USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne county, Ohio, from the days of the pioneers and the first settlers to the present time > Part 19
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
The scene was one of intense excitement and wonder. It seemed, verily, as if hell's hot cauldron had been punctured and was spitting whole buckets of fire-broth, A Mr. McKinley's coat tail took fire, when he went through all manner of Dervish-like contortions, gyrating and fumbling his pendent garment worse than an Asiatic fingering his cymbals before the image of the devil. Of this he is said to have cherished as lively a recollection as did Andrew Poe over the ponderous "hug" of the formidable Big Foot. Mr. Eichar precipitately rushed to the theater of excite- ment, and the letter says that, upon his arrival, he found " a fright- ful fire." Means were immediately employed to extinguish the
235
THE OLD SALT WORKS ON THE KILLBUCK.
conflagration, which was accomplished by the use of blankets, bed- clothes, etc., which were stuffed in and around the cavity.
A bottle of the oil was taken to Wooster, and exhibited by Mr. Eichar to Dr. Townsend, who, upon analysis, pronounced it " a wonderful phenomena." It must have flowed abundantly, for Mrs. Lake closes her reference to it by saying, "the whole sur- face of Killbuck was covered with oil."
But salt was what they wanted, for oil they could do without. At great expense and trouble the well was tubed, but the saline liquid not presenting itself in paying quantity, and the efflux of oil making its procuration almost, if not wholly impossible, even if the water had been of the most powerful salt character, the enter- prise was ultimately abandoned, after thousands of dollars had been expended thereon.
236
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
CHAPTER XVII.
ST. CLAIR'S DEFEAT, NOVEMBER 4, 1791.
" Fought eye to eye, and hand to hand, Alas! 'twas but to die ! In vain the rifle's deadly flash
Scorched eagle plume and wampum sash- The hatchet hissed on high ; And down they fell in crimson heaps Like the ripe corn the sickle reaps."
Major General Arthur St. Clair was born in Edinburg, Scot- land, in 1734, and came to America with Admiral Boscawen, in 1775. He served as a Lieutenant under Wolfe during the old French War. He was made a Colonel in the army, and, in 1776, was ordered to raise a regiment for the Canada service. During this year he was advanced to a Brigadiership, and supported Gen- eral Washington in his retreat through New Jersey. He took part in the battles of Trenton and Princeton. In February, 1777, he was made Major General, and ordered to Ticonderoga, which post, in less than 30 days, he evacuated, and for which he was censured and suspended from his command. He did not quit the army, however, and stood side by side with Washington in the fight of Brandywine, September 11, 1777.
A court-martial was held in his case, and he was honorably acquitted, Congress acquiescing in the verdict. Never, for a mo- ment, did Washington withdraw confidence from him. He was with the army of the South, before Yorktown, a few days prior to
* This brief chapter of military campaigns is introduced here as an explanation to references made in other pages of this work.
237
ST. CLAIR'S DEFEAT.
the surrender of Cornwallis, October 19, 1781. He was next or- dered to South Carolina, to join General Greene, which he suc- ceeded in doing, remaining with that officer during the short rem- nant of the war.
Peace concluded, he lived in Pennsylvania, and, in 1786, was elected to Congress, and was presiding officer of that body. When the North-western Territory was erected into a government he was chosen its Governor. He was appointed in 1788 and held the office until Ohio was admitted into the Union as a State.
In 1791, in the autumn, with more than two thousand men, he marched from Fort Washington into the Indian territory, arriving on the 12th of October, without material loss, at Fort Jefferson, Darke county, Ohio. Having established and garrisoned two forts on his route, he encamped fifteen miles from the Indian towns, on the Miami, on the 3d day of November. The movements of the army had been slow, and the confederated tribes of the West- Hurons, Potawatomies, Ottawas, Chippewas, Miamis, Delawares, Shawanese, Iroquois, and others-under the guidance of Michick- inaqua (Little Turtle ), and, as is supposed, of Joseph Brandt, had full opportunity to collect their warriors and form their plans for defense.
