History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I, Part 9

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1202

USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I > Part 9

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MAP OF FRANKLIN COUNTY, SHOWING LOCATION OF ANCIENT EARTHWORKS.

Scale, five miles per inch.

Asterisks represents the mounds, on enlarged scale. The small shaded squares denote the villages and towns of the County, arranged alpha- betically and numbered as follows: 1, Alton , 2, Black Lick ; 3, Blendon Corners ; 4, Canal Winchester ; 5, Central College ; 6, Clintonville ; 7, Dublin ; 8, Edwards Station ; 9, Elmwood ; 10, Flint; 11, Gahanna; 12, Galloway; 13, Georgesville ; 14, Grove City ; 15, Groveport ; 16, Harrisburg ; 17, Hilliards; 18, Haven's Corners ; 19, Lockbourne; 20, Morgan's; 21, New Albany ; 22, Pleasant Corners ; 23, Reeves's ; 24, Reynoldsburg ; 25, Scioto ; 26, Shadeville; 27, Westerville ; 28, Worthington.

LICKING

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MADISON

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DEPRESSION

WINCHESTER ROAD

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PRECIPITOUS BANK

HIGH LAND OL

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GENTLE 6LOPE

CULTIVATED LAND

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FAIRFIELD COUNTY GROUP

OF MOUNDS AND EARTHWORKS

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PLATE III.

Scale, about five miles to the inch. Mounds are represented by asterisks ; earthworks, by small circles and half circles.

GENTLE SLOPE - CULTIVATED LAND

VER

BROW OF THE HILL SPUR

ANCIENT EARTHWORKS IN FRANKLIN COUNTY.

possibly seventy-five feet in diameter at the base. The first of these works above mentioned is protected by the original forest, but the third, like the second, has been badly damaged by the cultivation of the land. It cannot be stated positively that none of these northeastern mounds have been explored, but all attainable evidence and tradition points to that conclusion.

The order which has been adopted for naming and locating the mounds would suggest that those in the southeastern and southern central portions of the county should be next mentioned, but since the mounds of the lower land levels are many and those outside of these districts, or in more remote tributary valleys, are few, those of the Scioto Valley are passed for the present, and attention will next be given to such as are found in the western and southwestern sections of the county, beginning with that drained by Big Darby Creek and its numerous " runs "

One-half mile north of Galloway Station, in Prairie Township, rises a small mound on the farm of A. J. O'Harra. The dimensions of this work cannot at this time be given.

The mounds on the Francis farm, in Brown Township, have been previously mentioned. On the high lands east of the Big Darby, about one mile from Cheno- with's Mills, in Pleasant Township, is seen a mound of good size, and two miles or more south ward another work of this kind stands on the farm of John Young, about half a mile northeast of Harrisburg.

Near Morgan's Station, on the Columbus and Cincinnati Midland Railway, a short distance south of the Pickaway County line, are two mounds on the bottom lands of the Darby One of these which had already been reduced by the cultivation of the soil to a height of about three feet, was still further disturbed by the railway builders, who excavated deep holes in it in order to obtain a resting-place for the massive timbers of a trestle work. This digging resulted in the discovery of two skeletons, a large number of arrowheads, and a quantity of relies of various kinds, among which were some stone utensils. These articles were then and there dis- tributed among the workmen, and although a few specimens fell into the hands of more appreciative persons, the value of the discovery was practically lost. It seems eertain, however, that a large proportion of the relies were of Indian origin. About one hundred feet north of this mound stands another of loftier build and more ample dimensions. It was originally about fifteen feet high and one hundred feet in diameter at the base, but is now much eut down. After the discoveries in the smaller mound, the people of the vicinity determined to explore the larger work, but their enthusiasm subsided after a small opening had been made, and since that time the work has remained undisturbed.

The mounds of the southern central and southeastern portions of the county may now be described. It was upon the southern terraces of the Scioto, and along its tributaries, that the most extensive moundbuilding population existed. and by comparison of the number of mounds in the different sections it would seem almost certain that where ten people dwelt on the land along the upper por- tions of the streams, fifty occupied the bottom lands further south. The most westerly of the mounds which stand on that part of the Scioto watershed now under consideration is situated on the Alkire farm, on the south side of Big Run, in Franklin Township, about onehalf mile west of the Harrisburg Pike. It is of average size, and has been injured by the plow. About two miles southeast of this

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

work we find another small mound the exact location of which cannot now be stated. One mile further southeast, on the Corry land, near the Jackson Pike, is found the remnant of a once large mound, the greater part of which has been re- moved for its gravel. Excepting the fact that human bones were found in this work during its excavation, nothing is known as to its contents.

