USA > Ohio > The biographical cyclopaedia and portrait gallery with an historical sketch of the state of Ohio. Volume I > Part 6
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Meanwhile several log houses for the settlers and one frame house had been built, and some of the out-lots north of Seventh Street cleared. The legal title to the ground or site of the prospective town being vested in John Cleves Symmes, the patentee, all the deeds for both in-lots and out-lots were made in his name. In January, 1790, Governor St. Clair removed his residence from Fort Harmar to Fort Washington, and proceeded to organize the county, which, agreeably with the suggestion of Mr. Symmes, was, in honor of the then Secretary of the Treasury, named Hamilton. It included all the ter- ritory west of the Scioto River. The name Losantiville, which the first owners had given to the settle- ment, was by Governor St. Clair changed to Cincinnati, in honor of that military fraternity organized by and among the commissioned officers of the American army, May 13th, 1783, and called the "Society of the Cincinnati." This society was named in veneration for the character of the Roman consul and dictator, Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus, its members, following his example, having resolved to return, after the war ended, to their citizenship and its peaceful pursuits.
At the organization of the local government, the first president judge, William Goforth, had for his associates William Wells and William M. Miller. John S. Gano was appointed .Clerk of the Court and John Brown Sheriff. During the year 1790 the population increased to about fifty families, and two frame houses were built. The next year the population increased but little, as nearly all the able-bodied men were enlisted in the army, and many of them had been killed by the Indians. In 1792 was estab- lished the first common school, and in 1793, the small-pox having broken out among the soldiers in the fort, this disease spread through the town with such malignity that nearly one-third of the citizens and soldiers died. In 1794, after the defeat of the Indians by General Wayne, emigrants began to arrive, so that in June, 1795, a census gave five hundred inhabitants. The first territorial Legislature incorpo- rated the town in 1802, and vested its government in a President, Recorder, Assessor, Collector, and Marshal, with seven Trustees. At this time the population was about eight hundred.
The British Government, contrary to the terms of the treaty of 1783, still held Detroit and the other posts they had during the war; and British traders there, jealous of the settlements made and thrift displayed by the hardy settlers who were gathering in communities north of the Ohio, eagerly incited the savages to make war on these settlements. Thus was fostered that Indian discontent which prevented the attempts made by Governor St. Clair in 1790, to pacify the savages, from being successful. From the time of the arrival of the settlers at Marietta, the necessity for a treaty with the savages had been contemplated by General Putnam. While manifesting friendship toward those who arrived in 1788, and expressing their satisfaction that they had come to the Muskingum, the Indians shortly afterward . gave unmistakable evidence that they would have to be conciliated and bound by treaty. For this pur- pose a large number of them assembled at Fort Harmar in December, 1789, were received with military honors, and a large log house that stood outside the fort assigned to them as their quarters. Those who represented the Six Nations, resident in the then wilderness part of the State of New York, were very willing to enter into treaty regulations; but the more Western tribes, foreseeing continuous encroach- ment on their hunting-grounds by the white settlers, were utterly opposed to relinquishing any of the territory which, as we have mentioned, was in 1783 ceded by Virginia to the General Government. At
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last, however, a treaty was patched up that shortly afterward was repudiated by the Indians, as the work of their young men, and who, they said, were not authorized to make it. While at Fort Harmar they had repeatedly crossed to Marietta, and were received so kindly that they at once determined the white men there differed greatly in disposition from the "Long Knives," as they designated the pioneers from Virginia who had settled in Kentucky; and consequently, during the war that followed, they were much less fierce toward the Ohio Company's settlers than toward the "Long Knives." The conclusion of the treaty, such as it was, in December, encouraged the settlers to believe that the Indians would then cease to be hostile; but in a year they learned that, like all weak and uncivilized people, the Indians were treacherous as they were cruel.
Their first hostile acts were displayed against the surveyors. The operation of surveying was by the Indians regarded with especial aversion, as by it they recognized that they were about to be shut out from the freedom of their hunting-grounds. The surveyors were suddenly attacked, and several killed. Other acts of hostility made it evident that the Western tribes were highly excited. Under the lead of a chief named "Little Turtle," a number of tribes combined to make war on the whites in defense of their hunting-grounds, which they denied having ever conveyed away out of their possession to the United States or to any other government.