Says one authority :
Before the rising of the sun on the following day (Nov 4) the savages fell upon the camp of the whites. Never was a more decisive victory obtained. In vain did the American General and his officers exert themselves to maintain order and to rally the bewildered troops. The Indians, firing from covert, thinned the ranks and picked off the officers by a continuous and murderous discharge. A disorderly retreat was the result ; artillery, baggage, and no small portion of the arms of the militia fell into the hands of the exultant pursuers. Fort Jefferson was nearly 30 miles distant, and thither the defeated army directed its flight. The Indians fol- lowed close upon the fugitives, cutting down and destroying at will, until, as is re- ported, one of their chiefs called out to them " to stop, as they had killed enough."
The temptation offered by the plunder to be obtained at the camp, induced the Indians to return, and the remnant of the invading army reached Fort Jefferson about sunset. The loss in this battle, on the part of the whites, was no less than 894 in killed, wounded and missing ; 38 officers and 593 non-commissioned officers and privates were slain or missing. The Indian loss did not exceed fifty or sixty.
238
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
HULL'S SURRENDER, AUGUST 16, 1812.
The formal declaration of war by President Madison against Great Britain was issued June 18, 1812. The causes alleged were :
British excesses in violating the American flag on the great highway of nations; the impressment of American seamen ; harassing American vessels as they were entering their own har- bors, or departing from them ; and wantonly spilling the blood of the citizens of America within the limits of her territorial jurisdic- tion ; issuing orders by which the ports of the enemies of Great Britain were blockaded, and not supporting these blockades by the adequate application of fleets to render them legal, and enforcing them from the date of their proclamation ; in consequence of which American commerce had been plundered on every sea, and her products cut off from their legitimate markets; employing secret agents to subvert the Government and dismember the Union ; and finally, inciting the Indian tribes to hostility.
Upon the organization of the new army the chief command was bestowed upon General Henry Dearborn, of Massachusetts, an officer of the Revolution. At the South, Thomas Pinckney, of South Carolina, was created Major-General, and invested with the chief command in that quarter. The first attention of the Gov- ernment was directed to an expedition into Canada, where it was believed the disaffection of the inhabitants toward Great Britain would render it easy to obtain a foothold. A force of nearly 2,000 men, under Brigadier-General Hull, a Captain during the Revolu- tion, and then Governor of the Territory of Michigan, entered Canada West on the 12th of July, crossing over from Detroit to Sandwich.
The British fort at Malden was the first object of assault; which was in proximity to the debouchement of Detroit river, the strait, or ligature of connection between Lakes St. Clair and Erie. As a result of procrastination, on the part of Hull, opportunity was af- forded for strengthening the garrisons at this place.
During this inertness and inactivity of the army near the middle
239
HULL'S SURRENDER.
of July, the American fort at Michilimackinac fell into the hands of the enemy, and, shortly thereafter communication by the land route with Ohio was entirely severed by a party of redskins under the redoubtable Tecumseh. Hull, therefore, re-crossed the river with his entire force, and occupied Detroit. General Proctor, the British officer in command at Malden, was enabled to co-operate with his Indian confederates, and renewed attempts on the part of the Americans to force a passage of the road only resulted in dis- aster.
By the middle of August General Brock, one of the most energetic and valiant of the English commanders in Canada, and Governor of then Lower Canada, had advanced to the scene of action, and on the 15th of August he sent a flag, bearing a sum- mons to the American General to surrender, in which he says, "It is far from my intention to join in a war of extermination, but you must be aware that the numerous body of Indians, who have at- tached themselves to my troops, will be beyond my control the moment the contest commences." To this General Hull answered, " I have no other reply to make than that I am prepared to meet any force which may be at your disposal." Upon receipt of this answer of Hull's, Brock immediately opened his batteries upon the town and fort, but the Americans occupying a defensible position, entertained little fears of being able to sustain themselves.