On the farm of Joab Borror, in Jackson Township, two and a half miles south- west of Shadeville, stands a mound now only six feet high, but covering about one- fourth of an acre of ground. Local tradition states that an exploration of this work was made many years ago and that a few relics were found in it, but what they were is not stated. This work is situated about one and a half miles due west of the circle on Absalom Borror's farm heretofore described.

About three miles in a northwesterly direction from Shadeville, on the land of Solomon Swagler, is situated a mound about twenty feet high and one hundred feet in diameter at the base. It is in a good state of preservation, and has never been opened.

Crossing to the east side of the Scioto, and beginning at the southern boundary of the county, we find no mounds until we reach the plateau between the Scioto and the Big Walnut, two miles south of Shadeville, when three mounds are found on the Cloud farm, standing in a north and south line, about two hundred feet apart. The most southerly of these works, which is also the largest of them, is about fifteen feet in height and nearly one hundred feet in diameter at the base. To the summit rises a smooth slope which resembles and may be taken for one of the graded roadways of the ancients. The other mounds of this group are smaller, and being in the woods, are well preserved. The largest one is damaged by a road excavation which has clipped off its southern base. Another mound, about ten feet high and fifty feet in diameter at the base, is situated on the high elevation which overlooks the Big Walnut from the east side. It is a mile northeast of the mounds last mentioned, and is also situated on the Cloud land.

Farther up the creek, on its east bank, two mounds rise on the Clark farm, but a little distance apart. One of them is ten feet in height and fifty feet in diameter at the base ; the other, eight feet in height and thirty feet in diameter at the base. On the farm of Mrs. E. J. Young, about one mile northeast of Lock- bourne, exists a mound of which little is known except that it is small and has never been subjected to exploration. On the high land which overlooks the secondary terrace of the Scioto, one mile and a half north of Shadeville, and one mile east of the river, stands a conical mound having a height of ten feet and a diameter of thirty feet at the base. It is situated on the land of William T. Span- gler, and has never been opened. On the Simpson farm, two and a quarter miles from the Spangler Mound in a direction bearing somewhat east of north, is found a damaged specimen, of average original dimensions. Like nearly all of the mounds of that vicinity it has not been explored.

Three quarters of a mile northwest of the work last named are situated two others on the Shoaf farm. They stand in a north and south line, and are only a few rods apart. The cultivation of their slopes and summits has resulted in their almost complete obliteration.

A quarter of a mile northeast of the Shoaf Mounds are found the remains of two others of enormous size which have severely suffered whenever the road-

ANCIENT EARTHWORKS IN FRANKLIN COUNTY.

builders desired a supply of gravel. These O'Harra Mounds, as they have been called, furnish some meager knowledge of the character of this singular class of works. Many years ago a county road was surveyed and excavated through these mounds, and although the excavation did not go down to the original surface it disclosed the outline of what was once a logbuilt chamber, and the usual traces of human bones. A skull found at that time is now in the possession of Doctor Starling Loving, of Columbus. The ('Harra Mounds stand in a line true to the compass, and are separated by little space. The northernmost one is oblong in shape and has a maximum diameter at the base of five hundred and seventyfive feet. Its minimum diameter at the base is one hundred and fifty feet and its height is twenty feet. The most southerly of these mounds is conical in form, nearly forty feet in height, and has a diameter at the base closely approaching four hundred feet. Eighty rods west of the O'Harra Mounds, on one of the Fisher tracts, stands a much reduced mound now only four feet high. Another remnant, one mile north of the O'Harra Mounds, is in much the same condition as the work last mentioned.

At the intersection of the Lockbourne and Groveport roads, on the south. eastern face of the elevation known as Baker's Hill, stands a mound which has been partially explored, and has yielded some implements and fragments of pottery. All trace of these articles is now lost. Before being disturbed by the excavator and the gravel digger, this work was fifteen feet high and seventyfive feet in diameter at the base. As a point for signaling over the broad valley it could hardly have been excelled, and it may be remarked in passing that the posi- tion of Spangler's Mound offered the same facilities for communication by beacon light up and down the valley.

