USA > Ohio > Ross County > Pioneer record and reminiscences of the early settlers and settlement of Ross County, Ohio > Part 4
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Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio.
Campbell, his son, a farmer, is still living. Thomas McDonald emigrated to Ohio, from Scotland, at an early day ; served in the war of 1812; now dead. David Somers emigrated from Virginia at an early day; was a soldier in the war of 1812 ; now dead.
Shredrich Wroten emigrated from Delaware in 1806; was a soldier in the Revolutionary war; served five years and six months ; was sergeant in his company ; died aged eighty-nine years and six months. His son, Laban Wroten, has served his township for several years as constable and captain of militia ; was a grocer and farmer; as a home hunter, has killed many bears, deer, turkeys, wild cats, etc .; had been, in his younger days, quite a muscular man, and in early times when corn husk - ings, log rollings, raisings, etc., were in vogue, has had many a hard fought battle, in the way of fisticuffs, and it was but seldom that he did not come off victorious. John Freshour, Sen., emigrated to Ohio, from Virginia, at quite an early day ; he was one of the first settlers on Paint creek; was a soldier in the Revolutionary war; died aged eighty-five years. One of his sons, Daniel Freshour, was in the war of 1812; is still living. John, another son, died aged seventy-one years; was quite an extensive farmer on Paint creek. James McMillen, carpenter, now dead.
Simon Johnston, Sen., was one among the earliest settlers ; was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Barney Minney was in the war of 1812, and died while in the service. Job Harness was in the war of 1812; John Harness also; is now dead. Thomas Dehart, miller, was in the war of 1812; now dead. Nelson Prather, farmer, dead. Enos Prather was quite an ex- tensive farmer on Paint creek in his day; he removed to Kansas several years since, where he lately dicd.
Ralph Chaney, father of James Chaney, was an early settler ; has been dead for many years. He came to his death in the following manner : He was out one day felling a tree, and the wind, blowing very hard, threw it the way he did not expect it to fall, and caught him under it.
43
Twin Township.
Allen Cochran, Sen., father of John and Allen Cochran, Jr., served as justice of the peace, in Twin township, for fifteen years ; died aged sixty-two years. Isaac N. McCracken was justice of the peace and associate judge for several years. David Cochran, one of the early settlers, furnished wood for the legislature at its first sitting in Chillicothe.
Richard Acton emigrated to Ohio, from Kentucky, in the year 1800; was a soldier in the war of 1812, under Major Willett; died aged forty-five years. His son, Jacob Acton, of Bourneville, harness·maker, has been a resident of Twin town- ship thirty years ; he was two years and seven months in the service of the United States, as a sailor on the Levant, a first- class sloop of war of twenty-six guns-six of them Paxton guns of eighty-four pounds; two fifteen pounds; the balance thirty- two pounds. John Hannawalt, tailor, emigrated from Penn- sylvania to Ohio, in 1820; lived in the village of Bourneville over forty years ; served as captain of the Independent Rifle- men at one time; is still living ; aged seventy-two years.
The village of Bourneville contains about one hundred and fifty inhabitants, two stores, three groceries, one saloon, three churches, three blacksmith shops, one tannery, two harness shops, two shoemakers, two wagon-makers, one post-office (post- master, Abram Sommers), one cabinet-maker, one carpenter's shop and cabinet-maker's combined.
In this village, in the month of October, 1844, there was a brutal murder committed. Frederick Edwards was a store- keeper at the time, and, being a bachelor, he slept in the store, and was reported to have a considerable amount of money. Two fiends in human shape, by the names of Thomas and Maxwell, concocted a plan for robbing Mr. Edwards; and breaking into the store for that purpose-not expecting to find any one there-they were attacked by Mr. Edwards, and a terrible struggle ensued, in which the latter lost his life. Thomas and Maxwell made their escape, but were afterward captured, tried, and found guilty. Thomas was hung in Chilli- cothe, in March, 1846. Maxwell made his escape, aided, as
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Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio.
some suppose, by a woman from Cincinnati, who claimed to be his wife, and was never recaptured.
John McNeal, father of Robert McNeal, was a resident of Twin township for over fifty years; died aged seventy-five years. His son, Archibald, was a soldier in the war of 1812; died aged sixty five years.
