History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 2

Author: Sutton, R., & Co., Wapakoneta, Ohio, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Wapakoneta, Ohio : R. Sutton
Number of Pages: 878


USA > Ohio > Mercer County > History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 2
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 2


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).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124


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Prepared by H. SABINE,


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- Published :


EXPLANATIONS


R.SUTTON,


860 RT


CCC &I.RY.


WAPAKONETA.O.


Greenup ( 11


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4. Si Su Sich Ni Had


Horara Kim


1882.


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Berte


CARROLL


640 13Z.


S. ... 20.775 Millersburg


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JMERCERA


Wapakonela


25443-


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Kaslunoton


40.451


Apr 27 197


Him. hester


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Moundsville


49 638


MUSKEN GUM -


MADISON


I WAKE


S l'am


41 947


LAalon


31 24 9


273


Steubenville


6


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Piraten


HARRISON


24 136 1


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Ashland


Luuntariffe


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PITTSBURGAS


------


536 955


MAHONING


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probiere


Ottawa


23 718


27 788


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MIE VRY


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PORTAGE


F Mercer


Junk Grunner


Medina


31 609 ufirjan


Akroı


-37.139


16 320


Chardon


WILLIAMS


ISTEUBEN


ILight Faire


Vinana


I'MLE, EbarTmnt


ERI


romania


K E


Butmust Paint


Torytimton


... Sandusky


TRUMBUTD


196 937


I NUMBER OF MILES OF RAIL ROADS |# OHTO.


Flemingsburg


86816 /'Alanına


33 504


SI S


- --


BROW -


-4132.726


24 004


S


28 124


Right I'nion


Portsmouth


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"39 068


IWilliamstown


Nanceburgh


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INTO.


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Kenton


MORROW


1450 JulesKurt


Stemple


Findlay


Decatur;


-


POPULATION OF OHIO


Counties, Cities, Towns, and Villages, According to the Official Census for the year 1880.


Madison Co. 20,199


London


3.08,


Port Clinton . 1,600


Masaulon CHy 6,837


West Ooity 900


Eigerion.


790


Mount Starting


Genoa .


9.30


Loa!sw !! la .. 1,050 Canal Folion 1,195


Stryker


Bdr.n. ..


Montpeller


410


Williams Centre


Wood Co. 34,020


Bowling Green


1.150


Perrysburg


1,909


Lowellvlile


Canfeld


650


Poland


400


New Straitsville


Sbawcea.


2,770


Potersburg ..


362


Morsbala


375


Kast Alliance


334


North Lima ...


255


New Epringfield


#34


Straitsville


100


Coraing .


270


Green


How Middleton


Pickaway Co. 27,353


Cireleviile Cuy.


6,046


Marion Co. 20,564


Merloa .


3,599


Caledonia


La Rcs,


634


Prospect 600


Darbyville


262


Green Calap.


New Bloomington


Waldo


Medine Co. 21,456


Medias . 1.454


Wadsworth


$,319


Barilla.


989


Lodi


437


Liverpool.


300


Meigs Co. 32,325


Pomeroy ..


5.360


Middleport


3.00


Syracuse.


1,545


Mineraville 1,315


Recias ...


453


Long Bottom .


300


Bend ville .


200


Mercer Co. 21,808


Celius.


1,346


Fort Recovery . 850


Ebane's Crossing


404


Mandou . 242


Cold water 337


Mismi Co. 36,178


Troy


3,80}


Piqua


6,031


Covington


7,458


TIPPACADOS 1,40€


Bradford.


1,373


Columbus Grov


Glascow


37%


Pleasant Hill


461


Fletobar


38


Casatow a


33


B-Andt


741


Honterzwille 226


Leipsid.


243


Dupont


200


Risbland Co. 30,908


Maasdeld City 9.8cg


6balby


Plymouth 1,145


Rich wocd.


Millora Ceniee.


495


Unionvillo


200


Venwort Co. 33,030


Fanwert.


4,08z


Delphos ...


2.8:4


Wir!stirs


Mildlepoint .. 449


Convoy


120


Farmersville


794


Brook ville


574


Vsodalis 365


West Minmi City 31.


Sslom ..


Coutravltte.


South Balam


fiailsville. ..