Two miles southeast of Columbus exists a low mound upon which Origin Harris built his home many years ago. This improvement bas put an end to the investigation of the secrets of this work and deprived it of many of its original characteristics.

Within the present limits of Columbus, on the grounds of the late Peter Ambos, on South High Street, stands a small mound, well preserved. It is a truncated cone, about eight feet in height and thirty feet in diameter at the base. By reason of its situation on the very edge of the steep bluff which overhangs the Scioto, it affords an excellent point of observation. As a signal station it could not have been better located. Attempts have been made to explore it but have never been carried to completion.

A small mound which once stood-at the present intersection of Town Street and Champiou Avenue, was obliterated when Town Street was extended eastward.

Near Canal Winchester, in the extreme southeastern part of the county, an in- teresting series of small mounds exists." Their value and interest to the anti- quarian have been greatly impaired by the excavations of inexperienced persons whose discoveries were of little value and by whom the articles found have been widely scattered. The first Franklin County Mound to be considered in this series is ou the land of W. K. Algire, the second on James Lawrence's farm, and the third on the farm of Isaac Leahman. A pronounced swell of ground on which stands the home of E. Stevenson, has been rated as an artificial work, but it is now believed to be a natural formation. The three mounds here mentioned are all small and are situated about equal distances apart along the headwaters of George

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

Creek, a tributary of the Little Walnut. The most northerly one rises about two miles north of Canal Winchester.

On Samuel Dietz's farm, a quarter of a mile north of Canal Winchester, stands an almost obliterated small mound, one mile west of which, on the Chaney place, is found another in about the same state of preservation. One mile further west, on the south side of the Little Walnut and half a mile east of Groveport, is found a work which was originally eight feet in height and thirty feet in diameter at the base, but now exists only in a few vestiges. Another mound, nearly obliterated, is situated in the extreme southeastern part of the township. All of these mounds rise on what may be called the second terrace of the Little Walnut Creek.

In Fairfield County, about three miles to the southeast of Canal Winchester, exists an interesting group of mounds, all of which are situated on the spurs of the high hills of that locality. From any one of the five mounds of this group a view of the others can be obtained, and, in addition, a wide expanse of the eastern side of the Scioto basin can be brought within the range of vision. Three of these mounds lie upon a practically continuous spnr. Another lies across a deep ravine, and a third some five hundred yards further southeast, upon another high point. In Plate III., where they have been numbered for convenience of the descriptive text, it will be seen that numbers one and four are enclosed by earth walls. Num- ber one is by far the most peculiar work of the group. It is now eleven feet in height and elliptical in shape, its maximum diameter at the base being eighty- eight feet. and its minimum diameter sixtytwo feet. Aside from the fact that it is surrounded by two broad earth walls, which now vary in height from a slight trace to over ten feet, this work is peculiar in being constructed, in greater part, of sandstones which vary in size from fragments three inches in diameter to others as large as a man can carry. These s'ones were evidently obtained from a place near by, where the evidences of an ancient quarry exist. Number three, two hundred yards north of number one, and on the highest elevation, is also a stone mound, now about ten feet in height and seventy feet in diameter at the base. Number four is an earth mound only four feet in height and thirtyfive feet in diameter at the base. It is surrounded by a moat and wall, the traces of which are now very slight. Perhaps twentyfive per cent. of the composition of this mound is sandstone. Number two, situated two hundred yards west of number one, is an earth formation, twelve feet in height and eighty feet in diameter at the base. Explorations of the stone mounds have given no results in relics or signs of burial. However, number five, which was an earth monnd ten teet in height and sixty teet in diameter at the base, gave a rich return for the labor of opening it. In the present mouth of February, 1892, it has been explored by some eager peo- ple who had been wrought up to a high pitch of excitement and expectation by the remarkable discoveries lately made near Chillicothe.4 Defying the inelement weather, these inexperienced explorers thoroughly demolished the mounds, and made some discoveries very interesting to the archeologist but rather disappoint- ing to themselves, as they were in search of gold, silver and precious stones rather than implements of common stone or relies in copper. Penetrating a well- defined stratification intermingled with wood ashes, they encountered, near the natural level of ground, small boulders beneath which were tound human bones, presumably of the ancient people who built these mounds. The skeletons of a woman and a child lay near the boulder eovering, beneath which, in a compact

ANCIENT EARTHWORKS IN FRANKLIN COUNTY.

layer, were discovered the skeletons of men, and still deeper, in repositories scooped out of the bed roek, lay other skeletons. Around the human remains a few relies of an unimportant kind were found. It would be useless to undertake anything more than a simple statement of this very interesting discovery. The history of the twenty human beings whose remains were found in this work belongs to an inscrut- able past which their successors of to-day ean never penetrate or understand.

