The historical review of Logan County, Ohio, Part 3

Author: Kennedy, Robert Patterson, 1840-1918
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1586

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Logan county was exceptionally rich in fertile and inviting lands, an'l the val- leys of the Mad River. the Macachack, the Zanes and the Marmons, and the streams which were flowing onward to the gulf. were offering to the adventurous new- comer the welcome of a rich inheritance. Many of these had long been inured to hardships, had been schooled on the fron- tier, and had become accustomed to the trials and dangers which are a part of the frontiersman's life. They brought with them the hope ard courage necessary to sustain them, in their struggles on these outlying borders of civilization. Their descendants are today the strength, the

power and the glory of this vast empire. which was carved out of the great North- west. and which has become such an im- portant part of this nation, dedicated for- ever to human freedom.

EARLY SETTLERS.

. The poet says that "the history of a nation is the history of its great men. and their deeds are its heritage."

The history of a county is most cer- taigly the history of those who settled. formed. fashioned and up-builded it. Those who came to take part in its re- demption, and to conquer the wilderness are the ones whose experiences give us the foundation of its early history. The rock upon which the sturdy Puritan stood at Plymouth remains as a testimony of his daring and adventure, but it was the Puritan himself who carved out of the rocks and the fields the splendid triumphs of his magnificent manhood.

We can only speculate upon the past unless we draw into our confidences the lives and histories of those who up-build- ed it. There is nothing more interesting or instructive than the study of the means and methods by which great peoples and nations are brought from humble begin- ning to the full and perfect measure of complete success. We may recall the fearful trials and hardships of Washington. and his shoe-less soldiers at Valley Forge. but we are exultant over the glory of their achievements, and the splendid work they wrought out.

We may see Grant and his suffering heroes at Vicksburg, but we recall their victory, and stand with uncovered head- and tearful eyes as we see the uncrowned hero upon the top of Mt. McGregor fight-

HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.

ing his only conqueror, and putting away the sword that he may give to his coun- trymen beneficient peace.

The early settlers in this wilderness carved ont for their descendants a magnifi- cent heritage and dedicated it forever to justice, humanity and liberty. It is well for us that those who came to make of this new country a home for themselves. were from families distinguished for their patriotism and loyalty ; and that the fruit of this carly planting, was in after years to become the strength and right arm of the nation, while the sons and daughters of these pioneers were to go forth to bring back a nation redeemed, and disenthralled. and to be forever dedicated anew to jus- tice and liberty.

FIRST SETTLERS.

Quite a number of historians of Logan county, have named Job Sharp as the first white settler of Logan county. this is certainly a mistake. Mr. Sharp was born in New Jersey and arrived in Zane township in what is now Logan county, in 1801. with his wife and three children. Fully twenty years before this he was preceded by Isaac Zane.

ISAAC ZANE.

Isaac Zane must have come to Logan county as early as 1778 or 1779. Ile was born in Berkeley county, Virginia, in 1754, and was captured by the Indians, with his brother Ebenezer, in 1763. when only nine years of age.

The Zane children were on their way to school at Moorefield, near their home, when they were captured and carried off by the Wyandots and adopted into the family of one of their chiefs, and taken first to De- troit and then to the Sandusky.

The Zane Fimmily wa g di-tingelsted family of Vaginia. R. bert Zane the grandfather of Isaac and Ebenezer, come over in 1082 with William Penn and settled in Philadelphia. He brought with him his son, Nathaniel Zane, then only two years of age. The family had originally come from Denmark to France, and thence fol- loved William the Conqueror 1 . England.

Robert Zane was a Quaker, but having married outside of the faith. became es- tranged from the Quakers. Hle fist set- tled in Philadelphia, and one of the streets in Philadelphia was named after him, Zane street. He afterwards removed to Berke- ley county, Virginia, where his son Na- thaniel married and lived, and where Wil- ham Zane, his son, the father of Isaac and Ebenezer, was born. The young Zanes had only the advantages of the schools of that day, and their early education served them well in after years. Isaac had learned to read and write, and for his age was re- garded as quite accomplished, and this was of great advantage to him in his association with the Indians and whites in after times.

The Zane boys were splendid specimens of physical manhood, and they soon became great favorites with their Indian captors.

After the treaty between the English, French and Indians in 1774 they were re- leased and returned to their home in Vir- ginia, having been in captivity for eleven years. Ebenezer Zane, the younger of the two brothers, removed to the point where Wheeling is now located and built Fort Henry, and founded the city of Wheeilng.

