USA > Ohio > The Western Reserve and early Ohio > Part 14
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CHRISTIAN FAST
the Indians and in this effort he was successful. Before night he reached the margin of the settlement in Washington County, the Indians being but a short dis- tance in his rear. A few rods in advance of him and advancing on his own trail, he discovered a white man with a couple of bridles upon his arm evidently in search of horses. Placing himself behind a tree, Fast waited until the white man was within a few feet of him, when he suddenly placed himself in his path and gave a hurried explanation of his name, object and the immediate danger that threatened the white settle- ment. The man was paralyzed with fear ; he could not believe that the savage-looking man before him with his painted face, his ears and nose filled with brooches, his hair, all except a tuft in front, passed through a silver tube, was anything else but a veritable Indian. Mechanically, however, the man obeyed his directions, and each seizing a horse, made for the white settle- ments with all speed. They gave the alarm to all the families in the neighborhood and succeeded in securing all in the fort except one boy, who was killed at the in- stant he reached the gate, which was thrown open for his entrance."
After the beleagured fort was relieved by the retirement of the Indians, he sought his father's house, but was so completely metamorphosed by his Indian costume that his parents could not, for a considerable length of time, recognize him. At length his mother recalling some peculiar spots near the pupils of his eyes, gave a scrutinizing look and at once identified her son.
In 1815, Christian Fast came to Northern Ohio and
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became one of the first settlers in his locality, living to a ripe old age.
"Following Crawford's campaign and the captivity of Mr. Fast, the next member of the white race to come to this section was the renegade Thomas Green. He was a Tory in the bloody Wyoming Valley. There he had been associated with the cruel Mohawks in the wanton murder of his countrymen and to escape ven- geance, fled with Billy Montour, Gelloway, Thomas Lyons, Armstrong and others to the wilds of Ohio. He founded a town among the Delawares, which in honor of this renegade, they called Greentown. The village became well known in Northern Ohio annals."
HUNTERS OF INDIANS
"He listens and hears the rangers come, With loud hurrah and jar of drum,
And hurrying feet, for the chase is hot, And the sharp short sound of the rifle shot, And taunt and menace, answered well
By the Indians mocking cry and yell-
The bark of dogs-the squaw's mad scream- The dash of paddles along the stream-
The whistle of the shot as it cuts the leaves Of the maples around the cabin's eaves- And the glide of hatchets fiercely thrown, On wigwam log and tree and stone." -Whittier.
Scattered through the Reserve in its earliest days, were many professional hunters who were "Indian Slayers." These were men of strong passions, whose hate of the Indian race had been engendered by wrongs received either to themselves or their relatives and friends. These men never hesitated to put an Indian "out of the way" as they called it, when an opportunity presented itself providing it could be done with impun- ity. The historian of Green Township says: "About the name of Liberton Dixon, is clustered much that is romantic, for he of all the early settlers of Green Town- ship, has been handed down to posterity as the daring adventurer of the early day. There is considerable added to the credit of this mighty hunter of the past which will not bear the closest scrutiny by the investi- gator of the morals of the Reserve It is said that Lib- erton lived with the Indians for several years until an
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old Indian got mad at Liberton while they were around the camp-fire and took after him with a huge knife. The famous hunter being convinced that discretion is the better part of valor, fled from the camp and was followed by the Indian. Liberton accidently stumbled over a brush heap and the brave shared the same mis- fortune. It was a lucky accident for Liberton but an unlucky one for the Indian who dropped the knife when he fell; Liberton seized the weapon, killed the savage and decided to return again unto the haunts of civiliza- tion. When on the way to the white settlements he was chased by the Indians who had discovered the body of their comrade. Liberton sought shelter from their bullets behind a tree but the trunk was so small that it did not satisfactorily answer his desired purpose for seven shots were put through his clothing, but never- theless, he escaped. He became a bitter enemy of the red man in consequence of their treachery toward him. According to his own accounts many Indians suffered death by his hands. But the event of his life was the death of Wam-pe-tek. This savage was the chief of a band containing about forty who had their headquar- ters near Turkey Foot Lake. These inoffensive red men never harmed the whites but spent most of their time in hunting and fishing. One day Liberton and the chief quarreled over a bee tree which both claimed. The result was; shortly afterwards, the Indian was missing. Some hearing the report of the rifle, asked Liberton what he had shot. "I shot at a . deer," was the reply. "Where is your prize" was the next question and his answer was, "I missed the animal." Dixon was a crack shot with his rifle and