On the morning of the 16th of August, the British crossed the river three miles below Detroit, and immediately marched towards the fort.
Hull was perplexed and agitated. He believed that resistance would be vain and ultimately lead to the barbarities of an Indian massacre. He was wavering and indecisive in his operations. At first his troops were drawn up in order of battle, without the fort, his artillery was advantageously planted, and his army awaited the approach of the enemy, full of the confidence of victory. The British were within 500 yards of their lines, when suddenly Hull gave the order to retire immediately to the fort. The indignation of the army broke forth, and all subordination ended. They
240
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
crowded in, and without any order from the General, stacked their arms, some dashing them with violence upon the ground. Many of the soldiers wept. Even the spirit of the women was in- dignant, and they declared, in impotent wrath, that the fort should not be surrendered. Hull, perceiving that he had no longer any authority, and believing that the Indians were ready to fall upon the inhabitants, was anxious to put the place under the protection of the British. A white flag was hung out upon the walls of the fort. Two British officers rode up, and a capitulation was con- cluded by Hull with the most unbecoming haste.
All the regulars and volunteers in the American army became prisoners of war, the militia being paroled, and the whole territory of Michigan fell into the hands of the British. His officers were not even consulted. He made no provision for the security of his Canadian allies and all the public property was rashly turned over. In his official report Hull estimated his force at 800 effective men, while Brock's command numbered about 1300, 700 of whom were Indians.
It may be imagined that so severe a loss and so disgraceful a reverse could not be patiently endured. Put upon trial by a court martial at Albany long afterwards, of which General Dearborn was president, he was sentenced to death for un-officer-like behavior and cowardice, but acquitted of treason. Although under con- demnation of death he was never imprisoned, and was sent un- guarded to his home, in the vicinity of Boston, to abide the decis- ion of the President of the United States, who remitted the death punishment but dispossessed him of all military command. It might not be inappropriate to remark of the unfortunate and evil- fated Hull that to-day his military character is relieved of much of the passionate aspersion flung at him in the hissing white heat of the temporary humiliation which followed his untimely surrender, and that his failings-chiefly excessive caution and a terrible ab- sence of that promptness and energy so necessary in the military leader-are looked upon with greater leniency.
241
GENERAL WINCHESTER.
GENERAL WINCHESTER-FORT MEIGS-THE SIEGE.
The army of the West, at the opening of the campaign of 1813, under Harrison, was stationed near the head of Lake Erie. His head-quarters, at this time, were at Franklinton, Ohio, and aggress- ive movements toward Canada were still the object of the Amer- ican armies. General Winchester, holding the advance of the army, and hearing that a party of the British were camped near Frenchtown, attacked and scattered them. On the morning of the 22d of January he was surprised by the combined force of British and Indians, under the command of the infamous Proctor, aided by the Indian chiefs Roundhead and Splitlogs. In this instance he was taken prisoner, and a sad, awful fate was reserved for the men of his command. The protection offered them by Proctor was not given. The merciless savages set fire to the town, drag- ged the wounded from the houses, scalped them in the streets, and left their mangled bodies in the highway.
In this most melancholy engagement the Americans lost five hundred men; and thirty-five officers and four hundred and fifty non-commissioned officers and men still remained after fighting six hours against artillery, surrounded by the yells of a thousand savages. They were chiefly volunteers from the best families of Kentucky, and the horrors and barbarities of that day put the whole State in mourning. It riveted forever the crime of murder upon Proctor and discriminates him as the foremost Bazouk of his time.
