History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 9

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 9
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 9

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).

Colonel Crawford was born in Orange County, Virginia, in 1732 (now Berkley County, West Virginia). He and General Washington were of the same age and were intimate friends from early life until Crawford's death, both being engaged while young men in the same pursuit, that of land surveyors. Both were officers in Braddock's disastrous campaign in 1755; both were officers in Gen. Forbes's army, in 1758, which successfully marched against Fort Du Quesne. Colonel Crawford served as a captain in Dunmore's war, in 1774-recruited a regiment for continental service -became Colonel of the Seventh Virginia Regiment-was in the Long Island campaign, also in the retreat through New Jersey, and partici- pated in the battles of Trenton and Princeton. In 177S he had command of a Virginia regiment in the vicinity of " Fort Pitt," and built Fort Crawford, sixteen miles above the " Forks of the Ohio." He also par- ticipated in the erection of Fort MeIntosh and Fort Laurens, and ron- dered other valuable services, He removed to "Stewart's Crossings" (now Connelsville) in 1769, it being the point where Braddock's army crossed the Youghiogheny River, in 1755, and where he frequently re- ceived the visits of his old friend, General Washington, whose land agent he was. And here he lived when he took command of the ill-fated San- dusky expedition. Colonel William Crawford possessed the highest qualities of true manhood, and justly ranked as a hero among the heroes of those heroic times !

Colonel David Williamson, the ranking officer after the capture of Colonel Crawford, took command of the defeated, demoralized, retreating forces, who were pursued by the victors, at least thirty miles, and dis-

HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO.

played considerablo ability as such, particularly at the battle of Olen- tangy, which was fought June Cth, during the retreat, at a point now in Whetstone Township, Crawford County, about five miles southeasterly from Bucyrus. Colonel Williamson lived in Washington County, Penn- sylvania, and died there, after having served it in the capacity of sheriff. We repeat the statement to his credit, that he was personally opposed to the murder of the Christian Indians, but could not prevent it.

GENERAL GEORGE ROGERS CLARK'S EXPEDITION.

In the autumn of 1792, soon after the battle of Blue Licks, and in re- taliation upon the Ohio Indians, for that and other marauding and mur- derous incursions into Kentucky, General George Rogers Clark, with a force of over one thousand men, marched against the Indian towns on the Miami River. One division of the army was under command of Colonel Logan, and the other was commanded by Colonel Floyd. The two divisions marched together from the mouth of the Licking to a point near the head waters of the Miami River, now in Miami County, and there destroyed some Shawanese towns and other property, including Loramie's store, which was at the mouth of Loramie's Creek, within the present limits of Shelby County. Ten Indians were killed and a num- ber of prisoners taken.

General George Rogers Clark was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, November 19, 1752. He commanded a company in the right wing of Dummore's army in 1774, and settled in Kentucky in 1776. In 1778 he led an army into the Northwest and conquered it. He served under Ba- ron Steuben in 1780, during Arnoll's invasion of Virginia, and rendered other valuable military services. He was also a legislator, and served as a commissioner in making treaties with the Indians at Fort McIntosh, in 1785, and at Fort Finney in 1786. General Clark was man of ability, of skill, energy, enterprise, and of wonderful resources. Ile died at Locust Grove, near the Falls of the Ohio, in February, 1818.

COLONEL LOGAN'S EXPEDITION.

In 1786 Colonel Benjamin Logan crossed the Ohio River at Limestone (now Maysville), with four hundred men or more, and marched to the Mack-a-check towns on Mad River, to chastise the Shawanese there, who were intensely hostile to the Kentuckians. The result of the campaign was the burning of eight of their towns, all of which were situated within the present limits of Logan County; also the destruction of much corn. Twenty warriors were also killed, including a prominent chief of the nation, and about seventy-five prisoners were taken. Colonel Daniel Boone, General Simon-Kenton, and Colonel Trotter were officers in this expedition. The first two named rendered valuable services in Dun- more's expedition, and afterwards, and the latter also made a good pio- neer and war record.

Several minor expeditions, accompanied by comparatively unimportant results, we leave unnoticed. Those of Colonel Edwards to the Big Miami in 1787, and of Colonel Todd to the Scioto Valley in 1783, before the organization of the " Territory Northwest of the River Ohio," were of this class.

FIRST TREATIES EST .: BLISHING BOUNDARIES.

The first treaty establishing boundaries in Ohio between our Govern- ment and the Ohio Indians was formed at Fort McIntosh, in January, 1785. .