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seldom missed the object he fired at; consequently on this occasion his statements were not believed and it has always been said that Wam-pe-tek and not the deer was his mark. The chief never appeared to clear the mystery and the supposition is that, while the savage was standing on a log near Indian Pond, the fatal bullet struck him. Dixon then threw the body in the pond, which is situated one mile west of East Liberty and just northwest of the school house at that point. This lake is said by the superstitious to be haunted to this day and on stated occasions, in the evening time, the whoop of the dying chieftain can yet be heard ringing through the forest. It is stated that a few days after the chief disappeared the ashes of a fire were dis- covered in the woods and in them only half consumed, were several articles formerly owned by the savage. The band of Indians suspected Liberton and would have killed him but Dixon's brother; John, interfered. This brother John was also a hunter of some note. It is related of John that he killed a very large wild cat, at a swamp west of Greensburg, which was afterwards called "Wild Cat Swamp." There are old settlers who declare that toward the end of Liberton's life, he was afraid to go out after night, through fear that the spirits of some of the savages he had killed would cap- ture him.
"The most noted hunter ever in Summit County was Jonathan Williams, who lived for short periods in several of the townships. He was very skillful and successful in his hunts for both man or beast. The dis- tinguishing element of his character was the intoler- able and murderous hate he bore the Indians. He lost
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no favorable opportunity to shoot them down without a moments hesitation and in consequence, was feared and shunned by them. His constant companions were his two dogs and a long barreled rifle that carried a bullet that weighed nearly an ounce. His dogs were so thoroughly trained that they obeyed the slightest sign from their master and were of great assistance to Wil- liams in bloody conflicts with bears and other danger- ous animals.
Williams was a remarkable man; he was six feet tall and his movements were as noiseless and as grace- ful as a panther. He knew no fear and would penetrate the deepest swamps, no matter what they contained. He went dressed like an Indian, with leggins and moccasins and always took pains to have his clothing harmonize with the color of the forest that the Indians or game could not easily see him. He wore a buckskin blouse serrated in front and bordered with a fringe of otter skin. He was swarthy complexioned and it is re- ported that Indian blood ran in his veins. He had a wife and family supported by his rifle. To account for his hatred of the Indians, the tradition is, that all his relatives were murdered by the Indians before he came to Ohio. In consequence of which he is said to have sworn"to kill just as long as he lived."
Williams was brought up in Indian Wheeling. He could neither read nor write. He used to say he could have had an education but the school house was to dry for him. The only lesson he had learned by heart was to love his rifle and hate an Indian. On one occasion some trouble arose between the Indians and whites at Deerfield, Portage County, regarding a horse trade that
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had been made. An Indian, Mohawk by name, to retal- iate for some real or fancied wrong, shot Daniel Diver in such a manner as to put out both his eyes without otherwise injuring him. The Indians fled to Ponty's Camp in Boston, but were pursued by the infuriated friends of the injured man under the command of Major Rogers. This company was joined by Jonathan Williams when they reached Boston. "Ponty's Camp" was a historical Indian village, located about half a mile north-west of the old Tawas Village in Boston. With Mohawk, were several other Indians, among them Nicksaw. These Indians were discovered at Ponty's Camp but they fled on the appearance of the whites. The Indians crossed to the west side of the Cuyahoga River in Richfield. They were overtaken on the Heman Oviatt, Jr., farm, lot eight, where the rifle and deadly aim of Williams laid poor old Nicksaw in the dust. He was a friendly old Indian and nothing but a love of barbarity for an Indian because he was an Indian could have induced a white man to kill him. His squaw with a pappoose on her back was with him when he was killed. She hid her pappoose in a hollow log and made her escape. On her return to bury her husband, she found her pappoose in the hollow log in fine condition. The Indians buried Nickshaw on the ground where he fell and according to custom, raised a mound over him to commemorate the place and circumstance of his death. After Nicksaw was shot, Bigson and his two sons surrendered. This happened on an extremely cold night in December, 1806. But without pity and with the cruelest inhumanity, Major Rogers bound the Indians and carried them back without clothing or cov-
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ering that would have made a brute comfortable. Capt. Heman Oviatt, who then liven in Hudson, said, "Bigson was brought to my house, bare-footed, and begged of me a pair of mocassins, to keep his feet from freezing. I was going to give him a pair when Major Rogers threatened to put me under guard, if I did, and he was taken away without any."