In September, 1790, more than a thousand regulars and volunteers were led by General Harmar from Fort Washington into the Indian country, around the head-waters of the Maumee, or the "Miami of the Lake." But, instead of victory, defeat in two fights was the fortune of this large force, near the present town of Fort Wayne, Indiana ; and with the remnant of his command General Harmar returned to Cincinnati. In May, 1791, General Scott, of Kentucky, with eight hundred men, penetrated the Wabash country, and destroyed several Indian villages near the present town of Lafayette, Indiana; and in the following August General Wilkinson, with a force of five hundred men, destroyed some Kickapoo villages, and passed down to the Falls of the Ohio. But, instead of being humbled or intimidated by these operations, the Indian tribes were only urged the more to combine for reciprocal aggression.
Congress, finding that more powerful measures had to be adopted, in 1791 ordered a force of nearly two thousand men to report for duty at Fort Washington, under the immediate command of General Butler, and general -direction of Governor St. Clair, for the purpose of constructing a succession of for- tified posts in the heart of the Indian country. Proceeding twenty-five miles north of Cincinnati, they erected Fort Hamilton, on the Great Miami; and forty miles further they built Fort Jefferson. This completed, they had proceeded north but one day's march, and encamped for the night, when the In- dians, having gathered in great force, attacked the camp on the morning of the 4th of November, 1791, at sunrise, and the troops, being thus surprised, were slaughtered by the savages. General Butler and many of his officers were killed, and the whole of the force not killed or seriously wounded fled in con - fusion. Governor St. Clair, who was afflicted with gout, having, when too late, taken a prominent part in commanding the troops, had two horses shot under him, and eventually escaped on a pack-horse. His adjutant-general, Winthrop Sargent, who was also his secretary, that evening entered in his daily journal these words: "The troops have all been defeated; and though at this time it is impossible to ascertain our loss, yet there is no manner of doubt that more than half the army are either killed or wounded." This event caused great indignation throughout the country. President Washington, whose last words to St. Clair were, "Beware of a surprise," lost his usual strong control of his emotions, when he heard of the action, and paced the floor in a rage. "It was awful," Mr. Lear, his private secretary, wrote ; "more than once he threw up his hands, as he hurled imprecations on St. Clair. 'O God!' he at length exclaimed, 'he is worse than a murderer! How can he answer to his country? The blood of the slain is upon him-the curses of widows and orphans-the curse of Heaven !' But his wrath soon subsided. 'This,' turning to me, he said, 'must not go beyond this room ;' and then, as if talking to himself, he said : 'St. Clair shall have justice. I will hear him without prejudice. He shall have full
justice.' " And when, several days afterward, the veteran general, bowed with infirmities and the burden of public obloquy, sought the presence of his old commander, Washington extended his hand graciously to receive him. "Poor old St. Clair," said Custis, who was present, "hobbled towards his chief, and, seizing the proffered hand in both his own, gave vent to his feelings in copious sobs and tears."