This treaty was followed on May 20, 1785, by an ordinance of Congress, which provided for the first survey an'l sale of the public lands within the present limits of Ohio. Under that ordinance the traet known as the Seren Ranges was surveyed, and sales effected at New York, in 1787, to the amount of $72,974. The tract of the Ohio Land Company was sur- veyed and sol.l, pursuant to the provisions of an ordinance of July 23, 1785 ; and Fort Harmar, situated at the mouth of the Muskingum River, was built dering this and the next year, for the protection of the immi- grants that might settle upon it. The title to the Ohio Land Company's purchase was not perfected until October 23, 1787, and until then, settling upon the public lands was discouraged and indeed forbidden by the Government ; but, notwithstanding a number of settlements were made between the time of the treaty of Fort MeIntosh, in January, 1785, and

the perfecting of the title of the Ohio Land Company in October, 1787. These were chiefly nlong the Hockhocking and the Ohio rivers, and were broken up by military force, and the settlers dispersed or driven east of the Ohio River. Settlements that were attempted at the mouth of the Scioto, and other places, were prevented. Proclamations by Con- gress were issued against settling upon the public domain as early as 1785, and enforced by the military power when disregarded. Hundreds of families probably had attempted to settle permanently west of the Olio River, previous to the arrival of the colony of New Englanders, at the mouth of the Muskingum, in April, 1753, but were not permitted to do so. The fact, therefore, remains that the settlement at Marietta wax the first permanent one within the present limits of Ohio-all others bring but temporary, by Frason of the compulsory dispersion, previously, of the settlers elsewhere, and the destruction of their huts.

THIE MOUND BUILDERS.

ARCHAEOLOGY.

"And did the dust Of these fair solitudes once stir with life And burn with passion ? Let the mighty mounds That overlooked the rivers, or that rise In the dim forests, crowded with old! oaks. Answer. A race that long has passed away Built them ; a disciplined and populous race Heaped with long toil the earth, while yet the Greek Was howing the Pentelicus to forms Of symmetry, and rearing on its rock The glittering Parthenon." BRYANT.

WHILE philology attests the great antiquity of a spoken language and biology the long development of organized life, paleontology pro- duces silent records carrying man far back into the pliovene period of geology-back to the very portals of the miocene period through which he may have entered that age in which his traces abound. Time, with iconoclastic disposition, may alone be responsible for the destruction of older silent records, thus enshrouding the history of man in the night cloud of high antiquity. While satisfactory proofs are wanting to estab- lish his existence during the miocene period, it may be claimed with plausibility that this periodl was fitted and conditioned for his produe- tion and existence. The tertiary, which was the birth-day of mammals. might well be also the birth-day of man, for if he did not appear simul- taneously with the mastodon and mammoth, he at least found a contem- porancous existence. . Geology abounds with evidences of the fitness of the conditions of the mammalian period for the production and mainte- nanee of the higher forms of life. It was a period of life and beauty. rivalling, if not excelling, the most enchanting dreams of a sylvan age. With a tropical climate, its forms of animal life were manifold and often colossal; with birds of rare and brilliant plumage and sweet enchanting song. These inhabited forests, blossoming with beauty or stooping with ripening fruit.

The world was full of life-life in its most majestic and gorgeous forms, and if it exists for the sole use of man, this would appear a proper moment to usher him into existence. Let this be as it may, he did exist contemporaneously with those greatest mammals, and has outlived their period. Leaving his stamp upon the pliocene age he has witnessed the death of the mammoth and mastodon, and alone has withstood the muta- tions and transformations of the intervening epochs of the glacial and alluvial periods. Man is old, and in his long descent through the ages his tracks become more and more distinct, until at last he paused from time to time and erected monuments to serve as mile posts along his advancing way. As each structure is better than each carlier one, they testify in silence of a regular improvement, a progressiveness in man. In silence, too, they testify of races now extinct, of builders who disap- peared, and of different degrees of civilization which were ruthlessly swept away before the furious tidlo of barbarians sweeping from the north. To these monuments-these mile posts-the antiquarian and

HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OIIIO.

archeologist turns with searching gaze, and by patient research has learned to read the revelation they contain of the condition and fate of these ancient races.