The Indians were so frozen that they were crippled for life. The Indians were taken to Warren, tried and acquitted, as the act was that of Mohawk, in conse- quence of a quarrel between him and Diver, in which the others had no part. But though freed, they could no longer pursue the chase. Bigson's squaw perished in the woods after his capture. The poor old man and his sons would sit for hours on the banks of the Mahon- ing and weep over their fallen condition. What made his regret more painful was, he had ever been the friend of the whites, served under Wayne in his battle with the Indians, had been entrusted with important charges and ever proved faithful to his trust; such was the gratitude, such the reward bestowed by the whites on their poor ignorant red brothers during the pioneer days of the Western Reserve.
The Indians were plentiful from 1800 to 1814 and were generally friendly when sober. There were some drunken, quarrelsome Indians who were proud of boasting of the number of "pale-faces" they had killed, as were the "Indian Hunters" of the number of "red skins" they had slain. Of this number was one called Indian Wilson. He was notorious for drunkenness, boasting and threatening-constantly hanging around the distillery.
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Indian Wilson had been at Heman Oviatt's in Hud- son and got "squabby" or "cockazy" as the Indians called it and on his way back, he was in an ugly condi- tion. He stopped in a house where he found a woman and two little children alone. Seizing them by the hair, he flourished his scalping knife as if intending to take their scalps and after frightening them to his heart's content, left. Another account says :- "He went to the house of Old Mother Newell near the town line on Paines' road. She was alone and noticing his approach, she took the precaution to bar the door. Denied admit- tance to the cabin which had but one door, he put his gun-barrel through the opening between the logs and satisfied his ugly disposition by forcing her, with threats, to dance in the middle of the floor until, tired of the sport, he went away. He had scarcely left before Mrs. Newell, on the watch for some passer-by, saw Williams coming along the trail with his gun on his shoulder, as usual. She called him and related the cir- cumstances. Williams waited only long enough to hear the story when he pushed on after the Indian. Wilson through the woods hoping to avoid an encounter. Wil- finding Williams on his trail, left the road and struck liams gained on him slowly but surely and when in the vicinity of a piece of "honey-comb swamp," taking an advantage of a moment when the Indian was off his guard, he shot and killed him. Drawing his body into this piece of swamp, he thrust it out of sight, also send- ing the Indian's rifle down with him. The disappear- ance of Wilson caused a great commotion among the Indians. The Indians suspected what the whites did not learn until years afterward and Williams was
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obliged to be constantly on his guard ever after. On another occasion it is said that Williams while hunting, when the ground was covered with a slight fall of snow, lost his bearings and found himself following his own track in a circle. He observed, upon coming on his own trail, the track also of a moccasined foot and with a hunter's instinct, recognized his pursuer, he took to a tree and shot him as he came again, following the trail.
Another Indian of the same character as Indian Wilson, lived down on Sugar Creek, in Northampton. He often boasted of his exploits in killing "pale-faces." He had a large number of notches cut in the handle of his tomahawk, which he said told of the number he had killed. One day this Indian, being a little "squabby" came into the house where Williams was and said he had killed so many pale-faces, pointing to the marks on his tomahawk, of which there was ninety-nine-but he was yet unsatisfied and he should kill one more. The Indian soon left and was never heard of again. Willi- ams used to say significantly, he will never make the hundreth notch on his tomahawk.