Fortunately the Indians did not follow up the advantage they had gained, and for a short time
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hostilities were suspended to give opportunity for commissioners to treat with the savages. But these negotiations were fruitless. With the short sight of ignorant savages, the Indians, emboldened by their success, believed themselves masters of the situation, and would submit to no terms but immediate with- drawal of both troops and settlers from their country. General Wayne, whose bold operations during the Revolutionary War caused him to be called " Mad Anthony Wayne," was, instead of St. Clair, who still was retained as Governor of the Territory, given exclusive command of the troops; and he, sur- mising that the failure of the commissioners would be followed by an immediate attack upon the settle- ments, marched with a competent force, in the Autumn of 1793, into the Indian conntry, the scene of St. Clair's defeat, to continue the work of fortifying, which the latter had begun. At Greenville, in Darke County, a few miles south of the battle-field where the surprise and defeat took place, he spent the Winter, and built a stockade, to which he gave the significant name of Fort Recovery. When Summer came, with his forces he marched toward the Maumee River, and at its junction with the Auglaize River he built Fort Defiance. As an intermediate post, at what is at present St. Mary's, in Auglaize County, he erected Fort Adams; and in August he passed down the Maumee River, with about three thousand men, and encamped near a British military post at the foot of the Maumee Rapids, called Fort Miami. Here, with ample force to fight the Indians and their British supporters, Wayne offered the former peace if they were so disposed. But they refused angrily, while craftily seeking to gain time to increase their forces. "Stay where you are ten days," they said, "and we will then treat with you." Wayne divined their object, and instead of staying there, at once advanced to an open space at the head of the Maumee Rapids, called the " Fallen Timbers," a few miles above the present Maumee City, and there attacking the savages in force, August 10th, 1794, completely defeated them. An inspection of the battle-field on the day after the fight revealed the treachery of the British commander at Detroit. Notwithstanding the treaty of 1783, by the side of every dead Indian could be seen a British musket and bayonet. General Wayne followed up his victory by laying waste the country, and by the middle of September he moved up the Maumee to the site of the present city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and there built a fort that he named after himself, and which gave its name to that city. This work completed, he marched with his army back to, and went into Winter quarters at Greenville. While occupying this position, he issued the following proclamation :
" To the Cherokees now settled on the Head-waters of the Scioto, and to all other Indians in that quarter, whom it may concern:
"WHEREAS, I, Ant'y Wayne, Major general and Commander-in-chief of the Legion and Commis- sioner Plenipotentiary of the United States of America for settling a permanent peace with all the late hostile tribes and nations northwest of the Ohio, have entered into preliminary articles with the Wyandots, Chippewas, Ottawas, Potawatamies, Sankeys, Shawanese, Delawares, and Miamis, for a cessation of hostil- ities, and for the mutual exchange of prisoners, and for holding a general treaty for the purpose of estab- lishing a permanent peace, at this place on the 15th of June next; and whereas, His Excellency, Gov- ernor William Blount, has concluded a treaty of peace on the seventh and eighth days of November last,
6 with Col. John Watts, of Millstown, one of the lower Cherokee towns, and Scolacutta, or Hanging Maw, and other chiefs of the Cherokee nation, at which were present four hundred Cherokee warriors and a number of citizens of the Southwestern Territory,-I, the said General and Commander-in chief, do now send this authentic information to the Cherokees and other Indians residing on the waters of the Scioto, by Capt. Reid, in order to warn all and every of the said Indians against committing any murder, or theft, or insult upon any of the inhabitants or soldiers of the United States, but to remain peaceable and quiet, and to bring in all such prisoners as they may have in their possession, to this place at the time agreed upon-that is, the fifteenth day of June next-for holding the general treaty.
" If, after this friendly warning and invitation, any more murders, or robberies, or injury shall be committed by the aforesaid Indians residing on the waters of the Scioto, the said general does hereby declare that he will send out his warriors and destroy them without distinction, as it will not be in his power to distinguish the innocent from the guilty. He, therefore, advises all peaceable Indians to with- draw themselves from the bad Indians, and leave them to the fate that immediately awaits them.
"Given at the Head-quarters of the Legion, at Greenville, this second day of March, 1795. "ANT'Y WAYNE."
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It is possible that this threat, when properly interpreted to the Indians in their councils and lodges, had its effect ; for we read and hear no more of the depredations of the red men. Indeed, they were more willing to keep the treaties agreed to by them than their more civilized white neighbors were. The consequence was that the whole of Southern Ohio, being now undisturbed by hostile raids, rapidly filled up. New towns were laid out, especially in the Scioto and Miami valleys, and all the roads leading from the Eastern States were lively with moving teams. As soon as the emigrant wagons struck the wilder- ness of the West they began to separate-some halting along the upper portions of the route, others pushing on to the extreme verge of civilization-the boundaries of the savage tribes. Many squatter families remained in the Scioto Valley. The best parts of this region were taken up, on soldiers' warrants, as bounty lands. The owners who did not come themselves to occupy their tracts encouraged the squat- ters, offering them the ground free for a term of years for the sake of having it cleared and opened up, and many poor families availed themselves of these offers. When they by thrift accumulated property of their own, they purchased for themselves. Many of them became, in this way, the most substantial and wealthiest citizens of the State.