It was at Fort Henry, in the defense of which, in 1777. against the Indians. that Elizabeth Zane, the younger sister of Isaac and Ebenezer, so greatly distinguished her- self.

HISTORICAL REFJEIT OF LOGAN COUNTY.

Simon Girty, in command of some five Inmidred Indians, bad surrounded the fort : ! besieged it; the attack had been sudden and unexpected, and the women and chil- dren were quickly removed to a place of safety within the fort, and the med prepared In defend it to the last, but it was so hard pressed that the garrison defending it. con- sisting of only twelve men, had exhausted their supply of powder, and were almost de- ienseless.

In a cabin near by was a supply of pow- der, which had been left behind in the hasty flight to the fort, by reason of the unlooked- for attack of the Indian forces, and it was necessary to secure it. The number of de- fenders was so small that it was not deemed prudent to lose any men by sending them out of the fort after the powder, when Betty Zane, a girl of seventeen years, came for- ward and volunteered to go out and fetch it. The gate was opened and she ran, in plain view of the . Indian warriors, and took her apron full of powder from the cabin, and thus saved the fort.

The Indians were so dumb-founded at this display of heroism that they looked in astonishment at the flying girl, whose splendid courage had saved the fort, and she escaped unhurt.

In my home hangs a picture of Betty Zane, the great-grand-aunt of my children. and they can boast of no bluer blood, nor truer heroisin, than that which flowed in the blood and came from the courage and wom- anhood of Bettty Zane.

BETTY ZANE.

A century since, out in the West, A block-house was hy Girty pressed, · Girty, the renegade, the dread, Of all that border fiercely led Five hundred Wyandots, to gain .

Plunder and scalp-louEs from the plains: And in this hold, Fort Henry thon,

But Wheeling now, twelve boys and men Guarded with watchful ward and care Women and prabling children there, Against their rude and savage foes, And Betty Zane was one of those.

Now Betty's brothers and her sire Were with her in this ring of fire: And she was ready, in her way, To aid their labor day by day, In all a quiet maiden might, To mould the bullets for the fight. And, quick to note and so report, Watch every act outside the fort, Or, peering from the loop-holes, see Each phase of savage strategy; These were her tasks, and thus the maid The toil worn garrison could aid.

Still drearily the fight went on Until a week had nearly gone. When it was told-a whisper first. And then in joud alarm it burst- Their powder scarce was growing; They know where a kes, unopened lay Outside the Port at Zanes -- what now? Their leader stood with anxious brow, It must be had at any cost, Or, toil and fort and lives were lost: Some one must do that work of fear. What man or men would volunteer?

Two offered, and so earnest they, Neither his purpose would give way; And Shepherd, who commanded it, dare Not pick or choose between the pair. But ere they settled on the one By whom the errand should be done, Young Betty interposed and said: "Lct me essay the task instead." Small matter 'twere if Betty Zane, A useless woman, should be slain; But death it dealt on one of those, Gives too much vantage to our foes.

Her father smiled with pleasure grim, Her pluck gave painful pride to him: And while her brothers clamored "No!" He uttered: "Boys, let Betty go. She'll do at less risk than you. But keep her steady in your view, And be your rifles shields for her;

HISTORICAL RETTET DE DOIGTS COMMENTS

If yonder 100 makes step or -00v Pick of each Part h wle d. 1 .. - a lad

Now I recover from surpir r. I think our Betty's purpose wir

The gate was opened, on ol ande The for. asteni-he 1 2 11 my And wondered at her pipes till She gainel that log len by the bili But when in apron wrapped the raik She backward bort, ta ei- for tel The foeman saw ber aim at lis

And poured their fire non her fast Bullet on biliet near her tlh While rang the Indian . 1. 1 2. 1. But safely through that thinghis :. m Powder in arms, cand. B.try Zale

They filled their horus, both boys ant axes And so began the fight a.min. Girty, who there so long hel stayed By this new feat of feet di-may.u Fired houses round, and cattle -es. And moved away: the fr: , was throgel But when the story roundt wa to !! How they maintained ih lens teret bull It was agreed. though fat To all who in that fight are true, The highest mend of priv. Exas main, Fell to the share of Beity Zane

A hundred years have passed since then; The savage never came again: Girty is dust: alike are dead.

Those who assailed, and those bested: Upon those half-clearel, rolling lands. A crowded city proudly stands; But of the many who reside.