Abijah Flora, a carpenter, emigrated from Virginia to Ohio, or the then Northwestern Territory, at a very early day; he served in the war of the Revolution as lieutenant of his company ; was one of the first settlers in Heller's bottom, on Paint creek ; died aged seventy years. His son, Thomas, has been a resident of Ross county upward of sixty years ; he was called out during the war of 1812, and furnished a sub- stitute. He was a great hunter in his younger days ; and when quite a lad he went on a hunting expedition with his father and the Rev. James B. Finley, William Murphy, Jacob Myers, and Simon Girty, Jr., son of the noted Simon Girty, of historical notoriety. The company started with dogs and guns, and upon arriving at a small creek-now known as Black run, the dividing line between Huntington and Twin townships-on the farm now owned by Mr. John Schligle, of Chillicothe, just above the barn now being built on the left of the road, the dogs treed a bear up a large poplar, of which tree the stump and part of the body still remain. They managed to shoot the old bear, and cutting down the tree found two young cubs. Mr. Flora says he enjoyed the sport finely, and would like to live those days over again. At another time, his father and Mr. George Vincent Heller were out walking one Sunday morning, through the beautiful forest bottoms of Paint creek, when they discovered some bear tracks in the soft ground, and followed them to a large elm tree, and found there was a den in the hollow of the tree several feet up. They started to inform their neighbors, and soon collected quite a number of men, women, and children, who with dogs and guns went along to see the fun. The first thing they did was to cut a small tree and lodge it against the one containing the bear; this accom-
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Twin Township.
plished, Mr. Jacob Heller went up the tree which had been lodged, and found the hole in the tree extended several feet down in the body, but they managed to get Mr. Heller a long papaw pole, to which they attached a bunch of hickory bark, which they set on fire, and, when in full blaze, Mr. Heller thrust it down in the hollow of the tree. Bruin soon made his appearance at the entrance of the hole, when George Heller raised his gun to shoot; he told Jacob his head was in the way ; he answered to fire away, as he was the matter of an inch or so out of the way; his brother fired, and the fur from the bear flew into his face and eyes, so close was he to the bear. The bear fell to the ground, and, amidst the howls of dogs, and shouts of men, and screams of women and children, bruin was hastily dispatched.
At another time, a Mr. Murphy treed a bear, and col- lected several of his neighbors, with their dogs and guns; among them Mr. Flora, my informant, then quite a lad. The tree was hollow, and when it fell the tree broke in two where the hole was. An old bear and two cubs rolled out, and im- mediately took to flight, the dogs and men in full chase ; they soon overtook and dispatched them
On returning, they passed by the tree which they had felled, when Mr. Flora, out of curiosity, stooped down and peeped into the hollow tree as it lay, when, to his surprise, out jumped another yearling bear, which took after him. He ran a short distance, and, finding the bear about io overtake him, he turned and ran back, the bear in full chase. He mounted the stump of the fallen tree, when the dogs came to his relief, and soon one of the party of men came up and dispatched the bear with his rifle, much to the relief of the boy.
Names of Old Settlers.
The first preacher was William Kerns, and the first school teacher a Mr. Wilcox. William Reed was justice of the peace for many years. John Core and James Russell served in the war of 1812 ; Benjamin Brackey, Presley Johnston, John Reed, and David Breedlove emigrated to Ohio, from Kentucky, in
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Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio.
early days. Peter Shanks, Alex. Johnston, Thomas Ladd, George Kilgore, Philip Maston, Robert McMahon, and Daniel Devoss were among the first settlers in Heller's bottom, on Paint creek. When they first settled there they owned a fine young sow, with a brood of pigs, which they had to fasten under their cabin at night, to prevent the bears from carrying off. Late one night they heard the squealing of their sow, and knew a bear had made his way to her by some means, and was carry- ing her off into the forest. They hastily arose, all in their night clothes ; the old lady prepared a torch by splitting a clap- board or two, and Mr. Devoss called several neighbors from their cabins near by, and they with their dogs and guns gave chase, the old lady carrying the torch and lighting the way. The dogs soon overtook the bear with his burden, and the men coming up, dispatched bruin, and rescued the sow but lit- tle injured ; but the men and old lady, in running through the nettles, which at that time were very thick and waist high, had their naked legs terribly pricked and scratched. Mr. Flora says when a bear captures a hog, he does not stop to kill it, but will hug it in his arms and commence eating until he has finished his repast, the hog squealing all the time as long as life lasts.