Warren Co. 29,392


Lebanon


Franklin


Morrow


946


Waynesville


Birla.borough. 553


Harveyshark .... 539


...


43


Valnaville ...


334


Stock port


335


Deovertown


Morrow Co. 19,073


Hoant Gilead


1,216


Bafoto Co. 33,511


Mar:etta City ... 5.444


Harmet


1.47


Be!pre ..


.....


Beverly


Welstroras


Rnous Vista .. 354


Lucasville


Webster


Muskingum Co. 49.790


.14


Seneca Co. 36,955


Tima Chy


Kimatar Cky ..


Orrrille. .


Grees Springs


Repabite


Attica ...


Batteville


Norwich


Fist Hork.


FreJarichburg


Arpin frank .


Marsha'le:lle


Me. BRIva


......


Caldwell ,.


Witllamaharg Míg


Bast l'alog


Paralartos


L ..........


Lingasochorg


Stark Co. 64,037


Williams Co. 23,821


Bryan .. 3.954


Plata City


Etmore


West Jefferson


Oak Harbor


Midway ..


Comerford


$7


343


Waynesburg


Xibarva ...


SỐ5


North Lawrence


500


Wilmot.


412


GrømatoWE 330


Mount Union


327


Weston ..


Petr-berville. 614


Killbars


485


Uasklos


35g


TOOLORNEY


345


Rising Son.


344


Grand Rapids


334


Akr.n \'1By


16,512


Peninsula


438 Caster


241


West Hill Grove


Braduer.


Freeport.


216


Hay tsville


217


Portage


Wyandct Co. 32,401 Upper Bandasky .....


3.545


Cary ..


1,149


Nevada


1,015


Wharton


392


KJrby


300


Maracities. 275


Sycamore


MeCatchensville


330


Little Sandusky.


200


Hablard. 1,51 x


Girard ... 1,385


Mineral Ridge


1,150


Cortinad


616


Fewton Falls


575


Leavitiburg


339


Brook deld


300


Orangefeld 213


Went Farmington. 160


. Fiammaa .


257


Mesopuremim


Borgh Hill


oEE


Bloom feld


Tascarawss Co. 40


Low Philadelphia .... 3.070


Urichaville ....


3,790


Newcomers. 926


M.oerst Folgt . 643


Pors Washington 6:4


Bollvar ... 564


New Curaberland


473


Dover ..


43]


Milton .. 68


Letpale Station 66 1


Bellmore 446


Kalide


Trentos 314


Zoar 300


Saod ville


Winchester.


116


Rossville


Monroa Co. 20.497


Clariogtog


915


Baalleville


39%


Bares ville


348


Pardis


26


Cameron.


200


Lexington 503


Independence


394


Laoss.


335


Rome


Rosa Co. 40,307


Chillicothe City. 10,934


Balobridge


Frankfurd.


Vinton Co. 17,256


Wearthat ..


Zalerki


1,175


Wilkaville.


Uploa.


Liberty 330


Philip harg 215


Harshosoyville 300


South Arlingtun 300


Morgan Co. 20.074


Bandusky Co. 32,003


MeConnellsville


7.471


Fremont City 8,45L


Clyde, 2.160


Chesterfield


445


Green Springs


Lindsey Gibeonb ATg.


499


Wood ville


Washington Co. 43,244


Cardiax 400. 96


Chesterfield, 266


Spurte


Iker's


Jobsaville


Levering 200


Ma-baharK


Cedarville


Wayne Co. 37,152


.Tosto?'s.


Maw Concord


Taylorerrile


Noble Co. 81,137


Shelby Co. 21,130


Pidory .... 4. 691


415


Barlaak


...


Barton Lily .....


510


Mahoning Co. 42,807


Youngstown City ... .. 15,438


Washlactonville


Junction


200


Perry Co. 28,218


Now Lexington.


1.157


Booth Ridge


391


Nastuam .. 285


749


Pigeon Baa


347


Sumunit Co. 43.788


Thornville.


360


Tallmadge Center. 375


Thou aston 350


Manchester. 381


Want Rich deld


327


Cuota


173


Creeubi:z


240


Macedonia


.....


319


Twiaaberg


201


Piko Co. 17,927


Mozgadore


100


Waverly


1,:85


Piketon


Jasper


200


Portage Co. 27,500


Kent ..


