History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 5

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 870

USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 5

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During the Indian occupancy it was head- quarters for their meetings for consultation and for trading. They could reach it by canoe and bring in their furs to the traders located along the Maumee. In October, 1792, the greatest Indian council ever known was held here. The council represented a larger territory than any ever held before or since on American soil. All the chiefs of all the tribes of the Northwest were here, representatives of the seven nations of Canada and of the 27 nations beyond Can- ada. Cornplanter and 48 chiefs of the Six Na- tions of New York were on hand. Three men of the Gore Nation were here, whom it had tak- en a whole season to reach the place of meeting. Cornplanter said that there were so many na- tions represented that he could not name them. The question of peace or war was long and earnestly discussed. The Shawnees were for war and the Senecas for peace.

A description of the character of the Del- aware Indians, as given by John Bricknel, who was a prisoner four years, is interesting. He was captured when nine years of age near Pittsburg, and adopted by a Delaware Indian, named Whingy Pooshies, and lived with the latter's family four years. He said he was treated very kindly, every way as one of them- selves, and had every opportunity of learning their manners customs and religion. He thought he had been influenced for good more from what he learned among these Indians

than from what he learned among the whites. Honesty, bravery and hospitality were cardinal virtues among them. When strangers came among them, they were not asked if they want- ed anything, but a runner would start out, pro- claiming. "Strangers have arrived." On this, every family provided of the best they had and took it to the strangers without a thought of receiving anything in return. When they took their leave, they were helped on their journey. They worshiped the Great Spirit, whom they called "Manitou." He said that he never on "even one occasion knew of their using the name irreverently." They had no term in their language by which they could swear pro- fanely. The young honored the aged. The first corn that was fit to use was made a feast offering. The first game that was taken on a hunting expedition was dressed whole without breaking a bone, with the head, ears and hoofs; and being cooked whole, all ate of it. and what was left was entirely burned up. And in re- spect to things clean and unclean, they followed the Jewish custom. They had no public wor- ship. except the feasts, but frequently observed family worship, in which they sung and pray- ed. They believed in the resurrection after death, and in future rewards and punishments. Their cruel treatment of their enemies in war seemed to be the carrying out of the precepts. "An eye for an eye. and a tooth for a tooth." and "Blood for blood."

When Bricknel was exchanged, the tribe came opposite the fort at Defiance, and "Whingy Pooshies told me that I must go over to the fort. The children hung around me crying and asking if I was going to leave them. I told them I did not know. When they got over to the fort and were seated with the officers. Whingy Pooshies told me to stand up. which I did. He then arose and ad- dressed me with these words: 'My son, these

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are men of the same color with yourself and some of your kin may be here or they may be a great way off. You have lived a long time with us. I call upon you to say if I have not been a father to you. If I have not used you as a father would a son.' I said: 'You have used me as well as a father could use a son." He said, 'I am glad you say so. You have lived long with us. You have hunted for me. but your treaty says you must be free. If you choose to go with people of your own color, I have no right to say a word, but if you choose to stay with me, your people have no right 10 speak. Now reflect on it and make your choice, and tell us as soon as you make up your mind.' I was silent for a few moments. in which time I seemed to think of most everything. I thought of the children I had just left crying. 1 thought of the Indians I was so attached to, and I thought of my people whom I remembered and this last thought decided. and I said 1 would go with my kin. The old man then said : 'I have raised you. I have taught you to hant and you are a good hunter. You have been better to me than my own sons. I am now getting old and cannot hunt. I thought you would be a support in my old age. I leaned on you as a staff. Now it is broken. you are going to leave me, and I have no right to say a word, but I am ruined.' He then sank back in tears in his seat. I heartily joined him in his tears, parted with him, and have never seen or heard of him since."