One of these races, ancient in time and distinct in characteristic, once occupied the whole central portion of the United States. A lost race, destituto of a written language, their history is sought amidst their monuments, comprising mounds, inclosures, and implements, until, after patient research, something of the veil has been lifted which had en- shrowled in mystery a whole people, who had attained a condition of setni-civilization. Their disappearance was hidden in a long night of ignorance and oblivion, until the tireless student had mastered the silent language of the structures and implements which remained the monu- ments of the race. Leaving no name they have been denominated the " Mound Builders," because of the innumerable structures of this char- acter, which have withstood the fury of the northern hordes, the assaults of time, and outlasted the periods of the villagers and Indians. To these remains we must turn for the records of this race whose identity is lost. These remains may be classified as structures, implements, and orna- ments. The structures are again divided in two general classes, viz., inclosures and mounds, although of various forms and sizes. Of these structures over thirteen thousand are found in Ohio alone. The first class Embraces all those works which are bounded by embankments or walls, and includes fortifications, sacred inclosures, and various other symmetrical works. The second class embraces the true mound struc- tures, which have been classified as sacrificial, temple, sepulchral, sym- bolical, and anomalous, as indicated by the purposes they served. The inclosures are often of great dimensions, generally constructed of clay, although sometimes of stone, and range from three to thirty feet in height, inclosing from one to four hundred acres of ground. Of this class over fifteen hundred are found in Ohio. They are generally regu- lar in form, comprehending the square, circle, parallelogram, ellipse, and octagon. .

Inclosures have been classified as "Defensive" and "Sacred."

Defensive works are found chiefly occupying bluffs, headlands, or iso- lated hills in the vicinity of the largest valleys. Such elevations were chosen with care and strengthened with skill, thus affording excellent points for military works. The walls extend below the brow of the hill, and vary in strength and height according to the angle of declivity. The exposed sides are covered and protected by trenches and overlap- ping walls, the trench usually being outside the wall. The gateways appear at the most accessible points, and were guarded by overlapping walls, which were often attended by mounds suitable for both observa- tion and defence. Many of the defensive works occupy peninsulas, formed by the bends of streams, and consist of a line of ditches and embankments carried across the isthmus, and sometimes leading diago- nally from one stream to another. Fort Ancient being the most cele- brated and widely known of these fortifications is worthy a partial description here. Situated on the east bank of the Little Miami, in Warren County, Ohio, it is about thirty-three miles northeast of Cin- cinnati. Having been frequently and fully surveyed, much has been written descriptive of it until it has acquired great celebrity.

Located upon a terrace, it is difficult of access from the west. The Lebanon and Chillicothe road passes through it on the north, while to the south the descent is steep and winding. A few years ago the whole inclosure was covered by a primitive forest, full of undergrowth, con- sisting largely of blackberry bushes. A little over one hundred acres are thus inclosed by a line of walls about five miles in length. The embankment was constructed of a tough diluvial clay, rising from five to twenty feet in height, averaging about ten feet, and containing 628, 00 cubic yards of excavation. The bill upon which it is constructed rises to a level plain, divided by a peninsula, with a summit two hundred and thirty feet above the level of the Little Miami. On the west is a precip- itous bank of two hundred feet, while on the east two ravines originate andI diverging sweep around the hill and enter the river, the one above, the other below the work4. On the verge of the ravines the embankment is raised, and, winding around the spurs, re-enters to pass the head of gul- les at different places plunging into ravines from fifty to one hundred feet deep. The greatest strength and solidity occur at the points most exposed, until at the isthmus the walls rise to the height of twenty feet.

At the west entrance of the Chillicothe rond the wall is fourteen fort high, with a base of sixty feet. The south division is naturally impreg- nable to any primitive people, and so the attack must be made against the north division. Should this be carried, protection is still afforded by two crescent walls thrown across the isthmus, with a convex north- ern face. South of these are two mounds at the narrowest part of the isthmus, while, as a further precaution, on the steep slope of the south- ern portion of the hill, at its approach to the river, three parallel ter- races were constructed, commanding a broad view of the valley in both directions. Over seventy gateways, having a width of from ten to fifteen feet, appear in the embankment, some of which only could furnish points of ingress and egress, as others faced the precipitous ravines, with made earth thrown out, and must have been intended as outposts for sharp- shooters. The walls are not accompanied by a ditch, but within appear some twenty-four reservoirs, which, taken in connection with the numer- ous springs, would supply sufficient water in any case of siege. it numerous points are found large quantities of water-worn stone, which must have been carried from the river by prodigious exertion. Near the exterior of the eastern walls of the north division are two large mounds, from which start two parallel walls continuing for a distance of 1350 feet, when they suddenly approach each other and inclose another mound at the eastern extremity. These walls are now almost obliter- ated. Such is an outline description of one of the most interesting monuments of antiquity afforded by the western continent.

Bourneville Fortifications.