3.309


3,:34


Garrettsville


900


Windham


335


Mogadore


300


Randolph.


330


Atwater


220


Maatos.


215


Freble Co. 24,534


Ex:on


1,143


Now Paris 835


Camden .


West Alex sadda.


Winchester


Lewisharg 400


EI Dorado .. 3.35


Fair Baren.


181


Eupbemia


26g


Wast Elkton


$47


Went Manchester.


Verona


Putnam Co. 23,718


3,177


Rowville ..


Union Co. 23,374


2.05€


Bellville 97


ebilob.


Adelphi .. 409


Kingston 442 %


Clarksburg


500


Riebmondale


Rozabel


324


Bourneville


Mannlevillo.


Rolleyna 2, 160


Portsmouth City ..


Sclatuville


Wheelersburg


Dre.Jan 1,204


Duncan Falls


Ottawa Co. 19,763


PoLin-Bey


NaTerra ..


Booth Bolon


Paulding Co. 18,490


Pauldiog.


Aatworp


3,275


New Holland ..


475


Tart!on


425


Willian. sport ..


Bouth Bioumfeld


301


Johnson's Corners.


100


Trumbull Co. 44.882 Warren City 4.425


Nilos ..


3,880


Church Bull. 2,200


North. Baltimore .


New Berlin 300


Brach City 385


Boxerset .. 1, 207


Rendville .. 340


North Jackson


Beardstown


1,520


168


336


Gilbos


Wundnfeld


Montgomery Co. 78,545 Dayton City. 38,677 Nallocal Military Home 3,455


1.035 Germantown 1,618


Foster's Cromalag


Corwia


312


basta villo ...


1,049


Navyatt


Aliianc+ 4,636


Plocrer 760


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1


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Range 3 East


Banog 1 haet


Range 1 East


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11


12


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9


10


11


12


7


17


18


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Twp I South,


10


77


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29


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15


14


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31


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31


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10


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12


Twp 2 South


15


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1Twp 3 South


1


( sin)


N WERT COUNTY


6


14


1


CHICAG


MERCER CO.


Range


Ranpo


Range 3


---


PETER LIBADIE


BLACK


CHARI


7


9


10


11


1


CAPACENT


R


Town ..


.5.+ BLACK CREEK


Crossing


23


19


20 Mendongy


DUBIN


30


29


20


25


30


29


28


27


23


C.9


Job


31


3:


23


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30


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Liberty I'Muspel


6


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1. 3


13


15 Septunos


13


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LIBERTY


18


HOPEWEL


Town 5


13


20


21


$2


24


30


57


50


l'ho of that


5.9


b+ Skeels & Roads


Tas


31


36


Blenheim


CELINA


1


1C


GRAND RESERVOIR Average depth 10 feet ... 1700 Acres-


Town 6


WASHINGTON


Noi


17


.3


30


26


25


Macedon


1


Cold Water


R


VYKLIN



34


56


+


33


6


St


Sters


Philoteha


7


RECOVERY


Town 7


17


16


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GRAN


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R


MaDTST


O


22


IBSON


Town 8


-


13


7


12


*C


12


UNION


Shadow 2


N


4


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Montezuma


BUTLER


Cam


30


1


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34


35


36


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2


5


15-16


HISTORY


OF


VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO.


INTRODUCTION.


LESS than nine centuries since, the historic period of the Western Continent-the new world-was ushered in. Let us pause a moment and recall the achievements of the actors in the great drama of dis- covery, settlement, colonization, and nationality. With our own terri- tory extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the great cool lakes to the broad warm gulf, it also embraces a separate territory bor- dering the Frozen Ocean and clasping hands with the great Asiatic Continent, almost linking that continent with British North America. With an area of more than three and a half million square miles, it em- braces a population of more than 50,000,000 human beings, which num- ber is annually augmented by accessions from all quarters of the globe. This domain comprises all varieties of climate, soil, productions, rivers, lakes, and natural scentry, and forms the material for many States yet to form, which under the indissoluble bond of union now existing will make of all a Nation, under a government the best the world has ever seen, with institutions of which the race may be proud, and in the enjoy- ment of liberties of which the old workl has never even dared to dream. "A government of the people, for the people, and by the people," it has


---


.-


. become the model to which all governments are slowly but steadily fashioning themselves. " Westward the star of empire took its way," until in the new world was solved the great problems of government, of liberty and equality, for these institutions have been found equal to any test, and able to resist every strain. Resting upon intelligence, its superiority has been demonstrated, its adaptation to the wants of man attested until it gives promise of a solution of the great problem of the social, political, and civil destiny of man.


