joseph Hall started the Pittsburgh Gazette, the first paper published west of the mountains. In the initial number, appeared a lengthy article from the pen of H. H. Brackenridge,

HISTORY OF OHIO.

afterward one of the most prominent members of the Pennsylvania bar. He had located in Pittsburgh in 1781. His letter gives a most hope- ful prospect in store for the future city, and is a highly descriptive article of the Western country. It is yet preserved in the "Western Annals," and is well worth a perusal.

Under the act of peace in 1783, no provision was made by the British for their allies, especially the Six Nations. The question was ignored by the English, and was made a handle by the Americans in gaining them to their cause before the war had fully closed. The treaties made were regarded by the Indians as alliances only, and when the En- glish left the country the Indians began to assume rather a hostile bearing. This excited the whites, and for a while a war with that formidable con- federacy was imminent. Better councils prevailed, and Congress wisely adopted the policy of acquiring their lands by purchase. In accordance with this policy, a treaty was made at Fort Stanwix with the Six Nations, in October, 1784. By this treaty, all lands west of a line drawn from the mouth of Oswego Creek, about four miles east of Niagara, to the mouth of Buffalo Creek, and on to the northern boundary of Pennsylvania, thence west along that boundary to its western extremity, thence south to the Ohio River, should be ceded to the United States. (They claimed west of this line by conquest.) The Six Nations were to be secured in the lands they inhabited, reserving only six miles square around Oswego fort for the support of the same. By this treaty, the indefinite claim of the Six Nations to the West was extinguished, and the question of its ownership settled.

It was now occupied by other Western tribes, who did not recognize the Iroquois claim, and who would not yield without a purchase. Especially was this the case with those Indians living in the northern part. To get possession of that country by the same process, the United States, through its commissioners, held a treaty at Fort McIntosh on the 21st of January, 1785. The Wyandot, Delaware, Chippewa and Ottawa tribes were pres- ent, and, through their chiefs, sold their lands to the Government. The Wyandot and Delaware nations were given a reservation in the north part of Ohio, where they were to be protected. The others were allotted reservations in Michigan. To all was given complete control of their lands, allow- ing them to punish any white man attempting to settle thereon, and guaranteeing them in their rights.

By such means Congress gained Indian titles to the vast realms north of the Ohio, and, a few months later, that legislation was commenced that should determine the mode of its disposal and the plan of its settlements.

To facilitate the settlement of lands thus acquired, Congress, on May 20, 1785, passed an act for dispos- ing of lands in the Northwest Territory. Its main provisions were: A surveyor or surveyors should be appointed from the States ; and a geographer, and his assistants to act with them. The surveyors were to divide the territory into townships of six miles square, by lines running due north and south, and east and west. The starting-place was to be on the Ohio River, at a point where the western boundary of Pennsylvania crossed it. This would give the first range, and the first township. As soon as seven townships were surveyed, the maps and plats of the same were to be sent to the Board of the Treasury, who would record them and proceed to place the land in the market, and so on with all the townships as fast as they could be prepared ready for sale. Each town- ship was to be divided into thirty-six sections, or lots. Out of these sections, numbers 8, 11, 26 and 29 were reserved for the use of the Government, and lot No. 16, for the establishment of a common- school fund. One-third of all mines and minerals was also reserved for the United States. Three townships on Lake Erie were reserved for the use of officers, men and others, refugees from Canada and from Nova Scotia, who were entitled to grants of land. The Moravian Indians were also exempt from molestation, and guaranteed in their homes. Sol- diers' claims, and all others of a like nature, were also recognized, and land reserved for them.

Without waiting for the act of Congress, settlers had been pouring into the country, and, when or- dered by Congress to leave undisturbed Indian lands, refused to do so. They went into the In- dian country at their peril, however, and when driven out by the Indians could get no redress from the Government, even when life was lost.

The Indians on the Wabash made a treaty at Fort Finney, on the Miami, January 31, 1786, promising allegiance to the United States, and were allowed a reservation. Thistreaty did not include the Piankeshaws, as was at first intended. These, refusing to live peaceably, stirred up the Shawa- nees, who began a series of predatory excursions against the settlements. This led to an expedition against them and other restless tribes. Gen. Clarke commanded part of the army on that expedition,

HISTORY OF OHIO.

but got no farther than Vincennes, when, owing to the discontent of his Kentucky troops, he was obliged to return. Col. Benjamin Logan, how- ever, marched, at the head of four or five hundred mounted riflemen, into the Indian country, pene- trating as far as the head-waters of Mad River. He destroyed several towns, much corn, and took about eighty prisoners. Among these, was the chief of the nation, who was wantonly slain, greatly to Logan's regret, who could not restrain his men. His expedition taught the Indians sub- mission, and that they must adhere to their con- tracts.