In respect to magnitude of area the fortification near Bourneville, twelve miles west of Chillicothe, Ohio, is the largest in the country. It is situated upon a hill about four hundred feet high, having slopes of general abruptness, and washed on two sides by small creeks. Its sum- mit is a broad fertile plain with depressions, some of which contain water during the entire year, and of such extent that one has an area of about two acres. The fortification consists of stone walls, two and a quarter miles in length, inclosing an area of about one hundred and forty acres .. The structure has now the appearance of a wall which had fallen outward. Along certain parts of the line are indications of a regularly faced exterior. The wall extends around the hill, a little below the brow, except when it rises to cut off the narrow spurs and to separate the hill from the land beyond. Upon the western face of the hill the wall covers a space varying from thirty to fifty feet in width, and resembles the protection walls along embankments of railroads where they are exposed to the action of water. Along the eastern face the wall is heavier, with a height of four feet, and a base of fifteen or twenty feet. Here the declivity is less abrupt. The isthmus, seven hundred feet wide, affords the easiest access, and so has the heaviest wall. At this point the amount of stone used was so great that, after two farmers had re- moved enough to form a line fence between their lands, the loss was scarcely perceptible. The wall is continuous, except at the gateways and one point of the hill, which is so precipitous as to be inaccessible. Five gateways appear, three of which are on the isthmus. At these the amount of stone is four times greater than elsewhere, constituting large mound-shaped heaps. These heaps exhibit marks of intense heat, which is also exhibited at different points along the wall. Within the inclosure are two stone mounds, bearing the same traces of the action of fire, and are located near the line of wall commanding the greatest extent of country. Fires must have been maintained upon them for long periods, and they undoubtedly served as signals of alarm.

Most of the wall is now covered by gigantic forest trees. It probably averaged about eight feet in height with an equal base, but of course is now in complete ruins, owing to the great lapse of time, its situation upon a disintegrating declivity, and the demolition occasioned by the growth and decay of successive forests. A fort of this description must have been almost impregnable to a primitive race.

Carlisle Fortifications.

One of the most important defensive works is situated about two miley west of Carlisle, Ohio, in Montgomery and Warren counties. An incomplete survey of it was made Sept. 5, 1875, by Messes. S. 11.

HISTORY OF VAN WERT AND MERCER COUNTIES, OHIO.

Binkley and C. E. Blossom. Since that date other observations have been made by the antiquarian and author, J. P. MacLean, on whose works we have largely relied as authority on this subject. The work is situated on the summit of a hill a few rods west of Big Twin. The hill is bounded north and south by deep ravines, on the east by a precipitous bluff with a declivity varying from one hundred and twenty-five to two hundred feet. To the east of the bluff is an alluvial terrace leading to the Big Twin.

This terrace is divided into two parts, an upper and a lower. formed in the direction of the stream. On the west the hill is connected with the level by a broad peninsula. The wall is situated on the brow of the hill except on the north side, where it falls a little lower. It is generally constructed of surface material, although limestone is found at the southwestern gate. At the west, at the point of greatest exposure, three lines of wall occur. The entire length on the direct line of the middle wall is 3676 feet, inclosing an area of from twelve to fifteen acres. The length of the wall on the Twin bluff'is 1110 feet. The inte- rior is now cultivated, and a growth of corn rendered observations in- complete. Even part of the wall is under cultivation, but the greater portion is covered by a thick nudergrowth of briers, while forest trees are still standing at certain points. Within the inclosure are two stone mounds and one stone circle, the latter being near the centre of the in- closure. Some of the older settlers remember this circle to have been about twenty feet in diameter and eight feet high. The amount of stone was so great that, in order to obtain it for building purposes, a road was cut from the valley to the brow of the hill, and hundreds of wagon loads removed. Of the west walls the exterior one is the heaviest, and is con- structed of clay. This stands at some distance from the middle wall, and incloses a much greater area. The gateway is now an orchard, while a great portion is cultivated fiells. On the northeast corner of the work is a graded way of 804 feet leading to the bank of the Twin. At 324 feet this way reaches the terrace or the hill bottom. Here fifty- seven feet of the embankment has been carried away by the encroach- ment of the stream in the north ravine. From the wash the embank- ment is clearly traceable a distance of 257 feet, or within 126 feet of the bank of the Twin. The graded way follows the bank of the stream until within 140 feet of Twin, when it diverges and forms a straight · line. Where the way reaches the wall of the inclosure there is a wash through which water passes during a freshet. This was probably a narrow gateway. The purpose of the graded way is only plausibly stated, when it is supposed that on the bluff it was to make the ascent easier, and that along the terrace was constructed while that terrace was .a swamp.

Ou the southeast corner of the fort is another way, leading to the second or river terrace. This was evidently so perfect and so adapted by nature to subserve the purposes of the builders of the fort, that they Jeft it as it was found, being unable to make any improvement upon it. Seven miles to the northeast is the great mound at Miamisburg, while six miles castward is still another. At Franklin are the remains of a stone dam belonging to the moundI epoch. With all these remains inte resting relies are found. Other fortifications occur within the State, but these will serve the purpose of descriptive illustration.