-


But all this is the growth and development of less than three centu- ries, and a review of that period, extending from savagery to enlighten- ment is the task we undertake. What is the story of the years?


DISCOVERY.


Nearly nine centuries ago, Eric the Red, a Norwegian sailor,* settled in Jeeland, from which he navigated the seas, until discovering Green- land, he concluded to make it his home. His son Lief, fired by ambi- tion, purchased a vessel, and undertook a voyage of discovery. With a stout little craft, sometimes moved by wind and again by oars, just such A vessel as the sea-kings of Europe used, he prepared with twenty-five men to make a voyage of the unknown sea. He had prevailed upon his father to become the commander of the expedition, but on the way to the vessel the animal ridden by Eric stumbled, and the old navigator thinking it an ill omen said, " I do not believe it is given to me to dis- cover any more lands, and here I will abide."


In the summer of 10027 Lief and his companions sailed south westerly, until they saw land, flat along the shore, with snow-capped mountains at a distance from the sea. Farther south they found another country of heavy timber and no mountains. Here they rested a few hours, and


. Something of the wayward life of those old sea-kings may be obtained from the following verse, taken from one of their old ballads :- 1


"He scorns to rest 'neath the smoky rafter, Hle plows with his boat the roaring deep ; The billows boil and the storm howis after- But the tempest is only a thing of laughter- The sea king loves it better than sleep ?''


t & Norse navigator, Herjuifson, sailing from Iceland to Greenland in the year Po; was driven by a storm to Newfoundland or Labrador, but after being driven SE at length reached Greenland, without having landed in the new country of


when h he reinted marvellous stories. 3


again sailed southward. The next land was gently hilly and mostly wooded, with a northern shore sheltered by an island. Here small but delicious fruits were found in abundance, and some burnt wood and bones of fishes were the only traces of human beings. Finding a harbor at the mouth of a river, their vessel was carried by the tide into a bay. where they landed, and finding a delightful climate, the woods abound- ing with deer and the waters with fish, they concluded to spend the winter. A German of the company discovered an abundance of de- licious grapes, and the country was then named Vineland by Lief.


On returning to Greenland in the spring they found Eric had recently died, and Lief being the eldest son came in possession of the estate and patriarchal office. His younger brother, Thorwald, then obtained the vessel, and with thirty companions visited Vineland, and passed the winter in the huts built by his brother. In the spring part of the com- pany explored the coasts, but repaired to the old quarters in Vineland to pass the winter. Explorations were made the following summer, until on the high land bordering an inlet Thorwald determined to make his abode. Natives were discovered here of dusky color and small stature, resembling the Esquimaux of Greenland. Some of those found in canoes were made prisoners, and cruelly murdered by the Northmen. One escaped, who fled to his people and aroused them against the Northmen. The savages approached in canoes, and, surprising the company of Thorwald, a fight ensued, in which Thorwald was mortally wounded, while his companions escaped. The chief was buried on the promontory which he had chosen for a home. His survivors passed the winter in fear of the savages, and in the spring returned to Greenland.


Erie's. third son, Thorstein, hearing of the death of his brother, sailed for Vineland with twenty-five companions and his young wife Gudrida. to whom he had been married only a few weeks. They were driven upon the desolate shore of Greenland, where they suffered dreadfully until spring. Thorstein and many of his companions perished by contagion, and the young wife with a few of the company remained to carry home the body of her husband.