By green Ohio's rushing tide. Not one has lineage prou ler than (Be he poor or rich) the man Who boasts that in his spotless strain Mingles the blood of Betty Zane.

Isaac Zane, after his return to Virginia, from his Indian captivity in 1774, removed to Frederick o unty, and was elected to the House of Burgesses, of Virginia, in 1775. and for several years thereafter represented Frederick county in that legislative assem- bly.

Is Volumes ware the boks betaling to Thoms Whore n, which Byrd Had hor- rewel, and for some repen had failed to returnt.

These two tolimes were in Igen sent to the Congressional Library in Washing- i. m. to be placed with the Jefferson relies.

That Zine was an educated mar, and bed kept in touch with affairs, is evidenced lwy his letter to the Virginia Assembly con- werring the Revolutionary war and the Achods of conducting it.

There was, however, a bit of romance connected with Isaac Zane's life.

In the family of the Wyandot chieftain. where Is e Zane had for eleven years made His home during his captivity, there was a leiutiful Indian moiden, the daughter of the old chieftain, and the sister of the young chief. The old chief had married a Cimadim-French women, and the daugh- ter was helf French and half Wyandot, and the memory of this girl, who had found a place in his heart, was not so easily put neile.

Finally young Zane, then about twenty- five or twenty -six years of age abandoned all his politie'd ambitions in Virginia and found his way back to the frontier, and the camps of the Wyandots, and the daughter of the Indian chieftain who had won his heart during his captivity Lecame his wife. and for nearly a third of a century they lived together in the valley of the Mad River, and their children and their chil- Grey's children become among the foremost on this western frontier. Isaac Zane be- come se conspicuous among the Wind - that they regarded him as their chief. leider and counselor, and called I'm "The Great

HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.

White Chief " He took me group By the way Free Zone's youngest drug der Elizabeth, between the Americans and Online hat al- nak vas muned after her att. the heroine ways lifted his wice for peace, and was de Fert Henry. Robert Armstrong mar- greatly influential in bringing afiont a jour manent peace between the whites and the Indians. riot Sidlis, a daughter of I-aac Zane, and tffir son afterwards became the head chief of the Wyandot tribe. Upon the removal of the Wyandots to the West the most of the Zane, took advantage of the grants of For mide to them and accompanied them Kinsis, where their descendants now re- side.

He settled at Zanesfichier Legt odby- ty and the Wyandot village at that place was called in honor of him Zanesvon' Hend st leave returned to the West and - toled anoile the Indians as early as i8;S or 18;o. for his eldest daughter. Nancy, morite! Major William McColloch in 1707, and their son. Noah Zane MeColloch, was born in Zanes- ville April 6, 1708. In 1,85 he was guil? to General Richard Butler, one of the com- missioners to treat with the Indians of the Northwest Territory, and for his services was granted three sections of land by the government, in Champaign and Login counties. He remained at Zane-fekl until the close of his life.

At the time of General Logan's expedi- tion against the Mingo of Shawonce towns on the Mad river, in 1786. Isaac Zane was living in Zanestown with his Indian wife. ankl had five or six children. He was pres- ent at the conference with Governor Meigs. at Urbana, in 1789. and materially assisted in maintaining friendly relations between the whites and Indians. After the second treaty of Greenville, the Wyandots left Lo- gan county and went to Upper Sandusky. Isaac Zane. however, remained and pur- chased eighteen hundred acres of land in and around the present site of Zanesfield.

William McColloch, one of the early settlers, married a daughter of Isaac Zane. the Inte Judge Noah Z. McColloch was his & n.

Upon the occupation of the whites. Isaac Zone Become one of the foremost citizens of the county, and was continually honored by his fellow citizens. We find him one of the first trustees of Jefferson township, of Champaign county, which at that time com- pri ed within its limits Lake, Liberty. Mon- ne. Ummm. Harrison. Mc Arthur and Rich- 1: n 1 townships. sarl also find him acting as judge of elections and taking an active part in all public affairs.

Hle left three sons and four daughters : William. Ebenezer and Isaac Zane, his sons. I came active citizens in the formation of the township and county.

Of his four daughters Nancy married William McColloch, the father of Judge Nah Z. McColloch, and Elizabeth. who first married Robert Robitaille, a Canadian. and at his death married James M. Reed. a son of Seth Reed. a Colonel of the Fif- teenth Massachusetts line in the American Revolution, and the founder of Erie, Penn- sylvania. Sallie, who married Robert Arm- strong, who afterwards removed to Upper Sandraky. and was influential in the coun- cils of the Wyandots: ail Kitty, who mar- ried Colonel Alexander Long.