Meanwhile, the difficulties of the navigation of the Mississippi arose. Spain would not relinquish the right to control the entire southern part of the river, allowing no free navigation. She was secretly hoping to cause a revolt of the Western provinces, especially Kentucky, and openly favored such a move. She also claimed, by conquest, much of the land on the east side of the river. The slow move- ments of Congress; the failure of Virginia to properly protect Kentucky, and the inherent rest- lessness in some of the Western men, well-nigh precipitated matters, and, for a while, serious results were imminent. The Kentuckians, and, indeed, all the people of the West, were determined the river should be free, and even went so far as to raise a regiment, and forcibly seize Spanish prop- erty in the West. Great Britain stood ready, too, to aid the West should it succeed, providing it would make an alliance with her. But while the excitement was at its height, Washington coun- seled better ways and patience. The decisive tone of the new republic, though almost overwhelmed with a burden of debt, and with no credit, debarred the Spanish from too forcible measures to assert their claims, and held back the disloyal ones from attempting a revolt.

New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut ceded their lands, and now the United States were ready to fulfill their promises of land grants, to the sol- diers who had preserved the nation. This did much to heal the breach in the West, and restore confidence there; so that the Mississippi question was overlooked for a time, and Kentucky forgot her animosities.

The cession of their claims was the signal for the formation of land companies in the East ; com- panies whose object was to settle the Western coun- try, and, at the same time, enrich the founders of the companies. Some of these companies had been formed in the old colonial days, but the recent war

had put a stop to all their proceedings. Congress would not recognize their claims, and new com- panies, under old names, were the result. By such means, the Ohio Company emerged from the past, and, in 1786, took an active existence.

Benjamin Tupper, a Revolutionary soldier, and since then a government surveyor, who had been west as far as Pittsburgh, revived the question. He was prevented from prosecuting his surveys by hostile Indians, and returned to Massachusetts. He broached a plan to Gen. Rufus Putnam, as to the renewal of their memorial of 1783, which re- sulted in the publication of a plan, and inviting all those interested, to meet in February in their re- spective counties, and choose delegates to a con- vention to be held at the "Bunch-of-grapes Tav- ern." in Boston, on the first of March, 1786. On the day appointed, eleven persons appeared, and by the 3d of March an outline was drawn up, and subscriptions under it began at once. The leading features of the plan were : "A fund of $1,000,000, mainly in Continental certificates, was to be raised for the purpose of purchasing lands in the Western country; there were to be 1,000 shares of $1,000 each, and upon each share $10 in specie were to be paid for contingent expenses. One year's inter- est was to be appropriated to the charges of making a settlement, and assisting those unable to move without aid. The owners of every twenty shares were to choose an agent to represent them and attend to their interests, and the agents were to choose the directors. The plan was approved, and in a year's time from that date, the Company was organized."*

By the time this Company was organized, all claims of the colonies in the coveted territory were done away with by their deeds of cession, Connect- icut being the last.

While troubles were still existing south of the Ohio River, regarding the navigation of the Mis- sissippi, and many urged the formation of a sepa- rate, independent State, and while Congress and Washington were doing what they could to allay the feeling north of the Ohio, the New England associates were busily engaged, now that a Com- pany was formed, to obtain the land they wished to purchase. On the 8th of March, 1787, a meet- ing of the agents chose Gen. Parsons, Gen. Put- nam and the Rev. Mannasseh Cutler, Directors for the Company. The last selection was quite a fitting one for such an enterprise. Dr. Cutler was

* Historical Collections.

HISTORY OF OHIO.

an accomplished scholar, an excellent · gentleman, and a firm believer in freedom. In the choice of him as the agent of the Company, lies the fact, though unforeseen, of the beginning of anti-slavery in America. Through him the famous " compact of 1787," the true corner-stone of the Northwest, originated, and by him was safely passed. He was a good "wire-puller," too, and in this had an advantage. Mr. Hutchins was at this time the geographer for the United States, and was, prob- ably, the best-posted man in America regarding the West. Dr. Cutler learned from him that the most desirable portions were on the Muskingum River, north of the Ohio, and was advised by him to buy there if he could.

Congress wanted money badly, and many of the members favored the plan. The Southern mem- bers, generally, were hostile to it, as the Doctor would listen to no grant which did not embody the New England ideas in the charter. These members were finally won over, some bribery be- ing used, and some of their favorites made officers of the Territory, whose formation was now going on. This took time, however, and Dr. Cutler, be- coming impatient, declared they would purchase from some of the States, who held small tracts in various parts of the West. This intimation brought the tardy ones to time, and, on the 23d of July, Congress authorized the Treasury Board to make the contract. On the 26th, Messrs. Cutler and Sargent, on behalf of the Company, stated in writing their conditions; and on the 27th, Con- gress referred their letter to the Board, and an order of the same date was obtained. Of this Dr. Cutler's journal says:

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 10

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848- Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1104