One day an Indian came to the house of Williams and told him that there was a snake on his trail. The next morning before going out, he took a good look from the little window of his house. On the border of the clearing, he saw an Indian watching the house and then suddenly disappear. Williams took down his rifle, looked carefully to the flint and priming and said to his wife, "There is an Indian out there. I'll trick him, tie up the dog and don't be scared." So saying, he sudden- ly opened the door and before the Indian had a chance to shoot, took refuge behind a bank of earth near the
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house. He hurried a short distance and got behind a tree and with his rifle ready began to watch for his foe. He saw the Indian's dog coming towards him. Sud- denly, the savage glided through a small glade on the edge of the woods. Like a flash, Williams raised his rifle and fired. The bullet went straight to its mark. The body was secreted in Mud-brook.
Among the celebrated Indians who used Summit County as a hunting ground was a chief called Beaver Hat. His tribe lived at Apple Orchard. He was a bit- ter and unrelenting enemy of the whites and when drunk, he would take out a string of 13 dried, white men's tongues and shake them. One day while Geo. Harter was present he tried the same old game. After he had left, Harter started after him saying, "I'll go and kill a buck." The report of a rifle was soon heard but Harter brought in no game. Beaver Hat was never heard of more.
Captain Delawn Mills of Portage County, was another noted Indian Hunter. He was an ideal borderer and led an exceedingly adventurous life. He was en- tirely fearless of consequences, having a coolness of temper that was very exasperating to an enemy. It has been said of him "that one of the blandest of smiles overspread his features when drawing a bead upon some cowardly savage who had waylaid and missed him. He was a man of little education, but was possessed of extraordinary common sense and correct- ness of judgment. Many stories have been told of Cap- tain Delawn Mills and his prowess. If one were to be- lieve all that had been told concerning him, one would be led to believe that the exclusive business of the re-
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doubtable Captain was to hunt and kill Indians. Ac- cording to some authorities, he would shoot a couple of Indians and throw them on his burning log-pile just as he would perform any other ordinary work; then he pursues a party of them into a swamp and despatches a half dozen or so before breakfast; again he would kili one, put him under the upturned root of a tree, cut the top of the tree off and let the balance fly back and ihus effectually bury the brave; or again, he would stick the carcass of one of his wily foes into the swamp and ram and jam it down with the butt of his rifle. There is no doubt about the extraordinary bravery of this pioneer, no doubt of his hatred for the red savages, no doubt about his skill with the rifle, but for all that, he was a human man, with a loving wife and a number of child- ren at his fireside which prevented his being an Indian slayer by profession, as a man of his good common sense would know that such a career is short. His son, Urial, in a letter dated Aug. 22, 1879, states :- About 1803 an Indian got mad at my father and said he would kill him. Father was in the habit of hunting through the fall. One day in crossing the trail made in the snow the day before, he found the track of an Indian follow- ing him; this put him on his guard. He soon saw the Indian. They both sheltered themselves behind trees. Father put his hat on his gun stock and stuck it out so the Indian could see it. The Indian shot a hole through the hat and when it fell ran towards father with his tomahawk in his hand; father stepped from behind the tree, shot him and buried him. About the same time the Indians were in camp near the cranberry marsh, afterwards owned by Benjamin Stowe. Ashel Mills
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was hunting cattle and came past their camp; an Indian snapped a gun at him, but the Indian squaw took the gun away from him. Ashel came home badly scared and told his story. We soon saw the Indians come painted for war. They came into the house; all shook hands with father but the last, who uttered au oath and seized him by the throat. Father caught him by the shoulders, jerked him off the floor and swung him around. The calves of his legs hit the heavy legs of a table; he then dragged him out of doors, took him by the hair and pounded his head on a big rock and left him. The Indians scarified the bruised parts by cutting the skin into strips about an inch wide; they then tied a blanket around him, put a pole through the blanket took the pole on theirs houlders and carried him to camp. They said if he died they would kill father. While he was confined they shot Diver of Deerfield. This created quite an excitement and the Indians all left for Sandusky, leaving the crippled one in camp. Sometime after, when father was away, he came to the house in the dusk of the evening and asked if he could stay. Mother told him he could. She did not sleep any that night, believing he had come to kill us. In the morning he got up, built a fire and cooked his breakfast of bear meat; he then went away and soon returned with the hind-quarters of a fine bear which he gave to mother then bade her good-bye and left."