O. M. Spencer, the 11 year old boy. who was captured about the same time that Brick- rel was, gives this description of the location that afterward became the site of Fort Defiance. On the high ground extending from the Mau- me' River, a quarter of a mile up the Au- glaize, alout 200 yards in width, was an open space. on the west and south of which were ok woods, with hazel undergrowth. Within

this opening a few hundred yards above the point, on the steep bank of the Auglaize, were five or six cabins and log houses inhabited principally by Indian traders. The most north- erly, a large. hewed-log house, divided below in three apartments, was occupied as a warehouse. store and dwelling by George Ironsides, the most wealthy and influential of the traders on the point. Next to him was the houses of Pirault (Pero) a French baker and M. Kenzie. a Scot, who in addition to merchandising fol- lowed the occupation of a silversmith, exchang- ing with the Indians his silver ear-drops and other silver ornaments at an enormous profit. for skins and furs. Still further up were ser- cral other families of French and English, and two American prisoners. Henry Ball, a sol- (lier taken at St. Clair's defeat. and his wife Polly Meadows, captured at the same time. were allowed to live here and by labor to pay their masters the price of their ransoms, he by boating to the rapids of the Maumee. an:1 she by washing and sewing. Fronting the house of Ironsides and about fifty yards from the bank was a small stockade. enclosing two hewed-log houses, one of which was occupied by James Girty, a brother of Simon, the other by McKee and Elliott, British Indian agents living in Detroit. And more than a mile south of this was the large Indian village of Blue Jacket. and. below, the extensive prairie cov- ered with corn.

Young Spencer was re leemed from captiv- ity on the last day of February. 1793. through the solicitation of Washington to the Governor of Canada, who instructed Colonel Elliott, the Indian agent, to intercede for his release. He was taken down the Maumee in an open pi- rogue : thence in a canoe. paddled by two squaws, along the shore of Lake Erie to De- troit : thence by a vessel on Lake Erie to Eric. Pennsylvania; thence to Forts Chippewa and

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HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY

Niagara : thence across New York State, then mostly a wilderness, to Albany; thence down the Hudson to New York City ; thence through Pennsylvania and down the Ohio to Cincinnati -a distance of fully 2,000 miles.

Young Spencer became a Methodis min- ister and reared a family. One of his sons was postmaster at Cincinnati in 1850, and another, judge of its Superior Court.

It is said that General Wayne was eight days building Fort Defiance, beginning on the 9th of August and finishing on the 17th. After surveying its blockhouses, pickets, ditches and fascines, Wayne exclaimed: "I defy the Eng- lish, Indians and all the devils in hell to take it." General Scott, who happened to be standing at his side remarked: "Then call it Fort Defi- ance." General Wayne in a letter to the Secre- tary of War at this time said: "Thus. sir, we have gained possession of the grand emporium of the hostile Indians of the West without loss of blood. The very extensive and cultivated fields of corn and gardens show the work of many hands. The margins of the beautiful rivers, the Miamis of the Lake (Maumee) and Auglaize, appear like a continued village for a number of miles, both above and below this place, nor have I ever beheld such fields of corn in any part of America, from Canada to Flor- ida. We are now employed in completing a strong stockade fort with four good block- houses by way of bastions at the confluence of the Maumee and the Auglaize, which I have called Defiance."

The population of Defiance County in 1900 was 26.387. while that of her cities and prin- cipal villages was as follows :

Ney 289

Sherwood 455

Hicksville 2.520

Defiance 7,579

FULTON COUNTY

Was organized in 1849. Its soil is of the same general class as that of the other counties of Northwestern Ohio. Its population in 1850 was 7.781 ; in 1860. 14,043: in 1770. 17.780; in 1890, 22.023; in 1900, 22,801. It has the following villages with population in 1900: Metamora, 263: Fayette, 886: Swanton. 887: Archibald, 958: Delta. 1.230, and Wauscon .

2.148.

Fulton was formed from Lucas, Henry and Williams counties and is entitled to a share in their early history. The first settlers in the present limits of Fulton county were Valen- tine Winslow, Col. Eli Phillipa and David Ho- bart. who came in 1833.

A Presbyterian mission was established on the south bank of the Maumee 10 miles above Fert Meigs and eight below the head of the rapids, in 1821 or 1822. At the time of its establishment there was no settlement on the south side of the river above Waterville. Rev. Isaac Van Tassel was the principal of the mis- sion ; Mr. Sackett and Rev. M. Coe. assistants, with their wives and several maiden ladies as teachers. Together with a few mechanics and laborers they formed the community of white people that established and carried forward the enterprise successfully for many years until the Indian tribes were by degrees moved to their far off homes in the West. They had much with which to contend. White men and half- breeds sold whisky to the Indians and used all their influence to prevent them from patroniz- ing the mission, even hiring the Indians to keep their children from school. It was no light task to establish a school among these wild fierce people. the boys and girls never having l;een restrained or their freedom abridged in the least. To gather together from 100 to

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200 boys and girls of all ages from six to 20 years was no easy task. After the Indians be- came acquainted with the mission people and knew that the latter were their friends, their children were sent to school and most of the time there were from 80 to 150 in attendance.