George J. Moore emigrated to Ohio from Pennsylvania in 1813 ; was a farmer; died in 1850. His son, David Moore, lives on the Milford and Chillicothe turnpike. In constructing said pike, several human skeletons were dug up near his house, some of them of very large size and some very small, as though of infants. Also, on Mr. Philip A. Road's farm, others, of simi- lar sizes, were found.
Daniel R. Dolohan says his father, Michael Dolohan, emi- grated to Ohio from Virginia about the year 1802; was in the service in the war-of 1812, as scout ; died aged ninety-one years. Thomas Hanks emigrated to Ohio about 1790; was a soldier in the Revolutionary war ; his sons, Joseph and John, were soldiers in the war of 1812; all dead. David Collins and a Mr. Miller built what are known as the Slate mills, on the north
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Twin Township.
fork of Paint creek, which was one of the first flouring mills in the county. Jesse Wiley, Casper C. Pliley's father, Philip C. Pliley, William Pliley, and Jefferson Pliley emigrated to Ohio at a very early day. Their father was in the Revolutionary war. John Ward died in Hardin county, in 1867, at a very ad- vanced age ; was in the war of 1812, under General Harrison.
Benning Wentworth gives us the names of James Matthews, who emigrated from Scotland to Ohio in early days, and was treasurer of Highland county for a term of years, and Robert Waddle, also from Scotland, who was under Wellington at the battle of Waterloo, and a great player on the bag-pipe.
Peter Shaner emigrated to Ohio from Pennsylvania in 1800 ; served in the war of 1812, and helped cut out the Leba- non road, and is now living, aged eighty-six years. His father, Peter Shaner, Sen., was in the war of the Revolution, fought at the battle of Brandywine, and died at the age of seventy. John Gossard emigrated to Ohio from Pennsylvania, in 1808; was in the war of 1812, and served several years, in different capaci- ties, as township officer ; died aged fifty-six years. Philip Gossard and Jacob Gossard served in the war of 1812 ; are now dead. James Nichols, miller and hotel keeper at the Slate mills in early days, served in the war of 1812; is now dead. Henry Sharp served in the war of 1812, and as justice of the peace for many years. Dilard Rowe, Abott Rowe, and David Rowe served in the war of 1812. Charles Craig and John Craig were in the war of 1812, and their grandfather was in the Revolutionary war. Alex. Craig and a Mr. Wilson were the first school teachers for many years. William Craig was the first man who drove a wagon and team to Chillicothe over Zane's trace.
Colonel John McDonald .- (From the Scioto Gazette.)
" Colonel John McDonald was born January 28, 1775, in Pennsylvania. His early life was spent upon the frontiers of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky. Before arriving at the age of twenty years he entered the military service, under
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Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio.
General Wayne. He was attached to the army commanded by that veteran general in 1794, and was present, on the 20th of August of that year, at the memorable battle with the In- dians on the Maumee. In 1796 he came to Chillicothe, where he was married to Miss Catherine Cutwright in 1799. He settled on Poplar ridge in the year 1802. He held, in his lifetime, vari- ous offices in the militia, and served as colonel. In the war of 1812 he went with the Ohio troops to the frontier, in the double capacity of paymaster and quartermaster, and was taken pris- oner at the surrender of Detroit. In 1813 he was appointed a captain in the regular army. In 1814 he was placed in com- mand of a regiment of regular troops at Detroit, and remained in the service until peace was made and the army disbanded. In 1817 he was elected to the Ohio senate, and served for two terms. At a late period of his life he wrote and published a very interesting and popular work, comprising sketches of the first settlements on the Ohio, with biographical sketches of distinguished pioneers. Colonel McDonald was very exten . sively known, and greatly respected as an intelligent and use- ful citizen ; and so long as the early history of the Scioto Valley shall be preserved, he will be kept in honorable recollection."
Rev. James B. Finley gives the following account of Col- onel McDonald [See Finley's Autobiography, pp. 123-130] :
" Colonel John McDonald, one of my early companions, was of Scotch descent. His father was connected with the army of the Revolution from its first organization up to the year 1780. John was born in Northumberland county, on the 28th of January, 1775. His father crossed the mountains with his family in 1780, and settled at a place called Mingo Bottom, three miles below the present site of Steubenville. The Ohio river was then the extreme frontier, constituting the dividing line between the white and red man. No line, however, was sufficient to form a barrier against the invasions of both parties. The white man was as frequently the aggressor as the Indian, and many were the scenes of suffering, carnage, and massacre witnessed along this border line. My young friend was reared
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Twin Township.
amid all the dangers of a border war. In the year 1789 his father removed to Washington, Ky., where we were then resid- ing, and soon after their arrival my acquaintance with young McDonald commenced.