General Wayne's defeat of the Indians at Fallen Timbers was so complete, and his administration so energetic, that they were compelled to treat for peace; and on the 3d of August, 1795, the repre- sentatives of twelve tribes met the commissioners of the United States at Greenville, and there the latter formulated and, with the former, ratified a treaty of peace, by which were ceded to the United States Government about twenty-five thousand square miles of territory, which at present includes the State of Ohio, all of Indiana and Michigan, exclusive of the Upper Peninsula, besides sixteen separate tracts, including land and forts. As compensation, the Indians received from the United States Government goods valued at $20,000, as presents, and were promised an annual allowance of $10,000, to be equally distributed among the tribes who were parties to the treaty ; and we may here remark that subsequently, as long as these tribes existed, this sum, or their proportion of it, was duly paid the Chippewas, Ottawas, Potawatamies, Wyandots, Delawares, Miamis and Kickapoos, Shawanese and Senecas, Sankeys and Kas- kaskias, who then occupied the ceded lands. These arrangements being completed, General Wayne addressed the assembly in touching terms, and the treaty of Greenville was perfected.
Following, and as one of the consequences of this treaty, a special treaty was made by the United States with Great Britain, under which the latter power directed the evacuation of all its Western mili- tary posts, including Detroit. This action, coupled with the treaty of Greenville, removed all cause for offense, until that occurred which occasioned the War of 1812-15.
In 1796 nearly a thousand flat-boats, laden with people and their goods, were counted as having passed the town of Marietta. They came from all parts of the Eastern and Middle, and from the Southern States, as far south as North Carolina, those from the latter going chiefly to the country south of the Ohio River, while those from the former, by far the largest number, went to the country north of that river, which, by the Ordinance of 1787, had been secured against slavery. This immigration was encouraged by Congress offering special inducements to officers and soldiers to settle upon land in the Northwestern Territory, and Cincinnati soon became a convenient stopping-place for the immigrants to tarry while selecting their homes in the southern part of the State. Traders and artisans found it also a promising place for business, and farmers were glad to secure lands in the neighborhood. Thus the village grew from a straggling hamlet to a town that has eventually become the Queen City of the West.
The only habitations erected by the first settlers in Ohio were cabins of logs, roofed with clapboards held in place by cross poles fastened with pins, and floored with puncheons, or hewed pieces of timber notched into huge sleepers, laid on the ground at the sides. The windows were openings made by sawing out a portion of one of the logs, and covering the space, in cold weather, with oiled paper. This was often pecked into holes, when snow lay upon the ground, by the half-starving birds. Glass sash, with lights eight by ten inches, were after awhile introduced in the settlements along the generally traveled thoroughfares or the navigable streams. The cabin doors were made of split boards, hung on wooden hinges, and fastened with a wooden latch lifted from the outside by a leather thong. Hence the proverb for hospitality, "The latch-string is always out." The capacious fire-place, occupying nearly the entire width of one end of the cabin, was built of stone (bricks were an article then unknown in the West), and the chimney was constructed of split fagots or sticks piled in alternate courses in a stack,
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and well daubed with clay to prevent their burning. The hearth-stones were large, and afforded sufficient protection against the sparks of fire which from the ample logs were apt to snap out. The cabins had no cellars, though a hole was sometimes dug in front of the fire-place, and covered with boards or split logs, for the storage of potatoes and other roots. Milk and butter were preserved in spring-houses, or in outside vaults beneath sodded mounds of earth.
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The ordinary dress of the people was of domestic manufacture, from linsey-woolsey or cotton cloth and tow linen. The women wore short gowns, gathered loosely in the waist, and reaching to the hips, with a quilted skirt or petticoat. The men wore buckskin small-clothes and linen hunting-shirts; some- times entire suits of domestic woolen goods, drab, gray, or brown; their coats with brass or white- metal buttons, about the size of a silver dollar. The dress was bound with a belt (suspenders were then unknown), in which were a knife or a tomahawk-perhaps both. Both sexes at home went barefoot ; abroad they had on moccasins or coarse shoes, with or without stockings.