From the catalogue of Franklin County mounds and earthworks given in the preceding pages it will be perceived that, after making due allowance for the por- tion of these works which may have escaped observation, and for such of them as have long since disappeared through the agency of man and the elements, the estimate that fully one hundred distinct specimens of such works have existed in the county is not excessive. It has been the purpose of the writer to devote this chapter especially to the Franklin County works, without attempting any disens- sion of their relations to similar remains in the adjoining counties, although such a discussion might add materially to the completeness of this record. It may be further observed that little attention has been here given to the numerous tradi- tions and authentic records of discoveries of human remains and relies in different parts of the county, because their antiquity cannot be known to be more remote than that of the Indian races of this region. The Indians buried their dead in numberless places, and the discovery of human bones, ornaments and implements in the surface deposits is a logical result of that custom, corroborated by the char- acter and position of the articles found, in both which respects they are broadly distinct from the remains of the prehistoric race. An illustration of this remark may here be cited. Two miles west of the Statehouse, on the Old National Road, now West Broad Street, lies the remnant of a large mound which has been commonly supposed to have an artificial origin. In cutting the road through this work many bones, pipes, arrowheads and flints of various kinds were found by the workmen. All these relies, including the bones, which were reasonably well pre- served, were of unmistakable Indian origin. This fact, together with the geologi- cal probability that the monud itself was a glacial deposit, disposes effectually of the popular notion that it was one of the works of the moundbuilding race.

NOTES.

1. No small part of the data concerning the mounds of Franklin County has been ob- tained from the paper of Mr. Prosper M. Wetmore, of this city, submitted as a report to Pro- fessor G. Frederick Wright, of Oberlin College, Editor of the Ohio Archaological and Histori- cal Society's Quarterly, and contained in Volume 1, published in April, ISSS. Mr. Wetmore, who has, for a long time, been interested in the study of these earthworks and mounds, de- voted many a summer and autninn day to field observation, and upon his notes of measure- ments and the present condition of the mounds a portion of the foregoing has been based. The writer gratefully acknowledges the aid thus given, and also the kind cooperation of Mr. Wetmore in obtaining information of value at this time.

2. The information relating to this mound has been gathered from many sources, but chiefly from several old residents of Columbus.

3. Mr. George F. Bareis, of Canal Winchester, Franklin County, a gentleman who takes the deepest interest in these mounds, has furnished most of the data concerning the Madison Township specimens, and is the anthority for the reference to the result of the exploration of the Fairfield County mound.

4. See Illustrated American, New York, Volume 1X, number 102; article, "Some New Relics of the Moundbuilders," by Warren King Moorehead, Esq.

CHAPTER IV.

THE IROQUOIS AND ALGONQUINS.

Emerging from the mystery of the mound builders we cross the line which separates the extinct and recordless races from the races known to history. New light dawns as this boundary is passed, but very much that we would like to know still lies in deep, impenetrable shadow. Whether the inhabitants of the two American continents at the time they first fell under the eye of civilization were properly speaking one great family. or were fundamentally segregated by one or more lines of racial distinction, is a question not yet fully settled. That they approached more nearly to one common family character than the indigenous popu- lation of Asia or Africa is scarcely disputed. "The Indians of New Spain" [Mexico], wrote Humboldt, " bear a general resemblance to those who inhabit Canada, Florida, Peru and Brazil. We have the same swarthy and copper colour, straight and smooth hair, small beard, squat body, long eye, with the corner directed upwards towards the temples, prominent cheek bones, thick lips, and ex- pression of gentleness in the mouth, strongly contrasted with a gloomy and severe look. Over a million and a half of square leagues, from Cape Horn to the River St. Lawrence and Behring's Straits, we are struck at the first glance with the general resemblance in the features of the inhabitants. We think we perceive them all to be descended from the same stock, notwithstanding the prodigious di- versity of their languages."

