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CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES - 225 CHAPTER III INDIAN OCCUPANCY AND FINAL DEPARTURE PRIMITIVE RACES-"MOUND-BUILDERS"-FORT ANCIENT-FORT HILL -THE LARGEST MOUND IN OHIO-PRINCIPAL INDIAN TRIBES. The evidences of the existence of man in Ohio prior to the glacial period have been found, as well as evidences of a civilization after that geological period are abundant. Some pre-historic race of people usually called "Mound-builders," consisting of a very intelligent being, built earth works, such as mounds, forts, effigies, etc., and are said to number more than 10,000 in Ohio, and are far more numerous here than in any other part of the globe. The most important of these are the Serpent Mound, in Adams County, which in its convolutions is more than 1,000 feet in length ; Fort Ancient, in Warren County, length of surrounding embankment about five miles and estimated to contain 628,800 cubic yards of material ; Fort Hill, in Highland County, enclosing an area of thirty-five acres ; graded way, in Bike County ; fortifications at Newark, covering over 1,000 acres. The largest mound in Ohio is at Miamisburg, is sixty-eight feet in height and eight hundred feet in circumference at the base. Frank Henry Howe, Ohio historian, is authority for the following: In the mounds in this State are found portions of human skeletons frequently partly consumed by fire, with ornaments of shells, bone, stone, mica and copper. Along the water-shed in the central part of the State, these works are not as numerous as in other parts and indicate that this was neutral ground between the two tribes of races. The works in the northern part of the State, which extend eastward along Lake Ontario, by their character indicate a more war-like people than those in the southern part, whose works are largely altars, effigies, pyramids, etc., sacred in character and indicating a more numerous and industrious people. A marked difference exists in the. shape of the skulls found in these mounds. Those in the north are generally low and long, while in the south they are mostly high and short, which furnishes additional evidence that there were two different tribes or races. The latest conclusion in regard to these mound-builders is that the northern or long-headed, conquered the southern, or shortheaded people; that the two intermingled, the result of the amalgamation being the North American Indian. The Indians, however, have no knowledge of the origin of the mounds and earth-works and no traditions in support of this theory. The principal Indian tribes of Ohio were Delawares, Shawnees, Miamis, Wyandots, or Hurons, Ottawas, Senecas and Mingoes. It has been carefully estimated that their entire population at the beginning of the Revolutionary War was only about 6,000, which was about one Indian to every seven square miles. 226 - CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES After the treaties with the Indians made at Fort Industry (site of city of Toledo), in 1805, and the one made at Greenville in 1810, it was thought peace had been forever secured between the white men and Indians on the soil of the old Northwestern Territory, but not so. The celebrated chief Tecumseh and his brother the "Prophet" caused another Indian war in the west and the battle of Tippecanoe was fought in northern Indiana, on the Wabash. in 1811, where the Indians were totally defeated. LIST OF TREATIES The Western Reserve tract west of the Cuyahoga River was secured by a treaty formed at the present site of Toledo in 1805. The lands west of Huron and Richland counties and north of the Indian boundary line to the western limits of Ohio, were purchased by the United States in 1818 by a treaty made at St. Mary's. The lands so ceded were called the "New Purchase." In 1842 the Indian tribes had all left the State save the Wyandots; the next year they were induced to remove to Kansas and in all numbered about 700 souls. INDIANS IN HARRISON COUNTY Concerning the occupancy of this county by Indians but little if any true history has ever been preserved. The greater part of the Indians who were here m 1800 had disappeared before many of the pioneer settlers had established homes for themselves here. Doubtless hundreds of the red faces had camped, hunted and fished along the meandering streams of what is now Harrison and Carroll counties. The enchanting landscapes for which this part of Ohio is noted, was doubtless duly appreciated by the aborigines for centuries prior to the pale-faced race coming here. The great Indian wars, however, were fought further to the north and west, hence find no place in the local annals of these counties—Harrison and Carroll. |