During the next summer a rich young Norwegian, named Thorfin, visited Greenland, wedded Gudrida, and in company with five other young men and their wives sailed for Vineland to plant a colony. They landed near the spot where Lief had passed the winter, and founded a colony, with which Thorfin and Gudrida remained about three years. when they sailed for Norway. After several voyages they settled in Iceland, living in unrivalled style until the death of Thorfin. Gudrida then went with her son, who was born in Vineland, on a pilgrimage to Rome, where she related her adventures to Pope Benedict, and returned to enter a convent. Her son Snorre became master of his father's estate and the ancestor of a long line of descendants, one of whom was Albert Thorwaldsen the great Danish sculptor. Thorfin's colouy was joined by two brothers, Helgi and Fiombogi, with thirty followers. They were Icelandic chieftains who fitted out the expedition in Greenland, and per- mitted Freydisa, the daughter of Eric, to accompany and share the profits of the voyage. As she was deceitful and of a fiery temper. it was hoped by Lief and his family she would permanentiy remain in Vineland, but she soon became such a firebrand in the colony, that find- ing her life in peril she returned to Greenland.


Such is the story of the Icelandic chronicles. Where was Vineland? The stony land with snow-capped mountains was doubtless Labrador, while the flat, wooded land was as undoubtedly Newfoundland. The time given of the rising and setting of the sun at the winter solstice, indicates a point between Boston harbor and Narragansett Bay as the site of Vineland. The best informed students believe Thorfin and Gud- rida landed and lived on Rhode Island, amd that the mysterious stone tower at Newport was built by these Norwegian colonists. No positive ( 17)


18


HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO.


traces of the colony are found after the departure of Freydisa. The sagas and eddas of Iceland give glimpses of it for a few years, but even these allow it to fade away. They do tell us that Gudlief traded be- tween Jecland and Ireland about the year 1030; that while sailing west- ward a strong wind swept his ship to the southwest; that after many days. he and his erew saw land, and on entering a harbor were made prisoners by a dark-colored people who came from the woods in great numbers. Taken to the forest they were met by a white chieftain, who addressed them in Icelandic, procured their release, and advised them to depart at once as the dark natives were cruel to strangers. He refused to tell his name, but inquired about Snorre and other persons of Iceland. He then took a gold ring from his finger, and requested Gudlief to present it to Thurida, the sister of Suorre. Gudlief did as requested, and it was believed the white chief was Bjorn, a famous Iec- landic bard, who had been a lover of Gudrida, and left his country in 998 .* Tradition speaks of other voyages to the new world; one by Prince Madoc of Wales, which lays claim to the chronicles of that country for its foundation. It has been believed by some students that Madoc, a son of Owen Gwynneth, became disgusted with domestic con- tentions about the rightful successor to his father, and went on a voy- age of discovery during the reign of Henry the Second of England, and going westward from Ireland discovered a fruitful country in 1170. After his return he sailed for the same land with ten ships and a colony of men, women, and children, and was never heard of afterward. It has been observed by travellers that light-colored Indians were met by them who had many Welsh words in their language. Humboldt gave the tradi- tion a hearing, and Southey made it the theme of a poem. The Norsemen found the land peopled by a race of savage dwarfs or Esquimaux, and here America passed from view, and lay hidden from the gaze of Euro- peans for a period of nearly three hundred years. During that period mighty changes had occurred in Europe. Wonderful intellectual. moral, and physical activity manifested itself about the middle of the fifteenth century. Trade was linking Europe in bonds of mutual sympathy and interest, when the printing press appeared to revolutionize society and inaugurate the era of scientific research and maritime discovery.


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Lief Erickson came to the American continent at the midnight of the world; Columbus came at the first faint gleam of the dawn. With the revival of learning, which the crusades were chiefly instrumental in producing, a knowledge of the theories and demonstrations of the Arabian astronomers concerning the globular form of the earth came to Europeans. Intelligent mariners convinced the Genoese merchants of the truth of this theory, but the clergy opposed it with vehemence, until the clash of Reason and Faith produced two hostile parties arrayed in bitter controversy. Reason triumphed, and the Genoese merchants fur- nished ships for the navigators to go westward in search of India.