One among the many of the early Indian Hunters who thoroughly understood the value of the Central Indian trail, known as the Fort McIntosh and Sandusky Indian Trail, was Capt. Samuel Brady of Pennsylvania. Ft. McIntosh, near the junction of the Beaver with the
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Ohio, was built by Gen. McIntosh, in 1778. It was built of strong stockades, furnished with bastions and mounted one six pounder. A strong garrison was placed within the fort to protect the settlements. Capt. Brady had command of the scouts, spies or Indian hunters, as they have been variously named. This band was composed of Thomas and Samuel Sprott, Alexander McConnell, Lewis Wetzel, Geo. Foulks, Adam and Andrew Poe and eight or ten other restless, active border scouts. These men of the extreme border were generally rough, rugged and fearless. In 1779, Brady and his men were ordered to pass over the Cen- tral Trail to Sandusky to ascertain the number of Brit- ish and Indians in that region. A short time prior to this his brother and father had fallen by the hands of the savages and Brady had sworn to avenge their mur- der. All of his band either had friends killed or taken captive by the Indians of Northern Ohio at one time or another. It was not strange then that these men who by Geo. Washington's request going to what was looked upon as certain death, should dress, paint and make themselves up in true Indian style, into a band of war- riors on the war path. All were versed in the wiles of Indian strategy, languages, habits and mode of war- fare. Upon his arival near Sandusky, Brady secreted his men and stealthily approached the Indian town with a selected companion. Here he found about three thousand Indians. They had just arrived from a suc- cessful foray in Kentucky and had with them many blooded horses. After various precarous adventures he returned home without losing a man. From this time on to 1789, he and his band made many trips into
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the Reserve over the Central Trail. About this time Brady and his band came down the trail to the Cuya- hoga; thence down the "Portage Path" to its junction with the great Scioto War Trail; thence down that trail to Sugar Creek, some twelve miles below "Apple Orchard." At this point they found an Indian camp occupied by two warriors. They succeeded in shooting one while the other fled into the forest. From here they traveled a westerly course until they reached a stream now known as "Apple Creek."
Here they found a camp containing a man, woman and boy. They shot the man and squaw. The lad was some distance from camp when his parents were shot. He cautiously approached, dodging from tree to tree; when he had come within speaking distance one of Brady's men told him to come in, as his father and mother were safe. The boy became alarmed and at- tempted to escape, but one of the sharpshooters shot him through the bowels as he ran, and so disabled him that he was caught. The poor little fellow understood what was to be his fate and clung to the legs of one of the scouts begging him to save his life and take him along. A blow from a tomahawk was the only answer and his body was left to the wolves.
BRADY'S FIGHT AND LEAP
Captain Samuel Brady, commander of a company of rangers from Chartier Creek, Pennsylvania, in the year of 1780, pursued a band of the Cuyahoga Valley Indians. These Indians had crossed over into that State and had committed depradations, murdered and plundered. The Indians in their retreat, had followed the old Indian trail running from Fort McIntosh at the mouth of the Big Beaver and running from thence west through Portage County, crossing the Cuyahoga in Franklin, at what is called the "Standing Rock," thence west to Northampton, where there were Indian villages.
Brady began his pursuit which was no doubt cour- ageous but not very discreet in leading his men directly in the heart of the Indian country. He however made a rapid march and reached Northampton quickly. The Indians expecting pursuit were ready and waiting for him. His force was outnumbered fully four to one. The savages upon his arrival had completely sur- rounded him and attacked him on all sides with great fierceness and his forces were completely routed. The retreat was commenced and soon became a flight. Every man was for himself. The Indians singled out Brady and leaving all the rest, a chase for him com- menced which continued without interruption until he reached Cuyahoga Falls, near Fish Creek, the great Indian trail divided, one branch passing to North- ampton and Bath, the other south to the "Great Falls," called by the savages "Hoppocan." It was on these
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