The society bought a large and valuable tract of land, including an island of about 300 acres, upon which they opened up a farm. Here these faithful missionaries labored, often discouraged no doubt. Their efforts to incul- cate the precepts of the Bible amid the constant wars and the bad influence of the white traders and the renegade whites, who had taken up their residence with the Indians to escape from the penalty of their crimes. did not bear the fruit hoped for. But after the removal of the Indians to the West it appears that the schol- ars from the mission school were the first to engage in farming and cattle-raising and to adopt the dress and habits of the whites.

Col. D. W. Howard gives some of the prices paid for furs at his father's store in the early days: $3 to $4 for bear: the same for otter: 4oc for muskrat : 30c for mink ; 50c for fox : $2 for fisher (marten) : 25c for coon ; and $25 to $75 for silver gray fox. In exchange were giv- en blankets at $2 and $6; turkey calico. 75c to $t per yard: blue calico, 50c to 75c per yard; lead 5oc per pound and powder. $1 per pound.

The old Council Elm, a tree of gigantic size, stood on the north bank of the river very neat the rapids. It had been selected by the Indians as the place of meeting for their councils, and became known by the citizens as the Council Elm. Here one of the important councils was hell. at which Chief Wauseon and his brother Ottokee stated their grievances. They said that had white men killed their deer, and stole their traps and horses. He appealed to Colonel Jack- son. the agent. to ask the Great Father to have the Ind whites remove:1. The speech was re-

ported by Agent Jackson to the President, and he ordered the intruders removed, which order was enforced to the entire satisfaction of the Indians.

HANCOCK COUNTY

Was formed April 1, 1820, and named for John Hancock, first President of the Revolu- tionary Congress. Its surface is level : the soil, black loam mixed with sand and very fertile. The central and southern part of the county is drained by the Blanchard River and its branch- es, the Blanchard being a fork of the Auglaize. The Shawnee name of this stream was Sho-po- qua-ti-sepe, or Tailor River. Col. John Johns- ton stated that Blanchard, for whom this stream was named, was a tailor, or one that sewed garments. He was a native of France, and a man of intelligence; but no part of his history could be obtained from him. He doubtless fled his country for some offense against its laws, intermarried with a Shawnee woman and, af- ter living here 30 years, died in 1802 at or near the site of Fort Findlay. When the Shawnees went West. seven of his children were living. one of whom was a chief. In the War of 1812 a road was cut through this county over which the troops for the Northwest passed. Among these was the army of Hull, which was piloted by Isaac Zane McPherson and Robert Arm- strong.

Fort Findlay was built about the 22nd of June. 1812. or a little later. The pickets of the fort enclosed about one acre of ground: within this enclosure were erected a blockhouse and two other small houses used as barracks. The fort stood on the south bank of Blanchard, just west of the present bridge, and was used as a depot for military stores and provisions. About O wieleck one dark and windy night in April. 1813. Capt. William Oliver with a Kentuckian left Fort Meigs for Fort Findlay on an errand of importance. the distance being about 33

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HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY

miles. They had scarcely started on their journey when they unexpectedly came upon an Indian camp, around the fires of which the In- dians were busy cooking their suppers. Dis- turbed by the noise of their approach. the sav- ages sprang up and ran towards them. . \t this they reined their horses into the branches of a fallen tree. Fortunately the horses. as if con- scious of their danger. stood perfectly still and the Indians passed around the tree without making a discovery in the thick darkness. At this junction Oliver and his companion put spurs to their horses and rushed forward into the woods through which they passed all the way to their destination. They arrived safely, but with their clothes completely torn off by the brambles and bushes, and their bodies I:ruised all over by contusions against the trees. They had scarcely arrived at the fort. when the Indians in pursuit made their appearance, but too late, for their prey had escaped.

Hancock County was for a long time the wonder of the whole country on account of its wonderful gas field. It caused a wonderful boom in real estate and manufacturing, and. had due caution been exercised. would have been of wonderful benefit. As it was. wild specula- tion ran rife and many fortunes were wiped out entirely, while the more conservative accumulat- ed wealth quite rapidly.