" The first excursion of my friend McDonald was taken with Kenton. Three men from near Washington went out on a hunting expedition, and encamped on the waters of Bracken, about ten miles from home. While they were out hunting a party of Indians came upon their camp, and placed themselves in ambush, to waylay the hunters on their return at night. The names of two of the hunters were Dan Figgans and Josiah Wood ; the name of the other is forgotten. It was late when the party returned. As they were preparing their supper the Indians crept up stealthily, and fired, killing Wood and the one whose name is forgotton. Figgans, being unhurt, fled for his life. The Indians started in pursuit, with the most hideous yells. The race was most fearfully kept up, but Figgans distanced his pursuers, and at midnight reached Washington, where he alarmed his friends at Kenton's Station. This bold warrior immediately mounted his horse, and, in a short time, having raised a company, started in pursnit. Young McDonald was anxious to accompany them, but his father, thinking him too young, being but fifteen years of age, to be of any service, refused his consent. He was not, however, to be deterred ; so stealing his father's rifle and horse, he started at full speed, and soon overtook the company. They arrived at the place about sunrise, and a most shocking scene presented itself to their view. One of the men had been scalped, and thrown into the fire, where he was nearly consumed ; the other had also been scalped, and cut to pieces with the Indian hatchet. The party proceeded to the mournful work of depositing their remains in the ground ; and ascertaining by the tracks of the horses that the Indians had directed their course for the Ohio river, they started after them. When they arrived at the river, they found that the Indians, without waiting a moment, had plunged in and swam across, thus cutting off pursuit. This dreadful sight
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Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio.
had a tendency somewhat to cool the ardor of the youthful war- rior, who, nevertheless, would have been glad of an opportunity for taking revenge upon the savage foe.
"From this time McDonald was constantly engaged with scouting, hunting, and surveying parties. In the spring of 1792 he joined General Massie's settlement at Manchester, twelve miles above Maysville. This was the third settlement on the northwest side of the Ohio river, above Cincinnati, or Losantiville, as the town was called. This infant settlement, together with the lives of all in the station, was in constant danger. Many and exciting were the scenes by which they were surrounded. Sometimes they were deeply depressed, and anon, when danger was over, their spirits rose exulting at the trials and conflicts through which they had passed. A report would sometimes come in that one of their number had fallen by the hand of the enemy, which would cast a shade of sadness and gloom on all hearts ; then again the intelligence that the bold and daring hunter had captured the foe, would inspire them with courage. Thus life was made up of constant alterna- tions of hope and despondency. This constant warfare made the early settlers so familiar with scenes of blood and carnage, that they became, in a measure, indifferent spectators, and at the same time reckless and fearless of all danger. Scenes of horror that would have congealed the blood in the veins of those unaccustomed to them, would scarcely move the heart of the hardy pioneer.
"In the spring of 1794 Colonel McDonald and his brother Thomas joined General Wayne's army, as rangers, or spies. The company of rangers consisted of seventy-two, of whom Captain Ephraim Kibby was commander. He was a true Jer- sey blue, fully adequate to any emergency growing out of his highly responsible position. It was the duty of the rangers to traverse the Indian country in every direction, in advance of the army. This was not only a toilsome, but a dangerous work. The company was divided into small detachments, which
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Twin Township.
started out in every direction, and, after scouring the country, returned and made their report to headquarters.
" Early in November of the year above mentioned, Mr. Lucas Sullivan, a land-speculator and surveyor from Virginia, collected a company of twenty-one men to go upon a surveying tour into the Scioto country. This was a hazardous undertak- ing. Notwithstanding the Indians bad been severely beaten by General Wayne, a few months previously, yet the country was far from a state of peace. Attached to this company were three surveyors, namely, John and Nathaniel Beasley, and Sul- livan, who was the chief. Young McDonald was connected with this company. Every man carried his own baggage and arms, consisting of a rifle, tomahawk, and scalping-knife. While engaged in surveying, the hunters would go in advance as spies, and the surveyor, chain-carriers, and marksmen would follow in line, the whole being brought up by the pack-horse and the man who cooked for the company. It was his business to keep a good look-out, so that the enemy should not attack them in the rear. In this military manner was most of the sur- veying in Ohio and Kentucky performed. They did not carry any provisions with them, but depended on their rifles for a living, which seldom failed to afford them an abundant supply.