The breadstuffs of the pioneers were wheat and Indian corn-both transported across the mountains until they began to raise for themselves. Of meat they had abundance in the wild game, much of which was cured by "jerking," as dry-salting was too expensive. Salt was scarce and dear, and what little was to be had was often black and bitter. The grain was pounded in wooden mortars (usually the scooped-out stump of a tree), or ground in a "tub mill ;" but in either case the meal was coarse and was used unsifted. Of native fruits there was a great variety, and some of an excellent quality. The flavor of the strawberry has not been improved by cultivation, though its size has been greatly increased ; but the wild blackberry and raspberry are equal to any raised in the gardens. If their fare was coarse, it was wholesome and good, and there was generally no lack. A few days' hunting at the proper season was sufficient to provide flesh-food for several months.
Orchards of fruit were planted at an early date, and apples, peaches, plums, and cherries were soon raised in great abundance. Though nurseries for the sale of grafted trees were then unknown, the farm- ers managed to obtain a fine quality of seedlings, and a few obtained sprouts from the older settlements in the East. And all the trees planted bore well, and the fruit itself was little affected by the frosts and the pests which have made fruit-raising in these latter days so precarious a business or department of farm-work.
The greater part of the goods transported from the older settlements and the manufacturing towns were brought across the mountains on pack-horses, though some came by wagons. Very few roads were laid out, and none further west than Pittsburg. From thence the goods could be carried on flat-boats or in canoes to the nearest river-landing. At first settlements were made on the larger streams only, so that hauling by horses for long distances, after the Western country was reached, was unnecessary. As the country was opened up, roads were made, and a few log bridges were built. On the larger rivers ferries were located. Trading-posts were erelong established, and many articles of household necessity were kept on sale. Domestic goods of flax and wool were soon manufactured-the women doing the carding and spinning by hand, and often working at the loom. Hats, boots, shoes, harness, some kinds of hardware and machinery, and many other things were in process of time made in the pioneer towns ; while mills and blacksmith-shops were set up as soon as there was population enough to require them.
There was abundance of venison in the forests, and wild turkeys were often seen in large flocks. Bears were occasionally seen, and at times an odd buffalo or two; but the favorite fields of the buffaloes in the Ohio Valley were in Kentucky. The turkeys were seldom shot, as ammunition was too precious to waste upon them; but they were caught in traps or covered pens with the lower part of one side left open. Corn was strewn around and inside the pen, and the foolish birds entered, but not discovering a way of escape at the top never thought to retreat through the entrance at the bottom. If the turkey was young and tender, it might be prepared for the table by skinning it, instead of plucking, and roast- ing it on a spit before an open fire, catching the gravy in a dripping-pan. Stoves were, of course, un- known, and all cooking was done on the hearth or at fires kindled out of doors. In the scarcity of other game, opossums were occasionally used for food-a favorite dish, especially among the colored people. The flesh is juicy, and has a taste resembling pork. Quails were not then numerous, as they seem to follow civilization rather than precede it. The streams abounded in fish of a good quality, and they were caught by the trot-line, the single hook, or the gig. This was the work of the boys.
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The skins of the wild beasts that were shot were brought to the cabins by the hunters, and there prepared for use. Deer-skins were tanned, and from this material were manufactured moccasins and clothing for the men. The hair was removed mostly by covering them for a while with ashes and water ; they were then rubbed with soft soap, lye, and the brains of the deer. All of these substances contain alkali, and were of use in removing whatever of fat or tissue might have adhered to the skin. Then, after lying for two or three days in a steeping-vat or trough, the skins were stretched over a smooth, round log, from which the bark had been removed, and scraped with a graining-knife. Dressing with the brains of the animal rendered the skin soft and pliable, and many of the settlers became skillful curriers. Bear-skins were dried and used for robes, and often spread on the cabin-floors or lofts for beds. Wolves in some sections were quite common, and occasionally the panther's scream terrified the inhab- itants of the wilderness; but domestic animals were seldom destroyed by them.
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