The following cities and villages are located in Hancock County, with population in 19oo as follows :

Jenera 237

Mount Cory 312

Benton Ridge 250

Vanlue 356

Van Buren

Arcadia

425

Mount Blanchard

Arlington

738

McComb

1.195

Fosto: ia 7.730

Findlay 17.4.13

Hancock County in 1830 had a population of 813. and 1900. 41.993.

HARDIN COUNTY

Was formed out of the old Indian terri- tory. . April 1. 1820. and contains about 440 square miles. Although formed in 1820. it was not organized until January 8. 1833. About .

half of the county is undulating, and the other half level, but all is capable of drainage. It is situated on the great water-shed, and is drained by the Scioto and the Blanchard: the former emptying into the Ohio, and the latter into Lake Erie.

On the 11th of June, 1811. one week be- fore the declaration of war. Governor Meigs despatched Duncan Mc. Arthur with: a regiment of soldiers from Urbana to open a road in ad- vance of General Hull's army. and build a stockade at the crossing of the Scioto River in what is now Hardin County. On the 19th Hull arrived with the residue of his army. This stockade. enclosing about half an acre. and situ- ated about three miles southwest of what is nov the city of Kenton, was named "Fort Mc.\r- thur." There were two blockhouses, one in the northwest angle. and the other in the southeast. Seventy or eighty feet of the enclosure was compose l of a row of log corncribs, covered with a shed roof sloping inside. A part of the pickcts were of split timber, lappedlat the e lges : others were round logs set up endways and touching each other. The rows of huts for the garrison were a few feet from the walls. It was a post of much danger. liable at any mo- ment to le attacked. The last vestige of it has 'ong sirce disappeared. The prompt build- ing of forts reflected grent credit on Governor Meig's energy and foresight.

The first family to locate in Hardin County was that of Alfred! Hale. who came to Fort Mc-

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OLD COUNCIL HOUSE OF THE SHAWNEES

APPLE TREE OVEN ONC HUNDRED YEARS OLD, 10 Felt in, Circumference.

PHT'S CABIN

FORT AMANDA (Built in September. 1813, by United States Troops of the Northwestern Army, under Colonel Poague) PIONEER SCENES IN ALLEN COUNTY

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Arthur in 1817; in 1819 his son James was born.

The first court held in the county was held March 8, 1834, in a blockhouse, the residence of Hon. William McCloud, at Fort McArthur, McCloud being one of the associate judges. The first county officers were elected the fol- lowing month, the total vote being only 63. Little or no business was done at the first term of court.

The next year when a trial by jury was required, the sheriff found great difficulty in impaneling a jury, the farmers being busy and the country sparsely settled. On the morn- ing of the second day, the judge opened court and asked the sheriff if the jury was full. The sheriff replied: "Not quite full yet. I have eleven men in the jail and my dogs and deputies are out after the twelfth man."

The jail at that time was a log cabin near the fort. The court room was a shed construct- ed from the side of the blockhouse, with clap- boards, with forked saplings for uprights. The benches for the jury and spectators were split puncheons with pins in for legs. The judge was provided with a table and a chair. The jury retired to the woods for their deliberations. In the spring of 1833, the State committee, ap- pointed by the Legislature, selected a site for the county seat on the north bank of the Scioto on part of sections 33 and 34 in Pleasant town- ship, George Houser, Jacob Houser and Lemuel Wilmoth giving 40 acres of their land as an in- ducement. The committee, having decided up- on the site, were unable to agree upon the name but after its selection rode over three miles west with Willam McCloud to Fort McArthur where he resided in a blockhouse, to get dinner. McCloud was a great hunter, and his good lady had provided an appetizing dinner of wild meat, for they were very hungry. The subject of a name being discussed, they left it to the

decision of Mrs. McCloud who declared in favor of Kenton, in honor of a friend of her husband.

The marsh lands of the county comprise fully 25,000 acres, or about 39 square miles, the Scioto having about 16,000 acres, Hog Creek about 8,000, and about 1,000 acres be- longing to the Cranberry marsh. They are all well drained and are mostly fine farming lands, on which are raised immense crops of onions and potatoes.