It was at this period that Christopher Columbus, by birth a Genoese, appealed to Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain for sufficient patronage to enable him to fit out an expedition to make a westward search for India. He was successful through the sympathy of Isabella, and on Friday, August 3, 1492, set sail from l'alos with three vessels, the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Nina, carrying with him letters from the Spanish sovereigns to the Grand Khan of Tartary. Days and weeks passed by until the discovery of land on the night of October 11. On the next day the vessels were laid to, awaiting the dawn. Wooded shores were in view; the perfume of flowers was wafted by the land breeze, and birds of gorgeous plumage hovered about the vessels. It was the triumph of Columbus, for as Mr. Irving has said, "The great mystery of the ocean was revealed." At sunrise Columbus and his companions landed from small boats, and found a number of men and one woman, with skins of


* Touching the reality of these Norse discoveries, we cite the following passages from Humboldt's Cosmos, vol. ii. pp. 269-272 :-


" We are here on historical ground. By the critical and highly praiseworthy efforts of Prof. Rafn and the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Copenhagen, the sagas and documents in regard to the expeditions of the Norsemen to Newfound- Lind, Nova Scotia, and Vineland, have been published and satisfactorily commented upon. . . . . The discovery of the northern part of America by the Norse. men cannot be disputed. The length of the voyage, the direction in which they mailed, the time of the sun's rising and setting are accurately given. . While the Caliphate ef Bagdad was still flourishing, America was discovered about the year 1000 by Lief, the son of Eric the Red, at a latitude of 41;º north. "'


dark copper color, watch their movements for a time, and then flee in alarm to the deeper shades of the forest. These inhabitants had watched the approaching ships from dawn with awe and apprehension, believing them to be monsters of the sea. When they saw the white men come ashore, in dress of gaudy colors, with shining lace and glittering armor, they supposed them to be superior beings whose abode was the skies. The Europeans, too, were astonished at the naked people with dusky skins, painted in a variety of colors and devices. The men were with- out beards, and both sexes wore long black hair falling about the shoul- ders and bosoms in profusion. By degrees the alarm of the savages gave way, and they approached the Europeans, giving signs of amity and good will. They were the natives of San Salvador, but Columbus, believing he had reached an island of Farther India, called the inhabi- tants Indians, a name since applied to all the natives of America.


The purpose of this review is accomplished, as it is only to serve as an introduction to the history of the savages or American Indians.


THE INDIANS.


We have already adverted to great changes having occurred in Europe during the period intervening between the discoveries of Lief and Columbus, the Cabots, and Vespuccius. As great changes had evi- dently occurred among the nations of North America. The weak bands of dwarfed Esquimaux found by the Norsemen had evidently given way before the stronger, hardier, and nobler race encountered by the Euro- peans. The weak Esquimaux were either annihilated or driven to the frozen regions of the north, and abundant evidence existed showing great migrations had occurred from part to part of the continent, in which half civilized barbarians were expelled from fertile districts by savages, while savage regions had in turn been colonized by sun wor- shippers from Central and South America, whose art remains tell of a rude civilization. It is certain that in South America native empires flourished which would compare favorably with those of the Eastern world. From the Rio Grande to the Isthmus of Panama an empire flourished whose people and rulers displayed many of the nobler virtues, some of the civilized arts and sciences, and whose laws evinced as pro- found respect for the great principles of morality as those of the most civilized nations of Europe. That empire was exerting a softening indu- ence among the rude tribes of the north, when the civilized murderers and robbers from Spain, under Cortez, made their appearance, over- turned the empire, and extinguished the light whose glimmerings were visible in the darker regions of the north. Professedly Christian them- selves, they barred the advance of a civilization which was more practi- cally Christian than that of the conquering robbers.


Such were some of the changes, some of the advances made by the savages of the western world before their contact with Europeans. Traced from the civilization to which they were capable of rising back to barbarism, their origin fades away until it is lost in the long night of human ignorance. On numerous facts and discoveries, as numerous theories of their origin have been founded. Remains of fortifications, idols composed of clay and gypsum, and a Roman coin have been dis- covered. Again, a Persian coin was found in Ohio; a piece of silver. dated in the year 600, in New York, and split wood and ashes thirty feet below the surface in the same State. A finely-gilded silver cup in . an Ohio mound, and two ancient swords, a helmet and shichl bearing Greck inscriptions carrying them back to the time of Alexander the Great in a tomb of South America, are some of the facts on which stand different theories of the origin of the western nations. One theory claims they came from Phenicia, another from Egypt, another from Hindoostan, and again from China. Then comes another theorist, who insists and demands that we believe them the descendants of the "Lost Tribes of Israel," without pausing to show us that any of those tribes were lost instead of being amalgamated by merging with other nations."




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