General Harrison now changed his head-quarters from Frank- linton to the Rapids of the Maumee, where he built Fort Meigs, named in honor of Return Jonathan Meigs, who was first elected Governor of Ohio, in 1810. The fort was situated upon a rising ground, at the distance, says Brackenridge, "of a few hundred yards from the river, the country on each side of which is chiefly natural meadows." The garrison was well furnished with means of defense, and Harrison, with severe energy, labored night and day to strengthen it for the siege. The soldiers in the fort, amounting to about twelve hundred, were principally volunteers,
16
242
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
in the best of spirits and resolute in determination to defend them- selves.
On May 1, 1813, Proctor, with a force of 1,000 regulars and militia, and 1,200 Indians, besieged the fort. For the first five days a considerable suspense clouded the inmates of the fort, but an officer arriving with the intelligence that General Clay, with 1, 200 Kentuckians, was descending the Miami, and but a few miles dis- tant then, dispelled all foreboding and gloom.
Acting on the hypothesis that the British army was within his grasp, Harrison sent orders to land one-half of the advancing troops on the side of the river opposite to the fort, to co-operate with him in forcing the British batteries. Colonel Dudley, with a party of 800, was charged with this duty; and he discharged it with so much vim and energy that, in a few minutes, he was in possession of the batteries of Proctor, and had captured several prisoners ; but his troops, in the flush of excitement, continued pursuit too far, and were ambuscaded by the crafty Tecumseh. Dudley struggled vainly to rescue his troops. Though fatally wounded, he still remained on the field and killed an Indian war- rior before he fell. Of the 800 men who constituted his command only 150 escaped; the balance were either killed or captured. Many of the prisoners the Indians claimed and carried off with them to their towns, to treat them there as they pleased.
Before and during the siege both officers and men distinguished themselves for great coolness and bravery. The loss of Dudley was regarded as a calamity. Few men in Kentucky were more generally esteemed. His body was found unburied, after great search, and horribly mangled. The Kentuckians fought like tigers.
The soldiers in the garrison often beguiled the hours in singing patriotic songs. A verse from one of them will show their gen- eral character :
Freemen ! no longer bear such slaughter, Avenge your country's cruel woe ; Arouse and save your wives and daughters, Arouse, expel the faithless foe. Chorus-Scalps are bought at stated prices, Malden pays the price in gold.
243
SIEGE OF FORT MEIGS.
Majors Ball, Todd, Johnson, Stoddard, etc., were all hon- orably mentioned in general orders for efficiency during the siege. The loss of the Americans in the fort was 81 killed and 189 wounded.
The garrison suffered considerably from scarcity of water, their well not having been completed, and it was attended with great risk to obtain their supply during the night from the river. The constant alertness necessary to be observed in guarding against a surprise required them to be continually on their arms, and as a result rendered their duties exceedingly fatiguing. After a sus- pension of hostilities for several consecutive days, and the passage of flags between the besiegers and the besieged, arrangements were negotiated for exchange of prisoners. Tecumseh stipulated to release his claim to the persons taken by the Indians, provided some Wyandots to the number of forty were delivered up, and Proctor promised to furnish a list of the killed, wounded and prisoners.
On the 9th of May, 1813, at 10 o'clock, A. M., the siege of Fort Meigs * was raised. The second siege occurred soon thereafter, but was of slight consequence.
Proctor, with his insatiable desire to give his allies further op- portunity to gratify their thirst for blood, collected together 500 Indians and besieged Fort Stevenson July 20th, but in this instance only to be foiled and gallantly repulsed by Major Croghan.
* A diagram of this fort is furnished in Howe's Ohio, page 528, from a survey by Joseph H. Larwill, of Wooster, made between the two sieges, who was a Lieu- tenant at that time in the military service.
244
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
CHAPTER XVIII.
WAYNE COUNTY-ITS ORGANIZATION-ELECTIONS, INSTITUTIONS, ETC.
WAYNE county was organized by Act of the Legislature, Janu- ary 4th, 1812, to take effect on the Ist day of March thereafter. The same Act provided that the people of the county should elect county officers on the Ist Monday of April, 1812, to hold the same until the next annual election.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Who have represented districts of which Wayne county formed a part :
Served From
Served From
Reasin Beall.