Isaac Zane lived in a small one-story frame house at the edge of the prairie at

Mrs. Eliza Gardner, the wife of Gen- eral Isaac S. Gardner, was a daughter of Zanesfield, looking south. It was for many

HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.

years one of the old land marks, but has givea way to a new structure. It will this le seen that Isaac Zane must have arte- dated Sharp as an early settler by newh a quarter of a century. In the formation of Logan county the eastern township wts named Zane township, in honor of lyric Zane, and Zanestown was renamed Zanes- field, and before Logan county was organ- ized in 181; Zane township of Clrumpaign county inchided all of Logan county.

He died in 1816. and was buriel at Zanesfield. After his death his son, Ebe- nezer Zane, was the foremost councilor of the Wyandots, and acted as their chief.

That Isaac Zane bad influence and stand- ing with both the whites and Indians is evi- denced by the fact that he was killed into the councils for adjustment of all questions in dispute, and was foremost in all maters pertaining to the good of the people.

He was one of the three from this sec- tion called by Governor Meigs into the council of the Shawonoes and Senecas at Urbana, in 1812. General MePherson and William Walker being the other two.

Isaac Zane was for many years an in- strument for good and an advocate for peace, and he lived to see the country of his early settlement become the center of a great and prosperous people.

Isaac Zane had settled upon the lands at Zanesfield, and had expected to enter them upon the conclusion of peace. One Lucas Sullivant, a surveyor, came to Zanestown. and spent a number of weeks, accepting of Zane's hospitality, and secretly surveyed and entered the eighteen hundred acres. in the name of James Calderwood, to which Zane had laid claim.

services during the Revolutionte he. how- ever, remained at Zarestival and viters and perchased of Calderwad the lands of which he had been so unfairly deprived, and they were afterwards paid and adjusted for, and divided among his children.

MAJOR WILLIAM MC COLLOCH.

William MeCeBogh was also a Virgin- han, and was one of the assistants of Ebe- rezer Zane in cutting the road from Wheel- ing to Zanesville, and the limestone in Ken- tucky, and remained at Zanesville and es- tablished a ferry, and was one of its first three settlers. Early in 1707 he married Nancy, the ellest daughter of Isaac Zane, and his son. Noah Zane MeColloch, was the first white child born in Zanesville. on the oth day of April, 1798. After remain- ing in Zanesville until 1803, William Mc- Collach removed to Zanestown. in Logan o unty, and settled on the land just south of that village now owned by Joseph Shoots. ITe raised a company of scouts in the war of 1812, with his brother, Sammuel MeCol- loch, as lieutenant.

He accompanied the army to Michigan on its most unfortunate march, and in Sep- tember. 1812, was killed while leading his company at the Little at Brownstown, Michigan, now Detroit. It is said that Te- cumsch. the great Indian chieftain, was in command of the allied forces of British and Indians, and that he directed that the heart of Major MeCollech be cut out and divided among his Indian braves, who ate it in or- der to give them the courage of the white leader.

COLONEL JAMES MC PHERSON.

Another pioneer who ante-dates Sharp was Colonel James McPherson, who came

The government afterwards gave Zane two sections in Champaign county for his to Logan county in 1795.

HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.

He was born in Cumberland county, and was severely wounded at the Battle Pennsylvania, near Carlisle, and was taken prisoner by the British in Lougbry's defeat at the mouth of the Big Miand. He was for some years in the British-hollan de- partmient, and married a woman who had licen captined like himself.

After the treaty of Greenville, in 1795, and after having been a prisoner for seven years he was released. and entered the service of the United States, and was appointed agent for the Senecas and Shawonoes, at the Lewistown Reserva- tion, and continued such until 1830.

Ile was a very active and influential man and contributed greatly to the set- tlement and up-building of this section of Ohio.

Hle secured large grants of lands from the Indians, and was one of the wealthy residents of Logan county. He built a block house in what is now Harrison township, near his residence, for the pro- tection of the whites and the friendly Indians. He established a trading post and was one of the first store-keepers in the county. He was especially active and influential in the war of 1812, and was largely instrumental in keeping the In- dians on the most friendly terms with the whites.