Hardin County has the following cities and villages with population as follows, according to the census of 1900:

Patterson 219

Ridgeway 447

McGuffey 452

Alger 462

Mount 734

Forest

1,115

Dunkirk

1,222

Ada 2,576

Kenton 6,852

The population of Hardin County in 1830. was 210, and in 1900, 31,187.

HENRY COUNTY

Was formed April 1, 1820, from the Indian territory, and named for Patrick Henry, the Virginia orator and patriot of Revolutionary times. It is a part of the Black Swamp. It was heavily timbered, which delayed its set- tlement for many years, until railroads, saw- inills and stave factories opened up a market for the timber at remunerative prices. The soil is largely of the swamp order with occasional ridges. The swamp lands were originally cor- with black walnut. ash, butternut, beech and hickory.

Napoleon, the county seat, was platted in 1832, and the first dwelling was erected-a log cabin 12 by 14 feet-by Amos Andrews, and used as a tavern.

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One of the Girtys resided about five name of Sinon Girty. At that time it was be- miles above Napoleon at what is known as leved by many that he had fled from justice and sought refuge among the Indians, his at- tachment for them being stronger than for his own people, and his cruelty being the result of his inborn humanity, urged on by the excesses perpetrated by the whites that in many cases were scarcely less inhuman than those of their savage loves. Girty's point. There seems to be a difference of opinion as to which one. Howe gives it as his opinion that it was George Girty, a brother of Simon. He was an Indian trader, at., of as infamous a character as Simon. Howe gives a description of the Girty family, from which the following is taken. The father of the Girtys came from Ireland and settled in Penn- It is but fair to publish another version of the death of the father of the Carty bys, which seems to be borne out by succeeding events. sylvania. He was beastly intemperate and nothing ranked higher in his estimation than a jug of whisky. "Grog was his song and grog would he have." His sottishness turned his wife's affections. Ready for seduction, she yielded her heart to a neighboring rustic who to remove all obstacles to their wishes knocked Girty on the head and bore off the trophy of his prowess. Four sons of this interesting couple were left-Thomas, Simon, George and James.

The three latter were taken prisoners in Braddock's war by the Indians. George was adopted by the Delawares, became a ferocious savage and died in a drunken fit. James was adepted by the Shawnees and became as de- praved as his other brothers. It is said he often visited Kentucky at the time of its first settle- ment and inflicted most barbarous fortunes on all captive women who came within his reach. Traders who were acquainted with him have related that so ferocious was he that he would not have turned on his heel to save a prisoner from the flames. To this monster are to be attributed many of the cruelties charged to his brother Simon. Yet be was caressed by Proc- tor and Elliott. the British generals.

Simon was adopted by the Senecas and be- came an expert hunter. In Kentucky and Ohio he sustained the character of an unrelent- ing barbarian. To women and children in par- ticular nothing was more terrifying than the

Willshire Butterfield says that the ckler (irty met his death, in a drunken frolic in his own house, by an Indian named "The Fish." John Turner, who lived with the Girtys, aveng- ed his murder by killing The Fish, two years later marrying Mrs. Girty, who was a reputable woman. When Fort Greenville on the Juniata was taken in 1756, Turner, wife and children were carried into captivity. Turner was recog- nized as the slayer of The Fish, and was put to death in the most inhuman manner. It is said that Thomas Girty, the oldest son, soon after escaped and lived a useful life, dying on Girty's Run near Pittsburg in 1820. Thus only one of the four brothers improved their apper- tunity for a good and useful life.

During the Dunmore expedition. Simon Girty acted as scout and it is said interpreted the Mingo chief Logan's speech to Gibson. Simon Girty, Mathew Elliott and Capt. . Mex- ander Mckee, the latter two Indian traders. deserted from Fort Pitt and made their way to Detroit to join Lieutenant Governor Hamil- ton, the British commandant. On their way they stopped at Coshocton among the Dela- wares, and then at the Shawnee towns on the Scioto. They met James Girty, who was en- gaged in trade with the Indians and easily per- shaded him to espouse the British cause. They i entered the British service and were sent by

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Hamilton-Simon to the Mingoes and James to the Shawnees-to keep the Indians in line for the British.

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History of Van Wert County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 5

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Number of Pages: 870

Author: Thaddeus S. Gilliland
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 870