1813 to 1815
David A. Starkweather. 1845 to 1847
David Clendenen
1815 to 1817
Samuel Lahm
1847 to 1849
Peter Hitchcock 1817 to 1819
David K. Carter
1849 to 1851
John Sloane 1819 to 1821
David K. Carter.
1851 to 1853
John Sloane
1821 to 1723
Harvey H. Johnson 1853 to 1855
John Sloane
1823 to 1825
Philemon Bliss 1855 to 1857
John Sloane. 1825 to 1827
Philemon Bliss. 1857 to 1859
John Sloane.
1827 to 1829
Harrison G. Blake
1859 to 1861
John Thompson 1829 to 1831
Harrison G. Blake
1861 to 1863
John Thompson
1831 to 1833
George Bliss 1863 to 1865
Benjamin Jones 1833 to 1835
Martin Welker 1865 to 1867
Benjamin Jones
1835 to 1837
Martin Welker. 1867 to 1869
Matthias Shepler
1837 to 1839
Martin Welker 1869 to 1871
David A. Starkweather
1839 to 1841
James Monroe. 1871 to 1873
Ezra Dean
1841 to 1843
James Monroe, 1873 to 1875
Ezra Dean.
1843 to 1845
James Monroe 1875 to 1877
OUR STATE SENATORS.
Columbiana, Stark and Wayne-Lewis Kinney and Joseph Richardson, from December 7, 1812, to December 5, 1814; John Thompson from December 5,
245
PUBLIC OFFICERS.
1814, to December 2, 1816; John G. Young, from December 4, 1815, to Decem- ber 1, 1817.
Stark and Wayne-John Myers, from December 2, 1816, to December 7, 1818; Thomas G. Jones, from December 7, 1818, to December 4, 1820.
Wayne-Thomas McMillan, from December 4th, 1820, to December 6th, 1824, 2 terms, having been re-elected in 1822; Edward Avery, from December 6, 1824, to December 4, 1826.
Wayne and Holmes-Joseph H. Larwill, from December 4, 1826, to December 7, 1829, having been re-elected in 1828, and having resigned in 1829.
Wayne-Benjamin Jones, from December 7, 1829, to December 3, 1832, having been re-elected in 1830; Thomas Robison, from December 3, 1832, to December 5, 1836, having been re-elected in 1834 ; George Wellhouse, from December 5, 1836, to December 3, 1838; Jacob Ihrig, from December 3, 1838, to December 7, 1840; John H. Harris, from December 7, 1840, to December 5, 1842; Charles Wolcott, from December 5, 1842, to December 2, 1844; Levi Cox, from December 2, 1844, to December 7, 1846; Joseph Willford, from December 7, 1846, to December 6, 1847,'having resigned in the middle of his term ; Andrew H. Byers, from December 6, 1847, to December 2, 1850, having been re-elected in 1848 for a full term.
Wayne and Ashland-George W. Bull, from December 2, 1850, to January 5, 1852.
Wayne and Holmes-George Rex, from January 5, 1852, to January 2, 1854; James Hockinberry, from January 2, 1854, to January 7, 1856; Joseph Willford, from January 7, 1856, to January 4, 1858; D. J. Perkey, from January 4, 1858, to January 2, 1860; Benjamin Eason, from January 2, 1860, to January 6, 1862.
Wayne, Holmes, Knox and Morrow-Davis Miles, from January 6, 1862, to Jan- uary 4, 1864; Joseph C. Devin, from January 4, 1864, to January 1, 1866; Frank H. Hurd, from January 1, 1866, to January 6, 1868; and Lyman R. Critchfield, from January 1, 1866, to January 2, 1867-having resigned after the session of 1866; Robert Justice, from January 2, 1867, to January 6, 1868-filling the vacancy occa- sioned by the resignation of Mr. Critchfield ; George Rex and C. H. Scribner, from January 6, 1868, to January 3, 1870; Hinchman S. Prophet, from January 3, 1870, to January 1, 1872; Henry D. McDowell, from January 1, 1872, to January, 1874 ; Daniel Paul, from January 1, 1874, to January, 1876; John Ault, from January I, 1876, to January, 1878.
MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Stark and Wayne-Samuel Coulter, from December 6, 1813, to December 5, 1814; William Henry, from December 5, 1814, to December 4, 1815; John Harris, from December 4, 1815, to December 2, 1816.
From 1816 until 1848, Wayne county alone formed a Representative District.
246
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Wayne .- Thomas McMillan, from December 2, 1816, to December 4, 1820- having been re-elected in 1817, 1818 and 1819; Jacob Barker, from December 4, 1820, to December 3, 1821 ; Benjamin Jones, from December 3, 1821, to December 2, 1822; Cyrus Spink, from December 2, 1822, to December 1, 1823; Robert Mc- Clarran, from December 1, 1823, to December 6, 1824; James Robison, from De- cember 6, 1824, to December 5, 1825 ; and Jacob Frederick, from December 6, 1824, to December 4, 1826-having been re-elected in 1825 ; David McConahay, from December 4, 1826, to December 7, 1829-having been re-elected in 1827 and 1828; and John Lorab, from December 1, 1828, to December 7, 1829; James Robison, from December 7, 1829, to December 5, 1831-having been re-elected in 1830; Jacob Ihrig, from December 6, 1830, to December 7, 1835-having been re-elected in 1831, 1832, 1833 and 1834; and again re-elected in 1836, with his term closing on December 4, 1837 ; Jacob Miller, from December 7, 1835, to December 5, 1836; William Peppard, from December 4, 1837 to December 2, 1839-having been re- elected in 1838; Elzey Wilson, from December 2, 1839, to December 7, 1840; and Thomas Shreve, from December 2, 1839, to December 6, 1841-having been re- elected in 1840; Charles Wolcott, from December 6, 1841, to December 5, 1842; John Larwill and Joseph Willford, from December 5, 1842, to December 4, 1843 ; Peter Willoz, from December 4, 1843, to December 2, 1844; John Brown, from December 2, 1844, to December 1, 1845; Michael Totten and Joseph Willford, from December 1, 1845, to December 7, 1846; George Emery, from December 7, 1846, to December 6, 1847; Michael Totten, from December 6, 1847, to December 4, 1848.
Wayne and Ashland-Abraham Franks, Jr., and Jacob Miller, from December 4, 1848, to December 3, 1849; Abraham Franks, Jr., and George W. Bull, from December 3, 1849, to December 2, 1850; Charles R. Deming and Clinton Wilson, from December 2, 1850, to January 5, 1852.
Wayne-Clinton Wilson and Josiah H. Hitchcock, from January 5, 1852, to January 2, 1854; Ezra V. Dean and Joseph H. Downing, from January 2, 1854, to Jannary 7, 1856; John W. Baughman and Lorenzo D. Odell, from January 7, 1856, to January 4, 1858; Lorenzo D. Odell, from January 4, 1858, to January 2, 1860; William C. Moore, from January 2, 1860, to January 6, 1862; John Ault, from January 6, 1862, to January 4, 1864; John Brinkerhoff, from January 4, 1864, to January 1, 1866; John Ault, from January 1, 1866, to January 6, 1868; William R. Wilson, from January 6, 1868, to January 1, 1872-having been re-elected in 1869; Thomas W. Peckinpaugh, from January 3, 1870, to January, 1874-having been re-elected in 1871 ; E. B. Eshleman, from January 5, 1874, to Jannary, 1876; Thomas A. McCoy, from January, 1876, to January, 1878.
MEMBERS OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
John Larwill and Leander Firestone, M. D. 1851-1852 John K. McBride, in Convention of 1873-1874
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.