" At one extremity of the country," says another writer, " we find the pigmy Esquimaux of four feet and a half in height, and at the other the Patagonian stand. ing above six feet. In complexion the variety is great, and may be said to em- brace almost every hne known elsewhere on the face of the earth, except the pitchy black of the Negro. About onehalf of all the known languages belong to America ; and if we consider every little wandering horde a distinct community, we have a greater number of nations here than in all the rest of the world."1

Among the American aborigines, numbering seven or eight millions, as many languages were spoken as among the seven or eight hundred million inhabitants of the Eastern Hemisphere. Yet it is a significant fact that between these multi- form modes of speech and those of the other branches of the human family none but an occasional and evidently accidental resemblance can be traced. At the same time there run through all these aboriginal tongues, numbering about 450 in all,? certain threads of connection. " It is the confident opinion of linguistic scholars," says Professor Whitney, "that a fundamental unity lies at the base of all these infinitely varying forms of speech ; that they may be, and probably are, all de-

[62]

THE IROQUOIS AND ALGONQUINS.

scended from a single parent language. For, whatever their differences of material, there is a single type or plan upon which their forms are developed and their con- structions made, from the Arctic Ocean to Cape Horn."3

The German naturalist Blumenbach4 places all the American tribes under one class except the Esquimaux, who are deemed to be of Mongolian origin. After examining scientifically the skulls found in ancient tombs, and those of existing tribes, Doctor Morton5 concludes that the American aborigines. except those inhab- iting circumpolar latitudes, were all of one species and one race, and comprise two great families differing intellectually but strongly related in their physical traits. These families are denominated the Toltecan and the American, the first being par- tially civilized, the latter wholly savage." The Esquimaux are a dwarfish race, rarely over five feet in height, crafty and dirty. They inhabit the northern coasts of this continent and its neighboring islands. On the northwest coast of Alaska are found four peculiar tribes known as Kaluschi, who have the distinction of being as fair, when their skins are washed, as the Europeans.

At the time of the arrival of the English colonists on this continent the Indians occupying its eastern half belonged almost entirely to three stems : 1, The Algon- quin, comprising the Delawares, Shawnees, Narragansetts, Chippewas, Knistenaux, and thirty or forty other nations, spread over the territory between the Mississippi and the Atlantic, and all speaking dialects of the same language ; 2. The Iroquois, called alternately the Five Nations or the Six Nations, and comprising fifteen or more tribes, among which were the Mohawks, Hurons, Senecas and Oneidas, dwell- ing on the south side of the Great Lakes and all speaking dialectic forms of the same language ; 3, The Florida Indians, including the Creeks, Seminoles, Choctaws, Chickasaws, Natehes and Mobiles These three families, together with the Wocous and Catawbas, numbering altogether about a quarter of a million souls, occupied nearly the entire region east of the Mississippi, from Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico, embracing a territory of more than a million square miles.

Generally speaking these various tribes were noted alike for the virtues and vices of savage character, in their fullest development. They cherished a high sense of honor, absolute fidelity in personal and tribal relations, and a fortitude which disdained suffering or misfortune. Few races have equaled and none have surpassed their stoical apathy in good and ill. Stern, gloomy and severe, they de- spised mirth or laughter, and gave expression to joy only in the hour of triumph. They believed almost universally in the existence of a Supreme Being, and also in a spirit of evil, hostile to human welfare. They also believed firmly in a future state in which the souls of brave warriors and chaste wives would tranquilly pursue the occupations in which they most delighted on earth. According to the creed of the Dakotas the road to the " villages of the dead " leads over a ledge of rock sharp as a knife's edge, on which only the good could keep their footing and from which the wicked fell into the abysses of the evil spirit, there to be flogged and subjected to hard labor. Polygamy was practised, and incontinence and incest were in- dulged in, but the distinction between vice and virtue was clear in the savage mind. Wives were purchased, marriages festively celebrated and funerals conducted with decorum: Some of the nations wore little or no clothing, the usual dress of the males of the better clad tribes comprising a buffalo-skin hung from the shoulders, a breechclout of undressed skins and moccasins of the same material, the women

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I, Part 9

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1202

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1202