Sacred Inclosures.

Many of the earthworks were not used for military purposes, and have been denominated " sacred inclosures." While the military works are found in localities adapted by nature for strongholds, the sacred struc- tures are situated on river bottoms, seldom occurring on a broken sur- face. These are generally regular in form, and occur either in groups or ranges. The circular works are generally small, having nearly a uni- forin diameter of from 250 to 300 feet; while some of the larger ones are over a mile in circumference. They are entered by gateways, usually facing the east.

In the vicinity of large works, small circles varying from 30 to 50 feet in diameter, and consisting of light embankments without gateways, frequently oceur. These walls are comparatively slight, ranging from three to seven feet, although sometimes attaining a height of thirty feet.

They are composed of surface material and clay. Many works are accompanied by parallel walls, reaching at times a length of 800 feet. Square, circular, elliptical, octagonal, and parallel walls, sometimes appear in combination.

Newark Works.

The most elaborate aud complicated of this class is found at the june- tion of the South and Raccoon forks of Licking River, near Newark, Ohio. They are located on a plain, at an altitude of about forty feet above the bottom lands, and consist of an extensive series of square, circular, and polygonal inclosures with mounds, ditches, and connecting avenues extending over an area of four square miles. Some of the minor structures are now nearly obliterated. In 1836 Col. Charles Whit- tlesey made a very acenrate survey, since which additional observations have been made. At the western point is a true circle 2880 feet in cir- cumference and six feet in height.

On the southwest part of the wall is a feature indicating the com- mencement of parallel walls, which, after reaching a length of 100 feet were abandoned and the opening closed by the erection of a mound 170 feet long and fourteen feet high. This mound overlooks the whole of the works, and has been named the " Observatory." At the northeast part, directly opposite this "observatory," is a gateway leading into an avenue 300 feet long and sisty feet wide, with walls not exceeding four feet in height. This terminates in one of the eight gateways of an octagon inclosing about fifty acres. These gateways are at the angles of the wall, and are each covered by a mound five feet high, eighty to 100 feet base, and standing sixty feet interior to the wall. From the octagon extend three lines of parallel walls, the one towards the south having been traced a distance of two miles. The others, extending easterly, are about a mile in length, and the walls composing all lines are about twenty feet apart. The middle line terminates in a square inclosing twenty acres, with mounds symmetrically disposed within. On the southwest of this wall is a gateway leading into a broad avenue of dissimilar parts, and constructed without any common relations. Along this avenue, a distance of 1950 feet, is the gateway of an elliptical . work whose diameters are 1250 and 1150 feet. The embankment is twelve feet in perpendicular height, fifty feet in base, and has an interior ditch seven feet deep by thirty feet in width. At the gateway the em- bankmeut is sixteen feet high, with a ditch thirteen feet deep, giving a height from the interior of twenty-nine feet. The gateway is eighty feet wide between the ditches, with a length of 100 feet. In the centre of the inclosure is a remarkable structure in the form of a bird with ex- panded wings. The length of the body is 155 feet, width 63 feet, and a height of seven feet. Length of each wing 110 feet, width at centre 45 feet, at the body 40 feet, while the height is five feet. From tip to tip of wing on a straight line 200 feet. The head points toward the gateway of the inclosure. On opening this effigy it was found to contain an altar. In the rear of the effigy and 100 feet distant is a semicircular embankment 200 feet in length. Returning to the square, we find it connected with an elliptical work, larger than the others, and situated at the northeast corner. Other parallel walls occur, and not less than twenty small circles of eighty feet diameter, accompanied by the ditch and the gateway, which almost invariably opens to the east. There are eleven circles without gateways, five of large dimensions, three of which are 200 feet in diameter, and interior to the ditch have still another em- bankment. The material for the construction of the walls was taken from the immediate vicinity, where the excavations still remain and are usually called "wells." A trench was cut through the "observatory," which revealed the fact of its being constructed entirely of clay. From this it has been concluded it was constructed of adobe, which has erum- bled during the lapse of ages. The large pond has been drained, the land reclaimed, and the Licking Fair grounds are located within the circle containing the eagle effigy. Every feature of material, size, and structure disproves the hypothesis of a military purpose being aseribed to the works. Other works of a similar character occur, particularly in Ross, Pike, Athens, Washington, Scioto, Franklin, Fairticld. Greene, Montgomery, Butler, and Clermont Counties.

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History of Van Wert and Mercer counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 9

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

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