" Having taken Todd's trace, they pursued their journey till they came to Paint creek, at the old crossings. From thence they proceeded to old Chillicothe, now Frankfort, and thus on to Deer creek, where they encamped at the mouth of Hay run. In the morning Sullivan, McDonald, and Murray went down to Deer creek with the intention of taking its mean- derings back to the camp. They had not procceded more than a hundred rods till a flock of turkeys came flying toward them. McDonald and Murray being on the bank of the creek, near to a pile of drift-wood, Murray, without reflecting a moment that the turkeys must have been driven toward them by some per- sons, slipped up to a tree and shot a turkey. He then slipped back, and as there were more turkeys on the tree, McDonald slipped up to the position left by his companion. Just as he
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Pioneer Record of Ross County, Ohio.
was about to fire, the sharp crack of a rifle fell on his ears, and, turning instantly, he saw poor Murray fall to rise no more. Looking in the direction from whence the messenger of death came, he saw several Indians with their rifles leveled at him. Quick as thought he sprang over the bank into the creek, and they fired but missed him. The Indians followed hard after him, yelling and screaming like fiends. Running across the bottom, he met Sullivan and three others of the company. Sullivan instantly threw away his compass and clung to his rifle. Their only safety was in rapid flight, as the Indians were too numerous to encounter. As they ran the Indians fired upon them, one of the balls striking Colvin's cue at the tie, which shocked him so much that he thought himself mortally wounded. But he was a brave young man, and being fleet of foot, he ran up the creek and gave the alarm at the camp, stat- ing that he believed all were killed but himself. Those at camp of course fled as soon as possible. McDonald and his party ran across the bottom to the high land, and after run - ning three miles struck a prairie. Casting their eye over it, they saw four Indians trotting along the trace. They thought of running round the prairie and heading them, but not know .. ing how soon those in pursuit would be upon them, and per- chance they would get between two fires, they adopted the bet- ter part of valor and concealed themselves in the grass till the Indians were out of sight. After remaining there for some time they went to the camp and found it deserted. Just as they were about to leave, one of the company espied a note stuck in the end of a split stick, to this effect, " If you should come, fol- low the trail." It was then sundown, and they knew they would not be able to follow the trail after dark. When night came on, they steered their course by starlight.
" They had traveled a distance of eight or nine miles. It was a cold, dreary night, and the leaves being frozen, the sound of their footsteps could be heard some distance. All at once they heard something break and run as if it were a gang of buffaloes. At this they halted and remained silent for some
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Twin Township.
time. After a while the fugitives could be heard coming back softly. Supposing that it might be their companions, McDon - ald and MeCormick concluded to creep up slowly and see. They advanced till they could hear them cracking hazel-nuts with their teeth. They also heard them whisper to one another, but could not tell whether they were Indians or white men. They cautiously returned to Sullivan, and the company, after delib- eration, finally concluded to call, which they did, and found, to their joy, that it was their own friends who fled from them. They had mutual rejoicings at meeting again, but poor Murray was left a prey to the Indians and wolves. They now com- menced their journey homeward, and, after three days' travel, arrived at Manchester."
Names of Old Settlers, furnished by Col. John C. McDonald, Jr.
Alex. Given emigrated to Ohio from Pennsylvania about 1800; was in the war of 1812; bought land of General Mc- Arthur and paid for it by months' work ; died of cancer in 1858. Isaac Pearce. Aaron Foster emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio; was in the war of 1812; was adjutant under Colonel John McDonald ; served as justice of the peace for twenty-one years ; was county commissioner one term; died in 1862. Samuel Teter emigrated to Ohio from Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, about the year 1798; had four sons, Samuel, George, John, and Daniel ; all served in the war of 1812, except Samuel; all dead. John Core emigrated from Maryland to Ohio in 1800; was a millwright and blacksmith, and built the first mill in Twin township; his three sons, John, Henry, and Chrisley, served in the war of 1812; Chrisley started the day after he be- came eighteen years of age. Henry was sergeant-major on Colonel McDonald's staff during the war. William Reed emi- grated from Delaware to Ohio in 1798; was justice of the peace for several years. Philip and Daniel Hare emigrated from Delaware in the year 1797 ; Daniel was captain of a company during the war of 1812, under Colonel McDonald. David Elliott was captain of a company in the war of 1812. Benjamin
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