I have in my possession a curious old document, which I found among the ar- chives of the county ; it is a statement by General McPherson of his services in the Revolutionary war, and his claims for pay- ment for the same: by it it appears that he served under General Washington and under Colonels McCoy and Wilson, and Major Richard Butler, for nearly three years, and was present in nearly thirty battles and skirmishes of the Revolution.

of Brandywine, a d was finally taken pris- oner with Colonel Lochry, and for seven years held a prisoner by the British. He says he does not ask for a pension but as a matter of simple justice, claims payment for more than two years of service, for which be received no pay. either directly or indirectly.

This brave old soldier lies buried in the southwest corner of the old cemetery at Bellefontaine-now Powell Park- without a store to mark his resting place. llis remains should be removed to the new cemetery, and a loyal public should mark his grave, and on Decoration Day it should bloom and blossom with the trib- ute which loyalty pays to the brave.

SIMON KENTON.

Another of the early settlers of Logan county, who came before Sharp, was Gen- eral Simon Kenton.

Kenton was born in Culpepper county. Virginia, in 1755, and ran away from home when only sixteen years of age be- cause of a difficulty with a neighbor.

Ile came to Kentucky, and being of an adventurous spirit soon became promi- ment in border warfare, and quickly at- tracted the attention of Daniel Boone, General Logan, and other leaders of that section.

He was a splendid specimen of physi- cal manhood, of florid complexion, blue- eyes, and standing as straight as an In- dian, six feet one inch in height. and weighted one hundred and ninety pounds.

With a most agreeable and command- ing personality, it was not strange that a young man of Kenton's appearance should attract the attention of the rough

HISTORICAL RESTHIT OF LOGIN COUNTY.

frontiersmed. and he quickly become a favorite in all expeditionen makentakings. That he was cool. brave, adventurous, and sometimes even fool-hardy, is unques- tioned.

It is claimed by Howe, in his Ili-tory of Ohio, that Simon Kumo i Wis chigiged in more contests and more conflicts with the Indians, and had more narrow es- capes from death and torture than any other man in the whole northwest.

It is certain that from 1771 to 1795. nearly a quarter of a century, he was almost continually engaged in border and Indian warfare and was at all times dis- tinguished for his prowess and his leader- ship. That he was recognized as a judi- cious and discreet leader is evilenced by the fact, that General Logan in his ex- pedition against the Mingo and Shawonoe towns on the Mad river, placed Daniel Boone, and Major Simon Kenton. in command of the forces in the advance, and that he was afterwards raised to the rank of colonel in the army of the north- west; and after his permanent location in Ohio, became one of the first general of- ficers of the Ohio militia.

His hairbreadth escapes, and his ex- periences as a prisoner in the hands of the Indians read like a romance.

In one expedition against the Indians. in 1778, when twenty-five years old. he was captured near the Ohio river and brought a prisoner to Wapatomica, one of the Indian towns on the Mad river, in what is now Logan county.

In passing through the Indian villages of Chillicothe, Piqua and Macachack. be- fore reaching the village of Wapatomica. where the council chamber was situated. he was compelled to run the gauntlet and

suffered other tortures at the hands of the rivages

Hle maraged to escape, but unfortun- ately ran into some Shawonoe warriors re- turning to their camp and was again cap- tured. At a council fire at Wapatomica, he was sentenced to suffer death by burning at the stake, and preparations were being made for his sacrifice. It was at this time that Simon Girty, the rene- gade white man, who was in these Mingo villages, and who had known Kenton and served with him during the Dunmore war, recognized him and came to his relief. Girty made a bold and eloquent plea for his friend, and so far succeeded as to se- cure his temporary release. Other war- riors however having come in demanded Kenton's execution, and over-came the pleas of Girty. Girty however succeeded in having him ordered to Upper Sandusky for execution amidst the greater gather- ing of Indians.

On the way to Upper Sandusky, they passed through the village of the Mingo chief. Logan, who succeeded in detaining the party, and sending a messenger to Sandusky, and having Kenton ordered to Detroit.

Kenton afterwards managed to es- cape and returned to Kentucky, and for nearly twenty years continued in the serv- ice of the government being recognized as one of the foremost leaders of the west.

After the treaty of peace of 1795. Ken- ton. with some half a dozen Kentucky families. in 1790. came to the place where Springfield is now located. in Clarke county, which was at that time a part of Champaign county. In the year 1800 he removed to Zanestown, in what is now Logan county, and lived on the bank of

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The historical review of Logan County, Ohio, Part 3

Author: Kennedy, Robert Patterson, 1840-1918 Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1586

Author: Kennedy, Robert Patterson, 1840-1918
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1586